.rt .m..;.

/•

222 Claudius Tiberius Nero, Rome’s greatest Tyrant, truly repre- Ay

sented out of the purest Records of those Times, a Tragedie, £- 4
first edition Printed for Francis Burton, 1607 /
This edition, like the duplicate in last sale, is generally in most ?
wretched condition. The present copy is unusually fine.

Accessions Shell' No.

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 f

dius Tiberius Nero{Romes

greateft Tyrant.
Truly reprefented oucofthcpurefl Records
efthofe times.

Et Studrc>>et Lahore.

L O NDO M
Printed for Francis B«rto«jdwcIling in Paules
Church-yard ttthefigne of the Flmver-de-htce
. and Crowne. l 6 07
 Fo the Right IJ^orfhipfull Sir Arthur Man-
tiering Knight, (Sonne and Hcyrevnto Sir George
Mannering of Eithfield in the Countie of Salop) Car-
uer \fito Prince Henry his
, Grace,

F CufiomefRight worfhipfull)had [ogreate a Prero*

gatiue as that nothing cr of sing it, were at all alow-
able, then might 1 iufllye fearereprehenficn for this
my Dedication< hauing(to my knowledge) but a fingu-
lev Prefident heerein; and the reafen wherefore fo
many Plaies haue formerly beenepublifhed without Infer?ft tens vnto
particular Patrons , contrary to Cuftcmein diuu/gmg other Bookes)
although ferhapslcould nertlyguefje yet becaufe Iwouldwillingly of¬
fend none,Iwill now conceale. This young S choiIer,as his proportion is
comelye, fo are his garmentsgrnue, his language fane ana by hisffeech
itfhouldfeeme that his Father was an Aeademiun his tongue is tips
with Eloquence and hi* face h louely: hotelsflrange( but true)fortes:
he is meruailous wittie, and notwithfandwg his Qrphant-agejforey-
fher bee hath lofl his Father, or his Father hath lofi him) yet .it fhould
feeme t bathe hath read much,for he is well feene in Antiq uities, but
mofl effectally inward with Cornelius Tacitus3 our befi approved Hifio-
rian .which cannot chufe but acquire him femefauour. I will fay no
m ore in his commendation let his on ngood parts praife him. but in re¬
gard he isfatherles your Worfhf( I thinke) may doe a deeds of Chari-
tie to be his Guardian and happily his owne father may once be thank -
ful unto you forfuch kindnes, In the mesne[face, as I my felfe am
partly by duetie already bound vntoyour iVorfinpfc my
huefhal make vp that which in duetie is wan ring,
and heereafter IwilIremaineyour
Worfbips deuoted,
 Ad LeBores.
In Jlead ofPrologue to my Play ,
Obferue this one thing iflsalljay.

I vfe no Sceane fuppos’d as many doe,

But make the Truth my Sceane,and A3ors too.'
For

Of Rome!?great Tyrant I the ftorie tell,

And what vnto that State in Neroes Raigne befeL
TheTragicall life and death of
Claudius Tiberius Nero.
.. ^ -

Enter mourners to the funeral!: frffCocceius Nenidpwith

ether FUmmijinextjthe hear/e of A uguft us: then T #-
bcriHSy with lulia on his right hand i then CD rufus Ti-
bcrius3And LiuiaiThen Agripinaalonel next ther three
formes ,Z> rufus yNcroyand Caligula in ext two Confuls,
Aftnius Galius % and TStitts Sabinas , with other Sena*
torslThey pajfe ouerthe ft age. and goe ini then found
to the Coronation land enterfirft two Confuls \then T/-
berius NereyNerua with the crowne Empcriall ' then
eAftniuSfSahinus-y and Set anus, Senators: thcn'Drur
fus'Yiberiusy DrufusyNero, and Caligula : Tiberius
Nero afeendeth,

T^.V 7I#orious Confuf s,and graue Senators,.

V My;noblekinfhien anddeere Countrime*
Eearefriends to deare Auguftus happinefle^
Happieto haucfuch friends, and Countrimcn:
Could I but fhado w out in maskc of words.
The forrowing language ofray groaning foulc.
Or with a ftreame of tearcs alay the flame.
Wherewith my heart doth like an vEtna burne*
Yea Gods I call to witnefle ofsny thoughrs,(word$c.
JVly tongue fhould fpeake,and fpeake in weeping
Aline eyes fhould well out words5<5c fpeak in tearesf
Wordes in my weeping,weeping in my words,
Tofympatliizemy deareaftcclion.
But fince,——- He feigner h to[wound.
Seta, What ayles my Lord? how fares yournoble
2Vfr#*S£ehow the inundation of his grief (grace?
‘Doth
 The TragicaU life and death
♦
jr

Doth flop the fountaine of his vttcrance.

Afin. So true a grief e exprcfl with fuch true loue.
Would make a man to be in loue with griefe.
'Dru.T ihc.My Lord andfather,what deepepaflion
your decp-engrauen forrowes hath furpriz’cU
Tib. Ah DrufuSjDrufuSjthelatememorie,
Of great Auguftus honorable deedes,
Compared with this new priuation, c;
Doth riue my heart twixt contraritics.
Now would my tongue remember his faire deedes*
But then my heart fwels with remembrance.
Sweet Drufus,thou whofeyoung experience.
Hath not fuch deepeimpreflion ofthefe woes,
O ur honorable buryall rights vnfould.
As mofte befits thefe folomne Exequies.
T)ru.TibMy Lord my duetie bindes me to obey*
Againftmy reafon,and my budding yeares, .
Yet for to checke my ycares,my reafon faies*
My due tre muff be reafon to my yeares*
Therefore great States of this fad Parliament*
Fathers ofRome partakers of our woes,
Vou^ifale to walh your filuer haires more white*
With flow ing teares of true companion*
AHgu ft us C*far *high O&aulHSy
T he truefuccedor of great Iulius*
Who whilome glittering in his Sunne-bright raics
Surpaft the glorie ofyong Phaeton:
Now in the darke eclipfing ofhisdaies.
Lies lower then Apollocs breathlefle Sonne.
Often hath Rome fecnemans fragillide,
Butnere before the Godsmortallitie.
He pleade his Iufticejoc his mercie fhincs:
He call him mercifull, yet iuP wiihall:
In mercy iuftyn Iullice mercifull:
He pleade his honour,thenhis meekencs calls*
He piaifehis meckenc$,yetin honours robes;
 o/*Claudius Tiberius Nero.
In honour meeke, in meekenes honourable, >■
lie pleadhis wifdome,but his wit me checks,
Ilcpraifehis wit>yetlincktin wifdomes chained
In wittie wifdome,and in wifdome wit*
He plead his beautic but his drength bids day,
lie praife his drength but in a bcautious manfion.
Beauteous in valour,and in beautie ftrong.*
So if ye rcake not mans fragilitic,
Yet weepe to fee the Gods mortalitic.
Con*i. No more fweet Drt*fus, into pkafing tearms
A dorie to difpleafing thou relat'd*
Con.z. Good Dru/u^adde not water to the fca.
To make our feaofforrowcsouerflow.
Nerna. In vaine>in vaine, thefepuling fignes of
ffFeminate waywardneSjincondantmindes,
riefe,

Vaffailes to fortune,flaucs to natures courfcj

dead and fo mud all men die.
So worke the liders of neceflitie.
No perfon humane can eternall bcf
But in fucceiTion hath cternitic.
Since then the’cernallprouidencc ofheauen.
Hath ratified Deitie, $
We mud prouide for his poore Widdow left.
Left to our patronage (the Common-wealth)
And you my Lord Tfheriitsthc true heire
Of great Aw'ufttu by adoption,
With loyall homage and true fealtic.
We doe create our gratious Emperour*
Tiber* Animudtnyfilencebrcakeorheart
In the accepting of a double yoake? (difolue
Notfo£W<r/#rt>isimpofsible
Poore foule for me or for my modeftie*
To fway th’ imperial! Scepter of the world*
That of this world am not my Emperour, *
One onely T hoc nix in Arabia
\ U Prcfents
Prcf:nts a facrifice to beauens eye,
One oncly Adas by hisprouidence'
The glittering ftarrs ofheauen can fupport.
One onely,one r,onely he
Our Romane Thoemx fit for Emperie,
Who I? no,no,I know not what you meant.
An Emperour muff wake,I drowficam:
An Emperour muft be valiant,I am old :
Hemuft beiuft,Imay be ouer-rul’d:
Sole Monarch muft he be,my mother ltues;
And muft,and lhall be honoured while fhe liues*
An Emperour muft be able to endure,
(In war) the winters frofts,and fummers heatc,
I feel e a palfie rooted in my bones.
Hemuft haue honie-dropping eloquence.*
I for my part nere playd tne Orator.
By this my Tribunes power well I know.
How many doubtful! cares he muft endure
That taketh care to be an Emperour.
An Empire(Gods forfend)a goodly bait,
To fifh for witlefl'c high afpiring fooles.
Humilitie perfwades me to auoyde
A droppe of honie in aflood of Gall.
Lords trouble not my refolution,
I dare not,can not,willnot take the erownt.
Seta. By Io/^moft gallantly diflembled: t/fjiie*
Alas my Lord let tribute of our teares.
Plead for the orphan* of our country es ftate.
We know*---
Tu What do y e know?I know wcl what y c knoyfc’
Youle fay the ftate i s doleful!: fo am L
The ftate is now an orphan t,fo am I,
The ftate hath loft his head,andfo liauc I
My deare Auguftm. He fame th weeping*
Sab. Why weepes Tiberius and will not ceafe?
And will not ceafe the weeping of the ftate?
Tib. Yes
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
Tiber. Ycs,yes,Sacinus, I will help my part,
There is Germanicus the hope of Roome,
Nero and 'T^rufus&nA Caligula.
Thefe gallant bloffomes of the goodly flemme^
ficceiuSy'Yitus^LiiA AflniuSy
The fpotlcfle records ofantiquitic#
Thefe arc fit aftors for ourrEmpircs ftage*
I for my part will aft fomc little part.
Fit for my barren witte and leaden tongue*
And you my Lords fiiareinequaltic.
The glorious Sceanes ofRoomes faireEmpcriei
A(i* Why then my Lord Tiberius, choofc your part
The fruitfuli Sicily or gold of Spainc,
The Arabian fpices,or the Indian pearles.
The English wels,or Vines of Italic:
The Palmes oflurvjorthe Sithian Bathes,
Either jEgiptian Ifis,or Roomcs Iouc,
Memphis or Rome, Athens or Troynouant*'
Large Citties,fertile foile: andgratious Gods,
If thefe,or any other may content.
Within the Circuit of our Empiric,
My Lord,choofe out your part,and leauc the reft
To be affign’dat our diferetion. Setanus afdcv
O for a fhift,now Lyon roufe thy fclfe,
Or elfe for euer loofethy Lyons head.
Tib. May I Afiuiuschoofe ? then this I choofe,
To take no charge,for all I know is care,
Sicilians mutinous and Spaniards proud,
Arabians fimple fooles,and Indians droyles,
Britons too rude, Italians too too wife,
Difioyali Sirians/upcrftitious Iewes,
Ifis too far,and Ioue is plac’d too neare,
Memphis,and Rome, Athens and Troynouant*
All goodly Cities,but all dangerous.
By Ioue my hate hce deadly fhall obtainc,
That bids me but to take a part againe,
<3 2 Not
 The Tragicalllife and death
AJJt. Not foe my Lord,you did mifconfter me,
Ididnotmeanetomakedeuifion
In the vnited Vniop, o.ftheRealme:
I did not meane to feparate the Sunne,
To runne by peece-meale in the Zodiacke:
Nor dreame ofmultiplicitie offoules,
Which one continued eflence animates.
The heauens cannot mooue without a Sunne ?
Nor can the heauens haue more Sunnes then one.
Tiber. AJfinius I perceiue I did you wrong,
So to inrerpret your oration,
I am forr y, (troth I am) and if I line
lie recompence your mightieiniuries#
Neru* Will not Tiberius then accept the Crowne*
Tiber. Why (howHTiberins liber tie be ceafedj
Nertu No,Princes haue the rule oflibertie.
Tiber. Iflibertiein greatnefle did relie.
Neru♦ My Lord,my Lord,it is no time to ieft.
Nor daliie it out in quoin d Antithelis,
EmperourornoEmperour,will you the Crowne or
Keroy fpeakc plainest is high time to knowe. (noJf
7~/£.Takc heed my Lords,be warie in your choife^
Lead: after dormes controle your ralh attempt
You are to choofebutonce^confider welly
After,all Subieftesto your Emperour#
If you conftraine me to this doubtfull taske.
And I(as God forbid) fhouldchangeiny minde*
Turning mypittie to a Lyons rage.
My fnow white confcience to a Scarlet dye
Would not the Nations of the lefler world
That are not fubiett to our Emperie,
Deride your lunaticke eledlion?
And if ye fhould but thinkc ajniHe of me,
Would they not laugh at youf incon^ancic ?
Take heede,take heede,in vainly e \yiil repent,
JBeingfore-yvanf d^andyet wouldnotpreuent.
Sukin, My
 of£Taudius Tiberius Nero.
Sabin* My Lord, how long fhall we wright in thp
Or plough the ayre with vaine delufions ? (hands.
Our tongues are tyred, and our throates are hoarfe.
And all in vaine we bend our fuplyant knees,
Vaflaile our idle thoughts ofreuerence,
Subdue our mounting fancies to your louc.
And will not all this mooue Tibertm} (q ueft.
2V>. Ger. Good Grandfire graunt the Senatours re-
Wru. (jer- Grandfire, they fpeakein earned, take
theCrowne.
Calig*(fcr* Grandfircaccept this golde,looke how
itfhines!
My thinkes it would become you palling fine*
Tiber* Deare Children(oldTiberius elded care)
My heart doth dauncc to heare the melody.
That heauenly Contort tuned to mine cares,
Thanks my kinde kinf-men,noble Romains thaks
Eucn from my heart,although my cares increafe,
Condrain d,yet gratcfull for your kinde condraint^
Bound to receiue that which my foule abhors.
Enforc’d to honour which my yeares deny,
Inchain’d torule,bane to my modedie#-
y c t were my cares in number infini te,
(For who can number all his cares hath none)
Should they fhowre downe in droppes of dreaming
Muderin troups oflanguifhingdifpaire, (blood
Swarmc like to Bees,ding like to Scorpions 5
Or like a flocke of Vultures gnaw my heart:
Yet thefeandmore,and twice tenthoufand more.
Old Nero will for Countries caufeindure.
For you my Fathers,and for you my Sonnes.

SoundTrfimpets, Newest crovenfth him*

Ner* Mod mightie Cafar,great Tiberius >
Euer tsfuzu/hts Tribune of the State,
Perpetual! Dilator, Lord of Rome*
r B 3 Sole
 The Tragicall life and death
Sole Conful 1 for our conquered Prouinccs,
Prince of the Senate in our policies,
Wecheere inueflyour facredMajeftic,
In all the Ornaments jmperiali,
Roomes and the worlds raoft glorious Emperour#
Omncs*Long line Tiberitu Roomes great Emperor.
'[Tiber. Like as anhartlesfawne, enuironed
Within the circuit ofthe hunters crie.
So (land I (Romanies) wondring at your fliowtes#
Thcfe new alarum’s quel my flunibring thought?*
Chart to the Bay,! brcathelerte panting mufe*
T o view the vnquoth glorie of the hunt#
Neuer could Sparta glorie offuch pray.
As for to haue an Emperour at bay.
But noble Romaines, there’s another Dearc,
A gallant Roebucke, hraue germanicusi
Roomes fliining Beacon in rode Germany,
Our deare adopted Sonne,our blefled care.
To him my Lords as zealc of my affe&ion.
And figne of duetie to the common ftate,
We doe prorogue eight y eares Proconfulfliip.
On you AJiniw we doe impofc.
To be our Legateto Germanicos.
Tell him we loue him,(and be fure you doc)
Tell him we honour him (-doe not forget)
We loue and honour dearc G ermatticus,
And would beioyfull to beholde our Sonne,
Honoured in triumph at the Capitall.
But that we k no we the honour of his minde,
Difdaines to crop the bloflomes of his fame.
Till it be flowred in his Summers pride,
And all the barbarous Germaines be fubdu’d#
This doe tsffiwHs and rcturne with loue.
In our new glorie,we thy honour prone.
Afitt\ My Lord,what ere Afimus honour proucth
Alis expedition (hall declarehe loucch#
Ttb. Now
 ofClaudius Tiberius Nero.
■*

Tiber. Now Fathers, wc will to the Sacrifice,

Saluting all the Gods in visitation :
Let Le&iftcrnia three daics beproclaimed*
The «S7££e//,counfels,and VUminie
I anus fhut vp,and Vefiaes fier blaze,
Into the middle region of the ay re,
Wee all my Lords will to the Cappitoll,
Infiluer fcale, our records to enrole. Exeunt omnes*
Enter cPlebeiansifoure fpeakers.
i Did you not fee our new Emperour how brauely
hccanie from his Corronation*
% Ycs^wa’sa gall at fight fur e, but did you mark his
countenance ? my thoughttis mightily altred within
this fine or fix quarters of a y ere lince I faw him lafh
3 I,and I faw him goeto the Senate, and as you
fay.my thinks hee is much altered,and lookes more
terrible a great deale*
£ I that fame lookes Ipromife is an ilfigne,pray
God all be well.
4 Well, weemufthopethcbcft,andthinketi$a
great change from a fubietl to become a fufficient,
tor fimplc as I ftand heere3if 1 fiiould chaunce to bee
chofen Eniperour,,Ifhoulda{Iaukmy felfe highly I
can tell you,or any of vs all.
3 Auguftus was a goodly man,andT hope hee has
left fuch a graciousfample,that7"iier/«x wil not for¬
get himfelfe.
i Neuer talkeof Auguflus morc,wefhaI neuerfee
bis like in Rome, vnlefie Gcrmanicuj mightheeour
Emperour.
Ow.O worthy Germanicus! hee s a flower indeed ,
i Myjmaifiersdetstalknomor.eofthefeState-mat¬
ters,for I am afraid we hauc faid too much already,i£
the Emperor Ihould know ofit.
^Younaue faid wifely neigbour,for Emperors fee
& heare all that they ddire:I hauc heard my father
tclmv mother fo^ they hauc millions a Spirits that
tels them all. -
 3 I care not,I faidc nothing, but praide God hee
might be no worfe the Au^M[hes,t\iAt was no harme:
4 WelUet vs part vpon this that hath been laid,
and lets keepeoneanothers counfels^and take heed
heereafter. Exeunt*

Enter Germanic#* with Centurion Soldiers♦

qeu Well followed Tribunes,gallant Gcntlcme,

Thus are thcfeheartschac’d to their lurking dens.
That brayed like Afles in their Lyons skinne#
Worthy Centurion.thou whofe might did breakc
The triple ranges ofour dangerous foes,
Whofe well way’dbucklertookefo many dartS)
As feem'd to cloud the funne with multitude*
Accept the honour of a Gentleman,
Crown’d with the triumph of vi&orious fpoyles.
This Crowne thuspleatedof the verdant grafle.
Thy high vplifted head fhali more adorne.
Then all the honour of proud Germany.
Cent#* Noble Germ ante us a Romainc heart.
Hath by inheritance a mounting fpirit.
Did not great Corio/anusfo aduaunce.
The mellow fruite ofhis old withered ftockc?
Did not three hundeth Fahij all at once,
Sn one day breath, war, van quiih,fight and dye,
All tomaintainethc honour of their name ?
'So did Marius in Numidia,
And happie ScylU vnder Sc ip to*
With whatalacritie did Sceuola^
Encounter ‘Torfencs torture, death and fire.
All to maintaine the honour of their name,
Andihouldnotlhazardthis blaze of life.
This riling bubble,this imprifoned foule.
This changing matter,this inconftant a£f,
For Countrieyfriends^andhonourof my name?
€ut&
 Enter a Page.
Page. My Lordjieere is a Legate fent from Rome^
Which craues accede vnto your Majeftie*
Cer. Let him draw ncare: Cofen Annins 1

Enter AJtnms.
Welcome my noble friend to Germanie3
tsijin* All happinefl'e vnto Gcrmanwut,
Ihauc a fecret melTage to impart,
Ifpleafe your Grace of priuatc patience.
(jer. Tribunes looke to the 4-gateiofthe CampC
See that the trenches bee indianeld deepe.
Send out our {couts,ifthey can fpie the Foe*
Number their Cohorts and their Legions;
Comfort the maimedtburic all the dead,
Refrefli your bodies, for to morrow morne
We meane to fcoure thi s vanquilht region:
away— Exeunt,
Now good Affinius ficWGermanicus
The mbftance that your nieffage doth imports
AJttu Were I not now tofpeakc vnto your Grace
My tongue ihould play the RetKoritian,
And in grauc precepts flyiue to moralize.
Or make a long difcourfe of patience.
Adding a crooked (ign d Parenthefis, •
Of puling forro w twixt each fiprcdline*
But forssffimut,knowes your feded minde
So nurftin flowing dreames of conftanexe,
Afiniu* doth reporte Attgttfius death,
I will not common place of mortal 1 men,
Norofhis vcrtuc,nor hisNoblcnelTe,
Nor Soions grauc aduife fliall bemy Theames
3 know I fpeake vnto G ermanicus/
Befides,T/i^r;j*nsour Enipcrour.
He faith he loues you,and to fhew his lone.
Hath your praconfulfriip eight yercs prorogu'd.
‘ _ C --kuna
 The, Tragical! life arid death

fitter fatttmanwhish hms* crowned*

(\nl\ Gcrtraniens and giauc AjinktSy

Awake from coutifcll^illarcin vprore,
O ur Germane Lcgions'are all mutinous*
And crie Germ annus, our Emperoifr,
Cjtrm&mcus our noble Empcrour.
They make a Throne of tufts, and thejx they die,
Gsrmanicus. Oral l be our Empcrour*
.Germ*. A world of cares appnee aHaultmv foul#
J am diOractedJiarkejthenruDuics*
'They cric wiibw^wd exeunt o nines*

Enter T ihertfisil,siiiaiAnd SeiantiS.

' " 7 *

Tib. Impute it not vnto vngratcfulncflc,

(Imperious Amjtfia of great Rome,
And which doth touch me nearer dearcR mother*
T hat iVm? hath deferd in deb ted thanj^s,
Eqiualcntvnto your high deferts. ;
I can not (mother) fet yo ur p taife to fale.
Or Orator it with a gjofing tongue.
Graced with pickedphrafes,glorious fpccchp
Choice Synoniinies, pleating Epitlut.es,
Paged bX apifh aftion, toying geflure,
IViotber I hate this tip-tongued flattcrie.
Better isme,be as you fee me. now,
Thankfull in outwarddecds,than qutwardihew*
But forwardmother with your-formertale*
Iulia* No fooner the vncontrolledfates,
Bxilde his life,and with his life our care*
But that Seianns from whofe faithful! tongue^
(A s from Ay olios tru-fent Oracles,
We chiefederiue the drift of our affaires)
Paafted like to thePalphraies of theSunnc*
 0 ius Tiberius Nero.
To Roadcs where thou m exile didftremainc*
There to enfornieth.ee of Attguftacsdeath.
The Empires vacancie,and thy repealc.
I My tongue denies to blazon in harfh words
Dcarefricndstne thankfutneiFemy heart affords.
lui'uu Meane while hadlnot with great poheity
Burted in filence great tAu^fiftns death,
Am! in the elofet ofmy carefwomcbreft,
Embofojped the notice efthe fame,
Shcwne. vnto thee fmoothcred to vulgar fame.
Bar'd fronuhebafe Plebeians itching earcs,
A Calfrcjl had polled thy fcagles nelh
And thou the Eagle iiadft: beenedifpoffdf.
S'* {, But now that Caiirel in his courfeis ftopt,
Clipt arc his pinions of ambitious flight*
NoriLaU he-hope to fit where /WrofcarcS*
Aib. Werehetl eiHiteofeternall
Or fa rre more fortunate in his fucccfle.
Then was A?c orftire The'tit fowic,
JMoiehappicintheoftpringoflm loyne ‘
Then lJrtam in his childrens multitude.
Yet would 1 bridle his afpiring thoughts,
A ndcurbc the rcynes of his ambition
Si U. Wei can he braue Jt in his barbarous annesj
A gain It th‘oppugning force of German ie,
And ffranger nations of the farthefl: North,
Whole hearts like to their Climate hard congeald*
Areitozen cold to Romes felicitie.
A crel led Bureanetto
4.^ _ more fits him.”
Thento ingirt his Temples with a Crown e*
T b. Therefore in policie by thine aduife,
Vndcr pi ctext of honourable miiidc,
We dell gated to GermAviicHS%
A (Inins Galtus intoGeuname,
With twice four? yeares prorogued Cohfulfhip.
it/tA. Which ofncccfhf ic he mult accept,
C » Sitt
Sith hope of higher honour is forcfMd.
Tiber. Tis true,for whar he aim’d at,I enioy:
This was th* attra&iueMagnes of his hopes.
Seta. To which how harcfly did you feeme allured
V/ithfuch deny all you refufea it:
Making aCommentarie on the Crowne*
Wijhoh 1 iheduetieof an Emperaur,
Ho'w warie,watchful!, wife he ought to he.
How drowfie,and improujdent you were.
With heaping vp a ftorie of what cares
They vndergoCjthat vndertake to rule, i
So grac’d with fundric fquemilh (ubtil tics, "
As UTItrcurif himfelfe(theGod ofvyitte)
Might haueadmif d,but no t haue matched if.
Tiber* Yetdidthat ^r£#/eyed AJfmtHt,
Both marke and bluntly matemc in my drifts
WitbycheofeyoHrpart fnj Lord m Ttntany,
Orheyday,where you will/© not in Rome,
but by my Genius ile remember—r—i
Jutta. l,had not wife Afi*;us.yttcredit*
Tiber. Hachne.no had-hots,nor Afimui
Can fo ore cannopk his ciofeconceitc.
But I will know the Panther by hissJdnnc,
Noram i ignorant of his great louc
He bearesvnto the proud Gtrmanicus,
How euerclowedinhippocrelie. ,
Seiaffeljthzt Cjert»#nholds a 1 thejr hearts, (hope
L//i,Nomeruaile,for they call him Room es chi efc
Seta. And Line did fay h^fhouldbcEmpcrour,
In fpiteoflulia and hirexild Sonne,
Tiber. But neither hut*, nor her cxildeSonne,
Would haue endured luch competitors*
Nero will brook t no nuall in his rule,
Vnkffcitbcth empenous \h(m9 >
To whomethe law of nature bindcs Tib trim
So firme obleiged in obedience,
•V . ‘ As
 c/’Claudius Tiberius Nero.
As all the attributes ofMajcflic,
Rome,or the world, or Nero can affoord,
Ideenie too mcane a tribute for her loue. ^
Whofe loue firft lent the effcnce of my life,
Wfiofc life doth onely make me loue to liuc. '
Iu/ia. Enough my fonne.
Sufficieritprefidcntsofdutiousminde,
We oft haue proued andapproued oft.
And for our part neuer did Hecuba
Beare fo great loue to all the fonnes Hie bare.
As Iuit* doth to one Ttberiut*
Tib• Mother,I do confcfle and know it true.
But in the infancic of our eftate,
More priuate confutation better fits.
We andSeianus> will into our ftudie.
Ift/ta* And we into our walking Galieric.Etfeflwt*

Enter Ger manic usfo Ins*

Germ. I haue difpatcht AJinius to Rome,

With thankes to Nero and the Senators.
G Roome!
dcad,Ttberius Emperour,
T he Romaine Senate glozing flatterers.
The Legions difeontent andmutinous:
The Pretors tyrants in their Prouinccs :
The Nauie fpoil’d^nrig’d difmcmbred?
ThcCfttiemadea brothelihoufe of finned
Italians valourturn'd to luxuric.
T he field ofMars, turn'd to a Tennis-court,
MineruauOMxitxo theMirtle tree,
Apfoloes LaureiljVnto Bacchus Vine,
High I out contemd,an&fcftaes Tapers fcorndi
The O racl es difp is’d, th e Stbb t boo k es
Eftecmdas fuperftitiousdeliifiohs 2
The Orient vp m acmes and 7 ijc fled,
7. / C3 TV,
 The 1 ram
&

The GaffcgrctidHfproudfor to rcbcll,

jt'ffrickg in vprorc, Afi& in braul cs.
And tilde rude Germaine kernes notyct fubdueef*
Eefidcs a new deuiski Religion,
O fil i e iitcon (1 ant le we s cal ’ cl C h r ifTians .*
Our fa a cd 0racles fome arc Broketiumbe,
A n d fome foi to! de of Romes ddlrucHoa;
Vocall BoetU in dcepeirufenes.
An d Dckbi*n gloric m obfeureneffe lies,
A Geininiccl 7Jh«hits%a three doubled moouc,
A whirling Commct,flawing in the ayre,
/v Wolfe air ended to the Cappitoii:
Tlie rcorple bulled offidditie:
A common Harietto bring fbortli a Bcare,
OGodi I mv D an t doth q uakepny fbule doth fcarfik

Venter 4 Page,

: Va*e. Mr Lord, the feoutes difeouered the wood.

Wherein the Germaines doe in ambulh he. 1
Cey* Sirra.^oc
.. . ^
tell them I will fearrethe Crowes*
Viirt*
«>' Mv Lord.
j
E;xn\
(]:r. Boy,trouble not niy Meditations,. . >;
What fhouldl (pendmy time tofcarrethefea:otvef|
Vv lien there s a cole-blacke Raaen pearcht fohrgiij
Gr?*Wrfr»/eK/,{barc thou an higher pitch,
To w rc 1 ike a Lark e,and like an Eag 1 c m omit,

fhe Legions loue thee,hate l ibcruts:

Honour day verities,fcorne his cowarclife,
Lxtol! thy nieekeneile,and reuilc his pride r
Pray for thy happincfTe and curiTc his daieSj
My F/.thcr Cjxsss t his was CUndui^
I am of Ccfiw he ofdulia. • ^
I heiro by nature Ji^but by adoptions
I\cnic law thee honour cdi&bedeshim bannhiicd,
Hi
 ofClaudius Tiberms Hero,
lie tam’d the Foxes of I Him,
jBttt I the Lyons of proud Germanic*
And this were caufe enough, were there no others
1 by Au*uftnsmade,he by his mother*
Hut thouart heireimperali to theifatc:
JRut he that lookes for death may hope to late*
Yet hope Germanicfjs,good hopes a treasure.
But he that hopes for meatCjmay flarue at plcaftrc,
I, butTiberms News verieolde,
But young enough to liue to fee thee fold;
J, b u t he loues thee for Au^uflus fake,
Augtifius gone,thematch ts new to make*
But llnce his dcath,thy power he hath augmented,
J,th.at at Rome my power might bepreuented:
He feat thee word helouesthee/o l thinkc :
Who would notloue the wine he meanes to drirmc *
He honours thee (hefaid)and fol deeme*
Who would not ofthe fatteft Goate efteeme?
ImpatientfurieflyeGermanicus,
How is thy reafon dimn’d with clow di e pall ion ?
Proud (welling drop(ie,euer gnawing w or me,
Ji 1 fa t ia te v ulture, vile a mb i ti on,
D eluding Snene.whei'cs Gevmanicus:
-TlicL cgions louethee not for to alpire,
Thyvcrtue ihinesnotinopprellicn j i
Nahonourin ambitious aray:
No. mcekenesin a traytors happincs.
Thy Path cr got thee not for to rebel!,
Nor did abet thy treacheries.
By nature lieire,thenbe thou naturall,
Rome law thy honour5change not Huene,
But make thy harueft vp inGermame.

V.nter aPage*
My Lord rhe Tribunesfentmc to your grace
To know y^urioyail plealurchuhe cafe.
‘ . ' ■ ~~ . Qcsnn What>
 The Tragicalt life and death
^nWhat,haue they chas’d the foe,and I delay?
Runnc fainsflizfot haftjaway^way.
X

Enter Caligula at one end oftbefiaget and Set anus at thi

other end below. /telia at one end aloft%and
Ttberius N ero at the other.

Cal. lama foole, I am CaHgu!\$

Su ppos‘d and idiot,and am fo indeed*
For hethat will liue fafe mult feemcafoole.
\hIU- Am not I Empreffe ,and fhall I be concrol'd®
Am I Augufta, and (hall I not rule ?
Hauc I made him to raigne, and (hall I (loope?
Is he my fonne,andamnotIhismother?
Tiberius thou (halt know a womans hate,
Exceedeth bounds^and neuer can haue date*
Tib. Ho w am I Emperour and my mother rule?
Is (he the Sunne>fhall I the fhadow be?
I b ut the fmoake,and (hall (he be tbeiire?
I but a bare imagination.
And (hethe image that is honoured?
I but the eccboftifr 11 (he be the found ?
A plague vpon her,I will her confound#
Seta* Thus will I do.* nay thus,nay villainc thu#
Poifon T iberiusilh u t Germanicus%
The Emperour and his mother feemc to iarre*
Fight Dog,fight Cat,for both your fports lie marre
ButN^louesme ; fodidmy mother to,
And yctlbrakeherneckeinhoneftie.
Mother forgiueme,ilc doe fo no more,
Yet ifa thou fan d mothers necks would ferue
To get me to bedEmpei our of Rome,
By hcauens I would not leaue one necke aliue,
And to be furc thatthey (hould all be broke,
Jde h ire fome honed loynter them to fet,
Aadbreakc them ouertwefctie thoufi^d times,
And
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
And for to recompcnce his worthy painc,
Idemake him fct his ownenine times againe.
fahgu* I laugh to fee how I can counterfeiter
And 1 iliould blufhjifthat Germanicus,
My father, my diflembhng (hould beholde
HeknowesIamaSoldier not a foole :
My mother was deliuered in the Campe,
And in my fwadling cl oath es, l chac’d the Foe,
My Cradle was a Corflet, and for miike
I battened was with bloodrand fed fo fad
That in ten yeares I was a Collonell.
My mother knew this but the detmes me chang’d
Poore woman in the loathfome Romilh dewes,
O Mother, 1 am chang’d: but wherefore foe?
faliguldofCattoulamnii not knowe.
IhU Shall I call him a Ballard? true it is.
But Iutm-> then thou doo’ft thy felfe the wrong*
Say that he was Auguftus murtherer.
Yet therein Yalta tHou wert counfeller,
How then ? a vengeance on his curfed head.
So he were mui ther’d would that I were dead#
VileMonfter that I am, to perrifh loath,
Yet heauen's raine brimltone and confumc vs both,
Iamimpatientjyet ImuftdilTen ble* £xk Yulia*
'Tiber. She is my Mother,I rauft honour her;
She is my Ladie,Imulf lhew her ductie :
Sbcis mod wife worthie ofreuerence :
I but the hag is mode ambitious,
Shee mud haue Pnedes forfooth,and ElamimtSi
To faenfice vnto her Majedie,
She mud checke N roy I and fchoole him too 5
As he were prentife tfohir tutorfhip.
She mud mcorporat free Denizens ;
Or clfe fheele fcoldand raile,& fnarlc and bite,
And take vp Nero for hislullinede.
Welhlet her fcolde,and ray le,and Inarle and byte,
d ’
t The Tragical! life and death
‘ Nero will m-annage well the haggard kite,
I will l»y IotteylMr111, y e 11mtf (Ffeeme
As though my mother I did moff efteeme.£y/> Ttb.
S?u He that wil clime,and aime at honours white.
Mull be*a wheeling turning pollititiaris
A charieina; Proteus, and a feeming&il,
1 - ^ i • ^
Yeta difcoioured Cam el ion
F ram d of an ayrie compofrtion:
As fickle and vnconflant as the ayre:
Fit for the Sunne to make a Raine-Lo w in,
By each new fangled reflection,
Rufd by the influence of each wrandring (larre,
Waxe apt to take each new imprefiion.
With wilemen fob er,withlicencious, light’
With pi oud men ilately, humble with thrtnecke:
With old.men thirftic.and with young men vame*
With angiie,funous;an!d with mild men calmes
Humerous with one, and (fato with another:
Effeminate with fome,with other chaff e,
Drink with the Germain,wuh the Spaniard braue:
Brag with the French, with the^Egiptianlie,
Flatter in Creet,and fawne in Graecia.
This is the wayySeiantn vfe thy skill,
Or this,or no way muff thou get thy will.
If thou Gooff mcane the Empire to obtaine, \
Sweare^flatterffyejdiffemblejCog &faine Exit&el
Calia. ( ahgul -,wliy doth tin itumbringfoulc,
Thusd reame within thy common fences manffon *
Awake for fhame.ffycto Gennanicus,
Ringm thy Fathers eares a pealeof forrow,
Vncafe this follye,and vnmaske this face.
That hath enueloped Ca/tgts/a.
But fee my mother, Agnpina comes
With valiant Vru/us^nd Nero my wifebrother,
Caligula's now a Foole; in faith no other, Manet*
inter
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
Etiter vdgrtpina with her two Sonnes/Drufiu
and Nero•
Why then my Sons^THer. weares the crown ;
I mother, and hee fweares heelc keepe it too.
' A^r.GVr.Andreafon brother hath he fo to doe.
'T)ru♦ What reafon brother hath he but his will?
Nero* Will may be reafon^f heele keepe it (till*
Druf. Andihall he raigne?a bafe Plebeian.
Ner* He was adopted a Patritian.
*Drtt/*So may I cnoofemy horfetobemy Page.’
Nero. Good brother calme your furious fuelling
We gaue our voices in his election, (rage*
nay Brother {lormcnot,hereme what Ifay,
Did not we Tveare loy all fidelitie ,
within the Capitoll vnto his grace?
Did we not both at Veftaes facred fhrine.
Pray for the fafetie of his Majeftie ?
And wilt thou Drufus now recall thy oath.
Recall thy vowes/ecall thy prayers infence?
Remember ^Drufus^what fo ere he be.
Now he is crown’d afs pafl recouerie. (you know
D/fc.Crown’d^andmay bediferown d for ought
How fay you mother,may it not be fo ?
CaU This ti’s to be refolifd my gallat Brother* afar
How hardly can I my affe&ions fmother? ojf*
j4gr/p. Young Impes of honoiuyn you both I finde
A noble way to vertuous refolution:
In thee my Ner<?,wifdomes treafurie:
In thee my Dr/r/kr,magnanimitie,
In both, your fathers honorable mindc*
Speakefairemy Sons (awhile) vntoTiberittf>
Vntill thetryumph ofGermanicus:
Th en be refolud——-
T he caufe is honorable?feareno ill.
But Oh my Sonnes! yonder’sCaligula
Capring: he takes no heede of higher thinges*
D % He
 (Tloe ’Tragicall life and death
lie call himhether,and fee whathefaics ••
Caltgulaycomt hether gentle Sonne,
How dooftthou like the great Ttbcriut ?
CdL Faithheesabraue man Mothe^and hispar*
rellisfit,andhc hasafineCrovvne ofgolde,and all
this makes him but a braue ma, for what would you
haue in a braue man but he may haue it ?
A grip. Well,well my Sonne, youle ncuer leauc
your toies
Calig. Why Mothcr,he can turne aboue ground,
turne on the toe,turne euerie way,what Ihould I fay
more ?
By heauen abraueman.
Nere. And whatcanyou doe Broth er,let vs fee?
Coil. Faith Brother lam notin the humour , and
brauemencandoe nothing without i t bee in an hu¬
mour*
Druf. Come let vs leaue this humorous Gentlcma.
Agrip* Farwcll Caligula.
8xeunt. Agr. D rnf. & Nero
Calign. I, I warrant you, for ilc fup at Court to
night.
Farewell Mother,bretheren both farewel,
Whomc I admire infuch deuotion:
But dare not trufh Drufus I know thee well,
Andloue thee dearely,for thy high refolues.
But dare not truft thee. Nero I applaud
Thy wifdomejbutit wants a refolution.
Nero and ’Drufus, beware the braine-ficke foolc
Calgulafzt you not both to Schoole. Exit*

Enter lu/iafTt£>eriustand Set anus*

\%lia. Heard ye not with what general applaufe,
’Afiruus was welcommed to Rome ?
At his returne from barbarous Germany,
Jiownwny greedie cares did glut thcmfclucs,
" — ° - With
-- •
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
With hearing newes of their Gcrmanicus ?
How many greedy tongues in labour were,
Toblazen foorth the trophees ofhispraife ?
Tiber. Not rJ} riams He ft or from the fly in0" Greeks
Whomc: he had chafed from the Terrhenclhore,
Return’d with greater expe&ation.
Thenladen with thefpoiles ofGermaine foe$»
The people long to fee Germanicus*
Seia* NotonelythePlebeians^uttheEqu Jtcs,
Ho reuerence him within theirin ward thoughts,
as if the Vaflaile were a demie God,
liiber. And rightly marry, for if Nero line,
Nerefhall deifie him to the full*
Seta. Butifyou fuffer him on honors wings.
To foare vp higher in ambitious flight.
Borne on the tempefl: of the peoples tongues:
Tis tenne to onc,heele neuer floope to lure ,
Tokeepchimfhort,is onely to be fure*
Julia. Let vs commaundhim, vponpaincof death.
Not to approach within our cittie walks.
But either to difmifle his Soldiers,
Or on the plaines pitch his Pauillions.
Tiber♦ No marry mother,notforall the world.
Why} it were omminous; Romes walks engirt.
With armed garrifons of greatefl foes,
Vnpolitiquely counferdinmy mindc,
Admini Aring too fit occafion,
For to fufpe&and fcare a foulcpretence*
Andfurther,that the bafe Plebeians,
As wauering, and inconflant in their loues,
as is thee changing Laconiades i
Who hearing but a muttering of our dnfi.es,
Woulo like a world of riiier? to the main e,
Flo w to Gcrmanicus by multitudes,
Whofe (welling pride5b y their repaire cnercafe.
Will ouerfiow the bankes ofloyaltie*
\ j D 3 Mother
 The Tragicall life and death
Mother this was but (hallow pollicie.
But who’ll that interrups our conference!

Exter T ifofrom Armenia*

Seta. It’s hucmsTifojVrctor otSirria*

Tiber. Welcome to Rome,and olde Tiberius,
Whatnewesin Sirria,and Armenia ?
With all our Orientali Prouinces:
P./^Peace hath refign’dher rome to bloody warre,
Whilft Mars thefurie-brcathingGod ofarmes,
Knits vp his fore-head in a fearefull frowne
And in the furrowes ofhis foulded browes,
Difplaies the fable Enfigne of fad death,
Vpon the fpacious Armenian plaines.
And all the orient in rebellious pride,
(Threatning deftru&ion,to our wefternc world)
Doe feeme to challenge vs in daring armes.
Tdv^Who is the Headin this rebellion?
Pif The chcife controler ofthefe warlicke troups
Is vncontrold Vonones on whofe Creft :
Viflorie feemes to daunce among his plumes,
HisBurgonetandfteeie Habergeon,
Of bloody colour likevnto hisnunde.
Of vifage fterne^broad brow’d, and hollow ey’d,
Looking as though he did comprife the world.
Within the complot of fome ftratagem*
Ttber, Ha 1 what,fa foone Armenia vp in armes,
Hall thou forgot thy wonted feruitude?
Are Romanes vertues and their vigor done?
Or dead with S//hthat firfl: conquered thee?
Are all the ftripes that llrong "LuckIIms gaue,
Vnto thy neighbour Ponttis and thy felfe,
Quite healed vp,without offenfiue fcarre?
are Hugh tie Pompeies Tropheis quite forgot?
Well,beitfo: they blow rebellious flame*
And
 ofClaudius Tiberius Nero,
And they (hall fide the fiirie of the fame,
M eane while, returne thou Vtfo to thy lodging,
Till fit occafion to employ thee hence* Exiu Pifo
Seta* How likes your Maieffie this wofulnewes?
IhU Like enough,he mifliketh it enough.
Might hilia counfell him,he fhould reuengeit,
with more ext A ami tie of punishment,
Then angrie loue raign’dfrom the vault of heauen
, Vpon his Throne oppugningBriaris.
Ttbe. I foftandfaire,firfHfop ourfeares at home.
Then let Armenia feele the force of Rome.
Set.Good counfaile,great knew we how*
Tiber. How ? what are all our pollicies extimT?
Noe,bc attentiue.and lie tell thee how,
The head-fpring ftopt.the fmaller founts will fade*
and thus our home bred feare Germanic’,
Grounding their hopes vpon their fathers ha ps,
Take from his life their lights continuance,
His life therefore extin£f,their light is done.
I til. This is the thing that we confultedofly
But to no purpofe yet#
Tibe. Yes Mother yes.
By this occafion ofthe Armenian wars,
anopportunitie is offered vs,
Both to reuenge and rid vs of our foes#
This Vfiner of fame Germanicus,
(Who gapes as greedily forfaire renowne.
As doth a niggard for a ihow're of golde.)
No fooner flaall returne to Rome,
Grac’d with the try umphes of his vidories.
But by my pollicse,and fair'c pretext,
We will conclude it in the Senate houfe,
That for the fafetic of Rome s tottering (fate,
Germanicus muff to Armenia,
Where hec ihall fall b y fierce Vonon. s fvvord.
Or if he fcape,week fo determine it.
 The Tragicall life and death
As loueto Saturne,fliall refigne his Throane,
and banilht from the Speare,where now he raignes.
Humble himfelfe,below the horned Moone,
Before he (Hall returne to vifite Rome.

Enter T>rufuty Ltuidydnd Spadol

, (ieftie
SDruf. Titer: The Gods preferue your royall Ma-
Tihe. Good day vnto you Sonne andLiiia
Julia* Haue you attended long our comming forth?
L mi a: Not verielong my gracious Grandmother,
But hearing you were in clofe conference.
It had beene rudenelTe to haue interrupted yce ♦
Tiber. We were indeede in confutation,
about affaires of fpeciall fecrecie.
But where fore-lookes our Sonne fo fad this morne?
DrufTiber* Hath not the clang ofharfh Armenia*
The ratling found of Clarions Sc Drums, (troupes
Thundred into your carcsadeepe reuengcJ
The Orient doth fhine in warlike fteele,
and bloody ftreamers waued in the ayre.
By their reflexions die the plaines in red,
asomminous vnto diflru&iue wars,
as ar e the blazing Cummets in the EafL
Tibsri: We haue both heard, and eke confulted of
The whole effeft : of which our conference.
We fhall at fitter time relate to thee.
Meane while lets make our preparation,
a^ainflth’ arriuall ofGerinanicus,
Who meanes tomorrow for to Royalize,
Thetriumphes of his Germaine victories.
Exeunt Tibtriur,hilm,aud Drujus

Afanet Seiamts & Liwdy& Spado*

Sclav* Madame,a word with your good Ladifhip.
Lint. So pleafeit your good Lordihipd'o ye may,
Ssia* But
 ofQ laud ius Tiberius TsCero.
Seian* But iliall I fpcake my mind without cotrol?
Littia* I haue no pattent to controll you hr,
Seian, But will ye not be angry if I doe?
L/W. That's as your felfe final giueme caufc therto
Seta. But/ay my tungfhould fault before I find it?
Ilium, Iflightly I would pafie it, andnot mind it.
Seta- Whatiflfiiould offend with hearts affent?
hiuia. The offence fhuld pardoned be if you repet
Seta: Thinketh my Lady as fine fayth tome?
L/#hi.No other way a my Lord*But well I fee
By thefe your long circomlocutions,
Your bufineffeisoffmall import with me*
Seta* Ofmoreimport(fwect Lady)then my life.
L iuia. A matter of more wais;ht then I muff know.
Seta* Yet muff you know it or I mu ft not be*
luiftia. Can Liuia then impart a remedie?
Seta* I,ifihc pleafe to falue my maladie#
L##w.What falue /hould Liuia to your fore apply*
Seta. Pittiesquintefence,and foft clemencic.
L iuia* Strange fore,ftrange falue.
Seiatt, Yet pot fo ftrange as true.
\Juia* I pittieit: G‘6d fend you cafe,adue*
Seta. Yet heareme gentle Lady ere you part.
To tel my paine doth fomewhat eafe my heart#
And to be graced with attentiue heedc,
To Louers doth efpeciall comfort breedc.
Liuia. Then is my Lord a Louer?
Seian* You haue read.
Liuia* How'wonderfully metamorphofed?
S tati, More wonders can fheworke that wrought
Able to change the chaff eft vtican. (my banc,
Liuia. What,is yourGoddeflethen aSorcerefle?
Snav* The firff,but then the latter nothing lefle#
Lini?* You faid ihe vfed charming forcerics:
Seta* Onelytheinchantmentsof her Griftalleics*
Which had thev ^launced on enamoured lone,
E . While . __
A
 The Tragicall life and death
While Io lin’d Iotte, would hauebeg’d herloue,
andfpitc of/two tHc^e and G<wtmede->
She oncly fhould haue grac’d Theatates bed,
Liu. PearelefTcbelike,andfittobea Cowe,
Farewell S^4»^,Irnuftleaueyenowe,
Seta* DeareMadam,one word more>and then far*
Liu:* BebriefeSeianusthen. (vvcl
Seia. Beautiesfairecell,
The heauenly Panompheaofour daies.
Liu* Nay,then I am gone,jfyou begin to praife.
Seia. By thefe bright ihining Tapers thy faire eies
The guiding Planets ofSeiamts life.
Which beautifie the heauen of thy face.
With farremore glorious admiration.
Then chaft ‘Dttttnna or Latonaes Sonne,
But one word more(deare foule)and I haue done.
By this faire braunch,fprouted from fairer tree,
Enamuled with Azure Riuerets,
Blew coloured vaines, which euerie waies difper’ft.
In kinde embraces clip thy tender hand,
Liui* Villaine,letgoe,griperiotmy hand fo hard.
S^.How can lchofe;hth you do gripe my heart?
L^.Letgoemy.handjOrl w ill haue thy head,
3 gripe thy heart villaine as thou art l
Set* I>in your louely,but obdurate breft.
L in* Inmy breft’.though it were there indeede,
3 would vnrip my breaft,and teare it c ut.
Seia. Yet for your felues fweet fake to felf be kinde
Soe faire a frame holdes not fo foul e a minde.
But Madame,leauing off this angrie moodc,
In fadnefle would you graunt, ifyou were woo’d,
Lini* Blaft notmy name with luftfullinfamie.
For if thou do, by heauen I wil— She pulshts rapier
Seta* Lady,thefe handes wereneucr made to bra-
■difti fteele.
Xi.Couldibutgetit^thou ftiould’ft quickly feele.
- Seta, tj f
 o/’ClaudiusTiberius Nero.
Seu Fyc Lady, fye,what turn’d a Soldier?
Ifyoubeforefolu d,letthisbe war* Hekiffeth her*
h'tt. Vnciuilie jby violence! Sfade I am wrong’d,
Sp.By Ioue,or aske forgiuene s for thy faul r.
Or I wil ill each my Rapier in thy heart. Sp.draweth*
Se/.Put vp3 put vp,Pigmy hold,I [ay put vp:
Setanus giueth Spado his purjft.
What wiltthou kill thy Ladies parramour?
Li/v.Leaden refolued co ward,let me fee’t,
I will phlebotomize his luftfull blood*
She taketh the Rapier*
Seia. That haue ye done alrcadie by^our fpight.
And now accept this facrifice. Hejveomdeth..
Spa*0 cruell plight!
hire. Yet will I breath another life into him.
Or buriehim within this Sepulcher:
S/^Ojhelpejhelpe^for Gods fake holde his head,
See how the tcares congealed in his eyes.
Doe nuke me fee my (name that was vnkindc.
Good gentle heart>I fhould haue pardoned him.
Seta A* aire Proferpiae \
IamaLouer.—— j
Liuia See how his idle foule,
Not quite difleuered from his Arteries,
Makes him dreame vamely ofElizium:
Set anus l
Seia. Who cal*s that name. He li ftes himfelfe vp*&
Theverieindexofalmifery? hittia flyeth back?*
hiui I am a (hamed for I was too nigh*
Seta. Ah Lady,] did dreame thatyou did grant me
k Li/'.Whatfhall 1 fay ? words |faile me to deny him,
Seianus dreame thou dill that I did graunt--
Seta. Butdreameswithouteffettes bee butvaine
hopes.
hfu'ut* No more wasyour’s, yet dreame you flil
inhope.
E 2^ Stitt* But
 \The 'Tragicall life and death
Seta* But fhall my hopes fucceede?
Liu. I w ill not promise*
Seitu But performe indeed. Exit Liuia & Sj?4<fo.
Planet tetanus folns♦
Seia* Wrong me not /hallow Pollititians,
By mifinterpreting my actions:
.A farther reach isinSeianus head.
Then to adultcrateaPrinces bed.
Not luft,nor loue,but hate and iniuric,
Infpire me with profounder pollicie#
Vnder this vale of lone inuelloped,
TisnotakilFe ; an Empire tis l feeke.
An opportunitie to claime the crowne,
Andfitoccafionto wrcakereuengc,
Vppn her hufband for his injuries#
Gdrafus,the boxe on the eare thou gaue’ft me.
Becomes the Prologue ofthy Tragedie.
Meane while,let this fuffice: for my intent
Isonely for toloue this inftrument,
As did E/iJfes,Trojes Ealadtxm^
Not for it felfc,but Troyes definition.
But whift Stianta prifon vp thy tongue,
Now to the tryumphesjl haue (laid too long.

Enter CJermanic us in Trjumph with the tsfrch-flaminet

before bimfTtberius on hts right hand, Afinws and Sabi¬
nas : next India >*s4grjpinayand Liuiay then Neror
Druftts and Cal/guUyG crmanici it hen Seianut and
ether Senarors^then the (faptaines of Germanic
€tis with his So/diers and Prifoners: thej
irowue him with Crownes and Gar*
Unds according to the Cufi•
omc)ind all crie,

Qmncs. Long line victorious Germankus,

In glory Roy allize#
v ^er^Archfr Nofcls
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
r
Ner* Archfld. Noble Germanicus.whofe winged
Swiftglydingthrough the frozen Germany, (fame,
Hath brought vs newes ofthy faire vi&ories.
Thou that doefl equalize in honors Titles*
The elder Seipio,noble Affrican,
And younger Scipio Afiaticus,
Paulus EmiliusofproudMacedon,
Flaminiaes conquefr,andMetellusglorie:
Old Fabius wifdome and Marcellus furie.
Renowned Gracchus,gallant refolution,
Braue man at armes vnfold thy Vi&ories,
Which heauens themfelues dofeeme to folemnizc.
Qer, Firft to the Gods the Authors of my good,
I facrifice the infence of my thankes.
Next vnto you my Lord imp exiall,
I wifh eternitieofhappineflc*
All you that weare the fnowie liueric,
OflongexperienceworthieSenators :
And you th e flow ring bloflomes of faire Rome,
My verie effence* valiant Soldiers all
Louing QuiriteSjloyall countriemen,
Faire Ladies,mirrors of the amazed world,
Embeliihed with royall chaftitie >
In all the circuite of my humble vowes,
I offer vp to \ottes prote&ion.
Since firflmy Lords I entred Gersnanie,
The fertile foileofbafe Rebellion,
O ur Eagles twice nine times haue been difpl aid,
And twice nine times with Tropheis honored.
The barbarousMarfhes on-the foutherne fide*
Hailde downe three furious Aormesofpoy foned
Not Cicas torture bloody Scithian: (darts
Nor Craflus fcourge,dilembling Par th earn,
Did euerragein fuch tempeftiousfriowres.
But by theprowefle ofour valiant Knights,
Who alLalighted from their furious fteedes,
E 3. Wee
 The Tragicall life and death
We fail'd the hilling of thefc poyfonous Snakes,
Which all the neighbour countrie fringes to deaths
Onines. Long Hue the valiant Germanicus#
Qer. But on the northerne fideof Germany,
Whereas th’ Vfipite.i kept theplaine,
Impalledin a wildfrnefleofwood,
V Val d with a rockie mountaine in the Eafl:,
Back't with the fea vppon thenortherneCoaft,
Enchanncl’d with a deepe intrenchedmeere.
Betwixt our Legions on the South erne fide,
Thefe mew’d-vp Foxes in this Stratagem,
Derided all our Legions braueries.
Fourc times with all our power we gaue aflau! t.
To winne the paifage of that daungerous meere,
Foure times repulfed by the quaking ground.
That trembling durftnotbeare our Soldiers.
At length when Cinthia's borrowed warning Light
Repai d theeflence of her brothers lamps,
Behinde thelow defending ofthe hill,
I faw the Ocean farre rebattered.
As when the elder African in Spaine,
by ebbing Thetis fcarred Carthage wallcs.
So by the flying backward of the maine.
The Foxes on thebacke I faw engirt,
That thankes to Neptune for his clemencie,
They all adorneour royall vi&orie.
Omnes. Long Hue the valiant GcrmanicusJ
Ger« Next to th* Vfipetes were incamp’t,
The Tubants houering on the Mountaines fide,
Thatifour Legions approach’t the hill.
They rouledowne rocks offtone tomurthcr them*
Y» on the hanging of the fteepie Clift,
There was by nature plac’d a little grouc,
But furely guarded for the Druides,
To folemnize their humane facrifice.
As iia the fecond cruell punick warre,
, • " The
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
The tents of Sip W*and of Hafdruballt
Were all enfiam’d by noble Sctpso,
So by the burning of this little groue,
Themcuntaine quite confu md where Tubants lay*
And they became our triumphs goodly pray:
Butin the wood that borders on the mount,
The cruell Tigers hid their damned heads.-
Thefauage Agriuarij kept their den,
Who ranging now & the would fnatch their pray,
Renting each ioynt,di(Teuering each part.
And neuer leaue till they had found the hart.
Not Maffagctcs were fo cruell calld,
Nor Babilon was ere fo ftrongly w alld:
For fince Vfipetes laft confufion,
They made the fea a moate vnto the wood.
That great Alcides would hauc wondered,
To fee this Hand fo enuironed*
Hard by the Southernefrontire of the wood,
Danubiacs ftreames fwelling in proud difdainc,
Vntothe checker ofthe Ocean,
Muttering repaid his tributarie due.
There dial make my skilfull Pioners
To cut a trench from great Danubius,
Thatthis new fea which walled in the wood,
Wasnow thegraueoftheir perdition.
For v hen Danubiaes ftreames did meet the maine.
The fauage Agrinarij all were drown’d,
But fuch as fwam to vs we would not fleay,
That they might^race the honour ofour day.
Omncs. Cong liue Vi&orious Germanicus,
('jer♦ Twice did we meet the Buckflars in the field,
And fortie thoufand quite w ere vanquifhed
Of ftiff-neckt Cbatti}ncncY yet controul d,
An hundred thoufand pcrifht in one field,
Not fannas nor the fields ofPbarfa/ie: :
So died in blood as yv as Danubius.
And
And which my priuateioy doth more obtaine,
Ofall the Romanes were but ninetie flaine*
This is the Theater of Germnnie,
Andthefe the countries which I conquered.
No w worthie Emperour I made a vow,
To dedicate my fword to h«<f/prote^ion»
IPt plcafe yourMaieflie for toafeena,
Vnto the Senate whereGermanicusy
Will allthefecrcts more at large difclofc :
Meane-while my followers I you difmifle,
£ xettnt thefouldicrs*
And al my gracious friends with thanks I leauc,
Vntil our Country rights we doe performe.
Which done,Germanxus will foonc rcturne*
Omwf Long iiue the valiant Germameus l
♦

Lon g 1 i ue Victorious Cjcrmatsicus*

Exeunt all in order to the Senate at one doorc* 1/slid

t^gripinajListisband Caligula^t the other* Ma+
wet 'fttroyand'Driiftis Get mama*

Nero♦ *Drufus ifyou had beene fo valeroui

As ouer-bcaff ing in thy bumbafl: tcarmes.
We might haueleald our league of amitic.
Now with Tiberius colde congealed blood*
VrufHs* Andifthy bookilh wifdome darkly Art,
had armed beene with Romanerefolution,
I tell thee Nero. Cowardas thou art,
Tiberius fa.ouldnot thiuhauefcapt ourhandl.
By Iota my father was his coat o file ale,
Plac’d betwixt my fwo* d and him,or els—'
Nem Or els thou woiildlfhaie Lvornc,
Volumes off xfoote othes,but nerea blow ♦
D No more,my father comes*
N^* Coward,I doe retort it in thy teeth*
CDyu* Why brother, are ye mad?
Enter
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
Enter'Tiberins an A germanicus, Nerua, Sabinas,
■ Afinius ^sianas/P ijopvith other Sen at ours from the
Senate»

Tib* I hope this fodaine bufineffc ofthc Eaft,

Doth not agrate our fonne Germanic us*
Ger♦ My Lord thehonour ofmy Countries caufe^
doth counterpoise my fad affections.
Tib* Farewell my honourable gallant fonne.
The hopeofRome,my deare Germanicus,
Pifo farewell,remember well thy duetie.
Once more adue my deare Germanicus*
Seia* My Lord Germanicus the heauens conduit:.
Your high refolues to happie viilorie.
Sxemt TtberiuSy Seianus^and Pifo*
Ger* Thanks good Seianusj gentle friend farewclg
Nerua.My Lord Germanicus I much lament.
The ftrong rebellion ofthe Orient,
My heart prefageth what I dare not fay.
Farewell Germanicus for now I dare not flay*
And yet I willrah deare Germanicus!
How doth old Neraa wifti thy companie?
And but my honour doth controulemy will,
I would Germanicus—- fare wel, fare wch
Ger* Nay good Coccetusfiay a little while.
To heare,the laft perchance I ere fliall tell thee.
So variable is the chaunce of warre.
Vntoyou three thepatroncs ofmy life,
7Veruay S nbinus^ n d AJinias,
Vnto your patronage I recommend,
My Orphant children,and my widow wife,
Faire Agnpina*
No more my Lord,lct hcauens tell the reft.
Remember your true friend Germanicus*
They embrace^ndfo part•
Exit Cocceias$andenter cPifo-
F Pifo* Ot
 . 'The'Tragicall life and death
<pif. My Lord’twere time your bufines were dif-
patcht,
The iorney craues great expedition,
and date of your abode is wellnigh out.
Ger. Nor ought you to extenuate the fame.
What though the Senate hath decreed it Co,
Germanicus fhould giue adiew to Rome,
Before to morrowes Sun nefalute the world*
Yet haue I fome time to remaine therein,
Which being fmall, that fmall fpacc letme fpend*
To fatisfie mine eyes with gazing on’t.
Who for thefemany winters hauc defir d,
(Although in vainc)to refalute this place,
and now no fooner refalute the fame.
But am conftrained to bid it adiew.
It may be neuer to returneagaine.
iy. It may be ? nay tha ts fu re Speaking a fide.
The Senate hath deer ee’d,and it mud be*
There's no refilling ofnccefiitie#
Gen Yet gentle Pifo,fuffer me to grieue.
If at nought elfe,yetatneceftrtie,
T oo ftrickt for ouertoylde Germanicus,
Whofe wearie limmes,require a longer reft
Then is onedaiesfhortintermifiion*
Yet were it Pifo but an houres fpace,
Wereall my bodiebrufd with bearing armes>
Yet would Germanicus beare it as hemay,
and rather finke vnderhis armours weight,
Thenleaueto weareitin defence of Rome,
To whome though Rome for harbour be deny’d.
Yet hath he roome in all the world befide:
Onely thisrefpite.andlcraue no more,
To giue my wife and Sonnes their laft farwelR
Pu You may,& I wil cal the prefently*
*' - Enter Nero andY)rufpts.
Gfr.Do Pifo & be honoured for this fauour,
.- But
 But fee thy Tonnes GermanicuSjthy Tonnes,
Declaring by their angrie clowded frowncs,
Some ciuill difcord,or fomedifcontents.
For fhamemy boyes,iffo a Fathers power,
May haue predominance in Tonnes diffent,
Clcare vp thoTe clowdie vapors ofyour browes^
That threaten ftornies ofdreadfull difcontent.
Leaue off your ouer-daring menacies,
and tell thecaufeof your diflention,
Tell me,for I ought, muff, and will know.
Ncr♦ Onely this (father) caus’d our controuerCe^
Going to the Capitoll to theTryumph,
"VVe taw a Kite vfurpe the Eagles place,
Wherat] enrag’d, we call our Falcons off,
and for mine,was not of fuch fpeedy flight
as was my Brothers,he began to chafe.
£)y«/.Paticnce herfelfe I thinke would be enrag’d.
To Tee aman To faintly Faulconer it.
For Father,had my Brother done his befl,
,VVe might haue taken downe the Haggard Kite*
Qer. What,for fo fmall a matter fall at oddest
Fie, ncuer violate true Brothers loue
By furious rages and diflentious Iarres:
It not befits your title,northefe times.
Sad time wherein(perhaps)my lafl: farwellj
Is to be taken ofmy deareft Sonnes,
Whom, if I leaue diftratt infa&ious hate.
How can I hope to bid you once farwell*
Since faring as I Tec, you fare but ill?
My timeofrefidcnceisfliortin Rome, '
and yet too long,iflong you diTagrec,
Be reconciled therforc to your felues,
fliakehands,embrace,befriendes,forget,fbrgiuer
why Tomy Sonnes, thus fhouldkind Brothers liue*
Now is my heart*disburthened of great care,
To fee you my deare Sonnes accord To well,
F 2 An2
 The Tragicall life and death
And though I ftraight mu ft part, take this fare rfa
left with you as my teftinioniall wilh
Helpc jhonourjcherrilhjloue each other ftill.
And thinkc how oft you breakc your amide.
So oft you a<ft your fathers Tragedies

Enter Caligula with a Racket and Tennis-ball

in his hand*
Catijr. Now a Gods name giue me a hand Ball*
Tor that a man may tofte againft the wall *
Now vp,now downe,now flie,now foll>
Yet hath no danger therewith all*
Come brothcr> will you play a fet?
Germ. Croffe to my comfort,& thy fathers grief
Why dooft thou ftill continew inthefefits?
What frantique humor hath bereft thy wits?
Caft downe Caligula^aft downe thy ball. (away
£alu Nay by LadieFathcr,nayfirft take my life
Take vp my ball,l ay downe my Balljtufti>tu(h,
To tennis with an Emperor is not worth a ruftu
Where's neuer a ftroake but all in hazard pi aide*
No Father,ile doe with it as poore men doe
With great mens iniuries,put it vp till rime feme.
Ger* Yetnow at length, ceafe to torment my foulc
More fcourg’d with forrow to behold thee thus,
Then Priam was to fee his Illion burne.
Oh fpeake like to thy felfe, fpeake to my ioy,
JVloreioy vnto ioy-rob’d Germanicus,
Then was the Lidian (freffus dombe borne Sonne,
Stopping his Fathers execution*
Not for the world father,pardon mc:no,no*
What? play the blab before fuch company?
Ger* What company’s heere, onely but we three*
Cali* Mary too many fir,by he,and he.
Ger* Sonnes ftand afide^while we confer together
0/;*Nay for enough^ we needs no couufellors*
~ Gen Not:
 ofClaudius Tiberius Nero.
Ger. Not on my bleffing till our talke be done.
Cal* Then father loe, your Metaniorphiz’dfonnCs
Changed in wit,andin condition chang'd,
Whofe helliih fit hath left atlength to rage*
And plague my fenfes with alunacic.
Which hath made me to be efteem’d a foole.
And fo 1 am,and deeme it beft be fo *
For he that would liue fafe in brutiffi Rome*
Father, a foolifh??r#/«* muff: become*
Nc blame me father,nor vpbraidme for t*
His was by policie,mineby extacie,
Which takes me euermore in companie*
Nor (but coniured by your reucrend commaund)
Could I haue halfe abftained from it thus*
Ger. The ftrangeft fit that euer I haue knowne*f
Which how ef e fcrong,yetftriue to bridle if.
Once giue rcpulfe ana you the conqucft get.
But time cuts off our talkc,my glafleis runne,.
And date of my abode is almoft done,
Say therefore how doth AgripittA fare ?
What makes her flay ? how brookcs fhe my depart?
Cal* Briefly to fay(my Lord) with an ill heart,
For Lhc*hs Tifo with this balefull newes,
No fooner gaue her notice of your flate.
And fuddaine expedition to the Eaft,
But as iffome7~0r/>tf^had her touch t? ♦
A Humming Humber rockt her fenfe afleepe,
And inafwoundfell downe betweenemme armess
Then fcarce remembring how or where fhe wasf
She loekt her winding armes about my necke,.
And thinking me to be Gcrmanicus,
She feald a thoufand kiffes on my lippes*
Each being fteeped in a ftream of teares :
And then Ike fi ghes, and firaight begins to frowns
Thrife Ike difioynd the cherries of her lips-
As if ihemeant to fpeake3and thrife (lie fpake*
E 3; "
Her voyce feem’d dead in labour with her words,
Andonely rendered an abbortiuefound.
Till thrice recall'd at length recouered,
Shefighed for th^ali deare Germanicus!
And wilt thou then fo foone? What more Hie faid.
Drown din the fluent Ocean other teares,
Gafpeda period to her abrupt fpeech*
Ger. Ah me! and doth Hie ftill continue thus ?
Cal. Not no w my Lord:for when as this was don<v
She wackt out of her (lumbring extafie,
Receyuing refruition of her fenfes, *
And then llie blufht, andfight,to fee her errour.
And gan to frame excufes for her fault,
Pronniingfpeedily to come to you.

Winter Pifo and Agripwa*

G<?r. And here Hie comes .My deare Agripin*:
Agri t M oft deare Germanicus,
Nero, Ah ! fee how th* extremitieof loyall loue,
Surceedes in paftions of affection,
as it denieth paflageto their fpeeeh.
‘Dr. Cur ft be the authors through whofe occafion
Happes thedifleueringoffo fweetan vnion.
Afero, Paine wouldfhebidhimftay,fainefay fare-
But feare and 1 oue amaze her in mifdoubt: (well.
She doubts to flay him,fearing to offend him.
She loues too well,too willingly to leaue him:
■Ger* Enforc t, I doome the fen tence of my death,
For<canI liue ifparted from my louc
That art both eflenceofmy loue and life?
Enforc'd? I: yet not I, it is my tongue,
Ore ruld by too ftrift times neceHitie,
makes me pronounce this loathed word, farewell*
Agri. Hi fare that wordfarcwell,fince by farewell
I fare fo ill .-then bid me not farewell:
let vvifli I not thy flay mydcareftLord,
But
 ©/"Claudius Tiberius Nero* A

But that you would a (Tent to one petition.

Be not inquifitiue,fpeake not at all,
VnlefTe when as you fpeake,you faylfhal.
Ger. 1 (hall my deareft deare,iffo you iLall
askeonely whatfhalibe conuenient,
and indifparageablc vnto our good:
Which for I doubt not,fpeake J giue confent*
■Agn. Then in thy little lefTe then banifhment^
Refufemen .t for thy companion,
and this with teares I beg for ratified.*
Reuoke not what is promis’d,nor excufe
With arguments drawne from my fexe and life*
Too weak too feeble,and vnfit for warre,
Or by rel ating all the miferies.
Long trauels,dangerous toyles,misfortunes >wantsj
For all the ills that ifTue out of warre,
I haue them pafl,or pafTe not what they are*
Witneffe this liuely Image of thy felfe.
Of whom I wasdeliueredinthe campe,
Mellon a was mv Midwife,and my paines
Were eafed by theaycr-renting founds.
Of warlike Sackbuts^larions, and Drums.
GerH Thy loue doth make a wanton of thy lcaue^
and through extremitieofpaffion,
You make me halfe to feare you leaue to loue:
Pardon me Agrrpina^ if my loue
through feare to loofe my loue,doth loue to feare.
For life takes life from loue, loue growes from fear,
Feare to diOikejfeare to be faithlelTe proou’d?
Feare for to loofe himfelfefrom his bcftbelou’d.
This fearing loue,and louing fearefulneffe,
Doth bind my heartland prifon vp my tongue:
Why wouldfl thou this?l know thou wouldftit not *
From (lately Rome vnto the Suns arife,. s
So many miles *fo many mifclnefs lies: • .
Where JLhouldft thou haplefTerneaccomp-anie,
The mi fehiefe were redout led >and one houre.
Perhaps fhould caufe me die a double deaths
Once in my felfe,and ten times more in thee.
Yet wouldd thou this^I know thou wouldd it not.
Agr+ Ay mc,my Lord,your word controls my wil*
Ger♦ Time entercepts my time,adieu,
Deare Agripitta once againe adieu.
Pijo. The time is now expired of our ftay^
And therefore you mud either now agree.
Or Madam gainft your will he mud depart.
For my part I will prefently depart.
Agru Ah! day a little while and I haue done, (wel
Ger♦ Madam,for all the world I dare not: fare yee
Agri, And is your hade fo great as his my Lord i
Mud tsfgripma then forfake her lone?
Cjer. Or elfeGermanicus mudleauehis life.
Therefore my deare, deare wife,and dcareft fonnes.
Let me ingirt you with my lad embrace.*
And in your cheekes imprefle afare-well kifle,
Kidc of true kindnefle and affe&ious louc.
Bath’d in the licour ofdidilled raine.
Which nere before didolued into tearcs.
Which falling lowly downe before your fectc^
Seemefottobegamutuall vnitie.
To be continued after my depart.
Which if you are refoluedtomaintainc.
Then vfeno dallying protractions.
But now compendioudy lets take our lcaue,
zsfgr. As wills Germanicus fomudit bee,
Farewell deare Lord therefore,this way forme:

Exit Agrip ina. Ydero^Drufuty and Caligula embrace

Germanlcm^andfollow her* Germamcus at an o»
ther doore. (tors be,
<~r r. Deare wife,deare Tons,heauens your protec-
The Gods ourjguide;farcvvell,thi$ way for me.
Enter
 g/’CIaudms Tiberitis Nero.

Enter Tiberius and Seianus,

Ti* Thus is Germanicut our grcatefl: fcare difpatcht

With fab till Tifo to the Orient.
Didfl: thou not fee with what alacritie.
All the Plebeians at his triumph fhowted
At euery period of his pleating fong?
How that difeordant quire redoubled
With their vntuned voyces relifhing.
Long liue Vi&orious Germanicus?
Buthces di (batch t into Armenia,
And foone mall be difpatcht by Pifo true*
S.m My Lord vpon mine honour He auerre,
Speedie performance of this aflion,
lioinueagled Pifo, fo in wrapt him.
So coniuredhis traiterous refolution,
Storing the villaiue with fuch poyfonous druggs,
AsncuerC/wnor Aetesknew,
1, foincenft his damn’d ambition.
Soothing his humour,p railing his great worth.
Adding the fauours of Tiberius
That were Germatticui imperious Ioue9
Pifo would poyfon him to gaine my loue.
Tib. So much Seianus forGermankus,
But now another cloud obfeures our Sunnc,
Of lefler fauour.but of greater fhow.
That fame infamous Tigres Ialia.
Nemia neucr faw a Lionefle
Was halfe fo furious as is Iulia,
Didft thou not fee heryawning fepulchrc
Raucningto fwallow vp my Emperie?
Did /he not (hew Auguftus te (lament
To hauedifearded me from regiment? ^ <
How can I brooke it ? Do not make replie,
IfN^r* Muzflulia (hall furely die*
G Sfia$ Then
 The 'Tragicall life and death
Seian. Then Iyliamake thy quiche confef-
fion.
Tiber* But yet there doth remain e a corafiue,
A canker that doth gnaw mv feflered foule,
Nero and Drufus yong Germanici,
Whofe youth is guided by two elder (larrcs,
Titius SabinuSj and Afinius,
"Were thefemade Counfellers toProferpine5
(For neither Minos norfierne Eacus,
Nor Rodamanthus were fo mil as thefe,.)
Nero and Drufus might be foone entrapt*
If that Scianusloues Tiberius,
Ifeuer Nero did repay his loue,
Then fee thefe Phofphoribemadc away,
That dimmetheglorie ofourhappieday.
Heere take my Signet , vfe what meanes thou
wilt,
BeEmperour,fo Imayhauemy will.
Tor euen asfureas Nerodrawes his breath,
Alinius andSabinus dies the death#
Suanus* If they did both VlilTes equalize,
Matchles Penolepes vnmatchcd mate,
AndifMinerua ihouldinclow'dtheir thoughtes,.
As Cipria wrapther Achefiadcs:
I,were Apollo their eternall friend,.
They ihould not line ifNero fought their end.
Tiberius* Meane while., as clear,e from all.
fufpition, _ /
Tiberius will leaue this wicked Roome.
Julia. $abinus,and Afinius
Shall rue the abfence of Tiberius#. Exeunt**

Enter Ncru*fbcibmus>f.nd
Afimus,
(cloudes,
flentA* Who fees theSunne incombred in darke
And:
And exhal’d vapours dimme the welkins face*
Followed in purfuite with th’ aftaulting windc,
Which play their furious prizes in the ay re.
And not cxpe&s a iliarpe tempefluous ftorme?
Sabimis* Who viewes the troubled bofome of
themaine,
Endiapred with CoIe^blackePorpefies,
Prodigious Monfters,andprefaging Signer,
Markt in th’appearance of-vnwonted fhapes.
Strange figures and amazing Spe&acles,
andlookes not for a ciuill warre ofwayles? (true,1
lAfimus. Who fees the rules to bee vnfaigned
And not prouides preuenting remedies.
Well might he^ proouetheperrill to his paine.
The Walks once battered by the boyfierousRo^
Hiaine,
And open pafiage forced to their foes,
T oo late it is,for the engirt to plead
In matters, where forefight might frame auaile.
Folly it is totruftto haddwilh
Late prouidcnce procures long repentance,
And thus I quite you for fimilitudes.
Nerna* Cancell that quittance Gallus, Neru^
knowes,
How deepe enfearching is Afinius skill.
But yet I wonder you will fentenceit,
Rather then to acquire the hidden fence.
cyffinin* Sence then is hidde in thofe fimilitudes.1
- Nerua* I,fuch deepe fence as makes my fences
droope.
Sab was* No, fences droop e where fence of ill is
non*.
,
Neru-Sharpe fencemay fenfure ill all thoughts
vnfhowne*
u4/iniuS' Blinde is the cenfure of vneertainties*
' Inertia. I,to the eye which fees what open ly evs,
G —i
tr
z Sab*Yo\i4
 The 'Tragicall life and death
Sabi.Yow fpeakc dsnigmaes,doubtful andobfctire.
JVet U* Yet not fodarkc and hard, as true and fure.
Sabi. Then be mine Oedipus,interpret it.
NotOedipus,itneedes afearching wit,
A quicke conceite,an all obferuing mindc,
Tis that that mud explaine this hidden fence.
Such onewas wont aged Adnius haue,
Such grounded wifdome reaching at conceitc.
Like as the fire in chimicke didillation,
Able to feperate the ellements.
But wherefore weepes Afinius?fhy griefedifclofc,
Nerua will heare,and helpe,whohath like woes*
AJini.Not for my felfe I fhed thefe brini£h teares «
New. Teares fhed for Romes eftate doc drowne
mine eies.
Sab* Hard date where vices Hue,and vertue dies.
WitnefTe the fecrct counfels which arc kept.
Whereto no Rate of Senate is requeued,
Butolde ertablifhtorders quite deteded.
Sab. Like to a butcheredbodj^Rome is rent.
And fecrct fa£lions,complcate treacheries.
Are common fet abroach by each degree-
' Ner♦ Nero hath tane adiew ofdately Rome,
Andpoaded downeinto the Countric,
Nothing regarding his imperiall date,
And heere Seianus reuils all alone,
Free from the checkeofMagidrates controule,
Commaunding all,as he were Emperour.
Sab. And with him keepes the high Auguda heere,
But to what end,the Gods alone doe know:
Who graunt that all may ifTue to the bed
A fin* Amen, Amen,my minde prefageth ill.
And fay we what we can,theile haue their will.
Exeunt nim>Nerua and Sabir.us.
Entn \ulia and Seianus.
lulu And dare Tiberius works oldlufiacs death?
• ~ Sew# Excel-
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
S<7*. Excellent Lady,worthy Iulia,
Vpon mine honour Nero feekes your life.
I til. And can the hcauens fee and not reucnge ?
Notmad<9rey?*/ Chtemncftraes Sonne
Was fo vnnaturall as this beare-whelpe is#
I did conceiue the villaine in my wombe.
Which now Ihatcbecaufeitfofteredhim.
Could I not get fomeTaxus to hauemade*
My wombe abortiue,when 1 him coneiud ?
Ncro,ahNero! did Inot procure.
Thy firft adoption by Auguflus bounty?
Caius and Lucius,thy elder Bretheren,
Onein Armenia,to’therlaft in Spaine,
Andall that thou the Empire migh ft obtaine.
Proud Phaeton, a (Tend thy Fathers throanc.
And roufe the frozen Serpent from his Denne#
Father of darkenelFe,Patrone of confufion.
Reduce ihc Caos of eternall night.
Let hcauen Sc earth,Sc aire,bee brought to nought.
For Neroliues.and Iuliaes life is fought.
Seia♦ In vaine the furie offuch idle thoughts,
Poe but augment thehabit ofyour palhon,
The Virgin a) re doth onely heareyourmoanes.
Which fleeting takes no’imprellion of your griefe#
In vaine you doe implore,the fcencelcfte creature.
For to vnbinde the chaine of conffant nature.
luU Seianus ! wifeScianus! leuely man,
W hat (hall I call thee to obtaine thy loue ?
And yet I know,thou louefl; Iulia.
Seia♦ Madam,vpon my honour I pretefi——*
\hL Protellnomore,Seianusfweareno more,
I doebcleeue thou loueft Iulia:
And may I trull Seianus with my loue?
Seia* And may you trull Seianus with your loue?
If I had not engaged honours pawne.
If 1 had not admired Iulia*
c-3 Loued
Loued Augufla more then mine ownelife.
How durft Ihau-e difclofed Caefars drifts.
Broke my allegiance to my foueraigne,
Clearing the miftieeloudes ofhisreucnge.
But that 1 lou d you more then all the world,
Iuha* Why then Seianus counfell Iulia,
Aduife Augufla in her deepe extreatnes.
Were it not cunning,tell me gentle friend,
For to beguile the Lion of his pray ?
Setan. Augufta, Caefar is your noble fonne*
I nlia* I> but he feekes the life of Iulia.
Sfian* Madam,he may be moued to pittieyou*
Julia. Shall Iulia then entreat degenerate man.
Thatneuer knew Auguftaes royall fpirit?
Did Sophonisba beg her princely life.
Or Anthonies Egyptian parramour?
Did Philips high refolu’d Olympias,
Crouch to Seleucus for her wearie dayes*
And fhall Augufla royall Iulia,
Crouchybeg,entreate her boy Tiberius?
Saan♦ Lady notfo?Seianus will entreate*
Julia* Nor thou,nor any,fhall entreat for me*
Did not I beare him? who (hall beg my life?
I fhame to heare thy foolilh pittying.
Did not we make Tiberius Fmperour?
And can we not depofe Tiberius?
Where are thofe volumes ofinuentions.
Which once had refidence in thy conceit?
Thofe maflacres and golden pollicies,
That ore thy fortunes euer houered?
Record Seianus all thy Chronicles
Diue to the bottome of thy memorie*
And plot fomelaborinth of villanie*
Do not Seianus all in vaine con tends
Nero,orIulia3or both muft end*
&ianf Royall Augufla,Iulia conunauna,
• ,' • The
 o/'Claudius Tiberius Nero*
The vtmoft that Seianus can inuent.
Madam,ydu know that Csefar three dayes fince,
Remou’d hisCourt vntoCampania,
» Whereby his Orchard-
Julia. What by his Orchard?fpeakc Seianus,fpeak,'
What doth the fmoke of Lerna lurke thereby?
Or Thebane Sphinx,or Memphis Crocadile,
What Dipfas,or whatMonfter can we find.
But halfe fo cruel in his proper kind?
There is a Caue S'primea call’d.
Vaulted by arte,made by Geometrie,
Whofe top is wouen with a waning vine.
The leauesoftempredplaifter flagging downe I
Are fann’d with motion of each little wind:
The ruddie clufters of the grapes appearing,.
Liuely engrauen in dependantflones,
NeuerMaufolus,nor Amphions towers.
Nor Afiaes immortall workmanship,
Dianaes Temple halfe fo curious,,
as this entrenched earthly Paradife.
But which encreafeth moft a mazing wonder,
With turning of one ftone all fall’s afunder.
I uiia* What of this? what of the Caue Seianus?
Seian. Here oftentimes the wearie Emperour,
Doth banquetand refrefh his troubled mfnd,
Iu/ta. Enough Seianus, promifeto turnethe flone,
Iulia is ficke,Auguftamuftbe gone*
Set* Madam,vpon mine honour lie make him fure*
Julm. Farewell Seianus,Imuftneedes begone*
8 x it Julia*. Ahmet Seianus fo las*
StiiW*Madam farewell* Go ftepdame Iulia,
Plot with Seianus for Tiberius death.
But firftgo tell thcQueene of fearefull Diffc,.
and read ale&ure there of policic,
Neuer totrufl a friend in fecrecie*
So then Seianus here Epitomize
all thy deuifesfbr to get the crowne* Betwixt
 The fragicatl life and death
, *■ j .

Betwixt thy hopes and thee are feauen lights,

Scauen wandring planets^eauen obftacles,
Tf her us Ctfar,and Germanic#*.
The triple offpring of (jcrmasticusi
I uHa, isfgriptridi and L iuiai
All thefe Seianm twixt thy hopes and thee*
But for Germanic us hce is ccl ipfl",
Kis Orient of honour is obfeur’d*
I hope ere this by Pifoes diligence*
Iuha is in her ftruggling agonie,
Betwixt the poy fon and concoction:
Drufus, Tiberius fonnc,Imcaneto fpeede.
And make his father for to murther him#
Eucn thus the Caue I told ro Iulia,
Is verie true,I doe not vfe to lie.
Not to complot the deeped vilianie*
Nor did ! heather’s fuch a Caue indeede,
And with one (lone I can confume the worke*
Some (lender fhallow polititian now,
"Would deeme it here a point of wondrous reach
To murther fonne and father in this Caue#
Notfo,Seianus hath a farther fcope.
Deeper conceit, and farre more mi(licall:
The Caue fhall fall andyetT/imWliuc,
But I will feeme to vnderprop the Caue,
With thefemy pillars,andbeare all the loade.
So fhall I get more fatipur with the Prince,
That whom foeuer I fhall countenance,
Shall feeme as ere repealed Oracles#
Then will Iworke this credulous conceit.
To whatimprefhon my baineinuents,
lie to Campania.Now firfl haue at his fonne,
Then for himfelfe when all my plot is done.
£xtt Set anus.
 e/Claudius Tiberius Nero.
Enter GermAtticm, rnd *Tifo At one dooret VoMHt: And
hisfonneatthe^the)*

G.s Vomnrt though this proud rebellion

Difturbcthe vniuerfail vnitic,
although this vtmoft member of the world*
Hath made a reparation from the head:
Though thou and chv proud fonnein daring arrocs
Ha»*e made our Eagles fwcatin thy purfuitc;
Yet know a Roman i$ thine entmie,
,* Whofe Legions far, e furpafl'e in Chiualric,
The triple Phalaux of
Were « uerie man a furious F lephant,
ftul dbv a Cafticof Numidians,
Theft Germane Legions would encounter thci**:
and thefenew fquadronsoutof Italy,
Would ftriuc with them in glorious emulation.
Till with thefpoileofvanquilht Elephants,
They might encampe a pale with Iuorie.
Yet know tny mereie farre exceedes my ftrengtfa,
an Oliues branch wreath’d with huipiibcic#
Shall win more fauour with Gcrmanicus,
Then all the Enfigncs in Armenia can#
Speake then Vononcs,wil t thou %ht or yeeld*
pon. Germanicus, as to my hoflile friend,
Vononcs knowes thy honourable inindc,
admireSjbntnothing fearcs thy victories.
Except thy perfon,Thusmuch for your ftatc.
Cerni3nicus,ti5no rebellion,
For tomaintaineour ancelWsrenowne,
Itisyour pride tofeeke Dominions,
Finding occafionsftill to conquer all;
Firft Romulus encreaft his Colonies,
By ruineof his neighbour borderers.
Within the circuit offure Italy,
Subie&cd to your Lor dl) En pities
The©
Then mufl: Scicilia be your grauaric,
Carthage be fackt for emulation,
Spaine mud find horfes,F ranee an enemie.
Because that Srennus fcal’d the Capitoll,
Yong Philip in the fecond punicke warre,
Mufl: be reel aim’d by oldiEmilius,
Mithridates for hel ping Perfeus,
Mufi pay a ranfome of all Afia
To Taurus Mountaine$yet not fo content,
Except he yeeld vp Lifimachium, O
For h in>.Ti gran es,Ptolomie for Anthonie,
My Grandfire for great Pompcys dignitic.
Mud yeeld the title of his royaltie:
Romanes, you wrong the world by falfc pretences^
Ta’make them al your vafTaile Prouinccs:
How did the Britaines wrong your Empirie?
TheGallogretiansjor theScithians?
What did Numidia,or what did Germanic?
The late Carafter of thy vi&orie*
Let fearefull Cowards to the Romanes yeeld:
Vonones will fi2;ht out this blodie field.
‘ U t • r
S * ,f J , v ) ] ' 'ft y f , t ’A *Vf \ ' , > ' • ; . /

Exeunt both wayes, and enter again e tofight, Vwon si

and bis finne fiie. Enter Germanicus and Pifo*
■ %\ i , . (-v • % .»;
.„ (-H-, ' ?i * f \ * v . \ it» < *, 4 * n > f > / ’ ' i,

Now arethefe Orientall braueries quail’d

thefe rauening wolues hem’d in their lurking dens
••

Tigramenta,were it proud Babylon,'

Glew’d with Alphaltes flime impenetrable,
WercitPireusjor Seleucia,
Germanicus wouldneuerleaueaflault*
Till it were fubieft to Germanicus*
Sound them a parley.
£nter ZJonones asvpon the walks*
GermanicusJpeaketh♦
Ger. Vonones,fird to thy vpbraiding taunt?,
* Whic
 Which then thy furie would notlet thee hcare,
Thou called: vs Romanes too ambicious.
Competitors to all the worlds Demame,
Proud to infult vpon Dominions,
By faignedfhew offomereceiued wrong:
Firfl: know Vonones that great Romulus,
Diuincft ofspring of th’ immortall Gods,
Neuer vfurpt vpon his neighbour bounds,
Without the iufioccafion ofreuenge:
Witnefle the tempeftsofthe Splines troopes, }
it And Titias Titaias doubtfull trecherie:
Scicilia we redeem'd from feruitude.
From Carthage bondage,whofe ambicious pride*
Fiue hundred thoufand flue in Italy:
Spaineas abettors offalfe Hanniball,
Subduedby Africans to our rule, •
FranceJPhilip, Perfeus, and My thridates^
Tigranes*Ptolomie,and N umi dians,
BoldBrytonSjScithianSjGallogrecians,
Neuer without defiance were furprizde,'
Neuer without iuftcaufe we them defied:
Vonones thou doft know this to be true.
Yet your prefump tlon makes you all to rue.
Vono. Germanic us were all theRomanefpirits,
Imbarkt within thy royall curtefie.
Or were thy fpirit infufedinto all,
Tigranocerta by the die of warre.
Should neuer make my realme vnfortunatc*
Vonones wouldbetoGermanicus
A vafiaile fubiefl, tributarieKing.
Ger. Vonones,not vnto Germanicus, j>
But vnto Nero bend thy humble knee:
If at our Eagle thou wilt lay thy crowne.
Then faile toRomejand in the Capitoll
There reintreate great Caefars clemencie,
Yeeld vp thy Citie,and difiniffe thy force.
H z Vonones
 Von6ftes 1 admire thy valourous minde,
This is the way to fitidTiberiUs kinde.
Z)on, Gcrmahicus.luSw touch I honour thee!
, Vononesfawnes notforhis libcrtie,
for know,before that tytant Ihall infult
O uer the ^Armenian Oriental! Prince,
‘ Euen by the Sun,and all his coufcfeliors*
The autout Of our rOyail progenies ,
Scale,burne,afTault,l>atter, vnd&lnine,
Renue^s oft y bur wearied Legions,
as Polinices,Or the Thebane wall*
Nothing but death Vortones Ihidl enthrall#
Sterns* Then to t he fight,
and heauen I trull will ay de vs in our right#

Germcmtctis and Pifofeat* the Germtmieus ii

repulfi ihefirftajfautt> 'PifoyvitiHethtbe *>a/lfirft$
but is in danger by VononeS and bis fonne: <7 ermatfi*
sus refenttb ^Ptfo^Vononesand bisfeme flit.

Che fara>fara$Mto<pit all their force,

Tigranocertayis fubdtted to VS.
Romanes afFauk th e Keepedet them not breathy
T ill vvith the cinders of the fired Tower,
Your dreadfull furie cleane*difR)lued be.
S ound a parley within.
Pifo. Butharkejth1 Armenians doe aparlycratoe^
J think e thei l y eeld,and fo our labour faue.
Ger. Then found terror to their melting hearts
T hey re found a parleyed Vortones on the Keepe.
Zion. Germanicus,andRomaneconquerours$ *
, Imperious Lords of Fortunes Emperie,
' *Vonones here vpon his fuppliant knee,
Which euer yet was like the Elephants,
That had no finew,had no bendingroynt,’
jfiere he that neuer begg’d.doth now entreat
. Aboone,
 ©/"Claudius Tiberius Mere.
Aboone,a glorious boone:Germanicu$,
Tis not my life: Vonones heart would breake
Before his tongue /hould be his Oratour.
Tis not Captiuitie,norTowne,n.or Friendes*
Nor Realme nor wife,nor my pofteritic, *
GcrnianiciiSjit is a boone offamc
Vonones beggs,that ncre will beg againe.
Ger* And as I liue,Vonone$ /ball obtaine.
How honour croft by chance,reuiues againc! v
Vonones, Then thus,in Angle combat I deAe,
Some worthy man at armes,that dare performer
This honorable challenge in the field.
If that Vonones liue,thi$ is the boone.
For foure and twentic houres to haue my fcope£
For toordaineanew fupply ofwarre.
If I be vanquifh’tjvfe the law ofarmes*
Germ* Difcend Vonones, on my honours pawnc
For to performe this refolution.
Germaniens comes doveneto the Stage*
Romaines,on your alleagiance be gone,
Perfwafion is the fight of prefent death:
I fee the Garlands dangling in the skies.
Of Coruin and Torquates victories*
Vonones commcth downed hey fight and breat h>
Vonones being wounded* 1 amp e.
Von* Curfs’dbee thehoure, and curfledbeethc
Which giues the influence to my haplcfle being:
I had not deem’d that twentie thoufand foules.
Could haue orc'quelled in a Angle fight.
My armour,purpled with vermillion blood,
(More then the Scarlet blulhthemaker gauei) •.
You hebbred furies,I plague you all in hell,
That thus do torture me ; come ontbouTarg of
Rome*
Tioht againe^nd Vonones is flaine*
Gcr* Ah noble Spirit, and art thouquite extinct ?
H ^ Galiens
 jThe Tragicalllife and death
V
Gallant Vonones much I pittic thee,
Too much dere earth opprefTe him not with weight
Wliofe minde was elcuated whilft heliued.
Let lillies decke his euer*flowring toombe.
And Rofets border on his wayled graue.
Sweet Nightingales participate his breath,
Helpe toimmortallize his glorious death*
7'tfo and all the R^omaines come downefrom the
all to Germanicuit and (fermamens fpcakt [
to them♦
Now braue Centurions,worthy Legions,
After the night of labour.honours day
Bring foorth the mural! Crowneand Ornaments.
Plf, Germanicus,whofehead ihall thisadornc?
ger* His that deferud it,andl deeme* twas L
1Jif. Know nay Germanicus,but it was I
That firftrepulft th' Armenians from their wallcs,
Firfl pitcht my Eagle in theconquercd Tawne,
Not honour?nor imperious ambition,
Can make a Romaine yeeld his honours title.
I feald the fconce,therefore the Crowne is mine,
I pitchc mine Eagle^ine are the Ornaments*
And by my foule,and by Bellonaes night,
Pifo will haue his ownejiis Crqwne,his right.
Qer. Pifo fhall haue his owne,fhal haue his right.
But for the murallCrowne(my honours meede) y
The glorious Signetofmy vifforie:
FirfHfars fhall turne vponthis earthly pole.
Bound to this fhadie Orbes circumference.
And heards of beads fhall graze on earthly pafture/
Betwixt the Lyonand the doubleBeare,
Nature turn’d topfey turuey fore that day, s
Pifo my honours Crowne fhall braue away.
Pi/. Braue!Pifo will notBraue,his deeds fhalplead
Ger.His deedes aheke are tongue^tide Oratours,
Without ambition I pleadc my right.
Diet
 Didnot Imy Life in th’firftaflault,
Thrice change my Target ouerpoys’d with Darts?
Did not I brandifh in t he fecond fight.
My burning Semitertthat all their eies.
Could not indure the heateofhis reflexion ?
Then in themidftofall the frontiers ftrength
Hew’d me apafiage to Vonones Sonne,
Whofe dying Ghoaft bare record of my force,
That did difmay their power , difman their walks,
TherefixtmineEagle,then vnbard their Gates,
And ftreight remounted to aflault the Keepe.
Perchance that Pifo by fomepofierne gate,
Crept through a meufe, & by the winding ftayres,
Pantmgand breathleffe,ftale vp to the walks.
But I--
pif. Nay (lay Germanicus,my heart doth throb,
Mineeares doe glowe, to heare thy brauing taunts:
I am a Soldier,and as good as thou.
But for the childifh rumor of thy name i
And fhall I loofe by thefe infulting tearmes
The Crowne ofhonour that 1 haue deferu’d ?
Not one fault drop ofSweatsthatIhaue fpent.
But honours fountaine fhal 1 repay agaiae.
Germanicus,Pifo will haue his due,
Or thou or he,this fa&ofthinefhall rue.
(fentur. My Lords,what difmal furie doth enchat
Your noble Spirits to this mortall ftrife \
The Romai ne mi 1 litarie 1 a w es en force,
That in thefe graue demurres the Soldiers quell:.
Should giue the honour by a whole confcnt:
Arc you my Lord Germanicus content,
And.you Lord Pifo with our Romainelavves ? -
Gcr. Worthy Centurion with all my heart.
Pif I mufi:perforce,or elfenothauemv part,
Cent.Speak Soldiers,Pifo or German.(Germar icus
Sot* Germanicus, Germanicus, the Crowne is to
1 £cnt* Trunu
i
 The Tragical!life anddeath
fifttu. Trumpcts,relate toheauenthis Vhitic,'
(jermantetts jitteth downs, T tjo at she <n her end cftbi
Stage fprincklcth Tender on the Crontt^and them btjet*
teth it on Germanicus hit hcadfTrumpets found*
Pif I loft the Crowne,butIhaue wonthedafj
Long liue Victorious Germanicus.
Ger. Pifo grieue not at Iuftice equitic*
Mine honour’s dearer Pifo then my life.
Except this grudge,Pifo,I honour thee.
Depute thee Lord Armenian gouernour.
To grace thy vertue and reward thy paine,
Farvvcli good Pifo,ile to Antioche*£ri/,(fa\eh&&
Pf I,gee Germanicus but nerereturne.
That Crown e ftiali be the laft thou ere (halt wearC,
That garland decks thy fpcedy funeral! ;
Ifthat Germanicus pane Antiochc,
Rfo's a foolc,Seianus had no wit:
T hat powder which I fpnnckled on theleauc?.
Me of my death,him of his life bcreaucs. £xu PiJ*.

Enter T thorites Solus*

Tib♦ lam difpos’d to meditate alone.
Herein my Orchard,let none dare trouble met
Thefe Poppies too much afpirc>they are too high,
Jmuftneedes make them headleffe for their pride.
And fure their feede would breede a deadly fleepc.
Should I not crop them,in their flow ring prime;
Thefe marigo)ds?wouldfcllow with the Sunac^
I fl ihouldfuffertliemtufproutonhigh.
Buttle confine their (future to my meafurc t
So will 1 doc with all competitors*
Here’s an olde rootedoth hide the riling plants,'
And thatdothrnakemethinkeon lulpa.
WJieTeisSeiarus,thatincarnatediue'4,
Hath heno> ended vet my greateft euill?
Idocii.ndouLt the Viliame,oh die flaue l
He
 o/'Giaudius Tiberius Nero.
He may bewray me to the Senators r
He may difclofcmc vntolulia:
He may difcouer me to Germanicu st
He may doc what he will,to fceke my end ♦
Exit Tiberius*

Enter the Ghofi ofGermamcus.

Cjhoafi. Ingratefiill Nero,and ingratefiill Rome,
VntothemerritsofGermanicus,
Reu enge my caufelefle wrongs,great Proferpinc,
Who murthcred was by hatefull treachcric*
Methinkes lam a man,and now could raue.
That nere before did know what anger ment«
This murall crowne wrought my vntimely deaths
By Pifoes enuie,and Tiberius pride,
Germanicus,poore foule doe not complaine.
For prayers cannot thy life reftore againc,
I will goe fee my Children and my wife.
That I may thinkc on them in this new life.
Exit G ho aft,

Enter Agripina At one doere, Drufus And Nero At the

ther crying outsat from theirldeds.
My fathcr,my deare Lord Germanicus.
Agr* My husbandry deare Lord Germanicus*
<DrH. My father^ny deare Lord Gerroanicus, *
Mother and Brother,helpe Germanicus,
Fiefluggi(hBrothcr,draw thybalcfull fword.
Mother,fling wilde fire at the Crockadile,
For nothing elfe can peirce his brazen skales*
Agr♦ Drufus,what fpiritdoth difiurbe my SonnO
<j}ru* Mother,me thought I few Marcichora,
The dreadfull hiddeous jEgiptian baft,
Horrid and rough flimy and terrible.
Fac'd as an Hidra like fame vnquoth man,
Whofe cares hang dray ling downe vnto hir feete,
I Sweeping
 The Tragicall life and death
Sweeping the loathfome foil e with greedinefle,
Fang’dwith three Iron grates ofdecly tuskes,
Wall eyed, with collour lleept indeepeftjiloud,
With Lyons clawes>and Scorpions poy fern on s ding
Wouen in Gorgias hundreth thoufand knots,
His murmuring found.rmxt of two Simphomes,
Rebellowedtwixta flute,and trumpets foundj
That feern’d the world with roring to confound.
By him me thought I faw a gallant bead,
A princely Lyon,crown'd with honours mcede,
At which this vgly Monfter wrought amaine.
For to defeatethe Lyon of his pray,
But all in vaine,till this deceitefuli bead,
Belcht foorth an ayrie deathdnfeding breath.
At which me thought the Lyon vanished.
And my deare Father,gr eat Gcrmanicus,
Plac'd in his roc me by this bead perridied:
Twice thus I dream't,and dill my thinkes I dreamc#
But mother,what did your affrighting meane?
Agri. Oh Sonne! I dream’t that in the azure sky e.
For one Epicicle two Sonnes did driuc.
One darted ray es,the other rainebowes made:
One dickered plants,the other moou’d the fire:
One fhining.tother dimmer one truc,tother falfe,
And in this difeord all in heauenly motion.
The hoaff of darrie cloudes did hide the ayre.
Thcfe hideous monders met in furious rage.
As ifthe world had beene diffevered,
Like when a Whale runs in the boy dcrous mainc.
Seeming to fhoulder all the y eelding waucs.
So by contrition ofthis dawning night;
The Axthree of heauen did feeme to mooue:
From whence,as from an anuilefeem’d to dreamy
A day of lightning,and a thunder bolt.
Which rendring paffage to the Orient,
Seem d for to light vppon Gcrmanicus.
This frighted Agripint in her Dreame.
But Nero what did thy vpftarting meane?
Nero. My thought I fawe a fnowyemilke white
Encountring with a rauening bloody Stork. (Swan
When in the furious heateofall their broyle,
TheStorke was fuccoured by a neighbour Crane*
The Swan relieued by a dunghill Cocke,
All ioyne in battaile,all to furious.
But whether by faire Venus prayersto Iouc',
Or other fate,the Swan and gallant cocke,
Ceaz’don the Crane,and carkafTeofthe Storkc,
All which feem’d pleafing to my flumbring fence.
But all too rufull that which after fell.
Fell difcordtwixtthe Swan,and Cocke arofe,
ThepeereleffeSwanne was worthy Conquerour,
But yet alas the gallant Cocke.—•
Enter CMaximus ameffengerfrom GcrmanicWyhc
knocketh at the doore♦
But who difturbes vs at this time of night ?
Where is the Porter with the Citties watch?
Max* Open,ah open vnto Maximus.
Pr.Thefaithful Maximus,God fend good newes*

Enter Maximus*
Aqr* Too much I fec,I dare not hear c the reft.
And yeti wilknay farwell Maximus,
I will not feare, yet feare comes gainft my will.
Mine eares are ftopt,how doth Germanicus ?
Max* O! were I mute,or had my carefull nurfte,
Mere taught this dolcfull Engine for to fpeak*, ,
Thenlhouldmy foulein mourning filence groane*
tslqr*Ah deere Maximus by all that ere was deare
Within thy truftie heart,make no delaics,
Tel Agripinarridher of her feare.
My heart is hardned euen the worft to hcarc.(Rome
Max* ThenJVladamiuhencc we left this ftately
 *The Tragtgalllife and death
Proud in the Triumphes of Germanicus.
My Lordfirfl: fayled to Brandufium,
So to Achaia ana from thence to Rhodes* '
From thence to Ephefus,fromEphefus
ToLifimachium we bent our courfe,
Thenceto themountaine Taurus marcht byland.,
Sheluing on which wecoaft Armenia,
and in her firtill bowels pitcht our Tents.
Vonone s three leagues off di fplaide his flag,
The fcarlet Enflgne of his bloody minde.
There like two heards ofLyons,weinrang*d
Our fquadron to their Phallax,to their darts,
Our flings: againft their Cammels, all our herfe.
Betwixt our armies Tigris fwiftly ran,
and there within a league on our right hand,
Adecpe-deluM Caucj (fitambufh to intrap)
All vaulted with a young difprayed groue.
Here with £ue hundreth foot-men light ofarmes*
My Lord did place me till he gaue the figne :
So in the heate our Legions feem’d to fly c.
Till all Vononcs armie part the floud.
And in purfuite of our fuppofed flight.
There all enuironed with hidden troopcs.
That faw Vononcs and his fierie Sonne*
And feme fe w more, which them accompanied.
We made an ende of this rebellion*
Tigranbcerta then w e all inclos’d.
And wonne it,and my Lord Germanicus,
In Angle combatfflcw their gouernor*
Ah my deareLord! how fares Germanicus}
Max. I,thats the difmallnewes I haue to tell,
Leauing the Orient thus in fctled peace.
And Pifd Pretor of Armenia,
We marched to the CittieAntioche,
Whereas my Lord had heard were Chtiflian
ludejap Prieftcs,the which didmagnifie.
 g/’GIaudius Tiberius Nero*
An vnknowne God,in dayly pietic.
Before the Cittie grew a Cipreffe Groue,
Strcw’d vnderncath with fading Violets,
Where Gaftly Screach-owlcs hold their refidence.
True Prodigies,offatall miferics.
about the midday of Antipodes,
When our Horrizon was benurnd with fleepe,
a furie and a padion both at once,
Began furprize my Lord Germanicus# {her Sons♦
Agr.Oh heauens! *—Shefaintethancl is vpheld by
Dru* Mother you promis’dfor to heare the word:
and can you not indure the firft aflault?
A grip. Yes Maximus,tell out the dyrefl: wo.
My hart conceiues more griefthen thou canft (hew
Max. What time the liuing diall of the night.
His firft alarum,rang to Cipria,
Gall ofmy foule,I faw that woefull fight.
Wherein my Lord (tormented) meekely lay.
Like to a Lyon in his generous kinde.
Doth gnaw the earth,in felncfle of his minde.
Grudging forro w but difdaines to moane.
Or rore in torment of his agonie.
So lay Germanicus in grieuous paine:
Yet griefe from outward Ihew did much reftraine,
But feeling that his fpirits gan to faile,
and vitall pulfesleaue their motion.
He cald for Plato,and there two houres red.
Of the immortall eflence of the Soule,
Soconftantinhis foules Diuinercleeuing, (uing
That griefe cuen grieu d herfelfe, for him not grie*
Then to his friendes,he gaue this laftfarwell.
Dearefriendes,and worthy countrymen adiew*
Had I in this fairc May of all my glorie.
By fates Eternallhand beenecatcht from earth,
I might accufe the Iuftice of the Gods,:
But fince by Pifo*and his poyfonous drugs,
I 3 Germa™
 The 'Tragicall life and death
Germanicus is lolls reuengc my death.
sign. Enough,too much: OI can b^arenomore.
Good Nero goe,run to Sabinus houfe. (Extt Nero
And treate him come,and comfort thy fad mother*
Drufus goethou vnto Aliniuslodge* (rDrufns
And wooe him hether to thy forowing Mother.
B it was my Husband poyfoncd by thatflaue ?
O Monflrous hell-hound of ambition J
Noman could proue it, but it was fiimuYd,
Both by the dying words ofmy deare Lord*
And by the fuddaine fwelling of his head*
That like a fnow white Leaper was defilde.
As by the heart of great Germanicus,
"Whole body being burnt,that yet vntoucht.
As certainenotofpoyfonftill remain'd,
"Which I embalmed with Arabian fpices,
Mixt with the allies ofmy deareftLord:
Haue in this Allablafter box preferu’d.
The onely Relique of this Tragedic,
Which to you worthy Ladielprefent,
Yours it was liuing,yours it mud be dead.
*dgrip. I had it liuing,and mull haue it dead,
all may befall that mud neceflitie.
Fly*" liuing foule,into this luftleflc heart,
T»ut itmay animate my greater part.
Orclfe(Oh Gods)grauntthis felieitye
That here my breathing foule may tombed be.
Mine eyes lhall drizell down Arabian mirrhe.
To garnifhall Armenian infettions
Or falling from my eye-ballcs couered be.
With this faire coueroffadmifcries,
3 mufl needes looke vpon this lafl: reliefe.
Which fwels,as being angry for my griefc.'
Ah my Germanicus! thus to hold thy heart,
Yeeldes me no comfort,but augments my fmart>
Nero retnrneth.
Ner .Met
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero,'
Ner* Mother, $abinusfometwohouresfincc*
Is gone to viiite faire Elizium.
tyign. vVhat to thy Father my Germanicus?
XDrufus runneth,
‘Druf. Mother,Afinius Gallus very weake*
Expeds the fatall houre of his death,
Phifitiansteil him heispoyfoned*
e^r^Toomuch my Sonne, great forrow ftill is
dumbe. Exeunt omnes*
Enter Plebeians with one of Maximus his Soldiers.
i. An disit triie,did Pifopoyfon Germanicus ?
Sold, Triic,Iastrueasthisisan Armenian Loufe,
that bit me by the backc,& I am fure I carried none
out of Rome with me: for his head fweld, his hayre
would not burnefand hee dyed in a furie,and wc ai
know that Pifo had mortal! hatredagainft him
becaufe he wold not let him haue his mural crown*
2.0 Germanicus Germanicus! oh good Germa¬
nicus ! the veriehunnifuckleof humanities and the
Mary-goldeofmagnanimitie:Pi. is not copared to
him,Pifonoe,heis tohim(cuen in thecreamc of his
naturc)the verielees ofliccntioufnes, the Verguifc
ofvill any,the very excrement of euil, and which is
more,hehadno reafen topoyfonhim.
3 Good Germanicus, oh when (hall I make thee
an other pay re of boot s that would euen fmile whe
they fliould come vppon his leggc*?01 ihali ncucr
make fuch merric bootes againe,for all the drie lea¬
ther in my /hop I warrant will weep intirely when
they heare this newes.
SoU Confentto me,Pifo will be heare prefently
(he thought to hauebecnc hcerebefore vs) content
to me,lets plague him for Germanicus.
i Agree^and lets roll him in his skinnefas you
toft a Cat. (quicke
z Nay, lets dro wnc him aliucj or cite bury him
Sold* Na/k
 The Tragicall life and death
$»/£ MayiwiH you all keepe taueh , and weele
tearehimiovntbyioynt when weehauegot him,
therefore {land clofe,for J hearehis horfeneigh,thc
Afle will be hecre prefently,
E nter Tifo*
Tif. Haile Mother Rome,
Sol. Lftormes of vengeance on thy curfled head,
i. Where is Germanicus ? fpeake!
s. Speak! what haft thou done with Germanicus?
Tif I cannot tell.
All. But wee will make thee tell.
They drag him in » and enter Againe with his lims in their
handset heyJh out and cry , (Lord
Omnes♦ Thus hauc we fentreuengeto our dcare
Thu* haue we fent Germanicus reuengc.
Sxemt.Omuc^

Unter T iberms attd Sctonus out of the Qaac*

Tibe» Sejanus.
Seta, My Lord,
Tibe* Ho Sejanus.
Seia, Here my gracious Lord.
Tibe0 A plague vpo him*thatfirft made this Cau&
It was not fumptuous,notfaire enough
To be the Tombc ofa liue Emperour.
Thankes to my Genius, and thy prouidence.
That hath defended me from farther ill.
And yet my fliouldgrs feclc the heauie ioadc*
Sirraabrum $
Vanifti the monuments of antiouc worldes^
Mew'd in cxtcrnallfilcnce bcobfeuredj
l^ot Thefius lone vnto Pcrrithous
Mot Alexanders to HatphciHon,
Mor the twoBrethcrcn of Paris fworne,
fhatin eternal} courjfes feale the heauens,
pid met mntftfk fueh deraonftratiom.
Of
 Of faith vnfaign*d,and more then Turtle-done*
Saued my life, now by my Geneus
Ifall the world were ten^times multiplied.
And one of them wcremade ofmafTie gold^
Enameled with Pearles and Diamonds,
Emboft with Iafper and Alites vertue:
Yea wereall thefcimaginarie worlds,
Vnder Tiberius his dominion.
This world,this rough-caft world with precious
Should be the guerdon ofmy failed life* (Iemsj
Ah my Seianusywhat can Nero find.
To counter-ballance fuch afaithfull minde.
Seiatu Mod:gracious Caefar mightic Emperour*
HadPcllion andCoflabeeneconioynd.
Had mounting Tcnarus with the fnowie Alpes*
And high Olympus ouerwhelm'd the Caue,
Yet would Seianus (likeBriarius)
Haue beene embo well'd in this earthie hell*
Tofauethclifeofgreat Tiberius.
Tib* Now haue 1 tried the trunefle ofthy ftampej
Bkh’ touchftonc of this late opprcfiion,
Nero repayes thy loue with vfurie.
But by my Geneus how this fuddaine feare
Hath made vs cleane forget our mothers care,
Tell me Seianus, how fares Iulia?
Seta* My Lord Ihe dothxomend her to yo ur grace
But very weake vpon a furfet taken.
Tib* As how Seianus? old folkes vfe good diet,
Seia♦ And fo did (he my Lord, at fuppertime
■She tooke a kernell ofreftoratiuc,
Jn a Pomgraner,which did fo preuaile,
As that left her ficker with her Phificke:
Afinius and Sabinus her deare friends,
Fromthat Apothecarie didreceiue,
T h e 1 i k e r eftora tiu e w ith 1 ik e effe ft:
And then Ipoafted to your Makftie.
K Tib.mi
 Tib. tuba,Sabir) userid AfiniuS)
Foreach ateare/fotoElrzium*
But w hat Seianus note I in thy face?
The feale of feare though well diflimblcd*
Are they not all difpatcht why deft thou feare?
Seian. Vpon mine honour all are perifhed (foule?
Tti*. What doth thy confcience thendiilurbe thy
Whatmeanes the carelefle fowling of thine eyes?
Thy louingiorowjfoulding ofthine armes? J
Thy fuddame fighs,thy wauering countenance? '
Now all th) blood doth ebbe into thy heart*
Now all thy blufhing vifageouer-ffowes,
Speake $ny Seianus,fauer ofmy life.
And by my Geneus thou iEalt obtaine.
Seta, Feare and allegiance,dutie and afferftion.
Honour and pittie,loyaltie and loue,
Raifemutuall tumults in my clouen heart.
Tib* Speake goodSeianus, Nero longs toheare^
The mutinous diflention of thy feare.
iSetan* May be my LordSeianus fearesinvaine.
Ttb. Let Caefar know* lead Cadar feare in vaine*
Scan, Whatifmy Lordit do concernemyhurt?
Tib. Yet tell to Caefar who can cure thy hurt.
Sl id, I am per fwaded'that it is but forg'd*
Tib* Well,how foeuer I commaund thee fliew.
v Seta, Fauher my tongue thou dolefull inftrument,
Infortunate to tell fo bad a llorie.
Pardon my Lord*
7"//* Seianus I commaund.
And by my Geneus 1 will be obeyed.
c9d^* Then heauens beare witnes what! do record
Comes ofno mahcc nor ambition,
For ofmine honour Ido thinkc it forg’d*.
JVly Lord,{ince you lay in Campania,
It is a rumour blowne by vulgar winded
That you. will-neuer backe rctume to Rome*
1 could
 I could not gefFe on whatprefumption:
But when I firft aflaulted Iulia,
And Ihe had {Wallowed vp the poyfonous baight,
Faith then in loue vnto her Ladilhip,
I told her that your grace did feeke her death*
Not Menus with the frantike dames of Thrace,
(That in their Dionifian facrifice,
Mangled the bodieofpoore Pentheus)
Raued like Iulia in her paflion.
Ttb. O how it doth me good toheare her mad!
Seia, Mayitpleafeyour Maieftietogiue mcleauc
Here to fet downe a dolefull period.
Tu No by my Geneus Nero will heare all.
Seia, Afterthe furie,anger tooke her throne*
Like a fierce Lion chaft to feeke reuenge.
When wooing me with many honie words,
©fgood, and wife,and friended debonaire.
Idle finononimies ofwomens wit,
fiie all to prayed my conftant fecrecic
And! to neare the fummall exigent.
Swore neuer to rcucalc her policie
Whilcfi Iulia and Seianus both fiiould Hue.
And I hauekept my promife with her to.
Then did flie feeme to wooe me with her lookes*
But good my Lord let here Seianus leauc.
For on mine honour all may be but forg’d*
Ttb. Ifthou concealeftbutonefillable,
Nero will hate theein eternitie.
Sda. My Lord,great Iulia faidfhe wouldprcuent
.Tiberius in hisTygerscruelties
She fvvore my ayde,fhe fworc my/ecrccic,
Adding a gift to eueriewordefhefpake:
This Ringjthis Signet of Auguftus Armes,
This Iewell,pi£hrrc ofyour noble father.
Yet Iulia you know my Lord was wife,
And all may be but forged pollicie;
K x She
 The 'Tragicalllife and death
She faici ho w (he deuifed had the plot.
In this Campanian ceceflion.
(Oh Godsforf end)to end Tiberius daies?
Tib* Tis well Sejanus fhce’s-butpioceede#
SeLu The day before the biuftering Ides ofMarck
Which as I take it,this day is expired.
(That made me pofte To haflily from Rome)
On this fame fatal! day,olde lulia fwore*
Hir Sonne Tiberius fliould be poy foned*
But by whofe means,my Lord I mull conceale,
For ofmine honour I doe chinkc it forg’d.
Tiber. Conceale a Tray tor,and my guard flial lop
Thy ioynted carkafle: goe too tel me all*
Sei/t* Why then my Lord,imaginealli$falfe,
And what Ifay,is all but counterfaite#
Doe not comciue that Drufus your deare fonne^
Afpiresto be aprefent Emperour j
Beleeuenot that this day he makes a feaft.
Where niighrie Caefar,fhouldbc poyfoned#
Thinke not that Spado that Twig foone bent to
Is now corrupted toperlbrmethe a&.
Who rafting firft vnto ycur Maieftic*
Wf ha Vine-branch enfoulded on his arme
Will fqueafe in poy fonous drugs to flay my Lor&
Imagine this to be a lying dreame.
Though Juliafware and vow d if ihorld be fo9
And made great ioyance,that it fliould be foj.
Beleeue it not,furely fhe laid not true,
For on mine honour I doe thinkeitforg’d.
Tiber. No,no,Sejanus,Ihaue well olleru’d^
Thehaughtie flomackeof th’afpiring Ecy,
But He pull downe his lofty crefled plumes.
And teach him homage to his foueraigne*
Kow dare the flraglins elfe,oncelookeonmc^
And not be turn’d into an Afpenleafc,
To tremble at each breathed fillablei
B • ;■ &I4: Bo
 Seia* Be patient*good my Lord,perhaps tis felft?
Or be it true,as who would once conceiue,
Such headlong furie in ambitious thoughts*
Did not Mithridates Pontus King-,
Forgiue Phraatej his rebellious Sonne?
Did not Iugurthus father, often checke
His high a (piling thoughts? yet him forgauet
Ttber* Talke offot giuenefle in fomepettie Kinj#
Hot in the ftate of mightie Emperors,
This day he docth provide Thyeftas feaft.
And bids his father to the bloudy cates#
Perfwadc me not,Seianus I will goe,
1 haue already promis’d him to come.
And if the villainc offer me theft drugs.
Re make him fwill thecup,Ilhouldcarrouf©

Enter Spade toward them*

. . ’ • \ /. * r '

But he ere comes Spado his fine inftrum ent.

See where his Gar! and is,ilc flab the Slaue.
Sera. No goo d my Lo rd^ how can you tben in quire
Thehatefull Treafons of your wicked Sonne?
Ttb, Tis true Seianu*,l will hold my hands.
Seia. Ohhowlfear’dl fhouldhaue beent betraic)
Spad* luer AuguftuslDrufus royall banquet.
Requires the pre fence of Tiberius#
Tiberi* Spadowecome;
T bey draw afide the A rras^and banquet on thefiaget
Spado tafieth toTiberius^nd after in}ujeth thepoyfon•

Spa*. My Lord,yong Driifus wi^etb happinefle.

To Nero Caefarw this Cup of wine.
Ttberi. Dru fu s doc th ou b c gin v nto T i b er i u s.
Dm. My Lord may 'tple. fe you here is other wine.
7ȣ<?#Buttafte of this my Sonne, Pm fure tis good*
Dru. Hexcu the likcaiy gracious Lord befide.
K. 3 Ttbu # 3®
 Tiber* It may be like,but hot fo altogether.
T>mf. Tis of the fame.
TiberWi 11, pi cafe my humor Sonne.
DruJ.Why goodmy Lord.
’Tiber. By loue ile ha lie it fo. He drinketh andfails
downe^S aantis fiabbeth Spado.♦
Enter a Me(fenger.
Jbfejf. Whereisthe Emperour? Augufta is deade.
Tib. Goe teil that newesto Proferpine. Stabs him*
Another UMejfettger.
Mef* Where s Cacfar? great German Letts is dead.
Tf^r.Commend me to Germanicus. Stabs him*
AttotherCMeffcnger*
Mef*Where’s Mero,Pifo is by the Plebeians flainC
Tibe. Let Rauensand Vultures gorge on his fleflv
and thine. Stabs him*
Another*
Mejf* Where is Tiberius? where is Cacfars grace*
Afi nius and Sabirius both are dead.
Ti.Go greet (heboth thus fro Tiberius. 57^/ him£
How how what newes bringft thou ? fpeak villain
fpeakc.
S sianus commnh toward him,and he maketh at him.Se•
. tarns crjeih ont^and Nero fiareth on him*
i•' ■- * ’ •’ \ •^ ’ 4 7‘J ;.v'r

Seta* No newes my Lord,I am Seianus I,

I fau’d your life my Lord, I am Sejanus. **
Tib. Pardo*Sejanus onely faithfullfriend.
The headlong furie of a troubled foule,
I dare not trult my felfe to fee my Sonne.
O who would wearc a Cro wne to be tormented?
Sejanus I muft ride in poke to Rome,
To reigne the furie ofthe common heard,
Seethefe foule carkafles be buryed.
Goe to Sejanus,when I haue mv will. He fpeaketh
Ik make theePattemc of thy Villaines. this afide.
f?Ay..'up_ * Meanc
 Meant while I will to Rome to findc the booker
Augullus wrotcand left with Iulia. E.v*f Tdtnw*
S'*** Why this is well, Germanicus is gone
With Iulia and with Drufus into helL
Follow Scjanus,Noe: thy wits I meane,
Alas poore Drufus,troth 1 pittie thee,
And Spado too,me thinkes now 1 could weepe.
But that it is too womanly: this chopping boy
Whome I corrupted for this Stratageme,
I didhim a great fauour, had he liued
Tiberius would haue had him tortured,
Hang’d by the Nauell for confdTion.
Drufus, for thee,! could hauc wiflit thy life*
But reafon didin force thy deftinie#
Firft that thou wert htire to Tiberius
Nextanobferuerofmy fecrecies,
Thirdly thy Liuja,that Queene of beauties
The eldefl Daughter toGermanicus,
Sejanus fecret friend, thy fecret foe.
Next to Germanicus ,heyrc to the Crown e>
Thy fometime,nowmy wife,ifheauensagreei.
TQftiakerne heire vneo a Princes Throne,
Naymore,an Empyre thu* ihall bemineownes
Fourthly the blow which I receiu’din peace,
Vntillreuengcmightfatisfieniy will:
All thefe, oriiny were fufficient :
3 am forry,I haue vs’d thee too too well.
Now to the femme ofall my foes are lefts:
Tiberius Cxfar, with him Agripina,
Nero and Drufus the Germanici*
Then thus the fierce enrag'd Germanic^
I will ip fence again!! Tiberius-
As thefoleagentin their fathers death,
Shew them the fauoursof the Senators*
The Plebeians harts inchained to their beckcs,
laire baitesforto allure their young concedes*
Rebellion-
Rebellion lie intitle honourable.
And if that we obtaine the vi&orie
As I haue bound them Legions to mine hoaft.
Then will I haue my fpies,my fawning Curs,
My hireling hcll-houndsin the battailesheate,1
To murthei both theyong Germanici*
Tiberius vanquilht,and thefe made away,
Caefar Seianus.EmpreflcLiuia. Exit Sciantiu
Enter fcaligHUfcltiS.
Calig. Now pleafured by fit occafion,
Poure forth the treafures ofthy inward thoughts*
Which too too long haue beene imprifoned.
Now mu fe on Romes enfuing miferies,
Tiberius treafons,and thy fathers death.
Thy brothers danger,and thine owne contempt,'
And muling, meditate vpon reuenge,
Banifh h^rts quiet from thy fleeping thoughts,'
Vntill thy thoughts be fatisfied with blood.
Nero I come,infpireme iufteftrage:
And Rome lhall tremble at Caligula. ExitfoligJ

Enter Seianus^ with Nere,and Drnfus Germanics.

Seian. Nero,Drufus,Drufus,Nero,both are one^
Or one or both,for both I kno w are one:
And what I fpeake to one I fpcake toboth.
Nay ,heare me out for what 1 fpeakeis true,
Pifo did poyfon great Germanicus
Yourfatner,Neroe$ fonne and my good Lord;
I,by Tiberius pollicie*
Lo here the pardon made for Pifo drawne.
Which Iulia dying did to me commend,
What lhall I fpeake to moue you to reuenge,
TheSenatisdeuoted to your fiocke,
The common people in ibfc murmuring.
Like Bees doe feeke the home of your Hiues,'
Wliatjffome VVafpes doemoue Tiberius
I haue
 Ihauea fwarmemaugre thefelazie droanesJ
1 haue the Legions at Seianus becke.
And for my fake,and fpecrally for yours,
2 know they will euibrate all their force,
Befides the honour of your Countries good,
Exile the tyrant>fo did Caflius,
Brutus the elder and the yonger Brute,
Honour and fauour,youth and legions,
TheSenators,and the Plebians:
Ifall may moue you,courage noblehearts;
Let Hares and Harts b e fearful 1 in th eir kinds,
Romanes haue valiant and vn daunted minds#
Nero* Brother a word with you:-Takes him Aft Ac
Se t a. I,go,con fult, w h i lft I c entur iate
A thou fand nets to catch fuch tender fooles.
Drufus how doll: thou like Seianus geflurc?
T)ru* Faith like his words,for both are counterfeU
N*r<?«Vpon my life Tiberius fent the flaue.
Dru. Tis fo by Ioue,tis fo, looke brother,(ee
How the damn'd villain fleares,& laughs j&lowrqs
Wclefirll begin with him,& the for Nero: They he-
Nero. Brother content,and now be refolute, gin to
But here comes Iulius Celfus,hold thy hand. draw*
Enter IhUhs Ce/fut.
Celfus. Flie,flie Seianus,Iujius bids thee flie:
Nero hath found thy death in Iuliaes houfe,
J meane,the caufcofdeath, thy trecheries,
Theletter that thou fent’ffto Liu ia:
Away,fliift for thy felfe,and fo will I. Exit*.
Seia. Hath he found that? Seianus curlTethy felfe.
The lower world,and the highefl: heauen.
That he hath found them*,die,confume*andburnc.
Ihearethcnoifeofhorfes, theyarehere,
A plague vpon them all,then here away. Exit
AeJlrother a way,t’is time,w e may fufpefhE xemt
Scianas ioo/es m at the dooret<mdfpcaks.th♦
L Seia. Hell
 Se'u Hellyawne and fwallow thermthat way T^m
This way the dogswilfoark.&fb betray mc:(ftopt>
The geefewill gaggle,iflflie this way.
There are his murderous guard,a hel confound the:
O h for the feauen- way ho ufe of Hannibal l
Sejanus kill thy felfe.oh no I dare not,
Would I werfe an Affe tobeare: fo lam*
I am not: I flic,I dare not: I cannot,! muft. Exit*

8 nter 'Tiberius with hisyruardpurfuing S nanus.

T^iHaft for your liuesi fceke,fearch>enquire,ftop
Mifdoubtjexamin^fpiejWatchjhaue a care, flay.
And if he paffe,not one of you fliail feape
Th’ cxtreamefl torments that I caninflift. V.
Poaff.poaftjaway fome to the Capitoll,
Some to port Efquiline,mount Pallatine,
Watch, watch the ffreetcs,the Drufian ftrcctes,’
Hie to the Altars,the j£gerian wood:
The bridge of Tiber,ancl Prometheus Lake,
Some w her e,any where,euery wherejaway^way."

Enter S cianusnheguard be fete all the doorefyhe draw-

eth dndprojferet h to come diners wayes: at laftrujhetk
on theouard> fi?hteth>and is taken.
Scia. Heauen,earth,hell;lielpe,hide,gape:.
here fwallow vp a liuing facrifice.
Graced with an Heccatombeof flaughtered’ flaues,
Hold fword Sejanus barters death for death.
Ti. So,bind the traitor faff in Iron chaines.
Now flaue of honor, ground of Infamie,
Obloquies fubjedf,and fairc dealings fhamey
Nay heare me villaine/or thou mult,and lhalt.
Seia*. Muf^fhal, and will,for lam bound to doeifr
Tib. I,and tobeare whateuer Iinflitt.
Sei. Strik qu ckly,& firikehomc,I wait the ftroke
And ihall embrace tlieinftrument of death,
And
 c/Claudius Tiberius Nero,
Andneuer gricue to drouncitin my blood*
So that the dreamie fpirits that afeend,
Were of diffident force to dranglc thee:
Tib* Ah good Scjanus how yet l pittie thee!
Sei<t. I craue no pittie,neitherfcare thy pride*
Whole pittie onely ferueth for a truce,
Toleuiencw fupply oftyrannic#
Ttb* The man begins to play thcOrator*
jGet him a Throne to grace his eloquence.
Seta. This kind of curtefie I will accept.
Tib. Yet (hall you not perform’t except I will:
Sr*#If,Tyger$ iflucthou fhouldftcut outmy tung:
And rob my thoughts of their Ambaflador,
The boundlefle Ocean ofmy fwelling thoughts,
(Enraged with the malice ofmy heart)
Would ouerflow my breads immuring bankes.
To make relation ofthy villanie.
Tib. Oh terrible reuengc* intolerable.
But I (hall vndergoe it as I may.
And here and,there dill as you glaun ceat me,
But touch a little your owiie villainies, /
And therein play the true Hidorian..
Tut, courage niamwhy <dod thou not begin?
Stm* Bidft thou begin,who long will widi me end*
Ere I haue ript vp halfc thy villanies: ).
Which neucr will haue end vntill thou end; d- •
Oh h add thou ended ere thou hadd begun.
So many euils had not chaunc'd in Rome:
Then had not Vedae s Tapers beenc defil’d.
North’ Altars turnd to irreligious vfes:
When thou didd make her ncucr dying lanipcs.
Seme for the Torches to thy burning lud,
The whiled her Templemade a broth el-houfc*
And all her virgins proditute to thee#
But thefeare but thy meanedoutrages*
^Wrought in thy villainous minoritic
La Th)t
Thy Cleopatrean caws could fcarce difgefl,.
Without amcafure daunc’d by naked truls,
To feed thy glutton-eyes immodeft gaze.
Xib. And where was then Sejanus, holy man?
Seia. Herein I doe accufe my felfe of guilt.
» T/£-Beforew thy hatefull head for doing it/
Seia*Bale to thy hatefull heart for caufing it.
Ttb ♦ Thy plotting head for To inuenting it.
SfM.Thy bioodie mind for fo concluding it^1
Tib. AndonSejanusfer effecting it.
.Seia. And on Se janus for effecting it.
Yet villaine doe I cur fe my eur fed felfe?
Downe poy fed by the execrations
Ofthofethat thou by me hafhnurthercd?
Tib. Beleeue him hrs3may be he fpeaketh truth*
SeU. It may be tyrant, nay it is too true*
Cams,and Lucius,w ere murthered,
And Agripina,by Tiberius.
So poy toned Germanicus was fame.
Sabinas, and Afinius weredifpatchid.
And Iulia for her fonneXifeerius. i !?.u ->uvl
And fo thou louedft Drtifus thine ownc fonnef
To fucke his bloud in w hofe death Bill I ioy.
To thinke that therein I ore-reacff d a tyrant.
Poore Prince vniuflly doom'd to fqddaino deaths
Which in hisBfe hb'onely thisdefctud ' "
By giuingme a whirreton theears t
But as for treafons ignominious fpot
againflthy felfe,thy life or Diademe,
His innocen t thoughts neuer were tainted with.
T/,Hoi d hart,break not betwixt my rage & griefe
S^>.Onely for this. (A fide.
Ttb. Onely for this ! O furie teach my tougue.
To breath eternal! curfes on his foule.
Seia.Cy how I triumphin foule-pleafingioy^
That herein yet I die not Vnreuengd.
i * J. , I made
 ofClaudius Tiberius Nero,
I made him die for mine owne proper fault,
For know Tiberius as in all the reft,
So in thy Sonne Drufus fad Tragedie,
I grounded the foundation ofmy hopes.
Meaning vpon the Ocean oftheir blouds.
To fwim vnto the Throne ofMaieftie,
And from thy hand rend the imperiall crowne.
Tib* Here is the Catalogue of his deferts,
Tis pittie but he were an Emperour.
Spurius He whispers in his eare^r Exit Spurim
A1akehafte,I charge thee on thy life.
Herein I muft dcfra<ft from pollicic.
And Fortune attribute the caufe to thee.
That thus I may reuenge this treacheries
Seta. Reuenge 1 alas thou maift perhaps on me,
Jnfli& th’ extreamitie of p uni foment,
And iid thee fo ofonepeeccofthy feare,
But yet thou canftnotfcapedeferucd death.
For from the Phoenix afoes of their Sire,
The heart reuiuedyoung Germanich ■
Wife Nero.and fierce Drufus arm'd with rage®
Comelike a lightning to confume thy ftate.
Tiber, Soldiers purfue them ere they paftc the
Toioyncthcmfelues vnto the Legions* (walles
Seta. Why lunaticke Vfurperofthe Crowne,
They are the lawdullheire* vnto the ftate.
Thou but adopted by falle treacheric,
My right as good as thine is to the Crowne,
For both but falfe,and both but villanic.
Tthe* Thou dooft me wrong Sejanus to vpbraid
With Ignominious Title of ingrate. (me thus.
Or wrong detaining what is not mine owne.
Sntcr Spurt us with a burning Crowne*
Who,IVfinpe your Crowne and your eftate l
1 were nor Et to hue and if I fhould- • • i " lift
Therefore my Ma;ftcrs,heere before you all,
dU i ..... 1
I doc refignemy crownc imperial!
Vnto Sejanus,and doe inueft him Caefar,
He fats the burning Crowns vpon his bead,
AH haileSejanus,Romes great Emperour.
Seta♦ A1 haile: Hell,Death, Deftruttionplague
Let all the tortuie$,torrnents,punishments. (you al
In earth,in heauen,in hell, reuengemy death,
Whofe burning pame torments me not fo much
as that there comes not from my fcaided braincs.
Sufficient fmoake to fmother all of you. Hcdycti
Ttbe♦ So dye thy Curffes with thy curfed felfe.
Now one goe caft,hisbodye in to Tiber,
The reft goc with me,tis high time to haft. S*resent.
Venter Agripina fola+ (omnes
Agr♦ Ohheauens! and if that any power be higher!
O earth! and if that any lower lye?
Melt heauens into a ftrowre of fupplc balme.
Flower earth,all purpled with Ncpentkaes leaueg*
Too fooliih Agripina to complaine,
Earth,Heauens,Nepenthacs balme, and alin vainc.
This earthly hart,it is my plcafing earth.
Sbe opensth the box with the heart efCjermanteut
This is Nepenthacs that doth cure annoy :
This balme,this Caffia,thisis fwceteft My rrhc
When I forget to ioy in this relpe&,
Heau e>Earth,Nepenthacs all do me negle&
O what a dungeon is this tabernacle!
To w home,and when,and where ftiail I complaine?
I know not,and againe I kno we.
For Agripina is amaz'd with woe.
* ) Enter Marco,
Mrfcr.Madam,Tiberius Caffars maieftie,
Sent me to tell you of his nearc approach.
oAgri.Wil Nero come? where are his torturs then ?
His rod,his Hatchets,Rackes,gyucs,manacles.
Whips,Gridiros,T umbrcls,Lyons,T ygers,bearcs
And all his vntjuoth new found Mcffcngers,
h_ Which
 Which bloody Phallaris Couldncreinuent?
Can fairc Pallantias leaueher Lucifer,
Or Phoebus (bine,and not Aurora rife?
TuIL you are much dcceiu’d, Nero will not come.
Macro. Lady, my heart doth yearnc to here your
To furge in billowes offuch bitter .wanes, (griefe,
And- —
Agr*And what ? good Gentleman,tcl out the reft
What,will you fet a (hip vpon my Sea,
Fraught with athoufand Tunneof heauie cares,
And with a ftiarpc tempeftious Romaine winde,
Sailc vnto Thule or the frozen maine,
Then glide vppon the yce and fo to land.
And fo we thefe feedes of care tw'ixt bankes of Rue,
Decpe delu d,and deepe rooted in colde clay, 1
Then inpurfuingof this faintie foyle.
Stay vntill harucft,and in Autumne fheare
This fruitefull Corne,andfo rcturne againc.
But Agripma, thefe fond humors lcaue,
Macro,my griefe my fences halfe bereaue.
Mact. True Agripina,Macro much did wonder,
The variable paflions of fad forrow.
That I lament the tragicke hiftorie,
This dolefullfaultering Engine fhould impart,
Nero will hether come vnder pretext.
To comfort,but to trie your patience..
He hath an Apple in fuchfirrop dipt.
Which he in kindenesmeanesto offer you:
Ifyou accept,accept a prefent death
If you denie,heele take exceptions,
Againft your faith, andfubie&s loyalties
Dreadfull Dilemma,counfell as you may.
I doubt that Nero wil mifdoubtmy ftay*Exh AWr.
/^/.Dareshenot ftay * O monftrous periurie!
Did he not vo w by' Ioues eternall Cro wne?
By Saturnes fighe,and Venus golden belt? ^
Mercwnif
 Hoe HagIcaulife and death
Mercuries chansons; rod and Lunaes Horne,
That he would Ray with me.O periury!
Nero make hafl:: yet ftay,ile paire my Nailes,
Lcaft that I fet my tallents on his face,
Andfpoile NarcifTus comely perfonage.
He will giue me an Aple,ile giuehim-..«■«
A what? a Lemmon: no b utile giuehim
A Chefnut,and heclecracke the riuen (hell.
And t wixt his Milftones, grind e the yealding meat
Germanicus,oh my Drufus! oh my Deare,
Nero,no! Nero Caefar will vifite me.
And feede me fat with Capons and with Quailcs.
Quailes! noe with Apples fo he comes:
I (hall be crarn’d today.
Enter T therins with his attendants Spurius & Ncrua9
Macro and Caligulafollowing after.
Tiber. Faire Daughter Agripina,you doeWfO**g
That fpotled'e beautie with congealed teares.
Blottin g thofe Rubies with diflolued pearles,
Stayningthofe Rofes withfuch Chriftalftreames. .
Is not the world fubjc& to Rojnaine power?
And thou the Daughter of the Emperour,
And fo th’imperiall MiftrefTeof tne world?.
Then A gripina but commaund the world?
and all the world fhail feeke to comfort thee*
Agri♦ Nero,nof all the world can comfort me,
Sinceall the world hath loft my comforter
Tiber*Hath all the world? what did your Lord af~
Daughter,you cannot rule vnlefle you raigne.(pire?
Agr. Blufh not deare Enfigncofmy modeftie.
Shame light on me ifthat I bea/ham’d,
Since thou wiltneuer bea(ham’dof(hamc.
My Lord Germanicus didheafpire?
No Nero no,there lurkes the fiftila
Offawnmg hatred that did murther him*
Did he not honour Rome ia Germany?
Did
 ms Nero.
Did he not homage to T iberius ?
Did he not lone his countrie pad compare?
Courteous and milde>andtooobfcquious2
Too veil belcued and too credulous?
and therefore murthered. :
Tiber. Nay Hay a while,
And breath,and raile,andraile and breath againCj
and then I hope your Ladyfhip will (lay,
Meane whrle,hold,heeres an apple to refrcfh
The dryed vapours of ycur fuming head.
Fate it and breath,eate it and raile againc,
Doe fo f ure Daughter to allay your paine.
'Words cafe the ftomacke.
J-r-i. So mu ft they mine:
Or<! fc irw h -i ’ would breakein viledifpite.
jVW»-/••' of Monftcrs jdl is too too good,
( rcl to<> mi 1 dea ticle for thy deedes:
Nature could neoer finde a man fo bad,
1 h at 1 n 1 g: h t r c fe m b 1 e t h y fo u 1 e V j 11 a n i es.
Toade,Crockadile Afpe,'Viper,Bafiliske,
Tooliolfomejtame.rmldCjgcntlejVertuous,
For Neroes poyfon. furiejCiniy, wrath.
Tibe. Woman,! iiftcn much vnto thy Taunts,
Yet know that I nauePandataria,
There ^babble to the wind^thy foolifhmoanes,
Therein fome defirt make thy Elegies,
Tune them vnto the puling harmony,
Of the lamenting confort bred in Thrace:
Rome fhall not heare thy yelling execrations.
Before Enos fhall fonre times be wafht,
In Nereusfountaine with Hipenon,
Vpon thy life fee that thou fee not Rome,
But banifht.backe to pandaturia.
A pi. Firft let the head of Nilus be rcueal’d.
Let Tiber Howe in j£gipt,Nile in Rome,
Let earth to ayre.and water tOrnc to fire,
M
 The Tragical!life and death
All to confufion,!et heauen turne to hell.
And which is mote and mod Prodigious,
Let Nero thinke one thought of honeftic.
If Agripina yeeld to bannifhment*
Did not Sejanus blazen all thy wrongs,
That all the world doth loath thy treacheries?
Did not the Parthian King admonifh thee?
Thou wert a villaine,and thou fworft twas true,
Doth not each night with dreames of thy foule fins
Torment thy foule with gaftly Spe&ades ?
Cajus,Lucius,Auguftus,Iulia,
£ejanus,andmy Lord Germanicus,
Solicite Pluto for thy deepc reuenge?
They doe,they doe,andall the furies fiiake
There new Side yron whips for their reuenge.
If there be heauen, be fure of Nemefis :
If there be hell be fure to be tormented.
With balefull tortorsneueryet inuented. (breath?
Ttbc* Not all this while,good Daughter outof
Wel,fpeakethy laft,that Rome dial here thee prate
Agr.My laftfond Tyrant know that I wil fpeake
In fpiteofNcro,in difdaineofRome,
Nero the Butcher, bloody fhambles Rome,
Who fells the fay reft ware at mcaneft price.
7*V£f.I,and becaufe pecuilh wilfull griefe,
Hath made youfomewhat leane^not fit for fale.
You lb all to erafle toPandaturia:
Prouide her nay and water ftore enough.
Agrip. No,no,what ftiall I call this hate of earth?
lie call him Ncro,thats the worft of all.
Nero,it (hall not necde,I am prouided
Of fairer Cates without thy honeft care,
The cornc that makes my bread are yellow cares.
Ripened by heate of anger,in my breaft.
The barren field ofnought but carcfull fecdcs.
My mcate the fodden forrowes of my heart,
Which
 (/Claudius Tiberius Nero.
Which boilc with foft remembrance ofrny woes,
And if I play the Epicure in griefc,
My tcarcsfhall be the fence ofmy repafts#
Ifcuer other foodcmy tongue deetafte:
I cuer othe r foodemy ftomacke doe concockt:

’Cl
Let all be turn’d from fuftentation.
To fill impoftumes with contagious filth.
I tell thee Nero, Agripine will die,
And ftaruehcrfelfe,andfcome thy bannifliment.
Tis two daicsfinccl laft did tafteofmeate.
Curd be my foule,ifeuer I doe cate.
Tibe. Will you not? fee^rra,go fetch fomefoode
lie make thee curfTe thy felfe: hold,take, fill too.
isfgrt, Detefted tyrant,Ido fcornc thy foodc.
TV^.Then hclpc Sirra, opc her mouth & feede her*
Cut her meatc fmall,andfeede her daintily.
Jlgr.Out villaine. Hefcedcth htr3a»djbe putteth it
Tthe« Sirra difpatch I fay. (out again*
Nay,cram her then,& feede her fat withall.
He cboaketh her andfo jhe dter.
What haft thou ftrangled her? here take thy hyre#
Canft thou not feed a Daw no better y et? Stabs him«
Neru. Ah,Nero,Nero#
Tib, What Nerua be content.
She chofeofthis rather then banishment:
And better choake then ftarue our wilful daughter,
Shce’s gone,and if I liucthou (halt goe after# j4Jide*
Exeunt all but Macro and Caligula*
Macro♦ Barbarous,inhumane,worfc then crueltie.
Which Gods and men,mine eyes,and foule,do hate.
What Hyporborian Climate in the North?
What Lidiari defart, Indian vaftacie?
What wildernefle in wilde Arabia,
Sohatefullmonfler cuernourifhcd.
To hinder willing death by villanie?
Caligula, Changeling Caligula,
M 2 Whcne
Wnene
 :The 'Tragicalllife and death
’Where is the SpiritofGermanicus ?
Did he beget thee in an idle dreame?
Or did thy Mother thinke it vanitie
As d^thiops Queene vpon Andromeda?
If but one fparke by chance remainealiue.
If but one drop,one Mathematicke point,
Make vp a Sea,a bodic by addition.
Blow vp (Caligula) this flee pie fparke,
Caligula remember what thou art.
Cahg. Macro,Caligula can beare thy taunts.
Can bevpbraidedata Captaines hand.
My Father told me, and I remember it,
Tnehighed vertueis. true patience.
I know not what you meane by all thefe wordcs.
That mount my Fathers pra.yfes to the skie,
To liue fecurely,I deeme that the beft.
And a great vertue to be patient.
Macre. Patient Caligula,! am a fham'd,
I am impatient to heare that word,
That noble Title w reded from his fence,
Ah ididnot Macro ferueGermanicus
When as thy Mother bare thee in the field?
Didnot a pcale of Trumpets found thy birth ?
And Drums make mufickc to allay hir paincs?
Waft thou not train’d fore thou couldft fpeake,
Didd thou not were a Common Soldier s fute?
And therefore hadd thy name Caligula?
Where is thy Captiuefouleimprifoned ?
Thy Lyons heart? incag’d! no,thou art wife,
Thou deem’d that Nero hath fuborn’dmy tongue,
To make a glozing Theame of flatterie.
To lift thy fecrets^nd to fcl l thy life.
Fil'd let the earth open her curded wombe,
andfwallow vp this hellifh mantion*
Let eueriedep treade on a Scorpion:
Letcuerie objeft be a Baffaliske;
■ 7 l M ‘ ' Let
 ©/"Claudius Tiberius Nero,
Let heauen--what can I wifh Caligula ?
Hereis my poynard:here,be fureftrikehome,
Ifthou canft haue butleaftfufpition
That Macro feekes to vndermme mv Lord*
What? /hall I now become a Sycophant?
Cali. Macro>Caligula doth not mifiruft.
Nor hath he reafon to mifdoubt thy faith,
But Macro, thus much for Caligula:
Meete me at Fides Temple,there thou (halt know
More, then vnto my mother I durft /hew*
Macro. Were it to Thale,I would thether poaft,
T o heare the fcntence of Caligula,
Till then my Lord adiew.
CV/^.Farwel Macro. Exit Macro,
My Father flame or poyfoned in the Eaft,
Liuia become a fbuleadulterefte.
Nero and Drufus fall: (hut vp in ward,
and thou deere mother heere lyeft butchered.
Grow to the earth you feeble inftruments.He kneels
Tift I diftill a liquid facrifice downe
From my harts fornance,& thefe Chriftal ftreames*
Ye dry'd vp wels^ftraine out a little more,
Tis Agripina that you muft deplore*
Proud Spirit>bound thy fwellingTimpanie,
Till I vnfraught this Galley of laments.
Then cleare thy paftage, and burft out in fire,
andmaicc an Earthquake in this little world.
What /hall I vow ? to whome /hall I lament ?
Vnto the Marbles?they doc weepe for forrow.
Vnto the Wa!les?thy riue themfelues with griefe.
Vnto theBeafts? why they would ftarue themfelues
To feede themfelues vpon this fading hew.
Marbles and Walles,and beaftes more ruth then he*
That was the Author ofthis Tragedie.
He takei her in his armes and goes in♦
iEneas burthen neuer was fodeare,
M 3 As
 The Tragicall life and death
As this celeftiall burthen which I bcare. Exit*
Nero and Drufus chained in pn/on.
Dm. Brother I faint,and now my ftarued foule,
Seekcsfortofeed vpon Ambrofia. (chain’d
Am^.Dear Drufius,wold mine arnies were but vn-
That thou mightft ftench thy hunger on my flelh:
My colder humors feed my gnawing heat.
That I can better yet endure the fad.
See brother I thinke thou maid reach mine armc*
I pray thee feed vpon this lcanc repaft.
Dru. No brother if it would prolong my life.
Till the great ycare when al things mud be chang'd
T o the Idea ofthe formers will.
But if thy hungry woolfcdoc vexc thy foule.
Feed on thefe cates, tadc on this brawnie arme.
That w ill rcioy cc to feede thy appetite.
Nero, Nay brother feed on mine 1 They eare each
*Drt<, Nay brother mine. S ethers arms*
Enter Caligula againe*
C<*!» Boaft not Antigone of thy deare louc*
ToPolinices thy affe&cd brother,
"Whom thou in fight of Creon didd entombe,
I haue entomb'd a farremore precious Iewcll,
I in difpite ofNero farre more cruell.
Dru, Ah,Nero,Nero,that dod vs enforce.
To befuch louing Romane Canibals,
Cal, Who calles on Nero, waft my mothers ghoft?
Nero, Ah cruell Caefar,brother forgiue,forgiue*
My food digedeth not,nor can I liuc.
Cal.Or am I blind,or doe mine eyes behold*
My darued brothers?tis fo Caligula.
Nero, Brother farewell my glafle of life is run.
"Dru, And lie go with thee to EMziwm.They both di$■
Cal, Is there a prouident intelligence?
That rules the world by his ctcrnalljbeing?
Is there aloueiand willheiiotbejufi?
 ©/“Claudius Tiberius Nero.
o r is he iuft? and will he not reuenge?
What is he? whom,or where, or whocan tell?
Canft thou not moue the heauens?thenraifevp hell*
Exit (faligula-
Enter Tiberins with hit guard,
Tib, Cocceius Neruaftaru*dhimfelfe to death,
I wonder much what made the old man die.
In truth Ilou’d him for his naked truth.
In truth he was an honed (imple man*
Well vertue go with him,vice (lay with me.
Till Ihauemadacred my pri Toners,
And rooted out all this confpiracie:
Then will I feeme a new reformed man^
And rife betimes each morning to the Temple,
So afterwards I may contriuc fornc drifts.
I haue a Catalogue which I mud findc.
And fearch the prifons whether I haue all.
Iulius Cetftu crieth out cfprifott.
Cel, Ah,Nero,Nero,Celfus begs thine ay de,
Tib♦ Iulius Celfus what is thy petition?
Cel, An humblefutor for your clemencie.
Tib. My clemencie Celfus,Marie and you (half,
I, and great reafon for Seianus fake.
fcl* Not in hisname I beg companion.
But by thy vertucs I doe tnec intreat,
ah gracious Nero let my Guiucs be loos’d.
Ttb* yfnd Celfus led to execution.
Cel. Ahpo Tiberius,! defire not deaths
But better cafe in my imprifonment,
For this I beg .
Tib. For whofc fake Iulius?
Celf. For mercies fake,and thy dcare Geneus.
Tib. For that word Iailer loofe his Iron bands,
Or by my Geneus thou (halt loofe thy head,
Celf* O voice of comfort, thanks Tiberius.
Tib- Tisbutfor a while.know that Iulius*
Celf\ Now
 Tbe T*ragtcall life and death
C*//w*Now mon(ler,Tyger,earthes infe£fiont
Plague of the world,fcourge ofour hippie Rome,
T rcafon s fi 1 (1 bonre.hels out- fpew cd vommit.
Prodigious homicide^and mu rther's law e,
That makes a fporting lavye to murthermen.
T/A?.Holla and breathe,and then beginne again,
Nero Hull recompence thee for thy paine.
Celfus Such Recompence had good Germanicus*
Such Agripina,fuchhad lulias
Such Nero, Drufus,and their deareR Mother,
Poore Agripina,wife Alinius:
Sabinin,Nerua;and thy other felfc.
Young Di ufuSjVvhofe deare blood was once thine
Yet ofthinc ownehadRno compafsicn. (o-aUc
And laRly,(though not vndeferuing it)
Yet heerein well deferuing at thy hands,
In that he was thy mifchiefes inRrument:
HaplcileSejanus tooimprouicent,
Ofhisintended fal^tliyfalfeintent.
And fuch a recompence remaines for me.
The meanefl fubjeR of thy Tyrannic.
Tibe. Marieamen,fweare igan Oracle:
But tyrantjCelfus doth contemnethy furic
My niinde was neuer feuer-fhooke with feare
OfMeagre death, lifes duepriuation,
I haue alreadie arm'd mv age to die,
Whofe age deemes death the end ofmiferie.
See therefore Tyger.heeres thy mercies fruitc,
1 he cafe I foughgthe end ofearneft fuitc.
For this I beg’dsfor thisl feem’dvnwilling.
For to be dead,th at I might gaine my killing.
//e puts t he Chdmc about Ins net lie and fr ancles hini/elf,
Tiber. Wondrous well gainkhhcreisgoodyfury,
Where tis the gainersinterefl to die:
But Oh for Chari tie! Iayler, Soldiers run,
Refcuc his life; before his life be gone.
Yet
 ©/Claudius Tiberius Nero.
Yet let him goe.
Iailer What is your highnefle will?
Ttb. Nay nothing now but that as yon man dies,
For Charitie dole vp his dying eyes*
Why this it is to haue a pollicic,
Here’s a poore plot to preuent crueltie.
And ten to one the villaine vnderftands.
How this will vexe me that he fcapesmy hands*
But let that pafle leau e him to Acheron,
His part his paft,part ©fmy part’s to come*
Exeunt omnes»
Enter Cult gut a And Macro from lcides T emple•
Thus haue we interchang’d our mutuall othes
In prefence ofthcGoddeflc ©fall truth:
Macro remember how thou artinioyn’d.
By words,by fignes,by letters and by thoughts*
For to adore eternal! fecrccic.
Macro* And if my Lord mifdoubt my fccrecie.
Cut out my tonguc,€ut offmy traitors hands*
Vnioyntmy bodie*andpull out my hearc,
That I may neither tell,nor make a figne,
Nor thinfce one thought againf!your royal tie.
Cal. Pardon me Macro,if I fomewhat feare*
That hauing all this while fecurely flept,
VndcrtheCanopieofvanitie,
And neuer did impart ray fecrecie.
To father, mother5orray brethren: J
Nerua>Sabinus,or Afinius:
Nero,SeianuSjall I haue deceiuedj
*Vnder pretext ofyouthfull brauerie.
But Macro, to thy youth I recommend*
The fupreame relique of Germanicus.
by Agripinaes loathed execution.
By my deare brothers ftarued earkafles.
By thee,by me,by all the gods,by all:
And if that any number be, more then all.
N Ioyne
 The Tragicall life and death
Toyneto exile this proud Tarquinius,
JnfultingNero: no not fo,not fo:
Yes foit mull be,or clfe murthered,
For nought but death can fatisfie my wrongs*
^4m>.LikcasaGrayhound in his hotpurfuice,
Striuestoout firip thefearfull flying Doe,
Or as Dianacs gift to Cephalus,
yearn’d to out-run the beafi: of A rchadie.
Both ftriuing,yct both fwifter then the blafls,
DifdaineBoreas in his fwclling pride.
Shot for the fifter of fairc Di an ire:
So doth the honour ofyour hollering thoughts.
Grudge to be equall’d by my fluttering flight.
Yet good my Lord giue Macro leaue to mount*
Andceaze vpon the accofling (looping pray.
£f/.rNot fo*I (Macro)tis that hauc the wrong.
UWacro, But I my Lord, ■■■■■■>■■»
(at. Do not intreat,
Doe not prolong with idle breathing words,
The dateqf coldreuenge.: for cuen this night*
Nero /hall be inrolFd inPlutoes Court#
In GermaniefarreontheNorthrenlidc,
Within the circuit ofa defart wood,
A wildernefle of deadly Bafilisks,
Within this circuit is an hellilh poole,
Coldin the tenth degree.NotStixfo cold.
Wherein the fearcfull Thetis drencht her fonne*
In a Mules hoofe this water hauc I kept.
As fatal! drinke to Philips worthie fonne.
And euen this night this water /hall reuengc.
The Tyrants wrongs vnto Caligula,
Macro nie vnto the Legions,win their hearts*
Perfwadc with all thy warlike eloquence,
Aduaunce our Eagles,and to morrow mornc
Approach with them vntothe Capitol,
fade not good Macro,but make hafl away*
This
 ©/“Claudius Tiberius Nero.
This night for Nero or Caligula.

Enter Liuia Sola.

Lima4 Can Liuia ftill participate this ayre?
Still temporize with fawning miferie?
Still feed on cares,yet ftill vaine hopes repaired
Will nothing end my cruel I deftinie?
v What lumpifti Saturnedidinfpiremy breath,
Did make me die in life,yet liuc in death?
* ' Jii ...... i. ’ ^i-^. * if

Breath out thy plaints/with all breath out thy hart

Euaporate the fpirits of thy foule,
Weepc out thy traine the fubftancc ofthy fmart.
That knew thy ftiame,yet would not fin controulc,
Anotamize this Sepulchre of ftiame, sZ’>
Souiejhart^and brainc,and all,and all to blame*

Is Drufus dead? and yet can Liuia liue ?

Sc j anus atElizium,andIftay?
My father murthered?who melifccan giue?
My brothers ftaru’d? Liuia not made away?
Old Heccubaby death could eafe her griefe.
And cannot Liuia find out like reliefe?
*. .• sn.i.
Can I that flourifliedlike faireft Rofe, «A
Droope like the Lillie beaten downc with raine?
Can I to whom each courtiers tongue would giofe ♦
Endure their fcorncs, their taunts and vile difdainct
Could ^iuia liucjwhen Liuia was contented?
And cannot Liuia die now fhces tormented?
V -!>,•■•> < * , - y, .

She kneeles detvne by the Welles fide.

Great Faunus to whofe facred Deitic*

This fan&ificd groueis confecrate:
Accept theincenfeoftny laftpietie,
N z TM
 . *The 'Tragicall life and death
The beftdeuotion I can dedicate!
A ccept great Faunus this my dying proffer:
Many more great,nonemore ftncerc can offer*

Not Dido to Sicheus facrifice.

Nor Cleopatra vn to Anthonie:
Nor great Olympias could this truce difpife,
NorSophonisbaes loyal’l miferic:
Zenobi%Palmicaes noble Queene,
This fatall end ofLiuia might be feeme.

Faire fountaine cleare the blots of infamie.

Cold ftreame$*£ongeale the rumour of my death,
T ho u one! y Phil omel a fing my Tragedie,
Carroll a Dirge for my c^halecfbreatb;
Faire ftream.es I come, let no manhearemy cries*
Let no man ftied one teare that Liuia dies.
Hctcjhe leafeth in*

gutter Caligula[plus*
£al* By this, tbecruel.Tarquineftiouldhelped,
Banifhtfrom Rome and RomaneEmperic*
But much I fcare> preferuatiues doc ftay
Th c furi c o fhi s wa teri e receipt.
And Maero may be trecheitcjus: whaca foots
Was I for to impart my fecrecic?:
O whatavillainc was Caligula?
Horror confounds me in this Agonie:
But He Cataftrophize this Tragediet
Did not the villaine fvveare^anaivoWjand wcepe.
Offer his breaft,that I might make a window
To fee the cankers of his foftred foule*
And thou wouldcft not take him at his word?
Enter ejM aero •
Macro. My Lord,the legions.are all vp in armc*,
For to falute your grace the Emperour.
Cal. Thanks
 ^Claudius Tiberius Nero.
{'alt. Thankes Macro, royall friend co^maynJ
them flay, *
Till returne I from Nero back againc. £*•*> Macro*
Caligulagoeth to the pi ace where Hog Tiberius lyctb
Jicktyindftiilcthajidc the Arras*
Caligula All happinefle vntoyour Majcftie.
Tthe. Curft be all happinefTe,for 1 hauc none.
1 haue a firc,afire within my bow ells,
Tha t b urn es, and fc al ds, an d mads m e with th e pains
Iflmuftdie*yet wouldlhadmy wifh.
Oh that euen all the people in the world,
Hadbutonenecke that at one deadly bio we,
I might vnpeople all the world and die.
Giueme my hanos that I may rent my flefh,
.And teare this raging from out my burning intralls
Where is jEfculapius? who goes for him l
lie hale the leach from hell to cure my paine,
Andif that Nero doc not quickly mend,
lie burne cu era all the T emples of the Gods,
That cannot help the Romaine Emperour.
Ca/ig. Yes, 1 will helpe the Romaine Eloper our,
and be reucngM on thee Tiberius,
ThoumonfterTyran^thusilchelp thee thus:
He eft ops his breath with thejheete, andftabshim*
This for Germanicus^this for Agripine,
This for NerOjthis for DntfUs, this lor Caligula*
So,—Reenters on the Stage,
There Nero,the hate of Romeliesbutchered*
He raign’d noe day, but feme were mui thered.
Asking his jVlaifter ZenoaGrceke word.
What Dialefl ? he anfwered Dories
And therefore kild him,tor beenufe bethought
He mockt him for hi& Rhodian bannifhment;
He loathd wine now,becaufehefwilkd goares
More greedily then he did wine before.
He flue a Poet for this little caufe,
N y * Becauft
 The Tragicall life and death
Becaufethat in a dolcfull Tragcdte,
Hcc rail'd on Agamemnons cruel tic.
It is a holy law,and Romaine rite.
No veftall Virgin lliould beftrangled.
He for to inuent a crueltie,
Made firft the hang-man to deflowre theMaides.
And then commaunded for to ftrangle them.
When one had almoftkildhimfelfcrorfeare,
HemadehisSurgions for to cure his woun^cs.
The tyrant would deny no Witnefles,
li^any did accufe twas prefent death.
"When firft the Tyrant did poflede the Crowne.
He fent to Rhodes, for a dearefriend of his.
Who cherridit Nero inhisbanifliment.
He comming vnto Rome,found out the Prince*
Butin an angrie,{ullen, difeontent;
Who in a rage made him be tortured:
And whe the villain faw he had wrong’d his friend
He murthered him, that it might be conccaid.
He crucified one Peter cald a Saint,
Ofholy Icwcs,that did adore one Chrift,
Which they entitle Sauiour of the world.
He kil’d on e P ryam(therein happy molt.
In that hcliued and all his Cuildren loft.)
Thcfe and fo many more as fliould I tell,
I fliould imploy a world to number them9
And ftill be further with Simonides*
T o fignifie the certaine multitude.
By thefe his a&s ilc iuftific his death.
That I may get Romes royall Empiry,
And to eternall glorie ofrenowne,
I wasafoolc,butall to get the Crowne.
 ■

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