THE JEWS TRAGEDY, OR, Their Fatal and Final OVERTHROW BY VESPASIAN and TITUS his Son, Agreeable To the Authentic and Famous History OF JOSEPHUS. Never before Published.  
By William Hemings, Master of Arts of OXON.  
LONDON, Printed for Matthew Inman, and are to be sold by Richard Gammon, over-against Excester-House in the Strand, 1662.   

THE ACTORS.  

Nero Cesar, Emperor of Rome.  
Aprippa, King of Jewry:  
Vespasian Nero's Gen: & after Emp:  
Titus Son to Vespasian.  
Valerio A Roman Captain:  
Nicanor A Roman Captain:  
Ananias High Priest for jerusalem:  
Gorion Priest,  
Joseph Son to Gorion and Captain of the jews,  
Eleazar Seditious Captains of the Jews,  
jehochanan Seditious Captains of the Jews,  
Simeon Seditious Captains of the Jews,  
Zareck A poor jew,  
Miriam A jewish Lady,  
Peter The Ladies' man.    

Prologus.  
Judicious friends, our Author bids me say,  
That he hath laboured to adorn his Play  
With such Varieties; as may befit  
The fair deportment of a sober wit.  
Stories are strict, and challenge from the Stage,  
The true Dimensions of their former Age:  
Where Fancy guides the Plot, the Field is wide,  
And freely grants what here will be denied;  
What's wanting to his will by this defect,  
Your gentle Censures, and more mild aspect  
Will fairly answer; Grant him this, and he  
Will study to deserve your Courtesy.   

THE JEWS TRAGEDY.  

Act. I.  

Scene I.  Sound Music, and enter NERO, Emperor of Rome, Crowned with a Laurel Wreath; and attended by Roman Lords, he ascends his Chair by state. NERO. 
MY Lords of Rome, since first the auspicious eye  
Of Heaven looked singly on our bold attempts,  
We ne'er encountered fortunes so advers,  
Since first our Father Romulus ordained  
The Eternal Fire, by vestal Nuns preserved;  
And since Religious Numa did create  
Our Holy Sacrifices for the Gods,  
We never had such signs prodigious;  
Our Bulls for Offerings to the Gods of War  
Fall dead untouched by hand of Holy Priest;  
And such as wounded die by sacred Knife,  
Their entrails spotted tell us all's not well,  
The God are sure displeased.  I. lord 
Our War, my Sovereign, can import no less,  
The Perstans, Grecians, and the Galls revolts,  
With ill success in Jewry, these can tell  
Most mighty Cesar, that all is not well.  Nero. 
Now by the Gods I swear,  
That sturdy Nation shall repeat their pride.  
Have we not sent Ambassadors from Rome  
To treat them fair, and to confirm our Truce?  
Have we not sent a Bull for sacrifice?  
And Sheep for offerings of a sacred Peace,  
Even to the God himself whom they adore,  
And in his Temple too? What could we more?  
Save what we did, to give our Royal Word,  
That never heneeforth Roman Prince  
Should rule the Nation, but a Native born,  
Even their own King Agrippa.  
Hearest thou not yet of his arrival?  2. Lord. 
Our packets do inform us of his near approach,  
Each hour heis expected.  Nero. 
By heaven I thirst to know the certainty of their proceed.  
Nor can I choose but wonder at the stay of our Vespasian,  
I fear all not well with him my Lords:  
Haste thee Hostilius to the sacted Priests,  Exit a massinger. 
Bid them again go offer sacrifice,  
I long to see some lucky signs appear.  Shout within. 
Go know the reason of that shout,  Exit a Lord. 
The cheerful noise should seem to speak of joy.  Lord. 
The King of jewry is at hand my Lord.  Enters again. Nero. 
Now by my life he's welcome: go forth & meet him.  
And conduct him to our presence.  Exit again. Lord. 
I shall my lord.  Nero. 
Now have we half our wish, were but Vespasian here  
We had our full desire.  A Flourish, and enter King Agrippa; two of of his Attendants go before him, bearing his Crown between them, with other follower; those that bear the crown kneel before the Emperor. K. Agrip. 
Thus low great Caesar to thy Majesty  
Bows Inrges' King to do thee fealty.  Nero. 
And thus low Caesar steps to bid thee welcome;  
Welcome Agrippa; take from Caesar's hand  
Thy sacred Diadem, with sole command  He puts the Crown upon him, & sets him by him. 
Of thy rebellious Jews.  
But tell K. Agrippa, where are those.  
Ambassadors of mine, which lately were  
Dispatched with presents to thy Nation,  
With sacred offerings, and with flags of peace  
Embraced with solemn joy, and safely stowde  
Within our Temple; thy Embassage done  
With due regards to Rome's and jewrits honour:  
But lo the fury of a frantic mind,  
The factious Commons in their heat of blood  
Have slain thy Roman Lords, & stoutly stand  
Rebellious Captains of our holy Land.  Nero. 
What!  Agrip. 
'tis true great Emperor, nor was myself secure,  
But forced to fly for safety.  Nero. 
Is't possible? O ye gods!  Rises and goes down. 
To what a wretched time am I reserved,  
That this final handful dares affront me thus?  
Where art thou julius? at whose great command  
The utmost ends of Europe did obey.  
Where worthy Alexander? that didst swear to dwell  
Within the circuit of this little Earth:  
Behold a wretched caltiff in your room,  
Contend despised, rebelled against. O ye gods what more;  
Not able to maintain what you have won.  Lord. 
Most mighty Gafar,  
Let not thy passion rob thee of thy right;  
Let Caesar be himself, and then he'll see  
Himself as great in power & greater in degrees of souraignty.  Nero. 
Away thou fawning Cur, upon my life thou Hatterst me.  Lord. 
My LOrd?  Nero. 
No more I say. But laugh me to scorn behind my back;  
And yet, though I deserve it, take heed thou dost it not.  
Upon thy life take heed; look too't—  Agrip. 
Great Sovereign, give Agrippa leave to speak,  
Thou canst not Mighty Caesar, now behold  
Thyself, nor others, with a judging eye;  
Recall thyself from passion; and be still  
As great in Pour, as thou art great in Will.  Nero. 
Thou gav'st the wound Agrippa, and hast healed it;  
But yet the loss of my Ambassadors was stranges, ' 'ttwas [wondrous strange,  
And wondrous daring too; Daring to me; to me I [say 'twas daring.  Agrip. 
No more, most mighty Caesar.  Nero. 
Well; I have done, pardon my haste Agrippa;  
And you, forget what I have said.  Nero. 
The News.  A shout within, & enter a messengers. Mossen 
My gracious Lord Vespasian is arrived,  
And Prays admittance to your royal presence  Nero. 
Ves●●● come? Thou brings● us happy news;  Exit a messenger. 
Conduct him hither straight; we long to hear welcome news.  He ascends his chair with King Agrippa. Enter Vespasian with other Roman Lords. Vesp 
All happiness attend imperious Caesar:  
Peace from the Gods▪ from Europe victory;  
And from Vespasian duty to the King.  Nero. 
Welcome Vespasian; the Gods are pleased indeed.  raises him. 
Since with thy Victor's brow we crowned stand;  
Glad yet our ears more with a true and full relation  
Of thy successful voyage.  Vesp 
From vanquished Persia, mighty Caesar, we  
Were by stress of weather forced to touch  
Upon the Coasts of Spain; there we renewed  
Our weather beaten Barks with fresh supply  
Of men and Ammunition: Thence we steored  
Our course for Gallia and the Britain's shore.  
The Gauls at our arrival bade declare  
What our intentions, whom, and whence we were  
We answered, [Mighty Caesar] we were come  
To claim obedience to the Roman yoke  
The haughty King denied, and stoutly stood  
In bold defiance.  
Long was the dreadful sight, and doubtful too,  
Till at the length thy soldiers won the day,  
And forced their stubborn King in spite obey.  
From thence great King we fteered to Britain's shore,  
Where we were entertained as was of old  
Our famous julius, with a dreadful noise  
Of hideous outcries, thieeks, and yell out  
To fright our Soldiers, while themselves made good  
Their craggy Cliffs with loss of British blood:  
Thrice were we beaten of, and thrice again  
Recovered footing: yet still great King were forced  
To give them ground till thy Vespasian cried,  
Fight, fight on your honour, lives, and Caesar's side,  
For mighty Caesar fight.  
Hadst thou but seen, great King, thy Captains then,  
And Roman Lords come bleeding on again,  
Repulse the Foe, and bravely win the shore,  
Maintain the On sent stillm, though still opposed,  
Till Chariot waves were drowned in British blood,  
There hadst thou seen their ranks with fury broke,  
and them subjected to thy sole command.  
This Mighty Caesar is the brief of all  
Since thy Commission made me General:  Nero. 
Blessed he the gods, Vespasian, and be thou  
Blessed in the favour of our gracious Brow.  
And now again thrice welcome worthy Roman,  
Thy valour shall be crowned with full reward  
Of fair preferment worthy thy deserts:  
We therefore here create thee General  
Of all Indea and the Holy Land.  
O my Vespasian! I can tell the stories  
Will spurte thee on in fury to revenge.  
But nowi no more of that—  
We will to triumph for our victories;  
That done, set open the Gates of janus' wide,  Exeunt omnes. 
That bloody war may quell Judea's pride.   

ACT. I. SCAEN. II.  Enter Lord JEHOCHANAN, and Lord SKIMEON. Skim. 
IS the News certain that Agrippa's fled?  jehoe. 
Most certain, and to Caesar for relief.  Skim 
Tush! let the venom burst, I dare the worst of fate's extremity,  
Death entertained with fear more terrifies  
The frighted soul, then doth the fatal blow:  
Let Pidgeon-livered slaves be tormented thus;  
I'll meet it smiling, with as bold aspect  
As e'er I met the braving enemy.  jehoc. 
How full of hidden Ambiguities  
Grow these distracterd times!  
The factious Commons giddy censure stand  
So strange and doubful, that 'twere policy indeed  
To sound 'em to the bottom.  Skim. 
To be a crouching, crawling, fawning Cur,  
To lick the lazy bands of prating Priests,  
With protestations of integrity  
Devoted whole to them:  
With true compuction of unfeigned grief  
Submissively to crave their gracious pardon:  
To paw the ragged multitude with praise  
Of their ingenious care and servant love  
For preservation of the Commonwealth;  
To promise fair rewards to froward fools  
Perhaps, with dirty feet to mire with fawn,  
And then be beaten with the shameful staff  
Of foul Reproach:  
To do all this were to be born a fool,  
To live a slave, and die a coward,  
Death! I will stand between the counterbuffs  
Of these devouring storms in spite of Hell;  
Nor Priest, nor Peasant shall enforce me stoop  
An inch to either: as I have lived, I'll fall,  
Or freed from both, or rend up root and all.  jehoc. 
Or banishment or death we must expect.  
Hast thou not seen the ragged multitude,  
Whose stupid brains are ftust with nothing else  
But their mechanic skill, whose highest strain  
Of Cunning is to get some musty meat  
TO feed the hungry maw, or ragged clothes  
TO cover nakedness, proclaim us bloody tyrants?  
These are they  
Whose strange distractions guided by the voice  
Of two or three, proclaim a traitor's death:  
Now save him straight, and now nor save, nor kill,  
Nor yet release him; such their frantic will.  Skim. 
The doting Priests believe 'em too:  
Death and the Devil! wooed it not vex one's very soul  
TO be arraigned by these?  
In what a hodge podge of confusion  
Live jewry now? Must the rough sword of War  
Be guided by the rusty hand of Peace?  
TO strike but when, & where, and whom she please?  
Must we, whose noble actions have deserved  
Our place of Government, by countermand—  
Of babbling Priests be taught our lessons how,  
And when, and where, and what, and why to do?  
Have our unspotted same traduced by men  
Of vulgar note, by painted Butterflies  
That buzz the common rumours of the time  
And know not why? Death! I could burst with rage;  jehoc. 
And I with laughter, to behold the State  
And kingdom ruled by a Mecanick pate.  Enter Lord Eleazar musted. Skim 
See where's the prologue to the bloody Scoente,  jehoc. 
Lord Eleazar muffled!  Eleaz. 
Good morrow to you both.  Skim. 
The like retored from both to Eleazar.  
My Lord, this outward guise of face and gesture  
May seen to speak some inward discontent.  Elea. 
Nay more than seems my friends, for seems are show,  
But mine is substance: would it were not so.  jehoc. 
We will be sharers then my Eleazar.  Eleaz. 
Nay must, jehochanan, and deep ones too,  
So deep, I fear, your patience will not bear it.  Skim. 
It must be deeper than destruction then.  
What e'er it be unbosom it.  Eleaz. 
You are betrayed:  
There's strict inquiry made to apprehend ye:  
The City Gates are barred, and straight commands  
On pain of death, that no man dare to stand  
In opposition.  Skim. 
We did expect no less.  Elea. 
Occasions of importance call me hence;  
Nor wooed I be discovered in your company:  
What the event will be I know not yet;  
But fear your lives are aimed at.  
A fit time shall give a fairer scope  
To my discourse and counsel, So sare ye well.  Exit Elea. jehoc. 
Our love and thanks go with thee.  Skim. 
How thinkest thou now, jehochanan?  
Standest thou amazed? why, didst not thou expect  
The fatal blow?  jeho. 
Skimeon, I dids nor do I sear to know  
What I have heard; the Message unto me  
Is but a tale twice told, whose second part  
Was told by him, the first by mine own heart.  
Unto a soul whose unprepared mind  
Dreams not of danger when afflictions come;  
How terrible the yleok! the sudden chance  
O'er whelms the frame of Nature with distraction.  
But to a man whose resolution stands  
Unmoved 'twixt floods of danger and despair,  
Whose sturdy stomach beats the Billows off  
With Arms of constancy, when every thought  
Proves traitor to the breast that gave it life;  
To him no mischief fate can strive to do,  
But boldly is embraced, and scorned at too.  
And such am I  Skim. 
I do embrace thee, and with aqual courage  
Stand armed for all even'ts.  [Enter Officers, or apprehend them.] Officer. 
By the High Priests sacred power and stict command  
We apprehend ye both as traitors to the State of jewry.  jeho. 
We do obey. knowst thou where L: Aeleazer is? [They deliver their weapons.]  Offic. 
We met him even now hard by the Synagogue.  Skim. 
Befriend us with a Messehger that may  
Entreat him come and speak with us; we shall.  
Reward you for your pains.  Offic. 
It shall be done my Lord.  Exeunt: Enter Eleazar. 
The City up in Arms, Agrippa fled,  
The Roman Legate slain, and Rulers banished;  
And we his Son next succession;  
What can we wish for more? but foft,  
This day our Jewish Captains are arraigned:  
Now Eleazar is the nick of time,  
That thy aspiring thoughts may bravely mount  
To Jewri● Sceptre.  
How my distempered doubts disturb my brain,  
Puzzle my will, excrutiate my soul,  
Distract my judgement—! O thou sacred thirst  
Of fwelling honour! with what powerful awe  
Thou rul'st our erring actions!  
Be wary Eleazar, and foresee  
What chief may oppose or further thee.  
If these Commanders die, where's then thy hope  
Of their united Power? No, that must not be,  
Their lives are precious, and preserved by mine assistance,  
Ties them fast in strength and secrecy.  
It shall be so.  Enter Mess. 
By this time our Father's preparing to the Judgement.—:  
I must away to meet with him.  Mess. 
My honoured Lord, the Lord jehothanan, with due respect unto  
your Lordship desires you come and speak with him.  Elea. 
Tell him, we will be with him instantly.  
'Tis a I could wish it, to be sent for too!  
If I can bring them off, I make them sure mine own.  
I will go visit them.  Exit. Enter Mechanics. 1. 
The zay the Captains shall be reigned to day.  2. 
I neighbour Oliver! but how do they rain 'em? can ye tell?  1. 
Marry Neighbour I will tell ye; and for your better destruction, and more plain and perniciens understanding in the matter, I will deride my speech into sixten several Sects.  2. 
Mercy upon us! hold Neighbor, hold; by no means, I pray; the derision will be too long of all conscience, and I shall never remember what contains to the Discourse: Let it be but twofold Neighbour, and I shall reprehend in much better.  1 
Very good Neighbour Timothy, it shall; and I will so handle the matter, that the whole Discourse shall be derided between you and I.  2. 
I marry, that will do passing well.  1. 
Hum-'um, mark neighbour, and medigate upon the matter.  2. 
I warra Et ye Neighbour.  1. 
Why look ye Sir,  
You are the Benefastor, and I am the Judge:  
Now Sir your Benefactor is invited to appear before your judge,  
And to answer to such objections as he shall be justly excused for:  
Now sir am I to hear and excuse you of the crime,  
And to examine and commend your defence;  
And you to accuse yourself of all that is alleged against you.  2. 
Peace Bully, peace; here comes the judges.  1. 
Mass! here they come indeed! by and by come your Benefactors I warrant ye.  Enter the High Priest, and Eleazar his Son talking in secret with him: Gorian Priest, and Joseph his Son, with Attendants: the High Priest ascends the Chair, the other three sit below. H. Priest. 
Bring forth the Prisoners.  A Bar set, and the Prisoners brought in. 
jechochanan and Skimeon, we do accuse ye both of treason against the state of jewry.  
Besides, we have been true informed, and that not by the mouth of one, but many, that those imperious dignities which we out of our pious love conferred upon you, have most soul abused, by which our sacred Laws are violate, and we (though innocent) yet stand depraved.  jehoc. 
It was, and is the custom 'mongst the jews,  
That the Delinquent, how e'er guilty, yet  
He fairly should enjoy the privilege  
Of his Accusers opposition.  
Nor do I doubt that your obsequious care  
And zealous chariry can derogate  
So much from nobleness, as to deny  
Us fair proceed.  H. P. 
What by our sacred power we can, we will.  Skim. 
First then, we shall desire to be informed  
Who our Accusers are, and what the ground  
Of our impeachment.  
Next we request the freedom of our speech,  
That we may fairly quit ourselves so far as truth  
And our unspotted innocency require.  H. P. 
We grant thee both. Read their Accusations.  
[Roads.] 

1. First, you are indicted for a rebellious Mutiny against the State of Jewry.  
2. Next, of a most inhuman murder executed upon the Roman Legates.  
3. Thirdly, of Hight reason against AGRIPPA you lawful Sovereign.    L. jeho. 
we'll answer brief to all ..  
That we have slain the Roman Lords, 'tis true;  
But with whatservent love & zeal unto yourselves,  
And to the State of Jewry, may appear,  
Most sacred Priest, by our submissions:  
For had our loves proved traitor to the State.  
Or to thy sacred self in this attempt,  
We had by our command sufficient power  
To have opposed both thee and that:  
But our intents were fair,  
'Tis not unknown with what a heavy weight  
Of sad oppression wretched Jewry stood,  
Basely subjected, till by us made free.  
And call you this Rebellion?  
But when I call to mind that mongrel Prince,  
That sacrilegious thief; that any thing,  
Saving the sacred Name of Sovereign:  
That Bastard-Issue, sprung from Herod's Race,  
Of low descent in blood, obscure and base;  
Not once regarded till by Caesar's Power  
A snatched the Royal Sceptre—  H.P. 
No more of that.  
We gave thee no Commission to revile  
Nor hadst thou power to kill, nor yet to save  
Those Roman Legates: What by thee was done  
Without our leave was flat Rebellion.  
Nor is this all we do object against ye.  
Read the Petition.  [One reads.] An humble Petition from the grieved Commons for the execution of justice upon the two, seditions Captains, Jehochanan and Skimeon. Skim. 
The common bawling Curs? O heaven! must we he weighed  
with them? with their simplicity? Death! I disclaim from their  
Mechanic spleen, and this ignoble trial.  H. P. 
Read out the grievances in the Petition.  Skim. 
Sir, I will hear no further.  H. P. 
Boils your hot bloùd so high with our preferment?  
we'll quench the fire, and then the heat will suage.  
We here dismiss thee of thy place of Government  
Now Sir ye are a private man, and we  
Have sacred Power, and sole Authority  
To save or kill. And, for we will not dive  
Too deep into your warlike cruelty,  
Nor lean too much to private lenity;  
For thy rebellion and thy bold affront  
We doom thee banishment:  
We give thee three day's liberty for thy departure:  
And do command thee here on pain of death  
Not to approach within our sacred walls, nor yet Judea's confines  Skim. 
I must, I do obey.  Exit. H. P. 
And for you jehochanan, upon submission of yourself to us, we do release thee: But we charge thee, as thou lovest thy life and liberty, thou give us not henceforward any cause of just proceed: So we dismiss thee.  jehoc. 
My humble thanks unto your sacred Power: Nor do I crave more favour at your hands then I shall strive hencesorward to deserve.  [Exit and exeunt Officers and Attendants.] H. P. 
Now we are private. O jerusalem!  
Is thy decrepit Age already come!  
Or art how hastened by untimely means  
To end thy days of honour?  
Is't not strange, that we  
Have sacred power to touch their cruelty,  
Yet dare not strike!  
jehochanan we know as deep in blood as Skimeon,  
Both equal guilty; yet should both be banished  
Their equal strength, united with their will,  
May much endanger us; mean while we stand  
As friend with one that we may both command.  
Weep Gorian, weep, or else our hearts will break,  
Our eyes will tell more than our tongues can speak.  
But I have done, the times are so extreme  
We have not leisure to lament our state;  
Our sudden danger summons us to sit  
In counsel straight to take some speedy course  
About our safety.  Go. 
Heaven give a blessing to our fair proceed.  [A table brought, and they sts.] H. P. 
How truly doth experience teach us now,  
That fear once grounded in a Commonwealth,  
Proves oftentimes hereditary.  
The common rumour of Vespasian's Host  
Strikes terror to the people. O the power  
Of this distracted sear! Even death itself  
Appears not half so terrible: But we trifle time.  
We are informed by sure intelligence,  
That he intends within these three day's space  
Set footing in judea: How appointed  
Yet we know not● but to be supposed  
In all points like unto Vespasian.  
O Gorion, how methinks that Name  
Begets abortive twins of horrid grief  
Within this breast of mine! Those streams of blood  
Which by that fatal hand were lately spilt,  
Bleeds fresh within my soul.  Gor. 
So would they do in mine if not repelled:  
To grieve ourselves with what's impossible  
To be repressed, is to desire to be  
More wretched than we are.  Io. 
'Tis true; it such is Nature that it strives to know  
Itself in wretchedness, how truly we  
Acquire the centre of our misery.  H. P. 
Well, No more of this; now tó our present business,  
That you are zealous for your country's good  
I rest assured: Nor do I doubt your care  
And actual courage in a fair defence:  
Such I have ever deemed ye.  
Nor do I fear but I shall find ye now  
The same. Now your attentions, than your fair assents  
To what I have to utter.  
To broach a war, and not to be assured  
Of certain means to make a fair defence,  
How e'er the ground be just, may justly seem  
A wilful madness: Such is jewries case.  
Are not our Towers defaced! our Walls unbuilt?  
Our Forces weakened, and our treasure spent?  
Our country ruinated, our people too  
Imbroile in native blood? O Gorion see,  
judea wars with Rome, Rome with the world.  
The world is conquered, and yet jewry stands  
In opposition: Is not this to be  
Our own torments in self-cruelty?  Go. 
We know the weakness of our State to be  
Unable to resist, yet know not how  
To yield, or not to yield, or what to do:  
The furious tempest drives us on the Rocks  
Of Foreign and Domestic Enemies:  
The raving multitude will not endure  
To pay the Roman- tribute.  Elea. 
Where common dangers meet with equal power,  
It stands not with our Honours to expose  
Our lives and fortunes to a base repulse.  H.P. 
We will proclaim it death to him that dares  
Deny the tribute Money.  Josep. 
That were to blow the fire that burns so hot already.  
Such is our fate that we are forced to sight  
With Rome, or with ourselves.  H.P. 
Since so it is, we will not sheathe our sword  
In our own bosom; we will rather die  
By Roman sword, then native butchery.  Elea. 
Bravely resolved; nor do I doubt to see  
Judea's ruins, loss and poverty  
Made good again with loss of Roman blood.  Entera Messenger. Mess. 
Peace to this sacred Meeting, but to judea bloody wars:  
Vespasian with ten thousand horse, and forty thousand foot is now arrived.  H.P. 
Hast thee ' immediate to jehocanan, bid him proclaim Vespacian coming, command him in our Name to muster up his forces, and to attend your further pleasure.  Mess. 
I shall my Lord.  H.P. 
Is it possible, already come! we must be speedy then in our designs.  josep. 
'Twere best with speed to send Ambassadors  
To crave a truce for some small time whilst we  
Prepare ourselves in fair hostility.  Elea 
Shame blast thy tongue, shall jewry seek  
To Heathen Nation? Let their venom burst  
Into the worst of malice; we will stand  
In terms of equal Honor.  Go. 
Thy judgement Eleazar is too rash,  
Thy youthful blood boils fury in thy breasts  
And captivates thy reason unto passion.  Elea. 
Gorian I tell thee—  josep. 
joseph tells thee first,  
That if thou blast my Father's tongue with shame  
As thou hast blasted mine, may joseph lose his Name  
Of sacred Priesthood; but—  H.P. 
I do command you cease, the blood of strife  
Gins already to seize our sacred streets:  
I therefore will assign to each by Lot  
His several command, nor will myself stand free,  
But bear a part in this hostility.  
We will, even in the period of our age  
Grow strong, again, instamed with holy rage  
Of our dishonour. Within thore, bring forth the Lots.  Elea. 
To me the country of the Edomites.  One brings Lots, they draw and open them. josep 
To me Galilee.  H.P. 
To us jerusalem.  Go. 
To all success from Heaven, may each man be  
Inspired with holy Zeal Chivalry.  Exeunt omnes.  
Finit Actus Primus.   

ACT. II. Incipit Actus Secundus, Scoena Secunda.  Sound Drums, and enter VESPASIAN and TITUS his Son: VALERIO and NICANOR, two Captains, with others. Vesp. 
VALERIO.  Val. 
My gracious Lord.  Vesp. 
Since now we are thus happily arrived  
Within Judea's Confines, March thou  
To Galilee, say we offer peace  
To jewries Priests from Rome's great Emperor;  
But on thy life take heed thou speak us not  
In too rough Language: Let thy milder phrase  
Suit thy Embassage with a pleasing stile,  
Adorned with powerful Eloquence;  
Yet with such graceful brave aspect, that thou  
Eclipse not Roman Honor.  
The● lews are stout and losty, therefore Art  
Shall give the first Alarm: If they refuse,  
Let then our Roman Eagle be displayed  
With all her sable Feathers, soaring high  
O'er sad Judea's desolation.  Val. 
My Lord I shall obey.  Exit. Vesp. 
Is the Ammunition safely landed?  Titus 
My Lord it is, and brought from Antioch, within a day's journey of Gamala.  Vesp. 
See it be safely stowed, and let our Iron Rams be strongly fitted for the battory.  Ni. 
It shall be done.  Vesp. 
I'll make this sturdy Nation's greatness stoop  
To Rome's command, or spend my aged blood  
In the Attempt.  
See there be store of strong Scaladoes too;  
VVe'el force their breaches in despite of death,  
And raze their sacred buildings to the ground.  
Led on to Galilee.  Exeunt. Enter ZARECK. Zare 
To be a piece of walking clay, a thing  
Whose highest happiness hath ever been  
To keep itself alive, and that life too  
Not for itself preserved, but others; is  
To be worse than a Beast; for they  
(However miserable in effect)  
Yet live contented, void of Reason's eye;  
They cannot see nor seel their misery.  
To be man whose wretched life is fraught  
As full of fears as minutes, whose calamities  
the world laments, and yet not know his plague,  
Is to be happy: Why should Nature give  
More privilege to beast then man?  
Lives there a Deity whose powerful hand  
Moves the great Module of this Universe;  
And can this be? Soft, Who comes here— jehochannan—  
I will withdraw myself.  Enter JEHOCHANAN. 
The Letter shall be writ immediately;  
I but the means, the trusty means to send it:  
For to begin a work of such importance,  
And in the midst, even when the brave design  
Grows ripe with action, to be jaded then  
Wooed prove a piece of policy to be  
Laughed at by Schoolboys. What a secret maze  
Of hidden danger may the working brain  
Securely trade in, if not guided by  
The wary judgement! Certainly there is  
More crafty wiles and ambiguities  
Within this secret trade of villainy.  
Then in the world beside: something must be done  
With speed and safety.  Zareck blows the Wind● in that Door. 
If I reveal the secret to a man  
Whose frighted soul shrieks from the undertaking,  
I lose myself for ever; and to be  
Assured in this, is impossible.  
Since then the weighty project must depend  
Upon uncertainty, advise jehochanan  
Upon some secret way, whose circumstances  
Bar apparent danger— Stay, that must not be,  
To break it to a near Ally,  
Were to invite is zealous charity  
To countermand the Plot. No— I must find a man  
Whose pining carcase wearied out with woe,  
Gapes after Gold; there— there must be the pill  
To work it.  Zare. 
If my genius fail me not, I am the man: I'll show myself.  a part. 
jehoc. Well, I'll about it— ha'!  
There stands a fellow whose deject Estate  
Proclaims him truly wretched; cruel Fate  
Looks frowningly upon him: what a troop  
Of sorrows muster in his face, and yet  
He looks me thinks as if a did despise  
His present Fortune: I'll try what's in him.  
Come hither fellow, why didst thou gaze even now  
With such a serious eye on those despised rags?  Za. 
Yet these (how e'er despised) will not afford  
A ragged answer to resolve your doubt;  
This ruined outside may for aught you know  
Have afair inside: Did your Lordship think  
That that was tattered too:  
Why what have you to do to question me?  
Should I have asked your Lordship what even now  
Your brains were busied on, you would have called  
Me saucy fellow for my pains, I'm sure.  
And yet behold, Nature hath been to me  
As freely loving in distributing  
Her sundry gifts, as she hath been to you;  
My Limbs right shaped, my faculties endued  
With as much vigour as the best of yours;  
My thoughts as free; nor is my will confined  
With straighter limits than another's :  
where's then the difference? Is't because I wear  
These ragged Robes? why these do cloth me too;  
Yours do no more, nay not so much perhaps;  
For these (however poor) yet keep me warm  apart. jehoc. 
I have not seen such boldness in such distress.  apart. 
I'll yet try him further.  
Why thou despised wretch, thou pitiful  
Patched piece of misery, made for nothing else  
But to be pointed at● thou nasty thing,  
Whose noisome savour poisons those that meet it:  
How darest thou be so impudent?  Za. 
But that I do desire to vex thee more,  
I would not answer thee:  
I dare! did I but know the way to do't, vex thee to death;  
And (for I know 'twill case thee now to rail)  
I'll leave thee to thyself.  About to go out. jehoc. 
I prithee stay, by this light I do love thoe beyond expression.  Za. 
How should I know that?  jehoc. 
Do but come back, and I will give thee proof of my affection:  
Thy Name?  Comes back. Za. 
ZARECK.  jehoc. 
Take that, and if thou darest but do what I command  Gives him Gold 
Thou shalt not want preferment.  Za. 
'Tis Gold! If I dare do! if perform not what's in man to do,  
Let me be cursed into more misery than I have endured.  Jehoc. 
Canst thou be secret too?  Za. 
I can be any thing.  Jehoc. 
Hark then, and take a weighty secret from me,  
Thou knowst L. Skimeon?  Za. 
Very well.  Jehoc. 
Hast heard the time, the manner in each circumstance  
Of his late banishment?  Za. 
I have.  Jehoc. 
And yet thou seest that I have freedom. Now mark:  
The fawning Prelates under fair pretence  
Of love and liberty, intent my ruin;  
My life is aimed at Zareck.  
Which (for they dare not publicly attempt,  
Fearing the Commons which on my side stand)  
They'll act in private; burr Jehochanan  
Will live in spite of all their policy.  
Thou knowst the City Gates are slightly kept,  
This third succeeding night I have designed  
Lord Skimeons' entrance with ten thousand men:  
This briefly shall acquaint him with the plot  Writes. 
Which thou shalt carry; but as thou lov'st thy life,  
Be secret Zareck.  Za. 
Silence itself shall not be more my Lord.  jehoc. 
This done, return again with expedition.  
And then— I, there's the masterpiece indeed,  
The Gates, the City-Gates must be surprised.  Za. 
Let me alone for that.  Jehoc. 
The watchmen must be murdered Zareck, and I fear  
Lest in revealing of the plot to many.  
We be discovered.  Za. 
Not for a world.  Jehoc. 
How then?  Za. 
I'll do't myself.  Jehoc. 
Thyself! thou canst not.  Za. 
Tush fear not my Lord:  
The drowsy whatchmen in the dead of night  
(void of suspicion) will be taken napping  Jehoc. 
Darest thou attempt it then alone?  Za. 
Rest you secure, if I perform it not  
I lose myself, you stand still undiscovered.  Jehoc. 
Well, I will build upon thy trusty resolution.  Enter a Messenger. Jehoc. 
To whom thy Message?  Mess. 
Unto you my Lord.  
The sacred Priesthood greets you well, and doth command you muster up your Forces ready to attend their further pleasure.  Jehoc. 
It. shall be done.  Exit Mess. 
Vespasian is at hand, and we have power  
To raise our Forces; what a blessed hour  
This Message came in! Skimeon let in,  
Our Forces joined; the Citizens will turn  
to us for fear: Now Zareck play thy part,  
And I will hug thee for thy precious Art.  Exeunt. Enter JOSEPHUS and Captains. Josep. 
What think ye Soldiers, is not Jewry mad  
to wage a war with such a potent Prince  
Whose territories do extend as far  
As Britain, and the Kingdom of the Gauls.  I Cap. 
I fear the factious Commons are seduced  
And gatherhead against the sacred priests.  Josep. 
'tis to be feared indeed: I wonder much  
The Messenger returns not from Jerusalem:  
The News is certain that Vespasian means  
To give the first assault to us in Galilee;  
We must be therefore sudden in our actions:  
I muse what good effect our Letters take.  2 Ca 
See here my Lord, the Messenger.  Josep. 
Of peace I hope, so it may stand with honour,  Enter a Mess. 
thou comest in happy time, we shall  
reward thy pains and care.  Mess. 
My Lord, about to deliver your Letters to the sacred Priesthood,  
I was prevented by Jehochanan, and dispatched away with this unto your Lordship.  Delivers the Letter, and exit. Josep. 
Our Letter's intercepted all's not well I fear.  Opens the Let. & reads Josephus, we have received thy Letters, and know not whether we may question thy wisdom or thy valour; we will at this time censure neither, but leave them to a further trial of thy actions: But on thy life take heed thou treat not with Vespasian for a peaco. So far thou well, or ill, which thou deservest: Jehochanan. 
Called Coward to my face! Oh heaven  
Bear witness now with what disdainful scorn  
I entertain that title!  
Jchochanan thou liest, and would to Heaven I were  
Within the distance of this trusty Blade  
to make it good: Death! have I outlived my reputation?  1 Cap. 
Nay good my Lord.  Josep. 
Indeed I trifle time, we have no leisure to be passionate.  
You see in what a maze of misery  
the State of Jenny stands; if therefore we  
Will pris● our Honours, or our countries' good,  
we must with resolution bid defiance to Vespasian.  
If we embrace a peace, we raise a war  
Amongst ourselves; and so we make a breach  
For Rome to enter: Hark! hark! Vespasian is at hand:  Drums best afar off. 
Courage brave Soldiers, let not Rome's command  
Abate your valours; make speed to muster up your Forces;  
to morrow early  the break of day,  
I mean to give them battle.  Exeunt. Enter an Herald, and VALERIO with a white Flag; the Herald summons the town to a parley, is answered; and enter JOSEPH and Captains upon the wall. Valerio. 
To thee the chief Commander of this place,  
And to the rest, my Master bid me say  
He sends this Flag of Peace, and will thee pay  
the wont tributo to the Roman-State: this done,  
A doth command thy late subjection.  Josep. 
Bold Roman tell thy Master we defy  
His proud Command; nor will Judea pay  
The wont tribute: Bid Vespasian come  
Himself, and do his Message.  Val. 
Rebels take heed, if great Vspatian come,  
He comes in blood.  Jo. 
Proud Roman, tell thy Master, joseph scorns  
to parley with a meaner than himself;  
tell proud Vespasian, that judea stands  
In equal terms of honour with his Lord.  Val. 
Jew, thou'lt repent this arrogancy.  Io. 
Roman, I tell thee, ere this Holy Land  
Shall yield obedience to the Roman yoke,  
joseph will make the Roman Eagle totter.  Val. 
Rebel farewel, when next we meet, I'll try  
How well thou canst maintain this bravery.  Exeunt omnes. Enter Vespasian, Titus and Captains, with Drums and Colours. Vesp. 
How far are we now from Jorpata?  Tit. 
Within the distance of a League my Lord.  Vesp. 
What think ye Soldiers, shall we be receiveed in peace?  Nica. 
My Lord I doubt it.  Ves. 
Well, how ere it be, we are prepared.  Tit. 
I give to thee the sole Command  
Of the right wing; to thee the left, Nicanor.  
Myself will stand betwixt ye both,  
that I may see your equal Valour strive  
For equal Honour in the Victory.  Tit. 
My Lord— Valerio!  Vesp. 
Welcome Valerio, comest thou in peace?  Val. 
My Lord prepare to fight,  
the sturdy Citizens intent this night  
to bid you battle.  Vesp. 
What! are they still so stout?  
By Heaven I'll scourge their pride.  Val. 
My Lord, I saw them troop upon the hill,  
Not two mile distant: Hark! their Drums do beat,  
they march.  Drums beat a far off. Vesp. 
Courage my Roman Soldiers, let me see  
this day your brave attempts for Rome and me.  
They come: Valerio, make good the Vanguard.  Val. 
I shall my Lord.  Enter Joseph and Captains, with Drum and Colours. Jo. 
What meanest thou Roman, to disturb your peace?  Vesp. 
Rebel, I do command thee kneel in Cesar's name.  Io. 
Command thy slaves, for joseph scorns to bend  
Were Cesar here himself.  Titus. 
How's that?  Jo. 
Titus I tell thee, Joseph is a Prince,  
Deputed for the State of Galilee,  
Royal in Blood; and Cesar is no more,  
Nor thou so much.  Vesp 
Comest thou to brave it out bold Jew, with words?  
we'll show thee deeds to prove our Honours by, Draws  
And when thou seest our pedigrees made good  
Writ thou thine own descent in Roman blood.  Drums beat, and exeunt. They fight within, and enter Titus and Joseph at several doors, they fight: Joseph retires: And enter Vespasian wounded in the Leg with an Arrow. Titus. 
How fares my Father?  Vesp. 
Led me aside Titus, I am hurt.  Exeunt. Leads him out. Enter Valerio and Nicanor. Val. 
The fight was bravely maned on either part:  
Pray Heaven the General be well.  Nica. 
I saw his silver tresses circled round  
With troops of Soldiers, till his valiant Son  
Bravely relieved him.  Val. 
The Jewish Captain bravely stood it out,  
Even when his ranks had jest him:  
Didst thou not see him when he was begirt  
With troops of Romans, with what brave advantage  
A still maintained the fight? and then, even then  
When death stood gazing on him, and his men  
Adjudged him lost, through what a bleeding Lane  
A bravely made his way, and so escaped?  Ni. 
This way a took; come let's pursue the chase.  Exeunt. Enter Joseph wounded, leaning upon his Sword. Io. 
This way, or that? is't so? then I have caught myself, and  
must take neither. So— I must obey—  Lies down. 
Lie there thou wretched carcase, and prepare  
thyself for dissolution. O Heavens! see  
the strange desires of base Mortality.  
Canst thou desire to live, thou wretched Earth,  
And see thy Honour die? O misery  
Beyond expression.  Enter joseph's two Captains. 1 Cap. 
This way our Leader took.  2 Cap. 
See where he lies.  1 Cap. 
How fares my Lord?  joseph. 
Even at the Lion fares,  
When strong entangled in the Hunter's toil,  
A chafes his Royal heart with rage, to see  
Himself entrapped.  Cry within, follow, follow, follow. 1 Cap. 
My Lord, we are pursued even at the heels,  
Shift for your life.  Ios. 
Away and save yourselves, my wounds will not give leave.  1. Cap. 
Come, we will bear you hence.  Ios. 
Your hands, stay:  
Within this Vale there is a secret Cave,  
Whose private entrance now o'ergrown with moss,  
Will hardly be discerned: Led me to that.  1 Cap. 
Happily thought of.  They enter the cave. Enter Titus, Valerio, Nicanor. Titus. 
'Tis beyond my understanding which way their General hath 'scaped us.  Val. 
And mine too, my Lord; but sure I am a cannot be far hencel  
Nor can a long continue where a is:  
Unless Chameleon like a feeds on air.  Ti. 
Well, he's a noble fellow; if thou finded him Valerio, use him with equal honour to his worth.  Val. 
My Lord I shall.  Ti. 
Tell him on the faith of great Vespasian's Son,  
A shall be gently used. So far thee well, I wish thee good success.  Val. 
My Lord I shall obey.  Exit Titus. 
What course shall we take now, Nicanor?  Ni. 
Troth we may wink and choose; our first and second course is all but Salads: Physic, Physic Valerio, most inexpressible Physic; why I have walked myself into such an abstract of abstinence that I can relish ye the distinct nourishment of the thicker, thinner, and more refined air, and shall in time, no doubt, attain to the perfection of the Chameleons diet.  Val. 
Prithee be serious now,  
And let's pursue the search.  Ni. 
Contents but by this hand I swear  
I will endure't no longer than this night.  Exeunt. Enter the two Captains out of the Cave. 1 Cap. 
Death, I am almost starved,  
My hungry maw devours my vital blood.  
What is to be done?  2. Cap. 
To make escape's impossible▪  
We are begirt with Romans round about.  1 Cap. 
Death, shall we die like Dogs?  2 Cap. 
No, in despite of hunger, we will die like men.  Draws. takes the weapon. 
Here, take this weapon, and dispatch me first.  1. Cap. 
Stay, swear to be constant in the brave performance.  2 Cap. 
I do, do thou the like.  Kisses the Sword. 1 Cap. 
I vow the same: we are agreed,  
And now in honour to our brave farewell,  
we'll kill our Captain first  2 Cap. 
Content, let's call him out.  1 Cap. 
What, ho, joseph, come forth, prepare thyself to die.  joseph comes out with his weapon drawn. Jo. 
Are we discovered?  2 Cap. 
Yes, hunger has spied us in her granam's den,  
And sent her Sister Famine to devour us  Jos. 
What means this mad Discourse?  1 Cap. 
Know brave Commander, we have called thee out  
To lead thy Soldiers in the march of death.  
As thou hast lived, so thou shalt bravely die,  
thou art the Prologue to our tragedy.  
We mean to kill thee; therefore prepare thyself.  Ios. 
Villains ye dare nor.  1 Cap. 
Dare not—  Offers a thrust at him. Ios. 
Hold— ask counsel first of Heaven, & tell me then  
Which of your bold rebellious tongues dare speak  
So fowl a word: O ye wretched fools!  
Where is that better part of man become,  
whose nobler Nature hunger cannot touch,  
that can endure to feel the Carcase pine,  
Yet scorn to yield, till by a power Divine  
It's summoned to obey? Lo, where's your valour now?  
Lives it within this wretched lump of earth?  
Or is it seated in the sacred soul?  
O Heavens! have we power to make  
the most despised creature breathing here?  
And shall our daring hands presume to take  
Away the noblest? For shame remember—  1 Cap. 
No more, by heaven we will endure no longer:  
Thinkest thou with words to alter our intent?  
Come, prepare thyself, for we have sworn.  joseph. 
Hold— I do consent:  
But let me crave a little time of truce  
To make my peace with Heaven  2 Cap. 
We grant it thee.  Jo. prays apart. Io. 
I am resolved to die:  
But ere I do receive the fatal blow,  
I do command ye by the sacred tie  
Of solemn Oaths, to grant me one request.  1 Cap. 
Except thy life and ours, we yield to any thing.  Io. 
I do embrace your offer.  
Here, swear on your Honours to perform what I command.  Cap. 
We swear to do it.  They swear upon his Sword. Io. 
Since than our dying minutes do depend  
upon each others fatal Execution,  
to free each person from the bloody guilt  
Of wilful slaughter, I ordain by lots,  
Each man receive his death:  
the manner shall be this.  
Our number in the Cave is forty just,  
We will unite ourselves by two and two,  
then cast by lots which couple shall die first:  
the couple first to die shall likewise cast  
Which of them two shall kill his fellow, than  
He that remaineth shall make choice of one  
Of the next lot to take his life away.  
This done, each may in order fairly die  
Without the guilt of wilful butchery.  1 Cap. 
We like thy counsel well, make thou the lots,  
And let us to the Execution.  they enter the cave. Enter Nicanor, and Valerio. Ni. 
This search is endless, which way now Valerio?  Va. 
Faith even to bed I think.  Ni. 
Into what secret angle of the earth  
Is this distressed jew retired?  Va. 
he's not above ground sure, or if a be,  
he's metamorphosed to some other shape.  Groan in the Cave. Ni. 
Hark, what noise was that?  Va. 
Your fancy sure, I heard no noise.  Ni. 
Prithee be still and listen. Hark,  Groan again. 
I hear it now, let us go forward and inquire the cause.  Ni. 
Which way came it?  Va. 
That way:  Ni. 
Let us go soft and listen.  They go soft along, and Exeunt Enter joseph, and his follow with weapons. Cap. 
Why dost thou lead me out?  Io. 
To kill thee if thou make resistance, thoufool—  
Canst thou believe that joseph means to die  
Without his makers leave?  
Cursed be that hand that dares be listed up  
Against the power that made it,  
Even by that sacred power, whose awful name  
I dare not utter, 'tis not I fear to die,  
But to offend so great a Majesty:  Cap. 
Tush I will not hear thee, prepare thyself to fight,  
I am resolved to die.  Io. 
Be wise thou wretched man, and do not fool  
thy life away, remember who I am  
that hath preserved thee in the lot with me,  
Beware thou tempt me not too far,  
If thou resist me, by all that's good, I vow  
to kill thee, and preserve myself.  Cap. 
Thou hast prevailed, do with me what thou wilt,  Io. 
Retire we then into the Cave again, left we be discovered  They enter the Cave. Enter Valerio and Nicanor again following. Ni. 
By this light I'll follow thhee no further.  Va. 
Prithee be patiented let's search this vale,  
And on a Romans word we will retire,  
Didst thou not hear it since?  Ni. 
No, or if I did I wooed not tell thee so,  
For fear we amble out another night:  
But sure I am we are not far remote  
From whence we heard it first:  Va. 
There's surely some enchantment in this place,  
I will inquire the cause:  
What ere thou art that in this shady grove  
Dost shroud thyself from sight, whose dismal voice  
Declares the story of some sad distress.  
Be thou infernal fiend confined here,  
To dwell in darkness for a thousand year,  
Or be thou some sad soul enforced to dwell  
Within this place, till thou return to hell,  
Or be thou Goblin, Fairy Elf or Hag,  
Or Witch in shape wolf that lov'st to drag  
Poor infants to the den; what ere thou be  
If thou have power to speak, I charge thee answer me.  Speaks in the Cave. Jo. 
If thou wilt tie thyself by solemn vow.  
Not to discover me, I will declare  
Both who, and where I am:  Ni. 
Art thou there old boy?  Val. 
Tie me to any thing but that, and I will grant it thee,  
And swear to do't.  Jo. 
Art thou a Roman?  Va. 
I am.  Io. 
Swear then to bring me safe unto Vespasian.  Va. 
By all the gods I will:  Io. 
Tell me thy name,  Va. 
Valerio.  Io. 
Make now a Covenant 'twixt thyself and me,  
That what thou hast protested may appear  
Under thine hand and seal.  
Writ that thou wilt conduct both me and mine  
In safety to thy Lord Vespasian.  Writes, and reaches it to him on the end of his Lance, and then Io. and the Capt. comes out. Va. 
To give thee satisfaction I will do't:  
Where art thou now?  Opens the Cave. Io. 
Here.  
Dost thou not know me Roman?  Va. 
Art thou that brave Commander of the jews,  
Whose Martial Prowess Rome doth so admire?  jos 
Lo I am he brave Roman that have stood  
The furious shock of my distressed fate;  
Behold me now, and whilst thou look'st upon  
This lump of earth captived to thee and Rome,  
Know then that joseph dares, but cannot die,  
Our sacred Law forbids such cruelty.  Va. 
By all the ties of a true Roman word,  
Thou art nobly welcome.  Ni. 
Welcome to us both.  Io. 
To both my equal thanks,  N. 
Where are the Soldiers that escaped with thee?  Io. 
Dead all, save this, whom I desire you both  
To favour as my special friend, and one  
Whose valour may deserve your love:  
The circumstances of the others loss  
We will refer until some fit time.  Va. 
Let it be so.  
Come my brave Soldier, great Vespasian's son  
Will joy to see thee safe.  Exeunt Sound Music, and enter a Dumb Show, Vespasian and Titus two Soldiers follow bearing a Crown, Vespa. conferreth with Titus, then enter Valerio and Nicanor with joseph and the Cap. they present joseph to Vespa. joseph knelt, Vespasian and Titus embrace him; Valerio and Nicanor whisper with the Soldiers, take the Crown of them, and present it kneeling to Vespasian, he refuseth twice, they draw and force him to ascend and take it; Titus kneeleth, Vespasian embraceth him: joseph takes leave of Titus and the rest, and exit with Vespasian, and the Captains consult, and exeunt at the other doors. Chorus. 
Rome's great Commander, Nero, lately dead,  
Behold, now good Vespasian's aged head  
Enjoys the Diadem, conceive him now  
Arrived at Rome there with a solemn vow  
Of bloody war, he raiseth fresh supply  
to aid his valiant son in Galilee:  
joseph is sent to Rome by Caesar's son,  
there lives a captive till the wars begun  
Against jerusalem, mean time we pray  
Let pleasing music charm the time away.  
Finis Actus Secundies.   

Incipit Actus tertius, Scena secunda.  Enter Zareck, with jeho. Letter. 
THe times steals on apace, I must be brief in my delivery.  Knocks within. 
Who knocks!  Za. 
A servant to the Lord Ichochanan,  Seru. 
Your business?  Za. 
'tis private to your Lord,  Seru. 
I will inform him so:  Enter Skimeon. Skim. 
From whom thy business?  Za. 
Read this my Lord, and you shall be resolved.  Skim. 
My Lord, multiplicity of words protract time, the third night from the date of this you shall have entrance into the City, be sudden, strong, a bold farewell.  Reads the Letter. 
I shall not fail, commend me to thy Lord, and bid him rest assured of my appearance.  Exit. Za. 
I will my Lord.  Skim. 
Farewell, be sudden, strong, and bold; Za. I will be all.  Exit. 
But 'tis Ichochanan to work thy fall.  Enter Eleazar. Elea. 
To be, or not to be, I there's the doubt,  
For to be Sovereign by unlawful means,  
Is but to be a slave to base desire,  
And where's my honour then?  
What a strange buzzing of ambition  
Pusues my thirsty soul?  
O Eleazar! can thy traitor breast  
Give harbour to a thought of Parricide▪  
It is thy father, O the sacred tie  
Of filial duty, how that awful name  
Affrighteth all my faculties with fear—  
With fear?— of what?— with foolery by heaven;  
If there be aught within this awful name  
That can extort obedience from a son,  
'Tis but the rotten Carcase, there's the thing  
That for to please its self begets another,  
So does a beast, and yet 'twixt them we see  
An equal freedom of society:  
As for the nobler part of man we know  
That's of a higher birth, if it be so,  
Thus low my knee shall bend, but thou my heart  Bends his knee. 
Scorn to obey, remember where thou art:  
I am resolved, the times are bloody, and the people's hearts  
I hear, are bend on me: Ichochanans the man  
that I must fairly close withal, this done,  
We shall be strong for opposition.  
Soft, here a comes.  Enter Jehochanan. jehoc. 
My Lord Eleazar.  Elea. 
jehochanan, well met.  je. 
My Lord, if without a breach of manners, I might be bold to question with your Lordship; I should desire to know the secret cause of your accustomed sadness, which good my Lord (pardon my boldness) as tender of your Lordship's health and honour, I have of late observed.  Elea. 
O my jehochanan, I know thou lovest me well  embraces him. 
Nor will I in words or actions give the cause  
To say I am unthankful, though I must confess  
The greatest part of my requital, is  
Too mean for thy deserts, the means jehochanan,  
I want the means to counterpoise thy worth.  Io. 
O my gracious Lord, your love hath ever been  
A full requital to my poor deserts:  
But, good my Lord, the cause of this your sadness?  Elea. 
O I have been tormented to the soul,  
To see the strange distraction of the times,  
To see the sacred City ruled by those  
Whose poor decrepit brains are fitter far  
For drowsing pillows, than for bloody war.  je. 
My Lord your father—  Elea. 
O that cheating name,  
With what a magic spell it doth bewitch  
The crazy judgement, and besot the soul  
With adoration of this lump of earth?  je. 
You know my Lord there is a sacred tie  
enjoins obedience.  Elea. 
Tush, mere policy,  
A trick, a cheat, to keep the world in awe:  
Death, I am vexed to think how men are gulled.  je. 
My Lord, I understand not what you mean,  Elea. 
Thou canst not be so dull:  
Is't so? I dare not utter now, what I conceive,  
O my good Lord remember that your father—  Apart, Elea. 
No more, by all that's good I hate the name of father.  je. Death, I am discovered je. 
Now I have found ye Sir, and must have leave  
To tell your Lordship that you do me wrong,  
From which of all my actions have ye picked  
Even but a show of treason to the state?  Elea. 
How? ye forget yourself.  je. 
'tis you my Lord that both forget your slef and me.  Elea. 
Again?  je. 
Nay I must tell ye, 'twas not for your honour,  
Upon the buzzing of some bare report,  
To undermine your friend.  Elea. 
Speakest thou this in earnest?  je. 
I do, and will in earnest, stand  
Against that traitor whose presumptuous hand  
Dare touch your aged father.  Elea. 
Ungrateful slave, the traitor I return  
With interest of what thou dost deserve,  
Traitor to me, and traitor to the state.  je. 
This, but to play another time upon me,  
Which ended, still Iehochanan's the same.  Elea. 
Darest thou not stand for Eleazar then?  je. 
I neither dare, nor will:  Elea. 
Then I dare kill thee.  They draw and sight. je. 
Hold, art thou in earnest?  Elea. 
The tother bout will tell thee;  je. 
Swear by the honour of a loyal friend,  
And I believe it.  Elea. 
By heaven I swear, and by the sacred tie  
Of settled friendship, what my words express,  
My actions shall confirm.  je. 
Then thus I do embrace your love. Now my Lord,  
What ere the project be,  
I vow assistance and fidelity:  Elea. 
Then take it thus,  
Thou hast command to muster up thy forces,  
Let it be done with expedition,  
My doting father hath devised this plot  
To cheat the Citizens, whose greedy souls  
thirst for Vespasian's blood; but fearful, they  
while thus they gull the people, mean to pay  
the wont tribute money, and with slavish fear  
to crave a peace of the proud Emperor.  
This on my life is true, but we'll prevent it.  je. 
I but the means my Lord?  E. 
To morrow morning ere the break of day  
Muster thy forces to the market place,  
there I will meet thee with a warlike troop  
Of youthful Citizens, then we'll command  
On pain of death that none presume to stand  
for peace, or for the payment of the tribute money;  
This done, what's he that dares deny it.  je. 
My Lord, I do approve of the design,  
But fear a potent opposition,  
I therefore do advise, that we provide  
Some speedy aids to give assistance to  
Our enterprise.  Elea. 
But how shall this be done?  je. 
Leave that to me, mean while be sure to keep the time appointed:  Elea. 
I will not fail, farewel jehochanan.  Exit Eleazar. je. 
Adieu my Lord:  
Why let the Mongrel Curs go play,  
And lordly Lion's fight.  
The braver beast shall win the day,  
And so my Lord good night:  
But I forget myself:  
'tis now about the time the lazy watch  
With wary steps begin to walk the round:  
And this the night that Zareck must be here,  
I will withdraw myself, for what noise is that?  Enter the Watch. 1 W. 
Come neighbour, come; 'tis we must stand too't when all's done.  2 W. 
I neighbour, we'll stand to our tackle Je. I warrant ye.  The Watch, 'll'le steal aside. 1 
What was that that went by, neighbour?  2 
Where, where, neighbour, where?  1 
Marry there, just there something stole along,  2 
Was it not a spirit, God bless us?  1 
No, no, no, 'twas nothing but a diffusion. But as I was saying, neighbour; 'tis we must stand too't, because we be not book-learned, as they say, they count us but unlittered fellows, but let 'em say what they will, we are the very legs of the Commonwealth; for when we be drunk, the City reels for't I'm sure.  2 
Mass neighbour, and ye say true.  1 
I woo'l stand too't, that a Watchman hath more torrity than a Justice a Peace.  2 
What wool ye neighbour, how prove ye that?  1 
Marry thus I prove it: Yer watchman (taking him in his office of presermity) may be drunk by torrity of his place, because he watches the City, and no body watches him, so cannot your Justice. Again, your watchman may issue out, and reprehend any person for any fribolous offence, as murder, or the like, and for a feeling, as they call it, let him go without further excommunication, so cannot your Justice; for when the Benefactor is before him, he must nilli willi reign him according to the vigour of the Law.  2 
How say by that.  1 
Nay I heard my neighbour Timothy say, that if all your chief officers should die in a night, your watchman should be a Justice a peace himself: nay I tell ye neighbours, the depth or our places is very high  3 
See, see.  1 W. 
Well▪ come let us take our stand here, we shall see some vacant fellow, rambling this way anon, I warrant you.  2 
What must we do then neighbour?  1 
Marry we must remit 'em to prison, and then ask 'em whither they were going  3 
But what if they run away neighbour?  1 
Why then we must knock 'em down, and bid 'em stand. Nay I warrant ye neighbour, I have all you're points of law Barbatim.  1 
This gate neighbour (you wood ' mire to hear it)  
This gate— for I am sure I speak within my compass:  
This gate— Lord how the time runs away, me thinks 'twas e'en but yesterday.  
This very Gate—  Thunder. 
What was that, what was that neighbour?  2 
'Twas a clap of thunder.  1 
Man if this weather hold, we shall have a stormy night on't.  
Where did I end neighbour, can ye tell?  2 
At [gate] neighbour Oliver:  1 
Well. Well, this very gate was directed that very night that I was made a watchman, which did prognosticate (as I may say) the good service that I shooed do here.  Thunder's again. 2 
Trust me truly neighbour, if this weather hold, we shall have a soul night on't as you say.  1. 
'Twas e'en in such a night as this that my neighbour Timothy and I ran away from the Constable; for I tell ye neighbour, we are not to repose our self to the danger of such seasonable weather.  2 
May neighbour I'm e'en of your mind for that, let's go get some shelter.  1 
Content, content.  Exeunt. Thunder, and enter Zareck with a Rapier, and a wrenching Iron. Za. 
Lie there a while till I have use for thee:  Lays down the Iron, and goes sofe to the Gate. 
A, as I could wish it, this stormy night hath driven the watch away  
Beyond my hopes; why it may now be done  
With ease and safety.  Thunder. 
Speak louder, louder yet thou dreadful sky,  
Whose flaming face speaks terror to the world;  
The daring Lion now dares not approach  
The craggy mountain to devour his prey.  
the ravening Wolf lies lurking in his den,  
And howls to hear this strange combustion,  
the fatal bird of night, whose dismal voice  
Foretells some ill event, cries now for fear:  
Nor man, nor beast dares budge, yet unto me  
thou art as pleasing as the rosy morn,  
Whose lovely cheeks look smiling on the day,  
How fit thou comest to give assistance too  
My brave exploit? for now no sooner shall  
the thunder speak, but I will thunder too  
upon the gates: now, now the sport gins:  It thunders, and he wrenches the gate. 
the gates unbared, and Edomites let in,  
I'll post immediately to the Synagogue,  
And there relate with admiration  
the strange effect of the late fearful thunder,  
till I have mazed the learned fools with wonder:  thunder again, he opens the gates. 
Again, again, again, once more, and then 'tis done  
And bravely too, without suspicion.  Enter L. Skimeon with others, with torch's, Rapiers, and a Drum. Za. 
My Lord?  Sk. 
Thou art a trusty fellow, I will reward thy pains,  
Where is thy Lord?  Za. 
Fellow me, I will conduct ye to him.  About to go out. Enter Jehochanan, and others, with torch's and Rapiers. Je. 
Welcome, my dearest friend, come we'll away,  
And take our stand within the market place,  
Strike up the Drum, the dreadful noise will fright  
the drowsy Prelates in the dead of night.  Exeunt. Enter H. Priest and Gorion at several doors in haste, with Night-gowns and tapers. H. P. 
O Gorion we are lost,  
the Rebel Skimeon with his ragged band  
of thiefs, and Cutthroats, this tempestuous night  
Hath gotten entrance, Jechochanan I fear  
will join his forces too, speak Gorion, speak,  
What's to be done?  Go. 
we'll take the temple for our sanctuary,  
thither the Citizens will boldly come.  H. P. 
We must be speedy then, O Gorion, we  
want time to weep for our calamity.  Enter Mechanics with Weapons. Cap. 
Come on my brave elbow blades, my roaring Renegadoes, and my ragged Ruffians, which side shall we take now?  1 
Marry my brave Captain of the ragged Regiment, we will take the strongest.  Cap. 
Mark me my valiant Myrmidons.  2. Me. 
Mark him, mark him.  C. 
I will instruct ye in the Rudiments of war;  1. M. 
A will instruct us rudely in the war; mark him, mark him.  Cap. 
When I your brave Commander bid you stand,  
Be sure ye budge not, Hum, Hum, Stand:  1 M. 
Why so we do, don't we?  C. 
March up in equal rank.  2 M. 
We are not such fools I trow; did not a bid us stand?  1 M. 
I marry did a, we want budge an inch I warrant him.  Cap. 
By the bright honour of mine Eminence  
My reputation will be quite defaced.  
I must indoctrinate their dull capacities  
With a more ample measure of my meaning:  
Advance your Bilbows thus:  They advance. Look over their shoulders. 
Now faces about.  C. 
Now Mars defend me, what a rabblement  
Of rude disordered Rebels have I met with all?  1 M. 
O ho faces about; follow me, follow me.  Cap. 
Well done my valiant Varlets,  
Now march each man with fury in his face,  
And I your valiant Don  
will lead you on  
unto the Market place.  Enter Zareck. M. 
O ho, here comes one, knock him down, down with him.  Ca 
Hold I say, he comes perhaps to join in our Batalio,  
Whose side art thou on fellow? speak, why dost not speak? Ha.  Za. 
Your patience, and I'll declare my business.  1 Me. 
Patience? we scorn patience, we must march in fury.  2 M. 
Down with him, down with him, does a talk of patience?  Cap. 
Silence, I say, ye shallow-brained simplicians,  
For we are pleased to hear his embassy.  1 
Silence, silence, and listen to the emphasis.  Apart. Za. 
Unless ● speak in some unheard of stile  
'tis sure impostible to get fairly off:  
Most indefatigable Commander, and cabalistical Captain of this most enormous equipage.  Cap. 
The stile is most profound, and enigmatical,  Za. 
From the three Captains of the Regiment  
I was commanded to acoast thy greatness:  Cap. 
Hum, hum, declare the sum of thy concernancy.  Za. 
I will be most concise,  
By the energetical power of this my embassy, I do command thee tell why thou art up in Arms.  Cap. 
Thou hast concocted the crudities of my stomach into choler, and I am displeased at thy most profuse evaporation.  
Talk'st thou of commanding fellow, Ha?  Za. 
Mistake me not, most mighty man at Arms.  Cap. 
Avaunt thou vapour of indingity,  
Go tell thy Lord, I'll parley with himself.  Za. 
I will return thy most elaborate encounter.  Exit. Cap. 
Now by mine honour, I am moved with mighty indignation, and will approach in my fury: Come follow my boys, follow.  M. 
Fellow, follow.  Exeunt. Enter Ananias and Gorion with weapons, and Eleazar, Jeho, Skimeon, with weapons at several doors. Ananias. 
Goodness defend me, am I awake? or do I dream of horror?  Starts back at the sight of his son. 
Look up ye wretched eyes, and gaze your fill,  
Glut all the greedy faculties of soul  
With this prodigivos sight:  
Rebellious boy, I do command thee kneel:  Elea. smiles. 
By all that's good a laughs, laughs me to scorn,  
And still persists, even to my face persists with mockery.  
Assist me heaven, and thou distressed earth,  
Extend thy forces to the highest strain  
Of man's invention; let this fatal hour  
Extort the noblest of thine aged power:  
Ignoble, irreligious, Parricide,  
Monster of men, rebellious runagate;  
By the Celestial powers severe commands,  
By filial duty, and the sacred tie  
Of jewries Law, or if by none of, these,  
By that eternal vengeance that shall  
Fall upon thy cursed head; I do command thee kneel.  
Guard me ye blessed ones, and look up  E. laughs. 
the great affliction of a poor old man.  Elea. 
I knew the froward humour must have vent:  
Now it has eased itself, and will not be so tutchy.  
Why thou impetuous fool, canst thou expect  
Obedience from a Son?  
Look, look but upon thyself, and see  
Of what decrepped age and misery  
thou art composed: Behold the reeling State  
Distracted, feeble, sick, and ruinated,  
turned topsy-turvy by thy doting brain.  
And canst thou dream of Sovereignty?  An. 
O my distressed Fate!  
Ingrateful Cur, that hast been bred to prove  
An open shame to all posterity.  
Behold me wretch, and whilst thou look'st upon  
A Son's Rebellion, and a Father's wrong;  
Curse the detested hour that did beguile  
Thy erring soul with this pernicious plot.  Elea. 
Peace dotard, I will hear no more:  
the rotten tooth infects the wholesome gunt,  
Is noisome, painful, lose and troublesome,  
Hinders the growth of that that must succeed,  
And must be drawn.  Enter Mechanics. Cap. 
Come follow, follow my boys, follow.  Go. 
Welcome my worthy citizens, thrice welcome all.  Cap. 
Gramercy old bully.  Go. 
Behold—  Sk. 
If ye respect your lives and liberties, hear not the babbler speak.  Go. 
Behold dear countrymen, behold a man,  Points to the highpriest. 
Your Priest, your Prophet, and your Sovereign:  
Religious, wise, and zealous for the state,  
Even from his Infancy immaculate.  Cap. 
Be brief, be brief old boy.  
Behold a Son; O heaven! why do I call  
Him son? behold a villain most unnatural,  
A cursed wtetch, that dares devise a plot  
to cheat te State, and cut the Kingdom's throat.  Cap. 
How's that? how's that? cheaters and cutthroats, cheaters and cutthroats, I like not that Barlady.  Me. 
Look to your pockets boys, look to your pockets, they be cheaters.  Go. 
O can ye see those precious tears run down,  
And not be moved with pity?  Ananias weeps. M. 
Pity! hang pity, we are Soldiers, we scorn pity.  je. 
Dear friends, wise Citizens, and valiant country men]  Salutes them. M. 
I, I, let us alone for Wisdom and Valour.  Cap. 
Let the circle of thy circumference be moved to his proper place.  1 M. 
What dye mean I what dye mean? pray be covered.  2 M. 
Go not too near him Captain, for all this, the more curtsy, the more craft.  An. 
Ingrateful slave, darest thou oppose thyself 'gainst him that gave thee life and liberty?  Go. 
O hear him not dear friends, a will beguile  
Your honest understandings.  C. 
Beguile a pudding, speak on Jockey, speak on.  je. 
That you are zealous for your Country's good,  
I nothing doubt; nor do I fear your love  
And fair attentions.  
Mark then dear Countrymen, mark I beseech you,  
And with your deep discretions truly weigh  
the scope of our proceed.  Cap. 
Hum, hum, begin my man of mettle.  je. 
In the black tempest of a shipwrecked State,  
When Prince and People staggered with the load  
Of sad Oppression; when the people's groans,  
When Mother's tears, and Infants miseries  
Were at the full; where, where was then the man  
that durst oppose this strange confusion?  
Was it not I, my valiant Coutrey-men?  
Behold jehochanan darest boldly say,  
'twas he that forced that bastard King from hence,  
that slew the Roman Lords, that did deny  
to yield to Rome's outrageous cruelty:  
'tis not unknown unto the meanest here?  M. 
What's that? does a make mean fellows of us?  je. 
Mistake me not, I know ye worthy all,  
All men of judgement, wise and valiant all.  
Yet give me leave dear friends to let ye know  
there are degrees of worth,  M. 
O ho, we mistoost him, we mistook him, we are mean in worth that's well, that's well; go on my brave Captain.  je. 
'Tis not unknown I say, what heavy yokes  
Observe the word dear friends, for 'tis emphatical.  Cap. 
Very good, an emphatical yoke.  je. 
What heavy yokes I say have been imposed  
Upon this injured Nation.  
What loads of sorrows have been laid upon  
Our weary loins, and yet (O heavens) to see  M. O Heavens 
With what strange patience and humility  
We have endured it.  
Are not your Kings deposed, your freedoms lost,  
Your Laws transacted, and your goods despoiled,  
Your Wives abused, your children massacred,  
Your Rulers banished, and yourselves become  
A scorn to all posterity?  
Will ye be asses still, and bear this heavy load?  
Will ye be slaves for ever? Can there be  
At least a thought of such stupidity?  M. 
How's that! how's that! a calls us slaves and asses:  
Down with him, Captain, down with him.  Cap. 
Hold, hold I say, my ragged rustics,  
For his Emphasis will bear it.  M. 
His Emphasis bear it! his Emphasis' an ass,  
We scorn to bear it; down with him I say, down with him.  Cap. 
Now by the might of my omnipotence, he that dares strike a blow, a sahll feel the fury of mine indignation.  Elea. 
And now dear Countrymen behold the man,  
Your Priest, your Prophet, and your Sovereign.  An. 
Darest thou to boast in thy impiety?  Skim. 
If ye be freemen let me hear ye cry,  
Lord Eleazar, Life and Liberty.  All M. 
A Freeman, a Freeman, a Freeman; down with old grey beard, down with grey beard.  Go. 
Curse on that wicked hand that dares a blow against that sacred head; let it be seized with death by a Divine revenge;  
Or let it ever be  
A withered member of impiety.  
But if the wicked fury must have vent,  
Upon my knees I beg, let it be poured out  
Upon this head of mine.  
O Eleazar, canst thou look upon  
the great afflictions of this good old man,  
And not be drowned in tears of penitence?  
Behold the torrent of his grief is such,  
A has not power to express his misery.  
A has no eyes to weep no tongue to speak,  
No sense to comfort, but a heart to break.  Elea. 
There's something in this old enchanters tongue that will beguile me; peace, I will hear no more.  Go. 
Then mayst thou ne'er be heard of heaven.  
Behold, the highest strain of misery,  
old Gorion begs even of his enemy.  Elea. 
Peace impotent fool, I say, I will hear no more.  Go. 
Then thou must stop thine ear, for I must speak:  Elea. 
Come Soldiers, let's away, hear not the babbler speak.  M. 
No, no, no, we'll hear no impudent old men.  Cap. 
March on my man of mettle, we will follow thee through thick and thin, up ro the chin In blood, my bonny buntings.  Exeunt omnes, but high Priest and Gorion Go. 
Heaven give thee strength to bear this misery.  An. 
In what a labyrinth of wretchedness  
Dwells this forsaken City! how the streets  
Swarm with the sons of death! the sons of death 1  
O may that name of son for ever die,  
And yet nought but the Name, the wretched Name:  
Long my the Substance live: the Substance— why?  
What is the Substance? If the Name be foul,  
Farewell the rest for ever. And yer methinks it were  
too short a time to take so long a leave:  
Stay then, what is the Substance? the Substonce is my son,  
Again my son: I'll say it is myself,  
My very self divided from myself:  
And then methinks 'tis wondrous strange to see  
(And yet 'tis wondrous true myself to be  
A butcher to myself: And then— if it be so,  
Why do I blame a Son— was it not I.  
that gave him shape, and life, his faculties  
Of will and reason? to do well or ill, are from above.  
Had a been born a beast, a had been free  
From such unheard-of, cursed cruelty,  Go. 
How strongly Nature works, ere it can part  
With that it wooed effect.  An. 
O Eleazar, if thou wert not mine,  
I could be happy in my misery.  
Thou art a villain, yet thou art my son,  
My son, and yet a villain; there's a word  
Able to make a Father's heartstrings crack,  Go. 
No more good man.  An. 
Strange actions I have heard  
have sometimes wrought strange alterations.  
Were it not strange to see the Sun go back,  
Or borrow light of the unconstant Moon!  
Were it not strange to see the Cedar bend,  
And do his homage to the lowly shrub  
Or to behold the stately Lion crouch,  
And stand in fear of the dejected Lamb;  
If none of these may yet seem strange, behold  
A thing more strange; the head must serve the heel,  
The Villain Son must stand, the Father kneel.  
O Gorion! if one spark of love be left  
In that ingrateful breast; or if there be  
At least one dram of goodness yet remaining,  
this act will penetrate his erring soul,  
Startle his Conscience, and amaze the will,  
Affright the judgement, and divert the plot,  
the bloody plot: O! I am lost with grief,  
And do I know not what— And yet it must be done:  
Come, go with me I say, for I will kneel.  Go. 
Heaven send thee comfort in this ecstasy.  Exeunt. Enter a Carter with his whip, at one door whistling, and the Lady Miriams' man, Peter, at another. Peter. 
What, brother Pennel, what a mutren makest thou here.  
Nay, nay, nay, I prithee leave thy whewing, and tell me what thou makest here— 
* apart  no! I'll hold a groat I'll make ye leave anon; why firrah, if thou didst but behold what a pitiful pernicious face thou makest with whistling, thou wouldst take up stones and throw at it.  Pen. 
Take heed thou dost not whistle Peter.  P. O. I thought I should put ye out a tune. Pet. 
Why prithee?  Pen. 
I can hardly endure thy face without it.  
If thou shouldst whistle, thou wert utterly undone,  
I should never for bear throwing at it.  Pet. 
Well contorted efaith boy!  Ped. 
Nay I can tell ye Peter, for wit and understanding I am not regenerate, as they say, for my Father had as much knowledge as any man of his understanding in the town I woos.  Pet. 
Well, well, well, I have nothing to do with knowledge and understanding  Pen. 
The thou'rt a fool Peter.  Pet. 
I am won of your making then, and indeed it may well be for they say won fool makes many: I think I was even w'ye there for the fool.  Pen. 
Excellent good efaith Peter.  Pet. 
Nay I can tell ye, I had a Father too; well, well, I know what  
I know; but all's one for 〈◊〉— 'em, 'em: But I prithee boy tell me,  
tell me what makest thou here?  Pen. whistles. 
By this hand if thou wil●hor leave whistling,  
I le throw stones.  Pen. 
Why canst not thou tell what I make here?  Pet. 
Not I as I am a Gentleman.  Pen. 
Why thou hearst I make music bully.  Pet. 
Music with a pox, prithee leave making Music, and make me an answer.  Pen. 
Marry than I will tell thee what I make here:  
I am come to follow the wars my boy:  
They say the new Captains entertain all comers,  
And I am all on fire to be at it.  
O— methinks I could so pepper thee now.  Pet. 
Oh— oh— prithee hold, or else I shall need to be salted too:  
But efaith boy, art in earnest? if thou be'st, shake hands, shake hands.  Pen. 
Why thou art not run away from thy Lady too, art?  Pet. 
No— but I am sent of an everlasting Errand, and will leave the answer to my Executors: I'm for push a pike boy.  Pen. 
Stand close, stand close, here come, the Captains.  Enter Eleazar, Skimeon, and Zareck with a Paper in his hand. Elea. 
The Commons are in arms against us Skimeon,  
And resolutely take our Father's part;  
Yet he, I hear, gives no allowance too't,  
But rhinks with fair persuasions to prevail:  
But we are armed with resolution.  Sk. 
We must be wise my Lord; those aged hairs  
Are taught by long experience to entrap  
our younger brains; and this may be a plot  
to take us at ' advantage.  
Therefore my Lord, in time let me advise  
that we increase our forces speedily:  
Let us make know ● the Proclamation.  Elea. 
Read the Contents of it once again.  Zareck reads. Whosoever listeth to be rid from the bondage of his Master, or hath any injury in his Country; or what servant soever desireth to beset at liberty; or who so cannot abide the rule of his father or his mother; all that be in debate, and stand in fear of their Creditors, or fear the jews for shedding innocent blood▪ If there be any man that is accused of any notorious crime, & in danger therefore: To be short, whosoever is disposed to rob, to haunt Whores, to murder, and to live freely at other men's cost, let him come to me, and I will relieve him. Pet. 
O rare! I am ravished, I am ravished, the wenches, the wenches boy  Elea. 
I do not like the Proclamation,  
the subject sounds too harsh, and will beget  
Distractions in the graver Citizens.  Skim. 
Death, what need we care for that,  
So we be strong for opposition.  Elea. 
Delays are dangerous, and we may be surprised  
Indeed upon the sudden: well— let it be done,  
But in thy Name, for I must seem to be  
Upright and zealous for their liberty.  Enter the High Priest and Gorion, the High Priest knelt. Ananias, 
Behold young man, thy aged Father knelt;  
And knnels to thee, even unto thee his Son,  
And begs with tears, with tears of bitterness,  
the ransom of thy soul, and of the State,  
Both lost for ever, ever lost if thou persist.  Elea. 
Patience defend me, or I shall be o'recom.  Sk. 
Take heed ye be not caught.  Elea. 
Caught! is't possible for man to view this sight,  Apart. 
this most prodigious sight, and not be caught?  
O Heavens! Did I not hear him say a was my Father?  Go this passion I hope, will work some good effect. the Carter comes. 
Have I not heard him beg, and seen him kneel?  
Had a been Jewries slave, a could have done no more.  
Is't possible these Rivulets of blood should flow  
From such a Fountain. Come hither fellow.  
Time and Maturity do seem to say  Pet. he'll hang him sure. 
thou mayest have been a Father to a Son:  
tell me, hadst thou e'er a son?  Cart. 
Had, I, and have too, an't like your Worship, or chood be zorry.  Elea. 
The power of Nature works as strong in thee  
As in thy Prince; thou lov'st him too, I know.  Cart. 
By th'mass I zee your Worship's vilely cunning: I do indeed.  Elea. 
Couldst thou afford upon some weighty cause,  
(Suppose to save thy life) to kneel unto thy son?  Car. 
Kads nails, kneel, I scorn that esaith,  
I'll make the Looby kneel to me, I'll warrant him.  El. 
Come hither; seest thou this old man? Car. Ay,  
Canst thou believe this man to be my Father?  C. 
Father ketha, no by my troth not I.  El. 
Up thou decrepped lump of vanity.  
thou base impostor that wouldst cheat the world  
With a supposed Name; thou beastly shame  
Of Age and Honour, thou indignity  
Unto thyself, and thy Posterity.  
Come, come, disrobe thyself, I say, and yield  Whilst he speaks, he disrobes him. 
these ornaments to him that scorns to kneel:  
Here fellow, put 'em off; put 'em on, I say, for I will have it so.  
Let our Proclamation be published.  Za. 
It shall my Lord.  Exit Elea. Skim. and Zareck at one door, and Anna. & Gor. at the other, weeping, and after them the Carter whistling Pet. 
Saint Pennel, ' saint Pennel.  
The height of his preferment will not let him answer me,  
Well, I am astonished to think what honour I shall come too.  
Finis Actus primus.   

Incipit Actus Quartus.  Enter Titus, Valerio, Nicanor. Titus. 
NOw fellow-soldiers, what? Methinks ye look  
Not smiling on Vespasian's Son.  
Let not the miss of your old Captain strike  
Your manly hearts with grief: Come, come let me  
See your cheerful countenances speak  
My hearty welcome; Courage noble friends,  
For know, there's not a dram of worth infused  
Within Vespasian's noble loins, but lives  
Invested here: these lusty Roman veins  
Swell high as ere did his, with hopeful pride  
Of happy victory; this loyal breast  
Harbours a heart as full of Clemency  
If gently sought unto; but slighted once,  
the daring Lion harbours one more mild,  
More merciful the I▪ I tell ye Lords,  
I'll not expect more duty from your hands,  
than my deserving actions truly weighed,  
Shall justly challenge: And be thus assured,  
My aged Father thus far I'll outdo,  
there's not a tittle of his former promises  
to either here, but shall by me be crowned  
With fair performance.  
To witness which, we give you joint Command  
And Martial Power, as next unto ourselves.  Val. 
My gracious Lord, the best of my endeavours  
Shall strive to merit what your noble hand  
Hath now conferred; my hearts best blood my Lord  
Shall seal my faithful protestation.  Ni. 
My actions, my good Lord, shall better speak  
My humble thanks, than my unskilful phrase:  
Mean time your Lordship's pardon for my silence.  Ti. 
'tis well: Now I must tell ye Lords,  
As I have ripped my heart to let you see  
My life's Compendium. I expect that you  
Should shape your actions to deserve my love:  
For I must tell ye Lords, 'tis not a formal show  
of gilded words that can persuade me so:  
Let me behold your brave attempts pursue  
Imperious victory through seas of blood;  
Your panting souls in midst of Massacre,  
thirst after Honour, till the reaking blade  
cry, 'tis enough.  
Have ye not seen when in a bloody fray  
My Noble Father hath been left alone,  
Alone, begirt with ranks of Enemies,  
Whose strong Batalios kept all rescue from him:  
How then, even then when horror infinite  
Stood gazing on him with a grim aspect,  
How then (I say) his daring countenance  
Stood in defiance of them all at once:  
How the more danger, still the more he durst,  
Like a strange Mastiff fiercely set upon  
by mongrel Curs in number ten to one,  
With angry teeth, and courage bravely bold,  
A snarls, and snaps; now this, now that doth by't,  
And stoutly still maintains the unequal fight  
with equal fury, till the bawling curses  
be quite dispersed: So he,  
but with such Kingly awful Majesty,  
as if in midst of this confusion  
A found but sport of recreation.  
Such and so daring must you be my Lords,  
to gain my love, and win your country honour.  Ni. 
My Lord, our lives & Fortunes weighed with either,  
We prise at nothing; nor can we desire  
more felicity then to enjoy  
the least of either.  Va. 
My honoured Lord, your most exact command  
will teach us Valour had we ne'er been, trained  
in Martial Discipline.  Ti. 
I like your answers well, saving that yours Valerio,  
favours too much of flattery— and yet  
upon life thou art not that way guilty.  
And trust me soldiers I am confident  
Your words and actions will in all points sympathise:  
But we trifle time, and most redeem it  
by a strict survey of our proceed.  Enter Joseph from Rome. je. 
From great Vespasian my most honoured Lord,  
I come to do thee humble service.  Ti. 
Now by my life thou it welcome, welcome worthy friends  
Our Royal Father ne'er could send a man  
More dear in our affection.  
Thou comest as we could wish thee, joseph;  
to morrow we intent to parley with jerusalem;  
thy friendly presence may perchance persuade  
thy Countrymen to yield subjection:  
If they refuse, by the Majestic power  
Of mighty Cesar's sacred Diadem,  
I'll scourge their pride with such severity,  
shall make the Rebels curse their misery.  Exeunt. 
Come my endeared friend.  Takes Jo. by the hand. Enter Zareck. 
The three seditious Captains are at odds,  
Each hunts the other's lives yet all do bear  
A fair pretence of friendship to each other;  
Each seeks for sovereignty; whilst, Sinon, I  
With protestations of integrity  
And zealous love, do fairly close with all;  
For being friends to all in time of league,  
'twill be a riddle to the wisest pate,  
Whose love I prized most; then I protest  
With what obsequious care and willing pains,  
My wits are wearied to design a plot  
Whose wary circumstances may descry  
All show of falsehood in the enterprise,  
to trip the heels of either enemy;  
then show the time, the place, the manner how  
to do't: O I am tickled with the fine conceit.  
My Father in a fair and good estate,  
Was by these Rebels robbed and spoiled of all,  
And I his son left naked to the world,  
poor and dejected, till my working brain  
Projected this employment to relieve me;  
Since when, I have been busied for revenge:  
O how methinks that very word Revenge,  
Alleys the fury of my discontent!  
But soft; 'tis much about the time they should be here:  
I will withdraw myself.  Zareck stands behind the hang. Enter Eleazar. 
I must be wise, and  my pleasing phrase,  
With fair pretence of peace and amity.  
The blustering wind commands with angry brow,  
The toiling travellier to leave his Cloak;  
the storm increases, but the pelting man  
still gripes it faster, till the pleasing Sun  
By gentle rays entreats him lay it down.  Enter L. Jehochanan and L. Skimeon jeho. 
Good morrow to the Lord Eleazar.  A tubla set, and Zareck stands behind the Arras. Elea. 
Welcome jehochanan, welcome noble friends,  
Come, sit we down, and each man freely speak  
His cause of grievance: Ah my worthy friends,  
Dissension is amongst us: Upon my life I dare  
presume there is some strange mistake,  
For else it cannot be that we should differ.  je. 
Some strange mistake? Indeed my Lord 'twas strange  
Your Lordship should mistake yourself so much,  
And us your friends (your friends! nay more my Lord, than friends,  
For friends are formal now:) the strength of your designs:  
To send to us a public messenger  
to summon us upon command to be  
Attendants on your Lordship's pleasure!  
My Lord, this was not fair nor friendly.  E. 
Not fair my Lords, nor friendly! which of you  
that stood in equal terms of honour with myself,  
Wooed lose one tittle of that Dignity  
that fairly ranked this state and quality  
Was it for me to say, I wooed intre●t●  
Was not the Message public?  
Had it been private, you should then have seen  
My fair respect, and friendly love to either.  
But, as it was my Lord—  L. Skim. 
Nay, than I must have leave to tell ye Sir,  
Your Honour swells too high, and must be qualified  
In equal terms of Honour with yourself:  
My Lord, I dare affirm thus Simeon stands  
In equal terms of honour with yourself.  Elea. 
How's that?  Sim. 
Nay good my Lord, your Father's yet alive,  
And you are then a private man 〈◊〉 we.  Elea. 
This— is in jest, to see how I can poise  
A Friend's affection, or perchance— totry the bent of mine.  Sim 
Your Honour may do we●● to pass it so,  
Or else, perchance your Lordship may be angry.  
And then— how much your health may be impaired  
With such distemper, may perhaps—  Elea. 
No more.  
I was not wont to be ridiculous:  
Nor did I come to hear such airy talk.  
If this be earnest, let me hear who dares  
pronounc'tagen.  je. 
Who dares! that brave reflects on me,  
that dare stand up spurn at that, and thee.  Ell. 
Is't possible!  S. 
jehochanan, thou dost me open wrong to intercept me:  
The cause was mine; to me it did belong  
to give an answer. Were't thou not who thou art,  
I should not take this well.  je. 
Simeon, I am as deep engaged as thou,  
And will have leave to prise mine Honour highest.  S. 
And will have leave!  je. 
I say, and will have leave, and say't again.  S. 
Death, thou darest not say't again.  Za. Apart, is works, je. 
Dare not!  Elea. 
I do command ye cease  
For shame give o'er this rash behaviour:  
Is this a time to broach a Faction,  
When Caesar's son has conquered Galilee,  
And now is marching to jerusalem  je. 
Command thy slaves, proud man, for I am free,  
And will command myself.  E. 
Villain.  je. 
Thou liest.  E. 
O my enraged sold, must I endure all this?  S. 
All this and more, thou must endure me too.  E. 
Must Simeon?  S. 
I must I say, and shall:  
Couldst thou dart lightnings from thy countenance,  
Thus wooed I meet thee, and outface thee thus.  E. 
O I am lost in rage, and can endure no longer.  They draw, and a trumpet sounds from within. Enter an Merauld. Her. 
From Cesar's sons, brave Lords, I come to say  
He offers parley to Jerusalem:  
The time prefixed is the next morning sun.  Elea. 
Go tell thy Master we accept it.  H. 
I shall return your answer.  Exit. El. 
This is no time to sight, nor will I now  
Stand to defend mine honour: But stay,  
before we sheathe our weapons let us swear  
Howe'er our private quarrel may proceed,  
That we will still maintain each other's part  
Against Vespaian's son.  Both: 
We are content.  E. 
Your hands.  Lay hands on the Sword. 
By a true soldier's Honour we do swear,  
Fairly to friend each other in the field,  
And jointly to oppose Vespasian.  Both: 
We swear to do't.  E. 
The same swear I.  
I shall expect you both to morrow early.  Both. 
We will not miss the hour  Exeunt at several ways. Za. 
The Furies are broke lose, if either fall,  
Zarech may rise to be a General.  Exit. Enter Perter with a Sword and Buckler, leading Gorion manacled with an halter about his neck, apparelled in a Canvas suit. Pet. 
Come, come sir, come away, sir, come away.  G. 
Nay, prithee friend be not so rigorous,  
Give me a little time to breathe a while.  Pet 
Breathe a while! I, I, I'll breathe ye, I warrant ye.  
Come, come follow me, follow me, I say,  
Ye shall want for no breathing.  Go. 
Inhuman wretch, I cannot follow thee:  
Thou hast already wearied out my limbs  
With thy ingrateful usage.  P. 
Nay, nay, nay sir, all's one for that,  
Limbs, or not limbs; I say, Folllow me.  Drags him along, & exeunt. Beat Drum within, and enter Titus, Joseph, Valerio and Nicanor at one door, and the three Captains at the other, and after them Peter, leading old Gorion in the Halter. P. 
Come forward I say, a comes like a, Bear to the stake.  Titus. 
What means this spectacle of misery?  Io. 
O Titus, 'tis my Father.  
Wert thou enthralled in more captivity,  
Thus low would joseph bow to do thee honour.  Jo. knelt, & Go weeps. 
I never felt myself so far surprised  
With sudden passion; Nature is o'er charged,  
And fain wooed have some vent. I fear  
I shall forget myself: fie joseph, fie,  apart. 
Art thou a soldier? So— now the stream is turned.  Ti. 
Now my brave Lords of Jewry, which of you stands chief Commander in this bold Rebellion?  Elea. 
Rebellion, Titus!  S. 
Speak that word again,  
And Simeon dares reply that Titus lies.  Ti. 
Should Titus speak't again, 'twere still the same,  
Nor is it less spoke once,  je. 
Then know bold Roman, Jewries sons are free,  
And scorn to bend to Cesar, or to thee  Ti. 
The sturdy stick that will not bend, must break.  E. 
But not with Titus Arm, nor Cesar too.  Jo. 
A● dearest countrymen, I come not here  
to lift mine arm against Jerusalem,  
But to lament it, Lords; for well I know,  
the heavens have fore-decreed your overthrow:  
The great Chaldeans Golden Head is laid,  
the mighty Persians silver Arms are lopped;  
the Grecians thighs of brass are broken down:  
What's then remaining but those Iron Legs  
On which the sturdy Roman Empire stands,  
And stamps the World to Powder: Ah my Lords  
Will ye contend with Fate?  jehoc. 
Peace thou base coward, that to save thy life  
Hast lost thine honour.  
Thou comest with fawning zeal to beg for mercy.  joseph. 
To beg for mercy! then mercy ne'er protect me.  
Forgive me Heaven, that I am forced to draw  
My sword against myself, my Native countrymen.  Draws. Tit. 
Now by my life they come to brave me here.  
Rebels, those lordly hearts of yours shall bleed;  
By all the Gods they shall—  
Deliver up that aged prisoner,  
Or by the Roman Powers ye shall repent it.  Schim. 
Not for the Roman Crown.  Elea. 
Led him away to torture.  
Come, come, come away sir, I'll tickle him with tortures.  Io. 
O my distressed Fate!  Ti. 
Villains, there's not a torture you inflict  
Upon those aged limbs, but I'll return  
With millions on your own.  Sound Drum's, and exeunt omnes. Beat Drums, and they fight within; then enter Joseph and fights with Eleazar, and exeunt. Enter Valerio and fights with Jehoc. and exeunt. Enter Nicanor, fights with Simeon, and exeunt: The three seditious are repulsed: then enter Titus, and meets with Eleazar, they fight: then enter Jehoc. and Simeon at several Doors: Titus fights with the three: Eleazar cries, kill him: Jehochanan, take him alive: Simeon cries the second time, kill him: Jehochanan, take him alive. Eleazar the third time kill him: Jehochanan, take him alive. Titus makes way through them wounded, and escapes. E. 
Death and the Devil, why did ye let him scape?  S. 
O we are finely cheated of the booty,  
And shall be laughed to scorn: Death, I could tear my flesh.  je. 
Stand ye to beat the air with idle words?  
Let's follow close, and find him out again.  
Disperse yourselves, and follow.  Exeunt at several ways Enter Peter. 
Call ye this Honour? a pox of honour,  
Give me honesty, downright honesty!  
'Zounds, break one's head, and give him no warning!  
I wooed not have Honour come so fast upon me neither.  Looks who comes. 
I'm peppered with a vengeance: Farewell Honour,  
I'll to my Lady again.  Exit. Enter Titus wounded: josephus, Valerio, Nicanor, follow. Io. 
How fares my Lord?  Ti. 
Well my josephus, trust me, passing well:  
'tis Titus glory to be bathed in blood:  
Now by mine Honour joseph, I am glad  
to see such valour in thy Countrymen:  
the charge was hot, and bravely seconded.  
Didst thou not see where I was forced to fight,  
to man the Front, that then began recoil.  Io. 
My Lord I did.  Tit. 
There my brave Lords, mine Honour lay at stake,  
there was I round begirt with Enemies,  
and must be ransomed by mine own desert:  
O my Valerio! then I called to mind  
the great Vespasian: the Tiberius;  
then mighty Julius: and then—  
Armed with disdain and envy, I assailed  
the stout Jehochanan, than Skimeon,  
then Lordly Eleazar, then all; and then  
Stood all their bold repulses back again.  
There I received these wounds; and then, at last  
Rapt into rage with fury and revenge,  
Sweeting, and bleeding, in despite of all  
this arm maintained me still a General.  
But now no more of this:  
A more convenient time shall fit serve  
For this discourse. Come worthy Soldier:  Exeunt o●. 
My wounds are stiff, I must retire myself.  Enter L. Eleazar with his Rapier drawn. 
The glorious prey is lost:  Puts his Rapier. 
Now Eleazar, to thy other business.  
I do remember well, a sed, my father was alive:  
And then— as if my father's life were my disgrace,  
A slighted me with scorn— It must be so,  
My father must not live: I am resolved.  Exit. Enter Jehochanan, his Rapier drawn. 
A pair of precious Villains! By this light  Puts up his Rapier. 
I laugh to think how finely they are cheated.  
The Lordly Eleazar wooed be King;  
And so wooed Simeon too. Both aim at me:  
But I will live in spite of policy.  Exit. Enter Simeon wounded. 
The game is ended, and the Deer escaped;  
the night draws on apace, and I am hurt.  Exit. Enter Eleazar and Zareck. Elea. 
The time's within this hour: make haste, I say,  
And fit thyself with instruments of death,  
Small pocket-daggers. But be sure thou hast  
A special care that no o'er reaching eye  
Detect the plot.  
Then with a cloak of seeming sanctity,  
Deject behaviour, visage meanly sad,  
Eyes full of tears; but heart replete with blood:  
Low bending to my aged father; Say—  
What thy more wary wits shall think upon:  
But on thy life take heed thou fail not.  Zar. 
Not for the world.  Elea. 
The time draws on apace they should be here:  
I must disarm myself and wait their coming.  disarms 
There's something troubles me, all is not well within.  
I would not see him fall: and yet I must.  
O Eleazar— but I forget myself:  Exit. A noise of still music; and Enter the high Priest with attendants, Guards, and Choristers: they sing. An Altar and Tapers set: 
See those buildings where once thy glory lived in,  
with heavenly essence:  
See how it droopeth, and how nakedly it looketh  
Without thy presence:  
Hark how thy captive people mourn  
With heavy moaning,  
and grievous groaning,  
For thy being absent,  
And for the heathens scorn:  
Because thy people are by thee forlorn.  
See those tapers, which once inflamed those vapours  
Of our sweet Peace.  
See those places, where we once enjoyed those graces,  
Which now do cease.  
O See the Altar whereas we  
Enjoyed those blisses,  
With heavenly kisses  
From thy free love,  
And from thy Clemency:  
Whilst we did sing to thee melodiously:  Exeunt Quir. H. P. 
leave us to our Devotion.  
Enter Za. he bows to the high Priest, and declares by signs his son's submission: he lifts up his hands in token of Thankfulness, and weeps.  H. P. 
Thou com'st with happy news: go call him in.  Calls him Enter Eleazar, and knelt. E. 
Ah my much wronged Father!  An. 
This is beyond my hopes: stand up young man:  
Heaven give thee pardon for thy great offence.  
Where are thy confederates?  E. 
I would not be o'er. heard.  A. 
Dismiss the guard there, we would be private.  E. 
My Lord, I have a secret to disclose,  Za. looks if none be coming in. 
Of such importance, that I fear—  A. 
I will not be disturbed, what ere it be.  
For heaven's love let me ha'te.  Za. 
Thou hast thine own desire  Stabs him. A. 
O Eleazar.  Za. 
'tis done.  E. 
'tis bravely done: I will reward the Zareck.  Z. 
Tush, I am happy in the fine exploit.  E. 
Now for the crafty close,  puts the dagger into his hand. 
Convey this instrument into his hand.  
Be brief, be brief, than it may be supposed  
A did this bloody act upon himself.  Exeunt Enter his Atten. and Guard. Atten. 
My Lord— ha'!— Murdered;  
Curse on that wretched hand that did it:  
But see— O see! a gripes the dagger fast  
That gave the wound— I am amazed  
And know not what to think.  
Come let us bear him hence.  Exeunt CHORUS. 
Horror, confusion, hunger, plague and Death  
Have seized our Sacred streets, my fainting breath!  
Fails me to give the sad relation  
Of sad Judea's desolation.  
Suppose the famine now to grow extreme,  
Within the City walls; The hungry dream  
Of food, but taste it not, a Cab is sold  
Of noisome dung for thrice the weight in Gold?  
A bloody Sword hangs blazing in the Sky?  
A Strange and uncouth voice was heard to cry,  
Come, let's away from hence? the Iron gate  
Opes of itself to let in Jewries fate:  
To tell ye more my aching heart would break,  
The sad Catastrophe let action speak.  Enter L. Jehochanan. 
The famine is extreme;  
And will be guile us of our lives and honours.  Enter Chorus Music, and the Lady Miriam Sings In her Chamber. 
Hark— hark— give ear a while and listen.  when the Music has played a while she Sings The Song 
Weep, O weep, mine eyes, a flood of tears:  
Break, O break, my heart, with endless fears:  
Fly hence, fly hence, my soul, from such sad grief;  
Then weeping sing, and singing weep to see  
Such precious comfort in thy misery.  je. 
This is the Lady Miriam,  
she's rich, she's rich, exceeding rich  
And may perhaps have some provision left,  
I'll in and rifle her.  She draws her window Curtain La. 
Ay me, the Lord jehocanan:  
I fear some violence.  Knocks Pet. 
Who knocks there?  La. 
keep fast the door.  Knocks again. je. 
Open the door Sirrah, or I'll break it open.  Pet. 
Marry Sir and I'll break your pate then.  Breaks open the door, and goes in. Enter Peter with head broke. 
Wars, or not wars, all● one for that,  
For honour will find me out, I see;  
I am not so good as my word, he's better than his,  
For he has broke the door, and my pate too.  
But I'll in and save my Lady from ravishing,  
What ere comes on't:  
If I take him at it, I'll so pepper him.  Exit Enter jehochanan with a wallet, dragging The Lady by the hair, and her little Son following weeping. Boy. 
Now good my Lord even on my knees I beg:  
Use not my mother so unkindly.  je. 
Peace brawling brat;  
Confess, confess I say, I know this is not all,  
Thou hast concealed thy best provision  La. 
If there be truth in heaven I have no more,  
Ah gentle Sir, for pity take not all,  
Leave me one loaf to keep my little one.  je. 
Not a bit, bold beggar.  Exit Boy 
Good mother weep no more.  Exit Lady weeping. Enter Peter. 
My Lady has sent me to get worms?  
But the worms are more liker for to get me  
Marry I think if they had me and could speak,  
They'd curse the Cook that sent 'em such a breakfast;  
For I am so impenirrable for want of moisture,  
They had better Seize upon a starved Usurer by far:  Enter Zaruck. 
I have observed of late a seeming show  
Of some distempers in Lord Eleazar:  
His looks are wild and stareing: something sure  
Does strangely trouble him.  Pe. 
That's the Captain's man that broke my pate.  
And robbed my Lady: now is he studying  
Whose throat he shall cut next; I'd best be gone,  
I'm pestilence afraid of him.  Za. 
perchance the murder of his Father troubles him.  P. 
A talks of murder already.  Za. 
If it be so, I hope 'twill make him mad,  Trembles. 
And I shall be revenged— What follows that?  P. 
A has spied me, I must stand too't now.  Za. 
What art thou?  Pet. 
What am I; Why I am hungry, very hungry:  
So hungry, that I could eat my flesh,  
If I had any flesh to eat.  Za. 
You are very pleasant, Sir.  
Does the music of the time, cause your wits to dance.  P. 
Ye say right, Sir. If any part of me dance, it is my brains, for they are always in action: my legs are far enough from't I me sure.  Za. 
Whither art thou going?  P. 
No whither, ye see, I stand still:  
I think your wits are danced out of your head.  Za. 
Whither wert thou going?  P. 
The man's mad sure: why hither, was I not?  Za. 
Excellent, I'faith whither wilt thou go?  P. 
Marry they were wise could tell that;  
I will go whither my legs will carry me:  
Marry how far that is I cannot tell;  
For I am altogether for the Carrier's pace,  
I can neither amble, nor troth now.  Za. 
How accurately the knave answers;  
'tis hunger sure has made his wits so nimble.  P. 
You're in the right Sir.  
For a spare diet, says your Philosopher,  
Makes a man fit for study,  
But sure a meant to get more victuals.  Za. 
Better and better— fellow, what's thy business▪  P. 
What a question's that now?  
Why look on my P●is●o my, and read it there.  Za, 
Is't written in thy forehead, knave?  P. 
No, but 'tis written a both sides my face.  Z. 
Extremity of hunger sure has made him mad:  P. 
No, no, no Sir; No such matter:  
Why hark ye Sir, hark ye; don't you know me?  Za. 
Not I, by this Light.  P. 
I cannot much blame ye, for I hardly know myself;  
But if I had ne'er known your Lord, ye might a known me better.  Za. 
Sure that fellow was born with Riddles in is mouth.  P. 
Far ye well Sir, far ye well:  
My Lady said I should get something, though I stayed all night:  
But I'm more liker to stay till doomsday, for I think I shan't live  
Till morning; far ye well Sir.  Exit Pet. Za. 
This is sure the Lady Miriams' man,  
Whom Lord jehochanan hath lately rifled:  
Here Comes the Lord Eleazar, I will withdraw.  steps aside Enter Eleazar. Elea. 
Cozened and cheated, gulled and fooled I am:  
O man, man, man most miserable!  
How truly vain,  
How absolutely base,  
Are thy lost actions? yet how infinite  
The Seas of sorrow that thou wadest through,  
To make thee miserable.  
Ere thy polluted face was yet produced,  
To face of heaven, the woeful womb foretold  
With griping throws thy native wretchedness:  
And when thou wert brought forth, what worlds of care  
And grief, and pains the tender mother takes  
To bring thee up! what tedious days and nights  
Are thrown away upon thine infant age:  
Then— when thy fruitful branches bear the buds  
Of hopeful youth when understanding blooms  
The beauteous blossoms of a riper wit:  
What days, and nights, and hours, and minutes spent  
On tedious papers, whose enigmas dull  
The slender judgement of the youthful brain  
Till when— Maturity proclaims thee man  
Then, looms this goodly vessel on the main  
Of mutability, with all the sails  
Of honour swelling high. But see— O see—  
A sable cloud of sin with angry brow●  
Threatens destruction, now the Venom's burst:  
Down with the main, sails ere the gust approach,  
Alas, 'tis now too late, all's over whelmed,  
Turned upside down, the precious lading lost,  
The shipwrecked soul, for ever, ever lost  
in lake of death, Eternal death: Wooed I  
Had been destroyed within the house of sin,  
The cursed womb, or been abortive born,  
ne'er to have seen that hateful light that sees  
My wretched fall.  
Cursed be the fantacy that shaped the thought  
Of my conception, ten times cursed the act?  
The lustful act! ten thousand times the hour  
Of my nativity: may that ever be  
An hour of horror, plague, and misery.  Za. it works it works. Enter the Lady Miriam Lady. 
For charity, good courteous Sir, take pity on a poor distressed  
Lady: Even for the love ye bear unto the womb that bred ye. She knew  Elea. 
The Love I bear? the love I bear is hate.  
Hate most unatterable▪ so inveterate,  
That I could curse my primogenitors,  
'Sfoot I could curse my father Adam too.  La. 
A lass Sir I am robbed and spoilt of all.  
Ah gentle Sir, afford me some relief,  
And I will beg a blessing for your sweet benevolence.  Elea. 
Blessing for me? there's not a scruple left  
Mongst the great weight of heavenly charity,  
Vex me no more.  Exit La. Weeping. Eleaz. 
The Silent tamer of diurnal care●  
That charms our weary limbs with sweet repose,  
Yields not relief to me? my wearied soul  
Lives in perpetual torment; for if I  
Chance to get a minute's rest, my frighted Ghost  
Sees ghastly Shapes? more horrible than death?  
Even now mine eyes grow dull for want of sleep:  
Lie there distressed carcase, and forget  
Thyself to be in misery.  he Sleeps Enter Persephone with the three furies, they Circle him about, and Pers●●phone Sings. 

FRom the infernal Kingdom we  
Come to read thy destiny:  
Know thy hands imbrued in blood  
Must be bathed in Stygian flood:  
Mortal thou art damned for this   

Down, down, down, down, down,  
Down, down, down, down, down,  
Down, to the deep Abyss.   

Endless shall thy torment be;  
Horror, plague and misery  
Shall afflict thy sooty soul,  
Whilst the tortured spirits howl,  
Banished from eternal bliss   
Down, down, etc.  

Freezing cold and scorching fires  
Shall reward thy soul desires.  
Loss of heaven shall vex thee too  
More than fire and frost can do:  
Whilst the furious S●akes shall hiss   
Down, down, etc.  

Not a thousand ages shall  
Expiate thy bitter thrall?  
Not a flood of tears assuage  
Aught of thy inflamed rage  
This thy doom for deeds amiss   
Down, down, etc.  

Music to thy meat shall be,  
Damned fiends shall laugh at thee;  
Laugh to scorn thy griping pain,  
Laugh to hear thee curse in vain  
Curse thine endless miseries.   
Down, down, etc.  
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.  Laugh all and Exeunt. Zareck. 
Ha', ha', ha', here's sport alone for me,  
The murder of his father troubles him  
With ghastly apparitions: horror and despair  
Pursue thy guilty soul, till I may see  
My full revenge in by calamity.  Exit 
Again, again, again, without I saw  Eleazar rises. 
The Furies here; the sudden apparition  
Has so appalled my guilty soul, that I  
Am lost in terror; all my Vitals shrink  
With ghastly fear, my intermissive pulse  
Speaks the disorder of my panting heart:  
No comfort for a poor distressed man!  
Down, down rebellious knees; so stubborn still!  
I bear a burden of such massy weight  
Wooed crack the mighty Axletree of Heaven,  
Yet cannot force these sturdy limbs to bend:  
My Ovens mouth is damned with dirty sin,  
No vent for sorrow; not a peeping-hole  
To steal a dram of comfort for my soul.  
O— Eleazar thou art lost for ever.  Exit.  

ACTUS QUINTUS.  Enter VALERIO. 

WHat a Devil ails the General!  
I have observed in him of late a strange and uncouth  
Carriage to his near attendants:  
His looks distracted, and his words composed  
With strange disturbance— Sure all it not well:  
But I'll observe—   Enter Titus, crosses the stage, and exit with an angry look upon Valerio. Val. 
Death, what should this mean?  Enter Nicanor. Ni. 
Valerio? Well met; saw'st thou the General lately?  Val. 
Yes, I have seen him lately,  
Heaven bless me from the sight of him again.  Ni. 
Why man, what is the matter?  Val. 
What's the matter!  
Why a has stared me into such a strange distemper,  
I shall not be myself this hour again.  
A looks— like Vulcan, when his fiery face  
Looks red (with rage) upon the Rival God:  
A walks— by sembreess with such stately gait,  
As if a scorned to tread on Caesar's Earth.  
A speaks— by riddles, and such strange enigmae's,  
that sure ' 'two'd pose old Oedipus to answer.  
Hast not thou seen him in this musty mood?  Ni. 
Yes, yes, yes, I have seen him, and self him too,  
Pox on's fingers for'●.  
He asked me last night what store was in the Magazine:  
I told him— about a Month's provision.  
A steps him back— and stairs— and stamps— and says—  
What?— Is't possible?— No more?  
Why dost not speak?— No more, I say?  
Art sure there is no more? Death wilt not speak?  
and than his truncheon walks; 'sfoot had I not warded we●  
I had been malled, I knew not what to say;  
And then a called me ●o●, and went his way.  Va. 
Now by this hand I am lighter by a Roman dram,  
to hear thee in for a share too:  
Why now I could sing, or dance,  
Or rhyme, or jest, or do any thing.  
Stand, stand thou here, and I will act the General.  
And do thou speak to me as if he were in presence.  Ni. 
Content.  Val. 
Nicanor!  Ni. 
My Lord.  Val. 
Come hither:  
What store of prisoners were taken in the skirmish  Ni. 
My Lord—  Ni. 
My Lord! what nothing but ●●y Lord!  
'Zounds, must I dance attendance on your answer.  Strikes him. 
Now sir— what my Lord?—  Ni. 
'Zounds, what d'ye strike me.  Va. 
Fie, fie, vilely spoken, very vilely spoken,  
Ask his Lordship why a strikes?  
Why this savours of too much arrogance,  
and wooed incense him beyond measure:  
Ye should rather have said, My Lord,  
I am sorry I have trespassed on your patience,  
Or I crave your Lordship's pardon for my dullness,  
Or the like.  Ni. 
Pox a patience, and your Lordship too,  
Why did ye strike me so hard?  Val. 
Out upon't, worse and worse by this light,  
Limit his Lordship how hard to strike!  
Why this were to tell his Lordship what to do,  
How to command, and where to punish:  
this wooed not be endured.  Ni. 
I prithee leave thy jesting,  
Or by this light I shall fall out in earnest,  
and let your Lordship know I am displeased.  Val. 
Well I have done; but prithee canst thou tell  
the cause of this distemper?  
For in himself (what e'er hath altered him)  
He is a Captain of as mild a nature,  
As brave Command, and of as sweet converse,  
as Rome hath ever bred.  Ni. 
Faith I am ignorant, nor can I judge the cause. But—  Val. 
Peace, the General.  Enter Titus. Ti. 
Valerio!  Val. 
My Lord?  Ti. 
Come hither; nearer— yet nearer— nearer yet I say,  
'Zounds, must I trumpet my Oration?  
Or dost thou think my throat's an Organ-pipe?  
There has been lately a great outrage done  
within the Camp; know you ought of it?  Val. 
Not I my Lord.  Ti. 
Take heed I trap thee not, upon thy life take heed:  
By Heaven if I do—  
I say again, there has been lately acted  
A most inhuman murder— on the Jews—  
the Captive Jews that fled to us for mercy;  
knowst thou aught yet?  V 
My Lord, I know not aught, nor ought have ever heard of this inhuman act.  Ti. 
Nor you? why dost not speak? speak I say. Death, if I ask again—  Ni. 
My Lord, Nor 1  Ti. 
Nor I!— what nor I?  
Death, are ye so sparing of your speech sir?  
Take heed I do not frame an answer for thee;  
By Heaven if I do, 'twill cost thee dear the penning.  Ni. 
My gracious Lord—  Ti. 
Comma.  Ni. 
I am—  Ti. 
Comma.  Ni. 
Altogether—  Ti. 
Colon.  Ni. 
Ignorant—  Ti. 
Period. Troth I believe thee.  Ni. 
Of this proceeding:  Ti. 
What's all this put together now?  Ni. 
My Lord!  Ti. 
My contumelious Coxcomb,  
Why was not this misshapen answer given  
without distraction? If thy soul be clear,  
Why did thy guilty looks proclaim thee evil?  
Why didst thou veil the face of honesty,  
and innocence, within the mask of fear?  
Thou wert begotten sure in some distraction,  
When Nature was disturbed to get a man:  
Go— get thee hence, and get more Faith— but yet.  
look to't, look to't I say, for if I find thee guilty,  
thy life shall pay the ransom of thy sin:  
Go— get thee hence— stay, read that,  going away. He reads. 
and read it out.  A Catalogue of the Massacre of the Captive Jews, who fled to us for mercy. 
Under Valerio's Squadron, four hundred.  
Under Nicanor's, five hundred.  
Murdered out of the camp and ripped for their Jewels  
Which they had swallowed for fear of rifling eleven hundred;  
The whole number amounting to two thousand.  Ni. 
This is strange my Lord.  Gives him the Paper. Ti. 
Yes, 'tis wondrous strange that we  
Whose Princely-Valour, Power and Clemency  
the world admires, should be so foul abused,  
Abused by you, by you I say abused,  
And say't again: Death— if, t'were not so,  
who durst attempt? attempt! durst think to do  
An act so foul, so most inhuman?  
Have we not given the sole command to you?  
and you to do what you think fit?  
And must we have our Honour now traduced,  
Trampled, and trod upon, through your neglect?  
Must we, when we have passed our princely word  
For fair protection, have our Subjects snatched  
By such discorder from our Princely bosom?  
By heaven this is not well; I say it is not,  
Look too't: look too't, I say, I hear no more of this,  
For by a Romans honour if I do— go to I say, look too't:  Va. 
Now by my life but this is wondrous strange,  Exit 
Two thousand Jews destroyed and we not knows  Ni. 
'tis so; nor can I blame the General.  
To be distempered. But now the storm is over,  
Let us by strict inquiry search the truth:  
Perchance he may be misinformed, and we abused:  Va. 
Content, let us about it.  Exeunt Enter the Lady Miriam with a knife in her hand. 
How tedious are our days of miseries,  
And yet how brief the means to cut them off?  
What multitudes of Wretched days and nights,  
In whose each minute the affrighted soul  
Lives on the wrack of grief and discontent,  
Would this small instrument of death dispatch:  
And why do I then; Wretched I, protract  
My days of misery?  
Is't not enough that I have lived to see  
My parents slain by native cruelty?  
My country Sacked? and my religion Scorned,  
Myself forsaken, and my stripling live  
To ask me food, and I not food to give?  
Can I have brains to know, and will to do,  
Reason to judge, and hands to help me too▪  
And still procrastinate my days of woe  
Do't Miriam, do't I say, it must be so:  Goes to stab herself 
What is't that barrocadoes back mine arm  
Nor will, nor brain, nor heart, nor hand are mine;  
All stand subjected to a power divine.  
Tush— I am deceived;  
Henceforward I nor God, nor good will know:  
Religion is a thing fantastical,  
And heaven and hell are mere Poetical:  
Hence coward fear, 'tis thou that dost command  
Mine arm to slack, thou mak'st my shaking hand  
Let fall the fatal instrument of death:  
I will no more be subject to thy Law  
But in a minute—  Goes to stab herself again 
Alas how cruel merciful am I,  
To free myself from sad calamity,  
And leave my pretty child to suffer more,  
I'll kill him first— and that once bravely done,  
I'll kill the mother that has killed her son:  Enter boy 
Now swift occasion tempt us to do evil?  
See where the stripling comes,  
How prettily a looks upon me: and must I dost?  
Was ever mother so unatural?  She weeps 
And yet I must.  
My pretty boy: art thou not very sick for want of meat?  Boy. 
Yes, very sick indeed, and feeble too;  
So feeble, I have much ado to go.  La. 
Hadst thou not rather die, then live  
In this extremity?  Boy. 
Alas good mother, I am loath to die,  
I would fain live to see you get some food.  La. 
wouldst therefore live, my boy, Why thou shalt be my food▪  
When I have killed thee, I will feed on thee.  Boy: 
Good God forbidden such Cruelty.  
I hope you do not mean to kill me mother  La. 
Yes, my sweet Lamb, look; here's the knife prepared.  Boy. 
Nay then I see I shall be killed indeed:  
Alas what have I done, what deed so foul  
To make you so unkind?  Weeps 
Indeed I did not think you could have been so cruel.  La. 
How prettily a talks.  Boy. 
have I forgotten aught of those respects  
That duty binds me too. Or through forgetfulness  
Not done that service which you did command;  
Is this the cause? O hold, pray hold your hand:  
My duty shall observe ye ten times more  Knelt 
Then ever my obedience did before.  La. 
How hard a pleads for life; the Gentle Phrase  Weeps again 
Gins to mollify my cruel breast.  
In what a sad dilemma stands my choice:  
Affection bids me spare● affliction strike:  
Nor can I well approve? nor yet dislike—  
Of either— Something must be done:  
Forgive me heaven, for I must kill my Son.  Boy. 
O— I am Killed indeed, farewell.  She stabs him La. 
That well sound's ill:— 'tis done— it may be no,  
For still a stirs, and stirs— but now 'tis done indeed:  
Come take him up?— and Quarter him— and then  
Invite the cruel Captain to a feast,  
That they may see a mother eat her Son,  She taketh him, up, and Exit. 
And kill herself before the feast be done.  
Come take him up I say.  Enter Eleazar with his sleeves stripped up to the Elbows, with two Attendants following. 
I have washed, and washed, and washed, and cannor wash this blood away 〈◊〉  Att. 
What blood my Lord.  Elea. 
The blood of bats put out thine eyes:  
Dost thou not see how red, and fresh it looks?  
'tis very not too: reaking hot; so hot  
It Scalds the cunduit pipes of life,  
Fryes all my vitals into Aetna's flames,  
And makes a bonfire of my burning heart.  
My Spoongy bellows that were wont to blow  
Cool fanning to my body's centre,  
Are Suffocate with Sulphurous heat▪ no cranny left  
To cool a tortured Soul.  
Go fetch me Vulcan's bellows, they'll do't sure;  
Or— if not they,  
I'●● force a passage through this house of clay,  
and let in air  Att. 
Lay hands upon him till the fit be past.  E. 
These flaming Lamps burn red with fury rage  
To feel my marrow broil; my singed scull  
Reverberates the fury to my brain,  
And makes me mad. All this whole mass of man  
Is metamorphis'd to confusion.  
Hurry me straight unto the Eolean cave,  
That Boreas may boar me through and through  
There shall ye see this active torrid Zone  
Tug for the mastery with the windy King;  
That fire with air, and air with fire may burn,  
Till fire and air do into Chaos turn.  
The devil sure's a rare Doctor: of ancient standing too. I'll have him sent for, and— to bid him welcome a shall break his fast with brains, 'twill be a rare breakfast, they are already frying in my scull. For— to have them cooked in a Kitchin-pan wooed show poor, and not Suit with his greatness? But let the Mercurian messenger make haste, they will be fried too much else, and then all's not worth a button. Hark— hark— hark— how the furies laugh to see me tortured See— See— See▪ where they come from Erebus— There's Megara, Allecto, there Tisiphone? ho ho ho ho: that's not she, 'tis some bastard fury made of Air to cheat my fancy. I am abused, I'll not endured:  
Can your inky King  
Cure my black soul? my soul, I there's the thing.  Att. 
See now the fit is past  
How temperate he walks. With what a serious eye  
A views the heaven, and then the earth: and then  
Himself with wonder: As if heaven and earth.  
Were there infused: See now a starts again,  
I fear another fit.  Elea. 
The soul's the thing indeed, this but a reaking dunghill:  
Stay: what is't made of? 'tis extracted sure  
From the pure Essence of refined air,  
Puffed— for when the wind is gone,  
Commend me to the Carrion carcase.  
There's nothing left but meat for mistress maggot.  
Of your Philosophers, give me Pythagoras,  
For all the rest are fools: mere fools: dye mark me Sir,  
Why may not this same windy soul of mine,  
Make music in a musty midwife?  
Or in a mouldy bawd: O— 'twood ' do rare in her:  
'twoo'd make her mumble out mischiefs by the dozen:  
Marry— of all your beasts— I would not be  
A post horse: 'Zounds than I should be trotted,  
and trotted, and trotted to the devil:  
No, no, no, I'll no post horse.  Enter his Father's Ghost in white. 
Room, room, room for the miller:  
Man now I think on't, 'tis as bad to be mil horse:  
For he goes round about, and round about,  goes round his Father 
And round about—  Ghost. 
Fool: thou art posting to the stage of death!  
Adieu, adieu, adieu: expect thy doom.  Exit: Eleaz. 
by this light a rare miller.  
woe, ho, ho, woe, ho, ho: Miller, Miller.  Exit Atten. 
We must not leave him.  Exeunt. Enter Jehocanan and Simeon upon the Walls: Sim. 
their valour yet lives fresh within the walls:  
They man the breaches bravely.  Je. 
Call ye this valour, mere dunghill cocks by heaven,  
S●●ut, put a Coward in the face of death,  
Extremity of fear will make him fight,  
Fight Valiantly too. Give me the man  
That man's a breach in breaking through the ranks  
Of Romans foes, their Courages dismayed,  
the walls will man themselves:  A trumpet sounds, and Enter Joseph in Complete Arms: Jo 
My honoured Lords, and dearest Countrymen,  
From the right noble Titus I am come  
to Offer mercy. Ah! my worthy friends,  
Even on my knees I beg you to embrace it.  Jeho. 
Bring forth the rack and torture the old ruffin.  Gorion brought out and put on the rack: Jo. 
hold— hold— O hold. Let not your fury fall  
On those decreppid limbs, for heaven's sake hold,  
And here but Joseph speak.  Sim. 
Torture him I say.  Go: Oh— O— O— Jo. 
Tortures and torments endless vex your Souls:  
O hold— yet hold, for heavens love hold, not yet:  Go: oh— O— O— 
Must I endure to see those Sinews stretched,  
And not relieve them Must I basely beg,  
And kneel? and supplicate: and not be heard?  
Wrack on— wrack on I say! thou cruel wretch:  
Tear the distressed Carcase from the soul,  
And send it up to heaven to cry for vengeance:  
Again they torture him. O I am tortured too,  Go Oh— 
And torn in pieces with the spectacles.  
Villains, tormentors, Rebels.  they beat him down with a stone. S. 
Forsake the walls, and take him.  Enter Jehochanan and Simeon at one door, and Valerio and Nicanor as another, they repulse the Jewish Captains, and Joseph riseth. Va. 
How fares Josephus?  Io. 
Hurt my good friends, I thank you for this rescue  they lead him away and Exeunt Enter Zareck. 
Lord Elazer's mad: there's my revenge on him.  
A comes, a comes:  
Now the sport gins.  Enter Eleazar. 
My conscience is a bawling cur?  
Buzz, buzz, buzz: he's gone, he's gone?  
I'll, creep, and creep, and creep away,  
And then I'll laugh to think how I have gulled him.  Enter his two Atten. 
Whist; whist, whist, and catch a mouse.  
Zareck?  Za. 
My Lord?  E. 
For heavens love help me, Zareck:  Za. 
Why, what's the matter now?  E. 
O vengeance, I am pestered with a Rascal beyond measure: And knocks, and knocks, and knocks, both day and night to speak with me, and will have no denial.  Za. 
Who is't, who is't my Lord?  E. 
A Sooty fellow, black, exceeding black:  
And wondrous lean too. Very lean, and hungry.  
And but e'en now I stole, and stole away:  
Can ye but get a truce for some:— three days,  
We wooed be wondrous merry, Zareck:  Za. 
Methinks we should prevail:  
Let's soothe him in this humour, and we shall have excellent sport anon.  Atten. 
Content, content:  Za. 
My Lord, I'll warrant ye, let me alone to deal with him.  El: 
Ye must be wondrous earnest, for I tell ye, he's a pestilent knave:  
Tell him at three days end. I'll hear him all;  
Mean while. I'll hid me here:  ● thinde the orras: Exit za. 
saint ' saint saint: Zareck: if a ask for me,  
Be sure thou dost not tell him where I am.  
Stand close. stand close. hah. what's that.  Att. 
A rat behind the hang.  Elea. 
A comes, a comes, a comes.  Enter Za. Att. 
Be not afraid my Lord; 'tis Zareck comes:  comes out soft. Za. 
'tis done my Lord I warrant ye.  E. 
For three whole days.  Za. 
For three whole days.  E. 
And nights.  Za. 
And nights.  El. 
Gramerrcy boy, I'faith.  
There were three fiddlers at a fray,  
For scraping of their strings in twain,  
And jenkin jobson ran away,  
With hay tralolly lolly.  
Methinks it were a rare thing to be a Jig-maker.  
Come shall we dance-shall we dance? hay-hay.  2 Att. 
Certainly a will fall into as much extremity of mirth.  Za. 
I told ye we should have rare sport anon.  E 
Excellent good I'faith, 'twill do passing well.  
Hark ye boys, hark ye. I have excellent crotchets in my head.  Za. 
What be they, what be they?  E. 
Musical, musical crotchets, my bullies;  
And therefore I'll have a noise of fiddlers dwell there  
To run division? wilt not do rare my boys?  Za. 
O passing rare my Lord.  E. 
Vory good, and then—  1 Att. 
What then.  E. 
And then will I turn ballet singer.  
You shall carry my pack, and you  
I'll think of some employment whorthy your deserts.  
Will not this be fine I'faith? hah. speak.  2 Att. 
very fine, very fine.  E. 
And then we'll sing, and laugh conscience out of countenance; Far you well: far ye well, my boys.  Exit. Za. 
If a should meet his conscience by the way now,  
We should have an old racket with him.  1 Att. 
No, no, he'll be wholly taken up now with making ditties, Most inexpressible ditties, we shall have such fustian we meet him next  2 Att. 
Death, I'll lay my life 'tis he.  E. Bounces at the door. Za. 
Did not I prejudicated the issue?  
What will become of us now?  
What shall we do?  knocks again. Elea. 
Open the door, open the door, ye musty rascals.  Att. 
If we open not the door he'll break it open,  
And then a will be ten times worse.  Za. 
Stay, is there no trick to pacify his fury?  
Hum— I have found out one I think will do't.  Att. 
What is't: what is't?  Za. 
There dwells a fellow not far off:  knocks again. Elea. 
Rake-hells: hell hounds: open the door.  Att. 
By and by:  Za. 
Whose Meager looks will surely cozen him:  
He is in all description like his conscience:  
A wears black too, him we'll produce fast bound  
To give him satisfaction.  knocks again. Elea. 
Rogues, Rascals, Cheaters:  Za. 
Come open the doors, open the door.  Enter Eleazar. Za. 
Why how now my Lord, what's the matter?  E. 
My conscience slaves: my conscience.  Za. 
Has a been at home; has a been at home since?  E. 
You, you, you, know a has: You know a has rascals.  Za. 
O perfidious conscience, how did a swear to us  
Not to mollest him till the time expired.  
My Lord, my Lord, have but a little patience,  
And if I bring him not fast bound—  E. 
‛ Umh— if you do not bandogs  Exennt: & E pulls back one. 
Nay, nay, nay; you shall be pawned for the reckoning:  
I, I, I, will so Jerk ye, if a brings him not,  
I will have thee cut out into a town-top, and whipped;  
And— Petrusio●s Skin shall make scourges.  Att. 
Any thing: any thing my Lord: do with me what ye will:  
But wooed I were fairly quit: pray heaven they bring the fellow.  E. 
Nay, nay, nay, I wool do't, and to purpose too.  Att. 
See, see my lord: see where a comes.  they bring one bound E. 
Ha: is a fast: is a fast bound?  Att. 
I warrant ye, fear not.  E. 
Look too't?  Za. 
come forward man, fear nothing.  Pet. 
Why does a gape so, will a not by't?  Za. 
No, no, no, I warrant thee,  P. 
I am peslance afraid of my nose it hangs but by the Skin.  
If a should but touch it 'twere utterly lost.  Elea. 
Fury, why dost thou hunt me?  Pe. 
What must I say now?  Ha. 
Say, for food.  P. 
For food.  Eleaz 
For food? what food will 〈◊〉 thy hungry 〈◊〉?  P. 
Let me alone to answer now? Pouderd-beef.  Elea. 
I will have him shut up a Cramming, wilt not do well Zareck?  Za. 
Exceeding well▪  Elea. 
And then I will make him a chopping boy  ●. 
O rare! does a speak in earnest ●ow?  Elea. 
Petrusio: I will have him ●ed with chopped hay. And then I will cut him out in steaks for my breakfast.  Pet: 
A had better feed upon C●w-beef for I shall eat monstrous tough.  E. 
Away with him Zareck; ho, ho, ho, I have him fast now. Is't Petrusio:  Exeunt all three with Peter: Att. 
My Lord?  E. 
Feed him with a Pitchlork, least a by't th●● by the fingers.  
Ho, ho, ho, I have caught the woodcock in a Spring.  Exit. A table brought out, and spread, and Enter Peter. 
We have rare cheer towards I'faith,  
And I am monstrous sharp set,  
But I am pestilence afraid of these same hungry Captains;  
If they should invite themselves to dinner now,  
What wooed become of me?  One knocks. 
Here's one come already, I'll lay my life on't,  
Who knocks there?  je. 
Open the door, sirrah.  Pe. 
'tis he; 'tis he: I know him by his terrible voice:  
Madam madam lady madam;  
Here's my lord jochy come again.  je. 
Open the door I say.  Pe: 
By and by▪  Knocks again. P. 
now is the edge of mine appetite as d●● as a beetle.  
Hay, hay Ceres a whole rabblement of captains:  
Why madam-lady.  One knocks at other door. 
I must open the door, or 〈◊〉 they'll break my pate again.  Opens the door. Enter L. jehochanan. je. 
Roast-meat; rost-meat-I smell roast-meat.  P. 
Pox a your quick sent.-, by and by.  Knocks again, and opens the door. Enter Simion. S. 
Death, I am almost starved. A share, a share.  
I cry a share, this fellow smells of far,  
Of precious ●at; firrah confess, confess.  they draw: lays hold on him 
What hast thou 〈◊〉 to ●●ys  I●. 
Thou smells of roast-meat: ●●ave, where i●t▪  
Where ' is't I say? for I wool have it all.  Pe. 
They'll eat me up between 'em sure.  S. 
Thou sha'● take me too then: Rascal, go fetch it me.  P. 
If they don't eat me up, they'll pull me in pieces.  
Oh— Oh— I wool Sir, I wool Sir.  Enter Eleazar with his rapier drawn. E. 
Give me some food, you hungry Cannibals.  Pe. 
Here's another, here's another.  je. 
Keep off thou frantic fool.  Pe. 
Why Madam, Lady; look to the Roast-meat▪ the Captains; the captains.  je. 
Minion Come down; come down I say, or by my life I'll fetch thee down.  Exit. L: 
Mir. Patience my Lord I pray, and you shall see  She draws her Window curtain. 
That Miriam has reserved a part for you;  
A plenteous part, enough to feast ye all.  E. 
There stands the queen of heaven: what ho! Ch●h●a.  Enter the Lady. 
Bring forth the baked meats: Come, Lords sit ye down,  Pe: Brings 〈◊〉 
I'll feed ye with such Cates so rare, and delicate,  
And of such stirring nature, you will wonder,  
When you shall feel their powerful operation.  
See? there's a hand for you; for you a foot;  
For you my Lord the heart, the precious heart.  
Now-good my Lords fall to; fall to I pray.  Elea. 
The heart is raw-and bloody, I'll not eat it: It stur●s-it stirs.  Rises Lady 
What stirs?  Elea. 
My father's heart, I'll not endure to see; it.  Exit. Pet. 
I have a monstrous quame come over my stomach now.  Lady. 
What; not a bit my Lord▪ Ah, my beloved son!  She weeps. 
How sweet and pleasing was thy Company,  
Whilst thou wert yet a live? and even in death,  
Thou still art sweet and precious; for by thee  
These Cruel, Captains are become my friends,  
By the I am sustained and kept alive.  Sim. 
I am amazed:  Rise all. je. 
Fare the● well, thou 〈◊〉 woman;  Exeunt softly Lady. 
For shame my Lords, let nor a woman's heart  
Outbrave a soldiers: dare ye not ●aste a bit?  
Was't not your Cruelty that caused me kill him?  She Weeps. 
And will ye then refuse to eat apart?  Exit. Peter. 
Now have I a conceit, that some thing sturrs in my belly.  
I am in travail sure: foe my 〈◊〉 wambles and wambles,  
And I shall be delivered on't ere long.  Exit Pe. Drums beat, and they fight within. Enter Eleazar. E. 
where art thou Caesar, where art thou Caesar?  
I'll sight with none but Caesar.  Enter Val. 
Here comes Achilles, brave Achilles:  
O— I am fallen for Ever.  They fight and E: falls. Enter Lo: jehochanan: wounded. je. 
Give fire to the Temple; give fire to the Temple:  Exit The Temple fired and enter Titus. Ti. 
Forbear; forbear, ye cursed wretches; to destroy  
Those sacred walls,— how glorious they appear!  
O ye rebellious Slaves! how dare ye tempt  
So Great a Deity? By all the gods it burns, it burns▪  
The raving fire has seized the battlements.  
Horrors and vengeance, plagues and punnishments  
Seize on your stubborn souls; it burns, it burns afresh;  
The heavens are angry sure, they shine with me.  Thunder. 
Forbear-Forbear, thou flaming firmament,  
To chide Vespasian's son; for 'tis not he  
Hath done thee this dishonour.  Exit. Thunder: Enter Simion, his rap: drawn, with a robe and a crown under his arms. S. 
Sure the black mantle of the M●mphitists,  
That muzzled once the face of Egypt air:  
The dreadful darkness of Cimmerian fogs,  
Whose neighbour nation to the frozen pole,  
For ever's banished from the Glimpse of light:  
Nor hell itself, nor aught, (if aught there be).  
More dark than hell, can be more horrible.  
Then is this dreadful night, this night of death.  
I heard a mighty voice within the Temple cry,  
Come away, come away; Let us departed from hence.  
Strange apparitions have been seen by many:  
Sure Heaven, and Earth, and hell have all conspired  
Our ruin. I am a mazed. within this darksome dale  
There is a secret cave will shelter me.  
'tis here this strange disguise perchance may save my life.  Feels about, and Enters the cave Enter jehocha: his rapier drawn. 
This way, or that, I know not which to take▪  
I am perfued one every side, I will take this.  Exit. Enter Valerio and Nicanor. Va. 
The two Seditious Captains are escape,  
But sure they cannot long conceal themselves.  
Extremity of hunger will betray them.  
Where is the General?  Ni. 
Retreating to his tent, and wondrous sad  
To see the ruins of the Sacred Temple.  Va. 
he's of a noble nature; prithee Nicanor  
Let us invent some pleasing way  
To Cure him of his discontent.  Ni. 
With all my heart: let us present the Mask  
We late intended.  Va. 
Happily thought of; we will ha'ye to night.  Ni. 
Content; content.  Enter Simeon out of the Cave, with a Robe upon him, and a Crown on his head. Va. 
Defend me heaven! what apparition's that?  Ni. 
Ha:— let's speak to it.  Simi. 
Extremity of hunger has compelled  
Me to reveal myself:  
This strange disguise perchance may save my life:  
The Romans are afraid.  Beckons them. Va. 
A beckons us; let us go near:  
What art thou, that dost wear those Kingly Robes?  Sim. 
I am of Sacred Lineage Romans;  
Sprung from the Kings of juda; sheltered here  
To save my life. Conduct me to your Lord the General.  Ni. 
Lay hands upon him: Now by my life 'tis Simeon.  
Come Villain, we'll conduct thee to the General.  Va. 
Now By this hand this prize was finely caught:  Exeunt, and drag him along two follow 
This wool please Titus well.  Enter a Drum covered with black, beating a sad Retreat; with black pendants: Than enter Titus, Gorion, and Joseph, with attendants. Titus. 
Come good old man, now on a Romans word  
Thou art welcome, nobly welcome:  
Come sit down, sit there; nay I will have it so.  Sits by Titus 
Trust me I joy to see thee safe at liberty.  Gor. 
Thanks to my honoured Lord.  Tit. 
How fares thy aged Wife?  Gor. 
she's well, my gracious Lord,  
But somewhat weak with long imprisonment.  Tit. 
O my Josephus! how I grieve to see  
the ruins of they fair Jerusalem:  
But as it is, I give the sacred power  
to be disposed by thee.  Jos. 
Thanks, my most honoured Lord.  Tit. 
Thy Father it grown old, and will desire to spend his days in peace.  A flourish from within. 
What means that Music?  Exit Joseph and comes in again. Jos. 
Thy Captains, gracious Prince, desire to show thee some pastime.  Tit. 
We do accept it, give them entrance: 'twill relish well to pass our discontent.  

THE MASQVE.  Enter Time bearing an Escutcheon, 〈◊〉 Roman Champions crowned with Laurel follow, each bears an Escutcheon: Jehochanan and Simeon follow guarded: Time presents his Escutcheon to the General. Tit. 
What's here? six Roman Champions leading the world captive: the Motto: Not one; but all: subscribed.  
Time's winged speed doth here present  
Six Moral Virtue's fair Event.  
Six Roman Champions, whilst they live,  
to these Six Virtues harbour give.  The Champions present their Escutcheons in order. Tit. 
Piety portrayed in a black Man●●●, in her left hand a Sword an Emblem of reciprocal love, her right arm stretched over an Altar, with a sword in her hand, to show her resolution for Religion: the Motto, Semper ea●●●.  
Your inventions have done well to give this Virtue priority,  
For 'tis the Basis of our glorious actions:  
the firm foundation that our 〈◊〉 laid  
When first a did ordain the Vestal-fires:  
It would have been more proper had ye limned her  
Smiling, and pointing to a sumptuous house  
Built on the rolling land: the Motto this,  
Sine me peris Impensa: well, the next.  
Temperance deciphered in a white Robe, with a sober countenance, in her left hand a Cornucopia, with this Motto, In abundanti● abste●io: the next.  
Chastity pictured in a green Robe, a Lion couching by her side, she points to a Lily: the Mooto, Pares nos sumus.  
Friendship binding a fardel of sticks together: the Motto, Concordio regna florent.  
Constancy depainted in a purple Robe, her left hand pointing to the Moon, her right to her Bosom: the Motto, Mutabile quicquid extra, nil imus.  
Patience limned in a Violet Robe, pointing to— me: Ha, it's not so? 'tis so: the Motto, Dispares nos sumus, and under, Sa● ciro 〈◊〉 sat bend;  
This was a good conceit, it likes me passing well:  
For now I see, my Lords, ye will not flatter me:  
Well, I'll endeavour to amend it, Lord:  
Come, now to your sports.  Music, and they dance: the Mask ended, Time presents the Prisoners, and exeunt. Jehoch. 
Mercy, my gracious Lord▪  The Prisoners kneel. Titus. 
What stately Prisoner's hee, that wears the Diadem.  Je. 
My honoured Lord, this is the cruel Simeon; And this Jehochanan.  Tit. 
What! art sure 'tis he?  Je. 
Most certain, mighty Prince.  Sim. 
Mercy, my honoured Lord.  Tit. 
Look down, look down, ye powers above, and see  
the basest scum of all mortality,  
Is't possible to see the Villains kneel,  
And beg?  
Seven days together let the Slaves be led  
In triumph; to be mocks, and scorned, and kicks;  
And each day tortured to extremity,  
than put them to an ignominious death.  Si. 
Curses and plagues reward thee.  Exeunt Prisoners and Guard. Ti. 
Now worthy Gorion thou hast lived to see thyself revenged of all thine injury,  Gor. 
Ah my good Lord! I joy not in revenge, that I must leave to heaven.  Shout within. Ti. 
Inquire the cause of that shout.  1. Attendant. 
More prisoners brought, my Lord.  Ti. 
Let them have entrance▪  Enter Officers leading Zareck and the Lady Miriam Prisoners, another following leading Peter with an haste● about his neck, the Lady weeps. 1. Officer. 
Come along Sir, Come along● you have no stomach to go too't.  Peet. 
I have more stomach beha'●e to eat, if I had some victua;s hark ye Sir, pray do not pull too hard, lest ye pull my head off; it's held on by nothing but skin and dry bones, the marrow is wasted long since; I believe I shall never hold the hanging.  Tit. 
What Lady's that, whose sad behaviour speaks such discontents  Gor. 
Ah Noble Titus, to relate the story  
Of her sad fate, will prove a task too weighty  
For a woeful breast to utter—  
Let others speak her sad calamity,  Weeps. 
For me it is enough to weep her misery.  Titus. 
Rise up distressed woman: by all that's good,  Lady 〈◊〉 
I joy not in so sad a spectacle.  
Tell me thy cause of grievance: If there be  
A way to make thee happy, leave it to me,  
And I will see thee righted.  Lady. 
A way to make me happy? ay the poor wretch:  
the world to me is a distasteful thing,  
Full of affrighting Objects: pensive thoughts and fears,  
Horrors, amazements, anguish, grief and Years,  
Attend my restless hours: no room is left  
For the least hope of comfort: no starting hole  
to ease the torture of a wearied soul.  She weeps Ti. 
knowst thou this Lady, joseph.  Io. 
My honoured Lord, this is the Lady Miriam:  
Extracted from a noble family:  
the sad Epitome of grief and misery:  
the woeful mother of a murdered? son.  Titus. 
Murdered? by whom?  Lady Miriam. 
By me, by this accursed arm, entombed here within the wretched womb that gave it life.  She weeps Peter. 
Me thinks I feel a great 〈◊〉 stir in my stomach ●●w.  Lady. 
Ah my dear son! thy wounds bleed fresh  
In my remembrance: the bloody act  
Si●● sad upon my soul affrights my guilty breast,  
Distracts my working brain: justice, my Lord:  
I cry for Justice against my cruel 〈◊〉  
And must not be den●e● 〈◊〉  She weeps Titus. 
The unpleasing Spectacle disturbs me,  
Led her away, and see her safely kept,  
And gently used; let war●●st eyes  
Attend her actions, lest she offer  
Violence to her unhappy self▪  La. 
Were I at liberty for that, I would not linger out  
a moment I hate to live, and yet I feel to die  
By mine own hands for Heavens love ●et me—  Titus 
Leadher away; and comfort her.  Lady. 
Ah! be not so unkind: can ye 〈◊〉 pi●●y see a Ca●●iffon the wrack of misery, and not relieve her.  Gorion. 
Passion I fear will over co● 〈◊〉, if she persist in this extremity.  Lady. 
Open a passage to my guilty soul, and send it to eternal vengeance— or if there be one drop of mercy le●● 〈◊〉 misery, 〈◊〉 to heaven to beg it—  Weeps. Titus. 
My soul relents to see 〈…〉 A  Peter. 
That's old graybeard, that was led a way  Eyes Gorion. 
by me to tortures, if he remembers me,  
I go to pot: ' saint Madam, Lady, Madam,  
Speak a good word for me.  Titus. 
What's he that wears that livery of Death?  Gorion. 
A servant to the Lady Miriam, the very same  
that led my aged limbs to torture,  
but by cumpulsion of the rebel jews:  
I therefore humbly beg his pardon.  Peter. 
I, I, I, must to't, now a has spied me.  Titus. 
Come hither sirrah.  Peter. 
Now I go, now I go, now I go, Lady, madam:  Titus. 
Although I know thee to be guilty of an offence  
Deserving death; yet for thy Lady's sake,  
And this good man's, I give thee life and liberty:  
Lose him, and leave him to his lady's service:  
See thou be careful of her preservation.  Lady. 
Ay me most miscrable.  They take the Halter off. Peter. 
O rare! now could I leap out of my skin for Joy.  
Come away Madam, come a way:  
the sight of the halter makes my stomach wamble.  
Come away, I say.  Zareck. 
A ha', ha', ha', ha'; Confusion play thy part,  
And hatch up mischief to the highest strain  
Of man's invention.  Titus. 
What daring prisoner's he,  
Whose uncouth laughter scorns at misery?  josephus. 
The most unheard of piece of villainy  
that ever Nature gave a being to:  
this is that cursed wretch that blew the coals  
Of hot dissension 'twixt the Citizens:  
that murdered the high Priest, and promted on  
the three seditious Captains to ambition;  
that robbed this wretched Lady, and gave fire  
to Jewries sacred temple.  Titus. 
Villain, What sayest thou for thyself?  
Is all this true?  Peter. 
A broke my pate too:  Za. 
Ha', ha', ha'.— all this! all this and ten times more  
all this is nothing, not the thousand part  
Of my unknown designs: didst thou but know  
the danger that is in me, thou wouldst not venture me  
So near thy person.  Titus. 
Halter him, and lead him to the wrack.  
Let him be tortured with the greatest rigour  
Can be invented.  They halter him. Za. 
Ha' ha' ha' ha'— Couldst thou devise  
As many tortures as have e'er been born  
By all the sons of Adam; thus would I slight  Spurns at it. 
Both them and thee.—  Tit. 
I shall unmask this hellish bravery:  
Led him away, I say,  Zar. 
Thou canst not, Roman, in spite of cruelty,  
Zareck will trump in the Victory.  Officers. 
Come along Sir, come along.  Pet. 
Hark ye Sir, when ye begin to cry Oh—  
Remember whose pate ye broke, Sir.  Zar. 
Peace, Babbler.  Exeunt Officers with Zareck. Tit. 
Come honoured friends, upon a Romans word  
You're nobly welcome: let not Jewries fall  Descends his throne. 
Dismay your Princely hearts: Rome's General  
Will find a way to raise your ruined State.  
The gods are just; we must submit to fate:  
Take care of that distressed Lady.  Pet. 
Now do I long to see the Captains at it.  Exeunt omnes, the Lady weeping.  
Finis Actus Quinti.    

EPILOGUS.  
THE lofty Buskin, and the learned Bay,  
Are not expected to adorn our Play;  
Our Author deemeth these fair trophies fit  
To grace the raptures of a riper wit.  
The stately lines of Sophocles high strain  
Flow from the fountain of Minerva's brain;  
Instead of Bays, and Buskins, if our stile  
May fairly merit your deserved smile;  
'Tis all we aim as; either grant us this,  
Or gently pardon what you judge amiss.  
FINIS.