University of Virginia Library


44

Incipit Actus Quartus.

Enter Titus, Valerio, Nicanor.
Titus.
Now fellow-Souldiers, what? Methinks ye look
Not smiling on Vespatians Son.
Let not the miss of your old Captain strike
Your manly hearts with grief: Come, come let me
See your cheerful countenances speak
My hearty welcome; Courage noble friends,
For know, there's not a dram of worth infus'd
Within Vespatians noble loins, but lives
Invested here: these lusty Roman veins
Swell high as ere did his, with hopeful pride
Of happy victory; this loyal brest
Harbours a heart as full of Clemency
If gently sought unto; but slighted once,
the daring Lyon harbours one more mild,
More merciful then I. I tell ye Lords,
I'le not expect more duty from your hands,
then my deserving actions truly weigh'd,
Shall justly challenge: And be thus assur'd,
My aged Father thus far Ile out-do,
there's not a tittle of his former promises
to either here, but shall by me be crown'd
With fair performance.
To witness which, we give you joint Command
And Martial Pow'r, as next unto our self.

Val.
My gracious Lord, the best of my endeavours
Shall strive to merit what your noble hand
Hath now conferr'd; my hearts best blood my Lord
Shall seal my faithful protestation.

Ni.
My actions, my good Lord, shall better speak
My humble thanks, then my unskilful phrase:
Mean time your Lordships pardon for my silence.

Ti.
Tis well: Now I must tell ye Lords,
As I have ript my heart to let you see
My lifes Compendium. I expect that you
Should shape your actions to deserve my love:
For I must tell ye Lords, 'tis not a formal shew
of gilded words that can perswade me so:

45

Let me behold your brave attempts pursue
Imperious victory through seas of blood;
Your panting souls in midst of Massacre,
thirst after Honour, till the reaking blade
cry, 'tis enough.
Have ye not seen when in a bloody fray
My Noble Father hath been left alone,
Alone, begirt with ranks of Enemies,
Whose strong Batalio's kept all rescue from him:
How then, even then when horror infinite
Stood gazing on him with a grim aspect,
How then (I say) his daring countenance
Stood in defiance of them all at once:
How the more danger, still the more he durst,
Like a strange Mastiff fiercely set upon
by mungril Curs in number ten to one;
With angry teeth, and courage bravely bold,
A snarles, and snaps; now this, now that doth bite,
And stoutly still maintains the unequal fight
with equal fury, till the bawling curres
be quite disperst: So he,
but with such Kingly awful Majesty,
as if in midst of this confusion
A found but sport of recreation:
Such and so daring must you be my Lords,
to gain my love, and win your countrey honor.

Ni.
My Lord, our lives & Fortunes weigh'd with either,
We prize at nothing; nor can we desire
more felicity then to enjoy
the least of either.

Va.
My honored Lord, your most exact command
will teach us Valour had we ne're been train'd
in Martial Discipline.

Ti.
I like your answers wel, saving that yours Valerio,
favours too much of flattery—and yet
upon life thou art not that way guilty.
And trust me souldiers I am confident
Your words and actions will in all points sympathize:
But we trifle time, and must redeem it
by a strict surveigh of our proceedings.

Enter Joseph from Rome.
Io.
From great Vespatian my most honor'd Lord,
I come to do thee humble service.


46

Ti.
Now by my life thou'rt welcome, welcome worthy friend;
Our Royal Father ne'er could send a man
More deer in our affection:
Thou com'st as we could wish thee, Ioseph;
to morrow we intend to parley with Ierusalem;
thy friendly presence may perchance perswade
thy Countreymen to yeild subjection:
If they refuse, by the Majestick power
Of mighty Cesar's sacred Diadem,
I'le scourge their pride with such severity,
shall make the Rebels curse their misery.
Come my endeared friend.

Exeunt.
Takes Jo. by the hand.
Enter Zareck.
The three seditious Captains are at odds,
Each hunts the other's life; yet all do bear
A fair pretence of friendship to each other;
Each seeks for soveraignty; whilst, Sinon, I
With protestations of integrity
And zealous love, do fairly close with all;
For being friends to all in time of league,
'twill be a riddle to the wisest pate,
Whose love I prized most; then I protest
With what obsequious care and toiling pain,
My wits are wearied to design a plot
Whose wary circumstances may discry
All shew of falshood in the enterprize,
to trip the heels of either enemy;
then shew the time, the place, the manner how
to do't: O I am tickled with the fine conceit.
My Father in a fair and good estate,
Was by these Rebels rob'd and spoil'd of all,
And I his son left naked to the world,
poor and dejected, till my working brain
Projected this employment to relieve me;
Since when, I have been busied for revenge:
O how methinks that very word Revenge,
Allaies the fury of my discontent!
But soft; 'tis much about the time they should be here:
I will withdraw my self.

Zareck stands behind the hangings.
Enter Eleazer.
I must be wise, and cloath my pleasing phrase,
With fair pretence of peace and amity.

47

The blustring wind commands with angry brow,
The toiling traveller to leave his Cloak;
The storm encreases, but the pelting man
Still gripes it faster, till the pleasing Sun
By gentle rayes intreats him lay it down.

Enter L. Jehochanan and L. Skimeon.
Ieho.
Good morrow to the Lord Eleazer.

A table set, and Zareck stands behind the Arras.
Elea.
Welcome Iehochanan, welcome noble friends,
Come, sit we down, and each man freely speak
His cause of grievance: Ah my worthy friends,
Dissention is amongst us: Vpon my life I dare
presume there is some strange mistake,
For else it cannot be that we should differ.

Ie.
Some strange mistake? Indeed my Lord 'twas strange
Your Lordship should mistake your self so much,
And us your friends (your friends! nay more my Lord, then friends,
For friends are formal now:) the strength of your designs:
To send to us a publike messenger
to summon us upon command to be
Attendants on your Lordships pleasure!
My Lord, this was not fair nor friendly.

E.
Not fair my Lords, nor friendly! which of you
that stood in equal terms of honor with my self,
Woo'd lose one tittle of that Dignity
that fairly rank't his state and quality?
Was it for me to say, I woo'd intreat?
Was not the Message publike?
Had it been private, you should then have seen
My fair respect, and friendly love to either.
But, as it was my Lord—

L. Skim.
Nay, then I must have leave to tell ye Sir,
Your Honour swells too high, and must be qualifi'd
In equal terms of Honor with your self:
My Lord, I dare affirm that Simeon stands
In equal terms of honour with your self.

Elea.
How's that?

Sim.
Nay good my Lord, your Father's yet alive,
And you are then a private man as we.

Elea.
This—is in jest, to see how I can poize
A Friends affection, or perchance—to try
the bent of mine.

Sim.
Your Honour may do well to pass it so,

48

Or else, perchance your Lordship may be angry
And then—how much your health may be impair'd
With such distemper, may perhaps—

Elea.
No more.
I was not wont to be ridiculous:
Nor did I come to hear such airy talk.
If this be earnest, let me bear who dares
pronounc't agen.

Ie.
Who dares! that brave reflects on me,
that dare stand up to spurn at that, and thee.

El.
Is't possible!

S.
Iehochanan, thou dost me open wrong
to intercept me:
The cause was mine; to me it did belong
to give an answer. Wer't thou not who thou art,
I should not take this well.

Ie.
Simeon, I am as deep engag'd as thou,
And will have leave to prize mine Honor highest.

S.
And will have leave!

Ie.
I say, and will have leave, and say't agen.

S.
Death, thou dar'st not say't agen.

Za.
Apart, it works.

Ie.
Dare not!

Elea.
I do command ye cease:
For shame give o're this rash behaviour:
Is this a time to broach a Faction,
When Cesars son has conquer'd Galilee,
And now is marching to Ierusalem?

Ie.
And will command my self.

E.
Villain.

Ie.
Thou lyest.

E.
O my inraged soul, must I endure all this?

S.
All this and more, thou must endure me too.

E.
Must Simeon?

S.
I must I say, and shall:
Couldst thou dart lightnings from thy countenance,
Thus woo'd I meet thee, and out-face thee thus.

E.
O I am lost in rage, and can endure no longer.

They draw, and a trumpet sounds from within.
Enter an Herauld.
Her.
From Cesar's son, brave Lords, I come to say
He offers parley to Jerusalem:
The time prefixt is the next morning sun


49

Elea.
Go tell thy Master we accept it.

H.
I shall return your answer.

Exit.
El.
This is no time to fight, nor will I now
Stand to defend mine honor: But stay,
before we sheath our weapons let us swear
Howe're our private quarrel may proceed,
That we will still maintain each other's part
Against Vespatian's son.

Both:
We are content.

E.
Your hands.
Lay hands on the Sword.
By a true souldiers Honour we do swear,
Fairly to friend each other in the field,
And jointly to oppose Vespatian.

Both:
We swear to do't.

E.
The same swear I.
I shall expect you both to morrow early.

Both:
We will not miss the hour.

Exeunt at several wayes.
Za.
The Furies are broke loose, if either fall,
Zareck may rise to be a General.

Exit.
Enter Peter with a Sword and Buckler, leading Gorion manicled with an halter about his neck, apparel'd in a Canvase suit.
Pet.
Come, come sir, come away sir, come away.

G.
Nay, prethee friend be not so rigorous,
Give me a little time to breathe a while.

Pet.
Breathe a while! I, I, I'le breathe ye, I warrant ye.
Come, come follow me, follow me, I say,
Ye shall want for no breathing.

Go.
Inhumane wretch, I cannot follow thee:
Thou hast already wearied out my limbs
With thy ingrateful usage.

P.
Nay, nay, nay sir, all's one for that,
Limbs, or not limbs; I say, Follow me.

Drags him along, & exeunt.
Beat Drom within, and enter Titus, Joseph, Vallerio and Nicanor at one door, and the three Captains at the other, and after them Peter, leading old Gorion in the Halter.
P.
Come forward I say, a comes like a Bear to the stake.

Titus.
What means this spectacle of misery?

Io.
O Titus, 'tis my Father.
Wert thou enthral'd in more captivity,
Thus low would Ioseph bow to do thee honor.
[Jo. kneels, & Go. weeps.

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I never felt my self so far surpriz'd
With sudden passion; Nature is or'e-charg'd,
And fain woo'd have some vent. I fear
I shall forget my self: Fye Ioseph, fie,
apart.
Art thou a souldier? So—now the stream is turn'd.

Ti.
Now my brave Lords of Jewry, which of you
stands chief Commander in this bold Rebellion?

Elea.
Rebellion, Titus!

S.
Speak that word agen,
And Simeon dares reply that Titus lyes.

Ti.
Should Titus speak't agen, 'twere still the same,
Nor is it less spoke once.

Ie.
Then know bold Roman, Jewries sons are free,
And scorn to bend to Cesar, or to thee.

Ti.
The sturdy stick that will not bend, must break.

E.
But not with Titus Arm, nor Cesars too.

Jo.
Ah dearest countreymen, I come not here
to lift mine arm against Jerusalem,
But to lament it, Lords; for well I know,
the heavens have fore-decreed your overthrow:
The great Caldeans Golden Head is laid,
the mighty Persians silver Arms are lopt;
the Grecians thighs of brass are broken down:
What's then remaining but those Iron Legs
On which the sturdy Roman Empire stands,
And stamps the World to Powder: Ah my Lords
Will ye contend with Fate?

Iehoc.
Peace thou base coward, that to save thy life
Hast lost thine honor.
Thou com'st with fawning zeal to beg for mercy.

Ioseph.
To beg for mercy! then mercy ne're protect me.
Forgive me Heaven, that I am forc't to draw
My sword against my self, my Native countreymen.

Draws.
Tit.
Now by my life they come to brave me here.
Rebels, those lordly hearts of yours shall bleed;
By all the Gods they shall—
Deliver up that aged prisoner;
Or by the Roman Powers ye shall repent it.

Schim.
Not for the Roman Crown.

Elea.
Lead him away to torture.
Come, come, come away sir, I'le tickle him with tortures.

Io.
O my distressed Fate!

Ti.
Villains, there's not a torture you inflict

51

Vpon those aged limbs, but I'le return
With millions on your own.

Sound Drums, and exeunt omnes.
Beat Droms, and they fight within; then enter Joseph and fights with Eleazer, and exeunt. Enter Valerio, and fights with Jehoc. and exeunt. Enter Nicanor, fights with Simeon, and exeunt: The three seditious are repulst: then enter Titus, and meets with Eleazer, they fight: then enter Jehoc. and Simeon as several Doors: Titus fights with the three: Eleazer cryes, kill him: Jehochanan, take him alive: Simeon cryes the second time, kill him: Jehochanan, take him alive. Eleazer the third time kill him: Jehochanan, take him alive. Titus makes way through them wounded, and escapes.
E.
Death and the Devil, why did ye let him scape?

S.
O we are finely cheated of the booty,
And shall be laught to scorn: Death, I could tear my flesh.

Ie.
Stand ye to beat the air with idle words?
Let's follow close, and find him out agen.
Disperse your selves, and follow.
Exeunt as several wayes.
Enter Peter.
Call ye this Honour? a pox of honor,
Give me honesty down-right honesty:
Souns, break ones head, and give him no warning!
I woo'd not have Honor come so fast upon me neither.
Looks who comes.
Im'e pepperd with a vengeance: Farewel Honor,
Ile to my Lady agen.

Exit.
Enter Titus wounded: Iosephus, Valerio, Nicanor, follow.
Io.
How fares my Lord?

Ti.
Well my Iosephus, trust me, passing well:
'tis Titus glory to be bath'd in blood:
Now by mine Honor Ioseph, I am glad
to see such valour in thy Countrey-men:
the charge was hot, and bravely seconded.
Didst thou not see where I was forc't to fight,
to man the Front, that then began recoile.

Io.
My Lord I did.

Tit.
There my brave Lords, mine Honor lay at stake,
there was I round begirt with Enemies,
and must be ransomed by mine own desert:
O my Valerio! then I call'd to mind

52

the great Vespatian: then Tiberius;
then mighty Julius: and then—
Arm'd with disdain and envy, I assail'd
the stout Jehochanan, then Skimeon,
then Lordly Eleazer, then all; and then
Stood all their bold repulses back agen.
There I receiv'd these wounds; and then, at last
Rapt into rage with fury and revenge,
Sweating, and bleeding, in despight of all
this arm maintain'd me still a General.
But now no more of this:
A more convenient time shall fitter serve
For this discourse. Come worthy Souldier:
Exeunt om.
My wounds are stiff, I must retire my self.
Enter L. Eleazer with his Rapier drawn.
The glorious prey is lost:
Puts up his Rapier.
Now Eleazer, to thy other business.
I do remember wel, a sed, my father was alive:
And then—as if my fathers life were my disgrace,
A slighted me with scorn—It must be so,
My father must not live: I am resolv'd.
Exit.
Enter Jehochanan, his Rapier drawn.
A pair of pretious Villains! By this light
Puts up his Rapier.
I laugh to think how finely they are cheated.
The Lordly Eleazer woo'd be King;
And so woo'd Simeon too. Both aim at me:
But I will live in spight of policy.
Exit.
Enter Simeon wounded.
The game is ended, and the Deer escap't;
the night draws on apace, and I am hurt.

Exit.
Enter Eleazer and Zareck.
Elea.
The time's within this hour: make haste, I say,
And fit thy self with instruments of death,
Smal pocket-daggers. But be sure thou hast
A special care that no o're-reaching eye
Detect the plot.
Then with a cloak of seeming sanctity,
Deject behaviour, visage meanly sad,
Eies full of tears; but heart replete with blood:
Low bending to my aged father; Say—
What thy more wary wits shall think upon:
But on thy life take heed thou fail not.

Zar.
Not for the world.
Exit Za:

Elea.
The time draws on apace they should be here.

53

I must disarm my self and wait their coming.
disarms
Theres something troubles me, all is not well within.
I would not see him fall: and yet I must.
O Eleazer—but I forget my self:

Exit.
A noise of still musick; and Enter the high Priest with attendants, Guards, and Quiresters: they sing.
An Alter and Tapers set:
See those buildings where once thy glorie liv'd in,
with heavenly essence:
See how it droopeth, and how nakedly it looketh
Without thy presence:
Hark how thy captive people mourn
With heavy moaning,
and grevious groaning,
For thy being absent,
And for the heathens scorn:
Because thy people are by thee forlorn.
See those tapers, which once enflam'd those vapours
Of our sweet Peace.
See those places, where we once injoy'd those graces,
Which now do cease.
O See the Altar whereas we
Enjoy'd those blisses,
With heavenly kisses
From thy free love,
And from thy Clemency:
Whilst we did sing to thee mellodiously:
Exeunt Quir.
H. P.
leave us to our Devotion.

Enter Za. he bowes to the high Priest, and declares by sighs his sons submission: he lifts up his hands in token of Thankfulness, and weeps.
H. P.
Thou comst with happie news: go call him in.

Calls him.
Enter Eleazer, and kneels.
E.
Ah my much wronged Father!

An.
This is beyond my hopes: stand up young man:
Heaven give thee pardon for thy great offence.
Where are thy confederates?

E.
I would not be o're-heard.

A.
Dismiss the guard there, we would be private.

E.
My Lord, I have a secret to disclose,
Za. looks if none be coming in.
Of such importance, that I fear—

A.
I will not be disturb'd, what ere it be.
For heavens love let me ha'te.

Za.
Thou hast thine own desire

Stabs him.
A.
O Eleazer.

Za.
Tis done.

E.
Tis bravely done: I will reward the Zareck.

Z.
Tush, I am happie in the fine exploit.

E.
Now for the crafty close,
puts the dagger into his hand.
Conveigh this instrument into his hand.

54

Be brief, be brief, then it may be suppos'd
A did this bloody act upon himself.

Exeunt.
Enter his Atten. and Guard.
Atten.
My Lord—ha!—Murder'd;
Curse on that wretched hand that did it:
But see—O see! a gripes the dagger fast
That gave the wound—I am amaz'd
And know not what to think.
Come let us bear him hence.

Exeunt
CHORVS.
Horror, confusion, hunger, plague and Death
Have seiz'd our Sacred streets, my fainting breath
Fails me to give the sad relation
Of sad Judea's desolation.
Suppose the famine now to grow extream,
Within the City walls; The hungry dream
Of food, but tast it not, a Cab is sold
Of noisom dung for thrice the weight in Gold?
A bloody Sword hangs blazing in the Sky?
A Strange and uncouth voice was heard to cry,
Come, let's away from hence? the Iron gate
Ope's of it self to let in Jewries fate:
To tell ye more my aking heart would break,
The sad Catastrophe let action speak.

Enter L. Jehochanan.
The famine is extream;
And will beguile of our lives and honors.
Enter Chorus.
Musick, and the Lady Miriam Sings In her Chamber.
Hark—hark—give ear a while and listen.

when the Musick has plaid a while she Sings.
The Song.
Weep, O weep, mine eyes, a flood of tears:
Break, O break, my heart, with endless feares:
Fly hence, fly hence, my soul, from such sad grief;
Fly hence to heaven, and beg for some relief;
Then weeping sing, and singing weep to see
Such pretious comfort in thy misery.
Ie.
This is the Lady Miriam,
Shee's rich, shee's rich, exceeding rich
And may perhaps have some provision left,
I'le in and rifle her.

She drawes her window Curten.
La.
Ay me, the Lord Iehocanan:
I fear some violence.

Knocks.
Pet.
Who knocks there?

La.
keep fast the door.

Knocks again.

55

Ie.
Ope the door Sirrah, or Ile break it ope.

Pet.
Marry Sir and Ile break your pate then.
Breaks ope the door, and goes in.
Enter Peter with head broke.
Wars, or not wars, all's one for that,
For honor will find me out, I see;
I am not so good as my word, hee's better than his,
For he has broke the door, and my pate too.
But I'le in and save my Lady from ravishing,
What ere comes on't:
If I take him at it, I'le so pepper him.

Exit.
Enter Iehochanan with a wallet, dragging The Lady by the hair, and her little Son following weeping.
Boy.
Now good my Lord even on my knees I beg:
Vse not my mother so unkindly.

Ie.
Peace brawling brat;
Confess, confess I say, I know this is not all,
Thou hast conceal'd thy best provision

La.
If there be truth in heaven I have no more,
Ah gentle Sir, for pitie take not all,
Leave me one loaf to keep my little one.

Ie.
Not a bit, bold begger.

Exit
Boy.
Good mother weep no more.
Exit Lady weeping.
Enter Peter.
My Lady has sent me to get wormes?
But the wormes are more liker for to get me
Marry I think if they had me and could speak,
They'd curse the Cook that sent u'm such a break-fast;
For I am so impenitrable for want of moisture,
They had better Seize upon a starv'd Vserer by far:
Enter Zaruck.
I have observ'd of late a seeming show
Of some distempers in Lord Eleazer:
His lookes are wild and stareing: something sure
Does strangely trouble him.

Pe.
That's the Captains man that broke my pate.
And rob'd my Lady: now is he studying
Whose throat he shall cut next; I'de best be gone.
I'me pestilence affraid of him.

Za.
Perchance the murder of his Father troubles him.

P.
A talkes of murder already.

Za.
If it be so, I hope 'twill make him mad,
Tremble.
And I shall be reveng'd—What followes that?

P.
A has spi'd mee, I must stand too't now.


56

Za.
What art thou?

Pet.
What am I; Why I am hungry, very hungry:
So hungry, that I could eat my flesh,
If I had any flesh to eat.

Za.
You are very pleasant, Sir.
Does the musick of the time cause your wits to daunce.

P.

Ye say right, Sir. If any part of me daunce, it is my brains, for they
are alwayes in action: my legs are far enough from't I me sure.


Za.
Whither art thou going?

P.
No whither, ye see, I stand still:
I think your wits are daunc't out of your head.

Za.
Whither wert thou going?

P.
The man's mad sure: why hither, was I not?

Za.
Excellent, Ifaith whither wilt thou go?

P.
Marry they were wise could tell that;
I will go whither my legs will carry me:
Marry how far that is I cannot tell:
For I am altogether for the Carriers pace.
I can neither amble, nor trot now.

Za.
How accurately the knave answers;
Tis hunger sure has made his wits so nimble.

P.
Ye're in the right Sir.
For a spare diet, saies your Philosopher,
Makes a man fit for study,
But sure a meant to get more vittails.

Za.
Better and better—fellow, what's thy business?

P.
What a question's that now?
Why look on my Phisnomy, and read it there.

Za,
I'st written in thy fore-head, knave?

P.
No, but 'tis written a both sides my face.

Z.
Extremity of hunger sure has made him mad:

P.
No, no, no Sir; No such matter:
Why hark ye Sir, hark ye; don't you know me?

Za.
Not I, by this Light.

P.
I cannot much blame ye, for I hardly know my self;
But if I had ne're known your Lord, ye might a knowen me better.

Za.
Sure that fellow was born with Riddles in's mouth.

P.
Fare ye well Sir, fare ye well:
My Lady said I should get something, though I staid all night:
But I'me more liker to stay till dooms-day, for I think I shan't live
Till morning; fare ye well Sir.
Exit Pet.

Za.
This is sure the Lady Miriams man,
Whom Lord Iehochanan hath lately rifled:
Here Comes the Lord Eleazer, I will withdraw.

steps aside

57

Enter Eleazer.
Elea.
Cozen'd and cheated, gull'd and fool'd I am:
O man, man, man most miserable!
How truly vain,
How absolutely base,
Are thy lost actions? yet how infinite
The Seas of sorrow that thou wadest through,
To make thee miserable.
Ere thy polluted face was yet produc't,
To face of heaven, the wofull womb foretold
With griping throws thy native wretchedness:
And when thou wert brought forth, what worlds of care
And greif, and pains the tender mother takes
To bring thee up! what tedious daies and nights
Are thrown away upon thine infant age:
Then—when thy friutfull branches bear the buds
Of hopefull youth! when understanding blooms
The beautious blossoms of a riper wit:
VVhat daies, and nights, and hours, and minutes spent
On tedious papers, whose enigma's dull
The slender judgement of the youthfull brain.
Till when—Maturity proclaims thee man
Then, loomes this goodly vessel on the main
Of mutabilitie, with all the sails
Of honour swelling high. But see—O see—
A sable cloud of sin with angry brow
Threatens distruction, now the Venoms burst:
Down with the main-sails ere the gust aproach,
Alas, 'tis now too late, all's over whelm'd,
Turn'd upside down, the pretious lading lost,
The shipwrack't soul, for ever, ever lost
in lake of death, Eternall death: Woo'd I
Had been destroyd within the house of sin,
The cursed wombe, or been abortive born,
Ne're to have seen that hatefull light that sees
My wretched fall.
Curst be the fantacy that shap't the thought
Of my conception, ten times curst the act?
The lustfull act! ten thousand times the hour
Of my nativity: may that ever be
An hour of horrour, plague, and misery.

Za.
it works it works

Enter the Lady Miriam
Lady.

For charity, good courteous Sir, take pitie on a poor distressed
Lady: Even for the love ye bear unto the womb that bred ye.


She kneels

58

Elea.
The Love I bear? the love I bear is hate.
Hate most unatterable. so inveterate,
That I could curse my primogenitors,
S'fut I could curse my father Adam too.

La.
A lass Sir I am rob'd and spoild of all.
Ah gentle Sir, afford me some relief,
And I will beg a blessing for your sweet benevolence.

Elea.
Blessing for me? there's not a scruple left
Mongst the great waight of heavenly charity,
Vex me no more.

Exit La. Weeping.
Eleaz.
The Silent tamer of diurnall cares
That charms our weary limbs with sweet repose,
Yields not relief to me? my wearied soul
Lives in perpetual torment; for if I
Chance to get a minutes rest, my frighted Ghost
Sees ghastly Shapes? more horrible then death?
Even now mine eyes grow dull for want of sleep:
Lie there distressed carcass, and forget
Thy self to be in misery.

he Sleeps
Enter Persiphone with the three furies, they Circle him about, and Persiphone Sings.
From the infernal Kingdom wee
Come to read thy destinie:
Know thy hands imbru'd in blood
Must be bath'd in Stigian flood:
Mortall thou art damn'd for this
Down, down, down, down, down,
Down, down, down, down, down,
Down, to the deep Abyss.
Endless shall thy torment be;
Horrour, plague and miserie
Shall afflict thy sooty soul,
Whilst the tortur'd spirits howl,
Banisht from eternall bliss
Down, down, &c.
Freezing cold and scorching fires
Shal reward thy foul desires.
Loss of heaven shall vex thee too
More then fire and frost can do:
Whilst the furious Snakes shall hiss
Down, down, &c.
Not a thousand ages shall
Expiate thy bitter thrall?
Not a flood of tears asswage
Ought of thy enflamed rage
This thy doome for deeds amiss
Down, down, &c.
Musick to thy meat shall be,
Damned fiends shal laugh at thee;
Laugh to scorn thy griping pain,
Laugh to hear thee curse in vain
Curse thine endless miseries.
Down, down &c.

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
Laugh all and Exeunt.
Zareck.
Ha, ha, ha, heres sport alone for mee,
The murder of his father troubles him
With ghastly apparitions: horrour and despair
Pursue thy guilty soul, til I may see
My ful revenge in thy calamity.
Exit.

59

Agen, agen, agen, without I saw
Eleazer rises.
The Furies here; the sudden apparition
Has so appal'd my guilty soul, that I
Am lost in terror; all my Vitals shrink
With ghastly fear, my intermissive pulse
Speaks the disorder of my panting heart:
No comfort for a poor distressed man!
Down, down rebellious knees; so stubborn still!
I bear a burden of such massie weight
Woo'd crack the mighty Axletree of Heaven,
Yet cannot force these sturdy limbs to bend:
My Ovens mouth is damm'd with dirty sin,
No vent for sorrow; not a peeping-hole
To steal a dram of comfort for my soul.
O—Eleazer thou art lost for ever.

Exit.