From all disturbs to be so long kept free And with such glory to discharge that place And therefore if by such a power thou be Stopt of thy course reckon it no disgrace Sith shee alone being priuiledg'd from hie Hath thys large Patent of eternite 52 This charge the Goddesse gaue when ready straight The subtill messenger accompayned With all her crew of crafts that on her wayt Hastes to effect what shee was counsailed And out shee pours of her mimens conceit Vpon such searching spirits as trauailed In penetrating hidden secrecies Who soone these meanes of misery deuise 53 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde Into theyr mothers close-lockt Treasury They mineralls combustible doe finde Which in stopt concaues placed cunningly They fire and fire imprisoned against kind Teares out away thrusts out his enemy Barking with such a horror as if wroth With man that wrongs himselfe and nature both 54 And this beginning had this cursed frame Which Yorke hath now planted against his King Presuming by his power and by the same His purpose vnto good effect to bring When diuers of the grauest Counsell came Sent from the King to vnderstand what thing Had thrust him into these proceedings bad And what he sought and what intent he had 55 Who with words mildly-sharp gently-seuere Wrought on those wounds that must bee toucht with heed Applying rather salues of hope then feare Least corasiues should desperat mischiefes breed And what my Lord sayd they should moue you here In thys vnseemely manner to proceed Whose worth being such as all the Land admires Hath sayrer wayes then these to your desires 56 Will you whose meanes whose many friends whose grace Can work the world in peace vnto your wil Take such a course as shall your blood deface And make by handling bad a good cause ill How many harts hazard you in thys case That in all quiet plots would ayde you still Hauing in Court a Partie far more strong Then you conceiue prest to redresse your wrong 57 Fy fy forsake thys hatefull course my Lord Downe with these Armes that will but wound your cause What peace may do hazard not with the sword Fly from the force that from your force with-drawes And yeeld and we will mediat such accord As shall dispence with rigor and the lawes And interpose thys solemne fayth of our Betwixt your fault and the offended power 58 Which ingins of protests and proffers kinde Vrg'd out of seeming greese and shewes of loue So shooke the whole foundation of his minde As it dyd all his resolution moue And present seem'd vnto theyr course inclind So that the King would Sommerset remoue The man whose most intollerable pride Trode downe his worth and all good mens beside 59 Which they there vow'd should presently be done For what will not pence-louers willing grant Where dangerous euents depend thereon And men vnfurnisht and the state in want And if with words the conquest will be won The cost is small and who holds breath so scant As then to spare tho' against his dignity Better discend then end in maiestie 60 And here-vpon the Duke dissolues his force Submits him to the King on publique vow The rather to presuming on thys course For that his sonne the Earle of March was now With mightier powers abroad which would enforce His peace which els the King would not allow For seeing not all of him in him he hath His death would but gyue life to greater wrath 61 Yet comming to the King in former place Hys foe the Duke of Sommerset he finds Whom openly reproching to hys face Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kinds The Duke returnes lyke speeches of dysgrace And fiery words bewrayd theyr flaming minds But yet the tryall was for them deferd Till fitter tyme allow'd it to be heard 62 At Westminster a Counsell gathered Deliberats what course the cause should end Of th' apprehended Duke of Yorke whose head Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend Law fiercely vrgd his deed and found him dead Frends fayld to speake where they could not defend Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood As prodigall of lyse nyggard of blood 63 And as if angry with the Lawes of death And why should you sayd he vrge things so far You that invr'd with mercinary breath And hyred tongue so peremptory are Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth As if you dyd with poore affliction war And pray on frailty folly hath betrayd Bringing the lawes to wound neuer to ayd 64 Dispence sometyme with sterne seueritie Make not the lawes still traps to apprehend Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie Mercy may mend whom malice made offend Death giues no thanks but checks authority And lyfe doth onely maiestie commend Reuenge dyes not rigor begets new wrath And blood hath neuer glory mercy hath 65 And for my part and my part should be chiefe I am most willing to restore his state And rather had I win him with reliefe Then loose him with despight and get more hate Pitty drawes loue bloodshed as natures griefe Compassion followes the vnfortunate And loosing him in him I loose my power We rule who liue the dead are none of our 66 And should our rigor lessen then the same Which we with greater glory should retaine No let hym lyue his lyfe must giue vs fame The chyld of mercy newly borne againe As often burials is Phisitions shame So many deaths argues a Kings hard raigne Why should we say the law must haue her vigor The law kills him but quits not vs of rigor 67 You to get more preferment by your wit Others to gaine the spoyles of misery Labour with all your power to follow it Shewing vs feares to draw on cruelty You vrge th' offence not tell vs what is fit Abusing wrong-informed maiestic As if our power were onely but to slay And that to sane were a most dangerous way 68 Thus out of pitty spake that holy King Whom mylde affections led to hope the best When Sommerset began to vrge the thing With words of hotter temper thys exprest Deare soueraigne Lord the cause in managing Is more then yours t' imports the publique rest We all haue part it touches all our good And lyfe's ill spard that 's spar'd to cost more blood 69 Compassion here is cruolty my Lord Pitty will cut our throats for sauing so What benefit shall we haue by the sword If mischiefe shall escape to draw on mo Why should we gyue what Law cannot afford To ' be ' accessaries to our proper wo Wisdom must iudge twixt men apt to amend And minds incurable borne to offend 70 It is no priuat cause I doe protest That moues me thus to prosecute his deede Would God his blood and myne had well releast The dangers that his pryde is lyke to breed Although at me he seemes to haue addrest His spight t is not his end he hath decreed I am not he alone hee doth pursue But thorow me
did her full reuenge refer Oh poore weake conquest both for him and her Then straight my conscience summons vp my sin T' appeare before me in a hideous face Now doth the terror of my soule begin When eu'ry corner of that hatefull place Dictates mine etror and reueales disgrace Whilst I remaine opprest in euery part Death in my bodie horror at my hart Downe on my bed my loathsome selfe I cast The bed that likewise giues in euidence Against my soule and tels I was vnchast Tels I was wanton tels I followed sence And therefore cast by guilt of mine offence Must heere the right of heauen needes satisfie And where I wanton lay must wretched die Heere I began to waile my hard mishap My suddaine strange vnlookt for miserie Accusing them that did my youth intrap To giue me such a fall of infamie And poore distressed ROSAMOND said I Is this thy glory got to die forlorne In Dezarts where no eare can heare thee morne Nor any eye of pittie to behold The wofull end of thy sad tragedie But that thy wrongs vnseene thy tale vntold Must here in secret silence buried lie And with thee thine excuse togither die Thy sin reueal'd but thy repentance hid Thy shame aliue but dead what thy death did Yet breathe out to these walls the breath of mone Tell th' ayre thy plaints since men thou canst not tell And though thou perish desolate alone Tell yet thy selfe what thy selfe knowes too well Vtter thy griefe where with thy soule doth swell And let thy hart pittie thy harts remorse And be thy selfe the mourner and the Corse Condole thee here clad all in blacke dispaire With silence onely and a dying bed Thou that of late so flourishing so faire Did glorious liue admir'd and honoured And now from friends from succor hither led Art made a spoyle to lust to wrath to death And in disgrace forc'd hecre to yeeld thy breath Did Nature O for this deliberate To shew in thee the glory of her best Framing thine eye the star of thy ill fate And made thy face the foe to spoile the rest O beautie thou an enemy profest To chastitie and vs that loue thee most Without thee how w' are loath'd and with thee loft O you that proude with libertie and beautie And ô may well be proude that you be so Glitter in Court lou'd and obseru'd of durie O that I might to you but ere I goe Speake what I feele to warne you by my woe To keep your feet in pure clean paths of shame That no inticing may diuert the same See'ng how against your tender weaknes still The strength of wit of gold and all is bent And all th' assaults that euer might or skill Can giue against a chaste and clean intent Ah let not greames worke you to ' consent The spot is forde though by a Monarch made Kings cannot priuiledge a sinne forbade Lock vp therefore the treasure of your loue Vnder the surest keyes of feare and shame and let no powers haue powre chast thoughts to moue To make a lawlesse entry on your fame Open to those the comfort of your flame Whose equall loue shall march with equall pace In those pure waies that lead to no disgrace For see how many discontented beds Our owne aspiring or our Parents pride Haue caus'd whilst that ambition vainely weds Wealth and not loue honor and nought beside Whilst married but to titles we abide As wedded widowes wanting what we haue When shadowes cannot giue vs what we craue Or whilst we spend the freshest of our time The sweet of youth in plotting in the aire Alas how oft we fall hoping to clime Or wither as vnprofitably faire Whilst those decaies which are without repaire Make vs neglected scorned and reprou'd And ô what are we if we be not lou'd Fasten therefore vpon occasions fit Least this or that or like disgrace as mine Do ouer-take your youth to ruine it And clowde with infamie your beauties shine Seeing how many seeke to vndermine The treasurie that 's vnpossest of any And hard t is kept that is desir'd of many And flie ô flie these Bed-brokers vncleane The monsters of our sexe that make a pray Of their owne kind by an vnkindly meane And euen like Vipers eating out a way Th'row th'wombe of their owne shame accursed they Liue by the death of Fame the gaine of sin The filth of lust vncleannes wallowes in O is it not enough that we poore wee Haue weaknes beautie gold and men our foes But we must haue some of our selues to bee Traitors vnto our selues to ioyne with those Such as our feeble forces doe disclose And stil betray our cause our shame our youth To lust to follie and to mens vntruth Hatefull confounders both of blood and lawes Vilde Orators of shame that pleade delight Vngracious Agents in a wicked cause Factors for darknes messengers of night Serpents of guile diuels that do inuite The wanton taste of that forbidden tree Whose fruit once pluckt will shew how foule we be You in the habite of a graue aspect In credite by the trust of yeeres can shoe The cunning wayes of lust and can direct The faire and wilie wantons how to goe Hauing your lothsome selues your youth spent so And in vncleannes euer haue beene fed By the reuenue of a wanton bed By you haue beene the innocent betraid The blushing fearefull boldned vnto sin The wife made subtile subtile made the maid The husband scorn'd dishonoured the kin Parents disgrac'd children infamous been Confus'd our race and falsi-fied our blood Whilst fathers sonnes possesse wrong Fathers good This and much more I would haue vttred then A testament to be recorded still Signd with my bloud subscrib'd with Conscience pen To warne the faire and beautifull from ill And ô I wish by th' example of my will I had not left this sin vnto the faire But dyde intestate to haue had no heire But now the poison spread through all my vaines Gan dispossesse my liuing sences quite And nought respecting death the last of paines Plac'd his pale colours th'ensigne of his might Vpon his new-got spoile before his right Thence chac'd my soule setting my day ere noone When I least thought my ioies could end so soone And as conuaid t'vntimely funerals My scarce cold corse not suffred longer stay Behold the King by chaunce returning fals T'inconnter with the same vpon the way As he repaird to see his deerest ioy Not thinking such a meeting could haue been To see his Loue and seeing beene vnseene Iudge those whō chance depriues of sweetest treasure What t is to lose a thing we hold so deere The best delight wherein our soule takes pleasure The sweet of life that penetrates so neere What passions feeles that hart inforc'd to beare The deepe impression of so strange a sight That ouer whemls vs or confounds vs quite Amaz'd he stands nor voice nor body stcares Words had no passage teares no
craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 74 And manie ready hands shee straight doth find To aide her deede of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind That to himselfe th' affaires all wholly tooke And ruling all had neuer any minde T' impart a part with others that would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And grieu'd at such ingrossing of commaunds 75 And had he not had such a greedy loue Of still continuing of his charge too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life without shee did him wrong But hauing liu'd so manie yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to be lesse strong And kils that fame that vertue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 76 O could the mighty but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe fortune ere shee pull them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfide Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high spreading ouergrowne Whilst they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and dispight 77 Then should not ô so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloudy end Nor their disgrac'd confounded families From so hye pride to so low shame descend But planted on that ground where safety lies Their branches should to eternity extend But euer those that ouerlooke so much Must ouersee themselues their state is such 78 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towardes euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bread despight So that euen vertue seemes an Actor too To ruine those fortune prepares to vndoo 79 Those thus prouided whom the Queene wel knew Hated his might and glad to inoouate Vnto so great and strong a party grew As easie t' was to ouerthrow his state And onely hope of alteration drew Manie to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnes men grow discontent Where states are ripe to fall and vertue spent 80 And taking all the rule into her hand Vnder the shadowe of that feeble king The Duke sh' excludes from office and command And in the reach of enmity doth bring From that respected height where he did stand Whilst malice scarce durst mutter anything When straight the worst of him comes all reueald Which former feare or rigor kept conceald 81 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the land haue brought The ciuile forme in cases touching bloud And such poore crimes that shewd their spight was sound But yet bewraide their matter wanted ground 82 Yet seru'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shall obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose hainous faults his matter must deface For where powre hath decreed to find th' oftence The cause is better still then the defence 83 A Parlament at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or ought imagining of what befell Where as the matter is so followed That he conuented is ere he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 84 Which quicke and sodaine action gaue no time For men to weigh the iustice of the deed Whilst looking only on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drift they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Sacietie makes passions still lesse strong 85 And yet they seem'd some mutiny to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Seeing he was most popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither dye 86 Reekning it better since his end is ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft things done perhaps doe lesse anoy Then may the doing handled with delay 87 And so they had it straight accomplished For that day after his committing he Is dead brought foorth being found so in his bed Which was by sodaine sicknes said to bee That had vpon his sorrowes gathered As by apparant to kens men might see And thus ô Sicknes thou art oft belide When death hath many waies to come beside 88 Are these the deedes hye forraine wits inuent Is this that wisedome whereof they so boast O then I would it neuer had beene spent Here amongst vs nor brought from out their coast O let their cunning in their limits pent Remaine amongst themselues that like it most And let the North they count of colder bloud Beheld more grosse so it remaine more good 89 Let them haue fairer citties goodlier soiles And sweeter fields for beautie to theeie So long as they haue these vngodly wiles Such detestable vile impietie And let vs want their vines their fruites the whiles So that we want not faith and honestie We care not for those pleasures so we may Haue better harts and stronger hands then they 90 Neptune keepe out from thy imbraced Ile This foule contagion of iniquitie Drowne all corruptions comming to defile Our faire proceedings ordred formally Keepe vs mere English let not craft beguile Honor and Iustice with strang subtiltie Let vs not thinke that that our good can frame Which ruinde hath the Authors of the same 91 But by this impious meanes that worthy man Is brought vnto this lamentable end And now that current with maine fury ran The stop remou'd that did the course defend Vnto the full of mischiefe that began T' a vniuersall ruine to extend That Isthmus failing which the land did keepe From the intire possession of the deepe 92 And now the king alone all open lay No vnderprop of bloud to stay him by None but himselfe standes weakely in the way Twixt Yorke and the affected sou'raignty Gone is that barre that would haue beene the stay T' haue kept him backe from mounting vp so hie But ô in what a state stand these men in That cannot liue without nor with their kin 93 The Queene hath yet by this her full desire And now she with her minion Suffolke raignes Now shee hath all authority intire And all affaires
the Queen raught from her side her knife And euen in act to stab her martred brest I stept with speede and held and sau'd her life And forth her trembling hād the blade did wrest Ah Cleopatra why shouldst thou said I Both iniurie thy selfe and Caesar so Barre him the honour of his victorie Who euer deales most mildly with his foe Liue and relie on him whose mercie will To thy submission alwayes readie be With that as all amaz'd she held her still Twixt maiestie confuz'd and miserie Her proud grieu'd eyes held sorow and disdaine State and distresse warring within her soule Dying ambition dispossest her raigne So base affliction seemed to controule Like as a burning Lampe whose liquour spent With intermitted flames when dead you deem it Sendes forth a dying flash as discontent That so the matter failes that should redeeme it So shee in spight to see her low-brought state When all her hopes were now consum'd to nought Scornes yet to make an abiect league with Fate Or once descend into a seruile thought Th' imperious tongue vnused to beseech Authoritie confounds with prayers so Words of cōmand conioin'd with humble speech Shew'd she would liue yet scorn'd to pray her foe Ah what hath Caesar here to doe said she In confines of the dead in darknes lying Will he not grant our sepulchres be free But violate the priuiledge of dying VVhat must he stretch forth his ambitious hand Into the right of Death and force vs here Hath miserie no couert where to stand Free from the storme of pride i st safe no where Cannot my land my gold my crowne suffise And all what I held deere to him made common But that he must in this fortty tyrannize Th' afflicted bodie of an wofull woman Tell him my frailtie and the Gods haue giuen Sufficient glorie if he could content him And let him now with his desires make euen And leaue me to this horror to lamenting Now he hath taken all away from mee VVhat must he take me from my selfe by force Ah let him yet in mercie leaue me free The kingdome of this poore distressed corse No other crowne I seeke no other good Yet wish that Caesar would vouchsafe this grace To fauour the poore ofspring of my blood Confused issue yet of Roman race If blood and name be links of loue in Princes Not spurres of hate my poore Caesario may Finde fauour notwithstanding mine offences And Caesars blood may Caesars raging stay But if that with the torrent of my fall All must be rapt with furious violence And no respect nor no regard at all Can ought with nature or with blood dispence Then be it so if needes it must be so There stayes and shrinkes in horror of her state VVhen I began to mitigate her woe And thy great mercies vnto her relate VVishing her not despaire but rather come And sue for grace and shake off all vaine feares No doubt she should obtaine as gentle doome As she desir'd both for her selfe and hers And so with much a-do well pacifide Seeming to be she shew'd content to liue Saying she was resolu'd thy doome t' abide And to accept what fauour thou would'st giue And here-with all crau'd also that she might Performe her last rites to her lost belou'd To sacrifice to him that wrought her plight And that shee might not be by force remou'd I granting from thy part this her request Left her for then seeming in better rest Caes. But dost thou thinke she will remaine so still Pro. I thinke and do assure my selfe she will Caes. Ah priuat men sound not the harts of princes Whose actions oft beare contrarie pretences Pro. Why t is her safetie for to yeeld to thee Caes. But t is more honour for her to die free Pro. She may thereby procure her childrens good Caes. Princes respect their honor more then blood Pro. Can princes powre dispence with nature thā Caes. To be a prince is more then be a man Pro. There 's none but haue in time perswaded beene Caes. And so might she too were she not a Queene Pro. Diuers respects will force her be reclaim'd Caes. Princes like Lyons neuer will be tarn'd A priuate man may yeeld and care not how But greater hearts will breake before they bow And sure I thinkesh ' will neuer condiscend To liue to grace our spoiles with her disgrace But yet let still a wary watch attend To guard her person and to watch the place And looke that none with her come to confer Shortly my selfe will go to visite her CHORVS OPINION how doost thou molest Th' affected minde of restles man Who following thee neuer can Nor euer shall attaine to rest For getting what thou saist is best Yet loe that best he findes farre wide Of what thou promisedst before For in the same he lookt for more Which proues but smal whē once t is tride Then something else thou find st beside To draw him stil frō thought to thought When in the end all proues but nought Farther from rest hee findes him than Then at the first when he began O malecontent seducing guest Contriuer of our greatest woes Which born of wind fed with showes Doost nurse thy selfe in thine vnrest Iudging vngotten thinges the best Or what thou in conceit design'st And all things in the world doost deeme Not as they are but as they seeme Which shewes their state thou ill defin'st And liu'st to come in present pin'st For what thou hast thou still doost lacke O mindes tormentor bodies wracke Vaine promiser of that sweet rest Which neuer anie yet possest If we vnto ambition tende Then doost thou drawe our weakenes on With vaine imagination Of that which neuer hath an ende Or if that lust we apprehend How doth that pleasant plague infest O what strange formes of luxurie Thou straight doost cast t' intice vs by And tell'st vs that is euer best Which we haue neuer yet possest And that more pleasure rests beside In something that we haue not tride And when the same likewise is had Then all is one and all is bad This Antony can say is true As Cleopatra knowes t is so By th' experience of their woe Shee can say she neuer knew But that lust found pleasures new And was neuer satisfide He can say by proofe of toile Ambition is a Vulture vile That feeds vpō the hart of pride And finds no rest when all is tride For worlds cannot confine the one Th' other lists and bounds hath none And both subuert the minde the state Procure destruction enuie hate And now when all this is prou'd vaine Yet Opinion leaues not heere But sticks to Cleopatra neere Perswading now how she shall gaine Honour by death and fame attaine And what a shame it were to liue Her kingdome lost her Louer dead And so with this perswasion led Dispaire doth such a courage giue That nought else can her mind relieue Nor yet diuert her from that thought To this
and therefore chose To render all to Honour hart and breath And that with speede least that her in ward foes False flesh and blood ioyning with life and hope Should mutinie against her resolution And to the end she would not giue them scope She presently proceedes to th' execution And sharply blaming of her rebell powres False flesh saith she what dost thou conspire With Caesar to as thou wert none of ours To worke my shame and hinder my desire Wilt thou retaine in closure of thy vaines That enemie Base life to let my good No know there is a greater powre constraines Then can be countercheckt with fearfull blood For to the mind that 's great nothing seems great And seeing death to be the last of woes And life lasting disgrace which I shall get What do I lose that haue but life to lose This hauing said strengthned in her owne hart And vnion of herselfe sences in one Charging togither she performes that part That hath so great a part of glorie wonne And so receiues the deadly poysoning touch That touch that try'd the gold of her loue pure And hath confirm'd her honour to be such As must a wonder to all worlds endure Now not an yeelding shrinke or touch offeare Consented to bewray least sence of paine But still in one same sweete vnaltred cheere Her honor did her dying thoughts retaine Wel now this work is done saith she here ends This act of life that part the Fates assign'd What glory or disgrace heere this world lends Both haue I had and both I leaue behind And now ô Earth the Theater where I Haue acted this witnes I die vnforst Wirnes my soule parts free to Anthonie And now proude Tyrant Caesar do thy worst This said she staies and makes a suddaine pause As t were to feele wheher the poyson wrought Or rather else the working might be cause That made her stay and intertain'd her thought For in that instant I might well perceiue The drowsie humor in her falling brow And how each powre each part opprest did leaue Their former office and did sencelesse grow Looke how a new pluckt branch against the Sun Declines his fading leaues in feeble sort So her disioyned ioyntures as vndonne Let fall her weake dissolued limmes support Yet loe that face the wonder of her life Retaines in death a grace that graceth death Colour so liuely cheere so louelie rife That none would think such beauty could want breath And in that cheere th' impression of a smile Did seeme to shew she scorned Death and Caesar As glorying that she could them both beguile And telling death how much her death did please her Woonder it was to see how soone she went She went with such a will and did so haste it That sure I thinke she did her paine preuent Fore-going paine or staying not to taste it And sencelesse in her sinking downe she wryes The Diademe which on her head she wore Which Charmion poore weake feeble mayd espies And hastes to right it as it was before For Eras now was dead and Charmion too Euen at the poynt for both would imitate Their Mistresse glorie striuing like to doo But Charmion would in this exceed her mate For she would haue this honour to be last That should adorne that head that must be seene To weare a Crowne in death that life held fast That all the world might know she dyde a Queene And as she stood setting it fitly on Lo in rush Caesars Messengers in haste Thinking to haue preuented what was done But yet they came too late for all was past For there they found stretch'd on a bed of gold Dead Cleopatra and that proudly dead In all the rich attyre procure she could And dying Charmion trimming of her head And Eras at her feet dead in like case Charmion is this well done said one of them Yea well said she and her that from the race Of so great Kings descends doth best become And with that word yeelds to her faithful breath To passe th'affurance of her loue with death Chor. But how knew Caesar of her close intent Nun. By Letters which before to him she sent For when she had procur'd this meanes to die She writes and earnestly intreates she might Be buried in one Tombe with Antony Where by then Caesar gess'd all went not right And forth-with sends yet ere the message came She was dispatcht he crost in his intent Her prouidence had ordred so the same That she was sure none should her plot preuent CHORVS THen thus we haue bepeld Th' accomplishment of woes The full of ruine and The worst of worst of ills And seene all hope expeld That euer sweet repose Shall re-possesse the Land That Desolation fils And where Ambition spils With vncontrouled hand All th' issue of all those That so long rule haue held To make vs no more vs But cleane confound vs thus And canst ô Nylus thou Father of floods indure That yellow Tyber should With sandy streames rule thee Wilt thou be pleas'd to bow To him those feet so pure Whose vnknown head we hold A powre diuine to be Thou that didst euer see Thy free banks vncontrould Liue vnder thine own care Ah wilt thou beare it now And now wilt yeeld thy streams A pray to other Reames Draw backe thy waters flo To thy concealed head Rockes strangle vp thy waues Stop Cataractes thy fall And turne thy courses so That sandy Desarts dead The world of dust that craues To swallow thee vp all May drinke so much as shall Reuiue from vastie graues Aliuing green which spred Far florishing may gro On that wide face of Death Where nothing now drawes breath Fatten some people there Euen as thou vs hast done With plenties wanton store And feeble luxurie And them as vs prepare Fit for the day of mone Respected not before Leaue leuell'd Egypt drie A barren pray to lie Wasted for euer-more Of plenties yeelding none To recompence the care Of Victors greedy lust And bring forth nought but dust And so O leaue to be Sith thou art what thou art Let not our race possesse Th' inheritance of shame The fee of sin that we Haue left them for their part The yoke of whose distresse Must still vpbraidour blame Telling from whom it came Our weight of want onnesse Lies heauie on their hart Who neuer-more shall see The glory of that worth They left who brought vs forth O thou all-seeing light High President of heauen You magistrates the starres Of that eternall Court Of Prouidence and Right Are these the bounds y'haue giuen Th'vntran spassable barres That limit pride so short Is greatnesse of this sort That greatnesse greatnesse marres And wracks it selfe selfe driuen On Rocks of her own might Doth Order order so Disorders ouer-thro FINIS THE COMPLAINT OF ROSAMOND OVT from the horror of Infernall deepes My poore afflicted ghost comes heere to plain it Attended with my shame that neuer sleepes The spot
where-with my kinde and youth did staine it My body found a graue where to containe it A sheete could hide my face but not my sin For Fame findes neuer tombe t' inclose it in And which is worse my soule is now denied Her transport to the sweet Elisian rest The ioifull blisse for ghosts repurified The euer-springing Gardens of the blest Caron denies me waftage with the rest And saies my soule can neuer passe the Riuer Till Louers sighes on earth shall it deliuer So shall I neuer passe for how should I Procure this sacrifice amongst the liuing Time hath long since worne out the memorie Both of my life and liues vniust depriuing Sorrow for me is dead for aye reuiuing ROSAMOND hath little left her but her name And that disgrac'd for time hath wrong'd the same No muse suggests the pitty of my case Each pen doth ouerpasse my iust complaint Whilst others are preferd though far more base Shores wife is grac'd and passes for a Saint Her Legend iustifies her foule attaint Her wel-told tale did such compassion find That she is pass'd and I am left behind Which seene with griefe my miserable ghost Whilome inuested in so faire a vaile Which whilst it liu'd was honored of the most And being dead giues matter to bewaile Comes to sollicite thee since others faile To take this taske and in thy woful song To forme my case and register my wrong Although I know thy iust lamenting Muse Toild in th' affliction of thine owne distresse In others cares hath little time to vse And therefore maist esteeme of mine the lesse Yet as thy hopes attend happie redresse Thy ioies depending on a womans grace So moue thy mind a wofull womans case DELIA may hap to deigne to read our storie And offer vp her sigh among the rest Whose merit would suffice for both our glorie Whereby thou might'st be grac'd and I be blest That indulgence would profit me the best Such power she hath by whom thy youth is led To ioy the liuing and to blesse the dead So I through beautie made the wofull'st wight By beautie might haue comfort after death That dying fairest by the fairest might Find life aboue on earth and rest beneath She that can blesse vs with one happie breath Giue comfort to thy Muse to do her best That thereby thou maistioy and I might rest Thus said forth-with mou'd with a tender care And pittie which my selfe could neuer find What she desir'd my Muse deign'd to declare And therefore will'd her boldly tel her mind And I more willing tooke this charge assignd Because her griefes were worthy to be known And telling hers might hap forget mine own Then write quoth she the ruine of my youth Report the down-fall of my slippry state Of all my life reueale the simple truth To teach to others what I learnt too late Exemplifie my frailty tell how Fate Keepes in eternall darke our fortunes hidden And ere they come to know theÌ„ t is forbidden For whilst the sun-shine of my fortune lasted Iioy'd the happiest warmth the sweetest heate That euer yet imperious beauty tasted I had what glory euer flesh could get But this faire morning had a shamefull set Disgrace darkt honor sin did clowd my brow As note the sequel and I le tell thee how The bloud I staind was good and of the best My birth had honour and my beauty fame Nature and Fortune ioin'd to make me blest Had I had grace t' haue knowne to vse the same My education shew'd from whence I came And all concurd to make me happie first That so great hap might make me more accurst Happie liu'd I whilst parents eie did guide The indiscretion of my feeble waies And Country home kept me from being eide Wher best vnknown I spent my sweetestdaics Til that my friends mine honor sought to raise To higher place which greater credit yeelds Deeming such beauty was vnfit for feelds From Country then to Court I was preferr'd From calme to stormes from shore into the deepes There where I perish'd where my youth first err'd There where I lost the flowre which honor keepes There where the worser thriues the better weepes Ah me poore wench on this vnhappy shelfe I grounded me and â—â—st awaie my selfe For thither com'd when yeeres had arm'd my youth With rarest proofe of beautie euer seene When my reuiuing eie had 〈◊〉 the truth That it had power to make the winter greene And flowre affections whereas none had beene Soone could I teach my brow to tyrannize And make the world do homage to mine eies For age I saw though yeeres with cold conceit Congeald their thoughts against a warme desire Yet sigh their want and looke at such a baite I saw how youth was waxe before the fire I saw by stealth I fram'd my looke a lyre Yet wel perceiu'd how Fortune made me then The enuie of my sexe and wonder vnto men Looke how a Comet at the first appearing Drawes all mens eies with wonder to behold it Or as the faddest tale at suddaine hearing Makes silent listning vnto him that told it So did my speech when Rubies did vnfold it So did the blazing of my blush appeare T' amaze the world that holds such sights so deere Ah beauty Syren faire enchaunting good Sweet silent rhetorique of perswading'eies Dombe eloqueÌ„ce whose power doth moue the bloud More then the words or wisdome of the wife Still harmony whose diapason lies Within a brow the key which passions moue To rauish sence and play a world in loue What might I then not do whose power was such What cannot women do that know their power What women knowes it not I feare too much How blisse or bale lies in their laugh or lowre Whilst they enioy their happy blooming flowre Whilst nature decks them in their best attires Of youth and beautie which the world admires Such one was I my beautie was mine owne No borrowed blush which bank-rot beauties seeke That new-found shame a sinne to vs vnknowne Th' adulterate beauty of a falsed cheeke Vilde staine to honour and to women eeke Seeing that time our fading must detect Thus with defect to couer our defect Impietie of times chastities abator Falshood wherein thy selfe thy selfe deniest Treason to counterfeit the seale of nature The stampe of heauen impressed by the hiest Disgrace vnto the world to whom thou liest Idoll vnto thy selfe shame to the wise And all that honour thee idolatrise Far was that finne from vs whose age was pure When simple beauty was accounted best The time when women had no other lure But modestie pure cheeks a vertuous brest This was the pompe where with my youth was blest These were the weapons which mine honor wun In all the conflicts which my eies begun Which were not small I wrought on no meane obiect A Crowne was at my feet Scepters obeide me WhoÌ„ Fortune made my King Loue made my subiect Who did command the Land most humbly praid me
did force me say Ah ROSAMOND what doth thy flesh prepare Destruction to thy daies death to thy fame Wilt thou betraie that honor held with care T' entombe with blacke reproch a spotted name Leauing thy blush the colours of thy shame Opening thy feet to sinne thy soule to lust Gracelesse to lay thy glorie in the dust Nay first let th' earth gape wide to swallow thee And shut thee vp in bosome with her dead Ere Serpent tempt thee taste forbidden Tree Or feele the warmth of an vnlawfuli bed Suffring thy selfe by lust to be misled So to disgrace thy selfe and grieue thine heires That Cliffords race should scorne thee one of theirs Neuer wish longer to inioy the aire Then that thou breath'st the breath of chastitio Longer then thou preseru'st thy soule as faire As is thy face free from impuritie Thy face that makes th'admir'd in euerie eie Where Natures care such rarities inroule Which vs'd amisse may serue to damne thy soule But what he is my king and may constraine me Whether I yeeld or not I liue defamed The world will thinke authoritie did gaine me I shall be iudg'd his Loue and so be shamed We see the faire condemn'd that neuer gamed And if I yeeld t is honourable shame If not I liue disgrac'd yet thought the same What waie is left thee then vnhappie maid Whereby thy spotlesse foote maie wander out This dreadfull danger which thouseest is laid Wherein thy shame doth compasse thee about Thy simple yeeres cannot resolue this doubt Thy youth can neuer guide thy foote so euen But in despight some scandale wil be giuen Thus stood I ballanc'd equallie precize Til my fraile flesh did weigh me downe to sin Till world and pleasure made me partialize And glittering pompe my vanitie did win When to excuse my fault my lusts begin And impious thoughts alledg'd this wanton clause That though I sinn'd my sinne had honest cause So well the golden balls cast downe before me Could entertaine my course hinder my way Whereat my retchlesse youth stooping to store me Lost me the gole the glorie and the day Pleasure had set my well school'd thoughts to play And bade me vse the vertue of mine eies For sweetly it fits the faire to wantonise Thus wrought to sin soone was I traind from Court T' a solitarie Grange there to attend The time the King should thither make resort Where he Loues long-desired worke should end Thither he dayly messages doth send With costlie Iewels Orators of Loue Which ah too well men know do women moue The day before the night of my defeature He greets me with a Casket richly wrought So rare that arte did seeme to striue with nature T' expresse the cunning work-mans curious thought The mysterie whereof I prying sought And found engrauen on the lidde aboue Amymone how she with Neptune stroue Amymone old Danaus fairest Daughter As she was fetching water all alone At Lerna whereas Neptune came and caught her From whom she striu'd and strugled to be gone Beating the aire with cries and piteous mone But all in vaine with him she 's forc'd to go T is shame that men should vse poore maidens so There might I see described how she lay At those proude feet not satis-fied with prayer Wayling her heauie hap cursing the day In act so pitious to expresse despaire And by how much more grieu'd so much more faire Her teares vpon her cheekes poore carefull gerle Did seeme against the Sunne christall and pearle Whose pure cleer streams which so fair appears Wrought hotter flames O miracle of loue That kindles fire in water heat in teares And makes neglected beautie mightier proue Teaching afflicted eies affects to moue To shew that nothing ill becomes the faire But crueltie which yeelds vnto no prayer This hauing viewd and there with something moued Figured I find within the other squares Transformed Io Ioues decrelie loued In her affliction how she strangely fares Strangely distress'd O beautie borne to cares Turn'd to a Heiffer kept with iealous eies Alwayes in danger of her hatefull spies These presidents presented to my view Wherein the presage of my fall was showne Might haue fore-warn'd me well what would ensue And others harmes haue made me shun mine owne But fate is not preuented though fore knowne For that must hap decreed by heauenly powers Who worke our fall yet make the fault still ours Witnes the world wherein is nothing rifer Then miseries vnkend before they come Who can the characters of chaunce decipher Written in cloudes of our concealed dome Which though perhaps haue been reueald to some Yet that so doubtfull as successe did proue them That men must know they haue the heauens aboue thē I saw the sinne wherein my foot was entring I saw how that dishonour did attend it I saw the shame whereon my flesh was ventring Yet had I not the powre for to defend it So weake is sence when error hath condemn'd it We see what 's good and thereto we consent But yet wee choose the worst and soone repent And now I come to tell the worst of ilnes Now drawes the date of mine affliction neere Now when the darke had wrapt vp all in stilnes And dreadfull black had dispossess'd the cleere Com'd was the night mother of sleepe and feare Who with her Sable-mantle friendly couers The sweet-stolne sports of ioifull meeting Louers When loe Iioy'd my Louer not my Loue And felt the hand of lust most vndesired Enforc'd th'vnprooued bitter sweet to proue Which yeelds no mutuall pleasure when t is hired Loue 's not constrain'd nor yet of due required Iudge they who are vnfortunately wed What t is to come vnto a loathed bed But soone his age receiu'd his short contenting And sleepe seald vp his languishing desires When he turnes to his rest I to repenting Into my selfe my waking thought retires My nakednes had prou'd my sences liers Now opned were mine eies to looke therein For first we taste the fruit then see our sin Now did I find my selfe vnparadis'd From those pure fields of my so cleane beginning Now I perceiu'd how ill I was aduis'd My flesh gan loathe the new-felt touch of sinning Shame leaues vs by degrees not at first winning For nature checks a new offence with loathing But vse of sinne doth make it seeme as nothing And vse of sinne did worke in me a boldnes And loue in him incorporates such zeale That iealousie increas'd with ages coldnes Fearing to loose the ioie of all his weale Or doubting time his stealth might else reueale H 'is driuen to deuise some subtill waie How he might safeliest keepe so rich a praie A statelie Pallace he foorth-with did build Whose intricate innumerable waies With such confused errours so beguild Th'vnguided entrers with vncertaine straies And doubtfull turnings kept them in delaies With bootlesse labour leading them about Able to find no waie nor in nor out Within the closed bosome of which frame That seru'd a Center
to that goodlie round Were lodgings with a Garden to the same With sweetest flowers that eu'r adorn'd the groūd And all the pleasures that delight hath found T'intertaine the sence of wanton eies Fuel of loue from whence lusts flames arise Heere I enclos'd from all the world asunder The Minotaure of shame kept for disgrace The Monster of Fortune and the worlds wonder Liu'd cloistred in so desolate case None but the King might come into the place With certaine Maides that did attend my need And he himselfe came guided by a threed O Iealousie daughter of Enuy ' and Loue Most wayward issue of a gentle sire Fostred with feares thy fathers ioyes t' improue Mirth-marring Monster borne a subtile lier Hatefull vnto thy selfe flying thine owne desire Feeding vpon suspect that doth renue thee Happie were Louers if they neuer knew thee Thou hast a thousand gates thou enterest by Condemning trembling passions to our hart Hundred eyed Argus euer-waking Spie Pale Hagge infernall Furie pleasures smart Enuious Obseruer prying in euery part Suspicious fearefull gazing still about thee O would to God the loue could be withuot thee Thou didst depriue through false suggesting feare Him of content and me of libertie The onely good that women hold so deere And turnst my freedome to captiuitie First made a prisoner ere an enemie Enioynd the ransome of my bodies shame Which though I paid could not redeeme the same What greater torment euer could haue beene Then to inforce the faire to liue retir'd For what is beauty if it be not seene Or what is 't to be seene vnlesse admir'd And though admir'd vnlesse in loue desir'd Neuer were cheeks of Roses locks of Amber Ordain'd to liue imprison'd in a Chamber Nature created beauty for the view Like as the fire for heat the Sun for light The faire do hold this priuiledge as due By ancient Charter to liue most in sight And she that is debarr'd it hath not right In vaine our friends from this do vs dehort For beauty will be where is most resort Witnes the fairest streets that Thames doth visite The wondrous concourse of the glittering Faire For what rare women deckt with beauty is it That thither couets not to make repaire The solitary Country may not stay her Heere is the center of all beauties best Excepting DELIA left t' adorne the West Heere doth the curious with iudiciall eies Contemplate beautie gloriouslie attired And herein all our chiefest glorie lies To liue where we are prais'd and most desired O how we ioie to see our selues admired Whilst niggardlie our fauours we discouer We loue to be belou'd yet scorne the Louer Yet would to God my foot had neuer mou'd From Countrie safetie from the fields of rest To know the danger to be highlie lou'd And liue in pompe to braue among the best Happie for me better had I beene blest If I vnluckilie had neuer straide But liu'd at home a happie Country Maide Whose vnaffected innocencie thinks No guilefull fraude as doth the Courtlie liuer She 's deckt with truth the Riuer where she drinks Doth serue her for her glasse her counsell giuer She loues sincerely and is loued euer Her daies are peace and so she ends her breath True life that knowes not what 's to die til death So should I neuer haue beene registred In the blacke booke of the vnfortunate Nor had my name enrold with Maides misled Which bought their pleasures at so hie a rate Nor had I taught through my vnhappie fate This lesson which my self learnt with expence How most it hurts that most delights the sense Shame followes sinne disgrace is duly giuen Impietie will out neuer so closely done No walls can hide vs from the eie of heauen For shame must end what wickednes begun Forth breaks reproch when we least think theron And this is euer proper vnto Courts That nothing can be done but Fame reports Fame doth explore what lies most secret hidden Entring the closet of the Pallace dweller Abroad reuealing what is most forbidden Of truth and falshood both an equall teller T is not a guard can serue for to expell her The sword of iustice cannot cut her wings Nor stop her mouth from vtt'ring secret things And this our stealth she could not long conceale From her whom such a forfeit most concerned The wronged Queen who could so closely deale That she the whole of all our practise learned And watcht a time when least it was discerned In absence of the King to wreake her wrong With such reuenge as she desired long The Laberinth she entred by that threed That seru'd a conduct to my absent Lord Left there by chance reseru'd for such a deed Where she surpriz'd me whom she so abhord Enrag'd with madnes scarce she speakes a word But flies with eager furie to my face Offring me most vnwomanly disgrace Looke how a Tygresse that hath lost her whelpe Runs fiercely raging through the woods astray And seeing her selfe depriu'd of hope or helpe Furiously assaults what 's in her way To satisfie her wrath not for a pray So fell she on me in outragious wife As could disdaine and iealousie deuise And after all her vile reproches vs'd She forc'd me take the poison she had brought To end the life that had her so abus'd And free her feares and ease her iealous thought No crueltie her wrath would leaue vnwrought No spightfull act that to reuenge is common No beast being fiercer than a iealous woman Here take saith she thou impudent vncleane Base gracelesse strumpet take this next your hart Your loue-sick hart that ouer-charg'd hath beene With pleasures surfeite must be purg'd with arte This potion hath a power that will conuart To nought those humors that oppresse you so And Gerle I le see you take it ere I go What stand you now amaz'd retire you backe Tremble you minion come dispatch with speed There is no helpe your Champion now you lack And all these teares you shed will nothing steed Those daintie fingers needs must do the deed Take it or I will drench you els by force And trifle not least that I vse you worse Hauing this bloodie doome from hellish breath My wofull eyes on euery side I cast Rigor about me in my hand my death Presenting me the horror of my last All hope of pitie and of comfort past No means no power no forces to contend My trembling hands must giue my self my end Those hands that beauties ministers had been They must giue death that me adorn'd of late That mouth that newly gaue consent to sin Must now receiue destruction in thereat That bodie which my lust did violate Must sacrifice it selfe t' appease the wrong So short is pleasure glory lasts not long And she no sooner saw I had it taken But foorth she rushes proud with victorie And leaues m' alone of all the world forsaken Except of Death which she had left with me Death and my selfe alone togither be To whom she
issue found For sorrow shut vp words wrath kept in teares Confus'd affects each other do confound Oppress'd with griefe his passions had no bound Striuing to tell his woes words would not come For light cares speak wheÌ„ mighty griefs are dombe At length extremity breakes out a way Through which th' imprisoned voice with teares attended Wailes out a sound that sorrowes do bewray With armes a-crosse and eies to heauen bended Vaporing out sighes that to the skies ascended Sighes the poore ease calamity affoords Which serue for speech wheÌ„ sorrow wanteth words O heauens quoth he why do mine eies behold The hatefull raies of this vnhappy funne Why haue I light to see my sinnes controld With blood of mine own shame thus vildly done How can my sight endure to looke thereon Why doth nor blacke eternall darknes hide That from mine eies my hart cannot abide What saw my life wherein my soule might ioy What had my daies whom troubles stil afflicted But only this to counter poize annoy This ioy this hope which Death hath interdicted This sweet whose losse hath all distresse inflicted This that did season all my sowre of life Vext still at home with broiles abroad in strife Vext still at home with broiles abroad in strife Diffention in my blood iarres in my bed Distrust at boord suspecting still my life Spending the night in horror daies in dread Such life hath Tyrants and this life I led These miseries go mask'd in glittering showes Which wise men see the vulgar little knowes Thus as these passions do him ouer-whelme He drawes him neere my body to behold it And as the Vine married vnto the Elme With strict imbraces so doth he infold it And as he in his carefull armes doth hold it Viewing the face that euen death commends On sencelesse lips millions of kisses spends Pittifull moutla saith he that liuing gauest The sweetest comfort that my soule could wish O be it lawfull now that dead thou hauest This sorrowing fare-well of a dying kisse And you faire eyes containers of my blisse Motiues of loue borne to be marched neuer Entomb'd in your sweet circles sleepe for euer Ah how me thinks I see Death dallying seekes To entertaine it selfe in Loues sweet place Decaied Roses of discoloured cheekes Do yet retaine deere notes of former grace And vglie Death sits faire within her face Sweet remnants resting of vermillion red That Death it selfe doubts whether she be dead Wonder of beautie oh receiue these plaints These obsequies the last that I shall make thee For loe my soule that now alreadie faints That lou'd thee liuing dead will not forsake thee Hastens her speedie course to ouer-take thee I le meete my death and free my selfe thereby For ah what can he doe that cannot die Yet ere I die thus much my soule doth vow Reuenge shall sweeten death with ease of minde And I will cause poste ritie shall know How faire thou were aboue all women kinde And after-ages monuments shall finde Shewing thy beauties title not thy name Rose of the world that fwoetned so the fame This said though more desirous yet to say For sorrow is vnwilling to giue ouer He doth represse what griefe would else bewray Least he too much his passions should disouer And yet respect scarce bridles such a Louer So faire transported that he know not whither For Loue and Maiestied dwell ill togither Then were my funerals not long deferred But done with all the rites pompe could deuise At Godstow where my bodie was interred And richly tomb'd in honourable wise Where yet as now scarce any note descries Vnto these times the memorie of mee Marble and Brasse so little lasting bee For those walls which the credulous deuour And apt-beleeuing ignorant did found With willing zeale that neuer call'd in doubt That time their works should euer so confound Lie like confused heapes as vnder-ground And what their ignorance esteem'd so holy The wiser ages do account as follie And were it not thy fauourable lynes Re-edified the wracke of my decayes And that thy accents willingly assignes Some farther date and giue me longer dayes Few in this age had knowne my beauties praise But thus renew'd my fame redeemes some time Till other ages shall neglect thy rime Then when confusion in her course shall bring Sad desolation on the times to come When mirth-lesse Thames shal haue no Swan to sing All Musique silent and the Muses dombe And yet euen then it must be knowne to some That once they flourisht though not cherisht so And Thames had Swannes as well as euer Po. But here an end I may no longer stay thee I must returne t' attend at Stigian flood Yet ere I go this one word more I pray thee Tell DELIA now her sigh may doe me good And will her note the frailtie of our blood And if I passe vnto those happie banks TheÌ„ she must haue her praise thy pen her thanks So vanquisht she and left me to returne To prosecute the tenor of my woes Eternall matter for my Muse to mourne But ah the world hath heard too much of those My youth such errors must no more disclose I le hide the rest and grieue for what hath beene Who made me known must make me liue vnseene FINIS William the Conquerour William Rufus Henry 1. King Stephen Henry 2. Rich. t. K. Iolm Henry 3. Edwa. 1 Edward 1 Edward 3 Edward the black prince who died before his father Rich 2. 1 Froisart Pol. Virg. Hall der huer it in this sort The Duke of Anibarle sonne to the Duke of Yorke This Percy was Earle of Woster and brother to the Earle of Northumberland The Bishop of Carlile Montague Earle of Salisbury Ienico d' Artois a Gascoyn The Bishop of Castile Lex Amnestiâ—s Arundell Bishop of Canterbury The Sir Thomas Bluns This knight was Sir Pierce of Exton Dioclesian the Emperor Omen Glenden Rich. 2. The son to the Earle of NorthuÌ„berland The Prince of Wales Which was Sir Walter Blunt Another Blunt which was the kings Standard bearer Sir Hugh Shorly Hen. 5. Hen. 5. At Southhaton Richard Duke of Yorke The Duke of Somersit a great enemy to the Duke of Yorke had euer enuied his prefermeÌ„t This Rainer was Duke of Aniou only inioid the title of the K. of Sicilia Which were deliuered vp to her father vpon the match His frer Duke of Gloster Articles obiected against de la Poole Duke of Suffolke Iack Cade The Dukes of Britany and Burgundio The Loâ—â—… Lisie Virtue A Sea Horse
conclusion all is brought This is that rest this vaine world lends To end in death that all things ends ACTVS TERTIVS PHILOSTRATVS ARIVS HOW deepely Arius am I bound to thee That sau'dst from death this wretched life of mine Obtaining Caesars gentle grace for mee When I of all helps else dispaird but thine Although I see in such a wofull state Life is not that which should be much desir'd Sith all our glories come to end their date Our Countries honour and our own expir'd Now that the hand of wrath hath ouer-gone vs Liuing as 't were in th' armes of our dead mother With bloud vnder our feet ruine vpon vs And in a Land most wretched of all other When yet we reck on life our deerest good And so we liue we care not how we liue So deepe we feele impressed in our blood That touch which Nature with our breath did giue And yet what blasts of words hath learning found To blow against the feare of death and dying What comforts vnsicke eloquence can sound And yet all failes vs in the point of trying For whilst we reason with the breath of safety Without the compasse of destruction liuing What precepts shew we then what courage lofty In taxing others feares in counsell giuing When all this ayre of sweet-contriued words Proues but weake armour to defend the hart For when this life pale feare and terror boords Where are our precepts then where is our arte O who is he that from himselfe can turne That beares about the body of a man Who doth not toile and labour to adiorne The day of death by any meanes he can All this I speake to th' end my selfe t' excuse For my base begging of a seruile breath Wherein I grant my selfe much to abuse So shamefully to seek t' auoide my death Arius Philostratus that selfe same care to liue Possesseth all alike and grieue not then Nature doth vs no more then others giue Though we speak more then mē we are but mē And yet in truth these miseries to see Wherein we stand in most extreame distresse Might to our selues sufficient motiues be To loath this life and weigh our death the lesse For neuer any age hath better taught What feeble footing pride and greatnesse hath How ' improuident prosperitie is caught And cleane confounded in the day of wrath ' See how dismaid Confusion keepes those streetes That nought but mirth and musique late resounded How nothing with our eie but horror meeres Our state our wealth our pride and all confounded Yet what weake sight did not discerne from far This black-arisingtempest all confounding Who did not see we should be what we are When pride and ryot grew to such abounding VVhen dissolute impietie possest Th' vnrespectiue mindes of prince and people VVhen infolent Security found rest In wanton thoughts with lust ease made feeble Then when vnwary peace with fat-fed pleasure New-fresh inuented ryots still detected Purchac'd with all the Ptolomies ritch treasure Our lawes our gods our mysteries neglected VVho saw not how this confluence of vice This inundation of disorders must At length of force pay backe the bloody price Of sad destruction a reward for lust O thou and I haue heard and read and knowne Of like proude states as wofully incombred And fram'd by them examples for our own VVhich now among examples must be numbred For this decree a law from high is giuen An auncient Cannon of eternall date In Consistorie of the starres of heauen Entred the booke of vnauoided Fate That no state can in height of happinesse In th' exaltation of their glory stand But thither once ariu'd declining lesse Ruine themselues or fall by others hand Thus doth the euer-changing course of things Runne a perpetuall circle euer turning And that same day that hiest glory brings Brings vs vnto the point of back-returning For sencelesse sensualitie doth euer Accompany selicitie and greatnesse A fatal witch whose charmes do leaue vs neuer Till we leaue all in sorrow for our sweetnesse When yet our selues must be the cause we fall Although the same befirst decreed on hie Our errors still must beare the blame of all This must it be earth aske notheauen why Yet mighty men with wary iealous hand Striue to cut off all obstacles of feare All whatsoeuer seemes but to withstand Their least conceit of quiet held so deere And so intrench themselues with blood with crimes With all iniustice as their feares dispose Yet for all this we see how oftentimes The meanes they worke to keepe are meanes to lose And sure I cannot see howe this can stand With great Augustus safety and his honor To cut off all succession from our land For her offence that puld the wars vpon her Phi. Why must her issue pay the price of that Ari. The price is life that they are rated at Phi. Casario to issued of Caesars blood Ari. Pluralitie of Caesars are not good Phi. Alas what hurt procures his feeble arme Ari. Not for it doth but that it may do harme Phi. Then when it offers hurt represse the same Ari. T is best to quench a sparke before it flame Phi. T is inhumane an innocent to kill Ari. Such innocents sildome remaine so still And sure his death may best procure our peace Competitors the subiect deerely buies And so that our affliction may surcease Let great men be the peoples sacrifice But see where Caesar comes himselfe to try And worke the mind of our distressed Queene To apprehend some falsed hope whereby She might be drawn to haue her fortune seene But yet I thinke Rome will not see that face That queld her champiōs blush in base disgrace SCENA SECVNDA CAESAR CLEOPATRA SELEVCVS DOLABELLA Caes. WHat Cleopatra doost thou doubt so much Of Caesars mercy that thou hid'st thy face Or dost thou thinke thy ' offences can be such That they surmount the measure of our grace Cleo. O Caesar not for that I flie thy sight My soule this sad retyre of sorrow chose But that my'oppressed thoghts abhorring light Like best in darknes my disgrace t' inclose And here to these close limits of despaire This solitarie horror where I bide Caesar I thought no Roman should repaire More after him who here oppressed dyde Yet now here at thy conquering feete I lie Poore captiue soul that neuer thought to bow Whose happie foote of rule and Maiestie Stood late on̄y same ground thou standest now Caes. Rise Queene none but thy selfis cause of all And yet would all were but thine owne alone That others ruine had not with thy fall Brought Rome her sorowes to my triumphs mone For breaking off the league of loue and blood Thou mak'st my winning ioy a gain vnpleasing Sith th' eye of griefe must looke into our good Thorow the horror of our own blood shedding And all we must attribute vnto thee Cleo. To me Caesar what should a woman doe Opprest with greatnes what was it for me To contradict my