ground that never failes None can be throughly blest before the end I may compare our state to table-playes Whil'st Iudges that are blinde give onely light Their many doubt the earnest minde dismayes Which must have happy throwes then use them right So all our dayes in doubt what things may chance Time posts away our breath seems it to chace And when th' occasion comes us to advance It of a thousand one can scarce embrace When by a generous indignation mov'd Two fight with danger for a doubtfull praise Whil'st valour blindely but by chance is prov'd That ones disgrace anothers fame must raise O! what a foole his judgement will commit To grace the one with a not gain'd applause Where fortune is but to give sentence yet Whil'st bloudy agents plead a doubtfull cause This world a field is whereas each man fights And arm'd with reason resolutely goes To warre till death close up the bodies lights Both with externall and internall foes And how can he the Victors title gaine Who yet is busied with a doubtfull fight Or he be happy who doth still remaine In fortunes danger for a small delight The wind-wing'd course of man away fast weares Course that consists of houres houres of a day Day that gives place to night night full of feares Thus every thing doth change all things decay Those who doe stand in peace may fall in strife And have their fame by infamy supprest The evening crownes the day the death the life Many are fortunate but few are blest Croe. I see this Grecians sprite but base appeares Which cannot comprehend heroicke things The world of him more then he merits heares At least he knowes not what belongs to Kings Yet fame his name so gloriously array'd That long I long'd to have him in my house But all my expectations are betray'd I thinke a Mountaine hath brought forth a Mouse Act 2. Scene 2. Solon Aesope THis King hath put his trust in trustlesse toyes Whil'st courting onely temporary things And like a hooded Hawk gorg'd with vaine joye At randon flyes born forth on follys wings O how this makes my griefe exceeding great To see ones care who lives for dead things such Whil'st shew-transported mindes admire his state Which I not envy no but pitty much Thus wormes of th' earth whil'st low-plac'd thoughts prevaile Love melting things whose shew the body fits Where soule 's of clearer sight doe never faile To value most the treasure of good wits Those worldly things doe in this world decay Or at the least we leave them with our breath Where to eternity this leades the way So differ they as farre as life and death Aesope And yet what wonder though he wander thus Whom still by successe treacherous fortune blindes Though this indeed seem somewhat strange to us Who have with learning purifi'd our mindes Was he not borne heire of a mighty state And us'd with fortunes smiles not fear'd for frownes Doth measure all things by his owne conceit A great defect which fatall is to Crownes Then from his youth still trusting in a Throne With all that pride could crave or wealth could give Vs'd with entreaties and contrould by none He would the tongue of liberty deprive Though to his sight I dare not thus appeare Whose partiall judgement farre from reason parts I grieve to see your entertainment here So farre inferiour to your owne deserts That matchlesse wisedome which the world admires And ravish't with delight amazed heares Since not in consort with his vaine desires Did seeme impleasant to distemper'd eares Eares which can entry give to no discourse Save that which enters fraughted with his praise He can love none but them that love his course And thinkes all fooles who use no flattering phrase This with the great ones doth the gods displease Though spreading all her heavenly treasures forth They if not in their livery them to please Doe vertue vilifie as of no worth Solon I care not Aesope how the King conceiv'd Those my franke words which I must alwaies use I came not here till he my comming crav'd And now when come will not my name abuse Should I his poys'nous Sycophants resemble Whose silken words their Soveraigne doe o'rethrow I for his Diadem would not dissemble What hearts doe thinke the tongues were made to show And what if I his humour to content The worlds opinion lost by gaining ones He can but give me gifts which may be spent But nought can cleere my fame if darkned once That so he might my reputation raise If I sooth'd him it would procure my shame Whil'st those who vitious are our vertues praise This in effect is but a secret blame Though as a simple man he me despise Yet better simply good then doubly ill I not my worth by others praises prize Nor by opinions doc direct my will That praise contents me more which one imparts Of judgement sound though of a meane degree Then praise from Princes voyd of princely parts Who have more wealth but not more wit then he Aesope Who come to Court must with Kings faults comport Solon Who come to Court should truth to Kings report Aesope A wise man at their imperfections winkes Solon An honest man will tell them what he thinkes Aesope So should you lose your selfe and them not save Solon But for their folly I no blame would have Aesope By this you should their indignation finde Solon Yet have the warrant of a worthy minde Aesope It would be long ere you were thus preferr'd Solon Then it should be the King not I that err'd Aesope They guerdon as they love they love by guesse Solon Yet when I merit well I care the lesse Aesope It 's good to be still by the Prince approv'd Solon It 's better to be upright though not lov'd Aesope But by this meane all hope of honour failes Solon Yet honesty in end ever prevailes Aesope I thinke they should excell for vertue rare All men in wit who unto men give lawes Kings of their kingdomes as the centers are To which each weighty thing by nature drawes For as the mighty rivers little streames And all the liquid pow'rs which rise or fall Doe seeke in sundry parts by severall seames The Oceans bosome that receives them all It as a Steward of the tumid deeps Doth send them backe by many secret veynes And as the earth hath need of moisture keeps These humid treasures to refresh the Plaines Thus are Kings brests the depths where daily flow Cleare streames of knowledge with rare treasures charg'd So that continually their wisedomes grow By many helpes which others want enlarg'd For those who have intelligence ov'r all Doe commonly communicate to Kings All th' accidents of weight that chance to fall Which great advantage Greatnesse to them brings They jealously dispos'd comment on mindes And these who Arts or Natures gifts enhaunce Whose value no where else a Merchant findes Doe come to Kings as who may them advance No doubt
both lye downe to rest and rise in peace Then if they strive they strive who should love best What though thou have not as the mighty ones Thy neck surcharg'd with chains ah chains indeed Nor eares weigh'd down with orientall stones Nor Robes whose worth may admiration breed So want'st thou that which we have ever had Sad mis-contentments jealousie and spite And though thy back be not with purple clad Thy thoughts are deck't with Innocencies white As birds whose cage of gold the sight deceives Do seeme to sing whil'st they but waile their state So with the mighty match'd made glorious slaves We happy seeme whil'st we but curse our fate That blisse whose shew in us vaine eyes doth please Makes thee indeed with pleasures spend thy breath Who liv'st while yong in mirth whil'st ag'd in ease And know'st not what it is to dye till death Ah! since I liv'd I alwayes did but dye When seeming happy then most wretched still Whil'st dazeling with vaine pompe each vulgar eye What strange mishaps did me with anguish fill The fates with fortune from my birth conspir'd To make my life a patterne of their might For both my parents from the world retir'd When I had scarcely look'd upon the light The world may judge how I was justly griev'd Whil'st angry Philip sought for my disgrace A thing which once I scarce could have beleev'd And unto Cleopatra gave my place Then though I long as desp'rate of reliefe For his offence afflicted had my minde Yet did his sudden death augment my griefe He was my husband though he was unkinde And when my Sonnes rare deeds which fame doth sound The world with wonder ravish'd me with joy Those as himselfe who would all his confound To compasse me did spite and power imploy Yet stood my courage when my Fortune fell And still I toil'd to persecute his foes That some might fall downe who too much did swell Their bloud in Marble registring my woes That which I purpos'd long so prosp'red too That some of them did try by torments strange All what a womans just disdaine could do Whil'st spurr'd by jealousie spite and revenge But this Arch-traitour Ruler of the rest Who thirsts to drinke the bloud of all our Race Even then with us when all succeeded best Did compasse me with ruine and disgrace Such was the tenor of my Fortune past Whose least mishap had made another burst First orphan'd widow'd and unchilded last A daughter wife and mother all accurst Heavens plague Cassander let that base wretch try That Iove his judgement but a while deferres And let his wife bewaile as well as I I murdred for my Sonne and she by hers Even as th' incestuous Thebans monstrous brood So may thy Sonnes contend with mutuall wounds And never let thy house be free from bloud Till banish'd quite from this usurped bounds Thus notwithstanding of my wonted pow'r To me save wishes nothing doth remaine But though condemn'd to dye yet at this houre Should I begin to curse and to complaine No no that custome best becomes poore soules Whose resolution cannot climbe more high But I whose courage that base course controuls Must triumph still what ever State I try Death is the port where all may refuge finde The end of labour entry unto rest Death hath the bounds of misery confin'd Whose Sanctuary shrowds affliction best To suffer oft with a couragious heart It doth deserve more praise then deeds most knowne For in our actions Fortune hath some part But in our suffrings all things are our owne Loe now I loath the world and worldly things Of which I both have prov'd the best and worst The apprehended death great comfort brings And hath no crosse but that it should be forc'd O heare me now deare Sonne if that thy Ghost May leave th' Elysian fields to look on me Of all things else this doth content me most That from this time I may remaine with thee And blush not now to see thy Mothers end My death in glory with thy life shall strive It as a captive Fortune shall attend That as thy fellow follow'd thee alive Chorus AH ah though man the image of great Iove And th' onely creature that gives Reason place With reverence due unto the powres above His heavenly progeny should seeke to prove By still resembling the Immortall kinde Yet makes the world our better part so blinde That we the clouds of vanity imbrace And from our first excellency decline This doth distinguish that celestiall grace Which should make soules to burne with Vertues love Whose fancies vice luxuriously now feasts Vice is the Circe that enchants the minde And doth transforme her followers all in Swine Whiâ—st poyson'd pleasures so corrupt our tastes That of halfe-gods we make our selves whole-beasts And yet of ruthlesse Pluto's raging host The vâ—ce which doth transport presumptuous hearts And makes men from the Gods to differ most Is cruelty that to the sufferers cost And actors both is often-times appeas'd The gods delight to give and to forgive By pardoning and not by plagueing pleas'd And why should men excogitate strange Arts To shew their tyranny as those who strive To feed on mischiefe though the Author smarts Oft for the deed of which himselfe did boast Whil'st whence the blow first came the griefe doth turne For that by which the minde at first was eas'd May it in th' end the greatest burden give Oft those whose cruelty makes many mourne Do by the fires which they first kindled burne Of other tyrants which oppresse the minde With pleasure some delight it in such sort That first the hony then the gall we finde And others though from Honors Court declin'd Somâ— comfort yeeld but base by hope of gaine And though some make us to be loath'd of one We by their meanes anothers love obtaine But cruelty with which none can comport Makes th'authors hated when the deed is done Oft even by those whom it did most support As that which altenates men from their kinde And as humanity the minde enchaunts So barbarous soules which from the same refraine More fierce than lavage beasts are lov'd of none Since with such beasts one with lesse danger haunts Then with the man whose minde all mercy wants Yet though the minde of man as strong and rude Be ravish'd oft with violent desire And must if fir'd with rage be quench'd with bloud How can this tender sexe whose glory stood In having hearts inclin'd to pity still It selfe delight in any barbarous deed For Nature seemes in this to use her skill In making womens mindes though weake entire That weaknesse might love and devotion breed To which their thoughts if pure might best aspire As aptest for th'impressions of all good But from the best to worst all things do weare Since cruelties from feeble mindes proceed In breasts where courage failes spite shame and feare Make envy hate and rigour rule to beare Our Queene Olympias who was once so
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
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
we certaine see And not attaine to that which you devise Croe. I grant indeed this very few shall know Though I professe but to relieve my friend My thoughts conceive as successe best may show And not without great cause a greater end You see how fortune nought but change affects Some are reproach'd that others may be prais'd And every age brings forth some strange effects Some men must fall that others may be rais'd I doubt not you have heard who was the first For warring with the world whom fame revives Who had of soveraignty so great a thirst That it could not be quench'd with thousands lives Even he who first obtain'd the name of Iove And rests reputed for his glorious acts The most imperious of the pow'rs above Who vowes and offerings of the world exacts He all his time in state did terrour breath Borne to acquaint the world with warre and dearth Whil'st fertile still in misery and death Two fatall furies that afflict the earth Yet since his course the worlds first plague was past When his proud race had many ages raign'd That Empire too did perish at the last And what it lost by martiall Medes was gain'd This was the cause of that great kingdomes fall A Prince who could not judge of Princely parts With losse of Scepter honour life and all To buy base joyes sold all his Subjects hearts To that disastred Monarchies decay Th' aspiring Persians purpose to succeed But I intend their lofty course to stay And that in time ere that it throughly speed The Persians once the Lydians force must prove And O! who knowes but that it is ordain'd At the tribunall of the States above That I should raigne where famous Ninus raign'd This all the hoste of heaven oft-times foretels To this the Gods of Greece my minde have mov'd And he that in Arabia's desart dwels By his response this enterprise approv'd San. Thus still in love with what we minde to doe What we affect we fairest still conceive This feeds our humour whil'st selfe-flatterers loe To shew our wit we would our selves deceive Vaine hopes so maske all doubts you cannot spy What secret danger this designe doth beare But whil'st well view'd with an indifferent eye There want not grounds where fore-sight may find feare You unadvis'dly purpose to pursue A barbarous people opposite to peace Who but by robbery to their greatnesse grew And would for each light cause the warres embrace No dainty silkes dipt in Assyrian dye Doe decke their bodies to abase their mindes Skinnes reft from beasts them cloath who danger ply Not mov'd by flattering Sunnes nor bragging windes They simply feed and are not griev'd each day With stomackes clody decocting divers meates They fare not as they would but as they may Of judgement sound not carried with conceits Those ancient customes which they strictly hold Make all things easie that they feele no paine This cooles the summers heate kils winters cold This makes the Rivers dry the Mountaines plaine They whose ambition poverty did bound Of Lydia's dainties if they once doe taste Will have in hatred straight their barren ground And all our treasures insolently waste To governe such although that we prevaile You shall but buy vexation with your bloud And doe your selfe and yours if fortune faile From Soveraignty by time secur'd seclude Yea though this rash desire your judgement blindes I for my part must praise the Gods for you Who have not yet inspir'd the Persians mindes To waste with warre all Lydia long ere now Croe. Those flames which burn my brest must once burst out Your counsell for more quiet mindes I leave And be you still thought wise so I prove stout I 'le conquer more or lose the thing I have Coelia AH am I forc'd out of afflictions store For my mindes ease a few sad words to straine But yet unlode it now to lode it more I empty but mine eyes to fill againe My soule must sound even as my passions strike Whil'st sighes and teares would faine afford reliefe My brest and eyes are both accurst alike The Cabinet of care the Springs of griefe O cruell heaven fierce starre unhappy fate Too foule injustice of celestiall pow'rs Whose high disdaine to me with partiall hate The comfort of the world poore world devoures Curst be the day in which I first was borne When lying tongues affirm'd I came to light A monstroues blasphemy a mighty scorne Since where darke sorrow breeds an endlesse night Would God I then had chanc'd this life to leave The tombe straight taking what the wombe did give Then alwayes buried changing but the grave I had not liv'd to dye but dy'd to live What profited to me my Parents joyes VVho with such pompe did solemnize my birth Since stiâ—l my soule must flote amidst annoyes So to defray one dramme of tasted mirth And it did onely serve to make me know The height of horrour threatning to succeed I was but rais'd up high to be brought low That short liv'd joyes might endlesse anguish breed Whil'st nothing did for my confusion lacke All my best deeds did but betray my State My vertues too were guilty of my wracke And warr'd against me banded with my fate For whil'st my Virgin-yeares with praise I past Which did ah that it did too much import My modest eye told that my minde was chast Which gain'd the warrant of the worlds report And all should have a great respect to fame No greater dowry then a spotlesse name Faire beauties God desse thou can'st beare record My offring never made thine Altar rich Lascivious fancies highly I abhorr'd Whose free-borne thoughts no folly could bewitch Till happily ah so it seem'd to some O but unhappily the end hath prov'd All this and more to Atis eares did come Who straight did like and after liking lov'd He to our eares his purpose did impart Not lip-sicke-lover-like with words farre sought Whose tongue was but an agent for his heart Yet could not tell the tenth part that it thougth And lest his travels should have seem'd to tend My honours fame by fancies to betray He brought his wishes to a lawfull end And in effect affection did bewray There Iuno president of wedlockes vow And Hymen with his odoriferous cote With sacred customes did our love allow Whil'st th' ominous Owles no crosses did devote The blessing that this marriage did procure It was too great to have continued long A thing too vehement cannot endure Our joyes farre past the reach of any tongue We ever did full satisfaction finde Yet with satiety were never cloyd But seem'd two bodies manag'd by one minde Such was the happinesse that I enjoy'd He lov'd me dearely I obey'd his will Proud of my selfe because that I was his A harmony remain'd betwixt us still Who each in th' other plac'd their soules chiefe blisse This mov'd th'immortals to a high disdaine That thus two worldlings who of death were heires Should in a Paradise of
Pure snows in Crimson dy'd imbrac'd her Lord Whil'st beauties blubbred Starres were waxing dim Then bent to fall when her they could not raise As scorning to survive their prosp'rous state In emulation of their Ladies praise The Eunuchs did precipitate their fate O sweet Panthea rich in rarest parts I must admire thy ghost though thou be gone Who might'st have made a Monarchy of hearts Yet loath'd unlawfull loves and lov'd but one O wond'rous wonders wonders wond'rous rare A woman constant such a beauty chast A minde so pure joyn'd with a face so faire With vertue beauty in one person plac't Both were well match'd as any could devise Whose death confirmes the union of their life He valorous she vertuous both wise She worthy such a Mate he such a wife And Harpagus lest that it should be thought That of brave mindes the memory may dye Cause build a stately Tombe with Statues wrought Where both their bodies with respect may lye Harp I 'le raise a Pyramide of Croesus spoils Where of their worth each part shall be compris'd But how to do in these tumultuous broils Now time requires that you were well advis'd Your adversary doth attend your will This hauty Towne for feare to fall doth bow And therefore pardon ransome quite or kill Do what you please none can controll us now Cry As for old Croesus I am else resolv'd He with some captives whom I keep in store Shall have their bodies by the fire dissolv'd As offerings to the Gods whom I adore My Souldiers paines this City shall defray Since by their meanes it hath beene gain'd for us I yeeld it unto them as their just prey Who taste the sweetnesse of their travels thus Of other things we shall so well dispose That our renowne through all the world shall shine Till Cyrus name give terror to all those Who dare against his Soveraignty repine Act. 5. Scene 2. Nuntius Chorus AH to what part shall I my steps addresse Of bondage base the burden to eschue Loe desolation ruine and distresse With horrour do my native home pursue And now poore Countrey take my last farewell Farewell all joy all comfort all delight Cho. What heavy tydings hast thou now to tell Who tear'st thy garments thus what forc'd thy flight Nunt. I tell the wracke of us and all who live Within the circuit of this wretched soile Cho. A hideous shout we heard the Citie give Have foes prevail'd do they her beauty spoile Nunt. They may it spoile Cho. And is our Soveraigne slaine Nunt. No but scarce scap't doth live in danger still Chor. Then let our mindes no more in doubt remaine And must we yeeld to that proud Strangers will Nunt. You know how Croesus at advantage lay Still seeking meanes to curbe the Persians pride And how th' Assyrians had assign'd a day When led by him they battell would abide But Cyrus having heard how that they would Against his State so great an armie bring Straight raising forces providently bold Prevents invades o're-comes and takes our King Cho. This shews a Captaine both expert and brave Who wisely doth advise performe with speed No circumstance friend unrelated leave Which with our Kings did our confusion breed Nunt. When Croesus saw that Cyrus came so soone He stood a while with a distracted minde Yet what time would permit left nought undone But made his musters march'd his foe to finde Our stately troups that for rich armes excell'd And with umbragious feathers fann'd the aire With insolency not with courage swell'd A triumph dream'd scarce how to fight took care The Lydian horse-men never stain'd but true And for their worth through all the world renown'd Them chiefly Cyrus labour'd to subdue And this device for that effect was found Untrussing all their baggage by the way Each of the Camels for his charge did beare A grim-fac'd Groome who did himselfe array With what in Persia horsemen use to weare To them th'infantery did follow next A solid squadron like a brasen wall But those in whom all confidence was fix'd The brave Cavallery came last of all Then Cyrüs by the raines his Courser tooke And bravely mounted holding out his hands With an assured and imperious look Went kindling courage through the flaming bands He them desir'd who at deaths game would strive To spare none of their foes in any forme But as for Croesus to take him alive And keep him captive for a greater storme Where famous Hellus doth to Hermus post To give another both his strength and name Our army ranne against a greater host To grace it likewise with our force and same Each troupe a time with equall valour stood Till giving place at length we took the chace While as the River ranne to hide our bloud But still his borders blush'd at our disgrace For when the Camels to the field were come Our horses all affrighted at their sight Ranne raging backe againe and of them some Disordering ranks put many to the flight Yet some who had beene us'd with martiall traines The stratagem though out of time perceiv'd And lighting downe red heights rais'd from green plains Did vengeance urge of those who them deceiv'd There whil'st the world prov'd prodigall of breath The headlesse tronks lay prostrated in heaps This field of funerals sacred unto death Did paint out horrour in most hideous shapes Whil'st men unhors'd horses unmastred stray'd Some call'd on those whom they most dearly lov'd Some rag'd some groan'd some sigh'd roar'd promis'd pray'd As blows falls faintnesse paine hope anguish mov'd Those who then scap'd like beasts unto a den A fortresse took where valour none renownes Walls are for women and the fields for men No Towne can keep a man but men keep Townes And we were scarcely entred at the Ports When straight the Enemies did the Towne enclose And quickly rear'd huge artificiall Forts Which did to the besieg'd more paine impose All martiall Engines were for battery found At like encounters which had ear'st prevail'd Whil'st both they us'd the vantage of the ground And borrow'd help from Art where Nature fail'd They alwayes compassing our Trench about Still where the walls were weake did make a breach Which straight repairing darts were hurled out To kill all those who came where we might reach There all the bolts of death edg'd by disdaine Which many curious wits enclin'd to ill Whil'st kindled by revenge or hope of gaine Had skill to make were put in practise still Yet as we see it oft-times hath occur'd That in Fames rolls our fall might be compris'd That side of Sardis farre from all regard Which doth next Tmolus lye thought most secure Through this presumption whil'st without a guard All Lydia's o'rethrow did with speed procure As one of ours unhappily it chanc'd To reach his helmet that had scap't his hand A longst that steepie part his steps advanc'd And was returning back unto his band He was well mark'd by one who had not spar'd To tempt
TRAGEDY OF DARIVS Act 1. Darius WHat thund'ring pow'r grown jealous of my state Which having daunted th' earth perchance heaven fears Thus arm'd with lightning breathing flames of hate Big with disdaine high indignation beares Long smooth'd of all whilst I pale cares despis'd In fortunes lap asleep of greatnesse dream'd Even in that calme my state a storme surpris'd And ere I wak't my ruine was proclam'd Thus I whose onely name did terrour give As Idoll of the world ador'd over all With crosses compass'd such a wretch doe live That who admir'd my might admire my fall Ah then indeed I fell when gallants stood And Phoenix like renew'd their lives by death Who having seal'd their force and faith with bloud Would rather dye then draw a borrowed breath Yet I not I did view not venge though neare Those monstrous mountaines of my Subjects slaine Though even my enemies must my courage cleare Which flames of fury lightned forth in vaine Through greatest dangers death I did pursue Till heapes of slaughtred bodies barr'd my way And chang'd my Chariot to a scarlet hue Ere wounded honour could be drawne away O how I envy yet their happy Ghosts Who dy'd whilst hope of victory remain'd And in the presence of two famous hosts To praise their valour even their foes constrain'd Shall I survive that memorable shame Which Persia's glory with disgrace confin'd No rather let me dye and let my name As vaine quite vanish raz'd from every minde Starre-boasting Babylon all Asia's Queene Blush to behold thy King in such a state That by the gazing world he now is seene A scorned futer humbly to entreate But not turn'd vassall as by pow'r appall'd Though all my Empire to a period come Yet none shall vaunt that ever I was thrall'd Hearts holding courage are not quite o're-come Should I whose Soveraignty so oft was sworne Be seene submisse to scape a minutes paines No let them bow who but to bow were borne For Darius this indignity disdaines Since I was once judg'd worthy to command Shall I descend a Subjects state to try No whilst a sword yeelds homage to this hand I scorne to grant a greater man then I. Brave sprites who now possesse the pleasant bow'rs And glorious Gardens of th' Elysian Plaines For if deserts may move th' infernall pow'rs That happy shade your shadowes now containes Those fatall fields where I did leade you forth Your bodies bury but enlarge your fames Men shall adore the relickes of your worth And Trophees reare to your immortall names I 'le sacrifice as Incense to your soules His dying sighes and sorrowing Parents teares Who now whilst none his prospering pride controules Our conquer'd Ensignes in his triumph beares For it may ease your Ghosts to heare his grones Whilst burden'd earth rebounding backe doth send A wailing eccho rais'd from woods and stones With wounded words to shew that Armies end Why spend I speeches to disturbe your rest As but with words an idle speaker pleas'd A mighty fury hath enflam'd my brest And I will rage till by revenge appeas'd Did I that strong Cadusian first afront Who durst advance himselfe to brave our bands Then turn'd applauded and in high account Charg'd with his spoiles the honour of my hands What could I then all kinde of doubt remov'd Alone adventure to an Armies shame And should I now that ancient praise disprov'd With squadrons compass'd lose that glorious name Blinde fortune O! thy stratagems are strange Which spoile my pow'r and staine my honour too And having made my state the stage of change Hast acted all was in thy power to doe Loe I who late of swarming troups did boast Neere left alone have fortunes fraud disclos'd And those made captives whom I fancy most To vaunting Victors are by fates expos'd O torment but to thinke death to beleeve That any may my dearest part annoy And I wretch'd I not able to releeve Mine eyes chiefe jewell and my hearts chiefe joy Deare object of my thoughts my life my love Sweet Spring of my delights my one my all Bright image of th'excellencies above What do'st thou breath and com'st not when I call And can I be and not be where thou art Hath heaven the force me from thy face to barre Or are my hands growne traitours to my heart That they should shrinke from doing what it dare O! could my minde but distribute a space Those emulating thoughts which tosse my brest To pointlesse ciphers who but spend a place Then I alone might animate the rest Since in this great disgrace I chanc'd to fall Now nothing rests to raise my fame forlorne But by some desperate course to hazard all I 'le live with praise or by my death flye scorne Some prosp'rous issue afterward may purge This crime which fortune hath impos'd on me This crime that carryes with it selfe a scourge No greater torment then the want of thee But fortunes course what mortall can restraine Who Diadems through dust for sport doth roule A stranger now o're my delights doth raigne And may extort the treasures of my soule Now not till now I apprehend my harmes When I imagine how my best belov'd Must entertaine mine enemy in her armes And I so farre from offering ay de remov'd A host of furies in my brest I finde Which doe my soule with dreadfull horrours fill Whilst Melancholy musters in my minde Strange apprehensions that affright me still And this surmiz'd disgrace grown throughly strong Reades hourely in mine eares a hatefull scroule Of an imagin'd yet a helpelesse wrong Such poison'd thoughts like Serpents sting my soule Blinde love beguiles me not sharpe sighted feares With reason fed doe make suspition live Would God that I had neither eyes nor eares Which to the heart intelligence might give This aggravates the weight of my despaire When doubt objects to breake loves last defence How he is yong and fierce she yong and faire He to offend she subject to offence From wronging me both cannot long abstaine Her beauty is sufficient to allure His bravery is sufficient to obtaine Captaines will force and Captives must endure O Alexander tender my renowne Though thus thou travell to usurpe my throne I rage to have a rivall in my Crowne But in my love I can comport with none That boundlesse flame which in thy bosome boyles If quench'd with ought save bloud as base I blame My fortunes take but spare her honours spoiles Which not thy glory yet must breed our shame But pardon deare that which griev'd thoughts burst â—orth More bright thy fame that darkened is my state By many meanes men may approve their worth A woman onely with a wretched mate Chast mindes still pure doe then most firmely stand When fortifi'd with wedlockes sacred band Yet let me doubt or let me leave to love To feare the worst it is affections part I doubt not of thy truth yet it may prove Thy face betray thy faith thy hap thy heart But on thy
the strong For Victors rage when as the vanquish'd bosts I will entreat him too not for my selfe Age bows my body to embrace pale death But that you yet may shunne this wrackfull shelfe Whose youth and beauty worthy are of breath Act. 3. Scene 2. Alexander Sisigambis Statira Regina Hephestion RIse Mother rise and calme those needlesse cares I come to cure not to procure your woe The duty which I owe those silver haires Doth grieve my minde to see you humbled so Sis Most gracious Prince forgive me if I err'd In taking him for you who stands you by Alex. I finde no fault to see my friend preferr'd Even to my selfe this is another I. Sis My sorrows so confounded have my minde That scarce I know my selfe another lesse My soule in such an agony I finde As words nor teares nor grones cannot expresse Alex. I pray you mother set those plaints apart They vex me more then sterne Bellona's broils Sis This tender name of Mother wounds my heart Whil'st nam'd by him who of that name me spoils I was woe that I was a Mother late Of two faire Sonnes faire Sunnes lights of my life But one is dead and in a worse estate The other lives involv'd in woe and strife Like to the trunke of some disbranched tree Which Aeolus hath to confusion brought Since spoil'd of those brave Impes which sprung from me Unprofitable stock I serve for nought Stat. Reg. I serve for nought since serving him no more Who onely may my blasted hopes revive Loe quite confounded farre from what before Who him of me me of my selfe deprive I live without my halfe without my whole Prodigious Monster whom the world admires I want the point the pilot and the pole Which drew addrest and bounded my desires Toss'd by sad sighs in flouds of bitter teares I save from ruine look for no reliefe By what I feele still plagu'd but worse with feares All comfort loath'd my glory is my griefe My soule feemes to presage disastrous chances And warring with it selfe hath never peace My heart surcharg'd doth faint in deadly trances My eyes must grace the ground of my disgrace Hell hath assembled all her horrours here Ah! in the dungeons of this desp'rate brest As in the dark Tartarian groves appeare A thousand shadows to bereave my rest Alex. Faire Princesse spare those passionate complaints Which may augment but not amend your harmes This voice which with your woe the world acquaints Doth move me more then all the Persians Armes Take courage Madam be afraid of none That you may hope what help I can afford I sweare by Ioves inviolable Throne And do protest by my Imperiall word Though for a while barr'd from your royall seat You compass'd here with troups of strangers stand Yet shall you still be us'd as fits your state And may as earst in your owne Court command Stat. Reg. Ah! how can I command whil'st I am thrall What can I have who wanting one want all Alex. Though brave it seeme in some proud victors sight To plague their captives and triumph in ill The larger grow the limits of my might The more I labour to rest raine my will What can be fear'd by them whom I defend Foes have not pow'r and who with me remaine They dare not wrong nor offer to offend The least in ranke who doth attend your traine If any would impugne what I appoint Or would in ambush for your honour lye Or discontent you but in any point As Alexander lives that wretch shall dye Stat. Reg. O what an host of evils where ere I go Are still encroaching to o're-throw my state Ah! must I be beholding to my foe And owe him love to whom my love owes hate Should he help me who still his ruine plyes Heavens curse my heart if stain'd with treason thus Let death in darknesse first entombe mine eyes Ere such a sight accepted be by us I Lord am thine and thine I will remaine Thy love was planted in a fertile field Which gratefull now thee to reward againe From flourish'd faith chast flames for fruits doth yeeld Yet doth misfortune this good fortune bring My constancy shall now be clearly knowne Another might have lov'd an happie King But I will love thee though thou be o're-throwne Alex. I labour much to comfort in some measure This grieved Queene that was a Monarch's choice Whose woe doth make my victory no pleasure For whil'st she mournes I cannot well rejoyce Sis Most mighty King thou dost deserve indeed That as for Darius we should pray for thee Who do'st so much in clemency exceed That thou bewail'st our losse no lesse then he Not onely thou surmount'st all other Kings In glory rising from thy labours gone And for those benefits which Fortune brings But in all vertues worthy of a Throne Thou do'st vouchsafe on me more then I crave The title of a Queene and Mother still But I confesse my selfe thy humble slave Whose life hath now no limits but thy will The dreamed good that Greatnesse gave forgot My count'nance shall be free from clouds of cares And I 'le allow of this my present lot As one who for my fate my force prepares Yea if this wofull woman here were free Who hath no heaven except her husbands face I could content my selfe great Prince to be The meanest hand-mayd that attends your Grace Alex. As if your Sonnes command all that is mine And I will seek to second your desire Sis Heavens recompense this courtesie of thine Which in all ages thousands shall admire Alex. Those captiv'd Princesses have pierc'd my soul Which even amid'st our heaven have found a hell Hep. His passions so what Stoick could controull Whom now to weep their teares would not compell What age could earst such stately beauties show Which of perfection hold the highest place And borne to bring though now they be brought low Do Beauty beautifie give Griefe a grace Sir such a victory hath not beene seene As you have gain'd since conquering as appeares The largest kingdome and the fairest Queene That Asia vaunted of these many yeares Durst Leda's or Agenors brood compare With that sweet Queene the honour of her kinde But as she is above all others faire As farre her daughters make her go behinde It seem'd at first that sorrow had beene sleeping Then whil'st those Virgins in their Grand-dames bosome With weeping beauty and with beauteous weeping Did with a haile of pearle blast Beauties blossome So large a pow'r no Prince on Earth can have As hath Loves Empire in their face confin'd Alex. What what Hephestion what doth thee deceive Dare folly seeke to bragge so brave a minde Dare Cupid enter in an armed Camp And them who Mars have match'd for sport appall Must his soft seale even through hard metall stamp And make who conquer men to women thrall Hep. We dare resist whil'st many a thousand dyes The steely tempests of a world of men But if from
But Alexander having heard our cryes Sent one to learne the cause that mov'd our woe Who finding whence our errour did arise Gave full assurance that it was not so Then he himselfe did to our Tent resort And with the mildest words he could conceive Your Mother Wife and Children did exhort Such terrours vaine since but surmiz'd to leave And he protested that they should expect No harme of him their courage to appall Then all things did with great regard direct That no man might endammage them at all Thus when they were against all dangers arm'd I thinke for feare for who would not have fear'd Lest such rare graces might his minde have charm'd He never more before her face appear'd Else generous vertue jealous of each thing Which tempting reason senses might allure What rare restraint in a victorious King He fled what fault or scandall could procure He doth his fame above all things preferre And will not be where it may blemish finde Nor give his eyes commodity to erre Lest thoughts impure might strive to staine his minde He whil'st that she was sicke did loath delight And gravely griey'd all pompe and pleasure left Dar. O hatefull heaven that with such hellish spight The worlds chiefe treasure Natures glory reft Tir. When he beheld deaths triumph in that face Which had triumph'd o're such a Monarchs heart With witness'd woe even passionate a space The lookers on did much commend his part And when some time his dolour had o're-come Her funerall rites solemnly to decore He us'd such honour as might well become The Persian pompe in prosp'rous times before Dar. O pow'r supreame that of great states disposest And ratifi'st thy will with fearefull thunder Who as thou pleasest placest and deposest Vncertaine worldlings now above now under I pray thy Deitie in my soules distresse If that th' inhabitants of heaven can heare The plaints of them who this low point possesse Or that th' immortals can give mortals care This favour last I onely doe require Establish first the Scepter in my hand But if through my desert or thy desire The race of Cyrus must no more command Since angry heaven so high a hate contracts That I must needs my Diadem forgoe Let him succeed who proves in all his acts So milde a Victor and so just a foe Act 4. Scene 2. Darius Artabazus Nabarzanes Patron Bessus IF joyn'd by fates with men of dastard mindes Who to a noble death base life preferr'd I should not waste my words amongst the windes But labour would that time might be deferr'd Though still resolv'd your course confirmes me much Whom no disaster could divorce from me What man can doubt whom heavens doe backe by such When bragg'd with bondage fighting to be free My courage swels to see you marching forth Whose force and faith which all the world doth sing Oft clear'd by proofe though fortune envy worth Might serve to make farre more to keepe a King He gives our rebels Townes not mov'd by love Each Prince though using them all traitours hates But that their course to take this might you move His turne once serv'd so forfeiting your states Ye to my fortune have not had regard As of my peace so partners of my warres Which though that I might not Iove would reward And all the world extoll you to the starres How long shall I a vagabond remaine And flye a stranger who my right would reave Since by one battell we may re-obtaine All that we lost or lose all that we have Like some vile traitors whom I will arraigne To hold me up shall I goe cast me downe Must Darius onely by entreaty raigne No none hath pow'r to give or take my Crowne I shall not my authority survive Nor will I proffer a submissive breath My hand shall hold a Scepter while I live My hand shall beare a Diadem till death If those franke thoughts which doe possesse my soule Such flames of courage kindled have in you A Macedonian shall not us controule Nor with disdainefull smiles brag whil'st we bow My state may testifie fraile fortunes change May she not him o're-whelme as well as mee At least our hands beare death if not revenge Brave mindes when no more rests may still dye free Now call your valorous ancestors to minde Whom from the Grecians tribute still requir'd And of whose deeds rare monuments we finde Whose merits make their memories admir'd Shall of your deeds posterity be dumbe Which doth your fathers names though dead adore I am resolv'd my triumph or my tombe A Laurell or a Cypresse shall decore Art What doubtfull silence thus your thoughts detaines We need advise with nought but with our swords He who the Persians wonted worth retaines Will answer now with deeds and not with words Let us accompany our King in Armes Through bloudy squadrons to this fatall strife No profit can be had without some harmes By slaughter onely we must looke for life And when our host as I hope doth prevaile Our Country shall have peace we praise of right And if our fortune not our courage faile We dye with honour in our Soveraignes sight Let us if vanquish'd scorne base breath to buy A noble death may greater glory give Doe to o're-come and yet not feare to dye 'T is needfull that we fight not that we live Nar. My words will first your Majestie displease Yet duty makes me speake where silence spilles The best Physitian cures a sharpe disease With some sowre potion that corruption killes And skilfull Pilots when they feare a storme To save the ship will cast out pretious things You in some sort may imitate their forme For else a tempest totall ruine brings Since bent against the Gods how can we speed To all our actions fortune is oppos'd We must of force some other way proceed So have the heavens of our affaires dispos'd Give Sir the state at least your titles place On some more happy man not in effect But with your shadow cloath him for a space Till he your Realmes from ruine may protect This storme once calm'd that now disturbes your state And Asia free from any forraigne hoste He shall with haste resigne the Soveraigne seat These Kingdoms gain'd againe which you have lost All Bactria yet abides at your command The Indians loe would dye to doe you good Yea many thousand thousands armed stand Bent for your State to offer up their bloud What should we rush like beasts to needlesse strife Be well prepar'd and then your fortune try Brave mindes should death despise not loathing life For feare of danger cowards crave to dye But vertue first all hopes accounts doth cast And of each meane to helpe maturely thinkes Then when all else is done death is the last The which to meet true courage never shrinkes Now for the time let Bactria be our seate To Bessus for the forme your Crowne resigne Who when he once hath re-advanc'd your state Shâ—ll with your foes o'rethrow
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
SELEUCUS his greatest Captaines CASSANDER his greatest Captaines THE ALEXANDRAEAN TRAGEDIE Act 1. The Ghost of ALEXANDER the Great BAck from th' umbragious caves still rob'd of rest Must I returne where Phoebus guilds the fields A Ghost not worthy to be Pluto's Guest Since one to whom the world no buriall yeelds O what a great disgrace is this to me Whose Trophees Fame in many a kingdom keeps That I contemn'd cannot transported be A passenger for the Sulphurean deeps Dare churlish Charon though not us'd to bow The raging torrent of my wrath gain-stand Must I succumbe amidst hels dungeons now Though all the world accustom'd to command But it may be that this hath wrought me harme What bloud-lesse Ghosts do stray on Stygian banks Whose falls made famous by my fatall arme Gave terrour oft to many martiall ranks Yet for a prey expos'd to ravenous beasts Could never have the honour of a Tombe But though for such rude guests too pretious feasts Were basely buried in a brutish wombe Thus as it seemes the horrour of such deeds With like indignity attends my sprite What stormy breast this thirst of vengeance breeds To plague for that which valour did acquite Ah! might Alcmena's sonne as sonne of Iove Once force the driery forts of endlesse night To match sterne Dis in the Tartarian grove And draw forth foaming Cerberus to light Then leading Theseus through the dungeons darke A second rape aym'd for their ravish'd Queene Durst he hels terrour force the fatall Barke By squadrons pale an envi'd victor seene And in my rage may I not tosse this Round Till roaring Earth-quakes all the world affright Heaven stain'd hell clear'd earth torne all to confound Enlightning darknesse or else darkning light What though I from terrestriall Regions swerve Whom in this state it may be some mistake May not the voyce of Alexander serve To make th' earth tremble and the depths to shake Or straight return'd shall I my fortune trust And th' Earth dispeople slaughtring scatt'red hosts Then Pluto plague all charg'd with bloud and dust When men are kill'd to be a King of Ghosts O how I burst to thinke how some above Who for their glory did my steps attend My off-springs title proudly do disprove And to my Chaire by violence ascend Ingratitude doth grieve a generous sprite VVould God therefore that with a body stor'd I might returne these Traitors to acquite My back with Armes my hand charg'd with a sword As when I entred in a populous Towne To warre alone with thousands in my wrath Whil'st prizing honour dearer then my Crowne Each of my blows gave wounds each wound gave death Then thundring vengeance on rebellious bands I would make them redeeme my grace with grones Where now my Ghost empall'd with horror stands Lesse grac'd then those whom I commanded once And yet the glory by those Captaines had Whom first my Ensignes did acquaint with fame Doth make my soule whil'st hating them more sad Then all the suffrings that the hells can claime O now I see what all my Minions blindes To grace my funerals that they take no paine My state betraying me distracts their mindes Who have forgot all love save love to raigne But Ptolomie doth yet by time intend To Alexandria to transport me once Not mov'd by love no for another end In hope my Fortune will attend my bones And must I then so great a trouble have To whom the Earth did all belong before For some few foots of Earth to be a grave VVhich meane men get and great men get no more Though many thousand at my signe did bow Is this the end of all my Conquests then To be thus barr'd that little circuit now A benefit even common unto men But of those kingdomes which were thrall to me Lest that a little part my body bound Th' earth arch'd with heaven my fatall bed should be Still unconfin'd and even when dead yet crown'd O blinde ambition great mindes viprous brood The scourge of mankinde and the foe to rest Thou guilty art of many millions bloud And whil'st I raign'd didst raigne within my brest This to my soule but small contentment brings That I some Cities rear'd and others raz'd And made Kings captives captives to be Kings Then whil'st the wond'ring world did stand amaz'd All that doth now but torture after death Which rais'd my Fame on pillars more then rare O costly conquest of a little breath Whose flattring sounds both go and come with th' aire Can I be he who thought it a disgrace To be but weigh'd with other mortals even Who would be held of an immortall race The off-spring of great Iove the heire of heaven By many meanes I all mens mindes did move For Altars as a God with off'rings stor'd Till of his glory Iove did jealous prove All kings should reverenc'd be but not ador'd Ah! whil'st transported with a prosp'rous state I toil'd to raise my Throne above the Starres The thund'rer straight who still doth pride abate Did wound my fame with most infamous warres Made I not grave Calistenes to smart Who did disdaine a mortall to adore What knowne unknowing bent by foolish art Though but a man to be imagin'd more All fear'd the danger of my roaring wrath Like Lyons when asleep which none durst wake My fury was the Messenger of death Which when enflam'd made flaming squadrons quake Ambition did so farre my thoughts engage That I could not abide my Fathers praise But though my friend kill'd Clitus in a rage Who Philips Fami durst in my presence raise Thus though that I mine Enemies did abate I made my greatest friends become my foes Who did my insolence as barbarous hate And for the like afraid wail'd others woes Those tyrannies which thousands chanc'd to see As inhumane a multitude admir'd And my familiars strangers growne with me As from a Tyrant for distrust retyr'd Yea there were many too who did conspire By base ambushments to have snar'd my life Of all my labours loe this was the hire Those must have store of toils who toile for stâ—â—â—e And I remember that amid'st my joyes Even whil'st the chase of Armies was my sport There wanted not a number of annoyes To counter-poise my pleasures in some sort Of those on th' earth most happy that remaine As ag'd Experience constantly records The pleasures farre exceeded are by paine Life greater griefe then comfort still affords What griefe no rather rage did feaze my soule Whil'st bigge with hopes a battell bent to prove That sudden sicknesse did my course controull Which cold when kinde embracing flouds did move From the Physician then though deem'd for ill I took his potion gave him scandalous lines Then whil'st he red did drinke yet ey'd him still And by accusing looks sought guilty signes Not that suspitious feares could make me sad This was the ground whence did proceed my paine Lest death my victory prevented had For I was sure still where I fought to gaine
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
The great Alcides Thebes glory Who for twelve severall labours crown'd Was famous made by many a story As one who all his time had toyl'd To purge the world of such like pests Who robbers rob'd and spoylers spoyld Still humbling hauty Tyrants crests He by this Monster once o're-throwne Did passe in Spaine o're lands and flouds And there took more then was his owne What right had he to Gerions goods Thus Avarice the world deceives And makes the greatest Conquerours slaves Ah! when to plague the world with griefe This poore-rich Monster once was borne Then weaknesse could finde no reliefe And subtiltie did conscience scorne Yet some who labour'd to recall That blisse which guilded the first age Did punishment prepare for all Who did their thoughts to vice engage And yet the more they laws did bring That to be good might men constraine The more they sought to do the thing From which the laws did them restraine So that by custome altred quite The world in ill doth most delight Exeunt Act. 3 Scene 1. Perdiccas Eumenes NOw Fortune smyles upon my rising State And seemes to promise more then I require Loe by degrees my glory doth grow great And by their death who did my death conspire Proud Meleager who disdain'd to bow And my advancement alwayes did mislike Hath with his bloud seal'd my assurance now To fright all those who would attempt the like Eum. Yet of his fall the forme my minde appalls Even at Ioves Altar and without regard We were too rash to violate those walls Which the most impious could not but have spar'd Lascivious Ajax by Minerva's spight Earst for prophaning such a sacred place On the Capharian Rocks did lose the light And all hiâ— Navie too for ones disgrace We should not irritate celestiall powr's And all beginnings are considered most Such horrour breeds this odious act of ours That we I feare opinions pow'r have lost Per. Let others seek to keep such points as those I am not scrupulous for I protest Ov'r all and by all meanes I 'le kill my foes And then thereafter argue of the rest They wrong the Gods who think their Church should be A refuge free for Malefactors still For with their justice this cannot agree Who guard ill doers guilty are of ill Was he not stain'd with many a monstrous crime And Salamander-like amidst the fire Contentiously dispos'd did spend his time And never pleas'd did still some change required Eum. One hum'rous head that doth in brawls delight May poyson thousands with the gall of spight Per. As still seditiously affecting strife He but abus'd the credit of his King And sent some of his slaves to take my life Such bitter envy did his stomack sting Eum. I saw how that advanc'd before our band You first did check then chase the them in the end And did with courage resolutely stand Our Soveraignes corps though dead bent to defend Per. He but a dastard is who basely yeelds And in no conflict hath his Fortune try'd We â—f in time not ventring to the fields Like beasts all sacrific'd had poorely dy'd But when without we masters did remaine Lest Babylon had straight beene barr'd from food I those proud squadrons quickly did constraine Even as we pleas'd a Treaty to conclude Grac'd whil'st my foe as in some kinde compar'd A chiefe in charge he many mindes did sway But found inferiour when a friend declar'd My credit did increase and his decay Eum. Yet in this course all who observe do see That of the multitude the minde prevail'd He whom they did elect our Prince must be And our designe hath altogether fail'd But how comes this that every Captaine gets A certaine Realme committed to his charge And with an Army bravely forward sets Their bounds allow'd to guard or to enlarge Per. I by my means have every great man crown'd That from my greatnesse great things might proceed Yet by that meanes to make my pow'r renown'd The Alexandra an Tragedy The doing lik't me better then the deed I this division chiefly did procure To hâ—ve those great-men from the Court remov'd Where they might be imploy'd yet I secure Their favour purchas'd or at least thus prov'd For him who hath them to such honour brought They must be bound to hold in high account And their advancement for this end I sought That by their meanes I with more ease might mount Eum. O! but your fancies may be much deceiv'd There is no bond can binde unthankfull mindes I feare the favour that they thus receiv'd Hath showne them wayes to sayle by other windes So long of late as they had need of you To seeme your friends they courting kindnesse sought But since their greatnesse is well grounded now They will disdaine what derogates in ought To those all great men friends most frankly prove Whom for their pleasure freely they affect And loathing bands cannot be forc'd to love As brav'd by worth when merits urge respect Few mark from whence they rose when once aloft None can endure that they should owe their state Desarts grow odious when upbraided oft And are deprav'd not guerdon'd when too great Yea in my judgement you have greatly err'd Them to exalt whose state you would surprise Their common custome is who are preferr'd That they may stand not to let others rise Per. To ruine loftie mindes when least afraid Whil'st carelesse carriage jealous censures sift By spyes abroad to foes at Court betray'd Then by preferrement what more subtle drift Their hearts with hate are parted all by pride One is already to confusion gone I long to learne how Leonatus dy'd Not that I minde his funerals to bemone Eum. That Prince magnanimous whom all admire As was his custome clemently proclaim'd That banish'd Grecians might to Greece retyre Save onely such whom murder had defam'd But who them banish'd griev'd for their returne Did feare what just revenge might have design'd As knowing well whil'st wrongs make wrath to burne How misery doth irritate a minde The indignation which they had conceiv'd Did breed rebellion bursting out with rage The which our King deep in his minde ingrav'd By Athens spoyles did purpose to asswage But since that death afforded them releefe Growne bold to prosecute their proud attempt Th' Athenians and th' Aetolians were the chiefe Who brought Antipater first in contempt And by their powâ—r constrain'd to quite the field He in a little Towne enclos'd at last Was once reduc'd in danger neere to yeeld And staine the glory of his actions past But yet by accident as oft it falls It better is to happy be then wise An unsuspected shaft throwne from the walls Their foes chiefe Captaine happened to surprise Then did Antipater his courage reare Which had almost his stagg'ring hopes betray'd Yet still in doubt and not quite free from feare He Leonatus did intreat for aide And he who seem'd his friendship to affect To further him desirous did appeare But if he had
would recoyle And bent t' undo him we would finde a crime To you who are a Macedonian borne If match'd with Cleopatra great in pow'rs The Macedonians gladly would be sworne And if commanding them then all were yours Per. Yet this opinion partly I disprove Which would not as you thinke our troubles end For if we do from hence our force remove And to th' Aemathian bounds directly tend There must at first a doubtfull warre be prov'd With those brave bands whose valour is well known Of whom Craterus dearly is belov'd Antipater is borne and bred their owne And though indeed as kindly to those parts My friendship may affected be by some Yet those who start in time by many arts May under-myne their mindes before we come Then whil'st we trouble Macedony most And leave those Realmes unarm'd which now are ours Straight Ptolomie when strengthned is his host May like a tempest swallow Asia's pow'rs I for the time most willingly would take The course which seemes to make our state most sure A foe is dangerous when behinde ones backe Who whil'st not look'd for may our harme procure My purpose is though yet to none made knowne That Egypt first shall burden'd be with warre For if that Ptolomie were once o'rethrowne Then that from Greece all hope of help would barre Eum. Hold still with you those of the sacred bloud Whom to protect you alwayes must pretend The count'nance of the great may do much good Whom still though weake all glory to attend Exeunt Act. 3. Scene 2. Olympias Roxane LEt sorrow prove a tyrant to my soule Whose rage with reason now no measure keeps What of my teares the torrent can controull Since flowing from afflictions deepest deeps How can my breast but burst whil'st sobs rebound Since onâ—e the seat of joyes now not the same May not huge horrours presse me to the ground In thinking what I was and what I am I was a great mans wife a gâ—eaters mother Even she to whom the heavens their best did give Yet I even I more plagu'd then any other In dungeons now of desolation live My sonne who was the glory of his time Staine of times past and light of tâ—mes to come O fraile mortality O slipper â—yme Though having all o're-com'd death did o're-come And I dejected wretch whole dying eyes By Natures custome bound he should have clos'd Was not to shut his starres with th'yvory skies Which curtain'd once where Majesty repos'd But ah his falling in a forraine part Hath if ought can enlarge enlarg'd my griefe Or else on him I melted had my heart And spent my selfe to purchase his reliefe Yet though I was not present at his death He shall not be defrauded of my teares But for his funerall fires my flaming breath Shall smoak and to his Ghost a tribute beares Rox. Ah! to what corner rolls my watrie sight Where it not findes some matter to bemone O foolish eyes why lose ye not your light Since your delight is lost your object gone Once of all Queenes I might the fortune scorne To whom just love that great man did engage Whose match in worth the world hath never borne Nor never shall enrich another age When those perfections do transport my minde Which admiration doth disclose too late I curse the fates that did his judgement binde To make me partner of so high a state And I repent that to his sight I past Though highly grac'd once on a festuall day A feast which many a time must make me fast And with flow woe that flying mirth defray Then if my fortune had not blinded me But ah whose judgement had it not bereav'd Whil'st that great Monarch daign'd to like of me Of my high flight I had the fall conceiv'd Of Asia's Prince whose state did then decline He both the wife and daughters had at will Whose beauties lustre might have darkned mine Yet free from snares restrain'd his fancies still And when my father chose out from the rest Those Virgins all whom Fame affirm'd for rare Though having view'd them all he lov'd me best Then thought most fortunate if not most faire And whâ—n this match his Nobles all dismai'd That he himselfe with captives had alli'd That act he then as love had dited said Took from the vanquish'd shame from victors pride Yet me as Empresse all did entertaine Though his inferiour farre in all respects Till I from him by death divorc'd remaine Whom with his Sonne now all the world neglects Olymp. Although this will but aggravate my woe From whom the fates all comfort now seclude Yet I do tender his remembrance so That of my Sonne to heare it doth me good And daughter now to double my distresse Make me at length acquainted with his death That sorrow may each part of me possesse Sad news mine eares teares eyes and sighs my breath Rox. Though griefe to me scarce liberty affords To presse forth passions which oppresse my minde Yet would affection wrestle out some words To speake of him who all my thoughts confin'd When he had conquer'd all that could resist A Monarchie not equall with his minde Still in his haughty course he did insist And search'd the Ocean other worlds to finde But when from it his Navy was redeem'd He stood in doubt where Trophees next to reare The world though large for him too little seem'd His minde could more conceive then Nature beaâ—e Last ah this Emp'rour purpos'd was in th' end At Babylon his glories hight to show Where all the world his coming did attends As Iove above who onely raign'd below When he drew neare that then thrise Monarchs seat The Astrologians by their skill fore-told What danger huge was threatned to his state The which else-where might better be contrould But he who was not capable of feare And could not muse of misadventures then Would triumph there and the worlds Scepter beare Back'd with moe Kings then other Kings with men There as a God transporting mortals sights Which mirth with mourning I must still record He spent or lost a time in all delights Which Fortune could when flatt'ring most afford Till Thessalus for mischiefe but reserv'd Once to his house invited him to dine Where false Cassander at the Table serv'd And as he us'd with water mixt his wine Olymp. Alas alas and so it prov'd in th' end But who could feare a benefited friend Rox. There were all creatures valued for their worth As wholsome daiâ—ty sumptuous stately rare Which forc'd by Phoebus th'Easterne Realmes bring forth To live by Sea by Land or in the ayre Then when that Reason drunk with pleasure slept Which all the senses with abundance stor'd And whil'st save Musicke nothing measure kept With Ceres Bacchus onely was ador'd Even when the King beginning was to drinke As strangely mov'd he thund'red forth a grone And from the Table suddenly did shrinke His wonted vigour at an instant gone Whil'st he was softly to a Chamber led That death a
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
enlarg'd unto their rage They with so straight a course cannot comport What was mis-fortune knowne unto them all Their malice as some great neglect did cite All things must helpe th' unhappy men to fall Thus forth they spu'd the poyson of their spite For hating his franke forme and naked words By that occasion whetting their desires They in his body boldly sheath'd their swords A deed which even barbarity admires Those trait'rous troups may spot the purest bands If for a fact so vile they be excus'd This will set swords all our souldiers hands Against us and not for us to be us'd Ant. I wish that Souldiers never could be brought To prove so mut'nous as they oft have beene And that they durst not violate in ought Those who by them as sacred should be seene Nor like I Captaines who like blustring windes Would o're their troupes insult as tyrants still Not weighing merits nor respecting mindes As carried head-long with a blinded will Pride by presumption bred when at a height Encount'ring with contempt both match in ire And 'twixt them bring base cruelty to light The loath-some off-spring of a hated Syre Such of Perdiccas was the monstrous pride The vice from which that vice more vile proceeds That it strange wayes for his advancement try'd And did burst forth in most prodigious deeds At first by Meleagers death when stain'd He show'd what tyrants harbour'd in his heart To whom faith given nor yet the Church he gain'd Though sacred both no safety could impart The Cappadocians when all else was try'd Choos'd rather then his insolence to beare By massâ—â—ring themselves to scape from pride Pride spight and horrour death breeds onely feare Yet what against his foes he did performe From martiall mindes might plead for some excuse Since irritated thoughts which wrong'd doe storme In mindes offended fury doe infuse But yet why sought he in a servile sort To play the tyrant braving his best friends Who with disdainefull formes could not comport More then an enemies yoke a friends offends And when of late by Ptolomie constrain'd He brought his bands with disadvantage backe How by the same his governement was stayn'd The world can witnesse by his Armies wracke But hate made judge each errour seemes a crime Whilst present ils doe aggravate things gone His Souldiers mov'd by fortune and the Time Did by his death venge all their wrongs in one Eum. As nought smels well to a distemper'd taste So to conceits pre-occupy'd before Even good seemes bad in them whom they detest Men must mislike where they can like no more To you who loath'd Perdiccas and his state What ever came of him could not seeme good And I not wonder though your soule did hate One who had right and pow'r to take your bloud For fled from him to whom you once belong'd His Trumpet still breath'd terrour in your eare Then all men hate those whom they once have wrong'd And by no meanes can love them whom they feare Ant. That which you speake of hate in love I spy Love cannot finde an imperfection forth But doth excuse extenuate or deny Faults where it likes with shadowes of no worth I left Perdiccas but did him no wrong Who first to take my life all meanes did prove I told Antipater how he so long Had been abus'd by a pretended love For as I frankely love whilst lov'd againe If the ingrate ingrately me acquite Straight kindling fury with a just disdaine I by love past proportion then my spite And yet Eumenes I commend thy minde Who to defend thy friend hast prov'd so free And since in love so constantly inclin'd A friendship firme I would contract with thee Then where that now thy state hath been brought low Since spoil'd of him in whom thou did'st repose Whilst ayded by our power thou great maist grow And raise thy hopes of kingdomes to dispose Eum. I 'le be your friend whilst friend to right you rest For without vertue friendship is but vaine Which cannot lodge in a polluted brest Whos 's impious thoughts do sacred things prophane While as the oath is kept which once was sworne To Alexanders selfe and to his race Still shall this sword for your defence be borne But in my heart they hold the highest place And doe not thus as o're one vanquish'd vaunt Nor thinke me thrall'd though once by chance o'rethrowne The world must perish ere advent'rers want Who tosse all States to stablish once their owne Whil'st bravely taking or yet giving place How ever feare objecting danger comes Misfortune bondage torment death disgrace And all things else a minde resolv'd o're-comes Act. 4. Scene 2. Cassander Lysimachus ANd must we buy our pompe at such a rate Who beare th' authority or whom it beares O O! how thorny are the wayes of State With open dangers pav'd and secret feares Each of our steps is waited with some snare Whil'st from our selves we all repose repell And in fraile Barks press'd by tempestuous care Do seek a haven whose heaven is but a hell Lysim Whil'st Eolus and Neptune joyn'd in all With winds and waves beat th' earth and brag the skies The tumbling Mountains do not rise and fall Though each of them another doth surprise As do th' aspiring pow'rs which are with doubt Toss'd through the waving world on stormy Thrones And are as in a Circle hurl'd about Ascending and descending both at once Loe some whose hopes would at their birth have seem'd By Fortunes strictnesse with contempt confin'd Have from the vulgar yoke themselves redeem'd To do farre more then such durst have design'd And they who once might life to thousands give When some great period revolutions brings Brought downe even low cannot have leave to live Made lesse then Subjects who were more then Kings Cass What once they scarce could dreame some thus procur Whose pow'r though nought at first last Scepters swayes And some whose states seem'd once to be secure Throwne from their Fortunes height lose glorious Bayes My Father loe to gaine that soveraigne place Through many dangers boldly march'd of late And then the greatest greater for a space Did manage all the Macedonian State But I his Sonne who as some would suppose Might keep whith ease that which he got with paine Can by no meanes my rest-lesse thoughts repose such raging Tyrants o're my fancies raigne Lysim And yet I thinke you have an easie part To whom his State your Father did resigne For it may make you smile which made him smart Some presse the grape and others drinke the wine Cass I le not beleeve that ever any ill Was bred for me within my Fathers brest Since children must suppose their Parents will Though seeming bad still purpos'd for the best And yet my Fathers Ghost must pardon me Though when from us he minded to remove I thinke the tenor of his last Decree Show'd lack of judgement or at least of love For what base course had ever beene begun
great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaguing Philip and his Queene of late Loe now brought low to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gave And yet good reason that it should be so Such measure as we give we must receive Whil'st on a Throne she proudly earst did sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As onely vanquish'd by her pow'r and wit She did not weigh what doth proceed from fate O O! th'Immortals which command above Of every state in hand the Rudder have And as they like can make us stay or go The griefe of others should us greatly move As those who sometime may like Fortune prove But as experience with rare proofes hath showne To look on others we have Linx his eyes Whil'st we would have their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can never marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regard do dimme our sight Why should we be puff'd up when foes do fall Since what to day doth on another light The same to morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant Ball Do live environ'd with th' all-circling skies Have many meanes whereby to be o're-throwne And why should dying worldlings swolne with wrath So tyrannize o're an afflicted wight Since miseries are common unto all Let none be proud who draw a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few unto their death Act. 5. Scene 1. Aristotle Phocion LOg have I us'd that light which cleares my minde On Natures labours curiously to look And of all creatures finding out the kinde Have read strange wonders in the worlds great book I mark her course by contraries maintain'd Whose harmony doth most subsist by strife And of all creatures in the same contain'd How various is the mystery of life But as all things are subject unto change Which partners are of th' elementall pow'rs So roll'd about with revolutions strange The state of man rests constant scarce for houres Loe what doth fame more frequently report Then sudden risings and more sudden falls I thinke the world is but a Tenis-court Where Fortune doth play States tosse men for Balls Pho. And never any age show'd more then this The wavering state of soule-ennobled wights Who soare too high to catch an aiery blisse Whil'st lowest falls attend the highest flights That matchlesse Monarch who was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortality attaines Hath not from death th'adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And those brave bands which furnish'd Fame with breath Whil'st all the world their valorous deeds did spie Rest now confounded since their Soveraignes death Like Polyphemus having lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood Which took their life out of a Monster dead Whil'st each of them would drinke the others bloud Since that great Dragons death who was their head Ar. So change all things which subject are to sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next light comes darknesse and next darknesse light This never-changing change transcends our wit Thus health and sicknesse poverty and state Dishonour honour life and death with doubt Still inter-changing what a true deceit All link'd together slide by turnes about To worldly states the heavens a height appoint Where when they once arrive they must descend And all perfections have a fatall point At which Excellency it selfe must end But as all those who walke on th' earth are cross'd With alterations happ'ning oft and strange The greatest States with greatest stormes are toss'd And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation mov'd As gathering credit out of ancient scroules No I have liv'd at Court and oft have prov'd Nothing below more vex'd then great mens Soules The Tyrant honours thralls while as they mone Their plaints to vulgar eares loath to impart They all the weight of woes must beare alone Where others of their griefe lend friends apart Their verie rising o're us to the height Which seemes their best is worst for being Lords They never know the truth that comes to light When franke society speakes naked words Whilst sadnesse oft seemes Majestie Time tels How deare they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some but three furies faine in all the hels There are three thousand in one great mans brest Phoc. I thinke all Monarchies are like the Moone Which now eclips'd now under cloud now cleare Growes by degrees and is when full undone Yet Aeson-like renew'd doth re-appeare For loe they first but small beginne to shine And when they once their Spherick forme obtaine Doe coldly languish and till chang'd decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Assyria once made many nations bow Then next all power was in the Persians hand And Macedonians last grown Monarchs now Amongst themselves divided cannot stand Ar. A secret fate alternatly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs That some may live of force some must be dead Each Element anothers strength devours Th' aire to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The waters strive to drowne the Earth with showres Which it by vapours vomits out againe Thus wâ—th a Gordian knot together bound All things are made un-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound Free from some change no State can long remaine But what in th' earth more dangerously stands Then Soveraignty though râ—ted at such worth Which like the stormy Gods tumultuous bands Doth flie from th' East to West from South to North Phoc. A long experience now makes this not strange That mighty States whose reines one only leades Be oft distracted and constrain'd to change As too great bodies for so little heads Since every common-wealth where all mens wits Doe joyne in one to breed the publike ease Hath many fevers and pestiferous fits Which physick oft oft poison must appease For ah the multitude more rash then wise A Hydra-headed beast which humor blindes Doth passionately praise or else despise As some prepost'rous fancies move their minds From vice and vertue oft like danger flowes Whilst th' one breeds envie and the other hate As jealousie or emulation growes Those oft are crush'd who doe support a state Ar. Whilst some their betters others equals scorne The popular authority decayes And when it dies the Monarchie is borne Whose violence disorders fury staies The raines of state it with most ease doth swaie Of power as joyn'd in one the strongest kind Still whilst it humbly high doth bold a way Twixt tyrannie and too remisse a minde But though States rul'd by one may flourish long Whilst one can well command and all obey Whilst guerdon goodnesse vengeance followes wrong That vertue cherish'd vice is made decay Yet if nought else Time doth great States orecome And all are bounded by some fatall houre What mis-adventures many wayes may come To dissipate the most united pow'r O! huge mishaps a Monarchie may marre
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
As at the image of their antient Kings Or then some Goddesse all the Souldiers gaz'd But ah some forced by the tyrant striv'd To spoile unnaturall Natures fairest frame And twixth th' Alabaster Balles they driv'd Th' unwilling swords that straight grew red for shame Then she in worth who did all else excell Would neither word nor teare nor sigh forth send But spread her garments o're her whilst she fell As of her honour jealous to the end Cho. O strange barbarity most monstrous deed Could men a woman Subjects kill their Queene And could her fortune past no pitty breed Who ever gave the wound that not her seene The ugly Author of those odious evils Of punishment afraid must still be sad His brest a hell his thoughts all turn'd to divels Through horrour of himselfe must make him mad Nun. And yet the plague of these detested times Doth by more mischiefe aggravate our grones Cho. No end in sinne crimes are maintain'd by crimes Who fall in depths must touch the bottome once The path of honour hath but narrow bounds On which who step attentive must remaine Since rais'd so high above the vulgar grounds That who thence fall can never rise againe Nun. Thus now Cassander since he cannot winne True reputation but lives tainted still Imbark'd in mischiefe sailes the depths of sinne So if not lov'd as good yet fear'd as ill Though by his meanes his ruthlesse eyes have seene Fates as it were from fortunes bosome take His King by poyson by the sword his Queene Even yet himselfe more guilty still to make He prosp'ring in impiety grew proud And murdred both his Masters Sonne and Wife Thus he who all the world by birth-right ow'd Could have no part of it no not his life Yet could Roxanaes death not ease his minde Nor her yong sonne too soone made Platoes guesâ— But to undoe all Alexanders kinde That to revenge the rest there might none rest By treason he as all his deeds are done Cau's Hercules his brothers steppes to trace Who was great Alexanders bastard sonne And th' onely remnant of that great mans race Loe thus Cassander enemy to all good Whose soule so much for Macedonie longs Hath to the Scepter swim'd through Seas of bloud Yet O weake right since builded but on wrongs Cho. O how ambition doth abuse the great Who with enough not pleas'd still strive for more Loe how our Soveraigne seem'd to raise his state Yet made it but to fall whilst starv'd with store And since his Trophees rear'd in severall fields Both him and his have to confusion brought Then what is all the good that greatnesse yeelds Which makes it selfe seeme much to be made nought Thus though the mountaines make a mighty show They are but barren heapes borne up aloft Where Plains are pleasant still though they lye low And are most fertile too though trod on oft Greatnesse is like a cloud in thy'ayrie bounds Which some base vapours have congeal'd above It brawles with Vulcan thundring forth huge sounds Yet melts and falles there whence it first did move Phil. Since that worlds conqu'ror then whilst farre from feare By too much power press'd so soone was dead Why doe his Captaines strive who now should beare The Diadem that crush'd so strong a head O! when my minde is ravish'd through the starres To search the secret secrets of the fates What treasons murthers mutinies and warres Are threatning to o'rethrow usurped seates That false Cassander who betraid his Lord And spoil'd the princely race in mischiefe chiefe A traitour both of heaven and earth abhorr'd Shall live but with disgrace and dye with griefe His sonnes in wickednesse himselfe t' exceed Shall make the woman dye whom ade them live Then both when drunke with bloud to death shall bleed And none of theirs their funerals shall survive When rash ambition should be cool'd by age Lysimachus shall by Seleucus dye Nor shall Seleucus long enjoy the Stage But by like violence shall breathlesse lye And subtile Ptâ—lâ—mies degener'd race Long onely famous for infamous things Shall end and to the pride of foes give place Whilst a lascivious Queene confusion brings Amigonâ—â— shall be in battell kill'd His Sonne a captive perish with disgrace And after that it Greece with bloud hath fill'd In th' end destruction doth attend that race The last in pow'r though of their line not bred A niggard and a dastard beaten downe Shall through a strangers towne a Captive led Of Macedonie bound the old renowne Chorus VVHat damned furies thus tosse mortals mindes With such a violent desire to raigne That neither honour friendship duty bloud Nor yet no band so sacred is as bindes Ambitious thoughts which would a kingdome gaine But all is buried in blacke Lethes floud That may the course of Soveraignty restraine Which from the brest doth all respects repell And like a torrent cannot be gaine-stood Yea many would a Scepter to obtaine In spite of all the world and loves owne wrath March through the lowest dungerons of the hels And from a Diademe would breath with pow'r Though all deaths engines brag'd them every houre Yet though such restlesse mindes attaine in th' end The height to which their haughty hearts aspir'd They never can embrace that dreamed blisse Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend Though by the multitude they be admir'd That still to pow'r doth shew it selfe submisse Yet by the soule still further is requir'd Which should seale up th' accomplishment of joy Thus partiall judgements blindely â—yme amisse At things which stand without our reach retir'd Which whilst not ours as treasures we define But not the same whilst we the same enjoy Some things a farre doe like the Glow-worme shine Which look't too neere have of that light no signe No charge on th' earth more weighty to discharge Then that which of a kingdome doth dispose O! those who manage must the reynes of state Till their pale Ghost imbarke in Charons Barge They never need t' attend a true repose How hard is it to please each wans conceit When gaining one they must another lose Thus hardly Kings themselves can evenly beare Whom if severe as cruell subjects hate Contempt dare to the milde it selfe oppose Who spare in time as niggards are despis'd Men from too franke a minde exactions feare Though in all shapes as Proteus us'd disguis'd Kings by some scandall alwaies are surpris'd Yet one might well with every thing comport Which on opinion onely doth depend If further danger follow'd not by deeds But every Monarch Loe in many a sort Death laid in ambush alwaies doth attend Of some by mut'nous swords the life forth bleeds By unsuspected poyson others end Which whilst they alwaies labour to prevent A thousand deaths within their breasts life breeds Loe this is all for which the great contend Who whilst their pride themselves and others spoiles With their dominions doe their cares augment And O vaine man who toylâ—st to double toyles Though
the best This word necessity so wounds the eares The insolent with vile seditious words Who trembled whil'st they heard the Trumpets sound Stirre now their tongues as we did then our swords And what Mars spar'd make Mercury confound The people thus in time of peace agree To curbe the great men still even in that forme As in calme dayes they do disbranch the Tree Which shrowded them of late against a storme But now I look'd brave deeds appeasing spight That bursted Envy should for anguish dye Darke shadows as asham'd do vanish quite When at his height bright Phoebus cleares the skie And though their hatred deeply they disguise Yet can they not so hide enflam'd desires But that their spight rests sparkling through their eyes And boasts to burst out straight in open fires Ant. Since first great Caesar I discern'd thy worth On all thy actions I did still attend And what some whisper must speake freely forth Franke admonitions do become a friend The men who do suspect that you aspire Of government the present forme to change All in their soules your ruine do conspire And their affections farre from you estrange Since chast Lucretia by proud Tarquin stain'd Wash'd with her bloud the violated bed Whil'st by his pow'r Rome basely was constrain'd All to obey which his curst braine had bred This government which some tyrannicke call Doth sound so odious in the peoples eares That they as Tyrants vile detest them all Whose greatnesse gives them any cause of feares Caes I not affect the title of a King For love of glory or desire of gaine Nor for respect of any private thing But that the State may by my travels gaine You know Sibylla's books which never faile In many mindes have an opinion bred That o're the Parthians Rome cannot prevaile Till by a Prince her valorous Bands be led For as confusion is the fruit we finde Of those affaires which divers thoughts dispose So Soveraignty match'd with a gallant minde Breeds reverence in ones owne feare to his foes And O! it grieves me that these steps of ours Have trod so oft on many a millions necks Whil'st yet the Parthian vilipends our pow'rs And all our victories not vanquish'd checks Ah! should a Generall of the Roman race Be by Barbarians kill'd and not reveng'd And should his Ensignes signes of our disgrace Rest in the ranke of conquer'd relicts rang'd No no wretch'd Crassus now thy selfe content I le pacifie thy Ghost with Parthians spoyles My boyling fancies have beene alwayes bent To match the matchlesse daunt th' undaunted soiles Ant. With victories quite cloi'd will you not then Your safety once more then new warres respect Caes No though I have surmounted other men My fancies yet do greater things affect In emulation of my selfe at last I even with envy look on my owne deeds And bent to make the new surpasse things past Now to my minde stale praise no pleasure breeds Ant. The world hath seene thee great man for Romes good In danger oft of many a dangerous shelfe Whil'st for her glory thou engag'd thy bloud Of others carefull carelesse of thy selfe Caes Though whil'st in th'Aprill of my blooming age I from the vulgar rate redeem'd my name Some with my deeds did burden youths hot rage And an ambitious appetite of Fame Yet since the coldnesse of declining yeares Boasts to congeale the bloud which boil'd of late Whil'st loe my life the Sunne of glory cleares Who now of all the world am knowne most great I cannot covet that thing which I have I have all honour that can be requir'd And now as that which wants would onely crave To taste the pleasures of a life retyr'd But save to serve the State for nought I strive For O! neglecting th' ecchoes of renowne I could content my selfe unknowne to live A private man with a Plebeian gowne Since Anthonie thus for the state I care And all delights which Nature loves disdaine Go and in time the peoples mindes prepare That as the rest I may the title gaine Yet indirectly at the first assay To what their doubtfull mindes do most incline But as without my knowledge that they may All marke your minde and yet not thinke of mine Exeunt Act. 2. Scene 2. Cicero Decius Brutus DId I survive th' impetuous Scilla 's rage And in a torrent of destruction stood Whil'st Tyrants did make Rome a tragicke stage Through a voluptuous appetite of bloud Scap'd I confusion in a time so bad Of liberty and honour once to taste That bondage now might make my soule more sad By the remembrance of my fortunes past What though I once when first by Fame made knowne From Catilines strange treason did preserve This Towne when free from foes thrall'd by her owne Since now the world from equity doth swerve A sparke of that conspiracy I spie As yet not quench'd to have our state imbroil'd Which Rome to burne makes many flames to flie Thus one was spar'd that we might all be spoil'd O worthy Cato in whose matchlesse minde Three rarely match'd things Nature did reveale Wit Honesty and Courage which design'd A Citizen for Plato's common-weale Whil'st courteous Pompey did things as a friend Thou as a wise-man spoke and still fore-told To what all Caesars deeds would turne in th' end If that his pride were not in time controld And had we him as wisely thou advis'd Given to the Germans whom he had injur'd We had not now beene thus like slaves despisd To see Rome's glory and our owne obscur'd But yet I may disbending former cares A space comport with that proud Tyrants pow'r Age gives assurance by my hoarey haires Ere he Romes freedome death will me devour But all whose youth and sprite might have attain'd Those dignities which Caesar hath undone O! ye have lost as much as he hath gain'd Whose rising hopes must be retrench'd so soone Dec. Though if novations at the first seeme strange Yet oft experience approbation brings And if with upright thoughts we weigh this change From thence the safety of our City springs As doth a ship when toss'd by severall windes More danger runne whil'st Pylots do contest So was our City vex'd by differing mindes Who did interpret laws as pleas'd them best Whil'st for one sicknesse divers drugges are us'd Whose pow'rs repugnant in digestion jarre Th' impatient patients perish when abus'd So did we long whil'st cross'd by civill warre But now great Caesar from tempestuous windes Romes scattered ruines recollects of late A Pilot meet to calme tumultuous mindes A fit Physitian for an aguish State Cic. The State from stormes secure by drowning proves Now whil'st despaire doth doubtfull feares appease He with the life the sicknesse quite removes Thus is the Physick worse then the Disease This Common-weale as all the world did spie Was by proud spirits in civill warres involv'd Yet like black Clouds which would obscure the skie These tumid humours suddenly dissolv'd And no disgrace unto the state redounds
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
distresse strikes deeper in my heart Thy griefe lifes joy makes me neglect mine owne Brut. Thou must deare love that which thou sought'st receive Thy heart so high a saile in stormes still beares That thy great courage doth deserve to have Our enterprise entrusted to thine eares This magnanimitie prevailes so farre That it my resolution must controule And of my bosome doth the depths unbarre To lodge thee in the centre of my soule Thou seest in what estate the State now stands Of whose strong pillars Caesar spoyl'd the best Whil'st by his owne preventing others hands Our famous Father fell amongst the rest That proud usurper fondly doth presume To re-erect detested Tarquins throne Thus the worlds Mistresse all-commanding Rome Must entertaine no Minion now but one All those brave mindes who mark where he doth tend Swell with disdaine their Countries scorne to see And I am one of those who soone intend His death or mine procur'd to be made free Port. And without me canst thou resolve so soone To try the danger of a doubtfull strife As if despair'd and alwayes but undone Of me growne weary weary of thy life Yet since thou thus thy rash designe hast showne Leave Portia's portion venter not her part Endanger nought but that which is thine owne Go where thou lik st I will hold still thy heart But lest by holding of thy best part back The other perish't aggravate my grones Who would be so thought guilty of thy wrack Take all thy Treasure to the Seas at once Like Asia's Monarchs wife who with short haires Sad signes of bondage past still where he past To weare away or beare away thy cares I 'le follow thee and of thy fortune taste These hands which were with mine own bloud imbru'd To strike another may more strength afford At least when thou by th' enemies art pursu'd I 'le set my selfe betwixt thee and each Sword But if too great a priviledge I claime Whose actions all should be dispos'd by thee Ah! pardon Brutus and but onely blame This streame of passions that transported me Brut. Thou ask'st what thou shouldst give forgive deare Mate This ventrous course of mine which must have place Though it make Fortune Tyrant of our State Whose fickle foot-steps Vertue grieves to trace And wonder not though thus to thee I prove Since private duties now all pow'r have lost I weigh not glory profit pleasure love Nor what respect may now import me most So to the land of which I hold my life I may performe that worke which I intend Let me be call'd unkinde unto my wife Yea worst of all ingrate unto my friend As an instinct by Nature makes us know There are degrees of duty to be past Of which the first unto the Gods we owe The next t' our Countrey to our friends the last From Rome of old proud Tyrants bent to drive Did th' author of my race with ardent zeale Make those to dye whom he had made to live And spoil'd himselfe to raise the Common-weale To settle that which Caesar now o're-throws Though vertues nurserie stately whil'st it stood He with the Tyrant inter-changing blows On Glories Altar offered Fame his bloud And did that man to crosse the common foe Then damne his Sonnes to death and with dry eyes And is his speciall heire degener'd so In abject bondage that he basely lyes No his posterity his name not staines But even to tread his steps doth fast draw neare Yet of his sprit in us some spark remaines Who more then life our liberty hold deare Port. Then prosecute thy course for I protest Though with some griefe my soule the same approves This resolution doth become thy brest In honours spheare where heavenly Vertue moves And do this enterprise no more deferre What thee contents to me contentment brings I to my life thy safety do preferre But hold thy honour deare above all things It would but let the world my weaknesse see If I sought my delights not thy desires Though griefe it give and threaten death to me Go follow forth that which thy Fame requires Though Nature sexe and education breed No power in me with such a purpose even I must lend help to this intended deed If vows and pray'rs may penetrate the heaven But difficulties huge my fancie findes Nought save the successe can defray my feare Ah! Fortune alwayes frownes on worthy mindes As hating all who trust in ought save her Yet I despaire not but thou may'st prevaile And by this course to ease my present grones I this advantage have which cannot faile I le be a free-mans wife or else be nones For if all prosper not as we pretend And that the Heavens Romes bondage do decree Straight with thy liberty my life shall end Who have no comfort but what comes from tâ—â—â— My Father hath me taught what way to dye By which if hindred from encountring death Some other meanes I though more strange must try For after Brutus none shall see me breathe Brut. Thou for my cause all others earst didst leave But now forsak'st thy selfe to joyne with me Ore generous love no pow'r weake passions have Against thy minde thou dost with mine agree I le since by thee approv'd securely go And vilipend the dangers of this life Heavens make my enterprise to prosper so That I may once prove worthy such a wife But ah of all thy words those grieve me most Which bragge me with the dating of thy dayes What though I in so good a cause were lost None flies the fate which stablish'd for him stayes Do not defraud the world of thy rare worth But of thy Brutus the remembrance love From this faire prison strive not to breake forth Till first the fates have forc'd thee to remove Port. The heavens I feare have our confusion sworn Since this ill Age can with no good accord Thou and my Father ah should have beene borne When Vertue was advanc'd and Vice abhorr'd Then ere the light of Vertue was declin'd Your worth had reverenc'd beene not throwne away Where now ye both have but in darknesse shin'd As Starres by night that had beene Sunnes by day Brut. My treasure strive to pacifie thy brest Lest sorrows but sinistrously presage That which thou would'st not wish and hope the best Though Vertue now must act on Fortunes Stage Exeunt Chorus THen liberty of earthly things What more delights a generous brest Which doth receive And can conceive The matchlesse treasure that it brings It making men securely rest As all perceive Doth none deceive Whil'st from the same true courage springs But fear'd for nought doth what seemes best Then men are men when they are all their owne Not but by others badges when made knowne Yet should we not mispending houres A freedome seeke as oft it falls With an intent But to content These vaine delights and appetites of ours For then but made farre greater thralls We might repent As not still pent In stricter bounds
who look most milde Impiety sometime appeares devout And that the world the more may be beguil'd Even vice can cloath it selfe with vertues cote Though it would seem all hatred now laid downe They on your favour onely should depend Yet no respect can counterpoise a Crowne Ambition hath no bounds nor Greed no end Mov'd by vindictive hate or emulous pride Since some your person some your place pursue All threatned dangers to prevent provide And use for safety what to State is due Caes No armour is that can hold treason out Cal. To fright your foes with bands be back'd about Caes So dastard tyrants strive themselves to beare Cal. It better is to give then to take feare Caes No guard more strong then is the peoples love Cal. But nought in th' earth doth more inconstant prove Caes Guards shewing feare to charge me men might tempt Cal. Guards would put them from hope you from contempt Caes My brest from terrour hath been alwaies cleare Cal. When one least feares oft danger lurks most neare Caes I rather dye then feare at last life goes Cal. Yet death must grieve when forc'd by vaunting foes Caes I will not crosse my present pleasures so By apprehending what may chance to come This world affords but too much cause for woe And sorrowes still must harbour'd be by some By joyes in time we must embrace reliefe That when they end we in some measure may By their remembrance mitigate the griefe Which still attends all those on th' earth that stay I thinke the Senate is assembled now And for my comming doth begin to gaze Let me condignely once adorne my brow And feast mine eares by drinking in due praise Cal. Stay stay deare Lord retire thy steps againe And spare a space to prorogate whole yeares Let not this ominous day begin thy raigne WHich fatall and unfortunate appeares An Astrologian through the world renown'd Thy horoscopes just calculation layes And doth affirme as he by signes hath found That Marches Ides doe bragge to bound thy dayes Walke not abroad where harmes may be receiv'd By great necessity since no way forc'd For though his judgement may be farre deceiv'd In things that touch thy life suspect the worst Caes Whilst I reform'd the Calendar by fits Which did confound the order of the yeare I waded through the depths of all their wits Who of the starres the mysteries would cleare Those pregnant sprites who walke betwixt the Poles And lodge at all the Zodiackes severall signes Doe reade strange wonders wrapt in th' azure scroules Of which our deeds are words our lives are lines By speculation of superiour pow'rs Some Natures secrets curious are to know As how celestiall bodies rule o're ours And what their influence doth worke below Yea they sometime may brave conjectures make Of those whose parts they by their birth doe prove Since naturally all inclination take From Planets then predominant above And yet no certainty can so be had Some vertuously against their Starres have striv'd As Socrates who grew though borne but bad The most accomplish'd man that ever liv'd But of the houre ordain'd to close our lights No earth-clog'd soule can to the knowledge come For O! the destinies farre from our sights In clouds of darknesse have involv'd our doome And some but onely guesse at great mens falls By bearded Comets and prodigious Starres Whose sight-distracting shape the world appalls As still denouncing terrour death or warres The time uncertaine is of certaine death And that fantasticke man farre past his bounds With doubt and reverence they should manage breath Who will divine upon conjectur'd grounds Cal. But this all day hath prey'd upon my heart And from the same of cares a tribute claim'd Doe not despise that which I must impart Though but a dreame and by a woman dream'd I thought alas the thought yet wounds my breast Then whilst we both as those whom Morpheus weds Lay softly buried with a pleasant rest I in thy bosome thou within the beds Then from my soule strange terrours did with-draw Th' expected peace by apprehended harmes For I imagin'd no no doubt I saw And did embrace thee bloudy in mine armes Thus whilst my soule by sorrowes was surcharg'd Of which huge weight it yet some burden beares I big with griefe two Elements enlarg'd Th' ayre with my sighes the water with my teares Caes That which I heard with thy report accords Whilst thou all seem'd dissolv'd in griefe at once A heavy murmuring made with mangled words Was interrupted oft by tragicke grones The memory but not the judgement frames Those raving fancies which disturbe the braine Whilst night dissolves all dayes designes in dreames The senses sleeping soules would stirre in vaine From superstitious feares this care proceeds Which still would watch o're that which thou dost love And in thy minde thus melancholy breeds Which doth those strange imaginations move Cal. Ah in so light account leave off to hold Those fatall warnings which our mindes should leade To search darke matters till we may unfold What dangers huge doe hang above thy head With sacred Garlands he who things divines By th' intrails of the consecrated beast Doth in the offring see sinistrous signes And I entreat thee doe not hence make haste Caes When I in Spaine against yong Pompey went Thus the diviner threatned me before Yet did I prosecute my first intent Which with new lawrels did my browes decore Cal. And yet you hardly there as I doe heare From danger farre engag'd redeemâ—d your life But tokens now more monstrous doe appeare And I suspect farre worse then open strife Caes Lest I too much seeme wedded to my will As others counsels scorning to allow With jealous eyes I 'le search about me still And even mistrust my selfe to trust thee now Yet if I stay the Senators deceiv'd May my beginning straight begin to hate So might I perish seeking to be sav'd By flying it some fall upon their fate But here one comes who can resolve me much With whom I use to weigh affaires of weight Whence com'st thou Decius that thy haste is such Is ought occurr'd that craves our knowledge straight Dec. I come to tell you how the Senate stayes Till that your presence blesse their longing fight And to conclude what is propos'd delayes Since your applause can onely make it right They your contentment to procure intend And all their thoughts seeme at one object bent Save that amongst themselves they doe contend Who you to please shall rarest wayes invent Caes Then that no treasure to my soule more deare Which to enjoy from hence I long to part But yet I know not what arrests me here And makes my feet rebellious to my heart From thee deare friend I never doe conceale The weightiest secrets that concerne me most And at this time I likewise must reveale How â—â—avens by signes me with destruction boast To superstition though not earst inclin'd My wife by dreames doth now
pardon'd for their kinsmens cause Remission given for evill is a reward Ca. Cass We stand not vex'd like Malefactors here With a dejected and remorsefull minde So in your presence supplicants t' appeare As who themselves of death do guilty finde But looking boldly with a loftie brow Through a delight of our designe conceiv'd We come to challenge gratefulnesse of you That have of us so great a good receiv'd But if you will suspend your thoughts a space Though not the givers entertaine the gift Do us reject yet liberty embrace To have you free loe that was all our drift So Rome her ancient liberties enjoy Let Brutus and let Cassius banish't live Thus banishment would breed us greater joy Then what at home a Tyrants wealth could give Though some misconstrue may this course of ours By ignorance or then by hate deceiv'd The truth depends not on opinions pow'rs But is it selfe how ever misconceiv'd Though to acknowledge us not one would daigne Our merit of it selfe is a reward Of doing good none should repent their paine Though they get no reward nor yet regard I 'le venture yet my fortune in the field With every one that Rome to bondage draws And as for me how ever others yeeld I 'le nought obey but Reason and the Laws Cic. What fools are those who further travell take For that which they even past recovery know Who can revive the dead or bring time back That can no creature who doth live below Great Pompey now for whom the world still weeps Lyes low neglected on a barbarous shore Selfe-slaughtered Scipio flotes amidst the deeps Whom it may be Sea-monsters do devoure Of Libyan Wolves grave Cate feasts the wombes Whose death of worth the world defrauded leaves Thus some that did deserve Mausolean tombes Have not a title grav'd upon their graves And yet may Caesar who procur'd their death By brave men slaine be buried with his race All civill warre quite banish'd with his breath Let him now dead and us alive have peace We should desist our thoughts on things to set Which may harme some and can give help to none Learne to forget that which we cannot get And let our cares be gone of all things gone Those who would strive all crosses to o're-come To present times must still conforme their course And making way for that which is to come Not medle with things past but by discourse Let none seek that which doth no good when found Since Caesar now is dead how ever dead Let all our griefe go with him to the ground For sorrow best becomes a lightlesse shade It were the best that joyn'd in mutuall love We physicke for this wounded State prepare Neglecting those who from the world remove All men on earth for earthly things must care Cho. O how those great men friendship can pretend By soothing others thus with painted windes And seeme to trust where treason they attend Whilst love their mouth and malice fills their mindes Those but to them poore simple soules appeare Whose count'nance doth discover what they thinke Who make their words as is their meaning cleare And from themselves can never seeme to shrinke Loe how Antonius faines to quench all jarres And whom he hates with kindenesse doth embrace But as he further'd first the former warres Some feare he still will prove a foe to peace Now where Calphurnia stayes our steppes addresse Since by this sudden chance her losse was chiefe All visite should their neighbours in distresse To give some comfort or to share in griefe Act 5. Scene 2. Calphurnia Nuntius Chorus WHen darkenesse last imprisoned had myne eyes Such monstrous visions did my heart affright That quite dejected it as stupid dies Through terrours then contracted in the night A melancholy cloud so dimmes my brest That it my mind fit for misfortune makes A lodging well dispos'd for such a Guest Where nought of sorrow but th' impression lackes And I imagine every man I see My senses so corrupted are by feares A Herauld to denounce mishaps to me Who should infuse confusion in my eares O! there he comes to violate my peace In whom the object of my thoughts I see Thy message is charactred in thy face And by thy lookes directed is to me Thy troubled eyes rest rowling for reliefe As lately frighted by some uglie sight Thy breath doth pant as if growne big with griefe And straight to bring some monstrous birth to light Nun. The man of whom the world in doubt remain'd If that his minde or fortune was more great Whose valour conquer'd clemencie retain'd All Nations Subject to the Romane State Fraud harm'd him more then force friends more then foes Ah! must this sad discourse by me be made Cal. Stay ere thou further goe defray my woes How doth my love where is my life Nun. dead Cal. dead Cho. Though apprehending horrours in her minde Now since she hath a certaintie receiv'd She by experience greater griefe doth finde Till borne the passions cannot be conceav'd When as a high disaster force affords O how that Tyrant whom affliction bears Barres th' eares from comfort and the mouth from words And when obdur'd scornes to dissolve in teares Cal. Ah! since the lights of that great light are set Why doth not darknesse spread it selfe o're all At least what further comfort can I get Whose pleasures had no period but his fall O would the Gods I always might confine Flames in my brest and floods within my eyes To entertaine so great a griefe as mine That thence there might fit furniture arise Yet I disdaine though by distresse o'rethrowne By such externall meanes to seeke reliefe The greatest sorrowes are by silence showne Whilst all the Senses are shut up with griefe But miserie doth so tyrannick grow That it of sighes and teares a tribute claimes Ah! when the cup is full it must o'reflow And fires which burne must offer up some flames Yet though what thou hast sayd my death shall be Since sunke so deeply in a melted heart Of my lives death report each point to mee For every circumstance that I may smart Nun. What fatall warnings did foregoe his end Which by his stay to frustrate some did try But he who scorn'd excuses to pretend Was by the destinies drawne forth to die Whilst by the way he chanc'd to meet with one Who had his deaths-day nam'd he to him said The Ides of March be come but yet not gone The other answer'd and still constant stayd Another brought a letter with great speed Which the conspiracie at length did touch And gave it Caesar in his hand to reade Protesting that it did import him much Yet did he lay it up where still it rests As doe the great whom blest the world reputes Who griev'd to be importun'd by requests Of simple supplicants neglect the suites Or he of it the reading did deferre Still troubled by attendants at the gate Whilst some to show their credit would conferre To flatter
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
which the heavens would point my danger forth The Gods from me with indignation gone In every thing charact'red have my death And must both heaven and earth conspire in one To quench a little sparke of smoaking breath My safety would that I should stay within Till this disastrous day give darkenesse place But daring honour would have me begin To reape the glory of my painefull race And I 'le advance in spight of threatned broyles For though the fates accomplish what we dreame When onely death hath triumph'd of my spoyles I then though breathlesse still shall breathe with fame Exit Chorus VVHat fury thus doth fill the brest With a prodigious rash desire Which banishing their soules from rest Doth make them live who high aspire Whilst it within their bosome boyles As Salamanders in the fire Or like to Serpents changing spoyles Their wither'd beauties to renew Like Vipers with unnaturall toyles Of such the thoughts themselves pursue Who for all lines their lives doe square Whilst like Camelions changing hue They onely feed on empty ayre To passe ambition greatest matters brings And save contentment can attaine all things This active passion doth disdaine To match with any vulgar minde As in base breasts where terrours raigne Too great a guest to be confin'd It doth but lofty thoughts frequent Where it a spatious field may finde It selfe with honour to content Where reverenc'd fame doth lowdest sound Those for great things by courage bent Farre lifted from this lumpish round Would in the sphere of Glory move Whilst lofty thoughts which nought can binde All rivals live in vertues love On abject preyes as th' Eagles never light Ambition poysons but the greatest sprite And of this restlesse Vultures brood If not become too great a flame A little sparke doth sometime good Which makes great mindes affecting fame To suffer still all kinde of paine Their fortune at the bloudy game Who hazard would for hope of gaine Vnlesse first burn'd by thirst of praise The learned to a higher straine Their wits by emulation raise As those who hold applauses deare And what great minde at which men gaze It selfe can of ambition cleare Which is when valu'd at the highest price A generous errour an heroicke vice But when this frenzie flaming bright Doth so the soules of some surprise That they can taste of no delight But what from Soveraignty doth rise Then huge affliction it affords Such must themselves so to disguise Prove prodigall of courteous words Give much to some and promise all Then humble seeme to be made Lords Yea being thus to many thrall Must words impart if not support To those who crush'd by fortune fall And grieve themselves to please each sort Are not those wretch'd who o're a dangerous snare Do hang by hopes whilst ballanc'd in the ayre Then when they have the Port attain'd Which was through Seas of dangers sought They loe at last but losse have gain'd And by great trouble trouble bought Their mindes are married still with feares to being forth many a jealous thought With searching eyes and watching eares To learne that which it grieves to know The brest that such a burden beares What huge afflictions doe o'rethrow Thus each Prince is as all perceive No more exalted then brought low Of many Lord of many slave That idoll greatnesse which th' earth doth adore Is gotten with great paine and kept with more He who to this imagin'd good Did through his countries bowels tend Neglecting friendship duty bloud And all on which trust can depend Or by which love could be conceiv'd Doth finde of what he did attend His expectations farre deceiv'd For since suspecting secret snares His soule hath still of rest beene reav'd Whilst squadrens of tumultuous cares Forth from his brest extort deep grones Thus Caesar now of life despaires VVhose lot his hope exceeded once And who can long well keep an ill wonne State Those perish must by some whom all men hate Act. 5. Scene 1. Marcus Brutus Chorus Antonius Caius Cassius Marcus Tullius Cicero ARe generous Romans so degener'd now That they from honour have estrang'd their hands And us'd with burdens do not blush to bow Yea even though broken shake not off their bands This glorious worke was worthy of your paine Which now ye may by others dangers have But what enchaunts you thus that ye abstaine That which ye should have taken to receive Where be those inundations of delight Which should burst out from thoughts o're-flow'd with joy Whil'st emulous Vertue may your mindes incite That which we give you bravely to enjoy Or quite conform'd unto your former state Do still your mindes of servitude allow As broken by adversitie of late Not capable of better fortune now Loe we who by the Tyrants favour stood And griev'd but at the yoke which you out-rag'd Have our advancement riches rest and bloud All liberally for liberty engag'd Chor. Thou like thy great Progenitour in this Hast glory to thy selfe t' us freedome brought Then liberty what greater treasure is Ought with it much without it much seemes nought But pardon us heroicke man though we To high perfection hardly can aspire Though every man cannot a Brutus bell What none can imitate all must admire At this strange course with too much light made blinde We our opinions must suspend a space When sudden chances do dismay the minde The Iudgement to the Passion first gives place Ant. What wonder now though this most barbarous deed Have with amazement clos'd your judgement in Which O I feare shall great confusion breed When Caesars toyls did end Romes did begin The most suspitious mindes had not beleev'd That Romans reverenc'd for their worth by us Would have presum'd to kill or to have griev'd An hallow'd body inhumanely thus Who would have once but dream'd of such despight What strange hostilitie in time of peace To kill though not accus'd against all right A sacred man and in a sacred place Cai. Cass If Caesar as a Citizen had liv'd And had by Law decided every strife Then I would grant those treason had contriv'd Who went without a Law to take his life But to pervert the Laws subvert the State If all his travels did directly tend Then I must say we did no wrong of late Why should not Tyrants make a Tragicke end Cho. Since destinies did Caesars soule enlarge What course can we for his recovery take Ah! th' unrelenting Charons restlesse Barge Stands to transport all o're but brings none back Of lifes fraile glasse when broken with vaine grones What earthly power the ruines can repaire Or who can gather up when scattred once Ones bloud from th' earth or yet his breath from th' ayre Let us of those who passe oblivions floud Oblivious be since hope of help is gone And spend our cares where cares may do most good Lest Rome waile many where she wailes but one Ant. Still concord for the Common-weale were best To reconcile divided thoughts againe