The virgin martir a tragedie. As it hath bin diuers times publickely acted with great applause, by the seruants of his Maiesties Reuels. Written by Phillip Messenger and Thomas Deker.

Author: Massinger, Philip, 1583-1640.1622

THE VIRGIN MARTIR, A TRAGEDIE, AS IT HATH BIN DIVERS times publickely Acted with great Applause, By the Seruants of his Maiesties Reuels.

Written by Phillip Messenger and Thomas Deker.

LONDON, Printed by B, A. for Thomas Iones. 1622.

[Page]

The Actors names.

Dioclesian	Emperours of Rome.
Maximinus,

A King of Pontus.
A King of Epire.
A King of Macedon.
Sapritius, Gouernour of Caesaria.
Theophilus, a zealous persecutor of the Christians.
Sempronius, Captaine of Sapritius Guards.
Antoninus, sonne to Sapritius.
Macrinus, friend to Antoninus.
Harpax an euill spirit, following Theophilus in the shape of a Secretary.
Artemia, daughter to Dioclesian.

Caliste	Daughters to Theophilus.
Christeta.

Dorothea, The Virgin Martyr.
Angelo, a good spirit, seruing Darothea in the habite of a Page.
A Brittish Slaue.

Hercius, a Whoremaster.	Seruants to Darothea.
Spungius, a Drunkard.

A Priest to Iupiter.
Officers and Executioners.

[Page]

THE VIRGIN MARTIR.

Actus primus. Scene I.
Enter Theophilus, Harpax.
Theoph.
COme to 
Casarea to night?
Harpax.
Most true Sir,
Theoph.
The Emperour in person?
Harpax.
Do I hue.
Theo.
Tis wondrous strange, the marches of great Princes
Like to the motions of prodigious Meteors.
Are step, by step obseru'd, and lowd tong'd Fame
The hat binger to prepare their entertainment:
And were it possible, so great an armie,
Though couer'd with the night, could be so neere:
The Gouernour cannot be so vnfriended
Among the many that attend his person,
But by some secret meanes he should haue notice
Of 
Casars purpose in this, then excuse me
If I appeare indredulous.
Harpax.
At your pleasure.
Theop.
Yet when I call to mind you neuer faild me
In things more difficult, but haue discouered
Deeds that were done thousand leagues distant from me,
When neither woods, nor caues, not secret vaults,
No nor the power they serue, could keep these Christians,
Or from my reach or punishment, but thy magicke
Still layd them open: I begin againe
To be as confident as heretofore.
It is not possible thy powerfull art
Should meete a checke, or fayle.

[Page]Enter a Priest with the image of Iupiter; 
Caliste, Christata.
Harp.
Looke on these vestals,
The holy pledges that the gods haue giu'n you,
Your chast faire daughters. Wer't not to vpbraid
A seruice to a maister not vnthankfull,
I could say this in spite of your preuention,
Seduc'd by an imagin'd faith, not reason,
(Which is the strength of Nature) quite for saking
The Gentile gods, had yeelded vp themselues
To this new found religion. This I crosd,
Discouerd their intentions, taught you to vse
With gentle words and milde perswasions,
The power, and the authority of a father
Set of with cruell threats and so reclaimd em,
And whereas they with torments should haue dy'd,
(Hels furies to me had they vndergone it) 
aside
They are now votaries in great Iupiters temple,
And by his Priest instructed, growne familiar
With all the Mysteries, nay the most abstruse ones
Belonging to his Dietie.
Theoph.
T was a benefit
For which I euer owe you, Haile 
Ioues Flamen,
Haue these my daughters reconcilde themselues
(Abandoning for euer the Christian way)
To your opinion.
Priest.
And are constant in it,
They teach their teachers with their depth of iudgement,
And are with arguments able to conuert
The enemies to our gods and answer all
They can obiect against vs.
Theoph.
My deere daughters.
Caliste.
We dare dispute against this new sprung sect
In priuate or publicke.
Harpax.
My best Lady.
Perseuer in it.
Christeta.
And what we maintaine
We will seale with our bloods.
Harpax.
Braue resolution.


[Page]I eu'n grow fat to see my labors prosper.
Theoph.
I yong againe to your deuotions.
Harpax.
Doe.
My prayers be present with you.
exeunt Priest and daughters
Theoph.
Oh my 
Harpax.
Thou engine of my wishes, thou that steeldst
My bloody resolutions, thou that armst
My eyes gainst womanish teares and soft compassion.
Instructing me without a sigh to looke on
Babes torne by violence from their mothers brests
To feed the fire, and with them make one flame:
Old men as beasts, in beasts skins torne by dogs:
Virgins and matrons tire the executioners,
Yet I vnsatisfied thinke their torments easie.
Harpax.
And in that iust, not cruell.
Theoph.
Weare all scepters
That grace the hands of kings made into one,
And offerd me, all crownes layd at my feete,
I would contemne them all, thus spit at them.
So I to all posterities might be cald
The strongest champion of the Pagan gods
And rooter out of Christians.
Harpax.
Oh mine owne,
Mine owne deere Lord, to further this great worke
I euer liue thy slaue.
Enter Saprinus and Sempronius.
Theoph.
No more the Gouernour.
Sapr.
Keepe the ports close, and let the guards be doubl'd
Disarme the Christians, call it death in any
To weare a sword, or in his house to haue one.
Semp.
I shall be carefull Sir,
Sap.
It will well become you.
Such as refuse to offer sacrifice
To any of our gods, put to the torture.
Grub vp this growing mischiefe by the roots,
And know when we are mercifull to them,
We to our selues are cruell.
Semp.
You poure oyle


[Page]On fire that burnes already at the height,
I know the Emperours Edict and my charge,
And they shall find no fauour.
Theoph.
My good Lord,
This care is timely, for the entertainment
Of our great maister, who this night in person
Comes here to thanke you.
Sapritius.
Who the Emperour?
Har.
To cleere your doubts, he does return in triumph,
Kings lackying by his triumphant Chariot,
And in this glorious victory my Lord,
You haue an ample share: for know your sonne,
The nere enough commended 
Antoninus,
So well hath fleshd his maiden sword, and died
His snowy plumes so deepe in enemies blood,
That besides publicke grace, beyond his hopes
There are rewards propounded.
Sap.
I would know
No meane in thine could this be true.
Harpax.
My head answer the forfeit.
Sapritius.
Of his victory
There was some rumor, but it was assurd
The army passd a full dayes iourney higher
Into the countrey.
Harpax.
It was so determin'd,
But for the further honor of your sonne,
And to obserue the gouernment of the citty,
And with what rigor, or remisse indulgence
The Christians are pursude he makes his stay here.
For proofe his trumpets speake his neere arriuall. 
Trumpets afarre of.
Sap.
Haste good 
Sempronius, draw vp our guards,
And with all ceremonious pompe receiue
The conquering army. Let our garrison speake
Their welcome in lowd shouts, the citie shew
Her state and wealth.
Sempr.
I am gone.
exit Sempronius
Sapr.
O I am rauish'd


[Page]With this great honour, cherish good 
Theophilus
This knowing scholler, send your faire daughters
I will present them to the Emperour,
And in their sweet conuersion, as a mirror
Expresse your zeale and duty. 
a lesson of Cornets.
Theoph.
Fetch them good 
Harpax.
A guard brought in by 
Sempronius, souldiers leading in three kings bound, 
Antoninus and 
Macrinus carrying the Empe­rors Egles, 
Dioelesian with a guilt laurell on his head, loa­ding in 
Artemia, Sapritius kisses the Emperors hand, then embraces his sonne, 
Harpax brings in 
Caliste and 
Christeta, lowd showts.
Diocle.
So at all parts I finde 
Caesarea
Compleatly gouernd, the licentious souldier
Confin'd in modest limits, and the people
Taught to obey, and not compeld with rigor;
The ancient Roman discipline reuin'd,
(Which raysde Roome to her greatnes, and proclaimd her
The glorious mistresse of the conquerd world)
But aboue all the seruice of the gods
So zealously obseru'd, that (good 
Sapritius)
In words to thanke you for your care and duty
Were much vnworthy 
Dioclesians honor
Or his magnificence to his loyall seruants.
But I shall find a time with noble titles
To recompence your merits.
Sapr.
Mightiest 
Caesar
Whose power vpon this globe of earth, is equall
To 
loues in heauen, whose victorious triumphs
On prowd rebellious Kings that stir against it
Are perfit figures of his immortall trophees
Wonne in the gyants war, whose conquering sword
Guided by his strong arme, as deadly kils
As did his thunder, all that I haue done,
Or if my strength were centupld could do,
Comes short of what my loyalty must challenge.
But if in any thing I haue deseru'd


[Page]Great 
Casars smile, tis in my humble care
Still to preserue the honour of those gods,
That make him what he is: my zealc to them
I euer haue expressd in my fell hate
Against the Christian sect, that with one blow
Ascribing all things to an vnknowne power,
Would strike downe all their temples, and allowes them
Nor sacrifice nor altars.
Diocle.
Thou in this
Walkest hend in hand with mee, my will and power
Shall not alone confirme, but honor all
That are in this most forward.
Sap.
Sacred 
Casar;
If your imperiall Maiestie stand pleasd
To showre your fauours vpon such as are
The boldest champions of our religion,
Looke on this reuerend man, to whom the power
Of serching out, and punishing such delinquents,
Was by your choyce committed, and for proofe
He hath deseru'd the grace imposd vpon him,
And with a fayre and euen hand proceeded
Partiall to none, not to himselfe, or those
Of equall neerenesse to himselfe, behold
This paire of Virgins.
Diocle
What are these?
Sapr.
His daughters.
Arte.
Now by your sacred fortune they are faire ones,
Exceeding faire ones, would 'twere in my power
To make them mine.
Theo.
They are the gods, great Lady,
They were most happy in your seruice else,
On these when they fell from their fathers faith
I vsde a iudges power, entreaties failing
(They being seduc'd) to win them to adore
The holy powers we worship, I put on
The scarlet robe of bold authority,
And as they had bin strangers to my blood,
Presented them in the most horrid forms


[Page]All kind of tortures, part of which they sufferd
With Roman constancy.
Arte.
And could you endure
Being a father, to behold their limbs
Extended on the racke?
Theo.
I did, but must
Confesse there was a strange contention in me,
Betweene the impartiall office of a Iudge,
And pitty of a father, to helpe Iustice
Religion stept in, vnder which ods
Compassion fell: yet still I was a father,
For euen then, when the flinty hangmans whips
Were worne with stripes spent on their tender limbs,
I kneeld, and wept, and begd them though they would
Be cruell to themselues, they would take pittie
On my gray haires. Now note a sodaine change,
Which I with ioy remember, those whom torture
Nor feare of death could terrifie, were orecome
By seeing of my suffrings, and so wonne,
Returning to the faith that they were borne in,
I gaue them to the gods, and be assurde
I that vsde iustice with a rigorons hand
Vpon such beauteous virgins, and mine owne,
Will vseno fauour where the cause commands me
To any other, but as rocks be deafe
To all intreatics.
Diocle.
Thou deseru'st thy place,
Still hold it and with honor, things thus orderd
Touching the gods tis lawfull to descend
To human cares, and exercise that power
Heauen has conferd vpon me, which that you
Rebels and traytors to the power of Rome
Should not with all extremities vndergoe,
What can you vrge to qualifie your crimes
Or mitigate my anger?
Epire.
We are now
Slaues to thy power, that yesterday were kings,
And had command ore others, we confesse
Our grandsires payd yours tribute, yet left vs


[Page]As their forefathers had desire of freedome.
And if you Romans hold it glorious honor
Not onely to defend what is your owne,
But to enlarge your Empire, (though our fortune
Denies that happinesse) who can accuse
The famishd mouth if it attempt to feed,
Or such whose fetters eate into their freedomes,
If they desire to shake them off.
Pontus.
We stand
The last examples to proue how vncertaine
All humane happinesse is, and are prepard
To endure the worst.
Macedon.
That spoake which now is highest
In Fortunes wheele, must when she turns it next
Decline as low as we are. This consider'd
Taught the 
Egyptian Hercules Sesostris
(That had his chariot drawne by captiue kings)
To free them from that slauery, but to hope
Such mercy from a Roman, were meere madnesse.
We are familiar with what cruelty
Roome since her infant greatnesse, euer vsde
Such as she triumphd ouer, age nor sexe
Exempted from her tyranny: scepterd Princes
Kept in your common dungeons, and their children!
In scorne traind vp in base Mechanicke arts
For publicke bondmen; in the catologue
Of those vnfortunate men, we exspect to haue
Our names remembred.
Diocle.
In all growing Empires
Eu'n cruelty is vsefull, some must suffer
And be set vp examples to strike terror
In others though far of but when a State
Is raysde to her perfection, and her Bases
Too firme, to shrinke, or yeeld, we may vse mercy
And do't with safety, but to whom? not cowards?
Or such whose basenesse shames the conqueror,
And robs him of his victorie, as weake 
Perseus
Did great 
AEmilius. Know therefore kings


[Page]Of 
Epire, Pontus, and of 
Macedon,
That I with courtesie can vse my prisoners
As well as make them mine by force, prouided
That they are noble enemies: such I found you
Before I made you mine, and since you were so,
You haue not lost the courages of Princes,
Although the Fortune: had you borne your selues
Deiectedly, and base, no slauery
Had beene too easie for you, but such is
The power of noble valour, that we loue it
Eu'n in our enemies, and taken with it,
Desire to make them friends, as I will you.
Epire.
Mocke vs not 
Caesar.
Diocle.
By the Gods I do not.
Vnloosse their bonds, I now as friends embrace you,
Giue them their Crownes againe.
Pon.
We are twice ouercome,
By courage and by courtesie.
Mace.
But this latter,
Shall teach vs to liue euer faithfull Vassals,
To 
Dioclesian and the power of Rome.
Epire.
All Kingdomes fall before her.
Pon.
And all Kings
Contend to honour 
Cesar.
Diocle.
I beleeue
Your tongues are the true Trumpets of your hearts,
And in it I most happy Queene of fate,
Imperious Fortune mixe some light disaster
With my so many ioyes to season em,
And giue them sweeter rellish, I am girt round
With true felicity, faithfull subiects here,
Here bold Commanders, heere with new made friends.
But what's the crowne of all in thee 
Artemia,
My only child whose loue to me and duty
Striue to exceede each other,
Ar.
I make payment
But of a debt which I stand bound to tender
As a daugher, and a subiect.
Diocle.
Which requires yet


[Page]A retribution from me 
Artemia
Tyde by a fathers care how to bestow
Aie well of all things to me most pretious.
Nor will I therefore longer keepe thee from
The chiefe ioyes of creation, mariage rites,
Which that thou mayst with greater pleasure tast of,
Thou shalt not like with mine eyes but thine owne
Amongst these kings forgetting they were captiues,
Or these remembring not they are my subiects,
Make choyce of any, by 
Ioues dreadfull thunder,
My will shall ranke with thine.
Arte.
It is a bounty
The daughters of great Princes seldome meete with.
For they, to make vp breaches in the state,
Or for some other politicke ends are forc'd
To match where they affect not, may my life
Deserue this fauour.
Diocle.
Speake, I long to know
The man thou wilt make happy.
Artem.
If that titles
Or the adored name of Queene could take me,
Here would I fixe mine eyes and looke no farther.
But these are baites to take a meane borne Lady,
Nother that boldly may call 
Caesar father.
In that I can bring honor vnto any
But from no king that liues receiues addition
To raise desert and vertue by my fortune,
Though in a low estate were greater glory,
Then to mixe greatnesse with a Prince that owes
No worth but that name onely.
Diocle
I commend thee,
Tis like thy selfe.
Artem.
If then of men beneath me
My choyce is to be made, where shall I seeke
But among those that best deserue from you,
That haue seru'd you most faithfully, that in dangers
Haue stood next to you, that haue interposd
Their brests as shields of proofe to dull the swords


[Page]Aimd at your bosome, that haue spent their blood
To crowne your browes with Lawrell.
Macrinus.
Citherea
Great Queene of loue be now propitious to me.
Harpax.
Now marke what I foretold.
Anton.
Her eyes on me,
Faire 
Venus sonne draw forth a leaden dart,
And that she may hate me, transfixe her with it,
Or if thou needs wilt vse a golden one,
Shoote in the behalfe of any other,
Thou knowst I am thy votary else where.
Artem.
Sir.
Theoph.
How he blushes!
Sap.
Welcome, foole, thy fortune,
Stand like a blocke when such an Angell courts thee.
Artem.
I am no obiect to diuert your eye
From the beholding.
Anton.
Rather a bright Sun
Too glorious for him to gaze vpon
That tooke not first flight from the Egles aciry.
As I looke on the temples, or the gods,
And with that reuerence Lady I behold you,
And shall do euer.
Arte.
And it will become you,
While thus we stand at distance, but if loue
(Loue borne out of th'assurance of your vertues)
Teach me to stoope so low.
Anton.
O rather take
A higher flight.
Artem.
Why feare you to be raisd?
Say I put off the dreadfull a we that waits
On Maiestie, or with you share my beames,
Nay make you to outshine me change the name
Of subiect into Lord, rob you of seruice
Thats due from you to me, and in me make it
Duty to honor you, would you refuse me?
Anton.
Refuse you Madam, such a worme as I am,
Refuse, what kings vpon their knees would sue for?


[Page]Call it, great Lady, by another name,
An humble modesty that would not match
A Molehill with 
Olimpus.
Artem.
He that's famous
For honourable actions in the warre;
As you are 
Antoninus, a prou'd souldier
Is fellow to a king.
Anton.
If you loue valour,
As 'tis a kingly vertue, seeke it out,
And cherish it in a king, there it shines brightest,
And yeelds the brauest lustre. Looke on 
Epire,
A Prince, in whom it is incorporate,
And let it not disgrace him, that he was
Orecome by 
Casar, (it was a victory
To stand so long against him,) had you seene him,
How in one bloody seene he did discharge
The parts of a Commander, and a souldier,
Wise in direction, bold in execution;
You would haue sayd, great 
Caesars selfe excepted,
The world yeelds not his equall.
Artem.
Yet I haue heard,
Encountring him alone in the head of his troope,
You tooke him prisoner.
Epire.
Tis a truth great Princesse.
Ile not detract from valour.
Anton.
Twas meere fortune,
Courage had no hand in it.
Theoph.
Did euer man
Striue so against his owne good.
Sap.
Spiritlesse villaine,
How I am tortur'd, by the immortall gods
I now could kill him.
Diocl.
Hold 
Sapritius hold,
On our displeasure hold.
Harpax.
Why, this would make
A father mad, tis not to be endur'd,
Your honours tainted in it.
Sapr.
By heauen it is,


[Page]I shall thinke of't.
Harpax.
Tis not to be forgotten.
Art.
Nay kneele not Sir, I am no rauisher,
Nor so farre gone in fond affection to you,
But that I can retire my honour safe.
Yet say hereafter that thou hast neglected
What but seene in possession of another
Will runne thee mad with enuy.
Anton.
In her lookes
Reuenge is written.
Mac.
As you loue your life study t'appease her.
An.
Gratious madame heare me.
Artem.
And be againe refusd?
Anton.
The tender of
My life, my seruice, not since you vouchsafe it,
My loue, my heart, my all, and pardon me:
Pardon dread Princesse that I made some scruple
To leaue a valley of securitie
To mount vp to the hill of Maiestie,
On which the neerer 
Ioue the neerer lightning.
What knew I but your grace made triall of me?
Durst I presume to embrace, where but to touch
With an vnmannerd hand was death? the Foxe
When he saw first the forrests king, the Lyon
Was almost drad with feare, the second view
Onely a little danted him, the third
He durst salute him boldly: pray you apply this,
And you shall find a little time will teach me
To looke with more familiar eyes vpon you
Then duty yet allowes me.
Sap.
Well exscusde.
Artem.
You may redeeme all yet.
Diocl.
And that he may
Haue meanes and opportunity to do so,

Artemia I leaue you my substitute
In faire 
Casarea.
Sap.
And here as your selfe
We will obey and serue her.
Diocl.

[Page]Antoninus
So you proue hers I wish no other heire,
Thinke on't, be carefull of your charge 
Theophilus,

Sapritius be you my daughters guardian.
Your company I wish confederate Princes
In our Dismatian wars, which finished
With victorie I hope, and 
Maximinus
Our brother and copartner in the Empire
At my request wonne to confirme as much,
The kingdomes I tooke from you weele restore,
And make you greater then you were before.
Exeunt omnes, manent Antoninus & Macrinus. Antoninus, Macrinus.
Anton.
Oh I am lost for euer, lost 
Macrinus,
The anchor of the wretched, hope for sakes me,
And with one blast of fortune all my light
Of happinesse is put out.
Macr.
You are like to those
That are ill onely, cause they are too well,
That surfetting in the excesse of blessings
Call their abundance want: what could you wish,
That is not falne vpon you? honour, greatnesse,
Respect, wealth, fauour, the whole world for a dowre,
And with a Princesse, whose excelling forme
Exccedes her fortune.
Anton.
Yet poyson still is poyson
Though drunke in gold, and all these flattring glories
To me, ready to starue, a painted banquet
And no essentiall foode: when I am scorchd
With fire, can flames in any other quench me?
What is her loue to me, greatnes, or Empire,
That am slaue to another, who alone
Can giue me ease or freedome?
Macr.
Sir you point at
Your dotage on the scornfull 
Dorothea,
Is she though faire the same day to be nam'd


[Page]With best 
Artemia? in all their courses
Wisemen propose their ends: with sweete 
Artemia
There comes along pleasure, security,
Vsher'd by all that in this life is precious:
With 
Dorothea, though her birth be noble,
The Daughter to a Senator of Rome,
By him lest rich (yet with a priuate wealth
And farre inferiour to yours) arriues
The Emperours frowne (which like a mortall plague
Speakes death is neere) the Princesse heauy scorne,
Vnder which you will shrinke, your fathers fury,
Which to resist euen piety forbids,
And but remember that she stands suspected
A fauourer of the Christian Sect, she brings
Not danger but assured destruction with her:
This truely wai'd, one smile of great 
Artemia
Is to be cherish't and prefer'd before
All ioyes in 
Dorothea, therefore leaue her.
An.
In what thou think'st thou art most wise, thou art
Grosely abus'd 
Macrinus, and most foolish.
For any man to match aboue his ranke,
Is but to sell his libetty; with 
Artemia
I still must liue a seruant, but enioying
Diuinest 
Dorothea, I shall rule,
Rule as becomes a husbands for the dangers,
Or call it if you will assur'd destruction,
I sleight it thus. If then thou art my friend,
As I dares weare thou art, and wilt not take
A Gouernors place vpon thee, be my helper.
Macri.
You know I dare and will doe any thing.
Put me vnto the test.
Anton.
Goe then 
Macrinus
To 
Dorothea, tell her I haue worne,
In all the battailes I haue fought her figure,
Her figure in my heart, which like a diety
Hath still protected me, thou canst speake well,
And of thy choyself language, spare a little
To make her vnderstand how much I loue her,


[Page]And how I languish for her, beare her these iewels
Sent in the way of sacrifice, not seruice,
As to my goddesse. All lets throwne behind me,
Or feares that may deter me: say this morning
I meane to visite her by the name of friendship,
No words to contradict this.
Macrinus.
I am yours,
And if my trauell this way be ill spent,
Iudge not, my reader will, by the euent.
exeunt
Finis actus primus.

Actus 2. Scenus 1.

Enter Spungins and Hercius.

Spun.

Turne Christian, wud he that first tempted mee to haue my shooes walke vpon Christian soles, had turn'd me into a Capon, for I am sure now the stones of all my pleasure in this fleshly life are cut off.

Hir.

So then, if any Coxecombe has a galloping desire to ride, heres a Gelding, if he can but sit him.

Spun.

I kicke for all that like a horse, looke else.

Hir.

But thats a kickish Iade, fellow Spungins, haue not I as much cause to complaine as thou hast? When I was a Pagan, there was an Infidell Punke of mine, would haue let me come vpon trust for my coruetting, a pox of your christian Coxatrices, they cry like Poulterers wiues, no money, no Cony.

Spun.

Bacchus, the God of brew'd Wine and Sugar, grand Patron of rob pots, vpsie-freesie-tiplers, and super-naculam takers; this Bacchus, who is head warden of Vintners Hall, Ale-cunner, Maior of all Victualing houses, the sole liquid Benefactor to bawdy-houses, Lanze prezado to red Noses, and inuin cible Adelantado ouer the Armado of pimpled, deepe scarletted, rubified, and carbuncled faces.

Her.

What of all this?

Spun.

[Page]

This boone Bacchanalion stinker, did I make legges to.

Hirc.

Scuruy ones, when thou wert drunke.

Spung.

There is no danger of loosing a man yeares by making these Indures, he that will not now and then bee Calabingo, is worse then a Calamosthe: when I was a Pagan and kneeld to this Bachhus, I durst out-drinke a Lord, but your Christian Lords out-boule me: I was in hope to leade a sober life, when I was conuerted, but now amongst the Christians, I can no sooner stagger out of one Alhouse but I reele into another: they haue whole streets of nothing but drinking roomes, and drabbing chambers, iumbled together.

Hirc.

Bawdy Priapus, the first schoolemaister that taught Butchers how to sticke pricks in flesh, and make it swell, thou knowest was the onely Ningle that I cared for vnder the Moone, but since I left him, to follow a scuruy Lady, what with her praying and our fasting, if now I come to a wench & offer to vse her any thing hardly (celling her being a Christian she must endure) she presently handles me as if I were a cloue, & cleaues me with disdaine as if I were a Calues head.

Spung.

I see uo remedy fellow Hircius, but that thou and I must be halfe Pagans and halfe Christians, for we know very fooles that are Christians.

Hirc.

Right, the quarters of Christians are good for not thing but to feed Crowes.

Spung.

True, Christian Brokers, thou knowest, are made vpof the quarters of Christians, parboyle one of these rogues and he is not meate for a dog: no, no, I am resolued to haue an Infidels heart, though in shew I carry a Christians face.

Hir.

Thy Last shall serue my foote, so will I.

Spun.

Our whimpring Lady and Mistresse sent mee with two great baskets full of Beefe, Mutton, Veale and Goose fellow Hircius.

Hir.

And Woodcocke fellow Spungins.

Spung.

Vpon the poore leane Asse fellow, on which I [Page] ride, to all the Almswomen: what thinkst thou I hue done with all this good cheere.

Hir.

Eate it, and be choakt else.

Spun.

Wud my Asse, basket and all were in thy maw if I did: no, as I am a demy Pagan, I sold the victuals, and coynd the mony into pottle pots of wine.

Hir.

Therein thou shewdst thy selfe a perfect demy-Christian too, to let the poore beg, starue and hang, or dye a the pip: our puling snotty-nose Lady sent me out likewise with a purse of mony, to releeue and release prisoners: did I so thinke you?

Spun.

Wud thy ribs were turnd into grates of iron then.

Hir.

As I am a totall Pagan, I swore they should be hangd first: for sirra Spungius, I lay at my old ward of lechery, and cryed a poxe in your two-penny wards, and so I tooke scuruy common flesh for the mony.

Spun.

And wisely done, for our Lady sending it to prisoners, had bestowed it out vpon lowsie knaues, and thou to saue that labour casts it away vpon rotten whores.

Hir.

All my feare is of that pinke-an-eye Iacke-an Apes boy, her page.

Spnn.

As I am a Pagan, from my cod-peece downward that white-fac'd Monkie, frights me to, I stole but a durty pudding last day out of an almsebasket, to giue my dogge when he was hungry, and the peaking chitface page hit me ith' teeth with it.

Hir.

With the durty pudding; so he did me once with a cowturd, which in knauery I would haue crumd into ones porridge, who was halfe a Pagan to: the smug dandiprat smels vs out whatsoeuer we are doing.

Spun.

Does he! let him take heede I proue not his backe friend; He make him curse his smelling what I doe.

Hir.

Tis my Lady spoyles the boy, for he is euer at her tayle: and she's neuer well but in his company.

Enter Angelo with a Booke and Taper lighted, they seeing him, counterfeit deuotion.

Ange.

[Page]

O! now your hearts make ladders of your eyes

In shew to climbe to heauen, when your deuotion

Walkes vpon crutches: where did you waste your time

When the religious man was on his knees,

Speaking the heauenly languague.

Spun.

Why fellow Angelo, we were speaking in pedlars

French I hope.

Hir.

We ha not bene idle, take it vpon my word.

Ange.

Haue you the baskets emptied which your Lady

Sent from the charitable hands, to women

That dwell vpon her pitty?

Spun.

Emptled em! yes, Ide be loth to haue my belly so emptie, yet I'm sure, I munched not one bit of them neither.

Ange.

And went your money to the prisoners.

Hir.

Went no, I carryed it; and with these fingers paid it away.

Ang.

What way? the diuels way, the way of sinne,

The way of hot damnation, way of lust:

And you to, wash away the poore mans bread

In bowles of drunkennesse.

Spun.

Drunkennesse! yes, yes, I vse to bee drunke: our next neighbours man called Christopher has often seene me drunke, has he not?

Hir.

Or me giuen so to the flesh, my cheekes speake my doings.

Ange.

Auant you theeues, and hollow hypocrites.

Your hearts to me lie open like blacke bookes,

And there I reade your doings.

Spun.

And what do you read in my heart?

Hir.

Or in mine? come amiable. Angelo, beate the flint of your braines.

Spun.

And lets see what sparkes of wit fly out, to kindle your Carebruns.

Ang.

Your names euen brand you, you are Spurgius cald

And like a Spunge you sucke vp liquorous wines

Till your soule reeles to hell.

Spun.

To hell! can any drunkards legs carry him so far.

Ang.

[Page]

For blood of grapes you sold the widowes food.

And staruing them, tis murder, whats this but hell.

Hircius your name, and Goatish is your nature:

You snatch the meate out of the prisoners mouth,

To fatten harlots, is not this hell to,

No Angell, but the diuell waites on you.

Spun

Shall I cut his throate.

Hir.

No, better burne him, for I thinke he is a witch, but sooth, soth him.

Spun.

Fellow Angelo, true it is, that falling into the company of wicked he-Christians for my part.

Hir.

And she-ones for mine, we haue 'em swim in sholes hard by.

Spun.

We must confesse, I tooke too much of the pot, and he of tother hollow commodity.

Hir.

Yes indeed, we layd lill on both of vs, we cousen'd the poore, but 'tis a comon thing, many a one that counts himselfe a better Christian then we two, has done it, by this light.

Spun.

But pray sweet Angelo, play not the tell-tale to my Lady, and if you take vs creeping into any of these mouseholes of sin any more, let Cats flea off our skins.

Hir.

And put nothing but the poy sond tailes of Rats into those skins.

An.

Will you dishonor her sweet charity.

Who sau'd you from the tree of death and shame.

Hir.

Wud I were haugd rather then thus betold of my faults.

Spun.

She tooke vs, tis true, from the gallowes, yet I hope she will not barre yeomen sprats to haue their swinge.

An.

She comes, beware and mend.

enter Doro.

Hir.

Lets breake his necke, and bid him mend.

Dor.

Haue you my messages (sent to the poore)

Deliuer'd with good hands, not robbing them

Of any iot was theirs.

Spun.

Rob 'em Lady, I hope, neither my fellow nor I am theeues

Hir.

Deliuerd with good hands madam, else let me neuer [Page] licke my fingers more when I eate butterd fish.

Dor.

Who cheate the poore, and from them plucke their almes.

Pilfer from Heauen, and there are thunderbolts

From thence to beate them euer, do not lye,

Were you both faithfull true distributers?

Spun.

Lye Madame, what griefe is it to see you turne

Swaggerer, and giue your poore minded rascally seruants the lye.

Dor.

I'm glad you doe not, if those wretched people

Tell you they pine for want of any thing.

Whisper but to mine eare, and you shall furnish them.

Hir.

Whisper, nay Lady, for my part Ile cry whoope.

Ang.

Play no more Villaines with so good a Lady,

For if you doe — — —.

Spun.

Are we Christians?

Hir.

The fowle Feind snap all Pagans for me.

Ang.

Away, and once more mend.

Spun.

Takes vs for Botchers.

Hir.

A patch, a patch.

Dor.

My booke and Taper.

Ang.

Heere most holy Mistresse.

Dor.

Thy voyce sends forth such musicke, that I neuer

Was raisht with a more celestiall sound,

Were euery seruant in the world like thee,

So full of goodnesse, Angels would come downe

To dwell with vs, thy name is Angelo,

And like that name thou art, get thee to rest,

Thy youth with too much watching is opprest.

Ang.

No my deare Lady, I could weary slarres,

And force the wakefull Moone to lose her eyes

By my late watching, but to waite on you,

When at your prayers you kneele before the Altar,

Me thinkes I'm singing with some Quire in Heauen,

So blest I hold me in your company:

Therefore my most-lou'd mistresse do not bid

Your boy so seruiceable to get heuce,

For then you breake his heart.

Dor.

[Page]

Bee nye me still then,

In golden letters downe ile set that day

Which gaue thee to me, little did I hope

To meete such worlds of comfort in thy selfe,

This little pretty body, when I comming

Forth of the temple, heard my begger-boy,

My sweete fac'd godly begger-boy, craue an almes,

Which with glad hand I gaue, with lucky hand,

And when I tooke thee home, my most chast bo some

Me thought was fil'd with no hot wanton fire,

But with a holy flame, mounting since higher

On wings of Cherubines then did before.

Ang.

Proud am I that my Ladies modest eye,

So likes so poore a seruant.

Doro.

I haue offerd

Handfuls of gold but to behold thy Parents,

I would leaue Kingdomes, were I Queene of some,

To dwell with thy good father, for the sonne

Betwitching me so deepely with his presence,

He that begot him must doo't ten times more,

I pray thee, my sweete boy, shew me thy parents,

Be not asham'd.

Ang.

I am not, I did neuer

Know who any mother was, but by yon Pallace

Fill'd with bright heauenly Courtiers, I dare assure you,

And pawne these eyes vpon it, and this hand,

My father is in Heauen, and pretty Mistresse,

If your illustrious houre Glasse spend his sand

No worse then yet it does, vpon my life

You and I both shall meete my father there,

And he shall bid you welcome.

Doro.

A blessed day,

We all long to be there, but lose the way.

exeunt.

Macrinus friend to Antoninus enters, being met by Theophslus and Harpax.

Theo.

Sunne-god of the day guide thee Macrinus.

Mac.

[Page]

And thee Theophilus.

Theo.

Gladst thou in such scorne,

I call my wish backe.

Mac.

I'm in hast.

Theo.

One word,

Take the least hand of time vp: stay.

Mac.

Be briefe.

Theo.

As thought: I pritheo tell me good Macrinus

How health and our faire Princesse lay together

This night, for you can tell, Courtiers haue flyes

That buzze all newes vnto them.

Mac.

She slept but ill.

Theo.

Double thy courtesie, how does Antoninus?

Mac.

Ill, well, straight, crooked, I know not how.

Theo.

Once more,

Thy head is full of Winde-mils: when does the Princesse

Fill a bed full of beauty, and bestow it

On Antoninus on the wedding night.

Mac.

I know not.

Theo.

No, thou art the Manunscript

Where Antoninus writes downe all his secrets,

Honest Macrinus tell me.

Mac.

Fare you well Sir.

exit

Har.

Honesty is some Fiend, and frights him hence,

A many Courtiers loue it not.

Theo.

What peece

Of this State-wheele (which winds vp Antoninus)

Is broke, it runnes so iarringly? the

Man is from himselfe deuided: Oh thou the eye

By which I wonders see, tell me my Harpax,

What gad flye tickles so this Macrinus,

That vp. flinging thy tayle, he breakes thus from me,

Har.

Oh Sir, his braine-panne is a bed of Snakes,

Whosestings shoote through his eye-balls, whose poysonous spawne

Ingenders such a fry of speckled villanies,

That valesse charmes more strong then Adamant

Bee vs'd, the Romane Angels wings shall melt,

[Page]And Caesars Diadem be from his head

Spurn'd by base fecte, the Lawrell which he weares

(Returning victor) be inforc't to kisse

That which it hates (the fire.) And can this Ram,

This Antoninus-Engine, being made ready

To so much mischiefe, keepe a steady motion,

His eyes and feete you see giue strange assaults.

The.

I'm turnd a marble Statue at thy language,

Which printed is in such crab'd Charracters,

It puzzles all my reading, what (ith name

Of Pluto) now is hatching.

Har.

This Macrinus

The time is, vpon which loue errands runne

Twixt Antoninus and that ghost of women,

The bloudlesse Dorothaea, who in prayer

And meditation (mocking all your gods)

Drinkes vp her ruby colour, yet Antoninus

Playes the Endymion to this pale fac'd Moone,

Courts her, seekes to catch her eyes.

Theo.

And what of this?

Har.

These are but creeping Billowes

Not got to shore yet, but if Dorothaea

Fall on his bosome, and be fir'd with loue,

(Your coldest women do so) had you ynck

Brew'd from the infernall Stix, and not all that blacknesse

Can make a thing so foule, as the Dishonours,

Disgraces, Buffettings, and most base affronts

Vpon the bright Artemia, Starre of Court,

Great Caesars Daughter.

Theo.

I now conster thee.

Har.

Nay more, a Firmament of Clouds being fild

With Iouet Artillery, shot downe at once

To pash your Godsin peeces, cannot giue

With all those Thunderbots so deepe a blow

To the Religion there, and Pagan lore

As this; for Dorothea hates your gods,

And if she once blast Antoninus soule,

Making it foule like hers: Oh the example—

Theo.

[Page]

Eates through Cesareas heart, like liquid poison

Haue I inuented tortures to tente Christians,

To see but which, could all that sceles Hels torments

Haue leaue to stand aloofe heere on earths stage,

They would be mad till they againe descended,

Holding the paines most horrid, of such soules,

May-games to those of mine, has this my hand

Set downe a Christians execution

In such dire postures, that the very hangman

Fell at my foote dead hearing but their figures,

And shall Macrinus and his fellow Masquer

Strangle me in a dance.

Har.

No, on, I do hug thee,

For drilling thy quick braines in this rich plot

Of tortures gainst these Christians: on, I hug thee.

Theo.

Both hug and holy me, to this Dorotheae

Flye thou and I in thunder.

Har.

Not for Kingdomes

Pil'd vpon Kingdomes, theres a villaine Page

Waites on her, whom I would not for the world

Hold trafficke with, I do so hate his sight,

That should I looke on him I must sinke downe.

Theo.

I will not loose thee then, her to confound,

None but this head with glories shall be crown'd.

Har.

Oh, mine owne as I would wish thee.

exeunt.

Enter Dorothea, Macrinus, Angelo.

Dor.

My trusty Angelo, with that curious eye

Of thine, which euer waites vpon my businesse,

I prithee watch those my still-negligent seruants

That they performe my willin whats enioyn'd them

To'th good of others, else will you find them flyes

Not lying still, yet in them no good lyes:

Be carefull deare Boy.

Ang.

Yes, my sweetest Mistresse.

exit.

Dor.

Now Sir, you may goe on.

Mac.

I then must study,

[Page]A new Arithmatike, to summe vp the vertues

Which Antoninus gracefully become,

There is in him so much man, so much goodnesse,

So much of honour, and of all things else

Which makes our being excellent, that from his store

He can enough lend others, yet much taken from him,

The want shall be as little as when Seas

Lend from their bounty to fill vp the poorenesse

Of needy Riuers.

Dor.

Sir, he is more indebted, to you for praise, then you to him that owes it.

If Queens viewing his presents, paid to the whitenes

Of your chast hand alone, should be ambitious,

But to be parted in their numerous shares,

This he counts nothing: could you see maine Armies

Make battalles in the quarrell of his vallour,

That tis best, the truest, this were nothing,

The greatnesse of his State, his fathers voyce

And arme, owing Cesarea, he neuer boasts of

The Sun-beames, which the Emperor throwes vpon him,

Shine there but as in water, and guild him

Not with one spot of pride, no dearest beauty,

All these heap'd vp together in one scale,

Cannot weigh downe the loue he beares to you

Being put into the other.

Dor.

Could gold buy you

To speake thus for your friend, you Sir are worthy

Of more then I will number, and this your language

Hath power to win vpon another woman,

Top of whose heart, the feathers of this World

Are gaily stuck, but all which first you named,

And now this last, his loue to me are nothing,

Mac.

You make me a sad Messenger.

enter Antoninus.

But him selfe

Being come in person, shall I hope heare from you

Musicke more pleasing.

Ant.

Has your eare Macrinus

Heard none then?

Mac.

[Page]

None I like.

Ant.

But can there be

In such a noble Casker, wherein lies

Beauty and chastity in their full perfections,

A rocky heart killing with cruelty

A life thats prostrated beneath your feete?

Dor.

I am guilty of a shame I yet neuer knew,

Thus to hold parley with you, pray Sir pardon.

Ant.

Good sweetenesse, you now haue it, and shall goe,

Be but so mercifull, before your wounding me

With such a mortall weapon, as Farewell,

To let me murmure to your Virgin care,

What I was loath to lay on any tongue

But this mine owne.

Dor.

If one immodest accent

Flye out, I hate you euerlastingly.

Ant.

My true loue dares not doe it.

Mac.

Hermes inspire thee.

They whispering below, enter aboue Sapritius, father to Antoninus, & Governor of Cesaria, with him Artemia the Princesse, Theophilies, Spungius and Hercins.

Spun.

See you, doe you see, our worke is done, the fish you angle for is nibling at the hooke, and therefore vntrusse the Codpeece point of our reward, no matter if the breeches of conscience fall about our heeles.

The.

The gold you earne is heere, dam vp your mouthes, and no words of it.

Her.

No, nor no words from you of too much damming neither; I know women sell themselues dayly, and are [...]knied out for siluer, why may not we then betray a scuruy mistresse for gold.

Spun.

She sau'd vs from the Gallowes, and only to keepe one Prouerbe from breaking his necke, weele hang her.

The.

Tis well done, go go, yeare my fine white boyes.

Spun.

If your red boyes, tis well knowne, more lifauour'd [Page] faces then ours are painted.

Sap.

Those fellowes trouble vs.

Theo.

Away, away.

Her.

I to my sweete placket.

Spun.

And I to my full pot.

exeunt.

Ant.

Come, let me tune you, glaze not thus your eyes

With selfe-loue of a vowed Virginity,

Make euery man your glasse, you see our Sex

Doe neuer murder propagation,

We all desire your sweete society,

And if you barre me from it, you doe kill me,

And of my bloud are guilty.

Art.

O base Villaine.

Sap.

Bridle your rage sweete Princesse.

Ant.

Could not my fortunes

(Rear'd higher farre then yours) be worthy of you,

Me thinkes my deare affection makes you mine.

Dor.

Sir, for your fortunes were they mines of gold,

He that I loue is richer; and for worth,

You are to him lower then any slaue

Is to a Monarch.

Sap.

So insolent, base Christian.

Dor.

Can I, with wearing out my knees before him

Get you but be his seruant, you shall boast y'are equall to a King.

Sap.

Confusion on thee,

For playing thus the lying Sorcereste.

Ant.

Your mockes are great ones, none beneath the Sun

Will I be seruant too: on my knees I beg it,

Pitty me wondrous maid.

Sap.

I curse thy basenesse.

Theo.

Listen to more.

Dor.

Oh kneele not Sir to me.

Ant.

This Knee is Embleme of an humbled heart,

That heart which tortur'd is with your disdaine,

Iustly for scorning others; euen this heart,

To which for pitty such a Princesse sues,

As in her hand offers me all the World,

[Page]Great Caesars daughter.

Artem.

Slaue thou lyest.

Anton.

Yet this

Is adamant to her, that melts to you

In drops of blood.

Theoph.

A Very dogge.

Anton.

Perhaps

Tis my religion makes you knit the brow,

Yet be you mine, and euer be your owne,

I nere will screw your conscience from that power

On which you Christians leane.

Sap.

I can no longer,

Fret out my life with weeping at thee villaine; sirra,

Would when I got thee, the high thunder hand

Had strucke thee in the wombe.

Mac.

We are betrayde.

Arte.

Is that your I doll, traitor, which thou kneelst to,

Trampling vpon my beauty?

Theoph.

Sirra, bandog,

Wilt thou in peeces teare, our Iupiter,

For her? our Mars, for her? our Sol, for her?

A whore, a hel-hound, in this globe of braines

Where a whole world of tortures for such furies

Haue fought as in a Chaos) which should exceed,

These nailes shall grubbing lye, from scull to scull,

To finde one horrider, then all, for you,

You three.

Artem.

Threaten not, but strike, quicke vengeance flies

Into thy bosome, caitife: here all loues dies.

exeunt.

An.

O I am thunder-struckel

Wee are both ore whelm'd.

Mac.

With one high raging billow.

Doro.

You a souldier,

And sinke beneath the violence of a woman?

An.

A woman! a wrongd Princesse: from such a starre

Blazing with fires of hate, what can be look'd for

But tragicall euents? my life is now

The subiect of her tyranny.

Doro.

[Page]

That feare, is base,

Of death, when that death doth but life displace

Out of her house of earth; you onely dread

The stroke, and not what followes when you are dead,

There's the great feare indeed: come, let your eye,

Dwell where mine doe, youle scorne their tyrannies.

Enter below, Artemia, Sapritius, Theophilus a guard. Angelo comes and is close by Dorothea.

Artem.

My fathers nerues put vigour in mine arme,

And I his strength must vse; because I once

Shed beames of fauour on thee, and with the Lyon

Playd with thee gently when thou strokst my heart,

He not insult on a base humbled prey,

By lingring out thy terrors, but with one frowne

Kill thee: hence with 'hem to execution.

Seize him, but let euen death it selfe be weary

In torturing her: He change those smiles to shreekes,

Giue the foole what she is proud of (martyrdome)

In peeces racke that Bawd to:

Sap.

Albeit the reuerence

Iowe our gods and you, are in my bosome

Torrents so strong, that pitty quite lies drownd

From sauing this yong man, yet when I see

What face death giues him, and that a thing within me,

Sayes 'tis my sonne, I'am forc'd to be a man,

And grow fond of his life, which thus I beg.

Artem.

And I deny.

Anton.

Sir you dishonour me,

To sue for that which I disclay me to haue,

I shall more glory in my sufferings gaine,

Then you in giuing iudgement, since I offer

My blood vp to your anger: nor do I kneele

To keepe a wretched life of mine from ruine:

Preserue this temple (builded faire as your is)

And Caesar neuer went in greater triumph

Then I shall to the scaffold.

Artem.

[Page]

Are you so braue Sir,

Set forward to his triumph, and let those two

Go cursing along with him.

Doro.

No, but pittying,

(For my part, I) that you loose ten times more

By torturing me, than I that dare your tortures,

Through all the army of my sinnes, I haue euen

Lobord to breake, and cope with death to th'face;

The visage of a hangman frights not me;

The sight of whips, rackes, gibbets, axes, fires

Are scaffoldings, by which my soule climbes vp

To an Eternall habitation.

Theo.

Caesars imperiall daughter, heare me speake,

Let not this Christian Thing, in this her pagentry

Of prowd deriding, both our gods and Caesar,

Build to her selfe a kingdome in her death

Going laughing from vs. No, her bitterest torment

Shall be to seele her constancy beaten downe,

The brauery of her resolution lie

Battered by the argument, into such peeces,

That she agen shall (on her belly) creepe

To kisse the pauements of our Panim gode.

Arte.

How to be done.

Theo.

He send my daughers to her,

And they shall turne her rocky faith to waxe,

Else spit at me, let me be made your slaue,

And meete no Romans but a villains graue.

Arte.

Thy prisoner let her be then: and Sapritius

Your sonne, and that be yours: death shall be sent

To him that suffers them by voyce or letters

To greet each other. Rifle her estate,

Christians to beggery brought grow desperate.

Dor.

Still on the Bread of pouerty let me feed.

exeunt.

Ang.

O my admired mistresse; quench not out

The holy fires within you, though temptations

Showre downe vpon you: claspe thine armour on,

Fight well and thou shalt see, after these warres

Thy head weare Sun beames, and thy feet touch starres.

[Page]

Enter Hircius and Spungius.

Hir.

How now Angelo how ist? how ist? what thred spins

That whore Fortune vpon her wheele now.

Spun.

Comesta, comesta poore knaue.

Hir.

Com a porte von, com a porte von, my petite garsoone

Spun.

Me partha wee Comrade, my halfe inch of mans

Flesh, how run the dice of this cheating world, ha?

Ange.

Too well on your sides, you are hid in gold

Ore head and eares.

Hir.

We thanke our fates, the signe of the gingle-boyes hangs at the doores of our pockets.

Spun.

Who wud thinke that we comming forth of the arse, as it were, or fag end of the world, should yet see the golden age, when so little siluer is stirring.

Hir.

Nay who can say any citizen is an Asse, for lading his owne backe, with money, till his soule crackes agen, onely to leaue his sonne like a gilded coxccombe behinde him? will not any foole take me for a wiseman now, seeing me draw out of the pit of my treasury, this little god with his belly full of gold.

Spun.

And this full of the same meate out of my ambrey

An.

That gold will melt to poyson.

Spun.

Poyson, wudit wud, whole pintes for healths shall downe my throate.

Hir.

Gold poyson! there's neuer a she-thrasher in Casarea that liues on the flaile of money will call it so.

Ang.

Like slaues you sold your soules for golden drosse,

Bewitching her to death, who stept betweene

You, and the gallowes.

Spun.

T was an easie matter to saue vs, she being so well backt.

Hir.

The gallowes and we fell out, so she did but part vs

Ang.

The misery of that mistresse is mine owne,

She beggerd, I left wretched.

Hir.

I can but let my Nose drop in sorrow with wet eyes for her.

Spun.

[Page]

The petticote of her estate is vnlac'd I confesse.

Hir.

Yes, & the smocke of her charity is now all to peeces

An.

For loue you beare to her, for some good turnes

Done you by me, giue me one peece of siluer.

Hir.

How la peece of siluer! if thou wert an Angell of gold

I would not put thee into white money, vnlesse I weigh'd thee, and I weigh thee not a rush.

Spun.

A peece of siluer! I neuer had but two calues in my life, and those my mother left me; Ile rather part from the fat of them, then from a mustard-tokens worth of Argent.

Hir.

And so sweet Nit we crawle from thee.

Spun.

Adieu, demi-dandiprat, adieu

An.

Stay one word yet, you now are full of gold.

Hir.

Ide be sorry my dog were so full of the poxc.

Spun.

Or any Sow of mine of the meazles either.

Ang.

Go, go, y'are beggers both, you are not worth

That leather on your feete.

Hir.

Away, away boy.

Spun.

Page you do nothing but set patches on the soles of your iests.

Ang.

I'am glad I tryde your loue, which see I want not,

So long as this is full.

Both.

And so long as this.—so long as this.

Hir.

Spungius y'are a picke-pocket.

Spun.

Horcius thou hastnimb'd -. so long as, not so much money is left as will buy a louse.

Hir.

Th'art a thiese, and thou lyest in that gut through which thy wine runs, if thou denyest it.

Spun.

Thou lyest deeper then the bottome of mine enraged pocket, if thou affrontst it.

Ang.

No blowes, no bitter language, all your gold gone.

Spun.

Can the diuell creepe into ones breeches?

Hir

Yes, if his hornes once get into the codpeece,

Ang.

Come, sigh not, I so little am in loue

With that whose losse kils you, that see tis yours,

All yours, deuide the heape in equall share,

So you will goe along with me to prison,

And in our mistresse sorrowes beare a part:

Say, will you?

Both.

Will we?

Spun.

[Page]

If she were going to hanging, no gallowes should part vs.

Hir.

Lets both be turnd into a rope of Onyons if we do

Ang.

follow me then, repaire your bad deeds past,

Happy are men when their best dayes are last,

Spun.

True master Angele, pray sir leade the way.

exit Au

Hir.

Let him leade that way, but follow thou me this way.

Spun.

I liue in a Iayle.

Hir.

A way and shift for our selues, sheele do wel enough there, for prisoners are more hungry after mutton, then Catchpoles after prisoners.

Spun.

Let her starue then if a whole Iayle will not fill her belly.

Exeunt Finis Actus secundi.

Actus 3. Scenus 1.

Enter Sapritius, Theophilus, Priest, Caliste, Christeta.

Sapritius.

SIcke to the death I feare.

Theophilus.

I meete your sorrow,

With my true feeling of it.

Sap.

She's a Witch,

A sorceresse Theophilus, my sonne

Is charm'd by her enticing eyes, and like

An image made of waxe, her beames of beauty

Melt him to nothing; all my hopes in him.

And all his gotten honours finde their graue

In his strange dotage on her. Would when first

He saw and lou'd her, that the earth had opend

And swallowd both aliue.

Theo.

There's hope left yet.

Sap.

Not any, though the Princesse were appeasd,

All title in her loue surrenderd vp,

Yet this coy Christian, is so transported

With her religion, that vnlesse my sonne

(But let him perish first) drinke the same potion

[Page]And be of her beleefe, sheele not vouchsafe

To be his lawfull wife.

Priest

but once remou'd

From her opinion, as I rest assur'd,

The reason of these holy maydes will win her,

Youle finde her tractable, to any thing

For your content or his.

Theo.

If she refuse it,

The Stygian dampes breeding infectious ayres,

The Mandrakes shreekes, or Basiliks killing eye,

The dreadfull lightning that does crush the bones

And neuer singe the skin, shall not appeare

Lesse fatall to her, then my zeale made hot

With loue vnto my gods; I haue deferd it

In hope to draw backe this Apostata,

Which will be greater honour then her death

Vnto her fathers faith, and to that end

Haue brought my daughters hither.

Caliste.

And we doubt not

To do what you desire.

Sap.

Let her be sent for,

Prosper in your good worke, and were I not

To attend the Princesse, I would see and heare

How you succeede.

Theo.

I am commanded to,

Ile beare you company.

Sap.

Giue them your Ring

To leade her as in triumph if they win her

Before her highnesse.

exit Sap.

Theo.

Spare no promises,

Perswasions, or threats I do coniure you,

If you preuayle, 'tis the most glorious worke

You euer vndertooke.

Enter Dorothea and Angelo.

Priest.

She comes.

Theoph.

We leaue you.

Be constant and be carefull.

exeunt Theo. Priest.

Calaste.

[Page]

We are sony

To meete you vnder guard.

Dorothea.

But I more greeu'd

You are at libertie, so well I loue you,

That I could wish, for such a cause as mine

You were my fellow prisoners: prethee Angels

Reach vs some chaires, please you sit?

Caliste.

We thanke you,

Our visite is for loue, loue to your safetie.

Christ.

Our conference must be priuate, pray you therefore

Command your boy to leaue vs.

Dorothea.

You may trust him

With any secret that concernes my life,

Falshood and he are strangers, had you Ladies

Bene blest with such a seruant, you had neuer

Forsooke that way (your iourney euen halfe ended)

That leade to ioyes eternall. In the place

Of loose lasciuious mirth, he would haue stird you

To holy meditations, and so farre

He is from flattery, that he would haue told you,

Your pride being at the height, how miserable

And wretched things you were, that for an howre

Of pleasure here, haue made a desperate sale

Of all your right in happinesse hereafter.

He must not leaue me, without him I fall,

In this life he is my seruant, in the other

A wished companion

An.

Tis not in the diuell,

Nor all his wicked arts to shake such goodnesse.

Doro.

But you were speaking Lady.

Caliste.

As a friend

And louer of your safety, and I pray you

So to receiue it; and if you remember

How neere in loue our parents were, that we

En'n from the cradle were brought vp together.

Our amitie encreasing with our yeeres,

We cannot stand suspected.

Doro.

To the purpose.

Cal.

[Page]

We come then as good Angels Dorothea,

To make you happy, and the meanes so easie,

That be not you an enemy to your selfe,

Already you enioy it.

Christeta.

Looke on vs

Ruin'd as you are once, and brought vnto it

By your perswasion.

Cal.

But what follow'd Lady,

Leauing those blessings which our gods giues freely,

And showr'd vpon vs with a prodigall hand,

As to be noble borne, youth, beauty, wealth,

And the free vse of these without controule,

Checke, curbe, or stop, (such is our Lawes indulgence)

All happinesse forsooke vs, bonds and fetters

For amorous Twins, the Racke and Hangmans whips

In place of choise delights, our Parents curses

Instead of blessings, scorne neglect, contempt

Fell thick vpon vs.

Chris.

This consider'd wisely,

We made a faire retreate, and reconcil'd

To our forsaken gods, we liue againe

In all prosperity.

Caliste.

By our example

Bequeathing misery to such as loue it,

Learne to be happy, the Christian yokes too heauy

For such a dainty necke, it was fram'd rather

To be the shrine of Venus, or a Pillar

More precious then Christall to support

Our Cupids Image, our Religion Lady

Is but a varied pleasure, yours a toyle

Slaues would shrinke vnder.

Doro.

Haue you not clouen feetel are you not diuels?

Dare any say so much, or dare I heare it

Without a vertuous and religious anger?

Now to put on a Virgin modesty,

Or maiden silence, when his power is question'd

That is omnipotent, were a greater crime,

Then in a bad cause to be impudent.

[Page]Your Gods, your temples, brothell houses rather,

Or wicked actions of the worst of men

Pursu'd and practis'd, your religious rites,

O call them rather iugling mysteries,

The baytes and nets of hell, your soules the prey

For which the Diuell angles, your false pleasures

A steepe descent by which you headlong fall

Into eternall torments.

Cal.

Doe not tempt

Our powerfull gods.

Dor.

Which of your powerfull gods,

Your gold, your siluer, brasse, or woodden ones?

That can, nor do me hurt, nor protect you,

Most pittied women, will you sacrifice

To such, or call them gods or goddesses,

Your Parents would disdaine to be the same,

Or you your selues? O blinded ignorance,

Tell me Caliste by the truth I charge you,

Or any thing you hold more deere, would you

To haue him deifide to posterity,

Desire your father an Adulterer,

A Rauisher, almost a Paracide,

A vile incestuous wretch?

Cal.

That pitty

And duty answere for me.

Dor.

Or you Christeta,

To be heereafter registred a goddesse,

Giue your chast body vp to the embraces

Of Goatish lust, haue it writ on your forehead,

This is the common Whoore, the prostitute,

The Mistresse in the art of wantonnesse,

Knowes euery tricke and labyrinth of desires

That are immodest.

Criste.

You iudge better of me,

Or my affection is ill plac'd on you,

Shall I turne Strumpet?

Dor,

No, I thinke you would not,

Yet Venus whom you worship was a whore,

[Page] Flora the Foundresse of the publike Stewes,

And has for that her sacrifice: your great god,

Your Iupiter, a loose adulterer,

Incestuous with his sister, reade but those

That haue canoniz'd them, youle find them worse

Then in chast language I can speakes them to you,

Are they immortall then that did partake

Of humane weakenesse, and had ample share

In mens most base affections? subiect to

Vnchast loues, anger, bondage, wounds, as men are.

Her Iupiter to serue his lust turn'd Bull.

The ship indeede in which he stole Europa.

Neptune for gaine builds vp the walls of Troy

As a day-labourer, Apollo keepes

Admetus sheepe for bread; the Le [...] Smith

Sweats at the Forge, for hire; Lyometheus heere

With his still growing Liuer feedes the Vulture;

Saturne bound fast in hell with adamant chaines;

And thousands more, on whom abused error

Bestowes a diety, will you then deere Sisters,

For I would haue you such, pay your Deuotions

To things of lesse power then your selues?

Cal.

We worship

Their good deedes in their Images.

Dor.

By whom fashion'd,

By sinfull men? Ile tell you a short tale,

Nor can you but confesse it was a true one.

A King of AEgypt being to errect

The Image of Osiris, whom they honour,

Tooke from the Matrons necks the richest Iewels

And purest gold, as the materialls

To finish vp his worke; which perfected,

With all solemnity he set it vp

To be ador'd, and seru'd himselfe his Idoll;

Desiring it to giue him victory

Against his enemies, but being ouerthrowne,

Enrag'd against his god (these are fine gods

Subiect to humane fury) he tooke downe

[Page]The sencelesse thing, and melting it againe,

He made a Basing, in which Eunuches wash'd

His Concubines feete, and for this sor did vse

Some moneths it seru'd: his mistresse proouing false,

As most indeede do so, and grace concluded,

Betweene him and the Priests, of the same Basing

He made his god againe, thinke, thinke of this,

And then consider, if all worldly honors

Or pleasures that do leaue sharpe stings behind them,

Haue power to win such as haue reasonable soules,

To put their trust in drosse.

Cal.

Oh that I had beene borne

Without a father.

Chri.

Piety to him

Hath ruin'd vs for euer.

Dor.

Thinke not so,

You may repaire all yet, the Attribute

That speakes his Godhead most, is mercifull,

Reuenge is proper to the Fiends you worship,

Yet cannot strike without his leaue, you weepe,

Oh tis a heauenly showre, celestiall balme

To cure your wounded conscience, let it fall,

Fall thick vpon it, and when that is spent,

Ile helpe it with another of my teares.

And may your true repentance proue the child

Of my true sorrow, neuer mother had

A birth so happy.

Cal.

We are caught our selues

That came to take you, and assur'd of conquest

We are your Captiues.

Dor.

And in that you triumph,

Your victory had beene eternall losse,

And this your losse immortall gaine, fixe heere,

And you shall feele your selues inwardly arm'd

Gainst tortures, death, and hell, but take heede sisters,

That or through weakenesse, threats, or mild perswasions

Though of a father, you fall not into

A second and a worse Apostacie.

Cal.

[Page]

Neuer, oh neuer, steel'd by your example,

We dare the worst of tyrranny.

Chri.

Heer's our warrant,

You shall along and witnesse it.

Dor.

Be confirm'd then

And rest assur'd, the more you suffer heere,

The more your glory, you to heauen more deere.

excunt.

Enter Artemia, Sapritius, Theophilus, Harpax.

Art.

Sapritius though your sonne deserue no pitty,

We grieue his sicknesse, his contempt of vs

We cast behinde vs, aud looke backe vpon

His seruice done to Caesar, that weighs downe

Our iust displeasure, if his malady

Haue growth from his restraint, or that you thinke

His liberty can cure him, let him haue it,

Say we forgiue him freely.

Sap.

Your grace hindeys

Euer your humblest Vassals.

Art.

Vse all meanes

For his recouery, though yet I loue him,

I will not force affection, if the Christian

Whose beauty hath out-riuald mine, be wonne

To be of our beliefe, let him enioy her,

That all may know when the cause wills, I can

Command my owne desires.

The.

Be happy then,

My Lord Sapritius, I am confident

Such eloquence and sweete perswasion dwels

Vpon my Daughters tongues, that they will worke her

To any thing they please.

Sap.

I wish they may,

Yet tis no easie taske to vndertake,

To altar a peruerse and obstinate woman.

a shout within, loud Musicke.

Art.

What meanes this shout.

Sap.

Tis seconded with Musicke,

Triumphint musicke, ha.

Enter Sempromus.

Semp.

My Lord your Daughters

[Page]The pillars of our faith hauing conuerted,

For so report giues out: the Christian Lady,

The Image of great Iupiter borne before them

Sue for accesse.

Theo.

My soule diuin'd as much,

Blest be the time when first they saw this light,

Their Mother when she bore them to support

My feeble age, fild not my longing heart

With so much ioy, as they in this good worke

Haue throwne vpon me.

Enter Priest with the Image of Iupiter, Iucense and Consors, followed by Caliste, and Christeta, leading Dorothea,

Welcome, oh thrice welcome

Daughters, both of my body and my mind,

Let me embrace in you my blisse, my comfort,

And Dorothea now more welcome too,

Then if you neuer had falne off, I am rauish't

With the excesse of ioy, speake happy daughters

The blest euent.

Cal.

We neuer gain'd so much

By any vndertaking.

The.

Oh my deare Girle,

Our gods reward thee.

Dor.

Nor was euer time

On my part better spent.

Chri.

We are all now

Of one opinion.

The.

My best Christeta,

Madame if euer you did grace to worth,

Vouchsafe your Princely hands.

Art.

Most willingly:

Doe you refuse it?

Let vs first deserue it:

The.

My owne child still, heere set our god, prepare

The Incense quickly, come faire Dorothea,

I will my selfe support you, now kneele downe

[Page]And pay your vowes to Iupiter,

Dor.

I shall doe it

Better by their example.

The.

They shall guide you,

They are familiar with the sacrifice,

Forward my Twinnes of comfort, and to teach her

Make a ioynt ossring.

Chri.

Thus. Cal. And thus.

They both spit at the Image, throw it downe, and spurne it.

Har.

Profane

And impious, stand you now like a Statue?

Are you the Champion of the Gods? where is

Your holy zeale, your anger?

The.

I am blasted,

And as my feete were rooted heere, I finde

I haue no motion, I would I had no sight too,

Or if my eyes can serue to any vse,

Giue me thou iniut'd power a sea of teares,

To expiate this madnesse in my Daughters:

For being themselues, they would haue trembled at

So blasphemous a deede in any other,

For my sake hold a while thy dreadfull thunder,

And giue me patience to demand a reason

For this accursed act.

Dor.

T was brauely done.

The.

Peace damn'd Enchantres peace, I should looke on you

With eyes made red with fury, and my hand

That shakes with rage should much outstrip my tongue,

And seale my vengeance on your hearts, but nature

To you that haue falne once, bids meagaine

To be a father, O how durst you tempt

The anger of great Ioue?

Dor.

A lacke poore Ioue,

He is no Swaggerer, how smug he stands,

Heele take a kick, or any thing.

Sap.

Stop her mouth.

Dor.

It is the ancientst godling do not feare him,

He would not hurt the thiese that stole away

Two of his golden locks, indeede he could not,

[Page]And still tis the same quiet thing.

Theo.

Blasphemer.

Ingenious cruelty shall punish this,

Thou art past hope, but for you yet deare daughters,

Againe be witcht, the dew of mild forgiuenesse

May gently fall, prouided you deserue it

With true contrition, be your selues againe,

Sue to the offended diety.

Chi.

Not to be

The Mistresse of the earth.

Cal.

I will not offer

A graine of Incense to it, much lesse kneele,

Not looke on it but with contempt and scorne,

To haue a thousand yeeres confer'd vpon me

Of worldly blessings, we professe our selues

To be like Dorothea, Christians,

And owe hee for that happinesse.

The.

My eares

Receiue in hearing this, all deadly charmes

Powerfull to make man wretched.

Art.

Are these they

You brag'd could conuert others?

Sap.

That want strength

To stand themselues?

Har.

Your Honour is ingag'd,

The credit of our cause depends vpon it,

Something you must doe suddenly,

The.

And I will.

Har.

They merit death, but falling by your hand,

It will be recorded for a iust reuenge

And holy fury in you.

The.

Doe not blow,

The Furnace of a wrath thrice hot already,

AEtna is in my brest, wild fire burnes heere,

Which onely bloud must quench: incensed power,

Which from my infancy I haue ador'd,

Looke downe with fauourable beames vpon

The Sacrifice (though not allow'd thy Priest)

[Page]Which I will offer to thee, and be pleasde

(My fierie zeale incidng me to act it)

To call that iustice, others may stile murther.

Come you accursd, thus by the haire I drag you

Before this holy altar; thus looke on you

Lesse pittifull then Tigres to their prey.

And thus with mine owne hand I take that life

Which I gaue to you.

kils them.

Doro.

O most cruell Butcher.

Theo.

My anger ends not here, hels dreadfull porter

Receiue into thy euer open gates

Their damned soules, and let the futies whips

On them alone be wasted: and when death

Closes these eyes, twill be Elizium to me,

To heare their shreekes and howlings, make me Pluto

Thy instruments to furnish thee with soules

Of this accursed fect, nor let me fall

Till my fell vengeance hath consum'd them all.

exit with Harpax hugging him.

Enter Artemia laughing.

Arte.

Tis a braue zeale.

Doro.

O call him backe againe,

Call backe your hangman, here's on prisoner left

To be the subiect of his knife.

Arte.

Not so.

We are not so neere reconcilde vnto thee,

Thou shalt not perish such an easie way.

Be she your charge Sapritius now, and suffer

None to come neere her till we haue found out

Some torments worthy of her.

Ano.

Courage Mistresse,

These Martyrs but prepare your glorious fate,

You shall exceed them and not imitate.

exeunt.

Enter Spungius and Hircius ragged at seuerall doores.

Hir.

Spunoius.

Spun.

My fine rogue, how ist? how goes this totterd world

Hir.

[Page]

Hast any money?

Spun.

Money! no, the Tauerne. Iuy clings about my mony and kils it. Hast thou any mony?

Hir.

No, my mony is a mad Bull, and finding any gap opend, away it runs.

Spun.

I see then a Tauerne and a Bawdy-house haue faces much like, the one has red grates next dore, the tother has peeping holes within doores; the Tauerne hath euermore a bush, the bawdy close sometimes neither hedge nor bush. From a Tauerne a man comes reeling, from a bawdy house not able to stand. In the Tauerne you are cousend with paltry Wine, in a bawdy-house by a painted Where, Money may haue Wine, and a Whore will haue Mony, but neither can you cry, Drawer you Rogue, or keepe doore rotten Bawde, without a siluer 'Whistle, wee are iustly plagued therefore for running from our Mistresse.

Hir.

Thou didst, I did not; yet I had run to, but that one gaue me turpentine pilles, & that stayde my running.

Spun.

Well: the thred of my life is drawne through the needle of necessity, whose eye looking vpon my lowsie breeches, cryes out it cannot mend'em: which so prickes the linings of my body, and those are Heart, Lights, Lungs, Guts, and Midriffe, that I beg on my knees to haue Atropos (the Tailer to the destinies) to take her sheares and cut my thred in two, or to heate the Iron goose of Mortalitie, and so presse me to death.

Hir.

Sure thy father was some botcher, and thy hungry tongue bit off these shreds of complaints, to patch vp the elbowes of thy nittie cloquence.

Spun.

And what was thy father?

Hir.

A low minded Cobler, a Cobler whose zeale set many a woman vpright, the remembrance of whose Awle I now hauing nothing, thrusts such scuruy stitches into my soule, that the heele of my happines has gone awry.

Spun.

Pitty that ere thou trodst thy shooe awry.

Hir.

Long I cannot last, for all sowterly waxe of comfort melting away, and misery taking the length of my foote, it [Page] bootes not me to sue for life when all my hopes are seame. rent, and go wetshod.

Spun.

This shews th'at ta Coblers son by going through stirch: O Hircius wud thou & I were so happy to be coblers

Hir.

So would I, for both of vs being now wearie of our liues, should then be sure of shoomakers ends.

Spun.

I see the beginning of my ende for I am almost staru'd.

Hir.

So am not I, but I am more then famishd.

Spun.

All the members of my bodie are in rebellion one against another.

Hir.

So are mine, and nothing but a cooke being a constable can appease them, presenting to my nose, instead of his painted staffe, a spitfull of rost-meate.

Spun.

But in this rebellion, what vprores do they make, my belly cries to my mouth, why dost not gape & feed me

Hir.

And my mouth sets out a throate to my hand why dost not thou lift vp meate and cramme my choppes with it.

Spun.

Then my hand hath a fling at mine eyes, because they looke not out and sharke for victuals.

Hir.

Which mine eyes seeing, full of teares, crie alowd, and curse my feet for not ambling vp and downe to feede Colon, sithence if good meate be in any place, tis knowne my feet can smell.

Spu.

But then my feet like lazie rogues lie still, and had rather do nothing, then run to and fro, to purchase anything

Hir.

Why mong so many millions of people, should thou and I onely bee miserable totterdemalions, rag-amuffins, and lowsie desperates.

Spun.

Thou art a meere I am-an-o, I am-an-as, consider the whole world, and tis as we are.

Hir.

Lowsie, beggerly, thou whorson Assa Faetida.

Spun.

Worse, al tottrings, al out of frame, thou Fooliamini

Hir.

As how arsnicke: come make the world smart.

Sp.

Old Honor goes on crutches, beggry rides caroched, honest men make feastes, knaues sit at tables, cowards are laptin veluet, souldiers (as wee) in ragges: Beautie turnes [Page] Whore; Whore Bawd; and both dye of the poxe: why then when all the world stumbles, should thou and I walke vpright?

Enter Angelo.

Hir.

Stop, looke who's yonder.

Spun.

Fellow Angelo! how does my little man? well.

Ang.

Yes, and would you did so, where are your clothes?

Hir.

Clothes! you see euery woman almost goe in her loose gowne, and why should not wee haue our clothes loose?

Spun.

Wud they were loose.

Ang.

Why where are they?

Spun.

Where many a veluet cloke I warrant at this houre keepes them company, they are pawnd to a Broker.

Ang.

Why pawnd, where's all the gold I left with you?

Hir.

The gold! we put that into a Scriueners hands, and he has cousend vs.

Spun.

And therefore I prethee Angelo, if thou hast another purse, let it be confiscate, and brought to deuastation.

Ang.

Are you made all of lyes? I know which way

Your gilt-wing'd peeces flew; I will no more

Be mock'd by you: be sorry for your ryots,

Tame your wilde flesh by labor, eate the bread

Got with hard hands: let sorrow be your whip

To draw drops of repentance from your heart,

When I reade this amendment in your eyes,

You shall not want, till then my pitty dies.

exit.

Spun.

Ist not a shame that this scuruy Puerilis should giue vs lessons?

Hir.

I haue dwelt thou knowst along time in the Subvrbs of the conscience, and they are euer bawdy, but now my heart shall take a house within the walls of honesty.

Enter Harpax aloose.

Spun.

O you drawers of wine, draw me no more to the bar of Beggery; the sound of Score a pottle of sack, is worse then the noyse of a scolding oyster wench, or two Cats incorporating.

Harp.

This must not be, I doe not like when conscience

[Page]Thawes, keepe her frozen still: how now my masters?

Deiected, drooping, drownd in teares, clothes torne,

Leane, and ill colour'd, sighing! whats the whitlewinde

Which raiseth all these mischiefes? I haue seene you

Drawne better on't. O! but a spirit told me

You both would come to this, when in you thrust

Your selues into the seruice of that Lady,

Who shortly now must die; where's now her praying

What good get you by wearing your our feete,

To run on scurny errands to the poore,

And to beare money to a sort of rogues,

And lowsie prisoners.

Hir.

A pox on'em, I neuer prosperd since I did it.

Spun.

Had I bin a Pagan stil, I could not haue spit white for want of drinke, but come to any Vintner now and bid him trust me, because I turnd Christian, and he cries puh,

Har.

Y'are righly seru'd; before that peeuish Lady

Had to doe with you, weomen, wine, and money

Flow'd in aboundance with you, did it not?

Hir.

Oh! those dayes, those dayes.

Har.

Beat not your breasts, teare not your haire in madnes

Those dayes shall come agen be rulde by me,

And better (marke me) better.

Spun.

I haue seen you sir as I take it, an attendant on the Lord Theophilus.

Har.

Yes, yes, in shew his seruant, but harke hither.

Take heed no body listens.

Spun.

Not a Mouse stirres.

Har.

I am a Prince disguisde.

Hir.

Disguisde! how! drunke,

Har.

Yes my fine boye, Ile drinke to, and be drunke,

I am a Prince, and anyaman by me

(Let him but keepe my rules) shall soone grow rich,

Exceeding rich, most infinitely rich,

He that shall serue me, is not staru'd from pleasures

As other poore knaues are; no, take their fill,

Spun.

But that sir, we are so ragged...

Har.

Youle say, you'd serue me.

Hir.

Before any master vnder the Zodiake.

Harp.

[Page]

For clothes no matter; I haue a mind to both.

And one thing I like in you, now that you see

The bonefire of your Ladyes state burnt out,

You giue it ouer, do you not?

Hir.

Let her be hangd.

Spun.

And poxd.

Harp

Why now y'are mine.

Come let my hosome touch you.

Spun.

We haue bugges Sir.

Hir.

Ther's mony, fetch your cloths home, theres for you

Hir.

Auoid Vermine: giue ouer our mistresse! a man cannot prosper worse if he serue the diuell.

Har.

How? the diuell! Ile tell you what now of the diuell,

He's no such horrid creature, clouen footed,

Blacke, saucer-eyde, his nostrils breathing fire,

As these lying Christians make him.

Both

No!

Har.

He's more louing,

To man, then man to man is.

Hir.

Is hee so! wud wee two might come acquainted with him.

Har.

You shall: he's a wondrous good fellow, loues a cup of wine, a whore, any thing, you haue mony, its ten to one but Ile bring him to some Tauerne to you or other.

Spun.

Ile be speake the best roome ith; house for him.

Har.

Some people he cannot ondure.

Hir.

Weele giue him no such cause.

Har.

He hates a ciuill Lawyer, as a souldier does peace?

Spun.

How a commoner?

Har.

Loues him from the teeth outward.

Spun.

Pray my Lord and Prince, let me encounter you with one foolish question: does the diuell eate any Mace in's broth?

Har.

Exceeding much, when his burning feauer takes him, and then hee has the knuckles of a Bailiffe boyld to his breakefast.

Hir.

Then my Lord, he loues a Gatchpole does he not? Har. As a Bearward does a dog, a Gatchpole! he has sworn if euer he dies, to make a Serieant his heire, and a Yoeman his euerseer.

Spun.

[Page]

How if he come to any great mans gate, will the Porter let him come in sit?

Har.

Oh, hee loues Porters of great mens gates, because they are euer so neere the wicket.

Hir.

Doe not they whom he makes much on, for all his stroking their cheekes, leade hellish liues vnder him.

Har.

No, no, no, no, he will be damn before he hurts any man. Doe but you (when y'are throughly acquainted with him) aske for any thing, see if it does not come.

Spun.

Anything!

Har.

Call for a delicate race whore; she's brought you.

Hir.

Oh my elbow itches: will the diuel keepe the dore?

Har.

Be drunke as a begger, he helps you home.

Spun.

O my fine diuell! some watchman I warrant, I wonder who's his constable.

Har.

Will you sweare, roare, swagger? he claps you.

Hir.

How! ath' chops.

Har.

No, ath' shoulder, and cries O my braue boy.

Will any of you kill a man?

Spun.

Yes, yes, I, I.

Har.

Whats his word, hang, hang, tis nothing.

Or stab a woman.

Hir.

Yes, yes, I, I.

Har.

Here's the worst word he giues you, a pox on't goe on.

Hir.

O inueaglingrascall, I am rauishd.

Har.

Go get your clothes, turne vp your glasse of youth,

And let the sands run merily, nor do I care

From what a lauish hand your money flies,

So you giue none away, feed beggers.

Hir.

Hang 'em.

Har.

And to the scrubbing poore.

Hir.

Ile see 'em hangd first.

Har.

One seruice you must do me.

Both.

Anything.

Har.

Your Mistresse Dorothea, ere she suffers,

Is to be put to tortures, haue you hearts

To teare her into shreekes, to fetch her soule

[Page]Vp in the Pangs of death, yet not to die.

Hir.

Suppose this shee, and that I had no hands, heere's my teeth.

Spun.

Suppose this she, and that I had no teeth, heere's my nailes.

Hir.

But will not you be there sir.

Har.

No, not for hils of diamonds, the grand Master

Who schooles her in the Christian discipline,

Abhorres my company; should I be there,

You'd thinke all hell broke loose, we shall so quarrell.

Plie you this businesse; he, her flesh who spares

Is lost, and in my loue neuer more shares.

exit.

Spun.

Here's a Master you rogue.

Hir.

Sure lie cannot chuse but haue a horrible number of seruants.

exeunt

Finis Actus tertis.

Actus 4. Scena 1.

A bed thrust out, Antioninus vpon it sicks, with Physitions about him, Sapritius and Macrinus.

Sap.

O You that are halfe gods, lengthen that life

Their dieties lend vs, turne ore all the volumes

Of your mysterious AEsculapian science

T'encrease the number of this yong mans dayes,

And for each minute of his time prolong'd,

Your fee shall be a peece of Romane gold

With Caesars stampe, such as he sends his Captaines

When in the warres they earne well: do but saue him,

And as he is halfe my selfe, be you all mine.

Doct.

What art can do, we promise: phisickes hand

As apt is to destroy, as to preserue,

If heauen make not the medicine; all this while

Our skill hath combat held with his disease,

But tis so armd, and a deepe melancholy

To be such in part with death, we are in feare

[Page]The graue must mocke our labours.

Mac.

I haue beene

His keeper in this sicknesse, with such eyes

As I haue seene my mother watch ore me,

And from that obseruation sure I finde,

It is a Mid wife must deliuer him.

Sap.

Is he with child, a Mid wife:

Mac.

Yes, With child,

And will I feare lose life if by a woman

He is not brought to bed: stand by his Pillow

Some little while and in his broken slumbers

Him shall you heare cry out on Dorothea,

And when his armes flye open to catch her,

Closing together, he falls fast asleepe,

Pleas'd with embracings of her airy forme;

Physicians but torment him, his disease

Laughs at their gibrish language, let him heare

The voyce of Dorothea, nay but the name,

He starts vp with high colour in his face,

Shee or none cures him, and how that can be,

(The Princesse strick't command, barring that happines)

To me impossible seemes.

Sap.

To me it shall not.

Ile be no subiect to the greatest Caesar

Was euer crown'd with Lawrell, rather then cease

To be a father.

exit.

Mac.

Silence sit, he wakes.

Ant.

Thou kilst me Dorothea, oh Dorothea.

Mac.

Shees heere; I enioy her.

Ant.

Where, Why doe you mooke me,

Age on my head hath stuck no white haires yet,

Yet I'me an old man, a fond doting foole

Vpon a woman, I to buy her beauty,

(Truth I am bewitched) offer my life,

And she for my acquaintance hazirds hers,

Yet for our equall suffrings, none holds out

A hand of pitty.

Doct.

Let him haue some Musicke.

Ant.

[Page]

Hell on your fidling.

Doct.

Take againe your bed Sir,

Sleepe is a soueraigne Physicke.

Ant.

Take an Asses head Sir,

Confusion on your fooleries, your charmes,

Thou stinking Glister-pipe, where's the god of rest,

Thy Pills, and base Apothecary drugges

Threatned to bring vnto me, out you Impostors,

Quacksaluing, cheating Mountbankes, your skill

Is to make sound men sicke, and sicke men kill.

Mac.

O be your selfe deare friend.

An.

My selfe Macrunis

How can I be my selfe, when I am mangled

Into a thousand peeces, heere moues my head,

But wheres my heart? where euer, that lies dead.

Enter Sapritius dragging in Dorothea by the Haire, Angelo attending.

Sap.

Follow me thou damn'd Sorcores, call vp thy spirits,

'And if they can, now let 'em from my hand

Vntwine these witching haires.

Ant.

I am that spirit,

Or if I be not (were you not my father)

One made of Iron should how that hand in peeces

That so defaees this sweete Monument

Of my loues beauty?

Sap.

Art thou sioke?

Ant.

To death.

Sap.

Wouldst thou recouer?

Ant.

Would I liue in blisse?

Sap.

And doe thine eyes shoote daggers at that man

That brings thee health?

Aut.

It is not in the world?

Sap.

Ist heere?

Ant.

Oh Treasure, by enchantment lock'd

In Caues as deepe as hell, am I as neere.

Sap.

Breake that enchanted Caut, enter, and rifle

[Page]The spoyles thy lust hunts after, I deseend

To a base office, and become thy Pandar

In bringing thee this proud Thing, make her thy Whore,

Thy health lies heere if she deny to giue it,

Force it, imagine thou assaultst a towne,

Weake wall, too't, tis thine owne, beat but this downe,

Come, and vn seene, be witnesse to this battry,

How the coy strumpet yeelds.

Doct.

Shall the boy stay sir.

Sap.

No matter for the boy,

Pages are vs'd to these odde bawdy

Shufflings, and indeede are those

Little yong snakes in a Furies head

Will sting worse then the great ones,

Let the Pimpe stay.

exeunt aside.

Dor.

Oh guard me Angels,

What Tragedy must begin now?

Ant.

When a Tyger

Leapes into a tymerous heard, with rauenous Iawes

Being hunger-staru'd, what Tragedy then begins?

Dor.

Death I am happy so, you hitherto

Haue still had goodnes spard within your eyes,

Let not that Orbe be broken.

Ang.

Feare not Mistresse,

If he dare offer violence, we two

Are strong enough for such a sickly man.

Dor.

What is your horrid purpose sir, your eye

Beares danger in it?

Ant.

I must.

Dor.

What.

Sap.

Speake it out.

Ant.

Climbe that sweete Virgin tree.

Sap.

Plague a your trees.

Ant.

And pluck that fruit which none I think euer tasted:

Sap.

A souldier, and stand sumbling so.

Dor.

O Kill me,

Kneeles.

And heauen will take it as a sacrifice,

But it you play the Rauisher, there is

[Page]A Hell to swallow you.

Sap.

Let her swallow thee.

Ant.

Rise for the Romane Empire ( Dorothea)

I would not wound thine honour, pleasure forc'd

Are vnripe Apples, sowre, not worth the plucking,

Yet let me tell you, tis my fathers will,

That I should seize vpon you as my prey.

Which I abhorre as much as the blackest sinne

The villany of man did euer act.

Sapritius breakes in and Macrinus.

Ang.

Dye happy for this language.

Sap.

Dye a slaue,

A blockish Ideot.

Mac.

Deare sir, vexe him not.

Sap.

Yes, and vexe thee too, both I thinke are geldings,

Cold, Phlegmatike Bastard, th'art no brat of mine,

One sparke of me, when I had heate like thine

By this had made a Bonefire: a tempting whore

(For whom th'art mad) thrust euen into thine armes,

And standst thou puling? had a Taylor seene her

Her at this aduantage, he with his crosse-capers

Had rufled her by this, but thou shalt curse

Thy dalliance, and heere before her eyes

Teare thy flesh in peeces, when a slaue

In hot lust bathes himselfe, and gluts those pleasures

Thy nicenesse durst not touch, call out a slaue,

You Captaine of our guard, fetch a slaue hither.

exit.

Ant.

What will you do deere Sir.

Sap.

Teach her a trade, which many would learne

In lesse then halfe an houre, to play the Whore.

Enter a Slaue.

Mac.

A Slaue is to me, what now.

Sap.

Thou hast bones and flesh

Enough to ply thy labour, from what country

Wert thou tane Prisoner, heere to be our slaue.

Slaue.

From Brittaine.

Sap.

In the west Ocean.

Sla.

[Page]

Yes.

Sap.

An Iland.

Sla.

Yes.

Sap.

I am fitted, of all Nations

Our Romane swords euer conquer'd, none comes neere

The Brittaine for true whooring: sirrah fellow,

What wouldst thou doe to gaine thy liberty?

Sla.

Doe! liberty! fight naked with a Lyon,

Venture to plucke a Standard from the heart

Of an arm'd Legion: liberty! Ide thus

Bestride a Rampire, and defiance spit

I'th face of death; then, when the battring Ram

Were fetching his careere backward to pash

Me with his hornes in peeces: to shake my chaines off,

And that I could not doo't but by thy death,

Stoodst thou on this dry shore, I on a rock

Ten Piramids high, downe would I leape to kill thee,

Or dye my selfe: what is for man to doe

Ile venture on, to be no more a slaue.

Sap.

Thou shalt then be no slaue, for I wil set thee

Vpon a peece of worke is fit for man,

Braue for a Brittaine, drag that Thing aside

And rauish her.

Sla.

And rauish her! is this your manly seruice,

A Diuell scornes to doo't, tis for a beast,

A villaine, not a man, I am as yet

But halfe a slaue, but when that worke is past,

A damned whole one, a blacke vgly slaue,

The slaue of all base slaues, doo't thy selfe Roman,

Tis drudgery fit for thee.

Sap.

Hees bewitch'd too,

Binde him, and with a Bastinado giue him

Vpon his naked belly 200. blowes.

Sla.

Thou art more slaue then I.

exit carried in.

Dor.

That power supernall on whom waites my soule,

Is Captaine ore my chastity.

Ant.

Good sir giue ore,

The more you wrong her, your selfes vex'd the more,

Sap.

Plagues light on her and thee; thus downe I throw

[Page]Thy Harlot thus bi'th haire, naile her to earth,

Call in ten slaues, let euery one discouer

What lust desires, and surfet heere his fill,

Call in ten flaues.

Ang.

They are come sir at your call.

Sap.

O oh.

Falls downe.

Enter Theophilus.

The.

Where is the Gouernour?

Ant.

There's my wretched father.

The.

My Lord, Sapritius, hee's not dead, my Lord,

That Witch there.

Aut.

T is no Romane gods can strike

These fearefull terrors, O thou happy maid,

Forgiue this wicked purpose of my father.

Dor.

I doe.

The.

Gone, gone, he's peppered: tis thou

Hast done this act internall.

Dor.

Heauen pardon you,

And if my wrongs from thence pull vengeance downe

(I can no myracles worke) yet from my soule

Pray to those powers I serue, he may recouer.

The.

He slirres, helpe, raise him vp, my Lord.

Sap.

Where am I?

The

One cheeke is blasted.

Sap.

Blasted! Wheres the Lamia

That teares my entrailes? I'me be witch'd, seize on her?

Dor.

I'me heere, do what you please.

The.

Spurne her too'th barre.

Dor.

Come boy, being there, more neere to heauen we are

Sap

Kicke harder, goe out witch.

exeunt.

Ant.

O bloudy hangmen, thine own gods giue thee breth,

Each of thy tortors is my seuerall death.

exit.

Enter Harpax Hircius, and Spungius.

Har.

Doe you like my seruice now, say am not I

A Master worth attendance.

Spun.

Attendance, I had rather licke cleane the soles of [Page] your durty bootes, then weare the richest sute of any infected Lord, whose rotten life hangs betweene the 2 Poles.

Hir.

A Lords sute! I wud not giue vp the cloake of your seruice to meet the splay-foot estate of any leftey'd knight aboue the Antipodes, because they are vnlucky to meete.

Har.

This day ile try your loues to me, tis onely

But well to vse the agility of your armes,

Spun.

Or legs, I am losty at them.

Hir.

Orany other member that has no legges.

Spun.

Thou't runne into some hole.

Hir.

If I meet one that's more thē my match, & that I cannot stand in their hands, I must & will creep on my knees.

Har.

Heere me my little teeme of villaines, heare me,

I cannot teach you Fencing with these Cudgels,

Yet you must vse them, lay them on but soundly,

Thats all.

Hir.

Nay if we come to malling once, puh,

Spun.

But what Wall-nut tree is it we must beate.

Har.

Your Mistresse.

Hir.

How! my Mistresse! I begin to haue a Christians heart, made of sweet butter, I melt, I cannot strike a womā.

Hir.

Not I, vnlesse she scratch, bum my mistresse!

Har.

Y'are Coxecombes, silly Animals,

Hir.

Whats that?

Har.

Drones, Asses, blinded Moles, that dare not thrust

Your armes out to catch Fortune, say you fall off,

It must be done you are conuetted Rascalls,

And that once spred abroad, why euery slaue

Will kicke you, call you motley Christians,

And halfe fac'd Christians.

Spun.

The guts of my conscience beginne to be of whit-leather,

Hir.

I doubt me I shall haue no sweet buttet in me.

Har.

Deny this, and each Pagan whom you meete

Shall forked fingers thrust into your eyes.

Hir.

If we be Cuckolds.

Har.

Doe this, and euery god the Gentiles bow to,

Shall adde a fadome to your line of yeeres.

Spun.

A hundred fadome, I desire no more.

Hir.

[Page]

I desire but one inch longer,

Har.

The Senators will as you passe along

Clap you vpon your shoulders with this hand,

And with this hand glue you gold when you are dead,

Happy that man shall be can get a nayle,

The paring —, they the dort vnder the nayle

Of any of you both, to say this durt

Belong'd to Spungius or Hercius.

Spun.

They shall not want durt vnder my nayles, ile keepe'em long of purpose, for now my singers itch to bee at her.

Hir.

The first thing I doe Ile take her Ore the lips.

Spun.

And I the hips, we may strike any where.

Har.

Yes, any where.

Hir.

Then I know where ile hit her.

Har.

Prosper and be mine owne; stand by, I must not

To see this done, great businesse calls me hence,

Hee's made can make her eurse his violence.

exit.

Spun.

Feare it not sir, her ribs shall be basted.

Hir.

He come vpon her with rounce, robble-hobble, and thwicke thwacke thirlety bouncing.

Enter Dorothea lead Prisoner, a Guard attending, a Hangman with Cords in some vgly shape, sets vp a Pillar in the middle of the stage, Sapritius and Theophilus sit, Angelo by her.

Sap.

According to our Romane customes, binde

That Christian to a Pillar.

Theo.

Insernall Furies,

Could they into my hand thrust all their whips

To teare thy flesh thy soule, tis not a torture

Fit to the Vengeance, I should heape on thee,

For wrongs done me: me! for flagitious facts

By thee done to our gods, yet (so it stand

To great Cesaraes Gouernors high pleasure)

Bow but thy Knee to Iupiter and offer

Any slight sacrifice, or doe but sweare

[Page]By Caesars fortune, and be free.

Sap.

Thou shalt.

Dor.

Not for all Casar fortune, were it chaind

To more worlds, then are kingdomes in the world,

And all those worlds drawne after him: I defie

Your hangmen; you now shew me whither to flie.

Sap.

Are hentormentors ready?

Ang.

Shrinke not deere mistresse.

Both.

My Lord, we are ready for the businesse.

Dor.

You two! whom I like fosterd children fed,

And lengthen'd out your starued life with bread:

You be my hangman! whom when vp the ladder

Death hald you to be strangled, I fetcht downe

Clothd you, and warmd you, you two my tormentors.

Both.

Yes, use.

Dor.

Diuine powers pardon you.

Sap.

Strike.

strike at her: Angelo kneeling holds her fast.

Theo.

Beate out her braines—,

Dor.

Receive me you bright Angels.

Sap.

Faster slaues.

Spun.

Faster: I am out of breath I'am sure: if I were to beate a bucke, I can strike no harder.

Hir.

O mine armes, I cannot list'em to my head.

Dor.

Ioy aboue ioys, are my tormentors wearie

In torturing me, and in my suffrings

I fainting in no linbe: [...]anto strike home

And feast your fury full.

Theo.

These dogs are ours.

come from his seate.

Which snarle, yet bite not: see my Lord, her face

Has more bewitching beauty then before,

Prowd whore: it smiles, cannot an eye shart out

With these.

Hir.

No sir, not the bridge of her nose fall, tis full of Iron worke.

Sap.

Lets view the oudgols, are they not counterfeit.

Ang.

There fixe thine eye still, thy glorious crown must come

Not from soft pleasure, but by martyrdome,

There fixe thine eye still, when we next do meet,

[Page]Not thornes, but roses shall beare vp thy feet:

There fixe thine eye still.

exit.

Enter Harpax sneaking.

Dor.

Euer, euer, euer.

Theo.

Wee are mock'd, these bats haue power downe to fell gyants, yether skin is not fear'd.

Sap.

What rogues are these.

Theo.

Cannot these force a shreeke.

beats them.

Spun.

Oh! a woman has one of my ribs, and now fiue more are broken.

Theo.

Cannot this make her roare.

beates tother he roares

Sa.

Who hir'd these slaues? what are they?

Spun.

We serue that noble Gentleman there, he entisde vs to this dry-beating, oh for one halfe pot.

Har.

My seruants! two base rogues, & sometimes seruants

To her and for that cause forbeare to hurt her.

Sap.

Vnbinde her, hang vp these.

Theo.

Hang the two hounds on the next tree.

Hir.

Hang vs! master Harpax, what a diuell shall we be thus vsde.

Har.

What bandogs but you two wud worry a woman!

Your mistessell but clapt you, you flew on:

Say I should get your liues, each rascall begger

Would when he met you, cry, out helhounds, traitors

Spit at you, fling durt at you, and no woman

Euer endure your fight: tis your best course

(Now had you secret kniues) to stab your selues,

But since you haue not, goe and be hang'd.

Hir.

I thanke you.

Har.

I is your best course.

Theo.

Why stay they trifling here?

To gallowes drag'em by the heeles: away.

Spun.

By the heeles! no sir, wee haue legges to doe vs that seruice.

Hir.

I, I, if no woman can endure my sight, away with me.

exeunt.

Har.

Dispatch'em.

Spun.

The diuell dispatch thee.

exit.

Sap.

[Page]

Death this day ride in triumph, Theophilus.

See this witch made away to.

Theo.

My soule thirst for it,

Come, I my selfe, thy hangmans part could play.

Dor.

Ohhasten me to my coronation day.

exeunt

Enter Antoninus, Macrinus, seruants.

Anton.

Is this the place where vertue is to suffer,

And heauenly beauty leauing this base earth,

To make a glad returne from whence it came,

Is it Macrinus? a scaffold thrust forth

Mac.

By this preparation

You well may rest assurd that Dorethea

This houre is to die here.

Anton.

Then with her dies

The abstract of all sweetnesse that's in woman,

Set me downe friend, that ere the iron hand

Of death close vp mine eyes, they may at once

Take my last leaue both of this light, and her:

For she being gone, the glorious Sun himselfe

To me's Cymerian darkenesse.

Macr.

Stange affection!

Cupid once more hath chang'd his shafts with death,

And kills in stead of giuing life.

Anton.

Nay weepe not,

Though teares of friendship be a soueraigne balme,

On me they are cast a way: it is decreed

That I must die with her, our clew of life

Was spun together.

Macr.

Yet sir tis my wonder

That you who hearing onely what she suffers,

Pertake of all her tortures, yet will be

To adde to vour calamitie, an eye witnesse

Of her last Ttagicke scene, which must pierce deeper

And make the wound more desperate.

Anton.

O Macrinus,

T would linger out my tormentselfe, not kill me,

[Page]Which is the end I aime at, being to die to.

What instrument more glorious can I wish for,

Then what is made sharpe by my constant loue

And true affection. It may be the duty

And loyall seruice with which I pursude her,

And seald it with my death, will be remembred

Among her blessed actions, and what honor

Can I desire beyond it?

Enter a guard bringing in Dorothea, a headsman before her, followed by Theophitus, Sapritius, Harpax.

See she comes,

How sweet her innocence appeares, more like

To heauen it selfe then any sacrifice

That can be offerd to it. By my hopes

Of ioyes hereafter, the sight makes me doubtfull

In my beleefe, nor can I thinke our gods

Are good, or to be seru'd, that take delight

In offrings of this kinde, that to maintaine

Their power, do face the master peece of nature,

Which they themselues come short of she ascends,

An euery step raises her neerer heauen.

What god so erethou art that most enioy her,

Receiue in her a boundlesse happinesse

Sap.

You are too blame

To let him come abrode.

Macr.

It was his will,

And we were left to serue him, not command him,

Anton.

Good sir be not offended, nor deny

My last of pleasures in this happy obiect

That I shall ere be blest with.

Theo.

Now prowd contemner

Of vs and of our gods, tremble to thinke

It is not in the power thou seru'st, to saue thee.

Not all the riches of the sea increasd

By violent shipwrackes, nor the vnsearched mines

Mammons vnknowne exchequer shall redeeme thee.

[Page]And therefore hauing first with horror weigh'd

What tis to die, and to die yong, to part with

All pleasures, and delights: lastly, to goe

Where all Antipathies to comfort dwell

Furies behind, about thee, and before thee,

And to adde to affliction the remembrance

Of the Elizian ioyes thou might'st haue tasted,

Hadst thou not turnd Apostata to those gods

That so reward their seruants, let despayre

Preuent the hangmans sword, and on this scaffold

Make thy first entrance into hell.

Anton.

She smiles,

Vnmou'd by Mars, as if she were assur'd

Death looking on her constancy would forget

The vse of his ineuitable hand.

Theo.

Derided to? dispatch I say.

Dor.

Thou foole

That gloriest in hauing power to rauish

A trifle from me I am weary of:

What is this life? to me not worth a thought

Or if to bee esteemd, 'tis that I loose it

To win a better, eu'n thy realice serues

To me but as a ladder to mount vp

To such a height of happinesse where I shall

Looke downe with scorne on thee, and on the world,

Where circl'd with true pleasures, plac'd aboue

The reach of death or time, twill be my glory

To thinke at what an, easie price I bought it.

There's a perpetuall spring, perpetuall youth,

No ioynt benumming cold, nor scorehing heate,

Famine nor age haue any being there:

Forget for shame your Tempe, burie in

Obliuion, your fainde your Hesperian Orchards

The Golden fruite kept by the watchfull Dragon

Which did require Hercules to get it

Compar'd with what growes in all plenty there,

Deserues not to be nam'd. The power I serue

Laughs at your happy Arabie, or the

[Page] Elizian shades, for he hath made his bowers

Better indeed then you can fancy yours.

Anton.

O take me thither with you.

Doro.

Trace my steps

And be assurd you shall.

Sap.

With mine owne hands

He rather stop that little breath is left thee,

And rob thy killing feauer.

Theo.

By no means,

Let him go with her, do seduc'd yong man,

And waite vpon thy saint in death, do, do,

And when you come to that imagind place,

That place of all delights, pray you obserue me,

And meete those cursed things I once call'd daughters,

Whom I haue sent as harbingers before you,

If there be any truth in your religion,

In thankfulnesse to me that with care hasten

Your iourney thither, pray send me some

Small pittance of that curious fruit you bost of.

Ant.

Grant that I may goe with her, and I will.

Sap.

Wilt thou in thy last minute dam thy selfe?

Theo.

The gates to hell are open.

Dor.

Know thou tyrant

Thou agent for the diuell thy great master

Though thou art most vnworthy to tast of it,

I can and will.

Enter Angelo in the Angels habit.

Har.

Oh! mountaines fall vpon me,

Or hide me in the bottome of the deepe,

Where light may neuer find me.

Theo.

Whats the matter?

Sap.

This is prodigious, and confirms her witch craft.

Theo.

Harpax my Harpax speake.

Har.

I dare not stay,

Should I but heare her once more I were lost,

Some whirle winde snatch me from this cursed place,

To which compar'd (and with what now I suffer)

Hels totments are sweet slumbers.

exit Harpax Sap.

Sap.

[Page]

Follow him.

Theo.

He is distracted, and I must not loose him,

Thy charms vpon my seruant cursed witch,

Giues thee a short repricue, lethernot die

Till my returne.

exeunt Sap. and Theo

Anton.

She minds him not, what obiect

Is her eye fixd on?

Macr.

I see nothing.

Anton.

Marke her.

Doro.

Thou glorious minister of the power I serue,

For thou art more then mortall, ist for me

Poore sinner, thou art pleasd a while to leaue

Thy heauenly habitation? and vouchsafest

Though glorified, to take my seruants habit,

For put off thy diuinitie, so lookd

My louely Angelo.

Ange.

Know I am the same,

And still the seruant to your pictie,

Your zealous prayers and pious deeds first wonne me

(But 'twas by his command to whom you sent 'em)

To guide your steps. I tride your charitie,

When in a beggers shape you tooke me vp

And clothd my naked limbes, and after fed

(As you beleeu'd) my famishd mouth. Learne all

By your example to looke on the poore

With gentle eyes, for in such habits often

Angels desire an Almes. I neuer left you,

Nor will I now, for I am sent to carry

Your pure and innocent soule to ioyes eternall,

Your martyrdome once sufferd, and before it

Aske any thing from me, and rest assur'd

You shall obtaine it

Doro.

I am largely payd

For all my torments, since I find such grace

Grant that the loue of this yong man to me,

In which he languisheth to death, may be

Chang'd to the loue of heauen,

Ange.

I will performe it.

[Page]And in that instant when the sword seta free

Your happy soule his shall haue libertie.

Is there ought else?

Doro.

For proofe that I foregiue

My [...], who in scornd desir'd

To tast of that most [...] fruite I go to

After my death as sent from me, be pleasd

To giue him of it.

Ange.

Willingly deere Mistresse.

Mac.

I am amaz'd

Anton.

I feels a holy fire

That yeelds a comfortable heate within me.

I am quite alterd from the thing I was.

See I can stand, and goe alone, thus kneels

To heauenly Dorothea, touch her hand

With a religious kisse.

Enter Sapritius and Theophilus.

Sapr.

He is well now,

But will not be drawne [...].

Theoph.

It matters not,

We can discharge this works without his helpe:

But see your sonne. Sapr, Villaine

Anton.

Sir I be seech you,

Being so neere our ends diuoroe vs not.

Theo.

He quickly make a soparation of' om.

Hast thou ought else to say?

Dorothea.

Nothing but blame

Thy tardinesse in sending me torest,

My peace is made with heauen, to which my soule

Begins to take her flight, strike, O. strike quickly,

And though you are vn mou'd to be my death

Hereafter when my story shall be read,

As they were present now, the hearers shall

Say this of Dorothea with wet eyes

She liu'd a virgin, and a virgin dies.

her head strucke off

Anton.

O take my soule along to waite on mine.

Macr.

Your sonne sinks to.

Antonius sinkes

Sap.

Already dead.

The.

Die all.

That are or fauour this accursed Sect,

[Page]I triumph in their ends, and will raise vp

A hill of their dead Karkatses, to or clooke

The Pyrenean Hils, but ile roote out.

These superstitious fooles, and leaue the World

No name of Christian.

Loud Musicke, exit Angelo leauing first laid his hand vp. on their mouthes.

Sap.

Ha, hauenly Musicke.

Mac.

Tis in the ayre.

The.

Illusions of the Diuell

Wrought by some one of her Religion.

That faine would make her death a miracle,

It frights not me: because he is your sonne

Let him haue buriall, but let her body

Be cast forth with contempt in some high way,

And be to Vultures and to Dogea prey.

Exeunt.

The end of the fourth Act.

Actus 5. Scena I.

Enter Theophilus in his study, Bookes about him.

The.

Is't Holliday (Oh Casar) that thy seruant,

(Thy Prouost, to see execution done

On these base Christians in Casarea)

Should now want worke: sheepe these Idolaters

That none are stirring, As a curious Painter

Rises.

When he has made some admirable peece,

Stands off, and with a searching eye examines

Each colours how tis sweetned, and then hugs

Himselfe for his rare workemanship.— So heere

Sits.

Will I my Drolleries and bloudy Lantskips

Long past wrap'd vp vnfold to make me merry

With shadowes, now I want the substances.

Books.

My Muster-booke of Hel-hounds, were the Christians

Whose names stand heere (aliue) and arm'd, not Rome

Could mooue vpon her Hindges. What I haue done,

Or shall heereafter, is not out of hate

To poore tormented wretches, no I am carried

[Page]With violence of zeale, and streames of seruice

I owe our Romane gods. Great Britaine, what.

A thousand wiues with brats sucking their brests,

Had hot Irons pinch 'em off and throwne to swine;

And then their fleshy backparts he wed with hatchets,

Were mine'd and bak'd in Pies to feede staru'd Christians. Ha, ha.

Agen, agen, — East. Anglas—, oh, East-Angles,

Bandogs (kept three dayes hungry) worried

1000. Brittish Rascals, styed vp, fat

Of purpose, strip'd naked, and disarm'd.

I could outstare a yeere of Sunnes and Moones,

To sit at these sweete Bul-baitings, so I could

Thereby but one Christian win to fall

In adoration to my Iupiter. Twelue hundred

Eyes boar'd with Augurs out: oh! eleuen thousand

Torne by wild beasts: two hundred ram'd i'th earth

To'th armepits, and full Platters round about'em,

But farre enough for reaching, eate dogs, ha, ha, ha.

Tush, all these tortures are but phillipings,

Flea-bitings; I before the destinies

My bottome did winde vp, would flesh my selfe

Once more, vpon some one remarkeable

Aboue all these, this Christian Slut was well,

A pretty one, but let such horror follow

The next I feede with torments, that when Rome

Shall heare it, her foundation at the sound

May feele an Earth-quake. How now?

Musicke.

Rise Consort, enter Angelo with a Basket fild with fruit and flowers.

Ang.

Are you amazd'd Sir—so great a Roman spirit and does it tremble.

The.

How cam'st thou in? to whom thy businesse?

Ang.

To you:

I had a mistresse late senthence by you

Vpon a bloudy errand, you intreated

That when she came into that blessed Garden

Whither she knew she went, and where (now happy)

Shee feedes vpon all ioy, she would send to you

Some of that Garden fruit and flowers, which heere

[Page]To haue her promise sau'd, are brought by me.

The.

Cannot I see this Garden?

Ang.

Yes, if the Master

Will giue you entrance.

Angelo vanisheth.

The.

Tis atempting fruit, and the most bright check'd child I euer view'd,

Sweete smelling goodly fruit, what flowers are these?

In Dioclesians Gardens, the most beautious

Compard with these are weedes: is it not February?

The second day she dyed: Frost, Ice and snowe

Hang on the beard of Winter, wheres the sunne

That guilds this summer, pretty sweete boy, say in what Country

Shall a man find this Garden —, my delicate boy, gonel Vanished!

Within there, Iuliarues and Gota. —

enter two seruants.

Both.

My Lord.

The.

Are my gates shut?

And guarded.

The.

Saw you not — a boy.

Where?

The.

Heere hee entred, a young Lad, 1000. blessings danc'd vpon his eyes, a smooth fac'd glorious Thing, that brought this Basket.

No sir?

exeunt.

The.

Away, but be in reach if my voyce calls you,

No! vanish'd! and not seene, be thou a spirit

Sent from that Witch to mock me, I am sure

This is essentiall, and how ere it growes,

Will taste it.

Enter.

Har.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Harpax within.

The.

So good, ile haue some now sure.

Har.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, great lickorish foole.

The.

What art thou?

Har.

A Fisherman,

The.

What doest thou catch;

Har.

Soules, soules, a fish cal'd soules.

[Page]

Enter a seruent.

The.

Geta.

My Lord.

Har.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Within.

The.

What insolent slaue is this dares laugh at me?

Or what ist the dog grinnes at so?

I neither know my Lord at what, nor whom, for there is none without but my fellow Iulianus, and hee's making a Garland for Iupiter.

The.

Iupiter! all within me is not well,

And yet not sicke.

Har.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

lowder.

The.

What's thy name slaue?

Har.

Goe looke.

At one end.

Tis Harpax voyce.

The.

Harpax, goe drag the Caitiffe to my foote,

That I may stampe vpon him.

Har.

Foole, thou lyest.

At tother end.

Hee's yonder now my Lord.

The.

Watch thou that end

Whilst I make good this.

Har.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

At the middle.

The.

Hee's at Barli-breake, and the last coulple are now in hell,

exit seruent.

Search for him, all this ground me thinke is bloudy,

And pau'd with thousands of those Christians eyes

Whom I haue tortu'd, and they stare vpon me;

What was this apparition? sure it had

A shape Angelicall; mine eyes (though dazled

And danted at first sight) tell me, it wore

A paire of glorious wings, yea they were wings,

And hence he flew; tis vanished, Iupiter

For all my sacrifices done to him

Neuer once gaue me smile: how can stone smile,

musicke.

Or woodden Image laugh? ha! I remember

Such Musicke gaue a welcome to my eare,

When the faire youth came to me: tis in the Ayre,

Or from some better place, a power diuine,

[Page]Through my darke ignorance on my soule does shine,

And makes me see a conscience all stai'nd ore,

Nay drown'd and damn'd for euer in Christian gore.

Har.

Ha, ha, ha.

Within.

The.

Agen, what dainty rellish on my tongue

This fruit hath left, some Angell hath me fed,

If so toothfull, I will be banqueted.

eates another.

Har.

Hold.

Enter Harpax in a fearefull shape, fire flashing out of the study.

The.

Not for Caesar.

Har.

But for me thou shalt.

The.

Thou art no Twin to him that

Last was heere.

You powers whom my soule bids me reuerence

Guard me: What art thou?

Har.

I'me thy Master.

The.

Mine.

Har.

And thou my euerlasting slaue; that Harpax,

Who hand in hand hath led thee to thy Hell

Am I.

The.

Auant.

Har.

I will not, cast thou downe

That Basket with the things in't, and fetch vp

What thou hast swallowed, and then take a drinke

Which I shall giue thee, and i'me gon.

The.

My Fruit!

Does this offend thee? see

Har.

Spet it to'th earth,

And tread vpon it, or ile peece-meale teare thee.

The.

Art thou with this affrighted? see, heares more.

Flowers.

Har.

Fling them away, ile take thee else & hang thee

In a contorted Chaine of Isicles

I'th frigid Zone: downe with them.

The.

At the botome,

One thing I found not yet, see.

A crosse of Flowers.

Har.

Oh, I'me tortur'd.

The.

Can this doo't? hence thou Fiend infernall hence.

Har.

Claspe Iupiters Image, and away with that.

The.

At thee ile fling that Iupiter, for me thinkes

[Page]I serue a better Master, he now checkes me

For murthering my two daughters, put on by thee,

By thy damn'd Rhetoricke did I hunt the life

Of Dorothea, the holy Virgin Martyr,

She is not angry with the Axe nor me,

But sends these presents to me, and its [...]

Ore worlde to finde her, and from her white hand

To beg a forgiuenesse.

Har.

No, ile bind thee heere.

The.

I set up a strength aboue thine: this small weapon me thinkes is Armour hard enough.

Har.

Keepe from me.

Sinkes a little.

The.

Art poasting to thy center? down hel-hound, down,

Me hast thou lost; that arme which hurlesthee hence

Saue me, and set me vp the strong defence

In the faire Christians quarrel.

Enter Angele.

Ang.

Exit thy foote there,

Nor be thou shaken with a Caesars voyce,

Though thousand deaths were in it: and I then

Will bring thee to a Riuer that shall wash

Thy bloudy hands cleane, and more white then Snow,

And to that Garden where these blest things grow,

And to that martyr'd Virgin, who hath sent

That heauenly token to thee; Spred this braue wing

And serue then Caesar, a farre greater King.

exit.

The.

It is, it is some Angell, vanish'd againe!

Oh come back rauishing Boy, bright Messenger,

Thou hast (by these mine eyes fixt on thy beauty)

Illumined all my soule, now looke I backe

On my blacke Tyranies, which as they did.

Out dare the bloudiest, thou blest spirit that leades me,

Teach me what I must do, and to doe well,

That my last act, the best may Paralell.

exit.

Enter Dioclesian, Maximinus, Epire, Pontus, Macedon, meeting Artemia, attendants.

Art.

Glory and Conquest still attend vpon

[Page]Triumphant Caesar.

Dio.

Let thy wish faire Daughter

Be equally deuided, and hereafter

Learne thou to know and reuerence Maximinus,

Whose power with mine vnited makes one Caesar.

Max.

But that I feare't would be held flattery,

The bonds consider'd in which we stand tide

As loue, and Empire, I should say till now

I nere had seene a Lady I thought worthy

To be my Mistresse.

Art.

Sir, you shew yourselfe

Both Courtier and Souldier, but take heede,

Take heede my Lord, though my dull pointed beauty

Stain'd by a harsh refusall in my seruant

Cannot dart forth such beames as may inflame you,

You may encounter such a powerfull one,

That with a pleasing heate will thaw your heart

Though bound in ribs of Ice, loue still is loue,

His Bow and Arrowes are the same, great Iulius

That to his successors left the name of Caesar

Whom warre could neuer tame, that with dry eyes

Beheld the large plaines of Pharsalia, couer'd

With the dead Karkasses of Senators

And Citizens of Rome, when the world knew

No other Lord but him, strucke deepe in yeeres to,

And men gray haird forget the lusts of youth:

After all this, meeting faire Cleapatra,

A suppliant to the magicke of her eye,

Euen in his pride of conquest tooke him captiue,

Nor are you more secure.

Max.

Were you deform'd

(But by the gods you are most excellent)

Your grauity and diseretion would o'recome me,

And I should be more proud in being a Prisoner

To your faire vertues, then of all the Honours,

VVealth, Title, Empire, that my sword hath purchac'd

Dio.

This meetes my wishes, welcome it Artemia

VVith out-stretch'd armes, and study to forget

[Page]That Antoninus euer was thy fate

Reseru'd thee for this better choise, embrace it.

Ep.

This happy match brings new nerues to giue strength

To our continued league.

Mace.

Hymen himselfe

Will blesse this marriage which we will solemnize

In the presence of these Kings.

Pon.

Who rest most happy

To be eye-witnesses of a Match that brings

Peace to the Empire.

Diocles.

We much thanke your loues,

But wher's Sapritius our Gouernour,

And our most zealous prouost good Theophilus?

If euer Prince were blest in a true seruant,

Or could the gods be debtors to a man,

Both they and we stand far ingag'd to cherish

His pietic and seruice.

Artem.

Sir the Gouernour

Brookes sadly his sonnes losse although he turnd

Apostata in death, but bold Theophilus

Who for the same cause in my presence seald

His holy anger on his daughters hearts.

Hauing with tortutes first tride to conuert her,

Drag'd the bewitching Christian to the scaffold,

And saw her loose her head.

Dio.

He is all worthy,

And from his owne mouth I would gladly heare

The manner how she sufferd.

Arte.

'Twill be deliuerd

With such contempt and scorne, I know his nature

That rather twill beget your highnesse laughter

Then the least pittie.

Enter Theophilus, Sapritius, Macrinus.

Dio.

To that end I would heare it.

Arte.

He comes, with him the Gouernour.

Dio.

O Sapritius,

I am to chide you for your tendernesse,

But yet remembring that you are a father,

I will forget it, good Theophilus

He speake with you anone: neerer your care, to Sapritius.

Theo.

[Page]

By Antoninus soule I do coniure you,

And though not for religion, for his friendship,

Without demanding whats the cause that moues me,

Receiue my signet, by the power of this

Go to my prisons, and release all Christian

That are in fetters there by my command.

Mac.

But what shall follow?

Theo.

Haste then to the port,

You there shall finde two tall ships ready rig'd,

In which embarke the poore distressed soules

And beare them from the reach of tyranny,

Enquire not whither you are bound, the dietic

That they adore will giue you prosperous winds,

And make your voyage such, and largely pay for

Your hazard, and your trauaile: leaue me here

There is a scene that I must act alone.

Haste good Macrinus, and the great God guide you.

Mac.

Ile vndertake't, theres some thing prompts me to it

Tis to saue innocent blood, a Saintlike act,

And to be mercifull has neuer beene

By mortall men themselues esteemd a sin.

exit Mac.

Dioc.

You know your charge.

Sap.

And will with care obserue it.

Dio.

For I professe he is not Casars friend

That sheds a teare for any torture that

A Christians suffers. Welcome my best seruant

My carefull, zealous Prouost, thou hast toyld

To satisfie my will though in extreames,

I loue thee for't, thou art firme rocke, no changeling:

Prethee deliuer, and for my sake do it

Without excesse of bitternesse or seosses

Before my brother and these kings, how tooke

The Christian her death.

Theo.

And such a presence

Though euery priuate head in this large roome

Were circl'd round with an imperiall crowne,

Her story will deserue, it is so full

Of excellency and wonder.

Diocle.

[Page]

Ha! how's this?

Theo.

O marke it therefore, and with that attention,

As you would here an Embassie from heauen

By a wing'd Legate, for the truth deliuerd,

Both how and what this blessed virgin sufferd:

And Dorothea but hereafter nam'd,

You will rise vp with reuerence, and no more

As things vn worthy of your thoughts, remember

What the canoniz'd Spartan Ladies were

Which lying Greece so bosts of, your owne matrons

Your Romane dames whose figures you yet keepe

As holy relickes in her historic

Will find a second vrne. Gracohus, Cornelia,

Paulina that in death desirde to follow

Her husband Seneca, nor Brutus Portia

That swallowd burning coles to ouertake him,

Though all their seuerall worths were giuen to one

With this is to be mention'd.

Maximinus.

Is he mad?

Diocl.

Why they did die Theophilus, and boldly.

This did no more.

Theo.

They out of desperation

Are for vaine glory of an aftername

Parted with life. This had not mutinous sonnes

As the rash Gracchi were, nor was this Saint

A doting mother as Cornelia was:

This lost no husband in whose ouerthrow

Her wealth and hononr suncke, no feare of want

Did make her being redious, but aiming

At an immortall crowne, and in his cause

Who onely can bestow it; who sent downe

Legions of ministring Angels to beare vp

Her spotlesse soule to heauen; who entertaind it

With choyce celestiall musicke, equall to

To the motion of the spheres, she vncompeld

Chang'd this life for a better. My Lord Sapritius

You were present at her death, did you ere here

Such rauishing sounds?

Sap.

[Page]

Yet you sayd then it was witchcraft,

And diuellish illusions.

Theo.

I then hard it

With sinfull cares, and belch'd out blasphemous words

Against his dietie, which then I knew not,

Nor did beleeue in him.

Diocl.

Why dost thou now? or dar'st thou in our hearing?

Theoph.

Were my voyce

As lowd as is his thunder, to be heard

Through al the world, all potentates on earth

Ready to burst with rage should they but heare it,

Though hell to ayde their mallice lent her furies

Yet I would speake, and speake againe, and boldly,

I am a Christian, and the powers you worship

But dreames of fooles and madmen.

Maximums.

Lay hands on him.

Dio.

Thou twice a child (for doting age so makes thee)

Thou could it not else thy pilgrimage of life,

Being almost past through in the last moment,

Destroy what ere thou hast done good or great,

Thy youth did promise much, and growne a man

Thou madest it good, and with encrease of yeares

Thy actions still betterd as the Sunne

Thou did rise gloriously, kepst a constant course

In all thy iourney, and now in the cuening

When thou shouldst passe with honour to thy rest,

Wilt thou fall like a Metcor?

Sapritius.

Yet confesse

That thou art mad, and that thy tong and heart

Had no agreement.

Max.

Doe, no way is left else

To saue thy life Theophilus.

Diocl.

But refule it

Destruction as horrid and as sodaine

Shall fall vpon thee, as if hell stood open

And thou wert sinking thither.

Theoph.

Here me yet

Here for my seruice past.

Artem.

[Page]

What will he say?

Theo.

At cuer I deseru'd your fauour here me,

And grant one boone, tis not for life I sue for,

Nor is it fit that I that nere knew pitty

To any Christian, being one my selfe

Should looke for any: no, I rather beg

The vtmost of your cruelty; I stand

Accomptable for thousand Christians deaths,

And were it possible that I could die

A day for euery one, then liue againe

To be againe tormented, t were to me

An cafie pennance, and I should passe through

A gentle clensing fire, but that denyde me,

It being beyond the strength of feeble nature,

My sute is you would haue no pitty on me.

In mine owne house there are a thousand engine

Of studied crueltie, which I did prepare

For miserable Christians, let me seele

As the Sicilian did his brazen bull,

The horridst you can find, and I will say

In death that you are mercifull.

Dtoc.

Despaire not

In this thou shalt preuaile, go fetch 'em hither,

some go for the racks.

Death shall put on a thousand shapes at once

And so appeare before thee, racks, and whips,

Thy flesh with burning pinsorstorne, shall feed

The fire that heates them, and whats wanting to

The torture of thy body, Ile supply

In punishing thy mind: fetch all the Christians

That are in hold, and here before his face

Cut'cm in peeces.

Theo.

Tis not in thy power,

It was the first good deed I euer did,

They are remou'd out of thy raceh, how ere

I was determin'd for my sinnes to die,

I first tooke order for their liberty,

And still I dare thy worst.

Diocle.

Dind him I say,

[Page]Make euery artery and sinew crack,

The slaue that makes him giue the lowdest shrike

Shall haue ten thousand Drachmes, wretch ile force thee

To curse the power thou worship'st.

The.

Neuer, neuer,

No breath of mine shall euer be spent on him,

They torment him.

But what shall speake his Maiesty or mercy:

I am honour'd in my suffrings, weake tormentors

More tortures, more: alas you are vnskilfull,

For Heauens sake more; my brest is yet vntorne:

Heere purchase the reward that was propounded,

The Irons coole, heere are armes yet and thighes,

Spare no part of me.

Max.

He endures beyond

The suffrance of a man.

Sap.

No sigh nor grone

To witnesse he has feeling.

Dio.

Harder Villaines.

Enter Harpax.

Har.

Vnlesse that he blaspheme hee's lost for euer,

Iftorments cuer could bring forth despaire,

Let these compell him to it. oh me

My ancient enemies againe,

falls downe.

Enter Dcrothea in a white robe, crownes vpon her robe, a Crowne vpon her head, lead in by the Angell. Antoninus, Caliste and Christeta following all in white, but lesse glorious, the Angell with a Crowne for him.

The.

Most glorious vision,

Did ere so hard a bed yeeld man a dreame

So heauenly as this? I am confirm'd,

Confirm'd you blessed spirits, and make hast

To take that crowne of immortality

You offer to me; death till this blest minute

I neuer thought thee slow pac'd, nor could I

Hasten thee now for any paine I suffer,

But that thou kepst me from a glorious wreath

Which through this stormy way I would creepe to,

[Page]And humbly kneeling with humility weare it.

Oh now I feele thee, blessed spirits I come

And witnesse for me, all these wounds and scarres,

I die a souldier in the Christian warres.

dies.

Sap.

I haue seene thousands tortur'd, but nere yet

A constancy like this.

Harpax.

I am twise damn'd.

Aug.

Haste to thy place appointed cursed fiend,

In spite of hell this souldier's not thy prey,

Tis I haue wonne, thou that hast lost the day.

exit Angele the diuell sinkes with lightning.

Die.

I thinke the centre of the earth be cracks,

Yet I still stand vnmou'd, and will go on,

The persecution that is here begun,

Through all the world with violence shall run.

flourish exeunt:

FINIS.

[Page]

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