 | The Tragedy of Julia Agrippina ; Empresse of Rome |  |
Actus IIII.
Narcissus, Geta.Narcissus.
If wee bee bound to think the Gods consider
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Bound to beleeve the greatest members of it
On whom the fates of all the rest depend,
Should be their greatest care? why should the Gods
Extend their narrow providence, and show
Their power in woods and rurall villages,
Yet thinke th'Imperiall family of Rome
Not worth their care at all? for if they had
Where slept their justice, when great Claudius
Was murdred by his servants and his wife,
And they ador'd, and honour'd by the state
For acting that accursed deed! what right
Can all the subject world receive from thence!
What good can dwell upon the earth with safety?
Proud Pallas, thou hast got the victory
O're poore Narcissus, and mayest safely triumph
With thy false Empresse; for no law can reach
The height you soare at now but yet take heed
That very crime, the same Impiety
That aided you in your foule enterprise
To vanquish mee and justice on my side,
May one day pull you downe.
Geta.
Alas Narcissus!
Too truly Rufus, thou, and I foresaw
This fatall storme 'gainst Claudius wofull house.
Britannicus is now the object growne
Of all mens piety.
Narcissus.
In the wrong hee did
Unto his hopefull sonne hee needs must see
His own destruction woven. But if Claudius,
When I detected all their plots to him,
Had beene of nature quick and resolute
Hee had prevented all, and scap'd his murder.
Tis certaine hee was poison'd
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Rome it selfe
I feare will rue that sad adoption,
And in the wrongs of young Britannicus
Will beare too deepe a share. while the firce rule
Of Agrippina lasts.
Narcissus.
What better hope
Does Nero promise us?
Those that are neere,
And inward with his nature, doe suspect
In him all seedes of vice and tyranny,
Though smoother'd for a time, at least, not hurtfull
While he refraines from medling with the state
That his night rambling revels, drinking feasts,
And cruell sports that he's delighted in,
Are vices of his nature, not his youth.
Geta:
Tis true, Narcissus, I of late have heard
Many beginne to feare the prophecy
of Aenobarbus his detested sire
That nothing good could be begot twixt him
And Agrippina. Too too true alas!
Such prophecies of some of our late Princes
Have prov'd to Rome, as that Augustus made
Of the slow-jaw'd Tiberius, and Tiberius
Of his successour Caius, whom hee nam'd
A Phaëton to the unhappy world.
Narcissus.
All that I hope for is a wretched life,
If that bee not too much for mee to hope.
Into Campania will I go, but there
If death pursue mee, Cæsars armes are long,
And I am arm'd for any accident.
Let none, but with a spirit prepar'd to dye,
Dare to adventure on prosperity.
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Rufus and I are both resolv'd to leave
The city too, wee are not safe within it.
But farre perchance, removed from her sight
Wee may escape fell Agrippinas spight.
Enter to them Crispinus.
Crispinus.
Ah Lucius Geta, I am now enforc'd
To that retirement, which wee lately talk'd of.
Because my danger mov'd mee not before,
Fresh cause is giv'n mee. Now I would not breath
The aire of Rome for all the wealth within it.
Geta.
What cause is that Crispinus? speake
Crispinus.
Poppæa,
That was my wife is carried from my house,
And divoc'd from mee by command from Cæsar,
Narcissus.
The Prince begins his reigne most hopefully.
Crispinus.
Do you not wonder how I beare it thus?
Geta.
I must confesse the losse is wondrous great.
Crispinus.
True, had shee been my chast and faithfull wife,
The losse had been beyond all æstimation.
Nor could a manly spirit have borne the wrong.
But shee was none of mine, her heart, my Lucius.
As I have since discover'd, long ago
Was given to wanton Otho, and with him
Tis thought she stole her close adulterous houres.
For on that Otho, Nero has bestow'd her.
Wanting her heart, that gawdy peice of Earth
That men call beauty, I should soone have scorn'd,
Though Cæsar's warrant had not come at all.
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Geta.
With all my heart.
It was my feare Poppæa would have caus'd
Your stay too long.
Crispinus.
I'll put her from my thoughts.
Narcissus.
Farewell my Lords, all happinesse attend
Your Country life, though I can hope for none.
Crispinus.
Farewell Narcissus may the Gods protect thee.
Exeunt.
Otho, Poppæa.
Otho,
Thus greatest Monarchs oft have given away
What they themselves ne're saw, nor e're knew how
To value truely. Nero has bestow'd
A guift unknown on mee, which I, that taste
How sweet it is, would not againe forgo
For all his Empires wealth.
Poppæa.
Nor would I change
My Otho's love for great Augustus state.
Otho.
There to enjoy where both extreamly love
Is such a happines (as I have heard
Some do observe) it seldome does befall
A marryed paire, or if it doe, that blisse
Endures not long, so envious are the fates.
But that's a dreame, my love, I doe not feare.
Poppæa.
Thou need'st not feare Poppæas constancy
Though Cæsar were thy rivall,
Otho.
Sweet I do not;
I dare not wrong thy truth, or take so much
From mine own happinesse, as to suspect
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Is of extent as large as mans desire.
'Twas that, that made thee mine; and nought but that
That gave, can take my happinesse away.
Thou hast a face, Poppæa, that would cleare
A ravisher from guilt, that would excuse
The treason of a freind, and make my wrong
No staine to Cæsar's honour, though the Gods,
Or Cato were his judges.
Poppæa.
Cæsar would not;
Hee loves the well besides a noble minde
Would scorne to taste the fruites of forced love,
Otho.
A long beseidging is as forcible
As an assault, and wins the fort as sure
Though not so soone.
Poppæa.
Nay spare your arguments.
I can looke through them; thou art fearfull, Otho,
That I should long to see the Court: alas
I have no such ambition to bee known
To Agrippina or Octavia.
Otho.
Mistake mee not, sweete love, I am so farre
From jealousy of thee, that 'twas my purpose
To make it my request that thou would'st go
And see great Cæsar's Court: nor do I thinke
Octavia would bee jealous, or that danger
That once befell the faire Calphurnia,
Whom Agrippina banish'd Italy
Because that Claudius Cæsar prais'd her beauty,
Should fall on thee.
Poppæa.
It shall not fall on mee,
I will noe see the Court: fy Otho fy
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Thy jelousy, thou dost betray it to mee!
Why dost thou tell mee so of Cæsar's power,
Octaviaes wrath, Calphuniaes banishment
Through Agrippinaes envy? tis thy love
Better then all these subtle tricks will keepe
My thoughts at home.
Otho.
It shall appeare to thee
I do not feare at all; or if I did,
Tis not the failing of thy constancy.
Enjoy what freedome thou desir'st, Poppæa.
Now for a little while excuse my absence,
I must for sake thee, though unwillingly.
Cæsar, I feare, expected my return
Long before this love has beguil'd the time,
And made my stay seeme shorter then it is.
But I shall think till I returne againe
The houres are long, till then farewell Poppæa.
Exit.
Poppæa.
I finde his feares alreadie, my estate
Was better farre before Rufus Crispinus
Was grave and knew not wantonnesse enough
To make him jealous as this Otho does
That too unlawfull love, which then I shew'd
To Otho, is the mother of these feares.
Is old Seleucus the Magician come;
Enter Fulvia
Fulvia:
Madam hee waites without,
Poppæa.
Go call him hither.
Seleucus is the master of his Art.
All his prædictions hitherto have prov'd
Most true and certaine. why should I desire
To know my future fate; and hasten woe
(Should it prove ill) before the time of woe?
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Enter Seleucus.
Welcom Seleucus, have you found it out?
Seleucus.
Madam, your scheme is drawn, and there I finde
The stars alot another husband to you
Poppæa.
Another after Otho?
Seleucus.
Yes, a third.
Poppæa.
What shall hee bee?
Seleucus.
The greatest Prince on earth.
Poppæa.
Ha, Cæsar?
Seleucus.
Yes; it must be Cæsar, Madam.
And tis as true as if the oracles
Of Jove and Phœbus had foretold it both.
Poppæa.
This Cæsar that now lives?
Seleucus.
I can no further
Instruct you Madam; what you heare is true.
Poppæa.
Drinke this Seleucus for my sake. Farewell.
Exit Seleucus
To bee Augusta is the greatest gift
The fates can give; nor does it seems to mee
A thing so much unlikely. Otho's feare
Perchance was fatall. If it were, in vaine
His care will bee, nor can hee then accuse
Mee, but the fates that overrul'd my love.
Agrippina, Pallas.
Agrippina.
It is decreed, Silanus must not live.
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Were there no other cause, is crime enough.
Hee is descended in the same degree
That Nero is from great Augustus loines.
And some have lately whisper'd that his age
Is more mature for soveraignty then Nero's.
Besides thou know'st his brother Lucius,
That should have marryed young Octavia,
By us was hunted to his death; and hee
May meditate revenge.
Pallas.
You need not feare
A spirit so sluggish as Silanus is.
Your brother Caius Cæsar, in the midd'st
Of all his feares and jealousyes to which
Hee sacrific'd so many noble branches
Of your Imperiall house, contemn'd Silanus
Is one in whom there was no spirit, or danger,
And call'd him nothing but the golden beast.
Agrippina.
Wee cannot tell, if times of trouble come,
How much that beast by courage of attendants
And confluence of souldiers may bee chang'd.
Hee is Proconsul now of Asia,
And may here after, if the people should
Maligne our government, bring power against us.
Pallas.
If you will have it so Publius Celerius
And Aelius now going for Asia
Have undertaken there to poison him.
Agrippina.
Let it bee done. But Pallas, first of all
Let a centurion bee dispach'd into
Campania, to kill Narcissus. there
Hee must not live, that did contrive our ruine
And knowes, I feare, the meanes by which wee scap'd it
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But tell me Pallas, ere thou goest, are all
The German souldiers come?
Pall:
Madam they are.
You have a royall guard.
Ag:
Go dearest Pallas,
Dispatch Celerius into Asia,
And the Centurion to Campania.
Exit Pallas
Now Agrippina is her selfe, and all
The power and dignity she holds, her own.
I do not owe it to a marriage bed,
Or poore dependance on a husbands love,
Where every minion might have rival'd mee.
There is no power, no state at all, but what
Is undependent, absolute and free.
Besides my proper and peculiar guards
Two lictors by the Senate are assign'd
Distinct from Cæsar and the Consuls state
To wate on mee, that all the world at last
Th'Imperiall power may in a woman know.
I was an Empresse but ne're reign'd till now.
Exit
A banquet.
Enter Nero, Britannicus, Otho, Petronius, Montanus, Acte.
Ne.
Come sit my friends, they here are freely welcome
That bring free Joviall hearts farre hence bee all
Sad lookes, sower gestures, and Censorious thoughts.
They fit not Nero's table. kisse mee Acte,
And smile upon the feast.
Acte:
Cæsar's command
Is warrant strong enough.
Nero.
And thou shalt finde
No rigid Catoes here.
Petronius.
True, great Cæsar,
Let such sowre Scauri sit at home, and write
Against the pleasure of this happy age
Dull satyres, such as water, or the lees
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Those old penurious times. when Curius fed
On leekes and onions, when Fabritus
Feasted the frugall Senate with hung beefe
And rusty bacon, and in earthen pots
Drunke smal Etruscan wine, let them bee still
Such as themselves would make themselves, unworthy
To taste the plenty that Rome now enjoyes.
Nero.
Why did our famed ancestours so farre
Extend their conquering armes, and strive to get
The riches of the world, but that their Nephews
Might now enjoy them? twere ingratitude
To their rich labours, should wee scorne to use
What they have got: or if the use of it
In us bee riot, sure 'twas avarice
In them, that toil'd so much to purchase it.
Otho.
Which of those rigid Censors, that declaime
Against the vices of the times, and tax
Rome as luxurious now would call it vertue
In a rich Citizen, whose store-houses
Were fraught with the best provisions, his chests crowded
His cellars full of rich Campanian wine
Yet hee himselfe to drinke the coursest lees,
To feede on ackornes, pulse, and crabs, to wrong
His nature, and defraud his Genius?
Tis said the Furies keep pin'd Tantalus
From tasting those delicious fruits hee sees.
Such would the Roman vertue bee, should shee
Affright her sonnes the masters of the world
From tasting that which they themselves possesse.
Petronius.
Tis true; those former ages were most frugall;
Wee thank them for't, the better is our fare.
Let those that list, now when they have no need,
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Whilest wee poore sinners are content with pleasants,
Numidian hens, and Lybian purple wings
Wilde goates, bores, hares, thrushes, and musheroms,
Oysters, and mullets, and such vicious meates.
Nero.
Fill mee some wine. Montanus melancholy,
And silent now?
Montanus.
Cæsar, I was but listning
To heare Petronius good morality,
Nero.
Otho I know cannot bee melancholy,
Hee is a bridegrome, and but new possest
Of that faire treasure he has courted
So long, well Otho, I must have a sight
Of faire Poppæa,; such I know shee is.
Otho.
Shee is unworthy of great Cæsar's sight.
Nero.
A round, go Anicetus bring the lots;
Because that no respect of power shall let
The freedome of our mirth, who ever drawes
The longest cut shall bee our King to night,
And bee obey'd what ere hee shall command.
I will resigne my chaire to him. Com draw.
Enter Anicetus they draw.
Tis I that am your King.
Montanus.
I shall beleive
That Fortune has her eyes.
Britannius.
In getting Crownes
Nero, thy fortune is too good for mine.
Nero.
I know none envy mee.
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No envy can
Redresse my wrongs.
Nero.
I will beginne with Otho.
I do command thee send by Anicetus
Some trusty token that immediatly
May fetch Poppæa hither to the banquet.
Otho.
It shall bee done, this ring will fetch her hither,
Exit Anicetus.
I never though 'twould come to this.
Petronius.
Thy plot
Of bringing Acte in, I see has fail'd.
Otho.
I care not much; he would at last have seene her.
Nero.
Thou wilt not frowne my Acte, though thou see
Another beauty here.
Acte.
So royall Cæsar,
Nor shall you heare mee envious, or detracting,
Although I know Poppæa is a Lady
Whose beauty does as farre excell poore Acte
As Cinthia does the lesser starres, or Venus
The other Sea-nimphs.
Nero.
Freely spoke, faire Acte.
Acte.
Here you shall finde the saying does not hold
That women are detractors from each other.
Nero.
Meane time begin a health.
Montanus.
So please it Cæsar
To great Augusta, Agrippina's health.
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Let it go round. And now Petronius.
I come to thee I doo command thee write
A Satyre presently against those pleasures
Thou didst so lately prayse, against th'attire,
And costly diet of this notorious age.
This is thy Taske.
Petronius.
I must obey the King:
And now's the fittest time for such a satyre.
I never finde my vertue of that strength
As to contemne good Victualls, but upon
A well fill'd stomacke.
Nero.
Give him wine to heighten't.
Petronius.
I've writ already a Satirick Poëm
In a grave angry way, where I complaine
That Romes excesse, corruption, luxury,
Ruin'd the present governement, and twixt
Cæsar, and Pompey caus'd a civill warre.
Listen, and heare my castigations.
“Now all the world victorious Rome had wonne
“All lands, all Seas, the morne and evening Sunne,
“Nor was content; the Ocean's furrow'd ore
“With armed ships; if any farre-hid shore,
“Or land there were, whence burnish'd gold was brought
“It was their foe: by impious warre they sought
“(Fates fitted so) for wealth, old known delight
“They scorne, and Vulgar bare-worne pleasure slight.
“Pearles in th'Assirian lakes the souldiers love.
“Bright polish'd earth in hew with purple strove.
“Numidia marble brings the Scythian yeilds
“His early fleece, the Arabs spoile their fields,
“But see more ruine yet, and greater wounds
“Of injur'd peace, the Mauritanian grownds
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“Wilde beasts are search'd whose teeth a price must set.
“Upon their death, fierce Tigers fetch'd from farre,
“And stalking stately on the Theater
“Are fed with humane slaughter to delight
“The peoples eyes: after the persian rite
“(Alas I shame to speake it, and display
“The ruine-threatning fates) they cut way
“Manhood from growth spoil'd youths, for Venery
“Softning their nature, to keepe backe thereby
“In spite of time, their age her selfe in kinde
“Abused nature seekes, but cannot finde.
“They dote on Catamites, weake bending hammes,
“Unnerved bodyes, and a thousand names
“Of new attires, loose haire of men, in whom
“All man is lost! o slaves from Affrick come,
“Rich Citron boards, bright purple, which to view
“Cousening the senses beare a gold like hew.
“A wanton traine, in wine and surffets drown'd
“The far fetch'd table do encompasse round.
“The wealth that all the spacious world containes
“By lawlesse armes the roming souldier gaines,
“Their gluttony growes witty; guilt-heads caught
“At Sea, alive are to their tables brought.
Nero.
No more, my furious Satyrist, thou hast chid
The times sufficiently.
Petronius.
If you bee pleas'd
I have obey'd.
Nero.
Well, I perceive Petronius
A man may write a Satyre, and yet bee
No Scaurus, Curius, or Fabritius.
Petronius.
A Satyrist should bee the contrary,
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Nero.
Brother Britannicus thy taske is next,
Stand up and sing a song.
Britannicus.
Give mee some time:
I cannot doo't extempore, what subject?
Nero.
Choose that your selfe.
Britannicus.
Then give me leave to sing
Mine owne misfortunes, how I came to loose
The Roman scepter.
Nero.
How! that will not fit
A feast of mirth.
Britannicus.
No, let them laugh that winne.
Petronius.
A good smart youth.
Nero.
This must not bee endur'd.
I must bee freed from this continuall feare:
Then bee excus'd, be merry Gentlemen,
I wonder Anicetus stayes so long.
Enter Anicetus with Poppæa.
But see they come, is this Poppæa, Otho.
Otho.
Tis shee great Cæsar.
Nero.
Wonder of her sex!
Bright paragon of Rome! all beautyes yet
That I have seene, have been but foiles to set
A greater lustre on this starre of light.
Otho.
His eys are fixt; his changing lookes do speake
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Dazle mine eyes too much.
Petronius.
Tis so; shee's lost.
If ever Lady were a tennis ball
Tis this, shee's bandy'd so from one to tother.
Nero.
Must then another reape the envy'd fruit
Of my injustice? must Poppæa bee
My crime, that tooke her from her other Lord,
To be his pleasure?
Otho.
Is great Cæsar sad!
Nero.
No Otho, still shee shewes more faire and faire.
I cannot check my love; sit fairest Lady.
And with your lustre grace our feast. I see
Thou art a most incomparable judge
In beauty, Otho, and were I to choose
A wife againe, I'd trust no eye but thine.
Otho.
Would I might serve you Sr. in any thing.
Nero.
But tell mee thy oppinion in one question.
Which dost thou thinke the noblest in a Prince,
If hee would use his power, and do an act
That may bee thought unjust, to do't for frendship,
Or satisfaction of his owne delight.
Otho.
Sr. had you made the case a private man's
(For the delights of Princes, as themselves,
Wee must count sacred) I could soone resolve it.
Nero.
Let it bee so for tis the same in justice.
Otho.
I thinke it noblest then to do't for frendship.
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But satisfaction of our own delights
A thing of weakenesse rather then of honour.
Petronius.
I see his drift.
Nero.
Augustus Cæsar then
And I by power have done the selfe same act.
But in the cause I have excell'd Augustus,
For hee to satisfie his own hot love
From Claudius Nero tooke faire Livia.
I from Crispinus took a brighter beauty
To shew my selfe no lover. but a frend.
Doo not mistake mee Otho, and suppose
I do repent the favour I have done
I know tis well bestow'd.
Otho.
Twas such a favour
That I confesse, great Cæsar, as no tongue
Can bee enough expressive; so tis hard
To find a heart that's large enough to pay
Sufficient thankes in thought, but pious men
Have still acknowledg'd that no thankes of ours
Can æqualize the bounty of the Gods.
And Princes are like them, should I thinke lesse
I should both wrong the giver, and the gift.
Nero.
In valuing her aright thou shew'st thy selfe
As wise as just. I wish thee joy of her.
But fairest Lady, since it was so late
Before you grac'd our feast, I cannot thinke
That I have entertain'd you yet at all.
The scene shall therefore change, another roome
Shall bid Poppæa wellcome to the Court.
Exeunt.
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Vitellius.
Yet Cæsar and his mother well agree.
Pollio.
The Gods continue it, but Vitellius,
I feare the sequell. Agrippinaes fierce
And haughty disposition will too much
Provoke her sonne 'tis thought; and hee too forward
To throw all nature off.
Vitellius.
I thinke so too.
And therefore I could wish that Agrippina
Would go a gentler way, shee must not build
Too much upon her merits, though wee know
Twas shee that put the scepter in his hand.
For vicious natures, where they once begin
To take distast, and purpose no requitall,
The greater debt they owe, the more they hate.
Pollio.
Besides shee'll find it harder far to worke
Her ends upon a sonne then twas to rule
A doating husband.
Pollio.
Time will shew it all,
And we ere long shall know which way to leane.
Exeunt.
Burrus, Seneca.
Burrhus.
Will Agrippina sit to day with Cæsar
On his Tribunall, to give audience
To those Armenian Embassadors?
Seneca.
There is no doubt shee would; but I have spoil'd
That state I hope; for I have councell'd Nero.
That if shee come, hee shall arise and meet her,
As if he did it in respect, and duty
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I hope shee will not understand our drift.
Burrhus.
Pray heaven shee do not, for you know her fircenesse.
Seneca.
It would bee Romes disgrace, the Senates shame
And my great crime if the Embassadors
That come to plead their countryes cause at Rome,
Should see a woman perching up with Cæsar
Into the chare to give them audience.
And sit commanding ore the Roman ensignes:
Twas not the custome of our Ancestors
To see such sights.
Burrhus.
True Lucius Seneca,
Our Ancestours had no such kinde of women,
Shee in her heart's a man, and you mistake
If you esteem her onely Cæsars mother;
Not his Colleague, and partner in the Empire
Or more then so.
Seneca.
I am not so ingratefull
To hate the woman, since I know it was
Her favour, that repeal'd my banishment.
But I dislike these things, that forreigne states
In her unseemly carriage should behold
The shame of Rome, and would shee keepe a temper
Fitting the quality of her sex and place,
I should admire the bravery of her minde.
Enter Nero, Vitellius, Pollio, Nero, takes his state, after them the Embassadors.
Embassadors.
Long live great Nero Cæsar, the cheife care
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The Princes of Armenia, Vologeses
And Tiridates greete your Majesty
By us, and do congratulate the honor,
Which since divinest Claudius left the earth
To make a God in heaven, is fall'n on you.
And to your high Tribunall doo referre
The controversie that is now betwixt them.
Nero.
Enter Agrippina.
My mother's come, defer th'Embassadors
As twas appointed Seneca.
Seneca.
I will.
Nero.
Haile dearest mother.
Agrippina.
Wherefore rises Cæsar
From his Tribunall when affaiers of state
Are brought before him?
Nero.
No respect can bee
Too much for mee to give great Argippina.
Agrippina.
Excuse mee, Cæsar, if it bee respect,
Tis now unseasonable, take your seate,
I'll sit with you my selfe, and here th'affaires
Of these Armenian Embassadors.
Nero.
Wee have deferred the businesse a while,
And thought upon a fitter time to heare it.
Agrippina.
If you arise because the audience
Is ended or deferr'd upon just reasons,
Tis not respect to mee that made you rise,
As you alldg'd at first, but I have found it,
The reason that deferr'd this audience
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Burrhus.
This I fear'd.
Seneca.
Twas carryed ill of Cæsar at the first.
Agrpppina.
I see thou blushest, Nero, and may'st justly,
To call that reverence, which was affront,
Was a dissembling not befitting Cæsar.
And to affront a mother so deserving
Was not the duty that befitted Nero.
Nero.
Can nearest Agrippina. thinke her Nero.
Will ever doo an act that may bee judg'd
Affront to her
Agrippina.
This was thou know'st it Nero.
And so does thy adviser Seneca
From him it came, no other Senator
Durst to have councell'd my disgrace but hee
Seneca.
Never will Seneca, so much obleidg'd
To Agrippinaes royall favour, wish
Or councell her disgrace.
Agrippina.
Oh Seneca.
Philosophy nere taught ingratitude.
If you had thought the place unfit for mee,
You might have told mee privatly before,
Not us'd this tricke which how so ere it hold
In Stoticisme, I'm sure is nought in state.
Vitellius.
Shee payes him home.
Pallas.
Her spirit cannot brooke
The least appearance of an injury.
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Cæsar, I'll leave thee now, nor shall my presence
Bee any hinderance to thy state affaires.
Nero.
I'll go a long with you.
Agrippina.
For Seneca
I'll shortly teach him new Philosophy.
Exeunt.
manent. Burrhus, Seneca.
Seneca.
Shee's full of anger; but it moves not mee,
Since what I did was just, and for the honour
Of Rome and Cæsar, honest actions
Will bee enough protection to them selves.
Burrhus.
Take the best courses to prevent her fury.
Seneca.
Ah noble Burrhus, it must bee hereafter
Our greatest care to curbe that womans pride,
And what wee can remove her from all rule
And government of state, for Agrippina
Is of too hot and fierce a disposition.
Burrhus.
What should wee doo? twere pitty to incense
Her sonne against her.
Seneca.
The Gods forbid that wee
Should strve to make the Prince unnaturall.
But to prevent this inconvenience
I will perswade young Cæsar not with purpose
to wrong his mother, somewhat to abate
Her dangerous greatenesse, to remove from her
Part of her guard of German souldiers,
And to displace her wicked counsellour
That insolent and Lordly free'dman Pallas.
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You need not use perswasions to your Pupill
(The Gods forgive it if I judge amisse)
To stand against his mother, I much feare
Hee will too quickly hate her, for no reason
To state belonging; but because shee growes
Imperious over him, and strives to curbe
His lust and riots, those, those Seneca
I feare are seedes of future tyranny
And for his love (as if the fates decreed
To make his passions all preposterous)
His vertuous wife noble Octavia
The only instance in this wicked age
Of women great and good, is loath'd by him.
Seneca.
That most afflicts mee: could wee finde a cure
For that disease, all other maladyes
A riper age will in some part redresse,
And I will strive to change them by degrees,
And get him to forsake his loose associates.
But let us first endeavour to remove
Fierce Agrippina from all rule of state.
Burrhus.
I'l joyne with you, and use my best endeavours.
Exeunt.
Nero.
Nero.
Shall I that am an Emperor, bee check'd,
Control'd and baffled in my Pallace thus?
I will remove this mother farre from mee,
And give command to Burrhus to provide
That house that was Antoniaes for her.
The Pallace shall bee free to my delights,
I make no doubt but that the people know,
And hate her pride, and will the lesse repine
At what I do against her, I have told her
74
Part of my minde already, shee shall rue
Perchance too late the fiercenesse shee has shew'd
Exit.
Agrippina.
Agrippina.
Ingratefull Nero, is thy mothers power
So soone offensive growne? canst thou so soone
Cast off all filiall dutyes, and forget
What I deserve from thee? wouldst thou deprive
Mee of all power that gave all power to thee?
Did I so wickedly for thee procure
The height of human state, that thou shouldst take
All state from mee with greater wickednesse?
Oh wronged Claudius, this sad punishment
My bloody treason, and ingratitude
To thy offended Manes justly payes.
By the most loving, and most injur'd Lord,
The worst of wives was more belov'd then now
The best of mothers by a wicked Sonne.
I'le make him know what hand it was that rais'd
His fortunes to this height: but wherefore weeps
Enter Octavia.
My deare Octavia?
Octavia.
What accursed fate
Pursues the wofull Claudian family?
Agrippina.
Deare daughter speake thy griefe.
Octavia.
Was I bestow'd,
Or rather lost in marriage, to advance
Upon my brother's ruine, Nero's state
To bee by him despys'd, hated and made
A base freed-womans slave?
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What freed woman?
Octavia.
Acte thy Nero's concubine my mistris
That dares within the palace to contest
Nay to revile Octavia.
Agrippina.
She dares not,
Nor shall she doo't, I'll slit the strumpets nose,
If she dare speake 'gainst thee.
Octavia.
You cannot mother.
Nero delights in none but her, his soule
In Acte lives; on her he does bestow
That love, that's due to mee: But mee hee loaths;
Oh dismall love, Oh fatall marriage!
Agrippina.
Take comfort sweete Octavia, I'll redresse
Thy wrongs, or venture mine owne fall with thee.
Enter Nero.
Nero.
You have complain'd I see, Octavia.
Is there a chiding toward?
Agrippina.
Has thy guilt,
And th'unkinde wrongs thou hast already done
Unthankefull Nero, to thy vertuous wife
Arm'd thee with such an impudence, that now
Thou canst prevent her just accusing thus?
Nero.
How's this?
Agrippina.
Mee thinkes although thou hadd'st no sparke
Of goodnesse left thee, yet in Pollicy
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Against thy lawfull wife great Claudius daughter.
Nero.
Mee thinkes in policy you might remember
You speake to Cæsar, not a childe.
Agrippina.
Tis true,
Thou hast forgot the duty of a childe.
Nero.
I will bee better known; if I bee Crost
In my delights, I will bee bold to crosse
You in your pleasures too
Agrippina.
Oh heavens, what pleasures
What joyes or studies have I ever had
But to preferre thee Nero? are my cares
And all my labours thus requited now?
Let not too vaine and foolish confidence
Of what thou art, make thee presume to wrong
Thy mother and thy wise; or thou shalt know
The Empires lawfull heire is yet alive.
The wrong'd Britannicus is growing up
To take his right, and to revenge the wrongs
Which hee and all his family susteine
I'll go my selfe to the Prætorian Campe,
And plead his cause before the Souldiers.
There let one-handed Burrhus, and that base
Unthankefull exile Seneca, appeare
Against the daughter of Germanicus.
Nero.
Yes plead the cause of young Britannicus;
And when y'have done, provide an advocate
To plead your own.
Exeunt Nero.
Agrippina.
Gone so abruptly from us,
77
Octavia.
Madam I feare
You tooke too harsh a way; his lookes were wilde
And full of rage; my sad misgiving soule
Tels mee some mischeife's working in his thoughts.
Agrippina.
Feare not, Octavia, weell take the best
And surest courses to prevent the ill
That may ensue: and if mature advice
And councell cannot bridle him, wee'll use
Another meanes to curbe his insolence:
I have already by my bounty made
Most of the Tribunes and Centurions.
My guards are strong, and shall bee vigilant
Over the safety of Britannicus,
As mine own person, there's no open act
Of mischiefe can bee on the suddaine wrought.
Octavia.
The Gods I hope will guard our innocence.
Exeunt.
Nero solus.
Nero.
My feares have been too slow, and twas high time
That Agrippinaes thundring threats had wak'd
My sleeping mischeefes; which shall now no more
Study disguises, but appeare in bold
And open acts with Cæsars stampe upon um,
Fearelesse of vulgar whispering jealousyes.
Upon thy death, Britannicus, a price
No lesse then Romes imperiall wreath is set.
The deede, when done, will priviledge it selfe,
And make the power of Nero strong enough
To warrant his misdeede, who dare revenge
Or blame th'offence that frees mee from a rivall?
But I shall leave a worse, and nearer farre
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Shee lives my rivall, nay my partner still,
Nay more then that my Queene and Governesse.
I am no Prince, no man, nothing at all
While Agrippina lives, must shee then live
To make mee nothing? must the name of mother
Outweigh a scepter? could the name of husband
Protect her Claudius? no; her owne example
Shall teach mee state: but first Britannicus
Must bee remov'd; his death assures my state,
And makes mee able to contest with her.
That gentle poison, which Locusta gave him,
If poison 'twere, whilest wee did vainely feare
The peoples talke, has kept my feares alive.
Where is this hagge?
Enter Locusta.
Locusta.
Cæsar.
Nero.
Witch.
beats her.
Feind, fury, divell.
Locusta.
Mercy, mercy, Cæsar.
Nero.
I'll hew thy cursed carcasse into atomes,
Thou gav'st Britannicus an antidote
In stead of poyson.
Locusta.
Twas a gentle poyson,
And such as you commanded mee to make,
Hold Cæsar hold; I will redeeme all yet.
Nero.
Do it or dy, make mee a poison strong,
A quicke and speeding one.
Locusta.
It shall bee done.
79
Nero.
I'll see the tryall of it, and reward
Thy service well; but if Britannicus
Out live this day, this day shall bee thy last.
Exeunt.
| The Tragedy of Julia Agrippina ; Empresse of Rome | |