University of Virginia Library

Scœna secunda.

Herod. Pheroras.
Pheroras.
All health and safetie waite vpon my Lord,
And may you long in prosperous fortunes liue
With Rome commanding Cæsar; at accord,
And haue all honors that the world can giue.

Herod.
Oh brother, now thou speakst not from thy hart,
No, thou hast strooke a blow at Herods loue:
That cannot quickly from my memory part,
Though Salome did me to pardon moue.
Valiant Phasaelus, now to thee farewell,
Thou wert my kinde and honorable brother:
Oh haples houre, when you selfe striken fell,
Thou fathers Image, glory of thy mother.
Had I desir'd a greater sute of thee,
Then to withhold thee from a harlots bed,
Thou wouldst haue granted it: but now I see
All are not like that in a wombe are bred.
Thou wouldst not, hadst thou heard of Herods death,
Haue made his buriall time, thy bridall houre:
Thou wouldst with clamours, not with ioyfull breath,
Haue show'd the newes to be not sweet but soure.

Phero.
Phasaelus great worth I know did staine
Pheroras petty valour: but they lie
(Excepting you your selfe) that dare maintaine,
That he did honor Herod more then I.
For what I showd, loues power constraind me show,
And pardon louing faults for Mariams sake.

Herod.
Mariam, where is she?

Phero.
Nay, I do not know,
But absent vse of her faire name I make:
You haue forgiuen greater faults then this,
For Constabarus that against you will
Preseru'd the sonnes of Baba, liues in blisse,
Though you commanded him the youths to kill.

Herod.
Goe, take a present order for his death,
And let those traytors feele the worst of feares:
Now Salome will whine to begge his breath,
But Ile be deafe to prayers: and blind to teares.

Phero.
He is my Lord from Salom diuorst,
Though her affection did to leaue him grieue:
Yet was she by her loue to you inforst,
To leaue the man that would your foes relieue.

Herod.
Then haste them to their death. I will requite
Thee gentle Mariam.

Salom.
I meane
The thought of Mariam doth so steale my spirit,
My mouth from speech of her I cannot weane.

Exit.