The true TRAGEDY OF HEROD AND ANTIPATER: With the Death of fair Marriam.  
According to JOSEPHUS, the learned and famous Jew.  
As it hath been, of late, diverse tims publicly Acted (with great Applause) at the Red Bull, by the Company of his Majesty's REVELS.  
Written by 

GERVASE MARKHAM  
WILLIAM SIMPSON .  Gentlemen.  
  

 

READERS: whose hearts have sparkled with Desire  
To be inflamed with Promethian Fire,  
Fetched from Parnassus Shrine (the muse's Mount)  
To You I write, that make so dear account  
e'en of Arts merest Shadows; You contemn  
The drossy Substance, highly prized by Men.  
Of Earthy breeding; who can never glean  
The least Content from a trile Tragical scene  
Of high and noble Nature; nor care they  
To hear, or understand; but see a Play:  
For Tragedy or History, you shall  
Never find these at any stationer's Stall  
Bestow one Sixpence: but, for bald Discourses  
Of comic Ribaldry, they'll draw their Purses.  
Hence is the cause, that Stories (like to This)  
Shall lie in dark Obscurity, and miss  
The Printers Press, t'adorn and set them forth  
In the true Glories of their Native Worth;  
When Carrion-Comedies (not worth an Hair)  
Must be set out with EXCELLENT and RARE  
Strange undeserving Titles: but, let these  
Merit such liking as their Readers please.  
Here I have sent and Printed to your view  
A Story; which I dare be bold is true;  
Now newly writ, and truly worthy  
Gathered from learned JOSEPHUS: all my pleading  
Is, that it may your kind Acceptance gain:  
I then shall count my Care, my Cost, and pain,  
So happily bestowed; that I'll be pressed  
For your Contentments, futurely to rest;    

THE prologue.  

Time's eldest Daughter (Truth) presents our Play;  
And, from forgotten Monuments of Clay,  
Calls up th'heroic Spirits of old Times,  
Famed then as well for Virtues as black Crimes;  
And with Her own Tongue, and own Phrase, to tell  
The Actions they have done; or ill, or well.  
JOSEPHUS th'ancient Writer, with a Pen  
Lent by the Muses, gives new life to Men;  
Who breathed such Tragic Accents forth toth' Ear  
Of Hebrew Armies, which you now shall hear;  
Please you to sit attentive: Wit hath run  
In a Zodaical Circle, like the Sun,  
Through all Invention; which is grown so poor  
She can show nought, but what has been before:  
Yet Reverend History, which upon the Stage  
Hath oft been heard speak; hopes, even for Her Age,  
Your strong hands will support Her; She must live  
Now by no heat, but what your beams do give:  
To gain which (though Her scenes seem grave and high)  
She here and there with a loose wing doth fly;  
Striving to make you merry: No other bays  
She reaches at, but this; your Loves, your Praise.    

The true TRAGEDY OF HEROD AND ANTIPATER.  
Actus 1. Scoena 1.  Enter at one door Alexandra in her petticoat; at another, Aristobulus the high Priest in his waistcoat or shirt, both amazedly. Qu. Alexandra. 
O My thrice Princely Son; thou hast forgot  
That Time's our Master, and we can dispose  
But merely of the instant.  Eld. Arist. 
Madam true:  
Nor have I lost a moment; yet I know,  
No diligence appears to those, whose hearts  
Do both desire and wait.  Q. Alex. 
Enough, enough;  
Come let's away, my heart is winged with haste  
That outflies thought or motion; Egypt (sweet)  
Hath safety in it, not jerusalem.  Eld. Arist. 
I do confess it; yet this dangerous way  
Of our escape, hath many fears about it.  Q. Alex. 
There's pregnant reason for it, and our lives  
Are marks that Herod shoots at: Who but sees  
The woeful state of sad jerusalem,  
And how this Tyrant (like an angry Boar)  
Roots up the goodly Pines should cover him?  
Hath he not slain Antigonus, destroyed  
Thy Father and thy Grandsire: (O my Lords,  
My dear loved Lords, my Father and my Husband;)  
Worthy Hircanus, noble Alexander;  
And at this instant lies he not in wait  
For our destructions? Beldame that I am  
To prate at such a season; (holy Sweet)  
Come let's away, our flight is so secure,  
No Art can undermine it; any pause  
Opens our graves before us: fly, O fly.  Eld. Arist. 
I do attend your Highness.  Q. Alex. 
Hark, I hear  
The steps of some pursues us; prithee come,  
Let Egypt and not juda be our Tomb.  Exeunt. Enter at one door Antipater at another Animis, with a band of Soldiers. Antip. 
Is this the diligence your duty shows,  
To run this slothful pace? By all I love,  
You're worthy of blame in high terms.  Anim. 
Princely Antipater  Ant. 
You're too improvident, and this neglect  
Will draw your life in hazard; understand,  
theyare lions and not Lambs you cope withal:  
The Mother-Queen is subtile, and her Son  
Of high and noble spirit; should they scape,  
You fix a Ram to batter down the life  
Both of the King and Kingdom.  Ani. 
Gracious Sir,  
Fear not my care; for nothing you can wish  
Is able to outstrip my diligence.  Antip. 
ay but awake the duty which you owe  
Unto your King and Country; when that moves,  
Children are strangers, Fathers are unknown,  
And where our PRINCE's health is questioned,  
The lives we either borrow or do lend  
Must be forgot and made ridiculous:  
You understand me, go, dispatch, away.  Ani. 
With faith great as your longings.  Exit Animis & Soldiers. Ant. 
So, why so;  
Thus have I started bravely, and maintained  
My race with full speed to ambition;  
Much of my way is smoothed by the deaths  
Of proud Antigonus and Alexander,  
But chiefly of Hircanus, till he went  
My torch could never kindle; could I now  
But damp the high Priest Aristobulus,  
(As there's much water towards) and in it  
Drown his old politic Mother, half my way  
Lies as my thoughts would wish it; and howe'er  
By birth I am a Bastard, yet my wit  
Shall bear me 'bove the trueborn; for 'tis found,  
Power makes all things lawful, all things sound.  Exit. Cornets: and, Enter Herod, Marriam, Kiparim, Alexander, Aristobulus, Salumith, Pheroas, joseph and Attendants. Her. 
Who sits on the Tribunal, sits on thorn,  
And dangers do surround him; for at it  
Envy stands ever gazing, and with darts  
Headed with lightning strikes unto the heart  
Of every noble action: What can Kings  
Do, that the rude not censure and pervert  
To vild interpretations? Nay, although  
justice and mercy guard them; though men's faults  
Are grown so odious, that even Cruelty  
Is a commended goodness, mere Distrust  
A reasonable virtue; Secrecy,  
Important and most needful; and Suspect,  
A worthy truth, which needs no witnesses:  
Yet, in this case, (where men cannot err twice)  
What shall we do, that shall scape Infamy?  Ant. 
Fine dissimulation!  Her. 
O 'tis a hell to think on, that howe'er  
Our natures are inclined to pity, yet  
Our actions must be cruel (or so thought)  
To guard our lives from danger; wicked men  
With their sins so transform us. O my Love,  
This unto thee I speak, whose tender heart  
I know hath bitter thoughts, when it records  
Thy Fathers and thy Grandfathers mishaps:  
'Tis true, I caused them die; but (gentle Sweet)  
Necessity, thy safety, mine, nay all the Lands,  
Were my most just assistants; and the act  
Was noble, howe'er blamed of Cruelty.  Mar. 
My dearest Lord, do not mistake my temper,  
My Grandfather, and Father, when they fell,  
however Nature taught mine eyes to weep,  
Yet in my love to you I buried them;  
They were rich jewels once, but, set by you,  
They have nor price, nor lustre; 'tis mine eye  
That pities them, my heart doth honour you.  Ant. 
O you're a goodness past equality,  
And all the blessed times which are to come  
Shall with more admiration than belief  
Receive th'incredible, but undoubted truth,  
Of your rare mildness, faith and temperance.  Her. 
It shall indeed; and be this kiss a seal  
Of our perpetual love-knot; yet (my Queen)  
There are new treason's hatching, which (believe't)  
Will stretch thy patience higher: joseph, read  
That strange and cunning Letter.  
joseph reads.  
I write short ALEXANDRA, for fear of interception; that Herod's cruelty extendeth to the death of thy Husband, and imprisonment of thyself, I lament: aid I cannot send thee; but if by flight thou canst escape, Egypt shall receive thee: I am glad thy Son Aristobulus is high Priest, let him accompany thy journey: If I should deal for thee by force, I raise two mighty enemies, Rome and juda; thou art wise, fare as myself: Thine CLEOPATRA, Q. of Egypt.  Kip. 
These are miraculous Treasons.  Sal. 
Subtle plots.  Phe. 
Strange intertwining mischiefs,  Mar. 
Say not so,  
Give them a gentler title; nothings read  
That doth accuse my Mother or my Brother.  P. Alex. 
Indeed 'tis but an invitation  
Of others Love, not their confederacy.  Y. Ari. 
Th' Egyptian Queen persuades, but their consent  
Is not conceived here.  Her. 
Dear wife and Sons,  
Love hath a blindfold judgement; would their hearts  
Were harmless as your wishes; but here comes  
The man will reconcile us: Captain, speak,  
Where's Alexandra? Where's Aristobulus?  Enter Animis with Soldiers, bringing two Trunks. Ani. 
Sir, they are fled.  Her. 
Fled! do not speak it; better thou hadst sunk  
To hell, then bring that mischief.  Antip. 
O the Devil!  
This was your hackney pace  Ani. 
By all that's true,  
I have not slacked a minute; they were gone  
Ere I had my commission, and so fast,  
My speed could not outstrip them; yet I took  
This luggage and their Servants, whence (no doubt)  
Your Majesty may gather new instructions.  Her. 
Whence I may gather my despair and grief;  
Villain, thou hast betrayed me; in their loss,  
I'm lost to fate an danger: Silly Snail;  
Could Sloth have crept so slowly? Why, thy way  
Was smooth as glass, and thou mightst have surprised  
Them easier then to speak it. O you Gods,  
What plummets hang at Vassals heels; and how  
Doth sleep and dulness cease them! But I vow,  
Thy life shall pay thy forfeit.  Ani. 
Gracious Sir:  Her. 
Talk'st thou of grace; and in this act hast lost,  
All things that's like, or near it? Did not scorn  
Hold me, my hand should kill thee.  P. Alex. 
Good Sir, think—  Her. 
That you're too rude to offer thus to thrust  
'Twixt me and my resolution.  Antip. 
Not a word;  
'Tis death t'outface this lightning.  Her. 
Lost, and fled, and gone, and all my hope  
Turned topsy turvy downward? joseph, hark.  Herod whispers with joseph, and beckons all the rest unto them, but Marriam, and Antipater. Mar. 
Blessed be the God of juda, which hath brought  
My royal Mother, and my Brother safe,  
Out of the hands of sad Captivity.  
O, I will offer Sacrifice each day,  
And make that hour a Sabbath, which doth bring  
Them safe from threatning danger.  Antip. 
Madam, Amen;  
With that prayer I'll join ever, and invoke  
Prosperity to guard them;— but (in heart)  
Wish that damnation, like a Thunderbolt,  
Would beat them into cinders.  Her. 
'Tis resolved,  
Force shall compel what virtuously I would  
Have sought from mild entreaty; for those Trunks,  
Go throw them into Silo, let that Lake  
Devour them and their treasures.  Ios. 
Not so good,  
You may, by that means, blindfold cast away  
What you would after purchase with your blood;  
But cannot then recall it: Sir, conceive;  
There may be Complots, Letters, Stratagems,  
And things we cannot dream of.  Kip. 
Nay, perhaps  
Some new negotiations.  Sal. 
Paper tongues,  
That may discover strange dissemblers.  Her. 
True,  
You have prevailed, break up those rotten Tombs,  
Let's see what Ghosts they harbour. Ha, what's this?  Here they break open the trunks, and find Alexandra, and Aristobulus the elder. Mar. 
O me, my Mother and my Brother! Eyes  
Drop out and see not their destruction.  Antip. 
Unhappy chance.  Ios. 
Unfortunate young man.  Y. Arist. 
'Tis fate not to be shunned.  P. Alex. 
Woe the time.  Her. 
What's here: the high Priest like a juggler?  
Are these his holy Garments; this his Robe,  
His Breastplate and his Ephod, his rich Coat,  
His Mitre and his Girdle? Can it be,  
That this was once Queen of jerusalem?  
O you immortal Gods, to what disguise  
Will Treachery transform us!  Q. Alex. 
Rather think,  
How sharp a plague is Tyranny: O King,  
Remember 'tis the fiercest Beast, of all  
That are accounted savage; yet delights  
In Flattery, which is the worst of them  
That are tame and domestic: With these Fiends  
My life can find no pleasure; do not then  
Blame me to seek my freedom.  Eld. Arist. 
Mighty Sir,  
If Life be th'only jewel Heaven can lend,  
And that in the Creation was not made  
A thing of equal purchase; how can we  
Offend, that but preserve it? You may say,  
It hath deceived us; yet Sir, I will think  
howe'er it finish here, 'tis but a stroke  
To draw it forth unto eternity.  Her. 
'Tis a good resolution; for (believe't)  
Your days on earth are finished; treacherous plots  
Like these, shall not over take me.  Q. Alex. 
But your Tyranny  
Shall outrun all example: Sir, Despair  
Arms me with truth and boldness; I dare now  
Tell you, of Kings, you are the wickedest;  
And I, that in the ruins of my blood,  
Read your destroying nature, and collect  
Into a short brief many Tragedies,  
Acted upon our family; what hope  
Is left, that can assist us?  Her. 
You are plain.  Q. Alex. 
Truth hath no need of figures: was't not you  
That did betray Hircanus in his flight  
To the Arabian Monarch; and when laid  
In harmless sleep then slew him? Did not you  
Hire the bloody Cassius to cut off  
My father's head, (the loved Antigonus?)  
Have you not killed my Husband, trod my Sons  
Into the mire, that you might safely walk  
Over their heads unto Ambition?  
And can you hope, that we have any hope  
In you, but desolation?  Her. 
Your despair  
Turn temperance into folly; Charity  
Would more become the dying.  E. Arist. 
'tis confessed;  
Nor is it lost in this sad Argument:  
We know our lives are forfeit, take them Sir;  
To die, is the first contract that was made  
Twixt Mankind and the World; 'tis a debt,  
For which there's no forgiveness, th'only cause  
For which we were created; and, indeed,  
To die's man's nature, not his punishment;  
What folly then would shun it? Boldly Sir,  
Use what your power hath conquered.  Her. 
So I will;  
Your own lips are your judges; and these hands,  
Armed with these two stilettoes at one blow,  
Shall thus drive all fears from me; but unite  Offers to stab, let's the poniard fall, & embraces Ari. & Alex. 
Two friends in mine embraces; happy ones,  
exceeding happy ones; let not your fears  
Draw to your eyes false figures, or make me  
Appear that which I am not: come, I love you,  
dearly I love you; all that I have done  
Constraint, and not my nature perfitted:  
Be henceforth free for ever; Egypt, nor  
The World shall safelier guard you; as you stand  
Thus shall you still support me; Holiness  Places Arist. on his right hand, and Q. Alex. on his left. 
Upon my right hand; Mother you shall sit  
Ever upon my left hand; both shall be  
Mine Armour, Counsel, and prosperity.  Omnes. 
This grace is past example; Herod's a God.  Her. 
'Tis but their first step to felicity:  
Antipater, your ear.  Herod whispers with Antipater, Antipater with Y. Alexander, and Prince Aristobulus. Y. Alex. 
Mother, the King is gracious.  Q. Alex. 
Past belief,  
Nor shall the memory lose me; this not feigned,  
I'll fix my prayers upon him.  Ios. 
You shall do  
Wrong to your royal nature to suspect him.  E. Arist. 
Sir, 'tis true;  
I hold his word a rock to build upon.  P. Arist. 
The sport is excellent, the wager firm,  
My person shall maintain it.  Y. Alex. 
So shall mine.  Clap hands. Antip. 
And if I shrink, make me a weathercock.  Her. 
How soon a foul day's cleared: Now to make  
Your happiness more constant; Brother, know,  
The Temple of King Salomon which I  
The other day defaced and threw down  
Low as the earth it stood on; once again  
I will erect with double excellence.  
joseph, my Brother, to your noble charge  
I give that holy building; see it framed  
To th'height of Art and wonder; spare no gold,  
jewels, nor rich embosture; I have mines,  
And all shall be exhausted; that the world  
May boast, King Herod outwent Salomon.  Ios. 
Sir, you've engaged me where my heart desired;  
Doubt not my diligence.  Her. 
'tis known too well:  
How now, what news Centurion? How stands fate  
Between Augustus and Mark Anthony?  Enter Hillus. Hill. 
O royal Sir, deadly unfortunate;  
For, never was so sad a day before  Antip. E. Arist. Y. Ari. P. Alex. whisper. 
Seen to o'ercover Egypt: To be brief  
Augustus hath the Conquest; Anthony  
Lies buried in the blood his warlike hand  
Struck from his royal bosom; the sad Queen  
o'ertakes him with like fury, and now both  
Are turned to dust and ashes.  Her. 
Thou hast spoke  
Much sorrow in a few words.  Hill. 
But hold still  
Far greater to unburden: Soon as chance  
Had made Augustus happy, and o'erthrown  
Fair Cleopatra, and her Anthony;  
He views his spoils, and 'mongst them finds the aid  
you'd sent to interpose him: Now he frowns,  
Bends his enraged forehead, and protests,  
That juda and jerusalem shall curse  
They ever heard the name of Anthony:  
And this he spoke with such an Emphasis,  
As shook my heart within me; yet gave wings  
Unto my faith to tell you.  Her. 
Sir, no more,  
thoust split me with thy Thunder; I have made  
Rome and the world my mortal enemies;  
Yet virtue did transport me; but that guard  
Is no guard now: Tell me, Centurion,  
Where did you leave Augustus?  Hill. 
Sir, in Rhodes.  Her. 
'tis a fair easy journey, I'm resolved;  
Nor shall persuasion change me; hence I'll go,  
And as a Hermit throw at Caesar's feet  
My Crown and person; if he pity them,  
My peace is made; if otherwise,  
My fault flies not beyond me.  Kip. 
O my Son,  
This is a desperate hazard.  Sal. 
Nay 'tis more;  
A tempting of your fortune.  Her. 
Be content,  
Mother and Sister, nothing altars me;  
Nor do they love me, that would draw my will  
To any other compass: joseph, to you  
I leave the realm's protection, and the care  
Or building up the Temple: Nay, no tears,  The women weep. 
They prophesy my death, which do but show  
A low dejected countenance; if I have  
Power in your hearts, this day I challenge you  
To give them unto pastime, that the world  
May see, we dread not fortune.  Antip. 
'tis resolved;  
And I'll be first to show obedience.  
Sir, twixt my Princely Brothers and myself,  
I've made a match of Swimming, if you please  
But to allow the Contract.  Her. 
How is't made?  Antip. 
That I and th'high Priest Aristobulus,  
Will swim more swift, more comely, and more ways,  
Then can my Princely Brothers.  Her. 
Are all agreed?  Eld. Arist. 
All, if your Majesty consent thereto.  Her. 
For those young men it skill not; but Sir, you,  
I'm curious of your danger.  Ant. 
There's no fear.  P. Alex. 
'tis a brave recreation.  Y. Arist. 
A fit skill  
For Princes to delight in.  Eld. Arist. 
Gracious Sir,  
Let me consort my Brothers.  Her. 
Be your will  
Your own director; I am satisfied.  All. 
Why 'tis a match then.  Her. 
Yet look well to your safeties; for myself,  
Rhodes is mine object: Dearest Love, farewell;  
This kiss seal my remembrance; Mothers, let  
Your only prayers assist me; for the rest,  
Despair not till my downfall; go, away,  
Reply not, if you love me; only Antipater,  Exe. all but Herod and Antip. 
Stay and attend me further. Princely youth,  
Of all the hopes that do attend my life,  
Thy Greatness is my greatest; nor would I  joseph returns and listens. 
Embark me in this desperate vessel thus,  
Were't not to raise thy fortunes: But 'tis now  
No time for Courtship; only, I must leave  
Two sad commandments with thee.  Ant. 
Speak them Sir,  
Without exception, you cannot devise  
What I'll not execute.  Her. 
'tis nobly said:  
Thou seest the high Priest Aristobulus,  
And know'st how like a heavy weight he hangs,  
Pressing our fortunes downward; if he live  
Our lives have no assurance.  Ant. 
'tis resolved,  
He never sees tomorrow; soon at night,  
When we do swim our wager, I'll so teach  
His Holiness to dive, that on the earth  
He ne'er shall tread to hurt us.  Her. 
Thou hast hit  
The object that I looked at.  Ios. 
(But shot wide  
Of goodness, and all good thoughts.)  Her. 
This performed,  
There yet remains another thing to do,  
Which nearlier doth concern me.  Ant. 
Speak it Sir;  
Your pleasure is mine Armour.  Her. 
Briefly thus,  
If through my fortune, or Augustus' wrath,  
I perish in this journey; by that love,  
Which nature, favour, or my best deserts  
Can kindle in thy bosom; I conjure  
And bind thee on the first intelligence,  
By poison, sword, or any violent means,  
To kill my Wife Marriam; let no man  
But Herod taste her sweetness; which performed,  
My soul in death shall love thee.  Ant. 
Think 'tis done;  
By heaven the hour which tells me of your death,  
Is th'hour of her destruction; I have sworn,  
And there's no fate can change me.  Her. 
Be thyself,  
Constant and unremoved; so farewell.  Ios. 
Two fiends like these were never spit from Hell.  Exeunt Herod and joseph severally. Ant. 
Go Herod, happy King; nay Herod, go,  
Unhappy, cause so happy; happy King,  
Whilst thouart a King; unhappy when no King:  
Hangs then mishap or hap upon a King, or no King?  
Then Herod, be no King; Antipater be King:  
And what's a King? a God: and what are Gods, but Kings?  
jove, Prince of Gods, was petty King of paltry Crete;  
Men subject are to Kings and Gods; but of the twain,  
Their Gods than Kings commands, they rather disobey;  
Kings greater then; nay, better than, than Gods:  
Then but a King or God, nought with Antipater;  
And rather King than God; no God; a King, a King.  
When I complain to Echo but head-aching; it cries, a King:  
When I, in mirth, am music making; it sounds, a King:  
Each sight, when I am waking; presents a King:  
When I my rest am taking; I see a King.  
Last night I saw, or seemed to see; nay, sure I saw  
A Crown hang o'er my head; & through the Crown a Sword:  
I saw, I sighed, I cried, O when? O when?  
Fall Crown; yea fall with Sword; fall both, so one may fall:  
But why dream I of falling, that must rise;  
Nay run, nay leap, nay fly unto a Crown?  
giant's heap hills on hills, to scale high Heaven;  
ay, heads on heads, to climb a kingdom's Sky:  
But oh, I am a Son; a Sun, O happy name;  
A Sun must shine alone, obscuring Moon, and Stars:  
ay, but I am a Bastard; what of that?  
Men base by birth, in worth are seldom base;  
And Nature's Outcasts, still are Fortune's Darlings:  
Bacchus, Apollo, Mercury; Bastards, yet bravest Gods:  
Then, why not I a God, a Demigod, or Worthy?  
You Gods, you Demigods, you Worthies then assist me;  
That, as our birth was like, our worth may bear like price:  
If they refuse; come Devils, and befriend me;  
My breast lies open; come; come Furies and possess it;  
Hatch here some monstrous brood, worthy of you and me;  
Which all Posterities may know, but none believe;  
Whereat the Sun may not go back, as once it did,  
At Atreus' tyranny; but fall and die for ever:  
Whereat the Heavens may quake, Hell blush, & Nature tremble;  
And men (half mad) may stand amazed. So, so, it works, it works;  
My breast swells to a Mountain; and I breed  
A Monster, past description; to whose birth,  
Come Furies, and be Midwives. Hark! O hark!  
Dumb Show.  
Music: and, Enter Aegisthus and Clytaemnestra dancing a coranto, which is broken off by the sound of Trumpets: then, enter Agamemnon, and diverse Noblemen in Triumph: Aegisthus whispers with Clytaemnestra, and delivers her a sleeveless shirt; then slips aside: Clytaemnestra embraces Agamemnon, he dismisses his Train; she offers him the shirt, he offers to put it on, and being entangled, Aegisthus and she kills him; then departs, leaving at Antipater's feet two Scrolls of paper.  Ant. 
So shall it be; shall it? no shalls; 'tis done, dispatched:  
Who can resolve, can do; who can dispose, can better:  
My way, seven single persons, and two houses cross;  
Supported by a many headed beast:  
O, had they all one head, or all their heads one neck,  
Or all their necks one body, which one blow might broach;  
But had they Hydra's heads, Gerion's bodies; Hercules,  
By making them away, would make his way to Heaven:  
But as an hunger-starved Tiger, between two Heifers,  
Here yawns, there gapes, in doubt where first to fasten;  
So doubt I where to set my paws, but care not where;  
My Father shall be first, that order be observed;  
Whose death I wish, not work, lest piety be wanting;  
Rome will I hope ease me of that disturbance:  
Herod is come Augustus, friend to thy foe, and so thy foe;  
Keep him Augustus, nay kill him Augustus, or jove kill him & thee;  
Pass he by Land or Sea, or Hell, or under Heaven:  
O Earth; food unto him, or none, or noisome give:  
O Sea; his ships or sink in sands, or drink in waves:  
O Heaven; or stop his breath, or lend contagious breath:  
O Hell; for kindness, call him in thy womb: In sum,  
Gape Earth, swell Seas, fall Heaven, Hell swallow him:  
But, let me see; what say my hellish Counsellors?  
Aegisthus woos, and wins, and wears a Crown: a Queen  
Receives with love (false love) the Victor King; unnamed,  
She cloaths him in her handiwork, a shirt,  
Which had no head or arms to issue out;  
Entangled thus they slew him: let me see,  
What have they left? thus Clytaemnestra writes;  
Per scelera semper sceleribus tutum est iter;  
Fond is the stay of sin; sin safest way to sin;  
Aegisthus leaves this axiom;  
Nec regna scotium far, nec tedae sciunt;  
None, or alone; Kings can endure no Rivals;  
I understand you well; and so will work;  
Whetting against my Father both his Wife,  
His Sister and her Husband; some by Fear,  
Some by Belief, and some by jealousy:  
Thus rise I on their heads, and with their hands  
Rip up their natural Bowels: 'tis decreed,  
The Plot is laid, Parts must be played,  
No time delayed.  Exit. Enter Lime the Mason, Handsaw the Carpenter, and Dirt the Labourer. Han. 
'tis a good handsome Plot, and full of Art;  
But how like you my Model for the Timberwork?  Lim. 
Pretty, pretty, if the seats be not too spacious.  Dur. 
O, 'tis much the better, and fitter for the Scribes &  
Pharisies to sleep upon: but here comes the Lord joseph.  Enter joseph. Ios. 
Well said my masters, and how mounteth the brave Temple? may a man stand on the top of it and o'erlook the Sun?  Han. 
The Sun is very high Sir; yet there is never an Almanac-maker, but may lie on his back and behold Capricorn.  Ios. 
Tut, any foolish Citizen may do that which hath his wife for his master: but stay; what's he?  Enter Achitophel & Disease, with a Banner full of ruptures. Ach. 
Come away Disease, and hang up these my trophies,  
Whilst I with gentle air, beat upon the ears of passengers.  Dis. 
At hand Sir, and here is your Ensign; as for your drugs, there is not one of them but is able to send a man to God or the Devil in an instant.  Achitophel sings. ACH. 
Come will you buy, for I have here  
The rarest Gums that ever were;  
Gold is but dross and Features die,  
Else Aesculapius tells a lie:  
But I,  
Come will you buy,  
Have Medicines for that Malady.  Ios. 
What's he?  Lim. 
O Sir, it is one that undertakes to know more Simples, then ever grew in Paradise; 'tis Rabbi Achitophel.  Ios. 
What, the famous mountebank?  Dur. 
The same Sir.  Achitophel sings. ACH. 
Is there a Lady in this place,  
Would not be masked, but for her face;  
O do not blush, for here is that  
Will make your pale cheeks plump and fat.  
Then why  
Should I thus cry,  
And none a Scruple of me buy.  Ios. 
Reverend jew; I hear you're famed for many rarities;  
As Sculpture, Painting, and the setting forth  
Of many things that are inscrutable;  
Besides you are a learned rare Physician.  Ach. 
I know as much as ere Sambashaw did,  
That was old Adam's Schoolmaster; for, look you Sir: Sings.  

Here is a rare Mercurian Pill,  
An Anodine helps every ill;  
The Dissenterea, and the Gout,  
And cures the snivelling in the Snout.  
The Sick,  
Or any Crick,  
Straight cures this Diaphoretic.   Ios. 
I shall have employment for you.  Ach. 
The jew is all your Creature, and his skill  
he'll willingly bestow upon your goodness.  Ios. 
O Sir, you shall not.  Dis 
Yes Sir, my Master will willingly give you his skill;  
Yet, with this Memorandum, you must pay for his good will.  Ios. 
I am no niggard, Sir.  Dis. 
Besides, my Lord, there's never a Pebble in jordan, but my Master is able to make the philosopher's Stone of it.  Dur. 
O wonderful! as how I pray you Sir?  Dis. 
Why by extraction, solution, reverberation, coagulation, fixation, vivification, mortification, & multa alia.  Ach. 
Peace knave, I say, these pearls must not feed Porkets.  Han. 
How, do you make Swine of us? I tell you we are as errand jews as yourself.  Ios. 
No more, you're all for mine employment; you for stone,  
You for Painting, you for Timberwork;  
No man shall want his merit: Go, away,  
Apply your labours, there's a largesse for you.  All. 
O brave Lord joseph.  Sings. ACH. 
Come to me Gallants you whose need,  
The common Surgeons cannot read;  
Here is a Balm will cure all sores,  
Got in Broils, or unwholesome whores.  
Come away,  
For why the day,  
Is past, and here I cannot stay.  Exe. all but joseph. Enter Alexandra & Marriam, Antipater & Salumith aloof. Q. Alex. 
O cease my Marriam, tears can do no good;  
This Murder's past example; to be drowned,  
Drowned in a shallow murmur where the stones  
Chid the faint water for not covering them.  
O, 'twas a plot beyond the Devil sure;  
Man could not have that malice.  Mar. 
Madam yes,  
And 'twas some great one too that had his fist  
Thrust in the blood of Aristobulus.  Q. Ale. 
For which blood I'll have vengeance, & my tears  
Shall never dry till it be perfitted.  Ios. 
Madam, forbear complaining; would this were  
The worst of mischief's journey.  Mar. 
Know you worse?  Ios. 
I dare not speak my knowledge, though my heart  
Leaps twixt my lips to utter Mysteries.  Antip. 
Note you that Salumith?  Sal. 
Yes. it hath pinched her on the petticoat.  Mar. 
Sir, as you're noble, whatsoever you know  
Of these mishaps, with freedom utter it.  Q. Al. 
Utter it;  
For heaven's sake utter it, noble, worthy Lord.  Ios. 
Madam, I dare not.  Mar. 
As you love virtue speak it; let my tears  
Win so much from thy goodness; noble Sir,  
Soul of thy Generation, thou honestest 'mongst men:  
O speak it, speak it.  Ant. 
Note you this Courtship?  Sal. 
Yes, 'tis Sorcery.  Q. Alex. 
Good Sweet, unlock these counsels.  Mar. 
By all the bonds of Chastity and truth,  
It shall proceed no further.  Ios. 
You have laid  
Such strong Commandments on me I must yield:  
Hark, your ears.  Whispers. Antip. 
Are they not kissing Madam?  Sal. 
Yes; may poison flow between them.  Q. Alex. 
Antipater; he drown him!  Ios. 
Nay, be still; you shall hear greater mischief.  Mar. 
Poison me, if he perish! O you Gods,  
What Treason lurks in Greatness; this hath made  
Wounds in my heart, through which his love and name,  
Is fled from me for ever!  Ios. 
'tis a fault  
Which asks your deepest wisdom: come, let's in;  
I'll tell you stranger Stories.  Q. Alex. 
Yet I fear,  
None that can draw more vengeance or despair.  Exeunt. Antip. 
Awaken Madam, they are vanished.  Sal. 
Not from mine outrage, that shall like a storm  
Follow them and confound them; I will make  
The world in blood, text down my cruelty.  Ant. 
I cannot blame you, 'tis strange impudence.  Sal. 
I'll be revenged; by all my hopes I will,  
Highly and deeply; shallow fool, no more;  
Still waters drown, the shallow do but roar.  Exit Sal. Ant. 
I'll not be far behind, but help to send  
All unto hell; 'tis for a Crown I stand,  
And Crowns are oft the ruins of a Land.  Ex. Ant. Enter Augustus, Decius, Lucullus, and Attendants. Aug. 
Thus have we quelled Rebellion; thus (like smoke)  
Vanishes hence the name of Anthony:  
Only some Props remain yet; which I'll rend  
up by the roots and scatter: amongst which  
Ungrateful Herod is a Principal;  
On whom I'll shower my vengeance.  Enter Mutius. Mut. 
Gracious Sir; the King of juda, like a Supplicant,  
Desires access unto your Majesty.  Aug. 
Who, Herod?  Mut. 
Sir, the same.  Aug. 
'tis a strange overdaring.  Luc. 
An attempt wisdom would hardly run to.  Aug. 
Call him in;  
He dares not come to brave us; Rome hath power  
To shake a stronger building; and his fears  
Are glasses of his danger: no man look  
On juda, but with hatred.  Enter Herod. Her. 
Mighty Sir; to you, as him of whom I first received.  
The Crown of juda, humbly I return it;  
And thus arise. Know now (the great'st 'mongst men)  
'tis not for Life I plead, but Honesty,  
For Virtue, Valour, Honour, Prowess, Grace,  
And all good men's acquaintance: I confess,  
I aided Anthony; if for that I fall,  
A true friends tears shall be my Funeral.  Luc. 
'tis a rare Gratulation.  Dec. 
I'm afraid  
New fear will alter it.  Mut. 
Observe the Emperor.  Her. 
'tis true (great Sir) your sacred hand was first  
Invested me in juda; gave me that  
I can forsake with comfort: keep it still;  
Who from a Crown is rid, is free from cares;  
I prize the worth, less than two flaxen tears.  Aug. 
This is a kind of braving.  Her. 
Hear me forth;  
And when you've heard; this, for extremity:  
Since first the time I wore the sorrowful Wreathe,  
(For Crowns and Sorrows are incorporate,  
And hang like links, one wreathed in another)  
Since first the Crown I wore, you knew my grieves;  
But ne'er relieved me by Person or by Deputy;  
No, not when Asia and the Afric strands  
joined both to overthrow me: only, than  
The ever-praised (now lost) Mark Anthony  
Thrust forth his hand and stayed me; he kept firm  
My foot that then was sliding; ay, for this,  
Sent him not aid, but rent long purchased.  
O (gracious Sir) view mine obligements well,  
And you shall see virtue did govern me.  
Why, did his life yet lie within my hands,  
Thus would I straddle over him as I stand;  
Mine arms dissevered like two Rhodian Props;  
And ere I bent, my Trunk should be the Base  
For his dread foes to build Ambition on:  
This would I do; and, if this be a Crime,  
It is so good an one, I scorn my breath:  
Who lives the lives the longest still must end in death;  
And so must I.  Aug. 
Thou art thine own judge Herod: call a Slave,  
A desperate Slave; 'mongst all our Prisoners,  Exit Mut. 
Choose him that hath least mercy: you shall find,  
Your Friendship had a false ground.  Enter Mut. & a Slave. Her. 
Caesar, no; Virtue was the foundation, and you may  
Batter, but not o'erthrow it.  Aug. 
Well I'll try  
The utmost of your fortitude: arm that Slave;  
And Sirrah, kill that Traitor; 'tis a work  
That brings you home your Freedom.  1. Sla. 
Gracious Sir, what is he I must murder?  Aug. 
'tis a King.  1. Sla. 
Ha!  Dec. 
Villain, why starest thou? Strike, I say, you Slave.  1. Sl. 
Slave, I'll not strike; know'st thou or he, or he, or Caesar  
What 'tis to be a Murderer; nay, more,  
The Murderer of a King; nay, most of all,  
To murder God himself; (for such are Kings:)  
O you dull bloody Romans; see, in's eyes  
Are thousands of armed armed Angels; and each Ray  
A flame of Lightning ready to devour  
The hand that's lift 'gainst sacred Majesty.  
Caesar, I'm no Italian; though thy Slave,  
I will not be thy Devil; those are bred  
Ith' Shambles, let them Butcher; fetch for this  
Some from the Roman Gallows; for they are  
Hangmen that must perform it; and thou look'st  
Like one: go, take the Office, I'll not do it.  Aug. 
The slave's afraid to strike him; timorous Coward:  
Call another.  Exit Mutius. 1. Sla. 
Timorous! Caesar, no:  
Were I to scale a Tower, or sack a Town,  
I'd do't; although the ruins fell like Quarries on me:  
Timorous! I ne'er feared Mankind; Caesar, know,  
Nor earth nor Hell hath aught that can affright me:  
I've buckled with proud julius thine Uncle, and was one  
That, by expulsion, beat him from bright Albion:  
And yet to kill a King, I'm timorous.  Ent. Mut. & 2. Sla. Aug. 
Let that Slave have the weapon: Sirrah, kill  
That King, and have thy freedom: wilt thou do't?  2. Sla. 
Yes, for my liberty,  
As soon as you can speak it: Shall I strike?  Aug. 
Stay, what's thy Country?  2. Sla. 
Rome, Rome; I was bred in one of those Colleges where Lechery and Murder are Pewmates: Come, will you give the word?  Her. 
Do not defer it Caesar,  
I have made peace with my Conscience long since.  Aug. 
Why then strike.  
Yet Villain hold; art not amazed to do't?  2. Sla. 
Amazed, why?  
To strike off these my shackles, such a blow  
I would give to my Father.  Aug. 
But a worse  
Shall fall upon thy Carcase: bind that Slave,  
And throw him headlong down into the Sea;  
The earth's too much infected.— Herod, thus  
Mine arms gives thee thy freedom: take thy Crown;  
Wear it with safety; and but be to me  
Faithful; I'll love thee as did Anthony.  Her. 
Caesar is royal; and, by this, hath bound  
A faithful Servant to him.  Aug. 
For that wretch,  
Give him his liberty; since thoust served  
Virtue, thou shalt serve Caesar; henceforth be  
Commander over a Legion: Those that know  
Goodness; by Goodness ever greater grow.  1. Sla. 
Caesar's a God in all things.  Exeunt ommnes. 
Finis Actus primae.   

ACT. 2. Scoena 1.  Enter at one Door Marriam and Alexandra; at another Kiparim and Salumith, they meet and pass disdainfully. Kip. 
Lord how their poison swells them.  Sal. 
Sure they'll burst, if this strong Colic hold them.  Mar. 
Mother, withdraw; the Greek begins to scold.  Sal. 
And why to scold, proud Madame?  Mar. 
Nay, I want a tongue for your encounter.  Kip. 
Yet this thing,  
Of which thou art derived, aught to know  
She owes me some obeisance; though she was  
Mother to him that wore the Crown, I am  
Mother to him that wears it.  Sal. 
Tut, pride loves not to distinguish: goodly Lord, not so much as how do you forsooth; (every foolish Citizens salutation;) nor hail to the Sister of my Lord the King, (every court-coxcombs Congee;) nor save you sweet Lady, (Fools and physician's Orisons)  Mar. 
How this shows.  Kip. 
It shows that you are insolent.  Q. Alex. 
Insolent: hug it sweetly, 'tis your own;  
And every sin besides that's damnable:  
Come, you're despised Grecians; so profane,  
Ignoble and unholy, that our Tribes  
Are stained in your conjunctions; poor things, know,  
Your titular King, in whom your glories dwell,  
Is but a roy all murderer; yourselves,  
And his proud Bastard, bloody Substitutes:  
O, I could paint you bravely; for my grieves  
Have all your perfect colours.  Sal. 
Come I could  
Make you run dog-like back, and from the ground  
Lick up the filth you uttered.  Mar. 
Never sure;  
she'll leave it where she found it.  Sal. 
Yes, and you  
Leave virtue where you found it; hark you Queen,  
You are unchaste, and most incontinent.  Mar. 
Incontinent: with whom?  Sal. 
His picture lies within you; pluck it out,  
And let your false heart follow.  Mar. 
It is truth's part to suffer; so must I.  Sal. 
Vengeance upon such sufferance.  Q. Alex. 
Come, you're a barbarous Creature.  Kip. 
Base Edomite.  Q. Alex. 
Slanderous Grecian.  Sal. 
Old Beldame.  Q. Alex. 
Young Cockatrice.  Kip. 
'Sdeath, I could tear thine eyes out.  Enter Antip. Q. Alex. 
Do but (This) that motion shall destroy thee.  Sal. 
Marry mew.  Ant. 
Hold in the name of Verve; here's a brawl  
Able to inflame patience: Beauteous Queen,  
Divinest Alexandra; what can move  
These storms in this calm weather.  Mar. 
Flattering Sir,  
You best can close up mischief.  Ant. 
If I may,  
I'll lay my life a subject to your mercies;  
Make me your footstools to appease your wraths;  
My blood I'll make your sacrifice.  Q. Alex. 
No more;  
I that but now shed tears, now laugh: O God!  
To see so brave a Masterpiece of Villainy  
By such a Bastard Issue be compacted:  
Thou make atonement? Hence Bastard, hence;  
The dregs of Lust, the foul Disease of Wine,  
That wert begot when sin was revelling:  
Thou make atonement? No; go learn to drown  
The Lords elected people; here stands she  
That looks to taste thy poison.  Ant. 
Miracles!  
Wrest not my good thoughts (Madam) for I call  
Just Heaven to witness how I loved your Son;  
And would myself have died to ransom him;  
But your misprision I impute to heat  
And Choleric spleen, which now misgoverns you.  Kip. 
Nay, you should thank her for abusing you;  
we are become her vassals.  Ant. 
Think not so.  Sal. 
Yes, and cry vengeance for it; wicked one,  
There's wire whips in making, and I know  
Furies will soundly lash you; you, and you;  
Both are marked out to perish; faith you are.  Enter joseph. Ios. 
How now; what means this outrage? Peace for shame;  
This talk fits Stews and Brothels: Come, no more;  
Mother, your judgement should be far more wise;  
And Madam, you should be more temperate:  
At Princes hands, all injuries should look  
Not for revenge but patience.  Kip. 
Thou which art made of Cowardice and fear;  
Dost thou confirm their actions?  Sal. 
Yes, 'tis fit;  
Lust still must flatter falsehood.  Ios. 
Ha; what's that? why Wife—  Sal. 
Call me not Wife;  
The sound of death hath far more Music in it:  
Wife? O, my fate! Wife unto such a Lecher?  Ios. 
Why Salumith.  Sal. 
I'll be no Salumith of thine, there's your Love;  
She whom you foster in her insolences;  
she's your Salumith: O credulous women,  
How easily are you gulled, with a seducing kiss!  Ant. 
Now it works.  Sal. 
A fair word makes the Devil seem a Saint;  
But I'll be revenged, and in so strange a course  
As never woman took. D'ye perpetrate my goodness?  
There's your Salumith.  Ant. 
Admirable still.  Kip. 
And there's th'old Hen her Mother,  
A couple of seasoned dishes, fall too, fall too.  Ant. 
Nay Madam, you're too bitter.  Ios. 
By Heaven & happiness, I know not what this means;  
Yet were the King not suddenly returned,  
And craved our swift attendance; I would sift  
And try this language strangely.  Ant. 
Is the King returned?  Ios. 
He is, and safely.  Kip. 
Then my hate, I'll give thee fire to work on.  Sal. 
So will I; I'm armed with able mischief.  Ant. 
And my plots  
Shall run as fast to aid and second you.  Ios. 
Ladies, shake hands with passion, and let's join  
To meet the King with royal cheerfulness.  Mar. 
Sir, not I;  
Let them that love their horror seek it still:  
Goodness I want, with him is all that's ill.  Q. Alex. 
You may report our speeches; say, our joy  
Is, we have left no more he can destroy.  Exe. Q. Alex. & Marriam. Ios. 
This is a violent passion.  Ant. 
Let it rule;  
Repentance needs must follow.  Enter Herod, P. Alex. Y. Aristob. Pheroas, and Attendants. Omnes. 
Welcome, O welcome to jerusalem;  
May Herod live for ever fortunate.  Her. 
We thank you: Mother & Sister, rise; let no knee bow  
But to the Gods of Greece; by whose support  
we stand unshaked and unremoved: but( methinks)  
In this great universal Rhapsody  
Of comfort and amazement, I do miss  
Two fair companions of my happiness:  
Where is my lovely Marriam? what withdraws  
Her Mother Alexandra? Sure, my heart  
Looked for their entertainment.  Ios. 
Gracious Sir,  
Th'unfortunate destruction of her Son,  
The high Priest Aristobulus (late drowned  
Within the River Rigill) so takes up  
Their hearts with powerful sorrow, that their minds  
Are borne with nothing but calamity.  Her. 
That guest is soon removed; go, my Sons,  
Inform your Grandmother and Mother-Queen,  
How much I long to see them.  P. Alex. 
'tis a work  
Worthy our duties.  Her. 
joseph, go, attend;  
There's need of your assistance.  Ex. P. Alex. Y. Ari. & Ios. Sal. 
Yes; and all I fear too weak to draw them:  
Royal Sir, you are abused in your credulity;  
It is not grief but malice, bitter spleen,  
An anger I may call Treason, which keeps back  
These two from noble duties: Sir, they say  
You do usurp, and are a Murderer,  
And teach all yours to murder; that you are  
No lawful King of Israel; but a Greek  
Descended basely; drawn from polluted blood:  
Profane, unholy; nay, (indeed) what not  
That Rancour can imagine? Sir, I fear  
Your life is plotted on; a wrath like theirs,  
So loud, so public, nay so impudent;  
Is not without assistance.  Ant. 
Bravely urged.  Her. 
Good Sister, think not so; a loss like theirs  
Will make dumb patience mutiny; believe't,  
It moves much in my own breast; as for plots,  
Alas, what can they dream of?  Sal. 
Desperate things.  
Things which may shake your foothold; for, I fear  
The Queen is turned an Aspis, and will spread  
Her fatal poison over you; if you dote,  
The Lethargy will kill you: Sir, 'tis said,  
Nay, 'twill be proved she is incontinent.  Her. 
Incontinent! with whom?  Sal. 
With him I blush to mention; joseph Sir,  
joseph my Husband wrongs you.  Her. 
Peace for shame;  
Your jealousy doth fool you.  Kip. 
Well, take heed  
Affection do not blind you: 'tis a stain,  
Almost the whole world finds out; and a truth,  
Not hidden, but apparent; pray you Sir,  
Speak you what is reported.  Ant. 
'tis not fit,  
Nor dare I credit Rumor, chiefly when  
It speaks of such great persons; yet 'tis true,  
Many vild things are uttered; nay indeed  
Some proved I wish were hidden: but alas,  
Who knows not Slander's ever impudent?  Sal. 
Do not give truth that title; for you know,  
It will be proved by many witnesses.  Her. 
Thart jealous Sister, and than such a fiend,  
There is no worse companion: come, no more;  
Should all the Prophets, Patriarchs, and Priests  
Lodged in the holy Books of Israel  
Come forth and tell this message, I would stand  
Boldly and interpose them; for I know,  
There is no truth to guard them; no nor faith.  
O my Divinest Marriam, how art thou  
And thy great sweetness injured? Th'unblown Rose,  
The mines of Crystal, nor the Diamond,  
Are half so chaste, so pure and innocent.  
O poor forsaken Virtue, how art thou  
Torn down by thy despisers, and consumed  
By th'envious flame of the malicious?  
But I am come to guard thee, and restore  
Thy goodness back with interest; for I vow  
To hear nought but thy praises: here she comes;  Enter P. Alex. Y. Arist. joseph, Marriam, & Alexandra. 
Welcome my dearest, sweetest, happiest,  
All that my longings look for; thus, and thus,  
Like a rich Chain, my love shall hang about thee;  
And make the whole world do thee reverence;  
Nay weep not Mother; come, I know your care,  
And bear an equal burden: here, O here  
Is the true Tomb of Aristobulus.  Q. Alex. 
You can dissemble royally; but that  
Cannot cure mine Impostume.  Her. 
Say not so;  
You must forget the work of accident.  Q. Alex. 
Of accident? of plotted Massacre;  
Murder beyond example: but there's left  
A Hell to reckon with.  Her. 
Good sweet, no more;  
Let not your judgement wrong you to suspect  
Mine Innocence unjustly; for, I vow,  
Never came death so near me; or did force  
My tears in such abundance; but you know,  
Earth must not question Heaven: Yet to show  
My fair affection to your Princely Son;  
Within an Urn of Gold, I'll lodge his bones;  
And to his Funeral Rites, add such a Pomp,  
As shall amaze Invention; and besides,  
There's not an eye in all jerusalem,  
But shall drop sorrow for him.  Q. Alex. 
Funerals are  
But wretched satisfactions.  Kip. 
Note this pride.  Sal. 
Yes, and her daughter's sullenness.  Her. 
Why looks my lovely Marriam downward, & dejects  
The glory of her bright eye? I had thought  
My safe return (which strikes a general joy  
Through juda and jerusalem, and makes  
Mount Zion so triumphant) had not had  
The power to kill her comforts: Lovely one;  
How have I lost thy friendship; or, what Fiend  
Sends this Divorce betwixt us?  Mar. 
Your own Dissimulation. Cruel Sir;  
Y'ave dealt unjustly with me, and profaned  
A Temple held you sacred.  Her. 
What, yourself?  
O do not speak it; for to that blessed Shrine  
I have been so religious, that the world  
Hath oft condemned me of Idolatry:  
And can you then accuse me?  Mar. 
Yes, and call  
Your own heart to be witness.  Her. 
Let me then  
Be struck with fearful Thunder.  Mar. 
Sir, take heed;  
Vengeance is quick in falling.  Her. 
Let it come:  
You call a Love in question, that's as just  
As Equity or Goodness; by that power—  Mar. 
Come, you will now be perjured; but I'll stay  
That imputation from you: What became  
Of your affection, when you bound that man;  
If you miscarried in your work at Rome,  
That he should see me poisoned? Start you now?  
O, 'twas a venomed Complot.  Her. 
Sir, a word:  
You're a faithless young man; and have lost  
The great hope I had in you.  Ant. 
By my life,  
Hopes, and all fruitful wishes; I'm of this  
As Innocent as Silence: if my lips  
Ere opened to relate it; let me feel  
Some sudden fatal judgement: Gracious Sir,  
Search out this secret further, 'twill be found  
There is more Treason breeding.  Her. 
I'm resolved.  
Madam, you have accused me; and I stand  
So strongly on mine own truth, that you must  
Discover your Informers: By that love  
Once you did feign to bear me; by that faith  
Which should link married couples; by the awe,  
Duty and truth of Women; or if these  
Be cancelled with you fury; yet by that  
Great power your King hath over you, and to shun  
The scourge of Torments, which I solemnly  
Will try to the extremest; here I bind,  
Nay, do command you, that unfeignedly  
You tell me who informed you.  Mar. 
You have laid  
So great Commandments on me, that I dare  
In no wise disobey you. Sir, it was  
Lord joseph that informed me.  Her. 
Ha; joseph!  
O my abused confidence!  Ant. 
Now it works.  Kip. 
The fire begins to kindle.  Sal. 
But I'll bring  
Fuel that shall inflame it.  Her. 
joseph? was't joseph? then 'tis time to feel  
My cold dull unbelieving.  Ios. 
O pardon me;  
It was my love, not malice.  Her. 
No, your lust,  
And you shall buy it dearly: Call a Guard.  Enter Animis, and a Guard. 
Have I for this so often lost myself  
Within the Labyrinth of her wanton eyes;  
And am I now repaid with Treachery:  
Cease on those wretched Creatures; Salumith,  
Stand forth, and what thy knowledge can approve  
Against those Traitors, speak it; now mine ear  
Lies open to my safety.  Ant. 
Bravely speak,  
You shall have strong supporters; now his ear  
Is open, see you fill it.  Sal. 
Doubt me not.  
Great Sir, with confidence as full of Truth,  
As they are full of Treason; I aver,  
These, in your absence, have abused your bed,  
With most incestuous foul Adultery.  Mar. 
All that's like goodness shield me.  Ios. 
Woman, look up;  
The vault of Heaven is Marble; this untruth  
Will make it fall to kill thee.  Sal. 
Let it come,  
If I speak aught unjustly; all my words,  
My blood and oath shall seal to.  Enter Antipater, Pheroas, and Achitophel. Antip. 
Good, let my love persuade thee; do not buzz  
Such foul things in his ears; his Majesty  
Is too much moved already.  Phe. 
Good my Lord,  
Let me discharge my duty.  Ant. 
Nay, for that,  
I dare not to withstand; yet, questionless,  
The Queen is not so wicked.— Go, put home;  
Y'ave all things to assist you:— Sirrah jew,  
Forget not thy preferment.  Ach. 
Fear me not.  Her. 
How now, what tumult's that?  Phe. 
O my dread Lord,  
Grant me your gracious pardon; I must tell  
A sad and heavy Story; yet most true:  
And yet 'gainst such a person, as I fear  
Your ear will not receive it.  Her. 
Speak; 'gainst whom?  Phe. 
Against the Queen.  Mar. 
O sacred Truth, but thee,  
I have nor sword, nor armour.  Her. 
Utter it.  Phe. 
Since your departure, to my hands she brought  
This fatal Viol; saying, Pheroas,  
Thou art the king's Cupbearer; by my love  
I charge thee, when his Majesty shall call  
For wine, give him this Potion; 'tis a draught  
Shall crown thee with great fortunes: I desired  
To know the nature; she, with solemn oaths,  
Swore it was nothing but a wholesome drink,  
Compounded with such Art; that, tasting it,  
You would dote of her beauty, and become  
A very Slave to her perfections:  
I promised to perform it; yet my fear  
Arguing with my judgement, made me try  
The virtue on a Spaniel; and I found  
It was an odious poison.  Omnes. 
Wonderful!  Phe. 
After this trial, I demanded then,  
From whom her Highness had it: she affirmed,  
From the Lord joseph; but by stricter search,  
I found this jew was he compounded it.  Ach. 
I do confess the Queen of Israel  
Commanded me to try my utmost skill  
In this most strong Confection; said it was  
To prove the force of Simples: ay, her Slave,  
Durst not to disobey her; yet suspect  
Made me reveal it to this Nobleman.  Her. 
How answer you this Treason?  Mar. 
Silently.  Her. 
That's a confession.  Mar. 
Why, as good be dumb,  
As speak to ears are glued up; or a faith  
That's armed against believing: but (great Sir)  
If either of these open; then, believe't,  
Was never wronged a greater innocence.  Ios. 
Malice hath wrought upon us, and o'erta'en  
Our guiltless lives with vengeance: Hell itself  
Is not more false than these are; yet, I know,  
Nothing can save us but a Miracle.  Her. 
The guilty ever plead thus; cursed chance,  
To have my joys devour me: but, 'tis done;  
Princes, your ears and Counsels.  Herod whispers with Ant. the Princes and Pheroas. Q. Alex. 
Ha! is't so,  
Hath Mischief got the Conquest; then 'tis time  
To change my disposition, and deceive  
Those which would else deceive me; in this kind,  
It skill not whom we injure, whom we blind.  P. Alex. 
Sir, of my life all this is counterfeit,  
And this great Devil enchants you; for these slaves,  
They speak but what is taught them.  Y. Arist. 
On my life,  
Our royal Mother's guiltless; do not let  
Their hateful malice step between her life,  
And your most gracious favour.  Her. 
Princely youths,  
Nature and love deceives you: wretched things,  
What can you say to stay destruction?  Mar. 
That we're the Kings, and none are innocent,  
Unless he please to think so.  Q. Alex. 
Impudent!  
Is that all thou canst utter? Have I lived  
To see thee grow thus odious, to forsake  
The chaste embracements of a royal bed,  
For an incestuous Lecher; to become  
The people's scorn, the honest matron's curse,  
The Tribes disgrace, and Israel's obloquy;  
Nay more, the whole world's wonder, and a stain  
ne'er to be washed off from jerusalem?  
O mine afflicted honour!  Kip. 
here's a change.  Sal. 
A Tempest never looked for.  Q. Alex. 
Pack for shame,  
Run to thine own destruction: What, a Whore?  
A poisoning Whore? a bawdy Murderess?  
Nay, more; a treacherous Strumpet? O that Heaven  
Had made mine anger Lightning, that it might  
Destroy thee in a moment.  Mar. 
Madam, stay;  
Can your true goodness think me culpable?  Q. Alex. 
Is it not proved apparent?  Mar. 
Then be dumb,  
Be dumb for ever Marriam; if you think  
I can be guilty, who is innocent?  
Madam, you are my Mother; O call up  
Your worst imaginations, all the scapes  
Both of mine Infance, Childhood or ripe years,  
And if the smallest shadow in them all  
Betoken such an error, curse me still,  
Let me find death with horror; otherwise,  
Silence and patience help me. Sir, 'tis fit  
You plead your own cause; I am conquered.  Ios. 
There's but one true judge over Israel,  
And he knows I am guiltless.  Her. 
'tis the Plea  
Of every guilty person: Animis,  
Convey those wicked creatures, with your Guard,  
Unto the marketplace, and there in sight  
Of all the people, cause the Hangman take  
Their cursed head from their bodies.  P. Alex. 
Stay, great Sir,  
Do not an act t'amaze all Israel;  
O look with mercy's eyes upon the Queen;  
The Innocent Queen our Mother; let not Slaves  
Blast her with false reproaches; be a God  
And find out Truth by Miracle.  Her. 
No more.  Y. Arist. 
No more? yes sure, if every word I speak  
Should nail me to destruction: Mighty Sir,  
Favour your own repentance, do not spill  
The innocent blood unjustly; for th'account  
Is heavy as damnation: to yourself,  
And to your own, become a Daniel.  Her. 
I'll hear no more.  P. Alex. 
O sacred Sir, you must;  
Upon my knees I beg compassion;  
Compassion for my Mother.  Y. Arist. 
To this ground  
we'll grow eternally; till you vouchsafe  
To grant her mercy; or to give her Cause  
A larger course of trial.  Her. 
Once again,  
I charge you to forget her.  P. Alex. 
How, forget  
The chaste womb which did bear us; or the paps  
Which gave us suck? Can there in Nature be  
A Lethargy so frozen?  Y. Arist. 
Nay, what's more;  
Can we forget her holy Stock, derived  
From all the blessed Patriarchs, in whom  
You and ourselves are glorious? O, dread Sir,  
Have mercy on her goodness.  P. Alex. 
Mercy, Sir.  Her. 
How am I vexed with importunity;  
Away to Execution: if again  
I do command 'tis fatal.  Y. Arist. 
And if we  
Endure it, let us perish; brother draw,  The Princes draw. 
And let our good swords guard her: Sir, you've broke  
A link in Nature's best chain; and her death,  
Converts us to your mortal enemies.  Her. 
What; am I braved by Traitors? villains, force  
Way to the Execution, or you perish.  P. Alex. 
Mother, hold life but one hour and we'll rescue you.  The PRINCE's force through the guard; Antipater draws & stands before Herod; all the rest convey away the Prisoners; Alexandra wringing her hands. 
Did ever Kings own bowels thus become  
The Typhon of sedition; or, can't be,  
I could beget these Serpents? If't be so  
Under the Aetna of their damned pride,  
I'll smother and consume them.  Ant. 
Sir, I know  
Your wisdom such, as can discern what 'tis  
At once to fear, to suffer, and to die,  
By th'hand of stern ambition; which, i'th' end,  
Makes still her habitation like the place  
Where poison grows, so naked and so bare  
That dust disdains t'abide there.  Her. 
Passing true;  
But I'll root out that vengeance: yet again,  
When I awake my memory, to look  
Upon her sweetness, goodness, and conceive,  
That no affair, no wisdom, or fond zeal,  
Which oft attainteth others, could touch her;  
O then, methinks, I might at least have breathed,  
Before I had condemned her; justice should  
Ith' dark of these confusions, borne a Torch  
Before Truth and mine anger: but alas,  
Folly and Rashness led me; and I've lost  
All my delight at one throw. Antipater,  
Go, run, fly; O, stay the Execution.  Ant. 
Willingly. Yet please you first to think  
Whether the act hurt not your Majesty;  
Kings, in these weighty causes, must not play  
At fast and loose; their words are Oracles;  
And judgement should pursue them.  Her. 
Good, no more; go stay the Execution.  Ant. 
Not on earth is there a man more willing;  
Yet, when Kings condemn themselves of rashness,  
Who can blame contempt to follow after?  Her. 
Lord to see how time is lost with talking.  Antip. 
I am gone.  Offers to go and returns. 
Yet Sir, believe't; the Majesty which strikes  
Against contempt shall ne'er recover it.  Her. 
Yet again.  Ant, 
Sir, I can vanish quickly; yet, behold,  
here's one can save my labour.  Enter Pheroas, Her. 
Speak my Lord; where is my Queen?  
O, where's my Marriam?  Phe. 
Sir, she is dead.  Her. 
Dead? Be the world dead with her; for on earth  
There's no life but her glory: yet declare  
How died the woeful Lady?  Phe. 
Like a Saint.  
Like did I say? O Sir, so far beyond,  
That never Saint came near her precedent:  
She did not go, as one that had been led  
To take a violent parting; but as Fate  
Had in her own hands thrust her Destiny,  
Saying, or live or die: whilst she, that knew  
The one and th'other's goodness, did agree  
Only to die as th'act most excellent.  
Her Mother's bitter railings, all the cries  
Of the amazed People, moved not her;  
No not one poor small twinkle of her eye:  
But, with a constancy, that would outface  
The brazen front of terror; she ascends  
up to the fatal Scaffold; and but once  
Looked round about the people: then lifts up  
Her snow-white hands to Heaven;  
Talks to it as if she had been in it: then falls down  
Upon her humble knees; which, as they bent,  
You might behold humility retire  
down to her heart; and left within her eyes  
Nothing but sweetness flaming: whilst upon  
And round about her, Majesty did hang,  
And cloth her as a garment: to be brief,  
She took the stroke, not as a punishment;  
But a reward; so Saintlike hence she went.  Her. 
Enough, too much; thoust slain me Pheroas;  
O, I have lost in her death more true joys,  
Than Heaven can give or, earth is worthy of:  
I am a Traitor to myself and love;  
To Nature, Virtue, Beauty, Excellence;  
I have destroyed the whole world; for but her,  
It had no Soul, nor moving; no delight,  
No triumph, glory, or continuance:  
I cannot live to lose her; call her back,  
Or I shall die complaining.  Ant. 
This is strange  
Can the dead be awakened?  Her. 
Easily Sir,  
My sighs shall breathe life in her; and my voice  
Rouse her, as doth a Trumpet; nay, more loved  
Than either wind or Thunder: canst thou think  
That I can live without her; she, to whom  
The whole world was a Theater, where men  
Sat viewing her good actions; she, that had  
As much right unto Paradise, as Kings  
Have to their Courts and Kingdoms; she that lent  
Mintage to others beauties; for, none are  
Or good, or fair, but such as looked like her:  
She, in whose body sweetly was contained  
Th'eastern Spicery, the Western treasure,  
And all the world holds happy: may it be  
That I can live and want her? or, could I  
With one sad breath destroy her? she, that had  
(In her own thoughts) read all that ere was writ,  
To better, or instruct us: She, that knew  
Heaven so well on Earth; that, being there,  
she finds no more than she did think on here;  
And have I killed her? She, whose very dreams  
Were more devout than our Petitions;  
Have I profaned that Temple? Fall, O fall  
down to the ground and perish; ne'er look up,  
But when or Blastings, Mildews, lightnings,  
Or poisonous Serenes strike thee. Herod, here,  
O here, dig up thy grave with sorrow.  Ant. 
Fie, 'tis unfit Greatness should yield to passion.  Her. 
You're a fool;  
He that not mourns for her, will never mourn;  
But is worse than the Devil. Marriam,  
O Marriam; thou that through the Spheres  
(As through so many golden Beads) hast run,  
In one poor moment, to felicity;  
Look down upon thy Vassal, me thy Slave,  
And see how much I languish: let thine eye  
Guild my complaints, and cheer my misery.  Phe. 
O royal Sir, take better comfort;  
There was ne'er on Earth a Creature worth your sorrow.  Her. 
Sir, you lie; deadly and falsely; for she doth deserve  
The tears of men and Angels: she, O she,  
Of whom the Ancients prophesied, when first  
They made all virtue's Females; She, that was  
The first and best fair Copy, from whose lines  
The world might draw perfection: She, not worth  
The tears of all that's living? Dullness, go;  
Pack from my sight for ever: O, 'twas thou,  
Thou that didst make me kill her: hence, avaunt;  
By all that's good or holy; if, from hence  
Thou ere presume to see me, or come near  
The place of my abiding; 'tis thy death,  
As certain as Fate spoke it.  Phe. 
O my Lord.  Her. 
Away; reply, and I will kill thee.  Ant. 
Do not offend him further; vanish Sir.  Exit Pheroas. Enter Animis. Ani. 
To Arms my Lord, to Arms: your Princely Sons,  
Attended by the people, stand between  
The Town of Bethlem and jerusalem;  
Their Ensigns spread, their Bows bent, and their Swords  
Waving like wings of Eagles: Sir, they vow  
Revenge for their Mother's death.  Her. 
On whom?  
On you, the City; but especially,  
Upon the Prince Antipater.  Her. 
No more,  
theyare angry surges, which with one poor blast,  
I'll make fall to the Centre; troubled thoughts,  
Rest till this storm be over: happy man,  
I'll make thee tread upon them; this day shall  
Be thy Coronation; but their Funeral.  Exe. all but Ant. Ant. 
'twas a brave Lesson that Aegisthus taught,  
And Clytaemnestra writ religiously:  
Sin safest way to sin; None or alone; both excellent,  
Yet Herod lives unwronged and unremoved.  
The Sons of Oedipus, in life, nor after death,  
Agreed but once; which was, t'imprison Oedipus;  
An act of no small wonder: O, but Boys,  
I'll mount a world above you; t'imprison, is  
Still to have danger near me: tut, 'tis death,  
Death that my aims do shoot at: I'll invent  
What none shall alter: fie, 'tis nothing worth,  
By Worth, by Birth, by Choice, by Chance to be a King;  
But so to climb I choose, as all may fear and wonder;  
Fear to attempt the like, and wonder how I wrought it;  
Cursed be he (in this case) that craves his Father's blessing;  
My Throne must be my Father's Monument;  
My Reign built on his ruin: but how? how? witless, how?  
Ask how, and seek a Crown? By Poison; no, by Sword;  
Sword; no, by Subtlety: O Hell awake, awake;  
And once for all instruct me.  
Dumb Show.  
Music: and, Enter Miscipsa, jugurth, adherbal, Hiempsall, Miscipsa makes them join hands, and gives each a Crown, and departs: then in mounting the tribunal, Hiempsall and adherbal sit close to keep out jugurth, he divides them by force, Hiempsall offers to draw, and jugurth stabs him; adherbal flies and comes in again with the Roman Senators, they seem to reconcile them; and being departed, jugurth stabs adherbal, and leaves at Antipater's feet a Scroll.  
O resolute jugurth; what afford'st thou me?  
Non mordent mortui; Dead men do not bite:  
True, noble Bastard: jugurth, in thy light  
Thy Brothers dwelled; O jugurth, so do mine:  
Thou kill'dst them jugurth; jugurth, so must I.  
Thus sing we several Descant on one plainsong, Kill:  
four parts in one, the Mean excluded quite:  
The Base sings deeply, Kill; the Counter-tenor, Kill;  
The Tenor, Kill, Kill; the Treble, Kill, Kill, Kill:  
In Diapason Kill is the Unison, seven times redoubled;  
And so oft must I kill: as, first the King,  
(His Wife is passed) two Sons, two Brethren, and a Sister;  
And think not but I can: can; nay, but I will:  
I am no puny in these Documents:  
The Tiger, tasting blood; finds it too sweet to leave it:  
The Hawk, once made to prey, takes all delight in preying;  
The Virgin, once deflowered, thinks pleasure to grow common;  
And can I then stop in a middle way?  
Close fountains, river's dry; pluck up the roots bows perish;  
Banish the Sun, the Moon and Star do vanish:  
And, were it to obscure the world, and spoil  
Both Man and Beast, Nature, and every thing;  
Yet would I do't; and why? I must, and will be King.  
Kingly Antipater.  Exit. josephus 
Never grew Pride more high, more desperate;  
Nor ever could the Arrogance of man  
Find out a Breast more large and spacious:  
But Fate and he must wrestle. Let me now  
Entreat your worthy Patience, to contain  
Much in Imagination; and, what Words  
Cannot have time to utter; let your Eyes  
Out of this dumb Show, tell your Memories.  
Dumb Show.  
Enter at one door, with Drums and Colours, P. Alexander, and Y. Aristobulus, with their Army; at another, Herod and Antipater, with their Army: as they are ready to encounter, Enter Augustus with his Romans between them; they all cast down their weapons at his feet and kneels; he raises Herod and sets him in his Chair makes Alexander and Aristobulus kiss his feet; which done, they offer to assail Antipater, Herod steps between, Augustus reconciles them; then whispering with Herod, Augustus takes three Garlands and crowns the three Sons, Herod placing Antipater in the midst, and so all depart, Antipater using ambitious countenances.  josephus 
The Sons of Marriam, having met the King,  
Are ready for Encounter; but are stayed  
By th'awe of great Augustus, at whose feet  
They cast their Lives and Weapons: he, with frowns  
Chides the two angry Princes; yet commands  
The Father to forgive them; peace is made:  
Only against Antipater they bend  
The fury of their courage; which the King  
Withstands and reconciles them: all made sound;  
Augustus gives them Garlands, and installs  
Them equal Captains over Palestine:  
But yet Antipater, by Herod's means,  
Gets the precedence and Priority:  
How in that throng he justles; 'tis your Eyes,  
And not my Tongue must censure: this we hope  
Our Scale is still ascending; and you'll find  
Better, and better; and the Best behind.  Exit. 
Finis Actus secundae   

ACT. 3. Scoena. 1.  Enter Salumith, and lime the Mason. Sal. 
You must take my directions.  Lym. 
Any thing your Ladyship will have me.  Sal. 
Thou shalt inform his Majesty; his Sons hired thee, when his Highness should approach to view the buildings, by seeming chance to throw some stone upon him, which might crush him to pieces. Do this and thou shalt gain by't.  Lym. 
A halter, or some worse thing; for (Madam) the least stone that is employed about the Temple, is 20. Cubits broad, and 8. thick, and that's able to break a man's neck without a halter.  Sal. 
No matter.  Lym. 
Nay, and it be no matter for breaking a neck (though it be an ill joint to set) I'll venture a swearing for't.  Sal. 
Do, and live rich and happy; hold, there's gold.  Lym. 
Nay, if I can get my living by swearing and forswearing; I'll never use other occupation.  Enter Handsaw. Han. 
Neighbour lime; news, news, news.  Lym. 
What news, Neighbour Handsaw?  Han. 
Marry Sir, Charity has got a new coat; for I saw a  
Beadle just now whipping on Statute-lace.  Sal. 
And what's become of Liberality?  Han. 
Cry you mercy Lady, faith she went like a bawd at a  
cart's tail, roaring up and down; but her purse was empty.  Sal. 
thou art deceived her hand is ever open,  
And to desert she's free; behold else.  Han. 
This is more of Liberality, (as you call it) then I have found, since I began first to build the Temple.  Lym. 
Or I either.  Sal. 
You shall have more,  
we pour it on in showers; perform but my commandments.  Han. 
Madam, by my Handsaw & Compass, I will do any thing; say, speak, swear, and forswear any thing your Ladyship can invent or purchase.  Sal. 
Hark your ears.  Whisper. Han. 
Hum, ha; pretty, pretty; I'll play my part to tittle; Neighbour, look to yours: nay, and I'll do it presently; for the King is now coming to the Temple, and I came to call you Neighbour; we'll do it there.  Lym. 
What else; a man may be forsworn in any place,  
City, Court or Country, has no difference.  Sal. 
About it then; be constant wary and you're fortunate.  Lym. 
Fear us not, if you want any more to be forsworn, give me your money, I'll press a dozen Tradesman shall do it as well as any Scribe in all jerusalem.  Han. 
I or Publican either.  Sal. 
Away then.  Exe. Lym. & Han. 
Thus catch we hearts with gold; thus Spiders can  
Poison poor Flies, and kill the innocent man.  Enter Antipater with a Letter, and Animis. Ani. 
Be swift as Lightning; for the cause requires it:  
Such paper-plots are invisible Goblins;  
Pinching them most, which do lest injury.  
youare armed with full instructions.  Ani. 
Sir, I am.  Ant. 
Your Letters are Chrysander's, and not mine.  Ani. 
I know it well.  Ant. 
Away then, outfly Eagles; yet Sir, hark;  
Carry your Countenance wisely, seem to be  
A Saint in thy delivery.  Ani. 
Sir, your care  
Makes you too curious, fear me not.  Exit Animis. Ant. 
Within there.  Enter Hillus. Hil. 
Did your Excellence call?  Ant. 
I did; what, is your Lesson got?  Hil. 
My Lord, unto a syllable; my tongue  
Hath poison for your purpose, and I am  
Confirmed in every circumstance.  Ant. 
The time, (at night;) the place, (the Bedchamber;)  
The manner, (armed;) the instruments, (their Swords.)  Hil. 
Tut, this is needless; Sir, my Quality  
Needs not a twice instruction.  Ant. 
Nobly said; hold, there's gold.  Hil. 
This is a good persuader; right or wrong,  
Treasure will make the dumb man use his tongue.  Ant. 
True; 'tis the sick man's Balm, the Usurer's Pledge,  
And indeed all men's Masters; go away,  Exit Hillus. 
The time's ripe for thy purpose; thus these Slaves  
Run post to Hell for shadows; ha, Salumith:  
O my best Aunt and Mistress; you're well met:  
Never were times so tickle; nor, I think,  
Stood innocence in more danger: would my life  
Were lost, to thrust fears from you.  Sal. 
Why, Princely Nephew, I've no cause to fear.  Ant. 
'tis well you are so armed; indeed, a life  
So good as yours, free, and religious,  
Thinks not on fear, or ill men's actions:  
Yet Madam, still your state is slippery;  
Believe it while these Princes do survive,  
And dream how you accused the Mother-Queen,  
They still will practise 'gainst you.  Sal. 
Yes, and you;  
The High-Priests death, and marriam's Tragedy,  
Will be objected 'gainst you.  Ant. 
'tis confessed;  
weare both marks of their vengeance.  Sal. 
Yet so far  
Beyond them, I'll not fear them; here's my hand,  
I've marked them for destruction: since our fates  
Have equal danger; 'tis no reason but  
They do enjoy like triumph; once again,  
Believe it, they are sinking.  Ant. 
Nobly said,  
Mirror of Women, Angel, Goddess, Saint.  Enter Tryphon the Barber, with a Case of Instruments. Sal. 
Peace, no more; here comes mine Instrument.  Ant. 
What, this; the king's Barber, your doting Amorite?  Sal. 
The same, observe him.  Try. 
O blessed Comb; thou spotless ivory,  
With which my Mistress Salumith once deigned  
To comb the curious felters of her hair,  
And lay each thread in comely equipage;  
Sleep here in peace for ever; let no hand  
(But mine henceforth) be ever so audacious,  
Or daring as to touch thee.  Ant. 
Pitiful fool, go sleep, or thou'lt run mad else,  Try. 
scissors, sweet Scissors; sharp, but gentle ones;  
That once did cut the Locks of Salumith;  
Making them in humility hang down  
On either side her cheeks, as 'twere to guard  
The Roses, that there flourish: O, go rest,  
Rest in this peaceful Case; and let no hand  
Of mortal race profane you.  Ant. 
'sfoot, the Slave  
Will beggar himself with buying new Instruments.  Sal. 
O 'tis a piece of strange Idolatry.  Try. 
Toothpick, dear Toothpick; Ear-pick, both of you  
Have been her sweet Companions; with the one  
I've seen her pick her white Teeth; with the other  
Wriggle so finely wormlike in her Ear;  
That I have wished, with envy, (pardon me)  
I had been made of your condition:  
But 'tis too great a blessing.  Ant. 
What, to be made a Toothpick?  Sal. 
Nay, you'll spoil all, if you interrupt him.  Try. 
Salumith, O Salumith;  
When first I saw thy golden Locks to shine,  
I broke my glass; needing no Face, but thine:  
When at those coral Lips, I was a gazer;  
Greedy of one sweet touch, I broke my Razor:  
When to thy Cheeks, thou didst my poor Eyes call;  
Away flew Scissors, Basin, Balls and all:  
On y the Crisping-Irons I kept most dear;  
To do thee service here and everywhere.  Sal. 
Not everywhere good Triphon, some place still  
Must be reserved for other purposes.  Try. 
Bright Goddess.  Sal. 
Well proceed;  
What, at a stand? has true love got the power,  
To strike dumb such a nimble wit?  Ant. 
Cry hem, pluck up thy heart man? what, a polling shaving Squire, and struck dead with a woman?  Sal. 
Nothing so, he does but mock, he loves not Salumith.  Try. 
Not love you Lady? O strange blasphemy!  Ant. 
Faith, what wouldst thou do now but for a kiss of her hand.  Try. 
What would I do? what not? O any thing.  
I'll number all those Hairs my Scissors cut,  
And dedicate those Numbers to her Shrine;  
A Breath more loathsome than the Stench of Nile,  
I'll rectify, and, for her sake, make pleasant;  
A Face more black than any Aethiop,  
I'll scour as white as Silver; to attain  
But one touch of her finger, I'd beget  
Things beyond wonder; stab, poison, kill,  
Break mine own neck, my friends, or any man's.  Sal. 
Spoke like a daring servant; hark thine ear;  
Do this and have thy wishes.  They whisper. Try. 
What, but this?  Ant. 
No more believe it: why, 'tis nothing man;  
Only, it asks some seriousness and Art,  
By which to move the King, and gain belief.  Try. 
But shall I have a kiss from that white hand,  
Which gripes my heart within it?  Sal. 
Sir, you shall; 'tis there, pay your devotion.  Try. 
Then by this kiss I'll do it; honey kiss  Kisses her hand. 
There's resolution in thee, and I'm fixed  
To doc it swiftly, quickly; from my lip  
Thy sweet taste shall not part, till I have spoke  
All that your wishes look for: boast of this;  
Y'ave bought two Princes lives with one poor kiss.  Exit. Ant. 
Spoke like a noble Servant.  Sal. 
Nephew, true;  
Let him and's follies wrestle; from their birth  
We will bring out our safeties; Villains, we know  
Are sometimes Stilts, on which great men must go.  Enter Herod with his sword drawn, in his other hand a Letter, driving before him P. Alexander, and Y. Aristobulus, Animis, Hillus, Lime and Handsaw following Herod; Antip. steps between Herod and the Princes. P. Alex. Y. Arist. 
Sir, as you're royal, hear us.  Her. 
villains, Traitors, Vipers.  Ant. 
In the name  
Of goodness and of good men; what hand dare  
Be raised against his Sovereign? Gracious Sir,  
Let not your rage abuse you; there's none here  
That your word cannot slaughter.  Her. 
Give me way;  
Shall my own blood destroy me? that I gave  
I'll sacrifice to justice.  P. Alex. 
Yet Sir, hold.  
Hear but our innocent answer.  Y. Arist. 
If we prove  
Guilty, let tortures cease us.  Sal. 
O my Lord,  
'tis a becoming justice; hear them speak.  Her. 
What, Villains that are armed against me?  Sal. 
'tis not so; Nephews, dear Nephews,  
Throw at his highness' feet, these ill becoming weapons;  
In this case, they do not guard but hurt you.  P. Alex. 
We obey; and, with our weapons offer up our lives,  
To have our cause but heard indifferently.  Y. Arist. 
Sir, there's no greater innocence on earth  
Injured then our allegiance: let but truth  
Accuse us in a shadow; spare us not.  Her. 
But truth accuse you? O strange impudence!  
thouart not of Brass, but Adamant: seest thou this,  
This man you hired with stone to murder me;  
This man with timber; both you wrought to stain  
The sacred building with foul Parricide. Is not this true?  Lym. Han. 
Most true (my Lord) we will both be forsworn unto it.  P. Alex. 
Falsehood, thouart grown a mighty one, when these;  
These Slaves shall murder Princes.  Her. 
No, not these  
Your vild acts do destroy you: Speak, my Lord;  
Did not you see these in the dead of night,  
Armed with their weapons, watch at my Chamber door,  
Intending to assault me?  Hil. 
'tis most true;  
And had I not with threats and some exclaims  
Removed them, you had perished.  Ant. 
Wonderful.  P. Alex. 
O truth, for shame awaken; this Slave will  
Exile thee from all Mankind.  Her. 
What, doth this  
Bristle your guilty spirits? No, I'll come  
Nearer unto your Treasons; here's your hands,  
Your own hands, most unnatural: Sister, see;  
See, mine Antipater; (for I know, you both  
Are perfect in their hands and Characters)  
This Letter did they traitorously convey  
Unto Chrysander, which commands our Powers,  
And Conquests won in Greece; inciting him  
To break his firm allegiance, and to join  
His strength with theirs, to work our overthrow.  
Speak, our Centurion; did not you receive  
This Letter from Chrysander?  Ani. 
My Lord, I did.  Her. 
And that it is their own hands, witness you;  
And you; and all that know them.  Sal. 
I am struck dumb with wonder; I should swear  
This were your own hands Nephews.  Ant. 
By my hopes;  
If it be false, 'tis strangely counterfeit;  
The Slave that did it had a cunning hand,  
And near acquaintance with you: but, dear Sir,  
It shall be gracious in you to conceive  
The best of these misfortunes: who, that knows  
The world, knows not her mischieves; and how Slaves  
Are ever casting Mines up; for my part,  
(Though there's no likelihood) I will suppose,  
This is, and may be counterfeit.  Sal. 
And so will I.  Her. 
But never I, it is impossible.  P. Alex. 
Sir, I beseech you, howsoe'er you lose  
The force of Nature, or the touch of blood;  
Lose not the use of justice; that should live,  
When both the rest are rotten: all these proofs  
Are false as Slander, and the work hewed out  
Only by malice; when we're ta'en away,  
'tis you yourself next follows: why alas,  
We are your Armour; he that would strike home,  
And hit you soundly, must unbuckle us.  Y. Arist. 
Besides Sir, please you either send, or call  
Chrysander home (whom we have ever held,  
A noble, free, and worthy Gentleman)  
And, if he do accuse us; we will throw  
Our lives to death with willingness; nay more,  
Plead guilty to their Slanders.  Ant. 
In my thoughts  
This is a noble motion; hear them Sir.  Sal. 
It will renown your patience; Sacred Sir,  
Let me beg for my Nephews; you have said  
You took delight to hear me; hear me now.  Ant. 
'Sfoot, you're too earnest, and will spoil us all;  
Beg with a scurvy cold Parenthesis.  
Sir, (though I know; in this case, minutes are  
Irrecoverable losses) yet, you may  
(If't please you) grant them their Petition.  Her. 
I'm resolved,  Enter Tryphon. 
Chrysander shall be sent for: ha, how now?  
Why starest thou? why art breathless?  Try. 
O my Lord,  
My gracious Lord, hear me; I must disclose  
A treason foul and odious: these your Sons,  
Your Princely Sons, chiefly Prince Alexander,  
By fearful threats, and golden promises,  
Have laboured me, that when I should be called,  
To trim your Highness beard, or cut your hair;  
I then should lay my Razor to your throat,  
And send you hence to Heaven.  Ant. Sal. 
O unnatural!  Her. 
Villain, speak this again.  P. Alex. Y. Arist. 
Villain, speak truth, fear judgement.  Try. 
Briefly Sir, Prince Alexander, and Aristobulus  
Offered me heaps of gold to cut your throat,  
When I should trim or shave you.  Her. 
From which, thus  
Mine own hand shall secure me; villain, die,  stabs Tryph. 
That knew'st a way to kill me; and henceforth,  
What Slave soever dare to fill mine ear  
With tales of this foul nature, thus shall perish;  
I'll not be tortured living: where's my Guard?  
Handle those treacherous young men; and, with cords,  
Strangle them both immediately.  P. Alex. 
Sir, O Sir.  Y. Arist. 
Hear us; but hear us.  Her. 
Never, I am deaf;  
Villains, that hatch such execrable thoughts,  
Unfit for noble spirits, shall not breathe:  
Dispatch I say; for unto time I'll raise  
Such Trophies of Severity; that he  
Which reads your Story with a bloody thought,  
Shall tremble and forsake it.  P. Alex. 
Yet that man  
Seeing your Rigour, and our Innocence,  
Shall turn his fear to pity, and condemn  
The malice of your rashness: Sir, to die  
Thus, as we do, not guilty, is a death,  
Of all, most blessed, most glorious; for, it is  
To brave death, not to feel it; and this end  
Revives us, but not kills us.  Y. Arist. 
Brother, true;  
Let me embrace thy goodness; for I know,  
The last gasp of a death thus innocent,  
Hath no pain in it; and we're sure to find  
Sweetness i'th' shortness, all content of mind.  Her. 
Pull, and dispatch them.  They strangle the Princes. Ant. 
This was well contrived.  Sal. 
An act worth imitation.  Ant. 
O, mighty Sir,  
You have done justice bravely, on your head  
Depends so many heads, and on your life  
The lives of such abundance; that, believe't,  
Acts and Consents must not alone be feared;  
But Words and Thoughts; nay very Visions,  
In this case must be punished: Ancient times,  
(For princes' safeties) made our Dreams our Crimes.  Her. 
'tis true; and I am resolute to run a Course,  
T'affright the proudest Attempter; go, convey  
Those bodies unto Burial: Antipater,  
Come near me man; thouart now the only branch  
Left of this aged Body; which, howe'er  
Disdained, for want of grafting; yet, I'll now  
Make thee the chief, the best, and principal.  
It is our pleasure, that with winged speed,  
Forthwith you pass to Rome; and, in our name,  
Salute the great Augustus; say, that age, grief,  
And some natural sickness, having made  
My mind unfit for Government; I crave,  
He would confirm thee in the Royalty:  
Which granted, I will instantly give up  
To thee and to thy goodness, all I hold;  
Either in Crown, or Greatness.  Ant. 
Gracious Sir.  Her. 
Do not cross my commandment; for I know  
Thy sweet and modest temper: but away;  
Fly in thy happy journey; I presage,  
Those which did hate my Youth, will love mine Age.  Exit. Sal. 
here's a brave change, sweet Nephew; can you fly  
Above the pitch you play in?  Ant. 
No, sweet Aunt;  
Nor in my flight will leave you, could I shoot  
Through Heaven, as through the air; yet would I bear  
Thy goodness ever with me: howe'er I rise,  
'tis you alone shall rule jerusalem.  Sal. 
No, 'tis Antipater; go, be fortunate:  
I've other plots in working.  Ant. 
So have I:  
The king's death and her own; till that be done,  
Nothing is perfect; th'half way is but run.  
Ha! who's this? the noble Pheroas?  Enter Pheroas sickly. 
What chance makes my dear Uncle droop thus?  
Do not give way to your discontentment.  Phe. 
Pardon me, it is become my Master; spacious minds  
Are not like little bosoms; they may press  
And crush disgraces inward; but the great,  
Gives them full Field to fight in; and each stroke  
Contempt doth strike is mortal.  Sal. 
Say not so;  
You may find reparation.  Phe. 
Tell me where;  
Not upon earth; when reputation's gone,  
'tis not in Kings to bring her back again:  
I am a banished outcast, and what's more,  
The scorn of those gaze on me: but a day  
Will come, of Visitation, when the King  
May wish these foul deeds undone.  Ant. 
Come, no more  
W''re partners in your sorrows; and howe'er  
The King doth yet smile on us, we know well  
The word of any Peasant hath full power  
To turn us topsy-turvy.  Phe. 
Are you there?  
Nay, than you have got feeling.  Sal. 
Sensibly,  
And fear, and will prevent it.  Enter Achitophel singing, and Disease. ACH. 

Come buy you lusty Gallants  
These Simples which I sell;  
In all our days were never seen like these,  
For beauty, strength, and smell:  
Here's the King-cup, the pance, with the Violet,  
The Rose that loves the shower,  
The wholesome Gillyflower,  
Both the Cowslip, Lily,  
And the Daffodil;  
With a thousand in my power.   
Why where are all my Customers? none come buy  
Of the rare jew that sells eternity?  Dis. 
Indeed Master I'm of your mind; for none of your  
drugs but sends a man to life everlasting.  Ach. 
Peace knave I say, here's in this little thing  
A jewel priceless, worthy of a King:  
If any man so bold dare be,  
Unseen, unknown to cope with me,  
And give the price which I demand;  
here's treasure worth a monarch's Land.  Ant. 
Hark how the Mountebank sets out his ware.  Phe. 
O, 'tis a noble Braggart; two dried frogs,  
An ounce of Ratsbane, grease and Staves-aker,  
Are all his ingredients.  Ant. 
Peace for shame,  
Have Charity before you; hark, observe.  Achit. Sings. ACH. 

Here's golden Amaranthus,  
That true Love can provoke;  
Of Horehound store, and poisoning Elebore,  
With the Polipode of the Oak:  
Here's chaste Vervine and lustful Eringo,  
Health-preserving Sage,  
And Rue, which cures old Age;  
With a world of others,  
Making fruitful Mothers:  
All these attend me as my Page.   
Come buy, come buy, unknown, unseen,  
The best that is, or ere hath been:  
He than, not asking what, dare cope,  
May buy a wealth past thought, past hope.  
Come buy, Come buy, &c.  Dis. 
Master, faith give me leave to make my Proclamation too, though not in rhyme; yet in as unsensible meeter as may be.  
If the Devil any man provoke,  
To buy's own mischief in a poke;  
Or else, that hoodwinked he would climb  
up to the Gallows ere his time;  
If fools would learn how to convey  
Their friends the quite contrary way;  
Come to my Master, they shall have  
Their wish; for he's a crafty knave.  Ach. 
Sirrah, you're saucy.  Dis. 
Fitter for your dish of knavery.  Ant. 
How now Achitophel; what's this curious drug  
You make such boast of; may not I question it?  Ach. 
By no means Sir; he that will purchase this,  
Must pitch and pay; but ask no questions.  Ant. 
Not any?  Ach. 
No, not any; do you think  
Perfection needs Encomiums?  Dis. 
O my Lord, you may take my master's word at all times; for, being a Physician, he's the only best member in a Commonwealth.  Sal. 
How prove you Physicians the best members?  Dis. 
Because Madam, without them the world would increase so fast, that one man could not live by another.  Ant. 
Go to, you're a mad knave: but come Achitophel,  
How prize you this rich jewel? If't be fit  
Only for Kings; 'tis for Antipater.  Ach. 
The price is, two thousand drachmas.  Ant. 
Once I'll prove mad for my private pleasure,  
There's your price; give me the Jewel;  
Now it's bought & sold, you may disclose the full perfection.  Ach. 
There's reason for my Lord, then know you've here  
The strongest quickest killingst poison, which  
Learning or Art ere uttered; for one drop  
Kills sooner than a Canon; yet so safe  
And free from all suspicion, that no eye  
Shall see or swelling, pustule, or disease,  
Rage or affrighting torment: but as death were  
Kissing and not killing, hence they go  
Wrapped up in happy Slumbers.  Ant. 
'tis enough;  
Go, and as Art produces things like these,  
Let me hear from you.  Ach. 
The jew is all your Creature.  Exit Achit. Dis. 
Though (my Lord) I did not trouble my brains, yet I bestirred my stumps ere this work was brought to pass; I know the weight of the Pestle and Mortar, and though my hands lost some leather; yet they found labour worthy your Lordship's remembrance.  Ant. 
O, I understand you, go, there's gold.  Exit Dis. 
Now my best Aunt and Uncle, see you this;  
here's but a little substance; yet a strength  
Able to bear a Kingdom every way:  
This shall bring safety to us, and conduct  
Herod the way to Heaven: Uncle you  Gives Pheroas the Poison. 
Shall take it to your keeping; and as I  
Direct you by my Letters, so employ it;  
howe'er storms yet hang over us, you shall find,  
I have a Deity can calm the wind.  Sal. 
thouart excellent in all things; keep thy way:  
What we admire, that we must obey.  Exeunt. 
Finis Actus tertiae.   

ACT. 4. Scoena. 1.  Enter Alexandra, and her eunuch. Q. Alex. 
But is it certain Pheroas is so sick,  
As Rumor doth give out?  Eue. 
Madam, he is;  
Nor hath he ever since his Banishment  
Cast up his heavy countenance.  Q. Alex. 
'tis most strange;  
But judgement still pursues him; yet I'll call  
And visit his affliction; for although  
His words accused my Marriam; 'tis his sin  
Not person, that I envy.  Eue. 
Madam, here comes his Lady.  Q. Alex. 
O, you are well encountered; I am sad  Ent. Adda. 
That sadness thus afflicts you.  Ad. 
I'm bound unto your goodness.  Q. Alex. 
How fares your noble Husband?  Ad. 
Desperately ill;  
His sickness Madam rageth like a Plague,  
Once spotted, never cured; 'tis his mind  
That doth afflict his body; and that war  
Quickly brings on destruction.  Q. Alex. 
Whence should proceed these Passions?  Ad 
All I can gather is his Banishment,  
Which, drawing something to his Conscience,  
Makes every thing more mortal.  Q. Alex. 
Advice and sufferance is a ready cure  
For these distempered passions; and might I  
But see him, I would boldly tender them.  Ad. 
Your Highness may; for now he's coming forth  
To change the air, not his affliction.  Enter Pheroas sick in a Chair. Phe. 
Leave me, O leave me to myself, that I may think  
Upon the tedious hours I've yet to live.  
O, what a journey hath that man to Heaven,  
Whose Conscience is oppressed with injury;  
Sin, like so many pulleys hanging by,  
To draw the Soul still downward: Herod; O Herod.  Q. Alex. 
Ha, what's this? sure I must sound him deeper:  
How fare you Sir?  Phe. 
O Madam, Madam; I am full of miseries.  Q. Alex. 
Discourse with Patience; she will comfort you.  Phe. 
Patience? there is a worm hath bitten Patience off;  
And, being entered, sucks my vitals up.  
Herod, loathed Herod: O credulous Pheroas!  Q. Alex. 
Why do you call on Herod?  Phe. 
Nothing now:  
Was't not a strange thing, that he killed his Wife?  Q. Alex. 
Who do you mean, Marriam?  
Indeed 'twas easily done; but soundly sworn to.  Phe. 
O, I feel a dagger.  Q. Alex. 
Let not her name offend you; she deserved  
A death more horrid, and her end was just:  
O Pheroas, I hated her for that Act  
More than the screech-owl day; and would myself  
Have been her Executioner; had not Law  
Stepped in twixt me and anger.  Phe. 
O Madam, you're deceived; merely deceived:  
I have a Conscience tells me otherwise.  
O my sins leave, torment me not within,  
Nor raise this strange rebellion: hark, they cry  
judgement upon a wretch; that wretch am I.  Q. Alex. 
This savours of distraction.  Phe. 
A Hall, a hall; let all the deadly sins  
Come in and here accuse me: I'll confess,  
Truth must no longer be obscured: why so;  
All things are now prepared; the judge is set,  
And wrangling Pleaders buzzing in his ears,  
Makes Babel no confusion.  Q. Alex. 
Whom do you see Sir?  Phe. 
Fear and a guilty Conscience; nay, what's more,  
See where proud Herod and pale Envy sits;  
Poor Marriam standing at the Bar of death,  
And her Accuser I, falsely opposing her.  Ad. 
Let not your passion work thus.  Q. Alex. 
Give him leave; Passion abates by venting.  Eue. 
This is strange meditation.  Phe. 
I do confess before the Mercy-seat  
Of Men and Angels, I slew Marriam;  
'Twas I accused her falsely, I suborned,  
Struck her toth' heart with Slander; but her foes  
Shall follow after when the Hubbub comes  
And overtakes me downward, down below,  
In Hell amongst the damned.  Q. Alex. 
Gentle Sir,  
Name them which thus seduced you.  Phe. 
Pardon me,  
I dare not, nor I may not; you may guess,  
Their Characters are easy; for myself,  
Let mine own shame sleep with me; I confess,  
Marriam was chaste as fair, all good, all virtuous.  Q. Alex. 
But yet, she's dead.  Phe. 
So are my joys and comforts: O, till now  
I had clean lost myself; and as a man  
Left in a Wilderness, finds out no path  
To carry him to safety; so was I  
Distract, till this was uttered.  Q. Alex. 
You have divulged a Mystery, whose truth  
Shall sprinkle blood through all jerusalem.  
O me, poor innocent Marriam, let thy soul  
Look down on my revengement; for thy sake,  
I will so get all Greatness; faith I will.  
Sir, I do wish you may die happy now;  
Your free confession is a Sacrifice.  Phe. 
Madam, I thank you; and believe't for truth,  
The hurly-burly which but late I had  
Is now appeased; Truth's a brave Secretary.  
I could not rest before; yet now I feel  
A calmness overspread me; and my mind,  
Like a decayed Temple new adorned,  
Shows, as it ne'er was sullied.  Q. Alex. 
You're happy Sir.  Phe. 
Madam, I am; for, with this peace of mind,  
I find my breath decaying; yet before  
I take this long last journey, one thing more  
I must disclose; then, all is perfitted.  
Wife, reach me the Viol standing in my Study,  
Of which I was so careful, and did bind  
yourself by Oath to look to: go, away;  Exit Adda. 
'tis a new birth that Villainy would bring forth.  Eue. 
More mischiefs yet in hatching?  Q. Alex. 
These actions lead you on to happiness;  
And for the penitent man, remission stands  
Ready to fold him in her Crystal arms:  
Yet noble Pheroas, make me so much blessed,  
To know who plotted Marriam's Tragedy  Phe. 
Name it no more; open not my wound afresh;  
lest, in th'incision, I should bleed to death:  
I have too much upon me; add to Fire,  
Not Oil, but Water; Seas will not raise his care,  
Whose ship lies sanded on the hill Despair.  Ad. 
Sir, here's the Viol.  Enter Adda. Phe. 
Here's a little Compass; but a mighty sound:  
And in this little Thimble, lies strange Villainy.  
Madam, 'twas once prepared for the King;  
And he from me deserved it; not from him  
That bought it to destroy him: but I'll show  
Mercy to my Tormenters.  Q. Alex. 
And those deeds  
Argue a pious Nature.  Phe. 
If they do;  
Then thus I will express them: Wife, by all  
The ties that I can challenge, or entreat  
By oath, by faith, by love and loyal duty,  
I bind thee keep this glass till I be dead;  
But, once departed, spill it on the ground,  
Where ne'er treads living Creature; and (though urged)  
Deny thou ever sawst it; yea, though death  
Be threatened to confess it: this performed,  
My peace is made with all things.  Ad. 
By all the Bonds of love and faith I will.  Phe. 
Then Herod do thy worst; I am beyond  
The reach of all thine envy; peace dwells here;  
And quiet Slumber sits upon mine eyes:  
I have no Racks nor Batteries now within,  
As erst I had when I was troubled:  
My numbed feet which late so leaden were,  
I could not stand nor walk; have now such warmth,  
That I can travel unto Paradise;  
And, with spread arms, encircle mercy to me:  
I that accused the Queen, accuse myself,  
And on her Altar lay my bleeding heart;  
Where I have found such mercy in my truth,  
That marriam's self hath got me happy pardon:  
For which dear Sweet I thank thee: now I come,  
My life hath run its Circle, and's come round;  
Mount Soul to Heaven; sink sins unto the ground.  Dies. Ad. 
O, he is gone, his life is withered:  
What shall become of me? I'm lost for ever.  
My Lord, my Husband; O, my Pheroas;  
Lift up those eyes, they are too soon obscured  
From her, that as her life did tender thee.  Q. Alex. 
Have patience; 'tis a fruitless Dialogue,  
Since to the dead you speak; withdraw him hence,  
His Conscience is unburdened, he secure  
On his long journey wandered; and believe't,  
The causers of his woe shall follow him;  
By all that's good they shall; second me Fate,  
And let revenge once murder cruel hate.  Exit Alex. & Ad. Eu. 
No, I'll prevent you, Salumith shall know,  
All your designs, and how your actions go.  Exit Eunuch. Enter Herod Niraleus, Animis, Hillus, and Attendants. Her. 
Where is Niraleus? what, have you ta'en survey  
Of all the holy Building? May't be said,  
Herod in it hath outgone Salomon?  Nir. 
Dread Sir, it may: nay and so far outgone,  
As Sunshine petty Starlight.  Her. 
Come discourse  
The manner of the Building.  Nir. 
Briefly thus,  
The Temple which King Salomon set up,  
In honour of the God of Israel,  
(Being by your great Mightiness defaced)  
Is thus by you restored. The general Frame,  
In height, in breadth, in length, is every way  
Fully an hundred Cubits; and besides,  
Twenty lies hid in the Foundation:  
The matter is white Marble; every Stone  
twelve Cubits broad, and eight i'th' outward part;  
So curiously contrived, that not a hair  
Differs in all the Building: every Gate  
Is closed in gold, and so enchased and set  
With precious Stones; that never, till this day,  
Saw mortal man so rich a jewelry:  
The Tops and Thresholds, Silver; and each Bar  
Studded with knobs of shining Diamonds.  
Close to the holy Building, stands a Court  
Of square Proportion; every way stretched out  
seven hundred and twenty Cubits: all the Wall  
Is made of massy Silver, and adorned  
With Pillars of white Marble; from whose base  
Toth' top are forty Cubits; and thereon  
Mounted such curious Walks and Galleries,  
That thence you may behold the Fishes dance  
Within the River Cedron: all the Floor  
Is paved with Marble, Touch, and ivory;  
And on the golden Gate, is finely wrought  
A flaming Sword; which, by Inscription,  
Threats death to all dare enter.  Her. 
What's within?  Nir. 
Within this Court, is framed a curious Vine  
Of perfect Gold; the Body and large Arms,  
Of shining Gold, brought from Arabia:  
The Sprays and lesser Branches, are compact  
Of Ophyr Gold; more red and radiant:  
The Tops and Twines, whereon the Clusters hang,  
Are yellow Gold; wrought in Assyria:  
The Fruit itself is Crystal; and so joined,  
That when the Sun looks on them, they reflect  
And vary in their colours several ways,  
According to their Objects. To conclude;  
Such Art, such Wealth, and Wonder in the Frame  
Is joined and wed together; that the World  
Shall never see it equalled: but this Truth  
Shall still hang on it as a Prophecy:  
Blush Art and Nature; none below the Sun  
Shall ever do what Herod now hath done.  Her. 
Enough, thoust given me satisfaction; and forthwith,  
In solemn wise I'll have it consecrate  
Unto the God of Israel: how now;  
Why comes our Sister thus amazedly.  Enter Salumith, and the Eunuch. Sal. 
Sir, I beseech you, for your royal health,  
And for the kingdom's safety, you'll be pleased  
To hear this Eunuch speak; and howsoe'er  
Yave vowed no more to hear Conspiracies:  
Yet Sir, in this regard him; and admit,  
He may make known what may endanger you.  Her. 
Whence is the Eunuch?  Sal. 
Belonging to Alexandra.  Her. 
Let him speak freely.  Eu. 
It pleased my Lady Sir, this other day,  
(Hearing how desperately strong sickness raged  
Upon Prince Pheroas) for some special cause  
To go and visit him; she found him pained,  
Both in his mind and body; uttering forth  
Many distracted Speeches; some against  
Your highness' person, most against himself;  
Saying, he had maliciously accused  
The late Queen most unjustly: in the end,  
He makes his Lady from his Study bring  
A Viol filled with Poison; saying, this  
Was for the King prepared; and by those  
That had least cause to hurt him: when he had  
Viewed it, and showed the venom; he bequeathes  
The Viol to his Lady; gives her charge  
Of safe and curious keeping, till his eyes  
Were closed in death for ever; but, that done,  
To cast it forth and spill it on the ground,  
Where none that lives might know it: this scarce spoke,  
His Soul forsakes his Body; but the Glass  
My Lady, and his sad Wife doth preserve,  
I fear, for your destruction; marriam's Soul  
Hath strong revengement promised.  Her. 
'tis enough;  
thoust told me likely danger: Hillus with  
Your Guard attach the Wife of Pheroas;  
Then search the house; and whatsoever you find  
Like Poison, see you bring me: Animis,  
With your Guard cease my Mother; go, away;  
Be careful, & be happy.  An. 
Doubt us not.  Ex. An. & Hil. Her. 
Still shall I thus be hunted, and compelled  
To turn head on mine own blood? Is there left  
Nothing to guard me but my Cruelty?  
Then let my Passion conquer and keep down  
All Mercy from appearing.  Sal. 
Sir, 'twill be  
A royal justice in you: who not knows  
The Lybian lions never dare approach  
The walls whereon their spoils hang; Wolves we see  
Fly from the sound of those Drums, which we know  
Are headed with their own Skins: Sir, believe't,  
Severity brings safety.  Her. 
'tis most true,  
And I will hence begin to study it.  
How now, whom have you there?  Enter Hillus with his Guard, bringing in Adda in a Chair. Hil. 
Sir, 'tis the Wife of the deceased Pheroas.  Her. 
By what means comes she thus disabled?  Hil. 
By her own fatal mischief: when she saw  
I did approach her Dwelling; first she barres  
All Doors against my passage; then, herself  
Mounts up into a Turret, which o'erlooks  
whatever stands about it; thence she calls,  
And asks me what I came for; I declared  
The pleasure of your Greatness; and with terms  
Fit for her royal Calling, wished she would  
Obey what I must finish: She returns  
An answer like her fury; said she would  
Nor yield to you, nor mine authority.  
Which anger being over; she cried see,  
Thus will I fly to Herod; and that spoke,  
down from the Turret did she throw herself  
As if a Whirlwind took her: which perceived,  
I made the Soldiers catch her; yet the force  
Came with such deadly violence, that some  
She struck dead underneath her; and herself  
Bruised, as you see, and wounded: By our means  
Hath yet so much life left, as may resolve,  
What we cannot discover.  Her. 
What of the Poison?  Hil. 
nowhere to be found.  Sal. 
'twas a strange desperate hazard.  Her. 
But a toy;  
They which dare do, dare suffer; desperate Soul,  
Do not play with more mischief; but confess,  
Where is the Poison, which thy treacherous Lord  
(Having for me provided) did convey  
Unto thy charge and keeping.  Ad. 
Sir, I vow,  
There ne'er was any given me; neither had  
My Lord a thought so odious.  Her. 
Come 'tis false;  
Nor can you now outstrip me; to deny,  
Is but to add to sorrow; or confess,  
Or drink of more affliction.  Sal. 
Madam, do;  
It will be too apparent, trust the King;  
I'll sue and beg your safety.  Nir. 
'tis advice  
Worthy your best embraces.  Her. 
Quickly speak;  
For I am sudden in my Cruelty.  Ad. 
What shall I speak; but, that you're tyrannous,  
Thus to compel a falsehood; I protest,  
He never gave me any; nor know I  
Of any hidden Poison.  Her. 
Prepare her for the Torture: Shall my life  
Lie in these rotten Caskets, and not I  
Dare to consume or break them? Wretched thing,  
I'll make you speak louder than Tempests do;  
And true as Oracles; or else, believe't,  They rack Adda. 
He crack your strongest heartstrings: so, pull home;  
Stretch her out like a Lutestring.  Ad. 
O, as you're a King have mercy; hold, O hold.  Her. 
Speak truth, or there's no mercy; higher yet.  Ad. 
O, my weak strength cannot bear it; hold, O hold.  
I will confess and perish.  Her. 
Do it with truth there's safety, give her ease.  Ad. 
I do confess the Poison; that my Lord  
Bequeathed it to my keeping; that it was  
Prepared to kill you: but (great Sir)  
Never by him.  Her. 
Who then became the Author?  Ad. 
Sir, 'twas Antipater.  Sal. 
Mischief on mischief,  
How came she by that knowledge?  Her. 
Antipater! how, from Antipater?  Ad. 
Ere his departure unto Rome, he came  
And feasted with my Lord; declared his hopes;  
And that betwixt him and the Crown, did stand  
Nothing but your weak life, and great Augustus' favour:  
The latter got; the first he said should fall,  
And vanish in a moment; to which end,  
He had prepared that poison; and besought  
My Lord to keep it safely; for he meant  
At his return to use it.  Her. 
Can you tell by whose means he attained it?  Ad. 
He bought it of the jew Achitophel.  Her. 
What did you with that Poison?  Ad. 
As my dead Lord commanded; on the ground  
I cast most part thereof; only some drops  
Left in the Viols bottom, with the Glass,  
(At her most strong entreaty) I bestowed  
On the Queen Alexandra.  Her. 
Take her down;  
This at the first had eased your misery:  
Ha Sir, Antipater; all this Antipater?  
O Heaven! But 'tis no wonder.  Nir. 
Yes, that Truth  
Should thus come forth by Miracle; till now  
Mischief hath gone safe guarded: but, I hope,  
Your Highness will make use on't.  Her. 
Doubt me not.  Enter Animis, bringing in Alexandra, Achitophel, & Disease. 
Here comes my second trouble: what the jew?  
You have prevented sending for: false Queen,  
That hast disgraced thy Sex with Cruelty.  
What poison's in your keeping?  Q. Alex. 
Not any Sir.  Her. 
Not any: impudent?  Ad. 
O Madam, 'tis  
Too late now to excuse it; pain, O pain,  
Tyrannous pain hath torn all from my Bosom:  
The Viol which I gave you, and the drops,  
Is that his Highness urges.  Q. Alex. 
I do confess them;  
Here is the Viol and the drops: from this,  
What can your malice gather?  Her. 
That your intent  
Was, therewith to destroy me. O, you Gods!  
What's life, when This can take it? This, this drop;  
This little paltry nothing.  Q. Alex. 
Sir, 'tis false  
I never did intend your injury.  Sal. 
What not intend it? Blushless impudence!  Q. Alex. 
If you be made my judge, I know I'm then  
Worse than all fear can make me.  Her. 
You're indeed  
A mischief too long growing. Sirrah, jew;  
Was this your Composition?  Ach. 
'Twas a work  
My Art brought forth; but never did my thought  
Touch at your Highness.  Her. 
Who made you to prepare it?  Ach. 
The Prince Antipater.  Sal. 
Villain, thouart damned for that discovery.  Ach. 
No matter; I'll have royal company.  Her. 
And Sirrah, you had a finger in this work too.  Dis. 
No truly My Lord, I durst not dip my finger in your dish,  
After great men is always good manners.  Nir. 
Then you knew it was prepared for the King.  Dis. 
Alas, I knew my Master had nothing too dear for his  
Grace, and my Lord Antipater I know gave a good price for it.  Her. 
Was this Poison then prepared for me?  Dis. 
O Sir, by all likelihood; for ever your Physician is like your Hawk; the greater the fowl is that he kills, the greater is still both his reward and reputation.  Her. 
'tis true, and you shall both find it: go, hang up that  
Peasant presently; and then cast him into Silo.  Dis. 
Who me, hang up me? that cannot be good payment.  Sal. 
Why fool?  Dis. 
Because I shall never be able to acknowledge satisfaction.  Her. 
Away with him; and for that treacherous jew,  Ex. Dis. 
And you false-hearted Madam, both shall taste  
Of that you would have tendered; equally  
Divide that Bane into two cups of wine,  
And give it them to drink off; 'tis decreed,  
What was prepared for me, shall make you bleed.  Q. Alex. 
'tis welcome Sir; a sudden death, I know  
Is terrible and fearful; but indeed,  
To those which do attend it, and do stand  
Constantly gazing on it; who do live,  
Where it scars none but Cowards; those can meet,  
And kiss it as a sweet Companion:  
'tis unto those a Bugbear, who do think  
Never on Heaven, but for necessity.  
Your Tyranny hath taught me other rules;  
And this guest comes long looked for: here's a health  
To all that honour Virtue; let suffice,  Drinks the Poison. 
Death doth o'ertake; but it doth not surprise.  Ach. 
Well Madam, I must pledge you; yet before,  
I'll do the King some service: I confess,  
I did compound the poison; 'twas prepared  
To kill your Majesty; the Plot was laid  
Both by Antipater and Salumith:  
They equally suborned me; each bestowed  
Reward upon me, and encouragement:  
'twas they which made me to accuse the Queen,  
I must confess unjustly; they, long since,  
Have shared you and the Kingdom: that 'tis true,  
Be this last draught my witness; for no Slave  
Madly will carry falsehood to his Grave.  Drinks the Poison. Sal. 
But thou dost, and it will damn thee.  Her. 
Say not so;  
I know this smoke will kindle, and my care  
Must now prevent my danger. Animis,  Exe. Ani. & Sal. 
Guard you my Sister safely: Hillus, cause  
Those bodies to be buried: you Niraleus,  
Shall make for Rome with all speed; thence, bring back  
That false, ingrateful, proud Antipater:  
Carry the matter close, but cunningly:  
For that poor Soul, bid our Physicians  
With all care to respect her; for 'tis she  
That only can accuse our enemies.  
Thus runs the wheels of State, now up, now down;  
And none that lives finds safety in a Crown.  Exeunt. 
Dumb Show.  
Enter at one Door, Augustus' triumphant with his Romans; at another Antipater: he kneels and gives Augustus' Letters; which looked on, Augustus raises him, sets him in his Chair, and Crowns him, swears him on his Sword, and delivers him Letters: then, Enter Niraleus, he gives Antipater Letters; he shows them to Augustus; then, embracing, they take leave and depart severally.  Iose. 
Once more, I must entreat you to bestow  
Much on Imagination; and to think,  
That now our Bastard hath attained the top  
And height of his Ambition: You have seen  
Augustus Crown him; all his great Requests  
Are summed and granted: therefore, now suppose  
He is come home in Triumph; all his Plots  
He holds as strong as Fate is, nothing fears;  
(So brave his mind enchants him) how at last,  
He falls to utter ruin; sit, and see:  
No man hath power to outwork Destiny.  Exit. 
Finis Actus quarti.   

ACT. 5. Scoena. 1.  Enter Antipater, and Niraleus. Anti. 
O Niraleus; so liberal was the royal breasted Caesar,  
As far exceeds all thought or just expression.  
When he established me judea's King,  
His bounty did so far extend itself,  
That even his Court appeared a Paradise;  
The People like so many Demi-Kings;  
Himself, the great Vicegerent o'er them all.  Nir. 
Caesar is royal, and Antipater deserving.  Ant. 
methinks (as in a Mirror) still I see  
Augustus dealing yellow Arabian gold  
Amongst the vulgar, in Antipater's name;  
So lovely were his looks, so Angel-like his words  
The very thought strikes me into a Rapture:  
O, I could laugh myself breathless in conceit,  
To think on those fair honours we received.  Nir. 
Live to deserve ever.  Enter 3. Lords laughing, and pointing scornfully at Antipater. Ant. 
How now; what Motion-mongers are these? 'Sdeath, what mean they? Do they make me a Bachelor Cuckolded? But that I would know the intent, I could be very angry: but I'll not mind 'em.  1. 
That's he was carried in triumph through Rome.  2. 
Poor young man, thy Greatness must down.  3. 
He scorned (being great) to look on Poverty;  
But now Poverty scorns Baseness: farewell.  1. 
Your Greatness will have a cold welcome home.  2. 
See how he looks.  1. 
Pitifully pale.  1. 
I doubt he'll run mad.  2. 
Come, let's leave him. Ha, ha, ha.  Exeunt. Antip. 
Has Nature stamped me with Deformity?  
Am I of late transformed? Am I the Owl  
So lately made, for Birds to wonder at? Is't so?  
I think I am myself; I have my Voice,  
My Legs, my Hands, my Head, Face, Eyes and Nose;  
I'm disproportioned no way that I know of:  
Then why do these Wood-cracks wonder at me?  
I could be naturally vexed, and have good cause for't:  
But I'll be patient, walk, observe: here comes a friend.  Enter Animis, walking by Antipater. Ani. 
My Lord;— You are undone.  Ant. 
Ha, noble Animis; what, gone so soon?  Ant. 
Noble Hillus.  Enter Hillus. Hil. 
My Lord;— Your neck is broke.  Exit. Ant. 
Ha! what's that? strange entertainment: you're undone:  
Whom should this be; for me it cannot be? No;  
I am a King, and 'tis a hard matter to undo a King.  
Pish; there's no Moral in these foolish words:  
Your Neck is broke; a Banquerout's Sentence.  
We are unlimited, both in Wealth, and State;  
As boundless as the Sea; freer in gift.  
No; 'tis not their words can breed amazement;  
But their strange looks, gestures, and geerings at me:  
Instruct me good Niraleus, thou art an honest man;  
How shows this disrespect? strangely: does it not?  Nir. 
Nothing, nothing Sir; Courtiers you know are apish:  
'tis only some new Project they have to entertain you.  Ant. 
Projects for entertainment! Well, theyare strange;  
And I find something troubles me.  Nir. 
What ail you Sir? D'ye faint? You're wondrous pale;  
You change Colour strangely: D'ye bleed?  Ant. 
A Drop; nothing, but a Drop.  Nir. 
'tis ominous.  Ant. 
True; and I find something that staggers me:  
I will retire myself from Court today.  Nir. 
Retire from Court! O, name it not for shame;  
lest you incur a public Scandal on you:  
Why should you fly from that most covets you?  
Will you obscure your Sunbeams in their height?  
Cover your Glories in their Mornings rise?  
Those that now jeered; then, will laugh outright;  
When looks can put Antipater to flight.  
No, forage on; and, like a daring Lion,  
Single your Game; let not pale Fear dismay you:  
Appeal for justice to Heroic Herod,  
'gainst those that thus contemned your Sovereignty:  
True Valour in the weakest Trench doth lie;  
Then bear you bravely on, and scorn to fly.  Ant. 
thoust new created me: I love this Honour,  
That is by merit purchased: second me then;  
And let the worst of fortunes fall upon me:  
This Guard I'll keep; grappling this Sword,  
(Though walled with Pikes) I'll beat my passage through;  
And to great Herod make my Supplication.  
He that fears Envy shall be sure to find it:  
But he securest, that the least does mind it.  
Stay, a new Onset.  Enter Animis, with a Guard. Ani. 
Great Antipater.  Ant. 
ay, that sounds nobly; why not this before?  Ani. 
This cause and this Authority.  whips forth his Sword. Niraleus: Ant. 
What, betrayed; and sleeping taken?  
Slaves let me go, I'll to the King for justice:  
ha' ye caught the Lamb within the lion's Den?  
Cowardly wretches: O for my good Sword,  
And liberty to gratulate your Treacheries.  Nir. 
Your Treasons must be first answered Sir;  
Till then, you must to Prison.  Ant. 
Ha, Niraleus; art thou my accuser?  
Have I within my bosom kept a Snake,  
To sting me first? Treacherous Lords,  
My Treasons? 'gainst whom? or, by whom acted?  
Innocence protect me: guide me to Herod,  
That, to his sacred person, I may tell  
The Injuries Antipater does suffer:  
He comes; O happy hour: justice; justice Sir.  Enter Herod, Hillus, and Attendants. Her. 
The justice that you merit; hence away with him.  Ant. 
O sacred Herod, hear thy Vassal speak:  
Consider what I am; thy Son: if my offences  
Prove prejudicial to thee; I'll lay my life  
As footstool to thy mercies: O, consider,  
I never was that disobedient Son,  
That did in any thing oppose his Father:  
But with a greediness, still ran to act,  
Ere thy Command was passed: if these Honours,  
These titular glories, great Augustus gave me;  
If these offend my Sovereign, cut them off;  
Raze them from off my head; and let me be  
Any thing, but Herod's scorn; no misery  
Can work upon me half that troubled grief,  
As does one frown from those thy glorious eyes:  
Let not those white hairs now be stained with blood,  
Blood of thine own begetting; every drop  
In me, from thee had being; canst thou be so unkind,  
To cast thyself away? O sacred Sir,  
I see compassion in your tender eyes;  
Weeping for me, that moan your miseries.  Her. 
Through what a Labyrinth is mercy led;  
Rise in our favour evermore beloved.  Nir. 
Rise in your favour! O Herod be more just;  
As thou art King; so be a God in justice;  
The blood of Babes, cries for thine equity:  
Remember but his Stratagems forepast;  
All which, acquitting, you are accessary.  
Think first on Aristobulus fell death;  
Your two brave Sons, and noble joseph's fall:  
Next Pheroas your Brother; O, your native blood:  
And Alexandra, that most innocent Lady;  
unjustly and untimely brought to death,  
All through his poisonous Complots.  Her. 
All these are past and cannot be recalled.  Nir. 
Let not his smooth words Sir entice you to him;  
In stillest Rivers are the greatest dangers:  
If none of these can move you to do justice,  
Whose Souls yet hovering still do cry Revenge;  
Yet there is one whose cause must not be slipped;  
Though Cannons roar yet must not you be deaf;  
But (like the glory you were made for) be  
A King, a God in judgement, and in justice:  
Sons are no longer Ours, than they are Natures;  
When Nature leaves them, we may leave our claim:  
Be this your warrant, justly to execute  
judgement on him, that has unjustly murdered  
Your Mother, Sons, Brothers, Sisters: if not for these;  
Think upon her as dear as was your life,  
Your Marriam; you innocent, chaste, fair Marriam;  
By his false witness, turned to untimely dust:  
O as you're great, be good, gracious, and just.  Her. 
All those forenamed were of no effect:  
My Marriam; O my heart: hence with the Slave;  
I'll hear no more of his enchanting words.  Antip. 
O Herod, Kingly Father.  Exit Antip. with a Guard. Her. 
Away with him; I'll blot out all Affinity:  
O Niraleus, he was so deeply rooted in our love;  
All those and thousands more could never work  
Me to have sent him from my presence: but  
My Marriam; O, the very name of her  
Is like a passing-Knell, to a sick man:  
For, if to be a King, is to be wretched;  
Then to be mean is to be glorious:  
The thought of Marriam, like a Fever burns,  
Dissects me every Nerve; I feel within  
My cogitations beating, things long passed  
Are now presented, now I suffer for them;  
I am grown a Monster, and could chafe myself  
Out of myself; I'm all on fire within:  
O Marriam, Marriam, Mistress of my Soul;  
I shall expire with breathing on thy name:  
Thy dear remembrance burns me: who attends?  
Give me some Fruit to cool me.  Nir. 
What, will you taste some Syrup, or some grapes?  Her. 
No, give me an Apple.  Nir. 
Here are fair ones Sir.  Her. 
Lend me a knife to pare it: O Niraleus,  
I have done cruel justice; is there left  
A good thing to succeed me? All my Sons,  
My Brothers, Sisters; nay, the very last  
Of all my blood is vanished.  Nir. 
Say not so; Your Children's Children live yet:  Her 
Passing true, young Archelaus and Antipas;  
Be't your charge to see them sent for home;  
Something I must act, worthy my Meditation;  
I'll not live to have care dwell so near me; one small prick  
With this will do it: thus I'll try it.  Stabs himself. Nir. 
Hold, in the name of wonder; what have you done Sir?  Her. 
Nothing but sought to ease my misery;  
A little more had done it.  Nir. 
Good Sir have patience; a Surgeon there.  Her. 
Patience, thou seest I have, to kill myself;  
I shall ere long rest in my marriam's arms:  
I would not be a King another year,  
For both the Crowns of juda and of Rome:  
Provide my Bed, I'm faint and something sick:  
Antipater, be close, I'll sift your knavery;  
A King has eyeballs that can pierce through stone;  
His very looks, shall make the Slave confess,  
Who's just, and who's unjust: all is not well;  
Lend me your hands, we'll try who is the strongest;  
A wager, of us two, I live the longest.  Exeunt. Enter Antipater, Hillus and a Guard. Hil. 
These are (my Lord) your Lodgings; here you may  
Rest at your noble pleasure; when you call,  
W''re ready to attend you.  Ant. 
Why 'tis well;  
Yet, if a man should ask this Chambers name,  
You would call it a Prison.  Hil. 
'tis no less.  Exe. Guard. Ant. 
Then Gentlemen I thank you; take your ease.  
Never till now hadst thou Antipater,  
True cause t'account with wisdom; all thy Life  
Has been but sport and Tennis-play: but this,  
O this is Serio joco, such a Game,  
As calls thy Life in question; nay, thy Fame;  
Thy Virtue, Praise, and Reputation:  
What art thou now? a Prisoner; that's a Slave:  
Nay, Slave to Slaves; slavish extremity!  
But now a King; but now a Castaway;  
Crowned, and uncrowned; and undone every way:  
Where's now my hellish Counsellors? my hope?  
My strong bewitched persuasion? Rise, O rise;  
And once more show me my deliverance:  
Tut, all mute and hidden; 'tis the devil's trick  
Sill to forsake men in their misery;  
And I am pleased they do so: let none share  
Either in my downfall, or welfare.  Enter Animis. 
Keeper, welcome: what news hath ill luck now?  Ani. 
Strange Sir, and heavy; Rumour saith, the King  
Hath slain himself.  Ant. 
Ha, call'st thou that ill news?  
What, is he dead?  Ani. 
'tis strongly so reported.  Ant. 
Thou dost not mock my Fortune; prithee speak,  
Speak, and speak freely; thou hadst wont to love  
And joy in what did please me: say; Is the King dead indeed?  Ani. 
Upon my life, 'tis firmly so reported.  Ant. 
Excellent, excellent; noble, happy news;  
Why, what heart could wish better? I am tranced  
And rapt with admiration; why, I knew  
Fortune durst not forsake me: now he's dead,  
I may say, as the Devil says, all's mine:  
My hopes, my thoughts, my wishes; prithee joy  
Do not too much o'ercome me: once again,  
Say, is he dead? is Herod vanished?  An. 
Questionless, so talks Rumour.  Antip. 
Name it truth;  
Do not abuse a thing so excellent:  
And now he's dead; who thinkst thou is the King?  Ani. 
I think your Greatness only.  Ant. 
Why, 'tis true;  
Exceeding true; who, but Antipater:  
Hath not Augustus chose me? set the Crown  
Here? here, my Animis? hath not public Rome  
Styled me the King of luda? is there left  
Any of Casmonani; or the Seed  
Which they do call the holy Israel?  
No, I have sent them packing; theyare as dead  
As Herod and my fears are: O, my joys,  
How nimble have you made me! To behold  
The Hangman hang himself; would it not please  
Those that stood near the Gallows: by my Life,  
(Which this sweet news hath lengthened) had I seen  
The Old man kill himself; I think I should  
Have burst my sides with laughing: Come, let's go;  
I'll have the Crown immediately.  Ani. 
Go, my Lord, whither?  Ant. 
Unto the Court, the City, anywhere;  
Whither my pleasure leads me.  Ani. 
Pardon me;  
I have not that Commission.  Ant. 
How; not that Commission? 'Sfoot, dare any heart  
Harbour a thought 'gainst me? Come, thouart wise;  
Open thy Doors unto me; I have power  
That knows, and can requite thee; by this hand,  
If thou withstand'st my purpose; look to be  
Despised and wretched.  Ani. 
Good my Lord, be pleased.  Ant. 
Not to have you dispute my sufferance:  
Come will you let me go?  Ani. 
Sir, I dare not.  Ant. 
Expect a damned mischief.  Ani. 
Take better thoughts,  
And good my Lord conceive, this is but News;  
It may be true, or false, or any way.  Ant. 
You will not let me go then?  Ani. 
Would I could;  
Yet if you will take patience, with all haste  
I'll fly unto the Court: if there I find  
The News be firm and certain; I'm your Slave:  
You shall dispose yourself, and me and all things.  Ant. 
Pox of your purity, your Gingerbread,  
And nice, safe reservations: but, since force  
Makes me obey you; go, away, be gone;  
Fly as thou look'st for favour.  Ani. 
I am vanished.  Exit Ani. Ant. 
O, what a thing is Man! how quickly made  
And marred, and yet again re-edified,  
All with a breath; to make us know, in Kings,  
Consists the great work of Creation:  
Why, I was lost but now; and now again,  
Am found as great as ever; thus can Fate  
Change and rechange at pleasure; he that would  
Have killed, is killed in killing: foolish Fiends,  
You are deceived to leave me; I shall live  
To make you bound to mine Iniquity;  
Indeed I shall; and make Posterity  
Cite only my example; then (my Soul)  
Sit, and sleep out thy dangers.  Antipater sits down and slumbers; then, Enter Herod, Augustus, Niraleus, Archelaus, Antipas, and Hillus. Her. 
O royal Caesar, this grace thus performed  
In my poor Visitation; makes my Soul  
A Bondslave to thy Virtue.  Aug. 
'tis no more  
Than what your worth may challenge; only Sir,  
This violence on your person, by yourself,  
Must crave my reprehension.  Her. 
'tis but fit:  
Yet royal Caesar, what should Nature do;  
When, like to me, it's grown unnatural?  
Turned a devouring Serpent; eating up  
The whole Fry it engendered; nay, the arms  
And branches of its body. Sir, 'twas I  
That killed the virtuous high Priest Aristobulus;  Enter E. Aristobulus, and Q. Alexandra like Ghosts. 
See where he comes bright Angel-like: O stay,  
Do not afflict me further: how he moves  
Like gentle air about me: see, to him,  
Enters his royal Mother; hold, O hold;  
I do confess my vengeance, and will shed  
My lifeblood to appease you.  Aug. 
Why, this is  
But fancy which torments you; here appears  
Nothing that's strange about us.  Her. 
See my Sons;  Enter P. Alexander, Y. Aristobulus, and Marriam. 
My lovely Boys; 'tis true, I murdered you;  
Come, take revenge, and spare not: art thou there;  
O, let me fly and catch thee: be'st thou Flame,  
Blastings, or mortal Sickness; yet I dare  
Leap and embrace my dearest Marriam:  
Marriam, O Marriam; villains, let me go;  
You shall not hold me from her: O, a Sword,  
A Sword for heaven's mercy; for, but death,  
Nothing can join me to her.  Aug. 
This is strange;  
Nor have I seen Passion more powerful: See you hold him fast.  Her. 
Shall I not reach my comfort? then, O come  
You that my wrath hath injured; stick, stick here  
The Arrows of your Poison: so; it works, it works.  Nir. 
A Slumber overtakes him.  Aug. 
Let him rest.  Enter, like Ghosts, Pheroas Achitophel, Disease & Tryphon. Ant. 
Hold, O hold; whither is courage vanished? Pox of fears,  
And Dreams imaginations: shall I turn  
Coward whilst I am sleeping? No, I'll laugh  
Even in my Grave, at all my Villains:  
Yes, in despite of thee, and thee, and both  
Your damned base Bravadoes: ha, ha, ha;  
My mountebank and 's Zany! How can Hell  
Spare such neat skipping Rascals? What, my fine  
Neat shaving amorous Barber! See, I dare  
Face, and outface ye all; I Death himself;  
For, none of you, but died most worthily.  
Ha, I am now transfigured: stand away;  
Accuse me not you blessed Innocents:  
O, you do break my breast up, tear my Soul;  
And burn Offence to an Anatomy:  
I know my mischief slew you; give me leave,  
And I'll become both Priest and Sacrifice:  
They will not have mine Offering: see, theyare gone;  
And I am only fooled with Visions.  
Sit, and sleep out Phantasmas.  Her. 
Ha, ha, ha;  
This Vision doth not scar me; that you fell,  
'Twas Justice and my Virtue; all your threats  
Do but augment my Triumph: go, pack hence;  Exe. Ghosts, & Enter Animis. 
I grieve for nought but injured innocence.  Ani. 
Where is the King my Master?  Aug. 
What's thy will?  Ani. 
Imperial Sir, 'tis from Antipater.  Her. 
Antipater? speak forth, I hear thee; that's a sound  
Ever craves mine attention.  Ani. 
Gracious Sir,  
The rumour of your death, when it had filled  
The City; flew to him.  Her. 
Yes, and then  
How took he my departing? Come, I see  
Strange things in thy deliverance: speak, speak free;  
How took he that sad Message?  Ani. 
Not toth' heart.  Aug. 
No 'twas enough the countenance languished.  Ani. 
That was as light as any.  Her. 
On thy life  
Tell me his whole demeanour.  Ani. 
Sir, in brief;  
When I had told the fatal Accident  
Both of your wound and dying; sudden mirth  
Ran through him like a Lightning; and he seemed  
Only a flame of jest and Merriment:  
His joy was past example; and he swore,  
His sins had made him King of Israel:  
What shall I say; if threatenings or reward  
Could but have bought his freedom; at my choice  
Lay all my heart could number.  Her. 
Peace, no more;  
I think what thou canst utter: O, this Son,  
This Bastard Son hath only ruined me:  
Hell never knew his equal; all my sins  
Are but the seeds he planted: fie, O fie.  Aug. 
Do not afflict yourself; 'tis justice now  
Shall take the Cause in handling: Captains hark,  
And hark Niraleus, do as I command;  
Be vigilant and serious: go, away.  Whisper, & Exe. Animis, Niraleus & the Guard. Ant. 
It shall be so; these Visions are to me,  
Like Old-wives Tales, or Dreams of Goblins;  
And shall pass like them, scorned and jested at:  
Why, what to me is Conscience? if I could  
Neglect it in my whole Course; shall I now  
Now when the Goal is gotten, stand afraid  
Of such poor moral Shadows? No, 'tis here,  
Hardened by Hell and Custom which shall keep  
And outface all such Battery: I'm myself,  
A King, a royal King; and that dear joy  
Shall bury all Offences: Herod's dead;  
And in his Grave, sleep my distemperance.  Enter Niraleus, Animis bearing a Crown, and a Guard. Nir. 
Health to the King of juda.  Ant. 
Ha, what's that?  Ani. 
Long life unto the King Antipater.  
Is the news true then? is the Old man dead?  
The wretched poor Old man; and, have my Stars  
Made me the man I wished for? O, you are  
My Nightingales of comfort, and shall sing  
Notes far above your Fortunes.  Nir. 
Sir, he's dead;  
And in his death hath given you all, that Rome  
Before confirmed upon you; which we thus  
Fix on your sacred Temples; only crave,  
You will be pleased (as Herod did desire)  
That ere you do ascend the Sovereign Chair,  
First to behold his Body, and on it  
Bestow one Tear or natural Sacrifice.  Ant. 
O 'tis a Rent most ready; Tears in me  
Are like Showers in the Spring time, ever black;  
But never far from Sunshine: Come, I have  
A longing heart and busy thoughts, which knows  
There's much to do in little time: away:  
I long to meet my glory; never hour  
Was Crowned with better fate, or stronger power.  Exeunt. Enter Hillus, Officers with the Scaffold, & the Executioner. Aug. 
This Preparation's honest; so dispatch,  
And place these mortal Triumphs handsomely:  
Sirrah, conceal your person; let no fear  
Make his fear grow too early.  Exe. 
'tis, my Lord,  
My part to couch like Mischief, close, but sure;  
When I break out I'm fatal.  Her. 
Thou speakst truth;  
Would this day did not need thee: 'tis a world  
To think how strong our cares are; and how weak  
All things which do but look like comfort: there's  
Not left in me a shadow; not a breath  
Of any hope hereafter; this Bastard's faith,  
On which so much I doted, to be lost  
Thus against kind and nature; 'tis a sin,  
That tears my heart in pieces.  Aug. 
Say not so;  
'tis rather comfort well discovered:  
But peace; see theyare approaching.  Sound Trumpets. Enter Antipater, Niraleus, Animis, and the Guard. Nir. 
Give way, stand back; room for the King of juda.  Ant. 
No, let them throng about me; and behold  
Their glory, and Redeemer, Ha; what's this? a Vision?  
No; a moral Prodigy: the King is living: O, I'm lost  
Past hope, and past imagination; by his side  
The Emperor Augustus: than I see,  
There is no way, but to destruction.  Her. 
Yes, to deserve destruction: wretched thing;  
Thou scorn of all are scorned; see, I live  
Only to sound thy judgement: thou, that thought'st  
To build thy Throne upon my Sepulchre;  
See how thouart dashed in pieces.  Ant. 
Gracious Sir.  Aug. 
Labour not for excuses; you have run  
A strange Career in Villainy; and thrust  
All goodness from you with such violence,  
That Mercy dares not help you.  Ant. 
Yet, my Lord,  
Hear mine unfeigned Answer.  Her. 
In thy breast  
Was never thing looked like Simplicity;  
Thou hast made Goodness wretched, and defamed  
All virtuous things that graced Nobility;  
thoust eat my blood up; made my loathed life  
Only a Scale to reach Confusion;  
Of these things I accuse thee; this I prove  
Both by my Life, my Death, and Infamy;  
And for this thou must perish: One, call forth  
The Minister of death; and in my view,  
Some minutes ere my dying; let me see  
His head ta'en from his body.  Ant. 
Sir, O Sir;  
Think that you are a Father.  Aug. 
No, a King,  
And thence ordained for justice; to put back  
Ought of that heavenly Office, were to throw  
Mountains i'th' face of jupiter; know you're lost,  
Lost to all Mankind and Mortality:  
Therefore to make your last hour better seem,  
Than all that went before it; what you know  
Of Treasons unrevealed; lay them forth:  
The work will well become you.  Ant. 
Is there no mercy?  Aug. 
Not upon earth; nor for Antipater.  Ant. 
Then farewell Hope for ever; welcome Death;  
ay, that have made thee as mine Instrument,  
Will make thee my Companion; and, I thus  
Ascend and come to meet thee: Here I am  
A Monarch over all that look on me,  
And do despise what all you tremble at:  
Sir, it is true, I meant your Tragedy;  
Did quite root out your Issue; and if life  
Had held, would have wiped out your Memory:  
This I confess; and to this had no help;  
But mine ill thoughts and wicked salumith's.  Aug. 
Was she assistant to you?  Ant. 
Sir, she was.  Aug. 
Produce her presently.  Ani. 
Sir, 'tis too late;  
The heart-strong Lady once imprisoned,  
Forsook all food, all comfort, and with sighs,  
Broke her poor heart in sunder.  Her. 
And that word  
Hath brought mine unto cracking; strike, O strike;  
Dispatch the Execution; or mine eyes  
Will not continue to behold the grace  
Of the revenge I thirst for.  Ant. 
Fear me not;  
I am as swift in my desire of death,  
As you are in your longings: Come, thou friend  
To great men's Fears, and poor men's Miseries,  
Strike, and strike home with boldness; here's a Life  
Thy steel may quench, not conquer; for the thought  
Exceeds all mortal Imitation:  
Greatness grew in my Cradle; with my Blood,  
'twas fed to mature ripeness; on my Grave,  
It shall, to all the Ages of the World,  
Live in eternal dreadful Epitaphs:  
This service men shall do me; and my name  
Remain a Bugbear to Ambition. Come; I am now prepared.  Exe. 
Sir, will you please to kneel.  Ant. 
What to thy vildness? Slave, I'll stand as high  
And strong as is a Mountain; strike, or perish.  Exe. 
I cannot then Sir do mine Office.  Enter Salumith between two Furies, waving a Torch. Ant. 
Pox of your form in these extremities.  
What art thou there, poor tortured Wickedness?  
And dost thou waft me to thee? Then, I come;  
I stoop, I fall, I will do any thing;  
Thou art to me as Destiny: O stay,  
My quick Soul shall o'ertake thee: for, but we,  
Never two reached the height of Villainy.  
Strike, O strike.  Her. 
O-o-o-  Here the Executioner strikes, and Herod dies. Aug. 
Whence came that deadly groan.  Nir. 
From the King; the blow the Hangman gave Antipater,  
Took his life in the Instant: Sir, he's dead.  Aug. 
The Gods have showed their wonders; some withdraw  
The Bodies and inter them: that; where none  
May pity or lament him: th'other so;  
As all men may admire him: for the Crown,  
Thus I bestow it on young Archelaus:  
Rome makes thee King of juda; and erects  
Thy Chair and Throne within jerusalem.  Sound Trumpets. All. 
Long live Archelaus, King of jerusalem.  Arch. 
I will be Caesar's servant; and my life,  
I hope shall purge these woes from Israel.  Aug. 
'tis a sweet royal Promise; prosper in't;  
Make Virtue thy Companion: for we see,  
She builds their ruins, spring from Tyranny.  Exeunt omnes.  

The epilogue.  

Y'ave heard a Tale, which not a noble Ear  
But has drunk with devotion; and howe'er  
It scant in phrase or action; yet it may  
Rank with some others, and be held a Play,  
Though not the best, nor worst; yet we hope  
It keeps the middle passage; that's the scope  
Of our Ambition: But, of this we're bold,  
A truer Story ne'er was writ, or told:  
If Envy hurt it, 'tis our Fates; and we  
Beg but your hands, for the Recovery.   
FINIS.