my friends Ant. Their blood whom I suspect'd should quench all strife Caes So might one doe that lik'd of nought but life An. Still life would be redeemde from dangers forth Caes Not with a ransome then it selfe more worth An. Than life to man what thing more deere succeeds Caes The great contentment that true glory breeds An. Men by all meanes this blast of breath prolong Caes Men should striue to liue well not to liue long And I would spend this momentarie breath To liue by fame for euer after death For I aspire in spight of fates to liue Ant. I feare that some too soone your death contriue Caes Who dare but lodge such thoughts within their mindes Ant. Those that the shadow of your greatnes blindes Caes The best are bound to me by gifts in store Ant. But to their countrey they are bound far more Caes Then loath they me as th' enemie of the state Ant. You as th' vsurper of the same they hate Caes I by huge battels haue enlarg'd their bounds An. By that they think your powre to much abounds Caes Yet I from doing wrong refraine my will Ant. They feare your powre because it may do ill Caes The present state still miscontentment brings To factious mindes affecting matters strange That burdens to themselues irke of all things And so they change regard not what they change In populous townes where many make repaire Whose confluence by conference all things touch They further than their bounds extend their care The idle that doe nothing must thinke much Lo Rome though wasted all with ciuill warres Whilst priuate grudge pretended publike good And that equalitie engendring iarres Did proue too prodigall of Roman blood Yet hauing through huge toyles attain'd to rest That it by yeelding t 'one may banish teares It if constrain'd disdaines t' imbrace the best This word necessitie so woundes the eares And th' insolent with vile seditious words That trembled whilst they heard the trumpets sound Stirre now their tongues as we did then our swords And what Mars sparde make Mercurie confound The people thus in time of peace agree T' abase the greatest still euen in that forme As in calme dayes they doe disbranch the tree That shrowded them of late against a storme But now I look'd for libertie to bost That once my deeds triumph'd had ouer enuie As all darke shadowes doe evanish most Then when the Sunne shines highest in the skie And though their hatred deepely they disguise Yet they conceale not so their soules desires But that their spight rest sparkling through their eies And bosts to burst out once in open fires Ant. Since first great Caesar I discernd thy worth On all thy actions I did still attend And therefore what some whisper I le speake foorth T' admonish freely it becomes a friend Since first men did suspect that you aspire T' a Monarchie the gouernement to change They in their soules your ruine do conspire And their affections farre from you estrange Since chaste Lucretia by prowd Tarquin stain'd Wash'd with her blood the violated bed Whilst by his power supreame Rome was constrain'd All things t' obey that his curst braine had bred This gouernment which some tyrranick call It sounds so odious in the peoples eares As Tyrants vild that they detest them all Whose greatnesse giues them any cause of feares Caes I not affect the title of a king For loue of glory or desire of gaine Nor for respect of any priuate thing But that the state may by my trauels gaine You know Sibillaes bookes that neuer faile In many mindes haue an opinion bred That ouer the Parthians Rome cannot preuaile Till by a soueraigne prince her bands be led For as confusion is the fruit we finde Of those affaires that diuers thoughts dispose So soueraigntie match'd with a gallant mind Breeds reuerence in ones owne feare in his foes And O it greeues me that these steps of ours Haue trod so oft on many a millions neckes Whilst yet the Parthian vilipends our powres And all our victories vnuanquish'd checkes Ah should a Generall of the Romane race Be by Barbarians killd and not reueng'd And should his ensignes signes of our disgrace Rest in the ranke of conquer'd relikes rang'd No no wretch'd Crassus now thy selfe content I le pacifie thy ghost with Parthians spoiles For still my boyling fancies haue bin bent T' ore-match th' vnmatch'd and daunt th' vndaunted soiles Ant. With victories being cloyd will you not then Your saftie once more then new warres respect Caes No though I haue surmounted other men My fancies yet do greater things affect In emulation of my selfe at last Euen enuiouslie I looke on mine owne deedes And bent to make the new surpasse things past Now to my mind old praise no pleasure breeds Ant. The world hath seene thee great man for Romes good In danger oft of many a dangerous shelfe Whilst for her glory thou engag'd thy blood Of others carefull carelesse of thy selfe Caes Though whilst in th' April of my blooming age I from the vulgar rate redeemd my name Some with my deeds did burden youths hot rage And an ambitious appetite of fame Yet since the coldnesse of declining yeares Bosts to congeale the blood that boild of late Whilst else my life the sunne of glory cleares That now of all the world remaine most great I cannot couet that thing which I haue I haue all honour that can be requirde And now as th' only wanted thing would craue To taste the pleasures of a life retyrde But onely now t' aduance the state I striue For O neglecting th' ecchoes of renowne I could content my selfe vnknowne to liue A priuate man with a Plebeian gowne Since Anthonie thus for the state I care And all delights that nature loues disdaine Go and in time the peoples mindes prepare That as the rest I may the title gaine Yet indirectly at the first assay To what their doubtfull mindes do most incline But as without my knowledge that they may All marke your minde and yet not thinke of mine Exeunt ACT. II. SCENE II. Cicero Decius Brutus DId I suruiue th'impetuo us Sillaes rage And in a torrent of destruction stood Whilst tyrants did make Rome a tragicke stage Through a voluptuous appetite of blood Scap'd I confusion in a time so bad Of libertie and honour once to taste That bondage now might make my soule more sad By the remembrance of my fortunes past What though I once when first by same made known From Catilines strange treason did preserue This town that 's still endangerd by her owne Since first the world from equitie did swarue A sparke of that conspiracie remaines Not yet extinguish'd t' haue our state imbroyld That now on Rome flames of confusion raines Thus one was sparde that we might all be spoild O worthy Cato in whose wondrous minde Three rarely matcht things Nature did reueale Wit honestie and courage which designde A cittizen for Platoes common-weale
no right to haue Which with them selues within short while As sommers beauties must decay And can giue nought except the graue Though all things doe to harme him what they can No greater enemie then himselfe to man Whilst oft enuiron'd with his foes That threatned death on euery side Great Caesar parted from repose As Atlas vnderneath the starres Did of a world the weight abide But since a prey t'excessiue pride More then by all the former warres He now by it doth harmde remaine And of his fortune doth defide Made rich by many a Nations wrack He breaking through the liquid barres In Neptunes armes his minion forc'd Yet still pursude new hopes in vaine Ah would th' ambitious looking backe Of their inferiours knowledge take They from huge cares might be deuorc'd Whilst veiwing few more wealth attaine And many more than they to lacke Lo th' only plague from men that rest doth reaue Is valuing what they want not what they haue Since thus the great themselues inuolue In such a laborinth of cares Whence none to scape can well resolue But by degrees is forward led Through waues of hopes rockes of dispaires Let vs anoyd ambitions snares And farre from stormes by enuie bred Still seeke securely a humble rest With mindes where no prowd thought repaires That in vaine shadowes doth delight Thus may our fancies still be fed With that which Nature freely giues Let vs iniquitie detest And hold but what we owe of right Th' eyes treasure is th' al-circling light Not that vaine pompe for which th' earth striues Whose glory but a poysnous pest T' orethrow the soule delights the sight Ease comes with ease where all by paine buy paine Rest we in peace by warre let others raigne ACT. III. SCENE I. Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus NOw Brutus now we need no more to doubt Nor with blind hopes our iudgement to suspend Lo all our exspectations are worne out For now it 's time t' attempt and not t' attend Th' imperious people that did th' earth appall Ah vanquishde by their victories at last Are by their too much libertie made thrall Since all their strength but serues themselues to cast And we that once seemd borne t' aime at great things Of the worlds mistresse mightie minions once That might haue labor'd to giue lawes to kings Lawes from a king must looke for now with grones For such of Caesar is the monstrous pride That though he domineers else at this houre And to his clients kingdomes doth diuide With an vnlimitd tyrranicke power Yet of Dictator he disdaines the name And seekes a tyrants title with the place Not for his honour no but for our shame As onely bent to bragge of our disgrace Marc. Brut. I thought to see that man as others are Walke reapparrel'd with a priuate gowne As one that had vnwillingly made warre T' hold vp himselfe not to cast others downe So Silla though more inhumane then he Whilst hauing all to what his heart aspirde The soueraigntie resign'd and set Rome free When all such exspectation was expirde By Caesars worth we must thinke that he too Will libertie restore t' our troubled state When first the world hath viewd what he might doe His thoughts are generous as his minde is great And though some insolencies scape him whiles His dying furie sparkles but a space Nought th' inspirations quite of Mars exiles Till one be vsde with th' innocencie of peace Those that by violence did t' all things tend Scarse can themselues t' a quiet course conforme Their stately cariage and franke words offend Whilst peace cannot comport with warres rude forme I hope that Caesar setling ciuill broyles When disaccustomde is intestin rage Will striue to mitigate his countryes toyles Bent all those flames that burn'd his brest t' asswage Ca Cass Thus of his course you by your own conceiu'd As if like thoughts of both did bound the will Ah honest mindes are with least paine deceiu d Those that themselues are good dreame not of ill But of bad mindes to sound th' vnsound deuice Their inclination must your iudgement sway The square of vertue cannot measure vice Nor yet a line that 's straight a crooked way So Caesar may preuaile t' vsurpe the state He cares not by what violence nor sleight O one may soone deceiue men and grow great That leaues religion honestie and right When as the Senatours no more their owne Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blinds And showde him by what honors they had showne To gratifie his greatnesse gratefull mindes He in a chaire imperiously being plac'd Not daign'd to rise nor bow in any sort As both of them had but their due imbrac'd When he a hautie they an humble port But if he thus ere we be throughly thrall'd Dare so disdainfully such great men vse When in a regall throne by vs install'd Then will he breake that which he now doth bruse Was he not first that euer yet began To violate the sacred Tribuns place And punish'd them for punishing a man That had transgressde the lawes in time of peace The lawes thar doe of death all guiltie hold Whose actions seeme to tirranie inclinde So earnest were our ancestours of old To quensh the light of tyrants ere it shinde And shall our Nephews heires of bondage blame Vs dastard parents that their hopes deceiu'd That saw that suffred that suruiu'd such shame Not leauing dead what we being borne receiu'd By Caesars friendes to an assembly brought The Senators intend to call him king Brut. I le not be there Cass But what if we be sought T' assist as Praetors such a publike thing Brut. Then I le resist that violent decree None of Romes crowne shall long securely bost For ere that I liue thrall'd I le first die free What can be kept when libertie is lost Cass O with what ioy I swallow vp those wordes Words worthy of thy worth and of thy name But Brutus be not fearde this cause affords Thee many mates in danger few in fame When Anthonie prowde Caesars Image crown'd The people by a silent sorrow told In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drown'd That Comet of confusion to behold What do those scroules throwne in thy chaire import Which what thou art to thy remembrance brings Be those the fancies of th' inferiour sort No none but noble mindes dreame of great things Of other Pretors people looke for showes And distributions whose remembrance dyes Whilst bloody fencers fall with mutuall blowes And Affricks monsters made t' amaze their eyes But from thy hands they libertie attend A glory hereditarie to thy race And following thee their blood will frankly spend So thou succeed in thy great parents place That Romes redeemer once did Tarquin foile Though from his birth obeyd and without strife Where thou shouldst but th' aspiring tirant spoile That would t'extinguish'd tyrrany giue life Brut. I weigh thy words with an afflicted heart That for compassion of my countrey bleedes
hate towards Caesar loue to Rome or t 'vs Might moue t' imbarke in those great hopes of ours By sickenesse being imprison'd in his bed Whilst I Ligarius spide whom paines did pricke When I had said with words that anguish bred In what a time Ligarius art thou sicke He answerd straight as I had phisicke brought Or that he had imagin'd my designe If worthy of thy selfe thou wouldst do ought Then Brutus I am whole and wholie thine Since Caesar causde him be accusde of late For taking Pompeys patt yet at this houre He though absolu'd doth still the tyrant hate For being endangerd by his lawlesse powre Whilst it exasprates thus such great sprites spites Heauen of our course the progresse doth direct One inspiration all our soules incites That haue aduisdly sworne this fact t' effect D. Br. So I with Cicero did conferre at length Who I perceiue the present state detests And though that age deminisht haue his strength In him a will t' auenge his country rests M. Br. That man whose loue stil towards his country shind Would willingly the commonwealth restore Then he I know though he conceales his minde None Caesar more dislikes nor likes vs more Yet to his custodie I le not commit The secrets of our enterprise so soone Men may themselues be oftentimes not fit To doe the things that they would wish were done He still being timorous and by age growne worse Might chance to lay our honor in the dust All cowards must inconstant be of force With bold designes none fearefull breasts can trust Then some of ours would holde their hands still pure That ere they be suspected for a space Amidst the tumult may remaine secure And with the people mediate our peace But who than Tullius fitter for that turne Whose eloquence is vsde t' enchant their eares His banishment they in balcke gownes did mourne Whose age and merites each one reurence beares C. Cass Those studious wits that haue through dangers gone Would still be out ere that they enter in Who must of many things resolue of none And thinking of the end cannot beginne The mind that lookes no further than the eie And more to Nature trusts than vnto Art Such doubtfull fortunes fittest is to trie A furious actor for a desprate parte We haue enow and of the best degree Whose hands are to their hearts their hearts t 'vs true And if that we seeke moe I feare we be T' act close too many if disclosde too few Let vs aduise with an industrious care Now ere the tyrant intercept our mindes The time the place the manner when and where That we should trust our treasure to the windes And since our fortunes in the ballance hing Let euery point be circumspectly weight'd A circumstance or an indifferent thing May whiles marre all for not being well conueigh'd M. Br. As for the time none could be wish'd more fit Than this that 's present to performe our vow Since all the people must allow of it Mou'd by a recent miscontentment now When represented in his triumph past Great Catoes mangled entrailes made them weepe And desprate Scipio whilst he leap'd at last To seeke a Sanctuarie amidst the depth Then all those great men that in seuerall partes Bent for Romes freedome Caesar did ouerthrow Did by their pictures pierce the peoples harts And made a pitteous though a pompous show So that they did conceiue a iust disdaine To be vpbraided in so strange a sort Whilst he that onely by their losse did gaine Of their calamitie but made a sport But yet his purpose grieues them most of all Since that he striues to be proclaimd a King And not contents himselfe to make vs thrall But to perpetuall bondage would vs bring Thus whilst the people are with him displeasde We best may doe that which t' our part belongs For after this they may be best appeas'd If whilst their wrath doth last we venge their wrongs And since we nought intend but what is right Whilst from our contrey we remooue disgrace Let all be acted in the Senates sight A common cause and in a common place Let those whose guiltie thoughts doe damne their deeds In corners like Mineruaes birds abide That which t' our countrey good t 'vs glory breeds May by the lights of heauen and earth be tryde The Senatours by our ensample mou'd Pleasde with this action that imports them too To haue the yoke of tyrranie remou'd May at the least authorize what we doe So all the Senatours were said of old To haue king Romulus amongst them torne That than to tyrranize was growne to bold And from his first humanitie had worne D. Brut. Yea what though Caesar were immortall made As Romulus whose deitie him reuiues It 's easier as a God t' adore him dead Then as a king t' obey him whilst he liues C. Cass That place indeed most for our glory makes A Theater worthy of so great an act Where in their sight from whom most power he takes We of the tyrant vengeance may exact But I must recommend vnto your minde A course though strict of which we must allowe Least it ore-throw all that we haue design'd Being past recouerie if neglected now There is Antonius Caesars greatest friend A man whose nature tyrranie affects Whom all the souldiors doe delight t' attend As one that nought but to command respects I feare that he when we haue Caesar slaine To th' other faction furnish still a head So when we ende we must beginne againe Against one liuing worse then he that 's dead And in my iudgement I would thinke it best When sacrifiz'd the prowd vsurper lyes That that seditious enemie of rest Should fall with him with whom he first did rise Thus of our libertie we now may lay A solid ground that can be shak'd by none Those of their purpose that a part delay Two labours haue that might haue had but one M. Brut. I cannot Cassius condiscend to kill Thus from the path of Iustice to decline One faultlesse yet lest after he prooue ill So to preuent his guiltinesse by mine No no that neither honest were nor iust Which rigorous forme would but the worlde affright Men by this meane our meaning might mistrust And for a little wrong damne all that 's right If we but only kill the common foe Our zeale t' our countrey must acquire due praise But if like Tyrants tyrannizing so We will be thought that which we raze to raise And where we but intend t' aduance the state Though by endangering what we hold most deare If slaying him as arm'd e by priuate hate We to the world still partiall will appeare Ah ah we must but too much murder see That without doing euill cannot do good And would the gods that Rome could be made free Without th' effusion of one drope of blood Then their is hope that Anthonie in ende When first our vertue doth direct the way Will leagu'd with vs the libertie
greedie of his substance boast Whilst th' excrements of th' earth his senses smother What hath he gayn'd but what another lost And why may not his losse enrich another But ah all loose who seeke to profite thus And found their confidence on things that fade We may be rob'd from them they rob'd from vs Al 's grieu'd for th' one as for the other glad Vaine foole that thinkes soliditie to finde In this fraile world where for a while we range Which like sea-waues depending on the winde Ebbes flows calms storms still moouing still in change Each surge we see doth driue the first away The fome is whitest where the Rocke is neare And as one growes another doth decay The greatest dangers oft do least appeare Their seeming blisse that trust in frothie showes In Fortunes danger burthen'd with the Fates First to a full then to confusion growes A secret Destinie doth guide great States But I scorne Fortune and was euer free From that dead wealth that wauers in her power I beare my treasure still about with mee Which neither Time nor Tyrants can deuour Light authour of euents and vaine aduenters Now do thy worst I know how to vndoe thee The way is stop't by which thy poison enters Thou can harme none but them that trust vnto thee And I haue learn'd to moderate my minde Contentment is the crowne of my desires My clothes are course my fare such as I finde He hath enough that to no more aspires What satisfaction doth ouer-flow my soule While as I weigh the world which few hold fast And in my memories vnblotted scroule Iudge of the present by the time that 's past The poore-rich heire of breath that boastes of smoake And come of dust yet of the drosse still thinkes Whilst baser passions doe his vertues choake The soule ouer-ballanc'd with the body sinkes Yet neede I not to loathe the world and liue As one whom stepdame she would never nourish I had a part of all that she could giue My race my house by fame and wealth did flourish And if that I would vaunt of mine owne deedes Faire Cittie where mine eies first suckt the light I challenge might what most thy glory breedes Whose labours both enlarg'd thy fame and might When Salamina vtterly was lost And by the rascall multitude neglected A counterfeited foole I went and crost All their desseignes whose courses were suspected And when I had by pollicie perswaded My country to embrace the warres againe I both by stratagems and strength inuaded That famous I le which vanquisht did remaine Then hauing compass'd that exployt with speede And turn'd in triumph deckt with strangers spoyles No perfect blisse belowe worse did succeede The peace that was abroade bred ciuill broyles What with more violence doth fury leade Then a rash multitude that wants a head The meaner sort could not their minds conforme T' abide at what their betters did commaund Then the weale-publike in a dangerous storme All ioyn'd to place the ruther in my hand I re-vnited that diuided state And manag'd matters with a good successe Which farther kindled had beene quench'd too late That Hidra-headed tumult to suppresse When I had both these glorious workes effected And troad the path of sou'raignty a space The minion of the people most respected None could be great saue such as I would grace Thus carried with the force of Fortunes streame I absolutely acted what I would For the Democratie was but a name My hand the raines did of the Citty hold I might a Tyrant still haue gouern'd so But my pure soule could no such thought conceiue And that ouersight yet made me neuer woe If I may rule my selfe it 's all I craue Yet some that seem'd to be more subtile-witted Saide my base sprite could not aspire t' a crowne And foolish Solon had a fault committed Who would not doe the like in euery towne My minde in this a more contentment findes Then if a Diademe adorn'd my brow I chain d th' affections of vndaunted mindes And made them ciuil that were wilde till now I hardly could rich Citizens entise T' embrace the statutes that my Lawes contain'd What one approou'd another did despise Some lou'd some loath'd eu'n as they thought they gain'd At last at least in shew all rest content Eu'n those that hate me most lend their applause A worthy minde needes neuer to repent T' haue suffered crosses for an honest cause I trauell now with a contented thought The memorie of this my fancie feedes When all their Empires shall be turn'd to nought Time cannot make a prey of Vertues deedes Where seuen-mouth'd Nil from a concealed source Inunding or'e the fieldes no banckes can binde I saw their wonders heard their wise discourse Rare sights enrich'd mine eyes rare lights my minde And if it were but this yet this delites Behold how Croesus here the Lidian King To be his guest vs earnestly inuites The which to some would great contentment bring But I disdaine that world-bewitched man Who makes his gold his God the earth his heauen Yet I will try by all the meanes I can To make his iudgement with his fortune eauen CHORVS What can confine mans wandring thought Or satisfie his fancies all Is ought so great but it seemes small To that tos'd spirit which still af flought Doth dreame of things were neuer wrought And would gripe more then it can hold This sea-inuiron'd centerd ball Is not a bound vnto that minde That minde which big with monsters The right deliuerie neuer consters And seeking here a solide ease to finde Would but melt mountaines and imbrace the winde What wonder though the soule of man A sparke of heau'n that shines below Doth labour by all meanes it can It selfe like to it selfe to show This heau'nly essence heauen would know But married with this masse we see With payne they spend liues little span The better part would be aboue The earth from th' earth cannot remoue How can two contrair's well agree Thus as the best or worst part doth preuaile Man is of much or els of no auaile O from what source can this proceede T' haue humours of so many kindes Each brayne doth diuers fancies breede Al 's many men al 's many mindes And in the world a man scarce findes Another of his humour right There are not two so like indeede If we remarke their seuerall graces And lineaments of both their faces That can abide the proofe of sight If the outward formes then differ as they do Of force th' affections must be different to Ah! Passions spoile our better part The Soule is vext with their dissentions We make a God of our owne hart And worship all our vayne inuentions This brain-bred miste of apprehensions The mind doth with confusion fill Whilst reason in exile doth smart And few are free from this infection For all are slaues to some affection Which doth extorse the senses still These partiall tirants rage the sight
Kingdome to The which each weightie thing by nature drawes For as the mightie Riuers little streames And all the liquid powers that rise or fall Do seeke in sundry parts by seuerall seames To the maine Ocean that receiue's them all Who as he were but steward of those waters Returne's them backe by many secret vaines And as the earth hath need of moisture scatters His humid treasures to refresh the plaines So are Kings breasts the depth where daily flowes Cleere streames of knowledge with rare treasures charg'd And thus continually their wisdom growes By many helps that others want enlarg'd For those that haue intelligence ouer all Do commonly communicate to Kings All th' accidents of weight that chance to fall Their greatnes to them this aduantage brings They being iealous find out many drifts And by a long experience learne to scance them Then those whom Arte or Nature lend's great gifts All come to Kings as who may best aduance them No doubt those Powres who put them in their places To make their qualities with their charge euen Do dote them with some supernaturall graces Vice-gods on th' earth great Lieutenants of heauen Sol. As you haue showne Kings haue a good occasion Whereby t' attaine vnto the height of wit Which whoso do imbrace by good perswasion Are surely worthy on a Throne to sit But ah those Riuers are not euer pure The which through tainted channels whiles conuaid Vile flatt'ries poyson rendred hath impure Thus are Kings hearts oft by their eares betraid For impudent effronted persons dare Court with vaine words and detestable lies Whilst purer sprited men must stand afarre The light is lothsome to diseased eies But this doth rauish oft my soule with wonder Some that are wise with flatt'ry can comport And though of all men best mens parts they ponder Yet euer entertaine the baddest sort Is' t that such men as those cannot controlle them Nor neuer crosse their appetite in ought But for each purpose that they speake extolle them Where better wits would argue as they thought Or as they would haue none for to resist them So for th' aduancement of the worthiest sorie They will haue none that may seeme to assist them Lest any challenge intrest in their glorie This selfe-conceate is a most dangerous shelfe Where many haue made shipwracke vnawares He that doth trust too much vnto himselfe Can neuer faile to fall in many snares Of all that liue great Monarchs haue most need To ballance all their actions and their wordes And with aduise in all things to proceed A faithfull Counsell oft great good affoordes Loe how th' inferior Sphears their courses bend There whither the first Moouer doth them driue The Commons customs on the Prince depend His manners are the rules by which they liue No man is onely for himselfe brought forth And Kings for th' use of many are ordaind They should like Sunnes cleere Kingdoms with their worth Whose life a paterne must be kept vnstaind Those that are vertuous haue an ample field T' expresse their wisdom and t' extend their merite Where meane men must to their misfortune yield Whilst lacke of power doth burst a gallant spirite As precious Stones are th' ornaments of rings The Stone decores the ring the ring the hand So Countries are conforme vnto their Kings The King decores the Court the Court the Land And as a drop of poyson spent alone Th' infected fountaine doth with venome fill So mighty States may be orethrowne by one A vicious Prince is a contagious ill Aesop This is an easie thing for vs to spie And paint in th' ayre the shadowes of our mindes And t' apprehend with th' intellectuall eie A blessing that no worldly Kingdom findes Sol. I grant imaginarie groundes of ours Will neuer mooue a world-bewitched Prince To disenchaunt himselfe and spend some howrs His owne disseignes of follie to conuince Ere Croesus can refraine from this his furie He must forsake himselfe and be renew'd And in the Lethe of obliuion burie The vanities that haue his soule subdewd He first must his prerogatiues al smother And be a man a man to be controld Then all his faults as they were in another Like an vnpartiall Arbiter behold Could he cast off this vaile of fond selfe-loue Through which all things not as they are he spies He would those wicked Parasites remoue Vile instruments of shame that liue by lies And th' onely meanes to force them to depart That he might iudge more freely of his state Were to cast out the Idole of his hart Which puffs him vp with a pride-swolne conceate For forraine flatterers could not find accesse Wer 't not ouer-valuing his owne worth too much He flattred first himself and thinks no lesse But all their praises ought for to be such And when these hireling Sycophants haue found A Prince whose iudgement selfe-conceat disarmes They breach his weakest part and bring to ground The greatnesse of his State with flatteries charmes Then bearing ouer his Passions once the sway Least by the better sort he be aduisd To wholesome counsell they close vp the way And vse all meanes t' haue honest men despisd Aesop If you at Court to credit would arise You must not seeke by trueth t' acquire renowne But learne t' applaud whiles what you most despise And smile in show whilst in effect you frowne Sol. From Court in time I will my selfe retire I find my humour is not fit for Court I 'am none of those whom Croesus doth desire I can not alway of his worth report O that he cannot see light Fortune flout him While as he glories in this outward show Hedg'd in with greedy Harpies round about him That gape t' enrich themselues with his ouerthrow Exeunt Chorus OF all the creatures below We must call Man most miserable Who all his time is neuer able T' attaine vnto a true repose His very birth may well disclose What miseries his blisse ouerthrow For being borne he can not know Who to his state is friend or fo Nor how at first for to stand stable But euen with cryes and teares doth show What dangers do his life enclose Whose griefes are sure whose ioyes a fable Thus still his dayes in dolour so He to all perils must expose And with vexation liues and dies with wo Not knowing whence he come nor where to go While as he brookes this lowest place O how vncertaine is his state Which gouernd by a secret fate Is subiect to inconstancie And euer changing as we see Is still in toile neuer in peace For if man prosper but a space With each good successe too too bold And puft vp in his owne conceit He but abuses Fortunes grace And when that with aduersitie His pleasures come to end their date And with disasters are controld Straight he begins for griefe to die And still the top of some extreme doth hold Not suffering summers heate nor winters cold His state doth in most danger stand
for you I to your eies appeale Which well can witnes what my hands haue wrought All that I spake proceeded of a zeale And not of cowardice or feare of ought Nor matche I vile repose with honest paines My courage is nor yet become so colde That wounted vigour hath not left my vaines Which spurd my spirit in youth though I be olde Alex. 'T is not ynough that you your selfe be so To be the same you should the rest exhort Is he return'd who was ordain'd to go And viewe the Captiues what doth he report Parm. As we were since by some of them instructed While they as yet not of support dispair'd And to a tent were courteously conducted Which we of purpose caus'd to be prepar'd Euen in the way one fortun'd to espy The Diademe that Darius earst had borne Which on the earth so abiectly did lie As each thing his calamine would scorne Then they imagin'd from his royall head Whose dignity it some-time did decore None could it cast except himselfe were dead And if so were they long'd to liue no more When they had entred in the tent to weepe Leonatus came and at the entrie knocked They stood so still he thought an yornie sleepe Had lock'd their eies or else that he was mocked At length by force he made a patent way And was aduanc'd them louingly to greet When loe these dolorous Ladies prostrate lay And with a flood of teares bedew'd his feete Then sobbing saide we not refuse to die Let vs entombe first Darius like a King Then when that we his latter honour see Death cannot but a great contentment bring This so they vrg'd as he could scarce perswade That Darius was not dead as they suppos'd But liu'd in hope through dangers Seas to wade And in the pow'r of other Realmes repos'd And further he protested on your part That they might looke for clemencie and grace Thus after that I had asswag'd their smart It seem'd they longd to see my Soueraignes face Alex. Of my good-will they may themselues assure I neuer war'd with such as were subiected And if my presence may their ease procure Straight to their tent my steppes shall be directed Exeunt CHORVS OF all the passions that possesse the soule None so disturbes vaine mortals mindes As this Ambition that so blindes The sense of man that nothing can controule Nor curb their thoughts who will aspyre This raging vehement desire Of seueraignty no satisfaction findes But in the breastes of men doth euer roule The restlesse stone of Sisiph to torment them And as his hart who steal'd the heu'nly fire The vulture gnawes so doth Ambition rent them Had they the world the world would not content them This race of Ixion to embrace the cloudes Contemne the state wherein they stand And would all but themselues command As one desire is quench'd another buds When they haue trauel'd all their time Heaps blood on blood and crime on crime There is a hier power that guides their hand More happie he whome a poore cottage shroudes Against the tempest of the threatning heauen He stands in feare of none none enuy him His hart is vpright and his wayes are eauen Where others states are still twixt sixe and seauen That damned wretch vp with Ambition blow'n While-as he turnes the wheele about Whiles cast within whiles cast without In striuing for the top is still throwne downe Those that delight in climbing hie Oft with a precepice doe die So doe the starres sky-climbling worldlings flout But this disease is fatall to a croune Kings who haue most striue most t' augment their bounds And if they be not all they can not be Which to their domage commonly redounds Too great a state her proper waight confounds Th' ambitious toyling to enlarge their state Themselues exceedingly deceaue In hazarding the hap they haue For a felicitie that they conceate Though their dominions they incres Yet their desires growe neuer les For though they conquer Climats more they craue This is the miserie of being great Such eye-beguyling pompe is all but fume Such glorious showes disguise the minds distres And who to conquere all the earth presume A little earth shall them at last consume And if it fortune that they die in peace A wonder wondrous rarelie seene Who conquere first their empire cleene Is ruin'd by some persons of their race Who comming to the crowne with rest And hauing all in peace possest Do straight forget what bloody broils haue bene Before their Fathers could attaine that place As th' Ocean flowes and ebbes states rise and fall And Princes when their actions prosper best For feare their greatnes should oppresse the smal Are of some hated and eny'd of all We knowe what end the mightie Cyrus made Whome while he striu'd to conquere still A woman did most vildlie kill And in a bloodie vessell rold his head Then said Content thy selfe with blood Thou still didst famish for such food Now quench thy thirst of blood with blood at will Some of his successors since he was dead Haue raign'd a space with pompe and yet with paine Now all their glorie cannot doe vs good What they so long haue laboured to obtaine All in an instant must be lost againe Loe Darius once so magnified by fame By one whome he contemn'd o'recome For all his brauerie now made dombe With downe-cast eyes must signifie his shame Who puft vpwith pernitious pride Thinke still t' haue fortune on their side They cannot scape to be a pray to some They spend their prosperous days as in a dreame And as it were in fortunes bosome sleeping They in this dull securitie abide And of their doubtfull state neglect the keeping Whilst gaist lie ruine comes vpon them creeping Thus the vicissitude of worldly things Doth to our eyes it selfe detect VVhen heauenly powers exalt deiect Confirme confound erect and ruine Kings So Alexander mightie now To whome the vanquish'd world doth bow VVith all submission homage and respect Doth flie a borrow'd flight with Fortunes wings Nor enters he his dangerous course to ponder Yet if that Fortune bend her cloudie browe All those who at his suddaine successe wonder May gaze as much to see himselfe brought vnder ACTVS TERTIVS Scen. I. SISIGAMBIS Regina STATIRA Virgo O Dismall day detested by the light And would to God but God neglects our cace The world were wrapt in a Cymerian night That no proud eye might gaze on our disgrace Why did the heauens reserue my feeble age To goe to graue with infamie and grief Could nothing but my shame their wrath asswage Thus offred vpon th' altar of mischief Ah haue I spent my youth in pompe and pleasure And had my spring-time grac'd with pleasant flowres That th'Aurumne which should reape the Sōmers treasure Might be disastred with such stormy showres And did smooth calmes and sun-shines of delight Make all my voyage through the world a sport That tossed with a tempest of despight I now
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
Of all my labours loe this was the hire Those must haue store of toiles that toyle for strife And I remember that amidst my ioyes Euen whilst the chase of armies was my sport There wanted not a portion of annoyes To counterpoise my pleasures in some sort Of those in th' earth most happy that remaine As ag'd experience constantly records The pleasures farre exceeded are by paine Life greater greife then comfort still affords What rage and sorrow seaz'd vpon my soule Whilst big with hopes a battell bent to proue That sudden sicknesse did my course controule Which Cidnus cold imbracings chanc'd to moue From the Phisition then though deem'd for ill I tooke his drinke and gaue th' inuectiue lines Then whilst he red did drinke yet eyd him stil And by accusing lookes search'd guilty signes Not that suspitious feares could make me sad This was the ground whence did proceed my paine Lest death that victorie preuented had Which I was sure if present once t' obtaine But when that I extended had my state From learned Athens to the barbarous Indes Still my tumultuous troupes my pride did hate As monstrous mutinies vnmask'd their mindes I so my name more wonderful to make Of Hercules and Bacchus past the bounds And whilst that Memnons sun burnt bands did quake Did write my worth in many a Monarchs wounds Kings were my subiects and my subiects kings Yet my contentment further did require For I imagind still more mighty things And to a greater greatnesle did aspire The compasse of the carriere of the sunne By many a famous victory I wan Yet wept that there were no more worlds to win As all had beene to little for one man Was I not honord as a God by some Whilst what I interprizd it still preuaild Whom I assaild I alwayes did ore-come No project of my fancies euer faild This made me thought immortalizd to be Which in all mindes amazement yet contracts For I led Fortune Fortune followed me As forc'd t' attend the greatnesse of my acts Yet I haue found it a more easie thing To conquer all the mansions of the winde Then mine owne selfe and of my passions king To order the disorders of my minde What comfort iustly could my soule receiue Of all my conquests past if that euen then Whilst I triumph'd to wrath and wine as slaue I scap'd not scandall more then other men Ah seazing without right on euery state I but my selfe too great a Monarch made Since all men gapt to get the golden bate Which by my death seemd easie to be had Whilst from humanitie too much deuorc'd My deeds all hearts with feare and horror fild I whom the force of foes yet neuer forc'd Was by my friends most fraudulently kill'd But now I see the troublous time drawes neere When they shall keepe my obsequies with blood No wonder too though such a warriours biere At last do swim amids a scarlet flood For as my life did breed huge broyles ouer all My death must be th' occasion of great cumbers And it doth best become a strong mans fall To be renown'd by ruining of numbers The snaky-tressed sisters shal not neede T' vse fatall firebrands lothsome Plutoes pestes Or poisonous inspirations so to bred A thirst of murder in transported brests Yet my ambitious ashes once may shine T' enflame my Minions minds with strange desires If of their spirits each keepe a sparke of mine To waste the world their brests may furnish fires The beauties once of th' earth shall all looke red Whilst my lieuetenants through that pride of theirs With vnkind armes huge streames of blood do shed By murthering of mine heires to be mine heires Is this the gaine of greatnesses did I pine To be made eminent to be ouerthrowne To ruine first my selfe then roote out mine As conquering others but to lose mine owne O happy I but happier far my race If with my fathers conquests still content I manag'd had th' Aemathian power in peace Which was made lawfull by a long discent Then farre sequestred from Bellonaes rage I had the true delites of nature tryed And ag'd with honor honor'd in my age Had left my scepter to my sonne and dyed And he succeeded had t' a quiet state Which then because lesse great had bin more sure And not exposd to enuy nor to hate That do against the greatest States coniure But since they minde t' enearth mine earthly part Which now no badge of maiestie reraines To roaring Phlegeton I must depart Farre from the lightsome bounds of th' ayrie Plaines And must I there that did the world surmount Arrested by the Monarke of the Ghosts To Radamanthus render an account Of all the deedes done by my rauenous hostes Ther whilst with Minos Aeacus sits downe A rigorous Iudge in Hells most horride court Though farre before his Nephew in renowne He will not with one of his race comport O what pale troops of ghosts are gathered heere That were of bodies spoild by my decree And first the wrong'd Parmenio doth compeere From whom I nought but who did much from me At the tribunall of Tartarian powres He aggrauates a ingratitude too great And whilst th' infernall tyrant foming lowres All whom I wrong'd for vengeance stand t' intreat Yet guiltie thoughts torment me most of all No sprite can be by plaging Furies pind Though charg'd without with snakes within with gall As by the slings of a remording minde If it be true that drowsie Laethes streams Drowne in obliuions deepes all things at last There let me burie farre from Phoebus beames The loath'd remembrance of my Labours past Exit Chorus What strange aduentures now Distract distressed mindes With such most monstrous stormes When silence seemes t' allow The peace that Nature findes And that tumultuous windes Doe not disturbe with stormes An vniuer sall rest When Morpheus hath represt Th' impetuous course of cares And with a soft skepe bâ—ndes Those tyrants of the breast That would spread foorth most dangerous snares T' inuo'ue th' afflicted in dispaires Huge horrours then arise Which th' elements doe marre With most disastrous signes Arm'd sqúadorns in the Skies With Launces throwne from farre Doe make a monstrous warre Whilst Furie nought confines The Dragons vomite fire And make the starres retire Out of their orbes for feare Some of those warriors are To satifie their ire That th' azure buildings not forbeare But seeme the cristall Towres to teare Amidst the aire fierce blasts Doe boast with blustring sounds T' vndoe this mightie frame Which whilst the tempest lasts Doth rent the stately roundes To signifie what woundes Strait t' all her of-springs shame Shall burst th' earths veines with blood And this all-circkling flood As t' were the heauens to drowne Doth passe th' appointed bounds And all the scalie broode Reare roaring Neptunes foamie crowne Whilst th' earth for feare seemes to sincke downe Those that th' earth chargde what horrour Theyr ashie lodgings leaue To re-enioy the light
without appearance do procure The most respected place where greatnes stayes And some whose states seem'd once t' all eyes secure Thrown from their fortunes height lose glorious bayes My father lo t' attaine th' imperiall place March'd through impossibilities of late And greater then the greatest for a space Was Monarch of the Macedonian state But I his sonne that as some would suppose Might keep with ease that which he got with paine Can by no meanes my restles thoughts repose Such raging tyrants ouer my fancies raigne Lisim And yet I thinke you haue an easie part To whom your father did his state resigne For it may make you smile that made him smart Some presse the grape and others drinke the wine Cass I le not beleeue that euer any ill Was bred for me within my fathers breast Since children must suppose their parents will Though seeming bad still purposde for the best And yet my fathers ghost must pardon me Though when from vs he minded to remoue I thinke the tenor of his last decree Shew lacke of iudgement or at least of loue For what base course had euer bin begun To make me seeme vnworthy of his place That he preferr'd a stranger to his sonne And sought t' obscure the glory of his race Thus since in such a sort he did neglect The sonne that should his name from death exempt As dis-regarded for some great defect All other men may haue me in contempt But ere his age expirde th' expected date He saw my browes with Laurell boughes arrai'd And spi'd my skill in warre and wit in state Which grew as much as th' other mans decai'd Nor can my courage so be brought to bow But Polispercon shall experience soone That in my fathers wil1 I will allow Not what he did but what he should haue done And since by him high dignities were wonne I mind to prosecute what he began For such a fathers greatnesse from his sonne Takes the securitie of a priuate man Lo Polispercon by our powre repeld From Macedonie hath retirde dismaide And for the feare of vs hath bin compeld T' engage his glory for anothers ayde Let him not thinke the shaddow of the kings Can match my powre with these his borrow'd bands For his faint flight that 's fram'd with others wings Will neuer beare him from Cassanders hands And though Olimpias countnanc'd once his cause As from Epirus brought to ruine mee Now of her owne mishap she most must pause Since brought by vs of late t' a low degree Lisim And yet Olimpias had a good successe When first she touch'd the Macedonian bounds Whilst Polispercon prowdly did represse All those that durst resist with words or wounds Though Philip and Euridice his Queene T' encounter with their troupes in time arriu'de Yet when the Macedonians had her seene As their owne Queene to honor her they striu'de And haplesse Philip being constrainde to yield There for a kings did take a captiues state And his wretch'd mate though flying from the field Was follow'd by their forces and her fate Then thus her husband and her selfe gaue place Whose browes of late th' imperiall badge had borne But then throwne downe in th' Ocean of disgrace A prey t' a womans pride the butt of scorne Cass Those were the meanes that did them first entrap But haue you heard how after they were thrall To plague the world with honour and mis-hap Th' enragde Olimpias tyrranizde ouer all Lisi Some doubtfull rumours did frequent ech eare Such as rash fame confus'dly durst vnfould But yet conceald by fauor or for feare The certaintie to vs hath not bin tolde Cass When thus the famish'd tygresse did surprise Those miserable soules as in a dreame Her heart at first seemde scarse to trust her eyes She surfetted her sight so with their shame But when she sawe by reason of her powre That she might safely let her rage burst out She causde about them both to build a towre Within whose walles they scarce could turne about And in that dungeon as entomb'd they stood With high disgrace t' asswage more high disdaines Farre from all comfort whilst a litle foode Their life prolong'd but to prolong their paines But Pittie for th' vnfortunate contendes As Enuy still prosperitie controules The Macedonians doubtfull of their ends Would sometime murmure for those marterd soules The peoples grudge Olimpias did perceiue And to preuent what fury might effect She strait resolu'd lifes remnant to bereaue From weakned powres that did no lesse exspect And when some barbarous Thracians bent for blood As she appointed in th' excesse of spight Had murdred Philip and his Queene imbrude With purple streames that spoil'd her husbands spright She sent to her whose soule in griefe did sinke As messengers of death t' assault her breast A sword a cord and an empoison'd drinke A Tirants presents yet a wretches best Those when the Queene perceiu'd vnmou'd she spake As one that had imbrac'd some great reliefe Fit gifts for her to giue for me to take Since she exceeds in hate and I in griefe And tell the tirant that I gladly die That th' irritated gods t' auenge my death May thunder foorth that iudgement which I spie With blood must choke that bloodie womans breath Then looking on her Lord that there lay slaine Once partner or his ioy then of his woe Whilst that his roses did her lillies staine She kist his wounds as taking leaue to goe And lest her resolution were betraide Her snowie necke not vsde with such a chaine She binding with her belt di'd vndismaide And if she sighd she sighd but for disdaine Lisim This barbarous act my breast with griefe doth sting Can spight so much transport the meekest kinder And yet in th' earth ther 's no more cruell thing Then mallice raging in a womans minde Cass But yet this sacrifice could not asswage The boiling thoughts of her vnbounded will For entring thus she rioted in rage As dogges that once get blood would alwayes kill Ech light occasion kindling still her wrath The soueraigntie she shamefully abusde And put my brother Nicanor to death Though for no crime condemn'd no not accusde Yea more her hate extended toward the dead Whose crueltie no flood of blood confin'd The monument that t' Iolas was made She raz'd and rent his ashes with the wind To be Cassanders friend was such a crime As none could scape that euer fauour'd me Thus huge disorders did abound a time Where nothing lawfull is all things are free Then when I heard of this outragious pride That made my natiue soyle contemn'd to be I those indignities could not abide The shame whereof redounded most to me So that at last mou'd by my countries care As much as by particular respects I with great speed an armie did prepare To punish or preuent the like effects But when I was to Macedonie comd To fortifie a towne she did dissigne Which by my valour quickly was ore-comd Whilst famine
should be likewise partners of the gaine But if against our sute his eares he barre And do with scornfull words contemne our claime Then may our Messenger denounce the warre And we shall shortly intimate the same Ptol. A mutuall band must made amongst vs be To make one fortune common to vs all And from hence-forth we must all fowre agree To stand together or together fall And since the princely buds for which we car'd How euer dead are dead what ere we doe T' engender so towards vs the more regard We with the state must take the title too And we must both be crown'd and knowne forkings The Diadem is greatnesse strongest towre All vulgar iudgements leane on th' outward things And reuerence state where they obey but powre Exeunt Nuntius Philastrus Chorus IS there a heauen and are their heauenly powers To whose decree terrestriall things are thrall Or striues the tirant that begets the howers To triumph ouer eternitie and all Lo nature trauells now being big with change Since mortalls all humanitie haue lost And in th' old Chaos or some masse more strange To re-entombe their essence all things bost Can reasonable soules from reason barr'd Euen striue which most in crueltie exceeds What eye hath seene or yet what eare hath heard Such monstrous accidents prodigious deeds Th' Arrabian robbers nor the Scithians wild That with the sauage beasts as barbarous haunt With such foule facts haue not themselues desil'd As those that of ciuilitie do vaunt Since Grecians are growne barbarous as we finde Where can faith haue a corner free from spot O carelesse heauens wretch'd earth Cho. What loads thy minde Nun. Amultitude of murders Cho. What Nun. What not Cho. We know that since our soueraigne lest to breath Th' earth hath been bathde with many a scarlet flood Perdiccas did procure Meleagers death And his owne souldiers drown'd his breath with blood Th' Athenians prey Leonatus did remaine And by Eumenes subtiltie dismayde Craterus and Neoptolemus were slaine Then by his owne Eumenes dide betraid Phil. Man with his skill against his knowledge striues Where death his way attends that way he tends And t' Atropos the fatall rasor giues To cut the threed on which his life depends When th' Asian victour after all his warres To visit Babilon had bent his mind Both I and others studious of the starres Did shew that there his ruine was design'd To his successours too we oft haue showne The meanes by which their fate might be controld Yet was our skill contemnde and they ore-thrown As we fore-told and as they now haue told Nun. They haue told much and yet I must tell more Their newes were euill yet were they not the worst Cho. And haue the heau'ns reseru'd mo plagues in store As if we yet were not enough accurst Nun. As th' earth in pride the heauens in plagues abounds Our highest hopes haue perisht but of late Cho. Then wound our eares by hearing others wounds That pittie now may tread the steppes of hate Nun. Our Queene Olimpias rauisht by reuenge All Macedony did with murders fill Which from her part the people did estrange Whilst nought but rigour limited her will So that when fierce Cassander sought her wreake She did mistrust the Macedonians mindes And for the time the neerest strength did take There till the storme was past t' attend faire windes But soone Cassander did the towne enclose And as she held him out did hold her in That like a captiue guarded by her foes She knew not by what way a way to winne And when their lifes prouision did decay Then did bare walles but small refuge afford She Scilla scap'd to be Charibdis prey That fell on famine flying from the sword Strait like pale Ghosts faint souldiers did remaine Whose bowels hunger like a Harpie teares And with courageous words the Queene in vaine Did raise their spirit the belly hath no eares All then began to languish and to fade As if being tir'de to beare themselues about Legges fail'd the bodie and the necke the head Then whilst the flesh fell in bones bursted out And when that th' ordinarie meates were spent Then horses dogs cats rats all seru'd for food Of which no horror th' eater did torment For all that was not poison then seem'd good Some mouthes accustom'd once with daintie meates Wish'd what they oft had loath'd I le crums foule floods And Ladyes that had liu'd in pompous states Fed as brought vp with wolues amidst the woods Yea nurst by those whom they themselues had nurst Oft then by th' of springs death th' engendrer liu'd And which was worst whilst breasts were like to burst None comfort could for all themselues were grieu'd Such was their state no friend bewaild bis friend No wife her husband nor no Syre his sonne For apprehending their approching end All with compassion of them selues were wonne The dead mens smell empoison'd them that liu'd Whilst first made faint by a defrauded wombe Heapes were of breath and buriall both depriu'd That all the towne in end was but a tombe Cho. Life is the subiect of distresse and griefe That still ministers matters to bemone And onely but by death can haue reliefe To liue and to be wretch'd are both but one Yet foolish worldlings tossde with endlesse care Though at too deare a rate would still buy breath And following after feathers thrown through th' aire Like life though wretch'd more then a happie death Nun. When thus the world Olimpias plagu'd did spie All sought Cassander though for seuerall ends Cho. As from a pest all from th' vnhappy flie Th' eclipse of Fortune threatens losse of friends Nun. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege since vittailes were growne scant Did send as weake for peace t' intreat the strong Cho. What cannot time and trauell sometime daunt Nun. Then did Cassander know that need constrain'd Her so to bow as strangely being diseasde And though he her request not quite disdain'd Th' agreement was appointed as he pleasde For all the fauour that she could procure Was leaue to liue a priuate person still And yet of that she could not be made sure Which did depend vpon her enemies will Then whilst Cassander fought his enemies ends There wanted not strange troupes with him t' abide Yet might haue many followers and few friends Friends by the touchstone of distresse are try'd Nun. But though the Queene was rendred in this sort With protestation t' haue her life preseru'd The tyrant with her spirit could not comport But from his faith for her confusion sweru'd The Macedonians were togither brought There to consult what did concerne their Queene But when of them a number deepely thought Both what she was and what she once had beene Euen as Cassander had subborn'd them all Their parents came whom she had damn'd to death And did her rigour to remembrance call By which the multitude was mou'd to wrath Whilst from their
die By which if I be barr'd t' encounter death Another meanes though farre more strange I le trie For after Brutus none shall see me breathe Brut. Thou for my cause abandon'd others else But now forsakst thy selfe t' adhere to me That of thy passions thus the powre repells And with thy minde discords with mine t' agree I le since by thee approou'd securely goe And vilipend the dangers of this life Heauens make my enterprise to prosper so That I prooue worthy of so worthy a wife But ah of all thy words those grieue me most That bost me with th' abridgement of thy dayes What though I in so good a cause were lost None flies th' appointed fate that for him staies Do not defraud the world of thy rare worth But of thy Brutus the remembrance loue And from so faire a prison breake not forth Till first the fates haue forcde thee to remoue Port. I feare the heauens haue our confusion sworne Since this illage can with no good accord Thou and my father ah should haue bin borne When Vertue was aduauncde and Vice abhorrd Then ere the light of vertue was declinde Your worth had reuerenâ—de bin not throwne away Where now ye both haue but in darkenes shinde As starres by night that had bin sunnes by day Brut. My treasure striue to pacisie thy breast Lest sorrowes but sinistrously presage That which thou would not wish and hope the best Though vertue now must act on Fortunes stage Exeunt Chorus THan libertie of earthly things What more delights a generous breast That doth receiue And can conceiue The matchlesse treasure that it brings It making men securely rest As all perceiue Doth none deceiue Whilst weigh'd with doubts none ballanc'd hings But feard for nought doth what seemes best Then men are men when they are all their owne Not but by others badges when made knowne Yet should we not mis-spending houres A freedome seeke as oft it falles With an intent But to content These vaine delights and appetites of ours For then but being made greater thralles We might repent Our not being pent In stricter bounds by others powres VVhilst feare licentious thoughts appalles Of all the tyrants that the world affords Ones owne affections are the fiercest Lords As Libertines those onely liue That from the bands of vice set free Vile thoughts cancell And seeke t' excell In all that doth true glorie giue From which when as no tyrants be Them to repell And to compell They deedes against their thoughts to striue They blestare in a high degree For such of same the scroules can hardly fill Whose wit is bounded by anothers will That Rome from Tarquins yoke redeemde Who first obtaind And then maintaind Their libertie so deerely lou'd They from all things that odious seemd Though not constraind Themselues restraind And willingly all good approu'd Bent to be much yet wel esteemd And how could such but aime at some great end Whom libertie did leade and glory attend They leading valorous legions foorth Though wanting kings triumph'd ouer kings And still aspird By Mars inspir'd To conquer all from South to North Then lending Fame their Eagles wings They all acquir'd That was requir'd To make them rare for rarest things The world being witnesse of their Worth Thus those great minds that domineer'd ouer all Did make themselues first free then others thrall But we that hold nought but their name From that to which they in times gone Did high ascend Must low discend And bound their glory with our shame Whilst on an abiect tyrants throne We basely attend And doe intend Vs for our fortune still to frame Not it for vs and all for one As libertie a courage doth impart So bondage doth disbend els breake the heart Yet O who knowes but Rome to grace Another Brutus may arise That may effect What we affect And Tarquins steppes make Caesar trace Though seeming dangers to dispise He doth suspect What we exspect Which from his breast hath banish'd peace Though fairely he his feares disguise Of tyrants th' iniurie reuenge affords All feare but theirs and they feare all mens swords ACT. IIII. SCENE I. Decius Brutus Albinus Marcus Brutus Caius Cassius DEare cosin Cassius did acquaint mine eares With a designe that toss'd my minde a space For when strange newes a strangers breath first beares Then should not trust t' each rash report giue place I would not then discouer what I thought Lest he t' entrap my tongue a snare had fram'd Till I with thee t' a conference first was brought Whom he for patron of his purpose namde One should beware to whom his minde he leaues In dangerous times when tales by walles are tolde Men make themselues most miserably slaues Of those to whom their secrets they vnfolde M. Bru. As Cassius tolde thee pittying Romes distresse That t' our disgrace in bondage doth remaine We straight intend what euer we professe With Caesars blood to wash away this staine Though for this end a few sufficient are To whom their vertue courage doth impart Yet were wee loath to wrong thy worth so farre As of such glorie to giue thee no part Since both this cause and that thy name thee binde In this aduentrous band to be comprisde There needes no rhetoricke to raise thy minde That t' execute which thou should haue deuisde D. Bru. I thoght no creature shuld my purpose know But he whose intrest promisde mutuall cares Of those to whom one would his secrets show No greater pledge of trust than to know theirs As when two meet being mask'd though whiles neare frends With them as strangers no respect takes place But when that friendship one of them pretends Then th' other likewise doth vncloude his face So as thou first I le now at last be bold My breast with the same birth long great hath gone Yet I t'another durst it not vnfolde Nor yet attempt to compasse it alone But since this course of which I long did pause On such great pillars now so strongly stands Whose countanaunce may giue credite t' any cause It hath my heart and it shall haue my hands C. Cass T' our enterprise propitious signes are sent So that the gods would giue vs courage thus For all that euer heard of our intent Would willingly engage themselues with vs Let other men discourse of vertuous rites Ours but by th' action only should be showne Bare speculation is but for such sprites As want of powre or courage keepes vnknowne In those that Vertue view when crown'd with deeds Whose beauties through the glasse of glory shinde Sh'a violent desire t' imbrace her breedes As th' adamant to th' yrne being to the minde What though a number now in darkenesse lies That are too weake for matters of such weight We that are eminent in all mens eies Let vs still hold the height of honour straight M. Br. Whilst that our faction might be strangthned thus I labord much to purchase all their powres Whom
base companions then to be compar'd With one that may consume such in his wrath Who as I please do punish and reward Whose words nay euen whose lookes yeeld life or death Sol. Sir be not thus commoo'ud without all reason Nor misconceiue my meaning as you do Those that speake freely haue no mind of treason I cannot be your friend and flatter to Vnto vs Graecians Sir the gods haue granted A moderate measure of a humble wit And in our Countrie there haue neuer wanted Some whom the world for wise men did admit And yet amongst vs all the greatest number Haue here dispair'd of any perfect rest Though some a while in Fortunes bosome slumber And to world-blinded eyes seeme to be blest Yet ouer all mortall states change so preuailes We alterations daily do attend And hold this for a ground that neuer failes None should triumph in blisse before the end I may compare our state to table-playes Where by dumbe iudges matters are decided Their many doubts the earnest mind dismayes The dice must first cast well then be well guided So all our dayes in doubt what thing may chance vs Time runnes away the breath of man doth chace it And when th' occasion come's for to aduance vs Amongst a thousand one can scarce embrace it When two by generous indignation mooued Would trie by sword whose glorie fame will smother Whilst valour blindly by th' euent is prooued And th'ones ouerthrow can onely grace the other O what a foole his iudgment will commit To crowne the one with vndeseru'd applauses Where fortune is for to giue sentence yet While bloody agents pleade such doubtfull causes This world it is the field where each man ventures And arm'd with reason resolutely goes To fight against a thousand misaduentures Both with externall and internall foes And how can he the victors title gaine That yet is busied with a doubtfull fight Or he be happie that doth still remaine In Fortunes danger for a small delight Th' abortiue course of man away fast weares Course that consists of houres houres of a day Day that giue 's place to night night full of feares Thus all things alter still all things decay Who flourish now in peace may fall in strife And haue their fame with infamie supprest The euening shew's the day the death the life And many are fortunate but few are blest Croes I see this Grecian of a simple spirite The which is capable of no great things Men but aduance him far aboue his merite He can not comprehend the States of Kings Fame did so largely of his worth report It made me long to haue him in my house But all my expectations are come short I thinke a Mountaine hath brought forth a mouse Exit Croesus Act. II. Scen. II. SOLON AESOPE Sol. THis king hath put his trust in trustlesse treasures Cloi'd with th' abundance of all worldy blisse And like a hooded hawk gorg'd with vaine pleasures At randon flies and wots not where he is O how this makes me wonderfully sorie To see him keepe this lifelesse wealth so straitly Whilst witlesse worldlings wonder at his glorie Which I not enuie no but pittie greatly Thus wormes of th' earth whose worst part doth preuaile Loue melting things whose shew the body fits Where Soules of cleerer sight do neuer faile To thesaurize the gifts of gallant wits Those worldly things do in this world decay Or at the least we leaue them with our breath Whereas the other makes vs liue foray So differ they as farre as life and death Aesop And yet what wonder though that he be thus Whose knowledge clouded is with prosp'rous windes Though this indeed seeme somewhat strange to vs Who haue with learning purifide our mindes Was he not borne heire of a mighty State And vsde with Fortunes smiles not fear'd for frownes Doth measure all things by his owne conceate Th' infirmitie that fatall is to Crownes He hath been from his infancy addicted To all the pompous showes wealth could deuise And still entreated neuer contradicted Now doth all libertie of speech despise Though I durst not so to his fight appeare Whose corrupt iudgement was from reason sweruing I grieu'd to see your entertainement here So far inferior to your owne deseruing That diuine Wisdom which the world admires And rauish'd with delight amazed heares Because it answer'd not his vaine desires Did seeme vnsauorie to distemper'd eares Eares that are euer stopt to all discourses Saue such as enter fraughted with his praises He can loue none but them that loue his courses And thinks all fooles that vse not flattring phrases This wracks the great and makes the heauens despight them Let vertue spread forth all her heauenly powers If not in their owne liuery to delight them They will not daigne her audience a few howers Sol. I care not Aesop how the King conceated Of my franke speeches which I euer vse I came not here till I was first entreated Nor being come will I my name abuse Should I his poysonous Sycophants resemble A hatefull thing to honest men that know it I would not for his Diadem dessemble What the hart thinks the tongue was made to show it And what if his vaine humor to haue cherish'd I had my speeches for the purpose painted I had but gotten gifts that would haue perish'd But nothing could haue cleer'd my fame once tainted If I had show'n my selfe toward him officious It would in end haue but procur'd my shame To haue our vertue prais'd by one that 's vicious This in effect is but a secret blame He thinks him simple who his anger raises But better simply good then doubly ill I neuer value my worth by others praises Nor by opinions do direct my will And it content's me more to be applauded By one of iudgement though of meane degree Then by a Prince of princely parts defrauded Who hath more wealth but not more wit then hee Aesop Who come to Court must with Kings faults comport Sol. Who come to Court should trueth to Kings report Aesop A wise man at their imperfections winks Sol. An honest man will tell them what he thinks Aesop So should you loose your selfe and them not win Sol. But I would beare no burden of their sin Aesop By this you should their indignation finde Sol. Yet haue the warrant of a worthy minde Aesop It would be long ere you were thus prefer'd Aesop Then it should be the King not I that er'd Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Sol. Yet when I merite well I care the lesse Aesop It 's good to be still by the Prince approued Sol. It 's better to be vpright though not loued Aesop But by this meane all hope of Honor failes Aesop Yet honestie in end euer preuailes Aesop I thinke they should excell as oft they do All men in wit that vnto men giue lawes Kings are the Center of the