University of Virginia Library

Scena 5.

Enter Ostorius Scapula, Marcus Gallicus, Manlius Ualens, Cessius Nasica, and Codigune in Armes.
Ostorius.
Now, valiant Romanes, once more do we tread
Vpon the bosome of the Bryttish ground:
And by the gods that doe protect great Rome,
Weele now acquite great Cesars foule disgrace,
Or die like Romanes in this forray ne place.

Marcus.
Me thinks, it is a shame to Rome and vs,
That haue beene counted famous through the world,
For matchlesse victories, and feates of armes,
That such a petty Iland should repulse
So huge an army of the Romane strength,
Able to sacke the spacious walles of Troy,
To leuell Babels pride euen with the ground:
An Ile, that in respect of Cesars power,
Is like the Center, to the ample heauens;
A poynt, vnto a large circumference;
Small atomes, to the body of the Sunne.
Sure, this Welshman works by Magicke spels,
Or, tis impossible, if he be a man,
Compos'd of flesh and bloud, sinewes and nerues,
He should out-dare so puissant an host.

Codig.
Great Generall, that which he holds, is mine;
And though infor'st by violence and wrong,
From that which Nature left my heritage:
Yet, since I see such hopes, so fayrely sprung
From such an honourable head, as Rome,
Whose fame for honour, cheualry and armes,
Out-shines all Nations with her glorious rayes:
This Caradoc, whom men doe causlesse feare,
Is of condition insolent and proud,
Ambitious, tyrannous, speckled with euery vice
The infectious time can harbour. Say, we confesse him bold,
And of a courage that grim visag'd death,
The obiect of true valour, cannot daunt;
Though Proteus-like, he came in thousand shapes,
What's he, comparde to numbers infinite?
Or that Imperiall Rome, whose Eagle eyes
Haue gaz'd against the sunne of matchlesse tryumphs,
Should basely feare a weake and silly Fly?
This Welshman is all superficiall,
Without dimensions, and like a mountaine swels,
In labour onely with great ayry words,
Whose birth is nothing, but a silly Mouse;
Actions without their measure or their weight.
Then, Romanes, derogate not from the worth,
That time in ancient Chronicles records
Of your eternall honours got in warre.
But if you prize your honours more then life,
Or humane happinesse, here's a noble cause
Of wrong and vsurpation, to erect
A statue to your dying memory.
Then on, great Generall, waue the Romane Eagle,
Euen to the Tents of haughty Caradoc,
And with my bloud Ile second this braue fight,
Or hide my shame by death in endlesse night.

Ostor.
Brauely resolu'd. Ere long, assure thy selfe,
Weele seate thee in thy ancient dignity,
And force to Cesar homage, and to Rome:
And, though we feare not one particular man,
Yet, for because we truely are inform'd,
That Caradoc is strong and puisant,
For ten dayes wee intend to make a truce,
And in the meane time to make strong our hoste:
Which if he doe refuse, the time expired,
To render vp thy right, which he detaines;
Warre, like some gnawing vulture shall attend
Vnto their finall ruine, and their end.
And to that purpose, Marcus Gallicus
Shall as a Legate both from Rome and vs,
Instantly giue them knowledge: the time's but short:
And till the date's expirde, prepare for sport.

Exeunt.