University of Virginia Library

Actus secundi

scæna prima.

flaminivs. & Calistus:
flaminivs:
A man that stiles hym selfe Antiochus say you?

Calistus:
not aloud stilde soe but as such receaud
and honor'd by the Asians.

flaminivs:
two impostors
for their pretension to that fatall name
alreadie haue pay'd deere nor shall this third
escape vnpunnish'd.

Calistus:
'twill exact your wisdome
with an Herculean arme (the cause requires it)
to strangle this new monster in the birth.
for on my life hee hath deliverd to
the credulous multitude such reasons why
they showlde beleeue Hee is the trewe Antiochus
that with their gratulations for his safetie,
& wishes for his restitution many
offer the hazarde of their liues, and fortunes
to doe hym service.

flaminivs:
poore seduced fooles.
However 'tis a buisnesse of such waight
I must not sleepe in't. is hee now in Carthage?

Calistus:
noe sr remou'd to a Grange some two miles of
and there the malecontents, and such whose wants,
with forfeyted credits make em wish a change
of the Roman governement in troopes flocke to hym.

flaminivs:
with one puffe thus I will disperse, and scatter
this heape of dust. heere take my ringe. by this
intreate my freinde Amilcar to procure
a mandate from the Carthaginian senate
for the apprehension of this impostor
& with all possible speede. how ere I knowe
exit Calistus.
the Rumor of Antiochus death vncertaine
it much imports the safetie of great Rome
to haue it soe beleeude.

[enter Demetrivs.]
Demetrivs:

flaminivs:
such are welcome.
gieue them admittance. in this various play
of state, and policie, theres noe propertie
[Enter][Demetrius][Calistus] [Chrysalus. Geta] [Syrus.]
but may bee vsefull—. now freindes what designe[s]
carries you to mee?

Geta:
my most Honor'd lord

Syrus:
may it please your mightinesse.

flaminivs:
let one speake for all
I cannot brooke this discorde.

Chrysalus:
as our duties
com̄andes vs noble Roman, havinge discover'd
a dreadfull danger with the nimble winges
of speede approchinge to the state of Rome
wee houlde it fit you shoulde haue the first [honor] notice
that you may haue the honor to prevent it.

flaminivs:
I thancke you. but instruct mee what forme weares
the danger that you speake of.

Chrysalus:
it appeares
in the shape of [Dom [King] Sebastian] [Antiochus]

flaminivs:
how! is hee
rose from the dead?

Chrysalus:
alas hee never died sr
Hee at this instant liues the more the pittie
Hee showlde surviue to the disturbance of
Romes close, and politicque counsailes, in the gettinge
possession of his kingedome wch hee woulde
recover, simple as hee is, the playne
and downe right way of iustice.

flaminivs:
very likelye.
but how are you assur'd this is Antiochus
and not a counterfaite? answer that?

Chrysalus:
I serude hym
in the Achaian war. where his armie routed
& the warlike Romans hot in their execution
to shun their furye Hee and his mignions were
havinge cast of their glorious armor, [we] forcd
to hide them selues as dead with feare and horror
amonge the slawghterd carkases. I lay by them
and rose with them at midnight. then retiringe
[Table ready: & .6. chaires to sett out/]
vnto their shippes wee sayled to Corinth, thence
to India, where hee spent many yeares
with their gymnosophists. there I wayted on hym,
and came thence with hym. but at length tyr'd out
with an vnrewarded service, and affrighted
in my imagination with the dangers,
or rather certaine ruines in pursuinge
his more then desperate fortunes wee forsooke hym.

flaminivs:
a wise, and politicque fellow. gieue mee thy hande.
thow art sure of this?

Chrysalus:
as of my life.

flaminivs:
and this is
knowne only to you three?

Chrysalus:

flaminivs:
the better. but informe mee,
and as you woulde oblige mee to you, truelye
where did you leaue hym?

Syrus:
for the payment of
our longe, and tædious travaile wee made bolde
to rifle hym.

flaminivs:
good.

Geta:
& soe disablinge hym
of meanes to claime his right, wee hope despaire
hath made hym hange hymselfe.

flaminivs:
it had bene safer
yf you had donne it for hym. but as 'tis
you are honest men. you haue reveald this secret
to noe man but my selfe.

Chrysalus:
nor ever will.

flaminivs:
I will take order that you never shall.
(aside
and since you haue bene trew vnto the state
Ile keepe you soe. I am evn now consyderinge
how to advance you.

Chrysalus:
what a pleasant smile
his honor throwes vpon vs.

Geta:
wee are made.

flaminivs:
and now 'tis founde out. that noe danger may
come neere you, showlde the robberie bee discover'd
wch the Carthaginian lawes you knowe call death
my howse shall bee your sanctuarie.

Syrus:
there's a favour.

flaminivs:
and that our entertainment come not short
of your deservinges I com̄it you to
my secretaries care. see that they want not
amonge their other delicates.

Chrysalus:
marke that.

flaminivs
a sublimated pill of mercurie
for sugar to their wine.

[Demet:] [Calistus]:
I vnderstande you.

flaminivs:
attende theis honest men as yf they were
made Roman cittizens.—and bee sure at night
I may see 'em well lodg'd—dead in the vault I meane
their golde is thy rewarde.

[Demet:] [Calistus]:
beleeue it donne sr.

flaminivs:
and when 'tis knowne how I haue recompencd
(thowgh you were trecherous to your owne kinge)
the service donne to Rome I hope that others
will followe your example. enter freindes.
Ile soe provide, that when you next come forth
you shall not feare who sees you

Chrysalus:
was there ever
soe sweete a temperd Roman?

exevnt.
flaminivs:

exit

[scæna secunda.]

Amilcar. Hanno Asdrubal. Carthalo [officers.]
Amilcar:
To steere a middle course twixt theis extreames
exacts our serious care.

Hanno:
I knowe not wch way

Amilcar
I showlde incline.

[Asdrubal]:
the reasons this man vrges
to proue hymselfe Antiochus are soe pregnant
and the attestation of his cuntriemen
in every circumstance soe punctuall
as not to showe hym our compassion were
a kinde of barbarous crueltie.

Carthalo:
vnder correction
gieue mee leaue to speake my thowghts. wee are bounde to waigh
not what wee showlde doe in the poynt of honor,
swayde by our pittie, but what may bee donne
with the safetie of the state.

Asdrubal:
wch is indeede
the maine consyderation for, grant
this is the trewe Antiochus, without danger
nay almost certaine ruine to our selues
wee cannot yeelde hym favour or protection.

Hanno:
wee haue fear'd and felt the Roman power, and must
expecte yf wee provoke hym a returne
not limitted to the qualitie of the offence
but left at large to his interpretation
wch seldome is confind. whoe knowes not that
the tribute Rome receiues from Asia, is
her chiefe supportance. other provinces
hardlye defray the charge by wch they are
kepd in subiection, they in name perhaps
render the Roman terrible, but his strength
and power to doe hurt without quæstion is
deriud from Asia. and can wee hope then
that such as lende their aydes to force it from em
will bee helde for lesse then capitall enemies
and as such pursude, and punnishde?

Carthalo:
I cowlde wishe
wee were well rid of hym.

Asdrubal:
the surest course
is to deliver hym into the handes
of bolde flaminivs.

Hanno:
and soe oblige
Rome for a [na] matchlesse benefit.

Amilcar:
yf my power
were absolute, as 'tis but titular
and that confinde to, beeinge by you elected
prince of the senate onlye for a yeare
I woulde oppose your counsailes, and not labour
with arguments to confute em. yet however
thowgh a fellow patriot with you let it not savour
of vsurpation thowgh in my opinion
I crosse your abler iudgements. call to minde
our grandsires glories (thowgh not seconded
with a due imitation) and remember
with what expence of coyne, as blood they did
maintaine their [nat] libertie, and kepde the scale
of empire evn 'twixt Carthage, and prowd Rome.
And thowgh the Punicque faith is branded by
[Her] our enemies, our confæderates, and freindes
founde it as firme as fate. are seaventeene kinges
our fædaries, our strengths [at sea superior] vpon the sea
exceedinge theirs, and our lande sowldiers
in number far aboue theirs, thowgh inferior
in arms, and discipline (to our shame wee speake it)
and then for our cavallerie [how often] in the champaigne
howe [they brak] often haue they brake their piles, & routed
theyr coward legions.

Hanno:
this I grant sr is not
to bee contradicted.

Amilcar:
yf soe, as wee finde it
in our recordes, and that this state hath bene
the sanctuary to wch mightie kinges
haue fled to for protection, and founde it
let it not to posteritie bee tolde
that wee soe far degenerate from the race
wee are deriu'd as in a servile feare
of the Roman power in a kinde to play the bawdes
to their ravenous lusts [in a kinde to play the b] by yeeldinge vp a man
that weares the shape of our confæderate
to their devouringe gripe whose stronge assurance
of our integritie, and impartiall doome
hath made this seate his altar.

Carthalo:
I ioine with you
in this opinion but noe farther then
it may bee donne with safetie.

Asdrubal:
in his ruines
to burye our selues you needes must grant to bee
an inconsyderate pittie noe way suitinge
with a wisemans reason.

Carthalo:
let vs face to face
heare the accuser, and accusd, and then
as eithers arguments worke on vs determine
as the respecte of our securitie,
or honor shall invite vs.

Amilcar:
from the senate
intreate the Roman Titus flaminivs
to assist vs with his counsaile.

Hanno:
& let the prisoner
bee brought into the court.

Amilcar:
the gods of Carthage
[Enter flaminivs.]
directe vs to the right way.

[OMITTED]Asdrubal:

Carthalo:
as hee woulde com̄ande
not argue his desires.

Amilcar:
may it please your lordship
to take your place.

flaminivs:
in civill courtesie
as I am Titus flaminivs I may thancke you.
but sittinge heere as Romes embassador
in wch you are honor'd, to instruct you in
Her will, wch you are bounde to serue not argue
I must not borrow that were poore, but take
as a tribute due to her, that's iustlye stilde
the mistrisse of this earthlye globe the boldnesse
to reprehende your slowe progression in
doeinge her greatnesse right. that she beleeues
in mee, that this impostor was subornde
by the conquer'd Asiaticques [this impost] in their hopes
of future libertie to vsurpe the name
of dead Antiochus, shoulde satisfie
your scrupulous doubts, all proofes beyonde this beeinge
meerelye superfluous.

Carthalo:
my lord, my lord.
you trench to much vpon vs.

Asdruball:
wee are not
lead by an implicite faith

Hanno:
nor though wee woulde
preserue Romes amitie, must not yeelde vp
the freedome of our wills, & iudgements, to
quit, or condemne, as wee shall be appointed
by his imperious pleasure.

Carthalo:
wee confesse not
nor ever will shee hath a power aboue vs
Carthage is still her æquall.

Amilcar:
yf you can
proue this man an impostor, Hee shall suffer
as hee deserues, yf not you shall perceiue
you haue noe empire heere.

Hanno:
call in the prisoner
then as you please confront hym.

flaminivs.
this neglecte
heereafter will bee thowght on.

Amilcar:
wee shall stand
the danger howsoever. when wee did
his cause vnheard, at your request com̄it
this Kinge, or this impostor, you receau'd
more favour then wee owde you

Enter [officers.] Antiochus (Habited like a kinge) Berecinthivs [OMITTED] the three marchants [OMITTED]
[wt hin:] officer:-
roome for the prisoner.

Antiochus:
this shape that you haue put mee in suites ill
with the late austerenesse of my life.

Berecinthivs:
faire glosse
wrongs not the richest stuffe but sets it of.
& let your language high and stately speake you
as you were borne a kinge.

Antiochus:
Health to the senate
wee doe s[OMITTED]ppose your duties donne, sit still
Titus flaminivs wee remember you
as you are a publique minister from Rome
you may sit cover'd.

flaminivs:
How?

Antiochus:
but as wee are
a potent kinge, in whose court you haue waited
and sought [my] our favour, you betray your pride,
and the more then sawcie rudenesse of your manners.
a bended knee remembringe what wee are
much better would become you.

flaminivs:
Ha!

Antiochus:
wee sayd it.
but fall from our owne height to holde discourse
with a thinge soe far beneath vs.

Berecin:
admirable!

Amilcar:
The Roman lookes as hee had seene the wolfe
how his confidence awes hym.

Asdruball:
bee hee what hee will
Hee beares hym selfe like a kinge, and I must tell you
I am amazd to.

Antiochus:
Are wee soe transformde
from what wee were, since our disaster in
the Græcian enterprise that you gaze vpon vs
as some strange prodegie never seene in [Cartha] Affricque.
Antiochus speakes to you the kinge Antiochus
and challenges a retribution in
his entertainment, of the loue, and favours
extended to you. call to memorie
your trewe freinde, and confæderate, whoe refusde
in his respect to you the profferd amitie
of the Roman people. Hath this vile inchanter
inviron'd mee with such thicke clowdes in your
erroneous beleefe, from his report
that I was longe since dead, that beeinge present
the beames of maiestie cannot breake throwgh
the foggie mists raysde by his wicked charmes
to lende you light to knowe mee? I cite you
my lord Amilcar, now I looke on you
as prince of the senate, but when you were lesse
I haue seene you in my court assisted by
graue Hanno, Asdrubal, and Carthalo
the pillars of the Carthaginian greatenesse
I knowe you all. Antiochus nere deserud
to bee thus sleighted.

Amilcar:
not soe. wee in you
looke on the figure of the kinge Antiochus,
but without stronger proofes then yet you haue
producd to make vs thincke soe cannot heare you
but as a man suspected.

Antiochus:
of what guilt?

flaminivs:
of subornation, and imposture.

Antiochus:

Amilcar:
you haue it.

Antiochus:
as my present fortune wills mee
I thancke your goodnesse. rise thow cursed agent
of mischiefe, and accumulate in one heape
all engins by the divell thy tutor fashiond
to ruine innocence; in poyson steepe
thy bloudied tongue, and let thy wordes as full
of bitternes, as malice labour to
seduce theis noble hearers. make mee in
thy coyned accusation guiltie of
such crimes, whose names my innocence nere knewe.
Ile stande the charge; and when that thow hast shot
all arrowes in thy quiver fether'd with
sclanders, and aimde with crueltie in vaine.
my truth thowgh yet conceald, the mountaines of
thy glossed fictions in her strength remou'd
shall in a glorious shape appeare, and showe
thy paynted mistrisse falshood, when strippd bare
of borrowed, and adulterate colours in
her owne shape, and deformitie.

Berecinthivs:
I am ravishde!

1 marchant:
o more then royall sr!

Amilcar:
forbeare.

2 marchant:
the monster
prepares to speake.

Berecinthivs:
& still that villainous smile
vshers his followeinge mischiefes.

flaminivs

Hanno:
shrowde suspitions.

flaminivs:
a mason of Callipolis heretofore
presumde as far, and was like this impostor
by slavishe Asians follow'd, and a second
a Cretan, of a base condition did
maintaine the like. all ages haue bene furnish'd
with such as haue vsurpd vpon the names
and persons of deade princes. is it not
...as evident as the day, this wretch instructed
by theis poore Asians (sworne enemies
to the maiestie of Rome but personates
the dead Antiochus? hir'd to it by theis
to stirre vp a rebellion, wch they call
[rebellion] deliverie or restoringe. & will you
whoe for your wisdome are esteemd the sages
and oracles of Affricke, meddle in
th'affaires of this affronter, wch noe monarch
lesse rashe, and giddie then Antiochus was
would vndertake.

Antiochus:
would I were dead indeede
rather then heare this livinge.

flaminivs:
I confesse
Hee hath some markes of kinge Antiochus, but
the most of em artificiall. then obserue
what kinde of men they are that doe abett hym.
proscribd, and bannishd persons, the ringe leader
of this seditious troope a turbulent flamen
growne fat with idlenes

Berecinthivs:
that's I.

flaminivs:
& puffd vp
with the winde of his ambition.

Berecinthivs:
[settinge aside] with reverence to
[thy place] the state thow liest, I am growne to this bulke
by beeinge libde, and my disabilitie
to deflowre thy sister.

Amilcar:
thancke [thy] your goddesse. shee
defendes you from a whippinge.

Hanno:
take hym of
Hee does disturbe the court.

Berecinthivs:
I shall finde a place yet
where I will rore my wronges out.

exevnt officers with Berecinthivs.
flaminivs:
as you haue
in the removinge of that violent foole,
gieun mee a tast of your severitie
make it a feast, and perfit your greate iustice
in the surrendringe vp this false pretender
to the correction of the law, & let hym
vndergoe the same punnishement wch others
haue iustlye sufferd that preceded hym
in the same machination.

Antiochus:

Amilcar:
this granted, whither went you?

Antiochus:
as a punnishement
imposde vpon my selfe and æquall to
my wilfull follie gievinge ore the worlde
I went into a desert.

flaminivs:
this agrees
with the dead slaues report but I must contemne it.

Amilcar:
what drewe you from that austere life?

Asdrubal:
cleere that.

Antiochus:
the counsayle of a graue Philosopher
wrought on mee to make knowne my selfe the man
that I was borne. and of all potentates
in Affricque to determine of the truth
of my life and condition I preferd
the com̄on welth of Carthage.

flaminivs:
as the fittest
to bee abusde.

Antiochus:
this is not faire.

Amilcar:
my lord
yf not intreat I must com̄ande your silence
or absence wch you please.

flaminivs:
soe peremptorie.

Antiochus:
to vindicate my selfe from all suspition
of forgerie, and imposture. in this scrowle
writ with my royall hande you may pervse
a true memoriall of all circumstances,
answers, despatches, doubts, & difficulties,
betwene my selfe, and your embassadors
sent to negotiate with mee.

Amilcar:
fetch the recordes.

Antiochus:
'tis my desire you shoulde truth seekes the light.
and when you haue compar'd 'em yf you finde em
in any poynt of moment differinge
conclude mee such a one, as this false man
presents mee to you. but yf you perceiue
the recordes brought in
those private passages in my cabinet argude
and but to your embassadors, and my selfe
conceald from all men, in each poynt agreeinge.
iudge yf a cheatinge Greeke a Pseudolus
or an Apostata Iewe coulde ere arriue at
such deepe, and waightie secrets.

Hanno:
to a sillable
they are the same.

Amilcar:
it cannot bee but this is
the trew [Seb*s****].

flaminivs:
a magitian rather
& hath the spirit of Pithon.

Carthalo:
theis are toyes.

Antiochus:

flaminivs:
Romes honor
is taxd in this of practise, and corruption.
Ile heare noe more in your determinations
consyder what it is to holde and keepe her
your freinde or enemie.

Amilcar:
wee wishe wee coulde
receaue you as a kinge, since your relation
hath wrought soe much vpon vs that wee doe
incline to that beleefe. but since wee cannot
as such protecte you but with certaine danger
vntill you are by other potent nations
proclaimde for such. our fittinge caution
cannot be censur'd thowgh wee doe intreat
you would elswhere seeke iustice.

Antiochus:
where? when 'tis
frighted from you by power.

Amilcar:
and yet take comfort
not all the threates of Rome shall force vs to
deliver you. the short time that you stay
in [V**i*e] Carthage you are safe. noe more a prisoner
you are inlargd. with full securitie
consult of your affaires, in what wee may
wee are your freindes. breake vp the court.

exevnt Carthaginians.
1 marchant:
deere sr
take courage in your libertie the worlde
lyes open to you.

2 marchant:
wee shall meete with comfort
when most despaird of by vs.

Antiochus.
never. never.
poore men thowgh falne may rise. but kings like mee
yf once by fortune slaude are nere set free.

exevnt