but this morning if 't be possible He hath out-gone himselfe hauing condemn'd At Aretinus his informers suite Palphurius Sura and good Iunius Rusticus Men of the best repute in Rome for their Integritie of life no fault obiected But that they did lament his cruell sentence On Paetus Thraseas the Philosopher Their Patron and instructer Steph. Can Ioue see this And hold his thunder Domitil. Nero and Caligula Commanded onely mischiefes but our Caesar Delights to see 'em Iul. What we cannot helpe We may deplore with silence Caen. We are call'd for By our proud mistresse Domit. We a while must suffer Steph. It is true fortitude to stand firme against All shocks of fate when cowards faint and dye In feare to suffer more calamitie Exeunt ACTVS III. SCAENA 2. Enter Caesar Parthenius Caes. They are then in fetters Parth. Yes Sir But Caes. But What I 'll haue thy thoughts Deliuer them Parth. I shall Sir But still submitting to your God-like pleasure Which cannot be instructed Caes. To the point Parth. Nor let your sacred Maiestie belieue Your vassall that with drie eyes look'd vpon His Father drag'd to death by your command Can pitty these that durst presume to censure What you decreed Caes. Well Forward Parth. 'T is my zeale Still to preserue your clemencie admi'rd Temper'd with iustice that emboldens me To offer my aduice Alas I know Sir These Bookemen Rusticus and Pulphurius Sura Deserue all tortures Yet in my opinion They being popular Senators and cried vp With loud applauses of the multitude For foolish honestie and beggerly vertue T' would rellish more of pollicie to haue them Made away in priuate with what exquisite torments You please it skils not then to haue them drawne To the degrees in publike for 't is doubted That the sad obiect may beget compassion In the giddie rout and cause some sudaine uprore That may disturbe you Caes. Hence pale spirited coward Can we descend so farre beneath our selfe As or to court the peoples loue or feare Their worst of hate Can they that are as dust Before the whirlewinde of our will and power Adde any moment to vs Or thou thinke If there are Gods aboue or Goddesses But wise Minerua that 's mine owne and sure That they haue vacant houres to take into Their serious protection or care This many headed monster mankind liues In few as potent Monarchs and their Peeres And all those glorious constellations That doe adorne the firmament appointed Like groomes with their bright influence to attend The actions of Kings and Emperours They being the greater wheeles that moue the lesse Bring forth those condemn'd wretches let me see One man so lost as but to pittie 'em And though there lay a million of soules Imprison'd in his flesh my Hangmens hookes Should rend it off and giue 'em libertie Caesar hath said it Exit Parthenius Enter Parthenius Aretinus and the Guard Hangmen dragging in Iunius Rusticus and Palphurius Sura bound backe to backe Aret. 'T is great Caesars pleasure That with fix'd eyes you carefully obserue The peoples lookes Charge vpon any man That with a sigh or murmure does expresse A seeming sorrow for these traytors deaths You know his will performe it Caes. A good bloud-hound And fit for my imployments Sur. Giue vs leaue To dye fell tyrant Rust. For beyond our bodies Thou hast no power Caes. Yes I 'll afflict your soules And force them groaning to the Stigian lake Prepar'd for such to howle in that blaspheame The power of Princes that are Gods on earth Tremble to thinke how terrible the dreame is After this sleepe of death Rust. To guiltie men It may bring terror not to vs that know What 't is to dye well taught by his example For whom we suffer In my thought I see The substance of that pure vntainted soule Of Thraseas our master made a starre That with melodious harmonie invites vs Leauing this dunghill Rome made hell by thee To trace his heauenly steps and fill a Spheare Aboue yon Chrystall Canopie Caes. Doe inuoke him With all the aydes his sanctitie of life Haue wonne on the rewarders of his vertue They shall not saue your Dogs doe you grinne torment 'em So take a leafe of Seneca now and proue If it can render you insensible Of that which but begins here Now an oyle The Hangmen torment 'em they still smiling Drawne from the Stoicks frozen principles Predominant ouer fire were vsefull for you Againe againe You trifle Not a groane Is my rage lost What cursed charmes defend 'em Search deeper villaines Who lookes pale or thinkes That I am cruell Aret. Ouer mercifull all your weakenesse Sir Parth. I dare not show A signe of sorrow yet my synnewes shrinke The spectacle is so horrid Aside Caes. I was neuer O'recome till now For my sake rore a little And show you are corporeall and not turn'd Aeriall spirits Will it not do By Pallas It is vnkindly done to mocke his furle Whom the world stiles omnipotent I am tortur'd In their want of feeling torments Marius storie That does report him to haue sate vnmou'd When cunning Chirurgions rip'd his arteries And veines to cure his goute compar'd to this Deserues not to bee nam'd Are they not dead If so wee wash an AEthiope Sur. No wee liue Rust. Liue to deride thee our calme patience treading Vpon the necke of tyrannie That securely As t' were a gentle slumber we indure Thy hangmens studied tortures is a debt Wee owe to graue Philosophie that instruct's vs The flesh is but the clothing of the soule Which growing out of fashion though it bee Cast of or rent or torne like ours 't is then Being it selfe diuine in her best luster But vnto such as thou that haue no hopes Beyond the present euerie little scar The want of rest excesse of heate or cold That does informe them onely they are mortall Pierce through and through them Caes. We will heare no more Rust. This onely and I give thee warning of it Though it is in thy will to grinde this earth As small as Atomes they throwne in the Sea to They shall seeme recollected to thy sense And when the sandie building of thy greatnes Shall with its owne weight totter looke to see me As I was yesterday in my perfect shape For I 'll appeare in horror Caes. By my shaking I am the guiltie man and not the Iudge Drag from my sight these cursed ominous wizards That as they are now like to double fac'd Ianus Which way soe're I looke are furies to me Away with 'em First show them death then leaue Exeunt Hangmen with Rusticus and Sura Stephanos following No memory of their ashes I 'll mocke fate Shall words fright him victorious armies circle No no the feuer does begin to leaue me Enter Domitia Iulia Caenis Or were it deadly from this liuing fountaine I could renue the vigor of my youth And be a second Verbius O my glory My life I command I my all Embracing
THE ROMAN ACTOR A TRAGAEDIE As it hath diuers times beene with good allowance Acted at the private Play-house in the Black-Friers by the Kings Majesties Servants WRITTEN By PHILIP MASSINGER LONDON Printed by B. A. and T. F. for ROBERT ALLOT and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Beare in Pauls Church-yard 1629 The persons presented Domitianus Caesar Paris the Tragaedian Parthenius a free-man of Caesars AElius Lamia and Stephanos Iunius Rusticus Aretinus Clemens Caesars spie AEsopus a Player Philargus a rich Miser Palphurius Sura a Senator Latinus a Player 3. Tribunes 2. Lictors Domitia the wife of AElius Lamia Domitilla cousin germane to Caesar Iulia Titus Daughter Caenis Vespatians Concubine The principall Actors IOHN LOVVIN IOSEPH TAYLOR RICHARD SHARPE THOMAS POLLARD ROBERT BENFIELD EYLLARDT SVVANSTONE RICHARD ROBINSON ANTHONY SMITH WILLIAM PATTRICKE CVRTISE GREVILL GEORGE VERNON IAMES HORNE IOHN TOMPSON IOHN HVNNIEMAN WILLIAM TRIGGE ALEXANDER GOVGH To my much Honoured and most true Friends Sir PHILIP KNYVET Knight and Baronet And to Sir THOMAS IEAY Knight And THOMAS BELLINGHAM of Newtimber in Sussex Esquire HOw much I acknowledge my selfe bound for your so many extraordinary fauors confer'd vpon me as farre as it is in my power posterity shall take notice I were most vnworthy of such noble friends if I should not with all Thankefulnesse professe and owne em In the composition of this Tragaedie you were my only Supporters and it being now by your principall encouragement to be turn'd into the world it cannot walke safer then vnder your protection It hath beene happie in the suffrage of some learned and judicious Gentlemen when it was presented nor shall they find cause I hope in the pervsall to repent them of their good opinion of it If the grauity and height of the subject distaste such as are onely affected with Iigges and ribaldrie as I presume it will their condemnation of me and my Poem can no way offend me my reason teaching me such malicious and ignorant detractors deserue rather cöntempt then satisfaction I euer held it the most perfit birth of my Minerua and therefore in justice offer it to those that haue best deseru'd of me who I hope in their courteous acceptance will render it worth their receiuing and euer in their gentle construction of my imperfections beleeue they may at their pleasure dispose of him that is wholly and sincerelie Devoted to their seruice Philip Massinger To his deare Friend the Author I Am no great admirer of the Playes Poets or Actors that are now adayes Yet in this Worke of thine me thinkes I see Sufficient reason for Idolatrie Each line thou hast taught CEASAR is as high As Hee could speake when groueling Flatterie And His owne pride forgetting Heavens rod By His Edicts stil'd himselfe great Lord and God By thee againe the Lawrell crownes His Head And thus reviu'd who can affirme him dead Such power lyes in this loftie straine as can Giue Swords and legions to DOMITIAN And when thy PARIS pleades in the defence Of Actors every grace and excellence Of Argument for that subject are by Thee Contracted in a sweete Epitome Nor doe thy Women the tyr'd Hearers vexe With language no way proper to their sexe Iust like a cunning Painter thou lets fall Copies more faire then the Originall I 'll adde but this From all the moderne Playes The Stage hath lately borne this winnes the Bayes And if it come to tryall boldly looke To carrie it cleere Thy witnesse being thy Booke T. I. In Philippi Massingeri Poetae elegantiss Actorem Romanum typis excusum {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ECce Philippinae celebrata Tragaedia Musae Quam Roscus Britonum Roscius egit adest Semper fronde ambo vireant Parnasside semper Liber ab invidrae dentibus esto Liber Crebra papyriuori spernas incendia paeti Thus Vaenum expositi tegmina suta libri Nec metuas raucos Momorum Sybila rhencos Tam bardus nebulo si tamen vllus erit Nam toties festis actum placuisse Theatris Quod liquet hoc Cusum crede placebit opus Tho: G. To his deseruing Friend Mr. Philip Massinger vpon his Tragaedie the Roman Actor PARIS the best of Actors in his age Acts yet and speakes vpon our Roman Stage Such lines by thee as doe not derogate From Romes proud heights and Her then learned State Nor great Domitians fauour not th' embraces Of a faire Empresse nor those often graces Which from th' applauding Theaters were pay'd To His braue Action nor His ashes layd In the Flaminian way where people strow'd His Graue with flowers and Martialls wit bestow'd A lasting Epitaph not all these same Doe adde so much renowne to Paris name As this that thou present'st his Historie So well to vs For which in thankes would Hee If that His soule as thought Pithagoras Could into any of our Actors passe Life to these Lines by action gladly giue Whose Pen so well has made His storie liue Tho: May Vpon Mr. MASSINGER His Roman Actor TO write is growne so common in our Time That euery one who can but frame a Rime Howeuer monstrous giues Himselfe that praise Which onely Hee should claime that may weare Bayes By their Applause whose judgements apprehend The weight and truth of what they dare commend In this besotted Age friend 't is thy glory That Heere thou hast out-done the Roman story Domitians pride His wiues lust vnabated In death with Paris meerly were related Without a Soule Vntill thy abler Pen Spoke them and made them speake nay Act agen In such a height that Heere to know their Deeds Hee may become an Actor that but Reades Iohn Foorde LOng'st thou to see proud Caesar set in State His Morning greatnesse or his Euening fate With admiration heere behold him fall And yet out-liue his tragique Funerall For 't is a question whether Caesars Glorie Rose to its heighth before or in this Storie Or whether Paris in Domitians fauour Were more exalted then in this thy labour Each line speakes him an Emperour eu'ry phrase Crownes thy deseruing temples with the Bayes So that reciprocally both agree Thou liu'st in him and Hee surviues in Thee Robert Harvey To His long knowne and lou'd Friend Mr. PHILIP MASSINGER vpon His Roman Actor IF that my Lines being plac'd before thy Books Could make it sell or alter but a looke Of some sowre Censurer who 's apt to say No one in these Times can produce a Play Worthy his reading since of late 't is true The old accepted are more then the new Or could I on some Spot o' the Court worke so To make him speake no more then He doth know Not borrowing from His flattering flatter'd friend What to dispraise or wherefore to commend Then gentle Friend I should not blush to bee Rank'd 'mongst those worthy ones which heere I see Vshering this Worke but why I write to Thee Is to professe our loues Antiquitie Which to this Tragaedie must giue my test
glories of the time To witnes to the world they are your vassals At your feete to attend you Domit. T is your pleasure And not my pride And yet when I consider That I am yours all duties they can pay I doe receiue as circumstances due To her you please to honour Enter Parthenius with Philargus Parth. Caesars will Commaunds you hither nor must you gaine-say it Phil. Loose time to see an Enterlude must I pay to For my vexation Parth. Not in the Court It is the Emperours charge Phil. I shall endure My torment then the better Caes. Can it bee This sordid thing Parthenius is thy Father No actor can expresse him I had held The fiction for impossible in the Scaene Had I not seene the substance Sirrha sit still And giue attention if you but nod You sleepe for euer Let them spare the Prologue And all the Ceremonies proper to our selfe And come to the last act there where the cure By the Doctor is made perfect The swift minutes Seeme yeeres to me Domitia that diuorce thee From my embraces My desires encreasing As they are satisfied all pleasures else Are tedious as dull sorrowes Kisse me againe If I now wanted heate of youth these fires In Priams veines would thaw his frozen bloud Enabling him to get a second Hector For the defence of Troy Domit. You are wanton Pray you forbeare Let me see the Play Caes. Begin there Enter Paris like a Doctor of Physicke AEsopus Latinus brought forth a sleepe in a chayre a key in his mouth AEsop. O master Doctor he is past recouerie A lethargie hath ceas'd him And howeuer His sleepe resemble death his watchfull care To guard that treasure he dares make no vse of Workes strongly in his soule Par. What 's that he holdes So fast betweene his teeth AEsop. The key that opens His iron chests cramn'd with accursed gold Rustie with long imprisonment There 's no dutie In me his sonne nor confidence in friends That can perswade him to deliuer vp That to the trust of any Philarg He is the wiser We were fashion'd in one mould AEsop. He eates with it And when deuotion calles him to the Temple Of Mammon whom of all the Gods he kneeles to That held thus still his orisons are payde Or will he though the wealth of Rome were pawn'd For the restoring of it for one short houre Be wonne to part with it Philarg. Still still my selfe And if like me he loue his gold no pawne Is good securitie Par. I 'll trie if I can force it It will not be His auaritious mind Like men in riuers drown'd makes him gripe fast To his last gaspe what he in life held dearest And if that it were possible in nature Would carry it with him to the other world Philarg. As I would doe to hell rather then leaue it AEsop. Is he not dead Long since to all good actions Or to himselfe or others for which wise men Desire to liue You may with safetie pinch him Or vnder his nayles sticke needle s yet he stirs not Anxious feare to loose what his soule dotes on Renders his flesh insensible We must vse Some meanes to rouse the sleeping faculties Of his mind there lies the Lethargie Take a Trumpet And blowe it into his eares t is to noe purpose The roring noyse of thunder cannot wake him And yet despaire not I haue one tricke yet left AEsop. What is it Par. I will cause a fearefull Dreame To steale into his fancie and disturbe it With the horror it brings with it and so free His bodyes Organs Domit. 'T is a cunning fellow If he were indeed a Doctor as the play sayes He should be sworne my seruant gouerne my slumbers And minister to me waking Par. If this faile A chest brought in I 'll giue him ore So with all violence Rend ope this iron chest For here is life lyes Bound vp in fetters and in the defence Of what he values higher 't will returne And fill each veine and arterie Lowder yet 'T is open and alreadie he begins To stirre marke with what trouble Latinus stretches himselfe Philarg. As you are Caesar Defend this honest thriftie man they are theeues And come to rob him Parth. Peace the Emperour frownes Par. So now powre out the bags vpon the Table Romoue his iewels and his bonds againe Ring a second golden peale his eyes are open He stares as he had seene Medusas head And were turn'd marble Once more Lat. Murther murther They vs murther murther My sonne in the plot Thou worse then paracide if it bee death To strike thy Fathers body can all tortures The furies in hell practise be sufficient For thee that doest assassinate my soule My gold my bounds my iewels dost thou envie My glad possession of them for a day Extinguishing the Taper of my life Consum'd vnto the snuffe Par. Seem not to mind him Lat. Haue I to leaue thee rich denied my selfe The ioyes of humaine being Scrap'd and horded A masse of treasure which had Solon seene The Lidian Croesus had appear'd to him Poore as the begger Irus And yet I Sollicitous to encrease it when my intrayles Were clem'd with keeping a perpetuall fast Was deafe to their loud windie cries as fearing Should I disburse one peny to their vse My heyre might curse me And to saue expence In outward ornaments I did expose My naked body to the Winters cold And summers scorching heate Nay when diseases Grew thicke vpon me and a little cost Had purchas'd my recouerie I chose rather To haue my ashes clos'd vp in my vrne By hasting on my fate then to diminish The gold my prodigall sonne while I am liuing Carelessely scatters AEsop. Would you would dispatch and die once Your Ghost should feele in hell that is my slaue Which was your master Philarg. Out vpon thee varlet Par. And what then followes al your carke and caring And selfe affliction when your staru'd truncke is Turn'd to forgotten dust This hopefull youth Vrines vpon your monument Ne're remembring How much for him you suffer'd And then tells To the companions of his lusts and ryots The hell you did indure on earth to leaue him Large meanes to be an Epicure and to feast His senses all at once a happines You neuer granted to your selfe Your gold then Got with vexation and preseru'd with trouble Maintaines the publicke stewes pandars and ruffians That quaffe damnations to your memorie For liuing so long here Lat. 'T will be so I see it O that I could redeeme the time that 's past I would liue and die like my selfe and make true vse Of what my industrie purchas'd Par. Couetous men Hauing one foote in the graue lament so euer But grant that I by Art could yet recouer Your desperate sicknes lengthen out your life A dozen of yeeres as I restore your body To perfect health will you with care endeuour To rectifie your mind Lat. I should so liue then As neither my heyre should
and kissing mutually Domit. As you to me are I heard you were sad I haue prepar'd you sport Will banish melancholie Sirrha Caesar I hugge my selfe for 't I haue beene instructing The Players how to act and to cut off All tedious impertinencie haue contracted The Tragedie into one continued Sceane I haue the art of 't and am taken more With my abilitie that way then all knowledge I haue but of thy loue Caes. Thou art still thy selfe The sweetest wittiest Domit. When wee are a bed I 'll thanke your good opinion Thou shalt see Such an Iphis of thy Paris and to humble The pride of Domitilla that neglects mee How e're she is your cousin I haue forc'd her To play the part of Anaxerete You are not offended with it Caes. Any thing That does content thee yeilds delight to mee My faculties and powers are thine Domit. I thanke you Prethee le ts take our places Bid 'em enter After a short flourish enter Paris as Iphis. Without more circumstance how doe you like That shape me thinkes it is most sutable To the aspect of a despairing louer The seeming late falne counterfeited teares That hang vpon his cheekes was my deuice Caes. And all was excellent Domit. Now heare him speake Par. That she is faire and that an Epethite To foule to expresse her or descended nobly Or rich or fortunate and certaine truthes In which poore Iphis glories But that these Perfections in no other Virgin found Abus'd should nourish crueltie and pride In the diuinest Anaxarete Is to my loue-sicke languishing soule a riddle And with more difficultie to be dissolu'd Then that the monster Sphinx from the steepie rocke Offer'd to Oedipus Imperious loue As at thy euer flaming Altars Iphis Thy neuer tyred votarie hath presented With scalding teares whose Hecatombes of sighes Preferring thy power and thy Paphian mothers Before the thunderers Neptunes or Pluto's That after Saturne did diuide the world And had the sway of things yet were compell'd By thy vneuitable shafts to yeeld And sight vnder thy ensignes be auspicious To this late tryall of my sacrifice Of loue and seruice Domit. Do's he not act it rarely Obserue with what a feeling he deliuers His orisons to Cupid I am rap'd with 't Par. And from thy neuer emptied quiuer take A golden arrow to transfix her heart And force her loue like me or cure my wound With a leaden one that may beget in me Hate and forgetfulnesse of what 's now my Idoll But I call backe my prayer I haue blaspheam'd In my rash wish 'T is I that am vnworthy But she all merit and may in iustice challenge From the assurance of her excellencies Not loue but adoration Yet beare witnesse All knowing powers I bring along with me As faithfull aduocates to make intercession A loyall heart with pure and holy flames With the foule fires of lust neuer polluted And as I touch her threshold which with teares My limbes benumb'd with cold I oft haue wash'd With my glad lips I kisse this earth growne proud With frequent fauours from her delicate feete Domit. By Caesars life he weepes And I forbeare Hardly to keepe him companie Par. Blest ground thy pardon If I prophane it with forbidden steps I must presume to knocke and yet attempt it With such a trembling reuerence as if My hands held vp for expiation To the incensed Gods to spare a kingdome Within there hoe something divine come forth To a distressed mortall Enter Latinus as a Porter Lat. Ha! Who knockes there Domit. What a churlish looke this knaue has Lat. Is 't you Sirrha Are you come to pule and whine avaunt and quickly Dogwhips shall driue you hence else Domit. Churlish deuill But that I should disturbe the Sceane as I liue I would teare his eyes out Caes. 'T is in iest Domitia Domit. I doe not like such iesting if he were not A flintie hearted slave he could not vse One of his forme so harshly How the toade swells At the others sweete humilitie Caes. 'T is his part Let 'em proceed Domit. A Rogues part will ne're leaue him Par. As you haue gentle Sir the happinesse When you please to behold the figure of The master peice of nature limn'd to the life In more then humane Anaxerete Scorne not your seruant that with suppliant hands Takes hold vpon your knees coniuring you As you are a man and did not sucke the milke Of Wolues and Tigres or a mother of A tougher temper vse some meanes these eyes Before they are wept out may see your Ladie Will you be gracious Sir Lat. Though I loose my place for 't I can hold out no longer Domit. Now hee melts There is some little hope hee may die honest Lat. Madam Enter Domitilla for Anaxerete Domit. Who calls what obiect haue we heere Domit. Your cousin keepes her proud state still I thinke I haue fitted her for a part Domit. Did I not charge thee I ne're might see this thing more Par. I am indeed What thing you please a Worme that you may tread on Lower I cannot fall to shew my duty Till your disdaine hath dig'd a graue to couer This bodie with forgotten dust and when I know your sentence cruellest of women I 'll by a willing death remoue the obiect That is an eyesore to you Domit. Wretch thou darst not That were the last and greatest seruice to mee Thy doting loue could boast of What dull foole But thou could nourish any flattering hope One of my height in youth in birth and fortune Could e're desend to looke vpon thy lownesse Much lesse consent to make my Lord of one I would not accept though offre'd for my slaue My thoughts stoope not so lowe Domit. There 's her true nature No personated scorne Domit. I wrong my worth Or to exchange a syllable or looke With one so farre beneath me Par. Yet take heed Take heed of pride and curiouslie consider How brittle the foundation is on which You labour to aduance it Niobe Proud of her numerous issue durst contemne Latonas double burthen but what follow'd She was left a childlesse mother and mourn'd to marble The beautie you o're-prize so time or sicknes Can change to loth'd deformitie Your wealth The prey of theeues Queene Heccuba Troy fir'd Vlisses bond-woman But the loue I bring you Nor time nor sicknesse violent theeues nor fate Can rauish from you Domit. Could the Oracle Giue better counsaile Par. Say will you relent yet Reuoking your decree that I should dye Or shall I doe what you command resolue I am impatient of delay Domit. Dispatch then I shall looke on your Tragedie vnmou'd Peraduenture laugh at it for it will proue A Comedie to me Domit. O diuell diuell Par. Then thus I take my last leaue All the curses Of louers fall vpon you and hereafter When any man like me contemn'd shall studie In the anguish of his soule to giue a name To a scornfull cruell mistresse let him onely Say this most bloudie woman
appease me I know thy seruor such to my embraces Which shall be though still kneel'd for stil deni'd thee That thou with languishment shalt wish my Actor Did liue againe so thou might'st be his second To feede vpon those delicates when he 's sated Caes. O my Minerua Domit. There she is inuoke her Shee cannot arme thee with abilitie To draw thy sword on me my power being greater Or onely say to thy Centurions Dare none of you doe what I shake to thinke on And in this womans death remoue the furies That euery houre afflict mee Lamias wrongs When thy lust forc'd mee from him are in mee At the height reveng'd nor would I out-liue Paris But that thy loue increasing with my hate May adde vnto thy torments so withall Contempt I can I leaue thee Exit Domitia Caes. I am lost Nor am I Caesar when I first betray'd The freedome of my faculties and will To this imperious Siren I layd downe The Empire of the world and of my selfe At her proud feete Sleepe all my irefull powers Or is the magique of my dotage such That I must still make suite to heare those charmes That doe increase my thraldome wake my anger For shame breake through this Lethargie and appeare With vsuall terror and enable mee Since I weare not a sword to pierce her heart Nor haue a tongue to say this let her dye Though 't is done with a feauer-shaken hand Pulls out a Table booke To signe her death assist mee great Minerua And vindicate thy votarie So shee 's now Among the list of those I haue prescrib'd And are to free mee of my doubts and feares To dye to morrow Writes Steph. That same fatall booke Was neuer drawne yet but some men of rancke Were mark'd out for destruction Parth. I begin To doubt my selfe Caes. Who waites there Parth. Caesar Caes. So These that command arm'd troupes quake at my frownes And yet a woman sleights 'em Where 's the Wizard Wee charg'd you to fetch in Parth. Readie to suffer What death you please t' appoint him Caes. Bring him in Enter Ascletario Tribunes Guard We 'll question him our selfe Now you that hold Intelligence with the starres and dare prefixe The day and houre in which we are to part With life and Empire punctually fore-telling The meanes and manner of our violent end As you would purchase credit to your art Resolue me since you are assur'd of vs What fate attends your selfe Asclet. I haue had long since A certaine knowledge and assure as thou Shalt dye to morrow being the fourteenth of The Kalenda of October the houre fiue Spite of preuention this carkasse shall be Torne and deuourd by dogs and let that stand for a firme prediction Caes. May our body wretch Find neuer nobler Sepulcher if this Fall euer on thee Are we the great disposer Of life and death yet cannot mocke the starres In such a trifle Hence with the impostor And hauing cut his throat erect a pile Guarded with souldiers till his cursed truncke Be turn'd to ashes vpon forfeite of Your life and theirs performe it Asclet. 'T is in vaine When what I haue foretold is made apparent Tremble to thinke what followes Caes. Drag him hence The Guard beare off Ascletario And doe as I command you I was neuer Fuller of confidence for hauing got The victorie of my passions in my freedome From proud Domitia who shall cease to liue Since she disdaines to loue I rest vnmou'd And in defiance of prodigious meteors Chaldeans vaine predictions iealous feares Of my neere friends and freemen certaine hate O kindred and alliance or all terrors The souldiers doubted faith or peoples rage Can bring to shake my constancie I am arm'd That scrupulous thing still'd Conscience is sear'd vp And I insensible of all my actions For which by morrall and religious fooles I stand condemn'd as they had neuer beene And since I haue subdu'd triumphant loue I will not deifie pale captiue scare Nor in a thought receiue it For till thou Wisest Minerua that from my first youth Hast beene my sole protectresse dost forsake me Not Iunius Rusticus threatned apparition Nor what this Southsayer but eu'n now foretold Being things impossible to humane reason Shall in a dreame disturbe me Bring my couch there Enter with couch A sudaine but a secure drousinesse Inuites me to repose my selfe Let Musicke With some choyse dittie second it I the meane time Rest there deare booke which open'd when I wake Layes the booke vnder his Pillow The Musicke and song Caesar sleepes Enter Parthenius and Domitia Domit. Write my name In his bloudie scrole Parthenius the feare 's idle He durst not could not Parth. I can assure nothing But I obseru'd when you departed from him After some little passion but much furie He drew it out whose death he sign'd I know not But in his lookes appear'd a resolution Of what before he staggerd at What he hath Determin'd of is vncertaine but too soone Will fall on you or me or both or any His pleasure knowne to the Tribunes and Centurions Who neuer vse to enquire his will but serue it Now if out of the confidence of your power The bloudie Catalogue being still about him As he sleepes you dare peruse it or remoue it You may instruct your selfe or what to suffer Or how to crosse it Domit. I would not be caught With too much confidence By your leaue Sir Ha! No motion you lye vneasie Sir Let me mend your Pillow Parth. Haue you it Domit. 'T is heere Caes Oh Parth. You haue wak'd him softly gracious Madam While we are vnknowne and then consult at leisure Exeunt Parthenius and Domitia A dreadfull Musicke sounding Enter Iunius Rusticus and Palphurius Sura with bloudie swords they waue them ouer his head Caesar in his sleepe troubled seemes to pray to the Image they scornefully take it away Defend me goddesse or this horrid dreame Will force me to destraction Whether haue These furies borne thee Let me rise and follow I am bath'd o're with the cold sweat of death And am depriu'd of organs to pursue These sacriligious spirits Am I at once Robd of my hopes and being No I liue Rises distractedly Yes liue and haue discourse to know my selfe Of Gods and men forsaken What accuser Within me cries aloud I haue deseru'd it It being iust to neither Who dares speake this Am I not Caesar how I againe repeate it Presumptuous traytor thou shalt dye what traytor He that hath beene a traytor to himselfe And stands conuicted heere Yet who can sit A competent Iudge ore Caesar Caesar Yes Caesar by Caesar's sentenced and must suffer Minerua cannot saue him Ha! Where is she Where is my goddesse vanish'd I am lost then No 't was no dreame but a most reall truth That Iunius Rusticus and Palphurius Sura Although their ashes were cast in the sea Wereby their innocence made vp againe And in corporeall formes but now appear'd Wauing their bloudie swordes aboue my
head As at their deathes they threatned And me thought Minerua rauish'd hence whisper'd that she Was for my blasphemies disarm'd by Ioue And could no more protect me Yes 't was so His thunder does confirme it against which thunder and lightning Howe're it spare the lawrell this proud wreath Is no assurance Ha! come you resolu'd Enter 3. Tribunes To be my executioners 1. Trib. Allegiance And faith forbid that we should lift an arme Against your sacred head 2. Trib. We rather sue For mercie 3. Trib. And acknowledge that in iustice Our liues are forfeited for not performing What Caesar charg'd vs 1. Trib. Nor did we transgresse it In our want of will or care for being but men It could not be in vs to make resistance The Gods fighting against vs Caes. Speake in what Did they expresse their anger wee will heere it But dare not say vndaunted 1. Trib. In briefe thus Sir The Sentence giuen by your imperiall tongue For the Astrologer Ascletario's death With speede was put in execution Caes. Well 1. Trib. For his throate out his legs bound and his armes Pinion'd behinde his backe the breathlesse truncke Was with all scorne dragg'd to the field of Mars And there a pile being rais'd of old dry wood Smeer'd o're with oyle and brimstone or what else Could helpe to feede or to increase the fire The Carkasse was throwne on it but no sooner The stuffe that was most apt began to flame But sudainely to the amazement of The fearelesse souldier a sudaine flash Of lightning breaking through the scatter'd cloudes With such a horrid violence forc'd its passage And as disdaining all heate but it selfe In a moment quench'd the artificiall fire And before we could kindle it againe A clap of thunder follow'd with such noyse As if then Ioue incens'd against mankind Had in his secret purposes determin'd An vniuersall ruine to the world This horror past not at Deucalions floud Such a stormie shower of raine and yet that word is To narrow to expresse it was e're seene Imagine rather Sir that with lesse furie The Waues rush downe the Cataracts of Nile Or that the Sea spouted into the ayre By the angry Orke endaungering tall ships But sayling neere it so falls downe againe Yet heere the wonder ends not but begins For as in vaine we labour'd to consume The witches bodye all the Dogs of Rome Howling and yelling like to famish'd wolues Brake in vpon vs and though thousands were Kild in th' attempt some did ascend the pile And with their eager fangs ceas'd on the carkasse Caes. But haue they torne it 1. Trib. Torne it and deuour'd it Caes. I then am a dead man since all predictions Assure me I am lost O my lou'd souldiers Your Emperour must leaue you yet howeuer I cannot grant my selfe a short reprieue I freely pardon you The fatall houre Steales fast vpon me I must dye this morning By fiue my souldiers that 's the latest houre You e're must see me liuing 1. Trib. Ioue auert it In our swords lies your fate and we will guard it Caes. O no it cannot be it is decreed Aboue and by no strengths heere to be alterd Let proud mortalitie but looke on Caesar Compass'd of late with armies in his eyes Carrying both life and death and in his armes Fadoming the earth that would be stilde a God And is for that presumption cast beneath The low condition of a common man Sincking with mine owne waight 1. Trib. Doe not forsake Your selfe wee 'll neuer leaue you 2. Trib. VVe 'll draw vp More cohorts of your Guard if you doubt treason Caes. They cannot saue me The offended Gods That now sit iudges on me from their enuie Of my power and greatnesse heere conspire against me 1. Trib. Endeauour to appease them Caes. 'T will be fruitlesse I am past hope of remission Yet could I Decline this dreadfull houre of fiue these terrors That driue me to despaire would soone flye from me And could you but till then assure me 1. Trib. Yes Sir Or wee 'll fall with you and make Rome the urne In which wee 'll mix our ashes Caes. T is said noblie I am something comforted Howere to dye Is the full period of calamitie Exeunt ACTVS V. SCAENA 2. Enter Parthenius Domitia Iulia Caenis Domitilla Stephanos Sijeius Entellus Parth. You see we are all condemnd there 's no euasion We must doe or suffer Steph. But it must be sudaine The least delay is mortall Domit. Would I were A man to giue it action Domit: Could I make my approaches though my stature Does promise little I haue a spirit as daring As hers that can reach higher Steph. I will take That burthen from you Madam All the art is To draw him from the Tribunes that attend him For could you bring him but within my swords reach The world should owe her freedome from a tyranne To Stephanos Sige. You shall not share alone The glorie of a deed that will endure To all posteritie Entel. I will put in For a part my selfe Parth. Be resolute and stand close I haue conceiu'd a way and with the hazard Of my life I 'll practise it to fetch him hither But then no trifling Steph. We 'l despatch him feare not A dead dog neuer bites Parth. Thus then at all Parthenius goes off the rest stand aside Enter Caesar and the Tribunes Caes. How slowe pac'd are these minutes in extreames How miserable is the least delay Could I iumpe feathers to the wings of time Or with as little ease command the Sunne To scourge his coursers vp heauens easterne hill Making the houre I tremble at past recalling As I can moue this dyals tongue to six My veines and arteries emptied with feare Would fill and swell againe How doe I looke Doe you yet see death about me 1. Trib. Thinke not of him There is no danger all these prodegies That doe affright you rise from naturall causes And though you doe ascribe them to your selfe Had you ne're beene had happen'd Caes. 'T is well said Exceeding well braue souldier Can it be That I that feele my selfe in health and strength Should still belieue I am so neare my end And haue my guards about me perish all Predictions I grow constant they are false And built vpon vncertainties 1. Trib. This is right Now Caesar's hard like Caesar Caes. We will to The Campe and hauing there confirmd the souldier With a large Donatiue and increase of pay Some shall I say no more Enter Parthenius Parth. All happinesse Securitie long life attend vpon The Monarch of the World Caes. Thy lookes are cheerefull Parth. And my relation full of ioy and wonder Why is the care of your imperiall body My Lord neglected the fear'd houre being past In which your your life was threatned Caes. Is 't past fiue Parth. Past six vpon my knowledge and iniustice Your Clocke master should dye that hath deferd Your peace so long There is a post new lighted That brings assur'd intelligence that your legions In Siria haue wonne a glorious day And much enlarg'd your Empire I haue kept him Conceal'd that you might first pertake the pleasure In priuate and the Senate from your selfe Be taught to vnderstand how much they owe To you and to your fortune Caes. Hence pale feare then Lead me Parthenius 1. Trib. Shall we waite you Caes. No After losses Guards are vsefull know your distance Exeunt Caesar and Parthenius 2. Trib. How strangely hopes delude men as I liue The houre is not yet come 1. Trib. Howere we are To pay our duties and obserue the sequele Exeunt Trib. Enter Caesar and Parthenius Domit. I heare him comming be constant Caes. Where Parthenius is this glad messenger Steph. Make the doore fast Heere a messenger of horror Caes. How betraid Domit. No taken tyranne Caes. My Domitia in the conspiracie Parth. Behold this booke Caes. Nay then I am lost Yet though I am vnarm'd I 'll not fall poorely Orethrowes Stephanos Steph. Helpe me Entel. Thus and thus Sije. Are you so long a falling Caes. 'T is done 't is done basely falls and dyes Parth. This for my Fathers death Domit. This for my Paris Iul, This for thy Incest These seuerally stab him Domit This for thy abuse of Domitilla Enter Tribunes 1. Trib. Force the doores O Mars What haue you done Parth. What Rome shall giue vs thanks for Steph. Despatch'd a Monster 1. Trib. Yet he was our Prince How euer wicked aud in you this murther Which whosoe're succeeds him will reuenge Nor will we that seru'd vnder his command Consent that such a monster as thy selfe For in thy wickednesse Augusta's title Hath quite forsooke thee thou that wert the ground Of all these mischiefes shall goe hence vnpunish'd Lay hands on her And drag her to sentence We will referre the hearing to the Senate Who may at their best leisure censure you Take vp his body He in death hath payd For all his cruelties Heere 's the difference Good Kings are mourn'd for after life but ill And such as gouern'd onely by their will And not their reason Vnlamented fall No Goodmans teare shed at their Funerall Exeunt omnes Florish FINIS