University of Virginia Library

SCEN. Ult.

Enter Cleobulus, and Crato.
Cra.
O Barbarus, Barbarus, O, O, O, O, O,

Cle.
No letters in your Alphabet but O.

Cra.
Unjust, most cruel, inhumane, bruitish, devilish,

Cle.
Leave your gradations, pray speak even sense,

Cra.
Alexius is slain.

Cle.
Is that a wonder,
'Tis strange one dead in power surviv'd so long.
And now he's gone into the Elisian shade,
Who was but a meere shadow when he liv'd

Cra.
Andronicus and Alexius were like;
Cæsar and Bibulus consuls of Rome,
Whereof the One did all the other drank all.

Cle.
Either each day Alexius did rise drunk,
Or else each night he went to bed sober.
I saw no difference, alwaies he the same,
Habited sot.

Cra.
His Empress I believe;
Will not for sorrow wee'p her self to Amber.

Cle.
She hath to cause fort.
Alas she nere had leave to like, or love,
It was state-reason made the marriage,
Tw'as not their hearts but countries that were ti'de,
Greece was the Bridegroome, and France was the Bride,

Cra.
There's a brave widdow for Andronicus.

Cle.
He is to old to wife

Cra.
And so he was.
Too old to have the Empire.

Cle.
All lust in him is dead save onely his ambition.

Cra.
But do you hear of Isachius his plot.

Cle.
Tell that for news?

Cra.
Yea how it is detected.

Cle.
You jest I hope,

Cra.
As serious as a confessor at shrift;

Cle.
Why did you not tell me sooner,

Cra.
Do you,
Long for ill news? We here it now too soon,
Lapardas taken, and Isachius fled.

Cle.
No time to toy and talke, a minute now,
Well us'd may be the ransome of our lives,
Something must be resolv'd on, let us try,
Old legs, which cannot go, now learn to flye,

(Exeunt.
Chorus consisting of two companies.
1. Chor.
Come lets now open sorrows sluce,
And with our passion break the Truce,
Our souls no more intends to borrow
Joy on the credit of too morrow.
Lest that in mirth we spend one day
The next doth it in mourning pay.

2. Chor.
Long since we thought we were so low,
That lower we could never go.
Yet scarce into our woes did enter,
When we conceiv'd our selves at th'center;
Alas we fondly did mistake,
And of the brink did bottom make.

1. Chor.
All the losses we endure;
Do but make us more secure,
None lay luxury aside.
None abate their needless pride,
None a cup the more forbear:
None an oath the fewer swear.

2. Chor.
Yet you may observe of late,
How all people do debate.
Ryots, thrifty, pride, grown plain,
Gluttons fast, wantons contain.
Gamsters all now up do take,
When the Empire lies at stake.

1. Chor.
Many humbled we do see,
Oh that they would humble be.
It doth not our praise advance,
To be starv'd to temperance.
Sin to leave us doth begin,
But alas we follow sin.

2. Chor.
Were providence but pleas'd once more,
Our peace and plenty to restore.
Our lusts to charity wee'd turn.
In coldest place it hot would burn,
Astrea should have a new birth,
And there would be an Heaven on Earth.

1. Chor.
Rather the contrary we fear,
They'd wicked be that wicked were
The drunkard would be drunkard still.
And though more Old, be no less ill,
The wanton face will still be painted:
Dissembling souls will still seem sainted.

2. Chor.
Small hope they'l better be improv'd,
When the punishment's remov'd.
Who are fouler for the purge,
And more wanton for the scourge;
Senseless of the plague they feel,
Gainst fiery rod their back is steel.

Both Chor.
Tis safest to suspect the worst,
They who fear nothing fall the first.
What we desire our selves do know.
What we shall do the event must show,
Time this dispute can onely end,
Till then our verdict we suspend:

(Exeunt.