University of Virginia Library

Actus quartus.

Scena prima.

Enter Marke Anthonie, Lepidus, Octauius, Flaccus, Senators.
Octa.
What helpes my Lords to ouerhale these cares?
What meanes or motions may these mischiefs end?
You see how Cynna that should succor Rome,
Hath leuied armes to bring a traitor in.
O worthlesse traitor, woe to thine and thee,
That thus disquieteth both Rome and vs.

Anth:
Octauius these are scourges for our sinnes,
These are but ministers to heape our plagues:
These mutinies are gentle meanes and waies,
VVhereby the heavns our heauie errors charmes,
Then with content and humbled eyes behold
The christall shining globe of glorious Ioue:
And since we perish through our owne misdeedes,
Go let vs flourish in our frutefull praiers.

Lepid:
Midst these confusions mighty men of Rome,
VVhy wast we out these troubles all in words,
VVeepe not your harmes, but wend we straight to armes,
Loe Distia spoyld, see Marius at our gate:
And shall we die like milksops dreaming thus?

Octa:
A bootles warre to see our countrey spoild.

Lep:
Fruteles is dalliance whereas dangers bee.

Anth:
My Lord, may courage wait on conquered men?

Lep:
I euen in death most courage doth appeare.

Octa:
Then waiting death I meane to seate me here:
Hoping that Consulls name and feare of lawes,
Shall iustifie my conscience and my cause.
Enter a messenger.
Now sirrha, what confused lookes are these,
VVhat tidings bringest thou of dreriment?

Messen:
My Lords, the Consull Cynna with his frends
Haue let in Marius by Via Appia,
VVhose souldiers wast and murther all they meete,
VVho with the Consull and his other frends
VVith expedition hasteth to this place.

Anth:
Then to the downfall of my happines,
Then to the ruine of this Citie Rome.
But if mine inward ruth were laid in sight,
My streames of teares should drowne my foes despight.

Octa:
Courage Lord Anthony, if Fortune please,
She will and can these troubles soone appease.
But if her backward frownes approch vs me,
Resolue with vs with honor for to die.

Lep:
No storme of fate shall bring my sorrowes downe,
But if that Fortune list, why let her frowne.

Anth:
VVhere state's opprest by cruell tyrants bee,
Old Anthony, there is no place for thee.
Drum strike within:
Harke, by this thundring noyse of threatning drums,
Marius with all his faction hether comes.

Enter Marius, his Sonne, Cynna, Cethegus, Lectorius with souldiers: vpon sight of whom Marke Anthony presently flies.
Octa:
Then like a traitor he shall know ere long,
In leuying armes he doth his countrey wrong.

Marius pa:
And haue we got the goale of honor now,
And in despight of Consulls entred Rome?
Then rouze thee Marius, leaue thy ruthfull thoughts:
And for thy manie toiles and cares sustaind,
Afflict thy foes with twice as many paines.
Goe souldiers seeke out Bebius and his frends,
Attilius, Munitorius with the rest,
Cut off their heads, for they did crosse me once:
And if your care can compasse my decree,
Remember that same fugitiue Marke Anthony,
VVhose fatall end shall be my frutefull peace.
I tell thee Cynna, nature armeth beasts
With iust reuenge, and lendeth in their kindes
Sufficient warlike weapons of defence:
If then by nature beasts reuenge their wrong,
Both heauens and nature grant me vengeance now.
Yet whilst I liue and sucke this subtill aire
That lendeth breathing coolenes to my lights,
The register of all thy righteous acts,
Thy paines, thy toiles, thy trauells for my sake,
Shall dwell by kinde impressions in my hart,
And I with linkes of true vnfained lone
VVill locke these Romane fauorites in my brest,
And liue to hazard life for their releefe.

Cyn:
My Lord, your safe and swift returne to Rome,
Makes Cynna fortunate and well appaid,
Who through the false suggestions of my foes,
VVas made a coffer of a Consull here:
Lo where he sits commanding in his throne,
That wronged Marius, me, and all these Lords.

Mar: iu:
To quite his loue, Cynna let me alone.
How fare these Lords that lumping pouting proud
Imagine how to quell me with their lookes.
No welcome sirs, is Marius thought so base?
VVhy stand you looking babies in my face?
VVho welcomes mee, him Marius makes his frend:
VVho lowres on mee, him Marius meanes to end.

Flaccus:
Happie and fortunate thy returne to Rome.

Lepidus:
And long Marius liue with fame in Rome.

Marius:
I thanke you curteous Lords that are so kinde.

Mar: iu:
But why endures your Grace that brauing mate
To sit and face vs in his roabes of state.

Mar: pa:
My sonne he is a Consull at the least,
And grauitie becomes Octauius best.
But Cynna would in yonder emptie seat,
You would for Marius freedome once intreate.

Cynna presseth vp, and Octauius staieth him.
Octa:
Auant thou traitor, proud and insolent,
How darest thou presse nere ciuill gouernment.

Mar:
VVhy Master Consull, are you growne so hot?
Ile haue a present cooling card for you.
Be therefore well aduisde, and moue me not:
For though by you I was exilde from Rome,
And in the desart from a Princes seate
Left to bewaile ingratitudes of Rome.
Though I haue knowne your thirstie throates haue longd
To baine their selues in my distilling blood.
Yet Marius Sirs, hath pitie ioynd with powre:
Loe here the Imperiall Ensigne which I wield,
That waueth mercie to my wishers well:
And more see here the dangerous trote of warre,
That at the point is steeld with ghastly death.

Octa:
Thou exile, threatnest thou a Consull then?
Lictors, goe draw him hence: such brauing mates,
Are not to boast their armes in quiet states.

Marius:
Go draw me hence. VVhat no relent Octauius?

Mar: iu:
My Lord what hart indurate with reuenge,
Could leaue this lossell, threatning murther thus?
Vouchsafe me leaue to taint that traitors seate
VVith flowing streames of his contagious blood.

Octa:
The fathers sonne, I know him by his talke,
That scolds in words when fingers cannot walke.
But Ioue I hope will one day send to Rome
The blessed Patron of this Monarchie,
VVho will reuenge iniustice by his sword.

Cynna:
Such brauing hopes, such cursed arguments,
So strict command, such arrogant controwles.
Suffer me Marius, that am Consull now,
To doo thee iustice, and confound the wretch.

Mar: pat:
Cynna, you know I am a priuate man,
That still submit my censures to your will.

Cynna:
Then souldiers draw this traitor from the throne,
And let him die, for Cynna wills it so.

Mar: iu:
I now my Cynna, noble Consull speakes,
Octauius, your checkes shall cost you deare.

Octa:
And let me die for Cynna wills it so?
Is then the reuerence of this robe contemnnd?
Are these associates of so small regard?
VVhy then Octauius willingly consents,
To entertaine the sentence of his death.
But let the proudest traitor worke his will,
I feare no strokes, but here will sit me still.
Since iustice sleepes, since tyrants raigne in Rome,
Octauius longs for death to die for Rome.

Cyn:
Then strike him where he sits, then hale him hence.

A souldier stabs him, he is caried away.
Octa:
Heauens punish Cynnas pride and thy offence.

Cynna:
Now is he falne that threatned Marius,
Now will I sit and plead for Marius.

Mar: pat:
Thou doost me iustice Cynna, for you see
These peeres of Rome haue late exiled mee.

Lepid:
Your Lordship doth iniustice to accuse
Those who in your behalfe did not offend.

Flace.
VVe grieue to see the aged Marius
Stand like a priuate man in view of Rome.

Cyn:
Then bid him sit, and loe an emptie place,
Reuoke his exile, firme his gouernment,
And so preuent your farther detriment.

Lepid:
VVe will accompt both Marius and his frends,
His sonne and all his followers free in Rome:
And since we see the dangerous times at hand,
And here of Scillas confidence and hast,
And know his hate and rancor to these Lords,
And him create for Consull to preuent
The policies of Scilla and his frends.

Cyn:
Then both confirmd by state and full consent,
The rods and axe to Marius I present,
And here inuest thee with the Consulls pall.

Flaccus:
Long, fortunate and happie life betide
Old Marius in his seuenfold Consulship.

Mar: iu:
And so let Marius liue and gouerne Rome,
As cursed Scilla neuer looke on Rome.

Marius pat:
Then placde in Consuls throne, you Romane states
He takes his seate.
Recald from banishment by your decrees,
Enstald in this imperiall seate to rule,
Old Marius thankes his frends and fauorites:
From whom this finall fauor he requires,
That seeing Scilla by his murthrous blade
Brought fierce seditions first to head in Rome,
And forced lawes to banish innocents:
I craue by course of reason and desert,
That he may be proclaimd as earst was I,
A traitor and an enemie of Rome:
Let all his frends be banisht out of towne:
Then cutting off the branch where troubles spring,
Rome shall haue peace and plentie in her walls.

Cynn:
In equitie it needes must be my frends,
That one be guiltie of our common harmes:
And since that Marius is accounted free,
Scilla with all his frends must traitors bee.

Mar: iu:
My fathers reasons Romanes are of force:
For if you see and liue not too secure,
You know that in so great a state as this,
Two mightie foes can neuer well agree.

Lepid:
Then let vs seeke to please our Consull first,
And then prepare to keep the exile out.
Cynna, as Marius and these Lords agree,
Firme this Edict, and let it passe for mee.

Cynnn:
Then Romanes, in the name of all this state,
I here proclaime and publish this decree:
That Scilla with his frends, allies and all,
Are banisht exiles, traitors vnto Rome.
And to extinguish both his name and state,
VVe will his house be raced to the ground,
His goods confiscate: this our censures is.
Lictors proclaime this in the market place,
And see it executed out of hand.

Exit Lictor.
Mar: pat:
Now see I Senators, the thought, the care,
The vertuous zeale that leads your toward mindes,
To loue your frends and watch your common good:
And now establisht Consull in this place,
Old Marius will foresee aduenient harmes:
Scilla the scourge of Asia as we heare
Is prest to enter Italie with sword,
He comes in pompe to triumph here in Rome,
But Senators you know the wauering wills,
Of foolish men I meane the common sort,
VVho through report of innouations,
Or flattering humors of well tempred tongues,
VVill change and draw a second mischiefe on:
I like your care, and will my selfe apply
To aime and leuell at my countries weale.
To intercept these errors by aduice,
My sonne yong Marius, Cethegus and my frends,
Shall to Preneste to preuent and stop
The speedie purpose of our forward foe.
Meane while our selues will fortifie this towne,
This beautie of the world, this maiden towne,
VVhere streaming Tybris with a pleasant tyde,
Leads out the stately buildings of the world.
Marius my hope, my sonne, you know your charge,
Take those Iberian legions in your traine,
And we will spare some Cymbrians to your vse,
Remember thou art Marius sonne, and dreame
On nought but honor and a happie death.

Mar: iu:
I go my Lord in hope to make the world
Report my seruice, and my dutie too,
And that proud challenger of Asia,
Shall finde that Marius sonne hath force and wit.

Exit cum Cethego.
Marius pat:
Goe thou as fortunate as Greekes to Troy
As glorious as Alcides in thy toiles,
As happie as Sertorius in thy fight,
As valiant as Achilles in thy might.
Go glorious, valiant, happie, fortunate.
As all those Greekes and him of Romane state.

Enter led in with souldiers Cornelia and Fuluia.
Corn:
Traitors why drag you thus a Princes wife,
As if that beautie were a thrall to fate.
Are Romanes growen more barbarous than Greekes,
That hale more greater than Cassandra now?
The Macedonian Monarch was more kinde,
That honored and relieud in warlike campe
Darius mother, daughters and his wife,
But you vnkinde to Romane Ladies now,
Perhaps as constant as the Asian Queenes,
For they subdude had frendship in disgrace,
VVhere we vnconquered liue in wofull case.

Mar:
VVhat plaintiffe pleas presents that Ladie there?
VVhy souldiers, make you prisners here in Rome?

1 Soul:
Dread Consulls, we haue found Cornelia here,
And Scillas daughter posting out of towne.

Marius:
Ladies of worth, both beautifull and wise,
But nere allied vnto my greatest foe:
Yet Marius minde that neuer ment disgrace,
More likes their courage than their comely face.
Are you Cornelia Madame, Scillas wife?

Corn:
I am Cornelia Scillas wife: what ther?

Marius:
And is this Fuluia Scillas daughter too?

Fuluia:
And this is Fuluia Scillas daughter too.

Mar: pat:

Two welcome guests, in whom the maiestie
of my conceit and courage must consist:

VVhat thinke you Senators and countrimen?
See here are two the fairest starres of Rome,
The deerest dainties of my warlike foe,
VVhose liues vpon your censures doo consist.

Lepid:
Dread Consull the continuance of their liues,
Shall egge on Scilla to a greater hast.
And in bereauing of their vitall breath,
Your grace shall force more furie from your foe:
Of these extreames we leaue the choice to you.

Mar:
Then thinke that some strange fortune shall insue.

Ful:
Poore Fuluia, now thy happie daies are done,
In steed of marriage pompe, the fatall lights
Of funeralls must maske about thy bed.
Nor shall thy fathers armes with kinde embrace
Hem in thy shoulders trembling now for feare.
I see in Marius lookes such tragedies,
As feare my hart, and fountaines fills mine eyes.

Corn:
Fie Fuluia, shall thy fathers daughter faint
Before the threats of dangers shall approach?
Drie vp those teares, and like a Romane maid,
Be bold and silent till our foe haue said.

Marius:
Cornelia wife vnto my traitor foe?
VVhat gadding mood hath forst thy speedie flight,
To leaue thy country, and forsake thy frends?

Corn:
Accursed Marius, off-spring of my paines,
VVhose furious wrath hath wrought thy countries woe.
VVhat may remaine for me or mine in Rome,
That see the tokens of thy tyrannies?
Vile monster, robd of vertue, what reuenge
Is this, to wreake thine anger on the walls?
To race our house, to banish all our frends,
To kill the rest, and captiue vs at last?
Thinkst thou by barbarous deedes to boast thy state,
Or spoyling Scilla to depresse his hate?
No Marius, but for euerie drop of blood
And inch of wrong he shall returne thee two.

Flaccus:
Madame, in danger wisedome doth aduise,
In humble termes to reconcile our foes.

Marius:
She is a woman Flaccus, let her talke,
That breath forth bitter words in steed of blowes.

Corn:
And in regard of that unmodest man,
Thou shouldst desist from outrage and reuenge.

Lect:
VVhat, can your Grace indure these cursed scoffs?

Mar:
VVhy my Lectorius, I haue euer learnt,
That Ladies cannot wrong me with vpbraids.
Then let her talke, and my concealed hate,
Shall heap reuengement vpon Scillas pate.

Fulu:
Let feauers first afflict thy feeble age,
Let palsies make thy stubborne fingers faint,
Let humors streaming from thy moystned braines
With cloudes of dymnes choake thy fretfull eyes,
Before these monstrous harmes assaile my syre.

Mar:
Byr Ladie Fuluia, you are gaily red,
Your mother well may boast you for her owne,
For both of you haue words and scoffs at will:
And since I like the compasse of your wit,
My selfe will stand, and Ladies you shall sit:
And if you please to wade in farther words,
Lets see what brawles your memories affords.

Corn:
Your Lordships passing mannerly in iest,
But that you may perceiue we smell your drift,
VVe both will sit and countenance your shift.

Mar:
VVhere constancie and beautie doo consort,
There Ladies threatnings turnd to merry sport.
How fare these beautifull, what well at ease?

Ful:
As readie as at first for to displease.
For full confirmd that we shall surely die,
VVe wait our ends with Romane constancie.

Mar:
why think you Marius hath confirmd your death?

Ful:
VVhat other frute may spring from tyrants hands?

Mar:
In faith then Ladies, thus the matter stands,
Since you mistake my loue and curtesie,
Prepare your selues, for you shall surely die.

Cornel:
I Marius, now I know thou dost not lie:
And that thou maist vnto thy lasting blame,
Extinguish in our deaths thy wished fame.
Grant vs this boone that making choice of death,
VVe may be freed from furie of thine yre.

Marius:
An easie boon, Ladies I condiscend.

Corn:
Then suffer vs in priuate chamber close
To meditate a day or two alone:
And tyrant if thou finde vs liuing then,
Commit vs straight vnto thy slaughtring men.

Marius:
Ladies I grant, for Marius nill denie,
A sute so easie, and of such import:
For pitie were that Dames of constancie,
Should not be agents of their miserie.
Here he whispers Lectorius.
Lectorius, harke, dispatch.

Exit. Lector.
Corn:
Loe Fuluia, now the latest doome is fixt,
And naught remaines but constant Romane harts,
To beare the brunt of yrksome furies spight,
Rouse thee my deare, and daunt those faint conceipts,
That trembling stand agast at bitter death:
Bethinke thee now that Scilla was thy syre,
VVhose courage heauen nor fortune could abate.
Then like the off-spring of fierce Scillas house,
Passe with the thrice renowmed Phrigian Dame,
As to thy marriage, so vnto thy death:
For nought to wretches is more sweete than death.

Ful:
Madam confirmd as well to die as liue,
Fuluia awaiteth nothing but her death.
Yet had my father knowne the course of change,
Or seene our losse by luckie augurie,
Thys tyrant nor hys followers had liued,
To ioy the ruine of fierce Scillas house.

Mar:
But Ladie, they that dwell on fortunes call,
No sooner rise, but subiect are to fall.

Ful:
Marius I doubt not but our constant endes,
Shall make thee waile thy tyrants gouernment.

Marius:
VVhen tyrants rule doth breed my care & woe
Then will I say two Ladies told me so.
But here comes Lectorius,
Now my Lord, haue you brought those things.

Lector:
I haue noble Consull.

Mar:
Now Ladies, you are resolute to die.

Corn:
I Marius, for terror cannot daunt vs:
Tortors were framde to dread the baser eie,
And not t'appall a princely maiestie.

Marius:
And Marius liues to triumph ore his foes,
That traine where warlike troopes amidst the plaines,
And are inclosde and hemd with shining armes,
Not to appall such princely Maiestie.
Vertue sweete Ladies is of more regard
In Marius minde where honor is inthronde,
Than Rome or rule of Romane Emperie.
Here he puts chaines about their neckes:
The bands that should combine your snow white wrests,
Are these which shall adorne your milke white neckes:
The priuate cells where you shall end your liues,
Is Italy, is Europe, nay the world:
Th'Euxinian sea, and fierce Sicilian Gulph,
The riuer Ganges and Hydaspis streame,
Shall leuell lye, and smoothe as christall yce:
VVhilst Fuluia and Cornelia passe thereon:
The souldiers that should guard you to your deaths,
Shall be fiue thousand gallant youths of Rome,
In purple roabes crosse bard with pales of gold,
Mounted on warlike coursers for the field,
Fet from the mountaine tops of Cortia,
Or bred in hills of bright Sardinia,
VVho shall conduct and bring you to your Lord,
I vnto Scilla Ladies shall you goe,
And tell him Marius holds within his hands,
Honor for Ladies, for Ladies rich reward,
But as for Silla and for his compeeres
VVho dare gainst Marius vaunt their golden crests,
Tell him for them old Marius holds reuenge,
And in his hands both triumphs life and death.

Corn:
Doth Marius vse with glorious words to iest,
And mocke his captiues with these glosing tearmes?

Mar:
No Ladies, Marius hath sought for honour with his sword,
And holds disdaine to triumph in your fals.
Liue Cornelia, liue faire and fairest Fuluia:
If you haue done or wrought me iniurie,
Scilla shall pay it through his miserie.

Fuluia:
So gratious (famous Consull) are thy words,
That Rome and we shall celebrate thy worth,
And Scilla shall confesse himselfe orecome.

Corn:
If Ladies praiers or teares may mooue the heauens,
Scilla shall vow himselfe old Marius frend.

Mar:
Ladies for that I nought at all regard,
Scilla's my foe, Ile triumph ouer him,
For other conquest glorie doth not win.
Therefore come on that I may send you vnto Scilla.

Exeunt
Enter a clowne drunke with a pint of wine in his hand and two or three souldiers.
1 soul:
Sirrha, dally not with vs, you know where he is.

Clowne:

O sir, a quart is a quart in any mans purse, and
drinke is drinke, and can my master liue without his drinke I
pray you?

2 soul:

You haue a master then sirrha?

Clowne:

Haue I master thou scondrell? I haue an Orator
to my master, a wise man to my master. But fellowes, I must
make a parenthesis of this pint pot, for words make men dry:
now by my troth I drinke to Lord Anthonie.

3 soul:

Fellow souldiers, the weaknes of his braine hath
made his tongue walke largely, we shall haue some nouelties
by and by.

Clowne:
Oh most surpassing wine, thou marow of the vine,
More welcome vnto me, than whips to schollers bee,
Thou art and euer was a meanes to mend an asse,
Thou makest some to sleep, and manie mo to weep,
And some be glad & merry, with heigh down derry, derry.
Thou makest some to stumble, and many mo to fumble:
And me haue pinkie nine, more braue and iolly wine:
VVhat need I praise thee mo, for thou art good with heigh ho.

3 soul:
If wine then be so good, I pree thee for thy part,
Tell vs where Lord Anthony is, & thou shalt haue a quart.

Clow.
First shal the snow be black, & pepper lose his smack
And stripes forsake my backe, first merrie drunke with sack,
I will go boast and tracke, and all your costards cracke,
Before I doo the knacke shall make me sing alacke:
Alacke the old man is wearie, for wine hath made him merrie: with a heigh ho.

1 soul:
I prethee leaue these rymes, and tell vs where thy master is.

Clown:

Faith where you shall not bee vnles ye goe with
mee. But shall I tell them so? O no sir, no, no, no, the man
hath manie a foe, as farre as I doo know: you doo not flout
me I trow. See how this licor fumes, & how my force presumes.
You would know where Lord Anthonie is? I perceiue
you. Shall I say he is in yond farme house? I deceiue
you. Shall I tell you this wine is for him? the gods forfend,
and so I end. Go fellow fighters theres a bob for ye.

2 soul:

My masters, let vs follow this clowne, for questionles
this graue orator is in yonder farme house. But who
commeth yonder?

Enter old Anthonie.
Anth:
I wonder why my peasant staies so long,
And with my wonder hasteth on my woe,
And with my woe I am assaild with feare,
And by my feare await with faintful breath
The final period of my paines by death.

1 soul:

Yonds the man we seeke for (souldiers) vnsheath
your swords, and make a riddance of Marius ancient enemie.

Clowne:

Master flie, flie, or els you shall die: a plague on
this wine hath made me so fine, and will you not be gone,
then Ile leaue you alone, and sleepe vpon your woe, with a
lamentable heigh ho.

Exit.
Anth:
Betraid at last by witles ouersight,
Now Anthony, prepare thy selfe to die:
Loe where the monstrous ministers of wrath
Menace thy murther with their naked swords.

2 soul:

Anthonie well met, the Consull Marius with other
confederate Senators, haue adiudged thee death, therfore
prepare thy selfe, and thinke we fauor thee in this little
protraction.

Anth:
Immortall powers that know the painefull cares,
That waight vpon my poore distressed hart,
O bend your browes and leuill all your lookes
Of dreadfull awe vpon these daring men.
And thou sweet neece of Atlas on whose lips
And tender tongue, the pliant Muses sit,
Let gentle course of sweet aspiring speech,
Let honnie flowing tearmes of wearie woe,
Let frutefull figures and delightfull lines
Enforce a spring of pitie from their eyes,
Amase the murthrous passions of their mindes,
That they may fauour wofull Anthonie.
Oh countrimen what shal become of Rome,
VVhen reuerend dutie droopeth through disgrace?
Oh Countrimen, what shal become of Rome,
VVhen woful nature widdow of her ioyes,
VVeepes on our wals to see her lawes deprest?
Oh Romaines hath not Anthonies discourse,
Seald vp the Mouthes of false seditious men,
Assoild the doubts and queint controlls of powre,
Releeud the mournfull matrone with his pleas?
And will you seeke to murder Anthonie?
The Lions brooke with kindnes their releefe,
The sheep reward the shepheard with their fleece:
Yet Romanes seeke to murder Anthony.

1 soul:
Why what enchanting termes of arte are these?
That force my hart to pitie his distresse.

2 soul:
His action, speech, his fauor, and his grace,
My rancor rage and rigor doth deface.

3 soul:
So sweet his words that now of late me seemes
His art doth draw my soule from out my lips.

Anth:
VVhat enuious eies reflecting nought but rage,
VVhat barbarous hart refresht with nought but blood,
That rents not to behold the sensles trees
In doaly season drooping without leaues?
The shepheard sighs vpon the barrain hills
To see his bleating lambs with faintfull lookes.
Behold the vallies robd of springing flowres,
That whilom wont to yeeld them yerely food.
Euen meanest things exchangd from former state,
The vertuous minde with some remorse doth mate.
Can then your eyes with thundering threats of rage,
Cast furious gleames of anger vpon age?
Can then your harts with furies mount so hie,
As they should harme the Romane Anthonie?
I farre more kinde than sensles tree haue lent
A kindly sap to our declining state,
And like a carefull shepheard haue foreseene
The heauie dangers of this Citie Rome,
And made the citizens the happie flocke
Whom I haue fed with counsailes and aduice.
But now those lockes that for their reuerend white,
Surpasse the downe on AEsculapius chin:
But now that tongue whose termes and fluent stile
For number past the hoasts of heauenly fires:
But now that head within whose subtill braines
The Queene of flowring eloquence did dwell:
Enter a Captaine.
These lockes, this tongue, this head, the life and all,
To please a tyrant traitrously must fall.

Capt:
VVhy how now soldiers is he liuing yet?
And will you be bewitched with his words?
Then take this fee false Orator from me,
stab him.
Elizium best beseemes thy faintfull lims.

Anth:
Oh blisfull paine, now Anthony must die,
VVhich serud and loud Rome and her Emperie.

moritur
Capt:
Goe curtall off that necke with present stroke,
And straight present it vnto Marius.

1 soul:
Euen in this head did all the Muses dwell:
The bees that sate vpon the Grecians lips,
Distild their honnie on his tempred tongue.

2 soul:
The christall dew of faire Castalian springs,
VVith gentle floatings trickled on his braines:
The Graces kist his kinde and curteous browes,
Apollo gaue the beauties of his harpe,
Enter Lectorius pensiue.
And melodies vnto his pliant speech.

Cap:
Leaue these presumptuous praises, countrimen,
And see Lectorius pensiue where he comes.
Loe here my Lord the head of Anthony,
See here the guerdon fit for Marius foe,
Whom dread Apollo prosper in his rule.

Lector:
Oh Romanes, Marius sleepes among the dead,
And Rome laments the losse of such a frend.

Cap:
A sodaine and a wofull chance my Lord,
VVhich we intentiue faine would vnderstand.

Le:
Thogh swolne with sighs my hart for sorrow burst,
And tongue with teares and plaints be choaked vp,
Yet will I furrow forth with forced breath
A speedie passage to my pensiue speech.
Our Consull Marius, worthie souldiers,
Of late within a pleasant plot of ground,
Sate downe for pleasure nere a christall spring,
Accompanied with manie Lords of Rome:
Bright was the day, and on the spredding trees
The frolicke citizens of forrest lung
Their layes and merrie notes on pearching boughes:
VVhen suddenly appeared in the East,
Seauen mightie Eagles with their tallents fierce,
VVho wauing oft about our Consulls head,
At last with hideous crie did soare away.
VVhen suddenly old Marius all agast,
With reuerent smile determinde with a sigh
The doubtfull silence of the standers by.
Romanes (said he) old Marius now must die.
These seuen faire Eagles, birds of mightie loue,
That at my birth day on my cradle sate,
Now at my last day arme me to my death:
And loe I feele the deadly pangs approach.
VVhat should I more? in briefe, with manie praiers
For Rome, his sonne, his goods and lands disposd,
Our worthie Consull to our wonder dide.
The Citie is amazde, for Scilla hasts
To enter Rome with furie, sword, and fire.
Goe, place that head vpon the Capitoll,
And to your wards, for dangers are at hand.

Exit.
Capt:
Had we foreseene this luckles chance before,
Old Authonie had liude and breathed yet.

Exeunt.
A great skirmish in Rome and long, some slaine. At last enter Scilla triumphant with Pompey, Metellus, Citizens, souldiers.
Scilla:
Now Romanes after all these mutiuies,
Seditions, murthers, and conspiracies,
Imagine with vnpartiall harts at last
VVhat frutes proceed from these contentious brawles.
Your streetes, where earst the fathers of your state
In robes of purple walked vp and downe,
Are strewd with mangled members, streaming blood.
And why? the reasons of this ruthfull wrack,
Are your seditious innouations,
Your fickle mindes inclinde to foolish change.
Vngratefull men, whilst I with tedious paine
In Asia seald my dutie with my blood,
Making the fierce Dardanians faint for feare,
Spredding my cullers in Galatia,
Dipping my sword in the Enetans blood,
And foraging the fields of Phocida.
You cald my foe from exile with his frends,
You did proclaime me traitor here in Rome,
You racde my house, you did deface my frends.
But brauling wolues, you cannot byte the moone,
For Scilla liues so forward to reuenge,
As woe to those that sought to doo me wrong.
I now am entred Rome in spite of force,
And will so hamper all my cursed foes,
As be he Tribune, Consull, Lord or Knight
That hateth Scilla, let him looke to die.
And first to make an entrance to mine yre,
Bring me that traitor Carbo out of hand.

Bring in Carbo bound.
Pomp.
Oh Scilla, in reuenging iniuries,
Inflict the paine where first offence did spring,
And for my sake establish peace in Rome,
And pardon these repentant Citizens.

Scilla:
Pompey, I loue thee Pompey, and consent
To thy request, but Romanes haue regard,
Least ouer-reaching in offence againe,
I load your shoulders with a double paine.
Exeunt Citizens.
But Pompey see where iolly Carbo comes
Footing it featly, like a mightie man.
VVhat no obeisance sirrha to your Lord?
My Lord? No Scilla, he that thrice hath borne
Then me of Consull scornes to stoop to him,
Whose hart doth hammer nought but mutinies.

Pomp:
And doth your Lordship then disdaine to stoope

Carbo:
I to mine equall Pompey as thou art.

Scilla:
Thine equall villaine, no he is my frend,
Thou but a poore anatomie of bones,
Casde in a knauish tawny withred skin:
VVilt thou not stoop? art thou so stately then?

Carbo:
Scilla, I honor gods, not foolish men,

Sci:
Then bend that wythered bough that will not break
And souldiers cast him downe before my feete:
They throw him downe.
Now prating sir, my foote vpon thy necke,
Ile be so bold to giue your Lordship checke.
Beleeue me souldiers, but I ouer-reach,
Old Carbos necke at first was made to stretch.

Carbo:
Though bodie bend, thou tyrant most vnkinde,
Yet neuer shalt thou humble Carbos minde.

Scilla:
oh sir, I know for all your warlike pith,
A man may marre your worship with a wyth.
You sirrha leuied armes to doo me wrong:
You brought your legions to the gates of Rome:
You fought it out in hope that I would faint.
But sirrha now betake you to your bookes,
Intreate the God to saue your sinfull soule.
For why this carcasse must in my behalfe
Goe feast the rauens that serue our augures turne.
Me thinkes I see alreadie how they wish,
To bait their beakes in such a iolly dish.

Carbo:
Scilla thy threates and scoffes amate me not:
I prethee let thy murthrers hale me hence,
For Carbo rather likes to die by sword,
Than liue to be a mocking stocke to thee.

Scilla:
The man hath hast good souldiers take him hence,
It would be good to alter his pretence.
But be aduisde, that when the foole is slaine,
You part the head and bodie both in twaine.
I know that Carbo longs to know the cause,
And shall: thy bodie for the rauens, thy head for dawes.

Carbo:
O matchles ruler of our Capitoll,
Behold poore Rome with graue and piteous eie,
Ful-fild with wrong and wretched tyrannie.

Exit Carbo cum militibus.
Enter Scipio and Norbanus, Publius Lentulus.
Scill:
Tut the proud mans praier wil neuer pierce the skie.
But whether presse these mincing Senators?

Norbanus:
VVe presse with praiers, we come with mournfull teares,
Intreating Scilla by those holy bands
That linkes faire Iuno with her thundring Ioue,
Euen by the bounds of hospitalitie,
To pitie Rome afflicted through thy wrath.
Thy souldiers (Scilla) murder innocents.
O whither will thy lawles surie stretch,
If little ruth ensue thy countries harmes.

Scilla:
Gay words Narbonus, full of eloquence,
Accompanied with action and conceipt.
But I must teach thee iudgement therewithall.
Dar'st thou approch my presence that hast borne
Thine armes in spight of Scilla and his frends?
I tell thee foolish man thy iudgement wanted
In this presumptuous purpose that is past:
And loytering scholler, since you faile in art,
Ile learne you iudgement shortly to your smart,
Dispatch him souldiers, I must see him die.
And you Carinna, Carbos ancient frend,
Shall follow straight your heedles Generall.
And Scipio were it not I loud thee well.
Thou shouldst accompanie these slaues to hell:
But get you gone, and if you loue your selfe.

Exit Scipio.
Carinna:
Pardon me Scilla, pardon gentle Scilla.

Scilla:
Sirrha, this gentle name was coynd too late,
And shadowed in the shrowds of byting hate.
Dispatch: why so, good fortune to my frends,
As for my foes, euen such shall be their ends.
Conueigh them hence Metellus, gentle Metellus,
Fetch me Sertorius from Iberia,
In dooing so, thou standest me in stead,
For sore I long to see the traitors head.

Metell:
I goe confirmd to conquer him by sword,
or in th'exployt to hazard life and all.

Scilla:
Now Pompey let me see, those Senators
Are dangerous stops of our pretended state,
And must be curtald least they grow too proud,
I doo proscribe iust fortie Senators,
Which shalbe leaders in my tragedie.
And for our Gentlemen are ouer proud,
Of them a thousand and sixe hundreth die,
A goodlie armie meete to conquere hell.
Souldiers performe the course of my decree,
Their friends my foes, their foes shalbe my friends,
Go sell their goods by trumpet at your wills,
Meane while Pompey shall see and Rome shall rue,
The miseries that shortly shall ensue.

Exit.
Alarum skirmish a retreat, enter young Marius vppon the walles of Preneste with some souldiers all in blacke and wonderfull mellancoly.
Marius:
Oh endles course of needy mans auaile,
VVhat sillie thoughts, what simple pollicies
makes man presume vpon this traiterous life?
Haue I not seene the depth of sorrow once,
And then againe haue kist the Queene of chaunce,
Oh Marius thou Tillitius and thy frends,
Hast seene thy foe discomfetted in fight.
But now the starres haue formde my finall harmes,
My father Marius lately dead in Rome,
My foe with honour doth triumph in Rome,
My freends are dead and banished from Rome,
I Marius father freends more blest then thee:
They dead, I liue, I thralled they are free.
Here in Preneste am I cooped vp,
Amongst a troope of hunger starued men.
Set to preuent false Scillaes fierce approach.
But now exempted both of life and all.
VVell Fortune since thy fleeting change, hath cast
Pore Marius from his hopes and true desiers,
My resolution shall exceed thy power,
Thy coloured wings steeped in purple blood,
Thy blinding wreath distainde in purple blood,
Thy royall Robes washt in my purple blood
Shall witnes to the world thy thirst of blood,
And when the tyrant Scilla shal expect
To see the sonne of Marius stoope forfeare,
Then then, Oh then my minde shal well appeare,
That scorne my life and hold mine honour deare.
Alarum a retreat.
Harke how these murtherous Romaine viper like,
Seeke to betray their fellow Cittizens,
Oh wretched world from whence with speedie flight,
True loue, true zeale, true honour late is fled.

sould:
VVhat makes my Lord so carelesse and secure,
To leaue the breach and here lament alone?

Mar:
Not feare my frend for I could neuer flie,
But studdy how with honor for to die.
I pray thee cal the cheefest Cittizens.
I must aduise them in a waightie cause,
Here shal they meete me and vntill they come,
I wil gee view the danger of the breach.

Exit Marius and the souldiers.
Enter with drum and souldiers Lucretius with other Romanes as Tuditanus &c.
Lucretius:
Say Tuditanus, didst thou euer see
So desperate defence as this hath been:

Tudit:
As in Numidia Tygers wanting food,
Or as in Libia Lions full of yre,
So fare these Romanes on Preneste wals.

Lucret:
Their valure Tuditanus and resist,
The manlike fight of yonger Marius,
Makes me amazd to see their miseries,
And pitie them although they be my foes.
VVhat said I foes? O Rome with ruth I see
Thy state consumde through folly and dissention.
VVell sound a parle, I will see if words
Can make them yeeld, which will not flie for strokes?

Sound a parle, Marius vpon the wale with the Citizens.
Marius:
What seeks this Romane warrior at our hands?

Lucr:
That seekes he Marius, that he wisheth thee:
An humble hart, and then a happie peace.
Thou seest thy fortunes are deprest and downe,
Thy vittels spent, thy souldiers weake with want,
The breach laid open readie to assault,
Now since thy meanes and maintenance are done,
Yeeld Marius, yeeld, Prenestians be aduisde,
Lucretius is aduisde to fauor you.
I prethee Marius marke my last aduice.
Relent in time, let Scilla be thy frend:
So thou in Rome maist lead a happie life,
And those with thee shall pray for Marius still.

Mar:
Lucretius, I consider on thy words,
Stay there a while thou shalt haue answere straight.

Lucretius:
Apollo grant that my perswasions may,
Preserue these Romane souldiers from the sword.

Marius:
My frends and citizens of Preneste towne,
You see the wayward working of our starres,
Our harts confirmd to fight, our victuals spent.
If we submit, its Scilla must remit,
A tyrant, traitor, enemie to Rome.
Whose hart is guarded still with bloodie thoughts.
These flattring vowes Lucretius here auowes,
Are pleasing words to colour poysoned thoughts.
What will you liue with shame, or die with fame?

1 Cit:
A famous death, my Lord delights vs most.

2 Cit:
We of thy faction (Marius) are resolud
To follow thee in life and death together.

Marius:
VVords full of worth, beseeming noble mindes
The verie Balsamum to mend my woes.
Oh countrimen, you see Campania spoild,
A tyrant threatning mutinies in Rome,
A world dispoyld of vertue, faith and trust.
If then no peace, no libertie, no faith,
Conclude with me, and let it be no life.
Liue not to see your tender infants slaine,
These stately towers made leuell with the land,
This bodie mangled by our enemies sword:
But full resolud to doo as Marius doth,
Vnsheath your ponyards, and let euerie frend,
Bethinke him of a souldier like farewell.
Sirrha, display my standerd on the wals,
And I will answere yond Lucretius,
VVho loueth Marius, now must die with Marius?

Luer:
VVhat answere wil your Lordship then return vs?

Marius:
Lucretius, we that know what Scilla is,
How dissolute, how trothles and corrupt:
In briefe conclude to die before we yeeld:
But so to die (Lucretius marke me well)
As loath to see the furie of our swords
Should murther frends and Romane citizens.
Fie countrimen, what furie doth infect
Your warlike bosomes, that were wont to fight
VVith forren foes, not with Campanian frends?
Now vnaduised youth must counsaile eld:
For gouernance is banisht out of Rome.
Woe to that bough from whence these bloomes are sprung,
VVoe to that Aetna, vomiting this fire:
VVoe to that brand, consuming Countries weale:
Woe to that Scilla, careles and secure,
That gapes with murther for a Monarchie.
Goe second Brutus with a Romane minde,
And kill that tyrant: and for Marius sake
Pitie the guiltles wiues of these your frends,
Preserue their weeping infants from the sword,
Whose fathers seale their honors with their bloods.
Farewell Lucretius, first I presse in place
stab.
To let thee see a constant Romane die,
Prenestians, loe a wound, a fatall wound,
The paine but small, the glorie passing great.
againe.
Prenestians see a second stroke: why so.
I feele the dreeping dimnes of the night,
Closing the couerts of my carefull eies.
Follow me frends: for Marius now must die
With fame, in spight of Scillas tyrannie.

moritur.
1 Cit:
We follow thee our chiefetaine euen in death,
Our towne is thine Lucretius: but we pray
For mercie for our children and our wiues.

moritur.
2 Cit:
O saue my sonne Lucretius, let him liue.

moritur.
Lucretius:
A wondrous and bewitched constancie,
Beseeming Marius pride and haughtie minde,
Come let vs charge the breach, the towne is ours
Both male and female put them to the sword:
So please you Scilla, and fulfill his word.

Exeunt
A little skirmish, a retreat: enter in royaltie Lucretius.
Lucret:
Now Romanes we haue brought Preneste low,
And Marius sleepes amidst the dead at last.
So then to Rome my countrimen with ioy,
VVhere Scilla waights the tidings of our fight.
Those prisners that are taken, see forthwith
VVith warlike iauelins you put them to death.
Come let vs march, see Rome in sight my harts,
VVhere Scilla waights the tidings of our warre.

Enter Scilla, Ualerius Flaccus: Lepidus, Pompey, Citizens Guard: Scilla seated in his roabes of state is saluted by the Citizens, &c.
Flaccus:
Romanes you know, and to your greefes haue seene
A world of troubles hatched here at home,
VVhich through preuention being welnigh crost
By worthie Scilla and his warlike band:
I Consull with these fathers thinke it meet
To fortifie our peace and Cities weale,
To name some man of worth that may supply
Dictators power and place, whose maiestie
Shall crosse the courage of rebellious mindes,
VVhat thinke you Romanes, will you condiscend?

Scilla:
Nay Flaccus, for their profits they must yeeld,
For men of meane condition and conceipt
Must humble their opinions to their lords,
And if my frends and Citizens consent
Since I am borne to manage mightie things,
I will (though loth) both rule and gouerne them.
I speake not this as though I wish to raigne,
But for to know my frends: and yet againe
I merrit Romanes feare more grace than this.

Flaccus:
I countrimen, if Scillas powre and minde
If Scillas vertue, courage and deuice,
If Scillas frends and fortunes merit fame,
None then but he should beare Dictators name.

Pompey:
VVhat think you Citizens, why stand ye mute?
Shall Scilla be Dictator here in Rome?

Citizens:
By full consent Scilla shalbe Dictator.

Flaccus:
Then in the name of Rome I here present
The rods and axes into Scillas hand,
And fortunate proue Scilla our Dictator.

Trumpets sound: crie wit him Scilla Dictator.
Scilla:
My fortunes Flaccus cannot be impeacht,
For at my birth the plannets passing kinde
Could entertaine no retrograde aspects.
And that I may with kindnes quite their loue,
My countrimen I will preuent the cause,
Gainst all the false encounters of mishap.
You name me your Dictator, but prefixe
No time, no course, but giue me leaue to rule,
And yet exempt me not from your reuenge:
Thus by your plesures being set aloft,
Straight by your furies I should quickly fall.
No Citizens, who readeth Scillas minde,
Must forme my titles in another kinde.
Either let Scilla be Dictator euer,
Or flatter Scilla with these titles neuer.

Citizens:
Perpetuall be thy glorie and renowne,
Perpetuall Lord Dictator shalt thou bee.

Pompey:
Hereto the Senate frankly doth agree.

Scilla:
Then so shall scilla raigne you Senators,
Then so shall Scilla rule you Citizens:
As Senators and Citizens that please mee
Shall be my frends, the rest cannot disease mee.
Enter Lucretius with souldiers.
But see whereas Lucretius is returnde.
Welcome braue Romaine where is Marius?
Are these Prenestians put vnto the sword.

Lucre:
The Cittie noble Scilla raced is,
And Marius dead not by our swords my Lord,
But with more constancie than Cato died.

Scilla:
VVhat constancie and but a verie boy,
VVhy then I see he was his fathers sonne,
But let vs haue this constancie describde.

Lucr:
After our fearce assaults, and their resist,
Our seige, their salying out to stop our trench:
Labor and hunger rayning in the towne,
The yonger Marius on the Citties wall,
Vouchsafte an interparle at the last:
VVherein with constancie and courrage too,
He boldly armed his freends him selfe to death.
And spreading of his coloures on the wall,
For answere saide he could not brooke to yeeld,
Or trust a tyrant such as Scilla was.

Scilla:
VVhat did the bransicke boy vpbraid me so?
But let vs heare the rest Lucretius.

Lucre:
And after great perswsassons to his freends
And worthy resolution of them all:
He first did sheath his ponyard in his breast,
And so in order dyed all the rest.

Scilla:
Now by my sword this was a worthy iest,
Yet silly boy I needs must pittie thee,
VVhose noble minde could neuer mated bee.
Beleeue me countrymen a sodaine thought,
A sodaine change in Scilla now hath wrought.
Old Marius and his sonne were men of name,
Nor Fortunes laughes, nor lowers their minds could tame,
And when I count their fortunes that are past,
I see that death confirmde their fames at last.
Then he that striues to manage mightie things,
Amidst his triumphes gaines a troubled minde.
The greatest hope the greater harme it bringes:
And pore men in content their glory finde.
If then content be such a pleasant thing,
VVhy leaue I country life to liue a king?
Yet Kings are Gods and make the proudest stoope,
Yee but themselues are still pursude with hate:
And men were made to mount and then to droope.
Such chances wait vpon incertaine fate,
That where she kisseth once shee quelleth twice,
Then who so liues content is happy wise.
VVhat motion moueth this Philosophy?
Oh Scilla see the Ocean ebbs and floats.
The spring-time wanes when winter draweth me.
I, these are true and most assured notes.
Inconstant chance such tickle turnes hath lent,
As who so feares no fall, must seeke content.

Flaccus:
VVhilst grauer thoughts of honor shuld allure thee
VVhat maketh scilla muse and mutter thus?

scilla:
I that haue past amidst the mightie troopes
Of armed legions through a world of warre,
Doo now bethinke me Flaccus on my chance,
How I alone where manie men were slaine,
In spite of Fate am come to Rome againe,
And lo I wield the reuerend stiles of state,
Yea, Scilla with a becke could breake thy necke.
VVhat Lord of Rome hath darde as much as I?
Yet Flaccus knowst thou not that I must die?
The laboring sisters on the weary Loombs,
Haue drawne my webb of life at length I know:
And men of witt must thinke vpon their tombes.
For beasts with careles steps to Lethe goe:
Where men whose thoughts and honors clime on hie,
Liuing with fame, must learne with fame to die.

Pomp:
What lets my Lord in gouerning this state,
To liue in rest and die with honor too?

ssilla:
What lets me Pompey? why my curteous frend,
Can he remaine secure that weilds a charge?
Or thinke of wit when flattrers doo commend?
Or be aduisde that careles runs at large?
No Pompey, honnie words makes foolish mindes,
And powre the greatest wit with error blindes.
Flaccus, I murdred Anthonie thy frend,
Romanes: some here haue lost at my commaund
Their Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, and Allies,
And thinke you Scilla thinking these misdeeds,
Bethinks not on your grudges and mislike?
Yes Countrimen I beare them still in minde.
Then Pompey were I not a silly man,
To leaue my Rule and trust these Romans than?

Pompey:
Your Grace hath small occasions of mistrust,
Nor seeke these Citizens for your disclaime.

scilla:
But Pompey now these reaching plumes of pride.
That mounted vp my fortunes to the Clowds,
By graue conceits shall straight be laid aside,
And scilla thinks of farre more simple shrowds,
For hauing tride occasion in the throne,
Ile see if she dare frowne when state is gone.
Loe senators, the man that sate aloft,
Now deignes to giue inferiors highest place.
Loe here the man whom Rome repined oft,
A priuate man, content to brooke disgrace,
Romanes, loe here the axes, rods and all,
Ile master fortune, least she make me thrall.
Now who so list accuse me, tell my wrongs,
Vpbraid me in the presence of this state.
Is none these iolly Citizens among,
That will accuse or say I am ingrate.
Then will I say and boldly boast my chaunces,
That nought may force the man whom Fate aduances.

Flaccus:
what meaneth scilla in this sullen moode,
To leaue his titles on the sodaine thus?

scilla:
Consull I meane with calme and quiet mind,
To passe my daies while happy death I finde.

Pomp:
What greater wrong, than leaue thy countrey so?

scilla:
Both it and life must scilla leaue in time.

Cit:
Yet during life haue care of Rome and vs.

scilla:
O wanton world that flatterst in thy prime,
And breathest balme and poyson mixt in one.
See how these wauering Romaines wisht my raigne,
That why lom sought and sought to haue me slaine,
My Countrymen this Cittie wants no store
Of Fathers warriors to supplie my roome,
So grant me peace and I will die for Rome.

Enter two Burgers to them Poppey and Curtall.
Curtall:

These are verie indiscreet counsailes neighbor
Poppey, and I will follow your misaduisement.

Poppey:

I tell you goodman Curtall the wenche hath
wrong, oh vaine world, oh foolish men, could a man in nature
cast a wench downe, and disdaine in nature to lift hir vp
again? could he take away hir dishonestie without bouncing
vp the banes of matrimonie? oh learned Poet wel didst thou
write Fustian verse.

These maides are dawes that goe to the lawes and a babe
in the belly.

Cur:

Tut man tis the way the world must follow, for
maides must be kinde, good husbands to finde.

Poppey:

But marke the fierce if they swell before, it will
grieue them sore. but see yondes Master scilla, faith a prettie
fellow is a.

Scilla:

what seekes my countrymen? what would my
freendes?

Curt:

Nay sir your kinde words shall not serue the turne,
why thinke you to thrust your souldiers into our kindred
with your curtesies sir.

Poppey:

I tel you Master scilla my neighbour wil haue
the Law, he had the right he wil haue the wrong for therein
dwels the Law.

Consull:

what desires these men of Rome?

Cur:

Neighbour sharpen the edge tole of your wits vpon
the whetstone of indiscretion that your wordes may shaue
like the rasers of Palermo, you haue learning with ignorance
therefore speake my tale.

Popp.

Then worshipfull Master Scilla, be it knowne vnto
you, that my neighbors daughter Doritie was a maid of
restoritie, faire fresh and fine as a merrie cup of wine. Her
eies like two potcht egges, great and goodly her legs, but
marke my dolefull dittie, alas for woe and pittie: a souldier
of yours vpon a bed of flowers, gaue her such a fall, as she
lost maidenhead and all. And thus in verie good time I end
my rudefull rime.

Scilla:
And what of this my frend, why seeke you mee,
Who haue resignd my titles and my state
To liue a priuate life as you doo now?
Goe moue the Consull Flaccus in this cause,
VVho now hath power to execute the lawes.

Curtall:

And are you no more Master dix cator, nor Generalitie
of the souldiers?

Scilla:

My powers doo cease, my titles are resignd,

Curtall:

Haue you signd your titles: O base minde, that
being in the powles steeple of honor, hast cast thy selfe into
the sinke of simplicitie. Fie beast, were I a king, I would
day by day sucke vp white bread and milke, and go a ietting
in a iacket of silke, my meat shou'd be the curds, my drinke
should be the whey, and I wold haue a mincing lasse to loue
me euerie day.

Poppey:

Nay goodman Curtall, your discretions are verie
simple, let me cramp him with a reason, Sirrha, whether
is better good ale or small beere? Alas see his implicitie that
cannot answere me: why I say ale.

Curtall:

And so say I neighbor.

Poppey:

Thou hast reason, ergo say I tis better be a King
than a clowne. Faith master Scilla, I hope a man maye now
call ye knaue by authoritie.

Scilla:
VVith what impatience heare I these vpbraides
That whilome plagude the least offence with death.
Oh Scilla these are stales of desteny,
By some vpbraids to try thy constancie.
My friends these scornes of yours perhaps will moue,
The next Dictator shun to yeeld his state,
For feare he finde as much as Scilla doth.
But Flaccus, to preuent their further wrong,
Vouchsafe some Lictor may attach the man,
And doo them right that thus complaine abuse.

Flaccus:
Sirrha, goe you and bring the souldier
That hath so loosly leant to lawles lust,
VVe will haue meanes sufficient be assurd
To coole his heate, and make the wanton chast.

Curtall:

We thanke your mastership: come neighbour,
let vs iog, faith this newes will set my daughter Dorothie a
gog.

Exeunt cum Lictore.
Scilla:
Graue Senators and Romanes, now you see
The humble bent of Scillas changed minde.
Now will I leaue you Lords, from courtly traine
To dwel content amidst my country caue,
VVhere no ambitious humors shall approch,
The quiet silence of my happy sleepe.
Where no delicious Iouisance or toyes,
Shall tickle with delight my tempered eares,
But wearying out the lingering day with toile,
Tyring my veines and furrowing of my soule.
The silent night with slumber stealing on
Shall locke these carefull closets of mine eies.
Oh had I knowne the height of happines,
Or bent mine eies vpon my mother earth:
Long since O Rome had Scilla with reioyce
Forsaken armes to leade a priuate life.

Flaccus:
But in this humblenes of minde my Lord,
VVhereas experience prooude and Art doo meete.
How happy were these faire Italian fields,
If they were graced with so sweete a sunne:
Then I for Rome and Rome with me requires,
That Scilla will abide and gouerne Rome.

Scilla:
O Flaccus, if th'Arabian Phœnix striue
By natures warning to renue her kinde,
VVhen soaring nie the glorious eye of heauen,
Shee from her cinders doth reuiue her sexe.
VVhy should not Scilla learne by her to die?
That earst haue beene the Phœnix of this land.
And drawing neere the sunne-shine of content,
Perish obscure to make your glories growe.
For as the higher trees do shield the shrubs,
From posting Phlegons warmth and breathing fire.
So mighty men obscure each others fame,
And make the best deseruers fortunes game.
Enter Genius.
But ah what sodaine furies doo affright?
VVhat apparitious fantasies are these?
Oh let me rest sweete Lords, for why me thinks,
Some fatall spells are sounded in mine eares.

Genius:
Subsequitur tua mors: priuari lumine Scillam,
Numina Parcarum iam fera precipiunt.
Precipiunt fera iam Parcarum numina, Scillam,
Lumine priuari, mors tua subsequitur.
Elysium petis, ô fœlix! & fatidici a stri:
Præscius Heroas, ô petis innumeros!
Innumeros petis ô Heroas! præscius astri
Fatidici: & fœlix, ô petis Elisium!

Euanescit subitò.
Scilla:
Ergóne post dulces annos properantia fata?
Ergóne iam tenebræ præmia lucis erunt?
Attamen, vt vitæ fortunam gloria mortis
Vincat, in extremo funere cantet olor.

Pom:
How fares my Lord? what dreadful thoughts are these
VVhat doubtfull answeres on a sodaine thus?

Scilla:
Pompey the man that made the world to stoope,
And fettered fortune in the chaines of powre,
Must droope and draw the Chariot of Fate
Along the darksome bankes of Acheron.
The heauens haue warnd me of my present fall.
Oh call Cornelia forth, let Scilla see
His daughter Fuluia ere his eyes be shut.

Exit one for Cornelia.
Flaccus:
VVhy Scilla, where is now thy wonted hope
In greatest hazard of vnstaied chance?
VVhat shall a little biting blast of paine
Blemish the blossomes of thy wonted pride?

Scilla:
My Flaccus, worldly ioyes and pleasures fade,
Inconstant time like to the fleeting tide
VVith endles course mans hopes doth ouer-beare?
Nought now remaines that Scilla faine would haue,
But lasting fame when bodie lies in graue.

Enter Cornelia, Fuluia.
Cornelia:
How fares my Lord? how doth my gentle Scilla?

Scilla:
Ah my Cornelia passing happie now,
Free from the world, allied vnto the heauens,
Not curious of incertaine chaunces now.

Cornelia:
VVords full of woe still adding to my griefe,
A curelesse crosse of many hundreth harmes.
Oh let not Rome and poore Cornelia loose,
The one hir frend, the other her delight.

scilla:
Cornelia, man hath power by some instinct
And gracious reuolution of the starres,
To conquer kingdomes not to master fate:
For when the course of mortall life is runne,
Then Clotho ends the web hir sister spun.
Pompey, Lord Flaccus, fellow senators,
In that I feele the faintfull deawes of death
steeping mine eies within their chilly wet,
The care I haue of wife and daughter both,
Must on your wisedomes happily ielie.
VVith equall distribution see you part,
My lands and goods betwixt these louely twaine.
Onely bestow a hundred thousand Sestercies,
Vpon my friends and fellow souldiers.
Thus hauing made my finall testament,
Come Fuluia let thy father lay his hand,
Vpon thy louely bosome and intreat
A vertuous boone and fauour at thy hands.
Faire Romane maide, see that thou wed thy faires,
To modest vertuous and delightfull thoughts:
Let Rome in viewing thee behold thy sire,
Honour Cornelia from whose fruitfull woombe,
Thy plenteous beauties sweetly did appeare,
And with this Lesson louely maide farewell.

Fuluia:
oh tedious and vnhappy chance for me.

scilla:
Content thee Fuluia, for it needes must bee.
Cornelia I must leaue thee to the world,
And by those loues that I haue lent thee oft,
In mutuall wedlocke rytes and happie warre.
Remember Scilla in my Fuluia stil:
Consull farewell, my Pompey I must hence,
And farewel Rome, and Fortune now I blesse thee,
That both in life and death wouldst not oppresse mee.

dies.
Cornelia:
oh hideous stormes of neuer danted fate,
Now are those eyes whose sweet reflections coold
The smothered rancors of rebellious thoughts
Clad with the fable mantles of the night.
And like the tree that robd of sunne and showres
Mournes desolate withouten leafe or sap:
so poore Cornelia late bereft of loue,
Sits sighing, haples, ioyles and forlorne.

Fuluia:
Gone is the flower that did adorne our fields,
Fled are those sweete reflections of delight,
Dead is my Father, Fuluia dead is hee
In whom thy life, for whom thy death must bee.

Flaccus:
Ladies, to tyre the time in restles mone
VVere tedious vnto frends and nature too,
Sufficeth you that Scilla so is dead,
As fame shall sing his power though life be fled.

Pompey:
Then to conclude his happines my Lords,
Determine where shall be his Funerall.

Lepidus:
Euen there where other Nobles are interd.

Pompey:
VVhy Lepidus what Romane euer was,
That merited so high a name as hee?
Then why with simple pompe and funerall
VVould you intombe so rare a paragon?

Corn:
An vrne of gold shall hem his ashes in,
The Vestall virgins with their holy notes
Shall sing his famous (though too fatall) death.
I and my Fuluia with dispersed haire
VVill waight vpon this noble Romanes hearse.

Fuluia:
And Fuluia clad in blacke & mournfull pale
VVill waight vpon her fathers funerall.

Pomp:
Come beare we hence this trophee of renowne,
VVhose life, whose death was farre from fortunes frowne.

Exeunt omnes.
The Funeralls of Scilla in great pompe.