steele warr waited on and fortune courted That high plum'd honour built up for her owne Behold that mightinesse behold that fiercenesse Behold that child of warr with all his glories By this poore hand made breathlesse here my Achillas Egypt and Cesar owe me for this service And all the conquer'd Nations Ach. Peace Septimius Thy words sound more ungratefull then thy actions Though sometimes safety seeke an instrument Of thy unworthy nature thou loud boaster Think not she is bound to love him too that 's barbarous Why did not I if this be meritorious And bindes the King unto me and his bounties Strike this rude stroke I 'le tell thee thou poore Roman It was a sacred head I durst not heave at Not heave a thought Sep. It was Ach. I 'le tell thee truely And if thou ever yet heard'st tell of honour I 'le make thee blush It was thy Generalls That mans that fed thee once that mans that bred thee The aire thou breath'st was his the fire that warm'd thee From his care kindled euer nay I 'le show thee Because I 'le make thee sensible of thy businesse And why a noble man durst not touch at it There was no peece of Earth thou puts thy foote on But was his conquest and he gave thee motion He triumph'd three times who durst touch his person The very walls of Rome bow'd to his presence Deare to the Gods he was to them that feard him A faire and noble Enemy didst thou hate him And for thy love to Cesar sought his ruine Armed the red Pharsalian feilds Septimius Where killing was in grace and wounds were glorious Where Kings were faire competitours for honour Thou should'st have come up to him there have sought him There sword to sword Sep. I kill'd him on commandment If Kings commands be faire when you all fainted When none of you durst looke Ach. On deeds so barbarous What hast thou got Sep. The Kings love and his bounty The honour of the service which though you raile at Or a thousand envious soules fling their foames on me Will dignifie the cause and make me glorious And I shall live Ach. A miserable villaine What reputation and reward belongs to it Thus with the head I seize on and make mine And be not impudent to aske me why Sirha Nor bold to stay read in mine eyes the reason The shame and obloquy I leave thine owne Inherit those rewardes they are fitter for thee Your oyle 's spent and your snuff stinks go out basely Sep. The King will yet consider Exit Enter Ptolomy Achareus Photinus Achil. Here he comes Sir Ach. Yet if it be undon heare me great Sir If this inhumane stroake be yet unstrooken If that adored head be not yet severd From the most noble Body weigh the miseryes The desolations that this great Eclipse works You are young be provident fix not your Empire Upon the Tombe of him will shake all Egypt Whose warlike groanes will raise ten thousand Spirits Great as himselfe in every hand a thunder Destructions darting from their lookes and sorrowes That easy womens eyes shall never empty Pho. You have done well and 't is done see Achillas And in his hand the head Ptol. Stay come no nearer Me thinks I feele the very earth shake under me I do remember him he was my guardian Appointed by the Senate to preserve me What a full Majesty fits in his face yet Pho. The King is troubled be not frighted Sir Be not abus'd with feares his death was necessary If you consider Sir most necessary Not to be miss'd and humbly thanke great Isis He came so opportunely to your hands Pitty must now give place to rules of safety Is not victorious Caesar new arriv'd And enter'd Alexandria with his friends His Navy riding by to wait his charges Did he not beate this Pompey and pursude him Was not this great man his great enemy This Godlike vertuous man as people held him But what foole dare be friend to flying vertue Enter Caesar Anthony Dollobella Sceva I heare their Trumpets 't is too late to stagger Give me the head and be you confident Haile Conquerour and head of all the world Now this head 's off Caesar Ha Pho. Do not shun me Caesar From kingly Ptolomy I bring this present The Crowne and sweat of thy Pharsalian labour The goale and marke of high ambitious honour Before thy victory had no name Caesar Thy travell and thy losse of blood no recompence Thou dreamst of being worthy and of warr And all thy furious conflicts were but slumbers Here they take life here they inherit honour Grow fixt and shoot up everlasting triupmhes Take it and looke upon thy humble servant With noble eyes looke on the Princely Ptolomy That offers with this head most mighty Caesar What thou would'st once have given for it all Egypt Ach. Nor do not question it most royall Conquerour Nor dis-esteeme the benefit that meetes thee Because 't is easily got it comes the safer Yet let me tell thee most imperious Caesar Though he oppos'd no strength of Swords to win this Nor labourd through no showres of darts and lances Yet here he found a fort that faced him strongly An inward warr he was his Grand sires Guest Friend to his Father and when he was expell'd And beaten from this Kingdome by strong hand And had none left him to restore his honour No hope to finde a friend in such a misery Then in stept Pompey tooke his feeble fortune Strengthend and cherish'd it and set it right againe This was a love to Cesar Sceva Give me hate Gods Pho. This Cesar may account a little wicked But yet remember if thine owne hands Conquerour Had fallen upon him what it had bin then If thine owne Sword had touch'd his throat what that way He was thy Son in law there to be tainted Had bin most terrible let the worst be renderd We have deserv'd for keeping thy hands innocent Cesar. Oh Sceva Sceva see that head see Captaines The head of godlike Pompey Sce. He was basely ruinde But let the Gods be griev'd that sufferd it And be you Cesar Cesar. Oh thou Conquerour Thou glory of the world once now the pitty Thou awe of Nations wherefore didst thou fall thus What poore fate followed thee and pluckt thee on To trust thy sacred life to an Egyptian The life and light of Rome to a blind stranger That honourable war nere taught a noblenesse Nor worthy circumstance shew'd what a man was That never heard thy name sang but in banquets And loose lascivious pleasures to a Boy That had no faith to comprehend thy greatnesse No study of thy life to know thy goodnesse And leave thy Nation nay thy noble friend Leave him distrusted that in teares falls with thee In soft relenting teares heare me great Pompey If thy great spirit can heare I must taske thee Thou hast most unnobly rob'd me of my victory My love and mercy Ant. O how brave these teares shew
So leave me for a while Sep. Ever your Creature Exit Pho. Good day Achoreus my best friend Achillas Hath fame delivered yet no certaine rumour Of the great Roman action Achil. That we are To enquire and learn of you Sir whose grave care For Egypts happinesse and great Ptolomies good Have eyes and eares in all parts Enter Ptolomy Labienus Guard Pho. I 'le not boast What my Intelligence costs me but ere long You shall know more The King with him a Roman Ach. The scarlet livery of unfortunate war Dy'de deeply on his face Achil. 'T is Labienus Caesars Lieutenant in the wars of Gaul And fortunate in all his undertakings But since these Civill Jars he turn'd to Pompey And though he followed the better Cause Not with the like successe Pho. Such as are wise Leave falling buildings flye to those that rise But more of that hereafter Lab. In a word Sir These gaping wounds not taken as a slave Speake Pompeys osse to tell you of the Battaile How many thousand severall bloody shapes Death wore tha day in triumph how we bore The shocke of Caesars charge or with what fury His souldiers came on as if they had been So many Caesars and like him ambitious To tread upon the liberty of Rome How Fathers kill'd their Sons or Sons their Fathers Or how the Roman Peils on either side Drew Roman blood which spent the Prince of weapons The sword succeeded which in Civill wars Appoints the Tent on which wing'd victory Shall make a certaine Stand then how the Plaines Flowd o're with blood and what a cloud of vulturs And other birds of prey hung o're both armies Attending when their ready Servitors The souldiers from whom the angry gods Had tooke all sense of reason and of pity Would serve in their owne carkasses for a feast How Caesar with his Javelin force'd them on That made the least stop when their angry hands Were lifted up against some known friends face Then comming to the body of the army He shews the sacred Senate and forbids them To waste their force upon the Common souldier Whom willingly if ere he did know pity He would have spar'd Ptol. The reason Labienus Lab. Full well he knows that in their blood he was To passe to Empire and that through their bowels He must invade the Laws of Rome and give A period to the liberty of the world Then fell the Lepidi and the bold Corvini The fam'd Torquati Scipio's and Marcelli Names next to Pompeys most renown'd on earth The Nobles and the Commons lay together And Pontique Punique and Assyrian blood Made up one crimson Lake which Pompey seeing And that his and the fate of Rome had left him Standing upon the Ramper of his Camp Though scorning all that could fall on himselfe He pities them whose fortunes are embarqu'd In his unlucky quarrell cryes aloud too That they should sound retreat and save themselves That he desir'd not so much noble blood Should be lost in his service or attend On his misfortunes and then taking horse With some few of his friends he came to Lesbos And with Cornelia his Wife and Sons He 's touch'd upon your shore the King of Parthia Famous in his defeature of the Crassi Offer'd him his protection but Pompey Relying on his Benefits and your Faith Hath chosen Aegypt for his Sanctuary Till he may recollect his scattered powers And try a second day now Ptolomy Though he appeare not like that glorious Thing That three times rode in triumph and gave lawes To conquer'd Nations and made Crownes his guift As this of yours your noble Father tooke From his victorious hand and you still weare it At his devotion to do you more honour In his declinde estate as the straightst Pyne In a full grove of his yet flourishing friends He flyes to you for succour and expects The entertainment of your Fathers friend And Guardian to your selfe Ptol. To say I grieve his fortune As much as if the Crowne I weare his gift Were ravish'd from me is a holy truth Our Gods can witnesse for me yet being young And not a free disposer of my self Let not a few hours borrowed for advice Beget suspition of unthankfulnesse Which next to hell I hate pray you retire And take a little rest and let his wounds Be with that care attended as they were Carv'd on my flesh good Labienus thinke The little respite I desire shall be Wholly emploid to find the readiest way To doe great Pompey service Lab. May the gods As you intend protect you Exit Ptol. Sit sit all It is my pleasure your advice and freely Ach. A short deliberation in this May serve to give you counsell to be honest Religious and thankfull in themselves Are forcible motives and can need no flourish Or glosse in the perswader your kept faith Though Pompey never rise to the height he 's fallen from Caesar himselfe will love and my opinion Is still committing it to graver censure You pay the debt you owe him with the hazard Of all you can call yours Ptol. What 's yours Photinus Pho. Achoreus great Ptolomy hath counsaild Like a religious and honest man Worthy the honour that he justly holds In being Priest to Isis But alas What in a man sequesterd from the world Or in a private person is preferd No policy allows of in a King To be or just or thankfull makes Kings guilty And faith though prais'd is punish'd that supports Such as good Fate forsakes joyne with the gods Observe the man they favour leave the wretched The Stars are not more distant from the Earth Then profit is from honesty all the power Prerogatives and greatnesse of a Prince Is lost if he descend once but to steere His course as what 's right guides him let him leave The Scepter that strives only to be good Since Kingdomes are maintain'd by force and blood Ach. Oh wicked Ptol. Peace goe on Pho. Proud Pompey shews how much he scorns your youth In thinking that you cannot keepe your owne From such as are ore-come If you are tired With being a King let not a stranger take What nearer pledges challenge resigne rather The government of Aegypt and of Nyle To Cleopatra that has title to them At least defend them from the Roman gripe What was not Pompeys while the wars endured The Conquerour will not challenge by all the world Forsaken and despis'd your gentle Guardian His hopes and fortunes desperate makes choise of What Nation he shall fall with and pursu'd By their pale Ghosts slaine in this Civill War He flyes not Caesar only but the Senate Of which the greater part have cloid the hunger Of sharpe Pharsalian fowle he flies the Nations That he drew to his Quarrell whose Estates Are sunk in his and in no place receiv'd Hath found out Aegypt by him yet not ruin'd And Ptolomy things consider'd justly may Complaine of Pompey wherefore should he staine Our Aegypt with the spots of Civill warre Or make
thee To take a rubbe or too out of my way As time shall serve say that it be a Brother Or a hard Father Sep. 'T is most necessary A Mother or a Sister or whom you please sir Pho. Or to betray a noble friend Sep. T is all one Pho. I know thou wilt stir for gold Sep. T is all my motion Pho. There take that for thy service and farewell I have greater businesse now Sep. I am still your owne Sir Pho. One thing I charge thee see me no more Septinius Vnlesse I send Exit Sep. I shall observe your houre So this brings something in the mouth some savour This is the Lord I serve the power I worship My friends Allyes And here lyes my Allegeance Let people talke as they please of my rudenesse And shun me for my deede bring but this to 'em Let me be damn'd for blood yet still I am honourable This God creates new tongues and new affections And though I had killd my Father give me gold I 'le make men sweare I have done a pious Sacrifice Now I will out-brave all make all my Servants And my brave deed shall be writ in wine for vertuous Exit Scena Tertia Enter Caesar Antony Dollobella Sceva Caesar Keepe strong guardes and with wary eyes my friends There is no trusting to these base Egyptians They that are false to pious benefits And make compelld necessityes their faithes Are traitors to the Gods Ant. Weel 'e call a shore A legion of the best Caesar Not a man Antony That were to shew our feares and dim our greatnesse No 't is enough my name 's a shore Sce. Too much too A sleeping Caesar is enough to shake them There are some two or three malitious Rascalls Trained up in villany besides that Cerberus That Roman dog that lick'd the blood of Pompey Dol. 'T is strange a Roman Souldier Sce You are cozend There be of us as be of all other nations Villaines and Knaves 't is not the name containes him But the obedience when that 's once forgotten And duty flung away then welcom Devill Photinus and Achillas and this vermine That 's now become a naturall Crocadile Must be with care obseru'd Ant. And 't is well counsell'd No confidence nor trust Sce. I le trust the Sea first When with her hollow murmurs she invites me And cluches in her stormes as politique Lyons Conceale their clawes I le trust the Devill first The rule of ill I le trust before the dore Caesar Go to your rests follow your own wisedomes And leave me to my thoughts pray no more complement Once more strong watches Dol. All shall be observ'd Sir Exit Caesar I am dull and heavy yet I cannot sleepe How happy was I in my lawfull warrs In Germany and Gaul and Britany When euery night with pleasure I sat downe What the day ministred the sleepe came sweetely But since I undertooke this home-division This civill war and past the Rubicon What have I done that speakes an antient Roman A good great Man I have enterd Rome by force And on her tender wombe that gave me life Let my insulting Souldiers rudely trample The deare vaines of my Country I have opend And saild upon the torrents that flowd from her The bloody streames that in their confluence Carried before 'em thousand desolations Rob'd the treasury and at one gripe Snatch'd all the wealth so many worthy triumphs Placed there as sacred to the peace of Rome I raiz'd Massilia in my wanton anger Petreius and Affrinius I defeated Pompey I over threw what did that get me The stubbord name of an authoriz'd enemy noise within I heare some noises they are the watches sure What friends have I tyde fast by these ambitiones Cato the lover of his Countryes freedom Is past now into Affrik to affront me Juha that kill'd my friend is up in armes too The Sonnes of Pompey are Masters of the Sea And from the reliques of their scatterd faction A new head 's sprung Say I defeate all these too I come home Crown'd an honourable Rebell I heare the noise still and it comes still nearer Are the guards fast who waites there Enter Sceva with a packet Cleopatra in it Sce. Are ye awake Sir Caesar 'I th name of wonder Sce. Nay I am a Porter A strong one too or else my sides would cracke Sir And my sinnes were as waighty I should scarce walke with 'em Caesar What hast thou there Sce. Aske them which stay without And brought it hither your presence I denide 'em And put 'em by tooke up the load my selfe They say 't is rich and valude at the Kingdome I am sure 't is heavy if you like to see it You may if not I 'le give it back Caesar Stay Sceva I would faine see it Sce. I 'le begin to worke then No doubt to flatter ye they have sent ye something Of a rich vallue Iewells or some Treasure May be a Rogue within to do a mischief I pray you stand farther off if there be villany Better my danger first he shall scape hard too Ha what art thou Caesar Stand farther off good Sceva What heavenly vision do I wake or slumber Farther off that hand friend Sce. What apparition What Spirit have I rais'd sure 't is a woman She lookes like one Now she begins to move too A tempting Devill ô my life go off Caesar Blesse thy selfe off a band growne in mine old dayes Bawdry advanced upon my back 't is noble Sir if you be a Souldier come no nearer She is sent to dispossesse you of your honour A spunge a spunge to wipe away your victories And she would be coold Sir let the Souldiers trim her They 'le give her that she came for and dispatch her Be loyall to your selfe thou damned woman Do'st thou come hither with thy flourishes Thy flaunts and faces to abuse mens manners And am I made the instrument of bawdry I 'le finde a lover for ye one shall hugg ye Caesar Hold on thy life and be more temperate Thou beast Sce. Thou beast Caesar Could'st thou be so inhumane So farr from noble men to draw thy weapon Upon a thing divine Sce. Divine or humane They are never better pleas'd nor more at harts-ease Then when we draw with full intent upon 'em Caesar Move this way Lady Pray ye let me speake to ye Sce. And woman you had best stand Caesar By the Gods But that I see her here and hope her mortall I should imagine some celestiall sweetnesse The treasure of soft love Sce. Oh this soundes mangely Poorely and scurvely in a Souldiers mouth You had best be troubled with the Tooth-ach too For lovers ever are and let your nose drop That your celestiall beauty may be-friend ye At these yeares do you learne to be fantasticall After so many bloody feildes a foole She brings her bed along too shee 'le loose no time Carryes her Litter to lye soft do you see that Invites ye like a Gamster
boldly stay I am foolish Somewhat too suddaine to mine own destruction This great end of my vengance may grow greater Why may not I be Caesar Yet no dying Why should not I catch at it fooles and children Have had that strength before me and obtaind it And as the danger stands my reason bids me I will I dare my deare freinds pardon me I am not fit to dye yet if not Caesar I am sure the Souldier loves me and the people And I will forward and as goodly Cedars Rent from Oeta by a sweeping tempest Winted againe and made tall masses defie Those angry winds that split 'em so will I new peece againe above the fate of women And made more perfect far then growing privat Stand and defie bad fortunes If I rise My wife was ravish'd well If then I fall My great attempt honors my Funerall Exit Scaen. 4. Enter 3 Senators and Affranius 1. Guard all the posternes to the Camp Affranius And see 'em fast we shall be rifled else Thou art an honest and a worthy Captaine 2. Promise the Souldier any thing 3. Speake gently And tell 'em we are now in councell for 'em Labouring to choose a Caesar fit for them A Souldier and a giver 1. Tell 'em further Their free and liberall voices shall go with us 2. Nay more a negative say we allow 'em 3. And if our choice displease 'em they shall name him 1. Promise three donatives and large Affranius 2. And Caesar once elected present foes With distribution of all necessaries Corne Wine and Oyle 3. New garments and new Armes And equall portions of the Provinces To them and to their families for ever 1. And see the City strengthned Affra. I shall do it Exit Affranius 2. Sempronius these are wofull times 3. O Brutus We want thy honesty againe these Caesars What noble Consuls got with blood in blood Consume againe and scatter 1. Which way shall we 2. Not any way of safety I can thinke on 3. Now go our Wives to ruin and our daughters And wee beholders Fulvius 1. Every thing Is every mans that will 2. The vestalls now Must only feed the Souldiers fire of lust And sensuall Gods be glutted with those Offerings Age like the hidden bowels of the earth Open'd with swords for Treasure Gods defend us We are chaffe before their fury else 2. Away Let 's to the Temples 1. To the Capitoll T is not a time to pray now let 's be strengthend Enter Affranius 3. How now Affranius what good news Affr. A Cesar 1. Oh who Affr. Lord Maximus is with the Souldier And all the Camp rings Cesar Cesar Cesar He forcd the Empresse with him for more honour 2. A happy choice let 's meet him 3. Blessed fortune 1. Away away make room there room there room Exeunt Senators Flourish Within Lord Maximus is Cesar Cesar Cesar Haile Cesar Maximus Affr. Oh turning people Oh people excellent in war and governd In peace more raging then the furious North When he ploughes up the Sea and makes him brine Or the lowd falls of Nile I must give way Although I neither love nor hope this Cesar flourish Or like a rotten bridge that dares a current When he is sweld and high crackt and farwell Enter Maximus Eudoxa Senat. and Souldiers Sen. Roome for the Emperor Sold. Long life to Cesar Affr. Haile Cesar Maximus Emp. Max. Your hand Affranius Lead to the Pallace there my thanks in generall I le showre among ye all gods give me life First to defend the Empire then you Fathers And valiant friends the heires of strength and vertue The rampires of old Rome of us the refuge To you I open this day all I have Even all the hazard that my youth hath purchasd Ye are my children family and friends And ever so respected shall be forward Ther 's a Prescription grave Sempronius Gainst all the flatterers and lazie Bawdes Led loose-liv'd Valentinian to his vices See it effected Flourish Sen. Honour wait on Cesar Sold. Make room for Cesar there Exeunt all but Affr. Affr. Thou hast my feares But Valentinian keeps my vowes oh gods Why doe we like to feed the greedy Raven Of these blowne men that must before they stand And fixt in eminence cast life on life And trench their safeties in with wounds and bodies Wel froward Rome thou wilt grow weak with changing And die without an Heire that lov'st to breed Sonnes for the killing hate of sons for me I only live to find an enemy Exit Scaen. 5. Enter Paulus a Poet and Lycippus a Gent. Pau. When is the Inauguration Lyc. Why to morrow Paul T' will be short time Lyc. Any devise that 's hansom A Cupid or the God o' th place will doe it Where he must take the Fasces Pau. Or a Grace Lyc. A good Grace ha's no fellow Pau. Let me see Wil not his name yeeld somthing Maximus by 'th way of Anagram I have found out Axis You know he beares the Empire Lyc. Get him wheeles too T' will be a cruell carriage else Pau. Some songs too Lyc. By any meanes some songs but very short ones And honest language Paulus without bursting The ayre will fall the sweeter Pau. A Grace must doe it Lyc. Why let a Grace then Pau. Yes it must be so And in a robe of blew too as I take it Lyc. This poet is a little kin to 'th Painter That could paint nothing but a ramping Lion So all his learned fancies are blew Graces Pau. What think ye of a Sea-nymph and a heaven Lyc. Why what shold she do there man ther 's no water Pau. by 'th masse that 's true it must be a grace and yet Me thinkes a Rain-bow Luy. And in blew Pau. Oh yes Hanging in arch above him and i' th midle Lyc. A showre of raine Pau. No no it must bee a Grace Lyc. Why prethee Grace him then Pau. Or Orpheus Comming from hell Lyc. In blew too Pau. T is the better And as he rises full of fires Lyc. Now blesse us Will not that spoile his Lute strings Paulus Pau. Singing And crossing of his armes Lyc. How can he play then Pau. It shall be a Grace I le doe it Lyc. Prethee doe And with as good a grace as thou canst possible Good fury Paulus be i' th morning with me And pray take measure of his mouth that speaks it Exeunt Scaen. 6. Enter Maximus and Eudoxa Max. Come my best lov'd Eudoxa Let the Souldier Want neither Wine nor any thing he call for And when the Senat 's ready give us notice In the meane time leave us Oh my deere sweet Eud. Is 't possible your Grace Should undertake such dangers for my beauty If it were excellent Max. By heaven t is all The world has left to bragge of Eud. Can a face Long since bequeath'd to wrinkled with my sorrowes Long since razd out o' th book of youth and pleasure Have power to make the strongest man o' th Empire
not sought for That should authorize it Achil. The Civill war In which the Roman Empire is embarq'd On a rough Sea of danger does exact Their whole care to preserve themselves and give them No vacant time to think of what we do Which hardly can concern them Ach. What 's your opinion Of the successe I have heard in multitudes Of souldiers and all glorious pomp of war Pompey is much superiour Achil. I could give you A Catalogue of all the severall Nations From whence he drew his powers but that were tedious They have rich armes are ten to one in number Which makes them think the day already wonne And Pompey being master of the Sea Such plenty of all delicates are brought in As if the place on which they are entrench'd Were not a Camp of souldiers but Rome In which Lucullus and Apicius joyn'd To make a publique Feast they at Dirachium Fought with successe but knew not to make use of Fortunes faire offer so much I have heard Caesar himselfe confesse Ach. Where are they now Achil. In Thessalie neere the Pharsalian plains Where Caesar with a handfull of his Men Hems in the greater number his whole troops Exceed not twenty thousand but old Souldiers Flesh'd in the spoiles of Germany and France Enur'd to his Command and only know To fight and overcome And though that Famine Raignes in his Camp compelling them to tast Bread made of rootes forbid the use of man Which they with scorne threw into Pompeys Camp As in derision of his Delicates Or corne not yet halfe ripe and that a Banquet They still besiege him being ambitious only To come to blows and let their swords determine Who hath the better Cause Enter Septinius Ach. May Victory Attend on 't where it is Achil. We every houre Expect to heare the issue Sep. Save my good Lords By Isis and Osiris whom you worship And the foure hundred gods and goddesses Ador'd in Rome I am your Honours servant Ach. Truth needs Seprinius no oaths Achil. You are cruell If you deny him swearing you take from him Three full parts of his language Sep. Your Honour 's bitter Confound me where I love I cannot say it But I must swear 't yet such is my ill fortune Nor vowes nor protestations win beliefe I think and I can finde no other reason Because I am a Roman Ach. No Septinius To be a Roman were an honour to you Did not your manners and your life take from it And cry aloud that from Rome you bring nothing But Roman Vices which you would plant here But no seed of her vertues Sep. With your reverence I am too old to learn Ach. Any thing honest That I beleeve without an oath Sept. I feare Your Lordship has slept ill to night and that Invites this sad discourse 't will make you old Before your time o' these vertuous Moralls And old religious principles that foole us I have brought you a new Song will make you laugh Though you were at your prayers Ach. What is the subject Be free Septinius Sep. 'T is a Catalogue Of all the Gamsters of the Court and City Which Lord lyes with that Lady and what Gallant Sports with that Merchants wife and does relate Who sells her honour for a Diamond Who for a tissew robe whose husband 's jealous And who so kind that to share with his Wife Will make the match himselfe Harmlesse conceits Though fooles say they are dangerous I sang it The last night at my Lord Photinus table Ach. How as a Fidler Sep. No Sir as a Guest A welcome guest too and it was approv'd of By a dozen of his friends though they were touch'd in 't For looke you 't is a kind of merriment When we have laid by foolish modesty As not a man of fashion will weare it To talke what we have done at least to heare it If merrily set down it fires the blood And heightens Crest-falne appetite Ach. New doctrine Achil. Was 't of your owne composing Sep. No I bought it Of a skulking Scribler for two Ptolomies But the hints were mine owne the wretch was fearfull But I have damnd my selfe should it be question'd That I will owne it Ach. And be punished for it Take heed for you may so long exercise Your scurrilous wit against authority The Kingdomes Counsels and make profane Jests Which to you being an atheist is nothing Against Religion that your great maintainers Unlesse they would be thought Co-partners with you Will leave you to the Law and then Septinius Remember there are whips Sep. For whores I grant you Till they are out of date till then are safe too Or all the Gallants of the Court are Eunuchs And for mine owne defence I 'le only add this I 'le be admitted for a wanton tale To some most private Cabinets when your Priest-hood Though laden with the mysteries of your goddesse Shall waite without unnoted so I leave you To your pious thoughts Exit Achil. 'T is a strange impudence This fellow does put on Aâ—h. The wonder great He is accepted of Achil. Vices for him Make as free way as vertues doe for others 'T is the times fault yet great ones still have grace'd To make them sport or rub them o're with flattery Observes of all kinds Enter Photinus and Septinius Ach. No more of him He is not worth our thoughts a Fugitive From Pompeys army and now in a danger When he should use his service Achil. See how he hangs On great Photinus Eare Sep. Hell and the furies And all the plagues of darknesse light upon me You are my god on earth and let me have Your favour here fall what can fall hereafter Pho. Thou art beleev'd dost thou want money Sep. No Sir Pho. Or hast thou any suite these ever follow Thy vehement protestations Sep. You much wrong me How can I want when your beames shine upon me Unlesse employment to expresse my zeale To do your Greatnesse service doe but thinke A deed so darke the Sun would blush to looke on For which Man-kind would curse me and arme all The Powers above and those below against me Command me I will on Pho. When I have use I 'le put you to the test Sep. May it be speedy And something worth my danger you are cold And know not your own powers this brow was fashion'd To weare a Kingly wreath and your grave judgment Given to dispose of Monarchies not to govern A childes affaires the peoples eyes upon you The Souldier courts you will you weare a garment Of sordid loyalty when 't is out of fashion Pho. When Pompey was thy Generall Septinius Thou saidst as much to him Sep. All my love to him To Caesar Rome and the whole world is lost In the Ocean of your Bounties I have no friend Project designe or Countrey but your favour Which I 'le preserve at any rate Pho. No more When I call on you fall not off perhaps Sooner then you expect I may employ you
How excellent is sorrow in an Enemy Dol. Glory appeares not greater then this goodnesse Cesar. Egyptians dare you thinke your high Pyramides Built to out-dare the Sun as you suppose Where your unworthy Kings lye rak'd in ashes Are monuments fit for him no brood of Nilus Nothing can couer his high fame but heaven No Pyramides set off his memoryes But the eternall substance of his greatenesse To wich I leave him take the head away And with the body give it noble buriall Your Earth shall now be bless'd to hold a Roman Whose braveryes all the worlds-earth cannot ballance Sce. If thou bee'st thus loving I shall honour thee But great men may dissemble 't is held possible And be right glad of what they seeme to weepe for There are such kinde of Phylosophers now do I wonder How he would looke if Pompey were alive againe But how he would set his face Cesar. You looke now King And you that have beene Agents in this glory For our especiall favour Ptol. We desire it Cesar. And doubtlesse you expect rewards Sce. Let me give 'em I 'le give 'em such as nature never dreampt of I 'le beat him and his Agents in a morter Into one man and that one man I 'le bake then Cesar. Peace I forgive you all that 's recompence You are young and ignorant that pleads your pardon And feare it may be more then hate provok'd ye Your Ministers I must thinke wanted judgement And so they erd I am bountifull to thinke this Beleeve me most bountifull Be you most thankfull That bounty share amongst ye if I knew What to send you for a present King of Egypt I meane a head of equall reputation And that you lov'd though it were your brightest Sisters But her you hate I would not be behinde ye Ptol Heare me great Cesar Cesar. I heave hard too much And study not with smooth shewes to invade My noble minde as you have done my conquest Ye are poore and open I must tell you roundly That man that could not recompence the benefits The great and bounteous services of Pompey Can never doate upon the name of Cesar Though I had hated Pompey and allowd his ruine I gave you no comission to performe it Hasty to please in blood are seldome trusty And but I stand invirond with my victories My fortune never failing to be friend me My noble strengthes and friends about my person I durst not trye ye nor expect a courtisy Above the pious love you shewd to Pompey You have found me mercifull in arguing with ye Swordes Hangers Fires destructions of all natures Demolishments of Kingdomes and whole Ruines Are wont to be my Orators turne to teares You wretched and poore Seedes of Sun-burnt Egypt And now you have found the nature of a Conquerour That you cannot decline with all your flatteries That where the day gives light will be himselfe still Know how to meet his worth with humane courtesies Go and embalme those bones of that great Souldier Howle round about his pile fling on your Spices Make a Sabean bed and place this Phenix Where the hot Sun may emulate his vertues And draw another Pompey from his ashes Divinely great and fixe him 'mongst the worthies Ptol. We will doe all Cesar. You have rob'd him of those teares His kindred and his friends kept sacred for him The Virgins of their funerall Lamentations And that kind Earth that thought to cover him His Countries Earth will cry out 'gainst your crueltie And weepe unto the Ocean for revenge Till Nilus raise his seven heads and devoure ye My griefe has stopt the rest when Pompey liv'd He us'd you nobly now he is dead use him so Exit Ptol Now where 's your confidence your aime Photinus The Oracles and faire Favors from the Conquerour You rung into mine eares how stand I now You see the tempest of his sterne displeasure The death of him you urged a Sacrifice To stop his rage presaging a full ruine Where are your Councells now Ach. I told ye Sir And told the truth what danger would fly after And though an Enemie I satisfied you He was a Roman and the top of honour And howsoever this might please great Caesar I told ye that the fowlenesse of his death The impious basenesse Pho. Peace ye are a foole Men of deepe ends must tread as deepe waies to 'm Caesar I know is pleas'd and for all his sorrowes Which are put on for formes and meere dissemblings I am confident he 's glad to have told ye so And thanke ye outwardly had bin too open And taken from the wisedome of a Conquerour Be confident and proud ye have done this service Ye have deserv'd and ye will finde it highly Make bold use of this benefit and be sure You keepe your Sister the high-sould Cleopatra Both close and short enough she may not see him The rest if I may councell sir Ptol. Doe all For in thy faithfull service rests my safetie Exit Scena Secunda Enter Septinius Sep. Heere 's a strange alteration in the Court Mens faces are of other setts and motions Their minds of subtler stuffe I passe by now As though I were a Rascall no man knowes me No eye lookes after as I were a plague Their doores shut close against me and I wondred at Because I have done a meritorious Murther Because I have pleas'd the Time does the Time plague me I have knowne the day they would have huggd me for it For a lesse stroke then this have done me reverence Opend their hearts and secret closets to me Their purses and their pleasures and bid me wallow I now perceive the great Theeves eate the lesse And the huge Leviathans of Villany Sup up the merits nay the men and all That doe them service and spowt 'em out againe Into the ayre as thin and unregarded As drops of water that are lost i' th Ocean I was lov'd once for swearing and for drinking And for other principall Qualities that became me Now a foolish unthankfull murther has undone me If my Lord Photinus be not mercifull Enter Photinus That set me on And he comes now fortune Pho. Caesars unthankfulnesse a little stirrs me A little frets my blood take heede proud Roman Provoke me not stir not my anger farther I may finde out a way unto thy life too Though arm'd in all thy Victories and seize it A Conquerour has a heart and I may hit it Sep. May it please your Lordship Pho. O Septinius Sep. Your Lordship knowes my wrongs Pho. Wrongs Sep. Yes my Lord How the Captaine of the Guard Achillas slights me Pho. Thinke better of him he has much be friended thee Shew'd thee much love in taking the head from thee The times are altered Souldier Caesars angry And our designe to please him lost and perish'd Be glad thou art unnam'd 't is not worth the owning Yet that thou maist be usefull Sep. Yes my Lord I shall be ready Pho. For I may employ
it No more disswading 't is my will Ach. I grieve for 't Ptol. I will dazell Caesar with excesse of glory Pho. I feare you 'le curse your will we must obey ye Ex. Scena Quarta Enter Caesar Antony Dollabella Sceva above Caesar I wonder at the glory of this Kingdome And the most bounteous preparation Still as I passe they Court me with Sce. I 'le tell ye In Gaul and Germany we saw such visions And stood not to admire 'em but possesse em VVhen they are ours they are worth our admiration Enter Cleopatra Ant. The young Queen comes give roome Caesar VVelcome my dearest Come blesse my side Sce. I mary here 's a wonder As she appears now I am no true Souldier If I be not readiest to recant Cleo. Be merry Sir My brother wil be proud to do you honour That now appeares himselfe Enter Ptolomy Achoreus Achillas Photinus Appollodorus Ptol. Haile to great Caesar My Royall Guest first I will feast thine eyes VVith wealthy Aegypts store and then thy palat And waite my selfe upon thee Treasure brought in Coesar VVhat rich Service What mines of treasure richer still Cleo. My Caesar What do you admire pray ye turn and let me talk to ye Have ye forgot me Sir how a new object Am I grown old o' th sodaine Caesar Caesar Tell me From whence comes all this wealth Cleo. Is your eye that way And all my Beauties banisht Ptol. I 'le tell thee Caesar We owe for all this wealth to the olde Nylus We need no dropping raine to cheer the husband-man Nor Merchant that ploughs up the Sea to seeke us Within the wealthy wombe of reverent Nylus All this is nourished who to do thee honour Comes to discover his seven Deities His conceal'd heads unto thee see with pleasure Caesar The matchlesse wealth of this Land Cleo. Come ye shall heare Caesar Away let me imagine Cleo. How frown on me The eyes of Caesar wrapt in stormes Caesar I am sorry But let me thinke Musicke Song Enter Isis and three Labourers ISis the Goddesse of this Land Bids thee great Caesar understand And marke our Customes and first know With greedy eyes these watch the flow Of plenteous Nylus when he comes With Songs with Daunces Timbrels Drums They entertaine him cut his way And give his proud Heads leave to play Nylus himselfe shall rise and show His matchlesse wealth in Over-flow Labourers Song COme let us help the reverend Nyle Hee 's very olde alas the while Let us dig him easie wayes And prepare a thousand Playes To delight his streames let 's sing Aloud welcome to our Spring This way let his curling Heads Fall into our new made Beds This way let his wanton spawnes Friske and glide it o're the Lawnes This way profit comes and gaine How he tumbles here amaine How his waters hast to fall Into our Channells Labour all And let him in Let Nylus flow And perpetuall plenty show With Incense let us blesse the brim And as the wanton fishes swim Let us Gums and Garlands fling And loud our Timbrels ring Come olde Father come away Our labour is our holy-day Isis HEre comes the aged River now With Garlands of great Pearl his Brow Begirt and rounded In his Flow All things take life and all things grow A thousand wealthy Treasures still To doe him service at his will Follow his rising Flood and powre Perpetuall blessings in our store Heare him and next there will advance His sacred Heads to tread a Dance In honour of my Royall Guest Marks them too and you have a Feast Cleo. A little drosse betray me Caesar I am asham'd I warr'd at home my friends When such wealth may be got abroad what honour Nay everlasting glory had Rome purchas'd Had she a just cause but to visit Aegypt Nylus SONG and Dance MAke roome for my rich waters fall and blesse my Flood Nylus comes flowing to you all encrease and good Now the Plants and Flowers shall spring And the merry Plough-man sing In my hidden waves I bring Bread and wine and every thing Let the Damsells sing me in Sing aloud that I may rise Your holy Feasts and houres begin And each hand bring a Sacrifice Now my wanton Pearls I show That to Ladies faire neckes grow Now my gold And treasures that can ne're be told Shall blesse this Land by my rich Flow And after this to crowne your Eyes My hidden holy head arise Caesar The wonder of this wealth so troubles me I am not well good-night Sce. I am glad ye have it Now we shall stir againe Ptol. Thou wealth still haunt him Sce. A greedy spirit set thee on we are happy Ptol. Lights lights for Caesar and attendance Cleo. Well I shall yet finde a time to tell thee Caesar Thou hast wrong'd her Love the rest here Ptol. Lights along still Musicke and Sacrifice to sleep for Caesar Exeunt Actus Quartus Scena Prima Enter Ptolemy Photinus Achillas Achoreus Ach. I Told ye carefully what this would prove to What this inestimable wealth and glory Would draw upon ye I advis'd your Majesty Never to tempt a Conquering Guest nor add A bayte to catch a mind bent by his Trade To make the whole world his Pho. I was not heard Sir Or what I said lost and contemn'd I dare say And freshly now 't was a poore weaknesse in ye A glorious Childishness I watch'd his eye And saw how Faulcon-like it towr'd and flew Upon the wealthy Quarry how round it mack'd it I observ'd his words and to what it tended How greedily he ask'd from whence it came And what Commerce we held for such abundance The shew of Nylus how he laboured at To finde the secret wayes the Song delivered Ach. He never smil'd I noted at the pleasures But fixt his constant eyes upon the treasure I doe not thinke his eares had so much leizure After the wealth appear'd to heare the Musique Most sure he has not slept since his minds troubld With objects they would make their own still labour Pho. Your sister he ne're gaz'd on that 's a main note The prime beauty of the world had no power over him Ach. Where was his mind the whilst Pho. Where was your carefulnesse To shew an armed thiefe the way to rob ye Nay would you give him this 't will excite him To seeke the rest Ambition feeles no gift Nor knows no bounds indeed ye have done most weakly Ptol. Can I be too kind to my noble friend Pho. To be unkind unto your noble selfe but savours Of indiscretion and your friend has found it Had ye been train'd up in the wants and miseries A souldier marches through and known his temperance In offerd courtesies you wovld have made A wiser Master of your owne and stronger Ptol. Why should I give him all he would return it 'T is more to him to make Kings Pho. Pray thee be wiser And trust not with your lost wealth your loved liberty To be a King still
beauty Appear'd your Mistresse tooke into your eyes The common-strumpet love of hated lucre Courted with covetous heart the slave of nature Gave all your thought to gold that men of glory And minds adorn'd with noble love would kick at Souldiers of royall marke scorne such base purchase Beauty and honour are the marks they shoot at I spake to ye then I courted ye and woo'd ye Call'd ye deare Caesar hung about ye tenderly VVas proud to appear your friend Caesar You have mistaken me Cleo. But neither Eye nor Favour not a Smile VVas I blessed backe but shooke off rudely And as ye had been sold to sordid infamy You fell before the Images of treasure And in your soule you worship'd I stood slighted Forgotten and contemn'd my soft embraces And those sweete kisses you call'd Elizium As letters writ in sand no more remembred The name and glory of your Cleopatra Laugh'd at and made a story to your Captaines Shall I endure Caesar You are deceiv'd in all this Upon my life you are 't is your much tendernesse Cleo. No no I love not that way you are cozen'd I love with as much ambition as a Conquerour And where I love will triumph Caesar So you shall My heart shall be the Chariot that shall beare ye All I have wonne shall waite upon ye By the gods The bravery of this womans mind has fired me Deare Mistress shall I but this night Cleo. How Caesar Have I let slip a second vanity That give thee hope Caesar You shall be absolute And Reigne alone as Queen you shall be any thing Cleo. Make me a maide againe and then I 'le hear thee Examine all thy art of VVar to doe that And if thou find'st it possible I 'le love thee Till when farewell unthankfull Caesar Stay Cleo. I will not Caesar I command Cleo. Command and goe without Sir I doe command thee be my slave for ever And vexe while I laugh at thee Caesar Thus low beauty Cleo. It is too late when I have found thee absolute The man that Fame reports thee and to me May be I shall thinke better Farewell Conquerour Exit Caesar She mocks me too I wil enjoy her Beauty I will not be deni'd He force my longing Love is best pleas'd when roundly we compell him And as he is Imperious so will I be Stay fool and be advis'd that dulls the appetite Takes of the strength and sweetnesse of delight By heaven she is a miracle I must use A handsome way to win how now what feare Dwells in your faces you loooke all distracted Enter Sceva Anthony Dollabella Sce. If it be feare 't is feare of your undoing Not of ourselves feare of your poore declining Our lives and deaths are equall benefits And we make louder prayers to dye nobly Then to live high and wantonly whilst you are secure here And offer Heccatombs of lazie kisses To the lewd god of Love and cowardize And most lasciviously dye in delights You are begirt with the fierce Alexandrians Dol. The spawne of Aegypt flow about your Pallace Arm'd all and ready to assault Ant. Led on By the false and base Photinus and his Ministers No stirring out no peeping through a loop-hole But straight saluted with an armed Dart Sce. No parley they are deafe to all but danger They sweare they will flea us and then dry our Quarters A rasher of a salt lover is such a Shooing-horne Can you kisse away this conspiracy and set us free Or will the Giant god of love fight for ye Will his fierce war-like bow kill a Cock-sparrow Bring out the Lady she can quel this mutiny And with her powerfull looks strike awe into them She can destroy and build againe the City Your Goddesses have mighty gifts shew 'em her fair brests The impregnable Bulwarks of proud Love and let 'em Begin their battery there she will laugh at 'em They are not above a hundred thousand Sir A mist a mist that when her Eyes breake out Her powerfull radiant eyes and shake their flashes Will flye before her heates Caesar Begirt with Villaines Sce. They come to play you and your Love a Huntsup You were told what this same whorson wenching long agoe would come too You are taken napping now has not a souldier A time to kisse his friend and a time to consider But he must lye still digging like a Pioner Making of mines and burying of his honour there 'T were good you would thinke Dol. And time too or you will finde else A harder task then Courting a coy Beauty Ant. Look out and then beleeve Sce. No no hang danger Take me provoking broth and then goe to her Goe to your Love and let her feele your valour Charge her whole body when the sword 's in your throat Sir You may cry Caesar and see if that will help ye Caesar I 'le be my selfe againe and meet their furies Meet consume their mischiefs make some shift Sceva To recover the Fleet and bring me up two Legions And you shall see me how I 'le breake like thunder Amongst these beds of slimy Eeles and scatter 'em Sce. Now ye speak sense I 'le put my life to the hazard Before I goe No more of this warm Lady Shee will spoil your sword-hand Caesar Goe come le ts to Councell How to prevent and then to execute Scena Tertia Enter Souldiers 1 Sold. Did ye see this Penitence 2 Sold. Yes I saw and heard it 3 Sold. And I too looke'd upon him and observ'd it Hee 's the strangest Septinius now 1 Sol. I heard he was altered And had given away his Gold to honest uses Cryde monstrously 2. Sol. He cryes abundantly He is blind almost with weeping 3. Sol. 'T is most wonderfull That a hard hearted man and an old Souldier Should have so much kind moysture when his mother dyde He laughed aloud and made the wickedst Ballads 1. Sol. 'T is like enough he never lov'd his Parents Nor can I blame him for they neere lov'd him His mother dream'd before she was deliverd That she was brought abed with a Buzzard and ever after She whistled him up to th' world his brave clothes too He has flung away and goes like one of us now Walks with his hands in 's pockets poore and sorrowfull And gives the best instructions 2 Sol. And tells stories Of honest and good people that were honourd And how they were remembred and runs mad If he but hear of any ungratefull person A bloudy or betraying man 3. Sol. If it be possible That an Arch-Villain may ever be recovered This penitent Rascall will put hard 't were worth our labour To see him once againe Enter Septinius 1. Sol. He spares us that labour For here he comes Sep. Blesse ye my honest friends Blesse ye from base unworthy men come not neare me For I am yet too taking for your company 1. Sol. Did I not tell ye 2. Sol. What booke 's that 1. Sol. No doubt Some excellent Salve
And Ptolomy shall crowne thee for thy service Exeunt Achil. He 's well wrought put him on apace for cooling Actus Quintus Scena Prima Enter Caesar Antony Dollabella Ant. THe tumult still encreases Caesar O my fortune My lustfull folly rather but 't is well And worthily I am made a bondmans prey That after all my glorious victoryes In which I pass'd so many seas of dangers When all the Elements conspir'd against me Would yeild up the dominion of this head To any mortall power so blinde and stupid To trust these base Egyptians that proclaim'd Their perjuries in noble Pompeys death And yet that could not warn me Dol. Be still Caesar Who ever lov'd to exercise his fate Where danger look't most dreadfull Ant. If you fall Fall not alone let the King and his Sister Be buried in your ruines on my life They both are guilty reason may assure you Photinus nor Achillas durst attempt you Or shake one Dart or Sword aim'd at your safety Without their warrant Caesar For the young King I know not How he may be missed but for his Sister Unequall'd Cleopatra 't were a kinde Of blasphemy to doubt her ougly treason Durst never dwell in such a glorious building Nor can so cleare and great a spirit as hers is Admit of falsehood Ant. Let us seize on him then And leave her to her fortune Dol. If he have power Use it to your security and let His honesty acquit him if he be false It is too great an honour he should dye By your victorious hand Caesar He comes and I Shall do as I finde cause Enter Ptolomy Achoreus Apollodorus Ptol. Let not great Caesar Impute the breach of hospitality To you my guest to me I am contemn'd And my rebellious subjects lift their hands Against my head and would they aim'd no farther Provided that I fell a sacrifice To gaine you safety that this is not faign'd The boldnesse of my innocence may confirme you Had I bin privy to their bloody plot I now had led them on and given faire glosse To their bad cause by being present with them But I that yet taste of the punishment In being false to Pompey will not make A second fault to Caesar uncompell'd With such as have not yet shooke off obedience I yeild my selfe to you and will take part In all your dangers Caesar This pleades your excuse And I receive it Ach. If they have any touch Of justice or religion I will use The athority of our Gods to call them back From their bad purpose Ap. This part of the pallace Is yet defensible we may make it good Till your powers rescue us Caesar Caesar beseig'd O staine to my great actions 't was my custome An Army routed as my feete had wings To be first in the chase nor walls nor Bulworkes Could guard those that escap'd the Battailes fury From this strong Arme and I to be enclos'd My heart my hart but 't is necessity To which the Gods must yeild and I obey 'Till I redeeme it by some glorious way Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Photinus Achillas Septinius Souldiers Pho. Ther 's no retiring now we are broke in The deed past hope of pardon if we prosper A will be stilde lawfull and we shall give lawes To those that now command us stop not at Or loyalty or duty bold Ambition To dare and power to do gave the first difference Betweene the King and subject Caesars Motto Aut Caesar aut Nihil each of us must claime And use it as our owne Achil. The deed is bloody If we conclude in Ptolomies death Pho. The better The globe of Empire must be so manur Sep. Rome that from Romulus first tooke her name Had her walls watered with a Crymson showr Draind from a Brothers heart nor was she rais'd To this prodigious height that overlooks Three full parts of the Earth that pay her tribute But by enlarging of her narrow bounds By the Sack of Neighbour Cities were made hers Till they were Cemented with the Blood of those That did possesse 'em Cesar Ptolomy Now I am steeld to me are empty names Esteem'd as Pompeys was Pho. Well said Septinius Thou now art right againe Achil. But what course take we For the Princesse Cleopatra Pho. Let her live A while to make us sport she shall authorize Our undertakings to the ignorant people As if what we do were by her command But our triumvirat Government once confirm'd Shee beares her Brother company that 's my Province Leave me to work her Achil. I will undertake For Ptolomy Sep. Cesar shall be my taske And as in Pompey I began a names I 'le perfect it in Caesar Enter above Caesar Ptolomy Achoreus Appollodorus Anthony Dollabella Pho. 'T is resolv'd then Wee 'l force our passage Achil. See they do appeare As they desir'd a parley Pho. I am proud yet I have brought them to capitulate Ptol. Now Photinus Pho. Now Ptolomy Ptol. No addition Pho. We are equall Though Caesars name were put into the scale In which our worth is weighd Caesar Presumptuous Villaine Upon what grounds hast thou presum'd to raise Thy servile hand against the King or me That have a greater name Pho. On those by which Thou didst presume to passe the Rubicon Against the Laws of Rome and at the name Of traytor smile as thou didst when Marcellus The Consull with the Senats full consent Pronounc'd thee for an enemy to thy Country Yet thou wentst on and thy rebellious Cause Was crown'd with fair success why should we fear then Thinke on that Caesar Caesar O the gods be brav'd thus And be compelld to beare this from a slave That would not brooke great Pompey his Superiour Achil. Thy glories now have touch'd the highest point And must descend Pho. Despaire and thinke we stand The Champions of Rome to wreak her wrongs Upon whose liberty thou hast set thy foote Sep. And that the ghosts of all those noble Romans That by thy sword fell in this Civill warre Expect revenge Ant. Dar'st thou speak and remember There was a Pompey Pho. There is no hope to scape us If that against the odds we have upon you You dare come forth and fight receive the honour To dye like Romans if ye faint resolve To starve like wretches I disdain to change Exit Another syllable with you Anâ—. Let us dye nobly And rather fall upon each others sword Then come into these villains hands Caesar That Fortune Which to this howre hath been a friend to Caesar Though for a while she cloath her brow with frowns Will smile again upon me who will pay her Or sacrifice or vowes if she forsake Her best of works in me or suffer him Whom with a strong hand she hath led triumphant Through the whole Western world Rome acknowledgd Her Soveraign Lord to end in gloriously A life admir'd by all the threatned danger Must by a way more horrid be avoided And I will run the hazard Fire the
Pallace And the rich Magazines that neighbour it In which the wealth of Aegypt is contain'd Start not it shall be so that while the people Labour in quenching the ensuing flames Like Caesar with this handfull of my friends Through fire and swords I force a passage to My conquering Legions King if thou darst follow Where Caesar leads or live or dye a Free-man If not stay here a bond-man to thy slave And dead be thought unworthy of a grave Exeunt Scena Tertia Enter Septinius Sep. I feele my resolution melts againe And that I am not knave alone but foole In all my purposes This Devill Photinus Employs me as a property and grown uselesse Will shake me off againe he told me so When I kill'd Pompey nor can I hope better When Caesar is dispatch'd Services done For such as only study their owne ends Too great to be rewarded or return'd With deadly hate I learnd this principle In his own Schoole yet still he fooles me well And yet he trusts me Since I in my nature Was fashion'd to be false wherefore should I That kill'd my Generall and a Roman one To whom I owe all nourishments of life Be true to an Aegyptian to save Caesar And turn Photinus plots on his own head As it is in my power redeem my credit And live to lye and swear again in fashion Oh 't were a Master-piece ha me Ceasar How 's he got off Enter Caesar Ptolomy Antony Dollabella Achoreus Appollodorus Souldiers Caesar The fire has tooke And shews the City like a second Troy The Navy too is scorch'd the people greedy To save their wealth and houses while their souldiers Make spoile of all only Achillas troops Make good their guard break through them we are safe I 'le lead you like a Thunder-bolt Sep. Stay Caesar Caesar Who 's this the dog Septinius Ant. Cut his throat Dol. You barkt but now fawne you so soone Sep. O heare me What I 'le deliver is for Caesars safety For all your good Ant. Good from a moneth like thine That never belch'd but blasphemy treason on Festivall dayes Sep. I am an altered man altered indeed And I will give you cause to say I am a Roman Dol. Rogue I grant thee Sep. Trust me I 'le make the passage smooth and easy For your escape Ant. I 'le trust the Devill sooner And make a safer bargaine Sep. I am trusted With all Photinus secrets Ant. There 's no doubt then Thou wilt be false Sep. Still to be true to you Dol. And very likely Caesar Be breife the meanes Sep. Thus Caesar To me alone but bound by terrible oathes Not to discover it he hath reveal'd A dismall vault whose dreadfull mouth do's open A mile beyond the Citty in this cave Lye but two houres conceal'd Ant If you believe him Hee 'le bury us alive Dol. I 'le fly in the ayre first Sep. Then in the dead of night I 'le bring you backe Into a private roome where you shall finde Photinus and Achillas and the rest Of their Commanders close at Counsell Caesar Good what followes Sep. Fall me fairly on their throates Their heads cut off and shorn the multitude Will easily disperse Caesar O Devill away with him Nor true to friend nor enemy Caesar scornes To find his safety or revenge his wrongs So base a way or owe the meanes of life To such a leaprous Traytor I have towr'd For victory like a Faulcon in the clouds Not dig'd for 't like a Moale our Swords and Cause Make way for us and that it may appeare We tooke a noble course and hate base Treason Some souldiers that would merit Caesars favour Hang him on yonder turret and then follow The lane this sword makes for you Exit 1 Sold. Here 's a Belt Though I dye for it I 'le use it 2 Sold. T is too good To trusse a Cur in Sep. Save me here 's gold 1 Sold. If Rome Were offered for thy ransome it could not help thee 2 Sold. Hang not an arse 1 Sold. Goad him on with thy sword Thou dost deserve a worser end and may All such conclude so that their friends betray Exeunt Scena Quarta Enter severally Arsino Eros Cleopatra Ar. We are lost Eros Undon Ar. Confusion Fire and Swords And fury in the souldiers face more horrid Circle us round Eros The Kings command they laugh at And jeere at Caesars threats Ars. My brother seizd on By the Roman as thought guilty of the tumult And forc'd to beare him company as mark'd out For his protection or revenge Eros They have broke Into my Cabinet my Trunks are ransak'd Ar. I have lost my Jewels too but that 's the least The barbarous Rascalls against all humanity Or sense of pity have kill'd my little dog And broke my monkeys chaine Eros They rufled me But that I could endure and tire 'em too Would they proceed no further Ar. O my sister Eros My Queen my Mistresse Ar. Can you stand unmov'd When an Earth-quake of rebellion shakes the City And the Court trembles Cleo. Yes Arsino And with a masculine constancy deride Fortunes worst malice as a servant to My Vertues not a Mistress then we forsake The strong fort of our selves when we once yield Or shrink at her assaults I am still my selfe And though dis-roab'd of Sovereignty and ravisht Of ceremonious duty that attends it Nay grant they had slav'd my body my free mind Like to the Palm-tree walling fruitfull Nyle Shall grow up straighter and enlarge it selfe Spight of the envious weight that loads it with Think of thy birth Arsino common burthens Fit common shoulders teach the multitude By suffering nobly what they feare to touch at The greatnesse of thy mind does soare a pitch Their dim eyes darkned by their narrow soules Cannot arrive at Ar. I am new created And owe this second being to you best sister For now I feele you have infus'd into me Part of your fortitude Eros I still am fearfull I dare not tell a lye you that were born Daughters and Sisters unto Kings may nourish Great thoughts which I that am your humble handmaid Must not presume to ryvall Cleo. Yet my Eros Though thou hast profited nothing by observing The whole course of my life learn in my death Though not to equall yet to imitate Thy fearlesse Mistresse Enter Photinus Eros O a man in armes His weapon drawn too Cleo. Though upon the point Death sate I 'le meete it and out-dare the danger Pho. Keep the watch strong and guard the passage sure That leads unto the Sea Cleo. What sea of rudenesse Breaks in upon us or what Subjects breath Dare raise a storme when we command a calm Are duty and obedience fled to heaven And in their roome ambition and pride Sent into Aegyt that face speaks thee Photinus A thing thy Mother brought into the world My Brothers and my Slave but thy behaviour Oppos'd to that an insolent Intruder Upon that Soveraignty thou shouldst bow to If
wondring still when we two shall come together Tuesday 's at hand but I 'me as farre off as I was at first I sweare Enter Gardianesse Gard. Now Cuningame I le be reveng'd at large Lady what was but all this while suspition Is truth full blowne now my Neece weares your Scarfe Neece Hah Gard. Do but follow me I le place you instantly Where you shall see her courted by Cuningame Neece I go with greedinesse we long for things That break our hearts sometimes there 's pleasures misery Exeunt Neece and Gard. Sir Greg. Where are those gad-flies going to some Junket now That some old humble-bee toles the yoūg one forth To sweet meats after kinde let 'em looke to 't The thing you wot on be not mist or gone I bring a Maiden-head and I looke for one Exit Enter Cunningame in discourse with a Mask't Gentlewoman in a broad hat and scarf'd Neece at another doore Cun. Yes yes Neece Too manifest now the Scarfe and all Cun. It cannot be you 're such a fearefull soule Neece I le give her cause of feare e're I part from her Cun. Will you say so Is 't not your Aunts desire too Neece What a dissembling groane 's that shee 'l forswear 't now Cun. I see my project takes yonder 's the grace on 't Neece Who would put confidence in wit againe I 'me plagu'd for my ambition to desire A wise man for a husband and I see Fate will not have us go beyond our stint We are allow'd but one dish and that 's Woodcock It keeps up wit to make us friends and servants of And thinks any thing 's good enough to make us husbands Oh that whores hat a' thine a' the riding block A shade for lecherous kisses Cun. Make you doubt on 't Is not my love of force Neece Yes me it forces To teare that sorcerous strumpet from th' imbraces Cun. Lady Neece Oh thou hast wrong'd the exquisit'st love Cun. What meane you Lady Neece Mine you 'l answer for 't Cun. Alas what seek you Neece Sir mine owne with losse Cun. You shall Neece I never made so hard a bargaine Cun. Sweet Lady Neece Unjust man let my wrath reach her As you owe vertue duty your cause trips you Now Minion you shall feele what loves rage is Before you taste the pleasure smile you false Sir Cun. How can I chuse to see what paines you take Upon a thing will never thank you for 't Neece How Cun. See what things you women be Lady When cloathes are taken for the best part of you This was to show you when you think I love you not How y' are deceiv'd still there the Morall lyes 'T was a trap set to catch you and the only bait To take a Lady nibling is fine clothes Now I dare boldly thank you for your love I 'me pretty well resolv'd in 't by this fit For a jealous ague alwaies ushers it Neece Now blessings still maintaine this wit of thine And I 'me an excellent fortune comming in thee Bring nothing else I charge thee Cun. Not a groat I warrant ye Neece Thou shalt be worthily welcome take my faith for 't Next opportunity shall make us Cun. The old Gentlewoman has fool'd her revenge sweetly Neece Lasse 't is her part she knowes her place so well yonder Alwaies when women jumpe upon three score Love shoves 'em from the chamber to the doore Cun. Thou art a precious she-wit Exeunt Actus Quintus Scaena Prima Enter Cunningame at one doore Winy Pate Ruinous L. Ruinous and Priscian at the other Cun. FRiend met in the harvest of our designes Not a thought but 's busie Wit I knew it man that made me provide these needfull Reapers Hooks Rakers Gleaners wee 'l sing it home With a melodious Horne-pipe this is the Bond That as we further in your great affaire You 'l suffer us to gleane pick up for crums And if we snatch a handfull from the sheafe You will not looke a churle on 's Cun. Friend wee 'l share The sheaves of gold only the Love Aker Shall be peculiar Wit Much good do you Sir Away you know your way and your stay get you The Musick ready while we prepare the dancers Ruin We are a consort of our selves Pris. And can strike up lustily Wit You must bring Sir Fop Cun. That 's perfect enough Ruin Bring all the Fops you can the more the better fare So the proverbe runs backwards Exeunt Ruin Pris. L. Ruin I le bring the Ladies Exit Wit Do so first and then the Fops will follow I must to my father he must make one Exit Enter two Servants with a Banquet Cun. While I dispatch a businesse with the Knight And I go with you Well sed I thank you This small Banquet will furnish our few Guests With taste and state enough one reach my Gowne The action craves it rather then the weather 1 Serv. There 's one staies to speake with you Sir Cun. What is he 1 Serv. Faith I know not what Sir a foole I thinke That some Brokers shop has made half a Gentleman Has the name of a Worthy too Cun. Pompey is 't not 1 Serv. That 's he Sir Cun. Alas poore fellow prethee enter him he will need too Enter second Servant with a Gowne He shall serve for a Witnesse Oh Gramercy If my friend Sir Gregory comes you know him Enter Clowne Entertaine him kindly Oh Master Pompey how is 't man Clow. 'Snailes I 'me almost starv'd with love and cold and one thing or other Has not my Lady sent for me yet Cun. Not that I heare sure some unfriendly Messenger Is imployed betwixt you Clow. I was ne're so cold in my life in my conscience I have been seven mile in length along the new River I have seene a hundred stickle bags I do not thinke but there 's gudgeons too 't will ne're be a true water Cun. Why thinke you so Clow. I warrant you I told a thousand Millers thumbs in it I le make a little bold with your Sweet-meats And welcome Pompey Clow. 'T is is a strange thing I have no taste in any thing Cun. Oh that 's Love that distasts any thing but it selfe Clow. 'T is worse then Cheese in that point may not a man breake his word with a Lady I could finde in my heart and my hose too Cun. By no meanes Sir that breakes all the Lawes of Love Clow. Well I le ne're passe my word without my deed to Lady while I live agen I would faine recover my taste Cun. Well I have newes to tell you Clow. Good newes Sir Cun. Happy newes I help you away with a Rivall your Master bestow'd Clow. Where for this plumbs sake Cun. Nay listen me Clow. I warrant you Sir I have two eares to one mouth I heare more then I eat I 'de ne're row by Queen Hive While lived else Cun. I have a wife for him and that shall witnesse the Contract Clow. The
receit Of Musick O. K. I deny that Sir looke you I can dance without Musick do you see Sir and I can sing without it too you are a consort of Theeves do you heare what I do Witty Pray you take heed Sir if you do move the Musick agen it may cost you as much more O.K. Hold hold I le depart quietly I need not bid you farewell I think now so long as that hundred pound lasts with you Enter Gardianesse Gard. Ha ha am I snapt ifaith Oh Sir Perfidious O. K. I I some howling another while Musick 's too damnable deare Gard. Oh Sir my heart-strings are broke if I can but live to tell you the tale I care not your Neece my charge is O.K. What is she sick Gard, No no Sir she 's lustily well married O.K. To whom Gard. Oh to that cunning dissembler Cuningame O. K. I le hang the Priest first what was he Gard. Your Kinsman Sir that has the Welch Benefice O. K. I sav'd him from the Gallowes to that end good is there any more Garde And Sir Gregory is married too O. K. To my Neece too I hope and then I may hang her Gard. No Sir to my Neece thank Cupid and that 's all that 's likely to recover me she 's Lady Fop now and I am One of her Aunts I thanke my promotion Enter Credulous Cuningame Neece Sir Gregory and Mirabell Cred. I hate perform'd your behest Sir O. K. What have you perform'd Sir Witty Faith Sir I must excuse my Cousen in this act If you can excuse your selfe for making him A Priest there 's the most difficult answer I put this practise on him as from your desire A truth a truth Father Cred. I protest Sir he tells you truth he mov'd me to 't in your name O. K. I protest Sir he told you a lye in my name and were you so easie Mr. Credulous to beleeve him Cred. If a man should not beleeve his Cousen Sir whom should he beleeve O. K. Godden to you good Mr. Cousen Cuningame And your faire Bride my Cousen Cuningame too And how do you Sir Gregory with your faire Lady Sir Greg. A little better then you would have had me I thanke you Sir the dayes of Puppy and Slave and Rascall are pretty well blowne over now I know Crabs from Verjuyce I have tryed both and thou d'st give me thy Neece for nothing I 'de not have her Cun. I thinke so Sir Gregory for my sake you would not Sir Greg. I wo'd thou had'st scap'd her too and then she had dyed of the greene sicknesse know this that I did marry in spight and I will kisse my Lady in spight and love her in spight and beget children of her in spight and when I dye they shall have my Lands in spight this was my resolution and now 't is out Neece How spightfull are you now Sir Gregory Why looke you I can love my dearest Husband With all the honours duties sweet embraces That can be throwne upon a loving man Sir Greg. This is afore your Unckles face but behinde his back in private you 'le shew him another tale Cun. You see Sir now the irrecoverable state of all these things before you come out of your muse they have been but wit weapons they were wont to love the play Enter Clowne O. K. Let me alone in my muse a little Sir I will wake to you anon Cun. U'd so your friend Pompey how will you answer him Neece Very well if you 'le but second it and help me Clow. I do heare strange stories are Ladies things obnoxious Neece Oh the dissembling falsest wretch is come Cun. How now Lady Neece Let me come to him and in stead of love Let me have revenge Witty Pray you now will you first examine whither he be guilty or no Neece He cannot be excus'd How many Messengers thou perjur'd man Hast thou return'd with Vowes and Oathes that thou Wouldst follow and never till this unhappy houre Could I set eye of thee since thy false dye Drew my heart to it oh I could teare thee now In stead of soft embraces pray give me leave Witty Faith this was ill done of you Sir if you promis'd otherwise Clow. By this hand never any Messenger came at me since the first time I came into her company that a man should be wrong'd thus Neece Did not I send thee Scarfes and Diamonds And thou returnd'st me letters one with a false heart in 't Witty On fye to receive favours returne false-hoods and hold a Lady in hand Clow. Will you believe me Sir if ever I receiv'd Diamonds or Scarfe or sent any Letter to her would this Sword might ne're go through me Witty Some bad Messengers have gone betweene you then Neece Take him from my fight if I shall see to morrow Witty Pray you forbeare the place this discontent may impaire her health much Clow. Foot if a man had been in any fault 't would ne're have griev'd him Sir if you 'le beleeve Witty Nay nay protest no more I do believe you But you see how the Lady is wrong'd by 't She has cast away her selfe it is to be fear'd Against her Unckles will nay any consent But out of a meere neglect and spight to her selfe Married suddenly without any advice Clow. Why who can helpe it if she be cast away she may thanke her selfe she might have gone further and far'd worse I could do no more then I could do 't was her owne pleasure to command me that I should not come till I was sent for I had been with her every minute of an houre else Witty Truly I believe you Clow. Night and day she might have commanded me and that she knew well enough I said as much to her between her and I yet I protest she 's as honest a Lady for my part that I 'de say if she would see me hang'd if she be cast away I cannot helpe it she might have stay'd to have spoke with a man Witty Well 't was a hard misse on both parts Clow. So 't was I was within one of her for all this crosse luck I was sure I was between the Knight and home Neece Not gone yet oh my heart none regard my health Witty Good Sir forbeare her sight a while you heare how ill she brookes it Clow. Foolish woman to over-throw her fortunes so I shall thinke the worse of a Ladies wit while I live for 't I could almost cry for anger if she should miscarry now 't would touch my conscience a little and who knowes what love and conceit may do what would people say as I go along there goes he that the Lady dyed for love on lam sure to heare on 't i th' streets I shall weepe before hand foolish woman I do grieve more for thee now then I did love thee before well go thy waies would'st thou spare thy Husbands head and breake thine owne heart if thou hadst any wit I would some
a fellow My own Sword would forsake not tyed unto me A Pandar is a Prince to what I am falne By heaven I dare do nothing Aeci. Ye do better Max. I am made a branded slave Aecius And yet I blesse the maker Death ô my soule must I endure this tamely Must Maximus be mention'd for his tales I am a child too what should I do rayling I cannot mend my selfe t is Caesar did it And what am I to him Aeci. T is well consider'd How ever you are tainted be no Traitor Time may out-weare the first the last lives ever Max. O that thou wert not living and my freind Aeci. I le beare a wary eye upon your actions I feare ye Maximus nor can I blame thee If thou breakest out for by the Gods thy wrong Deserves a generall ruine do ye love me Max. That 's all I have to live on Aeci. Then go with me Ye shall not to your own house Max. Nor to any My greifs are greater far then walls can compasse And yet I wonder how it happens with me I am not dangerous and ô my conscience Should I now see the Emperor i' th hear on 't I should not chide him for 't an awe runs through me I feele it sensibly that binds me to it T is at my heart now there it sits and rules And me thinkes t is a pleasure to obey it Aeci. This is a maske to cozen me I know ye And how far ye dare do no Romane farther Nor with more fearlesse valour and I le watch ye Keep that obedience still Max. Is a wives losse For her abuse much good may do his grace I le make as bold with his wife if I can More then the fading of a few fresh colours More then a lusty spring lost Aeci. No more Maximus To one that truly lives Max. Why then I care not I can live wel enough Aecius For looke you freind for vertue and those triffles They may be bought they say Aeci. He 's craz's a little His greife has made him talke things from his nature Max. But chastitie is not a thing I take it To get in Rome unlesse it be bespoken A hundred yeare before is it Aecius by 'r lady and well handled too i' th breeding Aeci. Will ye go any way Max. I le tell thee freind If my wife for all this should be a whore now A kind of kicker out of sheetes t' would vex me For I am not angry yet the Emperor Is young and hansome and the woman flesh And may not these two couple without scratching Aeci. Alasse my noble freind Max. Alasse not me I am not wretched for ther 's no man miserable But he that makes himselfe so Aeci. Will ye walke yet Max. Come come she dare not dye freind that 's the truth on 't She knowes the inticing sweet and delicacies Of a young Princes pleasures and I thanke her She has made a way for Maximus to rise by Wilt not become me bravely why do you think She wept and said she was ravish'd keep it here And I le discover to you Aeci. Well Max. She knowes I love no bitten flesh and out of that hope She might be from me she contriv'd this knavery Was it not monstrous freind Aeci. Do's he but seeme so Or is he made indeed Max. Oh Gods my heart Aeci. Would it would fairly breake Max. Me thinks I am somewhat wilder then I was And yet I thanke the gods I know my duty Enter Claudia Claud. Nay ye may spare your tears she 's dead She is so Max. Why so it should be how Clau. When first she enter'd Into her house after a world of weeping And blushing like the Sun-set as we see her Dare I said she defile this house with whore In which his noble family has flourish'd At which she fel and stird no more we rubd her Exit Clau. Max. No more of that be gon now my Aecius If thou wilt do me pleasure weepe a little I am so parch'd I cannot Your example Has brought the raine down now now lead me freind And as we walke together let 's pray together truly I may not fall from faith Aeci. That 's nobly spoken Max. Was I not wilde Aecius Aeci. Somewhat troubled Max. I felt no sorrow then Now I le goe with ye But do not name the woman fye what foole Am I to weepe thus God's Lucina take thee For thou wert even the best and worthiest Lady Aeci. Good Sir no more I shall be melted with it Max. I have done and good Sir comfort me Would there were wars now Aeci. Settle your thoughts come Max. So I have now friend Of my deep lamentations here 's an end Exeunt Enter Pontius Phidias and Aretus Phidias By my faith Captain Pontius besides pitie Of your falne fortunes what to say I know not For t is too true the Emperor desires not But my best Master any Souldier neere him Are. And when he understands he cast your fortunes For disobedience how can we incline him That are but under persons to his favours To any faire opinion Can ye sing Pontius Not to please him Aretius for my Songs Goe not to 'th Lute or Violl but to 'th Trumpet My tune kept on a Target and my subject The well struck wounds of men not love or women Phi. And those he understands not Pont. He should Phidias Are. Could you not leave this killing way a little You must if here you would plant your selfe and rather Learne as we doe to like what those affect That are above us weare their actions And thinks they keep us warme too what they say Though oftentimes they speake a little foolishly Not stay to construe but prepare to execute And think how ever the end falls the businesse Cannot run empty handed Phid. Can yee flatter And if it were put to you lye a little Pont. Yes if it be a living Are. That 's well said then Pon. But must these lyes and flatteries be beleev'd then Phi. Oh yes by any meanes Pon. By any meanes then I cannot lye nor flatter Are. Ye must sweare too If ye be there Pon. I can sweare if they move me Phi. Cannot ye forsweare too Pont. The Court for ever If it be growne so wicked Are. You should procure a little too Pont. What 's that Mens honest sayings for my truth Are. Oh no Sir But womens honest actions for your triall Pon. Doe you doe all these things Phi. Doe you not like 'em Pon. Do ye aske me seriously or trifle with me I am not so low yet to be your mirth Are. You do mistake us Captain for sincerely We aske you how you like 'em Pon. Then sincerely I tell ye I abhor 'em they are ill wayes And I will starve before I fall into 'em The doers of 'em wretches their base hungers Cares not whose bread they eate nor how they get it Are. What then Sir Pon. If you professe this wickednesse Because ye have bin Souldiers and borne