University of Virginia Library

Scœn. 8.

Favovrina
, Gracchvs, Amilcar.
Are you my Lords attendant?

Gra.
(Madam) no,
But a poore bond-slaue, who can easily owe
The hazard of a soule in sacrifice
To his good Honours health, and pay the debt
Without compulsion, or a double threate.

Ami.
Madame hee is the blessing of my fate
Borne to my fortunes, and my whole estate.

Fa.
So: then resolue what newes.

Am.
All feare is fled:
The worst of womans feare, Lucilla's dead.

Fa.
Most welcome tidings! speake, I pray, and stuffe
Your happy speech with circumstance enough.

Ami.
Titan rous'd vp from darkenesse by the day
Shrunke with amazement of the fatall morne,
(Remembring what a mischiefe should befall)
For cloudy night-caps hee againe did call,
When my suborned vassaile gaue consent
To swimme (for satisfaction of our sake)
Through deepe damnations gulfe, so, through the lake
Of vn-digested horror, to accuse
My step-dame, yong Lucilla, of your death:
Hee, a dissembling caitife, deepely read
In ir-religious acts; with doubtfull face
More doubted voyce, and miserable grone
Salutes the foote-step of Mænanders throne;
Then weeping, said, the Worme of Conscience
Striues in my bloud; tortures my broken soule;
Haunted I am with terror whilst I liue
Who to my life a period will giue?
A finall period: for I liue too long
Let villaines fortune be my fatall song,
With which the sorry King was some-what mou'd,
And (after silence) did exact his name
Proceeding to the circumstantiall cause;
My rude impostor did preuent the clause,
And seeming to afflict his pensiue heart,
Backe from the royall foote-steps doth hee start:
Helpe, ô defend mee from her hatefull frownes,
See where Medusa-like shee comes, (hee cried)
Clad all in torch-light like the Queene of hell
Her scalpe's en-circled with a Crowne of flames:
Much leane-iaw'd horror hangs about her eyes;
The gaping wound for greedy vengeance cryes.
What madnesse now affrights thee, quoth our knig?
Faire Fauourina's shadow hee replyes,
For throvgh entisements of Lucilla's spleene
I slew the gallant Bride, and Sparta's Queene:
Lucilla, by consent, was doom'd to death
And my Impostor also, whom I taught
For lifes owne safe-guard to beseech the King,
That his vprighteous iudgement of grim death
Might faile of execution, iust so long
As the condemn'd Lucilla did suruiue
Thinking by this, then to discouer all
And say hee did preserue whom shee conspir'd to kil.
The King, enrag'd with sorrow, did re-pell
This poore petition of my totur'd slaue:
Who then despairing to escape from death
Drew forth a dagger, gaue one fatall stab
Into the Kings owne bosome, with which wound
Hee like a lofty Turret, nodding low,
Clapt his victorious palmes aboue his head,
And swore a mighty oath, Menander's Dead.

Fa.
Mænander dead? My King and Husband dead?

Ami.
My slaue torne peece-meale did enioy his fate,
Lucilla burnt before the Pallace gate.

Fa.
Mænander dead?

Ami.
Yes, but Pheudippe's King.

Fa.
Pheudippe King?

Am.
Yes; but Menander's Dead.

Fa.
Opprest with sorrow, I lament his death:
But am appeas'd by proud Lucilla's breath.

Gra.
What is a womans loue? when to reuenge
And empty out the poyson of her gall
Against some Lady her malignant foe
Shee doth forget compassion, doth refuse
Friendship to neighbours, duty to her Spouse,
Respect of parents, piety to bloud:
Nay, aboue these; abhor celestiall good.

Ami.
Now quickly (Madam) to disclose you liue
Were dangerous, and preiudiciall I doubt:
Therefore exspect on opportunity,
Least you infringe the league of vnity;
Till I aduise, liue (as you doe) secûre:
Safety's no lesse accepted of obscure
And Country Pezants, then of Courted Kings:
Place cannot change the nature of good things.