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[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
64
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:
Death as far as faintnesse
will gieue mee leaue to chide thee I am angrie
thou comest not at mee. noe attendance? famine
thy meagre harbinger flatters mee with hope
of thy soe wishd arrivall, yet thy cominge
is still deferd. why? is it in thy scorne
to take a lodginge heere? I am a kinge
and thowh I knowe the reverence that waytes
vpon the potent scepter, nor the gardes
of faithfull subiects; neither threates, nor prayers
of freinds, or kinred, nor yet walls of brasse,
or fire, shoulde their prowde height knocke at the moone
can stop thy passage, when thou art resolu'd
to force thy entrance, yet a kinge in reason
by the will of fate severd from com̄on men
shoulde haue the priveledge, and prerogatiue
when hee is willinge to disrobe hym selfe
of this cobweb garment life, to haue thee readie
to doe thy fatall office. what haue wee heere?
[Enter Metellus. flaminivs.]
Sempronivs. aboue]will gieue mee leaue to chide thee I am angrie
thou comest not at mee. noe attendance? famine
thy meagre harbinger flatters mee with hope
of thy soe wishd arrivall, yet thy cominge
is still deferd. why? is it in thy scorne
to take a lodginge heere? I am a kinge
and thowh I knowe the reverence that waytes
vpon the potent scepter, nor the gardes
of faithfull subiects; neither threates, nor prayers
of freinds, or kinred, nor yet walls of brasse,
or fire, shoulde their prowde height knocke at the moone
can stop thy passage, when thou art resolu'd
to force thy entrance, yet a kinge in reason
by the will of fate severd from com̄on men
shoulde haue the priveledge, and prerogatiue
when hee is willinge to disrobe hym selfe
65
to doe thy fatall office. what haue wee heere?
a poniard, and a halter. from the obiects
I am easilie instructed to what end
they were prepar'd. either will serue the turne
to ease the burthen of a wretched life
I am easilie instructed to what end
they were prepar'd. either will serue the turne
to ease the burthen of a wretched life
or thus or thus. in death I must com̄ende
the Roman courtesie. how! am I growne
soe cheape, and vile in their opinion that
I am denide an executioner?
will not the losse of my life quit the cost?
o rare frugalitie! will they force mee to
bee mine owne hangman. everie slaue that's guiltie
of crimes not to bee namde receaues such favor
by the iudges doome, and is my innocence
the oppresde innocence of a star crosde kinge
helde more contemptible. my better angell
thowgh wantinge power to alter fate discovers
their hellishe purposes. yes, yes, 'tis soe.
my bodies death will not suffice, they aimde at
my soules perdition, and shall I to shun
a fewe howers more of miserie betray her?
noe shee is free still, & shall soe returne
from whence it came, & in her purenesse trivmph
their tyrannie chainde, and fetterd.
the Roman courtesie. how! am I growne
soe cheape, and vile in their opinion that
I am denide an executioner?
will not the losse of my life quit the cost?
o rare frugalitie! will they force mee to
bee mine owne hangman. everie slaue that's guiltie
of crimes not to bee namde receaues such favor
by the iudges doome, and is my innocence
the oppresde innocence of a star crosde kinge
helde more contemptible. my better angell
thowgh wantinge power to alter fate discovers
their hellishe purposes. yes, yes, 'tis soe.
my bodies death will not suffice, they aimde at
my soules perdition, and shall I to shun
a fewe howers more of miserie betray her?
noe shee is free still, & shall soe returne
from whence it came, & in her purenesse trivmph
their tyrannie chainde, and fetterd.
[Enter aboue flaminivs.] [metellus. sempronivs.]
flaminivs:
o the divell!
thou art weake. this will not doe.
66
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?
67
& 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
68
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
69
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:
yf I had not falne
from my cleere height of chastetie I confesse it
in my to forwarde wishes «&» that is
from my cleere height of chastetie I confesse it
in my to forwarde wishes «&» that is
a sinne I am guiltie of. I am in loue sr
impotentlye mad in loue, and my desires
not to bee stopp'd in their careere.
impotentlye mad in loue, and my desires
not to bee stopp'd in their careere.
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.
70
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
71
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.
72
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
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