all his Guard Though at the Altar in the Capitol The purple Brute a Sacrifice shall fall Marcellus meets him Mar. What prodigal of life your wrath has rais'd And â—ann'd the flamâ— with which your cheeks are blaz'd Ne're did I see that Seabbard empty made But drunken Slaughter hung upon the Blade Caes. Bloud my Marcellus bloud the great must dye Yet Eagle-like I 'le strike my Quarry high And from the earth rebound him to the skie Mar. Name me the man too lavish of his tongue For blows could ne're the brave Caesario wrong Name him aloud but name me one that 's Great Back'd with such Troops as never knew defeat And if he 'scape let me no more be thought draws Caes. Hold hold Marcellus Heav'n I had forgot That my great Foe is father to my Friend Down my Revenge Thus all my swellings end sheaths his Sword Mar. What means this change Caes. Nothing Marcellus now Large are the sums I to your friendship owe My thoughts no more about Revenge debate Though slaves Augustus hires to work my fate Takes all my Titles Scepters fills my Thrones And plunders me of all my Father's Crowns Yet being kind to you long may he live While I learn patience and my wrongs forgive Mar. How my united powers of Rage disband My Sword at Caesar's name falls from my hand O my Caesario can you for my sake Forget the sweets of just Revenge to take Can you for me call back your sallying soul Whose wrath not Caesar's Guards cou'd else controul This is a point too subtle for mankind And which no future vertue e're shall find Caes. Believe me Friend believe me for I swear By my high Father's soul 't were easier far Back the revolted Universe to win Than but our passions conquest to begin Revenge and Friendship in my bosom clash'd Like Mountain billows each the other dash'd Still my uncertain soul each Tempest blinds Like a dark Vessel driv'n by Polar winds But you like a propitious God arise On the blue Ocean shine the Azure Skies And now the beaten mind at Anchor lies Mar. Methinks I wish that I had never known Vertue like yours so high that mine is none You as some vast Hill touching Heav'n appear I at your feet like a poor Valley near Down from your Cloudy top refreshings flow Fast bounteous rills that water me below Valleys but Vapours can to Heav'n return And I with sighs your falling favours mourn Caes. Darling of Romans Vertue 's fairest Child At whose blest Birth the kinder Planets smil'd Trust me thy Mother when with Infant charms The Matrons gave thee crying to her arms Not lov'd thee more my soul thou hast subdu'd And damm'd the torrent of my rising bloud Mar. Bow ye bright dwellers bow all your Heav'ns down Impale his brows with an Immortal Crown Thou Iulius whose high name in living Gold Is in Fate 's Book above the Sun 's enroll'd With Starry Robes the Worlds great Heir enfold For all Earths Glories he transcends as far As Gods above their humblest Victims are Caes. Ev'n while thou flatter'st me thou lovely art By Heav'n young man thou hast thy Souldier's heart And while I hold thee to my faithful breast Caesar with Empire is not half so blest On thy hearts throbs so I triumphant ride Farewell Ovations and the Victors pride No more shall big Ambition bend my brow Love me but ever as thou lov'st me now Enter Narcissa Nar. Swift as chac'd Harts before the Hunters fly Swift as their panting weariness they throw Into some stream my dearest Brother I Run to thy breast and melt in tears that flow Dost thou not view joys peeping from my eyes The Casement's open'd wide to gaze on thee As Rome's glad Citizens to windows rise When they some young Triumpher fain would see Mar. Dearest Narcissa softest of thy kind A thousand thousand welcomes but alas In dang'rous Courts I much lament to find Thy Innocence which cannot safely pass Caes. She is the brightest that my eyes e're saw And if soft passion cou'd my fierceness move That Spring-complexion wou'd my wondeâ— draw Such unmixt sweets of Nature I should love Mar. With looks untaught thou wilt â—oo â—ude appear Expos'd to ev'ry haughty Princess scorn Back to thy Country Palaces repair And tempt not Courts for which thou wert not born The Great ones here will quickly make thee fine And to thy Vertue for refreshings run Like Summer days too hot our Beauties shine But thee they 'l follow like a Winter Sun Caes. Why beauteous Virgin dost thou plant thy eyes As thou wouldst drive me hence who ne're cou'd run I am not us'd to Beautie 's batteries Yet rather than offend I will be gone Mar. No longer in my arms lov'd Sister stay Your kindest thanks to my preserver pay A thousand deaths he in my cause has brav'd And twice my life in our last battle sav'd Enter Tiberius to Marcellus they embrace Mar. Welcome my gallant Friend Thy looks are sad If there be ought wherewith thou art dismay'd Speak it though at the News both shou'd expire Is Iulia Tib. 'T were convenient you 'd retire I 'le tell you dear Marcellus as we go Such secrâ—ts as no hâ—art but yours shou'd know Exeunt Nar. My Brother charg'd me but what can I say When you all pow'r of speech have ta'ne away My heart beat thus just thus against my side That cruel day when my lov'd Turtle dy'd Caes. A heart like mine Love in his walk ne're found Nor Prettiness nor Majesty can wound 'T is sure the coldest Beauty ever felt Not Ice but Chrystal which no Sun can melt Nar. O fatal sight have I with frequent scorn Seen at my Garden-gates great Princes mourn And can I now submit to one unknown Can this be true Poor heart art thou o'rethrown Vanquish'd at last i th' name of goodness speak What art that dost my gentle quiet break Caes. A Souldier Fair one bred to bloud in Armâ— In Winter Camps which mighty Action warms I know not Courts unskill'd in the soft Trade By which address is to high Beauty mâ—de Yet I to yours can bow as lowly down As Eastern Princes to the rising Sun Nar. Bow to my beauty to this Rural face I know no charms nor any practis'd grace Planted far off by Caesar's jealous care Not bred in Court perfumes but Country air Me from his daughter he divided young And told me Courts my innocence wou'd wrong But sure my eyes can nothing see in you To make me think what Caesar said was true Enter Mecaenas Mec. Madam the Empress does your coming waiâ— With half the Court attending at her gate And gazing eyes expect your presence there As if some Constellation would appear Caes. I le wait you to the Empress Tyrant Love Whom all the charms of Nature cannot move Exeunt Re-enter Marcellus Tiberius Mar. Since Love proves false in vain does Valour toil To ashes turn my Arms my ev'ry Spoâ—l Burn all my Laurels
ah wou'd it might her heart wou'd break But Caesar comes some other time I 'le take To tell my wrongs his life is now at stake Enter Augustus Captain Agrippa Mecaenas Guards Capt. Hither I follow'd 'em with cautious view Aug. Mecaenas let him have the Talents due Lo where the Ravisher undaunted stands As if encompass'd with a thousand Bands Bold as Briareus warring in Heav'ns Field When fifty flaming Swords his arms did weild And fifty Shields expos'd to thunder held O my Agrippa shou'd I view him long I shou'd forget forgive the mighty wrong In that Majestick glance and fiery ayre Methinks our awfull Father does appear Agr. Something less fierce his visage does renew Such beams from beauteous Cleopatra flew When sighing Kings to Aegypt's Court she drew Caes. Yes my renown'd extraction I declare I am by birth what you adopted are The King of Kings and the World 's lawfull Heir Aug. Such you were nam'd by Anthony indeed But the great Caesar otherwise decreed Caes. What he intended who but Heav'n can tell Scarce seated from th' Imperial Throne he fell He stood on Atlas shoulders unaffraid Some minutes and the trampled Globe survey'd Fill'd with vast business and with thoughts profound He had not leisure for a prospect round For e're to Aegypt's Queen he could be just That head which Stars encompass'd kiss'd the dust Aug. Yet to make void whatever you can say And dash your boldest hopes that fly at sway By his last Will which was to Romans shewn I was ordain'd to mount and fill his Throne To scourge the World and awe mankind alone Caes. I no Imperial Herald am to find The source of pow'r nor how its riv'lets winde Yet this I know your latter boast was vain Caesar had ne're adopted you to reign Had he known me who from the womb was past And first saw light when he beheld it last Aug. When conqu'ring Caesar Pompey did pursue And in his cause the Memphian Tyrant slew He bought your Mothers love with Aegypts Crown And with her at a Kingdomâ— price lay down But having surfeited with Beauties joys For Beauty much possess'd extremely cloys Scar'd with his shame he wak'd to Warrs alarms He left her pregnant and he rush'd to Arms. 'T was God-like and he imitated Iove Who with excessive thundring tir'd above Comes down for ease enjoys a Nymph and then Mounts dreadful and to thundring goes again Caes. Talkst thou of her basely that gave me birth The most illustrious Empress of the earth Whose smiles Kings did with adorations crave By Heav'n she wou'd have scorn'd thee for her Slaveâ— Name not thy humbler bloud nor let it be Compar'd to mine no more than I to thee Who am to thee nor will I me commend A God all o're and thou all o're a Fiend Aug. You speak Caesario with as little dread As if you were at some vast Armie's head Were it not that I rev'rence Caesar's blood Thus long you had not disrespectful stood Caes. O counterfeit O Crocodile of Pow'r Not woman e're dissembled thus before Thou reverence Caesar's blood Thou who didst never ought that 's gen'rous do Who never didst forgive a noble foe Me wouldst thou make believe thou canst be kind I know th' hypocrisie thy dev'lish mind Which holds thy Angel-colours high to shew But art all ruine blood and Hell below Aug. Who e're was thus provok'd and cou'd forbear Be witness all himself he will not spare Caes. No Tyrant no I will in publick dye And once at least expose thy cruelty The murders which thou hitherto hast done Were acted close their Authors rarely known But I will perish in the view of all And to my last gasp Tyrant Tyrant call Aug. Pardon me Father and just rage forgive I offer life which he cannot receive He 's so Heroick that he will not live 'T is his desire and for this one last hour I have decreed he shall be Emperour His Majestie 's resolv'd you heard him say Guards go and his Imperial will obey Caes. Let 'em come on 't is sport that I have try'd In hundred Battels thousand deaths defy'd draws And now in all their horrours can deride As the Guards prepare to fall on Marcellus draws Mar. Restrain your fury barb'rous men take heed By Caesar he that goes not back shall bleed Aug. What now Marcellus Darst thou Traytor draw Thy Sword against thy Father where 's the awe The Majesty this face was wont to bear Mar. 'T were Cowardice in such a cause to fear No Caesar either grant my Friend his life Or see me perish in the noble strife Aug. Do perish dye is 't possible that thou Shouldst call him Friend who is thy Father's Foe He who thy only Rival is in power Dost thou not know he wou'd thy life devour Who Serpent-like does to thy bosom spring And with warm foldings does about thee cling Watching his time when he may shew his sting Caes. This such a baseness is so black a guilt As all the Seas of bloud which thou hast spilt With all thy clouds of Lusts can't parallel Thou dost in falshood now thy self excel But shou'd Marcellus harbour such a thought I am to something worse than ruine brought Mar. Tax not â—y loyalty you are too just The firmness of my Friendship to mistrust I am all yours and you stand here as fair And fast as e're you stood in shining War As I have seen you in bright Steel sustain The shock of Troops that made assaults in vain Aug. Ungratefull wretch unworthy of a Throne By Heav'n I will adopt another Son Canst thou thy right to Kingdoms give away Thy self and him who rais'd thee thus betray Forget what sweating pains what bloudy toils We bore adorn'd our Arms with Nations spoils Yet with our utmost reach scarce grasp'd a Crown Glory than Empire is much easier won Empire's like Heav'n which who wou'd bravely win Must Giant-like with high assault begin Heap Hills on Mountains Project add to Plot Till huge foundation for the work be wrought And as he climbs at Stars that cross him frown And tear 'em fast as petty Princes down Thus through all opposition must he pass O're walls of Chrystal battlements of Brass Till Majesty cries out This This alone Is he who Heav'n becomes and fits a Throne Caes. Thou talkst of cruelty of bloud and toil Yet having hunted me into the toil My Lion rage with words far off you brave But come not nigh for fear you find a Grave Aug. Disarm Marcellus and Caesario slay Kill him hast kill him without more delay Julia and Narcissa interpose and kneel Iul. Hold Father Nar. Hold. Iul. Let me your wrath attone Nar O hear the Sister of your once lov'd Son Iul. Your daughter hear They come forward on their knees Nar. As you are great be good Iul. And hear the voice of your own crying blood Aug. Treason Conspiracy they have combin'd With knit disloyalty to break my mind To wast my spirits
the Son of Divine Iulius are How durst you in Augustus Court appear No breast but yours such rashness ever knew But to approach him here and singly too Nought but distraction or despair would do 'T is certain death Caes. That certain death is past And I upon the blessed shore am cast I track'd a Fiend I thought by Furies driv'n I sought for Hell but stumbled upon Heav'n You are Glo. A woman Caes. Angels shou'd speak true But sure so bright a flow'r on Earth ne're grew Her lips her cheeks must more than Roses be What Stars her eyes what moving Majesty So sweet and so imperious too they move Sparkling with beauty glitt'ring all with Loveâ— Enter Leander Lea. Hast or the Emp'ror will evade the toil He 's almost out of sight hast to the spoil Caes. Not Iulia's such when all her gemms she wears Nor sad Narcissa more adorn'd with tears Yield Beauties yield or shun this dazling eye Since those that stay will soon her Victims lye Like Autumn-leaves turn yellow all and dye Glo. Just Heav'n does sure this God-like man provide To bear me from the Tyrants lust and pride Beauty if thou didst ever aid me now That I may make this haughty gazer bow This heav'nly Youth Oh force him to adore To love me only I 'le ne're ask thee more Caes. Why beats my heart as I had poison ta'en What means my burning breast and giddy brain Swift thrilling cold with panick terrour flies And an unusual thaw dissolves my eyes If Love thou art I will not take the wound My Armour shall thy pointed darts confound I 'le draw 'em if they cannot be withstood Though to the Feathers drinking in my blood Then shake 'em at her eyes with fix'd disdain And hurl 'em to thy Godhead back again Enter Araspes Aras Your vengeance must another season take Caes. Love is low play which Warriours shou'd forsake Yet what a stir does this blind Gamester make He makes my heart rebound about my breast And laughs to see me tire and cries no rest From side to side strikes the tormented Ball And with each stroke he dints the very wall Glo. If you in Fields have purchas'd high renown Have with persisting Vertue wonders done And Wreaths rewards of toiling Valour won Now in a Princess quarrel lift your Sword Fate never did a nobler cause afford By all the mighty Battels you have fought By all the Trophies you with bloud have bought A Royal suff'ring Virgins wrongs redress And kill the Giant vice that wou'd oppress Caes. I meet the summons swift and snatch the joy Kindling at death and panting to destroy Another Sword like mine you 'l ne're imploy War was my Mistress and I lov'd her long She lov'd my Musick shoutings were my Song And clashing Arms that eccho'd through the Plain Neighings of Horses groans of dying men Notes which the Trump and hoarser Drum affords And dying sounds rising from falls of Swords Command dispatch and bid your Lightning fly I 'le flash I 'le kill I 'le conquer in your eye And after all here yield my breath and dye O cou'd you love Glo. Let Love be mention'd last But first to free me hence you shou'd forecast Caes. By all my love you are already past You are O Heav'n wherever you wou'd be And I am with you all o're extasie High walls and Tow'rs are levell'd where you go You tread on pants and sighs about you blow And hearts in their own bleedings round you flow Aras If you wou'd bear her safe hast Sir away Lea. The minute 's critical and will not stay Caes. Move on and bravely let us meet our dooms But give me warning e're the Tyrant comes I 'le follow slowly and while Love is by The swiftest deaths and rushing fates defie Glo. In all your acts such God-like manners shine I doubt not but your Parents are Divine Therefore to match you with a stock of fame Know from a race as high as yours I came Pompey the Great and fair Cornelia gave The life which you so gen'rously wou'd save Caes. Ha! now I find the cause I ne're couâ—d love Long long ago our hearts were pair'd above And my ambition joyn'd with destiny Oft times suggesting it cou'd never be That Caesar's Son who all the World had aw'd Shou'd wed beneath the daughter of a God Exeunt ACT. IV. SCENE The Palace of Marcellus Marcellus with his Sword drawn against Julia. Mar. BY Heav'n I 'le bear no more 't is publick now Disgrace so bold is grav'd upon thy brow That e'en old age whose eyes are seldom clear Dim with death's mist can read thy falshood there All Rome with thy proclaim'd dishonour rings And ev'ry Infant Iulia's lewdness sings What can thy crimes expect from my just rage Iul. Death let my bloud your violent wrath asswage 'T is better we shou'd both for ever sleep In calms then wake in storms and always weep Mar. Weep If the Ocean from thy eyes were spilt The Ocean cou'd not wash away thy guilt Nor think that when thy Beauties shall be laid In Earth thy peace is then for ever made No faithless Fair still shalt thou haunted be And a long row of pale Adult'rers see And me at last pursuing them and thee Iul. Not haunting Furies there can rack me more Than Jealousies on earth that louder roar Though I shou'd make account for ev'ry thought While false relations are by Traytors wrought And you believe those most that most abuse 'T were vain for me my honour to excuse Mar. How well your pride an innocence can feign Excuse your honour That indeed 's most vain Thy purpose vain as thy past actions foul Vain all thy thoughts which with wild fancies roul And one immortal Vanity's thy soul. Iul. I cannot stay to hear your vain debate Mar. Pass not this way 't is guarded with thy fate Iul. Strike then and free me from a world of cares Better dye once then always live in fears Loud clamours all the day my peace molest With perjur'd false I hate renounce detest Still am I wak'd by day with these alarms At night you start and throw me from your arms Last night your head upon my breast reposâ—d Just as sweet balmy sleep my eyes had clos'd Hearing me sigh you cry'd aloud By Heav'n Those sighs are to your dear lov'd Ovid giv'n But I will conjure him from Pontus back And his curs'd life by thousand torments take Mar. O Iulia is there not a cause for this Thou sayst I rob thy days and nights of peace Hast thou not robb'd my life of all its bliss Heav'n witness what I am and what have been What thou hast done how gloried in thy sin How triumph'd in thy ills Iul. What I have done Shall to no mortal not to you be known Mar. I 'le know Iul. Ye shall not Mar. With this sure I shall I 'le open ev'ry vein and know thee all Iul. Strike to thy vengeance summon all the lies
and to bow my will Yet like an old tough Oak I 'le hold out still Spight of the sighs that blow and showrs that weep My soul to death shall her vow'd purpose keep Speak break your hearts the Gusts of grief I 'le tire Like hammer'd Anvile I 'le more blows require That at each stroke my eyes may scatter fire Nar. By all the God-like honours you have won Iul. By all the Nations that you have undone Nar. Stop here the Tempest of your fury lay Do not the Earth with lasting storms dismay Iul. Or to your rouling Thunder give a check Or let the cloud upon your daughter break Aug. Yes Vipersâ— yes by Iupiter it shall I 'le lighten thunder and consume ye all Kill 'em Guards kill my Neece my Daughter Son 'T is glorious death they seek hast push 'em on Ha! Villains Traytors dare ye thus give back My self in my own cause revenge will take Agrippa and Mecaenas hold him Though bloud 's below an Emperour to spill I 'le first disarm 'em and then you shall kill Strives to get from Agrippa Thus an old Lion struggles with his prey Which when all torn his flaming eyes survey The Royal Savage scorns the easie prize And calls his young ones forth with dreadfull cries He gathers round him all the cruel brood Thus calls 'em on and fleshes 'em in blood Breaks from their arms Gloriana unveils and meets him Glor. Augustus hold and Caesar's Son retire 'T is just that I for all shou'd once expire Caesario but for me you ne're had known Who sav'd my life by hazarding his own Because Caesario has my honour freed Your doom has sentenc'd him and these to bleed Which to avoid and set all right again Caesar I yield to wear my former chain Caes. Ah cruel Princess what what have you don And whither wou'd you from Caesario run All 's lost for which I thought life worth regard You have your self transferr'd that dear reward Which I with thousand dangers wou'd have bought You have your self my sharpest torments wrought Death I cou'd meet in its most hideous forms In brazen Bulls in racks wheels fires and storms But cannot see you his Here Tyrant take renders his Sword A life that does its own disquiets make To her vexation terrour 't is to thee But of all torments 't is the worst to me Aug. I take thy Sword and when I think it fit Thy soul her melancholly house shall quit Glor. By all Heroickâ—proofs of your high fame When yours I cease to be I nothing am Conceal'd exalted projects fill my mind I had not else to Caesar thus resign'd What is all yours Caes. By Heav'n you are all his Already he is hastning to his bliss How to your self unkind to me unjust That wou'd to one so known a Tyrant trust I see his eyes red with Triumphant lust I see him from your sacred body tear The scatter'd Robes in your dishevel'd hair I see his bloudy hand I hear his tongue Cry Yield and now I see you thrown along Hands tir'd speech lost no Rhet'rick now appears But speaking sighs and more perswading tears Now grasping thee my fancy shews him nigher Pale as thy cheeks and shaking with desire I see him on thy vanquish'd honour tread I see the Rape and with the sight am dead Aug. Death I 'le endure no more hast lead her hence And Guards upon your lives secure the Prince How darst thou gaze thus now thy doom is past Caes. I 'le look my soul out Aug. Do this look's thy last To rack thee more thou shalt look once again And pass by Heav'n to Hell 't is witty pain And worthy of a King 's revengeful brain As obscene Birds snatch the remains of light Rise late in Summer-Eves and set in Night So like a Bat thou shalt her eyes survey Then in death's deepest darkness dive away He goes out follow'd by Marcellus Julia Narcissa who seem to intreat him Guards stay Caes. O Gloriana Glor. O Caesario Caes. Cease Let 's seal our lips with everlasting peace Griefs so unutterable who can speak Glor. Have we hearts still Caes. Grant Heav'n that mine may break Glor. Caesario we must part Caes. Gods she 's in hast The time the Tyrant gave she wishes past Glor. Caesar's commands will instantly be sent 'T is better to divide than to be rent How much I love Caes. That I wou'd dying hear And to the shades the sweet expressions bear Glor. Why shou'd you wish what cannot be exprest But guess my flame by that which warms your breast Love's magnitnde is harder to declare Than 't is to tell the bigness of a Star This I can say if that can passion shew With you I 'd rather to a Cottage go Than with Augustus live and wear a Crown 'T is death to part and yet I must be gone This though I know I cannot but look back And sigh adieus and thousand farewells take I linger after you and wish your sight Like Birds that languish for the morning light Like Babes unkindly wean'd that take no rest But bath'd in tears lye pining for the breast I seek your heart and when I find it gone I weep and sigh as I wou'd break my own Caes. 'T is Love 't is Love the great dear extasie And I with Raptures find you equal me O that such Loves shou'd have so quick a doom Like lives of Lillies blasted in their bloom Yet we 'l appear in this last minute strong And talk as if our joys shou'd flourish long We like protesting Swains will plight our faith And wish that when we break our perjur'd breath May strait be stop'd by the cold hand of death Glor. If not to death my passion I preserve And all the Love which you can give deserve Though from their seats the Rival Gods came down And each shou'd wooe me with a Starry Crown Though the fine Sun or finer God of Love Shou'd swear they priz'd me more than joys above Yet if to them in all the beams they wear I did not thee in humble weeds prefer May Lions bolting from the nearest Wood Quench their hot thirst in Gloriana's blood Caes. If thou more fair then the red mornings dawn Sweeter then Pearley dews that scent the lawn Then blue-ey'd Violets or the damask Rose When in her hottest fragrancy she glows And the cool West her wafted odour blows If thou art not the darling of my soul May Mountains big with curses on me roul Glor. On me may Lightnings fall and Mildews rain And may I dye at last of Mother's pain Caes. May Iove showr all his Thunders on my head And may I be despis'd when I am dead Then as I lye all pale upon the ground May ev'ry Virgin give my breast a wound May no eye pity me nor heart deplore That faithless wretch who his first Love forswore Exeunt ACT. V. SCENE The Imperial Chamber Augustus Narcissa Aug. WHat shall I never rest till I am dead Nar. I