Fuimus Troes Æneid. 2. The true Troianes, being a story of the Britaines valour at the Romanes first inuasion: Publikely represented by the gentlemen students of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

Act. 1.

Scen. 1.

Duke Nennius, alone.

Nenn.

Me thinkes I heare Bellona's dreadfull voyce Redoubled from the concave shoares of Gaule: Me thinkes I heare their neighing Steedes, The groanes Of complementall Soules, taking their leaue: And all the dinne and clamorous route, which soundes When falling Kingdomes cracke in fatall flames. Dye Belgickes, Dye like men. Free mindes need have Nought, but the ground they fight on, for their graue: And we are next. Thinke ye the smoaky mist Of Sunne-boyld Seas can stop the Eagles eye? Or can our watry walles keepe dangers out, Which flye aloft? That thus we snorting lye, Feeding impostum'd humours, to be launch'd By some out-landish Surgion: As they are now: whose flaming townes, like Beacons, Giue vs faire warning, and euen guild our Spyres, Whilst merrily we warme vs at their Fires. Yet we are next: who charm'd with peace and floath, Dreame golden dreames. Goe, warlike Britaine, goe, For Olive bough exchange thy Hazell bow: Hang vp thy rusty Helmet, that the Bee May haue a hive, or Spider find a Loome: In steed of souldiers fare, and lodging hard, (The bare ground being their bed, and table) lye Smother'd in doune, melting in luxury. In steed of bellowing drumme, and chearefull flute, Be lull'd in Ladyes lap with amorous Lute. But as for Nennius, know, I scorne this calme: The ruddy Planet at my birth bore sway, Sanguine adust my humour; and wild fire, My ruling Element. Blood, and rage, and choller, Make vp the Temper of a Captaines valour.

Exit.

Act. 1. Scen. 2.

Iulius Caesar. Comius. Volusenus. Laberius. Souldiers. with En∣signe, A two-neck'd Eagle displayed sable, Drumme, Ancient, Trumpet. A Florish.

Caes.

Welcome thus farre, Partners of weale and woe, Welcome braue bloods: Now may our weapons sleep, Since Ariovist in cocke-boate basely flies: Vast Germany stands trembling at our bridge: And Gaule lies bleeding in her mothers lap. Once the Pellaean Duke did Eastward march, To rowse the drowsie Sunne, before he rose Adorn'd with Indian rubyes: But the Mayne Bad him retire. He was my Type. This day, We stand on Natures westerne brinke; Beyond, Nothing but Sea and Skie. Heere is Nil vltra. Democritus make good thy fancy, giue me More worlds to conquer, which may be both seene, And wonne together. But me thinkes I kenne A whitish cloud kissing the waues, or else Some chaulky rockes surmount the barking flood. Comius, your knowledge can correct our eyes.

Com.

It is the Britaine shoare, which ten leagues hence Displaies her shining clifts vnto your sight.

Caes.

I'le hit the white. That Sea-marke for our Shippes, Invites destruction, and giues to our eye A treacherous Becko. Dare but resist: your shoare Shall paint her pale face with red crimson goare.

Com.

Thus much I know, Great Caesar, that they lent Their secret ayde vnto the neighbour Gaules; Fostering their fugitiues with friendly care: Which made your victory flye with slower wing.

Caes.

That's cause enough. They shall not henceforth range Abroad for Warre, Wee'l bring Him to their doores: His vgly Idoll shall displace their gods, Their deare Penates, and in desolate streetes

Raise trophees high of barbarous bones, whose stench May poyson all the rest. I long to stride This Hellespont, or bridge it with a Navy, Disclosing to our Empire vnknowne Landes, Vntill the Arcticke Starre for Zenith stands.

Laber.

Then raise the Campe, and strike a dreadfull March, And vnawares poure vengeance on their heads: Be like the winged Bolt of angry Iove. Or chiding Torrent, whose late-risen streame From mountaines bended toppe runnes raging downe, Deflouring all the virgin dales.

Caes.

First let's advise; For soone to ruine come Rash weapons, which lacke counsell graue at home.

Laber.

What need consulting, where the Cause is plaine?

Caes.

The likeliest Cause without regard proues vaine.

Laber.

Provide for Battaile, but of Truce of word.

Caes.

Where peace is first refus'd, should come the sword.

Laber.

But tis vnlike, their selfe-presuming might Will curbed be with termes of Ciuill Right.

Caes.

Tis true: yet so, we stop the peoples cry, When we propose, and they doe peace deny. Wee'l therefore wise Embassadours dispatch, Parents of Loue, the Harbingers of Leagues, Men that may speake with mildnesse mixt with courage, Hauing quicke feete, broad eyes, short tongues, long eares; To warne the Brittish Court. And further view the Ports, faddome the Seas, Learne their complotments; where Invasion may Be soonest intertaind. All this shall lye On Volusene, a Legate, and a Spy.

Volus.

My care and quicknesse shall deserue this kindnesse. Meane time vnite, and range your scattered troupes. Imbarke your Legions at the Iccian shoare, And teach Erynnis swimme, which crawl'd before.

Exeunt.

Act. 1. Scen. 3.

Cassibelane, Androgeus, Themantius, Belinus, Attendants.

Cassib.

Although the peoples voyce constraines me hold This Regall staffe, whose massie waight would bruise Your age and pleasures: yet this, Nephewes, know: Your trouble lesse, your honour is the same, As if you wore the Diademe of this Ile. Meane while Androgeus hold vnto your vse Our Lady-City Troynovant, and all The Toll and Tribute of delicious Kent; Of which each Quarter can maintaine a King. Haue you, Themantius, Cornewalles Dukedome large, Both rich and strong, in mettalles and in men. I must to Verulams fenced towne repaire, And as Protectour for the whole take care.

Androg.

My heart agrees. Henceforth ye Soveraigne cares, State-mysteries, false graces, iealous feares, The Linings of a Crowne, forsake my Braine: These Territories neither are too wide, To trouble my content; nor yet too narrow, To feed a Princely traine.

Them.

All thankes I render: your will shall guide ours, With treble-twisted loue wee'l striue to make One Soule informe three Bodyes, keeping still The same affections both in good and ill. Now am I for a hunting match. You thickets Shelter a Boare, which spoyles the plough-mans hope: Whose iawes with double sword, whose backe is armd With bristled Pykes; whose fume inflames the ayre, And fome be-snowes the trampled Corne. This Beast I long to see come smoaking to a feast.

Exit. Themant.

Enter Rollano.

Belin.

Heere comes my Belgicke friend, Landoraes seruant: What newes, Rollano, that thy feet so striue

To haue precedence of each other? Speake, I read disturbed passions on thy brow.

Roll.

My trembling hart quauers vpon my tongue, That scarce I can with broken sounds vent forth These sad, strange, sudden, dreary, dismall newes. A Merchants ship arriu'd tells, how the Romane Hauing run Gaule quite through with bloody armes, Prepares for you: His nauy rigg'd in bay, Onely expects a gale: Farther, they say, A pinnace landed, from him brings command, Either to loose your freedome, or your land.

Cassib.

And dares proud Caesar backe our vn-tam'd surges? Dreads he not our Sea-monsters? whose wild shapes Their Theaters neere yet in Picture saw. Come Sirs, To armes, To armes: Let speedy poasts Summon our petty Kings, and muster vp Our valourous nations from the North, and West. Androgeus hast you to the Scots and Pictes, Two Names, which now Albaniaes kingdome share: Entreat their aide, if not for loue, yet feare: For new foes should imprint swift-equall feare Through all the arteries of our Ile. Belinus, thy authority must rouse The vulgar troopes within my speciall charge, Fire the Beacons, strike alarums loud, Raise all the countrey gainst this common Foe: Wee'l soone confront him in his full careere; This newes more moues my choller, then my feare.

Exeunt.

Rollano, alone.

Roll.

I am by birth a Belgicke, whence I fled To Germany, for feare of Romane Armes: But when their bridge brideled the stately Rhine, I soone returnd, And thought to hide my head In this soft Halcyons neast, this Britaine Ile. But now, behold, Mars is a nursing heere, And gins to speake aloud.

Is no nooke safe from Rome? doe they still haunt me? Some peacefull God transport me through the ayre, Beyond cold Thule, or the Sunnes Bed-chamber, Where only Swine or Goates doe liue and raigne. Yet these may fight. Place me, where quiet Peace Hushes all stormes, where sleepe and silence dwell, Where neuer man nor beast did wrong the soyle, Or cropp the First-fruites, Or made so much noyse As with their breath. But foolish thoughts adieu: Now catch I must, or stand, or fall with you.

Exit.

Act. 1. Scen. 4.

Eulinus, Hirildas.

Eul.

The Court a wardrobe is of liuing shapes: And Ladies are the tissue-spangled suites, Which Nature weares on festiuall high dayes. The Court a Spring, each Madame is a Rose. The Court is Heauen, faire Ladies are the Starres.

Hiril.

I, falling Starres.

Eul.

False Eccho, don't blaspheme that glorious sexe, Whose beautious raies can strike rash gazers blind.

Hir.

Loue should be blind.

Eul.

Pray, leaue this Cynicke humour, whilst I sigh My Mistresse praise: Her beauty's past compare: O would she were more kind, or not so faire. Her modest smiles both curb and kindle loue: The Court is darke without her; when Shee rises, The morning is her hand-maid, strewing roses About loues Hemispheare: The lampes aboue Eclipse themselues for shame, To see her eies Out-shine their Chrysolites, and more blesse the skies, Than they the Earth —

Hir.

Giue me her Name.

Eul.

Her body is a Chrystall cage, whose pure

Transparent mould not of grosse elements Compacted, but the extracted Quintessence Of sweetest formes distill'd: where Graces bright Doe liue immur'd, but not exempt from sight. —

Hir.

I prethee speake her.

Eul.

Her modell is beyond all Poets braynes, And Painters pencells: All the liuely Nymphes, Syrens, and Dryads, are but kitchin-maydes, If you compare. To frame the like Pandore, The Gods repine, and Nature would grow poore.—

Hir.

By Loue, who ist? hath she no mortall Name?

Eul.

For heere you find great Iunoes stately front, Palla's gray eie, Venus her dimpled chinne, Auroraes rosie fingers, the small wast Of Ceres daughter, and Medusaes haire, Before it hist:—

Hir.

O Loue, as deafe, as thou art blind! Good Eulinus Call home thy soule, and tell thy Mistresse name.

Eul.

O strange! what ignorant still? when as so plainely These Attributes describe her: why? She is A Rhapsody of Goddesses. The Elyxar Of all their seuerall perfections. She is (Now blesse your eares) by mortals called Landora.

Hir.

What: Landora the Trinobanticke Lady? How grow your hopes, what mettall is her breast?

Eul.

All steele and adamant. Tis beauties pride, To staine Her lilly white with blood of Louers slaine. Their groanes make musick, and their scalding sighes Raise a perfume, and vulture-like she gnawes Their bleeding hearts. No gifts, no learned flattery, No stratagems can worke Landoraes battery. As a tall Rocke maintaines maiesticke state, Though Boreas gallop on the tottering seas, And tilting split his froath out spurging waues Vpon his surly breast: So she resists: And all my proiects on her cruell hart, Are but retorted to their Authors smart.

Hir.

Why then, let scorne succeed thy loue, and brauely Conquer thy selfe, If thou wilt conquer her: Stomackes, with kindnesse cloy'd, Disdaine must stirre.

Eul.

Most impious thoughts! O let me rather perish, And louing die, than liuing cease to loue: And when I faint, let her but heare me cry, Aye me, there's none, which truely loues, but I.

Hir.

O ye crosse darts of Cupid! this very Ladie, This Lady-waspe woes me, as thou dost her, With glaunces, iewells, bracelets of her haire, Lasciuious banquets, and most eloquent eies: All which my heart misse-consters as immodest, It being pointed for another Pole. But hence learne courage, Coosse; why stand you dumbe? Women are women, and may be ore-come.

Eul.

Your words are eare-awigges to my vexed braine Like henn-bane iuice, or Aconite diffus'd They strike me senselesse. My kinsman, and Hirildas to my end: But I'le neere call you Counsellor, or Friend Adieu.

Hir.

Stay, stay. For now I meane with gentler breath. To waft you to your happy landing place. Seeing this Crocodile pursues me flying, Flyes you pursuing: wee'l catch her by a tricke: With promise fain'd, I'le' point a Cupids stage, But in the night, and secret, and disguizd: Where thou, which art my selfe, shalt act my part; In Venus games, all Coosning goes for Art.

Eul.

Blest be these meanes, and happy the Successe. Now gin I reare my creast aboue the Moone, And in those guilded bookes read Leactures of The Faeminine Sexe. There moues Cassiope, Whose garments shine with thirteene pretious stones, Types of as many vertues: Then her Daughter, Whose Beauty without Perseus would haue tam'd The monstrous Fish, glides with a Starry Crowne: Then Iust Asttea kembes her golden haire:

And my Landora can become the skies, As well as They. Oh, how my ioyes doe swell! He mounted not more proud, whose burning Throne Kindled the Cedar-toppes, and quafft whole fountaines. Flye then, ye winged houres, as swift as thought, Or my desires: Let dayes bright Waggoner Fall headlong, and lye buried in the deepe, And dor-mouse-like Alcides night out-sleep. Good Tethys, quench his Beames, that He nere rise, To scorch the Moores, to sucke vp hony-dewes, Or to betray my person. But prethee tell, What Mistresse you adore?

Hir.

The kind Cordella, Louing, and Belou'd: Onely some iarre of late about a Fauour Made me inueigh gainst women. Come, away, Our plottes desire the night, not babbling day.

Eul.

We must giue way: Here come our reuerend Barde To sing in Synode, as their Custome is, With former chance comparing present deedes.

Exeunt.

Act. 1. Scen. 5.

Chorus of fiue Bardes laureate, foure voyces, and an Harper: Attired.

1. Song.

1.

At the Spring Birdes doe sing: Now with high, Then low cry:

Flat, acute; And salute, The Sunne borne, Euery morne.

All.

Hees no Bard that cannot sing: The praises of the flowry Spring.

2.

Flora Queene All in greene, doth delight To paint white,

3.

Woods renew Hunters hue. Shepheards gray Crownd with bay,

And to spred Cruell redd, With a blew, Colour true.

All.

Hees no bard, &c.

With his pipe Care doth wipe, Till he dreame By the streame.

All.

Hees no bard, &c.

4.

Faithfull loues, Turtle Doues, Sit and bill, On a bill. Country Swaynes On the plaines, Runne and leape, Turne and skip.

All.

Hees no bard, &c.

5.

Pan doth play Care-away. Fayries small Two foote tall, With caps red On their head Daunce around On the ground.

All.

Hees no bard,

6.

Phyllis bright Cloath in white, With necke faire, Yellow haire:

Rockes doth moue With her loue, And make mild, Tygers wild.

All.

Hees no bard that cannot sing, The praises of the flowry spring.

2. Song.

Thus spend we time in laughter, While peace and spring doe smile: But I heare a sound of slaughter, Draw neerer to our Ile.

Leaue then your wonted prattle, The Oaten reed forbeare: For I heare a sound of battell, And Trumpets teare the ayre,

Let bag-pipes dye for want of wind, Let Crowd and Harpe be dumbe; Let little Taber come behind: For I heare the dreadfull drumme.

Let no Birds sing, no Lambkins daunce, No fountaines murmuring goe: Let Shepheards crooke be made a launce: For the martiall hornes doe blow.

Exeunt.