Claudius Tiberius Nero; online

Zbe Gufcor jfacsimfle hearts



Clatttos litems §.zxq

1607



Date of earliest known edition . 1607

{From the Dyce copy at South Kensington.)
Reproduced in Facsimile 1913



%\)t f&nbax jfacsrmtlt lists

Under the Supervision and Editorship of
JOHN S. FARMER



1607



Issued for Subscribers by the Editor of

THE TUDOR FACSIMILE TEXTS
MCMXIII



ClatrMaa Submits &m



1607



This facsimile of " D^ero " is from the T>yce copy at South
Kensington.

The play was licensed at Stationers' Hall on ofpril 10th. 1607.
The Title in some copies reads " The Statelie Tragedie . . . " £f?c.
instead of as herein. Ch(o satisfactory attribution of authorship is
forthcoming.

The reproduction from the original is pronounced to be "first-rate,
virtually faultless."

JOHN S. FARMER.



2GJL092




THE v«V
Tragedie of Clau-

dius Tiberius Mcro,!Z^w« -

* greateft Tyrant.

Truly rcprcfented outofthepurefl Records
efthojcttmcs.

£t Studio>ct La bore.




? LONDON

Printed for Francis B«rto«,dwelling in Paules
Church-yard *t thefignc of the Flower-de- luze
and Crownc. 1607



&l;








8S&,






- • • . <





To the Right Worfh\ f rfull 'Sir Arthur Man-

nering Knight, (Sonne and Hcyrc vnto Sir George
Mannering o] Eithfeldin the Countie of Salop) Car-
ucr wno Pi inccHcm)' nis
Grace,

FCuflome( Right w or [hip full) had [ogre Me a PrerK
gattue as that nothing cr of sing it , n t ere at all alow*
g£\ able, then might J tuftlyefeare repr then fwn for this
CT i my Dedication, hautng(to my knowledge) hut afingu-
*&-* : ' ler Prefiaent heeretn > and the reajon v her ef ore fa
many Plaies haue fotmerly be enepublifijed without Injiripticns vnto
particular Patrons ^contrary to Cuflcmein dtuulging other Bookes)
although perhaps 1 could nerelyguejje yet becaufe Iwouldwilhngly of-
fend none J will now csnceale. This young Sc holler \as hit proportion is
tomelye fo are his garments graue, his language f aire, and by hisfpeech
itfbouldjeeme that his Father was an A 'cademLn : his tongue is tipt
with Eloquence and hi* face h louely : hotels fir angefbut true Jjlortes:
heps meruailotts wittie, and nctwtthftandmg his Qrfkant-agejforey-
ther hee hath lofi his Father, or his Father hath loji him) yet it fljould
feeme that he hath read much, for he is welljeene m Antiquities , but
mojl efpecially inward with Cornelius Tacitus, our beft appro tied Hijlo-
rian. which cannot chu[e but acquire himfemefauour . twill (ay no
m ore in his commendation let his on n good part spraife him . bat in i e-
gard he isfatherles.your IVoi fl)ip( I thinke ) may doe a deede of Chart-
ttetobehis Guardian, andhappily his owne father may crcehtl.v.nk-
' ful vntoyou for fuch kindnes. In the me. nefpace.as Imyflfeam
partly by duetie already bound vnto your Ucr fit p. jo my
louefijalmake vp that which in auetie is wanting,
and heel eafter Iwdlrcmaineyour
Worfbips denoted.






A I



A;<




AdLeBores. •

In fad of Prologue to my Vhy,
Obferue this one thing ifhalljaj.

I vfe no Sceane fuppos'd as many doe*

But make the Truth my Sceane.ind Avtors toa

for

Of Romes great Tyrant I the ftoric tell,

And what vnto that State in Neroes Raignc befel




The Tragicall life and death of
Claudius Tiberius Nero.

Enter mourners to the funeral/: fi (? Cocce mi Nerua t with
ether FUminijinext^the hearfe of Auguflus : then Ti-
leriut, with lu/ia on hit right hand : then Ifrufus T*«
htritu^And LiuiaiThen Agnpina alone: next % her three
fonnts^Drttfus, Nero And Ca/ijrtt/a '.next two Confiv/s,
Afinhu Ga/lus, and Tttitu Sahinus , with other Sew
torsSXhn fajfe otter the flags and^oe in : then found
to the Coronation '.and enter firft two Qonfnls \then Tf-
berius Nero, Kerua with the crowne EmpCriail •' then
*s4fwiHi } Sabwusi and S,- tonus , Senators: thenar tt-
fitsTtberiuttDrHfuSiNerciwdCaltgttla : Ttbtrtus
Neroafcinietk*

Tib.\ 77ftorious Confuls.and grauc Senators,

V My noble kinfnien and deere Coiintrime*
Dcarc friends to dearc AngufrushappineiTc:
H appie to hauc fuch frien«,and Countrimen:
Could I but fliadow out in nvkc of words,
The forrowingianguageofmy groaning foule,
Or with a ftreame of teares alay the flame,
. "Wherewith my heart doth like an jEtnaburne,
Yea Gods I call to witneflc ofmy thoughts, (words:
A1y tongue fliould fpeake,and fpeake in weepirg
JMine eyes Inould well out words,& fpeak in teares,
Wordes in my vvecping,weeping in my words,
Tofympathizcroy dearcafTcclion,
Butnncc v - HefftgncthtofTrottnd;

Seta. What ayles my Lord? how fares your noble
Arr/i«Scehow the inundation of jusc.nef (2,racc?

'Doth



Tloe Tragical! Ttfi and death

i
Dotli flop the fountainc of his vtterancc.

A fm. So true a grief e expreft with fuch trueloue,
W. uMniakeaman to be inlone with ^ricfe.

'Dru.TibcMy Lord andfather^vhatcicepepafnon
Your <.!eep-cn*;rauen forrowes hath furpriz'di

Tib. All Drufus 3 Drufus,chelatememorie,
Of great Auguftus honorable deedes,
Compared with this new priuation, t
Doth riuc my heart twixt contraritics.
Now would ray tongue remember his faire dcedesj
But then my heart fwels with remembrance.
Sweet Druius,rhou whefe young experience,
Hath not fuch deepeimpreffion ofthefe woes,
Our honorable buryall rights vnfould,
As moftc befits thefc folomnc Exequies.

r J)ru.Ttb.My Lord my duetie bindes me to obey,)
Againftniy rCafon,and my budding y cares,
Yet for to checkenjyyeares,my reafonfaies,
My duetrc mud be reafon to my y cares*
Therefore great States of this fad Parliament,
Fathcrsof Home partakers of our woes,
Vouch fate to warn your filuerhaires more white*
With flowing teares of true companion*
jiuTuWut fa ^r>high ORaUiHty
The true fucceffor of great Iuliu«,
Whow hilome glittering in his Sunne-bright raics
Surpaft the glorie of yong Phaeton:
Nowinthedarkeeclipfingofhisdaics,
Lies lovverthen ApoliocsbieathleiTe Sonne
Often hath Rome feenc mans fr.igillicic,
But nere before the Gods raortallitie,
lie pleadc his Iu(tice,loc his mercie fliincs:
lie call himmercifull,yetiuftwiiliall;
In mercy mft in fuiritemerCifull :
* lie pleadehis honour, then his meekenes calls,

Ilcpraifehisnicckcnes,yetin honours robes;




^"Claudius^Tibenus Nero.

In honour meckc, in meekencs honourable,
lie pica J his wifdome,but his wit mc checks,
Ilepraifchiswit>yetlincktinwifdomcschaine.
In wittic wifdomc,and in wifdonic wit,
lie plead his beautie,butlm ftrength bids (lav,
Ilcpraifchisftreivrthbutin a bcatltious man! ion.
Beauteous in valour.and in bcautic (Irons.*
Soifycrcakcnotmans rragilitie,
Yet wcepe to fee the Goiis mortal itie.

£<w.i.Nomorcfwcct />>*/** in to plcafing teat in j r
A(torietodifplcalin£ thourclat'fr.

Con. : . Good'Z)r«r/«/,addc not water to the lea,
To make our (caof foirowcsoucrflow.

Neru.i. InvainCjta vamc, thclc puling fignes of
griefe,

rdfuumatc waywardnc^inconitantinindet,
Valvules to fortune, (lanes to natures cou vie;
%Amfmftut&t*A ami fomuftallincndic,
So vvorkc the filters of net cllitic.
No pci Ion humane can eternal! be,
Butinfucccllionhathctcrnitie.
Since then thc'tcrnall prouidcnccofhcauen.
Hath ratified Autrnfttu Peine,
Wemuftprouidcforhispoorc Widdow left,
Left to our patronage (the Conwnon-wealtn)
And you my Lord Tfatuu the true hcirc
Of great A**uflm by adoption ,
' With loy all homage and true fealtie,
We doc create our gratious Emperour«

Ttbtr, And mult my filenccbreakc or heart

Inthe accepting of a double yoake? (difoluc

Not Co roccnHs tis impofsible

Poore foulc forme or for my modcitie*

To fway th' imperial! Scepter of the world,

That of this world am not my Kmpcrour,

One onely Tbtxnix in Ar*bui t

ft ' Prcfcntv



s i be K l ravtcatt life and death

6 Jj

Prefents a faci iftcc to Heauens eye,

One oncly 4tU« b) his prouidence'

The glittering ftarrsofneauen canfupport,

Oneoucly one Au%)*ftui y ovx\yhc

Our Rorrkinc P kaewx fitfor fcimperie,

Who I? no,no,i icnow not what you meanc,

Anl:ir,pcrouririuftvvake,Idrowfieain:

AnEmperourmuftbevaliantJainold: ,

He mult beiuftjlmay beouer-rul'd:

Sole Monarch muft he be,my mother Ihies ;

And muft, and ftull be honoured while meliues*

An Emperour muft be able to endure,

In warrc the winters frofts,andfummersheatc,

I feele a palfie rooted in my bones,

Hcrauft haue honic- dropping eloquence?

I for my partnerc play d the Orator.

By this rny a Tribunes power well I know,

How many doubtrull cares he muft endure

Th at take th care to be an Emperour.

An Empire(Gods forfend.^a goodly bait,

Tofiflifbrwitlcirchighafpiring foolcs*

Humilitiepcrfwades me to auovde

A droppe of honie in a flood of Gall.

Lords trouble notmy refolution,

I dare nor,cannot,wiH'not take the crowne.

«SVw. By W*moft gallantly diffembled: tsffide.
Alas my Lord let tribute of our tcares,
Plead for the orphantofour country cs ftate.
We know— — —

Tu What do y e know?I know wel what ye know
Youle fay the ftate isdolefull: foam I.
The ftate is now an orphan :,fo am I,
The flate hath loft his head,andfo haue I
My dearc Attgufim^ Hefaimth weeping*

Sab. Why weepes Tiberius and will not ceafeJ
\nd will not ceafe the weepingof the ftate?

Tth* Yes




^/Oaudiu^Tiberius Nero.

Tiber, Yes yzs t Sahi»usJi will help my part,
There is Germanicu s the hope of Roomc,
Nero and r Drufutnxi& Caligula.
Thefe gallant bloflbmes of the goodly flemme,
C»ccettt:^Ltt »/,and Ajlnius^
The fpotlcflc records ofanticjuitie,
Thefe are fit a&ors for o.ir empires fhgei
I for my part will aft fomc little part,
Fit for my barren wit te and leaden tongue,
And you my Lords (hare in equal tie,
The glorious Sceanes ofRoomes faircEmpcrie.

Afi> Why th en my Lord Tiberius % choofe yo u part
The fruitfull Sicily or gold of Spaine,
The Arabian fpiccs,or the Indian pcarles,
The Englifh wels,or Vines of Italic :
ThePalmesofluryjOrtheSithian Bathes,
Either yEgiptian Ifis,or Roomes Iouc,
Memphis or Rome, Athens or Troynouant,
Large Cittic$ i fertile foile.and gratious Gods,
If thefc,or any other may content,
Within the Circuit of our Empire,
My Lord,choofe out your part,and leaue the reft
To be affign'd at our difcrction. Scums afide*

O tor a fhift,now Lyon roufe thy felfe,
Orelfeforeucrloofethy Lyons head.
Tib. May I Afiuius choofe ? then this I choofe,
Totakcnocharge,forall I know is care,
Sieilymt mutinus and Spaniards proud,
Arabians (implc foolcs,and Indeans droyles,
Britons too rude, Italians too too wife,
Difloyall Serians/uperftitious Iewes,
Ifis too far,and Ioue is plac'd to ne;tr ~,
Memphis,and Rome, Athens and Troynouant,
All godly Cittics.but a! I dangerous,
By Iouemy hate hce deadly /hall obtaine,
That bids aie but to take a part againe.

*B z dfn* Not



The Tragkalllij^ and death

Afft. Not foe my Lord,y ou Hid mifconfter me,
I did notmeane to make dcuifion
In the vnited Vnion of theRcalme:
I did not mcane to feparate theSunne,
To runne by pecce-meale in the Zodiacke:
Nordreameofmultiplicitieoffoules,
Which one continuedeiTcncc animates,
The heai ens cannot mooue without a Sunne :
Nor can the heauens haue more Sunnes then ooc.

Ttbcr. Ajp.mus I perceiue I did you wrong,
So to inrcrprct your oration,
I am forr y , (troth I am)and if I Hue
lie rccompence your mightieiniuries*

JSleru* Will not Ttbentu then acceptthe Crowne?

Tiber. Why mould :T/£*r/<« libertie be ceafedj

Nertt. No,Princes haae the rule of libertie.

Tiber. If libertie in greatnefledidrelie.

Nertt* My Lord,my Lord,it is no time to icfr,
Nor dallie it out in quoin d Anti thefts,
EmperourornoEmpcrour,\vill you the Crowne or
NerOy fpeakeplaine,itishightimetoknowe. (no>

Ttb.Tdkz heed my Lords,bc wane in your choife,
ieafr after frormes controle your rafh attempt,
You are to choofe,but once confider well
After,all Subiectes to your Emperour*
It you conftraine me to this doubtiull taske,
And I(as God forbid) fhould change my minde.
Turning my pittie to a Lyons rage,
My fnow white conscience to a Scarlet dye,
Would not the Nations of the lefler world
That are not fubiec"t to our Emperie,
Deride your lunaticke election,
And if ye mould but thinke amifle ofrne,
Would they not laugh at your inconltancie ?
Take heede,takeheedc,in vaine ye will repent,
Being fore- wani'd ; and yet would not prcuent.

Sabin* Mf



e^^audius^iberius Nero .

Sahin* My Lord, how long fhall we wright in the
Or plough the ayre with vainedeluficns? (fands,
Our tongues are tyred, and our throates are hoatfe,
And all in vaine wc bend our fu ply ant knees,
Vaflaile our idle thoughts of rcuercnce,
Subdue our mounting fancies to your loue,
And will not all this mooue Tifortuti (quel).

NcGer. Good Grandme graunt the Senatours re*

*J)ru.Cjer* Grandfirc, they fp cake in carncir, take
thcCrowne.

Caliper* Grandfireaccept this golde-jooke how
jt thine* )
My thinkes it would become you paffing fine.

Tiber* Deare Children,(old Tiberuu elded care)
My heart doth daunce to heare the melody,
That heauenly Contort turned to mine cares,
Thanks my kinde kinf mcn^noblc Romain s thaks
Euen from my heart.al though my cares increafc,
Conftrain'd,yct gratefull for your kinde conftraint,
Bound to receiue that which my foule abhors,
Enforc'd to honour which my yeares deny,
Inchain'd to rule,bane to my modeftie.
Yet were my cares innumbcr infinite,
(For who can number all his cares hath none)
Should they fliowre down* in droppes of (breaming.
Mufterintroupsoflanguilhingchtpaire, (blood
Swarmc like to Bces,fting like to Scorpions \
Or like a flocke of Vultures gnaw my heart.
Yet thefe and more,and twice ten thoufand more,
Old Nero will for Countries caufeindure,
For you my Fathers,and for you my Sonncs.

Sou nd Trumpets, Neru* crowneth him*
Ner. Moft mightie Cafar y great Ttfunm,
Euer isiuonflHt Tribune of the State,
Perpetual! Diaator, Lord of Rome,



The Tragical! Ijjfe and death

Sole Con fill! for our conquered Prouinces,

Prince ofthe Senate in our policies,

Wee heere inueft your facred Majeftie,

]n all the Ornaments jmperiall,

Roomes and the worlds mod glorious Emperour*'

»»»?/♦ Long liue Tiberius Roomes great Emperor.

Tiber. Like as anhartlesfawnc, enuironed
Within thecircuitofthe hunters crie,
So fhnd I Romaines wondring at your fliowtes,
Thefenew alarum's quel my ilumbring thoughts;
Chaft to the Bay^I breathelefTe panting mufe>
To view the vn quoth glorie ofthe hunt.
Neuer could S part a glorieoffuch pray,
As for to hau'e an Emperour at bay.
But noble Romaines, there's another Deare,
A gallant Rocbuckc, braue C ' ermnnicur.
Roomes fhining Beacon in rode Germany*,
Our deare adopted Sonne,our bleiTed care,
To him my Lords(as zcale of my affection)
A ndfigneofduetie to the common date,
Wc doe prorogue eteht y cares proconfullhip,
On you Afimus wc doe impofc,
To be our Legate to Germanicus.
Te!! him'.velouchim,(andbcfureyoudoc)
Tell him we honour him(docnot forget)
V. e lone and honour deare Germanicus,
And would be ioy full to beholde our Sonne,
Honoured in triumph a the Capitall.
H.:tthutwc knowe the honour ofhis minde,
.Difdaincs tocropthebloflbmes ofhis fame,
J ill it be fiowred in his Summers pride,
And all the barbarous Gcrmainesrbefubdu'cU
'This doe !•///* hs and returne with loue,
In our n.w gloric.we thv honour prone.

A fin . My Lo rd,w hat ere Afimus honour proueth
\\i% expedition {hail declare he loucth.

Ttb. Now



^Claudiu^l lbenus Nero.

7ffcn Now Fathers, we will to the Sacrifice,
Saluting all the Gods in rifitation :
Let Lelttfternia three daics be proclaimed>
The Sibbels counfels and F tammies,
lanftt (hut vp,and Veftaes fire blaze,
Into the middle region of the ayre,
Wee all my Lords will to the Cappitall, ,
Inliluer ieale>our records to enrolc. Exeunt omnes.
Enter <P lebeians y fourefpeakers,
i Did you not fee our new Emperourhow brandy
be came from his Corronation.
* Yes,twa's a gallat fight furc,but did youmarlc his
countenance ? my thought tis mightily altred within
this fiuc or fix quarters of a ycre unce I faw him la(t;

$ I ; andlfawhim gocto the Senate, andasyou
fay,my thinks hee is much altered^andlookes more
terrible a great deal e»

'% I that fame lookes I promifc is an ilngnc,pray
God all be well.

4 Well, wee muft hope thebeft, and think e tis a
great change from a fubiecttobecomea fuiTicient,
for fimple as I ftand heere,if 1 /hould chaunce to bee
chofen Emperour, I mould aflault my felfe highly I
can tell y ou,or any of vs all.

3 AugHfttu. wasa goodly man,and I hopehee has
left fuch a gracious famplc,that7"*£«vjw wiJ not for-
get himfelfe.

i Ncuertalkeof ^*£*/?*j more,we flial ncuerfee
his like in Rome, vnleflc Gtrmantcus might bee our
Emperour.

Om.O worthy Germaniem ! hee's arTower indeed,
i My maiiters.let talk nomoreofthefe State- mat-
ters,forIamafraidwehaue faidtoomuch already ,if
the Emperor fliould know of it.
i You hauefaid wifely neigbour,for Emperors fee
&hcareall that they defirc/Ihaue heard my father
tel my mother fo ,thcy haue millions a Spirits that
tcls them all. 3 i caiC



The Tragicall Ije and death.

3 I care not,I faide nothing, but praide God hce
might be no wor fe the /**g*/?«/,that was no harme :

4 VVell.let vs part vpon this that hath been (aid,
and lets kecpeoncanothers counfcls,and take heed
hecreafcer. Sxeunu

Enter Gcrmaicutmth Centurion Soldiers*

Qer. Well followed Tribune$,gallant Gentleme,
Thus are thefe hear ts chac' d to their lurking dens,
That brayed like Afles in their Lyons skinnc.
Worthy Ccnturion,thou whofc might did breake
The triple ranges of our dangerous foes,
Whofe well way ed buckler tooke fo many darts, .
As feem'd to cloud the funne with multitude:
Accept the honour ofa Gentleman,
Cro wn'd with the triumph of victorious fpoyles,
This Crowne thus pleated of flic verdant graflc,
Thy hidi vplifted head /hall more adorne,
Then all the honour of proud Germany.

Ccnuu Noble GermantcHs a Romaine heart,
Hath by inheritance a mounting fpirit,
Did not great ConoUnut fo aduaunce,
The mellow fruite of his old withered ftocke!
Did not three hundcth Ftby all at once,
In one day breath, warjvanquiilijfight and dyc $
All tomaintaine the honour of their name l
So did Manusva Nnrnidi*,
A nd happie SeylU vnder Scipio,
With what alacritic did ScemoU,
Encounter 'Por/tnes torture, death and fire.
All to maintaine the honour of their name,
And Aiould not I hazard this blaze of life.
This riling bubble.this imprifoned foule,
This changing matter,this inconftant aft,
For Countrie,fiicnds^uid honour of my name?

€nt*




^ClaudiusvTiberius Nero.

£nter*Vare.

Pqe. My Lord,h eere is a Legate fent from Rome,
Which craues accede vnto your Majeftie*
Gtr. Let him draw neare : Cofen Afmns !

Enter AJiniut.
Wclcomemy noble friend to Germ**i* f

tAjin* A 11 hap pinefle vnto Get moment t
Ihauea fecret meiFage to impart,
If pleafe your Grace of priuate patience .

(jtr. Tribunes lookc to the 4. gates of the Campc
See that the trenches bceinchaneld deepen
Send outour (couts a if they can fpic the Foef
Number their Cohorts and their Legions:
Comfortthemaimed.burieall the dead,
Refrefli your bodies, for to morrow morne
We ineane to fcoure this vanquiiht region:
away Exeunt.

Now good Affimms \tt\XGtrwuinicHt
The (Sblrance that your meiTage doth import*

A fin* Were I not now to fpeake vnto your Grace
My tongue Should play the Rethoritian,
And in graue precepts fhiue to moralize,
Or make alongdifcourfeofpatiei.ee,
Adding a crooked fign d Parenthefis,
Ofpuhngforro.vtwixt each fiprcd line*
But for C<ftmHt t kno wes your fetlcd minde
So nurft in flowing (Ireames of conftancic >
Afimu doth reporte Att^ttfttts death,
I wili not common place of mortal 1 men,
Norofhisvertuc,nor his NoblenefTe,
Nor Stfons graucaduife fhall bemy Thcame:
I know 1 fpeake vnto GtrmamcKt,
Betides, y (r>> -mt isour Emperour.
He faith he loues you,and to sew his lone,
Hath} our jKotoniul&ip -eight yeresprorogu'd.

C Enter



The TragicaUliJc and death



€ nter fintttrian which was erowne d*

fittt* Germanictu and graue Afimus 9
A wake from coun fell jail are in vprorc,
Our Germane Legions are all mutinous.
And crie Germanictts our Emperour,
gtrmahicHt our noble Emperour.
They make a Throne of tufts,and then they crie^
GermanicM (hall be our Emperoflr.
Cjtrtn* A world of cares at onceaflTaultmy fouler
lam cUftra&ed.harkejthe mutinies*

They crie withm t and exeunt owner.

Enter 'Ziberimfi.Hlia i and Stianm.

Tib, Impute it not vnto vngratefulnefle,
(Imperious Angufta, of great Rome,
And which doth touchme nearer dcarcftmothexrj
That Nero hath deferd indebted thankes^
Eqiualcnt vnto your high, deferts.
I can not (mother) fet your praife to fale,
Or Orator it with a glofing tongue,
Graced with picked phrafes,glorious fpecch^
Choice Synommies, pleafing Epithites,
Paged bA apifh action, toying gefture,
Mother I hate this tip-ton guedflatterie,
Bet tcr is me ,be as you fee me now,
Thankfull in outward deeds, than outward/hew^
But forwardmother with your former tale*
lttUa* No fooner the vncbntrollcd fates,
xxilde bis life,and with his life our care,
But that Setanut from whofe faithfull tongue^
(As from A folios tru-fent Oracles,
"We chiefederiue the drift of our affaires)
Ported like to the Palphraies of the S unne,

" " To




of Claudius Tiberius Nero.

To Roades where thou in exile didft remained
There to enforme thee oiAugnfta.es death,
The Empires vacancie,and thy repeale.

T#£. My tongue denies to blazon in harfh words
Deare friends the thaukfulnciTemy heart aflfords.

lulia* Mcane while had Inot with great pohcic,
Buried in filence great isfttguftus death,
" And in the clofet of my carc-fWorne breir,
Embofomcd the notice of the fame,
She wne vnto thee,fmoothered to vulgar fame,
tJar'dfrom thebafe Plebeians itching cares,
A Caftrell had pofleftthy Eagles nefi.
And thou the Eagle hadft beene difpoflcft.

Stia. Butnow that Caftrel in his courfeis ftopi f ""
Clipt are his pinions of ambitious flight.-
Nor iliall he nope to fit where Nero wares.

Hib . Were he t he iflu e of eternal I \oue %
Or farre more fortunate in his fucccfTc,
Then was Aictdet t or faire Thetit fonnc,
More hap pie in the ofspring of his loync '
Then Trtam in hischildrcns multitude,
Yet would I bridle his afpiring thoughts,
And curbe the r eynes of his ambition.

Seia. Wei can he braue it in his barbarous armes,
A gainitth' oppugning force of Gcrmanie,
Andftrangcr nationsof the fanned North,
Whofehearts like to their Climate hard congcald^
Arefrozen cold to Romcs felicitie.
A.crelred Bur ganetto more fits him,
Then to ingirt his Temples with a Crownc.

Td. Therefore in policie by thine aduife,
Vnder pretext of honourable minde,
"We deligated to Germanicus,
Afmuis G alius into G ermanie,
With twice foureycares prorogued Confuhhip.'

htlta. Which ofncccflTi tie he muft Accept,

C a Sitii



Tloe Tragicalllije and deatb



Si tb hope of higher honotr is forcftald.

T. brr. Tis true,tor what he aim'd ar,I eniov :
Thiswa^h'attratH' eMagncsofhishoprs'

Sets. To which how hardfy did you fee nu allur'd
With f uch denyall you refufed it :
JMakingaConimentaricontheCrownc,
Withoi. ! (hed^etieof an Emperour,
Kow w.»nt,watchfull,wifc he ought to be,
How drowfic,and improuident you were,
"With heaping vp a ftone of what cares
They vndergoe.that vndertake toruJc,
So grae'd withfundrie fquemim fubtiltics,
As JMrrcttrie bimfelfe(tneGod ofwitte)
Alight haueadmir'djbut not hauc matched l'C

Tiber* Yctdidchat *rgut eyed AJJtmnt,
Both marke and bluntly maceme in my drift.
With/, htofe your f Art my L ord in 'Brit any y

Or heydays here you will/o not in Rome,

but by my Genius lie remember
Julia, I,had not wife Afin.m vttcrcd it,
Tiber. Hadmc no had- nots,nor ./(/&«*/

Can fo ore cannopie his dole conce ite,

But I will know the Panther byhisskinne.

N<>r am I ignorant of his great loue

Hebearesvnto the proud G« mamcur t

How euerclowedin hippoereiie.
Seiax.l^hat (jcrmmiHs hi Ids al their hearts, (hope
l#A.Norr;cruaile,for they call him Roomes chiefc
S.ia. And f me did fay he ibould be Emperour,

In fpite of Iulia and hir cxild Sonne,
Tibr. ButneitherI«/«^nor hei exildeSonne,

Would haue endured fuch competitors,

Nero will brook t no riuall in his rule,

Vnh iTe it be th' emperious lu/ta,

To whome thelaw of nature bindes Tibtr'tns
So funic obieiged in obedience,

As





'Mi



f f , t 1 " ' t ' ~1 ak a

^Claudius Tibenus Nero.

As all the attributes of jvlajeftie,
Rome,or the world, or N: ro can afToord,
1 decmc too meant a tribute for her loue.
Whofe loue firft lent the eflence of my life,