her sonne yet with him dide In whom she found th' affections of a sonne Olimp. If but by hearing of his dolorous end A stranger once his captiue dide for griefe Ah shall his mother on new hopes depend As such a losse might looke for some reliefe And so I will for t were a great disgrace To me the mother of th'all conquering man Like other women to giue fortune place And yeeld to miserie as many can Though griefe at first must molifie me once Else as vnnaturall I might be admirde Yet will I not still burst my brest with grones Than that of me more courage is requirde I le not degener from my generous kinde Faint-hearted hindes brought neuer Lyon forth Nor yet a mother of an abiect minde Had neuer borne a monarch of such worth And O who knowes but once the time may come That I t' auenge my selfe a meanes may haue And may against these traytors yet mooue some That with their blood may bathe their sou'raignes graue Now on Perdiccas repose my trust That with Eumenes would our wrongs redresse Their valor ventring in a cause so iust Doth by appearance promise good successe Rox. Loe now of late deliuered of a sonne I to these captaines scarce dare make it knowne That else to part his kingdomes haue begunne And might by killing him make all their owne Ay me Madam this makes me most to pause That still th' ambition of those great men feare Lest by pretending but a publike cause They seeke themselues th' authoritie to beare Ah they of my yong babe as mou'd with ruth Would but be Tutors first and traytors then Voyd of obedience dutie loue or truth No deerer things then diadems to men Olimp. As those whose courage cannot be dismaide Let vs a faction studie now to finde And whilst that pittie doth procure for aide Go tune the peoples passions now t' our minde Vnlesse their loue haue perishde with his life Of Alexander in a high degree I thinke the sonne the mother and the wife Must of the Macedonians reuerenc'd be And this doth with disdaine my soule consume That Arideus amongst other wrongs And prowde Euridice his wife presume To vsurpe those honours that but t 'vs belongs O they shall finde my fortune not so changde But I am able yet t' abate their pride What what Olimpias must be reuengde That saue her selfe a Queene disdaynes t' abide Exeunt Chorus LOe how all good decayed And euills begin t' abound In this skie-compasst round There is no kinde of trust For mankind whilst it strayes In pleasure-paued wayes With floods of vice is drown'd And doth farre from refuge In endlesse shaddowes lodge Yet striues to rise no more No doubt as most vniust The world once perish must And worse now to restore Then that it was before When at the last deluge Men by Ducalion once Were made againe of stones And well this wicked race Bewrayes a stonie kinde That beares a stubborne minde Still hardned vnto sinne Lo now in euery place All vertuous motions cease And sacred faith we finde Now farre from th' earth is fled Whose flight huge euills hath bred And fills the world with warres Whilst impious breasts begin Still to let treason in Which common concord marres Whilst all men liue at iarres And nets of fraud do spred Th' vnwarie to surprise Too wittie but not wise Yet those that in deceit Their confidence repose A deerer thing do lose Then can by guile be gain'd Which being repented late Brings ruine to their state Whilst purer spirits disclose Wherewith their breasts are stord For though they would remord They get not trust againe But hauing honor stain'd And couenants prophain'd Are held in high disdaine And do in end remaine Of all the world abborr'd Not trustie when they should Not trusted when they would But ah our Nobles now Lo like Lisander still So that they get their will Regard not by what way And with a shamelesse brow Doe of th' effect allow Euen though the meanes were ill Which all the world may see Disgraces their degree That should not learne to lowre But throwe base sleights away What can braue mindes dismay Whose worth is as a towre Against all fortunes powre Still from all fraud being free These keepe their course vnknowne Whom it would shame if shewn VVho not from worth digresse T' vse sleights that feare imparts Doe shew heroicke hearts The which would rather farre An open hate professe Then secretly suppresse Honor scornes fearefull artes But those that doe vs leade As for dissembling made Euen though that they intend Amongst themselues t' haue warre Seeme in no sort to iarre But friendship do pretend Not like their Lord that 's dead That trusting to his worthy Still what hee meant spake forth The great men not for nought Do seeke the peoples loue And them their deeds t' approue Do labor still t' allure But Perdiccas it 's thought Too sparingly hath sought Our mindes towards him to moue As one that still conceits Hee may command the fates His pride so great is growne That none can it indure Yet stands his state vnsure Since odious to his owne He must b' at last ore-throwne Whose humour each man hates Pride doth her followers all Lead headlong to a fall ACT. IIII. SCENE I. Antigonus Eumenes TOugh stormie discord and tumultuous warres Doe fire the minds of men with flames of rage That hauing hautie thoughts as heauen hath starres Their indignation nothing can asswage Yet loe amongst the souldiers wauing bowres The Heraulds cryes whiles calmes the trumpets sounds And peace dare inter-pose her vnarm'd powres To limit for a time Bellonaes bounds And whilst of furie they suspend th' effects The seeming-friended foes haue conference whiles And each shewes th' other what his soule affects A shadow of the blisse that Mars exiles Thus men magnanimous amidst the field Dare to th' assurance of their enemies trust And loathing what disloyaltie doth yield Not violate their vowes nor proue vniust Though Loue be past yet Truth should still remaine I vertuous partes euen in my foes applaud A gallant mind doth greater glorie gaine To die with honor than to liue by fraude And why Eumenes as mistrusting me Else standing on your reputation long Did you disdaine to come as all men see T' a greater than yourselfe and t 'one more strong Eu. Thogh we not come to plead our birthright here Let him but warriors take not so their place In whom best signes of noblenesse appeere Be thought extracted of the noblest race Most noble he that still by vertue striues To leaue his name in minds of men engrau'd And to his of-spring greater glorie giues Than of his ancestors he hath receiu'd Erst we by birth in warre not marshalld stoode As at the table vpon Iuorie beds A souldiers worth consists not in his blood But in the blood of th' enemies that he sheds What euer others of my linage try I am Eumenes and I scorne t'
Crowne A piece of policie which time will proue The barb'rous Persians borne with stubborne mindes Who but for pouertie first followd you Their matchlesse worth in armes all Asia findes Their feare is fall'n vpon all Nations now But if you suffer them in such a sort T' enrich themselues with plenteous Lidiaes spoile Not able then their Conquest to support The Victor of the vanquisht gets the foile For this will make them wealthie out of measure Wealth to confusion many a Countrie leades Whilst feebled with delights in-vilde with pleasure No thought of honour harbours in their heads Then Cyrus strait approuing what he spake His souldiers from their pillage were restraind Pretending first the tenth part for to take As a rich offring for the Gods ordaind Of our distresse this is the ruthfull storie A stranger is possest of this Prouince Our King hath with the losse of all his glorie Bought breath a while a poore thing for a Prince Chor. O wofull people O vnhappy King Our ioyes are spoyld his happinesse expyrde And no new chance can any comfort bring To either now whose fall the Fates conspyrde Goe wofull messenger hold on thy course For to haue heard too much it yrks our eares We euer must bewaile thy sad discourse Accented with sighs and poynted with teares Exeunt Croesus WHat needs me more of my mishap to pause Though I haue tasted of afflictions cup Yet it may be the gods for a good cause Haue cast me downe to raise a thousand vp And neuer let a Monarch after me Trust in betraying titles glorious bates Who with such borrow'd feathers rashlie flee Fall melted with the wrath of greater states O had this pretious wit enrich'd my mind Which by experience I haue dearely bought Whilst fortune was within my court confind And that I could not thinke a bitter thought Then satisfide with Soueraignties earst prou'd I had disdain'd new dangers to imbrace And cloath'd with maiestie admir'd and lou'd Had liu'd with pleasure and had dide in peace Yet it is wonderfull in any state To see a worldling prosper and not prowd But chieflie we whose fortunes grow so great It 's hard for vs to haue our high thoughts bowd What could the world afford or man affect Which did not glad my soule whilst I was such Who now am past the compasse of respect Plagu'd with prosperitie clog'd with too much Long luld asleep with scornefull fortunes lyes A slaue to pleasure drown'd in base delights I made a couenant with my wandring eyes T' haue entertain'd them still with pleasant sights I held not from my heart none of her wishes But wallowing in vaine-glorie this worlds toy Still seru'd with daintie but suspitious dishes My soule was sick with pleasure faint for ioy There wanted nothing that might help to ease me All did diuine my will ayme at my though And striue to do that which they trow'd would please me Which if I but allowd no more was sought What euer come of me was held of waight My words were ballanc'd and my lookes were marked Those whom I grac'd were had in honour straight All speeches in my praises were imbarked I in magnificence exceld all Kings Whilst drowsie in securitie I slumbred My coffers still were full of pretious things My treasure infinite could not be numbred I reard rare buildings all embost with gold Made ponds for fishes forrests for wild beasts And with transported fancies vncontrold Oft spent the day in sport the night in feasts I seem'd t' vsurp the powre that earst was Ioues And of the Elements the course would change For stately fountaines artificiall groues These were so common they were not thought strange With me what more could any Monarch craue In all the parts of pomp none could compare My minions gallant my counsellours graue My guards were strong my concubines were faire Yea ere my state was cast vpon this shelfe I wanted nought that could with seeming merites Breed wonder in the world pride in ones selfe For to puffe vp the flesh and spoile the spirits Thus pressing with delight the grapes of pleasure I quafft with Fortune still sense-pleasing vines Till drunke with wealth and riotous out of measure I card not to consume all Tmolus mines Then wearie to be well and tir'd of rest T' engender discord I th' occasion sought Yet for to cloake th' ambition of my brest Did with deuotion long disguise my thought I send of all the Oracles to inquire What was to come of this intended warre Who said as seem'd to second my desire That I a mightie Monarchie should marre Those doubtfull words I wresting to my will In hope t' expugne th' impertous Persians powres Did ruine quite whilst all succeeded ill What many a age had conquer'd in few howres And this most wondrous is because most strange I who disdain'd an equall of before What cannot Fortune do being bent to change Must a Superior now serue and adore What eye not fraught with scorne my state surueyes Whom Fates haue forc'd for to o're-liue my shame And in mine enemies danger for some dayes But borrowd with the intrest of my fame Though this sweet gale of life-bestowing windes Would seeme a fauour so it seemes to some Who by the basenesse of their muddie mindes Shew of th' ignoble multitude they come I scorne vnlike my selfe for to be seene Though to my comfort this appeard to tend As if that all misfortunes past had beene A Tragicke entrie to a Comicke end Of all that plague my state the greatest pest It is base life that faints from th' earth to seuer And hath in one vnited all the rest To make me die each day and yet die neuer Life in my breast no comfort can infuse An enemies gift could neuer come for good It but giues time of miserie to muse And bathe my sorrowes in a bitter flood Ah! had my breath euanish'd with my blisse And closde the windowes that giue light to life I had not apprehended as it is The height of my mishaps that now are rife Whilst with a thousand sighes I call to mind The death of Atis and mine owne decay My sprite in such perplexitie I find That to liues passage I would faine make way But since I see reseru'd for further spight I with sad thoughts must burden yet my soule My memorie t' a melancholious spright Of all my troubles shall present a scroule Of which while as th' account I go to cast Th' enormities still numbring of my fate I 'le whiles looke back vpon my pleasures part And by them ballance my now haplesse state CHORVS IS' t not a wonder for to see How by experience each man reedes In practiz'd volumes pen'd by deeds Th' inconstant courses that there bee Yet whilst our selues continue free We ponder oft but not apply That pretious oyle which we might buy Best with the price of others paines Which as what nought to vs pertaines To vse we will not condiscend As if we might
entertaine my enemy a stranger I being far from offering aide remou'd A host of furies in my brest I finde Which do my soule with dreadfull horrours fill And foster in my melancholious minde Strange apprehensions that affright me still And this surmiz'd disgrace grown throughly strong Reades hourely in my eares a hatefull scroule Of an imagin'd yet recureles wrong Such poison'd thoughtes like serpents sting my soule Blind loue beguiles me not sharpe-sighted feares Finde great apparances for to suspect thee Would God I had no hart nor eyes nor eares To thinke to see or heare thou shouldst neglect me This aggrauates the wight of my dispaire When doubt obiects t' annull loues fast defence How he is young and feirce she young and faire He bent t' offend and she exposd t'offence From which I feare both cannot long abstaine Her beauty is sufficient to allure His brauery is sufficient to obtaine Captaines will force and captiues must endure O Alexander tender my renowne Although thou trauell to vsurpe my throne I rage to haue ariuall in my Crowne But in my loue I can comport with none Lode her not with disgrace and me with griefe Least so thou rob her honour and my life Spare in this point t' ouercharge me with mischiefe In all things els let armes decide our strife But where doth fury thus transport my spirits With light beleefe my best halfe to mistrust Deere pardon I trespasse to wrong thy merits Whom I haue still found faithfull louing iust Pure chaistitie doth then most firmelie stand When fortified it is with wedlockes band Yet let me doubt or let me leaue to loue To feare the worst it is affections part I 'l not mistrust thy truth yet it may proue Thy face betray thy faith thy hap thy hart But on thy loue approou'd my hope relyes This doth dissolue suspitions power to nought I will repell reports as slanderous lyes Which second not thy vertue and my thought Though vertues foe and worth-enuying fortune Hath wrong'd my valour with an euill successe Life of my life yet must I thee importune Ioyne not with her to double my distresse Exit CHORVS O More then miserable minde That of all things it selfe worst knowes And being through presumption blinde Is puffed vp with euery winde Which fortune in derision blowes Such one no stable blisse can finde Whose hart is guided by his eye And trustes vnto betraying showes Which seeme not as they be Oft short prosperity Breedes long aduersity For who abuse the first the last o're-throwes A dead security all care exiles T is no small danger to be happie whiles Who on himselfe too much depends A makes an Idole of his witt For euery favour fortune sends Self-flatterer himselfe commends And will no sound aduise admit But at himselfe beginnes and ends And neuer takes a moments leasure To try what fault he may commit But drunke with frothes of pleasure Thirstes for praise aboue measure Imaginary treasure Which slowly commes and soone away doth flit And what is most affected at this time Succeeding ages may account a crime A Potentate that is respected And by his subiects thought a God Thinkes as his name on high erected Hath what he list at home effected It may like wonders worke abrod O how his folly is detected For though he sit in Royall seate And as he list his vassalls lod Yet others that are great Liue not by his conceate Nor ponder what he threat But plague his pride oft ere he feare the rod. There are rare qualities required in Kings A naked name can never worke great things They who themselues too much esteeme And vainly vilipend their foe Oft finde not fortune as they deeme And with their treasure would redeeme Their errour past Behold euen so From blame who can our King exeeme Who his aduersary to scorne Thought he who in his name did goe The laurell should haue worne His triumphe to adorne But he with shame hath shorne The fruites of follie euer ripe with woe An enemie if it be well aduis'd Though he seeme weakt should neuer be despis'd But what the Minions of our Kings Who speake at large and are beleeued Dare boast of many mightie things As they could flie though wanting wings And deeds by wordes might be atchëeued But time at length their lies to light Their soueraigne to confusion brings Yet so they gaine they are not greeue'd But charme their Princes sight And make what 's wrong seeme right Thus ruine they his might That when he would he cannot be releeued Moe kings in chambers fall by flatterers charmes Then in the field by th' aduersaries armes All that the successe hath approoued By Charidemus was foreshowne Yet with his wordes no man was mooued For good men first must be remooued Before their worth can well be knowne The King would heare but what he looued And what him pleasd not did dispise So were the beeter sort o'er-throwne And Sycophants vnwise Who could the trueth disguise Were suffered for to rise That him who rais'd them vp they might cast downe Thus Princes will not heare though such deceaue them Things as they are but as themselues conceaue them ACTVS SECVNDVS ALEXANDER PARMENTO BEholde the heauens with a benigne aspect To prosper this braue enterprise intend And with propitious starres seeme to direct This great beginning to a glorious end Who would be famous must of force aspite All those astonish'd who my troupes do view Doubt of those two which most they should admire My comming or my conquering with so few So mightie mindes t' atchieue great actions bent Force Fortune oft to fauour them in all Where baser breasts deuining euill euent Through superstitious feares procure their fall O howe I wonder when I call to minde That monstrous camp which not so much as doubted Dimme seem'd the Sunne while-as their armour shind Men had not heard the thunder whil'st they shouted Th' auant-courours that came for to examine When they so meane my nombers had perceau'd Did thinke them small to satisfie the famine That their huge hoste of daughter had conceau'd And yet in end this prou'd a poyson'd foode Which of their owne to their confusion yeeldes Mountaines of murthered corps and seas of blood Vn buried bodies buried all the fieldes So now that fewe whome they contemn'd so farre See how mortalitie it selfe deceaues Haue farre ouer-match'd their multitudes in warre And made the world waste to people the graues Then deere Parmenio since the fates afforde So faire an entrie to our first designes Let vs goe prosecute with dint of sworde That fortune which the heauens our hopes assignes Parm. This high attempt as we would wish succeeds What hostes haue we ouerthrow'n what citties raz'd Loe populous Asia trembles at our deedes And martiall Europe doth remaine amaz'd Proud Greece whose spirits oft preast to skorne the skyes A prostrate supplicant before thee falles Rebellious Thebes that durst thy power dispyse Lyes now entomb'd within her broken
soule still further is requirde That should seale vp th' accomplishment of ioy Thus doth a partiall iudgement aime amisse At things that stand without our reach retir'd Which whilst not ours as treasures we define But not the same whilst we the same enioy Some things afarre doe like the Glow-worme shine That lookt to neere haue of that light no signe No charge on th' earth more weighty to discharge Than that which of a kingdome doth dispose O those that manage must the reines of state Till that their ghost b' imbarkt in Charons barge Doe neuer neede t' attend a true repose How hard is it to please each mans conceat When gaining one they must another lose Thus hardly kings themselues caâ— euenly beare Whom if seuere as cruell subiects hate Contempt dare to the milde it selfe oppose In time who spare as niggardes are despisde Men from too franke a minde exactions feare Though in all shapes as Proteus being â—â—sguisde Kings by some scandall alwayes are surprisde Yet one might well with euery thing comport That on th' opinion onely doth depend If further danger follow'd not by deedes But euery monarke loe in many a sort Death doth disguisd in diuers shapes attend Of some by mut'nous swords the life foorth bleedes By vnsuspected poison others end Which whilst they alwayes labour to preuent A thousand deaths within their breasts life breedes Loe this is all for which the great contend Who whilst their pride hemselues and others spoiles With their dominions doe their cares augment And O vaine man that toyles t' abound in toiles Though still the victorie the victor foiles Thus Alexander still himselfe disâ—asde Whilst he t' vndoe his state did wale prepare Which when made most diminisht most remaind Where with his fathers bounds had he bin pleasde He might haue left our crowne in peace t' his heire That by his conquest nought but death hath gaind Yet for no paines a number now doth spare To worke for that by which his wreake was wrought Which though from it they rage to be restraind Would if possest their pleasures but impaire Yet they by hurme of others seeke the thing That by their harme of others will be sought To him and his each of them death would bring That it might once be saide he was a King We may securely sitting on the shore To see the great as tossd on th' Ocean grone Learne by their toiles t' esteeme much of our rest For this doth thousands with affliction store That as th' vnhappiest in the world do mone If they but chaunce to view some few more blest Where if they would but marke how many a one More wretch'd than they in miserie doth liue It would strait calme the most vnquiet breast The cottage whiles is happier than the throne To thinke our owne state good and others ill It could not but a great contentment giueâ— There much consistes in the conceit and will Since t 'vs all things are as we thinke them still FINIS THE TRAGEDIE OF IVLIVS CAESAR By William Alexander Gentleman of the Princes priuie Chamber Carmine dij superi placantur carmine manes LONDON Printed by VALENTINE SIMMES for ED BLOVNT 1607. The Argument AT that time when the Romans trauelled with an vnsatiable ambition to subdue all Nations by whose ouerthrow they could conceaue any exspectation either of glory or profit Caius Iulius Caesar a man of a loftie minde and giuen to attempt great things ascending by seuerall degrees to the Consullship procured a power to warre against the Gaules amongst whom after a number of admirable battels and victories by the approbation of all the world hauing purchased a singular reputation both for his courage and skill in Armes he being long accustomed to command was so drunken with a delight of soueraigntie that disdaining the simplicitie of a priuate life he was so farre from denuding himselfe of the authoritie that he had that altogether transported with a desire of more hee sent to the Senate to haue his gouernment of the Gaules prorogated for fiue years which sute being repugnant to the Lawes as directly tending to tyrranie was by the people publikely repelled By which occasion and some others rising from an aemulation betweene him and Pompey the great pretending a high indignation hee incontinent crossed the Alpes with such forces though few as he had in readinesse and with a great celeritie came to Rome which hee found abandoned by Pompey in whom the Senate had reposed their trust whom shortly after by a memorable battell in the fields of Pharsalia he discomfited and hauing by the ouerthrow of Scipio death of Cato and flight of Pompeys sonnes as it were rooted out all the contrary faction hee returned to Rome and indirectly by the meanes of Antonius laboured to be proclaimed king which hauing rendred him altogether odious Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus Decius Brutus Publius Caâ—ca and diuers others Noble men conspired his death and appo nted a day for the sâ—me at which time notwiâ—hstanding that Caesar was disswaded from going foorth by many monstrous apparitions and ominous presages yet being perswaded by Dâ—cius Brutus Albinus hee went towards the fatall place where the Senate was assembled The Conspirators in like maner had many terrors amongst others Portia the wife of Marcus Brutus although she had insinuated her selfe in her husbands secret by a notable proofe of extraordinary magnanimitie yet on the day dedicated for the execution of their designe through the apprehension of his danger she fainted diuers times whâ—reof Brutus was aduertised yet shrinked not but went forward with his confederats to the appointed place where they accomplished their purpose euery one of them giuing Caesar a wound and me a ground wherevpon to build this present Tragedie The Actors Names IVNO CAESAR ANTONIVS CICERO DECIVS BRVTVS CAIVS CASSIVS MARCVS BRVTVS PORTIA CALPHVRNIA NVNTIVS THE Tragedie of Caesar ACT. I. Iuno THough I a goddesse glance through th' azure round Whilst the eie-feather'd birds my coach do moue And am with radiant starres heauens Empresse crown'd The sister and the wife of thundring Ioue And though I banquet in th' Aetheriall bowres Where Ambrosie and Nectar serues for meate And at the meeting of th' immortall powres Am still aduanc'd vnto the highest seate Yet by those glorious shewes of boundlesse blisse My martred minde can no way be relieu'd Since immortalitie affords but this That I may euer liue being euer grieu'd In vaine vaine mortals seeke for helpe at me With Sacred odours on my Altars throwne What expectation can they haue to see One venge their wrongs that cannot venge her owne Might Pallas once drowne thousands in the seas And metamorphose Diomedes mates And must mine enemies alwayes liue in ease As me to spight appointed by the fates Of all the dying race that liues below With such indignities none could comport As wound my breast whom gods and men do know To be abusde by Ioue in many a sort Though knowne to me from
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'
the Fates defye While as vntouch'd our state remaines But soone the heau'ns a change may send No perfect blisse before the end When first we fill with fruitfull seede The apt-conceauing womb of th' earth And seeme t' expell all feare of dearth With the increase that it may breede Yet dangers do our hopes exceede The frosts may first with cold confound The tender greens that dect the ground Whose wrath though th' Aprils smiles asswage It hath t' abide th' Eolian rage Which t' o'repasse whilst we attend T' haue Ceres wandring tresses bound The raines let from their cloudie cage May spoyle what we expect to spend No perfect blisse before the end Lo whilst the Vine-tree great with grapes With nectard liquor striues to kisse Th' imbracing Elme not lou'd amisse Those clusters loose their comely shapes Whilst by the thunder burnd in heapes All Bacchus hopes fall downe and perish Thus many a thing doth fairely flourish That no perfection can attaine And yet we worldlings are so vaine That our conceats we highlie bend If fortune but our spring-time cherrish Though we haue stormes for to sustaine Ere to the haruest our yeeres ascend No perfect blisse before the end By all that in this world haue place There is a course that must be runne And let none iudge himselfe t' haue wonne Till he haue finish'd first his race The forrests through the which we trace Breed rauenous beasts that do abhorre vs And lye in wait for to deuoure vs Whilst brambles do our steps beguile The feare of which though we exile And to our marke with gladnes tend Then balles of gold are laid before vs To entertaine our thoughtes a while And our good meaning to suspend No perfect blisse before the end Behold how Croesus long hath liu'd Throughout this spatious world admir'd And hauing all that he desir'd A thousand meanes of ioy contriu'd Yet now is suddenly depriu'd Of all that wealth and strangely falles For euery thing his sprite appalles His Sonnes decease his Countries losse And his owne State which huge stormes tosse Thus he who could not apprehend Whilst as he slept in marble walles No nor imagine any crosse To beare all those his breast must lend No perfect blisse before the end And we the Lydians that design'd To raigne ouer all that were about vs Behold how Fortune too doth flowt vs And hath vs vtterly resign'd For we that had t' our selues assign'd A Monarchie but knew not how Yet thought to make the world to bow That at our forces stood afraid We we by whom these plots were laid To thinke of bondage must descend And beare the yoke of others now O it is truth that Solon said While as he yet doth breath extend No man is blest behold the end W. A. FINIS THE TRAGEDIE OF DARIVS By William Alexander of Menstrie Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci. LONDON Printed by G. Elde for Edward Blount 1604. In praise of the Author and his Poeme A SONNET GIue place all yee to dying Darius wounds VVhile this great Greeke him in his throne enstalles That fell before seauen ported Thebes walles Or vnder Ilions olde sky-threatning rounds Your sowre-sweete sighes not halfe so sadlie sounds Though I confesse most famous be your falles Slaine sacrifizd transported and made thralles Praecipate burnt bannish'd from your bounds VVhome Sophocles Euripides haue song Aeschylus end in stately Tragick tune Yet none of all hath so diuinely done As matchlesse Menstrie in his natiue toung So Darius ghost seemes glad for to be so Triumpht on twise by Alexanders two Io. MVRRAY A Sonnet VVHen as the Macedonian conquerour came To great Achilles Tomb he sigh'd and said Well may thy ghost braue champion be appay'd That Homers Muse was trumpet of thy fame But if that Monarch great in deedes and name Now once againe with mortall vaile array'd Came to the Tomb where Darius hath beene lay'd This speech more iustly sighing might he frame My famous foe whom I lesse hate then pitty Euen I who vanquish'd thee enuie thy glory In that such one doth sing thy ruines story As matcheth Homer in his sweetest ditty Yet ioy I that he Alexander hight And sounds in thy ore-throw my matchles might W. Quin. Eiusdem in nomen Authoris GVLIELMVS ALEXANDER Anagramma I LARGVS MELLE EXVNDA Tetrasticon CVm tibi det Genius Musa ingeniumque Pâ—eÌ„sis Floribus é varijs Attica mella lega I largus melle exunda mellitáque funde Carmina sic facias nomine fata iubent THE ARGVMENT DARIVS the fourteenth from Cyrus King of Persia being after the death of Occhus for his singular valour from the gouernment of Armenia aavanc'd to the Persian empyre became so arrogant Fortune as it were setting him forward to confusion as he sent to demand tribute of Phillip then King of Macedonia who being of a hautie nature and inferiour to none of that age in courage or militarie discipline requited this contumelius message with as disdainfull an answere threatning that he would come and deliuer it in Persepolis But being preuented by death he left the execution of his designe to his sonne Alexander who for the great victories which thereafter he obtained was surnamed the great He inheriting the hatred of his Father towards Darius and far surmounting him in ambition past in person to Asia with an armie of thirtie thousand only After his arriuall Darius wrote to him in a proud and contemptible manner ascribing to himselfe the title of the King of Kings and kinsman of the Gods and naming Alexander his seruant Hee also in vaunting manner boasted that he would haue that mad boy the sonne Philip for so in derision he tearmed him bound and beaten with rods and after brought to his presence apparrelled like a Prince For performance whereof he directed one of his Minions with fourtie thousand to make impediment to his passage at the riuer of Granick where by the wonderfull valour of Alexander they were ouer-throwne Darius being aduertised of this came himselfe in proper person accompanied with infinite but euill ordered nomhers and encountred Alexander beside Isso in the straites of Cilicia where hauing fought a doubtfull and bloody battell in ende by the invincible valour and neuer-fayling Fortune of Alexander his armie was defeated himselfe put to flight and his mother wife and children made captiues They were most courteouslie entertained by Alexander who notwithstanding their exceeding great beautie yet would not abuse them or suffer them to be abused by others nor visited he them more oft then once and that to comfort them all the time of their imprisonment Darius notwithstanding of all his losses his courage being in the full whilst his Fortune was in the waine wrote very proudly to Alexander taking still the title of a King to himselfe but not giuing it him offering him as much gold as Macedon could containe for ransome of the Captiues Which being very disdainfully refused by Alexander he hauing
rewarde thee well And him the heauens who hath not done amisse To those that haue beene mine his foe must tell That vndeserued courtesie of his Though none haue pow'r his pleasure to controule If he entreate them well whom he retaines It will procure no small rest to my soule And make him famous while the world remaines When my sprit parts out of this tent of clay Entreat some with my buriall to take order Least churlish Charon force me for to stray An vn-respected ghost on Stygian border Let first my corps be carried to my mother Who may it with my auncestors entombe And as she hath more cause then any other May waile this wofull burthen of her wombe In pledge of that affection which I beare Thy Soueraignes worth whom now I must see neuer Haue heere a Princes hand I hold him deare And recommend me to his grace for euer I scarce had got his hand or toucht his vesture When like a torch whose waxe and weeke is spent Somewhat perplext yet with a princely gesture He died in peace his sprit appear'd content Alex. Who could refraine frō teares to heare declar'd The desolation of this wretched wight Haue subiects slaine their prince whō strangers spar'd Vs hath he fled that perish thus he might I for his fall am wonderfully sorie Who Nestors age was worthie t' haue attain'd I envie death because it rob'd the glorie Which I in giuing him his life had gain'd Hep. Since death hath put a periode to his woes The fauour that t'wards him you thought t' extend Conuert to furour now against his foes For your designes can haue no fairer end So shall you both attaine perpetuall praise And winne their harts who see their Lord reveng'd Then reape no little profite in your dayes To haue the countrie of such vipers cleng'd If but one vertue should adorne a King It should be Iustice many great defects Are vaild thereby whereas each vertuous thing In one that is vniust the world suspects Alex. Although your counsell or yet his request Had not the pow'r to penetrate my eares A generous stomack could not well disgest So great a wrong my minde it hardly beares My spirit impatient of repose disdaines That they so long this infamie surviue But I will punish with most greevous paines The horrid treason that they did contriue What do they thinke deceau'd with some illusion That Bactria is a bulwarke for my ire Flie where they list they cannot scape confusion My wrath shall follow like consuming fire Heauen cannot be a sanctuarie for them I dare to force th' infernall caves adventer Th' earth cannot keepe them safe if I abhorre them I le search them out though they were in the center And hauing gotten once those malefactors Betwixt the bending boughes of two strong trees Vnto th' eternall terrour of all traitours They shall dismembred be before my eyes Pol. Sir may it please your Grace to take some care That some his funerall offices performe Alex. Goe presentlie and euery thing prepare According to the militarie forme ACTVS QVINTVS Scen. 2. SISIGAMBIS NVNTIVS CHORVS Sisi THis looke alas hath fraught my soule with feares Speake for my life doth on thy lips depend Thy count'nance ah a dolefull coppie beares Of some sad summons to denounce my end Starue not my eares with famish for thy words That swallow'd yet may make my hart to burst Nun. Madame the message that my'soule affordes Must once be known and once knowne still accurst Sis Be not a niggard of euil newes Nun. And why Sis Fame will tell the world Nun. But first to you Sis Tel sone Nun. Your son is dead Sis Thē let me die Cho. Her ioyes and pleasures are all perish'd now Sis Why opens not the earth for to deuoure A cursed caitiue that all ioy hath loste The longer that I liue my griefe growes more Borne I am to mischiefe kept to be crost Would God this body in mishappes abounding Were couered with some mountaine of huge waight Or else that th' Ocean ou'r these fieldes inunding Might make my buriall in her bosome straight O Alexander hast thou robd his life Yet entertain'd me still in hope to finde him Why didst thou not first kill this poore old wim Who was not worthie to haue liu'd behind hi Ah tended all thy courtesie to this That I should liue till thou hast slaine my sonne Nun. You wrong that worthie Prince for he and his Came him to helpe who was ere then vndone Sis What impious hands durst one that wore a crown And was thereof most worthie murther so Nun. Two whō himself rais'd vp haue cast him down More faithfull then his owne he found his foe Sis Tell on thy message message of my death And load my minde with all mischiefe and horrour That in sad sighes I may dissolue my breath Whilst thou relat'st these tydings full of terrour Nun. When Alexander eftsoones back had sent Th' Ambassadours that peace had sought in vaine A generall muster then to try th' euent Of doubtfull Mars King Darius did ordaine And in one battell to aduenture all Intending caus'd his will to be proclaim'd While two vile traitours did conspire his fall Who Bessus and Narbazanes were nam'd These two in counsell did discouer first Some portion of the poison of their hart Which caus'd the King suspect but not the worst Yet with a sword he sought to make them smart But hauing scap'd the first brunt of his rage With teares of Crocodiles they so lamented As they his indignation did asswage Whil'st in appearance onlie they repented They came to Artabazus honest man Who iudg'd of others by his vpright minde And could not or through bountie would not scan What they with craft and malice had desing'd Chor. A sinceare minde is euer least suspitious They think all faulty who themselues are vitious Nun. They vrg'd him with the King to interceede That in his fauour he would giue them place With promise that by some notorious deede Of armes they would seeke to deserue his grace He in their fauour first enform'd the King The battell would beare witnesse of their truth Then both before his maiesty did bring Who was by their submission moou'd to ruth Their hands streatchd vp to heau'n hūbled knees Their teares like those the Crocodiles doe shed Woe in their face and pitty in their eyes Did for compassion and for mercie plead The king of nature milde prompt to receiue them While they dissembledly were thus complaning Not onelie of his lenitie forgaue them But wept in earnest too while they were faining Then as he vs'd his danger now not feeling He mounted to his Coach they came behinde With a submissiue voyce most humbly kneeling To him whom shortly they were bent to binde The Graecian Captaine follow'd them with speede Who being cal'd and ask'd what he desir'd Sollicited the King to take good heede Of those that had against his life conspir'd He tolde him
no stead Their Arches Tombes Piramides hie And Statues are but vanitie They die and yet would liue in what is dead And while they liue we see their glorious actions Oft wrested to the worst and all their life Is but a stage of endlesse toile and strife Of tumults vprores mutinies and factions They rise with feare and lie with danger downe There is no burthen weightier then a Crowne And as Ambition Princes vndermines So doth it those that vnder them rule all We see in how short time they rise and fall How oft their light eclips'd but dimlie shines They studie by all shifts and slights to moue Their Prince of their deserts t' account And when they by his fauour mount O what a danger is' t to be aboue For straight expos'd to hatred and despight With all their skill they cannot march so euen But some opprobrious scandall will be giuen For all men enuy those that haue most might And if the King dislike them once then straight The wretched Courtiers fal with their own waight Some of a poorer Spirite who would be prais'd And yet haue not wherefore to be esteem'd What they are not indeede would faine be deemd And indirectly labour to be rais'd This crue each publike place of honour haunts And changing garments euery day While they woulde hyde doe but bewray With outward ornaments their inward wants And men of better iudgement iustly loth Those who in outwarde showes place all their care And deck their bodies while their mindes are bare Like to a shaddow or a painted cloth The multitude who but th' apparrell notes Doth homage not to them but to their cotes Yet Princes must be seru'd and with all sorts Some both to doe and counsell what is best Some serue for Ciphers to set out the rest Like liue lesse pictures that adorne the ports Faire pallaces replenish'd are with feares Those seeming pleasures are but snares The Royall Robe doth couer cares Th' Assyrian dye deere buyth he that it beares Those dainty delicates and far fetch'd foode Oft through suspition sauour out of season Embrodered beds and tapesteries hatche treason The golden goblets mingled are with blood Such glorious gorgeous showes do serue for nought All cannot calme the tempest of the thought O happy he who far from fame at home Doth sit securely by a quiet fire Who hath not much and doth not much desire Nor curious is to learne who goe or come For satisfied with what his father left His minde he measures by his store And is not pyn'd to gape for more Nor eates ought that iniquity hath reft He hath his little cleanly and in peace And lookes not with suspitious eye No poyson comes in Cups of tree No treason harbours in so poore a place No troublous dreame doth interrupt his sleepe A quiet conscience doth his cottage keepe He doth not study oft what stormes may blow His pouerty cannot be much impair'd He feares no forraine force and craues no guarde None coueteth his spoile none lookes so low Where as the great are commonly once crost As Darius hath beene in his flowre Or Sisigambis at this houre Who hath scap'd long and now at length is lost But how commes this that Potentates oft fall Forc'd to confesse th' afflictions of their soule There is some hier pow'r that can controule The Monarches of the earth and censure all Who once will call their doings to accompt Their pride repressing who t' oppresse were prompt W. A. Finis THE ALEXANDRAEAN TRAGEDIE By William Alexander Gentleman of the Princes priuie Chamber Carmine dij superi placantur carmine manes LONDON Printed by VALENTINE SIMMES for ED BLOVNT 1607. The Argument WHen Alexander the great after all his Conquests shining through the glory of innumerable victories was returned backe to Babylon where the Ambassadours of the whole worlde did attend his comming as one that was destinied to domineere ouer all there being admired by the Grecians adored by the Barbarians and as it were drunken with the delights of an extraordinary prosperitie hee suffered himself to be transported with an inundation of pleasure till sitting at one of his feasts by the meanes of the sonnes of Antipater his cup-bearers in the best both of his age and fortune he was suddenly poisoned Incontinent after his death those that were in great estimation with himselfe during his life and then with the armie assembled themselues together neglecting for a long time his funeralls whilst busied about the disposing of his Empire at last after diuers opinions it was concluded that if Roxane the widdow of their deceased soueraigne who was then at the point to bee deliuered of her birth happened to beare a sonne hee should succeed in his fathers place and till he were come to some maturitie of age Perdiccas Leonatus Craterus and Antipater were appointed to bee his Tutors But the foote-men in a disdaine that their aduice was not required proclaimed Arideus Alexanders baslard brother king and gaue him a guard of which Meleager procured himselfe to be made Captaine At this sodaine alteration the horsemen being troubled they following Perdiccas pitched their campe without the citie yet in the end this tumult being by the eloquence of Perdiccas appeased all the captaines re-assembled themselues and hauing diuided the prouinces made an agreement which lasted not long For such was the vehement ambition of those great men that with all manner of hostilitie they studied how to vndermine one another and first of all Meleager after a pretended reconciliation though hauing fled to a Temple for refuge was slaine by the appointment of Perdiccas who after aspiring to a superioritie ouer the rest whilst he went to warre against Ptolomie in Aegypt by a sudden mutinie of his owne souldiers was miserably murdered Then the onely captaine of his faction that remained aliue was Eumenes a man singularly valorous who encountering with Craterus and Neoptolemus by the death of themselues defeated their armie whereby being highly aduanced he was greatly enuied and Leonatus hauing lately before dyed in a conflict betwixt him and the Athenians Antigonus in the name of the rest was sent against him with a great armie betwixt whom there hauing passed diuers skirmishes with a variable successe and some priuate conference without agreement In the end he was betrayed by his owne souldiers and deliuered bound to Antigonus who shortly after caused him to be put to death Then Antigonus his riuals in the authoritie being remoued out of his way did aspire to that himselfe from which he was sent to seclude others and hauing murdered diuers of the gouernors hee disposed of their Prouinces as hee pleased whereof Cassander Ptolomie and Lisimachus aduertised by Seleucus who fled for feare of incrring the like danger they entred all together in a league against Antigonus Now at this time Olimpias plagued all the faction of Cassander in Macedonie hauing caused Arideus and his Queene Euridice to be put to death by which and other
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
wil that once was held so deere When that great Monark march'd t' encounter death Whist all his captaines were assembled there And did demand whilst he might vse his breath Whom he himselfe adopted for his heire Then that such doubtfull questions should not need As louing valour more then his owne race He that t' a braue man braue men might succeed Said let the worthiest haue the worthiest place Nor did he speake this in a secret part With Sphinx his phrase a greater doubt t' haue moou'd As breathing thoughts in each ambitious hart To haue his worth in Vulcans furnace proou'd For whilst ye hedg'd the fatall bed about With an vnpartiall care distracted long Then he amongst you all did chuse one out That for so great a burthen seem'd most strong He to Perdiccas did present the ring That vs'd to seale the secrets of the state By which it seemd that he design'd him king Ad so would seize him of the highest seate Thus made this worthy man a worthy choice That no new troubles might the state deforme And all the world now iustly may reioyce That thus preuented was a'mpetuous storme For if this had not been his latest will Ye Mars his Minions should haue liu'd at iarre Whilst emulation amongst equals still Had made the trumpet sound t'intestine warres What huge disorders threatned to burst forth If that our soueraigne had no prince designd That oft hath been a witnesse of our worth And can weigh vertue in a vertuous mind I see consenting signes applaud my speach Rise do Perdicas that which they decree Whilst modestie doth maiestie impeach Though thou crau'st not this crowne this crowne craues thee Meleag. I wonder not though thus Perdicas shrinke T' accept so mighty a charge amidst th' alarmes The Sunne must make Nictimine to winke This Scepter weighes too much for so weake armes The Gods will neuer grant nor men agree That such a one should domineer ouer vs. Though vulgar minds might yeeld his thrales to be Those that his betters are scorne to how thus He prayes vs all Roxanaes birth t' attend Which though it came to passe as some expect He can exchange or cause be brought t'â—n end As bent t' allow all meanes when one effect Thus would he temporize though t' our great scorne Till time assist t' accomplish his designes No kings Perdicas likes but babes vnborne He labours well in vndiscouered mines I need not now insist to tell at large What braue men be amids this martiall band That better do deserue so great a charge Both for their skill and courage to command Yet are the best not worthy to succeede To that rare man that neuer can be match'd Whose memorie must make our mindes to bleed Whose aduersar's for this advantage watch'd But if that great man did consent so soone That our obedience should be thus abus'd Of all that euer he desird t' haue done I thinke this onely ought to be refusd Th' vndanted band whose worth the worlde oft prou'd Then whilst their glorie shin'd through siluer shields By all that monarches merits not being mou'd As conquer'd would haue left the conquer'd fields And if that they contemn'd a princes throne To whom his auncestors their scepter brought What reuerence would they beare to such a one That all this time was as their equall thought To those that ouer their equalles raise their state Aduancement enuie breeds and enuie hate If such with all would rest familiar still This in contempt th' authoritie it brings And if they second not their subiects will Men cannot beare with them as with borne kings Our loftie bands some lofty minde must tame Whose princely birth doth procreate regard Whose countrie may confound each sland'rous claime As one with whom none els can be compar'd Ther 's Alexanders brother Philips sonne That alwayes was a partner of our paine Can there be any else below the sunne Ouer Macedonians that deserues to raigne And I must wonder what so strange offence Hath forfeited his title maim'd his right That any now with a disguis'd pretence Dare wrong him thus euen in his peoples sight Ptol. None needs to wonder much thogh we negle One whose election might procure our shame His mothers basenes Iustice might obiect Whom bastardie secludes from such a claime But yet had nature purg'd the spot she made We with his birth the better might comport Whilst father-like in all affaires he had Giuen proofe of parts that might the state support He falsifies his race of wit so weake That all his inward wants are soone perceiud All of his iudgement in derision speake By which great things can hardly be conceiud And though his body might from paines be sparde Whose constitution is not very strong But with infirmities so farre impairde That it aline cannot continue long Yet since in state he neuer hath bin schoold His ignorance would racke him still with feares Whiles he that rulde still needing to be rulde Spake but with others tongues heard with their eares A inconstant king great confusion makes Whom all mistrust and most amidst a Campe Whilst soft like waxe he each impression takes And doth for friuolous things still change the stampe Ah should our liues depend vpon his breath That of himselfe cannot discerne a crime But doomes by informations men to death Then barren pittie yeilds when out of time Thus whilst some alwayes must his iudgement sway That still doth harbour in anothers head Of Sicophants this prince may be the prey That where they list thauthoritie will leade And being but base that they may be the best Such still will toyle that we may be ore-throwne And some-time may the credulous king suggest To taint our fame lest it obscure their owne What griefe were this tvs whilst such as those Might make their vantage of th all-powrefull breath And that our actions ballancd by our foes Were guerdond with disdaine or else with death Me. Since priuat hopes your iudgement do bewitch I le leaue this counsell where no good can please Come follow me all those that would be rich Few haue regarde poore souldiers of your ease Perd. That shall prooue best which first I went about Thogh some wold wrest my words from what I thought The malice of Meleager now bursts out Like flaming fires that burne themselues to nought Thus naughtie minds that neuer dreame but ill Do conster euery thing t' a crooked sence What I proposde t' aduance our countrey still He would interpret it as an offence And this vnreuerent parting hence of his Hath t'a1l his former wrongs yet added one By his seditious words incens'd ere this The souldiers arc to sacke the treasures gone Ant. Then let vs all of one accord conclude That Alexanders hop'd for race must raigne So shall w'establish still th' annointed blood Whose gouernement both glorie gaue and gaine And let vs now before we part appoynt Who gouerne shall till that the Babe be borne And circumspectly put
were common'd Whose partiall grudge occasion'd their exile Lest th 'others restitution should haue prou'd A meanes t' haue brought their state t' a lower stile And th' indignation that they had conceiu'd Did burst out in rebellion for a time The which the king deepe in his minde engrau'd And thought by Athens spoyles t' avenge that cryme But since that death ministred them reliefe Grown bold to prosecute their prowde attempt To Athenians and the Aetolians were the chiefe That brought Antipater first in contempt And being by them constrain'd to quit the field He in a little towne enclos'd at last Was once reduc'd in dangers neere to yield And staine the glory of his actions past But yet by accident as whiles it falles It 's better to be fortunate then wise An vnsuspected shaft throwne from the walles Th' Athenian captaine happened to surprise Then did Antipater his courage reare That had almost his staggering hopes betraid And yet not altogether free'd from feare He sent to Leonatus seeking aid And he that seem'd his friendship much t' affect Did carefull of his countrie-men appeare But if he had preuail'd some do suspect Antipater had bought his succours deere Yet by th' effect his purpose bent to shew What euer that he was he seem'd a friend But when th' Athenians did his comming know T' encounter him they did directly tend And though their thoughts in depths of doubts did fleete They whilst alone to match him thought it best Then whilst they march'd aduentrous troupes to meete Hard was the welcome of th' vnwelcome guest For when both th' armies were t' a battle brought And all the fruits of valour did afford Rash Leonatus like a Lyon fought Bent to proue worthy of his wonted Lord. But whist he brauely did his charge acquite He lost himselfe that others came to saue And by their Captaines fall discourag'd quite His scatred troupes great domage did receiue Yet when the newes to Antipater were told Of their mishap that come for his releife He not one signe of sorrow did vnfold A little gaine doth mitigate great griefe For he did know though then his foes preuail'd That this great fight infeebled had their hoste And then he tooke to him which much auai'ld Those beaten bandes that had their Captaine lost Yet that in which he did most comfort finde Was his deliuerie from a secret foe Which did with ielousie torment his minde Though outwardly not seeming to be so Perd. Thus we that vnderneath one ensigne warrd Slept in one tent and all one fortune prou'd And with a friendship then that neuer iarrd As Pilades and mad Orestes lou'd Since wanting now a Lord. that all be Lords We loe renounce all kind of kindnesse now And secret rancor budding in discords Euen euery one doth th 'others ruine vow Such is the sacred famine of a crowne That it to satisfie before we faile What stands within our way all must go downe And bands of blood or friendship nought auaile These glory-rauish'd soules that would be great Will pretermit no meanes although vniust 〈…〉 of copartners in the state 〈…〉 there can be no trust 〈…〉 Well I perceiue Antipater doth tend 〈…〉 powre t' attaine that sacred prey 〈…〉 of late augmented now in th' end Through euery danger once may make a way And Alexander sometimes spake at large Then whilst Antipater with Agis striu'd That he without the limits of his charge More like a king than a Lieutenant liu'd Antiâ—onus and Ptholomie in armes Are ioy'nd in one our ruine bent to breed I feare that friendship procreate our harmes Vnlesse their spight preuented be with speed Perd. I le lodge you now Eumenes in my brest And let you see the ground of my designes Since that we both alike must toyle or rest As those whose course one planet now confines Since at his death I by our dying Lord Was in his place appointed to succeed And that my fortune doth a meanes afford How that I compasse may what he decreed To leaue that place I cannot well agree As if I wanted courage to command I le take that which the fates do throw on me For if without a throne I cannot stand And those that would performe difficult things Must not regard what way so they preuaile Of sleight then force a greater furtherance brings The Fox must helpe if that the Lyon faile So for Antipater a snare t' haue layd His daughter I in marriage did require That so the time might but haue bin delayd Till that I had accomplisht my desire For with the shadow of pretended loue And hope of that affinitie to come I from his bounds was minded to remoue A warrelike troupe wherewith himselfe t' orecome But to deceiue deceiuers t' is most hard He quickly did mistrust th' intended wrong And from my messengers his eares he barr'd As did Vlisses from the Sirens song Eum. This to your state I think might much import If to your selfe you chose a vertuous mate Whose beauty pleasure birth might bring support And both concurre in one to blesse your state If you to make your high designes more sure By Hymens meanes with some your selfe alie Thus of some Prince you may the powre procure That wil conioynd with you one fortune trie What griefe were this if you haue hap t' attaine That faire Idea which your fancies frame If after you of yours none doe remaine That may enioy your conquests and your name Kings liue most sure that of their owne haue heires Whose sacred persons none dare seeke to wound Since though they die yet there rest some of theirs That are t' auenge their death by nature bound Pe. Noght rests vntride that might inlarge my might I minde to match my selfe with such a one That if she haue my powre to proue her right May be thought worthy of th' Aemathian throne I with Olympias haue deuisde a thing That may assure her state and make mine strong The which I hope shall prooue a prosprous spring From whence may flow great things ere it belong By Cleopatra may a meanes be catch'd That our designes t' a glorious end may bring I meane she whom hir father Philip match'd With Alexander of th' Epirots King He hauing heard great Alexanders fame In emulation of that monarkes praise Went with his troupes th' Etrurians bent to tame Which enterprise did but abridge his dayes In marriage with that widdow'd Queene combinde If that her mother thus our course assist Whilst I effect that which I haue design'd Who dare presume my purpose to resist For whilst this friendship doth my name renowne It may my thoughts from further feare seclude Since hauing thus a title to the Crowne As one engraffde within the royall blood Eum. I feare that this your purpose to preuent A number now take armes all in one forme As those that haue discouerd your intent And by the lowring cloudes foreknow a storme For loe how many else together runne That for our ruine
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
accord That there can be a greater man than I While as I haue a heart a hand a sword An. Loe when prosperitie too much preuailes Aboue the iudgement thus of vulgar mindes As little barges burdend with great sailes They leape aloft being swolne with fortunes windes And as aduersitie the sprite refines From out the drosse of pride and passions base That vertue in affliction cleerest shines And makes one all the waies of wit to trace So good successe doth make the iudgement die Then whilst the fortunate their ease doe take And lulld asleepe in Pleasures meadowes lie As fatted for the slaughter ripe to shake Yet this the nature is of gallant men To rest being in no state too much inuolu'd When prospring best most warie and humble then If crossd then more couragious and resolu'd What though your first attempts renowned are By which you in two fields victorious stoode And did orethrow two thunderbolts of warre That lost their liues amidst a scarlet flood Yet is that course of victorie controlde And you haue tride what force your force exceedes Then let not wither'd Laurels make you bolde As still reposing on your by-past deedes For by the same t'an indignation mou'd The Macedonians all abhorre your name That at that time so prowde a conquerour prou'd And with their great mens slaughter wing'd your fame Eum. No fortune past so puffes vp my conceit That it contempt of further danger brings Nor am I so deiected now of late But I intend to doe farre greater things He by prosperitie made neuer prowde That knowes the frailtie of this earthly frame Can hardly by aduersitie be bowd The Sunne although eclipsd remaines the same Thinke not that worth consists in the successe As th' essence did on th' accidents depend The fault of fortune makes it not the lesse On which oft-times the hardest happes attend For Fortune beares not still the badge of worth Nor miserie the signes of gallant mindes Which yet still like themselues are sparkeling forth In euery state some tokens of their kindes Now at this time o're-match'd by numbrous powres I kept my courage though I lost the field And vaunt no more of it for some few howres May once to me the like aduantage yeelde And it 's not long since that to Fortune deere The world had neuer me but victor spide Though I protest before th'immortalls heere Moou'd by Necessitie and not by Pride Prowd Neopolemus that traitor still Not worthy of a Macedonians name Bent to betray the hoste and me to kill Had labord long to his eternall shame But of Craterus I lament the fall Whom for his vertue I did deerely loue And was constrain'd I Ioue to witnes call For my defence that last refuge to proue Ant. How fortun'd you your forces to dispose So well t' auoyd that storme of threatned harmes For then you had to deale with mightie foes That were in warre growne hoarie vnder armes Eum. When faithlesse Neoptolemus did spie That all his treason was t' our knowledge brought To th' enemies camp he sodainely did flie A foolish traitor that was false for nought There he informde or mis-informde my foes That haughtie through my victories of late I in my tent did carelesly repose Though not by force yet to b' orecomd by fate And further then t' Antipater he told That if the Macedonians at that time The countnance of Craterus might beholde They willingly would yeelde themselues to him Now they had labord earnestly before That I abandon would Perdiccas part And did protest that they would giue me more Than yet I had or hop'd for in my hart But Loue borne free cannot be thrald nor bought More than a shamefull peace I likde iust strife To generous mindes more deere than honour nought And ere I leaue my faith I le lose my life Thus being despair'd that I would proue their friend They sought in time t' orethrow me as their foe Where loue could not beginne that hate might end And came in haste bent to surprise me so But I that knew Neoptolemus-his slight Did him against the Macedonians bend And to conceale Craterus from their sight T' encounter him causde troupes of strangers tend This policie which none could iustly blame I with my selfe in secret did conspire And had my shirt bin priuie to the same It should haue bin an offring to the fire When once that the first game of death was past I Neoptolemus did toile to finde And he me too which happned at the last Two will do much to meet being of one minde Then whilst we met for whom both th' armies warr'd Whose fortune then depended on our hands All was performd that force or furie dar'd Bent by reuenge t' abate each th 'others bands And yet the heauens would not betray my trust Foule treason neuer had a fairer end The gods smilde on my cause because t' was iust And did destruction to the traitor send For forcde by him whose force he did despise Though fighting fiercely long he lost his breath As one more strong than true more stowt than wise Whose greatest honour was his honest death But weakned with huge woundes almost I diu'd In seas of blood being quite from knowledge straide Yet by so great a victorie reuiu'd My courage grew more than my strength decaid I hauing finisht thus this fatall strife Came where Craterus nere his course had runne Euen in the confines placde twixt death and life Whilst th' one was gone and th' other not begunne He with great valour had resisted long As all Briareus hands had moou'd his sword And did his Maisters memorie no wrong Being with his courage not his fortune stor'd What life refusde t' obtaine by death he sought For life and death are but indifferent things And of themselues not to be shund nor sought But for the good or th' euill that either brings With endlesse glorie bent t' exchange his breath Of desprate valour all the powre was prou'd And for great Captaines no more glorious death Then to die fighting with a minde vnmou'd When this daies toiles were drawne vnto an end Whilst th' armies courage with their captaine fell That I might safely shew my selfe a friend I went where death his senses did cancell And whilst I told how both to be betraid By Neoptolemus were brought about My woe with teares I to the world bewraid Milde pittie and true kindnes must burst out Ah if the newes of this my good successe Had comd in time vnto Perdiccas eares He might haue liu'd their pride now to represse That by his fall were first deuorcde from feares Ant. The humour of that man was too well knowne Could he haue parted other men from pride That was becomd a slaue vnto his owne And for the same forcde by his followers dide Eu. The prowd must stil be plagu'd by prowder ones There must be had sharp steele to smoothe rough stones An. No vice than pride doth greater hate procure Which foes doe
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
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
th' enemies that would yeeld And them to rents and dignities restord Then when th' Aegyptians so t' obtaine reliefe Brought to his sight pale Pompeys bloodlesse head He testified with teares his inward griefe And gracde his statues after he was dead Those his proceedings might appeare t' approue That he against his will maintain'd this warre And to his countrie beares a tender loue That could comport to reine his rage so farre Cic. Those counterfeited fauors which he shew According to ones custome that aspires Were spent on many as the world might view T' insinuate himselfe in their desires But where he thus spar'd some he spoild ' whole hosts And the Barbarians all to Rome not wrought Such harme as he that of his goodnes boasts Yet her best men hath to confusion brought The great man that of no mishap could pause But still preuaild whilst warring without right Armd for the common weale in a good cause With Caesar did vnfortunately fight From Lesbos fled with his afflicted wife Three base-born grooms can fortune change so soone Stoode to consult vpon great Pompeys life And did what thousands durst not once haue done Then he whose knees had oft beene kissd by kings Most highly happy had he dide in time By one of his owne slaues with abiect things Had his last funeralls framde O monstrous crime T' entombe Romes greatest captaine all alone The Roman that arriu'd with reason said The fatall glory was too great for one And to haue part of that last honour staid The teares bestowd by Caesar on his head Forth from a guiltie minde remorce had throwne Or else he wept to see his enemy dead By any others hands than by his owne Then constant Cato that euen death did scorne The rare arch-tipe of an accomplisht man That liu'd as not t 'himselfe but t' all men borne Moou'd by his tyranny to ruine ranne He iustly whilst more iust himselfe more strong Then Caesar thought that for no Iustice carde And since discouering what he cloakd so long Said right that Caesar and not he was snarde Thus Caesar conquerd all but Catoes minde That would not by a tyrants tollerance breathe But in such sort his famous course confinde Than Caesars life more glorious was his death Those great men thus brought to disastrous ends The authour of their death make me despise That whilst t' vsurpe th' authoritie he tendes By treading downe all good men striues to rise Now made most great by lessening all the great He prowdly doth triumph in Rome ouer Rome And we must seeme t' applaud the present state Whose doubtfull breath depends vpon his doome Yet had I not enlargde my griefes so long To you whom Caesar doth pretend to loue Wer 't nor I know touch'd with the common wrong A iust disdaine all generous mindes must moue Dec. Had Caesar willingly resignd his armes And rendred Rome her libertie at last When as from foes he feard no further harmes But had repaird his iust displeasures past More then for all the loue that 's shewd to me He should haue had an Altar in my breast As worthy for his vertuous decdes to be Feard by the bad and honourd by the best But since though conq'ring all the world by might He to himselfe a slaue would make Rome thrall His benefits are loathsome in my sight And I am grieu'd that he deserues to fall My fancies moue not in so lowe a spheare But I disdaine that one ouer Rome impires Yet it is best that with the time we beare And with our powre proportion our desires Though I dissembled first your minde to trie And tolde what Fame to Caesars praise relates Yet was I pleasde that moe were grieu'd than I All mis-contented men are glad of mates Cic. Since tyrannie all libertie exiles We must our selues no more our selues disguise Then learne to maske a mourning minde with smiles And seeme t' extoll that which we most despise Yet all our deedes not Caesars humor please That since mistrusted once esteemes vs still When dumbe disdaineful flatterers when we praise If plaine presumptuous and in all things ill Yea we whose freedome Caesar now restraines As his attenders all his steppes must trace And know yet not acknowledge his disdaines But still pretend t' haue interest in his grace Though all my thoughts detest him as a foe To honour him a thousand meanes I moue Yet But to saue my selfe and plague him so No hate more harmes than it that lookes like loue His pride that through prepostrous honour swels Hath by the better sort made him abhorrd The gods are iealous and men enuious els To see a mortall man so much adord Dec. Well Cicero let all meanes be entertaind That may imbarke vs in his bosomes depths Till either willingly or then constrain'd He iustly quite what he vniustly keepes Exeunt Chorus This life of ours is like a Rose Which whilst it beauties rare array Doth then enioy the least repose When virgin-like it blush we see Then is' t euery hand the prey And by each wind is blowne away Yea though from violence scap'd free Whilst time triumphs it leads all thralles Yet doth it languish and decay O Whilst the courage hottest boiles And that our life seemes best to be It is with dangers compast still Whilst it each little change appalles The body force without whiles foiles It th' owne distemprature whiles spoiles Of which though none it chance to kill As nature failes the bodie falles Of which saue death nought bounds the toyles What is this moouing tower in which we trust A little winde closd in a cloud of dust And yet some spirits though here being pent In this fraile prisons narrow bounds With what might suffice not content Do alwayes bend their thoughts too hie And aime at all the peopled grounds Then whilst their breasts ambition wounds Though feeding as bent straight to die They build as they might alwayes liue Being famishd for fames empie sounds Of such no end the trauels ends But a beginning giues whereby They may b' imbroild worse then before For whilst they still new hopes contriue Th' exspected good more anguish sends Then the possessde contentment lends Like beasts that taste not but deuoure They swallow much and for more striue Whilst still their hope new hap attends And how can sueh but still themselues annoy That know to conquere but not how t' enioy Since as a ship amidst the depthes Or as an Eagle through the aire Of which their way no impression keepes Most swift when seeming least to moue This breath of which we take such care Doth tosse the bodie euery where That it may hence with haste remoue Life slippes and sleepes alwayes away Then whence and as it came goes bare Whose steps behinde no trace doth leaue Why should heauen-banish'd soules thus loue The cause and bounds of their exile Where they as restlesse strangers stray And with such pain why should they reaue That which they haue
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