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
fare-well to all Love Yet thus much shall it still prevaile in me That I will hate Nimphidius for thee Pet. Fare-well to her to my Euanthe well-come VVho now will to my burning Kisses stoop Now with an Easie Cruelty deny That which she rather than the Asker would Have forced from her then begins her self Their Loves that list upon great Ladies set I still will love the Cheapest I can get Exeunt SCENE the Second Nero's Palace Enter Nero Tigellinus Epaphroditus and Nimphidius Ner. Tigellinus say'd the Villain Proculus I was thrown down in running Tig. My Lord he say'd that you were Crown'd for that You could not do Ner. For that I could not do VVhy Elis saw me do 't and do 't with VVonder Of all the Judges and the Lookers on And yet to see a Villain Could not do 't VVho did it better I warrant you he say'd I from the Chariot fell against my will Tig. He said my Lord you were thrown out of it All crush't and maim'd and almost bruis'd to Death Ner. Malicious Rogue when I fell willingly To show of Purpose with what little Hurt Might a Good Rider bear a forced Fall How sayest thou Tigellinus I am sure Thou hast in Driving as much skill as he Tig. My Lord you greater Cunning shew'd in falling Than had you sate Ner. I know I'did Bruis'd in my Fall Hurt I protest I felt it not Go Tigellinus fetch me the Villain 's Head This makes me see his Heart in other things Fetch me his Head he ne'r shall speak again Exit Tig. What do we Princes differ srom the Dust And baseness of the Common Multitude If we are subject to the Scorn Of each Malicious Tongue say That I had no skil When all that saw me gaz'd with Admiration The People follow'd with their Eyes and Voice And now the Wind do's see it self out-run And the Clouds wonder to be left behind Whil'st the Void Air is fill'd with noyse And Nero's Name sounds to the Sky Jupiter envying loth to hear my Praise Then their Green Bows and Crowns of Olive VVreath's The Conquerout's Praise they give me as my due And Yet this Rogue say's no we have no skill Enter Neophilus Neop My Lord the Stage and all the Furniture Ner. I have no skill to drive a Chariot Had he but rob'd me broke my Treasury The Red-Sea's mine mine are the Indian Stones The World 's mine own then cannot I be rob'd But spightfully to undermine my Fame To take away my Art He would my Life As well no doubt could he told how Enter Tigellinus and Executioner with Proculus's Head Neop My Lord Tigellinus is come with Proculus Head Ner. Give him Five Hund'red Sesterces for amends Hast ' brought him Tigellinus Tig. Here 's his Head my Lord. Ner. His Tongue had been enough Tig. I did as you commanded me my Lord. Ner. Now are you quiet This 't is to be Commander of the World Let them extoll weak Pity that do need it Let Men cry to have Law and Justice done And tell their Griefs to Heaven that hear's them not Kings must upon their headless Peoples Graves Walk to Security and Ease of Mind VVhy what have we to do with the Airy Names That Old Age and Philosophers found out Of Justice and of Equity The God's Revenge themselves and so will we VVhere Right is scand Authority is over-thrown VVe have a High Prerogative above it Slaves may do what is Just VVe what we please The People will repine and think it ill But they must bear and praise too what we will Enter Cornutus Neop My Lord Cornutus whom you sent for 's come Ner. Well-come good Cornutus Are all things ready for the Stage As I gave Order Cor. They only stay your Coming Ner. Cornutus I must Act to day Orestes Cor. You have done that already and too truly Aside Ner. And when our Scene is done I mean besides To Read some Compositions of my own Which for the Great Opinion of my self And Rome in General of my Judgment has Before I publish them I 'le shew'em thee Cor. My Lord my Disabilities Ner. I know thy Modesty I 'le only show thee now my Workes beginning Go see Epaphroditus Th' Musick be ready I will Sing to Day Cornutus I pray thee come near And let me hear thy Judgment in my Pains I would have thee more familiar good Cornutus Nero do's prize Desert and more esteems Them that in Knowledge second him than Power Mark with what Stile and State my VVork begin's Cor. Might not my Interruption offend What 's your Work 's name my Lord what write you of Ner. I mean to write the Deed 's of all the Romans Cor. Of all the Romans a huge Argument Ner. I have not yet bethought me of a Title You Aethereal Power 's which the wide Fortunes doom Reads Of Empire Crown'd Seven Mountain-seated Rome Full blown Inspire me with Machilaean Rage That I may bellow out Romes Prentisage And when the Menades do fill their Drums And Crooked Hornes with Mimalonean Humms And Ennion do Ingeminate a round Which Reparable Eccho do resound How dost'thou like our Muse's pains Câ—…tus Cor. The Verses have more in 'em than I see Your Work my Lord I fear will be too long Ner. Too long Tig. Too long Cor. I if you write the Deeds of all the Roman's How many Books think you t' include it in Ner. I think to write about Four Hund'red Books Cor. Four Hund'red why my Lord they 'l ne'r be read Ner. Ha! Tig. Why he whom you esteem so much Crisippus Wrote many more Cor. But they were profitable to Common Life And taught Men Honesty and Wisdom Ner. Tigellinus Exit Nero and his Train Cor. See with what Earnestness he crav'd my Judgment And now he freely has it how it likes him Neop The Prince is angry and his Fall is near I 'le begon least I partake his Ruines Exit Neoph. Cor. What should I do at Court I cannot ly Why did'st thou call me Nero from my Book Did'st thou for Flattery of Cornutus look No let those Purple Fellows that stand by thee That admire Shew and things that thou can'st give Leave to please Truth and Vertue to please thee Nero there 's nothing in thy Power Cornutus Do's wish or fear Enter Tigellinus Tig. 'T is Nero's Pleasure that you straight depart To Giara and there remain Confin'd Thus he out of his Princely Clemency Hath Death your due turn'd but to Banishment Cor. Why Tigellinus Tig. I have done upon you Peril go or stay Exit Tig. Cor. And why should Death or Banishment be due For speaking Truth or that which was requir'd my Thought O why do Princes love to be deceiv'd And do even force Abuses on themselves Their Eares are so with pleasing Speech beguil'd That Truth they Malice Flattery Truth account And their own Soul and Understanding's lost Alas weak Prince how hast thou punish't me To Banish me from thee O let me go And
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
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