University of Virginia Library

SCENE 2.

Enter Andronicus, Basil, Lapardos, Lanergus, Cleobulus, &c. In a full Councel of state.
An.
A pleasant prospect to my eye appears,
Old heads, more rich in wisdom then in years.

Ba.
Your Highness here I humbly do beseech?
To hear what I'm commanded to discover,
With a rude tongue but with a loyall heart;

An.
We hearken let your holiness proceed,

Ba.
I am the mouth for millions of souls
Whose names are lifted in these Parchment rolls,
Their goodness and not my Ability.

Cl.
Your subtleness and their simplicity,

(Aside.
Ba.
Made them to chuse me here to represent,
Their cordiall desires,
Beseeching that your Highness would be pleas'd,
The young Alexius may so far be help'd;
As that with him you'd be joynt Emperour.

An.
Interpret Sir, your language, I profess;
I cannot guess whats your misterious sense.

Ba.
Vouchsafe to bear the weight of half the Crown:
Nor will it ought offend your humble mind,
That you who all deserve share but a part:
Thus the Roman Senate antiently did match,
Spritefull Marcellus, in dispatch too quick,
With old delaying Fabius, and so;
Well blended age with youth, the sloth with swiftness,
No better cure for this our sad distempers,
Then to apply this sacred composition.

An.
Go choose some gallant full of daring youth:
And brave in mind whose very flesh is steel'd,
Can match all day and lie i'th'field all night,
And upon him bestow your ancient Crown,
Whose vast Atchievements may renown it,
See I am old decrepit and decay'd:
Age my streight arrow brings a bowe.

(shews his crooked body
Cl.
The bowe doth onely wart a handsome string.

(Aside.
An.
Gray head, Pale cheeks, dim eyes, faint heart, weak hands.
A coffin is more meet then a Crown for me,
No Royall robes like to a winding sheet.

Ba.
Consider Sir, a reasonable request.

An.
Of late I've found what long I was a seeking,
A private place to coole my soul from th'heat:
Caus'd from the hot pursuance of this world,
My enemies long since I have subdu'd,
It now remains I should subdue my self,
I must confess (no shame to tell the truth)
Bad's my old age, but far worse was my youth,
Disturbe not then my soul which now begins
A serious recollection of it's sins.

Ba.
Can piety prefer its private health,
Before the profit of the Common wealth?
Shall all mens wishes be withstood by one
Whose humbleness doth cross the publick good.

An.
I know this spacious Empires breadth and length,
It is a weight too heavy for my strength.

Pan.
Let's follow him and be importunate,

[He departeth seemingly discontented Pal. and Pan. follow him.]