my heart gave groanes No Romans bloud was shed but I shed teares But how could any elevated spright Who had for honour hazarded his blood Yeeld willingly by foes outragious spight To be defrauded of th' expected good When as a multitude of battels wonne Had made Romes Empires and my glory great And that the Gauls oft vanquish'd had begun To beare the yoke which they disdain'd of late Then glorious Pompey my proud sonne-in-law And Cato who still cross'd what I design'd From favouring me the people did with-draw And had a successour for spight assign'd Not that he should succeed in dangerous broils But even through envy as they had ordain'd That he might triumph so of all my toils And rob the glory which I dearly gain'd With such indignity who could comport When prizing honour dearer then the light No whil'st my soule rests soverainge of this fort None shall have powâ—r to rob me of my right And yet by Iove who all the world commands To use such violence I did mislike And would have oft abandon'd all my bands If that mine enemies would have done the like But yet the multitude which floting still As waves with windes are carried with conceits With nought but my disgrace would bound their will And I committed all unto the fates Yet when at Rubicon I stood perplex'd And weigh'd the horrour of my high attempt My stormy soule a thousand fancies vex'd Which resolution buried in contempt Ant. Nought in a Captaine more confounds his foes Then of a ventrous course the swift effects Since so quite crush'd ere they their thoughts dispose All good advice a care confus'd neglects Though when you march'd to Rome your pow'r was small The sudden news so thundred in each eare That as if heaven had falne upon them all If bred amazement and th' amazement feare Some secret destiny as then was seene Doth guide mens actions and their judgement bounds Those who by hosts could not have frighted beene A shadow or a rumour oft confounds All hastie dangers so surprise the minde That feare prevents the resolutions power Or else the fates make curious Reason blinde When heavens determin'd have a fatall houre Great Pompey loe who was growne ag'd in armes And had triumph'd o're all the worlds three parts Whil'st quite discourag'd by imagin'd harmes Fled Rome though without reach of th' enemies darts As to a torrent all gave place to you And whom they call'd a rebell made their Lord Your successour Domitius forc'd to bow Did trust your favour more then feare your sword When in th' Iberian bounds you did arrive There Adversaries who did vainly vaunt Had all th' advantage that the ground could give Of victuals plenty which with us were scant Yet the celerity that you had us'd Did so discourage their disordred band That as Iove in their breasts had feare infus'd They had no strength against our strokes to stand And when Romes Generall with brave legions stor'd Seem'd to possesse all that his soule requir'd Whil'st us to daunt both famine and the sword The Sea the Land and all in one conspir'd Then for your offices they did contend As those who of the victory were sure And where they might th' affaires of state attend In Rome for lodgings fondly did procure Yet memorable now that day remaines When all the world was in two Armies rang'd Whil'st Mars went raging through th' Aemathian plaines And to despaires high expectations chang'd When Pompeys partie had the battell lost As Lyons do their prey you did pursue The scattred remnant of that ruin'd host On which new heads still like a Hydra grew Though victory in Africke fatall seem'd To any Army that a Scipio led Yet you shew'd there for worth in warre esteem'd That Rome a better then a Scipio bred And all our Enemies were confounded thus Who us in number ever did surmount But Caesar and his fortune were with us Which we did more then many thousands count Caes The sweetest comfort which my conquests gave Was that I so might do to many good For every day some Romanes life I save Who in the field to fight against me stood Thus may my minde be judg'd by the event Who even when by my greatest foes assail'd To winne the battell never was more bent Then prompt to pardon when I had prevail'd Not covetous of bloud of spoyls nor harmes I even when victor did insult o're none But layd aside all hatred with my Armes A foe in fight a friend when it was gone Of clemency I like the praise more then Of force which mortals with affliction lodes Strength oft may prove the worst thing that 's in men And pity is the best thing in the Gods Sterne Cato still affecting to be free Who either death or life if given disdain'd Thy death I envy who didst envy me The glory that I saving thee had gain'd Yet I to Rents and dignities restore Even those who long my ruine had design'd And O! it doth delight my minde farre more By benefits then by constraint to binde Ant. I would have all my foes brought to their ends Caes I rather have my foes all made my friends Ant. Their bloud whom I suspect'd should quench all strife Caes So might one do who lik'd of nought but life Ant. Still life would be redeem'd from dangers forth Caes Not with a ransome then it selfe more worth Ant. Then life to man what thing more deare succeeds Caes The great contentment that true glory breeds Ant. Men by all meanes this blast of breath prolong Caes Men should strive to live well not to live long And I would spend this momentary breath To live by fame for ever after death For I aspire in spight of fates to live Ant. I feare that some too soone your death contrive Caes Who dare but lodge such thoughts within their mindes Ant. Those whom the shadow of your Greatnesse blindes Caes The best are bound to me by gifts in store Ant. But to their Countrey they are bound farre more Caes Then loath they me as th' Enemy of the state Ant. Who freedome love you as usurper hate Caes I by great battels have enlarg'd their bounds Caes By that they thinke your pow'r too muchy abounds Caes From doing wrong yet I refraine my will Ant. They feare your powe'r because it may do ill Caes The present state still miscontentment brings To factious mindes affecting matters strange Which burdens to themselves do loath all things And so they change regard not what they change In populous Townes where many do repaire Who at their meeting what they please do touch They further then their bounds extend their care The idle who do nothing must thinke much Loe Rome though wasted all with raging warres Whil'st private grudge pretended publike good Equality still rude engendring jarres Did prove too prodigall of Roman blood Though yet now at the last attaining rest Whil'st all obeying one may banish teares It if constrain'd even scorns as bad
seeke an Empire equall with thy minde Of which a Crowne is due to every thought But Glories love whilst courting in this kinde I feare by thine our ruine may be wrought And pardon me deare Sonne great is the love Which makes me watch so warily thy wayes A Fathers care what kind of thing can move Whom such a danger not in time dismayes The Heaven of late advertis'd me by dreames That some sad fortune threatned thee too soone Each day some ominous signe attendance claimes Which out of time are mark'd when all is done This was the cause that hastned us so much To have thee bound to Hymens sacred law This was the cause that all our care was such Out of our sight all weapons to withdraw Scorne not those Comets which amazement notes The starres to mortall states a bounds designe And doe not thinke t' is but my love that dotes For if thou fall my fate depends on thine Atis. Would God I had some meanes once ere my death To satisfie that infinite desert Which I shall hold so long as I have breath Deepe registred with reverence in my heart Yet sir we see this is a naturall thing That too excessive loue engenders 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 voide of vertue to soft pleasure thrall Of your two Sonnes what might your Subjects thinke Th' one wanting but one sense the other all What fancies might my late spous'd love possesse To see her husband hatefull in mens sights And honours bounds thus basely to transgresse As womaniz'd still wallowing in delights Though women would have men at their devotion They hate base mindes that hatch no noble notion Croe. Well well my Sonne I see thou must prevaile Goe follow forth the chase use thine owne forme Yet stay or let my words this much availe Walke with more care to scape this threatned storme Thy hawtie sprite to tempt all hazards bent I feare transports thee to a fatall strife I wish to erre yet the event prevent Lest that thy courage but betray thy life And deare Adrastus I must let him know What benefits I have bestow'd on thee Not to upbraid thee no but so to show How I may trust thee best thus bound to mee When thou from Phrygia cam'st defil'd with blood And a fraternall violated love When desp'rate quite thou as distracted stood Fled from thy Fathers face curst from above Thou foundst me friendly and my Court thy rest A Sanctuary which thy life did save And dangers scap't when one hath beene distress'd A wary wisdome by experience leave Yet all that favour past was but a signe Of generous greatenesse which would gratious prove But in thy hands my soule I 'le now consigne And give the greatest pledge that can binde love Behold how Atis of our age the shield Whose harme as you have heard I fear'd ere now Is for his pastime to goe range the field And with his custodie I will trust you I must my friend even fervently exhort Waite on my Sonne remember of my dreame This dangerously delectable sport Doth make mee feare the griefe exceeds the game Adrast I never shall those courtesies neglect It grieves me not to thinke nor heare the same For whilst this sprite those members doth direct All shall concurre to celebrate your fame Yet were you pleas'd I would not hence depart Who doe all things that mirth may move abhorre But with my passions here retir'd a part Woe past would waile and shunne all cause of more If to converse where not one crosse annoies I feare my fellowship infect with woe Those who themselves would recreate with Ioyes Still strange mishaps attend me where I goe But since you will commit this charge to mee Your Majestie I 'le studie to content At least my faith shall from defects be free And all my paines shall as you please be spent Atis. Now bent to see this monsters ougly shape With an inflam'd desire my thought doe burne And Father feare not dreame of no mishap I hope with speed victorious to returne Coelia Returne from whence deare love O deadly word That doth import thy parting from my sight I heard the name mishap Ah! my deare Lord Should such strict limites bound so large delight O cruell to thy selfe unkinde to me And can'st thou condescend to leave me soe If ere in doubt abandon'd thus I be It may deferre but not defraud my woe This might indeed to thee yeeld some reliefe To have thy eares not wounded by 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 A course too rash and not approv'd by me Remember I have int'rest in thy life Which thus to venter I doe not agree Hast thou not given a proofe in thy greene prime That may content the most ambitious heapes Whilst Atis was his own then was it time To follow fancies unconfined Scopes Thy selfe then onely camp'd in fortunes bounds Thou do'st endanger Coelia likewise now You sigh her breath she suffers in your wounds You live in her and she must die in you Atis. Life of my soule how doe such broken speaches From troubled passions thus abruptly rise I know my love thy love my minde o're-reaches Affection Schoold with feares is too too wise I goe alongst the fields for sport to range Thy sighes doe but my soule with sorrow fill And pardon deare I finde this wond'rous strange That thou beginst now to resist my will If I trespasse in ought against my dutie Which makes thee thus my constancy mistrust Mistrust not yet the Chains of thine own beauty Which binde all my desires and so they must Are wee not now made one such feares o'recome Though I would flie my selfe my selfe doe fetter And if that I would flie from whom to whom I can love none so well none loves me better Have pitty of those pearles sweet eyes soules pleasures Least they presage what thou would'st not have done The Heavens had not give me those pretious treasures Of such perfections to be spoil'd so soone Chorus THose who command above High presidents of Heaven By whom all things doe move As they have order given What worldling can arise Against them to repine Whilst castell'd in the skies With providence divine They force this peopled round Their judgements to confesse And in their wrath confound Proud mortalls who transgresse The bounds to them assign'd By Nature in their mind Base brood of th' earth vaine man Why brag'st thou of thy might The Heavens thy courses scan Thou walk'st still in their sight Ere thou wast borne thy deedes Their registers dilate And thinke that none exceedes The bounds ordain'd by fate What Heavens would have thee to Though they thy Wayes abhorre That thou of force must doe And thou canst doe no more This
TRAGEDY OF DARIVS Act 1. Darius WHat thund'ring pow'r grown jealous of my state Which having daunted th' earth perchance heaven fears Thus arm'd with lightning breathing flames of hate Big with disdaine high indignation beares Long smooth'd of all whilst I pale cares despis'd In fortunes lap asleep of greatnesse dream'd Even in that calme my state a storme surpris'd And ere I wak't my ruine was proclam'd Thus I whose onely name did terrour give As Idoll of the world ador'd over all With crosses compass'd such a wretch doe live That who admir'd my might admire my fall Ah then indeed I fell when gallants stood And Phoenix like renew'd their lives by death Who having seal'd their force and faith with bloud Would rather dye then draw a borrowed breath Yet I not I did view not venge though neare Those monstrous mountaines of my Subjects slaine Though even my enemies must my courage cleare Which flames of fury lightned forth in vaine Through greatest dangers death I did pursue Till heapes of slaughtred bodies barr'd my way And chang'd my Chariot to a scarlet hue Ere wounded honour could be drawne away O how I envy yet their happy Ghosts Who dy'd whilst hope of victory remain'd And in the presence of two famous hosts To praise their valour even their foes constrain'd Shall I survive that memorable shame Which Persia's glory with disgrace confin'd No rather let me dye and let my name As vaine quite vanish raz'd from every minde Starre-boasting Babylon all Asia's Queene Blush to behold thy King in such a state That by the gazing world he now is seene A scorned futer humbly to entreate But not turn'd vassall as by pow'r appall'd Though all my Empire to a period come Yet none shall vaunt that ever I was thrall'd Hearts holding courage are not quite o're-come Should I whose Soveraignty so oft was sworne Be seene submisse to scape a minutes paines No let them bow who but to bow were borne For Darius this indignity disdaines Since I was once judg'd worthy to command Shall I descend a Subjects state to try No whilst a sword yeelds homage to this hand I scorne to grant a greater man then I. Brave sprites who now possesse the pleasant bow'rs And glorious Gardens of th' Elysian Plaines For if deserts may move th' infernall pow'rs That happy shade your shadowes now containes Those fatall fields where I did leade you forth Your bodies bury but enlarge your fames Men shall adore the relickes of your worth And Trophees reare to your immortall names I 'le sacrifice as Incense to your soules His dying sighes and sorrowing Parents teares Who now whilst none his prospering pride controules Our conquer'd Ensignes in his triumph beares For it may ease your Ghosts to heare his grones Whilst burden'd earth rebounding backe doth send A wailing eccho rais'd from woods and stones With wounded words to shew that Armies end Why spend I speeches to disturbe your rest As but with words an idle speaker pleas'd A mighty fury hath enflam'd my brest And I will rage till by revenge appeas'd Did I that strong Cadusian first afront Who durst advance himselfe to brave our bands Then turn'd applauded and in high account Charg'd with his spoiles the honour of my hands What could I then all kinde of doubt remov'd Alone adventure to an Armies shame And should I now that ancient praise disprov'd With squadrons compass'd lose that glorious name Blinde fortune O! thy stratagems are strange Which spoile my pow'r and staine my honour too And having made my state the stage of change Hast acted all was in thy power to doe Loe I who late of swarming troups did boast Neere left alone have fortunes fraud disclos'd And those made captives whom I fancy most To vaunting Victors are by fates expos'd O torment but to thinke death to beleeve That any may my dearest part annoy And I wretch'd I not able to releeve Mine eyes chiefe jewell and my hearts chiefe joy Deare object of my thoughts my life my love Sweet Spring of my delights my one my all Bright image of th'excellencies above What do'st thou breath and com'st not when I call And can I be and not be where thou art Hath heaven the force me from thy face to barre Or are my hands growne traitours to my heart That they should shrinke from doing what it dare O! could my minde but distribute a space Those emulating thoughts which tosse my brest To pointlesse ciphers who but spend a place Then I alone might animate the rest Since in this great disgrace I chanc'd to fall Now nothing rests to raise my fame forlorne But by some desperate course to hazard all I 'le live with praise or by my death flye scorne Some prosp'rous issue afterward may purge This crime which fortune hath impos'd on me This crime that carryes with it selfe a scourge No greater torment then the want of thee But fortunes course what mortall can restraine Who Diadems through dust for sport doth roule A stranger now o're my delights doth raigne And may extort the treasures of my soule Now not till now I apprehend my harmes When I imagine how my best belov'd Must entertaine mine enemy in her armes And I so farre from offering ay de remov'd A host of furies in my brest I finde Which doe my soule with dreadfull horrours fill Whilst Melancholy musters in my minde Strange apprehensions that affright me still And this surmiz'd disgrace grown throughly strong Reades hourely in mine eares a hatefull scroule Of an imagin'd yet a helpelesse wrong Such poison'd thoughts like Serpents sting my soule Blinde love beguiles me not sharpe sighted feares With reason fed doe make suspition live Would God that I had neither eyes nor eares Which to the heart intelligence might give This aggravates the weight of my despaire When doubt objects to breake loves last defence How he is yong and fierce she yong and faire He to offend she subject to offence From wronging me both cannot long abstaine Her beauty is sufficient to allure His bravery is sufficient to obtaine Captaines will force and Captives must endure O Alexander tender my renowne Though thus thou travell to usurpe my throne I rage to have a rivall in my Crowne But in my love I can comport with none That boundlesse flame which in thy bosome boyles If quench'd with ought save bloud as base I blame My fortunes take but spare her honours spoiles Which not thy glory yet must breed our shame But pardon deare that which griev'd thoughts burst â—orth More bright thy fame that darkened is my state By many meanes men may approve their worth A woman onely with a wretched mate Chast mindes still pure doe then most firmely stand When fortifi'd with wedlockes sacred band Yet let me doubt or let me leave to love To feare the worst it is affections part I doubt not of thy truth yet it may prove Thy face betray thy faith thy hap thy heart But on thy
cannot march so even But some opprobrious scandall will be given For all men envy them who have most might And if the King dislike them once then straight The wretched Courtiers fall with their owne weight â—â—me of a sprite more poore who would be prais'd And yet have nought for which to be esteem'd What they are not in deed would faine be deem'd And indirectly labour to be rais'd This crue each publicke place of honour haunts And changing garments every day Whil'st they would hide do but bewray With outward ornaments their inward wants And men of better judgement justly loath Those who in outward shows place all their care And decke their bodies whil'st their mindes are bare Like to a shadow or a painted cloth The multitude which but th' apparrell notes Doth homage not to them but to their cotes Yet Princes must be serv'd and with all sorts Some both to do and coâ—nsell what is best Some serve for Cyphers to set out the rest Like life lesse pictures which adorne the ports Faire Palaces replenish'd are with feares Those seeming pleasures are but snares The royall robe doth cover cares Th' Assyrian dye deare buys he who it beares Those dainty delicates and farre-fetch'd food Oft through suspition savour out of season Embrodred beds anatapestries hatch treason The golden Goblets mingled are with bloud Such shows the shadows are when Greatnesse shines Whose state by them the gazing world divines O happie he who farre from Fame at home Securely sitting by a quiet fire Though having little doth not more desire But first himselfe then all things doth o'recome His purchase weigh'd or what his parents left He squares his charge to his store And takes not what he must restore Nor eates the spoyles that from the poore were reft Not proud nor base he scorning creeping Art From jealous thoughts and envy free No poyson feares in cups of tree No treason harbours in so poore a part No heavy dreame doth vex him when he sleeps A guiltlesse minde the guardlesse cottage keeps He doth not studie much what stormes may blow Whose poverty can hardly be impair'd He feares no forraine force nor craves no guard None doth desire his spoyle none looks so low Whereas 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 comes this that Potentates oft fall And must confesse this trouble of their soule There is some higher pow'r that can controull The Monarchs of the Earth and censure all Who once will call their actions to account And them represse who to oppresse were prompt FINIS THE ALEXANDRAEAN TRAGEDIE THE ARGUMENT When Alexander the Great after all his Conquests shining with the glory of innumerable victories was returned backe to Babylon where the Ambassadours of the whole world did attend his coming as one who was expected to command over all there being admired by the Grecians adored by the Barbarians and as it were drunk with the delights of an extraordinary prosperity he suffered himselfe to be transported with an inundation of pleasure till sitting at one of his feasts by the meanes of the sonne of Antipater one of his Cup-beares in the best both of his age and fortune he was suddenly poysoned Incontinent after his death those who were in greatest estimation with himselfe daring his life and then with the Armie assembled themselves together neglecting for a long time his funerals whilest busied about the disposing of his Empire at last after divers opinions it was concluded that if Roxane the widow of their Soveraigne who was then at the point to be delivered of her birth happened to beare a sonne he should succeed in his Fathers place and till he were come to some maturity of age Perdiccas Leonatus Craterus and Antipater were appointed to be his Tutors But the foot-men in a disdaine that their advice was not required proclaimed Arideus Alexanders bastard brother King and gave him a guard of which Meleager procured himselfe to be made Captaine At this sudden alteration the horse-men being troubled following Perdiccas pitched their Camp without the City yet 〈◊〉 the end this tumult being by the eloquence of Perdiccas appeased all the Captains re-assembled themselves and having divided the Provinces â—â—ade an agreement which lasted not long For such was the vehement ambition of those great men that with all manner of hostility they studied how to undermine one another and first of all Meleager after a pretendeâ— reconâ—â—â—aâ—â—on thoâ—gh â—avâ—ig â—eâ—â—◠〈◊〉 eâ—â—ple for refuge was slaine by the appointment of Perdiccas who after aspiring to a superiority over the rest whilest he went to warre against Prolomie in Eagypt by a sudden mutiny of his owne Souldiers was miserably murdered Then the onely Captaine of his faction who remained alive was Eumenes a man singularly valorous who encountring with Craterus and Neoptolemus by the death of themselves defeated their Army whereby being highly advanced he was greatly envied and Leonatus having lately before dyed in a conflict betwixt him and the Athenians Antigonus in the namâ— oâ— the rest was sent against him with a great Army betwixt whom there having passed divers skirmishes with a variable successe and some private conference without agreement In the end he was betrayed by his owne Souldiers and delivered bound to Antigonus who shortly after caused to take his life Then Antigonus his rivals in the authoritie being removed out of his way did aspire to that himselfe from which he was sent to seclude others and having murdered divers of the governours he disposed of their Provinces as he pleased whereof Cassander Ptolomie and Lysimachus advertised by Seleucus who fled for feare of incurring the like danger did enter together in a league against Antigonus Now at this time Olympias plagued all the faction of Cassander in Macedonie having caused Arideus and his Queen Eurydice to be put to death by which and by some other cruelties having lost the favour of the people she was constrained when Cassander came against her to retyre her selfe within a Town which by reason of the scarcitie of victuals not being able to defend she rendered together with her selfe to Cassander by whom notwithstanding of his promise to the contrary she was violently deprived of life and so having proceeded so farre in wickednesse he thought it no time to retyre till he had extinguished all his Masters race whereupon he caused Roxane and her sonne to be murthered and soone after Hercules Alexanders bastard sonne which multitude of murthers gave to him the Crowne of Macedonie and to me the subject of this Polytragicke Tragedie The persons names who speake The Ghost of ALEXANDER OLYMPIAS his mother ROXANE his wife ARISTOTLE his master PHOCION his old friend PHILASTRUS a Chaldean CHORUS PERDICCAS his greatest Captaines MELEAGER his greatest Captaines PTOLOMIE his greatest Captaines ANTIGONUS his greatest Captaines EUMENES his greatest Captaines LYSIMACHUS his greatest Captaines
mov'd The Macedonians all abhorre your name Who at that time so proud a Conquerour provâ—d Thâ—ir great mens slaughter having wing'd your fame Eum. No fortune past so puffes up my conceit That it contempt of further danger brings Nor am I now dejected so of late But I intend to doe farre greator things He by prosperity made never proud Who knows the fâ—â—ilty of this â—arthly frame Can hardly by adversity be bow'd The Sunne although eclips'd remaines the same Worth should by th' events not be thrall'd to wit On th' accidents as th' essence did depend The fault of fortune cannot blemish it On which oft times disasters may attend Though fortune stumbling right concurre with worth Or yet if crosses bragge a gallant minde Both like themselves are alwaies sparkling forth In every state some tokens of their kinde Now at this time o're-match'd by num'rous pow'rs I kept my courage though I lost the field And vaunt no more of this for some few hour's May once to me the like advantage yeeld Nor is it long since that to fortune deare The world had never me but victor spy'd Though I protest by all th'Immortals here Press'd by necessity not mov'd by pride Proud Neoptolemus that traytour still Not worthy of a Macedonians name He to betray the hoste and me to kill Had labour'd long to his eternall shame But I of Craterus lament the fall Whom for his vertue I did dearely love And was constrain'd I Iove to witnesse call For my defence that refuge last to prove Anti. How fortun'd you your forces to dispose So well to scape that storme of threatned harmes For then you had to deale with mighty foes Who were in warre growne hoarie under armes Eum. When Neoptolemus did clearely spy That all his treason to the light was brought He where our foes were camp'd with haste did flye A foolish traitour who was false for nought There he inform'd or mis-inform'd my foes That by good successe growne secure of late I in my Tent did carelesly repose Though not by force to be o're-com'd by fate And to Antipater he further told That Macedonians if they at that time Of Craterus the count'nance did behold All willingly would yeeld themselves to him Now they had labour'd earnestly before That I abandon would Perdiccas part And did protest that they would give me more Then yet I had or hop'd for in my heart But love born free cannot be thrall d nor bought More then a shamefull peace I like just strife To generous mindes more deare then honour nought And ere I leave my faith I 'le lose my life Thus when despair'd that I would prove their friend They sought in time to plague me as a foe Where love could not begin that hate might end And came in haste to have surpris'd me so But Neoptolemus to crosse by slight The Macedonians I for him did bend And Craterus concealing from their sight To match with him caus'd troupes of strangers tend This policy which none could justly blame I with my selfe in secret did conspire And had my shirt beene privy to the same It should have beene an offring to the fire When deaths first game with danger playd was past I Neoptolemus did toile to finde And he me too which happ'ned at the last Two will doe much to meet when of one minde Then whilst we met for whom both th' armies warr'd Whose fortune did depend upon our hands All was perform'd that force or fury dar'd Whilst both were bent t' abate the others bands And yet the heavens would not betray my trust Foule treason never had a fairer end But smil'd upon my cause as which was just And did destruction to the traitour send For forc'd by him whose force he did despise Though fighting fiercely long he lost his breath As one more strong then true more stout then wise Whose greatest honour was his honest death But weakened with huge wounds almost I div'd In seas of bloud even quite from knowledge stray'd Yet by so great a victory reviv'd My courage grew more then my strength decay'd I having finish'd thus this fatall strife Did come where Craterus his course had runne Even in the confines plac'd 'twixt death and life The one neere gone the other not begun He with great valour had resisted long As all Briareus hands had mov'd his sword And did his Masters memory no wrong Whilst with his courage not his fortune stor'd What life refus'd to gaine by death he thought For life and death are but indifferent things And of themselves not to be shun'd nor sought But for the good or ill that either brings With endlesse glory bent to change his breath Of desp'rate valour all the pow'r was prov'd And for great Captaines no more glorious death Then to dy fighting with a minde unmov'd When it appear'd where victory did tend That armies courage with their Captaine fell And whilst I safely might be seene a friend I went where death his Spirits did expell And whilst I told how both to be betrayd By Neoptolemus were brought about My woe with teares I to the world bewray'd Milde pitty and true kindenesse must burst out Ah if the newes of this that I expresse Had come in time unto Perdiccas eares He might have liv'd their pride now to represse Who by his fall were first divorc'd from feares Ant. The humour of that man was too well knowne Could he have parted other men from pride Whose soule was sold a slave unto his owne And for the same forc'd by his followers dy'd Eum. The proud must still be plagu'd by prouder ones There must be had sharp steel to smooth rough stones Ant. No vice then pride doth greater hate procure Which foes doe scorne and friends cannot endure Eum. Yet Majesty must not it selfe deject A lofty carriage doth procure respect Ant. A haughty gesture shewes a tyrants heart All love a courteous count'nance voyd of Art Eum. Yet manners too submisse as much condemn'd Doe make Kings scorn'd and Captains be contemn'd Ant. A humble port kinde looks words smooth and soft Are meanes by which great mindes may mount aloft Eum. Those are indeed for such as raise their flight They may doe more whose course is at the height Imperious formes an Empire must defend Ant. Thus hastned was Perdiccas to his end Eum. That worthy man had many faire designes But vertue still by envy is pursu'd Though as a Candle in the night best shines It in a vitious age may best be view'd There was a man who scorn'd secure delights As still despising paine attemptive bold A brave observer of the antient Rites Steele strictly grasping prodigall of gold He lov'd to have the Souldiers of his band Chus'd at the Musters not in markets bought And would not flatter where he might command More meet to have then seeke that which he sought But Souldiers now in this degener'd age Are fawn'd on by faint mindes brib'd in such sort That all the reynes
of civility doe vaunt Since Greekes growne barbarous basely are inclin'd All vertue vanish'd is all good forgot O carelesse Heavens wretch'd Earth Cho. what loads thy minde Nun. A multitude of murders Cho. what Nun. what not Cho. We know that since our Soveraigne lost his breath Th' earth hath beene bath'd with many a crimson flood Perdiccas did procure Meleagers death And his owne Souldiers drown'd his breath with blood Th'Athenians prey Leonatus did remaine And by Eumenes subtiltie dismai'd Neoptolemus and Craterus were slâ—ine Then by his owne Eumenes was betrai'd Phil. Man with his skill against his knowledge strives Where death his way attends that way he tends And t' Atropos the fatall razor gives To cut the threed on which his life depends When Asia's victor after all his warres Great Babylon to view had bent his mind Both I and others studious of the Starres Did shew that there his ruine was design'd And to his successors we oft have showne The meanes by which their fate might be controul'd Yet was our skill contemn'd and they o'rethrowne As we fore-told and as they now have told Nun. They have told much and yet I must tell more Their newes were evill yet were they not the worst Cho. And have the Heaven reserv'd more plagues in store As if we yet were not enough accurst Nun. As th' earth in pride the Heavens in plagues abounds Our highest hopes have perish'd but of late Cho. Then wound our eares by hearing others wounds That pittie now may tread the steps of hate Nun. Our Queene Olympias raging with revenge All Macedonie did with murders fill Which from her part the people did estrange Whilst rigor onely limited her will So that when fierce Cassander sought her wreake She did mistrust the Macedonians mindes And for the time the nearest strength did take There till the storme was past to waite faire winds But soone Cassander did the Towne enclose And as she held him out did hold her in That like a Captive guarded by her foes She knew not by what way a way to winne And when lives scant provision did decay Then did bare walles but small refuge afford She Scylla scap'd to be Charybdis prey Who fell on famine flying from the sword Straight like pale Ghosts faint Souldiers did remaine Whose bowels hunger like a Harpie teares And with couragious words the Queene in vaine Did raise their sprite the belly hath no eares All languishing did then begin to fade As if too weake to beare themselves about Legges fail'd the body and the necke the head Then whilst the flesh fell in bones bursted out And when that meates which common are were spent Then Horses Dogs Cats Rats all serv'd for food Of which no horrour th'eaters did torment For what not poyson was all then seem'd good Some mouthes accustom'd once with dainty meates Wish'd what they oft had loath'd vile crums soule flouds And Ladies which had liv'd in pompous states Fed as brought up with wolves amidst the woods Yea must by those whom they themselves had nurst Oft by the off-springs death the Parent liv'd And which was worst whilst brests were like to burst None could give comfort all themselves were griev'd Such was their state no friend be wail'd his friend No wife her husband no nor Syre his sonne For apprehending their approaching end All with compassion of themselves were wonne The dead mens smell empoyson'd them who liv'd Whilst first made faint by a defrauded wombe Heapes were of breath and but all both depriv'd That all the towne in end was but a tombe Cho. Life is the subject of distresse and griefe That still affords us matter to be mone And we by death can onely have reliefe To live and to be wretch'd are both but one Yet foolish worldlings toss'd with endlesse care Though at too deare a rate would still buy breath And following feathers wavering through the ayre Love life though wretch'd more then a happy death Nun. When thus the world Olympias plagu'd did spy All sought Cassander though for severall ends Cho. All as a pest them who are wretch'd doe flye Ecclipsed fortune threatens losse of friends Nun. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege since victuals were grown scant Did send as weake for peace vnto the strong Cho. Thus time and travell all things once may daunt Nun. Then did Cassander know that need constraind Her so to bow as every way diseas'd And though he her request not quite disdain'd Yet the appointment was such as he pleas'd For all the favour that she could procure Was leave to live a private person still And yet of that she could not be made sure Which did depend upon the Victors will Then whilst Cassander sought his enemies ends Huge numbers with him alwaies did abide Cho. Yet might have many followers and few friends Friends by the touch-stone of distresse are try'd Nun. But though the Queen was rendred in this sort A promise given that life should be preserv'd The tyrant with her sprite could not comport But from his faith for her confusion swerv'd The Macedonians were together brought There to consult what did concerne their Queene Of whom when as a number deepely thought Both what she was and what she once had beene Even as Cassander had suborn'd them all Their parents came whom she had damn'd to death And did her rigour to remembrance call By which the multitude was mov'd to wrath Whilst from their brests all pitty quite was barr'd They did conclude their Queene behov'd to dye Cho. Durst Subjects damne their Soveraign and not heard So still may clouds obscure the worlds bright eye Nun. Yet did Cassander put false every way A maske of pitty on a cruell minde And offred her a ship to flye away As if to death against his will assign'd Nor was this course for her delivery 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 who had drunke her downe Yet she a Princesse of a mighty spright Whose lofty courage nothing could o're-come Said ere she scap'd by such a shamefull flight That she would heare the Macedonians doome But when Cassanders counsell was contemn'd Lest that the multitude had chang'd their minde When they remembred whom they had condemn'd And did the fulnesse of his purpose finde To rid her soone from paine and him from feare He sent some bands from pitty most estrang'd Yet she ' against fortune did a banner beare And not her heart no not her count'nance chang'd She constant still though mon'd would never mone Whose stately gesture brav'd their bold attempt And did unite her vertues all in one To grace disgrace and glorifie contempt She on two Ladies shoulders lean'd her armes And with a Majestie did march to death Like Alexander once amid'st th' altarmes As if in triumph to abandon breath The height of vertue admiration brings At this great magnanimity amaz'd
just himselfe more strong Then Caesar thought who for no justice car'd And since discovering what he cloak'd so long Said that the other and not he was snar'd Thus Caesar conquer'd all but Cato's minde Who to a tyrant would not owe his breath But in such sort his famous course confin'd Then Caesars life more glorious was his death Those great men thus brought to disastrous ends The author of their death make me despise Who to usurpe all pow'r while as he tends By treading good men downe doth strive to rise Now made most great by lessening all the great He proudly doth triumph in Rome o're Rome And we must seeme to like the present state Whose doubtfull breath depends upon his doome Yet had I not enlarg'd my griefes so long To you whom Caesar doth pretend to love Save that I know touch'd with the common wrong A just disdaine all generous mindes must move Dec. Had Caesar willingly resign'd his Armes And rendred Rome her liberty at last When as from fores he fear'd no further harmes But had repair'd his just displeasures past More then for all that could be done for me He should have had and Altar in my best As worthy for his vertuous deeds to be Fear'd by the bad and honour'd by the best But since though conqu'ring all the world by might He to himselfe a slave would make Rome thrall His benefits are loathsome in my sight And I am griev'd that he deserves to fall My fancies move not in so low a sphere But I disdaine that one Romes Crowne requires Yet it is best that with the time we beare And with our pow'r proportion our desires Though first dissembling so your minde to try I told what fame to Caesars praise relates Yet was I pleas'd that moe were griev'd then I All miscontented men are glad of Mates Cic. Since tyranny all liberty exiles We must our sleves no more our selves disguise Then learne to maske a mourning minde with smiles And seeme to like that which we most despise Yet all our deeds not Caesars humour please Who since mistrusting once esteemes us still When dumb disdainefull flatterers when we praise If plaine presumptuous and in all things ill Yea we whose freedome Caesar now restraines As his attenders all his steps must trace And know yet not acknowledge his disdaines But still pretend an interest in his grace Though all my thoughts detest him as a foe To honour him a thousand meanes I move Yet but to save my selfe and plague him so No hate more harmes then it that lookes like love His pride is by prepost'rous state growne such That by the better sort he is abhorr'd The gods are jealous and men envy much To see a mortall man so much ador'd Dec. Well Cicero let all meanes be entertain'd That may embarke us in his bosomes deepes Till either willingly or then constrain'd He justly quite what he unjustly keepes Exeunt Chorus THis life of ours is like a Rose Which whilst rare beauties it array Doth then enjoy the least repose When Virgin-like make blush we see Of every hand it is the prey And by each winde is blowne away Yea though from violence scap'd free Thus time triumphs and leades all thrals 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 oft foiles It th' owne distemp'rature oft spoiles And even though none it chance to kill As nature failes the body falles Of which save death nought bounds the ioyles What is this moving Towr in whith we trust A little winde clos'd in a cloud of dust And yet some sprites though being pent In this fraile prisons narrow bounds Whilst what might serve doth not content Doe alwaies bend their thoughts too high And ayme at all the peopled grounds Then whilst their brests Ambition wounds They feed as fearing straight to dye Yet build as if they still might live Whilst famish'd for fames empty sounds Of such no end the travell ends But a beginning gives whereby They may be vex'd worse then before For whilst they still new hopes contrive The hoped good more anguish sends Then the possess'd contentment lends As beasts not taste but doe devoure They swallow much and for more strive Whilst still their hope some change attends And how can such but still themselves annoy Who can acquire but know not how t' enjoy Since as a ship amidst the deepes Or as an Eagle through the ayre Of which no way th' impression keepes Most swift when seeming least to move This breath of which we take such care Doth tosse the body every where That it may hence with haste remove Life slips and sleepes alwayes away Then hence and as it came goes bare Whose steppes behinde no trace doe leave Why should heaven-banish'd soules thus love The cause and bounds of their exile As restlesse strangers where they stray And with such paine why should they reave That which they have no right to have Which with them in a little while As summers beauties must decay And can give nought except the grave Though all things doe to harme him what they can No greater enemie then himselfe to man Whilst oft environ'd with his foes Which threatned death on every side Great Caesar parted from repose As Atlas holding up the Starres Did of a world the weight abide But since a prey to foolish pride More then by all the former warres He now by it doth harm'd remaine And of his fortune doth diffide Made rich by many Nations wreake He breaking through the liquid barres In Neptunes armes his Minion forc'd Yet still pursu'd new hopes in vaine Would the ambitious looling backe Of their inferiours knowledge take They from huge cares might be divorc'd Whilst viewing few more pow'r attaine And many more then they to lacke The onely plague from men that rest doth reave Is that they weigh their wants not what they have Since thus the great themselves involve In such a labyrinth of cares Whence none to scape can well resolve But by degrees are forward led Through waves of hopes rockes of despaires Let us avoyd ambitions snares And farre from stormes by envy bred Still seeke though low a quiet rest With mindes where no proud thought repaires That in vaine shadowes doth delight Thus may our fancies still be fed With that which Nature freely gives Let us iniquity detest And hold but what we owe of right Th' eyes treasure is th' all-circling light Not that vaine pompe for which pride strives Whose glory but a poysnous pest To plague 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 3. Scene 1. Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus NOw Brutus now we need no more to doubt Nor with blinde hopes our judgement to suspend That flatt'rers credit loe is quite worne
oft times sinke downe in a Sea of shame It may be fear'd our King at last Whil'st he for nothing is afraid Be by prosperity betray'd For growing thus in greatnesse still And having worldly things at will He thinks though time should all things waste Yet his estate shall ever last The wonder of this peopled round And in his own conceit hath said No course of heaven his state can cast Nor make his fortune to be ill But if the gods a way have lay'd That he must come to be uncrown'd What sudden feares his minde may fill And in an instant utterly confound The state which stands upon so slippery ground When such a Monarchs minde is bent To follow most the most unwise Who can their folly well disguise With sugred speeches poisnous baits The secret canker of great States From which at first few disassent The which at last all do repent Then whil'st they must to ruine go When Kings begin thus to despise Of honest men the good intent Who to assure their Soveraignes seats Would faine in time some help devise And would cut off all cause of woe Yet cannot second their conceits These dreadfull Comets commonly fore-go A Kings destruction when miscarried so Act. 3. Scene 1. Croesus Adrastus WHat fancies strange with terrour strike my soule The tortur'd captive of distrustfull feares Huge cares suggesting harme my joyes controul Whose minde some comming crosse charactred beares And credulous suspition too too wise To fortifie my feares doth meanes invent Whil'st sudden trouble doth my sprite surprise A presage sad which boasts some bad event I thinke the soule since an immortall brood Hath by inheritance an heavenly power Which some fore-knowledge gives of ill and good But not the meanes to scape a fatall houre Though with this mortall vaile when made halfe blinde Not well fore-seeing what each time forth brings Yet it communicates unto the minde In cloudy dreames true though mysterious things Imagination wonderfull in force The judgement oft foiles with confusion so That then they prove things presupposed worse Ere time distress'd man multiplies his woe For as the shadow seemes more monstrous still Then doth the substance whence the shape it takes So the conjecture of a threatned ill More then it selfe some to be troubled makes This alteration too seemes more then strange Which suddenly so moved hath my minde I see more then I thought all states may change When heaven pursues th' earth no defence can finde My soule all pleasure is already loathing This hath indeed so deep impression left A dreame a fancy froth a shadow nothing Hath all my mirth even in a moment reft Adrast Whence mighty Soveraigne can this change proceed Which doth obscure the rayes of Princely grace Those who are school'd in woe may clearly reade A mighty passion written in your face And if a stranger may presume so farre What friend is false or who are fear'd as foes For I imagine in what state you are A secret sympathie imparting woes Two strings in divers Lutes set in accord Some say th' one onely touch'd both give a sound Even so souls tun'd to griefe the like afford Whose airie motions mutually do wound Croe. No doubt it must disburden much the minde A Secretary in distresse to have Who by his owne anothers griefe can finde Where glad mindes scorne what they cannot conceive And I Adrastus would the cause declare With which I so torment my soule in vaine But yet I blush to tell my foolish care The fond illusion of a drowsie braine Adrast As bodies temper'd are or souls inclin'd All dreames by â—ight th' imagination makes Or else th' impression thoughts worke in the minde By which when wakening one most travell takes Croe. By sleepe arrested as o're-come by death In Natures bosome I imbrac'd true rest And in that Masse where nothing mov'd but breath Lifes faculâ—ies sleep for a time supprest Then whil'st the sprite most pow'râ—ull did remaine Since least distress'd by this terrestriall part Adrast Souls at such times their strength so strongly straine That oft their burdens as astonish'd start Croe. To rarifie the aire from vapours pow'rs When first Aurora rose from Tithons bed Ere Phoebus blushing stole from Thetis bowres This apprehension in my braine was bred I onely have two sonnes and th' one you see The signe of Natures indignation beares And from his birth-day dumbe is dead to me Since he can give no comfort to mine eares The other Atis all my lifes delight In whom the treasures of my soule are kept I thought vaine be my thought in the twi-light I know not whether yet I wak't or slep't Whil'st he was sporting void of worldly cares And not in danger which could threaten death A pointed toole of iron fell unawares And from his body banish did his breath Whil'st the pale carkase did upbraid mine eyes The horrour of the sight my sense re-call'd Which when I thinke of yet my courage dyes Such an exceeding feare my sprite appall'd This touch'd my state so much it hath me mov'd To match my Sonne in marriage at this time With vertuous Coelia whom he dearely lov'd That both might reape the pleasure of their prime And if the heavens his o're throw have decreed By destiny which cannot be revok'd So may we have behinde some of his seed Ere in his blossome all our hopes be choak'd Thus ere his soule lodge in the lightlesse shade Some of his off-spring may content my minde I cannot hold him altogether dead Who leaves his Image in some one behinde And though we do what ever seemes the best To disappoint those but surmiz'd annoyes Yet for all this my minde hath never rest Some secret terrour doth disturbe my joyes Adrast Ah Sir if such a dreamed ill as this Hath plung'd your soule even in the depths of griefe Unhappie I who waile a thing that is Whil'st hope though rack'd dare promise no reliefe Though all those dreadfull fancies took effect Which heavy chance th' almighty Iove with-hold None can compare them no in no respect With those mis-fortunes which my state enfold For though your Sonne dye by anothers hand You shall but waile his death and not your crime The heavens of me my brothers bloud demand His fate my fault mourne must I all my time Croe. In what strange forme could this disaster fall From which there flow salt flouds of just distresse Tell on at length the fatall cause of all A greater griefe makes one forget the lesse Adrast My sorrows ground I smother'd still till now As too offensive food for dainty cares But since of such discourse you do allow I le tell a tale that may move stones to teares Of Phrygian Princes my great Father come Had in my growing age a tender care That all my education might become One whom he might for mighty hopes prepare As yet foure lustres scarcely had begun To grace my witness'd sex with blooming cheeks When I fond youth that
lab'rinth could not shunne Whence backe in vaine the straying Entrer seeks I lov'd O fatall love unlovely fate The vertuously faire yet fairest Dame That ever was enshrin'd in soules conceit Or ditties gave to grace the sounds of fame Straight were my fancies to her beauties ty'd None can paint passions but in feeling mindes I burn'd freez'd doubted hop'd despair'd liv'd dy'd With actions chang'd as oft as Autumnes windes Yet many conflicts past 'twixt hopes and feares To feast at least to nurce my starv'd desires She granted had a truce unto my teares And temper did with equall flames my fires For as she was the most esteemed Saint Whose image Love erected in my minde So when her cares had harbour'd once my plaint It pitie first and then did favour finde But ah triumphing in mine owne conceit As one whose love his Lady did preferre I was corrivall'd O disastrous fate By one who lov'd but was not lov'd by her He looking as I look'd faw what I saw Saw Natures wonder and the worlds delight And straight as that blinde god blinde guide did draw Still like a Lizard liv'd upon her sight Then labour'd he that Iewell straight to wonne Whose matchlesse worth he priz'd above his breath And loath'd all light which flow'd not from that Sunne As life without her had beene worse then death Yea Fortune seem'd to favour his desire And where to build high hopes did give him groundâ— The Nymph her parents daily did require That she might furnish physick for his wounds Of my distracted thoughts strange was the strife Who threatned thus with eminent mishap Was like to lose a thing more deare then life Whil'st others striv'd my treasure to entrap The man who sought my joyes to undermine I could not justly wish his state o're-throwne Nor blame the sprite that sympathiz'd with mine I envi'd not his lot but wail'd mine owne Now in my beast a mighty rage did raigne Which forc'd my soule with inward wounds to bleed Some fancies fear'd what once his love might gaine Since it was possible that he might speed Then others call'd her constancy to minde Which would not yeeld by such assaults though prov'd Yet forc'd to feare the frailty of her kinde A hearing woman may in time be mov'd Thus toss'd with doubts amidst a deep of woe Which with suspition did my joyes supplant I blam'd the thoughts that durst accuse her so As vertues patterne could one vertue want And â—or I hop'd his toils no further wrought Affliction oft affection doth enflame She of her sex who was the wonder thought Would thus not wrong the glory of her name Though in my absence they had oft assai'd That from her minde they might have me remov'd The Sunne burns hotest when his beames are stay'd The more they cross'd her love the more she lov'd For finding that delay no end affords And how faire Generals onely flow'd from Art She did upbraid him with disdainefull words To raze those hopes that had abus'd his heart Love is a joy which upon paine depends A drop of sweet drown'd in a sea of sowres What folly doth begin oft fury ends They hate for ever who have lov'd for houres When all his arguments prov'd of no force Straight with disdaine his soule in secret burn'd And what he thought was ill to make farre worse That Apostate to furie favour turn'd Through love preposterous procreating hate His thoughts amongst themselves could not agree Whil'st what was best he deeply did debate To see her dead or then enjoy'd by me What said he when he first had mus'd a space So hard it is to quench affections fires Shall I disfigure that Angelike face And cloud those beauties which the world admires Shall she by me be to confusion brought To whom I vows and prayers did impart To whom I sacrifiz'd each secret thought And on her beauties altar burn'd my heart Or shall I see her in anothers pow'r And in his bosome laid upbraid my losse Whil'st both with scornfull smiles then death more sowre To point 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 who live shall glory in my harme Since she will not be mine she shall not be The hatefull love having vow'd her death Did with a cup of poyson drowne my joyes 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 news first inform'd me of this wrong For neighbouring neare the most unhappy part That had beene spoyl'd of such a noble guest As death had hers the furies seiz'd my heart Whose paine did spring from that which bred her rest How huge a weight did first confound my soule No tongue can tell it still my minde torments Rage did of griefe the outward signes controll When great windes blow the fire the smoak worst vents Whil'st generous furie did disguise my griefe I ranne transported with a mighty rage Bent by revenge or death to get relife A tragicke actor for a bloudy stage For I was come no sooner to the place Whereas I thought the Murtherer to have found But I did meet O ruine and disgrace Too deare a friend to catch and enemies wound Ah! passions dimn'd mine eyes wrath led my hand I was no more my selfe Griefe had me kill'd The first by Night who did before me stand As one whose breast with rage Alecto fill'd By chance encount'ring ere he spake a word I bath'd his bosome with a crimson floud And in his breast did drowne the cruell sword That in anothers body drank my bloud But when a Torch had partly rob'd the night Proud of suppos'd revenge ah bitter gaine I saw I knew black knowledge cruell sight My brother was the man whom I had slaine O bitter losse which nothing can repaire My soule with tow such monstrous deeds annoy'd Griefe rage spite shame amazement and despaire Gall'd toss'd burn'd dash'd astonish'd and destroy'd The thought of my offence doth grieve me most Yet am I sometime by loves verdict cleans'd And straight my brothers violated ghost By dreadfull dreames doth bragge to be reveng'd Croe. Now whil'st this great disaster did occurre What had the author of your anguish done Adrast He having heard this lamentable stirre Who self-accusing thoughts convicted soone Straight wounded by a wonderfull remorse Led by mad love or desp'rate feare to death He bent to follow her or dreading worse Stab'd by himselfe dy'd to defraud my wrath Croe. Those strange mishaps your enemies eyes must weet And force compassion from your greatest foe Since many monstrous circumstances meet To make a horrid harmony in woe But what doth touch ones selfe most force doth finde For ills when felt then heard griefe more abounds This extasie hath so o're-whelm'd my minde A melancholy huge all mirth confounds
the Gods Their providence as partiall would condemne Who in such sorte doe exercise their rods He thus now kill'd with life to let me goe May breed reproch to all the pow'rs divine But ah they knew no death could grieve me soe As that which through his heart was aim'd at mine Now all the world those deities may despise Which strike the guiltlesse and the guilty spare Cease haplesse man to plague thy selfe thus wise I pardon thee and pittie thy despaire Adrast. O rigorous judgement O outragious fate Must I suruive the funeralls of my fame All things which I behold vpbraide my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and none more then I my deeds detest Yet some waile want of friends and I of fâ—es To purge the world of such a dangerons pest Which still contagious must taint hearts with woes To wound this brest where all hells hosts do raigne Seiz'd with just feare none dare a hand forth stretch Else this base charge as odious doe disdaine To deale with Death in favour of a wretch Or must I yet till more detested stand And fill the world with horrour of my name What further mischiefe can require my hand Must it ingrave on others graves my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate Which in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of Heaven I 'le force my fate One when resolv'd to die cannot want meanes Proud Tyrant Death and must thou make it strange To wrap my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change Though nothing else I can command my life But this ay me all hope of helpe devowres What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted pow'rs Shee must remember of my odious crimes What though un-bodied she the world forsake Yet from her knowledge cannot be divorc'd This will but vexe her at the shadowie lake Till even to grone the God of Ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and would the Gods I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liv'd Then knowne if good and kept obscure if bad Of comfort quite I had not beene depriv'd Ah! have I liv'd unnaturall I to be My brothers murtherer who me dearely lov'd Ah! have I liv'd with my owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And doe I gaze on the dead bodie still And in his fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! have I liv'd whilst men my deeds doe scan To be the obiect of contempt and hate Of all abhorr'd as a most monstrous man Since thought a Traitouror farre worse ingrate Yet with my blood I 'le wash away this staine Which griefe to you to me disgrace hath brought Would God my name from mindes â—ight â—aâ—'d remaine To make my life as an unacted thought Brave Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted Ghost And to revenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile to gaine the Stygian coast Cho. Loe how he wounds himselfe despising paine With leaden lights weake legs and head declin'd The bodie beates the ground as in disdaine That of her members one hath prov'd unkind The fainting hand falles trembling from the Sword With his selfe slaughtering blow for shame grown red Which straight the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combat show Where both but one one both strooke and sustain'd Or who triumphs for this most strange o'rethrow Where as the victor lost the vanquish'd gain'd Croe Curs'd eyes what suddaine change hath drown'd your lights And made your mirthfull objects mournefull now Ye that were still inur'd to stately sights Since seated under an imperiall brow Ah! clouded now with vapours drawn from cares Are low throwne down amid'st a hell of griefe And have no prospect but my soules despaires Of all the furies which afflict me chiefe O dead Adrastus I absolve thy Ghost Whose hand I see some destiny did charme Thou hated by the heavens wast to thy cost A casuall actour not intending harme No doubt some angry God hath laid this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the Aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah! Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus by violence to bleede And yet want one on whom to poure my wrath To take just vengeance for so vile a deede This wretch whose guiltlesse minde hath clear'd his hand Loe for his errour griev'd unforc'd doth fall And not as one who did in danger stand For still he liv'd till I forgave him all Thus have I but the heavens on whom I may Blast forth the tempest of a troubled minde And in my soules distresse I grieve to say That greater favour I deserv'd to finde Act 4. Scene 1. Sandanis Croesus WHy spend you Sir with sighes that Princely breath Whence Soveraignty authority should take O weake revenge for one when wrong'd by death To yeeld him homage prostrated in blacke That Tyrant pale so hatefull unto us Whose fatall shaft so great a griefe hath bred Where he triumphs should you reare trophees thus And weare his livery as his captive led No though he might this outward blisse o'rethrow And you save you of all things else might spoile Yet whilst of one who yeelds no signe you show You are victorious and he gets the foile Those floods of sorrow which would drown your soule In brests more base might better be excus'd Since wanting sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subjection us'd But you in whom high thoughts by nature grow To this decay how is your vertue come I blush to see my Soveraigne brought so low And Majestie by misery o'recome Nor doe I thus to make you stupid strive As one unnaturall wanting sense to smart No none a Prince of kindnesse can deprive The honour'd badge of an Heroicke heart That pow'r supreme by which great States doe stand Affections order should but not undoe And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe Croe. I will not here rehearse enlarging woes On what just reasons now my griefe I ground But still will entertaine my comforts foes Whilst many a thousand thoughts my soule doe wound What pensive pensill ever limm'd aright The sad conceipts of soule-consuming griefe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling height Of th' inward anguish desperate of reliefe Though many monarchs jealously despise The rising Sunne that their declining staines And hate the Heyre who by their fall must rise As griev'd to heare of death or others raignes My love to Atis otherwise appear'd Whome whilst for him I did my cares engage I as a Father lov'd as king not fear'd The comfort not th' encombrance of mine age And had he me as reason would surviv'd Who glanc'd and
vanish'd like to lightning flashes Then death could me not have of life depriv'd Whilst such a Phoenix had reviv'd my ashes San. Let not those woes ecclipse your vertues light Croe. Ah! Rage and griefe must once be at a height San. Strive of your sorrowes Sir to stop the source Croe. These salt eye-floods must flow and have their course San. That is not kingly Croe. And yet it 's kindly â—here passions domineere they governe blindly San Such woefull plaints cannot repaire your state Croe. Vnhappie soules at least may waile their faâ—e The meanest comfort that you can returne Is in calamity a leave to mourne San. what Stoicke strange who most precise appeares Could that youths death with tearelesse eyes behold In all perfections ripe though greene in yeares A hoarie judgement under lockes of gold No no man lives but must lament to see The worlds chiefe hope even in the blossome choak'd But men cannot controll the Heavens decree And what is done can never be revok'd Let not this losse with griefe torment you more Of which a part with you your Country beares If wailing could your ruin'd state restore Soules charg'd with griefe should saile in Seas of teares Lest all our comfort dash against one shelfe And his untimely death but hasten yours Have pitty of your people spare your selfe If not to your own use yet unto ours Croe. When Sandanis I first thy faith did finde Thou div'd so deepely in my bosome then That since thou still entrusted with my minde Didst know what I conceal'd from other men Behold I goe to open up to you Chiefe treasurer of all my secrets still What high designe my Thoughts are hatching now A physicke in some sort to ease my ill This may unto my soule yeeld some reliefe And for displeasures past may much content Or else must purchase partners in my griefe If not for me yet with me to lament San. This benefit must binde me with the rest To serve your Majestie and hold you deere And I 'le be free with you yet I protest That what I friendly speake you freely heare Croe. Since that it hath not pleas'd the heavenly pow'rs That of my off-spring I might comfort claime Yet lest the ravenous course of flying how'rs Should make a prey of my respected name I would engender such a generous broode That the un-borne might know how I have liv'd And this no doubt would doe my Ghost great good By famous victories to be reviv'd I hope to soare with fames Immortall wings Vnlesse my high-bent thoughts themselves deceave That having acted admirable things I death may scorne triumphing o're the grave Yet have I not so setled my conceipt That all opinions are to be despis'd A good advice can never come too late This is the purpose that I have devis'd Some Scythian Shepheards in a high disdaine As trusted fame yet constantly relates To plague some Medes with horrour and with paine Did entertaine them with prodigious meates And to content their more then Tigrish wishes They with the Infants flesh the Parents fed Who not suspecting such polluted dishes Did in their bowels bury whom they bred Then after this abhominable crime They fled with hasted unto my fathers Court And first informers courting trust in time Did as they pleas'd of what was past report Whil'st they save what them help'd all things suppress'd Milde pitty pleading for afflictions part His generaous minde still tend'ring the distress'd Was wonne to them by this deceiving Art San. Oft men of Iudges thence have parties gone Where both their eares were patent but to one Croe. Then Cyaxare Monarch of the Medes To prosecute those fugitives to death In indignation of my fathers deeds Did bragge them both with all the words of wrath My father thinking that his Court should be A Sanctuary supplicants to save Did levie men to make the world then see In spite of pow'r that weakenesse help should have Thus mortall warres on every side proclaim'd With mutuall trouble did continue long Till both the Armies by Bellona â—aaâ—'d Did irke to venge or to maintaine a wrong It chanc'd whil'st peace was at the highest dearth That all their forces did with fury fight A sudden darknesse curtain'd up the earth And did by violence displace the light I thinke the Sunne for Phaeton look't sad Else blush'd reflecting bloud like them he saw For as when wrong'd of old with griefe gone mad He from the world his chariot did with-draw Yet Ignorance which doth confusion breed By wresting natures course found cause of feares Which errour did so happily succeed That it a concord wrought and truce from teares Then straight there was a perfect peace begunne And that it might more constantly indure Astyages the King of Media's sonne To be his Queene my sister did procure San. A deadly rancor reconcil'd againe With consanguinity would seal'd remaine Croe. He since his fathers age-worne course expir'd Hath rul'd his people free from bloud or strife Till now a Viper hath his death conspir'd Who from his loynes extracted had his life I meane this Cyrus base Cambyses brood Who by a Bitch nurst with the Country swaines No signe observ'd importing Princely bloud The doggish nature of his Nurse retaines He came against his Grand-father to field And unexpected with a mighty pow'r His forces forc'd did force himselfe to yeeld Who captive kept now waites for death each houre That you may marke how great my in t ' rest is This ruthfull story I did largely touch Those circumstances shew that shame of his Doth from our glory derogate too much Dare any Prince presume to trouble thus One whom our kingdomes favour should defend In strict affinity combin'd with us Yet not regarded for so great a friend This with some joy doth smooth my stormy minde Whil'st I for Medes against the Persians goe I hope that both by brave effects shall finde How kinde a friend I prove how fierce a foe San. Though natures law you car'd not to transgresse Nor this your wrong'd ally would not repaire Yet the regard to Monarchs in distresse Should move the mighty with a mutuall care Those terrours too which thunder in your eare I thinke the Lydians will not well allow For when the Cedar falles the Oake may feare That which o'rethrowes the Medes may trouble you And when a neighbours house they burning view Then their owne dangers men may apprehend It better is with others to pursue Then be when but alone forc'd to defend Ah! this is but the out-side of your course A dangerous ambush which ambition plants There may come Rivers raging from this source To drown your state whil'st such high thoughts nought daunts I know those new-borne monsters of vour minde Have arm'd your ravish'd heart with faire conceits Yet may those wonders which you have divin'd Prove traiterous projects painted for deceits And pardon Sir it is not good to be Too rashly stout nor curiously wise Lest that you leave that which
we certaine see And not attaine to that which you devise Croe. I grant indeed this very few shall know Though I professe but to relieve my friend My thoughts conceive as successe best may show And not without great cause a greater end You see how fortune nought but change affects Some are reproach'd that others may be prais'd And every age brings forth some strange effects Some men must fall that others may be rais'd I doubt not you have heard who was the first For warring with the world whom fame revives Who had of soveraignty so great a thirst That it could not be quench'd with thousands lives Even he who first obtain'd the name of Iove And rests reputed for his glorious acts The most imperious of the pow'rs above Who vowes and offerings of the world exacts He all his time in state did terrour breath Borne to acquaint the world with warre and dearth Whil'st fertile still in misery and death Two fatall furies that afflict the earth Yet since his course the worlds first plague was past When his proud race had many ages raign'd That Empire too did perish at the last And what it lost by martiall Medes was gain'd This was the cause of that great kingdomes fall A Prince who could not judge of Princely parts With losse of Scepter honour life and all To buy base joyes sold all his Subjects hearts To that disastred Monarchies decay Th' aspiring Persians purpose to succeed But I intend their lofty course to stay And that in time ere that it throughly speed The Persians once the Lydians force must prove And O! who knowes but that it is ordain'd At the tribunall of the States above That I should raigne where famous Ninus raign'd This all the hoste of heaven oft-times foretels To this the Gods of Greece my minde have mov'd And he that in Arabia's desart dwels By his response this enterprise approv'd San. Thus still in love with what we minde to doe What we affect we fairest still conceive This feeds our humour whil'st selfe-flatterers loe To shew our wit we would our selves deceive Vaine hopes so maske all doubts you cannot spy What secret danger this designe doth beare But whil'st well view'd with an indifferent eye There want not grounds where fore-sight may find feare You unadvis'dly purpose to pursue A barbarous people opposite to peace Who but by robbery to their greatnesse grew And would for each light cause the warres embrace No dainty silkes dipt in Assyrian dye Doe decke their bodies to abase their mindes Skinnes reft from beasts them cloath who danger ply Not mov'd by flattering Sunnes nor bragging windes They simply feed and are not griev'd each day With stomackes clody decocting divers meates They fare not as they would but as they may Of judgement sound not carried with conceits Those ancient customes which they strictly hold Make all things easie that they feele no paine This cooles the summers heate kils winters cold This makes the Rivers dry the Mountaines plaine They whose ambition poverty did bound Of Lydia's dainties if they once doe taste Will have in hatred straight their barren ground And all our treasures insolently waste To governe such although that we prevaile You shall but buy vexation with your bloud And doe your selfe and yours if fortune faile From Soveraignty by time secur'd seclude Yea though this rash desire your judgement blindes I for my part must praise the Gods for you Who have not yet inspir'd the Persians mindes To waste with warre all Lydia long ere now Croe. Those flames which burn my brest must once burst out Your counsell for more quiet mindes I leave And be you still thought wise so I prove stout I 'le conquer more or lose the thing I have Coelia AH am I forc'd out of afflictions store For my mindes ease a few sad words to straine But yet unlode it now to lode it more I empty but mine eyes to fill againe My soule must sound even as my passions strike Whil'st sighes and teares would faine afford reliefe My brest and eyes are both accurst alike The Cabinet of care the Springs of griefe O cruell heaven fierce starre unhappy fate Too foule injustice of celestiall pow'rs Whose high disdaine to me with partiall hate The comfort of the world poore world devoures Curst be the day in which I first was borne When lying tongues affirm'd I came to light A monstroues blasphemy a mighty scorne Since where darke sorrow breeds an endlesse night Would God I then had chanc'd this life to leave The tombe straight taking what the wombe did give Then alwayes buried changing but the grave I had not liv'd to dye but dy'd to live What profited to me my Parents joyes VVho with such pompe did solemnize my birth Since stiâ—l my soule must flote amidst annoyes So to defray one dramme of tasted mirth And it did onely serve to make me know The height of horrour threatning to succeed I was but rais'd up high to be brought low That short liv'd joyes might endlesse anguish breed Whil'st nothing did for my confusion lacke All my best deeds did but betray my State My vertues too were guilty of my wracke And warr'd against me banded with my fate For whil'st my Virgin-yeares with praise I past Which did ah that it did too much import My modest eye told that my minde was chast Which gain'd the warrant of the worlds report And all should have a great respect to fame No greater dowry then a spotlesse name Faire beauties God desse thou can'st beare record My offring never made thine Altar rich Lascivious fancies highly I abhorr'd Whose free-borne thoughts no folly could bewitch Till happily ah so it seem'd to some O but unhappily the end hath prov'd All this and more to Atis eares did come Who straight did like and after liking lov'd He to our eares his purpose did impart Not lip-sicke-lover-like with words farre sought Whose tongue was but an agent for his heart Yet could not tell the tenth part that it thougth And lest his travels should have seem'd to tend My honours fame by fancies to betray He brought his wishes to a lawfull end And in effect affection did bewray There Iuno president of wedlockes vow And Hymen with his odoriferous cote With sacred customes did our love allow Whil'st th' ominous Owles no crosses did devote The blessing that this marriage did procure It was too great to have continued long A thing too vehement cannot endure Our joyes farre past the reach of any tongue We ever did full satisfaction finde Yet with satiety were never cloyd But seem'd two bodies manag'd by one minde Such was the happinesse that I enjoy'd He lov'd me dearely I obey'd his will Proud of my selfe because that I was his A harmony remain'd betwixt us still Who each in th' other plac'd their soules chiefe blisse This mov'd th'immortals to a high disdaine That thus two worldlings who of death were heires Should in a Paradise of
torment Now in his age unwisely stout To fight with Cyrus but no doubt The heavens are griev'd thus to heare told Long ere the time their darke intent Let such of Tantalus the state behold Who dare the secrets of great Iove unfold Act 5. Scene 1. Cyrus Harpagus LEt us triumph o're them though proud of late Whose glory now doth with their greatnesse faile Since with their fortune forfeiting their state No warre 's approv'd unlesse that it prevaile The world that whil'st we fought did doubtfull stand As for the one ordain'd to be a prey Saw how the heavens plac'd lightning in my hand Those thund'ring downe who would not us obey Goe pay our vowes ere enterprising more The Gods detest a minde that is ingrate And who delight their Deities to adore Are alwaies bent to stablish their estate Cause burden Altars smoke each sacred place With Bullockes Incense Odours of all kindes But none can give the Gods still great in grace A sacrifice more sweet than thankefull mindes Harp Though all who partners are of th' earth and ayre Still whil'st tapestred with this azure pale If for nought else yet for those gifts least rare To serve th' all-pow'rfull pow'rs should never faile Yet there are some whom successe hath design'd Whose names are written in respected scroules WHom benefits not ordinary binde To love them more then life yea then their soules Of those that you are one your deeds declare Of whom amid'st innumerable broiles Even from your cradle they have had a care And led you safe through many dangerous toiles Though of the troubles of your youth I see You have not heard the wonderfull discourse I them remember who did chance to be An actor in your Tragicke-Comicke course Cyrus The accidents which in our nonage chance A ripened age not to remembrance brings Like fabulous dreames which darkenesse doth advance That are by day disdain'd as frivolous things For our conceptions are not then so strong That they can leave impressions long behinde Yet mixe deare friend old griefes new joyes among And call afflicted infancy to minde Harp Who would not wonder at thy wondrous fate Whom even or borne destruction did attend Whil'st ere thou could'st offend pursu'd by hate Even then to end what now shall never end Your mother first her fathers minde did sting Whil'st once he dream'd which yet his soule confounds That of a tree which from her wombe did spring Th' umbragious branches darkened Asias bounds Then to the Magies straight he gave in charge To try what this strange vision did presage VVho having studied their darke Art at large Gave this response with a propheticke rage That once his daughter should a sonne bring forth Who should by valour gaining great renowne Make vanquish'd Asia witnesse of his worth But from his grand-father first reave the Crowne This to Astyages a terrour bred Who vainely bent to scorne the heavens decree His daughter out of policy would wed To some weake stranger of no great degree And to Cambyses who of her made choice He for his Country then contemn'd gave eare Whom by your birth the Princesse did rejoyce And gave her father further cause of feare Thus tyranny their brood whose courage failes Doth force the Parents in despaire to fall To fight a dastard proud when it prevailes But yet as fear'd of all doth still feare all And tyrants no security can finde For every shadow frights a guilty minde This Monarch then who could not dreame of harmes Whose guards did glance all still with steele array'd Then whil'st he liv'd secure from forraigne Armes A babe scarce borne and his did make afraid And whil'st Lucina the last helpe did make As if some ugly monster had beene borne A Minotaure a Centaure or a Snake The peoples terrour and the Mothers scorne The Grand-childes birth which justly should impart To grand-fathers the greatest cause of joyes Did long ere wounded making him to smart Involve him in a maze of sad annoyes And to prevent what did him fondly fright By giving cause of a deserved hate He sought by robbing you the new-found light To make your birth and buriall of one date Soone after this he sent for me in haste Whom at that time and not in vaine he lov'd And told the summe of all things that were past By which his marble-minde seem'd nothing mov'd Yet in the same as he would let me know Though pitty none some horrour did remaine Whil'st damn'd in substance to seeme cleere in show Your bloud his heart but not his hand should staine Thus having lull'd asleepe their judgement still The wicked would extenuate their crimes Not knowing those who but allow of ill As actors guilty differ but in times With his vile fault he would have burden'd me Whom straight he charg'd an Innocent to slay I promis'd to performe his rash decree Well weighing whom not what I should obey When I had parted from his Highnesse face And carried you then swadled with me too Whil'st horrour did congeale my bloud a space I stood perplex'd not knowing what to doe And as to purge my part even shedding teares By troupes of passions griefe my soule assail'd Thus when distress'd for easing others feares Th' intended death of you your murd'rers wail'd For him I sent a servant of mine owne VVho for the time was heards-man to the King To whom I made all my Commission knowne But as enjoyn'd to him shew'd every thing Delivering you with an unwilling breath WHom of pure gold a glistring robe array'd I threatned him with many a cruell death If that your death were any way delay'd Straight then to execute the Tyrants doome He from my sight did all astonish'd goe Too great a charge for such a simple Groome The shew of Majestie amaz'd him so What man not wondring can by deeds behold The providence of all-commanding Iove Whose brazen edicts cannot be contrould Firme are the Statutes of the States above That mortall whom a Deities favour shields No worldly force is able to confound He may securely walke through dangers fields Times and occasions are to serve him bound For loe before the heards-man was come home His wife had chanc'd a breath-lesse childe to beare Who wondred so to see her husband come While by his conscience crush'd he quak'd for feare And straight she curious grew to know the forme How he a babe so beautifull obtain'd Who her of all did suddenly informe And to what cruelty he was constrain'd She quickly then th' occasion to embrace No doubt inspir'd by some celestiall pow'r Pray'd that her infant might supply your place Yet where no beasts his body might devoâ—re So shall we have saith she a double gaine Since our owne childe shall get a stately tombe And we a Princely brood which may remaine Still nurst with us as th' issue of my wombe The husband lik't so well his wives designe That he perform'd all what she did require And when I had directed one of mine
Pure snows in Crimson dy'd imbrac'd her Lord Whil'st beauties blubbred Starres were waxing dim Then bent to fall when her they could not raise As scorning to survive their prosp'rous state In emulation of their Ladies praise The Eunuchs did precipitate their fate O sweet Panthea rich in rarest parts I must admire thy ghost though thou be gone Who might'st have made a Monarchy of hearts Yet loath'd unlawfull loves and lov'd but one O wond'rous wonders wonders wond'rous rare A woman constant such a beauty chast A minde so pure joyn'd with a face so faire With vertue beauty in one person plac't Both were well match'd as any could devise Whose death confirmes the union of their life He valorous she vertuous both wise She worthy such a Mate he such a wife And Harpagus lest that it should be thought That of brave mindes the memory may dye Cause build a stately Tombe with Statues wrought Where both their bodies with respect may lye Harp I 'le raise a Pyramide of Croesus spoils Where of their worth each part shall be compris'd But how to do in these tumultuous broils Now time requires that you were well advis'd Your adversary doth attend your will This hauty Towne for feare to fall doth bow And therefore pardon ransome quite or kill Do what you please none can controll us now Cry As for old Croesus I am else resolv'd He with some captives whom I keep in store Shall have their bodies by the fire dissolv'd As offerings to the Gods whom I adore My Souldiers paines this City shall defray Since by their meanes it hath beene gain'd for us I yeeld it unto them as their just prey Who taste the sweetnesse of their travels thus Of other things we shall so well dispose That our renowne through all the world shall shine Till Cyrus name give terror to all those Who dare against his Soveraignty repine Act. 5. Scene 2. Nuntius Chorus AH to what part shall I my steps addresse Of bondage base the burden to eschue Loe desolation ruine and distresse With horrour do my native home pursue And now poore Countrey take my last farewell Farewell all joy all comfort all delight Cho. What heavy tydings hast thou now to tell Who tear'st thy garments thus what forc'd thy flight Nunt. I tell the wracke of us and all who live Within the circuit of this wretched soile Cho. A hideous shout we heard the Citie give Have foes prevail'd do they her beauty spoile Nunt. They may it spoile Cho. And is our Soveraigne slaine Nunt. No but scarce scap't doth live in danger still Chor. Then let our mindes no more in doubt remaine And must we yeeld to that proud Strangers will Nunt. You know how Croesus at advantage lay Still seeking meanes to curbe the Persians pride And how th' Assyrians had assign'd a day When led by him they battell would abide But Cyrus having heard how that they would Against his State so great an armie bring Straight raising forces providently bold Prevents invades o're-comes and takes our King Cho. This shews a Captaine both expert and brave Who wisely doth advise performe with speed No circumstance friend unrelated leave Which with our Kings did our confusion breed Nunt. When Croesus saw that Cyrus came so soone He stood a while with a distracted minde Yet what time would permit left nought undone But made his musters march'd his foe to finde Our stately troups that for rich armes excell'd And with umbragious feathers fann'd the aire With insolency not with courage swell'd A triumph dream'd scarce how to fight took care The Lydian horse-men never stain'd but true And for their worth through all the world renown'd Them chiefly Cyrus labour'd to subdue And this device for that effect was found Untrussing all their baggage by the way Each of the Camels for his charge did beare A grim-fac'd Groome who did himselfe array With what in Persia horsemen use to weare To them th'infantery did follow next A solid squadron like a brasen wall But those in whom all confidence was fix'd The brave Cavallery came last of all Then Cyrüs by the raines his Courser tooke And bravely mounted holding out his hands With an assured and imperious look Went kindling courage through the flaming bands He them desir'd who at deaths game would strive To spare none of their foes in any forme But as for Croesus to take him alive And keep him captive for a greater storme Where famous Hellus doth to Hermus post To give another both his strength and name Our army ranne against a greater host To grace it likewise with our force and same Each troupe a time with equall valour stood Till giving place at length we took the chace While as the River ranne to hide our bloud But still his borders blush'd at our disgrace For when the Camels to the field were come Our horses all affrighted at their sight Ranne raging backe againe and of them some Disordering ranks put many to the flight Yet some who had beene us'd with martiall traines The stratagem though out of time perceiv'd And lighting downe red heights rais'd from green plains Did vengeance urge of those who them deceiv'd There whil'st the world prov'd prodigall of breath The headlesse tronks lay prostrated in heaps This field of funerals sacred unto death Did paint out horrour in most hideous shapes Whil'st men unhors'd horses unmastred stray'd Some call'd on those whom they most dearly lov'd Some rag'd some groan'd some sigh'd roar'd promis'd pray'd As blows falls faintnesse paine hope anguish mov'd Those who then scap'd like beasts unto a den A fortresse took where valour none renownes Walls are for women and the fields for men No Towne can keep a man but men keep Townes And we were scarcely entred at the Ports When straight the Enemies did the Towne enclose And quickly rear'd huge artificiall Forts Which did to the besieg'd more paine impose All martiall Engines were for battery found At like encounters which had ear'st prevail'd Whil'st both they us'd the vantage of the ground And borrow'd help from Art where Nature fail'd They alwayes compassing our Trench about Still where the walls were weake did make a breach Which straight repairing darts were hurled out To kill all those who came where we might reach There all the bolts of death edg'd by disdaine Which many curious wits enclin'd to ill Whil'st kindled by revenge or hope of gaine Had skill to make were put in practise still Yet as we see it oft-times hath occur'd That in Fames rolls our fall might be compris'd That side of Sardis farre from all regard Which doth next Tmolus lye thought most secure Through this presumption whil'st without a guard All Lydia's o'rethrow did with speed procure As one of ours unhappily it chanc'd To reach his helmet that had scap't his hand A longst that steepie part his steps advanc'd And was returning back unto his band He was well mark'd by one who had not spar'd To tempt
all dangers which might make us thralls For Cyrus had proclaim'd a great reward To him whose steps first trod the conquer'd walls And this companion seeing without stay One in his sight that craggie passage clime Straight on his foot-steps followed all the way And many a thousand hasted after him Then all that durst resist were quickly kill'd The rest who fled no where secure could be For every street was with confusion fill'd There was no corner from some mischiefe free O what a piteous clamour did arise Of ravish'd virgins and of widow'd wives Who pierc'd the heavens with lamentable cryes And having lost all comfort loath'd their lives Whil'st those proud Victors would themselves have stain'd With all the wrongs that Pride or power could use They by a charge from Cyrus were restrain'd And durst no more their captives thus abuse Chor. No doubt but high mishaps did then abound Whil'st with disdaine the Conqu'rours bosome boyld As some the sword disgrace did some confound Not onely houses Temples too were spoyld What misery more great can be devis'd Then is a Cities when by force surpris'd But whil'st that stately Towne was thus distress'd What did become of our unhappy King Nunt. Then when the Enemy had his state possest And that confusion seaz'd on every thing He scarcely first could trust his troubled sight The Fortune past transported had him so Yet having eyes who can deny the light He saw himselfe inferiour to his foe And apprehending there whil'st left alone How that his judgement long had beene betray'd As metamorphos'd in a marble stone His ravish'd thoughts in admiration stray'd But such a weight of woes not us'd to beare He first was griev'd then rag'd and last despair'd Till through excessive feare quite freed from feare He for his safetie then no further car'd And never wishd he so to have long life But death farre further was affected now Still feeking danger in the bounds of strife So he were sure to dye he car'd not how Whilst furies thus were fostred in his brest Him suddenly a Souldier chanc'd to meet As insolent as any of the rest Who drunk with bloud ran raging through the street And wanting but an object to his ire He sought to him and he to him againe I know not which of them did most desire The one to slay the other to be slaine But whil'st so base a hand towring aloft Did to so great a Monarch threaten death His eldest Sonne who as you have heard oft Was barr'd from making benefit of breath I cannot tell you well nor in what forme If that the destinies had so ordain'd Or if of passions an impetuous storme Did raze the strings that had his tongue restrain'd But when he saw his Syre in danger stand He with those words a mighty shout did give Thou furious Stranger stay hold hold thy hand Kill not King Croesus let my Father live The other hearing this his hand retyr'd And call'd his Kings commandement to minde High were those aymes to which his thoughts aspir'd Whom for great fortunes this rare chance design'd Now when that Croesus who for death long long'd Was quite undone by being thus preserv'd As both by life and death then doubly wrong'd Whil'st but by fates for further harme reserv'd He with sad sighs those accents did accord Now let the heavens do all the ill they can Which would not unto me the grace afford That I might perish like a private man Ah must I live to sigh that I was borne Charactring shame in a dejected face Ah must I live to my perpetuall scorne The abject object pointed for disgrace Yet this unto his soule more sorrow bred He scorne pretending state as King array'd Was with great shouts ridiculously led Backe to the Tent whereas their Emp'rour stay'd Then that he might his misery conceive Those robes so rich were all exchang'd with chains And prisons strictnesse bragg'd him with the grave So soone as death could make a choice of paines They caus'd in haste a pile of wood to make And in the mid'st where all men might him spie Caus'd binde the captive King unto a stake With fourteene others of the Lydians by There as if offerings fit to purge the state Foes sought with flames their ruine to procure Though Iove prepostrous piety doth hate No sacrifice is sweet which is not pure Now whil'st the fire was kindling round about As to some pow'rfull God who pray'd or vow'd With eyes bent up and with his hands stretch'd out O! Solon Solon Croesus cry'd aloud Some hearing him to utter such a voice Who said that Cyrus curious was to know When dying now what deity was his choice Did him request his last intent to show His exclamation was said he on one With whom he wish'd their frailty so to see That all who ever trusted in a Throne Had but conferr'd a space as well as he Then there he told what Solon had him showne Whil'st at his Court which flourish'd then arriv'd How worldly blisse might quickly be o're-throwne And not accomplish'd was while as one liv'd Whil'st forth salt flouds attending troupes did powre He shew how much the wise-man did disdaine Those who presum'd of wealth or worldly pow'r By which none could a perfect blisse obtaine This speech did Cyrus move to ponder much The great uncertainty of worldly things As thinking that himselfe might once be such Since thrall'd to Fortunes throne like other Kings Then such a patterne standing him before Whom envy once then pitie did attend He to our King did liberty restore And with his life did Solons fame extend Yet him the fire still threatned to devoure Which rising high could hardly be controll'd But O devotion then appear'd thy pow'r Which to subdue the heavens makes worldlings bold To quench the flames whil'st divers toild in vaine Iove mov'd by prayer as Croesus did require The azure Cisterns open'd did remaine And clouds fell downe in flouds to quench the fire Then whil'st the Souldiers did the Citie sack To save the same as to his Countrey kinde The hopelesse Croesus thus to Cyrus spake With words which pitie melted from his minde Great Prince to whom all Nations now succumbe And do thy yoke so willingly embrace That it some comfort gives to be o're-come By one whose glory graces our disgrace Since now I am constrain'd your thrall to be I must conforme my selfe unto my fate And cannot hold my peace whereas I see That which may wrong the greatnesse of your state Your state is spoil'd by not suspected pow'rs If this rich Citie thus do rest ore-throwne Which now no more is mine but is made yours And therefore Sir have pittie of your owne Yea though the losse of such a populous Towne Both rich and yours your minde could nothing move Yet thinke of this which may import your Crowne A peece of policy which time will prove The haughty Persians borne with stubborne mindes Who but for poverty first followed you
the end When first we fill with fruitfull seed The apt conceiving wombe of th' earth And seeme to banish feare of dearth With that which it by time may breed Still dangers doe our hopes exceed The frosts may first with cold confound The tender greenes which decke the ground Whose wrath though Aprils smiles asswage It must abide th' Eolian rage Which too o're com'd whilst we attend All Ceres wandring tresses bound The reines let from their cloudy cage May spoile what we expect to spend No perfect blisse before the end Lee whil'st the Vine-tree great with Grapes With nectar'd liquor strives to kisse Embracing Elmes not lov'd d amisse Those clusters lose their comely shapes Whilst by the thunder burn'd in heapes All Bacchus hopes fall downe and perish Thus many things doe fairely flourish Which no perfection can attaine And yet we worldlings are so vaine That our conceits too high we bend If fortune but our Spring time cherish Though divers stormes we must sustaine To harvest ere our yeares ascend No perfect blisse before the end By all who in this world have place There is a course which must be runne And let none thinke that he hath wonne Till first he finish'd hath his race The Forrests through the which we trace Breed ravenous beasts which doe abhorre us And lye in wait still to devoure us Whil'st brambles doe our steppes beguile The feare of which though we exile And to our marke with gladnesse tend Then balles of gold are laid before us To entertaine our thoughts a while And our good meaning to suspend No perfect blisse before the end Behold how Croesus long hath liv'd Throughout this spatious world admir'd And having all that he desir'd A thousand meanes of joy contriv'd Yet suddenly is now depriv'd Of all that wealth and strangely falles For every thing his sprite appalles His sonnes decease his countryes losse And his owne state which stormes doe tosse Thus he who could not apprehend Then whil'st he slept in marble walles No nor imagine any crosse To beare all those his brest must lend No perfect blisse before the end And we the Lydians who design'd To raigne over all who were about us Behold how fortune too doth flout us And utterly hath us resign'd For to our selves we that assign'd A Monarchie but knew not how Yet thought to make the world to bow Which 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 true that Solon said While as he yet doth breath extend No man is blest behold the end FINIS THE TRAGEDY OF DARIVS THE ARGUMENT DARIVS the fourteenth from Cyrus King of Persia being after the death of Occhus for his singular valour from the government of Armenia advanc'd to the Persian Empire became so arrogant a good successe as it were sâ—tâ—ing him forward to confusion as he sent to demand tribute of Philip then King of Macedonia who being of a hauty nature and inferiour to none of that age in courage or for melitary discipline requited this contumelious message with as disdainefull an answer threatning that he would come and deliver it in Persepolis But being prevented 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 inherâ—ting the hatred of hiâ— Father towards Darius and farre surmounting h m in ambition past in person to Asia with an army of thirty thousand men onely After his arr vall 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 namâ—ng Alexander his servant Hee also in vaunting manner bragged that he would have the mad boy the sonne of Philip for so in derision be tâ—armed him bound and beatâ—n with roddes and after brought to his presence apparelled like a Prince For performance whereof he directed one of his Minions with forty thousand men to make impediment to his passage at the River of Granick where by the wonderfull valour of Alexander they were overthrowne Darius being advertised of this came himselfe in proper person accompâ—nied with infinite but evill ordered numbers and encountred Alexander beside Isso in the strait of Ciliâ—â—a where having fought doubtfull and â—loudy battell in end by the invincible valour and never-failing forture of Alexander his Army was defeated himselfe put to fight and his mother wife and children made captives Who were most courteously entertained by Alexander who notwithstanding their exceeding great beauty yet would not abuse them nor suffer them to bee abused by others nor vesâ—ed he them more 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 giving 〈…〉 gold as Macecon could containe for ransome of the captives Which being very disdainfully refused by Alexander he having re enforced his troupes and comming forward to fight with greater force then before was informed how his wife had died in prâ—son whose death he bewailed with exceeding great sorrow And understanding what courtesie Alexander had used towards her he sent to use for peace not for any feare of his force but allured as he alledged by his courtesie This sute being likewise rejected he fought beside Arbella with no better fortune then before Yet for all these misfortunes being of an invincible courage and despairing of peace he re-assembled all his forces which were augmented by the comming of the Bactrians and was comming forward with intention at last either to dye or prevaile But in the meane time two traiterous subjects of his owne Bâ—ssus whom he had preferred to be governour of Bactria and Nabarzanes one in speciall credit with him conspired his death Which danger though it was revealed to him by Patron Captaine of the Greekes yet he could not or rather would not eschew At length those two Traitours tooke and bound him with golden chaines and cast him in an old Chariot with purpose to present him to Alexander But they hearing how he would not accept their Present and how he was comming to invade them threw their darts at Darius and left him for dead In this estate he was found by Polystratus and after the delivery of some few words dyed Alexander having exceedingly lamented his miserable and undeserved end directed his body to his mother Sisigambis to be honour ably buried The persons names that speake DARIUS SISIGAMBIS his Mother STATIRA his Wife STATIRA his Daughter TIRIOTES their Eunuch NABARZANES two Traitors BESSUS two Traitors PATRON Captaine of the Mercenary Greekes NUNTIUS ALEXANDER PARMENTO his Lieutenant HEPHESTION his Minion POLYSTRATUS a Souldier ARTABAZUS A Noble man of Persia CHORUS all Persians The Scene supposed in Babylon THE
floud of teares be-dew'd his feet Then said by death expecting to be free Let us entombe great Darius like a King Then when we first his funerall honour see Death must to us a great contentment bring This oft they urg'd though he attested there That Darius was not dead as they suppos'd But liv'd with hope his ruines to repaire And in the pow'r of other Realmes repos'd Then did he urge what comfort and reliefe They might attend depending on your Grace Thus having toil'd to mitigate their griefe It seem'd they long'd to see my Soveraignes face Alex. I pitie still and not insult o're such Though once mine Enemies who are humbled so And lest weake feare oppresse their mindes too much To comfort them straight to their Tent I 'le go Exeunt Chorus OF all the passions which possesse the soule None so disturbes vaine Mortals mindes As vaine Ambition which so blindes The light of them that nothing can controll Nor curb their thoughts who will aspire This raging vehement desire Of Soveraignty no satisfaction findes But in the breasts of men doth ever roule The restlesse stone of Sisyph to torment them And as his heart who stole the heavenly fire The Vulture gnaws so doth that monster rent them Had they the world the world would not content them This race of Ixion to embrace the clouds Contemne the state wherein they stand And save themselves would all command As one desire is quench'd another buds When they have travell'd all their time Heapt bloud on bloud and crime on crime There is an higher power that guides their hand More happie he whom a poore Cottage shrouds Against the tempest of the threatning heaven He stands in feare of none none envies him His heart is upright and his ways are even Where others states are still twixt six and seven That damned wretch up with Ambition blowne Then whil'st be turnes the wheele about Throwne high and low within without In striving for the top is tumbling downe Those who delight in climbing high Oft by a precipice do dye So do the Starres skie-climbing worldlings slout But this disease is fatall to a Crowne Kings who have most would most augment their bounds And if they be not all they cannot be Which to their damage commonly redounds The weight of too great states themselves confounds The mighty toyling to enlarge their state Themselves exceedingly deceive In hazarding the thing they have For a felicity which they conceive Though their Dominions they encrease Yet their desires grow never lesse For though they conquer much yet more they crave Which fatall Fortune doth attend the great And all the outward pompe that they assume Doth but with shows disguise the Minds distresse And who to conquer all the earth presume A little earth shall them at last consume And if it fortune that they dye in peace A wonder wondrous rarely seene Who conquer first heavens finde a meane To raze their Empire and oft-times their race Who comming to the Crowne with rest And having all in peace possest Do straight forget what bloudy broyles have beene Ere first their Fathers could attaine that place As Seas do flow and ebbe States rise and fall And Princes when their actions prosper best For feare their greatnesse should oppresse the small As of some hated envied are of all We know what end the mighty Cyrus made Whom whil'st he striv'd to conquer still A woman justly griev'd did kill And in a bloudy vessell roll'd his head Then said whil'st many wondring stood Since thou didst famish for such food Now quench thy thirst of bloud with blond at will Some who succeeded him since he was dead Have raign'd a space with pompe and yet with paine Whose glory now can do to us no good And what so long they labour'd to obtaine All in an instant must be lost againe Loe Darius once so magnified by fame By one whom he contemn'd o're-come For all his bravery now made dombe With down-cast eyes must signifie his shame Who puft up with ostentive pride Thinke Fortune bound to serve their side Can never scape to be the prey of some Such spend their prosp'rous dayes as in a dreame And as it were in Fortunes bosome sleeping Then in a dull security abide And of their doubtfull state neglect the keeping Whil'st fearfull ruine comes upon them creeping Thus the vicissitude of worldly things Doth oft to us it selfe detect When heavenly pow'rs exalt deject Confirme confound erect and ruine Kings So Alexander mighty now To whom the vanquish'd world doth bow With all submission homage and respect Doth flie a borrow'd flight with Fortunes wings Nor enters he his dangerous course to ponder Yet if once Fortune bend her cloudy brow All those who at his sudden successe wonder May gaze as much to see himselfe brought under Act. 3. Scene 1. Sisigambis Statira Regina Statira virgo O Dismall day detested be thy light And would the Gods but Gods neglect our case The world were wrapt in a Cymmerian Night That no proud eye might gaze on our disgrace Why did the Heavens reserve my feeble age To make my burden more when strength grows lesse Could nothing but my harmes their wrath asswage Thus offred up on th' Altar of distresse Ah! have I spent my youth in pompe and pleasure And had my spring-time grac'd with pleasant flowres That th' Autumne which should reape the Sommers treasure Might be distempred with such stormy showres And did smooth calmes and Sunne-shines for a space Make all my voyage through the world a sport That I should fall when neere to end my race And toss'd with stormes even perish at my port Yet for all this were I expos'd alone The wretched object of Ioves thund'ring armes I should not thinke I had just cause to mone When I but wail'd mine owne not others harmes Ah me on those whom more then life I love The state-disturbing blasts of Fortune fall Yet each of them some severall losse doth move But I in anguish beare a part with all I suffred when I saw Oxatres slaine My loving Sonne and most entirely lov'd I dy'd in Darius when he try'd in vaine What Fates would do yet still their hatred prov'd The heavens to plague me more yet make me breath O rigour rare what tortures rack my breast Who feele the sowre but not the sweet of death Still cours'd not kill'd lest that should breed me rest Yet Iove if this may dis-enflame thine ire Let all thy lightning light upon my head To be consum'd with a celestiall fire Some comfort were since that I must be dead Sta. Reg. Leave mother those complaints as fit for me Who still must grieve my friends and grace my foes Whose fortune is so wretched still to be That all the world may wonder at my woes Loe that deare Lord and treasure of my thought Whose presence I my Paradise esteem'd To such a precipice is headlong brought That he from ruine cannot be redeem'd Ah! on
But Alexander having heard our cryes Sent one to learne the cause that mov'd our woe Who finding whence our errour did arise Gave full assurance that it was not so Then he himselfe did to our Tent resort And with the mildest words he could conceive Your Mother Wife and Children did exhort Such terrours vaine since but surmiz'd to leave And he protested that they should expect No harme of him their courage to appall Then all things did with great regard direct That no man might endammage them at all Thus when they were against all dangers arm'd I thinke for feare for who would not have fear'd Lest such rare graces might his minde have charm'd He never more before her face appear'd Else generous vertue jealous of each thing Which tempting reason senses might allure What rare restraint in a victorious King He fled what fault or scandall could procure He doth his fame above all things preferre And will not be where it may blemish finde Nor give his eyes commodity to erre Lest thoughts impure might strive to staine his minde He whil'st that she was sicke did loath delight And gravely griey'd all pompe and pleasure left Dar. O hatefull heaven that with such hellish spight The worlds chiefe treasure Natures glory reft Tir. When he beheld deaths triumph in that face Which had triumph'd o're such a Monarchs heart With witness'd woe even passionate a space The lookers on did much commend his part And when some time his dolour had o're-come Her funerall rites solemnly to decore He us'd such honour as might well become The Persian pompe in prosp'rous times before Dar. O pow'r supreame that of great states disposest And ratifi'st thy will with fearefull thunder Who as thou pleasest placest and deposest Vncertaine worldlings now above now under I pray thy Deitie in my soules distresse If that th' inhabitants of heaven can heare The plaints of them who this low point possesse Or that th' immortals can give mortals care This favour last I onely doe require Establish first the Scepter in my hand But if through my desert or thy desire The race of Cyrus must no more command Since angry heaven so high a hate contracts That I must needs my Diadem forgoe Let him succeed who proves in all his acts So milde a Victor and so just a foe Act 4. Scene 2. Darius Artabazus Nabarzanes Patron Bessus IF joyn'd by fates with men of dastard mindes Who to a noble death base life preferr'd I should not waste my words amongst the windes But labour would that time might be deferr'd Though still resolv'd your course confirmes me much Whom no disaster could divorce from me What man can doubt whom heavens doe backe by such When bragg'd with bondage fighting to be free My courage swels to see you marching forth Whose force and faith which all the world doth sing Oft clear'd by proofe though fortune envy worth Might serve to make farre more to keepe a King He gives our rebels Townes not mov'd by love Each Prince though using them all traitours hates But that their course to take this might you move His turne once serv'd so forfeiting your states Ye to my fortune have not had regard As of my peace so partners of my warres Which though that I might not Iove would reward And all the world extoll you to the starres How long shall I a vagabond remaine And flye a stranger who my right would reave Since by one battell we may re-obtaine All that we lost or lose all that we have Like some vile traitors whom I will arraigne To hold me up shall I goe cast me downe Must Darius onely by entreaty raigne No none hath pow'r to give or take my Crowne I shall not my authority survive Nor will I proffer a submissive breath My hand shall hold a Scepter while I live My hand shall beare a Diadem till death If those franke thoughts which doe possesse my soule Such flames of courage kindled have in you A Macedonian shall not us controule Nor with disdainefull smiles brag whil'st we bow My state may testifie fraile fortunes change May she not him o're-whelme as well as mee At least our hands beare death if not revenge Brave mindes when no more rests may still dye free Now call your valorous ancestors to minde Whom from the Grecians tribute still requir'd And of whose deeds rare monuments we finde Whose merits make their memories admir'd Shall of your deeds posterity be dumbe Which doth your fathers names though dead adore I am resolv'd my triumph or my tombe A Laurell or a Cypresse shall decore Art What doubtfull silence thus your thoughts detaines We need advise with nought but with our swords He who the Persians wonted worth retaines Will answer now with deeds and not with words Let us accompany our King in Armes Through bloudy squadrons to this fatall strife No profit can be had without some harmes By slaughter onely we must looke for life And when our host as I hope doth prevaile Our Country shall have peace we praise of right And if our fortune not our courage faile We dye with honour in our Soveraignes sight Let us if vanquish'd scorne base breath to buy A noble death may greater glory give Doe to o're-come and yet not feare to dye 'T is needfull that we fight not that we live Nar. My words will first your Majestie displease Yet duty makes me speake where silence spilles The best Physitian cures a sharpe disease With some sowre potion that corruption killes And skilfull Pilots when they feare a storme To save the ship will cast out pretious things You in some sort may imitate their forme For else a tempest totall ruine brings Since bent against the Gods how can we speed To all our actions fortune is oppos'd We must of force some other way proceed So have the heavens of our affaires dispos'd Give Sir the state at least your titles place On some more happy man not in effect But with your shadow cloath him for a space Till he your Realmes from ruine may protect This storme once calm'd that now disturbes your state And Asia free from any forraigne hoste He shall with haste resigne the Soveraigne seat These Kingdoms gain'd againe which you have lost All Bactria yet abides at your command The Indians loe would dye to doe you good Yea many thousand thousands armed stand Bent for your State to offer up their bloud What should we rush like beasts to needlesse strife Be well prepar'd and then your fortune try Brave mindes should death despise not loathing life For feare of danger cowards crave to dye But vertue first all hopes accounts doth cast And of each meane to helpe maturely thinkes Then when all else is done death is the last The which to meet true courage never shrinkes Now for the time let Bactria be our seate To Bessus for the forme your Crowne resigne Who when he once hath re-advanc'd your state Shâ—ll with your foes o'rethrow
up break And let eye-flatt'ring shows our wits enchaunt All perish'd are ere of their pomp men speak Those golden palaces those gorgeous Halls With furniture superfluously faire Those stately Courts those skie-encountring walls Do vanish all like vapours in the ayre O! what affliction jealous greatnesse beares Which still must travell to hold others downe Whil'st all our guards not guard us from our fears Such toile attends the glory of a Crowne Where are they all who at my feet did bow Whil'st I was made the Idoll of so many What joy had I not then what have I now Of all once honour'd and now scarce of any Our painted pleasures but apparrell paine We spend our nights in feare our dayes in dangers Balls toss'd by Starres thrals bound to Fortunes raigne Though known to all yet to our selves but stranges A golden Crowne doth cover leaden cares The Scepter cannot lull their thoughts asleep Whose souls are drown'd with flouds of cold despaires Of which base vulgars cannot sound the deep The Bramble grows although it be obscure Whil'st loftie Cedars feele the blust'ring windes And milde Plebeian souls may live secure While mighty tempests tosse Imperiall mindes What are our dayes but dreames our raigne a glance Whil'st Fortunes feaver makes us rage and rave VVhich with strange fits doth to a height advance Till ere paine us we first our life must leave For glist'ring greatnesse by Ambition lov'd I was the wonder of all gazing eyes But free from shadows reall essence prov'd States just proportion ruine onely tryes Loe charg'd with chains which though they be of gold My states distresse diminish not the more When this prepost'rous honour I behold It but upbraids me what I was before And what was I before as now I see Though what afflicted was not clearly knowne But still in fetters whilst appearing free And in a labyrinth of labours throwne Was I not forc'd to serve a thousand humours To scape the censure of a Criticke storie Still clog'd with cares enrag'd with many rumours O glorious bondage and ô burd'nous glory That dignity which deifi'd me late And made the world doe homage to my name Doth not oppose that which pursues my state But by fall gives feathers unto fame My best was but a momentary blisse Which leaves behind this ever-lasting sting That of all woes no woe is like to this To thinke I was and am not now a king No man with me in all th'accomplish'd joyes That satisfie the soule could once compare No man may match me now in sad annoyes Or any crosse which can provoke despaire Thrice fortune did my gallant troups entrap And I to fall did desperately stand Yet could not be so happy in mishap As to have di'd by some renowned hand But for my greater griefe disgrace and scorne The mindes of men so apt are to deceave They whom aloft my favours wings had borne Evâ—â— they have made their Master thus a slave Ah! did nor death in prison from me reave The â—â—â—â—red Soveraigne of my soules desires And I wretch'd I not present to receave The 〈◊〉 â—olâ— kisse that should have quench'd my fires Yet o thrice happie thou who hast not liv'd To beare a burden of this great disgrace More then a thousand deaths this had thee grievd To know I di'd and di'd in such a case Ah! doe the pledges of our mutuall love The onely comfort that the fates have left Rest prison'd yet and may I not remove Mâ— mother thence as of all power quite reft My paines are more then with my pleasures even Since first my head was burden'd with a Crowne Was I exalted once up to the Heaven That to the Center Iove might throw me downe My ample Empire and my Princely birth My great magnificence and vaine excesse All cannot yeeld my minde one minutes mirth To ease me now in this my great distresse Loe here reduc'd vnto the worst of ills Past helpe past hope and onely great in griefe Two abject vassals make me waite their willes Not looking no nor wishing for reliefe If that my honour had beene first repair'd Then what though death had this fraild fortresse wonne I waile my life since for disgrace prepar'd Not that it ends but that it was begunne What fatall conflict can my count'nance marre Though me to bragge death all his horrours bring I never shall wrong Majestie so farre As ought to doe that not becomes a king Chorus SOme new disaster daylie doth fore-show Our comming ruine wee have seene our best For fortune bent as wholy to o'rethrow Throwes downe our king from her wheeles height so low That by no meanes his state can be redrest For since by armes his pow'r hath been represt Both friends and servants leave him all alone Few have compassion of his state distrest To him themselves a number false doth show So foes and faithlesse friends conspir'd in one Fraile fortune and the fates with them agree All runne with Hatchets on a falling tree This Prince in prosp'rous state hath flourish'd long And never dream'd of ill did thinke farre lesse But was well follow'd whilst his state was strong Him flattering Syrens with a charming song Striv'd to exalt then whilst he did possesse This earthly drosse that with a vaine excesse He might reward their mercenarie love But now when fortune drives him to distresse His favourites whom he remain'd among They straight with her as hers their faith remove 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 not utter ruine bring But made him prove a profitable thing Who of his traine did best deserve his grace Then could and would of those the best embrace Such vulturs fled as follow but for prey That faithfull Servants might possesse their place All gallant minds it must with anguish fling Whilst wanting meanes their vertue to display This is the griefe which bursts a generous heart When favour comes by chance not by desart Those minions oft to whom kings doe extend Above their worth immoderate good-will The buttes of common hate oft hit in end In prosp'rous times they onely doe depend Not upon them but on their fortune still Which if it change they change them though they fill Their hopes with honour and their chests with Coyne Yet if they fall or their affaires goe ill Those whom they rais'd will not with them descend But with the side most stronge all straight doe joyne And doe forget all what was given before When once of them they can expect no more The truth hereof in end this strange event In Bessus and Narbazenes hath prov'd On whom their Prince so prodigally spent Affection Honour Titles Treasure Rent And all that might an honest minde have mov'd So bountyfull a Prince still to have lov'd Who so benignely tendred had their state Yet Traitours vile all due respects remov'd
They him to strike the strength he gave have bent Soe as he now may rue although too late That slie Camelions changing thus their hue To servants were preferr'd who still were true But though those Traitours for a space doe speed No doubt the Heavens once vengeance will exact The very horrour of this hainous deed Doth make the hearts of honest men to bleed Yea even the wicked hate this barbarous act The Heavens no higher choler can contract Then for the forcing of a sacred king Whose state if rage doe not their mindes distract Must feare and reverence in inferiours breed To whom from him all what is theirs doth spring But though on th' earth men should neglect this wrong Heavens will those Traitours plague ere it be long Act 5. Scene 1. Hephestion Alexander Polystratus WHAT Story or what fable can record Of such a numb'rous troupe so strangely lost I know they quak'd to know it was my lord Whose name alone is worth anothers hoste It scarse can trusted be in many parts But Traitours feare though all the world them backe They were but bodies destitute of hearts Moe prisoners they were then men to take Who would believe so few durst strive to meete So great an Army and the Army shrinkes But Glories flattery and fames sounds are sweet True valour dare attempt all that it thinkes Alex. In this encounter to have had the best It would content more then a common minde But since we want the chiefe what of the rest I must in all a satisfaction finde Those Traitours thought to finish thus the warre By giving me their Lord whom they have bound But I who march with confidence so farre Doe scorne to build upon so base a ground To venge my wrongs dare others then designe Since Darius was ordain'd my prey to be How durst they but have aim'd at ought of mine His o'rethrowes glory did belong to mee Whilst in himselfe he onely did confide I by all meanes did strive to make him bow But since his hard estate abates that pride My fury turn'd is to compassion now Though he contemn'd me oft and did me wrong Yet am I griev'd that he was thus deceav'd If but acknowledg'd once to be more strong I not his blood nor yet his kingdome crav'd And if those Traytours have not kill'd him straight Yet his delivery shall my name renowne I would not lose a Subject of such weight By which my clemency might be made knowne Po. Sir now your comming cannot doe him good Alex. What all are fled none have my force withstood Po. Yet can not Darius be redeem'd againe Alex. Why have they set him free or is he slaine Po. Now he enjoyes a libertie at last But ransom'd is by offering up his breath Alex. Then is all Asia's expectation past Tell on at length the manner of his death Po. The boiling ardor of the rising Sunne All moisture gone did breede so great a drouth That from the way I had a little runne To finde some fountaine to refresh my mouth There by the borders of a rysing brooke Which shadow'd was from Titans rysing beames From liquid crystalls I a tribute tooke Which seem'd to murmure that I forc'd their streames When loe I saw a lamentable sight Two wounded horses draw a bloody Coach Which clad with skinnes shew horrour at the height And it to spie when as I did approach One was within who could not long time scape The fatall passage of th' infernall gates Yet Majestie triumphing o're mishap Hee seem'd to bragge both fortune and the fates And to so base a state as first not borne Then whilst his bloode aboundantly did fall He bursted forth those words in fortunes scorne As one whose courage nothing could appall You gaze to see and have good cause wherefore A man no man a king no king what change Now lesse then nought who once was both and more This would seeme wond'rous but no state is strange And yet a midst my evils I must rejoyce That this last comfort doth forgoe my end I speake to one who can conceave my voice And not in vaine my dying speeches spend I am but how in name and not in pow'r That wretched Darius which I should suppresse Once happie as was thought but at this hower A lively patterne of extreame distresse Then having paus'd he said my griefe is great Tell Alexander as the world may spie That though of me he never had but hate Yet am I forc'd farre in his debt to die The favour past extended to my Queene And that poore remnant my surviving rest When weighing well what I to him have beene I wish continu'd but can scarse request They to his foe belong and yet he strives To have them honour'd now as in times past But those who held of me both states and lives Of state and life have me depriv'd at last Entreat him too that unreveng'd below I wander not as haplesse in all things Let men his justice and their treason know This as a common cause doth touch all kings Beside the honour which he shall acquire In plaguing them who have betrai'd my trust His magnanimity men shall admire And feare to grieve him whom they finde so just As watrie rounds which rise and reele in raine Do swell and flote yet when they breake though bright Last leave when fall'n no token save a stayne Pompe quickly thus both courts and scornes the sight And since my glasse is runne my glory gone I dead unto the world the world to me I wish save his that th' earth adore no throne For from his raigne what subject would be free Then drowping downe faint bloodlesse and halfe dead He prai'd me for some water that ranne by A small request by such a monarch made Which when that he had got yet eare I die This crosse must come said he to kill me quite Though Nations once to mee as Soveraigne sought I have not now the pow'r but to requite This little benefit that thou hast brought But Alexander shall reward thee well And him the Heavens still yeelding his desires Since that his foes though envie burst must tell That courtesie which all the world admires Now none hath pow'r his pleasure to controule But if he use them well whom he retaines It will procure contentment to my soule And make him famous whilst the world remaines When breath abandon'd hath this brittle clay Then cause some friend defray my funerall cost That churlish Charon force me not to stray Where darkenesse dwells an unregarded Ghost Last give my corpes to her who brought it forth Who may it with my Ancestours entombe And since she lov'd me much though little worth May waile this burden which once grac'd her wombe And to that Prince whose state I wish to stand In signe of love which all my thoughts doe send My soule gives him my heart it thee my hand Thus though I liv'd his foe I die his friend I had but held
pitchie vapours cled Had must'red mysts and march'd out of the West Dayes beauties darkning shadowie horrours spread The Sentinels were set and all at rest When loe a terrour did distract the host Whose bands to murmure were dispers'd in parts With sounds resembling ships in stormes neare lost Whil'st each to other cause of feare imparts Those who their King appointed were to guard From what was due by fraud or feare did stray And to his danger having no regard His Fortunes Minions fled with heraway The desolation then growne wondrous great With some few Eunuchs Darius left alone No strength remaining nor no signe of state He thus them spake who for his fall did mone Go part in peace ere further harme be had Lest that my ruine likewise you surprise They hearing those sad words as men gone mad Went howling through the host with dolorous cryes So that all those who heard what plaints they made Thought that they had their Soveraignes death bewail'd And forcing trust some forg'd reports were spread That he had kill'd himselfe all hope quite fail'd The Persians griev'd whil'st these things did occurre Did first encourage all their Countrey bands To help their Prince but yet they durst not stirre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands Even in the time when this confusion was The Traitors to deferre the fact no more Did to their Soveraignes Tent with Squadrons passe And took and bound him whom they serv'd before Who in a golden Coach once proudly rode Was throwne in one for common carriage us'd And who of late was honour'd like a God Two of his owne as if their slave abus'd Those royall hands to beare a Scepter borne Were basely bound and which the more him griev'd Thus misery can hardly scape from scorne With bands of gold which burden'd not reliev'd When Alexander great with courage spy'd Our Armies flie he who in hope them chac'd To follow us with diligence did ride Base seem'd the Conquest which no danger grac'd But when at last at length by some inform'd How he was made a captive to his owne At this indignity he highly storm'd As if by it his hopes had beene o're-throwne Out of his host he did select a few Who were best hors'd and fit for such a fight With whom his foes he did so fast pursue That e're they could suspect he came in sight The Traitors vex'd when spying him appeare Came to the Cart whereas the King did stay And call'd to horse in haste since foes were neare Lest that they else might finde him for a prey He look'd aloft and cry'd aloud I see That Nemesis is frowning from above Should I with Traitors as a captive be And flie from him who but brave warres doth move Then those in whom impiety abounds Throw'd Darts at him vile beasts to be abhorr'd And hurt the horses with an hundred wounds Then men more trusty dying for their Lord As false in hearts so feeble with their hands When Guilt and Danger doubled had despaires The Traitors first then all their trait'rous bands Fled from a number lesse by halfe then theirs But to the bounds of Deaths pale kingdome brought The King retyr'd where least by people spy'd More wounded with ingratitude then ought Did leave the world whose folly he had tri'd The last divorce which lasts was scarcely made Twixt soule and body whil'st the eyes grew dim When Alexander came and found him dead Who labour'd had so long to ruine him And whil'st his teares a generall mourning mov'd That stately vesture which himselfe array'd Much fear'd for valour more for vertue lov'd With his owne hand on Darius corps he layd Then wailing long as for a brother lost To have his funerals furnish'd like a Kings He bids you use his wealth and spare no cost For you shall want no necessary things He hath his body hither sent by me And sunerall rites solemnely bent to do He thinks that they may best accomplish'd be Whil'st who him bred doth see him buried too Cho. Behold how griese hath her of sense bereft Whil'st breath for passage strugling is with grones No will nor pow'r to live just griefe hath left Since what she value vanish'd is at once Sis Ah! shall I see no let me first be blinde That body breathlesse which I brought to light Where would my soule a force sufficient finde That could encounter with so sad a sight O flinty heart what hinders thee to breake Since crush'd with cares a stranger to repose Why part'st thou not poore soule that whil'st I speake In opening of my lips mine eyes may close This heritage of death this wither'd stocke Is but a place appointed for despaires A torture to it selfe a stumbling block Whose aged furrows fertile are in cares Once for good Fortunes now for bad design'd To state betray'd drawne forth from calme repose To have beene happie most afflicts my minde Who rais'd to fall got much the more to lose Ah me malitious fates have done me wrong Who first come to the world should first depart And ah why should the old o're-live the yong This Nature wrongs by a prepost'rous art Ah! why should Death so indiscreet be found To spare a caitive and to spoyle a Prince My halfe-dead body bending to the ground Through griefe is grown ripe for the grave long since Chorus WHat makes vaine worldlings so to swell with pride Who come of th' earth and soone to th' earth returne So hellish furies with their fire-brands burne Proud and ambitious men that they divide Them from themselves and so turmoyle their mindes That all their time they study still How to content a boundlesse will Which never yet a full contentment findes Who so this flame within his bosome smothers He many fancies doth contrive And even forgets himselfe alive To be remembred after death by others Thus while he is his paines are never ended That whil'st he is not he may be commended What can this help the happinesse of Kings So to subdue their Neighbours as they do And make strange Nations tributaries too The greater state the greater trouble brings Their pompes and triumphs stand them in no stead Their Arches Tombes Pyramides high And statues are but vanity They dye and yet would live in what is dead And while they live we see their glorious actions Oft wrested to the worst and all their life Is but a stage of endlesse toyle and strife Of tumults uproares mutinies and factions They rise with feare and lye with danger downe Huge are the cares which wait upon a Crowne And as Ambition Princes under-mynes So doth it those who under them rule all We see in how short time they rise and fall How oft their light ecclips'd but dimmely shines They long time labour by all meanes to move Their Prince to value much their parts And when advanc'd by subtle arts O what a danger is' t to be above For straight expos'd to hatred and despight With all their skill they
SELEUCUS his greatest Captaines CASSANDER his greatest Captaines THE ALEXANDRAEAN TRAGEDIE Act 1. The Ghost of ALEXANDER the Great BAck from th' umbragious caves still rob'd of rest Must I returne where Phoebus guilds the fields A Ghost not worthy to be Pluto's Guest Since one to whom the world no buriall yeelds O what a great disgrace is this to me Whose Trophees Fame in many a kingdom keeps That I contemn'd cannot transported be A passenger for the Sulphurean deeps Dare churlish Charon though not us'd to bow The raging torrent of my wrath gain-stand Must I succumbe amidst hels dungeons now Though all the world accustom'd to command But it may be that this hath wrought me harme What bloud-lesse Ghosts do stray on Stygian banks Whose falls made famous by my fatall arme Gave terrour oft to many martiall ranks Yet for a prey expos'd to ravenous beasts Could never have the honour of a Tombe But though for such rude guests too pretious feasts Were basely buried in a brutish wombe Thus as it seemes the horrour of such deeds With like indignity attends my sprite What stormy breast this thirst of vengeance breeds To plague for that which valour did acquite Ah! might Alcmena's sonne as sonne of Iove Once force the driery forts of endlesse night To match sterne Dis in the Tartarian grove And draw forth foaming Cerberus to light Then leading Theseus through the dungeons darke A second rape aym'd for their ravish'd Queene Durst he hels terrour force the fatall Barke By squadrons pale an envi'd victor seene And in my rage may I not tosse this Round Till roaring Earth-quakes all the world affright Heaven stain'd hell clear'd earth torne all to confound Enlightning darknesse or else darkning light What though I from terrestriall Regions swerve Whom in this state it may be some mistake May not the voyce of Alexander serve To make th' earth tremble and the depths to shake Or straight return'd shall I my fortune trust And th' Earth dispeople slaughtring scatt'red hosts Then Pluto plague all charg'd with bloud and dust When men are kill'd to be a King of Ghosts O how I burst to thinke how some above Who for their glory did my steps attend My off-springs title proudly do disprove And to my Chaire by violence ascend Ingratitude doth grieve a generous sprite VVould God therefore that with a body stor'd I might returne these Traitors to acquite My back with Armes my hand charg'd with a sword As when I entred in a populous Towne To warre alone with thousands in my wrath Whil'st prizing honour dearer then my Crowne Each of my blows gave wounds each wound gave death Then thundring vengeance on rebellious bands I would make them redeeme my grace with grones Where now my Ghost empall'd with horror stands Lesse grac'd then those whom I commanded once And yet the glory by those Captaines had Whom first my Ensignes did acquaint with fame Doth make my soule whil'st hating them more sad Then all the suffrings that the hells can claime O now I see what all my Minions blindes To grace my funerals that they take no paine My state betraying me distracts their mindes Who have forgot all love save love to raigne But Ptolomie doth yet by time intend To Alexandria to transport me once Not mov'd by love no for another end In hope my Fortune will attend my bones And must I then so great a trouble have To whom the Earth did all belong before For some few foots of Earth to be a grave VVhich meane men get and great men get no more Though many thousand at my signe did bow Is this the end of all my Conquests then To be thus barr'd that little circuit now A benefit even common unto men But of those kingdomes which were thrall to me Lest that a little part my body bound Th' earth arch'd with heaven my fatall bed should be Still unconfin'd and even when dead yet crown'd O blinde ambition great mindes viprous brood The scourge of mankinde and the foe to rest Thou guilty art of many millions bloud And whil'st I raign'd didst raigne within my brest This to my soule but small contentment brings That I some Cities rear'd and others raz'd And made Kings captives captives to be Kings Then whil'st the wond'ring world did stand amaz'd All that doth now but torture after death Which rais'd my Fame on pillars more then rare O costly conquest of a little breath Whose flattring sounds both go and come with th' aire Can I be he who thought it a disgrace To be but weigh'd with other mortals even Who would be held of an immortall race The off-spring of great Iove the heire of heaven By many meanes I all mens mindes did move For Altars as a God with off'rings stor'd Till of his glory Iove did jealous prove All kings should reverenc'd be but not ador'd Ah! whil'st transported with a prosp'rous state I toil'd to raise my Throne above the Starres The thund'rer straight who still doth pride abate Did wound my fame with most infamous warres Made I not grave Calistenes to smart Who did disdaine a mortall to adore What knowne unknowing bent by foolish art Though but a man to be imagin'd more All fear'd the danger of my roaring wrath Like Lyons when asleep which none durst wake My fury was the Messenger of death Which when enflam'd made flaming squadrons quake Ambition did so farre my thoughts engage That I could not abide my Fathers praise But though my friend kill'd Clitus in a rage Who Philips Fami durst in my presence raise Thus though that I mine Enemies did abate I made my greatest friends become my foes Who did my insolence as barbarous hate And for the like afraid wail'd others woes Those tyrannies which thousands chanc'd to see As inhumane a multitude admir'd And my familiars strangers growne with me As from a Tyrant for distrust retyr'd Yea there were many too who did conspire By base ambushments to have snar'd my life Of all my labours loe this was the hire Those must have store of toils who toile for stâ—â—â—e And I remember that amid'st my joyes Even whil'st the chase of Armies was my sport There wanted not a number of annoyes To counter-poise my pleasures in some sort Of those on th' earth most happy that remaine As ag'd Experience constantly records The pleasures farre exceeded are by paine Life greater griefe then comfort still affords What griefe no rather rage did feaze my soule Whil'st bigge with hopes a battell bent to prove That sudden sicknesse did my course controull Which cold when kinde embracing flouds did move From the Physician then though deem'd for ill I took his potion gave him scandalous lines Then whil'st he red did drinke yet ey'd him still And by accusing looks sought guilty signes Not that suspitious feares could make me sad This was the ground whence did proceed my paine Lest death my victory prevented had For I was sure still where I fought to gaine
title to his body claim'd The sorrowing Souldiers swarm'd about his bed With looks once fierce then for compassion fram'd But he whom victory had still array'd With others past this battell bent to even Did look like one whom all the world obey'd And boasted shortly then to take the heaven Whil'st lightning comfort to afflicted bands He stretch'd them forth to kisse in severall parts By Sword then Scepter his more honour'd hands On which it seem'd they melted all their hearts Last unto them those gen'rous words he told Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot Thus to dye yong in yeares in glory old Of all our Family is still the lot And since no worlds are resting to o're-come Life serves for nought I did an Empire found Liv'd warr'd and raign'd all done for which I come Then goe great Ghost not griev'd below the ground No further Weighing what belong'd to life He with a count'nance constant even in death As too victorious in that fatall strife The ayre perfuming spent th' imperious breath But through the Campe when that it once was knowne That from the world that world of worth was gone What anguish was it cannot well be showne I had my part yet had not all alone O! let that day which makes my dayes all night Be registred amongst the dismall dayes Whose melancholy and portentuous light With some disaster still the world dismayes And Babylon curst be thy fatall towers Once seate of Monarchs Mistresse of the earth But from hence-forth a slave to forraine pow'rs Still burden'd be thy bounds with bloud and dearth Olym. You need not use those execrations more Though Babylon of breath that Prince depriv'd Yet as an Oracle had told before In Macedonie was his death contriv'd Antipater had heard how divers times The King against him had been mov'd to wrath And damn'd as guilty of opprobrious crimes His sonne in law Lincestes unto death Then he was told the King did strictly try How his Lievtenants had their places us'd Still making all as traitours straight to dye Who had the same in any sort abus'd Thus he who well did know his owne misdeeds Had learn'd by others what he might expect As whose ambitious brest in pride exceeds And alwayes did a Sovereignty affect But when Craterus was to have his place And he requir'd the Army to attend He thought that thus Time would some means embrace To plague his pride with a deserved end Then to prevent that which I thinke was still More fear'd by him then purpos'd by the King With guilty thoughts oft exercis'd in ill He sought what might to death his Soveraigne bring And this the traitour compass'd at the last As I alas have learn'd although too late When to my sonne his sonne Cassander past As to congratulate his prosp'rous state Then in his company he did retaine A poyson powerfull where it was employ'd Whose violence no metall could restraine But in a horsâ—s hoofe was still conveighâ—d He and his brother fit occasion watchâ—d And for their Prince a cup of poyson made Thus he who never could by force be match'd By treason loe O cruell fate lyes dead Rox. And could or durst those traitors be so bold The pillar of all worth to undermine But Madame ah Antipater of old Against your greatnesse alwaies did repine And I remember on a time he sent A messengâ—r of minde to make you bow Who to your Sonne a letter did present Full of invectives to discredit you The King whilst reading what it did comprise Did smile with scorne then to Hephestion say In writing of such things he is not wise Which straight one mothers teare will wipe away Olym. I oft inform'd my sonne strange waies devis'd How that disloyall man striv'd to be great But as a womans wit mine was despis'd And construed still unto the sense of hate Yet of my Sonne I thought the deeds were such That all men them admir'd none envy could And that none durst his sacred person touch Whom men ador'd and Iove as his did hold How oft have I those bitter throwes allow'd By which I brought that demi-god to light And well I might of such a birth be proud Which made me glorious in the peoples sight Though divers too as I have some time knowne To draw his love from me did wayes prepare Yet were their slights by dutious love o're-throwne And I respected with a reverend care His tender love to me was much extold Then when he sought to stablish a decree That with Immortals I might be enrold And as a Goddesse honours have to me Ah! how can I this tragicke time survive Who lost a sonne so great a sonne so kinder And all the meanes which make me now to live Is with revenge a hope to ease my minde Rox. His love to you it could not but abound By nature parents of their owne are lov'd Since those to whom he by no band was bound Of his humanity the fruits have prov'd His clemency did make his state more sure Then all the terrours rising from his name Which whilst he liv'd did publike love procure And after death a never dying fame Old Sisigambis lifting up her heart Of her owne sonnes the death who bad surviv'd To Alexander did that love impart Wâ—ich was to Darius due while as he liv'd But when these tidings wounded had her eares That heaven from th' earth had rob'd that praise of men Whilst all dissolv'd in flouds of bitter teares She hated life as never spoil'd till then Her widow'd nephew groning at her feet Who of Hephestion did the death bewaile In depths of woe she drown'd with teares did fleet Till that o're-whelm'd her strength began to faile Then barr'd from food she groveling did abide Till that lifes course then hastened fast was runne Thus she surviv'd her sonne yet with him dy'd In whom she found the kindnesse of a sonne Olym. If but when hearing this his tragicke end A stranger once his Captive dy'd for griefe Ah shall his mother yet on hope depend As such a losse might looke for some reliefe And yet I will for 't were a great disgrace To me the mother of that matchlesse man Like other women to give fortune place And faintly yeeld as vulgar wretches can Though griefe at first must mollifie me once Or as unnaturall I might be admir'd Yet will I not still burst my brest with grones Then that of me more courage is requir'd I 'le not degener from my generous kinde Faint-hearted Hindes brought never Lyon forth Nor yet a Mother of an abject minde Had never borne a Monarch of such worth And O! who knowes but once the time may come That I to venge my selfe a meanes may have Whilst those vile traitors ruin'd are by some Who with their bloud may bath their Soveraigns grave Now on Perdiccas I repose my trust Who with Eumenes would our wrongs red resse Their valour ventring in a cause so just By all appearance promise
To make me seeme not worthy of his place That he preferr'd a Stranger to his Sonne As bent to cloud the glory of his race Thus since in such a sort he did neglect The Sonne who should his name from death exempt As dis-regarded for some great defect All other men may have me in contempt But ere his age attain'd the fatall date He saw my brows with lawrell boughs array'd And spy'd my skill in warre and wit in state Which grew as much as his had then decay'd Nor can my courage so be brought to bow But Polypercon shall by proofe finde soone That in my Fathers will I Will allow Not what he did but what he should have done And since by him high dignities were wonne I minde to prosecute what he began For though I would so great a Fathers Sonne Can not securely live a private man Loe Polypercon by our pow'r repell'd From Macedonie hath retyr'd dismay'd And for the feare of us hath beene compell'd To rest beholding for anothers aid Let him not think that shadows though of Kings Can match my pow'r with these his borrow'd bands A doubtfull flight all fram'd with others wings Will never beare him from Cassanders hands And though Olympias count'nanc'd once his cause As from Epirus come to ruine me Now of her owne misfortune she must pause Since brought of late unto a low degree Lysim And yet Olympias once did prosper well When first she touch'd the Macedonian bounds Whil'st Polypercon proudly did repell all those who durst resist with words or wounds Though Philip and Euridice his Queene To give them battell bent in time arriv'd The Macedonians when they had her seene As their owne Queene to do her honour striv'd And haplesse Philip whil'st constrain'd to yeeld There for a Kings did take a captives state And with his mate though flying from the field Was follow'd by their force and by her fate Then â—id her husband and her selfe give place Whose brows of late a Diademe had borne But then throwne downe in depths of black disgrace Were made of pride the prey the butt of scorne Cass Those were the means which did them first entrap But have you heard how after they were thrall To plague the world with horrour and mishap The proud Olympias tyrraniz'd o're all Lys Some doubtfull rumors did frequent each 〈◊〉 Such as rash Fame confus'dly durst unfold But yet by favour hid or else for feare The truth of all it may be was not told Cass When thus the Tygresse happ'ned to surprise Those wretched souls as ravish'd in a dreame Her heart at first seem'd scarce to trust her eyes She surfetted her sight so with their shame But when she saw by reason of her pow'r That she might safely let her rage burst out She them about caus'd build a lightlesse Tower Press'd by whose walls they scarce could turne about And in that dungeon as entomb'd they stood With high disgrace t' appease more high disdaines Farre from all comfort whil'st a little food Their life prolong'd but to prolong their paines But for misfortune pity last doth pleade As envy doth prosperity oppose The Macedonians then indifferent made On murmur'd rumours doubtfully did glose The peoples grudge Olympias did perceive And of just fury fearing the effect She straight resolv'd lifes remnant to bereave From weakened pow'rs which did no lesse expect And when some Thracians basely bent for bloud As she had charg'd with mercenary spight Had murdred Philip and his Queene imbru'd With these red streames that drown'd her lifes delight She sent to her whose soule in griefe did sinke As messengers of death to bragge her brest A sword a cord and an empoyson'd drink A Tyrants presents yet a wretches best Those seene the Queene unmov'd this speech did make As one who had imbrac'd some great reliefe Fit gifts for her to give for me to take Since she exceeds in hate and I in griefe And tell the Tyrant that I gladly dye That once the angry gods to venge my death May thunder forth that judgement which I spie With bloud must choak that bloudy womans breath Last looking on her Lord who there lay slaine Once partner of his joy then of his woe Whil'st that his Roses did her Lillies staine She kiss'd his wounds as taking leave to goe Lest Time her Resolution had betray'd Her snowie necke not us'd with such a chaine Her girdle grasp'd then dy'd no way dismai'd And if she sigh'd she sigh'd but for disdaine Lysi This barbarous act my breast with griefe dotâ— sâ—ing Can spight so much transport the meekest kinde And yet on th' earth there 's no more cruell thing Then malice raging in a womans minde Cass But yet this sacrifice could not asswage The boyling thoughts of her unbounded will For entring thus she rioted in rage As dogges that once get bloud would alwayes kill Each light occasion kindling still her wrath The Soveraignty she shamefully abus'd And put my brother Nicanor to death Though for no crime condemn'd no not accus'd To some when dead an hate by her was borne Whose cruelty no floud of bloud confin'd Of Iolas the Tombe prophanely torne She robbing th' earth with ashes stain'd the winde To be Cassanders friend was such a crime As none could scape who ever favour'd me Thus huge disorders did abound a time Where laws not valued are all things are free When having heard of this outragious pride Which made my native soyle contemn'd to be I those indignities could not abide Whose shame and danger did ayme most at me So that at last mov'd by my Countries care As much as by particular respects I with great speed an Army did prepare To punish or prevent the like effects But when I was to Macedony come To fortifie a Towne she did designe Which I enclos'd and quickly did o're-come Whil'st famine forc'd the Fortresse to resigne Then to necessity weake pride gave place Her lofty courage was constrain'd to bow So that she rests depending on our grace To be dispos'd as it shall please us now Lysim This chance the world to wonder may invite Loe there a Queene who had though now distress'd The rarest Fortune and the greatest sprite That ever any of her sex possess'd The widow'd Empresse who first bragg'd the Indes Or proud Thomiris though both prais'd have beene Or th' Amazons all borne with martiall mindes Have never beene more stout then was this Queene Her lifes first progresse did but prove too sweet Whom once the world with treasures striv'd to blesse But now sad soule foil'd under Fortunes â—eet Her misery no creature can expresse Cass Those were but Fortunes gifts which made her great Whil'st treacherous shows by shallow wits were prais'd Her imperfections did but staine the State Where her not hers but others merits rais'd When first that Dame with famous Philip match'd Her cunning carriage was not free from blame But though she then with Argos eyes was watch'd As was suppos'd soone forfeited
both lye downe to rest and rise in peace Then if they strive they strive who should love best What though thou have not as the mighty ones Thy neck surcharg'd with chains ah chains indeed Nor eares weigh'd down with orientall stones Nor Robes whose worth may admiration breed So want'st thou that which we have ever had Sad mis-contentments jealousie and spite And though thy back be not with purple clad Thy thoughts are deck't with Innocencies white As birds whose cage of gold the sight deceives Do seeme to sing whil'st they but waile their state So with the mighty match'd made glorious slaves We happy seeme whil'st we but curse our fate That blisse whose shew in us vaine eyes doth please Makes thee indeed with pleasures spend thy breath Who liv'st while yong in mirth whil'st ag'd in ease And know'st not what it is to dye till death Ah! since I liv'd I alwayes did but dye When seeming happy then most wretched still Whil'st dazeling with vaine pompe each vulgar eye What strange mishaps did me with anguish fill The fates with fortune from my birth conspir'd To make my life a patterne of their might For both my parents from the world retir'd When I had scarcely look'd upon the light The world may judge how I was justly griev'd Whil'st angry Philip sought for my disgrace A thing which once I scarce could have beleev'd And unto Cleopatra gave my place Then though I long as desp'rate of reliefe For his offence afflicted had my minde Yet did his sudden death augment my griefe He was my husband though he was unkinde And when my Sonnes rare deeds which fame doth sound The world with wonder ravish'd me with joy Those as himselfe who would all his confound To compasse me did spite and power imploy Yet stood my courage when my Fortune fell And still I toil'd to persecute his foes That some might fall downe who too much did swell Their bloud in Marble registring my woes That which I purpos'd long so prosp'red too That some of them did try by torments strange All what a womans just disdaine could do Whil'st spurr'd by jealousie spite and revenge But this Arch-traitour Ruler of the rest Who thirsts to drinke the bloud of all our Race Even then with us when all succeeded best Did compasse me with ruine and disgrace Such was the tenor of my Fortune past Whose least mishap had made another burst First orphan'd widow'd and unchilded last A daughter wife and mother all accurst Heavens plague Cassander let that base wretch try That Iove his judgement but a while deferres And let his wife bewaile as well as I I murdred for my Sonne and she by hers Even as th' incestuous Thebans monstrous brood So may thy Sonnes contend with mutuall wounds And never let thy house be free from bloud Till banish'd quite from this usurped bounds Thus notwithstanding of my wonted pow'r To me save wishes nothing doth remaine But though condemn'd to dye yet at this houre Should I begin to curse and to complaine No no that custome best becomes poore soules Whose resolution cannot climbe more high But I whose courage that base course controuls Must triumph still what ever State I try Death is the port where all may refuge finde The end of labour entry unto rest Death hath the bounds of misery confin'd Whose Sanctuary shrowds affliction best To suffer oft with a couragious heart It doth deserve more praise then deeds most knowne For in our actions Fortune hath some part But in our suffrings all things are our owne Loe now I loath the world and worldly things Of which I both have prov'd the best and worst The apprehended death great comfort brings And hath no crosse but that it should be forc'd O heare me now deare Sonne if that thy Ghost May leave th' Elysian fields to look on me Of all things else this doth content me most That from this time I may remaine with thee And blush not now to see thy Mothers end My death in glory with thy life shall strive It as a captive Fortune shall attend That as thy fellow follow'd thee alive Chorus AH ah though man the image of great Iove And th' onely creature that gives Reason place With reverence due unto the powres above His heavenly progeny should seeke to prove By still resembling the Immortall kinde Yet makes the world our better part so blinde That we the clouds of vanity imbrace And from our first excellency decline This doth distinguish that celestiall grace Which should make soules to burne with Vertues love Whose fancies vice luxuriously now feasts Vice is the Circe that enchants the minde And doth transforme her followers all in Swine Whiâ—st poyson'd pleasures so corrupt our tastes That of halfe-gods we make our selves whole-beasts And yet of ruthlesse Pluto's raging host The vâ—ce which doth transport presumptuous hearts And makes men from the Gods to differ most Is cruelty that to the sufferers cost And actors both is often-times appeas'd The gods delight to give and to forgive By pardoning and not by plagueing pleas'd And why should men excogitate strange Arts To shew their tyranny as those who strive To feed on mischiefe though the Author smarts Oft for the deed of which himselfe did boast Whil'st whence the blow first came the griefe doth turne For that by which the minde at first was eas'd May it in th' end the greatest burden give Oft those whose cruelty makes many mourne Do by the fires which they first kindled burne Of other tyrants which oppresse the minde With pleasure some delight it in such sort That first the hony then the gall we finde And others though from Honors Court declin'd Somâ— comfort yeeld but base by hope of gaine And though some make us to be loath'd of one We by their meanes anothers love obtaine But cruelty with which none can comport Makes th'authors hated when the deed is done Oft even by those whom it did most support As that which altenates men from their kinde And as humanity the minde enchaunts So barbarous soules which from the same refraine More fierce than lavage beasts are lov'd of none Since with such beasts one with lesse danger haunts Then with the man whose minde all mercy wants Yet though the minde of man as strong and rude Be ravish'd oft with violent desire And must if fir'd with rage be quench'd with bloud How can this tender sexe whose glory stood In having hearts inclin'd to pity still It selfe delight in any barbarous deed For Nature seemes in this to use her skill In making womens mindes though weake entire That weaknesse might love and devotion breed To which their thoughts if pure might best aspire As aptest for th'impressions 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 envy hate and rigour rule to beare Our Queene Olympias who was once so
great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaguing Philip and his Queene of late Loe now brought low to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gave And yet good reason that it should be so Such measure as we give we must receive Whil'st on a Throne she proudly earst did sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As onely vanquish'd by her pow'r and wit She did not weigh what doth proceed from fate O O! th'Immortals which command above Of every state in hand the Rudder have And as they like can make us stay or go The griefe of others should us greatly move As those who sometime may like Fortune prove But as experience with rare proofes hath showne To look on others we have Linx his eyes Whil'st we would have their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can never marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regard do dimme our sight Why should we be puff'd up when foes do fall Since what to day doth on another light The same to morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant Ball Do live environ'd with th' all-circling skies Have many meanes whereby to be o're-throwne And why should dying worldlings swolne with wrath So tyrannize o're an afflicted wight Since miseries are common unto all Let none be proud who draw a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few unto their death Act. 5. Scene 1. Aristotle Phocion LOg have I us'd that light which cleares my minde On Natures labours curiously to look And of all creatures finding out the kinde Have read strange wonders in the worlds great book I mark her course by contraries maintain'd Whose harmony doth most subsist by strife And of all creatures in the same contain'd How various is the mystery of life But as all things are subject unto change Which partners are of th' elementall pow'rs So roll'd about with revolutions strange The state of man rests constant scarce for houres Loe what doth fame more frequently report Then sudden risings and more sudden falls I thinke the world is but a Tenis-court Where Fortune doth play States tosse men for Balls Pho. And never any age show'd more then this The wavering state of soule-ennobled wights Who soare too high to catch an aiery blisse Whil'st lowest falls attend the highest flights That matchlesse Monarch who was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortality attaines Hath not from death th'adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And those brave bands which furnish'd Fame with breath Whil'st all the world their valorous deeds did spie Rest now confounded since their Soveraignes death Like Polyphemus having lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood Which took their life out of a Monster dead Whil'st each of them would drinke the others bloud Since that great Dragons death who was their head Ar. So change all things which subject are to sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next light comes darknesse and next darknesse light This never-changing change transcends our wit Thus health and sicknesse poverty and state Dishonour honour life and death with doubt Still inter-changing what a true deceit All link'd together slide by turnes about To worldly states the heavens a height appoint Where when they once arrive they must descend And all perfections have a fatall point At which Excellency it selfe must end But as all those who walke on th' earth are cross'd With alterations happ'ning oft and strange The greatest States with greatest stormes are toss'd And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation mov'd As gathering credit out of ancient scroules No I have liv'd at Court and oft have prov'd Nothing below more vex'd then great mens Soules The Tyrant honours thralls while as they mone Their plaints to vulgar eares loath to impart They all the weight of woes must beare alone Where others of their griefe lend friends apart Their verie rising o're us to the height Which seemes their best is worst for being Lords They never know the truth that comes to light When franke society speakes naked words Whilst sadnesse oft seemes Majestie Time tels How deare they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some but three furies faine in all the hels There are three thousand in one great mans brest Phoc. I thinke all Monarchies are like the Moone Which now eclips'd now under cloud now cleare Growes by degrees and is when full undone Yet Aeson-like renew'd doth re-appeare For loe they first but small beginne to shine And when they once their Spherick forme obtaine Doe coldly languish and till chang'd decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Assyria once made many nations bow Then next all power was in the Persians hand And Macedonians last grown Monarchs now Amongst themselves divided cannot stand Ar. A secret fate alternatly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs That some may live of force some must be dead Each Element anothers strength devours Th' aire to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The waters strive to drowne the Earth with showres Which it by vapours vomits out againe Thus wâ—th a Gordian knot together bound All things are made un-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound Free from some change no State can long remaine But what in th' earth more dangerously stands Then Soveraignty though râ—ted at such worth Which like the stormy Gods tumultuous bands Doth flie from th' East to West from South to North Phoc. A long experience now makes this not strange That mighty States whose reines one only leades Be oft distracted and constrain'd to change As too great bodies for so little heads Since every common-wealth where all mens wits Doe joyne in one to breed the publike ease Hath many fevers and pestiferous fits Which physick oft oft poison must appease For ah the multitude more rash then wise A Hydra-headed beast which humor blindes Doth passionately praise or else despise As some prepost'rous fancies move their minds From vice and vertue oft like danger flowes Whilst th' one breeds envie and the other hate As jealousie or emulation growes Those oft are crush'd who doe support a state Ar. Whilst some their betters others equals scorne The popular authority decayes And when it dies the Monarchie is borne Whose violence disorders fury staies The raines of state it with most ease doth swaie Of power as joyn'd in one the strongest kind Still whilst it humbly high doth bold a way Twixt tyrannie and too remisse a minde But though States rul'd by one may flourish long Whilst one can well command and all obey Whilst guerdon goodnesse vengeance followes wrong That vertue cherish'd vice is made decay Yet if nought else Time doth great States orecome And all are bounded by some fatall houre What mis-adventures many wayes may come To dissipate the most united pow'r O! huge mishaps a Monarchie may marre
was best Did did in time before his fortune chang'd And for his favour which I oft did try Whom earnestly he labour'd to advance It grieves me that himselfe so soone did die And that his off-spring hath so hard a chance His Successors have set all Greece on fire Of which I feare to perish by some sparke For Polypercon doth my death conspire And who can scape when made a great mans marke Yet for my Countries cause I 'le give my blood Whilst safely prais'd all follow vertue can But when by danger bragg'd then to doe good O! that is worthie of a worthie man Nor doe I tender so this puffe of breath But I can yeeld that Nature it expell A minde that is resolv'd triumphes o're death He hath liv'd long enough who hath liv'd well Exeunt Act 5. Scene 2. Cassander Lysimachus Ptolomie Seleucus NO doubt great Heroes whom the Heavens have lov'd What ever count'nance duty doth pretend Your minds are glad since those by me remov'd Who might have made you end have made an end Loath not the meanes if pleas'd with the effect For though by this I have a realme obtain'd It yeelds you more whose course none can suspect I onely guilty am ye all have gain'd Yet to pursue my life they first began For my defence this refuge last I prov'd What then himselfe can be more neere to man When bragg'd by danger who would not be mov'd And if Olympias had not di'd in time By offring up her blood to worke my peace Then mine had beene the harme and hers the crime I but prevented her a little space And if her off-spring had surviv'd her death Whose rising could not but procure our fall Yee now who nought but soveraignty doe breath Had breath'd obedience or not breath'd at all Lysim You from a dangerous yaoke have us releev'd Which I suspect we should have tri'd too soone And why then should we labour to seeme griev'd At that thing done which we wish not unâ—one No no since all for soveraignty do strive And have once tasted what it is to raigne Each one of vs would rather die then live To beare a subjects servile yoke againe And though perchance with Alexander Sonne If heire to him in worth as of his state We might have most respected places wonne As speciall pillars of the Princes seate Though greater then the rest as of before It would have vex'd us lesse then one to fall The fall from first to second grieves one more Then from the second to the last of all Our envi'd glory had destruction brought And would have made us odious to remaine It dangerous is for subiects to be thought Such as desire or yet deserve to raigne When any Tempest threatned had his Throne He would have sought for surety at our cost When Iealousie mindes worme hath seaz'd on one The greatest vertues are suspected most Yea though we could to quite our state consent Us from suspition nought but death could purge Still greatnesse must turmoile or then torment If borne a burthen if layd downe a scourge Ptol. But when we have within our bosome weigh'd The ruine of all Alexanders race Whom without blushing we might have obey'd By right succeeding in our Soveraignes place How can our soules but highly be asham'd If one below them farre emboldned thus Doth seeke by wrong that which by right they claim'd And by their o'retâ—row would insult o're us Nor neede I more as in suspense remaine To maske my meaning with ambiguous wordes No no our words may as his deeds be plaine Which fame and that not whiâ—â—ring now records Ye heare how that Antigonus of lâ—te Whose thoughts wing'd with good succes soare too high Doth strive above the rest to raise his State And by all meanes doth fortune frankely ply Since to his hands Eumenes was betrai'd Loe quite transported by praepost'rous pride As if in nought adebted to our ayde To yeeld our due he cannot now abide Lysim Thus time let truth of all things doth proclame Man is a crafty Creature had to know Who can a face for every fortune frame No trust in mortalls no nor faith below As our particulars doe sometime move We what we wish for most seeme to mislike And oft of others doe the course disprove Whilst we want only meanes to doe the like Then whilst Perdiccas did attempt before To make the rest who were his equalls thrall Who then Antigonus detested more The foolish pride of one that would have all But since Perdiccas and his faction fell Whom he as Traitours of the State pursu'd He in his place succeeding to rebell Hath what he seem'd to end againe renew'd And yet I may times have mus'd of this How from the world he did Enmenes send Sel. How but by Treason as his custome is False at the first and cruell in the end Lysim I know that after many doubtfull fights He hath o'rethrowne Eumenes at the last But by what Stratagems or treach'rous slights I would be glad to heare how all hath past Sel. Antigonus was at the first afrai'd To match Eumenes by plaine force in fight And therefore all that feare affords assai'd For valour franke still using warie slight Amongst Eumenes troupes their mindes to prove He scattred letters with allurements stor'd By promis'd treasures and protested love Some to corrupt who might betray their Lord But he still wise his Troupes in time advis'd To cleare their vertue by their enemies vice And gave them thankes who would not be entis'd To sell their faith at such a bloodie price Then said that he himselfe those scroules procur'd That when they spy'd such practises againe They still might thinke them by this meanes allur'd Their Captaines triall not their Enemies traine Thus by the course which should have him entrap'd His adversarie did deluded stay Whilst both the from that present danger scap'd And to prevent the like prepar'd a way Then when he saw this policy had fail'd And that there had some doubtfull â—â—â—licts past Antigenus who had at one prevail'd As having had some vantage at the last Did with Eumenes straight procure to speake And as t 'one vanquish'd offred him good-will But he whose minde could not be brought to breake Would onely talke as to his equall still For when a band betweene them made did beare He to Antigonus should helpe impart That forme reform'd he first of all would sweare With Alexanders off-spring to take part Thus where they his submission did attend Imperiously conditions he impos'd So that thereafter to procure his end The other by all meanes his minde dispos'd And shortly of his bands a vaine debate For his confusion fit occasion brought Still as by concord small things doe grow great By discord great things are reduc'd to nought While-as Eumenes fortunately liv'd The Agâ—raspides to him gave place Till that for state two of their Captaines striv'd And his authoritie would not embrace Such as that spite of theirs to
have him spoil'd That though of valour he rare wonders prov'd And oft by force Antigonus had foil'd Yet from their mind it could not be remov'd For by their meanes allur'd the other bands To get some baggage which they lost againe Did take their Captaine with outragious hands Their glory darkning by that odious stayne And though Eumenes trusting to new hopes By flying labour'd succour to have found He was prevented by his Trait'rous Troupes And like to some base fugitive was bound Scarce could his stormy stomack bent to breake Daigne to entreat those who had him betrai'd Yet hauing hardly purchas'd leave to speake He stretch'd them forth his fettred hands and sayd Loe what apparell now your Generall weares Since with your faith his libertie was lost Yet he those bands not given by th' enemie beares No but by you in whom he trusted most And must he thus be led who should you lead Is this the triumph which I should receave For all my victories thus to be made Of Captaine Captive of a Conquerour slave How oft my Souldiers have yee all of late To me by solemne oathes sworne to be true But it becomes none in a captives state With loftie words his keepers to pursue Nor crave I further favour at this houre Then that ye bath your weapons in my brest Let not my life be in mine enemies pow'r Loe all that your Commander doth request I know Antigonus doth take no care Who get my bodie so he get my head And he regards not neither when nor where Nor in what sort I die so I be dead But if through horrour of so vile a deed Your eyes looke downe your haire erected stands Which in your mindes this much remorse doth breed That as your hearts ye will not staine your hands Then as your Captaine since not force I may I as your friend entreate that now in time I may but have a Sword my selfe to stay You to excuse whilst partner of your crime But when he saw that words could not asswage Their barb'rous thoughts which nothing could controule Then having turn'd his Courage all in rage He thus flam'd forth the fury of his soule O damned rascalls who have lost all faith Whom neither duty nor yet merit bindes How oft was Alexander mov'd to wrath By those your mut'nous and malitious mindes And O! what could I at those hands attend Which yet were smoâ—king with Perdiccas blood Of those who by like Treason did intend With old Antipaters to be imbru'd Heaven thunder on you from th' aetheriall Rounds And make you live abominable band Base vagabonds barr'd from your native bounds Then die detested in a harb'rous Land And as ye have the world with murder fill'd So may your blood by the same Swords be shed By which you have moe of your Captaines kill'd Then of your foes from whom like beasts ye fled But neither courteous nor outragious words Could change his souldiers from their first intent Who forward led their Captaine chain'd with cords A scorned Captive to his Rivals Tent Where to the end that he might quickly end He ask'd what stay'd Antigonus to goe By setting of him free to gaine a friend Or by his death to rid him of a foe And soone Antigonus did hast his fall By this great magnanimity not mov'd And th' Agiraspides dispers'd o're all As murderers murder from the world remov'd Thus oft have Traitours beene dispatch'd in time By those whom their upbraiding lookes dismay That loath'd remembrance of the Authors crime The actors death can onely wipe away Now claimes Antigonus when fame doth feast Above his Soveraignes selfe in ranke to sit For Alexander but subdu'd the East And he hath conquer'd them who conquer'd it Cass No doubt but he will doe the best he can And hath within himselfe high things design'd For whilst prosperity transports a man Nought seemes difficult to a loftie minde Sel. Of those in whom he did suspect a sprite Whose courage serv'd his courses to resist He hath himselfe by diverse meanes made quite In others wreakes his safety doth consist Thus martiall Pithon who no danger spar'd Whom Alexander held in high account Did at the last receave a hard reward For helping him Eumenes to surmount His sprite to tempt and power fit to performe Made jealousie Antigonus torment And yet he fain'd to love him for the forme Till he his Court did love him to frequent Where whilst he did mistrusting nought abide He publikely in all the peoples sight Though seeming justly damn'd unjustly di'd No wrong more vile then wrong that lookes like right Thus divers Governours within short space Their Government or then their life have lost And others are preferr'd unto their place Who did depend upon his favour most Oft likewise me he labour'd to surprise By policy whom he would have o'rethrowne But I whom Pythons danger had made wise Learn'd by his ruine to prevent mine owne To save my life abandon'd is my state And I have fled with danger as you see That you may know how that man doth grow great Whose pride may plague you all as well as me Cass Then let us see what course we should intend Least out of time made wise we rue too late Lysim I rather first pursue then last defend Ptol. A fire would still be quench'd ere it grow great Cass Then let us from Antigonus in haste Demand our share of what he did attaine Since in this warre we did our Treasure waste We should be likewise partners of the gaine But if against our suite his eares he barre And doe with scornefull words contemne our claime Then may our messenger denounce the warre And we shall shortly prosecute the same Ptol. A mutuall band must made amongst us be To make one fortune common to us all And from hence-forth we must all foure agree To stand together or together fall And since the Princely buds for which we car'd How ever dead are dead what ere we doe So to procure from men the more regard We with the state must take the title too And we must both be crown'd and knowne for kings The diadem of Greatnesse is the Tower All vulgar judgements leane on th' outward things And reverence State where they obey but pow'r Exeunt Nuntius Philastrus Chorus IS there a Heaven and are there Heavenly Pow'rs To whose decree terrestriall things are thrall Or would the Tyrant that begets the houres Eternity not spar'd extinguish all Loe Nature travels now as big with change Since mortals all humanity have lost And in th' old Chaos or some masse more strange To leave their essence all things earthly boast Can reasonable soules from reason barr'd Even strive which most in cruelty exceeds What eye hath seene or yet what eare hath heard Such monstrous chances and prodigious deedes Th' Arabian Robbers nor the Scythians wild With savage beasts which doe as barbarous haunt With such foule facts have not themselves defil'd As those who
As at the image of their antient Kings Or then some Goddesse all the Souldiers gaz'd But ah some forced by the tyrant striv'd To spoile unnaturall Natures fairest frame And twixth th' Alabaster Balles they driv'd Th' unwilling swords that straight grew red for shame Then she in worth who did all else excell Would neither word nor teare nor sigh forth send But spread her garments o're her whilst she fell As of her honour jealous to the end Cho. O strange barbarity most monstrous deed Could men a woman Subjects kill their Queene And could her fortune past no pitty breed Who ever gave the wound that not her seene The ugly Author of those odious evils Of punishment afraid must still be sad His brest a hell his thoughts all turn'd to divels Through horrour of himselfe must make him mad Nun. And yet the plague of these detested times Doth by more mischiefe aggravate our grones Cho. No end in sinne crimes are maintain'd by crimes Who fall in depths must touch the bottome once The path of honour hath but narrow bounds On which who step attentive must remaine Since rais'd so high above the vulgar grounds That who thence fall can never rise againe Nun. Thus now Cassander since he cannot winne True reputation but lives tainted still Imbark'd in mischiefe sailes the depths of sinne So if not lov'd as good yet fear'd as ill Though by his meanes his ruthlesse eyes have seene Fates as it were from fortunes bosome take His King by poyson by the sword his Queene Even yet himselfe more guilty still to make He prosp'ring in impiety grew proud And murdred both his Masters Sonne and Wife Thus he who all the world by birth-right ow'd Could have no part of it no not his life Yet could Roxanaes death not ease his minde Nor her yong sonne too soone made Platoes guesâ— But to undoe all Alexanders kinde That to revenge the rest there might none rest By treason he as all his deeds are done Cau's Hercules his brothers steppes to trace Who was great Alexanders bastard sonne And th' onely remnant of that great mans race Loe thus Cassander enemy to all good Whose soule so much for Macedonie longs Hath to the Scepter swim'd through Seas of bloud Yet O weake right since builded but on wrongs Cho. O how ambition doth abuse the great Who with enough not pleas'd still strive for more Loe how our Soveraigne seem'd to raise his state Yet made it but to fall whilst starv'd with store And since his Trophees rear'd in severall fields Both him and his have to confusion brought Then what is all the good that greatnesse yeelds Which makes it selfe seeme much to be made nought Thus though the mountaines make a mighty show They are but barren heapes borne up aloft Where Plains are pleasant still though they lye low And are most fertile too though trod on oft Greatnesse is like a cloud in thy'ayrie bounds Which some base vapours have congeal'd above It brawles with Vulcan thundring forth huge sounds Yet melts and falles there whence it first did move Phil. Since that worlds conqu'ror then whilst farre from feare By too much power press'd so soone was dead Why doe his Captaines strive who now should beare The Diadem that crush'd so strong a head O! when my minde is ravish'd through the starres To search the secret secrets of the fates What treasons murthers mutinies and warres Are threatning to o'rethrow usurped seates That false Cassander who betraid his Lord And spoil'd the princely race in mischiefe chiefe A traitour both of heaven and earth abhorr'd Shall live but with disgrace and dye with griefe His sonnes in wickednesse himselfe t' exceed Shall make the woman dye whom ade them live Then both when drunke with bloud to death shall bleed And none of theirs their funerals shall survive When rash ambition should be cool'd by age Lysimachus shall by Seleucus dye Nor shall Seleucus long enjoy the Stage But by like violence shall breathlesse lye And subtile Ptâ—lâ—mies degener'd race Long onely famous for infamous things Shall end and to the pride of foes give place Whilst a lascivious Queene confusion brings Amigonâ—â— shall be in battell kill'd His Sonne a captive perish with disgrace And after that it Greece with bloud hath fill'd In th' end destruction doth attend that race The last in pow'r though of their line not bred A niggard and a dastard beaten downe Shall through a strangers towne a Captive led Of Macedonie bound the old renowne Chorus VVHat damned furies thus tosse mortals mindes With such a violent desire to raigne That neither honour friendship duty bloud Nor yet no band so sacred is as bindes Ambitious thoughts which would a kingdome gaine But all is buried in blacke Lethes floud That may the course of Soveraignty restraine Which from the brest doth all respects repell And like a torrent cannot be gaine-stood Yea many would a Scepter to obtaine In spite of all the world and loves owne wrath March through the lowest dungerons of the hels And from a Diademe would breath with pow'r Though all deaths engines brag'd them every houre Yet though such restlesse mindes attaine in th' end The height to which their haughty hearts aspir'd They never can embrace that dreamed blisse Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend Though by the multitude they be admir'd That still to pow'r doth shew it selfe submisse Yet by the soule still further is requir'd Which should seale up th' accomplishment of joy Thus partiall judgements blindely â—yme amisse At things which stand without our reach retir'd Which whilst not ours as treasures we define But not the same whilst we the same enjoy Some things a farre doe like the Glow-worme shine Which look't too neere have of that light no signe No charge on th' earth more weighty to discharge Then that which of a kingdome doth dispose O! those who manage must the reynes of state Till their pale Ghost imbarke in Charons Barge They never need t' attend a true repose How hard is it to please each wans conceit When gaining one they must another lose Thus hardly Kings themselves can evenly beare Whom if severe as cruell subjects hate Contempt dare to the milde it selfe oppose Who spare in time as niggards are despis'd Men from too franke a minde exactions feare Though in all shapes as Proteus us'd disguis'd Kings by some scandall alwaies are surpris'd Yet one might well with every thing comport Which on opinion onely doth depend If further danger follow'd not by deeds But every Monarch Loe in many a sort Death laid in ambush alwaies doth attend Of some by mut'nous swords the life forth bleeds By unsuspected poyson others end Which whilst they alwaies labour to prevent A thousand deaths within their breasts life breeds Loe this is all for which the great contend Who whilst their pride themselves and others spoiles With their dominions doe their cares augment And O vaine man who toylâ—st to double toyles Though
still the victory the Victor foiles Thus Alexander could not be appeas'd Whilst be to raise his state did wayes prepare Which when made most diminish'd most remain'd Where with his fathers bounds had he beene pleas'd He might have left our Crowne sure to his heire Who by his conquest nought but death hath gayn'd 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 restrain'd Would if possest their pleasures but impaire Yet they by harme of others seeke the thing Which by their harme of others will be sought To him and his each of them death would bring That it might once be said he was a King We may securely sitting on the shore Whilst great men doe as toss'd on th' Ocean grâ—ne Taught by their toyles esteeme much of our rest For this doth thousands with affliction store VVhich of the world as most unhappy moane If they but chance to view some few more blest VVhere if they would but marke how many a one More wretch'd then they in misery doth live It straight would calme the most unquiet brest The Cottage oft is happier then the Throne To thinke our owne state good and others ill It could not but a great contentment give There much consists in the conceit and will To us all things are as we thinke them still FINIS THE TRAGEDY OF JVLIVS CAESAR THE ARGUMENT AT that time when the Romans travelled with an unsatiable ambition to subdue all Nationâ— by whose overthrow they could conceive any expectation either of glory or profit Caius Iulius Caesar a nâ—n of a lofty minde and given to attempt great things ascending by severall degrees to the Consulship 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 having purchased a singular reputation both for his courage and skill in Arms he being long accustomed to command was so drunke with a delight of soveraignty that disdaining the simplicity of a private life he was so farre from denuding himselfe of the authority which he had that altogether transported with a desire of more he sent to the 〈…〉 the Gaules prorogated for five yeares which suit being repugnant to the Lawes as directly tending to tyranny was by the people publikely repelled By which occasion and some others rising from an emulation between 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 celerity came to Rome which he 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 having by the overthrow of Scipio death of Cato and flight of Pompeyes sonnes as it were rooted out all the contrary faction hereturned to Rome and indirectly by the meanes of Antonius laboured to be proclaimed King which having rendred him altogether odious Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus Decius Brutus Publius Casca and divers others Noble men conspired his death and appointed a day for the same at which time notwithstanding that Caesar was disswaded from going forth by many monstrous apparitions and ominous presages yet being perswaded by Decius Brutus Albinus he went towards the fatall place where the Senate was assembled The Conspirators in like manner had many terrors amongst others Portia the wife of Marcus Brutus although shee had insinuated her selfe in her husbands secret by a notable proofe of extraordinary magnanimity yet on the day dedicated for the execution of their designe through the apprehension of his danger she fainted divers times whereof Brutus was advertised yet shrinked not but went forwards with his confederates to the appointed place where they accomplished their purpose every one of there giving Caesar a wound and me a ground whereupon to build this present Tragedy The persons names who speake IUNO CAESAR ANTONIUS CICERO DECIUS BRUTUS CAIUS CASSIUS MARCUS BRUTUS PORTIA CALPHURNIA NUNTIUS The Some in Rome THE TRAGEDY OF JVLIVS CAESAR Act I. Juno THough I a Goddesse grace the azure round Whilst birds all bright with eyes my Coach do move And am with radiant starres heavens Empresse crown'd The thunderers sister wife of mighty Iove And though I banquet in th'ethe riall bowres Where Ambrosie and Nectar serves for meate And at the meeting of th' Immortall powres And still advanc'd unto the highest seat Yet by those glorious shewes of boundlesse blisse My burden'd minde can no way be reliev'd Since immortallity affords but this That I live ever to be ever griev'd In vaine vaine mortals seeke for helpe at me With sacred odours on my Altars throwne What expectation can they have to see One venge their wrongs who cannot venge her own May Pallas then drowne thousands if she please Who metamorphos'd Diomedes mates And must my enemies alwaies live at ease As me to spight appointed by the fates Of all the dying race which lives below With such indignities none could comport As wound my brest whom Gods and men doe know To be abus'd by Iove in many a sort Though knowne to me from others if conceal'd His faults might breed me griefe but yet not shame Where loe now both through heaven and earth reveal'd Each slandrous Theater doth his scorne proclaime If divine soules divinely liv'd aloft The world below would imitate them then But humaniz'd by haunting mortals oft Where men should grow like Gods Gods grow like men My painted Iris in her beauties pride Smiles not on Phoebus with so many hewes As Iove in divers shapes himselfe can hide When he poore Maydes by Cupid spurr'd pursues He Danae a golden shower deceiv'd And did a Swanne in Ledaes bosome light Then turn'd a Bull Agenors daughter reav'd And Io made a Cow to mocke my sight But O! I wish that with such wanton Dames He still to sport would as with me remaine Not able then to touch celestiall flames All like the drunkards mother might be slaine Then such a troupe as Rheas bosome stores Would not hold him and me at endlesse jarres The heavens are pestred with my husbands whores Whose lights impure doe taint the purest starres Though wrongs when grosse are heavy to digest An Actors greatnesse doth some griefe remove Of whom to suffer wrong it shames one least If I were wrong'd ' I would be wrong'd by Iove But ah this long tormented hath my brest A Man a Boy a shepheard yea and worse The Phrygian fire-brand the adultrous guest Who first wrought wrong by fraud and then by force He he was he whose verdict mov'd me most Whilst partiall fancies judg'd of beauties right Nor was it strange though one all judgement lost Who had three naked Goddesses in sight And yet I know had not his wandring eyes The Cyprian brib'd by some lascivious smiles My pompous birds in triumph through the skyes Had borne the
out We must in time attempt and not attend That race of victors which did Realmes appall Ah vanquish'd by their victories at last Are by their too much liberty made thrall Since all their strength but down themselves doth cast And we who by our birth aym'd at great things Of the worlds mistresse mighty minions once Who might have labour'd to give 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 even at this houre And to his Clients kingdomes doth divide With an unlimited tyrannicke pow'r 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 bragge of our disgrace Marc. Brut. I thought to see that man as others are Walke re-apparrell'd with a private gowne As one who had unwillingly made warre To stand himselfe not to cast others downe So Silla though more inhumane then he Whilst having all to what his heart aspir'd The Soveraignty resign'd and set Rome free When expectations date was quite expir'd By Caesars worth we must thinke that he too Will render freedome to this captiv'd state When first the world hath view'd what he might doe His thoughts are generous as his minde is great Though insolencies oft from courage flow His dying fury sparkles but a space High thoughts which Mars inspires nought can bring low Till one have us'd the purity of peace Those who by violence to all things tend Scâ—râ—â— can themselves to quietnesse conforme Their stately carriage and franke words offend Whil'st peace cannot comport with warres rude forme I hope that Caesar setling civill broyles When worne by custome from intestine rage Will strive to mitigate his Countries toyles And all those flames which burn'd his brest asswage Ca. Cassius Thus of his course you by your owne conceiv'd As if like thoughts of both did bound the will Ah honest mindes are with least paine deceiv'd Those who themselves are good dreame not of ill To sound of some the still unsound device Their inclination must your judgement sway The square of vertue cannot measure vice Nor yet a line when straight a crooked way So Caesar rising may usurpe the State He cares not by what force nor by what sleight O! one may soone deceive men and grow great Who leaves religion honesty and right When as the Senators no more their owne Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blindes And by high honours shew'd how they had shownâ— To gratifie his greatnesse gratefull mindes He in a Chayre imperiously plac'd Not daign'd to rise nor bow in any sort As both of them had but their due embrac'd When he a haughty they a humble port But if he thus ere we be throughly thrall'd Dare so disdainefully such great men use When in a regall Throne by us enstall'd Then will he breake that which he now doth bruise Was he not first who ever yet began To violate the sacred Tribunes place And punish'd them for punishing a man Who had transgress'd the lawes in time of peace The lawes which doe of death all guilty hold Whose actions seeme to tyranny inclin'd So earnest were our Ancestors of old To quench a tyrants light before it shin'd And shall our Nephewes heires of bondage blame Vs dastard parents who their hopes deceiv'd Who saw who suff'red who surviv'd such shame Not leaving dead what we when borne receiv'd By Caesars friends to an assembly brought The Senators intend to call him King Brut. I 'le not be there Cass But what if we be sought To ayde as Pretors such a publike thing Brut. I will resist that violent decree None of Romes Crowne shall long securely boast For ere that I live thrall'd I 'le first dye free What can be kept when liberty is lost Cass O! with what joy I swallow up those words Words worthy of thy worth and of thy name But Brutus doe not feare this cause affords In danger many but few mates in fame When Anthony proud Caesars image crown'd By silent sorrow all the people told In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drown'd That bondage-bragging Comet to behold What doe those scroules throwne in thy chaire import Which what thou art to brave thy courage brings Be those the fancies of the vulgar sort No none but noble mindes dreame of great things Of other Pretors people looke for showes And distributions whose remembrance dyes Whilst bloudy Fencers fall with mutuall blowes And Africkes monsters doe amaze their eyes But from thy hands they liberty attend By birth-right due the glory of thy race And bent for thee their bloud will frankely spend So thou succeed in thy great Parents place He Rome redeeming Tarquin did o'rethrow Though from his birth obey'd and without strife A rising tyrant then bring boldly low To what extinguish'd was who would give life Brut. I weigh thy words with an afflicted heart Which for compassion of my Country bleeds And would to God that I might onely smart So that all others scap'd what mischiefe breeds Then never 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 to my Country kinde But though that great mans grace to me enlarg'd May chalenge right in my affections store Yet must the greatest debt be first discharg'd I owe him much but to my Country more This is my brest hath great dissension bred I Caesar love but yet Romes enemy hate And as Iove lives I could be mov'd to shed My bloud for Caesar Caesars for the State I for my fathers death loath'd Pompey long Whilst just disdaine did boyle within my brest Yet when he warr'd to venge the common wrong I joyn'd with him because his cause was best A minde to raigne if Caesar now reveale I will in time precipitate his end Thus never arm'd but for the Common-weale I help'd a foe and now must hurt a friend Cas Lest of his favour thou the poyson prove From swallowing of such baites in time now spare No tyrant trust me can intirely love Nor none who for himselfe doth onely care He by this course doth cunningly intend Thy vertue slack'd to undermine thy minde Thy well-knowne courage purpos'd to disbend Thus though with silken bonds he would thee binde This of each tyrant is the common tread To wreake all those in whom most worth he findes Or whilst that terrours tosse his jealous head By subtilty to snare the greatest mindes As for the Pretor-ship when we did strive Then both were held in hope that so deceiv'd Each th 'others harmes might study to contrive Through emulation and disdaine conceiv'd Thus subtile Caesar by such sleights hath toild To sow dissension that we both might pause Of private wrongs and by such meanes imbroil'd Still courting him neglect the common cause But nought must make us th' one t'another strange Who should in time
the tyrants course restraine Let other men lament we must revenge I scorne to beare a sword and to complaine Brut. Though Caesar now I must conspire thy fall My heart to thee yet never harbour'd hate But pardon me who ever make it thrall From bondage Brutus must redeeme the state Of this my course what ever others judge Here I protest it is for good design'd My thoughts are guilty of no private grudge For reason and not fury moves my minde Nor doth ambition now enflame my brest With a prodigious appetite to raigne That when I have made Caesar Pluto's guest I in his roome a Monarch may remaine No if that glory did my fancies charme To which blind-folded tyrants doe aspire I needed not to doe 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 deserve to have his place And I could make my day succeed his night Yet doe I not for glory seeke so much As to attaine it by my Countries shame But O! I would my zeale to it is such That it may scape incurre a kinde of blame Yea so that I may free with honour'd wounds My soile that 's dearer then my soule to me I could my selfe live banish'd from that bounds Which at so deare a rate I would set free Cas What man doth breath of Mars his martiall race But will with Brutus sacrifize his bloud And charg'd with Armes ere tyranny take place Dare venture all things for his Countries good Can any judgement be deceiv'd so farre But it already clearely may behold How that this change Romes greatnesse soon will marre And raze the Trophees which she rear'd of old Of old in Rome all those who once had worne The peace-importing gowne or war-like shield Of dignities as capable all borne Durst ayme at ought that liberty could yeeld Those in affaires to deale who would set forth Were not discourag'd by their birth though base And poverty could not hold backe true worth From having honour both by warre and peace Then emulation violently driv'd All gallant mindes to tempt great actions still In vertues love who friendly rivals liv'd Whilst in their bosomes Glory balme did still Fabricius first was from the Plow advanc'd The Rudder of the Common-weale to hold Yet by no meanes his private wealth enhanc'd As rich in vertue still as poore in gold Rude Marius too to match red Mars in fame Forth from the vulgar drosse his race remov'd And loe of Cicero the ridiculous name As famous as the Fabians now hath prov'd Each abject minde disdain'd to be obscure When still preferment follow'd lofty cares And that one might by dangers past procure Fame for himselfe and honour to his heires But since that state by Caesar is o're-turn'd Whilst all our lives upon ones lippes depend Of brests which once with love of glory burn'd The soaring thoughts this wholly doth disbend Advancement now doth not attend desert But flowes from fancies of a flatt'red minde Which to base hirelings honour doth impart Whilst envy'd worth no safe retreat can finde All proud usurpers most addicted prove To them whom without cause they raise too high As thinking those who stand but by their love To entertaine the same all meanes must try Where they whose vertue reapes a due reward Not building onely on the givers grace Doe by deserts not gaine so great regard VVhilst they maintaine as they obtaine their place And if a worthy man to worke great things VVing'd with a tyrants favour raise his flight The highest course to him most harme still brings VVho till he fall cannot have leave to light Those who by force would have th' affection mov'd When willingly men hold such gallants deare Doe rage that any should be freely lov'd Whose vertue makes their vice more vile appeare The man who now to be preferr'd aspires Must by base flattery in a servile forme So soothing Caesar seale all his desires And in some shadow lurke to scape a storme A number now of that proud Rebels foes Who grieve to see the ground whence growes their griefe Would in obscurity entombe their woes So waiting and not working for reliefe But we whose lofty mindes disdaine to lowre Like them who seeke but their owne safety thus When shall we use high indignations pow'r Which as brave Romans worthy is of us Brut Since no indignity you will endure I see our mindes doe sympathize in this Should we by suffring seek to live secure Whose action must amend what is amisse No no such abject thought must staine our brest Whose active thoughts reach further than discourse Whilst but like beasts affecting food and rest Where men by reason should direct their course Like those of other parts not rais'd by strife If Caesar had been born or chus'd our Prince Then those who durst attempt to take his life The world of treason justly might convince Let still the States which flourish for the time By subjects be inviolable thought And those no doubt commit a monstrous crime Who lawfull Soveraignty prophane in ought And we must thinke though now thus brought to bow The Senate King a subject Caesar is The Soveraignty whom violating now The world must damne as having done amisse We will deare Cassius for our Countries sake What ever follow give or suffer death And let us now advise what course to take Whilst nought but th' ayre can beare away our breath Cas I thinke this matter needs not many words Since but one deed can bound the common shame In Caesars body we must sheath our swords And by his death our liberty reclaime But since his fortune did confound them all Who in the fields to match him did begin VVhilst he by thousands made their bands to fall VVith hoary legions alwayes us'd to winne As Pompeys Scipio's and Petreius ghosts In lightlesse shades can by experience tell Who after fatall proofes of numâ—rous hoasts All famous though infortunately fell And since provided for the Parthian warre His Armie arm'd attends on his decree Where we sequestred from such forces farre Would if suspected soone prevented be With some few friends whom all things to assay A love to us or to their Country bindes We to his wreake must walke another way Whilst ere our tongues our hands doe tell our mindes Now when most high and therefore hated most The gathered Senate seeks to make him King We must goe give the blow before we boast And him to death Rome out of bondage bring Brut. In all this course I onely one thing blame That we should steale what we may justly take By cloathing honour with a cloake of shame Which may our cause though good more odious make O! I could wish with honourable wounds To match Romes enemy in the battels dust No sweeter Musicke then the Trumpets sounds When right and valour keepe a consort just Then free if quicke else dead no
presage my fall It a sooth-sayer likewise hath divin'd The Sacrifice prodigious seemes to all So that till this disastrous day be gone All company I purpose to disuse And to the Senators will send some one To paint my absence with a faire excuse Dec. Brut. Doe not repose on superstitious signes You to suspect the people thus to bring Whilst Soveraigne-like you limit their designes Seeme not a tyrant seeking to be King How can we satisfie the worlds conceâ—t Whose tongue still in all eares your praise proclaimes Or shall we bid them leave to deale in state Till that Calphurnia first have better dreames If that this day you private would remaine The Senate to dissolve your selfe must goe And then incontinent come backe againe When you have showne to it some reverence so Caes With thy advise as pow'rfull I agree The Senatours shall have no cause to grudge A little space all part a space from me And I 'le be shortly ready to dislodge Caesar alone VVHence comes this huge and admirable change That in my brest hath uncouth thoughts infus'd Doth th' earth then earst yeeld terrors now more strange Or but my minde lesse courage then it us'd What spightfull fate against my state contends That I must now to fancied plagues give place By toes not mov'd afraid amongst my friends By warre secure endanger'd but by peace When strongest troopes to fight with me did come Then did my heart the highest hopes conceive I warr'd with many many to o're-come The greatest bâ—ttels greatest glory gave As th' enemies numbers still my courage grew Through depths of dangers oft times have I past Yet never did those boundlesse labours rue To have none greater first none equall last When bragging Gauls mov'd by their neighbours fals Had from the fields no from my fury fled And hid themselves with Armes their Armes with walles Whilst I my troupes before Alexia led Then though there swarm'd forth from the bounds about Huge hosts to compasse me enflam'd with wrath That the besiegers all besieg'd about Seem'd drawne by danger in the nets of death No way I who could with the pride comport That those Barbarians by vaine vaunts bewray'd Did re-assault th' assaulters in such sort That words by wounds wounds were by death repayd Of those within the towne to ease their toyles Till quite o're-com'd their comming was not knowne Who straight upbraided by the barb'rous spoiles Did yeeld themselves as if with them o're-throwne By liquid legions whilst with tumid boasts The Trident-bearer striv'd my spoiles to beare Though threatned thrise amid'st his humid hosts Still courage scorn'd to thinke of abject feare I us'd those Pyrats who had me deceiv'd Still as my servants thundring threatnings forth And gave them money more then they had crav'd Whose ignorance too meanely priz'd my worth Yet gathering ships I stay'd not long a shore But trac'd their steps though they not pav'd the way And taking them as I had vow'd before By nought but death their ransome would defray Then when without th' advice of others mindes Through hoary waves I past alone by night Whilst in a little Barke against great windes That even the Pilot lookâ—t not for the light The waves themselves asunder seem'd to teare That in their gravell I might chuse a grave And cry stall arches did above me reare That I a Tombe fit for my state might have Whilst dangers seem'd to merit Caesars death As Neptune rais'd his head I rais'd my heart And she wing what I was with constant breath To weake Amiclas courage did impart Was I not once amid'st large Nilus slote Whilst me to wound a wood of darts did flye Yet swim'd so carelesse of my enemies shot That in my hand I held some papers dry With open dangers thus in every place I whilst oft compass'd both by Sea and Land Did undismay'd looke horrour in the face As borne for nought but onely to command But since a world of victories have fill'd With Trophees Temples Theaters with my praise That bath'd with balme which glories bayes had still'd With friends in peace I look'd to spend my dayes The chambers musicke now afrights me more Then Trumpets sounds when marching in the field And Gowns though signes of peace worse then before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield Those thoughts of late which had disdain'd to doubt Though I alone had march'd amongst my foes Loe whilst amongst my friends well back'd about They then the eyes more danger now disclose If any chance to meet a number brings I insurrections feare from common wrath Yea if two talke a part of private things Straight I suspect that they conspire my death â—â—en sudden rumours rise from vulgar smoake â—â—ilst th' inward motions roule my restlesse eyes I at â—â—â—ch corner for an ambush looke Aâ—â—â—start astonish'd lest some tumult rise When light first lightning doth encourage toyles I still despaire to re-enjoy the night And when mine eyes th' umbragious darkenesse spoils I never looke to grace them with the light For when the light with shadowes makes a change To flatter mortals with a dreame of rest What ugly Gorgons what Chimera's strange Doe bragge the little world within my brest The time which should appease impetuous cares Doth double mine who view most when quite blinde I apprehend huge horrours and despaires Whilst th' outward objects not distract my minde Now of my conquests what delight remaines Where is the peace pursu'd by many a strife Have I but taken paine to purchase paines And sought by dangers for a dangerous life Is this the period of aspiring pow'rs In promis'd calmes to be most plagu'd by stormes Lurke poys'nous Serpents under fairest flow'rs And hellish furies under heavenly formes It will not grieve my ghost below to goe If circumvented in the warres I end As bold Marcellus by Romes greatest foe Who gave his ashes honour as a friend Or like t' Epaminondas in his death O! would the Gods I had amidst alarmes When charg'd with recent spoiles been spoil'd of breath Whilst I to Pluto might have march'd in armes Yet life to end which nought but toyles affords I 'le pay to death the tribute that it owes Straight with my bloud let some come dye their swords Whose naked brest encounter shall their blowes But ah how have the furies seaz'd my brest And poyson'd thus my sprite with desp'rate rage By horrid Serpents whilst quite barr'd from rest No kinde of comfort can my cares asswage No Atropos yet spare my threed a space That to the Stygian streames ere walking downe I may of honour have the highest place And if I fall yet fall beneath a Crowne VVhilst eares are bended to applauding shouts My thoughts divided are within my brest And my toss'd soule doth flote between two doubts Yet knowes not on what ground to build her rest The Senators they have this day design'd To shew the world how they esteeme my worth Yet doe portentuous signes perturbe my minde By
Then discord to great Townes no greater pest Whose violence no reverence can restraine Yet often-times those warie wits have err'd Who would buy wealth and ease at any cost Let honesty to profit be preferr'd And to vile peace warre when it wounds us most But seeking peace what surety can we finde Can faithlesse men give faith just feares to stay No sacred band Impiety can binde Which sweares for trust seeks trust but to betray What help'd it Caesar that we all had sworne His body still from dangers to redeeme Those who are once perjur'd hold oaths in scorne All are most franke of what they least esteeme Mar. Brut. None needs in States which are from Tyrants free Loath'd execrations to confirme his will Where willingly men would with good agree And without danger might despise all ill All odious oaths by those are onely crav'd Whose suit from Reason doth a warrant want Whil'st who deceive affraid to be deceiv'd Seek of men thrall'd what none whil'st free would grant When Caesar had prevail'd in France and Spaine His Fortune building on his Countries wracke Of liberty a shadow to retaine We gave him all that he was bent to take The Senate had reserv'd nought but a show Whose course to it by Caesar was impos'd Who lifted up by bringing others low Of Offices and Provinces dispos'd Then that our faded hopes might never spring When bent to try the Parthians wooden showre He for five yeares dispos'd of every thing Even in his absence leaving us no pow'r O how some aggravate our deed with hate Who durst his body wound or with bloud staine Though consecrated by constraint of late Yea but reputed holy yet prophaine And did forget how he a wondrous case The Tribuneship did violate with scorne Which our fore-fathers free in time of peace Advis'dly had inviolable sworne Did he not once appropriate swolne with wrath The publike treasure to his private use And to the Tribune boldly threatned death Who did resist griev'd at that great abuse Twixt Romans and a Tyrant what availes A Covenant whil'st Right rests trod on thus Who can build further when the ground once fails Could we save him who sought to ruine us Cic. So absolutely good no man remaines Whose naturall weaknesse may not him o're-come Even Vertues dye from Vice may take some staines And worthy minds may of grosse faults have some As in fine fruits or weeds fat earth abounds Even as the Labourers spend or spare their paine The greatest sprits disdaining vulgar bounds Of what they seek the highest height must gaine They that bright glory may be so enjoy'd As onely borne to be in action still Had rather be then idle ill imploy'd Great sprits must do great good or then great ill The worlds chiefe treasure which bright Rayes do arme Huge evill procur'd though onely fram'd for good Till that fond youth whom his owne wish did harme Was kill'd by fire and buried in a floud By rules of Reason whil'st he rightly liv'd When lawfully elected by the State What glorious deeds by Caesar were atchiev'd Which all the world as wonders must relate But when of right he buried all respects As blinde Ambition had bewitch'd his minde What harme ensu'd by pitifull effects We at the first he at the last did finde Whil'st like Narcissus with himselfe in love He with our bondage banqueted his sight And for a while uncertaine joyes to prove VVith all our woes would sweeten his delight How could brave men with vertuous mindes as thoâ—â— VVho of their Countries weale are jealous still But stoutly to all stormes their States expose The States destroyer resolute to kill But since our freedome flows from Caesars bloud Let us embrace that which too long we lack Peace gives to justice pow'r it to all good VVhere warre breeds wrong and wrong all kinde of wracke This Citie hath experienc'd with great paine VVhat guilty troubles rise from civill strife VVhich by her ruines registred remaine Since first the Gracchi gave contention life VVhen Scilla once and Marius mad through pride Did strive who should the most tyrannicke prove VVhat memorable miseries were try'd From Romans mindes no time can e're remove Then last by Caesar and his Sonne in law VVhat thousands Ghosts to Pluto were dispatch'd Ah! that the world those hosts divided saw Which joyn'd in one no world of worlds had match'd Yet with this wit which we have dearly bought Let us abhorre all that may breed such broils Lest when we have our selves to ruine brought In end Barbarians beare away our spoyls Cho. Rome to those great men hardly can afford A recompence according to their worth Who by a Tyrants o're-throw have restor'd The light of liberty which was put forth Yet by due praises with their merits even Let us acknowledge their illustrious mindes And to their charge let Provinces be given Still vertue grows when it preferrement findes Ant. Those barbarous Realms by whose respective will Of Caesars Conquests monuments are showne As if they held them highly honour'd still Who warr'd with Caesar though they were o'rethrown Can this disgrace by their proud mindes be borne Whil'st we dishonour whom they honour thus And shall we not whil'st as a Tyrant torne Give him a tombe who gave the world to us Must his Decrees be all reduc'd againe And those degraded whom he grac'd of late As worthy men unworthily did gaine Their roomes of reputation in the State As if a Tyrant we him damne so soone And for his murd'rers do rewards devise Then what he did must likewise be undone For which I feare a foule confusion rise Cho. Ah! brave Antonius sow not seeds of warre And if thou alwayes do'st delight in armes The haughty Parthians yet undaunted are Which may give thee great praise and us no harmes Detest in time th' abhominable broils For which no Conquerour to triumph hath com'd Whil'st this wretch'd Towne which still some party spoils Must loath the Victor and lament th'ore-com'd And shall we still contend against all good To make the yoke where we should bound abide Must still the Commons sacrifize their bloud As onely borne to serve the great mens pride Ant. Whil'st I the depths of my affection sound And reade but th' obligations which I owe I finde my selfe by oaths and duty bound All Caesars foes or then my selfe t' ore-throw But when I weigh what to the State belongs The which to plague no passion shall get place Then I with griefe digesting private wrongs Warre with my selfe to give my Countrey peace Yet whil'st my thoughts of this last purpose muse I altogether dis-assent from this That Caesars fame or body we abuse To deale with Tyrants as the custome is Lest guilty of ingratitude we seeme If guerdoning our benefactors thus Great Caesars body from disgrace redeeme And let his acts be ratifi'd by us Then for the publike-weale which makes us pause Towards those that have him kill'd t' extend regard Let them be
pardon'd for their kinsmens cause Remission given for evill is a reward Ca. Cass We stand not vex'd like Malefactors here With a dejected and remorsefull minde So in your presence supplicants t' appeare As who themselves of death do guilty finde But looking boldly with a loftie brow Through a delight of our designe conceiv'd We come to challenge gratefulnesse of you That have of us so great a good receiv'd But if you will suspend your thoughts a space Though not the givers entertaine the gift Do us reject yet liberty embrace To have you free loe that was all our drift So Rome her ancient liberties enjoy Let Brutus and let Cassius banish't live Thus banishment would breed us greater joy Then what at home a Tyrants wealth could give Though some misconstrue may this course of ours By ignorance or then by hate deceiv'd The truth depends not on opinions pow'rs But is it selfe how ever misconceiv'd Though to acknowledge us not one would daigne Our merit of it selfe is a reward Of doing good none should repent their paine Though they get no reward nor yet regard I 'le venture yet my fortune in the field With every one that Rome to bondage draws And as for me how ever others yeeld I 'le nought obey but Reason and the Laws Cic. What fools are those who further travell take For that which they even past recovery know Who can revive the dead or bring time back That can no creature who doth live below Great Pompey now for whom the world still weeps Lyes low neglected on a barbarous shore Selfe-slaughtered Scipio flotes amidst the deeps Whom it may be Sea-monsters do devoure Of Libyan Wolves grave Cate feasts the wombes Whose death of worth the world defrauded leaves Thus some that did deserve Mausolean tombes Have not a title grav'd upon their graves And yet may Caesar who procur'd their death By brave men slaine be buried with his race All civill warre quite banish'd with his breath Let him now dead and us alive have peace We should desist our thoughts on things to set Which may harme some and can give help to none Learne to forget that which we cannot get And let our cares be gone of all things gone Those who would strive all crosses to o're-come To present times must still conforme their course And making way for that which is to come Not medle with things past but by discourse Let none seek that which doth no good when found Since Caesar now is dead how ever dead Let all our griefe go with him to the ground For sorrow best becomes a lightlesse shade It were the best that joyn'd in mutuall love We physicke for this wounded State prepare Neglecting those who from the world remove 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 love their mouth and malice fills their mindes Those but to them poore simple soules appeare Whose count'nance doth discover what they thinke Who make their words as is their meaning cleare And from themselves can never seeme to shrinke Loe how Antonius faines to quench all jarres And whom he hates with kindenesse doth embrace But as he further'd first the former warres Some feare he still will prove a foe to peace Now where Calphurnia stayes our steppes addresse Since by this sudden chance her losse was chiefe All visite should their neighbours in distresse To give some comfort or to share in griefe Act 5. Scene 2. Calphurnia Nuntius Chorus WHen darkenesse last imprisoned had myne eyes Such monstrous visions did my heart affright That quite dejected it as stupid dies Through terrours then contracted in the night A melancholy cloud so dimmes my brest That it my mind fit for misfortune makes A lodging well dispos'd for such a Guest Where nought of sorrow but th' impression lackes And I imagine every man I see My senses so corrupted are by feares A Herauld to denounce mishaps to me Who should infuse confusion in my eares O! there he comes to violate my peace In whom the object of my thoughts I see Thy message is charactred in thy face And by thy lookes directed is to me Thy troubled eyes rest rowling for reliefe As lately frighted by some uglie sight Thy breath doth pant as if growne big with griefe And straight 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 Subject to the Romane State Fraud harm'd him more then force friends more then foes Ah! must this sad discourse by me be made Cal. Stay ere thou further goe defray my woes How doth my love where is my life Nun. dead Cal. dead Cho. Though apprehending horrours in her minde Now since she hath a certaintie receiv'd She by experience greater griefe doth finde Till borne the passions cannot be conceav'd When as a high disaster force affords O how that Tyrant whom affliction bears Barres th' eares from comfort and the mouth from words And when obdur'd scornes to dissolve in teares Cal. Ah! since the lights of that great light are set Why doth not darknesse spread it selfe o're all At least what further comfort can I get Whose pleasures had no period but his fall O would the Gods I always might confine Flames in my brest and floods within my eyes To entertaine so great a griefe as mine That thence there might fit furniture arise Yet I disdaine though by distresse o'rethrowne By such externall meanes to seeke reliefe The greatest sorrowes are by silence showne Whilst all the Senses are shut up with griefe But miserie doth so tyrannick grow That it of sighes and teares a tribute claimes Ah! when the cup is full it must o'reflow And fires which burne must offer up some flames Yet though what thou hast sayd my death shall be Since sunke so deeply in a melted heart Of my lives death report each point to mee For every circumstance that I may smart Nun. What fatall warnings did foregoe his end Which by his stay to frustrate some did try But he who scorn'd excuses to pretend Was by the destinies drawne forth to die Whilst by the way he chanc'd to meet with one Who had his deaths-day nam'd he to him said The Ides of March be come but yet not gone The other answer'd and still constant stayd Another brought a letter with great speed Which the conspiracie at length did touch And gave it Caesar in his hand to reade Protesting that it did import him much Yet did he lay it up where still it rests As doe the great whom blest the world reputes Who griev'd to be importun'd by requests Of simple supplicants neglect the suites Or he of it the reading did deferre Still troubled by attendants at the gate Whilst some to show their credit would conferre To flatter
some some something to entreate Not onely did the Gods by divers signes Give Caesar warning of his threatned harmes But did of foes disturbe the rash designes And to their troubled thoughts gave strange alarmes A Senator who by some words we find To the conspirators 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 purpos'd deeds They straight themselves or Caesar thought to kill A guiltie conscience no accuser needs But marking that he us'd when taking leave A suters gesture when affording thankes They of their course did greater hopes conceave And rang'd them seven according to their rankes Then Caesar march'd forth to the fatall place Neere Pompeys Theater where the Senate was Where when he had remain'd a litle space All the confederats flock'd about Calph. Alas Nun. First for the forme Metellus Cimber crav'd To have his Brother from exile restor'd Yet with the rest a rude repulse receiv'd Whilst it they all too earnestly implor'd Bold Cimber who in strife with him did stand Did strive to cover with his Gowne his head Then was the first blow given by Casca's hand Which on his necke a litle wound but made And Caesar starting whilst the stroke he spi'd By strength from further striking Casca stai'd Whilst both the two burst out at once and cry'd He Traitour Casca and he Brother aide Then all the rest against him did arise Like desp'rat men whose furie force affords That Caesar on no side could set his eyes But every looke encountred with some Swords Yet as a lyon when by nets surpriz'd Stands strugling still so long as he hath strength So Caesar as he had their pow'r despis'd Did with great rage resist till at the length He thus cri'd out when spying Brutus come And thou my Sonne then griefe did back rebound Nought but unkindnesse Caesar could o'recome That of all things doth give the deepest wound Cho. Ah! when unkindnesse is where love was thought A tender passion breakes the strongest heart For of all those who give offence in ought Men others hate but for unkinde men smart Nun. Ah! taking then no more delight in light As who disdainfullie the world disclaim'd Or if from Brutus blow to hold his sight As of so great ingratitude asham'd He with his Gowne when cover'd first o're all As one who neither sought nor wish'd reliefe Not wronging majestie in state did fall No sigh consenting to betray his griefe Yet if by chance or force I cannot tell Even at the place where Pompey's statue stood As if to crave him pardon Caesar fell That in revenge it might exhaust his blood But when his corpes abandon'd quite by breath Did fortunes frailties monument remaine That all might have like int'rest in his death And by the same looke for like praise or paine Then Cassius Brutus and the rest began With that great Emperours blood to die their hands What beast in th' earth more cruell is then man When o're his reason passion once commands Cal. Whilst brutish Brutus and proud Cassius thus Romes greatest Captaine under trust deceiv'd Where was Antonius since a friend to us That he not lost himselfe or Caesar sav'd Nun. The whole conspiratours remain'd in doubt Had he and Caesar joyn'd to be undone And so caus'd one to talke with him without Who fain'd a conference till the fact was done Then knowing well in such tumultuous broiles That the first danger alwayes is the worst He fled in hast disguis'd with borrow'd spoiles For rage and for disdaine even like to burst Cal. The Senatours which were assembled there When they beheld that great man brought to end What was their part to what inclin'd their care I fear affliction could not finde a friend Nun. Of those who in the Senate-house did sit So sad an object sorrie to behold Or fearing what bould hands might more commit Each to his house a severall way did hold This act with horrour did confound their sight And unawares their judgement did surprise When any hastie harmes un-lookt-for light The resolution hath not time to rise That man on whom the world did once rely By all long reverenc'd and ador'd by some None to attend him had but two and I. Cho. To what an ebbe may fortunes flowing come Why should men following on the smoake of priâ—e Leave certaine case to seeke a dream'd delight Which when they have by many dangers tri'd They neither can with safety keepe nor quite The people who by force subdu'd remaine May pitty those by whom opprest they rest They but one Tyrant have whereas there raigne A Thousand Tyrants in one Tyrants brest VVhat though great Caesar once commanded Kings VVhose onely name whole Nations did appall Yet now let no man trust in worldly things A little earth holds him who held it all Cal. Ah! had he but beleev'd my faithfull cares His State to stablish who have alwayes striv'd Then scaping this conspiracie of theirs He honour'd still and I had happy liv'd Did I not spend of supplications store That he within his house this day would waste As I by dreames advertis'd was before VVhich shew'd what was to come and now is past VVhil'st the Sooth-sayers sacrific'd did finde A beast without a heart their Altars staine By that presage my soule might have divin'd That I without my heart would soone remaine But all those terrours could no terrour give To that great minde whose thoughts too high still aym'd He by his fortune confident did live As if the heavens for him had all things fram'd Yet though he ended have his fatall race To bragge for this let not his Murtherers strive For O! I hope to see within short space Him dead ador'd and them abhorrâ—d alive Though now his name the multitude respects Since murdering one who him had helâ— so deare VVhil'st inward thoughts each outward thing reflects Some monstrous shape to Brutus must appeare Iust Nemesis must plague proud Cassius soone And make him kill himselfe from hopes estrang'd Once all the wrongs by foes to Caesar done May by themselves be on themselves reveng'd Cho. Some Soveraigne of the earth would fortune prove As if confus'dly Gods did men advance Nought comes to men below but from above By providence not by a staggering chance Though to the cause that last forgoes the end Some attribute the course of every thing That cause on other causes doth depend Which chain'd 'twixt heaven and earth due ends forth bring Of those decrees the heavens for us appoint Who ever them approves or doth disprove No mortall man can disappoint a point But as they please here moves or doth remove We when once come the worlds vaine pompe to try Led by the fates to end our journey haste For when first borne we straight begin to dye Life 's first day is a step unto the last And is there ought more swift