LUPUS

Indeed, Sir Marcus Ovid, these Players are and idle Ge neration, & do much harm in a State, corrupt young gentry very much, I know it: I have not been a Tribune thus long and observed nothing: beside, they will rob us, us, that are Magistrates, of our respect, bring us upon their Stages, & make us ridiculous to the Plebeians; they will play you, or me, the with sest men they can come by still; me: only to bring us in con tempt with the vulgar, and make us cheap. Come, let us talk here; here we may be private: shut the door, Lictor. You are a Player, you say. Good: and how are you able to give this intelligence? I cannot talk now; I charge you assist me: Treason, Treason, I: if you love the Emperor, and the State, follow me. Speak lower; you are not now i'your Theater, Sta her my sword Knave. They directed a letter to you, and your fellow-Sharers: forward. Caduceus? and Petasus? Let me see your Letter. This is a Conjuration; a Conspiracy, this. Quickly, on with my Buskin's: I'll act a Tragedy, faith. Will nothing but our Gods, serve these Poets to profane? dispatch. Player, I thank thee. The Emperor shall take knowledge of thy good service. Who's there now? Look knave. A Crown, and a Sceptre? this is good: Rebellion, now? What tellest thou me of Pothecaries, Knave? Tell him, I have affairs of State, in hand; I can talk to no Pothe caries, now. _____ Heart of me! Stay the Apothecary there. You shall see, I have fished out a cunning piece of Plot now; They have had some intellige ̄ ce, that their Project is discovered, and now have they dealt with my Apothecary, to poison me; 'tis so; knowing, that I meant to take Physic to day: As sure as Death, it's there. Jupiter, I thank thee, that thou hast yet made me so much of a Politician. You are welcome, sir; Take the potio ̄ from ̄ him there; I have and Antidote more then you wot of, Sir; Throw it on the ground there: So. Now fetch in the Dog; And yet we cannot tarry to try Experiments, now: Arrest him, you shall go with me, sir; I'll tickle you Potheca ry; I'll give you a Glyster, faith. Have I the Letter? I: it's here. Come, your Fasces, Lictors: The half pikes, & the Halberds, take them down from the Lares, there; Player, assist me. Good. Caesar shall know of this; believe it. Exeunt. Come, follow me, assist me, second me: where's the Emperor? I pronounce you all Traitors, horrible Traitors: What? Do you know my Affairs? I have Matter of danger, and state, to impart to Caesar. A Friend to Caesar. One that for Caesars good would speak with Caesar. I conjure thee; as thou art Caesar, or respectest thine own safety; or the safety of the state, Caesar: Hear me, speak with me, Caesar: it's no common business, I come about; but such as, being neglected, may concern the life of Caesar. Lay hold on Horace there; and on Mecoenas, Lic tors. Romans, offer no rescue, upon your Allegiance: Read roy all Caesar; I'll tickle you, Satire. I'll Lop you off, for and unprofitable branch, you Sa tyricall Varlet. Not understand it? A Libel, Caesar. A dangerous, seditious Libel. A Libel in Picture. I, I found it in this Horace his study; in Mecoenas his house, here; I challenge the penalty of the Laws against them. Know it? His hand is at it, Caesar. And Emblem? right: That's Greek for a Libel. Do but mark, how Confident he is. Innocence? o Impudence! Let me see, Let me see. Is not here and Eagle? And is not that Eagle meant by Caesar? would? Do's not Caesar give the Eagle? Answer me; what sayest thou? Now he's turned dumb. I'll tickle you, Satire. Dost thou pish me? Give me my Long sword. A Vulture? I; now, it's a Vulture. Oh, abhomina ble! Monstrous! Monstrous! ha not your Vulture a Beak? ha it not Legs? and Talons? and Wings? and Feathers? A Wolf? Good. That's I; I am the Wolf: My name's Lupus; I am meant by the Wolf. On, on; A Vulture, and a Wolf — And Ass? Good still: That's I, too. I am the Ass. You mean me by the Ass. No, Caesar: A Player gave me the first light of it, indeed. I, Caesar: this is he. Caesar.