(SCENE 2.)
Reading edition
1 Rom. Whither so fast, man? Whither so fast?
2 Rom. Whither but where your eares do lead you? To Neros Triumphs and the shouts you heare.
1 Rom Why? comes he crown'd with Parthian overthrow And brings he Volegesus with him chain'd?
2 Rom. Parthian overthrowne! why he comes crownd For victories which never Roman wonne; For having Greece in her owne arts overthrowne, In Singing, Dauncing, Horse-rase, Stage-playing. Never, O Rome had never such a Prince.
1 Rom. Yet, I have heard, our ancestors were crown'd For other Victories.
2 Rom. None of our ancestors were ere like him.
Within: Nero, Apollo, Nero, Hercules![4]
1 Rom. Harke how th'applauding shouts doe cleave the ayre,[5] This idle talke will make me loose the sight.
Two Romans more to them.
3 Rom. Whither goe you? alls done i'th Capytall, And Nero, having there his tables hung And Garlands up, is to the Pallace gone. 'Twas beyond wonder; I shall never see, Nay, I never looke to see the like againe: Eighteen hundred and eight Crownes For severall victories, and the place set downe Where, and in what, and whom he overcame.
4 Rom. That was set down ith' tables that were borne Upon the Souldiers speares.
1 Rom. O made, and sometimes use[d] for other Ends!
2 Rom. But did he winne them all with singing?
3 Rom. Faith, all with singing and with stage-playing.
1 Rom. So many Crowns got with a song!
4 Rom. But did you marke the Greek Musitians Behind his Chariot, hanging downe their heads, Sham'd and overcome in their professions? O Rome was never honour'd so before.
3 Rom. But what was he that rode ith' Chariot with him?
4 Rom. That was Diodorus the Mynstrill that he favours.
3 Rom. Was there ever such a Prince!
2 Rom. O Nero Augustus, the true Augustus!
3 Rom. Nay, had you seen him as he rode along With an Olimpicke Crowne upon his head And with a Pythian on his arme, you would have thought, Looking on one, he had Apollo seem'd, On th'other, Hercules.
2 Rom. I have heard my father oft repeat the Triumphs Which in Augustus Caesars tymes were showne Upon his Victorie ore the Illirians; But it seemes it was not like to this.
3 & 4 Rom. Push,[6] it could not be like this.
2, 3 & 4 Rom. O _Nero, Appollo, Nero, Hercules!
[Exeunt 2, 3 & 4 Rom.
Manet Primus_.
1 Rom. Whether Augustus Triumph greater was I cannot tell; his Triumphs cause, I know, Was greater farre and farre more Honourable. What are wee People, or our flattering voyces That always shame and foolish things applaud, Having no sparke of Soule? All eares and eyes, Pleased with vaine showes, deluded by our sences, Still enemies to wisedome and to goodnesse. [Exit.