The workes of Beniamin Ionson

Act IIII. (Book 4)

GALLVS, AGRIPPINA, NERO, DRVSVS, CALIGVLA. (Book 4)

YOu must haue patience, royall AGRIPPINA.

AGR.

I must haue vengeance, first: and that were nectar Vnto my famish'd spirits. O, my fortune, Let it be sodaine thou prepar'st against me; Strike all my powers of vnderstanding blind, And ignorant of destinie to come: Let me not feare, that cannot hope.

GAL.

Deare Princesse, These tyrannies, on your selfe, are worse then CAESAR'S.

AGR.

Is this the happinesse of being borne great? Still to be aim'd at? still to be suspected? To liue the subiect of all iealousies? At least the colour made, if not the ground To euery painted danger? who would not Choose once to fall, then thus to hang for euer?

GAL.

You might be safe, if you would —

AGR.

What, my GALLVS? Be lewd SEIANVS strumpet? Or the baud To CAESARS lusts, he now is gone to practise? Not these are safe, where nothing is. Your selfe, While thus you stand but by me, are not safe. Was SILIVS safe? or the good SOSIA safe? Or was my niece, deare CLAVDIA PVLCHRA safe? Or innocent FVRNIVS? They, that latest haue (By being made guiltie) added reputation To AFERS eloquence? O, foolish friends, Could not so fresh example warne your loues, But you must buy my fauours, with that losse Vnto your selues: and, when you might perceiue That CAESARS cause of raging must forsake him, Before his will? Away, good GALLVS, leaue me. Here to be seene, is danger; to speake, treason: To doe me least obseruance, is call'd faction. You are vnhappy in me, and I in all. Where are my sonnes? NERO? and DRVSVS? We

Are they, be shot at; Let vs fall apart: Not, in our ruines, sepulchre our friends. Or shall we doe some action, like offence, To mocke their studies, that would make vs faultie? And frustrate practice, by preuenting it? The danger's like: for, what they can contriue, They will make good. No innocence is safe, When power contests. Nor can they trespasse more, Whose only being was all crime, before.

NER.

You heare, SEIANVS is come backe from CAESAR?

GAL.

No. How? Disgrac'd?

DRV.

More graced now, then euer.

GAL.

By what mischance?

CAL.

A fortune, like inough Once to be bad.

DRV.

But turn'd too good, to both.

GAL.

What was't?

NER.

TIBERIVS sitting at his meat, In a farme house, they call Spelunca, sited By the sea-side, among the Fundane hills, Within a naturall caue, part of the grot (About the entrie) fell, and ouer-whelm'd Some of the wayters; others ran away: Only SEIANVS, with his knees, hands, face, Ore-hanging CAESAR, did oppose himselfe To the remayning ruines, and was found In that so labouring posture, by the souldiers That came to succour him. With which aduenture, He hath so sixt himselfe in CAESAR'S trust, As thunder cannot mooue him, and is come With all the height of CAESARS praise, to Rome.

AGR.

And power, to turne those ruines all on vs; And bury whole posterities beneath them. NERO, and DRVSVS, and CALIGVLA, Your places are the next, and therefore most In their offence. Thinke on your birth, and bloud, Awake your spirits, meete their violence, 'Tis princely, when a tyran doth oppose; And is a fortune sent to exercise Your vertue, as the wind doth trie strong trees: Who by vexation grow more sound, and firme. After your fathers fall, and vncles fate, What can you hope, but all the change of stroke That force, or slight can giue? then stand vpright; And though you doe not act, yet suffer nobly: Be worthy of my wombe, and take strong cheare; What we doe know will come, we should not feare.

MACRO.

REturn'd so soone? renew'd in trust, and grace? Is CAESAR then so weake? or hath the place But wrought this alteration, with the aire; And he, on next remoue, will all repaire? MACRO, thou art ingag'd: and what before Was publique; now, must be thy priuate, more. The weale of CAESAR, fitnesse did imply; But thine owne fate confers necessity On thy employment: and the thoughts borne nearest Vnto our selues, moue swiftest still, and dearest. If he recouer, thou art lost: yea, all The weight of preparation to his fall Will turne on thee, and crush thee. Therefore, strike Before he settle, to preuent the like Vpon thy selfe. He doth his vantage know, That makes it home, and giues the foremost blow.

LATIARIS, RVFVS, OPSIVS.

IT is a seruice, great SEIANVS will See well requited, and accept of nobly. Here place your selues, betweene the roofe, and seeling, And when I bring him to his wordes of danger, Reueale your selues, and take him.

RVF.

Is he come?

LAT.

I'le now goe fetch him.

OPS.

With good speed. I long To merit from the state, in such an action.

RVF.

I hope, it will obtayne the Consul-ship For one of vs.

OPS.

We cannot thinke of lesse, To bring in one, so dangerous as SABINVS.

RVF.

He was a follower of GERMANICVS, And still is an obseruer of his wife, And children, though they be declin'd in grace; A daily visitant, keepes them companie In priuate, and in publique; and is noted To be the only client, of the house: Pray IOVE, he will be free to LATIARIS.

OPS.

H'is alli'd to him, and doth trust him well.

RVF.

And he'll requite his trust?

OPS.

To doe an office So gratefull to the state, I know no man But would straine neerer bands, then kindred—

RVF.

List, I heare them come.

OPS.

Shift to our holes, with silence.

LATIARIS, SABINVS.

IT is a noble constancie you shew To this afflicted house: that not like others, (The friends of season) you doe follow fortune, And in the winter of their fate, forsake The place, whose glories warm'd you. You are iust, And worthy such a princely patrones loue, As was the worlds-renown'd GERMANICVS: Whose ample merit when I call to thought, And see his wife and issue, obiects made To so much enuie, iealousie, and hate, It makes me ready to accuse the gods Of negligence, as men of tyrannie.

SAB.

They must be patient, so must we.

LAT.

O IOVE. What will become of vs, or of the times, When, to be high, or noble, are made crimes? When land, and treasure are most dangerous faults?

SAB.

Nay, when our table, yea our bed assaults Our peace, and safetie? when our writings are, By any enuious instruments (that dare Apply them to the guiltie) made to speake What they will haue, to fit their tyrannous wreake? When ignorance is scarcely innocence: And knowledge made a capitall offence? When not so much, but the bare emptie shade Of libertie, is reft vs? and we made, The prey to greedie Vultures, and vile spies, That first transfixe vs with their murdering eyes?

LAT.

Me thinkes, the Genius of the Romane race Should not be so extinct, but that bright flame Of libertie might be reuiu'd againe, (Which no good man but with his life, should lose) And we not sit like spent, and patient fooles Still puffing in the darke, at one poore coale, Held on by hope, till the last sparke is out. The cause is publique, and the honour, name, The immortalitie of euery soule That is not bastard, or a slaue in Rome, Therein concern'd: Whereto, if men would change The weari'd arme, and for the waightie shield So long sustain'd, employ the facile sword, We might haue some assurance of our vowes. This asses fortitude doth tyre vs all. It must be actiue valour must redeeme

Our losse, or none. The rocke, and our hard steele Should meete, t'enforce those glorious fires againe, Whose splendor cheer'd the world, and heat gaue life No lesse then doth the sunne's.

SAB.

'Twere better stay, In lasting darkenesse, and despaire of day. No ill should force the subiect vndertake Against the soueraigne; more then hell should make The gods doe wrong. A good man should, and must Sit rather downe with losse, then rise vniust. Though, when the Romanes first did yeeld themselues To one mans power, they did not meane their liues, Their fortunes, and their liberties, should be His absolute spoile, as purchas'd by the sword.

LAT.

Why we are worse, if to be slaues, and bond To CAESARS slaue, be such, the proud SEIANVS? He that is all, do's all, giues CAESAR leaue To hide his vlcerous, and anointed face, With his bald crowne at Rhodes, while he here stalkes Vpon the heads of Romanes, and their Princes, Familiarly to Empire.

SAB.

Now you touch A point indeed, wherein he shewes his arte, As well as power.

LAT.

And villany in both. Doe you obserue where LIVIA lodges? How DRVSVS came dead? What men haue beene cut off?

SAB.

Yes, those are things remou'd: I neerer look't, Into his later practice, where he stands Declar'd a master in his mysterie. First, ere TIBERIVS went, he wrought his feare, To thinke that AGRIPPINA sought his death. Then put those doubts in her; sent her oft word, Vnder the show of friendship, to beware Of CAESAR, for he laid to poyson her: Draue them to frownes, to mutuall iealousies, Which, now, in visible hatred are burst out. Since, he hath had his hyred instruments To worke on NERO, and to heaue him vp; To tell him CAESAR'S old; That all the people, Yea, all the armie haue their eyes on him; That both doe long to haue him vndertake Something of worth, to giue the world a hope; Bids him to court their grace; the easie youth, Perhaps, giues eare, which straight he writes to CAESAR; And with this comment: See yon'd dangerous boy, Note but the practice of the mother, there, Shee's tying him, for purposes at hand,

With men of sword. Here's CAESAR put in fright 'Gainst sonne, and mother. Yet, he leaues not thus. The second brother DRVSVS (a fierce nature, And fitter for his snares, because ambitious, And full of enuie) him he clasp's, and hugs, Poysons with praise, tells him what hearts he weares, How bright he stands in popular expectance; That Rome doth suffer with him, in the wrong His mother does him, by preferring NERO: Thus sets he them asunder, each 'gainst other, Proiects the course, that serues him to condemne, Keepes in opinion of a friend to all, And all driues on to ruine.

LAT.

CAESAR sleepes, And nods at this?

SAB.

Would he might euer sleepe, Bogg'd in his filthy lusts.

OPS.

Treason to CAESAR.

RVF.

Lay hands vpon the traytor, LATIARIS, Or take the name thy selfe.

LAT.

I am for CAESAR.

SAB.

Am I then catch'd?

RVF.

How thinke you, sir? you are.

SAB.

Spies of this head! so white! so full of yeeres! Well, my most reuerend monsters, you may liue To see your selues thus snar'd.

OPS.

Away with him.

LAT.

Hale him away.

RVF.

To be a spie for traytors, Is honorable vigilance.

SAB.

You doe well, My most officious instruments of state; Men of all vses: Drag me hence, away. The yeere is well begun, and I fall fit, To be an offring to SEIANVS. Goe.

OPS.

Couer him with his garments, hide his face.

SAB.

It shall not need. Forbeare your rude assault, The fault's not shamefull villanie makes a fault.

MACRO, CALIGVLA.

SIr, but obserue how thicke your dangers meete In his cleare drifts! Your mother, and your brothers, Now cited to the Senate! Their friend, GALLVS, Feasted to day by CAESAR, since committed! SABINVS, here we met, hurryed to fetters! The Senators all strooke with feare, and silence, Saue those, whose hopes depend not on good meanes, But force their priuate prey, from publique spoile! And you must know, if here you stay, your state Is sure to be the subiect of his hate, As now the obiect.

CAL.

What would you aduise me?

MAC.

To goe for Capreae presently: and there

Giue vp your selfe, entirely, to your vncle. Tell CAESAR (since your mother is accus'd To flie for succours to AVGVSTVS statue, And to the armie, with your brethren) you Haue rather chose, to place your aides in him, Then liue suspected; or in hourely feare To be thrust out, by bold SEIANV'S plots: Which, you shall confidently vrge, to be Most full of perill to the state, and CAESAR, As being laid to his peculiar ends, And not to be let run, with common safety. All which (vpon the second) I'le make plaine, So both shall loue, and trust with CAESAR gaine.

CAL.

Away then, let's prepare vs for our iourney.

ARRVNTIVS.

STill, do'st thou suffer heau'n? will no flame, No heate of sinne make thy iust wrath to boile In thy distemp'red bosome, and ore-flow The pitchy blazes of impietie, Kindled beneath thy throne? Still canst thou sleepe, Patient, while vice doth make an antique face At thy drad power, and blow dust, and smoke Into thy nostrils? IOVE, will nothing wake thee? Must vile SEIANVS pull thee by the beard, Ere thou wilt open thy black-lidded eye, And looke him dead? Well! Snore on, dreaming gods: And let this last of that proud Giant-race, Heaue mountayne vpon mountayne, 'gainst your state— Be good vnto me, fortune, and you powers, Whom I, expostulating, haue profan'd; I see (what's equall with a prodigie) A great, a noble Romane, and an honest, Liue an old man! O, MARCVS LEPIDVS, When is our turne to bleed? Thy selfe, and I (Without our boast) are a'most all the few Left, to be honest, in these impious times.

LEPIDVS, ARRVNTIVS.

WHat we are left to be, we will be, LVCIVS, Though tyrannie did stare, as wide as death, To fright vs from it.

ARR.

'T hath so, on SABINVS.

LEP.

I saw him now drawne from the Gemonies,

And (what increas'd the direnesse of the fact) His faithfull dogge (vpbraiding all vs Romanes) Neuer forsooke the corp's, but, seeing it throwne Into the streame, leap'd in, and drown'd with it.

ARR.

O act! to be enui'd him, of vs men! We are the next, the hooke layes hold on, MARCVS▪ What are thy artes (good patriot, teach them me) That haue preseru'd thy haires, to this white die, And kept so reuerend, and so deare a head, Safe, on his comely shoulders?

LEP.

Arts, ARRVNTIVS? None, but the plaine, and passiue fortitude, To suffer, and be silent; neuer stretch These armes, against the torrent; liue at home, With my owne thoughts, and innocence about me, Not tempting the wolues iawes: these are my artes.

ARR.

I would begin to studie 'hem, if I thought They would secure me. May I pray to IOVE, In secret, and be safe? I, or aloud? With open wishes? so I doe not mention TIBERIVS, or SEIANVS? yes, I must, If I speake out. 'Tis hard, that. May I thinke, And not be rackt? What danger is't to dreame? Talke in ones sleepe? or cough? who knowes the law? May I shake my head, without a comment? say It raines, or it holds vp, and not be throwne Vpon the Gemonies? These now are things, Whereon mens fortune, yea their fate depends. Nothing hath priuiledge 'gainst the violent eare. No place, no day, no houre (we see) is free. (Not our religious, and most sacred times) From some one kind of crueltie: all matter, Nay all occasion pleaseth. Mad-mens rage, The idlenesse of drunkards, womens nothing, Iesters simplicity, all, all is good That can be catch'd at. Nor is now th'euent Of any person, or for any crime, To be expected; for, 'tis alwayes one: Death, with some little difference of place, Or time— what's this? Prince NERO? guarded?

LACO, NERO, LEPIDVS, ARRVNTIVS.

ON, Lictors, keepe your way: My lords, forbeare. On paine of CAESARS wrath, no man attempt Speech with the prisoner.

NER.

Noble friends, be safe:

To loose your selues for wordes, were as vaine hazard, As vnto me small comfort: Fare you well. Would all Rome's suffrings in my fate did dwell.

LAC.

Lictors, away.

LEP.

Where goes he, LACO?

LAC.

Sir, His banish'd into Pontia, by the Senate.

ARR.

Do' I see? and heare? and feele? May I trust sense? Or doth my phant'sie forme it?

LEP.

Where's his brother?

LAC.

DRVSVS is prisoner in the palace.

ARR.

Ha? I smell it now: 'tis ranke. Where's AGRIPPINA?

LAC.

The princesse is confin'd, to Pandataria.

ARR.

Bolts, VULCAN; bolts, for IOVE! PHOEBVS, thy bow; Sterne MARS, thy sword; and blue-ey'd Maid, thy speare; Thy club, ALCIDES: all the armorie Of heauen is too little!—Ha? to guard The gods, I meant. Fine, rare dispatch! This same Was swiftly borne! confin'd? imprison'd? banish'd? Most tripartite! The cause, sir?

LAC.

Treason.

ARR.

O? The complement of all accusings? that Will hit, when all else failes.

LEP.

This turne is strange! But yesterday, the people would not heare Farre lesse obiected, but cry'd, CAESARS letters Were false, and forg'd; that all these plots were malice: And that the ruine of the Princes house Was practis'd 'gainst his knowledge. Where are now Their voyces? now, that they behold his heires Lock'd vp, disgrac'd, led into exile?

ARR.

Hush'd. Drown'd in their bellies. Wild SEIANVS breath Hath, like a whirle-wind, scatter'd that poore dust,

He turnes to Laco, and the rest.

With this rude blast. Wee'll talke no treason, sir, If that be it you stand for? Fare you well. We haue no need of horse-leeches. Good spie, Now you are spi'd, be gone.

LEP.

I feare, you wrong him. He has the voyce to be an honest Romane.

ARR.

And trusted to this office? LEPIDVS, I'ld sooner trust Greeke-SINON, then a man Our state employes. Hee's gone: and being gone, I dare tell you (whom I dare better trust) That our night-ey'd TIBERIVS doth not see His minions drifts; or, if he doe, h'is not So errant subtill, as we fooles doe take him: To breed a mungrell vp, in his owne house, With his owne bloud, and (if the good gods please) At his owne throte, flesh him, to take a leape. I doe not beg it, heau'n: but, if the fates Grant it these eyes, they must not winke.

LEP.

They must

Not see it, LVCIVS.

ARR.

Who should let 'hem?

LEP.

Zeale, And dutie; with the thought, he is our Prince.

ARR.

He is our monster: forfeited to vice So far, as no rack'd vertue can redeeme him. His lothed person fouler then all crimes: An Emp'rour, only in his lusts. Retir'd (From all regard of his owne fame, or Rome's) Into an obscure Iland; where he liues (Acting his tragedies with a comick face) Amid'st his rout of Chaldee's: spending houres, Dayes, weekes, and months, in the vnkind abuse Of graue astrologie, to the bane of men, Casting the scope of mens natiuities, And hauing found ought worthy in their fortune, Kill, or precipitate them in the sea, And boast, he can mocke fate. Nay, muse not: these Are farre from ends of euill, scarse degrees. He hath his slaughter-house, at Capreae; Where he doth studie murder, as an arte: And they are dearest in his grace, that can Deuise the deepest tortures. Thither, too, He hath his boyes, and beauteous girles tane vp, Out of our noblest houses, the best form'd, Best nurtur'd, and most modest: what's their good Serues to prouoke his bad. Some are allur'd, Some threatned; others (by their friends detain'd) Are rauish'd hence, like captiues, and, in sight Of their most grieued parents, dealt away Vnto his spintries, sellaries, and slaues, Masters of strange, and new-commented lusts, For which wise nature hath not left a name. To this (what most strikes vs, and bleeding Rome,) He is, with all his craft, become the ward To his owne vassall, a stale catamite: Whom he (vpon our low, and suffering necks) Hath rais'd, from excrement, to side the gods, And haue his proper sacrifice in Rome: Which IOVE beholds, and yet will sooner riue A senslesse oke with thunder, then his trunck.

LACO, POMPONIVS, MINVTIVS, TERENTIVS.

To them.

THese letters make men doubtfull what t'expect, Whether his comming, or his death.

POM.

Troth, both: And which comes soonest, thanke the gods for.

(ARR.

List,

Their talke is CAESAR, I would heare all voyces.)

MIN.

One day, hee's well; and will returne to Rome: The next day, sicke; and knowes not when to hope it.

LAC.

True, and to day, one of SEIANVS friends Honour'd by speciall writ; and on the morrow Another punish'd—

POM.

By more speciall writ.

MIN.

This man receiues his praises of SEIANVS, A second, but slight mention; a third, none: A fourth, rebukes. And thus he leaues the Senate Diuided, and suspended, all vncertayne.

LAC.

These forked tricks, I vnderstand 'hem not, Would he would tell vs whom he loues, or hates, That we might follow, without feare, or doubt.

(ARR.

Good HELIOTROPE! Is this your honest man? Let him be yours so still. He is my knaue.)

POM.

I cannot tell, SEIANVS still goes on, And mounts, we see: New statues are aduanc'd, Fresh leaues of titles, large inscriptions read, His fortune sworne by, himselfe new gone out CAESARS colleague, in the fifth Consulship, More altars smoke to him, then all the gods: What would wee more?

(ARR.

That the deare smoke would choke him, That would I more.

LEP.

Peace, good ARRVNTIVS.)

LAC.

But there are letters come (they say) eu'n now, Which doe forbid that last.

MIN.

Doe you heare so?

LAC.

Yes.

POM.

By POLLVX, that's the worst.

(ARR.

By HERCVLES, best.)

MIN.

I did not like the signe, when REGVLVS, (Whom all we know no friend vnto SEIANVS) Did, by TIBERIVS so precise command, Succeed a fellow in the Consulship: It boded somewhat.

POM.

Not a mote. His partner, FVLCINIVS TRIO, is his owne, and sure.

They whisper with Terentius.

Here comes TERENTIVS. He can giue vs more.

LEP.

I'le ne're beleeue, but CAESAR hath some sent Of bold SEIANVS footing. These crosse points Of varying letters, and opposing Consuls, Mingling his honours, and his punishments, Fayning now ill, now well, raysing SEIANVS, And then depressing him, (as now of late In all reports we haue it) cannot be Emptie of practice: 'Tis TIBERIVS arte. For (hauing found his fauorite growne too great, And, with his greatnesse, strong; that all the souldiers Are, with their leaders, made at his deuotion; That almost all the Senate are his creatures, Or hold on him their maine dependances,

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Either for benefit, or hope, or feare; And that himselfe hath lost much of his owne, By parting vnto him; and by th'increase Of his ranke lusts, and rages, quite disarm'd Himselfe of loue, or other publique meanes, To dare an open contestation) His subtilty hath chose this doubling line, To hold him euen in: not so to feare him, As wholly put him out, and yet giue checke Vnto his farder boldnesse. In meane time, By his employments, makes him odious Vnto the staggering rout, whose aide (in fine) He hopes to vse, as sure, who (when they sway) Beare downe, ore-turne all obiects in their way.

ARR.

You may be a LINCEVS, LEPIDVS: yet, I See no such cause, but that a politique tyranne (who can so well disguise it) should haue tane A neerer way: fain'd honest, and come home To cut his throte, by Law.

LEP.

I, but his feare Would ne're be masqu'd, all-be his vices were.

POM.

His lordship then is still in grace?

TER.

Assure you, Neuer in more, either of grace, or power.

POM.

The gods are wise, and iust.

ARR.

(The fiends they are. To suffer thee belie 'hem?)

TER.

I haue here His last, and present letters, where he writes him The Partner of his cares, and his SEIANVS—

LAC.

But is that true, it 'tis prohibited, To sacrifice vnto him?

TER.

Some such thing CAESAR makes scruple of, but forbids it not; No more then to himselfe: sayes, he could wish It were forborne to all.

LAC.

Is it no other?

TER.

No other, on my trust. For your more surety, Here is that letter too.

ARR.

(How easily, Doe wretched men beleeue, what they would haue! Lookes this like plot?

LEP.

Noble ARRVNTIVS, stay.)

LAC.

He names him here without his titles.

LEP.

(Note.

ARR.

Yes, and come of your notable foole. I will.)

LAC.

No other, then SEIANVS.

POM.

That's but haste In him that writes. Here he giues large amends.

MAR.

And with his owne hand written?

POM.

Yes.

LAC.

Indeed?

TER.

Beleeue it, gentlemen, SEIANVS brest Neuer receiu'd more full contentments in, Then at this present.

POM.

Takes he well th'escape Of young CALIGVLA, with MACRO?

TER.

Faith, At the first aire, it somewhat troubled him.

LEP.

(Obserue you?

ARR.

Nothing. Riddles. TIll I see SEIANVS strooke, no sound thereof strikes me.)

POM.

I like it not. I muse h' would not attempt Somewhat against him in the Consul-ship, Seeing the people 'ginne to fauour him.

TER.

He doth repent it, now; but h' has employ'd PAGONIANVS after him: and he holds That correspondence, there, with all that are Neere about CAESAR, as no thought can passe Without his knowledge, thence, in act to front him.

POM.

I gratulate the newes.

MAC.

But, how comes MACRO So in trust, and fauour, with CALIGVLA?

POM.

O sir, he ha's a wife; and the young Prince An appetite: he can looke vp, and spie Flies in the roofe, when there are fleas i' bed; And hath a learned nose to'assure his sleepes. Who, to be fauour'd of the rising sunne, Would not lend little of his waning moone? 'T is the saf'st ambition. Noble TERENTIVS.

TER.

The night growes fast vpon vs. At your seruice.

CHORVS—Of Musicians.