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3
Actus primi
Scæna p[OMITTED]ma
Antiochus stoicque in philosophers habits. Chrysalus [(wt h a writing «&» pen«y»] Syrus. Geta. bondeme[OMITTED]Stoicque:
You are now in sight of Carthage, that greate Cittie
wch in Her empires vastnesse rivalls Rome
at her prowde height. two howers will bringe you thither.
make vse of what you haue learnde in your longe travayles,
and from the golden principles read to you
in th'Athenian Academie, stand resolude
for either fortune. you must now forget
the contemplations of a private man
and put in action that wch may complie
with the maiestie of a monarch.
Antiochus:
How that title,
that glorious attribute of maiestie
that troublesome, thowgh most trivmphant robe
designde mee in my birth, wch I haue worne
with terror, and astonishement to others
affrights mee now! o memorie! memorie!
of what I was once! when the easterne worlde
with wonder in my may of youth look'd on mee.
embassadors of the most potent kinges
with noble æmulation contendinge
to court my freindship, their faire daughters offer'd
as pledges to assure it with all pompe
and circumstance of glorie. Rome her selfe,
and Carthage æmulous, whose side I showlde
confirme in my protection. o remembrance
with what ingenious crueltie, and tortures
out of a due consideration of
my present, lowe, and desperate condition
4
[Hermit]
[stoicqe:]
you must oppose
(for soe the stoicque discipline comm̄andes you)
that wisdome, with your pacyence fortefi'd
wch holdes dominion over fate, against
the torrent of your passion.
Antiochus:
I showlde,
I doe confesse I shoulde yf I cowlde drincke vp
that river of forgetfullnesse Poets dreame of.
But still in dreadfull formes, (Philosophie wantinge
power to remoue 'em) all those innocent spirits
borroweinge againe their bodies gash'de with woundes
(wch strowde Achaias bloodie plaines, and made
rivoletts of gore) appeare to mee exactinge
a stricte accompte of my ambitious follye
for the exposinge of twelue thowsande soules
(whoe fell that fatall day) to certaine ruine.
neither the counsaile of the Persian kinge
prevaylinge with mee, nor the graue advice
of my wise enemie Marcus Scaurus hindringe
my desperate enterprise to late repented.
mee thinckes I now looke on my butcherd armie.
Stoicque:
this is meere melancholye.
Antiochus:
o 'tis more Sr
heere, there, and every where they doe pursue mee.
The Genivs of my cuntrie, made a slaue
like a weepinge mother seemes to kneele before mee
wringeinge her manacled handes; the hopefull youth,
and braverie of my kingedome in their pale,
and ghastlye lookes lamentinge that they were
to soone by my meanes forc'd from their sweete beeinge.
5
«th [OMITTED]»
trayn«e[OMITTED]n» all delights, or sacred to
the cha«ste» Dianas rites, compelde to bowe to
the souldiers [greedie] lusts, or at an outcrie solde
vnder the speare, like beasts, to be spurnde, and trod on
by their prowde mistrisses the Roman matrons.
o sr consyder [sir] then yf it can bee
in the constancie of a stoicque to indure
what now I suffer.
[Antiochus:] stoicque:
two and twentye yeares
travaylinge ore the worlde you haue pay'd the forfeite
of this ingagement, & [and] shed a sea of teares
in your sorrowe for it; and now beeinge call'd from
the rigour of a stricte philosophers life
by the cries of your poore cuntrie, you are bounde
with an obedient cheerefullnesse to follow
the path that you are enter'd in: wch will
guide you out of a wildernesse of horror
to the flourishinge plaines of safetie, the iust gods
smoothinge the way before you.
Antiochus:
thowgh I grant
that all impossibilities are easie
to their omnipotence, gieue mee leaue to feare
the more then doubtfull issue. can it fall
in the compasse of my hopes the lordlye Romans
soe longe possessde of Asia, [his] their plea
6
with their relligious authoritie
the propagation of the com̄on welth
to whose increase they are sworne to, will ere part with
a pray soe pretious, and deerelye purchasde.
A Tigresse circlde with her famishd whelpes
will sooner yeelde a lambe snatchde from the flocke
to the dumbe oratorie of the ewe
then Rome restore one foote of earth that may
diminishe her vast empire
Stoicque:
In her will
this may bee granted: but you haue a title
soe stronge, and cleare, that there's noe colour left
to varnishe Romes pretences. ad this sr.
the Asian princes warn'd by your example
and yet vnconque'rd, never will consent
that such a foule example of iniustice
shall to the scandall of the present age
hereafter bee recorded. they in this
are equallie ingag'd with you, and must
thowgh not in loue to iustice for their safetie
in policie assist, garde, and protecte you
and you may rest assur'd neither the kinge
of Parthia, the Gauls, nor big bonde Germans
nor this greate Carthage growne alreadie iealous
of Romes incrochinge empire will crie aime
to such an vsurpation, wch must
take from their owne securitie. besides
your mother was a Roman for her sake
and the famelies from wch shee is deriud
you must finde favour.
Antiochus:
for her sake alas sr
ambition knowes noe kinred, right, and lawfull
7
in the blacke booke of profit. I am suncke
to lowe to bee bouyde vp, it beeinge helde
a foolishe weakenesse, and disease in statists
in favour of a weakeman to provoke
such as are mightie; the imperious waues
«[OMITTED]f[OMITTED]» callamities [OMITTED]e alreadie sw«*»lne
[OMITTED]a will
[OMITTED]
An[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Chry[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Get[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Syru[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Get[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Syru[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Geta[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Chrysalus[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
w[OMITTED]
Syrus:
hau[OMITTED]
a k[OMITTED]
8
a ki[OMITTED]
alas[OMITTED]
[buri]
[buried—]all[OMITTED]
in tr[OMITTED]
to m«e»
this is [OMITTED]
Geta:
wee kn[OMITTED]
Chrysalus:
but wh[OMITTED]
to bee [OMITTED]
noe soon[OMITTED]
shall for«g[OMITTED]»
Hee's pr[OMITTED]
all that [OMITTED]
Syrus:, [Geta:-]
Humph. [OMITTED]
Chrysalus:
and wher [OMITTED]
your bu[OMITTED]
Geta:
I am in [OMITTED]
& feele my[OMITTED]
Chrysalus:
a bulls [pi][OMITTED]
when you [OMITTED]
make the cur[OMITTED]
Syrus:
what woulde y[OMITTED]
Geta:
or what doe yo[OMITTED]
Chrysalus:
to saue my se[OMITTED]
and what is m[OMITTED]
not one in supp[OMITTED]
bee wantinge s[OMITTED]
9
[OMITTED]more
[OMITTED][toicque.]
[OMITTED]y forth
[OMITTED]nd malice
[OMITTED]nde you
exit stoicque
[OMITTED]rms
[OMITTED]anishde!
[OMITTED]yrus.
[OMITTED]s mischief.
[OMITTED]y open
[OMITTED]e torne booke
10
[OMITTED]ore my head; the golde with wch
[OMITTED]ans furnish'd mee to supplie my wants
[OMITTED]made my first apparence like my selfe
[OMITTED] disloyall villaines ravishd from mee!
[OMITTED]ch that I was to tempt their abiect mindes
[OMITTED]h such a purchase. can I in this weede
[OMITTED]ithout gold to fee an advocate
[OMITTED] pleade my royall title nourishe hope
[OMITTED]f a recoverie? forlorne maiestie
wantinge the outward glosse, and cerimonie
to gieue it lustre, meetes noe more respecte
then knowledge with the ignorant. Ha! what is
containde in this wast paper? 'tis indor'sde
reads:—
to the noe kinge Antiochus. and subscribde
noe more thy servant but superior. Chrysalus.
what am I falne to? there is somethinge writ more.
why this small peece of silver? what I read may
reads:—
reveale the misterie—forget thow wert ever
calld kinge Antiochus, with this charitie
I enter thee a begger—to towgh Heart
will nothinge breake thee? o that now I stood
on some high Pyramid from whence I might
bee seene by the whole worlde, & with a voice
lowder then thunder, pierce the eares of prowd,
and secure greatenesse with the trewe relation
of my remarkeable storie, that my fall
might not bee fruitlesse, but still liue the greate
example of mans frayletie. I that was
borne, and bred vp a kinge, whose frowne, or smile
11
environde with an armie; now exposde
to the contempt, and scorne of my owne slaue
whoe in his pride, as a god compar'd with mee
bids mee become a begger. but complaynts
are weake, and womanishe. I will like a palme tree
growe vnder my huge waight: nor shall the feare
of death, or torture, that deiection bringe
to make me liue, or dye, lesse then a kinge.
exit.
scæna secunda.
Berecinthivs a flamen. 3 Asian marchants.1 marchant:
wee are growne soe contemptible, hee disdaines
to gieue vs hearinge.
2. marchant:
keepes vs of at such distance
and with his Roman gravitie declines
our sude for conference, as with much more ease
wee might make our approches to the Parthian
without a present, then worke hym to haue
a feelinge of our grievances.
3 marchant:
a statesman?
the divell I thincke, whoe onlye knowes hym truelye
can gieue his character when Hee is to determine
a poynt of iustice. His wordes fall in measure
like plum̄ets of a clocke, observinge time
and iust proportion.
1 marchant:
but when Hee is
to speake in any cawse concernes hym selfe
or Romes republique, like a gushinge torrent
not to bee stopp'd in it's full course, his reasons
deliverd like a seconde Mercurie
bre[OMITTED]ke in and b[OMITTED]e d[OMITTED]e w«hats»oever is [OMITTED]
12
2 marchant:
when Hee smiles, let such
beware, as haue to doe with hym, for then[OMITTED]
sans doubt Hee's bent to mischeife.
Berecinthius:
as I am
Cybeles flamen, whose most sacred image
drawne thus in pompe I weare vpon my brest,
I am priveledgde, nor is it in his power
to doe mee wronge, and hee shall finde I can
chant, and alowd to when I am not at
her altar kneelinge. mother of the gods what is hee.[OMITTED]
at his best but a Patritian of Rome,
His name Titus flaminivs, and speake mine
Berecinthivs Archflamen to Cybele[s] it makes as greate a sownde.
3 marchant:
trewe but his place sr
and the power it carries in it, as Romes legate
gieues hym preheminence ore you.
Berecinthius:
not an atome.
when morall honestie, and ius gentium faile
to lende reliefe to such as are oppresd
relligion must vse her strength. I am perfit
in theis notes you gaue mee. doe they contayne at full
your grievances, and losses.
1 marchant:
woulde they were
as well redresd, as they are punctuallie
deliver'd to you.
Berecinthius:
say noe more they shall
& to the purpose.
2 marchant:
Heere hee comes.
[enter Titus flaminivs. Calistus. Demetrius. 2 freedmen.]
Berecinthius:
haue at hym.
13
blowe away theis troublesome & importunate drones
I haue embrions of greater consequence
in my imaginations to wch
I must gieue life, and forme, not now vouchsafinge
to heare their idle buzzes.
1 marchant:
note you that.
Berecinthivs
yes I doe note it, but the flamen is not
soe light to bee remou'd by a groomes breath
I must, and will speake, and I thus confront hym[OMITTED]
flaminivs:
but that the image of the goddesse wch
thow wearst vpon thy brest protects thy rudenesse,
it had forfeyted thy life. dost thou not tremble
when an incensed Roman frownes.
Berecinthius:
I see
noe Gorgon in your face.
flaminivs:
must I speake in thunder
before thow wilt bee awde?
Berecinthivs:
I rather looke
for reverence from thee, yf thow respectest
the goddesse power and in her name I charge thee
to gieue mee hearinge. yf theis lyons rore
for thy contempt of her expecte a vengeance
sutable to thy pride.
flaminivs:
thow shalt orecome.
theres noe contendinge with thee.
3 marchant:
hitherto
the flamen hath the better
1 marchant:
but I feare
Hee will not keepe it.
Berecinthivs:
know you theis mens faces?
flaminivs:
yes yes poore Asiaticqs.
«B»er[OMITTED]int«h»ivs:
Poore they are made soe
14
«k»e he[OMITTED]d«e» [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] yf arrogantly you presume to tax
[OMITTED] the Roman gouernement [youll finde and feele] your goddesse canno[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] gieue priveledge to it, and youl finde and feele
[OMITTED] 'tis little lesse then treason flamen.
[OMITTED]thius:
truth
[OMITTED] In your pride is soe interpreted. theis poore men,
[OMITTED]eis Asiaticq[s], marchants whom you looke [vp]on
[OMITTED]ith such contempt, and scorne, are they to whom
[OMITTED]me owes her braverie; their industrious serch
[OMITTED]o the farthest Inde with danger to them selues
bringes home securitie to you, to you vnthanckefull;
your magazines are from their sweat supplide;
the legions with wch you fright the worlde
are from their labour pay'd; the Tirian fishe
whose blood dies your prowde purple, in the colour
distinguishinge the senators garded robe
from a plebeian habit, their nets catch;
the diamonde hewde from the rocke, the pearle
diude for in to the bottome of the sea;
15
and all rich ornaments, of your Latian dames
are Asian spoyles; they are indeede the nurses,
and sinnewes of your war, and without them
what cowlde you doe? your handkercher.
flaminivs:
wipe your face
you are in a sweat. the weather's hot take heede
of meltinge your fat kidneys
Berecinthivs:
there's noe heate
can thaw thy frozen conscience.
flaminivs:
to it againe now
I am not mou'd.
Berecinthivs:
I see it yf you had
the feelinge of a man, you wowlde not suffer
theis men, whoe haue deseru'd soe well to sincke
vnder the burthen of their wronges. yf they
are subiects, why inioy they not the right[s]
and priveledge of subiects? what defence
can you alleage for your connivence to
the Carthaginian gallies whoe forcd from em
the prize they tooke belongeinge not to them,
nor their confæderates?
flaminivs:
with reverence
to your soe sacred goddesse, I must tell you
you are growne presumptuous, and in your demandes
a rash, and sawcie flamen. meddle with
your [s] iuglinge misteries, and keepe in awe
your gelded ministers. shall I yeelde accompe
of what I doe to you?
1. marchant:
Hee smiles in scorne.
2. marchant:
nay then I knowe what followes.
3. marchant:
in his lookes
a tempest rises.
16
how dare you complayne?
or in a looke repine? our governement
hath bene to easie, and the yoke wch Rome
in her accustomde lenitie «im»po'sd
or in a looke repine? our governement
hath bene to easie, and the yoke wch Rome
in her accustomde lenitie «im»po'sd
vpon your stubborne neckes begets contempt.
hath our familiar com̄erce, and tradinge
almost as with our æqualls, tought you to
dispute our actions? haue you quite forgot
what wee are, and you ought to bee? shall vassalls
capitulate with their lordes?
hath our familiar com̄erce, and tradinge
almost as with our æqualls, tought you to
dispute our actions? haue you quite forgot
what wee are, and you ought to bee? shall vassalls
capitulate with their lordes?
2 marchant:
I now hee speakes
in his owne Dialecte.
flaminivs:
'tis to frequent wretches
to haue the vanquishd hate the conqueror,
and from vs needes noe answer. doe not I knowe
how odious the lordlye Roman is
to the despised Asian? and that
to gaine your libertie you woulde pull downe
the altars of your gods, and like the gyants
rayse a newe war 'gainst heaven.
1 marchant:
terrible.
flaminivs:
did you not gieue assurance of this when
giddie Antiochus died? and rather then
accept vs guardians of your orphan kingedome,
when the victorious Scaurus with his sword
pleaded the Roman title, with one vote
you did exclaime against vs as the men
that sought to lay an vniust gripe vpon
your territories? nere remembringe that
in the brasse leau'd booke of fate it was set downe
the earth showlde know noe soveraigne but Rome.
yet you repinde, and rather chose to pay
homage, and fealtie to the Parthian,
17
then bow vnto the Roman.
Berecinthivs:
& perhaps
our governement in them had bene more gentle
since yours is insupportable.
flaminivs:
yf thow wer't not
in a free state the tongue that belcheth forth
theis blasphemies showlde bee seard. for you presume not
to trouble mee heereafter. yf you doe
you shall with horror to your prowdest hopes
feele reallie that wee haue iron ham̄ers
to pulverize rebellion, and that
wee dare vse you as slaues. bee you to warnd sr
since this is my last caution. I haue seene
a murmurer like your selfe for his attemptinge
to rayse sedition in Romes provinces
hangd vp in such a habit.
ex flaminivs cum suis.
Berecinthivs:
I haue tooke
poyson in at my eares; & I shall burst
yf it come not vp in my replie.
1 marchant:
Hee's gone sr
Berecinthivs:
Hee durst not stay mee. yf hee had, had founde
I woulde not swallowe my spettle.
2 marchants:
as wee must
our wronges and our disgraces.
3 marchant:
o the wretched
condition that wee liue in! made the anvile
on wch Romes tyrannies are shap'd, and fashionde.
3. 1 marchant.
But our callamities there is nothinge left vs
wch wee can call our owne.
18
our wiues, and daughters
lye open to their lusts, and such as showlde bee
our iudges dare not right vs.
3 marchant:
O Antiochus
thrice happie were the men whom fate appointed
to fall with thee in Achaia.
2 marchant:
they haue set
a period to their miseries.
1 marchant:
wee surviue
to linger out a tædious life, and death,
wee call in vaine [for] [what] flies vs.
Berecinthivs:
yf relligion
bee not [b] a meere worde only, and the gods
are iust wee shall finde a deliverie
when least expected.
1 marchant:
'tis beyonde all hope sr.
enter Antiochus.
Berecinthivs:
Ha whoe is this?
Antiochus:
your charitie to a poore man
as you are Asians.
2 marchant:
pray you obserue hym.
3 marchant:
I am amazde.
1 marchant:
I thunderstrooke.
Berecinthivs:
what are you?
Antiochus:
the kinge Antiochus.
1 marchant:
or some deitie
that hath assumde his shape.
Berecinthivs:
Hee only differs
in the colour of his haire, and age.
Antiochus:
consider
what two, and twentye yeares of miserie
19
vnder distant zeniths, and the change you looke on
will not deserue your wonder.
1 marchant:
His owne voice!
2 marchant:
His verye countenance! his forhead! eies!
3 marchant:
His nose! his [German] very lippe!
Berecinthivs:
His stature! speech
1 marchant:
[His arme, hand, legge, and foote, on the lefte side
shorter then on the right.]
2 marchant:
the moles vpon
his face, and handes.
3 marchant:
the scarres causde by his hurts
on his right browe, & head.
Berecinthivs:
the hollownesse
of his vnder iawe occasiond by the losse
of a tooth pulld out by his chirurgion.
1 marchant
to confirme vs
tell vs [his] yor chirurgions name when hee seru'd you.
Antiochus:
you all knewe hym
as I doe you Demetrivs Castor.
2 marchant:
strange.
3 marchant:
but most infalliblie trew.
Berecinthivs:
soe many markes
confirminge vs wee sinne in our distrust
a sacrifice for his safetie.
20
may Rome sincke
2 marchant:
& Asia once more flourishe.
3 marchant:
you the meanes sr.
Antiochus:
silence your showtes. I will gieue stronger proofes
then theis exterior markes when I appeare
before the Carthaginian Senators
with whom I haue helde more intelligence
and private counsailes, then with all the kinges
of Asia, or Affricque Ile amaze them
with the wonder of my storie.
Berecinthivs:
yet vntill
your maiestie bee furnishde like your selfe
to a neighbour village.
Antiochus:
where you please the omen
of this encounter promises a good issue
and our gods pleasd oppressed Asia
when ayde is least expected may shake of
th[e]'insultinge Roman bondage, and in mee
gayne, and inioy her pristine libertie.
exevnt.
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