fore-nam'd LENTVLVS Both which haue been degraded in the Senate And must haue their disgraces still new rub'd To make 'hem smart and labour of reuenge Others whom meere ambition fires and dole Of prouinces abroad which they haue fain'd To their crude hopes and I as amply promis'd These LECCA VARGVNTEIVS BESTIA AVTRONIVS Some whom their wants oppresse as thi'idle Captaynes Of SYLLA'S troops and diuers Roman Knights The profuse wasters of their patrimonies So threatned with their debts as they will now Runne any desperate fortune for a change These for a time we must relieue AVRELIA And make our house the safe-guard like for those That feare the law or stand within her gripe For any act past or to come Such will From their owne crimes be factious as from ours Some more there be flight ayrelings will be wonne With dogs and horses or perhaps a whore Which must be had and if they venter liues For vs AVRELIA we must hazard honors A little Get thee store and change of women As I haue boyes and giue 'hem time and place And all conniuence be thy selfe too courtly And entertayne and feast sit vp and reuell Call all the great the faire and spirited Dames Of Rome about thee and beginne a fashion Of freedome and community Some will thank thee Though the sowre Senate frowne whose heads must ake In feare and feeling too We must not spare Or cost or modestie It can but shew Like one of IVNO'S or of IOVE's disguises In either thee or mee and will as soone When things suceed be throwne by or let fall As is a vaile put off a visor chang'd Or the scene shifted in our theaters A noyse without Who 's that It is the voyce of LENTVLVS AVR. Or of CETHEGUS CAT. In my faire AVRELIA And thinke vpon these arts They must nost see How farre your are trusted with these priuacies Though on their shoulders necks and heads you rise LENTVLVS CETHEGVS CATILINE IT is me thinks a morning full of fate It riseth slowly as her sollen carre Had all the weights of sleepe and death hung at it Shee is not rosy-finger'd but swolne black Her face is like a water turn'd to bloud And her sick head is bound about with clouds As if shee threatned night ere noone of day It does not looke as it would haue a haile Or health wish'd in it as on other mornes CET. Why all the fitter LENTVLVS our comming Is not for salutation we haue businesse CAT. Said nobly braue CETHEGVS Where 's AVTRONIVS CET. Is he not come CAT. Not here CET. Nor VARGVNTEIVS CAT. Neither CET. A fire in their beds and bosomes That so will serue their sloth rather then vertue They are no Romanes and at such high need As now LEN. Both they LONGINVS LECCA CVRIVS FVLVIVS GABINIVS gaue me word last night By LVC'IVS BESTIA they would all be here And early CET. Yes As you had I not call'd you Come we all sleepe and are meere dormice flies A little lesse then dead more dulnesse hangs On vs then on the morne W' are spirit-bound In ribs of ice our whole blouds are one stone And honor cannot thaw vs nor our wants Though they burne hot a feuers to our states CAT. I muse they would be tardy at an houre Of so great purpose CET. If the gods had call'd Them to a purpose they would iust haue come With the same tortoyse speed that are thus slow To such an action which the gods will enuy As asking no lesse meanes then all their powers Conioyn'd t' effect I would haue seene Rome burn't By this time and her ashes in an vrne The kingdome of the Senate rent a-sunder And the degenerate talking gowne runne frighted Out of the aire of Italie CAT. Spirit of men Thou heart of our great enterprise how much I loue these voices in thee CET. O the dayes Of SYLLA'S sway when the free sword tooke leaue To act all that it would CAT. And was familiar With entrailes as our Augures CET. Sonnes kild fathers Brothers their brothers CAT. And had price and praise All hate had licence giuen it all rage raines CET. Slaughter bestrid the streets and stretch'd himselfe To seeme more huge whilst to his stayned thighes The gore he drew flow'd vp and carryed downe Whole heaps of limmes and bodies through his arch No age was spar'd no sexe CAT. Nay no degree CET. Not infants in the porch of life were free The sick the old that could but hope a day Longer by natures bountie not let stay Virgins and widdowes matrons pregnant wiues All dyed CAT. 'T was crime enough that they had liues To strike but onely those that could doe hurt Was dull and poore Some fell to make the number As some the prey CET. The rugged CHARON fainted And ask'd a nauy rather then a boate To ferry ouer the sad world that came The mawes and dens of beasts could not receiue The bodies that those soules were frighted from And e'en the graues were fild with men yet liuing Whose flight and feare had mix'd them with the dead CAT. And this shall be againe and more and more Now LENTVLVS the third CORNELIVS Is to stand vp in Rome LEN. Nay vrge not that Is so vncertaine CAT. How LEN. I meane not clear'd And therefore not to be reflected on CAT. The SYBILL'S leaues vncertayne or the comments Of our graue deepe diuining men not cleare LEN. All prophecies you know suffer the torture CAT. But this already hath confess'd without And so beene weigh'd examin'd and compar'd As 't were malicious ignorance in him Would faint in the beliefe LEN. Doe you beleeue it CAT. Doe I loue LENTVLVS or pray to see it LEN. The Augures all are constant I am meant CAT. They 'had lost their science else LEN. They count from CINNA CAT. And SYLLA next and so make you the third All that can say the sunne is ris'n must thinke it LEN. Men marke me more of late as I come forth CAT. Why what can they doe lesse CINNA and SYLLA Are set and gone and we must turne our eyes On him that is and shines Noble CETHEGVS But view him with me here He lookes already As if he shooke a scepter o're the Senate And the aw'd purple dropt their rods and axes The statues melt againe and houshold gods In grones confesse the trauaile of the citie The very walls sweat bloud before the change And stones start out to ruine ere it comes CET. But he and we and all are idle still LEN. I am your creature SERGIVS And what ere The great CORNELIAN name shall winne to be It is not Augury nor the SYBILS bookes But CATILINE that makes it CAT. I am shaddow to honor'd LENTVLVS and CETHEGVS here Who are the heires of MARS CET. By Mars himselfe CATILINE is more my parent for whose vertue Earth cannot make a shaddow great inough Though enuy should come too O there they' are Now we shall talke more though we yet doe nothing AVTRONIVS
you mine vncle here is a man of a thousand a yeare Middlesex land hee has but one sonne in all the world I am his next heire at the common law master STEPHEN as simple as I stand here if my cossen die as there 's hope he will I haue a prettie liuing o' mine owne too beside hard-by here SERV. In good time sir STEP. In good time sir why and in a very good time sir You doe not stout friend doe you SERV. Not I sir STEP. Not you sir you were not best sir an' you should here bee them can perceiue it and that quickly to goe to And they can giue it againe soundly to and neede be SERV. Why sir let this satisfie you good faith I had no such intent STEP. Sir an' I thought you had I would talke with you and that presently SERV. Good master STEPHEN so you may sir at your pleasure STEP. And so I would sir good my fancie companion an' you were out o' mine vncles ground I can tell you though I doe not stand vpon my gentilitie neither in 't KNO. Cossen cossen will this nere be left STEP. Whorson base fellow a mechanicall seruing-man By this cudgell and 't were not for shame I would KNO. What would you doe you peremptorie gull If you cannot be quiet get you hence You see the honest man demeanes himselfe Modestly to'ards you giuing no replie To your vnseason'd quarrelling rude fashion And still you huffe it with a kind of cariage As voide of wit as of humanitie Goe get you in fore heauen I am asham'd Thou hast a kinsmans interest in me SERV. I pray you sir Is this master KNO'WELL'S house KNO. Yes marie is it sir SERV. I should enquire for a gentleman here one master EDWARD KNO'WELL doe you know any such sir I pray you KNO. I should forget my selfe else sir SERV. Are you the gentleman crie you mercie sir I was requir'd by a gentleman i' the citie as I rode out at this end o' the towne to deliuer you this letter sir KNO. To me sir What doe you meane pray you remember your court'sie To his most selected friend master EDWARD KNO'WELL What might the gentlemans name be sir that sent it nay pray you be couer'd SERV. One master WELL-BRED sir KNO. Master WELL-BRED A yong gentleman is he not SERV. The same sir master KITELY married his sister the rich merchant i' the old Iewrie KNO. You say very true BRAINE-WORME BRAY. Sir KNO. Make this honest friend drinke here pray you goe in This letter is directed to my sonne Yet I am EDWARD KNO'WELL too and may With the safe conscience of good manners vse The fellowes error to my satisfaction Well I will breake it ope old men are curious Be it but for the stiles sake and the phrase To see if both doe answere my sonnes praises Who is almost growne the idolater Of this yong WELL-BRED what haue we here what 's this Why The letter NED I beseech thee hast thou for-sworne all thy friends i' the old Iewrie or dost thou thinke vs all Iewes that inhabit there yet If thou dost come ouer and but see our fripperie change an olde shirt for a whole smocke with vs Doe not conceiue that antipathy betweene vs and Hogs-den as was betweene Iewes and hogs-flesh Leaue thy vigilant father alone to number ouer his greene apricots euening and morning o' the north-west wall An' I had beene his sonne I had sau'd him the labor long since if taking in all the yong wenches that passe by at the back-dore and codd'ling euery kernell of the fruit for 'hem would ha' seru'd But pr'y thee come ouer to me quickly this morning I haue such a present for thee our Turkie companie neuer sent the like to the Grand-SIGNIOR One is a Rimer sir o' your owne batch your owne leuin but doth think himselfe Poet-maior o' the towne willing to be showne and worthy to be seene The other I will not venter his description with you till you come because I would ha' you make hether with an appetite If the worst of 'hem be not worth your iorney draw your bill of charges as vnconscionable as any Guild-hall verdict will giue it you and you shall be allow'd your viaticum From the wind-mill From the Burdello it might come as well The Spittle or Pict-hatch Is this the man My sonne hath sung so for the happiest wit The choysest braine the times hath sent vs forth I know not what he may be in the arts Nor what in schooles but surely for his manners I iudge him a prophane and dissolute wretch Worse by possession of such great good guifts Being the master of so loose a spirit Why what vnhallow'd ruffian would haue writ In such a scurrilous manner to a friend Why should he thinke I tell my Apri-cotes Or play th' Hesperian Dragon with my fruit To watch it Well my sonne I 'had thought Y' had had more iudgement t' haue made election Of your companions t' haue tane on trust Such petulant geering gamsters that can spare No argument or subiect from their iest But I perceiue affection makes a foole Of any man too much the father BRAYNE-WORME BRAY. Sir KNO. Is the fellow gone that brought this letter BRA. Yes sir a pretie while since KNO. And where 's your yong master BRA. In his chamber sir KNO. He spake not with the fellow did he BRA. No sir he saw him not KNO. Take you this letter and deliuer it my sonne But with no notice that I haue open'd it on your life BRA. O lord sir that were a iest indeed KNO. I am resolu'd I will not stop his iourney Nor practise any violent meane to stay The vnbridled course of youth in him for that Restrain'd growes more impatient and in-kind Like to the eager but the generous grey-hound Who ne're so little from his game with-held Turnes head and leapes vp at his holders throat There is a way of winning more by loue And vrging of the modestie then feare Force workes on seruile natures not the free He that 's compell'd to goodnesse may be good But 't is but for that fit where others drawne By softnesse and example get a habit Then if they stray but warne 'hem and the same They should for vertu' haue done they 'll doe for shame Act I. Scene II. EDW. KNO'WELL BRAYNE-WORME Mr. STEPHEN DId he open it sayest thou BRAY. Yes o' my word sir and read the contents E. KN. That scarse contents me What countenance pr'y thee made he i' the reading of it was he angrie or pleas'd BRAY. Nay sir I saw him not reade it nor open it I assure your worship E. KN. No how know'st thou then that he did either BRAY. Marie sir because he charg'd me on my life to tell nobodie that he open'd it which vnlesse hee had done hee would neuer feare to haue it reueal'd E. KN. That 's true well I thanke thee BLAYNE-WORME STEP. O BRAYNE-WORME did'st thou not see a fellow
play then has beene seene yet I would the prize lay on 't MER. It shall if you will I forgiue my right ANA. Are you so confident what 's your weapon CRI. At any I sir MER. The perfect Close That 's now the best ANA. Content I 'le pay your scholaritie Who offers CRI. Mary that will I I dare giue you that aduantage too ANA. You dare Well looke to your liberall skonce AMO. Make your play still vpon the answere sir ANA. Hold your peace you are a hobby-horse ASO. Sit by me Master MER. Now CRITES strike home CRI. You shall see me vndoe the assur'd swaggerer with a tricke instantly I will play all his owne play before him court the wench in his garbe in his phrase with his face leaue him not so much as a looke an eye a stalke or an imperfect oth to expresse himselfe by after me MER. Excellent CRITES ANA. When begin you A charge sir Haue you consulted CRI. To your cost sir which is the Peece stands forth to bee courted O are you shee Well Madame or sweet lady it is so I doe loue you in some sort doe you conceiue and though I am no Monsieur nor no Signior and do want as they say logicke and sophistrie and good words to tell you why it is so yet by this hand and by that candle it is so And though I bee no booke-worme nor one that deales by arte to giue you rhetorike and causes why it should be so or make it good it is so yet dam me but I know it is so and am assur'd it is so and I and my sword shall make it appeare it is so and giue you reason sufficient how it can be no otherwise but so HED. S'light ANAIDES you are mockt and so we are all MER. How now Signior What suffer your selfe to bee cossen'd of your courtship before your face HED. This is plaine confederacy to disgrace vs Let 's bee gone and plot some reuenge AMO. When men disgraces share The lesser is the care CRI. Nay stay my deare Ambition I can doe you ouer too You that tell your Mistris Her beautie is all composde of theft Her haire stole from APOLLO's goldy-locks Her white and red lillies and roses stolne out of paradise Her eyes two starres pluckt from the skie Her nose the gnomon of Loues diall that tells you how the clocke of your heart goes And for her other parts as you cannot reckon 'hem they are so many so you cannot recount them they are so manifest Yours if his owne vnfortunate HOYDEN A flourish in stead of HEDON ASO. Sister come away I cannot endure 'hem longer MER. Goe Dors and you my Madame Courting-stocks Follow your scorned and derided mates Tell to your guiltie brests what meere guilt blocks You are and how vnworthy humane states CRI. Now sacred god of wit if you can make Those whom our sports taxe in these apish graces Kisse like the fighting snakes your peacefull rod These times shall canonize you for a god MER. Why CRITES thinke you any noble spirit Or any worth the title of a man Will be incenst to see th' inchaunted vailes Of selfe-conceit and seruile flatterie Wrapt in so many folds by time and custome Drawne from his wronged and bewitched eyes Who sees not now their shape and nakednesse Is blinder then the sonne of earth the mole Crown'd with no more humanitie nor soule CRI. Though they may see it yet the huge estate Phansie and forme and sensuall pride haue gotten Will make them blush for anger not for shame And turne shewne nakednesse to impudence Humour is now the test we trie things in All power is iust Nought that delights is sinne And yet the zeale of euery knowing man Opprest with hills of tyrannie cast on vertue By the light phant'sies of fooles thus transported Cannot but vent the Aetna of his fires T' enflame best bosomes with much worthier loue Then of these outward and effeminate shades That these vaine ioyes in which their wills consume Such powers of wit and soule as are of force To raise their beings to aeternitie May be conuerted on workes fitting men And for the practice of a forced looke An antique gesture or a fustian phrase Studie the natiue frame of a true heart An inward comelinesse of bountie knowledge And spirit that may conforme them actually To Gods high figures which they haue in power Which to neglect for a selfe-louing neatnesse Is sacrilege of an vnpardon'd greatnesse MER. Then let the truth of these things strengthen thee In thy exempt and only man-like course Like it the more the lesse it is respected Though men faile vertue is by gods protected See here comes ARETE I 'le with-draw my selfe Act V. Scene V. ARETE CRITES CRITES you must prouide strait for a masque 'T is CYNTHIAS pleasure CRI. How bright ARETE Why 't were a labour more for HERCVLES Better and sooner durst I vnder-take To make the different seasons of the yeere The windes or elements to sympathize Then their vnmeasurable vanitie Dance truely in a measure They agree What though all concord 's borne of contraries So many follies will confusion proue And like a sort of jarring instruments All out of time because indeede we see There is not that analogie twixt discords As betweene things but meerely opposite ARE. There is your error For as HERMES wand Charmes the disorders of tumultuous ghosts And as the strife of Chaos then did cease When better light then Natures did arriue So what could neuer in it selfe agree Forgetteth the eccentrike propertie And at her sight turnes forth-with regular Whose scepter guides the flowing Ocean And though it did not yet the most of them Being either courtiers or not wholy rude Respect of maiestie the place and presence Will keepe them within ring especially When they are not presented as themselues But masqu'd like others For in troth not so T' incorporate them could be nothing else Then like a state vngouern'd without lawes Or body made of nothing but diseases The one through impotency poore and wretched The other for the anarchie absurd CRI. But ladie for the reuellers themselues It would be better in my poore conceit That others were imploid for such as are Vnfit to be in CYNTHIAES court can seeme No lesse vnfit to be in CYNTHIAES sports ARE. That CRITES is not purposed without Particular knowledge of the Goddesse mind Who holding true intelligence what follies Had crept into her palace shee resolu'd Of sports and triumphs vnder that pretext To haue them muster in their pompe and fulnesse That so shee might more strictly and to roote Effect the reformation shee intends CRI. I now conceiue her heauenly drift in all And will apply my spirits to serue her will O thou the very power by which I am And but for which it were in vaine to be Chiefe next DIANA virgin heauenly faire Admired ARETE of them admir'd Whose soules are not enkindled by the sense Disdaine not my chaste fire
That soule immortall and the same 't is now Death cannot raze th' affects shee now retayneth And then may shee be any where shee will The soules of parents rule not childrens soules When death sets both in their dissolu'd estates Then is no child nor father then eternitie Frees all from any temporall respect I come my OVID take me in thine armes And let me breathe my soule into thy brest OVID O stay my loue the hopes thou do'st conceiue Of thy quicke death and of thy future life Are not autenticall Thou choosest death So thou might'st ioy thy loue in th' other life But know my princely loue when thou art dead Thou onely must suruiue in perfect soule And in the soule are no affections We powre out our affections with our bloud And with our blouds affections fade our loues No life hath loue in such sweet state as this No essence is so deare to moodie sense As flesh and bloud whose quintessence is sense Beautie compos'd of bloud and flesh moues more And is more plausible to bloud and flesh Then spirituall beautie can be to the spirit Such apprehension as we haue in dreames When sleepe the bond of senses locks them vp Such shall we haue when death destroies them quite If loue be then thy obiect change not life Liue high and happy still I still below Close with my fortunes in thy height shall ioy IVLI. Ay me that vertue whose braue eagles wings With euery stroke blow starres in burning heauen Should like a swallow preying toward stormes Fly close to earth and with an eager plume Pursue those obiects which none else can see But seeme to all the world the emptie aire Thus thou poore OVID and all vertuous men Must prey like swallowes on inuisible foode Pursuing flies or nothing and thus loue And euery worldly phansie is transpos'd By worldly tyrannie to what plight it list O father since thou gau'st me not my mind Striue not to rule it Take but what thou gau'st To thy disposure Thy affections Rule not in me I must beare all my griefes Let me vse all my pleasures vertuous loue Was neuer scandall to a Goddesse state But hee 's inflexible and my deare loue Thy life may chance be shortned by the length Of my vnwilling speeches to depart Farewell sweet life though thou be yet exil'd Th' officious court enioy me amply still My soule in this my breath enters thine eares And on this turrets floore will I lie dead Till we may meet againe In this proud height I kneele beneath thee in my prostrate loue And kisse the happy sands that kisse thy feet Great IOVE submits a scepter to a cell And louers ere they part will meet in hell OVID Farewell all companie and if I could All light with thee hells shade should hide my browes Till thy deare beauties beames redeem'd my vowes IVLI. OVID Shee calls him backe my loue alas may we not stay A little longer think'st thou vndiscern'd OVID For thine owne good faire Goddesse doe not stay Who would ingage a firmament of fires Shining in thee for me a falling starre Be gone sweet life-bloud if I should discerne Thy selfe but toucht for my sake I should die IVLI. I will be gone then and not heauen it selfe Shall draw me backe He calls her backe OVID Yet IVLIA if thou wilt A little longer stay IVLI. I am content OVID O mightie OVID what the sway of heauen Could not retire my breath hath turned back IVLI. Who shall goe first my loue my passionate eyes Will not endure to see thee turne from mee OVID If thou goe first my soule will follow thee IVLI. Then we must stay OVID Ay me there is no stay In amorous pleasures if both stay both die I heare thy father hence my deitie Feare forgeth sounds in my deluded eares I did not heare him I am mad with loue There is no spirit vnder heauen that workes With such illusion yet such witchcraft kill mee Ere a sound mind without it saue my life Here on my knees I worship the blest place That held my goddesse and the louing aire That clos'd her body in his silken armes Vaine OVID kneele not to the place nor aire Shee 's in thy heart rise then and worship there The truest wisdome silly men can haue Is dotage on the follies of their flesh Act V. Scene I. CAESAR MECOENAS GALLVS TIBVLLVS HORACE EQVITES RO. WE that haue conquer'd still to saue the conquer'd And lou'd to make inflictions feard not felt Grieu'd to reproue and ioyfull to reward More proud of reconcilement then reuenge Resume into the late state of our loue Worthy CORNELIVS GALLVS and TIBVLLVS You both are gentlemen you CORNELIVS A souldier of renowne and the first prouost That euer let our Roman eagles flie On swarthy Aegypt quarried with her spoiles Yet not to beare cold formes nor mens out-termes Without the inward fires and liues of men You both haue vertues shining through your shapes To shew your titles are not writ on posts Or hollow statues which the best men are Without Promethean stuffings reacht from heauen Sweet poesies sacred garlands crowne your gentrie Which is of all the faculties on earth The most abstract and perfect if shee bee True borne and nurst with all the sciences Shee can so mould Rome and her monuments Within the liquid marble of her lines That they shall stand fresh and miraculous Euen when they mixe with innouating dust In her sweet streames shall our braue Roman spirits Chace and swim after death with their choise deeds Shining on their white shoulders and therein Shall Tyber and our famous riuers fall With such attraction that th' ambitious line Of the round world shall to her center shrinke To heare their musicke And for these high parts CAESAR shall reuerence the Pierian artes MECoe. Your Maiesties high grace to poesie Shall stand 'gainst all the dull detractions Of leaden soules who for the vaine assumings Of some quite worthlesse of her soueraigne wreaths Containe her worthiest prophets in contempt GALL. Happy is Rome of all earths other states To haue so true and great a president For her inferiour spirits to imitate As CAESAR is who addeth to the sunne Influence and lustre in encreasing thus His inspirations kindling fire in vs HORA. PHOEBVS himselfe shall kneele at CAESARS shrine And deck it with bay-garlands dew'd with wine To quite the worship CAESAR does to him Where other Princes hoisted to their thrones By fortunes passionate and disordered power Sit in their height like clouds before the sunne Hindring his comforts and by their excesse Of cold in vertue and crosse heate in vice Thunder and tempest on those learned heads Whom CAESAR with such honour doth aduance TIBV. All humane businesse fortune doth command Without all order and with her blinde hand Shee blinde bestowes blinde gifts that still haue nurst They see not who nor how but still the worst CAES. CAESAR for his rule and for so much stuffe As fortune puts
EVDEMVS But let DRVSVS drug Be first prepar'd EVD. Were LYGDVS made that 's done I haue it readie And to morrow-morning I 'le send you a perfume first to resolue And procure sweat and then prepare a bath To clense and cleere the cutis against when I 'le haue an excellent new fucus made Resistiue 'gainst the sunne the raine or wind Which you shall lay on with a breath or oyle As you best like and last some fourteene houres This change came timely lady for your health And the restoring your complexion Which DRVSVS choller had almost burnt vp Wherein your fortune hath prescrib'd you better Then arte could doe LIV. Thankes good physitian I 'le vse my fortune you shall see with reuerence Is my coach ready EVD. It attends your highnesse SEIANVS IF this be not reuenge when I haue done And made it perfect let Aegyptian slaues Parthians and bare-foot Hebrewes brand my face And print my body full of iniuries Thou lost thy selfe childe DRVSVS when thou thought'st Thou could'st out-skip my vengeance or out-stand The power I had to crush thee into ayre Thy follyes now shall taste what kinde of man They haue prouok'd and this thy fathers house Cracke in the flame of my incensed rage Whose fury shall admit no shame or meane Adultery it is the lightest ill I will commit A race of wicked acts Shall flow out of my anger and o're-spread The worlds wide face which no posterity Shall e're approoue nor yet keepe silent Things That for their cunning close and cruell marke Thy father would wish his and shall perhaps Carry the empty name but we the prize On then my soule and start not in thy course Though heau'n drop sulphure and hell belch out fire Laugh at the idle terrors Tell proud IOVE Betweene his power and thine there is no oddes 'T was onely feare first in the world made gods TIBERIVS SEIANVS IS yet SEIANVS come SEI. He 's here dread CAESAR TIB. Let all depart that chamber and the next Sit downe my comfort When the master-prince Of all the world SEIANVS saith he feares Is it not fatall SEI. Yes to those are fear'd TIB. And not to him SEI. Not if he wisely turne That part of fate he holdeth first on them TIB. That nature bloud and lawes of kinde forbid SEI. Doe policie and state forbid it TIB. No SEI. The rest of poore respects then let goe by State is inough to make th' act iust them guilty TIB. Long hate pursues such acts SEI. Whom hatred frights Let him not dreame on sou'raignty TIB. Are rites Of faith loue piety to be trod downe Forgotten and made vaine SEI. All for a crowne The prince who shames a tyrannes name to beare Shall neuer dare doe any thing but feare All the command of scepters quite doth perish If it beginne religious thoughts to cherish Whole Empires fall swaid by those nice respects It is the licence of darke deeds protects Eu'n states most hated when no lawes resist The sword but that it acteth what it list TIB. Yet so we may doe all things cruelly Not safely SEI. Yes and doe them thoroughly TIB. Knowes yet SEIANVS whom we point at SEI. I Or else my thought my sense or both doe erre 'T is AGRIPPINA TIB. She and her proud race SEI. Proud dangerous CAESAR For in them apace The fathers spirit shoots vp GERMANICVS Liues in their lookes their gate their forme t' vpbraide vs With his close death if not reuenge the same TIB. The act 's not knowne SEI. Not prou'd But whispring fame Knowledge and proofe doth to the iealous giue Who then to faile would their owne thought beleeue It is not safe the children draw long breath That are prouoked by a parents death TIB. It is a dangerous to make them hence If nothing but their birth be their offence SEI. Stay till they strike at CAESAR then their crime Will be enough but late and out of time For him to punish TIB. Doe they purpose it SEI. You know sir thunder speakes not till it hit Be not secure none swiftlier are opprest Then they whom confidence betrayes to rest Let not your daring make your danger such All power 's to be fear'd where 't is too much The youth's are of themselues hote violent Full of great thought and that male-spirited dame Their mother slackes no meanes to put them on By large allowance popular presentings Increase of traine and state suing for titles Hath them commended with like praiers like vowes To the same Gods with CAESAR daies and nights Shee spends in banquets and ambitious feasts For the Nobilitie where CAIVS SILIVS TITIVS SABINVS olde ARRVNTIVS ASINIVS GALLVS FVRNIVS REGVLVS And others of that discontented list Are the prime guests There and to these she tels Whose niece she was whose daughter and whose wife And then must they compare her with AVGVSTA I and preferre her too commend her forme Extoll her fruitfulnesse at which a showre Fals for the memorie of GERMANICVS Which they blow ouer straight with windie praise And puffing hopes of her aspiring sonnes Who with these hourely ticklings grow so pleas'd And wantonly conceited of themselues As now they sticke not to beleeue they 're such As these doe giue 'hem out and would be thought More then competitors immediate heires Whilest to their thirst of rule they winne the rout That 's still the friend of noueltie with hope Of future freedome which on euerie change That greedily though emptily expects CAESAR 't is age in all things breeds neglects And princes that will keepe olde dignitie Must not admit too youthfull heires stand by Not their owne issue but so darkely set As shadowes are in picture to giue height And lustre to themselues TIB. We will command Their ranke thoughts downe and with a stricter hand Then we haue yet put forth their traines must bate Their titles feasts and factions SEI. Or your state But how sir will you worke TIB. Confine 'hem SEI. No They are too great and that too faint a blow To giue them now it would haue seru'd at first When with the weakest touch their knot had burst But now your care must be not to detect The smallest cord or line of your suspect For such who know the weight of princes feare Will when they find themselues discouer'd reare Their forces like seene snakes that else would lye Rould in their circles close Nought is more high Daring or desperate then offenders found Where guilt is rage and courage doth abound The course must be to let 'hem still swell vp Riot and surfet on blind fortunes cup Giue 'hem more place more dignities more stile Call 'hem to court to senate in the while Take from their strength some one or twaine or more Of the maine Fautors It will fright the store And by some by-occasion Thus with slight You shall disarme first and they in night Of their ambition not perceiue the traine Till in the ingine they are caught and slaine TIB. We would not
my thought And that I might but take 'hem in that light Where when you met their treason with your eyes Your minds at length would thinke for your owne safetie And now 't is done There are their hands and seales Their persons too are safe thankes to the gods Bring in VOLTVRTIVS and the' ALLOBROGES These be the men were trusted with their letters VOL. Fathers beleeue me I knew nothing I Was trauailing for Gallia and am sorry CIC. Quake not VOLTVRTIVS speake the truth and hope Well of this Senate on the Consuls word VOL. Then I knew all But truely I was drawne in But t'other day CAES. Say what thou know'st and feare not Thou hast the Senate faith and Consuls word To fortifie thee He answeres with feare and interruptions VOL. I was sent with letters And had a message too from LENTVLVS To CATILINE that he should vse all aides Seruants or others and come with his armie Assoone vnto the citie as he could For they were readie and but staid for him To intercept those that should flee the fire These men the ALLOBROGES did heare it too ALL. Yes Fathers and they tooke an oath to vs Besides their letters that we should be free And vrg'd vs for some present aide of horse CIC. Nay The weapons and armes are brought forth here be other testimonies Fathers CETHEGVS armourie CRA. What not all these CIC. Here 's not the hundred part Call in the Fencer That we may know the armes to all these weapons Come my braue sword-player to what actiue vse Was all this steele prouided CET. Had you ask'd In SYLLA's dayes it had beene to cut throats But now it was to looke on only I lou'd To see good blades and feele their edge and points To put a helme vpon a blocke and cleaue it And now and then to stab an armour through CIC. Know you that paper That will stab you through Is it your hand Hold saue the pieces Traytor Hath thy guilt wak'd thy furie CET. I did write I know not what nor care not That foole LENTVLVS Did dictate and I t'other foole did signe it CIC. Bring in STATILIVS Do's he know his hand too And LENTVLVS Reach him that letter STA. I Confesse it all CIC. Know you that seale yet PVBLIVS LEN. Yes it is mine CIC. Whose image is that on it LEN. My grand-fathers CIC. What that renowm'd good man That did so only embrace his countrey and lou'd His fellow citizens Was not his picture Though mute of power to call thee from a fact So foule LEN. As what impetuous CICERO CIC. As thou art for I doe not know what 's fouler Looke vpon these Doe not these faces argue Thy guilt and impudence LEN. What are these to me I know 'hem not ALL. No PVBLIVS we were with you At BRVTVS house VOL. Last night LEN. What did you there Who sent for you ALL. Your selfe did We had letters From you CETHEOVS this STATILIVS here GABINIVS CIMBER all but from LONGINVS Who would not write because he was to come Shortly in person after vs he said To take the charge o' the horse which we should leuy CIC. And he is fled to CATILINE I heare LEN. Spies spies ALL. You told vs too o' the SIBYLLS bookes And how you were to be a king this yeere The twentieth from the burning of the Capitoll That three CORNELII were to raigne in Rome Of which you were the last and prais'd CETHEGVS And the great spirits were with you in the action CET. These are your honorable Ambassadors My soueraigne lord CAT. Peace that too bold CETHEGVS ALL. Besides GABINIVS your agent nam'd AVTRONIVS SERVIVS SVLLA VARGVNTEIVS And diuers others VOL. I had letters from you To CATILINE and a message which I'haue told Vnto the Senate truely word for word For which I hope they will be gracious to me I was drawne in by that same wicked CIMBER And thought no hurt at all CIC. VOLTVRTIVS peace Where is thy visor or thy voyce now LENTVLVS Art thou confounded Wherefore speak'st thou not Is all so cleere so plaine so manifest That both thy eloquence and impudence And thy ill nature too haue left thee at once Take him aside There 's yet one more GABINIVS The enginer of all Shew him that paper If he doe know it GAB. I know nothing CIC. No GAB. No Neyther will I know CAT. Impudent head Sticke it into his throate were I the Consul I l'd make thee eate the mischiefe thou hast vented GAB. Is there a law for 't CATO CAT. Do'st thou aske After a law that would'st haue broke all lawes Of nature manhood conscience and religion GAB. Yes I may aske for 't CAT. No pernicious CIMBER Th' inquiring after good do's not belong Vnto a wicked person GAB. I but CATO Do's nothing but by law CRA. Take him aside There 's proofe enough though he confesse not GAB. Stay I will confesse All 's true your spies haue told you Make much of 'hem CET. Yes and reward 'hem well For feare you get no more such See they doe not Die in a ditch and stinke now you ha' done with 'hem Or beg o' the bridges here in Rome whose arches Their actiue industrie hath sau'd CIC. See Fathers What mindes and spirits these are that being conuicted Of such a treason and by such a cloud Of witnesses dare yet retayne their boldnesse What would their rage haue done if they had conquer'd I thought when I had thrust out CATILINE Neither the state nor I should need t' haue fear'd LENTVLVS sleepe here or LONGINVS fat Or this CETHEGVS rashnesse it was he I onely watch'd while he was in our walls As one that had the braine the hand the heart But now we find the contrary Where was there A people grieu'd or a state discontent Able to make or helpe a warre 'gainst Rome But these th' ALLOBROGES and those they found Whom had not the iust gods beene pleas'd to make More friends vnto our safety then their owne As it then seem'd neglecting these mens offers Where had we beene or where the common-wealth When their great Chiefe had beene call'd home this man Their absolute king whose noble grand-father Arm'd in pursuit of the seditious GRACCHVS Tooke a braue wound for deare defence of that Which he would spoile had gather'd all his aides Of ruffians slaues and other slaughter-men Giuen vs vp for murder to CETHEGVS The' other ranke of citizens to GABINIVS The citie to be fir'd by CASSIVS And Italie nay the world to be laid wast By cursed CATILINE and his complices Lay but the thought of it before you Fathers Thinke but with me you saw this glorious citie The light of all the earth tower of all nations Sodainely falling in one flame Imagine You view'd your countrey buried with the heapes Of slaughter'd citizens that had no graue This LENTVLVS here raigning as he dreamp't And those his purple Senate CATILINE come With his fierce armie and the cryes of matrons The flight of children