University of Virginia Library

Scena prima

Enter Rufinus Solus.
Ruf.
A Generall; o yee Gods,
why so disgrace ye a great Soldiers name
to cast it on a Creature so vnworthy
I that this twenty yeares haue tugd with danger
where ere it durst appeare, and oft haue donne,
those deeds would make this nouice quake to heere
I that haue stood more breaches for my Cuntry
then ere he numberd yeares, while this right hand,
from mars[s] alluring fauorits has forct
vnwilling Victory, for all are nowe
by the vngratefull King slighted, neglected
while this young puney thing is sett a cock horse
well, King, not feare, but wisdome makes mee hold
my f«urie» thus long from thee, but my Generall
ward yr selfe well, or my revengefull ire
like a resistles storme sent from the north
shall blast yr springing glory in the bud,
the deadly shirt dipt in the Centaures gore
thou foole, thou mighst haue put on with les danger
then cloath the thus in these vnfitting honors
wc h fate ordaind for mee, I hate thee firmely
and hate deepe rooted in a Souldiers brest
can hardly be digd out, oh his grace comes
and I must cleere my browe, for anger seene
looses his force, kept secret strengthens speene,

Enter Learchus, Leontius, Marcellanus and an other Senator, then Titus. the Kinge talking to Armanus Cornetts short florish
King.
Armanus wee haue sent thy freind to danger,
but honor leads him on, wee euer saw,
some dawning vertue[s] in his generous looke
wc h now wee hope in Action will shine cleere,
and dazle envies eyes, pray speake Lords freely
[freely] how like you our election of a Generall.

Sen:
as if the Gods themselues had made the choyce,

Ruf.
Yes amongst Schoole boyes, to lead a feasting on

King.
Yr approbation pleases, and wee trust
heele bring home peace and victory together
therefore thoe feare of ill succes be farr
on his high Alter to Tarpeian Ioue,
a milke White Bull with gilded hornes weele offer
to fauor Roome, and be propitious to him
Lett all our Temple Gates be open'd wide
and dayly Orisons to all the Gods
be made to send him home a happy Victor

Ruf.
the Kings growne wondrous holy athe suddaine

King
our selfe in priuate heere Lowe on our knees
will poure our prayers, for his tender safetie
then leaue vs Lords, and see our will performed
Religiously, nay you may stay, Rufinus,

Exit omnes, manet King & Rufinus.
Ruf.
Whats the Kings meaning to make mee his preist
why I [neare] yet neare knew wc h way to pray
or if my nurse ere taught mee, such a Language
I left it in my Cradle, heers a Cushion,
please yr grace to kneele,

King.
to kneele to whome, wee are not disposed to pray
[dost not thou thinke the Gods would blush to see]
[a man in greatnes equalling themselues]
[debase himselfe so poorely, Knowe Rufinus]
[if Ioue be able to do vs a kindnes]
[our merits bind him toot, the Garlands, Crownes]
[high Altars, sacrifices, stately Temples]
[our bounty has bestowed vpon him, yett]
[are vnrewarded all, then without pride]
[wee scorne to bee a beggar to our debtor]

Ruf.
then I mistooke you Sir

King:
and so thou dost,
in more then this Rufinus, preethee tell mee
whats thy conceite of Tullius and his honors?

Ruf.
May I speake freely Sir?

King.
and fearles too
as if thou weart my oracle or preist
thoe all thy words be poynted, and black treason
hung vpon euery harsh tuned syllable,
of what thou now shalt vtter by my Crowne
my loue shall be as firme to thee as nowe,

Ruf.
Then Sir, for Tullius, heis a white cheekt boy.
whose fearfull Soule, a Souldiers frowne would fright
from his fine mettled brest, he has a face
that would disgrace a Wound, had you veiwed him
as he went drooping through the Citty gates,
you might haue seene his hart theare characterd,
he lookt as if with ioy he could haue changd
his march for a softe measure, his loud Drum
for a still quauering Lute, his wauing Cullors
for a Ladies scarfe, and his stiffe armor for a masking sute
nor can I thinke yr eyes sr were so blinded
but you saw many more able, more deseruing men
whose vertues might haue claymd what yow haue cast
on him without desert, amongest wc h number,
since you are pleasd to forgett it, I may name
my selfe without the title of vaine glorious,
and boast this hand has puld Coliguall death
euen from that brest of yours, and quencht those fires
that would haue turnd yor pallace into Cindors
in three sett Battells gainst the manly Gaules,
wc h weare the first since Godlike Hercules
that euer climbd the Alpine hills wt h force
this sword hath woon you glorie but henceforth
Ile learne to rest at home securd from danger
yr wiues shall be deflowred, yr Childrens braines
strow the cold pauement, all the Chanells runne
with crimson riuers, and yr tottering Crowne
drop from yr head, ere I will strike a stroake
or stur a foote for any so vnthankfull.

King.
how Traytor?

Ruf.

King.
Yes Sir wee doe
and you shall all feele ours, poore envious fooles
whose shallowe Iudgments, could search our reach
in sending Tullius hence, I knew yr hate,
yo r puft ambition, and yr poysonous spleenes
darting at Marcus graces, wc h [fild] like moates
but darken the bright beames of his cleere vertues,
yr honors make you odious grace bestowed,
on those that shall corrupt it, blacker showes
and dos present the persons baser far
then such as spring from dunghills, you haue now
by this deuice throwne that into our bosome
wee would haue purchased with a magazin

Ruf.
Yr poore partaking it, for since I see
Reuenge sitt on yr forehead, wee know now
how to preuent yr furie fare you well Sir

King.
Stay

Ruf.
not to heare one word more,

King.
wee doe intreate thee stay

Ruf.
well whats yr will

King.
that thou shouldst looke more mildly, banish doubt
for wee so prize thee and thy high deserts
weele take away the Cloud that hides the truth
from thy deluded eys, therefore prepare
to heare a storie shall astonish thee
thou canst be secrett

Ruf.
Yes I thinke I can,

King.
then knowe, these furrowes cast vp in our brow
was but to couer seede that has tane roote
in this our dry partcht braine, wee are in loue
with beautious Philadelpha

Ruf.
Whats that to mee

King.
Be patient thou shalt heare, I dote on her
more then the foole on folly, wise on knowledge
the Vserer on his gold, or proud of honor
it was her loue that aduanct Tullius,
vnto this tipe of state,
her beautie only made him Generall
and thrust him hence into the Iawes of danger,
wc h his [debillities] Rash Iudgment soone will leape into
for whilest he staid at home, what hope had I
of my opportunitie to gaine
the ritchest prize that euer sweetend sin
my loue to thee is firme as ere it was
but lust so sure has mark't mee for her owne
that I neglect all things that tend not soly
to the attainement of my wisht delight

Ruf.
faith sir in my mind
an easie battery might win such a fort

King
I knowe not for I yet nere found the man
I could thinke worthy the embassie
to beare the message of my hart to her,
but thou Rufinus, through the Court art famed
for thy neate swasiue spech and canded toung
with which from fixed resolutions oft,
thou hast remoued our selfe and made vs wonder
at our owne weaknes, seeking to conclude
matters of waight without thee, tis my wish

Ruf.
that I should be yor spokes man,

King.
before any

Ruf.
a faire preferment thus whilest Tullius wins
honor abroad, stiled yr great Generall,
I must be kept at home to be yr Pander
you are ignoble, to propose a deede
of so much basenes to a Souldier
had I no other name to honor mee
Ile sooner flye vnto yr enemie
and with my sword compell this princock boy
to bring her to yor Armes nay to yr bed
and make him there, be baude to his owne wife
then vndergoe the title, Pander sdeath

King.
Stop nott at that, tis far from our intent

Ruf.

King
No more
preethee no more thou shalt wast such words
whose [«w*******»de] eloquence would force a frozen Nun
to fly her holy orisons to imbrace mee
I build vpont shees mine, about it then
I'me yet a Bondman thou must sett mee free
or I shall range beyond Communitie
about it deere Rufinus, thus must Kings
Exit Rufinus
for priuate ends the Insolence indure
of those were borne there Vassailes
and Immure there high disdaine, that like a storme should drowne
there full sayld pride and h[omwards]elong strike it downe
but who ist can preuent it, chance or fate
what wee intend wants power or witt to mate,
Exit Ki«ng»