Fifty comedies and tragedies written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Gentlemen ; all in one volume, published by the authors original copies, the songs to each play being added.

Actus Tertius.

Scaena Prima.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess.

Prepare there for the sacrifice, the Queen comes.

Musick.

Enter in solemnity the Druids singing, the second Daughter strewing Flowers: then Bonduca, Nennius, and others.

Bond.

Ye powerful gods of Britain, hear our prayers; Hear us you great Revengers, and this day Take pity from our swords, doubt from our valours, Double the sad remembrance of our wrongs In every brest; the vengeance due to those Make infinite and endless: on our pikes This day pale terror sit, horrors and ruines Upon our executions; claps of thunder Hang on our armed carts. and 'sore our Troops Despair and death; shame beyond these attend 'em. Rise from the dust, ye relicks of the dead, Whose noble deeds our holy Druids sing, Oh rise, ye valiant bones, let not base earth Oppress your honors, whilst the pride of Rome Treads on your Stocks, and wipes out all your stories.

Nen.

Thou great Tiranes, whom our sacred Priests, Armed with dreadful thunder, plac'd on high Above the rest of the immortal gods, Send thy consuming fires, and deadly bolts, And shoot 'em home, stick in each Roman heart A fear fit for confusion; blast their spirits, Dwell in 'em to destruction; thorow their Phalanx Strike, as thou sttrik'st a proud tree; shake their Bodies, Make their strengths totter, and their topless fortunes Unroot and reel to ruine.

1 Daugh.

O thou god, Thou feared god, if ever to thy justice Insulting wrongs, and ravishments of Women, Women deriv'd from thee, their shames, the sufferings Of those that daily fill'd thy Sacrifice With Virgin incense, have access, now hear me, Now snatch thy thunder up, now on these Romans, Despisers of thy power, of us defacers, Revenge thy self, take to thy killing anger, To make thy great work full, thy justice spoken, An utter rooting from this blessed Isle Of what Rome is or has been.

Bon.

Give more incense, The gods are deaf and drowsie; no happy flame Rises to raise our thoughts: Pour on.

2 Daugh.

See heaven. And all you pow'rs that guide us, see, and shame We kneel so long for pity over your Altars; Since 'tis no light oblation that you look for, No incense offering, will I hang mine eyes; And as I wear these stones with hourly weeping, So will I melt your pow'rs into compassion. This tear for Prosutagus my brave Father, Ye gods, now think on Rome; this for my Mother, And all her miseries; yet see, and save us; But now ye must be open-ey'd. See; heaven, Oh see thy show'rs stoln from thee; our dishonours,

A smoak from the Altar.

Oh Sister, our dishonors: can ye be gods, And these sins smother'd?

Bon.

The sire takes.

Car.

It does so, But no flame rises. Cease your fearful prayers,

Your whinings, and your tame petitions; The gods love courage arm'd with confidence, And prayers fit to pull them down: weak tears And troubled hearts, the dull twins of cold spirits, They sit and smile at. Hear how I salute 'em: Divine Andate, thou who hold'st the reins Of furious Battels, and disordred War, And proudly roll'st thy swarty chariot wheels Over the heaps of wounds and carcasses, Sailing through seas of blood; thou sure-steel'd sternness, Give us this day good hearts, good enemies, Good blowes o'both sides, wounds that fear or flight Can claim no share in; steel us both with angers, And warlike executions fit thy viewing; Let Rome put on her best strength, and thy Britain, Thy little Britain, but as great in fortune, Meet her as strong as she, as proud, as daring; And then look on, thou red ey'd god: who does best, Reward with honor; who despair makes flie, Unarm for ever, and brand with infamy: Grant this, divine Andate, 'tis but justice; And my first blow thus on thy holy Altar

A flame arises.

I sacrifice unto thee.

Bon.

It flames out

Musick.

Car.

Now sing ye Druides.

Song.

Bon.

'Tis out again.

Car.

H'as given us leave to fight yet; we ask no more, The rest hangs in our resolutions: Tempt her no more.

Bon.

I would know farther Cosen.

Car.

Her hidden meaning dwels in our endeavors; Our valors are our best gods. Cheer the Soldier, And let him eat.

Mes.

He's at it, Sir.

Car.

Away then; When he has done, let's march. Come, fear not Lady, This day the Roman gains no more ground here, But what his body lies in.

Bond.

Now I am confident.

Exeunt.

Recorders.

Scaena Secunda.

Enter Junius, Curius, Deciu••.

Dec.

We dare not hazard it: beside our lives, It forfeits all our understandings.

Jun.

Gentlemen, Can ye forsake me in so just a service, A service for the Common-wealth, for honor? Read but the Letter; you may love too.

Dec.

Read it: If there be any safety in the circumstance, Or likelihood 'tis love, we will not fail ye. Read it good Curius.

Cur.

Willingly.

Jun.

Now mark it.

Cur.

reads.

Health to thy heart, my honoured Junius, And all thy love requited: I am thine, Thine everlastingly, thy love has won me, And let it breed no doubt; our new acquaintance Compels this, 'tis the gods decree to bless us. The times are dangerous to meet; yet fail not, By all the love thou bear'st me I conjure thee, Without distrust of danger, to come to me, For I have purpos'd a delivery Both of my self and fortune this blest day Into thy hands, if thou thinkst good: to shew thee How infinite my Love is, even my Mother Shall be thy prisoner, the day yours without hazard; For I beheld your danger like a Lover, A just affecter of thy faith: Thy goodness, I know, will use us nobly, and our Marriage If not redeem, yet lessen Romes Ambition. I 'm weary of these miseries: Use my Mother, (if you intend to take her) with all honour, And let this disobedience to my parents Be laid on love, not me. Bring with thee, Junius, Spirits resolv'd to fetch me off, the noblest, Forty will serve the turn; just at the joyning Of both the battels, we will be weakly guarded; And for a guide, within this hour shall reach thee A faithful friend of mine: the gods, my Junius, Keep thee, and me to serve thee: young Bon••ica.

Cur.

This letter carries much belief, and most objections Answer'd, we must have doubted.

Dec.

Is that fellow Come to ye for a guide yet?

Jun

Yes.

Dec.

And examin'd?

Jun.

Far more then that; he has felt tortures, yet He vows he knows no more than this truth.

Dec.

Strange.

Cur.

If she mean what she writes, as't may be probable, 'Twill be the happiest vantage we can lean to.

Jun.

I'll pawn my soul she means truth.

Dec.

Think an hour more, Then if your confidence grow stronger on ye, We'll set in with ye.

Jun.

Nobly done; I thank ye; Ye know the time.

Cur.

We will be either ready To give ye present counsell, or joyn with ye.

Enter Swetonius, Petillius, and Demetrius, Macer.

Jun.

No more as ye are Gentlemen. The general.

Swet.

Draw out apace, the enemy waits for us; Are ye all ready?

Jun.

All our Troops attend, Sir.

Swet.

I am glad to hear you say so, Junius. I hope ye are dispossest.

Jun.

I hope so too, Sir,

Swet.

Continue so. And Gentlemen, to you now; To bid you fight is needless, ye are Romans, The name will fight it self; To tell ye who You go to fight against, his power, and nature, But loss of time: yet know it, know it poor, And oft have made it so. To tell ye farther, His Body shows more dreadful than it has done, To him that fears, less possible to deal with, Is but to stick more honor on your actions, Load ye with virtuous names, and to your memories Tye never dying time, and fortune constant. Go on in full assurance, draw your swords As daring and as confident as justice; The gods of Rome fight for ye; loud Fame calls ye, Pitch'd on the topless Apenine, and blows To all the under world: all Nations, The seas, and unfrequented deserts, where the snow dwels, Wakens the ruin'd monuments, and there Where nothing but eternal death and sleep is, Informs again the dead bones With your virtues. Go on, I say, valiant and wise, rule heaven, And all the great aspects attend 'em. Do but blow Upon this enemy, who, but that we want foes, Cannot deserve that name; and like a myst, A lazie fog, before your burning valors You'll find him fly to nothing, This is all, We have swords, and are the sons of antient Romans, Heirs to their endless valors, fight and conquer.

De.

Dem. 'Tis done.

Petill.

That man that loves not this day, And hugs not in his arms the noble danger, May he dye fameless and forgot.

Swet.

Sufficient, Up to your Troops, and let your drums beat thunder,

March close, and sudden like a tempest: all executions

March.

Done without sparkling of the Body: keep your phalanx Sure lin'd, and piec'd together; your pikes forward, And so march like a moving Fort: ere this day run, We shall have ground to add to Rome, well won.

Exeunt.

Scaena Tertia.

Enter Caratach and Nennius.

Nen.

The Roman is advanc'd from yound' hills brow, We may behold him, Caratach.

A March.

Drums within at one place afar off.

Car.

Let's thither, I see the dust flie. Now I see the body, Observe 'em, Nennuis, by—a handsome Body, And of a few, strongly and wisely joynted: Swetonius is a Souldier.

Nen.

As I take it, That's he that gallops by the Regiments, Viewing their preparations.

Car.

Very likely, He shews no less than General: see how bravely The Body moves, and in the head how proudly The Captains stick like plumes: he comes apace on; Good Nennius go, and bid my stout Lieutenant Bring on the first square Body to oppose 'em, And as he charges, open to inclose 'em: The Queen move next with hers, and wheel about, To gain their backs, in which I'll lead the Vantguard. We shall have bloody crowns this day, I see by't; Hast thee good Nennius, I'll follow instantly.

Exit Nennius.

How close they march, as if they grew together?

March.

No place but lin'd alike: sure from oppression; They will not change this figure: we must charge 'em, And charge 'em home at both ends, Van and Rere,

Drums in another place afar off.

They never totter else. I hear our Musick, And must attend it: Hold good sword, but this day, And bite hard where I hound thee, and hereafter I'll make a relique of thee, for young Souldiers To come like Pilgrimes to, and kiss for Conquests.

Exit.

Scaena quarta.

Enter Junius, Curius, and Decius.

Jun.

Now is the time, the fellow stays.

Dec.

What think ye?

Cur.

I think 'tis true.

Jun.

Alass, if 'twere a question, If any doubt or hazzard fell into't, Do ye think mine own discretion so self-blind, My care of you so naked, to run headlong?

Dec.

Let's take Petillius with us.

Jun.

By no means: He's never wise but to himself, nor courteous, But where the end' his own: we are strong enough, If not to many. Behind yonder hill The follow tells me she attends, weak guarded, Her Mother and her Sister.

Car.

I would venture.

Jun.

We shall not strike five blows for't, weigh the good, The general good may come.

Dec.

Away, I'll with ye, But with what doubt?

Jun.

Fear not, my soul for all.

Exeunt.

Alarms, Drums and Trumpets in several places afar off, as at a main Battell.

Scaena Quinta.

Enter Drusus and Penyus above.

Dru.

Here ye may see 'em all, Sir: from this hill The Country shews off levell.

Pen.

Gods defend me, What multitudes they are, what infinites? The Roman power shews like a little Star Hedg'd with a double hollo. Now the knell rings,

Loud shouts.

Heark how they shout to th'battel; how the air Totters and reels, and rends apieces, Drusus, With the huge vollied clamours.

Dru.

Now they charge. Oh gods, of all sides, fearfully.

Pen.

Little Rome, Stand but this growing Hydra one short hour, And thou hast out-done Hercules.

Dru.

The dust hides 'em, We cannot see what follows.

Pen.

They are gone, Gone, swallow'd Drusus, this eternal Sun Shall never see 'em march more.

Dru.

O turn this way, And see a modell of the field, some forty, Against four hundred.

Pen.

Well fought, bravely follow'd; O nobly charg'd again, charg'd home too: Drusus, They seem to carry it: now they charge all,

Loud.

Close, close, I say; they follow it: ye gods, Can there be more in men? more daring spirits? Still they make good their fortunes. Now they are gone too, For ever gone: see Drusus at their backs A fearful Ambush rises. Farewell valours, Excellent valours: O Rome, where's thy wisdome?

Dru.

They are gone indeed, Sir.

Pen.

Look out toward the Army, I am heavy with these slaughters.

Dru.

'Tis the same still, Covered with dust and fury.

Enter the two Daughters, with Junius, Curius, Decius, and Souldiers.

2. Daugh.

Bring 'em in, Tie 'em, and then unarm 'em.

1. Daugh.

Valiant Romans, Ye are welcome to your Loves.

2. Daugh.

Your death, fools.

Dec.

We deserve 'em, And women do your worst.

1. Daugh.

Ye need not beg it.

2. Daugh.

Which is kind Junius?

Serv.

This.

2. Daugh.

Are you my sweet heart? It looks ill on't: how long is't, pretty soul, Since you and I first lov'd? Had we not reason To doat extreamly upon one another? How does my Love? this is not he: my chicken Could prate finely, sing a love-song.

Jun.

Monster.

2. Daugh.

Oh, now it courts.

Jun.

Arm'd with more malice Then he that got thee has the divell.

2. Daugh.

Good. Proceed, sweet chick.

Jun.

I hate thee, that's my last.

2. Daug.

Nay, and ye love me, forward: No? Come sister, Let's prick our answers on our arrows points, And make 'em laugh a little. Ye damn'd Leachers, Ye proud improvident fools, have we now caught ye? Are ye i'th noose? Since ye are such loving creatures, We'ell be your Cupids: Do ye see these arrows?

We'll send them to your wanton livers, goats.

1. Dau.

O how I'll trample on your hearts, ye villains, Ambitious salt-itch slaves: Romes master sins, The mountain Rams topt your hot mothers.

2. Daugh.

Dogs, To whose brave founders a salt whore gave suck; Theeves, honors hangmen, do ye grin? perdition Take me for ever, if in my self anger,

Enter Caratach.

I do not out-do all example.

Car.

Where, Where are these Ladies? ye keep noble quarter, Your Mother thinks ye dead or taken; upon which, She will not move her Battel. Sure these faces I have beheld and known, they are Roman Leaders, How came they here?

2. Daugh.

A trick Sir, that we us'd, A certain policy conducted 'em Unto our snare: we have done ye no small service; These us'd as we intend, we are for th'battel,

Car.

As you intend? taken by treachery?

1. Daugh.

Is't not allow'd?

Car.

Those that should gild our Conquest, Make up a Battel worthy of our winning, Catch'd up by craft?

2. Daugh.

By any means that's lawful.

Car.

A womans wisdom in our triumphs? out, Out ye sluts, ye follies; from our swords Filth our revenges basely? arm again, Gentlemen: Soldiers, I charge ye help 'em.

2. Daugh.

By—Uncle, We will have vengeance for our rapes.

Car

By — You should have kept your legs close then: dispatch there.

1. Daug.

I will not off thus.

Car.

He that stirs to execute, Or she, though it be your selves, by him that got me, Shall quickly feel mine anger: one great day given us, Not to be snatch'd out of our hands but basely; And we must shame the gods from whence we have it, With setting snares for Soldiers? I'll run away first, Be hooted at, and children call me coward, Before I set up scales for Victories: Give 'em their swords.

2. Daugh.

O gods.

Car.

Bear off the women Unto their Mother.

2. Dau.

One shot, gentle Uncle.

Car.

One cut her fiddle-string: Bear 'em off I say.

1. Dau.

The— take this fortune.

Car.

Learn to spin, And curse your knotted hemp: go Gentlemen,

Exeunt Daughters.

Safely go off, up to your Troops: be wiser, There thank me like tall Soldiers: I shall seek ye.

Exit Caratach.

Cur.

A noble worth.

Dec.

Well Junius.

Jun.

Pray ye no more.

Cur.

He blushes, do not load him.

Dec.

Where's your love now?

Drums loud again.

Jun.

Puffe, there it flies: Come, let's redeem our follies.

Exeunt Junius, Curius, Decius.

Dru.

Awake, Sir; yet the Roman Bodie's whole, I see 'em clear again.

Pen.

Whole? 'tis not possible: Drusus they must be lost.

Dru.

By—they are whole, Sir, And in brave doing; see, they wheel about To gain more ground.

Pen.

But see there, Drusus, see, See that huge Battel moving from the mountains, Their gilt coats shine like Dragons scales, their march Like a rough tumbling storm; see them, and view 'em, And then see Rome no more: say they fail; look, Look where the armed carts stand; a new Army: Look how they hang like falling rocks, as murdring Death rides in triumph Drusus: fell destruction Lashes his fiery horse, and round about him His many thousand ways to let out souls. Move me again when they charge, when the mountain Melts under their hot wheels, and from their Ax'trees Huge claps of thunder plough the ground before 'em, Till then I'll dream what Rome was.

Enter Swetonius, Petillius, Demetrius, Macer.

Swet

O bravely fought; honor till now nere show'd Her golden fate i'th' field. Like Lions, Gentlemen, Y'have held your heads up this day: Where's young Junius, Curius and Decius?

Petill.

Gone to heaven, I think, Sir.

Sw.

Their worths go with 'em: breathe a while: How do ye?

Pet.

Well; some few scurvy wounds, my heart's whole yet.

Dem.

Would they would give us more ground.

Swet.

Give? we'll have it.

Petill.

Have it? and hold it too, despight the devill.

Enter Junius, Decius, Curius.

Jun.

Lead up to th'head, and line: sure the Qs. Battell Begins to charge like wild-fire: where's the General?

Swet.

Oh, they are living yet. Come my brave soldiers, Come, let me powr Romes blessing on ye; Live, Live, and lead Armies all: ye bleed hard.

Jun.

Best: We shall appear the sterner to the foe.

Dec.

More wounds, more honor.

Petill.

Lose no time.

Swet.

Away then, And stand this shock, ye have stood the world.

Petill.

Wee'll grow to't. Is not this better than lowsie loving?

Jun.

I am my self, Petillius.

Petill.

'Tis I love thee.

Exeunt Romans.

Enter Bonduca, Caratach, Daughters, Nennius.

Car.

Charge 'em i'th'flanks: O ye have plaid the fool, The fool extreamly, the mad fool.

Bon.

Why Cosin?

Car.

The woman fool. Why did you give the word Unto the carts to charge down, and our people In gross before the Enemy? we pay for't, Our own swords cut our throats: why? —on't; Why do you offer to command? the divell, The divell, and his dam too, who bid you Meddle in mens affairs?

Exeunt Queen, &c.

Bond.

I'll help all.

Car.

Home, Home and spin woman, spin, go spin, ye trifle. Open before there, or all's ruine, How,

Showts within.

Now comes the Tempest; on our selves, by—

Victoria within.

O woman, scurvie woman, beastly woman.

Exeunt.

Dru.

Victoria, Victoria.

Pen.

How's that, Drusus?

Dru.

They win, they win, they win; oh look, look, look, Sir, For heavens sake look, the Britains fly, the Britains fly. Victoria.

Enter Swetonius, Soldiers, and Captains.

Swet.

Soft, soft, pursue it soft; excellent Soldiers, Close, my brave fellows, honorable Romans: Oh cool thy mettle Junius, they are ours, The world cannot redeem 'em: stern Petillius, Govern the conquest nobly: soft, good Soldiers.

Exeunt.

Enter Bonduca, Daughters, and Britains.

Bond.

Shame, whither flie ye, ye unlucky Britains? Will ye creep into your mothers wombs again? Back cowards. Hares, fearful Hares, Doves in your angers; leave me? Leave your Queen desolate? her hapless children.

Enter Caratach and Hengo.

To Roman rape again and fury?

Car.

Flye, ye buzzards, Ye have wings enough, ye fear: get thee gone, woman,

Loud shout within.

Shame tread upon thy heels: all's lost, all's lost, heark, Heark how the Romans ring our knels.

Ext. Bond, &c.

Hen.

Good Uncle, Let me go too.

Car.

No boy, the fortune's mine, I must not leave thee; get behind me; shake not,

Enter Petillius, Junius, Decius.

I'll breech ye, if ye do boy: Come, brave Romans, All is not lost yet.

Jun.

Now I'll thank thee, Caratach.

Fight. Drums.

Car.

Thou art a Soldier: strike home, home, have at ye.

Pen.

His blows fall like huge sledges on an anvil.

Dec.

I am weary.

Pet.

So am I.

Car.

Send more swords to me.

Jun.

Let's sit and rest.

Sit down.

Dru.

What think ye now?

Pen.

O Drusus, I have lost mine honor, lost my name, Lost all that was my light: these are true Romans, And I a Britain coward, a base Coward; Guide me where nothing is but desolation, That I may never more behold the face Of Man, or Mankind know me: O blind Fortune, Hast thou abus'd me thus?

Dru.

Good Sir, be comforted; It was your wisdom rul'd ye; pray ye go home, Your day is yet to come, when this great fortune Shall be but soil unto it.

Retreat.

Pen.

Fool, fool, Coward.

Exit Penyus and Drusus.

Enter Swetonius, Demetrius, Soldiers, Drum and Colours.

Swet.

Draw in, draw in: well have you sought, and worthy Romes noble recompence; look to your wounds, The ground is cold and hurtful: the proud Queen Has got a Fort, and there she and her Daughters Defie us once again. To morrow morning Wee'll seek her out, and make her know, our Fortunes Stop at no stubborn walls: Come, sons of honor, True virtues heirs; thus hatch'd with Britain blood, Let's march to rest, and set in gules like Suns. Beat a soft march, and each one ease his neighbours.

Exeunt.