It was the time when as she hauing got Leaue to her Deerest dead to sacrifize And now was issuing out the Monument With Odors Incense Garlands in her hand When I approcht as one from Caesar sent And did her close thy message t' vnderstand She turnes her backe and with her takes me in Reades in thy lines thy strange vnlooke for tale And reades and smiles and staies and doth begin Againe to reade then blusht and then was pale And hauing ended with a sigh resoldes Thy Letter vp and with a fixed eye Which stedfast her imagination holds She mus'd a while standing confusedly At length Ah friend saith shee tell thy good Lord How deere I hold his pittying of my case That out of his sweet nature can afford A miserable woman so much grace Tel him how much my heauy soule doth grieue Mercilesse Caesar should so deale with me Pray him that he would all the counsell giue That might diuert him from such orueltie As for my loue say Antony hath all Say that my hart is gone into the graue VVith him in whom it rests and euer shall I haue it not my selfe nor cannot haue Yet tell him he shall more command of me Then any whosoeuer hiuing can Hee that so friendly shewes himselfe to be A right kind Roman and a Gentleman Although his Nation fatall vnto me Haue had mine age a spoile my youth a pray Yet his affection must accepted be That fauours one distrest in such decay Ah he was worthy then to haue beene lou'd Of Cleopatra whiles her glory lasted Before she had declining fortune prou'd Or seen her honor wrackt her flowre blasted Now there is nothing left her but disgrace Nothing but her affliction that can moue Tell Dolabella one that 's in her case Poore soule needs rather pity now thē loue But shortly shall thy Lord heare more of me And ending so her speech no longer stai'd But hasted to the tombe of Antony And this was all she did and all she said Dol. Ah sweet distressed Lady What hard hart Could chuse but pity thee and loue thee too Thy worthines the state wherein thou art Requireth both and both I vow to doo Although ambition lets not Caesar see The wrong he doth thy maiesty and sweetnes Which makes him now exact so much of thee To adde vnto his pride to grace his greatnes He knowes thou canst no hurt procure vs now Sith all thy strength is seaz'd into our hands Nor feares he that but rather labours how He might shew Rome so great a Queene in bands That our great Ladies enuying thee so much That stain'd them al and held them in such wonder Mightioy to see thee and thy fortune such Thereby exrolling him that brought thee vnder But I will seeke to stay it what I may I am but one yet one that Caesar loues And ô if now I could doe more then pray Then should'st thou know how far affection moues But what my powre and praier may preuaile I le ioine them both to hinder thy disgrace And euen this present day I will not faile To do my best with Caesar in this case Tit. And sir euen now her selfe hath letters sent I met her messenger as I came hither With a dispatch as he to Caesar went But know not what imports her sending thither Yet this he told how Cleopatra late Was come from sacrifice How richly clad Was seru'd to dinner in most sumptuous state With all the brauest ornaments she had How hauing dyn'd she writes and sends away Him straight to Caesar and commanded than All should depart the Tombe and none to stay But her two maides one poore Countryman Dol. Why then I know she sends t' haue audience now And means t' experience what her state can do To see if Maiesty will make him bow To what affliction could not moue him to And ô if now she could but bring a view Of that fresh beauty she in youth possest The argument where with she ouerthrew The wit of Julius Caesar and the rest Then happily Augustus might relent VVhilst powreful Loue far stronger then ambition Might worke in him a mind to be content To grant her asking in the best condition But being as she is yet doth she merite To be respected for what she hath beene The wonder of her kind of rarest spirit A glorious lady and a mighty Queene And now but by a little weakenesse falling To do that which perhaps sh'was forst to do Alas an error past is past recalling Take away weakenes and take women too But now I go to be thy aduocate Sweet Cleopatra now I le vse mine arte Thy presence will me greatly animate Thy face will teach my tongue thy loue my hart SCENA SECVNDA Nvntivs AM I ordain'd the carefull Messenger And sad newes-bringer of the strangest death VVhich selfe hand did vpon it selfe infer To free a captiue soule from seruile breath Must I the lamentable wonder shew Which all the world must grieue and meruaile at The rarest forme of death in earth below That euer pitty glory wonder gat Chor. What newes bring'st thou can Egypt yet yeelde more Of sorrow then it hath what can it adde To the already ouerflowing store Of sad affliction matter yet more sad Haue we not seene the worst of our calamity Is there behind yet something of distresse Vnseene vnknown Tel if that greater misery There be that we waile not that which is lesse Tell vs what so it be and tell at first For sorrow euer longs to heare her worst Nun. Well then the strangest thing relate I will That euer eye of mortall man hath seene I as you know euen frō my youth haue still Attended on the person of the Queene And euer in all fortunes good or ill With her as one of chiefest trust haue beene And now in these so great extreamities That euer could to maiestie befall I did my best in what I could deuise And left her not till now she left vs all Chor. What is she gone Hath Caesar forst her so Nun. Yea she is gone and hath deceiu'd him to Chor. What fled to INDIA to go find her sonne Nun. No not to INDIA but to find her sonne Chor. why then ther 's hope she may her state recouer Nun. Her state nay rather honor and her Louer Chor. Her Louer him she cannot haue againe Nun. Well him she hath with him she doth remaine Cho. Why then she 's dead I st so why speak'st not thou Nun. You gesse aright and I will tell you how When she perceiu'd al hope was cleane berest her That Caesar meant to send her straight away And saw no meanes of reconcilement left her Worke what she could she could not worke to stay She cals me to her and she thus began O thou whose trust hath euer been the same And one in all my fortunes faithfull man Alone content t' attend disgrace and shame Thou whom the fearefull ruine of my fall Neuer deterr'd
to leaue calamitie As did those others smooth state-pleasers all Who followed but my fortune and not me T is thou must do a seruice for thy Queene Wherein thy faith and skill must do their best Thy honest care and duty shall be seene Performing this more then in all the rest For al what thou hast don may die with thee Although t is pitty that such faith should die But this shall euermore remembred be A rare example to posterity And looke how long as Cleopatra shall In after ages liue in memory So long shall thy cleere fame endure withall And therefore thou must not my sute denie Nor contradict my will For what I will I am resolu'd and this t is thou must do me Go find mee out with all thy art and skill Two Aspicqs and conuay them close vnto me I haue a worke to do with them in hand Enquire not what for thou shalt soone see what If the heauens do not my disseignes withstand But do thy charge and let me shift with that Being thus coniur'd by her t' whom I 'had vow'd My true perpetuall seruice forth I went Deuising how my close attempt to shrowde So that there might no art my art preuent And so disguis'd in habite as you see Hauing found out the thing for which I went I soone return'd againe and brought with me The Aspicqs in a basket closely pent Which I had fill'd with figges and leaues vpon And comming to the guard that kept the dore What hast thou there said they and looke thereon Seeing the figgs they deem'd of nothing more But said they were the fairest they had seene Taste some said I for they are good and pleasant No no said they go beare them to thy Queene Thinking me some poore māy brought a present Well in I went where brighter then the Sunne Glittering in all her pompous rich aray Great Cleopatra sate as if sh 'had wonne Caesar and all the world beside this day Euen as she was when on thy cristall streames O Cydnos she did shew what earth could shew When Asia all amaz'd in wonder deemes Venus from heauen was come on earth below Euen as she went at first to meete her Loue So goes she now at last againe to find him But that first did her greatnes onely proue This last her loue that could not liue behind him Yet as she fate the doubt of my good speed Detracts much from the sweetnes of her looke Cheer-marrer Care did then such passions breed That made her eye bewray the care she tooke But she no sooner sees me in the place But straight her sorow-clowded brow she cleeres Lightning a smile from out a stormie face Which all her tempest-beaten sences cheeres Looke how a stray'd perplexed trauailer When chas'd by theeues euē at point of taking Descrying suddainly some towne not far Or some vnlookt-for aid to him-ward making Cheers vp his tired sp'rits thrusts forth his strēgth To meet that good that comes in so good houre Such was her ioy perceiuing now at length Her honour was t' escape so proude a powre Forth from her seat she hastes to meet the present And as one ouer-ioy'd she caught it straight And with a smiling cheere in action pleasant Looking among the figs findes the deceite And seeing there the vgly venemous beast Nothing dismaid she stayes and viewes it well At length th' extreamest of her passion ceast When she began with words her ioy to tell O rarest beast saith she that Affrick breedes How deerly welcome art thou vnto me The fairest creature that faire Nylus feedes Me thinks I see in now beholding thee What though the euer-erring worlde doth deeme That angred Nature fram'd thee but in spight Little they know what they so light esteeme That neuer learn'd the wonder of thy might Better then Death Deaths office thou dischargest That with one gentle touch can free our breath And in a pleasing sleepe our soule inlargest Making our selues not priuie to our death If Nature err'd ô then how happy error Thinking to make thee worst she made thee best Sith thou best freest vs from our liues worst terror In sweetly bringing soules to quiet rest When that inexorable Monster Death That followes Fortune flies the poore destressed Tortures our bodies ere he takes our breath And loads with paines th' already weak oppressed How oft haue I begg'd prayd intreated him To take my life and yet could neuer get him And when he comes he comes so vgly grim That who is he if he could chuse would let him Therefore come thou of wonders wonder chiefe That open canst with such an easie key The doore of life come gentle cunning thiefe That from our selues so steal'st our selues away Well did our Priests discerne something diuine Shadow'd in thee and therefore first they did Offrings and worships due to thee assigne In whom they found such mysteries were hid Comparing thy swift motion to the Sunne That mou'st without the instruments that moue And neuer waxing olde but alwayes one Doost sure thy strange diuinitie approue And therefore to the rather vnto thee In zeale I make the offring of my blood Calamitie confirming now in me A sure beliefe that pietie makes good Which happy men neglect or hold ambiguous And onely the afflicted are religious And heere I sacrifice these armes to Death That Lust late dedicated to Delights Offring vp for my last this last of breath The complement of my loues dearest rites With that she bares her arme and offer makes To touch her death yet at the touch with-drawes And seeming more to speake occasion takes Willing to die and willing to to pause Looke how a mother at her sonnes departing For some far voyage bent to get him fame Doth intertaine him with anidle parling And stil doth speake and still speakes but the same Now bids farewell and now recalls him backe Tels what was told and bids againe fare-well And yet againe recalls for still doth lacke Something that loue would faine and cannot tell Pleas'd he should go yet cannot let him go So she although she knew there was no way But this yet this she could not handle so But she must shew that life desir'd delay Faine would she entertaine the time as now And now would faine that Death would seaze vpō her Whilst I might see presented in her brow The doubtful combattry'd twixt Life and Honor. Life bringing Legions of fresh hopes with her Arm'd with the proofe of time which yeelds we say Comfort and helpe to such as do refer All vnto him and can admit delay But Honour scorning Life loe forth leades he Bright immortalitie in shining armour Thorow the rayes of whose cleere glorie shee Might see Lifes basenes how much it might harm her Besides she saw whole armies of Reproches And base Disgraces Furies fearfull sad Marching with Life and Shame that stil incroches Vpon her face in bloodie colours clad Which representments seeing worse then death She deem'd to yeeld to Life
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
states of the redeemed Earth Might thee admire and glorise thy birth 127 Thence might thy valor haue brought in despight Eternall Tropheis to Elizas name And laid downe at her sacred feete the right Of all thy deedes and glory of the same All that which by her powre and by thy might Thou hadst attaind to her immortall fame Had made thee wondred here admir'd a farre The Mercury of peace the Mars of warre 128 And thou my Lord the glorie of my muse Pure-spirited Mountiâ—â— th' ornament of men Hadst had a large and mighty field to vse Thy holie giftes and learned counsels then Whole landes and Prouinces should not excuse Thy trusty faith nor yet sufficient beene For those great vertues to haue ordered And in a calme obedience gouerned 129 Nor had I then at solitary brooke Sate framing bloudy accents of these times Nor told of woundes that grieued eies might looke Vpon the horror of their fathers crimes But rather a more glorious subiect tooke To register in euerlasting rimes The sacred glories of ELIZABETH T' haue kept the wonder of her worth from death 136 And like wise builded for your great designes O you two worthies bewties of our state Immortall tombes of vnconsuming lines To keepe your holic deedes inuiolate You in whose actions yet the image shines Of ancient honor neere worne out of date You that haue vertue into fashion brought In these neglected times respected nought 131 But whither am I carried with the thought Of what might haue beene had not this beene so O sacred Fury how was I thus brought To speake of glory that must tell of wo These acted mischiefes cannot be vnwrought Though men be pleasd to wish it were not so And therefore leaue sad Muse th' imagin'd good For we must now returne againe to bloud THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henry the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded doe rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Promfret Castle sent Is murthered there The Percies making head Against the king receiue the punishment And in the end a tedious troublous raigne A grieuous death concludes with care and paine I Tow risen is that head by which did spring The birth of two strong heads two crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchased thing What fild the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 Striuing at first to build a strong conceit Of his weake cause in apt-abused mindes He deckes his deed with colours of deceit And ornaments of right which now he findes Succession conquest and election straight Suggested are and prou'd in all three kindes More then inough he findes that findes his might Hath force ' to make all that he will haue right 3 All these he hath when one good would suffize The worlds applause and liking to procure But who his owne cause makes doth still deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise The doubtfull can no vsuall plots indure These selfe-accusing titles all he had Seeking to make one good of maine bad 4 Like foolish he that feares and saine would stop An inundation working on apace Runs to the breach heapes mighty matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Loades with huge waights the outside and the top But leaues the inner parts in feeble case Thinking for that the outward forme seemes strong T is sure inough and may continue long 5 But when the vnder working waues come on Searching the secrets of vnsenced waies The full maine Ocean following hard vpon Beares downe that idle frame skorning such staies Prostrates that frustrate paines as if not done And proudly on his silly labors plaies Whilst he perceiues his error and doth finde His ill proceeding contrary to kind 6 So fares it with our indirect diffeignes And wrong-contriued labors at the last Whilst working time or Iustice vndermines The feeble ground-worke craft thought laid so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioynd plots so fairely ouercast Turnes vp those strong pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouerthrowes 7 But wel he thought his powre made al seem plain And now t' his coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous fort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this error feedes Is furnisht with a stately-glorious traine Wherein the former kings he far exceeds And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what and how t was done to what is wrought 8 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne and who his part did take New officers new counsellours he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their desart Seeking all meanes t' oppresse the aduerse part 9 All Counsellers vnto the former king All th' officers and iudges of the state He to disgrace or els to death did bring Lead by his owne or by the peoples hate Who euermore by nature mallicing Their might whom not their vertues but their fate Exalted hath who when kings do what 's naught Because t is in their powre t is thought their faut 10 And plac'd for these such as were popular Belou'd of him and in the peoples grace Learned graue Shirley he makes Chauncellor One of great spirit worthy his worthy race And Clifford he ordaines Lord Treasuror A man whose vertues well deseru'd that place Others to other roomes whom people hold So much more lou'd how much they loathd the old 17 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guilty thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor els could wel be wrought Law Iustice bloud the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drist shadowed 12 Here maine of the greatest of the land Accusd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleere their cause most resolutely stoute The king perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought about Desistes to vrge their death in anie wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 13 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernment To striue with bloud when lenity must gaine The mighty wight and please the discontent New kings do feare when old courts farther straine Establisht states to all things will consent He must dispence with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 14 Yet not to seeme but to haue something done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the
Rebel now runne on With that false name t' effect the best he could To make a way for him to worke vpon That but on certaine ground aduenture would For if the traitor sped the gaine were his If not yet he standes safe and blamelesis 114 T' attempt with others dangers not his owne He countes it wisedome if it could be wrought And t' haue the honor of the people knowne Was now that which was chiefly to be sought For with the best he knew himselfe was growne In that account as made him take no thought Hauing obseru'd in those he ment to proue Their wit their wealth their cariage and their loue 115 With whom and with his owne alliances He first begins to open in some wise The right he had yet with such doubtfulnes As rather sorrow then his drift descries Complaining of his countries wretchednes In what a miserable case it lies And how much it importes them to prouide For their defence against this womans pride 116 Then with the discontented he doth deale In sounding theirs not vttering his intent As being sure not so much to reueale Where by they might be made againe content But when they grieued for the common weale He doth perswade them to be patient And to indure there was no other course Yet so perswades as makes their malice worse 117 And then with such as with the time did run He doth in most vpright opinion stand As one that neuer crost what they begun But seem'd to like what stil they tooke in hand Seeking all causes of offence to shun Praises the rule and blames th' vnrulie land Workes so with giftes and kindlie offices That euen of them he serues his turne no lesse 118 Then as for those that were his followers Being all choice men for vertues or desarts He so with grace and benefits prefers That he becomes the monarch of their harts He drawes the learned for his Counsailers And cherishes all men of rarest partes To whom good done doth an impression strike Of ioic and loue in all that are alike 119 And now by meanes of th'intermitted warre Manie most valiant men impou'rished Onely by him fed and relieued are Onely respected grac'd and honoured Which let him in vnto their hearts so farre As they by him were wholy to be led He onely treades the sure and perfect path To greatnes who loue and opinion hath 120 And to haue one some certaine prouince his As the maine body that must worke the feate Yorkeshire he chose the place wherein he is By title liuings and possessions great No country he preferres so much as this Here hath his bountie her abiding seat Here is his Iustice and relieuing hand Ready to all that in destresse do stand 121 What with his tenants seruants followers friends And their alliances and amities All that Shire vniuersally attendes His hand held vp to any enterprize And thus farre vertue with her power extendes The rest touching th' euent in fortune lies With which accomplement so mighty growne Forward he tendes with hope t' attaine a crowne The end of the fourth booke The fift Booke of the Ciuill warres betweene the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke THE ARGVMENT The bad successe of Cades rebellion Yorks open practise and conspiracie His comming in and his submission Th' effect of Printing and Artillerie Burdeux reuolts craues our protection Talbot defending ours dyes gloriously The French Wars end York begins againe And at S. Albones Sommerset is slaine 1 THE furious trayne of that tumultuous rout Whom close subayding powre good successe Had made vnwisely proud and fondly stout Thrust headlong on oppresion to oppresse And now to fulnes growne boldly giue out That they the publique wrongs meant to redresse Formlesse themselues reforming doe pretend As if confusion could disorder mend 2 And on they march with theyr false-named head Of base and vulgar birth though noble fayn'd Who puft with vaine desires to London led His rash abused troupes with shadowes trayn'd When as the King thereof assertained Supposing some small power would haue restrain'd Disordred rage sends with a simple crew Syr Humfry Stafford whom they ouerthrew 3 Which so increasd th' opinion of theyr might That much it gaue to doe and much it wrought Confirm'd their rage drew on the vulgar wight Calld forth the timerous fresh pertakers brought For many though most glad theyr wrongs to right Yet durst not venture theyr estates for nought But see'ing the cause had such aduantage got Occasion makes them styr that els would not 4 So much he errs that scornes or els neglects The small beginnings of arysing broyles And censures others not his owne defects And with a selfe conceite himselfe beguiles Thinking small force will compasse great effects And spares at first to buy more costly toyles When true obseruing prouidence in war Still makes her foes far stronger then they are 5 Yet thys good fortune all theyr fortune mard Which fooles by helping euer doth suppresse For warelesse insolence whilst vndebard Ofbounding awe runnes on to such excesse That following lust and spoyle and blood so hard Sees not how they procure theyr owne distresse The better lothing courses so impure Rather will like theyr wounds then such a cure 6 For whilst thys wilde vnrained multitude Led with an vnfore-seeing greedy minde Of an imagin'd good that did delude Their ignorance in theyr desires made blind Ransack the Citty and with hands imbrude Run to all out-rage in th' extreamest kind Heaping vp wrath and horror more and more Adding fresh guilt to mischiefes done before 7 And seeing yet all thys draw to no end But to theyr owne no promisd ayde t' appeare No such pertakers as they dyd attend Nor such successes as imagin'd were Good men resolu'd the present to defend Iustice against them with a brow seuere Themselues feard of themselues tyr'd with excesse Found mischiefe was no sit way to redresse 8 Like when a greedy Pyrat hard in chace Pursuing of a rich supposed prize Works for the winds plyes sayles beares vp a pace Out-runnes the clowdes scoures after her that flyes Pryde in his hart and wealth before his face Keepes his hands wrought fixed keepes his eyes So long till that ingag'd within some straight He falls amid his foes layd close in wayt 9 Where all too late discouering round about Danger and death the purchase of his hast And no back flying no way to get out But there to perrish or to yeeld disgrast Cursing his error yet in th' error stout Hee toyles for life now charges now is chast Then quailes and then fresh courage takes againe Striuing t'vnwind himselfe but all in vaine 10 So stands thys rout in desperat comberment Enuirond round with horror blood and shame Crost of theyr course dispayring of th' euent When pardon that smooth bayt of basenes came Pardon the snare to catch the impotent Beeing once pronounc'd they straight embrace the same And as huge snowy Mountaines melt with
a Generall 90 Who weighing yet his force and theyr desire Turnes him about in priuate to his sonne A worthy sonne and worthy such a Sire Tells him the doubtfull ground they stood vpon Aduising him in secrete to retyre Seeing his youth but euen now begun Would make it vnto him at all no staine His death small fame his flight no shame could gaine 91 To whom th' agreeued sonne as if dysgrac'd Ah Father haue you then selected mee To be the man which you would haue displac'd Out of the role of immortalitie What haue I done thys day that hath defac'd My worth that my hands worke dispisd should bee God shield I should beare home a Cowards name I haue liu'd enough if I can dye with fame 92 At which the Father toucht with sorrowing-ioy Turnes him about shaking his head and sayes O my deere sonne worthy a better day To enter thy first youth in hard assayes And now had wrath impatient of delay Begun the fight and farther speeches stayes Fury thrusts on striuing whose sword should be First warmed in the wounds of th' enemie 93 Hotely these small but mighty minded Bands As if ambitious now of death doe straine Against innumerable armed hands And gloriously a wondrous fight maintaine Rushing on all what euer strength with-stands Whetting theyr wrath on blood and on disdaine And so far thrust that hard 't were to discry Whether they more desire to kill or dye 94 Franke of theyr owne greedy of others blood No stroke they giue but wounds no wound but kills Neere to theyr hate close to theyr worke they stood Hit where they would theyr hand obeyes their wills Scorning the blow from far that doth no good Loathing the crack vnlesse some blood it spills No wounds could let out life that wrath held in Till others wounds reueng'd dyd first begin 95 So much true resolution wrought in those That had made couenant with death before That theyr small number scorning so great foes Made Fraunce most happy that there were no more Sith these made doubtfull how Fate would dispose That weary day or vnto whom restore The glory of a conquest deerely bought Which scarce the Conqueror can think worth ought 96 For as with equall rdge and equa'll might Two aduers winds combat with billowes proude And neyther yeeld Seas skyes maintayne like fight Waue against waue opposd and clowd to clowd So war both sides with obstinate despight With like reuenge and neyther party bowd Fronting each other vvith confounding blowes No wound one sword vnto the other owes 97 Whilst Talbot whose fresh spirit hauing got A meruailous aduantage of his yeeres Carries his vnfelt age as if forgot Whirling about where any neede appeares His hand his eye his wits all present wrought The function of the glorious part he beares Now vrging here now cheering there he flyes Vnlocks the thickest troupes where most force lyes 98 In midst of wrath of wounds of blood and death There is he most whereas he may doe best And there the closest ranks he seueroth Driues back the stoutest powres that forward prest There makes his sword his way there laboureth Th'infatigable hands that neuer rest Scorning vnto his mortall wounds to yeeld Till Death became best muister of the field 99 Then lyke a sturdy Oake that hauing long Against the warrs of fiercest winds made head When with some forst tempestious rage more strong His downe-borne top comes ouer-maistered All the neere bordering Trees hee stood among Crusht with his waighty fall lye ruined So lay his spoyles all round about him slayne T' adorne his death that could not dye in vaine 100 On th' other part his most all-daring sonne Although the inexperience of his yeeres Made him lesse skyld in what was to be done Yet dyd it thrust him on beyond all feares Flying into the mayne Batallion Neere to the King amidst the chiefest Peeres With thousand wounds became at length opprest As if he scornd to dye but with the best 101 Who thus both hauing gaynd a glorious end Soone ended that great day that set so red As all the purple playnes that wide extend A sad tempestious season with essed So much a doe had toyling Fraunce to rend From vs the right so long inherited And so hard went we from what we possest As with it went the blood we loued best 102 Which blood not lost but fast layd vp with heed In euerlasting same is there held deere To seale the memory of thys dayes deed Th' eternall euidence of what we were To which our Fathers we and who succeed Doe owe a sigh for that it touch vs neere Who must not sinne so much as to neglect The holy thought of such a deere respect 103 Yet happy haples day blest-ill-lost breath Both for our better fortune and your owne For what soule wounds what spoyle what shamefull death Had by this forward resolution growne If at S. Albons Wakefield Barnet-heath It should vnto your in famie be showne Blest you that dyd not teach how great a faute Euen vertue is in actions that are naught 104 Yet would thys sad dayes losse had now been all That thys day lost then should we not much playne If hereby wee had come but there to fall And that day ended ended had our payne Then small the loste of Fraunce of Giuen small Nothing the shame to be turnd home againe Compard with other shames But now Fraunce lost Sheds vs more blood then all her winning cost 105 For loosing war abroad at home lost peace Be'ing with our vnsupporting selues close pent And no dissignes for pryde that did increase But our owne throats our owne punishment The working spyrit ceast not tho worke dyd cease Hauing fit time to practise dyscontent And styrre vp such as could not long lye still Who not imployd to good must needs doe ill 106 And now the greefe of our receiued shame Gaue fit occasion for ambitious care They draw the chiefe reproch of all the fame On such as naturally hated are Seeing them apt to beare the greatest blame That offices of greatest enuie beare And that in vulgar eares delight it breedes To haue the hated Authors of misdeodes 107 And therefore easily great Sommerset VVhom enuie long had singled out before VVith all the vollie of disgraces met As the maine marke Fortune had plac'd therefore On whose hard-wrought opinion spight dyd whet The edge of wrath to make it pierce the more Griefe being glad t' haue gotten now on whom To lay the fault of what must light on some 108 Whereon th'againe out-breaking Yorke beginnes To builde new models of his olde desire Se'ing the fayre bootie Fortune for him winnes Vpon the ground of thys enkindled ire Taking th' aduantages of others sinnes To ayde his owne and helpe him to aspire And doubting peace should better scanne deeds past Hee thinks not safe to haue his sword our last 109 Especially sith euery man now prest To innouation doe with rancor swell
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