(SCENE 2.)

Enter Nero, Tigellinus, Epaphroditus, and Neophilus.

Nero. Tigellinus, said the villaine Proculus[17] I was throwne downe in running?

Tigell. My Lord, he said that you were crown'd for that You could not doe.

Nero. For that I could not doe? Why, Elis saw me doe't, and doe't it with wonder Of all the Iudges and the lookers on; And yet to see—A villaine! could not doe't? Who did it better? I warrant you he said I from the Chariot fell against my will.

Tigell. He said, My Lord, you were throwne out of it All crusht and maim'd and almost bruis'd to death.

Nero. Malicious Rogue! when I fell willingly To show of purpose with what little hurt Might a good rider beare a forced fall. How sayest thou, Tigellinus? I am sure Thou hast in driving as much skill as he.

Tigell. My Lord, you greater cunning shew'd in falling Then had you sate.

Nero. I know I did; or[18] bruised in my fall? Hurt! I protest I felt no griefe in it. Goe, Tigellinus, fetch the villaines head. This makes me see his heart in other things. Fetch me his head; he nere shall speake againe. [Ex. Tigell. What doe we Princes differ from the durt And basenesse of the common Multitude If to the scorne of each malicious tongue We subiect are: For that I had no skill,[19] Not he that his farre famed daughter set A prise to Victoria and had bin Crown'd With thirteene Sutors deaths till he at length By fate of Gods and Servants treason fell, (Shoulder pack't[20] Pelops, glorying in his spoyles) Could with more skill his coupled horses guide. Even as a Barke that through the mooving Flood Her linnen wings and the forc't ayre doe beare; The Byllowes fome, she smoothly cutts them through; So past my burning Axeltree along: The people follow with their Eyes and Voyce, And now the wind doth see it selfe outrun And the Clouds wonder to be left behind, Whilst the void ayre is fild with shoutes and noyse, And Neroes name doth beate the brazen Skie; Jupiter envying loath doth heare my praise. Then their greene bowes and Crownes of Olive wreaths, The Conquerors praise, they give me as my due. And yet this Rogue sayth No, we have no skill.

Enter a servant to them.

Servant. My Lord, the Stage and all the furniture—

Nero. I have no skill to drive a Chariot! Had he but robde me, broke my treasurie: The red-Sea's mine, mine are the Indian stones, The Worlds mine owne; then cannot I be robde? But spightfully to undermine my fame, To take away my arte! he would my life As well, no doubt, could he tould (tell?) how.

Enter Tigellinus with Proculus head.

Neoph. My Lord, Tigellinus is backe come with Proculus head. (Strikes him.)

Nero. O cry thee mercie, good Neophilus; Give him five hundred sesterces for amends. Hast brought him, Tigellinus?

Tigell. Heres his head, my Lord.

Nero. His tongue had bin enough.

Tigell. I did as you commanded me, my Lord.

Nero. Thou toldst not me, though, he had such a nose![21] Now are you quiet and have quieted me: This tis to be commander of the World. Let them extoll weake pittie that do neede it, Let meane men cry to have Law and Iustice done And tell their griefes to Heaven that heares them not: Kings must upon the Peoples headlesse courses Walk to securitie and ease of minde. Why, what have we to doe with th'ayrie names (That old age and Philosophers found out) Of Iustice and ne're certaine Equitie? The God's revenge themselves and so will we; Where right is scand Authoritie's orethrowne: We have a high prerogative above it. Slaves may do what is right, we what we please: The people will repine and think it ill, But they must beare, and praise too, what we will.

Enter Cornutus[22] to them.

Neoph. My Lord, Cornutus whom you sent for's come.

Nero. Welcome, good Cornutus. Are all things ready for the stage, As I gave charge?

Corn. They only stay your coming.

Nero. Cornutus, I must act to day Orestes.

Corn. You have done that alreadie, and too truely. (Aside.)

Nero. And when our Sceane is done I meane besides To read some compositions of my owne, Which, for the great opinion I my selfe And Rome in generall of thy Judgment hath, Before I publish them Ile shew them thee.

Corn. My Lord, my disabilities—

Nero. I know thy modestie: Ile only shew thee now my works beginning.— Goe see, Epaphroditus, Musick made ready; I will sing to day.— [Exit Epa. Cornutus, I pray thee come neere And let me heare thy Judgement in my paynes. I would have thee more familiar, good Cornutus; Nero doth prise desert and more esteemes Them that in knowledge second him, then power. Marke with what style and state my worke begins.

Corn. Might not my Interruption offend, Whats your workes name, my Lord? what write you of?

Nero. I meane to write the deeds of all the Romans.

Corn. Of all the Romans? A huge argument.

Nero. I have not yet bethought me of a title:— (he reades,)

"You Enthrall Powers which[23] the wide Fortunes doon Of Empyre-crown'd seaven-Mountaine-seated Rome, Full blowne Inspire me with Machlaean[24] rage That I may bellow out Romes Prentisage; As[25] when the Menades do fill their Drums And crooked hornes with Mimalonean hummes And Evion[26] do Ingeminate around, Which reparable Eccho doth resound."

How doest thou like our Muses paines, Cornutus?

Corn. The verses have more in them than I see: Your work, my Lord, I doubt will be too long.

Nero. Too long?

Tigell. Too long?

Corn. I, if you write the deedes of all the Romans. How many Bookes thinke you t'include it in?

Nero. I thinke to write about foure hundred Bookes.

Corn. Four hundred! Why, my Lord, they'le nere be read.[27]

Nero. Hah!

Tigell. Why, he whom you esteeme so much, Crisippus, Wrote many more.

Corn. But they were profitable to common life And did Men Honestie and Wisedome teach.

Nero. Tigellinus!

[Exit Nero and Tigell.

Corn. See with what earnestnesse he crav'd my Judgment, And now he freely hath it how it likes him.

Neoph. The Prince is angry, and his fall is neere; Let us begon lest we partake his ruines.

[Exeunt omnes praeter Cornu.

Manet Cornutus solus.

What should I doe at Court? I cannot lye. Why didst thou call me, Nero, from my Booke; Didst thou for flatterie of Cornutus looke? No, let those purple Fellowes that stand by thee (That admire shew and things that thou canst give) Leave to please Truth and Vertue to please thee. Nero, there is no thing in thy power Cornutus Doth wish or fear.

Enter Tigellinus to him.

Tigell. Tis Neroes pleasure that you straight depart To Giara, and there remaine confin'd: Thus he, out of his Princely Clemencie, Hath Death, your due, turn'd but to banishment.

Corn. Why, Tigellinus?

Tigell. I have done, upon your perill go or stay. [Ex. Ti.

Corn. And why should Death or Banishment be due For speaking that which was requir'd, my thought? O why doe Princes love to be deceiv'd And even do force abuses on themselves? Their Eares are so with pleasing speech beguil'd That Truth they mallice, Flatterie truth account, And their owne Soule and understanding lost Goe, what they are, to seeke in other men. Alas, weake Prince, how hast thou punisht me To banish me from thee? O let me goe And dwell in Taurus, dwell in Ethiope So that I doe not dwell at Rome with thee. The farther still I goe from hence, I know, The farther I leave Shame and Vice behind. Where can I goe but I shall see thee, Sunne? And Heaven will be as neere me still as here. Can they so farre a knowing soule exyle That her owne roofe she sees not ore her head?

[Exit.