with moe kings than other kings with men There as a god in all his subiects sights Which mirth with mourning I must still record He spent or lost a time in al delights That a successefull fortune could afford Till Thessalus for mischiefe but reseru'd Once to his house inuited him to dine Where false Cassander at the table seru'd And as he vsde with water mixt his wine Olym. Alas alas and so it proou'd in th' end But who could feare a benefited friend Rox. The creatures al esteemde of greatest worth That either are in th' earth the sea or th' aire In Persia Arabia or the Ind's brought forth That walke that swim that flie that grow were there Then when that reason drunke with pleasure slept Which all things did aboundantly afford And whilst that nought saue musicke measure kept With Ceres Bacchus onelie was ador'd But when the King beginning was to drinke As strangely moou'd he thundred forth a grone And from the table sodainly did shrinke As one whose strength was at an instant gone Then when he softly was t' a chamber led That Death a title to his bodie claimde The sorrowing souldiers swarmd about his bed With lookes once fierce then for compassion framde But he whome victorie had still arrayd This battell with the rest bent to make euen Did looke like one whome all the world obayd And boasted shortly then to take the heauen Then that he comfort might th' afflicted bands He stretcht them out to kisse respected partes More by the Sword than Scepter honord hands On which it seemde they melted all their harts Last vnto them those generous words he tolde Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot Thus to die yoong in yeeres in glorie olde Of all our familie it is the lot And since that no mo worlds now rest t' orecome It 's time to die I did an Empire found And liu'd and raignde it 's done for which I come Now my great ghost must goe beneath the ground Then hauing thus dischargde all debt of life He with a countnance constant euen in death As too victorious of that fatall strife All th' aire perfuming spent th' imperious breath But when that it once through the camp was known That from the world that world of worth was gone What anguish was it cannot well be showne I had my part yet had not all alone O let that day which makes my dayes all night Be registred amongst the dismall dayes Whose inauspicious and lugubrious light The world with some disaster still dismayes And Babilon curst be thy fatall towres Once seate of Monarches mistresse of all th' earth But from hence-foorth a slaue to forraine powres Still burden'd be thy bounds with blood and dearth Olimp. You need not vse those execrations more Though Babilon of breath that prince depriu'd Yet as an Oracle had told before In Macedonie was his death contriu'd T' Antipater t' was told how diuers times The king against him had beene mou'd to wrath And doom'd as guiltie of opprobrious crimes His sonne in law Lincestes vnto death And he had heard the king did strictly trie How his Lieutenants had their places vsde Still making all as traitours strait to die That had the same in any sort abusde Then he that priuate was t' his owne misdeeds Had learnd by others what he might exspect As whose ambitious breast in pride exceeds And alwayes did a soueraigntie affect But when Craterus was nam'd to his place And he in his requir'd the warres t' attend He thought that it was but a meanes t' embrace To plague his pride with a deserued end Then to preuent that which I thinke was still More fear'd by him then purposde by the king With guiltie thoughts best exercisde in ill He sought what might to death his soueraigne bring And this the traytor compassde at the last As I alas haue learnde although too late When to my sonne his sonne Cassander past As to congratulate his prosprous state Then in his companie he did retaine A poyson powrefull where it was imploy'd Whose violence no mettall could restraine But in a horses hoofe was still conueigh'd He and his brother then th' advantage watchde And for their prince a cup of poyson made Thus he that neuer was by th' enemies matchde Doth by the treason of his friends lye dead Rox. And could or durst those traytors be so bold The glory of the world to vndermine But ah Madam Antipater of old Against your greatnesse alwayes did repine And I remember on a time he sent A Messenger of minde to make you bow That to your sonne a letter did present Full of inuectiues to discredite you The king whilst reading what it did comprise Did with a scornefull smile t' Hephestion say In writing of such things he is not wise Which straight one mothers teare will wash away Olimp. My sonne indeed I many a time aduisde How that disloyall man striu'd to be great But as a womans wit mine was despisde And wrested still vnto the sense of hate Yet of my sonne I thought the deeds were such That t'admiration com'd they past enuy And that none durst his sacred person touch On which the daunted world did whole relye How oft haue I those bitter throwes allowde By which I brought that demi-god to light And well I might of such a birth be prowde That made me glorious in the peoples sight Though diuers too as I haue sometime knowne T' estrange his loue from me did wayes t' prepare Yet were their slights by duteous loue ore-t hrowne And I respected with a reuerent care His tender loue towards me was much extolde Then when he sought t' establish a decree That I amongst th'Imortalls might b' enrold And as t' a Goddesse honors done to me Ah how can I this tragicke time suruiue That lost a sonne so great a sonne so kinde And th' only meanes that make me now to liue Is with reuenge hope t' entertaine my minde Rox. His loue towards you no doubt behoou'd t' abound By nature parents of their owne are lou'd But those towards whom he by no bond was bound Of his humanitie the fruits haue prou'd His clemencie did make his state more sure Then all the terrors rising from his name Which whilst he liu'd did publike loue procure And after death a neuer dying fame Th' vnhappy Sisigambis taking heart Of her owne naturall sonne the death suruiu'd And t' Alexander did that loue impart The which was due to Darius whilst he liu'd But when the tidings wounded had her eares That from the world was robde that glory of men Then suddenly dissoulde in floods of teares She hated life as neuer spoilde till then And with her widdow'd-nephew at her feete That of Hephestion did the death bewayle Her soule amidst a sea of woes did fleet Whose forces as ouer-whelmde began to fayle Then barrde from food she groueling did abide Till that the course of life t'an end was runne Thus she suruiude
for my offences Which once no doubt will with the world be euen And iudge our thoughts words acts and vaine pretences Sonne t' is my pride that hath procurde thy fall I 'm guiltie of thy blood I gaue the wound Which was thy death and whose remembrance shall My life each day with many deaths confound Then iniust Stars your statutes I contemne O! if I were confronted with the gods I would their partiall prouidence condemne That in such sort do exercise their rods Ah! my Sonnes death doth shew their iudgement naught What could he perpetrate against such Powres Should he haue suffred for his Fathers fault Whom without cause their wrong-spent wrath deuours Now all the world those deities may despise Which plague the guiltlesse and the guiltie spare Cease haples man t' outrage thy selfe thus waies I pardon thee and pitie thy despaire Adrast. O cruell iudgement of a rigorous fate Must I o're-liue my selfe t' entombe my Fame All things that I behold vpbraid my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and no more then I my deedes detest Yet some not find a friend I find no foe To rid the world of such a dangerous pest Borne but to be an instrument of woe I know what makes all worthie mindes refraine The sword against a Catife for to stretch They this opprobrious office do disdaine To be the Deaths-men of so base a wretch Or must I yet a fouler fact commit And fill the world with th' horrour of my name Is there some new disaster resting yet And other funerals famous by my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate That in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of heau'n I 'le force my fate One that 's resolu'd to die cannot want meanes Prowd tyrant Death and must thou make it strange Tinvolue my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change I can appoint a Period to my life But this Ay me all hope of helpe deuours What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted powres She must remember of my odious crimes What though vnbodied she the world forsake Yet cannot from her conscience be diuorc'd It will but vexe her at the shadowie Lake Till euen to grone the god of ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and O would God I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liu'd Then had I neuer showne my selfe so mad T' haue only been by infamie suruiu'd Ah! haue I liu'd to see my Ladie die And die for me for me not worth so much Ah! haue I liu'd vnnaturall man to be My Brothers death whose loue to me was such Ah! haue I liu'd with mine owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And do I gaze on the dead body still And in his Fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! haue I liu'd O execrable Monster To be accounted of a diu'lish nature And euen by them that best my actions conster For to be cal'd and iustly cal'd a Traitour Yet with my blood this staine away I 'le wash And lest my memorie make th' earth detracted Let my name perish in my bodies ash And all my life be as a thought vnacted Braue Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted ghost And to reuenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile t' attaine the Stygian coast Cho. The man himselfe doth desperately wound With leaden lights weake legs and head declinde The body in disdaine doth beate the ground That of his members one hath prou'd vnkinde The fainting hand falles trembling from the sword With this micidiall blow for shame growne red Which strait the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combate show Where both but one one both strooke and sustaind Or who shall triumph for this strange ore'throw Whereas the Victor lost the Vanquish'd gaind Croes Cursde eies what sudden change hath drownd your lights And made your mirthfull obiects mournfull now Ye that were still inurde to stately sights Since seated vnder an Imperiall brow O'reclouded now with vapours of my cares Are low throwne downe vnto a hell of griefe And haue no prospect but my soules despaires The sad beholders of a rare mischiefe O dead Adrastus I absolue thy ghost Whose hand some secret destinie did charme Thou hated by the Heau'ns wert to thy cost An accidentall Actor of our harme No doubt some angrie God hath layd this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus with violence to bleed And yet want one on whom to powre my wrath To take iust vengeance for so vile a deed This wretch whose guiltlesse mind hath cleard his hand Grieu'd for his error loe vnforcd doth fall And not as one that did in danger stand For he liu'd still till I forgaue him all Thus haue I but the heau'ns on whom I may Powre forth the poyson of my troubled spirite In my soules bitternesse I 'm forcd to say This seconds not their custome and my merite Act. IIII. Scen. II. SANDANIS CROESVS WHy spend you Sir with sighs th' Imperious breath Which nought but words of Soueraigntie should breed O weake reuenge for one that 's wrongd by death T' adorne his triumph with a mourning weed This pale-fac'd tyrant author of our ill Who did t' ecclypse our Ioyes that blacke shaft borrow Should you frame Trophees to his Tigrish will And weare his liuery and succumbe to sorrow No though he might this outward blisse o're-throw And you saue you of all that 's yours might spoyle Yet whilst of one that yields no signe you show You triumph still and he receiues the foyle Th' o're-flowing humor that would drowne your soule In baser breasts might better be excusde Who want the sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subiection vsde But you in whom high Thoughts haue been innate To this decay how is your Vertue come I blush to see my Soueraigne so abated And Maiestie by miserie o'recome Nor are my words out of a rockie mind T' unnaturallize you as not feeling smart No none can barre a Prince from being kind Th' undoubted badge of an Heroick hart That supreme Powre by which great States do stand Should order but th' affection not vndoe it And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe it Croes I will not now rehearse t' enlarge my griefe On what iust reasons my laments are grounded But still will muse vpon mine owne mischiefe While as my soule a thousand wayes is wounded What pensiue pensill euer limm'd aright The sad conceats of soule-consuming woe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling hight Of th' inward
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
base companions then to be compar'd With one that may consume such in his wrath Who as I please do punish and reward Whose words nay euen whose lookes yeeld life or death Sol. Sir be not thus commoo'ud without all reason Nor misconceiue my meaning as you do Those that speake freely haue no mind of treason I cannot be your friend and flatter to Vnto vs Graecians Sir the gods haue granted A moderate measure of a humble wit And in our Countrie there haue neuer wanted Some whom the world for wise men did admit And yet amongst vs all the greatest number Haue here dispair'd of any perfect rest Though some a while in Fortunes bosome slumber And to world-blinded eyes seeme to be blest Yet ouer all mortall states change so preuailes We alterations daily do attend And hold this for a ground that neuer failes None should triumph in blisse before the end I may compare our state to table-playes Where by dumbe iudges matters are decided Their many doubts the earnest mind dismayes The dice must first cast well then be well guided So all our dayes in doubt what thing may chance vs Time runnes away the breath of man doth chace it And when th' occasion come's for to aduance vs Amongst a thousand one can scarce embrace it When two by generous indignation mooued Would trie by sword whose glorie fame will smother Whilst valour blindly by th' euent is prooued And th'ones ouerthrow can onely grace the other O what a foole his iudgment will commit To crowne the one with vndeseru'd applauses Where fortune is for to giue sentence yet While bloody agents pleade such doubtfull causes This world it is the field where each man ventures And arm'd with reason resolutely goes To fight against a thousand misaduentures Both with externall and internall foes And how can he the victors title gaine That yet is busied with a doubtfull fight Or he be happie that doth still remaine In Fortunes danger for a small delight Th' abortiue course of man away fast weares Course that consists of houres houres of a day Day that giue 's place to night night full of feares Thus all things alter still all things decay Who flourish now in peace may fall in strife And haue their fame with infamie supprest The euening shew's the day the death the life And many are fortunate but few are blest Croes I see this Grecian of a simple spirite The which is capable of no great things Men but aduance him far aboue his merite He can not comprehend the States of Kings Fame did so largely of his worth report It made me long to haue him in my house But all my expectations are come short I thinke a Mountaine hath brought forth a mouse Exit Croesus Act. II. Scen. II. SOLON AESOPE Sol. THis king hath put his trust in trustlesse treasures Cloi'd with th' abundance of all worldy blisse And like a hooded hawk gorg'd with vaine pleasures At randon flies and wots not where he is O how this makes me wonderfully sorie To see him keepe this lifelesse wealth so straitly Whilst witlesse worldlings wonder at his glorie Which I not enuie no but pittie greatly Thus wormes of th' earth whose worst part doth preuaile Loue melting things whose shew the body fits Where Soules of cleerer sight do neuer faile To thesaurize the gifts of gallant wits Those worldly things do in this world decay Or at the least we leaue them with our breath Whereas the other makes vs liue foray So differ they as farre as life and death Aesop And yet what wonder though that he be thus Whose knowledge clouded is with prosp'rous windes Though this indeed seeme somewhat strange to vs Who haue with learning purifide our mindes Was he not borne heire of a mighty State And vsde with Fortunes smiles not fear'd for frownes Doth measure all things by his owne conceate Th' infirmitie that fatall is to Crownes He hath been from his infancy addicted To all the pompous showes wealth could deuise And still entreated neuer contradicted Now doth all libertie of speech despise Though I durst not so to his fight appeare Whose corrupt iudgement was from reason sweruing I grieu'd to see your entertainement here So far inferior to your owne deseruing That diuine Wisdom which the world admires And rauish'd with delight amazed heares Because it answer'd not his vaine desires Did seeme vnsauorie to distemper'd eares Eares that are euer stopt to all discourses Saue such as enter fraughted with his praises He can loue none but them that loue his courses And thinks all fooles that vse not flattring phrases This wracks the great and makes the heauens despight them Let vertue spread forth all her heauenly powers If not in their owne liuery to delight them They will not daigne her audience a few howers Sol. I care not Aesop how the King conceated Of my franke speeches which I euer vse I came not here till I was first entreated Nor being come will I my name abuse Should I his poysonous Sycophants resemble A hatefull thing to honest men that know it I would not for his Diadem dessemble What the hart thinks the tongue was made to show it And what if his vaine humor to haue cherish'd I had my speeches for the purpose painted I had but gotten gifts that would haue perish'd But nothing could haue cleer'd my fame once tainted If I had show'n my selfe toward him officious It would in end haue but procur'd my shame To haue our vertue prais'd by one that 's vicious This in effect is but a secret blame He thinks him simple who his anger raises But better simply good then doubly ill I neuer value my worth by others praises Nor by opinions do direct my will And it content's me more to be applauded By one of iudgement though of meane degree Then by a Prince of princely parts defrauded Who hath more wealth but not more wit then hee Aesop Who come to Court must with Kings faults comport Sol. Who come to Court should trueth to Kings report Aesop A wise man at their imperfections winks Sol. An honest man will tell them what he thinks Aesop So should you loose your selfe and them not win Sol. But I would beare no burden of their sin Aesop By this you should their indignation finde Sol. Yet haue the warrant of a worthy minde Aesop It would be long ere you were thus prefer'd Aesop Then it should be the King not I that er'd Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Sol. Yet when I merite well I care the lesse Aesop It 's good to be still by the Prince approued Sol. It 's better to be vpright though not loued Aesop But by this meane all hope of Honor failes Aesop Yet honestie in end euer preuailes Aesop I thinke they should excell as oft they do All men in wit that vnto men giue lawes Kings are the Center of the
stead Base brood of earth vaine man Why bragst thou of thy might The heauens thy courses scan Thou walkst still in their sight Ere thou wast borne thy deedes Their registers dilate And thinke that none exceedes The compasse of his fate What heauens would haue thee to Though they thy wayes abhorre That thou of force must do And thou may do no more This reason would fulfill Their worke should serue their will Are we not heires of death In whom there is no trust Who tossd with circkling breath Are but a dramme of dust Yet fooles when as we erre And do th' heauens wrath contract If they a while deferre A iust reuenge t' exact Pride in our bosome creepes And mis-informes vs thus That the Eternall sleepes Or takes no care of vs. No th' eye of heauen beholds All what our hart enfolds The gods digest no crime Though they continue long And in th' offenders time Seeme to neglect their wrong Till others of their race Fill vp the cup of wrath Whom ruine and disgrace Long time attended hath And Giges fault we feare To Croesus charge be layd Which loue will not forbeare Though it be long delayd For ô sometime the gods Must plague sinne with sharp rods And lo how Croesus still Tormented in his mind Like a reed on a hill Is shiuering with each wind Each step a terrour brings Dreames do by night afflict him And by day many things All his thoughts do conuict him He his starre would controule This makes euill not the worst Whilst he wounds his owne soule With th' apprehension frist Man may his fate foresee But not shun heauens decree Act. IIII. Scen. I. ADRASTVS CROESVS CHORVS CAn heauen behold hands staind with bloud ofttimes And to the Stigian streames not headlongs hurld Can th' earth support one burden'd with such crimes As may prouoke the wrath of all the world Why sends not Ioue t' haue my curss'd course confind A death-denouncing flash of rumbling thunder Or a tempestuous terrour-breeding wind With violence to teare me all asunder What vnknowne corner from the world remou'd T' inhabit in th' horizon of dispaire Shall I go now possesse and be approu'd By monsters like my selfe that hate repaire I le go indeed whom all the world detests Who haue no interest in the fields of blisse And barbarize among the barbarous beasts Where Tigers rage Toades spue and Serpents hisse Yet though both th' Artike and Antartike Pole I should ouerpasse and find th' vnpeopled zones A wildernesse where nought were to controule My damnable cruelties but trees and stones Yet of my deeds which all the world do tell All this could not deface th' infamous scroule Within my breast I beare about my hell And can not scape the horrours of my soule Those fearefull monsters of confusd aspects Chimera Gorgon Hydra hellish apes Which in the world wrought wonderfull effects And borrowed from th' infernall shades their shapes Their deuilish formes that did the world amaze Not halfe so monstrous as my selfe I finde When on mine owne deformities I gaze In the black depth of a polluted minde No but my mind vntainted still remaines My thoughts in this dilict haue had no part Which accidentallie this foule fact staines My hands had no commission of my hart Yet whether it was fortune or my fate Or some hell-hag that did direct my arme I quaild the Lidians hopes abortiue date And am the instrument of all their harme Then swelling mountaines come and fall vpon me Your height may hide me from the wrath of heauen But this needes not my fault hath else vndone me No torment can with my offence be euen Ah of what desart shall I now make choice T' auoid the count'nance of an angrie King I know th' auenging sword of Croesus voice To wound my soule hostes of rebukes doth bring No th' obiect of distresse I le stand alone A memorable monster of mishap For though Pandoraes plagues were pour'd in one All were too few so vile a wretch t' entrap Chor. O how the King is mou'd with Atis death His face th' impression of a passion beares With bended eyes crostarmes and quiuering breath His princely roabe he desperately teares Lo with a silent pittie-pleading looke Which shewes with sorrow mixt a high disdeine He whilst his soule seemes to dissolue in smoake Whiles eyes the corps whiles him by whom t' is slaine Croes Thou ruthlesse Tyrant ruine of my blisse And didst thou so disguise thy deuilish nature To recompence my courtesies with this Ah cruell wretch abhominable creature Thy Tigrish mind who could haue well detected In mortall breasts so great barbaritie What forward sprite could haue such spight suspected In hospitalitie hostilitie Did I reuiue thee when thy hopes were dead When as thy life thy parents had not spar'd And hauing heapt such favours on thy head Is this Is this Chor. he would say the reward Adrast I grant what you alledge and more is true I haue vnto the height of hatred runne A blood-staind Wretch not worthy for to view The rolling Circles nor the rayie Sunne I 'le neuer striue to cloake my foule abuses So for to make my forfeit to seeme lesse And paint my fault with imperfect excuses T' is greater farre then words can wel expresse Nor go I thus to aggrauate my crime And damne my selfe to be absolu'd by others No no such Rhetoricke comes out of time I 'le not suruiue his death as earst my brothers Whose vnkind fall if I had followd straight As then indeed I dyed to all delight I had not groan'd chargd with this inward waight But slept with shadows in eternall night Yet must I die at last though late growne wise This in my minde most discontentment breedes A thousand tort'ring deaths cannot suffise To plague condignely for so haynous deedes Come cause him who the Spritelesse body buries Vpon the Tombe to sacrifice my blood No fitter offring for th' infernall Furies Then one in whom they raign'd while as he stood In whom they oft infusde their diu'lish rage And in my bosom all their Serpents nestled So that this hellish horror to asswage I all my dayes haue with disasters wrestled Croes I find Adrastus when I deepely scaunce Th' effectuall motiues of this fatall crosse That not thy malice but mine owne mischaunce Hath been th' occasion of our bitter losse Whilst barely with a superficiall wit We weigh the out-side of such strange euents If but the mediate meanes our iudgements hit We search not the first cause this much contents When such prodigious accidents fall out Though they amaze our minds and so they must The ground of all comes from our selfe no doubt Ah! man hath sin'd the heau'ns are alwayes iust Now when I search the secrets of my soule And rip the corners of my corrupt minde Marke of my former life th' offenciue scroule And do examine how I was inclinde O then I see the angry hosts of heauen Come girt with flames to plague
expressing of the toong Who euer did full satisfaction finde Yet with satietie were neuer cloy'd We seem'd two bodies gouern'd by one mind Such was the happines that we enioy'd He lou'd me deerely I obey'd his will Prowd of my selfe because that I was his A harmonie remaind betwixt vs still Each in another plac'd their chiefest blisse This mou'd th'Immortalls to a high disdaine That thus two worldlings who of death were heires Should in a paradise of ioyes remaine Which did exceede at least did equall theirs But chiefly Iuno did dispight it most Who through a iealousie still iarres with Ioue That bodie-prison'd soules of that could boast Which she although Heauens Queene had not aboue Thus euen for enuy of our rare delights The fatall Sisters by the heauens subborn'd Of my soules treasure closd the louely lights By which they thought the earth too much adorn'd O but he is not dead he liues in me Ah but I liue not for I dide in him The one without the other can not be If death haue set his eyes mine must looke dim Since to my sight that Sunne no more appeer'd From whom my beauties borrowed all their rayes A long ecclipse that neuer shall be cleer'd Hath darkned all the points of my sad dayes Ay me I liue too long he dide too soone Thus still the worst remaine the best depart Of him who told how this black deede was done The words like swords shall euer wound my hart Fierce tyrant Death that in thy wrath didst take One halfe of me and left an halfe behind Take this to thee or giue me th' other backe Be altogether cruell or all kind For whilst I liue thou canst not wholy dye O! euen in spite of death yet still my choyce Oft with th' Imaginations loue-quicke eye I thinke I see thee and I heare thy voyce And to content my languishing desire Each thing to ease my mind some helpe affords I fancie whiles thy forme and then afire In euery found I apprehend thy words Then with such thoughts my memorie to wound I call to mind thy lookes thy words thy grace Where thou didst haunt yet I adore the ground And where thou stept O sacred seemes that place My solitary walks my widowd bed My driery sighs my sheets oft bathd with teares These can record the life that I haue led Since first sad newes breath'd death into mine eares I liue but with despaire my sprite to dash Thee first I lou'd with thee all loue I leaue For my chaste flames extinguishd in thy ash Can kindle now no more but in thy graue By night I wish for day by day for night Yet wish farre more that none of both might bee But most of all that banishd from the light I were no more their courses for to see At night revoluing my despaird estate I go to summe with sighs my wonted ioyes When in an agonie a grieu'd conceate Doth blot th' unperfect compt with new annoyes When Sleepe the eldest brother of pale Death The Child of darkenesse and Father of rest In a free prison hath confinde my breath That it may vent but not with words exprest Then with my sprite thou enterst for to speake With honyed speaches to appease my griefe And my sad heart that labourd for to breake In this fayn'd comfort finds a while reliefe Yea it our soules remaind vnited so This late diuorcement would not vexe my mind But when I waken it augments my woe Whilst this a dreame and me a wretch I find O happy if I had been happy neuer But happier if my happinesse had lasted Yet had I in this state chanc'd to perseuer My dayes had with excessiue ioyes soone wasted Why waste I thus whilst vainely I lament The precious treasure of that swift Post Time Ah! pardon me deare Loue for I repent My lingring here my Fate and not my crime Since first thy body did enrich the Tombe In this spoild world my eye no pleasure sees And Atis Atis loe I come I come To be thy Mate amongst the Mirtle trees CHORVS LOe all our time euen from our birth In nought but miserie exceeds For where we find a moments mirth A Month of mourning still succeeds By all the euills that Nature breeds Which daily do our sprites appall Th' infirmities that frailtie sends The losse of it that fortune lends And such disasters as oft fall Yet to farre worse our states are thrall Whilst wretched man with man contends And euery one his whole force bends How to procure anothers losses But this torments vs most of all The mind of man which many a fancie tosses Doth forge vnto it selfe a thousand crosses O how the Soule with all her might Doth all her heau'nly forces straine How to attaine vnto the light Of Natures wonders that remaine Hid from our eyes we striue in vaine To seeke out things that are vnsure In Sciences to seeme profound We diue so deepe we find no ground And the more knowledge we procure The more it doth our minds allure Of mysteries the depth to sound Thus our desires we neuer bound Which by degrees thus drawne on still The memorie may not indure But like the tubs that Danaus daughters fill Doth drinke no faster then it 's forc'd to spill Yet how comes this and O how can Diuine Knowledge the Soules chiefe treasure Occasion such a crosse to man That should afford him greatest pleasure O it 's because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong But for to tempt forbidden things Do soare too high with Natures wings Still weakest whilst we thinke vs strong The Heau'ns that thinke we do them wrong To trie what in suspence still hings This crosse vpon vs iustly brings With knowledge knowledge is confusde And growes a griefe ere it be long That which a blessing is being rightly vsde Doth grow the greatest crosse when it 's abusde Ah! what auailes this vnto vs Who in this vaile of woes abide With endlesse toile to studie thus To learne the thing that Heau'n would hide And trusting in too blind a guide To spie the Planets how they moue And too transgressing common barres The constellation of the starres And all that is decreed aboue Whereof as oft th' euent doth proue Th' intelligence our welfare marres And in our breasts breeds endlesse warres Whilst what our Horoscopes foretell Our expectations do disproue Those apprehended plagues proue such a Hell That we would wish t' vnknow them till they fell This is the pest of great Estates They by a thousand meanes deuise How to foreknow their doubtfull Fates And like new Giants scale the Skies Heau'ns secret store-house to surprise Which sacriligious skill we see With what great payne they apprehend it And then how foolishly they spend it To learne the thing that once must be Why should we seeke our destinie If it be good we long attend it If it be euill none may amend it Such knowledge further rest exiles T' is best to abide
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
all things t' a point That the successe our councells may adorne Eum. I heare a tumult made amongst the tents And Arideus is proclaimde a King To which th' inconstant multitude consents That build on all that changes best doe bring The footmen all are t'indignation mou'd That in th' assembly they got not a seate That our proceedings they might haue approu'd As knowing all that did concerne the States Their Princes memorie rests soone despisde That they dare thus reuolt and vnconstrain'd Saue but by too much libertie entisde Which makes the giuer still to be disdaind The want of discipline all things confounds Their deeds want order and their pride all bounds Perdi. And dare they then against that fortresse rise Where Alexanders collours once are rear'd Or violate the walls where-as he lyes May not his shaddow serue to make them feard What how comes this and dare they then presume T' encounter their commanders and in armes Armes armes iust wrath these rebels must consume Our countenance wil dash them sound th' alarmes Exeunt ACT. II. SCEN. II. Lisimachus Seleucus LO here a great and a most suddaine change All men for mirth were like to haue gone mad So that of late it would haue been thought strange In all this citie to haue seene one sad Each wall resounded some melodious song To rauish curious eares with rare delight Strange tapestries were stretch'd the streets along And stately obiects made t' amuse the sight As if his conquests gloriously to crowne Of all the world a Parliament to hold He came with pompe to this imperiall towne The height of all magnificence t' vnfold Here Glory in her richest robes aray'd Should haue shewne all that greatnesse could expect Yet were our hopes euen at the height betraid To death those trophes Fortune did erect A tragick end this triumph quite confounds All our applauses are turn'd to complaints Our musicke marr'd by melancholious sounds Spoil'd by the Cypresse loe the Lawrell faints To funerall shrikes our showts of ioy we turne Our gorgeous garments must giue place to griefe We that so much reioyc'd farre more must mourne Dayes spent with woe are long with pleasure briefe This greatest anguish breedes when one compares The time that present is with it that 's past And ponders the particular dispaires That all heroicke mindes with woe do waste These two betweene what diffrence finde we forth The rising Sunne and it that is declinde Where is that bright Zodiacke of all worth From whence the light of Valour onely shinde Now desolation spreades it selfe ouer all A solitarie silence griefe allowes Ah as being bruisd by that great Monarkes fall How many malecontents abase their browes A strange suspition hath possessd the streetes Whilst euery man his neighbours fall conspires When vnawares one with another meetes As strait suspecting treason he retires Of rumours strange all eares are greedie growne Which though all doubtfull moue the mind to ruth And as all hearts haue idolls of their owne What they coniecture all affirme for truth Sel. The heauen with wrathful eies our actions views As it towards vs that high disdaine doth beare Loe all mens heads are heauy for euill news And though we know not what yet stil we feare For since the widdow'd world doth want a head Each member now doth labour to be chiefe Which whilst they diuers wayes the bodie leade May a beginning giue t'an endlesse griefe Some like the foole that thunder fain'd like Ioue Would make their same like Alexanders sound And to bring others lowe or t' be aboue Would either gouerne all or all confound Then some vaine wittes that onely would seeme wise Whilst by prepostrous fancies being deceiu'd Do euery thing that is not theirs despise And perish would or them another sau'd A number too that all things doe content What each one thinkes are still resolu'd to doe They make a choice then doe the choice repent And strait repent of that repentance too The publike weale is spoi'ld by priuate hopes Whilst many thus the highest honour claime This variance giues their fancies freest scopes Its best to fish within a troubled streame See how dissention hath dissolu'd so soone All kinde of order and confusion brought This discord hath our councell quite vndone Whilst one would haue done all all haue done nought Though that Perdiccas as it would haue seem'd As being deuoted to the sacred blood Sought by that meanes more vertuous to b' esteem'd His Princes honour and his Countries good Yet hauing his companions in contempt He sought by subtill meanes himselfe t' aduance And so to shaddow his disguisde attempt Aym'd at th' imperiall place as but by chance He care pretends that none th' vnborne beguile As by the heauens for th' orphans weale reseru'd Yet wanting of a King nought but the stile He would not want that when th' occasion seru'd And Meleager with the like respect To crosse Perdiccas counterfets a loue To bastatd Philips right though in effect His purpose is but th 'others to disproue And so prouiding that his enemy faile He cares not much what Emperour they proclaime And his designe with many may preuaile The cloake of right apparrells any claime They whose descent their titles doth disclose Being borne in possibilitie to raigne Must be preferr'd by reason vnto those That of all right without the bounds remaine The furious footmen insolently stout Bent to maintaine a title brau'd our band And indignation thundring threatnings out Would with our blood haue dide this barb'rous land O what indignitie would this haue bin Whilst those that we subdude with such great toiles Had in this sort their victors vanquish'd seene And without paine possesse their spoylers spoyles Thus darkning all that we had done before Our swords being stain'd by ignominious wounds We of our conquests could haue kept no more But burialls base if those in th' enemies bounds O what excellencie consists in one More than in many as witnesses this houre Some with a word or looke doth more alone Than thousands ioyn'd with pollicie and powre When squadrons arm'd with ensignes all displaid As those that of their Prince all reuerence lost His generous course t' haue obstinately stai'd Did best t' abandon him when busied most Then of disorder yeelding bitter fruits They boldly march'd before th' imperiall tent And charg'd their soueraigne with vnlawfull suits As t'innouations violently bent They by no band of duety more detaind First grudgde grew factious next then rebells plaine Like waters by industrious meanes restraind Which if their dams once breake forth flouds do raine But of th' vntainted tipe of matchlesse worth Whom imitate none may al must admire Through iust disdaine when furie sparkled forth Th' astonish'd troups all trembling did retire His stately countenance calm'd tumultuous sounds Lightning forth maiestie through clowds of wrath That euen as if his words had giuen them wounds They prostrated themselues exspecting death Those loftie bandes that were of late so prowd That they
forcde the fortresse to resigne Then pride vnto necessitie gaue place Her lofty courage was constraind to bow So that she rests depending on our grace To be disposde as it shall please vs now Lisim This chance the world to wonder may invite Lo there a Queene that had though now distressde The rarest fortune and the greatest spirite That euer anie of her sex possessd The widow'd Empresse that first warrde with th' Indes Nor stout Tomiris though most gallant seene Nor all th' Amazons borne with martiall mindes Had neuer stouter stomakes then this Queene Her liues first progresse did but prooue too sweet Whom all th' earths treasures once concurr'd to blesse But now sad soule trod vnder fortunes feete Her miserie no creature can expresse Cass Those were but fortunes gifts that made her great All was without her-selfe that made her praisde Her imperfections did but staine the state To which anothers merits had her raisde For when she first with famous Philip match'd Then her behauior was not free from blame But euen though she with Argos eyes was watch'd As t' was supposde she forfeited her fame At least her husband fear'd for some disgrace From her himselfe had publikly deuorc'd And entertain'd another in her place Which for the time to suffer she was forc'd Yet this in th' end did his distruction breede For which her spightfull thoughts had labour'd long She was acquainted with Pausanias deede And spurr'd him to performe th' intended wrong She sought that by such meanes t'ambitious will Her husbands murder might enlarge the raines Whilst with authoritie she did all th' ill Of which too late th' afflicted realme complaines Long suffred for the greatnesse of her sonne She plaid the tirant safely as she pleasde But by the course that I haue else begunne I hope those whom she plagu'd shall now b' appeasde Lisim Yet of Olimpias though abasde by you The sight her sonne and husband wil reuiue And so may make the Macedonians now For her reliefe strange courses to contriue Of those whose greatnesse doth regard extort Th' afflictions must entender euerie minde And still th' affections of the vulgar sort Are head-long led too cruell or too kind Cass O but I can precipitate her fall Euen by the meanes that might support her most For pittie shall spoile pittie whilst they all Sigh for their friends that through her pride was lost Lisim As those to whom all other things are free Must haue their life and raigne both of one date So priuate men that passe their owne degree Can hardly turne to take their former state Thus you commit your fortune to the fates None can retire that enters in such things For those that ought attempt against great states Must die as traitors or else liue as kings And though you would but some disorders stay You deale with those that borne not to be thrall As torrents beare away what stoppes their way And either must do nothing or doe all No keepe not such to sigh when they are gone That scorne to take the thing that they should giue For all must die that dare but touch a throne Those that might take their life they must not liue Cas Since in this course that I can once but erre I shall be sure ere she herselfe withdraw Lis And yet what suretie can you haue of her Can Lawes binde them that are aboue the Law It 's hard t' establish concord twixt the two Where th' one must hate and th' other alwayes feare Cas O but I minde to vse the matter so That both from hence shall further strife forbeare Lis What can hir freedome and your peace procure Cas Death both can make hir free and make me sure Lis And would you do such euill to shed her blood Cas I t'others euill so that it do me good Lis The Macedonians will abhorre this wrong Cas And yet obey me if be most strong Lis But who shal haue the realme amidst those broils Cas Who euer winnes the field must keep the spoils Lis So to possesse the realme you haue no right Cas But I haue more so long as I haue might Lis This state doth to it selfe an heire afford Cas All kingdomes rights are pleaded by the sword Lis The people all will grudge against your state Cas But dare not stirre whilst feare exceeds their hate Lis And in their hearts they will detest you too Cas Think what they wil that haue not powre to do Lis What though Olympias in a little space May lose her powre together with her breath Yet there remaines another of her race That is by nature bound t' auenge her death Cas Th' impetuous streames of a tempestuous flood That drownes all th' olde not yeeldes the yong reliefe What foole that of his foes victorious stoode Would spoyle an armie and yet spare the chiefe No since I must my selfe with murder staine I le by the rootes raze all the royall race So that no powre shall spring from thence againe T' oregrow my greatnesse and my plants displace The strength hath left great Alexanders arme Whose mothers fatall threed is now neere spunne And I haue meanes to keepe my selfe from harme Both of Roxane and her tender sonne But since this course may serue our states t' aduance By which a ground for great designes is lay de I must intreate you now what euer chance To lend your approbation though not ayde Lis I le be your friend yet wish you would refraine From doing this but ere you be vndone Since that I by your guiltinesse may gaine I le suffer that which I would not haue done Exeunt Olimpias alone CAn I be she whom all the world admirde As being the happiest Queene that raignd below Whom all the planets haue to plague conspirde Of fickle fortunes course th' effects to show No t' is not I nought could my course controule Nor force me thus t' attend anothers will Since I despise this prison of my soule Where it disdains t' abide in bondage still Ah whilst I did on th' outward pomp rely My state the powre of higher powres did tempt My state that once bred reuerence and enuie Though now it breede but pittie and contempt Olimpias once high as Olimpius stoode The wife of Philip Alexanders mother That matcht Alcides and Achilles blood T' ingender one more worth than both together Am I the woman whose maiestike state Seemde once so happy to deceiu'd conceits I I am she and neuer yet more great Than at this present in despight of Fates A double bondage long did burden me I to my selfe my selfe to fortune thrall But now captiuitie hath set me free That could not rise till first I had a fall The sprite that 's with prosperitie benum'd Scarse like it selfe can to the world appeare When Vertue hath Aduersitie ore'com'd Then shines true greatnes in her highest spheare Our glory now I see consists no more Without our-selues in eie-betraying showes But in the breasts
brasen breasts all ruth was barr'd They did conclude their Queen behou'd to die Cho. Durst subiects damne their soueraigne and not heard So still may cloudes obscure the worlds bright eye Nun. Yet did Cassander put all sleights t' assay A maske of pittie on a cruell minde And offred her a ship to flye away As if to death against his will assign'de Nor Was this course for her deliuerance fram'd But onely as by chance that she might drowne So for her death that he might not be blam'd But onely Neptune that had throwne her downe Yet she a princesse of a mightie spright Whose loftie courage nothing could ore-come Said ere she scap'd by such a shamefull flight That she would heare the Macedonians doome But when Cassanders counsel was contem'nd Lest that the multitude had chang'd their mind When they remembred whom they had condemn'd And warily weigh'd what rashly they design'd To rid her soone from paine and him from feare He sent some bands from pittie most estrang'd Yet she gainst fortune did a banner beare And not her heart no not her count'nance chang'd She constant still though mon'd would neuer mone Whose stately gesture scorn'd their foule attempt And did vnite her vertues all in one To grace disgrace and glorifie contempt She on two Ladies shoulders lean'd her armes And with a Maiestie did march towards death Like Alexander once amidst th' alarmes As if in triumph bent t' abandon breath The height of vertue admiration brings At this great magnanimitie amaz'd As spying th' Image of their auncieat kings Or then some goddesse all the souldiers gaz'd But ah some bosted by the tirant striu'd To spoile vnnaturall natures fairest frame And th' Alabaster balles betweene they driu'd Th' vnwilling swords that strait grew red for shame Then she in worth that would her selfe excell Would neither word nor teare nor sigh forth send But spread her garments ouer her whilst she fell As iealous of her honour still to th' end Cho. O strange barbaritie most monstrous deed Could men a woman subiects kill their Queene And could her fortune past no pitie breeds Who euer gaue the wound hath not her seene The ougly Authors of those odious euils Fear'd for deserued plagues must still be sad His breast t' a hell his thoughts all turn'd to deuils Through horror of himself must make him mad Nun. And yet the plague of these detested times Hath wrought more mischiefe t' aggrauate our grones Ch. No end in sinne crimes are maintain'd by crimes Who fall in th' Ocean touch the bottome once The path of honor hath but narrow bounds On which who steps attentiue must remaine It 's raisde so hie aboue the vulgar grounds That who thence fall can neuer rise againe Nu. Thus now Cassander since he cannot winne True reputation but liues tainted stil Imbarkt in mischiefe sailes the depths of sinne So if not lou'd as good yet feard as ill Though by his meanes his ruthlesse eies haue seene Fates as it were from Fortunes bosome rend His King by poison by the sword his Queene In wickednes t' exceede himselfe in th' end He prospring in impietie grew prowd And murdred both his maisters sonne and wife Thus he that all the world by birthright ow'd Could hold no part of it no not his life Yet could Roxanes death not ease his minde Nor her yong sonne too soone made Plutoes guest But bent t' vndoe all Alexanders kinde That to reuenge the rest there might none rest By treason he as all his deedes are done Causde Hercules his brothers steppes to trace That was great Alexanders bastard sonne And th' onelie remnant of that great mans race Lo thus Cassander th' enemie to all good Whose soule so much for Macedonie longs Hath to the Scepter swimd through seas of blood Yet O weake right that 's builded but on wrongs Chor. O how ambition doth abuse the great That with enough not pleasde still striue for more Loe how our Soueraigne seemde to raise his state Yet made it but to fall whilst staru'd with store And since his trophees reard in seuerall fieldes Both him and his haue to confusion brought Then what is all the good that greatnes yieldes Which makes it selfe seeme much to be made nought Thus though the mountaines make a mighty show They are but barren heapes borne vp aloft Where plaines are pleasant still though they lie lowe And are most fertile too though troad on oft Greatnesse is like a cloude in th' ayrie bounds Which th' earths base vapours haue congeald aboue It brawles with Vulcan thundring forth huge sounds feare Yet melts and falls there whence it first did moue Phi. Since that worlds conq'ror then whilst free from Weigh'd with his greatnes downe so soone was dead What makes each of his captaines striue to beare The diademe that crusht so strong a head O when my minde is rauisht through the starres To search the secret secrets of the fates What treasons murders mutinies and warres Are threatning once t' orethrow th' vsurped seates And false Cassander that betraid his Lord And spoild the princely race in mischiefe chiefe A traitor both of heauen and earth abhorrd Shall liue but with disgrace and die with griefe His sonnes in wickednes himselfe t' exceede Shall make the woman die that made them liue Then when being drunk with bloud to death shal bleed And none of theirs their funeralls shall suruiue Then when ambition should be coold by age Lysimachus shall by Seleucus die Nor shall Seleucus long enioy the stage But by like violence shall breathlesse lie And subtil Ptolomies degenerd race Long onely famous for infamous things Shall end and once to th' enemies pride giue place Whilst a lasciuious Queene confusion brings Antigonus shall be in battell killd His sonne a captiue perish with disgrace And after that it Greece with blood hath filld In end destruction doth attend that race The last in powre though of their line not bred A niggard and a dastard beaten downe Shall through a strangers towne a captiue led bound of the Macedonians th' old renowne Chorus WHat damned furies thus tosse mortals minds With such a violent desire to raigne That neither honor friendship dutie blood Nor yet no band so sacred is as bindes Th' ambitious thoughts that would a kingdome gaine But all is buried in blacke Laethes flood That may the course of soueraigntie restraine Which from the breast doth all respects repell And like a torrent cannot be gainstoode Yea many would a Scepter so t' obtaine In spite of all the world and Ioues owne wrath March through the lowest dungeons of the helles And vnderneath a diademe would breathe Though euery moment threatned them with death Yet though such restlesse mindes attaine in th' end The height to which their haughty hearts aspirde They neuer can imbrace th' imagin'd blisse Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend Though by the multitude they be admirde That still to powre do shew themselues submisse Yet by the
conuince For still the states that flourish for the time By subiects should b'inuiolable thought And those no doubt commit a monstrous crime That lawfull soueraignty prophane in ought And we must thinke though now being brought to bow The Senate king a subiect Caesar is Th' authoritie that violating now The world must damne as hauing done amisse We will deare Cassius for our countries sake Our selues expose to danger or to death And let vs now aduise what course to take Whilst nought bur th' aire can beare away our breath Cass I thinke this matter needes not many wordes Since but one deede can bound the common shame In Caesars bodie we must sheathe our swordes And by his death our libertie reclame But since his fortune did confound them all That in the fields to match him did beginne Whilst he by thousands made their bands to fall With hoarie legions alwayes vsde to winne As Pompeys Scipioes and Petreius ghosts In lightlesse shades may by experience tell That after th' ouerthrow of their numbrous hosts All famous though infortunately fell And since prouided for the Parthian wrarre His armie in armes attends on his decree Where we sequestred from such forces farre Would if suspected strait preuented be With some few friends whom all things now t' assay A loue to vs or to their countrie bindes We to his wracke must walke another way Whilst ere our tongues our handes doe tell our mindes Now when most high and therefore hated most Th' assembled Senate seekes to make him king We must goe giue the blow before we boast And him to death Rome out of bondage bring Brut. In all this course I onely one thing blame That we should steale what we may iustly take By clothing honour with a cloake of shame Which may our cause thogh good more odious make O I could wish with honourable wounds T' affront Romes enemy in the battells dust No sweeter musicke than the Trumpets sounds When Right and Valour keepe a consort iust Then free if quicke else dead for nought being feard I alwayes once contented might remaine What tombe t' a man more glorious can be rear'd Than mountaines made of them that he hath slaine But how are my transported thoughts growne such That they disdaine a measure now t' admit As bent not what to doe but to do much I on the throne of Glorie striu'd to sit No to the state me from my selfe I giue Free from particular respects t' expose My life and all for it and whilst I liue So that it gaine I care not what I lose I le neuer rest till he for euer rest That giues my country such a cause of griefe And that t' effect no forme I will detest Nor for my fame endanger Romes reliefe But worthy Cassius ere we further doe Let vs the mindes of our familiars feele Of which I hope to haue assistance too Who will not hazard for his countries weale Cass Now whilst my soule rests rauisht in a traunce I thinke I see great Rome her courage raise Bent to beat th' aire with songs th' earth with a daunce And crowne thy vertues with deserued praise ACT. III. SCENE II. Marcus Brutus Portia MY dearest halfe my comfort my delight That onely seru'st to sweeten all my sowres Thou in my bosome vsde t' vncharge thy spright And in my presence sparde afflictions powres Still when domestike broiles disturbde thy rest Whilst by thy selfe thou labord for reliefe Thou with calme wordes disguisde a stormie breast Lest I had bin infected with thy griefe For such of me was thy respectiue care No cause of miscontentment was made knowne But with affections colors painted faire All that might make me glad was gladly showne What makes thee then thy courage thus to lose That thou can looke so sad and in my sight Lend me deere loue a portion of thy woes A burden being diuided doth grow light I see the Roses fading in thy face The Lillies languish Violets take their place Port. Thou hast deere Lord preuented my designe Which was to aske of thee what makes me pale It Phoebus had no light could Phoebe shine No with the cause of force th'effed must faile The mirrour but giues backe as it receiues A iust resemblance of th' obiected forme And such impression as th' engrauer leaues The wax retaines still to the stampe conforme O I 'm the mirrour that reflects thy minde According to the influence of thine eies I take the state in which thy state I finde Such is my colour as thy countnance dies Then how can I reioyce whilst thou art sad Whose breast of all thy crosses is the scroule I am still as thou art if grieu'd or glad Thy bodies shadow th' essence of thy soule On that great planet that diuides the yeares As th' increase of th' inferiour fields depends And as it doth euanish or appeares In th' earths cold bosome life beginnes or ends Sunne of my soule so I subsist by thee Whose course rests to thy secret motions thrall For when thou art from cloudie fortunes free I rise in ioyes but if thou faint I fall Bru. This countnance with my custome but accords That as you know yet neuer from my birth Light gestures vsde ioynd with lasciuious words Nor yet ridiculous fashions that mooue mirth My melancholious nature feedes on cares Whilst smotherd sorrow by a habite smokes A thoughtfull breast that 's burdend with affaires Doth make a silent mouth and speaking lookes As for my palenesse it imports but good Th' abasing of the bodie mounts the mind Where fatnesse com'd from food but serues for food In fattest bodies leanest sprites we finde Ah since I saw th' abhorr'd Thessalian bounds All drench'd with blood of Senators and kings As if my soule yet smarted in their wounds A secret sorrow oftentimes me stings But since thy famous father with strange blowes In the most hideous form affronted death To him my minde a sad remembrance owes Which sorrow shall exact still whilst I breath Yet am I grieu'd t' haue giuen thee cause of griefe That thought some new mis-hap did me dismay To such olde soares it 's worst to giue reliefe But time in end may weare my woes away Por. Why shouldst thou so from me thy thoghts conceale From thine owne soule that in thy bosome sleepes To whom though shewne thou dost them not reueale But in thy selfe more inwardly them keepst And thou canst hardly hide thy selfe from me That straight in thee each alteration spie I can comment on all that comes from thee True loue still lookes with a suspitious eye Rests not within our bosome euery thought Tun'd by a simpathy of mutuall loue Thou marrst the musicke if thou change in ought Which straight by my distemperature I proue Soule of my soule vnfold what is amisse My minde some great disaster doth diuine And euen excuse my couriousnesse in this Since it concernes thy state and therefore mine Brut. I wonder that thou dost thy frailtie
oft by tragicke grones The memory but not the iudgement makes Th' impression thus of passions in the braine For what the soule most suffers when it wakes With it asleepe it doth turmoyld remaine From superstitious feares this care proceedes Which stil would watch o're that which thou dost loue And in thy minde melancholy thus breedes Which doth those strange imaginations moue Cal. Ah in so light account leaue off to hold Those fatall warnings that the heauens haue made Which by all meanes most manifest vnfold What dangers huge do hing aboue thy head He with the sacred garlands that diuines By th' entrailes of the consecrated beast Sees in the sacrifice sinistrous signes And I intreate thee do not hence make haste Caes When I in Spaine against yong Pompey went Thus the diuiner threatned me before Yet did I prosecute my first intent Which with new laurells did my browes decore Cal. And yet you hardly there as whiles I heare From dangers farre engagde redeemd your life But now more monstrous tokens do appeare And I suspect farre worse than open strife Caes Lest I too much seeme wedded to my will As one that others counsels scornes t' alow With iealous eyes I le search about me still And euen mistrust my selfe to trust thee now Yet if I stay the Senators deceiu'd May my beginning straight begin to hate So might I perish seeking to be sau'd By flying many fall vpon their fate But heere one comes that can resolue me much With whom I vse t' aduise affaires of weight Whence comst thou Decius that thy haste is such Is ought occurr'd that craues our knowledge straight Decius I come to tell you how the Senate staies Till your exspected presence blesse their sight And the conclusion yet of all delayes Till that your approbation make it right T' accomplish your contentment they intend And all their thoughts seeme at one obiect bent Saue that they doe amongst themselues contend Who you to please shall strangest wayes inuent Caes Than that no treasure to my soule more deere Which straight t' enioy from hence I long to part But yet I know not what arrests me heere And makes my feet rebellious to my heart From thee deare friend I neuer do conceale The waightiest secrets that concerne me most And at this time I likewise will reueale How heauens by signes me with destruction bost To superstition though not being inclinde My wife by dreames doth now presage my fall It a Sooth-sayer likewise hath diuin'd The sacrifice prodigious seemes t 'vs all So that till this disastrous day be gone All companie I purpose to disuse And to the Senators I le send some one To paint my absence with a faire excuse D. Brut. Do not repose on superstitious signes You to suspect the people thus to bring Whilst soueraigne-like you limit their designes Seeme not a tyrant seeking to be king How can we satisfie the worlds conceit Whose tongues still in all eares your praise proclames O! shal we bid them leaue to deale in state Till that Calphurnia first haue better dreames If that this day you priuate would remayne The Senate to dissolue your selfe must goe And then incontinent come backe againe When you haue showne towards it some reuerence so Caes With thy aduise as powrefull I agree The Senators shall haue no cause to grudge A little space all part apart from mee And I le be shortly ready to dislodge Caesar alone WHence come this huge and admirable change That in my brest hath vncouth thoghts infus'd Doth th' earth then erst yield terrors now more strange Or but my minde lesse courage then it vsde What spitefull fate against my state contends That I must now t'vnlook'd for plagues giue place By foes not mou'd yet fear'd amongst my friends By warre secure endanger'd but by peace T' encounter me when strongest troups did come Then did my heart the highest hopes conceiue I warr'd with many many to ouercome The greatest battels greatest glory gaue As th' enemies number still my courage grew Oft haue I through the depths of dangers past Yet neuer did those boundlesse labors rue To haue none greater first none equall last When as the Gaules fear'd by their neighbours falles Had from the fields no from my furie fled And hid themselues with armes their armes with walles Whilst I my troupes t' inclose Alexia led Then though there swarm'd foorth from the bounds about Huge hostes to compasse me enflam'd with wrath That the besieger being besieg'd about Seem'd drawne with danger in the nets of death Yet I that could not with the pride comport That those Barbarians by vaine bosts bewrayd Did reassault th' assaulters in such sort That words by wounds wounds were by death repayd Of those within the towne t' asswage their toyles Till being ore-com'd their comming was not knowne Who straight vpbrayded by the barbarous spoiles Did yeeld themselues with th 'others as ore-throwne Then whilst with liquid legions tumid bosts The trident-bearer striu'd my spoyles to beare Though threatned thrise amidst his humid hosts I alwayes scorn'd t' acquaint my selfe with feare I vsde those Pirats that had me surpriz'd Still as my seruants thundring threatnings forth And gaue them money more than they deuisde Greeu'd to be rated at too little worth Yet gathering ships I sign'd not long the shore But trac'd their printles steps through th' vnpau'd way And taking them as I had vow'd before By nought but death their ransome would defray Then when without th' aduise of others minds Iventred through the hoarie waues by night Whilst in a little barke against great winds That euen the Pilote look'd not for the 〈◊〉 The roaring waues themselues seem'd to diuide That in their grauell I might chuse a graue And in a christall arch aboue me bide That I of me a tombe might worthy haue Whilst dangers seem'd to merite Caesars death As Neptune raisde his head raisde my heart And shewing what I was with constant breath T'amazde Amiclas courage did impart Was I not once amidst large Nilus flot Whilst me to wound a wood of darts did flie Yet swim'd so carelesse of my enemies shot That in my hand I held some papers drie With open dangers thus in euery place I whilst being compass'd both by sea and land Did vndismaid looke horror in the face As borne for nought but onely to commaund But since a world of victories haue fill'd With Trophees Temples Theaters with my praise That bath'd with balme from th' oyle of glory still'd With friends in peace I look'd to spend my daies The chambers musicke now affrights me more Then once the trumpets sound amids the field And gownes though signes of peace worse then before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield Those thoughts of late that had disdain'd to doubt Though I alone had march'd amongst my foes Lo whilst amongst my friends I 'm back'd about Doe greater dangers now then th' eies disclose If ought t' assemble any number brings
Nun. The man of whom the world in doubt remain'd If that his minde or fortune was more great Whose valour conquer'd clemencie retain'd All nations subiect to the Romane state Him fraude harm'd more then force friends more then foes Ah must this sad discourse by mee be made Calph. Stay ere thou further goe defray my woes How doth my loue wher is my life Nū Dead Cal. dead Cho. Though apprehending horrors in her minde Now since she hath a certaintie receiu'd She by experience greater griefe doth finde Till borne the passions cannot be conceiu'd When as a high disaster force affords O how that tyrant whom affliction beares Barres th eares from comfort the mouth from words And being obdur'd cannot dissolue in teares Calph. Ah since the lights of that great light are set Why doth not darknesse spread it selfe ouer all At least what further comfort can I get Whose pleasures had no period but his fall O would the gods I alwayes might confine Aetna ' in my breast and th' Ocean in mine eyes That t' entertaine so great a griefe as mine Thence might sufficient furniture arise Yet I disdaine though by distresse ore-throwne By such externall meanes to seeke reliefe The greatest sorrowes are by silence showne Whilst all the sences are shut vp with griefe But miserie doth so tyrannicke grow That it of sighes and teares a tribute claimes Ah when the cup is full it must ore-flow And fires that burne must offer vp some flames Yet though that thy last words my last might be Which are deepe sunke within a melted heart Of my liues death report each point to me That I for euery circumstance may smart Nun. What fatall warnings did fore-go his end Which by his stay to frustrate some did try But he that scorn'd excuses to pretend Was by the Destinies drawne forth to die Whilst by the way he chanc'd t' encounter one That had his deaths-day nam'd he to him said Now th' Ides of March be com'd but yet not gone Straight tho'other answerd and still constant staide Another brought a letter with great speed Which the conspiracie at length did touch And gaue it Caesar in his hand to reade Protesting that it did import him much Yet did he lay it vp where still it rests As do the great whom happy th' earth reputes That grieu'd to be importun'd by requests Of simple supplicants neglect the sutes Or he of it the reading did deferre Still troubled by attendanrs at the gate Whilst some to shew their credite did conferre To flatter some for something some t' entreat Not only did the gods by diuers signes Giue Caesar warning of his threatned harmes But did disturbe all th' aduersaries designes And to their troubled thoughts gaue strange alarmes A Senator that by some words we finde To the conspiratours though none of theirs Had showne himselfe familiar with their minde Then chanc'd to deale with Caesar in affaires That sight their soules did with confusion fill For thinking that he told their purposde deeds They straight themselues or Caesar thought to kill A guiltie conscience no accuser needes But marking that he vsde when taking leaue The gesture of a suter that gaue thankes They of their course did greater hopes conceiue And rang'd themselues according to their rankes Then Caesar march'd forth to the fatall place Neere Pompyes theater where the Senate was Where when he had remain'd a little space All the confederates flock'd about Calph. Alas Nun. First for the forme Metellus Cimber crau'd To haue his brother from exile restor'd Yet with the rest a rude repulse receiu'd Whilst it they all too ernestly implor'd Then Cimber that in strife with him did stand Did draw the gowne ouer Caesars sacred head But the first blow was giuen by Cascaes hand Which on his necke a little wound but made Then Caesar starting whilst the stroke he spi'd By strength from further striking Casca stayde Whilst both the two burst out at once and cry'd Th' one traitor Casca th' other brother ayde Then all the rest against him did arise Like desperate men whose furie force affords That Caesar on no side could set his eyes But euery looke r'encountred with some swordes Yet as a Lyon when by nets surprisde Stands strugling still so long as he hath strength So Caesar as he had their powre dispisde Did with great rage resist till at the length He thus cry'd out when spying Brutus come And thou mya sonne then griefe did backe rebound Nought but vnkindnesse Caesar could ore-come That of all things doth giue the deepest wound Cho. Ah when vnkindnes is where loue was thought A tender passion breakes the strongest heart For of all those that giue offence in ought Men others hate but for th' vnkinde they smart Nun. Ah taking then no more delight in light As which would then his life haue bitter fram'd Or then from Brutus blow t' absent his sight As of so great ingratitude asham'd He with his gowne being couer'd first ouer all As one that neither sought nor wisht reliefe Not wronging maiestie in state did fall No sigh consenting to betray his griefe Yet if by chaunce or force I cannot tell Euen at the place whereas his statue stood As crauing Pompcy pardon Caesar fell That in reuenge it might exhaust his blood But when his corps abandond quite by breath Did Fortunes frailties monument remaine That all might haue like interest in his death And guilty alike looke for like praise or paine Then Cassius Brutus and the rest began With that great Emperours blood t' imbrue their hands What beast in th' earth more cruell is than man When ouer his reason passion once commands Calph. Whilst brutish Brutus and prowde Cassius thus Romes greatest Captaine vnder trust deceiu'd Where was Anthonius since a friend to vs That he not lost himselfe or Caesar sau'd Nun. The whole conspirators remainde in doubt Had he and Caesar ioyn'd to be vndone And so causde one him t' entertaine without Who fain'd a conference till the fact was done Then knowing well in such tumultuous broyles That the first danger alwayes is the worst He fled in haste disguisde with vnknowne spoiles For rage and for disdaine being like to burst Calph. The Senators that were assembled there When they beheld that great man brought t'an end What was their part to what inclin'd their care I feare affliction could not find a friend Nun. Of those that in the Senate-house did sit As greeu'd so sad an obiect to behold Or feard what further murdrers might commit Each towards his house a seuerall way did hold This act with horror did confound their sight And vnawares their iudgement did surprise When any hastie harmes vnlook'd for light The resolution hath not time to rise That man on whome the world did once rely By all being reuerenc'd and ador'd by some Had none t' attend him left but two and I. Cho. To what an ebbe may fortunes full whiles come Why should men following
ouersyles And doth ecclipsie the cleerest iudgement whyles A thousand times ô happie he Who doth his passions so subdew That he may with cleere reasons eye Their imperfections fountaines view And as it were himselfe renew If that one might prescribe them lawes And set his soule from bondage free From reason neuer for to swerue And make his passions him to serue And be but moou'd as he had cause O greater were that monarch of the minde Then if he might command from Thule to Inde Act. II. Scen. I. CROESVS AESOPE SOLON Croe. WHo euer was so fauour'd by the Fates As could like vs of full contentment boast Lou'd of mine owne and feard of forraine states I know not what it is for to be crost No thwarting chance my good hap doth importune In all attempts my successe hath been such The darling of heauen the minion of fortune I wot not what to wish I haue so much Mine eyes did neuer yet dismay my hart With no delightlesse obiect that they saw My name applauded is in euery part My word an Oracle my will a Law My breast cannot contayne this flood of ioyes That with a mighty streame o'reflowes my mind Which neuer dream'd of sorrow or annoyes But did in all a satisfaction find My Soule then be content and take thy pleasure And be not vex't with feare of any ill My blisse abounds I cannot count my treasure And gold that conquers all doth what I will Aesop That Graecian Sir is at the Court arriu'd Whose wisdom Fame so prodigally prayse's Craes And haue you not t' extend my greatnes striu'd And entertain'd his eares with courteous phrases Aesop I thinke in all the parts where he hath been In forraine Countries or his natiue home He neuer hath such stately wonders seen As since vnto this princely Court he come When first he in the regall Pallace entred As one who borne amongst the craggie Mountaines That neuer for to view the plaines aduentred Acquainted but with dew and little Fountaines If he be forc'd for to frequent the Vailes And there the wanton water-Nimphs to see The rarenes of the sight so far preuailes Each strip appear's a flood each flood a Sea So all that he re'ncountred by the way Did to his mind a great amazement bring The gold-embroidred Gallants made him stay Each groome appear'd a Prince each squire a King And now he com's t' attaine your Graces sight Whom in his mind no doubt he doth adore He gazd on those who held of you their light Of force he must admire your selfe far more Now he will set your happy Empire forth And be eye-witnes of your glorious Raigne One wise mans testimony is more worth Then what a world of others would maintaine Sol. Disdaine not mighty Prince the louing zeale Which a meane man yet a good mind affords And who perchance as much affects your weale As those that paint their loue with fairer words Croes Thy loue sage Greeke is gratefull vnto vs Whom Fame long since enamour'd of thy deedes We of thy vertues haue heard her discusse Who in extolling of the same exceedes I wish that many such should here resort Whose vnstain'd life would teach vs what were best Whose graue aspect would grace so great a Court And like cleare Lamps giue light vnto the rest Sol. My Sou'raigne spare I merite no such praise I am but one that doth the world despise And would my thoughts to some perfection raise A Wisedom-louer that would faine be wise Yet with great toyle all that I can attaine By long experience and in learned schooles Is for to know my knowledge is but vaine And those that thinke them wise are greatest fooles Croes This is the nature of a worthie minde It rather would be good then be so thought As if it had no ayme but Fame to finde Such as the shadow not the substance sought Yet that pursues thee too which thon so fliest Still troupes applaude thy worth though thou not spie them Whilst thou wouldst presse it downe it mounts vp hiest For Fame and Honor follow those that flie them And now I thinke in all the world none liue's That better may vnfold what I would learne Then thou to whom franke Nature largely giues The grace to see the iudgement to discerne Sol. I l'e answer freely to what you propose If my small skill can comprehend the sence Croes Loe you haue seene in what I most repose My treasures huge my great magnificence Sol. This is the dreame of blisse that Fortune brings On which the wisest neuer haue presum'd I saw nought but a heape of sencelesse things A momentarie treasure soone consum'd This only serues the body to decore And for corruption fram'd cannot perseuer The minde immortall layes vp better store Of vnconsuming ioyes that last for euer Croes I wot not what you meane by such surmises And faind Ideaes of imagin'd blisse This portrait of Fancie but intices Sicke braines to dreame that which indeede they misse But I brooke more than their conceits can show Whose rich coniectures breede but poore effects And I beseeke you did you euer know A man more blest then I in all respects Sol. Yes I knew Tellus an Athenian borne Whom I holde happy in the first degree Who eu'n the haruest of Happinesse hath shorne He liu'd with fame and did with honour die For hauing long time liu'd lou'd and respected His country in a conflict had the worst He come and there falne courage re-erected And hauing wonne the field did die vnforst More happy now nor when he was aliue He dead doth reape the guerdon of his merite And in his childern doth againe reuiue Who all their fathers worthy partes inherite Croes Well since that to a priuate Cittizen You do ascribe the first most blest estate Now in the second ranke of happy men Whom would you number in your owne conceate Sol. ô Cleobis and Biton now I may No doubt prefer you next without reproach Their mother chanc'd on a festiuall day To want two horses for to draw her coach Them to supply the place Loue kindly raised Who drew her to that place of publike mirth And both of them exceedingly were praised They for their pietie she for her birth This charitable office being ended Both in the Church were found dead the next morrow I thinke the gods who this good worke commended Were loth to let them taste of farther sorrow For why our liues are fraile do what we can And like the brittle glasse are but a glance And oft the heauens t' abate the height of man Do entersour our sweets with some sad chance Croes Then from this Cathagorie am I secluded And is my state so vile vnto thine eies That as one of all happines denuded Thou thus do'st my felicitie despise Or think'st thou me of iudgement too remisse A miser that in miserie remaines The bastard child of Fortune barr'd from blisse Whom heauens do hate and all the world disdaines Are
anguish that o're-whelms me so Though many Monarchs iealously despise The rising Sunne that their declining staines And hate the Heire who by their fall must rise As grieu'd to heare of death or others raignes My loue towards Atis otherwise appeard Whom whilst for him I did my cares engage I as a Father lou'd as King not feard The comfort not th' encombrance of mine age And hadst thou Sonne as reason would suruiu'd me Who glauncd and vanish'd like a lightning-flash Then death of life could neuer haue depriu'd me Whilst such a Phaenix had reuiu'd my ash San. Let not these woes ecclypse your Vertues light Croes Ah! rage and griefe must once be at a hight San. Striue of your sorrows for to stop the source Croes These salt eie-floods must flow haue their course San. That is not kingly Croes And yet it is kindly Where passions do domine they gouerne blindly San. Such wofull plaints cannot repaire your State Croes Th' infortunate at least may waile their Fate The meanest comfort can t' a wretch retourne Is in calamine t' haue leaue to mourne San. What graue-browd Stoick voyd of all affections With teare-lesse eyes could that Youths death behold Though greene in yeeres yet ripe in all perfections A hoarie iudgement vnder lockes of gold No no man liues but must lament to see The worlds chiefe hope euen in his blossome choaked But men cannot controll the Heau'ns decree And mischiefe done can neuer be reuoked Then let not this torment your mind no more This crosse with you alike your Countrie beares If wailing could your ruinde State restore Soules fraught with griefe should sayle in Seas of teares Lest all our comfort dash against one shelfe And his vntimely end occasion yours Haue pitie of your people spare your selfe If not to your owne vse yet vnto ours Croes When Sandanis I first thy faith did find Thou diu'd so deepely in my bosorn then That since thou kept the key still of my mind And knew what I conceald from other men Behold I go to open vp to you Deare Treasurer of all my secrets still A mightie enterprise I mind for now A Phisicke in some sort t' asswage my ill Which may vnto my soule yield some reliefe And make me to forgoe sad thoughts content Or els acquire copartners in my griefe If not for me yet with me to lament Sand. This benefite must bind me with the rest To loue your Maiestie and wish you well I 'le giue you my aduise and I protest That you take friendly what I freely tell Croes Since that it hath not pleasde the Diuine powres That of my of-spring I might comfort claime Yet lest the rauenous course of flying howres Should make a prey of my respected name I hope t' engender such a generous brood That the vnborne shall know how I haue liu'd And this no doubt would do my ghost great good To be by famous Victories reuiu'd I 'le Eagle-like so are with Fames immortall wings Vnlesse my hie-bent thoughts themselues deceaue That hauing acted admirable things I may scorne death and triumph o're the graue Yet haue I not so settled my conceate That all opinions are to be despisde Vnfold your iudgement touching my estate Take heed I 'le tell you what I haue deuisde Some Scithian Shepherd in a high disdaine As I haue heard rehearst by true discourses To plague some of the Medes with endlesse paine Did entertaine them with Thiestes courses And to content their more then Tigrish wishes They with the infants flesh the parents fed Who not suspecting such polluted dishes Did in their bowels burie whom they bred Then after this abhominable crime They come vnto my fathers famous court And working on th' aduantage of the time Did as they pleas'd of what was past report They shew'd what seru'd to help and hid the rest Whilst pittie pleaded for afflictions part He noble-minded fauouring the distrest Was woon to them by this Sinonick art San. Oft Kings of Iudges thence haue parties gone Where both their eares were patent but to one Croes Then Ciaxare Monarch of the Medes To prosecute those fugitiues to death In indignation of my fathers deedes Did boast them both with all the words of wrath My father thinking that his court should be A sanctuarie for all supplicants Did leuie men that all the world might see He helpt the weake and scorn'd the mighties vaunts Thus mortall warres on euery side proclaim'd With mutuall domage did continue long Till both the armies by Bellona tam'd Did irke t' auenge or to maintaine a wrong It chanc'd whilst peace was at the highest dearth That all their forces furiouslie did fight A suddaine darkenes courtain'd vp the earth And violentlie dispossest the light I thinke for Phaeton the Sunne lookt sad And that the bloodie obiects that he saw Did wound his memorie with griefe gone mad He from the world his wagon did withdraw Yet Ignorance the mother of confusion With wresting natures course found cause of feares Which well edg'd on by wiser mens illusion Was cause of concord and of truce from teares Then straight there was a perfect peace begunne And that it might more constantly indure Astiages the King of Medias sonne A mariage with my Sister did procure A deadlie rancour reconcil'd againe Must seal'd with consanguinitie remaine Croes He since his fathers age-worne course was ended Hath rulde his people free from blood or strife Till now a Viper of his loynes discended Would by his ruine make himselfe a life I meane by Cyrus base Cambises brood Who by a Bitch nurst with the countrey swaines Degener'd farre from any princely blood The doggish nature of his nurse retaines He come against his Grandfather to feeld And vnexpected with a mightie powre Ouerthrew his forces forc'd himselfe to yeeld Who captiue kept now waits for death each howre That you may see now what my interest is I made recitall of this ruthfull storie Those circumstances shew that shame of his Tends to the derogation of our glorie That any dare presume to trouble thus One whome our kingdomes fauour should defend In strict affinitie combind with vs Yet not respected for so great a friend My ioylesse soule with this will be reioyc'd Whilst I to warre against that rebell go I hope that both shall know how they haue choyc'd Th' one a kind friend and th' other a fearce fo San. Though Natures law you car'd not to transgresse And this your wrong'd allye would not repare Yet the regard t' a Monarch in distresse Should moue the mightie with a mutuall care These terrours to that thunder in your eare I thinke the Lidians will not well allow For when the Cedar falls the Oake may feare Th' Assirians ore-throw may astonish you And when we see our neighbours house afire Then we may iudge our owne to be in danger It 's better first with others to conspire Or we be forc'd our selues t' inuade that stranger Ah this is but the out-side
no right to haue Which with them selues within short while As sommers beauties must decay And can giue nought except the graue Though all things doe to harme him what they can No greater enemie then himselfe to man Whilst oft enuiron'd with his foes That threatned death on euery side Great Caesar parted from repose As Atlas vnderneath the starres Did of a world the weight abide But since a prey t'excessiue pride More then by all the former warres He now by it doth harmde remaine And of his fortune doth defide Made rich by many a Nations wrack He breaking through the liquid barres In Neptunes armes his minion forc'd Yet still pursude new hopes in vaine Ah would th' ambitious looking backe Of their inferiours knowledge take They from huge cares might be deuorc'd Whilst veiwing few more wealth attaine And many more than they to lacke Lo th' only plague from men that rest doth reaue Is valuing what they want not what they haue Since thus the great themselues inuolue In such a laborinth of cares Whence none to scape can well resolue But by degrees is forward led Through waues of hopes rockes of dispaires Let vs anoyd ambitions snares And farre from stormes by enuie bred Still seeke securely a humble rest With mindes where no prowd thought repaires That in vaine shadowes doth delight Thus may our fancies still be fed With that which Nature freely giues Let vs iniquitie detest And hold but what we owe of right Th' eyes treasure is th' al-circling light Not that vaine pompe for which th' earth striues Whose glory but a poysnous pest T' orethrow the soule delights the sight Ease comes with ease where all by paine buy paine Rest we in peace by warre let others raigne ACT. III. SCENE I. Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus NOw Brutus now we need no more to doubt Nor with blind hopes our iudgement to suspend Lo all our exspectations are worne out For now it 's time t' attempt and not t' attend Th' imperious people that did th' earth appall Ah vanquishde by their victories at last Are by their too much libertie made thrall Since all their strength but serues themselues to cast And we that once seemd borne t' aime at great things Of the worlds mistresse mightie minions once That might haue labor'd to giue lawes to kings Lawes from a king must looke for now with grones For such of Caesar is the monstrous pride That though he domineers else at this houre And to his clients kingdomes doth diuide With an vnlimitd tyrranicke power Yet of Dictator he disdaines the name And seekes a tyrants title with the place Not for his honour no but for our shame As onely bent to bragge of our disgrace Marc. Brut. I thought to see that man as others are Walke reapparrel'd with a priuate gowne As one that had vnwillingly made warre T' hold vp himselfe not to cast others downe So Silla though more inhumane then he Whilst hauing all to what his heart aspirde The soueraigntie resign'd and set Rome free When all such exspectation was expirde By Caesars worth we must thinke that he too Will libertie restore t' our troubled state When first the world hath viewd what he might doe His thoughts are generous as his minde is great And though some insolencies scape him whiles His dying furie sparkles but a space Nought th' inspirations quite of Mars exiles Till one be vsde with th' innocencie of peace Those that by violence did t' all things tend Scarse can themselues t' a quiet course conforme Their stately cariage and franke words offend Whilst peace cannot comport with warres rude forme I hope that Caesar setling ciuill broyles When disaccustomde is intestin rage Will striue to mitigate his countryes toyles Bent all those flames that burn'd his brest t' asswage Ca Cass Thus of his course you by your own conceiu'd As if like thoughts of both did bound the will Ah honest mindes are with least paine deceiu d Those that themselues are good dreame not of ill But of bad mindes to sound th' vnsound deuice Their inclination must your iudgement sway The square of vertue cannot measure vice Nor yet a line that 's straight a crooked way So Caesar may preuaile t' vsurpe the state He cares not by what violence nor sleight O one may soone deceiue men and grow great That leaues religion honestie and right When as the Senatours no more their owne Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blinds And showde him by what honors they had showne To gratifie his greatnesse gratefull mindes He in a chaire imperiously being plac'd Not daign'd to rise nor bow in any sort As both of them had but their due imbrac'd When he a hautie they an humble port But if he thus ere we be throughly thrall'd Dare so disdainfully such great men vse When in a regall throne by vs install'd Then will he breake that which he now doth bruse Was he not first that euer yet began To violate the sacred Tribuns place And punish'd them for punishing a man That had transgressde the lawes in time of peace The lawes thar doe of death all guiltie hold Whose actions seeme to tirranie inclinde So earnest were our ancestours of old To quensh the light of tyrants ere it shinde And shall our Nephews heires of bondage blame Vs dastard parents that their hopes deceiu'd That saw that suffred that suruiu'd such shame Not leauing dead what we being borne receiu'd By Caesars friendes to an assembly brought The Senators intend to call him king Brut. I le not be there Cass But what if we be sought T' assist as Praetors such a publike thing Brut. Then I le resist that violent decree None of Romes crowne shall long securely bost For ere that I liue thrall'd I le first die free What can be kept when libertie is lost Cass O with what ioy I swallow vp those wordes Words worthy of thy worth and of thy name But Brutus be not fearde this cause affords Thee many mates in danger few in fame When Anthonie prowde Caesars Image crown'd The people by a silent sorrow told In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drown'd That Comet of confusion to behold What do those scroules throwne in thy chaire import Which what thou art to thy remembrance brings Be those the fancies of th' inferiour sort No none but noble mindes dreame of great things Of other Pretors people looke for showes And distributions whose remembrance dyes Whilst bloody fencers fall with mutuall blowes And Affricks monsters made t' amaze their eyes But from thy hands they libertie attend A glory hereditarie to thy race And following thee their blood will frankly spend So thou succeed in thy great parents place That Romes redeemer once did Tarquin foile Though from his birth obeyd and without strife Where thou shouldst but th' aspiring tirant spoile That would t'extinguish'd tyrrany giue life Brut. I weigh thy words with an afflicted heart That for compassion of my countrey bleedes
And would to God that I might onely smart So that all others scap'd th' euill that succeeds Then neuer man himselfe from death did free With a more quiet and contented minde Then I would perish if I both could be To Caesar thankefull and t' our countrey kinde But though that great mans grace towards mee enlargde May challenge right in my affections store Yet must the greatest debt be first dischargde I ow him much but to my countrey more This in my breast hath great dissention bred I Caesar loue but yet Romes enemie hate And as Ioue liues I could be mou'd to shed My blood for Caesar Caesars for the state I for my fathers death loathde Pompey long Whilst iust disdaine did boyle within my breast Yet when he warr'd to venge the common wrong I ioynde with him because his cause was best A minde t' vsurpe if Caesar now reueale I will in time precipitate his end Thus being still bent t' aduance the Common-weale I help'd a foe and now must hurt a friend Cass Least of his fauour thou the poyson proue From swallowing of such baites deere friend beware No tyrant trust me can intirely loue Nor none that for himselfe doth only care He by such curtesies doth but intend T' imbase thy vertues vndermine thy minde And thy suspected courage to disbend Yea though with silken bonds he would thee binde This of all tyrants is the common tread To wreake all those in whom most worth he findes Or whilst that terrors tosse his iealous head T' vse subtilties t' amuse the greatest mindes As when we for the Pretorship did striue Then both were held in hope that so deceiu'd We others harmes might studie to contriue Through emulation and disdaine conceiu'd Thus subtill Caesar by such sleights hath toyld To sow dissention that we both may pause Of priuate wrongs and by such means imbroil'd Still courting him neglect the common cause But nought from others must our thoughts estrange That must in time the tyrants course restraine Let other men lament we must reuenge I scorne to beare a sword and to complaine Brut. Though Caesar now I must conspire thy fall My heart towards thee yet neuer harbor'd hate But pardon me who euer make it thrall From bondage Brutus must redeeme the state Of this my course what euer others iudge Heere I protest it is for good design'd My thoughts are guiltie of no priuate grudge For reason and not furie moues my minde Nor is' t ambition that inflames my breast With a prodigious appetite to raigne That when I haue made Caesar Plutoes guest I in his rowme a monarch may remaine No if that glorie did my fancies charme To which blind-folded tyrants doe aspire I needed not to do nor suffer harme But with lesse paine might compasse my desire For if I would but temporize a space Till Time or Death diminish Caesars might He thinkes that I deserue t' enioy his place And I could make my day succeede his night Yet doe I not endeere my selfe so much That I le seeke honor by my countries shame But O I would my zeale to it is such To saue it from reproch seeme worthy of blame Yea so that I may free with honourd wounds My soile than is my soule more deere to me I care not strait to be barr'd from the bounds That at so deere a rate I would set free Cass What man doth breath of Mars his martiall race But will with Brutus sacrifice his blood And chargde with armes ere tyranie take place Dare venture all things for his countries good Can any iudgement be deceiu'd so farre But that it else most cleerely may beholde How that this change Rome greatnes strait will marre And raze the trophees that she rear'd of olde Of olde in Rome all those that once had worne The peace-importing gowne or warrelike shield Of dignities as capable being borne Durst aime at all that libertie could yeeld Those in affaires to deale that would set forth Were not discourag'd by their birth though base And pouertie could not holde backe true worth From hauing honour both by warre and peace Then emulation violently driu'd All gallant mindes t' attempt great actions still That in the loue of venue riualls liu'd Whilst Glorie in their bosomes balme did still Fabricius first was from the plow aduauncde The rudder of the commonwealth to hold Yet by no meanes his priuate wealth enhauncde As rich in vertue still as poore in golde Rude Marius too to match red Mars in fame Forth from the vulgar drosse his race remou'd And loe of Cicero the ridiculous name As famous as the Fabians now hath prou'd Each abiect mind disdaind to be obscure When still preferrement followd loftie cares And that one might by dangers past procure Fame to himselfe and honour to his heires But since that state by Caesar is oreturn'd Whilst all our liues depend vpon ones lips Of breasts that once with loue of glorie burn'd From soaring thoughts this course the feathers clips Aduauncement now attends not on desert But on th' opinion of a flattred minde That to th' applauding hireling doth impart High honours that true worth can hardly finde To these all tyrants most addicted proue Whom without reason they haue raisde too hie As thinking those that stand but by their loue To entertaine the same all meanes must trie Where they whose vertue reapes a due reward Not building onely on th' aduauncers grace Doe by deserts not gaine so great regarde Whilst they maintaine as they obtaine their place And if a worthie man to worke great things Wing'd with th' vsurpers fauors raise his flight The highest course to him most harme still brings That till he fall can not haue leaue to light Those that by force would haue th' affection mou'd When willingly men hold such gallants deare They rage that any should be freely lou'd Whose vertue makes their vice more vile appeare The man that now to be preferrd aspires Must with effronted flatteries seruile forme Still soothing Caesar seale all his desires And in some shadow lurke t' auoyde a storme A number else of that prowd rebells foes Grieu'd to behold th' occasion of their griefe Striue in obscuritie t' entombe their woes So waiting and not working for reliefe But we whose lofty mindes disdaine to lowre As those that seeke but their owne safetie thus When shall we spend an indignations powre That 's worthy of true Romans and of vs Since no indignitie resolu'd t' indure I see our mindes doe simpathize in this Should we by suffering seeke to liue secure Whose action must amend what is amisse No no such abiect thought must staine our breast To cure calamitie but by discourse Whilst but like beasts affecting foode and rest Where men by reason should direct their course Like those of other parts secure from strife If Caesar had bin borne or chusde our Prince Then those that durst attempt to take his life The world of treason iustly might