some of his Tutors roundly Trust And in their Roomes he Revellers promoted Unprincely sports he us'd to serve his Lust All men perceive that now he plainly doted Chiefe Offices of State disposed must To such as for their Lewdnesse were denoted Fidlers Dancers Jesters Charret-drivers Debauched Ruffins were his State Contrivers 31. This was a mad and drunken distribution Besides his Gewgawes and his Garish Dresses VVhich made the Souldiers set their Resolution Not to regard his garbe or Silken Tresses In Alexander there was lesse Privation To whom his Mother gave good Education 32. And now 't was time to see how matters went His Mother heeds and to his businesse looks She would not let him eat what Anton ' sent But duely minds his Butlers and his Cooks For that disease she undertooke the Cure And money gave the Souldiers to Assure 33. Now Antonine intends to kill them both The Mother and his new Adopted Son VVhich Grandam Maesa would be very loth Too blame am I quoth she if this be done She knew of all his Plots as well as may be And was withall a very subtle Lady 34. Because his projects still she did prevent His Son no longer Caesar is saluted But when the Souldiers heard of his intent No force say they that we will have disputed With bitter Threats they 'gin to fret and Stamp Restraine his Guards and lockt them in the Camp 35. Young Caesar they demand and him will see This Startles Anton ' makes him take Caroch Adorn'd with Gems as rich as rich might be Then to the Camp his Son and he Approach Their Gates they ope with seming merry cheer Conducting them unto the Temple there 36. That night they had their Lodgings both prepar'd Prince Caesar yet the Army best Applaudes When Antonine saw how this matter far'd Hie time it was to lay aside his Gaudes The Chiefe of them he had in most suspition He executes as Authors of Sedition 37. The Souldiers meane to take this just occasion To help their Fellowes in this dangerous case Now Anton's Fautors die without Evasion His Rimers Dancers and his Juglers base Not so content their fury so extreme is They kill himselfe and eke his Mother Saemis 38. Their Carkasses the people hale and rakes Enough to make a kind heart shake and shiver And them they threw into the publicke Jakes Which voided are into the Tyber River Then that their young Prince might not rove at Random They him commit to 's Mother and his Grandam The End of the Fifth Book I have thought good to give you here the Character or Elogy of this last Antonine taken out of the best Authors HIs Apparell was extreame brave and Gorgeous yet he never wore one Garment twice His Shooes were embellisht with Diamonds and Orientall Pearles of the most Caracts His Seats were strewed with Muske and Amber His Beds were covered with Cloth of Gold Tissued on Purple and embossed with Gems of inestimable Value His Way was strewed with filings of Gold and Silver His Vessels even of basest use were of Obryze Gold His Lamps burned with pretious Balmes and Gums of India and Arabia His Fish-ponds were filled with Rose-water His Ships in his Theatricall Sea fights floated in Rivers of Wine His Bathes most magnificently built when he had once used them were still pluckt downe and new built His Plate of refined Massie Gold but never served twice to his Table His Rings and Jewels infinitely Rich yet never worne twice His Concubines numberlesse but never laine with twice Every Supper in his Court cost 1000 pounds sterling When he lay neere to the Sea he would eat no fish when he was farthest in the Continent he would eat no Flesh Whole Meales were furnisht with Tongues of singing Birds and Braines of rarest Creatures All Europe Asia and Africk with the Ilands adjacent in a word the Globe of Earth and Sea whereof he was LORD PARAMOVNT was not able to fill this GVLPH In his Progresse he was attended by 600 Charrets fraught with Concubines Catamites and Pandars for whom he built a Seraglio in his Court where himselfe in the habit of a Curtezâ—n used to make solemne Speeches to them terming them his Brave Fellow-Souldiers and Companions in Arms What gallant Instructions he gave them I forbeare to mention He caused to be gathered in Rome ten thousand Weight of Spiders ten thousand Mice and a thousand Polcats which he exhibited to the Roman Peeres and People in a publike Shew and Solemnity professing that now he perfectly understood how mighty a City Rome was Lastly to omit other more stronge Prankes he summoned a Parliament of Women to consult about Tires Fashions Dresses Tinctures and the like Weighty and Important Affaires The Sixth BOOK CANTO XVII The ARGUMENT Prince Alexander next Reforms the State Maesa deified Persians them Invade The Roman Letters they despise and Hate A Muster over Italy is made Alexander against the Persian goes And sends Embassage to his Sturdy Foes 1. YOu see the end of Luxury and Riot What meanes this flesh and blood so to Rebell How happy is the poore mans rest and quiet That doth within his homely Cottage dwell Far better be a Beast or Brutish Swine Then live and die the death of Antonine 2. This end had Antonine and his Adhaerents Then were for managing of State-Affaires Maesa and Mammaea created Regents Who straight the Common-wealth amisse Repaires Sixteen were chosen of the Ancient Peers Remarkable for Wisdome and for yeares 3. This Government was pleasing unto all Their gods remov'd of late they reinvest For Antonines they make accompt but small Though he and they so garishly were drest His scounderels were all of them disgrac'd And men of Honour in their roomes were plac'd 4. The Empire stated thus old Masa died All solemne Rites unto her Hearse were done For like an Empresse she was Deified Mammaea left sole Guardian to her Son And now for Rule he was of decent Age She sought unruly passions to Asswage 5. Which happens oft to Natures that are best When Parasites have got the upper hands To stirr her selfe she therefore did not rest Till she from Court did all of them disband She pray'd him in debates to end the Strife Which he observ'd and led a Princely Life 6. In fourteen yeares his Empire had no staine None di'd without due processe in the Law Since Marcus time there was not such a Raigne For Love they him Revered more then Awe His Mother though heap'd Coine as she pretended To give his Souldiers which he not commended 7. Their goods she spoyl'd he thought on him reflected And when he had obtain'd a Noble Wife The Lady was by her too much neglected And forc'd from Court to lead a quiet life As Empresse she alone will take upon her Maligning much at this her Daughters Honour 8. Her Sire she kill'd o're come with Passion blind Because he spake what did not her content
he lay with him in bed Call'd Philo Commodus as much as Dove Or Darling he thus of his Name was sped The Boy was full of play and went to clamber As Commodus did bath to his bed Chamber 43. While thus he Lav'd and revell'd with his Minions This Book the child tooke up and went to play By power Divine it was in some opinions That Marcia chanc'd to meet him by the way Whom dearely she did Love and late had mist him Now tooke him in her arms all and to kist him 44. But lest he should with pretty Childish toying Blot out some matters that might be of waight Taking the Booke to free from his Annoying Commodus writing shee perceived straight And longing now as women oft doe use She needs must read yet found but heavy newes 45. First she next Laetus and Electus dies With such a number of the Noble Traine Then sighing deep she thus laments and cries O Commodus is all my Love in vaine Have I endur'd your flatterers and flies Is this the Guerdon I have for my paine You soon shall know this sober hand of mine Shall quickly dash your drunken Lewd designe 46. She forthwith then for Lord Electus sends Her bosom friend and Princes Chamberlaine The plot that was to make them all amends See here quoth she this night you must be slaine He reades as though he somewhat was amaz'd Of Aegypt he those are not eas'ly daz'd 47. In Choler he againe seal'd up the Booke To Laetus sent it by a trusty friend He startled was and with a gastly looke To Marcia came there businesse did pretend As if he came to dresse the fencing Schoole Though Commodus his pulse they mean to Coole 48. This was a Colour faire for them to treat Which soone begot a sound determination To save themselves Marcia may doe the feat Without delay or more procrastination With poyson'd Cup which she could handle neat To shew him what was his praedestination She must present and neither faint or falter This was the meanes to keep them from the halter 49. First cup he drank her custome was to offer If that he Bath or else doe sup or dine And he accepteth kindly of her proffer The which she fils with Aromatick wine And so presents with Spice as she had don 't This off he quaâ—fs according to his wont 50. He thirsty was with Bath and Chasing Beast But now his heavy head is in a slumber They must not tell with what they did him feast But rather how much paines had bred his Cumber These three Commands the rest to voyd the Court 'T was for his ease now having done his Sport 51. For thus it was with him in drunken fits When he had either Banqueted or Bath'd No set time had to come within his wits The severall sort of pleasure had him Scath'd A while thus resting in this sorry plight His stomack ill and head grew very light 52. Extreamly unto Vomit then he fell With too much drink or else with over feasting If hap'ly so the Poyson might expell With Marcia and the rest it was no jesting Or else perhaps some Antidote had ta'ne As Princes often use to shun their Bane 53. How e're it was the Vomit did not cease Conspirators began to be afread If that his strength his poyson should release And he come to himselfe they were but dead While thus about this matter they doe wrangle They all agree Narcissus shall him strangle 54. Narcissus was a bold and desp'rate youth On their reward and promises he beares This was the end of Commodus in sooth Since Fathers death he raigned thirteen yeares Of high descent he noble was and Prime And was the goodliest person of his Time 55. For dextr'ous Darting second unto none But yet his Life ignoble was and foul Wherefore you heare they make but little mone Nor at his end the people doe condoâ—â— Now of this Theame no longer we must dwell Repose a while and I the rest will tell The End of the first Book The Second Book CANTO VI. The ARGUMENT Describe wee Pertinax his high degree With Laetus speach and Emperour proclaim'd The Senate in his choise doe all agree Informers quell'd good Government is Aimd Train'd Bands rebell Strangers extol the State He murth'red is though some repent too late 1. LO here the fatall end of Prodigality When men delight in Riot and excesse More wholsome Doctrine is the mean frugality That checks the will when once it doth digresse The greater he that doth himselfe inthrall The more his shame and greater is his fall 2. Commodus slaine Conspirators devise From Souldiers how the matter to conceale They know 't is time to put on some disguise Two trusty friends must now the matter heale The manner how while they in briefe discusse In Fardel Course his Corps they roundly trusse 3. And carry forth in stead of houshold stuff Which straight they doe convey away in post The drunken guards say not so much as muff Regarding not what did concerne them most With ready Coach before that any mist ' um In dead of night they hurry to Aristum 4. The chiefe conspirers fall into debate What way was best to save their Triple necks And cause they would avoyd the peoples hate They gave it out he died of Apoplex For he so oft did sleep with drunken pate They well might creed no Treason did him vex Thus Tyrant dead that peace might take effect They first conclude some grave man to elect 5. Consulting then they Pertimax resolve Most fit to undertake this weighty charge On him it was that Marcus did divolve His chiefest trust and he who did enlarge His conquest from the North unto the East And brought the Barb'rous People to his Hest 6. Him Commodus both spared and rever'd For gravity and poverty his praise Was ground sufficient that he was not fear'd By wealth he never sought himself to raise In silent night when doores were shut and pent To him Electus Laetus also went 7. The ope the doores they doe the Porter Call Who upon summons peeped soone without And seeing Souldiers with their Generall To Master ran amaz'd with feare and doubt Who him Commands they should not be rejected For now the mischiefe came he long expected 8. They say he Wav'd the Terror of the night And never changed hue or bed forsooke But with undaunted and a manly sprite A Courage bold and unappaled Looke Said here I am you need to seeke no further I am the man that you are sent to murther 9. This end indeed I look'd for every Tide I marvaile Commodus hath been so â—lack Of Fathers Friends I last of all Abide And now Expect to follow on the Track Perform your Errand that you come about And me discharge of further feare and doubt 10. Then Laetus thus O Noble Sir Remove These Scruples which doe now your mind infest Distrust not those that doe you dearely Love We come
end the work upon the River Rhyne 26. Resorting thus into the Field in Arms When Maximine to traine them was addrest They Emp'rour him 〈◊〉 with fresh Alarms And then with Purple Robe doe him invest Which he threw off My Friends quoth he forbeare Till hiâ—â— to kill he heard them vow and Sweare 27. If he refuse now if this were a plot Uncertain is and resteth still in doubt Yet they resolve though it were so or not The Soveraigne Rule he must not be without Then faineth he this Oracle's foretold So doth submit and will the Empire hold 28. And since the Army needs will have it so Before the Rumour shall abroad be spred Or that Alexander may come to know They shall surprise him though it be in bed His Guard that knowes not what is done in Field Must give consent or be compell'd to yield 29. With Donatives he doth the Souldiers cheer And promis'd them a double share of Corn Then forth to Alexander much in feare He leads them on as ' gainst a man forlorne Who manly leapt out of his Royall Tent Yet wept and trembl'd all the way he went 30. Accusing Maximine as most ungrate For Honours done him perjur'd and disloyall The Souldiers rage he strives to mittigate Of his amends they shall have open Triall The Guards that was about him sweare devoutly They will Assist him and defend him stoutly 31. When night was past and Maximine at hand Alexander came back into the Plain But when he saw of Foes a mighty Band He minds the Romans of his gentle Raigne And prayes them Arm to vindicate his Right Some griev'd some pitti'd him but none would fight 32. Some wish'd the Praefect and his Courtiers might Receive the meed of their deserved blame Some said this blow should on his Mother light That Souldiers scanted and debas'd his Fame While thus they parlie what was wrong or right Maximines Army to perswade them came They wish'd them leave this puny Prince and Mother For skill in Arms they now had chose Another 33. Then as they Vote for Emp'rour Maximine Back Alexander went unto his Tent Reproving sore his Mothers lewd designe But now it seems too late he did repent His deaths man he expecteth out of hand For Maximine the Tribunes doth Command 34. To put them both unto a sudden death With all their friends and such as did resist They rusht into his Tent and stopt the breath Of all save few that by escape they mist Yet they were apprehended shortly Auter And added to the former bloudy Slaughter 35. This end had both the Mother and the Son A gentle Prince of mild and temp'rate Raigne His Edict was none should to death be done Except the Law did first inflict the paine His Rule and he much Longer might have lasted Had not his Mother thus his Honour blasted The End of the Sixth Book The Seventh BOOK CANTO XIX The ARGUMENT Magnus Quartinus Prince against his will A trick the Traytor Macedon to coole Romans and Germans are at Battell still They fight like mad men in a durty Poole Maximine cruell by Informing Dolts At Rome they are devout Africk revolts 1. YOu see the Fatall end of these two Brothers How Pride and Lucre taught them to Aspire Which also brought Confusion to their Mothers Who for that purpose did with them conspire Yet time nor death we see of foe or frend Instructs our lives or manners to amend 2. The Fourteen years of former gentle Raign Receiv'd a strange and sudden Alteration For Maximine that caus'd them to be slain Was low of Birth and Barb'rous Education By Bloud he meant the Scepter to maintaine No whit asham'd of his Assassination He knew the Senate lik'd not his proceeding But would despise the basenesse of his Breeding 3. Right well they knew he was a Shepherd bred Then for his Active strength a Souldier prest So Fortune meerly by the hand him led Thus in the Roman Empire to invest His spleen and cunning shortly he disclos'd And all the Ancient Senate discompos'd 4. With other Officers upon pretence They knew not how to govern in their places To Rome they must he quickly packt the â—mence And Alexanders Servants eke disgraces The Nobles gone he set afoot his Tyranny With Souldiers aid and plotted further villany 5. A chance there hapt which made him much more keen Some Captaines and the Senat did conspire A Noble man there was that hight Quartine And Consull once him most of them desire He to this Emp'rour was accus'd in Briefe How with his friends he dealt to make him chiefe 6. When Maximine the Soveraignty had got By deeds of Arms the Souldiers to confirm He built a Bridge and thus was laid the Plot Or at the least some so much did Affirme That from the Germans he might not returne Magnus devis'd they should it cut or burne 7. He chosen was for skill in those Affaires Which Alexander did too much neglect But he his Army Trained to the Warrs And they for Action him doe most affect The River was so broad and deep of mire When this was done he could not back retire 8. But to the Barb'rous folk must be betrai'd Now if this Rumour feigned was or true It was enough for him it so was said And such as was suspected soon did rue For without processe they were forthwith slain Or other plea that did thereto pertaine 9. The Osroen Archers first this work began Magnas was one of Alexanders frends For whom they griev'd to him therefore they ran Of late dismist whom they will make amends They give him fatall Robe and carry fire And him to be their Emp'rour they desire 10. Of this before he neither thought or knew Then shortly after sleeping in his Tent His friend Macedon most unmanly slew He Captaine was and first that did Assent Yet now as he to Maximine was true Quartinus head he forthwith did present And he as glad to see him made away But Macedon must for the Reck'oing pay 11. Instead of thanks he as the Author Chiefe Was put to death and had deserved end Who now appear'd a Murth'rer and a Thiefe That first Rebell'd then kill'd his dearest friend These matters to the fire added fuell Though Maximine himselfe was fierce and cruell 12. A mighty Bulke he had and Visage grim Nor Greek or Barb'rous might with him compare He leads his Army o're the Bridge with him And on the Germans makes a cruell Warr With Darters Archers Romanâ— and Armenians Parthian Fugitives and captiv'd Attrenians 13. This Masse confus'd by Alexander raked Was now encreas'd and trained well to fight Moresco Darters little more then naked And Archers shew the Germans cunning slight They nimbly start to work their VVarrlike Feats Then back into the grosse as quick Retreats 14. Though Corne and Harvest ready was for Sickle The Barb'rous People fled and none resisted Their Buildings apt to fire are dwellings fickle He burnt and