SULLA

These Arms Sulpitius are not born for hate, But maintenance of my confirmed state: I come to Room with no seditious thoughts, Except I find too froward injuries. To Marius? Jolly stuff: why then I see, Your Lordship's mean to make a babe of me. Beseem not me? Senators advise you, Scylla hath vowed whose vows the heavens record, Whose oaths hath pierced and searched the deepest vast, I and whose protestations reign on earth: This Capitol wherein your glories shine, Was never so pressed and throng de with scarlet gowns, As Room shall be with heaps of slaughtered souls Before that Scylla yield his titles up, I'll mate his streets that peer into the clouds, Burnished with gold and Ivory pillars fair, Shining with Jasper, Jet, and Ebony, All Like the palace of the morning sun, To swim within a sea of purple blood Before I lose the name of General. Graybeard, if so thy heart and tongue agree, Draw forth thy Legions and thy men at arms, Rear up thy standard and thy steeled Crest, And meet with Scylla in the fields of Mars, And try whose fortune makes him General. And all that love Scylla come down to him, For the rest let them follow Marius And the Devil himself be their Captain. Thanks my Noble Lords of Room. Anthony, thou knowest thy honey words do pierce, And move the mind of Scylla to remorse: Yet neither words nor pleadings now must serve, When as mine honour calls me forth to fight, Therefore sweet Anthony be short for Scillas hast. Enough my Anthony, for thy honeyed tongue Washed in a syrup of sweet Conservatives, Driveth confused thoughts through scillas mind, Therefore suffice thee, I may nor will not hear, so farewell Anthony, honour calls me hence, Scylla will fight for glory and for Room. Why whither fly you Romans, What mischief makes this flight? Stay good my friends, stay dearest Countrymen. What will you leave your chieftains Romans the And lose your Honours in the gates of Room? What shall our Country see, and Scylla rue, These Coward thoughts so fixed and firmd in you? What are you come from Capva to proclaim, Your harties treasons in this happy town? What with l you stand and gaze with shameless looks, While Marius butchering knife assails our through S? Are you the men, the Hope's, the stairs of state? Are you the soldiers pressed for Asia? Are you the wondered Legions of the world, And will you fly these shadows of resist? Well Romans I will perish through your pride, That thought by you to have returned in pomp. And at the least your General shall prove, Even in his death your treasons and his love. Lo this the wreathe that shall my body bind, While Scylla sleeps with honour in the field: And I alone within these cullors shut, Will blush your dastard follies in my death, So farewell hartles soldiers and untrue, That leave your Scylla who hath loved you. Exit. Both blunt and bold but too much Mother wit; To play with fire where urie streams about, Curtal your tale found man cut of the rest: But here I will dissemble for the best. You saw in Room this brawling encer die, When Spectacus by Crassus was subdued: Why so, but sir I hope you will apply, And say Like Spectacus that I shall die? Thus peevish eld discoursing by a fire, Amid their cups will prate how men aspire: Is this the greeting Romans that you give, Unto the Patron of your Monarchy? Lucretius shall I play a pretty jest. A brief and pleasing answer by my head, Why tell me Granius dost thou talk in sport? The bravest brawler that I ever herd, But soldiers since I see he is oppressed With crooked choler, and our Artists teach, That fretting blood will press through opened veins, Let him that hath the keenest sword arrest, The graybeard and cut off his head in jest. Soldiers lay hands on Granius. No but the means to make found men more wise, Tut I have wit, and carry warlike tools, To charm the scolding prate of wanton ooles, Tell me of Fencers and a tale of Fate? No, Scylla thinks of nothing but a state. I pray thee then Lucretius let him die. Beshrew me Lords but in this jolly vame, It pity but the prating fool were slain: I fear me Pluto will be wrath with me, For to detain so graven a man as he. Thou honey talking father speak thy mind. Pompey I know thy love, I mark thy words, And Anthony thou hast a pleasing vain, But senators I hammer in my head, With every thought of honour some revenge: Speak what shall Scylla be your General? And wish you Scillas weal and honour too Then take away the scandal of this state, Banish the name of Tribune out of town, Proclaim false Marius and his other friends. Foe men and traitors to the state of Room, And I will weened and work so much by force, As I will master false Mithridates, So shall not Lepidus if he withstand me. Sirrah you see the head of Granius, Watch you his hap unless you change your words, Pompey now please me Pompey grant my suit. Then Lepidus all friends in faith for me, So leave I Room to Pompey and my friends, Resolved to manage those our Asian wars, Frolic brave Soldiers we must oote it now, Lucretius you shall bide the b unt me, Pompey farewell, and farewell Lepidum . Mark Anthony I leave thee to thy books, study for Room and scillas Royalty. But by my sword I wrong this graybeards head, Go sirrah place it on the Capitol: Aiust promotion fit for scillas foe. Lordings farewell, come soldiers let us go. Exit. And may it be? why man and wilt thou doubt, Where Scylla deigns these dangers to aver e? Sirrah except not so, misdoubt not so, See here Ancharius letters read the lines, And say Lucretius that I favour thee, That darest but suspect thy General, Tut my Lucretius, Fortune's ball is tossed, To form the story of my fatal pour: Room shall repent, babe, mother, shall repent, Air weeping cloudy sorrows shall repent, wind breathing many sighings shall repent To see those storms concealed in my breast, Reflect the hideous flames of their unrest: But words are vain, and cannot quell our wrongs, Brief periods serve for them that needs must postit. Lucullus since occasion calls me hence, And all our Roman senate think it meet, That thou pursue the wars I have begun, As by their letters I am certified, I leave thee Fimbrias Legions to conduct, with this proviso, that in ruling still, You think on Scylla and his courtesies. If he be Scillas friend, else not at all: For otherwise the man were ill bested, That gaining glories straight should loose his head. But soldiers since I needly must to Room, Basillus virtues shall have recompense. Lo here the wreathe Valerius for thy pains, Who first didst enter Archilous trench: This pledge of virtue sirrah shall approve, Thy virtues, and confirm me in thy love. I Like no iffs from such a simple groom, I will be happy in despite of state, And why? because I never feared fate. But come Arcathius for your father's sake, Enjoin your fellow Princes to their tasks, And help to succour these my weary bones. Tut blush not man, a greater state than thou, Shall pleasure Scylla in more baser sort. Aristion is a jolly timberd man, Fit to conduct the chariot of a King. Why be not squeamish, for it shall go hard, But I will give you all a great reward. Arcathius these are Fortune's of the field. Believe me these brave Captyues draw by art, And I will think upon their good desert. But stay you strangers, and respect my words, Found hartles men, what folly have I seen: For fear of death can Princes entertain Such bastard thoughts, that now from glorious arms Vouchsafe to draw Like oxen in a plough. Arcathius I am sure Mithridates Will hardly brook the scandal of his name: It better in Picaeo to have died Aristion, than amid our legions thus to draw. In such imperfect metals as is yours. But Romans that are still allured by fame, Choose rather death than blemish of their name, But I have would to, and therefore will reward you. Go soldiers, with as quick dispatch as may be, Hasten their death, and bring them to their end, And say in this that Scylla is your friend. Fie foolish men, why fly you happiness, Desire you still to led a servile life. Dare you not buy delights with little pains. Well, for thy father's sake Arcathius, I will prefer thy triumphs with the rest. Go take them hence, and when we meet in hell, Then tell me Princes if I did not well. Lucullus, thus these mighty foes are down, Now strive thou for the king of Pontus crown. I will to Room, go thou, and with thy train, Pursue Mithridates till he be slain. Now Romans after all these mutinies, Seditions, murders, and conspiracies, Imagine with unpartial hearts at last What fruits proceed from these contentious brawls Your streets, where erst the father's of your state In robes of purple walked up and down, Are strewed with mangled members, streaming blood. And why? the reasons of this ruthful wrack, Are your seditious innovations, Your fickle minds inclined to foolish change. Ungrateful men, while I with tedious pain In Asia sealed my duty with my blood, Making the fierce Dardanians faint for fear, Spreading my colours in Galatia, Dipping my sword in the Enetans blood, And foraging the fields of Phocida. You called my foe from exile with his friends, You did proclaim me traitor here in Room, You racde my house, you did deface my friends, But brawling wolves, you cannot bite the moon, For Scylla lives so forward to revenge, As woe to those that sought to do me wrong. I now am entered Room in spite of force, And will so hamper all my cursed foes, As be he Tribune, Consul, Lord or Knight That hates Scylla, let him look to die. And first to make and entrance to mine ire, Bring me that traitor Carbo out of hand. Pompey, I love thee Pompey, and consent To thy request, but Romans have regard, Least overreaching in offence again, I load your shoulders with a double pain. But Pompey see where jolly Carbo comes ooting it featly, Like a mighty man, What no sirrah to your Lord? My Lord? No Scylla, he that thrice hath born The am of Consul scorns to stoop to him, Whose heart does hammer nought but mutinies. Thine equal villain, no he is my friend, Thou but a poor anatomy of bones, Cased in a knavish tawny withered skin: Wilt thou not stoop? art thou so stately then? o sir, I know for all your warlike pith, A man may ma e your worship with a with. You sirrah levied arms to do me wrong: You brought your legions to the gates of Room: You fought it out in hope that I would faint. But sirrah now betake you to your books, Entreat the God to save your sinful soul. For why this carcase must in my behalf Go feast the ravens that serve our augurs turn. Me thinks I see already how they wish, To bait their beaks in such a jolly dish. The man hath hast good soldiers take him hence, It would be good to altar his pretence. But be advised, that when the fool is slain, You partly the head and body both in twain. I know that Carbo longs to know the cause, And shall: thy body for the ravens, thy head for daw . Gay words Narbonus, full of eloquence, Accompanied with Actium and conceit. But I must teach thee judgement therewithal. Darest thou approach my presence that hast born Thine arms inspight of Scylla and his friends? I tell thee foolish man thy judgement wanted In this presumptuous purpose that is passed: And loitering scholar, since you fail in art, I'll learn you judgement shortly to your smart . Dispatch him soldiers, I must see him die. And you Carinna, Carbos ancient friend, Shall follow straight your heedless General. And Scipio were it not I loud thee well. Thou shouldst accompany these slaves to hell: But get you gone, and if you love your self, Exit Scipio, Sirrah, this gentle name was coined too late, And shadowed in the shrowds of biting hate. Dispatch: why so, good fortune to my friends, As for my foes, even such shall be their ends. Convey them hence Metellus, gentle Metellus, Fetch me Sertorius from Iberia, In doing so, thou standest me in stead, For soar I long to see the traitors head. Now Pompey let me see, those Senators Are dangerous stops of our pretended state, And must be curtald least they grow too proud, I do proscribe joust forty Senators, Which shall be leaders in my tragedy. And for our Gentlemen are over proud, Of them a thousand and six hundredth die, A goodly army meet to conquer hell. Soldiers perform the course of my decree, Their friends my foes, their foes shall be my friends, Go fell their goods by trumpet at your wills, Mean while Pompey shall see and Room shall rue, The Misery's that shortly shall ensue. Nay Flaccus, for their profits they must yield, For men of mean condition and conceit Must humble their opinions to their lords, And if my friends and Citizens consent Since I am born to manage mighty things, I will (though loath) both rule and govern them. I speak not this as though I wish to reign, But for to know my friends: and yet again I merit Romans are more grace than this. My Fortune's Flaccus cannot be impeached, For at my birth the planets passing kind Could entertain no retrograde aspects. And that I may with kindness quite their love, My countrymen I will prevent the cause, Gainst all the false encounters of mishap. You name me your Dictator, but prefix No time, no course, but give me leave to rule, And yet exempt me not from your revenge: Thus by your pleasures being aloft, Straight by your furies I should quickly fallen. No Citizens, who readeth Scillas mind, Must form my titles in another kind. Either let Scylla be Dictator ever, Or flatter Scylla with these titles never. Then so shall Scylla reign you Senators, Then so shall Scylla rule you Citizens: As Senators and Citizens that please me Shall be my friends, the rest cannot disease me But see whereas Lucretius is returned. Welcome brave Roman where is Marius? Are these Prenestians put unto the sword. What constancy and but a very boy, Why then I see he was his father's son, But let us have this constancy describe. What did the bransicke boy upbraid me so? But let us hear the rest Lucretius. Now by my sword this was a worthy jest, Yet silly boy I needs must pity thee, Whose noble mind could never mated be, Believe me countrymen a sudden thought, A sudden change in Scylla now hath wrought. Old Marius and his son were men of name, Nor Fortune's laughs, nor lowers their minds could tame, And when I count their Fortune's that are passed, I see that death confirmde their fame's at last. Then he that strives to manage mighty things, Amid his triumphs gains a troubled mind. The greatest hope the greater harm it brings: And poor men in content their glory find. If then content be such a pleasant thing, Why leave I country life to live a king? Yet Kings are Gods and make the proudest stoop, Ye but themselves are still pursued with would And men were made to mount and then to droop, Such chances wait upon incertain fate, That where she kisses once she quelleth twice, Then who so lives content is happy wise. What motion moves this Philosophy? O Scylla see the Ocean ebbs and floats. The springtime wanes when winter draws nigh. I, these are true and most assured notes. Inconstant chance such tickle turns hath le to. As who so fears no fallen, must seek content. what seeks my countrymen? what would my Friends? And what of this my friend, why seek you me, Who have resigned my titles and my state To live a private life as you do now? Go move the Consul Flaccus in this cause, Who now hath power to execute the laws. My powers do cease, my titles are resigned, With what impatience h are I these upbraids That whilom plagued the least offence with death. O Scylla these are stales of destiny, By some upbraids to try thy constancy. My friends these scorns of yours perhaps will move, The next Dictator shun to yield his state, For fear he find as much as Scylla does. But Flaccus, to prevent their further wrong, Vouchsafe some Lictor may attach the man, And do them right that thus complain abuse. Grave Senators and Romans, now you see The humble bent of Scillas changed mind. Now will I leave you Lords, from courtly train To dwell content amid my country cave, Where no ambitious humours shall approach The quiet silence of my happy sleep. Where no delicious Iouisance or toys, Shall tickle with delight my tempered ears, But wearying out the lingering day with toil, Tiring my veins and furrowing of my soul. The silent night with slumber stealing on Shall lock these careful closets of mine eyes. O had I known the height of happiness, Or bent mine eyes upon my mother earth: Long since Oh Room had Scylla with rejoice Forsaken arms to lead a private life. Oh Flaccus, if th'Arabian Phoenix strive By nature's warning to renew her kind, When soaring nigh the glorious eye of heaven, She from her cinders does revive her sex. Why should not Scylla learn by her to die? That carest have been the Phoenix of this land. And drawing near the sunshine of content, Perish obscure to make your glories grow. For as the higher trees do shield the shrubs, From posting Phlegons warmth and breathing fire, So mighty men obscure each others fame, And make the best deservers Fortune's game. But ah what sudden fu es do affright? What apparitious fantasies are these? O let me rest sweet Lords, for why me thinks, Some fatal spells are sounded in mine ears. Ergóne post dulces annos properantia fata? Ergóne jam tenebrae pramia lucis erunt? Attamen, ut vitae fortunam gloriam mortis Vincat, in extremo funere cantet olor. Pompey the man that made the world to stoop, And ettered fortune in the chains of pour, Must droop and draw the Chariot of Fate Along the darksome banks of Acheron. The heavens have warned me of my present fallen. O call Cornelia forth, let Scylla see His daughter Fulvia ere his eyes be shut. My Flaccus, worldly joys and pleasures fade, In constant time Like to the fleeting tide With endless course men Hope's does overbear? Nought now remains that Scylla feign would have, But lasting fame when body lies in graven. Ah my Cornelia passing happy now. Free from the world, allied unto the heavens, Not curious of incertain chances now. Marius, I smile at these thy foolish words, And credit me should laugh outright I fear, If that I knew not how thy froward age, Does make thy sense as feeble as thy joints. The more the Cedar climes the sooner down And did I think the proudest man in Room, Would winch at that which I have wrought or done, I would and can control his insolence. Why senators, is this the true reward, Wherewith you answer Princes for their pain, As when this sword hath made our City free, A braving mate should thus distemper me? But Lepidus and fellow senators, I am resolved and will not brook your taunts, Who wrongeth Scylla, let him look for stripes. I that have passed amid the mighty troops Of armed legions through a world of war, Do now bethink me Flaccus on my chance, How I alone where many men were slain, In spite of Fate am come to Room again, And oh I wield the reuer end stile of state, Yea, Scylla with a beck could break thy neck, What Lo of Room hath worser r e as much as I? Yet Flaccus kn wst thou not that I must die? The labouring sisters on the weary Loombs, Have drawn my web of life at length, I know: And men of wit must think upon their tombs. For beasts wit careless steps to : Where men whose thoughts and honours, climb on High, Living with fame, must learn, with fame to die. But Pompey now these reaching plumes of pride, That mounted up my Fortune's to the Clouds, By graven conceits shall straight be laid aside, And Scylla thinks of far more simple shrowds. For having tried occasion in the throne, I'll see if she dare frown when state is gone. Lo senators, the man that sat aloft, Now deigns to give inferiors highest place. Lo here the man whom Room repined oft, A private man, content to brook disgrace, Romans, lo here the axes, rods and all, I'll master fortune, least she make me thrall. Now who so list accuse me, tell my wrongs, Upbraid me in the presence of this state. Is none these olly Citizens among, That will accuse or say I am ingrate. Then will I say and boldly boast my chances, That nought may force the man whom Fate advances. Consul I mean with calm and quiet mind, To pass my days while happy death I find. Both it and life must Scylla leave in time. Oh wanton world that flatterst in thy prime, And breathest balm and poison mixed in one. See owe these wavering Romans wished my reign, That why lom sought and sought to have me slain, My Countrymen this City wants no store Of Father's warriors to supply my room, So grant me peace and I will die for Room. Cornelia, man hath power by some instinct And gracious revolution of the stars, To conquer kingdoms not to master fate: For when the course of mortal life is run, Then Clotho ends the web his sister spun. Pompey, Lord Flaccus, fellow senators, In that I feel the faintful dews of death steeping mine eyes within their chilly wet, The care I have of wife and daughter both, Must on your wisdoms happily Ely, With equal distribution see you partly, My lands and goods betwixt these lovely twain, Only bestow a hundred thousand Sesterces, Upon my friends and fellow soldiers. Thus having made my final testament, Come Fulvia let thy father lay his hand, Upon thy lovely bosom and entreat A virtuous boon and favour at thy hands. Fair Roman maid, see that thou wed thy fairs, To modest virtuous and delightful thoughts: Let Room in viewing thee behold thy sire, Honour Cornelia from whose fruitful woombe, Thy plenteous beauty's sweetly did appear, And with this Lesson lovely maid farewell. Content thee Fulvia, for it needs must be. Cornelia I must leave thee to the world, And by those loves that I have lent thee oh , In mutual wedlock rites and happy war. Remember Scylla in my Fulvia still: Consul farewell, my Pompey I must hence, And farewell Room, and Fortune now I bless thee, That both in life and death wouldst not oppress me, die. You Roman soldiers, fellow mates in Arms, The blind fold Mistress of incertain chance, Hath turned these traitorous c mers from the top, And seated Scylla in the chiefest place. The place beseeming Scylla and his mind, For were the throne where matchless glory sits, Empald with furies threatening blood and death, Begirt with famine and those fatal fears That dwell below amid the dreadful vast: Tut Scillas sparkling eyes should dim with clear The burning brands of their consuming light, And master fancy with a forward mind, And mask repining fear with awful power. For men of baser mettle and conceit Cannot conceive the beauty of my thought. I crowned with a wreathe of warlike state, Imagine thoughts more greater than a crown, And yet befitting well a Roman mind. Then gentle ministers of all my Hope's, That with your swords made way unto my wish, Harken the fruits of your courageous fight, In spite of all these Roman Basi sks, That seek to quell us with their currish looks, We will to Pontus weel have gold my hearts, Those oriental pearls shall deck our brows: And you my gentle rends, you Roman peers, Kind Pompey worthy of a Consuls name. You shall abide the father of the state, While these brave lads Lucretius and I, In spite of all these brawling Senators, Will, shall, and dare attempt on Asia, And driven Mithridates from out his doors. You men of Room, my fellow mates in Arms, Whose three years prowess, policy, and war, One hundredth three score thousand men at Arms Hath overthrown and murdered in the field: Whose valours to the Empire hath restored, All Greciam, Asia, and Ionia. With Macedoniam subject to our foe: You see the froward customs of our state, Who measuring not our many toils abroad, Fit in their Cells imagining our harms, Replenishing our Roman friends with fear. Yea, Scylla worthy friends, whose Fortune's, toils, And stratagems these strangers may report, Is by false Cynna and his factious friends. Reviled, condemnde, and crossed without a cause. You (Romans) Marius must return to Room, Of purpose to upbraid your General. But this und unted mind that never drooped: This forward body formed to suffer toil, Shall hast to Room where every foe shall rue, The rash disgrace both of my self and you: what serious matters have these Lords in hand? Marius shall led them then, if Scylla said not no, And I shall bea Consuls shadow then, Trustles Senators and ingrateful Romans, For all the Honours I have done to Room, For all the spoils I brought within her walls, Thereby for to enrich and raise her pride, Repay you me with this ingratitude: You know unkind, that Scillas wounded Helm, Was never hung up or once distained with rust: The Marcians that before me fell amain, And Like to winter hail on every side, Unto the City Nuba I pursued, And for your sakes were thirty thousand slain: The Hippinians and the Samnits Scylla brought, As Tributaries unto famous Room: I, where did Scylla ever draw his sword, Or lift his warlike hand above his head For Romans cause but he was Conqueror: And now (unthankful) seek you to disgrade, And tear the plumes that scillas sword hath won. Marius I tell thee Scylla is the man, Disdains to stoop or veil his pride to thee; Marius I say thou mayest nor shalt not have, The charge that unto Scylla does belong, Unless thy sword could tear it from my heart, Which in a thousand folds impalls the same. And by my hand I swear ere thou shalt maze me so, My soul shall perish but I'll have thy beard, Say graven Senators shall Scylla be your General. But Pompey, if our Spanish Jennets feet Have learned to post it of their mother wind, I hope to nip upon the grey beards heals, Till I have cropped his shoulders from his head. As for his son, the proud aspiring boy, His beardless face and wanton smiling brows, Shall (if I catch him) deck yond Capitol: The father, son, the friends, and soldiers all, That awn on Marius, shall with fury fallen. This: Scylla in fortune will exceed a king. But friends and soldiers, with dispersed bans Go seek out Marius found confederates: some post along those unfrequented paths, That tracked by nooks unto the neighbouring sea: Murder me Marius, and maintain my life. And that his favorites in Room may learn The difference betwixt my fawn and frown, Go cut them short, & shed their hateful blood, Ex. Soul. To quench these furies of my froward mood. sirrah, your words are good, your thoughts are ill, Each milk white hair amid this mincing beard, Compared with millions of thy treacherous thoughts, Would change their hiew through vigor of thy hate. But did not pity make my fury thrall, This sword should finish hate, thy life and all. I pre thee Granius, how does Marius? What lets me Pompey? why my courteous friend, Can he remain secure that wields a charge? Or think of wit when lattrers do commend? Or be advised that careless runs at large? oh Pompey, honey words makes foolish minds, And po re the greatest wit with error blinds. I murdered Ant oh e thy friend, Romans: some here have lost at my command Their Father's, Mother's, Brother's, and Allies, And think you Scylla thinking these misdeeds, Be thinks not on your grudges and mislike? Yes Countrymen I bear them still in mind. Then Pompey were I not a silly man, To leave my Rule and trust these Roman than? Then bend that withered bough that will not break And soldiers cast him down before my feet: They throw him down. Now prating sir, my foot upon thy neck, He be so bold to give your Lordship check. Believe me soldiers, but I overreach, Old Carbos neck at first was made to stretch. I that perhaps was fitly placed there: But my Lucretius, these are cunning Lords, Whose tongues are tipped with honey to deceive: As for their hearts, if outward eyes may see them, The devil scarce with mischief might agree them. And why not General against the king of Pontus? Tut the proud men prayer will never pierce the sky. But whither press these mincing Senators?