joyes remaine Which did exceed at least did equall theirs But chiefly Iuno did despight it most Who through a jealousie still jarres with Iove That body-prison'd soules of that could boast Which she although heavens Queen had not above Thus even for envy of our rare delights The fatall Sisters by the heavens suborn'd Of my soules treasure clos'd the lovely lights By which they thought the earth too much adorn'd O but he is not dead he lives in me Ah but I live not for I dy'd in him How can the one without the other be If death have set his eyes mine must looke dimme Since to my sight that Sunne no more appear'd From whom my beauties borrowed all their rayes A long eclipse that never shall be clear'd Hath darkened all the poynts of my sad dayes Aye me I live too long he dy'd too soone Thus still the worst remaine the best depart Of him who told how this curs'd deed was done The words like swords shall ever wound my heart Fierce tyrant death who in thy wrath did'st take One halfe of me and left one halfe behinde Take this to thee or give me th' other backe Be wholly cruell or be no way kinde But whil'st I live beleeve thou canst not dye O! even in spite of death yet still my choice Oft with the inward al-beholding eye I thinke I see thee and I heare thy voyce And to content my languishing desire To ease my minde each thing some helpe affords Thy fanci'd forme doth oft such faith acquire That in all sounds I apprehend thy words Then with such thoughts my memory to wound I call to minde 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 walkes my widow'd bed My driry sighes my sheets oft bath'd with teares These shall record what life by me is led Since first sad newes breath'd death into mine eares Though for more paine yet spar'd a space by death Thee first I lov'd with thee all love I leave For my chast flames which quench'd were with thy breath Can kindle now no more but in thy grave By night I wish for day by day for night Yet wish farre more that none of both might be But most of all that banish'd from the light I were no more their constant change to see At night whil'st deeply musing of my State I goe to summe with sighes my wonted joyes An agony then in a sad conceit Doth blot the blubred count with new annoyes When Sleep the brother most resembling death Of darkenesse childe and father unto rest Doth bound though not restraine confused breath That it may vent but not with words exprest Then with my sprite thou dost begin to speake With sugred speeches to appease my griefe And my bruis'd heart which labour'd long to breake Doth in this comfort fain'd finde some reliefe Yea if our soules remain'd united so This late divorce would no way vexe my minde But when awaking it augments my woe Whil'st this a dreame and me a wretch I finde If never happy O thrise happy I But happy more had happinesse remain'd Yet then excessive joy had made me dye Since such delights what heart could have sustain'd Why waste I thus whil'st vainely I lament The pretious treasure of that swift past-time Ah pardon me deare love for I repent My lingring here my fate and not my crime Since first thy body did enrich the Tombe In this spoil'd world my eye no pleasure sees And Atis Atis Loe I come I come To be thy mate amongst the Myrtle trees Chorus Loe all our time even from our birth In misery almost exceeds For where we finde a moments mirth A month of mourning still succeeds Besides the evils that Nature breeds Whose paines doe us each day appall Infirmaties which frailty sends The losse of that which fortune lends And such disasters as oft fall Yet to farre worse our states are thrall Whil'st wretched man with man contends And every one his whole force bends How to procure anothers losses But this torments us most of all The minde of man which many a fancy tosses Doth forge unto it selfe a thousand crosses O how the soule with all her might Doth her celestiall forces straine That so she may attaine the light Of natures wonders which remaine Hid from our eyes we strive in vaine To seeke out things that are unsure In Sciences to seeme profound We dive so deepe we finde no ground And the more knowledge we procure The more it doth our mindes allure Of mysteries the depth to sound Thus our desire we never bound Which by degrees thus drawn on still The memory may not endure But like the Tubs which Danaus daughters fill Doth drinke no oftner then constrain'd to spill Yet how comes this and O how can Cleare knowledge thus the soules chiefe treasure Because of such a crosse to man Which should afford him greatest pleasure This is because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong But bent to tempt forbidden things Doe soare too high with Natures wings Still weakest whil'st we thinke us strong The heavens which hold we do them wrong To try their grounds and what thence springs This crosse upon us justly brings With knowledge knowledge is confus'd And growes a griefe ere it be long That which a blessing is when rightly us'd Doth grow the greatest crosse when once abus'd Ah! what avaiels this unto us Who in this vaile of woes abide With endlesse toyles to study thus To learn the thing that heaven would hide And trusting to too blinde a guide To spy the Planets how they move And too transgressing common Barres The constellation of the starres And all that is decreed above Whereof as oft the end doth prove A secret sight our wel-fare marres And in our brests breeds endlesse warres Whil'st what our horoscopes foretell Our expectations doe disprove Those apprehended plagues prove such a hell That then we would unknow them till they fell This is the pest of great estates They by a thousand meanes devise How to fore-know their doubtfull fates And like new Gyants scale the skies Heavens secret store-house to surprise Which sacrilegious skill we see With what great paine they apprehend it And then how foolishly they spend it To learne the thing that once must be Why should we seeke our destiny If it be good we long attend it If it be ill none may amend it Such knowledge but torments the minde Let us attend the heavens decree For those whom this ambiguous Art doth blinde May what they seeke to flye the rather finde And loe of late what hath our King By his preposterous travels gain'd In searching out each threatned thing Which Atis horoscope contain'd For what the heavens had once ordain'd That by no meanes he could prevent And yet he labours to finde out Through all the Oracles about Of future things the hid event This doth his raging minde
action would not bedelay'd Least time make him to doubt and us to feare Exeant Chorus TIme through Ioves judgement just Huge alterations brings Those are but fooles who trust In transitory things Whose tailes be are mortall stings Which in the end will wound And let none thinke it strange Though all things earthly change In this inferiour round What is from ruine free The Elements which be At variance as we see Each th' other doth confound The Earth and Ayre make warre The fire and water are Still wrestling at debate All those through cold and heat Through drought and moisture jaâ—re What wonder though men change and fade Who of those changing Elements are made How dare vaine worldlings vannt Of fortunes goods not lasting Evils which our wits enchant Expos'd to losse and wasting Loe we to death are hasting Whil'st we those things discusse All things from their beginning Still to an end are running Heaven hath ordain'd it thus We heare how it doth thunder We see th' earth burst asunder And yet we never ponder What this imports to us These fearefull signs 〈◊〉 prove That th' angry pow'râ— above Are mov'd to indignation Against this wretched nation Which they no longer love What are we but a passe of breath Who live assur'd of nothing but of death Who was so happy yet As never had some crosse Though on a Throne he sit And is not ut'd with losse Yet fortune once will tosse Him when that least he would If one had all at once Hydaspes precious stones And yellow Tagus gold The Orientall treasure And every earthly pleasure Even in the greatest measure It should not smake him bold For while he lives secure His state is most unsure When it doth least appeare Some heavy plague drawes neare Destruction to procure Worlds glory is but like a flowre Which both is bloom'd and blasted in an houre In what we most repose We finde our comfort light The thing we soonest lose That 's pretious in our sight For honour riches might Our lives in pawne we lay Yet all like flying shadowes Or flowers enamelling meadowes Doe vanish and decay Long time we toile to finde Those Idols the minde Which had we cannot binde To bide with us one day Then why should we presume On treasures that consume Difficult to obtaine Difficult to retaine A dreame a breath a fume Which vexe them most that them possesse Who starve with store and famish with excesse Act 4. Scene 1. Darius Tiriotes AH must I poyson now my Princes eares With newes the worst that ever burden'd fame Had I as many tongues as I have teares All would not serve my sorrowes to proclaime Dar. Great signes of griefe I in thy face discerne And spare not to report this heavie crosse To one I feare whom it doth most concerne Is' t death disgrace destruction treason losse Tell on the summe of horrour at the first With no ambiguous words my paine prolong A wretch for comfort craves to know the worst And I have learn'd to be unhappy long What least I speake and yet suspect too much Art thou the Trumpet to proclaime my scorne Which must wound me but ah no torment such As this to her who that disgrace hath borne Tir. She was not wrong'd as you have wrong conceiv'd The Gods from harme did study to preserve her She from your foe such favour hath receiv'd As from her Subjects who were bound to serve her But what a volly doth my voyce prepare Of woes to charge your cares woes full of dread Would God ere I my message can declare That I may dye in saying she is dead And was it not enough poore wretch alas That I beheld her dye and would have dy'd But that I must arm'd with sad tidings passe To wound all them who heare what I have spy'd See how he stands mov'd with those words of mine As if by griefe arrested unto death Dar. Yet doth the Sunne on my affliction shine And cleare the ayre though tainted by my breath And can I live and looke them in the face Who have my o'rethrow shamefull o'rethrow seene And how I vanquish'd vanquish'd with disgrace Did lose at once my Kingdome and my Queene Heaven bruise me all to powder with thy thunder That I no more may in the world remaine The object of thy wrath and fortunes wonder Spoil'd of all hope yet kept for greater paine Ah art thou dead and doe I live behinde thee Thy faulty husband think'st thou so to flye If it be thin then know I where to finde thee This onely grieves me that too late I dye O Alexander what such hainous ill Have I done thee that thou requit'st me thus Whom of thy friends or kindred did I kill This cruelty comes undeserv'd of us Though justly thou intended had this warre Mars from his rage made women alwaies free This tyranny shall all thy Trophees marre And still to thy reproch reported be Tir. Thus of that Prince you without cause esteem I know her death him grievously displeas'd A woodrous thing which few or none would deeme He wail'd it long and could not be appeas'd Even as my Soveraigne now then did he smart And when he came to calme your mothers griefe As acting not his owne but even your part He seem'd to need and not to give reliefe Dar. If any sparkes of that respect remaine Which much with thee should duely weigh'd import I pray thee Tiriotes now be plaine Or else strange torments shall the truth extort I loath to let this question scape my mouth Which both I blush to crave and long to know And can it be that this transported youth Not urg'd to have that which I onely owe Could this fierce Prince even in his flaming age Have such a beauty purchas'd by his toiles And yet not seeke forc'd by affections rage Her honours ruine and my pleasures spoiles Speake frankely now and tell what fatall shelfe Hath crush'd my treasures Barke and me defac'd The feare of ill is worse then ill it selfe They twise doe dye who dye and dye disgrac'd Tir. Let not those love-bred feares abuse your thought By all the world no fable I contrive If partially I speake or lye in ought Earth open wide and swallow me alive He whom your grace so wrongfully suspects Hath not in any sort your Queene abus'd But as his sister still in all respects As chastly and as honourably us'd When angry Iove subverted had our state And view'd our thundred troupes disordered flight Light fortune then who flattered us of late Did make our state a mirrour of her might For having found a Crowne foil'd on the ground Dar. O endlesse shame which never can be cur'd Tir. We straight imagin'd that some cruell wound Had kill'd our Lord and wail'd it as assur'd Dar. Would God I then had dy'd as I desir'd To have prevented those ensuing barmes Whil'st ere my hohour and my hap expir'd A Crowne my head a Queene enrich'd my armes Tir.
reason would fulfill Their worke should serve their will Are we not heires of death In whom there is no trust Who toss'd with restlesse breath Are but a dramme of dust Yet fooles when as we erre And heavens doe wrath contract If they a space deferre Iust vengeance to exact Pride in our bosome creepes And misinformes us thus That Iove in pleasure sleepes Or take no care of us The eye of heaven beholdes What every heart enfoldes The Gods digest no crime Though they delaying long In the offenders time Seeme to neglect a wrong Till others of their Race Fill up the cup of wrath Whom Ruine and disgrace Long time attended hath And Gyges fault we feare To Croesus charge be lay'd Which Iove will not forbeare Though it be long delay'd For O! sometimes the Gods Must plague sinne with sharpe Rods. And loe how Croesus still Tormented in his minde Like to Reeds on a hill Doth quake at every winde Each step a terrour brings Dreames doe by Night afflict him And by day many things All his Thoughts doe convict him He his Starre would controule This makes ill not the worst Whilst he wounds his own soulâ— With apprehensions first Man may his fate foresee But not shunne heavens decree Act. 4. Scene I. Adrastus Croesus Chorus CAN Heaven behold one stand to staine these times Yet to the Stygian streames not headlong hurld And can th'arth beare one burden'd with such crimes As may provoke the wrath of all the world Why sends not Iove to have my course confin'd A death-denouncing flash of rumbling Thunder Else roaring terrour clouds of circling winde By violence to teare me all a sunder What corner yet unknowne from men remoov'd Both burn'd with rage and freezing in despayre Shall I goe now possesse to be approv'd Where none but monsters like my selfe repaire I 'le goe indeede whom all the world detests Who have no intrest in the fields of blisse And barbarize amongst the brutish beasts Where Tigers rage Toades spue and Serpents hisse But though in some vast Zone I finde a field Where melancholy might a monarch be Whilst silent deserts not one person yeeld To shrinke for horrour when beholding me Yet of my deeds which all the world doe tell This cannot raze the still proclaimed Scroule Since in my brest I beare about my hell And cannot scape the terrours of my soule Those fearfull Monsters of confus'd aspects Chimaera Gâ—rgon Hydra Pluto's Apes Which in the world wrought wonderfull effects And borrow'd from th' infernall shades their shapes Their devillish formes which did the world amaze Not halfe so monstrous as my selfe I finde When on mine owne deformities I gaze Amid'st blacke depths of a polluted minde No but my minde untainted still remaines My thoughts in this delict have had no part Which but by accident this foule fact staines My hands had no commission from my heart Yet whether it was fortune or my fate Or some Hel-hag that did direct my arme The Lydians plague I have undone this State And am the instrument of all their harme Then mountaines fall and bruise me by your rounds Your heights may hide me from the wrath of Heaven But this not needes since mee my fault confounds With my offence no torment can be eaven Ah! of what desert shall I now make choice To flie the count'nance of an angry King I know the venging sword of Croesus voice To wound my soule hostes of rebukes doth bring The patterne of distresse I 'le stand alone A memorable monster of mishap For though Pandora's plagues were all in one All were too few so vile a wretch to trap Cho. O how the king is mov'd at Atis death His face the portrait of a passion beares With bended eyes crost armes and quivering breath His Princely robe he desperately teares Loe with a silent pittie-pleading looke Which shewes with sorrow mixt a high disdaine He whilst his soule seemes to dissolve in smoke Straies twixt the corpes and him who hath it slaine Croe. Thou ruthlesse tyrant ruine of my blisse And didst thou so disguise thy devillish nature To recompence my curtesies with this Ah cruell wretch abominable creature Thy Tigrish mind what wit could well detect Inmortall brests so great barbarity What froward Sprite could but such spight suspect In hospitality hostility Did I revive thee when thy hopes were dead When as thy life thy parents had not spar'd And having heap'd 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 have unto the height of hatred runne A blood-stain'd wretch who merit not to view The rolling Circles nor the Rayie Sunne No kind of art I purpose now to use To colour this my crime which might seeme lesse Whilst painted with a pitifull excuse No it is worse then words can well expresse Nor goe I thus to aggravate my crime And damne my selfe to be absolv'd by others No no such Rhetoricke comes out of time I 'le not survive his death as earst my brothers O! had that high disaster kill'd me straight As then indeed I di'd from all delight I had not groan'd charg'd with this inward weight But slept with shadowes in eternall night Yet must I die at last though late growne wise This in my mind most discontentment breedes A thousand torturing deaths cannot suffice To plague condignely for so hay nous deeds If that revenge th' Elysian Guests delights The tombe of Atis shall exhaust my blood No fitter offering for infernall sprites Then one in whom they raign'd while as he stood The furies oft in me infus'd their Rage And in my bosome did their Serpents place Whose indignation laboring to asswage Huge hellish horrours spoil'd my thoughts of peace Croe. I find poore wretch when I have search'd and seene The fatall meanes which did inflict this wound That not thy malice but my fault hath beene Of that which grieves us both the reall ground Whilst barely with a superficiall wit Wee weigh the out-side of such strange events If but the mediate meanes our judgements hit We seeke not the first cause that much contents But when prodigious accidents fall out Though they amaze our mindes and so they must The cause of all comes from our selfe no doubt Ah! man hath err'd the Heavens are always Iust In judgement now whilst entring with my soule Those partiall thoughts which flatterd me declin'd Loe marking of past wrongs the burd'nous scroule Free from false colours which did mocke my minde O! then I see how heaven in plagues exceedes Whilst vengeance due save ruine nought can end Thus once the Gods must ballance worldlings deedes Both what we did and what we did intend Sonne Sonne my faults procured have thy fall For guilty of thy blood I gave the wound Which gave thee death and whose remembrance shall My life each day with many deaths confound Of Iove injust the Statutes I contemne And if I were confronted with
the Gods Their providence as partiall would condemne Who in such sorte doe exercise their rods He thus now kill'd with life to let me goe May breed reproch to all the pow'rs divine But ah they knew no death could grieve me soe As that which through his heart was aim'd at mine Now all the world those deities may despise Which strike the guiltlesse and the guilty spare Cease haplesse man to plague thy selfe thus wise I pardon thee and pittie thy despaire Adrast. O rigorous judgement O outragious fate Must I suruive the funeralls of my fame All things which I behold vpbraide my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and none more then I my deeds detest Yet some waile want of friends and I of fâ—es To purge the world of such a dangerons pest Which still contagious must taint hearts with woes To wound this brest where all hells hosts do raigne Seiz'd with just feare none dare a hand forth stretch Else this base charge as odious doe disdaine To deale with Death in favour of a wretch Or must I yet till more detested stand And fill the world with horrour of my name What further mischiefe can require my hand Must it ingrave on others graves my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate Which in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of Heaven I 'le force my fate One when resolv'd to die cannot want meanes Proud Tyrant Death and must thou make it strange To wrap my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change Though nothing else I can command my life But this ay me all hope of helpe devowres What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted pow'rs Shee must remember of my odious crimes What though un-bodied she the world forsake Yet from her knowledge cannot be divorc'd This will but vexe her at the shadowie lake Till even to grone the God of Ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and would the Gods I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liv'd Then knowne if good and kept obscure if bad Of comfort quite I had not beene depriv'd Ah! have I liv'd unnaturall I to be My brothers murtherer who me dearely lov'd Ah! have I liv'd with my owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And doe I gaze on the dead bodie still And in his fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! have I liv'd whilst men my deeds doe scan To be the obiect of contempt and hate Of all abhorr'd as a most monstrous man Since thought a Traitouror farre worse ingrate Yet with my blood I 'le wash away this staine Which griefe to you to me disgrace hath brought Would God my name from mindes â—ight â—aâ—'d remaine To make my life as an unacted thought Brave Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted Ghost And to revenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile to gaine the Stygian coast Cho. Loe how he wounds himselfe despising paine With leaden lights weake legs and head declin'd The bodie beates the ground as in disdaine That of her members one hath prov'd unkind The fainting hand falles trembling from the Sword With his selfe slaughtering blow for shame grown red Which straight the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combat show Where both but one one both strooke and sustain'd Or who triumphs for this most strange o'rethrow Where as the victor lost the vanquish'd gain'd Croe Curs'd eyes what suddaine change hath drown'd your lights And made your mirthfull objects mournefull now Ye that were still inur'd to stately sights Since seated under an imperiall brow Ah! clouded now with vapours drawn from cares Are low throwne down amid'st a hell of griefe And have no prospect but my soules despaires Of all the furies which afflict me chiefe O dead Adrastus I absolve thy Ghost Whose hand I see some destiny did charme Thou hated by the heavens wast to thy cost A casuall actour not intending harme No doubt some angry God hath laid 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 by violence to bleede And yet want one on whom to poure my wrath To take just vengeance for so vile a deede This wretch whose guiltlesse minde hath clear'd his hand Loe for his errour griev'd unforc'd doth fall And not as one who did in danger stand For still he liv'd till I forgave him all Thus have I but the heavens on whom I may Blast forth the tempest of a troubled minde And in my soules distresse I grieve to say That greater favour I deserv'd to finde Act 4. Scene 1. Sandanis Croesus WHy spend you Sir with sighes that Princely breath Whence Soveraignty authority should take O weake revenge for one when wrong'd by death To yeeld him homage prostrated in blacke That Tyrant pale so hatefull unto us Whose fatall shaft so great a griefe hath bred Where he triumphs should you reare trophees thus And weare his livery as his captive led No though he might this outward blisse o'rethrow And you save you of all things else might spoile Yet whilst of one who yeelds no signe you show You are victorious and he gets the foile Those floods of sorrow which would drown your soule In brests more base might better be excus'd Since wanting sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subjection us'd But you in whom high thoughts by nature grow To this decay how is your vertue come I blush to see my Soveraigne brought so low And Majestie by misery o'recome Nor doe I thus to make you stupid strive As one unnaturall wanting sense to smart No none a Prince of kindnesse can deprive The honour'd badge of an Heroicke heart That pow'r supreme by which great States doe stand Affections order should but not undoe And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe Croe. I will not here rehearse enlarging woes On what just reasons now my griefe I ground But still will entertaine my comforts foes Whilst many a thousand thoughts my soule doe wound What pensive pensill ever limm'd aright The sad conceipts of soule-consuming griefe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling height Of th' inward anguish desperate of reliefe Though many monarchs jealously despise The rising Sunne that their declining staines And hate the Heyre who by their fall must rise As griev'd to heare of death or others raignes My love to Atis otherwise appear'd Whome whilst for him I did my cares engage I as a Father lov'd as king not fear'd The comfort not th' encombrance of mine age And had he me as reason would surviv'd Who glanc'd and
title to his body claim'd The sorrowing Souldiers swarm'd about his bed With looks once fierce then for compassion fram'd But he whom victory had still array'd With others past this battell bent to even Did look like one whom all the world obey'd And boasted shortly then to take the heaven Whil'st lightning comfort to afflicted bands He stretch'd them forth to kisse in severall parts By Sword then Scepter his more honour'd hands On which it seem'd they melted all their hearts Last unto them those gen'rous words he told Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot Thus to dye yong in yeares in glory old Of all our Family is still the lot And since no worlds are resting to o're-come Life serves for nought I did an Empire found Liv'd warr'd and raign'd all done for which I come Then goe great Ghost not griev'd below the ground No further Weighing what belong'd to life He with a count'nance constant even in death As too victorious in that fatall strife The ayre perfuming spent th' imperious breath But through the Campe when that it once was knowne 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 melancholy and portentuous light With some disaster still the world dismayes And Babylon curst be thy fatall towers Once seate of Monarchs Mistresse of the earth But from hence-forth a slave to forraine pow'rs Still burden'd be thy bounds with bloud and dearth Olym. You need not use those execrations more Though Babylon of breath that Prince depriv'd Yet as an Oracle had told before In Macedonie was his death contriv'd Antipater had heard how divers times The King against him had been mov'd to wrath And damn'd as guilty of opprobrious crimes His sonne in law Lincestes unto death Then he was told the King did strictly try How his Lievtenants had their places us'd Still making all as traitours straight to dye Who had the same in any sort abus'd Thus he who well did know his owne misdeeds Had learn'd by others what he might expect As whose ambitious brest in pride exceeds And alwayes did a Sovereignty affect But when Craterus was to have his place And he requir'd the Army to attend He thought that thus Time would some means embrace To plague his pride with a deserved end Then to prevent that which I thinke was still More fear'd by him then purpos'd by the King With guilty thoughts oft exercis'd in ill He sought what might to death his Soveraigne bring And this the traitour compass'd at the last As I alas have learn'd although too late When to my sonne his sonne Cassander past As to congratulate his prosp'rous state Then in his company he did retaine A poyson powerfull where it was employ'd Whose violence no metall could restraine But in a horsâ—s hoofe was still conveighâ—d He and his brother fit occasion watchâ—d And for their Prince a cup of poyson made Thus he who never could by force be match'd By treason loe O cruell fate lyes dead Rox. And could or durst those traitors be so bold The pillar of all worth to undermine But Madame ah Antipater of old Against your greatnesse alwaies did repine And I remember on a time he sent A messengâ—r of minde to make you bow Who to your Sonne a letter did present Full of invectives to discredit you The King whilst reading what it did comprise Did smile with scorne then to Hephestion say In writing of such things he is not wise Which straight one mothers teare will wipe away Olym. I oft inform'd my sonne strange waies devis'd How that disloyall man striv'd to be great But as a womans wit mine was despis'd And construed still unto the sense of hate Yet of my Sonne I thought the deeds were such That all men them admir'd none envy could And that none durst his sacred person touch Whom men ador'd and Iove as his did hold How oft have I those bitter throwes allow'd By which I brought that demi-god to light And well I might of such a birth be proud Which made me glorious in the peoples sight Though divers too as I have some time knowne To draw his love from me did wayes prepare Yet were their slights by dutious love o're-throwne And I respected with a reverend care His tender love to me was much extold Then when he sought to stablish a decree That with Immortals I might be enrold And as a Goddesse honours have to me Ah! how can I this tragicke time survive Who lost a sonne so great a sonne so kinder And all the meanes which make me now to live Is with revenge a hope to ease my minde Rox. His love to you it could not but abound By nature parents of their owne are lov'd Since those to whom he by no band was bound Of his humanity the fruits have prov'd His clemency did make his state more sure Then all the terrours rising from his name Which whilst he liv'd did publike love procure And after death a never dying fame Old Sisigambis lifting up her heart Of her owne sonnes the death who bad surviv'd To Alexander did that love impart Wâ—ich was to Darius due while as he liv'd But when these tidings wounded had her eares That heaven from th' earth had rob'd that praise of men Whilst all dissolv'd in flouds of bitter teares She hated life as never spoil'd till then Her widow'd nephew groning at her feet Who of Hephestion did the death bewaile In depths of woe she drown'd with teares did fleet Till that o're-whelm'd her strength began to faile Then barr'd from food she groveling did abide Till that lifes course then hastened fast was runne Thus she surviv'd her sonne yet with him dy'd In whom she found the kindnesse of a sonne Olym. If but when hearing this his tragicke end A stranger once his Captive dy'd for griefe Ah shall his mother yet on hope depend As such a losse might looke for some reliefe And yet I will for 't were a great disgrace To me the mother of that matchlesse man Like other women to give fortune place And faintly yeeld as vulgar wretches can Though griefe at first must mollifie me once Or as unnaturall I might be admir'd Yet will I not still burst my brest with grones Then that of me more courage is requir'd I 'le not degener from my generous kinde Faint-hearted Hindes brought never Lyon forth Nor yet a Mother of an abject minde Had never borne a Monarch of such worth And O! who knowes but once the time may come That I to venge my selfe a meanes may have Whilst those vile traitors ruin'd are by some Who with their bloud may bath their Soveraigns grave Now on Perdiccas I repose my trust Who with Eumenes would our wrongs red resse Their valour ventring in a cause so just By all appearance promise
current doth o'reflow my minde VVhich never dream'd that which the soule annoyes But did in all a satisfaction finde I scorne vaine shadowes of conceited feares As one whose state is built on marble grounds In all my horoscope no cloud appeares My blisse abounds my pleasures passe all bounds Aesope That Grecian Sir is at the Court arriv'd VVhole wisedome fame through all the world records Croe. And to extoll my state have you not striv'd VVhil'st bent to sooth his eares with courteous words Aesope In all the parts where he hath chanc'd to be In forrain bounds or where he first saw light He never did such stately wonders see As since this Court enriched hath his sight VVhen regall shewes had ravish'd first his eye As mountains nurslings little simple swaines VVho us'd with infant flouds them never spy Sport portative like Serpents through the Plaines When one of them first comes to view the vailes And wanton water-Nymphs there wondring sees The rarenesse of the sight so much prevailes That rillets rivers seeme the rivers Seas So all the guards that garnisht Solons way Did to his minde a great amazement bring The gallants golden statues made him stay Each Groome a Prince each Esquire seem'd a King And now he comes to gaine your long'd-for sight Whom in his minde no doubt he doth adore He gaz'd on those who held of you their light Sunne of this soile he must admire you more Now he o're all will spread your praises forth A famous witnesse of your glorious raigne The record of one wise man is more worth Then what a world of others would maintaine Solon Great Prince doe not the loving zeale reject VVhich a meane man yet a good minde affords And who perchance doth more your good affect Then those who paint their love with fairer words Croe. Thy love sage Grecian gratefull is to us Whom fame long since acquainted with thy worth So that we long long'd for thy presence thus To spy the Spring which sent such treasures forth Would God that many such would here resort Whose vertues beames would shine in every brest VVhose count'nance grave would grace so great a Court And like a Lampe give light unto the rest Solon Spare courteous King that undeserved praise I am but one who doe the world despise And would my thoughts to some perfection raise A wisedome-lover willing to be wise Yet all that I have learn'd huge toyles now past By long experience and in famous Schooles Is but to know my ignorance at last Who think themselves most wise are greatest fooles Croe. This is the nature of a noble 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 forc'd to give that which thou wilt not take The world what thou hold'st down doth raise more high That which thy face thus shunnes shines on thy back Praise followes them who what they merit flye And how I thinke on th' earth no creature lives Who better can instruct what I would learne Then thou to whom franke Nature largely gives A minde to see a judgement to discerne Solon To satisfie your suit my dutious care Shall it or then my ignorance disâ—lose Croe. Loe you have seene my pomp my treasures rare And all the strength on which my thoughts repose Solon Those be but dreams of blisse which fortune brings To breake by bending foolish mortalls mindes I saw but sencelesse heapes of melting things A waving wealth expos'd to many windes This but the body serving to decore As foolish owners it it th' owners spends Where mindes more circumspect seek better store Of wealth from danger free that never ends Croe. I wot not what you meane whil'st thus in love With fain'd Ideas of imagin'd blisse By fancies drawn such portraits doe but move Sicke braines to dreame that which indeed they misse But more I have then their conceits can show Whose rich conjectures breed but poore effects And I beseech you did you ever know A man more blest then I in all respects Solon I Tellus knew a man whom Athens lov'd Who to doe good at no occasion fail'd And in my judgement hath most happy prov'd Since while he liv'd belov'd whil'st dead bewail'd And last that he might reape all fruits of blisse His Countries beaten bands neere put to flight By him encourag'd scorn'd to be submisse Who dy'd victorious in two Armies sight More glorious now then when he was alive As he in heaven on earth his happy rest To trace his steps who led by Vertue strive Heires of his worth and honour'd by the best Croe. Since this first place a private person gaines Whose fortunes treasure in short time was told Now next in ranke who registred remaines Whose happinesse you most accomplish'd hold Solon Of Cleobis and Bitons vertuous way The prosp'rous course doth to my thoughts approch Their mother wanting on a solemne day The horses which were us'd to draw her Coach Them to supply the place love kindely rais'd Who drew her to that place of publike mirth Whil'st both of them abundantly were prais'd They for their piety she for her birth This charitable worke when brought to end Both dy'd whil'st offering incenie to the Gods Who favour'd so to draw them did intend From further danger of afflictions rods O happy mother who with true delight Of labours past such pleasant fruits enjoy'd And happy children who did thus acquite The mothers paine and dyed whil'st well imploy'd Ah ah our lives are fraile doe what we can And like the brittle glasse breake whil'st they glance Then oft the heavens to curbe the pride of man Doe inter-sowre our sweets with some sad chance Croe. Is there no place appointed then for me Or is my state so abject in thine eyes That thou do'st thinke me blest in no degree As one whose best in fortunes ballance lyes Or think'st thou me of judgement too remisse A wretch expos'd to want to scorne or paines The bastard childe of fortune barr'd from blisse VVhom heavens doe hate and all the world disdaines Are those poore creatures then to be compar'd With one who may consume such in his wrath Who as I please doe punish or reward Whose words nay ev'n whose lookes give life or death Solon Let not your judgement thus from reason shrinke To glose on that which simply comes from me They who doe freely speake no treason thinke One cannot both your friend and flatterer be To us who Grecians are the Gods doe grant A moderate measure of an humble wit So that our Country yet did never want Some whom the world for wise men did admit And yet amongst us all the greatest number Whil'st living looke not for a perfect rest Though Fortunes minions in her bosome slumber And seeme to some whom this world blindes most blest Yet ov'r all mortall states change so prevailes We alterations daily doe attend And hold this for a
lab'rinth could not shunne Whence backe in vaine the straying Entrer seeks I lov'd O fatall love unlovely fate The vertuously faire yet fairest Dame That ever was enshrin'd in soules conceit Or ditties gave to grace the sounds of fame Straight were my fancies to her beauties ty'd None can paint passions but in feeling mindes I burn'd freez'd doubted hop'd despair'd liv'd dy'd With actions chang'd as oft as Autumnes windes Yet many conflicts past 'twixt hopes and feares To feast at least to nurce my starv'd desires She granted had a truce unto my teares And temper did with equall flames my fires For as she was the most esteemed Saint Whose image Love erected in my minde So when her cares had harbour'd once my plaint It pitie first and then did favour finde But ah triumphing in mine owne conceit As one whose love his Lady did preferre I was corrivall'd O disastrous fate By one who lov'd but was not lov'd by her He looking as I look'd faw what I saw Saw Natures wonder and the worlds delight And straight as that blinde god blinde guide did draw Still like a Lizard liv'd upon her sight Then labour'd he that Iewell straight to wonne Whose matchlesse worth he priz'd above his breath And loath'd all light which flow'd not from that Sunne As life without her had beene worse then death Yea Fortune seem'd to favour his desire And where to build high hopes did give him groundâ— The Nymph her parents daily did require That she might furnish physick for his wounds Of my distracted thoughts strange was the strife Who threatned thus with eminent mishap Was like to lose a thing more deare then life Whil'st others striv'd my treasure to entrap The man who sought my joyes to undermine I could not justly wish his state o're-throwne Nor blame the sprite that sympathiz'd with mine I envi'd not his lot but wail'd mine owne Now in my beast a mighty rage did raigne Which forc'd my soule with inward wounds to bleed Some fancies fear'd what once his love might gaine Since it was possible that he might speed Then others call'd her constancy to minde Which would not yeeld by such assaults though prov'd Yet forc'd to feare the frailty of her kinde A hearing woman may in time be mov'd Thus toss'd with doubts amidst a deep of woe Which with suspition did my joyes supplant I blam'd the thoughts that durst accuse her so As vertues patterne could one vertue want And â—or I hop'd his toils no further wrought Affliction oft affection doth enflame She of her sex who was the wonder thought Would thus not wrong the glory of her name Though in my absence they had oft assai'd That from her minde they might have me remov'd The Sunne burns hotest when his beames are stay'd The more they cross'd her love the more she lov'd For finding that delay no end affords And how faire Generals onely flow'd from Art She did upbraid him with disdainefull words To raze those hopes that had abus'd his heart Love is a joy which upon paine depends A drop of sweet drown'd in a sea of sowres What folly doth begin oft fury ends They hate for ever who have lov'd for houres When all his arguments prov'd of no force Straight with disdaine his soule in secret burn'd And what he thought was ill to make farre worse That Apostate to furie favour turn'd Through love preposterous procreating hate His thoughts amongst themselves could not agree Whil'st what was best he deeply did debate To see her dead or then enjoy'd by me What said he when he first had mus'd a space So hard it is to quench affections fires Shall I disfigure that Angelike face And cloud those beauties which the world admires Shall she by me be to confusion brought To whom I vows and prayers did impart To whom I sacrifiz'd each secret thought And on her beauties altar burn'd my heart Or shall I see her in anothers pow'r And in his bosome laid upbraid my losse Whil'st both with scornfull smiles then death more sowre To point me out for sport report my crosse That sight which sometime did me sweetly charme Should it become a cause of griefe to me No none who live shall glory in my harme Since she will not be mine she shall not be The hatefull love having vow'd her death Did with a cup of poyson drowne my joyes The fairest body from the sweetest breath Was parted thus O ocean of annoyes That Monster Fame whose many mouthes and eares Must know but not conceale a rare thing long And prodigall of ill most chiefly beares The worst news first inform'd me of this wrong For neighbouring neare the most unhappy part That had beene spoyl'd of such a noble guest As death had hers the furies seiz'd my heart Whose paine did spring from that which bred her rest How huge a weight did first confound my soule No tongue can tell it still my minde torments Rage did of griefe the outward signes controll When great windes blow the fire the smoak worst vents Whil'st generous furie did disguise my griefe I ranne transported with a mighty rage Bent by revenge or death to get relife A tragicke actor for a bloudy stage For I was come no sooner to the place Whereas I thought the Murtherer to have found But I did meet O ruine and disgrace Too deare a friend to catch and enemies wound Ah! passions dimn'd mine eyes wrath led my hand I was no more my selfe Griefe had me kill'd The first by Night who did before me stand As one whose breast with rage Alecto fill'd By chance encount'ring ere he spake a word I bath'd his bosome with a crimson floud And in his breast did drowne the cruell sword That in anothers body drank my bloud But when a Torch had partly rob'd the night Proud of suppos'd revenge ah bitter gaine I saw I knew black knowledge cruell sight My brother was the man whom I had slaine O bitter losse which nothing can repaire My soule with tow such monstrous deeds annoy'd Griefe rage spite shame amazement and despaire Gall'd toss'd burn'd dash'd astonish'd and destroy'd The thought of my offence doth grieve me most Yet am I sometime by loves verdict cleans'd And straight my brothers violated ghost By dreadfull dreames doth bragge to be reveng'd Croe. Now whil'st this great disaster did occurre What had the author of your anguish done Adrast He having heard this lamentable stirre Who self-accusing thoughts convicted soone Straight wounded by a wonderfull remorse Led by mad love or desp'rate feare to death He bent to follow her or dreading worse Stab'd by himselfe dy'd to defraud my wrath Croe. Those strange mishaps your enemies eyes must weet And force compassion from your greatest foe Since many monstrous circumstances meet To make a horrid harmony in woe But what doth touch ones selfe most force doth finde For ills when felt then heard griefe more abounds This extasie hath so o're-whelm'd my minde A melancholy huge all mirth confounds
vanish'd like to lightning flashes Then death could me not have of life depriv'd Whilst such a Phoenix had reviv'd my ashes San. Let not those woes ecclipse your vertues light Croe. Ah! Rage and griefe must once be at a height San. Strive of your sorrowes Sir to stop the source Croe. These salt eye-floods must flow and have their course San. That is not kingly Croe. And yet it 's kindly â—here passions domineere they governe blindly San Such woefull plaints cannot repaire your state Croe. Vnhappie soules at least may waile their faâ—e The meanest comfort that you can returne Is in calamity a leave to mourne San. what Stoicke strange who most precise appeares Could that youths death with tearelesse eyes behold In all perfections ripe though greene in yeares A hoarie judgement under lockes of gold No no man lives but must lament to see The worlds chiefe hope even in the blossome choak'd But men cannot controll the Heavens decree And what is done can never be revok'd Let not this losse with griefe torment you more Of which a part with you your Country beares If wailing could your ruin'd state restore Soules charg'd with griefe should saile in Seas of teares Lest all our comfort dash against one shelfe And his untimely death but hasten yours Have pitty of your people spare your selfe If not to your own use yet unto ours Croe. When Sandanis I first thy faith did finde Thou div'd so deepely in my bosome then That since thou still entrusted with my minde Didst know what I conceal'd from other men Behold I goe to open up to you Chiefe treasurer of all my secrets still What high designe my Thoughts are hatching now A physicke in some sort to ease my ill This may unto my soule yeeld some reliefe And for displeasures past may much content Or else must purchase partners in my griefe If not for me yet with me to lament San. This benefit must binde me with the rest To serve your Majestie and hold you deere And I 'le be free with you yet I protest That what I friendly speake you freely heare Croe. Since that it hath not pleas'd the heavenly pow'rs That of my off-spring I might comfort claime Yet lest the ravenous course of flying how'rs Should make a prey of my respected name I would engender such a generous broode That the un-borne might know how I have liv'd And this no doubt would doe my Ghost great good By famous victories to be reviv'd I hope to soare with fames Immortall wings Vnlesse my high-bent thoughts themselves deceave That having acted admirable things I death may scorne triumphing o're the grave Yet have I not so setled my conceipt That all opinions are to be despis'd A good advice can never come too late This is the purpose that I have devis'd Some Scythian Shepheards in a high disdaine As trusted fame yet constantly relates To plague some Medes with horrour and with paine Did entertaine them with prodigious meates 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 bury whom they bred Then after this abhominable crime They fled with hasted unto my fathers Court And first informers courting trust in time Did as they pleas'd of what was past report Whil'st they save what them help'd all things suppress'd Milde pitty pleading for afflictions part His generaous minde still tend'ring the distress'd Was wonne to them by this deceiving Art San. Oft men of Iudges thence have parties gone Where both their eares were patent but to one Croe. Then Cyaxare Monarch of the Medes To prosecute those fugitives to death In indignation of my fathers deeds Did bragge them both with all the words of wrath My father thinking that his Court should be A Sanctuary supplicants to save Did levie men to make the world then see In spite of pow'r that weakenesse help should have Thus mortall warres on every side proclaim'd With mutuall trouble did continue long Till both the Armies by Bellona â—aaâ—'d Did irke to venge or to maintaine a wrong It chanc'd whil'st peace was at the highest dearth That all their forces did with fury fight A sudden darknesse curtain'd up the earth And did by violence displace the light I thinke the Sunne for Phaeton look't sad Else blush'd reflecting bloud like them he saw For as when wrong'd of old with griefe gone mad He from the world his chariot did with-draw Yet Ignorance which doth confusion breed By wresting natures course found cause of feares Which errour did so happily succeed That it a concord wrought and truce from teares Then straight there was a perfect peace begunne And that it might more constantly indure Astyages the King of Media's sonne To be his Queene my sister did procure San. A deadly rancor reconcil'd againe With consanguinity would seal'd remaine Croe. He since his fathers age-worne course expir'd Hath rul'd his people free from bloud or strife Till now a Viper hath his death conspir'd Who from his loynes extracted had his life I meane this Cyrus base Cambyses brood Who by a Bitch nurst with the Country swaines No signe observ'd importing Princely bloud The doggish nature of his Nurse retaines He came against his Grand-father to field And unexpected with a mighty pow'r His forces forc'd did force himselfe to yeeld Who captive kept now waites for death each houre That you may marke how great my in t ' rest is This ruthfull story I did largely touch Those circumstances shew that shame of his Doth from our glory derogate too much Dare any Prince presume to trouble thus One whom our kingdomes favour should defend In strict affinity combin'd with us Yet not regarded for so great a friend This with some joy doth smooth my stormy minde Whil'st I for Medes against the Persians goe I hope that both by brave effects shall finde How kinde a friend I prove how fierce a foe San. Though natures law you car'd not to transgresse Nor this your wrong'd ally would not repaire Yet the regard to Monarchs in distresse Should move the mighty with a mutuall care Those terrours too which thunder in your eare I thinke the Lydians will not well allow For when the Cedar falles the Oake may feare That which o'rethrowes the Medes may trouble you And when a neighbours house they burning view Then their owne dangers men may apprehend It better is with others to pursue Then be when but alone forc'd to defend Ah! this is but the out-side of your course A dangerous ambush which ambition plants There may come Rivers raging from this source To drown your state whil'st such high thoughts nought daunts I know those new-borne monsters of vour minde Have arm'd your ravish'd heart with faire conceits Yet may those wonders which you have divin'd Prove traiterous projects painted for deceits And pardon Sir it is not good to be Too rashly stout nor curiously wise Lest that you leave that which
pitchie vapours cled Had must'red mysts and march'd out of the West Dayes beauties darkning shadowie horrours spread The Sentinels were set and all at rest When loe a terrour did distract the host Whose bands to murmure were dispers'd in parts With sounds resembling ships in stormes neare lost Whil'st each to other cause of feare imparts Those who their King appointed were to guard From what was due by fraud or feare did stray And to his danger having no regard His Fortunes Minions fled with heraway The desolation then growne wondrous great With some few Eunuchs Darius left alone No strength remaining nor no signe of state He thus them spake who for his fall did mone Go part in peace ere further harme be had Lest that my ruine likewise you surprise They hearing those sad words as men gone mad Went howling through the host with dolorous cryes So that all those who heard what plaints they made Thought that they had their Soveraignes death bewail'd And forcing trust some forg'd reports were spread That he had kill'd himselfe all hope quite fail'd The Persians griev'd whil'st these things did occurre Did first encourage all their Countrey bands To help their Prince but yet they durst not stirre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands Even in the time when this confusion was The Traitors to deferre the fact no more Did to their Soveraignes Tent with Squadrons passe And took and bound him whom they serv'd before Who in a golden Coach once proudly rode Was throwne in one for common carriage us'd And who of late was honour'd like a God Two of his owne as if their slave abus'd Those royall hands to beare a Scepter borne Were basely bound and which the more him griev'd Thus misery can hardly scape from scorne With bands of gold which burden'd not reliev'd When Alexander great with courage spy'd Our Armies flie he who in hope them chac'd To follow us with diligence did ride Base seem'd the Conquest which no danger grac'd But when at last at length by some inform'd How he was made a captive to his owne At this indignity he highly storm'd As if by it his hopes had beene o're-throwne Out of his host he did select a few Who were best hors'd and fit for such a fight With whom his foes he did so fast pursue That e're they could suspect he came in sight The Traitors vex'd when spying him appeare Came to the Cart whereas the King did stay And call'd to horse in haste since foes were neare Lest that they else might finde him for a prey He look'd aloft and cry'd aloud I see That Nemesis is frowning from above Should I with Traitors as a captive be And flie from him who but brave warres doth move Then those in whom impiety abounds Throw'd Darts at him vile beasts to be abhorr'd And hurt the horses with an hundred wounds Then men more trusty dying for their Lord As false in hearts so feeble with their hands When Guilt and Danger doubled had despaires The Traitors first then all their trait'rous bands Fled from a number lesse by halfe then theirs But to the bounds of Deaths pale kingdome brought The King retyr'd where least by people spy'd More wounded with ingratitude then ought Did leave the world whose folly he had tri'd The last divorce which lasts was scarcely made Twixt soule and body whil'st the eyes grew dim When Alexander came and found him dead Who labour'd had so long to ruine him And whil'st his teares a generall mourning mov'd That stately vesture which himselfe array'd Much fear'd for valour more for vertue lov'd With his owne hand on Darius corps he layd Then wailing long as for a brother lost To have his funerals furnish'd like a Kings He bids you use his wealth and spare no cost For you shall want no necessary things He hath his body hither sent by me And sunerall rites solemnely bent to do He thinks that they may best accomplish'd be Whil'st who him bred doth see him buried too Cho. Behold how griese hath her of sense bereft Whil'st breath for passage strugling is with grones No will nor pow'r to live just griefe hath left Since what she value vanish'd is at once Sis Ah! shall I see no let me first be blinde That body breathlesse which I brought to light Where would my soule a force sufficient finde That could encounter with so sad a sight O flinty heart what hinders thee to breake Since crush'd with cares a stranger to repose Why part'st thou not poore soule that whil'st I speake In opening of my lips mine eyes may close This heritage of death this wither'd stocke Is but a place appointed for despaires A torture to it selfe a stumbling block Whose aged furrows fertile are in cares Once for good Fortunes now for bad design'd To state betray'd drawne forth from calme repose To have beene happie most afflicts my minde Who rais'd to fall got much the more to lose Ah me malitious fates have done me wrong Who first come to the world should first depart And ah why should the old o're-live the yong This Nature wrongs by a prepost'rous art Ah! why should Death so indiscreet be found To spare a caitive and to spoyle a Prince My halfe-dead body bending to the ground Through griefe is grown ripe for the grave long since Chorus WHat makes vaine worldlings so to swell with pride Who come of th' earth and soone to th' earth returne So hellish furies with their fire-brands burne Proud and ambitious men that they divide Them from themselves and so turmoyle their mindes That all their time they study still How to content a boundlesse will Which never yet a full contentment findes Who so this flame within his bosome smothers He many fancies doth contrive And even forgets himselfe alive To be remembred after death by others Thus while he is his paines are never ended That whil'st he is not he may be commended What can this help the happinesse of Kings So to subdue their Neighbours as they do And make strange Nations tributaries too The greater state the greater trouble brings Their pompes and triumphs stand them in no stead Their Arches Tombes Pyramides high And statues are but vanity They dye and yet would live in what is dead And while they live we see their glorious actions Oft wrested to the worst and all their life Is but a stage of endlesse toyle and strife Of tumults uproares mutinies and factions They rise with feare and lye with danger downe Huge are the cares which wait upon a Crowne And as Ambition Princes under-mynes So doth it those who under them rule all We see in how short time they rise and fall How oft their light ecclips'd but dimmely shines They long time labour by all meanes to move Their Prince to value much their parts And when advanc'd by subtle arts O what a danger is' t to be above For straight expos'd to hatred and despight With all their skill they
Exeunt Act 2. Scene 2. Lysimachus Seleucus Loe here a great and more then sudden change All men for mirth were like to have gone mad So that of late it would have beene thought strange In all this Citie to have seene one sad Each wall resounded some melodious song To ravish curious eares with rare delight Strange Tapestries were stretch'd the streets along And stately objects made to charme the sight As if our King his conquests so would crowne Of all the world a Parliament to hold He plac'd with pompe in this imperiall towne Did of magnificence the height unfold Here glory in her richest robes array'd Should have shewne all that Greatnesse could expect Yet were our hopes even at the height betraid To death those Trophees fortune did erect A tragicke end this triumph quite confounds All our applauses vanish in complaints Our Musicke marr'd by melancholy sounds Loe by the Cypresse press'd the lawrell faints To funerall shrikes our shouts of joy we turne With gorgeous garments Griefe cannot comport We that so much rejoyc'd farre more must mourne Dayes spent with woe are long with pleasure short This breeds most anguish when that one compares The present time with others that are past Whilst wonted hopes are ballanc'd with despaires Which all heroicke mindes with woe doe waste Betwixt these two what difference finde we forth The rising Sunne and it that is declin'd Where is that Zodiacke lodging of all worth Whence valours beames still lightning courage shin'd Now desolation spreads it selfe o're all A solitary silence griefe allowes Ah as quite crâ—sh'd by that great Monarchs fall How many male-contents cast downe their browes A strange suspition hath possess'd the streets VVhilst every man his neighbours fall conspires Each one who unawares another meets As fearing treason with distrust retires Of rumours strange each eare is greedy growne VVhich though but doubtfull move the minde to rue And doting still on that which is their own VVhat they conjecture all affirme for true Sel. VVith eyes that flame for rage our deeds heaven viewes And mov'd for us a high disdaine doth beare Loe all mens heads are heavy for ill newes And though we know not what yet still we feare For since the widow'd world doth want a head Each member now doth labour to be chiefe VVhich whilst they divers wayes the body lead May give beginning to some endlesse griefe Some like the foole who thunder fayn'd like Iove VVould make their fame like Alexanders sound And all brought low to be themselves above VVould order all or else would all confound Then some vaine wits which onely would seeme wise By flatt'ring mirrours of their shape deceiv'd Doe every thing that is not theirs despise And perish would ere them another sav'd A number too whom all things doe content VVhat each one thinkes are still resolv'd to doe They make a choice then doe the choice repent And straight repent of that repentance too The publike good is spoil'd by private hope VVhilst many thus high dignities doe claime This discord gives to rash ambition scope For all would fish within a troubled streame See how dissention hath dissolv'd so soone All kinde of order and confusion brought Our Councell quite this variance hath undone VVhilst one would have done all all have done nought Although Perdiccas as it would have seem'd VVhilst for his masters race he onely stood Sought by that meanes more vertuous to be deem'd His Princes honour and his Countries good Yet his companions having in contempt He did by subtile meanes himselfe advance And so to shadow his disguis'd attempt Aym'd at the royall place as but by chance He toyles that the unborne none should beguile As by the heavens for th' Orphanes good reserv'd Yet wanting of a King nought but the stile He would not want that when th' occasion serv'd And Meleager partially dispos'd To hinder others doth pretend a love To bastard Philip by effect disclos'd Since he but seekes Perdiccas to disprove And if that foe whom he doth feare but faile He cares not much what Emperour they proclaime And his designe with many may prevaile A cloake of right apparels any claime They whose descent some title doth disclose As by their birth made capable to raigne Must be preferr'd by reason unto those Who of all right without the bounds remaine The furious foot-men insolently stout A title to maintaine did brave our band And indignation thundring threatnings out Would with our bloud have bath'd this barbarous land O! what indignity would this have been Whilst those whom we subdu'd with such great toiles Had in this sort their victors vanquish'd seen So of their spoilers purchasing the spoiles Thus darkening all that we had done before Our swords first stayn'd by ignominious wounds We of our conquests could have kept no more But burials base if those in th' enemies bounds O! what excellency consists in th' one Though oft not mark'd till miss'd cleare at this houre Some with a word or look doe more alone Then thousands joyn'd with policy and pow'r When squadrons arm'd with Ensignes full displaid As of their Prince all due regard quite lost His generous course would obstinate have staid By them abandon'd when endanger'd most Then of disorder yeelding bitter fruits They boldly march'd with bragges before his Tent And charg'd their Soveraigne with unlawfull suits To innovations violently bent Of duty then they by no band detain'd First grudg'd grew factious next last rebels plaine Like waters for a time by Art restrai'd Their bounds once pass'd which do all bounds disdain But from that patterne of accomplish'd worth Whom imitate none may all must admire Through just â—isdaine when fury spark'led forth These troupes astonish'd trembling did retire His stately count'nance calm'd tumultuous sounds And lightned Majesty through clouds of wrath That even as if his words had given them wounds They fell afraid of him though not of death Those lofty bands which were of late so proud That they disdain'd to wait their Emperours will Then by his looke all at an instant bow'd Did beg but leave that they might serve him still And yet what wonder though he gain'd all hearts Which to his presence happened to repaire With that perfection of all vertuous parts As large in him as in all others rare Loe when we meet to treat by peace or warres How all our conquests may be best secur'd The Souldiers doe burst out in publike jarres Even by their Captaines no respect procur'd And who can call that valorous Prince to minde That unto vertue any reverence beares But he must be constrain'd or prove unkinde To offer up a tribute of some teares Lysi His death doth make my soule faint sorrows prey Though many thought that I for it had long'd For if by any whom he should obey One can be wrong'd then I indeed was wrong'd Sel. Though fame abroad by divers tongues did bring To what huge danger you were once expos'd It did not paint out each
particular thing Which by your selfe I long to heare disclos'd Lysim When wise Calistenes for no request With superstitious customes could comport But with franke words all flattery did detest He was abus'd and in a barbarous sort So plaguing him no doubt the King did ill Yet to prosperity we must impute Those fatall faults which follow fortune still As of great mindes a kinde of bastard fruit We should in Kings as loth their state to touch Speake sparingly of vice praise vertue much But I whose soule that wise man dearely lov'd Whilst his perfections spying thus injur'd To tender passions by compassion mov'd Would his reliefe have willingly procur'd But when my credit fail'd all hope quite past That I could purchase grace in any sort I desp'rate physiâ—ke did afford at last That if his life was ill it might be short The King â—nrag'd that I had thus presum'd To limit his revenge by giving death That by a Lyon I should be consum'd Did throw my doome out of the depths of wrath But when with rowling eyes the Lyon roar'd He by my strength as strengthlesse was o're-thrown Which to the King whose did then remord My constancy and courage both made knowne So that incontinent I was set free By this rare proofe esteem'd amongst the strong And with a minde from inward rancour free As he his wrath so I forgot the wrong For whilst alone he through a Forrest rang'd A prey expos'd yet did no danger dreame Some at that time had former wrongs reveng'd If but for mischiefe bent to gaine a names Yet that which others did attempt in vaine And tyrâ—d by travell of a surfet dy'd I did performe and brought him backe againe As swiftly running as his horse could ride And of that deed my sprite rests well appaid For since that time my Soveraigne held me deare Which afterwards he to the world bewraid Whilst by this meanes his favour did appeare VVhen unawares my brow he chanc'd to wound To stay my bloud which striv'd to dye his Launce He with his Diadem my Temples crown'd A happy signe though comming but by chance And O! who knowes but once before I dye Some good event may second the presage Seleu. What hinders us but we should fortune try And for a Crowne our travels straight engage Those bended mindes which ayme at Greatnesse still Growne popular of purpose to be prais'd Doe winde themselves every mans good will And would seeme humble that they may be rais'd What counterfeited friends seale trustlesse bands VVhilst in the generall cause that wit pretends Though never joining hearts all joyne their hands And worke one way yet worke for divers ends Yea those whose mindes move in the sphere of State Have purchas'd pow'rs as purpos'd for the fields VVith jealous mindes their rivals to abate VVhilst equals all none to another yields Yet with suspended thoughts they doubtfull stand And their designes to venture doe forbeare Least all the rest joyn'd by a generall band Doe him o're-throw who first gives cause of feare But he may speed who for a Crowne doth thirst And free from feare with courage doth advance Some to be second doubting to be first Will make their course depend upon his chance And by a battell if that one prevail There will rich hopes at easie rates be sold Whil'st those seek help whose Fortune then doth faile As first by hope last by despaire made bold All this to me great cause of feare affords Lest that we two protract the time too long And wounded be before we draw our swords All at such times must do or suffer wrong Lysi No chance of late hath brought me so to bow But I have throwne some thoughts at those high hopes Yet in my minde that man do most allow Who doth with judgement moder are fancies scopes Those Provinces which are to us assign'd As calme in minde we manage must a space Till all attempt that which they have design'd By enterchanging damage and disgrace Then living but like those whose force is small From which the world no great thing can expect We shall professe a favour to them all As who nought else save publicke peace affect Yet then our thoughts shall not have leave to sleep But subtle plots must circumspectly frame Those whom we feare at variance still to keep So alwayes strengthning us and weakening them If wrongs provoke or when occasion claimes Like cunning wrestlers at th'Olympick games Who exercise themselves to be more strong And when themselves have thus prepar'd the way Whil'st that their pompe doth beare a lower sayle For at the last their force must much decay Since all must alwayes lose though one prevaile Then prompt to tempt that which we now contrive By ruining the remnant that remaines We may possesse the state for which they strive Thus they the toils and we shall get the gaines Exeunt Chorus O Happy was that guiltlesse age When aâ— Astraea liv'd below And that Bellona's barbarous rage Did not all order quire o'rethrow Then whil'st all did themselves content With that thing which they did possesse And gloried in a little rent As wanting meanes to make excesse Those could no kinde of want bemone For craving nought they had all things And since none sought the regall Throne Whil'st none were Subjects all were Kings O! to true blisse their course was set Who got to live not liv'd to get Then innocency naked liv'd And had no need nor thought of Armes Whil'st spightfull sprits no meanes contriv'd To plague the simple sort with harmes Then snaring laws did not extend The bounds of Reason as they do Strife oft begun where it should end One doubt but clear'd to foster two By conscience then all order stood By which darke things were soone discern'd Whil'st all behov'd there to be good Where as no evill was to be learn'd And how could any then prove naught Whil'st by example vertue taught Then mortals mindes all strong and pure Free from corruption lasted long By innocency kept secure When none did know how to do wrong Then sting'd with no suspitious thought Men mischiefe did from none expect For what in them could not be wrought In others they would not suspect And though none did sterne laws impart That might to vertue men compell Each one by habite in his heart Had grav'd a law of doing well And all did wickednesse forbeare Of their free-will and not for feare The first who spoyl'd the publike rest And did disturbe this quiet state Was Avarice the greatest pest Which doth of darknesse fill the seat A Monster very hard to daunt Leane as dry'd up with inward care Though full of wealth for feare of want Still at the borders of despayre Scarce taking food for Natures ease Nor for the cold sufficient clothing She whom her owne could never please Thinks all have much and she hath nothing This daughter of sterne Pluto still Her fathers dungeon strives to fill That Monster-tamer most renown'd
When prosp'rous Times doe forc'd by fates expire To further which oft strangers must make warre And mut'nous subjects som-time may conspire As jealous feare when brav'd by danger moves All princes would suppresse aspâ—rers still And then a subjects course most dangerous proves When either feare or hope transports his will But though that first to rise last to descend Great States are guided by a secret fate Yet still the cause which doth forgoe their end Springs from contempt or is enforc'd by hate The first in kings the lack of courage breeds Encouraging Ambition to rebell The othâ—r doth attend tyrannicke deeds That violence may violence deeds Phoc. Yet never did so many Monarchs fall By forraine battells nor by civill broiles As by themselves who seeming free were thrall Whilst smooth-toogu'd Minions gloried of their spoils Those who have raign'd by choice by birth or worth Or did encroach on Crownes by chance or crime Oft suffer vices to burst freely forth Which vertues colours guilded till that time Men clearely show what harbours in their brest Whilst Envies object free from any feare That which is eminent is marked best And highest fortunes hardest are to beare Low States to censure Criticks doe despise Whilst oft grosse faults for vertues fame esteemes The stupid patient and the fearefull wise Will constancie and softnesse goodnesse seemes But on the Stage of State when one must stand A publike Actor plac'd in all mens sight And swaying pow'r with an imperious hand Doth hold the ballance both of wrong and right Then he for every action that is his The censure of a thousand tongues must have Not onely damn'd for doing things amisse But for not doing all that all men crave That Prince but undermines the Soveraigne seate Who cares not who be weak so he be strong More studious for himselfe then for the state Or if for it that he may hold it long For were Iove him for all mens good ordaines He thinkes both them and theirs made him to please As if a charge of weight a place of paines Were but a bed of rest a Heaven of ease The worlds great weight with Atlas shoulders beate Is not so weighty all to weigh one downe As that which on his head a king doth weare No burdens charge more heavie then a crowne Th'aegean waves Time may more soone appease Then restlesse thoughts whose course for state prepares Can they have rest who toile for all mens ease The purple ever must be lin'd with cares Ar. Good kings are like the fire which flaming bright Doth waste it selfe to serve anothers turne And soveraignty is like fires glancing light Which if but view'd delights if touch'd doth burne I like for warmenesse to stand Vulcan by But not to burne amid'st the Lemnian flame In Cedars shadowes men more safely lie Then on their tops the roaring deities game All th' eie-attracting pompe and glorious showes Do merit scorne though they amazement breed The world them pittie more then Envie owes Who to seeme happy wretched are indeed What alterations strange attend a Throne As if the spheare of fortune were a crowne The great still toss'd like Sysiphus his stone When rais'd most high rest ready to fall downe Of this what greater proofe can fame afford Then mighty Philips memorable fall Who daunted had the Grecians by the sword Though till that time by strangers not made thrall He he then whilst he solemniz'd with state His daughters marriage suddenly was lost It seem'd when Heaven that Monarchs daies would date That Hymens torch gave light to Pluto's post When strong regards had grav'd within my heart The miseries that proper were to Court I thought them happie who retir'd apart Could never know such things but by report I might have liv'd with Alexander still To vertuous men whose favours were not scarce Yet rather choos'd though having both at will To serve with Pallas then command with Mars And whilst he toil'd of others Lord to be I of my selfe did labour to be Lord Yet made as great a conquest too as he My pen shall be as famous as his Sword Phoc. And had I willingly engag'd my rest The way to trace which to vaine glory tends I might have liv'd respected with the best A speciall one of Alexanders friends Though I of him did never merit ought He entertain'd my friendship till his death And when he once our Citties o'rethrow sought At my request did pacifie his wrath Then once to me a masse of gold he sent And offred too a stately Asian Towne Which I refus'd more pleas'd with my poore rent Then he with all the treasures of a Crowne I told that such a summe but serv'd to make Him a corrupter me corrupted thought And foule for him to give for me to take Is us'd sham'd both unus'd did serve for nought But all those baites I never daign'd to touch Least I who all my life had liv'd so free Might be possess'd too much possessing much If taking Riches it had taken me No I would rather learne to live with lesse Then for superfluous furniture to strive Who seekes out substance but to nurse excesse To use it lives not it that he may live My fortune doth afford sufficient meanes That may preserve all natures pow'rs in force And he who on a golden Scepter leanes Can not have more but may well use it worse Then since aboundance but abuses brings Why seeke men more then how to be well eas'd And ah why toile they for so many things Since with a little nature can be pleas'd Ar. Loe how the Heavens whose love to man exceeds Have made his body strong his minde divine And have made th' earth to furnish all his needs Least curbing Cares might make his thoughts decline So that he hath a meanes to raise his flight If wing'd with vertue and may mounting hie By time approach to the celestiall light And deifie himselfe before he die Yet doth he straight forgoe that glorious way To toile for things which th' earth not forc'd affords The which his wants first fram'd were to defray By by himselfe are of his life made Lords O! how unworthie of the worth of man Are many labours which delight him most Since that corruption boldly first beganne To make men nurse vile vice at vertues cost And now what hath great Alexander gain'd By endlesse travell and excessive cares Of whom loe now they onely say he raign'd But death vnto himselfe worse to his heires And for the guiltlesse blood which he hath spill'd His conquests partners loe doe now beginne To die even by the swords by which they kill'd And all his off-spring expiates his sinne Phoc. Strange revolutions sway all worldly things The wheele of fortune still must slipperie prove And chiefely then when charg'd it is with kings Whose states as weighty quickly make it move Yet Alexander I must say was blest Who still a victor from distresse estrang'd The worlds chiefe Monarch when his state
have him spoil'd That though of valour he rare wonders prov'd And oft by force Antigonus had foil'd Yet from their mind it could not be remov'd For by their meanes allur'd the other bands To get some baggage which they lost againe Did take their Captaine with outragious hands Their glory darkning by that odious stayne And though Eumenes trusting to new hopes By flying labour'd succour to have found He was prevented by his Trait'rous Troupes And like to some base fugitive was bound Scarce could his stormy stomack bent to breake Daigne to entreat those who had him betrai'd Yet hauing hardly purchas'd leave to speake He stretch'd them forth his fettred hands and sayd Loe what apparell now your Generall weares Since with your faith his libertie was lost Yet he those bands not given by th' enemie beares No but by you in whom he trusted most And must he thus be led who should you lead Is this the triumph which I should receave For all my victories thus to be made Of Captaine Captive of a Conquerour slave How oft my Souldiers have yee all of late To me by solemne oathes sworne to be true But it becomes none in a captives state With loftie words his keepers to pursue Nor crave I further favour at this houre Then that ye bath your weapons in my brest Let not my life be in mine enemies pow'r Loe all that your Commander doth request I know Antigonus doth take no care Who get my bodie so he get my head And he regards not neither when nor where Nor in what sort I die so I be dead But if through horrour of so vile a deed Your eyes looke downe your haire erected stands Which in your mindes this much remorse doth breed That as your hearts ye will not staine your hands Then as your Captaine since not force I may I as your friend entreate that now in time I may but have a Sword my selfe to stay You to excuse whilst partner of your crime But when he saw that words could not asswage Their barb'rous thoughts which nothing could controule Then having turn'd his Courage all in rage He thus flam'd forth the fury of his soule O damned rascalls who have lost all faith Whom neither duty nor yet merit bindes How oft was Alexander mov'd to wrath By those your mut'nous and malitious mindes And O! what could I at those hands attend Which yet were smoâ—king with Perdiccas blood Of those who by like Treason did intend With old Antipaters to be imbru'd Heaven thunder on you from th' aetheriall Rounds And make you live abominable band Base vagabonds barr'd from your native bounds Then die detested in a harb'rous Land And as ye have the world with murder fill'd So may your blood by the same Swords be shed By which you have moe of your Captaines kill'd Then of your foes from whom like beasts ye fled But neither courteous nor outragious words Could change his souldiers from their first intent Who forward led their Captaine chain'd with cords A scorned Captive to his Rivals Tent Where to the end that he might quickly end He ask'd what stay'd Antigonus to goe By setting of him free to gaine a friend Or by his death to rid him of a foe And soone Antigonus did hast his fall By this great magnanimity not mov'd And th' Agiraspides dispers'd o're all As murderers murder from the world remov'd Thus oft have Traitours beene dispatch'd in time By those whom their upbraiding lookes dismay That loath'd remembrance of the Authors crime The actors death can onely wipe away Now claimes Antigonus when fame doth feast Above his Soveraignes selfe in ranke to sit For Alexander but subdu'd the East And he hath conquer'd them who conquer'd it Cass No doubt but he will doe the best he can And hath within himselfe high things design'd For whilst prosperity transports a man Nought seemes difficult to a loftie minde Sel. Of those in whom he did suspect a sprite Whose courage serv'd his courses to resist He hath himselfe by diverse meanes made quite In others wreakes his safety doth consist Thus martiall Pithon who no danger spar'd Whom Alexander held in high account Did at the last receave a hard reward For helping him Eumenes to surmount His sprite to tempt and power fit to performe Made jealousie Antigonus torment And yet he fain'd to love him for the forme Till he his Court did love him to frequent Where whilst he did mistrusting nought abide He publikely in all the peoples sight Though seeming justly damn'd unjustly di'd No wrong more vile then wrong that lookes like right Thus divers Governours within short space Their Government or then their life have lost And others are preferr'd unto their place Who did depend upon his favour most Oft likewise me he labour'd to surprise By policy whom he would have o'rethrowne But I whom Pythons danger had made wise Learn'd by his ruine to prevent mine owne To save my life abandon'd is my state And I have fled with danger as you see That you may know how that man doth grow great Whose pride may plague you all as well as me Cass Then let us see what course we should intend Least out of time made wise we rue too late Lysim I rather first pursue then last defend Ptol. A fire would still be quench'd ere it grow great Cass Then let us from Antigonus in haste Demand our share of what he did attaine Since in this warre we did our Treasure waste We should be likewise partners of the gaine But if against our suite his eares he barre And doe with scornefull words contemne our claime Then may our messenger denounce the warre And we shall shortly prosecute the same Ptol. A mutuall band must made amongst us be To make one fortune common to us all And from hence-forth we must all foure agree To stand together or together fall And since the Princely buds for which we car'd How ever dead are dead what ere we doe So to procure from men the more regard We with the state must take the title too And we must both be crown'd and knowne for kings The diadem of Greatnesse is the Tower All vulgar judgements leane on th' outward things And reverence State where they obey but pow'r Exeunt Nuntius Philastrus Chorus IS there a Heaven and are there Heavenly Pow'rs To whose decree terrestriall things are thrall Or would the Tyrant that begets the houres Eternity not spar'd extinguish all Loe Nature travels now as big with change Since mortals all humanity have lost And in th' old Chaos or some masse more strange To leave their essence all things earthly boast Can reasonable soules from reason barr'd Even strive which most in cruelty exceeds What eye hath seene or yet what eare hath heard Such monstrous chances and prodigious deedes Th' Arabian Robbers nor the Scythians wild With savage beasts which doe as barbarous haunt With such foule facts have not themselves defil'd As those who
of civility doe vaunt Since Greekes growne barbarous basely are inclin'd All vertue vanish'd is all good forgot O carelesse Heavens wretch'd Earth Cho. what loads thy minde Nun. A multitude of murders Cho. what Nun. what not Cho. We know that since our Soveraigne lost his breath Th' earth hath beene bath'd with many a crimson flood Perdiccas did procure Meleagers death And his owne Souldiers drown'd his breath with blood Th'Athenians prey Leonatus did remaine And by Eumenes subtiltie dismai'd Neoptolemus and Craterus were slâ—ine Then by his owne Eumenes was betrai'd Phil. Man with his skill against his knowledge strives Where death his way attends that way he tends And t' Atropos the fatall razor gives To cut the threed on which his life depends When Asia's victor after all his warres Great Babylon to view had bent his mind Both I and others studious of the Starres Did shew that there his ruine was design'd And to his successors we oft have showne The meanes by which their fate might be controul'd Yet was our skill contemn'd and they o'rethrowne As we fore-told and as they now have told Nun. They have told much and yet I must tell more Their newes were evill yet were they not the worst Cho. And have the Heaven reserv'd more plagues in store As if we yet were not enough accurst Nun. As th' earth in pride the Heavens in plagues abounds Our highest hopes have perish'd but of late Cho. Then wound our eares by hearing others wounds That pittie now may tread the steps of hate Nun. Our Queene Olympias raging with revenge All Macedonie did with murders fill Which from her part the people did estrange Whilst rigor onely limited her will So that when fierce Cassander sought her wreake She did mistrust the Macedonians mindes And for the time the nearest strength did take There till the storme was past to waite faire winds But soone Cassander did the Towne enclose And as she held him out did hold her in That like a Captive guarded by her foes She knew not by what way a way to winne And when lives scant provision did decay Then did bare walles but small refuge afford She Scylla scap'd to be Charybdis prey Who fell on famine flying from the sword Straight like pale Ghosts faint Souldiers did remaine Whose bowels hunger like a Harpie teares And with couragious words the Queene in vaine Did raise their sprite the belly hath no eares All languishing did then begin to fade As if too weake to beare themselves about Legges fail'd the body and the necke the head Then whilst the flesh fell in bones bursted out And when that meates which common are were spent Then Horses Dogs Cats Rats all serv'd for food Of which no horrour th'eaters did torment For what not poyson was all then seem'd good Some mouthes accustom'd once with dainty meates Wish'd what they oft had loath'd vile crums soule flouds And Ladies which had liv'd in pompous states Fed as brought up with wolves amidst the woods Yea must by those whom they themselves had nurst Oft by the off-springs death the Parent liv'd And which was worst whilst brests were like to burst None could give comfort all themselves were griev'd Such was their state no friend be wail'd his friend No wife her husband no nor Syre his sonne For apprehending their approaching end All with compassion of themselves were wonne The dead mens smell empoyson'd them who liv'd Whilst first made faint by a defrauded wombe Heapes were of breath and but all both depriv'd That all the towne in end was but a tombe Cho. Life is the subject of distresse and griefe That still affords us matter to be mone And we by death can onely have reliefe To live and to be wretch'd are both but one Yet foolish worldlings toss'd with endlesse care Though at too deare a rate would still buy breath And following feathers wavering through the ayre Love life though wretch'd more then a happy death Nun. When thus the world Olympias plagu'd did spy All sought Cassander though for severall ends Cho. All as a pest them who are wretch'd doe flye Ecclipsed fortune threatens losse of friends Nun. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege since victuals were grown scant Did send as weake for peace vnto the strong Cho. Thus time and travell all things once may daunt Nun. Then did Cassander know that need constraind Her so to bow as every way diseas'd And though he her request not quite disdain'd Yet the appointment was such as he pleas'd For all the favour that she could procure Was leave to live a private person still And yet of that she could not be made sure Which did depend upon the Victors will Then whilst Cassander sought his enemies ends Huge numbers with him alwaies did abide Cho. Yet might have many followers and few friends Friends by the touch-stone of distresse are try'd Nun. But though the Queen was rendred in this sort A promise given that life should be preserv'd The tyrant with her sprite could not comport But from his faith for her confusion swerv'd The Macedonians were together brought There to consult what did concerne their Queene Of whom when as a number deepely thought Both what she was and what she once had beene Even as Cassander had suborn'd them all Their parents came whom she had damn'd to death And did her rigour to remembrance call By which the multitude was mov'd to wrath Whilst from their brests all pitty quite was barr'd They did conclude their Queene behov'd to dye Cho. Durst Subjects damne their Soveraign and not heard So still may clouds obscure the worlds bright eye Nun. Yet did Cassander put false every way A maske of pitty on a cruell minde And offred her a ship to flye away As if to death against his will assign'd Nor was this course for her delivery 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 who had drunke her downe Yet she a Princesse of a mighty spright Whose lofty courage nothing could o're-come Said ere she scap'd by such a shamefull flight That she would heare the Macedonians doome But when Cassanders counsell was contemn'd Lest that the multitude had chang'd their minde When they remembred whom they had condemn'd And did the fulnesse of his purpose finde To rid her soone from paine and him from feare He sent some bands from pitty most estrang'd Yet she ' against fortune did a banner beare And not her heart no not her count'nance chang'd She constant still though mon'd would never mone Whose stately gesture brav'd their bold attempt And did unite her vertues all in one To grace disgrace and glorifie contempt She on two Ladies shoulders lean'd her armes And with a Majestie did march to death Like Alexander once amid'st th' altarmes As if in triumph to abandon breath The height of vertue admiration brings At this great magnanimity amaz'd
Pluto in th' umbragious Caves There since he will be first made first in hell What with that Tyrant I will straight be even And send his soule to the Tartarian grove Though Iove will not be jealous of his heaven Yet Iuno must be jealous of her Iove And though none in the heavens would do him ill I 'le raise up some in th' earth to haste his death Yea thoâ—â—â— both heaven and earth neglect my will Hâ—ll 〈◊〉 me Ministers of wrath I 'le croâ—◠〈◊〉 and the smoaking lakes To borrow â—â—encâ—â—â—y brothers damned bands The furies arm'd with fire-barands and with Snakes Shall plant their hell where Rome so stately stands Whil'st Furies furious by my fury made Do spare the dead to have the living pin'd O! with what joy will I that Army leade Nought then revenge more calmes a wronged minde I must make this a memorable age By this high vengeance which I have conceiv'd But what though thousands dye t' appease my rage ' So Caesar perish let no soule be sav'd Exeunt Chorus VVE should be loath to grieve the gods Who hold us in a ballance still And as they will May weigh us up or downe Those who by folly foster pride And do deride The terrour of the Thunderers rods In seas of sinne their soules do drowne And others them abhorre as most unjust Who want Religion do deserve no trust How dare fraile flesh presume to rise Whil'st it deserves heavens wrath to prove On th' earth to move Lest that it opening straight Give death and buriall both at once How dare such ones Look up unto the skies For feare to feele the Thunderers weight All th' Elements their Makers will attend As prompt to plague as men are to offend All must be plagu'd who God displease Then whil'st he Bacchus rites did scorne Was Pentheus torne The Delians high disdaine Made Niobe though turn'd a stone With teares still mone And Pallas to appease Arachne weaves loath'd webbes in vaine Heaven hath prepar'd ere ever they begin A fall for pride a punishment for sinne Loe Iuno yet doth still retaine That indignation once conceiv'd For wrong receiv'd From Paris as we finde And for his cause bent to disgrace The Trojan race Doth hold a high disdaine Long layd up in a loftie minde We should abstaine from irritating those Whose thoughts if wrong'd not till reveng'd repose Thus thus for Paris fond desire Who of his pleasures had no part For them must smart Such be the fruits of lust Can heavenly breasts so long time lodge A secret grudge Like Mortals thrall to yre Till justice sometime seemes unjust Of all the furies which afflict the soule Lust and revenge are hardest to controullâ— The Gods give them but rarely rest Who do against their will contend And plagues do spend That fortunate in nought Their sprits quite parted from repose May still expose The stormy troubled brest A prey to each tyrannicke thought All selfe-accusing soules no rest can finde What greater torment then a trouble minde Let us adore th' immortall powers On whose decree of all that ends The state depends That farre from barbarous broiles We of our life this little space May spend in peace Free from afflictions showres Or at the least from guilty toyles Let us of rest the treasure strive to gaine Whithout the which nought can be had but paine Act. 2. Scene 1. Iulius Caesar Marcus Antonius NOw have my hopes attain'd the long'd for heaven In spight of partiall Envies poysnous blasts My Fortune with my courage hath prov'd even No Monument of miscontentment lasts Those who corrival'd me by me o're-throwne Did by their falls give feathers to my flight I in some corner rather live unknowne Then shine in glory and not shine most bright What common is to two rests no more rare In all the world no Phoenix is save one That of my deeds none challenge might a share Would God that I had acted all alone And yet at last I need to mourne no more For envy of the Macedonians praise Since I have equall'd all that went before My deeds in number do exceed my dayes Some earst whose deeds rest registred by Fame Did from their Conquests glorious titles bring But Greatnesse to be great must have my name To be a Caesar is above a King Ant. Those warre-like Nations which did Nations spoile Are by thy Legions to our laws made thrall What can brave mindes not do by time and toyle True magnanimity triumphs o're all Caes Th'out-ragious Gauls who in most monstrous swarmes Went wasting Asia thundering downe all things And Macedony quaking at their Armes Did insolently make and un-make Kings Those Gauls who having the worlds Conquerours foil'd As if the world might not have match'd them then Would sacrilegiously have Delphos spoil'd And warr'd against the Gods contemning men Yea those whose Ancestors our City burn'd The onely people whom the Romanes fear'd By me Romes nursling match'd and o're-match'd mourn'd So what they first eclips'd againe they clear'd Then as to Subjects having given degrees The Gauls no more presuming of their might I wounding Neptunes bosome with wing'd trees Did with the world-divided Britains fight The Germans from their birth inur'd to warre Whose martiall mindes still haughtie thoughts have bred Whil'st neither men nor walls my course could barre Mask'd with my banners saw their Rhene runne red The Easterne Realmes when conqu'ring now of late My comming and o're-comming was but one With little paine ear'st Pompey was call'd great Who fought soft bands whose glorious dayes were gone But what though thousands set ones praises forth For fields which shadows and not swords obtain'd The rate too easie vilifies the worth Save by great paines no glory can be gain'd From dangers past my comfort now proceeds Since all who durst gaine-stand I did o're-come And in few words to comprehend my deeds Rome conquer'd all the world and Caesar Rome Ant. Loe those who striv'd your vertue to suppresse As whose great actions made them jealous still Whil'st labouring but too much to make you lesse Have made you to grow great against your will Great Pompeys pompe is past his glory gone And rigorous Cato by himselfe lyes kill'd Then dastard Cicero more youâ— honours none Thus all your foes are with confusion fill'd The Senatours who could not be asswag'd Long to your prejudice their pow'r abus'd Till at their great ingratitude enrag'd I swore our swords would grant what they refus'd When having scap'd endanger'd and despis'd Brave Curio and I did to your Camp resort In old bare gownes like some base slaves disguis'd All sigh'd to see us wrong'd in such a sort Caes The highest in the heaven who knows all hearts Do know my thoughts as pure as are their Starres And that constrain'd I came from forraine parts To seeme uncivill in the civill warres I mov'd that warre which all the world bemoanes Whil'st urg'd by force to free my selfe from feares Still when my hand gave wounds
out We must in time attempt and not attend That race of victors which did Realmes appall Ah vanquish'd by their victories at last Are by their too much liberty made thrall Since all their strength but down themselves doth cast And we who by our birth aym'd at great things Of the worlds mistresse mighty minions once Who might have labour'd to give 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 even at this houre And to his Clients kingdomes doth divide With an unlimited tyrannicke pow'r 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 bragge of our disgrace Marc. Brut. I thought to see that man as others are Walke re-apparrell'd with a private gowne As one who had unwillingly made warre To stand himselfe not to cast others downe So Silla though more inhumane then he Whilst having all to what his heart aspir'd The Soveraignty resign'd and set Rome free When expectations date was quite expir'd By Caesars worth we must thinke that he too Will render freedome to this captiv'd state When first the world hath view'd what he might doe His thoughts are generous as his minde is great Though insolencies oft from courage flow His dying fury sparkles but a space High thoughts which Mars inspires nought can bring low Till one have us'd the purity of peace Those who by violence to all things tend Scâ—râ—â— can themselves to quietnesse conforme Their stately carriage and franke words offend Whil'st peace cannot comport with warres rude forme I hope that Caesar setling civill broyles When worne by custome from intestine rage Will strive to mitigate his Countries toyles And all those flames which burn'd his brest asswage Ca. Cassius Thus of his course you by your owne conceiv'd As if like thoughts of both did bound the will Ah honest mindes are with least paine deceiv'd Those who themselves are good dreame not of ill To sound of some the still unsound device Their inclination must your judgement sway The square of vertue cannot measure vice Nor yet a line when straight a crooked way So Caesar rising may usurpe the State He cares not by what force nor by what sleight O! one may soone deceive men and grow great Who leaves religion honesty and right When as the Senators no more their owne Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blindes And by high honours shew'd how they had shownâ— To gratifie his greatnesse gratefull mindes He in a Chayre imperiously plac'd Not daign'd to rise nor bow in any sort As both of them had but their due embrac'd When he a haughty they a humble port But if he thus ere we be throughly thrall'd Dare so disdainefully such great men use When in a regall Throne by us enstall'd Then will he breake that which he now doth bruise Was he not first who ever yet began To violate the sacred Tribunes place And punish'd them for punishing a man Who had transgress'd the lawes in time of peace The lawes which doe of death all guilty hold Whose actions seeme to tyranny inclin'd So earnest were our Ancestors of old To quench a tyrants light before it shin'd And shall our Nephewes heires of bondage blame Vs dastard parents who their hopes deceiv'd Who saw who suff'red who surviv'd such shame Not leaving dead what we when borne receiv'd By Caesars friends to an assembly brought The Senators intend to call him King Brut. I 'le not be there Cass But what if we be sought To ayde as Pretors such a publike thing Brut. I will resist that violent decree None of Romes Crowne shall long securely boast For ere that I live thrall'd I 'le first dye free What can be kept when liberty is lost Cass O! with what joy I swallow up those words Words worthy of thy worth and of thy name But Brutus doe not feare this cause affords In danger many but few mates in fame When Anthony proud Caesars image crown'd By silent sorrow all the people told In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drown'd That bondage-bragging Comet to behold What doe those scroules throwne in thy chaire import Which what thou art to brave thy courage brings Be those the fancies of the vulgar sort No none but noble mindes dreame of great things Of other Pretors people looke for showes And distributions whose remembrance dyes Whilst bloudy Fencers fall with mutuall blowes And Africkes monsters doe amaze their eyes But from thy hands they liberty attend By birth-right due the glory of thy race And bent for thee their bloud will frankely spend So thou succeed in thy great Parents place He Rome redeeming Tarquin did o'rethrow Though from his birth obey'd and without strife A rising tyrant then bring boldly low To what extinguish'd was who would give life Brut. I weigh thy words with an afflicted heart Which for compassion of my Country bleeds And would to God that I might onely smart So that all others scap'd what mischiefe breeds Then never 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 to my Country kinde But though that great mans grace to me enlarg'd May chalenge right in my affections store Yet must the greatest debt be first discharg'd I owe him much but to my Country more This is my brest hath great dissension bred I Caesar love but yet Romes enemy hate And as Iove lives I could be mov'd to shed My bloud for Caesar Caesars for the State I for my fathers death loath'd Pompey long Whilst just disdaine did boyle within my brest Yet when he warr'd to venge the common wrong I joyn'd with him because his cause was best A minde to raigne if Caesar now reveale I will in time precipitate his end Thus never arm'd but for the Common-weale I help'd a foe and now must hurt a friend Cas Lest of his favour thou the poyson prove From swallowing of such baites in time now spare No tyrant trust me can intirely love Nor none who for himselfe doth onely care He by this course doth cunningly intend Thy vertue slack'd to undermine thy minde Thy well-knowne courage purpos'd to disbend Thus though with silken bonds he would thee binde This of each tyrant is the common tread To wreake all those in whom most worth he findes Or whilst that terrours tosse his jealous head By subtilty to snare the greatest mindes As for the Pretor-ship when we did strive Then both were held in hope that so deceiv'd Each th 'others harmes might study to contrive Through emulation and disdaine conceiv'd Thus subtile Caesar by such sleights hath toild To sow dissension that we both might pause Of private wrongs and by such meanes imbroil'd Still courting him neglect the common cause But nought must make us th' one t'another strange Who should in time
the tyrants course restraine Let other men lament we must revenge I scorne to beare a sword and to complaine Brut. Though Caesar now I must conspire thy fall My heart to thee yet never harbour'd hate But pardon me who ever make it thrall From bondage Brutus must redeeme the state Of this my course what ever others judge Here I protest it is for good design'd My thoughts are guilty of no private grudge For reason and not fury moves my minde Nor doth ambition now enflame my brest With a prodigious appetite to raigne That when I have made Caesar Pluto's guest I in his roome a Monarch may remaine No if that glory did my fancies charme To which blind-folded tyrants doe aspire I needed not to doe 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 deserve to have his place And I could make my day succeed his night Yet doe I not for glory seeke so much As to attaine it by my Countries shame But O! I would my zeale to it is such That it may scape incurre a kinde of blame Yea so that I may free with honour'd wounds My soile that 's dearer then my soule to me I could my selfe live banish'd from that bounds Which at so deare a rate I would set free Cas What man doth breath of Mars his martiall race But will with Brutus sacrifize his bloud And charg'd with Armes ere tyranny take place Dare venture all things for his Countries good Can any judgement be deceiv'd so farre But it already clearely may behold How that this change Romes greatnesse soon will marre And raze the Trophees which she rear'd of old Of old in Rome all those who once had worne The peace-importing gowne or war-like shield Of dignities as capable all borne Durst ayme at ought that liberty could yeeld Those in affaires to deale who would set forth Were not discourag'd by their birth though base And poverty could not hold backe true worth From having honour both by warre and peace Then emulation violently driv'd All gallant mindes to tempt great actions still In vertues love who friendly rivals liv'd Whilst in their bosomes Glory balme did still Fabricius first was from the Plow advanc'd The Rudder of the Common-weale to hold Yet by no meanes his private wealth enhanc'd As rich in vertue still as poore in gold Rude Marius too to match red Mars in fame Forth from the vulgar drosse his race remov'd And loe of Cicero the ridiculous name As famous as the Fabians now hath prov'd Each abject minde disdain'd to be obscure When still preferment follow'd lofty cares And that one might by dangers past procure Fame for himselfe and honour to his heires But since that state by Caesar is o're-turn'd Whilst all our lives upon ones lippes depend Of brests which once with love of glory burn'd The soaring thoughts this wholly doth disbend Advancement now doth not attend desert But flowes from fancies of a flatt'red minde Which to base hirelings honour doth impart Whilst envy'd worth no safe retreat can finde All proud usurpers most addicted prove To them whom without cause they raise too high As thinking those who stand but by their love To entertaine the same all meanes must try Where they whose vertue reapes a due reward Not building onely on the givers grace Doe by deserts not gaine so great regard VVhilst they maintaine as they obtaine their place And if a worthy man to worke great things VVing'd with a tyrants favour raise his flight The highest course to him most harme still brings VVho till he fall cannot have leave to light Those who by force would have th' affection mov'd When willingly men hold such gallants deare Doe rage that any should be freely lov'd Whose vertue makes their vice more vile appeare The man who now to be preferr'd aspires Must by base flattery in a servile forme So soothing Caesar seale all his desires And in some shadow lurke to scape a storme A number now of that proud Rebels foes Who grieve to see the ground whence growes their griefe Would in obscurity entombe their woes So waiting and not working for reliefe But we whose lofty mindes disdaine to lowre Like them who seeke but their owne safety thus When shall we use high indignations pow'r Which as brave Romans worthy is of us Brut Since no indignity you will endure I see our mindes doe sympathize in this Should we by suffring seek to live secure Whose action must amend what is amisse No no such abject thought must staine our brest Whose active thoughts reach further than discourse Whilst but like beasts affecting food and rest Where men by reason should direct their course Like those of other parts not rais'd by strife If Caesar had been born or chus'd our Prince Then those who durst attempt to take his life The world of treason justly might convince Let still the States which flourish for the time By subjects be inviolable thought And those no doubt commit a monstrous crime Who lawfull Soveraignty prophane in ought And we must thinke though now thus brought to bow The Senate King a subject Caesar is The Soveraignty whom violating now The world must damne as having done amisse We will deare Cassius for our Countries sake What ever follow give or suffer death And let us now advise what course to take Whilst nought but th' ayre can beare away our breath Cas I thinke this matter needs not many words Since but one deed can bound the common shame In Caesars body we must sheath our swords And by his death our liberty reclaime But since his fortune did confound them all Who in the fields to match him did begin VVhilst he by thousands made their bands to fall VVith hoary legions alwayes us'd to winne As Pompeys Scipio's and Petreius ghosts In lightlesse shades can by experience tell Who after fatall proofes of numâ—rous hoasts All famous though infortunately fell And since provided for the Parthian warre His Armie arm'd attends on his decree Where we sequestred from such forces farre Would if suspected soone prevented be With some few friends whom all things to assay A love to us or to their Country bindes We to his wreake must walke another way Whilst ere our tongues our hands doe tell our mindes Now when most high and therefore hated most The gathered Senate seeks to make him King We must goe give 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 justly take By cloathing honour with a cloake of shame Which may our cause though good more odious make O! I could wish with honourable wounds To match Romes enemy in the battels dust No sweeter Musicke then the Trumpets sounds When right and valour keepe a consort just Then free if quicke else dead no
presage my fall It a sooth-sayer likewise hath divin'd The Sacrifice prodigious seemes to all So that till this disastrous day be gone All company I purpose to disuse And to the Senators will send some one To paint my absence with a faire excuse Dec. Brut. Doe not repose on superstitious signes You to suspect the people thus to bring Whilst Soveraigne-like you limit their designes Seeme not a tyrant seeking to be King How can we satisfie the worlds conceâ—t Whose tongue still in all eares your praise proclaimes Or shall we bid them leave to deale in state Till that Calphurnia first have better dreames If that this day you private would remaine The Senate to dissolve your selfe must goe And then incontinent come backe againe When you have showne to it some reverence so Caes With thy advise as pow'rfull I agree The Senatours shall have no cause to grudge A little space all part a space from me And I 'le be shortly ready to dislodge Caesar alone VVHence comes this huge and admirable change That in my brest hath uncouth thoughts infus'd Doth th' earth then earst yeeld terrors now more strange Or but my minde lesse courage then it us'd What spightfull fate against my state contends That I must now to fancied plagues give place By toes not mov'd afraid amongst my friends By warre secure endanger'd but by peace When strongest troopes to fight with me did come Then did my heart the highest hopes conceive I warr'd with many many to o're-come The greatest bâ—ttels greatest glory gave As th' enemies numbers still my courage grew Through depths of dangers oft times have I past Yet never did those boundlesse labours rue To have none greater first none equall last When bragging Gauls mov'd by their neighbours fals Had from the fields no from my fury fled And hid themselves with Armes their Armes with walles Whilst I my troupes before Alexia led Then though there swarm'd forth from the bounds about Huge hosts to compasse me enflam'd with wrath That the besiegers all besieg'd about Seem'd drawne by danger in the nets of death No way I who could with the pride comport That those Barbarians by vaine vaunts bewray'd Did re-assault th' assaulters in such sort That words by wounds wounds were by death repayd Of those within the towne to ease their toyles Till quite o're-com'd their comming was not knowne Who straight upbraided by the barb'rous spoiles Did yeeld themselves as if with them o're-throwne By liquid legions whilst with tumid boasts The Trident-bearer striv'd my spoiles to beare Though threatned thrise amid'st his humid hosts Still courage scorn'd to thinke of abject feare I us'd those Pyrats who had me deceiv'd Still as my servants thundring threatnings forth And gave them money more then they had crav'd Whose ignorance too meanely priz'd my worth Yet gathering ships I stay'd not long a shore But trac'd their steps though they not pav'd the way And taking them as I had vow'd before By nought but death their ransome would defray Then when without th' advice of others mindes Through hoary waves I past alone by night Whilst in a little Barke against great windes That even the Pilot lookâ—t not for the light The waves themselves asunder seem'd to teare That in their gravell I might chuse a grave And cry stall arches did above me reare That I a Tombe fit for my state might have Whilst dangers seem'd to merit Caesars death As Neptune rais'd his head I rais'd my heart And she wing what I was with constant breath To weake Amiclas courage did impart Was I not once amid'st large Nilus slote Whilst me to wound a wood of darts did flye Yet swim'd so carelesse of my enemies shot That in my hand I held some papers dry With open dangers thus in every place I whilst oft compass'd both by Sea and Land Did undismay'd looke horrour in the face As borne for nought but onely to command But since a world of victories have fill'd With Trophees Temples Theaters with my praise That bath'd with balme which glories bayes had still'd With friends in peace I look'd to spend my dayes The chambers musicke now afrights me more Then Trumpets sounds when marching in the field And Gowns though signes of peace worse then before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield Those thoughts of late which had disdain'd to doubt Though I alone had march'd amongst my foes Loe whilst amongst my friends well back'd about They then the eyes more danger now disclose If any chance to meet a number brings I insurrections feare from common wrath Yea if two talke a part of private things Straight I suspect that they conspire my death â—â—en sudden rumours rise from vulgar smoake â—â—ilst th' inward motions roule my restlesse eyes I at â—â—â—ch corner for an ambush looke Aâ—â—â—start astonish'd lest some tumult rise When light first lightning doth encourage toyles I still despaire to re-enjoy the night And when mine eyes th' umbragious darkenesse spoils I never looke to grace them with the light For when the light with shadowes makes a change To flatter mortals with a dreame of rest What ugly Gorgons what Chimera's strange Doe bragge the little world within my brest The time which should appease impetuous cares Doth double mine who view most when quite blinde I apprehend huge horrours and despaires Whilst th' outward objects not distract my minde Now of my conquests what delight remaines Where is the peace pursu'd by many a strife Have I but taken paine to purchase paines And sought by dangers for a dangerous life Is this the period of aspiring pow'rs In promis'd calmes to be most plagu'd by stormes Lurke poys'nous Serpents under fairest flow'rs And hellish furies under heavenly formes It will not grieve my ghost below to goe If circumvented in the warres I end As bold Marcellus by Romes greatest foe Who gave his ashes honour as a friend Or like t' Epaminondas in his death O! would the Gods I had amidst alarmes When charg'd with recent spoiles been spoil'd of breath Whilst I to Pluto might have march'd in armes Yet life to end which nought but toyles affords I 'le pay to death the tribute that it owes Straight with my bloud let some come dye their swords Whose naked brest encounter shall their blowes But ah how have the furies seaz'd my brest And poyson'd thus my sprite with desp'rate rage By horrid Serpents whilst quite barr'd from rest No kinde of comfort can my cares asswage No Atropos yet spare my threed a space That to the Stygian streames ere walking downe I may of honour have the highest place And if I fall yet fall beneath a Crowne VVhilst eares are bended to applauding shouts My thoughts divided are within my brest And my toss'd soule doth flote between two doubts Yet knowes not on what ground to build her rest The Senators they have this day design'd To shew the world how they esteeme my worth Yet doe portentuous signes perturbe my minde By