impunitie But with our fellowes part o th' guift proclaim'd Nero meets them Nero Whether goe you stay my friends 'T is Caesar calles you stay my louing friends Tigell: We were his slaues his footstooles and must crouch But now with such obseruance to his feet It is his misery that calles vs friends Nero And moues you not the misery of a Prince O stay my friends stay harken to the voyce Which once yee knew Tigell: Harke to the peoples cryes Harke to the streets that Galba Galba ring Nero The people may forsake me without blame I did them wrong to make you rich and great I tooke their houses to bestow on you Treason in them hath name of libertie Your fault hath no excuse you are my fault And the excuse of others treachery Tigell: Shall we with staying seeme his tyrannies T' vphold as if we were in loue with them We are excus'd vnlesse we stay too long As forced Ministers and apart of wrong ex preter Nero Nero O now I see the vizard from my face So louely and so fearefull is fall'n off That vizard shadow nothing Maiestie Which like a child acquainted with his feares But now men trembled at and now contemne Nero forsaken is of all the world The world of truth O fall some vengeance downe Equall vnto their falsehoods and my wrongs Might I accept the Chariot of the Sunne And like another Phaeton consume In flames of all the world a pile of Death Worthy the state and greatnesse I haue lost Or were I now but Lord of my owne fires Wherein false Rome yet once againe might smoake And perish all vnpitied of her Gods That all things in their last destruction might Performe a funerall honour to their Lord O loue dissolue with Caesar Caesars world Or you whom Nero rather should inuoake Blacke Chaos and you fearefull shapes beneath That with a long and not vaine enuy haue Sought to destroy this worke of th' other Gods Now let your darkenesse cease the spoyles of day And the worlds first contention end your strife Enter two Romanes to him 1 Rom: Though others bound with greater benefits Haue left your changed fortunes and doe runne Whither new hopes doe call them yet come we Nero O welcome come you to aduersitie Welcome true friends why there is faith on earth Of thousand seruants friends and followers Yet two are left your countenance me thinkes Giues comfort and new hopes 2 Rom: Doe not deceiue your thoughts My Lord we bring no comfort would we could But the last duty to performe and best We euer shall a free death to perswade To cut off hopes of fearcer cruelty And scorne more cruell to a worthy soule 1 Rom: The Senate haue decreed you 're punishable After the fashion of our ancestors Which is your necke being locked in a forke You must be naked whipt and scourg'd to death Nero The Senate thus decreed they that so oft My vertues flattered haue and guifts of mine My gouernment preferr'd to ancient times And challenge Numa to compare with me Haue they so horrible an end sought out No here I beare which shall preuent such shame This hand shall yet from that deliuer me And faithfull be alone vnto his Lord Alasse how sharpe and terrible is death O must I die must now my senses close For euer die and nere returne againe Neuer more see the Sunne nor Heauen nor Earth Whither goe I what shall I be anone What horred iourney wandrest thou my soule Vnder th' earth in darke dampe duskie vaults Or shall I now to nothing be resolu'd My feares become my hopes O would I might Me thinkes I see the boyling Phlegeton And the dull poole feared of them we feare The dread and terror of the Gods themselues The furies arm'd with linkes with whippes with snakes And my owne furies farre more mad then they My mother and those troopes of slaughtred friends And now the Iudge is brought vnto the throne That will not leaue vnto authoritie Nor fauour the oppressions of the great 1 Rom: These are the idle terrors of the night Which wise men though they teach doe not beleeue To curbe our pleasures faine and aide the weake 2 Rom: Deaths wrongfull defamation which would make Vs shunne this happy hauen of our rest This end of euils as some fearefull harme 1 Rom. Shadowes and fond imaginations Which now you see on earth but children feare 2 Rom: Why should our faults feare punishment from them What doe the actions of this life concerne The tother world with which is no commerce 1 Rom: Would Heauen and Starres necessitie compell Vs to doe that which after it would punish 2 Rom: Let vs not after our liues end beleeue More then you felt before it Nero If any words haue made me confident And boldly doe for hearing others speake Boldly this night But will you by example Teach me the truth of your opinion And make me see that you beleeue your selues Will you by dying teach me to beare death With courage 1 Rom: No necessitie of death Hangs ore our heads no dangers threatens vs Nor Senates sharpe decree nor Galbaes armes 2 Rom: Is this the thankes then thou dost pay our loue Die basely as such a life deseru'd Reserue thy selfe to punishment and scorne Of Rome and of thy laughing enemies exeunt Manet Nero Nero They hate me cause I would but liue what was 't You lou'd kind friends and came to see my death Let me endure all torture and reproach That earth or Galbaes anger can inflict Yet hell and Rodamanth are more pittilesse The first Romane to him Rom: Though not deseru'd yet once againe I come To warne thee to take pitie on thy selfe The troupes by the Senate sent discend the hill And come Nero To take me and to whip me vnto death O whither shall I flye Rom: Thou hast no choice Nero O hither must I flye hard is his happe Who from death onely must by death escape Where are they yet O may I not a little Bethinke my selfe Rom: They are at hand harke thou maist heare the noise Nero O Rome farewell farewell you Theaters Where I so oft with popular applause In song and action O they come I die He fals on his sword Rom: So base an end all iust commiseration Doth take away yet what we doe now spurne The morning Sunne saw fearefull to the world Enter some of Galbaes friends Antoneus and others with Nimphidius bound Gal: You both shall die together Traitors both He to the common wealth and thou to him And worse to a good Prince what is he dead Hath feare encourag'd him and made him thus Preuent our punishment then die with him Fall thy aspyring at thy Masters feete He kils Nimph Anton: Who though he iustly perisht yet by thee Deseru'd it not nor ended there thy treason But euen thought o th' Empire thou conceiu'st Galbaes disgrace in receiuing that Which the sonne of Nimphidia could hope Rom: Thus great bad men aboue them finde a rod People depart and say there is a God Exeunt FJNJS
sit on the proudest browe And boasting valour looseth his red cheeke A Romane to them Rom: Fire fire helpe we burne 2. Rom: Fire water fire helpe fire Senec: Fire where Petron: Where what fire Rom: O round about here there on euery side The girdling flame doth with vnkind embraces Compasse the Citie Petro: How came this fire by whom Senec: Wast chance or purpose Petro: Why is 't not quencht Rom: Alas there are a many there with weapons And whether it be for pray or by command They hinder nay they throwe on fire-brands Enter Antonius to them Anton: The fire encreaseth and will not be staid But like a streame that tumbling from a hill Orewhelmes the fields orewhelmes the hopefull toyle o th' husbandman and headlong beares the woods The vnweeting Shepheard on a Rocke a farre Amazed heares the fearefull noyse so here Danger and Terror striue which shall exceed Some cry and yet are well some are kild silent Some kindly runne to helpe their neighbours house The whilest their own 's a fire some saue their goods And leaue their dearer pledges in the flame One takes his litle sonnes with trembling hands Tother his house-Gods saues which could not him All bann the doore and with wishes kill Their absent murderer Petro: What are the Gaules returnd Doth Brenius brandish fire-brands againe Senec: What can Heauen now vnto our suffrings adde Enter Another Romane to them Rom: O all goes downe Rome falleth from the Roofe The wind 's aloft the conquering flame turnes all Into it selfe Nor doe the Gods escape Pleidds burnes Iupiter Stator burnes The Altar now is made a sacrifice An Vesta mournes to see her Virgin fires Mingle with prophane ashes Senec: Heauen hast thou set this end to Roman greatnesse Were the worlds spoyles for this to Rome deuided To make but our fires bigger You Gods whose anger made vs great grant yet Some change in misery We begge not now To haue our Consull tread on Asian Kings Or spurne the quiuerd Susa at their feet This we haue had before we begg to liue At least not thus to die Let Cannos come Let Allius waters turne againe to blood To these will any miseries be light Petro: Why with false Auguries haue we bin deceiu'd Why was our Empire told vs should endure With Sunne and Moone in time in brightnesse passe them And that our end should be o th' world and it What can Celestiall Godheads double too Senec: O Rome the enuy late But now the pitie of the world thee gets The men of Choleos at thy sufferings griue The shaggy dweller in the Scithian Rockes The most condemned to perpetuall snowe That neuer wept at kindreds burials Suffers with thee and feeles his heart to soften O should the Parthyan heare these miseries He would his low and natiue hate apart Sit downe with vs and lend an Enemies teare To grace the funerall fires of ending Rome Exeunt Soft Musique Enter Nero aboue alone with a Timbrell I now my Troy lookes beautious in her flames The Trirhnen Seas are bright with Roman fires Whilest the amazed Marriner a farre Gazing on th' vnknowne light wonders what starre Heauen hath begot to ease the aged Moone When Pirrhus stryding ore the cynders stood On ground where Troy late was and with his Eye Measur'd the height of what he had throwne downe A Citie great in people and in power Walls built with hands of Gods He now forgiue The ten yeares length and thinkes his wounds well heald Bath'd in the blood of Priams fifty sonnes Yet am not I appeas'd I must see more Then Towers and Collomns tumble to the ground 'T was not the high built walles and guiltlesse stones That Nero did prouoke Themselues must be the wood To feed this fire or quench it with their blood Enter a Woman with a burnt Child Wom O my deare Infant O my Child my Child Vnhappy comfort of my nine moneths paines And did I beare thee onely for the fire Was I to that end made a Mother Nero I now begins the sceane that I would haue Enter a Man bearing another dead Man O Father speake yet no the mercilesse blowe Hath all bereft speech motion sense and life Wom O beauteous innocence whitnes ill blackt How to be made a coale couldst thou deserue Man O reuerend wrinckles well becomming palenesse Why hath death now lifes colours giuen thee And mockes thee with the beauties of fresh youth Wom Why wert thou giuen me to be tane away So soone or could not Heauen tell how to punish But first by blessing mee Man Why were thy yeares lengthned so long To be cut off vntimely Nero Play on play on and fill the golden skies With cryes and pitie with your blood Mens Eyes Wom Where are thy flattering smiles thy pretty kisses And armes that wont to writhe about my necke Man Where are thy Counsels where their good example And that kind roughnes of a Fathers anger Wom Whom haue I now to leaue my old age on Man Who shall I now haue to set right my youth within Gods if yee be not fled from Heauen helpe vs Nero I like this Musique well they like not mine Now in the teares of all men let me sing Cantat And make it doubtfull to the Gods aboue Whether the Earth be pleas'd or doe complaine Man But may the man that all this blood hath shed Neuer bequeath to th' earth an old gray head Let him vntimely be cut off before And leaue a course like this all wounds and gore Be there no friend at hand no standers by In loue or pittie mou'd to close that Eye O let him die the wish and hate of all And not a teare to grace his Funerall exeunt Wom Heauen you will heare that which the world doth scorne The prayers of misery and soules forlorne Your anger waxeth by delaying stronger O now for mercy be dispis'd no longer Let him that makes so many Mothers childlesse Make his vnhappy in her fruitfulnesse Let him no issue leaue to beare his name Or some to right a Fathers wronged fame Our flames to quit be righteous in your yre And when he dies let him want funerall fire exeunt Nero Let Heauen doe what it will this I haue done Already doe you feele my furies waight Rome is become a graue of her late greatnes Her clowdes of smoke haue tane away the day Her flames the night Now vnbeleeuing Eyes what craue you more Enter Neophilus to him Neoph: O saue your selfe my Lord your Pallace burnes Nero My Pallace how what traiterous hand Enter Tigellinus to them Tigel: O flie my Lord and saue your selfe betimes The winde doth beate the fire vpon your house The eating flame deuoures your double gates Your pillars fall your golden roofes doe melt Your antique Tables and Greeke Imagery The fire besets and the smoake you see Doth choake my speech O flie and saue your life Nero Heauen thou dost striue I see for victory exeunt Enter Nimphideus
traytors Yong The Gods forbid my Prince should pitie need Somewhat the sad remembrance did me stirre Oth fraile and weake condition of our kind Somewhat his greatnesse then whom yesterday The world but Caesar could shew nothing higher Besides some vertues and some worth he had That might excuse my pitie to an end So cruell and vnripe Poppae: I know not how this stranger moues my mind His face me thinkes is not like other mens Nor doe they speake thus Oh his words inuade My weakned senses and ouercome my heart Nero Your pitie shewes your fauour and your will Which side you are inclinde too had your power You can but pitie else should Caesar feare Your ill affection then shall punisht bee Take him to execution he shall die That the death pities of mine enemie Yong This benefit at least Sad death shall giue to free me from the power Of such a gouernment and if I die For pitying humane chance and Pisoes end There will be some too that will pitie mine Poppa: O what a dauntlesse looke what sparkling eyes Threating in suffering sure some noble blood Is hid in ragges feares argues a base spirit In him what courage and contempt of death And shall I suffer one I loue to die He shall not die hands of this man away Nero thou shalt not kill this guiltlesse man Nero He guiltlesse strumpet Spurns her and Poppaa falls She 's in loue with the smooth face of the boy Neoph. Alas my Lord you haue slaine her Epaph: Helpe she dies Nero Poppaa Poppaa speake I am not angry I did not meane to hurt thee speake sweet loue Neoph: Shee 's dead my Lord Nero Fetch her againe she shall not die I le ope the Iron gates of hell And breake the imprisond shaddowes of the deepe And force from death this farre too worthy pray Shee is not dead The crimson red that like the morning shone When from her windowes all with Roses strewde She peepeth forth forsakes not yet her cheekes Her breath that like a hony-suckle smelt twining about the prickled Eglintine Yet moues her lipes those quicke and piercing eyes That did in beautie challenge heauens eyes Yet shine as they were wont O no they doe not See how they grow obscure O see they close And cease to take or giue light to the world What starres so ere you are assur'd to grace The firmament for loe the twinkling fires Together throng and that cleare milky space Of stormes and Phiades and thunder void Prepares your roome doe not with wry aspect Looke on your Nero who in blood shall mourne Your lucklesse fate And many a breathing soule Send after you to waite vpon their Queene This shall begin the rest shall follow after And fill the streets with outcryes and with slaughter Ex. Enter Seneca with two of his friends Senec: What meanes your mourning this vngratefull sorrow Where are your precepts of Philosophie Where our prepared resolution So many yeeres fore-studied against danger To whom is Neroes cruelty vnknowne Or what remained after mothers blood But his instructers death Leaue leaue these teares Death from me nothing takes but what 's a burthen A clog to that free sparke of Heauenly fire But that in Seneca the which you lou'd Which you admir'd doth and shall still remaine Secure of death vntouched of the graue 1. Friend Wee le not belie our teares we waile not thee It is our selues and our owne losse we grieue To thee what losse in such a change can bee Vertue is paid her due by death alone To our owne losses doe we giue these teares That loose thy loue thy boundlesse knowledge loose Loose the vnpatternd sample of thy vertue Loose whatsoeu'r may praise or sorrow moue In all these losses yet of this we glory That 't is thy happinesse that makes vs sorry 2. Friend If there be any place for Ghosts of good men If as we haue bin long taught great mens soules Consume not with their bodies thou shalt see Looking from out the dwellings of the ayre True duties to thy memorie perform'd Not in the outward pompe of funerall But in remembrance of thy deeds and words The oft recalling of thy many vertues The Tombe that shall th' eternall relickes keepe Of Seneca shall be his hearers hearts Senec: Be not afraid my soule goe cheerefully To thy owne Heauen from whence it first let downe Thou loath by this imprisoning flesh putst on Now lifted vp thou rauisht shalt behold The truth of things at which we wonder here And foolishly doe wrangle on beneath And like a God shalt walke the spacious ayre And see what euen to conceit 's deni'd Great soule o th' world that through the parts defus'd Of this vast All guid'st what thou dost informe You blessed mindes that from the Pbeares you moue Looke on mens actions not with idle eyes And Gods we goe to Aaid me in this strife And combat of my flesh that ending I May still shew Seneca and my selfe die Exeunt Enter Antonius Enanthe Anto: Sure this message of the Princes So grieuous and vnlookt for will appall Petronius much Enan: Will not death any man Anto: It will but him so much the more That hauing liu'd to his pleasure shall forgoe So delicate a life I doe not maruell That Seneoa and such sowre fellowes can Leaue that they neu'r tasted But when we That haue the Nectar of thy kisses felt That drinkes away the troubles of this life And but one banquet make of forty yeeres Must come to leaue this but soft here he is Enter Petroneus and a Centurion Petron: Leaue me a while Centurion to my friends Let me my farewell take and thou shalt see Neroes commandement quickly obaid in mee ex Centurion Come let vs drinke and dash the posts with wine Here throwe your flowers fill me a swelling bowle Such as Mecenas or my Lucan dranke On Virgills birth day Enan: What meanes Petroneus this vnseasonable And causelesse mirth Why comes not from the Prince This man to you a messenger of death Petro: Here faire Enanthe whose plumpe ruddy cheeke Exceeds the grape it makes this here my gyrle He drinks And thinkst thou death a matter of such harme Why he must haue this pretty dimpling chin And will pecke out those eyes that now so wound Enan: Why is it not th' extreamest of all ills Petro: It is indeed the last and end of ills The Gods before th 'would let vs tast deaths Ioyes Plac't vs i th toyle and sorrowes of this world Because we should perceiue th' amends and thanke them Death the grim knaue but leades you to the doore Where entred once all curious pleasures come To meete and welcome you A troupe of beauteous Ladies from whose eyes Loue thousand arrowes thousand graces shootes Puts forth their faire hands to you and inuites To their greene arbours and close shadowed walles Whence banisht is the roughnesse of our yeeres Onely the west wind blowes i th euer Spring And euer Sommer There
cause Did chuse a publike place Serui. Our deed is honest why should it seeke corners T is for the people done let them behold it Let me haue them a witnesse of my truth And loue toth ' Common-wealth The danger's greater So is the glory Why should our pale counsels Tend whether feare rather then vertue calls them I doe not like these cold considerings First let our thoughts looke vp to what is honest Next to what 's safe If danger may deterre vs Nothing that 's great or good shall ere be done And when we first gaue hands vpon this deed Toth ' commons safetie we our owne gaue vp Let not man venture on a princes death How bad soeuer with beliefe to escape Dispaire must be our hope fame or reward To make the generall liking to concurre With others were euen to strike him in his shame Or as he thinks his glory on the Stage And so too truely make 't a Tragedy When all the people cannot chuse but clap So sweet a close and 't will not Caesar be That shall be slaine a Romane Prince T will be Alemaeon or blind Oedipus Meli. And if it be of publique matters 't is not aside Like to be talke or idle fault finding On which the coward onely spends his wisedome These are all men of action and of spirit And dare performe what they determine on Luca. What thinke you of Poppea Tigellinus And th o'ther odious Instruments of Court Were it not best at once to rid them all Serui. In Caesars ruine Anthony was spared le ts not our cause with needlesse blood distaine One onely mou'd the change will not appeare When too much licence giuen to the sword Though against ill will make euen good men feare Besides things setled you at pleasure may By Law and publique Iudgement haue them rid Meli. And if it be but talke o th' State 't is Treason Like it they cannot that they cannot doe If seeke to mend it and remooue the Prince That 's highest Treason change his Councellours aside That 's alteration of the gouernment The common cloke that Treasons mufled in If laying force aside to seeke by suite And faire petition t' haue the State reform'd That 's tutering of the Prince and takes away Th one his person this his Soueraigntie Barely in priuate talke to shew dislike Of what is done is dangerous therefore the action Mislike you cause the doer likes you not Men are not fit to liue i th state they hate Piso Though we would all haue that imployment sought Yet since your worthy forwardnesse Seruinus Preuents vs And so Nobly beggs for danger Be this the chosen hand to doe the deed The fortune of the Empire speed your sword Sceui: Vertue and Heauen speed it O you homeborne Gods of our countrey Romulus and Vesta That Thuscan Tiber and Romes towers defends Forbid not yet at length a happie end To former euils Let this hand reuenge The wronged world enough we now haue suffered exeunt Manet Melichus solus Meli Tush all this long Consulting 's more then words It ends not there th'haue some attempt some plot Against the state well I le obserue it farther And if I find it make my profit of it exeunt Finis Actus Secundus Actus Tertius Enter Poppea Solus POppea I lookt Nimphidius would haue come ere this Makes he no greater hast to our embraces Or doth the easines abate his edge Or seeme we not as faire still as we did Or is he so with Neroes playing wonne That he before Poppea doth preferre it Or doth he thinke to haue occasion still Sill to haue time to waite on our stolne meetings Enter Nimphidius to her Poppe: But see his presence now doth end those doubts What i' st Nimphidius hath so long detain'd you Nimph: Faith Lady causes strong enough High walls bard dores and guards of armed men Poppe: Were you Imprisoned then as you were going To the Theater Nimphi: Not in my going Lady But in the Theater I was Imprisoned For after he was once vpon the Stage The Gates were more seuerely lookt into Then at a towne besieg'd No man no cause Was Currant no nor passant At other sights The striefe is only to get in but here The stirre was all in getting out againe Had we not bin kept to it so I thinke T' would nere haue bin so tedious though I know 'T was hard to iudge whether his doing of it Were more absur'd then 't was for time to doe it But when we once were forc't to be spectators compel'd to that which should haue bin a pleasure We could no longer beare the wearisomnesse No paine so irkesome as a forc't delight Some fell downe dead or seem'd at least to doe so Vnder that colour to be carried forth Then death first pleasur'd men the shape all feare Was put on gladly some clombe ore the walls And so by falling caught in earnest that Which th' other did dissemble There were women That being not able to intreat the guard To let them passe the gates were brought to bedde Amid'st the throngs of men and made Lucina Blush to see that vnwonted companie Poppe: If 't were so straightly kept how got you forth Nimp: Faith Lady I came pretending hast In Face and Countenance told them I was sent For things by th' Prince forgot about the sceane Which both my credit made them to beleeue And Nero newly whispered me before Thus did I passe the gates the danger Ladie I haue not yet escap't Poppe: What danger meane you Nim: The danger of his anger when he knowes How I thus shrunke away for there stood knaues That put downe in their Tables all that stir'd And markt in each there cheerefulnesse or sadnesse Poppe: I warrant I le excuse you But I pray Lett 's be a little better for your sight How did our Princely husband act Orestes Did he not wish againe his Mother liuing Her death would adde great life vnto his part But come I pray the storie of your sight Nim: O doe not driue me to those hatefull paines Lady I was too much in seeing vext Let it not be redoubled with the telling I now am well and heare my eares set free O be mercifull doe not bring me backe Vnto my prison at least free your selfe It will not passe away but stay the time Wracke out the houres in length O giue me leaue as one that wearied with the toyle at sea And now on wished shore hath firm'd his foote He lookes about and glads his thoughts and eyes With sight o th' greene cloath'd ground and leauy trees Of flowers that begge more then the looking on And likes these other waters narrow shores So let me lay my wearines in these armes Nothing but kisses to this mouth discourse My thought be compast in those circl'd Eyes Eyes on no obiect looke but on those Cheekes Be blest my hands with touch of those round brests Whiter and softer then the downe of
Swans Let me of thee and of thy beauties glory And endlesse tell but neuer wearying story Exeunt Enter Nero Ephaproditus Neophilus Nero Come Sirs I faith how did you like my acting What wa st not as you lookt for Epaph: Yes my Lord and much beyond Nero Did I not doe it to the life Epaph: The very doing neuer was so liuely As now this counterfeyting Nero And when I came Toth ' point of Agrippa Clitemnestras death Did it not mooue the feeling auditory Epaph: They had beene stones whom that could not haue mon'd Nero Did not my voyce hold out well to the end And seru'd me afterwards afresh to sing with Neoph: We know Apollo cannot match your voyce Epaph: By Ioue I thinke you are the God himselfe Come from aboue to shew your hidden arts And fill vs men with wonder of your skill Nero Nay faith speake truely doe not flatter me I know you need not flattery 's but where Desert is meane Epaph: I sweare by thee O Caesar Then whom no power of Heauen I honour more No mortall voice can passe or equall thine Nero They tell of Orpheus when he tooke his Lute And moou'd the noble Iuory with his touch Hebrus stood still Pangea bow'd his head Ossa then first shooke off his snowe and came To listen to the moouings of his song The gentle Popler tooke the Oake along And call'd the Pyne downe from his Mountaine seate The Virgine Bay although the Arts she hates o th' Delphick God was with his voice ore come He his twice-lost Euridice bewailes And Proserpines vaine gifts and makes the shores And hollow caues of forrests now vntreed Beare his griefe company and all things teacheth His lost loues name Then water ayre and ground Euridice Euridice resound These are bould tales of which the Greekes haue store But if he could from Hell once more returne And would compare his hand and voice with mine I though himselfe were iudge he then should see How much the Latine staines the Thracian lyar I oft haue walkt by Tibers flowing bankes And heard the Swan sing her owne Epitaph When she heard me she held her peace and died Let others raise from earthly things their praise Heauen hath stood still to heare my happy ayres And ceast th' eternall Musicke of the Spheares To marke my voyce and mend their tunes by mine Neoph: O diuine voyce Epaph: Happy are they that heare it Enter Tigellinus to them Nero But here comes Tigellinus come thy bill Are there so many I see I haue enemies Epaph: Haue you put Caius in I saw him frowne Neoph: And in the midst o th' Emperors act on Gallus laught out and as I thinke in scorne Nero Vespasian too a sleepe was he so drowsie Well he shall sleepe the Iron sleepe of death And did Thrasia looke so sourely on vs Tigil: He neuer smilde my Lord nor would vouchsafe With one applause to grace your action Nero Our action needed not be grac'd by him Hee 's our old enemie and still Malignes vs T' will haue an end nay it shall haue an end Why I haue bin too pittifull too remisse My easinesse is laught at and contemn'd But I will change it Not as heretofore By singling out them one by one to death Each common man can such reuenges haue A Princes anger must lay desolate Citties Kingdomes consume Roote vp mankind O could I liue to see the generall end Behold the world enwrapt in funerall flame When as the Sunne shall lend his beames to burne What he before brought forth and water serue Not to extinguish but to guise the fire Then like the Salamander bathing me In the last Ashes of all mortall things Let me giue vp this breath Priam was happie Happie indeed he saw his Troy burnt And Illion lye on heapes Whil'st thy pure streames Diuine Scamander did run Phrygian blood And heard the pleasant cries of Troian Mothers Could I see Rome so Tigell: Your Maiestie may easily Without this trouble to your sacred mind Nero What may I easily doe kill thee or him How may I rid you all where is the Man That will all others end and last himselfe O that I had thy Thunder in my hand Thou idle Rouer I le not shoote at trees And spend in woods my vnregarded vengeance I le sheuire them downe vpon their guilty roofes And fill the streetes with bloody burials But 't is not Heauen can giue me what I seeke To you you hated kingdomes of the night You severe powers that not like those aboue Will with faire words or childrens cryes be wonne That haue a stile beyond that Heauen is proud off Deriuing not from Art a makers Name But in destruction power and terror shew To you I flye for succour you whose dwellings For torments are bely'de must giue me ease Furies lend me your fires no they are here They must be other fires materiall brands That must the burning of my heat allay I bring to you no rude vnpractiz'd hands Already doe they reeke with mothers blood Tush that 's but innocents to what now I meane Alasse what euell could those yeeres commit The world in this shall see my setled wit exeunt Enter Seneca Petronius Senec: Petroneus you were at the Theater Petron: Senica I was and saw your kingly Pupyll In Mynstrils habit stand before the Iudges Bowing those hands which the worlds Scepter hold And with great awe and reuerence beseeching Indifferent hearing and an equall doome Then Caesar doubted first to be oreborne And so he ioyn'd himselfe to th' other singers And straightly all other Lawes o th' Stage obseru'd As not though weary to sit downe not spit Not wipe his sweat off but with what he wore Meane time how would he eye his aduersaries How he would seeke t' haue all they did disgrac 't Traduce them priuily openly raile at them And them he could not conquer so he would Corrupt with money to doe worse then he This was his singing part his acting now Senec: Nay euen end here for I haue heard enough I haue a Fidler heard him let me not See him a Player nor the fearefull voyce Of Romes great Monarch now command in Iest Our Prince be Aegamemnon in a Play Petron: Why Seneca T is better in Play Be Aegamemnon then himselfe indeed How oft with danger of the field beset Or with home mutineys would he vnbee Himselfe or ouer cruell alters weeping Wish that with putting off a vizard hee Might his true inward sorrow lay aside The showes of things are better then themselues How doth it stirre this ayrye part of vs To heare our Poets tell imagin'd fights And the strange blowes that fained courage giues When I Achilles heare vpon the Stage Speake Honour and the greatnesse of his soule Me thinkes I too could on a Phrygian Speare Runne boldly and make tales for after times But when we come to act it in the deed Death mares this brauery and the vgly feares Of th' other world
solus See how Fate workes vnto their purpos'd end And without all selfe-Industry will raise Whom they determine to make great and happy Nero throwes downe himselfe I stirre him not He runnes vnto destruction studies wayes To compassed danger and attaine the hate Of all Bee his owne wish is on his head Nor Rome with fire more then reuenges burns Let me stand still or lye or sleepe I rise Poppea some new fauour will seeke out My wakings to salute I cannot stirre But messagers of new preferment meet me Now she hath made me Captaine of the Guard So well I beare me in these night Allarmes That she imagin'd I was made for Armes I now command the Souldier he the Citie If any chance doe turne the Prince aside As many hatreds mischiefes threaten him Ours is his wife his seat and throwne is ours He 's next in right that hath the strongest powers exit Enter Sceuinus Melechus Sceui: O Troy and O yee soules of our Forefathers Which in your countreys fires were offred vp How neere your Nephewes to your fortune 's come Yet they were Grecian hands began your flame But that our Temples and our houses smoake Our Marble buildings turne to be our Tombes Burnt bones and spurnt at Courses fill the streets Not Pirrhus nor thou Hanniball art Author Sad Rome is ruin'd by a Romane hand But if to Neroes end this onely way Heauens Iustice hath chose out and peoples loue Could not but by this feebling ills be mou'd We doe not then at all complaine our harmes On this condition please vs let vs die And cloy the Parthian with reuenge and pitie Melic: My Master hath seald vp his Testament Those bond-men which he liketh best set free Giuen money and more liberally then he vs'd And now as if a farewell to the world Were meant A sumpteous banquet hath he made Yet not with countenance that feasters vse But cheeres his friends the whilest himselfe lookes sad Scen: I haue from fortunes Temple tane this sword May it be fortunate and now at least Since it could not preuent punish the Euill To Rome it had bin better done before But though lesse helping now they 'le praise it more Great Soueraigne of all mortall actions Whom onely wretched men and Poets blame Speed thou the weapon which I haue from thee 'T was not amidst thy Temple Monuments In vaine repos'd somewhat I know 't hath done O with new honours let it be laid vp Strike bouldly arme so many powerfull prayers Of dead and liuing houer ouer thee Melic: And though sometimes with talke impertinent And idle fances he would faine a mirth Yet is it easie seene somewhat is here The which he dares not let his face make shew of Sceuin: Long want of losse hath made it dull and blunt See Melichus this weapon better edg'd Melic: Sharpning of swords when must wee then haue blowes Or meanes my Master Cato-like to exempt Himselfe from power of Fates and cloy'd with life Giue the Gods backe their vnregarded gift But he hath neither Catoes minde nor cause A man giuen ore to pleasures and soft ease Which makes me still to doubt how in affaires Of Princes he dares meddle or desires Sceuin: We shall haue blowes on both sides Melichus Prouide me store of cloathes to bind vp wounds What an 't be heart for heart Death is the worst The Gods sure keepe it hide from vs that liue How sweet death is because we should goe on And be their bailes There are about the house Some stones that will stanch blood see them set vp This world I see hath no felicitie I le trie the other Melic: Neroes life is soft The sword 's prepar'd against anothers breast The helpe for his it can be no priuate foe For then 't were best to make it knowne and call His troupes of bond and freed men to his aide Besides his Counsellors Seneca And Lucan are no Managers of quarrels Sceuin: Me thinkes I see him struggling on the ground Heare his vnmanly outcries and lost prayers Made to the Gods which turne their heads away Nero this day must end the worlds desires And head-long send thee to vnquenched fires exit Melic: Why doe I further idly stand debating My proofes are but too many and too pregnant And Princes Eares still to suspitions open Who euer being but accus'd was quit For States are wise and cut of ylls that may be Meane men must die that t'other may sleepe sound Chiefely that rule whose weaknes apt to feares And bad deserts of all men makes them know There 's none but is in heart what hee 's accus'd exit Finis Actus Tertij Actus Quartus Enter Nero Poppaea Nimphidius Tigellinus Neophitus and Epaphroditus Nero THis kisse sweet loue I le force from thee and this And of such spoiles and victories be prowder Then if I had the fierce Panonian Or gray-eyd German ten times ouercome Let Iulius goe and fight at end o th' world And conquer from the wilde inhabitants Their cold and pouerty whilest Nero here Makes other warres warres where the conquerd gaines Where to ore-come is to be prisoner O willingly I giue my freedome vp And put on my owne chaines And am in loue with my captiuitie Such Venus is when on the sand shore Of Xanthus or on Idas pleasant greene She leades the dance Her the Nimphes all are we And smyling graces doe accompany If Bacchus could his stragling Mynion Grace with a glorious wreath of shining Starres Why should not Heauen my Poppaea Crowne The Northerne teeme shall moue into a round New constellations rise to honour thee The Earth shall wone thy fauours and the Sea Lay his rich shells and treasure at thy feete For thee Hidaspis shall throw vp his gold Pauchaia breath the rich delightfull smells The Seres and the feather'd man of Inde Shall their fine arts and curious labours bring And where the Sunn 's not knowne Poppaeas name Shall midst their feasts and barbarous pompe be sung Poppae: I now I am worthy to be Queene o th' world Fairer then Venus or the Bacchus loue But you 'le anone vnto your cutt-boy Sporus Your new made woman to whom now I heare You are wed led too Nero I wedded Poppae: I you wedded Did you not heare the words o th' Auspyces Was not the boy in bride-like garments drest Marriage bookes seald as 't were for yssue to Be had betweene you solemne feasts prepar'd While all the Court with God-giue you Ioy sounds It had bin good Domitius your Father Had nere had other wife Nero Your froward foole y' are still so bitter whos 's that Enter Melichus to them Nimph: One that it seemes my Lord doth come in hast Nero Yet in his face he sends his tale before him Bad newes thou tellest Melic: 'T is bad I tell but good that I can tell it Therefore your Maiestie will pardon me If I offend your eares to saue your life Nero Why is my life indangerd How ends this
circumstance thou wrackst my thoughts Meli My Lord your life is conspir'd against Nero By whom Meli I must be of the world excus'd in this If the great dutie to your Maiestie Makes me all other lesser to neglect Nero Th' art a tedious fellow speake by whom Melic: By my Master Nero Who 's thy Master Meli Sceuinus Poppae: Sceuinus why should he conspire Vnlesse he thinke that likenesse in conditions May make him too worthy o th' Empire thought Nero Who are else in it I thinke Natalis Subius Flauius Lucan Seneca and Lucius Piso Asper and Quintilianus Nero Ha done Thou'ilt reckon all Rome anone and so thou maist Th' are villaines all I le not trust one of them O that the Romanes had but all one necke Poppae: Pisoes she creeping into mens affections And popular arts haue giuen long cause of doubt And th' others late obseru'd discontents Risen from misinterpreted disgraces May make vs credit this relation Nero Where are they come they not vpon vs yet See the Guard doubted see the Gates shut vp Why the 'yle surprise vs in our Court anon Meli Not so my Lord they are at Pisoes house And thinke themselues yet safe and vndiscry'd Nero Le ts thither then And take them in this false security Tigel: 'T were better first publish them traytors Nymph: That were to make them so And force them all vpon their Enemies Now without stirre or hazard they le be tane And boldly tryall dare and law demaund Besides this accusation may be forg'd By mallice or mistaking Poppe: What likes you doe Nimphidius out of hand Two wayes distract when either would preuaile If they suspecting but this fellowes absence Should try the Citie and attempt their friends How dangerous might Pisoes fauour be Nimph: I to himselfe would make the matter cleare Which now vpon one seruants credit stands The Cities fauour keepes within the bonds Of profit they 'le loue none to hurt themselues Honour and friendship they heare others name Themselues doe neither feele nor know the same To put them yet though needlesse in some feare Wee le keepe their streets with armed companies Then if they stirre they see their wiues and houses Prepar'd a pray to th' greedy Souldier Poppe: Let vs be quicke then you to Pisoes house While I and Tigellinus further sift This fellowes knowledge Ex. omnes Pretor Nero Nero Looke to the gates and walles o th' Citie looke The riuer be well kept haue watches set In euery passage and in euery way But who shall watch these watches what if they Begin and play the Traitors first O where shall I Seeke faith or them that I may wisely trust The Citie fauours the conspirators The Senate in disgrace and feate hath liu'd The Camp why most are souldiers that be named Besides he knowes not all and like a foole I interrupted him else had he named Those that stood by me O securitie Which we so much seeke after yet art still To Courts a stranger and dost rather choose The smoaky reedes and sedgy cottages Then the proud roofes and wanton cost of Kings O sweet dispised ioyes of pouerty A happines vnknowne vnto the Gods Would I had rather in poore Gallij bin Or Vlubrae a ragged Magistrate Sat as a Iudge of measures and of corne Then the adored Monarke of the world Mother thou didst deseruedly in this That from a priuate and sure state didst raise My fortunes to this slippery hill of greatnesse Where I can neither stand nor fall with life Exit Enter Piso Lucan Sceuinus Flauius Flau: But since we are discouer'd what remaines But put our liues vpon our hands these swords Shall try vs Traitors or true Citizens Sceui: And what should make this hazard doubt successe Stout men are oft with sudden onsets danted What shall this Stage-player be Luc: It is not now Augustus grauitie nor Tiberius craft But Tigellinus and Crisogorus Eunuckes and women that we goe against Sceui: This for thy owne sake this for ours we begg That thou wilt suffer him to be orecome Why shouldst thou keepe so many vowed swords From such a hated throate Flaui: Or shall we feare To trust vnto the Gods so good a cause Luca: By this we may our selues Heauens fauour promise Because all noblenesse and worth on earth We see 's on our side Here the Faby's sonne Here the Coruini are and take that part There noble Fathers would if now they liu'd There 's not a soule that claimes Nobilitie Either by his or his fore-fathers merit But is with vs with vs the gallant youth Whom passed dangers or hote bloud makes bould Staid men suspect their wisedome or their faith To whom our counsels we haue not reueald And while our party seeking to disgrace They traitors call vs Each man treason praiseth And hateth faith when Piso is a traitor Sceui: And at aduenturer what by stoutnesse can Befall vs worse then will by cowardise If both the people and the souldier failde vs Yet shall we die at least worthy our selues Worthy our ancestors O Piso thinke Thinke on that day when in the Parthian fields Thou cryedst to th' flying Legions to turne And looke Death in the face he was not grim But faire and louely when he came in armes O why there di'd we not on Syrian swords Were we reseru'd to prisons and to chaines Behold the Galley-asses in euery street And euen now they come to clap on yrons Must Pisoes head be shewed vpon a pole Those members torne rather then Roman-like And Piso-like with weapons in our hands Fighting in throng of enemies to die And that it shall not be a ciuill warre Nero preuents whose cruelty hath left Few Citizens we are not Romans now But Moores and Iewes and vtmost Spaniards And Asiaes refuge that doe fill the Citie Piso Part of vs are already tak'n the rest Amaz'd and seeking holes Our hidden ends You see laid open Court and Citie arm'd And for feare ioyning to the part they feare Why should we moue desperate and hopelesse armes And vainely spill that noble bloud that should Christall Rubes and the Median fields Not Tiber colour And the more your show be Your loues and readinesse to loose your liues The lother I am to aduenture them Yet am I proud you would for me haue dy'd But liue and keepe your selues to worthier ends No Mother but my owne shall weepe my death Nor will I make by ouerthrowing vs Heauen guiltie of more faults yet from the hopes Your owne good wishes rather then the thing Doe make you see this comfort I receiue Of death vnforst O friends I would not die When I can liue no longer 'T is my glory That free and willing I giue vp this breath Leauing such courages as yours vntri'd But to belong in talke of dying would Shew a relenting and a doubtfull mind By this you shall my quiet thoughts intend I blame nor Earth nor Heauen for my end He dies Lucan O that this noble courage had bin
shewne Rather on enemies breasts then on thy owne Sceui: But sacred and inviolate be thy will And let it lead and I teach vs This sword I could more willingly haue thrust Through Neroes breast That fortune deni'd me It now shall through Sceuinus Enter Tigellinus solus What multitudes of villaines are here gotten In a conspiracy which Hydra like Still in the cutting off increaseth more The more we take the more are still appeach And euery man brings in new company I wonder what we shall doe with them all The prisons cannot hold more then they haue The Iayles are full the holes with Gallants stincke Strawe and gold lace together liue I thinke 'T were best euen shut the gates o th' Citie vp And make it all one Iayle for this I am sure There 's not an honest man within the walles And though the guilty doth exceed the free Yet through a base and fatall cowardise They all assist in taking one another And by their owne hands are to prison led There 's no condition nor degree of men But here are met Men of the sword and gowne Plebeans Senators and women too Ladies that might haue slaine him with their Eye Would vse their hands Philosophers And Polititians Polititians Their plot was laid too short Poets would now Not onely write but be the arguments Of Tragedies The Emperour 's much pleas'd But some haue named Seneca and I Will haue Petroneus one promise of pardon Or feare of torture will accusers find exit Enter Nimphidius Lucan Sceuinus with a guard Nimph: Though Pisoes suddennesse and guilty hand Preuented hath the death he should haue had Yet you abide it must Luca: O may the earth lye lightly on his Course Sprinckle his ashes with your flowers and teares The loue and dainties of Mankind is gone Sceui: What onely now we can we 'le follow thee That way thou lead'st and waite on thee in death Which we had done had not these hindred vs Nimph: Nay other ends your grieuous crimes awaite Ends which the law and your deserts exact Sceui: What haue we deserued Nimph: That punishment that traitors vnto Princes And enemies to the State they liue in merit Sceuin: If by the State this gouernment you meane I iustly am an enemy vnto it That 's but to Nero you and Tigellinus That glorious world that euen beguiles the wise Being lookt into includes but three or foure Corrupted men which were they all remou'd 'T would for the common State much better be Nimph: Why what can you i th' gouerment mislike Vnlesse it grieue you that the world 's in peace Or that our armes conquer without blood Hath not his power with forraine visitations And strangers honour more acknowldg'd bin Then any was afore him Hath not hee Dispos'd of frontier kingdomes with successe Giuen away Crownes whom he set vp preuailing The riuall seat of the Arsacidae That thought their brightnesse equall vnto ours Is 't crown'd by him by him doth raigne If we haue any warre it 's beyond Rheme And Euphrates and such whose different chances Haue rather seru'd for pleasure and discourse Then troubled vs At home the Citie hath Increast in wealth with building bin adorn'd The arts haue flourisht and the Muses sung And that his Iustice and well tempred raigne Hath the best Iudges pleas'd the powers diuine Their blessings and so long prosperitie Of th' Empire vnder him enough declare Sceui: You freed the State from warres abroad but 't was To spoile at home more safely and diuert The Parthian enmitie on vs and yet The glory rather and the spoyles of warre Haue wanting bin the losse and charge we haue Your peace is full of cruelty and wrong Lawes taught to speake to present purposes Wealth and faire houses dangerous faults become Much blood i th' Citie and no common deaths But Gentlemen and Consulary houses On Caesars owne house looke hath that bin free Hath he not shed the blood he calls diuine Hath not that neerenes which should loue beget Alwayes on him bin cause of hate and feare Vertue and power suspected and kept downe They whose great ancestors this Empire made Distrusted in the gouernment thereof A happy state where Decius is a traytor Narcissus true nor onely wast vnsafe T' offend the Prince his freed men worse were feard whose wrongs with such insulting pride were heard That euen the faultie it made innocent If we complain'd that was it selfe a crime I though it were to Caesars benefit Our writings pry'd into falce guiltines Thinking each taxing pointed out it selfe Our priuate whisperings listned after nay Our thoughts were forced out of vs and punisht And had it bin in you to haue taken away Our vnderstanding as you did our speech You would haue made vs thought this honest too Nimph: Can malice narrow eyes See anything yet more it can traduce Sceui: His long continued taxes I forbeare In which he chiefely showed him to be Prince His robbing Alters sale of Holy things The Antique Goblets of adored rust And sacred gifts of Kings and people sold Nor was the spoile more odious then the vse They were imployd on spent on shame and lust Which still haue bin so endlesse in their change And made vs know a diuers seruitude But that he hath bin suffered so long And prospered as you say for that to thee O Heauen I turne my selfe and cry No God Hath care of vs yet haue we our reuenge As much as Earth may be reueng'd on Heauen Their diuine honour Nero shall vsurpe And prayers and feasts and adoration haue As well as Iupiter Nimph: Away blaspheming tongue Be euer silent for thy bitternesse Exeunt Enter Nero Poppaea Tigellinus Flauius Neophilus Epaphroditus and a yong man Nero What could cause thee Forgetfull of my benefits and thy oath To seeke my life Flaui Nero I hated thee Nor was there any of thy souldiers More faithfull while thou faith deseru'dst then I Together did I leaue to be a subiect And thou a Prince Caesar was now become A player on the Stage a Waggoner A burner of our houses and of vs A Paracide of Wife and Mother Tigel: Villaine dost know where of whom thou speakst Nero Haue you but one death for him let it bee A feeling one Tigellinus bee 't Thy charge and let me see thee witty in 't Tigell: Come sirrah Wee le see how stoutly you 'le stretch out your necke Flaui: Wold thou durst strike as stoutly Ex. Tig. Flau Nero And what 's hee there Epaph: One that in whispering oreheard What pitie 't was my Lord that Piso died Nero And why wa st pitie sirrah Piso died Yong My Lord 't was pitie he deseru'd to die Poppae: How much this youth my Otho doth resemble Otho my first my best loue who is now Vnder pretext of gouerning exyl'd To Lucitania honourably banisht Nero Well if you be so passionate I le make you spend your pitie on your Prince And good men not on