The False One: A Tragedy. Beaumont Francis

ont, John Fletcher

      The False One: A Tragedy

Edited by Arnold Glover

      Persons Represented in the Play

      Julius Cæsar, Emperour of Rome.

      Ptolomy, King of Ægypt.

      Achoreus, an honest Counsellor, Priest of Isis.

      Photinus, a Politician, minion to Ptolomy.

      Achillas, Captain of the Guard to Ptolomy.

      Septimius, a revolted Roman Villain.

      Labienus, a Roman Souldier, and Nuncio.

      Apollodorus, Guardian to Cleopatra.

      Sceva, a free Speaker, also Captain to Cæsar.

      Guard.

      Three lame Souldiers.

      Servants.

WOMEN

      Cleopatra, Queen of Ægypt. Cæsar's Mistris.

      Arsino, Cleopatra's Sister.

      Eros, Cleopatra's waiting Woman.

      The Scene Ægypt.

      The principal Actors were,

      John Lowin.

      John Underwood.

      Robert Benfield.

      Richard Sharpe.

      Joseph Taylor.

      Nicholas Toolie.

      John Rice.

      George Birch.

      Actus Primus. Scena Prima

Enter Achillas, and Achoreus

      [Ach.] I love the King, nor do dispute his power,

      (For that is not confin'd, nor to be censur'd

      By me, that am his Subject) yet allow me

      The liberty of a Man, that still would be

      A friend to Justice, to demand the motives

      That did induce young Ptolomy, or Photinus,

      (To whose directions he gives up himself,

      And I hope wisely) to commit his Sister,

      The Princess Cleopatra (if I said

      The Queen) Achillas 'twere (I hope) no treason,

      She being by her Fathers Testament

      (Whose memory I bow to) left Co-heir

      In all he stood possest of.

      Achil. 'Tis confest

      (My good Achoreus) that in these Eastern Kingdoms

      Women are not exempted from the Sceptre,

      But claim a priviledge, equal to the Male;

      But how much such divisions have ta'en from

      The Majesty of Egypt, and what factions

      Have sprung from those partitions, to the ruine

      Of the poor Subject, (doubtful which to follow,)

      We have too many, and too sad examples,

      Therefore the wise Photinus, to prevent

      The Murthers, and the Massacres, that attend

      On disunited Government, and to shew

      The King without a Partner, in full splendour,

      Thought it convenient the fair Cleopatra,

      (An attribute not frequent to the Climate)

      Should be committed in safe Custody,

      In which she is attended like her Birth,

      Until her Beauty, or her royal Dowre,

      Hath found her out a Husband.

      Ach. How this may

      Stand with the rules of policy, I know not;

      Most sure I am, it holds no correspondence

      With the Rites of Ægypt, or the Laws of Nature;

      But grant that Cleopatra can sit down

      With this disgrace (though insupportable)

      Can you imagine, that Romes glorious Senate

      (To whose charge, by the will of the dead King

      This government was deliver'd) or great Pompey,

      (That is appointed Cleopatra's Guardian

      As well as Ptolomies) will e're approve

      Of this rash counsel, their consent not sought for,

      That should authorize it?

      Achil. The Civil war

      In which the Roman Empire is embarqu'd

      On a rough Sea of danger, does exact

      Their whole care to preserve themselves, and gives them

      No vacant time to think of what we do,

      Which hardly can concern them.

      Ach. What's your opinion

      Of the success? I have heard, in multitudes

      Of Souldiers, and all glorious pomp of war,

      Pompey is much superiour.

      Achil. I could give you

      A Catalogue of all the several Nations

      From whence he drew his powers: but that were tedious.

      They have rich arms, are ten to one in number,

      Which makes them think the day already won;

      And Pompey being master of the Sea,

      Such plenty of all delicates are brought in,

      As if the place on which they are entrench'd,

      Were not a Camp of Souldiers, but Rome,

      In which Lucullus and Apicius joyn'd,

      To make a publique Feast: they at Dirachium

      Fought with success; but knew not to make use of

      Fortunes fair offer: so much I have heard

      Cæsar himself confess.

      Ach. Where are they now?

      Achil. In Thessalie, near the Pharsalian plains

      Where Cæsar with a handfull of his Men

      Hems in the greater number: his whole troops

      Exceed not twenty thousand, but old Souldiers

      Flesh'd in the spoils of Germany and France,

      Inur'd to his Command, and only know

      To fight and overcome; And though that Famine

      Raigns in his Camp, compelling them to tast

      Bread made of roots, forbid the use of man,

      (Which they with scorn threw into Pompeys Camp

      As in derision of his Delicates)

      Or corn not yet half ripe, and that a Banquet:

      They still besiege him, being ambitious only

      To come to blows, and let their swords determine

      Who hath the better Cause.

Enter Septi[m]ius

      Ach.