A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vii Part 12

Q. POMPEY. Believe me, n.o.ble Romans and grave senators, This strange election, and this new-made law Will witness our unstable government, And dispossess Rome of her empery: For although Marius be renown'd in arms, Famous for prowess, and grave in warlike drifts, Yet may the suns.h.i.+ne of his former deeds Nothing eclipse our Sylla's dignity.

By lot and by election he was made Chief general against Mithridates, And shall we then abridge him of that rule?

'Twere injury to Sylla and to Rome: Nor would the height of his all-daring mind Brook to the death so vile and foul disgrace.

J. BRUTUS. Why, Pompey, as if the senate had not power To appoint, dispose, and change their generals!

Rome shall belike be bound to Sylla's rule, Whose haughty pride and swelling thoughts puff'd-up Foreshows the reaching to proud Tarquin's state.

Is not his ling'ring to our Roman loss At Capua, where he braves it out with feasts, Made known, think you, unto the senate here?

Yes, Pompey, yes; and hereof are we sure, If Romans' state on Sylla's pride should lie, Rome's conquests would to Pontus' regions fly; Therefore, grave and renowned senators, (Pillars that bear and hold our rule aloft, You stately, true, and rich pyramids) Descend into the depth of your estates; Then shall you find that Sylla is more fit To rule in Rome domestical affairs, Than have the conquest of Bithinia, Which, if once got, he'll but by death forego: Therefore I say [let] Marius [be] our general.

LUCRETIUS. So thus we strive abroad to win renown, And nought regard at home our waning states.

Brutus, I say, the many brave exploits, The warlike acts that Sylla has achiev'd Show him a soldier and a Roman too, Whose care is more for country than himself.

Sylla nill brook[102], that in so many wars, So hard adventures and so strange extremes, Hath borne the palm and prize of victory, Thus with dishonour to give up his charge.

Sylla hath friends and soldiers at command, That first will make the towers of Rome to shake, And force the stately capitol to dance, Ere any rob him of his just renown.

Then we that through the Caspian sh.o.r.es have run, And spread with s.h.i.+ps the Oriental sea, At home shall make a murder of our friends, And ma.s.sacre our dearest countrymen.

LECTORIUS. The power of Sylla nought will 'vail 'gainst Rome; And let me die, Lucretius, ere I see Our senate dread for any private man. Therefore, Renown'd Sulpitius, send for Sylla back: Let Marius lead our men in Asia.

L. MERULA. The law the senate wholly doth affirm: Let Marius lead our men in Asia.

ClNNA. Cinna affirms the senate's censure just, And saith let Marius lead the legions forth.

C. GRANIUS. Honour and victory follow Marius' steps!

For him doth Granius wish to fight for Rome.

SULPITIUS. Why then, you sage and ancient sires of Rome, Sulpitius here again doth publish forth, That Marius by the senate here is made Chief general to lead the legions out Against Mithridates and his compet.i.tors.

Now victory, for honour of Rome, follow Marius!

[_Here let_ MARIUS _rouse himself_.

MARIUS. Sage and imperial senators of Rome, Not without good advis.e.m.e.nt have you seen Old Marius silent during your discourse: Yet not for that he fear'd to plead his cause, Or raise his honour trodden down by age, But that his words should not allure his friends To stand on stricter terms for his behoof.

Six times the senate by election hath Made Marius consul over warlike Rome, And in that s.p.a.ce nor Rome nor all the world Could ever say that Marius was untrue.

These silver hairs, that hang upon my face, Are witnesses of my unfeigned zeal.

The Cymbrians, that erewhile invaded France, And held the Roman empire in disdain, Lay all confounded under Marius' sword: Fierce Scipio, the mirror once of Rome, Whose loss as yet my inward soul bewails, Being ask'd who should succeed and bear his rule, Even this, quoth he, shall Scipio's armour bear; And therewithal clapp'd me upon the back.[103]

If then, grave lords, my former-pa.s.sed youth Was spent in bringing honours unto[104] Rome, Let then my age and latter date of years, Be sealed up for honour unto Rome.

_Here enter_ SYLLA, _with Captains and Soldiers_.

SULPITIUS. Sylla, what mean these arms and warlike troops?

These glorious ensigns and these fierce alarm[s]

'Tis proudly done to brave the capitol!

SYLLA. These arms, Sulpitius, are not borne for hate, But maintenance of my confirmed state: I come to Rome with no seditious thoughts, Except I find too froward injuries.

SULPITIUS. But wisdom would you did forbear To yield these slight suspicions of contempt, Where as the senate studieth high affairs.

SYLLA. What serious matters have these lords in hand?

SULPITIUS. The senators with full decree appoint Old Marius for their captain-general, To lead thy legions into Asia, And fight against the fierce Mithridates.

SYLLA. To Marius? Jolly stuff! Why then I see Your lords.h.i.+ps mean to make a babe of me.

J. BRUTUS. 'Tis true, Sylla, the senate hath agreed That Marius shall those bands and legions bear, Which you now hold, against Mithridates.

SYLLA. Marius should[105] lead them then, if Sylla said not no; And I should be a consul's shadow then.

Trustless senators and ungrateful Romans, For all the honours I have done to Rome, For all the spoils I brought within her walls, Thereby for to enrich and raise her pride, Repay you me with this ingrat.i.tude?

You know, unkind, that Sylla's wounded helm Was ne'er hung up once, or distain'd with rust: The Marcians that before me fell amain, And like to winter-hail on every side, Unto the city Nuba I pursued, And for your sakes were thirty thousand slain.

The Hippinians and the Samnites Sylla brought As tributaries unto famous Rome: Ay, where did Sylla ever draw his sword, Or lift his warlike hand above his head For Romans' cause, but he was conqueror?

And now, unthankful, seek you to disgrade And tear the plumes that Sylla's sword hath won?

Marius, I tell thee Sylla is the man Disdains to stoop or vail his pride to thee.

Marius, I say thou may'st nor shalt not have The charge that unto Sylla doth belong, Unless thy sword could tear it from my heart, Which in a thousand folds impales[106] the same.

MARIUS. And, Sylla, hereof be thou full a.s.sur'd: The honour, whereto mine undaunted mind And this grave senate hath enhanced me, Thou nor thy followers shall derogate.

The s.p.a.ce[107] of years that Marius hath o'erpa.s.s'd In foreign broils and civil mutinies, Hath taught him this: that one unbridled foe My former fortunes never shall o'ergo.

SYLLA. Marius, I smile at these thy foolish words; And credit me, should laugh outright, I fear, If that I knew not how thy froward age Doth make thy sense as feeble as thy joints.

MARIUS. Sylla, Sylla, Marius' years have taught Him how to pluck so proud a younker's plumes; And know, these hairs, that dangle down my face, In brightness like the silver Rhodope, Shall add so haughty courage to my mind, And rest such piercing objects 'gainst thine eyes, That mask'd in folly age shall force thee stoop.

SYLLA. And by my hand I swear, ere thou shalt 'maze me so, My soul shall perish but I'll have thy beard.

Say, grave senators, shall Sylla be your general?

SULPITIUS. No: the senate, I, and Rome herself agrees There's none but Marius shall be general.

Therefore, Sylla, these daring terms unfit Beseem not thee before the capitol.

SYLLA. Beseem not me? Senators, advise you.

Sylla hath vowed, whose vows the heavens record, Whose oaths have pierc'd and search'd the deepest vast, Ay, and whose protestations reign on earth: This capitol, wherein your glories s.h.i.+ne, Was ne'er so press'd and throng'd with scarlet gowns As Rome shall be with heaps of slaughtered souls, Before that Sylla yield his t.i.tles up.

I'll make[108] her streets, that peer into the clouds, Burnish'd with gold and ivory pillars fair, s.h.i.+ning with jasper, jet, and ebony, All like the palace of the morning sun, To swim within a sea of purple blood, Before I lose the name of general.

MARIUS. These threats against thy country and these lords, Sylla, proceed from forth a traitor's heart; Whose head I trust to see advanced up On highest top of all this capitol, As erst was many of thy progeny, Before thou vaunt thy victories in Rome.

SYLLA. Greybeard, if so thy heart and tongue agree, Draw forth thy legions and thy men at arms; Rear up thy standard and thy steeled crest, And meet with Sylla in the fields of Mars, And try whose fortune makes him general.

MARIUS. I take thy word: Marius will meet thee there, And prove thee, Sylla, traitor unto Rome, And all that march under thy trait'rous wings.

Therefore they that love the Senate and Marius, Now follow him.

SYLLA. And all that love Sylla come down to him: For the rest, let them follow Marius, And the devil himself be their captain.

[_Here let the Senate rise and cast away their gowns, having their swords by their sides. Exit_ MARIUS, _and with him_ SULPITIUS, JUNIUS, BRUTUS, LECTORIUS.

Q. POMPEY. Sylla, I come to thee.

LUCRETIUS. Sylla, Lucretius will die with thee.

SYLLA. Thanks, my n.o.ble lords of Rome.

[_Here let them go down, and_ SYLLA _offers to go forth, and_ ANTHONY _calls him back_:

ANTHONY. Stay, Sylla; hear Anthony breathe forth The pleading plaints of sad declining Rome.

SYLLA. Anthony, thou know'st thy honey words do pierce And move the mind of Sylla to remorse: Yet neither words nor pleadings now must serve: When as mine honour calls me forth to fight: Therefore, sweet Anthony, be short for Sylla's haste.