re-enforced his troupes comming forwarder to fight with greater force then before was enformed how his wife had died in prison whose death he bewaild with exceeding great sorrowe And vnderstanding what courtesie Alexander had vsed towards her he sent to sue for peace not for any feare of his force but allured as he alledged by his courtesie This sute being likewise reiected he fought beside Arbella with no better Fortune then before Yet for all these misfortunes being of an inuincible courage and dispayring of peace he re-assembled all his forces which were augmented by the comming of the Bactrians was comming forward with intention at last either to die or preuaile But in the meane time two traiterous subiects of his owne to wit Bessus whom he had promoted to be gouernour of Bactria Nabarzanes one in speciall credite with him conspired his death VVhich danger though it was reuealed to him by Patron Captaine of the Greekes yet he could not or rather would not eschue At length those two traitours tooke and bound him with golden chaines and cast him in an olde Chariot with purpose to present him to Alexander But they hearing how he would not accept their present and how he was comming to inuade them threw their darts at Darius and left him for dead In this estate he was found by Polistratus and after the deliuery of some fewe words dyed Alexander hauing exceedinglie lamented his miserable and vndeserued end directed his bodie to his mother Sisigambis to be honourably buried The persons names that speakes Darius Sisigambis his mother Statira Re. his wife Statira Virg his daughter Tiriotes their Eunuch Nabarzanes two traitours Bessus two traitours Patron Captaine of the mercenary Greekes Nuntius Alexander Parmenio his Lieutenant Hephestion his Minion Polistratus a souldier Artabazus a noble man of Persia Chorus all Persians The Scene supposed in Babilon THE TRAGEDY OF DARJVS Actus Primus DARIVS WHat thundering power grow'n jealous of my state With such hostilitie my troupes o're-throwes And arm'd with lightning breathing flames of hate Big with disdaine high indignation showes Whil'st sooth'd with selfe conceits asham'd to doubt In greatnesse shadowe I securelie slept Lo change-affecting Fortune wheeles about And ruines all that me from ruine kept Thus I whose onlie name amaz'd my foes Whom th' earth ador'd as Monarche once ouer all Am so degraded now and sunke in woes That who admir'd my might admire my fall Ah then indeed I fell when gallants stood And Phoenix-like renew'd their life by death Who hauing seald their force and faith with blood Would rather die then draw a borrowed breath Yet I but then not I view'd not aveng'd Those monstrous mountaines of my subjects slaine Although my conscience hath my courage cleng'd And knowes what valour was employ'd in vaine Through greatest dangers death I did pursue Till heapes of slaughtred bodies bar'd my way And chang'd my Chariot to a scarlet hue Ere wounded honour could be drawne away O how I enuy yet their happie Ghostes Who died whil'st hope of victorie remain'd And in the presence of two famous hostes Left bloodie recordes that they died vnstain'd Shall I suruiue that soule-ouerwhelming shame To be th' eternall staine of Persians praise No rather let me die and let my name Be quite exstinguish'd with my hatefull dayes Starre-bosting Babilon blush to behold One cald thy King surmounted and abated How may thy Towrs but tremble when it 's told Thy Prince entreats whome Princes earst entreated Not vassal-like I will not yeeld to this Were all my Empire to a period come Yet none shall vaunt that euer I was his Hartes holding courage are not all o're-come This tongue inur'd still to command doth scorne To breath base words to scape a minutes paines Let them obey who to obey were borne For Darius this indignitie disdaines Since I was once iudg'd worthie to command Shall I returne to be a base entreater No whil'st a sword yeelds homage to this hand I le not acknowledge in the world a greater Braue spirites who now possesse the pleasant bowers And glorious gardens of th' Elisian plaine For if deserts may moue th' infernall powers That happie shade your shadowes must containe Those fields where-as your praises are set forth Do burie but your bodies not your fame Men shall adore the relickes of your worth And reare immortall Trophees to your name I le sacrifize as incense to your soules His dying sighes and sorrowing parents teares Who now while none his insolence controules Our conquer'd ensignes in his triumphe beares For it may ease your Ghostes to heare his grones Whil'st th' earth ouer-burdend sends rebounding back A plaintife Echo from the woods and stones To sound through all the aire his armies wrack Why spend I speaches to disturbe your rest What idle disputations do I hold A mightie furour hath enflam'd my brest And burnes me till I be aueng'd seuen-fold Did I that strong Cadusian first affront Who durst aduance himselfe to braue our bandes Then turn'd applauded and in high account Charg'd with his spoiles the honour of my hands And could I then all kinde of doubt remoouing Aduenter only to an Armies shame And should I now that auncient praise disprouing With squadrons compast loose that glorious name Blinde fortune O thy stratagems are strange Thou wrak'st my greatnes wound'st mine honour to And hauing made my state the stage of change Hast acted all inconstancie could do Lo I who late of swarming troupes did bost Am spoil'd of all in whome I then repos'd And those imprison'd whome I fancie most Are to th' insulting victours pride expos'd O torment but to thinke death to beleeue That any may command my deerest part And wretched I notable to releeue The Iewell of mine eye ioy of my hart Deere obiect of my thoughtes my life my loue Sweete source of my delights my one my all Bright Image of excellencies aboue What do'st thou breath and com'st not when I call And can I be and not be where thou art Hath heauen the force me from thy face to barre Or are my hands growne traitors to my hart That they should shrinke from doing what it dare O could my minde but distribute a space These emulating thoughts that tosse my brest Among those pointles Cyphers that spend place Then I alone might animate the rest Since in this great disgrace I chanc'd to fall Now nothing rests to rase my fame forlorne But to doe desperatly and hazard all I le liue with praise or by my death flie scorne Some prosperous issue afterward may purge This crime with which th' euent would burthen me This crime that carries with it selfe a scourge No greater torment than the want of thee But what hope rests to re-obtaine that treasure Which auaritious tyrants once possesse Another now disposes at his pleasure Of all my wealth how can I looke for lesse Now not till now I deeme my state in danger When I imagine how my best belou'd Must
base companions then to be compar'd With one that may consume such in his wrath Who as I please do punish and reward Whose words nay euen whose lookes yeeld life or death Sol. Sir be not thus commoo'ud without all reason Nor misconceiue my meaning as you do Those that speake freely haue no mind of treason I cannot be your friend and flatter to Vnto vs Graecians Sir the gods haue granted A moderate measure of a humble wit And in our Countrie there haue neuer wanted Some whom the world for wise men did admit And yet amongst vs all the greatest number Haue here dispair'd of any perfect rest Though some a while in Fortunes bosome slumber And to world-blinded eyes seeme to be blest Yet ouer all mortall states change so preuailes We alterations daily do attend And hold this for a ground that neuer failes None should triumph in blisse before the end I may compare our state to table-playes Where by dumbe iudges matters are decided Their many doubts the earnest mind dismayes The dice must first cast well then be well guided So all our dayes in doubt what thing may chance vs Time runnes away the breath of man doth chace it And when th' occasion come's for to aduance vs Amongst a thousand one can scarce embrace it When two by generous indignation mooued Would trie by sword whose glorie fame will smother Whilst valour blindly by th' euent is prooued And th'ones ouerthrow can onely grace the other O what a foole his iudgment will commit To crowne the one with vndeseru'd applauses Where fortune is for to giue sentence yet While bloody agents pleade such doubtfull causes This world it is the field where each man ventures And arm'd with reason resolutely goes To fight against a thousand misaduentures Both with externall and internall foes And how can he the victors title gaine That yet is busied with a doubtfull fight Or he be happie that doth still remaine In Fortunes danger for a small delight Th' abortiue course of man away fast weares Course that consists of houres houres of a day Day that giue 's place to night night full of feares Thus all things alter still all things decay Who flourish now in peace may fall in strife And haue their fame with infamie supprest The euening shew's the day the death the life And many are fortunate but few are blest Croes I see this Grecian of a simple spirite The which is capable of no great things Men but aduance him far aboue his merite He can not comprehend the States of Kings Fame did so largely of his worth report It made me long to haue him in my house But all my expectations are come short I thinke a Mountaine hath brought forth a mouse Exit Croesus Act. II. Scen. II. SOLON AESOPE Sol. THis king hath put his trust in trustlesse treasures Cloi'd with th' abundance of all worldy blisse And like a hooded hawk gorg'd with vaine pleasures At randon flies and wots not where he is O how this makes me wonderfully sorie To see him keepe this lifelesse wealth so straitly Whilst witlesse worldlings wonder at his glorie Which I not enuie no but pittie greatly Thus wormes of th' earth whose worst part doth preuaile Loue melting things whose shew the body fits Where Soules of cleerer sight do neuer faile To thesaurize the gifts of gallant wits Those worldly things do in this world decay Or at the least we leaue them with our breath Whereas the other makes vs liue foray So differ they as farre as life and death Aesop And yet what wonder though that he be thus Whose knowledge clouded is with prosp'rous windes Though this indeed seeme somewhat strange to vs Who haue with learning purifide our mindes Was he not borne heire of a mighty State And vsde with Fortunes smiles not fear'd for frownes Doth measure all things by his owne conceate Th' infirmitie that fatall is to Crownes He hath been from his infancy addicted To all the pompous showes wealth could deuise And still entreated neuer contradicted Now doth all libertie of speech despise Though I durst not so to his fight appeare Whose corrupt iudgement was from reason sweruing I grieu'd to see your entertainement here So far inferior to your owne deseruing That diuine Wisdom which the world admires And rauish'd with delight amazed heares Because it answer'd not his vaine desires Did seeme vnsauorie to distemper'd eares Eares that are euer stopt to all discourses Saue such as enter fraughted with his praises He can loue none but them that loue his courses And thinks all fooles that vse not flattring phrases This wracks the great and makes the heauens despight them Let vertue spread forth all her heauenly powers If not in their owne liuery to delight them They will not daigne her audience a few howers Sol. I care not Aesop how the King conceated Of my franke speeches which I euer vse I came not here till I was first entreated Nor being come will I my name abuse Should I his poysonous Sycophants resemble A hatefull thing to honest men that know it I would not for his Diadem dessemble What the hart thinks the tongue was made to show it And what if his vaine humor to haue cherish'd I had my speeches for the purpose painted I had but gotten gifts that would haue perish'd But nothing could haue cleer'd my fame once tainted If I had show'n my selfe toward him officious It would in end haue but procur'd my shame To haue our vertue prais'd by one that 's vicious This in effect is but a secret blame He thinks him simple who his anger raises But better simply good then doubly ill I neuer value my worth by others praises Nor by opinions do direct my will And it content's me more to be applauded By one of iudgement though of meane degree Then by a Prince of princely parts defrauded Who hath more wealth but not more wit then hee Aesop Who come to Court must with Kings faults comport Sol. Who come to Court should trueth to Kings report Aesop A wise man at their imperfections winks Sol. An honest man will tell them what he thinks Aesop So should you loose your selfe and them not win Sol. But I would beare no burden of their sin Aesop By this you should their indignation finde Sol. Yet haue the warrant of a worthy minde Aesop It would be long ere you were thus prefer'd Aesop Then it should be the King not I that er'd Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Sol. Yet when I merite well I care the lesse Aesop It 's good to be still by the Prince approued Sol. It 's better to be vpright though not loued Aesop But by this meane all hope of Honor failes Aesop Yet honestie in end euer preuailes Aesop I thinke they should excell as oft they do All men in wit that vnto men giue lawes Kings are the Center of the
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
I le tell a tale that may moue stones to teares My Father of the Phrigian Princes come Had in my growing age a tender care That all my education might become One whom he might for mightie hopes prepare As yet foure lusters scarcely had begun For to discerne my sex with downie cheekes When I into that Labirinth was runne Whence back in vaine the straying entrer sheekes I lou'd O fatall loue vnlouely fate The vertuouslie faire yet fairest Dame That euer was enshrin'd in soules conceat Or gaue a dittie to the sounds of fame Straight were my fancies to her beauties tyed None can paint passions but in feeling mindes I burnd freezd hopd dispaird and liud and dyed My actions chang'd as oft as th' Autumnes windes Yet after many doubtfull hopes and feares That I attaind the height of my desires She had subscrib'd a truce vnto my teares And temperd with encountring flames my fires For as she was the most affected Saint Whose image was erected in my thought She had compassion too of my complaint And to acquit my firme affection sought Thus whilst I triumphd in mine owne conceat As one whose loue his Ladie did preferre I was corriuald O vnhappie fate By one who lou'd but was not lou'd by her He looking as I look'd saw what I saw Saw Natures wonder and the worlds delight And as a blind god blind guide did him draw Still like a lizard liu'd but by her sight Then strait he striues the Iewell for to wonne Whose vnstaind worth he rates aboue his breath He hates the light that comes not from my Sunne And thinks to liue without her worse then death And this affection fauour'd was by Fortune Which seem'd to ratifie his high rear'd hopes The Nymph her parents dayly did importune For to confine his flying fancies scopes Now iudge if that my miseries were rife Who threatned thus with eminent mishap Was like to lose a deerer thing then life Whilst others striu'd my treasure to entrap The man that sought my ioyes to vndermine I could not wish for this t' haue him ouerthrowne Nor blame the sprite that sympathiz'd with mine I enuied not his hap but wail'd mine owne Now in my breast a battell did begin Which forc'd my soule with inward wounds to bleede Some fancies fear'd to what his loue might winne And possibilitie for to come speede Then others call'd her constancie to mind Which would not yeeld although she were inuaded Yet forc'd to feare the frailtie of her kind A woman that hath eares may be perswaded Thus toss'd with doubts into a deepe of wo Which with suspition had my ioyes supplanted I blam'd the thoughts that durst accuse her so As vertues patterne had one vertue wanted As I concluded so it come to passe Th' affliction seru'd for fuell to affection For she who th' ornament of women was Would neuer wrong her worth with a defection When in my absence they had oft assay'd To haue me from her memorie remou'd The Sunne burn's hottest when his beames are stay'd The more that they would let the more she lou'd And finding that delay no ende affords And that faire generals are th' abusers Arte She did repell him with disdainfull words To raze all thought of her out of his harte Loue is a ioy that vpon paine depends A drop of sweet drown'd in a sea of sowres What Follie doth begin oft Furie ends They hate for euer that haue lou'd for howres When all his arguments prou'd of no force Strait with disdaine his soule in secret bur'nd And what he thought was euill to make farre worse He vnto furour all his fauour turn'd As he extreamely lou'd farre more he hated And musde of many meanes how to annoy her Which was the best a long time he debated To see her dead or to see me enioy her What saith he when he first had musde a space So hard it is to quench a great affection Shall I disfigure that angelike face And make the world ecclypsde of all perfection Shall she by me be to confusion brought To whom I vowes and prayers did impart To whom I sacrific'd my secret thought And on her beauties altar burn'd my hart Or shall I see her in anothers powre And in his bosome lie t' vpbraid my losse Whilst both with scornefull smiles then death more sowre To poynt me out for sport report my crosse That sight which sometime did me sweetly charme Should it become a cause of griefe to me No none that liue's shall glorie in my harme Since she will not be mine she shall not be Th' unlouing Louer hauing vow'd her death Did with a cup of poison drowne my ioyes The fairest body from the sweetest breath Was parted thus O Ocean of annoyes That Monster Fame whose many mouthes and eares Must know but not conceale a rare thing long And prodigall of ill most chiefly beares The worst newes first inform'd me of this wrong For neighbouring neere the most vnhappy part That had been spoild of such a beeauteous guest No sooner had death seazde on the chaste hart Then sorrow on my eares to rob my rest How the sadde newes first sounded in my soule I will not wearie you with long laments Rage did the outward signes of griefe controule When great windes blow the fire the smoke worst vents Whilst generous disdaine disguisde my griefe As one transported with a mighty rage I ranne vnto the Theater of mischiefe A tragicke Actor for a bloody stage For I was come no sooner to the place Whereas I thought the Murtherer to haue found But I re'ncountred O vnhappie case Too deare a friend to catch an enemies wound Ah passions dim'd mine eyes wrath led my hand I was no more my selfe sorrow had kild me The first t' was night that did before me stand I fiercely did pursue as Furor willd me And as it chanc'd ere one could speake a word I filld his bosome with a luke warme flood And in his kind breast drown'd the cruell sword That in anothers body dranke my blood When as a Torch had partly robde the night Prowd of supposde reuenge ah bitter gaine I saw I knew blacke knowledge cruell sight T' was mine owne brother that my selfe had slaine O bitter losse that nothing can repaire My soule at once with all woes armie wounded Griefe rage spite shame amazement and despaire Gauld tossd burnd dashd astonishd and confounded The thought of my offence torments me most Yet am I whiles by my Loues verdict cleansde And whiles my brothers violated ghost By dreadfull dreames doth boast to be reuengde Croes Now whilst this great disaster did occurre What came of him who was the cause of all Adra. He hauing heard this lamentable sturre Whom selfe-accusing thoughts did guiltie call Srait strucken with a wonderful remorse I wot not whether feare or pitie mou'd him If not t' ore-liue her death or dreading worse He killd himselfe his conscience so disproou'd him Croes I grant the manner of so rare
Th' one Fortunes gift and th' other our owne merite By which oft times th' afflicted Mind is salued When Fortune takes what we by her inherite Croes I see what braue Desires boyle in thy Soule And make thee with immortall wings to flee This hie-bent courage nothing can controule All Lidia is not large euough for thee Go seeke an Empire equall with thy mind No common limits can confine thy thought But while a full perfection thou wouldst find I feare thy fall turne all our hopes to nought And pardon me deare Sonne it 's a great Loue That makes me watch so warily o're thy wayes Th' affection of a Father what may moue Whom such an eminent danger not dismayes The Heau'ns of late aduertisde me by Dreame That some sadde fortune did attend thy Youth New Meteors and strange Stars through th' aire still streame Which are as Oracles of Ioues owne mouth This was the cause that hastned Vs so much To haue thee bound to Himens hallow'd Law This was the cause that all our care was such Out of our sight all weapons to withdraw Scorne not th' amazing Comets that thou notes The Starres to mortall States haue termes prefixt And thinke not only that my loue but dotes For if thou fall my fate with thine is mixt Atis. Would God I had some meanes once ere my death To satisfie that infinite desart Which I shall hold so long as I haue breath Deepe registred with reu'rence in my hart Yet Sir we see it is a naturall thing For too excessiue loue t' engender feares A sport like this can no great perill bring Where either all delights the eyes or th' eares If from my former deedes I now should shrinke As void of vertue to soft pleasure thrall Of your two Sonnes what might your subiects thinke Th' one wanting but one sense and th' other all What fancies might my late spousd loue possesse To see her husband hatefull in their sights And from the height of Honour to digresse To womanize with courtly vaine delights Though women loue t' haue men at their deuotion They hate base mindes that hatch no noble motion Croes Well well my Sonne I see thou must preuaile Go follow forth the chase vse thine owne will Yet stay or let my words thus much auaile Walke warilie now t' eschue this threatned ill Thy hautie sprite t' attempt all hazards bent I feare transport thee to a fatall strife God grant I be deceau'd yet take good tent Thy ouer-franke courage may betray thy life And deere Adrastus I must let him know What benefites I haue bestow'd on thee Not to vpbraid thee no but for to show How I may trust thee best that 's bound to me When thou from Phrigia come defild with blood And a fraternall violated loue When in a most extreme estate thou stood Chac'd from thy fathers face curst from aboue Thou found me friendlie and my Court thy rest A Sanctuarie sacred for thy safetie Where thou wast entertain'd as pleas'd thee best I thinke those dangers scap't should make thee craftie Yet though I grac'd thee earst t' was but a signe Of a heroick mind that helps the wretched But in thy hands my soule I le now consigne And giue a proofe of loue not to be matched Behold how Atis of our age the shield Whose harme as you haue heard I fear'd ere now Is to go take his pastime in the field And with his custodie I le credit you I must my friend euen feruentlie exhort Wait on my sonne remember of my dreame This dangerouslie delectable sport Doth make me feare the griefe exceede the game Adras I neuer shall those courtesies neglect It irkes me not to thinke nor heare the same For while this sprite these members doth direct All shall concurre to celebrate your fame If t' were your will I would not hence depart Who all such motiues vnto mirth abhore But with my passions heere retird apart Would waile wo past and shun all cause of more For if I striue t' abandon my annoyes I feare my fellowship infect with woe Those that would recreat themselues with ioyes Still strange mishaps attend mee where I go Yet since you will commit this charge to me I le vse all meanes that you may not repent you At lest all my defects faith shall supplie I couet nothing more then to content you Atis. Now for to see this monsters ouglie shape With an enflam'd desire my thoughts do burne And Father be not feard for no mishap I hope soone and victorious to returne Caelia Returne and whither loue O deadlie word That doth import thy parting from my sight I heard thee name mishap ah my deere Lord Should such strict limits bound so large delight O cruell resolution vnkind dealing And canst thou condiscend to leaue me so Or from my presence priuilie thus stealing Thinkst thou to rob a portion of my wo This might indeede to thee yeeld some reliefe To haue thy eares not wounded with my mone But would wound me with a continuall griefe To feare all things where I should feare but one Desist in time from this intended strife With which thy thoughts haue vnaduisdlie entred Remember I haue interest in thy life Which I consent not to be thus aduentred Hast thou not giuen a proofe in thy greene prime That may content the most ambitious hopes Whilst Atis was his owne O then t' was time To follow fancies vnconfined scopes Thy selfe then only camp'd in Fortunes bounds Thou dost endanger Caelia likewise now You sigh her breath she suffer's in your wounds You liue in her and she must dye in you Atis. Life of my soule how do such broken speaches From confusde passions thus abruptlie rise I know my loue thy loue my mind o're-reaches Affection schoold with feares is too too wise I go o're-thwart the fields for sport to range Thy sighs do but my soule with sorrow fill And pardon deere I find this wondrous strange Thou neuer did till now resist my will If I trespasse in aught against my dutie Which makes thee thus my faith for to mistrust Mistrust not yet the chaines of thine owne beautie Which bind all my desires and so they must Are we not now made one such feares o'recome Though I would flie my selfe my selfe do fetter And if that I would flie from whom to whome I can loue none so well none loues me better Haue pittie of those peareles sweete eyes soules pleasures Lest they presage what thou would not haue done The heau'ns had not giu'n me those pretious treasures Of such perfections to be spoyl'd so soone Chorus THose that domine aboue High presidents of heauen By whom all things do moue As they haue order giuen What worldling can arise Against them to repine Whilst castel'd in the skies With prouidence diuine They force th' inferior round Their iudgements to confesse And in their wrath confound Prowd mortals that transgresse The couenant they made With Nature in heauens
of your course A dangerous ambush by ambition planted There may come raging riuers from this source To drowne your state whilst fancies are vndanted I know these new-borne monsters of your mind Haue arm'd your rauish'd thoughts with faire conceates Yet may these wonders that you haue diuin'd Proue traiterous proiects painted for deceates And pardon Sir it is not good to be Too rashlie stout nor curiouslie wise Lest that you from that which is certaine flee And not attaine to that which you deuise Croes I grant indeed which very few shall know Though I designe but to relieue my friend My thoughts are aym'd this vnto you I le show And not without great cause t' a greater end You see how Fortune nought but change affects Some are reproach'd that others may be praisd And euery age brings forth some strange effects Some must be ruin'd others must be raisd I doubt not you haue heard who was the first Whom fame for warring with the world reuiues Who had of soueraigntie so great a thirst That it could not be quenchd with thousands liues T' was he who first obtain'd the name of Ioue Who was reputed for his glorious acts The most imperious of the powers aboue That vowes and offrings of the world exacts He all his time could nought but terrour breathe To make the world acquaint with warre and dearth The chiefest sergeants deputed by death That made th' Assirians soueraignes of the earth Yet since his course the worlds first plague was past His successours who many ages raign'd Made shipwrack of their Empire at the last And by the Medes were thral'd scorn'd and disdain'd This was the cause of that great kingdomes fall A King who could not iudge of kinglie treasures With losse of scepter honour life and all Did buy his base delights and seruile pleasures To that disastred Monarchies decay Th' aspiring Persians purpose to succeede But I intend to crosse them by the way And quaile their courage ere that they can speede The Persians once the Lidians force must proue And O who knowes but that it is ordain'd At the Tribunall of the States aboue That I should raigne where famous Ninus raign'd This all the host of heauen ofttimes foretells To this the gods of Greece my mind haue mou'd And he that in th' Arabian desart dwells By his response this enterprise approu'd San. Thus still in loue with what we mind to do What we affect we fairest still conceaue This feedes our humour whilst we labour to Seeme full of wit our selues for to deceaue You flatter so yourselfe you can not spye What secret danger this designe doth beare But whilst I looke with an indifferent eye On your intentions I find cause of feare You vnaduisdlie purpose to pursue A barbarous people that are foes to peace Who but by rapine to their greatnes grew And would for each light cause the warres imbrace No daintie silks of the Assirian dye Do deck their bodies to abase their mindes But cloath'd with wild beasts skinnes they do defye The force of Phoebus rayes and Eols windes They simplie feede and are not grieu'd each day With stomacks cloyd decocting diuers meates They fare not as they would but as they may Of iudgement sound not carried with conceates These vncorrupted customes that they hold Make all things easie that they feele no paine This cooles the Sommers heate kils Winters cold This makes the Riuers dry the Mountaines plaine Those whose ambition pouertie did bound Of the delights of Lidia if they taste Will haue in hatred straight their barren ground And insolentlie all our treasures waste To gouerne such although that you preuaile You shall but buy vexation with your blood And do your selfe and yours if fortune faile From a possessed Soueraigntie seclude Yea though this rash desire your iudgement leades I for my part must praise the gods for you The haue not put into the Persians heads To warre against the Lidians long ere now Croes These flames that burne my brest must once burst out Your counsaile for more quiet minds I leaue And be you still thought wise so I proue stout I le conquer more or lose the thing I haue Caelia YEt am I forc'd out of afflictions store To ease my mind a few sad words to straine And but vnlode it now to lode it more I emptie but mine eyes to fill againe My soule must sound euen as my passions strike Which now are tun'd to nothing but mischiefe My breast and eyes are both accurst alike The cabinet of care the cells of griefe O cruell heauen fierce starre vnhappie fate Too foule iniustice of the diuine powres Whose high disdaine t'wards me with partiall hate The comfort of the world sad world deuoures Curst be the day in which I first was borne When lying toungs affirm'd I come to light A monstrous blasphemie a mightie scorne Since t' was to darkenes and a ioy-set night O happie if I then had chanc'd to smother That the first houre had been the last to me Then from one graue t' haue gone vnto another I should haue dide to liue not liu'd to die What profited to me my parents ioyes That with such pomp did solemnize my birth When I must be the mirrour of annoyes And all my dayes taste but one dramme of mirth Which seru'd for nothing but to make me know The height of horrour that was to succeed I was but raisd vp high to be brought low That short-liu'd ioyes might endless anguish breed That nothing might for my confusion lack All my best actions but betray'd my state My vertues too were guiltie of my wrack And warr'd against me banded with my fate For whilst my Virgin-yeares with praise I past Which did ah that it did too much import My modest eye told that my mind was chast This gain'd the warrant of the worlds report And Maides must haue a great respect to fame No greater dowrie then an vnstain'd name Faire beauties Goddesse thou canst beare record My offring neuer made thine altar rich All such lasciuious fancies I abhord My free-borne thoughts no follie could bewitch Till happilie ah so it seem'd to some Ah but vnhappelie th' euent hath prou'd All this and more to Atis eares did come Who straightway likt and after liking lou'd Then to our eares his purpose did impart Not lip-sick-louer-like with words farre sought His toong was but the agent of his hart Yet could not tell the tenth part of his thought And lest his trauells should haue seem'd to tend To breach my honour worke my fames decay He brought his wishes to a lawfull end And by th' effect th' affection did bewray Their Iuno president of wedlockes vowe And Hymen with his saffron-colour'd cote Our loue with sacred customes did allow Whilst th' ominous Owles no crosses did denote The blessing that this marriage did procure It was too great to haue continu'd long A thing that 's vehement can not indure Our ioyes farre past th'
the Heau'ns decree It 's to be feard those whom this Arte beguiles Do change their fate make their Fortune wheeles And loe of late what hath our King By his prepost'rous trauels gaind In searching each particular thing That Atis Horoscope containd But what the Heau'ns had once ordaind He could not by no meanes preuent And yet he labours to find out Through all the Oracles about Of future things th' vnsure euent This doth his rauing mind torment Now in his age vnwisely stout To fight with Cyrus but no doubt The Heauens are grieu'd for to heare told Long ere the time their hid intent Let Tantalus b' a terror to th' o're-bold That dare Ioues cloudy secrecies vnfold Act. V. Scen. I. CYRVS HARPAGVS Goe Let vs triumph o're these vnthron'd thralls Whose maymed greatnesse to confusion runnes Who forfeited their glorie by their falles No hand that fights is pure but that which winnes The rauisht world that fraught with doubts did stand To see the bloody end of this dayes toyle Saw how the Heau'ns placd lightning in my hand To thunder on all those that sought my foyle Now therefore let vs first deuoutly go And lose our vowes the gods detest th' ingrate And who delight t' adore their deities so Do neuer faile t' establish their estate Goe load the Altars smoke the sacred places With Bullocks Incense Odours of all kinds Though none can giue the gods that flow in graces A sweeter Sacrifice then thankefull minds Har. Though all that indenized in this Vale Walke here confinde within this fertile Round And are tapestred with this azure Pale T' adore the gods by many meanes are bound Yet there are some particularly I find Whose names are written in their dearest scrowles Whom extraordinary fauours bind Euen to prefer them to their very Soules Of which Sir you are one your deeds declare Of you amidst innumerable broyles Euen from your cradle they haue had a care And led you safe through all your greatest toyles Though of the dangers of your youth I see The thought no more with griefe your mind importunes Yet I thinke on who had the hap to be An Actor in your Tragick-Comick fortunes Cyr. The accidents that in our Nonage chance When as our yeers grow rype slide out of thought Like fabulous dreames that Darknesse doth aduance And are by Day disdaind as things of nought For our Conceptions are not then so strong As for to leaue th' impression long behind Yet mixe deare Friend old griefes new Ioyes among And call afflicted Infancy to mind Har. Who would not wonder at thy wondrous Fate Whose ruine ere thy Birth appeard conspir'd Who vnbegun seemd to expire that date Which now begun shall neuer be expir'd Your Mother first her Syre with cares did sting While as he dreamd which yet his soule confounds That from her wombe there did a Vine-tree spring Which did o're-shadow all great Asiaes bounds Then to the Magies strait he gaue in charge To trie what this strange Vision did presage Who hauing studied their darke Art at large Gaue this response with a prophetick rage That once his Daughter should bring forth a Sonne For glorious Acts exceedingly renownd By whom th' Empire of Asia should be wonne By whom his Grandfather should be vncrownd This to Astiages a terrour bredde Who labouring to anull the heau'ns decree Aduisde as best his Daughter for to wedde T' a powrelesse stranger but of base degree Then of Cambises he by chance made choyce And for his barb'rous Countries cause the rather Whom by your birth the Princesse did reioyce And further then before affright her Father Thus tyrannie by feeble sprites begun Doth force the Parents in despaire to fall A dastard to attempt prowd hauing wonne Which being feard of all doth still feare all And tyrants no securitie can find For euery shadow frights a guiltie mind This Monarch whom scarce Armies could surprise Whom gallant Guards and stately Courts delighted Who triumphd o're th' Earth threatned the Skies A Babe scarce borne come of himselfe affrighted And whilst Lucina the last helpe did make As if some vgly Monster had been borne A Minotoure a Centaure or a Snake The worlds terror and the Mothers scorne The Nephews birth that would haue seemd t' impart Vnto the Grandfather great cause of ioyes As if the naked hand had pierc'd his hart Did winde him in a maze of sad annoyes And to preuent a but suspected spight By giuing an occasion of iust hate He sought by robbing you the new-found Light To make your birth and burial of one date Soone after this he sent for me in hast Whom at that time and not in vaine he lou'd Then shewd me all the circumstances past Wherewith his marble mind seemd nothing mou'd Out of the which as he would let me know All complements of pittie were not blotted He would this superficiall fauour show Not with your blood to haue his owne hands spotted Thus hauing lulld asleepe the conscience still The wicked would extenuate their crimes Not knowing those that but allow of ill Are Actors in effect guiltie all times Yet with his fault he would haue burdend me And willd that I an Innocent should slay I promisde to performe his rash decree Well weighing whom but not wherein t' obay When I had parted from his Highnesse face And caried you then swadled with me too Through th' apprehended horror of my case I stood perplex'd and wist not what to do Necessitie tooke place I waild with teares Th' vntimely funeralls as I thought or you My soule confounded with a swarme of feares Did with sad sighes my message disallow Yet t' him I send a seruant of mine owne Who for the time was Heards-man to the King To whom I made all my commission knowne But as direct to him shew'd euery thing Deliuering you with an vnwilling breath Then with a mantle of pure gold array'd I threatned him with many a cruell death If that your death were any way delay'd Straight for to execute th' intended doome He from my sight did all astonish'd go Too great a charge for such a simple groome The shew of Maiestie amaz'd him so O what a wonder is' t for to behold Th' vnfailing prouidence of powrefull Ioue Whose brazen edicts can not be controld Firme are the statutes of the states aboue That mortall whom th'Immortalls fauour shields No worldlie force is able to confound He may securely walke through dangers fields Times and occasions are t' attend him bound For loe before the Herds-man was come home His wife of a dead burden was deliuered Who wondred so to see her Husband come That with a secret terrour faintlie shiuered She straight grew curious for to know the forme How he a Babe so beawtifull obtaind Who did her suddainly of all informe And to what crueltie he was constraind See quickly then th' occasion to imbrace No doubt inspir'd by some celestiall powre Prayd him t' expose her dead child in your
euen as if her soule had flowne in him She stabd her selfe then falling on her Lord Her beauties blubbered starres were waxing dim The faithfull Eunuchs for their Sou'raigne sorie And scorning to suruiue so rare a date In emulation of their mistresse glorie Dide violentlie partners of her fate O sweet Panthea rich in rarest parts I must admire thy ghost though thou be gone Who mightst haue made a monarchie of harts Yet loth'd vnlawfull loues and lou'd but one O wondrous wonders wonders wondrous rare A woman constant such a beautie chaste So pure a mind ioyn'd with a face so faire Beautie and Vertue in one person placde Both were well match'd as any could deuise Whose vndiuided end their choyce alowes He valorous she vertuous both wise She worthie such a mate he such a spouse And Harpagus lest that it should be thought The memorie of vertuous minds may dye Cause build a stately tombe with statues wrought Where their dead bodies may respected lye Har. I 'le raise a Piramide of Croesus spoyles Where all their famous parts shall be comprisde But how t' insist in these tumultuous broyles T' is best now Sir that you were well aduisde Your aduersarie doth attend your will This hautie citie humbled hath her crest And therefore go to pardon or to kill To saue or sack euen as you shall thinke best Cyr. Abstract for old Croesus I am else resolu'd He with some captiues which I keep in store Shall haue their bodies by the fire dissolu'd As offrands to the Gods that I adore This citie shall my souldiers paines defray Since by their force it hath been brought to bow I yeeld it vnto them as their iust pray Who taste the sweetnes of their trauels now Of other things we shall so well dispose That our renowne o're all the world shall shine Till Cyrus name b'a terrour to all those I That dare against his Sou'raigntie repine Act. V. Scen. II. NVNTIVS CHORVS AH to what part shall I my steps addresse The burden of base bondage to eschue Lo desolation ruine and distresse With horrour doth my natiue home pursue And now poore countrey take my last farewell Farewell all ioy all comfort all delight Chor. What heauie tidings hast thou for to tell That tear'st thy garments thus tell thy sad plight Nun. I tell the wrack of vs and all that liue Within the circuit of this wretched soyle Cho. A hideous shout we heard the Citie giue Is' t in th' enemies hands is' t made his spoyle Nun. It 's made his spoyle Cho. And is our Sou'raigne kild Nun. No but yet neerely scapt doth liue in danger Cho. Then let our eares be with disasters fild And must we beare the yoke of that prowd stranger Nun. You know how Croesus at th' aduantage lay Still seeking meanes t' abate the Persians pride And his confederates had assign'd a day When they should for th' intended warre prouide But Cyrus hauing heard how that they should Against his state so great an armie bring Straight raising all the forces that he could Preuents inuades o'recomes and takes our King Chor. This shews a Captaine both expert and braue Fiâ—st well t' aduise then t' execute with speede No circumstance friend vnrelated leaue Which with our Kings did our confusion breed Nun. When Croesus saw that Cyrus came so soone He stood awhile with a distracted minde Yet what time would permit left nought vndone But made his Musters march'd his Foe to find Our stately Troupes that glisterd all with gold And with vmbragious Feathers fann'd the ayre They with vnwarie insolence growne bold More how to triumph then to o'recome tooke care The Lidian Horsemen are of great account And are for valour through the world renownd Them Cyrus chiefly labourd to surmount And this deuise for that effect was found Vntrussing all their baggage by the way Of the disburthen'd Camels each did beare A grim-fac'd Groome who did himselfe array Euen as the Persian Horsemen vse to weare To them th' Infanterie did follow next A solide Squadron like a brasen wall But those in whom all confidence was fixt The braue Cauallerie came last of all Then Cyrus by the raynes his Courser tooke And being mounted holding out his handes With an assured and Imperious looke Went breathing valour through th' vnconquer'd bandes He willd all them that at Deaths game should striue To spare none of their foes in any forme But as for Croesus to take him aliue And keepe him captiue for a greater storme Where famous Hellus doth to Hermus poste In his broad waues t' entombe his strength and name Our Armie ran against a greater Hoste T' enrich it likewise with our force and fame Our Troupes a time with equall valour stood Till giuing place at length we tooke the chace While as the Riuer ranne to hide our blood But still his borders blusht at our disgrace For so soone as the Camels once were come Our Horses loathing to indure their sight Ranne raging backe againe and of them some Disordring rancks put many to the flight Yet others that were of more martiall mindes Perceiu'd the Stratagem that did deride them And lighting on their feet like mighty windes Bare downe before them all that durst abide them There whilst the world proou'd prodigall of breath The headlesse troncks lay prostrated in heapes This field of funeralls proper vnto death Did paint out Horror in most hideous shapes There men vnhorsde horses vnmastred strayed Some calld on them whom they most dearely tendred Some ragde some groand some sigh'd roard wept prayd Fighting fainting falling desp'rate maymde rendred Those that escapt like beasts vnto a Den Fled to a Fortresse which true valour drownes Walles are for women and the fields for men For Townes cannot keepe men but men keepe Townes And we were scarcely entred at the Portes When as the enemies did the Towne inclose And rearing many artificiall Fortes To the Defenders did huge paines impose There all the military slights werere found Which at the like encounters had preuaild Both for to vse th' aduantage of the ground Or for to helpe with Arte where Nature faild They euer compassing our Trench about Still where the Walls were weakest made a breach Which being straight repaird we threw tooles out And killd all those that came within our reach There all the bolts of death edgde by disdaine That many curious wits inclinde to ill Helpt by th' occasion and the hope of gaine Had powre t' inuent were put in practise still Yet as we see it oft times hath occurrde Where we suspected least we were surprisde Whilst fortune and the fates in one concurrde To haue our ruine in their rolles comprisde The side of Sardis that was least regarded Which lyes t'wards Tmolus and was thought most sure Through this presumption whilst t' was weakely guarded Th' orethrow of all Lidia did procure As one of ours vnhappily it chanc'd T' o're-take his helmet that had scapt his hand Alongst that
the Fates defye While as vntouch'd our state remaines But soone the heau'ns a change may send No perfect blisse before the end When first we fill with fruitfull seede The apt-conceauing womb of th' earth And seeme t' expell all feare of dearth With the increase that it may breede Yet dangers do our hopes exceede The frosts may first with cold confound The tender greens that dect the ground Whose wrath though th' Aprils smiles asswage It hath t' abide th' Eolian rage Which t' o'repasse whilst we attend T' haue Ceres wandring tresses bound The raines let from their cloudie cage May spoyle what we expect to spend No perfect blisse before the end Lo whilst the Vine-tree great with grapes With nectard liquor striues to kisse Th' imbracing Elme not lou'd amisse Those clusters loose their comely shapes Whilst by the thunder burnd in heapes All Bacchus hopes fall downe and perish Thus many a thing doth fairely flourish That no perfection can attaine And yet we worldlings are so vaine That our conceats we highlie bend If fortune but our spring-time cherrish Though we haue stormes for to sustaine Ere to the haruest our yeeres ascend No perfect blisse before the end By all that in this world haue place There is a course that must be runne And let none iudge himselfe t' haue wonne Till he haue finish'd first his race The forrests through the which we trace Breed rauenous beasts that do abhorre vs And lye in wait for to deuoure vs Whilst brambles do our steps beguile The feare of which though we exile And to our marke with gladnes tend Then balles of gold are laid before vs To entertaine our thoughtes a while And our good meaning to suspend No perfect blisse before the end Behold how Croesus long hath liu'd Throughout this spatious world admir'd And hauing all that he desir'd A thousand meanes of ioy contriu'd Yet now is suddenly depriu'd Of all that wealth and strangely falles For euery thing his sprite appalles His Sonnes decease his Countries losse And his owne State which huge stormes tosse Thus he who could not apprehend Whilst as he slept in marble walles No nor imagine any crosse To beare all those his breast must lend No perfect blisse before the end And we the Lydians that design'd To raigne ouer all that were about vs Behold how Fortune too doth flowt vs And hath vs vtterly resign'd For we that had t' our selues assign'd A Monarchie but knew not how Yet thought to make the world to bow That at our forces stood afraid We we by whom these plots were laid To thinke of bondage must descend And beare the yoke of others now O it is truth that Solon said While as he yet doth breath extend No man is blest behold the end W. A. FINIS THE TRAGEDIE OF DARIVS By William Alexander of Menstrie Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci. LONDON Printed by G. Elde for Edward Blount 1604. In praise of the Author and his Poeme A SONNET GIue place all yee to dying Darius wounds VVhile this great Greeke him in his throne enstalles That fell before seauen ported Thebes walles Or vnder Ilions olde sky-threatning rounds Your sowre-sweete sighes not halfe so sadlie sounds Though I confesse most famous be your falles Slaine sacrifizd transported and made thralles Praecipate burnt bannish'd from your bounds VVhome Sophocles Euripides haue song Aeschylus end in stately Tragick tune Yet none of all hath so diuinely done As matchlesse Menstrie in his natiue toung So Darius ghost seemes glad for to be so Triumpht on twise by Alexanders two Io. MVRRAY A Sonnet VVHen as the Macedonian conquerour came To great Achilles Tomb he sigh'd and said Well may thy ghost braue champion be appay'd That Homers Muse was trumpet of thy fame But if that Monarch great in deedes and name Now once againe with mortall vaile array'd Came to the Tomb where Darius hath beene lay'd This speech more iustly sighing might he frame My famous foe whom I lesse hate then pitty Euen I who vanquish'd thee enuie thy glory In that such one doth sing thy ruines story As matcheth Homer in his sweetest ditty Yet ioy I that he Alexander hight And sounds in thy ore-throw my matchles might W. Quin. Eiusdem in nomen Authoris GVLIELMVS ALEXANDER Anagramma I LARGVS MELLE EXVNDA Tetrasticon CVm tibi det Genius Musa ingeniumque Pâ—eÌ„sis Floribus é varijs Attica mella lega I largus melle exunda mellitáque funde Carmina sic facias nomine fata iubent THE ARGVMENT DARIVS the fourteenth from Cyrus King of Persia being after the death of Occhus for his singular valour from the gouernment of Armenia aavanc'd to the Persian empyre became so arrogant Fortune as it were setting him forward to confusion as he sent to demand tribute of Phillip then King of Macedonia who being of a hautie nature and inferiour to none of that age in courage or militarie discipline requited this contumelius message with as disdainfull an answere threatning that he would come and deliuer it in Persepolis But being preuented by death he left the execution of his designe to his sonne Alexander who for the great victories which thereafter he obtained was surnamed the great He inheriting the hatred of his Father towards Darius and far surmounting him in ambition past in person to Asia with an armie of thirtie thousand only After his arriuall Darius wrote to him in a proud and contemptible manner ascribing to himselfe the title of the King of Kings and kinsman of the Gods and naming Alexander his seruant Hee also in vaunting manner boasted that he would haue that mad boy the sonne Philip for so in derision he tearmed him bound and beaten with rods and after brought to his presence apparrelled like a Prince For performance whereof he directed one of his Minions with fourtie thousand to make impediment to his passage at the riuer of Granick where by the wonderfull valour of Alexander they were ouer-throwne Darius being aduertised of this came himselfe in proper person accompanied with infinite but euill ordered nomhers and encountred Alexander beside Isso in the straites of Cilicia where hauing fought a doubtfull and bloody battell in ende by the invincible valour and neuer-fayling Fortune of Alexander his armie was defeated himselfe put to flight and his mother wife and children made captiues They were most courteouslie entertained by Alexander who notwithstanding their exceeding great beautie yet would not abuse them or suffer them to be abused by others nor visited he them more oft then once and that to comfort them all the time of their imprisonment Darius notwithstanding of all his losses his courage being in the full whilst his Fortune was in the waine wrote very proudly to Alexander taking still the title of a King to himselfe but not giuing it him offering him as much gold as Macedon could containe for ransome of the Captiues Which being very disdainfully refused by Alexander he hauing
for you I to your eies appeale Which well can witnes what my hands haue wrought All that I spake proceeded of a zeale And not of cowardice or feare of ought Nor matche I vile repose with honest paines My courage is nor yet become so colde That wounted vigour hath not left my vaines Which spurd my spirit in youth though I be olde Alex. 'T is not ynough that you your selfe be so To be the same you should the rest exhort Is he return'd who was ordain'd to go And viewe the Captiues what doth he report Parm. As we were since by some of them instructed While they as yet not of support dispair'd And to a tent were courteously conducted Which we of purpose caus'd to be prepar'd Euen in the way one fortun'd to espy The Diademe that Darius earst had borne Which on the earth so abiectly did lie As each thing his calamine would scorne Then they imagin'd from his royall head Whose dignity it some-time did decore None could it cast except himselfe were dead And if so were they long'd to liue no more When they had entred in the tent to weepe Leonatus came and at the entrie knocked They stood so still he thought an yornie sleepe Had lock'd their eies or else that he was mocked At length by force he made a patent way And was aduanc'd them louingly to greet When loe these dolorous Ladies prostrate lay And with a flood of teares bedew'd his feete Then sobbing saide we not refuse to die Let vs entombe first Darius like a King Then when that we his latter honour see Death cannot but a great contentment bring This so they vrg'd as he could scarce perswade That Darius was not dead as they suppos'd But liu'd in hope through dangers Seas to wade And in the pow'r of other Realmes repos'd And further he protested on your part That they might looke for clemencie and grace Thus after that I had asswag'd their smart It seem'd they longd to see my Soueraignes face Alex. Of my good-will they may themselues assure I neuer war'd with such as were subiected And if my presence may their ease procure Straight to their tent my steppes shall be directed Exeunt CHORVS OF all the passions that possesse the soule None so disturbes vaine mortals mindes As this Ambition that so blindes The sense of man that nothing can controule Nor curb their thoughts who will aspyre This raging vehement desire Of seueraignty no satisfaction findes But in the breastes of men doth euer roule The restlesse stone of Sisiph to torment them And as his hart who steal'd the heu'nly fire The vulture gnawes so doth Ambition rent them Had they the world the world would not content them This race of Ixion to embrace the cloudes Contemne the state wherein they stand And would all but themselues command As one desire is quench'd another buds When they haue trauel'd all their time Heaps blood on blood and crime on crime There is a hier power that guides their hand More happie he whome a poore cottage shroudes Against the tempest of the threatning heauen He stands in feare of none none enuy him His hart is vpright and his wayes are eauen Where others states are still twixt sixe and seauen That damned wretch vp with Ambition blow'n While-as he turnes the wheele about Whiles cast within whiles cast without In striuing for the top is still throwne downe Those that delight in climbing hie Oft with a precepice doe die So doe the starres sky-climbling worldlings flout But this disease is fatall to a croune Kings who haue most striue most t' augment their bounds And if they be not all they can not be Which to their domage commonly redounds Too great a state her proper waight confounds Th' ambitious toyling to enlarge their state Themselues exceedingly deceaue In hazarding the hap they haue For a felicitie that they conceate Though their dominions they incres Yet their desires growe neuer les For though they conquer Climats more they craue This is the miserie of being great Such eye-beguyling pompe is all but fume Such glorious showes disguise the minds distres And who to conquere all the earth presume A little earth shall them at last consume And if it fortune that they die in peace A wonder wondrous rarelie seene Who conquere first their empire cleene Is ruin'd by some persons of their race Who comming to the crowne with rest And hauing all in peace possest Do straight forget what bloody broils haue bene Before their Fathers could attaine that place As th' Ocean flowes and ebbes states rise and fall And Princes when their actions prosper best For feare their greatnes should oppresse the smal Are of some hated and eny'd of all We knowe what end the mightie Cyrus made Whome while he striu'd to conquere still A woman did most vildlie kill And in a bloodie vessell rold his head Then said Content thy selfe with blood Thou still didst famish for such food Now quench thy thirst of blood with blood at will Some of his successors since he was dead Haue raign'd a space with pompe and yet with paine Now all their glorie cannot doe vs good What they so long haue laboured to obtaine All in an instant must be lost againe Loe Darius once so magnified by fame By one whome he contemn'd o'recome For all his brauerie now made dombe With downe-cast eyes must signifie his shame Who puft vpwith pernitious pride Thinke still t' haue fortune on their side They cannot scape to be a pray to some They spend their prosperous days as in a dreame And as it were in fortunes bosome sleeping They in this dull securitie abide And of their doubtfull state neglect the keeping Whilst gaist lie ruine comes vpon them creeping Thus the vicissitude of worldly things Doth to our eyes it selfe detect VVhen heauenly powers exalt deiect Confirme confound erect and ruine Kings So Alexander mightie now To whome the vanquish'd world doth bow VVith all submission homage and respect Doth flie a borrow'd flight with Fortunes wings Nor enters he his dangerous course to ponder Yet if that Fortune bend her cloudie browe All those who at his suddaine successe wonder May gaze as much to see himselfe brought vnder ACTVS TERTIVS Scen. I. SISIGAMBIS Regina STATIRA Virgo O Dismall day detested by the light And would to God but God neglects our cace The world were wrapt in a Cymerian night That no proud eye might gaze on our disgrace Why did the heauens reserue my feeble age To goe to graue with infamie and grief Could nothing but my shame their wrath asswage Thus offred vpon th' altar of mischief Ah haue I spent my youth in pompe and pleasure And had my spring-time grac'd with pleasant flowres That th'Aurumne which should reape the Sōmers treasure Might be disastred with such stormy showres And did smooth calmes and sun-shines of delight Make all my voyage through the world a sport That tossed with a tempest of despight I now
haue pierc'd my soule Who eu'n amid'st our heauen haue found a hell Hep. What stoick brow his passions could controule As not to weepe if he re-marked well The teares of these faire Ladies causing wonder Who neede not challenge nature of her duty But borne to bring although they be brought vnder Giue greefe a grace for to apparrell beauty Sir such a victorie hath not beene seene As you haue gain'd whose greatnesse well appeares The largest kingdome and the fairest Queene That Asia vaunted of these many yeares Durst Ledaes or Agenors brood compare With that sweete Queene the honour of her kinde But as she is aboue all other faire As farre her daughters make her go behinde It seem'd at first that sorrow had beene sleeping While as these Virgines in their Grand-dames bosome With weeping beautie and with beauties weeping Did with a haile of pearle blast beauties blossome So large a pow'r is to no Prince allotted As to loues Empire in their face confynd Alex. O how is my Hephestion thus assotted Dare follie seeke t' assault so braue a minde Dare Cupid enter in an armed campe And Mars owne minions thus presume to danton Must his soft seale steele-wearing stomacks stampe And make them tributaries to that wanton Hep. We dare resist whil'st many a thousand dies Against th' inuasion of a world of men Yet if in yuorie orbes two Sunnie eies Assault the soule at vnawares O then Some secret sympathie some vn-knowne motion So charmes the minde that vaine are all defenses The hart drunke with the eies contagious potion Corrupts the spirits and poysons all the senses Alex. But I in my conceat doe skorne all such No I resolue to be a thrall to none Yea ere I but abase my selfe so much I 'le rather die ten thousand deathes in one Should I be bound with vile affections chaines As one obliuious of my former same This resolution still my soule retaines To ballance nothing with a noble name O what a great indignity is this To see a Conquerour to his lust a slaue Who would the title of true worth were his A minde surmounting euery vice must haue The brauest trophee euer man obtain'd Is that which ou'r himselfe himselfe harh gain'd Hep. I ioy my soueraigne that as you excell Not onely men but Mars himselfe in armes So you by vertues might the power repell Of beautie loue and Cithereas charmes Your vertue bright whose rayes shine in your words And thence to harts center are reflected Now ouer my selfe such pow'r to me affords That with fond loue I loth to he infected ACTVS TERTIVS Scen. III. BESSVS NARBAZANES Bes NOw since Narbazanes we are come hither Let vs accomplish what we haue intended And ioyne our wit our force and all together That it may be no sooner knowne then ended You see occasion call vs whil'st we sleepe And point vs out the way to be aduanc'd Yea blames our sluggishnesse that cannot keepe The course of things which for our weale haue chanc'd The heauens abhorre our King striue t' vndo him Nothing doth prosper that he enterprises Some new disaster daylie falles vnto him Some crosse o'er-thwarts all things that he deuises In no strict limites should our thoughts be bounded Whom so great happines seemes to importune For since our King is like to be confounded Vpon his fall we both may builde our fortune Na. I shall not faile for to performe my part I of your words exceedingly allow Honour and wealth are the idols of my hart Which if I may obtaine I care hot how And yet I would we had some faire pretence Our countries care must seeme our soules to comber This seeming zeale must shaddow our offence For such a show will satisfie a number Let vs be well aduis'd ere we resolue And then endeuour t' execute it soone If we our selues once in this worke involue And then not finishe it we are vndone Bes He hath sent one to Alexander late To speake of peace but did the same in vaine And now involu'd in a despair'd estate Bar'd from accorde he cannot warie sustaine His purpose is his Captaines to conuene To aske of them some counsell for his saftie A time more fit for vs could not haue beene Who minde to compasse Kings must needs be crafty For to atchieue that which we thinke to doe A course more fit we by no meanes could finde Then crooked seeming-vpright counsell to Disguise our practises and maske our minde We will aduise him to renounce a space His state to some one whom he may desire But for the fashion to accept his place And as himselfe a certaine time impyre Whose better fortune may perchance bring back That which his euer ebbing beares away Then he againe his Diademe shall take And as before the regall scepter sway Na. Well then amongst our selues t' auoid debate Which vndermines so many a mighty action I will preferre you to the imperiall seate And to approoue the same will frame my faction Bes All that is one which of vs two receiue it Since euery thing doth equallie belong vs I 'le take it for the forme not that I craue it For we will part his Empire all among vs. But if he condiscend to this we craue Which at the first vnfolding would seeme good Let him not thinke vs two such fooles to leaue That which so many Monarkes buy with blood Who once aduanc'd would willingly goe downe And not loue in authoritie to stand 'T is not the custome so to quite a Crowne When one hath know'n how sweet it 's to command This name of faith but to get credite fain'd If it were ballanc'd with a kingdome straight In them whose consciences are most restrain'd T' would soone succumbe a scepter hath such waight Na. Yet to betray our King we haue no reason When I muse on th' attempt it makes me sorrie Our name stain'd with this odious stile of treason Shall leaue our successours more shame then glorie We first must end all our designes with paine Then raigne with feare and liue securelie neuer As in a dreame a space with pompe remaine Then die disgrac'd infamie for euer The sacred title of a Soueraigne King Doth strike a terrour in my troubled thought And maiestie t' amaze my minde doth bring Whose aspect only hath great wonders wrought Bes To idle sounds and frivolous reports Giue thou a pasporte for they last not long And all that thou alledgest nought imports A Crowne may couer any kinde of wrong What hainous thing so odious is by nature That for a Kingdome hath not beene committed To be a King let me be cal'd a traitour Faith if for ought for this may be omitted Those are but feeble braines which fancies lode With timorous dreames that bare surmising brings Who feare vaine shaddowes must not come abrode Too warie-wits dare neuer worke great things If our braue proiect happilie succeede As now I doubt not but it shall do soone We straight will finde
of age Haue such a peerelesse beautie in his power And yet not seeke to quench his ardent rage With the destruction of her honours flowre Spare not to tell vpon what deadly shelfe My ioy is perish'd quite and I defac'd The feare of euill is worse then th' euill it selfe I'ts to die twise to die and die disgrac'd Ti. Let not those loue-bred feares abuse your thought By all the world no fable I contriue If I speake partiallie or lie in ought Earth open vp and swallow me aliue He whom your Grace so wrongfully suspects No not in thought hath once your Queene abus'd But as his sister still in all respects As chastlie and as honourablie vs'd When fortune first our warlike troupes had scattered And with great slaughter put them all to flight We whom she late so louingly had flattered Were made the patternes of that changlings might For hauing found a Crowne troad on the ground Dar. O lasting shame that cannot be recur'd Tir. We straight imagin'd that some cruell wound Had kild my Lord and wail'd it as assur'd Dar. Would God I then had died as I desir'd So t' haue preuented those ensuing harmes Before my honour and my hap expir'd With Crowne on head with my Queene in armes Tir. But Alexander hauing heard our cries Sent one t' enquire th' occasion of our woe Who finding whence our errour did arise Gaue full assurance that it was not so Then he himselfe vnto our tent resorted And with most courteous speaches full of loue Your mother wife and children oft exhorted Such vaine surmized terrours to remoue With protestation that they should expect No harme of him their courage to appale Each thing he did accordinglie direct That no man might endomage them at all Thus hauing them against all dangers arm'd I thinke for feare for who would not haue fear'd Least such an Angels graces had him charm'd He neuer more before her face appear'd Or was it vertue that would flie the sting Of trustlesse pleasures that abuse the sense So continent a victour and a king Was neuer seene He fled what caus'd offence He doth his fame aboue all things prefer And will not be where it may blemish finde Nor giue his eyes commoditie to erre Nor suffer impure thoughts to staine his minde He stai'd till that faire face had lost all vigour And with the coulours of pale death was painted Dar. Iniurious heauen that with such hellish rigour The purest worke that nature made hath tainted Tir. When he beheld death triumph in that face Which late had triumph'd ou'r a Monarcks hart He mon'd no lesse her miserable cace Then you that loste in her your better part And when some dayes his dolour had ou'r-come Her funerals solemnelie to decore He vs'd such honour as might well become The Persian pompe in prosperous times before Dar. O supreame pow'r that of Empires disposest And ratifiest thy will with fearfull thunder Who as thou pleasest placest and de-posest Vncertaine worldlings whiles aboue whiles vnder I pray thy Deitie in my soules distresse If that th' inhabitants of heauen can heare The plaints of those who this lowe point possesse Or that th' immortall can giue mortals eare Vouchsafe this my last sute for to fulfill Establish first this scepter in my hand But if through my deserving or thy will The race of Cyrus must no more command And if thy heauenly breast such hate contracts That I must needs my Diadem forgoe Let him succeed who prooues in all his acts So iust a Victour and so milde a foe ACTVS QVARTVS Scen. II. DARIVS ART ABAZVS NARBAZENES PATRON BESSVS Dar. IF Fortune had ioynd me with dastard mindes Who to a noble death base life prefer'd I should not harrengue heere vnto the windes But be content to haue my fate defer'd O I repent I proou'd your worth too much Who still haue follow'd me in all estates I rather should then doubt that you are such Prease to proue worthy of so worthie mates Yee onlie rest of all that I conducted Of whose great force and faith which many sing I by two fights and flights haue beene instructed Yet hauing you I thinke my selfe a King He hath plac'd traitours in my townes most ample Not that he honours them he hates their humour But to seduce you to by their example Then bannish all for euery little rumour Yee haue not to my Fortune had regarde But freelie-follow'd my euill fortun'd warres Which though that I might not Ioue would rewarde And all the world extoll you to the starres How long shall I a vagabond remaine And flie a stranger who my right would reaue Since by one battell we may re-obtaine All that we lost or loose all that we haue Like those vile traitours whom I will arraigne To holde me vp shall I goe cast me downe Must Darius onlie by entreatie raigne No none hath pow'r to take or giue my Crowne I shall not my authoritie sur-viue Nor will I proffer a submissiue breath My hand shall holde a scepter while I liue My head shall beare a Diadem till death If those franke thoughts that doe possesse my soule Such flames of vertue kindled haue in you A Macedonian neuer shall controule Our noble actes nor laugh to see vs bow My state may testifie fraile Fortunes change May she not him o're-whelme as well as me At least our hands beare death if not revenge For who can stop a stout hart for to die Thinke of your auncestors I you exhort Who made the Grecians tributaries euer And of whose wondrous actes men do report Great things the fame whereof shall perish neuer Shall future ages in your praise be dombe Whil'st they your Fathers memorie adore I am resolu'd my Triumphe or my Tombe A Laurell ora Cipresse shall decore Art What vaine amazement doth disturbe our spirits Let vs consult no further but goe to He who the Persians wonted worth inherites Will not rest long aduising what to doe Come let vs with our best attire and armes Accompanie our King to this last strife Through bloody squadrons and through hote alarmes By slaughter onlie we must looke for life And when our host as I hope shall preuaile Our countrie shall haue peace we praise of right And if our Fortune not our courage faile We die with honour in our Soueraignes sight Let vs if vanquish'd be asham'd to be A glorious death may greater honour giue Doe to o're-come and yet not feare to die It 's needfull that we fight not that we liue Na. My words will first your Maiestie displease Yet dutie makes me speake where silence spilles The fine Phisician cures a sharpe disease With some sowre potion that corruption killes The skilfull Pilote when he feares a storme To saue the ship will cast out precious things Yet I perswade you not in any forme To further but to stay what ruine brings We warre against the Gods we cannot speede To all our actions Fortune is oppos'd We must of
not die desperately by mine owne hand I le die through others guilt not through mine owne None of you all haue falsified your troath But with me loyall still to th' end yee abide Now I you all disburthâ—n of your oath Leaue me alone and for your selues prouide Exeunt DARIVS O Wretched Monarchie vaine mortals choice The glorious stâ—p to a disgrace-full fall Our pow'r depends vpon the peoples voice And to seeme soueraigne needs we must serue all Yet blowne like blathers with ambitions winde On enuied scepters weaklie we relie And calling not our fraile estate to minde Not onlie earth but heauens themselues defie This hellish hag our restlesse minde doth tosse While carried with a popular applause T' enlarge our limites with our neighbours losse We of our owne confusions are the cause And when th' ecclipse comes of our glories light Then what auailes th' adoring of our name A meere illusion made to mock the sight Whose best was but the shaddow of a dreame Let greatnesse of her glascie scepters vaunt Not sceptours no but reeds soone brus'd soone brokeÌ„ And let this worldlie pompe our wits inchant All fades and scarcelie leaues behinde a token Those golden Pallaces those gorgeous halles With fourniture superfluouslie faire Those statelie Courts those sky-encountring walles Evanish all like vapours in the aire O what affliction iealous greatnesse beares That still must trauell to hold others downe Whil'st all our guardes not guard vs from our feares So greevous is the burthen of a Crowne Where are they all who at my feete did bowe While I was made the idole of so many What ioy had I not then what haue I nowe Then honoured of all now scarce of any Our painted pleasures but apparrell paine We spend our dayes in dread our liues in dangers Balles to the starres and thralles to Fortunes raigne Knowne vnto all yet to our selues but strangers A golden Crowne doth couer leaden cares The Scepter cannot lulle their thoughts a-sleepe Whose breasts are fraught with infinite dispaires Of which the vulgar wits sounds not the deepe The Bramble growes although it be obscure While mightie Cedars feele the blustering windes And milde Plebeian spirits may lieu secure While mightie tempests tosse imperiall mindes What are our daies but dreames our raignes but traÌ„ces Whil'st brain-sick reaving with our Fortunes feuer We still are vext with changes and mischances Till death vs both from life and scepter seuer The vanitie of greatnesse I haue proou'd And beene the wonder of each gazing eye Now that deceauing shaddow is remoou'd And I my wretched state too late espie Now bound with chaines which though they be of gold Diminish not my thraldome ought the more When this preposterous honour I beholde It but vpbraides me what I was before And what was I before though to each eye The forme of my affliction was not knowne But fettred in effect while I seem'd free And in a labyrinth of labours throwne Was I not bound to serue then all mens humour Or to be censur'd with some Critick storie Still clog'd with cares as slought for euery rumour O glorious bondage burthen-able glorie That dignitie which deified me late And made the world doe homage to my name Now cannot succour my accursed state But hath with my mis-fortune fethered same My best was but a momentarie blis Which leaues behinde this euerlasting sting That of all woe no woe is like to this To thinke I was and am not now a King No man with me in all accomplish'd ioyes That satisfie the soule could once compare No man may matche me now in sad annoyes And all the miseries that breede dispaire Thrise Fortune did my gallant troupes entrap And I to fall did desperately stand Yet could not be so happie in mishap As for t' haue died by some renowmed hand But for my greater griefe disgrace and scorne The mindes of men so apt are to deceaue They whome aloft my favours wings haue borne Ev'n they made me their maister thus a slaue Ah did not death in prison from me reaue The sacred soueraigne of my soules desires I wretch not being present to receaue The last cold kisse that might asswage my fires Yet ô thrise happie thou that hast not liu'd To beare a burthen of this great disgrace More then a thousand deaths this had thee grieu'd To know I died and died in such a cace Ah doe the pledges of our mutuall loue The onlie comfort that the fates haue left me Rest prison'd yet And may I not remooue My mother thence then is all blisse bereft me My paines are more then with my pleasures ev'n Since first I in authoritie did enter Was I exalted once vp to the heau'n To be cast head-long downe to mischiefes center My ample Empire and my Princelie birth My great magnificence and vaine excesse All cannot yeelde my minde one minutes mirth To ease me now in this extreame distresse Loe heere reduc'd vnto the worst of illes Past helpe past hope and only great in griefe I wait vpon two abiect vassals willes And dare not no not thinke vpon reliefe Death would I scorne my course must once haue ruÌ„ If I had first repair'd mine honours breach Whose wounds so thrill my soule as vnbegun The life I wish that does my fame impeach This mortall vaile I willinglie resigne Since to an ende my dayes the destinies bring Nor will I so from Maiestie decline As to doe ought vn-worthie of a King Exit CHORVS SOme new disasier day lie doth for showe Our comming ruine We haue seene our best Now fortune bent vs vtterly t' ore-throw Throwes down our King from her wheels top so low As by no meanes his state can be redrest And since his foes by armes haue him opprest His friendes and seruants leaue him all alone Few haue compassion of his state distrest Yea false to him them selues doe many show So foes and fâ—ined friendes conspire in one Fraile Fortune and the fates with them agree With axes all runne on this falling tree This Prince in prosperous state hath florish'd long And neuer dream'd of any euill successe But was well follow'd while his state was strong Him flattering Syrens with a charming song Striu'd to exalt while-as he did possesse This earthly drosse that with a vaine excesse He might reward their mercenary loue But now when fortune driues him to distresse His fauorites whom he remain'd among With foes and fortune straight their faith remoue And who for gaine to follow him were wont They after gaine by his destruction hunt O more then happie ten times were that King Who were vnhappie but a little space So that it did no vtter ruine bring But made him proue a profitable thing Who of his traine did best deserue his grace Then could and would of those the best imbrace And flie such vultures as deuour him liuing That these whom he found faithful might have place O how this doth a generous stomacke sting To see some grac'd for craft
how he had their treason tri'de And seene the Bactrians to a tumult bent Then prai'd him for his safety to prouide In going with him to his trusty tent The King grow'n carelesse and his safety shunning Refus'd this offer on affection grounded Or with some pow'rfull fate his fall fore-running Was carried headlong thus to be confounded The Greeke past thence dispairing of his safety Who thus recur elesse helpe and health refus'd Then Bessus did begin with speeches craftie To purge himselfe and errours past excus'd The King then Artabazus did command T' approch and Patrons speech at length reported He then did doubt what danger was at hand And to go with the Greeke his Grace exhorted But when he found this resolution plac'd Within his brest no peril for to flie With mutuall teares each other they embrac'd Parting like two that liuing went to die Now silent night in pitchie vapours cled Had mustred mists and march'd vnto the West A shadowie horrour ou'r the earth was spread The Santinelles were set and all at rest When a strange terrour troubled all the hoste The multitudes did murmure in all parts They did resemble ships in stormes neere lost Whilst each to th' other cause of feares imparts Those who their King appointed were to guarde All shrunke away to corners none staid there And hauing to his danger no regarde His better-fortunes Minions fled else where The desolation then was wonderous great With a few Eunuches Darius left alone Did enter deepely to reuolue his state And thus be-spake them who did for him mone Depart in peace and for your selues prouide Least yee be likewise with my ruine caught I will the issue of my fate abide They hearing this as of their wits distraught Went howling through the host with dolorous cries This made the King as dead to be bewaild And in the armie did a rumour rise That he had kild himselfe when all hope fail'd The Persians greeu'd while these things did occurre Did first encourage all their countrie bands To helpe their Prince but yet they durst not sturre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands Ev'n in the time when this confusion was The traitours to deferre the fact no more Did to their soueraignes owne Pavilion passe And rooke and bound him whome they seru'd before He who in golden coach superbelie rode Was cast in one for bassest carriage vs'd And who of late was honoured like a God By seruants as a bond slaue was abus'd Those royall hands to beare a scepter borne Were bouÌ„d with chains this also much did grieue him That fortune his aduersitie would scorne With golden bands that seru'd not to releeue him Then Alexander hauing heard in end That Darius came not forward to affront him To finde him out did all his forces bend Not doubting but he eftsoones would surmount him But being at the last at length inform'd How he was made a Captiue to his owne At this indignitie he highlie storm'd And swore he would avenge it by his crowne Out of his hoste he did select a fewe Who were best hors'd whose equipage was light With whom his foes he did so fast pursue That ere they could suspect he came in sight The traitours troubled with this he had done Came to the Cart wherein the King was carried And bad him mount on horse back and flee soone Least that his foe should take him if he tarried He look'd aloft and cry'd aloud this day Th' eternall Iusticer sees through the starres I will not with such periur'd rebelles stay And flie from him who moou's but honest warres Then those in whom impietie aboundes Throw'd darts at him whoÌ„ they should haue defended And hurte the horses with an hundreth woundes While they perform'd the Parricide intended Their hands were feeble as their harts vntrue For when their foes began them once to comber The traitours first then all the traiterous crue Fled them who were inferiour farre in number But to the confines of deathes kingdome brought The King retir'd out from the way aside More wounded with ingratitude then ought Did flie the world whose follies he had tri'de Scarce was the lasting last diuorcement made Twixt soule and body whilst that th' eyes grew dim When Alexander came and found him dead Who long had labour'd for t' haue ruin'd him Yet with the vesture which himselfe then wore He couered the dead corps and not eschew'd it But eu'n with teares his coffin did decore To the great wonder of all them that view'd it And hauing waild his death aboue all measure For t' haue his funerals made in Princely wise He bids you spare no coste but vse his treasure And them as best becommes to solemnise He hath his body hither sent by me That the last honours you to him may do He thinkes they so shall best accomplish'd be And who him bare shall see him buried to Cho. Behold how griefe hath her of sense berest And choak'd her breath with super-abounding grones No will or power to liue is to her left Since all her weale evanish'd is at ones Sis Ah shall I see no let me first be blinde That body breath-lesse which I brought to light Where would my soule a force sufficient finde T' endure the dolour of that deadly sight O flintie hardned hart that wilt not breake With the remembrance of so many woes Why part'st thou not faint sprit that whil'st I speake In opening of my lips mine eyes might close This heritage of death this withered stock Is but a receptacle of dispaires A torture to it selfe a stumbling block Whose aged furrowes fertile are in cares What helpes it now to haue bene made the mother Of one who to such dignitie did clim More miserable now then any other I liue to waile my death who di'd in him Aye me malitious Fates haue done me wrong Who came first to the world should first depart It not becommes the olde t' ou'r-liue the yong This dealing is praeposterous and ou'r-thwart Ah why should death so indiscreet be found To saue a caitiue and confound a Prince My halfe-dead body weigh'd downe to the ground Through griefe is grow'n ripe for the graue long since CHORVS WHat makes vaine worldlings so to swell with pride Who came of earth and to the earth returne So hellish furies with their fire brands burne Proude and ambitious men as they deuiâ—e Them from themselues and so turmoile their mindes That all their time they studie still How to content a bound-lesse will Which neuer yet a full contentment findes Who so this flame within his bosome smothers Doth many fantasies contriue And euen forgets himselfe a-liue To be remembred after death by others Thus while he is his paines are neuer ended That while he is not he may be commended What can this helpe the happinesse of Kings So to subdue their neighbours as they doe And make strange nations tributaries to The greater state the greater trouble brings Their pompes and triumphes stands them in
no stead Their Arches Tombes Piramides hie And Statues are but vanitie They die and yet would liue in what is dead And while they liue we see their glorious actions Oft wrested to the worst and all their life Is but a stage of endlesse toile and strife Of tumults vprores mutinies and factions They rise with feare and lie with danger downe There is no burthen weightier then a Crowne And as Ambition Princes vndermines So doth it those that vnder them rule all We see in how short time they rise and fall How oft their light eclips'd but dimlie shines They studie by all shifts and slights to moue Their Prince of their deserts t' account And when they by his fauour mount O what a danger is' t to be aboue For straight expos'd to hatred and despight With all their skill they cannot march so euen But some opprobrious scandall will be giuen For all men enuy those that haue most might And if the King dislike them once then straight The wretched Courtiers fal with their own waight Some of a poorer Spirite who would be prais'd And yet haue not wherefore to be esteem'd What they are not indeede would faine be deemd And indirectly labour to be rais'd This crue each publike place of honour haunts And changing garments euery day While they woulde hyde doe but bewray With outward ornaments their inward wants And men of better iudgement iustly loth Those who in outwarde showes place all their care And deck their bodies while their mindes are bare Like to a shaddow or a painted cloth The multitude who but th' apparrell notes Doth homage not to them but to their cotes Yet Princes must be seru'd and with all sorts Some both to doe and counsell what is best Some serue for Ciphers to set out the rest Like liue lesse pictures that adorne the ports Faire pallaces replenish'd are with feares Those seeming pleasures are but snares The Royall Robe doth couer cares Th' Assyrian dye deere buyth he that it beares Those dainty delicates and far fetch'd foode Oft through suspition sauour out of season Embrodered beds and tapesteries hatche treason The golden goblets mingled are with blood Such glorious gorgeous showes do serue for nought All cannot calme the tempest of the thought O happy he who far from fame at home Doth sit securely by a quiet fire Who hath not much and doth not much desire Nor curious is to learne who goe or come For satisfied with what his father left His minde he measures by his store And is not pyn'd to gape for more Nor eates ought that iniquity hath reft He hath his little cleanly and in peace And lookes not with suspitious eye No poyson comes in Cups of tree No treason harbours in so poore a place No troublous dreame doth interrupt his sleepe A quiet conscience doth his cottage keepe He doth not study oft what stormes may blow His pouerty cannot be much impair'd He feares no forraine force and craues no guarde None coueteth his spoile none lookes so low Where as the great are commonly once crost As Darius hath beene in his flowre Or Sisigambis at this houre Who hath scap'd long and now at length is lost But how commes this that Potentates oft fall Forc'd to confesse th' afflictions of their soule There is some hier pow'r that can controule The Monarches of the earth and censure all Who once will call their doings to accompt Their pride repressing who t' oppresse were prompt W. A. Finis THE ALEXANDRAEAN TRAGEDIE By William Alexander Gentleman of the Princes priuie Chamber Carmine dij superi placantur carmine manes LONDON Printed by VALENTINE SIMMES for ED BLOVNT 1607. The Argument WHen Alexander the great after all his Conquests shining through the glory of innumerable victories was returned backe to Babylon where the Ambassadours of the whole worlde did attend his comming as one that was destinied to domineere ouer all there being admired by the Grecians adored by the Barbarians and as it were drunken with the delights of an extraordinary prosperitie hee suffered himself to be transported with an inundation of pleasure till sitting at one of his feasts by the meanes of the sonnes of Antipater his cup-bearers in the best both of his age and fortune he was suddenly poisoned Incontinent after his death those that were in great estimation with himselfe during his life and then with the armie assembled themselues together neglecting for a long time his funeralls whilst busied about the disposing of his Empire at last after diuers opinions it was concluded that if Roxane the widdow of their deceased soueraigne who was then at the point to bee deliuered of her birth happened to beare a sonne hee should succeed in his fathers place and till he were come to some maturitie of age Perdiccas Leonatus Craterus and Antipater were appointed to bee his Tutors But the foote-men in a disdaine that their aduice was not required proclaimed Arideus Alexanders baslard brother king and gaue him a guard of which Meleager procured himselfe to be made Captaine At this sodaine alteration the horsemen being troubled they following Perdiccas pitched their campe without the citie yet in the end this tumult being by the eloquence of Perdiccas appeased all the captaines re-assembled themselues and hauing diuided the prouinces made an agreement which lasted not long For such was the vehement ambition of those great men that with all manner of hostilitie they studied how to vndermine one another and first of all Meleager after a pretended reconciliation though hauing fled to a Temple for refuge was slaine by the appointment of Perdiccas who after aspiring to a superioritie ouer the rest whilst he went to warre against Ptolomie in Aegypt by a sudden mutinie of his owne souldiers was miserably murdered Then the onely captaine of his faction that remained aliue was Eumenes a man singularly valorous who encountering with Craterus and Neoptolemus by the death of themselues defeated their armie whereby being highly aduanced he was greatly enuied and Leonatus hauing lately before dyed in a conflict betwixt him and the Athenians Antigonus in the name of the rest was sent against him with a great armie betwixt whom there hauing passed diuers skirmishes with a variable successe and some priuate conference without agreement In the end he was betrayed by his owne souldiers and deliuered bound to Antigonus who shortly after caused him to be put to death Then Antigonus his riuals in the authoritie being remoued out of his way did aspire to that himselfe from which he was sent to seclude others and hauing murdered diuers of the gouernors hee disposed of their Prouinces as hee pleased whereof Cassander Ptolomie and Lisimachus aduertised by Seleucus who fled for feare of incrring the like danger they entred all together in a league against Antigonus Now at this time Olimpias plagued all the faction of Cassander in Macedonie hauing caused Arideus and his Queene Euridice to be put to death by which and other
Of all my labours loe this was the hire Those must haue store of toiles that toyle for strife And I remember that amidst my ioyes Euen whilst the chase of armies was my sport There wanted not a portion of annoyes To counterpoise my pleasures in some sort Of those in th' earth most happy that remaine As ag'd experience constantly records The pleasures farre exceeded are by paine Life greater greife then comfort still affords What rage and sorrow seaz'd vpon my soule Whilst big with hopes a battell bent to proue That sudden sicknesse did my course controule Which Cidnus cold imbracings chanc'd to moue From the Phisition then though deem'd for ill I tooke his drinke and gaue th' inuectiue lines Then whilst he red did drinke yet eyd him stil And by accusing lookes search'd guilty signes Not that suspitious feares could make me sad This was the ground whence did proceed my paine Lest death that victorie preuented had Which I was sure if present once t' obtaine But when that I extended had my state From learned Athens to the barbarous Indes Still my tumultuous troupes my pride did hate As monstrous mutinies vnmask'd their mindes I so my name more wonderful to make Of Hercules and Bacchus past the bounds And whilst that Memnons sun burnt bands did quake Did write my worth in many a Monarchs wounds Kings were my subiects and my subiects kings Yet my contentment further did require For I imagind still more mighty things And to a greater greatnesle did aspire The compasse of the carriere of the sunne By many a famous victory I wan Yet wept that there were no more worlds to win As all had beene to little for one man Was I not honord as a God by some Whilst what I interprizd it still preuaild Whom I assaild I alwayes did ore-come No project of my fancies euer faild This made me thought immortalizd to be Which in all mindes amazement yet contracts For I led Fortune Fortune followed me As forc'd t' attend the greatnesse of my acts Yet I haue found it a more easie thing To conquer all the mansions of the winde Then mine owne selfe and of my passions king To order the disorders of my minde What comfort iustly could my soule receiue Of all my conquests past if that euen then Whilst I triumph'd to wrath and wine as slaue I scap'd not scandall more then other men Ah seazing without right on euery state I but my selfe too great a Monarch made Since all men gapt to get the golden bate Which by my death seemd easie to be had Whilst from humanitie too much deuorc'd My deeds all hearts with feare and horror fild I whom the force of foes yet neuer forc'd Was by my friends most fraudulently kill'd But now I see the troublous time drawes neere When they shall keepe my obsequies with blood No wonder too though such a warriours biere At last do swim amids a scarlet flood For as my life did breed huge broyles ouer all My death must be th' occasion of great cumbers And it doth best become a strong mans fall To be renown'd by ruining of numbers The snaky-tressed sisters shal not neede T' vse fatall firebrands lothsome Plutoes pestes Or poisonous inspirations so to bred A thirst of murder in transported brests Yet my ambitious ashes once may shine T' enflame my Minions minds with strange desires If of their spirits each keepe a sparke of mine To waste the world their brests may furnish fires The beauties once of th' earth shall all looke red Whilst my lieuetenants through that pride of theirs With vnkind armes huge streames of blood do shed By murthering of mine heires to be mine heires Is this the gaine of greatnesses did I pine To be made eminent to be ouerthrowne To ruine first my selfe then roote out mine As conquering others but to lose mine owne O happy I but happier far my race If with my fathers conquests still content I manag'd had th' Aemathian power in peace Which was made lawfull by a long discent Then farre sequestred from Bellonaes rage I had the true delites of nature tryed And ag'd with honor honor'd in my age Had left my scepter to my sonne and dyed And he succeeded had t' a quiet state Which then because lesse great had bin more sure And not exposd to enuy nor to hate That do against the greatest States coniure But since they minde t' enearth mine earthly part Which now no badge of maiestie reraines To roaring Phlegeton I must depart Farre from the lightsome bounds of th' ayrie Plaines And must I there that did the world surmount Arrested by the Monarke of the Ghosts To Radamanthus render an account Of all the deedes done by my rauenous hostes Ther whilst with Minos Aeacus sits downe A rigorous Iudge in Hells most horride court Though farre before his Nephew in renowne He will not with one of his race comport O what pale troops of ghosts are gathered heere That were of bodies spoild by my decree And first the wrong'd Parmenio doth compeere From whom I nought but who did much from me At the tribunall of Tartarian powres He aggrauates a ingratitude too great And whilst th' infernall tyrant foming lowres All whom I wrong'd for vengeance stand t' intreat Yet guiltie thoughts torment me most of all No sprite can be by plaging Furies pind Though charg'd without with snakes within with gall As by the slings of a remording minde If it be true that drowsie Laethes streams Drowne in obliuions deepes all things at last There let me burie farre from Phoebus beames The loath'd remembrance of my Labours past Exit Chorus What strange aduentures now Distract distressed mindes With such most monstrous stormes When silence seemes t' allow The peace that Nature findes And that tumultuous windes Doe not disturbe with stormes An vniuer sall rest When Morpheus hath represt Th' impetuous course of cares And with a soft skepe bâ—ndes Those tyrants of the breast That would spread foorth most dangerous snares T' inuo'ue th' afflicted in dispaires Huge horrours then arise Which th' elements doe marre With most disastrous signes Arm'd sqúadorns in the Skies With Launces throwne from farre Doe make a monstrous warre Whilst Furie nought confines The Dragons vomite fire And make the starres retire Out of their orbes for feare Some of those warriors are To satifie their ire That th' azure buildings not forbeare But seeme the cristall Towres to teare Amidst the aire fierce blasts Doe boast with blustring sounds T' vndoe this mightie frame Which whilst the tempest lasts Doth rent the stately roundes To signifie what woundes Strait t' all her of-springs shame Shall burst th' earths veines with blood And this all-circkling flood As t' were the heauens to drowne Doth passe th' appointed bounds And all the scalie broode Reare roaring Neptunes foamie crowne Whilst th' earth for feare seemes to sincke downe Those that th' earth chargde what horrour Theyr ashie lodgings leaue To re-enioy the light
accord That there can be a greater man than I While as I haue a heart a hand a sword An. Loe when prosperitie too much preuailes Aboue the iudgement thus of vulgar mindes As little barges burdend with great sailes They leape aloft being swolne with fortunes windes And as aduersitie the sprite refines From out the drosse of pride and passions base That vertue in affliction cleerest shines And makes one all the waies of wit to trace So good successe doth make the iudgement die Then whilst the fortunate their ease doe take And lulld asleepe in Pleasures meadowes lie As fatted for the slaughter ripe to shake Yet this the nature is of gallant men To rest being in no state too much inuolu'd When prospring best most warie and humble then If crossd then more couragious and resolu'd What though your first attempts renowned are By which you in two fields victorious stoode And did orethrow two thunderbolts of warre That lost their liues amidst a scarlet flood Yet is that course of victorie controlde And you haue tride what force your force exceedes Then let not wither'd Laurels make you bolde As still reposing on your by-past deedes For by the same t'an indignation mou'd The Macedonians all abhorre your name That at that time so prowde a conquerour prou'd And with their great mens slaughter wing'd your fame Eum. No fortune past so puffes vp my conceit That it contempt of further danger brings Nor am I so deiected now of late But I intend to doe farre greater things He by prosperitie made neuer prowde That knowes the frailtie of this earthly frame Can hardly by aduersitie be bowd The Sunne although eclipsd remaines the same Thinke not that worth consists in the successe As th' essence did on th' accidents depend The fault of fortune makes it not the lesse On which oft-times the hardest happes attend For Fortune beares not still the badge of worth Nor miserie the signes of gallant mindes Which yet still like themselues are sparkeling forth In euery state some tokens of their kindes Now at this time o're-match'd by numbrous powres I kept my courage though I lost the field And vaunt no more of it for some few howres May once to me the like aduantage yeelde And it 's not long since that to Fortune deere The world had neuer me but victor spide Though I protest before th'immortalls heere Moou'd by Necessitie and not by Pride Prowd Neopolemus that traitor still Not worthy of a Macedonians name Bent to betray the hoste and me to kill Had labord long to his eternall shame But of Craterus I lament the fall Whom for his vertue I did deerely loue And was constrain'd I Ioue to witnes call For my defence that last refuge to proue Ant. How fortun'd you your forces to dispose So well t' auoyd that storme of threatned harmes For then you had to deale with mightie foes That were in warre growne hoarie vnder armes Eum. When faithlesse Neoptolemus did spie That all his treason was t' our knowledge brought To th' enemies camp he sodainely did flie A foolish traitor that was false for nought There he informde or mis-informde my foes That haughtie through my victories of late I in my tent did carelesly repose Though not by force yet to b' orecomd by fate And further then t' Antipater he told That if the Macedonians at that time The countnance of Craterus might beholde They willingly would yeelde themselues to him Now they had labord earnestly before That I abandon would Perdiccas part And did protest that they would giue me more Than yet I had or hop'd for in my hart But Loue borne free cannot be thrald nor bought More than a shamefull peace I likde iust strife To generous mindes more deere than honour nought And ere I leaue my faith I le lose my life Thus being despair'd that I would proue their friend They sought in time t' orethrow me as their foe Where loue could not beginne that hate might end And came in haste bent to surprise me so But I that knew Neoptolemus-his slight Did him against the Macedonians bend And to conceale Craterus from their sight T' encounter him causde troupes of strangers tend This policie which none could iustly blame I with my selfe in secret did conspire And had my shirt bin priuie to the same It should haue bin an offring to the fire When once that the first game of death was past I Neoptolemus did toile to finde And he me too which happned at the last Two will do much to meet being of one minde Then whilst we met for whom both th' armies warr'd Whose fortune then depended on our hands All was performd that force or furie dar'd Bent by reuenge t' abate each th 'others bands And yet the heauens would not betray my trust Foule treason neuer had a fairer end The gods smilde on my cause because t' was iust And did destruction to the traitor send For forcde by him whose force he did despise Though fighting fiercely long he lost his breath As one more strong than true more stowt than wise Whose greatest honour was his honest death But weakned with huge woundes almost I diu'd In seas of blood being quite from knowledge straide Yet by so great a victorie reuiu'd My courage grew more than my strength decaid I hauing finisht thus this fatall strife Came where Craterus nere his course had runne Euen in the confines placde twixt death and life Whilst th' one was gone and th' other not begunne He with great valour had resisted long As all Briareus hands had moou'd his sword And did his Maisters memorie no wrong Being with his courage not his fortune stor'd What life refusde t' obtaine by death he sought For life and death are but indifferent things And of themselues not to be shund nor sought But for the good or th' euill that either brings With endlesse glorie bent t' exchange his breath Of desprate valour all the powre was prou'd And for great Captaines no more glorious death Then to die fighting with a minde vnmou'd When this daies toiles were drawne vnto an end Whilst th' armies courage with their captaine fell That I might safely shew my selfe a friend I went where death his senses did cancell And whilst I told how both to be betraid By Neoptolemus were brought about My woe with teares I to the world bewraid Milde pittie and true kindnes must burst out Ah if the newes of this my good successe Had comd in time vnto Perdiccas eares He might haue liu'd their pride now to represse That by his fall were first deuorcde from feares Ant. The humour of that man was too well knowne Could he haue parted other men from pride That was becomd a slaue vnto his owne And for the same forcde by his followers dide Eu. The prowd must stil be plagu'd by prowder ones There must be had sharp steele to smoothe rough stones An. No vice than pride doth greater hate procure Which foes doe
without appearance do procure The most respected place where greatnes stayes And some whose states seem'd once t' all eyes secure Thrown from their fortunes height lose glorious bayes My father lo t' attaine th' imperiall place March'd through impossibilities of late And greater then the greatest for a space Was Monarch of the Macedonian state But I his sonne that as some would suppose Might keep with ease that which he got with paine Can by no meanes my restles thoughts repose Such raging tyrants ouer my fancies raigne Lisim And yet I thinke you haue an easie part To whom your father did his state resigne For it may make you smile that made him smart Some presse the grape and others drinke the wine Cass I le not beleeue that euer any ill Was bred for me within my fathers breast Since children must suppose their parents will Though seeming bad still purposde for the best And yet my fathers ghost must pardon me Though when from vs he minded to remoue I thinke the tenor of his last decree Shew lacke of iudgement or at least of loue For what base course had euer bin begun To make me seeme vnworthy of his place That he preferr'd a stranger to his sonne And sought t' obscure the glory of his race Thus since in such a sort he did neglect The sonne that should his name from death exempt As dis-regarded for some great defect All other men may haue me in contempt But ere his age expirde th' expected date He saw my browes with Laurell boughes arrai'd And spi'd my skill in warre and wit in state Which grew as much as th' other mans decai'd Nor can my courage so be brought to bow But Polispercon shall experience soone That in my fathers wil1 I will allow Not what he did but what he should haue done And since by him high dignities were wonne I mind to prosecute what he began For such a fathers greatnesse from his sonne Takes the securitie of a priuate man Lo Polispercon by our powre repeld From Macedonie hath retirde dismaide And for the feare of vs hath bin compeld T' engage his glory for anothers ayde Let him not thinke the shaddow of the kings Can match my powre with these his borrow'd bands For his faint flight that 's fram'd with others wings Will neuer beare him from Cassanders hands And though Olimpias countnanc'd once his cause As from Epirus brought to ruine mee Now of her owne mishap she most must pause Since brought by vs of late t' a low degree Lisim And yet Olimpias had a good successe When first she touch'd the Macedonian bounds Whilst Polispercon prowdly did represse All those that durst resist with words or wounds Though Philip and Euridice his Queene T' encounter with their troupes in time arriu'de Yet when the Macedonians had her seene As their owne Queene to honor her they striu'de And haplesse Philip being constrainde to yield There for a kings did take a captiues state And his wretch'd mate though flying from the field Was follow'd by their forces and her fate Then thus her husband and her selfe gaue place Whose browes of late th' imperiall badge had borne But then throwne downe in th' Ocean of disgrace A prey t' a womans pride the butt of scorne Cass Those were the meanes that did them first entrap But haue you heard how after they were thrall To plague the world with honour and mis-hap Th' enragde Olimpias tyrranizde ouer all Lisi Some doubtfull rumours did frequent ech eare Such as rash fame confus'dly durst vnfould But yet conceald by fauor or for feare The certaintie to vs hath not bin tolde Cass When thus the famish'd tygresse did surprise Those miserable soules as in a dreame Her heart at first seemde scarse to trust her eyes She surfetted her sight so with their shame But when she sawe by reason of her powre That she might safely let her rage burst out She causde about them both to build a towre Within whose walles they scarce could turne about And in that dungeon as entomb'd they stood With high disgrace t' asswage more high disdaines Farre from all comfort whilst a litle foode Their life prolong'd but to prolong their paines But Pittie for th' vnfortunate contendes As Enuy still prosperitie controules The Macedonians doubtfull of their ends Would sometime murmure for those marterd soules The peoples grudge Olimpias did perceiue And to preuent what fury might effect She strait resolu'd lifes remnant to bereaue From weakned powres that did no lesse exspect And when some barbarous Thracians bent for blood As she appointed in th' excesse of spight Had murdred Philip and his Queene imbrude With purple streames that spoil'd her husbands spright She sent to her whose soule in griefe did sinke As messengers of death t' assault her breast A sword a cord and an empoison'd drinke A Tirants presents yet a wretches best Those when the Queene perceiu'd vnmou'd she spake As one that had imbrac'd some great reliefe Fit gifts for her to giue for me to take Since she exceeds in hate and I in griefe And tell the tirant that I gladly die That th' irritated gods t' auenge my death May thunder foorth that iudgement which I spie With blood must choke that bloodie womans breath Then looking on her Lord that there lay slaine Once partner or his ioy then of his woe Whilst that his roses did her lillies staine She kist his wounds as taking leaue to goe And lest her resolution were betraide Her snowie necke not vsde with such a chaine She binding with her belt di'd vndismaide And if she sighd she sighd but for disdaine Lisim This barbarous act my breast with griefe doth sting Can spight so much transport the meekest kinder And yet in th' earth ther 's no more cruell thing Then mallice raging in a womans minde Cass But yet this sacrifice could not asswage The boiling thoughts of her vnbounded will For entring thus she rioted in rage As dogges that once get blood would alwayes kill Ech light occasion kindling still her wrath The soueraigntie she shamefully abusde And put my brother Nicanor to death Though for no crime condemn'd no not accusde Yea more her hate extended toward the dead Whose crueltie no flood of blood confin'd The monument that t' Iolas was made She raz'd and rent his ashes with the wind To be Cassanders friend was such a crime As none could scape that euer fauour'd me Thus huge disorders did abound a time Where nothing lawfull is all things are free Then when I heard of this outragious pride That made my natiue soyle contemn'd to be I those indignities could not abide The shame whereof redounded most to me So that at last mou'd by my countries care As much as by particular respects I with great speed an armie did prepare To punish or preuent the like effects But when I was to Macedonie comd To fortifie a towne she did dissigne Which by my valour quickly was ore-comd Whilst famine
inestimable store That neither Time entombes nor Powre orethrowes O neuer were my thoughts enlargde till now To marke my selfe and quintessence my mind For long a prey to pride I know not how A mist of fancies made my iudgemcnt blinde As those that dreame sweet dreames awakt at last Do finde their errour when their eies finde light Freed from the slumbring of my fortune past I now arise to iudge of all things right That cloud of pomp whose smoke me shadowd once Loe now remoou'd vnmaskes my life too late And now I see that scepters crownes and thrones Are burdnous badges of a dangerous state O happy woman of true pleasure sure That in the countrie leadst a guiltlesse life From Fortunes reach retirde obscure secure Though not a Queene yet a contented wife Thy mate more deere to thee than is the light Though lowe in state loues in a high degree And with his presence still to blesse thy sight Doth scorne great courts whilst he liues courting thee And as thou woundst him not with hid disgrace He with no iealous thought torments thy breast Thus both lie downe to rest and rise in peace Then if they striue they striue who should loue best But though thou haue not as the mightie ones Thy necke surchargde with chaines ah chaines indeed Nor cares weighd downe with oriental stones Nor robes whole worth may admiration breed So wantst thou that which we haue euer had Sad miscontentments iealousie and spite And though thy backe be not with purple clad Thy thoughts are clad with innocencies quite As Birds whose cage of golde the sight deceiues Do seeme to sing whilst they but waile their state So with the mighty matcht made glorious slaues We happy seeme whilst we but curse our fate That blisse whose shew in vs vaine eies doe please Makes thee indeede a true contentment breathe Thou spendst thy youth in mirth thy age in â—ase And knowst not what it is to die till death Ah since I liu'd I haue done nought but die Still when I seemde most blest then most accurst Since on fraile greatnes first I did relie How oft hath my swolne breast bin like to burst The Fates with Fortune from my birth conspirde To make my life a patterne of their might For both my parents from the world retirde When I was scarcely com'd t' inioy the light The world may iudge how I was iustly grieu'd Whilst angry Philip sought for my disgrace A thing which once I scarce could haue beleeu'd And vnto Cleopatra gaue my place Then though I long as desprate of reliefe For his offence afflicted had my minde Yet did his sodaine death augment my griefe He was my husband though he was vnkinde And when my sonnes rare trophees and renowne With wonder filld the world and me with ioy Those as himselfe that striu'd to throw his downe Did to supplant my state their powres imploy Yet stoode my courage when my fortune fell And still I toilde distracted from repose Those that had him betrayd from th' earth t' expell And with their blood to register my woes And my designes a time so prosperd too That some of them did trie by torments strange All what a womans iust disdaine could do Whilst spurr'd by iealousie spite and reuenge But this arch-traitor ruler of the rest That thirsts to drinke the blood of all our race Euen then when my designe succeeded best Did compasse me with ruine and disgrace Such was the tenor of my fortune past Whose least mis-hap had made another burst First orphan'd widdow'd and vnchilded last A daughter wife and mother all accurst Heauens plague Cassander let that base wretch trie That Ioue his iudgement but a while deferres And let his wife bewaile as well as I I murderd for my sonne and she by hers Euen as th' incestuous Thehans monstrous brood So may thy sonnes contend with mutuall wounds And neuer let thy house be free from blood Till quite excluded from th' vsurped bounds Thus notwithstanding of my wonted powre To me saue wishes nothing doth remaine But though condemn'd to die yet at this houre Should I beginne to cursse and to complaine No no that custome best becomes poore soules Whose resolution cannot climbe more hie But I whose courage that base course controules Must still triumph what euer state I trie Death is an open hauen t' each storme-tossde minde Since th' end of labour th' entrie vnto rest Death hath the bounds of miserie confinde Whose sanctuarie saues th' afflicted best To suffer whiles with a couragious heart It merites farre more praise than deedes most knowne For in our actions Fortune hath a part But in our suffrings all things are our owne Loe now I loathe the world and worldly things Of which I haue both proou'd the best and worst Yea th' apprehended death great comfort brings And hath no crosse but that it should be forst O heare me now deare sonne if that thy ghost May leaue th' Elysian fields to looke on me Of all things else this doth content me most That from this time I may remaine with thee And blush not sonne to see thy mothers end My death in glory with thy life shall striue It Fortune as a captiue shall attend That as thy fellow followd thee aliue Exit Chorus AH ah though man since th' image of great Ioue And th only creature that giues Reason place Made to make faith below of powres aboue Should seeke his heauenlie progenie to proue By still resembling most th' immortall kinde Yet makes the world our better part so blinde That we the cloudes of vanitie imbrace And from our first excellencie decline This doth extinguish that celestiall grace Which should make soules to burne with vertues loue Whose fancies vice luxuriously now feastes Vice is the Circe that inchaunts the minde And doth transforme her followers all in swine Whilst poisond pleasures so corrupt our tates That of halfe-gods we make our selues whole-beasts And yet of ruthlesse Plutoes raging hoste The vice that doth transport presumptuous hearts And makes men from the gods to differ most T' is crueltie that to the sufferers cost And actors both must oftentimes b' appeasd The gods delight to giue and to forgiue By pardoning more than by plaging pleasde And why should men excogitate strange artes T' extend their tyrannie as those that striue To feede on mischiefe still though th' Author smarts Oft for the deede of which himselfe did boast Whilst whence the blow first come the griefe doth turne For that by which the minde at first was easde May it in end the greatest burden giue Oft those whose crueltie makes many mourne Do by the fires that they first kindled burne Of th' other tyrants that extort the minde With pleasure some delight it in such sort That first the honnie then the gall we finde And others though from Honours court declinde Some comfort yielde though base by hope of gaine And though some make vs to be loath'd of
one We by their meanes anothers loue obtaine But crueltie with which none can comport Makes th' author hated when the deede is gone Oft euen by those whom it did most support As that which alienates men from kinde And as humanitie the minde inchants So sauage soules that from the same resraine More fierce than fiercest beasts are lou'd of none With barbarous beasts one with lesse danger hants Than with the man whose mind all mercie wants Yet though the mind of man as strong and rude Be ranish'd whiles with violent desire And must if sir'd with rage be quench with blood How can this tender sex whose glorie stoode In hauing hearts iuclinde to pittie still Delight it selfe by any barbarous deede For Nature seemes in this t' haue vsde her skill In making womens mindes though weake entire That weakenesse might loue and deuotion breede To which their thoughts if pure might best aspire As aptest for th' impression of all good But from the best to worst all things do weare Since cruelties from feeble mindes proceed In breasts where courage failes spite shame and feare Make enuie hate and rigour rule to beare Our Queene Olimpias that was once so great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaging Philip and his Ladie of late Lo now being brought to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gaue And it 's good reason that it should be so Such measure as we giue we must receiue Whilst on a throne she did superblie sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As but being vanquish'd by her powre and wit Not mindefull of th' ineuitable fate O th' Imortalls that command aboue Of euery state in hand the rudder haue And as they lie can make vs stay or goe The griefe of others should vs greatly mooue As those that sometime may like fortune prooue But as experience with rare proofes hath showne Do looke on others we haue Linx his eyes Whilst we would haue their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can neuer marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regarde doe dim our sight Why should we be puffde vp by a'cnemies fall Since what the day doth on another light The same the morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant ball Do liue enuiron'd with th' all-circkling skies Haue many meanes whereby to be ore-throwne And why should dying wordlings swolne with wroth So tyrranize ouer an afflicted wight Since miseries are common vnto all Let none be prowd that drawes a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few still till their death ACT. V. SCENE I. Aristotle Phocion LOng haue I now invr'd th' eyes of my minde On natures labors curiously to looke And of all creatures finding foorth the kinde Strange wonders read in th' vniuersall booke I marke the world hy contraries maintainde Whose harmonie doth most subsist by strife Whilst of all things within the same containde The death of one still giues another life But as all things are subiect vnto change That partners are of th' elementall powres So rould about with reuolutions strange The state of man rests constant but few howres For what doth fame more frequently report Then of our sodaine rising and our falls I thinke the world is but a tennis-court Where men are tossde by fortune as her balls Phoc. And neuer any age shewde more than this The wauering state of soule-ennobled wights That soare too high to seaze on th' ayrie blisse Whilst lowest falles attend the highest flights The matchlesse Monarch that was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortalitie attaines Hath not from death the adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And these braue bands that furnisht fame with bâ—eath Whilst all the world their valorous deedes did spie Rest now confounded since their soueraignes death Like Poliphemus hauing lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood That tooke their life out of a monster dead Whiles ech of them pursues for others blood Since the great Drag on s death that was their head Ari. So change all things that subiect are t' our sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next night comes darknes and next darknesse light This neuer changing change transcends our wit Thus pouertie and riches sickenesse health Both honour and dishonor life and death Do so depend on other that by stealth All goe and come as th' accidents of breath T'ech worldly state the heauens a height appoint Where when it once arriues it must descend And all perfections haue a fatall point At which excellencie it selfe must end But as all those that walke on th' earth are crossde With alterations happning oft and strange The greatest states with greatest stormes are tossde And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation now As gathring credit out of ancient scroules soules No I haue liu'd at court and I know how Ther 's nought on th' earth more vex'd then great mens soules Thral'd to the tirant honor whilst they mone Their plaints to subiects eares asham'd t' empart They must beare all the weight of woes alone Where others of their griefe lend friends a part Their rising vs aboue to such a height Which seems their best is worst whilst since being lords They neuer heare the truth that comes to light When franke societie speaks naked words Whilst sadnesse whiles seemes maiestie time tells How deere they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some faine three furies but in all the hells And ther 's three thousand in one great mans breast Phoc. I thinke all monarchies are like the Moone Which whiles eclipsd whiles vnder cloud whiles cleare Growes by degrees and is when full vndone Yet Aeson like renew'd doth re-appeare For so the first but smal begin to shine And when they once their spherick forme obtaine Do then begin to languish and decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Th' Assyrians once made many a nation bow Then next all powre was in the Persians hand And lo the Macedonians monarchs now Amongst themselues diuided cannot stand Arist A secret fate alternantly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs To th' end that some may liue some must be dead Each Element anothers strength deuours Th' ayre to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The water striues to drowne all th' earth with showres Which it by vapours vomites out againe Thus with a gordian knot together bound All things are made vn-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound And norhing in one state doth long remaine But nought in th' earth more dangerously standes Than soueraigntie that 's rated at such worth Which like the stormie deities blustring bandes Doth flie from East to West from South to North. Ph. A long experience now makes this noght strange Though mightie states whose reines one onely leades Be whiles distracted and constrain'd to change As too
diuine And haue made th' earth to furnish all his needes Lest downe-weigh'd cares might make his thoughts decline So that he hath a meanes to raise his flight If wing'd with Vertue and may mounting hie Aspire t' approach to the celestiall light And deifie himselfe before he die Yet doth he strait forgoe that glorious way To toile for things that th' earth vnforc'd affords The which his wants first fram'd were to defray But by himselfe are of his life made Lords O how vnworthie of the worth of man Are many labors that delight him most Since that corruption boldly first began To make men nourish vice at vertues cost And now what hath great Alexander gain'd By endlesse labours and excessiue cares Of whom loe now it 's onely said he raign'd But death vnto himselfe worse to his heires Lo for the guiltlesse blood that he hath spill'd The partners of his conquests doe beginne To die by the same swords by which they kill'd And all his of-spring expiates his sinne Pho. Such is the reuolution of all things The wheele of Fortune still must slippery proue And chiefly when it burdend is with kings Whose states as weightiest most must make it moue Yet Alexander I must say was blest That ouer the worlde a victor alwaies rang'd And hauing ended all his warres in rest Did die in time before his fortune changde And for his fauour which I oft did trie Whilst earnestly he labord me t' aduaunce Whilst earnestly he labord me t' aduaunce I 'm sorie that himselfe so soone did die And that his of-spring hath so hard a chance His successours haue set all Greece on fire Of which I feare to perish by some sparke For Polipercon doth my death conspire And who can scape that 's made a great mans marker But for my countries cause I le giue my blood Whilst safely praisde all follow vertue can But when with danger threatned to doe good That 's onelie worthy of a worthy man Nor do I tender so this puffe of breath But I could be contented it t' expell A minde that is resolu'd triumphs ouer death He hath liu'd long enough that hath liu'd well ACT. V. SCINE II. Cassander Lysimachus Ptolomie Seleucus I Doubt not now great heroes but ye all What euer miscontentment ye pretend Doe rest well pleasde since those by me made thrall That might haue made you end haue made an end Loathe not the meanes if yee allow th' effect For though by this I haue a realme obtain'd It yeelds you more whose course none can suspect I 'm onely guiltie and ye all haue gain'd Yet to pursue my life they first beganne For my defence this last refuge I prou'd Nought than himselfe is neerer vnto man All men with their owne dangers are most mou'd And had not prowd Olimpias dide in time By offring vp her bloud to worke my peace Then mine had beene the harme and hers the crime I but preuented her a little space And if her of-spring had suruiu'd her death Whose rising could not but procure our fall Ye now that nought but soueraignty do breathe Had breath'd obedience or not breath'd at all Lis You from a dangerous yoke haue vs relieu'd Which I suspect we had experienc'd soone And why then should we labour to seeme grieu'd At that thing done which we wish not vndone No since that all for soueraignety doe striue And haue once tasted what it is to raigne There 's none of vs but rather die than liue T' embrace a subiects seruile state againe And though perchance with Alexanders sonne If heire both of his fathers worth and state We might haue most respected places wonne As speciall pillars of the Princes seate Yet though more great than others as before It would haue grieu'd vs lesse then one to fall The fall from first to second grieues one more Then from the second to the last of all Our old renowne to vs had ruine brought And would haue made vs odious to remaine It 's dangerous for a subiect to be thought One that desires or yet deserues to raigne When any tempest threatned had his throne He would haue sought assurance at our cost For when that iealousie hath seizd on one The greatest vertues are suspected most Yea though we could to quite our state consent Vs from suspition nought but death could purge Still greatnesse must turmoile or then torment If borne a burden if laide downe a scourge Ptol. But When we haue within bur bosome weigh'd The ruine of all Alexanders race Whom without blushing we might haue obey'd By right succeeding in our soueraignes place How can our soules but highly be asham'd That one inferiour both to them and vs Doth seeke by wrong that which by right they claim'd And by their orethrow would b' exalted thus Nor neede I more as in suspence remaine To maske my meaning with ambiguous wordes No no our words may as his deedes be plaine Which fame and without whispring now records Ye heare how that Antigonus of late Whose thoughts wing'd with ambition soare too high Doth striue aboue vs all t' aduaunce his state And on his former fortune doth relie Since to his hands Eumenes was betraide Loe quite transported by prepostrous pride As if in nought addicted now t' our aide He hath laide all regarde of vs aside Lis Thus Time the truth of all things doth proclame Man is a craftie creature hard to know That can a face for euery fortune frame No trust in mortalles nor no faith below Whiles as our owne particulars doe moue We what we wish for most seeme to mislike And oft of others doe the course disproue Whilst we want nought but meanes to doe the like Then whilst Perdiccas did attempt before To make the rest that were his equalls thrall Who than Antigonus detested more Th' ambitious minde of one that would haue all But since Perdiccas and his faction fell Whom he as traitours to the state pursude He in his place succeeding to rebell Hath what he seemde t' vndo againe renude And yet I many a time haue musde of this How from the world he did Eumenes send Sel. How But by treason as his custome is False at the first and cruell at the end Lys I know that after diuers doubtful fights He hath orethrowne Eumenes at the last But by what stratagems or treacherous slights I would be glad to heare how all hath past Sel. Antigonus was at the first afraide To match Eumenes by plaine force in fight And the refuge that feare affordes assaide For valour franke bent t' vse some wary sleight Amongst Eumenes troupes their mindes to proue He scattred letters with allurements stor'd By promisde treasures and protested loue To moue some one that might betray his Lord. But he being wise his troupes in time aduisde To cleare their vertue by their enemies vice And gaue them thankes that would not be entisde To sell their faith at such a bloodie price Then saide that th' Author
of those scroules was he That when they spide such practises againe They still would take them alwayes but to be Their Captaines triall not their enemies traine Thus by the means that should haue him entrap'd His aduersarie did deluded stay For both he from the present danger scap'd And to preuent the like preparde a way Then when this traiterous pollicie had fail'd And that there had some doubtfull conflicts past Antigonus that had at one preuail'd As hauing had some vantage at the last He with Eumenes did procure to speake And as t 'one vanquish'd offred him good-will But he whose minde could not be brought to breake Would neuer talke but as t' his eâ—uall still For when a band betweene them made did beare That he t' Antigonus should help impart He did reforme that forme and would first sweare With Alexanders of-spring to take part Thus where they his submission did attend Imperiously conditions he imposde So that there after to procure his end Still th' other by all meanes his mind disposde And shortly of his bands a vaine debate For his confusion fit occasion brought Still as small things by concord doe growe great By discord great things are reduc'd to nought T' Eumenes whilst he fortunately liu'd That th'haugh tie Agiraspides gaue place With him for state two of their captaines striu'd And would not his authoritie embrace Such was that spite of theirs to haue him spoild That though of valour he rare wonders prou'd And oft by force Antigonus had foild Yet from their minde it could not be remou'd For being by them allurde all th' other bandes To get some baggage that they lost againe Did giue their captaine bound to th' enemies handes So darkening all their glorie by one staine And though Eumenes trusting to new hopes By flying labour'd a reliefe t' haue found He was preuented by his traitrous troupes And like to some base fugitiue was bound Scarse could his stormie stomacke bent to breake Daigne then t' entreate those that had him betraide Yet hauing hardly purchasde leaue to speake He stretcht them forth his fetterd hands and saide Loe heere th' apparrell that your Generall weares Since with your faith his libertie was lost Yet he those bands not giuen by th' enemie beares But by his owne in whom he trusted most And must he thus be led that should you leade Is this the triumph that I should receiue For all my victories thus to be made Of captaine captiue of a conquerour slaue How oft my souldiers haue ye all of late To me by solemne oathes sworne to be true But it becomes not one in a'abiect state With loftie wordes his Maisters to pursue Nor craue I further fauour at this howre Then strait to bathe your weapons in my breast Let not my life be in mine enemies powre Loe all that your commaunder doth request 〈◊〉 Antigonus doth take no care 〈◊〉 get my body so he get my head Aâ—d he regardes not neither when nor where No in what sort I die so I be dead But if through horrour of so vile a deede Your eies looke downe your haire erected stands Which in your mindes this much remorce doth breede That with your hearts ye will not staine your handes Then as your captaine since not force I may I le as your friend entreate that now in time I may but haue a sword my selfe to slay So you t' excuse whilst partner of your crime But when he sawe that words could not asswage Their barb'rous thoughts that nothing could controule Then hauing turn'd his courage all in rage He thus flam'd forth the furie of his soule O damned rascalls that haue lost all faith Whom neither duetie nor yet merite bindes How oft was Alexander moud to wrath By those your mutinous and malitious mindes And O what could I at those hands attend That yet were smoaking with Perdiccas bloud Of those that by like treason did intend With old Antipaters t' haue beene imbrude Heauen thunder on you from th' aetheriall rounds And make you liue a'abominable band Base vagabonds barr'd from your natiue bounds Then die detested in a barbarous land And as ye haue the world with murder filld So may your bloud by the same swords be shed By which ye haue moe of your captaines kill'd Than of your foes from whom like beasts yee fled But neither courteous nor outragious wordes Could change his souldiers from their first intent That forward led their captaine chain'd with cordes A sacrifice prepar'd for th' enemies tent Where being arriude to th' end he soone might end He ask'd what stayd Antigonus to go By setting of him free to winne a friend Or by his death to rid him of a foe And straight Antigonus did haste his fall By this great magnanimitie not moou'd And th' Agiraspides dispersde ouer all As murderers murder from the world remou'd Thus oft haue traitors bin dispatchde by time By those whom their vpbraiding looks dismay For the remembrance thus of th' Authors crime Can but by th' Actors death be wip'd away Now claimes Antigonus when fame doth feast In ranke aboue his soueraignes selfe to sit For Alexander did subdue all th' east And he hath conquerd them that conquer'd it Cass No doubt since he that great aduantage wan He hath within himselfe high things designde For whilst prosperitie transports a man Nought seemes difficult to th' ambitious mind Seleuc. Of those in whom he did suspect a spirit Whose courage seru'd his courses to resist He hath himselfe by diuers meanes made quite In others wreakes his saftie doth consist Thus martiall Pithon that no danger sparde Whom Alexander held in high account Did at the last receiue a hard reward For helping him Eumenes to surmount His spirit t' attemp and powre fit to performe Made iealousie Antigonus torment And yet he fain'd to loue him for the forme Till that his court he moou'de him to frequent Where whilst he did mistrusting nought abide He publikely in all the peoples sight Though seeming iustly damn'd iniustly di'de No viler wrong then wrong that lookes like right Thus diuers gouernours within short space Their gouernment or then their life haue lost And others are preferd vnto their place That did depend vpon his fauour most Oft likewise me he labour'd to surprise And pollicie was vsde t' haue me ore-throwne But I whom Pithons danger had made wise Learn'd by his ruine to preuent mine owne To saue my life abandon'd is my state And I haue fled with danger as ye see That you may know how that man doth grow great Whose pride may plague you all as well as me Cass Then let vs be resolu'd what course t' intend Lest out of time being wise we rue too late Lisim It 's better to pursue then to defend Ptol. It 's good to quench a fire ere it grow great Cass Then let vs send t' Antigonus in haste To redemand th' vsurped bounds againe Since in this warre we did our treasures waste We
brasen breasts all ruth was barr'd They did conclude their Queen behou'd to die Cho. Durst subiects damne their soueraigne and not heard So still may cloudes obscure the worlds bright eye Nun. Yet did Cassander put all sleights t' assay A maske of pittie on a cruell minde And offred her a ship to flye away As if to death against his will assign'de Nor Was this course for her deliuerance fram'd But onely as by chance that she might drowne So for her death that he might not be blam'd But onely Neptune that had throwne her downe Yet she a princesse of a mightie spright Whose loftie courage nothing could ore-come Said ere she scap'd by such a shamefull flight That she would heare the Macedonians doome But when Cassanders counsel was contem'nd Lest that the multitude had chang'd their mind When they remembred whom they had condemn'd And warily weigh'd what rashly they design'd To rid her soone from paine and him from feare He sent some bands from pittie most estrang'd Yet she gainst fortune did a banner beare And not her heart no not her count'nance chang'd She constant still though mon'd would neuer mone Whose stately gesture scorn'd their foule attempt And did vnite her vertues all in one To grace disgrace and glorifie contempt She on two Ladies shoulders lean'd her armes And with a Maiestie did march towards death Like Alexander once amidst th' alarmes As if in triumph bent t' abandon breath The height of vertue admiration brings At this great magnanimitie amaz'd As spying th' Image of their auncieat kings Or then some goddesse all the souldiers gaz'd But ah some bosted by the tirant striu'd To spoile vnnaturall natures fairest frame And th' Alabaster balles betweene they driu'd Th' vnwilling swords that strait grew red for shame Then she in worth that would her selfe excell Would neither word nor teare nor sigh forth send But spread her garments ouer her whilst she fell As iealous of her honour still to th' end Cho. O strange barbaritie most monstrous deed Could men a woman subiects kill their Queene And could her fortune past no pitie breeds Who euer gaue the wound hath not her seene The ougly Authors of those odious euils Fear'd for deserued plagues must still be sad His breast t' a hell his thoughts all turn'd to deuils Through horror of himself must make him mad Nun. And yet the plague of these detested times Hath wrought more mischiefe t' aggrauate our grones Ch. No end in sinne crimes are maintain'd by crimes Who fall in th' Ocean touch the bottome once The path of honor hath but narrow bounds On which who steps attentiue must remaine It 's raisde so hie aboue the vulgar grounds That who thence fall can neuer rise againe Nu. Thus now Cassander since he cannot winne True reputation but liues tainted stil Imbarkt in mischiefe sailes the depths of sinne So if not lou'd as good yet feard as ill Though by his meanes his ruthlesse eies haue seene Fates as it were from Fortunes bosome rend His King by poison by the sword his Queene In wickednes t' exceede himselfe in th' end He prospring in impietie grew prowd And murdred both his maisters sonne and wife Thus he that all the world by birthright ow'd Could hold no part of it no not his life Yet could Roxanes death not ease his minde Nor her yong sonne too soone made Plutoes guest But bent t' vndoe all Alexanders kinde That to reuenge the rest there might none rest By treason he as all his deedes are done Causde Hercules his brothers steppes to trace That was great Alexanders bastard sonne And th' onelie remnant of that great mans race Lo thus Cassander th' enemie to all good Whose soule so much for Macedonie longs Hath to the Scepter swimd through seas of blood Yet O weake right that 's builded but on wrongs Chor. O how ambition doth abuse the great That with enough not pleasde still striue for more Loe how our Soueraigne seemde to raise his state Yet made it but to fall whilst staru'd with store And since his trophees reard in seuerall fieldes Both him and his haue to confusion brought Then what is all the good that greatnes yieldes Which makes it selfe seeme much to be made nought Thus though the mountaines make a mighty show They are but barren heapes borne vp aloft Where plaines are pleasant still though they lie lowe And are most fertile too though troad on oft Greatnesse is like a cloude in th' ayrie bounds Which th' earths base vapours haue congeald aboue It brawles with Vulcan thundring forth huge sounds feare Yet melts and falls there whence it first did moue Phi. Since that worlds conq'ror then whilst free from Weigh'd with his greatnes downe so soone was dead What makes each of his captaines striue to beare The diademe that crusht so strong a head O when my minde is rauisht through the starres To search the secret secrets of the fates What treasons murders mutinies and warres Are threatning once t' orethrow th' vsurped seates And false Cassander that betraid his Lord And spoild the princely race in mischiefe chiefe A traitor both of heauen and earth abhorrd Shall liue but with disgrace and die with griefe His sonnes in wickednes himselfe t' exceede Shall make the woman die that made them liue Then when being drunk with bloud to death shal bleed And none of theirs their funeralls shall suruiue Then when ambition should be coold by age Lysimachus shall by Seleucus die Nor shall Seleucus long enioy the stage But by like violence shall breathlesse lie And subtil Ptolomies degenerd race Long onely famous for infamous things Shall end and once to th' enemies pride giue place Whilst a lasciuious Queene confusion brings Antigonus shall be in battell killd His sonne a captiue perish with disgrace And after that it Greece with blood hath filld In end destruction doth attend that race The last in powre though of their line not bred A niggard and a dastard beaten downe Shall through a strangers towne a captiue led bound of the Macedonians th' old renowne Chorus WHat damned furies thus tosse mortals minds With such a violent desire to raigne That neither honor friendship dutie blood Nor yet no band so sacred is as bindes Th' ambitious thoughts that would a kingdome gaine But all is buried in blacke Laethes flood That may the course of soueraigntie restraine Which from the breast doth all respects repell And like a torrent cannot be gainstoode Yea many would a Scepter so t' obtaine In spite of all the world and Ioues owne wrath March through the lowest dungeons of the helles And vnderneath a diademe would breathe Though euery moment threatned them with death Yet though such restlesse mindes attaine in th' end The height to which their haughty hearts aspirde They neuer can imbrace th' imagin'd blisse Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend Though by the multitude they be admirde That still to powre do shew themselues submisse Yet by the
soule still further is requirde That should seale vp th' accomplishment of ioy Thus doth a partiall iudgement aime amisse At things that stand without our reach retir'd Which whilst not ours as treasures we define But not the same whilst we the same enioy Some things afarre doe like the Glow-worme shine That lookt to neere haue of that light no signe No charge on th' earth more weighty to discharge Than that which of a kingdome doth dispose O those that manage must the reines of state Till that their ghost b' imbarkt in Charons barge Doe neuer neede t' attend a true repose How hard is it to please each mans conceat When gaining one they must another lose Thus hardly kings themselues caâ— euenly beare Whom if seuere as cruell subiects hate Contempt dare to the milde it selfe oppose In time who spare as niggardes are despisde Men from too franke a minde exactions feare Though in all shapes as Proteus being â—â—sguisde Kings by some scandall alwayes are surprisde Yet one might well with euery thing comport That on th' opinion onely doth depend If further danger follow'd not by deedes But euery monarke loe in many a sort Death doth disguisd in diuers shapes attend Of some by mut'nous swords the life foorth bleedes By vnsuspected poison others end Which whilst they alwayes labour to preuent A thousand deaths within their breasts life breedes Loe this is all for which the great contend Who whilst their pride hemselues and others spoiles With their dominions doe their cares augment And O vaine man that toyles t' abound in toiles Though still the victorie the victor foiles Thus Alexander still himselfe disâ—asde Whilst he t' vndoe his state did wale prepare Which when made most diminisht most remaind Where with his fathers bounds had he bin pleasde He might haue left our crowne in peace t' his heire That by his conquest nought but death hath gaind Yet for no paines a number now doth spare To worke for that by which his wreake was wrought Which though from it they rage to be restraind Would if possest their pleasures but impaire Yet they by hurme of others seeke the thing That by their harme of others will be sought To him and his each of them death would bring That it might once be saide he was a King We may securely sitting on the shore To see the great as tossd on th' Ocean grone Learne by their toiles t' esteeme much of our rest For this doth thousands with affliction store That as th' vnhappiest in the world do mone If they but chaunce to view some few more blest Where if they would but marke how many a one More wretch'd than they in miserie doth liue It would strait calme the most vnquiet breast The cottage whiles is happier than the throne To thinke our owne state good and others ill It could not but a great contentment giueâ— There much consistes in the conceit and will Since t 'vs all things are as we thinke them still FINIS THE TRAGEDIE OF IVLIVS CAESAR By William Alexander Gentleman of the Princes priuie Chamber Carmine dij superi placantur carmine manes LONDON Printed by VALENTINE SIMMES for ED BLOVNT 1607. The Argument AT that time when the Romans trauelled with an vnsatiable ambition to subdue all Nations by whose ouerthrow they could conceaue any exspectation either of glory or profit Caius Iulius Caesar a man of a loftie minde and giuen to attempt great things ascending by seuerall degrees to the Consullship procured a power to warre against the Gaules amongst whom after a number of admirable battels and victories by the approbation of all the world hauing purchased a singular reputation both for his courage and skill in Armes he being long accustomed to command was so drunken with a delight of soueraigntie that disdaining the simplicitie of a priuate life he was so farre from denuding himselfe of the authoritie that he had that altogether transported with a desire of more hee sent to the Senate to haue his gouernment of the Gaules prorogated for fiue years which sute being repugnant to the Lawes as directly tending to tyrranie was by the people publikely repelled By which occasion and some others rising from an aemulation betweene him and Pompey the great pretending a high indignation hee incontinent crossed the Alpes with such forces though few as he had in readinesse and with a great celeritie came to Rome which hee found abandoned by Pompey in whom the Senate had reposed their trust whom shortly after by a memorable battell in the fields of Pharsalia he discomfited and hauing by the ouerthrow of Scipio death of Cato and flight of Pompeys sonnes as it were rooted out all the contrary faction hee returned to Rome and indirectly by the meanes of Antonius laboured to be proclaimed king which hauing rendred him altogether odious Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus Decius Brutus Publius Caâ—ca and diuers others Noble men conspired his death and appo nted a day for the sâ—me at which time notwiâ—hstanding that Caesar was disswaded from going foorth by many monstrous apparitions and ominous presages yet being perswaded by Dâ—cius Brutus Albinus hee went towards the fatall place where the Senate was assembled The Conspirators in like maner had many terrors amongst others Portia the wife of Marcus Brutus although she had insinuated her selfe in her husbands secret by a notable proofe of extraordinary magnanimitie yet on the day dedicated for the execution of their designe through the apprehension of his danger she fainted diuers times whâ—reof Brutus was aduertised yet shrinked not but went forward with his confederats to the appointed place where they accomplished their purpose euery one of them giuing Caesar a wound and me a ground wherevpon to build this present Tragedie The Actors Names IVNO CAESAR ANTONIVS CICERO DECIVS BRVTVS CAIVS CASSIVS MARCVS BRVTVS PORTIA CALPHVRNIA NVNTIVS THE Tragedie of Caesar ACT. I. Iuno THough I a goddesse glance through th' azure round Whilst the eie-feather'd birds my coach do moue And am with radiant starres heauens Empresse crown'd The sister and the wife of thundring Ioue And though I banquet in th' Aetheriall bowres Where Ambrosie and Nectar serues for meate And at the meeting of th' immortall powres Am still aduanc'd vnto the highest seate Yet by those glorious shewes of boundlesse blisse My martred minde can no way be relieu'd Since immortalitie affords but this That I may euer liue being euer grieu'd In vaine vaine mortals seeke for helpe at me With Sacred odours on my Altars throwne What expectation can they haue to see One venge their wrongs that cannot venge her owne Might Pallas once drowne thousands in the seas And metamorphose Diomedes mates And must mine enemies alwayes liue in ease As me to spight appointed by the fates Of all the dying race that liues below With such indignities none could comport As wound my breast whom gods and men do know To be abusde by Ioue in many a sort Though knowne to me from
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
no right to haue Which with them selues within short while As sommers beauties must decay And can giue nought except the graue Though all things doe to harme him what they can No greater enemie then himselfe to man Whilst oft enuiron'd with his foes That threatned death on euery side Great Caesar parted from repose As Atlas vnderneath the starres Did of a world the weight abide But since a prey t'excessiue pride More then by all the former warres He now by it doth harmde remaine And of his fortune doth defide Made rich by many a Nations wrack He breaking through the liquid barres In Neptunes armes his minion forc'd Yet still pursude new hopes in vaine Ah would th' ambitious looking backe Of their inferiours knowledge take They from huge cares might be deuorc'd Whilst veiwing few more wealth attaine And many more than they to lacke Lo th' only plague from men that rest doth reaue Is valuing what they want not what they haue Since thus the great themselues inuolue In such a laborinth of cares Whence none to scape can well resolue But by degrees is forward led Through waues of hopes rockes of dispaires Let vs anoyd ambitions snares And farre from stormes by enuie bred Still seeke securely a humble rest With mindes where no prowd thought repaires That in vaine shadowes doth delight Thus may our fancies still be fed With that which Nature freely giues Let vs iniquitie detest And hold but what we owe of right Th' eyes treasure is th' al-circling light Not that vaine pompe for which th' earth striues Whose glory but a poysnous pest T' orethrow the soule delights the sight Ease comes with ease where all by paine buy paine Rest we in peace by warre let others raigne ACT. III. SCENE I. Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus NOw Brutus now we need no more to doubt Nor with blind hopes our iudgement to suspend Lo all our exspectations are worne out For now it 's time t' attempt and not t' attend Th' imperious people that did th' earth appall Ah vanquishde by their victories at last Are by their too much libertie made thrall Since all their strength but serues themselues to cast And we that once seemd borne t' aime at great things Of the worlds mistresse mightie minions once That might haue labor'd to giue lawes to kings Lawes from a king must looke for now with grones For such of Caesar is the monstrous pride That though he domineers else at this houre And to his clients kingdomes doth diuide With an vnlimitd tyrranicke power Yet of Dictator he disdaines the name And seekes a tyrants title with the place Not for his honour no but for our shame As onely bent to bragge of our disgrace Marc. Brut. I thought to see that man as others are Walke reapparrel'd with a priuate gowne As one that had vnwillingly made warre T' hold vp himselfe not to cast others downe So Silla though more inhumane then he Whilst hauing all to what his heart aspirde The soueraigntie resign'd and set Rome free When all such exspectation was expirde By Caesars worth we must thinke that he too Will libertie restore t' our troubled state When first the world hath viewd what he might doe His thoughts are generous as his minde is great And though some insolencies scape him whiles His dying furie sparkles but a space Nought th' inspirations quite of Mars exiles Till one be vsde with th' innocencie of peace Those that by violence did t' all things tend Scarse can themselues t' a quiet course conforme Their stately cariage and franke words offend Whilst peace cannot comport with warres rude forme I hope that Caesar setling ciuill broyles When disaccustomde is intestin rage Will striue to mitigate his countryes toyles Bent all those flames that burn'd his brest t' asswage Ca Cass Thus of his course you by your own conceiu'd As if like thoughts of both did bound the will Ah honest mindes are with least paine deceiu d Those that themselues are good dreame not of ill But of bad mindes to sound th' vnsound deuice Their inclination must your iudgement sway The square of vertue cannot measure vice Nor yet a line that 's straight a crooked way So Caesar may preuaile t' vsurpe the state He cares not by what violence nor sleight O one may soone deceiue men and grow great That leaues religion honestie and right When as the Senatours no more their owne Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blinds And showde him by what honors they had showne To gratifie his greatnesse gratefull mindes He in a chaire imperiously being plac'd Not daign'd to rise nor bow in any sort As both of them had but their due imbrac'd When he a hautie they an humble port But if he thus ere we be throughly thrall'd Dare so disdainfully such great men vse When in a regall throne by vs install'd Then will he breake that which he now doth bruse Was he not first that euer yet began To violate the sacred Tribuns place And punish'd them for punishing a man That had transgressde the lawes in time of peace The lawes thar doe of death all guiltie hold Whose actions seeme to tirranie inclinde So earnest were our ancestours of old To quensh the light of tyrants ere it shinde And shall our Nephews heires of bondage blame Vs dastard parents that their hopes deceiu'd That saw that suffred that suruiu'd such shame Not leauing dead what we being borne receiu'd By Caesars friendes to an assembly brought The Senators intend to call him king Brut. I le not be there Cass But what if we be sought T' assist as Praetors such a publike thing Brut. Then I le resist that violent decree None of Romes crowne shall long securely bost For ere that I liue thrall'd I le first die free What can be kept when libertie is lost Cass O with what ioy I swallow vp those wordes Words worthy of thy worth and of thy name But Brutus be not fearde this cause affords Thee many mates in danger few in fame When Anthonie prowde Caesars Image crown'd The people by a silent sorrow told In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drown'd That Comet of confusion to behold What do those scroules throwne in thy chaire import Which what thou art to thy remembrance brings Be those the fancies of th' inferiour sort No none but noble mindes dreame of great things Of other Pretors people looke for showes And distributions whose remembrance dyes Whilst bloody fencers fall with mutuall blowes And Affricks monsters made t' amaze their eyes But from thy hands they libertie attend A glory hereditarie to thy race And following thee their blood will frankly spend So thou succeed in thy great parents place That Romes redeemer once did Tarquin foile Though from his birth obeyd and without strife Where thou shouldst but th' aspiring tirant spoile That would t'extinguish'd tyrrany giue life Brut. I weigh thy words with an afflicted heart That for compassion of my countrey bleedes
And would to God that I might onely smart So that all others scap'd th' euill that succeeds Then neuer man himselfe from death did free With a more quiet and contented minde Then I would perish if I both could be To Caesar thankefull and t' our countrey kinde But though that great mans grace towards mee enlargde May challenge right in my affections store Yet must the greatest debt be first dischargde I ow him much but to my countrey more This in my breast hath great dissention bred I Caesar loue but yet Romes enemie hate And as Ioue liues I could be mou'd to shed My blood for Caesar Caesars for the state I for my fathers death loathde Pompey long Whilst iust disdaine did boyle within my breast Yet when he warr'd to venge the common wrong I ioynde with him because his cause was best A minde t' vsurpe if Caesar now reueale I will in time precipitate his end Thus being still bent t' aduance the Common-weale I help'd a foe and now must hurt a friend Cass Least of his fauour thou the poyson proue From swallowing of such baites deere friend beware No tyrant trust me can intirely loue Nor none that for himselfe doth only care He by such curtesies doth but intend T' imbase thy vertues vndermine thy minde And thy suspected courage to disbend Yea though with silken bonds he would thee binde This of all tyrants is the common tread To wreake all those in whom most worth he findes Or whilst that terrors tosse his iealous head T' vse subtilties t' amuse the greatest mindes As when we for the Pretorship did striue Then both were held in hope that so deceiu'd We others harmes might studie to contriue Through emulation and disdaine conceiu'd Thus subtill Caesar by such sleights hath toyld To sow dissention that we both may pause Of priuate wrongs and by such means imbroil'd Still courting him neglect the common cause But nought from others must our thoughts estrange That must in time the tyrants course restraine Let other men lament we must reuenge I scorne to beare a sword and to complaine Brut. Though Caesar now I must conspire thy fall My heart towards thee yet neuer harbor'd hate But pardon me who euer make it thrall From bondage Brutus must redeeme the state Of this my course what euer others iudge Heere I protest it is for good design'd My thoughts are guiltie of no priuate grudge For reason and not furie moues my minde Nor is' t ambition that inflames my breast With a prodigious appetite to raigne That when I haue made Caesar Plutoes guest I in his rowme a monarch may remaine No if that glorie did my fancies charme To which blind-folded tyrants doe aspire I needed not to do nor suffer harme But with lesse paine might compasse my desire For if I would but temporize a space Till Time or Death diminish Caesars might He thinkes that I deserue t' enioy his place And I could make my day succeede his night Yet doe I not endeere my selfe so much That I le seeke honor by my countries shame But O I would my zeale to it is such To saue it from reproch seeme worthy of blame Yea so that I may free with honourd wounds My soile than is my soule more deere to me I care not strait to be barr'd from the bounds That at so deere a rate I would set free Cass What man doth breath of Mars his martiall race But will with Brutus sacrifice his blood And chargde with armes ere tyranie take place Dare venture all things for his countries good Can any iudgement be deceiu'd so farre But that it else most cleerely may beholde How that this change Rome greatnes strait will marre And raze the trophees that she rear'd of olde Of olde in Rome all those that once had worne The peace-importing gowne or warrelike shield Of dignities as capable being borne Durst aime at all that libertie could yeeld Those in affaires to deale that would set forth Were not discourag'd by their birth though base And pouertie could not holde backe true worth From hauing honour both by warre and peace Then emulation violently driu'd All gallant mindes t' attempt great actions still That in the loue of venue riualls liu'd Whilst Glorie in their bosomes balme did still Fabricius first was from the plow aduauncde The rudder of the commonwealth to hold Yet by no meanes his priuate wealth enhauncde As rich in vertue still as poore in golde Rude Marius too to match red Mars in fame Forth from the vulgar drosse his race remou'd And loe of Cicero the ridiculous name As famous as the Fabians now hath prou'd Each abiect mind disdaind to be obscure When still preferrement followd loftie cares And that one might by dangers past procure Fame to himselfe and honour to his heires But since that state by Caesar is oreturn'd Whilst all our liues depend vpon ones lips Of breasts that once with loue of glorie burn'd From soaring thoughts this course the feathers clips Aduauncement now attends not on desert But on th' opinion of a flattred minde That to th' applauding hireling doth impart High honours that true worth can hardly finde To these all tyrants most addicted proue Whom without reason they haue raisde too hie As thinking those that stand but by their loue To entertaine the same all meanes must trie Where they whose vertue reapes a due reward Not building onely on th' aduauncers grace Doe by deserts not gaine so great regarde Whilst they maintaine as they obtaine their place And if a worthie man to worke great things Wing'd with th' vsurpers fauors raise his flight The highest course to him most harme still brings That till he fall can not haue leaue to light Those that by force would haue th' affection mou'd When willingly men hold such gallants deare They rage that any should be freely lou'd Whose vertue makes their vice more vile appeare The man that now to be preferrd aspires Must with effronted flatteries seruile forme Still soothing Caesar seale all his desires And in some shadow lurke t' auoyde a storme A number else of that prowd rebells foes Grieu'd to behold th' occasion of their griefe Striue in obscuritie t' entombe their woes So waiting and not working for reliefe But we whose lofty mindes disdaine to lowre As those that seeke but their owne safetie thus When shall we spend an indignations powre That 's worthy of true Romans and of vs Since no indignitie resolu'd t' indure I see our mindes doe simpathize in this Should we by suffering seeke to liue secure Whose action must amend what is amisse No no such abiect thought must staine our breast To cure calamitie but by discourse Whilst but like beasts affecting foode and rest Where men by reason should direct their course Like those of other parts secure from strife If Caesar had bin borne or chusde our Prince Then those that durst attempt to take his life The world of treason iustly might
oft by tragicke grones The memory but not the iudgement makes Th' impression thus of passions in the braine For what the soule most suffers when it wakes With it asleepe it doth turmoyld remaine From superstitious feares this care proceedes Which stil would watch o're that which thou dost loue And in thy minde melancholy thus breedes Which doth those strange imaginations moue Cal. Ah in so light account leaue off to hold Those fatall warnings that the heauens haue made Which by all meanes most manifest vnfold What dangers huge do hing aboue thy head He with the sacred garlands that diuines By th' entrailes of the consecrated beast Sees in the sacrifice sinistrous signes And I intreate thee do not hence make haste Caes When I in Spaine against yong Pompey went Thus the diuiner threatned me before Yet did I prosecute my first intent Which with new laurells did my browes decore Cal. And yet you hardly there as whiles I heare From dangers farre engagde redeemd your life But now more monstrous tokens do appeare And I suspect farre worse than open strife Caes Lest I too much seeme wedded to my will As one that others counsels scornes t' alow With iealous eyes I le search about me still And euen mistrust my selfe to trust thee now Yet if I stay the Senators deceiu'd May my beginning straight begin to hate So might I perish seeking to be sau'd By flying many fall vpon their fate But heere one comes that can resolue me much With whom I vse t' aduise affaires of weight Whence comst thou Decius that thy haste is such Is ought occurr'd that craues our knowledge straight Decius I come to tell you how the Senate staies Till your exspected presence blesse their sight And the conclusion yet of all delayes Till that your approbation make it right T' accomplish your contentment they intend And all their thoughts seeme at one obiect bent Saue that they doe amongst themselues contend Who you to please shall strangest wayes inuent Caes Than that no treasure to my soule more deere Which straight t' enioy from hence I long to part But yet I know not what arrests me heere And makes my feet rebellious to my heart From thee deare friend I neuer do conceale The waightiest secrets that concerne me most And at this time I likewise will reueale How heauens by signes me with destruction bost To superstition though not being inclinde My wife by dreames doth now presage my fall It a Sooth-sayer likewise hath diuin'd The sacrifice prodigious seemes t 'vs all So that till this disastrous day be gone All companie I purpose to disuse And to the Senators I le send some one To paint my absence with a faire excuse D. Brut. Do not repose on superstitious signes You to suspect the people thus to bring Whilst soueraigne-like you limit their designes Seeme not a tyrant seeking to be king How can we satisfie the worlds conceit Whose tongues still in all eares your praise proclames O! shal we bid them leaue to deale in state Till that Calphurnia first haue better dreames If that this day you priuate would remayne The Senate to dissolue your selfe must goe And then incontinent come backe againe When you haue showne towards it some reuerence so Caes With thy aduise as powrefull I agree The Senators shall haue no cause to grudge A little space all part apart from mee And I le be shortly ready to dislodge Caesar alone WHence come this huge and admirable change That in my brest hath vncouth thoghts infus'd Doth th' earth then erst yield terrors now more strange Or but my minde lesse courage then it vsde What spitefull fate against my state contends That I must now t'vnlook'd for plagues giue place By foes not mou'd yet fear'd amongst my friends By warre secure endanger'd but by peace T' encounter me when strongest troups did come Then did my heart the highest hopes conceiue I warr'd with many many to ouercome The greatest battels greatest glory gaue As th' enemies number still my courage grew Oft haue I through the depths of dangers past Yet neuer did those boundlesse labors rue To haue none greater first none equall last When as the Gaules fear'd by their neighbours falles Had from the fields no from my furie fled And hid themselues with armes their armes with walles Whilst I my troupes t' inclose Alexia led Then though there swarm'd foorth from the bounds about Huge hostes to compasse me enflam'd with wrath That the besieger being besieg'd about Seem'd drawne with danger in the nets of death Yet I that could not with the pride comport That those Barbarians by vaine bosts bewrayd Did reassault th' assaulters in such sort That words by wounds wounds were by death repayd Of those within the towne t' asswage their toyles Till being ore-com'd their comming was not knowne Who straight vpbrayded by the barbarous spoiles Did yeeld themselues with th 'others as ore-throwne Then whilst with liquid legions tumid bosts The trident-bearer striu'd my spoyles to beare Though threatned thrise amidst his humid hosts I alwayes scorn'd t' acquaint my selfe with feare I vsde those Pirats that had me surpriz'd Still as my seruants thundring threatnings forth And gaue them money more than they deuisde Greeu'd to be rated at too little worth Yet gathering ships I sign'd not long the shore But trac'd their printles steps through th' vnpau'd way And taking them as I had vow'd before By nought but death their ransome would defray Then when without th' aduise of others minds Iventred through the hoarie waues by night Whilst in a little barke against great winds That euen the Pilote look'd not for the 〈◊〉 The roaring waues themselues seem'd to diuide That in their grauell I might chuse a graue And in a christall arch aboue me bide That I of me a tombe might worthy haue Whilst dangers seem'd to merite Caesars death As Neptune raisde his head raisde my heart And shewing what I was with constant breath T'amazde Amiclas courage did impart Was I not once amidst large Nilus flot Whilst me to wound a wood of darts did flie Yet swim'd so carelesse of my enemies shot That in my hand I held some papers drie With open dangers thus in euery place I whilst being compass'd both by sea and land Did vndismaid looke horror in the face As borne for nought but onely to commaund But since a world of victories haue fill'd With Trophees Temples Theaters with my praise That bath'd with balme from th' oyle of glory still'd With friends in peace I look'd to spend my daies The chambers musicke now affrights me more Then once the trumpets sound amids the field And gownes though signes of peace worse then before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield Those thoughts of late that had disdain'd to doubt Though I alone had march'd amongst my foes Lo whilst amongst my friends I 'm back'd about Doe greater dangers now then th' eies disclose If ought t' assemble any number brings
That should burst out through thoughts ore-flow'd with ioy Whilst emulous vertue may your mindes incite That which we conquerd haue at least t' enioy Or quite conformd vnto your former state Do still your mindes of seruitude allow As broken by aduersitie of late Not capable of better fortune now Loe we that by the tyrants fauour stoode And grieu'd but at the yoke that you outrag'd Haue our aduauncement riches rest and blood All liberally for libertie engag'd Chor. Thou like thy great progenitour in this Hast glorie to thy selfe t 'vs freedome brought Than libertie what greater treasure is Small with it much without it much seemes nought But pardon vs heroicke man though we T' a high perfection hardly can aspire Though euery man cannot a Brutus be That which we cannot imitate w'admire At this strange course with too much light made blind We our opinions must suspend a space When any sodaine chance dismayes the minde The iudgement to the passion first giues place Ant. What wonder now though this most barbarous deed Haue with amazement closde your iudgement in Which O I feare shall great confusion breed When Caesars toiles did end Romes did begin The most suspitious mindes had not beleeu'd That Romans reuerenc'd for their worth by vs Would haue presumde to kill yea or t' haue greeu'd A inuiolable hallowd bodie thus Who would but once haue dreamd of such despight What strange hostilitie in time of peace To slay though not accusde against all right A sacred man and in a sacred placed C Cass If Caesar as a Cittizen had liu'de And had by lawe decided euery strife Then I would grant those treason had contriu'd That went without a lawe to take his life But to peruert the lawes subuert the state If all his trauells did directly tend Then I must say we did no wrong of late Why should not tyrants make a tragicke end Chor. Since destinies did Caesars soule enlarge What course can we for his recouerie take Ah th' vnrelenting Charons restlesse barge Stands to transport all ouer but brings none backe Of lifes fraile glasse when broken with vaine grones What earthly powre the ruines can repaire Or who can gather vp when scatterd once Ones blood from th' earth or yet his breath from th' aire Let vs of those that passe Obliuions flood B' obliuious still since hope of help is gone And spend our cares where cares may doe most good Lest Rome waile many where she wailes but one Ant. Still concord for the common-weale were best To reconcile diuided thoughts againe Then discord to great townes no greater pest Whose violence no reuerence can restraine Yet oftentimes those warie wits haue err'd That would buy wealth and ease at any cost Let honesty to profit be preferr'd And t' a vile peace warre when it wounds vs most But seeking peace what suretie can we finde Can faithlesse men giue faith iust feares to stay No sacred band impietie can binde That sweares for trust seekes trust but to betray What help'd it Caesar that we all had sworne His body still from dangers to redeeme Those that are once periur'd hold othes in scorne All are most franke of what they least esteeme M. Br. None needs in states that are from tirants free Loathde execrations to confirme his will Where willingly men would with good agree And without danger might despise all ill All odious othes by those are onely crau'd Whose sute from reason doth a warrant want Whilst all deceiuers feard to be deceau'd Seek of men thralld what none being free would grant When Caesar had preuailde in Libia and Spaine His fortune building on his countries wracke Of libertie a shadow to retaine We gaue him all that he was bent to take The Senate had reseru'd nought but a show Whose course to it by Caesar was imposde That lifted vp by bringing others lowe Of offices and prouinces disposde Then that our witherd hopes might neuer spring When bent t' abide the Parthians woodden showre He for fiue yeares disposde of euery thing Euen in his absence leauing vs no powre O how some aggrauate our deede with hate That durst by violence his body straine Though consecrated by constraint of late Yea but reputed holie yet prophane And doe forget how he a wondrous case Did violate the tribune ship t' our scorne Which our forefathers free in time of peace Aduisdly had inuiolable sworne Did he not once appropriate swolne with wrath The publike treasure to his priuate vse And to the sacred Tribune threatned death That did resist grieu'd at so great a'abuse Tweene Romans and a tyrant what auailes A couenant whilst right rests troad on thus Who can build further when the ground first failes Could we saue him that sought to ruine vs Cic. So absolutely good no man remaines Whose naturall weakenesse neuer him beguiles Euen vertues die from vice may take some staines And worthy mindes foule imperfections whiles As in fine fruits or weeds fat earth abounds Euen as the laborers spend or spare their paine The greatest sprites disdaining vulgar bounds Of what they seeke the highest height must gaine They that the crowne of glory may b' enioyd As onely borne to be in action still Had rather be than idle euill employd Great sprites must doe great good or then great ill The glorious Sunne that golden raies doe arme The treasure of the world that doth most good Whilst on a time misgouernd did much harme Till th' ouerbold Coach-man fell amidst a flood Then whilst he by the rules of reason liu'd When lawfully elected by the State What glorious deedes by Caesar were atchiu'd Which all the world as wonders must relate But when of right he buried all respects As blind ambition had bewitcht his minde What harme ensude by pittifull effects We at the first he at the last did finde Whilst like Narcissus with himselfe in loue He with our bondage banqueted his sight And for a while vncertaine ioyes to proue Would sawce with all our sorrowes his delight How could such gallant vertuous men as those That of their countries weale are iealous still But stowtly to all stormes their states expose So th' authour of their infamy to kill But since our freedome flowes from Caesars blood Let vs imbrace that which too long we lacke Peace giues to Iustice powre and it t' all good Where war breeds wrong and wrong al kind of wracke This cittie hath experienc'd with great paine Th' all-burdning troubles of intestine strife Which by her ruines registred remaine Since first the Gracchi gaue contention life When Silla once and Marius mad through pride Seemd but to striue who most tyrannicke prou'd What memorable miseries were tride From Romans mindes can neuer be remou'd Then last by Caesar and his sonne in lawe What thousands ghosts to Pluto were dispatchd Ah that the world those hosts diuided sawe Which ioynd in one no world of worlds had matchd Yet with this wit that we haue dearely bought Let vs abhorre
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
Nun. The man of whom the world in doubt remain'd If that his minde or fortune was more great Whose valour conquer'd clemencie retain'd All nations subiect to the Romane state Him fraude harm'd more then force friends more then foes Ah must this sad discourse by mee be made Calph. Stay ere thou further goe defray my woes How doth my loue wher is my life Nū Dead Cal. dead Cho. Though apprehending horrors in her minde Now since she hath a certaintie receiu'd She by experience greater griefe doth finde Till borne the passions cannot be conceiu'd When as a high disaster force affords O how that tyrant whom affliction beares Barres th eares from comfort the mouth from words And being obdur'd cannot dissolue in teares Calph. Ah since the lights of that great light are set Why doth not darknesse spread it selfe ouer all At least what further comfort can I get Whose pleasures had no period but his fall O would the gods I alwayes might confine Aetna ' in my breast and th' Ocean in mine eyes That t' entertaine so great a griefe as mine Thence might sufficient furniture arise Yet I disdaine though by distresse ore-throwne By such externall meanes to seeke reliefe The greatest sorrowes are by silence showne Whilst all the sences are shut vp with griefe But miserie doth so tyrannicke grow That it of sighes and teares a tribute claimes Ah when the cup is full it must ore-flow And fires that burne must offer vp some flames Yet though that thy last words my last might be Which are deepe sunke within a melted heart Of my liues death report each point to me That I for euery circumstance may smart Nun. What fatall warnings did fore-go his end Which by his stay to frustrate some did try But he that scorn'd excuses to pretend Was by the Destinies drawne forth to die Whilst by the way he chanc'd t' encounter one That had his deaths-day nam'd he to him said Now th' Ides of March be com'd but yet not gone Straight tho'other answerd and still constant staide Another brought a letter with great speed Which the conspiracie at length did touch And gaue it Caesar in his hand to reade Protesting that it did import him much Yet did he lay it vp where still it rests As do the great whom happy th' earth reputes That grieu'd to be importun'd by requests Of simple supplicants neglect the sutes Or he of it the reading did deferre Still troubled by attendanrs at the gate Whilst some to shew their credite did conferre To flatter some for something some t' entreat Not only did the gods by diuers signes Giue Caesar warning of his threatned harmes But did disturbe all th' aduersaries designes And to their troubled thoughts gaue strange alarmes A Senator that by some words we finde To the conspiratours though none of theirs Had showne himselfe familiar with their minde Then chanc'd to deale with Caesar in affaires That sight their soules did with confusion fill For thinking that he told their purposde deeds They straight themselues or Caesar thought to kill A guiltie conscience no accuser needes But marking that he vsde when taking leaue The gesture of a suter that gaue thankes They of their course did greater hopes conceiue And rang'd themselues according to their rankes Then Caesar march'd forth to the fatall place Neere Pompyes theater where the Senate was Where when he had remain'd a little space All the confederates flock'd about Calph. Alas Nun. First for the forme Metellus Cimber crau'd To haue his brother from exile restor'd Yet with the rest a rude repulse receiu'd Whilst it they all too ernestly implor'd Then Cimber that in strife with him did stand Did draw the gowne ouer Caesars sacred head But the first blow was giuen by Cascaes hand Which on his necke a little wound but made Then Caesar starting whilst the stroke he spi'd By strength from further striking Casca stayde Whilst both the two burst out at once and cry'd Th' one traitor Casca th' other brother ayde Then all the rest against him did arise Like desperate men whose furie force affords That Caesar on no side could set his eyes But euery looke r'encountred with some swordes Yet as a Lyon when by nets surprisde Stands strugling still so long as he hath strength So Caesar as he had their powre dispisde Did with great rage resist till at the length He thus cry'd out when spying Brutus come And thou mya sonne then griefe did backe rebound Nought but vnkindnesse Caesar could ore-come That of all things doth giue the deepest wound Cho. Ah when vnkindnes is where loue was thought A tender passion breakes the strongest heart For of all those that giue offence in ought Men others hate but for th' vnkinde they smart Nun. Ah taking then no more delight in light As which would then his life haue bitter fram'd Or then from Brutus blow t' absent his sight As of so great ingratitude asham'd He with his gowne being couer'd first ouer all As one that neither sought nor wisht reliefe Not wronging maiestie in state did fall No sigh consenting to betray his griefe Yet if by chaunce or force I cannot tell Euen at the place whereas his statue stood As crauing Pompcy pardon Caesar fell That in reuenge it might exhaust his blood But when his corps abandond quite by breath Did Fortunes frailties monument remaine That all might haue like interest in his death And guilty alike looke for like praise or paine Then Cassius Brutus and the rest began With that great Emperours blood t' imbrue their hands What beast in th' earth more cruell is than man When ouer his reason passion once commands Calph. Whilst brutish Brutus and prowde Cassius thus Romes greatest Captaine vnder trust deceiu'd Where was Anthonius since a friend to vs That he not lost himselfe or Caesar sau'd Nun. The whole conspirators remainde in doubt Had he and Caesar ioyn'd to be vndone And so causde one him t' entertaine without Who fain'd a conference till the fact was done Then knowing well in such tumultuous broyles That the first danger alwayes is the worst He fled in haste disguisde with vnknowne spoiles For rage and for disdaine being like to burst Calph. The Senators that were assembled there When they beheld that great man brought t'an end What was their part to what inclin'd their care I feare affliction could not find a friend Nun. Of those that in the Senate-house did sit As greeu'd so sad an obiect to behold Or feard what further murdrers might commit Each towards his house a seuerall way did hold This act with horror did confound their sight And vnawares their iudgement did surprise When any hastie harmes vnlook'd for light The resolution hath not time to rise That man on whome the world did once rely By all being reuerenc'd and ador'd by some Had none t' attend him left but two and I. Cho. To what an ebbe may fortunes full whiles come Why should men following
mischances Would force compossion from your greatest foe Where all the griefe-begetting circumstances Doe ioyne to make a harmony in woe But naturall loue doth at our selfe begin It mooues farre more to feele then heare mishaps The perturbation that my sprite is in Me in a maze of miscontentments wraps We should such past misfortunes pretermit At least no more immoderately lament them And as for those which are but comming yet Vse ordinary meanes for to preuent them Adrast No wonder Sir although you take great care Lest all your hopes in Atis person perish Croes I will by all the meanes I may prepare To saue his youth that he my age may cherish If it be possible for mortall states To striue against the Starres and be more strong I 'le vnarme Fortune and resist the fates By barring both all meanes to do me wrong I haue commanded vnder paine of death That no such weapon be within my walles As I suppos'd should haue abridg'd his breath T' eschew such sudden euill as rashly falles He shall goe rarely to the fields and then With chosen bands be guarded all the time Loe where he communes with some countrey-men We will go trie what they would haue of him Act. III. Scen. II. CHORVS of countreymen CROESVS ATIS ADRASTVS CAELIA Lend Sir a willing eare to humble wordes Let not our basenesse barre vs from your grace Which still it selfe alike to all affords Who blesse their sight with that Maiestike face My Soueraigne all his subiects well remembers As vile as our estate is thought of now You are our head and we are of your members And you must care for vs we care for you Our pouertie to vs is no reproach Which th' innocencie of our mind adorn's We neuer on our neighbours bounds encroach But by our labours liue midst many thornes And euer busied for the Countries good We haue no time to muse of vaine conceates Yet earning with continuall toile our food We entertaine the pompe of prowder States And Sir conceiue not of our meaning ill That thus dare speake so freely as we do Whilst mediators do dilate our will They wrest it as they will and wracke vs too To count'nance such as vs you neede not shunne A great man too well grac'd may do more harme And t' is no staine vnto the glorious Sunne Though oft his beames an abiect obiect warme Croes Be not discourag'd by your base estate Yee are my people and I 'le heare your plaint A King must care for all both small and great And for to helpe th' afflicted neuer faint The Scepter such as these should chiefely shrowd Not cotages but Castles spoile the Land T' aduance the humble and t' abate the prowd This is a Vertue that makes Kings to stand Cor. Sir our estate some speedy helpe requires In Misia neere vnto the famous Mountaine Of great Olimpus that the World admires There haunt's a Boare by Dianaes Fountaine Of a big body and a hideous forme His fomie Iawe with tuskes like Iauelins strikes And all parts in deformitie conforme His backe hath bristles like to yron Pikes This Monster of Nature wonder of Men The Forrests tyran and the Countries terrour Teares all to death and drawes them to his Den That chance into his way by fatall errour Whilst tender-hearted Mothers do bewaile The goared Infants toyling in their blood Th' abhominable beast them doth assaile And in his bowels buries both for food Then when we fly the field where he soiournes To haue his hunger or his rage alayde He wastes the fruites and ruines all the cornes Thus the poore husbands hopes are all betrayde Ere this of true Repose we were the types And pastur'd on each plaine our fleecie flockes And made a consort of our warbling pypes With mouing christals th' issue of the rockes And sometime to refresh vs after trauell With flowrie garlands shielded from Sunne-beames We gazd vpon Pactolus golden grauell Glassd bathd and quenchd our thirst with his pure streames Whilst we preferd the Riuer seemd amazd Vnto his golden bed his grassye bancke And lay and lookd whereas our cattell grazd Without all enuie of a greater ranke That to represse oppression you take care This rest of ours is an effectuall token Your Lawes like Spiders webs do not ensnare The feeble flies and by the Bees are broken For we by them are fenc'd from great mens pride The Heau'ns perpetuate your prosp'rous raigne And suffer not this sauage Boare t' abide To turne that ease which men haue spar'd to paine Croes What would ye then that should be done by me For to repay your losse repayre this wrong Chorus We craue none of your wealth yet wish to see This Boare be-blood the staffe of the most strong Let valorous Atis worthily your sonne Backd with the best of all the Lidian Youth Go to the fields before the rising Sunne Quench with the mornings teares his mid-dayes drouth And we shall leade them crownd with lawrell forth Where in a circuit small yet a large Theater For men to make a tryall of their worth This Monster stayes th' earth neuer nurc'd a greater So shall we both reape profite and they pleasure Which may be brought to passe without great obstacle By making this waster of the worlds treasure Of a horrid sight a delightfull spectacle Croes I may not spare my Sonne for a respect Which is not needfull now for to be knowne But I 'le send others for the same effect That this pestiferous Beast may be o'rethrowne Th' ostentiue gallants that our Grace attend And wait th' occasion but t' aduance their strength Against the Boare shall all their forces bend With houndes and darts still till he fall at length I sweare this Monster shall when he is dead A memorable monument remaine To Dians Church I 'le consecrate his head The Virgin-goddesse darts no shaft in vaine Atis. Ah wherein Father haue I thus offended Or what vile signe of a degenerd mind Haue you remark'd in me that euer tended To the reproch of our Imperiall kind That of this praise you would giue me no part But barre me from a famous enterprise As one vnworthie for to weeld a dart Who still in vile repose inglorious lies Lies like a wanton with vaine thoughts bewitchd Who spoyld of force effeminately liues A Peacocke but with painted pennes enrichd Yet poore in all the parts that Glorie giues What glorie giues those glorious Styles to me Which by succession fall not by desart Should but my Fame with borrowd feathers flee For come of Kings a kingdome is my part Who only by his Birth aduancement claimes Like a base bastard doth his birth-right blote I will not beg my worth from dead mens names Nor conquer Credit only by my Cote What comforts this to brooke th' Imperiall seate And all the blisse that Maiestie impartes If those whom only we exceed in State Be our Superiors in farre better partes More then a Crowne true Worth is to be valued