braine To obtaine hell Thinkst thou earths great Potentates haue gotten their places there with Any single act of murther poysoning adutery And the rest No t is a purchase for all manner Of villany especially that may be priuiledg'd By Authority colourd with holinesse and enioyd With pleasure Fro. O this were most honourable and admirable Oph. Why such an admirable honorable villane shalt Thou be Fro. Is 't possible Oph. Make no doubt on 't I le inspire thee Fro. Sacred and puissant He kneeles Oph. Away Companion and friend giue me thy Hand say dost not loue me art not enamourd Of my acquaintance Fro. Protest I am Oph. Well said protest and t is enough And know for Infallible I haue promotion for thee both here and Hereafter which not one great one amongst Millions shall euer aspire to Alexander nor great Cyrus retaine those titles in hell that they did On earth Fro. No Oph. No he that sold Seacoale here shall be A Baron there he that was a cheating Rogue here shall be a Iustice of peace there A knaue here a knight there In the meane Space learne what it is to liue and thou shalt Haue Chopines at commandment to any height Of life thou canst wish Fro. I feare my fall is too low Oph. Too low foole hast thou not heard of Vulcans falling Out of heauen Light a thy legges and no matter Though thou halt'st with thy best friend euer after t is The more comely and fashionable Better goe lame In the fashion with Pompey then neuer so vpright Quite out of the fashon with Cato Fro. Yet you cannot change the old fashion they say And hide your clouen feet Oph. No I can weare Roses that shall spread quite Ouer them Fro. For loue of the fashion doe then Oph. Goe to I will hereafter Fro. But for the Priesthood you offer me I affect it not Oph. No what saist thou to a rich office then Fro. The only second meanes to raise a rascall In the earth Oph. Goe to I le helpe thee to the beâ—â— i th earth then And that 's in Sicilia the very storehouse of the Romanes where the Lord chiefe Censor there Lyes now a dying whose soule I will haue and Thou shalt haue his office Fro. Excellent was euer great office better supplied Exeunt Nuntius Now is the mighty Empresse of the earth Great Rome fast lockt vp in her fancied strength All broke in vproares fearing the iust gods In plagues will drowne her so abused blessings In which feare all without her wals fly in By both their iarring Champions rushing out And those that were within as fast fly forth The Consuls both are fled without one rite Of sacrifice submitted to the gods As euer heretofore their custome was When they began the bloody frights of warre In which our two great Souldiers now encountring Since both left Rome oppos'd in bitter skirmish Pompey not willing yet to hazard battaile By Catâ—s counsaile vrging good cause fled Which firing Caesars spirit he pursu'd So home and fiercely that great Pompey skorning The heart he tooke by his aduised flight Despisde aduice as much as his pursuite And as in Lybia an aged Lion Vrg'd from his peacefull couert feareâ— the light With his vnready and diseas'd appearance Giues way to chace a while and coldly hunts Till with the youthfull hunters wanton heat He all his coole wrath frets into a flame And then his sides he swinges with his Sterne To lash his strenth vp let 's downe all his browes About his burning eyes erects his mane Breakes all hiâ— throat in thunders and to wreake His hunters insolence his heart euen barking He frees his fury turnes and rushes back With such a gastly horror that in heapes His proud foeâ— fly and he that station keepes So Pompeys coole spirits put to all their heat By Caesars hard pursuit he turnd fresh head And flew vpon his foe with such a rapture Aâ— tooke vp into furies all friends feares Who fir'd with his first turning all turnd head And gaue so fierce a charge their followers fled Whose instant issue on their both sides see And after set out such a tragedy As all the Princes of the earth may come To take their patternes by the spirits of Rome Alarme after which enter Caesar following Crassiniuscalling to the Souldiers Crass. Stay cowherd fly ye Caesars fortunes Caes. Forbeare foolish Crassinius we contend in vaine To stay these vapours and must raise our Campe. Crass. How shall we rise my Lord but all in vproares â—eing still pursude Enter Acilius The pursuit stayes my Lord Pompey hath sounded a retreat resigning His time to you to vse in instant raysing Your ill-lodg'd army piâ—ching now where fortune May good amends make for her fault to day Caes. It was not fortunes fault 〈◊〉 mine Acilius To giue my foe charge being so neare the â—ea Where well I knew the eminence of his strength And should haue driuen th' encounter further off Bearing before me such a goodly Country So plentifull and rich in all things fit To haue suppli'd my armies want with victuals And th' able Cities too to strengthen it Of Macedon and Thessaly where now I rather was besieg'd for want of food Then did assault with fighting force of armes Enter Anthony Vibius with others Ant. See Sir here 's one friend of your foes recouer'd Caes. Vibius In happy houre Vib. For me vnhappy Caes. What brought against your will Vib. Else had not come Ant. Sir hee 's your prisoner but had made you his Had all the rest pursu'd the chace like him He draue on like a fury past all friends But we that tooke him quick in his engagement Caes. O Vibius you deserue to pay a ransome Of infinite rate for had your Generall ioyn'd In your addression or knowne how to conquer This day had prou'd him the supreame of Caesar. Vib. Knowne how to conquer His fiue hundred Conquests Atchieu'd ere this day make that doubt vnfit For him that flyes him for of issues doubtfull Who can at all times put on for the best If I were mad must hee his army venture In my engagement Nor are Generalls euer Their powers disposers by their proper Angels But trust against them oftentimes their Counsailes Wherein I doubt not Caesars selfe hath err'd Sometimes as well as Pompey Caes. Or done worse In disobeying my Counsaile Vibius Of which this dayes abused light is witnesse By which I might haue seene a course secure Of this discomfiture Ant. Amends â—its euer Aboue repentance what 's done wish not vndone But that prepared patience that you know Best fits a souldier charg'd with hardest fortunes Asks still your vse since powers still temperate kept Ope still the clearer eyes by one faults sight To place the next act in the surer right Caes. You prompt me nobly Sir repayring in me Mine owne stayes practice out of whose repose The strong convulsions of my spirits forc't me Thus farre beyond my temper but good
THE WARRES OF POMPEY and CAESAR Out of whose euents is euicted this Proposition Only a iust man is a freeman By G. C. LONDON Printed by THOMAS HARPER and are to be sold by Godfrey Emondson and Thomas Alchorne M.DC.XXXI TO THE RIGHT HONOrable his exceeding good Lord the Earle of Middlesex c. THough my good Lord this martiall History suffer the diuision of Acts and Scenes both for the more perspicuity and height of the celebration yet neuer toucht it at the Stage or if it had though some may perhaps causelesly empaire it yet would it I hope fall vnder no exception in your Lordships better-iudgeing estimation since scenicall representation is so farre from giuing iust cause of any least diminution that the personall and exact life it giues to any History or other such delineation of humane actions 〈◊〉 to them luster spirit and apprehension which the only section of Acts and 〈◊〉 makes mee stand vpon thus much siâ—ce that only in some precisianismes will require a little preuention And the hasty prose the stile auoides obtaine to the more temperate and stai'd numerous elocution some assistance to the acceptation and grace of it Though ingeniously my gratitude confesseth my Lord it is not such as hereafter I vow to your honor being written so long since and had not the timely ripenesse of that age that I thank God I yet finde no fault withall for any old defects Good my Lord vouchsafe your idle minutes may admit some slight glances at this till some worke of more nouelty and fashion may conferre this the more liking of your honors more worthy deseruings To which his bounden affection vowes all seruices Euer your Lordships GEO. CHAPMAN The Argument POmpey and Caesar bring their Armies so neare Rome that the Senate except against them Caesar vnduly and ambitiously commanding his forces Pompey more for feare of Caesars violence to the State then mou'd with any affectation of his own greatnesse Their opposite pleadings out of which admirable narrations are made which yet not conducing to their ends warre ends them In which at first Caesar is forc't to fly whom Pompey not pursuing with such wings as fitted a speeding Conqueror his victory was preuented and he vnhappily dishonor'd Whose ill fortune his most louing and learned wife Cornelia trauailde after with paines solemne and carefull enough whom the two Lentnli and others attended till she miserably found him and saw him monstrously murthered Both the Consuls and Cato are slaughterd with their owne invincible hands and Caesar in spight of all his fortune without his victory victor ONELY A IVST MAN IS A FREE MAN Act I. Scene I. Cato Athenodorus Porcius Statilius Cat. NOw will the two Suns of our Romane Heauen Pompey Caesar in their Tropicke burning Witâ— their contention all the clouds assemble That thâ—eaten tempests to our peace Empire Which we shall shortly see poure down in bloud Ciuill and naturall wilde and barbarous turning Ath. From whence presage you this Cat. From both their Armies Now gathered neere our Italie contending To enter seuerally Pompeys brought so neere By Romes consent for feare of tyranous Caesar Which Caesar fearing to be done in fauour Of Pompey and his passage to the Empire Hath brought on his for interuention And such a flocke of Puttocks follow Caesar For fall of his ill-disposed Purse That neuer yet spar'd Crosse to Aquiline vertue As well may make all ciuill spirits suspicious Looke how against great raines a standing Poole Of Paddockes Todes and water-Snakes put vp Their speckl'd throates aboue the venemous Lake Croking and gasping for some fresh falne drops To quench their poisond thirst being neere to stifle With clotterd purgings of their owne foule bane So still where Caesar goes there thrust vp head Impostors Flatterers Fauorites and Bawdes Buffons Intelligencers select wits Close Murtherers Montibanckes and decaied Theeues To gaine their banefull liues reliefes from him From Britaine Belgia France and Germanie The scum of either Countrie chus'd by him To be his blacke Guard and red Agents here Swarming about him Porc. Aâ—d all these are said To be suborn'd in chiefe against your selfe Since Caesar chiefly feares that you will â—it This day his opposite in the cause for which Both you were sent for home and he hath stolne Accesse so soone here Pompey whole rest raisde To his encounter and on both sides Rome In generall vproaâ—e Stat. Which Sir if you â—aw And knew how for the danger all suspect To this your worthiest friend for that knowne freedome His spirit will vse this day 'gainst both the Riuals His wife and familie mourne no food no comfort Allowd them for his danger you would vse Your vtmost powrs to stay him from the Senate All this daies Session Cat. Hee 's too wise Statilius For all is nothing Stat. Nothing Sir I â—aw Castor and Pollux Temple thrust vp full With all the damn'd crew you haue lately nam'd The market place and suburbs swarming with them And where the Senate siâ— are Ruffians pointed To keepe from entring the degrees that goe Vp to the Bench all other but the Consuls Caesar and Pompey and the Senators And all for no cause but to keepe out Cato With any violence any villanie And is this nothing Sir Is his One life On whom all good liues and their goods depend In Romes whole Empire All the Iuâ—â—ice there That 's free and simple all such virtues too And all such knowledge Nothing nothing all Cat. Away Statilius how long shall thy loue Exceede thy knowledge of me and the Gods Whose rights thoâ— wrongst for my right haue not I Their powers to guard me in a cause of theirs Their iustice and integrity included In what I stand for he that feares the Gods For guard of any goodnesse all things feares Earth Seas and Aire Heauen darknesse broade day-light Rumor and Silence and his very shade And what an Aspen soule hath such a creature How dangerous to his soule iâ— such a feare In whose cold fits is all heauens iustice shaken To his faint thoughts and all the goodnesse there Due to all good men by the gods owne vowes Nay by the firmenesse of their endlesse Being All which shall faile as soone as any one Good to a good man in them for his goodnesse Proceeds from them and is a beame of theirs O neuer more Statilius may this feare Taint thy bould bosome for thy selfe or friend More then the gods are fearefull to defend Athen. Come let him goe Statilius and your fright This man hath inward guard past your yong sight Exeunt Enter Minutius manet Cato Cat. Welcome come stand by me in what is fit For our poore Cities safety nor respect Her proudest foes corruption or our danger Of what seene face soeuer Min. I am yours But what alas Sir can the weaknesse doe Against our whole State of vs only two You know our Statists spirits are so corrupt And seruile to the greatest that what crosseth Them
soules So hard a taske approue it nor my hopes Of his sincere loue to his Country build On sandier grounds then Caesars since he can As good Cards shew for it as Caesar did And quit therein the close aspersion Of his ambition seeking to imploy His army in the breast of Italy Pomp. Let me not thus imperiall Bench and Senate Feele myselfe beat about the eares and tost With others breathes to any coast they please And not put some stay to my errors in them The gods can witnesse that not my ambition Hath brought to question th' entry of my army And therefore not suspected the effect Of which that entry is supposde the cause Which is a will in me to giue my power The rule of Romes sole Empire that most strangely Would put my will in others powers and powers Vnforfeit by my fault in others wills My selfe-loue out of which all this must rise I will not wrong the knowne proofes of my loue To this my natiue Cities publique good To quit or thinke of nor repeat those proofes Confirm'd in those three triumphs I haue made For conquest of the whole inhabited world First Affrick Europe and then Asia Which neuer Consull but my selfe could boast Nor can blinde Fortune vaunt her partiall hand In any part of all my seruices Though some haue said she was the page of Caesar Both sayling marching fighting and preparing His fights in very order of his battailes The parts she plaid for him inuerting nature As giuing calmnesse to th' enraged sea Imposing Summers weather on sterne winter Winging the slowest foot he did command And his most Cowherd making fierce of hand And all this euer when the force of man Was quite exceeded in it all and she In th' instant adding her cleare deity Yet her for me I both disclaime and scorne And where all fortune is renounc't no reason Will thinke one man transferd with affectation Of all Pomes Empire for he must haue fortune That goes beyond a man and where so many Their hand-fulls finde with it the one is mad That vndergoes it and where that is clear'd Th' imputed meanes to it which is my â—ute For entry of mine army I confute Cat. What rests then this of all parts being disclaimd Met. My part Sir rests that let great Pompey beare What spirit he lists 't is needfull yet for Rome That this Law be establisht for his army Caes. T is then aâ— needfull to admit in mine Or else let both lay downe our armes for else To take my charge off and leaue Pompey his You wrongfully accuse me to intend A tyranny amongst ye and shall giue Pompey full meanes to be himselfe a tyrant Anth. Can this be answer'd 1 Cons. Is it then your wils That Pompey shall cease armes Anth. What else Omnes No no. 2 Cons. Shall Caesar cease his armes Omn. I I. Anth. For shame Then yeeld to this cleare equity that both May leaue their armes Omn. We indifferent stand Met. Read but this law and you shall see a difference Twixt equity and your indifferency All mens obiections answered Read it Notary Cat. He shall not read it Met. I will read it then Min. Nor thou shalt read it being a thing â—o vaine Pretending cause for Pompeys armies entry That only by thy Complices and thee T is forg'd to set the Senate in an vproare Met. I haue it Sir in memory and will speake it Cat. Thou shalt be dumbe as soone Caes. Pull downe this Cato Author of factions and to prison with him Gen. Come downe Sir He drawes and all draw Pom. Hence ye mercenary Ruffians 1 Cons. What outrage shew you sheath your insolent swords Or be proclaim'd your Countreys foes and traytors Pom. How insolent a part was this in you To offer the imprisonment of Cato When there is right in him were forme so answer'd With termes and place to send vs both to prison If of our owne ambitions we should offer Th' entry of our armies for who knowes That of vs both the best friend to his Country And freest from his owne particular ends Being in his power would not assume the Empire And hauing it could rule the State so well As now 't is gouer'nd for the common good Caes Accuse your selfe Sir if your conscience vrge it Or of ambition or corruption Or insufficiency to rule the Empire And sound not me with your Lead Pom. Lead t is Gold And spirit of Gold too to the politique drosse With which false Caesar â—ounds men and for which His praise and honour crownes them who sounds not The inmost sand of Caesar for but sand Is all the rope of your great parts affected You speake well and are learn'd and golden speech Did Nature neuer giue man but to guild A copper soule in him and all that learning That heartily is spent in painting speech Is merely painted and no solid knowledge But y 'aue another praise for temperance Which nought commends your free choice to be temperate For so you must be at least in your meales Since y 'aue a malady that tyes you to it For feare of daily fals in your aspirings And your disease the gods nere gaue to man But such a one as had a spirit too great For all his bodies passages to serue it Which notes th' excesse of your ambition The malady chancing where the pores and passages Through which the spirit of a man is borne So narrow are and straight that oftentimes They intercept it quite and choake it vp And yet because the greatnesse of it notes A heat mere fleshly and of bloods ranck fire Goates are of all beasts subiect'st to it most Caes. Your selfe might haue it then if those faults cause it But deales this man ingeniously to tax Men with a frailty that the gods inflict Pomp. The gods inflict on men diseases neuer Or other outward maimes but to decipher Correct and order some rude vice within them And why decipher they it but to make Men note and shun and tax it to th' extreame Nor will I see my Countryes hopes abusde In any man commanding in her Empire If my more tryall of him makes me see more Into his intricasies and my freedome Hath spirit to speake more then obseruers seruile Caes. Be free Sir of your insight and your speech And speak and see more then the world besides I must remember I haue heard of one That same gaue out could see thorow Oke and stone And of another set in Sicily That could discerne the Carthaginian Nauy And number them distinctly leauing harbor Though full a day and nights saile distant thence But these things Reuerend Fathers I conceiue Hardly appeare to you worth graue beliefe And therefore since such strange things haue beene seene In my so deepe and foule detractions By only Lyncean Pompey who was most Lou'd and beleeu'd of Romes most famous whore Infamous Flora by so fine a man As Galba or Sarmentus any iester Or flatterer may draw
it with all thanks The Romane Genius is alterd now And armes for Caesar. Caes. Soothsayer be for euer Reuerenc't of Caesar. O Marc Anthony I thought to raise my camp and all my tents Tooke downe for swiâ—t remotion to Scotussa Shall now our purpose hold Anth. Against the gods They grace in th' instant and in th' instant we Must adde our parts and be in th' vse as free Crass. See Sir the scouts returne Enter two scouts Caes. What newes my friends 1 Scou. Arme arme my Lord the voward of the foe Is rang'd already 2 Scou. Answer them and arme You cannot set your rest of battell vp In happyer houre for I this night beheld A strange confusion in your enemies campe The souldiers taking armes in all dismay And hurling them againe as fast to earth Euery way routing as th' alarme were then Giuen to their army A most causelesse feare Disperst quite through them Caes. Then t was Ioue himselfe That with his secret finger stirr'd in them Crass. Other presages of successe my Lord Haue strangely hapn'd in th' adiacent Citieâ— To this your army for in Tralleis Within a Temple built to Victory There stands a statue of your forme and name Neare whose firme base euen from the marble pauement There sprang a Palme tree vp in this last night That seemes to crowne your statue with his boughs Spred in wrapt shadowes round about your browes Caes. The signe Crassinius is most strange and gracefull Nor could get issue but by power diuine Yet will not that nor all abodes besides Of neuer such kinde promise of successe Performe it without tough acts of our owne No care no nerue the lesse to be emploid No offering to the gods no vowes no prayers Secure and idle spirits neuer thriue When most the gods for their aduancements striue And therefore tell me what abodes thou buildst on In an spirit to act enflam'd in thee Or in our Souldiers seene resolu'd addresses Crass. Great and firy virtue And this day Be sure great Caesar of effects as great In absolute conquest to which are prepar'd Enforcements resolute from this arm'd hand Which thou shalt praise me for aliue or dead Caes. Aliue ye gods vouchsafe and my true vowes For life in him great heauen for all my foes Being naturall Romans so farre ioyntly heare As may not hurt our Conquest as with feare Which thou already strangely hast diffusde Through all their army which extend to flight Without one bloody stroke of force and fight Anth. T is time my Lord you put in forme your battell Caes. Since we must fight then and no offerd peace Will take with Pompey I reioyce to see This long-time lookt for and most happy day In which we now shall fight with men not hunger With toyles not sweats of blood through yeares extended This one day seâ—uing to decide all iarres Twixt me and Pompey Hang out of my tent My Crimsine coat of armes to giue my souldiers That euer-sure signe of resolu'd-for fight Crass. These hands shall giue that signe to all their longings Exit Crass. Caes. My Lord my army I thinke best to order In three full Squadrons of which let me pray Your selfe would take on you the left wings charge My selfe will lead the right wing and my place Of fight elect in my tenth legion My battell by Dâ—mitius Calvinus Shall take direction The Cote of Armes is hung out and the Souldiers shoute within An. Heark your souldiers shoute For ioy to see your bloody Cote of Armes Assure their fight this morning Caes. A blest Euen Bring on them worthy comforts And ye gods Performe your good presages in euents Of fit crowne for our discipline and deeds Wrought vp by conquest that my vse of it May wipe the hatefull and vnworthy sâ—aine Of Tyrant from my Temples and exchange it For fautor of my Country ye haue giuen That title to those poore and fearefull fowles That euery sound puts vp in frights and cryes Euen then when all Romes powers were weake and heartles When traiterous fires and fierce Barbarian swoâ—ds Rapines and soule-expiring slaughters fild Her houses Temples all her ayre and earth To me then whom your bounties haue enform'd With such a spirit as despiseth feare Commands in either fortune knowes and armes Against the worst of fate and therefore can Dispose blest meanes encourag'd to the best Much more vouchsafe that honor chiefely now When Rome wants only this dayes conquest giuen me To make her happy to confirme the brightnesse That yet she shines in ouer all the world In Empire riches strife of all the Arts In gifts of Cities and of kingdomes sent her In Crownes laid at her feet in euery grace That shores and seas floods Islands Continents Groues fields hills mines and metals can produce All which I victor will encrease I vow By all my good acknowledg'd giuen by you Act IIII Scene I. Pompey in haste Brutus Gabinius Vibius following THe poyson steep't in euery vaine of Empire In all the world meet now in onely me Thunder and lighten me to death and make My senses feed the flame my soule the crack Was euer soueraigne Captaine of so many Armies and Nations so opprest as I With one hosts headstrong outrage vrging fight Yet fly about my campe in panick terrors No reason vnder heauen suggesting cause And what is this but euen the gods deterring My iudgement from enforcing fight this mornâ— The new-fled night made day with Meteors Fir'd ouer Caesars campe and falne in mine As pointing out the terrible euentâ— Yet in suspence but where they threat their â—all Speake not these prodigies with fiery tongues And eloquence that should not moue but rauish All sound mindes from thus tempting the iust gods And spitting out their faire premonishing flames With brackish â—heumes of ruderand brainsick number What 's infinitely more thus wild thus mad For one poore fortune of a beaten few To halfe so many staid and dreadfull souldiers Long train'd long foughten able nimâ—le perfect To turne and winde aduantage euery way Encrease with little and enforce with none Maâ—e bold as Lyons gaunt as famisht wolues With still seru'd slaughters and continuall toyles Bru. You should noâ— Sir foâ—sake your owne wise Counsell Your owne experienâ—'t discipline owne practise Owne god inspired insight to all changes Of Protean fortune and her â—â—ny warre For hosts â—nd helâ— of such What man will thinke The best of them not mad to see them raâ—ge So vp and downe your campe already suing For offices falne by Caesars built on fall Before one stroke be struck Domitius Spinther Your father Scipiâ— new preparing friends For Caesars place of vniuersall Bishop Are you th' obserued rule and voucht example Who euer would commend Physitians That would not follow the diseas'd desires Of their sick patients yet incurre your selfe The faults that you so much abhorre in others Pom. I cannot Sir abide mens open mouthes Nor be ill spoken of nor haue my counsels And circumspections
turnd on me for feares With mocks and scandals that would make a man Of lead a lightning in the desperat'st onset That euer trampled vnder death his life I beare the touch of feare for all their safeties Or for mine owne enlarge with twice as many Selfe-liues selfe-fortunes they shall sinke beneath Their owne credulities before I crosse them Come haste dispose our battaile Vib. Good my Lord Against your Genius warre not for the world Pom. By all worlds he that moues me next to beare Their scoâ—s and imputations of my feare For any cause shall beare this sword to hell Away to battaile good my Lord lead you The whole six thousand of our yong Patricians Plac't in the left wing to enuiron Caesar. My father Scipio shall lead the battaile Domitius the left wing I the right Against Marc Anthony Take now your fils Ye beastly doters on your barbarous wills Exeunt Alarme excursions of al The fiue Kings driuen ouer the Stage Crassinius chiefely pursuing At the dore enter againe the fiue Kings The battell continued within Epir. Fly fly the day was lost before was fought Thess. The Romans feard their shadowes Cil. Were there euer Such monstrous confidences as last night Their Cups and musique shew'd Before the morning Made such amazes ere one stroke was struck Iber. It made great Pompey mad which who could mend The gods had hand in it Tra. It made the Consuls Run on their swords to see 't The braue Patricianâ— Fled with their spoyled faces arrowes sticking As shot from heauen at them Thess. T was the charge That Caesar gaue against them Epir. Come away Leaue all and wonder at this fatall day Exeunt The fight neerer and enter Crassinâ—us a sword as thrust through his face he fals To him Pompey and Caesar fighting Pompey giues way Caesar follows and enters at another dore Caes. Pursue pursue the gods foreshew'd their powers Which we gaue issue and the day is ours Crassineus O looke vp he does and shewes Death in his broken eyes which Caesars hands Shall doe the honor of eternall closure Too well thou keptst thy word that thou this day Wouldst doe me seruice to our victory Which in thy life or death I should behold And praise thee for I doe and must admire Thy matchles valour euer euer rest Thy manly lineaments which in a tombe Erected to thy noble name and virtues I le curiosly preserue with balmes and spices In eminent place of these Pharsalian fields Inscrib'd with this true soule of funerall Epitaph Crassineus fought for fame and died for Rome Whose publique weale springs from this priuate tombe Enter some taking him off whom Caesar helps Enter Pompey Demetrius with black robes in their hands broad hats c. Pom. Thus haue the gods their iustice men their wils And I by mens wils rulde my selfe renouncing Am by my Angell and the gods abhorr'd Who drew me like a vapour vp to heauen To dash me like a tempest 'gainst the earth O the deserued terrors that attend On humane confidence had euer men Such outrage of presumption to be victors Before they arm'd To send to Rome before For houses neare the market place their tents Strowd all with flowers and nosegayes tables couer'd With cups and banquets bayes and mirtle garlands As ready to doe sacrifice for conquest Rather then arme them for fit fight t' enfore it Which when I saw I knew as well th' euent As now I feele it and because I rag'd In that presage my Geniuâ— shewing me clearely As in a mirror all this cursed issue And therefore vrg'd all meanes to put it off For this day or from these fields to some other Or from this omâ—nous confidence till I saw Their spirits settl'd in some grauer knowledge Of what belong'd to such a dâ—are decision They spotted me with feâ—re with loue of glory To keepe in my command so many Kings So great an army all the hellish blastings That could be breath'd on me to strike me blinde Of honor spirit and soule And should I then Saue them that would in spight of heauen be ruinde And in their safeties ruine me and mine In euerlasting rage of their detraction Dem. Your safety and owne honor did deserue Respect past all their values O my Lord. Would you Pom. Vpbraid me not goe to goe on Dem. No I le not rub the wound The misery is The gods for any error in a man Which they might rectify and should because That man maintain'd the right should suffer wrong To be thus insolent thus grac't thus bleâ—t Pom. O the strange carriage of their acts by which Men order theirs and their deuotions in them Much rather striuing to entangle men In pathlesse error then with regular right Confirme their reasons and their pieties light For now Sir whatsoeuer was foreshowne By heauen or prodigy ten parts more for vs Forewarning vs deterring vs and all Our blinde and brainlesse frenzies then for Caesar All yet will be ascribde to his regard Giuen by the gods for his good parts preferring Their glosse being starck impostures to the iustice Loue honor piety of our lawes and Countrey Though I thinke these are arguments enow For my acquitall that for all these fought Dem. Y' are cleare my Lord. Pom. Gods helpe me as I am What euer my vntoucht command of millions Through all my eight and fifty yeares hath woonne This one day in the worlds esteeme hath lost So vile is praise and dispraise by euent For I am still my selfe in euery worth The world could grace me with had this dayes Euen In one blaze ioyn'd with all my other Conquests And shall my comforts in my well-knowne selfe Faile me for their false fires Demetrius Dem. O no my Lord. Pom. Take griefe for them as if The rotten-hearted world could steepe my soule In filthy putrifaction of their owne Since their applauses faile me that are hisses To euery sound acceptance I confesse That till th' affaire was past my passions flam'd But now its helplesse and no cause in me Rest in these embers my vnmoued soule With any outward change this dystick minding No man should more allow his owne losse woes Being past his fault then any stranger does And for the worlds false loues and ayry honors What soule that euer lou'd them most in life Once seuer'd from this breathing sepulchre Againe came and appearde in any kind Their kinde admirer still or did the state Of any best man here associate And euery true soule should be here so feuer'd From loue of such men as here drowne their soules As all the world does Cato sole accepted To whom I le fly now and my wife in way Poore Lady and poore children worse then fatherlesse Visit and comfort Come Demetrius They disguise themselues We now must â—ute our habites to our fortunes And since these changes euer chance to greatest Nor desire to be Doe fortune to exceed it what she can A Pompey or a Caesar but a man
What these so neare intend Take heed they come Enter Achillas Septius Saluius with souldiers Ach. Haile to Romes great Commander to whom Aegypt Not long since seated in his kingdome by thee And sent to by thee in thy passage by Sends vs with answer which withdraw and heare Pom. I le kille my children first Sep. Blesse me my Lord. Pom. I will and Cyris my poore daughter too Euen that high hand that hurld me downe thus low Keepe you from rising high I heare now tell me I thinke my friend you once seru'd vnder me Septius only nods with his hâ—â—d Pom. Nod onely not a word daigne what are these Cornelia I am now not worth mens words Ach. Please you receiue your ayde Sir Pom. I I come Exit Pom. The draw and follow Cor. Why draw they See my Lords attend them vshers Sen. O they haue slaine great Pompey Cor. O my husband Sept. Cyr. Mother take comfort Enter Pompey bleâ—ding O my Lord and father Pom. See heauens your sufferings is my Countres loue The iustice of an Empire pietie Worth this end in their leader last yet life And bring the gods off fairer after this Who will adore or serue the deities He hides his face with his robe Enter the Murtherers Ach. Helpe hale him off and take his head for Caesar. Sep. Mother O saue vs Pompey O my father Enter the two Lentuli and Demetrius bleeding and kneele about Cornelia 1 Len. Yet fals not heauen Madam O make good Your late great spirits all the world will say You know not how to beare aduerse euents If now you languish Omn. Take her to her coach They beare her out Cato with a booke in his hand O Beastly apprehenders of things manly And merely heauenly they with all the reasons I vsde for iust mens liberties to beare Their liues and deaths vp in their owne free hands Feare still my resolution though I seeme To giue it off like them and now am woonne To thinke my life in lawes rule not mine owne When once it comes to death as if the law Made for a sort of outlawes must bound me In their subiection as if I could Be rackt out of my vaines to liue in others As so I must if others rule my life And publique power keepe all the right of death As if men needes must serue the place of iustice The forme and idoll and renounce it selfe Our selues and all our rights in God and goodnesse Our whole contents and freedomes to dispose All in the ioyes and wayes of arrant rogues No stay but their wilde errors to sustaine vs No forges but their throats to vent our breaths To forme our liues in and repose our deaths See they haue got my sword Who 's there Enter Marcillius bare Mar. My Lord Cat Who tooke my sword hence Dumb I doe not aske For any vse or care of it but hope I may be answered Goe Sir let me haue it Exit Mar. Poâ—re slaues how terrible this death is to them If men would sleepe they would be wroth with all That interrupt them Physick take to take The golden rest it brings both pay and pray For good and soundest naps all friends consenting In those kinde inuocations praying all Good rest the gods vouchsafe you but when death Sleepes naturall brother comes that 's nothing worse But better being more rich and keepes the store Sleepe euer â—ickle way ward still and poore O how men grudge and shake and feare and fly His sterne approaches all their comforts taken In faith and knowledge of the blisse and beauties That watch their wakings in an endlesse life Dround in the paines and horrors of their sense Sustainde but for an houre be all the earth Rapt with this error I le pursue my reason And hold that as my light and fiery pillar Th' eternall law of heauen and earth no firmer But while I seeke to conquer conquering Caesar My soft-splen'd seruants ouerrule and curb me He knocks and Brutus enters Where 's he I sent to fetch and place my sword Where late I left it Dumb to Come another Enter Cleanthes Where 's my sword hung here Cle. My Lord I know not Ent. Marcilius Cat. The rest come in there Where 's the sword I charg'd you To giue his place againe I le breake your lips ope Spight of my freedome all my seruants friends My sonne and all will needs betray me naked To th' armed malice of a foe so fierce And Beare-like mankinde of the blood of virtue O gods who euer saw me thus contemn'd Goe call my sonne in tell him that the lesse He shewes himselfe my sonne the lesse I le care To liue his father Enter Athenodorus Porcius Porcius kneeling Brutus Cleanthes and Marcilius by him Por. I beseech you Sir Rest patient of my duty and my loue Your other children think on our poore mother Your family your Country Cat. If the gods Giue ouer a'l I le fly the world with them Athenâ—dorus I admire the changes I note in heauenly prouidence When Pompey Did all things out of course past right past reason He stood inuincible against the world Yet now his cares grew pious and his powers Set all vp for his Countrey he is conquered Ath. The gods wills secret are nor must we measure Their chast-reserued deepes by our dry shallowes Sufficeth vs we are entirely such As twixt them and our consciences we know Their graces in our virtues shall present Vnspotted with the earth to 'th high throne That ouerlookes vs for this gyant world Let 's not contend with it when heauen it selfe Failes to reforme it why should we affect The least hand ouer it in that ambition A heape t is of digested villany Virtue in labor with eternall Chaos Prest to a liuing death and rackt beneath it Her throwes vnpitied euery worthy man Limb by limb sawne out of her virgine wombe To liue here peecemeall tortur'd fly life then Your life and death made presidents for men Exit Cat. Ye heare my masters what a life this is And vse much reason to respect it so But mine shall serue ye Yet restore my sword Lest too much ye presume and I conceiue Ye front me like my fortunes Where 's Statilius Por. I think Sir gone with the three hundred Romans In Lucius Caesars charge to serue the victor Cat. And would not take his leaue of his poore friend Then the Philosophers haue stoop't his spirit Which I admire in one so free and knowing And such a fiery hater of base life Besides being such a vow'd and noted foe To our great Conqueror But I aduisde him To spare his youth and liue Por. My brother Brutus Is gone to Caesar. Cat. Brutus Of mine honor Although he be my sonne in law I must say There went as worthy and as learned a President As liues in Romes whole rule for all lifes actions And yet your sister Porcea his wife Would scarce haue done this But for you my sonne Howeuer Caesar deales