 | Regulus |  |
ACT I.
SCENE CARTHAGE.Gisgon and Batto looking through Prospective Glasses.
Gisg.
Nineteen, twenty, one and twenty Towns o' fire.
Bat.
Nay, I see two and twenty, an't like your Honour.
Gis.
I see the t'other now under a Mountain. Well, tho
our people are Rogues, and go to Hell, our Houses go up
to Heaven.
Bat.
Regulus plays the Devil, an't like your Honour: He beats us by
Sea and Land; over-runs all our Country; is now come up to the Walls
of Carthage, and here he burns our Forts and Towns, under the nose of our
capital City.
Gis.
I won't trust this knave: But these confusions I hope will make my
friend Prince Asdrubal King.
aside.
Bat.
Your Honour is a gallant Gentleman. If the Prince gets the management
of the Commonwealth into his hands (as I hope he will) you'll
be at the top of affairs; but you'll be above troubling your self with business.
If your Honour pleases to employ me, who have been in business all
my life, as a Merchant, a Banker, a Farmer o' the Customes—
Gis.
And hast cheated in 'em all; thou hast cheated the Commonwealth
of a thousand Talents.
Bat.
Ah dear! I wou'd I had, an't like your Honour. I am not worth
much.
Gis.
Thou! no, who'll give any thing for thee? but your Bags are, Sir.
Were not you rated to the publick charge?
Bat.
Rated? ay, but I swore off.
Gis.
Nay, thou wilt swear off thy Ears, to save thy Money. Sir, you
have as good an Estate as I have: And I am a man of quality, and you are
but a Pedlar. Is that fit? you are a Pedlar I say, tho you trade for thousands.
If you had any Honour by birth, you lose it by trade, and are a
pedling fellow.
Bat.
I honour! an't like your Honour, I don't pretend to it; if I did I
should be undone. I live by my credit, and if I should pretend to be a great
man, and a man of Honour, no body would trust me; for men of Honour
think they may do any thing.
We men of quality do sometimes endeavour to humble such mechanick
fellows as you are, and punish you for your insolence. I married
a Persian Lady of noble birth and fortune; and the King did me the Honour
to dance at my Wedding; I shall be proud of it as long as I live Now
you are a Mechanick, and marry'd a Wife no better than your self; and
your Wife has the insolence to vye for finery, and dresses, with my most
noble Lady. I tell you what, humble your Wife, or I'll break your pate.
Bat.
I cannot, an't please your Honour, she humbles me.
Gis.
I'll humble you both then. How now! what graceful person comes
this way? oh! 'tis my very venerable friend, the Priest of Hercules.
Bat.
He has the marks of a iolly rich Priest; a rubrick Nose, and a canonical
belly.
Gis.
You'd have him as errant an Ass as you are. Sir; starve in the midst
of wealth. He eats and drinks like a man of sense. Here he comes.
Enter Hiarbas.
My very venerable friend, how does your Reverend person?
Hi.
Very—aw—
(yawns)
—well—aw—
Gis.
Your Reverence I think is drowzy.
Hi.
Yes in troth, I crop'd my Nap something short last Night, and
now it springs again. Drowziness twists Vine-like about my Chops, and
arrests me for the Hours I borrowed of her.
Gis.
What? you were up at study?
Hi.
No in troth, I study not of late, it makes me sat; 'tis a great hinderer
of digestion.
Gis.
Not of digesting Books, my reverend friend.
Hi.
I ha' not leisure now to digest Books. I laid in a good stock of
Academick sense when I was young, and faith that serves me now. How
dost thou do, Batto?
Bat.
Thank your Reverence.
Hi.
This is an honest fellow, Senator.
Gis.
No, no, a knave, a knave.
Hi.
He comes to my Temple sometimes, and gives me my dues: if a
man does that, I forgive him a great many frailties: I love to season life
with a good even hand; Vertue, Morality and Piety, are very wholsome
things, but not over toothsome. We must mingle a little liberty and frailty
with 'em, and then they relish well.
Gis.
Your Reverence speaks like a Gentleman. But I am not of opinion,
because a man o' quality now and then makes bold with Heaven,
therefore every Jack Sawce may do it. I think a Gentleman shou'd be indulg'd.
Hi.
Sir, a Prince is to have his will, for he's the Image of the Gods; a
Gentleman is to have his pleasure, for he is the Image of his Prince; a
common fellow is to drudge, for he is the Image of an Ass.
Shout.
Gis.
Did not your Reverence hear the shouts and huzza's of the people after
our splendid friend Prince Asdrubal. A word wi' you—He's in a fair
way to be King.
aside.
Silence, have a care.
(A shout.)
Hark, I think he comes.
Gis.
Ay. 'tis he! 'tis he! and all the World after him, I am over-joy'd.
Enter Asdrubal, followed by an armed multitude.
Sir, I am in raptures, I cannot govern my joy. I most ardently embrace
your knees.
Asd.
Enough.
Gis.
Sir, I can never have enough.
Hiar.
A word wi' you, Senator, you will betray all.
(aside.)
No body
will believe these Transports of Joy, at the Princes advancement, are for
the sake of the Public.
Gis.
Damn the Public! I care not a Farthing for the Public.
Hiar.
Every body believes that; therefore these Raptures are plain confessions
of some other alms.
(aside.)
Well Fellow Citizens, you are in
a fair way to be great and happy; you address to a Prince, who has power
and vertue, can, and will save you.
Asd.
To serve you all, I'm sure I have a Will.
If I want Power, that is not my Fault.
And here are coming some to take away,
That little Power I have, I mean the Guards.
They'r coming to oppose me, and themselves;
For I'm it may be the best Friend they have.
Hiar.
There's Lord Hamilcar in the head of 'em.
Gis.
He's a wiseman, did not your Highness offer to marry his Daughter?
Asd.
I did. I thought him then a man of Honor.
Gis.
Well, let 'em come, we 'ave strength to deal with 'em.
Enter Hamilcar, and a Guard.
Ham.
Lord Asdrubal, why wilt thou force the Senate
To use your ill? your noble Ancestors
Highly oblig'd your Country; their deserts
Have pleaded for you, and we lent an ear,
Till your extravagance ran to this height,
And in the Town made a wide dangerous rent;
When mighty Regulus is at our Walls,
And our united strength can scarce preserve us.
Asd.
Have you spoken?
Ham.
I have.
Asd.
Then pray bear patiently some words from me.
I've suffer'd tamely many wrongs from you,
And the whole Senate. For the sake of peace,
My private wrongs I never will revenge:
But for the sake of peace and publick good,
The injuries your self, and many more
Have done the Common-wealth, I'll ne're forgive.
No, with the hazard of my life, I'll try
To right my Country upon all of you.
My Lord, we understand you well enough
We know what Serpents lurks under these Flowers,
Ambition; you are lab'ring to be King.
Asd.
'Tis false, I take the Gods to be my witness.
Ham.
Why do your fav'rites then insinuate
In every place, that y'are of Royal Blood?
Asd.
Am I to answer for my followers?
And I have Royal Blood, is it a fault?
Gis.
Now I am concern'd to speak. For a Person of Quality, I am a tolerable
Scholar. I read books, and books of Heraldry delight me much.
I dabble much in the fountains of great Families. By consequence I am not
ignorant of his Highness Prince Asdrubal's extraction; I know he is descended
from King Strato, the Royal Ancestor of Queen Dido of ever blessed
memory.
Ham.
Well, what then?
Gis.
Why, then he is descended from King Sicheus.
Hiar.
Then his Highness shews the more humility, by submitting to
serve.
Asd.
I declare my self the humblest Servant of the poorest man here.
Hiar.
Here's a fine Gentleman.
Gis.
A delicate Prince; it does my heart good to look upon him.
Asdr.
I never will renounce my Royal Blood;
But any Title, or Desire to reign;
I solemnly renounce, before the Gods.
What can the Crown give me? many more troubles,
Little more Greatness, than I now possess.
My Patrimonial Lands are a large Empire.
I love my ease too much to wish to reign.
It is my Fault, I was so long a rising
To serve the Commonwealth, I am afraid
I rise too late; and things are gone too far.
Now I'm disturb'd, I'll not take any rest,
Till I have fix'd (or done my best to fix)
The Commonwealth in Safety and Repose.
Therefore my Lord, give up your Power this minute,
Or I will try by force to make it mine.
Ham.
This is no Season for domestic Strife.
My Lord consider.
Asdr.
I've too long consider'd.
Ham.
Will you give us some leisure to consider?
Asd.
I'll give you Forty hours, if in that time,
You do not find some reasonable way
To give the Commonwealth speedy Relief,
I will repair to utmost violence.
Ham.
Well, you shall very quickly hear from me.
Ex.
You see my Friends, what a great Stake I lay,
That you may win, for I can be no greater,
Nor richer than I am; but in your Love;
But you I hope will get all your desires.
Exit.
Gis.
Here's a Prince!
Hiar.
Thank the Gods, for giving you such a man!
Gisg.
Look if they huzza; huzza, for shame, huzza!
Ex. shouting.
Bat.
This Prince Asdrabal, has some great design in his head, or he
would never take all this trouble upon him. It is for some extraordinary
Pleasure. I fancy 'tis for a Crown; and if he gets it, he'll to pleasure again.
We Men of business shall have the management of all things, but his Women.
He will keep Generals to be beaten for him, and such Men as I to
be hang'd for him. He'll commit Faults in his own Person, and think to
be hang'd in ours. But he is mistaken; for when we have got the Money,
and impoverish'd him, we shall be honored for being rich Cheats, and he'll
be despised and punished for being cheated. No man forgives Poverty or
Folly.
SCENE Hamilcars House.
Enter Hamilcar, and a Gentleman.
Ham.
Where is the Spartan General.
Gen.
Gone to view
The new Recruits, encamp'd before the Town,
But he's return'd, I see him come this way.
Exit.
Enter Xantippus.
Ham.
Oh welcome! brave Protector of our State,
What News out o'the Feild? I need not ask.
I see a mournful paleness on your cheek.
Xant.
There is a burning Face you do not mind
The Face of Heav'n scorch'd with you flaming Towns.
The great victorious Roman Regulus,
Is not content to take your Seas and Lands,
He also means to conquer all your Skys;
Look out you'll see him scaling Heav'n by fire.
Ham.
What need he? he's already Master there
Since his bold landing here, no happy Star,
Has corresponded with our falling State;
As if he barr'd up all the Roads above,
As he does those of our lost Provinces.
Xant.
Would he could bar up all the Roads of Hell;
That Hell might have no correspondence here.
Ham.
Ay, that commerce has brought our Commonwealth,
From a stupendious height of Power and Wealth,
To be a Beggar, and a public Charge,
Had not you brought your Spartans to our aid
We must ha' sunk; and we are so corrupt
I think it is a sin to buoy us up,
And destroy men who ought to be ador'd.
To preserve men who ought to be destroy'd.
The meanest Roman seems the Son of Jove,
And mighty Regulus seems Jove himself.
Xan.
Well we must make a speedy desperate push,
Or else between the glorious Regulus,
And corrupt Asdrubal we shall be crush'd
Asdrubal gets the ground we lose in Town,
And Regulus our Provinces abroad.
And this good man, our honest careful spy
Tells me, the Romans look the next fair wind
Shoud land 'em here, at least two Legions more.
Spy.
My Lord, they are expected every hour.
Ham.
Then we can soon determine what to do.
If they are now too great a weight for us,
What will they be when they have this supply?
Xan.
'Tis true, therefore to day I'll to the Scale,
And I have hope, for I perceive of late,
In my brave Enemy some levity.
He's wanton with success and plays with you,
As if he were asham'd of being grave
In such a trifling thing, as fighting me.
I hope to make good use of this to day.
Mean while, my Lord, pray make this Town your care,
Your Province is as dangerous as mine.
For you must deal with treacherous Enemies.
Ham.
My Lord, I'll take what Post you please to give me.
For our Republick, ay and Nature too,
Have made you my superior.
Xan.
How my Lord?
Are not you Father of my fair Elisa?
And in her love the maker of my Fortunes?
And shortly you will be my Father too.
Oh! what a noble Friend y'ave been to me?
To oblige me you have expos'd your life.
I was so bold for your fair Daughters love,
To Rival Asdrubal, a mighty Prince;
And you as bold gave me the preference.
And by that means have brought his rage upon you.
How brave is this? and oh! how generous!
For I'm a Subject to the Spartan State,
Where Subjects have more Riches than some Kings.
But see the lovely Elisa comes this way,
Have I your leave to talk with her a while?
Ham.
You need not ask it, she's more yours than mine.
For I have given you all my right in her;
And now retire to give you liberty.
Exit.
Spy.
Your Lordship has no more commands for me?
Xan.
Only to hide with care from every man,
That I employ you to the Roman Camp.
For if the factious men shou'd come to know,
They'd put a false malicious sense upon't;
And from it work much mischief.
Spy.
I'll conceal it.
Exit.
Enter Elisa, and her Woman.
El.
Oh! here's my Lord.
Xan.
My Love! thou tremblest, Dear!
El.
Have I not cause?
All Carthage has been shaken with the shouts
Of the vast Crouds that follow Asdrubal.
They say he will be King; well if he be,
I'll be a Ghost; he hunts me eagerly:
But I abhor him; I had rather be
The ashes of your Wife, in a cold Urn,
Than in Golden Bed his living Queen.
Xan.
Oh! my kind Love! how shall I answer thee?
We Spartans shun all lux'ry, even in words.
We plainly dress our bodies, and our thoughts.
I can but say, I love.
El.
And that's enough.
They who buy Plate by weight, regard the Mettal,
And not the Art about it; words receive
A higher price from truth, than art or wit.
I know thou lov'st me, for thou hast for me
Despis'd a hundred shining beauties here,
Who languish for thee.
Xan.
Thou hast shunn'd for me,
Not only wealthy Youth, but Wealth it self,
I have no Gold, nay more, I must have none.
Our Sparta abhors riches as a Pest.
We will not suffer the least Symptom there
Of Wealth or Luxury to shew it self.
I dare no more shew fair Elisa's breast
Cover'd with Rubies, than infectious hears.
Nor her white slender Fingers hid in Rings,
And think the breaking out of a rank mind.
Yet thou art willing, Dear, to go with me,
And leave thy Robes and Jewels.
El.
What are those?
The Liveries we Slaves to Fashions wear.
Alas! I have not seen 'em many a day.
Since I've seen thee, I have seen nothing else.
My eyes and thoughts have all been upon thee.
Xant.
My Dear! yet we in Sparta are not poor,
There's no one there without a great Estate.
For every one owns the whole Commonwealth,
Which must provide him ev'ry thing he wants.
The Law takes measure of us all for Cloaths,
Diets us all, and in the sight of all,
To keep us from all private Leagues with Wealth.
There every Town seems but one Family,
Where all attir'd alike, and modestly,
Do at one common Table eat plain Food.
El.
Why say you Sparta forbids Luxury?
You live in all the Luxury of Heaven.
Love, Peace and Vertue are the Joys of Gods.
Xan.
Indeed we ha' not much domestic strife;
We measure all things equally to all.
So none like Billows rise to make a Storm.
Even Priests and Lawyers live in quiet there.
El.
Have you no Titles and Distinctions there?
Xan.
Only what Merit makes; we mind not Blood,
Nor a vain Title floating on that Stream.
Only great Actions there beget great Sounds.
Your high-sprung Blood in Sparta will be lost:
I mean all your Precedencies of Birth.
You must give place to aged Matrons there,
Whose greatest Riches are their silver Hairs.
El.
Let me have the Precedence in your Heart,
And let who will take all the World beside.
Xan.
Oh! we shall be luxurious in Love;
But that will be no breach of Spartan Laws.
El.
Well, when shall we enjoy this happy Life,
And leave our Carthaginian Prison here?
So the victorious Romans make this Town.
Xan.
I do not know, I'll try my Fate this day,
This day shall be the last deciding Battle.
I'll be a Conqueror, a Slave, or Ghost.
Elis.
A Ghost? a damp evapo'rates from the word
Which sickens me to death.
Ha! ha! ha!
El.
D'ye laugh at me?
Xan.
My Dear! thou put'st me in mind of Novices
Who when they first meet danger, duck at Arrows,
But when their maid'nly terrors are all o'er,
Laugh at themselves, as thou wilt do in time.
El.
Sure when your life's expos'd, I shall not laugh.
Xan.
A Soldiers life lies wholly in his honour;
And that lives best in danger. If thou hear'st
My honour's lost, shed pitying tears for me;
And think thou art a widow though I live:
But if my honour lives, though I am kill'd,
Triumph; and shed no tears but those of Joy,
For that's the manner of a Spartan Wife.
And so farewell.
El.
Thou shalt not go.
Xan.
Away.
[He rushes out.
El.
Then can you cast me off? Oh! cruel man!
Lead, lead me to my bed and bind my hands,
Or I shall do some violence to my self.
Shall I be thus when I am marrried?
I do not find all Soldiers wives are thus:
Marriage perhaps may teach me wit, and I
May learn to let my Husband fight, and dye.
Exit.
| Regulus | |