Latin text and English translation (on facing pages) 5I
eee Sel GESIBPUS Latin text and English translation (on facing pages)
L] m E ry
/ ¥ Y i | / )
Gen Figure 1. The opening lines of Titus et Gesippus (Lansdowne MS. 388, f. 121).
[DRAMATIS PERSONAE?
GezsIPPUS MipAs Tirus
STEPHANIO
CHREMES
'TREBATIUS
PHORMIO j CRATINUS SIMO SOPHRONA CRrTO
SEMPRONIA
STvLPHO PIX VOIE FoLviUs PAMPHILA MARTIUS Pers MARSIAS MisENUS
CHORUS MIMICUS
Dromo
TURBA EXPLORATORUM
SYRUS PoPuLUs ROMANUS] 1 Gesippus] in all other versions I have seen, the first syllable is spelled Gi- (or Gy-).
Titus] in the sources, Titus is sent to Athens to study; Foxe does not indicate why Titus is in Athens. For other differences, see Introduction, p. 17. Foxe once calls the character Pamphilus by mistake.
Chremes] a Terentian name used for this character by both Boccaccio (Chremete) and Elyot. But in those sources he is dead before the deception.
Phormio] the titular figure in Terence's Phormio provided Foxe with this name and in large part the character, which is not in the sources.
Simo] the bride's father is nameless in Boccaccio and is absent from Elyot; Foxe borrowed the name from old men in Terence's Andria and in several
Plautine plays.
Crito] no such character appears in the sources. Foxe at first called him Albertus
Discus (III.2.40), then Stylpho. Discus is the name of a freedman in Terence's Eunuchus; Crito is found in Terence's Phormio and Andria.
Stylbho] no such character appears in the sources; his name is taken from a reference in Terence's Phormio.
Fulvius] in Elyot, the name of Titus' father, who does not appear in this play.
Martius] the character is unnamed in the sources; Foxe probably chose the name from the Roman god of war.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Gesippus, an Athenian youth.
Titus, a Roman youth, friend to Gesippus, later a Roman consul.
CHREMES, an Athenian, father of Gesippus.
PxHormi0, slave to Titus.
Srwo, an Athenian, friend to Chremes.
Crito, an Athenian merchant.
SrvLPHO, an Athenian, brother of Simo.
FuLvius, Roman consul.
Martius, Roman cut-throat.
Marsias and MisENus, musicians.
Dromo, slave to Simo.
Syrus, Mipas, and STEPHANIO, slaves Cratinus, a Roman.
SoPHRONA, an Athenian woman, wife of Chremes.
SEMPRONIA, an Athenian girl, daughter of Simo; at first betrothed to Gesippus, and later wife of Titus.
Purycia, an Athenian girl, daughter of Stylpho.
PAMPHILA, a Roman girl, daughter of Fulvius; formerly in love with Titus, later betrothed to Gesippus.
Pytutas, slave in the household of Chremes.
Athenian
CHORUS OF MIMES.
PossE COMITATUS.
ROMAN PEOPLE.
in the household of Chremes.
TREBATIUS, a messenger from Rome.
Marsias] a character invented by Foxe and presumably named for Marsyas, the satyr who invented the flute and was flayed alive after challenging Apollo to a musical competition which Apollo won.
Misenus] another invented character, perhaps named for Aeneas' trumpeter, the son of Aeolus.
Dromo, Syrus, Midas, Stephanio] all added characters. Dromo and Syrus are both Terentian slaves; Midas is referred to in Terence's Phormio, Stephanio in Terence's Adelphi (as looking after the kitchen, like Foxe's Stephanio).
Trebatius] historically, the name of a lawyer and friend of Cicero. No comparable character appears in the sources.
Cratinus] an added character, whose name is found in Terence's Phormio.
Sophrona] the bride's mother is not referred to in the sources, in which the heroine is called Sophronia. Originally Foxe called this character Sostrata (a Terentian name); Sophrona is also Terentian, the name of several old nurses.
Sempronia] see Introduction, pp. 18 and 23 and n. 9r.
Phrygia] an added character; her name is alluded to several times in Terence.
Pamphila] a Terentian name. No comparable figure appears in Elyot, but, in Boccaccio, Gisippo is married to Fulvia, a sister of Tito.
Pythias] an added character; her name is that of a nurse in Terence's Eunuchus.
[TITUS ET GESIPPUS, COMOEDIA]
[PERIOCHA]
Tito Gesippus amico amatam coniugem [f 136v] Concedens, offenso patre patria pellitur,
Qui tum Romam ad amicum flectens, ab eo quia Inagnitus primum, propterea se putans Contemni, luctu confectus sese parat
Conficere. Ibi tum cuiusdam astu latrunculi In somno oppressus pro latrone stringitur.
Titus re tandem cognita ut amicum videt Gesippum, vt seruet suum se crimini obiicit.
Quorum egregiam miseratus amicitiam latro IO Re prodita illis seruat, vitam exorat suam.
Gesippus meliorem accipit aliam, Semproniae Opera, rursusque reuocante patre rediit domum,
Non sine plausu magno: omnia strepunt gratiis.
[Acrus Primus. ScENA Prma.] [ Titus. Phormio.] [Trrus.] Ain Phormio? Daturne Gesippo hodie Paces 4 Nuptum Sempronia?
PHoRMIO.
Indubie.
Tirvs.
Certum est tibi An diuinas forsitan ?
PHORMIO.
Sybillae quod aiunt Cumanae folium.
Periocha 14. gratiis] emended from gratis, the apparent reading in MST.
I.1.5.H. and P.H.] omitted in MST. Except for act divisions, Foxe omitted all S.H.'s, and hereafter I shall not note their omission.
1. S.P.] omitted in MST. Foxe normally omitted S.P.'s at the beginnings of scenes, and I shall not hereafter note such omissions.
THE COMEDY OF TITUS AND GESIPPUS
ARGUMENT After Gesippus gives up his beloved bride to his friend Titus, he is driven from the land by his angry father. When he goes to Rome to see his friend and is not recognized at first, he thinks himself scorned and, consumed with grief, prepares to kill himself. Through the cunning of a certain robber, he is surprised while asleep and bound as a robber. When Titus finally realizes the truth as he recognizes his friend Gesippus, he charges himself with the crime to save his friend. Moved to compassion for their great friendship, the robber saves their lives by confessing, and then begs for his own. With the help of Sempronia, Gesippus receives another girl who is more pleasing to him, and when his father summons him home, he goes,! not without great applause. Everything resounds with thanksgiving.
[I.1] Enter Titus and Phormio.
Trrus. What, Phormio? Sempronia is marrying Gesippus today?
PnroRwuro. Without a doubt.
Trrus. Are you sure, or maybe you're guessing?
Puormio. As they say, it's a leaf of the Sibyl at Cumae.?
1 Though Gesippus is summoned home by his father, who wants him to marry Phrygia (III.2-6), there is no indication at the end of the play that Gesippus will return, for he intends to marry Pamphila, a Roman girl. See the Introduction.
2 The celebrated prophetess at Cumae who wrote her oracles on leaves; the phrase is proverbial, meaning to utter certainties.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.1
Virus:
Qui scis?
PHORMIO.
Imo tu qui ne scias Qui ex ipso plus audisti millies quam tota
Cantatur ciuitate.
Trrus.
Nec mora ulla est, nuptiae Quin ipsae coeant hodie?
PHORMIO.
Hodie.
Titus.
Ergo hodie Titus totus interiit.
PHORMIO.
Hem, quid ais?
TITUS, Te appello qui solus meae conscius es Aegretudinis.
PHORMIO.
Quid mali est, here, obsecro?
IO Quae oris haec nutatio? Quaenam haec suspiria ?
Numquis morbus est?
Titus.
Vtinam.
PHORMIO.
Quamobrem istuc?
Tirvs.
Emori cupio.
PHORMIO.
Ergo dicas quid rei siet.
Trrus Ne istud roges, Phormio.
PHorRMIO.
Non rogem Autem? Quis te roget igitur, nisi tu esse putes
Qui magis te ex animo saluum velit atque incolumem Quam ego? Aut dicas, quaeso, vbi meum unquam tibi consilium
Defuit, si unquam quicquam fuit vbi tibi opitularier Licuit.
Titus.
Scio, sed nunc aliud est.
PHORMIO.
Imo quicquid est Effunde, neque enim ita velim cogites, tuam ad
Teipsum quam ad me magis salutem pertinere. Dic.
Trrvs.
Ah non desinis.
9. qui] perhaps Foxe intended superne deus qui, though the reading would be hypermetrical; see Textual Notes.
17. Quam ego] perhaps intended for deletion in revision.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Tirus. How do you know?
Pxormio. But how would you not know, since you've heard from Gesippus himself a thousand times more than is sung about in the whole city?
Titus. Is there no delaying the wedding from happening today?
PuHormio. It's today.
Titus. Then today is Titus totally undone.
Puormio. Well! What are you saying?
Titus [to the heavens]. I call upon you, who alone know of my sickness.
Puormio. What on earth is wrong, master? What's this shaking of your head? What are these sighs? Is this some sickness?
Titus. I wish it were.
Puormio. Why?
Titus. I want to die.
Puormio. Then tell me what's the matter.
Trrus. Don't ask me that, Phormio.
Puormio. Don't ask indeed! Who should ask you, then, unless you think there's someone more sincere than I am in wishing you safe and sound? Or tell me, please, when was my counsel ever wanting to you if there was ever any way at all in which I could help you?
Tirus. I know, but this is different.
Pnrnonuio. Well, whatever it is, out with it. I wouldn't want you to think that your well-being means more to you than to me.
Tell me.
Trrus. Ah, you don't stop.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.1
PHORMIO.
Non sane nisi expressero.
Lf. 121v] Dic.
Titus.
Obtundis.
PHORMIO.
Sane si medelam speres— Titus.
Neque faciam.
PHORMIO.
Minus torquebit te.
"TETUS:
Nihil Est.
PHormio.
Quasi non prodat te vultus tuus, Index satis locuples.
Tirus.
Nihil est inquam.
PHORMIO.
Age Age, si nihil est quin eas ad sodales intro
P) Atque Gesippo tuo adsis ut par est in nuptiis.
Titus.
Veh misero mihi, nequeo continere amplius.
PHORMIO.
Iamdudum desiderari scio praesentiam tuam.
Titus.
Mi Phormio.
PHORMIO.
Quid ais?
Lrrus:
Nae ego Inauspicato natus sum in vitam hanc.
PHORMIO.
Deus Bonus mala prohibeat.
Titus, Qui vtinam Quoquo pacto peremptus essem cum huc primum Tetulissem pedem!
PHORMIO, Miror quidnam sit rei.
REL EGS.
Vis dicam tibi?
PHoRMIO.
Si lubet.
25. Quasi] ?read Etiam quasi, which would yield a six-foot line (the first two feet being dactyls) ; but Etiam was apparently deleted.
28. Gesippo| emended from Tito.
29. Veh] = Vae.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Puormio. Not until Pve wrung it out of you. Tell me.
Trrus. You keep hammering away.
Puormio. Well, if you would look for a cure Tirus. I won't.
PHoRrMiIo.——it will torture you less.
Trrus. It's nothing.
Puormio. As if your face weren't a sure sign to betray you.
Trrus. It's nothing, I say.
PnuoRMrio. Come, come, if it's nothing, why not go in to your companions to be with your friend Gesippus at his wedding, as is proper?
Trrus [aside]. Oh woe is me, I can't hold it in any longer.
Puormio. I know they wanted you there long ago.
Trrus. My Phormio PyHormio. What?
Titus. Truly I was born under an evil star.
Puormio. May the good lord prevent evil.
Titus. Would that I had been killed somehow as soon as I came here.
PuHormio. I wonder what's the matter.
Titus. You want me to tell you?
Puonuro. If you will.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.1
Tirus.
Dicam. Semproniam Illam Gesippo hodie meo nupturam nostin', Phormio?
Puormio.
Quid ni? linus:
Os illius, habitum Atque formam—sed quid eam praedicem tibi?
PHORMIO.
Audio.
Tirvus.
Deinde Gesippum illum vnice animo meo Semper charissimum, huic qui datur in coniugem ?
PHORMIO.
Perge.
Tirus.
Qui nisi is esset, facile ego in hac Re prospicerem mihi.
PHORMIO.
Quid tum postea?
Titus.
Vah, tardus es, Phormio.
PuoRMIO.
Au, perquam pol Tite ut ais Tardus sum. Iam intelligo. Ausculta in aurem.
Tirvs.
[f 122] Ita amet me deus, Phormio.
PHORMIO.
Et me. Sed quid hic Me iam velis facere?
Titus.
Gladio me tuo Interimas atque eximas miseriis.
Pronuro.
Istud Hostibus meis fiet potius. tos:
Aut siquid aliud, Aliud innire queas remedii.
PHoRMIO.
Conclamatum est.
"Tyrus.
Saltem ut proferantur nuptiae in diem alterum Dum aliquo me concedam praecipitatum.
PHORMIO.
Here, Non tam bardus nec tardus sum qui incendia Tua non intelligam. Vtinam tam facile dare
44. Tite] emended from Pamphile.
50. 2nnire]| = inire.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Trrus. I'll tell you. Phormio, you know Sempronia, who is marrying my friend Gesippus today?
Puormio. Of course.
Trrus. Her face, her bearing, her figure—but why should I praise her to you?
Pnuonurio. I'm listening.
Trrus. Then you know that Gesippus, who's marrying her, has always been singularly dear to my heart.
Pnonwro. Go on.
Titus. If it weren't he, I'd look after my own interests in this matter without any hesitation.
Pnuonuro. Go on.
Trrus. Bah, you're slow, Phormio.
PHormio. Oh! I'm very slow indeed, as you say, Titus. Now I understand. Listen. [He whispérs in Titus' ear.]
Titus. Yes, Phormio, god love me.
PuHormio. And me. But now, what would you like me to do about it?
Trrus. Kill me with your sword and deliver me from my miseries.
PnuonRwro. That would be better done by my enemies.
Titus. Or, if you can devise something else, some other remedy— — Puormio.
It's hopeless.
Trrus. At least if the wedding were put off to another day while I run off somewhere Puormio. Master, I'm not so stupid or so slow! that I don't understand what's burning you; would that I could as easily give you
1 The Latin rhyme (tardus-bardus) cannot be effectively captured in English.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.2
Lenimen queam. Quin agam sedulo
Manibus pedibusque facturus omnia quo iuuem Te. Tu quiesce interim et da cogitandi locum.
Tirus.
Fiet.
Puormio.
Ego consulam locos meos dialecticos.
[Actus Primus. ScENA SECUNDA. | Gesippus. Dromo. Syrus. [Pythias. Stephanio.] [GzsirPPus.] Quis tandem finis cerimoniarum? Citius decem
Elephanti pariunt quam vnas isti parturiunt nuptias.
Tam sancti sunt in nugis, ipsa in re remisissimi.
Quin mihi aut cito dent aut non dent vxorem prorsus ?
Me enecant isto taedio. Nec pater usquam apparet gentium
Nec quicquam paratum dum ad nuptias manus non admolior.
Atqui iam opus est ut faciam. Heus, heus, Dromo Et Syre, exite ad me ilico.
Dromo.
Quis euocator hic?
Here, tun' accersisti ?
[3-223] SYRUS.
Here adsumus. Numquid imperas?
GESIPPUS.
Syre, Stephanio et Pythias fac sis huc vocentur ocyus.
I0 SYRUS.
Abeo.
GrsrPPUs.
Tu, Dromo, curriculo perfuge ad forum, obsonium E macello comportatum ad nuptias. Cape argentum hoc atque,
Audin' ? si quas rariores nosti gulae delicias, nihil Desit lautitiarum ita vti scis conuenire conuiuio.
Dromo.
Factum puta.
GESIPPUS.
Stephanio, te praeficimus rei
Culinariae.
STEPHANIO.
Accipio.
58. dialecticos] apparently a separate line in MST, though Foxe probably meant it merely as a runover of l. 58.
P.H. Pythias. Stephanio] omitted in manuscript.
3. ipsa .
. remisissimi] see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
a balm. But I'll set to work, hand and foot, doing everything I can to help you. Meantime you be calm and allow yourself room for thought.
Trrus. All right.
Puormio. ll consult my places of logic.!
[ Exeunt.
[1.2] Enter Gesippus.
Gesippus.
Is there any end of these ceremonies? Ten elephants bear young faster than these people produce one wedding. They're as neglectful of the substance of the business as they are scrupulous about trivia. Oh, that they would either give me a wife quickly or not give me a wife straightaway. They're kiling me with this irksome delay. My father is nowhere to be seen, and nothing is prepared unless I put my own hands to work on the wedding.
[ Shouts.| Hey there, Dromo and Syrus, But now I must do it. come out here to me.
Enter Dromo and Syris.
Dromo. Who's calling? Master, did you call?
SvRus. Master, here we are. What is your command?
GzsiPPUs. Syrus, call Stephanio and Pythias here at once.
SvRUs. l'm on my way.
[ Exit.
Gesippus. Dromo, you run to the forum on the double to get provisions for the wedding from the butcher. Take this silver, and—— are you listening? if you know of any rare delicacies for our palates, let no luxury be wanting that you know is suitable for our banquet.
Dromo. Consider it done.
[ Exit.
Enter Syrus, Stephanio, and Pythias.
Gesippus. Stephanio, I place you in charge of kitchen operations.
STEPHANIO. I accept.
1 The grounds of proof in argument, which Magdalen students would know very well from their work in grammar school and university. Phormio later finds a solution in the place of similitude (the physical resemblance of Titus and Gesippus).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.3
GESIPPUS.
Syre, adduc nobis qui choraules siet Et hymenaeum cantitet, deinde qui choreas saltitent
Et tripudia. Vt omnia perstrepent hilaritate.
SYRUS.
Curabitur.
GESIPPUS.
Tua, Pythia, cura est ut intus niteant omnia Splendeantque in aedibus; componantur ad munditiem; rosas ac lilia quoqueversum
Interspergito. Limina sertis ornentur, et atria Fronde. Fument accensis thura Sabea focis. Tum
Peristroma illud ex Arabia e cistula euoluas ac Thoro insternas geniali, quod mea adueniens
Demeretur Sempronia. Deinde quid aliud volui
Dicere? Sed nihil refert. Haec interim exequitor.
PyTHIAS.
Fiet, domine.
GESIPPUS.
Abite. Nunc pater mihi vbi Vbi est conquirendus est, vt conueniam, nec satis Vbi quaeram scio. Atque eum quam opportune cum socero
Advenientem.
[Acrus Primus. ScENA TERTIA. | Simo. Chremes. Gesippus.
| F9] [Srmo. ] Quin tu istas gratias omitte, Chreme, quasi hactenus Inter nos non norimus, aut quasi gratiae id mihi
Adponi aequum sit pro officio ego quod facio. Siquid meum Vsquam vides tibi aut tuis quod expetendum sit, uel id
Deberi a me tibi, Chreme, credito——itque pro mutua
Ac inueterata hac uitae simul quae mihi iam diu Tecum incoepit consuetudine.
CHREMES.
Perbenigne et dicis et facis, Simo. Eandemque vicissim tibi cantionem recino: si quid fortuna habet 18. perstrepent] the correct reading would be perstrepant.
20. componantur ad munditiem] see Textual Notes.
5. itque] a dubious reading; the dash could be a v (?read vic'que).
8. cantionem recino] see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Gesippus. Syrus, bring me the flute player and the singer of the wedding hymn and the dancers. How everything will resound with merrymaking.
SvRus. It will be taken care of.
GrsrPPUs. Pythias, your job is to see that everything in the house is shiny and sparkling and elegantly arranged. Scatter roses and lilies everywhere. Decorate the doorways with garlands and the halls with boughs. Make Sabaean! incense smoke in the burning hearths. Unroll the Arabian carpet from its basket and spread it on the bridal couch, because my Sempronia deserves it when she comes. Then what else did I want to tell you? Well, nothing important. For now, look after these things.
Pyruias. It will be done, my lord.
GzsrPPUs. Get going.—— [Exeunt all but Gesippus.
Now I must hunt for my father to speak to him, wherever he is— and I don't quite know where to look. But just in time he's coming with my father-in-law.
[1.3] Enter Simo and Chremes Stmo. Never mind the thanks, Chremes. As if we didn't know this between ourselves long ago, or as if it were right to attribute to my graciousness what I do out of duty. If you see anything at all of mine which you or your family should want, please consider that I owe it to you, Chremes that's the result of this mutual and long-standing familiarity which began between your life and mine at the same time long ago.
Curemes. Your words and actions are very kind, Simo, and I sing the same refrain to you in turn: if it is my good fortune to have
1 Saba (the Biblical Sheba) in Arabia Felix was famous for its frankincense and myrrh. Then, as now, Arabia was also noted for its carpets, to which Gesippus refers in the next sentence.
TELUS ED GESILPUS, 13
Nostra vbi quid tibi gratiae referre possumus, me rebusque Meis vtere vt voles. Numquid nunc rei aliud restat reliquum? 10
GESIPPUS.
Cesso compellare.
CHREMES.
Quis hic loquitur? Gesippe ?
GESIPPUS.
Pater, Teipsum querito.
CHREMES.
Qua de re?
GESIPPUS.
Hodie vis vxorem me ducere Annon? Iam advesperascit.
CHREMES.
Ohe vt hic prurit ad nuptias!
Quin iam venio. Tu interim praecurre domum, ibi vt Concinnentur omnia ita vt decet conviuas excipi luculenter.
GESIPPUS.
Hanc
Modo edictionem dedi Pythiae ad accurandum!
Lf. 123v] CHREMES.
Laudo. Nunc Ad Semproniam ergo ingredere, vt sese exornet ne sit in Mora cum opus sit accersier.
GESIPPUS.
Admodum.
CHREMES.
Sed heus Insuauem fortassis tibi operam praecipimus. Ibit Pro te, censeo, alius. Tu parcas calcibus.
GESIPPUS.
Ne paueas, pater!
Ego hoc defungar optime!
SIMO.
Gesippe, etiam respicis.
En Gesippe, pactas hic tecum decem argenti drachumulas, Quid ais?
GzsrPPUS.
| Quidnam facturus?
SIMO.
Ea lege, ad me rursum vti Redeas absque osculo.
GESIPPUS.
Quin hercle dato.
SIMO.
Enimvero hercle accipe.
GESIPPUS.
Nolim tantum tibi damni, Simo.
SIMO.
Viden' vero?
13. Annon] emended from Anno.
19. Insuauem] ?read Gesippe insuauem; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
anything by which I may show something of my gratitude toward you, use me and my goods as you wish. Now, does anything else remain to be done?
Gesippus [aside, coming forward]. ll speak to them.
Curemes. Who's speaking here? Gesippus?
Gesippus. Father, I've been looking all over for you.
CuremeEs. What about?
Gesippus. Do you want me to get married today or not? It's almost evening already.
Curemes. Oho, how he itches for the wedding! Well, I'm coming now. Meantime you run on home to arrange everything there as it should be for receiving guests splendidly.
Gesippus. I've just ordered Pythias to see to that.
Curemes. Very good. Now then, go have Sempronia get dressed so she won't keep us waiting when it's time to call her.
Gesippus. Yes indeed.
CnunEMEs. But alas, maybe we're rushing you off on an unpleasant task. I think someone else will go for you. You save your shoes.
GzsiPPUs. Have no fear, father. I'll take care of this best.
Simo. Gesippus, look here now. Here's a deal with you for ten silver drachmas,! Gesippus, what do you say?
GzsiPPUs. What do I have to do?
Simo. The condition is that you come back to me without giving her a kiss.
Gesippus. Well, by Hercules, give them to me.
Stmo. Well, by Hercules, take them.
Gesippus. I wouldn't want to do you such an injury, Simo.
[Exit.
Simo. Did you see that?
1 A small silver coin, equivalent to the Roman denarius and worth slightly more than sixteen cents.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.4
CHREMES.
Mira res,
Quid fert adolescentia.
SIMO.
Ita est.
CHREMES.
Satis iam Simo a nobis, quod ad Hanc rem attinet, spero esse definita omnia, nisi te quid aliud
Moratum habet.
SIMO.
Nihil.
CHREMES.
De dote uti dudum conventum est.
SIMO.
Dos ut dixi triginta talenta tibi: accersas vbi lubet.
CHREMES.
[f 124] Cedo dextram. Porro hoc te rogo, Simo, ut haec inter nos affinitas
Stabili nunc foedere inita, magis magisque augescens indies, Perpetua postmodum aetate cum nostra succrescat simul.
SIMO.
Imo sic opto et volo, Chreme.
CHREMES.
Sed quando supputabimus ?
SIMO.
Tuo fiat arbitratu.
CHREMES.
Quin 1am censeo opportunissimum, Intus si velis apud nos.
SIMO.
I prae, consequar.
[Acrus Primus. ScENA QuanTA.] Phormio.
[PHORMIO. |
Pas, Iupiter, Saturnus, virgula Mercurii, Vulcani retia, arcus Cupidinis, Gygis Annulus, Syrenarum cantus, Cyrcaea Pocula, Medeae herbae, Medusae caput, Ungula Pegasi, lupi oculus, vos denique
1. Pas] I take this as a transliteration of the Greek zás. The word is repeated in l. 7, twice alone and twice with Latin prefixes which yield no meaning; cf. the nonsense prefix schm in American slang, as in everything—schmeverything.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Curemes. It's miraculous what youth does.!
Simo. It certainly is.
Curemes. Simo, I hope we've finished everything that we have to do in this matter—unless there's something else to hold you back.
Simo. Nothing else.
CnunEMEs. The dowry is as we agreed before?
Smo. As I said, a dowry of thirty talents for you.? Ask for it whenever you wish.
Curemes. Let's shake on it. And, Simo, I beg you that this alliance between us, begun now in this firm contract, may increase from day to day, growing more and more firm even as our days do grow, and on in perpetuity.
Simo. I earnestly hope so too, Chremes.
Curemes. When shall we do our reckoning?
Simo. Whenever you wish.
CunEMEs. Well, I think now is a very good time if you want to go into my place.
Simo. Lead on, Ill follow.
| Exeunt.
[I.4] Enter Phormio.
Puormio. The whole crew of you! Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury's rod,? Vulcan's net,^ Cupid's bow, Gyges' ring,® the Sirens' song,
Circe's cup, Medea's herbs, Medusa's head,* Pegasus' hoof?
1 Gesippus' integrity is thus established, to the surprise of his elders, in that he refuses to accept money that he could easily keep without living up to the terms of the bet.
2 The talent contained, usually, 6,000 drachmas and was worth around $1,000.
3 The caduceus.
4 The net with which Vulcan, god of fire and metal-working, captured his wife Venus in flagrante delicto with Mars.
5'The ring by means of which Gyges, a king of Lydia, could make himself invisible.
$ 'The cup with which Circe turned men into beasts.
? 'The herbs, etc., with which the sorceress Medea rejuvenated Aeson, Jason's father.
8 The gorgon Medusa's head, cut off by Perseus and fixed in Minerva's aegis, had serpents for hair and eyes which turned men to stone.
? Pegasus, the winged horse of Bellerophon, born of Medusa's blood; mounted on Pegasus, Bellerophon conquered the Chimaera. Pegasus' hoof kicked the Muses' Mt. Helicon and produced the soul-inspiring fountain Hippocrene.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.4
Platonis ideae, exalationes Aristotelis, Numeri Pythagorae; pas, hehi pas repas Compas! Proh diuum atque hominum fidem!
Quam duram coepi ego prouinciam hodie, Et quam audax facinus, plusquam facinus, hodie
Agressus sum! Quod nunc superi superaeque Omnes tantam mihi potestatem astutiae Infulciant ut queam perficere. Quippe non
Humanam sed diuinam opem res haec prorsus Postulat, adeo meas longe machinas Omnes superat: principio senes duo Fallendi simul, virginis incantandus Animus, Gesippi expugnandus amor— Quod quam sit difficile nihil dico nunc—
Populo vniuerso oblinendi oculi.
Tum temporis punctum ad res istas datur mihi, 'Tum solus sum, sine Theseo veluti in Labyrintho situs. Etiamnum nonnullum per
Transsennam veluti filum habere videor, Quo scilicet hinc me elabi pacto oporteat.
Consului enim locos meos oraculis Ceu pro Delphicis dialecticos.
Inde vt alius ex alio, vt fit, in mentem incidit Locus mox offert se similitudinis.
Hinc prehendi argumentum meo quam graphice Appositum molimini. At vna haec est mihi
IO [f. 1240] Dy
Cautio, nequid huius suboleat herunculo Quem in maerore haerere adhuc satius est.
8-9.] see Textual Notes.
23-27.] see Textual Notes for the special problems in these lines.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
the wolf's eye,! and finally you too, Plato's Ideas,? Aristotle's exhalations,?? and Pythagoras numbers*—hey, every one of you, all withall and wherewithall!® Oh the faith of gods and men!
How hard the duty I've undertaken today! How audacious the crime, worse than a crime, I've begun today! May all the gods and goddesses stuff me now with the power of their wisdom that I may bring this off, for it surely demands resources not human but divine, so far does it exceed all my devices. First two old men must be deceived at the same time, and the mind of the girl must be charmed. Gesippus' love must be taken by storm, and how difficult that is I pass over for the present. Everyone's eyes must be blinded. Now is the time for me to do all this, and now
I'm on my own as if I were in the Labyrinth without Theseus.® But even now, through the lattice," I seem to have a thread, as it were, with which I should certainly be able to get out of this spot. For delphic oracles, so to speak, I have consulted my places of logic: of these, the place of similitude instantly presents itself, just as one thing happens to come into the mind from another. Hence I've seized upon a theme which is beautifully appropriate to my task. But I must be careful not to let any of this leak out to my young master. It's better for him to remain
1 Referring to an old Roman belief that if a wolf saw a man before the man saw the wolf, the man would become dumb.
2 The archetypal ideals of Platonic philosophy.
? Aristotle's zveüpa avpdu7ov, some type of hot, foamy substance analogous in composition to the element of which the stars are made. ... It starts from the heart and its function is to provide the sensitive and kinetic link between the physical organs and the psyche. .
. The pneuma is present in the sperm and transmits the nutritive and sensitive soul from progenitor to offspring" (F. E. Peters,
Greek Philosophical Terms: A Historical Lexicon [New York, 1967], p. 161); see A. L. Peck, tr., Generation of Animals, Loeb Classical Library (London, 1953), pp. 578-593. Literally, mvedua means wind (Aristotle's De Meteorologia, passim).
^ Pythagoras reduced the basic intervals of music to mathematical ratios, which he "'extended to the principle that things are, in effect, numbers" (Peters, p. 25). Aristotle says the Pythagoreans saw "'the elements of numbers to be the elements of everything, and the whole universe to be a proportion of number"
(Metaphysics, 986a, Hugh Tredennick, tr., Loeb Library [London, 1947], I, 33).
5 See the note to the Latin text on Pas (1l. 1).
$ Theseus escaped from Minos' Labyrinth in Crete with a thread provided by Ariadne. In Christus Triumphans Satan desires some Theseuses to help him.
? Cf. Christus Triumphans, Prologue 11; Foxe's draft reading, per nebulas (through the clouds), may be taken as a gloss on this Ciceronian phrase.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.5
Quo nostrae procedant vt volumus astutiae.
Atque opportune huc ut volumus incedit obuiam.
Vide animi maestus: admiranda res amor
Quid facit. Atqui hunc libido est gustare sermonem.
[Actus Primus. ScENA QuiNTA.] Titus. Phormio.
[f 125] Dimetri.
[ Trrus.] Nunc illud est profecto quod Si sexcenti Aesculapii, Cumque his Salus ipsa, omnia In unum omnes sua simul Narthecia opesque conferant Huic iam malo antidoti nihil Quicquam adferant, quin perditus Perpetuo prorsus perierim.
Vah intimis adeo miser Medullis totus aestuo Penitissime, cui neque pudor Neque consilium neque ratio Quicquam subseruit.
O mea Sempronia, mea suauitas, Vsque adeo meum haec ingens tuae IO L2 Formae vis perstringit iecur.
O faciem illam pulchram, o genas Lubentes, o collum eburneum, O formarum delicium ac decus Rarum. Ergo praeter te, mea [f. 1257] Sempronia, aliud rerum nihil Mihi omnium volo. Sola tu Vel mors vel vita mea, quam nisi Fiet in coniugem ut duxero Vnum pol spirare nequeo Praeterea diem. Nec qua id pote est Fieri video, namque quod
23. Vel mors] ?read Mors.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
still mired in his grief. In that way my wiles may proceed as I wish. And just as I wished, here he comes toward me. See how sad he is. It's remarkable what love does! But Im eager to hear what he has to say.
[1.5] Enter Titus.
Tirus. Now indeed I have that sickness for which six hundred Aesculapiuses along with Salus herself,! if they rolled all their medicines and all their skills into one, could supply no antidote to prevent me from dying straightaway, utterly beyond recovery.
Alas, wretch that I am, my very heart is so completely on fire that neither shame nor good counsel nor reason can help me at all. Oh my Sempronia, my sweet, how continually the great power of your beauty squeezes at my liver!? Oh that beautiful face, those lovely cheeks, that ivory neck! Oh the delight and the rare grace of your charms! Besides you, then, I want nothing else in the world, my Sempronia. You alone are life or death to me: unless I marry you I cannot breathe even one day more.
And I don't see how it can be done, for what Phormio has 1 Aesculapius was god of medicine; Salus (the Greek Hygeiea), i.e., health, was his helper.
2 In Renaissance physiology, the liver was thought the seat of love.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.5
Mihi est pollicitus Phormio Magis solandi ergo mei Quam quod quicquam habeat.
Factum certo scio.
PHORMIO.
Quasi de improuiso ingeram me. Prorsus haec Res extra salutem est quantum video Nisi deus succurrat quispiam an diuina virgula.
Quippe humanos cuneos nodus hic omnes superat.
Miseret me heri.
Trrus.
Occidi. Quid ais, Phormio?
PHormio.
Here, tu' hic eras? Teipsum querito.
Trrus.
Quid ais? Ecquid vitae est an nihil, Phormio?
PHORMIO.
Here, in re immedicabili non arte sed patientia Opus est. Laboratum est sedulo, ac si pro capite
Here hercle sudandum sit, meo, si quid industria Confici potuisset. Verum cum eo res in loco
Est ut nusquam sit consilio locus, Consilium hoc iam solum superest: tua vt Occurras patientia quando mutarier Id aliter non potest. Det locum voluntas
Necessitati.
Tirvs.
Veh mortuo mihi.
Vt animus antehac in spe atque in timore Detentus fuit, ita nunc spes postquam adempta est
Vita vna adempta est simul. Hah, Phormio, Huccine fretus praesidio tuo?
PHORMIO.
Fretus meo?
Nam quid queso te in hac re vt facerem?
Lf. 126]
Si quidem prius id mihi indicasses, fateor, Verum alienam vxorem nunc in ipsis nuptiis
Tum in aliena regione velle ducere Fieri non potest. Tu dijudica.
Titus.
Quin Romam ergo abiens commenda me parentibus.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
promised me is more to console me than that he really has anything, I'm quite sure of that.
Pnuonwro. [aside]. Vll come up as if I were just arriving. [Aloud, as uf to himself.] As far as I can see, this business is completely beyond saving unless some god or some divine wand helps us.
This knurl really defies all human wedges. I feel sorry for my master.
Tirus. I'm dead. What are you saying, Phormio?
Puormio. Master, were you here? I've been looking for you.
Trrus. What do you say, Phormio, is there hope for my life or not?
Puormio. Master, when a disease is incurable, one needs patience, not skill. I've worked hard, master, just as if I had to sweat for my own neck—my own, by Hercules—and as if anything could have been done through my industry. But when matters are in such a state that there is no room for a plan, the only plan remaining is this: meet the situation with patience when it can't be altered. Let your will give way to necessity.
Trrus. Or to my death! As my life had been prolonged up to now in hope and fear, so now, when my hope has been ripped away, my life has been ripped away with it. Oh Phormio, is this where
Ive got by relying on your help?
PnuonRMrio. Relying on my help! For heaven's sake, what could I do about it? If indeed you had told me about it earlier, I confess the very moment of his wedding, and in the other man's country
. But now, to want to marry another man's wife at to boot—it can't be done. You be the judge.
Titus. Well, then, go to Rome and commend me to my parents.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.6
PHORMIO.
Here, quaeso quo nunc agis te?
Tirvs.
In lectulum Supplicaturus morti quandoquidem distaedeat Viuere.
Puromio.
Recte sane. Hinc igitur meam
Exordiar telam concinnandi nuptias.
Prima mihi Gesippo huic iniicienda tragula est.
Huic ille semper fuit vt quisquam fuit Nostro amicissimus, perinde vt non vitam Magis amauit suam. Hiccine, noster ut
Pereat, cui opitulari ipse tam facile Vnius adeo impendio potest virgunculae, Certe, si resciuerit, non sinet scio.
Nunc ipsum vbi quaeram cogito.
[Actus Primus. ScENA SEXTA.] Syrus. Marsias. Chorus Mimicus. Misenus.
Lf. 126v] SYRUS.
Papae, prodigium hominis sterquilinium, nebulonis. At Vnde quaeso edoctus peritiam tantam hac cum omnipotenti tua
Fistula?
Mansras. Mane, nondum Syre audisti omnia.
SYRUS.
Eho tu An nondum obsecro.
MARSIAs.
Deinde Dorivm.
SYRUS.
Dorivm.
MARSIAs.
Hypodorium.
SYRUS.
Euax.
Mansias.
Lydium.
SYRUS.
Eya vero.
MaAmnstAs.
Phrigium.
SYRUS.
Bene.
MARSIAs.
Hypophrygium.
SYRUS.
Dice.
Marsias.
Hypolydium.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Puormio. Master, where are you going now, I beseech you?
Trrus. To my couch to plead for death, since I'm tired of living.
[ Exit.
PHormio. Very well.—— Now, then, I shall weave my web of arranging a wedding. My first snare must be set for Gesippus.
He's always been a great friend of my master, as friendly as anyone—he hasn't loved his own life more. If he learned that my master is dying and that he could easily help him at the trifling cost of one girl, he wouldn't let him die, I'm sure of that.
Now I wonder where I might find him.
| Exit.
[1.6] Enter Syrus, Marsias, and a Chorus of Mimes.
SvRUs. Wonderful, you marvelous dungheap of worthlessness. But where on earth did you learn so much skill with this omnipotent pipe of yours?
Marsias. Wait, Syrus, you haven't heard everything yet.
SvRus. Well, pray, will you continue or not?
Marsias. Next there's the Dorian.!
[.He plays the scales. | Syrus. Dorian.
Marsias. And Hypo-Dorian.
SvRus. Good.
Marsias. The Lydian.
Syrus. Ah, indeed.
Marsias. The Phrygian.
Syrus. Fine.
Marsias. The Hypo-Phrygian.
Syrus. Go on.
Marsias. Hypo-Lydian.
1 Marsias plays the four modes (or scales) of Greek music (Dorian, Lydian, Phrygian, and Mixo-Lydian), each of which was associated with a particular mood, and three of the plagal scales associated with those (Hypo-Dorian, HypoPhrygian, and Hypo-Lydian).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.6
SYRUS.
Ei.
MARSstIAs.
Mixolydium.
SYRUS.
Et quid non?
MARSslIAs.
Mira tibi Syre Sunt ista forsitan.
SYRUS.
Mihi? Imo diuina omnia, uixque mihi Induci potest, esse te vt credam hominem.
MamnslaAs.
Praeter tum Volgares illas Orphei ac Amphyonis cantiones, quibus Saxa et syluas commotas memorant.
SYRUS.
Quaeso vero te IO Vir doctissime.
MARSIAS.
Quid vis?
SYRUS.
Caelo primoque mobili Opinio est mirificam quandam inesse harmoniam.
Mamnsias.
Id num cui dubium?
Atque iccirco sidera ducunt ipsa choreas.
SYRUS.
Atque eam tua Nobis potest effingere fistula ?
Marsias.
Nihil facilius.
SYRUS.
Rogatur ut
Audire liceat.
MARSsIAs.
Negatur.
SYRUS.
Inclina, domine, aurem tuam.
MARSsIAs.
Non audio.
SYRUS.
Per omnipotentem tuam fistulam.
MarslIas.
Etiamsi rogas millies.
SYRUS.
I»: 127] Cur, quaeso?
MARIAs.
Quia an id tu nescis, fatue, disciplinam Esse artis nostrae, plus quo possit quisque rogatus hoc minus
Velit.
15. Rogatur ut] the metrical position of this line following revision is unclear;
I read it as a separate line. See Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Syrus. Oh.
Marsias. Mixo-Lydian.
SvRUs. And what not?
Mamnsias. I suppose this is all amazing to you, Syrus?
Syrus. To me? Yes, it's all divine, and I can scarcely be persuaded to believe that you are a man.
Mansias. Besides that, there are the popular Orphic and Amphionic songs by which the common people commemorate the moving of rocks and woods.!
SvRus. But let me ask you something, my most learned fellow.
Marsias. What?
Svnus. Do you think there's a miraculous harmony in the sky and the primum mobile ??
Marsias. Is there any doubt about it? On account of it the stars themselves dance.
SvRus. Can your pipe imitate that for us?
Mansias. There's nothing easier.
SvRUs. Let's hear it.
Marsias. No.
SvRUus. Bend your ear, lord.?
Marsias. I don't hear you.
SvRus. By your almighty pipe.
Mansias. Even if you ask a thousand times.
SvRUs. Why, will you tell me?
Marsias. Because it's a rule of my art or don't you know this, you silly fool?——that the more anyone can do, the less he wishes to do when he's asked.
1 Orpheus (whose legend is analogous to that of Marsias' namesake, Marsyas) played the lyre so enchantingly that all nature stopped to listen to his music; the aowdot of Thrace, the earliest singers of Greece, are associated with his worship.
Amphion's playing of the lyre caused stones to move and form a wall around Thebes.
2 The primum mobile was the outermost sphere, in Ptolemaic astronomy, which actuated the movements of all the other spheres. The music of the spheres is a Pythagorean conception based on the mathematical affinity between the lyre of seven strings and the universe of seven planets. In the mystical tradition of this conception, only the spiritually pure could hear the notes that each sphere emitted and that, together, produced a divine harmony. Of course no mortal, not even Marsias, could reproduce that music.
3 That is, listen with favor (as in Psalm 30.3).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.6
Syrus. Siccine ais? Imo etsi tu velles maxime, haud libuit
Audire tamen. Dissimulabam.
MaArsIAs.
Age age, tametsi decretum erat Tamen ne vertas id imperitiae ac si minime possem audies.
SYRUS.
Siquidem saltare licet.
MARSIAs.
Ut libet.
SYRUS.
Incipecs MARSsIAs.
Ausculta.
SYRUS.
Incipe.
MarsIas.
Etiam stas lapis?
SYRUS.
Modulabere hodie an non?
MARSsIAs.
Tu pol homo Videre haud compos sensuum.
SYRUS.
Quidum?
MakrsIas.
Quasi non satis
Me audias modulantem!
SYRUS.
Audiam! Quid ego audiam?
MARSlIAs.
Caeleste melos.
SYRUS.
Caelestes camelos? Egone mus'cam melodiam audio?
Marsias.
En tibi Saturnum illum grauitonum inter primos obtunnienti.
SYRUS.
Perge mentirier.
MarslIas.
Deinde sex reliquos orbes sex diapason species pulcherrima Harmonia personantes, audin' tu?
SYRUS.
Eho popularis ecquis audit 30 Vestrum? Equidem nihil audio.
MARSsIAs.
Syre, subtilis oppido haec est musica.
Deinde ad hunc cantum aures ita a puero tibi occalluerunt quemadmodum Nili Stadisenses ad Cataractas, id est, quod iam non percipis.
27. mus'cam] the contraction (without an apostrophe in MST) signals the pun on muscam and musicam.
28. obtunnienti] — obtinnienti.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Syrus. You don't say so. Well then, even if you wanted very much to play it, I didn't want to hear it at all. I was only pretending.
Mansias. All right, even though my mind was made up, yet you shall hear it so you won't accuse me of inexperience as if I didn't know how.
Syrus. Well, if you let me dance, go ahead.
Marsias. As you wish.
Syrus. Start.
Marsias. Listen.
[Marsias and the Chorus pretend to play.) SvRus. Come on, start.
Marsias. You stand like a stone!
SvRUs. Are you going to play today or not?
Marsias. God, you seem incapable of hearing.
Syrus. Why?
Marsias. As if you didn't hear me playing perfectly well!
Syrus. I hear? What should I hear?
Marsias. Heavenly carols.
SvRus. Heavenly camels! Do I hear a melody fly ??
Marsias. Listen, and tingle with the deepest tones of Saturn.'
Syrus. Go on lying.
Marsias. Then the six remaining spheres sounding the other six parts of the octave in a most beautiful harmony. Do you hear it?
Syrus. Oh, does any mortal hear your song? I hear nothing.
Marsias. Syrus, this music is very subtle, and from boyhood your ears have been as hardened to this song as the inhabitants of Stadisis are to the Cataracts of the Nile.^ That's why you don't hear it.
1 The pun is closer in Latin (melos = song). Cf. the pun on Carmeli-camelos in the draft version of Christus Triumphans V.1.38.
2 Literally, a musical melody (mus'cam = musicam), but the reference to camels provokes a punning reference to a fly.
? Saturn, the farthest of the spheres, produced the lowest note (like the longest string on the lyre) as the moon, the nearest sphere, produced the highest.
4 The cataracts are at the southern border of modern Egypt. Pliny tells of the Ethiopian city of Stadisis, "where the river Nile, as it thunders down the precipices, has quite deprived the inhabitants of the power of hearing" (Natural
History, V1.35, tr. John Bostock and H. T. Riley [London, 1855], II, 99).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.7
SYRUS.
[2.279] Intelligo. Sed vbi alter ille tuus cessat?
MARSIAs.
Mox aderit.
SYRUS.
Atque eccum venientem. Concedamus nunc intro. Consequamini.
[Actus Primus. ScENA SEPTIMA. | Phormio. Gesippus.
[ PHORMIO. |
Verissimum illud hercle est, volgo quod volitat:
Nimia properatio sibi est mora maxima.
Quanto studiosius Gesippum quaero tanto minus Inuenio, nec hominis vsquam vestigium apparet quo sese
Abduxit ut sciam. Sed vnde crepuerunt fores?
Saluus sum, hominem ipsum habeo.
GESIPPUS.
Omnium rerum Esse satietatem aiunt. At mihi longe aliter euenit In mea Sempronia, cuius ego plenus numquam sum neque
Esse possum, quin quo magis Intueor hoc magis perpetuo placet. Atque nunc IO Magnifice, ut numquam alias, postquam in vestibus video
Oris illud iubar vt splendeat—ut liquido dixerim— Virginum quicquid est omnes esse carbonarias
Aut Aegyptias si formas conferant. Excepta tamen Vna Pamphila, Romae olim quam vidi cum Tito meo
Illi destinatam in coniugem. Exemplar adeo Naturae singulare Idaeae obliuiscar nunquam, quod nisi is esset
Quem vis non fuit violare—nec vnquam velim—id in hac Iam designassem virgine quod Paris, ut referunt,
In rapienda Helena.
PHoRMIO.
Nae ego istud multis nominibus
Audisse gaudeo.
GESIPPUS.
Quod tamen Titi mei caussa Numquam faciam.
[yer28] PHORMIO.
Sat habeo. Quasi modo Adveniens occupabo hominem. Siquis hic 14. st formas] ?read si huic formas; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Syrus. I know. But say, where is your buddy held up?
Marsias. He'll be here soon.
SvRus. And sure enough he's coming.
Enter Misenus.
Now let's go in. Follow me.
[ Exeunt.
[1.7] Enter Phormio.
Puormio. By Hercules, that popular saying is very, very true: the more haste, the less speed. The more eagerly I look for Gesippus, the less success I have in finding him. No trace of the man appears so I might know where he's gone. But why are the gates squeaking ?
I'm saved. I have the man himself.
Enter Gesippus.
Gesippus [to himself |. They say one can get too much of everything, but for me it has turned out quite differently with my Sempronia, because I am never tired of her and I never can be. Yes, the more I see her, the more thoroughly I like her. And now that I've seen how the day-star of her face shines—how purely, I should have said—when she was dressed more magnificently than ever before, whatever other maidens there are, if they compare their beauty to hers, are all as black as coal or as Egyptians. All but one—Pamphila, whom I saw once at Rome about to be wed to my friend Titus. Such a unique copy of Nature's Idea I shall never forget. If it had not been Titus, whom I had no will to dishonor—I would never do that—I would already have done with that girl as they say Paris did in carrying off Helen.
Puormio [aside]. Well! I'm glad I heard that, of all names.
GzsiPPus [to himself]. But because of my friend Titus, I would never do that.
Puormio [aside]. I've heard enough. I'll come up to him as if I
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.8
Vestrum, amici, quaeso sit qui Gesippum hodie In platea hac praetereuntem.
GEsIPPUS.
Men' quaerit?
PHORMIO.
Ipsus adest. Gesippe salue.
GESIPPUS.
Salue. Sed quid tu es Tam tristis, tamue anhelus Phormio?
PHORMIO.
Herus meus.
GESIPPUS.
Age, enarra, Phormio.
PHORMIO.
Magno te rogat opere, Quantum potes.
GESIPPUS.
Perge.
PHORMIO.
Priusquam supremam exhalet animam Ad se vt venias.
GESIPPUS.
Titus meus!
PHORMIO.
Quod si non durauerit
Adventum tuum, claues hic suas ac summam bonorum omnium Delegauit tibi, heredem enim nisi te ait se velle neminem.
GESIPPUS.
Deus meliora.
PHORMIO.
Nam istaec sunt pessima.
GESIPPUS.
Duc Me ad eum ilico.
PHORMIO.
Quaeso vero, hercle.
[Actus Primus. ScENA OcTAVA. ] Simo. Chremes.
[S1wo.] Bene igitur ratio accepti atque numerati conuenit exceptis tantum quinque, meministin'
Nostrae quod reliquum est ratiunculae.
CHREMES.
Nimirum quinque Minae.
1-2.] see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
were just arriving ——T[Aloud.] Friends, I wonder if any of you here saw Gesippus going along this street.
Gesippus. Is he looking for me?
Puormio. There he is. Hello, Gesippus.
Gesippus. Hello. But why are you so sad and so breathless, Phormio?
PuHormio. It's my master.
Gesippus. Come, tell me, Phormio.
PuHormio.
He's asking for you in particular and as soon as possible GzsiPPUs. Go on.
Puormio. To come to him before he draws his last breath.
Gesippus. My Titus!
Puormio. But if he doesn't survive until you come, he's assigned you his keys here and all his possessions, for he says he wants no one but you to be his heir.
Gesippus. May god give him better fortunes.
Puormio. For these are the worst.
Gesippus. Take me to him immediately.
Puormio. By Hercules, that's exactly what I want to do.
[ Exeunt.
[I.8] Enter Simo and Chremes.
Stmo. Then our accounts are in perfect agreement, with the sole exception of the five that remain to be reckoned, you remember.
Curemes. That's right, five minas.!
1 A mina was 100 drachmas, about $18.00.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.8
Smo. — Recte tenes. Quod si non pigeat tantisper hic Te praestolari dum curro domum, haud diu cum argento
Abero.
CHREMEs.
Propera.
SIMO.
Atque vide iam redeuntem.
CHREMES.
Deo nunc maximo maximas merito
Ago atque habeo gratias, ita cum res mihi secundet ex Sententia vt iam nihil sit quod rerum sim hic auidissimus amplius.
Primum hac Simonis affinitate quot simul gazas vno Accipimus cumulo! Tum haec ei sola est. Hac spe proci
Item complusculi quam auidi ad hanc nassam inhiabant quotidie
Priores etiam me in ambienda, sed ego in potiunda potior.
Denique ego virginem habeo, vnde defuncto patre Huc bona deuoluuntur omnia. Tum hoc quantum mihi
Solatium, quando gnati animum erga nuptias ut habet [f. 128v] Perspexerim. Tenebat etenim id me non parum, ne (quod
Fere fit adolescentibus) amore alicubi detentus prauo Animum ad vxorem minus advorteret. Quod nunc tamen
Postquam sensi magis, magis timere desino. Sed eccum Simonem.
SIMO.
Quinque minas quas legere volui iam dudum collectas et in Marsupio hoc repositas faeliciter repperi et adduxi. Chreme, cape.
CHREMES.
Honestus es.
SIMO.
Licet numerare.
CHREMES.
Imo plus in Verba tua quam pro meis calculis.
SIMO.
Laudo.
CHREMES.
Sed interim Dum eras domi Semproniam tuam vidisti? Parata ea est annon?
SIMO.
Nescio. Sed ibo nunc vt siet, ac festum diem hunc dicam Familiae vt laetos se omnes prebeant in nuptiis filiae.
CHREMES.
Et ego sacrificum adducturus qui coniugium consecret.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Siwo. Right. And if you don't mind waiting here for a time while I run home, I'll be back with the silver before long.
Curemes. Run along.
Siwo. Look, I'm practically on my way back already.
[ Exit.
Curemes. Now I'm properly grateful to the greatest god and I give him the most profound thanks, because this business works out so favorably for me and so much according to my wishes that now there's nothing further at all which I'm very eager to attain. In the first place, by this relationship with Simo how many treasures I've received in one pile. Besides, he has only this one daughter. In this hope not a few suitors have been gaping avidly at this bait every day. They outdid even me in trying, but I was better at grabbing hold. Therefore I have the girl, and when her father dies all his goods will devolve upon my house. In addition, it's a great comfort to me to have perceived my son's mind inclined toward marriage, for I was not a little worried lest, as generally happens with youths, he might be ensnared in some depraved love for someone else and be less favorably disposed toward marriage. But now that I've realized the truth better, I'm more able to stop worrying. But here's Simo.
Enter Simo.
Simo. The five minas that I consented to get I have happily found, collected long ago and deposited in this pouch. I've brought it,
Chremes; take it.
CHREMEs. You're an honorable man.
Stmo. You may count it.
Curemes. No, I have more faith in your word than in my addition.
Simo. Well said.
CnunEMEs. But, by the way, while you were at home did you see your daughter Sempronia? Is she ready or not?
Simo. I don't know, but I'll go now and see that she is. And Ill declare this a holiday for my household so they all may demonstrate their happiness at the marriage of my daughter.
Curemes. And [I'll get the priest to consecrate the marriage.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.9
SIMO.
Censeo.
CuREMEs. Sed heus, non opus vt istac ad templum Transeat.
SIMO.
Imo per forum potius.
CHREMES.
Rectissime.
[Actus Primus. Scena Nona.] Gesippus. Phormio.
[GEsIPPUS. |
Itan' neque cibum nec somnum per hoc triduum? Quaeso, quid hoc Miror maeroris est? Cur non accersuntur medici?
PHORMIO.
Medicum Praeterquam vnum morbus hic nullum habet.
GESIPPUS.
Scio deum omnium Malorum medicum esse ac chirurgum quoque.
PHORMIO.
Imo etiam alium.
GESIPPUS.
Bene hercle et scis qui mederi poterit?
PHORMIO.
Tamquam te.
GESIPPUS.
Quid morbi est?
PHoRMIO.
Tamquam tuam.
GESIPPUS.
Quin dicas igitur vt Sim sciens ac accersam medicos.
PHORMIO.
Non opus est medicos arcessiri, cum Tu solus poteris huius morbi esse Aesculapius optimus.
In te solo Gesippe situm est Vt serues vitam.
[ f. 129]
GEsIPPUS.
Quasi vero dicas te aut impetrare non IO Posse aut meis vti beneficiis impetrando cum licet
Non velis.
Puormio.
Minime, sed quia fas non est.
GESIPPUS.
Quid Prohibet ?
PnronMrio.
Religio.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
S1MO. Fine.
CHREMES. But listen, it isn't necessary for him to come this way to the temple.
S1Mo. No, it's better through the forum.!
Curemes. Right.
| Exeunt.
[1.9] Enter Gesippus and Phormio.
Gesippus. So he's had neither food nor sleep for three days? I wonder what sort of sickness this is? Why aren't the doctors summoned ?
Pnonwio. This disease has no physician but one.
Gesippus. Yes, God is the physician, and the surgeon as well, for all ailments.
Puormio. No, I mean another one.
GzsiPPUs. Good, by Hercules. And do you know who can cure him?
PHoRwrOo. The same as you.
Gesippus. And what sort of disease is it?
Puormio. The same as yours.
Gesippus. Then why don't you tell me so I'll know and I can call the physicians.
PuHormio. It's not necessary to call physicians, since you alone have the power to be the best Aesculapius for his disease. In you alone,
Gesippus, is placed the means to save his life.
Gesippus. Indeed. As if you would say either that you couldn't obtain my good offices or that you could have them but didn't want to use them.
Puormio. Not at all, but because it isn't right —— Gesippus. What prevents you?
Puormio. A scrupulous conscience.
1 This apparently pointless reference may have served to prevent any expectation that Chremes would later bring the priest back onstage.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.9
GESIPPUS.
I in pessimam crucem cum tua Religione, furcifer.
ProRwro.
Quia dabat hoc mihi in iure Iurando ne unquam referrem tibi.
GESIPPUS.
Proh scelus, quid tu
Serui es? Tun' igitur patiare putidam hanc religionem tuam Heri obstare vitae qui vitam alit tuam, cum mederi poteris ?
PHORMIO.
Recte dicis. Itaque hercle res ipsa ferme persuadet mihi Periurus vt referam.
GESIPPUS.
Ne metuas, Phormio, hodie ex te Verum exscalpere, venefice. Quin narres.
PHORMIO.
Tametsi
Iusiurandum dabam ?
GESIPPUS.
Dic igitur.
PHORMIO.
Age, quod deorum modo Pace dictum sit dicam.
GESIPPUS.
Quid est?
PHORMIO.
Attamen non audeo.
GESIPPUS.
Cerebrum vis tibi extundi, carnifex? Verumne possum tibi exsculpere hodie?
PHORMIO.
Age nunc quamvis Etiam inuita lingua, attamen proferam.
GESIPPUS.
Dicas libere nisi cum hero Simul perire velis.
PHORMIO.
Vin' ergo dici tibi quid illum
Torqueat, et vnico dici verbo?
GESIPPUS.
Dic.
PHORMIO.
Amat.
GESIPPUS.
Nae Tu difficilem mihi gryphum praedicas. Sed quaenam illa est Obsecro?
Puonwrio.
"Tametsi hercle efflictim interminatus est, aiebat sese Lubentius moriturum si tu nescires.
29. vis... carnifex| perhaps intended for deletion; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Gesippus. Go hang your conscience on a cross, you scoundrel.
Puormio. Because he made me swear an oath never to tell you.
Gesippus. Oh you villain, what kind of servant are you? Then will you let this stinking conscience of yours stand in the way of your master's life when you could heal him? He sustains your life.
Puormio. You're right, by Hercules, and the matter itself almost persuades me to forswear myself and tell you.
Gesippus. Never fear, Phormio, I can claw the truth from you today, you devil. Tell me.
Puormio. Even though I gave my oath?
Gesippus. Tell me.
Puormio. Well, may the gods pity me, I'll tell you.
Gesippus. What is it?
Puormio. But I don't dare.
Gesippus. Do you want your brains bashed out, you devil? Can't I cut the truth out of you today?
Puormio. All right then, though my tongue is unwilling, still Ill tell you.
Gesippus. Speak freely, unless you want to die along with your master.
Pnonwio. So you want to be told what's torturing him? You want to be told in just one word?
GzsiPPUS. Say it.
Puormio. Love.
Gesippus. Well, you pose a tough riddle for me. But who on earth is the girl?
Puormio. By god, though threatened with death, he said he would more willingly die if you didn't know.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1.9
GESIPPUS.
Narra impauide.
PHORMIO.
Sempronia Tua.
Gesippus.
O Zeu, quid ego audio?
PHORMIO.
Ita est.
GESIPPUS.
Et eam vult
Vxorem ducere?
PHORMIO.
Vel ducere vel mori. Nunc tui id arbitrii Est, Gesippe, vtrum velis vt videas. Quid ais, annon ita
Praedixeram ?
GESIPPUS.
Temporis hoc, Phormio, Longas deliberandi non admittit moras, neque si admitteret
Magnopere in hac re tamen deliberandum censeo.
Amicum qui in secundis rebus se profitetur, itidem in [ f. 1297] turbatis Par est ut praestet. Quamquam neque negare possum eam me
Amare quoque, sed non adeo ut non amico meo facile Postputarim omnia etiam si vita haec effundenda sit, quae mihi
Charior est, ut ne tanti putes esse mihi iacturam foeminae.
Quod si ita res est aut in amore ita sit attonitus vt Absque ea moriendum sit, non sum tam ingratus, Phormio,
Vt vnquam illius patiar salutem in meis claudier voluptatibus.
Habeat.
PuHormio. Deus mediusfidius tibi benefaxit, vir Optime.
Gesippus. Porro etiam hic iurabo quod potero, sed omnis scrupus 45 Nunc est in senibus. At tuum nunc est pro hero neruos tuos intendere. Hoccine vt Potest fieri.
PHORMIO.
Siquidem de tua constaret voluntate—
GESIPPUS.
Certe, Phormio. Age nunc.
38. sed] unless Foxe intended to read MST's s; as scilicet, he neglected to change this connective when he changed Sane to Quamquam (1l. 37).
44. mediusfidius] the proper position of this word is doubtful; see Textual Notes.
46. At] Pread Ad.
46-47.] a complicated revision makes the correct reading of these lines uncertain; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Gesippus. Tell me fearlessly.
Puormio. Your Sempronia.
GzsiPPUs. Oh Zeus, what do I hear?
Puormio. It's true.
Gesippus. And he wants to marry her?
Puormio. Either to marry her or die. Now, Gesippus, it's up to you to decide whether you want to see him.! What do you say?
Did I tell you how it was or not?
Gesippus. Phormio, the situation doesn't give us much time for deliberation, and I don't think there should be deliberation about this even if we had plenty of time. Anyone who professes to be a friend in good times should prove that he is one in difficult times as well. Though I certainly can't deny that I love her too, I don't love her so much that I would not readily put my friend ahead of everything, even if it meant losing my life, which is dearer to me than she is. So don't think the loss of a girl is of such importance to me. If he is so smitten with love that he must die without her, I am not such a scoundrel, Phormio, that I would ever allow his safety to be locked up in a prison of my joys. He must have her.
PuHormio. God bless you, oh best of men.
Gesippus. Well, I'll take an oath right here that I can do it, but the whole trouble now is with the old folks. But your job now is to apply your energies on your master's behalf. How can this be done?
Puormio. If only you agreed to it GzsiPPUs. Certainly, Phormio. Now do something.
! [n the draft version, Phormio said "'... whether you want to permit him."
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, L.9
PHORMIO.
Age vero gratiam.
GESIPPUS.
Imo Hanc rem agito siquid poteris.
PHORMIO.
De senibus dicis? Nihil Facilius.
GzsiPPUs. Quid facturus tandem ?
PHORMIO.
Dicam, et per compendium Non tam Menehmus Menehmo similis quam in uobis Similia sunt omnia: aetas, statura, complexio, denique
Nisi in veste fere nil disconvenit. Ille ornatu Ad Semproniam ingredietur tuo, ego ero tuus
Phormio. Vt consilium placet ?
GESIPPUS.
Quid tum?
PHORMIO.
Atque iam Scio ilico posceris ad nuptias, quod si censes facere, mature Ad eum intus propera ac muta vestes. Alia nulla ratio est.
GESIPPUS.
Eo. Sed heus, Phormio, libet prius sciscitari quiddam.
PHORMIO.
Quid vis?
Gesippus.
Pamphilam, Fuluii filiam, Romanam vestram Nostin' ?
PuHormio. Nempe quae nostro.
GESIPPUS.
Ipsa an cuiquam adhuc Elocetur necne?
PHORMIO, Nemini.
GESIPPUS.
Eo.
| PHoRMIO. |
Fabrefactus iam equus, mvro admotus est, [f 130] Qui si in vrbem veniat, nostrum hoc est Ilium ilicet
Quamquam scio nimis callidum hoc praecepsque videbitur A me consilium. Certe in arduis rebus opus
Audacia, nullum vecordiae praemium est.
Tum haec sunt perinde omnia vt euentus habent:
In pyrgum quae bene cadit, bene iacta est alea Vix iacta etiam; sin aliter, male etiam iacta optime.
Sic consilia non ex homine sed euentis spectarier Solent: non quam bene nata sed quam bene
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Pxormio. Thanks very much.
GzsiPPUs. Yes, bring this off if you can manage it bug aa Pxorsmi0. You speak of the old folks? There's nothing easier.
Gesiprus. Then what am I to do?
Pxorsao. Ill tell you. To make it brief, Menaechmus is not more like Menaechmus! than you two are like each other in every way: age, height, complexion—indeed, except for your clothing there's almost no difference between you. Titus will go in to Sempronia in your clothing, and I will be your Phormio. How do you like that?
GzsiPPvs. What then?
PHogw10. And now I know you're expected at the wedding immediately, but if you agree to do this, hurry inside to Titus and change clothes with him. There's no other way.
GzsiPPvs. I'm going. But listen, Phormio, first I want to ask you something.
Pyormio. What?
Gesippus. Do you know another Roman named Pamphila, the daughter of Fulvius?
Puorsmio. Yes indeed, she's a friend of ours.
Gesiprus. Is she promised to anyone yet or not?
Pyormio. No.
Gesiprus. l'm going.
[Exit.
PnHoRWwi0. Now the horse is made and moved up to the wall: if it gets into the city, then and there this Troy is ours, though I know this plan of mine will seem too cunning and rash. Of course when times are tough there's a need for boldness, but there's no reward for madness. In the end these plans are all no better than their results make them: the die which falls into the dice-box favorably is cast well even if it is scarcely cast at all; but if otherwise, it is cast badly even if cast most skillfully. In the same way, plans are usually judged not from their author but from their outcome. Not how well he conceives his plans
1The Menaechmi were the twin protagonists of Plautus! Menaechmi, the principal source of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, I1.1
Diuinata prudentem aut amentem arguunt.
Sed sine euenire quae volunt dum ea Potiatur modo. Dein si suboleat quid mea Adeo, illa iam nostra erit Helena. Facile ego
E ruina erumpam per flammam scilicet, Herus aliam habet ad migrandum patriam, Gesippo tonitrua at non fulminabunt scio.
Tum illum ex orco hoc mortuum miserrimo Rediuiuum dabimus. Quaeso quid hic incommodi est?
Vsquam tandem? Nam quod Gesippus sua Auellitur? Quando haec iam altera illi charior
Est, non id illi damnum sed in lucrum deputo Ac faenus potius maioris secerni solatii.
Quo magis hercle hoc illi gratulor, quandoquidem
Lubens benefaxim optimo adolescentulo.
Sed turbam videor audire intus. Praeludia Forsan sunt ad nuptias. Viso quid agat herus.
ACTUS SECUNDUS. SCENA PRIMA.
[f130v] Gesippus.
[GEsIPPUS. |
Putabit forsitan impotentiuscule Hoc me nunc ferre aliquis, quod Titi tam obsequens
Modo in cedenda vxore fuerim. Pol nihilo Magis quam si nuptum daretur mihimet:
Aequa ac communis vtriusque ratio est.
Ita illius studeo faueoque omnino commodis, Cui siquid bene sit, mihi ac si sit perinde
Accipio, is quasi Gesippus, ego Titus forem.
Quippe sic enim accipio mihi: qui sese Amicos esse, non dici velint, alter alterius
Animum, non suum gerere, nec in suo magis quam illius Viuere corpore debeat. Denique ita statuo
Amicitiam, non in fortunis oportere, sed in Animo cuiusque sitam esse quicquid accidat.
78. at] ?read ac.
9. Quippe, mihi] perhaps the words were intended for deletion ; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
but how well he guesses—that shows a man either prudent or mad. But let their wishes come to a successful end, just long enough for Titus to get the girl. Then if my mistress gets wind of anything, she will be our Helen. I will easily break out of the ruin through the flames, of course; my master has another country to go to; and I know no thunderbolts will strike Gesippus.
Besides, we'll resurrect Titus from a wretched death, and what's wrong with that? Anything at all? What, because Gesippus is deprived of his girl? Since this other girl is already dearer to him, I reckon that's an advantage for him, not an injury: deprivation is rather a gain of greater comfort. All the more, by Hercules, do I wish this joy to him because I would really like to do a good turn for the nice young fellow. But I seem to hear a crowd inside. Maybe it's the prelude to the wedding. I'll go see what my master is up to.
[ Exit.
[II.1] Enter Gesippus.
GzsrPPUs. Maybe someone will think I've handled this too timidly because I've just been so servile to Titus in handing over my wife. Really it's nothing more than if she had married me, for Titus and I have an absolutely joint account.? Thus I long for his good fortune and promote that entirely. If anything 1s good for him, I take it to be just as good for me, as if he were Gesippus and I Titus. For I take it as my rule for those who wish to be friends and not just to be called friends, that each should bear the other's mind, not his own, and each should live in the other's body not less than in his own. In short, I conclude that friendship must reside not in the fortunes but in the minds of each, what1 At the beginning of this speech, Phormio thought of himself as the Greek whose wooden horse would conquer Troy (Gesippus and his father); now
Phormio becomes Troy who will be destroyed by Sempronia (as Helen was the occasion of Troy's ultimate ruin), if she learns of the scheme. The imagery points up the significance of the decisions that have been made and shows that Foxe thought of this as the protatic climax. This structure reflects Donatus' definition of Terentian structure, not the view common in the last half of the sixteenth century which carried the protasis through the second act (T. W. Baldwin,
Shakspere's Five-Act Structure [Urbana, 1947], p. 233).
2 The spiritual unity of friends was a commonplace of Neo-Platonic philosophy ; see L. J. Mills, One Soul in Bodies Twain (Bloomington, Indiana, 1937).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, II.2
Animus enim vt amicitiae custos est, ita
Animi rursum index est fortuna, quae Non discutere, sed excutere amicitias [f 131] Arguendo solet. Ita enim certus qui siet
Res cum incertae sunt certissime cernitur:
Qui persistit amicum scias; sin aliter in
Malis ac fortuna alternante resilit, Hunc numquam animo coiungi facile indicium est.
Sed eccum Titum cum Phormione.
[Actus SEcuNDus. SCENA SECUNDA. | Titus. Phormio. [Gesippus.] [ Trrus.] **O dies festus" quin canimus triumphum, Phormio.
PHORMIO.
Arbitror.
Tirvs.
O dies festus, hominis beati Gratiis mille, mihi mille gemmis, Mille signandus merito lapillis
Candidus albis.
Ergo nunc omnes procul hinc valete, Iteque longe procul hinc dolores.
Io triumphe, animo quieto Iam lubet esse.
O dies almus, lubet ergo nunc me, Nunc demum exutis, positisque curis, Cum Ioue aeternum superisque diuis Viuere suave.
Ecquis vnquam sub sole hoc vixit hominum cui
Dari magis triumphus potest Quam mihi hodie, hodie qui paradisum ipsum deorum expugnaui
22. coiungi] — coniungi.
P.H. Gesippus] omitted in MST.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
ever befalls. For the mind serves as the guardian of friendship.
The index of the mind, in turn, is fortune, which is wont not to confine friendships but to refine them by putting them to the test. So, when things are uncertain, one may see most certainly who is certain. Him who perseveres you know to be a friend; but if, on the contrary, one recoils when things are bad and fortune is unsteady, it is a sure sign that that one will never be united with you in spirit. But look, Titus with Phormio.
[11.2] Enter Titus and Phormio.
Tirvs. Phormio, let's sing a song of triumph, "Oh Happy Day."
Pnozwio. I'm listening.
Trros [singing].
Oh happy day of shining joy,.
Owed of a fortune-favored boy A thousand thanks, a thousand gems, A thousand white-stoned diadems!
Away all sorrows, far away, Farewell to cares this glorious day.
Io? triumph, with delight I find Restored my blissful peace of mind.
Oh life-renewing day, I cast Aside my robe of woes at last And joy to live eternity At peace with all divinity.
What man beneath the sun has ever lived to whom a greater triumph can be given than mine today? Today I have stormed the very paradise of the gods and deprived them of all their
11t was a custom to mark fortunate dates with white stones (cf. Catullus, Carmina 68.138).
2 A cry of joy, often used in hymns celebrating marriages.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, I1.2
Suisque omnibus orbaui faelicitatibus? Sed vbi Gesippus nunc est, quem nimis his vlnis amplecti
Lf. 131v] Atque osculari gestio, ac vbi requiram cogito.
GESIPPUS.
En presto, tibi ne requiras longius.
Titus.
Gesippe mi, Mea commoditas, mea immortalitas, nam quibus Ego praeconiis caput hoc satis exornem tuum,
Qui me creasti, qui me produxisti hodie, in caelum denique Collocasti hodie beneficio maximo, dum interea
Propter me misere genium extenuas tuum? Nunc quid ego Tibi pro istis debeo, nisi ut totum me dedam tibi
Perpetuo pro mancipio ad imperia omnia.
GESIPPUS.
Quid? Etiam Tu octauas gratiarum celebras, Tite? Sed dic, quaeso, de Apparatu isto quid fit tandem? Etiamnum quid patri
Oluit?
Trrus.
Numquam aedepol homini quicquam auspicatius cuiquam In vita vidi succedere. Nae tu hercle Mercurium
Pro Sosia Gesippum gessisse iam, Iouemque ipsum fabulae Applausorem diceres. Principio vt abs te abeo, continuo
Ego me ad uirginem. Salutat illa advenientem, simul
Et abblandule sese dare occipit, ego tum id vero Gaudere, illi assidere propius. Signa, consilia, caeteraque
Occulta quae praemonueras refrico. Annulum hunc Demonstro tuum ac gratiam habeo.
Interea dum sermones trahimus, Ad nuptias appellari illico, senes seduli adesse cum
Familiis et amicis omnibus—Quid multa verba? Ducimur, Reducimur, sacrificamur.
GESIPPUS.
Quid tum pater interim ?
Titus.
Lf 132] Quid! Tantummodo me hilariorem solito dictitare, Praeterea nihil, nihil aegre ferre. Denique amici, domestici,
Affines omnes accurrere, omnia laeta ac fausta precarier,
36. abblandule] I have found no other instance of this word; presumably it is an intensive formed from ad and blandule.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
happiness. But now where's Gesippus? I long to hold him in my arms and kiss him. I wonder where to look for him.
Gesippus [coming forward]. Look, I stand before you; you need look no further.
Tirus. My Gesippus, my dearest wealth, my immortality—for with what titles could I adequately adorn your head? By your great generosity you have created me, brought me into the world today, and yet again today translated me into heaven, while at the same time, because of me, you lessen your own happiness terribly. Oh, what I owe you now for these favors if not to deliver myself utterly into your hands as a perpetual slave to your every command.
GzsiPPUs. What, do you fill up octaves of thanks, Titus? But please tell me what's happening in this scheme now. Does my father suspect anything even now?
Titus. By God, I've never in my life seen anything happen more auspiciously for any man. Really, by Hercules, you would have said that Gesippus had Mercury with him for a Sosia and Jove himself to applaud his plot.! As soon as I left you, I went straight to the maid, who greeted me when I approached and very sweetly began to devote her attentions to me. Rejoicing at this,
I sat quite near her and recalled the tokens and plans and other secrets which you had told me about. I showed her your ring—and I thank you for it. As we were prolonging our conversation, we were summoned to the ceremony immediately. The old men were bustling around us with the whole household and all their friends, and—to make a long story short—we were led to the altar and led back, and we've made our sacrifices.
GzsiPPUs. What did my father do all this while?
Titus. What indeed! He kept repeating that I was gayer than usual and had absolutely nothing to feel bad about. Then the friends, family, and in-laws all ran in, prayed that everything would
1 Sosia was a scheming slave in Terence's Andria and, more significantly, in Plautus' Amphitruo, where Mercury assumed Sosia's identity to promote Jupiter's deception of Alcmena—a bawdy parallel to the situation in Foxe's comedy. In the draft version, Foxe once called Syrus Sosias (II.7.P.H.). Note here in the Latin (l. 33) a play on words, Gesippum gessisse, which my translation does not capture.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, II.2
Gratulari fortunam tantam ac talem coniugem. Atque Ita habet epithasis fabulae.
GESIPPUS.
Enimvere gaudeo.
PHORMIO.
Equidem et ego triumpho.
Trrvs.
Caeterum quid dehinc Fiet ne qua fucus prodeat.
PHORMIO.
Iilis eruemus oculos.
GrsiPPUSs.
Fuat fors pol.
Tirus.
Bene dicis. Commeamus igitur
Iam nunc intro, ac diem hanc carpamus hilarem.
GESIPPUS.
Praecede, Tite, tu.
PHORMIO.
Illi abiere. Nunc quid fit aut quid restat, Phormio, Nisi ut mature te hinc in pedes conferas
Teque ab incendio vrbis euoluas quam primulum?
Namque hoc haud dubium est: non potest hoc silere diu Facinus, quin alicubi flamma haec prorumpet tandem ac sua
Sese luce prodat, quod si fit, proh Statorem atque Feretrium Iouem, quos terraemomotus in hac ciuitate dabit!
Atque illos amor, aetas, libertas, facile ruinae eximet;
In meos humeros vniuersa moles occumbet denique, Cui tum effugiendi nulla copia licebit, quare id nunc prudentiae
Arbitror dum licet atque res adhuc incolumes sient:
Quae sequuntur mala ingenio antevortere, post Vt cum veniunt—cum praeuisa veniunt—minus feriant.
Sed quis peregrinus ille quem ex ultima huc platea Properantem video? Sume deus, Trebatium ego herilem
Video annon?
52. Tite] emended from Gesippe.
67. Sume] — Summe.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
be happy and fortunate, and congratulated our good fortune and fine marriage. And that's the epitasis of this plot.
Gesippus. Well, I'm very glad.
PuHormio. I'm very glad about it too.
Trrvs. But what will be done now so our scheme won't be exposed ?
Puormio. We'll pluck out their eyes.
Gesippus. Amen.
Trrus. Good idea. Now let's go in together and enjoy this happy day.
Gesippus. After you, Titus.
[Exeunt Titus and Gesippus.
Puormio. They've gone. Now, Phormio, what remains to be done except to get away from here fast, slip out of the holocaust of this city as quickly as possible? There's no doubt about it, this mischief can't be hushed up long. No, this blaze is going to break out all around us and proclaim itself by its own light. If that happens, oh Jove the father and Jove the conqueror, what earthquakes it will cause in this city! Those young men will easily be delivered from ruin by love, by their youth, by their free birth; the whole burden will fall on my shoulders, and then therell be no way for me to escape. So while I can, while things are still quiet here, I think it's prudent to anticipate with cleverness the troubles that are coming so that later, when they come—that is, when the expected happens—they'll be less painful. But who's that foreigner I see rushing this way from the other end of the street? Good god, do I see my master's servant Trebatius or not? l'Ezírams (literally, a stretching, straining) is a technical term used by Donatus and later critics for the "'middle" of a play, "'the increase and progress of the turbations" (Baldwin, Five-Act Structure, p. 34), the "'most busy and troublous part of a comedy," as some Renaissance dictionaries defined it. If Titus thought of the scheme as happily completed, he should have used the term catastrophe; in his next speech, however, he shows that he thinks of possible future
"turbations," and he may be thinking of epitasis as a point of beginning the turbations rather than as a section of the play.
TITUS EI GESIPPUS, 11.3
[Actus SEcuNDus. ScENA TERTIA.] Trebatius. Phormio.
[f--1320] Scazondes.
[TREBATIUS. |
Aut me fallit iter aut hae ipsae aedes sunt Titus Vbi apud Chremetem noster dictus est diuorsarier.
PHORMIO.
Certe ipsus est.
TREBATIUS.
Qui vbicumque est propere mihi Exquirendus ac conveniendus est. Sed quid cesso Pultare fores ilico?
PHORMIO.
Quin prehendo hominem.
Heus, heus, Trebati, Trebati inquam.
TREBATIUS.
Et nomen Noscitat ? Hem.
PHORMIO.
Dico tibi, Trebati, mane.
TREBATIUS.
Quis Homo istic? Ehem, Phormionem nostrum video annon?
PHORMIO.
Trebati, quid tandem huc aduentus adportat Tuus? Rectene domi omnia? Herus quopacto valet?
TREBATIUS.
Valuit quidem olim, Phormio.
PHORMIO.
Hei mihi, quidnam istuc *Valuit" autem?
TREBATIUS.
Nempe vt mortales homines omnes Sumus, certaque omnes lege ad mortem nascimur.
PHORMIO.
Quid, Perit?
TREBATIUS.
Pert.
PHORMIO.
Nephanda fata.
TREBATIUS.
Propterea huc nunc Ad Titum missus cum litteris ab amicis venio, se quam
Primum vt paret, proximus qui sit illius, vt gerat Vicem. Sed vbi is est? Duc me ad eum, Phormio.
M.H. Scazondes] = Scazontes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[11.3] Enter Trebatius.
Tresatius. If I'm not badly mistaken about the street, this is the very house where our Titus is supposed to be staying with Chremes.
PuHormio [aside]. It is Trebatius.
Tresatius. I have to find out where he is right away and go talk to him. But [ll knock on the gates right now.
Puormio. [aside]. Pll grab the fellow.— [Aloud.] Hey, Trebatius!
Trebatius, I say.
TREBATIUs. He knows my name? Well.
Puormio. I say, Trebatius, wait.
TREÉBATIUs. Who is this fellow? Well, is it really my countryman Phormio?
PuHormio. Trebatius, what in the world are you doing here? Is everything all right at home? How's my master?
TREBATIUS. He was all right, Phormio.
PuHormio. Alas, why do you say *'was" ?
TREBATIUs. Indeed, we men are all mortal: by an unbreakable law we're all born to die.
PHormio. What, he's dead?
TREBATIUs. Yes.
Pnronwro. Oh wicked fate!
TnarBATIUs. Thats why I'm sent here now, with letters to Titus from his friends to prepare himself as quickly as possible to take over as the next in line. But where is he? Take me to him, Phormio.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 11.4
PHORMIO.
Eamus, Trebati, intro. Sed heus, tu Titum iam Illum qui sit non nosti.
'TREBATIUS.
Nam cur ita?
PHORMIO.
Accede, Dum intro rem ibi omnem tibi aperiam.
TREBATIUS.
Sequor.
[Actus SecunDus. SCENA QuarRTa. |] Marsias. Misenus. Pythias. Midas.
| £733] [MaAnsras.] Heus, alta dies, alta dies, Misene. Vah, quousque Somnolentiae indulseris et supinitatem tuam produxeris, bellua?
MisENUS.
Quousque lubet. Quid tum?
ManslAs.
Quasi domi nihil Sit quod agas rerum.
MisENUS.
Quasi non dudum ego Surrexerim.
MARslAs.
Laudo. Quin igitur, abeamus ocyus.
Diem ferme morando contriuimus.
MIsENUs.
I prae, haud diu abero.
MARSslIAs.
Sequere.
PvrHi1As.
Heus, heus, Marsia.
Marsias.
Quis homo hic? Ehem, mea Pythia, Salue.
PvrHiAs.
Salue, mecastor, Marsia, plurimum. Sed quo Tu nunc, an abiturus a nobis?
MARSsIAs.
Quid ni?
PvrTHiAs.
Tam cito?
IO MansiAs.
Ita tibi uidetur forsitan.
PHORMIO.
Quaeso, Marsia, ne facias.
MARSIAs.
Quaeso ne roges, Pythia.
PyYTHIAS.
At si me ames—
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Puormio. Let's go in, Trebatius. But listen, you don't know the Titus that he is now.
TREBATIUS. Why not?
Puormio. Come on. I'll tell you everything on the way.
TREBATIUS. l'm coming.
| Exeunt.
[II.4] Enter Marsias.
Mamnsias. Hey, it's high noon, high noon, Misenus. Bah, how long will you give in to your laziness and lie flat on your back, you monster ?
Misenus [within]. As long as I please. What about it?
Marsias. As if there were nothing to do at home.
MisENus [within]. As if I hadn't been up long ago.
Mansias. Good for you. Well then, let's go quickly. We've almost wasted the day with this dillydallying.
MisENUS [within]. Go ahead. I won't be far behind.
Marsias. Come on.
Enter Pythias.
PvrHiAs. Hey, hey, Marsias.
Marsias. Who's this fellow? Aha, my girl Pythias, hello.
PvrTHias. By Castor, hello indeed, Marsias. But where are you off to now? Are you leaving us?
Marsias. Why not?
PvrHiAs. So quickly?
Marsias. Maybe it seems so to you.
PvrTHiaAs. Please don't, Marsias.
Marsias. Please don't ask me, Pythias.
Pyruias. But if you love me
IIO
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 11.4
MARSIAs.
In aliis Amabo rebus, hic non possum obsequi.
PyTHIAS.
Quamobrem ?
MArsIAS.
Quam ob Rem tu rogas, Pythia?
PyTHIAs.
Quia te omnes intus desiderant Vt choreas nuptiales agitemus festumque laetitiae hunc
Consecremus diem.
MARSlIAs.
Vah, nondum satur tu es Saltitando?
PYTHIAS.
Non, mediusfidius.
MarslIas.
At ego, pol, perstrependo.
PHYTHIAS.
Credo, quia est tibi quotidianum; vix per annum hoc Nobis semel accidit.
MARSIAs.
Sed heus tibi Misenum mox Prodeuntem, quod si ab hoc impetrabis, nihil
Detrecto.
MisENUs. luno Lucina fer opem.
MARSIAS.
Hem, num qua Mulier est pariens?
MiISENUS.
Parturiunt aedes istae, non uides, Marsia ?
Mansias.
Parturiunt aedaes nascetur ridiculus mas.
MIsENUs.
Salue, sancta parens, enixa puerpera. Salue, Pythia.
PYTHIAS.
Abstine, sus.
MIsENUS.
Sustine, mus. Ecquid hic velit
Pythias?
Lf 133v] Marsias.
Te.
MIsENUvs.
Quia te negligit forsitan, Hem, Pythia, tun' me velis?
PYTHIAS.
Ego ambos uos.
MIsENUs.
Qua de re?
26. Quia] ?read Quid.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
III Mamnsias. In other ways I'll love you; in this I can't oblige.
Pytuias. Why?
Marsias. Why do you ask, Pythias?
Pyruias. Because everyone wants you inside so we can kick up some nuptial dances and consecrate this holiday to merrymaking.
Marsias. Bah, haven't you had enough of dancing?
PvrHiAs. Heavens no.
Marsias. But I'm sick of all this noise.
Pyruias. I believe it, because to you it's an everyday thing, but for the rest of us it happens scarcely once a year.
Mamnsias. But listen, Misenus is coming out soon. If you get his agreement, I deny you nothing.
Misenus appears in a doorway.
MisENUs. Juno, queen of childbearing, help.!
Marsias. What? Where is a woman in labor?
MisENUS [coming out the doorway]. 'This house is in labor. Don't you get it, Marsias?
Marsias. A house in labor bears a ridiculous man.
MisENus [bowing to the doorway]. Hail, holy parent, vigorous woman in labor.
[7o Pythias.] Hello, Pythias.
PvTHi1As. Stop, you sow.
MisENUS. Stop, you mouse.
[7o Marsias.] What does Pythias want here?
Marsias. You.
MisENus. Well, Pythias, I suppose you want me because he neglects you?
PvrHias. I want both of you.
MisENUs. Why?
1 See Introduction. The joke is built on the idea of a house giving birth to a man (through its door).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, II.4
[PyTHIAS. |
Paululum Vt demoremini diemque:detis hunc nobis ad tripudia.
MisENUS.
Quid dederis?
PyTHIAS.
Quid petieris ?
MisENUS.
Osculum.
PYTHIAS.
Nae tu homo Suauis es, Misene.
MIsENUs.
Nae tu puella suauis es, mea
Pythia.
Pyrutas. Tantisper exorare nequeo a uobis ut maneatis?
MIsENUs.
Marsia, meministin' quo iter condiximus ad Cimonidis Nuptias ?
Mamnsias.
Recte hercle, pene me praetierat. Pythia, Valebis iam. Nobis hinc abeundum.
PYyTHIAS.
Itan' stat sententia?
MARSIAs.
Imo stat necessitas.
Mipas.
Heus Pythia, heus, inquam, Pythia.
PyTHIAS.
Quis me vult?
Mipas.
Hera inclamat te, et tu nusquam Audis.
PvrHias.
Ain' Mida?
MiSENUS.
Curre. Enimuero auspicato hodie Piscatus hic nobis hodie euenit bonus.
MARSstAs.
Disperiam si viderim Sponsum benigniorem aut aeque dapsilem.
Minas.
Equidem aut Ego sponsam venustiorem.
MisENUS.
Profecto sic visa est. Sed hac
Abeant, nosque hinc abeamus, Marsia.
MARSIAs.
Assentior.
27. S.P. Pythias [her second speech in the line]] omitted in MST.
38. nobis] ?read uobis. But the original reading (huc appulimus) is first person.
39. aeque] emended from aequeue, the apparent reading of the manuscript.
39-40. S.P.] Foxe's abbreviations here are ambiguous; see Textual Notes.
Earlier S.P.'s in the scene are also ambiguous, but are made clearer by the context.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Pyruias. To stay a little while and give us this day for dancing.
MisENUs. What will you give us?
Pyruias. What will you want?
MisENUs. A kiss.
Pyruias [making up to Misenus]. You're really a sweet man, Misenus.
MisENUs. You're really a sweet girl, my Pythias.
PvrHiAs. Can't I persuade you to stay for a while?
MisENUs. Marsias, do you remember, we promised to go to the wedding of Cimo's son?
Marsias.
By Hercules, that's right. I had almost forgot.
Pythias, good-bye now. We have to leave.
Pyruias. Is that your final word?
Marsias. But that's the final necessity.
Enter Midas.
Minas. Hey, Pythias. Hey, Pythias, I say.
Pytuias. Who wants me?
Mipas. Your mistress is calling you, and you don't hear her at all.
PvrHiAs. Do you mean it, Midas?
MisENUs. Run along.
I've checked the prognostications today, and this has turned out to be a prize catch for us. What do you say?
Marsias. May I perish if I've seen a nicer bridegroom or one so magnificent.
Minas. Yes, or a fairer bride.
MisENUs. Yes indeed, so she seems. But Marsias, let them go that way and we'll go this.
Mansias. All right.
[Exeunt severally.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, I1.5-I1.6
[Actus Secunpus. ScENA QuiNTA.] Gesippus.
[GEsIPPUS. |
Nunc quid ego in hac re consilii reperiam aut captem miser Abducta hinc Sempronia. Ille abiit Romam. Haud potest
Hoc iam diutius occultari malum, nimisque Vereor prius ne patri palam fiat quam ego epistolam defero.
Ita enim volo, quando ita est ut ignorari nequeat,
Nostro potius indicio quam ex aliis confessum iri. Quod vbi Resciuerit, vah, quod tum reperiam illius remedium
Saeuitiae, quo non gentium mihi satius sit profugere ?
Etiam nunc illius audire tragoedias videor, et tamen Lf 94] Ita res est, necesse est fieri; namque enim permagne refert
IO Ipsa in omni re explicandi ratio: fere enim res non vt Gestae, sed vt digestae, sunt dum exponuntur iudici.
Quo nunc consultius arbitror Titi hanc syngrapham ad patrem Perferre ocyus, linguasque sycophantycas antecapere.
Atque id nunc ago.
[Acrus SECUNDUS. SCENA SEXTA.] Dromo.
[Dnowo.] Proh nephas, scelera, flagitia, o genus Sacrilegum! Vixdum pol possum proloqui, ita
Totus sum confusus animi inde adeo quod modo Mihi cum Syro ad portum uenienti nunciatum
Est. Proh diuum numen! Itan' Semproniam
Nobis eripi, ac in alienas terras asportarier Herilem filiam, ac solatium vnicum Siccine circumvenirier! Quod quidem hercule
Mihi primo incredibile fuit donec Re mox intellecta illam hinc Romam cum Tito
Soluisse, Gesippum regressum ab illis domum Persensimus. At vbi herus nunc est, cui Haec de filia quam primum denunciem ?
II.6.2. Vixdum pol] ?read Vix pol.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
II5 [II.5] Enter Gesippus, with a letter.
Gesippus. Now what plan will I come up with in this situation?
What will I try, wretch that I am, now that Sempronia has been taken away? He's taken her to Rome. This mischief can't be hidden any longer, and I very much fear that my father will find out about it before I bring him this letter. Since the situation is such that he can't help finding out about it, I want the truth to be known from me rather than from others. When he learns of it, oh, what remedy will I find for his rage? It will be quite useless for me to flee anywhere in the world. Even now I seem to hear his tragic declamations. And yet the business is such that there's no choice. In every circumstance, the way something is explained is very important, because what generally matters is not what was committed, but in what order it is transmitted to a judge. All the more reason, I think, to bring this letter of Titus to my father immediately and thus anticipate the tongues of informers. And that's what [ll do now.
| Exit.
[11.6] Enter Dromo.
Dromo. Oh abomination, wickedness, shames, oh impious race!!
Heavens, I'm almost speechless. I'm completely dumfounded by what I just learned when I went to the harbor with Syrus. Oh, the will of the gods! To have Sempronia snatched from us like this, my master's daughter carried off into foreign lands, his only comfort outraged! By Hercules, at first I couldn't believe it, until we soon realized for a fact that she had sailed to Rome with Titus and that Gesippus had left them and gone home.
But now where's my master so I can tell him this news about his daughter as soon as possible?
Exit.
1] take this as a reference to Romans by the Greek Dromo.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, I1.7
[Actus SEcuNDUus. ScENA SEPTIMA. | Chremes. Gesippus. Syrus.
Lf 1342]
[ CHREMES. |
O coelum Iouis, Neptuni maria, quid ego Audio? Quid ais omnium? Semproniam Tito Traditam, huicque ductam esse coniugem ?
GESIPPUS.
Pater, Verum.
Curemes.
Tuque hinc Romam abductam vidistin', Syre?
Syrus. Modo ad Pyraeum, pariter etiam Vidente Dromone.
CHREMES.
O Iupiter, quin ista non Redigent ad maniam? Et tu istarum rerum conscius, Carcer? Responde.
GESIPPUS.
Mi pater.
CHREMES.
"Mi pater"!
Os impudens ut te nihil istius "patris"
Pudet! Et tu harum sciens rerum. Cur ergo huic Non dixti "patri"? Vt facile nunc intelligam
Nullo alio nisi te authore incoeptum scelus Ac perfectum esse, qui pro lepido habes IO Coram adeo in os me deludere ludosque tibi
Facere. Fugin' hinc?
SYRUS.
Here, obsecro vero te— CHREMES.
I5 "Vero te"! Obsecro vero, Syre, te, hoc quis est Qui ferre queat aut perpeti? Sic os Obliniri, dolisque ludificarier, etiam In re tanta ut nusquam mallem minus!
Nam quid hinc dicam Simoni nunc, aut fidem Apud hunc qua tuear meam, qui nisi Insanus essem recte egomet in hac re satis
Vidissem mihi? Certe hercle illum quouis gentium Profligassem potius, haec mansisset domi.
Atque eccum ipsum prodeuntem.
=) 7. redigent] ?read redigant.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[11.7] Enter Chremes, Gesippus, and Syrus.
CureMEs. Oh, Jove's heaven and Neptune's seas, what am I hearing?
What on earth are you saying? Sempronia was given to Titus and married to him?
GzsiPPUs. It's true, father.
CHREMES. And Syrus, you saw her taken away to Rome?
SvRus. No just to the Piraeus,! and Dromo saw it too.
CunEMEs. Oh Jupiter, why doesn't this drive me mad ?—— And you knew about this, you criminal? Answer me.
Gesippus. My father.
Curemes. "'My father"! Your impudent mouth, that isn't ashamed to say that word "father"! You even knew this! Then why didn't you tell your "father"? How easily I know now that this wickedness could not have been conceived and executed unless you were responsible for it. You think it's fun to deceive me even to my face, and to play your games.
[To Syrus, who is slipping away.| Are you running away?
SvRUs. Master, I pray you in truth—— CHREMESs. "In truth"! I pray you in truth, Syrus, who could endure this? Who could tolerate it? To have the wool pulled over my eyes like this, to be mocked with tricks, even in an affair so important that I can think of no worse place for it! For what will I say to Simo now? How can I save my honor in his eyes, since if I weren't insane, I should have looked after this matter properly for myself? By Hercules, I should rather have driven this fellow away, anywhere in the world, and she should have stayed at home. But look, there comes Simo now.
1 Athens' seaport.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, I1.8
[Acrus SEcuNpus. SCENA OcrAva.] Simo. Chremes. [Gesippus.] Syrus.
Lf 135] [S1wo.] Itane inuito me atque inscio Semproniam Tam lepido dolo hinc abripier! Hancce quis
Quam homo viuus contumeliam vt ferat?
Sed eccum Chremetem.
CHREMES.
Simo, faeliciter , Aduenis. Ad te tendebam.
SIMO.
Caeterum Chreme, De filia quid? Itane ut fertur cum Tito hinc?
CHREMES.
Tun' igitur audistin', Simo?
SIMO.
Audiui? Quid, Chreme, Adeon' composite daedalios dolos Vos hic astruere arbitramini vt nemo Assequatur ?
CHREMES.
Mirum, igitur, ni mihi hanc Authori ascribas fabulam.
SIMO.
Tibi Chreme!
Minime gentium hoc filius facinus Adolescens incoeptare ausus! Tu inscius Istarum rerum prorsus omnium, neque tibi
Cognita fuga haec nec cogitata prius!
Tum filius si amasset sibi, facile eam Auferri perferret scilicet peregrinam nunc.
Quippe accidunt haec tibi scio omnia.
CHREMES.
IO i2 Imo quo tu minus scis quid actum sit, Simo!
Epistolam hanc perlege.
SIMO.
Scitum pol Artificem, vide, postquam blanditiis in fraudem Me pellexit polypus, mendatiis nunc elabitur
Suo se atramento offundens sepia.
P.H. Gesippus| omitted in MST.
17. peregrinam] emended from peregrina.
19. quo tu] ?read quanto.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
II9 [11.8] Enter Simo.
SiMO [to himself]. Against my will and without my knowledge, Sempronia to be carried away from me by such a smart trick!
How could any man living tolerate this affront? But look, there's Chremes.
CuREMES [coming forward]. Simo, you come just in time. I was coming to you.
Simo. But Chremes, what about my daughter? How is she taken away with Titus?
Curemes. Then you've heard, Simo?
Simo. Heard! What, Chremes, do you think to fashion your Daedalean devices so skillfully that no one comprehends them?
CHREMES. In these circumstances it's no wonder you attribute the authorship of this plot to me.
Simo. To you, Chremes! No young son in the world have dared to conceive this wickedness. You were completely ignorant of all this! You didn't know about this flight and didn't think of it beforehand! Besides, if your son had loved her for himself, of course he would easily have put up with having her carried off now to be a foreigner! Oh yes, all these things happen to you unawares!
CureEMEs. But how little you know about what happened, Simo!
Read this letter.
Smo. Oh yes, look, a very clever trickster. After the polyp has lured me into his deception with his charms,! now the cuttlefish conceals himself in black ink and slips away with lies.
1 Of the qualities which Pliny attributed to the polypus, the one which most struck Renaissance writers was its ability to change its colors (Pliny, IX.46, tr. Bostock and Riley, II, 418); it became an emblem for fickleness (see O.E.D.).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 11.8
CHREMES.
Egone Mendatiis ?
SIMO.
Namque tu, homo, quaeso, me putas Asinum aut quidnam esse tandem, sine naribus, Sine oculis, qui nil persentiam? Tute aut hoc
Dissimulando infectum speras reddere?
Age, responde hoc mihi.
CHREMES.
Sane si tu Audire non vis!
SIMO.
Principio cum primum me
Lf. 1352] Sollicitasti de filia, numquid velle eam Te dixti tuo?
CHREMES.
Factum.
SIMO.
Numquid apud Te mansuram aetatem eam?
CHREMEs.
Dixi.
SIMO.
Tum solus an Ambisti eam tu? Alios annon paranymphos item Plusculos nulla re te, Chreme, inferiores
Tamen tua gratia postpositos mihi?
CHREMES.
Non nego.
SIMO.
Quid ergo, dum animum induxi obsequi tibi, Tu nunc istam mihi captionem inicis? At Si eam nolles tuo, istos qui vellent sineres.
Cur tradideris altri?
CHREMES.
Egone tradidi?
SIMO.
Bene ergo, istaec tu verba cras fac iudici
Sis vt respondeas siquidem istas ita Legibus habiturus sycophantias.
CHREMES.
Aliud Comperies. Sed me iam vicissim velim audias Vel verbum vnum.
SIMO.
Verbum! Quid verbum te? Nimis Iam diu verba nobis data sunt. Redde filiam aut
Cras iuris tibi dictionem habe. Dixi.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Curemes. I? With lies?
Smo. I ask you, man, do you think me an ass or what? Noseless, eyeless, powerless to perceive anything? Or do you really hope, by this pretending, to make it appear that nothing has happened?
Answer me that.
Curemes. Well, if you don't want to hear Smo. At the beginning, when you first approached me about my daughter, didn't you say you wanted her for your son?
CHREMEs. Yes.
Simo. And didn't you say she would stay at your house for life?
CHREMES. Yes.
Simo. And furthermore, were you the only one to ask for her?
Weren't there a number of other bridegrooms as well, in no way inferior to you, Chremes? But didn't I pass them over for your sake?
CHREMEs. I don't deny that.
Simo. Why, then, while I've been determined to gratify you, do you practise this deception on me now? If you didn't want her for your son, you could have left her for those who wanted her.
Why did you give her to someone else?
CHREMESs. I give her?
Smo. Very well, then, you can be sure that you'll answer to these words before a judge tomorrow, because I'll deal with these treacheries by law.
CunEMzs. You'll find out otherwise. But I do wish you would listen to me, at least one word.
Stmo. A word? What word from you? I've heard too many words for a long time now. Give me back my daughter, or tomorrow you'll have the word of the law on you. That's all I have to say.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 11.8
CHREMES.
Itane saeuus es, Simo? Quod si ita hercle placet, pergito.
Quandoquidem huc prouocas— Heus, euocate huc Gesippum mihi. Curre, Syre.
SYRUS.
Quidem tua nunc illius faba cudetur fronte.
Tute hoc intristi huic quod devorandum est innocuo.
GESIPPUS.
Perii miser.
CHREMES.
Mastygia, viden' mihi Turbatas abs te quantas esse sollicitudines?
GESIPPUS.
Obsecro, pater mi.
CHREMES.
Ne si Iupiter pro te roget, Carnifex. Quin apage te ex oculis ac conspectu ilico,
Atque adeo dico, edico tibi, limen ne post [963 Vnquam hoc attingas diem. Abi (spurium).
Syre, caput hoc abripe e ciuitate, patris Et patriae hostem, paricidam. Abeat.
SIMO.
Quin tu Abripiendus magis. Quid is commeruit ?
CHREMES.
Ita quidem ut ais, quin si commeritum Hoc meum sit, ius aeque nostrum vtrique patet ?
Quod si lubet nihil detrecto equidem. Neque Enim uel me conscium esse, neque tibi hoc magis
Quam mihi molestum esse, deum testor iudicem.
SIMO.
Quid! Tun' hoc mihi persuadeas, iuuenem Vxore ducta si amaret nisi cogente patre
Cessurum alteri?
CHREMES.
Atqui eam Gesippus non duxerat.
SIMO.
Quid non?
50. Quidem] ?read Quid.
57. spurium] this reading, to be taken metaphorically as a pejorative epithet, is a guess; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
CHREMES. You're so hard, Simo, but if you want to do that, go ahead, by Hercules. Since you challenge me
[ Shouts upstage, where Syrus and Gesippus are concealed.]! Hey there, call Gesippus here to me. Run, Syrus.
Syrus [to Gesippus]. Well! Now his wheat is going to be pounded on your head. You prepared this dish, and this innocent fellow must eat it."
Gesippus [aside, coming forward]. I'm lost beyond recall.
CHREMEs. You scoundrel, do you see how many worries you've stirred up for me?
Gesippus. I cry you mercy, father.
Curemes. Not if Jupiter interceded for you, you villain. Out of my sight and my presence instantly! And I tell you, I order you, never after today to come near my door. Away, villain!
Syrus, take this fellow out of the city as an enemy of his father and his country, as a parricide. Away with him!
[Exeunt Gesippus and Syrus.
Sto. You deserve exile more. Why has he deserved this?
CureMeEs. Indeed, just as you say, if the blame for this were mine, why shouldn't justice extend equally to both of us? And if that's what you wish, I refuse you nothing. But as god is my judge,
I swear that I am not guilty and that this is no less annoying to me than to you.
Simo. What! You would persuade me that a young man, having taken a wife, would turn her over to somebody else if he loved her—unless it were his father's idea?
Curemes. But Gesippus didn't marry her.
Simo. Why not?
1 This staging is uncertain; perhaps Gesippus has left the stage after II.7 and here re-enters with him (though no new scene is marked). Note the omission of Gesippus' name from the heading of this scene.
2 These proverbs mean that Chremes, in trouble with Simo for Gesippus' act, will make Gesippus suffer.
TITUS ET GESIPP US, Wil
Curemes.
Non dico ego—offucias nobis Ab adolescentibus factas et Phormione.
SIMO.
Quis duxit igitur?
CHREMES.
Amicus Titus Pro Gesippo, idque tua ignorante filia.
SIMO.
Proh diuam atque humanam fidem!
CHREMES.
Quin accipe Ipsius literas, vel familiam loquentem audiens Accede, quaeso, intro et rem cognoscito.
SIMO. y Stupor huc me adigit ut quid agam nescio.
CHREMES.
Veni, sodes.
SIMO.
Venio.
Lf 136v] Actus Trertius. SCENA PRIMA.
Syrus.
[SyRus. | Lachrimas mihi excussit ingenuus Adolescens, miseretque eius. Ah siccine Immerito eiectum patre ac patriis bonis Haeredem, filium, ut neque spem nec stabulum
Refugii iam ullum habeat, ad summam inopiam!
Quem tot bonorum hic totiusque rei haereditarium Fieri par fuit participem, nunc cum mendicis miser
Squallebit in sordibus. Indignum facinus, O durum patrem! Ac quid commeruit, nisi Ouod summa hominem fide ac indole decuit?
Amicum ut seruaret concessit coniugem, Quod ego hercle rarum exemplar amicitiae Mirae virtutis interpretor. Ita mihi Deus Gesippos reperire faxit huiusmodi.
Atque hocce nunc reponi illi pro gratitudine?
Sed senes exeunt.
69. offucias] emended from offusias.
70. factas] emended from factus.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
CHREMEs. I can't say—tricks played on us by the young men and Phormio.
SiMo. Who married her then?
CHREMES. His friend Titus in place of Gesippus, and it happened without your daughter's knowing it.
S1Mo. Oh, the faith of god and man!
CunEMEs. Here, take his letter, or come inside and learn the facts from what the slaves have to say. Please.
S1MO. I'm so dumfounded I don't know what to do.
CuREMEs. Come, if you please.
Simo. I'm coming.
| Exeunt.
[HT.1] Enter Syrus, weeping.
Syrus. That noble youth forces these tears from me; I'm sorry for him. Ah, so undeservedly a son and heir is cast away from his father and his patrimony into such extreme poverty that now he has no hope of refuge and no stall to find it in. He who should have become an heir, to share in all the wealth and everything, will now live a pauper in squalor among beggars. Shameful deed, oh severe parent! And what has he done except what was fitting for a man of the noblest disposition and the greatest loyalty?
To save his friend he gave up his wife, and, by Hercules, I take that as a rare example of remarkable friendship. May God allow me to find Gesippuses of this kind. And instead of gratitude, is this his reward? But the old men are coming out.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, III.2
[Acrus TERTIUs. ScENA SECUNDA.] Simo. Syrus. Chremes.
[ees] [S1vo.] Quo magis cogito, hoc minus video quod succenseam Vel tibi iam uel mihi, Chreme, quando neque abs te neque
Contumeliae, sed amoris caussa factum reperio.
Sed eccum aduersum Syrum aduenientem tibi.
SYRUS.
Factum, here, Vt iussisti. Numquid imperas?
CHREMES.
Dic, Syre, qua abut.
Quid dixit tibi?
SYRUS.
Ille? Nihil nisi lachrimare tantum. Mox vbi Ad Pyraeum ventum est, nauem ut fit offendimus iam iam velificantem. Hanc conscendit, Romam vorsus, iamque viam tenere
Mediam supra sentio, quandoquidem ventus opportune dabat Admodum.
SIMO.
Duriter abs te factum nimis qui ablegasti
Filium, ac piget non prohibuisse pol.
CHREMES.
Quid enim Simo?
Cedo facerem: non tuum damnum hoc, sed meum hoc totum vides.
Tua namque nobili nupta est imprimis adolescentulo, Et qui amat illam et generi uestro prodesse poterit.
Quo tuas nunc lauto in loco, multo in beatiore satis, res sitas suspicor.
Vero ad me damnum adeo totum incumbit, qui tuam Hodie affinitatem sperabam mihi praesidio firmo fore
Ac familiae stabiliendae, nisi is infaelix esset id Qui probuit carcinoma meum.
SIMO.
Quid tum? Num eum Iccirco a te prorsum exiges, ac per inopiam ad
Latrocinia et scelus pessundabis? At meminisse oporteat Tuum esse filium.
CHREMEs.
Minime, Simo, meum nolo esse mihi Qui nolit esse obtemperans.
15. lauto in loco] ?read loco; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[I1I.2] Enter Simo and Chremes.
Simo. The more I think about it, Chremes, the less reason I see for anger either for you or for myself, since I find that the deed was done neither by you nor for insult, but for the sake of love. But look, here's Syrus coming to you.
Syrus. Master, I've done as you ordered. Do you have any further orders ?
Curemes. Tell me where he went, Syrus. What did he say to you?
SiMo. Him? Nothing. He just cried. As soon as we got to the Piraeus, we came upon a ship on the point of sailing, as it happened. He boarded it, headed for Rome, and I think is already more than halfway there, for the wind came up very favorably.
Simo. You acted too harshly in sending your son away, and I'm ashamed that I didn't stop you.
CHREMEs. Why, Simo? Grant that I did. All the harm, you see, is mine, not yours. For your daughter is married to one of the finest young men, who loves her and could benefit your line.!
I suspect your fortunes have been materially improved, very nicely indeed. But the harm in this weighs completely on me, since I hoped that an alliance with you today would be a great assistance to me and would fortify my family—if he hadn't been the calamity who proved it to be my cancer.
Smo. What then? Will you for that reason thrust him from you completely and make him sink into robbery and crime because of poverty? But it would behoove you to remember that he is your son.
CunEMEs. No, Simo, I don't want him to be mine who wouldn't be obedient to me.
1 The earlier version is more specific in identifying Titus as a consul's son who has been called home to succeed to his father's power. See Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, III.2
SIMO.
Age, Chreme, quamuis haec Mea haud minus sit querimonia, tamen id si est [15724] Quod te tantopere ulcerat, audi nunc: duas habet
Frater filias; filio vtram mauis tuo elige. Affinitas, Dos cum sorte manent tibi ut futurae fuerant. Reduc
Filium.
Curemes.
Referri tibi a me gratia pro meritis non potest Satis, Simo.
SIMO.
Quid ais?
CHREMES.
Nihil malim equidem.
SIMO.
Reduce igitur filium.
CHREMES.
Si censeas.
SIMO.
Maxime,
At mature malis priusquam absumptus sit.
CHREMES.
Sapide Consulis. Sed quando tu hoc cum illo, quod si commodum est Hunc modo vna tecum in caena esse hic vt velit volo,
Inter nos vt transigamus simul.
SIMO.
Faxo atque id agam Iam.
Curemes.
Bene facis. Tu, Syre, ad vxorem propera, quae opus 35 Ad caenam sunt parato ut paret.
SYRUS.
Pergo.
CHEMES.
Prouiso nunc Ad forum, tabellarium si quem, fors, nanciscier Potero, mihi qui ad filium ferat literas vt revocetur.
Atque optime occurrit quidem, mihi qui aiebat Sese affuturum illic propediem: quidam hic vicinus Crito, frequens
Qui mercatum illic Romae exerceat. Eum Iam exquiram primum, si domi erit, vt conueniam. Sin minus,
Vxori relictum faciam, ad coenam, mox domum adveniens, Venire ad nos vt velit. Optimum ita arbitror.
Caeterum vnum infaeliciter hercle me praeteriit interim:
40. Crito] the manuscript reads Stylpho (altered from Albertus Discus); Foxe several times confused the two names.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Smo. Come, Chremes, though my own complaint is no less than yours, if that's what's eating you so much, listen now. My brother has two daughters. Choose whichever you prefer for your son.
Our alliance and the dowry with interest remain yours as they were going to be. Recall your son.
CHREMEs. Simo, I can't thank you enough for your kindnesses.
Simo. What do you say?
Curemes. I'd like nothing better.
Simo. Then call your son back.
CHREMES. If you think I should.
Simo. Very much, but quickly, before he's ruined by misfortunes.
CuHREMES. You give good advice. But since you recommend this course with him, if it's convenient I'd like your brother to come here to dinner, along with you, so we can work this out among ourselves.
Simo. Fine, and I'll arrange it right now.
[ Exit.
CureEMEs. Good.— —Syrus, hurry to my wife and have her prepare everything necessary for dinner.
SvRUs. I'm going.
[ Exit.
Curemes. Now I'll go to the forum to see if I can possibly find a courier who'll take a letter to my son for me so he can be called home. And, say, just in time it occurs to me that one of my neighbors said he's going there very soon.
It's Crito, who frequently carries on business at Rome. Ill first ask if I can talk with him if he's at home; if he isn't, I'll leave a message with his wife that when he comes home soon, he should come to my house for dinner. I think that's best. But, by Hercules, one thing slipped my mind during all this, unfortunately: now that I
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 111.3
Simonem. Simul cogitate fratris sui adveniens Secum ut duceret filiam, quandoquidem numquam eam memini
Adhuc videre virginem. Heus, Syre, huc redi denuo.
SYRUS.
Redeo.
CureEMEs.
Vxorine ita vt imperabam ?
SYRUS.
Factum.
CHREMES.
Curriculo Transcurre ad Simonem. Dic cum veniát fratris simul
Adductam secum filiam ut meminerit maiusculam.
Eam videre cupio.
SvRus.
Scilicet.
[Acrus TERTIUs. ScENA TERTIA. | [ Sophrona. | pane [SoPpHRONA. | Nae nos iniqua conditione foeminas Omnes ad liberos esse natas arbitror:
Principio in parivndis, tum educandis, labos Et aegritudo quanta assidet. Porro in vita denique
Siquid tum euenit praeter bonum, mulieres fere
Nos solae plectimur; postremo siqua est aliis Foemina infaelicior omnium vna, ego sum infaelicissima:
Cui cum vnum fata e multis reliquere adolescentulum, Fatis crudelior nunc patris funestauit acerbitas.
Quid tandem hic vir vult meus, miror, aut IO Quam incoeptat dementiam, perecastor, itane
Excusso aut graui esse animo erga liberos?
Saltem non pudere hominem? Tamen non os Vereri populi qui postquam gnatum sua Funestauit proteruia, meque familiamque
Omnem coniecit in luctum. Tamen ne parum Suam hanc ostentet ineptiam: insuper iocos
Nunc poscit etiam, conviuia agitat, 52. Eam ... cupio] the reading is uncertain; see Textual Notes.
P.H. Sophrona] emended from Sostrata. Cf. III.4.P.H.
I-9.] see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
think about it, when Simo comes, he should bring his brother's daughter with him, since I don't remember ever having seen the girl.
[ Shouts.] Hey, Syrus, come back here.
SvRus [within Pm coming.
Enter Syrus.
CunEMEs. Did you tell my wife what I told you?
SYRUS. Yes.
CnunEMES. Run quickly to Simo. Tell him that when he comes he should remember to bring his brother's older daughter with with him. I want to see her.
SvRUs. Of course.
| Exeunt. separately.
[I1I.3] Enter Sophrona.
SOPHRONA. Truly, I think we women were all born in our terrible situation, born for children: first in bearing them, then in raising them, how much labor and pain attends us. Besides, if anything really unpleasant happens in life, we women alone are hit with it. And if any one woman is more unfortunate than all others, I am the most unfortunate: the fates spared me only one son out of many, and now the harshness of his father, more cruel than the fates, has dishonored him. I wonder what in the world my husband means or what madness he's entering, by Castor, to feel such rigid and severe anger for his children? Has the man no shame at least? But not to fear the gossip of the people!
Since he's disgraced his son with his own shamelessness, he's plunged both me and the whole house into grief! Yet it's not enough that he displays this folly: now, in addition, he even demands entertainments, plans banquets, and brings in guests
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, YII.4
Convivas ductat, in nostris veluti Triumphans malis. At miser interim Famelicus ille algebit, esuriet satis Qui noster horum omnium esset particeps:
Sine patria, sine patre, percitus,
Profugus aerumnis obsitus.
O miserum Lf. 138] Illum, crudelem patrem! At quid commeruit?
Atque vt ne negem commeritum esse, tamen Hercle si seruus aut hostis esset, quid in :
Ipsum grauius animadverti potuit ?
Paulum supplicii in liberos sat est etiam Pro piaculo. Certe praecipitem quemquam patria
Pellere plusquam extremum est. Atque aedepol id ego Nunc certo scio: suum si vnquam putasset filium,
Id numquam coepisset facinus, credibile est.
Alioqui qua fieret, hoc vt vnquam adeo Ineptum ille venire in animum potuit?
Sed eccum hunc ipsum procedere video.
aM [Actus TERTIUS. SCENA QUARTA.] Chremes. Sophrona.
CHREMES. |
Neque vir neque vxor quo veni inuentus domi. Famulis Datum est ilico ut dicerent cum venit vt veniat
Conviua in caenam.
SOPHRONA.
Quos quaeso, mi uir, conviuas Accersis hodie?
CHREMES.
Quid tua hoc? Potin' tu quod nisi domi Curare caenam? Hoc age.
SOPHRONA.
Accuratum est sedulo. Sed miser Ille Gesippus interim!
CHREMEs.
Proh pergin', Proserpina, me adhuc Accendere et animum fodicare? Nullon' pacto effecero
Praeceptis vt sis morigera, scelesta? Satin' interminatus Sum tibi, negotium ne faxis de hac re amplius?
Quando tandem cacoethes istud tuum cornicari desinet ?
Linguam hercle istam exectam tuam oportuit cum duxeram.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
as if he were rejoicing in the midst of our troubles. Meanwhile our wretched son will go cold and hungry, starving while he should partake of all our goods—without a fatherland, without a father, abused, a fugitive overwhelmed by misfortunes. Oh, the wretched boy, the cruel father! But what has he done wrong?
Or even if I don't deny that he did wrong, yet, by Hercules, if he were a slave or an enemy how could he have been punished more severely ? A little punishment applied to children is adequate even for a sinful act. Surely it's more than extreme to drive anyone headlong from his homeland. By heaven I know for certain now that if ever he had thought of him as a son it's incredible that he would ever have started this wickedness. Otherwise how could it happen that this folly would ever have come into his mind?
But look, I see him coming.
[III.4] Enter Chremes.
CHREMEs. Neither husband nor wife found at home when I went there. I've left word with his slaves that, when he gets home, they should tell him immediately to come as my guest to dinner.
SoPHRONA. Please, my husband, what guests are you inviting today?
CuremeEs. What business is it of yours? Are you master of. anything except looking after the dinner at home? You take care of that.
SoPHRONA.
It's carefully taken care of. But meanwhile our poor Gesippus!
Curemes. Pish, Proserpina,! do you go on setting me on fire and digging up my anger? Is there no way I can make you obey my orders, you whore? Haven't I warned you enough not to carry on about that any more? When will that ill temper of yours stop cawing? By Hercules, I should have cut out your tongue when I married you.
1 Proserpina, wife of Pluto and queen of the underworld, was also sometimes identified with Hecate, goddess of sorcery and witchcraft and terrible figure of the night. In the draft version, Chremes here calls her merely mulier.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IIL4
SOPHRONA.
Quaeso, mi homo, prohibebin' me amare meos?
CHREMES.
Imo Sophrona, amor hic vester est qui nobis corrumpit filios; Vestra haec indulgentia et pietas stulta pernicies,
[222539] Pestis, virusque et viscus merum adolescentibus:
Quae cum ingenio omnes estis sculptae distortissimo, Facile cereos ipsorum animos amussim ad vostram fingitis,
Hincque fit quod refractarios habemus liberos, Quippe vostrum facile ad nequitiam imitantes archetypum,
Vnde facile iam scitu est non alio quam te magistra hoc strui 20 Facinus. Itaque hercle non hunc sed te eliminatam hinc
Potius oportuit. Atque adeo nisi taceas.
SOPHRONA.
Quod si hercle inducas sic animum facere, facias, Atque etiam obtestor, Chreme, quoniam nimis me
Inuito retinere te iam diu sentio. Quamobrem quaeso aliam tibi 25 Quam lubet magis asciscas coniugem, ita demum
Mihi nec molestia nec tibi odio victura sim Quando quidem ex me liberos tibi ferre non poteris.
CHREMES.
Mulier, si sana sis, tace modo atque abi domum.
Tibi sit edictum semel.
SOPHRONA.
Abeo.
CHREMES.
Deus bone,
Quanta haec esset humanae vitae faelicitas, haec si vna crux Abesset, mulier, quod qui in vita experti quod loquor
Inteligunt. Quamquam equidem nihil est quod huic magnopere Succenseam, quae, si icta sit desiderio filii, pietas haec est
Parentum in liberos. Quippe et meum quoque animum haud minus idipsum verberat,
Haud leniter, etiamsi dissimulare apud eam libuit Sedulo.
22-23. originally one line in MST, and my lineation is doubtful. See Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
SOPHRONA. I beg you, my husband, will you forbid me to love my children ?
CunEMzs. But Sophrona, it's this love of yours which ruins our sons.
Your indulgence and foolish affection is nothing but the ruination, the bane, the poison, and the birdlime of youth. Since you women are all wrought with a most twisted nature, you readily fashion their waxen spirits after your own pattern. Hence it happens that we have obstinate children, who readily imitate your model, even to worthlessness. So it's easy to know that this wickedness was fashioned by no one but you, his teacher. By Hercules, I should have turned you out rather than him—and so I will if you don't shut up.
SOPHRONA. Well, by Hercules, if you should decide to do so, go ahead. I even beg you to do it, Chremes, since I feel that for a long time now you've kept me around very much against your will. So I ask you to take another wife whom you like more; then at last I wouldn't be overwhelmed with disgust for myself or hatred for you, because you won't be able to take my children from me for yourself.
CHREMESs. Woman, if you want to stay healthy, just be quiet and go home. Take that as an order for once.
SOPHRONA. I'm going.
[ Exit.
Curemes. Good god, how happy our life would be if this one cross, woman, were gone—as they know who are what I call experienced in life. But I really have no reason to be very angry at her. If she's tormented by concern for her son, that's the duty of parents toward their children. To be honest about it, it hammers at my heart just as hard as hers, even if by design I like to pretend in front of her.
TITUS BL GESIPPUS, Tiles [Actus TERTIUs. SCENA QuINTA. ] Crito. Chremes.
Lf. 139v] [Cnrro.] Diuinare satis quid sit negotii nequeo Quod Chremes modo ipsus ad me adveniens ad coenam expetit.
Propterea prouiso scire vespere.
CHREMES.
Optate mi Crito, salueas.
[Cnrro.] Et tu, Chreme optatisime. Quidnam fit rei?
CHREMES.
Romam te Audiui profectionem parare propediem.
[Cnrro.] Sospitante numine.
CHREMES.
Quandonam, Crito?
[Cnrro.] Hodie constitueram, cras perquam diluculo Necessum est.
CHREMES.
Optime profecto factum.
[Cnrro.] Quamobrem tu istud ?
CHREMES.
Ilic mihi Est, Crito, filius.
[Cnrro.] Tuus!
CHREMES.
Atque lam esse certo scio.
[ CRrro.] Gesippus ?
CHREMES.
Ad eum tua nunc opera peropus est ad Perferendas literas.
[Cnrro.] Scilicet, sed quampridem profectus illuc aut
Qua de re?
CHREMES.
Longum est exordiri nunc. I mecum intro, ibi Et quid illo factum sit, teque quid velim facere audies.
CriTo.
Perge.
1. S.P. Crito] omitted in MST. In later S.P.'s in this scene, Crito's speeches are assigned to Stilpho, the name Foxe originally used for this character (though he had already given that name to Crito's brother). Though he altered the name in the P.H. of this scene, he neglected to alter it in the speech prefixes and in the text at ll. 3 and 8, where I have also emended.
7. Necessum est] ?read as a separate line; the words were added interlineally.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[111.5] Enter Crito.
Cnrro [to himself]. I can't figure out what's going on, that Chremes himself just came to my house and invited me to dinner. So I'm on my way this evening to find out.
Curemes. My dear Crito, greetings.
Criro. And you, my beloved Chremes. What's going on?
CHREMEs. I've heard that you're planning a trip to Rome soon.
Cnrro. God willing.
CunEMEs. When, Crito?
Crito. I decided today: I must go tomorrow, as close to dawn as possible.
CunEMEs. I'm very glad it's soon.
Cnrro. Why do you say that?
CHREMES. My son is there, Crito.
Critro. Your son!
Curemes. Now I know for sure that he is.
Crito. Gesippus?
CureMeEs. I'm in great need of your help now in carrying a letter to him.
Crito. Of course, but how long ago did he go there, and why?
CHREMEs. It's a long story to start now. Go inside with me, where you shall hear both what happened to him and what I would like you to do.
Crito. Go ahead.
[ Exeunt.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1II.6-III.7
[Acrus TERTIUs. SCENA SEXTA.] Stylpho. Simo. Syrus. Phrygia.
STYLPHO.
Praeclarum predicas ingenium adolescentis. Atque ideo Eum eiecit iratus oppido?
SIMO.
Oppido.
STYLPHO.
Tametsi quidem Non commeritus, tamen profuerit ilii hoc posthac ad plurima.
SIMO.
Indubie. Verum interea dum sermoni curamur, Relicta est nobis Phrygia.
STYLPHO.
Vah tam iuuenes hos: si non oportuit, 5 Tam festinatum.
SIMO.
Quid tum vbi huc permensum sit aetatis?
STYLPHO.
Haud longe aberunt, credo. Atque eccos venire video.
SYRUS.
Stylpho, si iter foret ad concionem, haud ita festinares, credo.
Puellam pene confecistis lassitudine.
STYLPHO.
Itane, Phrygia?
PHRYGIA.
Minime, pater, nisi quod me gerris suis retriuit
Linguaculus hic.
STYLPHO.
I, Syre, prae strue nobis viam hanc.
SYRUS.
Accipio.
[Actus TERTIUS. SCENA SEPTIMA. | Gesippus [f 140] [GEsIPPUs. | Num quisquam est sub coelo hoc vsquam natus miser
Infaeliciori vnquam, natus ac educatus, sydere quam ego sum, Cui vnquam tam auersus equos sua sol iunxit ab
III.6.2. oppido ...
Oppido| a pun; the -o in the second word has a circumflex to distinguish it in MST.
7. aberunt, credo] ?read aberunt.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[111.6] Enter Stylpho and Simo.
STYLPHO. You're showing the outstanding character of the young man. And for that the angry fellow drove him out of town?
Stmo. Precisely.
SrvLPHO. Though he certainly didn't deserve it, yet this will be very profitable to him in the future.
Simo. No doubt. But meantime, while we're busy talking, we've forgotten about Phrygia.
SrvLPHO. Oh these young people! If they aren't wanted, they come so quickly.
Simo. How long should it have taken to get here?
STvLPHO. I think they won't be far away. And look, I see them coming.
Enter Syrus and Phrygia.
SvRus. Stylpho, if your trip were to a meeting, I think you wouldn't be in such a hurry. You've almost killed the girl with fatigue.
STYLPHO. Is that so, Phrygia?
Purycia. Not at all, father, except that this tongue wagger has worn me out with his nonsense.
STYLPHO. Syrus, go and prepare the way for us.
SvRus. I get you.
[ Exeunt.
DLE] Enter Gesippus in rags.
Gesippus. Has any poor son anywhere under the heavens ever been born and bred under a more unlucky star than I? Is there any to whom such a baleful sun has ever hitched his horses far from his
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 111.8
Vrbe, cui aut iustior de fortuna sua nunc esse queat querimonia— Siuetamen fortunam istam seu fata
Appellem potius, siue quicquid est—qui aut omnes Aeque calamitatum numeros absoluerit ?
Nam proh caelitum terrigenumque fidem, Quid amplius aerumnis quisquam possit his accedere?
Extorris e patria, paternis exclusus aedibus,
Mundi planeta octauus, sine sede, sine Ope vagus, rerum egens omnium, tum sine Veste nudus, sine cultu quae habui Pro viatico—quippe perierunt omnia, cui Porro neque rei neque spei quicquam superest, nisi in
Tito dumtaxat meo, ad quem durum nunc telum Adiget me necessitas. Tum neque an idemne animus
Qui olim fuerit an cum fortuna immutatus simul Satis scio. Caeterum quicquid est, semel experiri omnia
Quandoquidem eo Romam nunc accessimus,
Velit necne me internoscere, Certum est. Quippe nunc eo res rediit vti faciam.
Sed quid pompae illuc? Numquid rex huc quispiam ?
Atque hercle quem ego nunc videam? Ni me fallit facies Ipsus est, atque certe hercle est. Cum Sempronia
Video. Papae, an regnum occupat? At dicam nihil.
[Actus TERTIUs. SCENA OcrAva.] Titus. Sempronia. Gesippus.
[f 140v] Tirvs.
Vos hinc intro abscedite. Sempronia, libet hic post epulas Deambulare paululum, salubre est.
SEMPRONIA.
Licet, mi vir.
Titus.
Dic nunc, meum suauium tandem, haec tibi Roma vt placeat?
SEMPRONIA.
Ecastor pulcherrime.
Titus.
Sane, et mihi nunc multo demum placet Impensius postquam te hic coniugem habeo, mea Sempronia.
Sed numquis te affectus patriae tangit interea?
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
own city, who could with more justice complain about his fortune (call it fortune or fate or whatever), or who has in like manner loosed all the hosts of calamities? Oh, the faith of heaven and earth, how could anyone come closer to these great misfortunes ?
Exiled from my fatherland, excluded from my father's house, the eighth planet of the world,! a wanderer without a home and without resources, destitute of everything, stripped of clothes, without the wardrobe which I had for travel—indeed everything has been lost, and neither goods nor good hope is left me unless only in my friend Titus, to whom the cruel spear of necessity now will drive me. Then I don't know for sure whether his attitude is the same as it once was or has been changed along with his fortune. Still, whatever it is, whether he wishes to recognize me or not, since I've now come as far as Rome I'm determined to try everything once. Indeed my circumstances have reached such a state now that I must do it. But what sort of procession is that? Some king coming here? By Hercules, whom should I see now? Unless I'm deceived, that's his face—and, by Hercules, it 1s for sure. I see him with Sempronia. Well! Is he in charge of the kingdom? But I'll say nothing.
[III.8] Enter Titus and Sempronia, richly dressed, with attendants.
Titus [to attendants|. Leave us and go inside, all of you.—— [| Exeunt attendants.
[To Sempronia.] Sempronia, I like to walk here after dinner, and it's good for us.
SEMPRONIA. As you wish, my lord.
Tirus. Tell me now, my sweet, how do you like Rome?
SEMPRONIA. My goodness, very much.
Trrus. That's good. And I like it very much more now that I have you here as my wife, my Sempronia. But still, do you feel any homesickness ?
! That is, an outsider; only seven "'planets" were known.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, II1.8
SEMPRONIA.
Aliae Vt sunt affectae nescio; mea haec semper cantilena fuit Vbique esse patriam vbi bene est, vbicumque est, ut putem.
Titus.
Enimvero laudo, atque immortales superis fero gratias Quando tandem animum tuum ita erga me esse ac voluisentio.
Quo facilius nunc spero suaui ac concordi pace suauissimam Aetatem dehinc victuros simul.
Prorsus enim incertus eram quo animo latura esses demum Personatas cum rescires nuptias, et tamen eo amor
Armauit me: aut faciundum aut moriendum fuit.
SEMPRONIA.
Quid opus istis, mi vir? Neque enim tu primus qui amasti, neque Ego tam tenella rerum sum quae quid fert amor nesciam.
Quo non solum tibi aequior sum, sed mihi etiam gratulor Magis, quae huic nunc contigerim viro quicum concordare
Aetatem liceat.
Trrus.
Cordate hoc, Sempronia,
Nam vt praecipua in vita res est concordia, ita rursum illius Nullum fomentum videtur verius quam verus amor.
Quo firmius nunc spero coniugium hoc fore nostrum si vt Amore primum initum est, ità animorum studium hoc et benevolentiam
Retinuerimus.
SEMPRONIA.
Ita pol volo et opto, mi domine.
Tirus.
[£142] Nunc siquid desit, Sempronia, aurum, vestes, ancillulae, Siue quid rerum aliud impera, insume vt voles. Omnia haec
Tibi una mecum communia puta, mea particeps.
SEMPRONIA.
Est gratia maxima.
GESIPPUS.
Admouebo me propius.
Trrvs.
Eamus ergo intro.
Ecce vero unquam ego ardelionibus istis purgabo oppidum?
Eya vt otiosus stat veterator: fugitiuus ac circumforaneus Ex vultu apparet quispiam. Nimirum huiusmodi
Planis plena sunt omnia. At ego istis ventribus remedium Spero inueniam propediem. Sine.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
SEMPRONIA. I don't know how other women are affected, but my theme song has always been to regard my homeland as being anywhere that pleases me, wherever it is.
Tirus. You're absolutely right, and I give eternal thanks to the gods since at last I feel that you have affection for me just as I have wished. The more easily now do I hope that henceforth we will live a most sweet life together, in sweet and peaceful harmony.
I was really uncertain in what spirit you would tolerate the substitute marriage when you knew about it, and yet my love so armed me that I had to do it or die.
SEMPRONIA. Why need you worry, my husband? For you aren't the first man who's been in love, and I'm not so innocent that I don't know what love does. Not only am I the more favorably disposed toward you, but I congratulate myself the more that now I have fallen to a husband with whom I may live my life in harmony.
Trrus. Wisely spoken, Sempronia, for as harmony is the principal thing in life, so in turn there seems to be no truer kindling of harmony than true love. The more constant now will our marriage be, I hope, if, as it was begun in love, we so preserve the warmth and devotion of our feelings.
SEMPRONIA. I sincerely hope and pray so, my lord.
Titus. Now, Sempronia, if anything is wanting—money, clothing, handmaids, or anything else—just ask for it; take what you please. Consider everything here as much yours as mine, my partner.
SEMPRONIA. That is most kind.
Gesippus [aside]. I'll move closer.
Trrus. Let's go in then. [Looking at Gesippus.] Look at that. Will I ever rid the town of these meddlers? Look how this ancient loafer stands around! From the look of him, he appears to be some vagrant runaway slave. It's strange that every place is full of ne'er-do-wells like this. But very soon I hope to find a remedy for these—bellies. Amen.
[ Exeunt Titus and Sempronia.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, III.9-III.10
[Actus TrRTIUs. Scena Nona.] Gesippus.
[GzsiPPus.] Itan', Tite, haeccine amicis reponis officia, In ardeliones vt vertas cum piget noscere?
O mores, o tempora, quae haec hominum perfidia Est? Atque annon praedixi fore? Qui cum ipsi ope
Indigeant, nihil est mansuetius, post cum fortuna
Sufflati, agnoscunt neminem. Vah ingratitudinem!
Adeon' nullam esse in rebus humanis fidem? Proh deum Immortalem! Atque hunc haud triuialem mihi anchoram
Existimaui adversus naufragia omnia.
Haccine caussa tam cupidus eram Romam redeundi?
Qui vtinam fluctibus absorptus essem funditus ut numquam appellerem, Aut aliquid hic esset nunc quo honesta morte defungier
Possem. Hei mihi, quod hic habeo neminem Qui vitam hanc mihi auferat, hisque me Evoluat miseris. Et quid nunc ilico
Cultro hoc parco perficere, quandoquidem Extremum hoc solatium superest, vt uitam mihi
In morte queram cum vita hic mors est grauissima.
Veh mihi vt totus langueo et fathisco miser Aerumnis sepultus prorsus, vt pedibus nequeam
Amplius consistere. Dulcis mors, hinc miserum abripe.
[Acrus Tertius. ScENA DEcm™aA.] Chremes. Crito.
[ f. 141v] CHREMES.
Ita quaeso te, Crito, vt facias.
CriTo.
Potin' vt animo Sis otioso, Chreme?
CHREMES.
Atque ipsum si potes Conuenias primum, sin nequeas tamen vt Tito Tradantur hae literae facito.
CRrTO.
Diligentiam Faxo videbis meam. Ecquid est aliud ?
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[III.9] Gesippus. Is this the way you repay your friends for favors, Titus, to refer to them as meddlers when you're ashamed to acknowledge them? Oh the customs, oh the times, what is this perfidy of men? And didn't I foresee that it would be so? When men are in need themselves, nothing is more sweet-natured than they; later, when they are puffed up by fortune, they know no one.
Oh ingratitude! Is there no trustworthiness in human behavior?
Alas immortal god! And I thought this man no ordinary anchor for me against all shipwrecks. Was it for this that I was so eager to come to Rome? Would that I had been utterly swallowed up by the waves that I might never land, or that there were here now some means for me to die an honorable death. Alas for me that I have no one here to end my life for me and purge me of these miseries. [He takes out a small knife.] What, do it here and now with this little knife? This is the last comfort remaining to me, to seek life for myself in death, since life here is a death most severe. Alas for me, how utterly weak I am; wretch, how faint
I become, so completely overcome by adversities that I can stand no longer. [He sinks to the ground.] Sweet death, carry this wretch from here.
[He falls asleep.!
[III.10] Enter Chremes and Crito.
Curemes. That's what I want you to do, Crito.
Cnrro. Be still, Chremes, and rest easy.
Curemes. And if you can, speak to him first. But if you can't, at least be sure that this letter is delivered to Titus.
Cnrro. I'll do my best, you'll see. Is there anything else?
! 'The staging here is curious. During the trial, Gesippus is said to have fallen asleep in a public way, and he has said here that he cannot stand up any longer.
Presumably, then, he lies down on the stage here and is discovered, still lying in the same place, two scenes later by Martius. Meantime, however, the scene shifts to Athens for III.10. Perhaps a door at one end of the stage permanently represented Chremes! house, and another door at the other end represented Rome; if so, Chremes and Crito stayed at the Athenian end of the stage during III.10 as Gesippus lay at the other. Perhaps a third door represented the Athenian and Roman forums.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, llI.11
CHREMES.
Vt bene
Sit tibi, nostrique memineris quod poteris.
Crrro.
Aliud cura.
Curemers. — Vale.
Criro.
Et tu, Chreme Optime.
Curemes.
Restat nunc mihi via carpenda ad forum, Vbi me Simo cum Stylphone fratre operirier
Constituerunt ad portum vti deambulemus simul.
IO Atque recta iam pergo illuc.
[Acrus Tertius. SCENA UNpkcIMA.] Martius Sicarius. [Gesippus.] [Manrrivs.] Num quisquam hic qui me insequitur? Nemo est. Numquis hic
Coryceus qui videt, qui me audit? Nemo est. At quem ego Huic properare procul video? At pecus est.
Proh infandum ac foedum facinus! Quid egi ego Miser hodie, qui illum inter pugnandum
Mactaui rusticum? Nunc hei mihi, quid ergo prospiciam Effugii mihi, quamve ineam viam potissimum
Ad elabendum? Hac? Illac? Istac? Sed quid hoc?
Occisus sum, quisnam hic sub lapide Scorpius? Quid, dormitne etiam an non? Hem,
Quid cultri hoc in manibus? Mendicum quempiam Ebrium, satis credo. Tace, quid ego inueni nunc?
Sicam sanguinariam hanc illi in dexteram Indam afabre ipsumque omni hac aspergam Suspitione. Nunc quid vnquam dari huic posset simile?
Quod si astu rem tractauero, quin aggrediar equidem.
Eya vero haec ita euenit res vt volui [Lf 42] Vsque edormit stipes nec persentiscit quippiam.
O sancta Salus, quae tam acutum hoc dedisti in mentem III. 11.P.H. Gesippus] omitted in MST, since he does not speak in this scene.
6. .Nunc hei] ?read Hei; see Textual Notes.
14-15. ipsumque ..
. Suspitione] see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Curemes. That it go well with you, and remember me as much as you can.
Criro. You look after other business.
CureMeEs. Farewell.
CnrTO. And you, my very good Chremes.
[ Exit.
Curemes. Now it remains for me to head for the forum, where Simo and his brother Stylpho agreed to wait for me so we might walk to the harbor together. And I'm on my way there right now.
[ Exit.
[HI.:1] — Enter Martius the cutthroat; Gesippus still lies asleep.
Martius.
Is anybody here following me? Nobody. Is there any Corycean here to see me or hear me?! None. But who's that away over there rushing this way? It's only an animal. Oh, my terrible, wicked deed! Wretch, what have I done today? Killed that farmer in a fight! Now, woe is me, what way will I look for to escape? Which road should I take to slip away as fast as possible?
[ Running about.] This way? That way? Or that? [He sees Gesippus.] But Pm lost! For who is this scorpion under a rock? What, is he still sleeping or not? Aha, what's this? Some sort of knife in his hands? I think he must be some drunken beggar. Sh! What
I have hit on now! Ill cleverly put my bloody dagger into his right hand and fasten all the suspicion onto him. Now what could ever be found the likes of this? But if I handle the affair cleverly, I won't become implicated in it myself. [He exchanges knives.] Oh, this is really turning out just as I wished, so long as he sleeps like a log and doesn't suspect anything. O holy Salus, who have made my mind so keen today, it is really true: he is
1 Corycus, in Ionia, was noted for spies who kept watch on shipping in schemes of piracy. The passage anticipates Christus Triumphans V.4.10. There was another
Corycus, in Cilicia, famous for a cave; Boccaccio's Gisippo fell asleep in a cave, but Foxe probably did not know Boccaccio's version.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.1
Hodie, verum hercle est: ingenium non qui in pectore
Sed qui in manibus gerit, nec qui vbique sapit Sed qui in loco cum sit opus sapit, vere sapit.
Ibo atque ad populum exclamabo nunc. Illius Me assimulabo necessarium qui occisus est,
Huncque huc ducam qui comprehendant. Obsecro,
Populares.
[Actus Quartus. SCENA PRiMA.] Martius. Turba Exploratorum. Gesippus.
[| Martius. | Proh ciues vostram fidem, heccine in libera ciuitate scelera ?
Siccine abierint! Subuenite. Canes emittamus venaticos Primum.
ExPLoRATORES.
Indignum facinus!
[Manrrus.] Ecce vestigia persequamur hac.
Vbinam hic homicida aut quo peruasit, miror? Singulas Scrutemur latebras.
EXPLORATOR.
Ecce vero adeste.
MARTIUS.
Hem, quid est?
EXPLORATOR.
Sanguinarium ipsum cum ferro videtisne ?
Martius.
Canes Profecto optimos. Dixin' vobis?
EXPLORATOR.
Agite, obstipemus vndique Atque irruamus.
MARTIUS.
Diis magnas debeo gratias.
EXPLORATOR.
Vah, sceleste, os execrandum, surge.
MARTIUS.
Heus, sacrilege Furcipatibulum, Stygis mastygia, tibi dico, surge.
GESIPPUS.
Omnipotens 10 Deus, quid est rei?
EXPLORATOR.
Constringemus manibus pedibusque Quadrupedem.
I. heccine] = haeccine. ?Read hiccine.
7. optimos] MST reads optimios. obstipemus] stipare is common, but obstipo is not listed in L-S; LTL lists the word (questionable) in M. Marcellus Empiricus (= inculcare).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
truly wise who carries his genius not in his heart but in his hands, and who is wise not in all circumstances but in the situation where there is need of wisdom. Now I'll go and call out to the people.
I'll pretend Pm a kinsman of the man who was killed, and Ill lead them here to find this fellow.—— [Shouts.] I beseech you, citizens.
[ Exit.
[IV.1] Enter Martius with Cratinus and a posse with dogs; Gesippus still lies asleep.
Martivs.! Oh citizens, by your faith! These crimes in a free city!
That the world would turn out this way! Come on. Let's send out the hunting dogs first.
A SEARCHER. Terrible crime!
Martius.
Look, tracks here!
Let's follow them.
Where's the murderer? I wonder where he's got to? Let's search every hidingplace.
A SEARCHER [ finding Gesippus]. Look! Come here.
Martius. What is it?
A SEARCHER. The bloody fellow himself, with his weapon, do you see it?
Martius. Excellent dogs! Didn't I tell you?
A SEARCHER. Come, let's surround him and rush him.
Martius [aside]. I owe many thanks to the gods.
A SEARCHER. Oh you criminal, you despicable fellow, get up.
Martius. Hey, you impious gallows-rogue, scoundrel of hell, I tell you, get up.
Gesippus [waking]. God almighty, what's the matter?
A SEARCHER. Let's tie up this beast hand and foot.
1 The re-entrance of a character (Martius) who has just exited at the end of the preceding act is a violation of some Renaissance critical theories.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.1
GESIPPUS.
Obsecro, amici homines, quid ego feci?
EXPLORATOR.
Nescirier Tu id credis quid egeris, carnifex ?
GEsIPPUS.
Egone egi? Quid ego Egi, obsecro?
ExeLoRATOR.
Dicetur mox tibi apud consules. Constringite.
Tun' hic impune homines ciues vt mactes, bellua?
GESIPPUS.
Egone
Ciues?
ExPLORATOR.
Eho, rusticum illum, dico, diuitem uiciniae hic, Negabin' impudens? At ferrum non negabit hoc
Adhuc recens a uulnere.
GESIPPUS.
Supreme deus, quid hoc Monstri est? Nunc quid dicam aut faciam incertus sum, [ f. 142v] nisl Tam honestam dari occasionem ad moriendum, id vero gaudeo. 20
MARTIUS.
Lanio humani sanguinis, negabis propinquum meum Interfecisse, carcer?
GESIPPUS.
Scilicet.
MARTIUS.
Tum argentum Omne emunxisse postea ?
GESIPPUS.
Factum.
MARTIUS.
Etiam confitetur. Dixin' huncce esse?
Interrogate!
ExPLORATOR.
Tun' homicidium hoc vnquam infitiaveris, verbero?
GESIPPUS.
Non nego.
ExPLORATOR.
Quid meritus ergo?
GESIPPUS.
Quid libet.
EXPLORATOR.
Mira sane vindicta numinis quae ipsum non sinit Denegare hominem. Abripite, rapite, trahite ad
Consules.
Gesippus.
Heu me miserum.
16-17.] see Textual Notes.
21. propinquum] ?read rusticum illum propinquum; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Gesippus. I pray you, my friends, what have I done?
A SEARCHER. You think we don't know what you've done, you villain ?
Gersippus. What I've done! What on earth have I done?
A SEARCHER. You'l be told soon, before the consuls.
[ To searchers.| Tie him up.—— [To Gesippus.] You think you can murder citizens here and get away with it, monster?
Gesippus. I murder citizens?
A SEARCHER. Ha! A rich farmer of the neighborhood here, I tell you. Do you deny it, you shameless fellow? This weapon, still fresh from the wound, won't deny it.
Gesippus [aside]. God on high, what sort of portent is this? I'm uncertain what to say or do now, except to rejoice that I'm given such a guiltless opportunity to die.
Martius. Butcher of human flesh, do you deny that you killed my kinsman, you criminal?
Gesippus. Of course.!
Martius. And then stole all his money?
Gesippus. Yes.
Martius. He even confesses. Didn't I tell you he was the one?
Ask him.
A SEARCHER. Villain, will you deny this murder?
Gesippus. I don't deny it.
A SEARCHER. What do you deserve then?
Gesippus. Whatever you please.
A SEARCHER. Oh, the marvelous vengeance of god, which does not allow the man to deny himself. Seize him and carry him away. Drag him to the consuls.
Gesippus. Alas, wretched me!
[ Exeunt omnes, carrying Gesippus off.
1 Gesippus intends his answers to be equivocal, so that they may be taken as confessions.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.2
[Acrus Quartus. ScENA SECUNDA.] Sempronia. Phormio.
[SEMPRONIA. |
Narrauit modo herus tuus ex te auditum, Phormio, Pamphilam, quantum intellexi, quandam meum Gesippum hic amare virginem.
PHoRMIO.
Nempe, consulis hanc Fuluii filiam.
SEMPRONIA.
Quod ego hercule Numquam intellexeram. Quid, hancque aiebat sibi esse complacitam adeo?
PHORMIO.
Supra quidem mortales omnes feminas: simul cum te laudabat etiam,
Inter caeteras eam proximam. Forte enim subauscultans aderam.
SEMPRONIA.
Cupio eam videre, Phormio.
PHORMIO.
Licet, hera.
SEMPRONIA.
Deinde optimi Adolescentis amori benefactum cupio. Tum id aequum simul Est, vos adiutare, Phormio, cuius antea In vestris rebus experti adeo estis operae promptitudinem.
Dignus est.
PnroRMrio. . Verissiimum, hera, atque hic iam dudum Sum quandoquidem sum pollicitus illi, et faxim lubens.
SEMPRONIA.
Merito facis. Sed estne, ut fertur, egregia ?
PHOoRMIO.
Plane Res haec est vt animi sunt amantium: qui amat, Huic ita est quae aliis tamen eadem erit aliter. Suo
Quaeque lactata est vt palato placeat.
SEMPRONIA.
Verum est, quo nunc magis te adniti velim vt summum Amanti hoc perficias beneficium.
PHORMIO.
Quod queam equidem, sed seruus Solus quid potero? Magis herum iube.
4. complacitam] emended from complacitum.
5. laudabat etiam] ?read laudabat; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[IV.2] Enter Sempronia and Phormio.
SEMPRONIA. Phormio, your master just told me what he heard from you, that my Gesippus loves a certain girl named Pamphila.
All I know about her is that she is a young girl here.
Puyormio. Yes indeed, she's the daughter of Fulvius the consul.
SEMPRONIA. By Hercules, I didn't know that. What, did he say she was so appealing to him?
PHormio.
Yes indeed, more than all mortal women.
He even praised her the same as you, and the closest to you among all others.
I happened to be there and heard him.
SEMPRONIA. I'd like to see her, Phormio.
PHormio. All right, mistress.
SEMPRONIA. I want to do a good turn for the love of that fine young man. And it's a good idea for you to help too, Phormio, since up to now you've proved your eagerness for work in your own enterprises. He's worthy of your help.
PnuonMio. Very true, mistress. l've been here for some time since I promised to help him, and I'd willingly do it.
SEMPRONIA. That's fine. But is she, as they say, a good catch?
Puormio. That's really a matter for lovers to decide for themselves: the same girl will be a prize catch to one who loves her and otherwise to others. Everybody is tempted by what pleases his own palate.
SEMPRONIA. That's true. All the more reason why I'd like you to exert yourself now to do this greatest favor for him, since he's in love.
Puormio.
I'll do what I can, but what can I do, a mere slave?
Better command my master.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.3
SEMPRONIA.
Faciam, atque iam Nunc tu abi ad eam, ad me venire vt velit domum.
Velle eam videre dicito, et tecum ducito.
| 2231 PHORMIO.
Fiet.
SEMPRONIA.
Tametsi illi nulla lege obnoxia sum, tamen hoc Vel pro pietate illius uel officio meo debeo. Quaecumque expetit
Semper bene huic et cupiam et faciam omnia.
[Actus Quartus. SCENA TERTIA.] Titus et Fuluius Consules.
Martius. [Cratinus et] Populus Romanus. Gesippus.
[ Tetus. ] Licet nunc, ciues, siquis testimonii dictionem habet Legibus ius vestrum persequi. Producite. Cuicumque iam
Lubitum est impingere, licitum facimus dicere.
MARTIUS.
Etsi mihi, Verendi consules, natus ille qui occidit cognatus fuit Atque ab isto interfectum esse habeo liquidissimum, tamen
S1 solum ea res mihi sine testibus comperta foret, Numquam is forem qui hanc illi actionem intenderem.
Nunc tot simul consciis cum manifestius id est quam ut Infitiari queat. Ipsum quaeso potius interrogate.
Furvius.
Dicite Testes nunc.
CRATINUS.
Non potest, iudices, testis esse certior IO Quam sua hominis cuiusque conscientia. Tum neque
Quisquam immerito sceleris alligat sese qui merito Labis exors sit. Quamobrem non est nostris opus
Nunc testimoniis, qui suis satis est victus testibus.
Furvrus.
Dicite, vidistisne cum incesserat hominem ?
CRATINUS.
Non, sed vestigia insectantes, dormientem cum sica hac offendimus Quam necdum absterserat, et quia tum ea res suspitionem
23. debeo] a doubtful reading; see Textual Notes.
P.H. Cratinus et] omitted in MST.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
SEMPRONIA. I will. Now you go to her and have her come to me at home. Tell her I want to see her, and bring her with you.
ProRwro. It shall be done.
[ Exit.
SEMPRONIA. Though I'm obligated to him under no law, yet I owe him this both for his good nature and from my own sense of obligation. I shall always wish him well, and everything that he desires I shall work for.
[ Exit.
[IV.3] Enter the consuls, Titus and Fulvius; Martius, Cratinus, and other Roman citizens bring in Gesippus bound.
Tirus. Now, citizens, if any of you has evidence to offer, you may seek justice from the law. Produce your evidence. Anyone who wishes to make an accusation we permit to speak.
Martius. Reverend consuls, though the man who was struck down was a blood relative of mine and though I am quite certain that he was murdered by this man, yet if this thing had been discovered by me alone without corroborating witnesses,
I would never be the one to bring this action against him. But now, with so many witnesses in agreement, it is so clear-cut that he cannot deny it.
But please, it's better that you question him.
Furvius. Witnesses, you speak now.
Cratinus. Judges, there can be no more certain witness than each man's own conscience. No man, moreover, confesses a crime without reason, no man who by rights is free of guilt. So there is no need for our testimony now, since he has been sufficiently convicted by his own witnesses.
Furvius. Tell me, did you see when he attacked the man?
Cratinus. No, but we followed his tracks and found him sleeping, and this dagger with him, which he had not yet wiped. Since that aroused our suspicion, we arrested him and then bound
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.3
Dabat, manus dein vincula iniecimus et, quia nihil Horum eluere potuit, confitentem ad vos perduximus.
Titus.
[f 143v] Age, dicat reus nunc. Nihilne?
MARTIUS.
Tacet. Agnoscit.
Tirus.
Tun'
Huius es furti conscius an non? Nil respondet.
Furvirus.
Furtum hoc Uel diluas uel admittas necessum, iuuenis.
GESIPPUS.
Neque Culpam neque mortem detrecto, consul.
Titus.
Argenti dic Quantum abstulisti ?
Furvrus.
Quid sublegisti nummorum, dicito?
GESIPPUS.
Nescio.
Martius. Viginti minas.
Furvivs.
Etiam occiso rustico?
GESIPPUS.
Nescio.
Martius.
Non, sed caeso grauiter.
"DEPISSS Quid agimus, Fului? Vides confitentem reum.
Furvrus.
Nempe arbitror.
Titus.
Ecquos habes autem asseclas sceleris? Quid ais?
Mihi non respondet, tu roga.
Furvrus.
Socii numqui sunt praeterea?
GEsIPPUS.
Solus omnium ego facile miserimus.
30. miserimus] = muüserrimus.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
him. Because he couldn't explain these things, we brought him to you even as he confessed.
Trrus. Come, let the defendant speak now. [Gesippus remains silent.] Nothing?
Martius. He stands mute. He admits it.
Titus. Are you guilty of this robbery or not?—— [To Fulvius.] He doesn't answer.!
FuLvius. Young man, you must either deny this robbery or confess your guilt.
GzsiPPUs. Consul, I neither deny the crime nor shrink from death.
Titus. Tell us how much money you took.
[Gesippus remains silent.] Furvius. How much money did you steal? Tell us.
GzsiPPUs. I don't know.
Martius. Twenty minas.
Furvius. After murdering the farmer?
Gesippus. I don't know.
Martius. No, but after gravely injuring him.?
Titus. Fulvius, what do we do? You see the defendant confessing.
Furvrius. Indeed, I think so.
Trrus. Do you have any accomplices in this crime? What do you say?
[7o Fulvius.| He doesn't answer me. You ask him.?
FurLvius. Are there any accomplices besides you?
Gesippus. I'm alone, easily the most wretched of all.
1 Instead of this and the following two speeches, the draft version reads as follows:
Titus. What would you answer to this? He's silent.
Furvius. Young man, if you have anything to absolve you, you may speak.
Gesippus. He who knows everything is my judge.
Futvius. I know, but this answers nothing to your adversaries. They charge that you are guilty of this robbery. What do you say to this?
Gesippus. Excellent consul, I neither deny the crime nor shrink from death.
Martius. Look, then, he confesses.
Titus. Then you say you are guilty of attacking the farmer?
2 This development, unique to Foxe's play, contradicts Martius' understanding in III.11 and IV.1, but prepares for the comic resolution.
3 Instead of this speech, an earlier version reads as follows:
'Trrus. Can't you absolve yourself of this crime? What do you say? He doesn't answer me. You ask him.
Furvius. Tell me, do you admit this robbery or not?
Gesippus. I don't deny it.
Furvius. That's it.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.3
Tirvs.
Mihi cur non respondeat
Miror.
Furvius.
Nostine?
Titus.
Numquam, nisi non ignota haec Videtur facies. Cedo, iuuenis, vbi habes patriam?
Tu roga.
Furvius.
Natus tu es in iisce regionibus?
GESIPPUS.
Non.
Furvrus.
Vbi Igitur?
GrsiPPUS.
Athenis.
«DrrUS Hem.
Furvius.
Quid est?
Titus.
Parentes ?
FULVIUS.
Parentesne viuunt tui?
GESIPPUS.
Refert id mea nihil.
Furvivs.
Quid, non parentes?
GESIPPUS.
Parentes qui aspernantur filios Haud esse parentes iudico.
Furvrus.
Sortitum ergo edidisse te Necessum est.
GESIPPUS.
Beneficus quia in hominem eram ingratum, scilicet.
FULVIUs.
Amicum hic habes neminem ?
GESIPPUS.
Putabam equidem.
Titus.
Satis Quid in hac re queam suspicari nescio.
FuLvIus.
Satis est. Vides,
Tite, manifesto teneri crimine, morteque dignum.
Lf 144] Legis consulto supremam nunc pronunciemus sonti sententiam.
Titus.
Multa ego hic, Fului, video, quamobrem in crastinum hoc Proferri iudicium velim, et consultius arbitror,
Atque rogo te etiam plurimum.
Furvius.
Si aequum ita censeas.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Tirus. I wonder why he won't answer me.
Futvius. Do you know him?
Trrus. No, though his face seems familiar.
1 [To Gesippus.] Tell [7o Fulvius.] You ask us, young man, where is your home? him.
Furvrus. Were you born in these parts?
Gesippus. No.
Furvius. Where then?
Gesippus. Athens.
Titus. Hm!
Furvivs. What's the matter?
Tirus. What about his parents?
Furvius. Are your parents living?
Gesippus. That doesn't concern me.
Furvivs. What, no parents?
Gesippus. I think parents who spurn their children are no parents at all.
Furvius. Then fate must have given birth to you.
Gesippus. Of course, because I was gracious to an ungrateful man.
Furvrius. You have no friend here?
Gesippus. I thought I did.
Titus. I don't quite know what to make of this.
Furvius. It's clear enough. You see, Titus, that he's been caught red-handed in a crime and deserves to die. I suggest that we now pronounce the supreme penalty of the law on this criminal.
Titus.
Fulvius, I see much reason here for wanting to delay judgment in this case until tomorrow. I feel quite strongly about it, and I ask it of you as earnestly as possible.
Furvius. If you think that's best.
1 At this point, even more than in III.8, where Titus had previously failed to recognize Gesippus, Foxe's earlier emphasis on the identical appearance of Titus and Gesippus becomes a problem of dramatic credibility. The failure to recognize him must be explained by the drastic alteration in Gesippus' looks because of his hardships; if the play was actually staged at Magdalen, it may have involved some rather sophisticated makeup. An added factor, however, is that Titus believes the defendant guilty and does not believe Gesippus capable of committing such a crime; see IV.5.17-18.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.4
Te Censeo. Vos interim vinctum hunc accurare in crastinum Atque huc reductum praecipimus, ciues.
PopuLus RoMANUS.
Fiat.
[Actus Quartus. ScENA QUARTA.] Pamphila. Phormio.
[PAMPHILA. |
Etsi hercle aegre hoc iter mihi nimisque animo aduersum siet, Adire attamen decretum est.
PHORMIO.
Suauiter Facis, nec dubium est quin si ires, Pamphila, Scias vredines, acceptum id iri tibi Quod fecit.
PaAMPHILA.
Quid ni accipiam, Phormio?
Ducere per me liberum est quam libeat coniugem.
Amare, habere illum quid ego ut prohibeam?
Verum illud est ecastor, diis superis Meam stabiliam fidem, viri adeo illius Caussa, viro propterea amatori numquam vt
Fidam postea. Uel illum quam adamantinum Iurarem semper mihi amatorem fore.
Mortali iuueni cuiquam quisquam vt possit Credere?
PuonMro.
Ah nescis quibus Athenis ille Torrebat ignibus ad necem pene, Pamphila, ut ni exprompta Gesippi sui Adcurrisset pietas—
PAMPHILA.
Audiui, at interim Caelebs factus ille sua pietate.
PHORMIO.
Tuque Eadem hac pietate pariter caelebs, Pamphila.
PAMPHILA.
IO ^ Scio.
Puormio.
Nunc quid si deus hoc quispiam voluit Matrimonium vos vt caelibes iungeremini?
Lf 1440] 3. ires] MST appears to read eris.
15. Torrebat] the verb is normally transitive.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Titus. I do.
Meanwhile, citizens, we bid you to keep him bound until tomorrow and bring him before us then.
CrrizENS. Very well.
[ Exeunt.
[IV.4] Enter Pamphila and Phormio.
PaMPHiILA. By Hercules, this trip is inconvenient for me and much against my will. But I've decided to go anyway.
PHoRMrIO. You're doing the right thing, Pamphila, and there's no doubt that, if you go, you'll understand his itches and come to accept what he did to you.
PaAMPHiLA. Why shouldn't I accept it, Phormio? As far as I'm concerned, he can marry anyone he pleases. How should I keep him from loving and having anything? But by heaven this I can say: because of that man and what he did, I pledge my faith to the gods on high that I shall never hereafter put my trust in another man as my lover. I would have taken an oath that he would always be as constant a lover to me as it 1s possible to be.
How could anyone trust in any mortal youth?
PuHormio. Ah, you don't know the fires with which he burned at Athens, almost to the death, Pamphila, so that if the ready loyalty of his friend Gesippus had not come to his aid
PAMPHILA. I heard about it. But meanwhile that friend is made a bachelor for his loyalty.
Puormio. And because of that same loyalty you're likewise a bachelor, Pamphila.
PAMPHILA. I know.
PHonMio. Now what if some god wished you two bachelors to be joined in marriage?
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.4
PAMPHILA.
Ac quid si deus numquam te in consilia Admisit, Phormio?
PHORMIO.
At potest confore.
PAMPHILA.
Non omnia euenire quae possunt, accidunt.
PHORMIO.
Principio, quid si tua totus forma ferueat
Non minus ac suae tuus quem dixi Semproniae?
PAMPHILA.
Quid tum?
Puormio. — Atque hercle ita res habe.
PAMPHILA.
Audio.
PnHonMrio.
Deinde iuuenem nosti ipsum quam ingenuum, Doctum, spectabilem, flore ac specie Vndique pellicibilem, dignum qui detur satrapae.
PAMPHILA.
Intelligo.
PnuonMro.
Indole ac aetate florida, Denique prognatum bonis in vrbe bona Patris optimi, porro haeredem vnicum ad Fortunas insuper amplissimas.
PAMPHILA.
Docte quidem.
PHORMIO.
Postremo etiam Tito tuomet (si id te mouet)
Quam simillimum: perinde ac si illius esses ita Nihil inter'st.
PAMPHILA.
Scitus pol fabulator.
PHORMIO.
Age, dic igitur libera nunc fide, Pamphila, Si marito esses initianda, vtrum eum virum
Malles tibi cui te maxime cordi esse sentias?
PAMPHILA.
Maxime.
22. Ac] ?read At.
27. habe] MST may read habet.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
PaAMPHILA. And what if a god never let you in on his plans, Phormio?
Puormio. But it could happen.
PaAMPHILA. Not everything which can happen does happen.
Puonwro. In the first place, what if he were utterly afire because of your beauty, as much as your man was, of whom I told you, for his Sempronia?
PAMPHILA. What then?
Puormio. And by Hercules, take that for a fact.
PAMPHILA. I'm listening.
Puormio. Then again, you know how noble that young man is, how learned, how admirable, how altogether appealing for his manly vigor and appearance. He's worthy of being given to a satrap.
PampHILA. I know.
PnuonMro. An excellent character, the flower of youth, born to wealth in a good city and of a fine father, the only heir to an especially ample fortune.
PAMPHILA. You're very well rehearsed.
Puormio.
Finally, he's almost identical to your friend Titus (if that moves you), so little different that it's as if you were Titus'.
PaAMPHILA. Notorious liar.
Pnonuro. Come then, Pamphila, tell me now of your own free will, if you were going to be married to a husband, would you prefer to have a man to whom you felt you were most appealing ?
PampPHILA. Very much.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, 1V.5
Puormio.
Recte putas, quandoquidem amor Vicisim amorem docet, etiam in mutis belluis.
Iam cum te Gesippus tam efflictim deperit, Quo potis pacto illum tibi pensi habebis mutuo!
PAMPHILA.
Perge comminisci.
PHORMIO.
At si dignum haud arbitrere, Tamen misereat amantis, Pamphila.
PAMPHILA.
Imo Dignum multo digniore me illum duxerim, Verum illud numquam crediderim, vxorem sibi
Si vnquam induceret ducere, suam vt traduceret
Lf 145] 50 Alteri, ille vt fecit. In summa, haec vtcumque sunt, Si sit mei adeo ut inquis expetens, Ipsus huc venire potest: haud te oratore est opus,
Phormio.
Puormio.
Rectisime. Tum quid si hic breui Adesse videas?
PAMPHILA.
Cum illo haud tecum ineam.
Tum rationem hanc dein nosti mei haudquaquam
Iuris esse me. Parentes sunt, quorum id transigi Consiliis necesse est.
PHORMIO.
Verum ut tuum Non desit suffragium tamen. Exit herus.
Mane.
[Actus Quartus. SCENA QUINTA. ] Sempronia. Titus. Phormio. Pamphila.
[SEMPRONIA. |
Nimis incredibile est, mi vir. Non potest Fieri.
Trrus. Aut ego egregie sum falsus hercle animi.
PHORMIO.
Hera, en adductam ut iusti tibi.
SEMPRONIA.
Hem, Pamphila, Factum ecastor comiter, suauem habeo gratiam.
41-42. amor... amorem] Amor ... Amorem in MST.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
PuHormio. Good thinking, for love teaches love in return, even among dumb beasts. Since Gesippus already is desperately in love with you, how easily you will come to hold him in the like esteem.
PaAMPHILA. Keep on with your pipe dreams.
Puormio. But if you should think him not at all worthy of you, Pamphila, yet have pity on the lover.
PaMPHILA. On the contrary, I would have thought him worthy of someone much worthier than I. But I would never have believed that, having once brought himself to take a wife, he would transfer her to someone else as he did. However that may be, to put an end to this, if he is so desirous of me as you say, he can come here himself; he doesn't need you as his spokesman, Phormio.
Puormio. You're absolutely right. Then what if you saw him come here shortly?
PAMPHILA. Then I would take it up with him, not with you. Besides, as you know, I am by no means my own master. My parents are in charge, and it must be done according to their plans.
PHormio. But so long as your own approval weren't lacking——.
But wait; my master 1s coming out.
[IV.5] Enter Sempronia and Titus.
SEMPRONIA. It's too much to believe, my lord. It can't be.
Titus. Or else, by Hercules, I'm terribly mistaken.
Puormio. Mistress, look, I've brought her to you as you ordered.
SEMPRONIA. Well, Pamphila! My, this is very kind of you. I'm very
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.5
Concede iam nunc quaeso intro. Induc in Aedes, Phormio. Mox ipsa adero.
PHoRMIO.
Sequere sis.
PAMPHILA.
Sequor.
SEMPRONIA.
Quamquam aedepol nescio quid ilico, Mens iam mihi ominari coepit cum dudum hic Aspexeram. Sed qui scis eum esse, obsecro?
Tirvs.
Principio habitus statura conuenit.
Tum ex Athenis est, nec parentes nominat, Hinc eiectus recens ob nescio quod facinus.
Denique agnoscens mei, neque cum rogo Respondet verbum. Nec caussae quid siet, Qui sit, aut vnde sit satis suspicari scio,
Lf 145v] Nisi hoc scio: Gesippus vbi vbi meus est Numquam in se tantam admitteret audaciam,
Nec cogitaret scio.
PAMPHILA.
Quidnam fecit ?
Titus.
Quod homo improbissimus Vim in ciuitate hac fecit inciuiliter Liberto huic cuidam, cui cum pecunia Ipsam etiam irruens vitam emunxit pene miser.
SEMPRONIA.
Hei nequitiam!
"rus Vnde ingens coniectura fit Quisquis sit haud illum esse, et tamen quia Haud certum erat, iuditio subtraxi vt scirem
Compertius, nuncque nec dici potest, Sempronia, Quantis in angustiis sum dum rem cognovero.
SEMPRONIA.
Quid fiet igitur?
Trrus.
Quid censes nisi Vt Phormionem quam mox emittamus huc 22. emunxit miser| ?read ferro emunxit; see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
grateful to you. Please step inside now.—— Phormio, take her into the house.
Ill be right with you.
PuHormio [to Pamphila]. Please come with me.
PampPHILA. I'm coming.
[ Exeunt Pamphila and Phormio.
SEMPRONIA. Heavens, I don't know why, but my mind began to have forebodings just now, the minute I saw her here. But how on earth do you know it's he?
Trrus. In the first place, he has the same bearing and the same build. Again, he's from Athens; he won't identify his parents, and he's recently been cast out for some mischief or other. Finally, he knows me and won't answer a word when I ask him questions.
I don't know what reason there might be, nor who he 1s, nor where he came from. But I do know this: my friend Gesippus, wherever he is, would never stoop to such shamelessness; he wouldn't think of it, I know.
PAwPHILA. What did he do?
Tirus. That wicked man has, like a barbarian, done violence in this city to one of our freedmen. The villain set upon him and almost robbed him of his very life along with his money.
SEMPRONIA. Oh villainy!
Titus. That's why I have a strong suspicion that, whoever he is, he certainly isn't Gesippus. And yet, because I wasn't absolutely sure, I withheld sentence from him so I might know better. Now
I can't even express how great are my torments, Sempronia, until I know the truth.
SEMPRONIA. What's to be done then?
Tirus. What do you think? Unless we send Phormio right away
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.5
Qui renunciet signaque expediat
Quam certissime ut rem esse norit omnia?
SEMPRONIA.
Nempe ita facto opus, et mature facias.
Titus.
Heus, euocate huc Phormionem. Ecquis audiat?
PHORMIO.
Quis hic Phormionem? Here, tua vox erat?
Titus.
Nescis tu quae gesta hic sunt forte, Phormio?
PHORMIO.
Num quidnam rei?
Titus.
Gesippum potin' si vides Meum noscere?
PHoRMIO.
Vel ex unguibus, Here, at vbi isnam est?
Titus.
Nisi meae multum errant coniecturae, Vinctus, cras legibus stringendus laqueo.
PHORMIO.
Tace, per immortalem deum! Ne dixeris,
Here, quod non potest fieri.
Tirvs.
Quapropter id Nunc est quod curriculo te transcurrere ad eum volo Qui sit vt scias, nomen, parentes, fugam,
Ac signa diligenter renuncies singula.
Tenes quid volo?
Lf. 146] PHORMIO.
Singula.
TETUS.
Abi igitur faeliciter.
Quam totus nunc inter spem et metum animi Perplexus pendeo quidnam ille rediens De hac re reportet famulus. Nec scio Vnde fit, semper in laeuam partem magis Mens praesagit omnia. Sed quis exterus
Aduorsa huc platea graditur?
90. renunciet ... expediat] ?read rem renunciet or expediat omnia (cancelling omnia in l. 31). The line as it stands is metrically defective. Rem, a late addition, appears to have been cancelled. 'The placement of omnia, very awkward in l. 31, is unclear; syntactically it would be preferable as the last word in l. 30. See Textual Notes.
42.] see Textual Notes.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
to sort out all the evidence as clearly as possible and report back to us what he has learned about the situation?
SEMPRONIA. Yes indeed, you must do that, and quickly.
Trrus [shouts]. Hey, call Phormio here. Would someone listen?
Enter Phormio.
PHormio. Who's calling Phormio? Master, was that your voice?
Tirus. Do you by any chance know what's happened here, Phormio?
Pnonwro. There's nothing wrong, is there?
Trrus. Can you recognize my friend Gesippus if you see him?
Puormio. Even from his fingernails, master, but where is he?
Titus. Unless I badly miss my guess, he's in jail and is going to be hanged tomorrow according to our laws.
Puormio. No! God almighty! Don't say that, master!
It can't happen.
Titus. Therefore I want you to run to him immediately. Find out who the man is—his name, his parents, the reason he ran away, and so on. Then report everything to me very carefully. Do you understand what I want?
Puormio. Everything.
Titus. Then go with good luck.
[Exit Phormio.
How completely perplexed I am, suspended between hope and fear of what that slave will report about this when he returns.
I don't know why, but my mind keeps foreboding everything for the worse. But who's this foreigner coming along the street toward us?
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.6
[Actus Quartus. SCENA SEXTA. ] Crito. Sempronia. Titus.
[Cnrro.] Poli pelagique patri potentissimo Perpetuas ut par est primum pendo gratias
Nostris qui tam propitium strauit mare Mercimoniis mihi, ut numquam quod scio Secundiore simul flatu et flumine Euenit nauigatio.
SEMPRONIA.
Est ne hic Crito Quem video Atheniensis ?
CRITO.
Deinde tum Perlitatis rite gratiis, quod proximum Nunc est me paro ad negotia, ac primo ut Titum
Conueniam de Chremetis literis.
SEMPRONIA.
Te nominat.
CriTo.
Eo.
SEMPRONIA.
Compelle prius.
Trrus.
Optime vir Crito, salueas.
CRrTO.
Salue, domine. Hem, Sempronia. Numnam vir hic Titus tuus, quaeso?
SEMPRONIA.
Est.
CriTo.
Atque ita arbitror.
Titus.
Quiduis, Crito? Quid agitur? Gesippus ut agit?
Criro.
Istuc huc veni ego ex te percontarier.
Tirus.
Vndenam?
CriTo.
Quia nos reliquit multo prius, At huc ut aiebat se velle ad vos concesserat.
Eho, non venit, obsecro?
TTS:
Perii.
CriTo.
Quippe illum ilico Ex profectu tuo saeuus abegit pater.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[IV.6] Enter Crito.
Cnrro [kneeling in prayer]. First, as is proper, I pay perpetual paeans of gratitude to the all-powerful father of heavens and ocean for stretching out a sea so propitious for my business that, so far as I know, a voyage was never made under more favorable winds and waves together.
SEMPRONIA [to Titus]. Isn't that Crito the Athenian?
Crito [rising]. Now that I've duly offered thanks, I must get down to business, and first I must find Titus about Chremes' letter.
SEMPRONIA [to Titus]. He said your name.
Cnrro. [ll go now.
SEMPRONIA [to Titus]. Stop him before he leaves.
Trrus. My good man Crito, greetings.
Cnrro. Greetings, my lord.—— Well, Sempronia!
Is this your husband Titus?
SEMPRONIA. Yes.
Cnrro. I thought so.
Titus. What do you want, Crito? What's new? How is Gesippus?
Cnrro. I came here to ask you that.
Titus. Why me?
Cnrro. Because he left us long ago, but according to what he said he would do, he came here to you. Alas, didn't he come, pray?
Titus [aside]. I'm lost.
Crito. You see, immediately after you left, his father harshly drove
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.6
Interea nemo nostrum vir quisquam virum Vidit.
Trrus.
Ipsus est.
CnrrTO.
Atqui huc lembum quidem Coepisse, id certum scimus.
Propterea id mihi Huc nunc dedere aduenienti prouinciam, Te vt adirem literis cum his epistolaribus
Suum sibi apud te si est ut remittas filium.
Titus.
Lf. 112]
Boni nos seruent superi.
SEMPRONIA.
Hei me miseram.
CriTo.
Quid est?
Tirus; Et illum et nos omnes pessumdatos.
CriTo.
Quid ita?
Titus.
Adueniens nescio quid designauit miser, Verum enim, Crito, in carcerem coniectus est
Vixque heri iuditio a me ereptus in diem Altrum. Cras denique cavssae nihil video
Capitis quin irrefutabilem luet Sententiam.
CRITO.
Sententiam! Quid ais, Tite? cous:
Iamque ipsum esse illum haud ambiguum est.
Proh caelites vestra potentia, quid huic Iam exitio dari remedii poterit?
Aut quid venire in mentem potest mihi Quod agam?
CrirTo.
Eho quodnam hoc nouum repentinum Obsecro? Itane in carcerem illum, ain' tu? Quid ita?
Quid gessit? Quid scis? Aut nescis forsitan?
Tirus.
malum,
Seruum modo amandaui Phormionem meum Ad eum vt iret certum qui mihi de hac re respondeat.
Atque equidem abesse tam diu miror. Hunc quoad Veniat domi interim Crito expectabimus.
36. dari] MST appears to read dare.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
him out.
Since then, not one of our people has seen the man.
Trrus [aside]. It is Gesippus.
Carro. But he took a boat for here, we know that for sure. So, since I was just on my way here, they asked me to come to you with this letter so that, if he's with you, you'd send their son back.
Trrus. May the gods above preserve us!
SEMPRONIA. Oh woe is me!
Crito. What is it?
Titus. We're sunk, he and all of us.
Crito. Why so?
Trrus. The poor devil came here planning I know not what, but now he's locked in jail, Crito. A little while ago I barely snatched him from judgment for another day, but tomorrow I see no way to keep him from paying the irrefutable sentence of death.
Crito. Sentence! What are you saying, Titus?
Titus. There's absolutely no doubt now that its Gesippus. Oh, ye gods, what remedy for this disaster could be given by your power? Or what can I think of to do?
Crito. Alas, what on earth is this new and unlooked-for trouble?
You say Gesippus is in jail? Why? What did he do? How do you know? Or maybe you don't know?
Tirus. Pve just sent my slave Phormio to go to him and bring me a sure answer about that. I'm surprised he's gone so long.
Meanwhile, Crito, until he comes we'll wait for him at home.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, IV.7-V.1
Criro.
Venio.
[Actus Quartus. SCENA SEPTIMA.] Phormio.
[ProRnwro.] Nunc ego hac in re mirerne an maeream magis An doleam, aut quid dicam primum aut cogitem
Satis nequeo dicere. Ita tot deimprouiso simul Hic concurrunt mala quae sensus meos Omnes obstupefaciunt. Proh sacra numina,
Itan' Gesippum in tantum venire dedecus!
Quod ita me deus amet bene, non tam graue [f 112v] Quam etiam praeter omnem spem mihi ac credibile
Accidit. Atque hunc facile, ego ut aspexeram, Praesensi esse, priusquam nomen mihi suum
Ac signa panderet caetera. Sed quo herus abiit Cui hoc portem malum? Nescio nisi domum Se recepit forsitan.
Actus Quintus. SCENA PRIMA.
Martius.
[Manrrus.] Dei iustissimi iustissimo esse iudicis Iuditio hoc mihi comparatum iudico.
Nusquam cedo neque requiesco quin meum Velut vmbra comitetur me supplicium. Uel hac
Nocte quam nil prorsus somni coepi genis,
Horologium vsque numerans dum singulis Momentis occursat scelus, animum proh dolor
Quam misere uerberans, ut mille satius Fuisset ceruices prebere crucibus.
Vsque adeo intolerabile ac miserum tormentum
Est conscientiae mortalibus. Cui nisi Homo essem hominum feriatus pessime, IV.7.2. An doleam] perhaps intended for deletion, since the phrase is awkward and redundant; see Textual Notes.
V.1.5. nil] ?read nihil.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Cnrro. I'm coming.
| Exeunt.
[IV.7] Enter Phormio.
PuHonuro. I can't say whether I should be more surprised or more sorry and doleful about this, or what to say first or even what to think. So many misfortunes crowd unexpectedly together here that they stupefy all my senses. Oh sacred gods, that Gesippus should come to such dishonor! God love me well, what has happened is as much beyond my expectation and belief as it is serious. As soon as I saw him, I readily guessed that it was he, before he revealed his name and other signs to me. But where has my master gone, to whom I must carry this bad news? I don't know, unless maybe he's gone home.
| Exit.
[V.1] Enter Martius.
Martius. I judge that this has been ordained for me by the most just judgment of god, a most just judge.! Go or stay, nowhere can I prevent my torment from following me like a shadow.
How I spent this night, on my knees, not once closing my eyes in sleep, counting the hours all night long while my crime rushed into my thoughts every minute. Oh, how wretchedly did sorrow hammer at my heart, that it would have been a thousand times better to offer my neck to the gallows. So unbearably miserable is the torture of conscience in mortals. If I weren't the most worthlessly idle of men, it would never have occurred to me to 1 The sources make no preparation for the villain's conversion, but Foxe was apparently aware of the dramatic problem of sudden attacks of conscience.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.2
Numquam subiisset vni iniecisse rustico.
At nunc quam grauiter facti et piget et paenitet.
Quod si de integro incipiendi potestas foret
Aut laeta nunc aliquis occurrat venia, Boni superi, quanta colerem innocentia!
At hoc iuvat interim animum: illum quod viuere Aiunt, spemque nobis pollicentur bonam Revalescentiae. Sed processit iam dies.
Miror tam abesse diu consules.
[Actus Quintus. SCENA SECUNDA. | Pamphila. Sempronia. Fuluius. Titus.
[4 113] Gesippus. Populus Romanus.
[PAMPHILA.]
Quin has siste lachrimas, mulier, atque quod prosit potius Modo exequamur aliquid.
SEMPRONIA.
Cupio, atque scio promeritum Esse cui benefaxis.
PAMPHILA.
Egone? Ita deus me amet, Iam quiduis depacisci possim, modo possem, vt illi commodem.
SEMPRONIA.
Ac si scias quam erga te semper habitum, atque ita perire nunc.
Eum tun' pati poteris?
PAMPHILA.
Imo nemini acerbius quam mihi Accidere hoc testor deum, aut quemquam esse qui saluum magis
Expetat.
SEMPRONIA.
Ergo, Pamphila, quid si iudicibus supplicabimus Simul, quandoquidem solum hoc restat adminiculum vltimum
Siqua forte hoc potest impetrarier ?
PAMPHILA.
Siquidem hic vsus IO Officii sit, nunquam illi in re ulla deero.
SEMPRONIA.
Dignum te atque ei Feceris. Atque ecce sunt praesto consules. Vtamur tempore.
Furvrus.
Ita vt dies atque hora monet, iam nunc ad pronunciandam reo Huic adsumus sententiam. Adeste. Meminisse vos
17. Bont... quanta] ?read Boni superi] Vitam dehinc quanta; see Textual Notes.
18. At] ?read Ac or Atque.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
attack any farmer, but now how terribly sorry and ashamed I am of that deed. If I had the power to begin afresh, if some happy chance should come to me now to start anew, ye gods on high, how innocently I would live! But meanwhile it relieves my mind that they say he's alive, and they hold out high hope of his recovery. But now the day has come. I'm surprised the consuls are absent so long.
[V.2] Enter Sempronia, weeping, and Pamphila.
PAMPHILA. Well, stop crying, woman, and let's do something more profitable.
SEMPRONIA. I want to, and I know he deserves your help.
PAMPHILA. Mine? God love me, if only I could, I'd make any deal now to help him.
SEMPRONIA. If you know how taken he always was with you, could you bear now to let him die this way?
PAMPHILA. No, I swear to god, that would strike no one a harder blow than me, and there's no one more eager for his safety.
SEMPRONIA.
Then what if we appeal to the judges together, Pamphila, since that's the last and only remaining help—if by some chance it can be done at all.
PAwPHILA. If that will do any good, I'll not fail him in any way.
SEMPRONIA. You'l have done him a service worthy of you. And look, here are the consuls. Let's use this opportunity.
Enter Fulvius and Titus; the citizens lead in Gesippus.
Furvius. As the day and the hour remind us, we come together now to pronounce sentence on this defendant. Draw near. Citizens,
TIDUS EIAGESIFE US. VA
Creduo, ciues, in hesterno hoc tribunali actum quid siet
In excutiendo crimine?
PopuLus RoMANUSs.
Omnia.
FuLvius.
Vestrum nec vllus est Qui refellit aliquid? Quid ais tu?
GESIPPUS.
Me miserum.
FuLvIus.
Hem, quid hic, Mulieres?
SEMPRONIA.
Suspiciendi consules ac tremendi iudices, Mulierum siquid supplices apud uos manus valeant, per fidem
Atque clementiam obsecramus vestram supplici huic
Vt parcatis adolescentulo, quodque legibus modo Districtum est id vestra resoluat modo ignoscentia.
PAMPHILA.
Vel precibus id nostris vel pietati vestrae Vel indoli ipsius generique optimo tribuite, ut optimi
Misereat adolescentuli, patres quaeso optimi.
Furvrus.
Hem, quid istuc, Tite? ros:
Ego nescio.
FULVIUS.
Etiam tibi quid hic Miror, Pamphila.
SEMPRONIA.
Patriae parentibusque Athenis summis Summum beneficium perficite hoc, summi proceres.
FuLvius.
Pietatem in hunc tuam et video et probo, Sempronia, neque Equidem tam inflexilis Rhadamanthus sum siquidem res haec
Priua foret. Nunc cum publica est, priuato hinc affectu [ f. 113v] A publico recto abduci me neque velim nec aequum censeo,
Neque Romana id seueritas si uelim patitur, nec id unquam me fiet Consule.
Dixi, atque ita futurum est.
Quiescas, Sempronia, Atque abi domum.
SEMPRONIA.
Hei miserae mihi.
28. summi] MST reads sumi.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
I assume you remember what happened in this court yesterday during our investigation of this crime.
Citizens. Everything.
Fuxvius. Among you is there none to rebut anything ?
What say you?
Gesippus [aside]. Woe is me!
Furvius [as Sempronia and Pamphila kneel before him]. Well, ladies, what are you doing here?
SEMPRONIA. Esteemed consuls and formidable judges, if the suppliant hands of women have any influence on you, we beg you by your faith and your clemency to spare this suppliant youth. What is severe under mere laws let your mere pardon relax.
PaMPHILA. Attribute it to our entreaties or to your kindness or to the disposition and fine character of the young man himself that you have pity on this excellent youth. I beg you, worthy fathers.
Furvrus. Well, what about this, Titus?
Titus. I don't know.
Furvius. Pamphila, I wonder especially what concern this is of yours.
SEMPRONIA. Exalted leaders, do this great kindness for his country and his noble parents at Athens.
Furvius. Sempronia, I understand and applaud your tenderness for this man, and if indeed this were a private matter, I am not such a rigid Rhadamanthus.! But now, since it's public, I would not be diverted from public rectitude by private desire, nor do
I think it would be fair. Even if I wanted to, Roman strictness does not permit it, and it will never happen so long as I am consul.
I have spoken, and so it will be. Be quiet, Sempronia, and go home.
SEMPRONIA. Oh woe, wretched me!
1 The son of Jupiter and Europa; after death he was made a judge in hell.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.2
PAMPHILA.
Quam miseret, Gesippe, tui!
Tirus.
Si ita stat, Fului, tibi, vt a Romana seueritate te Nihil abstrahat, haud tamen haec te imperat seueritas
Hominem immerito supplicio quemquam trahere. Cum is non commeruit, Insontem assero: meum hoc furtum fuit, illum percussi ego Diuitem.
Furvius.
Tite! Per deum immortalem, quid incoeptas monstri?
Trrus.
Quod verum iustumque est: meum hoc peccatum, meum Sit supplicium. Hunc te indemnem rectum est absoluere.
MARTIUS.
Hem, quid ego audio?
FuLvius.
Proh Capitolinum Iouem! Tuum Hoc peccatum!
Trrus.
Nisi esset, mihi id numquam scias suerem.
FuLvius.
Obsecro tandem, Romulidae, furtum hoc quem vos dedisse dicitis ?
PopuLus RoMaANvs.
Nescimus.
Hunc ita cum sica hac dormientem offendimus.
Furvius.
Quid tu?
Martius.
Itidem quod illi, consul.
JEDUS.
Vel hinc scire est Haud usquam, Fului, clarius haud istunc esse, quod in Sopore oppresserint. Quippe in scelere qui sunt, haud facile
Somnum inire vigil sinet conscientia, tum in via sane
Multo minus publica. Denique ferrum suum hoc si erat, Vagina vbinam? Cur sicam non abiecit? non abstersit simul?
Postremo si reum ipsius arguit confessio, me nihil minus vides Confitentem: huius ego me rei reum fateor et conscium.
Furvius.
Dii vostram fidem, tam inauditum hoc unde accidit? Satis
Mirari nequeo.
GESIPPUS.
Imo ego, consul, haud ille conscius.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
PaAMPHILA. How I pity you, Gesippus!
| Exeunt Sempronia and Pamphila.
Trrus. Fulvius, if you insist that nothing will deter you from your Roman strictness, still this strictness does not demand that you drag any man off to an undeserved punishment. Since this man does not deserve it, I declare him to be innocent. I committed the robbery. I struck down that rich man.
Furvrius. Titus! By the immortal god, what monstrousness are you attempting ?
Trrus. What is true and just. The guilt was mine, mine be the punishment. It is right that you release him unharmed.
Martius [aside]. What on earth am I hearing?
Furvivs. Oh Capitoline Jove! The guilt is yours?
Tirus. If it weren't, you know I would never make this up.
FurLvius. People of Rome, I beg you, who do you say committed this robbery?
A Citizen. We don't know, except that we found this man sleeping with this dagger.
Furvius [to Martius]. What about you?
Martius. The same as they, consul.
Trrus. Well, Fulvius, from the fact that they surprised him in his sleep, nothing is more certain than that he is not guilty. A wakeful conscience will not readily let those who are guilty of crime fall asleep, certainly not in a road, much less a public way.! Then again, if this was his weapon, where is its sheath?
Why didn't he throw the dagger away? And why didn't he clean it? Finally, if his confession proves that he is the culprit, it's no less true that I am confessing: I declare that I committed this crime; I am guilty.
Furvius. Ye gods, by your faith! Why has this unheard-of thing happened? I'm confounded.
Gesippus. But I'm guilty, consul, not he.
1 See Introduction, pp. 17-18.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.2
FULVIUus.
In ambiguo haeret mihi animus, nec quid agam scio.
Trrus.
Quid agas Nisi hunc uti iuditio insontem expedias atque in me illud-hoc Deriues supplicium.
GESIPPUS.
Iniquum est, consul, fieri quod commeritus is Non sit id cuiquam supplicio vertier. Noxa est mea
[f. 114] scilicet.
Furvius.
| Quid tu ais, consul?
Titus.
Enimvero mea est, est vero inquam mea, Fului.
Furvius.
Idemque tu confitere, iuuenis?
GEsIPPUS.
Confiteor.
FULVIUs.
Tacete. Vbi Principio illum tum conscidisti, responde?
Titus.
Nescio.
Furvrus.
Vbi tu?
GESIPPUS.
In porticu angiporti cuiusdam.
Poprurvs RoMANvs.
Verum est.
FULvIvs.
Senex erat an iuuenis?
GESIPPUS.
Nescio.
Titus.
Sexagenarius.
PopuLus RoMANUSs.
Scilicet.
Furvrus.
Incertum haec res prorsus me consilii facit. Quin ad Senatum rem Recta referam, eius facturus de consilio in hac re quod dederit.
Vos vinctos retinete hos ad forum, hinc dum redeam ilico.
58. illud-hoc] the MST reading. I find no precedent for the compound and am not certain what it means. ?Read hoc.
64. S.P. Gesippus] emended from 7 [itus].
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
FuLvivs. My mind is caught in uncertainty, and I don't know what to do.
Titus. What would you do, except free this innocent man from your jurisdiction and transfer his punishment to me?
Gesippus. Consul, it's not fair that what someone has not deserved should be turned against him for punishment. The fault is truly mine.
Futvius. What do you say, consul?
Titus. No, it's mine, I tell you. It's truly mine, Fulvius.
Furvius. And you confess too, young man?
GzsiPPUs. I confess.
Futvius. Be still, both of you.
[To Titus.] First, where did you attack your victim? Answer.
Titus. I don't know.
Fuxvius [to Gesippus]. Where did you?
GzsiPPUs. In the entrance of a certain alley.!
A CrrIZEN. That's true.
Furvius. Was he old or young?
Gesippus. I don't know.
Titus. Sixty years old.
A Citizen. That's right.
Furvius. This makes me utterly unsure how to decide. Well, I'll refer the matter right to the Senate and abide by their decision in this matter. Hold these men bound at the forum until I return here very shortly.
[Exeunt all but Martius.
1 The draft version added, **under a fig-tree."'
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.3-V.4
[Acrus Quintus. ScENA TERTIA.] Martius.
[ Martius. | Mirando atque stupendo meipsum pene haud penes Sum, ita nouo ac insueto hoc attonitus miraculo
Quod mihi praeter spem ac rationem omnem obuenit.
Neque enim quid sit satis commentari queo Nisi ex amore factum sit iuuenes quia |
Conflagrant mutuo. Vterque altrinsecus Se mancipat culpae vnde vterque est tamen
Alienissimus. Dii vostram fidem, Quod hoc glutinum est, suo vt quisquam animo quam suam
Alterius habeat salutem antepositam ?
Quid? Atque ille ego maleficae patrator rei, Meo pro scelere horum tam immerito distrahi
Amicitiam vt sinam et tantam fidem? Mori Tam cupidi quin sunt cum vterque est exors criminis?
Queis a me subuenirier adeo potest commode.
Numquam faciam, furcae etiam quingentae si mihi Opetendae forent, quin iuuabo iuuenes Remque omnem pandam iudici. Quod hercule
Etsi caelare queam, tamen amantium profecto miseret.
Quicquid tandem fors feret, pol, quid aedepol
Quam hoc feram potius, vt horum fraudi siem [f. 114v] Amicitiae. Itaque huius quicquid rei prius
Praetenderam, id omne refingo denuo denique Et vltro me dedam consuli. Atque hic expectabo dum
Redeat.
[Acrus Quintus. ScENA QuaRTA.] Phormio.
[ PHORMIO. |
O Iupiter, o ciues, o me miserum, quid hoc?
Apud forum adueniens modo quod vidi miser?
Herum cum Gesippo teneri consulem.
Haeccine ciues fieri? At vnde? aut quamobrem? Nimis O me incogitantem, qui infaelix non adfuerim.
Atat nunc scio: mirum ni pro illo suo
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
[V.3] Martius. I'm almost beside myself with wonder and amazement, stunned by such a novel and unaccustomed miracle as what's happening before my eyes, beyond all expectation and reason.
I can't conceive of what this means unless it's done out of love— unless these young men burn with mutual love. Each one takes the blame for a crime of which each is completely innocent. Ye gods, by your faith, what is this bond, that each one, in his heart of hearts, places his own safety below the other's? Why? And I, the perpetrator of that vicious act, how could I allow their friendship and great loyalty to be so undeservedly shattered on account of my crime? Why are they so eager to die when each is innocent of the crime? I can so easily relieve them. Even if I were to suffer on five hundred crosses,
I have no choice but to help these youths and confess everything to the judge. I could conceal it, but, by Hercules, I feel very sorry for those dear friends. By heaven, whatever fate brings in the end, I would endure anything rather than harm their friendship. And so, no matter what story I told about this before, I'll rework it all now and turn myself in to the consul. I'll wait here till he comes back.
[V.4] Enter Phormio.
PHonwro. Oh Jupiter, oh citizens, oh wretched me, what's going on? Alas, what did I see as I was coming through the forum just now? My master, the consul, held along with Gesippus. Do such things happen, citizens? But why? What's the reason?
Oh thoughtles me, that I wasn't there, unfortunately. Aha!
Now I know: no doubt he's made himself liable for the crime in
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.5
Noxae se huic obnoxium dedit, innoxius Tamen qui sit. Sed an hera haec asciscit mala
Annondum etiam? Quin cesso ad eam ingredi.
[Actus Quintus. ScENA QuiNTA.] Fulvius. Titus. Gesippus. Martius. Populus Romanus.
[Furvrus.] Senatus rerum quoniam aliarum satagit, arbitrariam Mihi hic agendi consulendique concessit mea
Voluntate potestatem, itidem vt in alus hodie rebus omnibus.
Accedite. Per ego salutem te rogo, consul, quam rem agas respice Ac muta sententiam.
"Dus.
Quin tu hoc age, Fului.
FULVIUs.
Quid hoc?
Quandoquidem ita uis, ita me deus amet, miseret me tui, Miseret vtriusque.
MARTIUS.
Pace primum tua, consul optime, Sine apud te sit loquendi copia.
Furvius.
Loquere.
MARTIUS.
Principio istos ego Vtrosque hoc absoluo crimine.
Furvivus.
Hem?
MARTIUS.
Cognatus diues Hic quem dixi, meus numquam fuit. Hunc ego forte obuiu'! his.
Spoliaui manibus. Porro hinc profugiens, istum obiter in via Consopitum reperi, pariter hunc in pugno quoque pugiunculum.
Furvrvus.
Pugiunculum ?
MARTIUS.
Quo sese erat, quantum equidem persensi, postea Perempturus.
[fu]
GESIPPUS.
O Iuppiter.
Furvivs.
Perge.
ManTIUs.
Verum certum Nescio, verum hoc tum quia opportunum satis visum est,
Consilium coepi ilico illi sicam hanc 2. concessit mea] I follow the earlier MST reading because the revision, decreuit imperium, cannot be construed with what follows.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
place of his friend, even though he's innocent. But does my mistress know this bad news yet or not? I must go to her.
[Exit.
[V.5] Enter Fulvius; citizens lead in Titus and Gesippus.
Furvius. Since the Senate has its hands full with other business, it has given me arbitrary power to investigate and act according to my own will, in this as in all other matters today.
[ To Titus and Gesippus.| Come here.
[To Titus.] By your life I ask you, consul, consider what you are doing and alter your judgment.
Trrus. Just go ahead with it, Fulvius.
Furvivs. What is this? Since you wish it so, god love me, I feel sorry for you—I feel sorry for you both.
Martius [coming forward]. Beg pardon, eminent consul, first let me speak to you.
Furvrius. Speak.
Martius. First, I absolve both these men of this crime.
Furvivus. What!
Martius. The rich kinsman that I spoke of here was never my kinsman.! I met him by chance, and robbed him with my own hands. Then, as I was fleeing from here, on my way I found that fellow asleep in the road, and also this little knife in his fist
Furvius. Knife??
Martius. With which, as far as I could judge, he was going to kill himself later.
GzsiPPUs [aside]. Oh Jupiter!
Furvius. Go on.
Martius. I don't know that for certain. But because this seemed such a good opportunity at the time, I conceived the idea then
1 Foxe's is the only version to make it appear that the assault victim was related to the assailant.
2 Though pugiunculus means, literally, a small weapon and though Gesippus' knife is apparently suitable for suicide, Fulvius' apparent surprise suggests that Foxe thought of Gesippus' knife as something less bellicose. In ll. 17 and 27 below, Martius calls it a cultellus, which recalls Gesippus' term for it (culter) in,
III.9.16; a culter is less often associated with weapons. In any case, Gesippus' knife is smaller than Martius' dagger (sica).
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.5
In dextram pro cultello vt insinuarem clanculum.
Furvrus.
Hem, quid ais?
MARTIUS.
Bona fide res vt habet, consul.
Furvivs.
Perge vero.
MARTIUS.
Quod sinu Atque a me callide consutum est, quo tum magis omnem mihi Excuterem suspitionem. Cognatum me confinxi rustici
Quo liberius hanc a me illi litem intendérem. Quod equidem Etsi, consul, constitueram, atque etiamnum liquido possem
Facere, tamen pro tanta istorum hac amicitia Tum commotus etiam misericordiae, numquam animum
Inducam facere.
GESIPPUS.
Boni superi.
Titus.
Quid est, Gesippe?
FuLvivs.
Tun'
Haec vera memoras?
Martius.
Ita me deus iuuet bene optimus, Vel hoc argumentum dabit spectabile: culticulus hic
Illius num thecae, tum falx huic an non vaginae acquadret vt Videas.
Furvius. Cedo vaginam. Vbi gladius? Euge. Monstra huc thecam Tuam, iuuenis. O Iupiter! Conquadrant omnia.
PopuLus RoMANvs.
Scilicet.
Furvrus.
Quid tu ais, adolescens?
GESIPPUS.
Enimvero vera edisseruit Hic omnia.
TIUS Diis magnas habeo gratias.
Furvius.
Ergo in confesso liquet Huius furtum esse. Hos resoluite.
MARTIUS.
Nempe.
Furvrus.
Nae ego multis modis Gaudeo, diisque plurimum habeo gratiae. Mi Tite, gratulor.
| Conscende huc, collega, denuo, Tum tu liber esto, adolescens,
Manu absolutus libera.
17. Hem, quid ais] stylistically, the unrevised reading, bona fide, seems preferable because of the echo in l. 18.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
18g and there of secretly slipping this dagger into his hand in place of his little knife.
Furvius. What! What are you saying?
Martius. I swear that's what happened, consul.
Furvius. Well, go on.
Martius. But at the same time I cleverly devised a plan with which I could even better divert all suspicion away from myself. I pretended I was a relative of the farmer so I could more easily direct this charge away from me and onto him. Consul, though
I had this all arranged and could certainly get away with it even now, yet because of the great friendship of these two I am so moved to pity that I could never bring my spirit to do it.
Gesippus. Gods on high!
Tirus. How is it, Gesippus?
FurLvivs. Do you swear this is true?
Martius. Yes, may the best of gods help me well. But this will give you visible proof: see whether this little knife fits his sheath, and then whether the dagger fits mine.
Furvivs [to Martius]. Give me your sheath.— Where's the dagger ?
Good.—— [To Gesippus.] Young man, show me your sheath.
Oh Jupiter. Everything fits perfectly.
CirIZENS. Yes indeed.
Futvius. What do you say, young man?
GzsiPPUs. Everything he says is indeed true.
Trrus. Thank the gods.
Furvrus. Then it's evident beyond question that he committed the theft. Release these men.
Martius. By all means.
FurLvius.
Well, I'm very glad. Many thanks to the gods.
Congratulations, my Titus.
Come up here again, my colAnd you, young man, be free, released with a league. willing hand.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.5
GESIPPUS.
Vobis diis primum immortalibus, Tibi deinde, consul, immortales ut par est gratias.
Furvivus.
Quid iam, Tite, agimus?
MARTIUS.
Optime, nunc quaeso, quisquis es, Adolescens, miseri te mei vicissim misereat.
GESIPPUS.
Supplex nunc, Tite, per genua haec et amicitiam pristinam
Supplico huic ignoscas supplici, uel mea gratia hanc referas Gratiam: da petenti ac paenitenti veniam.
Tirus.
Aequum censeo, Cum nostram seruauit salutem tam comiter, nos illi [f. 115v] suam reddere.
Age, te quaeso, Fului, ignoscito.
Furvrus.
Itane, Tite?
Linus:
Quandoquidem Summa hodie in manu tibi potestas sita est rerum omnium.
FULVvIus.
Quid tum?
Titus.
Legittime ergo soli licet tibi si vis ignoscere.
FULVIus.
Si velim, at quamobrem ?
Titus.
Age, ne sis difficilis. Lachrimas Respice eius et paenitudinem. Deinde viginti quas sublegarat
Minae de meo faxo restituentur, medicos praebebo de meo.
Quid, vulnus dedit? At idem salutem hodie dedit duplicem.
Dignum hoc fide sua: dignus misericordia qui misericordiam Praestitit. In me recipio huius nequid designet postea.
Saltem vel mea gratia, ut solidum hoc hodie agamus gaudium, Age, da quaeso veniam.
GESIPPUS.
Quaeso vero, consul optime.
PopuLus Romanus.
Quaesumus, consul clementissime.
Furvrus.
Age, quandoquidem ita
Uultis, fiat. Tuo hanc rem, Tite, omnem permitto arbitratui.
Tirus.
Euge. Quoniam legittima mihi iam pro re publica quiduis hic 57. Euge] ?read as a separate line.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Gesippus. First of all to you, immortal gods, and then to you, consul, I give eternal thanks, as I ought.
Furvius. What do we do now, Titus?
Martius [to Gesippus]. Excellent youth, whoever you are, I beg you now to have pity in turn on me, a wretch.
Gesippus [kneeling]. Titus, I plead now as a suppliant, by these knees and by our former friendship, that you forgive this suppliant.
For my favor grant him a favor: forgive this penitent petitioner.
Trrus. Since he saved our lives so willingly, I think it right that we return his to him. Come, Fulvius, pardon him, I beg you.
Furvius. You think so, Titus?
Trrus. Since total power in all matters has been placed in your hands today Furvivs. What then?
Tirus. Legally you may pardon him on your own, then, if you will.
Furvius. If I wished to, but why should I?
Titus. Come, don't be difficult. Look at his tears and grief. Besides, I'll see to it that the twenty minas which he stole are repaid from my resources, and I'll pay for physicians.! What, did he deliver a wound? Well, today he also delivered two lives. This is a sign of his reliability. He who has shown pity deserves pity. I take it as my responsibility that he will commit nothing of this sort again. If for no other reason, do this for my sake that we may have complete happiness today. Pardon him, I beg you.
GzsiPPUs. I truly beg you, most worthy consul.
CrrizENs. We beg you, most gentle consul.
Furvius. Come, since you all wish it, so be it.
Titus, I turn this entire matter over to your judgment.
Tirus. Good.—— Martius, since legal authority is now vested in me to decide anything here for the state, we grant you your life
1 Titus' assumption of financial responsibilities and his later hiring of Martius are original with Foxe.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V6
Statuendi est statuta authoritas, pro fide ac beneficio Tuo vitam vicissim donatam, Marti, noxamque hanc tibi
Condonatam damus. Dimittite.
Martius.
Numquam tibi a
Me satis referri potest gratia, consul suauissime.
"Tiros:
Denique adeo te cum video paenitentem, in fidem meam Et clientelam recipio. Meus esto. Postremo vobis tum, ciues,
Et reipublicae festum hunc insuper nuncupamus diem laetitiae.
MARTIUS.
O felicem et faustam hanc lucem!
"cLrros:
Satis est.
[Actus Quintus. ScENA SEXTA.] Sempronia. Pamphila. Titus. Fulvius. Martius. Gesippus. Phormio.
SEMPRONIA.
Miranda haec auribus nostris hodie quae aduolant!
Sed eccum vorsum redeuntes.
Trrvs.
Heus, pallium huc mihi Illud primarium purpureum proferte cum pileo protinus.
PAMPHILA.
Agerediamur.
Furvrus.
Hem, Sempronia, quid uobis nobisque hodie Hic obtigerit, quid viro tuo, quid duobus adolescentibus
Audistine?
SEMPRONIA. Omnia, atque pol verum ita repertum esse gaudeo.
PHoRMIO.
[f. 116] Eccum, here mi.
Trrvs.
Age, Gesippum primum indue, Phormio, Hunc deinde Martium, quandoquidem propter egregiam fidem
In familiam hunc nostram recipimus.
MARTIUS.
Merito sacrum Et adorandum caput.
Titus.
Diis nunc primas vobis, et diei huic
Tum tibi, Fului, inexhaustas exhibeo gratias.
GEsIPPUS.
Etiego,s Lite; Tibi mellitissime, debeo profecto immortaliter.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
and pardon your crime in exchange for your act of trust and kindness.
Release him.
Martius. Most kind consul, I can never thank you enough.
Titus. Moreover, since I see you so penitent, I take you into my trust and patronage. Be my man. In addition, and finally—— citizens, for you and for the state we declare this to be a holiday of happiness.
Martius. Oh this happy and fortunate day!
Titus. It is indeed.
[ Exeunt.
[V.6] Enter Sempronia and Pamphila.
SEMPRONIA. The news that flies to our ears today is miraculous.
But look, they're coming back.
Enter Titus, Fulvius, Gesippus, and Martius.
Trrus [shouts]. Hey, bring me my toga, my best purple one, and my felt hat—on the double.
PAMPHILA. Let's approach them.
Furvius. Well, Sempronia, did you hear what happened to you and to us today, to your husband, to two young men?
SEMPRONIA. Everything, and I'm very happy to find it's really true.
Enter Phormio with garments.
Puonurio. Ho, my master!
Trrus.
Come, Phormio.
First get Gesippus dressed, and then Martius here, since we're taking him into our household because of his great reliability.
Martius. Deservedly revered and honorable head!
Titus. I give first thanks now to the gods and to this day, and then boundless thanks to you, Fulvius.
Gesippus. And I assuredly, most sweet Titus, am in eternal debt to you.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.6
MARTIUS.
Et ego Vtrisque vobis, tum tibi seorsum, iuuenis candidissime, Non modo grates sed animam hanc acceptam etiam quam debeo,
Refero libentissime.
SEMPRONIA.
Ita me dii omnes ament, et ego,
Gesippe mi felicissime, tibi ex animo et gaudeo et gratulor.
GESIPPUS.
Quid, Sempronia; euge, mea vero Pamphila, quam sedulam Mihi hodie nauastis operam in memoria habeo et habeo
Gratiam.
Drs:
At vnum restat, Fului.
Furvius.
Quid est?
Trrus.
Iuuenis hic Quis sit atque eius parentes nostin'?
Furvius.
Non.
Trrus.
Quid, Chremem
Illum nobilem Atheniensem.
Furvius.
Hem, ephorum Illum scilicet mihi patrisque tui antiquum hospitem ?
Tirus.
Huius hic Gesippus est filius haeres et vnicus.
FuLvius.
Quid tuusne ille qui suam vltro hanc Semproniam tibi?
Tirvs.
Nimirum.
FurLvius.
— Enimvero serio iam te et fortunae tuae et
Parentibus optimis, Gesippe optime, gratulor.
TEs:
Quod si me ames, Pamphilam hanc, amabo, tuam quam semper sibi amauit vnice Vxorem illi vt despondeas.
FuLvius.
Quid istuc, Tite?
Titus.
Genus, Aetatem, amorem vides. Tum generum tibi et filiae virum Polliceor firmum. Age, te quaeso, Fului.
SEMPRONIA.
Quaeso hoc solidum Nobis perficias, vir optime, beneficium.
Titus.
Quid ais?
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Martius. And I to both of you.
[Zo Titus.] And to you alone, most fair young man, I willingly give not only my thanks but also my life, which I owe to you from whom I received it.
SEMPRONIA. May all the gods love me, I rejoice with you, my most fortunate Gesippus, and I congratulate you from my heart.
Gesippus.
Well, Sempronia! And very good, my Pamphila.
I remember how earnestly you two worked for me today and I thank you.
Titus. But one thing remains, Fulvius.
Furvrus. What?
Trrus. Do you know who this young man is and who his parents are?
Furvius. No.
Trrus. Why, you know Chremes, the noble Athenian.
Furvius. What! Of course, the famous magistrate, as I know him, and your father's old-time host.
Trrus. Gesippus here is his only son and heir.
Furvius. Why, was he also your friend who gave you his girl, Sempronia here?
Trrus. Certainly.
Furvius. Well, my good Gesippus, I truly congratulate you, both for your good fortune and for your excellent parents.
Titus. But if you love me, I pray you, promise him your daughter, Pamphila, here in marriage. He has always loved her alone.
Furvius. What's this, Titus?
Trrus. You see his breeding, his youth, his love. And I promise you he'll be a stout son-in-law for you and a stout husband for your daughter. Come, Fulvius, I beg you.
SEMPRONIA. Do us this genuine kindness, I beg you, most excellent man.
Trrus. What do you say?
TITUS ET GESIPPUS, V.6
FuLvIus.
Siquidem gnata approbauerit illius iuditio permitto rem.
PAMPHILA.
Nempe, si tibi, mi pater, approbabitur.
Furvrus.
Age, placet.
Fiat.
GrsiPPUs. O sancta faelicitas, merito te amo, Pamphila.
Tires.
Quid igitur censes, Fului, nisi ut cras ineant nuptias?
Furvius.
Fiat.
Trrus.
Nunc restat nihil nisi uiginti minas pro Martio Quas pollicitus sum vt colligam, qui istas seruauit hodie
Nobis faustitates. Atque eas domi exquiram iam et mittam rustico.
Deinde chirurgos illi prospexero insuper. Interim Lf. 116v] Quaeso intus ad me omnes diuertite ut festum hunc laeticia
Et epulis coronemus diem. Tu, Phormio, singulos Huc introductos facito.
PHORMIO.
Faciam. Sed vos aediculae Nostrae spectatores singulos nequeunt capere. Deinde Nec istis micam habemus epulae. Alioqui vos pariter
Huc introducerem. Valete et plaudite in Christo
Iesu qui vos in suas introducat epulas.
Amen.
TITUS ET GESIPPUS
Furvius. If my daughter approves in her judgment of him, Ill allow it.
PaAMPHILA. Yes indeed, my father, if you approve.
FuLvius. Come, I'm pleased. So be it.
GrsrPPUs. Oh holy happiness. I love you very much, Pamphila.
Tirus. What do you think then, Fulvius, shall they be married tomorrow ?
Furvrus. So be it.
Trrus. Now nothing remains but for me to gather the twenty minas which I promised for Martius, who saved these festivities for us today. I'll get them at home now and send them to the farmer.
Then [ll see to physicians for him. Meantime, please come into my house, all of you, to crown this joyous day with merriment and feasting.—— Phormio, you see that they're all brought in.
[Exeunt all except Phormio.
PHormio. I will. But look, our house can't accommodate all of you spectators. Besides, we haven't a crumb for you to eat.!
Otherwise, I'd take you in too. Farewell, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, that he may take you in to his feast. Amen.
[.Ex?t.
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CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Latin text and English translation (on facing pages)
Chr (Eis Tr l^ VMPHANS, COM OE
DIA APOCALY-
PTICA:
WAPT ORE IOANNE
Et .
Foxo Anglo.
Y cick 5s v AaCcESSIT,
IN CHRISTVM TRIVM-
^ phantem, Autoris eiufdent Panegyrieon. n A&FOCAL.
ae & a dicunt, Veni Domine.
BASILEAE, PER IOAN
nem Oporinum. n 4. i Figure 2. The title page of the first edition of Christus Triumphans (1556).
Courtesy Harvard University Library.
Di aiit / Pris Figure 3. The Periocha and the opening lines of Act I, Scene 1, of Christus
Triumphans, draft version (Lansdowne MS. 1045, f. 132).
[EPISTOLA NUNCUPATORIA]
Clarissimis Viris D. Bynksio, D. Aescoto, D. Kelko, cumque his uniuerso mercatorum Christianae pietati fauentium sodalitio, Ioannes Foxvs salvtem atque aeternam cum Christo societatem.
Si in nuncupandis opusculis spectari illud a uiris literatis solet, ut lucis uel ornamenti aliquid adiungant iis quibus studiorum suorum monumenta destinant, fateor longe ab eo abesse ingenii nostri foeturas, ut cuiquam splendorum afferant, ipsae potius aliorum egentes adiumentis. Sin ea uero ratio eorum est, quo promptae uoluntatis gratitudinem officiumque hoc pacto erga eos exprimant quibus se obstrictos credant, multae sunt et graues causae
(uiri ornatisimi, ut spectatissimum etiam collegam uestrum D.
VValtonvm eadem iungat epistola) cur, inter caeteros multos quibus multum debent bonae literae, meam erga uos obseruantiam literario hoc munusculo in primis testari debeam—uel quia seorsim
DEDICATORY EPISTLE
To the most illustrious gentlemen Messrs. Binks, Escot, and Kelke,! and to the whole company of merchants favoring Christian piety,
John Foxe wishes health and eternal fellowship with Christ.
If in dedicating their little works literary men customarily look to add some light or ornament to those for whom they would set up monuments of their endeavors, I confess that the offspring of my genius will be far from conveying splendor to anyone; it is more the case that they themselves need the help of others. But if in fact the motive of such men is to express in this way the gratitude of a ready will and the sense of obligation to those to whom they believe themselves obliged, then, my illustrious gentlemen (and I wish this same letter could also include your distinguished colleague, Mr.
Walton"), many and weighty are the reasons why I am obliged to give special witness of my regard for you, among many others to whom belles lettres owe so much, with this trifling literary gift—
* John Binks, John Escot, and (probably) John Kelke, all English exiles and merchants in Frankfurt, about whom biographical information is rather skimpy.
Binks, who remained at Frankfurt even after Queen Elizabeth's accession, has not been traced in England. Escot (perhaps identified with a London Estcourt in the late sixteenth century or related to a Christopher Escot of northern England in 1559) disappears after June, 1557, when he carried a letter to John Bale in Basel. Kelke may have been a relative of a Thomas Kelke of Bristol who was imprisoned in the Tower in 1555. John Kelke was not nearly so prosperous as Binks and Escot: his property in 1557 was rated at 130 florins compared with 1,000 and 2,250 florins, respectively, for the other two in 1556. I take all this information from C. H. Garrett, The Marian Exiles
(Cambridge, 1938), pp. go, 151, 202. Garrett only tentatively identifies John Kelke as a merchant, but the only other Kelke in her list, Roger, lived in Basel rather than Frankfurt and is identified as a student and gentleman (who later became master of Magdalen
College, Cambridge). Foxe may have thought Kelke to be wealthier than he was, or he may have named him for political balance; see Introduction, p. 28.
2 The only Walton listed among the exiles by Garrett (p. 320) is William, whom she thinks to have been an ex-Dominican friar of Gloucester. He had fled to Frankfurt in 1554 and seceded in 1555. Garrett does not identify him as a merchant (as Foxe's Walton presumably was), but his secession would explain why Foxe could not include him among the Frankfurt merchants, especially if he was dead, as Garrett supposes.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
singulari uestrae benignitati, pro non uulgaribus in me officus, debeam non mediocriter, uel etiam magis publico literarum nomine, quibus adeo exornandis ac prouehendis mirificos uos Mecoenates praestare intelligo. Praetereo hic reliqua laudum uestrarum decora: singulare pietatis studium, pectoris cordatam prudentiam cum rara copulatam modestia, mentisque piae possessionem; et quid ego singulas uirtutum uestrarum dotes enumerando explicem quibus multo estis quam opibus faeliciores? Postulant haec non epistolarem operam, et nos breuitati studere cogunt ürgentes nundinae.
Tantum de literis nunc ago, quas si uel fauore saltem uestro utcunque beneuolo dignaremini, equidem eximia id laude dignum in hominibus mercatoribus ducerem. Solebat enim hoc hominum genus quaestuaris addictum artibus, cum philologiae studiis minimum habere commercii.
Nunc permutatis rerum uicibus, quos primarios potissimum Atlantas habere conueniebat, ab his fere desertae politiores literae religionisque sincerae cura nusquam magis quam apud hunc ordinem uestrum, patrocinium sibi atque asylum reperiunt. Quod quum ex alis uobiscum, tum ex uobis sane cum primis liquere poterit, quibus satis non est honestas artes honesto fauore ac propensae uoluntatis studio, ceu benigna quadam aura fouere, nisi et impensae insuper uestrae iisdem subleuandis accedant quas quotidie in laboriosissimo hoc literarum ac linguarum cursu desudantibus subministratis, ea liberalitate ut nemo fusius, ea porro modestia et simplicitate ut vix praeter uos ipsos sciat quisquam quae tanta cum laude geritis. Etsi uero in hoc laudis genere non soli sitis, quin et alios complures tum Argentinae tum
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either because I am in no small measure indebted to your exceptional benignity for the no mean kindnesses which you have severally bestowed upon me, or even more in the public name of learning, for the adornment and promotion of which I know you have shown yourselves such remarkable Maecenases.! I pass over here the other ornaments of your glory: the singular zeal of your piety, the judicious prudence of your hearts together with your rare modesty, and your pious minds. Why should I display them by listing the several endowments of your virtues? In those you are much more fortunate than in material riches. These things do not require my epistolary service, and the pressing market days force me to strive for brevity.?
I concern myself now only with learning: if you to any degree deemed this work worthy of at least your benevolent good will,
I would consider that certainly enough for high praise among the merchants. That sort of men used to be taken up with the arts of profit-making and had very little commerce with studies of philology. Now that the state of things has changed, more humane letters, which had been almost deserted by these men whom it was very proper to regard as the leading Atlases,? and the care of sincere religion find protection and asylum for themselves nowhere more than in this class of yours. This should be clear not only from your associates but also, and indeed especially, from you yourselves. To you it is not enough to nurture distinguished arts with distinguished kindness and with the eagerness of your ready will, like some pleasant breeze, unless your cash also goes to support those same arts: you offer money daily to those sweating in the laborious pursuit of letters and languages, with such liberality that no one is more generous, but with such modesty and simplicity that scarcely anyone besides yourselves knows how praiseworthy are your acts. Although you are not, in fact, alone in this kind of laudable behavior, since you have
1 Maecenas was the patron of Horace and Virgil and a type of literary patronage.
5 'The reference is to the Frankfurt book fair, held in April and October each year. According to the colophon, Christus Triumphans was published in March,
1556. J. F. Mozley notes, "All the books published by Foxe in his exile appeared in March or September, and more than once he complains ... that he must hurry over his preface or epilogue because the market is at hand and the printers are pressing" (John Foxe and His Book [London, 1940], p. 42).
% That is, they supported the world.
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Francfordiae mercatores eiusdem uirtutis comites habeatis: his tamen alius dabitur praedicandi locus et materia forsan uberior.
Haec interim uobis liberius tribuenda existimaui, partim quo nonnulla ad uos debitae gratiae portio redeat, partim ut alii uestro euocati exemplo non modo eximiam pietatem uestram peruideant. sed eandem insuper in fouendis studiosorum literis studeant imitari,
Venit ergo ad uos uel, si permittitis, ad uniuersum etiam mercatorum ordinem, Christos Trivmphans. Vtinam et idem omnibus ueniat triumphans, non in theatro, sed in nubibus; non sub aenigmate, sed in conspicua maiestate sui patris, cunctis conspiciendus.
Quod nec diu fortasse aberit, quanquam 1d nostrae certitudinis non est quam mature affuturus sit ille. Illud liquido dixerim, eo nunc prolapsum esse rerum humanarum oxfuía; ut nunquam adesse posset opportunius. Caeterum haec quae nescire nos uoluit illi permittentes, id interim quod nostrum est agamus sedulo; ita se quisque in eum diem ut paret ne sponsus subito irrumpens nos supine stertentes aut impure dissolutos adoriatur. Tantoque id maturius nobis agendum arbitror quod, expletis iam omnibus fabulae partibus, mundi huius scena properare uidetur ad supremum illud *'Valete et plaudite"; sicque imminente rerum omnium catastropha emensisque prorsus uaticiniis ut nil restare uideatur nisi uox illa Apocalyptica, de coelo mox audienda, 'fFactvm est."
Paulus quondam ad Thessalonicenses scribens, tot abhinc seculis sponsi aduentum expectantes, iussit ne cito animis permoueantur quasi ille instaret dies, haud prius uenturum illum admonens quam patefiat perditissimus ille Antichristus spiritu diuino profligandus.
At nunc si uiuerent Thessalonicenses, quanto magis aduentum illum expectarent Domini, uelut in foribus imminentem, praesertim
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several companions of the same virtue among the merchants both at Strassburg and at Frankfurt,! yet some other place and perhaps a more fruitful subject will be provided to celebrate them. For now,
I thought this should be quite boldly dedicated to you, partly that I might render to you some portion of the esteem which I owe you; partly that I might inspire others, by your example, not only to see your great piety but especially to be eager to imitate that piety in fostering the learning of the studious.
Therefore, Christus Triumphans comes to you or, if you permit it, to the whole class of merchants. Would that the same Christ
Triumphant might come to us all, not in the theater but in the clouds; not in allegorical representation but in the conspicuous majesty of his father, visible to all? Perhaps it will not be long delayed, though how quickly he will come is not for us a matter of certitude. I would assuredly have said that the state of human affairs is now so fallen that he could never come more opportunely.
But leaving to him these things which he wished us not to know, let us for now attend sedulously to that which is within our competence, so that each of us may prepare himself for that day lest the bridegroom burst in suddenly and accost us snoring on our backs or abandoned to dissoluteness. And I think we should prepare all the more quickly since it seems that all the parts of the play have been acted out and that the scene of this world is rushing to that final
"Farewell, and applaud."? Thus, with the catastrophe of everything imminent and the prophecies completely fulfilled, nothing seems to remain except that apocalyptic voice soon to be heard from heaven, "'It is finished."* St. Paul once, writing to the Thessalonians who were awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom so many ages ago, ordered them not to be so easily aroused in spirit as if the day were at hand; he warned them that he would not come before that hellish
Antichrist should appear, to be overthrown by the holy spirit.?
But if the Thessalonians were living now, how much more would they expect the arrival of the lord, as if he were right at the door,
1 See Introduction, p. 29.
? Cf. Prologue 5 ff.
? The conventional conclusion of a play. Catastrophe, in the next sentence, is the technical term for the dramatic denouement.
4 Apocalypse 21.6.
5 2 Thessalonians 2.1-3.
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quum filium iniquitatis illum tam conspicue non solum reuelari sed ubique in animis pene omnium euanescentem cernerent? Et tamen perinde quasi nunquam sit adfuturus triumphalis ille Christi dies, tot nominibus promissus in arcanis literis, aut perlongo absit interuallo, tot argumentis uicinus, mirum quam altum interim mundus hic dormit securitatis lethargum. Adeo ubique crapulae, luxui, ambitioni, rapinis, latrociniis, malitiae, uirulentiae, sycophanticae, ac sordidarum rerum curis passim indulgetur a Christiano populo; charitate interim sic refrigescente in animis hominum, cum huius comite modestia, ut uix tenue eius, fere inter natura etiam coniunctos, uestigium reperias. Denique eo res rediit ut, si quis e sublimi uelut specula demissis oculis res hominum fixius conspicetur, quaquauersum nunc maturos terrae botros tempusque esse uindemiatori angelo falcem mittendi iudicet. Quocirca non abs re facturus uidebar si, inter caetera studiorum nostrorum exercitia, huiusmodi pararem aliquid, in quo propositis temporum periculis nostros aliquo pacto ad maiorem huius uitae contemptum futuraeque curam expergefacerem.
Quanquam non licuit in hoc dramate singula uitiorum genera atque crassiora uulgi flagitia more ueteris comoediae flagellare.
Id enim in Asoto reliquisque doctissimae Germaniae comoediis, tum potissimum in concionibus quotidianis, abunde est praestitum.
Nobis tantum Apocalypticam historiam prosequentibus satis erat ea duntaxat e literis sacris in theatrum transferre quae ad res potissimum ecclesiasticas pertinebant. Primum futurae immortalitatis certitudinem confirmamus, introducta animae et corporis jrorvzeoet,
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especially since they would see the son of iniquity not only revealed so conspicuously, but everywhere in the spirits of almost everyone disappearing.
And yet, just as if that day of Christ's triumph were never coming though promised under so many names in the arcane writings, or as if it would be delayed for a very long time though according to so many proofs it is near, it is remarkable how deep is the lethargy of self-confidence in which this world sleeps the while. Christian people everywhere indulge themselves so in drunkenness, debauchery, ambition, rapine, robberies, malice, animosities, backbiting, and attention to dirty business, while charity and its companion, modesty, grow so cold in the minds of men, that you find scarcely a faint trace of charity even among those who are related by blood.
Accordingly, matters are such that, if anyone looked very closely at the affairs of men, looking down, as it were, from a lofty watchtower, he would judge that the grapes of the earth are everywhere ripe and that it is time for the gathering angel to put his pruning hook to work.! Thus I seemed not to be doing amiss if, among the other exercises of my studies, I prepared something of this sort in which, setting forth the dangers of the times, I would arouse our people in some way to a greater contempt for this life and a greater concern for the life to come.
But I could not in this play flagellate, in the way of the Old Comedy, the several types of vices and the grosser shames of the mob.
For that is abundantly performed in Asotus and the other comedies of the very learned Germany," and especially in daily discourses.
It was enough for me, following only the Apocalyptic history, to transfer as far as possible from the sacred writings into the theater those things which pertain primarily to ecclesiastical affairs. First, having introduced a representation of the soul and the body,'
1 Cf. Apocalypse 14.15.
2 Asotus (ca. 1510; pr. 1537), by the German Catholic George Macropedius, was a Christian-Terence comedy of intrigue on the prodigal-son theme. See
C. H. Herford, Studies in the Literary Relations of England and Germany in the Sixteenth
Century (Cambridge, 1886), pp. 79-88, 153.
3 Actually, we do not meet Psyche until the fourth scene, and in the revised version we do not meet Soma at all. We hear of their situation in the second scene. Perhaps Foxe conceived of Eve and Mary as representing, respectively, soul and body. But cf. Prologue 18 and p. 229, n. 2.
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aduersus Epicureos quosdam uentres, si qui de immortalitate nostra ambigant. Deinde in Nomocrate uim legis totam adumbratam dedimus, in hoc ne plus minusue ei quam par est tribuatur. Quo in genere saepe a multis grauiterque peccari uideo post Martini
Lutheri tempora, ut ne frustra in libris toties uaticinatus uideatur, sese uereri dictitans ne, se extincto, uera illa iustificationis disciplina prorsus apud Christianos exolescat.
Nam ut dissolutos istos nimisque laxae licentiae uoluptuarios damnat etiam prophana philosophia, ita nec hi mihi probandi uidentur qui simplices ac imbecilles conscientias legis perpetuo metu captiuas detinent, semper cum Deo secundum uirtutes suas ac uitia, submoto fere mediatore, agentes indeque caeteros omnes iudicantes, utinam et sibi non placentes quidam. Non quod legi omnem prorsus metum detrahamus, sed nec Christo rursus sua detrahenda suauitas aut minuenda gratia est; et pauidis conscientiis necessario interim consulendum. Plures fateor esse quibus uiuit adhuc Moses. At sunt rursus quibus, sub
Iosua ductore militantibus, Moses ueteris militiae dux sepultus est ut eius nesciatur sepulchrum. Quanquam iidem meminerimus,
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21I we confirm the certitude of our future immortality, in opposition to some Epicurean stomachs—this in case anyone has any doubt about our immortality. Next, we present the total power of the law, represented in Nomocrates, to the end that neither more nor less than what is fit should be allowed to it. To this sort of error I see many people falling frequent and serious victims since the times of Martin Luther; thus, it seems that he did not prophesy in vain when many times in his books he repeated his fear that, when he was dead, proper instruction in observance of the law would completely disappear among Christians. Even profane philosophy condemns the dissolute and voluptuous for their loose licentiousness. But for those who hold as captives their simple, foolish consciences in perpetual fear of the law, always dealing with God according to their virtues and their vices, almost dispelling the mediator—and would that some who judge others after this fashion were not so pleased with themselves—those do not seem worthy of my approval.
Not that we should completely take away all fear from the law; but neither, in turn, should Christ's gentleness be taken from him, or his loving grace be diminished; and necessarily, in the meantime, there must be consideration for timid consciences.? I acknowledge there are some for whom Moses still lives. But there are others, warring under Captain Joshua, for whom Moses, the captain of the old army, has been buried so that his sepulcher is not known.?
1 [ do not know what books Foxe had in mind, but cf. Table Talk, No. 35434:
**.. . let Satan not have his way in the church after my death. I'm very much afraid of this.
. ." (T. G. Tappert, tr., in Luther's Works, ed. H. T. Lehmann, LIV [Philadelphia, 1967], 226).
? Cf, Foxe's De Christo Crucifixo Concio (1570), translated as A Sermon of Christ
Crucified (London, 1570), f. 55: "Christ, & the law in a true Christen conscience are contrary & incompatible, ... ii thynges which can not stand together." See also Foxe's Notes appertayning to the matter of Election," in Theodore de
Beze, The Treasure of Trueth (London, n.d.), sigs. Niu-Osv.
3 Both Moses, whose burial is recorded in Deuteronomy 24.6, and Joshua were regarded as types of Jesus, but Joshua was especially revered because, among less significant parallels with Christ, he led his people into the promised land of Canaan as Moses could not do. Joshua's name was rendered 'ljevs in the Septuagint and Jesus in the Vulgate, or often Jesus Nave through a misinterpretation of the Hebrew for "Joshua, son of Nun." Jerome commented that Joshua is the type of Jesus in name as well as deed (Migne's Patrologia Latina,
XXII, 545). Isidor makes a distinction between Moses and Joshua similar to that made by Foxe: "'Defunctus est ergo Moyses, defuncta est lex, legalia praecepta jam cessant, et obtinet Jesus, id est Salvator Christus Filius Dei, principatum:
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numquam nisi cum honore illum sepeliendum. Atque utinam sic omnium affulgeret mentibus Christi gloria ut Mosis omnis splendor exolescat; utinam sic ubique uigeret iustitiae amor, sic omnes forent iusti, ut nulla sit illis lex posita; utinam sic omnes cum Paulo mortui ut in sese nemo, in omnibus solus uiueret Christus. Sed de his loco opportuniore.
Potissimum autem in Ecclesiae persecutionibus describendis uersatur comoediae nostrae materia, quibus infoelix ille ueterator, ex quo e coelo per Christum exturbatus est, nunquam destitit sponsam Christi fatigare. Semper enim ab initio capitalis ille accusator generis nostri fuit, nec unquam ingenitum in nos odium mutat etiamsi ministros furoris sui subinde mutet. Primos olim tumultus dedit per Pharisaeos, deinde per Caesares tyrannos et Proconsules, nunc per Episcopos et Pontifices mundum non dicendis tragoediis exagitat: id quod in primis testari hodie Anglia nostra poterit. Dominus pro pietate sua dignetur horrendos hos fluctus in serenitatem aliquando uertere, idque indubie hoc faciet maturius si nos simul cum precibus enixisime profusis uitam in melius commutatam addiderimus.
Verum ne diutius uos loquaci praefatione detineam, etiam atque etiam uos, eximii ac obseruandi domini, rogatos uelim, simul cum eiusdem sodalitatis uestrae collegis integerrimis, ut hoc qualecunque nostrae in uos obseruantiae uvquóovvov, pro candore uestro et uobis gratum esse, simul et alis uestra approbatione commendatum uelitis. Maiora ac nitidiora ab aliis accipietis, maiori doctrinae ubertate tinctis ingeniis. Nobis quoniam maiora in praesentia non licuit, hoc interim pauperis agelli flosculo qualicunque, hybernis his dieculis apud nos uernante, uobis uel gratificari uel certe meum
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Though we should remember that he must never be buried except with honor, yet would that the glory of Christ so shine in the minds of all that all the splendor of Moses would disappear; would that the love of justice so flourish everywhere, and all men be so just, that no law would be imposed on them; would that all men would with St. Paul be dead so that no one would live in himself, and Christ alone would live in all.! But of these things in a place more fit.
Chiefly the matter of our comedy turns on descriptions of the persecutions of Ecclesia, with which that unhappy old devil, from the time he was driven from heaven by Christ, never stopped harassing the bride of Christ. For from the beginning he was always the chief besetter of our race, and he never changes his inborn hatred for us even if now and then he changes the ministers of his fury. Long ago he delivered his main blows through the Pharisees, then through the tyrant Caesars and the Proconsuls; now he shakes up the world with unspeakable tragedies through the bishops and the priests. Today our own England especially could testify to that: may the lord in his love deign sometime to make these horrible floods serene. And he will undoubtedly do it that much more quickly
1f we join to the prayers which we zealously pour forth a life changed for the better.
But let me not keep you longer with a wordy preface. My distinguished and esteemed lords, I earnestly entreat you, and also the unequalled colleagues of your company, to be kindly disposed toward this token, such as it is, of my respect for you in your splendor and to commend it to others with your approval. You will receive better and more elegant things from others whose geniuses are dyed with a greater richness of learning. As for me, since I could not at this time produce greater fruits, for the present I wanted to favor you, or in any case to attest to my devotion for you in the lord, with this little flower, such as it 1s, from my barren little field, introducit populum in terram de quo dicit Dominus: Beati mites, quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram [Matthew 5.5] (Patrologia Latina,
LK XXIII, 371). Cf. Romans 7.4. Foxe reused part of this conception in A Sermon of Christ Crucified (ff. 27-28):
* .. with Moses ... clyme vp the hyll of Nebo.... There may ye take a vew of this your spiritual countrey, & glorious kyngdome. .
. There shall you see our noble and triumphant Capitaine Iosue, our Sauiour Iesus
. seuen tymes goyng about ye great City Iericho."
1 Cf. Galatians 2.19-20.
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erga uos in Domino studium testari libuit. Dominus Iesvs suam in uos pietatem in dies magis accumulet ac negotia uestra foeliciter secundet in omnibus.
In Christo multis nominibus uester I. Foxus De Christo Trivmphante, in Apocalypticam Ioannis Foxi Comoediam Laurentius Vmfredus Non hominum palmas, peritura insignia regum,
Nec terrenorum marcida serta ducum, Sed mirum nullo moriturum fine triumphum Christi Christicolis sacra Camoena dabit:
Iusticiam fidei, coeli mysteria summa Et consecratae sancta trophaea crucis.
Christus inops, insons, uermis, contemptio plebis, Ludibrium Graecis, praeda reiecta suis, Iam Deus aetheream uictor subuectus in arcem,
Cunctis perculsis hostibus. Altus ouat.
Et sine praesidiis armata exarmat inermis, IO Nudus cuncta suo subiugat imperio.
Huc, huc, afflictae mentes, huc pectora fracta:
Vobis, non alus, noster Iesus ouat.
In cruce debellat crucis hostes, carne retundit
Cuncta per infirmos stigmaticosque uiros.
In uinclis uincit, uulnus quoque uulnere curat:
Naturae uulnus, uulnere dico crucis.
Quo praecelsa labant, sternuntur robora Basan Et cedri Libani, pompaque tota iacet.
Quo uis deuicta est Satanae, mors morte perempta est,
Quo grassatorum fracta tyrannis erit.
Quo seruata vy?) rugientis ab ore leonis, Quo totos uiuet cdma perenne dies.
Sed non Adopylus furialis ianitor Orci
Nec Thanatos punget Nomocratesque ferus.
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blooming in my short winter days. May the lord Jesus heap his graciousness on you more every day, and second your affairs with good fortune in all things.
Yours in Christ in his many names J. Foxe On John Foxe's Apocalyptic Comedy of Christ Triumphant by Laurence Humphrey!
Not the honors of men, the transient trappings of kings, the withered garlands of earthly dukes, but the wondrous triumph of Christ, which will never die, the sacred Muse will give to Christians: the righteousness of faith, the most exalted mysteries of heaven, and the holy monuments of the consecrated cross.
Wretched, innocent, a worm, the butt of the people, to the Greeks a laughingstock and to his own people a rejected prize, Christ is now conveyed into the heavenly citadel, God victorious, all his enemies crushed.
Exalted, he triumphs. Without troops or arms he disarms the armed; without armor he subjugates all to his authority.
Come, afflicted consciences, come, and come, shattered spirits: for you, not for others, our Jesus exults. On the cross he vanquishes the enemies of the cross: with his flesh he beats back everything for the sake of weak and dishonored men. In chains, he conquers.?
With a wound (the wound of the cross) he cures a wound (the wound of nature). Thus exalted things give way, the oaks of Basan and the cedars of Lebanon are thrown down, and all pomp lies low.
Thus is the power of Satan overcome and death is destroyed by death. Thus the tyranny of attackers will be broken. Thus the spirit is saved from the mouth of a roaring lion. Thus the body will live perpetually, through all the days. But Adopylus, the furious doorkeeper of hell, will not sting, nor Thanatos or the savage Nomocrates.
1 Humphrey, a demy at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1546—after Foxe had left—was in Zurich by April, 1554, and enrolled at the University of Basel in the fall of 1555. He and Foxe became close friends, and he may have helped
Foxe with the Book of Martyrs (Garrett, pp. 193-194). He later (1561) became President of Magdalen College, and almost immediately asked Foxe's permission to produce Christus Triumphans there; see Introduction, p. 34.
2 The Latin puns on uinclis-uincit.
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Quin et Psychephonos, rabiosos atque Dioctas Iam nostri Christi ferrea sceptra prement.
Pseudamnus furiat, sanctos spoliet Polyharpax, Emungat iustos diripiatque bonos.
Iam pastor ueniet, Pseudamnis omnibus horror,
Agnis fictitiis nomine, reque lupis.
Tum uae Pseudamno: tibi laruam detrahet Agnus, Te fucata licet palliat Hypocrisis.
Vae Balamiticae quibus insidet ustio frontis,
Vae tibi Romano chrismate inuncta cohors.
Roma ruet meretrix, et bestia saeua peribit, Mitratusque simul Gerberus ille triceps.
Occidet et Babylon sat notum et nobile scortum, Pornapolis Latii praesulis acropolis.
Quisquis coccineis hic sese uenditat ostris
Atque cruentatis turgida turba togis Sentiet ultorem sibi nunc instare cometam, Comperiet signum uindicis esse Dei.
Sed tu qui pius es, uictricia suspice signa
Hancque triumphantem semper amato crucem.
Si pateris, gaude: sunt haec uexilla magistri, Tuque feras eadem symbola, discipulus.
Saepe Deus tentat, tentando uulnera sanat:
Vt probet afflictat, sed probat ut reuocet.
Hanc spectare tibi libeat si, lector, idaeam,
Exhibet en oculis Foxea scena tuis.
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Indeed the iron sceptres of our Christ will now press down the Psychephonuses and rabid Diocteses. Let Pseudamnus rage; let
Polyharpax rob the holy, cheat the just, and plunder the good. Now a shepherd will come, the terror of all Pseudamnuses—lambs in name but false, and wolves in deed. Then woe to Pseudamnus: the Lamb will remove your spectre, though painted hypocrisy cloak you.! Woe to those in whom burns a Balaamite's nature,? and woe to you, the throng anointed with the oil of Rome. Rome the harlot will fall, and the savage beast will perish, and with it the triple-mitred Cerberus. The famous and infamous Babylon will also fall, citadel of Pornapolis the leader of Latium. Whoever prostitutes himself here to the scarlet and purple robes, and that proud crowd in blood-red cloaks,? will now feel an avenging comet threaten and will learn that it is a sign of the punishing God. But you who are faithful, look up to signs of victory and always love this triumphant cross. If you suffer, rejoice: these are the ensigns of your teacher, and you, the pupil, must bear these standards.
Often God puts to the test, and by testing he heals wounds: he afflicts to test, but he tests that he may redeem.
Reader, if you would like to see this idea, behold, Foxe's stage presents it to your eyes.
By the Same [Translated by Douglas J. Stewart] Read not the bardic poem of the blind Homer, nor the foolish lies of babbling mortals even though these things deceive the wits of simple men like bait, thrilling with empty hopes.* Rather, take up the sacred play of Foxe, for this kind of play is more worthy of you as a Christian. Accept gratefully the cross of Jesus the savior,
5e Witte ? See Numbers 22-24.
3 So I interpret a difficult passage; apparently it refers to cardinals and those who allow themselves to be misled by cardinals.
4 Professor Stewart points out that ll. 4 and 11 are paraphrased from Solon, Frag. 1, 36-37.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Mi > , oTaupov rpuaT(uov, aravpóv üAe£ucakov.
= Pia ES / / / dei7 oOv à) TTWYOl xepotv TE TOGLY TE TPEXOVTES, \ oA x [()) / ?! ^ eo , mTwxos àvi)p Oó£os mrÀobrov &Óc ke wéyav.
> A X 0 M Oevp' dotis mrevÜeis eráÜeo! apyaAÀéou ma aes ov cÓv evpyaeis qápj.akov dAdo kakóv.
^ /, ch \ Seup' dye mpos odvov latpov Taxéws qiye Xpwarov, Q Sei€ov vooepás tpavpata dewa puyfs.
De Infirmo Christo et Scandalo Crucis: Ad Ioannem Foxum Idem Tu quidem ueros celebras triumphos, Sic tibi et sanctis merito uidetur; Sed caro oblatrat renuitque sensus, Obstrepit orbis.
Nam quis est splendor rutilans ouantum ?
Laureae fasces, iubilum, decorue, Quae tua enarrat lepido cothurno Musa triumphans?
Pauperem Christum uideas misellum, Exulem, terris dubiis uagantem, Saepe combustum, simul atque caeco Carcere clausum.
Quae fuit quondam benedicta uitis, Quam sua dextra pater ille patrum Fixit, et sanctis manibus rigauit Dulcis Iesvs.
Foxe, nunc eheu maledicta uitis, Nobiles botri pedibus teruntur Impiis, sacras sacer Antichristus Diripit uuas.
En aper spumans fera foeda syluae, Hanc sorex uastat, spoliat, racemat:
Diruta est sepes, prope dissipata est Vinea culta.
22. sorex] this is the reading of the Harvard copy of B; the British Museum copy reads sorec, and the errata sheet *'corrects" it by printing the same word.
Perhaps Foxe intended some accusative to be construed with Hanc, such as forem.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
the cross thrice-precious, the cross that fends off evil. Approach, ye poor, running on hands and feet.! A poor man, Foxe, has given you great riches. Approach, whoever suffers and is burdened by terrible woes. You will find no other remedy for your ills. Flee here to Christ your only physician, and to him show the terrible wounds of your soul.
On the Infirm Christ and the Scandal of the Cross: To John Foxe by Laurence Humphrey You celebrate true triumphs indeed, as it seems—and deservedly so—to you and to the saintly. But mere flesh rails and common sense denies and the world shouts 'fNay." What is this glowing brightness of people rejoicing? The bundles of laurel, the wild shouting, the splendid trappings which your triumphant muse chronicles in a happy buskin?? See poor Christ wretched, an exile wandering in dangerous lands, often burned and as often shut up in a dark dungeon. England? once a blessed vine, which the father of fathers planted with his right hand and which sweet Jesus watered with his holy hands, is now, alas, a cursed vine, O Foxe: our famous grapes are trodden down by impious feet; the unholy Antichrist plunders our holy grapes. Lo the frothing boar, horrible beast of the forest, and the shrew-mouse ruin and strip and glean this arbor.4
The hedgerow is destroyed, the tilled vineyard nearly ruined. The 1 Professor Stewart notes, ''an appropriation of a standard Homeric formula, here somewhat grotesquely; cf. Iliad 20.360-361.'' The intended sense is probably of crawling. Foxe uses the figure in Latin at Titus et Gesippus 1.1.56.
2 The buskin was the boot used in tragedy.
3 The word is supplied from a marginal note ("Anglia") in B.
4 The passage may be corrupt: the verbs should be plural, Hanc has no referent, and sorex seems a curious word to link with aper. See the note to the Latin text.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Abfugit cultor, fugiunt columbae Territae pennis aquilae uorantis:
Non sub umbroso timidus recumbet
Palmite turtur.
Squallor et luctus lachrymaeque regnant:
Saccus et sordes, cinis atque puluis, Lazarus pauper dominantur isto
Foxe triumpho.
Ergo mittantur citharae sonantes, Lugubrem mecum tetricam Camoenam Euoca: dulci posita Thalia,
Triste canamus.
Iam piis uotis Dominum precemur, Visat ut uitem uacuam, iacentem, Satanae fibras resecante uerbi Falce reuellat.
Quo bonos fructus ferat atque lectos, Floreat radix, bona terra crescat, Gemm et, et passim sua longa fuse Brachia spargat.
Quo magis serpat, patulasque fundat Iam comas, omnes adopacet oras Pampinis, tandem quasi pressa palma
Laeta resurgat.
Christe o pastor, Deus Israelis, Visita uitem suibus patentem,
Pelle labruscas, madefac sacrato Germina rore.
Agne, Pseudamnos procul hinc fugato, Et tuum regnum sinito uenire, Virginem sponsam male sordidatam
Respice sponse.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
tiller takes to flight; doves flee, frightened by the feathers of the devouring eagle; no timid turtledove rests beneath the shady vinebranch. Mourning and grieving and weeping prevail: sackcloth and dirty garments, ashes and dust, and poor Lazarus are supreme in this triumph, Foxe. Then away with your noisy lutes. Call up with me a sad and doleful Muse. Put sweet Thalia aside and let us sing something sad.! Now with pious prayers let us pray to the lord to look after our barren and fallen vine, to tear out the roots of Satan with the pruning hook of his word. So may the vine bear good and choice fruits, may its root flourish, may fertile soil increase, may it put forth buds and spread its branches far and wide. So may it extend itself and now pour forth its far-flung tendrils and shade all the boundaries with its foliage and, like a bent palm tree, rise up again healthy at last. O Christ our shepherd, God of Israel, visit the vine which is exposed to the swine, drive away the wild vines, and water the seeds with your sacred dew. O lamb, drive the Pseudamnuses far from here and let your kingdom come. O bridegroom, look upon your virgin bride in wretched shabbiness.
1 Thalia was the muse of comedy.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Ad Lavrentivm I.
Foxus De Uinea Plectra squallentis gemebunda lyrae, Dulce Laurenti decus, et querelas Mitte: non laetis quadrat haec Thalia Dorica rebus.
Vineam Christus nimium feraci Ebriam luxu tumidamque fastu Corripit flagris, petulantis uuae Stemphyla tundens.
Vina quum uellet, dedit haec labruscas, Carduas, squillam, asphodelos, lupinum:
Ocio effrenis, nimiumque pleno IO Perdita cornu.
Hinc apros, ursos, tygrides, leones Et lupos istos, sata culta uasto Ore qui uastant, meruere nostrae £5 Crimina uitae.
Hinc fugit cultor, trepidant columbae, Vnguibus uncis aquila furente, Voce dum tristis gemit impedita, Turtur ab ulmo.
Scilicet Christi manus haec amica est.
Dum putat uites, uitiis medetur.
Caedit, ut seruet. Meritis minora Flagra feramus.
Ergo uel plagis meliora discas.
Stupra, uim, fraudes, puAcypnuocvOny, Turgidi inflatos animi tumultus,
Ocia, nugas,
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
John Foxe to Laurence: Of the Vineyard Away with the doleful plectrum of your mourning lyre, sweet honored Laurence, away your contentiousness: this Dorian Thalia! is not fit for happy affairs. With his scourges Christ smites a vineyard drunk in excessive lushness? and swelling with pride; he crushes the fruit of a wanton vine.? When he would wish for grapes, this vineyard, grown wild from idleness and ruined by a horn too full, yielded wild vines, thistles, onions, asphodels, and lupine. Thus, the sins of our life have deserved these boars, bears, tigers, lions, and wolves which devastate our planted crops with their vast mouths. Hence the tiller flees, the doves tremble as the eagle ravages with his crooked claws, and the sad turtledove keens in a choked voice from the elm. Of course, this hand of Christ is friendly: as he prunes the vines, he cures of vices; he cuts to save. Let us bear scourges which are less than we deserve. Then, England,* from these very toils learn better things. Abandon corruptions, o Briton, and 1 Thalia would not sing in the Dorian (majestic) mode.
2 The Latin word has a double meaning, luxuriant growth and debauchery.
3 Literally, the pressed olives (eréugvAa) of the grape.
^ Supplied from a marginal note (*'Anglia") in B.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Impotens mundi studium, rapinas, Odium, caedes, kakórz0' &racav
Mutuas rixas, rabiemque linguae Linque Britanne.
Efferat si te nimium secunda Aura, te rursus grauior reducat:
Vinea ut fias Domino, Britanne,
Grata colono. s Haud diu uindex tamen haec paternae Spero, Laurenti, manat ira uirgae:
Altera, post hanc, fore spero, carpas Messe racemos.
FInIs.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
violence, frauds, greed, the heightened passions of a proud spirit, idleness, jesting, fruitless zeal for worldly gain, rapines, hatred, murders, all manner of wickedness, mutual bickerings, and angry language. If too strong a following wind carry you away, let a stronger one bring you back, o Briton, that you may become a vineyard pleasing to your husbandman the Lord. But, Laurence,
I hope the vengeful anger of our father's rod will not wait long. I hope, after this harvest, you will gather grapes in a second harvest.
[^- 4]
DRAMATIS PERSONAE!
Diocres, persecutor PsEUDAMNUS, Antichristus PonNaPouis, meretrix Babylon EGCLESIA, mater AFRICUS | EunRoPus HIEROLOGUS, concionator
CHORUS, QUINQUE UIRGINUM
[Porurvus] [CHorus] [PRorocvus] Bua MARIA SATAN PsvCHEPHONUS| p
''HANATUS
| M ADOPYLUS, seruus NOMOCRATES, (yrannus ANABASIUS, nuncius CHRISTUS PsvcHE, anima humana RAPHAEL, angelus PETRUS, apostolus SaAurus, qui et PAULUS ARCHIEREUS, pontifex NOMOLOGUS, sacerdos POLYHARPAX, scriba adolescentes [Muti]
[DEsMOPHYLAX]
[Dromo]
[ZENODORUS|
[Corax]
[PARTHENE]
1 Soma] this character does not appear in the revised version of B; in the manuscript, his counterpart is an important character for a time and is called
Sarcobius (from oáp£, flesh, humanity, and Bios, life). Soma (c@ua) means body.
Satan] also referred to at times by the classical names Dis and Pluto. In Act V, he assumes the name Lucifer.
Psychephonus| soul-murder (VvyxX; and qóvos) ; Bienvenu interpreted his allegorical significance as standing for sin, the *'sergent du diable." In Act V, he assumes the name Hypocrisis, wearing a Franciscan habit.
Thanatus] death (0&varos). In Act V, he assumes the name Martyromastix, i.e., scourge of martyrs (udprvp and uáori£).
Adopylus] Bienvenu called him a doorkeeper, equivalent of Cerberus, apparently deriving the name from my, door. Laurence Humphrey, who presumably knew, agreed; see his poem "'De Christo Triumphante," 25, above. Foxe may also have had in mind the verb à8ozó, to sacrifice. In Act V, he is called Catholicus, a reference to the papal title of Spanish kings. In the manuscript version, Adopylus does not appear and his speeches are divided among other characters, including one variously called Theorgilus, angry God (6eós and dpyiAos) and Theomenes, wrath of God (0eós and uva).
JNomocrates] power of the law (vóuos and xparos); i.e., the Old Testament law.
In the manuscript version (III.1-2) he is called Dicologus, probably not advocate
(8uoAóyos), but letter of the law (8é«n and Aóyos).
Anabasius] an ascent (dvéBacis), because he is a messenger up from hell.
Psyche] soul (vx7).
Archiereus] high priest (apy and fepevs). See p. 255, n. 1.
Nomologus] regard for [or word of] law (vóuos and Aóyos). See p. 255, n. I.
Polyharpax | robber of much or many (7odvs and dpza£) ; Bienvenu glossed the name as equivalent to **pince-maille" (pinchpenny).
Dioctes] persecutor (8woxrís). In Act IV, he assumes the name Symmachus;
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
PROLOGUE PsEUDAMNUS, the Antichrist, the pope Eve, mother of Soma and Psyche PonNaPoris, the whore of Babylon, mistress
Mary, mother of Christ of Dioctes SATAN EccrrsrA, the church, wife of Soma and PsyCHEPHONUS and 'THANATUS, attenmother of Europus, Africus, and Asia dants on Satan ArRICUS and EuRoPus, youths, sons of ADOPYLUS, servant of Satan Ecclesia NOMOCRATES, a tyrant HigROLOGUS, a preacher ANABASIUS, a messenger from hell Cuorus of five virgins attendant on Ecclesia
CHRIST CirizENns PsvcHE, the human spirit Cuorus of priests, Vatican officials, and RAPHAEL, angel of God attendants PETER, the apostle SAUL, later the apostle Paul Mute Characters ARCHIEREUS, the high priest DESMOPHYLAX, a jailor NOMOLOGUS, a priest Dromo,
ZENODORUS,
and Corax, PorvHARPAX, a scribe, servant of servants of Nomocrates Archiereus PARTHENE, a virgin, handmaid of Ecclesia
DiocrEs, a persecutor see p. 305, n. 1. In the manuscript he is called Cosmetor, leader (koojjrop), and Machonomus, strife of the law (uéxn and vópos). In the draft version, Abadon has all speeches after Act III which B assigns to Dioctes; the name of Abadon, who does not appear in B, is taken from Apocalypse 9.11 and means destruction in Hebrew (— Apollyon in Greek and Exterminans in Latin).
Pseudamnus| false lamb (Ve68os and àpuvós). In IV.6.34, he is referred to as Eudamnus.
Pornafolis] whore city (mépyy and móXs), that is, Rome. In the draft version, she is the mistress of Abadon; see the note on Dioctes.
Asia] she does not appear in the play, but is referred to several times. From a Christian viewpoint, Asia suffered worse hardships than Europe and had less hope of earthly improvement.
Africus] in IV.7.8, he is called Afer.
Europus| sometimes called Europaeus; in the manuscript at V.1 he is called Europlethius.
Citizens, Attendants| the attendants include, for instance, the characters summoned by Psychephonus at IV.8.58-60 who are referred to in a subsequent speech prefix as **Chorus." Presumably all such roles were performed by the chorus of five virgins which concludes the play, though their costume would be different.
Desmophylax] jailer (8eeuogAa£). The character is referred to once (III.2.10), and the word may refer to his function, not to his name.
Dromo] cf. the Dramatis Personae of Titus et Gesippus.
Zenodorus| perhaps gift of Zeus (Z7jv and 8ópov), or of a foreigner (£évos), or hireling of my right hand (£évos and dépv).
Colax] flatterer (kóAa£).
Parthene] virgin (rapfévos).
CHRISTVS TRIVMPHANS,
[/ 132; p. 1] Comoedia Apocalyptica.
Autore Ioanne Foxo Anglo PROLOGVS Salutem uobis, fructumque ex laboribus.
[f. 155v] Sibi uicissim a uobis silentium rogat Poeta nouus, spectatores noui, nouam Rem dum spectandam profert in proscenium.
Christum quippe triumphantem inferimus. Vtinam
Hunc coelitus liceat potius in nubibus Triumphantem suspicere. Forsan nec diu Id erit ludi quum iacebunt scenici.
Quippe oculis tum ipsi cuncta contuebimur, Re quum ipsa mittit nunc quae promittit Deus.
Rerum interim per transennam simulachra Spectare haud pigeat, tantum quae praeludimus.
Res tota sacra est totaque Apocalyptica:
Audita quae multis, nunquam at uisa est prius.
Sacro ergo indulgete silentio, sacris
Vt in templis suescitis. Oculos enim sacros Perinde ac aures esse, qui minus decet?
[p. 2] Ecclesiae primum hic qualemcunque faciem Dabimus, Satanae et tumultuantis furias.
Expressum Antichristum cum Babylonica
Cernetis meretricula, quas turbas dabit.
Aderit et Nomocrates, suo qui chirographo Infestat omnia. Sed in omnibus tamen
CHRIST TRIUMPHANT
An Apocalyptic Comedy by John Foxe of England PROLOGUE Good health to you, and fruit from your labors. Our new poet, in his turn, asks for himself silence of you, new spectators, while he brings onto the stage something new for you to see: to be precise, we bring you Christ Triumphant. Would rather that we could see him coming from heaven, in triumph in the clouds. Perhaps it will not be long before stage representations will lie neglected; then indeed we will see all with our own eyes, when God sends in actual fact what he now only promises. For now, do not be ashamed to view through a netting the images of things, which is all we play.
Our matter is totally sacred and totally apocalyptic, what has been heard of by many but never seen before.! Therefore indulge us with sacred silence, as you are wont to do in holy churches. For why is it less fitting for the eyes than for the ears to be trained on sacred objects.
Here we will present first, after a fashion, the figure of Ecclesia? and the passions of the raging Satan. You will see the Antichrist portrayed, with his Babylonian whore, and the troubles he will cause. Nomocrates too will be here to upset everything with his
1 This is not strictly so: see Herford, pp. 124-125n. But Herford also says that Christus Triumphans does not "'stand in direct line with anything that had preceded it." See Introduction, p. 38. In the manuscript version, Foxe distinguished between things seen and read and was more explicit in describing the source of the **History" as "sacred letters." Such claims to originality were conventional: cf. Milton's statement that Paradise Lost treats "Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhyme" (I.16).
2 Or, the idea of Ecclesia; the first draft read Idaeam for faciem. If primum is used temporally, the statement is not literally true, for we do not see Ecclesia until III.1. Perhaps Eve and Mary represent the universal church; but the Dedicatory Epistle suggested that they represent soul and body (see p. 209, n. 3); cl D. 243, n, 2,
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, PROLOGUS
Triumphat Christus, scena quod spectabitur.
Fauete igitur linguis, ferteque silentium.
Nos pro silentio linguas locabimus.
Nasus ualeat omnis, densque sycophanticus, Nigrae et loliginis succus, quicquid nigrumque
Est, tristis Aristarchus, mordaxque Memmius.
Musae haud canunt nostrae nisi cum Gratiis.
Nos Roscii haud omnes sumus mimi, at neque Vos Momi spero. Hac spe saltamus fabulam.
Placere actores omnibus; Prodesse poeta, nocere studet nemini.
Idemque a uobis sibi reposcit mutuum,
Vobis et ipse plausurus canentibus.
Comoedia si prolixa sit, at ingens erat Et multiplex materia. Habet hiatus et Lamas, fateor, at tam pugnantia nectere Natura haud rerum patitur. Ast bonis placent
Etiam mediocria, malis ne eximia quidem.
Habetis ergo officium Prologi. Rei Habete nunc summam, summo compendio.
[p. 3] Breue argumentum inquam haud breuis comoediae.
27. sycophanticae] transliterated from the Greek ovxogartixds. Plautus uses a substantive sycophantia in the sense deceitfulness (L-S).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
writ! But in everything Christ triumphs nevertheless, as will be seen on our stage.
Be kind with your tongues, then, and give us your silence, and we will replace your silence with our words. Let every keen nose be away, and every sharp tooth;? farewell to the ink of the black cuttlefish and everything black, to sad Aristarchus? and mordant
Memmius.* Our Muses do not sing at all except with the Graces.5
We mimes are not all Rosciuses,® but neither, I hope, are you Momuses.' In this hope we dramatize our fable. The actors want to please everyone, the poet to profit everyone and harm no one.?
It is really a loan which he asks of you, and when you are doing the playing, he will applaud you. If the comedy be long, its matter was large and complex. It has gaps and bogs, I confess, but the nature of things does not allow such warring elements to be connected.
Still, even the mediocre pleases those of good will, and not even something extraordinary pleases those of ill will.
There you have the office of Prologue. Now here is a summary of the matter in very brief form: I shall speak a brief argument of a comedy which is not brief at all.? l'Dhat is, Mosaic law. The word chirographo was perhaps taken from the Vulgate, Colossians 2.14: '[Christ blotted out] the handwriting of ordinances that was against us .
. , nailing it to his cross." In the *Panegyricon" appended to B, Foxe twice quotes this verse in Latin (pp. 101, 118).
? Cf. Horace, Satires I.4.100.
3 An Alexandrian critic who attacked Homer's poetry and questioned its authenticity. In the manuscript version, Foxe used the name Druso—perhaps
Claudius Drusus Nero (cf. Horace, Carmina IV.4.18); in DuCange, drusus is given with a meaning contumax.
4 Gaius Memmius, to whom Lucretius dedicated De Rerum Natura.
Sallust admired him (Fugurthine Wars 27 and 30), but Cicero, who thought him intellectually shallow, accused him of often prosecuting but seldom defending people
(Brutus 136, 247). He seems to have been a querulous sort; see Cicero's Familiar
Epistles 13.1.
5 There is a pun on the common noun for kindness.
6 O. Roscius Gallus was a celebrated Roman actor whose name was proverbial.
Cicero defended him in one of his orations.
7 God of censure, mockery, and laughter, the personification of faultfinding.
In Hesiod he appears among the children of Night (Theogony 214).
8 The Horatian doctrine of utile et dulce which underlies most Renaissance criticism.
? Terence's plays average just over a thousand lines; Eunuchus, the longest, has just under 1,100. Plautus' plays are somewhat longer, averaging about 1,200 lines, with Miles Gloriosus the longest at 1,437. Christus Triumphans, like Titus et
Gesippus, contains about 1,500 lines.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, PERIOCHA-I.1
PERIOCHA Dvos Euae gnatos accusante Satana, [7.1232] Nomocrates coelitus accepit chirographum
Quo Psyche in Orcum, Soma Thanato traditur, Relictis interim tribus Ecclesia Ex coniuge liberis, Europaeo, Africo,
Et Asia. Hos et noxios Nomocrates Prehendens, in carcere Sciolethro detinet, Thanato mox traditurus lictori suo.
Ecclesia coepit et ipsa periclitarier.
Rebus sed perditis, humanae ubi nihil
Vires potessunt, Christus adest Philanthropos Nimisque miseros adiutat Adamidas.
Psychen Gehennae emancipat, spem Somati Vitae melioris sufficit, Ecclesiae Tres gnatos exoluit, Pauli ac Petri opera.
I5 Nomocratem iure exuit chirographi.
Satanam uinclis mulctat ad annos mille. Is demum Solutus miras excitat tragoedias Per Pseudamnum Antichristum, Agni atque Ecclesiae
Hostem. Agnus at triumphat, ac illa ad nuptias
Vestitur. Strepit undique theatrum plausibus.
ACTVS I. SCENA I.
[p. 5] Trimetri Iambici.
Eva.
[Eva.] Ovod nunc doloris inueniam solatium ?
Lachrymas absumpsi; querelae nihil iuuant.
Vox neque curis nec spes malis iam sufficit.
Expers medelae, res ita perit funditus.
Porro nec quid agam aut quo uortem scio. Flere dum
Licuit, anxio mitius erat animo:
Lachrimis saltem pasci aegritudo potuit, Quae pars mihi nonnulla erat leniminis.
Iam lachrimae decrescunt, at crescit dolor.
Diesque aliis quae adimit mihi addit miseriam.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
ARGUMENT When Satan brings charges against the two children of Eve, Nomocrates receives from heaven a writ under which Psyche is put into Orcus! and Soma? is turned over to Thanatus. Soma leaves three children by his wife Ecclesia: Europus, Africus, and Asia. Seizing these also as criminals, Nomocrates holds them in the prison Sciolethrum,? intending to turn them over to Thanatus, his lictor. Even Ecclesia herself begins to be threatened. But when all is lost and human powers are of no avail, Christ comes, the philanthropist, and helps the wretched children of Adam. He frees Psyche from Gehenna. He provides Soma with hope of a better life. With the aid of Paul and Peter, he frees the three children of Ecclesia. He strips from Nomocrates the authority of his writ. He sentences Satan to chains for a thousand years. Freed at last, Satan incites wondrous tragedies through Pseudamnus, the Antichrist, enemy of the lamb and of Ecclesia. But the lamb triumphs, and she is dressed for her wedding. On all sides the theater resounds with applause. m Enter Eve.
Eve. What solace now can I find for my sorrow? I have used up my tears, and complaints are useless. Words are inadequate for my cares, and hope for my ills. Destitute of a remedy, my situation is utterly lost.
I don't know what more to do or where to turn.
While I could weep, my troubled spirit was easier: at least my grief could be nourished with tears, and that was a sort of balm for me. Now that my tears grow fewer, my pain grows greater, and the day, which relieves others' misery, only adds to mine.
1 The classical underworld.
2 See the notes to the Dramatis Personae.
3 See the note to the Latin text at III.1.13.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.2
Meam sic lancinat uitam mors filiae, Quae quanto mallem in hanc non exisset lucem:
Neque illa mala haec, nec ego uiderem moestitiam.
Quanquam parum hoc, mors quod me orbauit filia:
Mutari quod nequeat, ferret necessitas.
Nunc Satan habet impurissimus Psychen meam, Perpetuis Orcus tenet addictam ergastulis,
Mihi quod moeroris merito causa maxima est.
Eoque huc exii nunc foras quando ubi .
Consistam nescio, ut eam etsi iuuem nihil, At me gemitu interim lachrimisque expleam
Gnatae causa, quae dum usque in suppliciis erit, De me haud unquam supplicium sumere desinam.
Aequum est: mali quae mater fuerim et particeps.
Sed quid mali hoc, mulier quod oppleta lachrimis Vorsus tendit uiam? Sisto me, ut quid ferat
Boni maliue sciam.
[f. 132v] [5. 6]
ACTUS I. SCENA II.
Trimetri.
Maria. Eua.
[MaRria.] Mvlier an usquam uictitat altera malis Onustior, uita aut cui uita sit minus?
At quid meus meruit Iesus tam sonticum, In quem tanta rabie pontificum exarserit
Lymphata immanitas?
Eva.
Hem, de quo haec filio Agitat?
Maria.
At ille iam suis functus abiit Doloribus, mihi dolores crescunt magis.
Eva.
Quid huic turbatum fit, maneam an interrogem?
Maria.
Vocem quis hic astans intercipit? Ehei, Dum capto solitudinem, in turbam incidi.
Eva.
IO Quem filium, mulier, aut filiam innuis?
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Thus does my daughter's death mangle my life.
I would much prefer that she had never come into this world: then she would not have seen her misfortunes, nor I this sadness. But it isn't enough that death has deprived me of my daughter Psyche: what could not be altered, necessity would endure. Now, that infamous Satan has her; Orcus holds her enslaved in perpetual bondage: that by rights is the greatest reason for my sadness.
So now, since I don't know where to stay, I've come out here.
Even if I can't help my daughter, at least I may glut myself with lamentation and tears on her behalf. So long as she is in torments,
I will never stop inflicting her torment on myself. It is only right, since I was the mother of evil and a partner in it. But what's the trouble here, that a tearful woman is coming this way?
I'll stand here to find out what good or ill she's bringing.
[1.2] Enter Mary.
Mary. Lives there another woman anywhere more laden with misfortunes? Or a life to whom life is less meaningful? But why has my Jesus deserved such harm, that the maddened savagery of the priests should have been kindled against him in such fury?
EvE [as:de]. Well, who's the son she's brooding about?
Manv. But he has endured his agonies now and is gone, while my agonies grow the more.
Eve [aside]. Should I wait, or ask her why she's so upset?
Mary [seeing Eve]. Who's standing here eavesdropping?
Alas, I search for solitude and I've stumbled into a crowd.
Evr. Woman, what son or daughter do you mean? And why are
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.2
Quidue os saliua distillans composita ?
Ludis forsan tu me. At misereri magis, Non irridere miserorum casus decet.
MARIA.
Vox noua, sed uultus, ut reor, Euam arguit, Antiquam auiam.
Eva Eua sum, ipsa omnium unica Aduorsitatum auia, satrix, nutrix, parens:
1) Maledicta, recto si me nomine dixeris, '
Haud alio posthac me titulo appellites.
Maria.
[p. 7] Falsos omitte questus. Infoelicitas Quid sit, praeter me, experta nulla est foemina.
Eva.
Loquuntur quam stulte multi quae nesciunt!
MARIA.
Miseram satis utramque scio, et quid si Deus Nos ideo coniunxit pariter, coniuncta uti
Miseria magis sibi foret solatio?
Saepe malorum, in malis, comes est dimidium.
Eva.
[.f138] In aliis spes est, mihi nec Salus opem ferat.
Maria.
Qui nam? Istuc quod tibi tam graue est scire ardeo Si fas efferri sit, Eua parens, quae tegis.
Eva.
Hei mihi!
Maria.
Quicquid sit, aperire utrique meliu'st.
Eva.
Hei mihi, hei gnatae uicem!
MARIA At te comprime qua queas Ratione si sapis.
Eva.
Sine uero.
MARIA.
Tametsi neque mihi minus istuc male est, age Vice agamus mutua. Vlcus quod tuum est uti
Retegas, tu scies meum.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
you driveling continuously? Maybe you're mocking me.
It's more proper to pity the misfortunes of the wretched than to ridicule them.
Mary. Your voice is young, but your face, I think, proves you to be Eve, my old grandmother.
Eve. I am Eve herself, the only grandmother of all adversities—and their begetter, nurse, and parent. Cursed, if you would call me by my right name; hereafter call me by no other title.
Mary. Enough of these false complaints! No woman but me has tested what misfortune is.
Eve. How stupidly many speak what they do not know!
Mary. I know we are both wretched enough. Then what if God has brought us together so that our misery might be likewise joined, with greater comfort for itself? In misfortunes, to have a companion is often to halve the misfortunes.
Eve. In others there is hope, but Salus! can bring no assistance to me.
Mary. Why? I long to know what's so troublesome to you, Mother Eve, if you're free to tell me what you're concealing.
Eve. Woe is me!
Mary. Whatever it is, it's better to open up to each other.
Eve. Woe is me, and woe for the sake of my daughter.
Mary. But if you are wise, compose yourself with what reason you can muster.
Eve. Do stop.
Mary. Come, though it's no less irksome for me, we'll proceed in turn. You shall know what my sore spot is if you'll reveal yours.
1 See Titus et Gesippus p. 75, n. 1.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS. 1.2
Eva.
Age, age, tamet-
si quidnam istuc proderit ?
MARIA.
Etiam pergis?
Eva.
Age, iam Scies.
Maris.
Leuius te premet aliis quod exprimis.
Eva.
Gnatam dedit olim summi patris mihi Benignitas, suam ad ipsius imaginem, Psychae cui nomen addidi quod animae [p. 8] Haud secus ac in loco mihi erat propriae.
Quid multis? Hanc, cum fratre una pubescere Dum coepit, mox abrupto aetatis stamine,
Haerentem abripuit mors ingrata amplexibus.
MARIA.
Morbon' aut casu alio periit?
Eva.
Pomi scilicet :
Infoelix dum praegusto morsum, pessimus Acherontico serpens quod aconito imbuit.
MARIA.
Miseram mihi tuam, gnataeque uicem praedicas.
Eva.
Imo nihil etiam in hac re miserum.
MARIA.
Hem, quid est?
Ah comprime tam longa haec precor suspiria.
Quem tandem luctus mulier habebit modum?
Eva.
Vix dum supremam moribunda edidit uocem, Mox Stygiis Satan aduolat e faucibus, Luridus, ater, atrox, piceus, proferens Scriptam e decretis nescio quam syngrapham,
Qua Psychen, iure meam, uendicat sibi.
Denique ui correptam, me inuita, filiam Perpetuos in barathrum ad cruciatus detulit.
Maria.
Quid ais?
Eva.
In perpetuos secum carceres Satan meam auulsit Psychen, mea uiscera:
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Eve. All right, but what good it would do Mary. Are you still carrying on?
Eve. All right, you shall know it now.
Mary. What you express to others will oppress you less.
Eve. The kindness of the father on high once gave me a daughter, the very image of himself to whom I gave the name Psyche, because she held for me nothing less than the place of my own soul. Why prolong it? Just when she and her brother began to mature, her thread of life was broken and unpleasant Death snatched her away as she clung to my embraces.
Mary. Did she die of a disease or of some other mishap?
Eve. An apple, to be specific.? Unhappily, when I tasted a bite of it, a terrible serpent had imbued it with a hellish poison.
Mary. You're describing your own mishap as well as your daughter's.
Eve. No, there's nothing so terrible even in this.
Manv. Well, what is? [Eve almost breaks down.] Oh, restrain those deep sighs, I pray you. What end ofgrief will woman finally have?
Eve. Scarcely before my dying daughter had uttered her last word, suddenly that ghastly, gloomy, black, and pitchy Satan flew up from the Stygian jaws, producing some sort of writ taken from the laws, by which he claimed Psyche for himself though she's mine by right. Then, over my objection he seized my daughter by force and delivered her into the abyss for perpetual tortures.
Mary. What!
Eve. Into perpetual imprisonment with himself Satan snatched away my Psyche, the fruit of my womb. There he made her a 1 Genesis 1.26.
2 Genesis 3.6; the apple, of course, is from a much later tradition.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.2
Ibi perpetuis sine ope misera in maeroribus, Mancipium daemonis agit arbitrio.
Maria.
[^- 9] Sed quid frater adolescens interim? Ilene Viuit ?
Eva.
Soma nempe? Nescio. Nomocrates Et hunc tyrannus captiuum abduxit suo ac Lictori Thanato in seruitutem tradidit, Relictis ex Ecclesia tribus domi Vxore paruulis, Asia, Europo, Africo.
Maria.
Lf. 133v] Miseret me nimis utriusque. At nulla interim Auxili lux affulget ?
Eva.
Nisi quae omnibus.
MARIA.
Quaenam illa?
Eva.
Laeso doloris remedium est Inimici dolor.
MARIA.
Quid id uerbi uelit?
Eva.
Futurum olim quia audieram, coelitus Serpenti ut huic teratur tartareum caput.
Maria.
Vndenam amabo id?
Eva.
Mulieris aiebat ex Semine.
Maria.
Quam uellem!
Eva.
At quis nunc filius hic tuus, Quem caesum lachrimas? Ecce quae me uis, ipsa te Non cohibes.
Maria.
Iesum dico, meum unigenitum, Idem quem dedit olim mihi Deus uirgini.
Eva.
Quid, uirgini ?
MARIA.
Prorsus uiri sine commercio Cuiusquam, Gabriele paranympho, ac conscio Iosepho meo.
Eva.
Eho, nae haec tu mira nuncias.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
slave under the control of a demon, in eternal sorrows without the slightest chance of assistance.
Mary. But what about her young brother meanwhile? Is he alive?
Eve. Soma, you mean.
I don't know. The tyrant Nomocrates carried him off as a captive too and delivered him into servitude to his lictor, Thanatus. Asia, Europus, and Africus—his three little children by his wife Ecclesia—are left at home.
Mary. I'm very sorry for them both. But isn't there any ray of help shining?
Eve. None but that which shines for everyone.
Mary. What's that?
Eve. For the afflicted, an enemy's pain is a remedy of one's own pain.
Mary. What does that mean?
Eve. It will come to pass from heaven, as I once heard, that the hellish head of this serpent will be trodden down.
Mary. How, pray tell?
Eve. From the seed of a woman, it was said.!
Mary. How Id like to be that woman!
Eve. But now who's this son of yours whose death you bewail?
Look, don't you hold back what you want me to tell.
Mary. I call him Jesus, my only-begotten son. Like your daughter, God gave him to me some time ago, though I was a virgin.
Eve. What! A virgin?
Mary. Yes, without knowledge of any man. Gabriel was my bridesman, and my husband Joseph knew about it.?
Eve. Well! You really report miracles.
1 A note in B cites Genesis 3.[15].
2 The draft version, calling Gabriel an intermediary, was closer to the account in Luke I.26.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.3
MARIA.
At mira magis si quae per uitam gesserit Omnia scias. Sed ne te multis differam:
Virtutis ut semper comes it inuidia, Diu celatum bene indicantes odium In hunc gentis primores iniiciunt manus,
Dehinc ad supplicium infamis rapiunt crucis.
Iamque ex eo secundus hic agitur dies Quod nec somnum neque cibum capio: pumex Vt non siet, quam ego lachrimando, exuccior.
Eva.
[p. ro] gO Quodnam ob facinus hanc tantam ausi tyrannidem?
MARIA.
Verum uis dicam ?
Eva.
Maxime.
MARIA.
Equidem neque Causam nec crimen scio. Hei uero maxime Deus, Quid hic tumultuatum e sublimi audio?
Eva.
Et ego.
Maria.
Coelum nisi ipsum ruat, id quid siet Miror.
Eva.
Quin expectemus paululum: noui Aliquid hic monstri coelum opinor parturit.
Magne Deus, fugiamus curriculo. Satan Ipse est, bilem quantam spirans! Nos ne pariter
Vnco praecipitet suo.
[f 134]
ACTUS I. SCENA III.
Eivsdem Rationis.
Satan. Psychephonus. Adopylus.
[SATAN. |
Hoho, quo nunc decidi?
Aut ubi sum, aut quo uertam primum? Nunquam minus Mei compos in uita prorsus fuerim, ita Pugnando, cadendo, bile atque insania Exagitor, neque quid consilii ineam scio.
[p. 11] 88. infamis] the MSC reading, infame, is possible but metrically inferior.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Mary. But there are more miracles if you knew all that he did in his life. To be brief, though, envy always travels as the companion of virtue. The leaders of our people, revealing openly their longconcealed hatred, set hands on him and dragged him to the punishment of an infamous cross. That was two days ago now,! and I've neither slept nor eaten. A pumice stone could not be more dry than I am from weeping.
Eve. For what crime did they dare such terrible tyranny?
Mary. Do you really want me to tell you?
Eve. Very much.
Mary. In fact, I know of no reason, no crime. [ Thunder sounds.] Great God! Woe indeed! What's this tumult from heaven that I hear?
Eve. I hear it too.
Mary. I wonder what it is, unless the sky itself is falling.
Eve. Let's not stay here an instant. I think the sky is giving birth to some new monstrosity here. Great God, let's run quickly!
It's Satan himself, breathing bilious rage. Don't let him drag us down with him on his hook.?
[Exeunt.
[1.3] Enter Satan?
SATAN. Oh, oh, where have I fallen now? Where am I? Where should I turn first? Never in my life have I been less in possession of myself, I'm so upset by fighting and falling, by anger and madness. I don't know what sort of plan to undertake. I'm turned
1 It is (more symbolically than actually) the day before Easter.
2 Perhaps echoing the "'hook that was fastened to the neck of condemned criminals, and by which they were dragged to the Tiber" (L-S).
3 The scene is based on Apocalypse 12.9, but Foxe has distorted the usually accepted chronology by dramatizing the fall of Satan after we have been told of the fall of man and the crucifixion of Christ. This arrangement of the three
"falls," together with the implicit allusion to Easter in I.2.89, emphasizes the titular theme; it suggests, moreover, that the telescoping of time in this play 1s a purposeful artifice: the play does not violate the unity of time if time does not exist in the normal earthly sense. Alternatively, perhaps we should regard the two previous scenes, with characters who (in the revised version of B) do not reappear in the play, as prologue.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.3
Extorris e coelo eliminor, ubi Loci nihil est reliquum. Hei malum, heu Michael!
Age, fruere quantum libet uictoria, At non tua tamen, o bone, neque tuis Parta uirtutibus. Deus si te iuuet I0 Aliquis, quid mirum adeo? Quod si monomachia
Mihi cum iis uelitandum esset angelis Archangelisque, cherubicae ac seraphicae Vna licet omnes accedant decuriae, hic Aut si darentur praesto, ut his ego manibus,
Vnguibus ac calcibus raperem, rumperem, agerem, Discerperem, ruerem, prosternerem, Excerebrarem, elumbarem, funderem, Truderem, tunderem, exossarem, denique Insultarem, pellerem, pulsarem, caederem.
Duces primum ipsos torribus inuaderem, Reliquos dentibus degluberem, postmodum Coruis darem. Quosdam furcis infigerem, Exemplis quosque se dignis disperderem.
Oh Psychephonum ac Adopylum uideo.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Ditis
Hic uocem audire uisus sum an non?
SATAN.
@ OTOL, Nunccine tandem ?
[p. 12] PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quid tandem?
SATAN.
Equidem his si unguibus Vos nunc dilaniem, credo id merito fieri.
ADOPYLUS.
Quid autem?
SATAN.
Stygicolae, mastigiae, perfugae.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Qui dum?
SATAN.
Post caedem in auxilium acceditis.
26. Hic uocem audire] emended from Audire hic uocem audire (B) and Audire hic uocem (MSC).
29. Stygicolae] I find no other instance of this compound.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
out of heaven. An exile. There's no place left. Oh the misfortune!
Oh Michael! Go to, how pleased you are to enjoy your victory!
But it isn't your victory, my good fellow, and it wasn't begot by your powers. If some god helps you out, what's so miraculous ?
But if I'd been able to fight it out alone with those angels and archangels, even if all the divisions of cherubs and seraphs joined in, or if they were suddenly presented to me here, how I'd tear into them with these hands, nails, and feet! I'd smash them and dash them and bash them and gash them and mash them and crash them and hash them and thrash them and gnash them and lash them and slash them; I'd rush them and push them and crush them and squash them.! First I'd light into the leaders themselves with firebrands. I'd flay the rest with my teeth and then give them to the crows. I'd nail some to crosses and do them in with punishments worthy of them. Oh, I see Psychephonus and Adopylus.
Enter Psychephonus and Adopylus.
PsvcuEPHONUs. Did I seem to hear the voice of Dis here or not?
SATAN. Oh fie! Here at last?
PsvcugPHOoNUs. Why "at last"?
SATAN. Indeed! If I tore you apart with my nails, I think you'd deserve it.
ADOPYLUs. But why?
SATAN. Styx-dwellers, scoundrels, deserters!
PsvcuePHONUs. Why?
SATAN. After the slaughter's over, you come to help.
1T have tried to render the tone rather than the precise lexical sense of the passage.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.3
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Quas hic caedes memorat?
SATAN.
Eho, caput mihi an Non totum hoc fissile ac apocopatum cernitis?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Equidem nihil cerno.
SATAN.
At at ego sentio.
ADOPYLUS.
Here, Capitis exors qui sit sentire qui potest?
SATAN.
Dico actam hanc rem esse funditus.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quid id cedo?
SATAN.
Coelo eiecti, forum ac ius omne amisimus.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
[f134v] Quid ita?
SATAN.
Michael dum duello me adoritur, Antiquus hostis, ita luctando diu a meis Actum est sedulo, uerum quid multis? Inualuit
Demum ille, nos excludimur—uos belluae
Dum stertitis.
PsvcuEPHONUS. Bona uerba.
SATAN.
Sed age, sua Coelicolae trophaea erigant municipes:
Nos tertiam tamen stellarum ducimus Partem. Postremo 1n terris, si coelo haud licet,
Inuitis astris etiam ipsis, regnabimus
Arbitrio legeque nostra uti uolumus.
[5. 13] Mirari nec satis queo quis tam potens Michaelis hyperaspistes 1s fuit Qui tantum in coelo stratagema hoc dedit.
Verum quid nunc primum exequar? Sequimini
Huc intro, Furiae, quid Psyche iam gerat Reliquique uisam. His duplicata tormina laxo haec dum ira est recens. At at, euax quid hic
Reperio? Nullus sum: numen sentio.
32. apocopatum] a participial form, apparently without precedent, from the substantive apocope.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PsyCHEPHONUS [to audience]. What slaughters is he talking about?
SATAN. Oh, don't you see my head all split and cut off?
PsyCHEPHONUS. Really, I see nothing.
SATAN. Oh! I feel it.
ADOPYLUs. Master, if one doesn't have a head, how can one feel it?
SATAN. I tell you it happened—completely.
PsycHEPHONUS. What happened?
SATAN. We were thrown out of heaven. We lost the field and all our power.
PsvcuEPHONUs. How?
SATAN. While Michael, my old enemy, engaged me in battle, my followers managed through long and vigorous striving to—but why drag it out? He prevailed at last, and we're expelled—while you beasts were snoring.
PsYCHEPHONUS. Sweet words.
SATAN. But let the heavenly burghers set up their victory monuments. We still led off a third of the stars. Even if the stars themselves are against us, at last we'll reign on earth if not in heaven—our judgments, our law, whatever we wish. I can't help wondering who that mighty defender of Michael was who was such a great general in the sky. But now, what to do first?
Follow me inside, Furies, to see what Psyche and the others are doing now. I'll make their guts hurt double while my anger is fresh. [ They start through a door, but are thrown back.] Oh, oh, what do I find here? I'm undone. I feel a divine presence. Who's
1 A note in B cites Apocalypse 12.[4].
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.4
Quis tam audax e meis populator atriis,
Etiam Psychen meam ductat? Domi ac foris Videns nolensque mulctor.
ACTUS I. SCENA IIII.
Tetrametri Acatalectici.
Christus Rediuiuus. Psyche. Satan. Psychephonus.
Thanatus. | Adopylus.] Raphael Angelus.
[Cunisrus.] Exi ergo mea Mecum Psyche.
PsycHE.
Tua uero, quicquid sum, mi Iesu, maximo Merito tuo.
SATAN.
Ringor.
PsycHE.
O sanctitas.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Rumpor.
PsyCHE.
O pietas.
THANATUS.
Occidor.
Curistus. Ero mors tua o mors, morsus inferne tuus.
ADOPYLUS.
Irrideor.
SATAN.
Quid agimus?
PsycHE.
An unquam cuiquam tot, tam insperata, [p. 14] tam noua,
Tam miranda ac stupenda ostendi? Miserae quantum hoc nunc mihi, Praeterque supraque spem omnem, obiicitur gaudium?
O foelicitas.
SATAN.
O infoelicitas.
ADOPYLUS.
Papae numen spirat quantum!
PsyCHE.
Ergo mi Iesu, astrata genibus tuis, mea uita, mi parens, Deus 55. atris] silently emended by L from atreis, the reading of B and MSC.
P. H. Adopylus| not in B or MSC; see Textual Notes.
9. sanctitas] parallel with pietas in this line and probably authorial, but possibly a misreading of MSC's faustitas.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
such a daring plunderer as even to lead my Psyche out of my halls?!
At home and abroad, as I'm forced to admit, I'm abused.
[L4] | Enter Christ resurrected, leading in Psyche, and Thanatus.
Curist. Come out with me then, my dear Psyche.
PsvcHE. I am yours indeed: whatever I am, my Jesus, is by your great desert.
SATAN [aside]. Grrr!
Psycue. Oh holiness.
PsyCHEPHONUS [aside]. I'm shattered.
Psvcug. Oh piety.
THANATUs [aside]. I'm slain.
Cureist.
I will be your death, oh Death, and your sting, oh hell.?
Apopy us [aside]. I'm mocked.
SATAN. [aside]. What to do?
PsycuHe. Has anyone ever been shown so many unhoped-for miracles, such stupendous news? How great is this joy now thrust upon me in my wretchedness, joy above and beyond my every expectation! Oh happiness!
SATAN. [aside]. Oh unhappiness!
ADOPYLUS [aside]. Strange how much majesty he breathes!
Psycue. Therefore, my dear Jesus, I prostrate myself at your knees, my life, my father, my God. My redeemer and only salvation,
1 Symbolically, of course, the reference is to spiritual redemption, but Foxe seems to have had in mind the old tradition of the harrowing of hell. Bienvenu, however, denied that Foxe had this papist idea seriously in mind and called the passage an example of poetic license.
2 A note in B refers to Oseae 13.[14]. Foxe needed no contemporary inspiration to use this passage (or its echo in 1 Corinthians 15.55, which Foxe used in III.5), but the letter «Ad Pivm Lectorem" prefaced to Nicolaus Bartolomaeus' Christus
Xylonicus in the 1540 Basel anthology of Comoediae ac "Tragoediae Aliquot ex Novo et
Vetere Testamento Desumptae also cites it. Cf. p. 283, n. 1.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1.4
Meus. Redemptor ac salus unica, mea iam non sum, ita
Tuis istis me totam factis facis tuam.
CHRISTUS.
Filius in hoc Apparuit Dei, opera ut dissipet diaboli.
THANATUS.
Hei malum.
SATAN.
Mirando, stupendo, insaniendo non sum apud me.
CHRISTUS.
En accipe Nunc immortalitatis Psyche tibi in palmis palmarium hoc. [ f. 135] Quid trepidas, animula mea?
Psvcur.
Eccum illum, a dextris imminet meus
Satan.
SATAN.
Oh, uisus sum.
CHRISTUS.
Hostem libro hoc percellito.
SATAN.
Hei mactor miser.
CHRISTUS.
Dico tibi, chirographum redde huc sceleste obligatorium.
SATAN.
Nam qua lege illud cedo?
CHRISTUS.
Insontem qua me mactastis, Satan.
[p. 15] Meministin' factum ?
SATAN.
Vah, funditus prorsusque conteror.
CHRISTUS.
Cape nunc, Psyche, ut affigatur cruci.
SATAN.
Proh nunc intelligo:
Hinc uis Michaelis illa, et coelo et terris spolior.
CHRISTUS.
Data est Omnis mihi potestas in coelo et terra. Heus heus, Raphael, Clauem hanc abyssi sume cum capistro. Age, mysanthropum hunc
Mastigiam faxis alligatum in tartara.
THANATUS.
Scitum est fugere in loco.
RAPHAEL.
Factum mi princeps accurabitur.
CHRISTUS.
Annos per mille, impetum — 25 Ne quem det, firmetur, locumque signes signaculo meo.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
by your deeds you make me so completely your own that I no longer belong to myself.
Cunisr. In this has appeared the son of God to scatter the works of the devil.
TuHanatus [as:de]. Oh terrible!
SATAN [aside]. I'm so astonished and stupefied and out of my senses that I'm beside myself.
Curist. Well now, Psyche, take into your hands this prize of immortality. My little soul, why do you tremble?
Psycue. Look there, my enemy Satan threatens us from the right.
SATAN [aside]. Oh, I've been seen.
Curist. Smite the enemy with this book. [Taking the book, she beats Satan.] SATAN. Oh, I'm slain horribly.
CunisT. You scoundrel, I tell you, return that binding writ to me.?
SATAN. Under what law?
Curist. Because you sacrificed me, an innocent, Satan. Do you remember doing that?
Satan. Oh, I'm completely bruised, from the bottom up.
Curist [giving Psyche Satan's writ]. Psyche, now take it so it can be nailed to a cross.
Satan. Oh, now I recognize you: Michael's power came from you, and I'm deprived of both heaven and earth.
Curist. All power in heaven and earth is given to me.2—— Ahoy, Raphael.
Enter Raphael.
Take this key to the abyss and this chain. Go tie up this misanthropic rogue in hell.
TuHanatus [aside to Adopylus and Psychephonus]. In this situation it's a good idea torun.
[Exeunt Thanatus, Psychephonus, and Adopylus.
RapuHaEL. It shall be attended to, my prince.
Curist. Let him be chained for a thousand years,* that he may mount no attack. Mark the place with my seal.
[Raphael leads Satan out.
1 In the draft version, ''... with this cross."
2 A note in B refers to Colossians 2.[14].
3 A note in B cites Matthew 28.[18].
^ A note in B refers to Apocalypse 20.[1-3].
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, II.1
Euge ad discipulos nunc accede mecum, Psyche, una huius ut Fiant simul euangelii participes. Mox ad patrem
Feremur in paradisum pariter, fratrem ubi Soma tuum Laeta expectabis interim.
AGTUS IL SGENAJ
Senarii.
Raphael.
[ RAPHAEL. |
Captiuus nunc summi imperio principis, Annos ad mille, magnus firmatur Satan:
Queisque alios strinxit, stringitur ipse uinculis.
[p. 16] Post rursus e latebris laxandus paululum, Quo secum in errorem pessundet plurimos
Orbemque seducat latum, quo tempore Ecclesia tristibus est agitanda casibus.
Interea Pornapolis, mutuata daemonis Tyrannide, late instabit, uicariam Vicem administrans illius quam fortiter.
Tumultus illa in orbe non paruos dabit, Suo cum Diocte, quanquam nisi corpora Nihil laedet ille aliud mortalium. Interim
Psychae equidem nostrae nostrisque in coelo omnibus Res sic in tuto collocatas gratulor,
Quo nomine Agno perpetuae sint gratiae, Sanguine qui tantum peperit hoc palmarium.
Iam quantis hoc Mariam nostram gaudiis Ac Euam praecipue ipsam perfundet cogito Vbi haec quae gesta sunt ita esse audiuerint.
[f. 1350]
Sed perfectis iam rebus, ad herum me reuortier Tempus monet, ubi nihil hic cur maneam aliud est.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Good. Now, Psyche, go with me to my disciples that they may share this good news one and all. Soon we'll be taken together to my father in paradise, where for the time being you will happily await your brother Soma.!
| Exeunt.
[II.1] Enter Raphael.
RaPHaEL. The mighty Satan now is held captive for a thousand years by order of the highest prince, bound in the very chains with which he bound others.? After a little while he's to be released again from the shades, to sink many into error with himself and to lead the wide world astray. At that time Ecclesia must be tormented with grievous misfortunes.
Meanwhile, Pornapolis, assuming the demon's tyranny and with great vigor administering his office in his stead, will push his menace far and wide? She'll visit no small disorders on the world, helped by her friend
Dioctes, though he will harm nothing in mortals except their bodies. For now, I rejoice for our Psyche and for all our people in heaven that their cases are so safely disposed. For that reason let eternal thanks be given to the lamb, who obtained this great prize with his blood. I can imagine how great are the joys this will inspire in our Mary and especially in Eve when they hear of the things which have happened. But now that my business is finished, it's time to return to my master, since there's no other reason for me to stay here.4
[| Exit. l'Dhe theological reference is to the immediate spiritual redemption, to be followed at the Last Judgment by the resurrection of the body.
? A note in B cites Apocalypse 20.[3, 7-8].
? A note in B cites Apocalypse 13.[1-2]. Foxe follows one of several venerable traditions in interpreting the first beast as Rome (whore city), presumably because its seven heads represented the seven hills of Rome, its ten horns the ten persecutions by the Caesars.
4 After this scene in the manuscript version appears a scene showing Eve and Mary, who are introduced after Raphael notes their approach:
Eve. Now I see that nothing could happen to men which is so much beyond hope and belief that the power of God does not outstrip it.
Mary. I must look for Eve, wherever she is, so I may tell her the news of my daughter.
Eve. Stop, Mary. I know everything.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, II.2
ACTUS II. SCENA II.
[ f-136] Tetrametri Acatalectici Archiereus. Nomologus. Saulus. Polyharpax Scriba.
[ARCHIEREUS.]
Ain uero, Nomologe, adhuc reperiantur qui in nomine hoc Praedicare perstitant ?
NOMOLOGUS.
Nimium.
ARCHIEREUS.
Imperium nec uererier [p. 17] Nostrum, nec minis neque exemplis porro terrerier?
NOMOLOGUS.
Certissime.
2. perstitant] B and MSC agree on this unprecedented reading, probably a coined intensive of persto.
2-3. uererter .
. terrerier] my translation misses the quadruple rhyme.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
[11.2] Enter Archiereus and Nomologus.4
ARCHIEREUS. Nomologus, do you mean people are still found who persist in preaching in his name?
NowoLocvus. Too true.
ARCHIEREUS. Don't they respect our authority? Haven't threats or punishments been used to frighten them?
NoMwoLoGus. Of course.
Mary. You know my news?
Eve. Yes. I heard it, saw it, believe it, the thing which transports me beyond all human joys. I'm dreaming unless I see what I desire to see, for I see you,
Psyche, now reborn from the depths.
Mary. God love me, I'm happy.
Eve. Oh, what power of words can be given me great enough, father on high, to celebrate your divinity sufficiently and as I would like? Oh charity! What piety this is! And that you undertake so much labor for my sake, my Jesus, and because of my Psyche! Besides, you promise the right of your kingdom to my son Sarcobius.
Mary. Eve, didn't I often tell you that my mind foresaw something great from this boy?
Eve. I remember. And the more I think about God, the more I wonder at his prudence. Salvation vanished because of a woman; now it is restored again because of a woman. In me nature begot death; in you grace comes to life, that the salvation of everyone would be due to grace, not to nature. In me the most just God exposed the worth of sin and showed his anger; in you, in turn, he opened the arms of his pity.
Mary. I don't know about other women, but I know I have never deserved anything worthy of this son except that it seemed good to God to confer on men who are not at all great the great kindnesses which they had not expected.
Eve. You speak very truly. And now I think I have lived long enough, and it is a pleasure to leave since I've now seen with my own eyes these things which have happened to my children and to me and to my offspring.
Mary. But now it's time to hurry to Mt. Horeb with the apostles and also the other disciples, Eve. My son promised to have some sort of business there in a little while, and said we must not be late. [?A reference to the Ascension on Mt. Olivet; Acts 1.9.] Eve. Let's go.
Mary. But quickly, my dear, for look, the chief priest is almost here—the wolf in the fable, as they say.
! From the note beside l. 1 in B citing Acts 4.[1-2], we can identify Archiereus, the chief priest, as Annas. Nomologus is probably a Sadducee: note his social pride in condemning the low-caste Christians
(ll. 7-11), consistent with the aristocratic Sadduces; and compare the meaning of his name. In the draft version of this scene, Nomologus' speeches are assigned to Machonomus (= Dioctes), and some of Archiereus' to Thanatus.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 11.2
ARCHIEREUS. Monstri simile. At unde haec tibi certa? Qui sciam?
NOMOLOGUS.
Vidi, audiui, interfui. Denique semper, nescio
Quo successu, haec gliscit secta magis, ita ut rem ipsam Dei Dicas uoluntate geri, horum usque adeo crescit indies
Numerus.
ARCHIEREUs.
Hi quinam sint audire gestio.
NOMOLOGUS.
Quos credis, nisi Ex ima fece: fracti ciceris emptores, telonii, Agasones, sutores, iisque consimiles, ex triuiis
Ac compitis circumforanei.
ARCHIEREUS.
Hui! Plebs uidelicet Abiecta atque execrabilis, Deum qui nesciunt.
NOMOLOGUS.
Sane.
ARCHIEREUS.
Et quid tandem hi neotorculi adferunt ?
NOMOLOGUS.
Christum se credere Rediuiuum ac uidisse: huius se testes oculatos asserunt.
ARCHIEREUS.
Profecto, quantum suspicor, celere nisi malo huic remedium
Reperimus, plus mortuus incommodi quam olim uiuus dabit.
NOMOLOGUS.
Haud dubium est.
ARGHIEREUS.
Tum hoc, nunc aliud persentio.
NoworoGus.
Quidnam? [f. 16]
ARCHIEREUS.
Hinc nobis fames Illa, omniumque penuria rerum, hinc coeli intemperies, Pestes, podagrae, porrigines, alias praeter uitae grauedines,
Quae haud aliunde quam ex secta hac pullulant.
NOMOLOGUS.
Veri nimis
Simile.
ARCHIEREUS.
Itaque quid nunc agam in hac re cogito, nec etiam satis adhuc Certum scio.
13. neotorculi] I find no other instance of this compound; torculum, literally a wine press, was sometimes used for a printing press. Foxe may have intended a pun on neotericus, new, which LTL glosses, Scriptores neoterici, quibus antiqui opponuntur."
17.] as in MSC; B prints as two verses, broken after persentio.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
ARCHIEREUS. Monstrous. But how may I know these things which you're so sure about?
NoMoLoGus. I saw them, I heard them, I was there. Besides, I don't know how, but this sect keeps growing bigger: their number increases so much every day that you would say it's happening by the will of God.!
ARCHIEREUS. I want to know who these people are.
NoMoLocGus. Who do you think? The dregs of humanity: sellers of broken chickpea, customs men, ostlers, cobblers, people like that, vagrants from the wrong side of town.?
ARCHIEREUS. Whew! The mean and detestable mob, of course, people who don't know God.
NoMoLoGvs. Quite right.
ArRcHIEREUS. And what, pray, are these new presses publishing ??
Nomotocus. That they believe in Christ resurrected, that they've seen him; they claim they were eyewitnesses.
ARCHIEREUs. Well, I strongly suspect that unless we find a remedy quickly for this ailment, he'll cause us more trouble dead than he did alive.
NoMoLoGus. There's no doubt about it.
ARCHIEREUS. Then there's this other strong feeling that I have.
Nomo.ocus. What's that?
ARCHIEREUS. This is the source of our famine, the scarcity of everything, the bad weather, the plagues, gouts, dandrufls,* not to mention the other ailments in our lives, which sprout forth from no other cause than from this sect.
NowoLoGvus. Too true.
ARCHIEREUS. So I wonder what I should do now in this matter; I'm still not sure.
1 Cf. Acts 4.4. With the opening words of this speech cf. below, p. 416, 1. [6.
ZUGE ACUS EAT
3 See note to Latin text.
^ In the draft version, **wars."
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, II.2
Nomo.tocus.
Quid agas, nisi Tv xe«óv, quod aiunt, vow ?
Haereticos proteras probe ferro, flamma, elementisque omnibus.
Dignitatem in primis procures uestram sarta tectaque ut Siet. In omnes synagogas mittendi cereales, qui haereses,
Blasphemias, schismata uolgi fortiter instrepitent auribus.
Molliores qui sient sacerdotiis, offa uelut Vncta, facile quo uelis prolicies. Cui ego palmarium
Tribuo. Reliquos ui, qua potest, pugnabitis. Sin, uti fit, Se habent clam, omni sub lapide scorpius sese tegat
Lf. 136v] aliquis
Ne cui quid sit tutum undique. Verum illud disciplinae erit:
[p. 19] Nisi ex concilio nihil hos aduersus mouerier. Ita Honestior erit, honeste fucatur quae, crudelitas.
ARCHIEREUS.
Scite mones, etsi neque prorsus immemorem.
NoMoLoGus.
Credo. Quid enim Tam affabre dici possit uigilantia quin praeeat tua?
SAULUS.
Pontificem platea modo hac praeteriisse dictitant, Atque praesto eccum.
ARCHIEREUS.
Quid Saulus adueniens apportitat ?
SAULUS.
Summam consummato salutem pontifici.
ARCHIEREUS.
Expecto quid Rerum nuncias.
SAULUS.
Nae nos ignauiae omnes merito Incusandi sumus, hos qui pingues pexosque haud reprimimus — 40
Piscatorculos, hominem qui hunc nunquam populi cessitant Ingerere auribus ac Mosen fasque omne inuertere. Quod adeo
Haud fit nostra nisi ex incuria, dum nemo horum obuiam it Audaciae. Quod si me ad hanc prouinciam idoneum satis
Statuitis organum, age, literis inautorate me
25. cereales] DuCange lists the word in the sense messenger, servant.
26. instrepitent] normally an intransitive verb.
45. inautorate] DuCange lists the word as equivalent of cooptare.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
NoMoLoGus. What would you do except, as they say, use the law of force? Wear down these heretics properly, with iron and flame and all the elements.' Your first care should be for your authority, that your house will be in good repair. Send your servants into all the synagogues to drum into the ears of the mob their heresies, blasphemies, and schisms. The more pliant among them you'll easily entice to your will with priesthoods, an anointed morsel, so to speak: I think that's the best course. The rest you'll oppose with as much force as you can. But if, as they usually do, they hold to their ways in secret, let a scorpion be concealed under every stone so there'll be no safety anywhere for any of them. But it will truly be the way of policy to take no action against them except by the authority of the council. In that way your cruelty will be more respectable because it's painted to look respectable.
ARCHIEREUS. Wise advice, but you're not advising a completely ignorant man.
Nomotocus. I believe that, for what could be said so cleverly that your vigilance would not anticipate it?
Enter Saul.?
SAUL. Everyone says the priest has just passed this way. Look, there he 1s.
ARCHIEREUS. Saul is coming. What does he have on his mind?
Sau. The best of health to you, most exalted priest.
ARCHIEREUS. I'm waiting for your report of things.
SAuL. We all really deserve to be called cowards for not suppressing these doltish, wool-headed fishermen who keep hammering that man into the ears of the people and upsetting Moses and the whole divine law. This surely wouldn't happen except for our neglect in that no one is hindering their audacity. But if you appoint me to this business as your proper instrument—
—, well, 1 In the draft version, all four elements (fire, earth, air, and water) are represented (with *cross" standing for air).
? A note in B refers to Acts 9.[1-2].
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, II.2
Vestris in hos ut liceat quid uelim quidque ualeam, [p. 20] paululum Experirier.
ARCHIEREUS.
Quid ages cedo?
SAULUS.
Egone? Quod dignum sit in Maleficos, quodque omnes, quum sit factum, dicetis probe.
NOMOLOGUS.
Probe dicis.
ARGHIEREUsS.
At enim, si populus interim quid ?
SAULUS.
At enim Experiundo scies.
ARCHIEREUS.
Verum age, quo te mitti primum postulas?
SAULUS.
Damascum me zelus uocat impotens: plurimum ibi assuescere Audio.
ARCHIEREUS.
Dic, zelus unde hic tantus te incessit, cedo?
SAULUS.
Nescio, Nisi quia iamdudum in hos insigne aliquid edere flagrat Animus, et spero profore.
ARCHIEREUS.
Mirum Nomologe, nobis nisi Quoquo modo usui siet hic adolescens.
NOMOLOGUS.
Idem et ego arbitror.
ARCHIEREUS.
Age, sino quod uelis.
SAULUS.
At quo maturius, hoc consultius.
Principiis occurrendum ilico, ne sero post, ac cum uelis, Non liceat.
ARGHIEREUS. Heus heus, Polyharpax.
POLYHARPAX.
Quis euocator hic? Here, Tu quid uis?
[p. 21]
ARCHIEREUS.
Saulo huic quamprimum ut concinnentur literae A nobis mandatoriae. Faxis uide.
POLYHARPAX.
Videbitur.
ARCHIEREUS.
Appenso sigillo insuper e plumbo ceraque duplici.
Audin' ? Ad Damascenos.
46. hos] emended, following MSC and Le, from B's nos.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
authorize me with credentials from you to try a little something against them, whatever I wish and whatever I can.
ARCHIEREUS. Pray what will you do?
SAUL. I? What should be done to criminals. And when it's done, you'll all say it was done well.
NoMoLoGus. That's the way to talk.
ARCHIEREUS. Yes, but what if the people, however SAUL. Yes, but you'll know by trying it.
ARCHIEREUs. Well, tell me, where do you ask to be sent first?
SAUL. An uncontrollable desire pulls me to Damascus, where I hear they're especially strong.
ARCHIEREUS. Please tell me why this great zeal has seized you.
SAUL. I don't know, except that for a long time my mind has burned with a desire to do something notable against these people, and I hope it will do some good.
ARCHIEREUs. Nomologus, I wouldn't be surprised if this young fellow were useful to us in some way.
Nomo ocus.
I agree.
ARCHIEREUS. Well, I grant your request.
SauL. But the faster the better. We must strike now, while it's still early, lest later on, when you might wish to do something, it not be possible.
ARCHIEREUS [shouts]. Hey there, Polyharpax.
Enter the scribe Polyharpax.
PorvHARPAXx. Who's calling here? Master, what do you wish?
ARCHIEREUS. Our commission to Saul here must be prepared as quickly as possible. See to it.
PoLyHARPAX. It shall be seen to.
ARCHIEREUS. With a seal of lead and double wax affixed on top, do you hear? To the Damascenes.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 11.3
POLYHARPAX.
Fiet.
ARCHIEREUS.
_ At accurate.
POLYHARPAX.
Fiet.
ARCHIEREUS.
Et Mature.
PoLYHARPAX.
Quin factum puta.
ARCHIEREUS.
Restat nunc Herodes mihi, Ita ut decreui, conueniendus, Petrum, quem in neruo habet, uti
Nobis producat ad necem. Os ita aliis oppilabimus.
Hoc principio nunc exequar. Ades, Nomologe, mecum una.
ACTUS II. SCENA III.
WR A Senarii.
Petrus.
[ PETRUS. |
Ovid hoc rei est? Quae platea est? Aut ubi sum? Vbi Is qui perduxit huc? Aut dormis forsitan,
Petre, aut uigilas. Mortuus an uiuus haec Video? Aut ludit me imago noctis aliqua?
At quantum me sentio, experrectus sum probe.
Collustro ac circumspecto clare singula.
An non ulcus hic est piscinam secus, sacrum Spectans templum uorsus? Ehem, euge manum scilicet
Domini agnosco Iesv, qui me ferreo Herodis emancipauit ab ergastulo [p. 22]
Viaeque ductorem praemisit angelum, Qui, primum disiecta catena duplici Repansisque ultro e ferro foribus, uiam Per medias placide patefecit custodias.
Nuncque a me quo repente euasit nescio
Bonus ille hodoeporus meus, nisi id scio: libere Quo nunc animo libitum est ut ire liceat.
Ac cum ad me nunc redeo magis, est hic meus
[J. T9704
7. piscinam] normally meaning a fish-pond or swimming pool, here probably meaning a fishmarket.
16. hodoeporus| transliterated from the Greek ó8owrópos, used by Homer for a comrade. Jerome used hodoeporicon for an itinerary (L-S). Bienvenu translates
Foxe's word as *sauuegarde."
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PoLyHarRPAX. It will be done.
ARCHIEREUS. But carefully.
PoLyHarPAX. It will be done.
ARCHIEREUS. And quickly.
POLYHARPAX. Consider it done.
[ Exeunt Polyharpax and Saul.
ARCHIEREUs. Now, as I've decided, it remains for me to meet with Herod so he'll turn Peter over to us for execution. He has him in prison now. That way we'll stop up the mouths of the others.
I'll take care of this right now. Nomologus, come with me.!
| Exeunt.
[II.3] Enter Peter.?
PETER. What's happening? What street is this? Where am I?
Where's the person who brought me here? Peter, are you asleep or awake? Am I seeing this dead or alive? Is some apparition of the night playing a trick on me? But as far as I can tell, I'm very much awake. As I look around me, I recognize everything.
Isn't this the street beside the fishmarket, looking toward the holy temple?? Aha, of course! I recognize the hand of the Lord Jesus.
He freed me from Herod's iron prison and sent an angel to lead the way. The angel broke the double chain, then threw open the iron gates, and quietly made a path through the middle of the guards. How my good guide has slipped away from me so suddenly
I don't know, but I do know how much of a pleasure it 1s to my spirit to be able to move freely. And now that I'm regaining
! In the manuscript draft, Thanatus goes to consult with priests, and we see next a short scene in which Sarcobius (= Soma), a leading figure in that version, laments that, because of the madness of the priests, one may not venture safely out of doors; he is then invited by Rhodus (named for Rhoda in Acts 12.13) to come to Mark's house and pray for the imprisoned Peter.
? A note in B cites Acts 5, but the scene is actually based on Acts 12.
? Foxe may have had a particular setting in mind here, as he did later in V.2.
20-31. From the thirteenth century on, Basel had a fish market, along a canal called Der Birsig, near the Rhine. If this was the market which Foxe had in mind, he could have been looking east toward the Münster or west toward
St. Peter's. See a representation of fourteenth-century Basel in the endpapers of Basel in Vierzehnten Jahrhundert (Basel, 1836), in which the fish market is No. 39.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, I1.4-I1.5
Marcus uicinus quidam. Ibi proximum est ubi Memet recipiam, ut hanc illi primulum
Laetitiam obiiciam. Post id, mox ad alios Itemque ad alios me fratres transferam, Vt omnes tam stupenda haec prodigia Dei Spectent illiusque praedicent potentiam.
ACTUS II. SCENA IIII.
Trimetri Iambici.
Anabasius.
[ANABASIUS.]
Adsum, Anabasius e profundis manibus, Ad Pornapolim meretricem illam Babel Cum missititiis a Plutone literis:
Obuinctus ipse cum sit, haec uicem suo Cum Diocte imperii legatam ut obeat
Donec, Tartareo exolutus carcere, Annorum post chiliada emergat denuo; Simul ut renunciem, in Iesum hunc uirus suas
Ac uires omnes euomat, aut, si nihil [p. 23] In hunc modo restat mortalis quod manus
Valeat, in suos saltem conuertat impetum.
In hoc omnem explicet uim neruosque exerat:
Huius amicos nactus quoscunque fuerit, Spoliet, instet, terra marique persequens—
Quo iure, quaque iniuria, refert nihil.
Iniuria parua est hostem qua uindices.
Haec scilicet in mandatis ut dedit herus.
Nunc peragam ordine quo iussit omnia.
ACTUS II. SCENA V.
Tetrametri Acatalectici, cum Catalecticis.
Polyharpax. Saulus. [Populus.]
[ POLYHARPAX. |
Confectae sunt literae herus cui iussit adolescentulo: ubi uolet, 3. missititiis] MSC has the correct form, missitiis; Foxe probably altered the word in revision, coining an intensive form for the sake of the metrics.
4. Obuinctus] vincio is common, but I have not found other uses of obvincio.
II.5.P.H. Populus] omitted in B and MSC.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
my senses, my friend Mark lives somewhere near here. There's his neighborhood. lll go there to give this happy news to him first. After that, Pll go right away, first to some of the brethren and then to others, so that everyone may behold these stupendous miracles of God and celebrate his power.
[11.4] Enter Anabasius.
ANABASIUS.
I am Anabasius from the deepest shades,! come to the famous whore of Babylon, Pornapolis, with letters sent by Pluto.
Since he's enchained, she and her lover Dioctes are to assume his seat of rule in his stead until he is released from his prison in Tartar and emerges again after a thousand years. Also I must direct her to spit out venom and exert all her energies against that fellow Jesus; or, if nothing remains to be done against him because his mortal power 1s so strong,? to turn her attack upon his followers at least. She should unfurl all her power in this task, use all her might. When she lights on any of his friends, she should plunder them and chase after them, pursue them by land and sea, with what justice or injustice 1t matters not: injustice is trivial if you take vengeance on an enemy with it. This, of course, is in the commission which my master has given. Now I must carry out everything in the way he commanded.
| Exit.
[11.5] Enter Polyharpax.?
PoLvnaRPAx. The letter's finished for the young fellow my master ordered it for. It's ready when he wants it. I'm surprised he isn't
1 A note in B cites Acts 13, but this must be an error for Apocalypse 13. In the earliest version, Pluto's letters are to Abadon, who is to be Pluto's (i.e., Satan's) viceroy.
2 Foxe may have meant **... because his human hand waves good-bye," i.e., he has left the earth; cf. Prologue 27.
3 Bienvenu omitted this comic scene from his translation.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 11.5
Praesto sunt. Ac miror non comparere. At in ipsa ellum obuiam Prospicio fabula, oculi nisi prospiciunt parum.
SAULUS.
Ehem, tun' hic, Polyharpax, tam cito?
POLYHARPAX.
Iamdudum aetatem.
SAULUS.
Aduenienti quid obiter Remorae obiectum ni esset, praeuortissem.
PorvHARPAX.
Atque ego non dico nunc,
Domi interim dispendia, mora ex hac, quanta suffero Hic te dum expecto commorans.
[p. 24; f. 136] SAULUS.
Credo. Attamen de schedulis Quid? Transactan' res est?
POLYHARPAX.
Prorsus pol, ac diligenter.
SAULUS.
Amo Te. Cedo Polyharpax ergo ubi sunt, ut dissoluar hinc?
POLYHARPAX.
Non secus hercle pro germano, Saule, ac siagendum esset meo.
SAULUS.
Credo, habeoque gratiam. At ubi interim syngrapha?
POLYHARPAX.
At si scias Quantum in ea re mihi sudatum sit! Praeter id, quod bis eadem Rescribenda fuerant.
SAULUS.
Vsuuenire solet, scio. At pridem Me expectant comites.
POLYHARPAX.
Iam quod aliis saepe accidit, aliis Qui instrumenta conficiunt quemadmodum qui in uestibus, — 15
Causas per se bonas, male tractando, reddunt non bonas:
Alii incuria, quidam studio, multi etiam inscitia, Vel pretereundo quae maxime opus, saepe uel addendo quae
Nihil iuuant. Quorum hic nihil fit, ut hic ne dicam insuper.
SAULUS.
Dico, Polyharpax, iam haud uacat auscultare pluribus. ^ [f. 25] Proin
Ita, herus ut iussit, me absolutum facito.
2. At in] ?read Ac in, as in MSC.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
here. But look, even as I'm talking, I see him coming, unless my eyes are bad.
Enter Saul.
SAUL. Well, are you here so quickly, Polyharpax?
POLYHARPAX. Ages ago.
SAUL. If I hadn't been delayed on the way, I would have been here before you.
PoLyPHARPAX. And I won't go into the great amount of time I'm losing at home because of this delay while I'm standing around waiting for you.
SAUL. I believe it. But what about my commission? Is it finished?
PoLyHARPAX. Completely and carefully.
SAUL. I love you. Pray, then, where is it, Polyharpax, so I can get on my way?
PoLyHARPAX. By Hercules, Saul, just as if I had had to do it for my own brother.
SAUL. I believe it, and I'm grateful. But now where's the document?
PoLyHARPAX. But if you knew how much I've sweated on this thing! Besides, these things had to be written twice.
SauL. That's usually necessary, I know. But my companions have been waiting for me a long time.
PoLyYHARPAX. What often happens when some fellows prepare documents for others is that by handling badly causes which in themselves are good, they render them not so good, after the manner of tailors: some through inattention, some through overeagerness, many even through ignorance, either by skipping what is most important or often by adding what doesn't do any good. To say no more about it, none of these things happened in the present case.
Saur. I tell you, Polyharpax, I don't have time to listen to you any longer, so let me get going, as your master ordered.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 11.5
POLYHARPAX.
Propudium ut nihil Intelligit.
SAuLUs Quidnam?
PorvHARPAX.
Si nescis, dicam. Nummwulis erant Perungendi aliquot lassati articuli.
SAULUS.
Haud recte forsitan, Polyharpax, me tenes. Theologus sum, pigmenta nescio.
PoLvHARPAX.
Age, Satis pernosti quid uelim. Quid opus uerbis?
SAULUS.
Tametsi ea
Ad me res nihil attinet nec quicquam inde prorsus mihi Praeter laborem metitur, tamen ut ne producas longius,
Cape modo.
PorvuHaRPAX.
Quid hoc?
SAULUS.
Drachma.
Satis pro re nostra hocque labore imputo.
POLYHARPAX.
Ha, ha, hae.
SAULUS.
Quid rides?
POLYHARPAX.
Suauem hominem ac scitum.
SAULUS.
Nam quid ita?
POLYHARPAX.
Quasi hactenus in ciuitate haud usquam uixeris, ut uitaquae
Fert hominum nescias.
SAULUS.
Sic uita cuiquam haec est quisque ut uelit Esse homini. Qui recte sciunt uti haud a uita ipsi, at ab his
Vita regitur. Verum ne longum faciam, potius plura quam Secter, hem didrachmum: cedo literas.
[p. 26]
POLYHARPAX.
Imo harum tibi Redemptio quinque solidum est, si emptas uelis.
SAULUS.
Ah iniquus 35 Nimium, Polyharpax, ne sis.
POLYHARPAX.
Nunc pecuniam an scripta potius Penes me utrum horum uelis, id tecum supputa.
SAULUS.
Vah, dic mihi.
POLYHARPAX.
Quid?
SAULUS.
An te nil pudet?
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PoLYHARPAX [to the audience]. It's shameful how little he knows.
SAUL. Why?
PorvuanPax. If you don't know, I'll tell you. My weary fingers should have been greased with a little money.
SAUL. Polyharpax, perhaps you have the wrong idea about me.
I'm a theologian; I know nothing of these material things.
PorvHanPAx. Come, you know well enough what I want. What need is there of words?
SAUL. This sort of thing doesn't concern me, and nothing at all matters to me except my work. But still, so you won't carry this on any longer, just take this. [He gives him money.]
PoLyHARPAX. Whats this?
SAUL. A drachma.! I think it's enough for our deal and for this work.
PoLyHARPAX. Ha, ha, ha.
SAUL. Why are you laughing?
PoLYHARPAX. You're a smooth and clever fellow.
SAUL. Why so?
PorvHaRPAX. As if you'd never lived in any city till now and so didn't know what life requires of men.
SAUL. Life is such as each man wishes it to be. Those who know how to spend it properly are not ruled by life: life 1s ruled by them.
But so I can pursue more important matters rather than continue this, here's a double drachma. Give me the letter, please.
PoLyHARPAX. No, if you want it, the price of this letter is five solidi? to you.
SauL. Oh, Polyharpax, don't be so wicked.
PoLyHARPAX. Decide for yourself now which of these you want to remain with me—either the money or the letter.
SAuL. Oh! Tell me something.
PoLyHARPAX. What?
SAUL. Does nothing shame you?
5 SXS jon CO), Tes e 2 The solidus was a Roman gold coin in the time of the emperors, worth about twenty-five denarii (over $4.00) at first, but later devalued by about half.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 11.5
POLYHARPAX.
Videlicet, turpe facinus, hui, Si quod meum est iustum quodque omnes factitant lexque tribuit,
Abs te id exigam. Papae!
SAULUS.
Crede modo, praeter quos petis
Vix duo supersunt nummuli ad apparatum itinerarium.
Saltem ut miserescat te mei, Harpax.
[f 1362]
POLYHARPAX.
Vt lubet. Pecuniam ut Inuitus insumas num ego insto? Ius meum quod postulo, Id opinor cuique licet. Quod si tibi graue est, recte. Damni adhuc
Nihil est: quod suum est uterque id retineat sibi. Quid tibi
Vis amplius?
SAULUS.
Os durum ac aridum.
POLYHARPAX.
Etiam maledicta congeris ?
Caue sis, quod si iterum faxis, geminabitur, crede, — [f. 27] precium.
SAULUS.
Kakxov otrov óAuat.
POLYHARPAX.
Quid mussitas autem ?
SAULUS.
Hoc dico, mihi Vnum ut respondeas.
POLYHARPAX.
Age.
SAULUS.
Herus an non iussit literas Has te mihi?
POLYHARPAX.
Iussit.
SAULUS.
An non stipem pendit seruitutis
Tibi
POLYHARPAX.
Recte.
SAULUS.
Mihi hinc an ullus ususfruct'st ?
POLYHARPAX.
Nescio.
SAULUS.
Huic nonne obsequium debes uictum unde accipis?
POLYHARPAX.
Pulchre.
SAULUS.
Nihil Proficio. At nimium ego ineptus, perdenda quum pecunia Sit, tempus qui perdo simul tot circumsitus negotiis.
Age, ne parum Polyharpax sis, pecuniam hanc rape. Cedo huc
Diplomata.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PorvnHanPAx. It's easy to see my base wickedness, oh yes, if I demand from you what is mine by right, what all men practise, and what the law allows. Wonderful!
SAUL. Just believe this: besides what you're demanding, I have scarcely two bits! left for provisions for my trip. At least show me mercy, Harpy.
PorvHaRPAX. As you wish. Do I urge you to spend your money when you don't want to? What I demand is mine by rights, and that, I think, is everybody's privilege. But if it's hard for you, so be it. There's still nothing lost: let each of us keep what's his.
What more do you wish for yourself?
SAUL. Hard and miserly words.
PoLyHaRPAX. Do you throw insults too? Take care, because if you do it again, believe me, the price will be doubled.
SAUL [muttering]. May you die an evil death.?
PorvHARPAX. What are you muttering now?
SAUL. I'm saying that I'd like you to answer me one thing.
POLYHARPAX. Go on.
SAUL. Did your master order you to give me this letter or not?
PoLyHARPAX. He did.
SAUL. Doen't he pay you for your service?
PoLYHARPAX. Yes indeed.
SAUL. Then don't I have the right of usufruct?
PorvHaRPAx. I don't know.
Sau. Don't you owe obedience to him from whom you receive your support?
PoLYHARPAX. Bravo!
SAUL. I'm not getting anywhere. But, since the money must be lost, I'm being very stupid to lose time also, tied up in such haggling.
All right, Polyharpax, so you won't be dissatisfied, take this money.
Let's have the documents, please. [Gzving him money.] 1 Literally, two sesterces. A sesterce was worth one-fourth of a denarius, or less than a nickel.
? Saul mutters in Greek, and Polyharpax does not hear or cannot understand.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, I1.1
PorvuHaRPAXx.
Recte conuenit ratio. Cape nunc abique quo Velis.
SauLus.
Et tu quo dignus es, in malam miseram multam crucem.
POLYHARPAX.
Ain', scelus?
SAULUS.
Dignum hercule sordibus tuis.
PoLvHARPAX.
Praestiterat hoc, Si uiuo, non factum conuicium pontificis scribae.
SAULUS.
Imo scrobae Magis.
PorvHaRPAX.
Lacessis, Cerbere!
SAULUS.
Ain', canis?
[p. 26] PorLvHARPAX.
Hem bacchatus si sies
Satis, cape nunc.
SAULUS.
En foeneratum tibi.
POLYHARPAX.
Siccine ?
SAULUS.
Perfortiter.
POLYHARPAX.
Vae carnibus hodie tuis.
PopPuLus.
Adeste, ciues, irruite, Obruite fustibus. Iam si deferbuit satis calor, Abite modo.
PorvHanPAXx. At ego pol si uiuo— PoPurvs.
Abite inquam.
ACTUS III. SCENA I.
[35:39] Iambici Trimetri.
Ecclesia.
[Ecorzsra.] Vterque nunc mater paterque pariter Clausere diem, quod etsi mihi aliquandiu
Magis erat, nunc minus est tamen cruciabile, In uitam quando resurgent postliminio, Christus sicuti ac scripturae mihi praenunciant.
59. scrobae] apparently a coinage intended to echo scribae cacophonously.
It probably plays on scrofa, sow (cf. scrofula), and scrobis, ditch (cf. scroba in DuCange); note also scobis, sawdust.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PorvHanPAX [handing over the commission]. That's good thinking.
Take it now and go where you please.
SAUL. And you go where you deserve, onto a great, terrible, wretched cross.
PorvHaARPAX. What's that, you scoundrel ?
SAUL. That's what your rottenness deserves, by Hercules.
PorvHaRPAX. As I live, you'd have been better off not to abuse the scribe of the chief priest.
SAUL. More scrub than scribe.!
PoLyHARPAX. You provoke me, Cerberus!
SAUL. What's that, dog?
PoLtyHaRPAX. Oh!
If you've ranted enough, take that now.
[ Striking Saul.] SAUL [striking back]. There, you're repaid.
PorvHanPAx. Is this the way things are?
SAUL. Indeed it is.
PorvHARPAX. Woe for your skin today.
Enter citizens.
A CrrIZEN. Come, citizens, rush them.
Beat them with your cudgels.
Now, if you've cooled off enough, get out.
PoLyHARPAX. But by Pollux, as I live Citizens. Get out, I say.
[Exeunt separately.
[111.1] Enter Ecclesia.
Eccuesta. Now both my father and my mother have ended their days. That was quite painful to me for a while, but now it is less so, since they will rise again to life by the right of postliminium,? as Christ and the Scriptures assure me. Then I have another source
1 See the note to the Latin text.
2 Adam and Eve, actually Ecclesia's father-in-law and mother-in-law, as Psyche, below, is her sister-in-law. The speech was originally written, in the manuscript version, for Sarcobius, Eve's son and Psyche's blood brother; his tormentor in the following scene was Dicologus.
3 The "right to return home and resume one's former rank and privileges"
(E-S).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.2
Tum id aliud est mihi quod principium gaudii est:
Psyche quod soror ex Orco iam pace fruitur, Quam Christus coelicolis indigetauit meus.
Nunc sola sum Ecclesia relicta cum tribus Gnatis, Asia, Africo, et Europaeo. Sed et
IO His nunc misera spolior, quos Nomocrates Tyrannus implacabilis in carcerem Abduxit Sciolethron sordidissimum, Serpentibus, anguibus ac foetore obsitum.
Quod ni esset, superesset aliqua spes solatii.
[. 29]
Nunc sine notis amicisque omnibus, inops Ac orba, terraeque peripsema, deseror— Vnicus adhuc, ni quod superest sponsus mihi
Christus, nostrae semper baculus familiae.
Sed quam infoeliciter huc processi hodie! Venit
Nomocrates, meus lictor. Quid agam?
ACTUS III. SCENA II.
Trochaici Nomocrates. Ecclesia. | Desmophylax. Dromo.] [NoMOoCRATESs.] Me nisi argumenta fallunt omnia, foeminam modo
Inuenire quam uolui repperi.
ECCLESIA.
Me certe ipsam petit.
NOMOCRATES.
Edico mulier tibi, tun' Ecclesia es, Adamitica Stirpe sata, ac Euae peccatricis posthuma proles?
ECCLESIA.
Licet Haud me clam est quidnam struunt, tamen culpae quae nullius
Scio me consciam, age, fors quicquid feret, quid metuam Innocens ?
NOMOCRATES.
Quin mihi respondes?
ECCLESIA.
Neque parentum neque me Nominis pudet.
Lf 139v] 13. Sciolethron] I find no precedent for this word. Bienvenu renders it "prison tenebreuse," presumably deriving it from the Greek ox, shadow, and dn, hell (from the name of its river of forgetfulness).
P. H. Desmophylax. Dromo.] omitted in B and MSC.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
of joy: my sister Psyche now enjoys peace outside Orcus, since my dear Christ has proclaimed her to be among the dwellers in heaven. Now I am left, Ecclesia alone, with my three children,
Asia, Africus, and Europus, but unhappily I am deprived even of them now, for Nomocrates, an implacable tyrant, has carried them off into that ghastly prison Sciolethron,! beset with serpents, snakes, and stench. Except for this, there would remain some hope of comfort. Now I am deserted, without all friends and acquaintances, poor and bereft, the scum of the earth, except that the bridegroom still remains for me: Christ, always the support of my family. But how unfortunate that I came here today! Nomocrates, my lictor, is coming. What should I do?
[III.2] —
Enter Nomocrates, attended by Desmophylax and Dromo.
Nomocrates. Unless all signs deceive me, I've found just the woman I wanted to find.
EccvesiA [aside]. Sure enough, he's looking for me.
NOMOCRATES. I say to you, woman, aren't you Ecclesia, sprung from Adam's line and last descendant of the sinner Eve?
EccrzstA [aside]. It's no secret from me what they're scheming. But since I know that I'm not guilty of any fault, why, whatever chance brings, what shall I fear, being innocent?
Nomocrates. Why don't you answer me?
EccrEsrA. I'm not ashamed of either my parents or my name.
! 'The prison is apparently in the shadow (or the shades) of hell; see note to the Latin text. In the early draft, the children were in the prison of desperation, beset with toads, snakes, and stench.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 111.3
NOMOCRATES.
Scin' ergo ius in omnes esse mihi Qui peccant, meam ut in hos potestatem exequar arbi- [f. 30] trariam ?
Quamobrem agedum, Desmophylax, actutum abripite I0 Ac Thanato lictori in seruitutem tradite perpetuam
Ita ut officii nostri ratio postulat.
ECCLESIA.
Itane in Seruitutem uero liberam ?
NOMOCRATES.
Qui peccat seruus est Peccati.
EccLrsiA.
Sit. At ego quid egi innocens?
NOMOCRATES.
Mulier, nihil in Te iniustum a nobis fiet: id primum tibi praedictum ut siet.
ECCLESIA.
Bene. Quid admisi igitur uobis fas explanare arbitror.
NOMOCRATES.
Quasi cum Psyche sorore una pomi haud esses particeps, Cuius tum omnes cogitatus in malum accliues sient.
Denique quid recens patraris Syneidesis ancillula Indicio fecit tua. Sed quid uerbis, mihi uendita
Sub peccato quum sis? Idque si nescis, abi curriculo Dromo ad Psychephonum. Huc chirographum ocyus remittat, huic
Satanaeque quod permiseram. Atque eccum, exire uideo.
ACTUS III. SCENA III.
[p. 31] Iambici Acatalectici.
Psychephonus. Nomocrates. Thanatus Lictor. Adopylus. Ecclesia.
[PsvcugPHOoNUS.] Hac illac circumcurso, nusquam quietum sistendi locum Inuenio, ita metus omnes mihi sensus expectorat, neque
Fugae finem aut consilii principium reperio.
NOMOCRATES.
Quid mali haec Fert turbatio?
PsvcuEPHONUs. Ehem Nomocrates, hei malum!
NOMOCRATES.
Qui dum, Psychephone?
Effare obsecro.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Velimus nolimus, perimus.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
2717.
NoMwocnATEs. Don't you know, then, that I hold authority over all who sin and I can use my discretionary power against them?
Then come, Desmophylax,! arrest her on the spot and deliver her into perpetual slavery to my lictor, Thanatus, just as the duty of my office demands.
EccLEsrA. Do you thus deliver a truly free woman into slavery?
NOMOCRATES. Whoever sins is a slave of sin.?
EccrEsiA. Amen. But what have I done? I'm innocent.
NoMocnATEs. Woman, you will suffer no injustice from us. Understand that from the outset.
EccLEsra. Very well. Then I think it proper for you to explain what wrong I have committed.
NOMOCRATES. As if you didn't share in the apple along with your sister Psyche, with the result that all your thoughts are predisposed to evil? Your handmaid Syneidesis,* moreover, has proved what you've done lately. But why talk about it, since you are sold to me under sin ?? And if you don't know that,
Dromo, run quickly to Psychephonus and have him send me immediately the writ which I entrusted to him and Satan. But look, I see him coming.
[III.3] |
Enter Psychephonus, the lictor I hanatus, and Adopylus.® PsycHEPHONUs. I run hither and yon, and nowhere do I find a quiet place to rest, because fear dispells all my senses and I find no end of flight and no beginning of a plan.
Nomocrates. What sort of trouble does this excitement signal?
PsycHEPHONUS. Oh Nomocrates! Ah, trouble!
Nomocrates. How so, Psychephonus? Out with it, I beseech you.
PsycHepHonus. Like it or lump it, we're licked.
1 See the note to the Dramatis Personae.
2 A note in B cites John 8.[34].
? A note in B cites Genesis 6.[12-13].
^ The name means conscience (oevveiogois).
5 A note in B cites Romans 8.[14]. In that chapter, Paul distinguishes between the law of God and the "'law of sin that is in my members" and that leads to death; this latter is the power of the law of Nomocrates.
§ Adopylus does not appear in this scene in the draft; his speeches are divided between Psychephonus and Thanatus. A mute character, Dromo, is listed in the P.H. in manuscript.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.3
NOMOCRATES.
Nam quid ita?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Acta haec res est.
NOMOCRATES.
Dicturusne es?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Sepulti inquam sumus.
NOMOCRATES.
Rei Quid obtigit?
Tuanatus.
Psychephone, explorata omnia faxis uide. Haud Ausim ingredi.
NOoMOCRATEs.
Miror quid sit.
THANATUS.
Nomocrates, quid 1am fiet?
NOMOCRATES.
Quid ergo?
THANATUS.
Nos omnes pessundedit.
ADOPYLUS.
Occidit.
NOMOCRATES.
Quis?
ADOPYLUS.
Stirpitus.
NOMOCRATES.
Quis istic?
TuHanatus.
Ego quem occideram.
NOMOCRATES.
Qui tandem?
THANATUS.
Christus.
NOMOCRATES.
Xylonicus
Ille? Hem, quem ligno pridem egomet addixeram mortalitus ?
THANATUS.
At Resurrexit.
NoMOCRATES.
Resurrexit ?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Resurrexit.
NOMOCRATES.
Quid audio?
ADOPYLUS.
[p. 32; f. 140] Plutonias porro insuper.
NOMOCRATES.
Hem quid insuper?
7-9. Psychephone .
. .Nos] 1 follow MSC; see Textual Notes.
10.] as in MSC; B prints as two verses, the first ending occideram.
Xpylonicus] see p. 279, n. 1.
11. mortalitus] I have found no other uses of this adverbial form.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
NOMOCRATES. Why so?
PsycHEPHONUsS. Our business is done for.
NOMOCRATES. Aren't you going to tell me?
PsvcuEPHONUs. I tell you, we're buried.
NoMocRATEs. What's happened?
Tuanatus.
Psychephonus, see that you make everything clear.
I wouldn't dare start.
Nomocrates. I wonder what it is.
TuHanatus. Nomocrates, what will happen now?
NomocrateEs. What, then?
THANATUs. He's sunk us all.
ADOPYLUs. He's murdered us.
NoMOocRATEs. Who?
ADOPYLUS. Root and branch.
NOMOCRATES. Who?
Tuanatus. The one I had killed.
Nomocrates. Who, I ask you?
THANATUs. Christ.
NoMocRATES. That fellow on the cross?! What, the man I myself sentenced to die on the cross some time ago?
THANATUs. But he's risen.?
NOMOCRATES. Risen?
PsYCHEPHONUs. Risen.
NomocratTes. What am I hearing?
ADOPYLUS. Yes, and besides that, Pluto's NoMocnATEs. Oh, what more?
! C. H. Herford (p. 139n.) points out that the word xylonicus was probably coined by Nicholas Bartholomaeus for his play Christus Xylonicus. The 1531 edition of that play contains a critique by Emericus Troianus, who explains the title as follows (f. iv'): **Indixit autem operi titulum, Christos Xylonicus, quod is de suis in signo hostibus triumphum egerit, suaque morte, mortem superauerit." In the 1542 anthology of Comoediae ac Tragoediae Aliquot ex Novo et Vetere "Testamento
Desumptae (Basel, 1540), a letter "Ad Pivm Lectorem" explains the term more precisely: "'Ideo uero auctor Xilonico titulum fecit, quod Christus év évAw, id est, in ligno potitus sit vixn, id est, uictoria" (p. 451). Foxe must have used the word ironically, however, for Nomocrates would not have intended the exultant implications which Bartholomaeus had in mind.
? A note in B cites Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, without specific reference.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.g
ADOPYLUS.
Arces opesque omnes populatus.
NOMOCRATES.
Quid narras?
THANATUS.
Plagiarius Psychen I4 Vi abreptam auexit secum.
NOMOCRATES.
Nusquam sum certa haec si nuncias.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Certissima.
Tuanatus.
Diabolum ipsum mulctauit uinculis.
NOMOCRATES.
Quid ais?
THANATUS.
Antigraphen tuam e manibus illi irruens extorsit ilico.
NOMOCRATES.
Chirographum meum, Psychephone?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Sic est.
NOMOCRATES.
Interi miser.
ECCLESIA.
Sancta Salus, quid ego spei hic uideo?
ADOPYLUS.
Nos profligate medio
Nutu hinc mirabih.
NOMOCRATEs.
At de chirographo quid tum? Perge, Thanate.
THANATUS.
Id ubi mox arripit in crucem, ostentat ilico discerptum ac Psychae Traditum.
NoMocRATEs.
Hei occidens occidi, meomet ego gladio.
ECCLESIA.
Quantos hic mihi suo triumphos portat nuncio?
NOMOCRATES.
Quis hic Miror Pancratistes tantus, tantum qui nobis facinus hoc?
THANATUS.
Nescio, nisi quia uestis colluxit scripturarum undique
Corollulis distincta mire.
[p. 33] 13-14. opes-/que omnes] I follow MSC; B reads opesque/Omunes.
17. antigraphen| transliterated from Greek av7vypapy, a defendant's plea or a plaintiff's indictment. TLL cites antigraphus (copy-clerk) and antigraphon (transcript) as late Latin words.
I9. JVos] the MSC reading; B reads Hos.
26. Corollulis} corolla is a Plautine word, but I have found no precedent for the diminutive form.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Avopy us. He's devastated all of Pluto's citadels and power.
NoMocRATEs. What are you telling me?
Tuanatus. The thief snatched Psyche by force and carried her away with him.
Nomocrates. If what you tell me is true, I'm done for.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
It's very true.
TuHanatus. He sentenced the devil himself to chains.
Nomocrates. What!
THANATUs. He set upon him and wrenched your indictment right out of his hands.
NoMOCRATES. My writ, Psychephonus ?
PsvcuEPHONUs. Yes.
NoMocRaATEs. Woe is me, I'm dead.
EccrEstA [aside]. Holy Salus, do I see some hope here?
ApoPvLus. He smashed us, whish, with a miraculous nod.
NoMocRATEs. But about the writ, what then? Go on, Thanatus.
Tuanatus. That he grabbed quickly, tore it up, displayed it on a cross, and gave it to Psyche.
Nomocrates. Oh, I'm dead, killed by my own weapon.
Eccvesia [aside]. How great are the joys he brings me with this message!
Nomocrates. I wonder who this great athlete! is who commits such outrage on us?
Tuanatus. I don't know, except that his clothing shone, marvelously decorated all over with garlands of scriptures.
1 Pancratiastes (the correct form) refers to a combatant in the fancratium, a wrestling and boxing event. Cf. agonista in the "'Panegyricon"' (p. 101).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.3
NOMOCRATES.
Quid aiebant?
THANATUS.
Omnia Haud poteram: unum legi.
NOMOCRATES.
Quid?
THANATUS.
**Mors absorpta est in uictoriam."
NOMOCRATES.
Quid tu, Psychephone?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
"Nos post triduum uiuificabit denuo."
NOMOCRATES.
Certe Messias est. Mirum ni ipse est saluus et ego peream.
ADOPYLUS.
Tum Petro praeterea clauem tradidisse nunc eum
Fama est.
NoMwocRAaTEs.
Clauem, quam?
ADOPYLUS.
Carceris pol maledictionis tuae, Qua Ecclesiae huius liberos manu expediat libera.
NOMOCRATES.
Cadauer sum.
ADOPYLUS.
Illucque abiisse eum ad illos nunc certo suspicor.
NOMOCRATES.
Lf. 140v] Deficio doloribus. Ah tollite amabo me.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
At at, Nepenthes huc Actutum aliquis. Labascit herus in syncopen.
THANATUS.
Nomocrates,
Vah, siccine ut animum despondeas? Redi ad te inquam. Redi, Nomocrates. Hinc auferamus intro: ferte manus, curam ut hanc
Dormiscat paululum.
ECCLESIA.
Quae haec rerum metabole'st ? Luctu ille, ego Gaudio ita pene exanimata sum, ut me uix capiam satis.
[f. 34] Proh summe Iesv, solus qui miseris amicus es. At enim
Qui tragici hi satrapae, tam magnifice qui incedunt obuiam ?
Interim ego nimis cesso haec natis simul impartire gaudia.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Nomocrates. What did they say?
Tuanatus. I couldn't see everything. I read one.
Nomocrates. What did it say?
Tuanatus. "Death is swallowed up in victory."!
Nomocrates. What about you, Psychephonus?
PsvcuEPHONUs. "He will restore us to life after three days.'"
NoMocRArEs. He's the Messiah for sure. No doubt about it, he's saved and I'm lost.
ADOPYLUS. Besides that, there's a rumor that he has now given Peter a key?
NOMOCRATES. A key? What key?
ADOPYLUSs. The key to the prison of your curse, with which he has a free hand to release the children of Ecclesia here.
NomocrateEs. I'm a corpse.
ADOPYLUS. I imagine he's certainly gone there for them by now.
NoMocRATESs [starting to fall]. I'm weak from grief. Ah, please hold me up.
PsyCHEPHONUS [supporting Nomocrates|. Oh! Quickly, nepenthe here, someone. The master is about to faint.
THANATUs. Ah Nomocrates, that you would lose your courage this way! Come to your senses, I say; come, Nomocrates.
[7o Psychephonus.| Let's take him inside. You take his hands. Let him sleep off this trouble for a while.
[ They carry Nomocrates off.
EccrEsiA. What a switch this is! He's overcome with grief, I almost as much with joy. I can scarcely contain myself. Oh great Jesus, you alone are a friend to the wretched. But who are these grand satraps coming this way in such magnificence? Well, I'll go share these joys with my children.
| Exit.
1A note in B cites Osea 13.[?14], but the verse is actually in 1 Corinthians 15.54. Cf. p. 249, n. 2.
? Cf. Mark 9.30.
3 A note in B cites John 19, but the correct reference is probably Matthew 16.19; cf. John 20.23.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.4
ACTUS III. SCENA IIII.
Senarii.
Dioctes. Anabasius. Pornapolis Meretrix.
[ DiocreEs. | Mvndi huius magnipotens dux ac deus Satan, Huc me e uasto pelagi emittens gurgite, Rei herciscundae praefecit principem, Missis huc literis mihi signatoriis Quas Anabasius ex Orco ascendens pertulit,
Cum diademate decuplo ac regni fascibus, Mihi simul ac Pornapoli amasiae meae:
Quo iure quicquid est sub Olympo uspiam Imperii uendico super linguas et tribus.
Regem in terris Deus ut hic ungit suum, IO Itidem Plutonia iam surgant regna uolumus.
ANABASIUS.
Heus, Pornapolis, tuque Dioctes, cui maxime haec Loquor, priusquam inciplas, sic primum putes,
Tu quam capessis haud rem esse leuem. Deo [p35] Durum repugnare est, tibi quin duras dabit.
Quo magis opera opus est praesenti nunc tua.
Quippe hanc ita pugnam tibi paratam censeo, Non nisi permagna quae emenda audacia est.
Fortunam fortitudo facit.
Drocrzs.
Sine modo, Anabasi, inquam. Mundus hic duos simul
Minime soles sustinet uno in Zodiaco.
DUST] Certum est, aut me Christum hunc aut me illum persequi, Vtrique quoniam haud una regnabimus.
Sed quid regem nos illum pertimescimus, Miserum atque reiiculum, pauperemque scilicet,
Qui aliud nihil iniurias quam pati potest ?
ANABASIUS.
At enim pati hoc quo euadet uereor denique.
9. et] B has an ampersand; perhaps we should read ac, following MSC.
15. duras] we might expect the neuter dura, but both B and MSC have the feminine form.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
[111.4] Enter Dioctes, Anabasius, and Pornapolis the whore.
Diocrres. The mighty leader and god of this world, Satan, sent me here out of the vast whirlpool of his sea and, in these letters with seals which Anabasius carried up from Orcus together with a tenfold diadem and the fasces of rule,? has made me his executor in overseeing his affairs—me along with my mistress, Pornapolis.
On this authority I claim all rule under Olympus over all tongues and tribes everywhere. As God anoints his king here on earth, so we wish for the ascendancy of the Plutonian kingdoms now.
ANABASIUS. Listen, Pornapolis, and you too, Dioctes, to whom especially I speak: before you begin, you should consider first that what you are eager to do is by no means easy. It's hard to fight against God; he'll certainly give you hard times. All the more is there a need now of your resolute effort. Indeed I think such a battle is prepared for you that it is not to be won except with very great boldness. Fortitude makes your fortune.?
Driocrzs. Stop that now, Anabasius, I say. This world will scarcely endure two suns together in one zodiac. It's certain that either this Christ will drive me out, or I him, since we won't both reign together. But why do we fear that miserable and worthless king, actually a pauper who can do nothing except endure injuries?
ANABASIUS. But I fear he'll endure that by which in the end he'll escape.
1 In the draft version, only Abadon and Anabasius are present in this scene, and Dioctes does not appear hereafter. See note to Dioctes in the Dramatis Personae.
? A note in B refers to Apocalypse 13.[1]. The fasces were a symbol of power in ancient Rome.
3 Cf. the proverbial "'Fortune favors the bold."
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.4
Dioctes.
Vah, qui me ad audaciam instruis, ipse deficis ?
ANABASIUS.
Fateor.
DiocrEs.
Jam opus mihi est Theseos asciscere huc, Expromptae saeuitiae, gladiatorie Hos qui proterant Christicolas. Prope ac habere me
Spero ad sententiam. Heus Nero, euocetur huc Domitianus, Traianus, Verus, Aurelius; Maximinus, Decius, Valerianus, Diocletianus, Constantius. His ego decem
Decem legabo diademata ducibus, Christum hunc aduersus operam uti nauent fortiter.
PoRNAPOLIS.
[^- 36] Imo intus ut conueniamus satius est Praeceptisque instruemus accuratius.
Anabasi, adsis et ope et consilio simul.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
DiocrEs. Bah, you who urge me to be bold are fainting away yourself.
Anasastius. I admit it.
Diocrrs. Now I need to get some Theseuses here, men of ready fierceness, to crush these Christians with the strength of a gladiator.
I hope I have some near for my purpose.
[Shouts.] Hey, summon Nero here, and Domitian, Trajan, Verus, Aurelius, Maximinus, Decius, Valerianus, Diocletian, and Constantius.1——
For these ten rulers I will commission ten diadems that they may work vigorously against this Christ.
PoRNAPOLIS. But it's better that we meet inside and instruct them quite carefully in our methods.
Anabasius, you come too, with your help and counsel.
[ Exeunt.
! Verus is presumably Septimius Severus, though Septimius! reign was earlier than that of Marcus Aurelius (one of whose names was Verus). The inclusion of Constantine's father, Constantius, is puzzling, for in the Acts and Monuments Foxe called him ''very excellent, civil, meek, gentle, liberal," and ''a maintainer and a supporter of the Christians" (ed. Stephen R. Cattley, I (London, 1841], 237).
Most other historians agree with that judgment. Perhaps Foxe here confused Constantine's father with his son, Constantius II, whom Hilarius attacked as an evil persecutor (Patrologia Latina, X, 574 ff.). More likely, he included Constantius simply to set up the reversal of fortune which Anabasius describes as happening upon Constantine's succession (IV.2). The tradition of delineating ten persecutions by Roman emperors was instigated by a desire to reconcile history with Apocalypse and goes back to the fifth century: to Sulpicius Severus, according to Gibbon (Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, ed. J. B. Bury [New York, 1914],
II, 115); or to Augustine's friend Paulus Orosius, according to F. L. Cross (ed.,
Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church [London, 1958], p. 1047). But the lists often disagree with each other. Orosius (as summarized in Cross) and Sulpicius (Patrologia Latina, XX, 147) both include Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus
Aurelius, Septimius Severus (Sulpicius calls him simply Severus), Decius, Valerianus, Aurelian, and Diocletian. Of these, Foxe omits only Aurelian in the present list, but he includes him in the Acts and Monuments, which presents a list identical to Orosius' except that it attributes the eighth persecution to Aemilian,
Paternus, and Galerius (257-259 A.D.) instead of Valerian (260 A.D.). Orosius includes Maximinus Thrax (probably Foxe's Maximinus, but see IV.1.8 and Pp. 299, n. 2), whereas Sulpicius calls his reign a period of general peace and substitutes Hadrian ; Sulpicius links Maximian with Diocletian for the tenth persecution.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.5
ACTUS III. SCENA V.
Eivsdem rationis.
Ecclesia. Paulus conuersus.
[ EccrEs1A. | Qvid ais, Paule? Petrus liberos meos De carcere inquis eductos abduxit domum?
PAULUS.
Certe inquam, Asiam, Africum, et Europaeum.
ECCLESIA.
Ipseque Ipsa in re adfuisse te refers ?
PAULUs.
Simul Et testis, actor, et nuncius utque redeas
Ad se domum. Tuum misere aduentum expetunt.
ECCLESIA.
Mi Paule, ne frustra nunc me in spem coniicias.
PAULUS.
Vah, duran' adeo te esse fide?
ECCLESIA.
Haud creduas.
Ast chirographum quum habet Dei Nomocrates— PAULUs.
Quid tum?
EccLesiA.
Qui id pote fieri est?
PAULUs.
At ego te metu
Nunc omni eximo. Quem tu tantopere pauitas Tyrannum, iure hunc obligatorio exuit [f. 141v] Christus, Ecclesia, noster.
[p. 37]
ECCLESIA.
Ain' uero?
PAULUs.
Dei In nos inscriptum digitis chirographum Erasit, comminuit, e medio sustulit.
ECCLESIA.
Vnde id, a Deo quod factum est, infectum ut siet?
PAULUS.
Ego dicam tibi. Legem qui sanxerit, Hanc idem rursus ut abrumpat in manu est.
Nec semper eundem esse, si res non sinit, Licet. Olim ut legibus nobiscum ageret Deus,
Iustum tempusque ferebat. Nunc non Deus,
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
[III.5] Enter Ecclesia! and Paul converted.
EccLEsr4. What's that, Paul? You say Peter has freed my children from prison and taken them home?
Paur. That's what I said—Asia, Africus, and Europus.
EccLEsiA. And you say you were there at the same time?
Paur. As a witness and a participant, and also a messenger to you to go to them at home, where they are awaiting your arrival with difficulty.
Ecciesia. My dear Paul, now don't send me into a vain hope.
Pau. Ah, will you be so distrustful ?
Ecciesia. Don't believe that. But since Nomocrates has God's writ PAur. What about it?
EccrEsrA. How is it possible that that could happen?
PaAur. But I'll free you now of all your fear. As for this tyrant whom you fear so much, Ecclesia, our Christ has stripped him of his binding authority.
Ecciesia. What! Really?
Paur. With his own fingers he erased the scripture of God which had been written against us; he tore it up and did away with it.
EccrrEsr4. How is it that what was made by God can be unmade?
PAur. Ill tell you. In his hands who sanctioned the law it rests in turn to destroy it. He need not always be the same if the circumstances don't permit it. Once justice and the times demanded that God deal with us by laws. Now not God, but the times
1 Originally, Sarcobius (with appropriate changes in the text); see Textual Notes.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.5
Ipsa at uero mutantur tempora. Causa dum Manebat apud iudicem integra, uiguit Tantisper iusta in nos uindicta numinis,
Nos quae peccati merito traduxit reos.
Nunc causa longe haec aliter mutata euenit.
ECCLESIA.
Qui cedo?
PAULUs.
Legis quaecunque a Deo poena haec erat Nostris statuta erratibus, per iustitiam Remitti haud potuit. Transferri potuit. Vbi
Satis iuri datum est, ius quid agat amplius?
Nostra agebatur causa: hanc totam in se transtulit
Christus, qui mortuus unus est pro omnibus, Mors unde occisa his est qui Christo uiuimus.
ECCLESIA.
Quo pacto, Paule, uice omnium unus mortuus?
PauLus.
Qui minus unus quam olim peccauit pro omnibus [f. 36] Tuus, Ecclesia, pater?
ECCLESIA.
Audio. Sed unus hic Restat scrupus.
PAULUS.
Aquilam in filice metuis.
ECCLESIAM.
Mors quia perinde manet, idem omnium exitus.
PAULUs.
Res parua mors est, uis at mortis maxuma Animam quae pessundat. Ea ubi adempta sit,
Illa facile contemnitur. Quae aeterna non Est non mors dicenda est, sopor at temporarius,
Post quem lux excipit certissima. Iacet Corpus, at id noctium paucarum est, laetior
Nos dum euocat dies. Interea luce iam Hau] Psyche fruitur aeterna, nostri pars.
ECCLESIA.
Scio.
PAuLus.
Iam qui Psychen e barathro, idem et Soma tuum Restituet ipsum, ut ne quid dubites.
ECCLESIA.
Scilicet.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
themselves are truly changed. So long as our case remained before a judge, undecided, just so long did God's just punishment remain in effect against us, deservedly proving us guilty of sin.
Now the situation has turned out to be drastically altered.
Ecciesta. How, pray tell?
PauL. Whatever penalty of the law had been decreed by God for our transgressions could not in justice be remitted, but it could be transferred.! When the law has been satisfied, what more should the law do? Our case was disposed of: Christ transferred the whole case onto himself; he is one dead man in exchange for us all.
Hence it is that death has been killed for those of us who live in Christ.
EccrEsrA. How is it, Paul, that one may be dead in place of all?
Pau. How is it less than that, once, one man—your father, Ecclesia —sinned for all?
EccrEsiA. I understand, but this one doubt remains.
PAur. You're afraid of an eagle on a fern.?
EccrEsia. Because death remains as before, still the end of everybody.
PaAur. Death is a small thing, but the strength of the death which destroys the soul is very great. When that has been removed, death is easily scorned. What is not eternal should be called not death, but a temporary sleep, after which a most sure daylight ensues. The body lies in disuse, but that is a matter of a few nights until a happier day calls us forth. Meantime Psyche, a part of us, already enjoys eternal daylight.
EccrEsiA. I know.
PaAurL. He who has already released Psyche from the abyss will likewise restore your Soma himself, have no doubt.?
EccrEsrA. Of course.
1 A note in B cites 2 Corinthians 5.[?14, 21]. Cf. 1 Corinthians 15.21-22.
? A nonexistent danger, since a fern would not support an eagle; cf. IV.8.32.
I find no precedent for the proverb. There may be a play on silice (crag).
3 A note in B refers to 1 Corinthians 15.[35-55]. In the draft, Paul uses the common nouns soul and bodies instead of Psyche and Soma.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.6
PAULUs.
Non quae modo sunt, rerum est spectandus exitus:
Futura sunt, uerba fere quae spondent Dei.
Christo ut post mortem euenit resurrectio, Cum illo et nobis hoc ponendum domicilium est.
Nitidius quo redintegretur denuo, Sementis e terra ut nitidior pullulat.
ECCLESIA.
Equidem plus uideo spei, animo quam queam Concipere. Ibo ac scripturis cum animum conferam.
PAULUS.
OD) Sapis.
EccrEsiA.
Adsis quaeso nunc, Paule, intro ut eadem haec, Mihi quae dixti, dicas itidem liberis.
PAULUS.
[p39] Paratus sum, omnibus ut prosim, debitor.
ACTUS III. SCENA VI.
Eadem cum Superioribus.
Psychephonus.
[PsvcuEPHONUS.] Enimuero quae conueniunt quaeque adsolent Signa esse ad mortem huic esse omnia uideo
Hero meo Nomocrati, postquam iam neque Medicinae, somni, neque cibi retentio est.
Nec panacea ulla, nec scammonium, Jedv Neque xeip, omnes porro neque therapeutici
Nec empiritici pilum medelae conferunt.
Certe et quod dicendum hic siet mihi non placet.
Atqui illud miror interim, ex his neminem Satis hoc morbi cognoscere genus quod siet.
At eo omnes congruunt commutandum sibi Coelum esse, hinc in Babyloniam maxime ut migret,
Quod eum sibi aerem esse autumant aptissimum IO 6. therapeutici] transliterated from the Greek 6epamevrucj, the title of a work by Galen.
7. empiritici] the substantive empiri occurs, but I have found no other instance of an adjectival form.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PauL. We must consider not only those things which are, but the end of things, those things yet to come which the words of God promise soon. As the resurrection came to Christ after his death, so with him we must put aside this dwelling that it may be restored in greater splendor, just as seeds sprout from the earth in greater splendor.
Ecciesta. Truly I see more to hope for than I can grasp with my mind. I'll go and reconcile my thoughts with the scriptures.
Pau. You are wise.
EccrEsiA. Please come inside with me now, Paul, to tell my children these same things which you've told me.
Paur. I'm prepared, as a debtor, to be of service to everybody.!
[ Exeunt.
[I1I.6] Enter Psychephonus.
PsycHEPHONUS. Truly I see in my master Nomocrates all the things which are associated with death and which usually are signs of death.? For he doesn't hold down medicine or food now and he doesn't sleep. No panacea or scammony, no skill of the gods, not even all the therapeutic or empiric practitioners bring the slightest remedy.' I'm certainly not pleased that this must be said.
But I'm amazed that out of all these no one recognizes what sort of disease it is. Yet all agree that he should have a change of climate
—that he should move away from here, especially to Babylonia, because they say that air is best for him which is impure and which 1 A note in B cites Romans 1.[14].
2 The description of Nomocrates' illness perhaps owes something to Lactantius' account of Galerius' fatal disease (Patrologia Latina VII, 246) or to some similar account. Foxe himself describes Galerius! disease in Acts and Monuments
(ed.
Cattley), I, 239.
3 The empirics were an important Alexandrian school of physicians, dating from the third century B.C., who rejected the study of anatomy and based their practice of medicine entirely on experience (observation, history, and judgment by analogy), on the actual phenomena of disease rather than its causes. The term therapeutic presumably refers to Galen's treatise, which concentrates on causes by its emphasis on the humors and the pneumata.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.7
Feculentus qui sit, turbidum ac quiddam magis Spirans. Quod equidem neque consilium improbo,
Nam qui hic ius omne amisit, clauibus ac bonis Cunctis exutus, quid quaeso hic agat amplius?
Sed quis homo hic circunspectans uenit? Atque ut modo [ f. 1427] Contemplatus sum, nuncius Ditis est, simul
Antiquae et notitiae et militiae a puero particeps.
ACTUS III. SCENA VII.
[p. 40] Quadrata Anapaestica Catalectica.
Anabasius. Psychephonus.
[ANABASIUS. |
Etsi ad languorem cursando fatisco miser, mihi tamen esse Deputo in hac re quoscunque jones capio leues, sacrilegis
Dum malefaciam modo.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quae hic malefacta fabricat ?
Heus Anabasi.
ANABASIUS.
Quis Anabasium hic?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Veteres non respicis amicitias ?
ANABASIUS.
Ohe mi Psychephone.
PsvcugPHONUs. Quid hic, aut quem circunspicis ?
ANABASIUS.
Hic Christicolae, si 5 Qui sint, cornicibus ut sacrificem.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quamobrem istos ?
ANABASIUS.
Tun' adhuc Christum illum nescis, Psychephone, perrupit qui Acheronta, tuamque Secum traduxit Psychen?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quid ni?
ANABASIUS.
Cosmetora ipsum Satanam Gordiis uti strinxit nodis?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Scio.
ANABASIUS.
Gentem esse porro relictam Hinc nobis infestam omnibus ?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Oppido gens procax nimium. Atque 10 Si quid modo apud nos edidere scias.
8. Cosmetora] transliterated from the Greek xoopijrwp, the commander of an army; Foxe uses the word again at IV.4.96.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
blows somewhat more turbidly. I don't think that's a bad idea at all, for, since he's lost all his authority here and is stripped of all his keys and his goods, what more could he do here? But who's this fellow coming along and looking all around? Just as I thought, he's Pluto's messenger, from his youth an adherent of both our old cause and our ancient campaign.
[III.7] Enter Anabasius.
ANABASIUS [aside]. Although I'm growing so terribly tired I could faint from this running around, yet I consider insignificant any hardships which I undergo in this effort if only I can work some mischief on the impious.
PsyCHEPHONUS [aside]. What mischief is he up to?
Hey, Anabasius.
ANABASIUS. Who said *Anabasius" here?
PsycHEPHONUS. Don't you care about old friendships?
ANABASIUS. Hey there, my friend Psychephonus.
PsvcugPHONUs. What are you doing here? Whom are you looking for?
ANABASIUS. Christians, if there are any here, so I can sacrifice them to the crows.
PsycHEPHONUS. Why them?
ANABaAsIUs. Don't you know yet about that fellow Christ, Psychephonus, who ripped up hell and carried your Psyche away with him?
PsvcHEPHONUs. Why wouldn't I?
ANABASIUSs. And how he tied up our leader, Satan himself, in Gordian knots?
PsycHEPHONUs. I know.
Anasasius. And that the people who are left are very hostile to us all since then?
PsvcHEPHONUs. The people are very insolent indeed. And if you only knew what they've done among us!
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, III.7
ANABASIUS.
Quid?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Herus Nomocrates.
ANABASIUS.
Quid is?
PsvcuEgPHONUs.
Ecclesiae tres liberos noxae modo reos in [f. 41] Custodiam subigit maledictionis.
ANABASIUS.
Eho purulento hoc In carcere?
PsycHEPHONUs.
Videlicet Africum, Europaeum, et tertiam opinor Asiam.
ANABASIUS.
Perge.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Hos Petrus, cum Paulo nescio quo aliisque, — 15 Effractis compedibus iniussu heri emisit manu.
ANABASIUS.
Amabo Qua sutela illud?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Clauis cuiusdam machina.
ANABASIUS.
Quid herus? Nonne repetundarum cum illis postulans, hos eripuit?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
| Quid Faceret? Non una illa clauis est: ubique clauigeri sunt, Christiani quot sunt. Quin nec Tartara iam tuta audio. Sed uos 20
Qua in re molestant iam? Cedo.
ANABASIUS.
Minis ac terroribus ubique Obturbant omnia: Christum rediturum ac regnum praedicant quod
Regna minuat haec omnemque potentiam auferat. Satanae ipsi Interitum ominantur ac aeterna uincula.
PsYCHEPHONUS.
Praeter etiamnum Nunc quae patitur?
ANABASIUS.
Tricae sunt, praeut quae porten- [f. 42] dunt alia.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quaenam?
ANABASIUS.
[f. 143] Stagnum ignis sulphureum.
PsYCHEPHONUS.
Papae!
ANABASIUS.
Vtcunque modo uincimus ipsi, Victoriam post promittunt sibi. Quodque magis miror apud me,
Nusquam ille Furias mandat suas Satan, ubi, siquando Volet potentiam ostendere, ubique quin obstant diruuntque
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
ANABASIUs. What?
PsycHEPHONUS. My master Nomocrates ANABASIUS. What did he do?
PsycHEPHONUS. He threw the three children of that dreadful Ecclesia—common criminals—into prison under his curse.!
ANABASIUS. Whew, in this festering prison?
PsycHEPHONUs. Yes. Africus, Europus, and a third one—Asia, I think.
ANABASIUS. Go on.
PsvcHEPHONUs. Peter, with somebody named Paul and others, broke their chains and set them free without the authorization of the master.
ANABASIUS. What device did they do that with, will you tell me?
PsycHEPHONUS. The device of a certain key.
ANABASIUS. What about the master? Didn't he seize them and demand restitution of those with them?
PsycHEPHONUS. What could he do? That key isn't the only one: there are key carriers everywhere, as many as there are Christians.
Why, I hear that even Tartarus isn't safe now. But tell me now, how are they annoying you?
ANABASIUS. They're upsetting everything everywhere with threats and terrors. They predict that Christ and his kingdom will return to threaten these kingdoms and sweep away all their power.'
For Satan himself they prophesy death and eternal chains.
PsycHEPHONUs. Even beyond what he's suffering now?
ANABASIUS. These are trivial compared with the other things they predict.
PsvcugPHONUs. What?
ANABASIUS. A sulphurous pool of fire.
PsvcHEPHONUS. Wow!
ANABASIUS. However much we suppress them, they promise victory for themselves in the end. And what's more amazing to me is that Satan doesn't order his furies into action. Now, if ever, he'll wish to show his power, since these people are standing up against him
!1In a draft version, Dicologus (= Nomocrates) is said to have imprisoned Ecclesia and her three children "'not in the cave of Trophonius but in the Labyrinth of desperation." (The oracle of Trophonius in Lebadea inspired gloom in its clients.) ? A note in B refers to Daniel 2.[44].
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.1
Quod struimus, inuito etiam Adopylo ipso, quem iam nihil timent.
Quo obnixius hos nunc sudores suffero nostro Pro Diocte, hos ut obtorto collo ad cruces rapiam. Atque
Vide pene quod exierat.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quid?
ANABASIUS.
Psychephone, uti sies Praesto. Solutus dum aduenit, iubet Satan sibi tua Opera opus ad quaedam magnopere fore ut moneam, uenienti
Ne quid sis in mora. Manubias sperat recuperare se.
Sed cesso iter coeptum pertendere?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quonam?
ANABASIUS.
Mecum igitur si Venias, in ula dixero.
ACTUS JIL SCENA T.
[p. 43; f143v] Trimetri.
Dioctes.
[Drocrzs.] Trecentos plus minus annos iam supputo Inde adeo quod cum Christianis hostibus Confligimus. Quos si non omnes, maximam Opinor partem fregimus. Protriuimus Virtute rara ac ul meorum Caesarum
Decem, quos ut par est effere nequeo, Sua sunt sic functi Sparta. Ast unus tamen
Impense Maximinus, qui aere legibus Insculptis etiam— nulla ne aboleat dies— Perquam pol scitum hoc commentum addidit: omnia
Vberius prouenire, quin et gratius Ire dies, Christiano effuso sanguine.
Etsi uersa coeli repente temperie Eam facile uanitatem coarguit Deus, Verum utcunque haec sunt, factum tamen ab eo est
Sedulo. Sed ut horum ferme iam expletae uices 8. Maximinus] emended, following MSC, from B's maximus.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
and destroying what we build even in spite of Adopylus himself, whom they fear not at all. That's why I'm keeping up my efforts on behalf of our Dioctes! all the more vigorously, so I can wring their necks and nail them to crosses. But look what almost slipped my mind.
PsvcuEPHONUs. What?
ANABASIUS. Be ready, Psychephonus.
By Satan's order I must advise you that, when he 1s freed and returns, he'll have great need of your services for certain matters; when he comes, you must not be delayed, for he hopes to recover his booty. But I must continue the trip I've undertaken.
PsvcugPHONUs. Where?
ANABASIUS. If you come with me, I'll tell you on the way. | | Exeunt.
[IV.1] Enter Dioctes.
Dioctrs. By my reckoning, it's been three hundred years now, more or less, that we've been fighting against our Christian enemies.
I think we've shattered most if not all of them. We've worn them down with the rare vigor and power of my ten Caesars. They've administered their Sparta? so well that I can't celebrate them as they deserve. But one especially, Maximinus,? who even added to the laws engraved in bronze this very clever decree—let no day wipe it out—that everything would prosper more abundantly and even the day would pass more pleasantly if the blood of Christians were poured out. Though God easily disproved that deception by this sudden change from temperate weather, yet, be that as it may, he carried out his plan vigorously.* But as the terms of these Caesars are now almost up, it rests with me to set
1 In the earliest draft, his efforts are on behalf of Nero, Trajan, and Decius; in subsequent scenes, Abadon has all of Dioctes' speeches.
2 Named, no doubt, for its rigorous administration.
3 From the account which follows, this is clearly not Maximinus Thrax (235238 A.D.), usually included in lists of the ten persecuting emperors (see p. 287, n. 1), but Maximin Daia, a Caesar in the Eastern Empire in the time of Constantine (305-313 A.D.).
4 Foxe probably read of this incident in Eusebius' Ecclesiastical. History, YX.7
(Patrologia Graeca, XX, 810-815; see the translation by R. J. Deferrari, The Fathers of the Church, XXXIX [New York, 1955], 217-218). The decree (a
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.2
Sunt, alios restat nunc monarchas sufficiam, Etsi mihi in hac re tamen Anabasi opus Consilio est communicato prius. Adeoque O fors, eccum ipsum de quo agebam uideo.
ACTUS IIII. SCENA II.
Octonarii, unus Senarius.
Anabasius. Dioctes.
[ ANABASIUS.]
Nae ego nunc nimis uideo, contra stimulum ut calces [p. 44] quam nihil iuuat.
Drocrzs.
Quae haec oratio est?
ANABASIUS.
Quis hic loquitur? Hem.
Drocrzs.
Nunquid fers, Anabasi?
ANABASIUS.
Quin tu hinc fugis, here, quoquo ac quantum queas?
DiocTEs.
Egone?
ANABASIUS.
Fuge, Inquam.
DriocrEs.
Quid ergo est?
ANABASIUS.
Percontari mitte, quodque res monet Agas magis. Rerum mundum omnium, quantum ad fugam est opus,
Para.
DiocrEs.
Ad fugam? Quamobrem?
ANABASIUS.
Etiam pergis? Nempe huc rediit res: pedum
Opus officio est.
Diocres.
Qui cedo?
ANABASIUS.
Constantium Noras illum?
Driocrzs.
Rem modo qui publicam gerit scilicet.
ANABASIUS.
Imo Qui gessit potius.
DiocreEs.
Quid eo autem?
ANABASIUS.
Is mortem obnt.
Diocres.
Obiit ?
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
up other monarchs, though in this I need to consult the counsel of Anabasius before I proceed. And lo and behold, as it happens, the very person I was talking about.
[IV.2] Enter Anabasius.
ANABASIUS [aside]. Well, I now see too well how little it avails to kick against the spur.
DriocrEs. What sort of talk is this?
ANABASIUS. Who's speaking here? Well.
DiocrEs. What do you say, Anabasius?
ANABASIUS. You'd better fly from here, master, anywhere at all and as fast as you can.
Diocrzes. I?
ANABASIUS. Fly, I say.
DiocrEes. Why?
ANABASIUS. Stop asking questions. Instead, do what the situation demands. Prepare to dispose of everything, so great is the need for flight.
DriocrEs. For flight? Why?
ANABASIUS. Do you still persist? I tell you, the matter has come to this: you have to use your feet.
Dioctes. Tell me why.
ANABASIUS. Do you know that Constantius ?
DiocrEs. Certainly, he rules the country now.
ANABASIUS. No, rather he did rule it.
DrocrEs. What do you mean?
ANABASIUS. He died.
Diocrzs. Died? rescript, or answer to an appeal from Maximin's subjects), which was indeed cut into bronze tablets and publicly exposed about the Eastern Empire in 312 A.D., is quoted in full by Eusebius. Foxe has distorted its substance somewhat. The rescript blames "those who belonged to the accursed folly" of Christianity for former unpleasantness, but boasts that now the weather is temperate and the crops flourishing because the Roman gods are being venerated.
It does not actually advocate killing Christians, however; it urges the subjects to drive them out of their cities. In IX.8, Eusebius describes the wars and famine which then hit the Empire and which he interprets as God's disproof of the rescript.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.2
ANABASIUS.
Eius in Munus Constantino suffecto filio.
Lf 144] Diocrzs.
Quid tum?
ANABASIUS.
Quid tum?
Is Christo nunc amicus, nobis inimicus'st acerrimus Factus.
DiocrEs.
Factum auertat Satan.
ANABASIUS.
Porro bellum in nos nunc struit Quam mox, ni cedimus, Dioctes.
Drocrzs.
Quid illunc illuc abstulit A nobis tam cito?
[p. 45]
ANABASIUS.
Enimuero incommode sane in arma dum Proficiscens indormit, e coelo crux in oculis fulgurat
In hostes praeferens uictoriam. Omen arripit ilico ac Pugnam occipit. Denique eo res rediit: rediit uictor is
Christi auspiciis et opera. Hactenus habent principia. Nunc Quid reliquum sit tu supputa.
Diocrzs.
Tun' haec pro certo?
ANABASIUS.
Certisima.
Drocrzs.
Quo nunc abis?
ANABASIUS.
Ad Plutoniam basilicam, hero haec quae gesta sunt Vt retegam.
Drocrzs.
At me quid fiet?
ANABASIUS.
Eho conclamata in re, consilium Ne captes.
DiocrEs. — Siccine ergo a uobis me frustrarier?
ANABASIUS.
Age Modo, futurorum spe praesentia sustine, Dioctes, ipse dum Solutus emergat Satan—haud diu erit—qui Theseam hic manum
Apporrigat. Interim, ut scena est, ita personam geras. Vt in
Comoediis haud eadem omnino drammata exeunt si haud sinit Fabula, ita mundum hunc tecum choragium esse [p. 46] quoddam cogita, Vbi non quid uelis, at quod imponitur, induendum est.
17. occipit] I follow MSC; B reads accipit.
25. apporriget] porrigo, but not apporrigo, is a standard word. But Ovid uses apporrectus, as if from apporrigo (LTL).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
ANABASIUS. His son Constantine has been placed into his office.!
Diocrzs. So what?
ANABASIUS. So what! He's become a friend to Christ now and our harshest enemy.
DiocrEs. Satan forbid!
ANABASIUS. Indeed, Dioctes, unless we surrender, he's now planning war on us as soon as possible.
Droctres. What pulled him away from us so quickly to this?
ANABASIUS. Well, as he was marching to battle under very unfavorable circumstances, he went to sleep and before his eyes a cross shone from heaven predicting victory over his enemies. He took it as his sign then and there and went into battle. The affair turned out like this: he returned a victor under the standards of Christ and with his assistance.? There you have the start of it; now you guess the rest.
DiocteEs. Do you know this for a fact?
ANABASIUS. Absolutely.
Dioctrs. Where are you going now?
ANABASIUS. To the cathedral of hell to report to my master what's happened here.
Driocres. But what about me?
ANABASIUS. Listen, when the battle cry sounds, don't stop for counsel.
DriocrEs. Oh, that I could be so disappointed in you!
ANABASIUS. Come now, Dioctes, in hope of the future endure the present, until Satan himself emerges free. It won't be long before he offers his Thesean hand here. Meantime, play your part after the manner of the stage. As in comedies, plays don't end altogether the same if the story doesn't permit it,? so think of this world as a sort of drama school, where you must play the role not as you wish but as it's assigned to you.
1 See p. 287, n.
1. Constantius died in 306 A.D., but Constantine did not succeed immediately.
2 This account is derived, ultimately, from Eusebius' life of Constantine, I.28-31 (Patrologia Graeca, X, 943-947). The sign was the chi-rho symbol of Christ; the battle was presumably against Constantine's Eastern rival Maxentius.
3 'T. W. Baldwin translates "characters never go out completely till the play is finished" and interprets as a reflection of the principle of the empty stage (FiveAct Structure, p. 356); but I take drammata to mean plays, not characters.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.3
DIocTEs.
Ita mones?
ANABASIUS.
Nam quid uis aliud? Quem non ducunt fata, trahunt denique.
Diocrzs.
Fateor.
ANABASIUS.
Si sapis. Ecquid uis?
Drocrzs.
Nunc quod restat, Latium aliquod 30 Vbi lateam quaerendum est. En autem, quem hinc parturiunt fores ?
Spectatores, si quis quaerat, ego non adfui.
ACTUS IIII. SGENA III.
[Lf 144v] Trimetri.
Ecclesia.
[EccLeEsiA. | Ovanquam mihi tot undique circumstrepunt cruces, Cui praeter uitam nihil superest, haec si tamen
Dicenda est uita, inuita quam circumfero.
Vnum hoc animo penitus persuasi mihi:
Vita haec nihil unquam feret tam felleum
Quod non ferendo patiar Christi uel mei Causa: in nostram tam amicus est familiam.
Viro qui Somati primum ac parentibus Spem resurrectionis spondet mortuis.
Tum qui me praeterea miserosque liberos
Gehennali hoc exoluerit ergastulo.
Quo magis haec leuia, corpus quae feriunt, fero, Quae etsi pungunt, punctus tamen id tempor?' est,
[p. 47] Illa aeternum durant. Caeterum ut ut haec sient, Nae illud mihi magni instar solatii est. Dies
Quos coelestis pater dedit Alcedonios, 19. tempori? est] I follow MSC; B reads tempori,est (in all copies which I have seen).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Diocres. Is that your advice?
ANABASIUS. Well, what else would you want? Those whom the fates don't lead, they finally drag.
Drocrzs. I admit that.
ANABASIUS. You will if you're wise. Do you want anything else?
DriocrEs. Now it remains for me to seek some Latium to hide in.!
But look, whom are these gates bringing forth ?—— Audience, if anyone asks, I haven't been here.
[ Exeunt.
[IV.3] Enter Ecclesia.
EccLEsrA. So many tormentors clamor all around me, and I have nothing left except life, if indeed this is to be called life which I bear so unwillingly.? Yet I am utterly persuaded of one thing: this life could never bring anything so full of gall that I could not endure it by suffering for the sake of my Christ. He's such a friend to our family. In the first place, he promises a hope of resurrection for my dead, my husband Soma and my parents; besides that, he freed me and my wretched children from this hellish prison. The more trifling, then, do I hold these things which beset my body: though they sting, yet their sting is only of a moment, while those gifts last forever. Besides, however these things may be, these halcyon days which the heavenly father has granted are a source
! Latium, the district containing Rome and hence the center of the popes; cf. above, Humphrey's *De Christo Triumphante", 1. 40. My translation misses a pun in the Latin (Latium—lateam).
2 The draft manuscript also assigns this scene to Ecclesia and refers to her husband as Soma, not Sarcobius; see Textual Notes. The first eleven lines in the manuscript version read as follows: ""My husband Soma now is dead, and I,
Ecclesia, am left alone, a woman with three children. Besides, I hear Asia is in danger from the Turks. What woman's spirit would these things not drive out whose spirit is not a stock? That one woman should be battered by so many blows of fortune! First in the death of a husband whom persecution took from me. Next there's this other matter of the calamities of my daughter: it's not clear whether she's still alive. Meantime—but let me not rehearse the great poverty that now besets me. On account of Christ my goods are so ravaged and I am so thoroughly weakened, I am between the Symplegades, a widow, deprived, barren, ejected from home and country, beset by cares and the hatred of men.
Nothing remains to me but life—if this is to be called life which I bear so unwillingly. Though so many crosses din about me on all sides, I am completely persuaded of this one thing: this life will never bring anything so full of gall that I will not bear by tolerating it, since my dear Christ has freed me from this hellish prison."
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.4
Vbi pulso tandem Diocte, mihi liceat A persecutionibus feriarier:
Ex quo primum Constantinus Britannicus Republica potitus est, pace iam diu
Fruimur, nisi quod omnia foedat rabies Turcica. Tum nescio quid nobis scripturae adhuc
[f 145] Praesagiunt post annos mille grauius, Solutus cum e capistro redierit Satan.
Atque hem, quid ego hinc audire procul uideor apud
Antipodas, strepitus quos subterraneos ?
Hei mihi, uereor quid monstri abitur. Nam non leue Id esse, tellus quod tremiscens subsilit,
Nimis dubito. Ac ni me annus fallit et animus, Adest iam tempus, bellua cum promittitur
Apocalyptica: nec longe abesse potest, ubi Vbi sit. Tum quas hic turbas adueniens dabit
Haud obscurum est. Nec an is iam siet satis Scio. Nisi id quicquid fuerit, haud est animus hic
Haerere diutius, ne quod nolim uideam.
ACTUS IIII. SCENA IIII.
[p. 48] Trimetri.
Satan Solutus. Anabasius. Dioctes. Psychephonus. Pseudamnus.
[SATAN. ]
Salutem atque benedictionem Acheronticam, Quotquot sitis. At quid hoc? Proh portas inferi.
Itan' nemo gratatum huc prouolat? Semel Nec ex uinclis salutat reducem? Populus hic
Friget. Vide absentia quid facit! At ubinam
Dioctes saltem ac Psychephonus?
ANABASIUS.
Iam aderunt, scio.
SATAN.
Profecto quantum uideo, multo haec res secus Atque ego augurabar euenit. Proin ut tempora,
Ita mutanda consilia sunt. Atque eia Quam dextro Mercurio succedunt omnia IO Ad unguem ilico. Vah, quanti est sapere miseris.
27. leue] I follow MSC; B reads bene.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
of great comfort to me, for Dioctes has finally been banished and I'm granted a respite from persecutions. Since Constantine the Briton first ruled the country, we've enjoyed peace for a long time.
Only the Turkish madness mars everything.! Besides that, the scriptures still portend some heavier burden for us after a thousand years, when Satan comes back freed from his bonds. And listen, don't I hear something far off near the Antipodes, some subterranean noises? Woe is me, I fear something ominous is afoot.
I suspect only too strongly it's nothing trivial, because the earth is trembling and leaping up, and unless the year and my feelings deceive me, the time is now at hand when the Apocalyptic beast is prophesied. Wherever he is, he can't be far off. What troubles he'll cause when he comes is not at all difficult to imagine. I don't know whether this is he now, but if not, whatever it is, I don't intend to stay here any longer, lest I see what I don't want to see.
[ Exit.
[IV.4] Enter Satan, freed, and Anabasius.?
SATAN. Greetings, and blessings from hell, all of you. But what's this? Look, I've come through the gates. Does no one rush forth to wish me joy ? Or greet me just once as I return from my chains?
The people here are cold-hearted. See what absence does. But where, at least, are Dioctes and Psychephonus?
ANABASIUS. I'm sure they're already on their way.
SATAN. Really, as far as I can see, this has turned out quite differently from what I predicted. Well, my plans must be changed to suit the times, and ah, how all things work out for a clever
Mercury,? right down to the fingernail. Yes, it's worth a great deal to be wise during misfortunes.
1 The Turks at this time controlled all of southeastern Europe and were much feared through the remainder of the continent.
2 Satan is thus freed after the end of the ten persecutions; in the Acts and Monuments, Foxe said that Satan was tied up at that time (ed. Cattley, I, 304). A note in B cites Apocalypse 19 (? = 20.7-8, in which Satan returns to raise Gog and Magog).
3 Among other things, Mercury was god of dexterity, because he was so clever.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, 1V.4
ANABASIUS.
Quid incoepturus cedo?
SATAN.
Quod ubi rescieris, Daedalias dixeris superare machinas.
Scilicet equo hoc nostra facile fient Pergama, Ne dubita.
ANABASIUs.
Resipisco.
Drocrzs.
Audire modo uocem
Visus sum Zebub.
SATAN.
Diocten ac Psychephenum Video.
DriocrEs.
Equidem te, here, restitutum gratulor.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
[p. 49; f145v] Nos quibus hic labyrinthis tenemur nescis.
SATAN.
At Theseo uos filo expediam commodum.
Id qua efficiam probe prouisa est methodus.
Drocrzs.
Audistin' ergo?
SATAN.
A principio omnia. Sed mane Huc dum euoco quem uolo. Heus, Pseudamne, Pseudamne Inquam. Men' nemo hic audit? Heus, ex tertio
Inferno Pseudamnum exire impero.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Quis malum Nobis exorcista hic? At princeps ipsus est.
SATAN.
Ehodum ad me, vosque adeste pariter, ut quae agam Mysteria ministri sitis ac testes mihi.
Primum initiis ex quantulis in copias Quantas creuit nomen Christiadum cernitis,
Christi praesidio, eius dum insistunt legibus:
Quippe hinc tantum his robur, nobisque infirmitas.
Iam id unicum superest consilum denique:
Quod ui haud licet conficiamus ut astutia.
Sampsoni huic erademus per meretriculam 14. nostra] I follow MSC and N; B reads nostro.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
ANABASIUS. Tell me, what are you going to try?
SATAN. When you find out, you'll say it surpasses the devices of Daedalus. Indeed, with this horse Troy will easily be ours, never doubt it.4
ANABASIUS. My spirits are improving.
Enter Dioctes and Psychephonus.
Drocrzs [to Psychephonus]. I thought I just heard Zebub's voice.?
SATAN. I see Dioctes and Psychephonus.
DriocrEs. Master, congratulations! You've been restored.
PsvcHEPHONUS. You don't know the labyrinths we're trapped in here.
SATAN. But I'll free you in due time with a Thesean thread.? My technique for doing it is well provided for.
DiocrEs. Have you heard then?
SATAN. Everything, from the beginning. But wait while I call someone here that I want.—— [Shouts.] Hey, Pseudamnus.
Pseudamnus, I say. Doesn't anyone here listen to me? Hey, Pseudamnus, I order you to come out of the third hell.4
Enter Pseudamnus.
PseupAMNus. Which of you devils has spirited me here? But it's the prince himself.
SATAN. Come here to me.
[7o Dioctes and Psychephonus.| And you come too to be my ministers and witnesses when I perform my mysteries.° First, you see how the tribe of Christians has grown from such tiny beginnings into huge numbers. They're under the protection of Christ so long as they follow his laws: hence their great strength and our weakness. Because of that, we're left now with only one plan: to accomplish by cleverness what we can't accomplish by force. We'll shave the head of this Samson
1 Cf. Titus et Gesippus 1.9.62-63.
2 The nickname (Hebrew for fly) is less respectful than Beel (= lord) would be; for a similar irony, cf. p. 279, n. I.
3 Cf. Titus et Gesippus 1.4.22-23.
4 Cf. the three-part division of Dante's Inferno, the lowest part being for the souls of the fraudulent; there, in the eighth circle, are found several popes (Canto
XIX) and, at the very bottom, Satan himself (Canto X XXIV); see the plan in Canto XI.
5 A note in B cites 2 Thessalonians 2.[7].
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.4
Caput. Saepe etenim machinis facilius
Tolluntur pondera. Ita hic astu nobis opu'st.
Etenim Deum aduersus reniti inscitia est.
Is dum sufficit opem, operam no' omnem ludimus.
Sin pote fieri est, a Christo ut diuaricent suo, [5. 50] Dehinc uictis facile leges imponimus.
Praeterea haud ulla restat remedii anchora.
ANABASIUS.
Sed id qua efficiamus uereor.
SATAN.
Nihil est. Sine.
ANABASIUS.
Itane ais?
SATAN.
Principio id tute, Anabasi, in animum Reuoca: Christum olim ipsum in solitudine Tentamine quo adorsus sum, simili in hos modo
Agendum stropha. Mundi illicibiles opes Deliciasque ingeram; uitae lubentias Omnigenas, ceu Circaea pocula, subiiciam
Probe; mille addam ueneficiis praelitos Honores, dynastias, titulos celebres:
Voluptatis nulla aberit esca. Quicquid in Mundo celsum est, tentigine aut ulla lenocinans,
Incutiam, ueneno ut qui aspergant saccharum.
[ f. 146] Ita ui quos nequeo, frangam mollitie. Siquidem Natura haec rerum est: mala quos conciliant uiros,
Eosdem dissoluit luxuries. Porro ad haec Munia nemo est Pseudamno uno expromptior:
Vsque adeo mirus est simulandi artifex Agnum ut, quum uideas, esse ex uultu iudices.
Quae causa est hunc cur ad me accitum, uosque nunc
Attendere uelim quae dissero. Pseudamne, tu Principio in Babylona te auferes, ubi Cum gazula hac pecuniaria atrium haud [p. 51] Eneruiter obsidebis pontificium, 38. no' omnem] I follow MSC; B, presumably mistaking the apostrophe for a nasal macron, reads non omnem. The MSC contraction stands for nos omnem.
50. dynastias] transliterated from the Greek word 8vvaoreía, power.
53. Saccharum] = saccharon. Y follow MSC; B has saccarum.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
with the help of a whore. As great weights often are lifted quite easily with engines, so we need a device here, because it's folly to stand up to a god. So long as he supports them with his power, we squander all our effort, but if we can work it so they're scattered from their Christ, then we'll easily impose our laws on a conquered people. Except for that, there's no other chance of improvement.
ANABASIUs. But how we can accomplish that I'm afraid SATAN. There's nothing to it, believe me.
ANABASIUS. Is that so?
SATAN. First call to mind, Anabasius, that I once took on Christ himself in the desert with temptation;? I have only to work on these people with the same weapon. I'll press upon them all the seductive wealth and delights of the world; Ill offer them all manner of life's pleasures, the Circean cup as it were;? to those elixirs I'll add a thousand painted glories, worldly empires, and distinguished titles. No allurement of pleasure will be wanting.
Ill inspire them with whatever is lofty in the world, or whatever entices with lechery, like those who sprinkle poison over sugar.
So those whom I can't break with force, I'll break with softness.
For this is truly the nature of things: men who are won by vices are melted by luxury. Now, no one is better equipped for these tasks than this fellow, Pseudamnus: he's such a master of deception that, from his appearance when you see him, you'd declare him to be a lamb. That's why I summoned him to me, and now I'd like you to listen to what I tell him.—— Pseudamnus, go first to Babylon. You'll lay strong siege to the college of high priests* there with this purse of gold, so that when the see becomes vacant,
1 Judges 16.
? Matthew 4.1-10.
3 Cf. Titus et Gesippus 1.4.3-4.
* 'That is, the College of Cardinals.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.4
Vt cum sedes uacet, ex asse hanc facias tuam.
Quid non uenale muneribus? Aurum ubi rubet, Nihil expugnatu difficile est. Demum ubi ad
Rerum fastigia penetraris, haud leuem Pontificem te geras cautio est: Christi unicum
Videri te uicarium plausibile fuat.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Audio.
SATAN.
Imo aude potius.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Si queam assequl.
SATAN.
Vah, scripturae non desunt fulcra qui ingenium Habet. Scis quid Petri ille locus suggerit:
Acumen cul est, quiduis quocunque pertrahit.
In coelo ut is, ita in terris ad te unum omnia Traxeris. Hunc denique referre undique addecet.
Leges faxis, martyrum scriptas sanguine, Queis orbem ceu naribus arbitrio agas tuo.
Quoniamque suos habet ille, tibi adiunges quoque Symmistas lateri. Tum Ecclesia nec deerit
Tibi facticia, sponsam itidem is ut habet suam, Sed exquisitis quae exornetur uestibus Prorsusque regio strepitu diffluat.
Dabis et hunc fornicationis cyathum Quo reges meretricio inebriet toxico.
Luxu imbues ac deliciis omnia, Quo fiet hos ut pessundes ad inertiam.
Virtutem enim uoluptas uiros dedocet.
[f 1460] [p. 52] Sin refractarius tibi quis obaudiat Calcitro, haud mora quin elementis uindices
Omnibus.
PsEuDAMNUus.
Id agnus opinor non fecit Dei.
SATAN.
Porro ausculta insuper, auremque utranque arrige.
In rebus publicis priuatisque omnium, 65. hanc] the MSC reading, hac, is tempting, but is in the wrong gender.
72. fulcra] the normal sense is bedposts (L-S), but LTL gives a broader sense (— fulcimenta), props.
82. exornetur] I follow MSC to improve the scansion; B reads ornetur.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
by this money you'll make it yours. What can't be bought with bribes? When your gold is true-colored, nothing is hard to overcome. When you've finally achieved the height of power, you must be careful to conduct yourself as no ordinary pontiff.
Let it be plausible that you seem to be the only vicar of Christ.
PsEuDAMNUs. I understand.
SATAN. Stand up to it instead.
PsrupAmnvs. If I could carry it off!
SATAN. Come now, supports of scripture aren't lacking if one has the right temperament. You know what that position of Peter offers: whoever is sharp enough can pull anything wherever he wishes. On earth you will do as the one in heaven does, get everything for yourself alone. It behooves you, then, to reproduce him in every way. You'll make laws, written in the blood of martyrs, with which you may rule the world according to your will, by the nose as it were. And since he has his priests, you'll also attach priests to your side. Again, as he has his bride, you won't be without a false Ecclesia; but let her be decked out in exquisite clothes and completely abandoned to the clamor of royalty. You'll also give her this cup of fornication with which to intoxicate kings with the poison of harlotry.! You'll infect everything with lechery and pleasures. So it will happen that you'll sink these people into ignorance—for pleasure unteaches men virtue. But if some grumbler should obey you reluctantly, make no delay, but punish him with all your resources.
PsEupamnus. That, I think, the lamb of God didn't do.
SaATAN.? Now listen to something else; perk up both ears. You should involve yourself in the public and private affairs of all
1 Apocalypse 17.4.
2 The early draft essentially omitted this speech and the three following speeches.
314.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.4
Praecipue in comitiis suffragiisque ordinum, Illic tute, Pseudamne, immisceas. Ubi
Cosmetor si quis sit creandus laicis, Ita cum illis ius electionis partias, Falx ut tua sit omni in messe posita.
Hoho, ut hoc mihi consilio placeo? Principes Hoc pacto reddes facile ad genua supplices.
'Tum confirmationem ex te ut petant uide:
Qui placeant modo; qui minus, hos pro libidine Submoueas. Si quid in te sentis uspiam Mouerier, ipsos inter se principes Committere scitum est. Bellum aut Turcis inferant:
Victoria qua tendit, tu tendito; uicta pars Supplex inuita aderit, tibi quod erit utile.
Sic ipse utrinque inibis gratiam. Fidem Seruare te, nisi res mouet, haud monuerim:
Cum regibus raro, cum haereticis nuspiam.
IIO
PsEUDAMNUS.
Fiscum at si pecunia destituat interim?
SATAN.
Parata uia est: in Turcas expeditio Agitur, ad eam rem aere opus et neruis bellicis.
[p53] Rem quum omnes dederint, uerba tu dabis omnibus.
Postremo tria sunt in uita mortalium:
II5 Cibi, crimina, connubia, audin'? Clauem qui habet Messem suo hinc uentri peramplam fecerit.
Abi nunc Pegaseo quantum queas gradu In Babylonem, Pseudamne: in magnis mora haud iuuat.
Driocrzs.
Recte sane, siquidem is nunc agit animam
Capitolinus flamen, necdum an obiit scio.
SATAN.
Sed cautio una est quae restat porro priusquam Incipias pithecismos tuos quo pallies Melius: Nomocratem quoquo modo tibi Asciscas sentio. Id enim ad sanctimoniae
123. pithecismos] transliterated from the Greek mq«woyuós. pallies] the verb pallio is rare (L' TL).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
ranks, Pseudamnus, especially in conventions and elections. If some leader is to be chosen by the laity, you must share the right of election with them so that your sickle is found in every harvest.!
Ho ho, how pleased I am with this plan! In this way you'll easily bring princes before your knees as suppliants. Then see to it that they seek confirmation from you: if they please you, fine; if not, remove them at your whim. If you sense that something is being plotted against you somewhere, it's a good idea to set the princes against each other. Or have them start a war on the Turks. Where the victory is inclining, you incline the same way. The side that's beaten will come to you as an unwilling suppliant, and that will be profitable for you. Thus you'll come into favor with both sides.
I wouldn't advise you to remain loyal unless the occasion warrants 1t: rarely to kings, never to heretics.
PsEUDAMNUs. But if sometime the treasury should lack money?
SATAN. A way is ready: an expedition is undertaken against the Turks. For that there's a need of money and the resources of war.
When they've all given of their substance, you'll give all of them words. Finally, there are three main factors 1n the life of mortals: sustenance, sins, and sex.? You understand? Whoever has the key will reap with it a splendid harvest for his own stomach.
Now go to Babylon, Pseudamnus, as fast as possible, with the speed of Pegasus. In great affairs delay doesn't help at all.
DiocrEs. Excellent, for the priest of the Capitoline is now breathing his last. I don't know whether he's dead yet or not.
SATAN. But before you begin, there's still one piece of advice remaining: the better to cover up your monkeying around, I think you should take Nomocrates as your associate in some capacity. That will convey a reputation for holiness, since he's
1 A draft version compared Aesop's lion sharing its spoil.
2 Literally, food, crimes, and marriages.
2 That is, the pope in Rome, one of whose hills was the Capitoline.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.4
Opinionem refert, quando is adeo Integer habetur uir ac moribus piis.
Congredere una, Dioctes, imperium tibi is A Constantino ut ereptum redintegret.
Psychephone, tu uola praeceps Nomocratem
Quaesitum, ubi ubi sit, huicque addictum uide.
Tu, Anabasi, auri hanc uim accipe qua monilia, Corollas, lineas Atrabum seu Laodiceas, Coccum atque purpurissum, pallasque insuper
Auro hyacinthoque florulentas, byssinas, [p. 54]
Virgatas, undulatas, holosericas Conquiras, queis Pornam polias, meretriculam Babyloniam illam, nostin' ?
ANABASIUS.
Intelligo.
SATAN.
Atque eam Ad Pseudamnum aduehas, uestitam munditer.
ANABASIUS.
Lf 147] Nunquid aliud?
SATAN.
Nisi ut matures.
ANABASIUS.
Ladas
Non ipse pernicius nec lubentius.
SATAN.
Postquam his distribui operas, mihi nec ocii est Locus. Ad Turcas me feram primiter, eos Vt exstimulem in Palaestinos ac Rhodos, Moxque in Byzantium, inde et in Vngariam ac
Gentes conterminas. Confecto hoc classico, Recta me praecipitabo Babyloniam, meos Visurus denuo. Sed quid cesso bellua?
Satanam modo stertere non sinunt haec tempora.
131. addictum] ?read adductum, the MSC reading.
133. Atrabum] properly, Atrebatum. seu] I follow MSC; B reads ceu. But cf. V.4.10 Textual Notes. Foxe uses ceu in Titus and Gesippus 1.4.27.
137. Pornam polias] note the pun on Pornapolis.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
held to be such an upstanding man of pious ways.
Dioctes, you go with him too so he can restore to you the rule which was seized by Constantine.
[Exeunt Pseudamnus and Dioctes.
Psychephonus, fly quickly. Find Nomocrates, wherever he is, and see that he joins Pseudamnus' cause.
[ Exit. Psychephonus.
Anabasius, you take this sum of gold to buy necklaces, crowns, cloth of Arras or Laodicea,? scarlet and purple, robes flowered in gold and hyacinth, made of striped and patterned cottons, and all-silk. With these things adorn Porna, the Babylonian whore.
Do you know her?
ANABASIUS. Yes.
SATAN. When she's elegantly dressed, take her to Pseudamnus.
ANABASIUs. Nothing else?
| SATAN. Nothing, except that you hurry.
ANABASIUS. Ladas? himself wouldn't go faster, or more willingly.
[ Exit.
SATAN. Now that I've distributed jobs to them, there's no time for me to be at leisure. First I'll go to the Turks to stir them up against Palestine and Rhodes, then against Byzantium, and finally against Hungary and the adjoining countries.4
Once I've sounded that battle signal, Ill rush straight to Babylonia to see my people again. But why delay, brute? These times just don't allow Satan to snore.
| Exit.
!1 In the draft version, Constantine is not referred to and Dioctes is told to change his name.
? Artois, with its capital Arras, was famed for its clothing and tapestries from ancient times. Laodicea ad Lycum was famous for its beautiful soft wool. Laodice was also a "'stock name for women of high rank, meaning 'princess' " (Oxford
Classical Dictionary). In Apocalypse I1I.15, Laodiceans were called *lukewarm" in their religious sensibilities. The draft version adds a request for hides from Zebulun (a tribe of Israel if I interpret Zebellinis correctly) and from Madaura
(in Numidia).
? A very fast runner of Laconia, referred to by Catullus and Juvenal.
^'The Turks captured Jerusalem, along with the rest of Syria, from the Egyptian Mamelukes in 1516 (it had been in Moslem control for centuries);
Rhodes from the Order of St. George in 1522; Constantinople (— Byzantium) from the Roman Emperor in 1453; and Budapest, also from the Holy Roman
Emperor, in 1526.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.5
ACTUS IIII. SCENA V.
Catalectici Trochaici.
Ecclesia. Africus. Europus.
[EccLEsIA. | Mvndi canescentis iam occasus monet, gnati, bene ut Subducta ratione sitis ad constantiam. Scitis
Tempora enim haud abesse longe Paulus quae praenunciat, [p. 55] Filius ubi perditionis reuelandus sit. Et Asiae
Tum sororis sortem cernitis, quae capitua, heu dolor,
Sub Turca seruit quam misere. In uobis restat unicum Firmamentum mihi: quo magis, uestri causa, anxia
Sum, necubi solutus in malum malus trudat Satan.
Evropus.
Vulgo fama, mater, est, oriturum Antichristum esse, at hunc Esse ego Mahometum reor Asiaticum qui nostram adeo
Diuexat familiam.
ECCLESIA.
Est, at non unus est ille tamen.
Antichristi tot sunt Christus quot habet hostes. Caeterum Confessi isti, qui cauerier potessunt magis,
Lf 147v] Minus incommodant. Qui praetexunt officio fraudem, ab iis Demum Uertumnis cauendum, gnati, granditer moneo.
EvnoPus.
Adcurabimus sedulo.
ECCLESIA.
Eo ad nepotes reliquos Visura quid agant. Vos, uti tempus est, cum lubet reuortite. [p. 56]
AFRICUS.
Animo haud excidet unquam, Christo nomen quantum: omnes sumus Peccatorculi, at nos enixissime quos Nomocratis
Ex dira cauea adeo eripuit misericorditer.
Sed quis egreditur, irrumpens tam immaniter ?
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
[IV.5] Enter Ecclesia, Africus, and Europus.
EccrEsiA. The decline of this aging world now warns you, my sons, to have your accounts in good order as to your steadfastness, for you know that the time is not far off when Paul predicts that the son of perdition must be revealed. Besides, you see the fate of your sister Asia, who is so wretchedly enslaved under the Turk—oh the sorrow!
In you remains my only support. All the more anxious am I for your sake lest that evil Satan, now on the loose, push you into misfortune.
EunRoPus. Mother, the rumor among the people is that the Antichrist is about to arise, but I think he's the Asian Mohammed, who's so troubling our family.
EccrrEsrA. He is, but he isn't the one. There are as many Antichrists as there are enemies of Christ. But these confessed ones are less troublesome since we can take better precautions against them.
The ones who conceal fraud under obedient service—I warn you, my sons, to be very much on your guard against those
Vertumnuses.!
EvnRoPus. We'll be very careful.
EccrEsiA. I'm going to my other kinfolk to see what they're doing.
You come back when you wish and when there's time.
[ Exit.
Arricus.
I'll never forget how great is our debt to Christ. We're all sinners, but especially we whom he snatched so mercifully from the dreadful pit of Nomocrates. But who's coming out in such a wild rush?
1 Vertumnus was the god of the seasons and a symbol of mutability; cf. Horace, Satires 11.7.14. Cooper's Thesaurus, however, called him a god "'supposed of the Painims to haue the gouernaunce of mens mindes, or, after some, of bying and sellyng."'
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.6
ACTUS IIII. SCENA VI.
Dioctes. Africus. Europus.
[Drocrzs.] Proh Ditis pol ingens numen. Quid hic satis Exultem gestiens? Nunquam qui laetius In uita uiderim quicquam succedere, Nec uirgula magis diuina. Vix adhuc In basilicam irruimus, moribundus miser
Expirat praesul. Arripit ex tempore Occasionem noster ilico. Vah illius Quid ego pingam hypocrisim!
AFRICUS.
Hem, quae haec est fabula?
Drocrzs.
Primum quam uero uultu sanctimoniam Simulans scelus lumina conuertit omnium!
Virtutis si uidisse' exemplar diceres Nomocratem secum semper habere in ulnulis,
Mox donariis proceres sensim facere suos, Dehinc in plebis quoque gratiam subrepere.
Demum ubi suauem lucri uidet odorem omnibus,
Coepit tentare animos iamque cominus Cruciferas admouere machinas. Proh fidem, [p. 57] Quid non expugnant auri tormenta sacra? Quid
Verbis opus? Comitia adsunt. Praeda nos Penes est facta. Denique quod ego pol
Hercle meros triumpho panegyricos.
[f146] Evropws.
Quos hic triumphos praedicat ?
AFRICUS.
Rogita.
Diocres.
Quisnam homo Loquitur? Hem, num nam plus satis, quod dixeram ?
Prior hos occupo. Amici, quid uobis hic statio est?
Pannosa quaeso quae penuria haec, viri
Qui haud estis improbi?
17. cruciferas] DuCange lists the neuter noun crucifer, a type of money, and the masculine noun cruciferi, an order of monks; Prudentius used crucifer as an epithet for Christ (L-S). I find no precedent for an adjectival form.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
[IV.6] Enter Dioctes, running happily.
Drocrzs [to audience]. Oh the great majesty of Dis! I want to leap for joy, but how could I rejoice enough? Never in my life have
I seen anything turn out more happily. There's no wand more divine! Scarcely had we run into the basilica when the wretched dying pontiff breathed his last. Right then, on the spur of the moment, our leader seized the occasion. Oh, how could I paint his hypocrisy ?
AFRICUS [aside to Europus]. Well, what's this story?
Drocrzs [to audience]. First how the rascal turned everyone's head, pretending holiness with a straight face. You would have called him a model of virtue if you'd seen him keeping Nomocrates always with him at his elbow, next gradually winning those princes over with gifts, then stealing into the good graces of the people as well. Finally, when he saw that the smell of lucre was sweet to everybody, he began to test their characters and to move up his cross-bearing devices.? By my faith! What won't the awesome engines of gold overcome? In short, the conclave began; the spoils are ours. And that, by Hercules, is why I'm celebrating these triumphs.
Evnorvs [aside to Africus]. What triumphs is he talking about?
Arricus [aside to Europus]. Ask him.
Drocrzs [aside]. Who's speaking? Well, did I say more than I should have? Id better speak to these fellows first.
My friends, what's your station here? Pray, what's this tattered poverty? You certainly aren't mean men.
1 Sc. than Pseudamnus'. There may be a play on words: Cicero uses virgula divina for a divining rod (L-S). Cf. Titus et Gesippus 1.5.34.
2 Coins with crosses on them (DuCange). See the note to the Latin text.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.6
EvROoPUS.
Probitatem quam opes Tuemur citius. Sed quid id sit quod modo 'Tecum uenisti mussitans? Episcopum Fuisse opinor mortuum.
Drocrzs.
Sic est.
EvRopvus.
Et in Vicem eius adoptatus nostin' quinam siet?
Drocrzs.
Papae, uir in uita optimus, seruus Dei, ac Pietas ipsa.
EvnRoPus.
Et nomen potin' edicere?
Drocrzs.
Pseudamnus.
EvnoPus.
Pseudamnus? Quid istuc nominis?
Driocrzs.
Quid dixi? Eudamnus inquam, agnus ut agnoteros Nusquam sit: ipsum esse ut dicas agnum Dei.
AFRICUS.
Equidem laetor facto.
Drocrzs.
Atque ut scire liceat, Vide modo: iam primum ubi renitendo diu [p. 58] Inuitu' haud potuit suffragiis quin cederet,
Continuo ille: Abi, inquit, Symmache mihi (Id etenim nomen erat), quantum queas foras,
Indigetem si quem Christi reperias indigum In nostras quem recipiam fortunulas.
Meum, praeter uirtutem, esse haud quicquam uolo:
Caetera aliorum. Itaque in uos incidisse nunc Laetor. Mecum modo haud pigeat congredi.
31. Papae] is there a pun on papa, pope?
33. Quid... nominis] B repeats the S.P. Europus here. Perhaps Foxe intended to assign the words to Africus and wrote the wrong name by mistake. More likely, he accidentally wrote the S.P. in the wrong place and neglected to cancel it in correction. I follow MSC.
34. agnoteros| this coinage is a multilevelled pun: agnus (lamb), and dyvés (holy), with a Greek comparative suffix. Cf. also the Greek verb dyvoéw, to be ignorant, and the Latin verb agnosco.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
EunoPus. We're quicker to look after our probity than our wealth.
But what were you muttering just now as you came in—that the bishop is dead, I think it was?
DriocrEs. That's right.
EunoPus. And do you know who's been chosen in his place?
DriocrEs. Yes indeed, a man of a very just life, a servant of God, piety itself.
EunRoPus. And can you tell us his name?
Diocres. Pseudamnus.
Evropus. Pseudamnus? What sort of a name is that?
DriocrEs. What did I say? I should say Eudamnus,! for nowhere is there a lamb more lamblike.? So you'd say he's the lamb of God himself.
Arricus. I'm very happy about that.
DriocrEs. To know what he is, just consider this. When, after a long period of resistance, he couldn't prevent them from voting him in against his will, he said without hesitation, *Go out as quickly as possible, my dear Symmachus"
(for that was my name),® "and see if you can find any needy saint of Christ to whom I may give my trifling earthly goods. I wish nothing for myself but virtue; let others have the rest." So I'm happy I came upon you now; don't be reluctant to come with me.
1 Dioctes means it to be taken as a compound of «à, good, and ayrds, lamb.
Could Foxe have meantan ironic pun on 9auváo, a variant of daudw, to overpower ?
2 See the note to the Latin text.
3 Either Foxe or Dioctes used was when is would have been more deceptive.
Symmachus is a Greek word for an ally, but Foxe may have been alluding to Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, who in the 380's A.D. championed the pagan gods against the Christian emperors and provoked replies from Ambrose and Prudentius.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.7
EvnoPus.
Est gratia, Symmache, merito quae tibi Debetur ex animo.
DIOcTEs.
Sed mane. Herus huc Ipse incedit foras. Concedite paululum.
ACTUS IIIT. SCENA VII.
[f1480] Iambici Acatalectici, Unus Senarius.
Pseudamnus. Psychephonus. Dioctes, Europus. Africus.
| PSEUDAMNUS. |
Ovid ais, Psychephone? Satin modo in collegas dapsilis Visus sum?
PsycHEPHONUs.
Perquam, Pseudamne.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Et quid nunc futurum illis reris, Postquam tot latifundiis a me ditati diffluant?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Insignes fortunae, uenti uelut ingentes, insignia Naufragia faciunt.
[p. 59]
PsEUDAMNUS.
Ita spero.
Diocres.
Here, salue. Bonos si tu hos satis
Noris, dignos queis benefaxis putes.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Ingenuos cum uideo, Vultus arguit. Eho, qui dicimini?
EuROPUS.
Gemini ex usdem sati Parentibus, ego Europus, is Afer dicitur.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Age, mei sitis:
Vna domus, communis familia sit.
AFRICUS.
Bene sit, quum pius es.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Pietatem afflictam praeterire est impium.
Porro cum fortuna, a me nomina accipietis simul.
Tu, Europe, pauonia hac plumigata cum coronula 1. collegas] the classical sense is colleagues, but DuCange lists the word in the . sense here meant.
8. Afer] elsewhere in this scene (S.H. and l. 13) Foxe changed the name to Africus; either he overlooked this one, or he felt he needed a dissyllable.
10.] identified in MSC and B as the senarius listed in the M.H.
12. pauonia] a variant of the normal pavonina (LTL). plumigata| I find no precedent for this verbal form.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
EunoPus. That's a kindness, Symmachus, for which we must be indebted to you from the heart.
Diocrrs. But wait, my master himself is coming out here. Wait a moment.
[LV] Enter Pseudamnus and Psychephonus.
PsEuDAMNus. What do you say, Psychephonus? Have I seemed generous enough toward the members of the college?
PsycHEPHONUs. Extremely so, Pseudamnus.
PsEuDAMNUs. And how do you think itll be with them after they abandon themselves to all those country estates I've enriched them with ?
PsycHEPHONUs. Great fortunes, like great winds, cause great wrecks.
PsrEuDAMNUvs. I hope so.
Driocrzs [leading Europus and Africus forward]. Hello, master.
If you knew these good men well, you'd think them worthy of your kindness to them.
PsgUDAMNUSs. I can tell from their faces that they're upstanding men.
Hello, how are you called ?
EunoPus. We're brothers born of the same parents. I'm Europus, and he's called Africus.
PsEUDAMNUs. Come, be mine. Let's be one household, one common family.
AFRICUS. Very good, since you are a holy man.
PsEuDAMNUs.
It's wicked to neglect afflicted piety. Along with your prosperity you'll receive titles from me. Europus, you take this peacock-plumed crown; you shall be Defender of the Faith.!
! For this time, Europus becomes identified with the English monarch, preparing for the last-act emphasis on the suffering of the English church. In 1521,
Henry VIIT's long-standing wish for a papal title like that of Continental monarchs was gratified when Pope Leo X awarded him the title **Defender of the Faith."
English monarchs still bear the title, though the faith defended is different. The award was a recognition for Henry's golden book," as Leo called it, the Assertio
Septem Sacramentorum Contra M. Lutherum. Henry's seal after 1532 shows a plumed helm (though not necessarily with a peacock's plumes) and the title *Def. Fidei," and both symbols continued into later realms. See J. Harvey Bloom, English
Seals (London, 1906), and J. M. Brown, *Henry VIII's Book, .
. and the Royal Title of 'Defender of the Faith,' " Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, VIII (1880), 242-261.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.8
Fidei Defensor esto. Tu uero cum rhomphaea, Africe, Hac, Christianissimus appellator. Iam ite hac uos intro. Age,
Dioctes atriensis, inquam, introductos ad me face
Apothecas ad penuarias: famescunt forsitan Inedia. Abite. Bene procedit. At ubi Porna tam diu
Restitat, aduentum quo minus adproperat? Salta, [f 149] Psychephone, in Cubiculum. Eia, prius si memorassem, aduentassiet.
ACTUS IIII. SCENA VIII.
[p. 60] Eivsdem rationis.
Pornapolis Meretrix Babylon. Pseudamnus. Psychephonus.
Ecclesia. [Chorus].
[ PoRNAPOLIS. |
Vos hinc reuortite, abite. Proh summum tonantem, quantum in hac Nunc forma ac magnificentia est quod gestiam !
PsEUDAMNUS.
Quos huc mea Fert plausus Pornula!
PORNAPOLIS.
Pseudamno yaipew.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Suauiolum meum, Quidnam istuc gestiens adeo quod aduenis ?
PoRNAPOLIS.
Quod uix tibi Credibile sit, si narrem.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Quidnam?
PonNAPorIs.
Quanto in pretio ac honore sim,
Vbicunque sim, omnibus.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Narra quaeso.
PORNAPOLIS.
Quippe dum me effero E foribus ad te ueniens, summam per plateam affectare uiam Visum est. Hic ubi primum conspicua sum, concurrunt ceu ad deum Vndique. Forum ac uias omnes obstipari multitudine.
P.H. Chorus] omitted in MSC and B.
3. suauiolum] the classical sense, in Catullus, is a little kiss (L-S); here it is used metaphorically as a term of endearment. Bienvenu translates the word
*mignonne iolie."
9. obstipari] a Plautine word, '*T'o stoppe chinkes" (Cooper). Cf. the standard stipare, "to crowd together" (L-S).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
And you, Africus, take this weapon; you shall be called Most Christian. Now go inside.
Dioctes, I say, my steward, come, take them in to the larder; they may be hungry from fasting.
Go on.
[Exeunt Dioctes, Africus, and Europus.
Its going well? But where is Porna loitering so long? Why doesn't she hurry?
Psychephonus, run to her chamber.
| Exit. Psychephonus.
Oh, if I'd told him earlier, she'd have been here by now.
[IV.8] Enter Pornapolis the whore of Babylon, and Psychephonus.
PoRNAPOLIS [as to people offstage]. Turn back, you people. Go away.
Oh thunderer on high, how delightful this form and splendor is!
PsguDAMNUSs. What a racket my Pornula brings here!
PoRNAPOLIS. Pseudamnus, hello.
PsEUDAMNUS. My sweet, why do you come so happily?
PoRNAPOLIS. You'd scarcely believe it if I told you.
PsguDAMNUs. What?
PorNAPOLIS. What esteem and honor I'm held in by everybody, wherever I go.
PsEUDAMNUs. Please tell me about it.
Pornapo.is. As I was leaving my gates to come to you, it seemed a good idea to take the main street.? As soon as I was seen there, people crowded all around me as if I were a god. 'The forum and 1 Africus is here associated with France. The papal title ''Roi-Trés-Chrétien"'
(Most Christian) was bestowed on Pepin the Short and confirmed on the twelfthcentury Capetins (M. Martin, Le Roi de France ou les grandes journées qui ont fait la monarchie [Paris, 1963], p. 110). (In Acts and Monuments, Foxe named Charlemagne as the first recipient of the title; ed. Pratt, I, 374.) The seals of many French kings show a figure holding a staff of justice and a sceptre; the staff could be taken as a spear (rhomphaea), and so Foxe apparently took it.
2 At this point, the draft version included the following colloquy:
But where is Nomocrates, to whom I would restore the authority of the prison?
PsycHEPHONUuS. Don't do that, master.
PsEguDAMNUS. Why not?
PsvcugPHONUS. Lest you get beaten by your own beast.
PsEUDAMNUS. Quiet. Isn't scripture a sufficient key when we wish?
PsvcuEPHONUS. But I'm afraid the key which is useful isn't true.
PsEuDAMNUS. I think what matters is not what's true, but what the people think is true. Do you get me?
PsvcuEPHONUs. Very good.
3 A note in B refers to Apocalypse 17. Foxe altered a number of details.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.8
Mirari.
Sciscitarier a meis quae sim. Ecclesiam, Lf 149v] inquiunt,
Omnipotentis Dei, Agni sponsam, ueritatis columen.
[p. 61] Procumbere omnes ilico, adorare opido. Quin et pedum Porro osculari uestigia. Mox tres fiunt reges obuiam.
Iis propino cyathum fornicarium huncce. Vinum ubi Concaluit, uultus primum labascere omnium. Simul
Inter se consusurrari inuicem. Inde ut submoueam rogant Famulos. Semoui. Soli ubi sumus, occipiunt, forma quae
Mea, aetasque sua—amoris pariter quam impotens telum siet.
Quorsum inquam haec? Vin' scire? Admodum? Arcanum at id esse: etsi pudeat haud, Posse haud fateri tamen. Aurem do: "Faciem quo magis," inquiunt,
*Spectamus hanc, minus hoc ferre quimus." Quid tum? "Vnius ut Concedas noctis copiam." Quod ni impetrent, nullos fore.
Suadent, orant, obsecrant, suspirant. Hic ego uultum, oculos, Ac gestus hominum attendo satis, lustroque singula.
Vbi serio agere uideo, coepi detrectare primulum, [p.62]
Sueuimus ut meretriculae cupidos cum cupimus magis esse qui Nos ambiunt. Demum ignescere ubi cerno, magis memet dare
His familiarius. Postremo, quid uerbis opus? Annui, Lf 150] Pignus coepi, cras ut redirent iussi—siquidem diem tibi ut
Dixi hunc, Pseudamne, datura sum.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Vah, ut dulci te osculo capio,
Mea lux.
Pornapo.is.
At unus restat nodus.
PsEUDAMNUS.
In scirpo fors.
PoRNAPOLIS.
Ecclesia haec Quae latitat, nos ne prodat tandem.
PSEUDAMNUS.
Aquilam ex filice metuis.
Sine, hos ego gryphos depuluerabo facile. Tu interim 14. fornicarium] this adjectival form is late; DuCange explains it **ex fornicatione natus, spurius."
33. depulverabo| the verb depulvero is unprecedented, but Plautus uses the word depulverans as an equivalent to abstergens (LTL).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
all the streets were blocked by the mob. They stood in wonderment. They asked my people who I was. They said I was the Ecclesia of almighty God, bride of the lamb, supporter of truth.
Then and there they all fell down and adored me exceedingly.
Why, they even kissed the tracks of my feet. Soon three kings came to meet me. I toasted them with this cup of fornication. When the wine grew warm in us, first everyone's expression began to slacken, and they began to whisper back and forth to each other.
Then they asked me to send my servants away. I did so, and when we were alone, they began: what my beauty and their prime— well, how uncontrollable the shaft of love would be on either account. Why should I tell you these things? You want to know?
All right, but you must keep it secret; I'm not at all ashamed, but it can't be told. I listened to them. They said, '""The more we look at your face, the less we can bear up." What to do then?
"Do grant us the riches of one night." Unless they got it, they said, they'd be lost. They urged, begged, implored, sighed. I paid close attention to the men's faces, their eyes and gestures; I watched everything they did. When I saw that they were serious about it, I began to be a little coy, as we courtesans usually do when we want to make our eager clients more eager. Finally, when I saw that they were on fire, I began to appear more friendly to them. At last, to be brief about it, I consented, I took their pledges, and I told them to return tomorrow. I'm going to give this day to you as I promised, Pseudamnus.
PseuDAMNUS [kissing her]. Oh, with what a sweet kiss I hold you, my light.
Pornapouis. But one knot remains.
PsgupAmNus. In a bulrush, perhaps.!
Pornapouis. This Ecclesia who's hiding out, lest she expose us in the end.
PsEeuDAMNUs. You're afraid of an eagle from a fern. Don't you worry, I'll easily pulverize these griffins? Meantime,
Porna, 1 Proverbial expression from Plautus and Terence: to look for nonexistent difficulties.
? Legendary animals, part lion and part eagle; hence, imaginary problems.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.8
Telam pergas, Porna, hanc porro pertexere. Reges temeto tuo Temulentos faxis, nobis ut se obstringant suaque omnia. Nihil
Cuiquam legitimum sit nostro ni initiato charactere Prius. At quae illinc mulier eminet pexa ac uultu turbido?
ECCLESIA.
Horresco misera id quid sit Byzantii quod aiunt: uae hodie Ecclesiam inuasse Dei, e coelo auditum clare. At filii
[p. 63] Vbinam hic sint quos cupiam?
PsEUDAMNUS.
Haec quidnam portitat?
Heus mulier, sodes,
Quae sis?
Eccuiesta.
Ecclesiae equidem nomen fero.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Proh anathema.
PoRNAPOLIS.
Audin' hanc?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Haeretica.
PsEuDAMNus.
Tun'te Ecclesiam esse?
ECCLESIA.
Negabon' esse, quae Siem ?
PsycHEPHONUs.
Schismatica.
PORNAPOLIS.
Miseret me. Canis quis te mulier Commorsit rabiens ?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Lymphatica.
ECCLESIA.
Quidnam tibi hic mecum rei'st ?
PORNAPOLIS.
Mihi loquitur.
PsycHEPHONUs.
Vuycleuista.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Apage sis cum sordibus
Hinc. Tun' Ecclesia ut sies?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Anabaptistica.
EccrzstA.
Anabaptista non Sum. Ecclesia sum orthodoxa.
37. pexa] Foxe several times uses this word in a sense the opposite of the literal meaning, well-combed, new. He apparently had in mind the Plautine sense, beaten, or, when he referred to Ecclesia's clothes, shaggy—though from age, not in the Horatian sense of woolly from being new, having the nap still on (L-S).
39. inuasse] both the sense and a false start in MSC (ingress-) show that this is the correct reading; it is found in the Harvard copy of B (MSC is unclear), but other copies of B which I have seen read iuuasse.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
you go right on weaving your web. Make the kings drunk with your wine! so they'll bind themselves and all their prerogatives to us, and nothing will be lawful for anyone except it first have our mark on it. But who's that tattered woman coming out over there with a troubled expression ?
Enter Ecclesia.?
EccuesiA [aside]. I'm terribly afraid of what the Byzantines are saying—alas, that they have today attacked God's church; I heard it clearly from heaven. But where could my sons be, whom
I would long to have here?
PsEuDAMNUs. What's she brooding about?——— Hey, woman, if you please, who are you?
Eccuesia. I bear the name Ecclesia.
PsEUDAMNUs. Oh, anathema!
Pornapo is. Do you hear her?
PsycuHEePHONUus. Heretic!
PsEUDAMNUs. You claim to be Ecclesia?
EccrEsiA. Shall I deny who I am?
PsycHEPHONUS. Schismatic!
Pornapouts. I pity you. What mad dog has bitten you, woman?
PsycHEePHONUs. Madwoman!
Ecciesta. What have you to do with me?
PonwAPors. She's talking to me.
PsvcuePHoNus. Wycliffite !?
PsEuDAMNUs. Away from here with your mourning garments. You claim to be Ecclesia?
PsvcugPHONUs. Anabaptist !4
EccrEsiA. I am not an Anabaptist; I am orthodox Ecclesia.
1 A note in B cites Apocalypse 18.[3]; cf. 17.2.
2 C. H. Herford (p. 145) assumed that Ecclesia is on stage from the beginning of the scene and compares the scene in Pammachius in which "'Parrhesia listens to the diabolical plans of Pammachius and his ally Porphyrius." He may be right, for Foxe does not indicate a new scene at this point as he often does when a character enters. But in l. 37 Pseudamnus speaks of her as coming out (eminet).
? A Lollard, follower of John Wyclif, fourteenth-century reformer and first English translator of the Bible.
^ A follower of a radical Protestant sect founded at Zurich in 1514.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, IV.8
PsEUDAMNUS.
Proh polum arcticum atque antarcticum.
ECCLESIA.
[ f. 150v] Quid clamitas ?
PsEUDAMNUS.
Quae si pergas, nae ego te dabo ubi neque polum Videas arcticum aut antarcticum.
ECCLESIA.
Quid uis tibi?
PsEUDAMNUS.
Dico te Ecclesiam non esse. Te esse dicito.
PORNAPOLIS.
Ecclesiam ego
Me esse inquam, sponsam Christi.
ECCLESIA.
Tune?
PORNAPOLIS.
Tu negas?
PsEUDAMNUS.
Ita senties.
ECCLESIA.
[p. 64] Ecclesiamne te?
PORNAPOLIS.
Aio.
ECCLESIA.
Asiae, Africi, ac Europi matrem Esse, ego quae siem?
PORNAPOLIS.
Quid agimus ?
PsEUDAMNUS.
Hem, haeccine fieri schismata ?
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Origenista.
PsrupAmNus.
Mulier, dico ego tibi, praestiterat hos non fieri Fucos.
Ecciesia.
Eho, redigitis me ut quae sim nesciam.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Imo quae sies 55 Scimus satis.
EccrEstA.
Quaenam?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Paupercula de Lugduno quaepiam.
52. Ecclesiamne] I follow MSC and N; B reads Ecclesia'ne.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PsEUDAMNUs. By the north and south poles!
EccrEsiA. What are you bawling at me?
PsEuDAMNUs. If you keep this up, why, Ill fix you so you won't see either pole, north or south.
EccrEsia. What is it to you?
PsEuDAMNUs. I tell you, you are not Ecclesia.
[Zo Pornapolis.] Tell her you are.
PonNaPors. I tell you I am Ecclesia, the bride of Christ.
EccrEsi4. You?
Pornapo.is. Do you deny it?
PsEUDAMNUs. You'll feel it.
Ecciesia. You? Ecclesia?
Pornapo.is. Thats what I say.
EccrEsia. And the mother of Asia, Africus, and Europus, as I am?
PoRNAPOLIs [to Pseudamnus]. What do we do?
PsEUDAMNUs. Well, are we to have schisms?
PsycHEPHONUS. Origenist!!
PsEuDAMNUs. Woman, I tell you, you'd better not carry on these pretenses.
EccrEsrA. Oh, you make me not know who I am.
PsEUDAMNUS. But we know quite well who you are.
EccLEsi4. Who?
PsycHEPHONUs. Some poor woman of Lyons.?
1A follower of Origen, who earned the wrath of his own and some other bishops in the third century. Bienvenu translated the word as "'Lutherienne."
? The Waldenses, founded in the late twelfth century, were known as the Poor of Lyons. Frequently persecuted (and later memorialized by Milton in Sonnet
XVIII), they were having an especially difficult time in the 1550's.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.1
[ PSEUDAMNUS. |
Nam Ecclesiam, qui te uidet, an quisquam putet? Ac iam audies.
Heus, symmistae, decretistae, canonistae, cosmosophoi Codicillares, holoporphyri, uos ptochopluti ordines,
Copistae, sigilliferi,
Adeste. Haeccine nobis Ecclesia est an non?
CHORUS.
Est.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Iam uides.
ECCLESIA.
Stat firma Dei electio, habens signaculum hoc: scit ille qui Sunt elus.
PoRNAPOLIS.
Quid ait?
PsEUDAMNUS.
Quid ais?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Here, prorsus uero insanit haec Corybantica.
PsEuDAMNus.
Sic uidetur. Heus, tenete inquam repagulis Lunaticam hanc atque ad Bethlemitas insanam abducite,
[5.65] Meque hinc sequimini.
ACTUS V. SCENA I.
[Lf 151] Senaril.
Satan. Psychephonus. Thanatus Lictor. Adopylus.
Europus. Hierologus.
[SATAN. ]
Compositis nunc Asiae rebus, rursus in Europam me reducem recta transfero, Pseudamnus quid agat ut sciam: si bene, 57. S.P. Pseudamnus| I follow MSC; B continues the speech to Psychephonus, but he seems incapable of uttering anything but imprecations.
58. symmistae] an ecclesiastical Latin word, taken from Greek ovppvorns (L-S). decretistae] DuCange lists the word for one who studies papal decrees. canonistae] Y have not found the word elsewhere, even in DuCange. cosmosophoi] Y have not found this compound in either Greek or Latin; the elements, of course, are Greek x«óopos, world, and cogós, wise.
59. ptochopluti] based on the Greek compound z7«xorAovovs, a doubtful word for pretending poverty (from mrwyds and sAoóros). It refers here to friars.
60. Copistae, sigilliferi] DuCange lists both nonclassical words, for copyists and seal-keepers. Both words were omitted from the draft version of the play.
63. ais] I follow MSC; B has ait, probably echoing ait in Pornapolis' speech.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
[PsEuDAMNus]. Would anyone who sees you think you're Ecclesia?
And now you shall hear. —— [Shouts.] Hey, all you priests, decretists, canonists, official cosmosophists, cardinals, you orders of monks, copyists, and scribes,! come out here.
Enter Chorus.
[Pointing to Pornapolis.] Is this our Ecclesia or not?
Cuorus. Yes.
PsEUDAMNUS [to Ecclesia]. Now you see.
EccLEsrA. The election of God remains fixed with this sign, that he knows who his people are.
PoRNAPOLIS. What does she say?
PsEuDAMNUs. What do you say ??
PsvcuEPHONUs. Master, this Corybantic is truly and utterly mad.?
PsEUDAMNUs. So she seems.
[To Chorus.] Hey, keep this lunatic behind bars, I say. Take the madwoman off to Bedlam.*——
[Chorus leads Ecclesia off.
[To Psychephonus and Pornapolis.] Follow me this way.
[ Exeunt.
[V.1] Enter Satan, carrying several costumes.
SATAN. Now that matters in Asia are under control, I come right back to Europe to find out what Pseudamnus is doing. If he's
1 Vatican functionaries, satirically characterized. See the notes to the Latin text.
2 In the draft version, Pseudamnus here asks if Ecclesia does not believe the church to be Catholic and she says yes; but when Pseudamnus asks next if she does not believe Pornapolis to be Catholic, she says no. Cf. Foxe's *De Regno
Clauium Disputatio adversus perturbatas conscientias" (Lansdowne MS. 388, ff. 105-110v); which attacks the view that the pope is the successor of Peter.
3 The Corybantes were Phrygian priests of Cybele whose religious rites included frenzied orgiastic dances.
^ 'The London hospital for the insane, officially St. Mary of Bethlehem.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.1
Vt laudem; sin minus, ut succenturier.
Sed sta hic dico, Satan, pedetentim tamen
Vt agas. In Asia minime modo sumus.
Vt locus, ita cum loco mutanda consilia.
Illic ui, hic astu rem tractabimus affabre.
Primum habitus hic, cum nomine, ponendus est:
Vesteque, quam ueste tego, tegam me, tectius IO Vt fallam. Sed ubi reliqui? Proh Furias,
Mihi quos in hac re adesse opus est. Psychephone, Thanate, Adopyle, ubi ubi estis? Adesse momento impero.
At quae mora haec, momento quum Satan imperat ?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quid uis?
SATAN.
Ornamenta haec capite.
ADOPYLUS.
Quid tum?
SATAN.
Meoque I5 Exemplo facite. lam ego Satan haud sum, lucis at Me uos dicetis angelum. Tu, Psychephone,
Hypocrisis esto hoc sub Francisci pallio.
[p. 66] Tu, Thanate, Martyromastix re et nomine sies:
Quemcunque nactus sis Christi uere pium,
Huic quid agas ex nomine officium ut teneas.
Tibi Catholici nomen, Adopyle, imponimus.
Pseudamnum adite nunc. Inde per urbes, agros, Pagosque omnes uos diffundite. Itidem fici ut
In oculis insident, uos per omnia
Spargite. Sed quos aduentare hic uideo? Agite Orationi ut seruiatis. Faxitis probe.
Dominus uobiscum.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Et cum spiritu tuo.
SATAN.
Oremus.
19. Tu] ?read Tum, the apparent reading in MSC.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
doing well, ll commend him; if not, Pll replace him. But wait a minute, Satan; you must go slow. We aren't in Asia now. As the place changes, so must plans be changed along with it. There we proceeded by force, but here we'll manage our business cleverly and by guile. First I have to put aside this garb along with my name: to cloak more effectively how I conceal myself in a cloak, I'll conceal myself in a cloak. But where are the others?
By the Furies, I need them near me in this business.
[ Shouts. ] Psychephonus, Thanatus, Adopylus! Where are you? I command you to come instantly. But why this delay when Satan commands something instantly ?
Enter Psychephonus, Thanatus, and Adopylus.
PsvcuEPHONUs. What do you wish?
SATAN [ giving them costumes]. Take these costumes.
ADOPYLUS. What then?
SATAN. Do as I do. [He puts on a costume.] Now Pm not Satan, but you'll say I'm the Angel of Light.! Psychephonus, you be Hypocrisis under this cloak of Francis.?
Then, Thanatus, you be Martyromastix in deed and name:? if you meet any follower of Christ who is truly loyal, do anything to him in my name to hold onto your office.
Adopylus, we bestow upon you the title Catholic.* [ They put on costumes.| All of you go to Pseudamnus now. Then disperse yourselves through all cities, fields, and provinces. Scatter yourselves everywhere, like the fig trees which are constantly before our eyes. But who are these people I see coming here? Come, be occupied in prayer; do it properly. Dominus vobiscum.
PsycHEPHONUS. Et cum spiritu tuo.
SATAN. Oremus.
1 That is, Lucifer.
2 Hypocrisy ($mókpw:s); literally, a reply, or playing a part on stage. The Franciscans were perhaps the most vilified of the four orders of monks.
3 Scourge of martyrs.
4 Adopylus and this sentence are missing from the draft version. Adopylus now becomes identified with the King of Spain, who would of course be thought of as Philip II. Alexander VI had conferred the title The Catholic" on King Ferdinand in 1494, during the Pope's struggle with France, after the conquest of Granada and a series of victories over Charles VIII. (The History of Comines Englished by Thomas Danett, VIII.17, Tudor Translations [London, 1897], p. 350).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.1
EunoPus.
Incredibile dictu, Hierologe, Et monstri simile, Pseudamnum te dicere
Antichristum esse ?
HIEROLOGUS.
Non ficus est ficus magis.
EvnoPvs.
Qui scis?
HikROLOGUs.
Res, tempus, uita, doctrina arguunt.
Et locus ipse.
SATAN.
Pessundor.
EunoPvs.
Et Pornapolim hanc Meretriculam esse Babel Apocalypticam, Ain' tu?
[f. 1512] HiEROLOGUs.
Sic re comperies.
THANATUS.
Irritor.
EunoPus.
Ecclesiam te gnesiam matrem scire ubi Sit, meque ubi sit adducere?
HIEROLOGUS.
Certe, Europe mi.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Quin irruimus?
EvnoPvs.
Duc me ad eam amabo.
[p. 67] SATAN.
Haeresis, Haeresis, o ciues.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Scandalum, blasphemia, Abominatio desolationis in
Loco sancto stans. Succurrite.
HIEROLOGUS.
Quidnam rei hoc?
SATAN.
Tun' esse Pseudamnum pseudopontificem, Sacrilege ?
PsycHEPHONUS.
Dathon, Abyron.
36. gnesiam] transliterated from the Greek yvijovs, literally meaning legitimate.
40-41.] it is tempting to assign these lines to Thanatus, as the manuscript does.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Enter Europus and Hierologus.
Evuropus [to Hierologus]. That's incredible, Hierologus, it's monstrous! You say Pseudamnus is the Antichrist ?!
HiERoLocvs [to Europus]. A fig tree is not more a fig tree.
Evuropus [to Hierologus]. How do you know?
Hrerovocus [to Europus]. The circumstances, the timing, his life, his doctrine, and even his office prove it.
SATAN [aside]. I'm sunk.
Evuropus [to Hierologus]. And you say Pornapolis is the Apocalyptic whore of Babylon ??
HigRoLocvus [to Europus]. So in fact you will learn.
THANATUS [aside]. I'm exasperated.
Evuropus [to Hierologus]. And you know where Ecclesia, my true mother, is and will take me there?
HieRoLocvs [to Europus]. Certainly, my dear Europus.
PsycHEPHONUS [to Satan]. Let's get them.?
EvnoPvs [to Hierologus]. Please take me to her.
[ He starts to leave with Hierologus.
SATAN [rushing forward and shouting]. Heresy, heresy! Oh citizens!
PsycHEPHONUS. Scandal, blasphemy, abomination of desolation standing in a holy place! Help!
HiEROLOGUS. What on earth is this?
SATAN. You desecrator, do you say that Pseudamnus is a false pontiff?
PsycHEPHONUS. Dathon and Abiron!
1A note in B cites Apocalypse 19.[?19-20, the defeat of the beast]; the final turning point in the play is here signalled by Hierologus' disclosure. Continental readers would probably have identified Hierologus with Martin Luther, like
Theophilus in Kirchmayer's Pammachius; but see p. 345, n. 2.
2 The draft version refers here to '*"Pornapolis, whom they call Catholic."
8 At this point, the draft version contains the following exchange:
SATAN. But let me sing: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." [John I,1] HikROoLOGUS. What's this speech?
Satan. ''The peace of God here."
PsvcHEPHONUS. "'And of St. Francis." [cf. 1. 67] Tuanatus, "And of St. Carmel."
EunoPus. What camels do I see here? [cf. the pun in Titus et Gesippus 1.7.6-7].
SATAN. We are here from Greenwich, servants of God and sons of blessed Francis" [see Introduction, p. 33, n. 7].
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.1
THANATUS.
Chore, Doel.
HIEROLOGUS.
Vtinam non sit.
EuRopws.
Quae haec hominum intemperies ?
SATAN.
Quid, et Pornapolim prostibulum esse meretricium ?
HiEROLOGUS.
Si non sit, se factis declaret aliam.
SATAN.
Proh fulmen et sulphur superum.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Proh polos Mundi atque uiam lacteam.
THANATUS.
Quid agimus?
HigRoLrocus.
Europe, procul ab his cauendum censeo.
EvunoPus.
Eamus.
SATAN.
Nos ad Pseudamnum dum currimus,
Tu hic, Hypocrisis, obserua interim quo is abeat.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Profecto haec si sic abeant, Satanae ac suis Id tantum restat ut scribam epitaphium.
Animusque ea in re haud scio quid praesagit mali.
Primum haec ita diu' esse haud pote est: tantos fucos
Ac flagitia fieri 1n urbe haud sinet Deus, Eiusque lenitas haec tanta uereor Quorsum tandem euaserit. Insuper horoscopum
Ascendi nuper: cum Saturno ubi Iupiter Coniunctus in Arietis decimo, quid nescio
[p. 68]
Laeuum minatur, in aspectu tetragono Signum occupante Marte foemineum. Atenim Strepitum audire uideor aduentantium:
[052] Quisque ut fert fabula, ita scenae inseruiat.
Kyrieleeson, Christeleeson, Kyrieleeson. Pater noster. Aue Maria, CLG
Et uiscera beatae uirginis. Et uulnera quinque Sancti Francisci, etc.
63. audire] the manuscript reading, haurire, is appealing.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
THanatus. Korah and Doel!!
Hiero.Locus. Would that he weren't!
EunoPus. What is this madness of these men?
Satan. What, and you say Pornapolis is a sluttish prostitute ?
Hrerovocus. If she weren't, she'd prove herself otherwise by her deeds.
SATAN. By the lightning and sulphur of heaven!
PsycHEPHONUS. By the poles of the universe and the Milky Way!
Tuanatus. What should we do?
HiEROLOGUs. Europus, I think we should keep far away from these fellows.
Evropus. Let's go.
[Exeunt Hierologus and Europus.
SATAN. Hypocrisis, while we run to Pseudamnus, you stay here and watch where that fellow goes.
[Exeunt Satan and Thanatus.
PsvcuEPHONUs. Well, if the affair is going this way, there's nothing left for me but to write an epitaph for Satan and his followers.
I feel in my soul that this will come to some sort of grief. In the first place, it isn't possible that things can go on long this way:
God won't allow such disgraceful deceptions to occur in the city, and I fear where his great gentleness will lead. Besides, I've recently cast my horoscope, and Jupiter, in conjunction with Saturn in the tenth house of Aries, is threatening some misfortune, since Mars is in a feminine sign in a square aspect.? But I seem to hear the sound of people coming. Each must play his part on the stage as the plot requires. [He prays.] Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, kyrie eleison. Pater noster, Ave Maria, etc. And the fruit of the blessed Virgin's womb. And the five wounds of St. Francis, etc?
1 Dathon, Abyron, and Korah were enemies of Moses (Numbers 16). Doel (the spelling of B and the manuscript) must be Doeg the Edomite, who killed eighty-five priests on Saul's order (1 Samuel 22.9-22); Bienvenu reads Doeg.
2 Foxe did not believe in astrology. Cf. his statement that John Cheke was ''a little too much addicted to the curious practising of this star-divinity, which we call astrology" (Acts and Monuments, ed. Pratt, VIII, 257). And see my article
"John Foxe on Astrology," ELR, I (1971), 210-225.
3 Psychephonus, as a Franciscan monk, pretends to be reciting his breviary.
The five wounds of St. Francis are the stigmata. In the original manuscript version, Psychephonus begins by reciting from John I.r.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.2
ACTUS V. SCENA II.
Trochaici Tetrametri Catalectici.
Pseudamnus. Satan Palliatus. Psychephonus Hypocrita.
[ PSEUDAMNUS. ]
Haecne fieri flagitia? Vbi scelus illic nunc siet Monstrari uolo. Ecquis hic est?
SATAN.
Hypocrisis.
PsYCHEPHONUS.
Papam uti, et Card'nalium senatum conseruare digneris:
Te rogamus, audi nos. Vt lineos, laneos episcopos— SATAN.
Satis est. Respice inquam, Hypocrisis.
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Quisnam homo intercipit?
Proh pietatis culmen, Pseudamne! Vide, precibus extra me In purgatorium usque rapi sum uisus, atque audin' quae ibi
Vidi fieri? Deus mala auertat.
[p. 69]
PsEUDAMNUS.
Quid est?
PsvcHEPHONUS.
Scotus Et Thomas quam immaniter se caedebant facibus:
Moxque ingens, tota in culina umbrarum, questus obortus est.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Qui nam?
PsycHEPHONUS.
Missae quia tantopere ubique frigeant, Illi eo calent impensius, iam nec sperare exitum.
Haec ubi specto, ecce haereticorum ilico psammocotiae Myriades, infinita undarum ui, scintillitus
Totam abolent Aethnam purgatoriam.
SATAN.
Ominosa haec mihi
Perparum placent.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Sed ubi ille haereticus interim ?
3. Card'nalium] B and later editions read Cardualium; MSC, which does not have an apostrophe, is unclear.
4. audi nos] I supply these words from MSC; B reads &e.
13. psammocotiae] transliterated from the Greek viauuaxóotot, 14. Myriades] a Greek word, found in medieval Latin (TLL). scintillitus] I find no other instance of this adverbial form.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
[V.2] Enter Pseudamnus, Satan in his cloak, and attendants.
PsEUDAMNUs. Did these disgraceful things happen?! I want to know where that scoundrel is now. But who's this?
SATAN. Hypocrisis.
PsYCHEPHONUS [praying]. Deign to preserve the pope and the college of cardinals; hear us, we implore you. As flax and wool, our bishops
SATAN. That's enough, Hypocrisis. Look here, I tell you.
PsycHEPHONUS. Who interrupts me? Oh, Pseudamnus, the model of piety! Look, as I was praying, I seemed to be transported outside myself and into purgatory. And listen to what I saw happen there. May God avert misfortunes!
PsEUDAMNUS. What is it?
PsycHEPHONUS. Scotus and Thomas* were beating themselves savagely with firebrands, and soon a great lamentation arose in that whole kitchen of shades.
PsrEuDAMNus. Why?
PsyCcHEPHONUS.
Because everybody is cooling off so much on masses now, those spirits are burning that much more intensely, and now they have no hope of escape. While I was watching, myriads of heretics as numberless as the sands of the shore extinguished that whole fiery Aetna of purgatory as if with the infinite force of waves.
Satan. I don't like these omens very much.
PsEUuDAMNUs. But where's that heretic meanwhile?
1 A note in B refers to Apocalypse 19.
? "Te rogamus audi nos" is a refrain in certain Catholic liturgies; I have not found the other parts of this prayer, and Foxe may have made them up.
3 Duns Scotus and Thomas Aquinas, the great (and conflicting) scholastic philosophers of the thirteenth century, were especially scorned by sixteenthcentury reformers. A draft version had them engaged in a diro duello, and Foxe may have intended se (1. 9) to be read '"'each other."
344.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.2
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Papae, Interim tun' haereticum esse dicis iusque concilii Violas? Haud faxis nephas.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Haereticum dico, hac qui modo.
PsyCHEPHONUS.
Vah intelligo, Hierologum nempe illum, hac qui se abduxit recens Cum Europo una per plateam dextram. Collegium
Vbi sit nostin'? Ultra ponticulum. Ego pone insequor immaniter.
Vbi persensit, obliquat uiam in uicum alium, item in alium, Ad phanum donec uentum sit. Hic quia instare me uidet
[f. 70] Nec desistere, uiam uorat pedibus quantum ualet.
Lf. 152v] Denique cursu uicit carnifex. At ubi sit prope
Tamen hariolor. Ad forum cum acceditis escarium, Quadriuium illic est, transuersis plateis sese in angulos
Rectos scindens. Hic relicta dextra, ad laeuam uergite Vicus qua decliuis, recta ad portam uos praecipitat,
Versus utramque ursam. Illic secus portam, adeoque uel in — 30 Ipsa porta potius, carcer Bocardo est. Ibi est. Capin'?
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PsycHEPHoNus. Indeed! Do you declare Meanwhile! to be a heretic and violate the authority of the council? Don't commit that wrong.
PsEUDAMNUs. I say the heretic who was just here.
PsvcuEPHONUs. Oh, I know him: it was Hierologus who just left here with Europus. They went down this street on our right. Do you know where the college is, beyond the little bridge? I chased after him fiercely. When he realized that, he changed directions, first into one street, then into another, until he got to the church.
He didn't stop there, because he saw that I was still following; he ate up the road with his feet as fast as he could. The scoundrel finally outran me. But I can pretty well guess where he is. As you approach the Cornmarket, you come to Carfax, where the intersecting streets go off at right angles. Ignore the right and turn left, where a street leads down a hill and brings you quickly right to the city gate, toward the two Bears. There, beside the gate—or rather right in the gate—is the prison, Bocardo.? He's there. Do you follow me?
1 [f this is the correct interpretation (and interim makes little sense except as a proper name), Psychephonus is ridiculed for stupidity.
? Foxe clearly had Oxford in mind: the prison, Bocardo, was located in the North Gate in Oxford (hence the orientation by the two Bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, located in the northern sky). Latimer and Ridley and Cranmer were imprisoned there from March 1554 (before that they had been in the Tower of London), and Cranmer was stil there as Foxe wrote (he was executed on March 21, 1556). Latimer and Ridley were executed on October 16, 1555, and Hierologus probably represents one or both of them; in the next scene, we hear that Theosebes has joined Hierologus, and he probably represents the other bishop: apparently both Hierologus and Theosebes are killed.
Another recognizable feature of Oxford is the Cornmarket leading downhill from an intersection (Carfax, in Oxford, is a corruption of quatervois, which is derived from quadrivium) to the North Gate (though the downhill gradient is very slight). Other features are harder to identify, and I cannot be as certain of Psychephonus' bearings as the manuscript prompter in the Harvard copy of B, who transposed Foxe's *'left" and "right" in l. 28. Several Oxford bridges have been called "little" at one time or another. Anthony Wood identified the hermits of Pettypont as being located at Magdalen Bridge (in the east), which has never been very small (Survey of the Antiquities of the City of Oxford [1661-6], ed. Andrew
Clark, Oxford Historical Society, XV [Oxford, 1889], 411); but he also identified
Little Bridge with Quaking Bridge, which in 1498 was said to be the western bridge (Wood, p. 433; see Herbert Hurst, Oxford Topography, Oxford Historical
Society, XXXIX [Oxford, 1899], and for old maps, see XXXVIII [Oxford, 1899]). Even Grandpont, in the south, was called a "little Bridge" (Hutten's
Antiquities of Oxford [1632], quoted by Hurst, p. 32)! From a perspective inside
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.3
PsEUDAMNUS.
Agite actutum uos, inquam, ut fortes decet satellites Martyromastigae, inquisitores, articulifices,
Artolatrae, gymnopodes, dicaspoli, decretarii, incendarii.
Vbi ubi est, inuentum hunc Hierologum facite. Atque auditis? ad Diocten abducite. Eum quid opus sit facto, instruam probe.
Sed Pornapolim uideo. Vos abite.
ACTUS V. SCENA III.
[5. 71] Iambici Trimetri.
Pornapolis. Pseudamnus. Anabasius. [Zenodorus. Dromo. Colax.] [PonNAPOLIS.] An usquam os audiri tam proiectum aut impudens
Pornapolim dicere meretriculam ut audeat?
Nec hiscat tellus? Coelum aut rubet fulmine?
Sed Pseudamnum, ubi sit, conuentum nimis expeto.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Pornapolis, audistin' igitur?
PoRNAPOLIS.
Audisse rogitas
Publica iam fabula quum simus omnibus?
Scripturas iam omnes lectitant: latomi, fabri, Figuli, et qui non? Uulgique faex (mihi quod male est)
Iam coepit sapere. Quin et mores insuper Nostros ad Euangelii trutinam exigunt.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Plus prope in hac re mali uideo quam remedii.
33. martyromastigae] apparently a coinage. The standard form of the second element is mastigiae. articulifices] apparently a coinage, but from standard elements, articulus and -fex (from facio).
94. Artolatrae] apparently a coinage from the Greek words dpros, a loaf of wheatbread, and Aarpeía, worship. The allusion is to transubstantiation. gymnopodes] transliterated from the Greek yuuvorddns, barefoot, and referring to discalced orders of monks. In the draft version, they are called pulpifices, i.e., flesh-making (?fat ?transubstantiating), after earlier being called Sarbonarii (?of Sorbonne). dicaspoli] transliterated from the Greek 8:xaorddos, law-giver, judge. decretarius] LTL lists this word for judicial.
P.H. Zenodorus . .
. Colax] omitted in MSC and B.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PsgupAMNus. Go quickly, I tell you, as brave helpers should. My martyr-scourges, my inquisitors, my indictment-makers, my bread-worshippers, my discalced followers, my judges, my decretists, my incendiaries! be sure to find this Hierologus wherever he is. Then take him to Dioctes, do you hear? I'll instruct him thoroughly about what to do. But I see Pornapolis.
Go.
[ Exeunt all but Pseudamnus.
[V.3] Enter Pornapolis and attendants.
PoRNAPOLIS [aside]. Was ever a speech heard so forward or impudent? To dare to say Pornapolis is a whore!? Doesn't the earth gape open, the sky glow with thunderbolts? But where's Pseudamnus? I'm eager to talk to him.
PsEUDAMNUs. Pornapolis, have you heard then?
PoRNAPOLIS. You ask if I've heard, when we're already a common story on everybody's lips. They're all diligently reading scriptures—stonecutters, smiths, potters, everybody. And, what I think is bad, the dregs of the people are starting to be wise now. What's more, they're even weighing our traditions in the scales of the gospel.?
PsEuDAMNUs. In this I see more sickness near than I see remedy. the city, no colleges were beyond any river bridges. St. John's Hospital was outside the East Gate, and in 1331 was said to be by the Little Bridge (Hurst, p. 206); and Blackfriars south of town was beyond Grandpont, and also beyond a small bridge (Trill Mill Bow) over Trill Mill Stream (Hurst, pp. 40-41). Or perhaps Foxe had in mind a footbridge over a stream—such as the little bridge
(near Magdalen?) on which Master Harley hung his cloak during the dawn stroll which Foxe laughed about in a surviving poem (Lansdowne MS. 388, f. 59). Similarly, the church mentioned in Psychephonus' description could be any of several.
1 See the notes to the Latin text. The incendiaries painfully recall the burnings of Mary's reign.
2 The draft version added a line calling Pseudamnus the Apocalyptic beast.
3 Pornapolis expresses the Catholic position concerning two issues under dispute with reformers: the reading of Scriptures by laymen, and the relative weight of traditions and Scriptures.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.3
PoRNAPOLIS.
Iam hos nec uincla, unguli, eculei, enses, tormina, Flammae nec ultrices, nec quicquam territat.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Consilii quid capiam cogito. Zenodore, abi Hac cum rosa aurea ad Dynasten blanditer.
|f. 759)
Tu ensem aurea tectum uagina ad Dynamicum [5. 72] Perfer. Dromo, tuum est linolaneum hoc pallium ad
Nesophilum uti feras. Principes uolo primulum Adamantino mihi ut stringantur foedere.
17. linolaneum] perhaps a coinage, though the elements of the compound are of course standard words.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Pornapo.is. Now these people aren't frightened by chains, rings, racks, swords, torments, punishing flames, or anything else.
PsEupAMNus. I wonder what course to follow.
Zenodore,! go and soften up Dynastes with this golden rose.?
You, take this sword in a golden sheath to Dynamicus.* Dromo, your job is to take this linsey-woolsey pallium to Nesophilus.4
First I'd like these princes bound to me in an ironclad league; 1 See the notes to the Dramatis Personae. This passage, with its topical allusions, was added to the manuscript version after being omitted in the earliest draft.
? Dynastes (8vváorgs) means ruler, here specifically Mary Tudor. The golden rose is a papal honor, blessed on Laetare Sunday and presented to royal figures whom the pope thinks deserving. In Foxe's time it was a single golden rose; since the late sixteenth century, it has been a golden plant with varying number of blossoms (The Catholic Encyclopedia [New York, 1913], VI, 629-630). Pope
Julius III sent a golden rose to Mary, by his nuncio Antonio Agostini, on January
27, 1555 (Calendar of State Papers | Spanish], XIII, 137; Gaetano Moroni Romano,
Dizionario di Erudizione StoricoEcclesiastica, LIX. [Venice, 1853], 131; G. C. Young,
Ornaments and Gifts Consecrated by the Roman Pontiffs. The Golden Rose, the Cap and Sword, Presented to Sovereigns of England and Scotland |London, (1860)], pp. 32-33).
? Dynamicus (8vwaju«ós), powerful, refers to Philip II, Mary's husband. The sword in a golden sheath is another papal gift, blessed on Christmas Eve and presented with the words "'statuimus te Principem Catholicum." At the same time as the presentation of the golden rose to Mary, Julius III sent a sword (and cap) to Philip (Moroni, Dizionario, LX X. [Venice, 1854], 50).
* 'The pallium is the symbol of office given to archbishops. It is made of wool, not linsey-woolsey; by Old Testament law, wool and linen could not be woven together (Deuteronomy 22.11). One thinks immediately of Cardinal Wolsey and of Skelton's attack on him in "Why Come Ye Not to Courte?" 125-128: ""We shall have a tot quot / From the Pope of Rome,
/ Fo weue all in one lome / A webbe of lylse wulse." Foxe may have known of this poem, but his immediate object, as Bienvenu noted, was Cardinal Pole, Cranmer's successor as Archbishop of Canterbury. Pole did not receive the pallium until March 22, 1556, after Cranmer's execution, but he had taken over the administration of the archbishopric on December 11, 1555, when Cranmer was officially deprived, and his appointment as archbishop was a foregone conclusion.
Nesophilus (vjcos and qos) means island-lover, and a complex pun is involved. In the apocalyptic books, islands are equated with deserts as places separated from God
(e.g., Isaiah 19.22, 34.14, Ezekiel 27.35, Apocalypse 6.14, 16.20); Alcuin interpreted Apocalypse 6.14 as follows: "Per insulas vero minoris justitiae homines accipimus adhuc in tribulationibus fluctuantes"
(Patrologia Latina, C, 1127).
Pole's life shows him to have been the opposite of an island-lover, for he had spent years in exile and had resisted as dangerous many invitations to return home; he had finally returned to the island as papal legate in November, 1554, after Mary's accession. Foxe may have had another level of meaning in mind,
Pole's cardinalate: vjoos was a purple garment, like the Roman praetexta.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.3
Est disciplinae hoc. Quid aliud uolui? Colax, Tu ad Diocten propera annulo cum hoc gemmeo.
Ausculta in aurem. Intellextin? Eadem tibi Quae dixi, illi ut dicas face. Virum ut se hic gerat.
ANABASIUS.
Alas, mihi si quis nunc adaptet Daedalus, Pseudamno damna haec ut feram quam primulum.
Atque eccum. Euge Pornapolis, utriusque me Miseret.
PorNAPOLIS.
Quidnam mali, Anabasi, est?
ANABASIUS.
Quod si uelim,
Effari nequeam.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Primum mihi id unum expedi:
De Hierologo quid?
ANABASIUS,
Vinctus est, ac Theosebes Cum eo una. At quid tum? Tu tamen nihilominus Vorsuram soluis.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Quid ita?
ANABASIUS.
Mundus quia, diu Iam oculis captus, uidere coepit. Naribus Diutius nec duci, homines literae ac Linguae passim perpoliunt. Fuco nihil
Proficitur. Imperio undique tuo oppeditur:
Claues uilescere, bullas concacarier.
Fulmen ubique ac diadema triplex temnier.
[p73] Christum ipsum uiuere. Corpus monstrum esse duo quod Alit capita. Pompam, luxum, libidinem, Saeuitiam, doctrinam, ueneficia, scelera,
Fucos, fumos, uitaeque strepitum tragicae, Facile qui sis arguere: Antichristum esse te
Denique constanter credier.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Lf 153v] Quid ais?
ANABASIUSs.
Te Antichristum, Pseudamne, esseque Pornapolim hanc, pellicem Babyloniam die Magis lucescere. eil 43.] both B and MSC have notes identifying the meter of this line as dimeter.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
that's good tactics. What else did I want ?—— Colax,! you run to Dioctes with this jeweled ring.? [ll whisper in your ear.
[He whispers.] Do you understand? Be sure to tell him what I told you.
[Zo Pornapolis.] I hope Colax proves manly.
Enter Anabasius.
ANABASIUS [aside]. Alas, if some Daedalus would fix it for me now to suffer these misfortunes in place of Pseudamnus as soon as possible! There he is.
Oh Pornapolis, I pity you both.
PonNAPOLIs. What's wrong, Anabasius ?
ANABASIUS. I couldn't tell you if I wanted to.
PsEUDAMNUs. First tell me one thing: what about Hierologus?
ANABASIUS. He's in chains, and Theosebes? with him. But so what?
You've jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
PsEUDAMNUs. Why so?
ANABASIUS. Because the world, long blinded, is now beginning to see.
Men won't be led by the nose much longer. Everywhere they're being refined by letters and languages. Nothing is achieved by deception. Everywhere they're farting at your orders and shitting on your bulls. Your keys are worthless, and your thunder and triple crown* are universally scorned, for they say Christ himself lives and that a body which sustains two heads is a monstrosity.
They say your pomp, extravagance, lust, savagery, doctrine, poisonings, crimes, trickeries and trumperies, and the tumult of their tragic life easily prove who you are: they firmly believe that you are the Antichrist.
PsEeuDAMNUS. What?
ANABASIUS. That you are the Antichrist, Pseudamnus. And they say it's clearer than day that Pornapolis here is the Babylonian whore.
1 Flatterer. Menander and Plautus wrote comedies so titled.
? Probably a reference to the jewelled ring which is a symbol of papal office.
There had been two changes in the papacy in 1555: Julius III had died in April, and his successor, Marcellus II, in May; Paul IV had then been elected.
3 God-fearing (GeoceBys); see p. 345, n. 2.
* Symbols of the papacy.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.3
PsEUDAMNUS.
Men' Antichristum, cedo?
ANABASIUS.
Bestia quem signat scilicet Apocalyptica.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Mundus mirum ut delirat senio: bestia 'Turcam haec monstrat Mahometicum.
ANABASIUS.
Id et responderam. At Contra illi (ut sunt acutuli) "Phy," inquiunt,
"Fieri haud pote est." Quidum? *'Primum scriptura quod Sedem hanc obtenebratum iri praenunciat"—fateor
Id vobis euenisse, haud Turcis: certum est modo Res quum splendescunt Turcicae indies magis.
Dein neque negari possit quin uulnere
Vno haec sit capitali plectenda bestia, Quae, recuperato ictu, sanescet denuo.
[p. 74] Id quod nimis in triagonesa est gente liquidum:
Negatam quae prius, nunc iterum firmat fidem, Nesophili nostri opera. Eoque secunda habent
Illum pro bestia, idem quam uates nunciat.
PORNAPOLIS.
Me miseram.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Qui putant?
ANABASIUS.
Vitae ac uoci quia Inanimem bestiae reddidit imaginem Suis phrenapatiis, agni dum cornua Fingit lupus, tygride quauis immanior.
Remque ita habere, ipsa res (inquiunt) arguit.
Haud haec in Turcas, uos nisi Turcae sitis, Congruere. Tum Europaeus ne nos deserat Insuper, ut affectum uideo, metus est.
PORNAPOLIS.
Pseudamne, ni me fulcitis, labasco.
PsEUDAMNUS.
Vah, 79.
Leui perculsa nuncio tam muliebriter ?
53. vobis] I follow MSC; B reads nobis.
58. triagonesa] a coinage from Greek rpv-, three, and àyóv, struggle; I know no precedent for the adjectival suffix -esa (could it be from edo, esus?).
64. phrenapatüs] transliterated from the Greek gpevardrns, soul-deceiver.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
PsEupAMNus. Me the Antichrist, was that?
ANABASIUS. The very one that the Apocalyptic beast symbolizes.
PsEUDAMNUs. It's astonishing how the world is going mad in its old age. That beast symbolizes the Mohammedan Turk.
ANABASIUS. I answered that too. But they say in response how clever they are!——"'Fie, it cannot be." Why? First because scripture foretells that its power will be overshadowed, and I confess that that has happened to you, not to the Turks, since it's certain that the Turks' interests grow brighter every day. Then again, it couldn't be denied that the beast is to be struck with one deadly wound and that, recovering from the blow, he'll regain his strength,! and that's too clearly true with the thricesuffering people,? who now reassert the faith which, through the effort of our Nesophilus, they formerly denied; so they take him for the second beast which the prophet also foretold.
PoRNAPOLIs [aside]. I feel awful.
PsEUDAMNUs. How do they figure?
ANABASIUS. Because in their mad fancies he restores to life and speech the lifeless image of the beast;? and a wolf, fiercer than any tiger, feigns the horns of a lamb. And they say the fact proves itself: these things don't fit the Turks at all, unless you are the Turks.
In addition, there's the fear that Europus will abandon us, as I see him inclined to do.
Pornapo is. Pseudamnus, if you don't hold me up, I'm ready to fall.
PsEuDAMNUus. Bah! So womanish to be overwhelmed by trivial news?
1 See Apocalypse 13.3.
2 The English; the earliest draft located them "on an island."
Bienvenu translated the phrase "la gent Britannique."
? See Apocalypse 13.15.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.4
PORNAPOLIs.
Non, sed nescio quid morbi me subito impetit.
Oborta primum uertigo mihi synciput Exturbat. Cor molari ueluti lapide Premitur. Pes nec officio fungitur.
Proin me hinc abducite, et medicos, quantum potest, Adducite.
PsEupAMNUS.
Anabasi, tu hinc ad laeuam occupa.
Ego me hic praebebo ad dextram.
PoRNAPOLIS.
Vix sum pedum Compos.
Lf 154] Lp. 75]
ACTUS V. SCENA IIII.
Scazontes Iambici.
Africus. Europus. Ecclesia.
[AFRICUS. ]
Fratrem matremque Ecclesiam tota iam urbe Lassesco quaerens, quos diu nunc non uisos
Videre gestio. Eoque maturius huc me, Ex Africa ueniens castrisque relictis, Retuli tantas in Europa postquam audiui Turbas salui ne sint ut uideam. Ita ut esse
Accipio et laetor. Sed quid hic susurratum Extra fores audio? Pontificius si quis Venit, uenisse me uideri in hoc nolim Articulo.
Evropus.
Num quis Corycaeus seu Melampygus Hic est? Nemo est. Quid? Nullus auritus Midas Vsquam, uel sub lapide dentatus dormiscens
Scorpio? Nihil est, mater, pericli: in portu adsis Licet.
Arricus.
Fratrem germanum, quem uolo, Europum Video.
Evropus.
Quod seclum hoc! Quae peruersitas! Tectis Nulli tutum ut sit prorepere sacerdotum ob
Vaesaniam!
79. Compos] as in MSC; B prints the word as part of 1. 78.
10. Melampygus] transliterated from Greek ueAaumóyos; see note opposite.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Pornapouis. No, but all of a sudden some sort of sickness is coming over me. A new dizziness whirls my brain. My heart is squeezed as if by a millstone. My feet won't function. So take me away from here and bring doctors as soon as possible. Take me in.
PsrupAMNus. Anabasius, hold her on the left. I'll take the right side.
Pornapo.is. I can scarcely walk.
[ They help Pornapolis off.
[V.4] Enter Africus.
Arricus.! I'm growing weary of searching through the whole city for my brother and my mother, Ecclesia, whom I long to see since I haven't seen them for a long time now. I left my camp in Africa and came here all the more quickly after I heard of so many tumults in Europe that I could see they might not be safe.
I trust that they are, and I'm glad. But what's the buzzing I hear outside the gates here? If some pope's man is coming, I wouldn't want it known that I've come at just this moment.
[| He hides.
Enter Europus.
EunoPvs [aside, looking around]. Is there any Corycean spy here,? or any black-bottomed Hercules?? No one. What, no long-eared
Midas anywhere,' no sharp-toothed scorpion sleeping under [Calling.] Mother, there's no danger. You may enter in a rock ? safety.
Arricus [aside]. I see Europus, the twin brother that I'm wishing for.
EunoPvs [aside]. What an age this is! What perversity, that because of the madness of the priests no one can creep out of doors safely.
1 A note in B cites Apocalypse 17, but I find no parallel. (?Perhaps Chapter 18, which tells of the fall of the whore.) 2 See p. 147, n. 1, and p. 419.
3 Black nates, especially associated with Hercules, were thought by the Greeks to be a sign of virility and strength. But Europus must think of it as a pejorative term, since he is clearly thinking of possibly dangerous enemies. Note too that Satan hopes for another pagan demigod, Theseus, to help him.
4 Midas was given ass' ears by Apollo for favoring Pan in a music contest.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.4
ECCLESIA.
Quod ego nunc profugium quaeram Misera? Aut quo uertam amplius? Adeo cuncta [^- 76 Periclis plena, iamque ipsum nec desertum
Tutum sit a serpentibus?
AFRICUS.
Mea mater, Salue.
EccuestA.
Quid, mi gnate, Africe mi, uenistin? Iam Miseriarum me merito omnium coepit | Obliuio, te ubi recipio reducem.
EvRopus.
Equidem saluum Atque ualidum, germane mi, restitutum te Nobis gaudeo.
ECCLESIA.
Quando uenisti ?
AFRICUS.
Modo mater.
ECCLESIA.
2g Mirari te scio satis tam depexam me Ac stygmaticam adeo undique conspici. Sed nil
Horum pudet me, Christi quae causa sponsi Suffero.
Arricus.
Me miserum, ut te affectam domum offendo Rediens!
EccLEsIA.
Sic, nate, mihi ut nec in carne solidum Nec in terris tutum quicquam siet. Porro
Vidua ac egens bonis omnibus ac patria exul Mutilor, cui ad ultimam nihil amplius possit
Miseriam accedere.
AFRICUS.
Proh nephas, quisnam tanti Lf 154v]
Sceleris autor sacrilegus? Quam mox monstrari Hominem gestio.
[Evropus. ] Pseudamnus, Christi atque bonorum Hostis omnium.
AFRICUS.
Vah, eaque reor causa extrusit Me in militiam hinc.
[^- 77] 17. profugium] LTL lists the form as equivalent to the standard perfugium.
26. depexam] cf. IV.8.37n. above.
27. stygmaticam] the standard form would be stigmosam (LTL).
36. S.P.] B reads Ec[clesia]; MSC is ambiguous. See Textual Notes.
37. omnium] the MSC reading, hominum, is tempting and could have been misread as omnium.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Enter Ecclesia, scarred.
EccLEsrA. What refuge should I seek now, wretch that I am? Where else can I turn, since every place is full of dangers and not even the desert 1s free of serpents?
AFRICUS [coming forward]. My dear mother, hello.
EccLEsi4. What! My son! My Africus! Have you come? Now I have reason to begin to forget all my miseries, for I welcome you back.
Europus. Indeed, my brother, I rejoice that you are restored to us safe and well.
EccrEsi4. When did you come?
AFRICUS. Just now, mother.
Ecciesia. I know you're quite surprised to see me so battered and scarred all over. But none of this is my shame, since I endure it for the sake of my bridegroom, Christ.
Arricus. Woe is me that I return to find you afflicted at home.
EccrEsi4. So much so, my son, that there is nothing solid in my flesh! and nothing safe for me anywhere in the world. Besides,
I'm a widow, bereft of all my goods, and an exile cut off from my country.? To that last misery no greater for me could be added.
Arricus. Oh wickedness! What scofflaw is the author of such a wrong? I want to see that man immediately.
Ecciesta. Pseudamnus, an enemy of Christ and of all good men.
Arricus. Oh, it was for that reason, I guess, that he hustled me away from here into military action.
1 Cf. the famous crux in Hamlet 1.2.129.
2 Cf. Titus et Gesippus II1.7.10 ff.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.4
EunoPvus.
Est artis pontificiae istuc, Si quem fors indolis uideant erectae Aut metuant principem, bello occupant, ipsi
Impune in aurem ut dormiant.
AFRIGUS.
At ego somnum hic Excutiam mastygiae probe. I mecum, frater, Cerebrum ni Cerbero extundam cani ilico. Dein
Scripto milite, atria arcesque inuasero, ac Europam Hydra exonerabo actutum Acherontica, ne quid
Boni amplius mali hinc metuant. In aurem quin
Ipsis dormire liceat.
ECCLESIA.
Haud ita decet, nec Patiar uim unquam fieri.
AFRICUS.
Cur non?
ECCLESIA.
Quia enim dabo Consilium rectius et melius. Vis omnis Facessat: minas in patientiam, uires in Preces uertemus. Telum oratione una Nullum potentius: machina ipsum haec perrumpit
Coelum. Illorum inferre est, nostrum ferre iniusta:
Sors quippe haec sanctorum, et uictoria est. Christi Nisi aduentu, haec extingui bellua haud quita est:
n5 Illi ergo trophaeum hoc permittemus integrum.
Nam ad me quidem quod attinet, sic inducor:
Quae fero, Christi causa quum fero, lubens ferre.
Maiora ille: illo maiores haud sumus. Illius Sunt stigmata: suam is causam pro arbitratu
Vindicet. Etsi diu iam pertulerim, haud is Diu tamen aberit, spero, malis qui imponet
Finem. Nos interim, tempus uti diei est, Iunctis instemus precibus. At unde crepuerunt
Fores?
AFRICUS.
Quid uirgines lychnophorae captant Praetensis huc quae facibus affectant miror.
[p. 78]
38. pontificiae] the standard adjective is pontificalis (LTL).
65. lychnophorae] transliterated from Greek Avyvogópos.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
EunoPus.
It's a papal art. If they happen to see any leader of noble temperament or if they're afraid, they keep him busy in war so they may sleep on their ears in safety.
Arricus. But I'll shake up the scoundrel's sleep well enough now.
Go with me, brother. If I don't beat the brains out of that dog Cerberus! Then I'll raise an army, invade his courts and citadels, and relieve Europe quickly from that hellish Hydra,! so that from now on good men need fear no further evil and those fellows won't be able to sleep on their ears.
EccrEsia. That's not right at all. Pll never allow force to be used.
AFRICUS. Why not?
EccrEsra. Because I'll give you a plan which is both better and more proper. All violence must end. We'll change threats into patience, force into prayers. No weapon is more powerful than a single prayer: this is an engine which breaks through heaven itself.
Their way is to inflict injustices, ours to endure them: this indeed is the lot of saints and their victory. Except by the coming of Christ, this beast cannot be destroyed.? So we'll let him have this trophy untouched, because as far as I'm concerned I'm resolved to endure willingly whatever I endure since I endure it for the sake of Christ. He bore greater ills, and we are not greater than he. The stigmas are his; let him vindicate his cause as he will. Though
I have suffered for a long time now, yet I hope he who will bring an end to troubles will not be absent long. Meantime, let's entreat him with our joint prayers, since it is the proper time of day. But why are the doors creaking?
ArRICUS. I wonder what these lamp-carrying virgins want? They're coming toward us holding torches in front of them.
1 Africus alludes to two of Hercules' labors.
2 A note in B refers to Apocalypse 13-14, and just below another note cites 2 Thessalonians 2. Both passages prepare for the second coming of Christ; the former passage chronicles the rise of the beasts of the sea and the earth, and the vision of the lamb and the virgins. Foxe's five virgins (not the 144,000 of Apocalypse) enter just below.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.5
ECCLESIA.
Comitissae sunt meae: meum scio sponsum Ad nuptias expectant quoad ueniat.
ACTUS V. SCENA V.
[f 155] Scazontes Iambici.
Chorus Quinque Virginum. Ecclesia. Europus. Africus.
[CHorus r.] Nox etsi sera perquam sit et intempesta, Adeoque gallus iam auditus tertius, certum est
Vigilando haud defatigari tamen sponsus Dum uenit ad nuptias.
CHORUS 2.
Itaque cantu noctis Nos aliquo trudamus taedium. At ipsam sponsam
Video. Hera, salue.
ECCLESIA.
Saluete. Merito uos Laudo amoque, saluti sic quae inuigilatis Mundus dum altum dormit perditionis somnum.
CHORUS 3.
[p. 79] Alios nescio. Nos quod facimus, facere nostrae Id esse curae ducimus. Sed miseram me, IO Quid id rei est, hera, corpus undique quod liuet
Vibicibus?
EccLEsiA.
Stigmata haec, si nescitis, gemmae Meae sunt unionesque unicae, sponsi Quae causa circumfero.
AFRICUS.
Mihi imperare ultra Nequeo, quin debeam homini scelesto scelus,
Nostrae qui tantum hoc familiae inflixit nephas.
Eamus inquam, Europe frater.
ECCLESIA.
Etiam tu Pergis?
Evropus.
Sine mater.
EccrEstA.
Non sino inquam. Matrem si Me habetis, matri obtemperetis: facite ipsa Vos quae uelim facere.
67. comitissae] DuCange lists the word in a different sense, the wife of a comrade.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
Ecciesia. They're my bridesmaids. I know they're keeping watch for my bridegroom until he comes for the wedding.
[V.5] Enter chorus of five virgins.
Cuorus 1. Though the night be very late and stormy, and the third cock has already been heard, yet I am determined not to be exhausted from my vigil until the bridegroom comes for the wedding.
Corus 2. So let us drive away weariness with a song of night.
But I see the bride herself.—— Hail, mistress.
EcciestA. Hail. Deservedly do I praise and love you, who thus keep watch over my safety while the world sleeps the deep sleep of perdition.
Cuorus 3. I do not understand the others. We do what we consider it our duty to do. But mercy me, mistress, why is your body red all over with stripes?
Eccuesta. These stigmas, if you don't know, are my jewels, my only pearls, which I wear for the sake of my bridegroom.
Arricus. I can't contain myself any longer from the mischief that I owe to the mischievous scoundrel who inflicted such infamy on our family.—— Europus, my brother, I say let's go.
Ecciesta. Do you still go on?
EunoPus. Let us, mother.
Eccuesta. I won't let you, I say. If you acknowledge me as your mother, obey your mother. Do what I want you to do.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.5
AFRICUS.
Age, quae uelis manda.
Manemus.
EccLEsiA.
— Primum ergo preces hic omnes mecum Capessite, uotaque iungamus simul.
CHORUS 4.
Recte Monemur. Dic ergo hera primum Ecclesia, nosque Vocem uoto sequemur tacito tuam.
ECCLESIA.
Miseriis et lachrymis oppleti, ad te, chare
Iesv, palmas protendimus, tua ut dextra Opem ferat diuinam, humana nos quando Prorsus destituunt praesidia. Satis iam Satis abfuisti longa nimis secula, nos dum
Miserae interim peculii tui ouiculae ubique [p. 80] Caedimur, exurimur, rapimur ferro, flamma,
Ac fluctibus. Elementum nullum in nostram non Stragem stringitur. Adeoque res redit, nusquam
Loci ut quicquam tuis sit reliquum in desertis Etiam ultimis, Dioctes sic cuncta ubique
Penetrat, rabiesque Pseudamnica. Age, et quem tandem Miseriae pones modum? Mundus quondam, Christe, abs te uictus quam diu sese impune
Poena in nostra efferet? At te flectat miseranda Rerum facies. Flectant Ecclesiae sponsae
In hoc corpore stigmata. Sponse, uoluptas, rumpe, Age, coelos ut tuos ruamus in amplexus.
Cito, ueni cito, Domine, caro ne forsan salua Nulla maneat. At quae noua lux et odoris mira
Fragrantia repente adspirat sensibus? Ipsa Tum terra uidetur concuti.
(Hic ex editiori theatri loco, repansis cortinis ostendunt se uelut e coelo sedilia et libri positi, simulque ornamenta demittuntur quibus Ecclesia induitur, praeparata ad nuptias.)
CHORUS 5.
Ergo, sorores, Actutum lampades paratae ut sint quaeque Videat: sponsus iam imminet foribus. Sedes
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
AFRICUS. Come, command what you wish; we're staying.
EccLEsiA. First, then, all of you here pray with me. Let's unite our prayers.
CHoRUs 4. We are properly advised.
Lead us, then, mistress Ecclesia, and we will follow your words with our silent prayer.
EccrzsiA [praying]. Filled with miseries and tears, we stretch forth our hands to you, dear Jesus, that your right hand may bring divine assistance, for human resources fail us completely. Far, far too many ages have you been away while we, the wretched little sheep of your own flock, are everywhere butchered by the iron, consumed by the flame, and carried off by the waves: not an element but is committed to our slaughter. We reach the point that no place at all is left for your people, not even in the wildest deserts: Dioctes and the madness of Pseudamnus reach into all affairs everywhere. Come, and set some end to our misery at last. How long, oh Christ, will the world, long ago conquered by you, exalt itself in our suffering? Let the pitiful sight of our condition move you; let these stigmas on the body of your bride
Ecclesia move you. My bridegroom, my beloved, come, break through the heavens, that we may rush into your embraces.
Quickly, come quickly, lord, lest perchance no flesh remain unharmed. But what new light, what wondrous fragrance of perfume suddenly breathes upon my senses?! And now the very earth seems to tremble. [ Here from the upper part of the theater, when the curtains open, are shown as if from heaven thrones with books placed upon them. At the same time garments are lowered in which Ecclesia is dressed and prepared for the wedding.] Cuorus 5. Quickly then, sisters, let each one see that her torches are ready. The bridegroom is now near the door. See, the thrones
1 A note in B cites Apocalypse 21, the account of the new heaven and the new earth; no reference is made there to fragrances, and Foxe's note presumably points to what follows in this scene rather than to this sentence.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.5
Videte positas et apertos libros, Vestes Porro delapsas sponsa queis sese exornet
Ad nuptias.
ECCLESIA.
Mira uero, praeter supraque Spem, oculis ego quae uideo.
AFRICUS.
Magne Deus, magna haec Miracula quid uolunt miror. Tum etiam libros [p. à1] Satis apertos quos uideo, quid ferant horreo.
EvRopus.
Atqui quum attentius lego quid in dextro sit
Volumine aureis insculptum literis, Nunquid uides?
AFRICUS.
Recte nunc uideo in hanc nempe Sententiam: Hierusalem uidi nouam, coelo Descendentem, a Deo paratam uti sponsam Viro ornatam suo. Datumque illi est ut se
Cooperiat byssino puro atque splendido, etc."
EvRoPus.
Haec ita sunt modo, diuina quae sunt, humana Vt omnia uincant gaudia.
AFRICUS.
Gaudio ita sum ut qui Sim ubique sim nesciam.
CHORUS 1.
O nos foelices, sponsus Postquam aduentat, spectatus tam diu ad nuptias.
Sed interim sponsam cessamus ornare Bombycina hac palla. Ast pexis eam pannis Discingamus prius. Age, ubi instita iam illa
Bibapha? Peplum porro addamus cum syrma Hyacinthia. Tu, Parthene, crepidas has
Pedibus et calopodia subiice. Cedo autem Periscelidas illic quae secus calyptram ad
56.] a note in MSC identifies the meter of the line as "'Senar. iamb.".
69. Bibapha| a Greek word, fay, dipping in dye, with a Latin prefix, bi-.
70. hyacinthia] the standard form is hyacinthus; Hyacinthia is the name of a Spartan festival (L-S).
71. calopodia] a Greek word, diminutive of xoAázovs; but in Greek it means a shoemaker's last, not the shoes themselves. (x«aMózovs means having beautiful feet.)
DuCange lists calopodium as a Latin word.
72. Periscelidas] the normal form would be feriscelides.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
are in place, and the books are opened, and garments are lowered in which the bride may deck herself for the wedding.
Eccresta. Wondrous indeed and far beyond my hope are the things I see.
Arricus. Oh great God, I marvel at what these great miracles mean.
And the books which I see open, I shudder at what they contain.
EunoPus. While I concentrate on what is written in the golden letters of the right-hand volume, do you see anything
AFRICUS. I see clearly now, even to this sentence: *I saw the new Jerusalem descending from heaven, prepared by God as a bride adorned for her husband. And to her it was granted that she be arrayed in linen shining and pure," etc.?
EvnoPus. Only these divine joys are sufficient to surpass all human joys.
AFRICUS. I'm so happy I don't know who or where I am.
Cuorus 1. Oh we joyous people, for the bridegroom, so long awaited, is coming for the wedding. But now let's deck the bride in this silken robe.? First we'll free her from these shaggy garments.
Come now, where's that double-dyed flounce? Next we'll add the mantle with a train of hyacinth. Parthene,* put these sandals and shoes on her feet. Now the leg bands, please; they're lying
1 A note in B cites Apocalypse 20.[12].
2 A note in B cites Apocalypse 21.[2].
3 The manuscript version ends at this point.
^ Virgin.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.5
Manum adiacent. Deinde hoc flammeum collo Circundemus et torquem cum murenulis ex Auro quadruplicem. Sancta Salus, diuinitus cuncta
Vt quadrant corpori! Restat deinceps nunc [p. 82]
Calantica capiti quam concinnemus cum Diademate. Quid nunc aliud est? Chirothecas
Et riculam hanc in manus cape. Proh gemmarum Quantus et emblematum fulgor! Dicas ipsam
Inesse claritatem Dei. Hera, dic sodes, Nouo in hoc tibi nunc ut places synthemate ?
ECCLESIA.
Sponso Postquam placeo, mihi nunc demum placeo.
CHORUS.
Quanta Vero Hierologum et Theoseben uinctos perfundent Foelicitate, haec ita ubl esse audierint!
EvRoPvus.
Perquam Itaque mox haec ut resciscant censeo.
ECCLESIA.
Nunc quid Hic restat amplius?
CHORUS.
Nisi uti uentantes Epithalamio aliquo nunc excipiamus Has nuptias.
AFRICUS.
Assentior.
EPITHALAMIVM.
Sponse, memor nostri, rumpant tua numina nubes,
Daque tuis redeat, te redeunte, quies.
Longa satis, seruator, abes nunc secula terris, Nos tua dum gemimus gens laniata lupis.
Mundus ut in nostram praeceps insanit et ardet Perniciem, tutum nil sinit esse tuis.
Vndique desertos fera nos sic fata fatigant,
Nullaque non nostro sanguine terra rubet.
77. Calantica] in the best classical manuscripts, the standard form is calautica.
78. Chirothecas] a combination of two Greek words, xep hand, and 65km, repository. DuCange lists it as a Latin word.
82. synthemate] transliterated from a Greek word, ovveua, sum or assembly.
87. uentantes] vento is a nonce-word, found in Varro (L-S).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
there right next to her hat. Then we'll wind this red bridal veil around her neck, and the necklace with four golden strands intertwined. Holy Salus, everything fits her figure divinely. We still must fit the headpiece and the diadem over her head. Now what else is there? These gloves, and hold this small veil in your hands. Oh, how the gems and ornaments gleam! You would say the very splendor of God is in her. Mistress, pray tell us how you like yourself in your new ensemble now.
Ecciesia. Since I am pleasing to my bridegroom, I am now pleasing to myself at last.
Cuorus. How happy these things will make the fallen Hierologus and Theosebes when they hear what has happened
EunoPus. Very much, and I feel sure they'll know about them soon.
Ecciesta. Now what more must be done here?
Cuorus. Nothing except to celebrate the coming nuptials with some epithalamion.
AFRICUS. I agree.
ALL [singing the epithalamion].
Bridegroom, remember us and let your majesty break through the clouds; grant your people that peace will return as you return. Too long are the ages you have been away from the earth, oh savior, while we your people groaned, mangled by wolves. As the rash world rages and burns for our destruction, it allows no safety to your people. On all sides, savage calamities vex us forsaken, and no land but turns
1 A clear indication that Latimer and Ridley are dead as Foxe is writing; they were executed on October 16, 1555. They will "'hear'' the news in the next life.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.5
Ista precor uideas, longos miserate labores:
[p. 83] Nec uideas, uenias sed pie sponse precor.
Te sine nulla mihi uita est, mihi nulla uoluptas:
Delicii nihil est te sine. Sponse, ueni.
Spiritus ut uenias, iubet et te sponsa uenire:
Rumpe uocate moras, sponse, citoque ueni.
Quicquid in orbe patet, tellus pelagusque polusque, Fessa petunt reditum quaeque creata tuum.
Foelix hora quater, nos qua in tua colla ruamus.
Inque sinus plaudat sponsa uenire tuos.
Tum noua perpetuae durabunt tempora uitae, Tempora tum nullis commaculata malis.
Tergentur lachrymae, luctus gemitusque facesset, IIO Nulla cadent siccis salsa fluenta genis.
Ergo utinam coelo redeas quo terra quiescat, Solus enim miseris anchora sola manes.
Atque age nunc mecum quicquid tegit axis Olympi, Cum senibus pueri, cum puerisque senes,
Vos seu uita tenet seu mors tenet arida nigris Pulueribus, frontes tollite, sponsus adest.
Munera qui reddet uitae, qui iura salutis Nunc reparata dabit: plaudite, sponsus adest.
Illa est, illa meis semper memoranda Calendis,
Lumine quae solem uincit et astra, dies, Dextra potens Domini coelo quam misit ab alto,
Laetitiae precium principiumque meae.
Quae uox tantarum plusquam miracula rerum [p. 24] Exprimet et celsi munera tanta patris?
Quum uice iam rerum uersa mundique prioris, Stat natura stupens, statque stupendo tacens.
Victaque dat nunc ipsa manus sentitque pudorem, Quae noua sit mirans, quae uenit, ista dies.
Mors quoque uicta manus metuens sibi porrigit ultro, 190.
Nunc sua quum fracta cuspide tela uidet.
Irrita fata iacent, iacet inuida Parca suumque Scindere nunc stamen cogitur ipsa sibi.
Cedere qui nulli didicit ab origine rerum, Cedere iam discet Terminus ille lapis.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
red with our blood. Look to these things, I pray, and have pity on our long sufferings; and do not merely look, oh holy bridegroom, but come. Without you I have no life, I have no pleasure; nothing is delightful without you. Come, oh bridegroom. Come, the Spirit and the bride bid you come.! End the delays, you who are called; come quickly, bridegroom. Whatever is to be seen in the world—land, sea, pole, and every created thing—is weary and begs you to return.
Four-times happy is the hour when we may fall upon your neck, and the bride may clap her hands to come into your embrace.
Then will last new times of eternal life, times unblemished with misfortunes. Tears will be wiped away, mourning and lamentation ended, no salt streams will fall on our dry cheeks. Then would that you would return from heaven that the earth might have peace, for you alone remain the only refuge of the wretched. Now come, whatever is with me under the axis of the heavens—youth with elders, elders with youth—whether life still holds you or withered death has you in its black dust, lift up your faces: the bridegroom is near. He will restore the gift of life and renew your rights of salvation: clap your hands, the bridegroom is near.
This day must always be remembered as my calends:? this day, which surpasses the sun and the stars with its radiance, which the all-powerful right hand of the lord sent from heaven on high, the sum and source of my happiness. What words will express the more than miracles of such events, such great gifts of the exalted father? Since the reversal of things, the overturning of the world as it was, nature stands stupefied, silent in stupefaction.
Now overmatched, nature herself surrenders and feels ashamed, wondering what this new day is which is coming. Death too, overmatched and frightened for itself, of its own will surrenders, since it now sees its weapons with their points broken. Helpless, the Fates fall; the envious Parca falls and now is compelled to break her own thread.? The famous stone Terminus, which ! A note in B cites Apocalypse 22.[17].
? The first day of each month in the Roman calendar.
? Atropos, who cut the thread of life of each man at the appointed time.
4 'The god of landmarks and boundaries. As the play began with a curious disruption of the temporal order, so it ends with the formal abolition of temporal and spatial order.
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS, V.5
Mortua uiuiscunt, redeunt sua membra sepultis, Et sua iam cineres taphica scripta legent.
Quos mare, quos morbus, quos abstulit ensis et arma, Furca, ferae, fames, carcer et ignis edax:
Quaeque suos reuoment iterum monumenta solutos,
Pontus et unda suos, puluis et urna suos.
Omnia sistentur iusta trutinanda bilance:
Sola fides stabit, cum pietate manens.
Nunc cadet et Babylon, cadet alta potentia regum:
Vnus erit toto Christus in orbe potens.
Tristia iam laetis uertentur et ultima primis; Celsa ruent, stabunt quae cecidere prius.
Quos caro, quos mundus uexant, Sathanaeque furores, Foelices mecum plaudite, sponsus adest.
CHORVS VIRGINVM.
[^. 85] Paratam nunc sponsam, spectatores, cuncta ac
Parata cernitis. Restat nihil, ipse Nisi paranymphus summam qui scenae imponat Catastrophen. Id quum fiet certum nemo Dicet. Poeta, quod possit, praestitit. Ipse ac
Monet sedulo imparati ne sitis, sponsus
Cum ueniet uos ne dormitantes excludat.
Tempus fortasse haud longum est. Mira uidemus Rerum praeludia: Sathan cum Christo totis
Vt pugnat copiis, ubique terrarum Hodie, ut cum alias, maxime. Agnus at uincet
Triumphans tandem agnique sponsa, Pseudamno Rumpantur licet ilia. Interim admoniti uos:
Vigilate prudenter precor. El plaudite.
TEAOZ.
142. bilance] a nonce-word, found in Martianus Minneus Felix Capella (L-S).
CHRISTUS TRIUMPHANS
from the beginning of time has learned to yield to none, will now learn to yield. The dead come to life; their limbs return to those who were buried; now ashes will read their own epitaphs. Those whom sea or sickness or sword has carried off, or the fork or fierce beasts or famine, or prison or consuming pyre—all the sepulchers, the sea and the wave, the dust and the urn will discharge their victims freed. All things will be arraigned, to be weighed by an honest scale. Only faith abiding with piety will stand firm. Now too Babylon will fall, and the exalted power of kings: Christ alone will have power through all the world. Now the sad will be made happy, and the last, first; the exalted shall fall, and those who fell before shall stand. You whom the flesh and the world and the madnesses of Satan torment, be happy and applaud with me: the bridegroom is near.
Cuonus or Vircins. Spectators, now you see the bride decked out and all things in readiness. Nothing remains except the bridegroom himself, who will bring the final catastrophe to our stage.!
When that will happen none will say for sure. The poet has shown what he could. And he earnestly advises you not to be unprepared, lest the bridegroom, when he comes, reject you as you sleep. The time is perhaps not long. We see the marvelous preludes: how
Satan battles against Christ with all his forces everywhere in the world today, as hard as he did of yore. But the lamb will prevail, triumphant at last, and the bride of the lamb, though her flanks be broken by Pseudamnus. Meantime be warned, be on your guard with prudence, I pray. And do applaud.
THE END.
! See Titus et Gesippus, p. 105, n. I.
TEXTUAL NOTES
!j x s"
| | | | I | | | ^ T. z | |
'Textual Notes The apparatus appearing beneath the Latin texts in this edition is very selective, recording mostly my substantive emendations, a few conjectural emendations, and some comments on Foxe's unusual words—matters most immediately useful to the reader of the established texts. The Textual Notes which follow comprise a comprehensive apparatus recording Foxe's revisions, my substantive emendations, and (for Christus
Triumphans, which alone survives in more than one version) a historical collation.
All words appearing in these notes in roman type are taken from original documents, printed or manuscript; all words appearing in italics are editorial. In each note the lemma normally reproduces the wording of my text and is followed by a bracket ]. The copy text should be assumed to agree substantially with the lemma unless its siglum follows a listed variant; the copy text for Titus et Gesippus is, of course, the only surviving manuscript version (MST), and that for Christus
Triumphans is the first printed edition, 1556 (B). All other versions of Christus Triumphans not specifically cited should be assumed to agree substantially with the lemma. Normally only substantive variants are recorded. Sometimes minor differences from the lemma are shown in parentheses following the siglum of the edition having the differences.
'The following sigla are used in these notes:
MST The holograph manuscript of Titus et Gesippus in British Museum Lansdowne MS. 388, ff. 121-146, 112-116v.
MSC The holograph manuscript of Christus Triumphans in British Museum Lansdowne MS. 1045, ff. 132-155v.
B Basel edition: Christus Trivmphans, Comoedia Apocalyptica: Avtore Ioanne Foxo Anglo. Basileae, per Ioannem Oporinum. [Colophon: Basileae, ex Officina Ioannis Oporini, Anno Salutis humanae M.D.LVI. Mense Martio.] The edition was based on a (probably authorial) manuscript later than MSC. Copies
TEXTUAL NOTES
collated are British Museum (BM), University of Illinois (Ill.), Bodleian (Bodl.), and Harvard (Harv.).
The errata page in B (sig. I5v).
Nuremberg edition:
Christus Trivmphans, Comoedia Apocalyptica:
Autore loanne Foxo Anglo. Noribergae, In officina typographica Gerlachiana [the widow and heirs of Dietrich Gerlach],
Anno MDXC. This edition was based on a copy of B; the unknown editor did a careful job and made a few emendations which are proved right by collation with MSC.
London edition: Christus Triumphans. Comoedia Apocalyptica. Autore Joanne Foxo, Anglo. Edita est olim Basileae, Anno 1556. Nunc denuo Edita, & Scholarchis, Ludique Literarii Moderatoribus dedicata, ob insignem Styli Elegantiam in Scholas utilissime admittenda.
Editore T. C. Sidn.
Collegii, S.M.
Londini, Impensis Rob. Clavel, apud quem prostant in via vulg. voc.
Little Britain. 1672. [Some copies with 1676 on the title page are merely reissues of the same printing.] This edition was based on a copy of B and is carelessly edited. The editor may have been Thomas Comber; see my Introduction, n. 80.
The errata page in L (p. 123).
Le PM Manuscript notes in the Harvard copy of B. The hand is very early, probably sixteenth-century. Whoever made the notes must have known Oxford, for he corrected Foxe's directions in V.2.28 (see the note to the translation ad loc.). His notes are not very sophisticated, but they are interesting because many of them look like a prompter's notes: they list the props needed, or they tidy up entrances, etc. Is it possible that this copy was used for production at Oxford or Cambridge in about 1562
(see p. 34)?
The following abbreviations are used in the notes: ess. essentially M.H. metrical heading (at the beginning of a scene) omitted Om.
PEL. persons heading (list at the beginning of a scene) S.D. stage direction SEE (act and) scene heading SP: speech prefix
TEXTUAL NOTES
Most of the Textual Notes record authorial revisions. The manuscripts of both plays are heavily revised, and the printed version of Christus
Triumphans represents a revision of that play later than the surviving manuscript. I have attempted to record all substantive revisions, ignoring false starts caused by manifest lapsus styli. If a note records an authorial revision, the final reading of the manuscript is invariably indicated by the placement of its sighum (MST or MSC), whether it agrees with the lemma or not. Following that siglum, the stages of revision are retraced in order, with the earliest reading normally appearing last in the sequence.
The direction of revision is indicated by the bold-face symbol < before each earlier stage. (On the rare occasions when some circumstance has made it more convenient to list the earlier readings first, the bold-face symbol > indicates the direction of revision.) Not uncommonly, in a revision involving several words, some stage will have undergone internal revision of, say, one word; rather than treat this as a separate stage of the entire passage, I have normally recorded such internal revision within square brackets at the point of the revision.
Reconstructing the stages of revision has often been very difficult. At times it is hard to read a canceled word; even when it can be read, its place in the revised passage cannot always be determined; the problems were made more difficult by Foxe's careless failure to strike through many canceled words. I am reasonably certain of my readings of revisions involving only one or two words; but more or less doubt attends my readings of many revisions involving longer passages, especially passages which were revised several times. I have, in some of the most troublesome cases, described the difficulty. At other times certain symbols indicate my uncertainty over particular points. A query before the direction symbol
(?<) suggests that, although all the words included in the stage appearing after the symbol may be in the manuscript, I am not sure that they were ever combined into one stage. A query in brackets following a variant reading [?] suggests that, although the existence of that stage of revision is not in doubt, my reading of the words is uncertain. When I have been unable to decipher a particular word, or when I have serious doubt that I have read it properly, I have placed my conjectured reading within angle brackets ( >. In a few cases, where an earlier reading can be seen but is utterly illegible, I have shown the fact of revision by an obelisk in brackets following the revised reading [T]. An asterisk (*) following a reading indicates that Foxe abandoned the reading before completing it; the incompleteness may be of a single word or of a grammatical unit; in one or two instances, I have included after the asterisk a conjectural completion of the reading.