University of Virginia Library

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.