_God_ Lyeus _ever young,_ _Ever honour'd, ever sung;_ _Stain'd with bloud of lusty Grapes,_ _In a thousand lusty shapes;_ _Dance upon the Mazers brim,_ _In the Crimson liquor swim:_ _From thy plenteous hand divine,_ _Let a River run with Wine:_ _God of youth, let this day here_ _Enter neither care nor fear._ _Boy._ _Bellona's_ seed, the glory of old _Rome_, Envy of conquer'd Nations, nobly come And to the fulness of your war-like noise Let your feet move, make up this hour of joys; Come, come I say, range your fair Troop at large, And your high measure turn into a charge. _Semp._ The Emperor's grown heavy with his wine. _Afra._ The Senate staies Sir for your thanks. _Semp._ Great _Cæsar_. _Eud._ I have my wish. _Afra._ Wilt please your Grace speak to him? _Eud._ Yes, but he will not hear Lords. _Semp._ Stir him _Lucius_; the Senate must have thanks. _2 Sen. Luc._ Your Grace, Sir _Cæsar_. _Eud._ Did I not tell you he was well? he's dead. _Semp._ Dead? treason, guard the Court, let no man pass, Souldiers, your _Cæsar_'s murdered. _Eud._ Make no tumult, Nor arm the Court, ye have his killer with ye; And the just cause, if ye can stay the hearing: I was his death; that wreath that made him _Cæsar_, Has made him earth. _Sould._ Cut her in thousand pieces. _Eud._ Wise men would know the reason first: to die, Is that I wish for, _Romans_, and your swords, The heaviest way of death: yet Souldiers grant me That was your Empress once, and honour'd by ye, But so much time to tell ye why I kill'd him, And weigh my reasons well, if man be in you; Then if ye dare do cruelly, condemn me. _Afr._ Hear her ye noble _Romans_, 'tis a Woman, A subject not for swords, but pity: Heaven (If she be guilty of malitious murder) Has given us Laws to make example of her, If only of revenge, and bloud hid from us, Let us consider first, then execute. _Semp._ Speak bloudy Woman. _Eud._ Yes; This _Maximus_, That was your _Cæsar_, Lords, and noble Souldiers, (And if I wrong the dead, Heaven perish me; Or speak to win your favours but the truth) Was to his Country, to his friends, and _Cæsar_ A most malitious Traitor. _Semp._ Take heed woman.