Nov. Mercy to us, great sir. Peri. We will become Chaste and reform'd men. Cham. and Din. We both are suitors, A sport to be oft practised; fix on them Their foul intents writ on their breasts, we'll have them Led thrice through Paris; then, at the court gate, To stand three hours, where Clarindore shall make Done to the lady Bellisant; and read So break we up LOVE'S PARLIAMENT, which, we hope, Being for mirth intended, shall not meet with How much I acknowledge myself bound for your so many, and extraordinary favours conferred upon me, as far as it is in my power, posterity shall take notice: I were most unworthy of such noble friends, if I should not, with all thankfulness, profess and own them. In the composition of this Tragedy you were my only supporters, and it being now by your principal encouragement to be turned into the world, it cannot walk safer than under your protection. It hath been happy in the suffrage of some learned and judicious gentlemen when it was presented, nor shall they find cause, I hope, in the perusal, to repent them of their good opinion of it. If the gravity and height of the subject distaste such as are only affected with jigs and ribaldry, (as I presume it will,) their condemnation of me and my poem, can no way offend me: my reason teaching me, such malicious and ignorant detractors deserve rather contempt than satisfaction. I ever held it the most perfect birth of my Minerva; and therefore in justice offer it to those that have best deserved of me; who, I hope, in their courteous acceptance will render it worth their receiving, and ever, in their gentle construction of my imperfections, believe they may at their pleasure dispose of him, that is wholly and sincerely Devoted to their service, PHILIP MASSINGER. That with delight join profit, and endeavour On good and glorious actions, and the shame Æsop. For the profit, Paris, And mercenary gain, they are things beneath us; We, from your bounty, find a large supply, Lat. And, would they give us leave, Esop. We have enemies, And great ones too, I fear. Lam. What times are these! To what 's Rome fallen! may we, being alone, Speak our thoughts freely of the prince and state, And not fear the informer? Rust. Noble Lamia, So dangerous the age is, and such bad acts Is now a crime; and to deserve too well, Sura. 'Tis true; and 'tis my wonder, Titus, Styl'd, justly," the Delight of all Mankind," 'Tis given out lately, The death of an offender and so far The consul Aretinus, Cæsar's spy, Said at his table, ere a month expired, For being gall'd in our last comedy, He'd silence us for ever. Par. I expect No favour from him; my strong Aventine is, Par. Jove hasten it! With us?-I now believe The consul's threats, Æsopus. 1 Lict. You are summon'd To appear to day in senate. 2 Lict. And there to answer What shall be urged against you. Par. We obey you. Nay, droop not, fellows; innocence should be bold. We, that have personated in the scene The ancient heroes, and the falls of princes, With loud applause; being to act ourselves, Must do it with undaunted confidence. Whate'er our sentence be, think 'tis in sport: Lam. Whither goes Paris? 1 Lict. He's cited to the senate. Lat. I am glad the state is So free from matters of more weight and trouble, That it has vacant time to look on us. Par. That reverend place, in which the affairs of And provinces were determined, to descend [kings To the censure of a bitter word, or jest, Dropp'd from a poet's pen! Peace to your lordWe are glad that you are safe. [ships! [Exeunt LICTORS, PARIS, LATINUS, and ESOPUS. From pride, that he disdain'd not the converse Even of the poorest Roman. Sura. I have letters He's on his way to Rome, and purposes To enter with all glory. The flattering senate Decrees him divine honours; and to cross it, Were death with studied torments :-for my part, I will obey the time; it is in vain To strive against the torrent. Rust. Let's to the curia, And, though unwillingly, give our suffrages, Lam. And since we cannot With safety use the active, let's make use of SCENE II.-A Room in LAMIA'S House. L As a debt due to her that's Cæsar's mistress : Ere long, comes to you :-still you doubt your Dom. Rise. I am transported, [Kneels. And hardly dare believe what is assured here. Parth. What, but your beauty? Dom. You are modest : And were it in my power, I would be thankful. Parth. I can soon resolve it: When power puts in his plea the laws are silenced. Lam. This is fine, i'faith! Is she not my wife? Parth. Your wife! But touch her, that respect forgotten That's due to her whom mightiest Cæsar favours, Lam. This is rare! Cannot a man be master of his wife Because she's young and fair, without a patent? I in my own house am an emperor, And will defend what's mine. Where are my knaves? If such an insolence escape unpunish'd—— Parth. In yourself, Lamia.-Cæsar hath forgot To use his power, and I, his instrument, In whom, though absent, his authority speaks, Have lost my faculties ! Enter a Centurion with Soldiers, Lam. The guard! why, am I Design'd for death? Dom. As you desire my favour, Take not so rough a course. Parth. All your desires [Stamps. Are absolute commands: Yet give me leave Here's a bill of divorce between your lordship Lam. Is this legal? Parth. Monarchs that dare not do unlawful things, Yet bear them out, are constables, not kings. Lam. I know not what to urge Parth. Set it under your hand, That you are impotent, and cannot pay The duties of a husband; or, that you are mad; Rather than want just cause, we'll make you so. Dispatch, you know the danger else ;-deliver it, Nay, on your knee.-Madam, you now are free, And mistress of yourself. Lam. Can you, Domitia, Consent to this? Dom. 'Twould argue a base mind To live a servant, when I may command. I once was yours, when you come to the palace, Lam. To the gods I bend my knees, (for tyranny hath banish'd As wanton Helen brought to him of Troy! [Exit. Aret. The purpose of this frequent senate Is, first, to give thanks to the gods of Rome, That, for the propagation of the empire, Vouchsafe us one to govern it, like themselves. In height of courage, depth of understanding, And all those virtues, and remarkable graces, Which make a prince most eminent, our Domitian Transcends the ancient Romans: I can never Bring his praise to a period. What good man, That is a friend to truth, dares make it doubtful, That he hath Fabius' staidness, and the courage Of bold Marcellus, to whom Hannibal gave The style of Target, and the Sword of Rome ? But he has more, and every touch more Roman; As Pompey's dignity, Augustus' state, Antony's bounty, and great Julius' fortune, With Cato's resolution. I am lost : In the ocean of his virtues in a word, Rust. This is no flattery! Sura. Take heed, you'll be observed. That we, (as to the father of our country, Par. Now he points at us. Aret. Cite Paris, the tragedian. Par. Here. Aret. Stand forth. In thee, as being the chief of thy profession, I do accuse the quality of treason, As libellers against the state and Cæsar. Par. Mere accusations are not proofs, my lord; In what are we delinquents? Aret. You are they That search into the secrets of the time, And, under feign'd names, on the stage, present To the plebeians. Par. If I free not myself, And, in myself, the rest of my profession, That they make that a libel which the poet It is but justice that we undergo The heaviest censure. Aret. Are you on the stage, You talk so boldly? Par. The whole world being one, This place is not exempted; and I am If, to express a man sold to his lusts, Sura. There's spirit in this. Par. Or if desire of honour was the base The active virtue is: but does that fire Rust. He has put The consuls to their whisper. Par. But, 'tis urged That we corrupt youth, and traduce superiors. Their secret crimes, we are as innocent As such as are born dumb. When we present Of his dear parent, numbering every hour him He is of the same mould,-WE CANNOT HELP IT. Or, bringing on the stage a loose adulteress, That does maintain the riotous expense Of him that feeds her greedy lust, yet suffers The lawful pledges of a former bed To starve the while for hunger; if a matron, |