impunitie But with our fellowes part o th' guift proclaim'd Nero meets them Nero Whether goe you stay my friends 'T is Caesar calles you stay my louing friends Tigell: We were his slaues his footstooles and must crouch But now with such obseruance to his feet It is his misery that calles vs friends Nero And moues you not the misery of a Prince O stay my friends stay harken to the voyce Which once yee knew Tigell: Harke to the peoples cryes Harke to the streets that Galba Galba ring Nero The people may forsake me without blame I did them wrong to make you rich and great I tooke their houses to bestow on you Treason in them hath name of libertie Your fault hath no excuse you are my fault And the excuse of others treachery Tigell: Shall we with staying seeme his tyrannies T' vphold as if we were in loue with them We are excus'd vnlesse we stay too long As forced Ministers and apart of wrong ex preter Nero Nero O now I see the vizard from my face So louely and so fearefull is fall'n off That vizard shadow nothing Maiestie Which like a child acquainted with his feares But now men trembled at and now contemne Nero forsaken is of all the world The world of truth O fall some vengeance downe Equall vnto their falsehoods and my wrongs Might I accept the Chariot of the Sunne And like another Phaeton consume In flames of all the world a pile of Death Worthy the state and greatnesse I haue lost Or were I now but Lord of my owne fires Wherein false Rome yet once againe might smoake And perish all vnpitied of her Gods That all things in their last destruction might Performe a funerall honour to their Lord O loue dissolue with Caesar Caesars world Or you whom Nero rather should inuoake Blacke Chaos and you fearefull shapes beneath That with a long and not vaine enuy haue Sought to destroy this worke of th' other Gods Now let your darkenesse cease the spoyles of day And the worlds first contention end your strife Enter two Romanes to him 1 Rom: Though others bound with greater benefits Haue left your changed fortunes and doe runne Whither new hopes doe call them yet come we Nero O welcome come you to aduersitie Welcome true friends why there is faith on earth Of thousand seruants friends and followers Yet two are left your countenance me thinkes Giues comfort and new hopes 2 Rom: Doe not deceiue your thoughts My Lord we bring no comfort would we could But the last duty to performe and best We euer shall a free death to perswade To cut off hopes of fearcer cruelty And scorne more cruell to a worthy soule 1 Rom: The Senate haue decreed you 're punishable After the fashion of our ancestors Which is your necke being locked in a forke You must be naked whipt and scourg'd to death Nero The Senate thus decreed they that so oft My vertues flattered haue and guifts of mine My gouernment preferr'd to ancient times And challenge Numa to compare with me Haue they so horrible an end sought out No here I beare which shall preuent such shame This hand shall yet from that deliuer me And faithfull be alone vnto his Lord Alasse how sharpe and terrible is death O must I die must now my senses close For euer die and nere returne againe Neuer more see the Sunne nor Heauen nor Earth Whither goe I what shall I be anone What horred iourney wandrest thou my soule Vnder th' earth in darke dampe duskie vaults Or shall I now to nothing be resolu'd My feares become my hopes O would I might Me thinkes I see the boyling Phlegeton And the dull poole feared of them we feare The dread and terror of the Gods themselues The furies arm'd with linkes with whippes with snakes And my owne furies farre more mad then they My mother and those troopes of slaughtred friends And now the Iudge is brought vnto the throne That will not leaue vnto authoritie Nor fauour the oppressions of the great 1 Rom: These are the idle terrors of the night Which wise men though they teach doe not beleeue To curbe our pleasures faine and aide the weake 2 Rom: Deaths wrongfull defamation which would make Vs shunne this happy hauen of our rest This end of euils as some fearefull harme 1 Rom. Shadowes and fond imaginations Which now you see on earth but children feare 2 Rom: Why should our faults feare punishment from them What doe the actions of this life concerne The tother world with which is no commerce 1 Rom: Would Heauen and Starres necessitie compell Vs to doe that which after it would punish 2 Rom: Let vs not after our liues end beleeue More then you felt before it Nero If any words haue made me confident And boldly doe for hearing others speake Boldly this night But will you by example Teach me the truth of your opinion And make me see that you beleeue your selues Will you by dying teach me to beare death With courage 1 Rom: No necessitie of death Hangs ore our heads no dangers threatens vs Nor Senates sharpe decree nor Galbaes armes 2 Rom: Is this the thankes then thou dost pay our loue Die basely as such a life deseru'd Reserue thy selfe to punishment and scorne Of Rome and of thy laughing enemies exeunt Manet Nero Nero They hate me cause I would but liue what was 't You lou'd kind friends and came to see my death Let me endure all torture and reproach That earth or Galbaes anger can inflict Yet hell and Rodamanth are more pittilesse The first Romane to him Rom: Though not deseru'd yet once againe I come To warne thee to take pitie on thy selfe The troupes by the Senate sent discend the hill And come Nero To take me and to whip me vnto death O whither shall I flye Rom: Thou hast no choice Nero O hither must I flye hard is his happe Who from death onely must by death escape Where are they yet O may I not a little Bethinke my selfe Rom: They are at hand harke thou maist heare the noise Nero O Rome farewell farewell you Theaters Where I so oft with popular applause In song and action O they come I die He fals on his sword Rom: So base an end all iust commiseration Doth take away yet what we doe now spurne The morning Sunne saw fearefull to the world Enter some of Galbaes friends Antoneus and others with Nimphidius bound Gal: You both shall die together Traitors both He to the common wealth and thou to him And worse to a good Prince what is he dead Hath feare encourag'd him and made him thus Preuent our punishment then die with him Fall thy aspyring at thy Masters feete He kils Nimph Anton: Who though he iustly perisht yet by thee Deseru'd it not nor ended there thy treason But euen thought o th' Empire thou conceiu'st Galbaes disgrace in receiuing that Which the sonne of Nimphidia could hope Rom: Thus great bad men aboue them finde a rod People depart and say there is a God Exeunt FJNJS
circumstance thou wrackst my thoughts Meli My Lord your life is conspir'd against Nero By whom Meli I must be of the world excus'd in this If the great dutie to your Maiestie Makes me all other lesser to neglect Nero Th' art a tedious fellow speake by whom Melic: By my Master Nero Who 's thy Master Meli Sceuinus Poppae: Sceuinus why should he conspire Vnlesse he thinke that likenesse in conditions May make him too worthy o th' Empire thought Nero Who are else in it I thinke Natalis Subius Flauius Lucan Seneca and Lucius Piso Asper and Quintilianus Nero Ha done Thou'ilt reckon all Rome anone and so thou maist Th' are villaines all I le not trust one of them O that the Romanes had but all one necke Poppae: Pisoes she creeping into mens affections And popular arts haue giuen long cause of doubt And th' others late obseru'd discontents Risen from misinterpreted disgraces May make vs credit this relation Nero Where are they come they not vpon vs yet See the Guard doubted see the Gates shut vp Why the 'yle surprise vs in our Court anon Meli Not so my Lord they are at Pisoes house And thinke themselues yet safe and vndiscry'd Nero Le ts thither then And take them in this false security Tigel: 'T were better first publish them traytors Nymph: That were to make them so And force them all vpon their Enemies Now without stirre or hazard they le be tane And boldly tryall dare and law demaund Besides this accusation may be forg'd By mallice or mistaking Poppe: What likes you doe Nimphidius out of hand Two wayes distract when either would preuaile If they suspecting but this fellowes absence Should try the Citie and attempt their friends How dangerous might Pisoes fauour be Nimph: I to himselfe would make the matter cleare Which now vpon one seruants credit stands The Cities fauour keepes within the bonds Of profit they 'le loue none to hurt themselues Honour and friendship they heare others name Themselues doe neither feele nor know the same To put them yet though needlesse in some feare Wee le keepe their streets with armed companies Then if they stirre they see their wiues and houses Prepar'd a pray to th' greedy Souldier Poppe: Let vs be quicke then you to Pisoes house While I and Tigellinus further sift This fellowes knowledge Ex. omnes Pretor Nero Nero Looke to the gates and walles o th' Citie looke The riuer be well kept haue watches set In euery passage and in euery way But who shall watch these watches what if they Begin and play the Traitors first O where shall I Seeke faith or them that I may wisely trust The Citie fauours the conspirators The Senate in disgrace and feate hath liu'd The Camp why most are souldiers that be named Besides he knowes not all and like a foole I interrupted him else had he named Those that stood by me O securitie Which we so much seeke after yet art still To Courts a stranger and dost rather choose The smoaky reedes and sedgy cottages Then the proud roofes and wanton cost of Kings O sweet dispised ioyes of pouerty A happines vnknowne vnto the Gods Would I had rather in poore Gallij bin Or Vlubrae a ragged Magistrate Sat as a Iudge of measures and of corne Then the adored Monarke of the world Mother thou didst deseruedly in this That from a priuate and sure state didst raise My fortunes to this slippery hill of greatnesse Where I can neither stand nor fall with life Exit Enter Piso Lucan Sceuinus Flauius Flau: But since we are discouer'd what remaines But put our liues vpon our hands these swords Shall try vs Traitors or true Citizens Sceui: And what should make this hazard doubt successe Stout men are oft with sudden onsets danted What shall this Stage-player be Luc: It is not now Augustus grauitie nor Tiberius craft But Tigellinus and Crisogorus Eunuckes and women that we goe against Sceui: This for thy owne sake this for ours we begg That thou wilt suffer him to be orecome Why shouldst thou keepe so many vowed swords From such a hated throate Flaui: Or shall we feare To trust vnto the Gods so good a cause Luca: By this we may our selues Heauens fauour promise Because all noblenesse and worth on earth We see 's on our side Here the Faby's sonne Here the Coruini are and take that part There noble Fathers would if now they liu'd There 's not a soule that claimes Nobilitie Either by his or his fore-fathers merit But is with vs with vs the gallant youth Whom passed dangers or hote bloud makes bould Staid men suspect their wisedome or their faith To whom our counsels we haue not reueald And while our party seeking to disgrace They traitors call vs Each man treason praiseth And hateth faith when Piso is a traitor Sceui: And at aduenturer what by stoutnesse can Befall vs worse then will by cowardise If both the people and the souldier failde vs Yet shall we die at least worthy our selues Worthy our ancestors O Piso thinke Thinke on that day when in the Parthian fields Thou cryedst to th' flying Legions to turne And looke Death in the face he was not grim But faire and louely when he came in armes O why there di'd we not on Syrian swords Were we reseru'd to prisons and to chaines Behold the Galley-asses in euery street And euen now they come to clap on yrons Must Pisoes head be shewed vpon a pole Those members torne rather then Roman-like And Piso-like with weapons in our hands Fighting in throng of enemies to die And that it shall not be a ciuill warre Nero preuents whose cruelty hath left Few Citizens we are not Romans now But Moores and Iewes and vtmost Spaniards And Asiaes refuge that doe fill the Citie Piso Part of vs are already tak'n the rest Amaz'd and seeking holes Our hidden ends You see laid open Court and Citie arm'd And for feare ioyning to the part they feare Why should we moue desperate and hopelesse armes And vainely spill that noble bloud that should Christall Rubes and the Median fields Not Tiber colour And the more your show be Your loues and readinesse to loose your liues The lother I am to aduenture them Yet am I proud you would for me haue dy'd But liue and keepe your selues to worthier ends No Mother but my owne shall weepe my death Nor will I make by ouerthrowing vs Heauen guiltie of more faults yet from the hopes Your owne good wishes rather then the thing Doe make you see this comfort I receiue Of death vnforst O friends I would not die When I can liue no longer 'T is my glory That free and willing I giue vp this breath Leauing such courages as yours vntri'd But to belong in talke of dying would Shew a relenting and a doubtfull mind By this you shall my quiet thoughts intend I blame nor Earth nor Heauen for my end He dies Lucan O that this noble courage had bin
traytors Yong The Gods forbid my Prince should pitie need Somewhat the sad remembrance did me stirre Oth fraile and weake condition of our kind Somewhat his greatnesse then whom yesterday The world but Caesar could shew nothing higher Besides some vertues and some worth he had That might excuse my pitie to an end So cruell and vnripe Poppae: I know not how this stranger moues my mind His face me thinkes is not like other mens Nor doe they speake thus Oh his words inuade My weakned senses and ouercome my heart Nero Your pitie shewes your fauour and your will Which side you are inclinde too had your power You can but pitie else should Caesar feare Your ill affection then shall punisht bee Take him to execution he shall die That the death pities of mine enemie Yong This benefit at least Sad death shall giue to free me from the power Of such a gouernment and if I die For pitying humane chance and Pisoes end There will be some too that will pitie mine Poppa: O what a dauntlesse looke what sparkling eyes Threating in suffering sure some noble blood Is hid in ragges feares argues a base spirit In him what courage and contempt of death And shall I suffer one I loue to die He shall not die hands of this man away Nero thou shalt not kill this guiltlesse man Nero He guiltlesse strumpet Spurns her and Poppaa falls She 's in loue with the smooth face of the boy Neoph. Alas my Lord you haue slaine her Epaph: Helpe she dies Nero Poppaa Poppaa speake I am not angry I did not meane to hurt thee speake sweet loue Neoph: Shee 's dead my Lord Nero Fetch her againe she shall not die I le ope the Iron gates of hell And breake the imprisond shaddowes of the deepe And force from death this farre too worthy pray Shee is not dead The crimson red that like the morning shone When from her windowes all with Roses strewde She peepeth forth forsakes not yet her cheekes Her breath that like a hony-suckle smelt twining about the prickled Eglintine Yet moues her lipes those quicke and piercing eyes That did in beautie challenge heauens eyes Yet shine as they were wont O no they doe not See how they grow obscure O see they close And cease to take or giue light to the world What starres so ere you are assur'd to grace The firmament for loe the twinkling fires Together throng and that cleare milky space Of stormes and Phiades and thunder void Prepares your roome doe not with wry aspect Looke on your Nero who in blood shall mourne Your lucklesse fate And many a breathing soule Send after you to waite vpon their Queene This shall begin the rest shall follow after And fill the streets with outcryes and with slaughter Ex. Enter Seneca with two of his friends Senec: What meanes your mourning this vngratefull sorrow Where are your precepts of Philosophie Where our prepared resolution So many yeeres fore-studied against danger To whom is Neroes cruelty vnknowne Or what remained after mothers blood But his instructers death Leaue leaue these teares Death from me nothing takes but what 's a burthen A clog to that free sparke of Heauenly fire But that in Seneca the which you lou'd Which you admir'd doth and shall still remaine Secure of death vntouched of the graue 1. Friend Wee le not belie our teares we waile not thee It is our selues and our owne losse we grieue To thee what losse in such a change can bee Vertue is paid her due by death alone To our owne losses doe we giue these teares That loose thy loue thy boundlesse knowledge loose Loose the vnpatternd sample of thy vertue Loose whatsoeu'r may praise or sorrow moue In all these losses yet of this we glory That 't is thy happinesse that makes vs sorry 2. Friend If there be any place for Ghosts of good men If as we haue bin long taught great mens soules Consume not with their bodies thou shalt see Looking from out the dwellings of the ayre True duties to thy memorie perform'd Not in the outward pompe of funerall But in remembrance of thy deeds and words The oft recalling of thy many vertues The Tombe that shall th' eternall relickes keepe Of Seneca shall be his hearers hearts Senec: Be not afraid my soule goe cheerefully To thy owne Heauen from whence it first let downe Thou loath by this imprisoning flesh putst on Now lifted vp thou rauisht shalt behold The truth of things at which we wonder here And foolishly doe wrangle on beneath And like a God shalt walke the spacious ayre And see what euen to conceit 's deni'd Great soule o th' world that through the parts defus'd Of this vast All guid'st what thou dost informe You blessed mindes that from the Pbeares you moue Looke on mens actions not with idle eyes And Gods we goe to Aaid me in this strife And combat of my flesh that ending I May still shew Seneca and my selfe die Exeunt Enter Antonius Enanthe Anto: Sure this message of the Princes So grieuous and vnlookt for will appall Petronius much Enan: Will not death any man Anto: It will but him so much the more That hauing liu'd to his pleasure shall forgoe So delicate a life I doe not maruell That Seneoa and such sowre fellowes can Leaue that they neu'r tasted But when we That haue the Nectar of thy kisses felt That drinkes away the troubles of this life And but one banquet make of forty yeeres Must come to leaue this but soft here he is Enter Petroneus and a Centurion Petron: Leaue me a while Centurion to my friends Let me my farewell take and thou shalt see Neroes commandement quickly obaid in mee ex Centurion Come let vs drinke and dash the posts with wine Here throwe your flowers fill me a swelling bowle Such as Mecenas or my Lucan dranke On Virgills birth day Enan: What meanes Petroneus this vnseasonable And causelesse mirth Why comes not from the Prince This man to you a messenger of death Petro: Here faire Enanthe whose plumpe ruddy cheeke Exceeds the grape it makes this here my gyrle He drinks And thinkst thou death a matter of such harme Why he must haue this pretty dimpling chin And will pecke out those eyes that now so wound Enan: Why is it not th' extreamest of all ills Petro: It is indeed the last and end of ills The Gods before th 'would let vs tast deaths Ioyes Plac't vs i th toyle and sorrowes of this world Because we should perceiue th' amends and thanke them Death the grim knaue but leades you to the doore Where entred once all curious pleasures come To meete and welcome you A troupe of beauteous Ladies from whose eyes Loue thousand arrowes thousand graces shootes Puts forth their faire hands to you and inuites To their greene arbours and close shadowed walles Whence banisht is the roughnesse of our yeeres Onely the west wind blowes i th euer Spring And euer Sommer There
the laden bowes Offer their tempting burdens to your hand Doubtfull your eye or tast inuiting more There euery man his owne desires enioyes Faire Lucrese lies by lusty Tarquins side And wooes him now againe to rauish her Nor vs though Romane Lais will refuse To Corinth any man may goe no maske No enuious garment doth those beauties hide Which Nature made so mouing to be spide But in bright Christall which doth supply all And white transparent vailes they are attyr'd Through which the pure snowe vnderneath doth shine Can it be snowe from whence such flames arise Mingled with that faire company shall we On bankes of Violets and of Hiacinths Of loues deuising sit and gently sport And all the while melodious Musique heare And Poets songs that Musique farre exceed The old Anaicean crown'd with smyling flowers And amorous Sapho on her Lesbian Lute Beauties sweet Scarres and Cupids godhead sing Anto: What be not rauisht with thy fancies doe not Court nothing nor make loue vnto our feares Petro: I st nothing that I say Anto: But empty words Petro: Why thou requir'st some instance of the eye Wilt thou goe with me then and see that world Which either will returne thy old delights Or square thy appetite anew to theirs Anto: Nay I had rather farre beleeue thee here Others ambition such discoueries seeke Faith I am satisfied with the base delights Of common men A wench a house I haue And of my owne a garden I le not change For all your walkes and Ladies and rare fruits Petro: Your pleasures must of force resigne to these In vaine you shunne the sword in vaine the sea In vaine is Nero fear'd or flatered Hether you must and leaue your purchast houses Your new made garden and your blacke browd wife And of the trees thou hast so quaintly set Not one but the displeasant Cipresse shall Goe with thee Anton: Faith 't is true we must at length But yet Petroneus while we may awhile We would enioy them those we haue w' are sure of When that you talke of 's doubfull and to come Petro: Perhaps thou thinkst to liue yet twenty yeeres Which may vnlookt for be cut off as mine If not to endlesse time compar'd is nothing What you endure must euer endure now Nor stay not to be last at table set Each best day of our life at first doth goe To them succeeds diseased age and woe Now die your pleasures and the dayes your pray Your rimes and loues and iests will take away Therefore my sweet yet thou wilt goe with mee And not liue here to what thou wouldst not see Enan: Would y'haue me then kill my selfe and die And goe I know not to what places there Petro: What places dost thou feare The 'll fauoured lake they tell thee thou must passe And thy blacke frogs that croake about the brim Enan: O pardon Sir though death affrights a woman Whose pleasures though you timely here diuine The paines we know and see Petron: The paine is lifes death rids that paine away Come boldly there 's no danger in this foord Children passe through it If it be a paine You haue this comfort that you past it are Enan: Yet all as well as I are loath to die Petron Iudge them by deed you see them doe 't apace Enan: I but t is loathly and against their wils Petro. Yet know you not that any being dead Repented them and would haue liu'd againe They then there errors saw and foolish prayers But you are blinded in the loue of life Death is but sweet to them that doe approach it To me as one that taken with Delphick rage When the diuining God his breast doth fill He sees what others cannot standing by It seemes a beauteous and a pleasant thing Where is my deaths Phisitian Phisi: Here my Lord Petro: Art ready Phisi: I my Lord Petro And I for thee Nero my end shall mocke thy tyranny Exeunt Finis Actus Quarti Actus Quintus Enter Nero Nimphidius Tigellinus Neophilus Epaporoditus and other attendants Nero ENough is wept Poppaea for thy death Enough is bled so many teares of others Wailing their losses haue wipt mine away Who in the common funerall of the world Can mourne on death Tigell: Besides your Maiestie this benefit In their diserued punishment shall reape From all attempts hereafter to be freed Conspiracy is now for euer dasht Tumult supprest rebellion out of heart In Pisoes death danger it selfe did die Nimph: Piso that thought to climbe by bowing downe By giuing a way to thriue and raising others To become great himselfe hath now by death Giuen quiet to your thoughts and feare to theirs That shall from treason their aduancement plot Those dangerous heads that his ambition leand on And they by it crept vp and from their meannesse Thought in this stirre to rise aloft are off Now peace and safetie waite vpon your throne Securitie hath wall'd your seat about There is no place for feare left Nero Why I neuer feard them Nimph: That was your fault Your Maiestie must giue vs leaue to blame Your dangerous courage and that noble soule Too prodigall of it selfe Nero A Princes mind knowes neither feare nor hope The beames of royall Maiestie are such As all eyes are with it amaz'd and weakened But it with nothing I at first contemn'd Their weake deuises and faint enterprise Why thought they against him to haue preuail'd Whose childhood was from Messalinas spight By Dragons that the earth gaue vp preseru'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 prouinces In one vnited against me conspire I could disperce them with one angry eye My brow 's an host of men Come Tigellinus Let turne this bloody banquet Piso meant vs Vnto a merry feast wee le drinke and challenge Fortune whos 's that Neophilus Enter a Roman Neoph: A Currier from beyond the Alpes my Lord Nero Newes of some German victorie belike Or Britton ouerthrow Neoph: The Letters come from France Nimp: Why smiles your Maiestie Nero So I smile I should be afraid there 's one In Armes Nimphidius Nimp: What arm'd against your Maiestie Nero Our Lieuetenant of the Prouince Iulius Vindex Tigell: Who that guiddy French-man Nimp: His Prouince is disarm'd my Lord he hath No legion not a souldier vnder him Epaph: One that by blood and rapine would repaire His state consum'd in vanities and lust Enter another Roman Tigell: He would not find out three to follow him A mess More newes my Lord Nero Is it of Vindex that thou hast to say Mess: Vindex is vp and with him France in Armes The Noble men and people throng to th' cause Money and Armour Cities doe conferre The contrey doth send in prouision Yong men bring bodies old men lead them forth Ladies doe coine their Iewels into pay The sickle now is fram'd into a sword And drawing horses are to manage
fayre Poppea see thy Nero shine In bright Achaias spoyles and Rome in him The Capitall hath other Trophies seene Then it was wont Not spoyles with blood bedew'd Or the vnhappie obsequies of Death But such as Caesars cunning not his force Hath wrung from Greece too bragging of her art Tigell. And in this strife the glories all your owne Your Tribunes cannot share this prayse with you Here your Centurions hath no part at all Bootlesse your Armies and your Eagles were No Nauies helpt to bring away this conquest Nim. Euen Fortunes selfe Fortune the Queene of kingdomes That Warrs grim valour graceth with her deeds Will claime no portion in this Victorie Nero Not Bacchus drawne from Nisa downe with Tigers Curbing with viny raines their wilfull heads Whil'st some doe gape vpon his Iuy Thirse Some on the dangling grapes that Crowne his head All praise his beautie and continuing youth So strooke amased India with wonder As Neroes glories did the Greekish townes Elis and Pisa and the rich Micaena Iunoman Argos and yet Corinth proud Of her two Seas all which ore-come did yeeld To me their praise and prises of their games Poppea Yet in your Greekish iourney we do heare Sparta and Athens the two eyes of Greece Neither beheld your person nor your skill Whether because they did afford no games Or for their to much grauitie Nero Why what Should I haue seene in them but in the one Hunger blacke-pottage and men hot to die Thereby to rid themselues of miserie And what in th' other but short Capes long Beardes Much wrangling in things needlesse to be knowne Wisedome in words and onely austere faces I will not be Aiecelaus nor Solon Nero was there where he might honour winn And honour hath he wonn and brought from Greece Those spoyles which neuer Roman could obtaine Spoyles won by witt and Tropheis of his skill Nim. What a thing he makes it to be a Minstrill Pop. I prayse your witt my Lord that choose such safe Honors safe spoyles wonn without dust on blood Nero What mooke ye me Poppea Poppea Nay in good Faith my Lord I speake in earnest I hate that headie and aduenturous crew That goe to loose their owne to purchase but The breath of others and the common voyce Them that will loose there hearing for a sound That by death onely seeke to get a liuing Make skarrs there beautie and count losse of Limmes The commendation of a proper man And so goe halting to immortalitie Such fooles I loue worse then they doe their liues Nero But now Poppea hauing laid apart Our boastfull spoyles and ornaments of Tryumph Come we like Ione from Phlegra Poppea O Giantlike comparison Nero When after all his Fiers and wandring darts He comes to bath himselfe in Iunos Eyes But thou then wrangling Iuno farre more fayre Stayning the euening beauty of the Skie Or the dayes brightnesse shall make glad thy Caesar Shalt make him proud such beauties to Inioy Exunt Manet Nimphidius solus Nimph: Such beauties to inioy were happinesse And a reward sufficient in it selfe Although no other end or hopes were aim'd at But I haue other T is not Poppeas armes Nor the short pleasures of a wanton bed That can extinguish mine aspiring thirst To Neroes Crowne By her loue I must climbe Her bed is but a step vnto his Throne Already wise men laugh at him and hate him The people though his Mynstrelsie doth please them They feare his Cruelty hate his exactions Which his need still must force him to encrease The multitude which cannot one thing long Like or dislike being cloy'd with vanitie Will hate their owne delights though Wisedome doe not Euen wearinesse at length will giue them eyes Thus I by Neroes and Poppeas fauour Rais'd to the enuious height of second place May gaine the first Hate must strike Nero downe Loue make Nimphidius way vnto a Crowne exit Enter Seneca Sceuinus Lucan and Flauius Sceu. His first beginning was his Fathers death His brothers poysoning and wiues bloudy end Came next his mothers murther clos'd vp all Yet hitherto he was but wicked when The guilt of greater euills tooke away the shame Of lesser and did headlong thrust him forth To be the scorne and laughter to the world Then first an Emperour came vpon the Stage And sung to please Carmen and Candle-sellers And learnt to act to daunce to be a Fencer And in despight o' the Maiestie of Princes He fell to wrastling and was soyl'd with dust And tumbled on the Earth with seruile hands Seneca He sometimes trayned was in better studies And had a Child-hood promis'd other hopes High fortunes like stronge wines do trie their vessels Was not the Race and Theater bigge enough To haue inclos'd thy follies heere at home O could not Rome and Italie containe Thy shame but thou must crosse the Seas to shew it Scen. And make them that had wont to see our Consuls With conquering Eagles wauing in the field Instead of that behold an Emperor dauncing Playing o th' stage and what else but to name Were infamie Lucan O Mummius O Flaminius You whom your Vertues haue not made more famous Then Neros vices You went ore to Greece But t'other warres and brought home other conquests You Corinth and Micena ouerthrew And Perseus selfe the Great Achilles race Ore came hauing Mineruas stayned Temples And your slayne Ancestors of Troy reueng'd Senec. They stroue with Kings and kinglike aduersaries Were euen in their Enemies made happie The Macedonian Courage tryed of old And the new greatnesse of the Syrian power But he for Phillip and Antiochus Hath found more easie enemies to deale with Turpuus Pammenes and a rout of Fidlers Sceuin: Why all the begging Mynstrills by the way He tooke along with him and forc'd to striue That he might ouercome Imagining Himselfe Imortall by such victories Flaui: The Men he caried ouer were enough T' haue put the Parthian to his second flight Or the proud Indyan taught the Roman Yoke Sceuin: But they were Neroes men like Nero arm'd With Luts and Harpes and Pipes and Fiddle-cases Souldyers to th shadow traynd and not the field Flaui: Therefore they brought spoyles of such Soldyers worthy Luca: But to throw downe the walls and Gates of Rome To make an entrance for an Hobby-horse To vaunt toth ' people his rediculous spoyles To come with Lawrell and with Olyues crown'd For hauing beene the worst of all the Singers Is beyond Patience Sceuin: I and anger too Had you but seene him in his Chariot ryde That Chariot in which Augustus late His Triumphs ore so many Nations shew'd And with him in the same a Minstrell plac'd The whil'st the people running by his side Hayle thou Olimpick Conqueror did crye O haile thou Pithian and did fill the skie With shame and voyces Heauen would not haue heard Senec: I saw 't but turn'd away my Eyes and Eares Angry they should be priuie to such sights Why doe I stand relating of
Swans Let me of thee and of thy beauties glory And endlesse tell but neuer wearying story Exeunt Enter Nero Ephaproditus Neophilus Nero Come Sirs I faith how did you like my acting What wa st not as you lookt for Epaph: Yes my Lord and much beyond Nero Did I not doe it to the life Epaph: The very doing neuer was so liuely As now this counterfeyting Nero And when I came Toth ' point of Agrippa Clitemnestras death Did it not mooue the feeling auditory Epaph: They had beene stones whom that could not haue mon'd Nero Did not my voyce hold out well to the end And seru'd me afterwards afresh to sing with Neoph: We know Apollo cannot match your voyce Epaph: By Ioue I thinke you are the God himselfe Come from aboue to shew your hidden arts And fill vs men with wonder of your skill Nero Nay faith speake truely doe not flatter me I know you need not flattery 's but where Desert is meane Epaph: I sweare by thee O Caesar Then whom no power of Heauen I honour more No mortall voice can passe or equall thine Nero They tell of Orpheus when he tooke his Lute And moou'd the noble Iuory with his touch Hebrus stood still Pangea bow'd his head Ossa then first shooke off his snowe and came To listen to the moouings of his song The gentle Popler tooke the Oake along And call'd the Pyne downe from his Mountaine seate The Virgine Bay although the Arts she hates o th' Delphick God was with his voice ore come He his twice-lost Euridice bewailes And Proserpines vaine gifts and makes the shores And hollow caues of forrests now vntreed Beare his griefe company and all things teacheth His lost loues name Then water ayre and ground Euridice Euridice resound These are bould tales of which the Greekes haue store But if he could from Hell once more returne And would compare his hand and voice with mine I though himselfe were iudge he then should see How much the Latine staines the Thracian lyar I oft haue walkt by Tibers flowing bankes And heard the Swan sing her owne Epitaph When she heard me she held her peace and died Let others raise from earthly things their praise Heauen hath stood still to heare my happy ayres And ceast th' eternall Musicke of the Spheares To marke my voyce and mend their tunes by mine Neoph: O diuine voyce Epaph: Happy are they that heare it Enter Tigellinus to them Nero But here comes Tigellinus come thy bill Are there so many I see I haue enemies Epaph: Haue you put Caius in I saw him frowne Neoph: And in the midst o th' Emperors act on Gallus laught out and as I thinke in scorne Nero Vespasian too a sleepe was he so drowsie Well he shall sleepe the Iron sleepe of death And did Thrasia looke so sourely on vs Tigil: He neuer smilde my Lord nor would vouchsafe With one applause to grace your action Nero Our action needed not be grac'd by him Hee 's our old enemie and still Malignes vs T' will haue an end nay it shall haue an end Why I haue bin too pittifull too remisse My easinesse is laught at and contemn'd But I will change it Not as heretofore By singling out them one by one to death Each common man can such reuenges haue A Princes anger must lay desolate Citties Kingdomes consume Roote vp mankind O could I liue to see the generall end Behold the world enwrapt in funerall flame When as the Sunne shall lend his beames to burne What he before brought forth and water serue Not to extinguish but to guise the fire Then like the Salamander bathing me In the last Ashes of all mortall things Let me giue vp this breath Priam was happie Happie indeed he saw his Troy burnt And Illion lye on heapes Whil'st thy pure streames Diuine Scamander did run Phrygian blood And heard the pleasant cries of Troian Mothers Could I see Rome so Tigell: Your Maiestie may easily Without this trouble to your sacred mind Nero What may I easily doe kill thee or him How may I rid you all where is the Man That will all others end and last himselfe O that I had thy Thunder in my hand Thou idle Rouer I le not shoote at trees And spend in woods my vnregarded vengeance I le sheuire them downe vpon their guilty roofes And fill the streetes with bloody burials But 't is not Heauen can giue me what I seeke To you you hated kingdomes of the night You severe powers that not like those aboue Will with faire words or childrens cryes be wonne That haue a stile beyond that Heauen is proud off Deriuing not from Art a makers Name But in destruction power and terror shew To you I flye for succour you whose dwellings For torments are bely'de must giue me ease Furies lend me your fires no they are here They must be other fires materiall brands That must the burning of my heat allay I bring to you no rude vnpractiz'd hands Already doe they reeke with mothers blood Tush that 's but innocents to what now I meane Alasse what euell could those yeeres commit The world in this shall see my setled wit exeunt Enter Seneca Petronius Senec: Petroneus you were at the Theater Petron: Senica I was and saw your kingly Pupyll In Mynstrils habit stand before the Iudges Bowing those hands which the worlds Scepter hold And with great awe and reuerence beseeching Indifferent hearing and an equall doome Then Caesar doubted first to be oreborne And so he ioyn'd himselfe to th' other singers And straightly all other Lawes o th' Stage obseru'd As not though weary to sit downe not spit Not wipe his sweat off but with what he wore Meane time how would he eye his aduersaries How he would seeke t' haue all they did disgrac 't Traduce them priuily openly raile at them And them he could not conquer so he would Corrupt with money to doe worse then he This was his singing part his acting now Senec: Nay euen end here for I haue heard enough I haue a Fidler heard him let me not See him a Player nor the fearefull voyce Of Romes great Monarch now command in Iest Our Prince be Aegamemnon in a Play Petron: Why Seneca T is better in Play Be Aegamemnon then himselfe indeed How oft with danger of the field beset Or with home mutineys would he vnbee Himselfe or ouer cruell alters weeping Wish that with putting off a vizard hee Might his true inward sorrow lay aside The showes of things are better then themselues How doth it stirre this ayrye part of vs To heare our Poets tell imagin'd fights And the strange blowes that fained courage giues When I Achilles heare vpon the Stage Speake Honour and the greatnesse of his soule Me thinkes I too could on a Phrygian Speare Runne boldly and make tales for after times But when we come to act it in the deed Death mares this brauery and the vgly feares Of th' other world
sit on the proudest browe And boasting valour looseth his red cheeke A Romane to them Rom: Fire fire helpe we burne 2. Rom: Fire water fire helpe fire Senec: Fire where Petron: Where what fire Rom: O round about here there on euery side The girdling flame doth with vnkind embraces Compasse the Citie Petro: How came this fire by whom Senec: Wast chance or purpose Petro: Why is 't not quencht Rom: Alas there are a many there with weapons And whether it be for pray or by command They hinder nay they throwe on fire-brands Enter Antonius to them Anton: The fire encreaseth and will not be staid But like a streame that tumbling from a hill Orewhelmes the fields orewhelmes the hopefull toyle o th' husbandman and headlong beares the woods The vnweeting Shepheard on a Rocke a farre Amazed heares the fearefull noyse so here Danger and Terror striue which shall exceed Some cry and yet are well some are kild silent Some kindly runne to helpe their neighbours house The whilest their own 's a fire some saue their goods And leaue their dearer pledges in the flame One takes his litle sonnes with trembling hands Tother his house-Gods saues which could not him All bann the doore and with wishes kill Their absent murderer Petro: What are the Gaules returnd Doth Brenius brandish fire-brands againe Senec: What can Heauen now vnto our suffrings adde Enter Another Romane to them Rom: O all goes downe Rome falleth from the Roofe The wind 's aloft the conquering flame turnes all Into it selfe Nor doe the Gods escape Pleidds burnes Iupiter Stator burnes The Altar now is made a sacrifice An Vesta mournes to see her Virgin fires Mingle with prophane ashes Senec: Heauen hast thou set this end to Roman greatnesse Were the worlds spoyles for this to Rome deuided To make but our fires bigger You Gods whose anger made vs great grant yet Some change in misery We begge not now To haue our Consull tread on Asian Kings Or spurne the quiuerd Susa at their feet This we haue had before we begg to liue At least not thus to die Let Cannos come Let Allius waters turne againe to blood To these will any miseries be light Petro: Why with false Auguries haue we bin deceiu'd Why was our Empire told vs should endure With Sunne and Moone in time in brightnesse passe them And that our end should be o th' world and it What can Celestiall Godheads double too Senec: O Rome the enuy late But now the pitie of the world thee gets The men of Choleos at thy sufferings griue The shaggy dweller in the Scithian Rockes The most condemned to perpetuall snowe That neuer wept at kindreds burials Suffers with thee and feeles his heart to soften O should the Parthyan heare these miseries He would his low and natiue hate apart Sit downe with vs and lend an Enemies teare To grace the funerall fires of ending Rome Exeunt Soft Musique Enter Nero aboue alone with a Timbrell I now my Troy lookes beautious in her flames The Trirhnen Seas are bright with Roman fires Whilest the amazed Marriner a farre Gazing on th' vnknowne light wonders what starre Heauen hath begot to ease the aged Moone When Pirrhus stryding ore the cynders stood On ground where Troy late was and with his Eye Measur'd the height of what he had throwne downe A Citie great in people and in power Walls built with hands of Gods He now forgiue The ten yeares length and thinkes his wounds well heald Bath'd in the blood of Priams fifty sonnes Yet am not I appeas'd I must see more Then Towers and Collomns tumble to the ground 'T was not the high built walles and guiltlesse stones That Nero did prouoke Themselues must be the wood To feed this fire or quench it with their blood Enter a Woman with a burnt Child Wom O my deare Infant O my Child my Child Vnhappy comfort of my nine moneths paines And did I beare thee onely for the fire Was I to that end made a Mother Nero I now begins the sceane that I would haue Enter a Man bearing another dead Man O Father speake yet no the mercilesse blowe Hath all bereft speech motion sense and life Wom O beauteous innocence whitnes ill blackt How to be made a coale couldst thou deserue Man O reuerend wrinckles well becomming palenesse Why hath death now lifes colours giuen thee And mockes thee with the beauties of fresh youth Wom Why wert thou giuen me to be tane away So soone or could not Heauen tell how to punish But first by blessing mee Man Why were thy yeares lengthned so long To be cut off vntimely Nero Play on play on and fill the golden skies With cryes and pitie with your blood Mens Eyes Wom Where are thy flattering smiles thy pretty kisses And armes that wont to writhe about my necke Man Where are thy Counsels where their good example And that kind roughnes of a Fathers anger Wom Whom haue I now to leaue my old age on Man Who shall I now haue to set right my youth within Gods if yee be not fled from Heauen helpe vs Nero I like this Musique well they like not mine Now in the teares of all men let me sing Cantat And make it doubtfull to the Gods aboue Whether the Earth be pleas'd or doe complaine Man But may the man that all this blood hath shed Neuer bequeath to th' earth an old gray head Let him vntimely be cut off before And leaue a course like this all wounds and gore Be there no friend at hand no standers by In loue or pittie mou'd to close that Eye O let him die the wish and hate of all And not a teare to grace his Funerall exeunt Wom Heauen you will heare that which the world doth scorne The prayers of misery and soules forlorne Your anger waxeth by delaying stronger O now for mercy be dispis'd no longer Let him that makes so many Mothers childlesse Make his vnhappy in her fruitfulnesse Let him no issue leaue to beare his name Or some to right a Fathers wronged fame Our flames to quit be righteous in your yre And when he dies let him want funerall fire exeunt Nero Let Heauen doe what it will this I haue done Already doe you feele my furies waight Rome is become a graue of her late greatnes Her clowdes of smoke haue tane away the day Her flames the night Now vnbeleeuing Eyes what craue you more Enter Neophilus to him Neoph: O saue your selfe my Lord your Pallace burnes Nero My Pallace how what traiterous hand Enter Tigellinus to them Tigel: O flie my Lord and saue your selfe betimes The winde doth beate the fire vpon your house The eating flame deuoures your double gates Your pillars fall your golden roofes doe melt Your antique Tables and Greeke Imagery The fire besets and the smoake you see Doth choake my speech O flie and saue your life Nero Heauen thou dost striue I see for victory exeunt Enter Nimphideus
shewne Rather on enemies breasts then on thy owne Sceui: But sacred and inviolate be thy will And let it lead and I teach vs This sword I could more willingly haue thrust Through Neroes breast That fortune deni'd me It now shall through Sceuinus Enter Tigellinus solus What multitudes of villaines are here gotten In a conspiracy which Hydra like Still in the cutting off increaseth more The more we take the more are still appeach And euery man brings in new company I wonder what we shall doe with them all The prisons cannot hold more then they haue The Iayles are full the holes with Gallants stincke Strawe and gold lace together liue I thinke 'T were best euen shut the gates o th' Citie vp And make it all one Iayle for this I am sure There 's not an honest man within the walles And though the guilty doth exceed the free Yet through a base and fatall cowardise They all assist in taking one another And by their owne hands are to prison led There 's no condition nor degree of men But here are met Men of the sword and gowne Plebeans Senators and women too Ladies that might haue slaine him with their Eye Would vse their hands Philosophers And Polititians Polititians Their plot was laid too short Poets would now Not onely write but be the arguments Of Tragedies The Emperour 's much pleas'd But some haue named Seneca and I Will haue Petroneus one promise of pardon Or feare of torture will accusers find exit Enter Nimphidius Lucan Sceuinus with a guard Nimph: Though Pisoes suddennesse and guilty hand Preuented hath the death he should haue had Yet you abide it must Luca: O may the earth lye lightly on his Course Sprinckle his ashes with your flowers and teares The loue and dainties of Mankind is gone Sceui: What onely now we can we 'le follow thee That way thou lead'st and waite on thee in death Which we had done had not these hindred vs Nimph: Nay other ends your grieuous crimes awaite Ends which the law and your deserts exact Sceui: What haue we deserued Nimph: That punishment that traitors vnto Princes And enemies to the State they liue in merit Sceuin: If by the State this gouernment you meane I iustly am an enemy vnto it That 's but to Nero you and Tigellinus That glorious world that euen beguiles the wise Being lookt into includes but three or foure Corrupted men which were they all remou'd 'T would for the common State much better be Nimph: Why what can you i th' gouerment mislike Vnlesse it grieue you that the world 's in peace Or that our armes conquer without blood Hath not his power with forraine visitations And strangers honour more acknowldg'd bin Then any was afore him Hath not hee Dispos'd of frontier kingdomes with successe Giuen away Crownes whom he set vp preuailing The riuall seat of the Arsacidae That thought their brightnesse equall vnto ours Is 't crown'd by him by him doth raigne If we haue any warre it 's beyond Rheme And Euphrates and such whose different chances Haue rather seru'd for pleasure and discourse Then troubled vs At home the Citie hath Increast in wealth with building bin adorn'd The arts haue flourisht and the Muses sung And that his Iustice and well tempred raigne Hath the best Iudges pleas'd the powers diuine Their blessings and so long prosperitie Of th' Empire vnder him enough declare Sceui: You freed the State from warres abroad but 't was To spoile at home more safely and diuert The Parthian enmitie on vs and yet The glory rather and the spoyles of warre Haue wanting bin the losse and charge we haue Your peace is full of cruelty and wrong Lawes taught to speake to present purposes Wealth and faire houses dangerous faults become Much blood i th' Citie and no common deaths But Gentlemen and Consulary houses On Caesars owne house looke hath that bin free Hath he not shed the blood he calls diuine Hath not that neerenes which should loue beget Alwayes on him bin cause of hate and feare Vertue and power suspected and kept downe They whose great ancestors this Empire made Distrusted in the gouernment thereof A happy state where Decius is a traytor Narcissus true nor onely wast vnsafe T' offend the Prince his freed men worse were feard whose wrongs with such insulting pride were heard That euen the faultie it made innocent If we complain'd that was it selfe a crime I though it were to Caesars benefit Our writings pry'd into falce guiltines Thinking each taxing pointed out it selfe Our priuate whisperings listned after nay Our thoughts were forced out of vs and punisht And had it bin in you to haue taken away Our vnderstanding as you did our speech You would haue made vs thought this honest too Nimph: Can malice narrow eyes See anything yet more it can traduce Sceui: His long continued taxes I forbeare In which he chiefely showed him to be Prince His robbing Alters sale of Holy things The Antique Goblets of adored rust And sacred gifts of Kings and people sold Nor was the spoile more odious then the vse They were imployd on spent on shame and lust Which still haue bin so endlesse in their change And made vs know a diuers seruitude But that he hath bin suffered so long And prospered as you say for that to thee O Heauen I turne my selfe and cry No God Hath care of vs yet haue we our reuenge As much as Earth may be reueng'd on Heauen Their diuine honour Nero shall vsurpe And prayers and feasts and adoration haue As well as Iupiter Nimph: Away blaspheming tongue Be euer silent for thy bitternesse Exeunt Enter Nero Poppaea Tigellinus Flauius Neophilus Epaphroditus and a yong man Nero What could cause thee Forgetfull of my benefits and thy oath To seeke my life Flaui Nero I hated thee Nor was there any of thy souldiers More faithfull while thou faith deseru'dst then I Together did I leaue to be a subiect And thou a Prince Caesar was now become A player on the Stage a Waggoner A burner of our houses and of vs A Paracide of Wife and Mother Tigel: Villaine dost know where of whom thou speakst Nero Haue you but one death for him let it bee A feeling one Tigellinus bee 't Thy charge and let me see thee witty in 't Tigell: Come sirrah Wee le see how stoutly you 'le stretch out your necke Flaui: Wold thou durst strike as stoutly Ex. Tig. Flau Nero And what 's hee there Epaph: One that in whispering oreheard What pitie 't was my Lord that Piso died Nero And why wa st pitie sirrah Piso died Yong My Lord 't was pitie he deseru'd to die Poppae: How much this youth my Otho doth resemble Otho my first my best loue who is now Vnder pretext of gouerning exyl'd To Lucitania honourably banisht Nero Well if you be so passionate I le make you spend your pitie on your Prince And good men not on