who look most milde Impiety sometime appeares devout And that the world the more may be beguil'd Even vice can cloath it selfe with vertues cote Though it would seem all hatred now laid downe They on your favour onely should depend Yet no respect can counterpoise a Crowne Ambition hath no bounds nor Greed no end Mov'd by vindictive hate or emulous pride Since some your person some your place pursue All threatned dangers to prevent provide And use for safety what to State is due Caes No armour is that can hold treason out Cal. To fright your foes with bands be back'd about Caes So dastard tyrants strive themselves to beare Cal. It better is to give then to take feare Caes No guard more strong then is the peoples love Cal. But nought in th' earth doth more inconstant prove Caes Guards shewing feare to charge me men might tempt Cal. Guards would put them from hope you from contempt Caes My brest from terrour hath been alwaies cleare Cal. When one least feares oft danger lurks most neare Caes I rather dye then feare at last life goes Cal. Yet death must grieve when forc'd by vaunting foes Caes I will not crosse my present pleasures so By apprehending what may chance to come This world affords but too much cause for woe And sorrowes still must harbour'd be by some By joyes in time we must embrace reliefe That when they end we in some measure may By their remembrance mitigate the griefe Which still attends all those on th' earth that stay I thinke the Senate is assembled now And for my comming doth begin to gaze Let me condignely once adorne my brow And feast mine eares by drinking in due praise Cal. Stay stay deare Lord retire thy steps againe And spare a space to prorogate whole yeares Let not this ominous day begin thy raigne WHich fatall and unfortunate appeares An Astrologian through the world renown'd Thy horoscopes just calculation layes And doth affirme as he by signes hath found That Marches Ides doe bragge to bound thy dayes Walke not abroad where harmes may be receiv'd By great necessity since no way forc'd For though his judgement may be farre deceiv'd In things that touch thy life suspect the worst Caes Whilst I reform'd the Calendar by fits Which did confound the order of the yeare I waded through the depths of all their wits Who of the starres the mysteries would cleare Those pregnant sprites who walke betwixt the Poles And lodge at all the Zodiackes severall signes Doe reade strange wonders wrapt in th' azure scroules Of which our deeds are words our lives are lines By speculation of superiour pow'rs Some Natures secrets curious are to know As how celestiall bodies rule o're ours And what their influence doth worke below Yea they sometime may brave conjectures make Of those whose parts they by their birth doe prove Since naturally all inclination take From Planets then predominant above And yet no certainty can so be had Some vertuously against their Starres have striv'd As Socrates who grew though borne but bad The most accomplish'd man that ever liv'd But of the houre ordain'd to close our lights No earth-clog'd soule can to the knowledge come For O! the destinies farre from our sights In clouds of darknesse have involv'd our doome And some but onely guesse at great mens falls By bearded Comets and prodigious Starres Whose sight-distracting shape the world appalls As still denouncing terrour death or warres The time uncertaine is of certaine death And that fantasticke man farre past his bounds With doubt and reverence they should manage breath Who will divine upon conjectur'd grounds Cal. But this all day hath prey'd upon my heart And from the same of cares a tribute claim'd Doe not despise that which I must impart Though but a dreame and by a woman dream'd I thought alas the thought yet wounds my breast Then whilst we both as those whom Morpheus weds Lay softly buried with a pleasant rest I in thy bosome thou within the beds Then from my soule strange terrours did with-draw Th' expected peace by apprehended harmes For I imagin'd no no doubt I saw And did embrace thee bloudy in mine armes Thus whilst my soule by sorrowes was surcharg'd Of which huge weight it yet some burden beares I big with griefe two Elements enlarg'd Th' ayre with my sighes the water with my teares Caes That which I heard with thy report accords Whilst thou all seem'd dissolv'd in griefe at once A heavy murmuring made with mangled words Was interrupted oft by tragicke grones The memory but not the judgement frames Those raving fancies which disturbe the braine Whilst night dissolves all dayes designes in dreames The senses sleeping soules would stirre in vaine From superstitious feares this care proceeds Which still would watch o're that which thou dost love And in thy minde thus melancholy breeds Which doth those strange imaginations move Cal. Ah in so light account leave off to hold Those fatall warnings which our mindes should leade To search darke matters till we may unfold What dangers huge doe hang above thy head With sacred Garlands he who things divines By th' intrails of the consecrated beast Doth in the offring see sinistrous signes And I entreat thee doe not hence make haste Caes When I in Spaine against yong Pompey went Thus the diviner threatned me before Yet did I prosecute my first intent Which with new lawrels did my browes decore Cal. And yet you hardly there as I doe heare From danger farre engag'd redeemâ—d your life But tokens now more monstrous doe appeare And I suspect farre worse then open strife Caes Lest I too much seeme wedded to my will As others counsels scorning to allow With jealous eyes I 'le search about me still And even mistrust my selfe to trust thee now Yet if I stay the Senators deceiv'd May my beginning straight begin to hate So might I perish seeking to be sav'd By flying it some fall upon their fate But here one comes who can resolve me much With whom I use to weigh affaires of weight Whence com'st thou Decius that thy haste is such Is ought occurr'd that craves our knowledge straight Dec. I come to tell you how the Senate stayes Till that your presence blesse their longing fight And to conclude what is propos'd delayes Since your applause can onely make it right They your contentment to procure intend And all their thoughts seeme at one object bent Save that amongst themselves they doe contend Who you to please shall rarest wayes invent Caes Then that no treasure to my soule more deare Which to enjoy from hence I long to part But yet I know not what arrests me here And makes my feet rebellious to my heart From thee deare friend I never doe conceale The weightiest secrets that concerne me most And at this time I likewise must reveale How â—â—avens by signes me with destruction boast To superstition though not earst inclin'd My wife by dreames doth now
RECREATIONS VVITH THE MVSES By WILLIAM Earle of STERLINE LONDON Printed by THO. HARPER 1637. A Table of the severall Poems contained in the ensuing Volume FOure Monarchicke Tragedies Doomes-day or the great day of the Lords judgement in twelve houres A Paraenesis to Prince Henry Ionathan An heroicke Poeme intended The first Booke To his Sacred Majestie DIsdaine not mighty Prince those humble lines Though too meane Musicke for so dainty eares Since with thy greatnesse learnings glory shines So that thy brow a two-fold Lawrell beares To thee the Muses Phoebus now resignes And Vertues hight eternall trophees reares As Orpheus Harpe heavens may enstall thy pen A liberall light to guide the mindes of Men. Although my wit be weake my Vowes are strong Which consecrate devoutly to thy name My Muses labours which ere it be long May graft some feathers in the wings of fame And with the subject to conforme my song May in more lofty lines thy worth proclame With gorgeous colours courting glories light Till circling Seas doe bound her ventrous flight Ere thou wast borne and since heaven thee endeeres Held backe as best to grace these last worst Times The World long'd for thy birth three hundreth yeeres Since first fore-told wrapt in Propheticke rimes His love to thee the Lords deliveries cleeres From Sea from Sword from Fire from Chance from Crimes And that to him thou onely might be bound Thy selfe was still the meanes foes to confound I doe not doubt but Albions warlike coast still kept unconquer'd by the heavens decree The Picts expell'd the Danes repell'd did boast In spite of all Romes power a state still free As that which was ordain'd though long time crost In this Herculean birth to bring forth thee Whom many a famous Sceptred Parent brings From an undaunted race to doe great things Of this divided Ile the Nurslings brave Earst from intestine warres could not desist Yet did in forraine fields their names engrave Whilst whom one spoil'd the other would assist Those now made one whilst such a head they have What world of words were able to resist Thus hath thy worth great IAMES conjoyn'd them now Whom battels oft did breake but never bow And so most justly thy renowned deeds Doe raise thy fame above the starry round Which in world a glad amazement breeds To see the vertues as they merit crown'd Whilst thou great Monarch who in power exceeds With vertuous goodnesse do st vast greatnesse bound Where if thou lik'dst to be more great then good Thou might'st soone build a Monarchie with bloud O! this faire world without the world no doubt Which Neptune strongly guards with liquid bands As aptest so to rule the Realmes about She by her selfe as most Majesticke stands Thence the worlds Mistris to give judgement out With full authority for other Lands Which on the Seas would gaze attending still By wind-wing'd Messengers their Soveraignes will The Southerne Regions did all Realmes surpasse And were the first which sent great Armies forth Yet Soveraignty that there first founded was Still by degrees hath drawne unto the North To this great Climate which it could not passe The fat all period bounding all true worth For it cannot from hence a passage finde By roring Rampiers still with us confinde As Waters which a masse of earth restraines If they be swelling high begin to vent Doe rage disdainefully over all the plaines As with strict borders scorning to be pent Even so this masse of earth that thus remaynes Wall'd in with waves if to burst out when beâ—t The bounding flouds o're-flow'd it rush forth then That deluge would o're-run the world with men Then since great Prince the torrent of thy power May drowne whole Nations in a Scarlet floud On Infidels thy indignation powre And bathe not Christian bounds with Christian bloud The Tyrant Ottoman who would devoure All the redeemed souls may be withstood While as thy troups great Albions Emperour once Do comfort Christs afflicted flock which moanes Thy thundring troups might take the stately rounds Of Constantines great Towne renown'd in vaine And barre the barbarous Turks the baptiz'd bounds Reconquering Godfreys conquests once againe O well spent labours O illustrious wounds Whose trophees should eternall glory gaine And make the Lyon to be fear'd farre more Then ever was the Eagle of before But O thrice happy thou that of thy Throne The boundlesse power for such an use controuls Which if some might command to raigne alone Of all their life they would be-bloud the scrouls And to content the haughtie thoughts of one Would sacrifize a thousand thousand souls Which thou do'st spare though having sprite and might To challenge all the world as thine owne right Then unto whom more justly could I give Those famous ruines of extended states Which did the world of libertie deprive By force or fraud to reare Tyrannick seats Then unto thee who may and will not live Like those proud Monarchs borne to stormy fates But whil'st frank-sprited Prince thou this wouldst flee Crowns come unsought and Scepters seek to thee Vnto the Ocean of thy worth I send Those runnels rising from a rash attempt Not that I to augment that depth pretend Which heavens from all necessitie exempt The Gods small gifts of zealous mindes commend While Hecatombes are holden in contempt So Sir I offer at your vertues shrine This little incense or this smoke of mine To the Author of the Monarchicke TRAGEDIES WEll may the programme of thy Tragicke stage Invite the curious pompe-expecting eyes To gaze on present shewes of passed age Which just desert Monarchicke dare baptize Crownes throwne from Thrones to Tombs detomb'd arise To match thy Muse with a Monarchicke theame That whilst her sacred soaring cuts the skyes A vulger subject may not wrong the same And which gives most advantage to thy fame The worthiest Monarch that the Sunne can see Doth grace thy labours with his glorious Name And daignes protector of thy birth to be Thus all Monarchicke Patron Subject stile Make thee the Monarch-tragicke of this I le S. Robert Ayton Jn praise of the Author and his Tragedy of Darius A SONNET GIve place all ye to dying Darius wounds While this great Geeek him in his throne enstals Who fell before seven-ported Thebes wals Or under Ilions old sky-threatning Rounds Your sowre-sweet voyce not halfe so sadly sounds Though I confesse most famous be your fals Slaine sacrific'd transported and made thrals Thrown headlong burnt and banish't from your bounds Whom Sophocles Euripides have song And Aeschylus in stately Tragicke tune Yet none of all hath so divinely done As matchlesse Menstrie in his native tongue Thus Darius Ghost seemes glad now to be so Triumpht on twise by Alexanders two IO. MURRAY THE ARGUMENT AT that time when the States of Greece began to grow great and Philosophie to be thought precious Solon the first light of the Athenian commonswealth like a provident Bee gathering honey over many fields learning knowledge over
current doth o'reflow my minde VVhich never dream'd that which the soule annoyes But did in all a satisfaction finde I scorne vaine shadowes of conceited feares As one whose state is built on marble grounds In all my horoscope no cloud appeares My blisse abounds my pleasures passe all bounds Aesope That Grecian Sir is at the Court arriv'd VVhole wisedome fame through all the world records Croe. And to extoll my state have you not striv'd VVhil'st bent to sooth his eares with courteous words Aesope In all the parts where he hath chanc'd to be In forrain bounds or where he first saw light He never did such stately wonders see As since this Court enriched hath his sight VVhen regall shewes had ravish'd first his eye As mountains nurslings little simple swaines VVho us'd with infant flouds them never spy Sport portative like Serpents through the Plaines When one of them first comes to view the vailes And wanton water-Nymphs there wondring sees The rarenesse of the sight so much prevailes That rillets rivers seeme the rivers Seas So all the guards that garnisht Solons way Did to his minde a great amazement bring The gallants golden statues made him stay Each Groome a Prince each Esquire seem'd a King And now he comes to gaine your long'd-for sight Whom in his minde no doubt he doth adore He gaz'd on those who held of you their light Sunne of this soile he must admire you more Now he o're all will spread your praises forth A famous witnesse of your glorious raigne The record of one wise man is more worth Then what a world of others would maintaine Solon Great Prince doe not the loving zeale reject VVhich a meane man yet a good minde affords And who perchance doth more your good affect Then those who paint their love with fairer words Croe. Thy love sage Grecian gratefull is to us Whom fame long since acquainted with thy worth So that we long long'd for thy presence thus To spy the Spring which sent such treasures forth Would God that many such would here resort Whose vertues beames would shine in every brest VVhose count'nance grave would grace so great a Court And like a Lampe give light unto the rest Solon Spare courteous King that undeserved praise I am but one who doe the world despise And would my thoughts to some perfection raise A wisedome-lover willing to be wise Yet all that I have learn'd huge toyles now past By long experience and in famous Schooles Is but to know my ignorance at last Who think themselves most wise are greatest fooles Croe. This is the nature of a noble minde It rather would be good then be so thought As if it had no ayme but fame to finde Such as the shadow not the substance sought Yet forc'd to give that which thou wilt not take The world what thou hold'st down doth raise more high That which thy face thus shunnes shines on thy back Praise followes them who what they merit flye And how I thinke on th' earth no creature lives Who better can instruct what I would learne Then thou to whom franke Nature largely gives A minde to see a judgement to discerne Solon To satisfie your suit my dutious care Shall it or then my ignorance disâ—lose Croe. Loe you have seene my pomp my treasures rare And all the strength on which my thoughts repose Solon Those be but dreams of blisse which fortune brings To breake by bending foolish mortalls mindes I saw but sencelesse heapes of melting things A waving wealth expos'd to many windes This but the body serving to decore As foolish owners it it th' owners spends Where mindes more circumspect seek better store Of wealth from danger free that never ends Croe. I wot not what you meane whil'st thus in love With fain'd Ideas of imagin'd blisse By fancies drawn such portraits doe but move Sicke braines to dreame that which indeed they misse But more I have then their conceits can show Whose rich conjectures breed but poore effects And I beseech you did you ever know A man more blest then I in all respects Solon I Tellus knew a man whom Athens lov'd Who to doe good at no occasion fail'd And in my judgement hath most happy prov'd Since while he liv'd belov'd whil'st dead bewail'd And last that he might reape all fruits of blisse His Countries beaten bands neere put to flight By him encourag'd scorn'd to be submisse Who dy'd victorious in two Armies sight More glorious now then when he was alive As he in heaven on earth his happy rest To trace his steps who led by Vertue strive Heires of his worth and honour'd by the best Croe. Since this first place a private person gaines Whose fortunes treasure in short time was told Now next in ranke who registred remaines Whose happinesse you most accomplish'd hold Solon Of Cleobis and Bitons vertuous way The prosp'rous course doth to my thoughts approch Their mother wanting on a solemne day The horses which were us'd to draw her Coach Them to supply the place love kindely rais'd Who drew her to that place of publike mirth Whil'st both of them abundantly were prais'd They for their piety she for her birth This charitable worke when brought to end Both dy'd whil'st offering incenie to the Gods Who favour'd so to draw them did intend From further danger of afflictions rods O happy mother who with true delight Of labours past such pleasant fruits enjoy'd And happy children who did thus acquite The mothers paine and dyed whil'st well imploy'd Ah ah our lives are fraile doe what we can And like the brittle glasse breake whil'st they glance Then oft the heavens to curbe the pride of man Doe inter-sowre our sweets with some sad chance Croe. Is there no place appointed then for me Or is my state so abject in thine eyes That thou do'st thinke me blest in no degree As one whose best in fortunes ballance lyes Or think'st thou me of judgement too remisse A wretch expos'd to want to scorne or paines The bastard childe of fortune barr'd from blisse VVhom heavens doe hate and all the world disdaines Are those poore creatures then to be compar'd With one who may consume such in his wrath Who as I please doe punish or reward Whose words nay ev'n whose lookes give life or death Solon Let not your judgement thus from reason shrinke To glose on that which simply comes from me They who doe freely speake no treason thinke One cannot both your friend and flatterer be To us who Grecians are the Gods doe grant A moderate measure of an humble wit So that our Country yet did never want Some whom the world for wise men did admit And yet amongst us all the greatest number Whil'st living looke not for a perfect rest Though Fortunes minions in her bosome slumber And seeme to some whom this world blindes most blest Yet ov'r all mortall states change so prevailes We alterations daily doe attend And hold this for a
the Gods Their providence as partiall would condemne Who in such sorte doe exercise their rods He thus now kill'd with life to let me goe May breed reproch to all the pow'rs divine But ah they knew no death could grieve me soe As that which through his heart was aim'd at mine Now all the world those deities may despise Which strike the guiltlesse and the guilty spare Cease haplesse man to plague thy selfe thus wise I pardon thee and pittie thy despaire Adrast. O rigorous judgement O outragious fate Must I suruive the funeralls of my fame All things which I behold vpbraide my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and none more then I my deeds detest Yet some waile want of friends and I of fâ—es To purge the world of such a dangerons pest Which still contagious must taint hearts with woes To wound this brest where all hells hosts do raigne Seiz'd with just feare none dare a hand forth stretch Else this base charge as odious doe disdaine To deale with Death in favour of a wretch Or must I yet till more detested stand And fill the world with horrour of my name What further mischiefe can require my hand Must it ingrave on others graves my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate Which in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of Heaven I 'le force my fate One when resolv'd to die cannot want meanes Proud Tyrant Death and must thou make it strange To wrap my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change Though nothing else I can command my life But this ay me all hope of helpe devowres What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted pow'rs Shee must remember of my odious crimes What though un-bodied she the world forsake Yet from her knowledge cannot be divorc'd This will but vexe her at the shadowie lake Till even to grone the God of Ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and would the Gods I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liv'd Then knowne if good and kept obscure if bad Of comfort quite I had not beene depriv'd Ah! have I liv'd unnaturall I to be My brothers murtherer who me dearely lov'd Ah! have I liv'd with my owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And doe I gaze on the dead bodie still And in his fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! have I liv'd whilst men my deeds doe scan To be the obiect of contempt and hate Of all abhorr'd as a most monstrous man Since thought a Traitouror farre worse ingrate Yet with my blood I 'le wash away this staine Which griefe to you to me disgrace hath brought Would God my name from mindes â—ight â—aâ—'d remaine To make my life as an unacted thought Brave Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted Ghost And to revenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile to gaine the Stygian coast Cho. Loe how he wounds himselfe despising paine With leaden lights weake legs and head declin'd The bodie beates the ground as in disdaine That of her members one hath prov'd unkind The fainting hand falles trembling from the Sword With his selfe slaughtering blow for shame grown red Which straight the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combat show Where both but one one both strooke and sustain'd Or who triumphs for this most strange o'rethrow Where as the victor lost the vanquish'd gain'd Croe Curs'd eyes what suddaine change hath drown'd your lights And made your mirthfull objects mournefull now Ye that were still inur'd to stately sights Since seated under an imperiall brow Ah! clouded now with vapours drawn from cares Are low throwne down amid'st a hell of griefe And have no prospect but my soules despaires Of all the furies which afflict me chiefe O dead Adrastus I absolve thy Ghost Whose hand I see some destiny did charme Thou hated by the heavens wast to thy cost A casuall actour not intending harme No doubt some angry God hath laid this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the Aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah! Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus by violence to bleede And yet want one on whom to poure my wrath To take just vengeance for so vile a deede This wretch whose guiltlesse minde hath clear'd his hand Loe for his errour griev'd unforc'd doth fall And not as one who did in danger stand For still he liv'd till I forgave him all Thus have I but the heavens on whom I may Blast forth the tempest of a troubled minde And in my soules distresse I grieve to say That greater favour I deserv'd to finde Act 4. Scene 1. Sandanis Croesus WHy spend you Sir with sighes that Princely breath Whence Soveraignty authority should take O weake revenge for one when wrong'd by death To yeeld him homage prostrated in blacke That Tyrant pale so hatefull unto us Whose fatall shaft so great a griefe hath bred Where he triumphs should you reare trophees thus And weare his livery as his captive led No though he might this outward blisse o'rethrow And you save you of all things else might spoile Yet whilst of one who yeelds no signe you show You are victorious and he gets the foile Those floods of sorrow which would drown your soule In brests more base might better be excus'd Since wanting sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subjection us'd But you in whom high thoughts by nature grow To this decay how is your vertue come I blush to see my Soveraigne brought so low And Majestie by misery o'recome Nor doe I thus to make you stupid strive As one unnaturall wanting sense to smart No none a Prince of kindnesse can deprive The honour'd badge of an Heroicke heart That pow'r supreme by which great States doe stand Affections order should but not undoe And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe Croe. I will not here rehearse enlarging woes On what just reasons now my griefe I ground But still will entertaine my comforts foes Whilst many a thousand thoughts my soule doe wound What pensive pensill ever limm'd aright The sad conceipts of soule-consuming griefe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling height Of th' inward anguish desperate of reliefe Though many monarchs jealously despise The rising Sunne that their declining staines And hate the Heyre who by their fall must rise As griev'd to heare of death or others raignes My love to Atis otherwise appear'd Whome whilst for him I did my cares engage I as a Father lov'd as king not fear'd The comfort not th' encombrance of mine age And had he me as reason would surviv'd Who glanc'd and
would recoyle And bent t' undo him we would finde a crime To you who are a Macedonian borne If match'd with Cleopatra great in pow'rs The Macedonians gladly would be sworne And if commanding them then all were yours Per. Yet this opinion partly I disprove Which would not as you thinke our troubles end For if we do from hence our force remove And to th' Aemathian bounds directly tend There must at first a doubtfull warre be prov'd With those brave bands whose valour is well known Of whom Craterus dearly is belov'd Antipater is borne and bred their owne And though indeed as kindly to those parts My friendship may affected be by some Yet those who start in time by many arts May under-myne their mindes before we come Then whil'st we trouble Macedony most And leave those Realmes unarm'd which now are ours Straight Ptolomie when strengthned is his host May like a tempest swallow Asia's pow'rs I for the time most willingly would take The course which seemes to make our state most sure A foe is dangerous when behinde ones backe Who whil'st not look'd for may our harme procure My purpose is though yet to none made knowne That Egypt first shall burden'd be with warre For if that Ptolomie were once o'rethrowne Then that from Greece all hope of help would barre Eum. Hold still with you those of the sacred bloud Whom to protect you alwayes must pretend The count'nance of the great may do much good Whom still though weake all glory to attend Exeunt Act. 3. Scene 2. Olympias Roxane LEt sorrow prove a tyrant to my soule Whose rage with reason now no measure keeps What of my teares the torrent can controull Since flowing from afflictions deepest deeps How can my breast but burst whil'st sobs rebound Since onâ—e the seat of joyes now not the same May not huge horrours presse me to the ground In thinking what I was and what I am I was a great mans wife a gâ—eaters mother Even she to whom the heavens their best did give Yet I even I more plagu'd then any other In dungeons now of desolation live My sonne who was the glory of his time Staine of times past and light of tâ—mes to come O fraile mortality O slipper â—yme Though having all o're-com'd death did o're-come And I dejected wretch whole dying eyes By Natures custome bound he should have clos'd Was not to shut his starres with th'yvory skies Which curtain'd once where Majesty repos'd But ah his falling in a forraine part Hath if ought can enlarge enlarg'd my griefe Or else on him I melted had my heart And spent my selfe to purchase his reliefe Yet though I was not present at his death He shall not be defrauded of my teares But for his funerall fires my flaming breath Shall smoak and to his Ghost a tribute beares Rox. Ah! to what corner rolls my watrie sight Where it not findes some matter to bemone O foolish eyes why lose ye not your light Since your delight is lost your object gone Once of all Queenes I might the fortune scorne To whom just love that great man did engage Whose match in worth the world hath never borne Nor never shall enrich another age When those perfections do transport my minde Which admiration doth disclose too late I curse the fates that did his judgement binde To make me partner of so high a state And I repent that to his sight I past Though highly grac'd once on a festuall day A feast which many a time must make me fast And with flow woe that flying mirth defray Then if my fortune had not blinded me But ah whose judgement had it not bereav'd Whil'st that great Monarch daign'd to like of me Of my high flight I had the fall conceiv'd Of Asia's Prince whose state did then decline He both the wife and daughters had at will Whose beauties lustre might have darkned mine Yet free from snares restrain'd his fancies still And when my father chose out from the rest Those Virgins all whom Fame affirm'd for rare Though having view'd them all he lov'd me best Then thought most fortunate if not most faire And whâ—n this match his Nobles all dismai'd That he himselfe with captives had alli'd That act he then as love had dited said Took from the vanquish'd shame from victors pride Yet me as Empresse all did entertaine Though his inferiour farre in all respects Till I from him by death divorc'd remaine Whom with his Sonne now all the world neglects Olymp. Although this will but aggravate my woe From whom the fates all comfort now seclude Yet I do tender his remembrance so That of my Sonne to heare it doth me good And daughter now to double my distresse Make me at length acquainted with his death That sorrow may each part of me possesse Sad news mine eares teares eyes and sighs my breath Rox. Though griefe to me scarce liberty affords To presse forth passions which oppresse my minde Yet would affection wrestle out some words To speake of him who all my thoughts confin'd When he had conquer'd all that could resist A Monarchie not equall with his minde Still in his haughty course he did insist And search'd the Ocean other worlds to finde But when from it his Navy was redeem'd He stood in doubt where Trophees next to reare The world though large for him too little seem'd His minde could more conceive then Nature beaâ—e Last ah this Emp'rour purpos'd was in th' end At Babylon his glories hight to show Where all the world his coming did attends As Iove above who onely raign'd below When he drew neare that then thrise Monarchs seat The Astrologians by their skill fore-told What danger huge was threatned to his state The which else-where might better be contrould But he who was not capable of feare And could not muse of misadventures then Would triumph there and the worlds Scepter beare Back'd with moe Kings then other Kings with men There as a God transporting mortals sights Which mirth with mourning I must still record He spent or lost a time in all delights Which Fortune could when flatt'ring most afford Till Thessalus for mischiefe but reserv'd Once to his house invited him to dine Where false Cassander at the Table serv'd And as he us'd with water mixt his wine Olymp. Alas alas and so it prov'd in th' end But who could feare a benefited friend Rox. There were all creatures valued for their worth As wholsome daiâ—ty sumptuous stately rare Which forc'd by Phoebus th'Easterne Realmes bring forth To live by Sea by Land or in the ayre Then when that Reason drunk with pleasure slept Which all the senses with abundance stor'd And whil'st save Musicke nothing measure kept With Ceres Bacchus onely was ador'd Even when the King beginning was to drinke As strangely mov'd he thund'red forth a grone And from the Table suddenly did shrinke His wonted vigour at an instant gone Whil'st he was softly to a Chamber led That death a
then dayes and yeares Which weare away this breath of ours so soone Whil'st Lachesis to no request gives eares But spinnes the threeds of life till they be done Yet foolish worldlings following that which flies As if they had assurance of their breath To fraile preferrement fondly strive to rise Which but a burden weighs them downe to death Nun. There 's none of us but must remember still How that the Gods by many a wondrous signe Did shew it seem'd how that against their will The destinies would Caesars dayes confine A monstrous starre amidst the heaven hath beene Still since they first against him did conspire The solitary birds at noone were seene And men to walke environ'd all with fire What wonder though the heavens at such a time Do brave the earth with apparitions strange Then whil'st intending such a monstrous crime Unnaturall men make Natures course to change Cho. Though all such things seeme wonderfull to some They may by Reason comprehended be For what beyond what usuall is doth come The Ignorant with wondring eyes do see Those bastard Starres not heritours of th' ayre Are first conceiv'd below then borne above And when fore-knowing things sprits take most care And by illusion superstition move Yet this no doubt a great regard should breed When Nature hath brought forth a monstrous birth In secret Characters where men may reade The wrath of heaven and wickednesse of th' earth The Naturallists and th' Astrologians skill May oft encountring manifest like care Since th' one looks back the other forward still One may tell what the other why things are Nun. Shall sorrow through the waves of woes to saile Have still your teares for Seas your sighs for winds To miserie what do base plaints availe A course more high becomes heroicke mindes None are o're-come save onely those who yeeld From froward Fortune though some blows be borne Let Vertue serve Adversity for shield No greater griefe to griefe then th' enemies scorne This makes your foes but laugh to see you weep At least these teares but for your selfe bestow And not for that great sprit whose spoyls heavens keep For he no doubt rests deified ere now Cal. I onely waile my life and not his death Who now amongst th'immortals doth repose And shall so long as I have bloud or breath To furnish forth the elements of woes I care not who rejoyce so I lament Who do to darknesse dedicate my dayes And since the light of my delight is spent Shall have in horrour all Apollo's rayes I will retyre my selfe to waile alone As trustie Turtles mourning for their Mates And my misfortune alwayes bent to mone Will spurne at pleasures as empoyson'd baits No second guest shall presse great Caesars bed Warm'd by the flames to which he first gave life I thinke there may be greater honour had When Caesars widow then anothers wife This had afforded comfort for my harmes If I ere chanc'd abandon'd thus to be Had had a little Caesar in mine armes The living picture of his Syre to me Yet doth that Idoll which my thoughts adore With me of late most strictly match'd remaine For where my armes him sometimes held before Now in my heart I shall him still retaine That though I may no pretious things impart Thy deitie may by me be honour'd oft Still offring up my thoughts upon my heart My sacred flame shall alwayes mount aloft Exeunt Chorus WHat fools are those who do repose their trust On what this masse of misery affords And bragging but of th' excrements of dust Of life-lesse Treasures labour to be Lords Which like the Sirens songs or Circes charmes With shadows of delight hide certaine harmes Ah! whil'st they sport on pleasures yâ—ie grounds Oft poyson'd by Prosperitie with Pride A sudden storme their floting joyes confounds Whose course is ordred by the eye-lesse guide Who so inconstantly her selfe doth beare Th' unhappie men may hope the happy feare The fortunate who bathe in flouds of joyes To perish oft amidst their pleasures chance And mirthlesse wretches wallowing in annoye Oft by adversitie themselves advance Whâ—l'st Fortune bent to mock vaine worldlings cares Doth change despaires in hopes hopes in despaires That gallant Grecian whose great wit so soone Whom others could not number did o're-come Had he not beene undone had beene undone And if not banish'd had not had a home To him feare courage gave what wondrous change And many doubts are solution strange He who told one who then was Fortunes childe As if with horrour to congeale his bloud That Caius Marius farie from Rome exil'd Wretch'd on the ruines of great Carthage stood Though long both plagu'd by griefe and by disgrace The Consul-ship regain'd and dy'd in peace And that great Pompey all the worlds delight Whom of his Theater then th' applauses pleas'd Whil'st praise-transported eyes endeer'd his sight Who by youths toyles should have his age then eas'd He by one blow of Fortune lost farre more Then many battels gayned had before Such sudden changes so disturbe the soule That still the judgement ballanc'd is by doubt But on a Round what wonder though things roule And since within a Circle turne about Whil'st heaven on earth strange alterations brings To scorne our confidence in worldly things And chanc'd there ever accidents more strange Then in these stormy bounds where we remaine One did a sheep-hooke to a Scepter change The nurceling of a Wolfe o're men did raigne A little Village grew a mighty Towne Which whil'st it had no King held many a Crowne Then by how many sundry sorts of men Hath this great State beene rul'd though now by none Which first obey'd but one then two then ten Then by degrees return'd to two and one Of which three States their ruine did abide Two by Two's lusts and one by Two mens pride What revolutions huge have hapned thus By secret fates all violently led Though seeming but by accident to us Yet in the depths of heavenly breasts first bred As arguments demonstrative to prove That weaknesse dwels below and pow'r above Loe prosprous Caesar charged for a space Both with strange Nations and his Countreys spoyls Even when he seem'd by warre to purchase peace And roses of sweet rest from thornes of toils Then whil'st his minde and fortune swell'd most high Hath beene constrain'd the last distresse to trie What warnings large were in a time so short Of that darke course which by his death now shines It speechlesse wonders plainly did report It men reveal'd by words and gods by signes Yet by the chaynes of destinies whil'st bound He saw the sword but could not scape the wound What curtaine o're our knowledge errour brings Now drawn now open'd by the heavenly host Which makes us sometime sharpe to see small things And yet quite blinde when as we should see most That curious braines may rest amaz'd at it Whose ignorance makes them presume of wit Then let us live since all things change below When rais'd most high â—s those who once may fall And hold when by disasters brought more low The minde still free what ever else be thrall Those Lords of Fortune sweeten every State Who can command themselves though not their fate FINIS