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
might perish entring at my port Yet for all this were I expos'd alone Th' accursed obiect of heauens plaguing-armes I should not thinke I had iust cause to mone When I but waild mine owne not others harmes Ay me on those whom more then life I loue The state-disturbing blastes of Fortune fall Yet each of them some seuerall sorrowes moue But wretch I suffer ship-wracke in them all I suffered when I sawe Oxatres slaine My louing sonne and most entirelie lou'd dy'd in Darius when he try'd in vaine What fates would doe yet still their hatred prou'd Ah doe the destinies extend my breath For further euill O extreame crueltie To vse so many instruments of death Against one burthend with calamitie Yet Ioue if this may dis-en-flame thine ire Let all thy lightning light vpon mine head To be consum'd with a celestiall fire Some comfort were since that I must be dead Stat. Reg. Leaue mother these immoderate laments To me the very source and seate of sorrowe Whose dayes are burthen'd with so sad euents That hell it selfe may of my torments borrow Loe the deere Lord and treasure of my thought Whose presence I my Paradice esteem'd To such a headlong praecipice is brought That with the world his glorie dead is deem'd Ah on what prop can I repose my trust When first the greatnesse of his state I ponder Next how his Diademe drencht in the dust Was Fortunes Trophee and all Asias wonder He whose imperious speach the world respected And as an oracle had in regarde Now vanquish't and contemptiblie neglected Can scarcely as a supplicant be heard And yet I know this more his minde afflicts Then doth the ruine of his rigall state That him my sight another interdicts Who am the soueraigne of his soules conceat Shall he pure quintessence of my best part Then onely testifie the loue he beares No by mine eyes I will distill my hart And for his sake dissolue my selfe in teares Would God my breast like Cristall were transparent That all the world might see my sinceare minde And that my loyall thoughts were all apparent Whose great affection cannot be confinde They haue imprison'd onely my poore eies And banish'd them from th' obiect of their ioy My firie hart with winged fancies flies And where thou goest doth still my steps conuoy Thy Queene is such as whilst thou draw'st this aire In counting ciptiues men may still accept her For whilst thou liust how can thy spouse dispaire Whom thou prefer'st euen to thy soule and scepter Yet flatter I my selfe that am accurst The apprehension which with griefe I cherish Of thy mishap may serue to make me burst Ah ah I faint I feele my spirits perish Sis Help help allace allace the Empresse falles Sta. Virg. O dolefull day of darknes world of woes Sis This greeuous spectacle my spirite appalles Heauen earth and all are now become our foes Sta. Virg. I may more iustly mone then any other Whose eares haue heard the hard hap of my father Whose eies behold the anguish of my mother Whom both do loade with all the woes of either Stat. Reg. What inhumaine humanity is this With such a cruell pittie to oppresse To bring pale ghostes backe from the fields of blis Yet to be plung'd in th' Ocean of distresse O vnkinde kindenesse that by sauing slayes And would with louelesse loue my loue controule Ah of this odious Sunne th' unhappie rayes Doe cleere mine eyes but to confound my soule Sisi Deare daughter striue your passions to restraine Least that the torrent of your greefe grow such That it both carie you to'agroundlesse maine And him o'rewhelme for whom ye mourne so much No doubt but he if we rest captiues thus Disdaining these indignities of ours T' auenge himselfe in re-obtaining vs Will hazard all his Orientall pow'rs But ah what comfort can a wretch afforde Whose care-worne bread the word of wo containes Yet though my hart would faine impugne my worde I hope-lesse speake of hope t' appease her paines Stat. Reg. Such consolations now came not in season Since we must hold our greefe the greatest good Dissemble not your sorrow we haue reason Yea to sigh out our sprites and weepe our blood Sis I waile my sonne Stat. Reg. And I my husbandes fall Sta. Virg. I waile my father and in him vs all Sis No woe like mine mine cannot be releeu'd I waile his woe who should my woe asswage Who liues by me by whom I should haue liu'd Sport of my youth and piller of mine age Stat. Reg. No wo like mine who faithful to my pheere For loue of him all others had forsaken But what a pheere my selfe or one more deere Yet from my selfe my selfe by force am taken Stat. Virg. No wo like mine who borne a Monarkes childe Thought that my birth good hap should heape vpon me Yet all my expectations are beguil'd And what I hop'd in most hath most vndone me Sis I mourne for him who in my womb was form'd St. Reg. I mourne for him in whō loue me transform'd Stat. Virg. I mourne for him by whom I formed was Sis Shall I not see my selfe in that cleere glasse St. Reg. Ah! shall I neuer in his ioy reioyce St. Virg. Ah! shall I neuer here his cheerefull voice Sis Would God frō death my death might him exeeme St. Reg. would God my life my liues life might redeeme St. Vir. Would God the life he gaue him life might giue Sis Must these gray haires my sons green youth suruiue Sta. Reg. I will preuent him and not liue to languishe Sta. Virg. Can I remaine behinde to liue in anguishe Sis But whiles our wretched state we iustly mone We may lament this infant too a space Who in mishap inferiour were to none If he could apprehend his tragic cace Sta. Reg. O then how can my hart but burst a-sunder Whom nature moues most to bemone his harmes I thinke I see the hostes of heau'n all thunder On me my spouse and this babe in my armes Deere image of my selfe in whom I liue Thy shape shames not the greatnesse of thy Syre But of thy birth cleere euidence doth giue Thy soure-sweete sight addes coales to my desire Thou that shouldst comfort most tormēt'st thou me Huge hostes of passions now my soule assembles O how I grieue and yet am glad to see Thee though not him whom thy sweet face resembles Goe beare this babe from hence a wound too deep Makes in my breast compassion of his part Yet let him stay I ioy to heare him weepe This motherly affection melts my hart Of many woes this last is not the least That vn-begun thy glorie must be ended Thy fortunes Sunne my Sonne set in the East While thy faire-rysing all the world attended Ah! must this innocent taste of mishap Whose tender age cannot discerne his state And be thus plagu'd yea in his nurses lap Inherite woe by birth Ah cruell fate If thou could'st hope what great hopes hast
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
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
Whilst curteous Pompey did things as a friend Thou as a wiseman spake and still foretold To what all Caesars deedes would turne in th' end If that his pride were not in time controlde And had we him as wisely thou aduisde Giuen to the Germans whom he had iniur'd We had not now bin thus like slaues despisde To see Romes glorie and our owne obscur'd But yet I may disbending former cares A space comport with that prowd tyrants powres Age giues assurance by my witherd haires That death will seale my suretie in few howres Yet ye whose youth and sprite might haue attaind Those dignities that Caesar hath vndone O ye haue lost as much as he hath gaind Whose rising hopes must be retrench'd so soone Dec. Though innouations at the first seeme strange Yet oft experience approbation brings And if with vpright thoughts we weigh this change On it the safetie of our cittie hings As in the depths dasht with redoubling waues A ship by different mindes rests more imbroilde So was our cittie plag'd with diuerse lawes By th' all-confounding multitude turmoilde As whilst t 'one sickenesse diuerse drugges are vsde Whose powres repugnant in digestion iarre Th' impatient patients fancies rest confusde So did we long distressd with ciuill warre But now great Caesar from tempestuous windes Romes scattred ruines recollects of late A Pilote meete to calme tumultuous mindes A doctor fit for a distemperd state Ci. The state from storms secure by drowning proues Now whilst despaire doth doubtful feares appease He with the life th' infirmitie remoues Thus is the physicke worse than the disease This commonweale as whiles the world did spie Though some prowd sprites in ciuill warres inuolu'd Yet like blacke cloudes that would obscure the skie Their tumid humours sodainely dissolu'd And no disgrace t' our gouernement redounds But to th' ambitious that had it abusde Who had their powre like Caesars wanted bounds Had whilst they rulde a greater rigor vsde There in all partes are people of all kindes And as aduauncde some bad men did abide Of powre their equalls and of better mindes Some alwayes vertuous were to curbe their pride But since that sacred libertie was lost The publike powre t' a priuate vse one turnes And as his lawlesse wayes did alwayes bost The common weale by violence ore-turnes Dec. Though what you burden Caesar with were true Him of all crime Necessitie hath clear'd That was foes force t' eschew forcde to pursue Whilst by contempt t' attempt gret things being cheerd To th' enemies enuie more oblig'd he rests Then t' his owne wit that no such courses scand Till by being barrd from vsing of requests Not lookt for meanes were offred to command All to mount high his haughtie thoughts did tempt True worth disdaines to suffer open wrong And a great courage kindled by contempt Must by reuenge be quencht whilst rage makes strong Cic. O Decius now a wrong accompt you cast Th' intent and not th' euent defines the minde Treade backe the steppes of all his actions past And at the marke he hit all aym'd we finde As by some sprite inspirde prowd Scilla saide That there in Caesar many Marians were And Rome was warn'd in time to be afraide Of the euill-girded youth with smoothe-comb'd haire Then when as still to quietnesse a foe The memorie of Marius he renewd By re-erecting tyrants statues so His thoughts all bent to tyranny were viewd That people-pleaser might haue bin perceiu'd By curteous complements beneath his ranke That lauishing forth gifts the world deceiu'd And to gaine more than his of his proou'd franke Though nought at all indulgent to his wife By prostrated pudicitie disgracde Yet did he saue th' adultrous Clodius life To soothe the multitude whose steppes he tracde Dec. These be the means by which ambition mounts Without most humble when most high within And as it fled from that thing which it hunts Still wasting most when most it mindes to winne Cic. And he that still striu'd tyrannie t' embrace Was thought conioynd with Catilin to bee And had wise Catoes counsell taken place Had with the rest receiu'd his death by me Yet hauing suncke himselfe in some mens soules He with his partiall faction suting oft Did get the consulship which nought controules And matching pride with powre did looke aloft To flatter them that now must flatter him His powre t' aduaunce vnlawfull lawes preuaild And those to crosse that scornd he so should clime He furnisht was with Force where Reason faild But yet because he could not well b' assur'd T' act all alone according to his will To gouerne Fraunce he craftily procurde So to be strengthned with an armie still As Rome first warr'd at home till being made strong She thought her selfe of powre the world t' orecome So Caesar warr'd against strange nations long Till that he thought his might might conquer Rome Then hauing all that force or fate assignes He cause of discontentment did pretend So to dissemble fore-conceiu'd designes One soone may finde a fault that seekes t' offend But when he first in a prodigious dreame His mother seemde incestuously to vse It might haue shewne to his eternall shame How he the bounds that bare him went t' abuse Dec. And yet I thinke auoyding threatned harmes He was constraind t' imbarke in ciuill broiles Did he not couenant to quit his armes As not desirous of his countries spoiles Cic. Durst he with those that had his charge confind Stand to prescribe conditions as their mate Where t' haue attended and obeyd their minde It was his duetie and their due of late What what durst he whom borne t' obey the law The people all did willingly promote The sword which they bad giuen against them draw When it was sharpned first to cut their throat That had not com'd which all our anguish breedes If he vnforcde when as his charge expirde Till that the Senate censurde had his deedes Had from his prouince peaceably retirde No he hath but betraid his natiue towne Those bands by which she did him first preferre T' extend her borders and his owne renowne Those hath he vsde to tyrannize ouer her My passions ah transported as you see With an excessiue loue to my deere soile Haue made my tongue of my hearts-store too free By flaming forth what in my breast doth boile Dec. That Ceasars part might iustly be excusde Loe with the cause alleadgd his course accords Of which th' humanitie that he hath vsde A testimonie to the world affords Though forcde to fight he alwayes had great care To saue our Cittizens as each man knowes And bade his captaines still all Romans spare But on Barbarians bodies spend their blowes Of th' aduersaries after bloudie strife When of the might haue made some captiues smart Not onelie was he liberall of their life But pardond them still to take Pompeys part Euen at th' infortunate Pharsalian field When he securely might haue vsde the sword He both did spare all