Sejanus

Eudemus

Livia

Oh, where is he?

[Exit.

With your fair leave, dear princess, I'll but ask
A question, and return.

Fortunate princess!

How are you blest in the fruition

Of this unequaled man, the soul of Rome,
The Empire's life, and voice of Cæsar's world!
So blessed, my Eudemus, as to know

The bliss I have, with what I ought to owe

The means that wrought it. Eudemus- Excellent clear, believe it. Was well laid on.

How do I look to-day? This same fucus

Methinks

'tis here not white.
'Tis the sun

Livia-
Eudemus- Lend me your scarlet, lady.

Livia-
Eudemus

Livia-
Eudemus

Hath given some little taint unto the ceruse;

You should have used of the white oil I gave you.
Sejanus, for your love! his very name

Commandeth above Cupid or his shafts

[Paints her cheek.]

Nay, now you've made it worse.

I'll help it straight

And but pronounced, is a sufficient charm
Against all rumor; and of absolute power
To satisfy for any lady's honor.
What do you now, Eudemus ?

Make a light fucus,

To touch you o'er withal. Honored Sejanus!
What act, though ne'er so strange and insolent,
But that addition will at least bear out,
If't do not expiate?

Livia
Here, good physician.
Eudemus- I like this study to preserve the love

Of such a man, that comes not every hour

To greet the world.-'Tis now well, lady, you should
Use of this dentifrice I prescribed you too,

To clear your teeth; and the prepared pomatum,

To smooth the skin. A lady cannot be

Too curious of her form, that still would hold
The heart of such a person, made her captive,
As you have his; who, to endear him more
In your clear eye, hath put away his wife,
The trouble of his bed, and your delights,
Fair Apicata, and made spacious room
To your new pleasures.

Livia

Eudemus

Sejanus

Livia

Sejanus

Livia

Have not we returned
That with our hate to Drusus, and discovery
Of all his counsels?

Yes, and wisely, lady.

The ages that succeed, and stand far off

To gaze at your high prudence, shall admire,
And reckon it an act without your sex:

It hath that rare appearance. Some will think
Your fortune could not yield a deeper sound
Than mixed with Drusus; but when they shall hear
That and the thunder of Sejanus meet,-

Sejanus, whose high name doth strike the stars,
And rings about the concave; great Sejanus,

Whose glories, style, and titles are himself,

The often iterating of Sejanus,

They then will lose their thoughts, and be ashamed
To take acquaintance of them.

Re-enter Sejanus

I must take

A rude departure, lady: Cæsar sends
With all his haste both of command and prayer.

Be resolute in our plot: you have my soul,

As certain yours as it is my body's.

And, wise physician, so prepare the poison,

As you may lay the subtle operation

Upon some natural disease of his;

Your eunuch send to me. I kiss your hands,
Glory of ladies, and commend my love

To your best faith and memory.

My lord,

I shall but change your words. Farewell. Yet this
Remember for your heed: he loves you not;
You know what I have told you; his designs
Are full of grudge and danger; we must use
More than a common speed.

How you do fire my blood!

Excellent lady,

Well, you must go?
The thoughts be best, are least set forth to show.
[Exit Sejanus.

Eudemus - When will you take some physic, lady?
Livia-

I shall, Eudemus: but let Drusus's drug
Be first prepared.

When

D

SOLILOQUY OF SEJANUS

ULL, heavy Cæsar!

Wouldst thou tell me thy favors were made crimes,
And that my fortunes were esteemed thy faults,

That thou for me wert hated, and not think

I would with wingèd haste prevent that change
When thou mightest win all to thyself again
By forfeiture of me? Did those fond words
Fly swifter from thy lips, than this my brain,
This sparkling forge, created me an armor
T'encounter chance and thee? Well, read my charms,
And may they lay that hold upon thy senses,

As thou hadst snuffed up hemlock, or ta'en down
The juice of poppy and of mandrakes. Sleep,
Voluptuous Cæsar, and security

Seize on thy stupid powers, and leave them dead
To public cares.

FROM THE SILENT WOMAN'

Scene: A Room in Morose's House.

M

hand, followed by Mute.

Enter Morose, with a tube in his

OROSE Cannot I yet find out a more compendious method than by this trunk, to save my servants the labor of speech, and mine ears the discords of sounds? Let me see: all discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome. Is it not possible that thou shouldst answer me by signs, and I apprehend thee, fellow? Speak not, though I question you. You have taken the ring off from the street door, as I bade you? Answer me not by speech, but by silence; unless it be otherwise. [Mute makes a leg.] Very good. And you have fastened on a thick quilt or flock bed on the outside of the door: that if they knock with their daggers or with brickbats, they can make no noise?-But with your leg, your answer, unless it be otherwise. [Mute makes a leg.] Very good. This is not only fit modesty in a servant, but good state and discretion in a master. And you have been with Cutbeard the barber, to have him come to me? [Mute makes a leg.] Good. And he will come presently? Answer me not but with your leg, unless it be otherwise: if it be otherwise, shake your head

XIV-523

Your Italian and Spaniard
and comely gravity.

or shrug. [Mute makes a leg.] So!
are wise in these: and it is a frugal
How
long will it be ere Cutbeard come? Stay: if an hour, hold up
your whole hand; if half an hour, two fingers; if a quarter, one.
[Mute holds up a finger bent.] Good: half a quarter? 'Tis well.
And have you given him a key, to come in without knocking?
[Mute makes a leg.] Good. And is the lock oiled, and the
hinges, to-day? [Mute makes a leg.] Good. And the quilting
of the stairs nowhere worn out and bare? [Mute makes a leg.]
Very good. I see, by much doctrine and impulsion it may be
effected; stand by. The Turk, in this divine discipline, is admir-
able, exceeding all the potentates of the earth: still waited on
by mutes; and all his commands so executed; yea, even in the
war, as I have heard, and in his marches, most of his charges
and directions given by signs, and with silence: an exquisite art!
and I am heartily ashamed, and angry oftentimes, that the princes
of Christendom should suffer à barbarian to transcend them in
so high a point of felicity. I will practice it hereafter. [A horn
winded within.] How now? oh! oh! what villain, what prodigy
of mankind is that? Look- [Exit Mute.
[Exit Mute. Horn again.] Oh!
cut his throat, cut his throat! what murderer, hell-hound, devil
can this be?

Re-enter Mute

Mute-It is a post from the court

Morose-Out, rogue! and must thou blow thy horn too? Mute-Alas, it is a post from the court, sir, that says he must speak with you, pain of death

Morose-Pain of thy life, be silent!

Enter Truewit with a post-horn, and a halter in his hand

Truewit- By your leave, sir,-I am a stranger here,- is your name Master Morose ? is your name Master Morose? Fishes! Pythagoreans all! This is strange. What say you, sir? Nothing? Has Hypocrates been here with his club, among you? Well, sir, I will believe you to be the man at this time; I will venture upon you, sir. Your friends at court commend them to you, sir

Morose- Oh men! Oh manners! was there ever such an impudence?

Truewit - And are extremely solicitous for you, sir.

Truewit- Mine own knave, and your compeer, sir.
Morose-Fetch me my sword.

Truewit-You shall taste the one-half of my dagger if you do, groom; and you the other if you stir, sir. Be patient, I charge you, in the King's name, and hear me without insurrection. They say you are to marry; to marry! do you mark, sir? Morose-How then, rude companion?

Truewit - Marry, your friends do wonder, sir, the Thames being so near, wherein you may drown so handsomely; or London bridge at a low fall, with a fine leap, to hurry you down the stream; or such a delicate steeple in the town as Bow, to vault from; or a braver height, as Paul's; or if you affected to do it nearer home, and a shorter way, an excellent garret window into the street; or a beam in the said garret, with this halter [shows him the halter] which they have sent,- and desire that you would sooner commit your grave head to this knot than to the wedlock noose; or take a little sublimate, and go out of the world like a rat; or a fly, as one said, with a straw in your body: any way, rather than follow this goblin Matrimony.

.

Morose-Good sir, have I ever cozened any friends of yours of their lands? bought their possessions? taken forfeit of their mortgage? begged a reversion from them? What have I done that may deserve this? Truewit-Alas, sir, I am but a messenger: I but tell you what you must hear. It seems your friends are careful after your soul's health, sir, and would have you know the danger. (But you may do your pleasure for all them; I persuade not, sir.) If, after you are married, your wife do run away with a vaulter, or the Frenchman that walks upon ropes, or him that dances a jig,

why, it is not their fault; they have discharged their con、 sciences, when you know what may happen. Nay, suffer valiantly, sir, for I must tell you all the perils that you are obnoxious to. If she be fair, young, and vegetous, no sweetmeats ever drew more flies; all the yellow doublets and great roses in the town will be there. If foul and crooked, she'll be with them.

If rich, and that you marry her dowry, not her, she'll reign in your house as imperious as a widow. If noble, all her kindred will be your tyrants. If learned, there was never such a parrot; all your patrimony will be too little for the guests that must be invited to hear her speak Latin and Greek.

. .

If