 | The Prophetesse |  |
Actus primus.
Scæna prima.
Enter Charinus, Aurelia, Niger.Char.
You buz into my head strange likelihoods,
and fill mee full of doubts; But what proofes (Niger,)
what certainties, that my most noble Brother
came to his end by murther? Tel me that,
assure me by some circumstance.
Niger.
I will Sir.
And as I tell you truth, so the gods prosper me.
I have often nam'd this Aper.
Char.
True, ye have done:
and in mysterious senses I have heard ye
break out o'th' sudden, and abruptly.
Niger.
True, Sir.
Fear of your unbeliefe, and the Times giddinesse
made me I durst not then go farther. So your Grace please
out of your wonted goodnesse to give credit,
I shall unfold the wonder.
Aur.
Do it boldly:
you shall have both our hearty loves, and hearings.
Niger.
This Aper then, this too much honourd villain,
(for he deserves no mention of a good man)
great Sir, give ear: This most ungratefull, spightfull,
above the memory of mankind mischievous,
with his owne bloody hands.
Char.
Take heed.
Nig.
I am in, Sir;
and if I make not good my Storie.
Aur.
Forward:
I see a Truth would break out: be not fearfull.
Nig.
I say, this Aper, and his damn'd Ambition,
cut off your Brothers hopes, his life, and fortunes:
the honourd Numerianus fell by him,
fell basely, most untimely, and most treacherously:
For in his Litter, as he bore him company,
most privately and cunningly he kill'd him;
yet still hee fils the faithfull Souldiers ears
with stories of his weaknesse; of his life;
that he dare not venture to appear in open,
and shew his warlike face among the souldiers;
the tendernesse and weaknesse of his eyes,
being not able to endure the Sun yet.
Slave that he is, he gives out this infirmitie
(because hee would dispatch his honour too)
to arise from wantonnesse, and love of women,
and thus he juggles still.
Aur.
O most pernitious.
most bloody, and most base! Alas, deer Brother,
art thou accus'd, and after death thy memory
loaden with shames and lies? Those pious tears
thou daily showerdst upon my fathers Monument,
(when in the Persian Expedition
he fell unfortunately by a stroak of thunder)
made thy defame and sins? Those wept out eyes,
the fair examples of a noble Nature,
those holy drops of Love, turn'd by depravers
(malitious poyson'd tongues) to thy abuses?
We must not suffer this.
Char.
It shows a truth now:
and sure this Aper is not right nor honest,
hee will not now come neer me.
Nig.
No, he dare not:
He has an inmate here, thats call'd a conscience,
bids him keep off.
Char.
My Brother honourd him,
made him first Captain of his Guard, his next friend;
then to my mother (to assure him neerer)
he made him husband.
Nig.
And withall ambitious:
for when he trod so nigh, his false feet itch'd Sir,
to step into the State.
Aur.
If ye beleeve, Brother,
Aper a bloody knave (as 'tis apparant)
Let's leave disputing, and do something Noble.
Char.
Sister be rul'd, I am not yet so powerfull,
to meet him in the field: He has under him
the flower of all the Empire, and the strength,
the Brittain and the Germain Cohorts; pray ye be patient.
Niger, how stands the Souldier to him?
Nig.
In fear, more Sir,
then love or honour: he has lost their fair affections,
by his most covetous and greedy griping.
Are ye desirous to do something on him,
that all the world may know ye lov'd your Brother?
and do it safely too, without an Army?
Char.
Most willingly.
Nig.
Then send out a Proscription,
send suddenly: And to that man that executes it,
(I mean, that brings his head) add a fair payment,
no common summe: then ye shall see, I fear not,
even from his own camp, from those men that follow him,
follow, and flatter him, we shall find one,
26
Aur.
For his reward, it shall be so, deer Brother,
so far I'll honour him that kils the villain:
for so far runs my love to my dead Brother,
let him be what he will; base, old, or crooked,
hee shall have Me: Nay, which is more, I'll love him.
I will not be denyde.
Char.
You shall not, Sister.
But ye shall know, my Love shall go along too:
See a Proscription drawn; And for his recompence,
my Sister, and half partner in the Empire:
and I will keep my word.
Aur.
Now ye do bravely.
Nig.
And though it cost my life, I'll see it publish'd.
Char.
Away then, for the businesse.
Nig.
I am gone, Sir:
you shall have all dispatch'd to night.
Char.
Be prosperous.
Aur.
And let the villain fall.
Nig.
Fear nothing Madam.
Exeunt.
Scæna Secunda.
Enter Delphia and Drusilla.Dru.
'Tis true, that Diocles is courteous,
and of a pleasant nature, sweet and temperate:
his Cosen Maximinian, proud and bloody.
Del.
Yes: and mistrustfull too (my Girl) take heed,
although he seem to love thee, and affect
like the more Courtier, curious complement,
yet have a care.
Dru.
You know all my affection,
and all my heart-desires is set on Diocles.
But (Aunt) how coldly he requites this courtesie,
how dull and heavily he looks upon me,
although I woo him sometimes beyond modestie,
beyond a Virgins care: how still he flights me,
and puts me still off with your Prophecie,
and the performance of your late Prediction,
that when he is Emperor, then he will marry me,
alas, what hope of that?
Del.
Peace, and be patient,
for though he be now a man most miserable,
of no rank, nor no badge of honour on him,
bred low and poor, no eye of favour shining:
And though my sure Prediction of his Rising
(which can no more faile, then the day or night do's,
nay, let him be asleep, will overtake him)
have found some rubs and stops, yet hear me Neece,
and hear me with a faith, it shall come to him.
I'll tell thee the occasion.
Dru.
Do good Aunt:
for yet I am ignorant.
Del.
Chiding him one day
for being too neer, and sparing for a Souldier,
too griping, and too greedy: he made answer,
When I am Cæsar, then I will be liberall.
I presently inspir'd with holy fire,
and my Prophetick spirit burning in me,
gave answer from the gods; and this it was,
Imperator eris Roma, cum Aprum grandem interfecoris:
Thou shalt be Emperor, O Diocles,
when thou hast kill'd a mighty Boar. From that time
(as giving credit to my words) hee has imploy'd
much of his life in hunting. Many Boars
hideous and fierce, with his own hands he has kild too,
but yet not lighted on the fatall one,
should raise him to the Empire: Be not sad Neece,
ere long he shall: Come, lets go entertain him;
for by this time, I ghesse, he comes from hunting:
And by my art, I find this very instant
some great designe 's afoot.
Dru.
The gods give good, Aunt.
Exeunt.
Scæna Tertia.
Enter Diocles, Maximinian, Geta, with a Boar.Dio.
Lay down the Boar.
Get.
With all my heart; I am weary on't:
I shall turn Jew, if I carry many such burthens.
Do you think (Master) to be Emperor
with killing Swine? ye may be an honest Butcher,
or allied to a seemly Family of Sowse-wives.
Can you be such an asse, my reverend Master,
to think these Springs of Pork will shoot up Cæsars?
Max.
The fool sayes true.
Dio.
Come leave your fooling, Sirha,
and think of what thou shalt be when I am Emperor.
Get.
Would it would come with thinking: for then o' my conscience
I should be at least a Senator.
Max.
A Sowter:
for that's a place more fitted to thy nature,
if there could be such an expectation.
Or say the Divel could perform this wonder,
Can such a Rascall as thou art hope for honour?
such a log-carrying Lowt?
Get.
Yes, and bear it too,
and bear it swimmingly. I am not the first Asse, Sir,
has born good Office, & perform'd it reverendly.
Dio.
Thou being the son a Tiler, canst thou hope to be a Senator?
Get.
Thou being son of a Tanner, canst thou hope to be an Emperour?
Dio.
Thou saist true Geta, there's a stop indeed;
but yet the bold and vertuous—
Get.
Ye are right, Master,
right as a gun: For we the vertuous,
though we be kennel-rakers, scabs, and scowndrels,
wee the discreet and bold: and yet, now I remember it,
We Tilers may deserve to be Senators;
and there we step before you thick-skin'd Tanners,
for we are born three Stories high; no base ones,
none of your groundlings, Master.
Dio.
I like thee well,
thou hast a good mind, as I have, to this Honour.
Get.
As good a mind Sir, of a simple plaisterer—
and when I come to execute my Office,
then you shall see.
Max.
What?
Get.
An Officer in fury;
an Officer as he ought to be: Do you laugh at it?
Is a Senator (in hope) worth no more reverence?
By these hands I'll clap you by th'heels the first hour of it.
Max.
O' my conscience, the fellow beleeves.
Dio.
I do, do Geta,
for if I once be Emperor—
Get.
Then will I
(for wise men must be had to prop the Republick)
not bate ye a single ace of a sound Senator.
Dio.
But what shall we do the whilst?
Get.
Kill Swine, and sowse 'em,
27
Max.
Why didst thou run away
when the Boar made toward thee? art thou not valiant?
Get.
No indeed am I not; and 'tis for mine honour too:
I took a tree, 'tis true; gave way to the Monster;
heark what discretion sayes, Let furie passe;
from the tooth of a mad beast, and the tongue of a slanderer
preserve thine honour.
Dio.
Hee talks like a full Senator.
Go, take it up, and carry it in: 'tis a huge one;
we never kill'd so large a swine; so fierce too
I never met with yet.
Max.
Take heed, it stirres again;
how nimbly the rogue runs up: he climbs like a Squirrel.
Dio.
Come down ye dunce, is it not dead?
Get.
I know not.
Dio.
His throat is cut, and his bowels out.
Get.
That's all one,
I am sure his teeth are in: and for any thing I know,
he may have pigs of his own nature in's belly.
Dio.
Come take him up I say, and see him drest,
he is fat, and will be lustie meat; away with him,
and get some of him ready for our dinner.
Get.
Shall he be rosted whole,
and serv'd up in a Sowce-tub? a portly service,
I'll run i'th' wheel my self.
Max.
Sirrah, leave your prating,
and get some piece of him ready presently,
we are weary both, and hungry.
Get.
I'll about it.
What an inundation of brewisse shall I swim in?
Exit.
Dio.
Thou art ever dull and melancholy, Cosen,
distrustfull of my hopes.
Max.
Why, can ye blame me?
Do men give credit to a Juggler?
Dio.
Thou know'st she is a Prophetesse.
Max.
A small one,
and as small profit to be hop'd for by her.
Dio.
Thou art the strangest man; how do's thy hurt?
the Boar came neer you Sir.
Max.
A scratch, a scratch.
Dio.
It akes & troubles thee, and that makes thee angry.
Max.
Not at the pain, but at the practice, Unkle,
the butcherly base custome of our lives now:
Had a brave enemies sword drawn so much from me,
or danger met me in the head o'th' Army,
to have blush'd thus in my blood, had been mine honour.
But to live base, like Swine-herds, and beleeve too,
to be fool'd out with tales, and old wives dreams,
dreams, when they are drunk.
Dio.
Certain, you much mistake her.
Max.
Mistake her? hang her: to be made her Purveyors,
to feed her old chaps: to provide her daily,
and bring in Feasts, whilst shee sits farting at us,
and blowing out her Prophecies at both ends.
Dio.
Preethee be wise: Dost thou think, Maximinian,
so great a reverence, and so staid a knowledge—
Max.
Sur-reverence, you would say: what truth? what knowledge?
what any thing but eating is good in her?
'Twould make a fool prophecie to be fed continually:
What do you get? your labour and your danger.
Whilst she sits bathing in her larded fury,
inspir'd with full deep cups, who cannot prophecie?
A Tinker, out of Ale, will give Predictions:
but who beleeves?
Dio.
Shee is a holy Druid,
A woman noted for that faith, that piety,
Belov'd of heaven.
Max.
Heaven knows, I do not beleeve it.
Indeed, I must confesse, they are excellent Jugglers;
their age upon some fools too flings a confidence.
But what grounds have they: what elements to work on?
show mee but that: the sieve and sheers? a learned one.
I have no patience to dispute this Question,
'tis so ridiculous: I think the divell do's help 'em:
or rather, (mark me well) abuse 'em (Unkle):
for they are as fit to deal with him: these old women,
they are as jump and squar'd out to his nature—
Dio.
Thou hast a perfect malice.
Max.
So I would have
against these purblind Prophets: for look ye Sir,
old women will lie monstrously; so will the divell,
or else he has had much wrong: upon my knowledge,
old women are malicious; so is hee:
they are proud, and covetous, revengefull, lecherous:
all which are excellent attributes of the Divell.
They would at last seem holy; so would hee:
and to vail over these villanies, they would prophecie;
he gives them leave now and then to use their cunnings,
which is to kill a cow, or blast a harvest,
make young pigs pipe themselves to death, choak poultry,
and chafe a dairy-wench into a feaver
with pumping for her butter.
But when he makes these Agents to raise Emperors,
when he disposes Fortune as his Servant,
and tyes her to old wives tailes—
Dio.
Goe thy wayes,
thou art a learned Scholar, against credit.
You hear the Prophecie?
Max.
Yes, and I laugh at it:
and so will any man can tell but twenty,
that is not blind, as you are blind and ignorant.
Do you think she knows your fortune?
Dio.
I do think it.
Max.
I know she has the name of a rare South-sayer:
but do you in your conscience beleeve her holy?
inspired with such prophetick fire?
Dio.
Yes in my conscience.
Max.
And that you must upon necessity
from her words be a Cesar?
Dio.
If I live,
Max.
There's one stop yet.
Dio.
and follow her directions.
Max.
But do not juggle with me.
Dio.
In faith (Cosen,)—
so full a truth hangs ever on her Prophecies,
that how I should think otherwise.
Max.
Very well Sir:
You then beleeve (for me thinks, 'tis most necessary)
she knows her own Fate?
Dio.
I beleeve it certain.
Max.
Dare you but be so wise to let me try it,
for I stand doubtfull.
Dio.
How?
Max.
Come neerer to me;
because her cunning divell shall not prevent me:
Close, close, and hear; If she can turn this destinie,
I'll be of your faith too.
Dio.
Forward, I fear not.
28
Enter Delphia.
I am so confident—
Max.
'Faith so am I too,
that I shall make her Divels sides hum.
Dio.
Shee comes here:
go take your stand.
Max.
Now holly, or you howl for't.
Exit.
Dio.
'Tis pity this young man should be so stubborn.
Valiant he is, and to his valour temperate,
onely distrustfull of delayes in Fortune;
I love him deerly well.
Del.
Now my Son Diocles,
are yee not weary of your game to day?
and are ye well?
Dio.
Yes Mother, well and lustie:
onely ye make me hunt for empty shadows.
Del.
You must have patience, Rome was not built in one day:
and he that hopes, must give his hopes their currents.
You have kil'd a mighty Boar.
Dio.
But I am no Emperor.
Why do you fool me thus, and make me follow
your flattering expectation hour by hour?
Rise early, and sleep late? to feed your appetites,
forget my trade, my Arms? forsake mine honour,
labour and sweat to arrive at a base memory?
oppose my self to hazzards of all sorts,
onely to win the barbarous name of Butcher?
Del.
Son, you are wise.
Dio.
But you are cunning, Mother:
and with that Cannon, and the faith I give ye,
ye lead me blindly to no end, no honour.
You find ye are daily fed, you take no labour,
your familie at ease, they know no Market,
and therefore to maintain this, you speak darkly,
as darkly still ye nourish it, whilst I
being a credulous and obsequious coxcomb,
hunt daily, and sweat hourly, to find out
to cleer your Mystery: kill Boar on Boar,
and make your spits and pots bow with my Bounties:
yet I still poorer, further still—
Del.
Be provident,
and tempt not the gods doombs: stop not the glory
they are ready to fix on ye. Ye are a fool then;
cheerfull and gratefull takers the gods love,
and such as wait their pleasures with full hopes:
the doubtfull and distrustfull man Heaven frowns at.
What I have told you by my inspiration,
I tell ye once again, must and shall find ye.
Dio.
But when? or how?
Del.
Cum Aprum interfeceris.
Dio.
I have kil'd many.
Del.
Not the Boar they point ye:
nor must I reveal further, till you cleer it.
The lots of glorious men are wrapt in mysteries,
and so deliverd: Common and slight creatures,
that have their Ends as open as their Actions,
easie and open fortunes follow.
Max.
I shall try
how deep your inspiration lies hid in ye,
and whether your brave spirit have a buckler
to keep this arrow off, I'll make you smoak else.
Dio.
Knowing my fortune so precisely, punctually,
and that it must fall without contradiction,
being a stranger of no tie unto ye,
me thinks you should be studied in your own,
in your own destiny, me thinks, most perfect,
and every hour, and every minute, Mother,
so great a care should heaven have of her Ministers;
me thinks your fortunes both waies should appear to ye,
both to avoid, and take. Can the Stars now,
and all those influences you receive into ye,
or secret inspirations ye make shew of,
if an hard fortune hung, and were now ready
to powr it self upon your life, deliver ye?
Can they now say, Take heed?
Del.
Ha? pray ye come hither.
Max.
I would know that: I fear your divel wil cozen ye,
and stand as close as ye can, I shall be with ye.
Del.
I find a present ill.
Dio.
How?
Del.
But I scorn it.
Max.
Do ye so? do ye so?
Del.
Yes, and laugh at it, Diocles.
Is it not strange, these wild and foolish men
should dare to oppose the power of Destiny?
that power the gods shake at? Look yonder, Son,
Max.
Have ye spide me? then have at ye.
Del.
Do, shoot boldly.
hit mee and spare not, if thou canst.
Dio.
Shoot cosen.
Max.
I cannot; mine arm's dead, I have no feeling:
or if I could shoot, so strong is her arm'd vertue,
she would catch the arrow flying.
Del.
Poor doubtfull people,
I pity your weak faiths.
Dio.
Your mercy (Mother,)
and from this hour a deity, I crown ye.
Del.
No more of that.
Max.
O let my prayers prevail too,
here like a tree, I dwell else: free me Mother,
and greater then great Fortune, I'll adore thee.
Del.
Be free again, and have more pure thoughts in ye.
Dio.
Now I beleeve your words most constantly,
and when I have that power ye have promis'd to me.
Del.
Remember then your vow: my Neice Drusilla,
I mean, to marry her, and then ye prosper,
Dio.
I shall forget my life else.
Del.
I am a poor weak woman: to me no worship.
Enter Niger, Geta, and Souldiers.
Get.
And shall he have as you say, that kils this Aper?
Del.
Now mark and understand.
Nig.
The Proscription's up,
i'th' Market-place 'tis up, there ye may read it,
he shall have half the Empire.
Get.
A pretty Farm i'faith.
Nig.
And the Emperors Sister, bright Aurelia,
her to his wife.
Get.
Ye say well Friend; but heark ye,
Who shall do this?
Nig.
You, if ye dare.
Get.
I think so:
Yet I could poyson him in a pot of Perry,
he loves that veng'ancely: But when I have done this,
may I lie with the Gentlewoman?
Nig.
Lie with her? what else man?
Get.
Yes Man,
I have known a man married, that never lay with his wife.
those dancing dayes are done.
Nig.
These are old Souldiers,
and poor, it seems. I'll try their appetites.
'Save ye brave Souldiers.
29
Sir, ye talkt of proscriptions?
Nig.
'Tis true, there is one set up from the Emperour
against Volutius Aper.
Dio.
Aper?
Del.
Now;
Now have ye found the Boar?
Dio.
I have the meaning;
and blessed Mother.—
Nig.
He has scorn'd his Master,
and bloodily cut off by treachery
the noble Brother to him.
Dio.
He lives here Sir,
sickly and weak.
Nig.
Did you see him?
Max.
No.
Nig.
He is murthered;
so ye shall find it mentioned from the Emperour;
and honest faithful souldiers, but believe it;
for, by the gods, you will find it so, he is murthered;
the manner how, read in the large Proscription.
Del.
It is most true Son; and he cozens ye,
Aper's a villain false.
Dio.
I thank ye Mother.
and dare beleeve ye: Heark ye Sir, the recompence?
as ye related.
Nig.
Is as firme as faith Sir:
bring him alive or dead.
Max.
You took a fit time,
the Generall being out o'th' Towne: for though we love him not,
yet had he known this first, you had paid for't deerly.
Dio.
'Tis Niger, now I know him: honest Niger,
a true sound man, and I beleeve him constantly:
your busines may be done, make no great hurry
for your owne safety.
Nig.
No, I am gone: I thank ye.
Exit.
Dio.
Pray, Maximinian, pray.
Max.
I'll pray and work too.
Dio.
I'll to the Market place, and read the offer,
and now I have found the Boar.
Del.
Find your owne faith too,
and remember what ye have vow'd.
Dio.
O Mother.
Del.
Prosper.
Get.
If my Master, and I do do this, there's two Emperours,
and what a show will that make? how we shall bounce it?
Exeunt.
| The Prophetesse | |