University of Virginia Library

Actus quarti

scæna prima.

[Sempronivs] [A metellus] a procunsul of [Lusitania]. Sempronivs a Centurion.
Metellus:
A revolt in Asia?

Sempronivs:
yes on the report
the longe thowght dead Antiochus liues.

[2 chaires set out]
Metellus:
I heard [such]
such a one appear'd in Carthage but suppresde
by Titus flaminivs my noble freinde.
[whoe by his letters] [Hee] promisd mee a visit yf his designes as I desire they may
succeeded to his wishes.

Sempronivs:
till [hee arriue] you behoulde hym
I can bringe your honor yf you please, where you
may finde faire entertainment.

Metellus:
from whom captaine?

Sempronivs:
a new riggd pinnace that put of from Corinth,
and is arriud amonge vs, tite, and yare
nor comes shee to pay custome for her fraught
but to impose a tax on such as dare
presume to looke on her, wch [the] smocke gamsters offer
sooner then shee demandes it.

Metellus:
some freshe courtezan
vpon mine honor.

Sempronivs:
you are i'the right my lord.

Metellus:
& there lies your intelligence.

Sempronivs:
true my good lord
'tis a discoverie will not shame a Captaine
when hee lies in garrison. since I was a trader
in such com̄odities, I never saw
her equall, I was ravishd with the obiect
& woulde you visit her I beleeue you woulde write
[my] your selfe of my opinion.

Metellus:
fye vpon thee
I am olde.

Sempronivs:
and therefore haue the greater vse
of such a cordiall. all medeas drugges
and her charmes to boote that made old Æson younge
were nothinge to her touch. your viper wine
soe much in practise with gray bearded gallants
but vappa to the nectar of her lippe.
shee hath donne miracles since shee came. a vsurer
full of the gowte, and more diseases then
his crowches coulde support, vsd her rare phisicque
but one short night, and risinge in the morninge
Hee dancde a lavolta.

Metellus:
prethee leaue thy foolinge
& talke of somethinge els.

Sempronivs:
the whole world yeeldes not
apter discourse. shee hath all the qualities
conducinge to the sport; singes like a Syren;
dances, as the grosse element of earth
had noe part in her; her discourse soe full
of eloquence & prevailinge, there is nothinge
she askes to bee denid her. had shee desir'd
my captaines place I had cashierd my selfe
and shoulde shee begge your procunsulship, yf you heard her
'twere hers vpon my life.

[Enter flaminivs]
Metellus:

flaminivs:
at the length
I haue hym, and his complices.

Metellus:
Ile not, now
inquire how you atchieud hym, but woulde know
since 'tis refer'd to you what punnishement
shall fall vpon hym.

flaminivs:
yf you please in private
I will acquaint you

Metellus:
Captaine let mee intreate you
to meditate on your woman in the next roome
wee may haue imployment for you.

Sempronivs:
I had rather
shee woulde com̄ande my service.

Metellus:
pray you sit.

flaminivs:
now my good lord I aske your graue advice
what course to take.

Metellus:
that in my iudgement needes not
longe consultation. Hee is a traytor
and his processe framd must as a traytor suffer
a death due to his treason.

flaminivs:
theres much more
to bee considerd. there beeinge a beleefe
dispersde almost throwgh Asia that hee is
the trewe Antiochus, & wee must decline
the certaine scandall it will drawe vpon
[Antiochus— ready: vnder the stage]
the Roman governement, yf hee dye the man
Hee is by the most receaud to bee, and therefore
till that opinion bee remoud, wee must
vse some quaint practise that may worke vpon
his hopes or feares to drawe a free confession
that hee was subornde to take on hym the name
Hee still maintaines.

Metellus:
that torture will wrest from hym
I know noe readier way.

flaminivs:
yf you had seene
his carriage in Carthage and Bithinia
you woulde not thincke soe. since I had hym in
my power I haue vsd all possible meanes that might
force hym into despaire & soe to doe
a violence on hym selfe. Hee hath not tasted
theis three dayes any sustenance, and still
continewes fastinge.

Metellus:
keepe hym to that dyet
some few howers more

flaminivs:

Metellus:
it may bee
there are such natures, and now I thincke vpon't.
I can helpe you to a [po] happie instrument
to motion it. your eare.

flaminivs:
'tis wondrous well
and it may proue fortunate.

Metellus:
tis but a triall
however I will sende for her.

flaminivs:
pray you doe
shee shall haue my directions.

Metellus:
what botches
are made in the shoppe of policie.

flaminivs:
soe they cover
the nakednesse wee must conceale it skills not.—

exet

[scæna secunda.]

[enter Iaylor. with a poniard & halter.]
Iaylor:
why should I feele compunction for that
wch yeeldes mee profit ha! a prisoners teares
shoulde sooner pierce flint or Ægiptian marble
then moue vs to compassion. yet I knowe not
the sufferinges of this miserable man
worke strangelye on mee. some say hee is a kinge
it may bee soe, but yf they holde out thus
I am sure hee is like to dye a beggers death
and starue for hunger. I am by a servant
of the lord flaminivs strictely com̄anded
before I haue raysde hym out of the dongeon
to lay theis instruments in his viewe: to what end
I am not to enquire but I am certaine
after his longe fast they are viands that
will hardlye bee digested. doe you heare sr?

[Antiochus
below—]
yf thou art my deathsman welcome.

Iaylor:
I soe pittie you
that I wishe I had com̄ission [as] as you rise
to free you from all future miserie
to knocke your braines out.

Antiochus:
would thou hadst

Iaylor:
you haue
the libertie to ayre your selfe, and that
is all I can affoord you. fast, and bee merrie
I am els where call'd on.

exit Iaylor
Antiochus:
[Enter Metellus. flaminivs.] Sempronivs. aboue]

[Enter aboue flaminivs.] [metellus. sempronivs.]
flaminivs:
o the divell!
thou art weake. this will not doe.

Metellus:
marke how Heele stand
the seconde Charge.

Sempronivs:
the honor is reserud
for the prettie [temde] [temptinge fiende] I brought my life on't.

Enter Iaylor. with browne bread, & a woodden dishe of water.
[Iaylor:]
Here sr take this thowgh course it will kill hunger
it is your daylie pittance, yet when you please
your com̄ons may bee mended.

Antiochus:
Showe mee the way

Iaylor:
confesse your selfe to bee a cousninge knaue
the matter's feasible. but yf you will bee
still kinge of the crickets feede on this, & liue
you shall not say wee'[ll] starue you.

exit Iaylor.
Antiochus:
Stay I beseech thee.
and take thy cruell pittie backe againe
to hym that sent it. This is a tyrannie
that does transcende all presidents! my soule
but even now this lumpe of clay her prison
of it selfe in the want of nourishement openinge,
had shooke of her sicke fethers, and prepar'd
her selfe to make a noble flight as set
at libertie, and now this reparation
againe im̄ures. you for whose curious palats
the elements are ransackde looke vpon
this bill of fare by my penurious steward
necessitie, seru'd to a famishde kinge.
and warnde by my example, when your tables
cracke not with the waight, of deere, and far fetchd dainties
dispute not with heavns bounties. what shall I doe?
yf I refuse to touch, & taste these course,
& homelye Cates, I hasten my owne fate,
& soe with willingenes embrace a sinne
I hitherto haue fled from. noe Ile eate,
& yf at this poore rate life can continewe
I will not throwe it of.

flaminivs:
I pine with envie
to see his constancie

[Metellus]
bid your propertie enter
[the Lute strikes & then the Songe.]
[&] vse her subtlest magicque

[Sempron:]
[I haue alreadie
acquainted her with her cue. the musicque vshers
her personall appearance]

[musicque &] a songe.
Antiochus:
from what hande,
and voice doe I receaue this charitie
it is vnvsuall at such a feast.
[Ent: Courtezan—]
but I miscall it. 'tis some newe founde engin
mounted to batter mee. Ha.

Courtezan:
yf I were not
more harsh, and rugged in my disposition
then thy tormentors, theis eies had outstrippd
my tongue, & with a shower of teares had tolde you
compassion bringes mee hither.

Antiochus:
that I coulde
beleeue soe much (as by my miseries
an oth I dare not breake) I gladlye would
pittie mee thinckes I know not how appeares
soe louely in you.

Courtezan:
It beeinge spent vpon
a subiect in each circumstance deservinge
an vniversall sorrowe, though 'tis simple
it cannot bee deform'd. may I presume
to kisse your royall hande, for sure you are not
lesse then a kinge.

Antiochus:
haue I one witnesse livinge
dares only thincke soe much?

Courtezan:
I doe beleeue it
& will dye in that beleefe, & nothinge more
confirmes it then your pacyence, not to bee
founde in a meaner man. not all the trimme
of the maiestie you were borne to, though set of
with pompe, and glorious lustre, showde you in
such full perfection, as at this instant
shines rounde about you, in your constant bearinge
your adverse fortune, a degree beyonde
all magnanimitie that ever was
canonisde by mankinde.

[Cou] Anti:
astonishement
and wonder seases on mee. pray you what are you?

Courtezan:
without your pittie neerer to the graue
then the malice of prevaylinge enemies
can hurrie you.

Antio:
my pittie! I will part with
soe much from what I haue ingrosd to mourne
mine owne afflictions, as I freelye grant it.
will you haue mee weepe before I know the cause
in wch I may serue you.

Courtezan:
you alreadie haue
spent to much of that stocke. pray you first heare mee
and wronge not my simplicitie with doubts
of that I shall deliver. I am a virgin.

Sempronivs:
yf I had not toyde with her my selfe I shoulde now beleeue her.

Courtezan:
& though not of the egles brood descended
from a noble famelie.

Sempronivs:
her mother solde her
to a Corinthian lecher at thirteene
as 'tis reported.

Metellus:
bee silent I com̄ande you.

[Antio:]
to bee a virgin, and soe well deriu'd
in my opinion faire one are not thinges
to bee lamented.

Courtezan:

Antiochus:
with whom
are you soe taken?

Courtezan:
with your owne deere selfe sr.
beholde mee not with such a face of wonder
it is to sad a truth. the storie of
your most deplorable fortune at the first warmde mee
with more then modest heates but since I saw you
I am all fire, and shall turne cyndars, yf
you showe not mercie to mee.

Antiochus:
foolishe creature
yf I coulde suppose this trew, [&met] & met your wishes
with equall ardor, as I am, what shadowe
of seeminge hope is left you to arriue at
the port you longe for.

Courtezan:
yf you will bee good
vnto your selfe the voiage is accomplishde.
it is but puttinge of a poysond shirt
wch in the wearinge eates into your flesh,
and must against your will bee soone forc'd from you:
the malice of your enemies tendringe to you
more trew securitie and safetie then
the violence of your freindes, and servants wishes
coulde heape vpon you.

Antiochus:
'tis impossible.
cleere this darke misterie for yet to mee
you speake in riddles.

Courtezan:
I will make it easie
to your vnderstandinge. & thus sweeten it
in the deliverie. 'tis but to disclaime
offers to kisse hym
with the continuall cares that waite vpon it
the title[s] of a kinge.

Antiochus:
(aside)
Divell. flaminivs
I finde you heere.

Courtezan:
why doe you turne away?
the counsaile that I offer, yf you please
to entertaine it, as longe wishd compagnions
in her right hand bringes libertie, & a calme
after soe many stormes. & you noe sooner
shall to the worlde professe you were subornde
to this imposture (though I still beleeue
it is a truth) but with a free remission
for the offence I as your better Genivs
will lead you from this place of horror, to
a paradise of delight, to wch compar'd
Thessalian Tempe, or that garden where
Venus, with her reviud Adonis spende
their pleasant howers, and make from their embraces
a perpetuitie of happines
deserue not to bee nam'd. there in an arbor
of it selfe supported ore a bublinge springe
with purple Hiacinths, and roses cover'd
wee will inioy the sweetes of life, nor shall
Arithmeticque som̄e vp the varieties of
our amorous dalliance. our viandes such
as not alone shall nourishe appetite
but strengthen our performance. & when call'd for
the quiristers of the ayre shall gieue vs musicque;
and when wee slumber, in a pleasant dreame
you shall beholde the mountaines of vexations
wch you haue heapd vpon the Roman tyrannes
in your free resignation of your kingdome
& smile at their afflictions.

[OMITTED]Antiochus:
Hence you Syren [OMITTED]

[OMITTED]urtezan:
are you displeasd?

Antiochus:
were all your flatteries
aimde at this marke? will not my vertuous anger
assisted by contempt and scorne yeelde strength
to spurne thee from mee? but thow art some whore,
some com̄on whore, and yf thou hast a soule
(as in such creatures it is more then doubted)
it hath its beeinge in thy wanton vaines
& will with thy expence of blood become
like that of sensuall beastes

Metellus:
this will not doe.

Antiochus:
How did my enemies loose them selues to thincke
a painted prostitute with her charmes coulde conquer
what malice at the height coulde not subdue.
is all their stocke of malice soe consumde
as out of penurie they are forcde to vse
a whore for their last agent.

Courtezan:
yf thou wer'et
ten times a kinge thou liest. I am a ladie
a gamsome ladie of the last edition
and though I phisicque noblemen noe whore.

Metellus:
Hee hath touchd her freehold.

Sempronivs:
now let her alone
and shee will worrye hym.

Courtezan:
haue I liud to haue
my courtesies refusde? that I had leaue
to plucke thy eies out [I woulde sucke the holes]
are you soe coy? thou art a man of snowe
& thy father got thee in the wane of the moone
[dieted with gourd water. o the furies!]
but scorne mee not. 'tis trew I was set on
by the higher powers but now for all the wealth
in Asia thou shalt not haue the favour
though prostrate on the earth, thou wouldst implore it
to kisse my shooestringe.

flaminivs:
wee loose time my lord.

Courtezan:
foh how hee stinckes. I will not weare a ragge more
that hee hath breathd on.

exit.
Metellus:
without more adoe
let hym haue his sentence.

flaminivs:
dragge hym hence.

[enter Iaylor with others]
Antiochus:
are you there?
nay then

flaminivs:
I will not heare hym speake. my anger
is lost why linger you?

Antiochus:
death ends all however.

—exet

[scæna tertia.]

officers leadinge in [Sampayo] [Berecinthivs:] & the first marchant with halter.
[Berecinthivs] Bere:
what a skelliton they haue made of mee. starue mee first
and hange mee after. is there noe conscience extant
to a man of my order. they haue degraded mee
tane away my lyons, and to make mee rore like em
they haue parde the fleshe of from my fingers ends
and then laughd at mee. I haue bene kepd in darkenesse
theis fiue longe dayes. noe visitants but divells
or men in shapes more horrid com̄inge at mee.
A chafinge dishe of coles, and a butchers knife
I founde set by mee. and inquiringe why?
I was tolde that I had fleshe enough of [mne] mine owne
& yf that I were hungrie I might freelye
eate mine owne carbonados, & bee croniclde
for a Canniball never read of.

officer:
will you walke sr.

Berec:
I shall come to soone though I creepe to such a breakefast.
I ever vsd to take my portion sittinge
hangeinge in the ayre 'tis not phisicall.

officer:
time flies away sr

Bercy:
whie let hym flie sr. or yf you please to stay hym
& [to] binde vp the balde knaues winges, make vse of my collar
there is substance in it I can assure your worship.
and I thancke your wisdome that you make distinction
betwene mee, and this staruelinge, Hee goes to it
like a grayhounde for killinge of sheepe in a twopenny slippe
but heeres a cable will waigh vp an anchor.
and yet yf I may haue faire play ere I dye
ten to one I shall make it cracke.

officer:
what woulde you haue sr?

Bery:
my ballace about mee I shall nere sayle well els.
to the other worlde. [th] my barke you see wants [ballance] stowage
but gieue mee halfe a dozen of Hens, and a loyne of veale
to keepe it steddie, and you may spare the trouble
of pullinge mee by the leggs, or settinge the knot
vnder mine eare. this drum̄e well bracd, defies
such foolishe courtesies.

1 marchant:
this mirth good flamen
is out of season let vs thincke of elizivm
yf wee dye honest men, or what wee there
shall suffer from the furies.
thou art a foole

Berecynthivs:
to thincke there are or gods, or goddesses,
for the later yf that shee had any power
mine beeinge the mother of 'em woulde haue [helpd mee] helpd mee
they are thinges wee make our selves. or grant there shoulde bee
a hell or an Elizium, singe I cannot
to Orphevs harpe in the one, nor dance in the other.
but yf there bee a Cerberus yf I serue not
to make three sopps for his three heades [that] may serue, for [somethinge more then an ordinarie] [a] breakefast
the cur is [vengeance] Divelishe hungrie. woulde I had
ran away with your fellowe marchants, I had then
provided for my fame. yet as I am
I haue one request to make, & that my freindes
concernes my bodie wch I pray you grant
& then I shall dye in peace.

officer:
what is it?

Berecynthivs:
marrye
that you woulde bee suitors to the proconsul for mee
that noe [needie] covetous Roman after I am dead
may begge to haue my skinne flayde of, or stuffe [m] it
with strawe like an aligator, & then showe it
in faires, and markets for a monster, thowgh
I knowe the sight will draw more fooles to gape on't
then a camell or an elephant, afore hande
I tell you, yf you doe my ghost shall haunt you.

officer:
you shall haue buriall feare not.

Berecinthivs.
& roome enough
to tumble in I pray you thowgh I take vp
more graue then Alexander. I haue ill lucke
yf I stincke not as much as hee, and yeelde the wormes
as large a supper.

1 marchant:
are you not mad to talke thus?

Berecynthivs:
I came crijnge into the worlde, and am resolude
to goe out merrilie, therefore despatch mee.

exevnt.

[scæna quarta.]

[Metellus. flaminivs.]
Metellus:
There was never such a constancie.

flaminivs:

Metellus:
yes. and a paper
vpon his head, in wch with capitall letters
[Enter: Sempronius—]
his faults inscribde, and by three trompetters
proclaimde before hym, and that donne to haue hym
com̄itted to the gallies. Here comes Sempronivs
to whom I gaue the charge

Sempronivs:
I haue performd it
in every circumstance.

flaminivs:
how doe the people
receiue it?

Sempronivs:
as an acte of crueltie
and not of iustice. it drewe teares from all
the sad spectators. His demeanor was
in the whole progresse, worth the observation
but one thinge most remarkeable.

Metellus:
what was that?

Sempronivs:
when the Cittie clarke with a lowde voice read the cawse
for wch hee was condemnde in takinge on hym
the name of a kinge, with a setled countenance
the miserable man repli'd I am soe
but when hee touchd his beeinge a cheatinge Iewe
His pacyence mou'd with a face full of anger
Hee boldlye sayde 'tis false. I never saw
such magnanimitie.

flaminivs:
frontlesse impudence rather.

Sempronivs:
or any thinge els you please.

flaminivs:
haue you forc'd on hym
the habit of a slaue?

Sempronivs:
yes, and in that
pardon my weakenesse, still there does appeare
a kinde of maiestie in hym.

flaminivs:
you looke on it
with the eies of foolishe pittie that deceiues you.

Sempronivs:
this way Hee comes, and I beleeue when you see hym
you'll bee of my opinion.

wt hin:officer:
make way there.

Enter officers leadinge in Antiochus. (his head shaude in the habit of a slaue
Antiochus:

Metellus:
you may yet
redeeme all, and bee happie.

flaminivs:
but persistinge
in this imposture thincke but what it is
to liue in hell on earth, and rest assur'd
it is your fatall portion.

Antiochus:
doe what you please.
I am in your power but still Antiochus
kinge of the lower Asia, noe impostor
that fower, and twenty yeares since lost a battaile
& challenge now mine owne wch tyrannous Rome
with violence keepes from mee.

flaminivs:
stoppe his mouth.

Antiochus:
this is the very truth, and yf I liue
three nestors yeares in torture, I will speake
noe other language.

Metellus:
I begin to melt.

flaminivs:
to the galley with hym.

Antiochus:

exevnt