 | The Roman Actor |  |
SCÆNA, 1.
Enter Iulia, Domitilla, Stephanos.Iul.
No Domitilla, if you but compare
What I haue suffer'd with your iniuries,
(Though great ones I confesse) they will appeare
Like molehils to Olimpus.
Domitil.
You are tender
Of your owne wounds, which makes you loose the feeling
And sense of mine. The incest he committed
With you, and publikely profes'd in scorne
Of what the world durst censure may admit
Some weake defence, as being borne headlong to it,
But in a manly way to enioy your beauties.
Salute you with the title of Angusta,
Your faint deniall show'd a full consent,
And grant to his temptations. But poore I
That would not yeeld, but was with violence forc'd
To serue his lusts, and in a kinde Tiberius
At Capræ neuer practis'd, haue not heere
One conscious touch to rise vp my accuser
I in my will being innocent.
Steph.
Pardon mee
Great Princesses, though I presume to tell you
Wasting your time in childish lamentations,
You doe degenerate from the bloud; you spring from:
For there is something more in Rome expected
From Titus daughter, and his vncles heyre,
Then womanish complaints after such wrongs
Which mercie cannot pardon. But you'l say
Your hands are weake, and should you but attempt
A iust reuenge on this inhumaine monster.
This prodegie of mankind bloudie Domitian,
Hath readie words at his command aswell
As Islands to confine you to remoue.
His doubts, and feares, did he but entertaine
The least suspition you contriu'd or plotted
Against his person.
Iul.
'Tis true Stephanos.
The legions that sacred Hierusalem
Vnder my Father Titus are sworne his,
And I no more remembred.
Domit.
And to loose
Our selues by building on impossible hopes,
Were desperate madnes.
Steph.
You conclude too fast.
One single arme whose master does contemne
His owne life holds a full command ore his,
Spite of his guards. I was your bondman Ladie,
And you my gracious patronesse; my wealth,
And libertie your guift, and though no souldier,
Grimme death appeare lesse terrible, I dare dye
To doe you seruice in a faire reuenge,
And it will better suite your births and honours
To fall at once, then to liue euer slaues
To his proud Empresse that insults vpon
Your patient sufferings. Say but you goe on,
And I will retch his heart, or perish in
The noble vndertaking.
Domit.
Your free offer
Confirmes your thankefulnesse, which I acknowledge
A satisfaction for a greater debt
Then what you stand ingag'd for: but I must not
Vpon vncertaine grounds hazard so gratefull,
And good a seruant. The mortall powers
Protect a Prince though sould to impious acts,
And seeme to slumber till his roaring crimes
Awake their iustice: but then looking downe
And with impartiall eyes, on his contempt
Of all religion, and mortall goodnesse,
They in their secrets iudgements doe determine
To leaue him to his wickednesse, which sinckes him
When he is most secure.
Jul.
His crueltie
Increasing dayly of necessitie
Must render him as odious to his souldiers,
Familiar friends, and freemen, as it hath done
Alreadie to the Senate; then forsaken
Of his supporters, and growne terrible
Eu'n to himselfe, and her, he now so dotes on,
We may put into act, what now with safetie
We cannot whisper,
Steph.
I am still prepar'd
To execute when you please to command mee:
Since I am confident he deserues much more
That vindicates his countrie from a tyrannie,
Then he that saues a citizen.
Iul.
O heere's Cænis.
Enter Cænis.
Whence come you?
Cæn.
From the Empresse who seemes mou'd
In that you waite no better. Her prides growne
To such a height that shee disdaines the service
Of her owne women; and esteemes her selfe
Neglected? when the Princesses of the bloud
On everie course imployment, are not readie
To stoope to her commands.
Domitil.
Where is her greatnes?
Cæn.
Where you would little thinke she could descend
To grace the roome or persons.
Iul.
Speake; where is she?
Cæn.
Among the Players, where all state layd by,
She does enquire who acts this part, who that,
And in what habits? blames the tire-women
For want of curious dressings; and so taken
She is with Paris the Tragedians shape
That is to act a Louer, I thought once
She would haue courted him.
Domitil.
In the meane time
How spends the Emperour his houres?
Cæn.
As euer
He hath done heretofore in being cruell
To innocent men, whose vertues he calles crimes.
And but this morning if't be possible
He hath out-gone himselfe, hauing condemn'd
At Aretinus his informers suite,
Palphurius Sura, and good Junius Rusticus,
Men of the best repute in Rome for their
Integritie of life; no fault obiected
But that they did lament his cruell sentence
On Pætus Thraseas the Philosopher
Their Patron and instructer.
Steph.
Can Ioue see this
And hold his thunder.
Domitil.
Nero and Caligula
Commanded onely mischiefes, but our Cæsar
Delights to see 'em.
What we cannot helpe,
We may deplore with silence.
Cæn.
We are call'd for
By our proud mistresse.
Domit.
We a while must suffer.
Steph.
It is true fortitude to stand firme against
All shocks of fate, when cowards faint and dye
In feare to suffer more calamitie.
Exeunt.
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