The Tragedy
Of Messalina, The Roman Empress
Nathaniel Richards
To the Right Honourable and Truly Noble
Minded, John Cary, Viscount Rochford
My Lord,
Your right noble willing mind, though serious occasions could not permit you, to see this tragedy acted, emboldens me, through the confidence I have in your sweet disposition to present it unto you, the Heir and honour of your great and noble family; Emperatricis libido, periculosissima est[1], witness Valeria Messalina, her lust and rule over doting majesty. This testified by Rome’s Historians, (Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny, Plutarch and Juvenal) the world, unless among the crooked conditions of the envious may, being honestly opinionated, perceive, that the sole aim of my discovery herein, no otherwise tends then to separate souls from the discovered evil, the suppression of vice, and exaltation of virtue, flight from sin for fear of judgement; which seriously considered in a noble nature. The glorious strumpet, sparkling in beauty and destruction, can never have power to tempt: This play upon the stage, passed the general applause as well of honourable personages as others; and my hope is, the perusal will prove no less pleasing to your honour. Two passages are past, the stage and the press; nothing is absent now but the gentle approbation of your Lordship’s clemency to confirm the endeavour of him that truly is
Your Lordship’s true honourer,
To his worthy friend Mr Nathaniel Richards, upon his
well written Tragedy of Messalina
By Stephen Bradwell
When I beheld this Roman
tragedy,
Where the mad sin of lust in
majesty
And power I saw attired,
triumphantly
Guiding the helm of doting
sovereignty
To her own compass, I was
pleased with it.
Cause things immodest,
modestly were writ,
Not in prodigious language
that would start
Into the cheeks the
suff’rings of the heart,
And fright a blush into a
fever; though
Of late, shame of this age,
some have writ so.
Had yours been such, never
should pen of mine,
Poor though my muse, have
lent you half a line.
But now again, recalling what
you writ,
How well adorned with words,
and wrought with wit,
I’ll justify the language and
the plot,
Can neither cast aspersion on
your clean fancy; but Apollo’s[2] bays
Grows green upon your brow to
crown your praise.
Then for this tragedy,
securely rest,
’Tis current coin, and will
endure the test.
To my true friend Mr Nathaniel Richards, in due praise
of his Tragedy of Messalina
By Robert Davenport
Friend, y’ave so well limn’d3 Messalina’s lust
Of dark oblivion; you have, I confess,
Applied a due
preservative, the press.
Y’are now sailed forth o’th
narrow sea, the stage,
Into the world’s wide ocean,
where the rage
To buffet your new bark[4];
but fear not friend,
She’s so well built, so ballac’t[5],
so well manned
With plot, with form and
language, that she’ll stand
The storm, and having
ploughed the sea’s passion
Will anchor safe i’th road of
approbation,
Where judgement’s equal hand
shall moor her fast,
And hang a laurel
garland on her mast.
To his friend, Mr Nathaniel Richards, upon his Tragedy of Messalina
By John Robinson
If it be good to write the
truth of ill
And virtue’s excellence, ’tis
in thy skill,
Respected friend, thy nimble
scenes discover
So truly to the life,
judgement may see,
Praising this piece, I do not
flatter thee.
Men here may read heaven’s
art to chastise lust,
Rich virtue in a play, so
clear, no rust,
Bred by the critics’
conquering breath
Can e’re deface it.
Messalina’s death
Adds life unto the stage,
where though she die
Defamed, true justice crowns
this tragedy.
To my friend the author, Mr Nathaniel Richards, on his
Tragedy of Messalina
By Thomas Jordan
For this thy play, dear
friend, I must confess,
Thy plot’s contrived with
such mysteriousness
As if fate turned the scene;
thy language can
Express thee a divine and
moral man,
The music of thy numbers
might entice
Time’s glorious strumpet from
her lust-strung vice.
This is to show my judgement,
who will say,
That finds my approbation of
this play,
I want needful knowledge? It
shall be
Sufficient praise for me; I
can praise thee.
‘Tis judgement to know
judgement, and I find
Most of our playhouse wits
are of my mind.
Men call them censurers, a
stock of brothers
Thought wise by praising and
dispraising others;
Bid them write plays
themselves, and then you’ll foil ‘em,
They’ll say they can’t find
time, yes time to spoil ‘em.
Thou art above their aims,
who dislikes this
Must be a goose, or serpent:
let him hiss.
To his worthy friend, Mr Nathaniel Richards, upon his Tragedy of Messalina
By Thomas Rawlins
Behold a poet whose laborious
quill
Dictates his maker’s praise,
above the skill
Of times’ earth-minding idols
muddy strain,
Base as the things they
imitate; thy vein,
Approved friend, strikes dead
the impious time’s
Adored vices and high-raised
crimes
Which pulls swift vengeance
down; thy laboured lines
Curbs vice, crowns virtue,
gold from dross refines.
All gazing eyes may see thy
anchorite muse
Delights in a conversion, not
abuse;
For to convert not to corrupt
this age.
And they that – Messalina –
thus penned sees,
Must praise the author’s
candor, thrifty bees
Suck honey out of weeds; her
actions may
Have miracles for issue, if
y’obey
Your jogging consciences that
whispering say
Be ruled by this, instructing
tragic play.
Applaud this happy wit, whose
veins can stir
Religious thoughts, though in
a theatre.
Dramatis Personae
Messalina,
Empress of
Claudius,
Emperor of
Silius,
chief favourite of Messalina (Christopher Goad)
Lepida, mother
to Messalina (Thomas Jordan)
Syllana,
wife to Silius (Mathias Morris)
Saufellus,
chief of counsel to Silius & Messalina (John Robinson)
Valens, of
the same faction & favourites
Proculus, of
the same faction & favourites
Menester, an
actor & favourite compelled by Messalina (Sam Tomson)
Montanus, a
knight in
Mela,
brother of Seneca (William Hall)
Virgilianus,
senator of Messalina’s faction
Calphurnianus,
senator of Messalina’s faction
Sulpitius,
of the same faction
Narcissus,
minion to Claudius of his faction
Pallas,
minion to Claudius of his faction
Calistus,
minion to Claudius of his faction
Evodius, a
soldier
Vibidia,
matron of the vestals
Calphurnia,
a courtesan
Hem and Stitch,
two panders
Three murdered Roman dames
Veneria the Bawd
Manutius and Folio, servants to Lepida
Three spirits
Two anti-masques of spirits and bacchanals
The Prologue
To write a tragedy is no such ease
As some may think, ‘mongst whom there’s a disease
Still of dislike, censoring what here is writ
With ignorance, only to be thought a wit.
Plays are like several meats, their strange effects
So different prove; some carelessly neglect
What others long for, that which surfeits thee,
Another says ‘tis good, gives life to me.
What’s to be done? The way to please you all
Requires an art, past magic natural.
Our best endeavours still with comic fare
Have strived to please; now all our cost and care
Soars on the wings of laboured industry,
To feast your senses with the tragedy
Of Roman Messalina; the play is new,
And
by
We hope you’ll not distaste it, nor us blame,
Where spots of life are acted to sin’s shame.
Tell me, I pray, can there be no content?
To see high towering sin’s just punishment
And virtue’s praise, insatiate lust to die,
And chaste dames starred unto eternity,
Will not this please? If any answer no,
I let that soul and all the world to know,
Your love’s the mark we aim at, all our might
Shoots at your love, labours to hit that white.
The Tragedy of Messalina, Empress of
As it hath been acted with
general applause divers times,
by the Company of his
Majesty’s Revels
ACT I
Scene i
[Enter Silius, reading a book]
Silius
Sola virtus vera nobilitas
[6]
:
Virtue is only true nobility,
So speaks our times’ best
tutor, Seneca,
And ’tis divinely spoken,
like himself.
True philosopher, for what
is’t to man
5
For to be born noble, and yet
detain
The ignoble mind of vice,
licentious will?
Such no way are allied to
nobleness.
Times hell-bred, base,
ignoble noble blood
Runs through his veins, that’s
only great, not good. 10
Far better live a private
life with thee,
Thou sweet companion to
well-minded man.
Here’s no seducing pomp, no
clouds of vice,
Nor fogs of vanity obscures
man’s sight
From the direct to ways
directly ill. 15
This seal confirm the sequel
of my life,
To imitate the good that thou
presents.
[Kisses the
book]
[Enter Valens and Proculus]
Valens
Still plodding at your book?
Shall we ne’ er find
You otherwise? Pox of this
sad mutt’ring
To yourself, hang’t up, ’tis
a disease to 20
Sweet alacrity, of all true
jovial
Minds to be
abhorred, come.
[Reaches to take
the book]
Silius
Prithee, desist.
Proculus
How scurvily this shows, how
ill in you,
That should be framed just of
the time’s fashion. 25
Silius
That’s learning, and valour,
or should be so
At least, and not in
outside’s fond delight,
Whereon times’ puff-paste[7]
costly coxcomb[8], all
His great little wit, and
wealth, thinks best bestowed
To please his Mistress’ eye,
when all man’s mind 30
Should bend his course to
follow virtue’s steps.
Valens
Out upon’t, drink me and
whore, those are
The virtues best, and best
accepted ’mong
Gallants of this age.
Silius
They
are gallant sots[9],
Silly and senseless. What’s
all the delight 35
That seems so pleasing to the
itchy whorer?
But like the itch, scratched
raw, ’tis still the sorer,
’Twill smart to purpose, make
you to find out
An obscure grave, cold as the
snowy
There, in a hollow circle of
the night, 40
Lust breeds more cause of
terror than delight.
Proculus
Fie, Caius, fie, turn’d
satire ’gainst your friends.
Silius
Alas, you are blind, my
friends, and I am sorry.
Valens
Pish! Wer’t not for sparkling
beauty, precious woman,
Woman I say, that fair and
winning creature, 45
Whose ne’er to be resisted
delicate touch
Divides us into all the
sweets of sense;
Wer’t not for her, glorious
sweet faced woman,
Man makes no use of his
creation.
What says our Roman phrase, 50
Si non laetaris vivens laetabere nanquam?[10]
Leave, then, this puling
study and be ruled.
Hang up philosophy, that
scene of sorrow.
Come, go with me to beauty’s
fair abode.
There, if you’ll make true
trial of your strength, 55
Let it be there employed; do
but withstand
The catching beauties there,
in spite[11] of all
Their powerful charms and
incantations,
Come freely off, untainted
with the act.
For ever I’ll abjure to be
seduced 60
By the world’s quaint
enticements, betake me
Wholly to philosophy, and
practise
The same in life.
Proculus
So shall Proculus.
Silius
O were I sure that sworn
you’d keep, and not 65
Infringe your vows, though
noble wisdom bids
To shun the glorious
strumpet’s lecherous[12]
snares,
You soon should find me
sudden, dare to stand
The baits of whorish
fortitude unmoved.
Valens
Talk not, but do’t. 70
Proculus
Therein consists the test of
complete man[13].
Silius
Then on this book take oath. [Holds out the book]
Swear that by all the good
therein contained,
And all that’s good, the
virtues of true man
At my return from adult’rate
sin 75
To live true friends to
virtue ever after,
You shall prevail.
Valens and Proculus
We
swear.
Valens
So
deeply swear
That may Jove’s thunder strike
when we forsake
Silius
‘Tis well, lead on, and if I
ever prove 80
False to Syllana, punish me,
great Jove[14].
[Exit Silius, Valens and Proculus]
Scene ii
[Enter Veneria the Bawd, Calphurnia, and the two panders,
Hem and Stitch]
[15]
Bawd
Hey ho, what Hem, Hem, Hems,
what Hem I say?
Hem
Here, mistress!
Bawd
Stitch, oh Stitch!
Stitch
In your side, Madam.
Bawd
No Stitch, o’erthwart[16]
my heart, O I shall die! 5
The bottle, the bottle, the
bottle, knave, the bottle!
[She drinks]
Calphurnia
Do, do drink and be fatter
still with’t,
Why so, my brave bundle of
guts and garbage[17]?
Bawd
Aye, you may well say drink,
well may I drink
All sorrow from my heart, for
I thank you 10
Ten thousand sesterces,
[18]
this day is lost
To our victorious Empress
Messalina.
Witness the number five and
twenty[19],
All in the circuit of a day
and night,
And yet she’s ready for a new
delight. 15
Calphurnia
She may, for who but she
dares do the like.
For a poor subject, half the
number serves,
On greatest
Bawd
Hadst not provocations to
enable thee, confection of cantharides[20],
diasatyrion eryngoes[21],
snails, oysters, alligant, and
could not these 20
make thee hold out with five and twenty?
‘Twas but a forenoon’s
work, a forenoon’s work, you
paltry puling[22].[23]
Calphurnia
Aye, in your young days.
Bawd
In my young days! I tell
thee, small flounder,
Old as I am and fat, I durst
yet wager 25
To lay twice the number of
such shrimps as thee,
That they should
ne’er rise more.
Calphurnia
Yes, with a pox.
I have not the Court art to
kill my lovers
Nor draw them on with witchcraft,
Circean charms24. 30
Nor is it lust, but want
makes me a trader,
And those I clip with, I must
like at least.
Let
Stitch
Aye, she’s a brave Roman dame
indeed.
Hem
And those mad-dames[25]
are the best doers, Stitch. 35
Calphurnia
Calphurnia loathes variety of
men,
Time’s big-bone animals so
apt to please.
The Empress whets not my
appetite.
Besides, you know I’m not for
durance,
Wanting the daily visits of
best doctors 40
To make me broths of dissolved
pearl and amber[26],
Which well considered will
not quit the cost;
She won the wager, I am glad
I lost.
Bawd
‘Glad I have lost!’
Let me come to her - I’ll
claw you, Minx! glad [strikes her] 45
I have lost, and which goes
nearest my heart.
To rail, and none to rail
against her but tall,
Proper and goodly able men,
calling
Them big-boned animals, O
blasphemy!
Why, phisgig[27],
must I keep thee rich in clothes, 50
To want that ever pleasing
sweet
Honey and sugar candy
delight, which the
Bravest high-spirited
glistering ladies,
Such as make punies[28]
of their petty Lords,
Account their heaven their
only happiness, 55
Never but discontented when
they are
Out of action; and you are
defective now,
Fallen out, forsooth, with
the felicity
You should take in man. O
most absurd,
Not to be suffered, uttered,
nor induced. 60
It is intolerable, it is, it
is, it is,
Thou muddy minded piece of
mischief, it is.
Stitch
Hem, Mistress, here comes our
fellow Pander,
The Lord Saufellus.
Hem
All of a house, but not all
fellows, Stitch, 65
And yet we hope to be Sir
Panders; nay, since
Great ones be of that
profession, and thrive so by it,
It cannot choose but be a
brave profession.
Oh, ‘tis a good,
A goodly brave profession,
‘tis the best, 70
Best stream to fish in, be ne’er so impious,
Gold styles the
royal villain virtuous.29
[Enter Saufellus]
Saufellus
Here, here my most precious
procurers,
Down, and adore our royal
Empress,
And me the messenger of these
glad tidings. 75
Proud is her highness of the
wager won,
Yet scorning the advantage of
the loss
Trebly returns your own, with
a reward,
And sign of her high favour
ever after.
Bawd
I hope her mightiness
received content, 80
And will make bold with my
poor house hereafter.
Saufellus
Yes, with your house a little
bold her yet.
Silius comes hither, straight
brought by his friends
Valens and Proculus; your
best wills work
To make him serve her
pleasure. 85
Bawd
Pleasure
her,
What? Silius, a private
gentleman of
And be so gross as not to
pleasure her!
Which of you gallants would
not pleasure an
Empress, that a man should be
so very a sot
As not do, oh ‘twere
abominable! 90
Saufellus
But he’s a man of precise
abstinence,
And hardly will be drawn by
any woman.
Bawd
Hoy day, not drawn by woman
said you!
If he come here, he shall be
hanged and drawn,
And dry drawn too, not drawn
by a woman! 95
God’s
nigs[30],
that’s fine I’faith.
Saufellus
See, here they come prepared,
I must withdraw
For a more apt employment; show
your skills;
Women through lust and Hell
will work their wills. 100
[Exeunt Saufellus]
[Enter Silius,
Valens and Proculus]
Valens
Come, Sir, we’ll enter you.
Silius
Most
certain
Into the devil’s vaulting
school, where lust
In triumph rides or’e shame
and innocence,
Am I not in Hell?
Proculus
O
silly Silius.
Cannot a sweet-shaped gallant
like myself 105
Enter the house where Venus’
vestals live,
But it must needs be Hell,
ha, ha, ha!
Bawd
Welcome, princely spirits;
Sweet faces, rich clothes,
and exquisite bodies
Make you forever my most
curious clients, 110
Pruriently pleasing to the
blood of beauty.
Hem and Stitch, some stools
and cushions, quick!
Silius
What, have you brought me to
your sempster’s[31] house?
Bawd
These are no idle persons.
Silius
Is this your lusty kindred,
sweet pleasure, 115
Which angles souls to hell,
as men hook fish?
Aye, this is she, the bane of
all devotion,
She whose enticements turns
weak men aside
From the right way of virtue,
throwing them down
Into the gulf of all
confusion, 120
From whence methinks those
dreadful souls I hear,
Now at this instant cursing
of your sex.
Your sin-affected trimmings
to entice,
Which implicates the wretched
mind of man,
Crying with horror ’gainst
your impudence. 125
O woman, woman, thy
bewitching motion,
Fools wisdom, reason, and
blinds all devotion.
Bawd
What, is the man detracted
from his wits too[32]?
Silius
Out, thou devourer up of
maidenheads.
Bawd
Hoy day, I a devourer of
maidenheads? 130
That with joy be it spoken, I
have not had
A maidenhead these fifty
years!
Valens
Prithee, be not thus bitter
unto them; 135
Poor necessary evils, they
pleasure us.
Silius
Out on your beastly, your
most senseless pleasures,
That makes you reasonless,
esteeming best
Those things delight you
most.
Caphurnia
O,
I could stand
My lifetime here to hear this
Silius rail. 140
Silius
Note but the end of all your
lustful pleasures:
All breed diseases, griefs,
reproaches foul,
Consumption of the body, and
the soul,
Engender sorrows and
sottishness,
Forgets all prudence, grows
most insolent, 145
Breeds th’ epilepsy, that
falling evil,
Begets murder, makes a man a
devil,
O’erthrows whole families,
confounds the just,
Foisteth in children
illegitimate,
The various paths of lust are
all uneven,
Her pleasures’ dreadful
plagues the scourge of heaven.
[Enter Messalina and Saufellus, attending with a cup]
Messalina
Our sovereign good is
pleasure, unto which
None can attain but valiant
men and wise.
Silius
Oh! 155
[Falls to his knees]
Messalina
Silius, thou shalt not fall
unless I fall,
Nor rise without me; we love
thee Caius.
Thou soul of music breathe,
breathe and enchant [music]
With thy delicious tones,
while thus we bend.
An health: Our love, mirror
of men, to thee. [She
drinks] 160
Fool that I am, thou hast
undone thyself;
Keep in, my virtue, or this
fiery trail
Flames thee to cinders.
Messalina
Saufellus
With
deepest art.
Messalina
As I began, up with’t. [Silius
drinks] So, ’tis well, this,
Where
when he wakes he may admire and burn,
Be
mad in love to pleasure free in us.
Thanks,
Valens, and Proculus: Caesar dispatched
To
[Exit
Messalina and Saufellus]
May you for ever glisten like
the sun.
Valens
Silius, you are snared, and
we our wager won.
[Exit Bawd and Valens]
Scene iii
[Hoboys . Enter
Claudius, Messalina, Narcissus, Pallas, Calistus and Saufellus, with
attendants.][34]
Claudius
To offer sacrifice unto the
gods,
Calls us with speed from
In which our absence, sweet,
dearer than my life[35],
We do implore, use all the
careful means 5
That may preserve that life
and happiness.
Thy love assures us, which if
want of health
Should bate thee joy, Caesar
were not himself.
Disaster, griefs, diseases
pale and wan
Would make me marble, such is
th’ affiance, 10
The strong persuasion of that
love I bear
To thee, thou star on earth,
my only bliss:
Bear record, heaven, bless
thou this parting kiss.
[Exit
Claudius, with Narcissus, Pallas, Calistus and attendants]
Messalina
Shallow-brain fop, dull
ignorance, adieu, 15
The kindest cuckold woman
ever knew.
Saufellus, draw nigh; [Saufellus approaches]
Now is the wished-for time to
crown delight,
Turn night to day and day
into the night.
Prepare for stirring, masque,
All rare variety to provoke
desire,
When we have grasped them
here, surfeit’s[37]
riot
Shall squeeze their spongy
virtue into vice. 25
If they deny to come, let
vengeance fall
Like to that all-devouring
thunder’s flame
Which fired the world; be
merciless and kill.
Like to Medusa’s,[38]
shall to serpents turn, 30
Claims least pre-eminence.
Saufellus
O, it becomes you rarely;
think what you are.
Of that all rare inestimable
worth
You truly owe, all admired
beauty past,
And that to come with full
attractive force
Have fixed their lively
characters in you.
Divinest fair, earth breathes
not such another, 40
’Twere madness longer your
delights to smother.
I’m fired with joy to see
your high blood free;
Continue with increase, add
flame to flames.
Burn high, bright glorious
wonder of thy sex;
Act what your thoughts shall
prompt to; I in all 45
Am only yours, at whose
commanding will
I’ll death and horror wade to
save or kill.
[Starts to leave]
Messalina
Stay, ere you go resolve us:
what is that
Stagerite’s[39]
name, he that last night i’th play
Did personate the part of
Troilus?[40] 50
Saufellus
Menester, glorious Empress,
that’s his name.
Messalina
And like a violent tide
swells me with full
Desire to know the man! It
must be so.
Command him to attend our
will tonight. 55
Saufellus
The graceful actor pleasing
to your eyes,
And therefore already here in
court, I
Have prepar’d him.
Messalina
Diligent Saufellus, I’ll to
my chamber; 60
Admit him thither, be swift
in return.
[Exeunt Saufellus]
We long for change to feed on
various fruit.
Up, Messalina, let thy
mounting will,
Too long kept down, fly to
thy full desire:
I’ll live in pleasure, though
I burn in fire. 65
[Exeunt Messalina]
Scene iv
[Enter Saufellus with a torch, Menester following]
Saufellus
Come, come, come, this way,
fie, how I sweat!
This venery is a stirring
business.
Remain you here, I’ll
instantly return.
[Exit
Saufellus]
Menester
My heart, that ne’er yet
shrunk, begins to throb,
And my good genius whispers
in mine ear 5
A fair retreat. I am fair
warned, and yet
I waver doubtful.
Saufellus
Fortunate
actor,
Now let thy best of action to
the life
Court Rome’s rare Empress to
the height of pleasure.
Muster up all the powers of
man in thee 10
To a united strength, prepare
a part
To ravish, pleasure, win an
Empress’ heart.
Look to’t, prove active to
yield full content,
Or else you die, die a most
shameful death,
So speed as you shall please. 15
[Exit
Saufellus]
Menester
That’s
certain death!
I, I that in Pompey’s spacious theatre[41]
Acted the noble virtues of
true man,
When the fair piercing lines
so much prevailed,
I felt a sacred flame run
through my brains,
And in this Orb of man’s
circumference, 20
Myself at furious war within
myself,
That in my life’s sweet
sequel, I still strived,
Wrestled with flesh and blood
to imitate
The good I then presented;
but now, a
Coward plague, or else some
fiend raised from the 25
Pit of fear, hath all my
goodness to a
Period dropped, and I like chaff[42]
blown on this
Wide world’s stage am now to
act my own part,
Which must be vicious now –
lust-stung, vicious,
With Rome’s majestic Empress,
whose command 30
Strikes dead in the refusal,
dead, a word
That quakes even the most valiant
he, though least
Expressed; if by escape I
think myself
Secure in some remote soil,
her revenge
Will with the self-same
stroke there strike me dead. 35
’Mong petty eminent persons
now ’tis
Common; then princes cannot
fail, their arms
Are long and large;
compulsion bids me on.
Whoe’er shall read my story
then shall say
’Tis forced compulsion, and
not rich reward, 40
No high Court favourers made
Menester sin.
Enchanting earth’s temptation is in vain,
He basely, basely sins that
sins for gain.
If not for gain, shall I
commit for fear?
For fear to die? I must; I
will not! Keep 45
There my mind, and with
chaste fortitude,
O, be my bar to this
lascivious act,
And cleave me to the centre
e’er I yield.
[Enter Messalina]
Your pardon, glorious
Empress,
There’s something in me works
so powerful, 50
I dare not, dare not yield to
your content.
Why fool, poor scum of the
earth, dost know
What ‘tis to stop an Empress’
lofty will?
You better manners. Hoist him
on the rack.
[Saufellus and the guard put Menester on
the rack]
Saufellus
O
dog, not do,
Up with the snowball, melt
him, so, so, so.
Messalina
Shall our high favours, equal
to base and 60
Mercenary
trulls,[43]
prove common put offs?
What say you now, Sir?
That I am truly miserable,
weak,
And vile, not being able to
endure
This torment! O, let me down;
my pain but 65
Not my mind yields to your
bed; I do
Consent, consent!
Messalina
Let him down, and let him
find sudden cure.
Command our doctors, feed him
hot and high,
Pleasure’s a Princess’ full
felicity. 70
[Exeunt
Messalina]
Brittle at best. Witness
these centred limbs,
Witness the rack, which tears
me from the sight
Of sacred virtue, whose just anger now,
Like a donyed[44]
wooer, puts me off, 75
Blushing and despairing.
Heaven out of sight,
Man’s out of heart; all
virtues lose their light.
[Exeunt Menester]
Lepida
My
servants are all fast, ’tis dead of night,
And
yet my restless senses want their rest.
This
was not wont to be; ’tis wondrous strange.
I
fear, nor is’t unlike my daughter, my
Most
ambitious, irreverent daughter, 5
Dead
to good counsel, now in great Caesar’s
Absence
most apt for ill, takes her full flight
To
the loose life of all licentiousness,
Now
at this instant wrongs him, and that the
Gods,
whose eyes see blackest deeds, do see and 10
Abhor,
and therefore caused me thus to wake
From
dead resembling sleep, to pray
T’oppose
her ill with good: heaven, I obey.
[A bell rings in the distance. Three Roman
dames knock within.]
Open
the door. 15
Lepida
Of
rape and ruin.
[Knocks again]
Lepida
That
was a woman’s voice, most certain ’twas;
I
will no longer stay you. 20
[Opens the
door]
O,
save us from the rape! Death dogs us
At
the heels.
In
their beds this night, have paid life’s forfeit
For
our escape. 25
If
sheltered not under your wings of safety.
She
is your daughter that commands this ill.
Lepida
That
brought her forth. O, may it ever be 30
Forever
barred the rank of blessed hours.
[Bell rings
nearby]
Hark,
hark, they come, that fatal bell rings their approach, turn us to air some
whirlwind, ere we perish through spotted whoredom.[46]
[Enter Saufellus, Hem &
Stitch, and Bawd]
Saufellus
O,
are you here?
Bawd
And
have we found you out, O you abominable pictures of peevish virtue, ye 35 threadbare thin cheeked chastity, ye
puppets?[47]
Lepida
I
am amazed; if from my daughter sent,
Tell
me, ye frightful villains, her demand.
Saufellus
Them
there, whose paltry puling honesty
Merits
no favour but a world of mischief, 40
They
must live at Court.
Bawd
There
to live, and brave.
Hem
To
shine in pearl, and gold flow in treasure.
Stitch
Fed
with delicious cates, to swim in pleasure is breath.
Bawd
Tossed
on the downy beds of dalliance. 45
Lepida
Peace,
hell-bred hag, stop thy unhallowed throat.
Saufellus
Dispatch,
resolve to go or die.
Lepida
Then die,
Arm
you brave Roman dames, terrestrial stars,
Armed
with fair fortitude resolve to die,
That
when y’are gone, I may look up and see 50
Your
chaste thoughts stars in the celestial spheres.
Is
it not better die than live at court,
Racked,
torn and tossed on proud dishonour’s wheel,
There
to be whored, your excellence defiled?
Rather
be free, be free, rare spirits for 55
Succeeding
times to wonder at; spurn, spurn
In
contempt of death, at death’s base strife,
To
die for virtue is a glorious life.
All
O,
bless’d encouragement.
All are so willing; there’s not one
of us 60
Would
wish to live, so, fairest mind farewell.
Behold,
we link in love, thus armed to die,
Strike
slaves, mount souls, fly to eternity.
[Killed]
Mischievous
monsters, O what have you done?
Take
this, this, and this for me, ye puppets of purity! 65
[Bawd stabs the two dames with
her knife, then turns to run, and is shut in by Lepida]
Lepida
Nay,
you damned hell-hag, I’ll preserve you safe.
Manutius, Folio, wake, wake from drowsy sleep.
[Exit
Lepida]
Bawd
How’s
this, locked in? What the great devil
Will
become of me? 70
Murder,
murder, what ho! Manutius, awake!
How
she bawls! Vengeance stop your throat.
[Enter Lepida, with her two servants]
Lepida
O, see where murdered chastity lies slain,
Under
my tragic roof this fatal night.
Sad,
dismal accident.
Here,
take this Bawd, 75
She
hath a large hand in this impious act.
Take,
hang her by the heels, then let my dogs,
Compelled
through hunger, tear, eat her alive.
I
must to Court there prosecute the rest.
[Exit Lepida and Manutius]
Remove
those bodies, I’ll take charge of this. 80
O,
thou insufferable bitch whore, Bawd!
Have
you been actor in this bloody scene?
You
shall be gnawn with dogs for’t, tottered
And
piecemeal torn, you shall, you rotten
Stinking
tun[48]
of decayed letchery, you shall. 85
Yet
I will set thee free, grease me now finely,
Finely
ith’ fist; you know the art, money
Will
corrupt, ’tis beggary to be honest.
Hold,
there’s my purse, the better part is gold.
Perform
thy promise, I’ll advance thy state, 90
At
Court promote thee.
To
wear brave clothes?
Rich,
wondrous rich.
And
I shall have a wench?
A
very dainty device, a springer[49], 95
One
that shall make thy constitution curvet
And
wind about thee like a skein of silk.
Tickle,
tickle, tickle thee, my brave bully.
Say’st
thou so, my old motion’s procurer,
Go
thy ways..stay…O wonderful, what’s that 100
There,
betwixt thy teeth, gape.
[Gags
Bawd]
Bawd
Oh,
oh, oh!
Servant
Not
to be tickle, tickle, tickled, but
To
be totter’d, with your heels aloft 105
To
be totter, totter, totter’d my brave Bawd,
To
be totter’d.
[Exit Servant, with Bawd]
Messalina
No,
a world of favourites can yield
To
us that free delight in dalliance which
Silius
gives, he must not live at Forum;[50]
Though
it be near at hand, ‘tis too far off Calphurnia. 5
[Enter Calphurnia]
Calphurnia
Your
highness’ pleasure?
Messalina
Cause
Caius Silius to be sent for straight,
And
let harmonious music’s ravishing ayres[51]
Breathe
our delight.
Calphurnia
[Exit Calphurnia]
Messalina
Circle
me round, you Furies[52]
of the night, 10
Dart
all your fiery lust-strung arrows here. [Music]
Pour
their enchantments. Monarch of flames,
Fill
with alluring poison these mine eyes,
That
I may win[54]
the misty souls of men, 15
And
send them tumbling to th’Acharusian Fen[55].
’Twere
an all-pleasing object unto thee,
Thou
great arch-ruler[56]
of the low abyss;
Like
to Cadmus’[57]
Semele[58],
I would burn
Rather
than want this my implored desire, 20
And be consumed in thunder, smoke, and fire.
I’ll
be my self sole pleasure’s Queen in all.
Ha,
what’s this? Cease that music there;
A
sudden strange and drowsy heaviness 25
Enchants
my tender eyes to close their lights.
[Falls asleep]
From
those blue flames burning dim,
Where
black souls in sulphur swim.
Dark
infernal den below,
From
dread thunder smoking fire,
We come, we fly at thy desire.
To
fire thy mind, lewdly inclined-
First Fury
To
deeds unjust, murder and lust.
Second Fury
Dreaming
see, at thee, at thee. 35
Third Fury
Furies,
dart sin’s potent night-
First Fury
Sable
shafts of endless night.
[The three Furies dance an Antic and depart. Messalina
awakes.]
[59]
Messalina
Furies
enough; I’m fully satisfied;
A
pleurisy of lust runs through my
veins.
I
could grasp with any.
[Enter Silius]
Silius
Me above all. 40
Messalina
In
thee, my Silius! ‘Tis miraculous,
Ineffable,
never to be expressed
By
learning’s deepest art.
Silius
Glory of Queens,
Cease
to enchant with words that can so charm. 45
Messalina
Of
sweet allurements, shoot into thine eyes
Amorous
glances, stirring dalliance,
Embracements,
passions, such as shall beget 50
Perpetual
appetite, that all the gods
May
in beholding emulate our joy,
Envelopēd
with pleasure’s sweetest sweets,
Ambrosiac[60]
kisses thus.
[Silius and Messalina kiss]
Silius
Delicate nectar.
Messalina
Redoubled
thus and thus.
[They kiss again, twice]
Silius
O, I’m all flame, 55
A
scorched enchanted flame, and I shall burn
To
cinders with delight, debarred to quench
Fervour
with fervour, violent flame with flames.
Messalina
Thy
wife Syllana; be sudden, kill her; 60
She
must not live.
Silius
Messalina
Be not ignorant,
That
singular alone we must enjoy
The
freedom of thy body undebarred[62]
Least
let[63]
to pleasure; by this I charm thee.
[Silius and Messalina kiss]
Silius
O,
that delicious melting kiss prevails, 65
Sucks
dry the sweetness of a soul distressed,
Poisons
my blood and brain, and makes me apt
To do an outrage I should loathe to name.
O,
if I e’er was gracious in your sight, [kneels]
Desist,
fair beauty’s abstract, I implore, 70
Spur
me not[64]
to murder’s horrid act
Which
I shall ever rue. Let it suffice,
I’m
only yours, never Syllana’s more,
Sworn
a perpetual exile from her bed.
[Exit Messalina]
Vanished
so soon? How wondrous strange seems this. 75
[Enter Messalina, with a pistol]
[65]
Messalina
Or
take’t in thy bosom I’m intemperate;
Briefly
resolve.
Silius
Of
him that loves you dearer than his life.
Dreadless
of death I speak it, what is death? 80
A
bug to scare th’ ignoble coward’s mind,
The
valiant never; did the fates conspire
And
terrible death, in the most horrid shape
It
e’er put on, threat, despair, and ruin.
Yet
it should ne’er affright the soul of Silius, 85
Th’
impatient sudden cause of discontent
In
your rare worth only torments me more
Then
were I rack’t upon Ixion’s wheel[66]
To
perpetuity. Be gracious, then,
To
him that does repent, confess his error, 90
Seal’t with this kiss.
Messalina
Spare
life nor child, for Orestilla’s[68]
love,
And
must our high-born favours be slighted,
Put
off with bare persuasives?
Silius
Oh, be pleas’d.
Messalina
In
the high pitch of their ambition learn
Of
us to hate co-rivals in their love,
Trampling
the touch of Hymenæall[69]
rites
Under
their feet.
Silius
Of
those amazing eyes, those glorious lights 100
Fixed
in the firmament of your sweet face,
Shall
make me undergo the worst of ill,
Though
with the forefeiture of life I hazard
A
death more terrible then Alcides’[70]
was.
Messalina
Th’ast
fired afresh th’affection of my mind
More
violent than ever; be gone, be gone,
Hasten
Syllana’s death, then come to Court.
There
the Emperor Diadem[71] of Rome,
Dreadless
of Caesar, shall impale thy front. 110
Like
Jove and Juno in a nuptial knot,
We’ll
knit the bands of Hymen and outshine
The
glorious tapers of the golden sun,
Like
glistening Phaethon72 in an
orient chair, 115
That
with the bare report, swift fame shall strike
Amazement
through the world’s monarchical state.
All-gazing
eyes, fixed on our rich attire,
Languish
in dreams, our stately state admire.
Silius
At
your harmonious speech emphatical.
Ambitious
blood, like to the banks of Nile73
Overflows
this orb of man’s circumference,
And
points my actions thus their way to ill,
Aspiring
arms’ Lavolto[74] when
they kill. 125
[Exit
Silius, presenting his naked dagger]
Messalina
Gods[75],
the influence of whose power stares,
Mounts
thy imperial lot to set aloft
On
the high orb of our affection,
Like
the bright rising oriental sun,
When
it salutes Aurora[76];
’bove the choice 130
Of
five and twenty Jove-like Ganymedes[77],
Who
charmed, and wrapped in wanton dalliance,
Love[78]
fired with admiration; O pleasing,
Like
dull and tame nobility, live cooped,
Confined
and mewed up singular to one?
No,
Caesar, no’ twere fool’s philosophy,
And
I abjure’t; there is no music in’t. 140
Those
of our sex the minds of sots contain
And
are of no brave spirits that deny
Pleasure,
the heaven of my idolatry.
[Enter Saufellus and Lepida]
Lepida
Messalina
Lepida
And
that thy substitute by the ordain’d
‘Gainst
the most noble minds of chastity,
Whose
innocent blood like th’ Atlantic sea 150
Looks
red with murder, and cries out to heaven
For
justice and revenge. O, hadst thou first
Then
been the author of so foul a fact
Made
thy own passage, happy woman I.
Messalina
Beldame,
give o’er, or I’ll disclaim all smoothness, 155
There’s
nothing done that’s wished undone by us.
Lepida
Truth’s
story shall relate to after times
My
love to thee, hate to thy desperate crimes.
Messalina
Pish,
to your chamber, dotard[83],
be advised. 160
Saufellus
Go,
and a mischief damn you, and all your pitiful sex.
Messalina
We
do commend thy care,
Joy
‘ith performance of our strict command,
Which
shall from henceforth style thee favourite
To
us, that will command thy fortune’s rise. 165
Saufellus
And
all those fortunes, favours, life and all,
Shall
like an Atlas[84]
undergo the weight
Of
your imperious will, be it to th’ death
Of
parents, massacre of all my kin,
To
exceed the devil, act any sin. 170
Messalina
For
which we thus enseam thee.
[Kisses
Silius]
Saufellus
O Dulce[85],
Divinest
goddess whom my soul adores,
Multiply
that sweet touch of rare delight,
And
from the garden of Hesperides[86]
Those
delicate delicious ruby lips 175
Make
me immortal[87];
quench, quench the burning heat
Which
like th’ immoderate thirst of Tantalus[88],
Scorching
the meadows of my solid flesh,
Dries
up the rivers of my crimson blood,
And
as the gaping tongue-tied earth for rain 180
Opens
her grief, so in my looks behold:
View
my distress, make me to live or die.
Messalina
Grasp
me, Saufellus, let’s have a sprightly dance,
Swift
footing apts[89]
my blood for dalliance.
Saufellus
Could
transcend mortal.
Messalina
Tush,
we’ll accept thy will.
[Dance
a Coranto]
[90]
[Enter Lepida]
Saufellus
Messalina
Pish, mind her not.
Lepida
Shall
I desist? O, then she’s lost for ever! 190
No,
I will bend with fairest fair demean.
To
save her soul I’ll make my foot my head;
Mothers
were monsters else not truly bred.
Give
my speech once more freedom.
Messalina
To
rest the strictness of our dread command.
Lepida
On
bended knees, with penitential tears,
T’appease
the gods for thy full sea of sin.
Such
is a mother’s love, and such is mine. 200
Prove
thou my like, thy soul shall never fall
Into
those damned sins it nourisheth,
Which
like a ponderous argosy[91]
full fraught,
Cuffed[92]
on the mountain top of some big wave
In
the descent, falls on the fearful rock 205
And
splits in pieces irrecoverable.
So
fatal death upon the wings of night
Whirls
the black soul in her triumphant car
To
the Tartarian vales; where crowned in flames,
Tumbling
descend to dreadful Orcus’[93]
cell, 210
That
merciless pit of bottomless despair,
To
fry in those blue[94] flames
of fear forever,
In
never ending endless pain forever.
If
mother’s tears were e’er of force to move,
Let
these of mine take place, strive to repent, 215
Think
what a horrid thing it is to see
There
is fear above us, fear still beneath us,
Fear
round about, and yet no fear within us.
Messalina
I
do begin to melt.
Lepida
Heaven’s
blessing on thee. 220
Saufellus
And
hell’s cure on thee! ’Tis high time to speak.
O,
be yourself divinest fair on earth;
This
idle superstitious lecturing
Proceeds
of malice; what, to make you child
And
slave to her desires? 225
Lepida
Messalina
No
more! Live and be thankful.
[Exit Messalina and
Saufellus]
Lepida
Is
all my labour in a moment lost?
Live
and be thankful? Sure I do but dream. 230
It
cannot be nature against itself
Should
so rebel. O fool, fool that I am,
With
vain hope thus to play the flatterer.
Mors aerumnarum quies, mors
omnibus finis
[96]
.
Dissolve
the glassy pearls of mine eyes, 235
That
Niobe-like[97] I
may consume in tears,
And
nevermore behold daylight again.
Pish, all this is but talk, and talk I must,
Fly
from me soul and turn my earth to dust.
Must
I then live to see my daughter’s shame? 240
Crack,
crack poor heart, stern death let fly thy dart,
Send
my sad soul to the Elysium[98]
shades,
That
there it might drink Lethe[99],
and forget
It ever
lived in this mortality.
Parcae[100],
dispatch! When, when I say? No, no! 245
[Falls, distracted]
Upon
my stain of blood, that gods and men
May
sit and laugh, and plaudit my revenge.
Ye
dismal sisters of the fatal night,
Rise,
rise and dance hell’s roundelays[102] for
joy, 250
Rhamnusia[103] finds employment for you
all.
Follow,
follow, follow, follow, follow.
Note
with your grim aspects the courts of kings,
Sits
hammering mischief, and how toad-like swells 255
Bombast with treason’s riches; see, there’s lust,
Brave
madam, lust, temptation’s painted whore,
Divinely
worshipped by the bastard brood
Of
knaves and fools.
Ye
dread and ireful Furies, if’t not true, 260
Why
then employ your burning whips of steel,
Excellent
Furies how you do excel,
So,
so, so, so, tis holiday104 in
hell.
[Exit
Lepida]
Scene iii
[Enter Syllana, drawn out upon a bed, asleep. Enter Silius
with a lighted torch][105]
Silius
O, what a fiery combat feels my soul;
The
genius, good and bad, that waits[106]
on man
Shakes
nature’s frame, trembles this microcosm.
There
virtue pleads for sleeping innocence,
For
love, true love, chaste thoughts, and virtuous acts, 5
Which
entertained within a constant breast
Makes
man triumphant, crowned, immortal, blessed.
But
O, the ponderous plummets of black vice
Suppress
those pure imaginations,
Which
break like lightning only for a flash, 10
Wanting
the true material to impel
And
to continue this false clock of life
From
its exorbitant course; such like are
Majestic
title, and the Empress,
That
unpeered excellence, bewitching dalliance, 15
Soul
of temptation sweet, so charms all sense.
Virtue
I loathe, like politic states whose good
Depends
on ill, work their attempts in blood.
Syllana
Then
I am safe; ’twas but a dream, I see, 20
A
waking walking in my sleep, wherein
Methought
I saw near to a riverside
Two
lovely turtles[107]
sit, like morn in May,
Adorned
with all the glories of the Spring.
Their
loves to either seemed to sympathise, 25
And
with such sober chastity connects,
That
their two hearts, as true loves ever should,
Like
fire and heat inseparate alike,
Showed like the splendour of a heart that lived
In
sacred flames, in unextinguished flames 30
Of
chaste desires, free from the tainted spot
Of
petulant dalliance, till temptation’s snare
Appeared
Parthenope-like[108],
that with her charms
Worked
so effectual on the turtle male,
He,
like Troy’s firebrand[109],
falsely that forsook 35
Unpitied
Oenone[110],
not alone content,
Alone
for forlorn, t’abjure his lovely mate,
But
back return’d his black intents to further,
And
to the height of lust he added murder.
The
very thought seemed daggers to my breast, 40
That
with the fear I waked.
Silius
To sleep thy last!
[Holds
out his dagger to her]
Syllana
Silius
Briefly
this:
I’ll
be your dream’s expositor. Thou must die,
Nor
must I seem to yield a slave to pity.
Tell
me my better self, whose killing words
Wounds
crueller than death, what cause, what offence,
What
ill desert in me, that wronged you never, 50
The
gods me witness bear?[111]
Silius
‘Tis
for no fault sustained on thy behalf,
No,
‘tis the Empress’s doom.
Syllana
She; nay then.
Silius
‘Tis
she, that model of creation,
Must
through thy death participate alone 55
All
that is man in me, and to that end
With
sweetest concord of discording parts,
Outsings
the sirens, fires this mansion
With
haut ambition, Rome’s imperial crown;
And
therefore I must kill, or else forgo 60
All
those bright shining glories, which what fool
Would
be so nice.
Syllana
Is
there then no hope,
Where
I shall never see thy face again, 65
Never
behold those joys, which Hymen’s rites
Were
wont to crown with true love’s flames?
Is
there no remedy?
Farewell,
vain world, my life is such a toy,
I
will not wish to live, t’abate thee joy. 70
Yet
e’er I go, grant this one courtesy:
‘Tis
the last kindness you shall ever give,
Place
’gainst my heart thy deadly pointed steel.[112]
So,
now farewell, death is for me most meet,
Strike
sure and home, I do forgive thee, sweet. 75
Silius
As
bravely thus,
[Moves to stab her, then flings the dagger away]
Not
to be Emperor of the spacious earth!
Live,
live, Syllana, free.
Syllana
Is’t possible?
‘Twixt
fear and hope struck, through with deep amaze 80
I
waver doubtful.
Silius
And
be sure of this, though I must confess
I
hither came armed with a full intent
To
take thy life, yet Silius ne’er shall add
To
his libidinous life a murder’s name. 85
Of
ills, ‘tis ever best, the worst to shame,
By
murders murderers’ souls are oft undone.
I
wish I were far better than I am.
But
since without my most assured ruin
It
cannot be, being so far[113]
engaged 90
Into
the Empress’s favour, I must on,
Make
use of some device cloaked with deceit,
That
far beyond persuasion may enforce
Thy
death’s belief.
Syllana
Kill, O kill me rather.
Be
not far crueller to thy self than death
95
To
put to hazard on so slight a ground
Thy
life for mine, I know the Empress
That
if least notice of my life she hear,
Not
ireful Nemesis[114]
in swift revenge
Could
be more speedy.
Silius
You
shall not need to fear, therefore as I
At
court with my continuance must make way
To
clear suspect, use you the matter so
Among
your noble family whereby
Argos-ey’d
envy descry
[115]
me not; I
105
Shall
securely live dreadless of danger.
Syllana
And
I survive, my fierce revenge should be
Good
against ill, how to preserve your life.
Silius
Th’art
the true emblem of a perfect wife, 110
For
whose rare virtue from my soul I wish
All
husbands were the same, in that right way
A
perfect husband truly ought to be,
Which
since in me, ordained by powerful fate
Never
to be avoided backward runs, 115
That
serpent foe to life; sad grief’s extreme
As
grossly vain in being remediless, and
Therefore
shun it; patient conjuence[116]
Is
the calm of trouble, best cure ‘gainst cure, 120
Gives
greatness best content in mean estate.
Who
do I then, like godless villains, tell
The
way’t heaven, yet lead the path to hell.
Minds
that will mount into superior state,
Climb
mischief’s ladder, virtuous actions hate. 125
Yet
is’t not so with Silius; I do love
Those
virtues in another, though I want
The
like performance, nor shall my high aim
Raised
on advancement’s top do me more good
Than
th’ enjoying free from the act of blood. 130
But
I protract delay, there’s danger in’t;
Never
was man so infinitely
Bewitched,
charmed, and enchanted as is Caius
Silius, to leave a constant wife, farewell.
Syllana
Silius
We
must, nay prithee weep not, sweet.
Syllana
Blessings
like drops of rain shower on thy soul,
O,
that I might part dying in thine arms. 140
Silius
Farewell.
Syllana
Farewell.
Silius
Tears
want their remedy; there is no striving ’gainst our destiny.[118]
[Exit Syllana and Silius, in separate directions]
Scene i
Mela
My
brother gone to exile[119],
and I here,
So
near the Empress’s Court, the Court of shame,
Where
mischiefs hourly breed; how strange seems this,
I
have a will to follow, yet I want
My
will’s performance; not that I am sick, 5
Wanting,
or limbs, or liberty, which begets
More
strange imaginations, yet all I can
Comes
short to guess th’ inscrutable meaning
That
thus detains me here, in vain, in vain;
The
more I strive, my senses I confound; 10
Then
give it o’er, salute thy mother earth.
[Lies down]
Upon
the wings of thought takes flight, and fly,
Fly
to the island of Corsica[120]
there;
Learn
the soul’s comfort, sweet philosophy. 15
What
infinite good ’tis to contemplate heaven,
For
to that end the life of man is given.
[Enter Montanus, in disguise]
Montanus
Brother
to the banished Seneca;
Are
you caught, Sir? 20
[Snatches
Mela’s sword from behind him]
Mela
Ha,
villain, what art thou?
Montanus
A
murderer and villain, O Sir,
’Tis
the best thriving trade and best employed
’Gainst
such malevolent satirists as you;
You
that are all for virtue, a mere word, 25
When
indeed there’s no such thing; say there be,
None
truly loves it but dies beggarly.
Mela
With
thy envenomed scoffs ‘gainst that that is
Most
rare, most excellent. 30
Montanus
A little more,
And
then I’ll speed you; excellent ladies
Cannot
disable with a charming spell,
A trick
of wit, a humour that they have.
Husbands
they not affect, making free way
For
Atlas’ backs to leap their lovely laps; 35
But
your satirical censure straight must pass,
Th’
one’s pride’s scabbed-hammed rascals[121],
and the other's
Mischief’s
venereal trulls; these are fine terms.
Mela
O,
slave. 40
Montanus
What
madness durst the like, deserv’st not death;
Yes,
yet your life is safe, pass but your vow
T’embrace
a beauty I shall bring you to,
More
delicate than was the Spartan Queen[122], 45
One
that shall pay large tribute night by night,
Give
thee thy weight in gold for each delight.
Mela
To
lust and lucre? No, though mines of gold
She
could give oft’ner than those whorish looks 50
Women
take pride in, to bewitch men’s souls;
First
parched to cinders ’gainst the burning zone,
Be
buried quick, all torments possible,
Stretched
on the tenters of invention
I
gladly would most willingly endure, 55
E’er thy soul-killing proffers enters here.
Montanus
Mela
Pish,
for my death, there’s too much man in me
To
fear so slight a scratch; let it come,
I
will not budge a foot; strike fair and home, 60
’Tis
better die than live to live unjust,
Slave
to th’ unsounded sea of woman’s lust.
Montanus
I
am no villain, though I seemed in show 65
But
one that fearful in these dangerous times;
For
to retain a friend, led on by hope
Of
our fair life, whom envy in your foes
Reports
no less of, caused me through disguise
To
put to trial your unvalued worth, 70
Which
beyond man I find of such pure mould;
Sun-like,
your virtues outshine purest gold.
Mela
Worthy
your least encomium[123].
Montanus
A
miracle, which but in me in part, 75
Through
friendship’s dear respect incorporate;
And
you shall bind me everlastingly
To
bless the hour we met.
Mela
As I am slow
To
friendships and confidence, as ’tis requisite
For
every one, and yet once entered in 80
Affect
stability, judge you the same;
A
man that truly sensitive well knows
Virtue
to be but merely adjective,
Wanting
that sovereign sweetness which directs
The
mind to honest actions, and therefore, 85
As
friendship joins with virtue, truly is
The
lover of love each true friend’s property.
By
that true blessing, sundry will’s connection,
Our
hearts as hands unite, dilate affection,
That
th’enlarge length, orbicular may spread 90
And
ne’er find end.
Montanus
So am I yours.
Mela
You mine.
Montanus
Unparalleled’s
that love where friends combine.
[Enter Valens, Proculus and Menester]
Here
comes the top, top gallants of the time.
Mela
Exempt
the bondage of these palace rats, 95
These,
whose delights are last provocatives.
Montanus
Let
us withdraw, and seem to mind them not.
Menester
Equal
to ours, to us that feel no want
Of
high Court favours, life’s licentiousness? 100
Kings
have their cares, and in their highest state
Want
those free pleasures crowns us fortunate.
Valens
O
happy state.
Mela [aside]
Glorious slave.
Valens
Thrice happy,
I’d
not change earth for Jove’s felicity.
Proculus
For
such a mistress as the Empress,
Would
be so dull as not make use of art,
Forcing
the body’s jovial able might
To
yield her expectation full delight?
Montanus
Valens
I’d
do’t, though, Phaeton-like,
The
hot receipt should fire this fabric.
Menester
When
I commemorate her excellence,
How
lavish lovely dalliance free proceeds
From
that rarity of perfection! O, 115
How
I’m ravished, ravished in thought as well
As
with the act, which breeds no wonder though
High
Jove transhap’t him to Amphityron[124]
To
taste the pleasure of Alcmena’s[125]
bed.
Needs
must such prodigal sweets mad thoughts of 120
Men,
when power to attract the gods.
Mela
Montanus
Valens
Of
true regard and worth, would be resolved. 125
What’s
he, that bears the valiant mind of man,
Dares
for his mighty sovereign mistress more
Then
Vettius Valens?
Proculus
That dare I, I dare.
Fond
that thou art to question such a toy,
Were
thy power equal to thy daring pride, 130
Proculus
dares do more.
Menester
Nor thou, nor he,
Not
Valens, nor Proculus; though you both,
Both
durst as much as he durst cuckold Jove,
Menester
would transcend you.
Valens
That
our bloods decide. 135
[All
draw, exposed to a triple sight round]
[126]
Proculus
A
spirit of valour.
Menester
Let
it come.
[Enter Messalina and Saufellus, above]
Messalina
What
killing objects this presents our eyes,
Our
favourites turned fighters must not be.
Descend,
Saufellus, know the cause: we’ll follow. 140
Valens
Stand
all do firm, this seal express my rage.
Proculus
Menester
This mine.
[They wound each other]
Saufellus
Hold, hold, you’re wounded all;
As
you’ll incur our Empress’s deep displeasure,
Hold,
and resolve why thus you have exposed
Your
lives to danger.
[Enter Messalina]
Messalina
Menester
From
that concerns the credits of best men,
Which
of us three in our affections prized
Your
excellence most.
Messalina
We
do embrace and preciously account 150
The
vigour of your loves, so you no more,
So
full of spite, let prosecute your hate
With
the like hardy daring; ’twill not please.
We
should esteem your jars ridiculous,
Issuing
from brainless wit discerned in others, 155
And
as ’tis common to our eminent sex,
Triumph
in state, and glory in your falls.
Yet
th’ operation of your loves so works,
That
it screws[127]
ours to judge the contrary.
Dry
up your wounds with care, then come to Court; 160
Love
shall entrance your souls, prepare for sport.
[Exit Messalina and Saufellus]
Valens
I’ll
study art in love for recompense.
Proculus
My
love shall mount.
Menester
Mine yield profuse expense.
[Exit Valens, Proculus and Menester]
Montanus
Here
was a storm of mischief soon blown o’er.
Mela
’Twas
to prepare them for a wicked life; 165
Not
worth least memory, behold this book; [Holds
out book]
Sit,
my dear friend, and I will read to thee
Of
that high majesty, puissant[128]
Ens[129],
From
whom we have our being, life and soul, 170
Which
should dull flinty, inconsiderate man,
When
with black deeds ’ith mighty bog of sin,
Beast-like
he wallows, considers right,
Thinks
on his present state, whence came and must;
Then
on that terrible thunderer that sees 175
His
actions kick at heaven, he then no more
Would
dare t’offend his maker, but with tears
Lament
his soul’s pollution, which doth give
Matter,
by which men’s souls immortal live.
But,
through an unfrequented heaviness, 180
I
am prevented.
Montanus [Takes book]
Repose
a while, I’ll read.
[Enter Messalina and Saufellus, above]
Messalina
Make
us celestial happy with thy news,
Art
thou sure ’tis he?
Saufellus
’Tis, ’tis Montanus,
Sure
as I live, I took full view of him 185
Before
and after the fight, then withdrawn
Within
yon grave of oaks.
Messalina
To
clip him. Fly swift as thought, Saufellus,
Conduct
him to our paradise of joy[130].
If
he escape, desire him then confound us. 190
We
only viewed him once, but then the time
Crossed
our desires; blessed opportunity
That
makes our happiness a very heaven.
We’ll
build an altar, and erect a shrine
That
shall eternise thee for this; wer’t my brother 195
Resembled
him we so entirely love,
We’d
force him ravish pleasure, if not kill;
Be
a Semiramis[131]
to sate our will.
[Exit
Messalina]
[Enter Saufellus]
Saufellus
Montanus
Sir, the like to you.
Saufellus
‘Tis
the Empress’s pleasure you attend her will. 200
Montanus
Saufellus
Delay
not with demands, th’ are frivolous.
Will
you along?
Montanus
Your favour, Sir, a while;
I’ll
but awake my friend; so-ho, sleepy still,
Pray
heaven this heaviness imports no harm. 205
[Exeunt
Montanus and Saufellus]
Mela
How’s
this, my friend departed, and I alone?
I
know not what to think; ’tis very strange
He
thus unwaked would leave me; sure he strived,
Yet
I so fast, that he no doubt was loath
To
break my rest; ’tis so, and some chief cause 210
Which
I might well dispense with him drew hence.
I’ll
to my father’s house, there certain find
Or
hear of him.
[Exeunt
Mela]
Scene ii
[Hoboys. A banquet. Montanus is ushered in state by Saufellus and others, who
place him and depart. Hoboys cease. Solemn music plays during Montanus’
speech.]
Montanus
The valiant and the wise coward and fool,
I’m
not so dull, but that I know thee now.
Now,
comprehend why music breathes delight,
And
why this banquet, which both presents themselves 5
To
be my slaves? ’Tis to make me a slave
To
lust, that deadly potion of the soul,
Whose
poison quaffed kills body and the soul.
That’s
the main aim of these harmonious strains,
These
stirring meats, which unto me appear 10
Like
those blue[132]
flames the damned taste in hell.
[Enter
Messalina by degreees, gazing at him]
[133]
Celestial
angels, guard me; now she comes,
And
I so ill prepared, I know not what!
A sudden earthquake trembles nature’s frame,
Which,
like a falling pine tree, to and fro, 15
Uncertain
where to fall, it tottering stands.
She’s
most bewitching sweet; I fear, I fear,
She will more come; now I begin to burn,
To
scorch, like to the coals of Etna[134].
Strike
Me,
eternal winter, with thy frosts; quench, 20
Quench
this hot combustion in my blood,
And
if I needs must fall, O sacred powers,
Benumb
my senses so that I may taste
No sweetness in the act, yield no delight.
Messalina
To
gaze on thy perfections, precious shape.
Why
dost thou shake? Why stare? As rapt in wonder,
Why
dumb? Or think’st thy happiness a dream?
This
kiss confirm thee ours; entrance thy soul
To
stir love-panting appetite while thus 30
We
clip thee in our arms, embrace thee thus.
Montanus
O….
Messalina
That’s
love’s alarum; to bed, to bed,
To
Venus’ field, there combat for love’s treasure;
Swim
in excess of joy, there ravish pleasure. 35
[Exit Messalina and Montanus]
Mela
To
thee, fair fortune, in divinest sense,
To
whom all excellence inclusive is,
To
that high power, I invocate, implore;
If
pleased, direct where I may find my friend,
Full
when I fitly may assimilate 40
The
restless acquiescence of my mind
To
the perpetual motion of a wheel,
That
by the force of water restless turns,
The
vigour of the torrent left unstopped.
So,
the strange absence of my noble friend 45
Suffers
th’ insulting torrent of sad grief,
Tyrannic-like
upon the wheel of sense
To
rack my restless rest, which I must bear.
’Tis
vain to strive ’gainst sorrow’s streams to swim;
Man
hath no power on grief, grief power on him. 50
What’s
he declines his visage to the ground?
Is’t
not my friend? ‘Tis he, happily met.
[Enter Montanus, dejected in countenance]
Montanus
Hell-cat,
no more, no more of thy embrace!
Find’st
thou my body enemy to lust,
And
yet again attempts me? 55
Mela
Montanus
Keep
off, insatiate Empress, I’ll no more!
Poison
on monsters, the blood of Nessus[135]
Dam
up thy curtain, gulf-like appetite!
May
Furies fright thy whorish fortitude, 60
Dancing
Lavoltos in the very act,
And
damn you.
Mela
Save him, divine assistance,
For
he’s lost. Mistake not, I’m thy friend.
Montanus
Thy
pardon, worthy friend, it was my fear 65
Of
further ill made me forget myself.
Distracted
sense, as well it might; O, there’s
A
strange deed past.
Mela
I fully comprehend,
By
that distemper lately in your blood;
’Twas
music’s sweetest concord to my soul, 70
To
hear with what a cold performance
Th’
act was wrested from you; happy prevention!
How,
like a doubtful battle, it hath made
The
victory more joyful, which had else,
Had
you replenished those soul-killing sweets, 75
No
means for safety then, but fall you must,
A
prey to slaughter, or a slave to lust;
But
since with heaven’s prevention you are free,
Fly
Rome, the impious maladies she breeds,
Experience
tells, are hooks to catch at souls. 80
Therefore,
to be avoided, there’s no trust
To
trust to stay, where such infection reigns.
Who
is at all times one, in that right way
Man
ought to be, being circumvolv’d ’mong those
That
by the plummets of licentious will 85
Measure
their virtues? ’Tis impossible!
The
scholar, he in whom there doth consist
Honest
conditions, and within whose heart
There’s
many virtues make their residence,
Though
with night-watchings at his study site, 90
Wasting
his vital spirits, not unlike
His
burning taper, to illuminate
Others
the way that leads to the direct,
From
superficial to essential joy;
Even
he ill company corrupts, directs 95
To
the indirect, so that some one vice
Robs
him of all his virtue. The soldier,
That
magnanimous resolution,
He
that leaves nothing unattempted,
May
tend to the honour of his country; 100
Ill
company poisons with self conceit,
Cankers[136]
with envy; till on the rack of
Haut
ambition stretched, like stubble set
On
fire he prove a flame;
And
therefore, to prevent us, ’gainst all ill, ’gainst 105
Wisdom,
commands our absence, truly knows:
Man
at the best, his power to do is little,
His
state obnoxious, at the best most brittle.
Montanus
To
immortality, forewarns to fly 110
The
dire event of future tragedy
Which,
as the flame, the fire of force must follow
By
the Empress’s bloody project; that monster
In
nature, in this the Emperor’s absence,
Mounts
on the highest spire of infamy, 115
Resolves
to join in hymenal bands
With
Caius, which Silius, quaint villainy,
To
put in speedy practice, he last night
Arrived
at court.
Mela
There let their impudence,
For
glassy glories of monarchical state, 120
Engender
sin with sin, flatter their hopes;
While
our souls fixed on contemplation
Make
for the isle of Corce.[137]
Come, my dear
Friend,
there on the Tyrhen[138]
shore we’ll practise
Man’s
sole perfection: to be heavenly wise. 125
[Exit Mela and Montanus]
Scene i
[Enter Messalina,
Silius, Virgilianus, Calphurnianus, Valens, Proculus, Menester and Saufellus,
with attendants]
Silius
Resembles
your rare sex, succeeding times
Shall,
to the end of time, gaze and admire,
Wonder
at your high prudence, which to the
Combination
of our nuptials hath charmed 5
Dull
Caesar to a free consent; behold, [Holds up the marriage papers]
May
view my fortunes, like a valley, rise
Above
those hills that will admit no clouds;
There’s
a full grant wherein you may discern 10
My
glories in this admirable lemme.
Valens
‘Tis a fit bound unto your boundless glory.
Menester
Not
Ninus[139]
Was
e’er more dull, more easily entrapped,
Than
Rome’s ridiculous Emperor Claudius. 15
Virgilianus
Ridiculous indeed, here ’tis confirmed.
Messalina
Read it, Virgilianus.
Virgilianus [reads]
Silius
we fairly like, and to that end,
With
our imperial signet willingly
Have
sealed this assurance, granting a dower
Out
of our treasury to be exhaust;
And
of our royal pleasure to be given
With
her, our only happiness on earth, 25
By
whose persuasions we are confident
The
said nuptials, to be but colourably,
Only
of purpose t’avert the danger
Of
certain prodigies, aimed at our loss
Of
life and empire.’ 30
Calphurnianus
Her
Highness excellently managed.
Saufellus
Sure
Jove’s high love to his loved Ganymede
Descends
in triumph on the noble Silius.
Valens
Free
from the plots of blood, thus fairly greet
Without
least flaw in safety?
Proculus
Can
it enter in my thoughts to think,
What
obstacle should bar his excellence
From
writing ‘Emperor’.
Menester
The
people that are the nerves of empire,
All
for the virtues of your noble sire,
Dearly
affect you; boldly rely on’t,
At
publication of this copious grant
They’ll
add all majesty to your high fame. 45
Saufellus
Pretended
for to dim dull Caesar’s glory,
Will work constraint.
Valens
The
acts of blood that reigned in Sulla’s days[140].
Messalina
That
the black thoughts of Catiline[141]
survive,
For
this prodigious age to perpetrate.
Calphurnianus
Was
signed, they by the entrails of their beasts
Firmly
affirm, past contradiction, 55
Your
reign to be most safe and popular.
Virgilianus
Of
necessity as food and raiment
To
the body’s health, will force the people
Constant;
they in their love and fear must make 60
Your
more than royal spirit most endeared;
That
state best rules, rules to be loved and feared.
Silius
These
solid certainties you here pronounce
In
my behalf, which argues your firm friendship, 65
The
vengeful gods must in their justice grant.
Make
me the minister of fate, dig up
The
stead, plant monumental ruin; make
The
name ‘wretched’ draw dishonoured breath. 70
All
the dire torments Furies can invent
Were
all too little for my father’s loss;
That
memorable lad, he that hath stood
The
fiery fervour of so many fights,
Came
bravely off, and saved this Empire, 75
Gave unto Caesar Rome and servile senate,
Gave
all their strength and being, and for all
Grown
too, too great examples for the times,
Plots
were devised in recompence to kill;
And
that their Machiavellian darkness, he 80
No
sooner scented, but in open senate,
Scorning
Tiberius[142]
and death’s base censure,
Exposed
his life a sacrifice to valour;
And
for that fact, upon the blood and name
That
caused so brave and famous an example 85
For
all free spirits, I’ll be revenged after
No
common sort.
Valens
Prosper,
and command me ever and all.
Silius
That
shines like rotten wood[143],
serves petty use; 90
The
mind of Silius much, much more than scorns.
The
grave Virgilianus[144]
digs during the
Life
of Silius shall ne’er speak but with the
Voice
of Consul; he, Calphurnianus,
Vettius
Valens, Proculus, Menester, 95
And
Saufellus Trogus, to all renown
Command
and wealth of provinces shall flow,
T’express
the gratitude of Silius; and
Though
last named, yet your bright excellence, the
Which
for gratitude ever remembered 100
Best
in esteem and first; not unlike to
That
rare gem reserved last to view for
Worth
and glory; to you, all the delight
This
world of man affords I freely give.
Messalina
Thy temper melts me, my magnanimous mate. 105
[Exit
Messalina, Valens, Virgilianus, Calphurnianus, Proculus, Menester and
attendants]
Silius
Shall
apt my blood unto the perfect height
Of
pleasure, love and eminence; lead on.
Pompey
nor Caesar could endure a mate,
Nor
Silius, Claudius, in superior state. 110
[Exeunt Silius]
Narcissus
Emperor
of empty brains, z’heart! I could curse
His
soul to th’ depth of Barathrum![145]
O---
Pallas
Who
but Claudius, unworthy of Empire,
Drunk
with the dregs of overlight belief
Would
be so grossly gulled?[146]
Calistus
Of
babies.
Narcissus
Of
state, a cloth of silver slut, the tricks
Of
a tempting tissue trull; to push his
Horns
upon the pikes of ruin, where he
Should
rot, rot, wer’t not to serve our own ends, 10
Maintain
that habit of perfection sure,
Which
till this sudden unexpected change
Like
paste has worked him to what mould we pleased.
Pallas
And must do still, or certainly perish.
Calistus
’Tis
the prime policy, the heart of state, 15
Which
if with vigilance we not pursue,
We
lose, and in that loss lost for ever.
Silius
grows popular, and the people
As ‘tis their nature, ever covet change.
They
are as easy to be filled with errors 20
To
her dishonour; therefore, as sailors,
That
have for guide the south and north, sometimes
To
traverse and cross their way, and yet
Not
lose their guide, so in the deep affairs 25
Of
such high consequence of state, as now
The
time concerts, we must for guide detain
The
knowledge how to pierce the ends of those
We most malign.
Pallas
Rests
deceived, which for to put in speedy 30
Practice,
and stop the marriage, you and I,
My
Lord, under the veil of friendship, will
To
Rome; persuade the Emperor Caesar is
Himself,
perceives that all her plots to his
Destruction
tends, the loss of Empire and 35
Th’abuse
of his bed dissuaded her from the
Love
of Silius, which, in the refusal,
Blood
and fire must quench.
Narcissus
With
low submission, making her believe 40
By
cringes, creepings, and a Sinon’s face,
That
all our care is only for her good,
May
work persuasion.
Calistus
But not in her.
There
is no trust to such uncertainty,
T’were
deadly Stibium[147]
to our vital blood, 45
Like
that dire poison that’s resistative
’Gainst
the minds of men. They are fit to be fooled,
Slighted,
add scorned, whose dull ignorance
Knows
not that women, in their height of ill,
Who
bars them their delight, delight to kill. 50
What
will Valeria Messalina, the
Empress
then? Think you she will be slow,
Whose
hot alarums in the very act,
Within
the circuit of a day and night,
Endured
the test of five and twenty, came 55
Off
unwearied, a deed to quake the hearts
Of
virtuous dames; think you she will be barred,
Dissuaded
from the love of Silius? No!
We
cannot, therefore, knowing that credit and
Authority
is far more safely for 60
To
be maintained with circumspect than with
Rash
counsel, cannot, I say, be too, too
Wary,
lest by any notice taken
She
take lest knowledge of our discontent,
Whose
rugged thoughts unseen, must be smoothed o’er, 65
And
with a pleasing veil, appear in show
To
like, and give full approbation
Of
the opprobrious marriage, so to
Secure
us from suspect and peril,
Undoubted
death. 70
Narcissus
I fully apprehend,
That
so Rome’s siren in the height of pride,
Through
wicked wedlock’s jollity made drunk,
Drunk
with the dregs of blind security.
Then,
by my pioneering[148]
policies aloft, 75
Of
which my brain detains the theoric,
The
thirst of their ambition quench in blood.
Till
then, sleep on, sleep on, ye fools of fate;
Plots
best encounter plots, free from suspect: 80
Fly like the bolts of Jove, firm in effect.
[Exit Narcissus, Pallas and Calistus]
[Cornets.
[149]
Enter Messalina and Silius, crowned, and attended in state
by the auspices and their faction, passing over the stage
[150]
to the temple. Lepida with her hair dishevelled, wringing
her hands, meets them. They go off, and she speaks.]
Lepida
My
senses lost, and in that perfect being
Gives
me the noble patience for to see,
At
sight of this, my daughter’s impudence. 5
Shame
that attends this wicked nuptial rites!
[Enter Valens, Proculus, Menester and Saufellus]
Now
in the name of goodness, what means this
Whispering?
What new mischief lies hatching
In
yonder bloody villain’s busy brain?
In
the discovery, counterfeit sleep, 10
And
madness be my mask.
Saufellus
Draws
nigh, then a rich stirring masque will best
Tunes
for song, I’ll take that charge on me. 15
Valens
For changes in each dance, my brain shall work.
Saufellus
Prize,
leapt madam Venus in her height of pride
For
graceful action and sweet posie?
Valens
Now,
does he claw like a decayed tradesman,[152] 20
When
to maintain the wagging of his chaps
His
wife’s venereal firk-in must to sale?
Menester
By
the scratching of his nimble pate[153],
Worked
your best pleasing project for a mask, 25
Was
well rewarded for’t, when such as you
For
pains in song and dances laughed to scorn
Poor
simple sots, their payment was the horn?
Proculus
O, nimble satirical vein.
Menester
That’s slow enough, and dull at this time. 30
Saufellus
What
think you of a wooden Cupid brought in, in
An
antic amble, making it wag like
The
apish head of a French fiddler, when he
Valens
Unless you bring in the dapper dancer:
With
his lata tat a teero tat a tant
Ta
ra rat a ta too rant tat a ta teero tat a too,
Flinging
away his legs, and screwing his face 40
Into
the fury of a thousand fools!
Who’s
this? Mad-madam Lepida, asleep.
Saufellus
‘Tis
well, else she’d rail faster than any
City
puppet.
Proculus
That’s a horrid hearing.
Saufellus
O a
hell, none like it, let Scorpio’s itch[155] 45
Reign
in her middle sphere; fie, how she’ll
Play
the devil with cuckold simplicity,
Her
husband for want of performance; it
Passeth
all admiration, and that with
No
little wonder; yet demand the act, 50
And
then you shall have my nice o’er curious dame,
Upon
the tiptoes of her apish pride,
Protest,
with ‘O no, I will not wrong my
Husband
for earth’s treasure’, stand upon her
Honesty,
then smile, change in a moment, 55
And
then wantonize, mop, mew, bite lip and
Wriggle
with the bum[156]
to put a man in mind;
Then
touch, she’ll gripe, and clip with a kiss,
Melt
into all the forms of venery
Thought
can devise, and there’s her honesty! 60
Menester
O,
petulant pureness of defiled pitch!
But
you forget what actors are prepared
In
readiness for practice ‘gainst the masque.
Saufellus
They
shall supply that want, ’tis so decreed 65
By
th’ Empress’ strict command.
Lepida
O,
horrible! [Aside]
Saufellus
Must
suffer rape, and shall, stood hell in fight.
Valens
Spoke
like thy self, my metropolitan 70
Cutthroat
of chastity.
Saufellus
‘Twill be excellent,
Rare;
I fat with laughter at the rich conceit!
We’ll
play at tennis with their maidenheads,
Fifty
at a breakfast shall not give me
Content.
Lepida
The
hearts of great ones, and stands for nothing.
What
says your most approved judgements? Your
Single
sole conceits I am sure will stand
For
bawdy comedies, and ribald jests.
Insinuate
thou, and so wax knavish wise; 80
Thou
a stamped villain, learn to temporise.
Pilot
thou, and set friends hourly at debate;
Cling
to the surer side, the weaker hate.
Turn
bawd at midnight, pander[157]
to a whore,
While
lust in ’ith act, ye knaves, look to the door. 85
Ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha!
[Exeunt Lepida]
Saufellus
Laughs thou, mad maud?
Go
with a burning mischief, z’heart, I could cut
Her
throat, but something in her looks there is
That
shakes me, what again? 90
[Enter Lepida]
Lepida
Be
thou
One
that knows how to mix with perilous act
The
deadly poison with the amorous dart?
Drunk
with conceit, that greatness bears the sway,
Safely
to act what villain it may. 95
God’s
golden, I’ll come again; anon.[158]
[Exeunt Lepida]
Saufellus
But
we’ll prevent you; come Lords, to Court:
She
shall be silenced or her tongue cut out.
[Exit Saufellus, Valens, Proculus and Menester]
Lepida
The
black intention of so foul a rape.
A
hundred vestal virgins to be whored!
First
let the world dissolve and dissipate
To
its first chaos. O, thou all-seeing power,
Prostrate[159]
on bended knees, I here implore, 105
Beg
at thy mighty hands, t’ inspire my soul;