Natures Embassie Or, The Wilde-mans Measvres: Danced naked by twelve Satyres, with sundry others continued in the next Section [by Richard Brathwait] |
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THE SECOND SATYRE.
[OF CORRUPTION.]
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 | Natures Embassie |  |
81
THE SECOND SATYRE. [OF CORRUPTION.]
Pompey the Great no sooner was interr'd,
But poore Cornelia his distressed wife,
To her deceassed Lords estate preferr'd,
Was drawne by Consul Asper into strife:
And so opprest by hote pursuite of foes,
That she deuoid of friends was fraught with woes.
But poore Cornelia his distressed wife,
To her deceassed Lords estate preferr'd,
Was drawne by Consul Asper into strife:
And so opprest by hote pursuite of foes,
That she deuoid of friends was fraught with woes.
She, wofull she, lest she should lose her state,
Makes meanes to Cælius to preferre her suite,
Which he's content to do, but at such rate,
As 'twill cost deare to bring the cause about:
Yet she remedilesse, to worke her peace,
Stood not much on't, but did the Courtier please.
Makes meanes to Cælius to preferre her suite,
Which he's content to do, but at such rate,
As 'twill cost deare to bring the cause about:
Yet she remedilesse, to worke her peace,
Stood not much on't, but did the Courtier please.
Cælius possest of his iniurious fee,
Which he consum'd in riotous expence,
Forgot the widdows cause dishonestlie,
Without remorse or touch of conscience:
For vnder hand (as Courtiers vse to do)
He takes a priuate bribe of Asper too.
Which he consum'd in riotous expence,
Forgot the widdows cause dishonestlie,
Without remorse or touch of conscience:
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He takes a priuate bribe of Asper too.
Cornelia now in hope of good successe,
Comes vnto Cælius as her purchas'd friend,
And humbly craues to know what's her redresse,
Or in what sort her suite is like to end:
Where He as strangely answers her demand,
And say's, her suite came neuer to his hand.
Comes vnto Cælius as her purchas'd friend,
And humbly craues to know what's her redresse,
Or in what sort her suite is like to end:
Where He as strangely answers her demand,
And say's, her suite came neuer to his hand.
No suite! (thus did this Matron streight reply)
O Rome where is thy Iustice now enthron'd,
Thou that didst vse to heare a widdow crie,
And right her cause as thou her wrongs bemon'd!
But spare Cornelia, what reliefe can come
Frō corrupt Courts, where gold makes Consuls dumbe?
O Rome where is thy Iustice now enthron'd,
Thou that didst vse to heare a widdow crie,
And right her cause as thou her wrongs bemon'd!
But spare Cornelia, what reliefe can come
Frō corrupt Courts, where gold makes Consuls dumbe?
If my much-honor'd Lord, whose Country loue
Reft him of breath, should see this present time,
How gifts can limit Iustice, would't not moue
His Royall spirit, seeing me and mine,
Whose onely comfort's this, we may repose,
And ioy in this, we haue no more to lose?
Reft him of breath, should see this present time,
How gifts can limit Iustice, would't not moue
His Royall spirit, seeing me and mine,
Whose onely comfort's this, we may repose,
And ioy in this, we haue no more to lose?
Whilest wrong'd Cornelia sat thus pensiuely,
Tuberculus a Courtier past that way,
Who in compassion of her miserie,
Knowne to her selfe not to her grieues, did stay;
For generous minds are neuer more exprest,
Then in applying comfort to th' distrest.
Tuberculus a Courtier past that way,
Who in compassion of her miserie,
Knowne to her selfe not to her grieues, did stay;
For generous minds are neuer more exprest,
Then in applying comfort to th' distrest.
Ladie (quoth he) if I could ease your griefe,
The loue I owe vnto your familie,
Me thinks might promise to your selfe reliefe,
Impart them then, what ere your sorrowes be:
Cures haue bene wrought where little was expected,
For where the mind is willing, ought's effected.
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Me thinks might promise to your selfe reliefe,
Impart them then, what ere your sorrowes be:
Cures haue bene wrought where little was expected,
For where the mind is willing, ought's effected.
She hearing him so vertuously inclin'd,
Prone vnto pittie, sighing did declare,
How that her sonne young Pompey was confin'd,
Which was the greatest subiect of her care:
Whom if He would make meanes for to release,
The current of her sorrowes soone would ceasse.
Prone vnto pittie, sighing did declare,
How that her sonne young Pompey was confin'd,
Which was the greatest subiect of her care:
Whom if He would make meanes for to release,
The current of her sorrowes soone would ceasse.
Another suite I haue, which Asper moues,
To force me from my right of widdowhood,
Wherein his worser cause the better proues,
For mightie men can hardly be withstood:
In these I must intreate your Lordships care,
In lieu whereof I'le gratifie with prayer.
To force me from my right of widdowhood,
Wherein his worser cause the better proues,
For mightie men can hardly be withstood:
In these I must intreate your Lordships care,
In lieu whereof I'le gratifie with prayer.
Tuberculus did answer her demands,
But he expected
ointment, and delaying,
To giue her further comfort, there He stands,
He for his fee, she for her cause stood praying.
Cornelia well perceiuing what He would,
Good gods (quoth she) is Iustice wholly sould?
But he expected
Like Verconius in the time of Alexander Seuerus, who pretending familiaritie with the Emperour, tooke mens mony for preferring their suites, abused them, & did them no good at all: at last conuented before the Emperour, he was iudged to be hanged vp in a chimney, and so perish with smoke, for that he sold smoke to the people. Lamprid. in Seu. Verco.
To giue her further comfort, there He stands,
He for his fee, she for her cause stood praying.
Cornelia well perceiuing what He would,
Good gods (quoth she) is Iustice wholly sould?
How do you meane (quoth he) it is our meanes,
Could we be thus enameld euery day,
Or in such port maintaine our fauning friends,
If we receiu'd not profit by delay?
No Ladie, no, who in these dayes do liue,
And would haue Iustice, must not sticke to giue.
Could we be thus enameld euery day,
Or in such port maintaine our fauning friends,
If we receiu'd not profit by delay?
No Ladie, no, who in these dayes do liue,
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Thus was Cornelia crost, her meanes preuented,
No comfort now remaining saue despaire;
Wherefore (perforce) she rests hope-reft, contented
To lose the sight of her confined heire,
Who liues restrain'd: Asper her state hath got,
And poore Cornelia with her cause forgot.
No comfort now remaining saue despaire;
Wherefore (perforce) she rests hope-reft, contented
To lose the sight of her confined heire,
Who liues restrain'd: Asper her state hath got,
And poore Cornelia with her cause forgot.
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