University of Virginia Library

Scæn. 4.

Enter 3 Senators, and Affranius.
1.
Guard all the posternes to the Camp Affranius,
And see 'em fast, we shall be rifled else,
Thou art an honest, and a worthy Captaine.

2.
Promise the Souldier any thing,

3.
Speake gently,
And tell 'em we are now in councell for 'em.
Labouring to choose a Cæsar fit for them,
A Souldier, and a giver.

1.
Tell 'em further,
Their free and liberall voices shall go with us.

2.
Nay more, a negative say we allow 'em.

3.
And if our choice displease 'em, they shall name him.

1.
Promise three donatives, and large, Affranius.

2.
And Cæsar once elected, present foes,
With distribution of all necessaries,
Corne, Wine, and Oyle.

3.
New garments, and new Armes,
And equall portions of the Provinces
To them, and to their families for ever.

1.
And see the City strengthned.

Affra.
I shall do it,
—Exit Affranius.

2.
Sempronius, these are wofull times.

3.
O Brutus,
We want thy honesty againe; these Cæsars,
What noble Consuls got with blood, in blood
Consume againe, and scatter.

1.
Which way shall we?

2.
Not any way of safety I can thinke on.

3.
Now go our Wives to ruin, and our daughters,
And wee beholders Fulvius.

1.
Everything
Is every mans that will.

2.
The vestalls now
Must only feed the Souldiers fire of lust,
And sensuall Gods be glutted with those Offerings,
Age like the hidden bowels of the earth
Open'd with swords for Treasure.
Gods defend us,
We are chaffe before their fury else.

2.
Away,
Let's to the Temples.

1.
To the Capitoll,
'Tis not a time to pray now, let's be strengthend—

Enter Affranius.
3.
How now Affranius: what good news,

Affr.
A Cesar:

1.
Oh who?

Affr.
Lord Maximus is with the Souldier,
And all the Camp rings, Cesar, Cesar, Cesar:
He forcd the Empresse with him for more honour.

2.
A happy choice: let's meet him.

3.
Blessed fortune;

1.
Away, away, make room there, room there, room.

—Exeunt Senators, Flourish.
Within.
Lord Maximus is Cesar, Cesar, Cesar;
Haile Cesar Maximus.

Affr.
Oh turning people!
Oh people excellent in war, and governd,
In peace more raging then the furious North,
When he ploughes up the Sea, and makes him brine:
Or the lowd falls of Nile; I must give way,
Although I neither love nor hope this.
Cesar flourish.
Or like a rotten bridge that dares a current,
When he is sweld and high crackt, and farwell.

Enter Maximus, Eudoxa, Senat. and Souldiers.
Sen.
Roome for the Emperor.

Sold.
Long life to Cesar:

Affr.
Haile Cesar Maximus.

Emp., Max.
Your hand Affranius.
Lead to the Pallace, there my thanks in generall,
Ile showre among ye all: gods give me life,
First to defend the Empire, then you Fathers,
And valiant friends, the heires of strength and vertue,
The rampires of old Rome, of us the refuge;
To you I open this day all I have,
Even all the hazard that my youth hath purchasd,
Ye are my children, family, and friends
And ever so respected shall be, forward.
Ther's a Prescription grave Sempronius,
Gainst all the flatterers, and lazie Bawdes
Led loose-liv'd Valentinian to his vices,
See it effected;

—Flourish.
Sen.
Honour wait on Cesar.

Sold.
Make room for Cesar there—

Exeunt all but Affr.
Affr.
Thou hast my feares,
But Valentinian keeps my vowes: oh gods,
Why doe we like to feed the greedy Raven
Of these blowne men, that must before they stand,
And fixt in eminence, cast life on life,
And trench their safeties in with wounds, and bodies?
Wel froward Rome, thou wilt grow weak with changing
And die without an Heire, that lov'st to breed
Sonnes for the killing hate of sons: for me,
I only live to find an enemy.

—Exit.