University of Virginia Library

Actus 1.

Scœna 1.

Enter at one dore Alexandra in her petticoate; at another, Aristobulus the high Priest in his wastcoate or shirt, both amazedly.
Qu. Alexandra.
O my thrice Princely Sonne; thou hast forgot
That Time's our Maister, and wee can dispose
But meerely of the instant.

Eld. Arist.
Madam true:
Nor haue I lost a moment; yet I know,
No diligence appeares to those, whose hearts
Doe both desire and waite.

Q. Alex.
Enough, enough;
Come let's away, my heart is wing'd with haste
That out-flies thought or motion; Ægypt (sweete)
Hath safety in it, not Ierusalem.

Eld. Arist.
I doe confesse it; yet this dangerous way
Of our escape, hath many feares about it.

Q. Alex.
There's pregnant reason for it, and our liues
Are markes that Herod shoots at: Who but sees
The wofull state of sad Ierusalem,
And how this Tyrant (like an angry Boare)
Roots vp the goodly Pines should couer him?
Hath he not slaine Antigonus, destroyd
Thy Father and thy Grandsire: (O my Lords,
My deare lou'd Lords, my Father and my Husband;)
Worthy Hircanus, noble Alexander;
And at this instant lies hee not in waite
For our destructions? Beldame that I am
To prate at such a season; (holy Sweete)
Come let's away, our flight is so secure,
No Art can vndermine it; any pause
Opens our graues before vs: flye, O flye.

Eld. Arist.
I doe attend your Highnesse.

Q. Alex.
Harke, I heare
The steps of some pursues vs; prethee come,
Let Ægypt and not Iuda be our Tombe.

Exeunt.
Enter at one dore Antipater at another Animis, with a band of Soldiers.
Antip.
Is this the diligence your duty shewes,
To runne this slothfull pace? By all I loue,
Y'are worthy of blame in high termes.

Anim.
Princely Antipater.

Ant.
Y'are too improuident, and this neglect
Will draw your life in hazard; vnderstand,
Th'are Lyons and not Lambs you cope withall:
The Mother-Queene is subtile, and her Sonne
Of high and noble spirit; should they scape,
You fixe a Ramme to batter downe the life
Both of the King and Kingdome.

Ani.
Gracious Sir,
Feare not my care; for nothing you can wish
Is able to outstrip my diligence.

Antip.
I but awake the duty which you owe
Vnto your King and Countrey; when that moues,
Children are strangers, Fathers are vnknowne,
And where our Princes health is questioned,
The liues we either borrow or doe lend
Must bee forgot and made ridiculous:
You vnderstand me, goe, dispatch, away.

Ani.
With faith great as your longings.

Exit Animis &c Soldiers.
Ant.
So, why so;
Thus haue I started brauely, and maintain'd
My race with full speed to ambition;
Much of my way is smoothed by the deaths
Of proud Antigonus and Alexander,
But chiefly of Hircanus, till hee went
My torch could neuer kindle; could I now
But dampe the high Priest Aristobulus,
(As there's much water towards) and in it
Drowne his old politique Mother, halfe my way
Lies as my thoughts would wish it; and how ere
By birth I am a Bastard, yet my wit
Shall beare me 'boue the true-borne; for 'tis found,
Power makes all things lawfull, all things sound.

Exit.
Cornets: and, Enter Herod, Marriam, Kiparim, Alexander, Aristobulus, Salumith, Pheroas, Ioseph and Attendants.
Her.
Who sits on the Tribunall, sits on thorne,
And dangers doe surround him; for at it
Enuy stands euer gazing, and with darts
Headed with lightning strikes vnto the heart
Of euery noble action: What can Kings
Doe, that the rude not censure and peruert
To vilde interpretations? Nay, although
Iustice and mercy guard them; though mens faults
Are growne so odious, that euen Cruelty
Is a commended goodnesse, meere Distrust
A reasonable vertue; Secrecie,
Important and most needfull; and Suspect,
A worthy truth, which needs no witnesses:
Yet, in this case, (where men cannot erre twice)
What shall we doe, that shall scape Infamie?

Ant.
Fine dissimulation!

Her.
O 'tis a hell to thinke on, that how ere
Our natures are inclin'd to pitty, yet
Our actions must be cruell (or so thought)
To guard our liues from danger; wicked men
With their sinnes so transforme vs. O my Loue,
This vnto thee I speake, whose tender heart
I know hath bitter thoughts, when it records
Thy Fathers and thy Grand-fathers mishaps:
'Tis true, I caus'd them dye; but (gentle Sweete)
Necessity, thy safety, mine, nay all the Lands,
Were my most iust assistants; and the act
Was noble, how ere blam'd of Cruelty.

Mar.
My dearest Lord, doe not mistake my temper,
My Grand-father, and Father, when they fell,
How euer Nature taught mine eyes to weepe,
Yet in my loue to you I buried them;
They were rich Iewels once, but, set by you,
They haue nor price, nor lustre; 'tis mine eye
That pitties them, my heart doth honour you.

Ant.
O y'are a goodnesse past equality,
And all the blessed times which are to come
Shall with more admiration then beleefe
Receiue th'incredible, but vndoubted truth,
Of your rare mildnesse, faith and temperance.

Her.
It shall indeed; and be this kisse a seale
Of our perpetuall loue knot; yet (my Queene)
There are new Treasons hatching, which (beleeu't)
Wil stretch thy patience higher: Ioseph, reade
That strange and cunning Letter.

Ioseph
reads.

I write short Alexandra, for feare of interception; that
Herods cruelty extendeth to the death of thy Husband, and imprisonment
of thy selfe, I lament: ayd I cannot send thee; but if
by flight thou canst escape, Ægypt shall receiue thee: I am glad
thy Sonne Aristobulus is high Priest, let him accompany thy
Iourney: If I should deale for thee by force, I raise two mighty
enemies, Rome and Iuda; thou art wise, fare as my selfe:
Thine Cleopatra, Q. of Ægypt.

Kip.
These are miraculous Treasons.

Sal.
Subtile plots.

Phe.
Strange interwinding mischiefes,

Mar.
Say not so,
Giue them a gentler title; nothings read
That doth accuse my Mother or my Brother.

P. Alex.
Indeed 'tis but an inuitation
Of others Loue, not their confederacy.

Y. Ari.
Th'Ægyptian Queen perswades, but their consent
Is not conceiued heere.

Her.
Deere wife and Sonnes,
Loue hath a blindfold iudgement; would their hearts
Were harmelesse as your wishes; but heere comes
The man will reconcile vs: Captaine, speake,
Where's Alexandra? Where's Aristobulus?

Enter Animis with Soldiers, bringing two Trunks.
Ani.
Sir, they are fled.

Her.
Fled! do not speake it; better thou hadst sunke
To hell, then bring that mischiefe.

Antip.
O the Diuell!
This was your hackney pace.

Ani.
By all that's true,
I haue not slackt a minute; they were gone
Ere I had my commission, and so fast,
My speed could not outstrip them; yet I tooke
This luggage and their Seruants, whence (no doubt)
Your Maiesty may gather new instructions.

Her.
Whence I may gather my despaire and griefe;
Villaine, thou hast betray'd me; in their losse,
I'm lost to fate an danger: Silly Snaile;
Could Sloth haue crept so slowly? Why, thy way
Was smooth as glasse, and thou mightst haue surpriz'd
Them easier then to speake it. O you Gods,
What plummets hang at Vassals heeles; and how
Doth sleepe and dulnesse ceaze them! But I vow,
Thy life shall pay thy forfait.

Ani.
Gracious Sir:

Her.
Talk'st thou of grace; and in this act hast lost,
All things that's like, or neare it? Did not scorne
Hold me, my hand should kill thee.

P. Alex.
Good Sir, thinke—

Her.
That y'are too rude to offer thus to thrust
'Twixt me and my resolution.

Antip.
Not a word;
'Tis death t'outface this lightening.

Her.
Lost, and fled, and gone, and all my hope
Turn'd topsie turuie downward? Ioseph, harke.

Herod whispers with Ioseph, and beckens all the rest vnto them, but Marriam, and Antipater.
Mar.
Blest be the God of Iuda, which hath brought
My royall Mother, and my Brother safe,
Out of the hands of sad Captiuity.
O, I will offer Sacrifice each day,
And make that houre a Sabbath, which doth bring
Them safe from threatning danger.

Antip.
Madam, Amen;
With that prayer Ile ioyne euer, and inuoke
Prosperity to guard them;—but (in heart)
Wish that damnation, like a Thunder-bolt,
Would beat them into cynders.

Her.
'Tis resolu'd,
Force shall compell what vertuously I would
Haue sought from milde intreaty; for those Trunks,
Goe throw them into Silo, let that Lake
Deuoure them and their treasures.

Ios.
Not so good,
You may, by that meanes, blind-fold cast away
What you would after purchase with your blood;
But cannot then recall it: Sir, conceiue;
There may be Complots, Letters, Stratagems,
And things we cannot dreame of.

Kip.
Nay, perhaps
Some new negotiations.

Sal.
Paper tongues,
That may discouer strange dissemblers.

Her.
True,
You haue preuail'd, breake vp those rotten Tombes,
Lets see what Ghosts they harbor. Ha, whats this?

Here they breake open the trunks, and finde Alexandra, and Aristobulus the elder.
Mar.
O me, my Mother and my Brother! Eyes
Drop out and see not their destruction.

Antip.
Vnhappy chance.

Ios.
Vnfortunate young-man.

Y. Arist.
'Tis fate not to be shunned.

P. Alex.
Woe the time.

Her.
What's heere: the high Priest like a Iuggler?
Are these his holy Garments; this his Roabe,
His Brest-plate and his Epliod, his rich Coate,
His Miter and his Girdle? Can it be,
That this was once Queene of Ierusalem?
O you immortall Gods, to what disguise
Will Treachery transforme vs!

Q. Alex.
Rather thinke,
How sharpe a plague is Tyrannie: O King,
Remember 'tis the fiercest Beast, of all
That are accounted sauage; yet delights
In Flattery, which is the worst of them
That are tame and domestique: With these Fiends
My life can finde no pleasure; doe not then
Blame me to seeke my freedome.

Eld. Arist.
Mighty Sir,
If Life bee th'onely Iewell Heauen can lend,
And that in the Creation was not made
A thing of equall purchase; how can wee
Offend, that but preserue it? You may say,
It hath deceiu'd vs; yet Sir, I will thinke
How ere it finish heere, 'tis but a stroke
To draw it forth vnto eternity.

Her.
'Tis a good resolution; for (beleeu't)
Your dayes on earth are finisht; treacherous plots
Like these, shall not ore take me.

Q. Alex.
But your Tyrannie
Shall out-runne all example: Sir, Despaire
Armes me with truth and boldnesse; I dare now
Tell you, of Kings, you are the wickedest;
And I, that in the ruines of my blood,
Read your destroying nature, and collect
Into a short briefe many Tragedies,
Acted vpon our family; what hope
Is left, that can assist vs?

Her.
You are plaine.

Q. Alex.
Truth hath no need of figures: was't not you
That did betray Hircanus in his flight
To the Arabian Monarch; and when laid
In harmelesse sleepe then slew him? Did not you
Hire the bloody Cassius to cut off
My fathers head, (the lou'd Antigonus?)
Haue you not kild my Husband, troad my Sonnes
Into the mire, that you might safely walke
Ouer their heads vnto Ambition?
And can you hope, that wee haue any hope
In you, but desolation?

Her.
Your despaire
Turne temperance into folly; Charity
Would more become the dying.

E. Arist.
Tis confest;
Nor is it lost in this sad Argument:
We know our liues are forfeyt, take them Sir;
To dye, is the first contract that was made
Twixt Mankinde and the World; tis a debt,
For which there's no forgiuenesse, th'onely cause
For which we were created; and, indeed,
To die's mans nature, not his punishment;
What folly then would shun it? Boldly Sir,
Vse what your power hath conquer'd.

Her.
So I will;
Your owne lips are your Iudges; and these hands,
Arm'd with these two Stillettoes at one blow,
Shall thus driue all feares from me; but vnite
Offers to stab, lets the poniard fal, &c imbraces Ari. & Alex.
Two friends in mine imbraces; happy ones,
Exceeding happy ones; let not your feares
Draw to your eyes false figures, or make me
Appeare that which I am not: come, I loue you,
Dearely I loue you; all that I haue done
Constraint, and not my nature perfitted:
Be henceforth free for euer; Ægypt, nor
The World shall safelier guard you; as you stand
Thus shall you still support me; Holines
Places Arist. on his right hand, and Q. Alex. on his left.
Vpon my right hand; Mother you shall sit
Euer vpon my left hand; both shall be
Mine Armour, Counsell, and prosperity.

Omnes.
This grace is past example; Herod's a God.

Her.
'Tis but their first step to felicity:
Antipater, your eare.

Herod whispers with Antipater, Antipater with Y. Alexander, and Prince Aristobulus.
Y. Alex.
Mother, the King is gracious.

Q. Alex.
Past beleefe,
Nor shall the memory lose me; this not fain'd,
Ile fixe my prayers vpon him.

Ios.
You shall doe
Wrong to your royall nature to suspect him.

E. Arist.
Sir, 'tis true;
I hold his word a rocke to build vpon.

P. Arist.
The sport is excellent, the wager firme,
My person shall maintaine it.

Y. Alex.
So shall mine.

Clap hands.
Antip.
And if I shrinke, make me a weather-cocke.

Her.
How soone a foule day's cleered: Now to make
Your happinesse more constant; Brother, know,
The Temple of King Salomon which I
The other day defaced and threw downe
Low as the earth it stood on; once againe
I will erect with double excellence.
Ioseph, my Brother, to your noble charge
I giue that holy building; see it fram'd
To th'height of Art and wonder; spare no gold,
Iewels, nor rich imbosture; I haue mines,
And all shall be exhausted; that the world
May boast, King Herod out-went Salomon.

Ios.
Sir, y'haue ingag'd me where my heart desir'd;
Doubt not my diligence.

Her.
Tis knowne too well:
How now, what newes Centurion? How stands fate
Betweene Augustus and Marke Anthony?

Enter Hillus.
Hill.
O royall Sir, deadly vnfortunate;
For, neuer was so sad a day before
Antip. E. Arist. Y. Ari. P. Alex. whisper.
Seene to ore-couer Ægypt: To be briefe
Augustus hath the Conquest; Anthony
Lies buried in the blood his warlike hand
Strucke from his royall bosome; the sad Queene
Oretakes him with like fury, and now both
Are turnd to dust and ashes.

Her.
Thou hast spoke
Much sorrow in a few words.

Hill.
But hold still
Farre greater to vnburthen: Soone as chance
Had made Augustus happy, and orethrowne
Faire Cleopatra, and her Anthony;
Hee viewes his spoyles, and 'mongst them findes the aide
Y'ad sent to interpose him: Now hee frownes,
Bends his inraged forehead, and protests,
That Iuda and Ierusalem shall curse
They euer heard the name of Anthony:
And this hee spake with such an Emphasis,
As shooke my heart within me; yet gaue wings
Vnto my faith to tell you.

Her.
Sir, no more,
Th'ast split me with thy Thunder; I haue made
Rome and the world my mortall enemies;
Yet vertue did transport me; but that guard
Is no guard now: Tell me, Centurion,
Where did you leaue Augustus?

Hill.
Sir, in Rhodes.

Her.
Tis a faire easie Iourney, I'm resolu'd;
Nor shall perswasion change me; hence Ile goe,
And as a Hermite throw at Cæsars feete
My Crowne and person; if hee pitty them,
My peace is made; if otherwise,
My fault flies not beyond me.

Kip.
O my Sonne,
This is a desperate hazard.

Sal.
Nay tis more;
A tempting of your fortune.

Her.
Be content,
Mother and Sister, nothing alters me;
Nor doe they loue me, that would draw my will
To any other compasse: Ioseph, to you
I leaue the Realmes protection, and the care
Or building vp the Temple: Nay, no teares,
The women weepe.
They prophesie my death, which doe but shew
A low deiected countnance; if I haue
Power in your hearts, this day I challenge you
To giue them vnto pastime, that the world
May see, we dread not fortune.

Antip.
Tis resolu'd;
And Ile be first to shew obedience.
Sir, 'twixt my Princely Brothers and my selfe,
I'ue made a match of Swimming, if you please
But to allow the Contract.

Her.
How is't made?

Antip.
That I and th'high Priest Aristobulus,
Will swim more swift, more comely, and more wayes,
Then can my Princely Brothers.

Her.
Are all agreed?

Eld. Arist.
All, if your Maiesty consent thereto.

Her.
For those young men it skils not; but Sir, you,
I'm curious of your danger.

Ant.
There's no feare.

P. Alex.
Tis a braue recreation.

Y. Arist.
A fit skill
For Princes to delight in.

Eld. Arist.
Gracious Sir,
Let me consort my Brothers.

Her.
Be your will
Your owne director; I am satisfied.

All.
Why tis a match then.

Her.
Yet looke well to your safeties; for my selfe,
Rhodes is mine obiect: Dearest Loue, farewell;
This kisse seale my remembrance; Mothers, let
Your onely prayers assist me; for the rest,
Despaire not till my downfall; goe, away,
Reply not, if you loue me; only Antipater,
Exe. all but Herod and Antip.
Stay and attend me further. Princely youth,
Of all the hopes that doe attend my life,
Thy Greatnesse is my greatest; nor would I
Ioseph returnes and listens.
Imbarque me in this desperate vessell thus,
Wer't not to raise thy fortunes: But tis now
No time for Courtship; onely, I must leaue
Two sad commandments with thee.

Ant.
Speak them Sir,
Without exception, you cannot deuise
What Ile not execute.

Her.
Tis nobly said:
Thou seest the high Priest Aristobulus,
And knowst how like a heauy waight he hangs,
Pressing our fortunes downeward; if hee liue
Our liues haue no assurance.

Ant.
Tis resolu'd,
Hee neuer sees to morrow; soone at night,
When we doe swim our wager, Ile so teach
His Holinesse to diue, that on the earth
He nere shall tread to hurt vs.

Her.
Thou hast hit
The obiect that I look at.

Ios.
(But shot wide
Of goodnes, and all good thoughts.)

Her.
This performd,
There yet remaines another thing to doe,
Which neerelier doth concerne me.

Ant.
Speake it Sir;
Your pleasure is mine Armour.

Her.
Briefly thus,
If through my fortune, or Augustus wrath,
I perish in this Iourney; by that loue,
Which nature, fauour, or my best deserts
Can kindle in thy bosome; I coniure
And binde thee on the first intelligence,
By poyson, sword, or any violent meanes,
To kill my Wife Marriam; let no man
But Herod tast her sweetnesse; which perform'd,
My soule in death shall loue thee.

Ant.
Thinke tis done;
By heauen the houre which tells me of your death,
Is th'oure of her destruction; I haue sworne,
And there's no fate can change me.

Her.
Be thy selfe,
Constant and vnremoued; so farewell.

Ios.
Two fiends like these were neuer spit from Hell.

Exeunt Herod and Ioseph seuerally.
Ant.
Goe Herod, happy King; nay Herod, goe,
Vnhappy, cause so happy; happy King,
Whilst th'art a King; vnhappy when no King:
Hangs then mishap or hap vpon a King, or no King?
Then Herod, be no King; Antipater be King:
And what's a King? a God: and what are Gods, but Kings?
Ioue, Prince of Gods, was petty King of paltry Creete;
Men subiect are to Kings and Gods; but of the twaine,
Their Gods than Kings commands, they rather disobay;
Kings greater then; nay, better then, then Gods:
Then but a King or God, naught with Antipater;
And rather King then God; no God; a King, a King.
When I complaine to Eccho but head-aking; it cries, a King:
When I, in mirth, am musique making; it sounds, a King:
Each sight, when I am waking; presents a King:
When I my rest am taking; I see a King.
Last night I saw, or seem'd to see; nay, sure I saw
A Crown hang ore my head; & throgh the Crown a Sword:
I saw, I sigh'd, I cryed, O when? O when?
Fall Crowne; yea fall with Sword; fall both, so one may fall:
But why dreame I of falling, that must rise;
Nay runne, nay leape, nay flie vnto a Crowne?
Gyants heape hills on hills, to scale high Heauen;
I, heads on heads, to climbe a Kingdomes Skye:
But oh, I am a Sonne; a Sunne, O happy name;
A Sunne must shine alone, obscuring Moone, and Starres:
I, but I am a Bastard; what of that?
Men base by birth, in worth are seldome base;
And Natures Out-casts, still are Fortunes Darlings:
Bacchus, Apollo, Mercury; Bastards, yet brauest Gods:
Then, why not I a God, a Demi-God, or Worthy?
You Gods, you Demi-Gods, you Worthies then assist me;
That, as our birth was like, our worth may beare like price:
If they refuse; come Deuils, and befriend me;
My breast lies open; come; come Furies and possesse it;
Hatch heere some monstrous brood, worthy of you and me;
Which all Posterities may know, but none beleeue;
Whereat the Sunne may not goe backe, as once it did,
At Atreus tyrannie; but fall and dye for euer:
Wherat the Heau'ns may quake, Hell blush, & Nature tremble;
And men (halfe mad) may stand amaz'd. So, so, it works, it works;
My breast swels to a Mountaine; and I breed
A Monster, past description; to whose birth,
Come Furies, and bee Mid-wiues. Harke! O harke!

Dumbe Shew.
Musique: and, Enter Egystus and Clitemnestra dancing a Curranto, which is broken off by the sound of Trumpets: then, enter Agamemnon, and diuers Noblemen in Triumph: Egystus whispers with Clitemnestra, and deliuers her a sleeuelesse shirt; then slips aside: Clitemnestra imbraces Agamemnon, he dismisses his Traine; shee offers him the shirt, he offers to put it on, and being intangled, Egystius and she kils him; then departs, leauing at Antipaters feete two Scrowles of paper.
Ant.
So shall it be; shall it? no shalls; tis done, dispatcht:
Who can resolue, can doe; who can dispose, can better:
My way, seauen single persons, and two houses crosse;
Supported by a many headed beast:
O, had they all one head, or all their heads one necke,
Or all their necks one body, which one blow might broach;
But had they Hydra's heads, Gerions bodies; Hercules,
By making them away, would make his way to Heauen:
But as an hunger-starued Tyger, betweene two Heifers,
Here yawnes, there gapes, in doubt where first to fasten;
So doubt I where to set my pawes, but care not where;
My Father shall be first, that order be obseru'd;
Whose death I wish, not worke, lest piety be wanting;
Rome will I hope ease me of that disturbance:
Herod is come Augustus, friend to thy foe, and so thy foe;
Keep him Augustus, nay kill him Augustus, or Ioue kill him & thee;
Passe he by Land or Sea, or Hell, or vnder Heauen:
O Earth; food vnto him, or none, or noysome giue:
O Sea; his ships or sinke in sands, or drinke in waues:
O Heauen; or stop his breath, or lend contagious breath:
O Hell; for kindnesse, call him in thy wombe: In summe,
Gape Earth, swell Seas, fall Heauen, Hell swallow him:
But, let me see; what say my hellish Counsellors?
Egystus wooes, and winnes, and weares a Crowne: a Queene
Receiues with loue (false loue) the Victor King; vnarm'd,
She cloaths him in her handi-worke, a shirt,
Which had no head or armes to issue out;
Intangled thus they slew him: let me see,
What haue they left? thus Clitemnestra writes;
Per scelera semper sceleribus tutum est iter;
Fond is the stay of sinne; sinne safest way to sinne;
Egystus leaues this axiome;
Nec regna scotium ferre, nec tedæ sciunt;
None, or alone; Kings can indure no Riuals;
I vnderstand you well; and so will worke;
Whetting against my Father both his Wife,
His Sister and her Husband; some by Feare,
Some by Beleefe, and some by Iealousie:
Thus rise I on their heads, and with their hands
Rip vp their naturall Bowels: Tis decreed,
The Plot is laid, Parts must bee playd,
No time delaid.

Exit.
Enter Lime the Mason, Handsaw the Carpenter, and Durt the Labourer.
Han.
Tis a good handsome Plot, and full of Art;
But how like you my Modell for the Timber-worke?

Lim.
Pretty, pretty, if the seates be not too spacious.

Dur.

O, tis much the better, and fitter for the Scribes &
Pharisies to sleepe vpon: but here comes the Lord Ioseph.

Enter Ioseph.
Ios.

Well said my maisters, and how mounteth the braue
Temple? may a man stand on the top of it and orelooke
the Sunne?

Han.

The Sunne is very high Sir; yet there is neuer an
Almanacke-maker, but may lie on his backe and behold
Capricorne.

Ios.

Tut, any foolish Citizen may doe that which hath
his wife for his maister: but stay; what's hee?

Enter Achitophel & Disease, with a Banner full of ruptures.
Ach.
Come away Disease, and hang vp these my trophees,
Whilst I with gentle ayre, beat vpon the eares of passengers.

Dis.

At hand Sir, and heere is your Ensigne; as for your
Drugges, there is not one of them but is able to send a man
to God or the Diuell in an instant.

Achitophel sings.
Ach.

Ios.
What's hee?

Lim.

O Sir, it is one that vndertakes to know more Simples,
then euer grew in Paradise; tis Rabbi Achitophel.

Ios.
What, the famous Mountebanke?

Dur.
The same Sir.

Achitophel sings.
Ach.

Ios.
Reuerend Iew; I heare y'are fam'd for many rarities;
As Sculpture, Painting, and the setting forth
Of many things that are inscrutable;
Besides you are a learned rare Physitian.

Ach.
I know as much as ere Sambashaw did,
That was old Adams Schoolmaister; for, look you Sir:

Sings.
Ios.
I shall haue imployment for you.

Ach.
The Iew is all your Creature, and his skill
Hee'l willingly bestow vpon your goodnesse.

Ios.
O Sir, you shall not.

Dis.
Yes Sir, my Maister will willingly giue you his skill;
Yet, with this Memorandum, you must pay for his good will.

Ios.
I am no niggard, Sir.

Dis.

Besides, my Lord, there's neuer a Pibble in Iordan, but
my Maister is able to make the Philosophers Stone of it.

Dur.
O wonderfull! as how I pray you Sir?

Dis.

Why by extraction, solution, reuerberation, coagulation,
fixation, viuiuication, mortification, &c multa alia.

Ach.

Peace knaue, I say, these pearls must not feed Porkets.

Han.

How, doe you make Swine of vs? I tell you we are
as arrand Iewes as your selfe.

Ios.
No more, y'are all for mine imployment; you for stone,
You for Painting, you for Timber-worke;
No man shall want his merit: Goe, away,
Apply your labours, there's a largesse for you.

All.
O braue Lord Ioseph.

Sings.
Ach.

Exe. all but Ioseph.
Enter Alexandra & Marriam, Antipater & Salumith aloft.
Q. Alex.
O cease my Marriam, teares can doe no good;
This Murder's past example; to be drownd,
Drownd in a shallow murmure where the stones
Chid the faint water for not couering them.
O, 'twas a plot beyond the Diuell sure;
Man could not haue that mallice.

Mar.
Madam yes,
And 'twas some great one too that had his fist
Thrust in the blood of Aristobulus.

Q. Ale.
For which blood Ile haue vengeance, & my tears
Shall neuer drye till it bee perfited.

Ios.
Madam, forbeare complaining; would this were
The worst of Mischiefes iourney.

Mar.
Know you worse?

Ios.
I dare not speake my knowledge, though my heart
Leapes twixt my lips to vtter Mysteries.

Antip.
Note you that Salumith?

Sal.
Yes. it hath pincht her on the petticoate.

Mar.
Sir, as y'are noble, whatsoere you know
Of these mishaps, with freedome vtter it.

Q. Al.
Vtter it;
For Heau'ns sake vtter it, noble, worthy Lord.

Ios.
Madam, I dare not.

Mar.
As you loue vertue speake it; let my teares
Winne so much from thy goodnesse; noble Sir,
Soule of thy Generation, thou honestest 'mongst men:
O speake it, speake it.

Ant.
Note you this Courtship?

Sal.
Yes, tis Sorcery.

Q. Alex.
Good Sweete, vnlocke these counsels.

Mar.
By all the bonds of Chastity and truth,
It shall proceede no further.

Ios.
You haue laid
Such strong Commandments on me I must yeeld:
Harke, your eares.

Whispers.
Antip.
Are they not kissing Madam?

Sal.
Yes; may poyson flow betweene them.

Q. Alex.
Antipater; he drowne him!

Ios.
Nay, be still; you shall heare greater mischiefe.

Mar.
Poyson me, if he perish! O you Gods,
What Treason lurkes in Greatnesse; this hath made
Wounds in my heart, through which his loue and name,
Is fled from me for euer!

Ios.
Tis a fault
Which asks your deepest wisedome: come, let's in;
Ile tell you stranger Stories.

Q. Alex.
Yet I feare,
None that can draw more vengeance or despaire.

Exeunt.
Antie.
Awaken Madam, they are vanished.

Sal.
Not from mine outrage, that shall like a storme
Follow them and confound them; I will make
The world in blood, text downe my crueltie.

Ant.
I cannot blame you, tis strange impudence.

Sal.
Ile be reueng'd; by all my hopes I will,
Highly and deeply; shallow foole, no more;
Still waters drowne, the shallow doe but roare.
Exit Sal.

Ant.
Ile not be farre behinde, but helpe to send
All vnto hell; tis for a Crowne I stand,
And Crownes are oft the ruines of a Land.
Ex. Ant.

Enter Augustus, Decius, Lucullus, and Attendants.
Aug.
Thus haue we queld Rebellion; thus (like smoke)
Vanishes hence the name of Anthony:
Only some Props remaine yet; which Ile rend
Vp by the roots and scatter: amongst which
Vngratefull Herod is a Principall;
On whom Ile shower my vengeance.

Enter Mutius.
Mut.
Gracious Sir; the King of Iuda, like a Supplicant,
Desires accesse vnto your Maiestie.

Aug.
Who, Herod?

Mut.
Sir, the same.

Aug.
Tis a strange ouer-daring.

Luc.
An attempt wisedome would hardly runne to.

Aug.
Call him in;
Hee dares not come to braue vs; Rome hath power
To shake a stronger building; and his feares
Are glasses of his danger: no man looke
On Iuda, but with hatred.

Enter Herod.
Her.
Mighty Sir; to you, as him of whom I first receiu'd.
The Crowne of Iuda, humbly I returne it;
And thus arise. Know now (the great'st 'mongst men)
Tis not for Life I plead, but Honesty,
For Vertue, Valour, Honour, Prowesse, Grace,
And all good mens acquaintance: I confesse,
I ayded Anthony; if for that I fall,
A true friends teares shall bee my Funerall.

Luc.
Tis a rare Gratulation.

Dec.
I'm affraid
New feare will alter it.

Mut.
Obserue the Emperour.

Her.
Tis true (great Sir) your sacred hand was first
Inuested mee in Iuda; gaue mee that
I can forsake with comfort: keepe it still;
Who from a Crowne is rid, is free from cares;
I prize the worth, lesse then two fluxine teares.

Aug.
This is a kinde of brauing.

Her.
Heare me forth;
And when y'aue heard; this, for extremitie:
Since first the time I wore the sorrowfull Wreath,
(For Crownes and Sorrowes are incorporate,
And hang like linkes, one wreathed in another)
Since first the Crowne I wore, you knew my grieues;
But nere relieu'd me by Person or by Deputy;
No, not when Asia and the Affricke strands
Ioyn'd both to ouer-throw me: onely, then
The euer-prais'd (now lost) Marke Anthony
Thrust forth his hand and staid me; he kept firme
My foote that then was sliding; I, for this,
Sent him not ayde, but rent long purchased.
O (gracious Sir) view mine oblidgements well,
And you shall see vertue did gouerne me.
Why, did his life yet lie within my hands,
Thus would I straddle ore him as I stand;
Mine armes disseuer'd like two Rhodian Props;
And ere I bent, my Trunke should be the Base
For his dread foes to build Ambition on:
This would I doe; and, if this bee a Crime,
It is so good an one, I scorne my breath:
Who liues the liues the longest still must end in death;
And so must I.

Aug.
Thou art thine owne Iudge Herod: call a Slaue,
A desperate Slaue; 'mongst all our Prisoners,
Exit Mut.
Chuse him that hath least mercy: you shall finde,
Your Friendship had a false grownd.

Enter Mut. & a Slaue.
Her.
Cæsar, no; Vertue was the foundation, and you may
Batter, but not orethrow it.

Aug.
Well Ile try
The vtmost of your fortitude: arme that Slaue;
And Sirrah, kill that Traytor; tis a worke
That brngs you home your Freedome.

1. Sla.
Gracious Sir, what is he I must murder?

Aug.
Tis a King.

1. Sla.
Ha!

Dec.
Villaine, why star'st thou? Strike, I say, you Slaue.

1. Sl.
Slaue, Ile not strike; knowst thou or he, or he, or Cæsar
What tis to bee a Murderer; nay, more,
The Murderer of a King; nay, most of all,
To murder God himselfe; (for such are Kings:)
O you dull bloody Romans; see, in's eyes
Are thousands of arm'd arm'd Angels; and each Ray
A flame of Lightning ready to deuoure
The hand thats lift gainst sacred Maiesty.
Cæsar, I'm no Italian; though thy Slaue,
I will not be thy Diuell; those are bred
Ith'Shambles, let them Butcher; fetch for this
Some from the Roman Gallowes; for they are
Hangmen that must performe it; and thou lookst
Like one: goe, take the Office, Ile not doo it.

Aug.
The Slaue's affraid to strike him; timerous Coward:
Call another.

Exit Mutius.
1. Sla.
Timerous! Cæsar, no:
Were I to scale a Tower, or sacke a Towne,
I'de doo't; although the ruines fell like Quarries on me:
Timerous! I neare fear'd Mankinde; Cæsar, know,
Nor earth nor Hell hath ought that can affright me:
I'ue buckled with proud Iulius thine Vncle, and was one
That, by expulsion, beate him from bright Albion:
And yet to kill a King, I'm timerous.

Ent. Mut. & 2. Sla.
Aug.
Let that Slaue haue the weapon: Sirrah, kill
That King, and haue thy freedome: wilt thou doo't?

2. Sla.
Yes, for my liberty,
As soone as you can speake it: Shall I strike?

Aug.
Stay, what's thy Country?

2. Sla.

Rome, Rome; I was bred in one of those Colledges
where Letchery and Murder are Pue-mates: Come, will
you giue the word?

Her.
Doe not deferre it Cæsar,
I haue made peace with my Conscience long since.

Aug.
Why then strike.
Yet Villaine hold; art not amaz'd to doo't?

2. Sla.
Amaz'd, why?
To strike off these my shackles, such a blow
I would giue to my Father.

Aug.
But a worse
Shall fall vpon thy Carcasse: binde that Slaue,
And throw him headlong downe into the Sea;
The earth's too much infected.—Herod, thus
Mine armes giues thee thy freedome: take thy Crowne;
Weare it with safety; and but be to mee
Faithfull; Ile loue thee as did Anthony.

Her.
Cæsar is royall; and, by this, hath bound
A faithfull Seruant to him.

Aug.
For that wretch,
Giue him his liberty; since th'ast seru'd
Vertue, thou shalt serue Cæsar; henceforth be
Commander ore a Legion: Those that know
Goodnesse; by Goodnesse euer greater grow.

1. Sla.
Cæsar's a God in all things.

Exeunt omnes.