 | The Tragedy of Julia Agrippina ; Empresse of Rome |  |
Actus V.
Scena. I.
Burrhus, Vitellius, Annicetus, SouldiersBurrhus.
It is the will of, Cæsar, souldiers
You must bee all discharg'd from guarding her.
But you shall have allowance, and thus much
I'll promise for your comforts, you shall bee
The next that are ascrib'd into the list
Of the Prætorian campe.
Souldiers.
Thankes noble Burrhus.
Burrhus.
Go Anicetus, give command that straight
That house, which was Antoniaes bee prepar'd
For Agrippina, and her family.
Cæsar will have the Palace to himselfe.
Vitellius.
Does Agrippina know't
80
Not yet I think.
Is there displeasure then 'twixt her and Cæsar?
Burhus.
I know not. you'll excuse my hast, my Lord
I must take leave.
exit Burhus.
Vitellius.
I like not these new turnes.
I came to visit her: but now I'll spare
My haile this morne. whither so fast my Lord?
Pollio.
To visit Agripina.
Vitellius.
Stay, I'll tell you.
There is some diffrence twixt her and Cæsar.
Her guards are tane away. I parted now
From Burhus, who discharg'd them. shee her selfe
Shall be remov'd from the Imperiall palace.
Pollio.
I like not that; I'll spare my visit then.
exeunt
Petronius, Montanus.
Montanus.
Otho will loose his wife then.
Petronius.
Yes, no doubt;
And I believe must leave the City too.
Nero's extremely fir'd, and hee will have her
Alone; poore Otho must not rivall Cæsar
Nor indeed is it fitting that the husband
Should make th'adulterer a cuckold.
Montanus.
Do'st thou beleeve, Petronius, that this charge
Pleases Poppæa?
81
Yes, I warrant her.
Shee thinkes her beauty never could have done her
A greater service.
Montanus.
But shee seem'd to love
Otho extremely.
Petronius.
I confesse Montanus
I thinke her appetite stood well to Otho;
For it is a rascall of a winning carriage
And curious feature; but shee has enjoyed him
Sometime already, and that passion
Which you call love, does move in a degree
So low, and feeble, it is soone swallow'd up
In the deepe torrent of ambition.
Poppæa's proud; nor can that breast of hers
Harbour a love so strong, but it must yeeld
To pride her quality prædominant.
Montanus.
What can shee bee but Nero's concubine?
I see not what high honour lyes in that.
Petronius.
You cannot tell what shee may bee in time.
Montanus.
Shee cannot bee Augusta; that high name
Octavia, while shee lives, will keep, hee dares not
Forsake that wife (how e're hee do affect her)
To whom hee may bee sayd to owe the Empire.
Petronius.
For mine own part, I know not how twill go.
But I dare sweare Poppæa e're this time
Has ask'd and heard what the Chaldæans say
About her fortunes: our fine dames of Rome
Must stil bee tampering with that kinde of cattell.
Their doggs, their monkeys, and themselves do nothing
82
Last thou seene Otho lately?
Montanus.
Yes to day:
Petronius.
How does hee looke upon the businesse?
Montanus.
With somewhat sad; but Cæsar seemes to use him
So wonderfull kindly that he cannot thinke
Hee's wrong'd at all.
Petronius.
Prithee let's finde him out.
Exeunt
Pallas solus.
Pallas.
No longer steward of th'Imperiall house!
Are greatest benefits so soone forgot
By wicked Princes? tis and ever was
The fate of Courts, Monarchs unjustly hate
Acknowledgment: what power, what honor now
Does Nero, hold but what hee owes to mee?
My merrit, nay my wickednesse, which did
To him encrease the merit, for this heart
Has bled the more for my ingratitude
To my best master Claudius, his sad wrongs
Another now revenges! oh Narcissus,
I chance the conquest that I got ore thee,
When wee two strove about the successor
To Claudius Cæsar, will hereafter prove
More fatall to the conqueror, then him
That lost the day, thou in Campania
Liv'dst happily, though hunted to thy death
By us; and carry'dst to thy grave the honor
By ayding the just side, oh Royall Empresse,
Enter Agrippina.
I feare our care to raise unthankfull Nero
Will prove at last our own destruction
83
It prove a step to your dishonour, Madam.
Agrippina.
Tis for my sake that thou hast lost it, Pallas,
With mee my frends are hated. Oh sad fate
That followes impious actions! well perchance
And happily might I have liv'd if wrong'd
Britannicus had reign'd! Oh would the losse
Of this unworthy life could yet procure
That injur'd Prince his due.
Pallas.
Can fortune turne
The course of things so strangely, that you Madam,
The Prince his mother and his raiser too
Should wish the others reigne
Agrippina.
It can, it can.
This is the power and justice of the Gods,
That when wee thinke our selves most safe in ill,
Can frustrate all our confidence and make
That power, which seem'd to bee our prop, to bee
Our onely cause of ruine, wee are children,
Vice makes us children, like to them, wee cry
For Knives to hurt our selves with, and the Gods
To punish us oft grant what wee desire.
An herse brought in Octavia. following.
Pall.
What dolefull noise is this?
Agrippina.
A mee, I feare.
Octavia.
Oh dismall day! Oh wretched family!
Fly back bright Phœbus to the Easterne shore,
Or hide thy head; thou hast at Rome beheld
A feast more black then ere Mycenæ saw.
Ah dearest brother, sweet Britannicus.
84
Britannicus.
Octavia.
Murder'd Britannicus,
Poison'd at Nero's table.
Agrippina.
Breake my heart
The greatest woe, that could befall, is come.
Forgive mee, gentle Soule, twas I that gave
That viper life, and rule to ruin thee.
Thou need'st not curse mee; the impiety
Of him that kill'd thee, will revenge thy death.
Pallas.
Faire hope of Rome, sweet flower untimely cropt,
What parentasion shall sad Pallas make
T'appease thy wronged ghost, and expiate
My foule offences? to the King and Queene
Of sable night I'll build two grassey altars;
And yeerely there, if any yeeres at all
I have to live. with sad libatons
Invoke the manes of Britannicus,
Thou from the groves of faire Elysium
For ever wail'd for ever honour'd Prince,
Deigne to accept my humble sacrifice.
Or if those rights bee too too meane for thee,
Perchance the Genius of afflicted Rome
Shall weep hereafter ore thy grave, and waile
Th'untimely death of her Britannicus.
Agrippina.
Gentle to thee let earth and water prove.
Exit Octavia,
This wofull murder of Britannicus.
& funus.
Bodes ill to mee, and my presaging soule
Is fill'd with ghastly feares. Ah Pallas, Pallas,
This is the entrance into Paricide,
85
Pallas.
Would I could speake to your destresse and feares
A true and reall comfort, such a one
As might not flatter your estate, and make
You weaker then before, by taking from you
All study of prevention.
Servant.
Servant.
Cæsar. Madam,
Is come to visit you.
Agrippina.
Pallas farewell.
Enter Nero.
Nero.
What weeping Madam? what unworthy cause
Dares force a teare from greate Augustaes eye
While Nero lives? if't bee my brother's death,
That caus'd this sorrow, I could joyne in teares
Had not that tragedy already rob'd
Mine eyes of moysture,
Agrippina.
This hypocrisie
Makes mee lesse trust his nature then before.
Nero.
The Gods have rob'd mee of one comfort now
The fellowship of sweet Britannicus,
That all my piety may bee confin'd
To you, deare mother, you containe alone
Within a Parents sacred name, all stiles
Of kindred now, all bonds of pious love.
Feare not a change in mee.
Agrippina.
I do not Cæsar.
Nero.
Minarvus feast is celebrated now
86
And feast with mee deare mother, there forget
All jealous feares, and you shall never more
Complaine of Nero. If the stratagem
aside.
Of Anicetus prosper, her complaint
Shall be to Pluto, and the Ghosts below.
exeunt.
Otho with his Commission.
Otho.
The Gouernment of Lusitania.
By Nero's grace and favor is bestow'd
On mee! Oh glorious name of banishment!
Yet welcome now, since faire Poppæa's lost.
I thanke thee, Nero, thou provid'st a brave
And honourable cure for that sad wound
Thou hast inflicted on my love-sicke Soule.
How great a torture had it been to mee
To live in Rome divorc'd from her, and see
That beauty folded in another's armes!
Hence wanton thoughts; fond love for ever vanish,
Collect my soule what ere thou hast within thee
Of Roman left, and answer to the call
Bright honour makes, some favourable God
Pittying the lusts and riots of a youth
So much misled, has sent this seeming losse
To wake me from so base a lethargy.
Employ'd in forreigne action, I shall live
Free from th' infectious vices of this Court,
And farre from seeing the abhorr'd effects
Of future tyranny, which needs must breake
From Nero's vicious nature. At my birth
The Augures promis'd high and glorious hopes,
This is the way to bring them. Spaine shall find
Another Otho then was sent from Rome.
Poppæa promis'd here to meete, and take
87
Renue my passion by the sight of her?
But't is but one poore look. and so farewell.
Enter Seleucus.
Seleucus.
Haile Marcus Otho Emperour of Rome,
Cæsar that shall bee.
Otho.
Ha!
Seleucus.
It is thy fate,
Which shall not bee prevented.
Otho.
Tell mee father
(For your predictions ever have been true)
Shall I behold Poppæaes face againe,
When I have left the City?
Seleucus.
Never more.
Exit Seleucus.
Otho.
Never! a heavy doome yet I in lieu
Of her shall gaine the Empire of the world.
Juno will heale the wounds that Venus gives.
Enter Poppæa.
See, there shee comes; her beauty waxes still,
Or els the sad conceit of never more
Seeing that face, makes it appeare more faire.
How dull the edge of Honour growes already!
Here could I stay, and like the Trojan Prince
Lockt in faire Didoes armes forget for ever
Th'Italian land, and all my future fame.
Him Jove admonish'd to depart from thence.
Mee the command of Cæsar forces hence,
And leaves no power in my election.
Farewell Poppæa.
88
Oh hard fate in love
Is mine, whose joyes were never lasting yet.
Speake not so soone that killing word farewell.
Otho.
What gaine, alas, can one small minute bee?
Or if twere gaine to mee, to the Poppæa
Twere losse to keepe thee from thy Cæsars sight.
Hee is thy servant, whom the world obeyes.
Poppæa.
Ah Otho, love can witnesse that this fortune
Was never sought by mee.
Otho.
Thou wert too great
A treasure for a privat man to keep.
No; live still happy with thy Cæsar here
And grant mee one request; if of that love
Which once wee vow'd so deare, there yet remaines
So small a part as may deserve the name
Of comon frendship, use thy power with Cæsar
My goverment may be continu'd long.
Poppæa.
Rather let mee intreate the contrary,
And keepe thee here at Rome.
Otho.
It must not bee.
Never while Nero lives, and lives with thee.
It must bee love no more, but frendship now
Twixt us Poppæa, which may still bee kept
In absence by good wishes, and without
Those nearer comforts which fond love requires.
But who shall teach mee to forget that sweet
Delicious lesson which loves schoole did teach,
When thy admired beauty was the booke,
And I a Scholler too too forward then?
Oh would great Cæsars power to cure my wound,
89
As losse of memory. but that, alas,
Were too unjust a cure, and I could wish
Rather to suffer still then quite forget
That I was once Poppæaes envi'd love.
I'll rather strive to solace my fick soul
With contemplation of past happinesse,
And by recounting ore our former joyes
Deceive those houres of sorrow I must passe.
Pop.
And I for comfort of our absent love
Will cherrish hopes that wee shall meet againe.
Oth.
No, thinke mee dead, bright love, and I'll enforce
My imagination to beleeve that thou
Translated by some amorous Deity
Hast left the earth to beautify the sky,
And turne Astronomer in love, to finde
Thy figure out among those radiant lights
Which Joves transformed Paramours have made.
'Mongst those I'll seeke for faire Poppæaes starre,
And sweare I see it, rather then beleeve
Thou liv'st on earth debarr'd from Otho's sight.
I must begin to part, I see; for thou
In modesty art loath to chide mee hence,
And bid mee quit the place. Farewell Poppæa.
Such height to hapinesse mayst thou enjoy
As Cæsars constant love can bring to thee
Pop.
As much good fortune follow Otho still
Tis power that parts us. all the Gods can tell
Exit Otho
How well I love thee Otho. but those Gods,
That have ordain'd another fate for mee
Must bee obey'd yet Nero must bee wrought
With cunning to my ends, or else my fortune
Is low and poore, my title nought at all.
Tis not the love of Cæsar, but the honour,
And that high title which attends his love
That is Poppæaes aime, Octavia
90
Is fierce, and keeps her sonne in Pupillage.
Enter Nero.
Nero.
Now faire Poppæa, thou art mine alone;
Otho's remov'd, embrace the happy change
That fortune brings thee, thou hast found instead
Of him, a Cæsar, who besides his state
Has brought a heart as true to thee, and love
As strong and fervents as poore Otho's was
Thou wert before a diamond coursly set,
A clouded starre. the Fates did pitty thee,
And would no longer let that beauty ly
Ecclippsed in a private family
No seat but Romes Imperiall throne, no sphære
But Cæsars armes were fit for these bright eyes
To shine in, and the subject world t'adore
Their lustre, like some constellation
New risen to amaze mortality.
Not Rome alone, but all the farthest shores
That Peleus silver-footed wife ere knew
Shall call Poppæa mistrrsse.
Poppæa.
Those are honours
Cæsar, too high, too great for mee to hope.
Nero.
To hope, my love, they are thine owne already.
Poppæa.
Cæsar, thou know'st it cannot bee; and I
That might have liv'd content with Otho's love;
And there enjoy'd the honour'd name of wife,
Must in the Palace find a baser stile.
Nero.
Thou wrong'st my power, Poppæa, if thou thinke
I cannot give the highest stile to thee:
And if thou thinke I meane it not, thou wrong'st
91
Poppæa.
Octavia is alive
No love of thine can beare Augustus state
But onely shee.
Nero.
Shee shall bee soon remov'd
To make a roome for faire Poppæaes honour.
Nor will the Senate dare to grumble at it.
Poppæa.
Though all were silent else, fierce Agrippina
Would in that act controll thee, and thinke mee
To meane for Cæsars wife, though I am sprung
(For I may speake a truth that Rome can witnesse)
From noble and triumphant Ancestors.
Nero.
There, love, thou strik'st upon the truest string.
That Agrippina was my greatest feare,
Though now shee is not; for I'll tell it thee,
If Anicetus stratagem have taken,
Ere this shee wanders on the Stygian shore.
Weary I was of her imperious pride,
And fear'd her cruell plots. How that succeedes
Ys now my greatest expectation.
Nor do I live till Anicetus come
And bring my safety in that womans death
Enter Anicetus.
Poppæa.
See, Anicetus is return'd
Nero.
Speake man,
What is my fate? thou carriest in thy voyce
The life and death of Cæsar
Anicetus.
Your command
Was done, great Cæsar, but your mother scap'd.
92
Escap'd? how could it bee, but you were false,
And all conspir'd together to betray
My life in saving hers? how could shee scape?
Anicetus.
Wee chose the night to act it in; but night,
Prov'd not so black as night; the starrs gave light,
No wind at all blew as wee lanched forth
Down in the Galley Agrippina lay,
And at her feet lay Aceronia
With joy discoursing of your curtesie,
And favour lately shew'd her, but when I
The watch-word gave, the covering of the place
Loaden with lead fell downe, and prest to death
Her servant Gallus. But when th'other part
By fortune stronger, broke not, nor the vessell
Was loos'd asunder, all beeing in amaze
The rowers straitway thought it best to weigh,
The galley at one side, and sinke her so
There Aceronia floating in the waves
Faining her selfe to bee the Empresse, cry'd
Helpe, helpe the Prince his mother. But the rowers
With poles, and oares straight kill'd her as shee swamme,
But Agrippina in a silence caus'd
By policy or feare, swamme to the banke,
Having received but one wound, and there
Succour'd by little barkes, through Lucrine lake
To her owne house was carryed at the last.
Nero.
Oh, I am lost and dead; I shall bee straight
Surpris'd and kill'd; shee'll arme her slaves, and stirre
The souldiers up, or to the Senate house
Complaine, and shew the wound shee has receiv'd
And tell the story there. What shall I doo?
Advise mee, my Poppæa, Anicetus,
But yet advise mee nothing but her death,
93
If Arippina. live, call Burrhus to mee;
Send forth the souldiers to dispach her straight.
Poppæa.
It is no action for a souldiers hand
Nor will the campe for brave Germanicus,
Her father's sake bee drawne to butcher her
Let Anicetus. finish the exploit
Hee has begunne.
Nero.
It must be so; go on
With thy religious act, good Anicetus.
Thou art obleig'd to finish it; or else
What thou hast done already, will procure
My ruine rather then security
Choose thee what aide thou wilt.
Anicetus.
I have them ready.
Feare it not Cæsar, Agrippinaes dead.
Nero.
Oh comfortable voice thou art the man
Thou only Anicetus, that bestow'st
The Empire upon Nero. to thy guift
I will acknowlegd it, and celebrate
This as my day of coronation.
What plot shall wee invent to hide the deede,
And put th'intent of murder upon her?
To bring you newes of her escape, I'll finde
A way to doo't, tis strange none yet come from her.
See Agerinus comes
Enter Agerinus.
Agerinus.
All health to Cæsar
Augusta by the favour of the Gods
Has lately scap'd a strange and wounderfull
Danger at Sea.
Ani.
Cæsar when any of her servants come
94
Anicetus lets fall a ponyard behinde Agerinus.
In Cæsars presence, Agerinus?
Nero.
Treason.
Shee sends to murder mee; dragge hence the slave,
And torture him to death.
Agerinus.
I am as free
From guilt in this as innocence it selfe.
Nero.
Hence with the villaine to his death, and thou
Deare Anicetus, forward with thy plot.
Exeunt
Agrippina, brought in by Mnester, and Seleucus, shee sits.
Agripina.
Leave mee alone; but bee not farre from mee.
Exeunt.
Who would rely upon the gratitude
Of men? or trust the fruit of benefits,
That now behold, or shall hereafter reade
My wofull fortune? I, that have bestow'd
What ere the world containes, to bee possest
By impious Nero, in reward, expect
Nothing but bloody death twas too too true
That strange deceitfull galley was a plot
An impious engine made to murder mee,
As by the fiercenesse of the slaves, my wound,
And Aceroniaes death it did appeare.
Can I expect that Nero should relent?
Or that the tyrant in a brothers blood
Embrew'd already, should not rather thinke
No mischeife can bee safe till fully done?
Oh had his thoughts beene good, had my escape
Beene gratefull to him, all the house ere this
With visitants, and clients had been fill'd
To aske and see how Cæsars mother did
Where now are all the hailes the bended knees,
95
That strove in honoring Agrippinaes name?
Vanish'd alas, and nought but solitude,
Ill-boding silence, and neglect remaine
In this forsaken Palace. But too soone
Ay mee, I feare the approach of vilany.
What noise is that at doore! where are my servants?
Mnester, Seleucus, Galla, Xenophon.
No answer made! are they departed too!
Then vanish all my hopes false world farewell
With all thy fading glories. But alas,
Whither from hence shall Agrippina fly?
What regions are there in the other world
But my injustice has already fill'd
With wronged Ghosts? there young Silanus wanders,
Lollia Paullina and great Claudius
My murdred Lord, yet those sad spirits perchance
Abhorring Nero's base ingratitude,
And glutted with revenge, will cease to hate
At last, and pitty Agrippinas state.
Enter Anicetus, Oloaritus, and others
Ay mee, is Anicetus, come againe?
Then I am dead past hope, murder, helpe, help
Anicetus.
You guesse our businesse right but tis in vaine
To call for helpe, your guards are farre enough.
Agrippina.
Oh hold your hands a while; heare mee but speake
Consider with your selves before you act
A deed so execrable as will stick
A lasting brand on your abhorred names.
This murder will bee famous through the world.
All men will fly your hated company.
Like birds of night shall you for ever hide
Youre guilty heads; or, which is worse then that,
Nero himselfe, who did command the deede,
96
And quit himselfe by punishing of you.
O rather venter Neros frowne, and keepe
Your innocence.
Anicetus.
Can they bee innocent,
That disobey their Prince his will?
Agrippina.
But sure
You did mistake the Prince. I am his mother.
Twas I that gave him birth; nay more, that put
Into his hand the scepter of the world.
Could hee command my death?
Anicetus.
Wee did not stand
Examining the cause.
Agrippina.
Then strike this wombe
This tragicall, and ever cursed wombe,
That to the ruine of mankinde brought forth
That monster Nero, here, here take revenge.
Here Justice bids you strike. let these sad wounds
Serve to appease the hatred of the earth
'Gainst Agrippina for dire Nero's birth.
shee dyes.
FINIS.
| The Tragedy of Julia Agrippina ; Empresse of Rome | |