 | The Roman Actor |  |
Actvs, I.
Scæna, I.
Enter Paris, Latinus, Æsopus.Æsop.
What doe wee acte to day?
Latinus.
Agaves phrensie
With Pentheus bloudie end.
Paris.
It skils not what
The times are dull, and all that wee receiue
Will hardly satisfie the dayes Expence.
The Greekes (to whom we owe the first inuention
Both of the buskind scæne and humble stocke)
That raigne in euery noble familie
Declaime against vs: and our Amphitheater,
Great Pompies worke, that hath giu'n full delight
Both to the eye, and eare of fifty thousand
Spectators in one day, as if it were
Some vnknowne desert, or great Roome vnpeopl'd,
Is quite forsaken.
Latin.
Pleasures of worse natures
Are gladly entertayn'd, and they that shun vs,
Practise in priuate sports the Stewes would blush at.
A Litter borne by eight Liburnian staues,
To buy Diseases from a glorious strumper,
The most censorious of our Roman gentrie,
Nay of the guarded robe the Senators,
Esteeme an easie purchase,
Paris.
Yet grudge vs
(That with delight joyne profit and endeauour
To build their mindes vp faire, and on the Stage
On good, and glorious actions, and the shame
That treads vpon the heeles of vice. The salarie
Of six Sestertij:
Æsop.
For the profit Paris,
And mercinarie gaine they are things beneath vs
Since while you hold your grace, and power with Cæsar,
We from your bounty finde a large supply,
Nor can one thought of want euer approach vs,
Par.
Our aime is glorie, and to leaue our names
To after times.
Latin.
And would they giue vs leaue
There ends all our ambition.
Æsop.
Wee haue enemies
And great ones too, I feare. 'Tis giuen out lately
The Consull Aretinus (Cæsars spie)
Sayd at his Table ere a moneth expir'd
(For being gald in our last Comedie)
He would silence vs for euer.
Par.
I expect
No fauour from him, my strong Auentine is
That great Domitian, whom we oft haue cheer'd
In his most sullen moodes will once returne,
Who can repayre with ease, the Consuls ruines.
Lat.
'Tis frequent in the Citie, he hath subdued
The Catti, and the Daci, and ere long,
The second time will enter Rome in triumph.
Enter two Lictors.
Par.
Ioue hasten it, with vs? I now beleeue
The Consuls threates Æsopus.
1. Lict.
You are summon'd
T'appeare to day in Senate.
2. Lict.
And there to answer
What shall be vrg'd against you.
Par.
We obey you.
Nay droope not fellowes, innocence should be bould
The ancient Heroes, and the falles of Princes
With loude applause, being to act our selues,
Must doe it with vndaunted confidence.
What ere our sentence be thinke 'tis in sport.
And though condemn'd lets heare it without sorrow
As if we were to liue againe to morrow.
1. Lict.
'Tis spoken like your selfe.
Enter Ælius, Lamia, Junius, Rusticus, Palphuris, Sura.
Lam.
Whether goes Paris?
1. Lict.
He's cited to the Senate.
Lat.
I am glad the State is
So free from matters of more waight and trouble
That it has vacant time to looke on vs.
Par.
That reuerend place, in which the affaires of Kings,
And prouinces were determin'd, to descend
To the censure of a bitter word, or iest,
Drop'd from a Poets pen! peace to your Lordships
We are glad that you are safe.
Exeunt Lictors, Paris, Latinus, Æsopus.
Lam.
What times are these?
To what is Rome falne? may we being alone
Speake our thoughts freely of the Prince, and State,
And not feare the informer.
Rust.
Noble Lamia,
So dangerous the age is, and such bad acts
Are practis'd euery where, we hardly sleepe
Nay cannot dreame with safetie. All our actions
Are cal'd in question, to be nobly borne
Is now a crime; and to deserue too well
Held Capitall treason. Sonnes accuse their Fathers,
Fathers their sonnes; and but to winne a smile
From one in grace in Court, our chastest Matrons
Make ship wracke of their honours. To be vertuous
Is to bee guilty. They are onely safe
That know to sooth the Princes appetite,
And serue his lusts.
Tis true; and tis my wonder
That two sonnes of so different a nature,
Should spring from good Uespatian. We had a Titus,
Stilde iustly the delight of all mankinde,
Who did esteeme that day lost in his life
In which some one or other tasted not.
Of his magnificent bounties. One that had
A readie teare when he was forc'd to signe
The death of an offender. And so farre
From pride, that he disdain'd not the conuerse
Euen of the poorest Roman.
Lam.
Yet his brother
Domitian, that now swayes the power of things,
Is so inclin'd to bloud, that noe day passes
In which some are not fastend to the hooke,
Or throwne downe from the Gemonies. His freemen
Scorne the Nobilitie, and he himselfe
As if he were not made of flesh and bloud,
Forgets he is a man.
Rust.
In his young yeeres
He shew'd what he would be when growne to ripenes:
His greatest pleasure was being a childe
With a sharp pointed bodkin to kill flies,
Whose roomes now men supply. For his escape.
In the Vitellian warre he rais'd a Temple
To Jupiter, and proudly plac'd his figure
In the bosome of the God. And in his edicts
He does not blush, or start to stile himselfe
(As if the name of Emperour were base)
Great Lord, and God Domitian.
Sura.
I haue letters
He's on his way to Rome, and purposes
To enter with all glorie. The flattering Senate
Decrees him divine Honours, and to crosse it
Were death with studied torments; for my part
I will obey the time, it is in vaine
To striue against the torrent
Rust.
Lets to the Curia
Before we are compeld.
Lam.
And since we cannot
With safetie vse the actiue, lets make vse of
The passiue fortitude, with this assurance
That the state sicke in him, the gods to friend,
Though at the worst will now begin to mend,
Exeunt.
Scæna, 2.
Enter Domitia, and Parthenius.Domit.
To me this reuerence?
Parth.
I pay it Ladie
As a debt due to her thats Cæsars mistris.
For vnderstand with ioy he that commands
All that the Sunne giues warmth to, is your seruant.
Be not amaz'd, but fit you to your fortunes.
Thinke vpon state, and greatnesse, and the Honours
That warre vpon Augusta, for that name
Ere long comes to you: still you doubt your vassall,
But when you haue read this letter, writ, and sign'd
With his imperiall hand, you will be freed
From feare, and jealousie and I beseech you,
When all the beauties of the earth bowe to you,
And Senators shall take it for an honour,
As I doe now to kisse these happie feete;
When euery smile you giue is a preferment,
And you dispose of Prouinces to your creatures,
Thinke on Parthenius.
Domit.
Rise. I am transported,
And hardly dare beleeue what is assur'd here.
The meanes, my good Parthenius, that wrought Cæsar
(Our God on earth) to cast an eye of fauour
Vpon his humble handmaide!
Parth.
What but your beautie?
When nature fram'd you for her master peece,
As the pure abstract of all rare in woman,
To the most eminent place. I will not say
(For it would smell of arrogance to insinuate
The seruice I haue done you) with what zeale
I oft haue made relation of your Vertues,
Or how I haue sung your goodnesse or how Cæsar
Was fir'd with the relation of your storie,
I am rewarded in the acte, and happie
In that my proiect prosper'd.
Domit.
You are modest,
And were it in my power I would to be thankefull.
If that when I was mistris of my selfe,
And in my way of youth, pure, and vntainted,
The Emperour had vouchsaf'd to seeke my fauours,
I had with ioy giuen vp my virgin fort
At the first summons to his soft embraces:
But I am now anothers, not mine owne.
You know I haue a husband, for my honour
I would not be his strumpet, and how lawe
Can bee dispenc'd with to become his wife.
To mee's a riddle.
Parth.
I can soone resolue it.
When power puts in his Plea the lawes are silenc'd,
The world confesses one Rome, and one Cæsar,
And as his rules is infinite, his pleasures
Are vnconfin'd; this sillable his will
Stands for a thousand reasons,
Domit.
But with safetie,
Suppose I should consent, how can I doe it,
My husband is a Senator of a temper,
Not to be iested with.
Enter Lamia.
Parth.
As if hee durst
Be Cæsars riuall. Heere he comes, with ease
I will remoue this scruple.
Lam.
How! so priuate!
Mine owne house made a brothell! Sir how durst you,
Though gaurded with your power in Court, and greatnesse,
Hould conference with my wife? as for your Minion
Parth.
You are rude, and sawcie,
Nor know to whom you speake.
Lam.
This is fine ifaith!
Parth.
Your wife? but touch her, that respect forgotten
That's due to her, whom mightiest Cæsar fauours
And thinke what 'tis to die. Not to loose time.
She's Cæsars choice. It is sufficient honor
You were his taster in this heauenly nectar,
But now must quit the office.
Lam.
This is rare.
Cannot a man be master of his wife
Because she's young, and faire, without a pattent.
I in mine owne house am an Emperour,
And will defend whats mine, where are my knaues?
If such an insolence escape vnpunish'd.
Parth.
In your selfe Lamia. Cæsar hath forgot
To vse his power, and I his instrument,
In whom though absent, his authoritie speakes,
Haue lost my faculties.
Stampes.
Lam.
The Guard! why am I
Enter a Centurion with Souldiers.
Design'd for death?
Domit.
As you desire my fauour
Take not so rough a course.
Parth.
All your desires
Are absolute commaunds. Yet giue me leaue
To put the will of Cæsar into acte.
Heer's a bill of Diuorce betweene your Lordship,
And this great Lady. If you refuse to signe it,
And so as if you did it vncompell'd,
Wonne to it by reasons that concerne your selfe,
Her honour to vntainted. Here are Clearkes.
Shall in your best bloud write it newe, till torture
Compell you to performe it.
Lam.
Is this legall?
Par.
Monarchs that dare not doe vnlawfull things,
Yet bare them out are Constables, not Kings
Parth.
Will you dispute?
I know not what to vrge
Against my selfe, but too much dotage on her
Loue and obseruance.
Parth.
Set it vnder your hand
That you are impotent, and cannot pay
The duties of a husband, or that you are mad
(Rather then want iust cause wee'l make you so)
Dispatch, you know the danger els, deliuer it
Nay on your knee. Madam you now are free
And Mistris of your selfe.
Lam.
Can you Domitia
Consent to this?
Domit.
'Twould argue a base minde
To liue a seruant, when I may commaund.
I now am Cæsars, and yet in respect
I once was yours, when you come to the Pallace,
(Prouided you deserue it in your seruice)
You shall find me your good Mistris, waite me Parthenius
And now farewell poore Lamia.
Exeunt omnes preter Longinum.
Lam.
To the Gods
I bend my knees, (for tyrannie hath banish'd
Iustice from men) and as they would deserue
Their Altars, and our vowes, humbly inuoke 'em
That this my rauish'd wife may proue as fatall
To proud Domitian, and her embraces
Affoord him in the end as little ioy,
As wanton Helen brought to him of Troy.
Exit.
Scæna, 3.
Enter, Lictors, Arctinus, Fulcinius, Rusticus, Sura, Paris, Latinus, Æsopus.Aret.
Fathers conscript may this our meeting be
Happie to Cæsar and the common wealth.
Lict.
Silence.
Aret.
The purpose of this frequent Senate
Is first to giue thankes to the Gods of Rome,
That for the propagation of the Empire,
In height of courage, depth of vnderstanding,
And all those vertues, and remarkeable graces,
Which make a Prince most eminent, our Domitian
Transcend's the ancient Romans. I can neuer
Bring his praise to a period. What good man
That is a friend to truth, dares make it doubtfull,
That he hath Fabius slay'dnesse, and the courage
Of bould Marcellus, to whom Hanibal gaue
The stile of Target, and the Sword of Rome.
But he has more, and euery touch more Roman
As Pompey's dignitie, Augustus state,
Antonies bountie, and great Iulius fortune.
With Catoes resolution. I am lost
In th'Ocean of his vertues. In a word
All excellencies of good men in him meet,
But no part of their vices.
Rust.
This is no flatterie!
Sur.
Take heed, you'l be obseru'd,
Aret.
'Tis then most fit
That we (as to the Father of our Countrie,
Like thankefull sonnes, stand bound to pay true seruice
For all those blessings that he showres vpon vs)
Should not conniue, and see his gouernment,
Deprau'd and scandaliz'd by meaner men
That to his fauour, and indulgence owe
Themselues and being.
Par.
Now he points at vs.
Aret.
Cite Paris the Tragedian.
Par.
Here.
Aret.
Stand forth.
In thee, as being the chiefe of thy profession,
I doe accuse the qualitie of treason,
As libellers against the state and Cæsar.
Par.
Meere accusations are not proofes my Lord,
In what are we delinquents?
Aret.
You are they
That search into the secrets of the time,
And vnder fain'd names on the Stage present
Persons of rancke, and qualitie of both Sexes,
And with Satiricall. and bitter iests
Make euen the Senators ridiculous
To the Plebeans.
Par.
If I free not my selfe,
(And in my selfe the rest of my profession)
From these false imputations, and proue
That they make that a libell which the Poet
Writ for a Comedie, so acted too,
It is but Iustice that we vndergoe
The heauiest censure.
Aret.
Are you on the Stage
You talke so boldly?
Par.
The whole word being one
This place is not exempted, and I am
So confident in the iustice of our cause,
That I could wish Cæsar, in whose great name
All Kings are comprehended sate as iudge,
To heare our Plea, and then determine of vs.
If to expresse a man sould to his lusts,
Wasting the treasure of his time and Fortunes,
In wanton dalliance, and to what sad end
A wretch thats so giuen ouer does arriue at,
Deterring carelesse youth, by his example,
From such licentious courses; laying open
The snares of baudes, and the consuming arts
Of prodigall strumpets, can deserue reproofe,
Why are not all your golden principles
Writ downe by graue Philosophers to instruct vs
To chuse faire Vertue for our guide, not pleasure,
Condemne vnto the fire?
Sura.
There's spirit in this.
Par.
Or if desire of honour was the base
On which the building of the Roman Empire
Was rais'd vp to this height; if to inflame
The noble youth with an ambitious heate
T'indure the frosts of danger, nay of Death
By glorious vndertakings, may deserue
Reward, or fauour, from the common wealth.
Actors may put in for as large a share
As all the sects of the Philosophers;
They which could precepts (perhaps seldome reade)
Deliver what an honourable thing
The actiue vertue is. But does that fire
The bloud, or swell the veines with emulation
To be both good, and great, equall to that
Which is presented on our Theaters?
Let a good Actor in a loftie Sceane
Show great Alcides honour'd in the sweate
Of his twelue labours; or a bould Cancillus
Forbidding Rome to be redeem'd with gold
From the insulting Gaul's; or Scipio
After his victories imposing Tribute
On conquer'd Carthage. If done to the life,
As if they saw their dangers, and their glories,
And did partake with them in their rewardes,
All that haue any sparke of Roman in them
The slothfull artes layd by, contend to bee
Like those they see presented.
Rust.
He ha's put
The Consuls to their whisper,
Par.
But 'tis vrg'd
That we corrupt youth, and traduce superiours:
When doe we bring a vice vpon the Stage,
That does goe off vnpunish'd? doe we teach
By the successe of wicked vndertakings,
Others to tread, in their forbidden steps?
We show no arts of Lidian Pandarisme,
Corinthian poysons, Persian flatteries,
But mulcted so in the conclusion that
Even those spectators that were so inclin'd,
Go home chang'd men. And for traducing such
That are aboue vs, publishing to the world
Their secret crimes we are as innocent
Ah heyre, that does conspire against the life
Of his deare parent, numbring euery houre
He liues as tedious to him, if there be
Among the auditors one whose conscience tells him,
He is of the same mould we cannot helpe it.
Or bringing on the stage a loose adultresse,
That does maintaine the ryatous expence
Of him that seedes her greedie lust, yet suffers
The lawfull pledges of a former bed
To starue the while for hunger, if a Matron
Howeuer great in fortune, birth, or titles,
Guilty of such a foule vnnaturall sinne,
Crie out tis writ by me, we cannot helpe it:
Or when a couetous man's express'd, whose wealth
Arithmatique cannot number, and whose Lordships
A Falcon in one day cannot flie ouer.
Yet he so sordid in his mind, so griping
As not to affoord himselfe the necessaries
To maintaine life, if a Patrician,
(Though honourd with a Consulship) finde himselfe
Touch'd to the quicke in this, we cannot helpe it.
Or when we show a Iudge that is corrupt,
And will giue vp his sentence as he fauours,
The person, not the cause, sauing the guiltie
If of his faction, and as oft condemning
The innocent out of particular spleene,
If any in this reuerend assemblie,
Nay e'ne your selfe my Lord, that are the image
Of absent Cæsar feele something in your bosome
That puts you in remembrance of things past,
Or things intended tis not in vs to helpe it.
I haue said, my Lord, and now as you finde cause
Or censure vs, or free vs with applause.
Lat.
Well pleaded on my life I neuer saw him
Act an Orators part before.
Æsop.
We might haue giuen
Ten double sees to Regulus, and yet
A shoute within, enter Parthenius.
Aret.
What shoute is that?
Parth.
Cæsar our Lord married to conquest, is
Returnd in triumph.
Fulcin.
Lets all hast to meete him.
Aret.
Breake vp the Court, we will reserue to him
The Censure of this cause
All.
Long life to Cæsar.
Exeunt omnes.
Scæna, 4.
Enter Iulia, Cænis, Domitilla, Domitia.Cæn.
Stand backe the place is mine.
Jul.
Your's? am I not
Great Titus daughter, and Domitians neece
Dares any claime precedence?
Cæn.
I was more
The mistris of your father, and in his right
Claime dutie from you.
Iul.
I confesse you were vsefull
To please his appetite.
Domit.
To end the controuersie,
For Ile haue no contending, Ile be bold
To leade the way my selfe.
Domitil.
You Minion!
Domit.
Yes
And all ere long shall kneele to catch my fauours.
Iul,
Whence springs this floud of greatnesse?
Domit.
You shall know
To soone for your vexation, and perhaps
Repent too late, and pine with enuie when
You see whom Cæsar fauours
Iul.
Obserue the sequel.
Cæs.
As we now touch the height of humane glorie,
Riding in triumph to the Capitoll,
Let these whom this victorious arme hath made
The scorne of Fortune, and the slaues of Rome,
Tast the extreames of miserie. Beare them off
To the common prisons, and there let them proue
How sharpe our axes are.
Rust.
A bloudie entrance!
Cæs.
To tell you, you are happie in your Prince
Were to distrust your loue, or my desert
And either were distastefull. Or to boast
How much, not by my Deputies, but my selfe,
I haue enlargd the Empire; or what horrors
The Souldier in our conduct hath broke through,
Would better suite the mouth of Plautus bragart,
Then the adored Monarch of the world.
Sura.
This is no boast.
Cæs.
When I but name the Daci,
And gray ey'd Germans whom I haue subdu'd,
The Ghost of Iulius will looke pale with envie,
And great Uespatians, and Titus triumph,
(Truth must take place of Father and of Brother)
Will be no more remembred. I am aboue
All honours you can giue me. And the stile
Of Lord, and God, which thankefull subiects giue me
(Not my ambition) is deseru'd,
Aret.
At all parts
Cœlestiall Sacrifice is fit for Cæsar
In our acknowledgement.
Cæs.
Thankes Aretinus
Still hold our fauour. Now; the God of warre,
And famine, bloud, and death, Bellonas Pages
With iustice he may taste the fruits of peace,
Whose sword hath plowd the ground, and reap'd the harvest
Of your prosperitie. Nor can I thinke
That there is one among you so vngratefull,
Or such an enemie, to thriuing vertue,
That can esteeme the iewell he holds deerest
Too good for Cæsars vse
Sur.
All we possesse.
Lam.
Our liberties.
Fulcin.
Our children.
Parth.
Wealth.
Aret.
And throates
Fall willingly beneath his feete.
Rust.
Base flattery.
What Roman could indure this?
Cæs.
This cals on
My loue to all, which spraeds it selfe among you.
The beauties of the time! receiue the honour
To kisse the hand, which rear'd vp thus, holds thunder
To you 'tis an assurance of a calme.
Julia my neece and Cænis the delight
Of old Uespatian, Domitilla to
A princesse of our bloud.
Rust.
Tis strange his pride
Affords no greater courtesie to Ladies
Of such high birth and rancke.
Sur.
Your wifes forgotten
Lam.
No shee will bee remembred feare it not
She will bee grac'd and greas'd.
Cæs.
But when I looke on
Diuine Domitian, mee thinkes we should meete
(The lesser gods applauding the encounter)
As Iupiter the Giants lying dead
On the Phlegræan plaine imbrac't his Iuno
Lamia 'tis your honour that she's mine.
Lam.
You are too great to be gainesaid.
Cæs.
Let all
Without examining the reason why,
Salute her (by this kisse I make it good)
With the title of Augusta.
Domit.
Still your seruant,
All.
Long liue Augusta great Domitians Empresse.
Cæs.
Paris my hand.
Par.
The Gods still honour Cæsar.
Cæs.
The wars are ended, and our armes layd by
We are for soft delights. Command the Poets
To vse their choisest, and most rare inuention
To entertaine the time, and be you carefull
To giue it action, Wee'l prouide the people
Pleasures of all kindes. My Domitia thinke not
I flatter, though thus fond, On to the Capitoll
Tis death to him that weares a sullen browe:
This tis to be a Monarch when alone
He can command all, but is aw'd by none
Exeunt.
The end of the first Acte.
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