University of Virginia Library

The most Lamentable and true Tragedies of Marius and Scilla.

Enter on the Capitoll Sulpitius Tribune: Caius Marius: Q. Pompey Consull: Iunius Brutus: Lucretius: Caius Granius: Lictorius: Lucius Merula Iupiters Priest: and Cynna: whom placed, and their Lictors before them with their Rods and Axes, Sulpitius beginneth.
SVLPITIVS TRIBVNE.
Graue Senators and Fathers of this State,
Our strange protractions & vnkind delays
wher waighty wars doth cal vs out to fight
Our factious wits to please aspiring Lords,
You see hath added powre vnto our foes,
And hazarded rich Phrigia and Bithinia,
With all our Asian Holds and Cities too:
Thus Scilla seeking to be Generall,
(VVho is inuested in our Consuls Pall)
Hath forced murders in a quiet State:
The cause whereof euen Pompey may complaine,
VVho seeking to aduance a climing friend,
Hath lost by death asweete and curteous sonne.
VVho now in Asia but Mithridates,
Laughs at these fond discentions I complaine?
VVhile we in wrangling for a Generall,
Forsake our friends, forestall our forward warre,
And leaue our Legions full of dalliance,
VVaighting our idle wills at Capua.
Fie Romaines, shall the glories of your names,
The wondrous beauty of this Capitoll,
Perish through Scillas insolence and pride,
As if that Rome were robd of true renowne,
And destitute of warlike Champions now?
Loe here the man, the rumor of whose fame,
Hath made Hiberia tremble and submit;
See Marius that in managing estate,
Through many cares and troubles he hath past,
And spent his youth, vpon whose reuerend head
The milke-white pledge of wisedome sweetly spreds:
He sixe times Consul, fit for peace or warre,
Sits drooping here content to brooke disgrace,
VVho glad to fight through follies of his foes
Sighs for your shame whilst you abide secure;
And I that see and should recure these wrongs,
Through Pompeys late vacation and delay,
Haue left to publish him for Generall,
That merites better Titles farre than these:
But (Nobles) now the finall day is come,
VVhen I your Tribune studying for renowne,
Pronounce and publish Marius Generall,
To leade our Legions against Mithridates,
And craue (graue Fathers) signes of your content.

Q. Pomp:
Beleeue me Noble Romains, & graue Senators,
This strange election, and this new made Law,
VVill witnes our vnstable gouernement,
And dispossesse Rome of her Emperie;
For although Marius be renownd in Armes,
Famous for prowesse, and graue in warlike drifts,
Yet may the sunne-shine of his former deeds
Nothing eclipse our Scillas dignity:
By lot and by election he was made,
Chiefe Generall against Mithridates,
And shall we then abridge him of that Rule;
Twere iniurie to Scilla and to Rome:
Nor would the height of his all daring minde,
Brooke to the death so vile and fowle disgrace.

Iu. Brutus:
VVhy Pompey, as if the Senate had not powre
To appoint, dispose, & change their Generals:
Rome shall belike be bound to Scillas Rule,
VVhose haughty pride and swelling thoughts puft vp,
Foreshowes the reaching to prowd Tarquins state:
Is not his lingring to our Romaine losse
At Capua where he braues it out with feasts,
Made knowne thinke you vnto the Senate here?
Yes Pompey, yes: and hereof are we sure
If Romaines State on Scillas pride should lie,
Romes Conquests would to Pontus Regions she:
Therefore graue and renowned Senators,
(Pillers that beare and hold our Rule aloft,
You stately, true, and rich Piramides)
Descend into the depth of your estates,
Then shall you finde that Scilla is more fit,
To Rule in Rome domesticall affaires,
Then haue the Conquest of Bithinia,
Which if once got, heele but by death forgoe,
Therefore I say Marius our Generall.

Lucretius:
Lo thus we striue abroad to win renowne,
And naught regard at home our waning states;
Brutus I say the many braue exploits,
The warlike Acts that Scilla hath atchieude,
Showes him a souldier and a Romaine too,
Whose care is more for Country than himselfe:
Scilla nill brooke that in so many warres,
So hard aduentures and so strange extreames,
Hath borne the palme and prize of victory,
Thus with dishonor to giue vp his charge:
Scilla hath friends and souldiers at commaund,
That first will make the towres of Rome to shake,
And force the stately Capitoll to daunce,
Yet any robbe him of his iust renowne:
Then we that through the Caspian shores haue runne,
And spread with ships the Orientall Sea,
At home shall make a murder of our friends,
And massaker our dearest Countrimen.

Licto:
The powre of Scilla nought will vaile gainst Rome,
And let me die Lucretius ere I see,
Our Senate dread for any priuate man,
Therefore Renownd Sulpitius send for Scilla backe,
Let Marius leade our men in Asia.

L. Merula:
The Law, the Senate wholy doth affirme,
Let Marius lead our men in Asia.

Cynna:
Cynna affirmes the Senates Censure iust,
And saith let Marius leade the Legions forth.

C. Granius:
Honor and victory follow Marius steps,
For him doth Granius wish to fight for Rome.

Sulpitius:
why then you sage and auncient Syres of Rome,
Sulpitius here againe doth publish forth,
That Marius by the Senate here is made,
Chiefe Generall to lead the Legions out,
Against Mithridates and his Competitors,
Now victory for honor of Rome follow Marius.

Here let Marius rowse himselfe.
Marius:
Sage and imperiall Senators of Rome,
Not without good aduisement haue you seene,
Old Marius silent during your discourse:
Yet not for that he feard to pleade his cause,
Or raise his honor troden downe by age,
But that his words should not allure his friends,
To stand on stricter tearmes for his behoofe:
Sixe times the Senate by election hath,
Made Marius Consul ouer warlike Rome,
And in that space nor Rome nor all the world,
Cou'd euersay that Marius was vntrue,
These siluer haires that hang vpon my face,
Are witnesses of my vnfained zeale,
The Cymbrians that yer-while inuaded France,
And held the Romaine Empire in disdaine,
Lay all confounded vnder Marius sword,
Fierce Scipio the myrrour once of Rome,
whose losse as yet my inward soule bewailes,
Being askt who should succeede and beare his Rule,
Euen this (quod he) shall Scipios armour beare,
And therewithall clapt me vpon the backe:
If then graue Lords, my former passed youth,
was spent in bringing Honors into Rome,
Let then my age and latter date of yeares,
Be sealed vp for honor vnto Rome.

Here enter Scilla with Captaines and Souldiers.
Sul:
Scilla, what means these Arms and warlike troops
These glorious Ensignes and these fierce Allarms,
Tis prowdly done to braue the Capitoll.

Scilla:
These Armes Sulpitius are not borne for hate,
But maintenance of my confirmed state:
I come to Rome with no seditious thoughts,
Except I finde too froward iniuries.

Sul:
But wisedome would you did forbeare,
To yeeld these slight suspitions of contempt,
where as this Senate studieth high affaires.

Scil:
what serious matters haue these Lords in hand?

Sul:
The Senators with full decree appoint,
Old Marius for their Captaine Generall,
To leade thy Legions into Asia,
And fight against the fierce Mithridates.

Scilla:
To Marius? Iolly stuffe: why then I see,
Your Lordships meane to make a babe of me.

Iu. Brutus:
Tis true Scilla the Senate hath agreed,
That Marius shall those bands and Legions beare,
which you now hold against Mithridates.

Scil:
Marius shal lead them then, if Scilla said not no,
And I shall be a Consuls shadow then,
Trustles Senators and ingratefull Romaines,
For all the Honors I haue done to Rome,
For all the spoiles I brought within her walles,
Thereby for to enrich and raise her pride,
Repay you me with this ingratitude:
You know vnkinde, that Scillas wounded Helme,
VVas nere hung vp or once distaind with rust:
The Marcians that before me fell amaine,
And like to winter haile on euery side.
Vnto the City Nuba I pursude,
And for your sakes were thirty thousand slaine:
The Hippinians and the samnits scilla brought,
As Tributaries vnto famous Rome:
I, where did scilla euer draw his sword,
Or lift his warlike hand aboue his head
For Romaines cause but he was Conquerour:
And now (vnthankeful) seeke you to disgrade,
And teare the plumes that scillas sword hath wonne.
Marius I tell thee scilla is the man,
Disdaines to stoope or vaile his pride to thee;
Marius I say thou maist nor shalt not haue,
The charge that vnto scilla doth belong,
Vnlesse thy sword could teare it from my hart,
VVhich in a thousand folds impalls the same.

Marius:
And scilla hereof be thou full assurde,
The honor whereto mine vndaunted minde,
And this graue senate hath enhaunsed me,
Thou nor thy followers shall derogate,
The spence of yeares that Marius hath ore-past,
In forraine broyles and ciuil mutenies,
Hath taught him this, that one vnbrideled foe,
My former fortunes neuer shall oregoe.

scilla:
Marius, I smile at these thy foolish words,
And credit me should laugh outright I feare,
If that I knew not how thy froward age,
Doth make thy sence as feeble as thy ioynts.

Marius:
Scilla, Scilla, Marius yeeres hath taught
Him how to plucke so proud a yonkers plumes,
And know these haires that dangle downe my face,
In brightnes like the siluer Rodope:
Shall add so haughtie courage to my minde,
And rest such percing obiects gainst thine eies,
That maskt in follie, age shall force thee stoope.

Scil:
And by my hand I sweare ere thou shalt mase mee so,
My soule shall perish but Ile haue thy bearde,
Say graue Senators shall Scilla be your Generall.

Sulpitius:
No the Senate, I and Rome her selfe agrees.
Ther's none but Marius shall be Generall.
Therefore Scilla these daring tearmes vnfit,
Beseeme not thee before the Capitoll.

Scilla:
Beseeme not me? Senators aduise you,
Scilla hath vowd whose vowes the heauens recorde,
VVhose othes hath pierst and searcht the deepest vast,
I and whose protestations raigne on earth:
This Capitoll wherein your glories shine,
VVas nere so prest and throng de with scarlet gownes,
As Rome shall be with heapes of slaughtred soules
Before that Scilla yeeld his titles vp,
Ile mate hir streets that peere into the clouds,
Burnisht with gold and Iuorie pillors faire,
Shining with Iasper, Iet, and Ebonie,
All like the pallace of the morning sunne,
To swim within a sea of purple blood
Before I loose the name of Generall.

Mar:
These threats against thy country and these Lords.
Scilla proceeds from forth a Traitors hart,
VVhose head I trust to see aduanced vp
On highest top of all this Capitoll:
As earst was manie of thy progenie,
Before thou vaunt thy victories in Rome.

Scilla:
Graybeard, if so thy hart and tongue agree,
Draw forth thy Legions and thy men at armes,
Reare vp thy standerd and thy steeled Crest,
And meete with Scilla in the fields of Mars,
And trie whose fortune makes him Generall.

Marius:
I take thy word: Marius will meet thee there,
And proue thee Scilla a Traitor vnto Rome,
And all that march vnder thy traiterous wings,
Therefore they that loue the Senate and Marius
Now follow him.

Scilla:
And all that loue Scilla come downe to him,
For the rest let them follow Marius
And the Diuel himselfe be their Captaine.

Here let the Senate rise and cast away their Gownes, hauing their swords by their sides: Exit Marius and with him Sulpitius: Iu: Brutus: Lectorius.
Q. Pompey:
Scilla, I come to thee.

Lucretius:
Scilla, Lucretius will die with thee.

Scilla:
Thankes my Noble Lords of Rome.

Here let them goe downe and Scilla offers to goe forth and Anthony calls him backe.
Anthony:
Stay Scilla, heare Anthony breath forth,
The pleading plaints of sad declining Rome.

Scilla:
Anthony, thou knowst thy hony words doo pierce,
And moue the minde of Scilla to remorse:
Yet neither words nor pleadings now must serue,
When as mine honor calls me forth to fight,
Therefore sweete Anthony be short for Scillas hast.

Anthony:
For Scillas hast, O whither wilt thou flie?
Tell me my Scilla what dost thou take in hand?
VVhat warres are these thou stirrest vp in Rome?
VVhat fire is this is kindled by thy wrath?
A fire that must be quencht by Romaines blood,
A warre that will confound our Emperie,
And last an Act of fowle impietie.
Brute beasts nill breake the mutuall law of loue,
And birds affection will not violate,
The senceles trees haue concord mongst themselues,
And stones agree in linkes of amitie,
If they my Scilla brooke not to haue iarre,
What then are men that gainst themselues doo warre?
Thoult say my Scilla honor stirres thee vp:
Ist honor to infringe the lawes of Rome?
Thoult say perhaps the titles thou hast wonne,
It were dishonor for thee to forgoe:
O, is there any height aboue the highe,
Or any better than the best of all?
Art thou not Consul? Art thou not Lord of Rome?
VVhat greater Tytles should our Scilla haue?
But thou wilt hence, thou wilt fight with Marius
The man, the Senate, I and Rome hath chose.
Thinke this before, thou neuer liftst aloft,
And lettest fall thy warlike hand adowne,
But thou dost raze and wound thy Citie Rome:
And looke how many slaughtred soules he slaine,
Vnder thy Ensignes, and thy conquering Launce,
so many murders makest thou of thy selfe.

Scilla:
Inough my Anthony, for thy honied tongue
VVasht in a sirrop of sweete Conseruatiues,
Driueth confused thoughts through scillas minde,
Therfore suffize thee, I may nor will not heare,
so farewell Anthony, honor calls me hence,
scilla will fight for glorie and for Rome.

Exit Scilla and his followers.
Merula:
See Noble Anthony the trustles state of rule,
The stayles hold of matchles soueraignetie,
Now fortune beareth Rome into the Clowds,
To throw her downe into the lowest hells,
For they that spread her glory through the world,
Are they that teare her prowd triumphant plumes:
The hart-burning pride of prowd Tarquinius,
Rooted from Rome the sway of kingly mace,
And now this discord newly set abroach,
Shall ease our Consuls and our Senates downe.

Anthony:
Vnhappy Rome and Romaines thrise accurst,
That oft with triumphs fild your Citie walls,
VVith kings and conquering Rulers of the world,
Now to eclipse in top of all thy pride,
Through ciuill discords and domesticke broiles:
O Romaines weepe the teares of sad lament,
And rent your sacred Robes at this exchange,
For Fortune makes our Rome a banding ball,
Tost from her hand to take the greater fall.

Gra:
O whence proceeds these fowle ambitious thoughts,
That fires mens harts and makes them thirst for Rule:
Hath soueraignty so much bewitcht the minds
Of Romaines: that their former busied cares
VVhich erst did tire in seeking Cities good,
Must now be changd to ruine of her walls?
Must they that reard her stately Temples vp,
Deface the sacred places of their Gods?
Then may we waile and wring our wretched hands,
Sith both our Gods, our temples and our walls,
Ambition makes fell fortunes spightfull thralls.

Ex: all.
A great Alarum: let young Marius chase Pompey ouer the stage, and old Marius chase Lucretius: Then let enter three or fowre souldiers and his Auntient with his cullors, and Scilla after them with his hat in his hand, they offer to flie away.
Scilla:
Why whither she you Romaines,
VVhat mischiefe makes this slight?
Stay good my friends, stay dearest Countrimen.

1. souldier:
Stay let vs heare what our Lord Scilla saith.

Scilla:
What wil you leaue your chieftains Romains then?
And loose your Honors in the gates of Rome?
VVhat shall our Country see, and Scilla rue,
These Coward thoughts so sixt and firmd in you?
VVhat are you come from Capua to proclaime,
Your hartles treasons in this happy towne?
What will you stand and gaze with shameles looks,
VVhilst Marius butchering knife assailes our throats?
Are you the men, the hopes, the staies of state?
Are you the souldiers prest for Asia?
Are you the wondered Legions of the world,
And will you flie these shadows of resist?
VVell Romaines I will perish through your pride,
That thought by you to haue returnd in pompe.
And at the least your Generall shall proue,
Euen in his death your treasons and his loue.
Lo this the wreath that shall my body binde,
VVhilst Scilla sleepes with honor in the field:
And I alone within these cullors shut,
VVill blush your dastard follies in my death.
So farewell hartles souldiers and vntrue,
That leaue your Scilla who hath loued you.

Exit.
1. souldier:
VVhy fellow souldiers shall we flie the field,
And carelesly forsake our Generall?
VVhat shall our vowes conclude with no auaile?
First die sweete friends, and shed your purple blood,
Before you lose the man that wills you good.
Then to it braue Italians out of hand:
Scilla we come with fierce and deadly blowes,
To venge thy wrongs and vanquish all thy foes.

Exeunt to the Alarum.