The False One Part 1

The False One.

by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher.

PERSONS REPRESENTED IN THE PLAY.

Julius Caesar, _Emperour of_ Rome.

Ptolomy, _King of_ aegypt.

Ach.o.r.eus, _an honest Counsellor, Priest of_ Isis.

Photinus, _a Politician, minion to_ Ptolomy.

Achillas, _Captain of the Guard to_ Ptolomy.

Septimius, _a revolted Roman Villain._ Labienus, _a Roman Souldier, and_ Nuncio.

Apollodorus, _Guardian to_ Cleopatra.

Antonie, ) Dolabella, ) Caesars _Captains._ Sceva, _a free Speaker, also Captain to_ Caesar.

_Guard._ _Three lame Souldiers._ _Servants._

_WOMEN._

Cleopatra, _Queen of_ aegypt. Caesar's _Mistris._ Arsino, Cleopatra's _Sister._ Eros, Cleopatra's _waiting Woman._

_The Scene_ aegypt.

The princ.i.p.al Actors were,

_John Lowin._ _John Underwood._ _Robert Benfield._ _Richard Sharpe._ _Joseph Taylor._ _Nicholas Toolie._ _John Rice._ _George Birch._

_ACTUS PRIMUS. SCENA PRIMA._

_Enter_ Achillas, _and_ Ach.o.r.eus.

[_Ach._] I love the King, nor do dispute his power, (For that is not confin'd, nor to be censur'd By me, that am his Subject) yet allow me The liberty of a Man, that still would be A friend to Justice, to demand the motives That did induce young _Ptolomy_, or _Photinus_, (To whose directions he gives up himself, And I hope wisely) to commit his Sister, The Princess _Cleopatra_ (if I said The Queen) _Achillas_ 'twere (I hope) no treason, She being by her Fathers Testament (Whose memory I bow to) left Co-heir In all he stood possest of.

_Achil._ 'Tis confest (My good _Ach.o.r.eus_) that in these Eastern Kingdoms Women are not exempted from the Sceptre, But claim a priviledge, equal to the Male; But how much such divisions have ta'en from The Majesty of _Egypt_, and what factions Have sprung from those part.i.tions, to the ruine Of the poor Subject, (doubtful which to follow,) We have too many, and too sad examples, Therefore the wise _Photinus_, to prevent The Murthers, and the Ma.s.sacres, that attend On disunited Government, and to shew The King without a Partner, in full splendour, Thought it convenient the fair _Cleopatra_, (An attribute not frequent to the Climate) Should be committed in safe Custody, In which she is attended like her Birth, Until her Beauty, or her royal Dowre, Hath found her out a Husband.

_Ach._ How this may Stand with the rules of policy, I know not; Most sure I am, it holds no correspondence With the Rites of _aegypt_, or the Laws of Nature; But grant that _Cleopatra_ can sit down With this disgrace (though insupportable) Can you imagine, that _Romes_ glorious Senate (To whose charge, by the will of the dead King This government was deliver'd) or great _Pompey_, (That is appointed _Cleopatra_'s Guardian As well as _Ptolomies_) will e're approve Of this rash counsel, their consent not sought for, That should authorize it?

_Achil._ The Civil war In which the _Roman_ Empire is embarqu'd On a rough Sea of danger, does exact Their whole care to preserve themselves, and gives them No vacant time to think of what we do, Which hardly can concern them.

_Ach._ What's your opinion Of the success? I have heard, in mult.i.tudes Of Souldiers, and all glorious pomp of war, _Pompey_ is much superiour.

_Achil._ I could give you A Catalogue of all the several Nations From whence he drew his powers: but that were tedious.

They have rich arms, are ten to one in number, Which makes them think the day already won; And _Pompey_ being master of the Sea, Such plenty of all delicates are brought in, As if the place on which they are entrench'd, Were not a Camp of Souldiers, but _Rome_, In which _Lucullus_ and _Apicius_ joyn'd, To make a publique Feast: they at _Dirachium_ Fought with success; but knew not to make use of _Fortunes_ fair offer: so much I have heard _Caesar_ himself confess.

_Ach._ Where are they now?

_Achil._ In _Thessalie_, near the _Pharsalian_ plains Where _Caesar_ with a handfull of his Men Hems in the greater number: his whole troops Exceed not twenty thousand, but old Souldiers Flesh'd in the spoils of _Germany_ and _France_, Inur'd to his Command, and only know To fight and overcome; And though that _Famine_ Raigns in his Camp, compelling them to tast Bread made of roots, forbid the use of man, (Which they with scorn threw into _Pompeys_ Camp As in derision of his Delicates) Or corn not yet half ripe, and that a Banquet: They still besiege him, being ambitious only To come to blows, and let their swords determine Who hath the better Cause.

_Enter_ Septi[m]ius.

_Ach._ May Victory Attend on't, where it is.

_Achil._ We every hour Expect to hear the issue.

_Sep._ Save my good Lords; By _Isis_ and _Osiris_, whom you wors.h.i.+p; And the four hundred G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses Ador'd in _Rome_, I am your honours servant.

_Ach._ Truth needs, _Septimius_, no oaths.

_Achil._ You are cruel, If you deny him swearing, you take from him Three full parts of his language.

_Sep._ Your Honour's bitter, Confound me, where I love I cannot say it, But I must swear't: yet such is my ill fortune, Nor vows, nor protestations win belief, I think, and (I can find no other reason) Because I am a _Roman_.

_Ach._ No _Septimius_, To be a _Roman_ were an honour to you, Did not your manners, and your life take from it, And cry aloud, that from _Rome_ you bring nothing But _Roman_ Vices, which you would plant here, But no seed of her vertues.

_Sep._ With your reverence I am too old to learn.

_Ach._ Any thing honest, That I believe, without an oath.

_Sep._ I fear Your Lords.h.i.+p has slept ill to night, and that Invites this sad discourse: 'twill make you old Before your time:--O these vertuous Morals, And old religious principles, that fool us!

I have brought you a new Song, will make you laugh, Though you were at your prayers.

_A[c]h._ What is the subject?

Be free _Septimius_.

_Sep._ 'Tis a Catalogue Of all the Gamesters of the Court and City, Which Lord lyes with that Lady, and what Gallant Sports with that Merchants wife; and does relate Who sells her honour for a Diamond, Who, for a tissew robe: whose husband's jealous, And who so kind, that, to share with his wife, Will make the match himself: Harmless conceits, Though fools say they are dangerous: I sang it The last night at my Lord _Photinus_ table.

_Ach._ How? as a Fidler?

_Sep._ No Sir, as a Guest, A welcom guest too: and it was approv'd of By a dozen of his friends, though they were touch'd in't: For look you, 'tis a kind of merriment, When we have laid by foolish modesty (As not a man of fas.h.i.+on will wear it) To talk what we have done; at least to hear it; If meerily set down, it fires the blood, And heightens Crest-faln appet.i.te.

_Ach._ New doctrine!

_Achil._ Was't of your own composing?

_Sep._ No, I bought it Of a skulking Scribler for two Ptolomies: But the hints were mine own; the wretch was fearfull: But I have d.a.m.n'd my self, should it be question'd, That I will own it.

_Ach._ And be punished for it: Take heed: for you may so long exercise Your scurrilous wit against authority, The Kingdoms Counsels; and make profane Jests, (Which to you (being an atheist) is nothing) Against Religion, that your great maintainers (Unless they would be thought Co-partners with you) Will leave you to the Law: and then, _Septimius_, Remember there are whips.

_Sep._ For wh.o.r.e's I grant you, When they are out of date, till then are safe too, Or all the Gallants of the Court are Eunuchs, And for mine own defence I'le only add this, I'le be admitted for a wanton tale To some most private Cabinets, when your Priest-hood (Though laden with the mysteries of your G.o.ddess) Shall wait without unnoted: so I leave you To your pious thoughts. [_Exit._

_Achil._ 'Tis a strange impudence, This fellow does put on.