University of Virginia Library

ACT. II.

SCENE 1.

Enter Cleobulus and Paleologus.
Cleob.
Unfold dear Friends, I prithee what, what's the Newes?

Paleol.
'Tis bad, you'le be the worse for hearing it.

Cleob.
I can condole, I can congratulatt,
And time my selfe to fate, with greife or joy,
Be't what it will, O let it be discover'd,
Bad Newes conceal'd, is for farre worse suspected.

Paleol.
Andronicus entred the City easily.

Cleob.
His Army did not equall ours for Number.

Paleol.
No not by farre, but we cumberd our selves did
With foremeles crouds of Men some hearts, did faint,
And others fought not willing to prevaile.

Cleob.
'Tis hard to make them fight, who meane to fly.
'Tis harder to oppose
The treachery of Friends, then force of Foes.

Paleol.
Great Cities which are swoln in length and breadth,
Are commonly much over-fam'd in strength.

Cleob.
If they be entred they are soone conquer'd to,
Their mighty Bulk sinks under it's owne weight.

Paleol.
Protosebastos was took in the place,
And cruelly his eyes were boared out,
Hence he advanced to the Pallace next, and there
Seiz'd on the person of Alexius,
Yet us'd him with all possible respect.
Took the Empresse Zena lying on her Bed,
Confin'd her to a Prison, where shee's now.

Cleob.
How did her honourable Ladies 'scape.

Paleol.
Eudoxa in the Lobby hid her self,
Behinde the Traverse did Irene skulke.
Philoclea clim'd the Leades, Eugenia
did breake a mighty wooden Barre in two.
(None know what feare and frighted Folke can do)
Got to the Garden; every one did shift,
Artemia onely at a dead lift stayed.

Cleob.
But what, I pray, at last became of her.

Paleol.
Striving to save the Empresse, but in vaine,
She was good Lady on a sudden slayne.

Cleob.
I'me sorry for Artemias wofull death.

Paleol.
She was a Thiefe, and truly rob'd all others,
Vertue was constant leiger in her brest.

Cleob.
And yet her Husband did despise and slight her.

Paleol.
But now by looseing, he hath learn'd to prize her.
I must be gone, my occasions prove Tyrants to me.

Cleob.
Heavens grant! you may never see worse Tyrants!
Bads the beginning, what will be the end,
With hope and feare, we'le patiently attend.

Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

Enter Menander, and six of his Servants in Mourning, bringing Artemi'as Corps in a Black Coffin under a Velvet Herse; And advance it in the midst of the Roome.
Mon.
Now cleare the place, and all your selves disperse,
My obsequies I offer at this Herse.
[He kneeles before it.
Here ly her Corps, which when she fed on breath
Led the best life, had the most wofull death.
She was not faire to take a Wantons eyes,
But comely, for to please the heart of th'wise.
She was not witty with the froth of Braine,
But her rich Brest did solid worth containe.
She ever did adore a private life,
I lov'd the Court, Hence oft arose our strife.
Sometimes good Counsel she'd to me commend,
And therin both her selfe and sex transcend.
I would not yeeld, yet could not truth oppose,
With her my Judgment, not my Will did close.
I lik'd the Counsel well, had I first found it,
But Scorn'd to take it from her hand rebounded.
How sweetly shee my anger would decline,
Request my pardon, when the fault was mine.
I'me vext oft time, she would not leave me vext,
I wanting a just cause to be perplext.
I must smile at Her innocent deceit,
Whereby she me did into mirth so cheat.
Sweet Soule, which now doest dwell in endlesse Blisse,
Oh pardon what to thee I've done amisse!
Alas! It was my passion, 'twas not I.
I'le now do Pennance to thy Memory,
I will not vow that I will never wedd,
Those which forsware first clime the Marriage-Bed.
So ill anothers minde to us is knowne,
Than we our selves are strangers to our owne.
And our meandrous hearts so full of turning,
Where's now a sparke, may quickly be a burning
But I'me resolved, and hope it, that no other
Shall by my Children be saluted Mother.
I have farre off an unsuspected home,
Where safely dwells, and Warre can scarsely come.
Thither I'le hast, and all the Counsel grave,
Which this dear Saint, me in her life-time gave.
Il'e in my heart record with lasting letter,
She's withered, but her words now'l grow the better.
Nor wonder at this drought, because no shower
Of brackish Teares downe on my Cheekes do powre.
They which mourne much, are seldome mourning long,
Besides Teares in my eyes, stick in a throng.
The lesse my Soul grieves, there's the more greif in't,
My Heart's a Fountaine, though my Eyes be flint.

SCENE 3.

Enter Andronicus, Alexius, Panergus, Asotus, and Spiculator.
Andr.
Your Highnesse now appears in your full lustre,
Free'd from the wardship of your factious Peers.

Alex.
Therein we owe much to your diligence.

Andr.
We have expressed some small part of our duty,
And are still ready to performe the rest.
Still one thing is to do, which being done,
No Clouds can Darken your now glorious Sun.

Alex.
What is't?

Andr.
I can reveale it t'you with safety,
And yet with loyalty I can conceale it.
'Tis the unhappy Zena.

Alex.
What, my Mother?

Andr.
Your goodnesse 'tis, that's pleas'd to style
Her so,
Fathers o'th'Countrey never did know Mothers
Royall affections onely do designe,
The Publique good oth, Place they Governe in.
She must be made away.

Alex.
For such a Crime
Nero's recorded Monster to all Ages.

Andr.
His was a damned and unnaturall deed,
This is an Act of Justice, and Necessity.

Alex.
She gave me life, what shall I cause her death?

Andr.
That life She seeks from you to take againe.

Alex.
Let her be soone confin'd to some close Covent.

Andr.
Close with her Body, to be loose in Minde.

Alex.
That She may Heaven, and pious Thoughts enjoy.

Andr.
And plot how to destroy you, and the State.

Alex.
Stay but a while, Her Age will save our paines,
A yeare or two will post her to the Grave.

Andr.
You right your selfe the more, and do wrong not her,
Few years of Hers will impe your Reigne.

Asot.
With your owne hand, do you the Warrant signe.

Andr.
I'de rather loose my Arme to save her life.

Pan.
He only is concern'd i'th'publique good,
Takes no delight in shedding Womens blood.

Alex.
Write you my Name.

Andr.
My heart abhors all fraud.

Aso.
Ducks cannot swim, you cannot counterfeit.

(aside.
Alex.
'Tis no deceit, when done by my Command,
But if it must be so, we'le set our hand.

[He Signes the Warrant.
Andr.
Sure Heaven did guide your Pen, how faire you write.
Not like those Lords, who mak't their cheifest Art
To cozen others by their writing ill.
Posterity shall reare Trophyes to you,
And future Kings shall swear by your just Ghost.

Aso.
He quickly meanes to make a Ghost of you

[aside.
Andr.
Spiculator, take this Warrant, about your businesse.

Spicu.
I fly Sir.
[Exit Speculator.

SCENE 4.

Manent Andronicus, Alexius, Asotus, Panergus. Alexius falls a weeping.
Andr.
Nay, do not now repent so good a deed.

Alex.
Must not a Sonne bemoane his Mothers Death.

Andr.
They are your Mother which do love you best.

Al.
Much kindness always she exprest to me,

Andr.
She lov'd her self, and did abuse your power.
Now freed from her your self may use that power.

Pan.
Sh'as dead whilst living, drown'd in Luxury.

A.
More reason sh'ad liv'd longer to repent.

Andr.
At my cost fifty Friers both night and day
Shall Dirges duly pay for her souls health.

Pan.
How bountifull's Andronicus in giving gifts
His goodness doth ingage both dead and living.

Andr.
I do appeal that divine eye
To which midnights noon day, darkness doth shine.
Who doth descry at distance all our thoughts,
Y'abortive thoughts which never born do die
How from my heart I love your Highness now,
And joy in you above all earthly joyes.

Alex.
Thanks for thy kindness dear Andronicus
T'shal be remembred by us and rewarded.

Asot:
Tis time to dine, nature grows discontented.

Andr.
May these my teeth turn mourners black as Jett.
And let my tongue set in an endless silence,
And never more make sacred melody,

Asot.
And never more proceed to cog and ly,

(aside.
Andr.
If any meat they do presume to tast
Before my soul hath pass'd it by a Prayer

Alex.
I do commend your pious resolution.

Andr.
He doth deserve to lose a large revenue,
That cares not that small quit-rent to discharge.
Such are the thanks which we to heaven do owe,
For all the favours which it doth let fall,
We can't do less, nor is there more requir'd.

Pan.
How full's his heart inspir'd with holy yeal

Asot.
So full of kernel is an empty husk,
[Aside.
Th'Ægean stable was so full of musk.

Andr.
I go unto S. Sophyes Church to pray
A Closet best fits my Devotions
At other times, but now it is too narrow,
Having receiv'd a great and publike grace
It calls for solemn thanks and publike too,
At my return I shall attend your Highness.

Exit.
Alex.
Send us your good devotion.

Aso.
Sure this Religion will not be long lasting
I have no stomack to this Feigned Fasting.

Exeunt.

SCEN. 5.

Enter Paleologus and Crato.
Pal.
Andronicus is gone to his devotions,

Cra.
The Devil hee's at's devotions, he is gone
Unto his Junto, there they do debate,
How to confer the Imperial Crown on him.

Pal.
I never had a Fancy to these Juntoes,

Cr.
They'r absolutely needful in a State.

Pal.
Let me have things discuss'd at Councel Board
In free and full appearance, where 'tis no Treason
With solid reason to displease a Prince,
Brave bandying points of State, now off, now on,
With Troops of Arguments brought Pro and Con
Where every Councellor may have his due
To be heard out, (though haply not beleev'd)
Now things in private ways are smothered.

Cra.
Such smothering gives the life unto great actions.
Secresie is the soul of grand designs,
You'd have them first proclaim'd i'th'Marketplace,
And made the second course at th'Ordinaries.
“Goods ventur'd in most bottoms most secure,
“But secrets known to fewest brests most sure.
His Junto's but of sour; the first himself,
The Patriarch next, Lapardas and Panergus.

Pal.
One may keep counsel, if there be one more
How many matters not, fourty or four,
If one o'th four prove false, the action fails
Ships drown as deep with one as fourty leaks,

Cra.
Experience proves Juntoes of most dispatch,
The fewer set on brood the more are hatch'd,
And where most doers are, the least is done.

Pal.
What are these men the wisest in the State?
Are they most honest, or most fortunate?

Cra.
Most fortunate in this, they'r most intrusted:

Pal.
But do they best deserve trust, and discharge it?
Amongst those many late Monopolies,
Which swell'd mens private gain with publike loss.
(Heavens grant no Courtier may ingross the Sun
Poor people should pay dear then for fair weather)
None like to this for a few men to sit
Eternal and most absolute Dictators,
Controul, add, alter, ratifie, reverse,
Whilst others which with them claim equal share,
Concernd alike in the countries charge and care,
Yea have the most at stake, are lookers on,
Sometimes admitted to concur by chance,
But kept in wholsome Ignorance for the main.

Cra.
This must be so,
Great Councels this great mischief doth attend,
Therein mens judgements justle, sometimes thwart,
(More minding private Betts, then th'publike game)
A Junto in one currant doth unite.

Pal.
O 'tis safest where there is a multitude,

Cra.
Of Councellors to debate, but not conclude.

Pal.
The more the eyes, the more they do discern,

Cra.
A Junto sees with's own and others eyes,
It doth begin where the great Councel ends
Takes their results, and thereon spend its verdict.
“That Silver which is oftnest tried's most pure,
“That Councel which is most refin'd most sure.
But let's be gone, they'r up, Here comes the Patriarch.

Exeunt.

SCEN. 6.

Enter Basilius the Patriarch, and Monobius.
Bas.
Let's now renew our old acquaintance, friend,
It is an age since our last interview,

Mon.
But Sir, I come to chide your Holiness
That earth you practise, and yet profess a heaven.

Bas.
Unriddle your own words.

Mon.
Y'ave bin of late,
An over-active stickler in the Nation.

Bas.
Earth's but my Inne, but I make heaven my home,

Mon.
I fear you oft mistake your Inn for home,
You are not stor'd with forrein observations.

Bas.
We are enabled by our educations;
This does admit us to a general knowledge,
For Schollership doth fit us for all callings.

Mon.
None can attend two callings at one time.

Bas.
Yes if subordinate, as means and end.

Mon.
But these are opposite, the Church and State.

Bas:
Hippocrates his twins did never meet
With a more mutual love then these agree,
Do you advance State-matters 'bove our reach

Mon.
I stoop them far beneath your cognizance,
Such medling draws the Laities envie on us.

Bas.
Such envie keeps the Laity more in awe.

Mon.
But you should rather labour for their love.

Bas.
Love without awe proves seldome lasting to us,
But to the point, with secular affairs
Meddle we may, but must not be intangled.

Mon.
The one cannot be done without the other.

Bas.
As if no man could feed but he must furfet.

Mon.
This World's a Witch, and quickly it will charm us.

Bas.
I know t'arm my soul with Counterspels,
Would you shut a Divine out of the State?

Mon.
No, in the State I would confine his work
So far as to consult, not act therein.

Bas.
Hence would a lazie Clergy soon proceed

Mon.
State-laziness doth breed Church-industry,
“Mark Clergy-Sticklers on the Civil Stage,
“A quiet death doth seldome crown their Age.

Bas.
Proofs from th'event, men do esteem for Ciphers,

Mon.
Ciphers with figures joyn'd make numbers,
John Golden-mouth long since your Predecessor,
Did onely pray and preach, and read, and write,
Which made him happy spight of all his foes.

Bas.
Why he was twice expel'd this place (poor man)

Mon.
And twice restor'd again with greater grace.

Bas.
He lost his place for want of policy,

Mon.
But gain'd his place with store of piety.

Bas.
Great Hippo's Prelate, through the world renown'd,
For's Piety and Schollership,
Kept in his House a Court of Conscience where
When he had din'd he gave his neighbours audience.
Redrest each grievance, and becalm'd each strife,
Medled in state, and was a Civill Judge.

Mon.
Hereby he worthily did raise his fame,

Bas.
You blame in me, what you do praise in him,

Mon.
You cause dissentions, but he did compose them,
You make th'wound wider, which he sought to close.

Bas.
You envy at the splendor of our height,

Mon.
Just as I do to see a Gloe worm shine.

Bas.
Your envie's at the Lustre of our place.

Mon.
I pitty from my heart your woful condition.
I will not turn my Cowl into your Mitre.

Exit Monobius
Bas.
You kick down pride, with greater pride;
Farewel, Farewell.

SCENE ult.

Enter Panergus, and Cleobulus.
Bas.
VVhat good success Panergus have we had!

Pan.
The matters mannag'd well, the number mounteth.
A hundred thousand names this Parchment holds,
But here's Cleobulus I've not his Name yet.

Cleo.
Welcome Panergus, what always imploy'd?

Pa.
Here is a Parchment, set to it your hand.

Cleo.
I'le first peruse it:

Bas.
Put on your eyes of glass, and then consult.

He reads it to himself.
Cl.
In this Petition we do humbly crave,
Andronicus his goodness would be pleas'd,
To be joint Emperour with Alexius.

Pa.
You speak the very marrow of the matter.

Cl.
Had I a hundred hands, I'de set them to't.

Pa.
Thanks good Cleobulus, I did ever finde,
Your noble heart inclin'd to th'publike good.

Cl.
In a short time you many hands have gotten.

Pa.
To get them there were many hands imploi'd.

Cl.
Tell me what act and method did you use.

Pa.
In every Parish, Family, or Tribe,
We got the signal men first to subscribe,
And their example easily drew the rest,
Whole Herds of sillie people prest on us,
Names for our Parchment we at first did lack,
But Parchment for our Names at last grew scant.

Cl.
Did they peruse what was therein contain'd?

Pa.
Be't Bond, be't Bill, be't Libel, be't Petition,
They thought it sin should they not make their marks;
Where they were told their betters went before.

Cl.
Some names are forg'd here, but's a good deceit.

Pa.
You know old Courtiers know to counterfeit.

Cl.
This is a Womans writing:

Pa.
In Husbands absence, wife stands for husband.

Cl.
They should have put their tongues, then not their hands.

Pa.
If any did refuse we threatned them,
Or did return their names which is far worse.

Cl.
The Subjects freedom's thus by force preserv'd.

Pa.
But we lose time, come set your hand to't, come—

Cl.
My hand shall sooner rot, then I will do't.

Bas.
Said you not if you had a hundred hands
You would subscribe.

Cl.
I then should be a Monster,
When Monster I'le subscribe, not whilst a man.

Bas.
Why are you irregular from all the rest.

Cl.
Why are the rest irregular from right.

Pa.
Are you more holy then the Patriarch?
More just then all the Judges and more wise,
Then all the Councellors of State beside?
That what they grant should be deni'd by you:

Cl.
Ile not beleeve with an implicite faith,
Nor pin my soul upon anothers sleeve,
To them their Reasons known, and mine to me,
My soul stands on a Basis of its own:
Unto Alexius his great grandfather
My Infancy I was a subject born,
To's Grandfather my youth was servant, and
To's Father my old age was Councellor,
And therefore to his Son I will be just,
“I'le lose my life, but not betray my trust.

Pa.
He shall be but joynt Emperour with him

Cl.
If Crowns admit a Mate, they'le prove a Master,
Two husbands to one wife, I'le not allow;
Such Bigamy of State I can't approve.

Pa.
Alexius young, with old Andronicus,
Will make a wholsom Medley for our State;
The one brings hands, the other judgments;
The one shall Act, the other shall advise,
Headlong his speed, his gravity is staid,
His heat of youth allaid with ages cold.

Cl.
I love no by-Paths from the beaten Road,
Two Suns i'th Firmament no good can bring.

Pa.
Is this your Answer?

Cl.
All you'r like to have.

Pa.
Then farewel froward fool: Anothers loss
Thou count'st thy only gain, and loves to cross.

Cl.
In this Scene both you have been cunning Actors,
No doubt the Merchant will reward his Factors.

Exeunt.
CHORUS.