University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

Sound Musicke, and enter NERO, Emperour of Rome, Crown'd with a Lawrel Wreath; and attended by Roman Lords, he ascends his Chair of state.
NERO.
My Lords of Rome, since first the auspicious eye
Of Heaven look't singly on our bold attempts,
We ne'r incounter'd fortunes so advers,
Since first our Father Romulus ordain'd
The Eternal Fire, by vestal Nunns preserv'd;
And since Religious Numa did create
Our Holy Sacrifices for the Gods,
We never had such signes prodigious;
Our Bulls for Offerings to the God of War
Fall dead untoucht by hand of Holy Priest;
And such as wounded dye by sacred Knife,
Their Intrails spotted tells us all's not well,
The Gods are sure displeas'd.

1. Lord.
Our War, my Soveraign, can import no less,
The Persians, Grecians, and the Galls revolts,
With ill success in Jewry, these can tell
Most mighty Cesar, that all is not well.

Nero.
Now by the Gods I swear,
That sturdy Nation shall repent their pride.
Have we not sent Embassadors from Rome
To treat them fair, and to confirm our Truce?
Have we not sent a Bull for sacrifice?
And Sheep for offerings of a sacred Peace,
Even to the God himself whom they adore,
And in his Temple too? What could we more?
Save what we did, to give our Royal Word,
That never henceforth Roman Prince
Should rule the Nation, but a Native born,
Even their own King Agrippa.
Hear'st thou not yet of his arrival?

2 Lord.
Our packets do inform us of his neer approach,
Each hour he is expected.

Nero.
By heaven I thirst to know the certainty of their proceedings.
Nor can I chuse but wonder at the stay of our Vespatian,
I fear all is not well with him my Lords:
Haste thee Hostilius to the sacred Priests,
Exit a messenger.
Bid them again go offer sacrifice,
I long to see some luckie signs appear.
Shout within.
Go know the reason of that shout,
Exit a Lord.
The cheerful noyse should seem to speak of joy.

Lord.
The King of Iewry is at hand my Lord.

Enters agen.
Nero.
Now by my life he's welcom: go forth & meet him.
And conduct him to our presence.

Exit agen.
Lord.
I shall my lord.

Nero.
Now have we half our wish; were but Vespatian here
We had our full desire.

A Florish, and enter King Agrippa; two of his Attendants go before him, bearing his Crown between them, with other folowers; those that bear the crown kneel before the Emperor.
K. Agrip.
Thus lowe great Cæsar to thy Majestie
Bowes Iurges King to do thee fealtie.

Nero.
And thus lowe Cæsar steps to bid thee welcom;
Welcom Agrippa; take from Cæsars hand
Thy sacred Diadem, with sole command
Hee puts the Crown upon him, & sets him by him.
Of thy rebellious Jews.
But tel me K. Agrippa, where are those
Embassadors of mine, which lately were
Dispatch't with presents to thy Nation,
With sacred offrings, and with flags of peace
Embrac't with solemn joy, and safely stowde
Within our Temple; thy Embassage done
With due regards to Romes and Iewrits honor:
But loe the fury of a frantick mind,
The factious Commons in their heat of blood
Have slain thy Roman Lords, & stoutly stand
Rebellious Captains of our holy Land.

Nero.
What!

Agrip.
Tis true great Emperor, nor was my self secure,
But forc't to flie for safety.

Nero.
Is't possible? O ye gods!
Rises and goes down.
To what a wretched time am I reserv'd,
That this smal handful dares affront me thus?
Where art thou Iulius? at whose great command
The utmost ends of Europe did obey.
Where worthy Alexander? that didst sweat to dwel
Within the circuit of this little Earth:
Behold a wretched caitiff in your room,
Contend, despis'd, rebel'd against; O ye gods! what more;
Not able to maintain what you have won.

Lord.
Most mighty Cæsar,
Let not thy passion rob thee of thy right;
Let Cæsar be himself, and then heel see
Himself as great in pow'r, & greater in degrees of soveraignty.

Nero.
Away thou fawning Cur, upon my life thou flatterst me.

Lord.
My Lord?

Nero.
No more I say. But laugh me to scorn behind my back,
And yet, though I deserve it, take heed thou dost it not,
Upon thy life take heed; look too't—

Agrip.
Great Soveraign, give Agrippa leave to speak,
Thou canst not Mighty Cæsar, now behold
Thy self, nor others, with a judging eye;
Recall thy self from passion; and be still
As great in Powre, as thou art great in Will.

Nero.
Thou gav'st the wound Agrippa, and hast heal'd it;
But yet the loss of my Embassadors was strange; 'tvvas vvonderous strange,
And wonderous daring too; Daring to me; to me I say twas daring.

Agrip.
No more, most mighty Cæsar.

Nero.
Well, I have done, pardon my hast Agrippa;
And you, forget what I have said.

Nero.
The News.

A shout within, & enter a messenger.
Messen.
My gracious Lord Vespatian is arriv'd,
And Prays admittance to your royal presence.

Nero.
Vespatian come? Thou bringst us happy news;
Exit a messenger.
Conduct him hither strait; we long to hear welcom nevvs.

He ascends his chair with King Agrippa.
Enter Vespatian with other Roman Lords.
Vesp.
All happiness attend imperious Cæsar:
Peace from the Gods; from Europe victory;
And from Vespatian duty to the King.

Nero.
Welcom Vespatian; the Gods are pleas'd indeed,
raises him.
Since with thy Victors brow we crowned stand;
Glad yet our ears more with a true and full relation
Of thy successful voyage.

Vesp.
From vanquisht Persia, mighty Cæsar, we
Were by stresse of weather forc't to touch
Vpon the Coasts of Spain; there we renew'd
Our weather beaten Barks with fresh supply
Of men and Amunition: Thence we stear'd
Our course for Gallia and the Britains shore.
The Gauls at our arrival bad declare
What our intentions, whom, and whence we were
We answer'd, [Mighty Cæsar] we were come
To claim obedience to the Roman yoke
The haughty King deny'd, and stoutly stood
In bold defiance.
Long was the dreadful fight, and doubtful too,
Till at the length thy souldiers won the day,
And forc't their stubborn King in spight obey.
From thence great King we steer'd to Britains shore,
Where we were entertain'd as was of old
Our famous Iulius, with a dreadful noise
Of hiddeous outcries, shreeks, and yellings out
To fright our Souldiers, while themselves made good
Their craggy Clifts with loss of Brittish blood:
Thrice were we beaten of, and thrice again
Recover'd footing: yet still great King were forc'd
To give them ground till thy Vespatian cry'd,
Fight, fight on your honour, lives, and Cæsars side,
For mighty Cæsar fight.
Hadst thou but seen, great King, thy Captains then,
And Roman Lords come bleeding on again,
Repulse the Foe, and bravely win the shore,
Maintain the Onsent still, tho still oppos'd,
Till Chariot waves were drown'd in Brittish blood,
There hadst thou seen their ranks with fury broke,
and them subjected to thy sole command.
This Mighty Cæsar is the brief of all
Since thy Commission made me General:

Nero.
Blest be the gods, Vespatian, and be thou
Blest in the favour of our gracious Brow.
And now again thrice welcom worthy Roman,
Thy valor shall be crown'd with full reward
Of fair preferment worthy thy deserts:
We therefore here create thee General
Of all Iudea and the Holy Land.
O my Vespatian! I can tell thee stories
Will spurre thee on in fury to revenge.
But nowi no more of that—
We will to triumph for our victories;
That done, set ope the Gates of Ianus wide,
That bloody war may quel Judea's pride.

Exeunt omnes.