Which in the doing had enough to grieve me Tell on and end the Tale you whom it pleaseth Me my own Sorrow stops from further speaking Nero my Love doth make thy Fault and my Grief greater Sce. I do Commend thy Passion Seneca And yet methinks our Countrie 's Miseries Do at our Hands crave some what more than Tears Luc. Let Children Weep and Men seek Remedy Sce. Stoutly spoke and like a Souldier Lucâ—…n Yet to seek Remedy t' a Princes ill Seldom but it doth the Physitian kill Luc. And if it do Scevinus it shall take But a Devoted Soul from Lucan VVhich to my Country and the Gods of Rome Already sacred is and given away Death is no Stranger to me I have The doubtful hazard in Twelve Battels thrown My Chance was Life Sce. Nothing is hard to them that dare to dy This Noble Resolution in you Lords Heartens me to disclose some Thoughts that I The Matter is of Weight and Dangerous Luc. I see you fear us Scevinus Sce. No no although the thing be full of Fear Sen. Tell it to Faithful Ears what e'r it be Sce. Faith let it go it will but trouble us Be hurtful to the Speaker and the Hearer Luc. If our Long Friendship or the Opinion Sce. Why should I fear to tell them Why is he not a Parricide a Player Nay Lucan is he not thine Enemy And You O Righteous God's Whithersoe'r you now are fled and will No more look down upon th' Oppressed Earth O Severe Anger of the Highest God's And you Stern Powers to whom the Greek's assigne Scourges and Swords to punish Proud Men's Wrongs If you be more than Names found out to Awe us And that we do not vainly build you Altars Aid that just Arm that 's bent to Execute What you should do Luc. Stay you are carrried too much away Scevinus Sce. Why Lucan what will you say for him has he not Sought to surpress your Poem to bereave That Honour Every Tongue in Duty pay'd it Nay has he not Stab'd his own Wife's a Chast Wife 's Brest and torn With Scythian Hands his Mother's Bowels up The Inhospitable Caucasus is milde The Moor that in the boyling Desart seeks With Blood of Strangers to Imbrue his Jawes Upbraids the Roman now with barbarousness Luc. You are too Earnest I neither can nor will I speak for him And though he sought to wrong my Learned Pains I hate him not for that my Verse shall live When Nero's Body shall be thrown in Tiber I hate him that he is Rome's Enemy An Enemy to Vertue sits on high To shame the Seat And in that hate my Life And Blood I 'le mingle on the Earth with yours Sen. My Deeds Scevinus shall speak my Consent Sce. 'T is answer'd as I look'd for Noble Poet Worthy the double Lawrel Lucan Good Luck I see does Vertuous Meanings aid And therefore have the Heav'ns for-born their Duty To Grace our Swords with Glorious Blood of Tyrants Exeunt Finis Actus Primi ACTUS SECUNDUS Scene the First Enter Petronius Pet. HEre waites Poppea he Nimphidius coming And hath this Garden and these VValls chose out To bless her with more Pleasures than their own Not only Arras Hangings and Silk-Beds Are guilty of the Faults we blame them for Some-what these Arbots and these Trees do know VVhil'st their kind shades you to these Night-Sports show Night-Sports Faith they are done in open Day And the Sun see'th and envies at their Play Hither have I Love sick Antonius brought And thrust him on Occasion so long sought Shew'd him the Empresse in a thicket by Her Love's approach waiting with greedy Ey And told him If he ever meant to prove The Doubtful issue of his Hopeless Love This is the place but see they 're coming How they agree here will I stand and hearken Abscondit Enter Poppea and Antonius Ant. Seek not to grieve that Heart which is thy ownâ—… In Love's sweet Fires let Heat of Rage burn out These Browes could never yet to wrinkle Learn Nor Anger out of such Fair Eyes proceed Pop. You may sollicit your presumptuous Suits You Duty may and Shame too lay aside Disturb my Privacies and I good Sir Must be afear'd even to be angry at you Ant. What Shame is 't to be mast'red by such Beauties Who but to serve you comes how wants he Duty Or if it be a Shame the Shame is yours The Fault is only in your Eyes they drew me Cause you were Lovely therefore did I Love Oh! if to love you anger you so much You should not have such Cheeks nor Lips to touch You should not have your Snow nor 〈◊〉 If you but look on us in vain you chide We must not see your Face nor hear your Speech Now Whil'st you love forbid you Love do teach Pet. He do's better than I thought he would Pop. I will not learn my Beauties-worth of you I know you neither are the First nor Greatest Whom it hath mov'd He whom the World obeyes Is fear'd with anger of my Threatning Eyes It is sor you a far off to adore it And not to reach at it with sawcy Hands Fear is the Love that 's due to Gods and Princes Pet. All this is but to Edge his Appetite Ant. O do not see thy Face in that False Glasse Os outward Difference Look into my Heart There shalt thou see thy self sitting Inthron'd In greater Majesty than all the Pompe of Rome or Nero 'T is not the Crouching Awe And Ceremony with which we flatter Pâ—…inces That can to Love's true Duties be compar'd Pop. Sir let me go or I 'le make known your Love To them that shall requite it Pet. On on thou hast the Goale the Foâ—…t is beaten Women are won when they begin to threaten Ant. Your Nobleness do's warrant me for that Nor need you others help to punish me For by your Frowns I am condemn'd or freed They that to be reveng'd do bend their mind Seek always Recompence in that same kind The wrong was done em Love was my Offence In that Revenge in that seek Recompence Pop. To answer further will still cause Replies And those as ill do please me as your self If you 'l an Answer take that 's brief and true I hate my self for being lov'd by you Exit Pet. What gone but she will come again sure No It passes clean my Cunning all my Rules For Women's Wantonness there is no Rule To take her in the Height of her Desires A Young and Brisk and Impudent Gallant too To miss the Mark hard Fates 't is very Cruel Ant. O Unhappy Man What Comfort have I now Petronius Pet. Counsel your self I 'le Teach no more but Learn Ant. This Comfort yet he shall not so escape Who causeth this contempt Nimphidius VVhom had I here well 't is for his sake I see she hates me and shall I love one That hates me and bestowes what I deserve Upon my Rival no fare-well Poppea Fare-well and
they come they not upon us yet See the Guard doubled see the Gates shut up Why they 'l surprize us in our Court anon Mel. Not so my Lord they are at Piso's House And think themselves safe and undescry'd Ner. Let 's thither then And take 'em in this False Security Tig. 'T were better first publish'em Traytors Nim. That were to make 'em so And force'em all upon their Enemies Now without stir or hazard they 'l be â—…a'n And boldly Tryal dare and Law demand Besides this Accusation may be forg'd By malice or mistaking Pop. What likes you do Nimphidius out of hand Two may distract when either would prevail If they suspecting but this Fellow's absence Should try the City and attempt their Friends How dangerous might Piso's Favour be Nim. I to himself would make the matter clear Which now upon one Servant's Credit stands The City's Favour keeps within the Bounds Of Profit they 'l love none to hurt themselves Honour and Friendship they hear others name Themselves do neither feel nor know the same To put 'em yet though needless insome fear We 'l keep their Streets with Arm'd Companies Then if they stir they see their Wives and Houses Prepar'd a Prey to the Greedy Souldier Pop. Let 's be quick then you to Piso's House While I and Tigellinâ—…s further sift This Fellow's Knowledg Exeunt all but 〈◊〉 Ner. Look to the Gates and Walls o'th'City look The River be well kept have Watches set In every Passage and in every Way But who shall watch these Watches what if They Begin to play the Traitors first O where shall I Seek Faith or them that I may wisely trust The City favours the Conspirators The Senate in disgrace and fear has liv'd The Camp why most are Souldiers that he Nam'd Besides he knowes not all and like a Fool I interupted him else had he nam'd Those that stood by me O Security Which we so much seek after yet are still To court like a Stranger and dost rather choose The Smoaky Reeds and Sedgy Cottages Than the Proud Roofes and wanton cost of Kings O sweet despis'd Joys of Poverty A Happiness unknown unto the Gods Would I had been a Ragged Magistrate Sate as a Judge of Measures and of Corn Than the Adored Monarch of the World Mother thou dy'dst deservedly for this That from a Private and Sure State did'st Raise My Fortunes to this Slippery Hill of Greatness Where I can neither Stand nor Fall with Life Exit Nero. SCENE the Second Piso's House Emer Piso Lucan and Scevinus Luc. But since we are discover'd what remains But put our Lives upon our Hands our Swords Shall try us Traitors or true Romans And what should make this Hazard doubt success It is not now Augustus Gravity nor Tiberius Craft But Tigellinus and Crisogerus Eunuches and Women that we go against Sce. Why should we keep so many vow'd Swords From such a Hated Throat Or shall we fear To trust unto the Gods so good a Cause Luc. By this we may our selves Heaven's Favour promise Because all Nobleness and VVorth on Earth We see 's on our side here 's the Faby's Son Here the Corvini are take's our Parts And so their Noble Fathers would if now they Liv'd There 's not a Soul that claims Nobility Either by his or his Fore-Father's merit But is with us with us the Gallant Youth Whom passed Dangers or hot Blood makes bold Stay'd Men suspect their Wisdom or their Faith To whom our Counsels we have not reveal'd And while our Party seeking to disgrace They Traitors calls us each man Treason praise And hate that thing call'd Faith when Piso Is a Traitor Sce. O Piso Think on that day when in the Parthian Fields Thou cryedst to the Flying Legions turn And look't Death in the Face he was not Grim But Fair and Lovely when he came in Arms O why there dy'd we not on Syrian Swords Were we reserv'd to Prison's and to Chains Must Piso's Head be fixt upon a Tower Those Members torn rather than Roman-like VVith VVeapon in our Hands Fighting in Throngs of Enemies to dy Pis. You see the Court and City 's Arm'd Why should we move desperate and hopeless Courses And vainly spill that Noble Blood that should The Median Fields Not Tiber Colour And the more you shew Your readiness to lose your Lives The unwillinger I am to adventure'em Yet I am proud you would have dy'd for me But live and keep your selves to worthier Ends No Mother but my own shall weep my Death Disgrace my Roman Courage cannot bear Nor have I the Vanity to think we can Subdue With so few Swords O Friends I would not dy When I can live no longer 't is my Glory That free and willingly I give up this Breath Leaving such Courages as your's untry'd But to be long in talk of Dying would Shew a Relenting and a Doubtful Mind Since Fate would not with Fame our Cause reward This is from Infamy a Roman's Guard Falls on his Sword and Dyes Luc. O that this Nóble Courage had been shown Rather on Enemies Brests than on thy own Enter Nimphidius with Nero's Guard Scevinus and Lucan offer to Fight with the Guard but they are Surrounded by 'em and taken Prisoners Nim. Nay other end your grievous Crimes await Ends which the Law and your Deserts exact Sce. What have we deserv'd Nim. That Punishment that Traitors unto Princes And Enemies unto the State they live in merit Sce. If by the State this Government you mean I justly am an Enemy unto it That 's but to Nero You and Tigellinus That Glorious World that even beguiles the Wise Being look't into includes but Three or Four Corrupted Men which were they all remov'd 'T would please the State and ease the Groaning World Nim. Away with 'em be carried before the Emperour Exeunt The 3d. Scene Changes to Nero's Throne Where he appears sitting and Poppea with Tigellinus Neophilus Guards and Flavius a Prisoner Ner. What could cause thee Forgetful of my Benefits and thy Oath To seek my Life Flav. Nerâ—… I hated thee Nor was there any of thy Souldiers More Faithful whil'st thou Faith deserv'dst Than I Together did I leave to be a Subject And thou a Prince Casar was now become A Player on the Stage A Burner of our Houses and of us A Paricide of Wife and Mother Tig. Villain dost'know Where and of Whom Thou speakest Ner. Have you but one Death for him Let it be A Feeling one Tigellinus Be 't Thy Charge and let me see thee witty In 't Tig. Come Sirrah We 'l see how stoutly you 'l stretch out your Neck Flav. Would thou durst strike as boldly Exit Tigellinus Flavius and 2. or 3. â—…f the Guard Enter Epaphroditus and a Boy Ner. And what 's He there Epap One that in whispering was o'r heard to say What pity 't was my Lord that Piso dy'd Ner. And why was 't pity Sirrah Piso dy'd Boy My Lord 't was pity he
to live i' th' State they hate Pis. Though we would all have that employment Yet since your worthy Forwardness Scevinus Prevent's us and so nobly begs for Danger Be yours the Chosen Hand to do the Deed The Fortune of the Empire speed your Sword Sce. Vertue and Heaven speed it O you Home-born Of our Country Romulus and Vesta That Thuscan Tiber and Rome's Tower defend Forbid not yet at length a happy End To Former Evils Let this Hand Revenge The Injur'd World Enough we now have suffered Mel. Tush all this long Consulting 's more Exit all but Melichus Than words It ends not there they 've some Attempt some Plot Against the State Well I 'le observe it farther And if I find it mâ—…ke my Profit of it Exit Finis Actus Secundi ACTUS TERTIUS Enter Poppea Pop. I Look't Nimphidius would have come ere this Makes he no greater haste to our Embraces Or does the Easiness abate his Edge Or seem we not as Fair still as we did Or is he so with Nero's Playing won That he before Poppea does preser it Or does he think to have Occasion still To have time to wait on our stoln Meetings Enter Nimphidius But â—…ee his Presence now does end those Doubts What is 't Nimphidius has so long detain'd you Nim. Faith Madam Causes strong enough High Wall 's bard Doors and Guards of armed Men. Pop. Were you Imprison'd then as you were going To the Theatre Nim. Not in my going Madam But in the Theatre I was Imprison'd For after he was once upon the Stage The Gates were more severely look't unto Then at a Town besieg'd No Man no Cause Was Currant no nor passant at other Sights The Strife is only to get in but here The Strife was all in getting out again Had we not been kept to it so I think 'T would not have been so tedious though I know T was hard to judg whether his doing of it were more absur'd than 't was for time to do it But when we once were forc't to be Spectators Compel'd to that which should have been a Pleasure We could no longer bear the Wearisomness No Pain so irksome as a forc't Delight Some fell down Dead or seem'd at least to do so Under that Colour to be carryed forth Pop. If 't were so straitly kept how got you forth Nim. Faith Madam I came pretending Haste In Face and Countenance told'em I was sent For things by th' Prince forgot about the Scene Which both my Credit made 'em to believe And Nero newly whisper'd me before Thus did I pass the Gates the danger Madam I have not yet escap't Pop. What Danger mean you Nim. The Danger of his Anger when he knows How I thus shrunk away for there stood Knaves That put down in their Tables all that stir'd And mark't in each their Chearfulness or Sadness Pop. I warrant I 'le excuse you but I Pray Let 's be a little better for your Sight How did our Princely Husband act Orestes Did he not wish again his Mother living Her Death would add great Life unto his part But come I pray the Story of your Sight Nim. O do not drive me to those hateful Pains Madam I was too much in seeing vext Let it not be redoubled with the telling I now am well and hear my Ears set free O be mercisul do not bring me back Unto my Prison at least free your self It will not pass away but stay the time Rack out the Hours in length Oh give me leave As one that wearied with the toil at Sea And now on wish'd sor Shore hath fixt his Foot He looks about pleases his Thoughts and Eyes With sight o' th' Green-Cloath'd Ground and Leavy Trees Of Flowers that beg more than the looking on And likes these Narrow Shores much better So let me lay my weariness in these Arms My Thoughts be compast in those Circl'd Eyes And bless my hands with touch of those round Brests Whiter and softer than the Down of Swans Let me of thee and of thy Glorious Beauty Tell endless Stories but never wearied be Exeâ—…t Enter Nero Epaphroditus and Neophilus Ner. Come Sirs I Faith how did you like my Acting What was 't not as you look't for Epap Yes my Lord and much beyond Ner. Did not I do it to the Life Epap The very doing never was so lively As now this Counterfeiting Ner. And when I came To th' Point of Agrippa Clitemnestra's Death Did it not move the feeling Auditory Epap They had been Stones whom that could not have mov'd Ner. Did not my Voice hold out well to the end And serv'd me afterwards afresh to Sing with Neop We know Apollo cannot match your Voice Epap By Iove I think you are the God himself Come from above to shew your hidden Arts And fill us men with wonder of your skill Ner. Nay Faith speak truly do not flatter me I know you need not Flattery 's but where Desert is mean Epap I swear by thee O Câ—…sar Than whom no Power of Heaven I honour more No Mortal Voice can pass or equal thine Ner. They tell of Orpheus when he took his Lute Hebrus stood still Pangea bow'd his Head Ofsa then first shook off his Snow and came To listen to the movings of his Song The Gentle Popler took the Oak along And call'd the Pine down from his mountain-Seat The Virgin Bay although the Arts she hates O' th' Delphick God was with his Voice o'r-come He his twice-dead Euridice bewailes His lost Love's name then Water Air and Ground Euridice Euridice resound These are bold Tales of which the Greeks have store But if he could from Hell once more return And would compare his Hand and Voice with mine I though himself were Judg he then should see How much the Latin stains the Thracian Lyre I oft have walk't by Tyber's flowing Banks And heard the Swan sing her own Epitaph When she heard me she held her peace and dyed Let others raise from Earthly things their Praise Heaven has stood still to hear my happy Airs And ceast th' Eternal Musick of the Spheres To mark my Voice and mend their Tunes by mine Neop O Divine Voice Epap Happy are they that hear it Enter Tigellinus Ner. But here comes Tigellinus come thy Bill Are there so many I see we have Enemies Tigellinus Epap Have you put Cajus in I saw him frown Neop And in the midâ—…st o' th' Emperor's Action Gallus Laught out and as I think in Scorn Ner. Vespatian too asleep was he so drowsie Well he shall sleep the Iron Sleep of Death And did Thrasea look so sourly on us Tig. He never smil'd my Lord nor would vouchsafe With one Applause to grace your Action Ner. Our Action needed not be grac'd by him He 's our Old Enemy and still hates us 'T will have an end nay it shall have an end Why I have been too pitiful too remiss My Easiness is laught at and contemn'd But I
the Night Now unbelieving Eyes what would you more Enter Neophilus Neop O save your self my Lord your Palace burns Ner. My Palace How what Traiterous Hand Enter Tigellinus Tig. O fly my Lord and save your self betimes The Wind does beat the Fire upon your house The Eating Flame devoures your Double Gates Your Pillars sall your Golden Rooss do melt Your Antick Tables and Greek Imagery The Fire besets and the Smoak you see Does choak my Speech O fly and save your Life Ner. Heaven thou dost strive I see for Victory Exeuâ—…t Enter Nimphidius Nim. See how Fates work unto their purpos'd end And without all Self-Industry will raise Whom they determine to make great and happy Nero throws down himself I stir him not He runs unto Destruction studies ways To compass Danger and attain the Hate Of all Be his own Wishes on his Head Nor Rome with Fire more than Revenges burn Let me stand still or ly or sleep I rise Poppea a some new Favour will seek our My wakings to salute I cannot stir But Messengers of new Preferment meet me Now she has made me Captain of the Guard So well I bear me in these Night-Alarms That she imagin'd I was made for Arms I now command the Castle he the City If any Chance do turn the Prince aside l As many Hat'reds Mischiess threaten him Our's is his Wise his Seat and Throne is ours He 's next in right that has the strongest Powers Exit Enter Scevinus and Mellichus Sce. O Tray and O ye Souls of our Fore-Fathers Which in your Countries Fires were offered up How near your Nepheâ—…s to your Fortunes come Yet they were Greclau Hands began your Flame Not Pirrhus nor Hannibal art Author Sad Rome is ruin'd by a Roman Hand Mel. My Master has Seal'd up his Testament Those Bond-Men which he liketh best set free Given money and more liberally than he us'd And now as if a Fare-well to the World Were meant a sumptuous Banquet has he made Yet not with Countenance that Feasters use But Chears his Friends the whil'st himself looks Sad. Aside Sce. I have from Fortune's Temple ta'n this Sword may it be Fortunate and now at least Since it could not prevent punish the Evil To Rome it had been better done before but though less helping now they 'l praise it more Great Soveraign of all Mortal Actions Whom only Wretched Men and Poets blame Speed thou the Weapon which I have from thee 'T was not amidst thy Temple Monuments In vain repos'd somewhat I know 't has done O with new Honours let it be laid up Strike boldly Arm so many powerful Prayers Of Dead and Living hover over thee Mel. And though sometimes with talk Impertinent And Idle Fancies he would feign a Mirth Yet it is easie seen some-what is here The which he dares not let his Face make shew of Aside Sce. See Melichus this Weapon's better Edg'd Long want of use has made it dull and blunt Mel. Sharpening of Swords when must we then have Or means my Master Cato-like to exempt blows Himself from Power of Fates and cloy'd with Life Give the Gods back their unregarded Gist But he hath neither Cato's Mind nor Cause A Man given o're to Pleasures and Soft Ease Aside Which makes me still to doubt how in Affairs Of Princes he dares meddle or desire Sce. We shall have Blows on both sides Melichus What and 't be Heart for Heart Death is the worst Provide me store of Cloaths to bind up Wounds This World I see has no Felicity I 'le try the other Mel. Nero's Life is sought The Sword 's prepar'd against another's Breast The help for this It can be no Private Foe For then 't were best to make it known and call Troupes of Bond and Freed-Men to his Aid Besides his Counsellors Seneca And Lucan are no Managers of Quarrels Aside Sce. Me-thinks I see him struggling on the ground Hear his unmanly out-Crles and lost Prayers Made to the Gods which turn their Heads away Nero this Day must end the World's Desires And Headlong send thee down to Endless Fires Exit Mel. Why do I further idly stand debating My Proofs are but too many and too pregnant And Princes Ears still to Suspitions open For States are wise and cut of Ills that may be Mean Men must dy that others may sleep sound Exeunt Finis Actus Tertij ACTUS QUARTUS Enter Nero Poppea Nimphidius Tigellinus Neophilus and Epaphroditus Nero. THis Kiss sweet Love â—…le sorce from thee and this And of such Spoyls and Victories be Prouder Than if I had the Fierce 〈◊〉 Or Valiant German Ten times over-come Let Juliâ—… go and Fightat the end o'th'World And Conquer from the Wild Inhabitants Their Cold and Poverty whilst Nero here Makes other Wars Wars where the Conquer'd Gains Where to o'r-come is to be Prisoner O willingly I give up my Freedome And put on my own Chains And am in Love with my Captivity Such Venâ—… is when on the Sandy Shore Of Xanthâ—… or on Ida's Pleasant Greeâ—… She leads the Dance If Bacchus could his Stragling Minion Grace with a Glorious Wreath of Shining Stâ—… Why should not Heaven my Poppea Crown The Northern Teem shall move into a round New Constellations rise to honour thee The Earth shall woe thy Favoâ—…rs and the Sea Lay his Rich Shells and Treâ—…sures 〈◊〉 thy Feeâ—… For thee Hidaspis shall throw up his Gold Panchaia breath the Rich Delightful Smells The Seres and the Feather'd Man of India Shall their Fine Arts and 〈◊〉 Labours bring And where the Sun 's not known Poppea's Name Shall mid'st their Feasts and Barbarous Pomp Be sung What 's he Enter Melichus Nim. One that it seems my Lord does come in haste Ner. Yet in his Face he sends his Tale before him Bad News thou tellest Mel. T is bad I tell but good that I can tell it Therefore your Majesty will pardon me If I offend your Ears to save your Life Ner. Why is my Life indanger'd How ends this Circumstance thou rack'st My Thoughts Mel. My Lord your Life is conspir'd against Ner. By whom Mel. I must be of the World excus'd in this If the great Duty to your Majesty Makes me all other lesser to neglect Ner. Thou art a tedious Fellow speak by whom Mel. By my Master Ner. who 's thy Master Mel. Scevinus Pop. Scevinus why should he Conspire Unless he think that Likeness in Conditions May make him too worthy o'th'Empire thought Ner. Who are else in it Mel. I think Natalia Subius Flavius Lucan Seneca and Lucius Piso Asper and Quiâ—… Ner. Ha done Thou 'lt reckon all Rome anon and so thou may'st They 're Villains all I 'le not trust one of 'em O that the Romans had but all one Neck Pop. Piso's sly creeping into Mens Affections And Popular Arts have given long Cause of Doubt And the other 's late observ'd Discontents Risen from Misinterpreted Disgraces May make us credit this Relation Ner. Where are
deserv'd to dy Pop. How much this Youth my Othâ—… does resemble Otho my first my best Love who is now Undér pretext of Governing Exll'd To Lusitania Honourably Banish't Ner. VVell if you be so Passionate I 'le make you spend your Pity on your Prince And good Men not on Traitors Boy The God's forbid my Prince should pity need Some-what the sad Remembrance did me stir Of frail and weak Condition of our Kind Some-what his Greatness than whom Yesterday The VVorld but Caesar could shew nothing Higher Besides some Vertues and some VVorth he had That might excuse my Pity to an End so Cruel and Unripe Pop. I know not but this Youth does strangely move My mind His Face me-thinks is more Angelical Than Earthly Oh! his words invade My weak'ned Senses and o'r-come my Heart Ner. Your Pity shews your favour and your will VVhich side you are enclin'd to had you Power Your Ill Affection then shall punish'd be Take him to Execution he shall dy Boy This Benefit at least Sad Death shall give to free me from the Power Of such a Government and if I dy For pitying Humane Chance and Piso's End There will be some too that will pity me Pop. O what a Dauntless Look what sparkling Eyes Threatning his Suffering sure some Noble Blood Is hid in Raggs Fear argues a base Spirit In him what Courage and Contempt of Death And shall I suffer ohe I Love to dye He shall not dy Take off your hands away Nero thou shalt not kill this Guiltless Youth Ner. He Guilâ—…less By Heaven she is in love with this smooth-fac'd Boy Take him away Pop. I beg my Lord to spare his Lise Alas what Treason can such tender Years commit Ner. How dare you with your Fate and God Contend But the Bold Impieâ—…y shall end Stabs â—…er How impotent wou'd Nero's God-head be Cou'd Mortal stand betwixt my Rage and thee Neoph. Alas my Lord you have kil'd her Epap Help help she dyes Ner. Poppea Poppea speak I am not angry I did not mean to hurt thee speak sweet Love Neoph. She 's dead my Lord. Ner. Fetch her again she shall not dy I 'le open the Iron Gates of Hell And break the Imprison'd Shadows of the Deep And force from Death this far too worthy Prey She is not dead The Crimson Red for-sakes not yet her Cheeks Her Breath Yet moves her Lips those quick and piercing Eyes That did in Beauty challenge Heaven Yet shine as they were wont O no they do not See how they grow Obscure O see they close And cease to take or give light to the World What Stars soe'r you are assur'd to grace The Firmament sor how the Twinkling Fires Together throng and that clear Milky space Prepares your Room do not with wry aspect Look on your Nero who in Blood shall mourn Your Luckless Fate and many a Breathing Soul Send after you to wait upon their Queen SCENE the Fourth Enter Seneca and two Friends Sen. What means your Mourning this ungâ—…ful Sorrow Where are your Precepts of Philosophy Where are your Prepar'd Resolutions So many Years fore-studied against Dangers To whom is Nero's Cruelty unknown Or what remain'd after his Mother's Blood But his Instructer's Death Leave leave these Tears Death from me nothing takes but what 's a Burthen A Clog to that free Spark of Heavenly Fire But that in Seneca the which you lov'd Which you admir'd does and shall still remain Secure of Death untouch't of the Grave 1 Frie. We 'l not bely our Tears we waile not thee It is our selves and our own Loss we grieve To thee what loss in such a Change can be Vertue is paid her due by Death alone To our own Losses do we give these Tears That lose thy Love thy boundless Knowledge Lose Lose the unpattern'd Sample of thy Vertue Lose whatsoe'r may Praise or Sorrow Move In all these Losses yet of this we Glory That 't is thy Hâ—…ppiness that makes us sorry 2 Frie. If there be any Place for Ghosts of Good Men If as we have bin told Great Mens Souls Consume not with their Bodies thou shalt see Looking from out the Dwellings of Air True Duties to thy Memory perform'd Not in the outward Pompe of Fâ—…neral But in Remembrance of thy Deeds and Words The oft Recalling of thy many Vertues The Tomb that shall the Eternal Relicks keep Of Seneca shall be his Hearers Hearts Exeunt 2. Rom. Sen. Be not afraid my Soul go chearfully To thy own Heaven from whence it Had its Being Now lifted up thou ravish't shalt behold The Truth of things at which we wonder here And Foolishly do wrangle on beneath And like a God shalt walk the Spacious Air And see what even to Conceit 's deny'd Great Soul o'th'World that through the Parts Diffus'd of this Vast-all guid'st what thou do'st Informe You Blessed Minds that from the Spheres You move Look on Mens Actions not with Idle Eyes And Gods we go to Aid me in this Strise And Combat of my Flesh that ending I May still shew Seneca and my self dy Stabs himself Finis Actus Quarti ACTUS QUINTUS Enter Nero Nimphidius Tigellinus Neophiluâ—… Epaphroditus and. Attendants Nero. Enough is wept Poppea for thy Death Enough is Bled so many Tears of others Wailing their Losses have wip'd mine away VVho in the Common Funeral of the world Can mourn one Death Tig. Besides your Majesty this Benefit In their deserv'd Punishment shall reap From all Attempts hereafter to be freed Conspiracy is now for ever dash'd Tumult supprest Rebeâ—…ion out of heart In Piso's Death Danger it self did dy Nimp Piso that thought to climb by bowing down By giving a way to Thrive and Raising others To become great himself hath now by Death Given quiet to your Thoughts and Fear to theirs That shall from Treason their Advancement plot Those Dangerous Heads that his Ambition lean'd on And they by it crept up and from their meanness Thought in this Stir to rise aloft are off Now Peace and Safety wait upon your Throne Security hath wall'd your Seat about There is no place for Fear lest Ner. VVhy I never sear'd'em Nim. That was your Fault Your Majesty must give us leave to blame Your Dangerous Courage and that noble Soul Too Prodigal of it self Ner. A Prince's Mind knows neither Fear nor Hope The Beams of Royal Majesty are such As all Eyes are with it amaz'd â—…nd weakned But it with nothing I at first contemn'd Their weak Devices and saint Enterprize Why thought they against him to have prevail'd Whose Child-hood was from Messallina's Spite By Dragons that the Earth gave up preserv'd Such Guard my Cradle had for Fate had then Pointed me out to be what now I am Should all the Legions and the Provinces In one united against me Conspire I could disperse 'em with one Angry Eye My Brow 's an Host of Men. Come Tigellinus Let 's turn this Bloody Banquet Piso meant us Unto a Merry Feast we 'l Drink
will change it not as heretofore By singling out 'em one by one to death Each common Man can such Revenges have A Prince's Anger must lay desolate Cities Kingdoms consume root up Mankind O could I live to see the General end Behold the World wrap't in one Funeral Flame When as the Sun shall lend his Beams to burn What he before brought forth and Water serve Not to extinguish but to nurse the Fire Then like the Salamander bathing me In the last Ashes of all Mortal things Let me give up this Breath Prium was happy Happy indeed he saw his Troy burnt And Ilion ly on heaps wâ—…st ' thy Streams Divine Scamander did run Rhrygian Blood And heard the pleasant Cries of Trojan Mothers Could I see Rome so Tig. Your Majesty may easily Without this Trouble to your â—…acred Mind Ner. What may I easily do kill thee or him How may I rid you all where is the man That will all others end and last himself O that I had thy Thunder in my Hand Thou idle Rover I 'le non shoot at Trees And spend in Woods my unregarded Vengeance I 'le shiver them down upon their guilty Rooss And fill the Streets with Bloody Funerals But 't is not Heaven can give me what I seek To you you hated Kingdoms of the Night You Severe Powers that no like those above Will with fair words or Children's cries be won But in Destruction Power and Terror shew To you I fly for succour You whose Dwellings For Torments are bely'd must give me Ease Furies lend me your Fires no they are here They must be other Fires Material Brands That must the burning of my Heat allay I bring to you no rude unpractis'd Hands Already do they reek with Mothers Blood Tush that 's but Innocent to what now I mean Alas what evil could these Years commit The World in this shall see my setled Wit Exeunt Enter Piso and Seneca Sen. Piso were you at the Theatre Pis. Seneca I was and saw your Kingly Pupil In Minstrel's Habit stand before the Judges Bowing those Hands which the World's Scepter hold And with great Awe and Reverence beseeching Indifferent Hearing and an equal Doom Mean time how would he eye his Adversaries How he would seek t' have all they did disgrac't Traduce'em privatly openly railat'em And them he could not conquer so he would Corrupt with Money to do worse than he This was his Singing Part His Acting now Sen. Nay even end here for I have heard enough Let me not See him a Player nor the fearful Voice Of Rome's great Monarch now Command in jest Our Prince be Agamemnon in a Play Pis. Why Seneca 't is better in a Play Be Agamemnon than himself indeed How does it stir this Airy part of us To hear our Poets tell Imagin'd Fights And the strange Blows that fain'd Courage gives When on the Stage I Heard Achilles Speak Honour and the Greatness of his Soul Methinks we too could on a Phrygian Spear Run bolâ—…ly and make Tales for after times But when we come to Act it in the Deed Death mat's this Bravery and the ugly Fears Osth'other VVorld sit on the Proudest Brow Enter two Romans 1 Rom. Fire Fire help we burn 2 Ro. Fire fire help fire Sen. Fire where Pis. Where What Fire 1 Ro. O round about here there on every side Compass the City Pis. How came this Fâ—…re by whom Sen. Was 't Chance or Purpose Pis. Why is 't not quench't 2 Ro. Alas there are many there with Weapons And whether it be for Prey or by Command They hinder Nay they throw on Fire-brands Enter Antonius Ant. The Fire encreaseth and will not be staid But like a Stream that tumbling from a Hill O'r-whelms the Fields o'r-whelms the hopeful Toil O'th'Husband-man and headlong bears the Woods The weary Shepheard on a Rock a far Amaz'd hears the fearfull Noyse so here Danger and Terror strive which shall exceed some cry and yet are well some are kill'd silent Some kindly run to help their Neighbour's House The whil'st their own 's a fire Some save their Goods And leave their dearer Pledges in the Flame Pis. What are the Gauls return'd Does 〈◊〉 brandish Fire-brands once again Sen. What can Heaven now unto our Sufferings add Enter 3 Roman 3 Ro. O all goes down Rome falleth from the Roofe The Wind 's aloft the Conquering Flame turns all Into it's self nor do the Gods escape Pleiades burns Jupiter Saturn burns The Altar now is made a Sacrifice And Vesta mourns to see her Virgin Fires Mingle with Profane Ashes Sen. Heaven hast thou set this end to Roman greatness Were the World's Spoils for this to Rome divided To make but our Fires bigger You Gods whose Anger made us great grant yet Some Change in Misery we beg not now To have our Consuls tread on Asian Kings Or spurn the quiver'd Susa at their Feet This we have had before we beg to live At least not thus to dy Let Cannons come Let Allius Water turn again to Blood To these will any Miseries be light Pis. VVhy with false Auguries have we bin deceiv'd VVhy was our Empire told us should endure VVith Sun and Moon in time in Brightness pass'em And that our End should be o'th'VVorld and it VVhat can Celestial God-heads speak doubly too Sen. O Rome the Envy late But now the Pity of the VVorld The Men of Cholcos at thy Sufferings grieve The Shaggy Dweller in the Scythian Rocks The most Condemn'd to Perpetual Snow That never wept at Kindreds Funerals Suffers with thee and feels his Heart to soften O should the Parthian hear these Miseries He would his low and native Hate apart Sit down with us and lend an Enemie's tear To grace the Funeral Fires of ending Rome Exeunt SCENE ROME a Fire Enter Nero above Ner. I now my Troy looks beauteous in her Flames The Tyrrhene Seas are bright with Roman Fires Whilst the amaz'd Mariner afar Gazing on th' unknown Light wonders what Star Heaven hath begot to ease the Aged Moon VVhen Pirrhus striding o're the Cinders stood On Ground where Troy late was and with his Eye Measur'd the height of what he had thrown down A City great in People and in Power VValls built with th' Hands of Gods he now forgave The Ten Years Wars and thinks his wounds well heal'd Bath'd in the Blood of Priam's fifty Sons Yet am not I appeas'd I must see more Than Towers and Columns tumble to the Ground 'T was not the High built Walls and Guiltless Stones That Nero did provoke Themselves must be the Wood To feed this Fire or quench it with their Blood Within Fire Fire Fire Within Gods if you be not fled from Heaven help us Ner. I like this Musick well they like not mine Let Heaven do what it will this have I done Already Do you feel my Furies weight Rome is become a Grave of her late Greatness Her Clouds of Smoak have ta'n away the Day Her Flames
Care belongs to me I will have care of them and of their Good Let 'em thank me if I Through this Occasion Procure for them so great a Donative Exâ—… Nimph. Ant. So you be thank'd it Skill's who prevails Galba or Nero Traitor to 'em both You give it out that Nero's fled to Egypt Who with the Frights of your Reports amaz'd By our Device does lurk for better News Whil'st you inevitably do betray him Works he all this for Galba then 〈◊〉 Not so I have long seen his Climbing to the Empire By Secret Practises of Gracious Women And other Instruments of the Late Court That was his Love to her that me resus'd And now by this he would give the Souldiers Favour Now is the time to quit Poppea's Scorn And Revenge my self upon my Rival I 'le straight Reveal His Treacheries to Galba's Agents here Exit Enter Tigellinus and Guards Tig. You see what Issue things are come too Yet may we hope not only Impunity But with our Fellows part o' th' Guilt proclaim'd Enter Nero alone Ner. Whither go you Stay my Friends 'T is Caesar calls stay my Loving Friends Tig. We were his Slaves his Foot-stool and must Câ—…ouch But now with such Observance to his Feet It is his Misery that he calls us Friends Ner. And moves you not the Misery of a Prince O stay my Friends stay and hearken to the Voice Which once you knew Tig. Hark to the People's Cries Hark to the Streets that Galba Galba rings Ner. The People may sorsake me without Blame I did 'em wrong to make you Rich and Great I took their Houses to bestow on you Treason in them has name of Liberty Your Fault has no Excuse you are my Fault And the Excuse of other's Treachery Tig. Shall we with staying seem to uphold his Tyrannies As if we were in Love with them Come let 's away Exeunt Tigellinus and Guards Ner. O now I see the Vizard from my Face So lovely and so fearful is fall'n off That Vizard Shaddow nothing Majesty Which like a Child acquainted with his Fears But now Men tremble at and now contemn Nero forsaken is of all the World The World of truth O sall some Vengeance Down Equal unto their Falsh-hoods and my Wrongs Might I accept the Chariot of the Sun And like another Phaeton Consume In Flames of all the World a Pile of Death Worthy the State and Greatness I have lost Or were I now but Lord of my own Fires Where in False Rome yet once again might Smoak And Perish all unpityed of the Gods That all things in their Last Destruction Might Perform a Funeral Honour to their Lord. O Jove Dissolve with Caesar Caesar's World Enter Neophilus and Epaphroditus Neop Though other 's bound with greater Benefits Have left your Altered Fortunes and do run Whither new Hopes do call 'em yet come we Ner. O welcom Come you to Adversity Welcom true Friends why there is Faith on Earth Of Thousand Servants Friends and Followers Yet two are left Your Countenance me-thinks Gives Comfort and new Hopes â—…pap Do not deceive your Thoughts My Lord we bring no Comfort Would we could But the Last Duty to perform and best We ever shall a free Death to perswade To cut off Hopes of Fiercer Cruelty And Scorn more Cruel to a Worthy Soul Neop The Senate has decreed your Punishment After the Fashion of our Ancestors Which is your Neck being locked in a Fork You must be Whipt and Scourg'd to Death Ner. The Senate thus decreed They that so oft My Vertues flatter'd have and Gifts of mine My Government prefer'd to Ancient Times And challeng Numa to compare with me Have they so Horrible an End sought out No here I bear That which shall prevent such Shame Draws a Dagger This hand shall yet from that deliver me And Faithful be alone unto it's Lord. Alas how sharp and terrible is Death O must I dy must now my Senses close For ever dy and ne'r return again Never more see the Sun nor Heaven nor Earth Whither go I What shall I be anon What Horrid Journey wand'rest thou my Soul Under the Earth in Dark Damp Dusky Vaults Or shall I now to nothing be dissolv'd My Fear 's become my Hopes O would I might Me thinks I see the Boyling Phlegeton The Dread and Terrour of the Gods themselves The Furies arm'd with Lincks with Whips with Snakes And my own Furies far more mad than they My Mother and those Troops of Slaughter'd Friends And now the Judge is brought unto the Throne That will not lean unto Authority Nor favour the Oppressions of the Great Stabs himself Epap They are at hand Hark you may hear the Noise A Shout of Long live Galba Emperour of Rome Ner. O Rome fare-well Fare-well you Theaters Where I so oft with Popular Applause Have won that Glory which must shine no more Dies Enter Romans with Nimphidius bound Roâ—… Thus dy all Tyrants Let the News be Carried To my Great Master And the Tyrant's Body Thrown into Tyber Let th' Aspiring Traitor Nimphidius straight to Galba be convey'd To undergo the Vengeance due to Rebels Nero the Nobler Criminal has the Nobler Destiny Tyrants by Conquest have their Fall Decreed But Traitours should by Execution Bleed Exeunt FINIS EPILOGUE IT is a Trick of late grown much in Vogue When all are Kill'd to raise an Epilogue This some Pert Rymer wittily contriv'd For a Surprize whil'st the Arch Wag believ'd 'T would please You to see Pretty Miss reviv'd But Gentlemen the Case is alter'd new We may be Dead and Damn'd too for all You And therefore just as my Poor Ghost came down All the Elizian Shades began to frown Told me that I must there expect no Grace Till I return'd to You and made my Peace Faith it is very hard you cannot be Content to vex our frail Mortality Damne all Our Plays call Us Dull Jades and Fools That might content You Would You Damne Our Souls I Gad we 'l ne'r endur 't I 'le tell You that To be thus us'd at this ill natur'd Rate Nay ne'r begin to bite your Lips and Fume Not one of Us but may be found at Home If You 'l have Satisfaction when We 're there We are Ready for You and come faith if You dare