University of Virginia Library

ACT. III.

SCENE 1.

Enter Paleologus, Crato, Cleobulus.
Pa.
Less Passion and more reason would do wel.

Cr.
It is not worth th'engaging passion
About a Probleme.

Pa.
Here's Cleobulus,
We will refer it to his Umpeerage,

Cr.
Agreed.

Pa.
We have long debated here,
Whether that married people in a State,
Prove better Members, or th'unmarried?

Cr.
Tyresias tasted of both sexes, you,
Of both estates, being now a widdower.
Lets hear your judgement.

Cl.
Lets hear your Arguments,
They'l be most careful to preserve the ship,

Pa.
Who therein have most store of goods imbarkt.

Cr.
Batchellours have an Adventure in the state,

Pa.
Yes, but a single share whilst married folk,
For present and for future are ingaged;
Persons posterity, selves, and succession.

Cr.
Marriage debates the valour of the soul,
We without any cautelous demurs,
Are proud to lose our lives for the publick good.
Whilst that you husbands warily do start.
An hundred fears from your own jealous minds
Leave a young widdow, she will quickly wed;
And bring some lusty gallant in my room,
My eldest son a ward scarse ten years old,
My greedy gardians will be bought and sold;
My younger chlldren unprovided for.
Such thoughts ungallant souls and spirits dull,
And make brave resolutions to recoyle.

Pa.
Recoyle, but to come forward with more strength.
And by your leave Sir, Batchelours do run,
With headlong hast on actions of Treason.
Whilst married men, reason and weigh the matter.
'Twill taynt my blood, undo my family,
And brand it with eternall infamy.
Such thoughts make loyall hearts, and spoile Treason,
And make bad resolutions to recoyle.

Cr.
All this Proves but a goodness negative,
That they do less harm, but to requite you,
What most inclines a Judge unto corruption,
His Lady wife must have a Diamond ring;
Or set of Pearl, her maid a silken gown,
Her Usher wants.

C.
Wit and a pair of Leggs.

(Aside.
Cr.
Some gold to game with, hence come postern dores.
And bribes in better language stiled presents,

Pa.
And I have known as corrupt Batchelours,
Who were portentous in their vain expences,
And then debase themselves again to recover.

Cr.
A narrow instance in some few generally.

Pa.
Mark who they were our Colledges have built.

Cl.
Mark who they are our Colledges have spilt,

(Aside.
Cr.
Housed the muses, furnish't Libraries;
Erected stately structures, founded schools,
Most men unmarried.
While your low thoughts nor dare nor can aspire,
Above the raising of a family.
The matching of your Daughters rich and high,
But maiden breasts ambitious are to wed,
Honour whilst living, and when dying make,
Fame their executor, and the world their heir.

Cr.
Now speak your judgement good Cleobulus,

Cl.
I am loath my verdict thus to interpose:
You now are friends.

Cr.
And never shall be foes,
For ought that you in this point shall determine.

Cl.
My judgements this married men generally,
Are less good, and less bad, then Batchelours.
But here comes those who in no estate,
Will e're do any good to th'Common Wealth.

SCENE 2.

Enter Andronicus, Basil, Lapardos, Lanergus, Cleobulus, &c. In a full Councel of state.
An.
A pleasant prospect to my eye appears,
Old heads, more rich in wisdom then in years.

Ba.
Your Highness here I humbly do beseech?
To hear what I'm commanded to discover,
With a rude tongue but with a loyall heart;

An.
We hearken let your holiness proceed,

Ba.
I am the mouth for millions of souls
Whose names are lifted in these Parchment rolls,
Their goodness and not my Ability.

Cl.
Your subtleness and their simplicity,

(Aside.
Ba.
Made them to chuse me here to represent,
Their cordiall desires,
Beseeching that your Highness would be pleas'd,
The young Alexius may so far be help'd;
As that with him you'd be joynt Emperour.

An.
Interpret Sir, your language, I profess;
I cannot guess whats your misterious sense.

Ba.
Vouchsafe to bear the weight of half the Crown:
Nor will it ought offend your humble mind,
That you who all deserve share but a part:
Thus the Roman Senate antiently did match,
Spritefull Marcellus, in dispatch too quick,
With old delaying Fabius, and so;
Well blended age with youth, the sloth with swiftness,
No better cure for this our sad distempers,
Then to apply this sacred composition.

An.
Go choose some gallant full of daring youth:
And brave in mind whose very flesh is steel'd,
Can match all day and lie i'th'field all night,
And upon him bestow your ancient Crown,
Whose vast Atchievements may renown it,
See I am old decrepit and decay'd:
Age my streight arrow brings a bowe.

(shews his crooked body
Cl.
The bowe doth onely wart a handsome string.

(Aside.
An.
Gray head, Pale cheeks, dim eyes, faint heart, weak hands.
A coffin is more meet then a Crown for me,
No Royall robes like to a winding sheet.

Ba.
Consider Sir, a reasonable request.

An.
Of late I've found what long I was a seeking,
A private place to coole my soul from th'heat:
Caus'd from the hot pursuance of this world,
My enemies long since I have subdu'd,
It now remains I should subdue my self,
I must confess (no shame to tell the truth)
Bad's my old age, but far worse was my youth,
Disturbe not then my soul which now begins
A serious recollection of it's sins.

Ba.
Can piety prefer its private health,
Before the profit of the Common wealth?
Shall all mens wishes be withstood by one
Whose humbleness doth cross the publick good.

An.
I know this spacious Empires breadth and length,
It is a weight too heavy for my strength.

Pan.
Let's follow him and be importunate,

[He departeth seemingly discontented Pal. and Pan. follow him.]

SCENE 3.

Manent Cleobulus, Crato, and Paleogulus.
Cl.
Andronicus though born a Grecian.
In's youth amongst the Latines dwell,
And there did learn, two negatives do make
An affirmation.

Pa.
Cunning maides in tryall,
Thus to their suitors complements Denyal,

Cr.
He is an arrant dissembler,
I think he partly credits his own lyes.

Cl.
Others believe him not when he speaks truth.

Pa.
Shall we look on, & see him steal a Crown thus?

Cl.
Do you oppose him.

Pa.
Nay do you Cleobulus,

Cl.
I am too old to do it.

Pa.
And I too young,

Cr.
Thus none will do what all desire were done.

Pa.
I will preserve my self for better times.

Cl.
You lose your conscience so, and keep your self,

Pa.
'Tis vain to oppose him, we must yield;
Thus they who long have striven against the stream,
With force there, at last are driven away
But here they are again.

Cr.
He did go out to be intreated in.

SCENE 4.

Enter Andronicus, Basil, Lapardas, and Panergus.
Ba.
You must not Sir, withstand a general good.

Pa.
The intreates of a whole state do command.

An.
I may the publick good most lawfully,
Deny t'advance a creature publick good
Weak friends deserve states more then stronger foes,
And seeming to assist it, do oppose it,
Whilest undertaking what they cannot mannage.

Ba.
How high the audit of your vertues swell,
It would torment your ears if I should tell you
Who are acquainted with your worthy actions,
More pleased to deserve, then hear you praise.

An.
Such vertues in my self I cann't discover,

Pa.
'Tis your humility doth make you blinde.

Ba.
“That face which most for beauty doth surpass,
“See's not it self save onely in a glass,
Be pleas'd from us to know your own perfection,
And by reflection read your vertues here.

Pa.
Your graces all are plainly shewn to us.

An.
But ah, my vices best are known to me,
It much afflicts my tender conscience
Thus to resist your holy violence,
On one condition Ile accept your profer.

Ba.
What's that condition dear Andronicus.

An.
Promise that you will help in high affairs,
That when our shoulders shrink or back doth wring,
With weight of business you'd afford supporters.

Om.
In such a case we solemnly protest,
That we perform our best and uttermost

An.
Hereafter if you find cause to repent.
The doings of this day then blame your selves,
I wash my hands thereof,
Such importunity would batter heaven.

Cl.
Such a dissembler could teach hell to flatter

[Aside.
Ba.
From this Suns mounting in our hemisphear,
Hence forward wee'll begin to date our year
This day i'th'front o'th'Almanack wee'l place,
And or'e the rest in scarlet Text command.

Cl.
Dy'de redd with Traytors perjury and guilt
And Royall Princes blood which will be spilt.

[Aside.
An.
Seeing now t'ath bin your pleasure to elect me,
Ile be the onely master of requests,
To me shall all repair that are oppressed,
No bribes shall overbear a widdows cause
Wee'l rescue right out of oppressions paws;
Wee'l judge the Judges if they do amiss;
New laws we will enact and repeal should,
As fresh occasions themselves do offer
But all with generall consent, 'tis wrong,
Some should ingross what doth belong to all.
But chiefly Il'e be carefull of my life,
Princes examples daily do give breath
Unto their Laws, Ile strive to live a law.

Cl.
A little of this done would go far,

(Aside.
An.
And now me thinks by fifty springs and more
I feel my self grown younger then I was,
What of Medea's Baths the Poets faigned,
Out of which Æson came with youth recreated.
What other Authors do report of th'Eagle,
(Th'Eagle which is displayd in our standard,
By loosing of her bill regains her youth;
These toys and tales are found a truth in me.

Cl.
I think that with the Snake h'ath cast his skin,
But all his poison still remains within him.

[Aside.
Ba.
The Heavens new strength miraculously hath lent you,
And for new burden hath new shoulders sent you,
But lets unto S. Sophyes Church with speed,
In publike view before your peoples eyes,
Your Coronation we will solemnize.

Exeunt omnes.

SCEN. 5.

Enter Maria, Cessarissa, and her Nurse.
Nur.
Good Lady, Be not drown'd in Passion,
Anger's short fury.

Mar.
Furie's then long Anger,

Nur.
Were here a glass that you might see your self,
How strangely Passion hath transform'd your face,
Displaces pale for red, and red for pale.

Mar.
When young I suckt your milk, but am not bound,
To be rul'd by your Councel at these years.

Nur.
It was a wholsom breast that bred my milk,
From loyal heart my Councel doth proceed.

Mar.
But here comes Paleologus, he'l speak for himself,

Enter Paleologus.
Mar.
Out of my sight, thou baseness I do scorn,
To lose my eyes upon so low an object.

Pal.
I beg the favour but to know my fault.

Mar.
Greece is grown barbarous, and quite bereft,
Of former worth, no not the dregs are left,
Or so much ruines as may teach the strangers,
And bring this forth to their sad remembrance;
That once you had brave worthy Ancestors:
The ancient Proverb was The valiant Greek,
The modern Proverb is, The merry Greek,
And mirth of late all manhood hath devourd,
Fames Trumpet once did sound the youths of Greece,
Who made their voyage for the Golden Fleece.
You may adventure now for th'Asses skin.

Pal.
I would I could read your meaning—

Mar.
What did my Father Manuel for this?
Weaken his own to strengthen your estate,
Who did not make your Fortunes but create 'um,
Whose boundless bounty, vast magnificence
Gave you more pounds then you were born to pence.
He made you honourable, rich and great,
Oh that he could have made you grateful too!

Pal.
Expound good Lady to us what you speak.

Mar.
To see a base Usurper mount the Throne,
To mate and check your lawful Emperour.
See it, and neither wag a hand nor tongue,
Tame Traitors all.

Pa.
I do deny your words,
And would defie the Speaker, were you a man?

Mar.
Had nature moulded me a man, before
Things should go as they doe, I'de swim in blood,
They're Traytors which consent to treason.

Pa.
True.

Mar.
And they who don't oppose it do consent.

Pa.
Yes having power and office to resist it.

Mar.
All have an office, to resist Usurpers.

Pa.
All have not power.

Mar.
Not power? a loyall minde,
Sufficient power will quickly make or finde.

Pa.
What would you have us do? destroy our selves.

Mar.
No, I would have you to preserve your Prince.

Pan.
Our selves, We for his safety do reserve.

Mar.
To give him Physick when he's three days dead.

Pa.
Do but consider seriously our case,
And whom your passion now condemns for fools,
Your judgment will acquit, and praise for wise,
Our lives, our lands, are at the sole disposing,
And cruel mercy of our potent foes.
If any whisper but the lowest word
Of Loyalty, there's one to cut his throat.
Hence houses rifled, goods pillag'd, lands forfeited,
Our selves disabled from all further service,
Had we not better for a time comply;
Spend what we please in thoughts, but speak nothing,
Bow to our foes, that they may not break us.
Storms will not always last, when this is over,
In season due we will discover our selves.

N.
Me thinks he speaks proportion'd to reason.

Pa.
By what your Father did bestow on me,
To whom next to the Heavens I ow my self,
I vow I want not, will but wait a time,
With best effect to shew my Loyalty,
It will the better speed for this long pause.

Mar.
Be thine the tongue's, no matter what's the cause?
Concealed Loyalty as well as lands,
We hope at last will fall to'th Princes hands,
And let no Nobles hope their worth will shine,
Who make the Sun of Majesty decline;
If Honours spring be dry, 'tis vain to dream,
That Rivers thence deriv'd can have a stream.

Exeunt.

SCEN. Ult.

Enter Andronicus, Panergus, and Basilius.
And.
Lets see the List,
Read it Panergus, then will we declare,
Whom we think fit to save, whom fit to kill.

Pan.
Maria Cæsarissa is the first,

Bas.
Sirs, she's a woman, may she not be spar'd?

An.
What is your holiness in love with her?
I tell you Sir, she is more then a woman,
An able active brain, a daring spirit,
She does inherit her father Manuels parts,
She shall be kill'd.

Pa.
How will you dispose of her husband?

An.
I have solemnly observed in all my time,
Never to part the husband and the wife

Pa.
Assotus followeth, what's your highness pleasure,

An.
Erect a scaffold in the Market place,
And there behead him, this shall be his crime
His riot ill imprest the waxen youth,
Of young Alexius this will render us,
Just to the people, and gain reputation.

Pa.
Morio the jester next i'th list succeeds,

Bas.
His body downward's fool, his head's a knave;
Court passages he cunningly doth mark,
And vents them by the priviledge of his coate
In wary twilight betwixt jest and earnest.

An.
Ile not infringe the grand Charter of jesters,
'Tis ancient, and he's beneath my anger.

Pa.
But Sir, Isachius must be lookt unto,
He is the next of the Imperial line.

An.
Let him alone poor narrow hearted soul:
To enjoy his books, and beads, and crucifixes.
He lives, it'h covent and there let him live,

Ba.
Hee's loath to wake a Lyon that doth sleep.

(Asid.
Pa.
Then comes Cleobulus who first deni'de
Unto our grand petition to subscrib,
He must be kill'd.

An.
He must be kept alive.

Pa.
Strange reason Sir,

An.
Our pleasure is our reason.
We do delight to cross mens expectations,
And love to leave th'mazed world at loss
They shall not trace the Labyrinth of my actions,
Wee'l slay, whom they think we will save and whom,
They think wee'l slay wee'l save, the more their thoughts
Are thus defeated, they'l admire
And what they cannot understand adore,

Pa.
Next Paleologus doth take his turn,

An.
A dangerous youth, high birth, and higher parts,
His mind above his means, dispatch him sure.

Pa.
But Sir, on what pretence must these be kill'd?
Some thing must be alleadged first, like truth,
To satisfie the mouths of greedy people.

An.
Power never wanted pretences, and those just,
And legall for to do what it desir'd,
Accuse them, that they lately have conspir'd
Against our sacred person, Knights o'th post,
Of th'Devils dubbing quickly shall depose it,
Their tongues are hired for trifles, and ther's nought
Save honesty, but here it may be bought.

Pa.
Crato doth next succeed.

An.
Enough at once,
I do desire Alexius should be
Well waited on in's progress to his grave,
All these shall Usher him, such as remain
Shall follow after to hold up his train.
Some dishes in our first course we dispose,
Others reserve therewith to close our meal.

Chorus consisting of two companies of old men.
1. Chor.
Neighbours, what news? tell us we pray,
The issue of this pregnant day,
For now, alass, 'tis all our task,
News to tell, or news to ask.
And arived at these years,
Our hands, are turn'd to tongues and ears.

2. Chor.
Gull'd with lyes wee'l be no more,
Which so oft were gull'd before.
Nor will be rob'd by Pamphlet-thief,
First of our coyn, then our belief,
All truth is mounted to the skies,
And all that's left below are lyes.

1. Chor.
Speak you of the other side?
What you say is not denide,
Our foes no open forging spare:
The Country vents the City ware,
Lyes and money both they mynt,
Those sons number, that by stynt.

2. Chor.
Both sides in lying twins are Grown,
But for the Elder, theirs we own,
We started last, have nigh o're got,
Them, and the coppy which they wrote:
So imitate, 'tis hard to say.
Master, scholler, we, or they.

1. Chor.
'Tis true we're all o'th Poets straine,
All are poor, all use to feign.
Henceforth it shall be our care,
Onely to tell, and trust our share.
What news soever men do talk,
Two parts of three, we will defalk.

2. Chor.
Nay, of some news was told a late,
Twice five of ten you must abate.
Castles i't'h air they made to stand,
And march'd o're seas, and sail'd o're land.
With such improbable relations,
Were both the tales, and consultations.

1. Chor.
Such news are useful in these ages,
Our souldiers else would oft want wages,
Such pleasing falshoods, wisely told.
Do serve mens spirits to uphold,
Spirits which fall when once they stoop;
And dye when they begin to droop.

2. Chor.
Then let them drop, then let them dye,
Rather then live, sav'd with a lye;
The higher that mens spirits mount,
Reckoning on a false account,
The lower they will fall to ground,
When truth long hid, at last is found.

1. Chor.
But if some zealous Lady tels,
The news, she converts infidels,
And all do credit her the better,
Seconded by some great Lords letter,
Who doubts reports from persons high,
Do tantomount give them the lye.

2. Chor.
But seeing in this factious age,
All sorts themselves on sides engage,
We take the leave what ere is told.
Wee'l trust when 'tis thrice three daies old,
No news to us doth sent so well,
As when tis stale to others smell.