 | The Tragedy of Julia Agrippina ; Empresse of Rome |  |
4
Act. I.
Scen. I.
Pallas, Vitellius, Pollio.Pallas.
Now is the time noble Vitellius,
For you, and you most honour'd Pollio,
To make that service you have done compleat
To royall Agrippina; briefly thus:
The two commanders o'th' Prætorian campe
Crispinus Rufus, and that Lucius Geta
Must be displac'd, and some of neerer trust
To her designes advanced in their roome,
Or else our power will nere be full, they love
Britannicus too well, this is the thing
The Empresse wishes; let your eloquence
And wisdome further it in Cæsar's eare.
Vitelli.
Feare us not Pallas; but what successes;
Have wee to take their charge?
Pallas.
One must take all.
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Of two commanders, and so take from Cæsar
All jealousie of the plot.
Pollio.
Who shall it be?
Pallas.
Burrhus Afranius a wise valiant man,
Belov'd and honour'd by the souldiers.
None can except against him, and the change
Will not displease the campe: nor can his merit
Make him lesse thankfull to her; knowing well,
'Twas in her power to make it otherwise.
But the advancing of such able men
As Seneca and Burrhus will take off
All envy from the Empresse and our selves.
Then wee with praise have wrought our purposes,
And made our party strong, while Seneca
Shall sway the Senate, Burrhus rule the campe
To her designes: but I'le presume no farther
T'instruct your wisedomes, or much lesse to doubt
Your true affections to the state and honour
Of Agrippina, who will then have power
To make more large requitall to her friends,
In which most high and happy ranke, you two
Are chiefly seated: shee acknowledges
Her selfe indebted to your eloquence
Noble Vitellius, who in Senate lately
You proov'd her marriage lawfull and being Censor,
Depos'd Silenus from his Prætorship,
Who should have married young Octavia.
To you, brave Pollio, whose perswasions
Have beene the cause young Nero now enjoyes
That happy marriage, which Silanus lost.
But most of all shee ow'd to both your paines.
In causing Cæsar to adopt her Nero.
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'Twas hard to worke at first. Cæsar stuck at it,
Alledging that the Claudian family
Never adopted any, and besides
When Lucius Geta and Crispinus Rufus
In love they bore to young Britannicus
Told him that that adoption to the world
Would bee ridiculous: by president
Wee did refute it, shewing how Tiberius
Having a Sonne and Nephew both alive,
Adopted th'issue of Germanions.
Pallas.
My Lords, 'twas nobly carryed; this designe
That now wee have in hand, though not so hard
To worke, will prove as advantageous.
Bee you with Cæsar; I'le goe satisfie
The Empresse of your loves.
Vitellius., Pollio.
Farewell brave Pallas.
Exeunt Vitel. & Pol.
Pallas.
Farewell my Lords. Goe flattering Senatours,
Goe use your best perswasive eloquence,
Whilest I alone upon your envie rise,
Whilest I injoy in Agrippinaes love
The fruit of your obsequious diligence.
What though my birth be humble, and my stile
But one of Cæsars freed-men, though I boast not
Patritian blood, nor in my galleries
Display old ranks of nose-lesse ancestours,
Or eare-cropt images, if I enjoy
What ever high Nobility can give
Respect and power: the state can witnesse it.
The Senate feare mee, and in flattery
Have su'd to Cæsar to conferre on mee
Prætorian and Quæstorian ornaments.
Which I at last vouchsafed to accept.
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The noblest of that order; men whose names
Old Rome has boasted of, whose vertues rais'd
Her to that envi'd height that now she holds.
Their murders stupid Cæsar rather chose
To take upon himselfe, then question mee.
Let dull Patricians boast their aëry titles,
And count me base, whilest I commend their lives,
And for the furtherance of my high intents,
Make noblest men my hated instruments.
Enter Narcissus.
But ha! Narcissus? yes; there comes a man
That was my rivall once, whom I fear'd more
Then all the Lords of Rome, my fellow free'd man,
That knew our wayes of power; that not the Senate,
But Cæsars chamber did command the world,
And rule the fate of men: but Fortune's turn'd,
And he not worth my regard or feare.
In mastring him I feele my greatest strength
exit
Narcissus.
Not looke upon mee! am I fall'n so low?
Did I in equall place with this proud man,
Nay farre above him, sway the state, and rule
Great Cæsar's heart, while Messallina liv'd,
And was not there content (Oh punishment
Of my ambitious aimes) but caus'd the death
Of that loose Empresse to bring in th'expulst
Aelia Petina, and instead of her
Have let this Tygresse Agrippina in
This dragon spirit to devour us all
Except proud Pallas her adulterer?
What unavoided dangers every way
Threaten this life? For if young Nero reigne,
I dye, that sought to crosse his mothers match:
If ere Britannicus do reigne, I dye
That caus'd his mothers death. What shall I doo?
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The innocent goodnesse of Britannicus
Then Agrippinaes feirce and cruell nature;
Nor can I hope more goodnesse from her sonne.
That may give longer respite to my feare.
Besides it beares the greater shew of justice,
And honest service to my Roiall Master.
Since wee must fall, it is some happinesse
To fall the honest way, if wee may call
That honesty at all, or reall vertue
To which necessity enforces us,
And wee by fortune not election practise.
Enter Geta, Crispinus.
Here comes two freinds of young Britannicus;
Haile Lucius Geta, haile Crispinus Rufus.
Geta.
Narcissus haile.
Narcissus,
Brave Romans your are come
Fitly to ease my overburden'd breast
Of weighty thoughts, which I dare freely trust
Vnto your noble eares.
Geta.
You may Narcissus
Trust truth with us.
Crispinus.
Or any honest secret.
Geta.
What is't you would with us?
Narcissus.
You know my Lords,
(And I must needs confesse) I was a meanes
Of Messalinaes death; but all the Gods
Can witnesse with mee how unwillingly
I lent a hand to that sad action;
And but for Cæsar's safety, which I prize
Above my life and fortunes, and which then
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Nought in the world could ere have moov'd mee to it.
Crispinus.
What hence would you inferre?
Narcissus.
Then Know my Lords,
How little I respect my private ends
To doe the publike service, and can loose
My selfe for Cæsars good: it may be thought
When the most hopefull Prince Britannicus
Shall weare that wreath which all the world adores,
To me it may be fatall, as a foe
Vnto his mother: but I rather wish
My selfe for ever lost, then that brave Prince
Should not succeed his father.
Geta.
How! succeed?
What feare is there of that?
Crispinus.
What power on earth,
Can barre his right, whilest wee command the campe?
I'de rather see (which all the Gods avert)
Rome rent againe with civill broiles, then hee
Should loose unjustly the Imperiall throne.
Narcissus.
Y'are true and Noble friends; and here I vow
To joyne with you, and use my uttermost power
T'advance the honour of Britannicus.
Crispinus.
What danger threatens it?
Narcissus.
Doe you not know
To whom the Sonne of Agrippina's married;
Crispinus.
Yes.
Narcissus.
And that honor were enough for him.
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And that his crafty Mother did not cast
A way for him to the succession.
Crispinus.
'Twas strangely done of Cæsar I confesse.
Narcissus.
They make the faction strong, and cunningly
Encrease the traine of Nero, and displace
The faithfull servants af Britannicus.
Wise Seneca's recall'd from banishment
By Agrippinaes meanes, not for the love
Shee beares his vertue; but to make him hers,
That Seneca's authority may gaine
The peoples love to her ambitious sonne,
Of whose young yeares hee takes tuition.
Crispinus.
I think no lesse.
Geta.
Besides to make the match
For her young Nero with Octavia.
Noble Silanus dy'd, who might have proov'd
A faithfull propto Claudius family.
Narcissus.
In blood that fatall marriage was begun,
I feare the Omen; Agrippina's feirce
And cruell nature has too much been seene
In this short time. Lollia Paulina, Neece
To Cotta Messalinus, and late wife
To Caius Cæsar, for no other cause
Then aiming once at Claudius marriage
Is banish'd Italy; her goods are seiz'd,
And but five millions of Sesterces left her
Of all her great estate; but there the malice
Of this fell woman stayes not: now wee heare
A Tribune is dispatch'd away, to kill
The banish'd Lady, and bring back her head.
Crispinus.
Oh barbarous cruelty!
11
Yet more I feare,
Since her Domitius is adopted now.
I feare shee'll shortly aime at higher blood.
Geta.
Wee'll guard the life of young Britannicus.
Narcissus.
And I'll be vigilant for Cæsar's safety.
When all her ends are wrought, his death is next.
Enter Britannicus.
Geta.
Here comes the youthfull hope of Rome and us.
Britanicus.
Tell mee, my friends, am not I Cæsar's sonne?
Crispinus.
My Lord, who dares to question it?
Britannicus.
I'm sure,
I was his eldest sonne, and whilest I liv'd
I thought that Cæsar had not lack'd an heire
But I at last have found an elder brother,
Domitius is adopted Cæsar's sonne
His name is Nero now. I cannot tell
What is my fault.
Geta.
Excellent youth, how much
Beyond his yeeres hee apprehends his wrongs?
Crispinus.
Feare not sweet Prince, though Agrippinas sonne
Bee two yeere elder then your selfe, the Senate
Will never judge that an adopted Sonne
Shall in succession bee preferr'd before
The true and naturall heire.
Britannicus.
You ever lov'd mee,
Pray doe so still.
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While wee have breath, my Lord,
you shall command our lives.
Crispinus.
How unawares
Has feeble Cæsar wrought a snare to catch
His own unhappy life in! grow sweet prince,
Grow up to strengthen the Imperiall house,
And Curbe the furious malice of thy foes.
Enter Nero, Pallas.
Nero.
Brother Britannicus haile.
Britannicus.
Haile to you
Domitius Anobarbus.
Nero.
Doe you scorne
My salutation, or not know my name?
Britannicus.
That was your fathers name; and why not yours?
Nero.
How's that? Proud boy.
Exeunt Brit. & reliqui.
Pallas.
Well, let them goe, my Lord.
'Twas not the braine of young Britannicus
That could give birth to this minurious scorne,
Though for his yeeres, the boy be capable.
But riper heads then his: there went his counsell
Crispinus Rufus, and that Lucius Geta,
Who swell the youth with boasting hopes, and thinke
Their power can give protection to his pride.
I'le make them see their errour, and perceive,
One breath of mine can blow them from their strengths.
This newes I'll beare to Agrippina straight.
Come Prince; Britannicus shall find anon
What feeble props his pride has lean'd upon.
Exeunt.
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Agrippina.
You are my Judges.
Seneca.
Your poore servants, Madam.
Agrippina.
Nay that must be your office; you have read
My Commentaries over, and I looke for
A faithfull censure: I am sure, my Lords,
You have both learning able to discerne,
And such integritie as will not flatter.
Speake Seneca; I see they looke on you:
How doe you like them?
Seneca.
Royall Agrippina,
Such, and so good they bee, that ablest men
May boldly speake, and not offend the truth,
Nor you at all; the stile is full and Princely.
Vitellius.
Stately and absolute, beyond what ere
These eyes have seene; and Rome, whose majestie
Is there describ'd, in after times shall owe
For her memoriall to your learned pen,
More then to all those fading monuments
Built with the riches of the spoiled world.
When rust shall eate her brasse, when times strong hand
Shall bruise to dust her marble Palaces,
Triumphall Arches, Pillars, Obeliskes,
When Julius Temple, Claudius Aquæducts,
Agrippa's Baths, and Pompey's Theater,
Nay Rome it selfe shall not be found at all,
Historians books shall live; those strong records,
Those deathlesse monuments alone shall shew
What, and how great the Roman Empire was.
Pollio.
The act is Noble; not the present world
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(As for her gratious government it does)
But future ages shall acknowledge more
To the rich labours of her Royall pen.
Agrippina.
The wisest Princes never sought to raise
Their present state alone, but to preserve
Themselves immortall by an endlesse fame.
For memory of mee, besides these bookes,
If that our Augures faile not in their skill,
Or flatter not, that German Colony,
Which I of late deducted o're the Rhine
To Ubium, for evermore the name
Of Agrippinaes Colony shall beare.
Vitellius.
That act, though great, declares your power alone,
Your wealth and greatnesse: but these learned bookes
Expresse your wisedome, and for these you owe
Nothing at all to Fortune.
Agrippina.
Thus I meane
To spend all time which from affaires of state,
And businesse of our Empire can be spar'd.
Seneca.
Is she already turn'd our Emperour?
Agrippina.
Those wretches have too narrow soules, who thinke
That persons great and eminent in state
Can spare no time to purchase fame by writing,
But what they steale from action and imployment,
As if no mind were large enough for both.
Who was more full of action, and more fit
To rule, nay rule the world, then Julius Cæsar?
Yet he was of my mind.
Seneca.
Oh strange male spirit!
Can there be found no other parallell
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Agrippina.
Yet Julius was too blame, hee toild too much
To get his honour, and too much debarr'd
His nature the free use of Princely pleasures.
Sure Lucius Sylla had an ample minde;
Tis Syllaes Character, that Salust gives him,
A free and great enjoyer of his pleasures,
Yet how industrious his actions speake,
Hee found fit time to rule the Romane world,
And write both Greeke and Latine Commentaries.
Seneca.
The soules of Sylla and of Cæsar both
I thinke have enter'd her.
Agrippina.
Well worthy friends,
You doe approve my way of writing then.
Seneca.
Yes gracious Madam; and because you nam'd
Great Julius to us, I was thinking now
That as in blood, so in your stiles of writing
There was some neerenesse.
Agrippina.
Seneca, I thanke you;
But I confesse your positive approbation
Pleas'd mee as well as that comparison.
Seneca.
Does not your Majestie esteeme his booke?
Agrippina.
Indifferent well; a good loose carelesse way.
I thinke directly with Asinius Pollio,
Had Cæsar liv'd, hee would have mended it;
The man had farre more in him then that shewes.
Seneca.
Yet under favour, Madam, some have thought
Those Commentaryes hardly could be mended,
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Free from affected words, and from all glosse
Or dresse of Oratory, as in stead
Of leading others in a way to write,
It quite discourages the ablest men.
So Hirtius thought, and that fam'd Cicero,
The greatest master of Romes eloquence.
Agrippina.
Are those your authors then? that Hirtius
Was Cæsars servant partiall in his heart,
Or else hee flatter'd him; for Cicero,
They were so farre out of his tedious straine,
Hee could not censure them.
Seneca.
Yet able men
Can truly censure of another stile
Then what themselves have us'd.
Agrippina.
Hee was not able,
No, not in Oratory; had I rul'd
Rome and her Senate then, as now I doe,
Not all th'Orations that e're Cicero
Made in the Senate, should have sav'd one haire
Of an offendour, or condemn'd a Mouse.
Vitellius.
How confident shee is in censuring!
Seneca.
I am amaz'd: but let her have her way.
Forgive my silence noble Cicero;
Here thy defence is vaine; but what I spare,
The tongues of all posterity shall speake.
Enter Pallas, Tribune.
Pallas.
The Tribune, Madam, is return'd and brings
Lollia Paulinaes head.
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Let him come in.
Tribune.
Your pleasure, great Augusta, is perform'd.
Agrippina.
Let me peruse this face: ha! 'tis much chang'd.
Her teeth shall make me sure, they did not grow
Dio.
The common way; I am confirm'd; 'tis shee.
Reward him Pallas.
Tribune.
The Gods preserve
Augusta Agrippina.
Agrippina.
O pale death,
Thou mock of beauty, and of greatnesse too:
Was this the face, that once in Cæsar's love
Was Agrippinaes rivall, and durst hope
As much 'gainst mee, as my unquestion'd power
Has wrought on her? Was this that beautie, once
That wore the riches of the world about it?
For whose attire, all lands, all seas were search'd,
All creatures rob'd? This! This was that Paulina,
Whom Cajus Cæsar serv'd, whom Rome ador'd
And the world feared.
Seneca.
Such a sight mee 'thinks
Should make her sadly thinke of humane frailty.
Agrippina.
Take hence the head, least in her death shee gaine
A greater conquest o're mee, then her life
Could ever doe, to make me shed a teare.
I would not wrong the justice I have done
So much as to lament it now: You know
My friends, shee had a spirit dangerous.
And though my nature could have pardon'd her,
Reason of state forbade it, which then told mee
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Seneca.
Would shee had such a nature! but 'tis now
Too late to give her counsell.
Pallas.
So letall
That dare contest with Agrippina, fall.
Enter servant.
Servant.
Cæsar is come to visite you.
Agrippina.
Now friends,
Vitellius, Pollio, Pallas second mee.
Enter Cæsar, Antistius.
Cæsar.
How fares my Agrippina?
Agrippina.
Wondrous well,
When I am blest with Cæsars company.
Cæsar.
That shall be oft, my love, when Romes affaires,
And publike businesse will give me leave.
Agrippina.
I would partake my selfe of those affaires,
Rather then want your presence
Pallas.
I beleeve it.
Cæsar.
Thou shalt; 'tis onely for thy dearest sake
I love my fortunes, thy sweet fellowship
Makes light the burthen of my government.
Agrippina.
To ease great Cæsars care, shall ever bee
The height of my desires: before you came
My heart was sad. I sent for these my friends
T'impart the reason to them.
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Sad; for what?
Agrippina.
Weighing the troubles of a Princely state,
And all the dangers that still threaten it.
Cæsar.
Dangers!
Pallas.
Shee strikes upon the fittest string;
No passion reignes in him so much as feare.
Agrippina.
Wee were devising of the fittest meanes
To give your state security: you know
Your strongest guard is the Prætorian campe.
Cæsar.
Most true.
Agrippina.
That campe commanded now by two,
May be by Captaines too ambitious strife
Divided into factions, and so made
Lesse serviceable, should your safety need them.
Vitellius.
Cæsar remembers when that bold attempt
Of Silius was, how the Prætorian campe
Was by their generall strife in mutiny,
And had not one been chosen for that day
To rule them all, Cæsar had not been safe.
Pollio.
Wise men in calmes provide for stormes to come.
None knowes how dangerous the times may prove,
Though now the state be safe, and may the Gods
To Cæsar's honor long preserve it so.
Seneca.
What new designe is this, that all of them
aside.
Second so readily, and I was not
Acquainted with it? If't prove mischievous,
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Agrippina.
Burrhus Afranius is a worthy man,
Fit for the place, and faithfull, well-belov'd
By all the souldiers: such a change, my Lord,
None can except against: Let him take all.
Seneca.
What ere her ends may bee, this proposition
For noble Burrhus sake, I must approve.
Cæsar.
'Tis true, my love, I make no question
Of Burrhus worth, and fitnesse for the place:
But what offence have Geta and Crispinus
Been e're accus'd of? Or what just suspitions
Are there of them?
Agrippina.
I will not be unjust,
To accuse guiltlesse men, although I price
Thy safety, Cæsar, equall to my life
I know no crimes of note they have committed.
Vitellius.
Cæsar, it is no losse to them at all;
They both have plentious fortunes to retire to.
Pollio.
And in so neere a cause, who dares examine
Great Cæsar's counsells, or enquire the reason?
Agrippina.
Shall Burrhus have it Cæsar? speake thy pleasure.
Or if my care offend, I shall hereafter
Forbeare to meddle.
Cæsar.
No, sweet Agrippina;
Since thou wilt have it so; goe Pallas, draw
The warrant straight, and seale it in our name:
Let Geta and Crispinus be remoov'd,
And Burrhus take possession presently.
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Sent from Ostorius Scapula, and late
Arriv'd at Rome, shall be in publike shew'd.
There thou shalt see that brave Barbarian Prince,
That bold Caractacus, whose stubborne spirit
So many yeares contemn'd the Roman power.
Hee now is taken.
Pollio.
'Twas a victory
Sent from the Gods to honor Claudius reigne.
Agrippina.
Had he been basely taken, or at first
Yeelded himselfe, as hee had got no honour,
But been forgotten in his fall, and nought
Had e're been mention'd of him but his death:
So had thy glory Cæsar been farre lesse.
Vitellius.
Not warre-like Syphax the Numidian King,
Stubborne Jugurtha, nor great Perseus
Ere brought to Rome by their captivity
More reall honour then this Britane Prince.
Cæsar.
Nor doe wee price our name Brittannicus
Fetch'd from that Iland, lesse then Scipio
His honour'd name of Africanus priz'd.
Pollio.
Thy stile, O Cæsar, is the greater farre
Drawne from the conquest of another world,
Which nature ment by enterposing cold
And stormy seas, to guard from Latian armes.
Vitellius.
Great Julius Cæsar did but only shew
That land to us, whose conquest was reserv'd
By heavens decree to honour Claudius name.
Agrippina.
Cæsar, let's sit together; one Tribunall
22
Cæsar.
It shall bee so, my love,
Thou, as my selfe, shalt pardon or condemne.
| The Tragedy of Julia Agrippina ; Empresse of Rome | |