ANTONIUS

Great are thy Fortune's Nero, great thy power Thy Empire limited with nature's bounds; Upon thy ground, the Sun does set, and rise; The day, and night are thine: Nor can the Planets, wander where they will: See that proud Earth, that fears not Caesars name, Yet nothing of all this, I envy thee; But her, to whom the world, unforced, obeys, Whose eyes more worth then all it looks upon: In whom, all beauties Nature hath enclosed, That through the wide Earth, or Heaven are disposed Yet not so much her greatness, and estate My Hope's dishearten, as her chastity. Seek not to grieve that heart which is thine own, In Loves sweet fires, let heat of rage burn out; These brows could never yet to wrinkle learn, Nor anger out of such fair eyes look forth. Your Nobleness does warrant me from that, Nor needs you others help, to punish me, Who, by your forehead am condemned, or free. They, that to be revenge do bend their mind, Seek always recompense, in that same kind The wrong was done them; Love was mine offence, In that revenge, in that seek recompense. Homely I faith. Great Queen, whom nature made to be her glory: Fortune God eyes, and came to be thy servant, Honour is proud to be thy title; Though Thy beauty's do draw up my soul; yet still, So bright, so glorious is thy Majesty, That it beats down again my climbing thoughts. How sausely you fellow. Enters the Empress chamber. What? knows the only favourite of the Court? Indeed, not many days ago thou mightest, Have not unlawfully asked that question. That have I sought in him, But never piece of good desert could find: He is Nimphidias son, the freed woman, Which baseness to shake off, he nothing hath But his own pride I do, and did enterpret it in them And honourable favour, she bore virtue, Or parts Like virtue. Oh do not see thy fair in that false glass Of outward difference; Look into my heart, There, shalt thou see thy self, Inthroned set In greater Majesty, then all the pomp Of Room, or Nero; 'Tis not the crouching awe, And Ceremony, with which we flatter Princes, That can to Loves true duties be compared. This comfort yet; He shall not so escape, Who causeth my disgrace, Nimphidius Whom had I here.—Well, For my true-hearts love I see she hates me; And shall I love one That hates me; and bestows what I deserve Upon my rival? no, Farewell Poppea, Farewell Poppea, and farewell all Love; Yet thus much shall it still prevail in me, That I will hate Nimphidius for thee: What shame is't to be mastered by such beauty? Who, but to serve you, comes, how wants he duty? Or if it be a shame, the shame is yours; The fault is only in your Eyes, they drew me; Cause you were lovely, therefore did I love: Oh, if to Love you, anger you so much, You should not have such cheeks, nor lips to touch, You should not have your snow, nor currall spied; If you but look on us, in vain you chide, We must not see your Face, nor hear your speech: Now, while you Love forbid, you Love do teach. Oh unhappy Man, What comfort have I now Petronius? Sure this message of the Princes, So grievous and unlooked for, will appall Petronius much. It will; but him so much the more, That having lived to his pleasure; shall forgo So delicate a life, I do not marvel That Seneoa, and such sour fellows, can Leave that they never tasted: But when we That have the Nectar of thy kisses felt, That drinks away the troubles of this life, And but one banquet make of forty years, Must come to leave this: but soft, here he is. What, be not ravished with thy fancies, do not Court nothing nor make love unto our fears. But empty words. Nay; I had rather far believe thee here, Others ambition such discoveries seek; Faith, I am satisfied with the base delights Of common men; A wench, a house I have, And of my own a garden, I'll not change, For all your walks, and Ladies, and rare fruits. Thrust with reports, and rumours from his seat. My Lord you know the Camp depends on you As you determine. I think so great a gift was never herd of. Galba they say is frugally inclined, Will he avow so great a gift as this? The fire increases, and will not be stayed, But Like a stream that tumbling from a hill, Orewhelmes the fields, orewhelmes the hopeful toil Oth' husbandman, and headlong bears the woods; The unweeting Shepherd on a Rock a far, Amazed, hears the fearful noise; so here, Danger and Terror strive, which shall exceed, Some cry, and yet are well, some are killed silent, Some kindly run to help their neighbours house, The whilst their own's a fire: some save their goods, And leave their dearer pledges in the flame; One takes his little sons with trembling hands, Tother his house-Gods saves, which could not him, All ban the door, and with wishes kill Their absent murderer. Faith it's true, we must at length, But yet Petroneus, while we may, awhile We would enoioy them, those we have, w'are sure of, When that you talk of is doubtful, and to come. Yonders Nimphidius our Commander, now, I with respect must speak, and smooth my brow; Captain all ail. This Anarchy my Lord, I Nero dead? Hath Nero then resigned the Empire? My Lord you tell strange news to me, So you be thanked, it skills not who prevail, Galba, or Nero, traitor to them both; You give it out that Nero;s fled to Egypt, Who with the frights of your repotts amazed, By our device, does lurk for better news, While you inevitably do betray him, Works he all this for Galba then? not so I have long seen his climbing to the Empire By secret practises of gracious women, And other instruments of the late Court, That was his love to het that me refused; And now by this he would give the soldiers favour; Now is the time to quit Poppaeas scorn, And his rivallity; I'll straight reveal His treacheries, to Galba's agents here. Exit: Who though he justly perished, yet by thee Deserved it not, nor ended there thy treason; But even thought oth' Empire, thou conceivest Galba's disgrace in receiving that Which the son of Nimphidia could hope.