 | The Roman Actor |  |
SCÆNA, 1.
Enter Parthenius, Iulia, Domitilla, Cænis.Parth.
Why 'tis impossible Paris?
Iul.
You obseru'd not
(As it appeares) the violence of her passion,
When personating Iphis, he pretended
(For your contempt faire Anaxerete)
To hang himselfe.
Parth.
Yes, yes, I noted that;
But neuer could imagine it could worke her
To such a strange intemperance of affection,
As to dote on him.
Domit.
By my hopes I thinke not
That she respects though all heere saw, and mark'd it
Presuming she can mould the Emperours will
Into what forme she likes, though we, and all
Th'informers of the world conspir'd to crosse it.
Cæn.
Then with what eagernesse this morning vrging
The want of health, and rest, she did intreate
Cæsar to leaue her.
Domit.
Who no sooner absent
But she calls Dwarfe (so in her scorne she stiles me)
Put on my pantofies, fetch pen, and paper
I am to write, and with distracted lookes,
In her smocke, impatient of so short delay
As but to haue a mantle throwne vpon her,
She seal'd I know not what, but 'twas indors'd
To my lou'd Paris.
Jul.
Adde to this I heard her
Say, when a page receiu'd it; let him waite me
And carefully in the walke, cal'd our retreate,
Where Cæsar in his feare to giue offence,
Vnsent for neuer enters.
Parth.
This being certaine
(For these are more then iealous suppositions)
Discouer it?
Domit.
Alas you know wee dare not.
'Twill be receaued for a malicious practise
To free vs from that slauerie, which her pirde
Imposes on vs. But if you would please
To breake the ice on paine to be suncke euer
We would auerre it.
Parth.
I would second you,
But that I am commanded with all speede
To fetch in Ascletario, the Chaldæan.
Who in his absence is condemn'd of treason
For calculating the natiuitie
Of Cæsar, with all confidence fore-telling
In euerie circumstance when he shall die
A violent death. Yet if you could approue
Of my directions I would haue you speake
As much to Aretinus, as you haue
To me deliuer'd. He in his owne nature
Being a spie, on weaker grounds no doubt
Will vndertake it, not for goodnesse sake
(With which he neuer yet held correspondence)
But to endea're his vigilant obseruings
Of what concernes the Emperour, and a little
To triumph in the ruines of this Paris
Enter Aretinas.
That cros'd him the ruines in the Senate house. Here he comes
His nose held vp, he hath something in the winde,
Or I much erre alreadie. My designes
Command me hence great Ladies, but I leaue
My wishes with you.
Exit Parthenius.
Aret.
Haue I caught your greatnes
In the trap my proud Augusta?
Domit.
What is't raps him?
Aret.
And my fine Roman Actor? is't euen so?
No courser dish to take your wanton palate
Saue that which but the Emperour none durst tast off?
T'is very well. I needs must glory in
This rare discouerie, but the rewards
By an edict from Cæsar I haue power,
To tread vpon the necke of slauish Rowe,
Disposing offices, and Prouinces,
To my kinsmen, friends and clients.
Domit.
This is more
Then vsuall with him,
Jul.
Aretinus?
Aret.
How?
No more respect and reuerence tender'd to mee
But Aretinus! 'tis confess'd that title
When you were Princesses, and commanded all
Had beene a fauour; but being as you are
Vassals to a proud woman, the worst bondage,
You stand oblig'd with as much adoration
To entertaine him, that comes arm'd with strength,
To breake your fetters, as tand gallie-slaues
Pay such as doe redeeme them from the oare
I come not to intrap you, But aloud
Pronounce that you are manumiz'd, and to make
Your libertie sweeter, you shall see her fall,
(This Empresse, this Domitia, what you will)
That triumph'd in your miseries.
Domit.
Were, you serious
To proue your accusation, I could lend
Some helpe.
Cæn.
And I.
Jul.
And I.
Aret.
No atome to mee.
My eyes, and eares are euery where, I know all,
To the line and action in the play that tooke her;
Her quicke dissimulation to excuse
Her being transported, with her morning passion;
I brib'd the boy that did conuey the letter,
And hauing perus'd it, made it vp againe:
Your griefes, and angers, are to me familiar;
That Paris is brought to her, and how farre,
He shall be tempted.
This is aboue wonder.
Aret.
My gold can worke much stranger miracles
Then to corrupt poore waiters. Heere ioyne with me
'Tis a complaint to Cæsar. This is that
Shall ruine her, and raise you. Haue you set your hands
To the accusation.
Iul.
And will iustifie
What we haue subscrib'd to.
Cæn.
And with vehemencie.
Domit.
I will deliuer it.
Aret.
Leaue the rest to me then
Enter Cæsar with his Guard.
Cæs.
Let our Lieutenants bring vs victory,
While we enioy the fruites of peace at home,
And being secur'd from our intestiue foes,
Far worse then forreine enemies, doubts, and feares,
Though all the skie were hung with blazing meteors,
Which fond Astrologers giue out to be
Assur'd presages of the change of Empires,
And death of Monarchs, wee vndaunted yet
Guarded with our owne thunder, bid defiance,
To them, and fate, we being too strongly arm'd
For them to wound vs.
Aret.
Cæsar.
Jul.
As thou art
More then a man.
Cæn.
Let not thy passions bee
Rebellious to thy reason.
The Petition deliuer'd.
Domit.
But receiue
This tryall of your constancie, as vnmou'd
Thankes giuen to Ioue for triumphs?
Cæs.
Ha!
Domit.
Vouchsafe
A while to stay the lightning of your eyes.
Poore mortalls dare not looke on.
Aret.
There's no veine
Of yours, that rises high with rage, but is
An earthquake to vs.
Domit.
And if not kept clos'd
With more then humaine patience in a moment
Will swallow vs to the center.
Cæn.
Not that we
Repine to serue her, are we her accusers.
Iul.
But that she's falne so low.
Aret.
Which on sure proofes
VVe can make good.
Domitil.
And Show she is vnworthie
Of the least sparke of that diuiner fire
You haue confer'd vpon her.
Cæs.
I stand doubtfull.
And vnresolu'd what to determine of you.
In this malicious violence you haue offer'd
To the Altar of her truth, and purenesse to me,
You haue but fruitlesly labour'd to sullye
A white robe of perfection, blackmouth'd enuie
Could belch no spot on. But I will put off
The deitie, you labour to take from me,
And argue out of probabilities with you
As if I weare a man. Can I beleeue
That she, that borrowes all her light from me,
And knowes to vse it, would betray her darknesse
To your intelligence, and make that apparent,
Which by her perturbations in a play
VVas yesterday but doubted and find none,
But you that are her slaues, and therefore hate her
VVhose aydes she might imploy to make way for her?
Or Aretinus whom long since she knew
Of Cæsars secrets? could her beauty raise her
To this vnequald height to make her fall
The more remarkable? or must my desires
To her, and wrongs to Lamia be reuengd
By her, and on herselfe that drewe on both?
Or she leaue our imperiall bed to court
A publicke actor?
Aret.
who dares contradict
These more then humain reasons, that haue power
To cloth base guilt, in the most glorious shape
Of innocence?
Domit.
To wel she knew the strength,
And eloquence of her patron to defend her,
And thereupon presuming fell securely,
Not fearing an accuser, nor the truth.
Produc'd against her, which your loue and fauour
Will ne're discerne from falshood.
Cæs.
I'll not heere
A syllable more that may inuite a change
In my opinion of her. You haue rais'd,
A fiercer war within me by this fable,
(Though with your lines you vowe to make it storie)
Then if, and at one instant all my legions
Reuolted from me, and came arm'd against me.
Heere in this paper are the swords predestin'd
For my destruction; heere the fatall stars
That threaten more then ruine; this the deaths head
That does assure me, if she can proue false
That I am mortall, which a sudaine feauer
Would prompt me to beleeue, and fayntly yeeld to.
But now in my full confidence what she suffers,
In that, from any witnesse but my selfe,
I nourish a suspition she's vntrue,
My toughnes returnes to me. Lead on Monsters,
And by the forfeit of your liues confirme
She is all excellence, as you all basenesse,
Or let mankinde for her fall, boldly sweare
Exeunt omnes.
| The Roman Actor | |