 | Andronicus Comnenius |  |
ACT. IV.
SCE. I.
Enter Alexius, Andronicus.Alex.
No longer Cousin now, but dearest brother,
You're welcome to a burthen, and I'm glad
I've got so good a Partner in the Throne:
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Great Sir, I thank you, and (have been so us'd
To down-right honesty) I believe you too:
It is enough to me, that I'm your servant,
The partner of your cares, and not your Throne;
Yet who'd be great, when at the best, 'tis but
A better sort of slavery, a handsome Gaol,
And (what the worst of Gaols is free from) envy'd?
Could you believe that in this little time
I should be struck at? and through your sides too?
What is my fault? if to have done 'um good
Be such, 'tis mine; if to have broke my rest,
That they might sleep secure, be crime, I'm guilty;
Alex.
Alas I'm sorry for't; and cannot yet
Conjecture what you mean.—
And.
Please you read this.
(And. gives him a paper
Alex.
How's this?
Belgrade betray'd unto the King of Hungary!
And.
It should have been; And had not I stalkt with 'um,
It had been now too late to ask whose work 'twas.
Alex.
What are the persons? They must be considerable.
And.
And so they are;
Alex.
But have you taken any?
And.
Yes—divers—And on one a Counsel of war
Has pass'd, and sentenc'd—Please you sign the warrant;
Alex.
Gi'me't, and lest relation may sway me,
I'll ne're enquire the name (signs it)
Yet let me see't;
How now! what's this—My Mother Empress!—hold:
Make me a Nero! take away her life
That gave me mine!—
And.
Have but a little patience,
And if I do n't convince you, o'my honour
I'll give't you back agen—Consider it;
A Frontier, a whole Province in effect;
A little Kingdom; all the fate of Greece,
Attends its Fortune—
Alex.
But we have it still.
And.
What matter is't—Then you believe no Treason,
Unless the Prince be kill'd:
Alex.
But 'tis my Mother:
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Justice respects no persons, Crowns, no kindred;
And Fathers of their Country, know no Mothers:
Alex.
As if one could not be a Prince, unless
He put off man—Come—You are too severe;
She is my Mother—Let a Cloyster serve:
And.
Severe—Know I'um joynt Emperor, and can
Do it my self; but that I would not rob you
The glory of the action; This will break
The neck of Treason, when the age shall see
Such signal Justice done upon a Mother.
Alex.
That shall not I.—
And.
Then let the Empire sink,
I'll never mind it more, nor break my sleep
To force an happiness on one that slights it:
Here—take your Paper—But lest it be said
You did once well, and streight repented it,
I thus dispose it—
Tears a wrong paper, and burns it.
Alex.
'Tis all one—I thank you.
Exit
And.
'Tis done; and your game's next: See! Here's the warrant
Twas a wrong paper burnt:—What excellent mortar
Blood makes! Rome batten'd in't, and from the ruines
Of Alba, and the slaughtered world, grew up
To what she was; and so must I the same?
'Tis not enough that I'm got up my self
But I must beat down others; level all
That stand before, or near me; I'm not safe
While young Alexius lives, or (which is worse)
Has a friend left him; He has many, and great ones,
And might be worth my fear, could they but fix,
Or know their strength; But there are only two
Considerable, that's Constantinus, and Mamalus;
Honest, and able both—For all the rest
Would all my friends were what they think themselves,
My enemies, what they are; yet as they are,
They made me what I am; and may again
Crush me to nothing, if I don't prevent 'um,
By giving the first blow, and putting 't home:
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Till they have slept their last, and fall together
Wrapt in one common fate; none ever rackt
A grave to find the man he fear'd, or hated;
The rest will follow; 'Tis but using well
The present time, and working on emergencys;
Things counsel men, and not men counsel things.
Enter Manuel.
How now my Manuel—Thus you see my pains
To make you happy.—
Man.
Would your self were such.
And.
Small time will do't—Rome was not built at once.
Man.
And better she'd continu'd Cottage still,
Than built on rapine, or enlarg'd with blood;
The tears of Orphans, and the curse of Widdows,
Rot not i'th' Ayre.
And.
Away you fool—The Fox
Fares best, when he is curst; 'Tis a sure sign,
H'as done his work;—But to be serious—Tell me
Whither a man may not preserve himself?
Or whither all things that are tending to't,
May not be lawfull, at least excuseable?
Man.
Thereafter as they are—Though this I'll grant you
Peace without safety, is a bare cessation,
No laying down of Arms.—
And.
Th'ast hit the nail:
Come, you must help me;—See this executed.
Gives Man. the warrant; Man. startles.
What makes you startle? Let me have it done;
Man.
Don!—Were I satisfi'd o'th' crime, which yet
The people say, was rather packt, than prov'd;
There's no such dearth of hangmen, that your Son
Need take the office.—
And.
Stranger to my blood
And never true begot:
Have I for this run through so many hazards?
Ventured so farr, to make a villain great
That never had a soul above a dunghill?
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Man.
I cannot;
And which is more I shall not—Disobedience
Is vertue here:—If you suspect my courage,
Try't yet again;—Shew me your Enemy,
And were he guarded with ten thousand Devils,
I'll through, and through, but I will reach his head,
Or lose my own—But this—Is such a thing
Honor, and conscience, Justice, all forbid it.
And.
What are those private toyes to me? Kings may
Do what they list.—
Man.
But can they do't by Law?
And.
By law! you block head; Doth not Justice sit
At Jupiters elbow? What cannot power do,
And justifi't when don? He that can nothing
But what is lawful, raigns by curtesie:
Besides, what use of Laws? Good Kings may live
Without 'um, bad ones will not much regard 'um;
Had Alexander squar'd his actions
By common Justice, he had never wept
The want of worlds; or had Rome giv'n back
To every one their own—How had she sate
(Like Æsop's Jay) stript of her pilfer'd plumes,
And fairly martch't to her first Huts agen:
Weigh Crowns by th'ballance and you'll make fine work:
Preach laws to sword-men!—Out—This squemish slave
Exit Manuel;—At another door enter Stephanus.
Will be my ruin, and his own in mine.
Welcome my better self!—you must see this
Dispatch't, and quickly; If the people grumble
Produce your warrant; tel'um how hard I stood
To have preserv'd her, but I could not doe't.
And. gives Stephanus the warrant for Execution.
How sayes my Stephanus?—
Enter Philo.
Ste.
I say—'tis don.
And.
'Twas my good Angel's voice; good luck attend it.
Now honest Philo! How goes your work on?
(Exit Steph.
Philo.
As well as heart can wish; The Stag is lodg'd;
And my Hounds ready:—
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But dost know 'um well?
Have they been enter'd, flusht in blood before?
I hate the fearful hands.—
Phil.
Ne're doubt 'um Sir,
There's not a man among 'um but has been
Kickt out of all the Sanctuaries in Europe:
Who ever speaks of young Alexius next,
Shall only say,—He was:
And.
'T was bravely said:
Come—We have more to do.
Exeunt.
SCE. II.
Enter Cont. Lap. Du. Const. Mam.Cont.
We have done well my Lords, we've made a rod
To whip our selves—Right Æsop's frogs y'faith,
We must be changing—Nay 'tis well enough.
La.
For why my Lord—I'm sure my thoughts were clear,
As spotless christal? could I conceive one drop
Of blood within me trayterous, it should out,
Though 'twere that next my heart:
Du.
The same were mine:
I only meant to use him as a purge
To carry ill humors, not our spirits off:
Const.
A fit comparison—We're purg'd indeed;
The remedy proves worse than the disease:
Mam.
I, you o'reshot the mark—E're he came in
He was your Creature, but your Master now:
Const.
Where is this perjur'd Villain?—Sure he believes
The bottomless bag—That Lovers, and Traitors Oaths
Are lodg'd together (shouts)
The Devil's in this Rout,
More shouting yet.—
La.
And more is like to be;
'Tis thought when fuel fails, they'll pluck down houses
To keep the bon-fires up—Did not your Lordship
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Const.
No, but I have heard
'Twas very splendid.—
Cont.
Yes, as Art could make it:
Mam.
So't should; The trappings of the Presidents horse,
Is more than half i'th' Government o'th' City:
Const.
But have you seen no publick Acts of late?
The vizard is half off—The names transpos'd
Andronicus first, and then Alexius:
Mam.
And reason good; should not the figure stand
Before the cypher?—Cæsar, and Bibulus;
One does all, t'other drinks all.
La.
Could he yet stop,
There might be hopes.—
Mam.
Small hopes—Ambition
Is ne're so high but she still thinks to mount:
That station which lately seem'd the top,
Is but a step to her now, and what before
Was even beyond her wish, being once in power,
Seems low, and cheap—If I mistake it not,
The Emperor yet lives; and though he is
But the bare shadow of a swelling name,
Can you believe Andronicus will brook
An equal in authority?—Is Andronicus
No better known?—Well my good Lords what say you?
Please you to give me leave and I'll propose,
A short expedient.—
Omnes.
With all our hearts.
Mam.
And you engage however you dislike it
Not to discourse't abroad?—
Omnes.
Upon our Honours.—
Mam.
Then thus—He's yet unsetled; Heavy bodies
Once mov'd, retain a trembling e're they fix:
So here—The Empire's in a strange confusion,
And 'tis his interest to keep it so;
Now what I offer, is this; That every one
Pick out his Faction, and oblige it to him;
Get but so far into 'um, as to please um,
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Follows of course; Then shall we fall upon him
E're he have time to think; And break his neck,
By the same hand that set it.—
Const.
I like it well,
But cannot judge it safe to trust a tumult,
Unless we had a body to make a stand?
Mam.
Nor will we want it; we'll but use the people
As a forelorn: And for the rest, what think you
Of Stephanus? I'll pawn my head I make him.
Const.
Impossible— He was the chiefest person
Set t'other up.—
Mam.
But what has he done for him?
He's but the same he was; and, which makes for us,
Has equals, if not superiors in favour;
I know his spirit can never brook it long;
Do you but give the word, I'll run the hazard:
Const.
How say ye my Lords?
Omnes.
Worthy Mamalus,
You have our hearts, and thanks, and wishes to't:
Enter Maria as in hast.
Const.
See! here's more news, I do not like the hast.
Mar.
Help, help my Lords the Emperor and's Mother,
Omnes.
What of them?—
Mar.
Oh! dead, dead, dead—murder'd:
That ever earth should bear so curst a Traytor,
Such a false, treacherous, perfidious slave;
And which is worse than all; The people cry,
A judgment on him for his Mothers death?
Const.
How! What's all this? good Madam divide your grief,
And let us bear a part.—
Mar.
I know not what 'tis.
Reports are various—But they say, he sign'd
A warrant for his Mothers execution,
For a suppos'd betraying of Belgrade;
And since has broke his neck by a fall from's horse,
As he was hunting—There are others agen
Say he was bow-string'd—Oh this cursed string,
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That I could see him yet;—
Then thus I throw off woman; and bury my tears
In my revenge—Come Lords—Let't ne're be said
There's nothing left us of our former greatness
But fame, and ruine—Let it ne're be spoke
Greece is grown barbarous, and the merry Greek
Has drown'd the valiant.—
Const.
Most excellent Madam!
Mar.
Come, let's forgive (our selves I mean) that crime
Of ignorance, and well-meaning; We that were
The stairs that helpt him up, our backs, the steps
By which he climb'd, How are we trampled on?
Come, come my Lords—'Tis time we look about us,
And ward the threatning blow—Let's but agree
And our work's done; The Tortoise is secure
Within her shell, if any part lye out,
It dangers all the rest:—What says Mamalus?
Mam.
What? But that he ows
Himself, and his, unto your Highness courage;
We had half drove the nail e're you came in,
But now 'tis rivited: There remains nothing,
But that we thank your Highness, and keep to it:
Const.
Well mov'd—Let's on:—
Mar.
Do—And you'll find the Lion
Is not so terrible as the Painter makes him:
La., Du.
Agree'd, agreed—Let's on—
Mar.
Bravely resolv'd;
Stars have their strongest influence in conjunction:
A clap or two of thunder
Const.
Hark!—Hark!—The voice of Heaven—'T as answer'd us,
And seal'd the enterprise—And when I fail it,
Let Heaven strike me, as I this earth.—
Enter Philo with a guard.
Ph.
Stand—Treason—Seize 'um.
Mar.
Seize me! for what?
Phil.
Oh! your Highness?
The Emperor will discharge you presently.
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Unhand me villain—Take that—
Constantinus knocks one of the guard down; after a short skuffle all seiz'd.
Phil.
So—So—Away with 'um.
Exeunt.
SCE. III.
Enter Andronieus solus.Now I can say I live, and not till now:
I've elbow room enough, And space to breath;
I can look round me too; There's not a tree
That stopt my prospect, but I've levell'd it,
At least am fairly onward; Not a mote
Hung in my light, but I have swept it down:
Now could the subtilest, overgrown Devil
(Whom age had render'd all experiment)
Done it more cleverly?—These foolish Lords
(Like Æsop's trees) have lent the Ax an helve
To hew themselves in pieces; And the people,
Kindled a fire, that shall burn 'um up.
And let it burn—This is my time to fix,
And arm my self against the worst;—Th'ascent
To thrones, is slippery, the top shaking;
The fall a Precipice: Men go not down
By the same stairs they climb'd—Yet what of that?
This must defend me (hands his sword)
Cæsar often sheath'd it,
But never laid it by—
Enter Anna.
But see!—the Empress!
'Twere a good humour now for me that kill'd
The Husband, to make love unto the Widdow;
For once, I'll venture: (he kneels)
Hail renowned Empress:
Anna.
What would this plague, and mischief of our House?
What means he?—
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Duty, Royal Madam, and leave
To drop a tear into this Ocean—
(Rises)
Alas good Emperor!—Who can be happy,
When careless Fate shall spin a thread so fine,
Only to snap't in two agen?—Blest youth!
Had Vertue, Innocence, and all those Graces
That build a Prince, and make him more belov'd,
Than fear'd, don any thing—Th'adst been here still:
Or could that early Majesty, or Courage
Beyond thy years, prevail'd—Th'adst not dy'd yet;
But see our misery—That nothing can
Be happy long, but Heav'n must envy it:
He was two good to live.—
Anna.
Would thou'dst been so,
I had not lost him then:—Damn'd, cursed man!
How durst thou vent these lyes, when thou art he
That didst contrive his murder, and his blood,
Yet wreaks upon thee.—
And.
Wrong not my innocence:
By all the vertues of your sex, 'tis false:
Anna.
Thou ly'st.—
And.
I do not, 'twas a fall from's horse:
By this it was
(Kisses her hand)
(She spits at him)
Anna.
P'th—I touch the hand
That is besprinkled with my Husbands blood!
The day shall sooner set i'th' East; The West
Shall be Sun-rising; e're I admit the hand
That took away my Husband, Kindred, Empire,
Nay, all—But (what's more dear than all) thy hate;
Which, to my sorrow, is the common case,
Of all with me; but shall continue fresh
And green, when thy ill gotten Bays shall wither,
And thy perfidious Conquests be forgot.
And.
Call not my Duty Conquest: If you knew
With how much trembling I return'd again,
You would have pitty'd me, at least have judg'd
More favorably—I must change my Key.
(Aside
But yet admit it conquest—He that did
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Lodgeth in mortal breasts, nor will it be
Reclaim'd, though overcome—Let Conquerors
Keep what's their own, the conquered obey.
Anna.
'Twas thy Ambition first began it all:
And.
Say 'twere—'Tis not the justice of the Cause,
But how it ends, is lookt upon—Success
Was alwaies Sainted—
Anna.
Yes, i'th' Devils Kalendar.
And.
Come, come, forget. And since I've sheath'd my Sword,
Lay by your rancor—
Anna.
Would my eies were Basilisks,
That I might look thee dead—
And.
They've don't already;
And no less power than that, that gave the wound,
Can make the Cure—
Anna.
Then die perfidious Traytor.
And.
Yet e're I do't—Let me like dying men
Make my Confession—'Twas I commanded
Your Husbands death, nor can I quit my self
Of any thing that you have charg'd me with:
Excuse't I must, and shall; or bring you in
As accessary—
Anna.
Me! What means he, trow?
And.
I love you, Royal Madam! and with that zeal,
That to express it—were to imagine
'Tere comprehensible—And make it nothing.
Were there ten thousand mischiefs more; each mischief
Clog'd with another million, I would through;
Value no hazard, laugh at bloud and ruine,
Till I had plac'd me on that even ground,
Might challenge your love—Now Madam you have the Cause,
Be merciful to me, or just to your self:
Anna.
What call you justice then?—
And.
Either absolve me, or condemn your self:
Anna.
Was I the cause?
And.
Your beauty was.
Anna.
Would it had been blasted
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And.
Be not so cruel,
Consider who 'tis loves you; and what he did
Was for that love: The Emperor is dead;
And 'tis as easie to call back the day
That's past, as him; A living mouse is better
Than a dead Lion, I am Emperor still:
Anna.
But how? or by what means?—
And.
What matter's that?
It is enough I am;—Here—Take that Love
Which all the world would court—Nor think me old
Although 't'as snow'd upon my head—Your beauty,
Can raise new spirits, and my power shall fix 'um:
Anna.
Let me alone I hate thee.—
And.
But I love you:
Accept it yet, and keep that power and greatness
You ever had—Nay I will double it:
I'll make your self (and only you) the channel
To pass my favours through: The Empire shall
Be blest, or blasted by your influence;
And the less world, shall set its looks by yours.
Anna.
Would it had ne're seen thine.—
And.
Some Angel help me:
draws his Sword
Here (gives it her)
And I tell thee once again, I kill'd
Alexius: And to enjoy thee too;
Revenge his death at least—And since I cannot
Live with thy love, let me die thy Martyr:
Anna.
I take thee at thy word—Repent—And die.
She offers.
And.
Repent!—The phrase of ignorance—That were
To doubt the Action, in its Cause, your beauty:
'Twas I,—Why doubt you? strike—strange! that you'll neither
Revenge, nor yet forgive.—
Anna.
A way dissembler.
(She throws the Sword at him
Thou art not ripe for vengeance—Nor shall
My hand anticipate thy fate—No—Live;
To let thee see how much I hate thee—Live;
Only to fall more infamous:—
Exit Anna.
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What's here?
Love tricks?—'My life she comes at t'other pluck:
SCE. IV.
Enter Stephanus solus.Ste.
And must I still live this unmanly life?
Still brook a Rival? No—In Princes favours
There is no middle 'twixt the top, and bottom;
Their minds are large, but various, and cloy'd
Sooner than others, easily o'relooking,
Their first election—Sure the Emperor loves me;
I never wrong'd him in my thought—He does;
I'll ne're dispute it further—But what is't
Unless I could engross him—There's Basilius
Keeps even pace in's favour, and may in time
Get the start o'me, if I don't prevent him:
No more—He falls—'Tis here, as 'tis in prospects,
When others come on, we think our selves go back.
Enter Philo as going hastily over the Stage.
Whither so hasty man?
Phil.
I cannot stay,
I'll wait upon you presently again.
as he goes out he drops a Letter. Ste. takes it up.
Ste.
How now! more work! it is the Emperors hand;
To Tripsicus!'s heart—A promooting Rogue!
And can you stoop so low—Then I see any thing
Will serve your turn—This Letter may beget
Right understanding 'twixt us—Well—I'll read it.
He reads,
Pray mind what I hinted you last—Affairs run high at
present, but I shall wether'um,
Ste.
(Good! Good! Good!)
—9, 41, and 85 meet at night—200 will tell you where it
is—Things are not yet ripe enough to own you publickly—
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(Better, and better)
—You know your work—either
bring the Account your self or send it by 90.—I had rather
the latter.
Your beloved friend A.
A.
—That's Andronicus—I'm sure the hand
Is all his own—Super-excellent!
Y'faith! y'faith! and does the wind blow there!
Philo returns in hast.
Phil.
Dropt I no Letter Sir?
Ste.
You best know that
Your self: What letter? or to whom directed?
Sure Philo you're in love, you're grown forgetful:
You know you stopt not here—Come, tell me true;
'Twas from your Mis'—And you're afraid another
May take the Scent—Peuh! he'll but squeeze thy Orange,
And thou maist have't agen:—
Phil.
In troth I'm serious,
And if it be n't within, am lost for ever.
Exit Philo
Ste.
My pocket, thad'st hit right—Now for a trick
To kill two birds with one stone—Make me
A property! An idle stale!—I have't,
To see how luckily things hit—Andronicus
Finding the City troublesome, as resenting
Alexius murder, makes it his endeavour
To fetch off Constantinus to his party;
Perhaps to destroy me too—Not unlikely:
But I shall miss my aim, or I cross-bite him:
'Tis thus—I smoak'd the business, and judging it a
fit opportunity to ruine Basilius; went privately to Constantinus,
and struck up a friendship with him, and as a
first Act of it, bad him have a care of Basilius, whose civil
usage had no other respect, than to betray him to the loss
of his head, which (to my knowledge as I told him) Andronicus
had plotted, and would inevitably take effect,
unless he could turn the mischief upon t'other, by making
his escape—Whereupon (by my advice) he has posest
Basilius of a seeming repentance, for his former obstinacy,
and that he is both able, and willing to recover it,
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has sent for him (I wonder he is not come yet)
But if he does not give them the go-by, I'll lose my head
—If he does—The work is done—Basilius destroy'd—
and consequently Andronicus disarm'd of the City, by
the falling of the power into my hands.
Now how I hug my self,
Who cannot make his Port with a fore-wind,
Must use a side-wind—Craft, where strength doth fail,
And piece the Lion with the Fox's tail.
Exit.
SCE. V.
Enter Andronicus solus.And.
And am I Emperor? And do my foes
Still live?—Or must I that have dar'd so far
Faulter at last, for fear the multitude
May be displeas'd?—Can wounded greatness sleep,
Or joy it self, when it beholds a Sword
Hang o're its head?—No—Let me be safe
Though the world tumble,—Slow, and fearful Counsels,
Which narrow hearted fools call caution,
(Enter Philo)
Ne're made Rome what she was;—Who waits within?
What? Has Maria's Doctor done his work?
Ph.
As pat as wish—She's dead—And so's her Husband:
And.
Here—see these Warrants executed;—For Constantinus
let him alone till you hear further from me:
Ph.
'Tis done:—
And.
I like a man goes merrily on;
Are they not right?—
Philo peruses them
Ph.
Yes, yes,—But if they were not
I'd make 'um serve (aside)
send me good luck—I've dabled
So long in blood, that ten to one he serves me
As our Musitians, when the Musick's done,
Hang up the Instrument—But I am in,
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Exit Philo.
And.
So much for them—Now for an After-game:
But that, lies nearer home—Here are a brace
Of Rogues, my Lords in mischief, That's Basilius,
And Stephanus, whom I kept hitherto
For a reserve, and thought t'ave sacrific'd 'um
Unto a popular fury—But they're grown
Too cunning, and have stol'n the people from me:
Had they no other crime, this were enough;
Who puts off's Hat unto the people, forfeits
His head to's Prince—Nor will't be difficult
To composs theirs—They're jealous one of t'other;
I must foment it, and by setting poison
To work 'gainst poison, rid my self of both:
I've instruments enough to fill their room
Less cunning, and more tractable:—My friends
Most welcome!—What's the news?
Enter Bas. Ste.
Bas.
Little but that
The City's husht again:
And.
I thank your care:
What would the Buzards have?
Bas.
They know not what:
One's for a single person—Another for two;
A third for neither—A fourth for liberty;
Oh! what a gallant thing this Sparta vas!
But what that was, the Devil a bit they know:
'Tis hardly credible—There's not a Tap-house,
But's a new Polity—A small free State;
And there they sit in judgment, and give sentence,
E're they agree the Case:—
And.
What would y'advise me?
Ste.
Let 'um alone—When the dull beast is weary
'Twill fall asleep—If not—'Grant 'um some toy
You meant t'ave don yourself—'Tis the same thing
As you had given 'um all; They'll be as little
Contented if you had;—They are not capable
Of having all or nothing granted 'um:
They neither brook a down-right slavery,
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And for the rest—carry and even hand,
You need not fear 'um: Wind your strings too high,
They crack, and let 'um down too low, they jarr:
And.
My worthy friends—But is't not possible
To find the hands that sets the wheel a going?
I'm sure the multitude are sorts, and carry
Their brains in other mens heads:—
Ste.
I've heard of some;
But pittiful fellows:—
And.
As though a Rogue
Might not bring in the Plague!—Have they no money?
Ste.
I hope in a short time to give you a Catalogue.
And.
Tis but ill playing with these tools;—I thank you:
And now i'll tell you news—could you believe
That Constantinus should have tackt about?
Ste.
Nor shall I easily;—the sky may fall,
But yet I wish, my head n'er ake till 't do.
And.
O—you are too severe;—what says Basilius?
Bas.
Troth I believe he will—and had you heard
Half our discourse, you must have judg'd the same:
I never met with larger promises.
And.
I bad you bring him to me—have you don't?
Bas.
I have—And left him with a Guard without
And.
Go fetch him in:—
Exit Basilius. All this aside.
And.
Go fetch him in:—
Ste.
And he shall fool you both;
Things jump as right as wish—And his escape
Must hit—Pray Heaven he don't mistake the door.
Bas. returns with Constan. and a Guard—Ste. ponits to the door.
And.
How now my Lord—Basilius has told me
You'd somewhat to offer me.—
Const.
I heard you were
Willing to speak with me.—
And.
How!—What's all this?
Bas.
Why he told me.—
Const.
Nay if you can't agree
I had as good be gon.—
Constantinus makes his escape by a door; & claps it after him.—Ste. and Bas. pursue:—Excursions of Guards—after some time they force the door.
69
Hold—stop the Traytor.
And.
Where leads this door?
1. Gua.
Unto the water Sir.
And.
Nay then he's gon:—Order a Galley streight
To give him chase—Disperse—stop ev'ry passage,
A 1000 Crowns to him that brings his head:
There must be more in this, then barely chance:
'Twas a bold Rogue that did it.—
Ste. returns in a fury with his sword drawn Enter Guard.
Ste.
Nothing but Locks
And Bolts?—Sir you're betrai'd.—
And.
Did you recover him?
2. Gua.
No he got boat e're we could reach the stairs.
And.
But whither went he?
2 Gua.
'Twas so thick a fogg
And the boat so well man'd, we quickly lost her.
And.
Death! and the Furys!—Am I then betrai'd?
And my self made the Instrument?—Where's Basilius?
2 Gua.
We left him fitting out a Gally.
And.
Hence.—
Ste.
Let me beseech your Majesty—Be n't troubled;
Now you shall see I love you—If it be
A thing of chance, you'll hear no further of't;
If otherwise—and he designs a rising;
The City is the Scene—I'll get before him
And raise the Guards—And if your Majesty
Thought it convenient, could seise the heads
Of the left mutiny—But then—Basilius.—
And.
And what of him?—
Ste.
May chance to take it ill;
There's some of 'um are his relations:
And.
But are you sure to seize 'um.
Ste.
Do I live?
And.
And you dare act as high, as I dare trust you?
Ste.
Dare Sir!—How think you?—Dare I eat or drink
For fear of choaking?—
And.
I am satisfi'd:
Seize him and all;—'Tis not our antient friend,
But our new enemy:—
70
It may be dangerous;
He is so popular.
And.
Then knock out's brains;
Such as would own his cause when living, will
Shift for themselves when once they see him dead.
Ste.
Please you to leav't to me?—'Tis time 'twere don.
And.
Do what thou will't; Exit Ste.
—And good luck follow thee:
Tell me of middle ways! An even hand!
Who ever got a Crown by evil Arts,
And manag'd it by good?—That waking men
Should dream themselves away!—Empire's preserv'd
By the same way 'twas got;—I stand too near
A precipice to think of stopping now:
No, I must on;—What i've all ready don,
Is but the Antimask to what I'll do;
When safety comes in Question, there's no difference
Twixt just, or unjust; pittiful, or cruel;
I'll break what will not bow; possess their hearts,
Or force 'um open:—They that will not love,
Shall, at least, fear my power—'Tis decree'd
And this great beast, must either bow, or bleed.
Exit.
| Andronicus Comnenius | |