University of Virginia Library

[scæna prima.]

Marcellus ([wt h a letter] proconsul of Sicilie) 2. & 3 marchant: [& Attendtes]
Marcellus:
vpon your recantation this Gallerien
was not Antiochus you had your pardons
signde by the Senate?

2 marchant:
yes my lorde

Marcellus:
troth tell mee
& freelie, I am noe informer did you
beleeue, and knowe hym such, or raysd that rumor
for private endes of your owne.

3 marchant:
may it please your excellence
to vnderstand, the feare of death wrought on vs
in a kinde to turne Apostatas: besides
[All the swords ready]
havinge prou'd our testimonies coulde not helpe hym
wee studied our safeties.

2 marchant:
a desire to
of the recoverie of our [our] owne kepd from vs
with stronge hand by his violent persecutor
Titus flaminivs, when Hee was at Carthage
vrg'd vs to seeke redresse, nor was it fit
wee shoulde oppose greate Rome.

Marcellus:
In worldlye wisdome
you are excusable. but.

3 marchant:
wee beseech your honor
presse vs noe further.

[OMITTED]e letter
Marcellus:
I doe not purpose it
doe you knowe what this containes?

2 marchant:
noe my good lord

3 marchant:

Marcellus:
twas manners in you.
but Ile discharge you of that feare. there is
noe hurt intended to you.

3 marchant:
wee thancke your lordship.

Marcellus
how is the service of flaminivs spoke of
in Rome?

2 Marchans:
with admiration, and many
divine great honors to hym.

Marcellus:
the peoples voice
is not oraculous ever. are you sure
the galley in wch your supposd kinge [rowes] is chainde,
was bounde for Siracusa?

3 marchant:
shee is now
in the port my lord.

Marcellus:
Titus flaminivs in her?

3 marchant:
vpon my certaine knowledge.

Marcell:
keepe your selves
conceald 'till you are calde for. when least hop'd for,
you shall haue iustice.

2 marchant:
your honors vassalls ever.

exevnt marchants.
Marcellus:
Here. Here it is apparent yt the Poet
wrot truth though noe proofe els coulde bee alleagd
to make it good that though the heavens lay open
to humane wishes, and the fates were bounde
to signe what wee desire, such clowdes of error
involue our reason, wee still begge a curse
and not a blessinge. how many borne vnto
ample possessions, & like pettie kinges
disposinge of their vassals, sated with
the peace, and quiet of a cuntrie life,
carried headlonge with ambition contend
to weare the golden fetters of imployment.
presuminge there's noe happinesse but in
the service of the state. but when they haue tri'ed
by a sad experience the burthen of 'em,
when 'tis not in their power at any rate
they woulde redeeme their calme securitie
morgagd in wantonesse. alas what are wee
that governe provines but prayes expo'sd
to everie subtle spie. & when wee haue
like spunges suckde in welth, wee are squeezd out
by the rough hande of the lawe, and faylinge in
one sillable of our com̄ission, with
the losse of what wee got with toyle, wee drawe
[Enter Cornelia, &] [a moore waitingwoman]
what was our owne in quæstion. you come timelye
to turne my tir'd thowghts from a sad discourse
that I had with my selfe.

Cornelia:
I rather feare sr
I bringe an argument alonge with mee
that will increase, not lessen such conceptions.
as I founde with you.

Marcellus:
why sweete? what's the matter?

Cornelia:

Marcellus:
wch I pay
without compulsion. but why doe you
lance this old sore?

Cornelia:
th'occasion com̄andes it
and now I woulde forget it I am forcde
in thanckefullnesse to call to memorie
the favours for wch wee must ever owe hym.
you had the honor in his court at Sardis
to bee stilde his freinde, an honor Rome, and Carthage
were rivalls for, and did deserue the envie
of his prime mignions, and favorites.
His naturall subiectes planted in his favour,
or rooted vp, as your dislike or prayse
reported 'em; the good kinge holdinge what
you spake to bee oraculous, & not
to bee disputed. His magnificent guiftes
confirmd his trewe affection, wch you were
more wearie to receaue then hee to gieue,
yet still hee studied newe ones.

Marcellus:
pray you noe more.

[Marcellus] Cor:
O 'tis a theme sr I coulde ever dwell on.
but since it does offende you, I will speake
of what concernes my selfe. Hee did not blushe
in the height of his fælicitie, to confesse
fabritivs, my lord, and father, for
his much lou'd kinsman, and as such obserud hym.
you may please to remember to, when at
a publicque sacrifice made to the gods
after a longe infection, in wch
the Asian kinges, and Queenes were his assistants,
with what respecte, and grace Hee did receaue mee;
And at a sollemne tiltinge, when hee had
put on the richest armor of the worlde,
smilinge Hee sayde. His wordes are still, & shall bee
writ in the tablet of my Heart. faire cousin
soe Hee began, & then you thought mee faire to,
since I am turnd souldier, twere a solecisme
in the language of the war to haue noe mistrisse,
and therefore as a prosperous omen to
my vndertakings, I desire to fight
(soe you with willingenesse gieue suffrage to it)
vnder your gratious colours; and then looseninge
a scarfe tied to mine arme, Hee did intreate mee
to fasten it on his. o with what ioy
I did obey hym, rapd beyonde my selfe
in my imagination to haue
soe greate a kinge my servant.

Marcellus:
you had to
some private conference.

Cornelia
& you gaue way [to't] to it
without a signe of iealousie, & dispensde with
the Roman gravitie.

Marcellus:

Cornelia:
it does prepare
a suite I haue wch you must not denie mee
to see the man, whoe as it is reported
in the exterior parts nature hath drawne
as his perfit coppie. there must be somethinge in hym
remarkeable in his resembl[inge]ance only
of kinge Antiochus features.

Marcellus:
'twas my purpose
& soe much my Cornelia, flaminivs
shall not denie vs.

[Enter [flaminivs] [Marcellus]. & Demetrivs.]
flaminivs:
as my dutie bindes mee
my stay here beeinge but short, I come vnsent for
to kisse your lordships hands.

Marcellus:
I answer you
in your owne language sr—and yet your stay here
may bee longer then you thincke.

flaminivs:
most Hono'rd Madam
I cannot stoope to lowe in tendringe of
my humblest service.

Cornelia:
you disgrace your courtship
in overactinge it my lord. I looke not
for such observance

flaminivs:
I am most vnhappie
yf that your excellence make any scruple
of doubt you may com̄ande mee.

Cornelia:
this assurance
gieues mee encouragement to intreate a favour
in wch my lord beeinge a suitor with
I hope shall finde a grant.

flaminivs:
though all that's mine
bee comprehended in't.

Marcellus:
your promise sr
shall not soe far ingage you. In respect
of some familiar passages betwene [vs]
[and] the kinge Antiochus when hee liu'd, and vs,
and though it needes it not, for farther proofe
that this is an impostor, wee desire
some conference with hym.

flaminivs:
for your satisfaction
I will dispense a little with the strictnes
of my com̄ission. sirrha will the Captaine
to bringe hym to the proconsull.

Cornelia:
His chaines tooke of
that I intreate to. since I woulde not looke on
the image of a kinge, I soe much honor'd
bounde like a slaue.

flaminivs:
see this greate ladies will
bee punctuallie obeyde.

exit Demetrivs.
Marcellus:
your wisdome sr
Hath donne the state a memorable service,
in stranglinge in the birth this dreadfull monster
and though with some your cruell vsage of hym
(for soe they call your fit severitie)
may finde a harshe interpretation, wise men
in iudgement must applaude it.

flaminivs:

Marcellus:
with my thanckes
for you soe graue advice, I'le put in practise
on all occasions what you deliver
& studie 'em as aphorismes. in the meane time
pray your accept such entertainment as
Syracusa can present you. when the impostor
arriues, let vs haue notice. pray you walke sr.

exevnt.