Thou hast made many good but this thy best Ioseph Taylor THE ROMAN ACTOR A Tragedie ACTVS I. SCAENA I. Enter Paris Latinus AEsopus AEsop. WHat doe wee acte to day Latinus Agaves phrensie With Pentheus bloudie end Paris It skils not what The times are dull and all that wee receiue Will hardly satisfie the dayes Expence The Greekes to whom we owe the first inuention Both of the buskind scaene and humble stocke That raigne in euery noble familie Declaime against vs and our Amphitheater Great Pompies worke that hath giu'n full delight Both to the eye and eare of fifty thousand Spectators in one day as if it were Some vnknowne desert or great Roome vnpeopl'd Is quite forsaken Latin Pleasures of worse natures Are gladly entertayn'd and they that shun vs Practise in priuate sports the Stewes would blush at A Litter borne by eight Liburnian slaues To buy Diseases from a glorious strumpet The most censorious of our Roman gentrie Nay of the guarded robe the Senators Esteeme an easie purchase Paris Yet grudge vs That with delight joyne profit and endeauour To build their mindes vp faire and on the Stage Decipher to the life what honours waite On good and glorious actions and the shame That treads vpon the heeles of vice The salarie Of six Sestertij AEsop. For the profit Paris And mercinarie gaine they are things beneath vs Since while you hold your grace and power with Caesar We from your bounty finde a large supply Nor can one thought of want euer approach vs Par. Our aime is glorie and to leaue our names To after times Latin And would they giue vs leaue There ends all our ambition AEsop. Wee haue enemies And great ones too I feare 'T is giuen out lately The Consull Aretinus Caesars spie Sayd at his Table ere a moneth expir'd For being gald in our last Comedie He would silence vs for euer Par. I expect No fauour from him my strong Auentine is That great Domitian whom we oft haue cheer'd In his most sullen moodes will once returne Who can repayre with ease the Consols ruines Lat. 'T is frequent in the Citie he hath subdued The Catti and the Daci and ere long The second time will enter Rome in triumph Enter two Lictors Par. Ioue hasten it with vs I now beleeue The Consuls threates AEsopus 1. Lict. You are summon'd T' appeare to day in Senate 2. Lict. And there to answer What shall be vrg'd against you Par. We obey you Nay droope not fellowes innocence should be bould We that haue personated in the Sceane The ancient Heroes and the falles of Princes With loude applause being to act our selues Must doe it with vndaunted confidence What ere our sentence be 't is in sport And though condemn'd le ts heare it without sorrow As if we were to liue againe to morrow 1. Lict. 'T is spoken like your selfe Enter AElius Lamia Iunïus Rusticus Palphuris Sura Lam. Whether goes Paris 1. Lict. He 's cited to the Senate Lat. I am glad the State is So free from matters of more waight and trouble That it has vacant time to looke on vs Par. That reuerend place in which the affaires of Kings And prouinces were determin'd to descend To the censure of a bitter word or iest Drop'd from a Poets pen I peace to your Lordships We are glad that you are safe Exeunt Lictors Paris Latinus AEsopus Lam. What times are these To what is Rome falne may we being alone Speake our thoughts freely of the Prince and State And not feare the informer Rust. Noble Lamia So dangerous the age is and such bad acts Are practis'd euery where we hardly sleepe Nay cannot dreame with safetie All our actions Are cal'd in question to be nobly borne Is now a crime and to deserue too well Held Capitall treason Sonnes accuse their Fathers Fathers their sonnes and but to winne a smile From one in grace in Court our chastest Matrons Make shipwracke of their honours To be vertuous Is to bee guilty They are onely safe That know to sooth the Princes appetite And serue his lusts Sura T is true and t is my wonder That two sonnes of so different a nature Should spring from good Vespatian We had a Titus Stilde justly the delight of all mankinde Who did esteeme that day lost in his life In which some one or other tasted not Of his magnificent bounties One that had A readie teare when he was forc'd to signe The death of an offender And so farre From pride that he disdain'd not the conuerse Euen of the poorest Roman Lam. Yet his brother Domitian that now swayes the power of things Is so inclin'd to bloud that noe day passes In which some are not fastend to the hooke Or throwne downe from the Gemonies His freemen Scorne the Nobilitie and he himselfe As if he were not made of flesh and bloud Forgets he is a man Rust. In his young yeeres He shew'd what he would be when growne to ripenes His greatest pleasure was being a childe With a sharp pointed bodkin to kill flies Whose roomes now men supply For his escape In the Vitellian warre he rais'd a Temple To Iupiter and proudly plac'd his figure In the bosome of the God And in his edicts He does not blush or start to stile himselfe As if the name of Emperour were base Great Lord and God Domitian Sura I haue letters He 's on his way to Rome and purposes To enter with all glorie The flattering Senate Decrees him divine Honours and to crosse it Were death with studied torments for my part I will obey the time it is in vaine To striue against the torrent Rust. Le ts to the Curia And though vnwillingly grieue our suffrages Before we are compeld Lam. And since we cannot With safetie vse the actiue le ts make vse of The passiue fortitude with this assurance That the state sicke in him the gods to friend Though at the worst will now begin to mend Exeunt ACTVS I. SCAENA 2. Enter Domitia and Parthenius Domit. To me this reuerence Parth. I pay it Ladie As a debt due to her that 's Caesars mistris For vnderstand with ioy he that commands All that the Sunne giues warmth to is your seruant Be not amaz'd but fit you to your fortunes Thinke vpon state and greatnesse and the Honours That waite vpon Augusta for that name Ere long comes to you still you doubt your vassall But when you haue read this letter writ and sign'd With his imperiall hand you will be freed From feare and jealousie and I beseech you When all the beauties of the earth bowe to you And Senators shall take it for an honour As I doe now to kisse these happie feete When euery smile you giue is a preferment And you dispose of Prouinces to your creatures Thinke on Parthenius Domit. Rise I am transported And hardly dare beleeue what is assur'd here The meanes my good Parthenius that wrought Caesar Our God on earth to cast an eye of fauour
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
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
So without more trifling Thy sudaine answer Par. In what a straight am I brought in Alas I know that the denial 's death Nor can my grant discouer'd threaten more Yet to dye innocent and haue the glorie For all posteritie to report that I Refus'd an Empresse to preserue my faith To my great master in true iudgement must Show fairer then to buy a guilty life With wealth and honours 'T is the base I build on I dare not must not will not Domit. How contemn'd Since hopes nor feares in the extreames preuaile not I must vse a meane Thinke who 't is sues to thee Denie not that yet which a brother may Grant to his sister as a testimonie Caesar Aretinus Iulia Domitilla Caenis aboue I am not scorn'd Kisse me Kisse me againe Kisse closer Thou art now my Troyan Paris And I thy Helen Par. Since it is your will Caes. And I am Monelaus But I shall be Caesar descends Something I know not yet Domit. Why lose we time And opportunitie These are but sallads To sharpen appetite Let vs to the feast Courting Paris wantonly Where I shall wish that thou wert Iupiter And I Alcmena and that I had power To lengthen out one short night into three And so beget a Hercules Caes. While Amphitrio Stands by and drawes the curtaines Par. Oh falls on his face Domit. Betrai'd Caes. No taken in a not of Vulcans filing Wherein my selfe the Theater of the Gods Are sad spectators not one of em daring To witnesse with a smile he does desire To be so sham'd for all the pleasure that You haue sold your being for What shall I name thee Ingratefull trecherous insatiate all Inuectiues which in bitternes of spirit Wrong'd men haue breath'd out against wicked women Cannot expresse thee Haue I rays'd thee from Thy lowe condition to the height of greatnesse Command and Maiestie in one base act To render me that was before I hugg'd thee An adder in my bosome more then man A thing beneath a boast did I force these Of mine owne bloud as handmaids to kneele to Thy pompe and pride hauing my selfe no thought But how with benefits to binde thee mine And am I thus rewarded not a knee Nor teare nor signe of sorrow for thy fault Breake stubborne silence What canst thou alleage To stay my vengeance Domit. This Thy lust compell'd me To be a strumpet and mine hath return'd it In my intent and will though not in act To cuckold thee Caes. O impudence I take her hence And let her make her entrance into hell By leauing life with all the tortures that Flesh can be sensible of Yet stay What power Her beautie still holds o're my soule that wrongs Of this vnpardonable nature cannot teach me To tight my selfe and hate her Kill her Hold O that my dotage should increase from that Which should breed detestation By Minerua If I looke on her longer I shall melt And sue to her My iniuries forgot Againe to be receiu'd into her fauour Could honour yeild to it Carrie her to her Chamber Be that her prison till in cooler bloud I shall determine of her Exit with Domitia Aret. Now step I in While he 's in this calme mood for my reward Sir if my seruice hath deseru'd Caes. Yes Yes And I 'll reward thee thou hast rob'd me of All rest and peace and bin the principall meanes To make me know that of which if againe Enter Guard I could be ignorant of I would purchase it With the losse of Empire strangle him take these hence to And lodge them in the dungeon could your reason Dull wretches flatter you with hope to thinke That this discouerie that hath showr'd vpon me Perpetuall vexation should not fall Heauie on you away with 'em stop their mouthes I will heare no reply O Paris Paris Exeunt Guard Aretinus Iulia Caenis Domitilla How shall I argue with thee how begin To make thee vnderstand before I kill thee With what griefe and vnwillingnes 't is forc'd from me Yet in respect I haue fauourd thee I will heere What thou canst speake to qualefie or excuse Thy readinesse to serue this womans lust And wish thou couldst giue me such satisfaction As I might burie the remembrance of it Looke vp We stand attentiue Par. O dread Caesar To hope for life or pleade in the defence Of my ingratitude were againe to wrong you I know I haue deseru'd death And my suit is That you would hasten it yet that your highnes When I am dead as sure I will not liue May pardon me I 'll onely vrge my frailtie Her will and the temptation of that beautie Which you could not resist How would poore I then Fly that which followd me and Caesar su'd for This is all And now your sentence Caes. Which I know not How to pronounce O that thy fault had bin But such as I might pardon if thou hadst In wantonnesse like Nero sir'd proud Rome Betraide an armie butcherd the whole Senate Committed Sacriledge or any crime The iustice of our Roman lawes cals death I had preuented any intercession And freely sign'd thy pardon Par. But for this Alas you cannot nay you must not Sir Nor let it to posteritie be recorded That Caesar vnreueng'd sufferd a wrong Which if a priuate man should sit downe with it Cowards would baffell him Caes. With such true feeling Thou arguest against thy selfe that it Workes more vpon me then if my Minerua The grand protectresse of my life and Empire On forfeite of her fauour cry'd aloud Caesar show mercie And I know not how I am inclinde to it Rise I 'll promise nothing Yet cleare thy cloudie feares and cherish hopes What we must doe we shall doe we remember A Tragedie we oft haue seen with pleasure Call'd the False Seruant Par. Such a one we haue Sir Caes. In which a great Lord takes to his protection A man forlorne giuing him ample power To order and dispose of his estate In his absence he pretending then a iourney But yet with this restraint that on no tearmes This Lord suspecting his wiues constancie She hauing playd false to a former husband The seruant though sollicited should consent Though she commanded him to quench her flames Par. That was indeed the argument Caes. And what Didst thou play in it Par. The false seruant Sir Caes. Thou didst indeed Do the Players waite without Par. They doe Sir and prepar'd to act the storie Your Maiestie mention'd Caes. Call 'em in Who presents The iniur'd Lord Enter AEsopus Latinus a Boy drest for a Ladie AEsop. T' is my part Sir Caes. Thou didst not Doe it to the life We can performe it better Off with my Robe and wreath since Nero scorn'd not The publike Theater we in priuate may Disport our selues This cloake and hat without Wearing a beard or other propertie Will fit the person AEsop. Onely Sir a foyle The point and edge rebutted when you act To doe the murther If you please
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