Never leave bellowing? Courtiers are ill
Advised when they first make such monsters.
How near was I to a sceptre and a crown!
Fair power was even upon me; my desires
Were casting glory, till this forked rabble,
With their infectious acclamations,

Poison'd my fortunes for Constantine's sons.
Well, though I rise not king, I'll seek the means
To grow as near to one as policy can,
And choke their expectations.-Now, good lords,
Enter DEVON and STAFFORD.

In whose kind loves and wishes I am built
As high as human dignity can aspire,

Are yet those trunks, that have no other souls
But noise and ignorance, something more quiet?

Devon. Nor are they like to be, for aught we gather: Their wills are up still; nothing can appease them, Good speeches are but cast away upon them.

Vortiger. Then, since necessity and fate withstand

me,

I'll strive to enter at a straiter passage.

Your sudden aid and counsels, good my lords.

Stafford. They are ours no longer than they do you service.

Enter CONSTANTIUS (as a monk, attended by other monks) VORTIGER stays him.

Vortiger. Vessels of sanctity, be pleas'd a while To give attention to the general peace, Wherein Heav'n is serv'd too, though not so purely. Constantius, eldest son of Constantine,

We here seize on thee for the general good,

And in thy right of birth..

Constantius. On me! for what, lords?
Vortiger. The kingdom's government.

Constantius. Oh Powers of blessedness!

Keep me from growing downwards into earth again:
I hope I am farther on my way than so; set forwards.
Vortiger. You must not..

Constantius. How!

Vortiger. I know your wisdom

Will light upon a way to pardon us,

When you shall read in every Briton's brow
The urg'd necessity of the times.

Constantius. What necessity can there be in the world,

But prayer and repentance? and that business
I am about now.

Vortiger. Hark, afar off still

We lose and hazard much-Holy Germanus,
And reverend Lupus, with all expedition
Set the crown on him.

Constantius. No such mark of fortune

Vortiger. My lord, we are forc'd to rule you. Constantius. Dare you receive Heaven's light in at your eye-lids,

And offer violence to religion?

Take heed, the very beam let in to comfort you
May be the fire to burn you. On these knees,
Hard'ned with zealous prayers, I entreat you
Bring not my cares into the world again.
Think with how much unwillingness and anguish
A glorified soul parted from the body

Would to that loathsome jail again return:
With such great pain a well-subdued affection
Re-enters worldly business.

Vortiger. Good my lord,

I know you cannot lodge so many virtues,

But patience must be one.

As low as earth

We beg the freeness of your own consent,

Which else must be constrain'd; and time it were
Either agreed or fore'd. Speak, good my lord,

For you bind up more sins in this delay

Than thousand prayers can absolve again.

Constantius. Were't but my death, you should not kneel so long for't.

Vortiger. "Twill be the death of millions if you rise
not,

And that betimes too-Lend your help, my lords,
For fear all come too late.

Constantius. This is a cruelty

That peaceful man did never suffer yet,
To make me die again, that once was dead,
And begin all that ended long before.
Hold, Lupus and Germanus, you are lights
Of holiness and religion; can you offer
The thing that is not lawful? Stand not I
Clear from all temporal charge by my profession?
Germanus. Not when a time so violent calls upon
you.

Who is born a prince, is born a general peace,
Not his own only: Heaven will look for him
In others actions, and will require him there.
What is in you religious, must be shown
In saving many more souls than your own.

Constantius. Did not great Constantine, our noble father,

Deem me unfit for government and rule,

And therefore 'prais'd me into this profession?
Which I have held strict, and love it above glory.
Nor is there want of me: yourselves can witness,
Heaven hath provided largely for your peace,
And bless'd you with the lives of my two brothers:
Fix
your obedience there, leave me a servant.
All. Long live Constantius, son of Constantine,
King of Great Britain!

Constantius. I do feel a want

And extreme poverty of joy within ;

The peace I had is parted 'mongst rude men:

To keep them quiet I have lost it all.

What can the kingdom gain by my undoing?
That riches is not best, though it be mighty,
That's purchas'd by the ruin of another;

Nor can the peace, so filch'd, ever thrive with them:
And if't be worthily held sacrilege
To rob a temple, 'tis no less offence
To ravish meditations from the soul
(The consecrated altar in a man.)

prais'd me.] Probably we should read pray'd me; that is, desired me to go into this profession or pressed me. S. P.

And all their hopes will be beguil'd in me;
I know no more the way to temporal rule,
Than he that's born and has his years come to him
In a rough desart. Well may the weight kill me,
And that's the fairest good I look for from it.
Vortiger. Not so, great king: here stoops a faithful

servant

Would sooner perish under it with cheerfulness,
Than your meek soul should feel oppression
Of ruder cares: such common coarse employments
Cast upon me your servant, upon Vortiger.
I see you are not made for noise and pains,
Clamours of suitors, injuries, and redresses,
Millions of actions, rising with the sun,
Like laws still ending, and yet never done,
Of power to turn a great man to the state
Of his marble monument, with over-watching.
To be oppress'd is not requir'd of you my lord,
But only to be king. The broken sleeps

Let me take from you, sir; the toils and troubles,
All that is burthenous in authority,

Please you lay it on me, and what is glorious
Receive it to your own brightness.

Constantius. Worthy Vortiger,

If 't were not sin to grieve another's patience
With what we cannot tolerate ourself,
How happy were I in thee, and thy love!
There's nothing makes man feel his miseries
But knowledge only reason, that is plac'd
For man's director, is his chief afflictor;
For though I cannot bear the weight myself,
I cannot have that barrenness of remorse

To see another groan under my burthen.

Vortiger. I am quite blown up a conscionable way: There's even a trick of murd'ring in some pity.

The death of all my hopes I see already.

There was no other likelihood, for religion

Was never friend of mine yet.

[Aside.

Constantius. Holy partners in strictest abstinence, Cruel necessity hath forc'd me from you.

We part, I fear, for ever; but in mind

I will be always here; here let me stay.
Devonshire. My lord, you know the times.

Constantius. Farewell, blest souls; I fear I shall offend :

He that draws tears from you, takes your best friend.
[Exeunt all but Vortiger.
Vortiger. Can the great motion of ambition stand,
Like wheels false wrought by an unskilful hand?
Then Time, stand thou too: let no hopes arrive
At their sweet wishfulness, till mine set forwards.
Would I could stay thy existence, as I can
Thy glassy counterfeit in hours of sand,

I'd keep thee turn'd down, till my wishes rose;
Then we'd both rise together.

What several inclinations are in nature?
How much is he disquieted, and wears royalty
Disdainfully upon him, like a curse:

Calls a fair crown the weight of his afflictions,
When here's a soul would sink under the burthen.
Yet well recovered-I will use all means

To vex authority from him, and in all
Study what most may discontent his blood,
Making my mask my zeal to th' public good.
Not possible a richer policy

Can have conception in the thought of man.
Enter two GRAZIERS.

1 Grazier. An honourable life inclose your lordship!

Vortiger. Now, what are you?

2 Grazier. Graziers, if't like your lordship. Vortiger. So it should seem by your inclosures. What's your affair with me?

1 Grazier. We are your petitioners, my lord. Vortiger. For what? Depart; petitioners to me! You have well deserv'd my grace and favour. Have you not a ruler after your own election; Hie you to court, get near and close; be loud And bold enough, you cannot chuse but speed. [Exit. 2 Grazier. If that will do't,