man I grant but not a Prince To bee a perfit horseman or to know The words of the chace or a faire man of armes Or to bee able to pierce to the depth Or write a comment on th' obscurest Poets I grant are ornaments but your maine scope Should bee to gouerne men to guarde your owne If not enlarge your empire Chrys. You are built vp By the curious hand of nature to reuiue The memorie of Alexander or by A prosperous successe in your braue actions To riuall Caesar Timant. Rouze your selfe and let not Your pleasure bee a copye of her will Philan. Your pupill age is pass'd and manly actions Are now expected from you Grat. Doe not loose Your subiects heartes Timant. What is 't to haue the meanes To bee magnificent and not exercise The boundlesse vertue Grat. You confine your selfe To that which strict Philosophie allowes of As if you were a priuate man Tim. No pompe Or glorious showes of royaltie rendring it Both lou'd and terrible Grat. 'Slight you liue as it Begets some doubt whether you haue or not Th' abilities of a man Chrys. The Firmament Hath not more starres then there are seuerall beauties Ambitious at the height to impart their deare And sweetest fauours to you Grat. Yet you haue not Made choice of one of all the sex to serue you In a Physicall way of courtshippe Theod. But that I would not Beginne the expression of my being a man In blood or staine the first white robe I weare Of absolute power with a servile imitation Of any tyrannous habit my iust anger Prompts mee to make you in your suffrings feele And not in words to instruct you that the licence Of the loose and saucie language you now practised Hath forfeited your heades Grat How 's this Phil. I know not What the play may proue but I assure you that I doe not like the prologue Theod. O the miserable Condition of a Prince who though hee varie More shapes then Proteus in his minde and manners Hee cannot winne an vniuersall suffrage From the many-headed monster Multitude Like AEsops folish Frogges they trample on him As a senselesse blocke if his gouernement bee easie And if hee proue a Storke they croke and rayle Against him as a tyranne I le put off That maiestie of which you thinke I haue Nor vse nor feeling and in arguing with you Conuince you with strong proofes of common reason And not with absolute power against which wretches You are not to dispute Dare you that are My creatures by my prodigall fauours fashion'd Presuming on the neerenesse of your seruice Set off with my familiar acceptance Condemne my obsequiousnesse to the wise directions Of an incomparable Sister whom all parts Of our world that are made happy in knowledge Of her perfections with wonder gaze on And yet you that were only borne to eate The blessings of our mother earth that are Distant but one degree from beasts since slaues Can claime no larger priuiledge that know No farther then your sensuall appetites Or wanton lust haue taught you vndertake To giue your soueraigne lawes to follow that Your ignorance markes out to him Walkes by Gratian. How were wee Abus'd in our opinion of his temper Phil. Wee had forgot 't is found in holy writ That Kings hearts are inscrutable Timantus I ne're reade it My studie lies not that way Philan. By his lookes The tempest still increases Theod. Am I growne So stupid in your iudgments that you dare With such security offer violence To sacred maiestie will you not know The Lyon is a Lyon though he show not His rending pawes or fill th' affrighted ayre With the thunder of his rorings you bless'd Saints How am I trenched on is that temperance So famous in your cited Alexander Or Roman Scipio a crime in mee Cannot I bee an Emperour vnlesse Your wiues and daughters bow to my proud lusts And cause I rauish not their fairest buildings And fruitfull vineyards or what is dearest From such as are my vassalls must you conclude I doe not know the awfull power and strength Of my prerogatiue am I close handed Because I scatter not among you that I must not call mine owne Know you court leeches A Prince is neuer so magnificent As when hee 's sparing to inrich a few With th' iniuries of many could your hopes So grossely flatter you as to beleeue I was born and traind vp as an Emperour only In my indulgence to giue sanctuarie In their vniust proceedings to the rapine And auarice of my groomes Philar. In the true mirror Of your perfections at length wee see Our owne deformities Timant. And not once dating To look vpon that maiestie wee now sleighted Chrys. With our faces thus glewd to the earth wee beg Your gratious pardon Grat. Offring our neckes To bee trod on as a punishment for our late Presumption and a willing testimony Of our subiection Theod Deserue our mercie In your better life heereafter you shall finde Though in my Fathers life I helde it madnesse To vsurp his power and in my youth disdainde not To learne from the instructions of my sister I le make it good to all the world I am An Emperor and euen this instant graspe The Scepter my rich stock of maiesty Intire no scruple wasted Phila. If these teares I drop proceed not from my ioy to heare this May my eye-bals follow 'em Tim. I will shew my selfe By your suddain metamorphosis transform'd From what I was Grat. And nere presume to aske What fits not you to giue Theod. Moue in that sphere And my light with full beames shall shine vpon you Forbeare this slavish courtship 't is to me In a kinde idolatrous Phil. Your gratious sister Enter Pulcherias Seruant Pul. Has he conuerted her Ser. And as such will Present her when you please Pul. I am glad of it Comand my Dresser to adorne her with The robes that I gaue order for Mar. I shall Pul. And let those pretious Iewels I tooke last Out of my Cabinet if 't be possible Giue lustre to her beauties and that done Command her to be neere vs Mar. T is a prouince I willingly embrace Exit Mart. Pul. O my deare Sir You haue forgot your morning taske and therefore With a mothers loue I come to reprehende you But it shall bee gentlie Theodos. 'T will become you though You said with reuerend duty Know heereafter If my mother liu'd in you how ere her sonne Like you shee were my subiect Pulch. How Theod. Put off Amazement you will finde it Yet I le heare you At distance as a sister but no longer As a gouernesse I assure you Grat. This is put home Timant. Beyond our hopes Philam. Shee stands as if his words Had powerfull magick in 'em Theod. Will you haue mee Your pupill euer the downe on my chinne Confirmes I am a man a man of men The Emperour that knowes his strength Pulcheria Heauen grant You know it not too soone Theod.
THE EMPEROVR OF THE EAST A Tragae-Comoedie The Scaene Constantinople As it hath bene diuers times acted at the Black-friers and Globe Play-houses by the Kings Maiesties Seruants Written by PHILIP MASSINGER LONDON Printed by THOMAS HARPER for Iohn Waterson ANNO 1632 The ACTORS names THEDOSIVS the younger Paulinus a Kinsman to the Emperour Philanax Captaine of the Guard Timantus Chrysapius Gratianus Eunuchs of the Emperours chamber Cleon a trauailer friend to Paulinus Informer Proiector Master of the manners Mignion of the suburbs Countryman Chirurgion Emperick Pulcheria the protectresse Athenais a strange virgin after the Empresse Arcadia Flaccilla the younger sisters of the Emper Seruants Mutes TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MY especiall good Lord IOHN Lord MOHVNE Baron of Okehampton c. My good Lord LET my presumption in stiling you so hauing neuer deseru'd it in my seruice from the clemencie of your noble disposition finde pardon The reuerence due to the Name of Mohune longe since honored in three Earls of Sommerset and eight Barons of Munster may challenge from all pennes a deserued celebration And the rather in respect those Titles were not purchas'd but conferr'd and continued in your Ancestours for many vertuous noble and still liuing Actions nor euer forfeited or tainted but when the iniquitie of those times labour'd the depression of approued goodnesse and in wicked policie held it fit that Loyaltie and Faith in taking part with the true Prince should be degraded and mulcted But this admitting no farther dilation in this place may your Lordship please and with all possible breuitie to vnderstand the reasons why I am in humble thankfulnesse ambitious to shelter this Poem vnder the wings of your Honorable protection My worthy friend Mr Aston Cokaine your Nephew to my extraordinarie content deliuer'd to mee that your Lordship at your vacant hours sometimes vouchsaf'd to peruse such trifles of mine as haue passed the Presse not alone warranted them in your gentle suffrage but disdain'd not to bestow a remembrance of your loue and intended fauour to mee I professe to the world I was exalted with the bountie and with good assurance it being so rare in this age to meete with one Noble Name that in feare to bee censur'd of leuitie and weakenesse dares expresse it selfe a friend or Patron to contemn'd Poetrie Hauing therefore no meanes els left mee to witnesse the obligation in which I stand most willingly bound to your Lordship I offer this Tragae-Comoedie to your gratious acceptance no way despairing but that with a cleere aspect you will daine to receiue it it being an induction to my future endeauours and that in the list of those that to your merit truely admire you you may descend to number Your Lordships Faithfull Honorer PHILIP MASSINGER To my worthy Friend Mr. PHILIP MASSINGER vpon his Tragae-Comoedie call'd The Emperour of the East SVffer my friend these lines to haue the grace That they may bee a mole on Venus face There is no fault about thy Booke but this And it will shew how faire thy Emperour is Thou more then Poet our Mercurie that art Apollo's Messenger and do'st impart His best expressions to our eares liue long To purifie the slighted English tongue That both the Nymphes of Tagus and of Poe May not henceforth despise our language so Nor could they doe it if they ere had seene The matchlesse features of the faerie Queene Read Iohnson Shakespeare Beaumont Fletcher or Thy neat-limnd peeces skilfull Massinger Thou knowne all the Castillians must confesse Vega de Carpio thy foile and blesse His language can translate thee and the fine Italian witts yeeld to this worke of thine Were old Pythagoras aliue againe In thee hee might finde reason to maintaine His Paradox that soules by transmigration In diuers bodies make their habitation And more that all Poetik soules yet knowne Are met in thee vnited and made one This is a truth not an applause I am One that at farthest distance view thy flame Yet may pronounce that were Apollo dead In thee his Poesie might all bee read Forbeare thy modestie Thy Emperours veine Shall liue admir'd when Poets shall complaine It is a patterne of too high a reach And what great Phoebus might the Muses teach Let it liue therefore and I dare bee bold To say it with the world shall not grow old Aston Cokaine A friend to the Author and well-wisher to the Reader WHO with a liberall hand freely bestowes His bounty on all commers and yet knowes No ebbe nor formall limits but proceeds Continuing his hospitable deeds With dayly welcome shall aduance his name Beyond the art of flatterie with such fame May yours deare friend compare Your muse hath bene Most bountifull and I haue often seene The willing seates receaue such as haue fedd And risen thankefull yet were some mis-led By Nicetie when this faire Banquet came So I allude their stomacks were to blame Because that excellent sharpe and poinant sauce Was wanting they arose without due grace Loe thus a second time hee doth inuite you Bee your owne Caruers and it may delight you Iohn Clauell To my true friend and Kinsman PHILIP MASSINGER I Take not vp on trust nor am I lead By an implicit Faith what I haue read With an impartiall censure I dare crowne With a deseru'd applause how ere cri'd downe By such whose malice will not let 'em bee Equall to any peece limnd forth by thee Contemne their poore detraction and still write Poems like this that can indure the light And search of abler iudgements This will raise Thy Name the others Scandall is thy praise This oft perus'd by graue witts shall liue long Not dye as soone as pass'd the Actors tongue The fate of slighter toyes And I must say T is not enough to make a passing play In a true Poet Workes that should indure Must haue a Genius in 'em strong as pure And such is thine friend nor shall time deuoure The well form'd features of thy Emperour William Singleton Prologue at the Blackfriers BVT that imperious custome warrants it Our Author with much willingnes would omit This Preface to his new worke Hee hath found And suffer'd for 't many are apt to wound His credit in this kind and whether hee Expresse himselfe fearefull or peremptorie Hee cannot scape their censures who delight To misapplie what euer hee shall write T is his hard fate And though hee will not sue Or basely beg such suffrages yet to you Free and ingenious spirits hee doth now In mee present his seruice with his vow Hee hath done his best and though hee cannot glorie In his inuention this worke being a storie Of reuerend Antiquitie hee doth hope In the proportion of it and the scope You may obserue some peeces drawne like one Of a stedfast hand and with the whiter stone To bee mark'd in your faire censures More then this I am forbid to promise and it is With the most 'till you confirme it since wee know What ere the shaft
in To wait on yours Philanax Their loue with bounty leuied Is a sure guard Obedience forc'd from feare Paper fortification which in danger Will yeeld to the impression of a reed Or of it selfe fall off Theod. True Philanax And by that certain compasse we resolue To steere our Barque of gouernment Enter Seruant with the petition Pul. 'T is well The. My deerest and my all-deseruing Sister As a petitioner kneele it must not bee Pray you rise although your suite were halfe my Empire 'T is freely granted Pulch. Your alacritie To giue hath made a begger yet before My suite is by your sacred hand and seale Confirm'd 't is necessary you peruse The summe of my request Theod. Wee will not wrong Your iudgement in conceiuing what 't is fit For you to aske and vs to grant so much As to proceede with caution giue mee my signet With confidence I signe it and heere vowe By my fathers soule but with your free consent It is irreuocable Timantus What if shee now Calling to memorie how often wee Haue cross'd her gouernment in reuenge hath made Petition for our heads Gratianus They must euen off then No ransone can redeeme vs Theod. Let those iewells So highly rated by the Persian merchants Bee bought and as a sacrifice from vs Presented to Eudoxa Shee being only Worthy to weare 'em I am angrie with The vnresistable necessitie Of my occasions and important cares That so long keepe mee from her Exeunt Theodosius and the traynei Fulcher. Goe to the Empresse And tell her on the suddaine I am sicke And doe desire the comfort of a visit If shee please to vouchsafe it From me vse Your humblest language But when once I haue her In my possession I will rise and speake In a higher straine say it raise stormes no matter Fooles iudge by the euent my endes are honest Exeunt Act. 3. Scaene 3. Theodosius Timantus Philanax Theod. WHat is become of her can shee that carries Such glorious excellence of light about her Be any where conceal'd Philanax Wee haue sought her lodgings And all we can learne from the seruants is Shee by your maiesties sisters wayted on The attendance of her other officers By her expresse command deni'd Theod. Forbeare Impertinent circumstances whither went shee speake Phil. As they ghesse to the lawrell groue Theod. So slightly garded What an earth-quake I feele in mee and but that Religion assures the contrarie The Poets dreames of lustfull Fawnes and Satyres Would make me feare I know not what Enter Paulinus Paul I haue sound her And it please your Maiestie Theod. Yes it doth please mee But why return'd without her Paul As shee made Her speediest approches to your presence A seruant of the Princesses Pulcheria Encounterd her what 't was he whisperd to her I am ignorant but hearing it she started And will'd me to excuse her absence from you The third part of an houre The. In this she takes So much of my life from me yet I le beare it With what patience I may since 't is her pleasure Go back my good Paulinus and intreat her Not to exceed a minute Timant. Here 's strange fondnesse Exeunt Act. 3. Scaene 4. Pulcheria Seruants Pul. You are certaine she will come Ser. She is already Enter'd your outward lodgings Pul. No traine with her Ser. Your excellence sisters only Pulch. 'T is the better See the doores strongly guarded and deny Accesse to all but with our speciall licence Why dost thou stay shew your obedience Your wisdome now is vselesse Exeunt Seruants Enter Athenais Arcadia Flaccilla Flac. She is sick sure Or in fit reuerence to your Maiesty She had waited you at the doore Ar. 'T would hardly be Pulcheria walking by Excus'd in ciuill manners to her equall But with more difficulty to you that are So far aboue her Ath. Not in her opinion She hath beene too long accustom'd to command T' acknowledge a superior Ar. There she walks Fla. If she be not sick of the sullens I see not The least infirmity in her Ath. This is strange Ar. Open your eyes the Empresse Pul. Reach that chaire Now sitting thus at distance I le vouchsafe To looke vpon her Ar. How sister pray you awake Are you in your wits Fla. Grant heauen your too much learning Does not conclude in madnesse Ath. You intreated A visit from me Pul. True my seruant vs'd Such language but now as a mistresse I Command your seruice Ath. Seruice Ar. She 's stark mad sure Pul. You le finde I can dispose of what 's mine owne Without a guardian Ath. Follow me I will see you When your frantique fit is ore I do begin To be of your beleefe Pulch. It will deceiue you Thou shalt not str from hence thus as mine owne I seize vpon thee Flac. Help help violence Offer'd to the Empresse person Pulch. 'T is in vaine Shee was an Empresse once but by my gift Which being abus'd I do recall my grant You are read in story call to remembrance What the great Hectors mother Hecuba Was to Vlysses Ilium sack'd Ath. A slaue Pulch. To me thou art so Ath. Wonder and amazement Quite ouerwhelme me how am I transform'd How haue I lost my liberty Knocking without Enter Seruant Pulcheria Thou shall know Too soone no doubt Who 's that with such rudenesse Beats at the doore Ser. The Prince Paulinus madam Sent from the Emperor to attend vpon The gratious Empresse Ar. And who is your slaue now Fla. Sister repent in time and beg pardon For your presumption Pulch. It is resolu'd From me returne this answer to Paulinus She shall not come she 's mine the Emperor hath No interest in her Exit Seruant Ath. Whatsoere I am You take not from your power ore me to yeeld A reason for this vsage Pulch. Though my will is Sufficient to ad to thy affliction Know wretched thing 't is not thy fate but folly Hath made thee what thou art 't is some delight To vrge my merits to one so vngratefull Therefore with horror heare it When thou wert Thrust as a stranger from thy fathers house Expos'd to all calamities that want Could throw vpon thee thine owne brothers scorne And in thy hopes as by the world forsaken My pity the last altar that was left thee I heard thy Syren charmes with feeling heard them And my compassion made mine eyes vy teares With thine dissembling Crocodile and when Queenes Were emulous for thy imperiall bed The garments of thy sorrowes east aside I put thee in a shape as would haue forc'd Enuy from Cleopatra had she seene thee Then when I knew my brothers blood was warm'd With youthfull fires I brought thee to his presence And how my deepe designes for thy good plotted Succeeded to my wishes is apparant And needs no repetition Ath. I am conscious Of your so many and vnequall'd fauors But finde not how I may accuse my selfe For any facts committed that with iustice Can raise your anger to this