SCENE III.

CASSIBELANUS, ANDROGEUS, TENANTIUS, BELINUS, _Attendants_.

CAS. Although the people's voice constrains me hold This regal staff, whose massy weight would bruise Your age and pleasures; yet this, nephews, know, Your trouble less, your honour is the same, As if you wore the diadem of this isle. Meanwhile, Androgeus, hold unto your use Our lady-city Troynovant,[270] and all The toll and tribute of delicious Kent; Of which each quarter can maintain a king. Have you, Tenantius, Cornwall's dukedom large, Both rich and strong in metals and in men. I must to Verulam's fenc'd town repair, And as protector for the whole take care.

AND. My heart agrees. Henceforth, ye sovereign cares, State mysteries, false graces, jealous fears, The linings of a crown, forsake my brain: These territories neither are too wide To trouble my content, nor yet too narrow To feed a princely train.

TEN. All thanks I render: your will shall guide ours; With treble-twisted love we'll strive to make One soul inform three bodies, keeping still The same affections both in good and ill. Now am I for a hunting-match. Yon thickets Shelter a boar, which spoil's the ploughman's hope: Whose jaws with double sword, whose back is arm'd With bristled pikes; whose fume inflames the air, And foam besnows the trampled corn. This beast I long to see come smoking to a feast. [_Exit_ TENANTIUS.

BEL. Here comes my Belgic friend, Landora's servant. What news, Rollano, that thy feet so strive To have precedence of each other? Speak! I read disturbed passions on thy brow.

ROL. My trembling heart quivers upon my tongue, That scarce I can with broken sounds vent forth These sad, strange, sudden, dreary, dismal news. A merchant's ship arriv'd tells how the Roman, Having run Gaul quite through with bloody arms, Prepares for you: his navy, rigg'd in bay, Only expects a gale. Farther, they say A pinnace landed from him brings command Either to lose your freedom or your land.

CAS. And dares proud Cæsar back our untam'd surges? Dreads he not our sea-monsters, whose wild shapes Their theatres ne'er yet in picture saw? Come, sirs, to arms! to arms! Let speedy posts Summon our petty kings, and muster up Our valorous nations from the north and west. Androgeus, haste you to the Scots and Picts, Two names which now Albania's kingdom share: Entreat their aid, if not for love, yet fear! For new foes should imprint swift-equal fear Through all the arteries of this our isle. Belinus, thy authority must rouse The vulgar troops within thy[271] special charge. Fire [all] the beacons, strike alarums loud: Raise all the country 'gainst this common foe.

We'll soon confront him in his full career: This news more moves my choler than my fear. [_Exeunt._

ROLLANO _alone_.

ROL. I am by birth a Belgic, whence I fled To Germany for fear of Roman arms: But when their bridge bridled the stately Rhine, I soon return'd, and thought to hide my head In this soft halcyon's nest, this Britain isle. And now, behold, Mars is a-nursing here, And 'gins to speak aloud. Is no nook safe from Rome? Do they still haunt me? Some peaceful god transport me through the air, Beyond cold Thule[272] or the sun's bedchamber, Where only swine or goats do live and reign. Yet these may fight. Place me where quiet peace Hushes all storms; where sleep and silence dwell, Where never man nor beast did wrong the soil, Or crop the first-fruits, or made so much noise As with their breath. But, foolish thoughts, adieu: Now catch I must, or stand or fall with you. [_Exit._