The number of Copies has been strictly limited to
One Hundred and Fifty. All are printed in Fcap. 4to.
and on Dutch Hand-made Paper.

PREFACE.

MOST of the Plays in the present Collection
have not been reprinted, and some have
not been printed at all. In the second volume there
will be published for the first time a fine tragedy
(hitherto quite unknown) by Massinger and Fletcher,
and a lively comedy (also quite unknown) by James
Shirley. The recovery of these two pieces should be
of considerable interest to all students of dramatic
literature.

The Editor hopes to give in Vol. III. an unpublished play of Thomas Heywood. In the fourth volume there will be a reprint of the *Arden of Fever-sham*, from the excessively rare quarto of 1592.

14

Anto. Homely, I faith.

Petron.

I, homely in her gowne,
But looke vpon her face and that's set out
With no small grace; no vayled shadowes helpe.
Foole! that hadst rather with false lights and darke
Beguiled be then see the ware thou buyest.

Poppea royally attended, and passe over the
Stage in State.

Anto. Great Queene,¹ whom Nature made to be her
glory,
Fortune got eies and came to be thy servant,
Honour is proud to be thy tytle; though
Thy beauties doe draw up my soule, yet still
So bright, so glorious is thy Maiestie
That it beates downe againe my clyming thoughts.

Petron. Why, true;
And other of thy blindnesses thou seest [?]
Such one to love thou dar'st not speake unto.
Give me a wench that will be easily had
Not woed with cost, and being sent for comes :
And when I have her foulded in mine armes
Then Cleopatra she, or Lucres is;
Ile give her any title.

¹ Tacitus in a few words gives a most masterly description of Poppea :—" Huic mulieri cuncta alia fuere præter honestum animum : quippe mater eius, ætatis suæ feminas pulchritudine supergressa, gloriam pariter et formam dederat : opes claritudini generis sufficiebant : sermo comis, nec absurdum ingenium : modestiam præferre et lascivia uti : rarus in publicum egressus, idque velata parte oris, ne satiaret aspectum, vel quia sic decebat. Famæ numquam pepercit, maritos et adulteros non distinguens, neque affectui suo aut alieno obnoxia : unde utilitas ostenderetur, illuc libidinem transtulit."—Ann. XIII. 45.

15

Anto. Yet not so much her greatnesse and estate
My hopes disharten as her chastitie.

Petron. Chastitie! foole ! a word not knowne in
Courts.
Well may it lodge in meane and countrey homes
Where povertie and labour keepes them downe,
Short sleepes and hands made hard with Thuscan
Woll,

But never comes to great mens Pallaces
Where ease and riches stirring thoughts beget,
Provoking meates and surfet wines inflame;
Where all there setting forth's but to be wooed,
And wooed they would not be but to be wonne.
Will one man serve Poppea? nay, thou shalt
Make her as soone contented with an [one?] eye.

Nimphidius to them.

Nimph. Whil'st Nero in the streetes his Pageants
shewes

I to his fair wives chambers sent for am.
You gracious Starres that smiled on my birth,
And thou bright Starre more powerful then them all,
Whose favouring smiles have made me what I am,
Thou shalt my God, my Fate and fortune be.

Anto. How sausely yon fellow
Enters the Empresse Chamber. [Ex. Nimph.

Petron. I, and her too, Antonius, knowest thou him ?
Anto. What ? knowe the only favorite of the
Court?

Indeed, not many dayes ago thou mightest
Have not unlawfully askt that question.

Petron. Why is he rais'd ?

¹ 4to. Why? Is he rais'd.

16

*Anto.* That have I sought in him
But never peee of good desert could find.
He is *Nimphidia's* sonne, the free'd woman,
Which basenesse to shake off he nothing hath
But his own pride ?

*Petron.* You remember when *Gallus, Celsus*,
And others too, though now forgotten, were
Great in *Poppeas* eyes?

*Anton.* I doe, and did interpret it in them
An honorable favor she bare vertue.
Or parts like vertue.

*Petron.* The cause is one of theirs and this man's
Grace,
I once was great in wavering smiles of Court;
I fell, because I knew. Since have I given
My time to my owne pleasures, and would now
Advise thee, too, to meane and safe delights :
The thigh's as soft the sheepes back covereth
As that with crimson and with Gold adorn'd.
Yet, cause I see that thy restraint desires
Cannot their owne way choose, come thou with me;
Perhaps Ile shew thee means of remedie. [Exeunt.

(SCENE 2.)

1. *Rom.* Whither so fast, man ? Whither so fast ?

2. *Rom.* Whither but where your eares do lead you ?

To *Neros* Triumphs and the shouts you heare.

1. *Rom.* Why ? comes he crown'd with *Parthian* overthrow

And brings he *Volegesus* with him chain'd?

2. *Rom. Parthian* overthrowne ! why, he comes crowd

For victories which never Roman wonne;

For having Greece in her owne arts overthrowe,

17

In Singing, Dauncing, Horse-rase, Stage-playing.

Never, O Rome had never such a Prince.

1. *Rom.* Yet, I have heard, our ancestors were
crown'd

For other Victories.

2. *Rom.* None of our ancestors were ere like him.

Within: *Nero, Apollo, Nero, Hercules* !¹

1. *Rom.* Harke how th' applauding shouts doe cleave the ayre,²

This idle talke will make me loose the sight.

Two *Romans* more to them.

3. *Rom.* Whither goe you ? alls done i'th Capytall,
And *Nero*, having there his tables hung
And Garlands up, is to the Pallace gone.
'Twas beyond wonder ; I shall never see,
Nay, I never looke to see the like againe :

Eighteen hundred and eight Crownes

For severall victories, and the place set downe

Where, and in what, and whom he overcame.

4. *Rom.* That was set down ith' tables that were borne

Upon the Souldiers speares

1. *Rom.* O made, and sometimes use[d] for other Ends !

2. *Rom.* But did he winne them all with singing ?

3. *Rom.* Faith, all with singing and with stage-playing.

1. *Rom.* So many Crownes got with a song !

¹ Cf. Dion Cassius, ≈ Γ 20.
² 4to. Cleare th' ayre.

C

18

4 *Rom.* But did you marke the Greek Musitians
Behind his Chariot, hanging downe their heads,
Sham'd and overcome in their professions ?
O Rome was never honour'd so before.

3 *Rom.* But what was he that rode ith' Chariot
with him ?

4 *Rom.* That was *Diodorus* the Mynstrill that he
favours

3 *Rom.* Was there ever such a Prince !

2 *Rom.* O *Nero Augustus*, the true *Augustus*!

3 *Rom.* Nay, had you seen him as he rode along
With an *Olimpicke* Crowne upon his head
And with a *Pythian* on his arme, you would have
thought,
Looking on one, he had *Apollo* seem'd,
On th' other, *Hercules*.

2 *Rom.* I have heard my father oft repeat the
Triumphs
Which in *Augustus Cæsars* tymes were showne
Upon his Victorie ore the *Illirians*;
But it seemes it was not like to this.

3 & 4 *Rom.* Push,¹ it could not be like this.

2, 3 & 4. O *Nero, Appollo, Nero, Hercules*!

[Exeunt 2, 3 & 4 *Rom*.

*Manet Primus.*

1 *Rom.* Whether *Augustus* Triumph greater was
I cannot tell; his Triumphs cause, I know,
Was greater farre and farre more Honourable.
What are wee People, or our flattering voyces
That always shame and foolish things applaud,

¹ "Push" and "pish" are used indifferently by Elizabethan
writers.

19

Having no sparke of Soule ? All eares and eyes,
Pleased with vaine showes, deluded by our sences,
Still enemies to wisedome and to goodnesse. [Exit.

(SCENE 3.)

*Enter Nero, Poppea, Nimphidius, Epaphroditus, Neophilus and others.*

*Nero.* Now, fayre *Poppea*, see thy Nero shine
In bright *Achaias* spoyles and Rome in him.
The *Capitall* hath other Trophies seene
Then it was wont; not spoyles with blood bedew'd
Or the unhappy obsequies of Death,
But such as *Cæsars* cunning, not his force,
Hath wrung from *Greece* too bragging of her art.

*Tigell.* And in this strife the glories all your owne,
Your tribunes cannot share this prayse with you;
Here your *Centurions* hath no part at all,
Bootless your Armies and your Eagles were;
No Navies helpt to bring away this conquest.

*Nimph.* Even Fortunes selfe, Fortune the Queene
of Kingdomes,
That Warrs grim valour graceth with her deeds,
Will claime no portion in this Victorie.

*Nero.* Not *Bacchus*¹ drawn from Nisa downe with
Tigers,
Curbing with viny rains their wilful heads
Whilst some doe gape upon his Ivy Thirse,
Some on the dangling grapes that crowne his head,
All praise his beautie and continuing youth;

¹ Cf. Verg. Aen. vi. 805-6 :—

" Nec qui pampineis victor iuga flectit habenis,
Liber, agens celso Nysae de vertice tigres."

20

So strooke amased India with wonder
As *Neroes* glories did the Greekish townnes,
*Elis* and *Pisa* and the rich *Micenea*,
*Junonian Argos* and yet *Corinth* proud
Of her two Seas; all which ore-come did yeeld
To me their praise and prises of their games
*Poppea*. Yet in your *Greekish* iourney, we do heare,
*Sparta* and *Athens*, the two eyes of *Greece*,
Neither beheld your person or your skill;
Whether because they did afford no games
Or for their too much gravitie.

*Nero*. Why, what
Should I have seene in them? but in the one
Hunger, black pottage and men hot to die
Thereby to rid themselves of misery:
And what in th' other? but short Capes, long Beards;
Much wrangling in things needlesse to be knowne,
Wisedome in words and onely austere faces.
I will not be Aieceleaus nor Solon.

*Nero* was there where he might honour win;
And honour hath he wonn and brought from Greece
Those spoyles which never Roman could obtaine,
Spoyles won by witt and *Tropheis* of his skill.

*Nimph*. What a thing he makes it to be a Minstrill !

*Poppea*. I prayse your witt, my Lord, that choose
such safe

Honors, safe spoyles, won without dust or blood.

*Nero*. What, mock ye me, *Poppea* ?

*Poppea*. Nay, in good faith, my Lord, I speake in
earnest:

I hate that headie and adventurous crew
That goe to loose their owne to purchase but
The breath of others and the common voyce;
Them that will loose their hearing for a sound,
That by death onely seeke to get a living,

21

Make skarrs there beautit and count losse of Limmes
The commendation of a proper man,
And soe goe halting to immortality—

Such fooles I love worse then they doe their lives.

*Nero*. But now, *Poppea*, having laid apart
Our boastfull spoyles and ornaments of Triumph,
Come we like *Jove* from *Phlegra*—

*Poppea*. O Giantlike comparison !

*Nero*. When after all his Fiers and wandering darts
He comes to bath himselfe in *Juno's* eyes.

But thou, then wrangling *Juno* farre more fayre,
Staying the evening beautit of the Skie

Or the dayes brightnesse, shall make glad thy Cæsar,
Shalt make him proud such beauties to Inioy.

[Exeunt.]

*Manet Nimphidius solus.*

*Nimph*. Such beauties to inioy were happinesse
And a reward sufficient in itselfe,

Although no other end or hopes were aim'd at;

But I have other: tis not *Poppeas* armes
Nor the short pleasures of a wanton bed

That can extinguish mine aspiring thirst

To *Neroes* Crowne. By her love I must climbe,
Her bed is but a step unto his Throne.

Already wise men laugh at him and hate him;

The people, though his Mynstrelsie doth please them,
They feare his cruelty, hate his exactions,

Which his need still must force him to encrease ;
The multitude, which cannot one thing long

Like or dislike, being cloy'd with vanitie

Will hate their own delights; though wisedome
doe not

Even wearinesse at length will give them eyes.

Thus I, by *Neroes* and *Poppeas* favour

22

Rais'd to the envious height of second place,
May gaine the first. Hate must strike Nero downe,
Love make *Nimphidius* way unto a Crowne. [Exit.

(SCENE 4.)

*Enter Seneca, Scevinus, Lucan and Flavius.*

*Scevin.* His first beginning was his Fathers death;
His brothers poyingon and wives bloudy end
Came next; his mothers murther clos'd up all.
Yet hitherto he was but wicked, when
The guilt of greater evills tooke away the shame
Of lesser, and did headlong thrust him forth
To be the scorne and laughter to the world.
Then first an Emperour came upon the stage
And sung to please Carmen and Candle-sellers,
And learnt to act, to daunce, to be a Fencer,
And in despyt o' the Maiestie of Princes
He fell to wrastling and was soyl'd with dust
And tumbled on the earth with servile hands.

*Seneca.* He sometimes trayned was in better studies
And had a child-hood promis'd other hopes:
High fortunes like stronge wines do trie their vessels.
Was not the Race and Theatre bigge enough
To have inclos'd thy follies heere at home?
O could not *Rome* and *Italie* containe

Thy shame, but thou must crosse the seas to shewe it?
*Scevin.* And make them that had wont to see our
Consuls,

With conquering Eagles waving in the field,
Instead of that behold an Emperor dauncing,
Playing oth' stage and what else but to name
Were infamie.

*Lucan.* O Mummius, O Flaminius,

23

You whom your vertues have not made more famous
Than *Neros* vices, you went ore to Greece

But t'other warres, and brought home other conquests;
You *Corinth* and *Micæna* overthrew,

And *Perseus* selfe, the great *Achilles* race,

Orecame; having *Minervas* stayned Temples

And your slayne Ancestors of Troy reveng'd.

*Seneca.* They strove with Kings and Kinglike adversaries,

Were even in their Enemies made happie;

The *Macedonian* Courage tryed of old

And the new greatnesse of the *Syrian* power:

But he for *Phillip* and *Antiochus*

Hath found more easie enemies to deale with—

*Terpnus*,¹ *Pammenes*,² and a rout of Fidlers.

*Scevin.* Why, all the begging Mynstrills by the way
He tooke along with him and forc'd to strive
That he might overcome, Imagining

Himselfe Immortall by such victories.

*Flav.* The Men he carried over were enough
T'have put the Parthian to his second flight
Or the proud Indian taught the Roman Yoke.

*Scevin.* But they were *Neroes* men, like *Nero* arm'd
With Lutes and Harps and Pipes and Fiddle-cases,
Souldyers to th' shadow traynd and not the field.

*Flav.* Therefore they brought spoyles of such
Soldyers worthy.

*Lucan.* But to throw downe the walls³ and Gates
of Rome

To make an entrance for an Hobby-horse;

¹ 4to. Turpuus. (Vid. Sueton. Vit. Ner. 20.)

² Tacitus (Ann. xvi. 14) mentions an astrologer of this name, who was banished by Nero.

³ *Vid.* Sueton. Vit. Ner. 25.

24

To vaunt to th' people his rediculous spoyles ;
To come with Lawrell and with Olyves crown'd
For having beene the worst of all the Singers,
Is beyond Patience.

*Scevin.* I, and anger too.
Had you but seene him in his Chariot ryde,
That Chariot in which *Augustus* late
His Triumphs ore so many Nations shew'd,
And with him in the same a Minstrell plac'd
The whil'st the people, running by his side,
*'Hayle thou Olimpick Conqueror'* did cry,
*'O haile thou Pithian!'* and did fill the sky
With shame and voices Heaven would not have heard.

*Seneca.* I saw't, but turn'd away my eyes and eares,
Angry they should be privie to such sights.
Why do I stand relating of the storie

Which in the doing had enough to grieve me ?

Tell on and end the tale, you whom it pleaseth ;

Mee mine own sorrow stops from further speaking.

*Nero, my love doth make thy fault and my griefe greater.*
*[Ex. Sen.]*

*Scevin.* I doe commend in *Seneca* this passion ;
And yet me thinkes our Countries miserie
Doth at our hands crave somewhat more then teares.

*Lucan.* Pittie, though't doth a kind affection show,
If it end there, our weaknesse makes us know.

*Flav.* Let children weepe and men seeke remedie.

*Scevin.* Stoutly, and like a soldier, *Flavius* ;
Yet to seeke remedie to a Princes ill
Seldome but it doth the Phisitian kill.

*Flav.* And if it doe, *Scevinus*, it shall take
But a devoted soule from *Flavius*,
Which to my Countrey and the Gods of Rome
Alreadie sacred is and given away.

Deathe is no stranger unto me, I have

25

The doubtfull hazard in twelve Battailes throwne ;
My chaunce was life.

*Lucan.* Why doe we go to fight in Brittanie
And end our lives under another Sunne?
Seeke causelesse dangers out ? The German might
Enioy his Woods and his owne Allis drinke,
Yet we walke safely in the streets of Rome;
*Bonduca* hinders not but we might live,
Whom we do hurt. Them we call enemies,
And those our Lords that spoyle and murder us.

*Scevin.* Nothing is hard to them that dare to die.
This nobler resolution in you, Lords,
Heartens me to disclose some thoughts that I—
The matter is of waight and dangerous.

*Lucan.* I see you feare us *Scevinus*,¹

*Scevin.* Nay, nay, although the thing be full of
feare.

*Flav.* Tell it to faithfull Eares what eare it bee.
*Scevin.* Faith, let it goe, it will but trouble us,
Be hurtfull to the speaker and the hearer.

*Lucan.* If our long friendship or the opinion—
*Scevin.* Why should I feare to tell them ?

Why, is he not a Parricide a Player ?
Nay, *Lucan*, is he not thine Enemie?

Hate not the Heavens as well as men to see
That condemn'd head ? And you, O righteous Gods,

Whither so ere you now are fled and will
No more looke downe upon th' oppressed Earth ;
O severe anger of the highest Gods

And thou, sterne power to whom the Greekes assigne
Scourges and swords to punish proud mens wrongs,
If you be more then names found out to awe us

And that we doe not vainely build you alters,

¹ 4tos. *Servinus.*

D

28

The doubtfull issue of his hopelesse Love,
This is the place and time wherein to try it;
Women will heere the suite that will deny it.
The suit's not hard that she comes for to take;
Who (hot in lust of men) doth difference make?
At last loath, willing, to her did he pace:
Arme him, Priapus, with thy powerfull Mace.
But see, they comming are; how they agree
Heere will I harken; shroud me, gentle tree.

Enter Poppea and Antonius.

Anton. Seeke not to grieve that heart which is thine owne.
In Loves sweete fires let heat of rage burne out;
These brows could never yet to wrinkle learne,
Nor anger out of such faire eyes look forth.

Poppea. You may solicit your presumptious suites;
You duety may, and shame too, lay aside;
Disturbe my privacie, and I forsooth
Must be afeard even to be angry at you !

Anton. What shame is't to be mastred by such beautie?
Who but to serve you comes, how wants he dutie?
Or, if it be a shame, the shame is yours;
The fault is onely in your Eies, they drew me:
Cause you were lovely therefore did I love.
O, if to Love you anger you so much,
You should not have such cheekes nor lips to touch,
You should not have your snow nor currall spy'd;—
If you but looke on us in vaine you chide.

We must not see your face, nor heare your speech;
Now, whilst you Love forbid, you Love do teach.

Petron. He doth better than I thought he would.

Poppea. I will not learne my beauties worth of you;
I know you neither are the first nor greatest

29

Whom it hath mov'd: He whom the World obayes
Is fear'd with anger of my threatening eyes.

It is for you afarre off to adore it,
And not to reach at it with sawsie hands:
Feare is the Love that's due to God and Princes.
Petron. All this is but to edge his appetite.
Anton. O doe not see thy faire in that false glasse
Of outward difference; Looke into my heart.

Poppea. Sir, let me goe or Ile make knowne your
Love
To them that shall requite it but with hate.
Petron. On, on, thou hast the goale; the fort is
beaten;
Women are wonne when they begin to threaten.
Anton. Your Noblenesse doth warrant me from that,
Nor need you others helpe to punish me
Who by your forehead am condem'd or free.
They that to be revendg'd do bend their minde
Seeke always recompence in that same kind
The wrong was done them; Love was mine offence,
In that revenge, in that seeke recompence.

Poppea. Further to answere will still cause replyes,
And those as ill doe please me as your selfe.
If you'l e an answere take that's breefe and true,
I hate my selfe if I be lov'd of you.
Petron. What, gone? but she will come againe
sure: no?

[Exit Popp.
It passeth cleane my cunning, all my rules:
For Womens wantonnesse there is no rule.
To take her in the itching of her Lust,

30

A propper young man putting forth himselfe !
Why, Fate ! there's Fate and hidden providence
In cod piece matters.

Anton. O unhappy Man !

What comfort have I now, Petronius ?
Petron. Council your selfe; Ile teach no more but
learne.

Anton. This comfort yet: He shall not so escape
Who causeth my disgrace, Nimphidius;
Whom had I here—Well, for my true-hearts love
I see she hates me. And shall I love one
That hates me, and bestowes what I deserve
Upon my rivall ? No; farewell Poppea,
Farewell Poppea and farewell all Love :
Yet thus much shall it still prevaile in me
That I will hate Nimphidius for thee.

Petron. Farewell to her, to my Enanthe welcome,
Who now will to my burning kisses stoope,
Now with an easie cruelty deny
That which she, rather then the asker, would
Have forced from her then begin her selfe.

Their loves that list upon great Ladies set;

I still will love the Wench that I can get.

[Exeunt.]

(SCENE 2.)

Enter Nero, Tigellinus, Epaphroditus, and Neophilus.

Nero. Tigellinus, said the villaine Proculus?

¹ 4tos. begins.

² A certain Volusius Proculus was one of the infamous agents in the murder of Agrippina, and afterwards betrayed the fearless woman Epicharis who confided to him the secret of Piso's conspiracy; but no one of this name was executed by Nero.

31

I was throwne downe in running ?

Tigell. My Lord, he said that you were crown'd
for that

You could not doe.

Nero. For that I could not doe ?

Why, Elis saw me doe't and doe't it with wonder
Of all the Iudges and the lookers on ;

And yet to see—A villaine! could not doe't?

Who did it better ? I warrant you he said
I from the Chariot fell against my will.

Tigell. He said, My Lord, you were throwne out of it
All crusht and maim'd and almost bruis'd to death.

Nero. Malicious Rogue! when I fell willingly

To show of purpose with what little hurt
Might a good rider beare a forced fall.

How sayest thou, Tigellinus? I am sure

Thou hast in driving as much skill as he.

Tigell. My Lord, you greater cunning shew'd in
falling
Then had you sate.

Nero. I know I did; or¹ bruised in my fall?
Hurt ! I protest I felt no griefe in it.

Goe, Tigellinus, fetch the villaines head.

This makes me see his heart in other things.

Fetch me his head; he nere shall speake againe. [Ex.
What doe we Princes differ from the durt
And basenesse of the common Multitude
If to the scorne of each malicious tongue
We subiect are: For that I had no skill,²
Not he that his farre famed daughter set

Tigell.

¹ Quy. How ! bruised, &c.

² Quy. Say that I had no skill !—If the reading of the 4tos. is right the meaning must be, “As for his saying that I had no skill.”

32

A prise to victorie and had bin Crown'd
With thirteene Sutors deaths till he at length
By fate of Gods and Servants treason fell,
(Shoulder packt¹ *Pelops*, glorying in his spoyles)
Could with more skill his coupled horses guide.
Even as a Barke that through the mooving Flood
Her linnen wings and the forc't ayre doe beare;
The Byllowes fome, she smoothly cutts them through;
So past my burning Axeltree along:
The people follow with their Eyes and Voyce,
And now the wind doth see it selfe outrun
And the Clouds wonder to be left behind,
Whilst the void ayre is fild with shoutes and noyse,
And *Neroes* name doth beate the brazen Skie;
*Jupiter* envying loath doth heare my praise.
Then their greene bowes and Crownes of *Olive* wreaths,
The Conquerors praise, they give me as my due.
And yet this Rogue sayth No, we have no skill.

*Enter a servant to them.*

*Servant.* My Lord, the Stage and all the furniture—
*Nero.* I have no skill to drive a Chariot!
Had he but robde me, broke my treasurie:
The red-Sea's mine, mine are the *Indian* stones,
The Worlds mine owne; then cannot I be robde?
But spightfully to undermine my fame,
To take away my arte! he would my life
As well, no doubt, could he tould (tell?) how.

¹ A copy of the 1633 4to. gives "shoulder-eac't," which is hardly less intelligible than the reading in the text. Everybody knows that Pelops received an ivory shoulder for the one that was consumed; but the word "shoulder-packt" conveys no meaning. "Shoulder-pieced," i.e., "fitted with an (ivory) shoulder," would be a shade more intelligible; but it is a very ugly compound.

33

*Enter Tigellinus with Proculus head.*

*Neoph.* My Lord,
*Tigellinus* is backe come with *Proculus head*.

(Strikes him.)

*Nero.* O cry thee mercie, good *Neophilus*;
Give him five hundred sesterces for amends.

Hast brought him, Tigellinus ?

*Tigell.* Heres his head, my Lord.

*Nero.* His tongue had bin enough.

*Tigell.* I did as you commanded me, my Lord.

*Nero.* Thou toldst not me, though, he had such a
nose!¹

Now are you quiet and have quieted me:
This tis to be commander of the World.
Let them extoll weake pittie that do neede it,
Let meane men cry to have Law and Iustice done
And tell their griefes to *Heaven* that heares them not:
Kings must upon the Peoples headlesse courses
Walk to securitie and ease of minde.

Why, what have we to doe with th' ayrie names
(That old age and *Philosophers* found out)
Of *Iustice* and ne're certaine Equitie?

The God's revenge themselves and so will we;
Where right is scand Authoritie's orethrowne:

We have a high prerogative above it.

Slaves may do what is right, we what we please:

The people will repine and think it ill,

But they must beare, and praise too, what we will.

¹ Dion Cassius (ΞΒ. 14. ed. Bekker) reports this brutal gibe of Nero's; Rubellius Plautus was the luckless victim :—

“ἀδὲ δὴ Νήσων καὶ γελωτα καὶ σκώμματα, τὰ τῶν συγγενῶν κακὰ ἱσοιπίωτο τὸν γουν ἱπλαῦτον ἀποκτίνας, ἐπειτα τῆν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ προστινυχθίσαν οἱ ἰδῶν, ἀοὐκ ἤδειν, ἐφή ἀδρι μεγάλην ῥίνα ἐχεν; ὥσπερ φισάμενος ἀν αὐτοῦ ἡ τοῦτο προηγιστατο.”

E

34

Enter Cornutus¹ to them.

Neoph. My Lord, Cornutus whom you sent for's
come.

Nero. Welcome, good Cornutus.

Are all things ready for the stage,
As I gave charge?

Corn. They only stay your coming.

Nero. Cornutus, I must act to day Orestes.

Corn. You have done that already, and too truely.

Nero. (aside) And when our Sceane is done I meane besides
To read some compositions of my owne,
Which, for the great opinion I my selfe
And Rome in generall of thy Iudgment hath,
Before I publish them Ile shew them thee.

Corn. My Lord, my disabilities—

Nero. I know thy modestie :

Ile only shew thee now my works beginning.—

Goe see, Epaphroditus,

Musick made ready; I will sing to day.—[Exit Epa.

Cornutus, I pray thee come neere

And let me heare thy Iudgement in my paynes.

I would have thee more familiar, good Cornutus ;

Nero doth prise desert and more esteemes

Them that in knowledge second him, then power.

Marke with what style and state my worke begins.

Corn. Might not my Interruption offend,

Whats your workes name, my Lord ? what write
you of ?

Nero. I meane to write the deeds of all the Romans.

Corn. Of all the Romans ? A huge argument.

Nero. I have not yet bethought me of a title :—

(he reades.)

¹ Persius' tutor, immortalised in his pupil's Fifth Satire.

35

"You Enthrall Powers which¹ the wide Fortunes doom
Of Empyre-crown'd seaven-Mountaine-seated Rome,
Full blowne Inspire me with Machlæan² rage

That I may bellow out Romes Prentisage ;

As³ when the Menades do fill their Drums

And crooked hornes with Mimalonean hummes

And Evion⁴ do Ingeminate around,

Which reparable Echo doth resound."

How doest thou like our Muses paines, Cornutus ?

Corn. The verses have more in them than I see :
Your work, my Lord, I doubt will be too long.

Nero. Too long ?

Tigell. Too long ?

Corn. I, if you write the deeds of all the Romans.
How many Bookes thinke you t'include it in ?

Nero. I thinke to write about foure hundred Bookes.

Corn. Four hundred ! Why, my Lord, they'le nere
be read.⁵

¹ Quy. with.

² Machlaean—a word coined from μάχλος (sc. libidinosus).

³ Partly a translation from Persius, Sat. I. ll. 99-102 :—

"Torva Mimaloneis implerunt cornua bombis,
Et raptum vitulo caput ablatura superbo

Bassaris, et lyncem Mænas flexura corymbis

Euion ingeminat : reparabilis assonat Echo";

which lines are supposed to be a parody of some verses of
Nero. Persius' comment—

"summa delumbe saliva

Hoc natat : in labris et in udo est Mænas et Attis ;

Nec pluteum cædit, nec demorsos sapit ungues"—

agrees with the judgment of Tacitus (Ann. xiv. 16). Suetonius (Vit. Ner. 52), who had seen some of Nero's MSS., speaks of the extreme care that had been given to correction; and the few verses preserved by Seneca make against the estimate of Tacitus and Persius.

⁴ 4tos. Ennion.

⁵ Vid. Dion Cassius B. 29.

36

Nero. Hah!

Tigell. Why, he whom you esteeme so much, Cri-
sippus,

Wrote many more.

Corn. But they were profitable to common life

And did Men Honestie and Wisedome teach.

Nero. Tigellinus!

[Exit Nero and Tigell.

Corn. See with what earnestnesse he crav'd my
Judgment,

And now he freely hath it how it likes him.

Neoph. The Prince is angry, and his fall is neere;

Let us begon lest we partake his ruines.

[Exeunt omnes praeter Cornu.

Manet Cornutus solus.

What should I doe at Court ? I cannot lye.
Why didst thou call me, *Nero*, from my Booke;
Didst thou for flatterie of *Cornutus* looke ?
No, let those purple Fellowes that stand by thee
(That admire shew and things that thou canst give)
Leave to please Truth and Vertue to please thee.
*Nero*, there is no thing in thy power *Cornutus*
Doth wish or fear.

Enter Tigellinus to him.

Tigell. Tis *Neroes* pleasure that you straight depart
To *Giara*, and there remaine confin'd:
Thus he, out of his Princely Clemencie,
Hath Death, your due, turn'd but to banishment.

Corn. Why, *Tigellinus*?

Tigell. I have done, vpon your perill go or stay.

[Ex. Ti.

Corn. And why should Death or Banishment be due
For speaking that which was requir'd, my thought ?
O why doe Princes love to be deceiv'd

37

And even do force abuses on themselves?

Their Eares are so with pleasing speech beguil'd
That Truth they mallice, Flatterie truth account,
And their owne Soule and understanding lost
Goe, what they are, to seeke in other men.

Alas, weake Prince, how hast thou punisht me
To banish me from thee? O let me goe
And dwell in *Taurus*, dwell in *Ethiope*

So that I doe not dwell at Rome with thee.
The farther still I goe from hence, I know,
The farther I leave Shame and Vice behind.
Where can I goe but I shall see thee, Sunne?

And *Heaven* will be as neere me still as here.

Can they so farre a knowing soule exyle
That her owne roofe she sees not ore her head? [Exit.

(SCENE 3.)

Enter Piso, Scevinus, Lucan, Flavius.

Piso. Noble Gentlemen, what thankes, what recom-
pence

Shall hee give you that give to him the world?
One life to them that must so many venture,
And that the worst of all, is too meane paye;
Yet can give no more. Take that, bestow it
Upon your service.

Lucan.

O Piso, that vouchsafest

To grace our headlesse partie with thy name,
Whom having our conductor¹ we need not
Have fear'd to goe against³ the well try'd vallor
Of *Iulius* or stayednesse of *Augustus*,

¹ 4tos. conductors.

² 4tos. again.

38

Much lesse the shame and Womanhood of *Nero*;
When we had once given out that our pretences
Were all for thee, our end to make thee Prince,
They thronging came to give their names, Men,
Women,
Gentlemen, People, Soldiers, Senators;¹
The Campe and Cittie grew asham'd that *Nero*
And *Piso* should be offered them together.
*Scevin.* We seeke not now (as in the happy dayes
Oth' common wealth they did) for libertie;
O you deere ashes, *Cassius* and *Brutus*,
That was with you entomb'd, their let it rest.
We are contented with the galling yoke
If they will only leave us neckes to beare it:
We seeke no longer freedome, we seeke life;
At least, not to be murdred, let us die
On Enemies swords. Shall we, whom neither
The *Median* Bow nor *Macedonian* Speare
Nor the fierce *Gaul* nor painted *Briton* could
Subdue, lay down our neckes to tyrants axe?
Why doe we talke of Vertue that obay
Weaknesse and Vice?

*Piso.* Have patience, good *Scevinus*.
*Lucan.* Weaknesse and servile Government we
hitherto

Obeyed have, which, that we may no longer,
We have our lives and fortunes now set up,
And have our cause with *Pisoes* credit strengthned.
*Flav.* Which makes it doubtfull whether love to him
Or *Neroes* hatred hath drawne more unto us.
*Piso.* I see the good thoughts you have of me,
Lords.

Lets now proceede to th' purpose of our meeting:

¹ Cf. Tacitus, Ann. xv. 48.

39

I pray you take your places.
Lets have some paper brought.

*Scevin.* Whose within?

*Enter Milichus to them.*

*Mili.* My Lord.

*Scevin.* Some Inke and Paper.

[Exit Mili.

*Enter againe with Incke and Paper.*

*Flav.* Whose that, *Scevinus*?

*Scevin.* It is my freed man, *Milichus*.

*Lucan.* Is he trustie?

*Scevin.* I, for as great matters as we are about.

*Piso.* And those are great ones.

*Lucan.* I aske not that we meane to need his trust;
Gaine hath great soveraigntie ore servile minde.
*Scevin.* O but my benefits have bound him to me.

I from a bondman have his state not onely
Advant to freedome but to wealth and credit.
*Piso, Mili.* waite ith' next chamber till we call.

[abscondit se.

The thing determinde on, our meeting now
Is of the meanes and place, due circumstance
As to the doing of things: 'tis required

So done it names the action.¹

*Mili.*

I wonder

(aside)

What makes this new resort to haunt our house.

¹ The 4to. points the passage thus:—

"The thing determinde on our meeting now,
Is of the meanes, and place, due circumstance,
As to the doing of things 'tis requir'd,
So done, it names the action."

The words "'tis requir'd . . . . action," I take to mean,
"The assassination must be accomplished in such a way as to
appear an act of patriotism and make the actors famous."

40

When wonted *Lucius Piso* to come hither,
Or *Lucan* when so oft as now of late?

*Piso.* And since the field and open shew of
armes

Disliked you, and that for the generall good

You meane to end all styrres in end of him ;

That, as the ground, must first be thought upon.

*Mili.* Besides, this comming cannot be for forme,

(aside)

Our (Mere?) visitation ; they goe aside

And have long conferences by themselves.

*Lucan. Piso,* his coming to your house at *Baiae*¹

To bathe and banquet will fit meanes afford,

Amidst his cups, to end his hated life :

Let him die drunke that nere liv'd soberly.

*Piso.* O be it farre that I should staine my Table

And Gods of Hospitalitie with blood.

Let not our cause (now Innocent) be soyld

With such a plot, nor *Pisoes* name made hatefull.

What place can better fit our action

Then his owne house, that boundlesse envied heape

Built with the spoyles and blood of Citizens,

That hath taken up the Citie, left no roome

For *Rome* to stand on ? *Romanes* get you gone

And dwell at *Veiae*, if that *Veiae* too

This (His ?) house ore runne not.²

¹ Cf. Tacitus, Ann. xv. 52.

² Cf. Sueton. Vit. Ner. 49:—"Mirum et vel præcipue notabile inter hæc fuerit, nihil eum patientius quam maledicta et convitia hominum tulisse, neque in ullos leniorem quam qui se dictis aut carminibus lucessissent exstitisse. Multa Græce Latineque proscripta aut vulgata sunt, sicut illa :—

*Roma domus fiet: Veios migrate Quirites,*
*Si non et Veios occupat ista domus.*

41

*Lucan.* But twill be hard to doe it in his house
And harder to escape, being done.

*Piso.* Not so :

*Rufus*, the Captaine of the Guard, 's with us,

And divers other oth' *Prætorian* band

Already made (named ?); many, though unacquainted

With our intents, have had disgrace and wrongs

Which grieve them still; most will be glad of change,

And even they that lov'd him best, when once

They see him gone, will smile oth' comming times,

Let goe things past and looke to their owne safetie:

Besides, th' astonishment and feare will be

So great, so sodaine that 'twill hinder them

From doing anything.

*Mili.* No private businesse can concerne them all :

(aside)

Their countenances are troubled and looke sad ;

Doubt and importance in their face is read.

*Lucan.* Yet still, I think it were

Safer t'attempt him private and alone.

*Flav.* But 'twill not carry that opinion with it ;

'Twill seeme more foule and come from private malice.

*Brutus* and they, to right the common cause,

Did chuse a publike place.

*Scevin.*¹ Our deed is honest, why should it seeke corners?

Tis for the people done, let them behold it ;

Let me have them a witenesse of my truth

And love to th' Common-wealth. The danger's greater,

So is the glory. Why should our pale counsels

Tend whether feare rather then vertue calls them ?

¹ 4tos. *Servi.*

F

42

I doe not like these cold considerings.
First let our thoughts looke up to what is honest,
Next to what's safe. If danger may deterre us
Nothing that's great or good shall ere be done:
And, when we first gave hands upon this deed,
To th' common safetie we our owne gave up.
Let no man venture on a princes death,
How bad soever, with beliefe to escape;
Dispaire must be our hope, fame o[u]r reward.
To make the generall liking to concurre
With others (ours?) were even to strike him in his
shame

Or (as he thinks) his glory, on the stage,
And so too truly make 't a Tragedy;
When all the people cannot chuse but clap
So sweet a close, and 'twill not Cæsar be
That shall be slaine, a Roman Prince;
Twill be Alcmæon or blind Edipus.

*Mili.* And if it be of publique matters 'tis not

(aside)

Like to be talke or idle fault finding,
On which the coward onely spends his wisedome:
These are all men of action and of spirit,
And dare performe what they determine on.

*Lucan.* What thinke you of Poppæa, Tigellinus
And th' other odious Instruments of Court ?
Were it not best at once to rid them all ?

*Scevin.* In Cæsars ruine Anthony was spared;
Lets not our cause with needlesse blood distaine.
One onely mov'd, the change will not appeare;
When too much licence given to the sword,

Though against ill, will make even good men
feare.

Besides, things setled, you at pleasure may
By Law and publique Iudgement have them rid.

43

*Mili.* And if it be but talke oth' State 'tis Treason.

(aside)

Like it they cannot, that they cannot doe :
If seeke to mend it, and remoove the Prince,
That's highest Treason : change his Councellours,
That's alteration of the Government,

The common cloke that Treasons muffled in :
If laying force aside, to seeke by suite

And faire petition t'have the State reform'd,

That's tutering of the Prince and takes away
Th' one his person, this his Soveraightie.

Barely in private talke to shew dislike
Of what is done is dangerous ; therefore the action
Mislike you cause the doer likes you not.

Men are not fit to live ith' state they hate,

*Piso.* Though we would all have that employment
sought,

Yet, since your worthy forwardnesse *Scevinus* ¹

Prevents us and so Nobly beggs for danger,

Be this (thine ?) the chosen hand to doe the deed;

The fortune of the Empire speed your sword.

*Scevin.* Vertue and Heaven speed it. You home-borne

Gods of our countrey, *Romulus* and *Vesta*,

That *Thuscan Tiber* and Romes towers defends,

Forbid not yet at length a happie end

To former evils ; let this hand revenge

The wronged world ; enough we now have suffered.

[Exeunt.]

*Manet Milichus solus.*

*Mili.* Tush, all this long Consulting's more then
words,

¹ 4tos. Servinus.

44

It ends not there; th' have some attempt, some plot
Against the state: well, I'le observe it farther
And, if I find it, make my profit of it.

[Exit.]

Finis Actus Secundus. [Sic.]

Actus Tertius.

Enter Poppea solus. [Sic.]

Poppea. I lookt Nimphidius would have come ere
this.

Makes he no greater hast to our embraces,
Or doth the easiness abate his edge?
Or seeme we not as faire still as we did ?
Or is he so with Neròes playing wonne
That he before Poppea doth preferre it?
Or doth he think to have occasion still,
Still to have time to waite on our stolne meetings?

Enter Nimphidius to her.

But see, his presence now doth end those doubts.
What is't, Nimphidius, hath so long detain'd you ?
Nimphid. Faith, Lady, causes strong enough,
High walls, bard dores, and guards of armed men.
Poppea. Were you Imprisoned, then, as you were
going

To the Theater ?
Nimphid. Not in my going, Lady,
But in the Theater I was imprisoned.

45

For after he was once upon the Stage
The Gates¹ were more severely lookt into
Then at a town besieg'd: no man, no cause
Was Currant, no, nor passant. At other sights
The striefe is only to get in, but here
The stirre was all in getting out againe.
Had we not bin kept to it so I thinke
'Twould nere have been so tedious, though I know
'Twas hard to judge whether his doing of it
Were more absurd then 'twas for him² to doe it.
But when we once were forct to be spectators,
Compel'd to that which should have bin a pleasure,
We could no longer beare the wearisomnesse :
No paine so irksome as a forct delight.
Some fell down dead or seem'd at least to doe so,
Under that colour to be carried forth.
Then death first pleasur'd men, the shape all feare
Was put on gladly; some clomb ore the walls
And so, by falling, caught in earnest that
Which th'other did dissemble. There were women³
That (being not able to intreat the guard
To let them passe the gates) were brought to bed
Amidst the throngs of men, and made Lucina
Blush to see that unwonted companie.

Poppea. If 'twere so straightly kept how got you forth?

Nimphid. Faith, Lady, I came pretending hast
In Face and Countenance, told them I was sent
For things bith' Prince forgot about the sceane,

¹ Cf. Tac. Ann. xvi. 5; and Sueton. Vit. Ner. 23.

² 4to. time.

³ Cf. Sueton. Vit. Ner. 23. "Itaque et enixae quædam in spectaculis dicuntur, et multi tædio audiendi laudandique, clausis oppidorum portis, aut furtim desiluisse de muro aut morte simulata funere elati."

46

Which both my credit made them to beleeve
And *Nero* newly whispered me before.
Thus did I passe the gates; the danger, Ladie,
I have not yet escapt.

*Poppea.* What danger meane you?
*Nimphid.* The danger of his anger when he knowes
How I thus shranke away; for there stood knaves,
That put downe in their Tables all that stir'd
And markt in each there cheerefulnesse or sadnesse.

*Poppea.* I warrant Ile excuse you; but I pray
Lett's be a little better for your sight.
How did our Princely husband act *Orestes*?
Did he not wish againe his mother living?
Her death would adde great life unto his part.
But come, I pray; the storie of your sight.

*Nimph.* O doe not drive me to those hatefull
paines.

Lady, I was too much in seeing vext;
Let it not be redoubled with the telling.
I now am well and heare, my eares set free;
O be mercifull, doe not bring me backe
Unto my prison, at least free your selfe.
It will not passe away, but stay the time;
Wracke out the hours in length. O give me leave:
As one that wearied with the toyle at sea
And now on wished shore hath firm'd his foote,
He lookes about and glads his thoughts and eyes
With sight oth' greene cloath'd ground and leavy
trees,

Of flowers that begge more then the looking on,
And likes these other waters narrow shores;
So let me lay my wearines in these armes,
Nothing but kisses to this mouth discourse,
My thoughts be compast in those circl'd Eyes,
Eyes on no obiect looke but on these Cheekes;

47

Be blest my hands with touch of those round brests
Whiter and softer than the downe of Swans.
Let me of thee and of thy beauties glory
An¹ endless tell, but never wearying story.

[Exeunt.]

(SCENE 2.)

*Enter Nero, Epaphroditus, Neophilus.*

*Nero.* Come Sirs, I faith, how did you like my
acting?

What? wast not as you lookt for?

*Epaphr.* Yes, my Lord, and much beyond.

*Nero.* Did I not doe it to the life?

*Epaphr.* The very doing never was so lively
As was this counterfeyting.

*Nero.* And when I came
Toth' the point of *Agrippa*—*Clytemnestras* death,
Did it not move the feeling auditory?

*Epaphr.* They had beene stones whom that could
not have mov'd.

*Nero.* Did not my voice hold out well to the end,
And serv'd me afterwards afresh to sing with?

*Neoph.* We know *Appollo* cannot match your voice.
*Epaphr.* By *Jove*! I thinke you are the God himselfe

Come from above to shew your hidden arts
And fill us men with wonder of your skill.

¹ *4tos.* And.

² The 4tos. give “*Agrippa*,” which is nonsense. By a slip of the tongue, *Nero* was going to say “*Agrippina’s* death,” when he hastily corrected himself. *Tacitus* and *Suetonius* tell us that *Nero* was always haunted with the memory of his murdered mother.

48

Nero. Nay, faith, speake truely, doe not flatter me;
I know you need not; flattery's but where
Desert is meane.

*Epaphr.* I sweare by thee, O Cæsar,
Then whom no power of heaven I honour more,
No mortall Voice can passe or equall thine.

Nero. They tell of *Orpheus*, when he tooke his Lute
And moov'd the noble Ivory with his touch,
Hebrus stood still, *Pangea* bow'd his head,
Ossa then first shooke off his snowe and came
To listen to the moovings of his song;
The gentle *Popler* tooke the baye along,
And call'd the *Pyne* downe from his Mountaine seate;
The *Virgine Bay*, although the Arts she hates
Oth' *Delphick* God, was with his voice orecome;
He his twice-lost *Euridice* bewailes
And *Proserpines* vaine gifts, and makes the shores
And hollow caves of forrests now untreed
Beare his griefe company, and all things teacheth
His lost loves name; Then water, ayre, and ground
*Euridice*, *Euridice* resound.

These are bould tales, of which the Greeks have store;
But if he could from Hell once more returne
And would compare his hand and voice with mine,
I, though himselfe were iudge, he then should see
How much the *Latine* staines the *Thracian* lyar.
I oft have walkt by *Tibers* flowing bankes
And heard the Swan sing her own epitaph:
When she heard me she held her peace and died.
Let others raise from earthly things their praise;
Heaven hath stood still to hear my happy ayres
And ceast th'eternall Musicke of the *Spheares*
To marke my voyce and mend their tunes by mine.

*Neoph.* O divine voice!

*Epaphr.* Happy are they that heare it!

49

*Enter Tigellinus to them.*

Nero. But here comes Tigellinus; come, thy bill.
Are there so many? I see I have enemies.

*Epaphr.* Have you put Caius in? I saw him frowne.

*Neoph.* And in the midst oth' Emperors action.

*Gallus* laughed out, and as I thinke in scorne.

Nero. Vespasian¹ too asleepe? was he so drowsie?
Well, he shall sleepe the Iron sleepe of death.

And did *Thrasea* looke so sourely on us?

*Tigell.* He never smilde, my Lord, nor would
vouchsafe

With one applause to grace your action.

Nero. Our action needed not be grac'd by him:
Hee's our old enemie and still maligns us.

'Twill have an end, nay it shall have an end.
Why, I have bin too pittifull, too remisse;

My easinesse is laught at and contemn'd.

But I will change it; not as heretofore

By singling out them one by one to death:

Each common man can such revenges have;

A Princes anger must lay desolate
Citties, Kingdomes consume, Roote up mankind.

O could I live to see the generall end,
Behold the world enwrapt in funerall flame,
When as the *Sunne* shall lend his beames to burne
What he before brought forth, and water serve

Not to extinguish but to nurse the fire;
Then, like the *Salamander*, bathing me

In the last Ashes of all mortall things

Let me give up this breath. *Priam* was happie,

¹ Cf. Tacitus, Ann. xvi. 5. "Ferebantque Vespasianum, tamquam somno conniveret, a Phœbo liberto increpitum ægreque meliorum precibus obtectum, mox imminentem per-niciem maiore fato effugisse."

G

4

52

Himselfe; or, over cruel alters weeping,
Wish that with putting off a wizard hee
Might his true inward sorrow lay aside.
The showes of things are better then themselves.
How doth it stirre this ayery part of us
To heare our Poets tell imagin'd fights
And the strange blowes that fained courage gives!
When I' *Achilles* heare upon the Stage
Speake Honour and the greatnesse of his soule,
Me thinkes I too could on a *Phrygian* Speare
Runne boldly and make tales for after times;
But when we come to act it in the deed
Death mars this bravery, and the ugly feares
Of th' other world sit on the proudest browe,
And boasting Valour looseth his red cheeke.

*A Romane to them.*

*Rom.* Fire, fire! helpe, we burne!

2 *Rom.* Fire, water, fire, helpe, fire!

*Seneca.* Fire? Where ?

*Petron.* Where ? What fire ?

*Rom.* O round about, here, there, on every side
The girdling flame doth with unkind embraces
Compasse the Citie.

*Petron.* How came this fire ? by whom ?

*Seneca.* Wast chance or purpose ?

*Petron.* Why is't not quencht ?

*Rom.* Alas, there are a many there with weapons,
And whether it be for pray or by command
They hinder, nay, they throwe on fire-brands.²

¹ 4tos. I'd.

² " Nec quisquam defendere audebat, crebris multorum minis restinguere prohibentium, et quia alii palam faces iaciebant atque esse sibi auctorem vociferabantur, sive ut raptus licentius excercerent, seu jussu. "—Tac. Ann. xv. 37.

53

*Enter Antonius to them.*

*Anton.* The fire increaseth and will not be staid,
But like a stream¹ that tumbling from a hill
Orewhelmes the fields, orewhelmes the hopefull toyle
Oth' husbandman and headlong beares the woods;
The unweeting Shepheard on a Rocke afarre
Amazed heares the feareful noyse; so here
Danger and Terror strive which shall exceed.
Some cry and yet are well; some are kild silent;
Some kindly runne to helpe their neighbours house,
The whilest their own's afire;² some save their goods
And leave their dearer pledges in the flame;
One takes his little sonnes with trembling hands;
Tother his house-Gods saves, which could not him;
All bann the doer, and with wishes kill
Their absent Murderer.

*Petron.* What, are the *Gauls* returnd?

*Doth Brennus* brandish fire-brands againe?

*Seneca.* What can Heaven now unto our suffrings
adde?

*Enter another Romane to them.*

*Rom.* O all goes downe, *Rome* falleth from the Roofe;
The winds aloft, the conquering flame turnes all

¹ The simile is from Vergil, Æn. ii. 304-308—

“ In segetem veluti quum flamma furentibus Austris
Incidit ; aut rapidus montano flumine torrens
Sternit agros, sternit sata læta boumque labores,
Præcipitesque trahit silvas : stupet inscius alto
Accipiens sonitum saxi de vertice pastor.”

² The author may have had in his mind a passage in Dion Cassius' description of the fire : —θόρυβος τε οὖν ἵκαισος πανταχοῦ πάντας κατελάμβασιν, καὶ διάτριχον ὁ μὲν τῇ οἱ ἐὶ τῇ καύμενα καὶ ἔτροι πρὶν καὶ ἁκοῦσαι ὃ τῶν σφετέρων τι ἡμπέπρησαι, ἡ ἀπόλωλεν. Ξ B. 16.

54

Into it selfe. Nor doe the Gods escape;
Plei[a]des burnes; Iupiter, Saturne burnes;
The Altar now is made a sacrifice,
And Vesta mournes to see her Virgin fires
Mingle with prophane ashes.
Seneca. Heaven, hast thou set this end to Roman
greatnesse?

Were the worlds spoyles for this to Rome devided
To make but our fires bigger?

You Gods, whose anger made us great, grant yet

Some change in misery. We begge not now

To have our Consull tread on Asian Kings

Or spurne the quivered Susa at their feet ;

This we have had before : we beg to live,

At least not thus to die. Let Cannae¹ come,

Let Allias² waters turne again to blood:

To these will any miseries be light.

Petron. Why with false Auguries have we bin
deceiv'd?

Why was our Empire told us should endure

With Sunne and Moone in time, in brightnesse pass
them,

And that our end should be oth' world and it ?

What, can Celestiall Godheads double too?

Seneca. O Rome, the envy late

But now the pitie of the world! the Getes,³

The men of Cholcos at thy sufferings grive ;

The shaggy dweller in the Scithian Rockes,

The Mosch⁴ condemned to perpetual snowes,

¹ 4tos. Cannos.

² 4tos. Allius.

³ The 4tos. give “thee gets.” I feel confident that my emendation restores the true reading.

⁴ The reading of the 4tos. is the, “The most condemned,” &c. A tribe named the “Moschi” (of whom mention is made in Herodotus) dwelt a little to the south of the Colchians.

55

That never wept at kindreds burials
Suffers with thee and feeles his heart to soften.
O should the Parthyan heare these miseries
He would (his low and native hate apart¹)
Sit downe with us and lend an Enemies teare
To grace the funerall fires of ending Rome. [Exeunt.

(SCENE 4.)

Soft Musique. Enter Nero above alone with
a Timbrell.

I, now my *Troy* lookes beautious in her flames;

The *Tyrrhene* Seas are bright with *Roman* fires

Whilst the amazed Mariner afarre,

Gazing on th' unknowne light, wonders what starre
Heaven hath begot to ease the aged Moone.

When *Pirrhus*, stryding ore the cynders, stood

On ground where *Troy* late was, and with his Eye

Measur'd the height of what he had throwne downe—

A Citie great in people and in power,

Walls built with hands of God—he now forgive[s]

The ten yeares length and thinkes his wounds well
heald,

Bath'd in the blood of *Priams* fifty sonnes.

Yet am not I appeas'd ; I must see more

Then Towers and Collomns tumble to the ground ;

'Twas not the high built walls and guiltlesse stones

That *Nero* did provoke: themselves must be the wood
To feed this fire or quench it with their blood.

¹ So the 4tos. “Low hate” is nonsense. “Long and native hate” would be spiritless; while “bow and arrow laid apart” involves far too violent a change. I reluctantly give the passage up.

56

### Enter a Woman with a burnt Child.

*Wom.* O my deare Infant, O my Child, my Child,
Unhappy comfort of my nine moneths paines;
And did I beare thee only for the fire,
Was I to that end made a mother ?

*Nero.* I, now begins the sceane that I would have.

### Enter a Man bearing another dead.

*Man.* O Father, speake yet; no, the mercilesse blowe
Hath all bereft speech, motion, sense and life.

*Wom.* O beauteous innocence, whitenes ill blackt,
How to be made a coale didst thou deserve ?

*Man.* O reverend wrinckles, well becoming pale- nesse,
Why hath death now lifes colours given thee

And mockes thee with the beauties of fresh youth. ?

*Wom.* Why wert thou given me to be tane away
So soone, or could not Heaven tell how to punish
But first by blessing mee ?

*Man.* Why where thy years
Lengthened so long to be cut off untimely ?

*Nero.* Play on, play on, and fill the golden skies
With cryes and pitie, with your blood; Mens Eyes¹—

*Wom.* Where are thy flattering smiles, thy pretty kisses,
And armes that want to writhe about my necke ?

*Man.* Where are thy counsels ? where thy good example,
And that kind roughnes of a Father's anger ?

*Wom.* Whom have I now to leane my old age on ?

¹ I suppose that the sentence is left unfinished; but perhaps it is more likely that the text is corrupt.

57

*Man.* Who shall I now have to set right my youth?

Gods, if yee be not fled from Heaven, helpe us.

*Nero.* I like this Musique well; they like not mine.

Now in the teare[s] of all men let me sing,
And make it doubtfull to the Gods above
Whether the Earth be pleas'd or doe complaine.

*Man.* But may the man that all this blood hath shed
Never bequeath to th' earth an old gray head;
Let him untimely be cut off before.
And leave a course like this, all wounds and gore;
Be there no friends at hand, no standers by
In love or pittie mov'd to close that Eye :
O let him die, the wish and hate of all,
And not a teare to grace his Funerall.

*Wom.* Heaven, you will heare (that which the world doth scorn)
The prayers of misery and soules forlorne.

Your anger waxeth by delaying stronger,
O now for mercy be despis'd no longer ;
Let him that makes so many Mothers childlesse
Make his unhappy in her fruitfulnesse.

Let him no issue leave to beare his name
Or sonne to right a Fathers wronged fame;
Our flames to quit be righteous in your yre,
And when he dies let him want funerall fire.

*Nero.* Let Heaven do what it will, this I have done.
Already doe you feel my furies waight:

Rome is become a grave of her late greatnes;
Her lowdes of smoke have tane away the day,
Her flames the night.

Now, unbeleaving Eyes, what crave you more?

H

58

### Enter Neophilus to him.

Neoph. O save your selfe, my Lord: your Pallace
burnes.

Nero. My Pallace? how? what traiterous hand?

### Enter Tigellinus to them.

Tigell. O flie, my Lord, and save your selfe betimes.
The winde doth beate the fire upon your house,
The eating flame devoures your double gates;
Your pillars fall, your golden roofes doe melt;
Your antique Tables and Greeke Imagery
The fire besets; and the smoake, you see,
Doth choake my speech: O flie and save your life.

Nero. Heaven thou dost strive, I see, for victory.

[Exeunt.]

(SCENE 5.)

### Enter Nimphidius solus.

See how Fate workes unto their purpos'd end
And without all selfe-Industry will raise
Whom they determine to make great and happy.
Nero throwes down himselfe, I stirre him not;
He runnes unto destruction, studies wayes
To compasse danger and attaine the hate
Of all. Bee his owne wishis on his head,
Nor Rome with fire more then revenges burne.
Let me stand still or lye or sleepe, I rise.
Poppea some new favour will seeke out
My wakings to salute; I cannot stirre
But messages of new preferment meet me.
Now she hath made me Captaine of the Guard
So well I beare me in these night Alarmes
That she imagin'd I was made for Armes.

59

I now command the Souldier,¹ he the Citie:

If any chance doe turne the Prince aside
(As many hatreds, mischiefes threaten him)

Ours is his wife; his seat and throwne is ours:

He's next in right that hath the strongest powers.

[Exit.]

(SCENE 6.)

### Enter Scevinus, Milichus.

Scevin. O Troy and O yee soules of our forefathers
Which in your countreys fires were offered up,
How neere your Nephews³ to your fortunes come.
Yet they were Grecian hands began your flame;
But that our Temples and our houses smoake,
Our Marble buildings turne to be our Tombes,
Burnt bones and spurnt at Courses fill the streets,
Not Pirrhus nor thou, Hanniball, art Author:
Sad Rome is ruin'd by a Romane hand.
But if to Nerons end this onely way
Heavens Justice hath chose out, and peoples love
Could not but by these feebling ills be mov'd,
We doe not then at all complaine; our harmes
On this condition please us; let us die
And cloy the Parthian with revenge and pitie.

Mili. My Master hath seald up his Testament;
Those bond-men which he liketh best set free;
Given money, and more liberally then he us'd.
And now, as if a farewell to the world
Were meant, a sumptuous banquet hath he made;
Yet not with countenance that feasters use,
But cheeres his friends the whilest himselfe lookse sad.

¹ Quy. I now command the Souldiery in the Citie.

² Sc. descendants. Vid. Nares, s.v.

60

Scevin. I have from Fortunes Temple¹ tane this
sword;
May it be fortunate and now at least,
Since it could not prevent, punish the Evill.
To Rome it had bin better done before,
But though lesse helping now they'le praise it more.
Great Soveraigne of all mortall actions.
Whom only wretched men and Poets blame,
Speed thou the weapon which I have from thee.
'Twas not amid thy Temple Monuments
In vaine repos'd; somewhat I know 't hath done:
O with new honours let it be laid up.
Strike bouldly, arme; so many powerful prayers
Of dead and living hover over thee.

Mili. And though sometimes with talk impertinent
And idle fances he would faire a mirth,
Yet is it easie seene somewhat is heere
The which he dares not let his face make shew of.

Scevin. Long want of use² hath made it dull
and blunt.—
See, Milichus, this weapon better edg'd.
Mili. Sharpning of swords? When must wee
then have blowes?

Or meanes my Master, Cato-like, to exempt
Himselfe from power of Fates and, cloy'd with life,
Give the Gods backe their unregarded gift ?
But he hath neither Catoes mind nor cause ;
A man given ore to pleasures and soft ease.
Which makes me still to doubt how in affaires
Of Princes he dares meddle or desires.

Scevin. We shall have blowes on both sides.—
Milichus,
Provide me store of cloathes to bind up wounds.—

¹ Cf. Tacitus, Ann. xv. 53.

² 4tos. losse.

61

What an't be heart for heart; Death is the worst.
The Gods sure keepe it, hide from us that live
How sweet death is because we should goe on
And be their bailes.—There are about the house
Some stones that will stanch blood; see them set up.—
This world I see hath no felicitie:
Ile trie the other.

Mili. Nerones life is sought;¹
The sword's prepar'd against anothers breast,
The helpe for his. It can be no private foe,
For then 'twere best to make it knowne and call
His troupes of bond and freed men to his aide.
Besides his Counsellors, Seneca

And Lucan, are no Managers of quarrels.

Scevin. Me thinkes I see him struggling on the
ground,
Heare his unmanly outcries and lost prayers
Made to the Gods which turne their heads away.
Nero, this day must end the worlds desires
And head-long send thee to unquenched fires. [Exit.

Mili. Why doe I further idly stand debating?
My proofes are but too many and too frequent,
And Princes Eares still to suspitions open.
Who ever, being but accus'd, was quit?
For States are wise and cut of ylls that may be.
Meane men must die that t'other may sleepe sound.
Chiefely that ² rule whose weaknes, apt to feares,
And bad deserts of all men makes them know
There's none but is in heart what hee's accused. [Exit.

Finis Actus Tertii.

¹ 4tos. soft.

² Quy. they.—The passage, despite its obscurity of expression, seems to me intelligible; but I dare not venture to paraphrase it.

62

Actus Quartus.

*Enter Nero, Poppæa, Nimphidius, Tigellinus, Neo-philus, and Epaphroditus.*

Nero. This kisse, sweete love Ile force from thee,
and this;
And of such spoiles and victories be prowder
Than if I had the fierce Pannonian
Or gray-eyed German ten times overcome.
Let Iulius goe and fight at end oth' world
And conquer from the wilde inhabitants
Their cold and poverty, whilst Nero here
Makes other warres, warres where the conquerd
gaines,
Where to orecome is to be prisoner.
O willingly I give my freedome up
And put on my owne chaines,
And am in love with my captivitie.
Such Venus is when on the sandy shore
Of Xanthus or on Idas pleasant greene
She leades the dance; her the Nymphes all a-rowe ¹
And smying graces do accompany.
If Bacchus could his stragling Mynion
Grace with a glorious wreath of shining Starres,
Why should not Heaven my Poppæa Crowne?
The Northerne teeme shall move into a round,
New constellations rise to honour thee;
The earth shall wooe thy favours and the Sea
Lay his rich shells and treasure at thy feete.
For thee Hidaspis shall throw up his gold,

¹ 4tos. are we.

63

Panchaia breath the rich delightful smells;
The Seres and the feather'd man of Inde
Shall their fine arts and curious labours bring;
And where the Sunn's not knowne Poppæas name
Shall midst their feasts and barbarous pompe be
sung.
Poppæa. I, now I am worthy to be Queene oth'
world,
Fairer then Venus or the Bacchus love;
But you'le anon unto your cutt-boy! Sporus,
Your new made woman; to whom now, I heare,
You are wedded too.

Nero. I wedded ?
Poppæa. I, you wedded.
Did you not heare the words oth' Auspyces?
Was not the boy in bride-like garments drest ?
Marriage bookes seald as 'twere for yssue to
Be had betweene you ? solemne feasts prepar'd,
While all the Court with God-give-you-loy sounds ?
It had bin good Domitius your Father
Had nere had other wife.

Nero. Your froward, foolè; y'are still so bitter.
Whose that?

*Enter Milichus to them.*

Nimph. One that it seemes, my Lord, doth come
in hast.

Nero. Yet in his face he sends his tale before him.
Bad newes thou tellest?

¹ "Call me cut" meant commonly nothing more than Falstaff's "call me horse"; but as applied to Sporus the term "cutt-boy" was literally correct. For what follows in the text cf. Sueton. Vit. Ner. cap. 28.

64

Mili. 'Tis bad I tell, but good that I can tell it.
Therefore your Maiestie will pardon me
If I offend your eares to save your life.

Nero. Why? is my life indangerd?
How ends the circumstance? thou wrackst my
thoughts,

Mili. My Lord, your life is conspir'd against.

Nero. By whom?

Mili. I must be of the world excus'd in this,
If the great dutie to your Maiestie,

Makes me all other lesser to neglect.

Nero. Th' art a tedious fellow. Speake: by whom?

Mili. By my Master.

Nero. Who's thy Master?

Mili. Scevinus.

Poppea. Scevinus? why should he conspire?—
Unlesse he thinke that likenesse in conditions
May make him, too, worthy oth' Empire thought.

Nero. Who are else in it?

[Mili]. I thinke Natalis, Subrius, Flavus,¹
Lucan, Seneca, and Lucius Piso,
Asper and Quintilianus.

Nero. Ha done,
Thou 'ilt reckon all Rome anone; and so thou maist,
Th' are villaines all, Ile not trust one of them.
O that the Romanes had all but one necke!

Poppea. Pisoes slie creeping into mens affections
And popular arts have given long cause of doubt;
And th' others late observed discontinents,
Risen from misinterpreted disgraces,
May make us credit this relation.

Nero. Where are they? come they not upon us
yet?

¹ 4to. Subius, Flavius.

65

See the Guard doubled, see the Gates shut up.
Why, they'le surprise us in our Court anon.

Mili. Not so, my Lord; they are at Pisoes house
And thinke themselves yet safe and undis cry'd.

Nero. Lets thither then,
And take them in this false security.

Tigell. 'Twere better first to publish them traytors.
Nimph. That were to make them so

And force them all upon their Enemies.
Now without stirre or hazard theyle be tane
And boldly triall dare and law demaund;
Besides, this accusation may be forg'd

By mallice or mistaking.
Poppea. What likes you doe, Nimphidius, out of hand:

Nimph. I to himselfe¹ would make the matter cleare
Which now upon one servants credit stands.
The Cities favour keepes within the bonds
Of profit, they 'le love none to hurt themselves;
Honour and friendship they heare others name,
Themselves doe neither feele nor know the same.
To put them yet (though needlesse) in some feare
Weele keepe their streets with armed companies;
Then, if they stirre, they see their wives and houses
Prepar'd a pray to th' greedy Souldier.

Poppea. Let us be quicke then, you to Pisoes house,
While I and Tigellinus further sift
This fellowes knowledge.
[Ex. omnes præter Nero.

¹ Quy. “I, [sc. aye] to himselfe; ’twould make the matter cleare,” &c.

I

66

Nero. Looke to the gates and walles oth' Citie;
looke
The river be well kept; have watches set
In every passage and in every way.—
But who shall watch these watches? What if
they,
Begin and play the Traitors first? O where shall I
Seeke faith or them that I may wisely trust?
The Citie favours the conspirators;
The Senate in disgrace and feare hath liv'd;
The Camp—why? most are souldiers that he named;
Besides, he knowes not all, and like a foole
I interrupted him, else had he named
Those that stood by me. O securitie,
Which we so much seeke after, yet art still
To Courts a stranger and dost rather choose
The smoaky reedes and sedgy cottages
Then the proud roofes and wanton cost of kings.
O sweet dispised ioyes of poverty,
A happines unknowne unto the Gods!
Would I had rather in poore Gabii¹ bin
Or Ulubræ a ragged Magistrate,
Sat as a Iudge of measures and of corne
Then the adored Monarke of the world.
Mother, thou didst deservedly in this,
That from a private and sure state didst raise
My fortunes to this slippery hill of greatnesse
Where I can neither stand nor fall with life.
[Exit.

¹ 4tos. Gallii. Our author is imitating Juvenal (Sat. x. ll. 99–102):

“Huius qui trahitur prætextam sumere mavis,
An Fidenarum Gabiorumque esse potestas
Et de mensura ius dicere, vasa minora
Frangere, pannosus vacuis Ædilis Ulubris?”

67

## 1 (SCENE 2.)

Enter Piso, Lucan, Scevinus, Flavius.

Flav. But, since we are discover'd, what remaines
But put our lives upon our hands? these swords
Shall try us Traitors or true Citizens.

Scevin. And what should make this hazard doubt
successe?
Stout men are oft with sudden onsets danted:
What shall this Stage-player be?

Lucan. It is not now
Augustus gravitie nor Tiberius craft,
But Tigellinus and Chrisogonus,
Eunuckes and women that we goe against.

Scevin. This for thy owne sake, this for ours we
begg,
That thou wilt suffer him to be orecome;
Why shouldst thou keepe so many vowed swords
From such a hated throat?

Flav. Or shall we feare
To trust unto the Gods so good a cause?

Lucan. By this we may ourselves Heavens favour
promise

Because all noblenesse and worth on earth
We see's on our side. Here the Fabys sonne,
Here the Corvini are and take that part

There noble Fathers would, if now they liv'd.
There's not a soule that claimes Nobilitie,
Either by his or his forefathers merit,

But is with us; with us the gallant youth
Whom passed dangers or hote bloud makes bould;

Staid men suspect their wisdome or their faith
To whom our counsels we have not reveal'd;

68

And while (our party seeking to disgrace)
They traitors call us, each man treason praiseth
And hateth faith when Piso is a traitor.
Scevin. And,¹ at adventure, what by stoutnesse
can

Befall us worse than will by cowardise?
If both the people and the souldier failde us
Yet shall we die at least worthy our selves,
Worthy our ancestors. O Piso thinke,
Thinke on that day when in the Parthian fields
Thou cryedst to th' flying Legions to turne
And looke Death in the face; he was not grim
But faire and lovely when he came in armes.

O why there di'd we not on Syrian swords?
Were we reserv'd to prisons and to chaines?

Behold the Galley-asses in every street ;
And even now they come to clap on yrons.

Must *Pisoes* head be shewed upon a pole?
Those members torne, rather then *Roman*-like
And *Piso*-like with weapons in our hands

Fighting in throng of enemies to die ?

And that it shall not be a civill warre

Nero prevents, whose cruelty hath left

Few Citizens; we are not Romans now

But Moores, and Jewes, and utmost Spaniards,
And *Asiaes* refuse² that doe fill the Citie.

Piso. Part of us are already tak'n; the rest
Amaz'd and seeking holes. Our hidden ends
You see laid open; Court and Citie arm'd
And for feare ioyning to the part they feare.

Why should we move desperate and hopelesse armes
And vainely spill that noble bloud that should

¹ Cf. Tacitus, Annals, xv. 59.

² 4tos. refuge.

69

Christall Rubes¹ and the *Median* fields,
Not *Tiber* colour? And the more your show be,
Your loves and readinesse to loose your lives,
The lother I am to adventure them.

Yet am I proud you would for me have dy'd;
But live, and keepe your selves to worthier ends.

No Mother but my owne shall weepe my death
Nor will I make, by overthrowing us,

Heaven guiltie of more faults yet; from the hopes

Your owne good wishes rather then the thing
Doe make you see, this comfort I receive

Of death unforst. O friends I would not die

When I can live no longer; 'tis my glory

That free and willing I give up this breath,
Leaving such courages as yours untri'd.

But to be long in talk of dying would

Shew a relenting and a doubtfull mind :

By this you shall my quiet thoughts intend;

I blame not Earth nor Heaven for my end.² (*He dies.*)
Lucan. O that this noble courage had bin shewne

Rather on enemies breasts then on thy owne.

Scevin. But sacred and inviolate be thy will,
And let it lead and teach us.

This sword I could more willingly have thrust
Through *Neroes* breast; that fortune deni'd me,
It now shall through Scevinus.

[Exeunt.]

(SCENE 3.)

*Enter Tigellinus solus.*

What multitudes of villaines are here gotten

¹ Quy. *Euphrates*.

² According to Tacitus, Piso retired to his house and there opened his veins. Vid. Ann. xv. 59.

70

In a conspiracy, which Hydra like
Still in the cutting off increaseth more.
The more we take the more are still appeach [t],
And every man brings in new company.
I wonder what we shall doe with them all!
The prisons cannot hold more then they have,
The Iayles are full, the holes with Gallants
stincke;
Strawe and gold lace together live, I thinke.
'Twere best even shut the gates oth' Citie up
And make it all one Iayle; for this I am sure,
There's not an honest man within the walles.
And, though the guilty doth exceed the free,¹
Yet through a base and fatall cowardise
They all assist in taking one another
And by their owne hands are to prison led.
There's no condition nor degree of men
But here are met; men of the sword and gowne,
Plebeians, Senators, and women too;
Ladies that might have slaine him with their eye
Would use their hands; Philosophers
And Polititians. Polititians?
Their plot was laid too short. Poets would now
Not only write but be the arguments
Of Tragedies. The Emperour's much pleased:
But² some have named Seneca; and I
Will have Petronius. One promise of pardon
Or feare of torture will accusers find.
[Exit.

¹ Cf. Shakespeare, "Make mad the guilty and appal the free." Hamlet, II. 2.

² So the 4tos; but Quy.

“The Emperour’s much pleas’d
That some have named Seneca.”

71

(SCENE 4.)

Enter Nimphidius, Lucan, Scevinus, with a guard.

Nimph. Though Pisoes suddennesse and guilty
hand
Prevented hath the death he should have had,
Yet you abide it must.

Lucan. O may the earth lye lightly on his Course,
Sprinkle his ashes with your flowers and teares;
The love and dainties of mankind is gone.

Scevin. What onely now we can, we'l'e follow thee
That way thou lead'st and waite on thee in death;
Which we had done had not these hindred us.

Nimph. Nay, other ends your grievous crimes
awaite,
Ends which the law and your deserts exact.

Scevin. What have we deserved?

Nimph. That punishment that traitors unto Princes,
And enemies to the State they live, in merit.

Scevin. If by the State this government you meane
I iustly am an enemy unto it.

That's but to Nero, you and Tigellinus.
That glorious world that even beguiles the wise,
Being lookt into, includes but three or foure

Corrupted men, which were they all remov'd
'Twould for the common State much better be.

Nimph. Why, what can you ith' government
mislike,

Unlesse it grieve you that the world's in peace
Or that our arm[i]es conquer without blood ?
Hath not his power with forraine visitations

And strangers honour more acknowlldg'd bin
Then any was afore him ? Hath not hee

72

Dispos'd of frontier kingdomes with successe ?
Given away Crownes, whom he set up availing ?
The rivall seat of the *Arsacide*,
That thought their brightness equall unto ours,
Is't crown'd by him, by him doth raigne ?
If we have any warre it's beyond *Rhene*
And *Euphrates*, and such whose different chances
Have rather serv'd for pleasure and discourse
Then troubled us. At home the Citie hath
Increast in wealth, with building bin adorn'd,
The arts have flourisht and the Muses sung ;
And that his Iustice and well tempered raigne
Have the best Iudges pleas'd, the powers divine,
Their blessings and so long prosperitie
Of th' Empire under him enough declare.
*Scevin.* You freed the State from warres abroad,
but 'twas
To spoile at home more safely and divert
The *Parthian* enmitie on us ; and yet
The glory rather and the spoyles of warre
Have wanting bin, the losse and charge we have.
Your peace is full of cruelty and wrong ;
Lawes taught to speake to present purposes ;
Wealth and faire houses dangerous faults become ;
Much blood ith' Citie and no common deaths,
But Gentlemen and Consulary houses.
On *Cæsars* owne house looke : hath that bin free ?
Hath he not shed the blood he calls divine ?
Hath not that neerenes which should love beget
Always on him bin cause of hate and feare ?
Vertue and power suspected and kept downe ?
They, whose great ancestors this Empire made,
Distrusted in the government thereof ?
A happy state where *Decius* is a traytor,
*Narcissus* true ! nor onley wast unsafe

73

T' offend the Prince; his freed men worse were feard,
Whose wrongs with such insulting pride were heard
That even the faultie it made innocent.
If we complain'd that was it selfe a crime,
I, though it were to *Cæsars* benefit :
Our writings pry'd into, falce guiltines
Thinking each taxing pointed out it selfe ;
Our private whisperings listned after ; nay,
Our thoughts were forced out of us and punisht ;
And had it bin in you to have taken away
Our understanding as you did our speech,
You would have made us thought this honest too.
*Nimph.* Can malice narrow eyes
See anything yet more it can traduce ?
*Scevin.* His long continued taxes I forbeare,
In which he chiefly showed him to be Prince ;
His robbing Alters,¹ sale of Holy things,
The Antique Goblets of adored rust
And sacred gifts of kings and people sold.
Nor was the spoile more odious than the use
They were imployd on ; spent on shame and lust,
Which still have bin so endless in their change
And made us know a divers servitude.
But that he hath bin suffered so long
And prospered, as you say ; for that to thee,
O Heaven, I turne my selfe and cry, "No God
Hath care of us." Yet have we our revenge,
As much as Earth may be reveng'd on Heaven :
Their divine honour *Nero* shall usurpe,
And prayers and feasts and adoration have
As well as *Iupiter*.
*Nimph.* Away, blaspheming tongue,
Be ever silent for thy bitternesse.
*[Exeunt]*

¹ Cf. Tacitus, Ann. xv. 45; Sueton. Vit. Ner. 32.
K

74

(SCENE 5.)

Enter Nero, Poppæa, Tigellinus, Flavius, Neophilus,
Epaphroditus, and a yong man.

Nero. What could cause thee,
Forgetfull of my benefits and thy oath,
To seeke my life?

Flav. Nero, I hated thee:

Nor was there any of thy souldiers
More faithful, while thou faith deserv'dst, then I.
Together did I leave to be a subject,
And thou a Prince. Cæsar was now become
A Player on the Stage, a Waggoner,
A burner of our houses and of us,
A Paracide of Wife and Mother.¹

Tigell. Villaine, dost know where and of whom
thou speakst?

Nero. Have you but one death for him? Let it bee
A feeling one; *Tigellinus*, bee't²
Thy charge, and let me see thee witty in't.

Tigell. Come, sirrah;

Weele see how stoutly you'le stretch out your necke.

Flav. Wold thou durst strike as stoutly.

*[Exit Tigell. and Flav.*

¹ In Tacitus' account (Ann. xv. 67) the climax is curious :—
"'Oderam te,' inquit; 'nec quisquam tibi fidelior militum fuit
dum amari meruisti: odisse cœpi, postquam parricida matris
et uxoris, auriga et histrio et incendiarius extitisti.'"

² The verses would run better thus :—

"A feeling one; *Tigellinus*, bee't thy charge,
And let me see thee witty in't.

Tigell.

Come, sirrah;

Weele see" &c.

75

Nero. And what's hee there?

Epaphr. One that in whispering oreheard¹
What pitie 'twas, my Lord, that *Pisoe* died.

Nero. And why was't pitie, sirrah, *Pisoe* died?

Yong. My Lord, 'twas pitie he deserv'd to die.

Poppæa. How much this youth my *Otho* doth
resemble;

*Otho* my first, my best love who is now
(Under pretext of governing) exyl'd
To *Lucitania*, honourably banish't.

Nero. Well, if you be so passionate,
He make you spend your pitie on your Prince
And good men, not on traytors.

Yong. The Gods forbid my Prince should pitie
need.

Somewhat the sad remembrance did me stirre
Oth' fraile and weake condition of our kind,
Somewhat his greatnesse; then whom yesterday
The world but *Cæsar* could shew nothing higher.
Besides, some vertues and some worth he had,
That might excuse my pitie to an end
So cruell and unripe.

Poppæa. I know not how this stranger moves my
mind.
His face me thinkes is not like other mens,
Nor do they speake thus. (aside.)

Oh, his words invade
My weakned senses and overcome my heart.

Nero. Your pitie shewes your favour and your will,
Which side you are inclinde too, had you² power :
You can but pitie, else should *Cæsar* feare.
Your ill affection then shall punisht bee.
Take him to execution; he shall die
That the death pities of mine enemie.

¹ Quy. *was* oreheard *to* say.

² 4tos. your.