one We by their meanes anothers loue obtaine But crueltie with which none can comport Makes th' author hated when the deede is gone Oft euen by those whom it did most support As that which alienates men from kinde And as humanitie the minde inchants So sauage soules that from the same resraine More fierce than fiercest beasts are lou'd of none With barbarous beasts one with lesse danger hants Than with the man whose mind all mercie wants Yet though the mind of man as strong and rude Be ranish'd whiles with violent desire And must if sir'd with rage be quench with blood How can this tender sex whose glorie stoode In hauing hearts iuclinde to pittie still Delight it selfe by any barbarous deede For Nature seemes in this t' haue vsde her skill In making womens mindes though weake entire That weakenesse might loue and deuotion breede To which their thoughts if pure might best aspire As aptest for th' impression of all good But from the best to worst all things do weare Since cruelties from feeble mindes proceed In breasts where courage failes spite shame and feare Make enuie hate and rigour rule to beare Our Queene Olimpias that was once so great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaging Philip and his Ladie of late Lo now being brought to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gaue And it 's good reason that it should be so Such measure as we giue we must receiue Whilst on a throne she did superblie sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As but being vanquish'd by her powre and wit Not mindefull of th' ineuitable fate O th' Imortalls that command aboue Of euery state in hand the rudder haue And as they lie can make vs stay or goe The griefe of others should vs greatly mooue As those that sometime may like fortune prooue But as experience with rare proofes hath showne Do looke on others we haue Linx his eyes Whilst we would haue their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can neuer marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regarde doe dim our sight Why should we be puffde vp by a'cnemies fall Since what the day doth on another light The same the morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant ball Do liue enuiron'd with th' all-circkling skies Haue many meanes whereby to be ore-throwne And why should dying wordlings swolne with wroth So tyrranize ouer an afflicted wight Since miseries are common vnto all Let none be prowd that drawes a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few still till their death ACT. V. SCENE I. Aristotle Phocion LOng haue I now invr'd th' eyes of my minde On natures labors curiously to looke And of all creatures finding foorth the kinde Strange wonders read in th' vniuersall booke I marke the world hy contraries maintainde Whose harmonie doth most subsist by strife Whilst of all things within the same containde The death of one still giues another life But as all things are subiect vnto change That partners are of th' elementall powres So rould about with reuolutions strange The state of man rests constant but few howres For what doth fame more frequently report Then of our sodaine rising and our falls I thinke the world is but a tennis-court Where men are tossde by fortune as her balls Phoc. And neuer any age shewde more than this The wauering state of soule-ennobled wights That soare too high to seaze on th' ayrie blisse Whilst lowest falles attend the highest flights The matchlesse Monarch that was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortalitie attaines Hath not from death the adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And these braue bands that furnisht fame with bâ—eath Whilst all the world their valorous deedes did spie Rest now confounded since their soueraignes death Like Poliphemus hauing lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood That tooke their life out of a monster dead Whiles ech of them pursues for others blood Since the great Drag on s death that was their head Ari. So change all things that subiect are t' our sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next night comes darknes and next darknesse light This neuer changing change transcends our wit Thus pouertie and riches sickenesse health Both honour and dishonor life and death Do so depend on other that by stealth All goe and come as th' accidents of breath T'ech worldly state the heauens a height appoint Where when it once arriues it must descend And all perfections haue a fatall point At which excellencie it selfe must end But as all those that walke on th' earth are crossde With alterations happning oft and strange The greatest states with greatest stormes are tossde And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation now As gathring credit out of ancient scroules soules No I haue liu'd at court and I know how Ther 's nought on th' earth more vex'd then great mens soules Thral'd to the tirant honor whilst they mone Their plaints to subiects eares asham'd t' empart They must beare all the weight of woes alone Where others of their griefe lend friends a part Their rising vs aboue to such a height Which seems their best is worst whilst since being lords They neuer heare the truth that comes to light When franke societie speaks naked words Whilst sadnesse whiles seemes maiestie time tells How deere they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some faine three furies but in all the hells And ther 's three thousand in one great mans breast Phoc. I thinke all monarchies are like the Moone Which whiles eclipsd whiles vnder cloud whiles cleare Growes by degrees and is when full vndone Yet Aeson like renew'd doth re-appeare For so the first but smal begin to shine And when they once their spherick forme obtaine Do then begin to languish and decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Th' Assyrians once made many a nation bow Then next all powre was in the Persians hand And lo the Macedonians monarchs now Amongst themselues diuided cannot stand Arist A secret fate alternantly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs To th' end that some may liue some must be dead Each Element anothers strength deuours Th' ayre to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The water striues to drowne all th' earth with showres Which it by vapours vomites out againe Thus with a gordian knot together bound All things are made vn-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound And norhing in one state doth long remaine But nought in th' earth more dangerously standes Than soueraigntie that 's rated at such worth Which like the stormie deities blustring bandes Doth flie from East to West from South to North. Ph. A long experience now makes this noght strange Though mightie states whose reines one onely leades Be whiles distracted and constrain'd to change As too
enough t' applaud our deede And sooth vs vp in all that we haue done Na. To haue the time and manner then praefixt Command the Bactrians all themselues to arme And to attend till we aduertise next Prompt for all perils at the first alarme Then through the Campe a rumour we will spread That hopelesse Darius hath dispairdlie gone With violence to dwell amongst the dead And seeme therefore excessiuelie to mone The Persians we with promises must feede So to disarme him of his natiue pow'rs Then we will apprehend himselfe with speede For while that he is free nothing is ours That we may seeme to vse him with respect As to the state of such a Prince pertaines We will not this last ornament neglect He shall be bound but bound with golden chaines To Alexander after we will send And offer Darius in his hands t' appease him Then craue his fauour that he will defend Vs as his friends who haue done all to please him If his good-will we cannot thus procure And he vs with extremitie pursue With Darius death we will our states assure Then raise fresh forces and the warres renue Bos Let vs henceforth for nothing be dismaide But striue our selues courageouslie to beare This dangerous action would not be delai'd Least time worke his assurance and our feare Exeunt CHORVS TYme through Ioues iudgement iust Huge alterations brings Those are but fooles that trust In transitory things Whose tailes beare mortall stings Which in the end will wound And let none thinke it strange Though all things earthly change In this inferiour rounde What is from ruine free The elements which be At variance as we see Eache other doe confound The earth and aire make warre The fire and water are Still wrestling at debate All those through colde and heate Through drouth and moisture iar No wonder though men change and fade Who of those changing elements are made How dare vaine worldlings vaunt Of fortunes goods not lasting Euils that our wittes enchaunt Expos'd to losse and wasting Loe we to death are hasting Whilst we these things discusse All things from their beginning Vnto an end are running Heauen hath ordain'd it thus We heare how heauen doth thunder We see th' earth burst asunder And yet we neuer ponder VVhat this imports to vs. Those fearfull signes doe proue That th' angrie pow'rs aboue Are mou'd to indignation Against this wretched nation VVhich they no longer loue What are we but a puffe of breath Who liue assur'd of nothing but of death VVho was so happie yet As neuer had some crosse Though on a Throne he sit And is not vs'd with losse Yet fortune once will tosse Him when that least he would If one had all at ones Hydaspes pretious stones And yellow Tagus golde All th' Orient all treasure And euery earthly pleasure Euen in the greatest measure It should not make him bold For while he liues secure His state is most vnsure VVhen it doth least appeere Some heauie plague drawes neere Destruction to procure We may compare th' earths glory to a flowre That flourisheth and fadeth in an houre In what we most repose We finde our comfort light The thing we soonest lose That 's precious in our sight For honour riches might Our liues im paund we lay Yet all like flying shadowes Or flowers enambling medowes Euanish and decay Long time we toile to finde Those idols of the minde Which got we cannot binde T' abide with vs one day Then why should we presume On treasures that consume Difficile to obtaine Difficile to retaine A dreame a breath a fume Which vexe them most who them possesse Who starue with store and famish with excesse ACTVS QVARTVS Scen. I. DARIVS TIRIOTES Tir. AH must I poyson now my Princes eares with the worst newes that euer burthē'd fame Had I as many tongues as I haue teares All would not serue my sorrowes to proclame Dar. Great signes of greefe I in thy face discerne Spare not for to report this heauie crosse To one I feare whome it doth most concerne I st death disgrace distruction treason losse Tell on the summe of honour at the first With no ambiguous words my paine prolong 'T is comfort to a wretch to know the worst And I haue learn'd to be vnhappy long What least I speake and yet suspect too much I st some ludibrious message of my skorne Which must wound me but ah no torment such As this to them who that disgrace haue borne Tir. She was not wrong'd as you haue misconceiu'd The Gods haue had a care for to preserue her Such fauour of the victour she receiu'd As of her subiects that were bound to serue her But what a vollie doth my voice prepare Of woes to charge your eares woes full of dread Would God ere I the somme thereof declare That I might die in saying she is dead Curst caitiue was it not enough allas That I beheld her die and would haue died But that I must arm'd with sad tydings pas To wound all them that heare what I haue spied See how he fares shot with these words of mine As one become the pray of greefe and death Dar. Yet doth the Sunne on my affliction shine And sees the aire infected with my breath And can I liue and looke them in the face That haue my ignominious o're-throw seene And how I vanquish'd vanquish'd with disgrace Engag'd at once my kingdome and my Queene Heauen bruse me all to powder with thy thunder That I no more may in the world remaine The obiect of thy wrath and Fortunes wonder Spoil'd of all hope yet kept for greater paine Ah! art thou dead and doe I lieu behinde thee Thy faultie husband thinkst thou so to flie If it be thus then I know where to finde thee This onely greeues me that too late I die O Alexander what such hainous ill Haue I done thee that thou requit'st me thus Whom of thy friendes or kindred did I kill This crueltie comes vndeseru'd of vs. Think that thou hadst iust causes to make warre Yet vpon women should thy wrath be wroken This Tirrannie shall all thy Triumphe marre And euer shall to thy reproach be spoken Tir. Sir without cause you guiltie him esteeme I know her death did grieuouslie displease him A wondrous thing which few or none would deeme He tooke it so that nothing could appease him Euen as my Soueraigne now so then he smarted And when he came to ease your mothers griefe As if that his owne mother had departed He seem'd to need not for to giue reliefe Dar. If any sparkes of that respect remaine Which should with reason mooue thy minde to ruth I pray the Tiriotes now be plaine Or els strange torments shall exact the truth I loth to let this question scape my mouth Which both I blush to craue and long to know I st possible so insolent a youth Did neuer tempt the treasure which I owe Could this imperious Prince in flowre
of age Haue such a peerelesse beautie in his power And yet not seeke to quench his ardent rage With the destruction of her honours flowre Spare not to tell vpon what deadly shelfe My ioy is perish'd quite and I defac'd The feare of euill is worse then th' euill it selfe I'ts to die twise to die and die disgrac'd Ti. Let not those loue-bred feares abuse your thought By all the world no fable I contriue If I speake partiallie or lie in ought Earth open vp and swallow me aliue He whom your Grace so wrongfully suspects No not in thought hath once your Queene abus'd But as his sister still in all respects As chastlie and as honourablie vs'd When fortune first our warlike troupes had scattered And with great slaughter put them all to flight We whom she late so louingly had flattered Were made the patternes of that changlings might For hauing found a Crowne troad on the ground Dar. O lasting shame that cannot be recur'd Tir. We straight imagin'd that some cruell wound Had kild my Lord and wail'd it as assur'd Dar. Would God I then had died as I desir'd So t' haue preuented those ensuing harmes Before my honour and my hap expir'd With Crowne on head with my Queene in armes Tir. But Alexander hauing heard our cries Sent one t' enquire th' occasion of our woe Who finding whence our errour did arise Gaue full assurance that it was not so Then he himselfe vnto our tent resorted And with most courteous speaches full of loue Your mother wife and children oft exhorted Such vaine surmized terrours to remoue With protestation that they should expect No harme of him their courage to appale Each thing he did accordinglie direct That no man might endomage them at all Thus hauing them against all dangers arm'd I thinke for feare for who would not haue fear'd Least such an Angels graces had him charm'd He neuer more before her face appear'd Or was it vertue that would flie the sting Of trustlesse pleasures that abuse the sense So continent a victour and a king Was neuer seene He fled what caus'd offence He doth his fame aboue all things prefer And will not be where it may blemish finde Nor giue his eyes commoditie to erre Nor suffer impure thoughts to staine his minde He stai'd till that faire face had lost all vigour And with the coulours of pale death was painted Dar. Iniurious heauen that with such hellish rigour The purest worke that nature made hath tainted Tir. When he beheld death triumph in that face Which late had triumph'd ou'r a Monarcks hart He mon'd no lesse her miserable cace Then you that loste in her your better part And when some dayes his dolour had ou'r-come Her funerals solemnelie to decore He vs'd such honour as might well become The Persian pompe in prosperous times before Dar. O supreame pow'r that of Empires disposest And ratifiest thy will with fearfull thunder Who as thou pleasest placest and de-posest Vncertaine worldlings whiles aboue whiles vnder I pray thy Deitie in my soules distresse If that th' inhabitants of heauen can heare The plaints of those who this lowe point possesse Or that th' immortall can giue mortals eare Vouchsafe this my last sute for to fulfill Establish first this scepter in my hand But if through my deserving or thy will The race of Cyrus must no more command And if thy heauenly breast such hate contracts That I must needs my Diadem forgoe Let him succeed who prooues in all his acts So iust a Victour and so milde a foe ACTVS QVARTVS Scen. II. DARIVS ART ABAZVS NARBAZENES PATRON BESSVS Dar. IF Fortune had ioynd me with dastard mindes Who to a noble death base life prefer'd I should not harrengue heere vnto the windes But be content to haue my fate defer'd O I repent I proou'd your worth too much Who still haue follow'd me in all estates I rather should then doubt that you are such Prease to proue worthy of so worthie mates Yee onlie rest of all that I conducted Of whose great force and faith which many sing I by two fights and flights haue beene instructed Yet hauing you I thinke my selfe a King He hath plac'd traitours in my townes most ample Not that he honours them he hates their humour But to seduce you to by their example Then bannish all for euery little rumour Yee haue not to my Fortune had regarde But freelie-follow'd my euill fortun'd warres Which though that I might not Ioue would rewarde And all the world extoll you to the starres How long shall I a vagabond remaine And flie a stranger who my right would reaue Since by one battell we may re-obtaine All that we lost or loose all that we haue Like those vile traitours whom I will arraigne To holde me vp shall I goe cast me downe Must Darius onlie by entreatie raigne No none hath pow'r to take or giue my Crowne I shall not my authoritie sur-viue Nor will I proffer a submissiue breath My hand shall holde a scepter while I liue My head shall beare a Diadem till death If those franke thoughts that doe possesse my soule Such flames of vertue kindled haue in you A Macedonian neuer shall controule Our noble actes nor laugh to see vs bow My state may testifie fraile Fortunes change May she not him o're-whelme as well as me At least our hands beare death if not revenge For who can stop a stout hart for to die Thinke of your auncestors I you exhort Who made the Grecians tributaries euer And of whose wondrous actes men do report Great things the fame whereof shall perish neuer Shall future ages in your praise be dombe Whil'st they your Fathers memorie adore I am resolu'd my Triumphe or my Tombe A Laurell ora Cipresse shall decore Art What vaine amazement doth disturbe our spirits Let vs consult no further but goe to He who the Persians wonted worth inherites Will not rest long aduising what to doe Come let vs with our best attire and armes Accompanie our King to this last strife Through bloody squadrons and through hote alarmes By slaughter onlie we must looke for life And when our host as I hope shall preuaile Our countrie shall haue peace we praise of right And if our Fortune not our courage faile We die with honour in our Soueraignes sight Let vs if vanquish'd be asham'd to be A glorious death may greater honour giue Doe to o're-come and yet not feare to die It 's needfull that we fight not that we liue Na. My words will first your Maiestie displease Yet dutie makes me speake where silence spilles The fine Phisician cures a sharpe disease With some sowre potion that corruption killes The skilfull Pilote when he feares a storme To saue the ship will cast out precious things Yet I perswade you not in any forme To further but to stay what ruine brings We warre against the Gods we cannot speede To all our actions Fortune is oppos'd We must of
how he had their treason tri'de And seene the Bactrians to a tumult bent Then prai'd him for his safety to prouide In going with him to his trusty tent The King grow'n carelesse and his safety shunning Refus'd this offer on affection grounded Or with some pow'rfull fate his fall fore-running Was carried headlong thus to be confounded The Greeke past thence dispairing of his safety Who thus recur elesse helpe and health refus'd Then Bessus did begin with speeches craftie To purge himselfe and errours past excus'd The King then Artabazus did command T' approch and Patrons speech at length reported He then did doubt what danger was at hand And to go with the Greeke his Grace exhorted But when he found this resolution plac'd Within his brest no peril for to flie With mutuall teares each other they embrac'd Parting like two that liuing went to die Now silent night in pitchie vapours cled Had mustred mists and march'd vnto the West A shadowie horrour ou'r the earth was spread The Santinelles were set and all at rest When a strange terrour troubled all the hoste The multitudes did murmure in all parts They did resemble ships in stormes neere lost Whilst each to th' other cause of feares imparts Those who their King appointed were to guarde All shrunke away to corners none staid there And hauing to his danger no regarde His better-fortunes Minions fled else where The desolation then was wonderous great With a few Eunuches Darius left alone Did enter deepely to reuolue his state And thus be-spake them who did for him mone Depart in peace and for your selues prouide Least yee be likewise with my ruine caught I will the issue of my fate abide They hearing this as of their wits distraught Went howling through the host with dolorous cries This made the King as dead to be bewaild And in the armie did a rumour rise That he had kild himselfe when all hope fail'd The Persians greeu'd while these things did occurre Did first encourage all their countrie bands To helpe their Prince but yet they durst not sturre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands Ev'n in the time when this confusion was The traitours to deferre the fact no more Did to their soueraignes owne Pavilion passe And rooke and bound him whome they seru'd before He who in golden coach superbelie rode Was cast in one for bassest carriage vs'd And who of late was honoured like a God By seruants as a bond slaue was abus'd Those royall hands to beare a scepter borne Were bouÌ„d with chains this also much did grieue him That fortune his aduersitie would scorne With golden bands that seru'd not to releeue him Then Alexander hauing heard in end That Darius came not forward to affront him To finde him out did all his forces bend Not doubting but he eftsoones would surmount him But being at the last at length inform'd How he was made a Captiue to his owne At this indignitie he highlie storm'd And swore he would avenge it by his crowne Out of his hoste he did select a fewe Who were best hors'd whose equipage was light With whom his foes he did so fast pursue That ere they could suspect he came in sight The traitours troubled with this he had done Came to the Cart wherein the King was carried And bad him mount on horse back and flee soone Least that his foe should take him if he tarried He look'd aloft and cry'd aloud this day Th' eternall Iusticer sees through the starres I will not with such periur'd rebelles stay And flie from him who moou's but honest warres Then those in whom impietie aboundes Throw'd darts at him whoÌ„ they should haue defended And hurte the horses with an hundreth woundes While they perform'd the Parricide intended Their hands were feeble as their harts vntrue For when their foes began them once to comber The traitours first then all the traiterous crue Fled them who were inferiour farre in number But to the confines of deathes kingdome brought The King retir'd out from the way aside More wounded with ingratitude then ought Did flie the world whose follies he had tri'de Scarce was the lasting last diuorcement made Twixt soule and body whilst that th' eyes grew dim When Alexander came and found him dead Who long had labour'd for t' haue ruin'd him Yet with the vesture which himselfe then wore He couered the dead corps and not eschew'd it But eu'n with teares his coffin did decore To the great wonder of all them that view'd it And hauing waild his death aboue all measure For t' haue his funerals made in Princely wise He bids you spare no coste but vse his treasure And them as best becommes to solemnise He hath his body hither sent by me That the last honours you to him may do He thinkes they so shall best accomplish'd be And who him bare shall see him buried to Cho. Behold how griefe hath her of sense berest And choak'd her breath with super-abounding grones No will or power to liue is to her left Since all her weale evanish'd is at ones Sis Ah shall I see no let me first be blinde That body breath-lesse which I brought to light Where would my soule a force sufficient finde T' endure the dolour of that deadly sight O flintie hardned hart that wilt not breake With the remembrance of so many woes Why part'st thou not faint sprit that whil'st I speake In opening of my lips mine eyes might close This heritage of death this withered stock Is but a receptacle of dispaires A torture to it selfe a stumbling block Whose aged furrowes fertile are in cares What helpes it now to haue bene made the mother Of one who to such dignitie did clim More miserable now then any other I liue to waile my death who di'd in him Aye me malitious Fates haue done me wrong Who came first to the world should first depart It not becommes the olde t' ou'r-liue the yong This dealing is praeposterous and ou'r-thwart Ah why should death so indiscreet be found To saue a caitiue and confound a Prince My halfe-dead body weigh'd downe to the ground Through griefe is grow'n ripe for the graue long since CHORVS WHat makes vaine worldlings so to swell with pride Who came of earth and to the earth returne So hellish furies with their fire brands burne Proude and ambitious men as they deuiâ—e Them from themselues and so turmoile their mindes That all their time they studie still How to content a bound-lesse will Which neuer yet a full contentment findes Who so this flame within his bosome smothers Doth many fantasies contriue And euen forgets himselfe a-liue To be remembred after death by others Thus while he is his paines are neuer ended That while he is not he may be commended What can this helpe the happinesse of Kings So to subdue their neighbours as they doe And make strange nations tributaries to The greater state the greater trouble brings Their pompes and triumphes stands them in
Of all my labours loe this was the hire Those must haue store of toiles that toyle for strife And I remember that amidst my ioyes Euen whilst the chase of armies was my sport There wanted not a portion of annoyes To counterpoise my pleasures in some sort Of those in th' earth most happy that remaine As ag'd experience constantly records The pleasures farre exceeded are by paine Life greater greife then comfort still affords What rage and sorrow seaz'd vpon my soule Whilst big with hopes a battell bent to proue That sudden sicknesse did my course controule Which Cidnus cold imbracings chanc'd to moue From the Phisition then though deem'd for ill I tooke his drinke and gaue th' inuectiue lines Then whilst he red did drinke yet eyd him stil And by accusing lookes search'd guilty signes Not that suspitious feares could make me sad This was the ground whence did proceed my paine Lest death that victorie preuented had Which I was sure if present once t' obtaine But when that I extended had my state From learned Athens to the barbarous Indes Still my tumultuous troupes my pride did hate As monstrous mutinies vnmask'd their mindes I so my name more wonderful to make Of Hercules and Bacchus past the bounds And whilst that Memnons sun burnt bands did quake Did write my worth in many a Monarchs wounds Kings were my subiects and my subiects kings Yet my contentment further did require For I imagind still more mighty things And to a greater greatnesle did aspire The compasse of the carriere of the sunne By many a famous victory I wan Yet wept that there were no more worlds to win As all had beene to little for one man Was I not honord as a God by some Whilst what I interprizd it still preuaild Whom I assaild I alwayes did ore-come No project of my fancies euer faild This made me thought immortalizd to be Which in all mindes amazement yet contracts For I led Fortune Fortune followed me As forc'd t' attend the greatnesse of my acts Yet I haue found it a more easie thing To conquer all the mansions of the winde Then mine owne selfe and of my passions king To order the disorders of my minde What comfort iustly could my soule receiue Of all my conquests past if that euen then Whilst I triumph'd to wrath and wine as slaue I scap'd not scandall more then other men Ah seazing without right on euery state I but my selfe too great a Monarch made Since all men gapt to get the golden bate Which by my death seemd easie to be had Whilst from humanitie too much deuorc'd My deeds all hearts with feare and horror fild I whom the force of foes yet neuer forc'd Was by my friends most fraudulently kill'd But now I see the troublous time drawes neere When they shall keepe my obsequies with blood No wonder too though such a warriours biere At last do swim amids a scarlet flood For as my life did breed huge broyles ouer all My death must be th' occasion of great cumbers And it doth best become a strong mans fall To be renown'd by ruining of numbers The snaky-tressed sisters shal not neede T' vse fatall firebrands lothsome Plutoes pestes Or poisonous inspirations so to bred A thirst of murder in transported brests Yet my ambitious ashes once may shine T' enflame my Minions minds with strange desires If of their spirits each keepe a sparke of mine To waste the world their brests may furnish fires The beauties once of th' earth shall all looke red Whilst my lieuetenants through that pride of theirs With vnkind armes huge streames of blood do shed By murthering of mine heires to be mine heires Is this the gaine of greatnesses did I pine To be made eminent to be ouerthrowne To ruine first my selfe then roote out mine As conquering others but to lose mine owne O happy I but happier far my race If with my fathers conquests still content I manag'd had th' Aemathian power in peace Which was made lawfull by a long discent Then farre sequestred from Bellonaes rage I had the true delites of nature tryed And ag'd with honor honor'd in my age Had left my scepter to my sonne and dyed And he succeeded had t' a quiet state Which then because lesse great had bin more sure And not exposd to enuy nor to hate That do against the greatest States coniure But since they minde t' enearth mine earthly part Which now no badge of maiestie reraines To roaring Phlegeton I must depart Farre from the lightsome bounds of th' ayrie Plaines And must I there that did the world surmount Arrested by the Monarke of the Ghosts To Radamanthus render an account Of all the deedes done by my rauenous hostes Ther whilst with Minos Aeacus sits downe A rigorous Iudge in Hells most horride court Though farre before his Nephew in renowne He will not with one of his race comport O what pale troops of ghosts are gathered heere That were of bodies spoild by my decree And first the wrong'd Parmenio doth compeere From whom I nought but who did much from me At the tribunall of Tartarian powres He aggrauates a ingratitude too great And whilst th' infernall tyrant foming lowres All whom I wrong'd for vengeance stand t' intreat Yet guiltie thoughts torment me most of all No sprite can be by plaging Furies pind Though charg'd without with snakes within with gall As by the slings of a remording minde If it be true that drowsie Laethes streams Drowne in obliuions deepes all things at last There let me burie farre from Phoebus beames The loath'd remembrance of my Labours past Exit Chorus What strange aduentures now Distract distressed mindes With such most monstrous stormes When silence seemes t' allow The peace that Nature findes And that tumultuous windes Doe not disturbe with stormes An vniuer sall rest When Morpheus hath represt Th' impetuous course of cares And with a soft skepe bâ—ndes Those tyrants of the breast That would spread foorth most dangerous snares T' inuo'ue th' afflicted in dispaires Huge horrours then arise Which th' elements doe marre With most disastrous signes Arm'd sqúadorns in the Skies With Launces throwne from farre Doe make a monstrous warre Whilst Furie nought confines The Dragons vomite fire And make the starres retire Out of their orbes for feare Some of those warriors are To satifie their ire That th' azure buildings not forbeare But seeme the cristall Towres to teare Amidst the aire fierce blasts Doe boast with blustring sounds T' vndoe this mightie frame Which whilst the tempest lasts Doth rent the stately roundes To signifie what woundes Strait t' all her of-springs shame Shall burst th' earths veines with blood And this all-circkling flood As t' were the heauens to drowne Doth passe th' appointed bounds And all the scalie broode Reare roaring Neptunes foamie crowne Whilst th' earth for feare seemes to sincke downe Those that th' earth chargde what horrour Theyr ashie lodgings leaue To re-enioy the light
were common'd Whose partiall grudge occasion'd their exile Lest th 'others restitution should haue prou'd A meanes t' haue brought their state t' a lower stile And th' indignation that they had conceiu'd Did burst out in rebellion for a time The which the king deepe in his minde engrau'd And thought by Athens spoyles t' avenge that cryme But since that death ministred them reliefe Grown bold to prosecute their prowde attempt To Athenians and the Aetolians were the chiefe That brought Antipater first in contempt And being by them constrain'd to quit the field He in a little towne enclos'd at last Was once reduc'd in dangers neere to yield And staine the glory of his actions past But yet by accident as whiles it falles It 's better to be fortunate then wise An vnsuspected shaft throwne from the walles Th' Athenian captaine happened to surprise Then did Antipater his courage reare That had almost his staggering hopes betraid And yet not altogether free'd from feare He sent to Leonatus seeking aid And he that seem'd his friendship much t' affect Did carefull of his countrie-men appeare But if he had preuail'd some do suspect Antipater had bought his succours deere Yet by th' effect his purpose bent to shew What euer that he was he seem'd a friend But when th' Athenians did his comming know T' encounter him they did directly tend And though their thoughts in depths of doubts did fleete They whilst alone to match him thought it best Then whilst they march'd aduentrous troupes to meete Hard was the welcome of th' vnwelcome guest For when both th' armies were t' a battle brought And all the fruits of valour did afford Rash Leonatus like a Lyon fought Bent to proue worthy of his wonted Lord. But whist he brauely did his charge acquite He lost himselfe that others came to saue And by their Captaines fall discourag'd quite His scatred troupes great domage did receiue Yet when the newes to Antipater were told Of their mishap that come for his releife He not one signe of sorrow did vnfold A little gaine doth mitigate great griefe For he did know though then his foes preuail'd That this great fight infeebled had their hoste And then he tooke to him which much auai'ld Those beaten bandes that had their Captaine lost Yet that in which he did most comfort finde Was his deliuerie from a secret foe Which did with ielousie torment his minde Though outwardly not seeming to be so Perd. Thus we that vnderneath one ensigne warrd Slept in one tent and all one fortune prou'd And with a friendship then that neuer iarrd As Pilades and mad Orestes lou'd Since wanting now a Lord. that all be Lords We loe renounce all kind of kindnesse now And secret rancor budding in discords Euen euery one doth th 'others ruine vow Such is the sacred famine of a crowne That it to satisfie before we faile What stands within our way all must go downe And bands of blood or friendship nought auaile These glory-rauish'd soules that would be great Will pretermit no meanes although vniust 〈…〉 of copartners in the state 〈…〉 there can be no trust 〈…〉 Well I perceiue Antipater doth tend 〈…〉 powre t' attaine that sacred prey 〈…〉 of late augmented now in th' end Through euery danger once may make a way And Alexander sometimes spake at large Then whilst Antipater with Agis striu'd That he without the limits of his charge More like a king than a Lieutenant liu'd Antiâ—onus and Ptholomie in armes Are ioy'nd in one our ruine bent to breed I feare that friendship procreate our harmes Vnlesse their spight preuented be with speed Perd. I le lodge you now Eumenes in my brest And let you see the ground of my designes Since that we both alike must toyle or rest As those whose course one planet now confines Since at his death I by our dying Lord Was in his place appointed to succeed And that my fortune doth a meanes afford How that I compasse may what he decreed To leaue that place I cannot well agree As if I wanted courage to command I le take that which the fates do throw on me For if without a throne I cannot stand And those that would performe difficult things Must not regard what way so they preuaile Of sleight then force a greater furtherance brings The Fox must helpe if that the Lyon faile So for Antipater a snare t' haue layd His daughter I in marriage did require That so the time might but haue bin delayd Till that I had accomplisht my desire For with the shadow of pretended loue And hope of that affinitie to come I from his bounds was minded to remoue A warrelike troupe wherewith himselfe t' orecome But to deceiue deceiuers t' is most hard He quickly did mistrust th' intended wrong And from my messengers his eares he barr'd As did Vlisses from the Sirens song Eum. This to your state I think might much import If to your selfe you chose a vertuous mate Whose beauty pleasure birth might bring support And both concurre in one to blesse your state If you to make your high designes more sure By Hymens meanes with some your selfe alie Thus of some Prince you may the powre procure That wil conioynd with you one fortune trie What griefe were this if you haue hap t' attaine That faire Idea which your fancies frame If after you of yours none doe remaine That may enioy your conquests and your name Kings liue most sure that of their owne haue heires Whose sacred persons none dare seeke to wound Since though they die yet there rest some of theirs That are t' auenge their death by nature bound Pe. Noght rests vntride that might inlarge my might I minde to match my selfe with such a one That if she haue my powre to proue her right May be thought worthy of th' Aemathian throne I with Olympias haue deuisde a thing That may assure her state and make mine strong The which I hope shall prooue a prosprous spring From whence may flow great things ere it belong By Cleopatra may a meanes be catch'd That our designes t' a glorious end may bring I meane she whom hir father Philip match'd With Alexander of th' Epirots King He hauing heard great Alexanders fame In emulation of that monarkes praise Went with his troupes th' Etrurians bent to tame Which enterprise did but abridge his dayes In marriage with that widdow'd Queene combinde If that her mother thus our course assist Whilst I effect that which I haue design'd Who dare presume my purpose to resist For whilst this friendship doth my name renowne It may my thoughts from further feare seclude Since hauing thus a title to the Crowne As one engraffde within the royall blood Eum. I feare that this your purpose to preuent A number now take armes all in one forme As those that haue discouerd your intent And by the lowring cloudes foreknow a storme For loe how many else together runne That for our ruine
diuine And haue made th' earth to furnish all his needes Lest downe-weigh'd cares might make his thoughts decline So that he hath a meanes to raise his flight If wing'd with Vertue and may mounting hie Aspire t' approach to the celestiall light And deifie himselfe before he die Yet doth he strait forgoe that glorious way To toile for things that th' earth vnforc'd affords The which his wants first fram'd were to defray But by himselfe are of his life made Lords O how vnworthie of the worth of man Are many labors that delight him most Since that corruption boldly first began To make men nourish vice at vertues cost And now what hath great Alexander gain'd By endlesse labours and excessiue cares Of whom loe now it 's onely said he raign'd But death vnto himselfe worse to his heires Lo for the guiltlesse blood that he hath spill'd The partners of his conquests doe beginne To die by the same swords by which they kill'd And all his of-spring expiates his sinne Pho. Such is the reuolution of all things The wheele of Fortune still must slippery proue And chiefly when it burdend is with kings Whose states as weightiest most must make it moue Yet Alexander I must say was blest That ouer the worlde a victor alwaies rang'd And hauing ended all his warres in rest Did die in time before his fortune changde And for his fauour which I oft did trie Whilst earnestly he labord me t' aduaunce Whilst earnestly he labord me t' aduaunce I 'm sorie that himselfe so soone did die And that his of-spring hath so hard a chance His successours haue set all Greece on fire Of which I feare to perish by some sparke For Polipercon doth my death conspire And who can scape that 's made a great mans marker But for my countries cause I le giue my blood Whilst safely praisde all follow vertue can But when with danger threatned to doe good That 's onelie worthy of a worthy man Nor do I tender so this puffe of breath But I could be contented it t' expell A minde that is resolu'd triumphs ouer death He hath liu'd long enough that hath liu'd well ACT. V. SCINE II. Cassander Lysimachus Ptolomie Seleucus I Doubt not now great heroes but ye all What euer miscontentment ye pretend Doe rest well pleasde since those by me made thrall That might haue made you end haue made an end Loathe not the meanes if yee allow th' effect For though by this I haue a realme obtain'd It yeelds you more whose course none can suspect I 'm onely guiltie and ye all haue gain'd Yet to pursue my life they first beganne For my defence this last refuge I prou'd Nought than himselfe is neerer vnto man All men with their owne dangers are most mou'd And had not prowd Olimpias dide in time By offring vp her bloud to worke my peace Then mine had beene the harme and hers the crime I but preuented her a little space And if her of-spring had suruiu'd her death Whose rising could not but procure our fall Ye now that nought but soueraignty do breathe Had breath'd obedience or not breath'd at all Lis You from a dangerous yoke haue vs relieu'd Which I suspect we had experienc'd soone And why then should we labour to seeme grieu'd At that thing done which we wish not vndone No since that all for soueraignety doe striue And haue once tasted what it is to raigne There 's none of vs but rather die than liue T' embrace a subiects seruile state againe And though perchance with Alexanders sonne If heire both of his fathers worth and state We might haue most respected places wonne As speciall pillars of the Princes seate Yet though more great than others as before It would haue grieu'd vs lesse then one to fall The fall from first to second grieues one more Then from the second to the last of all Our old renowne to vs had ruine brought And would haue made vs odious to remaine It 's dangerous for a subiect to be thought One that desires or yet deserues to raigne When any tempest threatned had his throne He would haue sought assurance at our cost For when that iealousie hath seizd on one The greatest vertues are suspected most Yea though we could to quite our state consent Vs from suspition nought but death could purge Still greatnesse must turmoile or then torment If borne a burden if laide downe a scourge Ptol. But When we haue within bur bosome weigh'd The ruine of all Alexanders race Whom without blushing we might haue obey'd By right succeeding in our soueraignes place How can our soules but highly be asham'd That one inferiour both to them and vs Doth seeke by wrong that which by right they claim'd And by their orethrow would b' exalted thus Nor neede I more as in suspence remaine To maske my meaning with ambiguous wordes No no our words may as his deedes be plaine Which fame and without whispring now records Ye heare how that Antigonus of late Whose thoughts wing'd with ambition soare too high Doth striue aboue vs all t' aduaunce his state And on his former fortune doth relie Since to his hands Eumenes was betraide Loe quite transported by prepostrous pride As if in nought addicted now t' our aide He hath laide all regarde of vs aside Lis Thus Time the truth of all things doth proclame Man is a craftie creature hard to know That can a face for euery fortune frame No trust in mortalles nor no faith below Whiles as our owne particulars doe moue We what we wish for most seeme to mislike And oft of others doe the course disproue Whilst we want nought but meanes to doe the like Then whilst Perdiccas did attempt before To make the rest that were his equalls thrall Who than Antigonus detested more Th' ambitious minde of one that would haue all But since Perdiccas and his faction fell Whom he as traitours to the state pursude He in his place succeeding to rebell Hath what he seemde t' vndo againe renude And yet I many a time haue musde of this How from the world he did Eumenes send Sel. How But by treason as his custome is False at the first and cruell at the end Lys I know that after diuers doubtful fights He hath orethrowne Eumenes at the last But by what stratagems or treacherous slights I would be glad to heare how all hath past Sel. Antigonus was at the first afraide To match Eumenes by plaine force in fight And the refuge that feare affordes assaide For valour franke bent t' vse some wary sleight Amongst Eumenes troupes their mindes to proue He scattred letters with allurements stor'd By promisde treasures and protested loue To moue some one that might betray his Lord. But he being wise his troupes in time aduisde To cleare their vertue by their enemies vice And gaue them thankes that would not be entisde To sell their faith at such a bloodie price Then saide that th' Author