University of Virginia Library

Actus secundus.

Scœna prima.

Pheroras and Graphina.
Pher.
Tis true Graphina, now the time drawes nye
Wherein the holy Priest with hallowed right,
The happy long desired knot shall tie,
Pheroras and Graphina to vnite:
How oft haue I with lifted hands implor'd
This blessed houre, till now implord in vaine,
Which hath my wished libertie restor'd,
And made my subiect selfe my owne againe.
Thy loue faire Mayd vpon mine eye doth sit,
Whose nature hot doth dry the moysture all,
Which were in nature, and in reason fit
For my monachall Brothers death to fall:
Had Herod liu'd, he would haue pluckt my hand
From faire Graphinas Palme perforce: and tide
The same in hatefull and despised band,
For I had had a Baby to my Bride:
Scarce can her Infant tongue with easie voice
Her name distinguish to anothers care:
Yet had he liu'd, his power, and not my choise
Had made me solembly the contract sweare.
Haue I not cause in such a change to ioy?
What? though she be my Neece, a Princesse borne:
Neere bloods without respect: high birth a toy.
Since Loue can teach blood and kindreds scorne.
What booted it that he did raise my head,
To be his Realmes Copartner, Kingdomes mate,
Withall, he kept Graphina from my bed,
More wisht by me then thrice Iudeas state.
Oh, could not he be skillfull Iudge in loue,
That doted so vpon his Mariams face?
He, for his passion, Doris did remoue.
I needed not a lawfull Wife displace,
It could not be but he had power to iudge,
But he that neuer grudg'd a Kingdomes share,
This well knowne happinesse to me did grudge:
And ment to be therein without compare.
Else had I bene his equall in loues hoast,
For though the Diadem on Mariams head
Corrupt the vulgar iudgements, I will boast
Graphina: brow's as white, her cheekes as red.
Why speaks thou not faire creature? moue thy tongue,
For Silence is a signe of discontent:
It were to both our loues too great a wrong
If now this hower do find theesadly bent.

Graph.
Mistake me not my Lord, too oft haue I
Desir'd this time to come with winged feete,
To be inwrapt with griefe when tis too nie,
You know my wishes euer yours did meete:
If I be silent, tis no more but feare
That I should say too little when I speake:
But since you will my imperfections beare,
In spight of doubt I will my silence breake:
Yet might amazement tie my mouing tongue,
But that I know before Pheroras minde,
I haue admired your affection long:
And cannot yet therein a reason finde.
Your hand hath lifted me from lowest state,
To highest eminencie wondrous grace,
And me your hand-maid haue you made your mate,
Though all but you alone doe count me base.
You haue preserued me pure at my request,
Though you so weake a vassaile might constraine
To yeeld to your high will, then last not best
In my respect a Princesse you disdaine,
Then need not all these fauours studie craue,
To be requited by a simple maide:
And studie still you know must silence haue,
Then be my cause for silence iustly waide,
But studie cannot boote nor I requite,
Except your lowly hand-maides steadfast loue
And fast obedience may your mind delight,
I will not promise more then I can proue.

Phero.
That studie needs not let Graphina smile,
And I desire no greater recompence:
I cannot vaunt me in a glorious stile,
Nor shew my loue in far-fetcht eloquence:
But this beleeue me, neuer Herods heart
Hath held his Prince-borne beautie famed wife
In neerer place then thou faire virgin art,
To him that holds the glory of his life.
Should Herods body leaue the Sepulcher,
And entertaine the seuer'd ghost againe:
He should not be my nuptiall hinderer,
Except he hindred it with dying paine.
Come faire Graphina, let vs goe in state,
This wish-indeered time to celebrate.

Sœna. 2.

Constabarus and Babus Sonnes.
Babus. 1. Sonne.
Now valiant friend you haue our liues redeem'd,
Which liues as sau'd by you, to you are due:
Command and you shall see your selfe esteem'd,
Our liues and liberties belong to you.
This twice sixe yeares with hazard of your life,
You haue conceal'd vs from the tyrants sword:
Though cruell Herods sister were your wife,
You durst in scorne of feare this grace afford.
In recompence we know not what to say,
A poore reward were thankes for such a merit,
Our truest friendship at your feete we lay,
The best requitall to a noble spirit.

Const.
Oh how you wrong our friendship valiant youth,
With friends there is not such a word as det:
Where amitie is tide with bond of truth,
All benefits are there in common set.
Then is the golden age with them renew'd,
All names of properties are banisht quite:
Diuision, and distinction, are eschew'd:
Each hath to what belongs to others right.
And tis not sure so full a benefit,
Freely to giue, as freely to require:
A bountious act hath glory following it,
They cause the glory that the act desire.
All friendship should the patterne imitate,
Of Iesses Sonne and valiant Ionathane
For neither Soueraignes nor fathers hate,
A friendship fixt on vertue seuer can.
Too much of this, tis written in the heart,
And need no amplifying with the tongue:
Now may you from your liuing tombe depart,
Where Herods life hath kept you ouer long.
Too great an iniury to a noble minde,
To be quicke buried, you had purchast fame,
Some yeares a goe, but that you were confinde.
While thousand meaner did aduance their name.
Your best of life the prime of all your yeares,
Your time of action is from you berest.
Twelue winters haue you operpast in feares:
Yet if you vse it well, enough is left.
And who can doubt but you will vse it well?
The sonnes of Babus haue it by descent:
In all their thoughts each action to excell,
Boldly to act, and wisely to inuent.

Babus 2. Sonne.
Had it not like the hatefull cuckoe beene,
Whose riper age his infant nurse doth kill:
So long we had not kept our selues vnseene,
But Constabarus safely crost our will:
For had the Tyrant fixt his cruell eye,
On our concealed faces wrath had swaide
His Iustice so, that he had forst vs die.
And dearer price then life we should haue paid,
For you our truest friend had falne with vs:
And we much like a house on pillers set,
Had cleane deprest our prop, and therefore thus
Our readie will with our concealement met.
But now that you faire Lord are daungerlesse,
The Sonnes of Baba shall their rigor show:
And proue it was not basenes did oppresse
Our hearts so long, but honour kept them low.

Ba. 1. Sonne.
Yet do I feare this tale of Herods death,
At last will proue a very tale indeed,
It giues me strongly in my minde, his breath
Will be preseru'd to make a number bleed:
I wish not therefore to be set at large,
Yet perill to my selfe I do not leare:
Let vs for some daies longer be your charge,
Till we of Herods state the truth do heare.

Const.
What art thou turn'd a coward noble youth,
That thou beginst to doubt, vndoubted truth?

Babus. 1. Son.
Were it my brothers tongue that cast this doubt,
I frō his hart would haue the question out:
With this keene fauchion, but tis you my Lord
Against whose head I must not lift a sword:
I am so tide in gratitude Const. belieue
You haue no cause to take it ill,
If any word of mine your heart did grieue
The word discented from the speakers will,
I know it was not feare the doubt begun,
But rather valour and your care of me,
A coward could not be your fathers sonne,
Yet know I doubts vnnecessarie be:
For who can thinke that in Anthonius fall,
Herod his bosome friend should scape vnbrusde:
Then Cæsar we might thee an idiot call,
If thou by him should'st be so farre abusde.

Babus. 2. Sonne.
Lord Constab: let me tell you this,
Vpon submission Cæsar will forgiue:
And therefore though the tyrant did amisse,
It may fall out that he will let him liue.
Not many yeares agone it is since I
Directed thither by my fathers care,
In famous Rome for twice twelue monthes did liue,
My life from Hebrewes crueltie to spare,
There though I were but yet of boyish age,
I bent mine eye to marke, mine eares to heare.
Where I did see Octauious then a page,
When first he did to Iulious sight appeare:
Me thought I saw such mildnes in his face,
And such a sweetnes in his lookes did grow,
Withall, commixt with so maiesticke grace,
His Philmony his Fortune did foreshow:
For this I am indebted to mine eye,
But then mine care receiu'd more euidence,
By that I knew his loue to clemency,
How he with hottest choller could dispence.

Const.
But we haue more then barely heard the news,
It hath bin twice confirm'd. And though some tongue
Might be so false, with false report t'abuse,
A false report hath neuer lasted long.
But be it so that Herod haue his life,
Concealement would not then a whit auaile:
For certaine t'is, that she that was my wife,
Would not to set her accusation false.
And therefore now as good the venture giue,
And free our selues from blot of cowardise:
As show a pittifull desire to liue,
For, who can pittie but they must despise?

Babus first sonne.
I yeeld, but to necessitie I yeeld,
I dare vpon this doubt ingage mine arme:
That Herod shall againe this kingdome weeld,
And proue his death to be a false alarme.

Babus second sonne.
I doubt it too: God grant it be an error,
Tis best without a cause to be in terror:
And rather had I, though my soule be mine,
My soule should lie, then proue a true diuine.

Const.
Come, come, let feare goe seeke a dastards nest,
Vndanted courage lies in a noble brest.

Scœna 3.

Doris and Antipater.
Dor.
Your royall buildings bow your loftie side,
And scope to her that is by right your Queene
Let your humilitie vpbraid the pride
Of those in whom no due respect is seene:
Nine times haue we with Trumpets haughtie sound,
And banishing sow'r Leauen from our taste:
Obseru'd the feast that takes the fruit from ground.
Since I faire Citie did behold thee last,
So long it is since Mariams purer cheeke
Did rob from mine the glory. And so long
Since I returnd my natiue Towne to seeke:
And with me nothing but the sence of wrong.
And thee my Boy, whose birth though great it were,
Yet haue thy after fortunes prou'd but poore:
When thou wert borne how little did I feare
Thou shouldst be thrust from forth thy Fathers doore.
Art thou not Herods right begotten Sonne?
VVas not the haples Doris, Herods wife?
Yes: ere he had the Hebrew kingdome wonne,
I was companion to his priuate life.
VVas I not faire enough to be a Queene?
Why ere thou wert to me false Monarch tide,
My lake of beauty might as well be seene,
As after I had liu'd fiue yeeres thy Bride.
Yet then thine oath came powring like the raine,
Which all affirm'd my face without compare:
And that if thou might'st Doris loue obtaine,
For all the world besides thou didst not care.
Then was I yong, and rich, and nobly borne,
And therefore worthy to be Herods mate:
Yet thou vngratefull cast me off with scorne,
When Heauens purpose raisd your meaner fate.
Oft haue I begd for vengeance for this fact,
And with deiected knees, aspiring hands
Haue prayd the highest power to inact
The fall of her that on my Trophee stands.
Reuenge I haue according to my will,
Yet where I wisht this vengeance did not light:
I wisht it should high-hearted Mariam kill.
But it against my whilome Lord did fight
With thee sweet Boy I came, and came to try
If thou before his bastards might be plac'd
In Herods royall seat and dignitie.
But Mariams infants here are onely grac'd,
And now for vs there doth no hope remaine:
Yet we will not returne till Herods end
Be more confirmd, perchance he is not slaine.
So glorious Fortunes may my Boy attend,
For if he liue, hee'll thinke it doth suffice,
That he to Doris shows such crueltie:
For as he did my wretched life dispise,
So doe I know I shall despised die.
Let him but proue as naturall to thee,
As cruell to thy miserable mother:
His crueltie shall not vpbraided bee
But in thy fortunes. I his faults will smother.

Antipat.
Each mouth within the Citie loudly cries
That Herods death is certaine: therefore wee
Had best some subtill hidden plot deuise,
That Mariams children might subuerted bee,
By poisons drinke, or else by murtherous Knife,
So we may be aduanc'd, it skils not how:
They are but Bastards, you were Herods wife,
And soule adultery blotteth Mariams brow.

Doris.
They are too strong to be by vs remou'd,
Or else reuenges foulest spotted face:
By our detested wrongs might be approu'd,
But weakenesse must to greater power giue place.
But let vs now retire to grieue alone,
For solitarines best fitteth mone.

Scœna 4.

Silleus and Constabarus.
Silleus.
Well met Indean Lord, the onely wight
Silleus wisht to see. I am to call
Thy tongue to strict account.

Const.
For what despight
I ready am to heare, and answere all.
But if directly at the cause I gesse
That breeds this challenge, you must pardon me:
And now some other ground of fight professe,
For I haue vow'd, vowes must vnbroken be.

Sill.
What may be your expectation? let me know.

Const.
Why? ought concerning Salom, my sword
Shall not be welded for a cause so low,
A blow for her my arme will scorne t'afford.

Sill.
It is for slandering her vnspotted name,
And I will make thee in thy vowes despight,
Sucke vp the breath that did my Mistris blame,
And swallow it againe to doe her right.

Const.
I prethee giue some other quarrell ground
To finde beginning, raise against my name:
Or strike me first, or let some scarlet wound
Inflame my courage, giue me words of shame,
Doe thou our Moses sacred Lawes disgrace,
Depraue our nation, doe me some despight:
I'm apt enough to fight in any case,
But yet for Salome I will not fight.

Sill.
Nor I for ought but Salome: My sword
That owes his seruice to her sacred name:
Will not an edge for other cause afford,
In other fight I am not sure of fame.

Const.
For her, I pitty thee enough already,
For her, I therefore will not mangle thee:
A woman with a heart so most vnsteady,
Will of her selfe sufficient torture bee.
I cannot enuy for so light a gaine,
Her minde with such vnconstancie doth runne:
As with a word thou didst her loue obtaine,
So with a word she will from thee be wonne.
So light as her possessions for most day
Is her affections lost, to me tis knowne:
As good goe hold the winde as make her stay,
Shee neuer loues, but till she call her owne.
She meerly is a painted sepulcher,
That is both faire, and vilely foule at once:
Though on her out-side graces garnish her,
Her mind is fild with worse then rotten bones.
And euer readie lifted is her hand,
To aime destruction at a husbands throat:
For proofes, Iosephus and my selfe do stand,
Though once on both of vs, she seem'd to doat.
Her mouth though serpent-like it neuer hisses,
Yet like a Serpent, poysons where it kisses.

Silleus.
Well Hebrew well, thou bark'st, but wilt not bite.

Const.
I tell thee still for her I will not fight.

Sille.
Why then I call thee coward.

Const.
From my heart
I giue thee thankes. A cowards hatefull name,
Cannot to valiant mindes a blot impart,
And therefore I with ioy receiue the same.
Thou know'st I am no coward thou wert by
At the Arabian battaile th'other day:
And saw'st my sword with daring valiancy,
Amongst the faint Arabians cut my way.
The blood of foes no more could let it shine,
And twas inameled with some of rhine.
But now haue at thee, not for Salome
I fight: but to discharge a cowards stile:
Here gins the fight that shall not parted be,
Before a soule or two indure exile.

Silleus.
Thy sword hath made some windowes for my blood,
To shew a horred crimson phisnomit:
To breath for both of vs me thinkes twere good,
The day will giue vs time enough to die.

Const:
With all my hart take breath, thou shalt haue time,
And if thou list a twelue month, let vs end:
Into thy cheekes there doth a palenes clime,
Thou canst not from my sword thy selfe defend.
What needest thou for Salome to fight,
Thou hast her, and may'st keepe her, none striues for her:
I willingly to thee resigne my right,
For in my very soule I do abhorre her.
Thou seest that I am fresh, vnwounded yet,
Then not for feare I do this offer make:
Thou art with losse of blood, to fight vnfit,
For here is one, and there another take.

Silleus.
I will not leaue, as long as breath remaines
Within my wounded body: spare your words,
My heart in bloods stead, courage entertaines,
Salomes loue no place for feare affords.

Const:
Oh could thy soule but prophesie like mine,
I would not wonder thou should'st long to die:
For Salome if I aright diuine
Will be then death a greater miserie.

Selles.
Then list, Ile breath no longer.

Const:
Do thy will,
I hateles fight, and charitably kill. I, I, they fight,
Pittie thy selfe Silleus, let not death
Intru'd before his time into thy hart:
Alas it is too late to feare, his breath
Is from his body now about to part.
How far'st thou braue Arabian? Silleus very well,
My legge is hurt, I can no longer fight:
It onely grieues me, that so soone I fell,
Before faire Saloms wrongs I came to right.

Const:
Thy wounds are lesse then mortall. Neuer feare,
Thou shalt a safe and quicke recouerie finde:
Come, I will thee vnto my lodging beare,
I hate thy body, but I loue thy minde.

Silleus.
Thankes a noble Iew, I see a courtious foe,
Sterne camitie to friendship can no art:
Had not my heart and tongue engagde me so,
I would from thee no foe, but friend depart.
My heart to Salome is tide so fast,
To leaue her loue for friendship, yet my skill
Shall be imploy'd to make your fauour last,
And I will honour Constabarus still.

Const:
I ope my bosome to thee, and will take
Thee in, as friend, and grieue for thy complaint:
But if we doe not expedition make,
Thy losse of blood I feare will make thee faint.

Chorus.