or their owne particular wealth or honor They will not enterprise to saue the Empire Cat. I know it yet let vs doe like our selues Exeunt Enter some bearing Axes bundles of rods bare before two Consuls Caesar and Metellus Anthonius and Marcellus in couples Senators People Souldiers c. following The Consuls enter the Degrees with Anthonius and Marcellus Caesar staying a while without with Metellus who hath a paper in his haâ—d Caes. Moue you for entring only Pompâ—ys army Which if you gaine for him for me all iustice Will ioyne with my request of entring mine Met. T is like so and I purpose to enforce it Caes. But might we not win Cato to our friendship By honoring speeches nor perswasiue gifts Met. Not possible Caes. Nor by enforciue vsage Met. Not all the violence that can be vsde Of power or set authoitry can stirre him Much lesse faire words win or rewards corrupt him And therefore all meanes we must vse to keepe him From off the Bench. Caes. Giue you the course for that And if he offer entry I haue fellowes Will serue your will on him at my giuen signall They ascend Enter Pompey Gabinius Vibius Demetrius with papers Enter the Lists ascend and â—it After whom enter Cato Minutius Athenodorus Statilius Porcius Cat. He is the man that sits so close to Caesar And holds the law there whispering see the Cowherd Hath guards of arm'd men got against one naked I le part their whispering virtue 1 Hold keepe out 2 What honor'd Cato enter chuse thy place Cat. Come in He drawes him in and fits betwixt Caesar and Metellus Away vnworthy groomes 3 No more Caes. What should one say to him Met. He will be Stoicall Cat. Where fit place is not giuen it must be taken 4 Doe take it Cato feare no greatest of them Thou seek'st the peoples good and these their owne 5 Braue Cato what a countenance he puts on Let 's giue his noble will our vtmost power 6 Be bould in all thy will for being iust Thou maist defie the gods Cat. Said like a God Met. We must endure these people Caes. Doe begin Met. Consuls and reuerend Fathers And ye people Whose voyces are the voyces of the Gods I here haue drawne a law by good consent For entring into Italy the army Of Romes great Pompey that his forces here As well as he great Rome may rest secure From danger of the yet still smoaking fire Of Catilinet abhorr'd conspiracy Of which the very chiefe are left aliue Only chastisde but with a gentle prison Cat. Put them to death then and strike dead our feare That well you vrge by their vnfit suruiuall Rather then keepe it quick and two liues giue it By entertaining Pompeys army too That giues as great cause of our feare as they For their conspiracy onely was to make One Tyrant ouer all the State of Rome And Pompeys army sufferd to be entred Is to make him or giue him meanes to be so Met. It followes not Cat. In purpose clearely Sir Which I le illustrate with a cleare exaâ—â—ple If it be day the Sunne 's aboue the earth Which followes not you le answere for 't is day When first the morning breakes and yet is then The body of the Sunne beneath the earth But he is virtually aboue it too Because his beames are there and who then knowes not His golden body will soone after mount So Pompeys army entred Italy Yet Pompey 's not in Rome but Pompey's beames Who sees not there and consequently he Is in all meanes enthron'd in th' Emperie Met. Examples proue not we will haue the army Of Pompey entred Cato We which we intend you Haue you already bought the peoples voices Or beare our Consuls or our Senate here So small loue to their Country that their wills Beyond their Countrys right are so peruerse To giue a Tyrant here entire command Which I haue prou'd as cleare as day they doe If either the Conspirators suruiuing Be let to liue or Pompeys army entred Both which beat one sole path and threat one danger Caes. Consuls and honor'd Fathers The sole entry Of Pompeys army I le not yet examine But for the great Conspirators yet liuing Which Cato will conclude as one selfe danger To our deare Country and deterre all therefore That loue their Country from their liues defence I see no reason why such danger hangs On their sau'd liues being still safe kept in prison And since close prison to a Roman freedome Ten fold torments more then directest death Who can be thought to loue the lesse his Country That seekes to saue their liues And lest my selfe Thus speaking for them be vniustly toucht With any lesse doubt of my Countryes loue Why reuerend Fathers may it be esteem'd Selfe praise in me to proue my selfe a chiefe Both in my loue of her and in desert Of her like loue in me For he that does Most honour to his Mistrisse well may boast Without least question that he loues her most And though things long since done were long since known And so may seeme superfluous to repeat Yet being forgotten as things neuer done Their repetition needfull is in iustice T' enflame the shame of that obliuion For hoping it will seeme no lesse empaire To others acts to truely tell mine owne Put all together I haue past them all That by their acts can boast themselues to be Their Countries louers first in those wilde kingdomes Subdu'd to Rome by my vnwearied toyles Which I dissauag'd and made nobly ciuill Next in the multitude of those rude Realmes That so I fashiond and to Romes yong Empire Of old haue added Then the battailes numbred This hand hath fought and wonne for her with all Those infinites of dreadfull enemies I slue in them Twice fifteene hundred thousand All able Souldiers I haue driuen at once Before my forces and in sundry onsets A thousand thousand of them put to sword Besides I tooke in lesse then ten yeares time By strong assault aboue eight hundred Cities Three hundred seuerall Nations in that space Subduing to my Countrey all which seruice I trust may interest me in her loue Publique and generall enough to aquit me Of any selfe-loue past her common good For any motion of particular iustice By which her generall Empire is maintaind That I can make for those accused prisoners Which is but by the way that so the reason Metellus makes for entring Pompeys armie May not more weighty seeme then to agree With those imprison'd nobles vitall safeties Which granted or but yeelded fit to be May well extenuate the necessity Of entring Pompeys armie Cat. All that need I tooke away before and reasons gaue For a necessity to keepe it out Whose entry I thinke he himselfe affects not Since I as well thinke he affects not th' Empire And both those thoughts hold since he loues his Country In my great hopes of him too well to seeke His sole rule of her when so many
Vibius Be ransom'd with my loue and haste to Pompey Entreating him from me that we may meet And for that reason which I know this day Was giuen by Cato for his pursutes stay Which was preuention of our Romane blood Propose my offer of our hearty peace That being reconcil'd and mutuall faith Giuen on our either part not three dayes light May further shew vs foes but both our armies Disperst in Garisons we may returne Within that time to Italy such friends As in our Countryes loue containe our splenes Vib. T is offerd Sir ' boue the rate of Caesar In other men but in what I approue Beneath his merits which I will not faile T' enforce at full to Pompey nor forget In any time the gratitude of my seruice Vi. salutes Ant. and the other exit Caes. Your loue Sir and your friendship Ant. This prepares a good induction to the change of fortune In this dayes issue if the pride it kindles In Pompeys vaines makes him deny a peace So gently offerd for her alterd hand Works neuer surer from her ill to good On his side she hath hurt and on the other With other changes then when meanes are vsde To keepe her constant yet retire refusde Caes. I try no such conclusion but desire Directly peace In meane space I le prepare For other issue in my vtmost meanes Whose hopes now resting at Brundusium In that part of my army with Sabinus I wonder he so long delaies to bring me And must in person haste him if this Euen I heare not from him Crass. That I hope flyes farre Your full intent my Lord since Pompeys navie You know lies houering all alongst those seas In too much danger for what ayde soeuer You can procure to passe your person safe Acil. Which doubt may proue the cause that stayes Sabinus And if with shipping fit to passe your army He yet straines time to venture I presume You will not passe your person with such Conuoy Of those poore vessels as may serue you here Caes. How shall I helpe it shall I suffer this Torment of his delay and rack suspitions Worse then assur'd destructions through my thoughts Anth. Past doubt he will be here I left all orderd And full agreement made with him to make All vtmost haste no least let once suspected Caes. Suspected what suspection should feare a friend In such assur'd streights from his friends enlargement If t were his souldiers safeties he so tenders Were it not better they should sinke by sea Then wrack their number King and cause ashore Their stay is worth their ruine should we liue If they in fault were if their leader he Sould dye the deaths of all in meane space I That should not beare all fly the sight in shame Thou eye of nature and abortiue night Fall dead amongst vs with defects defects Must serue proportion iustice neuer can Be else restor'd nor right the wrongs of man Exeunt Pompey Cato Gabinius Demetrius Athenodorus Porcius Statilius Pomp. This charge of our fierce foe the firiendly gods Haue in our stregthen'd spirits beaten back With happy issue and his forces lessen'd Of two and thirty Ensignes forc't from him Two thousand souldiers slaine Cat. O boast not that Their losse is yours my Lord. Pomp. I boast it not But only name the number Gab. Which right well You might haue raisde so high that on their tops Your Throne was offer'd euer t' ouerlooke Subuerted Caesar had you beene so blest To giue such honor to your Captaines Counsailes As their alacrities did long to merit With proofefull action Dem. O t was ill neglected Stat. It was deferr'd with reason which not yet Th' euent so cleare is to confute Pom. If t were Our likeliest then was not to hazard battaile Th' aduenture being so casuall if compar'd With our more certaine meanes to his subuersion For finding now our army amply storde With all things fit to tarry surer time Reason thought better to extend to length The warre betwixt vs that his little strength May by degrees proue none which vrged now Consisting of his best and ablest souldiers We should haue found at one direct set battaile Of matchlesse valours their defects of victuall Not tyring yet enough on their tough nerues Where on the other part to put them still In motion and remotion here and there Enforcing them to fortifying still Where euer they set downe to siege a wall Keepe watch all night in armour their most part Can neuer beare it by their yeares oppression Spent heretofore too much in those steele toyles Cat. I so aduisde and yet repent it not But much reioyce in so much saued blood As had beene pour'd out in the stroke of battaile Whose furâ— thus preuented comprehends Your Countreys good and Empires in whose care Let me beseech you that in all this warre You sack no City subiect to our Rule Nor put to sword one Citizen of Rome But when the needfull fury of the sword Can make no fit distinction in maine battaile That you will please still to prolong the stroke Of absolute decision to these iarres Considering you shall strike it with a man Of much skill and experience and one That will his Conquest â—ell at infinite rate If that must end your difference but I doubt There will come humble offer on his part Of honor'd peace to you for whose sweet name So cryed out to you in our late-met Senate Lost no fit offer of that wished treaty Take pity on your Countreys blood as much As possible may stand without the danger Of hindering her iustice on her foes Which all the gods to your full wish dispose Pom. Why will you leaue vs whither will you goe To keepe your worthyest person in more safety Then in my army so deuoted to you Cat. My person is the least my Lord I value I am commanded by our powerfull Senate To view the Cities and the kingdomes scituate About your either army that which side Soeuer conquer no disordered â—traglers Puft with the Conquest or by need impeld May take their swinge more then the care of one May curb and order in these neighbor confines My chiefe passe yet resolues for Vtica Pom. Your passe my truest friend and worthy Father May all good powers make safe and alwayes answer Your infinite merits with their like protection In which I make no doubt but we shall meet With mutuall greetings or for absolute conquest Or peace preuenting that our bloody stroke Nor let our parting be dishonor'd so As not to take into our noblest notice Your selfe most learned and admired Father Whose merits if I liue shall lack no honor Porcius Statilius though your spirits with mine Would highly chere me yet ye shall bestow them In much more worthy conduct but loue me And wish me conquest for your Countreys sake Sta. Our liues shall â—eale our loues Sir with worst deaths Aduentur'd in your seruice Pom. Y' are my friends Exeunt Cat. Athen Por. Sat.
Exeunt Enter Caesar Anthony Acilius with souldiers Caes. O We haue slaine not conquerd Roman blood Peruerts th' euent and desperate blood let out With their owne swords Did euer men before Enuy their owne liues since another liu'd Whom they would willfully conceiue their foe And forge a Tyrant merely in their feares To iustifie their slaughters Consuls furies Ant. Be Sir their faultâ— their griefes The greater number Were only slaues that left their bloods to ruth And altogether but six thousand slaine Caes. How euer many gods and men can witnesse Themselues enforc't it much against the most I could enforce on Pompey for our peace Of all slaine yet if Brutus only liu'd I should be comforted for his life â—au'd Would weigh the whole six thousand that are lost But much I feare his death because the battell Full stricken now he yet abides vnfound Acil. I saw him fighting neare the battels end But suddainly giue off as beâ—t to fly Enter Brutus Anth. He comes here see Sir Bru. I submit to Caesar My life and fortunes Caes. A more welcome fortune Is Brutus then my conquest Bru. Sir I fought Against your conquest and your selfe and merit I must acknowledge a much sterner welcome Caes. You fought with me Sir for I know your armes Were taken for your Country not for Pompey And for my Country I fought nothing lesse Then he or both the mighty-stomak't Consuls Both whom I heare haue slaine themselues before They would enioy life in the good of Caesar. But I am nothing worse how ill foeuer They and the great authority of Rome Would faine enforce me by their mere suspitions Lou'd they their Country better then her Brutus Or knew what fitted noblesse and a Romane With freer soules then Brutus Those that liue Shall see in Caesars iustice and what euer Might make me worthy both their liues and loues That I haue lost the one without my merit And they the other with no Roman spirit Are you empair'd to liue and ioy my loue Only requite me Brutus loue but Caesar And be in all the powers of Caesar Caesar In which free wish I ioyne your father Cato For whom I le haste to Vtica and pray His loue may strengthen my fuccesse to day Exeunt Porcius iâ— haste Marcillius bare following Porcius discouers a bed and a sword hanging by it which he takes downe Mar. To what vse take you that my Lord Por. Take you No note that I take it nor let any seruant Besides your selfe of all my fathers nearest Serue any mood he serues with any knowledge Of this or any other Caesar comes And giues his army wings to reach this towne Not for the townes sake but to saue my father Whom iustly he suspects to be resolu'd Of any violence to his life before He will preserue it by a Tyrants fauour For Pompey hath miscaried and iâ— fled Be true to me and to my fathers life And doe not tell him nor his fury serue With any other Mar. I will dye my Lord Ere I obserue it Por. O my Lord and father Cato Athenodorus Statilius Cato with a booke in his hand Cat. What feares fly here on all sides what wilde lookes Are squinted at me from mens mere suspicions That I am wilde my selfe and would enforce What will be taken from me by the â—yrant Ath. No Would you only aske life he would thinke His owne life giuen more strength in giuing yours Cat. I aske my life of him Stat. Aske what 's his owne Of him he scornes should haue the least drop in it At his disposure Cat. No Statilius Men that haue forfeit liues by breaking lawes Or haue euer beene ouercome may beg their liues But I haue euer beene in euery iustice Better then Caesar and was neuer conquer'd Or made to fly for life as Caesar was But haue beene victor euer to my wish 'Gainst whomsoeuer euer hath opposde Where Caesar now is conquer'd in his Conquest In the ambition he till now denide Taking vpon him to giue life when death Is tenfold due to his most tyrannous selfe No right no power giuen him to raise an army Which in despight of Rome he leades about Slaughtering her loyall subiects like an outlaw Nor is he better Tongue shew falshood are To bloodiest deaths his parts so much admir'd Vaineglory villany and at best you can Fed with the parings of a worthy man My fame affirme my life receiu'd from him I le rather make a beast my second father Stat. The gods auert from euery Roman minde The name of slaue to any Tyrants power Why was man euer iust but to be free 'Gainst all iniustice and to beare about him As well all meanes to freedome euery houre As euery houre he should be arm'd for deaâ—h Which only is his freedome Ath. But Statilius Death is not free for any mans election Till nature or the law impose it on him Cat. Must a man goe to law then when he may Enioy his owne in peace if I can vse Mine owne my selfe must I of force reserue it To serue a Tyrant with it All iust men Not only may enlarge their liues but must From all rule tyrannous or liue vniust Ath. By death must they enlarge their liues Cat. By death Ath. A man 's not bound to that Cat. I le proue he is Are not the liues of all men bound to iustice Ath. They are Cat. And therefore not to serue iniustice Iustice it selfe ought euer to be free And therefore euery iust man being a part Of that free iustice should be free as it Ath. Then wherefore is there law for death Cat. That all That know not what law is nor freely can Performe the fitting iustice of a man In kingdomes common good may been forc't But is not euery iust man to him selfe The perfect'st law Ath. Suppose Cat. Then to himselfe Is euery iust manâ— life subordinate Againe Sir Is not our free soule infus'd To euery body in her absolute end To rule that body in which absolute rule Is she not absolutely Empresse of it And being Empresse may she not dispose It and the life in it at her iust pleasure Ath. Not to destroy it Cat. No she not destroyes it When she disliues it that their freedomes may Goe firme together like their powers and organs Rather then let it liue a rebell to her Prophaning that diuine coniunction Twixt her and it nay a disiunction making Betwixt them worse then death in killing quick That which in iust-iust-death liues being dead to her If to her rule dead and to her aliue If dying in her iust rule Ath. The body liues not When death hath rest it Cat. Yet t is free and kept Fit for reiunction in mans second life Which dying rebell to the soule is farre Vnfit to ioyne with her in perfect life Ath. It shall not ioyne with her againe Cat. It shall Ath. In reason shall it Cat. In apparant reason Which I le proue clearely Stat. Heare and iudge it
What these so neare intend Take heed they come Enter Achillas Septius Saluius with souldiers Ach. Haile to Romes great Commander to whom Aegypt Not long since seated in his kingdome by thee And sent to by thee in thy passage by Sends vs with answer which withdraw and heare Pom. I le kille my children first Sep. Blesse me my Lord. Pom. I will and Cyris my poore daughter too Euen that high hand that hurld me downe thus low Keepe you from rising high I heare now tell me I thinke my friend you once seru'd vnder me Septius only nods with his hâ—â—d Pom. Nod onely not a word daigne what are these Cornelia I am now not worth mens words Ach. Please you receiue your ayde Sir Pom. I I come Exit Pom. The draw and follow Cor. Why draw they See my Lords attend them vshers Sen. O they haue slaine great Pompey Cor. O my husband Sept. Cyr. Mother take comfort Enter Pompey bleâ—ding O my Lord and father Pom. See heauens your sufferings is my Countres loue The iustice of an Empire pietie Worth this end in their leader last yet life And bring the gods off fairer after this Who will adore or serue the deities He hides his face with his robe Enter the Murtherers Ach. Helpe hale him off and take his head for Caesar. Sep. Mother O saue vs Pompey O my father Enter the two Lentuli and Demetrius bleeding and kneele about Cornelia 1 Len. Yet fals not heauen Madam O make good Your late great spirits all the world will say You know not how to beare aduerse euents If now you languish Omn. Take her to her coach They beare her out Cato with a booke in his hand O Beastly apprehenders of things manly And merely heauenly they with all the reasons I vsde for iust mens liberties to beare Their liues and deaths vp in their owne free hands Feare still my resolution though I seeme To giue it off like them and now am woonne To thinke my life in lawes rule not mine owne When once it comes to death as if the law Made for a sort of outlawes must bound me In their subiection as if I could Be rackt out of my vaines to liue in others As so I must if others rule my life And publique power keepe all the right of death As if men needes must serue the place of iustice The forme and idoll and renounce it selfe Our selues and all our rights in God and goodnesse Our whole contents and freedomes to dispose All in the ioyes and wayes of arrant rogues No stay but their wilde errors to sustaine vs No forges but their throats to vent our breaths To forme our liues in and repose our deaths See they haue got my sword Who 's there Enter Marcillius bare Mar. My Lord Cat Who tooke my sword hence Dumb I doe not aske For any vse or care of it but hope I may be answered Goe Sir let me haue it Exit Mar. Poâ—re slaues how terrible this death is to them If men would sleepe they would be wroth with all That interrupt them Physick take to take The golden rest it brings both pay and pray For good and soundest naps all friends consenting In those kinde inuocations praying all Good rest the gods vouchsafe you but when death Sleepes naturall brother comes that 's nothing worse But better being more rich and keepes the store Sleepe euer â—ickle way ward still and poore O how men grudge and shake and feare and fly His sterne approaches all their comforts taken In faith and knowledge of the blisse and beauties That watch their wakings in an endlesse life Dround in the paines and horrors of their sense Sustainde but for an houre be all the earth Rapt with this error I le pursue my reason And hold that as my light and fiery pillar Th' eternall law of heauen and earth no firmer But while I seeke to conquer conquering Caesar My soft-splen'd seruants ouerrule and curb me He knocks and Brutus enters Where 's he I sent to fetch and place my sword Where late I left it Dumb to Come another Enter Cleanthes Where 's my sword hung here Cle. My Lord I know not Ent. Marcilius Cat. The rest come in there Where 's the sword I charg'd you To giue his place againe I le breake your lips ope Spight of my freedome all my seruants friends My sonne and all will needs betray me naked To th' armed malice of a foe so fierce And Beare-like mankinde of the blood of virtue O gods who euer saw me thus contemn'd Goe call my sonne in tell him that the lesse He shewes himselfe my sonne the lesse I le care To liue his father Enter Athenodorus Porcius Porcius kneeling Brutus Cleanthes and Marcilius by him Por. I beseech you Sir Rest patient of my duty and my loue Your other children think on our poore mother Your family your Country Cat. If the gods Giue ouer a'l I le fly the world with them Athenâ—dorus I admire the changes I note in heauenly prouidence When Pompey Did all things out of course past right past reason He stood inuincible against the world Yet now his cares grew pious and his powers Set all vp for his Countrey he is conquered Ath. The gods wills secret are nor must we measure Their chast-reserued deepes by our dry shallowes Sufficeth vs we are entirely such As twixt them and our consciences we know Their graces in our virtues shall present Vnspotted with the earth to 'th high throne That ouerlookes vs for this gyant world Let 's not contend with it when heauen it selfe Failes to reforme it why should we affect The least hand ouer it in that ambition A heape t is of digested villany Virtue in labor with eternall Chaos Prest to a liuing death and rackt beneath it Her throwes vnpitied euery worthy man Limb by limb sawne out of her virgine wombe To liue here peecemeall tortur'd fly life then Your life and death made presidents for men Exit Cat. Ye heare my masters what a life this is And vse much reason to respect it so But mine shall serue ye Yet restore my sword Lest too much ye presume and I conceiue Ye front me like my fortunes Where 's Statilius Por. I think Sir gone with the three hundred Romans In Lucius Caesars charge to serue the victor Cat. And would not take his leaue of his poore friend Then the Philosophers haue stoop't his spirit Which I admire in one so free and knowing And such a fiery hater of base life Besides being such a vow'd and noted foe To our great Conqueror But I aduisde him To spare his youth and liue Por. My brother Brutus Is gone to Caesar. Cat. Brutus Of mine honor Although he be my sonne in law I must say There went as worthy and as learned a President As liues in Romes whole rule for all lifes actions And yet your sister Porcea his wife Would scarce haue done this But for you my sonne Howeuer Caesar deales
These friends thus gone t is more then time we minded Our lost friend Vibius Gab. You can want no friends See our two Consuls Sir betwixt them bringing The worthy Brutus Enter two Consuls leading Brutus betwixt them 1 Cons. We attend my Lord With no meane friend to spirit your next encounter Six thousand of our choice Patriciaâ— youths Brought in his conduct 2 Cons. And though neuer yet He hath saluted you with any word Or looke of slendrest loue in his whole life Since that long time since of his fathers death By your hand authord yet see at your need He comes to serue you freely for his Country Pom. His friendly presence making vp a third With both your persons I as gladly welcome As if Ioâ—es triple flame had guilt this field And lightn'd on my right hand from his shield Bru. I well assure my selfe Sir that no thought In your ingenious construction touches At the aspersion that my tendred seruice Proceeds â—â—om my despaire of elsewhere safety But that my Countreys safety owning iustly My whole habilities of life and fortunes And you the ablest fâ—utor of her safty Her loue and for your loue of her your owne Only makes sacred to your vse my offering Pom. Farre fly all other thought from my construction And due acceptance of the liberall honor Your loue hath done me which the gods are witnesse I take as stirr'd vp in you by their fauours Nor lesse esteeme it then an offering holy Since as of all things man is said the measure So your full merits measure forth a man 1 Cons. See yet my Lord more friends 2 Cons. Fiue Kings your seruants Enter fiue Kings Hib. Conquest and all grace crowne the gracious Pompey To serue whom in the sacred Romane safety My selfe Iberâ—as King present my forces Thess. And I that hold the tributary Throne Of Grecian Thessaly submit my homage To Rome and Pompey Cil. So Cilicia too Epir. And so Epiruâ— Thra. Lastly I from Thrace Present the duties of my power and seruice Pom. Your royall aides deserue of Rome and Pompey Our vtmost honorâ— O may now our fortune Not ballance her broad breast twixt two light wings Nor on a slippery globe sustaine her steps But as the Spartans say the Paphian Queene The flood Eurotaâ— passing laid aside Her Glasse her Ceston and her amorous graces And in Lycurgus fauor arm'd her beauties With Shield and â—aueline so may fortune now The flood of all our enemies forces passing With her faire Ensignes and arriu'd at ours Displume her shoulders â—ast off her wing'd shooes Her faithlesse and still-rowling stone spurne from her And enter our powers as she may remaine Our firme assistent that the generall aydes Fauours and honors you performe to Rome May make her build with you her endlesse home Oâ—â— The gods vouchsafe it and our causes right Dem. What suddaine Shade is this obserue my Lords The night me thinks comes on before her houre Thunder and lightning Gab. Nor trust me if my thoughts conceiue not so Bru. What thin clouds fly the winds like swiftest shafts Along aires middle region 1 Cons. They presage Vnusuall tempests 2 Cons. And t is their repaire That timelesse darken thus the gloomy ayre Pom. Let 's force no omen from it but avoid The vapors furies now by Iouâ— employd Thunder continued and Caesar enters disguisde The wrathfull tempest of the angry night Where hell flyes mufl'd vp in clouds of pitch Mingl'd with Sulphure and those dreadfull bolts The Cyclops Ram in Ioues Artillery Hath rousde the furies arm'd in all their horrors Vp to the enuious seas in spight of Caesar. O night O ielous night of all the noblest Beauties and glories where the gods haue stroke Their foure digestions from thy gastly Chaos Blush thus to drowne them all in this houre sign'd By the necessity of â—ate for Caesar. I that haue ransackt all the world for worth To forme in man the image of the gods Must like them haue the power to check the worst Of all things vnder their celestiall Empire Stoope it and burst it or breakâ— through it all With vse and safety till the Crowne be set On all my actions that the hand of nature In all her worst works ayming at an end May in a master-peece of hers be seru'd With tops and state fit for his virtuous Crowne Not lift arts thus farre vp in glorious frame To let them vanish thus in smoke and shame This riuer Anius in whose mouth now lyes A Pynnace I would passe in to fetch on My armies dull rest from Brunduâ—ium That is at all times else exceeding calme By reason of a purling winde that flyes Off from the shore each morning driuing vp The billows farre to sea in this night yet Beares such a terrible gale put off from sea As beats the land wind back and thrusts the flood Vp in such vproare that no boat dare stirre And on it is disperst all Pompeys nauy To make my perill yet more enuious Shall I yet shrinke for all were all yet more There is a certaine need that I must giue Way to my paste none knowne that I must giue Enter Master of a ship with Sailors Mast. What battaile is there fought now in the ayre That threats the wrack of nature Caes. Master come Shall we thrust through it all Mast. What lost man Art thou in hopes and fortunes that dar'st make So desperate a motion Caes. Launch man and all thy feares fraight disauow Thou carriest Caesar and his fortunes now Act III. Scene I. Pompey two Consuls fine Kings Brutus Gabinius Demetrius NOw to Pharsalia where the smarting strokes Of our resolu'd contention must resound My Lords and friends of Rome I giue you all Such welcome as the spirit of all my fortunes Conquests and triumphs now come for their croâ—â—â— Can crowne your fauours with and serue the hopes Of my deare Country to her vtmost wish I can but set vp all my being to giue So good an end to my forerunning Acts The powers in me that formd them hauing lost No least time since in gathering skill to better But like so many Bees haue brought me home The sweet of whatsoeuer flowers haue growne In all the meâ—des and gardens of the world All which hath growne still as the time encrease In which t was gather'd and with which it stemm'd That what decay soeuer blood inferr'd Might with my mindes store be suppli'd and cher'd All which in one fire of this instant fight I le burne and sacrifice to euery cinder In sacred offering to my Countreys loue And therefore what euent soeuer sort As I no praise will looke for but the good Freely bestow on all if good succeed So if aduerse fate fall I wish no blame But th' ill befalne me made my fortunes shame Not mine nor my fault 1 Cons. We too well loue Pompey To doe him that iniustice Bru. Who more thirsts The Conquest then resolues to beare the foile Pom. Said Brutus-like
turnd on me for feares With mocks and scandals that would make a man Of lead a lightning in the desperat'st onset That euer trampled vnder death his life I beare the touch of feare for all their safeties Or for mine owne enlarge with twice as many Selfe-liues selfe-fortunes they shall sinke beneath Their owne credulities before I crosse them Come haste dispose our battaile Vib. Good my Lord Against your Genius warre not for the world Pom. By all worlds he that moues me next to beare Their scoâ—s and imputations of my feare For any cause shall beare this sword to hell Away to battaile good my Lord lead you The whole six thousand of our yong Patricians Plac't in the left wing to enuiron Caesar. My father Scipio shall lead the battaile Domitius the left wing I the right Against Marc Anthony Take now your fils Ye beastly doters on your barbarous wills Exeunt Alarme excursions of al The fiue Kings driuen ouer the Stage Crassinius chiefely pursuing At the dore enter againe the fiue Kings The battell continued within Epir. Fly fly the day was lost before was fought Thess. The Romans feard their shadowes Cil. Were there euer Such monstrous confidences as last night Their Cups and musique shew'd Before the morning Made such amazes ere one stroke was struck Iber. It made great Pompey mad which who could mend The gods had hand in it Tra. It made the Consuls Run on their swords to see 't The braue Patricianâ— Fled with their spoyled faces arrowes sticking As shot from heauen at them Thess. T was the charge That Caesar gaue against them Epir. Come away Leaue all and wonder at this fatall day Exeunt The fight neerer and enter Crassinâ—us a sword as thrust through his face he fals To him Pompey and Caesar fighting Pompey giues way Caesar follows and enters at another dore Caes. Pursue pursue the gods foreshew'd their powers Which we gaue issue and the day is ours Crassineus O looke vp he does and shewes Death in his broken eyes which Caesars hands Shall doe the honor of eternall closure Too well thou keptst thy word that thou this day Wouldst doe me seruice to our victory Which in thy life or death I should behold And praise thee for I doe and must admire Thy matchles valour euer euer rest Thy manly lineaments which in a tombe Erected to thy noble name and virtues I le curiosly preserue with balmes and spices In eminent place of these Pharsalian fields Inscrib'd with this true soule of funerall Epitaph Crassineus fought for fame and died for Rome Whose publique weale springs from this priuate tombe Enter some taking him off whom Caesar helps Enter Pompey Demetrius with black robes in their hands broad hats c. Pom. Thus haue the gods their iustice men their wils And I by mens wils rulde my selfe renouncing Am by my Angell and the gods abhorr'd Who drew me like a vapour vp to heauen To dash me like a tempest 'gainst the earth O the deserued terrors that attend On humane confidence had euer men Such outrage of presumption to be victors Before they arm'd To send to Rome before For houses neare the market place their tents Strowd all with flowers and nosegayes tables couer'd With cups and banquets bayes and mirtle garlands As ready to doe sacrifice for conquest Rather then arme them for fit fight t' enfore it Which when I saw I knew as well th' euent As now I feele it and because I rag'd In that presage my Geniuâ— shewing me clearely As in a mirror all this cursed issue And therefore vrg'd all meanes to put it off For this day or from these fields to some other Or from this omâ—nous confidence till I saw Their spirits settl'd in some grauer knowledge Of what belong'd to such a dâ—are decision They spotted me with feâ—re with loue of glory To keepe in my command so many Kings So great an army all the hellish blastings That could be breath'd on me to strike me blinde Of honor spirit and soule And should I then Saue them that would in spight of heauen be ruinde And in their safeties ruine me and mine In euerlasting rage of their detraction Dem. Your safety and owne honor did deserue Respect past all their values O my Lord. Would you Pom. Vpbraid me not goe to goe on Dem. No I le not rub the wound The misery is The gods for any error in a man Which they might rectify and should because That man maintain'd the right should suffer wrong To be thus insolent thus grac't thus bleâ—t Pom. O the strange carriage of their acts by which Men order theirs and their deuotions in them Much rather striuing to entangle men In pathlesse error then with regular right Confirme their reasons and their pieties light For now Sir whatsoeuer was foreshowne By heauen or prodigy ten parts more for vs Forewarning vs deterring vs and all Our blinde and brainlesse frenzies then for Caesar All yet will be ascribde to his regard Giuen by the gods for his good parts preferring Their glosse being starck impostures to the iustice Loue honor piety of our lawes and Countrey Though I thinke these are arguments enow For my acquitall that for all these fought Dem. Y' are cleare my Lord. Pom. Gods helpe me as I am What euer my vntoucht command of millions Through all my eight and fifty yeares hath woonne This one day in the worlds esteeme hath lost So vile is praise and dispraise by euent For I am still my selfe in euery worth The world could grace me with had this dayes Euen In one blaze ioyn'd with all my other Conquests And shall my comforts in my well-knowne selfe Faile me for their false fires Demetrius Dem. O no my Lord. Pom. Take griefe for them as if The rotten-hearted world could steepe my soule In filthy putrifaction of their owne Since their applauses faile me that are hisses To euery sound acceptance I confesse That till th' affaire was past my passions flam'd But now its helplesse and no cause in me Rest in these embers my vnmoued soule With any outward change this dystick minding No man should more allow his owne losse woes Being past his fault then any stranger does And for the worlds false loues and ayry honors What soule that euer lou'd them most in life Once seuer'd from this breathing sepulchre Againe came and appearde in any kind Their kinde admirer still or did the state Of any best man here associate And euery true soule should be here so feuer'd From loue of such men as here drowne their soules As all the world does Cato sole accepted To whom I le fly now and my wife in way Poore Lady and poore children worse then fatherlesse Visit and comfort Come Demetrius They disguise themselues We now must â—ute our habites to our fortunes And since these changes euer chance to greatest Nor desire to be Doe fortune to exceed it what she can A Pompey or a Caesar but a man
with me be counsailde By your experienc't father not to touch At any action of the publique weale Nor any rule beare neare her politique sterne For to be vbright and sincere therein Like Catos sonne the times corruption Will neuer beare it and to sooth the time You shall doe basely and vnworthy your life Which to the gods I wish may outweigh mine In euery virtue howsoeuer ill You thriue in honor Por. I my Lord shall gladly Obey that counsell Cat. And what needed you Vrge my kinde care of any charge that nature Imposes on me haue I euer showne Loues least defect to you or any dues The most iddulgent father being discreet Could doe his dearest blood doe you me right In iudgement and in honor and dispence With passionate nature goe neglect me not But send my sword in Goe t is I that charge you Por. O my Lord and father come aduise me Exeunt Cat. What haue I now to thinke on in this world No one thought of the world I goe each minute Discharg'd of all cares that may fit my freedome The next world and my soule then let me serue With her last vtterance that my body may With sweetnesse of the passage drowne the sowre That death will mix with it the Consuls soules That slew themselues so nobly scorning life Led vnder Tyrants Scepters mine would see For we shall know each other and past death Retaine those formes of knowledge leâ—rn'd in life Since if what here we learne we tâ—ere shall lose Our immortality were not life but time And that our soules in reason are immortall Their naturall and proper obiects proue Which immortallity and knowledge are For to that obiect euer is referr'd The nature of the soule in which the acts Of her high faculties are still employde And that true obiect must her powers obtaine To which they are in natures aime directed Since t were absurd to haue her set an obiect Which possibly she neuer can aspire Enter a Page with his sword taken out before Pag. Your sword my Lord. Cat. O is it found lay downe Vpon the bed my boy Exit Pa. Poore men a boy Must be presenter manhood at no hand Must serue so foule a fact for so are calde In common mouths mens fairest acts of all Vnsheath is 't sharpe t is sweet Now I am safe Come Caesar quickly now or lose your vassall Now wing thee deare soule and receiue her heauen The earth the ayre and seas I know and all The ioyes and horrors of their peace and warres And now will see the gods state and the starres He fals vpon his sword and enter Statilius at another side of the Stage with his sword drawne Porcius Brutus Cleanthes and Marcilius holding his hands Stat. Cate my Lord Por. I sweare Statilius He 's forth and gone to seeke you charging me To seeke elsewhere lest you had slaine your selfe And by his loue entreated you would liue Sta. I sweare by all the gods I le run his fortunes Por. You may you may but shun the victor now Who neare is and will make vs all his slaues Sta He shall himselfe be mine first and my slaues Exit Por. Looke looke in to my father O I feare He is no sight for me to beare and liue Exit Omn. 3 O ruthfull spectacle Cle. He hath ript his entrals Bru. Search search they may be â—ound Cle. They may and are Giue leaue my Lord that I may few them vp Being yet vnperisht He thrusts him back plucks out his entrals Ca. Stand off now they are not Haue he my curse that my lifes least part saues â—ust men are only free the rest are slaues Bru. Myrror of men Mar. The gods enuied his goodnesse Enter Caesar Anthony Brutus Acilius with Lords and Citizens of Vtica Caes. Too late too late with all our haste O cato All my late Conquest and my life 's whole acts Most crownde most beautified are basted all With thy graue lifes expiring in their scorne Thy life was rule to all liues and thy death Thus forcibly despising life the quench Of all liues glories Ant. Vnreclaimed man How censureâ— Brutus his sterne fathers fact Bru. T was not well done Caes. O censure not his acts Who knew as well what fitted man as all men Enter Achilius Septimius Salvius with Pompeys head All kneeling Your enemies head great Caesar. Caes. Cursed monsters Wound not mine eyes with it nor in my camp Let any daâ—e to view it farre as noblesse The den of barbarisme flies and blisse The bitterest curse of vext and tyrannisde nature Transferre it from me Borne the plagues of virtue How durst ye poyson thus my thoughts to torture Them with instant rapture Omn. 3. Sacred Caesar. Caes. Away with them I vow by all my comforts Who slack seemes or not fiery in my charge Shall suffer with them All the souldiers Out base murtherers Tortures tortures for them hale them out Omn. Cruell Caesar. Caes. Too milde with any torture Bru. Let me craue The â—ase of my hate on their one curst life Caes. Good Brutus take it O you coole the poyson These villaines flaming pou'rd vpon my spleen To suffer with my lothings If the blood Of euery common Roman toucht so neare Shall I confirme the faise brand of my tyranny With being found a fautor of his murther Whom my deare Country chusde to â—â—ght for her Ant. Your patience Sir their tortures well will quit you Bru. Let my slaues vse Sir be your president Caes. It shall I sweare you doe me infinite honor O Cato I enuy thy death since thou Enuiedst my glory to preserue thy life Why fled his sonne and friend Statilius So farre I fly their hurt that all my good Shall fly to their desires And for himselfe My Lords and Citizens of Vtica His much renowne of you quit with your most And by the sea vpon some eminent rock Erect his sumptuous tombe on which aduance With all fit state his statue whose right hand Let hold his sword where may to all times rest His bones as honor'd as his soule is blest FINIS