th' enemies that would yeeld And them to rents and dignities restord Then when th' Aegyptians so t' obtaine reliefe Brought to his sight pale Pompeys bloodlesse head He testified with teares his inward griefe And gracde his statues after he was dead Those his proceedings might appeare t' approue That he against his will maintain'd this warre And to his countrie beares a tender loue That could comport to reine his rage so farre Cic. Those counterfeited fauors which he shew According to ones custome that aspires Were spent on many as the world might view T' insinuate himselfe in their desires But where he thus spar'd some he spoild ' whole hosts And the Barbarians all to Rome not wrought Such harme as he that of his goodnes boasts Yet her best men hath to confusion brought The great man that of no mishap could pause But still preuaild whilst warring without right Armd for the common weale in a good cause With Caesar did vnfortunately fight From Lesbos fled with his afflicted wife Three base-born grooms can fortune change so soone Stoode to consult vpon great Pompeys life And did what thousands durst not once haue done Then he whose knees had oft beene kissd by kings Most highly happy had he dide in time By one of his owne slaues with abiect things Had his last funeralls framde O monstrous crime T' entombe Romes greatest captaine all alone The Roman that arriu'd with reason said The fatall glory was too great for one And to haue part of that last honour staid The teares bestowd by Caesar on his head Forth from a guiltie minde remorce had throwne Or else he wept to see his enemy dead By any others hands than by his owne Then constant Cato that euen death did scorne The rare arch-tipe of an accomplisht man That liu'd as not t 'himselfe but t' all men borne Moou'd by his tyranny to ruine ranne He iustly whilst more iust himselfe more strong Then Caesar thought that for no Iustice carde And since discouering what he cloakd so long Said right that Caesar and not he was snarde Thus Caesar conquerd all but Catoes minde That would not by a tyrants tollerance breathe But in such sort his famous course confinde Than Caesars life more glorious was his death Those great men thus brought to disastrous ends The authour of their death make me despise That whilst t' vsurpe th' authoritie he tendes By treading downe all good men striues to rise Now made most great by lessening all the great He prowdly doth triumph in Rome ouer Rome And we must seeme t' applaud the present state Whose doubtfull breath depends vpon his doome Yet had I not enlargde my griefes so long To you whom Caesar doth pretend to loue Wer 't nor I know touch'd with the common wrong A iust disdaine all generous mindes must moue Dec. Had Caesar willingly resignd his armes And rendred Rome her libertie at last When as from foes he feard no further harmes But had repaird his iust displeasures past More then for all the loue that 's shewd to me He should haue had an Altar in my breast As worthy for his vertuous decdes to be Feard by the bad and honourd by the best But since though conq'ring all the world by might He to himselfe a slaue would make Rome thrall His benefits are loathsome in my sight And I am grieu'd that he deserues to fall My fancies moue not in so lowe a spheare But I disdaine that one ouer Rome impires Yet it is best that with the time we beare And with our powre proportion our desires Though I dissembled first your minde to trie And tolde what Fame to Caesars praise relates Yet was I pleasde that moe were grieu'd than I All mis-contented men are glad of mates Cic. Since tyrannie all libertie exiles We must our selues no more our selues disguise Then learne to maske a mourning minde with smiles And seeme t' extoll that which we most despise Yet all our deedes not Caesars humor please That since mistrusted once esteemes vs still When dumbe disdaineful flatterers when we praise If plaine presumptuous and in all things ill Yea we whose freedome Caesar now restraines As his attenders all his steppes must trace And know yet not acknowledge his disdaines But still pretend t' haue interest in his grace Though all my thoughts detest him as a foe To honour him a thousand meanes I moue Yet But to saue my selfe and plague him so No hate more harmes than it that lookes like loue His pride that through prepostrous honour swels Hath by the better sort made him abhorrd The gods are iealous and men enuious els To see a mortall man so much adord Dec. Well Cicero let all meanes be entertaind That may imbarke vs in his bosomes depths Till either willingly or then constrain'd He iustly quite what he vniustly keepes Exeunt Chorus This life of ours is like a Rose Which whilst it beauties rare array Doth then enioy the least repose When virgin-like it blush we see Then is' t euery hand the prey And by each wind is blowne away Yea though from violence scap'd free Whilst time triumphs it leads all thralles Yet doth it languish and decay O Whilst the courage hottest boiles And that our life seemes best to be It is with dangers compast still Whilst it each little change appalles The body force without whiles foiles It th' owne distemprature whiles spoiles Of which though none it chance to kill As nature failes the bodie falles Of which saue death nought bounds the toyles What is this moouing tower in which we trust A little winde closd in a cloud of dust And yet some spirits though here being pent In this fraile prisons narrow bounds With what might suffice not content Do alwayes bend their thoughts too hie And aime at all the peopled grounds Then whilst their breasts ambition wounds Though feeding as bent straight to die They build as they might alwayes liue Being famishd for fames empie sounds Of such no end the trauels ends But a beginning giues whereby They may b' imbroild worse then before For whilst they still new hopes contriue Th' exspected good more anguish sends Then the possessde contentment lends Like beasts that taste not but deuoure They swallow much and for more striue Whilst still their hope new hap attends And how can sueh but still themselues annoy That know to conquere but not how t' enioy Since as a ship amidst the depthes Or as an Eagle through the aire Of which their way no impression keepes Most swift when seeming least to moue This breath of which we take such care Doth tosse the bodie euery where That it may hence with haste remoue Life slippes and sleepes alwayes away Then whence and as it came goes bare Whose steps behinde no trace doth leaue Why should heauen-banish'd soules thus loue The cause and bounds of their exile Where they as restlesse strangers stray And with such pain why should they reaue That which they haue
That most abounds in worldlie things And soares too hie with Fortunes wings Which carrie vp aspiring mindes For to be beaten with all windes The course of such being rightlie scand Whilst men can not themselues command Transported with a pow'rles name Oft vnexpected ruine brings W' haue seene examples in this land How worldlie blisse the senses blindes And on a reed vnsurely hings He that presumes vpon the same Hid poyson in his pleasure findes And sailing rashlie with the windes of fame Doth oft times sinke into a sea of shame It 's to be fear'd our King at last Whilst he for nothing is affraid Be by prosperitie betraid For growing thus in greatnes still And hauing worldlie things at will He thinks though Time should all things wast Yet his estate shall euer last The wonder of th' inferiour round And in his owne conceit hath said No course of heau'n his state can cast Nor make his successe to be ill If Fortune once those thoughts t' obbraid Will haue our King to be vn-cround She may that mind with horrour fill And in an instant vtterly confound The state that stands vpon so slipprie ground When such a Monarchs mind is bent To follow most the most vnwise Who can their follie disaguise With sugred speaches poysonous baites The secret canker of great states From which at first few disassent The which at last all do repent While as repenting lust must go When Kings begin for to despise Of honest men the good intent Who to assure their Soueraignes seates Would faine in time some help deuise And would cut off all cause of wo Yet can not second their conceats These dreadfull Comets commonly forgo The Kings destruction that 's miscarried so Act. III. Scen. I. CROESVS ADRASTVS Croes WHat vncoth fancies do affright my soule And haue captiu'd it to a thousand feares Strange cares suggesting griefe my ioyes controule My mind some comming euill charactred beares And credulous suspition too too wise To fortifie my feares doth meanes inuent Whilst suddaine terrors do my sprite surprise An ominous presage of some bad euent I thinke the soule come of immortall brood As being partner of a diuine powre Hath a fore-knowledge both of euill and good Although she can not flie a fatall houre Though with this mortall vaile being made halfe blinde She can not soare outright with her owne wings Yet she communicates vnto the mind In cloudie dreames and misteries strange things Th' imagination wonderfull in force Of foiles the iudgement with confusion so That presupposing all things to be worse Then they fall foorth we double our owne wo. For as the shadow seemes more monstrous still Then doth the substance whence it hath the being So th' apprehension of approaching ill Seemes greater then it selfe whilst feares are lying This alteration too seemes more then strange Which at an instant hath ore-whelm'd my sences I see more then I thought all states may change Against the heauen th' earth can find no defences My soule her wonted pleasure else is loathing This hath indeede so deepe impression left A dreame a fantasie a shadow nothing Hath all my mirth euen in a moment reft Adras Whence mightie Soueraigne can this change proceede That doth obscure the rayes of princely grace Those that are schoold in wo may cleerely reede A mightie passion written in your face And if a stranger may presume so farre I would the copie of your passions borrow I else coniecture in what state you are Taught by a secret sympathie in sorrow Two strings in diuers Lutes set in accord Although th' one be but toucht together sound Euen so soules tun'd to griefe the like afford And other with a mutuall motion wound Croes No doubt but it disburdens much the mind A Secretarie in distresse to haue Who by his owne anothers griefe can finde Where glad minds scorne what they can not conceaue And I Adrastus would the cause declare With which I so torment my selfe in vaine O but I blush t' vnfold my foolish care It 's but th' illusion of a drowsie braine Adras According to the bodies constitution The soule by night with fancies is afflicted Or by these thoughts continuall reuolution To which by day the mind is most addicted Craes Now whilst the Sunne did peepe through Thetis bower And on the beauties of Aurora gaz'd Out of my body spoild of mouing power All faculties of life dull sleepe had raz'd While as the sprite more powerfull then euer Since least impeached with this earthlie part The veritie from lies could best disseuer Hid mysteries vnclouding to the hart I only haue two sonnes and th' one you see The signe of Natures indignation beares And from his birth day domme is dead to me Since he can powre no pleasure in my eares The other Atis all my life's delight In whom the treasures of my soule are kept I thought vaine be my thought in the twie-light I wot not whether yet I walkt or slept Whilst he was sporting voyd of worldlie cares Not in a lists belonging to his merites A pointed toole of iron fell vnawares And pearc'd his temples and expeld his spirites Whilst the pale carcase seem'd t' vpbraid mine eyes The horrour of the sight my sense recald Which when I thinke of yet my comfort dyes Such an exceeding feare my sprit appald This hath me mou'd it touch'd my state so neerelie To match my sonne in mariage at this time With beauteous Caelia whom he lou'd most deerelie That both might reape the pleasure of their prime And if the heauens his o'rethrow haue decreed By destinie that can not be reuoked So shall we haue behind some of his seed Ere in his blossome all our hopes be choaked Thus ere his soule lodge in the lightlesse shade T' haue of his race t will mitigate my mind I can not hold him altogether dead That leaues his Image in some one behind And for the time we do all that seemes best For to preuent those but surmiz'd annoyes Yet for all this my mind hath neuer rest Some secret terror still disturbs my ioyes Adras Ah Sir if but th' imagind euill of this Hath plung'd your soule in such a gulfe of griefe Vnhappie I who waile a thing that is And haue not meanes to hope for no reliefe If all these dreadfull fancies tooke effect Which heauie chance th' almightie Ioue withhold It could not be compar'd in no respect With those misfortunes that my state enfold For when your sonne fell by anothers hand You should but waile his death and not your crime The heauens of me my brothers blood demand His fate my fault mourne must I all my time Croes In what strange forme could this disaster fall That is th' occasion of so great distresse Tell on at length th' originall of all To heare of greater griefe t' will make mine lesse Adras I haue conceald my sorrowes still till now As too offensiue foode for daintie eares Yet since of such a subiect you allow
stead Base brood of earth vaine man Why bragst thou of thy might The heauens thy courses scan Thou walkst still in their sight Ere thou wast borne thy deedes Their registers dilate And thinke that none exceedes The compasse of his fate What heauens would haue thee to Though they thy wayes abhorre That thou of force must do And thou may do no more This reason would fulfill Their worke should serue their will Are we not heires of death In whom there is no trust Who tossd with circkling breath Are but a dramme of dust Yet fooles when as we erre And do th' heauens wrath contract If they a while deferre A iust reuenge t' exact Pride in our bosome creepes And mis-informes vs thus That the Eternall sleepes Or takes no care of vs. No th' eye of heauen beholds All what our hart enfolds The gods digest no crime Though they continue long And in th' offenders time Seeme to neglect their wrong Till others of their race Fill vp the cup of wrath Whom ruine and disgrace Long time attended hath And Giges fault we feare To Croesus charge be layd Which loue will not forbeare Though it be long delayd For ô sometime the gods Must plague sinne with sharp rods And lo how Croesus still Tormented in his mind Like a reed on a hill Is shiuering with each wind Each step a terrour brings Dreames do by night afflict him And by day many things All his thoughts do conuict him He his starre would controule This makes euill not the worst Whilst he wounds his owne soule With th' apprehension frist Man may his fate foresee But not shun heauens decree Act. IIII. Scen. I. ADRASTVS CROESVS CHORVS CAn heauen behold hands staind with bloud ofttimes And to the Stigian streames not headlongs hurld Can th' earth support one burden'd with such crimes As may prouoke the wrath of all the world Why sends not Ioue t' haue my curss'd course confind A death-denouncing flash of rumbling thunder Or a tempestuous terrour-breeding wind With violence to teare me all asunder What vnknowne corner from the world remou'd T' inhabit in th' horizon of dispaire Shall I go now possesse and be approu'd By monsters like my selfe that hate repaire I le go indeed whom all the world detests Who haue no interest in the fields of blisse And barbarize among the barbarous beasts Where Tigers rage Toades spue and Serpents hisse Yet though both th' Artike and Antartike Pole I should ouerpasse and find th' vnpeopled zones A wildernesse where nought were to controule My damnable cruelties but trees and stones Yet of my deeds which all the world do tell All this could not deface th' infamous scroule Within my breast I beare about my hell And can not scape the horrours of my soule Those fearefull monsters of confusd aspects Chimera Gorgon Hydra hellish apes Which in the world wrought wonderfull effects And borrowed from th' infernall shades their shapes Their deuilish formes that did the world amaze Not halfe so monstrous as my selfe I finde When on mine owne deformities I gaze In the black depth of a polluted minde No but my mind vntainted still remaines My thoughts in this dilict haue had no part Which accidentallie this foule fact staines My hands had no commission of my hart Yet whether it was fortune or my fate Or some hell-hag that did direct my arme I quaild the Lidians hopes abortiue date And am the instrument of all their harme Then swelling mountaines come and fall vpon me Your height may hide me from the wrath of heauen But this needes not my fault hath else vndone me No torment can with my offence be euen Ah of what desart shall I now make choice T' auoid the count'nance of an angrie King I know th' auenging sword of Croesus voice To wound my soule hostes of rebukes doth bring No th' obiect of distresse I le stand alone A memorable monster of mishap For though Pandoraes plagues were pour'd in one All were too few so vile a wretch t' entrap Chor. O how the King is mou'd with Atis death His face th' impression of a passion beares With bended eyes crostarmes and quiuering breath His princely roabe he desperately teares Lo with a silent pittie-pleading looke Which shewes with sorrow mixt a high disdeine He whilst his soule seemes to dissolue in smoake Whiles eyes the corps whiles him by whom t' is slaine Croes Thou ruthlesse Tyrant ruine of my blisse And didst thou so disguise thy deuilish nature To recompence my courtesies with this Ah cruell wretch abhominable creature Thy Tigrish mind who could haue well detected In mortall breasts so great barbaritie What forward sprite could haue such spight suspected In hospitalitie hostilitie Did I reuiue thee when thy hopes were dead When as thy life thy parents had not spar'd And hauing heapt such favours on thy head Is this Is this Chor. he would say the reward Adrast I grant what you alledge and more is true I haue vnto the height of hatred runne A blood-staind Wretch not worthy for to view The rolling Circles nor the rayie Sunne I 'le neuer striue to cloake my foule abuses So for to make my forfeit to seeme lesse And paint my fault with imperfect excuses T' is greater farre then words can wel expresse Nor go I thus to aggrauate my crime And damne my selfe to be absolu'd by others No no such Rhetoricke comes out of time I 'le not suruiue his death as earst my brothers Whose vnkind fall if I had followd straight As then indeed I dyed to all delight I had not groan'd chargd with this inward waight But slept with shadows in eternall night Yet must I die at last though late growne wise This in my minde most discontentment breedes A thousand tort'ring deaths cannot suffise To plague condignely for so haynous deedes Come cause him who the Spritelesse body buries Vpon the Tombe to sacrifice my blood No fitter offring for th' infernall Furies Then one in whom they raign'd while as he stood In whom they oft infusde their diu'lish rage And in my bosom all their Serpents nestled So that this hellish horror to asswage I all my dayes haue with disasters wrestled Croes I find Adrastus when I deepely scaunce Th' effectuall motiues of this fatall crosse That not thy malice but mine owne mischaunce Hath been th' occasion of our bitter losse Whilst barely with a superficiall wit We weigh the out-side of such strange euents If but the mediate meanes our iudgements hit We search not the first cause this much contents When such prodigious accidents fall out Though they amaze our minds and so they must The ground of all comes from our selfe no doubt Ah! man hath sin'd the heau'ns are alwayes iust Now when I search the secrets of my soule And rip the corners of my corrupt minde Marke of my former life th' offenciue scroule And do examine how I was inclinde O then I see the angry hosts of heauen Come girt with flames to plague
for my offences Which once no doubt will with the world be euen And iudge our thoughts words acts and vaine pretences Sonne t' is my pride that hath procurde thy fall I 'm guiltie of thy blood I gaue the wound Which was thy death and whose remembrance shall My life each day with many deaths confound Then iniust Stars your statutes I contemne O! if I were confronted with the gods I would their partiall prouidence condemne That in such sort do exercise their rods Ah! my Sonnes death doth shew their iudgement naught What could he perpetrate against such Powres Should he haue suffred for his Fathers fault Whom without cause their wrong-spent wrath deuours Now all the world those deities may despise Which plague the guiltlesse and the guiltie spare Cease haples man t' outrage thy selfe thus waies I pardon thee and pitie thy despaire Adrast. O cruell iudgement of a rigorous fate Must I o're-liue my selfe t' entombe my Fame All things that I behold vpbraid my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and no more then I my deedes detest Yet some not find a friend I find no foe To rid the world of such a dangerous pest Borne but to be an instrument of woe I know what makes all worthie mindes refraine The sword against a Catife for to stretch They this opprobrious office do disdaine To be the Deaths-men of so base a wretch Or must I yet a fouler fact commit And fill the world with th' horrour of my name Is there some new disaster resting yet And other funerals famous by my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate That in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of heau'n I 'le force my fate One that 's resolu'd to die cannot want meanes Prowd tyrant Death and must thou make it strange Tinvolue my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change I can appoint a Period to my life But this Ay me all hope of helpe deuours What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted powres She must remember of my odious crimes What though vnbodied she the world forsake Yet cannot from her conscience be diuorc'd It will but vexe her at the shadowie Lake Till euen to grone the god of ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and O would God I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liu'd Then had I neuer showne my selfe so mad T' haue only been by infamie suruiu'd Ah! haue I liu'd to see my Ladie die And die for me for me not worth so much Ah! haue I liu'd vnnaturall man to be My Brothers death whose loue to me was such Ah! haue I liu'd with mine owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And do I gaze on the dead body still And in his Fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! haue I liu'd O execrable Monster To be accounted of a diu'lish nature And euen by them that best my actions conster For to be cal'd and iustly cal'd a Traitour Yet with my blood this staine away I 'le wash And lest my memorie make th' earth detracted Let my name perish in my bodies ash And all my life be as a thought vnacted Braue Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted ghost And to reuenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile t' attaine the Stygian coast Cho. The man himselfe doth desperately wound With leaden lights weake legs and head declinde The body in disdaine doth beate the ground That of his members one hath prou'd vnkinde The fainting hand falles trembling from the sword With this micidiall blow for shame growne red Which strait the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combate show Where both but one one both strooke and sustaind Or who shall triumph for this strange ore'throw Whereas the Victor lost the Vanquish'd gaind Croes Cursde eies what sudden change hath drownd your lights And made your mirthfull obiects mournfull now Ye that were still inurde to stately sights Since seated vnder an Imperiall brow O'reclouded now with vapours of my cares Are low throwne downe vnto a hell of griefe And haue no prospect but my soules despaires The sad beholders of a rare mischiefe O dead Adrastus I absolue thy ghost Whose hand some secret destinie did charme Thou hated by the Heau'ns wert to thy cost An accidentall Actor of our harme No doubt some angrie God hath layd this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus with violence to bleed And yet want one on whom to powre my wrath To take iust vengeance for so vile a deed This wretch whose guiltlesse mind hath cleard his hand Grieu'd for his error loe vnforcd doth fall And not as one that did in danger stand For he liu'd still till I forgaue him all Thus haue I but the heau'ns on whom I may Powre forth the poyson of my troubled spirite In my soules bitternesse I 'm forcd to say This seconds not their custome and my merite Act. IIII. Scen. II. SANDANIS CROESVS WHy spend you Sir with sighs th' Imperious breath Which nought but words of Soueraigntie should breed O weake reuenge for one that 's wrongd by death T' adorne his triumph with a mourning weed This pale-fac'd tyrant author of our ill Who did t' ecclypse our Ioyes that blacke shaft borrow Should you frame Trophees to his Tigrish will And weare his liuery and succumbe to sorrow No though he might this outward blisse o're-throw And you saue you of all that 's yours might spoyle Yet whilst of one that yields no signe you show You triumph still and he receiues the foyle Th' o're-flowing humor that would drowne your soule In baser breasts might better be excusde Who want the sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subiection vsde But you in whom high Thoughts haue been innate To this decay how is your Vertue come I blush to see my Soueraigne so abated And Maiestie by miserie o'recome Nor are my words out of a rockie mind T' unnaturallize you as not feeling smart No none can barre a Prince from being kind Th' undoubted badge of an Heroick hart That supreme Powre by which great States do stand Should order but th' affection not vndoe it And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe it Croes I will not now rehearse t' enlarge my griefe On what iust reasons my laments are grounded But still will muse vpon mine owne mischiefe While as my soule a thousand wayes is wounded What pensiue pensill euer limm'd aright The sad conceats of soule-consuming woe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling hight Of th' inward
conuince For still the states that flourish for the time By subiects should b'inuiolable thought And those no doubt commit a monstrous crime That lawfull soueraignty prophane in ought And we must thinke though now being brought to bow The Senate king a subiect Caesar is Th' authoritie that violating now The world must damne as hauing done amisse We will deare Cassius for our countries sake Our selues expose to danger or to death And let vs now aduise what course to take Whilst nought bur th' aire can beare away our breath Cass I thinke this matter needes not many wordes Since but one deede can bound the common shame In Caesars bodie we must sheathe our swordes And by his death our libertie reclame But since his fortune did confound them all That in the fields to match him did beginne Whilst he by thousands made their bands to fall With hoarie legions alwayes vsde to winne As Pompeys Scipioes and Petreius ghosts In lightlesse shades may by experience tell That after th' ouerthrow of their numbrous hosts All famous though infortunately fell And since prouided for the Parthian wrarre His armie in armes attends on his decree Where we sequestred from such forces farre Would if suspected strait preuented be With some few friends whom all things now t' assay A loue to vs or to their countrie bindes We to his wracke must walke another way Whilst ere our tongues our handes doe tell our mindes Now when most high and therefore hated most Th' assembled Senate seekes to make him king We must goe giue the blow before we boast And him to death Rome out of bondage bring Brut. In all this course I onely one thing blame That we should steale what we may iustly take By clothing honour with a cloake of shame Which may our cause thogh good more odious make O I could wish with honourable wounds T' affront Romes enemy in the battells dust No sweeter musicke than the Trumpets sounds When Right and Valour keepe a consort iust Then free if quicke else dead for nought being feard I alwayes once contented might remaine What tombe t' a man more glorious can be rear'd Than mountaines made of them that he hath slaine But how are my transported thoughts growne such That they disdaine a measure now t' admit As bent not what to doe but to do much I on the throne of Glorie striu'd to sit No to the state me from my selfe I giue Free from particular respects t' expose My life and all for it and whilst I liue So that it gaine I care not what I lose I le neuer rest till he for euer rest That giues my country such a cause of griefe And that t' effect no forme I will detest Nor for my fame endanger Romes reliefe But worthy Cassius ere we further doe Let vs the mindes of our familiars feele Of which I hope to haue assistance too Who will not hazard for his countries weale Cass Now whilst my soule rests rauisht in a traunce I thinke I see great Rome her courage raise Bent to beat th' aire with songs th' earth with a daunce And crowne thy vertues with deserued praise ACT. III. SCENE II. Marcus Brutus Portia MY dearest halfe my comfort my delight That onely seru'st to sweeten all my sowres Thou in my bosome vsde t' vncharge thy spright And in my presence sparde afflictions powres Still when domestike broiles disturbde thy rest Whilst by thy selfe thou labord for reliefe Thou with calme wordes disguisde a stormie breast Lest I had bin infected with thy griefe For such of me was thy respectiue care No cause of miscontentment was made knowne But with affections colors painted faire All that might make me glad was gladly showne What makes thee then thy courage thus to lose That thou can looke so sad and in my sight Lend me deere loue a portion of thy woes A burden being diuided doth grow light I see the Roses fading in thy face The Lillies languish Violets take their place Port. Thou hast deere Lord preuented my designe Which was to aske of thee what makes me pale It Phoebus had no light could Phoebe shine No with the cause of force th'effed must faile The mirrour but giues backe as it receiues A iust resemblance of th' obiected forme And such impression as th' engrauer leaues The wax retaines still to the stampe conforme O I 'm the mirrour that reflects thy minde According to the influence of thine eies I take the state in which thy state I finde Such is my colour as thy countnance dies Then how can I reioyce whilst thou art sad Whose breast of all thy crosses is the scroule I am still as thou art if grieu'd or glad Thy bodies shadow th' essence of thy soule On that great planet that diuides the yeares As th' increase of th' inferiour fields depends And as it doth euanish or appeares In th' earths cold bosome life beginnes or ends Sunne of my soule so I subsist by thee Whose course rests to thy secret motions thrall For when thou art from cloudie fortunes free I rise in ioyes but if thou faint I fall Bru. This countnance with my custome but accords That as you know yet neuer from my birth Light gestures vsde ioynd with lasciuious words Nor yet ridiculous fashions that mooue mirth My melancholious nature feedes on cares Whilst smotherd sorrow by a habite smokes A thoughtfull breast that 's burdend with affaires Doth make a silent mouth and speaking lookes As for my palenesse it imports but good Th' abasing of the bodie mounts the mind Where fatnesse com'd from food but serues for food In fattest bodies leanest sprites we finde Ah since I saw th' abhorr'd Thessalian bounds All drench'd with blood of Senators and kings As if my soule yet smarted in their wounds A secret sorrow oftentimes me stings But since thy famous father with strange blowes In the most hideous form affronted death To him my minde a sad remembrance owes Which sorrow shall exact still whilst I breath Yet am I grieu'd t' haue giuen thee cause of griefe That thought some new mis-hap did me dismay To such olde soares it 's worst to giue reliefe But time in end may weare my woes away Por. Why shouldst thou so from me thy thoghts conceale From thine owne soule that in thy bosome sleepes To whom though shewne thou dost them not reueale But in thy selfe more inwardly them keepst And thou canst hardly hide thy selfe from me That straight in thee each alteration spie I can comment on all that comes from thee True loue still lookes with a suspitious eye Rests not within our bosome euery thought Tun'd by a simpathy of mutuall loue Thou marrst the musicke if thou change in ought Which straight by my distemperature I proue Soule of my soule vnfold what is amisse My minde some great disaster doth diuine And euen excuse my couriousnesse in this Since it concernes thy state and therefore mine Brut. I wonder that thou dost thy frailtie
shew All women are by nature curious still And yet till now thou neuer crau'd to know More then I pleasde t' impart of my free will Nought saue the wife a man within the walles Nor nought saue him without fits her t' embrace And it 's vnseemely though it sometime falles When any sexe vsurpes anothers place Deere their wounted course thy cares inure I may haue matters that import the state Whose opning vp might my disgrace procure Whose weight would for thy weaknesse be too great Port. I was not Brutus match'd with thee to bee A partner only of thy boorde and bed Each seruile whore in those might equall me That did her selfe to nought but pleasure wed No Portia spousde thee with a minde t' abide Thy fellow in all fortunes good or ill With chaines of mutuall loue together tyde As those that haue two breasts one heart two soules one will With sacred bands whom holy Hymen bindes They tweene them should communicate all things Yea both the bodies labors and the mindes Whence either pleasure or displeasure springs If thus thou seeke thy sorrowes to conceale Through a disdaine or a mistrust of me Then to the world what way can I reueale How great a matter I would doe for thee And though our sexe too talkatiue be deem'd As those whose tongues import our greatest powres For secrets still bad treasurers esteem'd Of others greedy prodigall of ours Good education may reforme defects And I this vantage haue t' a vertuous life Which other mindes do want and mine respects I 'm Catoes daughter and I 'm Brutus wife Yet would I not repose my trust in ought Still thinking that thy crosse was great to beare Till that my courage was t' a triall brought Which suffring for thy cause can nothing feare For first t' experience how I could comport With sterne afflictions spirit-enfeebling blowes Ere I would seeke t' assault thee in this sort To whom my soule a duteous reuerence owes Loe heere a wound which makes me not to smart Though by my selfe being made to make me knowne Since thy distresse strikes deeper in my heart Thy griefe lifes ioy makes me neglect mine owne Brut. Thou must deare loue that which thou sought receiue Thy heart so high a saile t' a tempest beares That thy great courage doth deserue to haue Our enterprise entrusted to thine eares Thy magnanimitie preuailes so farre That it my resolution must controule And of my bosome doth the depths vnbarre To lodge thee in the centre of my soule Thou seest in what a state the state now stands Of whose strong pillars Caesar spoil'd the best Whilst by his owne preuenting others handes Our famous father fell amongst the rest That insolent vsurper doth presume To re-erect detested Tarquines throne Thus the worlds mistresse all-commanding Rome Must entertaine no minion now but one Th' old blood of Mars that marks to what he tends Swells with disdaine their countryes scorne to see And I 'm one of the number that intends By his death or mine owne to be made free Port. And without me can thou resolue so soone T' assay the dangers of a doubtfull strife As if dispair'd and alwayes to b' vndone Being tyr'd of me yea tyr'd of thy life Yet since thou thus thy rash designe hath showne Leaue Portias portion venter not her part Endanger nought but that which is thine owne Go where thou lik'st I will hold still thy heart But lest by holding of thy best part backe That th' other perish t' aggrauate my grones That would be so thonght guiltie of thy wrack Take all thy treasure to the Seaes at once Like th' Asian Monarks wife that with short haires Sad signes of bondage past still where he past To weare away or beare away thy cares I le folow thee and of thy fortune taste These hands that were with my owne blood imbru'd To strike another may more strength afford At least when thou by th' enemie art pursu'de I le set my selfe betwixt thee and his sword But if too great a priuiledge I claime Whose actions all should be disposde by thee Ah pardon me deare Brutus do but blame These my excessiue sorrowes and not mee Brut. Thou ask'st what thou shouldst giue forgiue deare mate This ventrous course of mine which must haue place Though it make fortune tyrant of our state Whose fickle foot-steps vertue grieues to trace And wonder not though this towards thee I proue Since priuate passions now all powre haue left For I regard not glory profit loue Nor no respect that doth import me most So to the land of which I hold my life I may performe the worke that I intend Let me be call'd vnkind vnto my wife Yea worst of all ingrate vnto my friend But as th' instinct of nature makes vs know There are degrees of dutie to be past Of which the first we to th'immortalls owe The next t' our Countrey and t' our friends the last Prowd tyrants from his natiue bounds to driue Did th' author of my race with ardent zeale Make those to die whom he had made to liue And spoild himselfe to aduance the commonweale To raise the state which Caesar now ore-throwes That bred so many braue men whilst it stood He with the Tyrant interchanging blowes Most gloriously did offer vp his blood And did that man t' oppresse the common fo Then damne his sonnes to death and with drie eyes And is his successor degenerd so That he in abiect bondage basely lyes No his posteritie his name not staines That t' imitate his steps doth yet draw neere Yet of his spirit in vs some sparke remaines That more then life our libertie hold deare Port. Then prosecute thy course for I protest Though with some griefe my soule the same approues This resolution doth become thy breast Where in the spheare of honor vertue moues And doe this interprise no more deferre What thee contents to me contentment brings I to my life thy saftie doe preferre But hold thy honor deare aboue all things It would but let the world my weaknesse see If I sought my delights not thy desires Though it giue griefe and threaten death to me Goe follow forth that which thy fame requires Though nature sexe and education breed No power in me that 's with my purpose euen He lend assistance to th' intended deed If vowes and prayers may penetrate the heauen But difficulties huge my fancie findes Saue the successe nought can defray my feare Ah Fortune alwayes frownes on worthy mindes As hating all that trust in ought saue her Yet I dispaire not but thou may preuaile And by this course t' appease my present grones I this aduantage haue which cannot faile I le be a freemans wife or else be nones For if all prosper not as we pretend And that the heauens Romes bondage do decree Straight with thy libertie my life shall end Who haue no comfort but what comes from thee My father hath me taught what way to
th' apparance of such broiles Lest when we haue our selues to ruine brought In end Barbarians beare away our spoyles Chor. Rome to those great men hardly can afford A recompence according to their worth That by a tyrants ore-throw haue restord The light of libertie that was put forth Yet by due praises with their merites euen Let vs illustrate their illustrous mindes And to their charge let prouinces be giuen Still vertue growes when it preferrement findes Anton. Those barbarous realmes by whose respectiue wil Of Caesars conquests monuments are showne As if they held them highly honord still That warrd with Caesar though they were orethrowne Can this disgrace by their prowde minds be borne Whilst we dishonor whom they honor thus And shall we not whilst as a tyrant torne Giue him a tombe that gaue the world to vs Must his decrees be all reducde againe And those degraded whom he gracde of late As worthy men vnworthily did gaine Their roomes of reputation in the state If as a tyrant we him damne so soone And for his murd'rers do rewards deuise Then what he did must likewise be vndone For which I feare a fowle confusion rise Chor. Ah great Antonius sow not seeds of warre And if thou alwayes dost delight in armes The haughty Parthians yet vndaunted are Which may giue thee great praise and vs no harmes Detest in time th' abhominable broiles For which no conquerour to triumph hath com'd Whilst this wretch'd towne which stil som party spoils Must loathe the victor and lament th' orecomd And shall we still contend against all good To make the yoke where we should bound abide Must still the commons sacrifize their blood As onely borne to serue the great mens pride Ant. Whilst I the depths of my affection found And reade but th' obligations which I owe I finde my selfe by othes and duetie bound All Caesars foes or then my selfe t' orethrow But when I weigh what to the state belongs The which to plague no passion shall get place Then I with griefe digesting priuate wrongs Warre with my selfe to giue my country peace Yet whilst my thoughts of this last purpose muse I altogether dis-assent from this That we should Caesars fame or bodie abuse By torturing tyrants as the custome is Lest guiltie of ingratitude we seeme If guerdoning our benefactors thus Great Caesars body from disgrace redeeme And let his acts be ratified by vs. Then for the publicke weale of which we pause Towards those that haue him killd t' extend regard Let them be pardond for their kinsmens cause Remission giuen for euill is a reward C. Cass We stand not dasht like malefactors heere With a deiected and remorcefull minde So in your presence supplicants t' appeare As who themselues of death doe guiltie finde But looking boldely with a loftie brow Through a delight of our designe conceiu'd We come to challenge gratefulnesse of you That haue of vs so great a good receiu'd But if ye will suspend your thoughts a space Though not the giuers entertaine the gift Do vs reiect yet libertie imbrace To haue you free loe that was all our drift So Rome her antient liberties enioy Let Brutus and let Cassius banisht liue Thus banishment would breede vs greater ioy Than what at home a tyrants wealth could giue Though some misconster may this course of ours By ignorance or then by hate deceiu'd Yet truth depends not on opinions powres But is it selfe how euer misconceiu'd Though none themselues t' acknowledge vs woulde daigne Our merite of it selfe is a rewarde Of doing good none should repent their paine Though neither getting guerdon nor regard I le venture yet my fortune in the fielde With euery one that Rome to bondage drawes And as for me how euer others yield I le nought obey but reason and the Lawes Cicer. What fooles are those that further trauell take For that which else they past recouery know Who can reuiue the dead or bring time backe At least no mortall that remaines below Great Pompey now for whom the world still weepes Lies low neglected on a barbarous shore Selfe-slaughtred Scipio flotes amidst the depthes Whom it may be sea-monsters do deuoure Of Libian wolues wise Cato feasts the wombes Whose death of worth the world defrauded leaues Thus some that merited Mausolean tombes Not haue a title grau'd vpon their graues And yet may Caesar that procur'd their death By braue men slaine be buried with his race All ciuill warre being banish'd with his breath Let him now dead and vs aliue haue peace We should desist our thoughts on things to set That may harme some and can giue help to none Learne to forget that which we can not get And let our cares be gone of all that 's gone Those that would striue all crosses to ore-come Must to the present time conforme their course And doing the best for that which is to come Not medle with things past but by discourse Seeke not the thing which doth not good being found Since Caesar now is dead how euer dead Let all our griefe goe with him to the ground For sorrow best becomes a lightlesse shade It 's best that reconioynde with mutuall loue We phisicke for this wounded state prepare Neglecting those that from the world remoue All men on earth for earthly things must care Cho. O how those great men friendship can pretend By soothing others thus with painted windes And seeme to trust where treason they attend Whilst loue their mouth and malice filles their mindes Those but to them poore simple soules appeare Whose countnance doth discouer what they thinke That make their words as is their meaning cleare And from themselues can neuer seeme to shrinke Lo how Anthonius faines to quench all iarres And kindly the conspirators t' imbrace Yet as he further'd first the former warres It 's fear'd he now be enemie to peace Now where Calphurnia stayes our steps adresse By this last sodaine chance her losse was chiefe All visite should their neighbours in distresse To giue some comfort or to get some griefe Exeunt Act. V. Scene II. Calphurnia Nuntius Chorus WHen darknesse last imprisond had mine eies Such monstrous visions did my soule affright That my deiected sprite still stupid dyes Through terrors then contracted in the night A melancholious cloud so dimmes my breast That it my mind fit for misfortune makes A lodging well disposde for such a guest Where nought of sorrow but th' impression lackes And I imagine euery man I see My senses so corrupted are by feares A Herauld to denounce mishaps to me That should infuse confusion in mine cares O there he comes to violate my peace In whom the obiect of my thoughts I see Thy message is charecter'd in thy face Which by thy lookes directed is to me Thy troubled eyes rest rouling for releife As lately frighted by some ougly sight Thy breath doth pant as if being big with griefe And fear'd to bring some monstrous birth to light