For whilst there stands a world can Caesar fall Though thousand thousands were coniurd in one I and my fortune might confound them all Cal. No none of those my minde doth miscontent That vndisguisde still like themselues remaine Vnlookt for harmes are hardest to preuent There is no guard against concealde disdaine But in whom further can your trust repose Whom danger now ouer all by all attends Where priuate men but onely feare their foes Oft kings haue greatest cause to feare their frends For since being trusted fittest to betray Those vnto whom ones fauour force affords May for his life the worst ambushments lay Whilst falsest hearts are hid with fairest words And some report though priuately yet plaine That Dolabella and Antonius now By your destruction do pretend t' obtaine That which you keepe by making all men bow Caesar No corpulent sanguinians make me feare That with more paine their beards than th' enimies strike And doe themselues like th' epicurians beare To Bacchus Mars and Venus borne alike Their hearts do alwayes in their mouthes remaine As streams whose murmuring shews the course not deep Then still they loue to sport though grosse and plaine And neuer dreame of ought but when they sleep But those high sprites that hold their bodies downe Whose visage leane their restlesse thoughts records Whilst they their cares depth in their bosoms drowne Their silence feares me more than th 'others words Thus Cassius now and Brutus seeme to hold Some great thing in their mind whose fire whiles smoks What Brutus would he vehemently would Thinke what they like I like not their pale lookes Yet with their worth this cannot well agree In whom of vertue th' image seeme to shine Can those that haue receiu'd their liues from me Prooue so ingrate againe as to take mine Dare Cassius me pursue new hopes to haue At th' Helespont that fortune feard to trie And like a dastard did his Gallies leaue In all saue corage though more strong than I Shall I suspect that Brutus seekes my blood Whose safetie still I tendred with such care Who when the heauens from mortalls me seclude Is only worthy to be Caesars heire Cal. The corners of the heart are hard to know Though of those two the world the best doth deeme Yet do not trust too much th' externall show For men may differ much from what they seeme None oft more fierce than those that look most mild Impietie sometime appeares deuout And that the world the more may be beguilde Whiles Vice can clothe it selfe with Vertues cote Though that they haue long since laid hatred downe By benefits bestow'd you might attend There 's no respect can counterpoise a crowne Ambition hath no bounds nor greed no end Through vindicatiue hate and emulous pride Since some your person some your place pursue All threatned dangers to preuent prouide Being wise in time lest out of time you rue Caes No armor is that can hold treason out Cal. T' affright your foes with bands be backt about Caes So dastard tyrants striue themselues to beare Cal. It better is to giue than to take feare Caes No stronger guard than is the peoples loue Calp. But nought in th' earth dooth more inconstant proue Caes Guardes shewing feare t' inuade me men might tempt Cal. Guardes would put them from hope you from contempt Caes My breast from terror hath bin alwayes cleare Cal. When one feares least oft daunger lurkes most neare Caes It 's better once to die than still feare death Cal. But worst of all to fall by th' enemies wrath Caes I le not dis-taste my present pleasures so By apprehending what may chaunce to come This world affords but too much time for woe Whilst crosses come contentment to orecome By ioyes in time we must imbrace 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 beginne to gaze I le goe condignely once t' adorne my brow And feast mine eares by drinking in due praise Cal. Stay stay deere Lord retire thy steps againe And spare one day to prorogate whole yeares Let not this ominous day beginne thy raigne That fatall and vnfortunate appeares An Astrologian through the world renownde Thy horoscopes iust calculation layes And doth affirme as he by signes hath found That th' Ides of March doe boast to bound thy dayes Walke not this days where harmes may be receiu'd Since by no great necessity being forede For though his iudgement may be farre deceiu'd In things that touch thy life suspect the worst Caes Whilst I reform'd the Calender by fits That long disordred th' order of the yeare I waded through the depths of all their wits That of the starres the mysteries make cleare Those pregnant sprites that walke betwixt the poles And lodge at all the zodiackes seuerall signes Do reade strange wonders wrapt in th' azure scroules Of which our deedes are wordes our liues are lines By speculation of superior powres Some Natures secrets curious are to know As how celestiall bodies rule ouer ours And what their influence effects below Yea they sometime may strange coniectures make Of those whose parts they by their birth doe proue Since naturally all inclination take From Planets then predominant aboue And yet no certaintie can so be had Some vertuously against their starres haue striu'd As Socrates that grew though borne but bad The most accomplisht man that euer liu'd But of the houre ordain'd to close our lights No earth-clogd soule can to the knowledge come For O the destinies farre from our sights In clowds of darknes haue inuolu'd our doome And some but onely guesse at great mens falles By bearded comets and prodigious starres Whose sight-distracting shapes the world appalles As still denouncing terrour death or warres The time vncertaine is of certaine death And that fantastike man farre past his bounds He is too bold that with ambiguous breath Not speaks of things to come whose deeps none sounds Cal. But this all day did my repose extort And from my breast of cares a tribute clam'd Now vilipend not that which I le report Though but a dreame and by a woman dreamd 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 withdrawe Th' exspected peace by apprehended harmes For I imagin'd no no doubt I saw And did imbrace thee bloodie in mine armes Thus whilst my soule by sorrowes was surchargde Of which huge weight it yet some burden beares I big with griefe two elements enlargde Th' aire with my sighes the water with my teares Caesar That which I heard with thy report accords Whilst thou all seemd dissolu'd in griefe at once A heauy murmuring made with mangled words Was interrupted
for my offences Which once no doubt will with the world be euen And iudge our thoughts words acts and vaine pretences Sonne t' is my pride that hath procurde thy fall I 'm guiltie of thy blood I gaue the wound Which was thy death and whose remembrance shall My life each day with many deaths confound Then iniust Stars your statutes I contemne O! if I were confronted with the gods I would their partiall prouidence condemne That in such sort do exercise their rods Ah! my Sonnes death doth shew their iudgement naught What could he perpetrate against such Powres Should he haue suffred for his Fathers fault Whom without cause their wrong-spent wrath deuours Now all the world those deities may despise Which plague the guiltlesse and the guiltie spare Cease haples man t' outrage thy selfe thus waies I pardon thee and pitie thy despaire Adrast. O cruell iudgement of a rigorous fate Must I o're-liue my selfe t' entombe my Fame All things that I behold vpbraid my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and no more then I my deedes detest Yet some not find a friend I find no foe To rid the world of such a dangerous pest Borne but to be an instrument of woe I know what makes all worthie mindes refraine The sword against a Catife for to stretch They this opprobrious office do disdaine To be the Deaths-men of so base a wretch Or must I yet a fouler fact commit And fill the world with th' horrour of my name Is there some new disaster resting yet And other funerals famous by my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate That in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of heau'n I 'le force my fate One that 's resolu'd to die cannot want meanes Prowd tyrant Death and must thou make it strange Tinvolue my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change I can appoint a Period to my life But this Ay me all hope of helpe deuours What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted powres She must remember of my odious crimes What though vnbodied she the world forsake Yet cannot from her conscience be diuorc'd It will but vexe her at the shadowie Lake Till euen to grone the god of ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and O would God I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liu'd Then had I neuer showne my selfe so mad T' haue only been by infamie suruiu'd Ah! haue I liu'd to see my Ladie die And die for me for me not worth so much Ah! haue I liu'd vnnaturall man to be My Brothers death whose loue to me was such Ah! haue I liu'd with mine owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And do I gaze on the dead body still And in his Fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! haue I liu'd O execrable Monster To be accounted of a diu'lish nature And euen by them that best my actions conster For to be cal'd and iustly cal'd a Traitour Yet with my blood this staine away I 'le wash And lest my memorie make th' earth detracted Let my name perish in my bodies ash And all my life be as a thought vnacted Braue Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted ghost And to reuenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile t' attaine the Stygian coast Cho. The man himselfe doth desperately wound With leaden lights weake legs and head declinde The body in disdaine doth beate the ground That of his members one hath prou'd vnkinde The fainting hand falles trembling from the sword With this micidiall blow for shame growne red Which strait the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combate show Where both but one one both strooke and sustaind Or who shall triumph for this strange ore'throw Whereas the Victor lost the Vanquish'd gaind Croes Cursde eies what sudden change hath drownd your lights And made your mirthfull obiects mournfull now Ye that were still inurde to stately sights Since seated vnder an Imperiall brow O'reclouded now with vapours of my cares Are low throwne downe vnto a hell of griefe And haue no prospect but my soules despaires The sad beholders of a rare mischiefe O dead Adrastus I absolue thy ghost Whose hand some secret destinie did charme Thou hated by the Heau'ns wert to thy cost An accidentall Actor of our harme No doubt some angrie God hath layd this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus with violence to bleed And yet want one on whom to powre my wrath To take iust vengeance for so vile a deed This wretch whose guiltlesse mind hath cleard his hand Grieu'd for his error loe vnforcd doth fall And not as one that did in danger stand For he liu'd still till I forgaue him all Thus haue I but the heau'ns on whom I may Powre forth the poyson of my troubled spirite In my soules bitternesse I 'm forcd to say This seconds not their custome and my merite Act. IIII. Scen. II. SANDANIS CROESVS WHy spend you Sir with sighs th' Imperious breath Which nought but words of Soueraigntie should breed O weake reuenge for one that 's wrongd by death T' adorne his triumph with a mourning weed This pale-fac'd tyrant author of our ill Who did t' ecclypse our Ioyes that blacke shaft borrow Should you frame Trophees to his Tigrish will And weare his liuery and succumbe to sorrow No though he might this outward blisse o're-throw And you saue you of all that 's yours might spoyle Yet whilst of one that yields no signe you show You triumph still and he receiues the foyle Th' o're-flowing humor that would drowne your soule In baser breasts might better be excusde Who want the sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subiection vsde But you in whom high Thoughts haue been innate To this decay how is your Vertue come I blush to see my Soueraigne so abated And Maiestie by miserie o'recome Nor are my words out of a rockie mind T' unnaturallize you as not feeling smart No none can barre a Prince from being kind Th' undoubted badge of an Heroick hart That supreme Powre by which great States do stand Should order but th' affection not vndoe it And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe it Croes I will not now rehearse t' enlarge my griefe On what iust reasons my laments are grounded But still will muse vpon mine owne mischiefe While as my soule a thousand wayes is wounded What pensiue pensill euer limm'd aright The sad conceats of soule-consuming woe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling hight Of th' inward
with moe kings than other kings with men There as a god in all his subiects sights Which mirth with mourning I must still record He spent or lost a time in al delights That a successefull fortune could afford Till Thessalus for mischiefe but reseru'd Once to his house inuited him to dine Where false Cassander at the table seru'd And as he vsde with water mixt his wine Olym. Alas alas and so it proou'd in th' end But who could feare a benefited friend Rox. The creatures al esteemde of greatest worth That either are in th' earth the sea or th' aire In Persia Arabia or the Ind's brought forth That walke that swim that flie that grow were there Then when that reason drunke with pleasure slept Which all things did aboundantly afford And whilst that nought saue musicke measure kept With Ceres Bacchus onelie was ador'd But when the King beginning was to drinke As strangely moou'd he thundred forth a grone And from the table sodainly did shrinke As one whose strength was at an instant gone Then when he softly was t' a chamber led That Death a title to his bodie claimde The sorrowing souldiers swarmd about his bed With lookes once fierce then for compassion framde But he whome victorie had still arrayd This battell with the rest bent to make euen Did looke like one whome all the world obayd And boasted shortly then to take the heauen Then that he comfort might th' afflicted bands He stretcht them out to kisse respected partes More by the Sword than Scepter honord hands On which it seemde they melted all their harts Last vnto them those generous words he tolde Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot Thus to die yoong in yeeres in glorie olde Of all our familie it is the lot And since that no mo worlds now rest t' orecome It 's time to die I did an Empire found And liu'd and raignde it 's done for which I come Now my great ghost must goe beneath the ground Then hauing thus dischargde all debt of life He with a countnance constant euen in death As too victorious of that fatall strife All th' aire perfuming spent th' imperious breath But when that it once through the camp was known That from the world that world of worth was gone What anguish was it cannot well be showne I had my part yet had not all alone O let that day which makes my dayes all night Be registred amongst the dismall dayes Whose inauspicious and lugubrious light The world with some disaster still dismayes And Babilon curst be thy fatall towres Once seate of Monarches mistresse of all th' earth But from hence-foorth a slaue to forraine powres Still burden'd be thy bounds with blood and dearth Olimp. You need not vse those execrations more Though Babilon of breath that prince depriu'd Yet as an Oracle had told before In Macedonie was his death contriu'd T' Antipater t' was told how diuers times The king against him had beene mou'd to wrath And doom'd as guiltie of opprobrious crimes His sonne in law Lincestes vnto death And he had heard the king did strictly trie How his Lieutenants had their places vsde Still making all as traitours strait to die That had the same in any sort abusde Then he that priuate was t' his owne misdeeds Had learnd by others what he might exspect As whose ambitious breast in pride exceeds And alwayes did a soueraigntie affect But when Craterus was nam'd to his place And he in his requir'd the warres t' attend He thought that it was but a meanes t' embrace To plague his pride with a deserued end Then to preuent that which I thinke was still More fear'd by him then purposde by the king With guiltie thoughts best exercisde in ill He sought what might to death his soueraigne bring And this the traytor compassde at the last As I alas haue learnde although too late When to my sonne his sonne Cassander past As to congratulate his prosprous state Then in his companie he did retaine A poyson powrefull where it was imploy'd Whose violence no mettall could restraine But in a horses hoofe was still conueigh'd He and his brother then th' advantage watchde And for their prince a cup of poyson made Thus he that neuer was by th' enemies matchde Doth by the treason of his friends lye dead Rox. And could or durst those traytors be so bold The glory of the world to vndermine But ah Madam Antipater of old Against your greatnesse alwayes did repine And I remember on a time he sent A Messenger of minde to make you bow That to your sonne a letter did present Full of inuectiues to discredite you The king whilst reading what it did comprise Did with a scornefull smile t' Hephestion say In writing of such things he is not wise Which straight one mothers teare will wash away Olimp. My sonne indeed I many a time aduisde How that disloyall man striu'd to be great But as a womans wit mine was despisde And wrested still vnto the sense of hate Yet of my sonne I thought the deeds were such That t'admiration com'd they past enuy And that none durst his sacred person touch On which the daunted world did whole relye How oft haue I those bitter throwes allowde By which I brought that demi-god to light And well I might of such a birth be prowde That made me glorious in the peoples sight Though diuers too as I haue sometime knowne T' estrange his loue from me did wayes t' prepare Yet were their slights by duteous loue ore-t hrowne And I respected with a reuerent care His tender loue towards me was much extolde Then when he sought t' establish a decree That I amongst th'Imortalls might b' enrold And as t' a Goddesse honors done to me Ah how can I this tragicke time suruiue That lost a sonne so great a sonne so kinde And th' only meanes that make me now to liue Is with reuenge hope t' entertaine my minde Rox. His loue towards you no doubt behoou'd t' abound By nature parents of their owne are lou'd But those towards whom he by no bond was bound Of his humanitie the fruits haue prou'd His clemencie did make his state more sure Then all the terrors rising from his name Which whilst he liu'd did publike loue procure And after death a neuer dying fame Th' vnhappy Sisigambis taking heart Of her owne naturall sonne the death suruiu'd And t' Alexander did that loue impart The which was due to Darius whilst he liu'd But when the tidings wounded had her eares That from the world was robde that glory of men Then suddenly dissoulde in floods of teares She hated life as neuer spoilde till then And with her widdow'd-nephew at her feete That of Hephestion did the death bewayle Her soule amidst a sea of woes did fleet Whose forces as ouer-whelmde began to fayle Then barrde from food she groueling did abide Till that the course of life t'an end was runne Thus she suruiude
inestimable store That neither Time entombes nor Powre orethrowes O neuer were my thoughts enlargde till now To marke my selfe and quintessence my mind For long a prey to pride I know not how A mist of fancies made my iudgemcnt blinde As those that dreame sweet dreames awakt at last Do finde their errour when their eies finde light Freed from the slumbring of my fortune past I now arise to iudge of all things right That cloud of pomp whose smoke me shadowd once Loe now remoou'd vnmaskes my life too late And now I see that scepters crownes and thrones Are burdnous badges of a dangerous state O happy woman of true pleasure sure That in the countrie leadst a guiltlesse life From Fortunes reach retirde obscure secure Though not a Queene yet a contented wife Thy mate more deere to thee than is the light Though lowe in state loues in a high degree And with his presence still to blesse thy sight Doth scorne great courts whilst he liues courting thee And as thou woundst him not with hid disgrace He with no iealous thought torments thy breast Thus both lie downe to rest and rise in peace Then if they striue they striue who should loue best But though thou haue not as the mightie ones Thy necke surchargde with chaines ah chaines indeed Nor cares weighd downe with oriental stones Nor robes whole worth may admiration breed So wantst thou that which we haue euer had Sad miscontentments iealousie and spite And though thy backe be not with purple clad Thy thoughts are clad with innocencies quite As Birds whose cage of golde the sight deceiues Do seeme to sing whilst they but waile their state So with the mighty matcht made glorious slaues We happy seeme whilst we but curse our fate That blisse whose shew in vs vaine eies doe please Makes thee indeede a true contentment breathe Thou spendst thy youth in mirth thy age in â—ase And knowst not what it is to die till death Ah since I liu'd I haue done nought but die Still when I seemde most blest then most accurst Since on fraile greatnes first I did relie How oft hath my swolne breast bin like to burst The Fates with Fortune from my birth conspirde To make my life a patterne of their might For both my parents from the world retirde When I was scarcely com'd t' inioy the light The world may iudge how I was iustly grieu'd Whilst angry Philip sought for my disgrace A thing which once I scarce could haue beleeu'd And vnto Cleopatra gaue my place Then though I long as desprate of reliefe For his offence afflicted had my minde Yet did his sodaine death augment my griefe He was my husband though he was vnkinde And when my sonnes rare trophees and renowne With wonder filld the world and me with ioy Those as himselfe that striu'd to throw his downe Did to supplant my state their powres imploy Yet stoode my courage when my fortune fell And still I toilde distracted from repose Those that had him betrayd from th' earth t' expell And with their blood to register my woes And my designes a time so prosperd too That some of them did trie by torments strange All what a womans iust disdaine could do Whilst spurr'd by iealousie spite and reuenge But this arch-traitor ruler of the rest That thirsts to drinke the blood of all our race Euen then when my designe succeeded best Did compasse me with ruine and disgrace Such was the tenor of my fortune past Whose least mis-hap had made another burst First orphan'd widdow'd and vnchilded last A daughter wife and mother all accurst Heauens plague Cassander let that base wretch trie That Ioue his iudgement but a while deferres And let his wife bewaile as well as I I murderd for my sonne and she by hers Euen as th' incestuous Thehans monstrous brood So may thy sonnes contend with mutuall wounds And neuer let thy house be free from blood Till quite excluded from th' vsurped bounds Thus notwithstanding of my wonted powre To me saue wishes nothing doth remaine But though condemn'd to die yet at this houre Should I beginne to cursse and to complaine No no that custome best becomes poore soules Whose resolution cannot climbe more hie But I whose courage that base course controules Must still triumph what euer state I trie Death is an open hauen t' each storme-tossde minde Since th' end of labour th' entrie vnto rest Death hath the bounds of miserie confinde Whose sanctuarie saues th' afflicted best To suffer whiles with a couragious heart It merites farre more praise than deedes most knowne For in our actions Fortune hath a part But in our suffrings all things are our owne Loe now I loathe the world and worldly things Of which I haue both proou'd the best and worst Yea th' apprehended death great comfort brings And hath no crosse but that it should be forst O heare me now deare sonne if that thy ghost May leaue th' Elysian fields to looke on me Of all things else this doth content me most That from this time I may remaine with thee And blush not sonne to see thy mothers end My death in glory with thy life shall striue It Fortune as a captiue shall attend That as thy fellow followd thee aliue Exit Chorus AH ah though man since th' image of great Ioue And th only creature that giues Reason place Made to make faith below of powres aboue Should seeke his heauenlie progenie to proue By still resembling most th' immortall kinde Yet makes the world our better part so blinde That we the cloudes of vanitie imbrace And from our first excellencie decline This doth extinguish that celestiall grace Which should make soules to burne with vertues loue Whose fancies vice luxuriously now feastes Vice is the Circe that inchaunts the minde And doth transforme her followers all in swine Whilst poisond pleasures so corrupt our tates That of halfe-gods we make our selues whole-beasts And yet of ruthlesse Plutoes raging hoste The vice that doth transport presumptuous hearts And makes men from the gods to differ most T' is crueltie that to the sufferers cost And actors both must oftentimes b' appeasd The gods delight to giue and to forgiue By pardoning more than by plaging pleasde And why should men excogitate strange artes T' extend their tyrannie as those that striue To feede on mischiefe still though th' Author smarts Oft for the deede of which himselfe did boast Whilst whence the blow first come the griefe doth turne For that by which the minde at first was easde May it in end the greatest burden giue Oft those whose crueltie makes many mourne Do by the fires that they first kindled burne Of th' other tyrants that extort the minde With pleasure some delight it in such sort That first the honnie then the gall we finde And others though from Honours court declinde Some comfort yielde though base by hope of gaine And though some make vs to be loath'd of
THE MONARCHICKE TRAGEDIES Croesus Darius The Alexandraean Iulius Caesar Newly enlarged By William Alexander Gentleman of the Princes priuie Chamber Carmine dij superi placantur carmine manes London Printed by VALENTINE SIMMES for ED BLOVNT 1607. To the Author of the Monarchicke Tragedies WEll may the programme of thy Tragick stage Inuite the curious pompe-expecting eies To gaze on present shewes of passed age Which iust desert Monarchick dare baptize Crownes throwne from Thrones to tombes detomb'd arise To match thy Muse with a Monarchick theame That whilst her sacred soaring cuts the skies A vulgar subiect may not wrong the same And which giues most aduantage to thy fame The worthiest Monarch that the Sunne can see Doth grace thy labours with his glorious Name And daignes Protector of thy birth to be Thus all Monarchick Patron subiect stile Make thee the Monarch-tragick of this I le Robert Ayton The Argument AT that time when the states of Greece began to growe great and Philosophie to be thought pretious Solon the first light of the Athenian common-wealth like a prouident Bee gathering honnie ouer many fields learning knowledge ouer many countries was sent for by Croesus King of Lidia as famous for his Wealth as the other was for his Wisedome And not so much for any desire the King had to profit by the experience of so profound a Philosopher as to haue the report of his as he thought it happines approoued by the testimonie of so renoumed a witnesse But Solon always like himselfe entring the regall Pallace and seeing the same very gloriously apparelled but very incommodiouslie furnished with Courtiers more curious to haue their bodies deckt with a womanishlie affected forme of rayment and some superficiall complements of pretended curtesies then to haue their minds enriched with the true treasure of inestimable vertue he had the same altogether in disdaine Therefore after some conference had with Croesus concerning the felicitie of man his opinion not seconding the Kings expectation he was returned with contempt as one of no vnderstanding But yet comforted by Aesop Authour of the wittie fables who for the time was resident at Court and in credit with the King Immediately after the departure of Solon Croesus hauing two Sonnes whereof the eldest was dumbe and the other a braue youth dreamd that the yongest dyed by the wound of a dart wherewith being maruellously troubled he maried him to a Gentlewoman named Caelia and for farther disapointing the suspected though ineuitable destinie he discharged the vsing of all such weapons as he had dreamed of Yet who could cut away the occasion from the heauens of accomplishing that which they had designd The spiritfull youth being long restraind from the fields was inuited by some countrie-men to the chace of a wild Boare yet could very hardlie impetrate leaue of his louinglie suspitious father Now in the meane time there arriued at Sardis a youth named Adrastus Sonne to the King of Phrigia one no lesse infortunate then valourous he hauing lost his mistresse by a great disaster and hauing kild his brother by a farre greater came to Croesus by whom he was courteously entertaind and by the instancie of the King and the instigation of others against his owne will who feared the frowardnes of his infectious fortune he got the custodie of Atis so was the Prince called whom in time of the sport thinking to kill the Boare by a monstrous mishap he killed After which disastrous accident standing aboue the dead corps after the inquirie of the truth being pardoned by Croesus he punished himselfe by a violent death There after Croesus sorrowing exceedingly this exceeding misfortune he was comforted by Sandanis who laboured to disswade him from his vnnecessary iourney against the Persians yet he reposing on superstitious and wrong interpreted responses of deceauing oracles went against Cyrus who hauing defeated his forces in the field and taken himselfe in the Citie tyed him to astake to be burned where by the exclaiming diuers times on the name of Solon mouing the Conquerour to compassion he was set at libertie and lamenting the death of his Sonne and the losse of his Kingdome makes the Catastrophe of this present Tragedie The Scene in Sardis Actors Croesus King of Lydia Atis his sonne Caelia wise to Atis. Adrastus Sandanis a Counsellour Chorus of all the Lidians Solon Aesope Cyrus king of Persia Harpagus Lieutenant to Cyrus Chorus of some Countrie-men THE TRAGEDIE of Croesus Act. I. SOLON LOe how the trustlesse world the worldlings tosses And leades her louers headlong vnto death Those that doe court her most haue maniest crosses And yet vaine man this halfe-spent sparke of breath This dying substance and this liuing shadow The sport of Fortune and the spoyle of Time Who like the glory of a halfe-mow'd meadow Doth flourish now and strait falles in his prime Still toyles t' attaine such is his foolish nature A constant good in this inconstant ill Vnreasonable reasonable creature That makes his reason subiect to his will Whilst in the Stage of Contemplation plac'd Of worldly humours I behold the strife Though different sprites haue diuers partes imbrac'd All act this transitorie Scene of Life Of curious mindes who can the fancies fetter The Soule vnsatisfide a prey t' each snare Still loathing what it hath doth dreame of better Which gotten but begets a greater care And yet all labour for t' attaine the top Of th' vnsure soueraigne blisse that they surmise Flowres of Felicitie that few can crop Yea scarce can be discerned by the wise Some place their happinesse vnhappie beasts And I must say more sencelesse then their treasures In gorgeous garments and in dainty feasts To pamper breath-toss'd flesh with flying pleasures Some more austerely with a wrinckled brow That triumph o're their Passions with respectes With neither fortune moou'd to brag or bow Would make the world enamour'd of their sectes Some rauish'd still with vertues purest springs Feede on th' Idea of that diuine brood And search the secrets of celestiall things As most vndoubted heires of that high good Thus with conceited ease and certaine paine All seeke by seuerall wayes a perfect blisse Which O what wonder if they not obtaine Who cannot well discerne what thing it is What happinesse can be imagin'd here Though we our hopes with vaine surmises cherish Who hardly conquer first what wee hold deare Then feare to loose it still that once must perish Thinke though of many thousands scarcely any Can at this poynt of Happinesse arriue Yet if it chance it chanceth not to many Onely to get for what a world did striue And though one swim in th' Ocean of delights Haue none aboue him and his equals rare Eares ioying pleasant sounds eyes stately sights His treasures infinite his buildings faire Yet doth the world on Fortunes wheele relye Which loue 's t' aduance the wretched wracke the great Whose course resembles an inconstant eye Euer in motion compassing deceat Then let the
base companions then to be compar'd With one that may consume such in his wrath Who as I please do punish and reward Whose words nay euen whose lookes yeeld life or death Sol. Sir be not thus commoo'ud without all reason Nor misconceiue my meaning as you do Those that speake freely haue no mind of treason I cannot be your friend and flatter to Vnto vs Graecians Sir the gods haue granted A moderate measure of a humble wit And in our Countrie there haue neuer wanted Some whom the world for wise men did admit And yet amongst vs all the greatest number Haue here dispair'd of any perfect rest Though some a while in Fortunes bosome slumber And to world-blinded eyes seeme to be blest Yet ouer all mortall states change so preuailes We alterations daily do attend And hold this for a ground that neuer failes None should triumph in blisse before the end I may compare our state to table-playes Where by dumbe iudges matters are decided Their many doubts the earnest mind dismayes The dice must first cast well then be well guided So all our dayes in doubt what thing may chance vs Time runnes away the breath of man doth chace it And when th' occasion come's for to aduance vs Amongst a thousand one can scarce embrace it When two by generous indignation mooued Would trie by sword whose glorie fame will smother Whilst valour blindly by th' euent is prooued And th'ones ouerthrow can onely grace the other O what a foole his iudgment will commit To crowne the one with vndeseru'd applauses Where fortune is for to giue sentence yet While bloody agents pleade such doubtfull causes This world it is the field where each man ventures And arm'd with reason resolutely goes To fight against a thousand misaduentures Both with externall and internall foes And how can he the victors title gaine That yet is busied with a doubtfull fight Or he be happie that doth still remaine In Fortunes danger for a small delight Th' abortiue course of man away fast weares Course that consists of houres houres of a day Day that giue 's place to night night full of feares Thus all things alter still all things decay Who flourish now in peace may fall in strife And haue their fame with infamie supprest The euening shew's the day the death the life And many are fortunate but few are blest Croes I see this Grecian of a simple spirite The which is capable of no great things Men but aduance him far aboue his merite He can not comprehend the States of Kings Fame did so largely of his worth report It made me long to haue him in my house But all my expectations are come short I thinke a Mountaine hath brought forth a mouse Exit Croesus Act. II. Scen. II. SOLON AESOPE Sol. THis king hath put his trust in trustlesse treasures Cloi'd with th' abundance of all worldy blisse And like a hooded hawk gorg'd with vaine pleasures At randon flies and wots not where he is O how this makes me wonderfully sorie To see him keepe this lifelesse wealth so straitly Whilst witlesse worldlings wonder at his glorie Which I not enuie no but pittie greatly Thus wormes of th' earth whose worst part doth preuaile Loue melting things whose shew the body fits Where Soules of cleerer sight do neuer faile To thesaurize the gifts of gallant wits Those worldly things do in this world decay Or at the least we leaue them with our breath Whereas the other makes vs liue foray So differ they as farre as life and death Aesop And yet what wonder though that he be thus Whose knowledge clouded is with prosp'rous windes Though this indeed seeme somewhat strange to vs Who haue with learning purifide our mindes Was he not borne heire of a mighty State And vsde with Fortunes smiles not fear'd for frownes Doth measure all things by his owne conceate Th' infirmitie that fatall is to Crownes He hath been from his infancy addicted To all the pompous showes wealth could deuise And still entreated neuer contradicted Now doth all libertie of speech despise Though I durst not so to his fight appeare Whose corrupt iudgement was from reason sweruing I grieu'd to see your entertainement here So far inferior to your owne deseruing That diuine Wisdom which the world admires And rauish'd with delight amazed heares Because it answer'd not his vaine desires Did seeme vnsauorie to distemper'd eares Eares that are euer stopt to all discourses Saue such as enter fraughted with his praises He can loue none but them that loue his courses And thinks all fooles that vse not flattring phrases This wracks the great and makes the heauens despight them Let vertue spread forth all her heauenly powers If not in their owne liuery to delight them They will not daigne her audience a few howers Sol. I care not Aesop how the King conceated Of my franke speeches which I euer vse I came not here till I was first entreated Nor being come will I my name abuse Should I his poysonous Sycophants resemble A hatefull thing to honest men that know it I would not for his Diadem dessemble What the hart thinks the tongue was made to show it And what if his vaine humor to haue cherish'd I had my speeches for the purpose painted I had but gotten gifts that would haue perish'd But nothing could haue cleer'd my fame once tainted If I had show'n my selfe toward him officious It would in end haue but procur'd my shame To haue our vertue prais'd by one that 's vicious This in effect is but a secret blame He thinks him simple who his anger raises But better simply good then doubly ill I neuer value my worth by others praises Nor by opinions do direct my will And it content's me more to be applauded By one of iudgement though of meane degree Then by a Prince of princely parts defrauded Who hath more wealth but not more wit then hee Aesop Who come to Court must with Kings faults comport Sol. Who come to Court should trueth to Kings report Aesop A wise man at their imperfections winks Sol. An honest man will tell them what he thinks Aesop So should you loose your selfe and them not win Sol. But I would beare no burden of their sin Aesop By this you should their indignation finde Sol. Yet haue the warrant of a worthy minde Aesop It would be long ere you were thus prefer'd Aesop Then it should be the King not I that er'd Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Sol. Yet when I merite well I care the lesse Aesop It 's good to be still by the Prince approued Sol. It 's better to be vpright though not loued Aesop But by this meane all hope of Honor failes Aesop Yet honestie in end euer preuailes Aesop I thinke they should excell as oft they do All men in wit that vnto men giue lawes Kings are the Center of the
stead Base brood of earth vaine man Why bragst thou of thy might The heauens thy courses scan Thou walkst still in their sight Ere thou wast borne thy deedes Their registers dilate And thinke that none exceedes The compasse of his fate What heauens would haue thee to Though they thy wayes abhorre That thou of force must do And thou may do no more This reason would fulfill Their worke should serue their will Are we not heires of death In whom there is no trust Who tossd with circkling breath Are but a dramme of dust Yet fooles when as we erre And do th' heauens wrath contract If they a while deferre A iust reuenge t' exact Pride in our bosome creepes And mis-informes vs thus That the Eternall sleepes Or takes no care of vs. No th' eye of heauen beholds All what our hart enfolds The gods digest no crime Though they continue long And in th' offenders time Seeme to neglect their wrong Till others of their race Fill vp the cup of wrath Whom ruine and disgrace Long time attended hath And Giges fault we feare To Croesus charge be layd Which loue will not forbeare Though it be long delayd For ô sometime the gods Must plague sinne with sharp rods And lo how Croesus still Tormented in his mind Like a reed on a hill Is shiuering with each wind Each step a terrour brings Dreames do by night afflict him And by day many things All his thoughts do conuict him He his starre would controule This makes euill not the worst Whilst he wounds his owne soule With th' apprehension frist Man may his fate foresee But not shun heauens decree Act. IIII. Scen. I. ADRASTVS CROESVS CHORVS CAn heauen behold hands staind with bloud ofttimes And to the Stigian streames not headlongs hurld Can th' earth support one burden'd with such crimes As may prouoke the wrath of all the world Why sends not Ioue t' haue my curss'd course confind A death-denouncing flash of rumbling thunder Or a tempestuous terrour-breeding wind With violence to teare me all asunder What vnknowne corner from the world remou'd T' inhabit in th' horizon of dispaire Shall I go now possesse and be approu'd By monsters like my selfe that hate repaire I le go indeed whom all the world detests Who haue no interest in the fields of blisse And barbarize among the barbarous beasts Where Tigers rage Toades spue and Serpents hisse Yet though both th' Artike and Antartike Pole I should ouerpasse and find th' vnpeopled zones A wildernesse where nought were to controule My damnable cruelties but trees and stones Yet of my deeds which all the world do tell All this could not deface th' infamous scroule Within my breast I beare about my hell And can not scape the horrours of my soule Those fearefull monsters of confusd aspects Chimera Gorgon Hydra hellish apes Which in the world wrought wonderfull effects And borrowed from th' infernall shades their shapes Their deuilish formes that did the world amaze Not halfe so monstrous as my selfe I finde When on mine owne deformities I gaze In the black depth of a polluted minde No but my mind vntainted still remaines My thoughts in this dilict haue had no part Which accidentallie this foule fact staines My hands had no commission of my hart Yet whether it was fortune or my fate Or some hell-hag that did direct my arme I quaild the Lidians hopes abortiue date And am the instrument of all their harme Then swelling mountaines come and fall vpon me Your height may hide me from the wrath of heauen But this needes not my fault hath else vndone me No torment can with my offence be euen Ah of what desart shall I now make choice T' auoid the count'nance of an angrie King I know th' auenging sword of Croesus voice To wound my soule hostes of rebukes doth bring No th' obiect of distresse I le stand alone A memorable monster of mishap For though Pandoraes plagues were pour'd in one All were too few so vile a wretch t' entrap Chor. O how the King is mou'd with Atis death His face th' impression of a passion beares With bended eyes crostarmes and quiuering breath His princely roabe he desperately teares Lo with a silent pittie-pleading looke Which shewes with sorrow mixt a high disdeine He whilst his soule seemes to dissolue in smoake Whiles eyes the corps whiles him by whom t' is slaine Croes Thou ruthlesse Tyrant ruine of my blisse And didst thou so disguise thy deuilish nature To recompence my courtesies with this Ah cruell wretch abhominable creature Thy Tigrish mind who could haue well detected In mortall breasts so great barbaritie What forward sprite could haue such spight suspected In hospitalitie hostilitie Did I reuiue thee when thy hopes were dead When as thy life thy parents had not spar'd And hauing heapt such favours on thy head Is this Is this Chor. he would say the reward Adrast I grant what you alledge and more is true I haue vnto the height of hatred runne A blood-staind Wretch not worthy for to view The rolling Circles nor the rayie Sunne I 'le neuer striue to cloake my foule abuses So for to make my forfeit to seeme lesse And paint my fault with imperfect excuses T' is greater farre then words can wel expresse Nor go I thus to aggrauate my crime And damne my selfe to be absolu'd by others No no such Rhetoricke comes out of time I 'le not suruiue his death as earst my brothers Whose vnkind fall if I had followd straight As then indeed I dyed to all delight I had not groan'd chargd with this inward waight But slept with shadows in eternall night Yet must I die at last though late growne wise This in my minde most discontentment breedes A thousand tort'ring deaths cannot suffise To plague condignely for so haynous deedes Come cause him who the Spritelesse body buries Vpon the Tombe to sacrifice my blood No fitter offring for th' infernall Furies Then one in whom they raign'd while as he stood In whom they oft infusde their diu'lish rage And in my bosom all their Serpents nestled So that this hellish horror to asswage I all my dayes haue with disasters wrestled Croes I find Adrastus when I deepely scaunce Th' effectuall motiues of this fatall crosse That not thy malice but mine owne mischaunce Hath been th' occasion of our bitter losse Whilst barely with a superficiall wit We weigh the out-side of such strange euents If but the mediate meanes our iudgements hit We search not the first cause this much contents When such prodigious accidents fall out Though they amaze our minds and so they must The ground of all comes from our selfe no doubt Ah! man hath sin'd the heau'ns are alwayes iust Now when I search the secrets of my soule And rip the corners of my corrupt minde Marke of my former life th' offenciue scroule And do examine how I was inclinde O then I see the angry hosts of heauen Come girt with flames to plague
anguish that o're-whelms me so Though many Monarchs iealously despise The rising Sunne that their declining staines And hate the Heire who by their fall must rise As grieu'd to heare of death or others raignes My loue towards Atis otherwise appeard Whom whilst for him I did my cares engage I as a Father lou'd as King not feard The comfort not th' encombrance of mine age And hadst thou Sonne as reason would suruiu'd me Who glauncd and vanish'd like a lightning-flash Then death of life could neuer haue depriu'd me Whilst such a Phaenix had reuiu'd my ash San. Let not these woes ecclypse your Vertues light Croes Ah! rage and griefe must once be at a hight San. Striue of your sorrows for to stop the source Croes These salt eie-floods must flow haue their course San. That is not kingly Croes And yet it is kindly Where passions do domine they gouerne blindly San. Such wofull plaints cannot repaire your State Croes Th' infortunate at least may waile their Fate The meanest comfort can t' a wretch retourne Is in calamine t' haue leaue to mourne San. What graue-browd Stoick voyd of all affections With teare-lesse eyes could that Youths death behold Though greene in yeeres yet ripe in all perfections A hoarie iudgement vnder lockes of gold No no man liues but must lament to see The worlds chiefe hope euen in his blossome choaked But men cannot controll the Heau'ns decree And mischiefe done can neuer be reuoked Then let not this torment your mind no more This crosse with you alike your Countrie beares If wailing could your ruinde State restore Soules fraught with griefe should sayle in Seas of teares Lest all our comfort dash against one shelfe And his vntimely end occasion yours Haue pitie of your people spare your selfe If not to your owne vse yet vnto ours Croes When Sandanis I first thy faith did find Thou diu'd so deepely in my bosorn then That since thou kept the key still of my mind And knew what I conceald from other men Behold I go to open vp to you Deare Treasurer of all my secrets still A mightie enterprise I mind for now A Phisicke in some sort t' asswage my ill Which may vnto my soule yield some reliefe And make me to forgoe sad thoughts content Or els acquire copartners in my griefe If not for me yet with me to lament Sand. This benefite must bind me with the rest To loue your Maiestie and wish you well I 'le giue you my aduise and I protest That you take friendly what I freely tell Croes Since that it hath not pleasde the Diuine powres That of my of-spring I might comfort claime Yet lest the rauenous course of flying howres Should make a prey of my respected name I hope t' engender such a generous brood That the vnborne shall know how I haue liu'd And this no doubt would do my ghost great good To be by famous Victories reuiu'd I 'le Eagle-like so are with Fames immortall wings Vnlesse my hie-bent thoughts themselues deceaue That hauing acted admirable things I may scorne death and triumph o're the graue Yet haue I not so settled my conceate That all opinions are to be despisde Vnfold your iudgement touching my estate Take heed I 'le tell you what I haue deuisde Some Scithian Shepherd in a high disdaine As I haue heard rehearst by true discourses To plague some of the Medes with endlesse paine Did entertaine them with Thiestes courses And to content their more then Tigrish wishes They with the infants flesh the parents fed Who not suspecting such polluted dishes Did in their bowels burie whom they bred Then after this abhominable crime They come vnto my fathers famous court And working on th' aduantage of the time Did as they pleas'd of what was past report They shew'd what seru'd to help and hid the rest Whilst pittie pleaded for afflictions part He noble-minded fauouring the distrest Was woon to them by this Sinonick art San. Oft Kings of Iudges thence haue parties gone Where both their eares were patent but to one Croes Then Ciaxare Monarch of the Medes To prosecute those fugitiues to death In indignation of my fathers deedes Did boast them both with all the words of wrath My father thinking that his court should be A sanctuarie for all supplicants Did leuie men that all the world might see He helpt the weake and scorn'd the mighties vaunts Thus mortall warres on euery side proclaim'd With mutuall domage did continue long Till both the armies by Bellona tam'd Did irke t' auenge or to maintaine a wrong It chanc'd whilst peace was at the highest dearth That all their forces furiouslie did fight A suddaine darkenes courtain'd vp the earth And violentlie dispossest the light I thinke for Phaeton the Sunne lookt sad And that the bloodie obiects that he saw Did wound his memorie with griefe gone mad He from the world his wagon did withdraw Yet Ignorance the mother of confusion With wresting natures course found cause of feares Which well edg'd on by wiser mens illusion Was cause of concord and of truce from teares Then straight there was a perfect peace begunne And that it might more constantly indure Astiages the King of Medias sonne A mariage with my Sister did procure A deadlie rancour reconcil'd againe Must seal'd with consanguinitie remaine Croes He since his fathers age-worne course was ended Hath rulde his people free from blood or strife Till now a Viper of his loynes discended Would by his ruine make himselfe a life I meane by Cyrus base Cambises brood Who by a Bitch nurst with the countrey swaines Degener'd farre from any princely blood The doggish nature of his nurse retaines He come against his Grandfather to feeld And vnexpected with a mightie powre Ouerthrew his forces forc'd himselfe to yeeld Who captiue kept now waits for death each howre That you may see now what my interest is I made recitall of this ruthfull storie Those circumstances shew that shame of his Tends to the derogation of our glorie That any dare presume to trouble thus One whome our kingdomes fauour should defend In strict affinitie combind with vs Yet not respected for so great a friend My ioylesse soule with this will be reioyc'd Whilst I to warre against that rebell go I hope that both shall know how they haue choyc'd Th' one a kind friend and th' other a fearce fo San. Though Natures law you car'd not to transgresse And this your wrong'd allye would not repare Yet the regard t' a Monarch in distresse Should moue the mightie with a mutuall care These terrours to that thunder in your eare I thinke the Lidians will not well allow For when the Cedar falls the Oake may feare Th' Assirians ore-throw may astonish you And when we see our neighbours house afire Then we may iudge our owne to be in danger It 's better first with others to conspire Or we be forc'd our selues t' inuade that stranger Ah this is but the out-side
of your course A dangerous ambush by ambition planted There may come raging riuers from this source To drowne your state whilst fancies are vndanted I know these new-borne monsters of your mind Haue arm'd your rauish'd thoughts with faire conceates Yet may these wonders that you haue diuin'd Proue traiterous proiects painted for deceates And pardon Sir it is not good to be Too rashlie stout nor curiouslie wise Lest that you from that which is certaine flee And not attaine to that which you deuise Croes I grant indeed which very few shall know Though I designe but to relieue my friend My thoughts are aym'd this vnto you I le show And not without great cause t' a greater end You see how Fortune nought but change affects Some are reproach'd that others may be praisd And euery age brings forth some strange effects Some must be ruin'd others must be raisd I doubt not you haue heard who was the first Whom fame for warring with the world reuiues Who had of soueraigntie so great a thirst That it could not be quenchd with thousands liues T' was he who first obtain'd the name of Ioue Who was reputed for his glorious acts The most imperious of the powers aboue That vowes and offrings of the world exacts He all his time could nought but terrour breathe To make the world acquaint with warre and dearth The chiefest sergeants deputed by death That made th' Assirians soueraignes of the earth Yet since his course the worlds first plague was past His successours who many ages raign'd Made shipwrack of their Empire at the last And by the Medes were thral'd scorn'd and disdain'd This was the cause of that great kingdomes fall A King who could not iudge of kinglie treasures With losse of scepter honour life and all Did buy his base delights and seruile pleasures To that disastred Monarchies decay Th' aspiring Persians purpose to succeede But I intend to crosse them by the way And quaile their courage ere that they can speede The Persians once the Lidians force must proue And O who knowes but that it is ordain'd At the Tribunall of the States aboue That I should raigne where famous Ninus raign'd This all the host of heauen ofttimes foretells To this the gods of Greece my mind haue mou'd And he that in th' Arabian desart dwells By his response this enterprise approu'd San. Thus still in loue with what we mind to do What we affect we fairest still conceaue This feedes our humour whilst we labour to Seeme full of wit our selues for to deceaue You flatter so yourselfe you can not spye What secret danger this designe doth beare But whilst I looke with an indifferent eye On your intentions I find cause of feare You vnaduisdlie purpose to pursue A barbarous people that are foes to peace Who but by rapine to their greatnes grew And would for each light cause the warres imbrace No daintie silks of the Assirian dye Do deck their bodies to abase their mindes But cloath'd with wild beasts skinnes they do defye The force of Phoebus rayes and Eols windes They simplie feede and are not grieu'd each day With stomacks cloyd decocting diuers meates They fare not as they would but as they may Of iudgement sound not carried with conceates These vncorrupted customes that they hold Make all things easie that they feele no paine This cooles the Sommers heate kils Winters cold This makes the Riuers dry the Mountaines plaine Those whose ambition pouertie did bound Of the delights of Lidia if they taste Will haue in hatred straight their barren ground And insolentlie all our treasures waste To gouerne such although that you preuaile You shall but buy vexation with your blood And do your selfe and yours if fortune faile From a possessed Soueraigntie seclude Yea though this rash desire your iudgement leades I for my part must praise the gods for you The haue not put into the Persians heads To warre against the Lidians long ere now Croes These flames that burne my brest must once burst out Your counsaile for more quiet minds I leaue And be you still thought wise so I proue stout I le conquer more or lose the thing I haue Caelia YEt am I forc'd out of afflictions store To ease my mind a few sad words to straine And but vnlode it now to lode it more I emptie but mine eyes to fill againe My soule must sound euen as my passions strike Which now are tun'd to nothing but mischiefe My breast and eyes are both accurst alike The cabinet of care the cells of griefe O cruell heauen fierce starre vnhappie fate Too foule iniustice of the diuine powres Whose high disdaine t'wards me with partiall hate The comfort of the world sad world deuoures Curst be the day in which I first was borne When lying toungs affirm'd I come to light A monstrous blasphemie a mightie scorne Since t' was to darkenes and a ioy-set night O happie if I then had chanc'd to smother That the first houre had been the last to me Then from one graue t' haue gone vnto another I should haue dide to liue not liu'd to die What profited to me my parents ioyes That with such pomp did solemnize my birth When I must be the mirrour of annoyes And all my dayes taste but one dramme of mirth Which seru'd for nothing but to make me know The height of horrour that was to succeed I was but raisd vp high to be brought low That short-liu'd ioyes might endless anguish breed That nothing might for my confusion lack All my best actions but betray'd my state My vertues too were guiltie of my wrack And warr'd against me banded with my fate For whilst my Virgin-yeares with praise I past Which did ah that it did too much import My modest eye told that my mind was chast This gain'd the warrant of the worlds report And Maides must haue a great respect to fame No greater dowrie then an vnstain'd name Faire beauties Goddesse thou canst beare record My offring neuer made thine altar rich All such lasciuious fancies I abhord My free-borne thoughts no follie could bewitch Till happilie ah so it seem'd to some Ah but vnhappelie th' euent hath prou'd All this and more to Atis eares did come Who straightway likt and after liking lou'd Then to our eares his purpose did impart Not lip-sick-louer-like with words farre sought His toong was but the agent of his hart Yet could not tell the tenth part of his thought And lest his trauells should haue seem'd to tend To breach my honour worke my fames decay He brought his wishes to a lawfull end And by th' effect th' affection did bewray Their Iuno president of wedlockes vowe And Hymen with his saffron-colour'd cote Our loue with sacred customes did allow Whilst th' ominous Owles no crosses did denote The blessing that this marriage did procure It was too great to haue continu'd long A thing that 's vehement can not indure Our ioyes farre past th'
expressing of the toong Who euer did full satisfaction finde Yet with satietie were neuer cloy'd We seem'd two bodies gouern'd by one mind Such was the happines that we enioy'd He lou'd me deerely I obey'd his will Prowd of my selfe because that I was his A harmonie remaind betwixt vs still Each in another plac'd their chiefest blisse This mou'd th'Immortalls to a high disdaine That thus two worldlings who of death were heires Should in a paradise of ioyes remaine Which did exceede at least did equall theirs But chiefly Iuno did dispight it most Who through a iealousie still iarres with Ioue That bodie-prison'd soules of that could boast Which she although Heauens Queene had not aboue Thus euen for enuy of our rare delights The fatall Sisters by the heauens subborn'd Of my soules treasure closd the louely lights By which they thought the earth too much adorn'd O but he is not dead he liues in me Ah but I liue not for I dide in him The one without the other can not be If death haue set his eyes mine must looke dim Since to my sight that Sunne no more appeer'd From whom my beauties borrowed all their rayes A long ecclipse that neuer shall be cleer'd Hath darkned all the points of my sad dayes Ay me I liue too long he dide too soone Thus still the worst remaine the best depart Of him who told how this black deede was done The words like swords shall euer wound my hart Fierce tyrant Death that in thy wrath didst take One halfe of me and left an halfe behind Take this to thee or giue me th' other backe Be altogether cruell or all kind For whilst I liue thou canst not wholy dye O! euen in spite of death yet still my choyce Oft with th' Imaginations loue-quicke eye I thinke I see thee and I heare thy voyce And to content my languishing desire Each thing to ease my mind some helpe affords I fancie whiles thy forme and then afire In euery found I apprehend thy words Then with such thoughts my memorie to wound I call to mind thy lookes thy words thy grace Where thou didst haunt yet I adore the ground And where thou stept O sacred seemes that place My solitary walks my widowd bed My driery sighs my sheets oft bathd with teares These can record the life that I haue led Since first sad newes breath'd death into mine eares I liue but with despaire my sprite to dash Thee first I lou'd with thee all loue I leaue For my chaste flames extinguishd in thy ash Can kindle now no more but in thy graue By night I wish for day by day for night Yet wish farre more that none of both might bee But most of all that banishd from the light I were no more their courses for to see At night revoluing my despaird estate I go to summe with sighs my wonted ioyes When in an agonie a grieu'd conceate Doth blot th' unperfect compt with new annoyes When Sleepe the eldest brother of pale Death The Child of darkenesse and Father of rest In a free prison hath confinde my breath That it may vent but not with words exprest Then with my sprite thou enterst for to speake With honyed speaches to appease my griefe And my sad heart that labourd for to breake In this fayn'd comfort finds a while reliefe Yea it our soules remaind vnited so This late diuorcement would not vexe my mind But when I waken it augments my woe Whilst this a dreame and me a wretch I find O happy if I had been happy neuer But happier if my happinesse had lasted Yet had I in this state chanc'd to perseuer My dayes had with excessiue ioyes soone wasted Why waste I thus whilst vainely I lament The precious treasure of that swift Post Time Ah! pardon me deare Loue for I repent My lingring here my Fate and not my crime Since first thy body did enrich the Tombe In this spoild world my eye no pleasure sees And Atis Atis loe I come I come To be thy Mate amongst the Mirtle trees CHORVS LOe all our time euen from our birth In nought but miserie exceeds For where we find a moments mirth A Month of mourning still succeeds By all the euills that Nature breeds Which daily do our sprites appall Th' infirmities that frailtie sends The losse of it that fortune lends And such disasters as oft fall Yet to farre worse our states are thrall Whilst wretched man with man contends And euery one his whole force bends How to procure anothers losses But this torments vs most of all The mind of man which many a fancie tosses Doth forge vnto it selfe a thousand crosses O how the Soule with all her might Doth all her heau'nly forces straine How to attaine vnto the light Of Natures wonders that remaine Hid from our eyes we striue in vaine To seeke out things that are vnsure In Sciences to seeme profound We diue so deepe we find no ground And the more knowledge we procure The more it doth our minds allure Of mysteries the depth to sound Thus our desires we neuer bound Which by degrees thus drawne on still The memorie may not indure But like the tubs that Danaus daughters fill Doth drinke no faster then it 's forc'd to spill Yet how comes this and O how can Diuine Knowledge the Soules chiefe treasure Occasion such a crosse to man That should afford him greatest pleasure O it 's because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong But for to tempt forbidden things Do soare too high with Natures wings Still weakest whilst we thinke vs strong The Heau'ns that thinke we do them wrong To trie what in suspence still hings This crosse vpon vs iustly brings With knowledge knowledge is confusde And growes a griefe ere it be long That which a blessing is being rightly vsde Doth grow the greatest crosse when it 's abusde Ah! what auailes this vnto vs Who in this vaile of woes abide With endlesse toile to studie thus To learne the thing that Heau'n would hide And trusting in too blind a guide To spie the Planets how they moue And too transgressing common barres The constellation of the starres And all that is decreed aboue Whereof as oft th' euent doth proue Th' intelligence our welfare marres And in our breasts breeds endlesse warres Whilst what our Horoscopes foretell Our expectations do disproue Those apprehended plagues proue such a Hell That we would wish t' vnknow them till they fell This is the pest of great Estates They by a thousand meanes deuise How to foreknow their doubtfull Fates And like new Giants scale the Skies Heau'ns secret store-house to surprise Which sacriligious skill we see With what great payne they apprehend it And then how foolishly they spend it To learne the thing that once must be Why should we seeke our destinie If it be good we long attend it If it be euill none may amend it Such knowledge further rest exiles T' is best to abide
euen as if her soule had flowne in him She stabd her selfe then falling on her Lord Her beauties blubbered starres were waxing dim The faithfull Eunuchs for their Sou'raigne sorie And scorning to suruiue so rare a date In emulation of their mistresse glorie Dide violentlie partners of her fate O sweet Panthea rich in rarest parts I must admire thy ghost though thou be gone Who mightst haue made a monarchie of harts Yet loth'd vnlawfull loues and lou'd but one O wondrous wonders wonders wondrous rare A woman constant such a beautie chaste So pure a mind ioyn'd with a face so faire Beautie and Vertue in one person placde Both were well match'd as any could deuise Whose vndiuided end their choyce alowes He valorous she vertuous both wise She worthie such a mate he such a spouse And Harpagus lest that it should be thought The memorie of vertuous minds may dye Cause build a stately tombe with statues wrought Where their dead bodies may respected lye Har. I 'le raise a Piramide of Croesus spoyles Where all their famous parts shall be comprisde But how t' insist in these tumultuous broyles T' is best now Sir that you were well aduisde Your aduersarie doth attend your will This hautie citie humbled hath her crest And therefore go to pardon or to kill To saue or sack euen as you shall thinke best Cyr. Abstract for old Croesus I am else resolu'd He with some captiues which I keep in store Shall haue their bodies by the fire dissolu'd As offrands to the Gods that I adore This citie shall my souldiers paines defray Since by their force it hath been brought to bow I yeeld it vnto them as their iust pray Who taste the sweetnes of their trauels now Of other things we shall so well dispose That our renowne o're all the world shall shine Till Cyrus name b'a terrour to all those I That dare against his Sou'raigntie repine Act. V. Scen. II. NVNTIVS CHORVS AH to what part shall I my steps addresse The burden of base bondage to eschue Lo desolation ruine and distresse With horrour doth my natiue home pursue And now poore countrey take my last farewell Farewell all ioy all comfort all delight Chor. What heauie tidings hast thou for to tell That tear'st thy garments thus tell thy sad plight Nun. I tell the wrack of vs and all that liue Within the circuit of this wretched soyle Cho. A hideous shout we heard the Citie giue Is' t in th' enemies hands is' t made his spoyle Nun. It 's made his spoyle Cho. And is our Sou'raigne kild Nun. No but yet neerely scapt doth liue in danger Cho. Then let our eares be with disasters fild And must we beare the yoke of that prowd stranger Nun. You know how Croesus at th' aduantage lay Still seeking meanes t' abate the Persians pride And his confederates had assign'd a day When they should for th' intended warre prouide But Cyrus hauing heard how that they should Against his state so great an armie bring Straight raising all the forces that he could Preuents inuades o'recomes and takes our King Chor. This shews a Captaine both expert and braue Fiâ—st well t' aduise then t' execute with speede No circumstance friend vnrelated leaue Which with our Kings did our confusion breed Nun. When Croesus saw that Cyrus came so soone He stood awhile with a distracted minde Yet what time would permit left nought vndone But made his Musters march'd his Foe to find Our stately Troupes that glisterd all with gold And with vmbragious Feathers fann'd the ayre They with vnwarie insolence growne bold More how to triumph then to o'recome tooke care The Lidian Horsemen are of great account And are for valour through the world renownd Them Cyrus chiefly labourd to surmount And this deuise for that effect was found Vntrussing all their baggage by the way Of the disburthen'd Camels each did beare A grim-fac'd Groome who did himselfe array Euen as the Persian Horsemen vse to weare To them th' Infanterie did follow next A solide Squadron like a brasen wall But those in whom all confidence was fixt The braue Cauallerie came last of all Then Cyrus by the raynes his Courser tooke And being mounted holding out his handes With an assured and Imperious looke Went breathing valour through th' vnconquer'd bandes He willd all them that at Deaths game should striue To spare none of their foes in any forme But as for Croesus to take him aliue And keepe him captiue for a greater storme Where famous Hellus doth to Hermus poste In his broad waues t' entombe his strength and name Our Armie ran against a greater Hoste T' enrich it likewise with our force and fame Our Troupes a time with equall valour stood Till giuing place at length we tooke the chace While as the Riuer ranne to hide our blood But still his borders blusht at our disgrace For so soone as the Camels once were come Our Horses loathing to indure their sight Ranne raging backe againe and of them some Disordring rancks put many to the flight Yet others that were of more martiall mindes Perceiu'd the Stratagem that did deride them And lighting on their feet like mighty windes Bare downe before them all that durst abide them There whilst the world proou'd prodigall of breath The headlesse troncks lay prostrated in heapes This field of funeralls proper vnto death Did paint out Horror in most hideous shapes There men vnhorsde horses vnmastred strayed Some calld on them whom they most dearely tendred Some ragde some groand some sigh'd roard wept prayd Fighting fainting falling desp'rate maymde rendred Those that escapt like beasts vnto a Den Fled to a Fortresse which true valour drownes Walles are for women and the fields for men For Townes cannot keepe men but men keepe Townes And we were scarcely entred at the Portes When as the enemies did the Towne inclose And rearing many artificiall Fortes To the Defenders did huge paines impose There all the military slights werere found Which at the like encounters had preuaild Both for to vse th' aduantage of the ground Or for to helpe with Arte where Nature faild They euer compassing our Trench about Still where the Walls were weakest made a breach Which being straight repaird we threw tooles out And killd all those that came within our reach There all the bolts of death edgde by disdaine That many curious wits inclinde to ill Helpt by th' occasion and the hope of gaine Had powre t' inuent were put in practise still Yet as we see it oft times hath occurrde Where we suspected least we were surprisde Whilst fortune and the fates in one concurrde To haue our ruine in their rolles comprisde The side of Sardis that was least regarded Which lyes t'wards Tmolus and was thought most sure Through this presumption whilst t' was weakely guarded Th' orethrow of all Lidia did procure As one of ours vnhappily it chanc'd T' o're-take his helmet that had scapt his hand Alongst that
how he had their treason tri'de And seene the Bactrians to a tumult bent Then prai'd him for his safety to prouide In going with him to his trusty tent The King grow'n carelesse and his safety shunning Refus'd this offer on affection grounded Or with some pow'rfull fate his fall fore-running Was carried headlong thus to be confounded The Greeke past thence dispairing of his safety Who thus recur elesse helpe and health refus'd Then Bessus did begin with speeches craftie To purge himselfe and errours past excus'd The King then Artabazus did command T' approch and Patrons speech at length reported He then did doubt what danger was at hand And to go with the Greeke his Grace exhorted But when he found this resolution plac'd Within his brest no peril for to flie With mutuall teares each other they embrac'd Parting like two that liuing went to die Now silent night in pitchie vapours cled Had mustred mists and march'd vnto the West A shadowie horrour ou'r the earth was spread The Santinelles were set and all at rest When a strange terrour troubled all the hoste The multitudes did murmure in all parts They did resemble ships in stormes neere lost Whilst each to th' other cause of feares imparts Those who their King appointed were to guarde All shrunke away to corners none staid there And hauing to his danger no regarde His better-fortunes Minions fled else where The desolation then was wonderous great With a few Eunuches Darius left alone Did enter deepely to reuolue his state And thus be-spake them who did for him mone Depart in peace and for your selues prouide Least yee be likewise with my ruine caught I will the issue of my fate abide They hearing this as of their wits distraught Went howling through the host with dolorous cries This made the King as dead to be bewaild And in the armie did a rumour rise That he had kild himselfe when all hope fail'd The Persians greeu'd while these things did occurre Did first encourage all their countrie bands To helpe their Prince but yet they durst not sturre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands Ev'n in the time when this confusion was The traitours to deferre the fact no more Did to their soueraignes owne Pavilion passe And rooke and bound him whome they seru'd before He who in golden coach superbelie rode Was cast in one for bassest carriage vs'd And who of late was honoured like a God By seruants as a bond slaue was abus'd Those royall hands to beare a scepter borne Were bouÌ„d with chains this also much did grieue him That fortune his aduersitie would scorne With golden bands that seru'd not to releeue him Then Alexander hauing heard in end That Darius came not forward to affront him To finde him out did all his forces bend Not doubting but he eftsoones would surmount him But being at the last at length inform'd How he was made a Captiue to his owne At this indignitie he highlie storm'd And swore he would avenge it by his crowne Out of his hoste he did select a fewe Who were best hors'd whose equipage was light With whom his foes he did so fast pursue That ere they could suspect he came in sight The traitours troubled with this he had done Came to the Cart wherein the King was carried And bad him mount on horse back and flee soone Least that his foe should take him if he tarried He look'd aloft and cry'd aloud this day Th' eternall Iusticer sees through the starres I will not with such periur'd rebelles stay And flie from him who moou's but honest warres Then those in whom impietie aboundes Throw'd darts at him whoÌ„ they should haue defended And hurte the horses with an hundreth woundes While they perform'd the Parricide intended Their hands were feeble as their harts vntrue For when their foes began them once to comber The traitours first then all the traiterous crue Fled them who were inferiour farre in number But to the confines of deathes kingdome brought The King retir'd out from the way aside More wounded with ingratitude then ought Did flie the world whose follies he had tri'de Scarce was the lasting last diuorcement made Twixt soule and body whilst that th' eyes grew dim When Alexander came and found him dead Who long had labour'd for t' haue ruin'd him Yet with the vesture which himselfe then wore He couered the dead corps and not eschew'd it But eu'n with teares his coffin did decore To the great wonder of all them that view'd it And hauing waild his death aboue all measure For t' haue his funerals made in Princely wise He bids you spare no coste but vse his treasure And them as best becommes to solemnise He hath his body hither sent by me That the last honours you to him may do He thinkes they so shall best accomplish'd be And who him bare shall see him buried to Cho. Behold how griefe hath her of sense berest And choak'd her breath with super-abounding grones No will or power to liue is to her left Since all her weale evanish'd is at ones Sis Ah shall I see no let me first be blinde That body breath-lesse which I brought to light Where would my soule a force sufficient finde T' endure the dolour of that deadly sight O flintie hardned hart that wilt not breake With the remembrance of so many woes Why part'st thou not faint sprit that whil'st I speake In opening of my lips mine eyes might close This heritage of death this withered stock Is but a receptacle of dispaires A torture to it selfe a stumbling block Whose aged furrowes fertile are in cares What helpes it now to haue bene made the mother Of one who to such dignitie did clim More miserable now then any other I liue to waile my death who di'd in him Aye me malitious Fates haue done me wrong Who came first to the world should first depart It not becommes the olde t' ou'r-liue the yong This dealing is praeposterous and ou'r-thwart Ah why should death so indiscreet be found To saue a caitiue and confound a Prince My halfe-dead body weigh'd downe to the ground Through griefe is grow'n ripe for the graue long since CHORVS WHat makes vaine worldlings so to swell with pride Who came of earth and to the earth returne So hellish furies with their fire brands burne Proude and ambitious men as they deuiâ—e Them from themselues and so turmoile their mindes That all their time they studie still How to content a bound-lesse will Which neuer yet a full contentment findes Who so this flame within his bosome smothers Doth many fantasies contriue And euen forgets himselfe a-liue To be remembred after death by others Thus while he is his paines are neuer ended That while he is not he may be commended What can this helpe the happinesse of Kings So to subdue their neighbours as they doe And make strange nations tributaries to The greater state the greater trouble brings Their pompes and triumphes stands them in
cruelties hauing lost the fauour of the people shee was constrained when Cassander came against her to retire herselfe within a Towne which by reason of the scarcitie of victuals not being able to defend shee rendred together with her selfe to Cassander by whom notwithstanding of his promise to the contrary she was publikely put to death and so hauing proceeded so farre in wickednes he thought it no time to retire till he had extinguished all his masters race hee caused Roxane and her sonne to bee murdered and soone after Hercules Alexanders bastard sonne which multitude of murders gaue to him the crowne of Macedone and to me the Subiect of this Politragicke Tragedie The Actors The ghost of Alexander Olimpias his mother Roxane his wife Aristotle his maister Phocion his old friend Philastrus a Chaldaean Chorus his greatest Captaines Perdiccas Meleager Ptolomie Antigonus Eumenes Lisimachus Seleucus Cassander THE Alexandraean Tragedie ACT. I. The Ghost of Alexander the Great BAcke from th' umbragious bounds still rob'd of rest Must I returne where Phoebus gildes the fields A ghost not worthy to be Plutoes guest Since one to whom the world no buriall yields O what a great disgrace is this to me Whose trophees th' earth in euery corner keepes That I contemn'd cannot transported be A passenger through the sulphurean deepes Dare churlish Charon though not vsde to bow The raging torrent of my wrath gain estand Must I succumb amidst hells dungeons now Though ouer the world accustom'd to command But it may be that this hath wrought me harme What bloodlesse ghosts stray on the Stygian bancke Whose falles made famous by my fatall arme Whose falles made famous by my fatall arme Gaue terrour oft to many a martiall rancke Yet for a prey exposde to rauenous beasts Could neuer haue the honour of a tombe But though for such rude guests too pretious feasts Were basely buried in their brutish wombe Thus as it seemes the horiour of such deedes With like indignitie attends my sprite What stormie brest this thirst of vengeance breedes T' accuse for that which valour did acquite Ah might Alcmenaes sonne as worthy of Ioue Once force th' infernall fortes of endlesse night T' encounter Dis in the Tartarian groue And draw foorth th' ougly Cerberus to light Then leading Theseus through the cauerns darke That would haue forc'd th' inferiour regions Queene By violence vsde he th' auernall barke As Conquerour of the pallide Empire seene And may not I downe in the center sit Their renting th' earth as thence when vapours rise T' inlarge th' imprison'd soules the pitchy pit That once the light may lighten lightlesse eies What though I from th' aetheriall circles swerue Whom in this state it may be some mistake May not the voyce of Alexander serue To make th' earth tremble and the depths to shake Or shal I goe aboue with new alarmes To spoyle the princes of the peopled round And turne backe back'd with squadrons all in armes T' affright the ghosts that are beneath the ground But ah what comfort can I find aboue Where those whom I aduanc'd loe now in th' end The titles of my of-spring striue t' improue And to my chaire by violence ascend Ingratitude torments my troubled sprite Would God therefore that with a bodie stor'd I might returne t' enioy the dayes cleere light My backe 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 Whilst prizing honour deerer than my Crowne Ech of my blows gaue wounds ech wound gaue death Then thundring vengeance on rebellious bands I would make them redeeme my grace with grones Where now my Ghost hedgd in with horrour stands Lesse gracd then those whom I commanded once And yet th aduancement by those captaines had Whom first my Ensignes did acquaint with same Doth make my soule a thousand times more sad Then all the sufftings that the hels can claime O now I see what all my minions blindes My funerals to performe that none takes paine My state betraying me distracts their mindes That haue forgot all loue but loue to raigne But Ptholomie doth yet by time intend Backe t Alexandrta to transport me once Not mou'd by loue no for an other ende In hope my fortune will attend my bones And must I then so great a trouble haue That lately had all th earth and all th earths store For some few footes of earth to be a graue Which meane men get and great men get no more Though many a thousand at my signe did bow Is this the end of all my conquests then To be barrd from that little circuit now The benefit that 's common vnto men But of it all that once was thrall to me Lest that a little part my body bound I thinke all th earth my fatall bed should be That still all confines scornd but the azure round O blind ambition great mindes viprous brood The scourge of mankind and the foe to rest Thou guiltie art of many a millions blood And whilst I raignd didst raigne within my brest This to my soule but small contentment brings That I some Cities reard and others razd And made Kings captiues captiues to be Kings Then whilst the wondring world did stand amaz'd All that but now torments me after death Which raisde my fame on pillars that were rare O costly conquest of alittle breath Whose flattring sounds both come and go with th' aire Can I be he that thought it a disgrace Once to be made with other mortalls euen That would be thought of an immortall race The of-spring of great Ioue the heire of heauen I by al1 meanes the peoples mindes did moue T' haue Altars as a god with offrings stor'd Till of his glorie Ioue did iealous proue All Princes should be reuerenc'd not ador'd Ah whilst transported with a prosprous state I toyl'd t' exalt my throne aboue the starres That pride of mine the thunderer bent t' abate Did wound my fame with most infamous warres Made I not graue Calistines to smart That did disdaine a dying flesh t' adore And bent t' unknow my knowledge by vaine Art Though knowne a man sought to b' imagin'd more All fear'd t' incurre the danger of my wrath Which as a sleeping Lion none durst wake Mine anger was the messenger of death That many a time made armies all to quake So much Ambition did my thoughts ingage That I could not abide my fathers praise But though my friend kill'd Clitus in a rage That in my presence Philips fame durst raise Thus though that I mine enemies did abate I made my greatest friends become my foes Who did my barbarous insolencies hate And for the like afraid waild others woes Those tyrannies which thousands chanc'd to see As inhumane a multitude admirde And fear'd to be familar more with mee As from an odious tyrant stoode retirde Yea there were many too that did conspire By base ambushments whiles t' entrap my life
Or else some panicke terror Our iudgement doth bereaue Whilst first we misconceiue And so preiudge the sight Or in the bodies steade The genius of the dead Turnes backe from Stix againe Which Dis will not receaue Till it a while engendring dread Giue whilst it doth on th' earth remaine To others feare and to 't selfe paine These fearefull signes foreshow The doubtfull world t' appall What plagues are to succeede When death had layd him low That first had made vs thrall We heard that strait his fall Our libertie would breede But this prooues no reliefe For many O what griefe The place of one supplie And we must suffer all Thus was our comfort briefe For rarelie doth th' vsurper die But others will his fortune trie ACT. II. SCENE I. Perdiccas Meleager Ptolomie Antigonus Eumenes WHateie not big with teares can view this host Which hath in one ah as the end doth proue A King a Captaine and a Brother lost Crown'd follow'd tride by right for worth in loue I thinke amongst vs all there is not one Whom diuerse fauours do not iustly binde T' appease that Heroes ghost though from vs gone With all th' oblations of a thankfull minde Ah had the Fates beene subiect to my will Such clowdes of sorrow had not darkened life But we had had great Alexander still And he those kingdomes that procure this strife Yet heauens decrees can neuer be recalld And thoughts of harmes past help breede double paine Though being to griefe a space by passions thralld The liuing must embrace the world againe As one whose interest in his life was chiefe I of his death haue cause to curse th' effects But will not frustrate so the generall griefe To waile apart particular respects Though th' aire be plenish'd yet with plaintiue sounds Of widdow'd hopes that wedded haue despaires Yet Time must cicatrize our inward wounds And to the publike weale drawe priuate cares Let vs giue physicke to the sickened state That at this present in great danger stands Whilst grudging subiects that our greatnes hate Would enfranchize their violated lands Those that are thralld by force to be made free Praecipitate themselues in dangers still And this th' instinct of Nature seemes to bee What realme not scornes t' attend a strangers will From forc'd obedience nought but hate proceedes The moe we haue subdude the moe our foes A soueraigne head this states huge body needes That might make vs securely to repose And who more meete t' enioy that great mans place Wh'of those whose states he tooke receiu'd the hearts Then one descended from th' illustrous race Whose birth both worth and right to raigne impartes If heau'n enrich Roxana with a sonne That long'd-for birth a lawfull soueraigne brings And till that course of doubtfull hopes be done Let some appointed be to rule all things Eum. Though Macedonians tuned mindes not scorne That t' Alexander strangers should succeede Can men obey a babe a babe not borne What fancies strange would this confusion breed This could not well become our graue foresight A doubtfull birth t' attend so long in vaine That may b' abortiue and though brought to light Through Natures error made not apt to raigne But if affection carrie vs so farre That of that race we must be rul'd by some Though neither being practiz'd in peace nor warre As those that haue indeede by kinde o'recome Then haue we Hercules the eldest sonne That t' our great Prince was by Barsines borne Who foureteene yeares of age hath else begunne His princely birth by vertues rare t' adorne Ptol. Might not the Macedonians all b' asham'd If rendred vassalles thus t' a barbarous brood What should we beare the yoke that we haue framd To buy disgrace haue we bestowde our blood Our auncestours whose glory wee obscur'd Would get some vantage of their Nephues thus They warrd that peoples wracke to haue procurd And haue we ward to make them Lords o're vs Ah bury this as a'xecrable thing And let this purpose be no more pursude For though they were begotten by our king Yet were they borne of those that we subdude Obraue Leonides I like thy strife That with so few perforrnd so glorious things And death preferrd before th' infamous life That bondage still from a Barbarian brings Those loth'd t' accept a stranger for their Lord And with their blood gaue flame t'an vnknowne feild Yet we would honour them that they abhorrd And though being victors to the vanquish'd yeild For where-to tended that renownd attempt Which makes the Persians yet abase their brow But euen t' our countreys scorne in a contempt To take by force that which we offer now Was this the scope of all our conquersts then Of our owne captiues to be made the prey No let vs still command like valerous men And rule our Empire by some other way May we not vse this policie a space Till better wits some better meanes deuise Lest dangerous discords do disturbe our peace Still when we would of serious things aduice Let a maiesticke Senat gathered be And them amongst the Imperiall chare of state That of th' authoritie all signes may see Then whilst we compasse that respected seate There those that were in credite with the king Whose merits in mens minds haue reuerence bred Shall in their iudgements ballance euery thing How kingdomes should be ruld how Armies led And what the greatest part hath once approu'd To that the rest must oblig'd be t' incline All th' armie by this harmony being mou'd Will execute what euer we designe This concord would proue happy for vs all Since it each state in greatest suretie renders And by this meanes our Macedony shall In place of one haue many Alexanders Eum. Though silence I confesse becomes me best That am a stranger and the lesse beleeu'd Yet since a partner of your toyles I rest I must vnfold my mind a minde that 's greeeu'd And thinke you that a babe repaires our losse How are the deep est iudgements thus beguild This in all Countryes hath bin thought a crosse Wo to that soyle whose soueraigne is a child Nor would these great men as is thought agree They be too many bodies for one minde Ah pardon Ptolomie it can not be This vnion would all disunite I finde Thus would all th' armie from good order swarue When many might forgiue all would offend As thinking well though they did death deserue Ther 's none so bad but some man will defend And when so many kings were in one court One court would then haue many humors too Which fostring factions for each light report Would make them iarre as neighbouring princes doe No let this strange opinion be suppressd Whilst equals all all would vnequall be So that their mindes by iealousie possessd From pale suspition neuer could be free But ah what needs contention at this time T' obscure a matter that was made so cleere And doye now account it for no crime T' impugne his
all things t' a point That the successe our councells may adorne Eum. I heare a tumult made amongst the tents And Arideus is proclaimde a King To which th' inconstant multitude consents That build on all that changes best doe bring The footmen all are t'indignation mou'd That in th' assembly they got not a seate That our proceedings they might haue approu'd As knowing all that did concerne the States Their Princes memorie rests soone despisde That they dare thus reuolt and vnconstrain'd Saue but by too much libertie entisde Which makes the giuer still to be disdaind The want of discipline all things confounds Their deeds want order and their pride all bounds Perdi. And dare they then against that fortresse rise Where Alexanders collours once are rear'd Or violate the walls where-as he lyes May not his shaddow serue to make them feard What how comes this and dare they then presume T' encounter their commanders and in armes Armes armes iust wrath these rebels must consume Our countenance wil dash them sound th' alarmes Exeunt ACT. II. SCEN. II. Lisimachus Seleucus LO here a great and a most suddaine change All men for mirth were like to haue gone mad So that of late it would haue been thought strange In all this citie to haue seene one sad Each wall resounded some melodious song To rauish curious eares with rare delight Strange tapestries were stretch'd the streets along And stately obiects made t' amuse the sight As if his conquests gloriously to crowne Of all the world a Parliament to hold He came with pompe to this imperiall towne The height of all magnificence t' vnfold Here Glory in her richest robes aray'd Should haue shewne all that greatnesse could expect Yet were our hopes euen at the height betraid To death those trophes Fortune did erect A tragick end this triumph quite confounds All our applauses are turn'd to complaints Our musicke marr'd by melancholious sounds Spoil'd by the Cypresse loe the Lawrell faints To funerall shrikes our showts of ioy we turne Our gorgeous garments must giue place to griefe We that so much reioyc'd farre more must mourne Dayes spent with woe are long with pleasure briefe This greatest anguish breedes when one compares The time that present is with it that 's past And ponders the particular dispaires That all heroicke mindes with woe do waste These two betweene what diffrence finde we forth The rising Sunne and it that is declinde Where is that bright Zodiacke of all worth From whence the light of Valour onely shinde Now desolation spreades it selfe ouer all A solitarie silence griefe allowes Ah as being bruisd by that great Monarkes fall How many malecontents abase their browes A strange suspition hath possessd the streetes Whilst euery man his neighbours fall conspires When vnawares one with another meetes As strait suspecting treason he retires Of rumours strange all eares are greedie growne Which though all doubtfull moue the mind to ruth And as all hearts haue idolls of their owne What they coniecture all affirme for truth Sel. The heauen with wrathful eies our actions views As it towards vs that high disdaine doth beare Loe all mens heads are heauy for euill news And though we know not what yet stil we feare For since the widdow'd world doth want a head Each member now doth labour to be chiefe Which whilst they diuers wayes the bodie leade May a beginning giue t'an endlesse griefe Some like the foole that thunder fain'd like Ioue Would make their same like Alexanders sound And to bring others lowe or t' be aboue Would either gouerne all or all confound Then some vaine wittes that onely would seeme wise Whilst by prepostrous fancies being deceiu'd Do euery thing that is not theirs despise And perish would or them another sau'd A number too that all things doe content What each one thinkes are still resolu'd to doe They make a choice then doe the choice repent And strait repent of that repentance too The publike weale is spoi'ld by priuate hopes Whilst many thus the highest honour claime This variance giues their fancies freest scopes Its best to fish within a troubled streame See how dissention hath dissolu'd so soone All kinde of order and confusion brought This discord hath our councell quite vndone Whilst one would haue done all all haue done nought Though that Perdiccas as it would haue seem'd As being deuoted to the sacred blood Sought by that meanes more vertuous to b' esteem'd His Princes honour and his Countries good Yet hauing his companions in contempt He sought by subtill meanes himselfe t' aduance And so to shaddow his disguisde attempt Aym'd at th' imperiall place as but by chance He care pretends that none th' vnborne beguile As by the heauens for th' orphans weale reseru'd Yet wanting of a King nought but the stile He would not want that when th' occasion seru'd And Meleager with the like respect To crosse Perdiccas counterfets a loue To bastatd Philips right though in effect His purpose is but th 'others to disproue And so prouiding that his enemy faile He cares not much what Emperour they proclaime And his designe with many may preuaile The cloake of right apparrells any claime They whose descent their titles doth disclose Being borne in possibilitie to raigne Must be preferr'd by reason vnto those That of all right without the bounds remaine The furious footmen insolently stout Bent to maintaine a title brau'd our band And indignation thundring threatnings out Would with our blood haue dide this barb'rous land O what indignitie would this haue bin Whilst those that we subdude with such great toiles Had in this sort their victors vanquish'd seene And without paine possesse their spoylers spoyles Thus darkning all that we had done before Our swords being stain'd by ignominious wounds We of our conquests could haue kept no more But burialls base if those in th' enemies bounds O what excellencie consists in one More than in many as witnesses this houre Some with a word or looke doth more alone Than thousands ioyn'd with pollicie and powre When squadrons arm'd with ensignes all displaid As those that of their Prince all reuerence lost His generous course t' haue obstinately stai'd Did best t' abandon him when busied most Then of disorder yeelding bitter fruits They boldly march'd before th' imperiall tent And charg'd their soueraigne with vnlawfull suits As t'innouations violently bent They by no band of duety more detaind First grudgde grew factious next then rebells plaine Like waters by industrious meanes restraind Which if their dams once breake forth flouds do raine But of th' vntainted tipe of matchlesse worth Whom imitate none may al must admire Through iust disdaine when furie sparkled forth Th' astonish'd troups all trembling did retire His stately countenance calm'd tumultuous sounds Lightning forth maiestie through clowds of wrath That euen as if his words had giuen them wounds They prostrated themselues exspecting death Those loftie bandes that were of late so prowd That they
disdain'd t' attend their Emperours will Then by his sight being at an instant bow'd Did beg for licence but to tarry stil And yet what wonder though he wanne all harts That to his sacred presence did repaire With that accomplishment of vertuous parts As large in him as in all others rare Whiles when we come to meete as each man sees In this maim'd state bent t' entertaine some life Still hauing in contempt all our decrees The souldiers are not stai'd from ciuill strife And who can call that valorous Prince to minde That any reuerence vnto vertue beares But he must be constrain'd or prooue vnkinde To offer vp a tribute of some teares Lis His death of sorrow makes my soule the prey Though many thought that I for it had long'd For if by those that he rests bound t' obey One can be wrong'd then I indeede was wrong'd Sel. Fame to mine eares by diuers tongues did bring T' a danger huge how you were once exposde But specifide not each particular thing Which by your selfe I long to heare disclosde Lysim When sage Calistines for no request With superstitious customes could comport But with franke wordes all flatterie did detest He was abusde and in a barbarous sort So plaging him no doubt the king did ill Yet to prosperitie we must impute Those fatall faults that follow Fortune still As being of all great mindes a bastard fruit We should in kings as loth their states to tuch Speake sparingly of vice praise vertue much But I whose soule that wise man deerely lou'd Whilst spying his perfections thus iniur'd To tender passions by compassion mou'd Would his reliefe haue willingly procur'd But when my credite faild all hope being past That I could purchase grace in any sort I gaue him desp'rate physicke at the last That if his life was euill it might be short The king enrag'd that I had thus presumde To limite his reuenge by sodaine death That by a Lion I should be consumde Did throw my doome out of the depths of wrath But when with rolling eyes the Lion roard He by my strength as strengthlesse was orethrowne Which to the king whose mind did then remord My courage and my constancie made knowne So that incontinent I was set free By this rare proofeesteem'd amongst the strong And with a minde from inward rancor free As he his wrath so I forgot my wrong For whilst alone he through a forrest rang'd If it had bin but so to purchase fame Some by that meanes had former wrongs reueng'd Bent like Erostratus t' acquire a name Yet that which others did attempt in vaine And tirde by trauell of a surffet dide I did performe him bringing backe againe Whilâ—t I did runne as swift as he could ride And of that deede my sprite rests well apaide For since that time my soueraigne held me deere Which afterwards he to the world bewraid Whilst in this forme his fauour did appeare When vnawares he chanc'd my brow to wound To stay my blood that striu'd to die his launce My temples with his diademe he crownd A happy signe though comming but by chaunce And O! who knowes but once before I die That the successe may second the presage Seleue. What hinders vs our fortune now to trie And for a diademe our cares t' engage Those bended mindes that ayme at greatnesse still Growne popular by th' armie to be praisde Doe winde themselues in euery mans good-will And would seeme humble that they may be raisde What counterfeited friends seale trustlesse bands Whilst in the generall cause that each pretends Though neuer ioyning hearts all ioyne their hands And worke one way yet worke for diuerse ends Yea those whose thoughts intend t' attend the state Haue purchasde powres being purposde for the fields With iealous mindes their riualls bent t' abate Whilste â—â—lls all now none t'another yeelds Yet with suspended thoughts all doubtfull stand And their designes t' accomplish doe forbeare Lest all the rest ioyn'd by a generall band March him t' orethrow that first giues cause of feare But he may prosper best whom burning thirst Of gouernement enflames at first t' aduaunce Some to be second doubting to be first Will make their hopes depend vpon his chaunce And by a battell when that one preuailes There will â—ich hopes at a'easie rate be solde For of that faction first whose fortune failes Euen all will striue who shal be first to folde All this to me great cause of feare affordes I est that we two protract the tâ—me too long And wounded be before we draw our swords If those we not preuent that would vs wrong Lysi No chance of late hath brought me so to bow But I exspect a part of those great hopes Yet in my minde a iudgement most allow That ouer a dang'rous ditch aduis'dly leapes There are t' our charge some prouinces assign'd Whose peacefull states we manage must awhile Till all attempt that which they haue design'd Whilst from the world each th' other doth exile Then liuing but like those whose force is small From which the world no great thing can exspect We shall professe a fauour to them all And an indifferencie pretend t' affect Yet shall not then our thoughts haue leaue to sleepe But subtilties must circumspectly frame The mightie men at variance still to keepe So alwayes strengthning vs and weakning them And when th' occasion stricter dealing claimes We shall make warre with some ere it bâ—â—ong Like cunning Wrestlers at th' Olympicke games That exercise themselues to be more strong And when themselues haue thus prepar'd the way Whilst that their pomp doth beare a lower saile For at the last their force must much decay Since all must alwayes loose though one preuaile Then prompt t' atchiue that which we now contriue By ruining the remnant that remaines We may possesse the state for which they striue Thus they the toiles and we shall get the gaines Exeunt Chorus O happy was that guiltlesse age In which Astraea liu'd below And that Bellonaes barbarous rage Did not all order quite orethrow Then whilst all did themselues content With that thing which they did possesse And gloried in a little rent As wanting meanes to make excesse Those could no kinde of want bemone For crauing nought they had all things And since none sought th' emperious throne Whilst none were subiects all were kings O t' a true blisse their course was set That got to liue not liu'd to get Then Innocencie naked liu'd And had no neede nor thought of armes Whilst spightfull sprites no meanes contriu'd To plague th' vnprouident with harmes Then snaring lawes did not extend The bounds of reason as they doe Strife being begunne where it should end Clearing one doubt t' ingender two Then customes but by conscience stoode By which dark things were soone discern'd Whilst all behoou'd there to be good Whereas no euill was to be learn'd And how could any then proue naught Whilst vertue by example 's
taught Then mortall mindes all most pure Free from corruption lasted long Whilst arm'd with innocencie sure When none did know how to doe wrong Then stingd with no suspitious thought Men mischiefe did from none exspect For that which in themselues was not In othâ—rs they would not suspect And though none did sterne lawes impart That might t' vse vertue men compell Each in the table of his hart Had grau'd a law of dooing well And all did wickednesse forbeare Through a free-will and not for feare The first that spoil'd the publike rest And did disturbe this quiet state T' was Auarice the greatest pest That euer past th' infernall gate A monster very hard to daunt Leane as dry'd vp with inward care Though full of wealth for feare of want Still at the borders of dispaire Scarse taking food t' haue nature eas'd Nor for the cold sufficient clothing She with her riches neuer pleas'd Thinkes all hath much she hath nothing This daughter of sterne Pluto still Her fathers dungeon striues to fill That monster-tamer most renown'd The great Alcides Thebes glory That for twelue seuerall labours crown'd Was famous made by many a story As one that all his time had toyl'd To purge the world of such like pests That robbers rob'd and spoilers spoyl'd Still humbling hautie tyrants crests He by this monster once or'e-throwne Did passe in Spaine his strength to try And there tooke more then was his owne What right had he to Gerions ky Thus auarice the world deceiues And makes the greatest conquerors slaues Ah when t' afflict the world with griefe This poore-rich monster once was borne Then weakenesse could finde no reliefe And subtiltie did conscience scorne Yet some that labor'd to recall The blisse that guilded th' ancient age Did punishment prepare for all That did their thoughts to vice engage And yet the more they Lawes did bring That to be good might men constraine The more they sought to do the things From which the lawes did them restraine So that by custome alterd quite The world in euill doth most delight Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE I. Perdiccas Eumenes NOw fortune smyle vpon my rising state And seemes to promise more then I require Loe by degrees my glory doth grow great And by their death that did my death conspire Proud Meleager that disdain'd to bow And my aduancement alwayes did mislike Hath with his blood seald my assurance now T' astonish those that would attempt the like Eum. Yet of his fall the forme my minde appalls At th' altar of the gods without regard We were too rash to violate those walles Which the most impious persons would haue spar'd Lasciuious Aiax by Mineruaes spight Earst for prophaning such a sacred place On the Capharian rockes did loose the light And all his nauie to his great disgrace We should not irritate celestiall powers Then all beginnings are considered most And by this sacrilegious act of ours I feare that we the hearts of some haue lost Per. Let others seeke t' obserue such points as those I 'am not so scrupulous for I protest Ouer all and by all meanes I le kill my foes And then there-after dispute of the rest They wrong the Gods that think their church should bee As a refuge for male-factors still For with their iustice this can not agree Who gard th' euill-doers guiltie are of ill Was he not stain'd with many a moonstrous crime And like the Salamander in the fire Did loue to liue in trouble all his time And alterations alwayes did require Eu. One humorous head that doth in braules delight May poison thousands with the gall of spight Perd. As still seditiously affecting strife He but abus'd the credit of his king And sent some of his slaues to take my life Such bitter enuie did his stomacke sting Eum. I saw how that aduanc'd before your band You first did checke then chase them in the end And with what mightie courage you did stand Our Soueraignes corps though dead bent to defend Perd. He but a dastard is t' a foe that yieldes And in no conflict hath his fortune tryed We if by time not ventring to the fields Like beasts being sacrific'd had simply dyed But when without we maisters did remaine Lest Babilon had straight bin barr'd from foode I those rebellious squadrons did constraine Euen t' our aduantage concord to conclude Th' agreement that gaue me a great reliefe Made my competetour his marke to misse For when I came though hee before was chiefe The shadow of my greatnesse darkned his Eum. Yet in this treatie all the world may see Th' opinion of the multitude preuail'd He whom they did elect our prince must be And our designe hath altogether fail'd But how comes this that euery captaine gets A certaine realme assign'd now to his charge And with a warlike armie forward sets The limits of his gouernment t' enlarge Perd. I by my meanes haue euery great man crown'd That from my greatnesse great things might proceed Yet to make my authoritie renown'd The doing likes me better than the deed I this diuision chiefly did procure To make the court from other great men free That so my credit might remaine more sure And they by such great gifts engag'd to me For him that hath them thus to honor brought They must be bound to hold in high account And I haue not aduanc'd them thus for nought They be the meanes by which I minde to mount Eum. O but your fancies may be much deceiu'd There is no bond that binds vngratefull mindes I feare th' aduancement that they thus receiu'd Haue shewne them wayes to saile by other windes So long of late as they had need of you To seeme your constant friends they kindly sought But since their greatnesse giues them freedom now They do disdaine what may abase them ought To those all great men frankest friends do proue Whom without cause they alwayes fauour still And can not be as t' were compell'd to loue Those whose deserts do challenge their good will This would preiudge the freedome of their state That any might claime interest in their hearts No kings can hold of none their kingly seat None must vpbraid them with so great deserts And in my iudgement you haue greatly errd Them thus t' exalt whose states you would surprise Their common custome is that are preferrd That they may stand not to let others rise Perd. I le make their brests such iealous thoughts imbrace That euery one shall seeke his mate t' ore-throw And then I purpose to supply their place When by such sleights the highest are brought low This subtill course rests by experienee try'd The strongst else is to confusion gone I long to learne how Leonatus dy'd Not that I minde his funeralls to bemone Eum. That prince magnanimous whom all admire Through his accustom'd clemencie proclaim'd That banishd Graecians might to Greece retire Saue onely such whom murder had defam'd At this some Grecian great men
wonderfully thirst Per. Where do you think that we should then begin And exercise hostility at first Eu. Though we our selues in strangers thrones instal And hauing Asia to subiection brought Make Nilus Indus and Euphrates thrall Yet all those victories would serue for nought Whilst martiall Macedonie liuing free The spring that still will powre new armies forth Doth not acknowledge you her king to be Nor hath not proou'd your militarie worth To those that would pursue a Prince in armes His chiefest realme the greatest vantage giues Where if the warre hold out t' is with his harmes Since that within his bowells th' enemy liues And warres protracted with a peoples losse Doe from their soueraigne alienate their loue They lose their hearts whom fortune once doth crosse And foild at home can no where else remoue He that hath Macedonie hath the best Which of our Monarchie the Mistresse is That conquerd hath couragiously the rest And but depends on Mars as onely his If you were Lord of that vndaunted soile And by Olympias conntenaunc'd but a while Strait from Antipater all would recoile And him as traitor to the state exile To you that are a Macedonian borne If match'd with Cleopatra great in powres The Macedonians gladly would be sworne And if commaunding them then all were yours Perd. Yet this opinion partly I disprooue Which would not as you thinke our troubles end For if that we from hence our force remooue And to the Aemathian bounds directly tend There must at first a doubtfull warre be proou'd With those braue bands whose valour is well knowne Of whom Craterus deerely is belou'd That bound t' Antipater are all his owne And though indeede as kindely to those parts My friendship is affected to by some Yet others haue preoccupi'd their harts And will discredite vs before we come Then whilst that we the Macedonians boast And leaue those realmes vnarm'd that else are ours Strait Ptolomie when strengthned is his hoste May enter Asia and supplant our powres I by my iudgement willingly would take The course that seemes to make our state most sure It dangerous is t' haue foes behind our backe That vnawares our ruine may procure My purpose is though yet to none made knowne That Egipt first shall burdend be with warre For if that Ptolomie were once orethrowne Then that from Greece all hope of help would barre Eum. Hold still with you those of the sacred blood Whom to protect you alwayes must pretend The countnance of the great may doe much good Whome still though weake the world delights t' attend Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE II. Olympias Roxane LEt sorrow then euen tyrannize my soule Whose rage with reason now no measure keepes What of my teares the torrent can controule Since flowing from afflictions deepest deeps How can my breast but burst whilst sobs rebound Since once the seate of ioys now not the same May not huge horrors presse me to the ground In thinking what I was and what I am I was a great mans wife a greaters mother Euen she to whome the heauens their best did giue Yet I euen I more plagu'd than any other In dungeons now of desolation liue My sonne that was the glorie of his time Staine of times past and light of times to come O fraile mortalitie O sliderie slime Though hauing all orecom'd death did orecome And I deiected wretch whose dying eies He was by Natures custome bound t' haue closde Was not to shut his starres with th' iuorie skies That tapestried where maiestie reposde But ah his falling in a forraine part Hath if it can b' enlargde enlargde my griefe Else I on him would melted haue my hart And spent my selfe t' haue purchasde 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 Doth smoake and to his ghost a tribute beares Rox. Ah to what corner rolles my watry sight Where it not findes some matter to bemone O foolish eies whie loose ye not your light Since that your treasure is to ruine gone Once of all Queenes I might the fortune scorne To whom iust loue that great man did engage Whose match in worth the world hath neuer borne Nor neuer shall enrich another age When those perfections whiles transport my minde Which admiration onely doth dilate I 'm woe that me the destinies designde To be the partner of his glorious state And I repent that to his sight I past Though highly gracde on a festiuall day A feast that many a time must make me fast And with slowe woe that flying mirth defray Then if my fortune had not blinded me But ah whose iudgement had it not bereau'd Whilst the worlds Monarke daignd to like of me I had th' euent of my high flight conceiu'd He of th' Asian Prince whose state did then decline Had both the wife and daughters at his will Whose beauties glorie would haue darkned mine Yet free from snares retainde his fancies still Then when my father chose out from the rest Those virgins all whom Fame affirmd for rare Though hauing viewd them all he lou'd me best Then thought most fortunate if not most faire And when his martiall nobles were dismaid That he himselfe with captiues had alide He by that meanes as loue had dited saide Tooke from the vanquisht shame from victors pride Then me as Empresse all did entertaine Though his inferior farre in all respects Till I from him by death diuorcde remaine Whom with his sonne now all the world neglects Olym. Although this will but aggrauate my woe From whom the Fates all comfort now seclude Yet do I reuerence 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 newes mine eares teares eies and sighes my breath Rox. Though griefe to me scarse libertie affordes T' expresse the passions that oppresse my mind Yet would affection wrestle out some wordes To speake of him that all my ioyes confind When he had conquerd all that could resist A monarchie not equall with his minde Still in his haughty course he did insist And search'd out th' Ocean other worlds to finde But when from it his nauie was redeemde He stoode in doubt where trophees next to reare For all the world for him too little seemde His minde could more conceiue than nature beare Then ah this Emprour purposde was in th' end At Babylon his glories height to shew Where all the world his comming did attend As Ioue aboue he onely raignde below When he drew neere that then thrice Monarks seate All th' Astrologians by their skill foretold What dangers there were threatned to his state The which else-where might better be controld But he that was not capable of feare And could not muse of misaduentures then Causde through that towne him selfe in triumph beare Backd
scorne and friends can not indure Eum. Yet maiestie must not it selfe deiect A loftie carriage doth procure respect Ant. A haughtie gesture shews a tyrants hart All loue a curteous countnance voyde of Art Eume. Yet maners too submisse as much condemnd Do make kings scornd and captains be contemnd An. A humble port kind looks words smooth and soft Are meanes by which great mindes may mount aloft Eum. Those are indeede for such as raise their flight They may doe more whose course is at the height A imperious form an empire must defend An. Thus hastned was Perdiccas to his end Eum That worthy man had many faire designes But vertue still by enuy is pursude Though as a candle in the night best shines It in a vitious age may best be viewd There was a man that scornd secure delights As prodigall of paines attemptiue bold A strict obseruer of all th' antient rites And th' vncorrupted discipline of old He lou'd to haue the souldiers of his band Chusd at the musters not in markets bought And would not flatter where he might command More meete t' enioy than seeke that which he sought But souldiers now in this degenerd age Are fawnd on by faint mindes bribde in such sort That hauing still the reines loosd to their rage They cannot with so straight a course comport For that which was misfortune knowne to all Their malice as misgouernement did cite All things must help th' vnhappy man to fall They thus spewd forth the poison of their spite For hating his franke forme and naked wordes By that occasion whetting their desires They in their captaines bodie sheathd their swords A deede which euen barbaritie admires Those trait'rous troups may spot the purest bands If for a fact so vile they be excusde This will set swords in all our souldiers hands Against vs and not for vs to be vsde Antig. I would be glad that souldiers neuer thought But that thing which their Generalls first conceiu'd Much lesse t' attempt against their bodies ought The which by them as sacred should be sau'd Nor like I captaines that like blustring windes Would ouer their troupes triumph as tyrants still Without regard to merites or to mindes As carried headlong with a blinded will From selfe-presumption first pride borrowes might Which with contempt being matchd both do conspire And twixt them bring base crueltie to light Th' abhorred of-spring of a hated sire Such of Perdiccas was th' excessiue pride The vice from which that viler vice proceedes That it strange wayes for his aduauncement tride And did burst forth in most prodigious deeds The murder of Melâ—ager first began To tell what tyrants harbourd in his hart To whom faith giuen nor yet the church he wan Though sacred both no safety could impart And being by him constraind to quite the field The guiltlesse Capadocians desprate bands Chose rather than to that prowd victor yeelde To perish by the powre of their owne hands Yet what against his foes he did performe From martiall mindes might pleade for some excuse Whilst vindicatiue thoughts that wrongd do storme In th' irritated minde did furie infuse But yet why sought he in a seruile sort T' extend his tyrannie euen towards his friends That could not with disdainfull formes comport More than an enemies yoke a friends offends And when of late by Ptolomie constraind He brought his bands with disaduantage backe How by the same his gouernement was staind The world can witnesse by his armies wracke But Hate being iudge each error seemes a crime Then whilst the present aggrauates what 's gone His souldiers moou'd by fortune and the time Did by his death venge all their wrongs in one Eum. As noughtsmells well to a distemperd taste So to conceits preoccupied before Euen good seemes bad in them that they detest Men must mislike when they can like no more To you that loath'd Perdiccas and his state What came of him could neuer yet seeme good And I not wonder though your soule did hate One that had right and powre to take your blood For fled from him to whom you once belongd His trumpet still breath'd terror in your eare Then all men hate those whom they once haue wrong'd And by no meanes can loue them whom they feare Antig. That which you speake of hate in loue I spy Loue cannot finde an imperfection forth But doth excuse extenuate or denie Faults where it likes with shaddowes of no woorth I left Perdiccas but did him no wrong That first to take my life all meanes did prooue I told t' Antipater how he so long Had bin abusde by a pretended loue For as I frankly loue whilst lou'd againe If me the ingrate ingrately do aquite Straight kindling furie with a iust disdaine I by loue past proportion then my hate And yet Eumenes I commend thy minde That to defend thy friend hast prou'd so free And since in loue so constantly inclinde I would contract a friendship firme with thee Then where that now thy state hath bin brought low Since spoilde of him in whom thou didst repose Whilst aided by our powre thou great may 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 build in a polluted breast Whose impious thoughts doe sacred things prophane So long as th' oath is kept that once was sworne Both t' Alexanders selfe and t' all his race Still shall this sword for your defence be borne But in my heart they hold the highest place And do not thus as ouer one vanquish'd vaunt Nor think me thrall'd thogh once by chance ore-thrown Whilst ther 's a world aduenturers cannot want I le tosse all states t' establish once mine owne Exeunt ACT. IIII. SCENE II. Cassander Lisimachus ANd must we buy our pompe at such a rate That beare th' authoritie or whom it beares O O! how thornie are the wayes of state With open dangers pau'd and secret feares Each of our steps is waited with some snare Whilst from our selues we all repose repell And through the waues of greatnesse tossde with care Do seeke a hauen whose heauen is but a hell Lisim Whilst Eolus and Neptune ioyn'd in all With windes and waues beat th' earth and bost the skies The tumbling mountaines doe not rise and fall Though ech of them another doth surprise As do th' aspiring potentates with doubt Tossd through the wauing world on stormie thornes That are as in a circle hurlde about Ascending and discending both at once Lo some whose hope would by their birth haue seem'd Within the compasse of contempt confinde Haue from the vulgar yoke themselues redeemde To doefarre more than such could haue design'd And some to whom the heauens mishaps will giue Though on their breath the breath of thousands hings Lo whiles brought low cannot haue leaue to liue Made lesse then subiects that were more than kings Cass Thus some
one We by their meanes anothers loue obtaine But crueltie with which none can comport Makes th' author hated when the deede is gone Oft euen by those whom it did most support As that which alienates men from kinde And as humanitie the minde inchants So sauage soules that from the same resraine More fierce than fiercest beasts are lou'd of none With barbarous beasts one with lesse danger hants Than with the man whose mind all mercie wants Yet though the mind of man as strong and rude Be ranish'd whiles with violent desire And must if sir'd with rage be quench with blood How can this tender sex whose glorie stoode In hauing hearts iuclinde to pittie still Delight it selfe by any barbarous deede For Nature seemes in this t' haue vsde her skill In making womens mindes though weake entire That weakenesse might loue and deuotion breede To which their thoughts if pure might best aspire As aptest for th' impression of all good But from the best to worst all things do weare Since cruelties from feeble mindes proceed In breasts where courage failes spite shame and feare Make enuie hate and rigour rule to beare Our Queene Olimpias that was once so great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaging Philip and his Ladie of late Lo now being brought to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gaue And it 's good reason that it should be so Such measure as we giue we must receiue Whilst on a throne she did superblie sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As but being vanquish'd by her powre and wit Not mindefull of th' ineuitable fate O th' Imortalls that command aboue Of euery state in hand the rudder haue And as they lie can make vs stay or goe The griefe of others should vs greatly mooue As those that sometime may like fortune prooue But as experience with rare proofes hath showne Do looke on others we haue Linx his eyes Whilst we would haue their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can neuer marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regarde doe dim our sight Why should we be puffde vp by a'cnemies fall Since what the day doth on another light The same the morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant ball Do liue enuiron'd with th' all-circkling skies Haue many meanes whereby to be ore-throwne And why should dying wordlings swolne with wroth So tyrranize ouer an afflicted wight Since miseries are common vnto all Let none be prowd that drawes a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few still till their death ACT. V. SCENE I. Aristotle Phocion LOng haue I now invr'd th' eyes of my minde On natures labors curiously to looke And of all creatures finding foorth the kinde Strange wonders read in th' vniuersall booke I marke the world hy contraries maintainde Whose harmonie doth most subsist by strife Whilst of all things within the same containde The death of one still giues another life But as all things are subiect vnto change That partners are of th' elementall powres So rould about with reuolutions strange The state of man rests constant but few howres For what doth fame more frequently report Then of our sodaine rising and our falls I thinke the world is but a tennis-court Where men are tossde by fortune as her balls Phoc. And neuer any age shewde more than this The wauering state of soule-ennobled wights That soare too high to seaze on th' ayrie blisse Whilst lowest falles attend the highest flights The matchlesse Monarch that was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortalitie attaines Hath not from death the adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And these braue bands that furnisht fame with bâ—eath Whilst all the world their valorous deedes did spie Rest now confounded since their soueraignes death Like Poliphemus hauing lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood That tooke their life out of a monster dead Whiles ech of them pursues for others blood Since the great Drag on s death that was their head Ari. So change all things that subiect are t' our sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next night comes darknes and next darknesse light This neuer changing change transcends our wit Thus pouertie and riches sickenesse health Both honour and dishonor life and death Do so depend on other that by stealth All goe and come as th' accidents of breath T'ech worldly state the heauens a height appoint Where when it once arriues it must descend And all perfections haue a fatall point At which excellencie it selfe must end But as all those that walke on th' earth are crossde With alterations happning oft and strange The greatest states with greatest stormes are tossde And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation now As gathring credit out of ancient scroules soules No I haue liu'd at court and I know how Ther 's nought on th' earth more vex'd then great mens soules Thral'd to the tirant honor whilst they mone Their plaints to subiects eares asham'd t' empart They must beare all the weight of woes alone Where others of their griefe lend friends a part Their rising vs aboue to such a height Which seems their best is worst whilst since being lords They neuer heare the truth that comes to light When franke societie speaks naked words Whilst sadnesse whiles seemes maiestie time tells How deere they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some faine three furies but in all the hells And ther 's three thousand in one great mans breast Phoc. I thinke all monarchies are like the Moone Which whiles eclipsd whiles vnder cloud whiles cleare Growes by degrees and is when full vndone Yet Aeson like renew'd doth re-appeare For so the first but smal begin to shine And when they once their spherick forme obtaine Do then begin to languish and decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Th' Assyrians once made many a nation bow Then next all powre was in the Persians hand And lo the Macedonians monarchs now Amongst themselues diuided cannot stand Arist A secret fate alternantly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs To th' end that some may liue some must be dead Each Element anothers strength deuours Th' ayre to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The water striues to drowne all th' earth with showres Which it by vapours vomites out againe Thus with a gordian knot together bound All things are made vn-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound And norhing in one state doth long remaine But nought in th' earth more dangerously standes Than soueraigntie that 's rated at such worth Which like the stormie deities blustring bandes Doth flie from East to West from South to North. Ph. A long experience now makes this noght strange Though mightie states whose reines one onely leades Be whiles distracted and constrain'd to change As too
great bodies for so little heads Since euery Common-wealth where all mens witts Do ioyne in one t' increase the publike ease Is subiect oft to feauers and to fits Which Phisicke whiles whiles poison must appease For ah the multitude more rash then wise A Hyhra-headed beast whilst nought it binds Doth passionately praise or else despise As some prepostrous fancies moue their mindes Oft vice and vertue haue like danger bred Whilst enuie th' one procur'd and th' other hate By iealousie or emulation dred Those ruin'd are by it that raisde the state Arist Whilst some their betters others equals scorne The gouernment that 's popular decaies And when it dies the Monarchie is borne Whose violence disorders broiles alaies It from corruption doth continue cleane As freest from infirmities we finde Still whilst it humbly high doth hold a meane Twixt tyrannie and too remisse a minde But though th' one-headed state may flourish long Whilst th' one knowes to command the rest t' obey Whilst guerdon followes goodnesse vengeance wrong That vertue cherisht is vice made decay Yet if nought else time doth great states orecome Heauens haue confinde all by some fatall howre And there may many misaduentures come To dissipate the most vnited powre For huge mishaps a monarchie may marre When once prosperitie beginnes t' expire To further which whiles strangers must make warre And whiles seditious subiects may conspire As iealousie or else ambition moues All Princes would suppresse aspiners still And then a subiects course most dangerous proues When either feare or hope transports his will But though to the beginning and to th' end Great states are guided by a secret fate Yet their design'd destrudion doth depend Still either on contempt or else on hate Of those the first kings lacke of courage breedes Which makes th' ambitious minds t' attempt more bold And th' other doth attend tyrannike deedes By violence t' haue violence controld Phoc. Yet neuer did so many Monarks fall By forraigne battells nor intestine broiles As by themselues that seeming free were thrall Whilst smooth-tong'd minions gloried of their spoiles Those that haue raign'd by choise by birth or worth Or yet through others errours or their crime Oft suffer ougly vices to burst forth Which vertues colours gilted till that time Men are descipherd best then whilst they rest Most high aduaunc'd being free from hope or feare That which is eminent is marked best And highest fortunes hardest are to beare Low fortunes cloake the faults that some commit Whilst imperfections th' earth perfections deemes Stupiditie seemes patience feare seemes wit Will constancie and softnesse goodnesse seemes But when in the worlds theatre one must stand A publike actor plac'd in all mens sight And swaies the signe of powre and in his hand Doth hold the ballance both of wrong and right Then he for euery action that is his The censure of a thousand tongues must haue Not onely damn'd for doing of things amisse But for not doing of all that all men craue O he but vndermines the soueraigne state That cares not who be weake so he be strong More studious for himselfe then for the state Or if for it that he may hold it long For where Ioue him for all mens good ordaines He thinkes both them and theirs made him to please As if a charge of weight a place of paines Were but a bed of rest a hauen of ease The worlds great weight that Atlas shoulders beare Is not so weightie all to weigh one downe As that which on his head a king doth weare There is no burthen heauier than a crowne The Aegean waues more easie are t' appease Then are their thoughts whose minde for state prepares Can they haue rest that toile for all mens ease The purple euer must be lin'd with cares Arist Good kings are like the fire which flaming bright Doth waste it selfe to serue anothers turne And soueraigntie is like fires glancing light Which if but view'd delights if touch'd doth burne I like for warmnesse to stand Vulcan by More than to burne amidst the Lemnian flame And rather in the Cedars shadow lie Than on the top to stand the wind-gods game All th' eie-attracting pompe and splendrous showes Do merit scorne though they amazement breed The world them pittie more then enuie owes That to seeme happy would be wrech'd indeed For alterations strange attend a throne As if the spheare of fortune were a crowne The great still tossde like Sisiphus his stone Whilst highest vp rest readiest to fall downe Of this what greater proofe can Fame afford Then mightie Philips memorable fall That daunted had the Grecians by the sword Though not till then t' a stranger being made thrall He he then whilst he solemniz'd with state His daughters marriage suddenly was lost So that it seem'd that Monarchs dayes to date That Hymens torch gaue light to Plutoes post Then when that I conceiude with griefe of heart The miseries that proper were to court I thought them happie that retir'd apart Could neuer know such things but by report I might haue liu'd with Alexander still To vertuous men whose sauours were not scarse Yet rather chose though hauing both at will T' obey with Pallas then command with Mars And whilst he toyl'd ouer others Lord to be I labor'd ouer my selfe to be made Lord Yet made as great a conquest too as hee My pen shall be as famous as his sword Phoc. And had I willingly engag'd my rest The way to trace that to vaine-glory tends I might haue liu'd respected with the best As one of Alexanders chiefest friendes For though of him that I did merit nought He entertainde my friendship till his death And when he once our cities ore-throw sought At my request he pacified his wrath Then once to me a masse of gold he sent And offred too a stately Asian towne Which I refusde pleasde more with my poore rent Than he with all the treasures of a crowne I tolde that such a summe but seru'd to make Him a corrupter me corrupted thought And foule for him to giue for me to take If vsde shamde both vnusde did serue for nought But all those baites I neuer daign'd to touch Lest I that all my life had liude so free Might be possest too much possessing much If taking riches it had taken me No I would rather learne to liue on lesse Then for superfluous furniture to striue Who seekes out substance t' entertaine excesse Doth liue t' vse it not it that he may liue My fortune doth afford sufficient meanes That may preserue all Natures powres in force And he that on a golden scepter leanes Can not haue more but may wel vse it worse Ah since aboundance but abuses brings Why seeke men more then serues t' haue Nature easde And why should men toile for so many things Since Nature with alittle can be pleasde Arist Lo how the heauens whose loue towards man exceeds Haue made his bodie strong his minde
of those scroules was he That when they spide such practises againe They still would take them alwayes but to be Their Captaines triall not their enemies traine Thus by the means that should haue him entrap'd His aduersarie did deluded stay For both he from the present danger scap'd And to preuent the like preparde a way Then when this traiterous pollicie had fail'd And that there had some doubtfull conflicts past Antigonus that had at one preuail'd As hauing had some vantage at the last He with Eumenes did procure to speake And as t 'one vanquish'd offred him good-will But he whose minde could not be brought to breake Would neuer talke but as t' his eâ—uall still For when a band betweene them made did beare That he t' Antigonus should help impart He did reforme that forme and would first sweare With Alexanders of-spring to take part Thus where they his submission did attend Imperiously conditions he imposde So that there after to procure his end Still th' other by all meanes his mind disposde And shortly of his bands a vaine debate For his confusion fit occasion brought Still as small things by concord doe growe great By discord great things are reduc'd to nought T' Eumenes whilst he fortunately liu'd That th'haugh tie Agiraspides gaue place With him for state two of their captaines striu'd And would not his authoritie embrace Such was that spite of theirs to haue him spoild That though of valour he rare wonders prou'd And oft by force Antigonus had foild Yet from their minde it could not be remou'd For being by them allurde all th' other bandes To get some baggage that they lost againe Did giue their captaine bound to th' enemies handes So darkening all their glorie by one staine And though Eumenes trusting to new hopes By flying labour'd a reliefe t' haue found He was preuented by his traitrous troupes And like to some base fugitiue was bound Scarse could his stormie stomacke bent to breake Daigne then t' entreate those that had him betraide Yet hauing hardly purchasde leaue to speake He stretcht them forth his fetterd hands and saide Loe heere th' apparrell that your Generall weares Since with your faith his libertie was lost Yet he those bands not giuen by th' enemie beares But by his owne in whom he trusted most And must he thus be led that should you leade Is this the triumph that I should receiue For all my victories thus to be made Of captaine captiue of a conquerour slaue How oft my souldiers haue ye all of late To me by solemne oathes sworne to be true But it becomes not one in a'abiect state With loftie wordes his Maisters to pursue Nor craue I further fauour at this howre Then strait to bathe your weapons in my breast Let not my life be in mine enemies powre Loe all that your commaunder doth request 〈◊〉 Antigonus doth take no care 〈◊〉 get my body so he get my head Aâ—d he regardes not neither when nor where No in what sort I die so I be dead But if through horrour of so vile a deede Your eies looke downe your haire erected stands Which in your mindes this much remorce doth breede That with your hearts ye will not staine your handes Then as your captaine since not force I may I le as your friend entreate that now in time I may but haue a sword my selfe to slay So you t' excuse whilst partner of your crime But when he sawe that words could not asswage Their barb'rous thoughts that nothing could controule Then hauing turn'd his courage all in rage He thus flam'd forth the furie of his soule O damned rascalls that haue lost all faith Whom neither duetie nor yet merite bindes How oft was Alexander moud to wrath By those your mutinous and malitious mindes And O what could I at those hands attend That yet were smoaking with Perdiccas bloud Of those that by like treason did intend With old Antipaters t' haue beene imbrude Heauen thunder on you from th' aetheriall rounds And make you liue a'abominable band Base vagabonds barr'd from your natiue bounds Then die detested in a barbarous land And as ye haue the world with murder filld So may your bloud by the same swords be shed By which ye haue moe of your captaines kill'd Than of your foes from whom like beasts yee fled But neither courteous nor outragious wordes Could change his souldiers from their first intent That forward led their captaine chain'd with cordes A sacrifice prepar'd for th' enemies tent Where being arriude to th' end he soone might end He ask'd what stayd Antigonus to go By setting of him free to winne a friend Or by his death to rid him of a foe And straight Antigonus did haste his fall By this great magnanimitie not moou'd And th' Agiraspides dispersde ouer all As murderers murder from the world remou'd Thus oft haue traitors bin dispatchde by time By those whom their vpbraiding looks dismay For the remembrance thus of th' Authors crime Can but by th' Actors death be wip'd away Now claimes Antigonus when fame doth feast In ranke aboue his soueraignes selfe to sit For Alexander did subdue all th' east And he hath conquerd them that conquer'd it Cass No doubt since he that great aduantage wan He hath within himselfe high things designde For whilst prosperitie transports a man Nought seemes difficult to th' ambitious mind Seleuc. Of those in whom he did suspect a spirit Whose courage seru'd his courses to resist He hath himselfe by diuers meanes made quite In others wreakes his saftie doth consist Thus martiall Pithon that no danger sparde Whom Alexander held in high account Did at the last receiue a hard reward For helping him Eumenes to surmount His spirit t' attemp and powre fit to performe Made iealousie Antigonus torment And yet he fain'd to loue him for the forme Till that his court he moou'de him to frequent Where whilst he did mistrusting nought abide He publikely in all the peoples sight Though seeming iustly damn'd iniustly di'de No viler wrong then wrong that lookes like right Thus diuers gouernours within short space Their gouernment or then their life haue lost And others are preferd vnto their place That did depend vpon his fauour most Oft likewise me he labour'd to surprise And pollicie was vsde t' haue me ore-throwne But I whom Pithons danger had made wise Learn'd by his ruine to preuent mine owne To saue my life abandon'd is my state And I haue fled with danger as ye see That you may know how that man doth grow great Whose pride may plague you all as well as me Cass Then let vs be resolu'd what course t' intend Lest out of time being wise we rue too late Lisim It 's better to pursue then to defend Ptol. It 's good to quench a fire ere it grow great Cass Then let vs send t' Antigonus in haste To redemand th' vsurped bounds againe Since in this warre we did our treasures waste We
should be likewise partners of the gaine But if against our sute his eares he barre And do with scornfull words contemne our claime Then may our Messenger denounce the warre And we shall shortly intimate the same Ptol. A mutuall band must made amongst vs be To make one fortune common to vs all And from hence-forth we must all fowre agree To stand together or together fall And since the princely buds for which we car'd How euer dead are dead what ere we doe T' engender so towards vs the more regard We with the state must take the title too And we must both be crown'd and knowne forkings The Diadem is greatnesse strongest towre All vulgar iudgements leane on th' outward things And reuerence state where they obey but powre Exeunt Nuntius Philastrus Chorus IS there a heauen and are their heauenly powers To whose decree terrestriall things are thrall Or striues the tirant that begets the howers To triumph ouer eternitie and all Lo nature trauells now being big with change Since mortalls all humanitie haue lost And in th' old Chaos or some masse more strange To re-entombe their essence all things bost Can reasonable soules from reason barr'd Euen striue which most in crueltie exceeds What eye hath seene or yet what eare hath heard Such monstrous accidents prodigious deeds Th' Arrabian robbers nor the Scithians wild That with the sauage beasts as barbarous haunt With such foule facts haue not themselues desil'd As those that of ciuilitie do vaunt Since Grecians are growne barbarous as we finde Where can faith haue a corner free from spot O carelesse heauens wretch'd earth Cho. What loads thy minde Nun. Amultitude of murders Cho. What Nun. What not Cho. We know that since our soueraigne lest to breath Th' earth hath been bathde with many a scarlet 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 dismayde Craterus and Neoptolemus were slaine Then by his owne Eumenes dide betraid Phil. Man with his skill against his knowledge striues Where death his way attends that way he tends And t' Atropos the fatall rasor giues To cut the threed on which his life depends When th' Asian victour after all his warres To visit Babilon had bent his mind Both I and others studious of the starres Did shew that there his ruine was design'd To his successours too we oft haue showne The meanes by which their fate might be controld Yet was our skill contemnde and they ore-thrown As we fore-told and as they now haue told Nun. They haue told much and yet I must tell more Their newes were euill yet were they not the worst Cho. And haue the heau'ns reseru'd mo plagues in store As if we yet were not enough accurst Nun. As th' earth in pride the heauens in plagues abounds Our highest hopes haue perisht but of late Cho. Then wound our eares by hearing others wounds That pittie now may tread the steppes of hate Nun. Our Queene Olimpias rauisht by reuenge All Macedony did with murders fill Which from her part the people did estrange Whilst nought but rigour limited her will So that when fierce Cassander sought her wreake She did mistrust the Macedonians mindes And for the time the neerest strength did take There till the storme was past t' attend faire windes But soone Cassander did the towne enclose And as she held him out did hold her in That like a captiue guarded by her foes She knew not by what way a way to winne And when their lifes prouision did decay Then did bare walles but small refuge afford She Scilla scap'd to be Charibdis prey That fell on famine flying from the sword Strait like pale Ghosts faint souldiers did remaine Whose bowels hunger like a Harpie teares And with courageous words the Queene in vaine Did raise their spirit the belly hath no eares All then began to languish and to fade As if being tir'de to beare themselues about Legges fail'd the bodie and the necke the head Then whilst the flesh fell in bones bursted out And when that th' ordinarie meates were spent Then horses dogs cats rats all seru'd for food Of which no horror th' eater did torment For all that was not poison then seem'd good Some mouthes accustom'd once with daintie meates Wish'd what they oft had loath'd I le crums foule floods And Ladyes that had liu'd in pompous states Fed as brought vp with wolues amidst the woods Yea nurst by those whom they themselues had nurst Oft then by th' of springs death th' engendrer liu'd And which was worst whilst breasts were like to burst None comfort could for all themselues were grieu'd Such was their state no friend bewaild bis friend No wife her husband nor no Syre his sonne For apprehending their approching end All with compassion of them selues were wonne The dead mens smell empoison'd them that liu'd Whilst first made faint by a defrauded wombe Heapes were of breath and buriall both depriu'd That all the towne in end was but a tombe Cho. Life is the subiect of distresse and griefe That still ministers matters to bemone And onely but by death can haue reliefe To liue and to be wretch'd are both but one Yet foolish worldlings tossde with endlesse care Though at too deare a rate would still buy breath And following after feathers thrown through th' aire Like life though wretch'd more then a happie death Nun. When thus the world Olimpias plagu'd did spie All sought Cassander though for seuerall ends Cho. As from a pest all from th' vnhappy flie Th' eclipse of Fortune threatens losse of friends Nun. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege since vittailes were growne scant Did send as weake for peace t' intreat the strong Cho. What cannot time and trauell sometime daunt Nun. Then did Cassander know that need constrain'd Her so to bow as strangely being diseasde And though he her request not quite disdain'd Th' agreement was appointed as he pleasde For all the fauour that she could procure Was leaue to liue a priuate person still And yet of that she could not be made sure Which did depend vpon her enemies will Then whilst Cassander fought his enemies ends There wanted not strange troupes with him t' abide Yet might haue many followers and few friends Friends by the touchstone of distresse are try'd Nun. But though the Queene was rendred in this sort With protestation t' haue her life preseru'd The tyrant with her spirit could not comport But from his faith for her confusion sweru'd The Macedonians were togither brought There to consult what did concerne their Queene But when of them a number deepely thought Both what she was and what she once had beene Euen as Cassander had subborn'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 mou'd to wrath Whilst from their
brasen breasts all ruth was barr'd They did conclude their Queen behou'd to die Cho. Durst subiects damne their soueraigne and not heard So still may cloudes obscure the worlds bright eye Nun. Yet did Cassander put all sleights t' assay A maske of pittie on a cruell minde And offred her a ship to flye away As if to death against his will assign'de Nor Was this course for her deliuerance fram'd But onely as by chance that she might drowne So for her death that he might not be blam'd But onely Neptune that had throwne her downe Yet she a princesse of a mightie spright Whose loftie courage nothing could ore-come Said ere she scap'd by such a shamefull flight That she would heare the Macedonians doome But when Cassanders counsel was contem'nd Lest that the multitude had chang'd their mind When they remembred whom they had condemn'd And warily weigh'd what rashly they design'd To rid her soone from paine and him from feare He sent some bands from pittie most estrang'd Yet she gainst fortune did a banner beare And not her heart no not her count'nance chang'd She constant still though mon'd would neuer mone Whose stately gesture scorn'd their foule attempt And did vnite her vertues all in one To grace disgrace and glorifie contempt She on two Ladies shoulders lean'd her armes And with a Maiestie did march towards death Like Alexander once amidst th' alarmes As if in triumph bent t' abandon breath The height of vertue admiration brings At this great magnanimitie amaz'd As spying th' Image of their auncieat kings Or then some goddesse all the souldiers gaz'd But ah some bosted by the tirant striu'd To spoile vnnaturall natures fairest frame And th' Alabaster balles betweene they driu'd Th' vnwilling swords that strait grew red for shame Then she in worth that would her selfe excell Would neither word nor teare nor sigh forth send But spread her garments ouer her whilst she fell As iealous of her honour still to th' end Cho. O strange barbaritie most monstrous deed Could men a woman subiects kill their Queene And could her fortune past no pitie breeds Who euer gaue the wound hath not her seene The ougly Authors of those odious euils Fear'd for deserued plagues must still be sad His breast t' a hell his thoughts all turn'd to deuils Through horror of himself must make him mad Nun. And yet the plague of these detested times Hath wrought more mischiefe t' aggrauate our grones Ch. No end in sinne crimes are maintain'd by crimes Who fall in th' Ocean touch the bottome once The path of honor hath but narrow bounds On which who steps attentiue must remaine It 's raisde so hie aboue the vulgar grounds That who thence fall can neuer rise againe Nu. Thus now Cassander since he cannot winne True reputation but liues tainted stil Imbarkt in mischiefe sailes the depths of sinne So if not lou'd as good yet feard as ill Though by his meanes his ruthlesse eies haue seene Fates as it were from Fortunes bosome rend His King by poison by the sword his Queene In wickednes t' exceede himselfe in th' end He prospring in impietie grew prowd And murdred both his maisters sonne and wife Thus he that all the world by birthright ow'd Could hold no part of it no not his life Yet could Roxanes death not ease his minde Nor her yong sonne too soone made Plutoes guest But bent t' vndoe all Alexanders kinde That to reuenge the rest there might none rest By treason he as all his deedes are done Causde Hercules his brothers steppes to trace That was great Alexanders bastard sonne And th' onelie remnant of that great mans race Lo thus Cassander th' enemie to all good Whose soule so much for Macedonie longs Hath to the Scepter swimd through seas of blood Yet O weake right that 's builded but on wrongs Chor. O how ambition doth abuse the great That with enough not pleasde still striue for more Loe how our Soueraigne seemde to raise his state Yet made it but to fall whilst staru'd with store And since his trophees reard in seuerall fieldes Both him and his haue to confusion brought Then what is all the good that greatnes yieldes Which makes it selfe seeme much to be made nought Thus though the mountaines make a mighty show They are but barren heapes borne vp aloft Where plaines are pleasant still though they lie lowe And are most fertile too though troad on oft Greatnesse is like a cloude in th' ayrie bounds Which th' earths base vapours haue congeald aboue It brawles with Vulcan thundring forth huge sounds feare Yet melts and falls there whence it first did moue Phi. Since that worlds conq'ror then whilst free from Weigh'd with his greatnes downe so soone was dead What makes each of his captaines striue to beare The diademe that crusht so strong a head O when my minde is rauisht through the starres To search the secret secrets of the fates What treasons murders mutinies and warres Are threatning once t' orethrow th' vsurped seates And false Cassander that betraid his Lord And spoild the princely race in mischiefe chiefe A traitor both of heauen and earth abhorrd Shall liue but with disgrace and die with griefe His sonnes in wickednes himselfe t' exceede Shall make the woman die that made them liue Then when being drunk with bloud to death shal bleed And none of theirs their funeralls shall suruiue Then when ambition should be coold by age Lysimachus shall by Seleucus die Nor shall Seleucus long enioy the stage But by like violence shall breathlesse lie And subtil Ptolomies degenerd race Long onely famous for infamous things Shall end and once to th' enemies pride giue place Whilst a lasciuious Queene confusion brings Antigonus shall be in battell killd His sonne a captiue perish with disgrace And after that it Greece with blood hath filld In end destruction doth attend that race The last in powre though of their line not bred A niggard and a dastard beaten downe Shall through a strangers towne a captiue led bound of the Macedonians th' old renowne Chorus WHat damned furies thus tosse mortals minds With such a violent desire to raigne That neither honor friendship dutie blood Nor yet no band so sacred is as bindes Th' ambitious thoughts that would a kingdome gaine But all is buried in blacke Laethes flood That may the course of soueraigntie restraine Which from the breast doth all respects repell And like a torrent cannot be gainstoode Yea many would a Scepter so t' obtaine In spite of all the world and Ioues owne wrath March through the lowest dungeons of the helles And vnderneath a diademe would breathe Though euery moment threatned them with death Yet though such restlesse mindes attaine in th' end The height to which their haughty hearts aspirde They neuer can imbrace th' imagin'd blisse Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend Though by the multitude they be admirde That still to powre do shew themselues submisse Yet by the
mou'd By Romans Romans onely may be matcht And I at last haue kindled ciuill warre That from their thoughts which now no reason bounds Not only lawes but Natures lawes doth barre The sonne the sire the brother brother wounds Whilst th'Eaglâ—s are opposde to th' Eagles so O what contentment doth my mind containe No wround is wrong bestow'd each killes a foe What euer side doth lose I alwayes gaine But this my soule exceedingly annoyes All are not subiect to the like mis-hap The warre helps some as others it destroyes And those that hate me most haue still best hap Whilst with their blood their glory thousands spend Ah ones aduauncement aggrauates my woe That vaunts himselfe from Venus to descend As if he claimd by kinde to be my foe I meane the man whose thoughts nought can appease Whilst them too high a blinde ambition bends Whom as her minion Fortune bent to please Her rarest treasures prodigally spends Not onely hath he daunted by the sword The Gaules the Germans and th' Aegyptians now But of all lordes pretends to be made lord That who commaund the world to him may bow Thus dispossessing princes of their thrones Whilst his ambition nothing can asswage That the subiected world in bondage grones The prey of pride the sacrifice of rage Men raile on Ioue and sigh for Saturnes time And to the present still th' Age past preferre Then burden would the gods with euery crime And damne the heauens where only th' earth doth erre Though Ioue as stupid still with Cupid sportes And not the humor of prowd Caesar spies That may if forcing thus the worlds chiefe forts More powrefull than the Titans scale the skies Yet lest hee thrall him too that none free leaues We from the bounds aboue must him repell To brawle with Pluto in th' vmbragious caues There since he will be first made first in hell What with that tyrant I will strait be euen And send his soule to the Tartarian groue For though Ione be not iealous of his heauen Yet Iuno must be iealous of her Ioue And though none in the heauem would do him ill He raise vp some in th' earth to haste his death Yea though both heauen and earth neglect my will Hell can afford me ministers of wrath I le crosse Cocytus and the smoaking lakes To borrow all my brothers damned bandes The Furies arm'd with firebrands and with snakes Shall plant their hell where Rome so stately stands Whilst by my furie Furies furious made Do spare the dead to haue the lilting pin'd O with what ioy will I that armie leade Nought than reuenge more sweet t' a wronged minde I le once make this a memorable age By this high vengeance that I haue conceiu'd But what though thousands die t' appease my rage So Caesar perish let no soule be sau'd Exit Chorus WE should be grieu'd t' offend the gods That holde vs in a ballance still And as they will May weigh vs vp or downe Those that by follie ingender pride And doe deride The terrour of th'eternalls roddes In seas of sinne their soules doe drowne And others but abhorre them as vniust Those that religion want deserue no trust How dare fraile flesh presume to rise Whilst it deserues heauens wrath to proue On th'carth to moue Lest that it op'ning straight Giue death and buriall both at once How dare such ones Looke vp vnto the skies For feare to feele the thunders weight All th' elements th'immortalls will attend And are as prompt to plague as men t' offend None scapes some plague that gods displease Then whilst he Bacchus rites did scorne Was Pentheus torne The Delians high disdaine Made Niobe though turnd t' a stone With teares still mone And Pallas spite t' appease Arrachne weaues loathd webbes in vaine Heauen hath preparde or euer they beginne A fall for pride a punishment for sinne Loe Iuno yet doth still retaine That indignation once conceiu'd For wrong receiu'd From Paris as we finde And for his cause bent to disgrace The Troyan race Doth hold a high disdaine Long laide vp in a loftie minde We should abstaine from irritating those Whose thoughts if wrongd not till reuengde repose Thus those for Paris fond desire That of his pleasures had no part For them must smart Such be the fruites of lust Can heauenly breasts so long time lodge A secret grudge Like mortalls thrall to ire Tilll Iustice whiles doth seeme vniust Of all the furies that afflict the soule Lust and reuenge are har dest to controule The gods giue them but rarely rest That do against their will contend And plagues doe spend That fortunate in nought Their sprites being parted from repose May still expose Th' vpbraiding troubled breast A prey to each tyrannicke thought All selfe-accusing soules no rest can finde VVhat greater torment than a troubled minde Let vs adore th' immortall powres On whose decree of euery thing The State doth hing That farre from barbarous broiles VVe of our life this little space May spend in peace Free from afflictions showres Or at the least from guiltie toiles Let vs of rest the treasure striue t' attaine VVithout the which nought can be had but paine ACT. II. SCENE I. Iulius Caesar Marcus Antonius NOw haue my hopes attain'd th' exspected hauen In spite of partiall enuies poisnous blasts My fortune with my courage hath proou'd euen No monument of miscontentment lasts Those that corriualld me by me orethrowne Did by their falles giue feathers to my flight I rather in some corner liue vnknowne Than shine in glorie and not shine most bright What common is to two rests no morerare No Phaenix is in all the world saue one Grieu'd of my deedes that any claimes a share Would God that I had acted all alone And yet at last I neede to mourne no more For enuie of the Macedonians praise Since I haue equalld all that went before My deedes in number doe exceede my dayes Some earst whose deedes rest registred by fame Did from their conquests glorious titles bring But greatnes to be great must haue my name It 's more to be a Caesar than a King Ant. Those warlike nations that did nations spoile Are by thy legions now t' our laws made thrall What can not vertue doe by time and toile True magnanimitie triumphs ouer all Caesar Th' outragious Gaules that in most monstrous swarmes Went wasting Asia thundring downe all things And marching ouer the Macedonians armes Did insolently make and vnmake kings Those Gaules that hauing the worlds conq'rors foild As if the world might not haue matcht them then Would sacrilegiously haue Delphos spoild And warrd against the gods contemning men Yea those whose auncestors our cittie burn'd The people that the Romans onely fear'd By me Romes nursling matcht and orematchtmurn'd So what they first eclipsd againe they clear'd Then as to subiects hauing giuen decrees I left the Gaules their rash attempts to rue And wounding Neptunes bosome with wing'd trees The world
conuince For still the states that flourish for the time By subiects should b'inuiolable thought And those no doubt commit a monstrous crime That lawfull soueraignty prophane in ought And we must thinke though now being brought to bow The Senate king a subiect Caesar is Th' authoritie that violating now The world must damne as hauing done amisse We will deare Cassius for our countries sake Our selues expose to danger or to death And let vs now aduise what course to take Whilst nought bur th' aire can beare away our breath Cass I thinke this matter needes not many wordes Since but one deede can bound the common shame In Caesars bodie we must sheathe our swordes And by his death our libertie reclame But since his fortune did confound them all That in the fields to match him did beginne Whilst he by thousands made their bands to fall With hoarie legions alwayes vsde to winne As Pompeys Scipioes and Petreius ghosts In lightlesse shades may by experience tell That after th' ouerthrow of their numbrous hosts All famous though infortunately fell And since prouided for the Parthian wrarre His armie in armes attends on his decree Where we sequestred from such forces farre Would if suspected strait preuented be With some few friends whom all things now t' assay A loue to vs or to their countrie bindes We to his wracke must walke another way Whilst ere our tongues our handes doe tell our mindes Now when most high and therefore hated most Th' assembled Senate seekes to make him king We must goe giue the blow before we boast And him to death Rome out of bondage bring Brut. In all this course I onely one thing blame That we should steale what we may iustly take By clothing honour with a cloake of shame Which may our cause thogh good more odious make O I could wish with honourable wounds T' affront Romes enemy in the battells dust No sweeter musicke than the Trumpets sounds When Right and Valour keepe a consort iust Then free if quicke else dead for nought being feard I alwayes once contented might remaine What tombe t' a man more glorious can be rear'd Than mountaines made of them that he hath slaine But how are my transported thoughts growne such That they disdaine a measure now t' admit As bent not what to doe but to do much I on the throne of Glorie striu'd to sit No to the state me from my selfe I giue Free from particular respects t' expose My life and all for it and whilst I liue So that it gaine I care not what I lose I le neuer rest till he for euer rest That giues my country such a cause of griefe And that t' effect no forme I will detest Nor for my fame endanger Romes reliefe But worthy Cassius ere we further doe Let vs the mindes of our familiars feele Of which I hope to haue assistance too Who will not hazard for his countries weale Cass Now whilst my soule rests rauisht in a traunce I thinke I see great Rome her courage raise Bent to beat th' aire with songs th' earth with a daunce And crowne thy vertues with deserued praise ACT. III. SCENE II. Marcus Brutus Portia MY dearest halfe my comfort my delight That onely seru'st to sweeten all my sowres Thou in my bosome vsde t' vncharge thy spright And in my presence sparde afflictions powres Still when domestike broiles disturbde thy rest Whilst by thy selfe thou labord for reliefe Thou with calme wordes disguisde a stormie breast Lest I had bin infected with thy griefe For such of me was thy respectiue care No cause of miscontentment was made knowne But with affections colors painted faire All that might make me glad was gladly showne What makes thee then thy courage thus to lose That thou can looke so sad and in my sight Lend me deere loue a portion of thy woes A burden being diuided doth grow light I see the Roses fading in thy face The Lillies languish Violets take their place Port. Thou hast deere Lord preuented my designe Which was to aske of thee what makes me pale It Phoebus had no light could Phoebe shine No with the cause of force th'effed must faile The mirrour but giues backe as it receiues A iust resemblance of th' obiected forme And such impression as th' engrauer leaues The wax retaines still to the stampe conforme O I 'm the mirrour that reflects thy minde According to the influence of thine eies I take the state in which thy state I finde Such is my colour as thy countnance dies Then how can I reioyce whilst thou art sad Whose breast of all thy crosses is the scroule I am still as thou art if grieu'd or glad Thy bodies shadow th' essence of thy soule On that great planet that diuides the yeares As th' increase of th' inferiour fields depends And as it doth euanish or appeares In th' earths cold bosome life beginnes or ends Sunne of my soule so I subsist by thee Whose course rests to thy secret motions thrall For when thou art from cloudie fortunes free I rise in ioyes but if thou faint I fall Bru. This countnance with my custome but accords That as you know yet neuer from my birth Light gestures vsde ioynd with lasciuious words Nor yet ridiculous fashions that mooue mirth My melancholious nature feedes on cares Whilst smotherd sorrow by a habite smokes A thoughtfull breast that 's burdend with affaires Doth make a silent mouth and speaking lookes As for my palenesse it imports but good Th' abasing of the bodie mounts the mind Where fatnesse com'd from food but serues for food In fattest bodies leanest sprites we finde Ah since I saw th' abhorr'd Thessalian bounds All drench'd with blood of Senators and kings As if my soule yet smarted in their wounds A secret sorrow oftentimes me stings But since thy famous father with strange blowes In the most hideous form affronted death To him my minde a sad remembrance owes Which sorrow shall exact still whilst I breath Yet am I grieu'd t' haue giuen thee cause of griefe That thought some new mis-hap did me dismay To such olde soares it 's worst to giue reliefe But time in end may weare my woes away Por. Why shouldst thou so from me thy thoghts conceale From thine owne soule that in thy bosome sleepes To whom though shewne thou dost them not reueale But in thy selfe more inwardly them keepst And thou canst hardly hide thy selfe from me That straight in thee each alteration spie I can comment on all that comes from thee True loue still lookes with a suspitious eye Rests not within our bosome euery thought Tun'd by a simpathy of mutuall loue Thou marrst the musicke if thou change in ought Which straight by my distemperature I proue Soule of my soule vnfold what is amisse My minde some great disaster doth diuine And euen excuse my couriousnesse in this Since it concernes thy state and therefore mine Brut. I wonder that thou dost thy frailtie
shew All women are by nature curious still And yet till now thou neuer crau'd to know More then I pleasde t' impart of my free will Nought saue the wife a man within the walles Nor nought saue him without fits her t' embrace And it 's vnseemely though it sometime falles When any sexe vsurpes anothers place Deere their wounted course thy cares inure I may haue matters that import the state Whose opning vp might my disgrace procure Whose weight would for thy weaknesse be too great Port. I was not Brutus match'd with thee to bee A partner only of thy boorde and bed Each seruile whore in those might equall me That did her selfe to nought but pleasure wed No Portia spousde thee with a minde t' abide Thy fellow in all fortunes good or ill With chaines of mutuall loue together tyde As those that haue two breasts one heart two soules one will With sacred bands whom holy Hymen bindes They tweene them should communicate all things Yea both the bodies labors and the mindes Whence either pleasure or displeasure springs If thus thou seeke thy sorrowes to conceale Through a disdaine or a mistrust of me Then to the world what way can I reueale How great a matter I would doe for thee And though our sexe too talkatiue be deem'd As those whose tongues import our greatest powres For secrets still bad treasurers esteem'd Of others greedy prodigall of ours Good education may reforme defects And I this vantage haue t' a vertuous life Which other mindes do want and mine respects I 'm Catoes daughter and I 'm Brutus wife Yet would I not repose my trust in ought Still thinking that thy crosse was great to beare Till that my courage was t' a triall brought Which suffring for thy cause can nothing feare For first t' experience how I could comport With sterne afflictions spirit-enfeebling blowes Ere I would seeke t' assault thee in this sort To whom my soule a duteous reuerence owes Loe heere a wound which makes me not to smart Though by my selfe being made to make me knowne Since thy distresse strikes deeper in my heart Thy griefe lifes ioy makes me neglect mine owne Brut. Thou must deare loue that which thou sought receiue Thy heart so high a saile t' a tempest beares That thy great courage doth deserue to haue Our enterprise entrusted to thine eares Thy magnanimitie preuailes so farre That it my resolution must controule And of my bosome doth the depths vnbarre To lodge thee in the centre of my soule Thou seest in what a state the state now stands Of whose strong pillars Caesar spoil'd the best Whilst by his owne preuenting others handes Our famous father fell amongst the rest That insolent vsurper doth presume To re-erect detested Tarquines throne Thus the worlds mistresse all-commanding Rome Must entertaine no minion now but one Th' old blood of Mars that marks to what he tends Swells with disdaine their countryes scorne to see And I 'm one of the number that intends By his death or mine owne to be made free Port. And without me can thou resolue so soone T' assay the dangers of a doubtfull strife As if dispair'd and alwayes to b' vndone Being tyr'd of me yea tyr'd of thy life Yet since thou thus thy rash designe hath showne Leaue Portias 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 backe That th' other perish t' aggrauate my grones That would be so thonght guiltie of thy wrack Take all thy treasure to the Seaes at once Like th' Asian Monarks wife that with short haires Sad signes of bondage past still where he past To weare away or beare away thy cares I le folow thee and of thy fortune taste These hands that were with my owne blood imbru'd To strike another may more strength afford At least when thou by th' enemie art pursu'de I le set my selfe betwixt thee and his sword But if too great a priuiledge I claime Whose actions all should be disposde by thee Ah pardon me deare Brutus do but blame These my excessiue sorrowes and not mee Brut. Thou ask'st what thou shouldst giue forgiue deare mate This ventrous course of mine which must haue place Though it make fortune tyrant of our state Whose fickle foot-steps vertue grieues to trace And wonder not though this towards thee I proue Since priuate passions now all powre haue left For I regard not glory profit loue Nor no respect that doth import me most So to the land of which I hold my life I may performe the worke that I intend Let me be call'd vnkind vnto my wife Yea worst of all ingrate vnto my friend But as th' instinct of nature makes vs know There are degrees of dutie to be past Of which the first we to th'immortalls owe The next t' our Countrey and t' our friends the last Prowd tyrants from his natiue bounds to driue Did th' author of my race with ardent zeale Make those to die whom he had made to liue And spoild himselfe to aduance the commonweale To raise the state which Caesar now ore-throwes That bred so many braue men whilst it stood He with the Tyrant interchanging blowes Most gloriously did offer vp his blood And did that man t' oppresse the common fo Then damne his sonnes to death and with drie eyes And is his successor degenerd so That he in abiect bondage basely lyes No his posteritie his name not staines That t' imitate his steps doth yet draw neere Yet of his spirit in vs some sparke remaines That more then life our libertie hold deare Port. Then prosecute thy course for I protest Though with some griefe my soule the same approues This resolution doth become thy breast Where in the spheare of honor vertue moues And doe this interprise no more deferre What thee contents to me contentment brings I to my life thy saftie doe preferre But hold thy honor deare aboue all things It would but let the world my weaknesse see If I sought my delights not thy desires Though it giue griefe and threaten death to me Goe follow forth that which thy fame requires Though nature sexe and education breed No power in me that 's with my purpose euen He lend assistance to th' intended deed If vowes and prayers may penetrate the heauen But difficulties huge my fancie findes Saue the successe nought can defray my feare Ah Fortune alwayes frownes on worthy mindes As hating all that trust in ought saue her Yet I dispaire not but thou may preuaile And by this course t' appease my present grones I this aduantage haue which cannot faile I le be a freemans wife or else be nones For if all prosper not as we pretend And that the heauens Romes bondage do decree Straight with thy libertie my life shall end Who haue no comfort but what comes from thee My father hath me taught what way to
I insurrections feare from common wrath Yea if two talke apart of priuate things Straight I suspect that they conspire my death When suddaine rumors rise from vulgar smoake Whilst th'â—â—â—â— motions roule my restlesse eies I at each corner for ambushments looke And start astonish'd least some tumult rise When rising Titans beames renew th' earths toiles I still dispaire to re-enioy the night And when mine eyes th' all-couering darknesse spoiles I neuer looke t' enrich them with the light For when that light with darknesse makes a change To flatter mortals with a dreame of rest What ougly Gorgons what Chimeraes strange Do bost the little world within my breast Th' appointed time t' appease impetuous cares Doth double mine that view most when being blind I apprehen'd huge horrors and dispaires Whilst th' outward obiect not distract my minde What comfort of my conquests now remaines Where is the peace pursude by many a strife Haue I but taken paine t' abound in paines And sought by dangers for a dangerous life Is this the period of aspiring powers In promisde calmes to be most plagu'd by stormes Lurke poisnous serpents vnder fairest flowers And hellish furies vnder heauenly formes It will not greeue my gost below to goe If circumuented in the warres I end As bold Marcellus by Romes greatest foe That gaue his ashes honor as a friend Or like Epaminondas prosprous death O would to God I had amidst th' alarmes Being chargde with recent spoyles bin spoil'd of breath Whilst I toward Pluto might haue march'd in armes Yet t' end this life that nought but toyles affords I le pay to death the tribute that he owes Straight with my blood set some come die their swords My body shall be bar'd t' embrace their blowes But ah how haue the furies seaz'd my breast And poison'd thus my sprit with desp'rate rage That with their horrid serpents barr'd from rest Nought can imagin'd be my toiles t' asswage No Atropos yet spare my threed a space That ere I to the Stigian streames go downe I may of honor haue the highest place And if I fall yet fall beneath a crowne Whilst I would bend my eares t'applauding shoutes My thoughts diuided are within my breast And my tossde soule doth flote between two doubts Yet knowes not on what ground to build her rest The Senators they haue this day designde To shew the world how they esteeme my worth Yet do portentuous signes perturb my minde By which the heauens would point my danger forth The gods from me with indignation gone Haue charactred in euery thing my death And must both heauen and earth conspire in one To quench a little sparke of still-tossde breath My saftie would that I should stay within Till this disastrous day giue darknesse place But honor hunts me forward to begin To reape the glory of my painfull race And I le aduance in spight of threatned broyles For though the fates effect that which we dreame When death retires from forcing those fraile spoyles Though breathlesse I le be breath'd ouer all by fame Exit Chorus WHat furie ' is this that filles the breast With a prodigious rash desire Which banishing their soules from rest Doth make those liue that high aspire Whilst it within their bosome boyles As Salamanders in the fire Or like to serpents changing spoiles Their witherd beauties to renew Like Vipers with vnnaturall toiles Of such the thoughts themselues pursue That for all lynes themselues do square Whilst like Camelions changing hue They only feed but on the aire To passe ambition monstrous matters brings And saue contentment can attaine all things This actiue passion doth disdaine To match with any vulgar minde As in base breasts where terrors raigne To great a guest to be confinde It doth but loftie thoughts frequent Where it a spatious field may finde It selfe with honor to content Where reuerenc'd fame doth lowdest sound Those at great things that t' aime are bent Farre lifted from this lumpish round Would in the spheare of glory moue Whilst loftie thoughts which nought can bind All riualls liue in vertues loue On abiect preyes as th' Eagle neuer lights Ambition poisons but the greatest sprights And of this restles vultures brood If 't grow not to too great a flame A little sparke may whyles do good VVhich makes great minds affecting fame To suffer still all kinde of paine There fortune at the bloody game VVho hazard would for hope of gaine Were not burn'd by a thrist of praise The learned loe t' a higher straine Their wits by emulation raise As those that hold applauses deare And what great mind at which men gaze It selfe can of ambition cleare Which is being rated at the highest price A generous error a heroicke vice But when this frensie flaming bright Doth so the soules of some surprise That they can taste of no delight But what from soueraigntie doth rise Then huge affliction it affords Such must themselues so to disguise Prooue prodigall of courteous words Giue much to some and promise all Then seruile seeme to be made Lords Yea first being made to many thrall Must pittie impart if not support T' all those that crush'd by fortune fall And grieue themselues to please each sort Are not those wretch'd that ouer a dangerous snare Hing but by hopes being ballanc'd in the aier Then when they haue the port attainde That was through Seas of dangers sought They lo at last but losse haue gainde And by great trouble trouble bought There minds are married still with feares T' engender many a iealous thought With searching eyes and watching eares To learne that which they grieue to know The breast that such a burden beares What huge afflictions toyle t' orethrow Thus princes are as all perceiue No more exalted than brought low Of many a Lord to many a slaue That idoll greatnesse which th' earth doth adore Is conquerd with great paine and kept with more He that to this imagin'd good Did through his countries entrailes tend Neglecting friendship duety blood And all on which trust can depend Or by which loue could be conceiu'd Doth finde of what he did attend His exspectations farre deceiu'd For since suspecting secret snares His soule hath still of rest bin reau'd Whilst squadrons of tumultuous cares Forth from his breast extort depth grones Thus Caesar now of life despaires Whose hap his hope exceeded once And who can long well keepe an euill wonne state Those perish must by some whome all men hate ACT. V. SCENE I. Marcus Brutus Chorus Antonius Caius Cassius Marcus Tullius Cicero A Regenerous Romans so degenerd now That they from honor haue estrangde their hands And vsde with burdens do not blush to bow Yea though being broken shake not off their bands This glorious worke was worthy of your paine Whose best ye may by others dangers haue But what enchaunts you thus that ye abstaine That which ye should haue taken to receiue Where be those inundations of delight
th' apparance of such broiles Lest when we haue our selues to ruine brought In end Barbarians beare away our spoyles Chor. Rome to those great men hardly can afford A recompence according to their worth That by a tyrants ore-throw haue restord The light of libertie that was put forth Yet by due praises with their merites euen Let vs illustrate their illustrous mindes And to their charge let prouinces be giuen Still vertue growes when it preferrement findes Anton. Those barbarous realmes by whose respectiue wil Of Caesars conquests monuments are showne As if they held them highly honord still That warrd with Caesar though they were orethrowne Can this disgrace by their prowde minds be borne Whilst we dishonor whom they honor thus And shall we not whilst as a tyrant torne Giue him a tombe that gaue the world to vs Must his decrees be all reducde againe And those degraded whom he gracde of late As worthy men vnworthily did gaine Their roomes of reputation in the state If as a tyrant we him damne so soone And for his murd'rers do rewards deuise Then what he did must likewise be vndone For which I feare a fowle confusion rise Chor. Ah great Antonius sow not seeds of warre And if thou alwayes dost delight in armes The haughty Parthians yet vndaunted are Which may giue thee great praise and vs no harmes Detest in time th' abhominable broiles For which no conquerour to triumph hath com'd Whilst this wretch'd towne which stil som party spoils Must loathe the victor and lament th' orecomd And shall we still contend against all good To make the yoke where we should bound abide Must still the commons sacrifize their blood As onely borne to serue the great mens pride Ant. Whilst I the depths of my affection found And reade but th' obligations which I owe I finde my selfe by othes and duetie bound All Caesars foes or then my selfe t' orethrow But when I weigh what to the state belongs The which to plague no passion shall get place Then I with griefe digesting priuate wrongs Warre with my selfe to giue my country peace Yet whilst my thoughts of this last purpose muse I altogether dis-assent from this That we should Caesars fame or bodie abuse By torturing tyrants as the custome is Lest guiltie of ingratitude we seeme If guerdoning our benefactors thus Great Caesars body from disgrace redeeme And let his acts be ratified by vs. Then for the publicke weale of which we pause Towards those that haue him killd t' extend regard Let them be pardond for their kinsmens cause Remission giuen for euill is a reward C. Cass We stand not dasht like malefactors heere With a deiected and remorcefull minde So in your presence supplicants t' appeare As who themselues of death doe guiltie finde But looking boldely with a loftie brow Through a delight of our designe conceiu'd We come to challenge gratefulnesse of you That haue of vs so great a good receiu'd But if ye will suspend your thoughts a space Though not the giuers entertaine the gift Do vs reiect yet libertie imbrace To haue you free loe that was all our drift So Rome her antient liberties enioy Let Brutus and let Cassius banisht liue Thus banishment would breede vs greater ioy Than what at home a tyrants wealth could giue Though some misconster may this course of ours By ignorance or then by hate deceiu'd Yet truth depends not on opinions powres But is it selfe how euer misconceiu'd Though none themselues t' acknowledge vs woulde daigne Our merite of it selfe is a rewarde Of doing good none should repent their paine Though neither getting guerdon nor regard I le venture yet my fortune in the fielde With euery one that Rome to bondage drawes And as for me how euer others yield I le nought obey but reason and the Lawes Cicer. What fooles are those that further trauell take For that which else they past recouery know Who can reuiue the dead or bring time backe At least no mortall that remaines below Great Pompey now for whom the world still weepes Lies low neglected on a barbarous shore Selfe-slaughtred Scipio flotes amidst the depthes Whom it may be sea-monsters do deuoure Of Libian wolues wise Cato feasts the wombes Whose death of worth the world defrauded leaues Thus some that merited Mausolean tombes Not haue a title grau'd vpon their graues And yet may Caesar that procur'd their death By braue men slaine be buried with his race All ciuill warre being banish'd with his breath Let him now dead and vs aliue haue peace We should desist our thoughts on things to set That may harme some and can giue help to none Learne to forget that which we can not get And let our cares be gone of all that 's gone Those that would striue all crosses to ore-come Must to the present time conforme their course And doing the best for that which is to come Not medle with things past but by discourse Seeke not the thing which doth not good being found Since Caesar now is dead how euer dead Let all our griefe goe with him to the ground For sorrow best becomes a lightlesse shade It 's best that reconioynde with mutuall loue We phisicke for this wounded state prepare Neglecting those that from the world remoue 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 loue their mouth and malice filles their mindes Those but to them poore simple soules appeare Whose countnance doth discouer what they thinke That make their words as is their meaning cleare And from themselues can neuer seeme to shrinke Lo how Anthonius faines to quench all iarres And kindly the conspirators t' imbrace Yet as he further'd first the former warres It 's fear'd he now be enemie to peace Now where Calphurnia stayes our steps adresse By this last sodaine chance her losse was chiefe All visite should their neighbours in distresse To giue some comfort or to get some griefe Exeunt Act. V. Scene II. Calphurnia Nuntius Chorus WHen darknesse last imprisond had mine eies Such monstrous visions did my soule affright That my deiected sprite still stupid dyes Through terrors then contracted in the night A melancholious cloud so dimmes my breast That it my mind fit for misfortune makes A lodging well disposde for such a guest Where nought of sorrow but th' impression lackes And I imagine euery man I see My senses so corrupted are by feares A Herauld to denounce mishaps to me That should infuse confusion in mine cares O there he comes to violate my peace In whom the obiect of my thoughts I see Thy message is charecter'd in thy face Which by thy lookes directed is to me Thy troubled eyes rest rouling for releife As lately frighted by some ougly sight Thy breath doth pant as if being big with griefe And fear'd to bring some monstrous birth to light
ouersyles And doth ecclipsie the cleerest iudgement whyles A thousand times ô happie he Who doth his passions so subdew That he may with cleere reasons eye Their imperfections fountaines view And as it were himselfe renew If that one might prescribe them lawes And set his soule from bondage free From reason neuer for to swerue And make his passions him to serue And be but moou'd as he had cause O greater were that monarch of the minde Then if he might command from Thule to Inde Act. II. Scen. I. CROESVS AESOPE SOLON Croe. WHo euer was so fauour'd by the Fates As could like vs of full contentment boast Lou'd of mine owne and feard of forraine states I know not what it is for to be crost No thwarting chance my good hap doth importune In all attempts my successe hath been such The darling of heauen the minion of fortune I wot not what to wish I haue so much Mine eyes did neuer yet dismay my hart With no delightlesse obiect that they saw My name applauded is in euery part My word an Oracle my will a Law My breast cannot contayne this flood of ioyes That with a mighty streame o'reflowes my mind Which neuer dream'd of sorrow or annoyes But did in all a satisfaction find My Soule then be content and take thy pleasure And be not vex't with feare of any ill My blisse abounds I cannot count my treasure And gold that conquers all doth what I will Aesop That Graecian Sir is at the Court arriu'd Whose wisdom Fame so prodigally prayse's Craes And haue you not t' extend my greatnes striu'd And entertain'd his eares with courteous phrases Aesop I thinke in all the parts where he hath been In forraine Countries or his natiue home He neuer hath such stately wonders seen As since vnto this princely Court he come When first he in the regall Pallace entred As one who borne amongst the craggie Mountaines That neuer for to view the plaines aduentred Acquainted but with dew and little Fountaines If he be forc'd for to frequent the Vailes And there the wanton water-Nimphs to see The rarenes of the sight so far preuailes Each strip appear's a flood each flood a Sea So all that he re'ncountred by the way Did to his mind a great amazement bring The gold-embroidred Gallants made him stay Each groome appear'd a Prince each squire a King And now he com's t' attaine your Graces sight Whom in his mind no doubt he doth adore He gazd on those who held of you their light Of force he must admire your selfe far more Now he will set your happy Empire forth And be eye-witnes of your glorious Raigne One wise mans testimony is more worth Then what a world of others would maintaine Sol. Disdaine not mighty Prince the louing zeale Which a meane man yet a good mind affords And who perchance as much affects your weale As those that paint their loue with fairer words Croes Thy loue sage Greeke is gratefull vnto vs Whom Fame long since enamour'd of thy deedes We of thy vertues haue heard her discusse Who in extolling of the same exceedes I wish that many such should here resort Whose vnstain'd life would teach vs what were best Whose graue aspect would grace so great a Court And like cleare Lamps giue light vnto the rest Sol. My Sou'raigne spare I merite no such praise I am but one that doth the world despise And would my thoughts to some perfection raise A Wisedom-louer that would faine be wise Yet with great toyle all that I can attaine By long experience and in learned schooles Is for to know my knowledge is but vaine And those that thinke them wise are greatest fooles Croes This is the nature of a worthie minde It rather would be good then be so thought As if it had no ayme but Fame to finde Such as the shadow not the substance sought Yet that pursues thee too which thon so fliest Still troupes applaude thy worth though thou not spie them Whilst thou wouldst presse it downe it mounts vp hiest For Fame and Honor follow those that flie them And now I thinke in all the world none liue's That better may vnfold what I would learne Then thou to whom franke Nature largely giues The grace to see the iudgement to discerne Sol. I l'e answer freely to what you propose If my small skill can comprehend the sence Croes Loe you haue seene in what I most repose My treasures huge my great magnificence Sol. This is the dreame of blisse that Fortune brings On which the wisest neuer haue presum'd I saw nought but a heape of sencelesse things A momentarie treasure soone consum'd This only serues the body to decore And for corruption fram'd cannot perseuer The minde immortall layes vp better store Of vnconsuming ioyes that last for euer Croes I wot not what you meane by such surmises And faind Ideaes of imagin'd blisse This portrait of Fancie but intices Sicke braines to dreame that which indeede they misse But I brooke more than their conceits can show Whose rich coniectures breede but poore effects And I beseeke you did you euer know A man more blest then I in all respects Sol. Yes I knew Tellus an Athenian borne Whom I holde happy in the first degree Who eu'n the haruest of Happinesse hath shorne He liu'd with fame and did with honour die For hauing long time liu'd lou'd and respected His country in a conflict had the worst He come and there falne courage re-erected And hauing wonne the field did die vnforst More happy now nor when he was aliue He dead doth reape the guerdon of his merite And in his childern doth againe reuiue Who all their fathers worthy partes inherite Croes Well since that to a priuate Cittizen You do ascribe the first most blest estate Now in the second ranke of happy men Whom would you number in your owne conceate Sol. ô Cleobis and Biton now I may No doubt prefer you next without reproach Their mother chanc'd on a festiuall day To want two horses for to draw her coach Them to supply the place Loue kindly raised Who drew her to that place of publike mirth And both of them exceedingly were praised They for their pietie she for her birth This charitable office being ended Both in the Church were found dead the next morrow I thinke the gods who this good worke commended Were loth to let them taste of farther sorrow For why our liues are fraile do what we can And like the brittle glasse are but a glance And oft the heauens t' abate the height of man Do entersour our sweets with some sad chance Croes Then from this Cathagorie am I secluded And is my state so vile vnto thine eies That as one of all happines denuded Thou thus do'st my felicitie despise Or think'st thou me of iudgement too remisse A miser that in miserie remaines The bastard child of Fortune barr'd from blisse Whom heauens do hate and all the world disdaines Are