I wou'd not govern such a cursed crew One moment longer Now ev'n now I 'de dye And into some more Kingly Lion fly Where with full Empire I the Woods might sway And all the Nobler Beasts my Laws obeyâ— Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE 1. The Palace Garden Caesario Araspes Leander Caes. BY all the Trophies of the Conquer'd Field By ev'ry vanquish'd Sword and batter'd Shield He dyes though the Auxiliar Fates shou'd stand To fence the lifted forces of my hand Though bulwark'd with Rome's Hills in Tow'rs of Brass Yet like Laocoon's Launce my Sword shall pass Through all By Heav'n to Hell he shall be thrown His Universal mightiness shall down Aras Your ruine must inevitable be Caes. It matters not what shall become of me Though all the Winds from their black corners rush Though Seas dash Clouds old Rocks young Thunder crushâ— Exempt from fear th' event we will attend And with big rays in Ports of Glory end If I must fall I 'le tumble with a Crown And grasp this Giant with me when I drown Lea. But Royal Sir can you your Friend forget Can an abuse so vast a wrong so great Be offer'd that your Vows you shou'd recall Caes. Smoak vanish air be they forgotten all No dear Marcellus you must pardon me A stroak a stab 't is such an injury Were Iove in flesh and thunder'd with a blow I wou'd retort it like a God below Aras E're ruine swallows you take one look more While yet you stand upon the beaten shore Lea. Yet e're you launch behold the rolling deep Where danger groans and death it self does weep Caes. Hence with thy Coward counsels fly to Caves I 'le climb these tow'ring dangers bark the waves And as I ride to the kick'd Flouds I 'le cry Bear Caesar with his Fathers fortune high Why do ye ask me then and vainly mourn Can words move death or Time cariering turn Can human eloquence the Stars controul Or when their doom has damn'd it save a Soul Pray to descending Storms or mounting Fire Them ye may weary me ye shall not tire Aras Since then no pray'rs can your wild fury tame The way least dang'rous to Revenge we 'le name Though Caesar from Heav'ns partial hand receive Immediate pow'r small vertue she did give Lea. When fierce Embassadors from Parthia's King Shew'd their huge Bows and did long Arrows bring He to their threats in scornful answer laugh'd Yet this great Scorffer shrinks at Cupids shaft Still may his glutted hands more Empire have So he continue Love's inglorious slave Caes. What is his Mightiness by Beauty aw'd Is this th' Augustus so renown'd abroad The World's first man and new created God The bright Narcissa with her Spring of charms 'T is true has warm'd my heart half froze in Arms Her melting language strook my Winter back Loosn'd my Nerves and made my heart-strings slack Yet were it possible that she cou'd weep As long as I have practis'd toilsom War She shou'd not in her Lap my Honour keep Nor from its Trade my burning spirit bar When Conquest calls my Sword to fetch the prize And I stand listning to a Ladies cries Sighing to see the Roses pale O Heav'nâ— O glorious War let me be ne're forgiv'n Aras There is a Bower the mystick seat of Love Where death stands Centinel before the Grove Guards ever waking at the threshold lye And suffer none but Caesar to pass by There his loose heart does in full Pastures graze And various She s with awe upon him gaze Lea. Like Heav'ns proud King follow'd by Deities The Tyrant walks with shinings through the Trees His brow dilates and his purs'd lips awhile Forget their angry use and gravely smile To see officious Beauties charm his cares Like Nights black lockâ— all powderd o're with Stars Aras There your revenge if vengeance urge you still May glut your appetite and drink her fill I have observ'd and can your fury guide To a slight-guarded Gate o th' Tiber side Watch'd by some drowsie Slaves not more then we Whom having kill'd you may have passage free Caes. Methinkâ— already thou hast talk'd 'em dead And I am o're the fatal Barriers fled Like Perseus mounted on a Stead of Air Beating the Lists to find the Monster there Lea. There you may take him swoln with drunken joy And the Crown'd brute with a full stroak destroy Behold him sporting on spread Memphian spoils In Mantles wrap'd that breath rich od'rous oils Like a gay Snake basking in Sunny fields Embrac'd by her who ripest pleasure yields Caes. Be gone now instantly let 's post away The black revenging minutes will not stay As the half-god Augaean Stables clear'd I 'le purge these Gardens with his bloud besmear'd Slow till the deed be done move the wing'd hours I 'le do 't though Dragons guard the golden Bowers Exeunt SCENE 2. The Bower of Gloriana SONG 1. AH the charms of a Beauty disdainfull and fair How she blasts all my joys when she bids me despair Forgetting my State when I sigh and lye down And cast at her feet both Scepter and Crown She passes regardless and says a young Swain Before an old Monarch her love should obtain 2. Remember Fair Nymph my Grandfatherâ— Jove That rev'rend old God always made the best Love So fiercely he mov'd with a manner Divine That he melted his way or blew up the Mine Your scorn of my age therefore cease to pursue And think what a loving old Caesar can do Augustus Gloriana Aug. From golden weights high cares Imperial strife From Storms of State and Hurricans of life To the green Palace of the peacefull Grove To Gloriana's Bower the Throne of Love I come with all the violence of mind The philters of Court-witchcraft to unbind Thy heav'nly voice is sure the noblest Spell And thy eyes charms all Magick else excell Glor. Ye Authors of all sway for what dark end To one so frail did you such pow'r commend He reels on such excessive height he stands And drops his Scepter from his shaking hands Aug. No matter Gloriana let it be Who wou'd not leave a Diadem for thee Are not thy touches than all Scepters more Thy lips approach'd where is the tast of pow'r Love is all tast relish and vital good Spirits it gives that o're life's channel brood And like Wine-sparks dance through the brimming blood Each smile of thine drives from my age a day One balmy kiss wou'd take a year away But oh the rest wou'd give me Youth again Like an old Snake wou'd cause me cast my skin Slacken my sinâ—es make me swiftly move As Mercury descending from above Boldly as Mars and lustily as Iove Glor. Is this the man of such renown in Wars First upon Earth and numbred with the Stars Wake from thy sleep of death dread Father wake Pompey arise the reins of Empire take Down let this driver from his Throne be hurl'd Or place me on the brow of the steep World That Nations driv'n
Night e're Day was made Is one substantial darkness solid shade Agr. Last night as at your feet I waking lay Viewing the Golden Taper's watchfull Ray I heard you deeds with horrour wrap'd unfold Sad Sacred things and never to be told I saw you arm'd from your toss'd Bed arise Awefull as Iove call'd by a Virgins cries Starts with his Thunder to the curtain'd Skies Honour you cry'd then stalk'd about the Room Thrice call'd Scribonia curse upon thy womb Cutting the Air you made three empty blows And then lay down seeking with groans repose Mec. Ev'n now strong sighs your Royal fabrick tear And with their violent course torment the Air Slow from your eyes conflicting sorrows pass And you in vain the struggling tears suppress Aug. O my lov'd Friends 't is a harsh truth but stay It will not out till Tears have smooth'd its way Take it in one worst word my actions stain The Canker of my Laurels Valour 's bane Of all great evil Iulia be the name Who from the womb of curst Scribonia came Blushing in War I got the wanton brood The scum of boiling Youth froth of my blood Agr. Some busie person with officious tongue Ovid goes out Has offer'd to th' Imperial Princess wrong Your choice Mancelluâ— dearly she approves And whom you have adopted highly loves But being boundless born and mark'd for sway Cannot by passion check'd nice rules obey Mec. Vainly her thoughts they guess by outward form She may be Calm within without a Storm Her hearâ— from common view remov'd lies deep As Mines of Gold in Nature's bosom sleep Aug. Rightly her vertue by a Mine you lay Where ev'ry lusty Slave may hew his way I know from those that wou'd not forge she is Loose vain a mocker of our Deities Now by yon' Heav'n she has my fury rais'd And he 's my Foe by whom she dares be prais'd A Mine of what she is all counterfeit I 've weigh'd her in the ballance found her light But from my heart the glitt'ring dross I 'le tear Like glass to dust I 'le pound the brittle fair Then blow her to her Element the Air. Enter Julia attended Iul. That Roof 's too low and all the Figures old I 'le have it new wrought up in fretted Gold Nor shall those Dorick Pillars long remain But the vast Cieling shall it self sustain Aug. Not Venus in the proudest Robes she wearsâ— With thousand Crowns and Trains of dragging Stars Thoughts so high flown e're knew nor e're cou'd stretch Expanded pride like this ambitious wretch Iul. Caesar to Iove may claim the second place But I with Iuno will have equal grace And when she dares match for the better face Henceforth I 'le have all first unmixt entire My Meats prepar'd with Elemental fire The Palace walks with common feet are worn Raise flying Gardens on vast Columns born So near to Heav'n that scorning Tiber's wave In Chrystal Buckets we the Clouds may lave To wash the pendant Soil so strange to view It shall Semiramis fam'd Groves outdoe Aug. Be Judges both and then my wrath forgive Just Livia But 't is past she shall not live Iul. Methinks already I am walking there Tread the fring'd Banks and breath the Vernal air And Purple clusters round my Temples shine And flowrie mantling Amarant divine And Sense grows wanton as the lusty Vine Now cloy'd methinks with the mellifluous Grove From Sunny Meads to cool recess I move With tall young men that make immortal love Aug. Since 't is well known how kind you are to Sense Why should you talk of a removal hence Heav'ns feasts too thin for your quaint Palate are We talk of Nectar but how comes it there scornfully Provoking Banquets rich Ambrosial Meat When Clouds they drink indeed and Air they eat Let not your fancy from its Sphere be driv'n You 'le never like the slender fare of Heav'n Iul. Mistake me not 't is for varietie That I Elysium's Argent Fields would see Think you that from your Throne I wou'd remove To be the gaudiest Starry Queen above 'T was not my purpose Sir to tarry there I 'd only go to Heav'n to take the air Aug. Come th ourt not fit to live Iul. Dread Father why Aug. Thou art all ill Iul. Then I 'm not fit to dye Death will the hopes of Vertue 's growth prevent But if you grant me life I may repent Aug. I here pronounce her Stranger to my blood Stay not revenge that must not be withstood Agrippa and Mecaenas hold him Did not Virginius his Daughter call To death and did she not the voice extoll She kiss'd his feet and blest him in her fall Brutus his Sons gave up to angry power And with stern visage said They are no more These were just Victims to the shrines of Fameâ— And got their Authors an Eternal name Agr. Great Princess kneel and his swoln rage attone Iul. To ask him pardon were a crime to own Aug. No in her obstinacy let her sink My curse pursue thee to th' Infernal brink To Hell to Hell I 'le drive thy spotted soul Where in Eternal tortures she shall roul Turn round and shreek with pain in livid fires And when for ease the weary wretch aspires To those bright Thrones which she did once blaspheme To a new Hell Heav'n shall the Fiend condemn From beds of Flames where thou didst lye and roar Whirlwinds shall bear thee hot all reeking o're And sweating drops of blood and round thee blow Then plunge thee in th' Abyss of Ice and Snow Iul. All that is Earth of me is in your hand But Sir my Spirit 's not at your command I have a Soul that when my body dies Shall mix with the immortal Deitiesâ— Nor can the awfull puff of Caesar's name Blow out this spark of the aetherial flame Spight of the clouds your fury's Tempest wears I 'le up and scorn your anger from the Stars Aug. She 's all o're woman Abstract of her kind And all the Sex is crouded in one mind Her very Thoughts Are woman in the bud though yet unblown But all her words are pregnant woman grown Iul. Why was I destin'd to be born above By Midwife Honour to the light convey'd Fame's Darling the bright Infant of high love Crown'd and in Empire's golden Cradle laid Rock'd by the hands of Empresses that yield Their Scepters form'd to Rattles for my hand Born to the wealth of the green floating Field And the rich dust of all the yellow Land And why did Fate so vast a Dowry give As renders me a Conâ—ort fit for Iove Unless she meant that I should loosly live And free from cares below as Gods above Aug. Quench quench y' immortal powers these homebred jarrs Though all the Earth revolt and wage fresh Warrs Raise from the dead Mark-Anthony again Once more let 's try our fortunes on the Main To Aegypt back let all her Spoils be brought And let 'em with fresh blood more wounds be bought Lean
ah wou'd it might her heart wou'd break But Caesar comes some other time I 'le take To tell my wrongs his life is now at stake Enter Augustus Captain Agrippa Mecaenas Guards Capt. Hither I follow'd 'em with cautious view Aug. Mecaenas let him have the Talents due Lo where the Ravisher undaunted stands As if encompass'd with a thousand Bands Bold as Briareus warring in Heav'ns Field When fifty flaming Swords his arms did weild And fifty Shields expos'd to thunder held O my Agrippa shou'd I view him long I shou'd forget forgive the mighty wrong In that Majestick glance and fiery ayre Methinks our awfull Father does appear Agr. Something less fierce his visage does renew Such beams from beauteous Cleopatra flew When sighing Kings to Aegypt's Court she drew Caes. Yes my renown'd extraction I declare I am by birth what you adopted are The King of Kings and the World 's lawfull Heir Aug. Such you were nam'd by Anthony indeed But the great Caesar otherwise decreed Caes. What he intended who but Heav'n can tell Scarce seated from th' Imperial Throne he fell He stood on Atlas shoulders unaffraid Some minutes and the trampled Globe survey'd Fill'd with vast business and with thoughts profound He had not leisure for a prospect round For e're to Aegypt's Queen he could be just That head which Stars encompass'd kiss'd the dust Aug. Yet to make void whatever you can say And dash your boldest hopes that fly at sway By his last Will which was to Romans shewn I was ordain'd to mount and fill his Throne To scourge the World and awe mankind alone Caes. I no Imperial Herald am to find The source of pow'r nor how its riv'lets winde Yet this I know your latter boast was vain Caesar had ne're adopted you to reign Had he known me who from the womb was past And first saw light when he beheld it last Aug. When conqu'ring Caesar Pompey did pursue And in his cause the Memphian Tyrant slew He bought your Mothers love with Aegypts Crown And with her at a Kingdomâ— price lay down But having surfeited with Beauties joys For Beauty much possess'd extremely cloys Scar'd with his shame he wak'd to Warrs alarms He left her pregnant and he rush'd to Arms. 'T was God-like and he imitated Iove Who with excessive thundring tir'd above Comes down for ease enjoys a Nymph and then Mounts dreadful and to thundring goes again Caes. Talkst thou of her basely that gave me birth The most illustrious Empress of the earth Whose smiles Kings did with adorations crave By Heav'n she wou'd have scorn'd thee for her Slaveâ— Name not thy humbler bloud nor let it be Compar'd to mine no more than I to thee Who am to thee nor will I me commend A God all o're and thou all o're a Fiend Aug. You speak Caesario with as little dread As if you were at some vast Armie's head Were it not that I rev'rence Caesar's blood Thus long you had not disrespectful stood Caes. O counterfeit O Crocodile of Pow'r Not woman e're dissembled thus before Thou reverence Caesar's blood Thou who didst never ought that 's gen'rous do Who never didst forgive a noble foe Me wouldst thou make believe thou canst be kind I know th' hypocrisie thy dev'lish mind Which holds thy Angel-colours high to shew But art all ruine blood and Hell below Aug. Who e're was thus provok'd and cou'd forbear Be witness all himself he will not spare Caes. No Tyrant no I will in publick dye And once at least expose thy cruelty The murders which thou hitherto hast done Were acted close their Authors rarely known But I will perish in the view of all And to my last gasp Tyrant Tyrant call Aug. Pardon me Father and just rage forgive I offer life which he cannot receive He 's so Heroick that he will not live 'T is his desire and for this one last hour I have decreed he shall be Emperour His Majestie 's resolv'd you heard him say Guards go and his Imperial will obey Caes. Let 'em come on 't is sport that I have try'd In hundred Battels thousand deaths defy'd draws And now in all their horrours can deride As the Guards prepare to fall on Marcellus draws Mar. Restrain your fury barb'rous men take heed By Caesar he that goes not back shall bleed Aug. What now Marcellus Darst thou Traytor draw Thy Sword against thy Father where 's the awe The Majesty this face was wont to bear Mar. 'T were Cowardice in such a cause to fear No Caesar either grant my Friend his life Or see me perish in the noble strife Aug. Do perish dye is 't possible that thou Shouldst call him Friend who is thy Father's Foe He who thy only Rival is in power Dost thou not know he wou'd thy life devour Who Serpent-like does to thy bosom spring And with warm foldings does about thee cling Watching his time when he may shew his sting Caes. This such a baseness is so black a guilt As all the Seas of bloud which thou hast spilt With all thy clouds of Lusts can't parallel Thou dost in falshood now thy self excel But shou'd Marcellus harbour such a thought I am to something worse than ruine brought Mar. Tax not â—y loyalty you are too just The firmness of my Friendship to mistrust I am all yours and you stand here as fair And fast as e're you stood in shining War As I have seen you in bright Steel sustain The shock of Troops that made assaults in vain Aug. Ungratefull wretch unworthy of a Throne By Heav'n I will adopt another Son Canst thou thy right to Kingdoms give away Thy self and him who rais'd thee thus betray Forget what sweating pains what bloudy toils We bore adorn'd our Arms with Nations spoils Yet with our utmost reach scarce grasp'd a Crown Glory than Empire is much easier won Empire's like Heav'n which who wou'd bravely win Must Giant-like with high assault begin Heap Hills on Mountains Project add to Plot Till huge foundation for the work be wrought And as he climbs at Stars that cross him frown And tear 'em fast as petty Princes down Thus through all opposition must he pass O're walls of Chrystal battlements of Brass Till Majesty cries out This This alone Is he who Heav'n becomes and fits a Throne Caes. Thou talkst of cruelty of bloud and toil Yet having hunted me into the toil My Lion rage with words far off you brave But come not nigh for fear you find a Grave Aug. Disarm Marcellus and Caesario slay Kill him hast kill him without more delay Julia and Narcissa interpose and kneel Iul. Hold Father Nar. Hold. Iul. Let me your wrath attone Nar O hear the Sister of your once lov'd Son Iul. Your daughter hear They come forward on their knees Nar. As you are great be good Iul. And hear the voice of your own crying blood Aug. Treason Conspiracy they have combin'd With knit disloyalty to break my mind To wast my spirits