Your Majesty Nero. I 'le hear no more Is Galba false Petr. They call him Emperour Nero. They do but what 's the name without the pow'r Let him come on this arm shall strike him dead And snatch his borrowed Laurels from his head Petr. Your Treasures are consum'd with late expence Nero. His gather'd Sums shall help that indigence Petr Time flies 't is fit your wisdom had design'd Nero. Do you consult while I my pleasures mind Oh my Poppoea where art thou retir'd Never was blessing So oft enjoy'd yet still so much desir'd Exeunt Scaen. III. Popepa Piso and Otho listening Pop. ARe they both dead Piso and Otho too Piso. I saw 'em first oppose the pyrat's rage With numbers scorning death they did engage The GOD of battels blush'd as he look'd on Envying the just applause these Heroes won Pop. Virtue is still by violence opprest How his eyes sparkle Pray relate the rest Piso. I have my self the doubtful hazard stood Of fifteen battles plung'd in waves of blood The dreadful cast on Fortune's bank I threw Life was my lot yet still in all my view Of wounds of War and death I never saw Such pleasing horror such delightful awe Such mighty force and art together laid Never was Game of death so bravely play'd At last O that I live such news to tell With conqu'ring tir'd these Sons of Valour fell Pop. Oh pow'r of Love his words my Soul invade Sure 't is some GOD delighting in a shade The Glories of his eyes like Stars in night Or mourning Beauties charm my wounded sight Since Honours are by Caesar round my hurl'd Since I am made the Empress of the World Since all 's my choice why do I doubtful stand And wish a pleasure which I may command If when I dye I must to torments go 'T is fit no time be lost let pleasures flow Fancy its eager appetite shall cloy Let resolution Holy qualms destroy Henceforth what e're I like I will enjoy Exit beckoning Piso. Otho Solus O Hell her crimes thy horror cannot match Be swift my Sword her lust and life dispatch This key unlocks all doors throughout the Court Are you so wanton Yes you shall have sport How am I Rob'd of all I ever lov'd My soul is heavy and would be remov'd Once she was fair the softest sweetest wife My heart 's lov'd Joy the Jewel of my life Had she stood so how happy had I been But she 's fallen and Glories in her sin Ah the whole Sex is naught false and unkind Falser than flatt'ring Seas or fleeting wind With panting hopes and fears they rack our brest Snatch our soft sleeps and ravish downy rest Oh they are skill'd practis'd in paint and art Smile in our face and stab us to the heart Yet we see all think nothing is unspy'd While they like Serpents on their bellies glide And leave no Print behinde our search to guide Exit Poppea Piso. Piso. War is my Mistress here I am unfit Love's chaplet misbecoms a Warrior's head I cannot cringe my nerves too firm are knit These limbs ne'r lay upon a silken bed Can you that are the World 's great Empress take Delight in the embraces of a slave Pop. The Sun for thy lov'd cheek did Heav'n forsake Why should not I the like advantage have From a bright Orb of Glory I 'le descend And in thy gloomy Cell make my abode No more a slave henceforth thou art my friend A Cottage has ere now receiv'd a GOD. Piso. Who ever knew Night mingle with the Day Pop Nothing agrees with Love so well as Night Hush'd and in darkness hid the bashful play And happy as the bold ravish delight The most obdurate are by kindness won Your touches charm nay why do you withdraw Grow thus like a soft cloud upon the Sun My pow'rful flame thy Icy fears will thaw Piso. Your Grandeur aws me yet why should I fear Somthing there is which my blood strangely moves I am your slave but are we private here Pop. As Hermits in their Cells or Gods in groves Piso. Why did you name the Gods that Sacred sound The force of Thunder bears and turns my blood My Spirits fly low yet with your touch rebound Like wanton Swallows when they kiss the flood Pop. Such fears unworthy are my blood or Throne Give me a Fancy sixt to its delight Tremblings and starts the fearful well may own The valiant still refuse a distant fight Enter Otho Otho Here 's one that fain would try your mighty Art What mean you ere the Fight 's begun you start Pop. Night horror death Ah whither shall I fly Otho Can you be valiant and yet fear to dye Pop. Thus at your feet let me one moment grow A little respite for my Soul allow Repentance seizes on each vital part And serions grief clings about my heart Yet ere I dye let me my thoughts declare O you are wrong'd my still loved Lord you are Your bed's defil'd and I am all one stain But yet my blood may wash me white again By killing me you only can forgive I am so wicked that I would not live In pity say this of me when ' Im dead She was not easily to ruin led 'T was not a common Crown her virtue bought But mighty Glory with great Courtship wrought Then she was young This Sir perhaps may mitigate my fault Oth. Her cunning tongue retains its wonted charms Peace Syron and hold off thy guilty arms I feel a gentle load drop on my feet Look Piso I suspect but dare not see 't Piso Oh do not Sir my eyes by chance did stray And half my resolution 's ta'ne away She weeps she weeps Gods who would not admire To see such floods rise from a Spring of fire Otho Yes I will see her O thou false one speak For thou shalt die Though will the Fatal stroke my own heart break Look up seek not to hide thy known disgrace But shew thy fair thy false thy once lov'd face Oh answer me what have I ever done That thou should'st use me thus cease thy vain moan And speak or practice o're thy mournful art And sob an answer Oh my troubled heart Pop. Yes I will speak my Noble Lord I will 'T is but a short request be kind and kill Your words like Daggers through my brest make way A thousand deaths you give me by delay This one last look Oh put me out of pain I 'le speak no more Nor shall my eyes e'er look forth again Otho A mortal agony invades my blood Somthing now whispers me she may be good And shall we blast young Virtue in the bud An Earth-quake's here all in confusion Tost In the disorder too Revenge is lost Piso. Here you shall find it let me give the blow Otho Thou art so hasty still Piso. And you as slow Oth. She ne'r offended thee I charge you hold Piso. His old love burns again Oth. Alas I 'm cold Compassion this last ardency
did move T was the effect of pity not of Love Enter Nero. Nero. The Empress dying hold thy bloody hand Piso. If thou wouldst save her life I charge thee stand The bound of thy Progression there shall be When e're thou stirr'st She takes a step to immortality Nero. Shall I be brav'd by a black Dog a Slave Hold hold my Pardon on my knees humbly thus I crave Stiff as an Elephant I cannot bend My little fault let this submission mend Piso. You stirr'd an inch 't is vain to weep or Pray Nero. Thou Son of Night pernicious creature stay I' th' name of all the Gods Oh let her live Let me this bounty on my knees receive And thou in all my Glories shalt have share Thy sooty hand shall the World's Scepter bear And Diamond wreaths shall round thy temples mourn And Pearly threds thy Jetty neck adorn Piso. Just as you move my Justice shall proceed She shall not dye this time though she must bleed Stabs Her in the Arm. Nero. What hast thou done Piso Not much your posture keep And stir not lest I make a wound more deep Nero. Behold I'm fix'd thou art not humane sure O mighty Love 'T is for thy sake I this disgrace endure Had'st thou a Generous Soul thou could'st not see The Lord O' th' world thus long upon his knee Piso. Like a Tall Tree to dull Earth thou shalt grow You were a mighty God a while a goe And 't is my Pride to make your Godhead bow Nero. I cannot suffer this Awake my Soul Let haughty rage all thoughts of Love controul Piso. Nay then 't is time Brother strike home Otho I have May all her faults be buried in her grave Nero. Hence from my fight the slaves to torments bear Mark me let 'em be dying all the Year Tortures in this small Book you may explore The Rack the Wheel Phalaris Bull nay more With care turn all the bloody pages o're On fiery brazen pavements let 'em run Their eye-lids snatch let them Face the Sun 'S death dare you stay begone I will not hear A word what need I thus my Spirits tear My looks hereafter shall my mind declare Where is the Empress bring her to my bed Plau. The Empress said you Sir Alas she is dead Nero. Villain thou ly'st go pull his tongue out haste I 'le see the roots on 't fly h' has spoke his last Who answers now Statues By Heav'n All dull Mir. If she were dead Nero. What then Sententious fool If she were dead I would restore her breath And she should live Spight of her self spight of the Gods and Death My Pow'r's unlimited as is their own My smile brings Life and death attends my frown My Empires bounds Nature alone does make The Sun his lodging in my Sea does take The grateful God too owns the mighty debt Thaws me down clouds and payes me gen'rous heat If she were dead Curse o' your crimingand base flattery Ye are lyars all hence from my presence fly Enter Messenger Drus. Lost and undone fly Sacred Sir you 'r lost Galba is just arriv'd upon our Coast With four score thousand strong he beats the way The treacherous Senate too their trust betray Through all the Streets Proclaim him Emperour But call you Tyrant curse your Name and Pow'r Exit Mir. Flie flie dread Sir flie from this fatal ground The base Plebeians have beset you round Petronius who a while sustain'd their heat I saw all bloody from the walls retreat Otho and Piso from your Guards are freed All ROME applauds them for this last great Deed. Exit Enter Petronius staggering Nero. Speak my true friend I 'le be advis'd by you What more remains in these extreams to do Petr. With faithful truth Sir I have serv'd you long Yours was the right I did my self the wrong But now it matters not 't was Loyalty And as I liv'd I in your service dye My counsel is you by your own hand bleed The Senate has some base poor death decreed Death 's but a name by my example fall I fear no lakes nor stigian Frogs that 's all Dies Nero. O Gods but wherefore name I these feign'd powr's The Elements the Seasons Days and hours Were alwayes as they are and will be so And Nature her eternal round will go The Gods when we 're awake their Daemons keep At home and only fright us when we sleep I would the utmost know of Destiny And therefore dying do their pow'rs defie If they have any Thunder let it come I 'le stand the heavy shock and brave my doom Down all at once Ha! whence proceeds this noise Thunder If there be Gods sure this must be their voice Speak on talk lowder yet What shapes are these O dismal Scene of death my Arteries Tremble and nature sinks beneath her weight I know you all smile on Thou art my Fate What God was 't hung thee there He is my friend By thee he points me out a noble end Dies Otho Piso Attendants Otho 'T is he and as it seems by himself slain ROME's Sacred Genius now look forth again Come from thy shroud show thy Majestick head Direct our Joyes the dreadful Tyrant's dead Piso. Let 's to the FORVM haste and there proclaim A mighty donative in Galbas's name With all the Pomp ' o th' Court his Camp wee 'll meet And his approach with Joyful shoutings greet Proclaim him Emperour with Trumpets Souud While he now made a God shall scorn the ground And on our shoulders ride with Lawrels Crown'd FINIS The Epilogue spoken by Mr. Harris HOW dull how grave and how precise ye sit As if ye had acted Love not tasted wit When the Trick's done like Wine unstop'd yee pall After enjoyment thus it 's with yee all Your modish Playes like jaunty Misses shew'd Be bravely drest high flown more fine than good For Cloaths attract yee more than flesh and blood Like cover'd viands Beauties hid from sight Raise drooping fancy up to new delight For you Gallants ye gay brisk witty Men He knows your killing trade your damning strain Ye can as well Wenches and drink restrain Yet faith for my sweet sake be kind to night Or may this heavy curse upon ye light May each Gallant that has an assignation Be jilted after four hours expectation Or if the masked Gentlewoman come Spight of long Scarff may she be dogg'd from home May ye In height of Titilation hear a rapping And then the jealous Cuckold take ye napping
I am lost there there he kneels My flames increase my Soul new passions feels My flight from Parthia I 'll no more regard All was too little for so great reward Nero. To me Plau. Dread Sir the Prince Britanicus Ne. Say you Plau. He kneels Ne. Sir would you ought with me Brit. Not for my self but for the Queen thus low I fall and beg you would some pitty shew Cast from your brest this rank and Poys'nous hate Alas how many do repent too late In acts of Love KINGS are best understood Hell makes some great 't is GOD-like to be good It is your Mother Oh that that Sacred name should not avert Your wrath nor with its softness melt your heart Your Mother 't is whom you command to bleed What will the cens'ring World think of this deed Ne. Why let it think if Asses bray must I Regard I say again that she shall dye Why is she not to Execution led She 's plotting now Drusillus see her dead Sene. If for the guilty we to Heav'n may pray Can you the Innocent Ne. Old fool away Brit. Justice is robb'd his sword scales you move Sweet Mercy starts and striking flyes above Where to the Gods such horrid tales of you She does relate as they can scarce think true Fate trembles as she writes in her book Ev'n Iove with horror of this fact is shook New points his Thunder brandishes i th' Ayr Dread Lightning and and with Rome intends a War Ne. Let him begin my purpose I 'll maintain Though he should scorching showrs of Sulphur rain Though he stood near And from some neighbouring Cloud did hurl down fire With fresh recruits of men his arm I 'ld tire And she at last should spight of him expire Would he were here to end the grand debate But why with you do I catipulate My word 's an Oracle and stands her Fate Octa. Ah Caesar if you can thus cruel prove To her and lay aside all filial Love What must I then expect who am your wife But that you shortly too should take my life By all the pleasures of our marriage bed Ne. I swear speak one word more and thou art dead Brit. Tyrant this must not be while I draw breath Ner. then thou dy'st too Brit. Lo thus I brave my death Ne. Ha! does he smile By all the Gods I 'll quickly change your mirth With my own hand I 'll cut thee from the earth Oth. Dread Sir Ne. Was ever such an insolence Brit. Sir what I did was in my own defence When e're I rise against Sacred head In thought may loads of Thunder strike me dead You are my Master and Rome's Emperour May you live long and make right use of pow'r Cya Guard him you Gods and save his innocence Ne. So Sir yet she shall dye Go take her hence Octa. Oh how my tender heart does Sympathise Grief stirkes me dumb and pity fills my eyes Agr. Thou savage Monster seed of Rocks more wild More wild than the fierce Tygress of her young beguil'd Barbarian who in some dark cave wert bred Made drunk with poyson with corruption fed Offspring of Hell But oh my lab'ring mind Cannot get vent nor fit expressions find Why was I made so strong Oh my accurst Grief swells me up and yet I cannot burst Ne. Why would she thus in torments here remain I pitty her go put her out of pain Agr. Tyrant wherein have I deserv'd this base And barbarous usage Oh my foul disgrace Ha! shall I tell it to the World or dye And in my Vrn let all in silence lye My Soul doth struggle with its load of woes Woes much more horrid than those painful throws My body felt when first I brought to light This cursed Son now Basilisk to sight Ne. Am I to be obey'd how dare you stay Furies and Hell be gone take her away Agr. Oh stay a while ere I lose my breath Hear my last words more dreadful than my death Bear me some winged GOD and fix me High On some tall Pyramid that hits the Sky Place all the World on the vast rounds below And make my voice so loud that all may know This Monster under Tyrian purple hid Did force a passage to his Mother's bed Where are thy dreadful bolts to Iove I call Strike Him or me amiss they cannot fall Oh horrid fact to tell it wounds my ear The Day and Night together mingled were Monster of men who altered nature's course The stream ran backwards and found out the Source Nero. The Beldame raves Drusillus take her hence All this is forg'd Heav'n knows my innocence A moments respite I will not afford But when she 's dead let Otho bring me word Exe. severally Nero Agripp Manent Piso Plautus Mirmilon Piso. Very well Hark ye Gentlemen may we talk Plau. Treason No. Pis. Then I 'll hold my peace Mir. Faith I know not but there was a stranger here yesterday hang'd for looking suspitiously Pis. Very good 't was an excellent memorandum therefore I 'll shut my eyes and not look at all or hereafter always in company were a Masque Plau. Not so Sir if you tender your safety such reservation argues thoughtfulness now the Emperor can't endure a man that 's given to meditation hates a Philosopher as much as he loves a Fidler Seneca to my knowledge is burthen to him in my hearing he call'd him crazy Caterpillar and venerable Book-worm Mir. Right Plautus Therefore Piso be not thoughtful 't is dangerous A friend of mine heark ye this morning by the Emperor's Order had his throat cut for being thoughtful Pi. The good Empress Plau. How Sir Pis. Well the Empress then Alas how sudden from the top of Glory Mir. Alas do you pity her then Pis. I Sir Greatness and goodness are Plau. What Sir Pis. I know not nor where unless in the other world Mir. You weep Piso have a care a sort of liquid Treason Piso. 'T was your hair hit my eye and caused this Rheum I 'll to the Country again Farewel Gentlemen Long live the Emperor that 's no Treason Mir. No Sir no Adieu good Piso. He wears an honest heart Exeunt Scene the Court Nero Otho Seneca Drusillus c. Agrippina dead Oth. She is as you would have her Sir no more See where she lyes all stained with her own gore She said an antient man bid her beware Of ever seeing you made Emperor For you at last would cause her to be slain Then let me dye she said so he may Reign Ne. How wisely then did I her death Decree For 't would have been a great impiety To let her live and mar the Prophecy Oth. Choice of two deaths by your command we gave But She cry'd both a double death I 'le have One poys'nous drop for Heav'n I would not sell Each drop will sink his Soul more deep in Hell In her right hand the Dagger she did hold And with her left she heav'd the Fatal gold And
At their own weapon I the slaves defy Nothing but flames can quench my kindled Ire Blood 's not enough Fire I 'le revenge with fire Fierce as young Phaeton I will return Great ROME the World's Metropolis shall burn On Tyber's flood new beams I will display And turn black Night into a golden Day The molten GODS shan't save their Capital Temples shall tumble down guilt roofs shall fall Bright Ruin with a noise shall swallow all Exeunt Finis Actus quarti Act. V. Scae. I. Britannicus Flavius Attendants Brit. FIre fire I 'm all one flame fly my friends fly Or I shall blast you O my breath is Brimstone My Lungs are Sulphur my hot brains boil over Or you that needs will stay let your eyes run If you did ever love this wretched Prince Now mourn now weep O I will catch your tears And drink the precious drops I burn I burn Fall fall you gentle Rills you melting show'rs Call all the winds to fan my furious fires Bring the cold North I 'le kiss his out-blown cheeks Upon my flaming brest I 'le lay his head And hug him in my heart for he is cold With my hot arms I 'le clapse his frosty limbs And twine about him like a wanton girle Oh! oh Fla. Can there be Gods and not revenge Can they behold this Noble copy of Their own bright excellence poluted thus Thus rent and torn by Sacrilegious hands Yet idle sit and sleep upon their Thrones The voice of Murder 's loud as their own Thunder Awake awake you drowsy Deityes Here is a sight so pitifully strange 'T would melt the Scythian's Soul who stands unmov'd And Sullen at his Mothers Funeral When Fame reports this deed the rugged Moore will stand abash'd and groan to hear it told Break break my heart Oh you great GODS of ROME Where are you all Is this my welcome home Brit. Ha! de does weep nay pry'thee do not hide it By Heav'n thou art my friend lend me thy store My eyes shall pay thee use trust me they shall Here in my bosome lay thy pearly stock Heav'ns how he weeps thou art a Virgin sure Fall you dear drops Oh let me hug thee close My Spirits are quite parch'd up my palat's dry Th' Elizian shades are cool oh let me dye Flav. Sir I am Flavius have you quite forgot me Brit. I do remember thee I lov'd thee well Thou art a Noble youth the child of Honour Flav. From France I come and bring important news Brit. Ha! hold I 'le tell thee news Octavia's dead She 's cold alas but I am hot as fire You amiable floods when do you stray Oh come and quench me quench my raging flames Fla. O Hear me Heav'ns hear me you Just great Gods If still Your ears are open to our Pray'rs If yet you hold commerce with mortal sighs If yet the vows of humble Souls are heard Oh now look down and hear my short address No sort of sustenance will I receive Nor shall the sparkling bowl salute my lips Nor drowny sleep visit my weary eyes E're I the author of this Murder know Brit. 'T is like thee thou wert alwayes a true friend In a bright flaming Chariot I 'le ascend Cyara Oh Octavia my dear loves You Queens of Innocence you spotless Doves Meet me I come Flavius nay pry'thee nigher Thus in thy arms let me kind youth expire Dyes Fla. Farewel bright Soul thou Royal Excellence Rare union Grandeur joyn'd with Innocence The Fates of wicked Men are gross and slow Thine mov'd apace but I forgot my vow Enter Petronius Burrhus with Guards Bur. 'T is done my Lord ne'r doubt it Petr. What is he Bur. 'T is Flavius new returned from France he came Just as the Prince had drunk the poyson'd wine Petr. That was not quite so well for he is honest But take no notice where 's the Prince give way How came he dead I charge you speak answer me Lay hold of all in the name of the Emperour Fla. Hands off I will declare the author of This horrid Murder Speak who fill'd his wine Bur. That Sir did I. Fla. Then thou art his Murderer Start not base villain black as thou art the Prince With his last Noble breath did pardon thee Bur. Sir I was Order'd Fla. Ha! is it then a truth Bur. I know not but Fla. Thou ly'st it is too true Guilt and distraction sit upon thy brow And 't is as true that thou shalt dye for 't villain Draws Petr. Hold Sir by what authority dare you do this Fla. Why by the Gods by friendship Justice all I 'le answer thee no farther Petr Ha! forbear Take him or kill him Guards I do Command you Flavius beats down Petronius and kills Burrhus the Guards disarm him Fla. Pardon you Gods my former blasphemy O you are Just and I adore your powers Now lead me where you please to life or death Let me but pay my last observance here My vow I have perform'd and thou dear Prince Art in some part reveng'd what my poor power Could possibly effect is done the rest Belongs unto the Gods Petr. Remove the bodyes And bring him away Exeunt Scae. II. Plautus Mirmilon Plau. HEear you the news Mir. Not I you seem amaz'd Plau. A Currier from beyond the Alps arriv'd Reports the French are all in Arms resolv'd To bring the War ev'n to the gates of ROME Fierce Vindex heads the Rebels and all France Contributes largely this the Emperour hears And laughs slights them and swears he 'll hang 'em all The people mutiny in every street Their tongues are Lawless nay they Murmur loud Some modestly retire to comers where They curse and damn him call him paricide A burner of their houses friends and Gods Lo where he comes the Lion's rous'd his eyes Look red with anger Lightning flashes in them What Thunder follows Let 's stand by and hear Nero Flavius Guards Fla. Was 't not well done I did his Murd'rer kill Nero. Know hardy fool he suffer'd by my will I hated him and did his death contrive Now villain think how long thou hast to live Fla. To live Oh who would live thy humor 's slave A torment worse than blackest Devils have Let parasites the moths of Grandeur fawn These guilded canker-worms ambition's spawn I do despise thee Tyrant as thou art There 's nothing great nor Manly in thy heart Nero. Are you so hot I 'le alter your fierce tone Plautus go burn the villain see it done Fla. Mid'st of devouring flames I will despise All that the Master Devil thou Or the black crew of lesser Fiends devise Thou shalt not hear a groan till I expire But then I 'le shout defyance from the fire Smile at the shock of death and to the Gods retire Exeunt Enter Petronius Petr. Dread Sir two Messengers who come from Spain Report that Galba does new Wars maintain Heads the revolted Troops and joyns with France The Germans too come in and all advance Against