THE POETICALL ESSAYES OF SAM DANYEL Newly corrected and augmented AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus AT LONDON Printed by P. Short for Simon Waterson 1599. The Argumentes of these Essayes following THe ciuill wars betweene the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke Musophilus or a defence of learning The Epistle of Octauia to Antonius The Tragedy of Cleopatra corrected The complaint of Rosamond To the Right honorable Sir Charles Blunt Knight Lord Mountioy and Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter and his most worthy Lord. I Do not plant thy great respected name Here in this front to th' end thou shouldst protect These my endeuors from contempt or blame Which none but their own forces must effect Nor do I seeke to win thy more respect Most learned Lord by these Essaies of mine Since that cleere iudgement that did first elect To fauor me will alwaies keepe me thine Nor do I this more honor to assigne Vnto thy worth that is not more hereby Since th' offrings made vnto the powers deuine Enrich not them but shew mens pietie But this I do to th' end if destinie Shall any monument reserue of me Those times should see my loue how willing I That liu'd by thee would haue thee lius with me S. D. THE CIVIL WARS OF ENGLAND BEtween the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke AEtas prima canat veneres postrema tumultus SAM DANIELL AT LONDON Printed by P. S. for Symon Waterson 1599. THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE What times forgoe Richard the seconds raigne The fatall causes of this ciuile warre His Vnckles pride his greedte Minions gaine Glosters reuolt and death dcliuered are Herford accusd exild calld backe againe Pretends t' amend what others Rule did marre The King from Ireland hastes but did no good Whilst strange prodigious signes foretoken bloud 1 I Sing the ciuil warrs tumultuous broyles And bloudy factions of a mighty land VVhose people hauty proud with forain spoyles Vpon themselues turne back their conquering hand VVhilst Kin their Kin brother the brother foyles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against bowes the Crowne against the crowne vvhil'st all pretending right all right throwen downe 2 What furie ô what madnes held you so Deare people to too prodigall of bloud To wast so much and warre without a foe Whilst France to see your spoyles at pleasure stood How much might you haue purchasd with lesse wo Thaue done you honor and your Nephewes good Yours might haue beene what euer lies betweene The Perenei and Alps Aquitayne and Rbeine 3 And yet ô God wee haue no cause to plaine Since hereby came the quiet calme we ioye The blisse of thee ELIZA happie gaine For all our losse for that no other waye The heauens could find then vnite againe The fatall seu'red families that they Might bring forth thee that in thy peace might grow That glory which no age could euer show 4 O sacred Goddesse I no muse but thee Invoke in this great worke I now entend Do thou inspire my thoughts infuse in mee A power to bring the same to happie end Raise vp a worke for latter times to see That may thy glorie and my paines commend Strengthen thy subiect strang thinges to rehearse And giue peace to my life life to my verse 5 And thou Charles Mountioy borne the worldes That hast receiu'd into thy quiet shore delight Me tempest-driuen fortune-tossed wight Tir'd with expecting and could hope no more And cheerest on my better yeares to write A sadder Subiect then I tooke before Receiue the worke I consecrate to thee Borne of that rest which thou dost giue to mee 6 And MEMORIE preseruresse of thinges done Come thou vnfold the wounds the wracke the wast Reucale to me how all the strife begunne Twixt Lancaster and Yorke in ages past How causes counsels and euents did runne So long as these vnhappie times did last Vnintermixt with fictions fantasies I versifie the troth not poetize 7 And to the end we maie with better ease Iudge the true progresse here bigin to showe What weare the times fore going nere to thease That these we maie with better profit knowe Tell how the world fell into this disease And how so great distemperature did growe So shall we see by what degrees it came How thinges grown full do sone grow out of frame 8 Ten kings had now raignd of the Norman race With variable fortune turning chaunce All in two hundreth sixtie one yeares space When Edward third of name and first of Fraunce Possest the crowne in fortunes highest grace And did to greatest state his state aduaunce When England might the largest limits see That euer any king attaind but hee 9 For most of all the rest toyld in vnrest What with wrong titles what with inward broyl Hardlie a true establishment possest Of what they sought with such exceeding toyle For why their power within it self opprest Scarce could breake forth to greatnes al that while Such wo the childhood of this state did passe Before it could attaine to what it wasse 10 For first the Norman conquering all by might By might was forst to keepe what hee had got Altring the lawes chaunging the forme of Right And placing barbarous Customes he had brought Maistring the mighty humbling the poorer wight With grieuous taxes tyranie had sought Scarce laide th' assured groundes to build vpon The chaunge so hatefull in such course begon 11 William his sonne tracing the selfesame wayes The great outworne with war or slaine in peace Onely vpon depressed weakenes prayes And treades down what was likeliest to increase Those that were left being left to wofull daies Had onely powre to wish for some release Whilst giuing beastes what did to men pertaine Tooke for a beast himselfe was after slaine 12 Henrie his brother raignes when he had donne Who Roberts title better to reiect The Norman Duke the Conquerours first sonne Lightens in shew rather then in effect Those greeuances his fatall race begunne Reformes the lawes which soone he did neglect Whose sons being drownd for whō he did prepare Leaues crowne strif to Maud his daughters care 13 Whom Stephen his Nephew falsifying his oath Preuents assailes the Realm obtaines the crown Raising such tumults as torment them both Whil'st both held nothing certainlie their owne Th' afflicted Realme deuided in their troth And partiall faith most miserable growne Endures the while till peace and Stephens death Conclude some hope of quiet to take breath 14 The sonne of Maud from Saxon bloud deriu'd By mothers line succeeds th'vnrightfull king Henrie the second in whose raigne reuiu'd Th' oppressed state and first began to spring And ô if he had not beene too long liu'd T' haue seene th'affliction that his age did bring By his vngodly sonnes then happie man For they against him warr'd for whom hewan 15 All Ireland Scotland th'Iles of Orcades Poytiers Guienna Brittany hee got And leades forth
sorrow from it selfe to thease Recouers strength at home so feeble brought Giues courage to the strong to weaker ease Ads to the state what England neuer sought Who him succeed the forraine bloud out growne Are home born kings by speech and birth our owne 16 Lo hitherto the new borne state in teares Was in her raw and wayling infancie During a hundred two and twentie yeares Vnder the hand of straungers tyranny And now some better strength and youth appeares Which promises a glad recouery For hard beginnings haue the greatest states What with their owne or neighbourers debates 17 Euen like to Rheine which in his birth opprest Strangled almost with rocks and mightie hils Workes out a way to come to better rest Wars with the mountaines striues against their wils Bringes forth his streames in vnitie possest Into the quiet bed he proudlie fils Carrying that greatnes which he cannot keepe Vnto his death and buriall in the deepe 18 So did the worldes proud Mistres Rome at first Striue with a hard beginning warr'd with need Forcing her strong Confiners to the worst And in her bloud her greatnes first did breed So Spaine at home with Moores ere forth it burst Did practize long and in it selfe did bleed So did our state begin with her owne woundes To try her strength ere it enlarg'd her boundes 19 But now comes Richard to succeed his fire Who much the glorie of our armes increast His fathers limits bound not his desire He spreeds the English Ensignes in the East And whilst his vertues would haue raisd him hyer Treason and malice his great actions ceast A faithles brother and a fatall king Cut off his growth of glory in the spring 20 Which wicked brother contrarie to course False John vsurpes his Nephew Arthurs right Gets to the crowne by craft by wrong by force Rules it with lust oppression rigor might Murders the lawfull heire without remorse Wherefore procuring all the worldes despight A Tyrant loth'd a homicide conuented Poysoned he dies disgrac'd and vnlamented 21 Henrie his sonne is chosen king though young And Lewes of Fraunce elected first beguilde After the mightie had debated long Doubtfull to choose a straunger or a child With him the Barons in these times grown strōg Warre for their auncient lawes so long exild He graunts the Charter that pretended ease And kept his owne yet did his owne appease 22 Edward his sonne a martiall king succeedes Iust prudent graue religious fortunate Whose happy ordred raigne most fertile breeds Plentie of mightie spirits to strength his state And worthy mindes to manage worthy deeds Th' experience of those times ingenerate For euer great imployment for the great Quickens the bloud and honour doth beget 23 And had not his mis-lead lasciuious sonne Edward the second intermitted so The course of glorie happilie begunne Which brought him and his fauorites to woe That happy current without stop had runne Vnto the full of his sonne Edwards flo But who hath often seene in such a state Father and sonne like good like fortunate 24 But now this great succeeder all repaires And rebrings-backe that discontinued good He buildes vp strength and greatnes for his heires Out of the vertues that adornd his bloud He makes his subiects Lords of more then theirs And sets their bounds farre wider then they stood Could greatnes haue but kept what he had gote It was enough he did and what he wrought 25 And had his heire surviu'd him in due course What limits England hadst thou found what barre What world could haue resisted so great force O more then men two thunderbolts of warre Why did not time your ioined worth diuorse T' haue made your seuerall glories greater farre Too prodigall was nature thus to doe To spend in one age what should serue for two 26 But now the scepter in this glorious state Supported with strong powre and victorie Was left vnto a child ordain'd by fate To stay the course of what might grow too hie Here was a stop that greatnes did abate When powre vpon so weake a base did lie For lest great fortune should presume too farre Such oppositions interposed are 27 Neuer this Iland better peopled stood Neuer more men of might and mindes addrest Neuer more Princes of the royall bloud If not too many for the publique rest Nor euer was more treasure wealth and good Then when this Richard first the crowne possest Second of name a name in two accurst And well we might haue mist all but the first 28 In this mans raigne began this fatall strife The bloudy argument where of we treate That dearely cost so many ' a Prince his life That spoild the weake euen consum'd the great That wherein all calamitie was rife That memory euen grieues her to repeate And would that time would now this knowledge lose But that t is good to learne by others woes 29 Edward the third being dead had left this child Sonne of his worthy sonne deceasd of late The crowne and Scepter of this Realme to wield Appointing the protectors of his state Two of his sonnes to be his better shield Supposing vnckles free from guile or hate Would order all things for his better good In the respect and honour of their bloud 30 Of these John Duke of Lancaster was one Too great a subiect growne for such a state The title of a king and what h 'had done In great exploits his mind did eleuate Aboue proportion kingdomes stand vpon Which made him push at what his issue gate The other Edmond Langley whose milde sprite Affected quiet and a safe delight 31 With these did interpose his proud vnrest Thomas of woodstocke one most violent Impatient of command of peace of rest Whose brow would shew that which his hart had ment His open malice and repugnant brest Procur'd much mischiefe by his discontent And these had all the charge of king and state Till by himselfe he might it ordinate 32 And in the first yeares of this gouernement Things past as first the warres in Fraunce proceede Though not with that same fortune and euent Being now not followed with such carefull heed Our people here at home growne discontent Through great exactions insurrections breed Priuate respectes hindred the common weale And idle ease doth on the mighty steale 33 Too many kings breed factions in the court The head too weake the members grown too great O this is that which kingdomes doth transport This plague the heauens do for iniustice threat When children rule who euer in this sort Confound the state their auncestors did get For the ambitious once inur'd to raigne Can neuer brooke a priuate state againe 34 And kingdomes euer suffer this distresse For one or manie guide the infant king Which one or manie tasting this excesse Of greatnes and command can neuer bring Their thoughts againe t' obay or to be lesse From hence these insolencies euer spring Contempt of others
to any course obeies For euerie Prince seeing his daunger neere By anie meanes his quiet peace assaies And still the greatest wronges that euer were Haue then bin wrought when kings were put in fear 55 And long it was not ere he apprehendes The Duke who close to Calice was conuei'd And th' Earles of Arundell and Warwike sendes Both in close prisons strongly to be laid And soone the Duke his life vnquiet endes Strangled in secret ere it was bewraide And Arundell was put to publike death But Warwike by great meanes he banisheth 56 And for his person he procures a guard A thousand Archers daily to attend Which now vpon the act he had prepard As th' argument his actions to defend But yet the world had now conceiu'd so hard That all this nought auaild him in the end In vaine with terror is he fortified That is not guarded with firme loue beside 57 Now storme his vnckles albeit in vaine For that no remedy they could deuise They might their sorrowes inwardly complaine But outwardly they needs must temporise The king was great and they should nothing gaine T' attempt reuenge or offer once to rise This league with Fraunce had made him now so strong That they must needs as yet indure this wrong 58 For like a Lion that escapes his bounds Hauing bin long restraind his vse to straie Raunges the restles woods staies on no ground Riottes with bloudshed wantons on his praie Seckes not for need but in his pride to wound Glorying to see his strength and what he may So this vnbridled king freed of his feares In libertie himselfe thus wildly beares 59 For standing on himselfe he sees his might Out of the compasse of respectiue awe And now beginnes to violate all right While no restraining feare at hand he saw Now he exactes of all wasts in delight Riots in pleasure and neglects the law He thinkes his crowne is licensd to do ill That lesse should list that may do what it will 60 Thus b'ing transported in this sensuall course No frend to warne no counsell to withstand He still proceedeth on from bad to worse Sooth'd in all actions that he tooke in hand By such as all impiety did nurse Commending euer what he did commaund Vnhappy kings that neuer may be taught To know themselues or to discerne their fault 61 And whilst all sylent grieue at what is donne The Duke of Herford then of courage bold And worthily great Iohn of Gaunts first sonne Vtters the passion which he could not hold In sad discourse vpon this course begun Which he to Mowbray Duke of Norfolke told To th' end he being great about the king Might doe some good by better counselling 62 The faithles Duke that presentlie takes hold Of such aduantage to insinuate Hastes to the king peruerting what was told And what came of good minde he makes it hate The king that might not now be so controld Or censur'd in his course much frets thereat Sendes for the Duke who doth such wordes deny And craues the combate of his enemy 63 Which straight was granted and the daie assign'd When both in order of the field appeare To right each other as th' euent should find And now both euen at point of combate were When lo the king changd sodenly his mind Casts downe his warder and so staies them there As better now aduisd what waie to take Which might for his assured safety make 64 For now considering as it likely might The victorie should hap on Herfords side A man most valiant and of noble sprite Belou'd of all and euer worthy tride How much he might be grac'd in publique sight By such an act as might aduance his pride And so become more popular by this Which he feares too much he already is 65 And therefore he resolues to banish both Though th' one in chiefest fauour with him stood A man he dearely lou'd and might be loth To leaue him that had done him so much good Yet hauing cause to do as now he doth To mitigate the enuie of his bloud Thought best to loose a friend to rid a foe And such a one as now he doubted so 66 And therefore to perpetuall exile hee Mowbray condemnes Herford but for ten yeares Thinking for that the wrong of this decree Compard with greater rigour lesse appeares It might of all the better liked be But yet such murmuring of the fact he heares That he is faine foure of the ten forgiue And iudg'd him sixe yeares in exile to liue 67 At whose departure hence out of the land O how the open multitude reueale The wondrous loue they bare him vnderhand Which now in this hote passion of their zeale They plainely shewde that all might vnderstand How deare he was vnto the common weale They feard not to exclaime against the king As one that sought all good mens ruining 68 Vnto the shore with teares with sighes with mone They him conduct cursing the bounds that staie Their willing feete that would haue further gone Had not the fearefull Ocean stopt their way Why Neptune hast thou made vs stand alone Deuided from the world for this say they Hemd in to be a spoile to tyranny Leauing affliction hence no way to flie 69 Are we lockt vp poore soules here t' abide Within the watery prison of thy waues As in a fold where subiect to the pride And lust of rulers we remaine as slaues Here in the reach of might where none can hide From th' eie of wrath but onely in their graues Happy confiners you of other landes That shift your soile and oft scape tyrants hands 70 Ah must we leaue him here that here were fit We should retaine the pillar of our state Whose vertues well deserue to gouerne it And not this wanton young effeminate Why should not he in regall honour sit That best knowes how a realme to ordinate Yet one daie ô we hope thou shalt bring backe Deare Bullingbrooke the iustice that we lacke 71 Thus muttred lo the malecontented sort That loue kings best before they haue them still And neuer can the present state comport But would as oft change as they change their will For this good Duke had wonne them in this sort By suckring them and pittying of their ill That they supposed straight it was one thing To be both a good man and a good king 72 When as the grauer sort that saw the course And knew that Princes maie not be controlde Likt wel to suffer this for feare of worse Since many great one kingdome cannot hold For now they saw intestine strife of force The apt-deuided state intangle would If he should stay whom they would make their head By whom the vulgar body might be lead 73 They saw likewise that Princes oft are faine To buy their quiet with the price of wrong And better t were that now a few complaine Then all should morne aswell the weake as strong Seeing how little Realmes by change doe
they of so fatall a degree That they cannot discend from that and liue Vnlesse they still be kings can they not bee Nor maie they their authority surviue Will not my yeelded crowne redeeme my breath Still am I fear'd is there no way but death 72 Scarce this word death had sorrow vttered But in rusht one and tels him how a knight Is come from court his name deliuered What newes with him said he that traiterous wight What more remoues must we be farther lead Are we not sent inough yet out of sight Or hath this place not strength sufficient To guard vs in or haue they worse intent 73 By this the bloudy troope were at the dore When as a sodaine and a strange dismay Inforst them straine who should go in before One offers and in offring makes a stay Another forward sets and doth no more A third the like and none durst make the way So much the horror of so vile a deed In vilest mindes hinders them to proceed 74 At length as to some great assault the knight Cheeres vp his fainting men all that he can And valiantly their courage doth incite And all against one weake vnarmed man A great exployt worthy a man of might Much honour wretch therein thy valor wan Ah poore weake prince yet men that presence feare Which once they knew autoritie did beare 75 Then on thrustes one and he would formost be To shead anothers bloud but lost his owne For entring in as soone as he did see The face of maiestie to him well knowne Like Marius soldier at Minternum hee Stood still amazd his courage ouerthrowne The king seeing this startes vp from where he fate Out from his trembling hand his weapon gate 76 Thus euen his foes that came to bring him death Bring him a weapon that before had none That yet he might not idly loose his breath But diereuengd in action not alone And this good chaunce that this much fauoureth He slackes not for he presently speedes one And Lion-like vpon the rest he flies And here falles one and there another lies 77 And vp and downe he trauerses his ground Now wardes a felling blow now strikes againe Then nimbly shiftes a thrust then lendes a wound Now backe he giues then rushes on amaine His quicke and readie hand doth so confound These shamefull beastes that foure of them dies slain And all had perisht happily and well But for one act that ô I greiue to tell 78 This coward knight seeing with shame and feare His men thus slaine and doubting his owne end Leapes vp into a chaire that lo was there The whiles the king did all his courage bend Against those foure that now before him were Doubting not who behind him doth attend And plies his handes vndaunted vnaffeard And with good hart and life for life he stird 79 And whiles he this and that and each mans blow Doth eye desend and shift being laid to sore Backward he beates for more aduantage now Thinking the wall would safegard him the more When lo with impious hand o wicked thou That shamefull durst not come to strike before Behind him gau'st that wofull deadly wound That laid that most sweet Prince flat on the ground 08 Monster of men ô what hast thou here done Vnto an ouerpressed innocent Lab'ring against so many he but one And one poore soule with care with sorrow spent O could thy eies indure to looke vpon Thy hands disgrace or didst thou then relent But what thou didst I will not here deuine Nor straine my thoughts to enter into thine 81 But leue thee wretch vnto blacke infamie To darke eternall horror and disgrace The hatefull skorne to all posterity The out-cast of the world last of thy race Of whose curst seed nature did then deny To bring forth more her faire workes to deface And as asham'd to haue produc'd that past She staies her hand and makes this worst her last 82 There lies that comely body all imbrude With that pure bloud mixt with that fowle he shed O that those sacred streames with such vile rude Vnhallowed matter should be mingled O why was grossenes with such grace indude To be with that sweet mixture honoured Or seru'd it but as some vile graue ordaind Where an imbalmed corpes should be containd 83 Those faire distended limmes all trembling lay Whom yet nor life nor death their owne could call For life remou'd had not rid all away And death though entring seas'd not yet on all That short-tim'd motion that soone finish shall The mouer ceasing yet a while doth stay As th' organ sound a time suruiues the stop Before it doth the dying note giue vp 84 So holdes those organs of that goodly frame The weake remaines of life a little space But ah full soone cold death poffest the same Set are those sun-like eles bloudlesse that face And all that comely whole a lump became All that fair forme which death could scarce disgrace Lies perisht thus and thus vntimely fate Hath finisht his most miserable state 85 And thus one king most nere in bloud allide is made th' oblation for the others peace Now onely one both name and all beside Intirely hath plurality doth cease He that remaines remaines vnterrifide With others right this day doth all release And henceforth he is absolutely king No crownes but one this deed confirmes the thing 86 And yet new Hydraes lo new heades appeare T' afflict that peace reputed then so sure And gaue him much to do and much to feare And long and daungerous tumults did procure And those euen of his chiefest followers were Of whom he might presume him most secure Who whether not so grac'd or so preferd As they expected these new factions stird 87 The Percyes were the men men of great might Strong in alliance and in courage strong That thus conspire vnder pretence to right The crooked courses they had suffered long Whether their conscience vrgd them or despight Or that they saw the part they tooke was wrong Or that ambition hereto did them call Or others enuide grace or rather all 88 What cause soeuer were strong was their plot Their parties great meanes good th' occasion fit Their practise close their faith suspected not Their states far off and they of wary wit Who with large promises draw in the Scot To ayde their cause he likes and yeeldes to it Not for the Ioue of them or for their good But glad hereby of meanes to shed our bloud 89 Then ioyne they with the Welsh who fitly traind And all in armes vnder a mightie head Great Glendowr who long warr'd and much attaind Sharp conflicts made and many vanquished With whom was Edmond Earle of March retaind Being first his prisoner now confedered A man the king much fear'd and well he might Least he should looke whether his Crown stood right 90 For Richard for the quiet of the state Before he tooke those Irish warres in hand About succession
doth deliberate And finding how the certaine right did stand With full consent this man did ordinate The heyre apparent to the crowne and land Then iudge if this the king might nerely touch Although his might were smal his right being much 91 With these the Percyes them confederate And as three heades they league in one intent And instituting a Triumuirate Do part the land in triple gouerment Deuiding thus among themselues the state The Percyes should rule all the North from Trent And Glendowr Wales the Earle of March should bee Lord of the South from Trent and thus they gree 92 Then those two helpes which still such actors find Pretence of common good the kings disgrace Doth fit their course and draw the vulgar mind To further them and aide them in this cafe The king they accusd for cruell and vnkind That did the state and crowne and all deface A periurde man that held all faith in skorne Whose trusted othes had others made for sworne 93 Besides the odious detestable act Of that late murdered king they aggrauate Making it his that so had will'd the fact That he the doers did remunerate And then such taxes daily doth exact That were against the orders of the state And with all these or worse they him assaild Who late of others with the like preuaild 94 Thus doth contentious proud mortality Afflict each other and it selfe torment And thus o thou mind-tortring misery Restles ambition borne in discontent Turn st and retossest with iniquity The vnconstant courses frailty did inuent And fowlst faire order and defilst the earth Fostring vp warre father of bloud and dearth 95 Great seemd the cause and greatly to did ad The peoples loue thereto these crimes rehearst That manie gathered to the troupes they had And many more do flocke from costs disperst But when the king had heard these newes so bad Th'vnlookt for dangerous toyle more nearly perst For bēt t'wards Wales t' appease those tumults there H 'is for'st diuert his course and them forbeare 96 Not to giue time vnto th' increasing rage And gathering fury forth he hastes with speed Left more delay or giuing longer age To th' euill growne it might the cure exceed All his best men at armes and leaders sage All he prepard he could and all did need For to a mighty worke thou goest ô king To such a field that power to power shall bring 97 There shall young Hotespur with a fury lead Meete with thy forward sonne as fierce as he There warlike Worster long experienced In forraine armes shall come t' incounter thee There Dowglas to thy Stafford shall make head There Vernon for thy valiant Blunt shal be There shalt thou find a doubtfull bloudy day Though sicknesse keepe Northumberland away 98 Who yet reseru'd though after quit for this Another tempest on thy head to raise As if still wrong reuenging Nemesis Did meane t' afflict all thy continuall dayes And yet this field he happely might misse For thy great good and therefore well he staies What might his force haue done being ioynd thereto When that already gaue so much to do 99 The swift approch and vnexspected speed The king had made vpon this new-raisd force In th'vnconfirmed troupes much feare did breed Vntimely hindring their intended course The ioyning with the Welsh they had decreed Was hereby stopt which made their part the worse Northumberland with forces from the North Expected to be there was not set forth 100 And yet vndaunted Hotspur seeing the king So nere approch'd leauing the worke in hand With forward speed his forces marshalling Sets forth his farther comming to withstand And with a cheerfull voice incouraging By his great spirit his well imboldned band Bringes a strong host of firme resolued might And plac'd his troupes before the king in sight 101 This day saith he ô faithfull valiaunt frendes What euer it doth giue shall glorie giue This day with honor frees our state or endes Our misery with fame that still shall liue And do but thinke how well this day he spendes That spendes his bloud his countrey to relieue Our holie cause our freedome and our right Sufficient are to moue good mindes to fight 102 Besides th' assured hope of victory That wee may euen promise on our side Against this weake-constrained companie Whom force feare not will and loue doth guide Against a prince whose soule impiety The heauens do hate the earth cannot abide Our number being no lesse our courage more What need we doubt if we but worke therefore 103 This said and thus resolu'd euen bent to charge Vpon the king who well their order viewd And carefull noted all the forme at large Of their proceeding and their multitude And deeming better if he could discharge The day with safetie and some peace conclude Great proffers sendes of pardon and of grace If they would yeeld and quietnes imbrace 104 But this refusd the king with wrath incensd Rage against fury doth with speed prepare And ô faith he though I could haue dispensd With this daies bloud which I haue sought to spare That greater glory might haue recompensd The forward worth of these that so much dare That we might honor had by th' ouerthrown That th' wounds we make might not haue bin our own 105 Yet since that other mens iniquity Calles on the sword of wrath against my will And that themselues exact this cruelty And I constrained am this bloud to spill Then on my maisters on couragiously True-harted subiects against traitors ill And spare not them who seeke to spoile vs all Whose fowle confused end soone see you shall 106 Straight moues with equall motion equall rage The like incensed armies vnto blood One to defend another side to wage Foule ciuill war both vowes their quarrell good Ah too much heare to bloud doth now inrage Both who the deed prouokes and who withstood That valor here is vice here manhood sin The forward st hands doth ô least honor win 107 But now begin these fury-mouing soundes The notes of wrath that musicke brought from hell The ratling drums which trumpets voice cōfounds The cryes th' incouragements the shouting shrell That all about the beaten ayre reboundes Thundring confused murmurs horrible To rob all sence except the sence to fight Well handes may worke the mind hath lost his sight 108 O war begot in pride and luxury The child of wrath and of dissention Horrible good mischiefe necessarie The fowle reformer of confusion Vniust-iust scourge of our iniquitie Cruell recurer of corruption O that these sin-sicke states in need should stand To be let bloud with such a boystrous hand 109 And ô how well thou hadst bene spar'd this day Had not wrong counsaild Percy bene peruers Whose yong vndanger'd hand now rash makes way Vpon the sharpest fronts of the most fierce Where now an equall fury thrusts to stay And rebeat-backe that force and his disperse Then these assaile then those chace backe
the wofull'st mone That euer yet from sad affliction came And you deare reliques of my Lord and Loue The sweetest parcels of the faithfull'st liuer O let no impious hand dare to remoue You out from hence but rest you here for euer Let Egypt now giue peace vnto you dead That liuing gaue you trouble and turmoile Sleepe quiet in this euer-lasting bed In forraine land preferr'd before your soile And ô if that the sp'rits of men remaine After their bodies and do neuer die Then heare thy ghost thy captiue spouse cōplaine And be attentiue to her miserie But if that labour some mortalitie Found this sweete error onely to confine The curious search of idle vanitie That would the deapth of darknes vndermine Or rather to giue rest vnto the thought Of wretched man with th' after-comming ioy Of those conceiued fields whereon we dote To pacifie the present worlds anoy If it be so why speake I then to th' ayre But t is not so my Anthonie doth heare His euer-liuing ghost attends my prayer And I do know his houering sp'rit is neere And I will speake and pray and mourne to thee O pure immortall loue that daign'st to heare I feele thou answer'st my credulitie With touch of comfort finding none elswhere Thou know'st these hands cotomb'd thee here of late Free and vnsorc'd which now must seruile be Reseru'd for bands to grace proud Caesars state Who seekes in me to triumph ouer thee O if in life we could not seuerd be Shall death deuide our bodies now asunder Must thine in Egypt mine in Italie Be kept the Monuments of Fortunes wonder If any powres be there where as thou art Sith our owne Country Gods betray our case O worke they may their gracious helpe impart To saue thy wofull wife from such disgrace Do not permit she should in triumph shew The blush of her reproch ioyn'd with thy shame But rather let that hatefull Tyrant know That thou and I had powre t' auoyde the same But what doe I spend breath and idle winde In vaine inuoking a conceiued ayde Why do I not my selfe occasion find To breake the bounds where in my'selfe am staid Words are for them that can complaine and liue Whose melting hearts compos'd of baser frame Can to their sorrowes time and leisure giue But Cleopatra may not do the same No Anthonie thy loue requireth more A lingring death with thee deserues no merit I must my selfe force open wide a dore To let out life and so vnhouse my spirit These hands must breake the prison of my soule To come to thee thereto enioy like state As doth the long-pent solitaric Foule That hath escapt her cage and found her mate This Sacrifice to sacrifize my life Is that true incense that dooth best beseeme These rites may serue a life-desiring wife Who doing them t' haue done inough doth deeme My hart blood should the purple flowers haue been Which heere vpon thy Tombe to thee are offred No smoake but dying breath should heere been seen And this it had beene to had I beene fufired But what haue I saue these bare hands to do it And these weake fingers are not iron-poynted They cannot pierce the flesh be'ing put vnto it And I of all meanes else am disappointed But yet I must away and meanes seeke how To come vnto thee what so ere I doo O Death art thou so hard to come by now That we must pray intreate and seeke thee too But I will find thee where so ere thou lie For who can stay a minde resolu'd to die And now I go to works th' effect indeed He neuer send more words or sighes to thee He bring my soule my selfe and that with speede My selfe will bring my soule to Antbonie Come go my Maides my fortunes sole attenders That minister to miserie and sorrow Your Mistris you vnto your freedom renders And will discharge your charge yet ere to morrow And now by this I thinke the man I sent Is neere return'd that brings me my dispatch God grant his cunning sort to good euent And that his skill may well beguile my watch So shall I shun disgrace leaue to be sorie Flie to my loue scape my foe free my soule So shall I act the last of life with glorie Die like a Queene and rest without controule Exit CHORVS Mysterious Egypt wonder breeder strict religions strange obseruer State-ordrer zeale the best rule-keeper Fostring still in temp'rate feruor O how cam'st thou to lose so wholy All religion law and order And thus become the most vnholy of all Lands that Nylus border How could confus'd Disorder enter Where sterne Law sute so sewerely How durst weake lust and riot venter th' eye of Iustice looking neerely Could not those means that made thee great Be still the means to keepe thy state Ah no the course of things requireth change and alteration euer That same continuance man desireth th'vnconstant world yeeldeth neuer We in our counsels must be blinded And not see what doth import vs And often-times the thing least minded is the thing that most must hurt vs. Yet they that haue the sterne in guiding t is their fault that should preuent it For oft they seeing their Country sliding take their ease as though contented We imitate the greater powres The Princes manners fashion ours Th' example of their light regarding Vulgar loosenes much incences Vice vncontrould growes wide inlarging Kings small faults be great offences And this hath set the window open vnto licence lust and riot This way confusion first found broken whereby entred our disquiet Those lawes that olde Sesostris founded and the Ptolomies obserued Hereby first came to be confounded which our state so long preserued The wanton luxurie of Court Did forme the people of like sort For all respecting priuate pleasure vniuersally consenting To abuse their time their treasure in their owne delights contenting And future dangers nought respecting whereby ô how easie matter Made this so generall neglecting confus'd weakenesse to discatter Caesar found th' effect true tried in his easie entrance making Who at the sight of armes descryed all our people all forsaking For ryot worse then warre so sore Had wasted all our strength before And thus is Egypt seruile rendred to the insolent destroyer And all their sumptuous treasure tendred All her wealth that did betray her Which poison O if heauen be right full may so far infect their sences That Egypts pleasures so delightfull may breed them the like offences And Romans learne our way of weakenes be instructed in our vices That our spoiles may spoile your greatnes ouercome with our deuises Fill full your hands and carry home Inough from vs to ruine Rome ACTVS QVINTVS DOLABELLA TITIVS Dol. Come tell me Titius eu'ry circumstance How Cleopatra did receiue my newes Tell eu'ry looke each gesture countenance That she did in my Letters reading vse Tit. I shal my Lord so far as I could note Or my conceite obserue in any wise
whom they seeke to foile Then follow leagues destruction ruine spoile 35 Whether it were that they which had the charge Suffred the king to take a youthfull vaine That they their priuate better might inlarge Or whether he himselfe would farther straine Thinking his yeares sufficient to discharge The gouernment presumd to take the raigne We will not saie but now his eare he lendes To youthfull counsell and his lusts attends 36 And courts were neuer barren yet of those Which could with subtle traine and apt aduise Worke on the Princes weakenes and dispose Of feeble frailtie easiest to intice And such no doubt about this king arose Whose flattery the daungerous nurse of vice Got hand vpon his youth to pleasures bent Which lead by them did others discontent 37 For now his vnckles grew much to mislike These ill proceedings were it that they saw That others fauor'd did aspiring seeke Their nephew from their counsels to withdraw Seeing his nature flexible and mecke Because they onely would keepe all in awe Or that indeed they found the king and state Abusde by such as now in office sate 38 Or rather else they all were in the fault Th' ambitious vnckles th' indiscreet young king The greedy counsell and the Minions naught And all togither did this tempest bring Besides the times withall iniustice fraught Concurr'd in this confusd disordering That we may truly say this spoild the state Youthfull Counsell priuate gaine partiall hate 39 And sure the king plainly discouereth Apparant cause his vnckles to suspect For John of Gaunt was said to seeke his death By secret meanes which came not to effect The Duke of Gloster like wise practiseth In open world that all men might detect And leagues his Nobles and in greatest strength Rises in armes against him too at length 40 Vnder pretence from him to take away Such as they said the states oppressors weare To whom the Realme was now become a pray The chiefe of whom they nam'd was Robert Vere Then Duke of Ireland bearing greatest sway About the king who held him only dere Him they would haue remou'd and diuers more Or else would neuer lay downe armes they swore 41 The king was forst in that next Parliment To grant them what he durst not well refuse For thither arm'd they came and fully bent To suffer no repulse nor no excuse And here they did accomplish their intent Where iustice did her sword not ballance vse For euen that sacred place they violate And there arest the Iudges as they sate 42 Which soone with many others had their end Cruelly slaine without the course of right And still these warres that publique good pretend Worke most iniustice being done for spight For the agrieued euermore doe bend Against those whom they see of greatest might Who though themselues are wrong'd often forst Yet for they can doe most are thought the worst 43 And yet I doe not seeme herein to excuse The Iustices and Minions of the king Which might their office and their grace abuse But onely blame the course of managing For great men too well grac'd much rigor vse Presuming fauorites mischiefe euer bring So that concluding I may boldly speake Minions too great argue a king too weake 44 Now that so much was granted as was sought A reconcilement made although not ment Appeasd them all in shew but not in thought Whilst euery one seem'd outwardlie content Though hereby king nor peeres nor people got More loue more strength or easier gouerment But euery day things now succeeded worse For good from kings must not be drawne by force 45 And this it lo continued till by chance The Queene which was the emperours daughter dy'de When as the king t' establish peace with Fraunce And better for home quiet to prouide Sought by contracting marriage to aduance His owne affaires against his vnckles pride Tooke the young daughter of king Charles to wife Which after in the end raisd greater strife 46 For now his vnckle Gloster much repin'd Against this french aliance and this peace Hauing himselfe a working stirring mind Which neuer was content the warres should cease Whether he did dishonourable finde Those articles that did our boundes decrease And therfore storm'd because the crown had wrōg Or that he fear'd the king would grow too strong 47 Or whatsoeuer mou'd him this is sure Hereby he wrought his ruine in the end And was a fatall cause that did procure The swift approching mischiefes that attend For lo the king no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T' attach the Duke when he thought least of it 48 And fortune now to further this intent The great Earle of S. Paule doth hither bring From Charles of Fraunce vnto the young Q. sent To see both her and to salute the king To whom he shewes his vnckles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his subiects sought to fulleuare And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 49 To whom the suttle Earle forthwith replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such ielousies And rid you of such mutiners as thease By cutting off that which might greater rise And now at first preuenting this disease And that before he shall your wrath disclose For who threates first means of reuenge doth lose 50 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guilty by your lawes Easier you shall with him your quarrell try Dead then aliue who hath the better cause For in the murmuring vulgar vsually This publique course of yours compassion drawes Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat 51 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes bloudshed much How iust-socuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse That so shall you obseruing formall right Be still thought as vniust and win more spight 52 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard So shall you hereby scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world to afterward What need you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compard And therefore if you will be rul'd by me Strangled or poison'd secret let him be 53 And then araigne the chiefe of those you find Were of his faction secretly compact Whom you maie wisely order in such kind That you maie such confessions then exact As both you maie appease the peoples mind And by their death much aggrauate the fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 54 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest waies Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easelie
gaine And therefore learned by obseruing long T' admire times past follow the present will Wish for good Princes but t' indure the ill 74 For when it nought awailes what folly then To striue against the current of the time Who will throw downe himselfe for other men That make a ladder by his fall to clime Or who would seeke t'imbroile his country when He might haue rest suffering but others crime Since wisemen euer haue preferred farre Th' vniustest peace before the iustest warre 75 Thus they considered that in quiet fate Rich or content or else vnfit to striue Peace louer-wealth hating a troublous state Doth willing reasons for their rest contriue But if that all were thus considerate How should in court the great the fauour'd thriue Factions must be and these varieties And some must fall that other some may rise 76 But long the Duke remaind not in exile Before that Iohn of Gaunt his father dies Vpon whose state the king seasd now this while Disposing of it as his enemies This open wrong no longer could beguile The world that saw these great indignities Which so exasperates the mindes of all That they resolu'd him home againe to call 77 For now they saw t was malice in the king Transported in his il-conceiued thought That made him so to prosecute the thing Against all law and in a course so naught And this aduantage to the Duke did bring Fitter occasions whereupon he wrought For to a man so strong and of such might He giues him more that takes away his right 78 The king in this meane time I know not how Was drawne into some actions forth the land T' appease the Irish that reuolted now And there attending what he had in hand Neglects those parts from whence worse daungers grow As ignorant how his affaires did stand Whether the plot was wrought it should be so Or that his fate did draw him on to go 79 Certaine it is that he committed here An ignorant and idle ouersight Not looking to the Dukes proceedings there Being in the court of Fraunce where best he might Where both the king and all assured were T' haue stopt his course being within their right But being now exild he thought him sure And free from farther doubting liu'd secure 80 So blindes the sharpest counsels of the wise This ouershadowing prouidence on hie And dazeleth the clearest sighted eies That they see not how nakedly they lie There where they little thinke the storme doth rise And ouercasts their cleare security When man hath stopt al waies saue only that That least suspected ruine enters at 81 And now was all disorder in th' excesse And whatsoeuer doth a change portend As idle luxury and wantonnes Proteus-like varying pride vaine without end Wrong-worker Riot motiue to oppresse Endles exactions which the idle spend Consuming vsury and credits crackt Cald on this purging warre that many lackt 82 Then ill perswading want in martiall minds And wronged patience long opprest with might Loosenes in all which no religion bindes Commaunding force the measure made of right Gaue suell to this fire that easie findes The way t' inflame the whole indangerd quite These were the publique breeders of this warre By which stil greatest states confounded are 83 For now this peace with Fraunce had shue in here The ouergrowing humours warres doe spend For where t' cuacuate no employments were Widerth ' vnwildy burthen doth distend Men wholy vsd to warre peace could not beare As knowing no course else whereto to bend For brought vp in the broiles of these two Realmes They thought best fishing still in troubled streames 84 Like to a riuer that is stopt his course Doth violate his bankes breakes his owne bed Destroies his bounds and ouer-runs by force The neighbour fields irregularly spread Euen so this sodaine stop of warre doth nurse Home broiles within it selfe from others lead So dangerous the change hereof is tride Ere mindes come soft or otherwise imploid 85 And all this makes for thee ô Bullingbrooke To worke a waie vnto thy Soueraintie This care the heauens fate and fortune tooke To bring thee to thy scepter easily Vpon the fals that hap which him forsooke Who crownd a king a king yet must not die Thou wert ordaind by prouidence to raise A quarrell lasting longer then thy daies 86 For now this absent king out of his land Where though he shew'd great sprite and valor then Being attended with a worthy band of valiant Peeres and most couragious men Gaue time to them at home that had in hand Th' vngodly worke and knew the season when Who faile not to aduise the Duke with speed Solliciting to what he soone agreed 87 For presently vpon so good report He doth with cunning traine and pollicy Conuay himselfe out of the French kings court Vnder pretence to go to Brittanie And with his followers that to him resort Landed in England Welcom'd ioyfully Of th' altring vulgar apt for changes still As headlong caried with a present will 88 And com'd to quiet shore but not to rest The first night of his ioyfull landing here A fearefull vision doth his thoughts molest Seeming to see in wofull forme appeare A naked goodly woman all distrest Which with ful-weeping eies and rent-white haire Wringing her hands as one that grieud and praid With sighes commixt with words it seem'd shee said 89 O whither dost thou tend my vnkind sonne What mischiefe dost thou go about to bring To her whose Genius thou here lookst vpon Thy mother countrey whence thy selfe didst spring O whither dost thou in ambition run To change due course by foule disordering What bloudshed ô what broyles dost thou cōmence To last for many wofull ages hence 90 Stay here thy foote thy yet vnguilty foote That canst not stay when thou art farther in Retire thee yet vnstaind whilst it doth boote The end is spoile of what thou dost begin Iniustice neuer yet tooke lasting roote Nor held that long impiety did win The babes vnborne shall ô be borne to bleed In this thy quarrell if thou doe proceede 91 Thus said shee ceast when he in troubled thought Grieu'd at this tale and sigh'd and this replies Deare Country ô I haue not hither brought These Armes to spoile but for thy liberties Tho sinne be on their head that this haue wrought Who wrongd me first and thee doe tyrannise I am thy Champion and I seeke my right Prouokt I am to this by others spight 92 This this pretence faith shee th' ambitious finde To smooth iniustice and to flatter wrong Thou dost not know what then will be thy mind When thou shalt see thy selfe aduanc'd and strong When thou hast shak'd off that which others binde Thou soone forgettest what thou learnedst long Men doe not know what then themselues will be When as more then themselues themselues they see 93 And here withall turning about he wakes Lab'ring in sprite troubled with this strange sight And musd a while waking aduisement
vnknowne And let them altogither on vs fall So to diuert the ruine of our owne That we forgetting what doth so incense May turne the hand of malice to defence 113 Calme these tempestuous spirits O mighty Lord This threatning storme that ouer hangs the land Make them consider ere they'vnsheath the sword How vaine is th' earth this point wheron they stand And with what sad calamities is stoor'd The best of that for which th' Ambitious band Labor the end of labor strife of strife Terror in death and horrour after life 114 Thus they in zeale whose humbled thoughts were good Whil'st in this wide spread volume of the skies The booke of prouidence disclosed stood Warnings of wrath foregoing miseries In lines of fire and caracters of blood There fearefull formes in dreadfull flames arise Amazing Comets threatning Monarches might And new-seene starres vnknowne vnto the night 115 Red fiery dragons in the aire doe flie And burning Meteors poynted-streaming lights Bright starres in midst of day appeare in skie Prodigious monsters gastly fearefull sights Straunge Ghosts and apparitions terrific The wofull mother her owne birth affrights Seeing a wrong deformed infant borne Grieues in her paines deceiu'd in shame doth morn 116 The Earth as if afeard of bloud and woundes Trembles in terror of these falling bloes The hollow concaues giue out groning sounds And sighing murmurs to lament our woes The Ocean all at discord with his boundes Reiterates his strange vntimely floes Nature all out of course to checke our course Neglects her worke to worke in vs remorse 117 So great a wracke vnto it selfe doth lo Disordered mortality prepare That this whole frame doth euen labour so Her ruine vnto frailty to declare And trauailes to fore-signifie the wo That weake improuidence could not beware For heauen and earth and aire and seas and all Taught men to see but not to shun their fall 118 Is man so deare vnto the heauens that they Respect the waies of earth the workes of sin Doth this great all this vniuersall weigh The vaine designes that weakenes doth begin Or doe our feare father of zeale make way Vnto this errour ignorance liues in Making our faults the cause that moue these powres That haue their cause from other cause then ours 119 Or doe the conscience of our wicked decdes Apply to sinne the terrour of these sights Hapning at the instant when commotion breedes Amazing only timorous vulgar wights Who euer aggrauating that which feedes Their feares still find out matter that affrights Whilst th' impious fierce neglecting seele no touch And weigh too light what other scare so much 120 Ah no th' eternall powre that guides this frame And serues him with the instruments of heauen To call the earth and summon vp our shame By an edict from euerlasting giuen Forbids mortality to search the same Where sence is blind and wit of wit bereauen Terror must be our knowledge feare our skill T' admire his worke and tremble at his will 121 And these beginnings had this impious warre Th' vngodly bloudshed that did so defile The beauty of thy fields and euen did marre The flowre of thy chiefe pride ô fairest Ile These were the causes that incensd so farre The ciuil wounding hand inragd with spoile That now the liuing with afflicted eie Looke backe with griefe on such calamity THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE King Richard mones his wrong and wailes his raigne And here betrayd to London he is led Basely attyrd attending Herfords traine Where th' one is skornd the other welcomed His Wife mistaking him doth much complaine And both togither greatly sorrowed In hope to saue his life and ease his thrall He yeelds vp state and Rule and Crowne and all 1 IN dearth of faith and scarsity of friends The late great mighty monarch on the shore In th' vtmost corner of his land attends To call backe false obedience fled before Toyles and in vaine his toile and labour spends More hearts he sought to gaine he lost the more All turn'd their faces to the rising sunne And leaues his setting-fortune night begun 2 O Percy how by thy example lead The household traine for sooke their wretched Lord When with thy staffe of charge dishonoured Thou brak'st thy faith not steward of thy word And tookst his part that after tooke thy head When thine owne hand had strengthned first his For such great merits doe obraid and call For great reward or thinke the great too small 3 And kings loue not to be beholding ought Which makes their chiefest friends oft speed the worst For those by whom their fortunes haue bin wrought Put them in mind of what they were at first Whose doubtfull faith if once in question brought T is thought they will offend because they durst And taken in a fault are neuer spar'd Being casier to reuenge then to reward 4 And thus these mighty actors sonnes of change These partizanes of factions often tride That in the smoake of innouations strange Build huge vncertaine plots of vnsure pride And on the hazard of a bad exchange Haue venterd all the stocke of life beside Whilst Princes raisd disdaine to haue beene raisd By those whose helpes deserue not to be praisd 5 O Maiestie left naked all alone But with th' vnarmed title of thy right Those gallant troupes thy fortune followers gone And all that pompe the complements of might Th' amazing shadowes that are cast vpon The eares of Princes to be guile the sight Are vanisht cleane and only frailty left Thy selfe of all besides thy selfe berest 6 Like when some great Colossus whose strong base Or mighty props are shronke or sunke awaie Fore-shewing ruine threatning all the place That in the danger of his fall doth stay All straight to better safetie flocke apace None rest to helpe the ruine while they maie The perill great and doubtfull there dresse Men are content to leaue right in distresse 7 As stately Thames inricht with many a flood And goodly riuers that haue made their graues And buried both their names and all their good Within his greatnes to augment his waues Glides on with pompe of waters vnwithstood Vnto the Ocean which his tribute craues And Taies vp all his wealth within that powre Which in it selfe all greatnes doth deuour 8 So flocke the mightie with their following traine Vnto the all-receiuing Builing brooke Who wonders at himselfe how he should gaine So manie hearts as now his partie tooke And with what ease and with how slender paine His fortune giues him more then he could looke What he imagind neuer could be wrought Is powrd vpon him farre beyond his thought 9 So often things which seeme at first in shew Without the compasse of accomplishment Once ventred on to that successe do grow That euen the Authors do admire th' euent So manie meanes which they did neuer know Doe second their designes and doe present Straunge vnexpected helpes and chiefly then When th' Actors are reputed worthy men
states of the redeemed Earth Might thee admire and glorise thy birth 127 Thence might thy valor haue brought in despight Eternall Tropheis to Elizas name And laid downe at her sacred feete the right Of all thy deedes and glory of the same All that which by her powre and by thy might Thou hadst attaind to her immortall fame Had made thee wondred here admir'd a farre The Mercury of peace the Mars of warre 128 And thou my Lord the glorie of my muse Pure-spirited Mountiâ—â— th' ornament of men Hadst had a large and mighty field to vse Thy holie giftes and learned counsels then Whole landes and Prouinces should not excuse Thy trusty faith nor yet sufficient beene For those great vertues to haue ordered And in a calme obedience gouerned 129 Nor had I then at solitary brooke Sate framing bloudy accents of these times Nor told of woundes that grieued eies might looke Vpon the horror of their fathers crimes But rather a more glorious subiect tooke To register in euerlasting rimes The sacred glories of ELIZABETH T' haue kept the wonder of her worth from death 136 And like wise builded for your great designes O you two worthies bewties of our state Immortall tombes of vnconsuming lines To keepe your holic deedes inuiolate You in whose actions yet the image shines Of ancient honor neere worne out of date You that haue vertue into fashion brought In these neglected times respected nought 131 But whither am I carried with the thought Of what might haue beene had not this beene so O sacred Fury how was I thus brought To speake of glory that must tell of wo These acted mischiefes cannot be vnwrought Though men be pleasd to wish it were not so And therefore leaue sad Muse th' imagin'd good For we must now returne againe to bloud THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henry the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded doe rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Promfret Castle sent Is murthered there The Percies making head Against the king receiue the punishment And in the end a tedious troublous raigne A grieuous death concludes with care and paine I Tow risen is that head by which did spring The birth of two strong heads two crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchased thing What fild the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 Striuing at first to build a strong conceit Of his weake cause in apt-abused mindes He deckes his deed with colours of deceit And ornaments of right which now he findes Succession conquest and election straight Suggested are and prou'd in all three kindes More then inough he findes that findes his might Hath force ' to make all that he will haue right 3 All these he hath when one good would suffize The worlds applause and liking to procure But who his owne cause makes doth still deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise The doubtfull can no vsuall plots indure These selfe-accusing titles all he had Seeking to make one good of maine bad 4 Like foolish he that feares and saine would stop An inundation working on apace Runs to the breach heapes mighty matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Loades with huge waights the outside and the top But leaues the inner parts in feeble case Thinking for that the outward forme seemes strong T is sure inough and may continue long 5 But when the vnder working waues come on Searching the secrets of vnsenced waies The full maine Ocean following hard vpon Beares downe that idle frame skorning such staies Prostrates that frustrate paines as if not done And proudly on his silly labors plaies Whilst he perceiues his error and doth finde His ill proceeding contrary to kind 6 So fares it with our indirect diffeignes And wrong-contriued labors at the last Whilst working time or Iustice vndermines The feeble ground-worke craft thought laid so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioynd plots so fairely ouercast Turnes vp those strong pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouerthrowes 7 But wel he thought his powre made al seem plain And now t' his coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous fort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this error feedes Is furnisht with a stately-glorious traine Wherein the former kings he far exceeds And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what and how t was done to what is wrought 8 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne and who his part did take New officers new counsellours he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their desart Seeking all meanes t' oppresse the aduerse part 9 All Counsellers vnto the former king All th' officers and iudges of the state He to disgrace or els to death did bring Lead by his owne or by the peoples hate Who euermore by nature mallicing Their might whom not their vertues but their fate Exalted hath who when kings do what 's naught Because t is in their powre t is thought their faut 10 And plac'd for these such as were popular Belou'd of him and in the peoples grace Learned graue Shirley he makes Chauncellor One of great spirit worthy his worthy race And Clifford he ordaines Lord Treasuror A man whose vertues well deseru'd that place Others to other roomes whom people hold So much more lou'd how much they loathd the old 17 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guilty thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor els could wel be wrought Law Iustice bloud the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drist shadowed 12 Here maine of the greatest of the land Accusd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleere their cause most resolutely stoute The king perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought about Desistes to vrge their death in anie wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 13 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernment To striue with bloud when lenity must gaine The mighty wight and please the discontent New kings do feare when old courts farther straine Establisht states to all things will consent He must dispence with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 14 Yet not to seeme but to haue something done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the
people that begun Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect He causd be put to execution One that to doe this murther was elect A base meane man whom few or none would misse Who first did serue their turne and now serues his 15 And to abase the too high state of those That were accusd and lessen their degrees Aumarle Surry Exceter must lose The names of Dukes their titles dignities And what soeuer honour with it goes The Earles their titles and their Signories And all they gote in th' end of Richards raigne Since Glosters death they mustrestore againe 16 By this as if by Ostracisme t' abate That great presumptiue wealth whereon they stand For first hereby impou'rishing their state He kils the meanes they might haue to withstand Then equals them with other whom they hate Who by their spoiles are raisd to hie command That weake and enuied if they should conspire They wracke themselues and he hath his desire 17 And by this grace which yet must be a grace As both they and the world are made belieue He doth himselfe secure and them defuce Thinking not rigor that which life doth giue But what an error was it in this case To wrong so many and to let them liue But errors are no errors but by fate For oft th' euent make soule faults fortunate 18 The parlament which now is held decreed What euer pleasd the king but to propound Confirm'd the crowne to him and to his feed And by their oth their due obedience bound And ô b' it sinne t' examine how this deed How iust t is done and on how fure a ground Whether that Court maie change due course or no Or ought the realme against the realme can do 19 Here was agreed to make all more secure That Richard should remaine for euermore Close-prisoner least the realme might chāce indure Some new reuolt or any fresh vprone And that if any should such broile procure By him or for him he should die therefore So that a talke of tumult and a breath Would serue him as his passing-bell to death 20 Yet reuerent Carlile thou didst there oppose Thy holy voice to saue thy Princes bloud And freely check'st this iudgement and his foes When all were bad yet thou dar'st to be good Be it inrold that time may neuer lose The memory how firme thy vertues stood When powre disgrace nor death could ought diuart Thy glorious tongue thus to reueale thy hart 21 Graue reuerent Lords since that this sacred place Our Auentine Retire our holy hill This place soule of our state the Realmes best grace Doth priuiledge me speake what reason will O let me speake my conscience in this case Least sin of silence shew my hart was ill And let these walles witnes if you will not I do discharge my soule of this soule blot 22 Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent That he that two and twenty yeeres hath raignd As lawfull Lord and king by iust discent Should here be iudged vnheard and vnaraignd By subiects two Iudges incompetent To iudge their king vnlawfully detaind And vn-brought forth to plead his guiltles cause Barring th' annointed libertie of lawes 23 Haue you not done inough blush to thinke Lay on your harts those hands those hands too rash Know that this staine that 's made doth farther sinke Into your soules then all your blouds can wash Leaue with the mischiefe done and doe not linke Sin vnto sin for heauen and earth will dash This ill accomplisht worke ere it be long For weake he builds that sences wrong with wrong 24 Stopt there was his too vehemēt speech with speed And he sent close to warde from where he stood His zeale vntimely deem'd too much t' exceed The measure of his wit and did no good They resolute for all this doe proceed Vnto that iudgement could not be withstood The king had all he crau'd or could compell And all was done we will not say how well 25 Now Muserelate a wofull accident And tell the bloudshed of these mighty Peeres Who lately reconcild rest discontent Grieu'd with disgrace remaining in their feares How euerseeming outwardly content Yet th' inward touch that wounded honor beares Rosts closely rankling and can find no ease Till death of one side cure this great disease 26 Meanes how to feele and learne each others hart By th' Abbot now of Westminster is found Who secretly disliking Henries part Inuites these Lords and those he ment to sound Feasts them with cost and drawes them on with art And darke and doubtful questions doth propound Then plainer speakes and yet vncertaine speakes Then wishes wel then off abruptly breakes 27 My Lord faith he I feare we shall not finde This long-desired king such as was thought But yet he may doe well God turne his minde T is yet new daies but ill bodes new and nought Some yet speed well though all men of my kind Haue cause to doubt his speech is not forgot That Princes had too little we too much God giue him grace but t is ill trusting such 28 This open-close apparent-darke discourse Drew on much speech and euery man replies And euery man ads heat and wordes inforce And vrge out words for when one man espies Anothers minde like his then ill breedes worse And out breakes all in th' end what closest lies For when men well haue fed th' bloud being warme Then are they most improuident of harme 29 Bewray they did their in ward boyling spight Each stirring other to reuenge their cause One saies he neuer should indure the sight Of that forsworne that wrongs both land and lawes Another vowes the same of his minde right A third t' a point more nere the matter drawes Sweares if they would he would attempt the thing To chaste th' vsurper and replace their king 30 Thus one by one kindling each others fire Till all inflam'd they all in one agree All resolute to prosecute their ire Seeking their owne and Countries cause to free And haue his first that their bloud did conspire For no way else they said but this could be Their wrong-detained honor to redeeme Which true-bred bloud shoulde more then life esteeme 31 And let not this our new-made faithles Lord Saith Surry thinke that we are lest so bare Though bare inough but we will find a sword To kill him with when hee shall not beware For he that is with life and will but stoor'd Hath for reuenge inough and needs not care For time will fit and furnish all the rest Let him but euen attend and doe his best 32 Then of the manner how t' effect the thing Consulted was and in the end agreed That at a maske and common reuelling Which should b' ordaind they should performe the deed For that would be least doubted of the king And fittest for their safety to proceed The night their number and the suddaine act Would dash all order and protect their fact 33 Besides they might vnder the
earth can bring Skarse equals him in what his raigne brought forth Being of a mind as forward to aspire As fit to gouerne what he did desire 16 His comely body was a goodly seate Where vertue dwelt most faire as lodgd most pure A bodic strong whene vse of strength did get A stronger state to do and to endure Making his life th' example to beget Like spirit in those he did to good in vre Most glorying to aduaunce true vertuous bloud As if he greatnes sought but to do good 17 Who as the chiefe and all-directing head Did with his subiects as his members liue And them to goodnes forced not but lead Winning not much to haue but much to giue Deeming the powre of his his powre did spread As borne to blesse the world not to grieue Adornd with others spoiles not subiects store No king exacting lesse none winning more 18 He after that corrupted faith had bred An ill inur'd obedience for commaund And languishing luxuriousnes had spred Feeble vnaptnes ouer all the land Yet he those long vnordred troupes so led Vnder such formall discipline to stand That euen his soule seemd only to direct So great a bodie such exployts t' effect 19 He bringes abrode distracted discontent Disperst ill humors into actions hie And to vnite them all in one consent Plac'd the faire marke of glorie in their eye That malice had no leasure to dissent Nor enuie time to practise treachery The present actions do diuert the thought Of madnes past while mindes were so well wrought 20 Here now were pride oppression vsury The canker-eating mischeifes of the state Cal'd forth to praie vppon the enemie Whilst the home-burthned better lightned sate Ease was not suffered with a gredie eye T' examine states or priuate wealthes to rate The silent Courtes warr'd not with busie wordes Nor wrested law gaue the contentious swordes 21 Now nothing entertaines th'attentiue care But stratagems assaults surprises fights How to giue lawes to them that conquered were How to articulate with yeelding wights The weake with mercie and the proud with feare How to retaine to giue desarts their right Were now the Arts and nothing else was thought But how to win and maintaine what was gote 22 Here ô were none that priuately possest And held alone imprisoned maiestie Proudly debarring entraunce from the rest As if the praie were theirs by victorie Here no detractor woundes who merits best Nor shameles brow cheeres on impietie Vertue who all her toyle with zeale had spent Not here all vnrewarded sighing went 23 But here the equally respecting eye Of powre looking alike on like desarts Blessing the good made others good thereby More mightie by the multitude of harts The field of glorie vnto all doth lie Open alike honor to all imparts So that the only fashion in request Was to bee good or good-like as the rest 24 So much ô thou example dost effect Being far a better maister then commaund That how to do by doing dost direct And teachest others action by thy hand Who followes not the course that kings elect When Princes worke who then will idle stand And when that dooing good is onely thought Worthy reward who will be bad for nought 25 And had not th' earle of Cābridge with vaine speed Vntimely practizd for anothers right With hope t' aduaunce those of his proper seed On whom yet rule seem'd destined to light The land had seene none of her owne to bleed During this raigne nor no aggrieued sight None the least blacknes interclouded had So faire a day nor any eye lookt sad 26 But now when Fraunce perceiuing from a far The gathering tempest growing on from hence Readie to fall threatning their state to marre They labor all meanes to prouide defence And practising how to preuent this warre And shut out such calamities from thence Do softer here some discord lately growne To hold Ambition busied with her owne 27 Finding those humors which they saw were fit Soone to be wrought and easie to be fed Swolne full with enuie that the crowne should sit There where it did as if established And whom it toucht in bloud to grieue at it They with such hopes and helps sollicited That this great Earle was drawne t' attempt the thing And practises how to depose the king 28 For being of mightie meanes to do the deed And yet of mightier hopes then meanes to do And yet of spirit that did his hopes exceed And then of bloud as great to ad thereto All which with what the gold of Fraūce could breed Being powers inough a climing mind to woo He so imploid that many he had wonne Euen of the chiefe the king relide vppon 29 The wel-known right of the Earle of March alurd A leaning loue whose cause he did pretend Whereby he knew that so himselfe procurd The Crowne for his owne children in the end For the Earle being as he was assurd Vnapt for issue it must needes descend On those of his being next of Clarence race As who by course of right should hold the place 30 It was the time when as the forward Prince Had all prepar'd for his great enterprize And readie stand his troupes to part from hence And all in stately forme and order lyes When open fame giues out intelligence Of these bad complots of his enemies Or else this time of purpose chosen is Though knowne before yet let run on till this 31 That this might yeeld the more to aggrauate Vpon so foule a deed so vilely sought Now at this time t' attempt to ruinate So glorious great disseignes so forward brought Whilst carefull vertue seekes t' aduaunce the state And for her euerlasting honor sought That though the cause were right and title strong The time of dooing it yet makes it wrong 32 And straight an vnlamented death he had And straight were ioyfully the Anchors weighd And all flocke fast aboord with visage glad As if the sacrifize had now beene payd For their good speed that made their stay so sad Lothing the least occasion that delayd And now new thoughts great hopes calme seas fair windes Whith present action intertaines their mindes 33 No other crosse ô Henry saw thy daies But this that toucht thy now possessed hold Nor after long till this mans sonne assaies To get of thine the right that he controwld For which contending long his life he paies So that it fatall seemd the father should Thy winning seeke to staie and then his sonne Should be the cause to loose when thou hadst won 34 Yet now in this so happie a meane while And inter lightning times thy vertues wrought That discord had no leasure to defile So faire attempts with a tumultuous thought And euen thy selfe thy selfe didst so beguile With such attention vppon what was sought That time affoordes not now with care or hare Others to seeke thee to secure thy state 35 Else ô how easie had it beene for thee All the
pretendant race t' haue laid full low If thou proceeded hadst with crueltie Not suffering anie fatall branch to grow But vnsuspicious magnanimitie Shames such effects of feare and force to show Busied in free and open Actions still Being great for being good hates to be ill 36 Which ô how much it were to be requir'd In all of might if all were like of mind But when that all depraued haue conspird To be vniust what saftie shall they find After the date of vertue is expird That do not practize in the selfe-same kind And countermine against deceite with guile But ô what mischiefe feeles the world the while 37 And yet such wronges are held meete to be don And often for the state thought requisite As when the publicke good depends thereon When most iniustice is esteemd most right But ô what good with doing ill is won Who hath of bloud made such a benefite As hath not fear'd more after then before And made his peace the lesse his plague the more 38 Far otherwise dealt this vndaunted king That cheerished the ofspring of his foes And his competitors to grace did bring And them his frendes for Armes and honors chose As if plaine courses were the safest thing Where vpright goodnes sure and stedfast goes Free from that subtile mask't impietie Which this depraued world calles policie 39 Yet how hath fate dispos'd of all this good What haue these vertues after times availd In what steed hath hy-raised valor stood When this continuing cause of greatnes faild Then when proud-growne the irritated bloud Enduring not it selfe it selfe assaild As though that Prowesse had but learnt to spill Much bloud abrode to cut her throte with skill 40 O doth th' Eternall in the course of thinges So mixe the causes both of good and ill That thus the one effects of th' other bringes As what seemes made to blisse is borne to spill What from the best of vertues glorie springes That which the world with miserie doth fill Is th' end of happines but wretchednesse Hath sin his plague and vertue no successe 41 Either that is not good the world holds good Or else is so confusd with ill that we Abused with th' appearing likelihood Run to offend whilst we thinke good to be Or else the heauens made man in furious bloud To torture man And that no course is free From mischiefe long And that faire daies do breed But storms to make more foule times that succeed 42 Who would haue thought but so great victories Such conquests riches land and kingdome gaind Could not but haue establish't in such wise This powreful state in state to haue remaind Who would haue thought that mischief could deuise A way so soone to loose what was attaind As greatnes were but shewd to grieue not grace And to reduce vs into far worse case 43 With what contagion France didst thou insect The land by thee made proud to disagree T'inrage them so their owne swords to direct Vpon themselues that were made sharpe in thee Why didst thou teach them here at home t' erect Trophees of their bloud which of thine should be Or was the date of thy affliction out And so was ours by course to come about 44 But that vntimely death of this Great King Whose nine yeares raign so mighty wōders wrought To thee thy hopes to vs despaire did bring Not long to keepe and gouerne what was gote For those that had th' affaires in managing Although their countries good they greatly sought Yet so ill accidents vnfitly fell That their desseignes could hardly prosper well 45 An infant king doth in the state succeed Skarse one yeare old left vnto others guide Whose carefull trust though such as shewd indeed They waighd their charge more then the world beside And did with dutie zeale and loue proceed Yet for all what their trauaile could prouide Could not woo fortune to remaine with vs When this her Minion was departed thus 46 But by degrees first this then that regaind The turning tide beares backe with flowing chaunce Vnto the Dolphin all we had attaind And fils the late low-running hopes of Fraunce When Bedford who our onely hold maintaind Death takes from vs their fortune to aduaunce And then home strife that on it selfe did fall Neglecting forraine care did soone loose all 47 Nere three score years are past since Bullinbrooke Did first attaine God knowes how iust the crowne And now his race for right possessors tooke Were held of all to hold nought but their owne When Richard Duke of Yorke begins to looke Into their right and makes his title knowne Wakening vp sleeping-wrong that lay as dead To witnes how his race was iniured 48 His fathers end in him no feare could moue T' attempt the like against the like of might Where long possession now of feare and loue Seem'd to prescribe euen an innated right So that to proue his state was to disproue Time law consent oth and allegeance quight And no way but the waie of bloud there was Through which with all confusion he must passe 49 O then yet how much better had it beene T' indure a wrong with peace then with such toyle T' obtaine a bloudie right since Right is sinne That is ill sought and purchased with spoile What madnes vnconstrained to begin To right his state to put the state in broyle Iustice her selfe maie euen do wrong in this No war be'ing right but that which needfull is 50 And yet that oportunity which led Him to attempt seemes likewise him t' excuse A feeble spirited king that gouerned Vnworthy of the Scepter he did vse His enemies that his worth maliced Who both the land and him did much abuse The poeples loue and his apparant right May seeme sufficient motiues to incite 51 Besides the now ripe wrath deferd till now Of that sure and vnfailing Justicer That neuer suffers wrong so long to grow And to incorporate with right so farre That it might come to seeme the same in show T' incourage those that euill minded are By such successe but that at last he will Confound the branch whose root was planted ill 52 Else might the ympious say with grudging spright Doth God permit the great to riot free And blesse the mighty though they doe vnright As if he did vnto their wrongs agree And only plague the weake and wretched wights For smallest faults euen in the highest degree When he but vsing them others to scourge Likewise of them at length the world doth purge 53 But could not ô for bloudshed satisfie The now well-ruling of th'ill-gotten crowne Must euen the good receiue the penaltie Of former sinnes that neuer were their owne And must a iust kings bloud with miserie Pay for a bad vniustly ouerthrowne Then ô I see due course must rightly goe And th' earth must trace it or else purchase woe 54 And sure this king that now the crowne possest Henry the sixt was one whose life was free From that
craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 74 And manie ready hands shee straight doth find To aide her deede of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind That to himselfe th' affaires all wholly tooke And ruling all had neuer any minde T' impart a part with others that would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And grieu'd at such ingrossing of commaunds 75 And had he not had such a greedy loue Of still continuing of his charge too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life without shee did him wrong But hauing liu'd so manie yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to be lesse strong And kils that fame that vertue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 76 O could the mighty but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe fortune ere shee pull them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfide Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high spreading ouergrowne Whilst they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and dispight 77 Then should not ô so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloudy end Nor their disgrac'd confounded families From so hye pride to so low shame descend But planted on that ground where safety lies Their branches should to eternity extend But euer those that ouerlooke so much Must ouersee themselues their state is such 78 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towardes euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bread despight So that euen vertue seemes an Actor too To ruine those fortune prepares to vndoo 79 Those thus prouided whom the Queene wel knew Hated his might and glad to inoouate Vnto so great and strong a party grew As easie t' was to ouerthrow his state And onely hope of alteration drew Manie to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnes men grow discontent Where states are ripe to fall and vertue spent 80 And taking all the rule into her hand Vnder the shadowe of that feeble king The Duke sh' excludes from office and command And in the reach of enmity doth bring From that respected height where he did stand Whilst malice scarce durst mutter anything When straight the worst of him comes all reueald Which former feare or rigor kept conceald 81 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the land haue brought The ciuile forme in cases touching bloud And such poore crimes that shewd their spight was sound But yet bewraide their matter wanted ground 82 Yet seru'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shall obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose hainous faults his matter must deface For where powre hath decreed to find th' oftence The cause is better still then the defence 83 A Parlament at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or ought imagining of what befell Where as the matter is so followed That he conuented is ere he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 84 Which quicke and sodaine action gaue no time For men to weigh the iustice of the deed Whilst looking only on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drift they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Sacietie makes passions still lesse strong 85 And yet they seem'd some mutiny to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Seeing he was most popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither dye 86 Reekning it better since his end is ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft things done perhaps doe lesse anoy Then may the doing handled with delay 87 And so they had it straight accomplished For that day after his committing he Is dead brought foorth being found so in his bed Which was by sodaine sicknes said to bee That had vpon his sorrowes gathered As by apparant to kens men might see And thus ô Sicknes thou art oft belide When death hath many waies to come beside 88 Are these the deedes hye forraine wits inuent Is this that wisedome whereof they so boast O then I would it neuer had beene spent Here amongst vs nor brought from out their coast O let their cunning in their limits pent Remaine amongst themselues that like it most And let the North they count of colder bloud Beheld more grosse so it remaine more good 89 Let them haue fairer citties goodlier soiles And sweeter fields for beautie to theeie So long as they haue these vngodly wiles Such detestable vile impietie And let vs want their vines their fruites the whiles So that we want not faith and honestie We care not for those pleasures so we may Haue better harts and stronger hands then they 90 Neptune keepe out from thy imbraced Ile This foule contagion of iniquitie Drowne all corruptions comming to defile Our faire proceedings ordred formally Keepe vs mere English let not craft beguile Honor and Iustice with strang subtiltie Let vs not thinke that that our good can frame Which ruinde hath the Authors of the same 91 But by this impious meanes that worthy man Is brought vnto this lamentable end And now that current with maine fury ran The stop remou'd that did the course defend Vnto the full of mischiefe that began T' a vniuersall ruine to extend That Isthmus failing which the land did keepe From the intire possession of the deepe 92 And now the king alone all open lay No vnderprop of bloud to stay him by None but himselfe standes weakely in the way Twixt Yorke and the affected sou'raignty Gone is that barre that would haue beene the stay T' haue kept him backe from mounting vp so hie But ô in what a state stand these men in That cannot liue without nor with their kin 93 The Queene hath yet by this her full desire And now she with her minion Suffolke raignes Now shee hath all authority intire And all affaires
vnto her selfe retaines And only Suffolke is aduanced hyre He is the man rewarded for his paines He that did her insteed most chiefly stand And more aduanc'd her then he did the land 94 Which when they saw who better did expect Then they beganne their error to descry And well perceiue that only the defect Was in their iudgements passion-drawne awry Found formall rigour fitter to direct Then pride and insolent inconstancie Better seuerity that 's right and iust Then impotent affections led with lust 95 And there upon in sorrow thus complaine O what great inconuenience do they feele Where as such imbecility doth raigne As so neglectes the care of common weale Where euer one or other doth obtaine So high a grace thus absolute to deale The whilst th'aggreieued subiect suffers still The pride of some predominating will 96 And euer one remou'd a worse succeedes So that the best that we can hope is warre Tumults and stirres that this disliking breedes The sword must mend what insolence doth marre For what rebellions and what bloudy deedes Haue euer followed where such courses are What oft remoues what death of counsailers What murder what exile of officers 97 Witnes the Spencers Gaueston and Vere The mighty minions of our feeblest kings Who euer subiects to their subiects were And only the procurers of these things When worthy Monarches that hold honor deare Maister themselues and theirs which euer brings That vniuersall reuerence and respect For who waighes him that doth himselfe neglect 98 And yet our case is like to be farre worse Hauing a king though not so bent to ill Yet so neglecting good that giuing force By giuing leaue doth all good order kill Suffring a violent woman take her course To manage all according to her will Which how she doth begin her deeds expresse And what will be the end our selues may gesse 99 Thus well they deem'd what after followed When now the shamefull losse of Fraunce much Which vnto Suffolke is attributed As who in all mens sight most hatefull liues grieues He with the enemy consedered Betraies the state and secret knowledge giues Of all our strength that all which we did hold By his corruption is or lost or sold. 100 And as he deales abroad so likewise here He robs at home the treasurie no lesse Here where he all authorities doth beare And makes a Monopoly of offices He is inricht h 'is raisd and placed neere And only he giues counsaile to oppresse Thus men obiect whilst many vp in armes Offer to be reuenged of these harmes 101 The Queene perceiuing in what case shee stood To loose her minion or ingage her state After with long contention in her bloud Loue and ambition did the cause debate Shee yeeldes to pride and rather thought it good To sacrifice her loue vnto their hate Then to aduenture else the losse of all Which by maintaining him was like to fall 102 Yet seeking at the first to temporize She tries if that some short imprisonment would calme their heat when that would not suffize Then to exile him shee must needes consent Hoping that time would salue it in such wise As yet at length they might become content And shee againe might haue him home at last When the first fury of this rage was past 103 But as he to his iudged exile went Hard on the shore he comes incountered By some that so far off his honor sent As put his backe-returne quite out of dread For there he had his rightfull punishment Though wrongly done and there he lost his head Part of his bloud hath Neptune part the sand As who had mischiefe wrought by sea and land 104 Whos 's death when swift-wingd fame at full conuaid Vnto the trauaild Queen misdoubting nought Despight and sorrow such affliction laid Vpon her soule as wondrous passions wrought O God saith she and art thou thus betraid And haue my fauours thy destruction brought Is this their gaine whom highnes fauoureth Who chiefe preferd stand as preferd to death 105 O fatall grace without which men complaine And with it perish what preuailes that we Thus beare the title of a soueraigne And suffred not to be that which we be O must our subiects limit and constraine Our sauors where as they themselues decree Must we our loue at their appointment place Do we commaund and they direct our grace 106 O will they then our powre and will deuide And haue we might but must not vse our might Poore maiestie that other men must guide Whose discontent can neuer looke aright For euermore we see those that abide Gracious in ours are odious in their sight Who would all-maistring maiesty defeat Of her best grace that is to make men great 107 Decre Suffolke ô I saw thy wofull cheere When thou perceiu'dst no helpe but to depart I saw that looke wherein did plaine appeare The lamentable message of thy heart That seemd to say O Queene and canst thou beare My ruine so the cause whereof thou art Canst thou indure to see them worke their will And not defend me from the hand of ill 108 Haue I for thee aduentured so much Made ship wracke of my honor faith and fame And doth my seruice giue no deeper touch To thy hard heart better to feele the same Or dost thou feare or is thy weakenes such As not of force to keepe me from this shame Or else now hauing seru'd thy turne of me Art well-content my ouerthrow to see 109 As if my sight did read vnto thy minde The lecture of that shame thou wouldst forget And therefore peraduenture glad to finde So fit occasion dost it forward set Or else thy selfe from dangerous toile t'vnwinde Downe on my necke dost all the burthen let Since kings must haue some hated worse then they On whom they may the waight of enuy lay 114 No Suffolke none of this my soule is cleere Without the thought of such impiety Yet must I needes confesse that too much feare Made me defend thee lesse couragiously Seeing more Princes euer ruind were By their immoderate fauoring priuately Then by seueritie in generall For best h 'is lik't that is alike to all 111 Thus in her passion lo shee vttered When as far greater tumults now burst out Which close and cunningly were practised By such as sought great hopes to bring about For vp in armes in Kent were gathered A mighty insolent rebellious rout Vnder a daungerous head who to deter The state the more himselfe nam'd Mortimer 112 The Duke of Yorke that did not idle stand But seekes to worke on all aduantages Had likewise in this course a secret hand And hartned on their chiefe accomplices To try how that the people of the land Would if occasion seru'd b' in readines To aide that line if one should come indeed To moue his right and in due course proceed 113 Knowing himselfe to be the onely one That must attempt the thing if any should And therefore lets the
What plague deserues so proude an enterprize Tell Muse and how it came and in what wise 31 It was the tyme when fayre Europa sate With many goodly Diadems addrest And all her parts in florishing estate Lay beautifull in order at their rest No swelling member vnproportionate Growne out of forme sought to disturbe the rest The lesse subsisting by the greaters might The greater by the lesser kept vpright 32 No noyse of tumult euer wak'd them all Onely perhaps some priuatiarrs within For tytles or for confines might befall Which ended soone made better loue begin But no eruption dyd in generall Breake downe theyr rest with vniuersall sin No publique shock dysioynted thys fayre frame Tyll Nemesis from out the Orient came 33 Fierce Nemisis mother of fate and change Sword-bearer of th' eternall prouidence That had so long with such afflictions strange Confounded Asias proude magnificence And brought foule impious Barbarisme to range On all the glory of her excellence Turnes her sterne looke at last vnto the West As greeu'd to see on earth such happy rest 34 And for Pandora calleth presently Pandora Ioues fayre gift that first deceiu'd Poore Epimetheus imbecillitie That thought he had a wondrous boone receiu'd By meanes whereof curioius mortalitie Was of all former quiet quite bereau'd To whom being come deckt with all qualities The wrathfull Goddesse breakes out in thys wise 35 Doost thou not see in what secure estate Those florishing fayre Westerne parts remaine As if they had made couenant with Fate To be exempted free from others paine At one with theyr desires friends with debate In peace with pride content with theyr owne gaine Their bounds cōtaine their minds their minds applide To haue their bounds with plentie beautified 36 Deuotion mother of Obedience Beares such a hand on theyr credulity That it abates the spirit of eminence And busies them wyth humble pietie For see what works what infinite expence What monuments of zeale they edifie As if they would if that no stop were found Fill all with Temples make all holy ground 37 But we must coole thys all-beleeuing zeale That hath enioyd so fayre a turne so long And other reuolutions must reueale Other desires other designes among Dislike of thys first by degrees shall steale Vpon the soules of men perswaded wrong And th' abus'd power that such a power hath got Shall giue herselfe the sword to cut her throat 38 Goe thou therefore with all thy styrring trayne Of swelling sciences the gyfts of greefe Goe loose the lynks of that soule-binding chayne Inlarge thys vninquisitiue beleefe Call vp mens spirits whom darknes doth detaine Enter theyr harts and Knowledge make the theefe To open all the doores to let in light That all may all things see but what is right 39 Opinion Arme against opinion growne Make new-borne contradiction still so rise As if Thebes-founder Cadmus tongues had sowne In stead of teeth for greater mutinies Bring lyke defended fayth against fayth knowne Weary the soule with contrarieties Till all Religion become retrograde And that fayre tyre the maske of sin be made 40 And better to effect a speedy end Let there be found two fatall instruments The one to publish th' other to defend Impious contention and proud discontents Make that instamped Characters may send Abroad to thousands thousand mens intents And in a moment may dispatch much more Then could a world of pennes performe before 41 Whereby all quarrels tytles secrecies May vnto all be presently made knowne Factions prepard parties allur'd to rise Sedition vnder fayre pretentions sowne Whereby the vulgar may become so wise That with a selfe presumption ouer-growne Hee may of deepest misteries debate Controule his betters censure acts of state 42 And then when this dispersed mischiefe shall Haue brought confusion in each misterie Calld vp contempt of all states generall Ripened the humor of impietie Then haue they th' other Engin where-with-all They may torment theyr selfe-wrought misery And scourge each other in the strangest wise As tyme or Tyrants neuer could deuise 43 For by this stratagem they shall confound All th' ancient forme and discipline of war Alter theyr camps alter theyr fights theyr ground Daunt mighty spirits prowesse and manhood mar For basest cowards from a far shall wound The most couragious forst to fight a far Valor rapt vp in smoake as in the night Shall perrish without witnes without sight 44 But first before thys generall disease Breake forth into so great extreamity Prepare it by degrees first kill thys ease Spoyle thys proportion mar thys harmony Make greater States vpon the lesser seaze Ioyne many kingdoms to one soueraignty Rayse a few great that may with greater power Slaughter each other and mankind deuoure 45 And first begin with factions to deuide The fayrest land that from her thrusts the rest As if shee car'd not for the world beside A world within her selfe with wonders blest Rayse such a strife as tyme shall not decide Till the dere blood of most of all her best Be poured forth and all her people tost With vnkind tumults and almost all lost 46 Let her be made the sable Stage whereon Shall first be acted bloody Tragedies That all the neighbour States gazing there on May make their profit by her miseries And those whom shee before had march'd vpon Hauing by this both tyme and meane to rise Made martiall by her Armes shall grow so great As saue theyr owne no force shall them defeat 47 That when theyr power vnable to sustaine And beare it selfe vpon it selfe shall fall Shee may recouered of her wounds againe Sit and behold theyr parts as tragicall For there must come a tyme that shall obtaine Truce for distresse When make-peace Hymen shall Bring the conioyned aduers powers to bed And set the Crowne made one vpon one head 48 Out of which blessed vnion shall arise A sacred branch with grace and glory blest Whose vertue shall her Land so patronize As all our power shall not her dayes molest For shee sayre shee the Minion of the skyes Shall purchase of the highe'st to hers such rest Standing betweene the wrath of heauen and them As no distresse shall touch her Diadem 49 Though thou shalt seeke by all the means thou may And Arme impiety and hell and all Styrre vp her owne make others to assay Bring sayth disguisd the power of Pluto call Call all thy orafts to practise her decay And yet shall thys take no effect at all For shee secure as intimate with Fate Shall sit and scorne those base dissignes of hate 50 And from the Rocks of safety shall discry The wondrous wracks that wrath layes ruined All round about her blood and misery Powers betrayd Princes slaine Kings massacred States all-confusd brought to calamitie And all the face of kingdoms altered Yet she the same inuiolable stands Deere to her owne wonder to other Lands 51 But let not her defence discourage thee For neuer none but shee shall haue thys grace
he meanes to shoote at you 71 For this course euer they deliberate Which doe aspyre to reach the gouernment To take aduantage of the peoples hate Which euer hate those that are eminent For who can manage great affayres of state And all a wayward multitude content And then these people-minions they must fall To worke out vs to worke themselues int'all 72 But note my Lord first who is in your hand Then how he hath offended what 's his end It is the man whose race would seeme to stand Before your right and doth a right pretend Who Traytor-like hath raysd a mighty band With coullor your proceedings to amend Which if it should haue hapned to succeed You had not now fate to adiudge hys deed 73 If oftentimes the person not th' offence Haue beene sufficient cause of death to some Where publique safety puts in euidence Of mischiefe likely by theyr lyfe to come Shall he whose fortune and his insolence Haue both deseru ' d to dye escape that doome When you shall saue your Land your Crowne therby And since you cannot lyue vnlesse he dye 74 Thys spake th' agreeued Duke that grauely saw Th' incompatible powers of Princes minds And what affliction his escape might draw Vnto the state and people of all kinds And yet the humble yeelding and the aw Which Yorke there shew'd so good opinion finds That with the rumor of his sonnes great strength And French affayres he there came quit at length 75 For euen the feare t' exasperat the heat Of th' Earle of March whose forward youth might Well followd seem'd a proude reuenge to threat If any shame should on his Father light And then desire in Gascoyne to reget The glory lost which home-broyles hinder might Aduauntaged the Duke and sau'd his head Which question lesse had els been hazarded 76 For now had Burdeux offered vpon ayd Present reuolt if we would send with speed Which fayre aduantage to haue then delayd Vpon such hopes had been a shamefull deed And therfore this all other courses stayd And outwardly these inward hates agreed Giuing an interpause to pride and spight Which breath'd but to break out with greater might 77 Whilst dreadfull Talbot terror late of Fraunce Against the Genius of our fortune stroue The down-throwne glory of our state t' aduaunce Where Fraunce far more then Fraunce hee now doth proue For frends opinion succeeding chaunce Which wrought the weak to yeld the strong to loue Were not the same as he had found before In happyer tymes when lesse would haue done more 78 For both the Britayne and Burgonian now Came altred with our luck won with theirs Those bridges and the gates that dyd allow So easie passage vnto our affayres Iudging it safer to endeuour how To linke with strength then leane vnto dispayres And who wants frends to back what he begins In Lands far of gets not although he wins 79 Which too well prou'd thys fatall enterprize The last that lost vs all we had to lose Where though aduantag'd by some mutenies And petty Lords that in our cause arose Yet those great fayld whose ready quick supplyes Euer at hand cheerd vs and quaild our foes Succours from far come seldom to our mind For who holds league with Neptune or the wind 80 Yet worthy Talbot thou didst so imploy The broken remnants of discattered power That they might see it was our destiny Not want of spirit that lost vs what was our Thy dying hand sold them the victory With so deere wounds as made the conquest sowre So much it cost to spoyle who were vndon And such a doe to win when they had won 81 For as a fierce couragious mastiue fares That hauing once sure fastned on his foe Lyes tugging on that hold neuer forbeares What force soeuer force hym to forgoe The more he feeles his wounds the more he dares As if his death were sweet in dying so So held his hold thys Lord whilst he held breath And scarce but with much blood le ts goe in death 82 For though he saw prepard against his side Both vnlike fortune and vnequall force Borne with the swelling current of theyr pryde Downe the mayne streame of a most happy course Yet stands he stiffe vndasht vnterrified His minde the same although his fortune worse Vertue in greatest dangers being best showne And though opprest yet neuer ouerthrowne 83 For reskuing of besieg'd Chatillion Where hauing first constraind the French to flye And following hard on theyr confusion Comes loe incountred with a strong supply Of fresh-ariuing powers that back thrust on Those flying troupes another chaunce to try Who double Arm'd with shame and fury straine To wreake their foyle and win theyr fame againe 84 Which seeing th' vndaūted Talbot with more might Of spirit to will then hands of power to doe Preparing t' entertaine a glorious fight Cheeres vp his wearied souldiers thereunto Courage sayth he those brauing troupes in sight Are but the same that now you dyd vndoe And what if there be come some more then they They come to bring more glory to the day 85 Which day must eyther thrust vs out of all Or all with greater glory back restore Thys day your valiant worth aduenture shall For what our Land shall neuer fight for more If now we faile with vs is like to fall All that renowne which we haue got before Thys is the last if we discharge the same The same shall last to our eternall fame 86 Neuer had worthy men for any fact A more fayre glorious Theater then we VVhereon true magnanimity might act Braue deeds which better witnessed could be For loe from yonder Turrets yet vnsackt Your valiant fellowes stand your worth to see T' auouch your valour if you liue to gaine And if we die that we dyde not in vaine 87 And euen our foes whose proud powrefull might VVould seeme to swallow vp our dignitie Shall not keepe backe the glory of our right Which theyr confounded blood shall testifie For in theyr wounds our gored swords shall write The monuments of our eternitie For vile is honor and a tytle vayne The which true worth and danger doe not gayne 88 For they shall see when we in carelesse sort Shall throw our selues on theyr despised speares T is not dispaire that doth vs so transport But euen true fortitude that nothing feares Sith we may well retire vs in some sort But shame on him that such a foule thought beares For be they more let Fortune take theyr part We'ill tugge her to and scratch her ere we part 89 Thys sayd a fresh infusd desire of fame Enters theyr warmed blood with such a will That they deem'd long they were not at the same And thogh they march'd they thought they yet stood still And that their lingring foes too slowly came To ioyne with them spending much time so ill Such force had words fierce humors vp to call Sent from the mouth of such
such heapest ' aduance Nor trust their liuing glorie with the dead That cannot speak but leaue their fame to chance Considering in how small a roome do lie And yet lie safe as fresh as if aliue All those great worthies of antiquitie Which long foreliu'd thee shal long suruiue Who stronger tombs found for eternitie Then could the powres of al the earth cōtriue Where they remaine these trifles to obraid Out of the reach of spoile and way of rage Though time with all his power of yeares hath laid Long batterie back'd with vndermining age Yet they make head onely with their own aide And war with his all conquering forces wage Pleading the heauens prescription to be free And t' haue a grant t' indure as long as he Philocosmus Beholde how euery man drawne with delight Of what he doth flatters him in his way Striuing to make his course seeme onely right Doth his owne rest and his owne thoughts betray Imagination bringing brauely dight Her pleasing images in best aray With flattering glasses that must shew him faire And others foule his skill and his wit best Others seduc'd deceiu'd and wrong in their His knowledge right all ignorant the rest Not seeing how these minions in the aire Present a face of things falsely exprest And that the glimmering of these errors showne Are but a light to let him see his owne Alas poore Fame in what a narrow roome As an incaged Parrot art thou pent Here amongst vs where euē as good be domb As speake and to be heard with no attent How can you promise of the time to come When as the present are so negligent Is this the walke of all your wide renowne This little point this scarce discerned I le Thrust from the world with whō our speech vnknown Made neuer any traffike of our stile And is this all where all this care is showne T'inchant your fame to last so long a while And for that happier tongues haue woon so much Think you to make your barbarous language such Poore narrow limits for so mightie paines That cannot promise any forraine vent And yet if here to all your wondrous vaines Were generally knowne it might content But lo how many reads not or disdaines The labors of the chiefe and excellent How many thousands neuer heard the name Of Sydney or of Spencer or their bookes And yet braue fellowes and presume of fame And seem to beare downe all the world with lookes What then shall they expect of meaner frame On whose indeuours few or none scarse looks Do you not see these Pamphlets Libels Rymes These strange confused tumults of the minde Are growne to be the sicknes of these times The great disease inflicted on mankind Your vertues by your follies made your crimes Haue issue with your indiscretion ioin'd Schooles arts professions all in so great store Passe the proportion of the present state Where being as great a number as before And fewer roomes them to accommodate It cannot be but they must throng the more And kicke and thrust and shoulder with debate For when the greater wittes cannot attaine Th' expected good which they account their right And yet perceiue others to reape that gaine Of far inferiour vertues in their sight They present with the sharpe of Enuie straine To wound them with reproches and despight And for these cannot haue as well as they They scorne their faith should daigne to looke that way Hence discontented Sects and Schismes arise Hence interwounding controuersies spring That feed the simple and offend the wife Who know the consequence of cauilling Disgrace that these to others do deuise Contempt and scorne on all in th' end doth bring Like scolding wiues reckning each others fault Make standers by imagin both are naught For when to these rare dainties time admits All commers all Complexions all that will Where none should be let in but choisest wits Whose milde discretion could comport with skill For when the place their humor neither fits Nor they the place who can expect but ill For being vnapt for what they tooke in hand And for ought else where to they shalb'addrest They euen become th'incombrance of the land As out of ranke disordring all the rest This grace of theirs to seeme to vnderstand Marres all their grace to do without their rest Men find that action is another thing Then what they in discoursing papers reade The worlds affaires require in managing More arts then those wherein you Clearks proceed Whilst timorous knowledge stands considering Audacious ignorance hath done the deed For who knowes most the more he knows to doubt The least discourse is commonly most stout This sweet in chaunting knowledge turnes you cleene Out from the fields of natur all delight And makes you hide vnwilling to be seene In th' open concourse of a publike sight This skill where with you haue so cunning beene Vnsinewes all your powres vnmans you quite Publike societie and commerce of men Require another grace another port This eloquence these rymes these phrases then Begot in shades do serue vs in no sort Th'vnmateriall swellings of your pen Touch not the spirit that action doth import A manly stile fitted to manlie eares Best grees with wit not that which goes so gay And commonly the gaudie liu'rie weares Of nice corruptions which the times do sway And waites on th'humor of his pulse that beares His passions set to such a pleasing kay Such dainties serue onely for stomacks weake For men do fowlest when they finest speake Yet do I not dislike that in some wise Be sung the great heroycall deserts Of braue renowned spirits whose exercise Of worthy deedes may call vp others hearts And serue a modell for posterities To fashion them fit for like glorious parts But so that all our spirits may tend hereto To make it not our grace to say but do Musophilus Much thouhast said and willingly I heare As one that am not so possest with loue Of what I do but that I rather beare An eare to learne then a toong to disproue I know men must as caried in their spheare According to their proper motions moue And that course likes them best which they are on Yet truth hath certaine bounds but falshood none I do confesse our limits are but small Compar'd with all the whole vaste earth beside All which againe rated to that great All Is likewise as a point scarcelie discride So that in these respects we may this call A point but of a point where we abide But if we shall descend from that high stand Of ouer-looking Contemplation And cast our thoughts but to and not beyond This spatious circuit which we tread vpon We then may estimate our mightie land A world within a world standing alone Where if our fame confind cannot get out What shall we then imagine it is pen'd That hath so great a world to walke about Whose boūds with her reports haue both one end Why shall we not rather
the Queen raught from her side her knife And euen in act to stab her martred brest I stept with speede and held and sau'd her life And forth her trembling hād the blade did wrest Ah Cleopatra why shouldst thou said I Both iniurie thy selfe and Caesar so Barre him the honour of his victorie Who euer deales most mildly with his foe Liue and relie on him whose mercie will To thy submission alwayes readie be With that as all amaz'd she held her still Twixt maiestie confuz'd and miserie Her proud grieu'd eyes held sorow and disdaine State and distresse warring within her soule Dying ambition dispossest her raigne So base affliction seemed to controule Like as a burning Lampe whose liquour spent With intermitted flames when dead you deem it Sendes forth a dying flash as discontent That so the matter failes that should redeeme it So shee in spight to see her low-brought state When all her hopes were now consum'd to nought Scornes yet to make an abiect league with Fate Or once descend into a seruile thought Th' imperious tongue vnused to beseech Authoritie confounds with prayers so Words of cōmand conioin'd with humble speech Shew'd she would liue yet scorn'd to pray her foe Ah what hath Caesar here to doe said she In confines of the dead in darknes lying Will he not grant our sepulchres be free But violate the priuiledge of dying VVhat must he stretch forth his ambitious hand Into the right of Death and force vs here Hath miserie no couert where to stand Free from the storme of pride i st safe no where Cannot my land my gold my crowne suffise And all what I held deere to him made common But that he must in this fortty tyrannize Th' afflicted bodie of an wofull woman Tell him my frailtie and the Gods haue giuen Sufficient glorie if he could content him And let him now with his desires make euen And leaue me to this horror to lamenting Now he hath taken all away from mee VVhat must he take me from my selfe by force Ah let him yet in mercie leaue me free The kingdome of this poore distressed corse No other crowne I seeke no other good Yet wish that Caesar would vouchsafe this grace To fauour the poore ofspring of my blood Confused issue yet of Roman race If blood and name be links of loue in Princes Not spurres of hate my poore Caesario may Finde fauour notwithstanding mine offences And Caesars blood may Caesars raging stay But if that with the torrent of my fall All must be rapt with furious violence And no respect nor no regard at all Can ought with nature or with blood dispence Then be it so if needes it must be so There stayes and shrinkes in horror of her state VVhen I began to mitigate her woe And thy great mercies vnto her relate VVishing her not despaire but rather come And sue for grace and shake off all vaine feares No doubt she should obtaine as gentle doome As she desir'd both for her selfe and hers And so with much a-do well pacifide Seeming to be she shew'd content to liue Saying she was resolu'd thy doome t' abide And to accept what fauour thou would'st giue And here-with all crau'd also that she might Performe her last rites to her lost belou'd To sacrifice to him that wrought her plight And that shee might not be by force remou'd I granting from thy part this her request Left her for then seeming in better rest Caes. But dost thou thinke she will remaine so still Pro. I thinke and do assure my selfe she will Caes. Ah priuat men sound not the harts of princes Whose actions oft beare contrarie pretences Pro. Why t is her safetie for to yeeld to thee Caes. But t is more honour for her to die free Pro. She may thereby procure her childrens good Caes. Princes respect their honor more then blood Pro. Can princes powre dispence with nature thā Caes. To be a prince is more then be a man Pro. There 's none but haue in time perswaded beene Caes. And so might she too were she not a Queene Pro. Diuers respects will force her be reclaim'd Caes. Princes like Lyons neuer will be tarn'd A priuate man may yeeld and care not how But greater hearts will breake before they bow And sure I thinkesh ' will neuer condiscend To liue to grace our spoiles with her disgrace But yet let still a wary watch attend To guard her person and to watch the place And looke that none with her come to confer Shortly my selfe will go to visite her CHORVS OPINION how doost thou molest Th' affected minde of restles man Who following thee neuer can Nor euer shall attaine to rest For getting what thou saist is best Yet loe that best he findes farre wide Of what thou promisedst before For in the same he lookt for more Which proues but smal whē once t is tride Then something else thou find st beside To draw him stil frō thought to thought When in the end all proues but nought Farther from rest hee findes him than Then at the first when he began O malecontent seducing guest Contriuer of our greatest woes Which born of wind fed with showes Doost nurse thy selfe in thine vnrest Iudging vngotten thinges the best Or what thou in conceit design'st And all things in the world doost deeme Not as they are but as they seeme Which shewes their state thou ill defin'st And liu'st to come in present pin'st For what thou hast thou still doost lacke O mindes tormentor bodies wracke Vaine promiser of that sweet rest Which neuer anie yet possest If we vnto ambition tende Then doost thou drawe our weakenes on With vaine imagination Of that which neuer hath an ende Or if that lust we apprehend How doth that pleasant plague infest O what strange formes of luxurie Thou straight doost cast t' intice vs by And tell'st vs that is euer best Which we haue neuer yet possest And that more pleasure rests beside In something that we haue not tride And when the same likewise is had Then all is one and all is bad This Antony can say is true As Cleopatra knowes t is so By th' experience of their woe Shee can say she neuer knew But that lust found pleasures new And was neuer satisfide He can say by proofe of toile Ambition is a Vulture vile That feeds vpō the hart of pride And finds no rest when all is tride For worlds cannot confine the one Th' other lists and bounds hath none And both subuert the minde the state Procure destruction enuie hate And now when all this is prou'd vaine Yet Opinion leaues not heere But sticks to Cleopatra neere Perswading now how she shall gaine Honour by death and fame attaine And what a shame it were to liue Her kingdome lost her Louer dead And so with this perswasion led Dispaire doth such a courage giue That nought else can her mind relieue Nor yet diuert her from that thought To this
destruction thus pursude O why should th' heauens vs include Within the compasse of their fall Who of themselues procured all Or do the Gods in close decree Occasion take how to extrude Man from the earth with crueltie Ah no the Gods are euer iust Our faults excuse their rigor must This is the period Fate set downe To Egypts fat prosperitie Which now vnto her greatest growne Must perish thus by course must die And some must be the causers why This reuolution must be wrought As borne to bring their state to nought To change the people and the crowne And purge the worlds iniquitie Which vice so farre bath ouer-growne As we so they that treate vs thus Must one day perish like to vs. ACTVS QVARTVS SELEVCVS RODON Sel. NEuer friend Rodon in a better howre Could I haue met thee thē eu'n now I do Hauing affliction in the greatest powre Vpon my soule and none to tell it to For t is some ease our sorrowes to reueale If they to whom we shall impart our woes Seeme but to feele a part of what we feele And meete vs with a sigh but at a cloze Rod. And neuer friend Seleucus found'st thou one That better could beare such a part with thee Who by his own knows others cares to mone And can in like accord of griefe agree And therefore tell th' oppression of thy hart Tell to an eare prepar'd and tun'd to care And I will likewise vnto thee impart As sad a tale as what thou shalt declare So shall we both our mournefull plaints combine I le waile thy state and thou shalt pitty mine Sel. Well then thou know'st how I haue liu'din grace With Cleopatra and esteem'din Court As one of Counsell and of chiefest place And euer held my credite in that sort Till now in this confusion of our state When thinking to haue vs'd a meane to climbe And fled the wretched flowne vnto the great Following the fortune of the present time Am come to be cast down and ruin'd cleene And in the course of mine own plot vndonne For hauing all the secrets of the Queene Reueald to Caesar to haue fauor wonne My trechery is quited with disgrace My falshood loath'd and not without great reason Though good for him yet Princes in this case Do hate the Traitor though they loue the treason For how could hee imagine I would be Faithfull to him being false vnto mine owne And false to such a bountious Queene as shee That had me rais'd and made mine honor knowne He saw t was not for zeale to him I bare But for base feare or mine owne state to settle Weakenesse is false and faith in Cowards rare Feare findes out shifts timiditie is subtle And therefore scorn'd of him scorn'd of mine own Hatefull to all that looke into my state Despis'd Seleucus now is onely grown The marke of infamy that 's pointed at Rod. T is much thou faist and ôo too much to feele And I do grieue and do lament thy fall But yet all this which thou doost heere reueale Compar'd with mine wil make thine seem but smal Although my fault be in the selfe-same kind Yet in degree far greater far more hatefull Mine sprong of mischiefe thine from feeble mind I staind with bloud thou onely but vngratefull For vnto me did Cleopatra giue The best and deerest treasure of her blood Louely Caesario whom she would should liue Free from the dangers wherein Egypt stood And vnto me with him this charge she gaue Here Rodon take conuay from out this Coast This precious Gem the chiefest that I haue The iewell of my soule I value most Guide him to INDIA lead him far from hence Safeguard him where secure he may remaine Till better fortune call him backe from thence And Egypts peace be reconcil'd againe For this is he that may our hopes bring backe The rising Sunne of our declining state These be the hands that may restore our wrack And raise the broken ruines made of late He may giue limits to the boundles pride Of fierce Octauius and abate his might Great Julius of-spring he may come to-guide The Empire of the world as his by right O how he seemes the modell of his Syre O how I gaze my Caesar in his face Such was his gate so did his lookes a spire Such was his threatning brow such was his grace High shouldred and his forehead euen as hie And ô if he had not beene borne so late He might haue rul'd the worlds great Monarchy And now haue beene the Champion of our state Then vnto him ô my deere Sonne she saies Soone of my youth flie hence ô flie be gone Reserue thy selfe ordain'd for better daies For much thou hast to ground thy hopes vpon Leaue me thy wofull Mother to endure The sury of this tempest heere alone Who cares not for her selfe so thou be sure Thou mayst reuenge when others can but mone Rodon will see thee safe Rodon will guide Thee and thy waies thou shalt not need to feare Rodon my faithfull seruant will prouide What shall be best for thee take thou no care And ô good Rodon looke well to his youth The waies are long and dangers eu'ry where I vrge it not that I do doubt thy truth Mothers will cast the worst and alwaies feare The absent danger greater still appeares Lesse fears he who is neere the thing he feares And ô I know not what presaging thought My sp'rit suggests of luckles bad euent But yet it may be t is but loue doth dote Or idle shadowes with my feares present But yet the memory of mine own fate Makes me feare his And yet why should I feare His fortune may recouer better state And he may come in pompe to gouerne heere But yet I doubt the Genius of our race By some malignant spirit comes ouer-throwne Our bloud must be extinct in my disgrace Egypt must haue no more Kings of their owne Then let him stay and let vs fall together Sith it is fore-decreed that we must fall Yet who knowes what may come let him go thither What Merchaunt in one Vessell venters all Let vs deuide our stars Go go my sonne Let not the fate of Egypt find thee heere Try if so be thy destinie can shunne The common wracke of vs by being there But who is he found euer yet defence Against the heauens or hid him any where Then what need I to send thee so far hence To seeke thy death that maystas well die here And here die with thy mother die in rest Not trauailing to what will come to thee Why should we leaue our bloud vnto the East When Egypt may a Tombe sufficient be O my deuided soule what shall I do Where on shall now my resolution rest What were I best resolue to yeeld vnto When both are bad how shall I know the best Stay I may hap so worke with Caesar now That he may yeeld him to restore thy right Go Caesar neuer will
HENRIE the second that so highlie weigh'd me Found well by proofe the priuiledge of beautie That it had powre to counter-maund all dutie For after all his victories in FRAVNCE And all the triumphes of his honor wun Vnmatch'd by sword was vanquisht by a glaunce And hotter wars within his brest begun Wars whom whole Legions of desires drew on Against all which my chastitie contends With force of honour which my shame defends No armour might be found that could defend Transpearcing raies of Christal pointed eies No stratagem no reason could amend No not this age yet old men should be wise But shewes deceiue outward appearance lies Let none for seeming so thinke faints of others For all are men and all haue suckt their mothers Who would haue thought a Monarch would haue euer Obeyd his hand-maid of so meane estate Vultur ambition feeding on his liuer Age hauing worne his pleasures out of date But hap comes neuer or it comes too late For such a daintie which his youth found nor Vnto his feeble age did chaunce a-lot Ah Fortune neuer absolutelie good For that some crosse stil counter-checks our luck As heere behold th' incompatible blood Of age and youth was that whereon we stuck Whose lothing we from natures brests do suck As opposite to what our bloud requires For equall age doth equall like desires But mightie men in hiest honour sitting Nought but applause and pleasure can behold Sooth'd in their liking carelesse what is fitting May not be suffred once to thinke the ' are old Not trusting what they see but what is told Miserable fortune to forget so farre The state of flesh and what our frailties are Yet must I needes excuse so great defect For drinking of the Lethe of mine eies H 'is forc'd forget himselfe and all respect Of maiestie whereon his state relies And now of loues and pleasures must deuise For thus reuiu'd againe he serues and su'th And seekes al meanes to vndermine my youth Which neuer by assault he could recouer So well incamp'd in strength of chast desires My cleane-arm'd thoughts repell'd an vnchast louer The Crowne that could commaund what it requires I lesser priz'd then chastities attires Th'vnstained vaile which innocents adornes Th'vngathred Rose defended with the thornes And safe mine honour stood till that in truth One of my sexe of place and nature bad Was set in ambush to intrap my youth One in the habite of like frailty clad One who the liu'ry of like weakenes had A seeming Matron yet a sinfull monster As by her words the chaster sort may conster She set vpon me with the smoothest speech That court and age could cunningly deuise Th' one autentique made her fit to reach The other learnt her how to subtelise Both were enough to circumuent the wise A document that well might teach the sage That ther 's no trust in youth nor hope in age Daughter said she behold thy happie chaunce That hast the lot cast downe into thy lap Whereby thou maist thy honor great aduance Whilst thou vnhappie wilt not see thy hap Such fond respect thy youth doth so inwrap T' oppose thy selfe against thine own good fortune That points thee out seemes thee to importune Doost thou not see how that thy King thy Ioue Lightens forth glory on thy darke estate And showres down gold treasure from aboue Whilst thou doost shut thy lap against thy fate Fie fondling fie thou wilt repent too late The error of thy youth that canst not see What is the fortune that doth follow thee Thou must not thinke thy flowre can alwaies florish And that thy beauty will be still admired But that those raies which all these flames do nourish Canceld with Time will haue their date expired And men will scorne what now is so desired Our frailties doome is written in the flowers Which flourish now and fade ere many howers Reade in my face the ruines of my youth The wracke of yeeres vpon my aged brow I haue beene faire I must confesse the truth And stood vpon as nice respects as thou I lost my time and I repent it now But were I to begin my youth againe I would redeeme the time I spent in vaine But thou hast yeers and priuiledge to vse them Thy priuiledge doth beare Beauties great seale Besides the law of nature doth excuse them To whom thy youth may haue a iust appeale Esteeme not Fame more then thou doost thy weale Fame wherof the world seems to make such choice Is but an Eccho and an idle voice Then why should this respect of honor bound vs In th' imaginarie lifts of reputation Titles which cold seueritie hath found vs Breath of the vulgar foe to recreation Melancholies opinion Customes relation Pleasures plague beauties scourge hel to the faire To leaue the sweet for Castles in the aire Pleasure is felt opinion but conceau'd Honor a thing without vs not our owne Whereof we see how many are bereau'd Which should haue reap'd the glory they had sowne And manie haue it yet vnworthy knowne So breathes his blast this many-headed beast Whereof the wisest haue esteemed least The subtile Citty-women better learned Esteeme them chast enough that best seeme so Who though they sport it shal not be discerned Their face bewraies not what their bodies do T is warie walking that doth safeliest go With shew of vertue as the cunning knowes Babes are beguild with sweets men with showes Then vse thy tallent youth shall be thy warrant And let not honour from thy sports detract Thou must not fondly think thy selfe transparent That those who see thy face can iudge thy fact Let her haue shame that cannot closely act And seeme the chast which is the chiefest arte For what we seeme each see none knowes our hart The mightie who can with such sinnes dispence In steed of shame do honors great bestow A worthie author doth redeeme th' offence And makes the scarlet sinne as white as snow The maiestie that doth descend so low Is not defilde but pure remaines therein And being sacred sanctifies the sin What doost thou stand on this that he is old Thy beautie hath the more to worke vpon Thy pleasures want shall be suppli'd with gold Cold age dotes most when heat of youth is gone Enticing words preuaile with such a one Alluring shewes most deepe impression strikes For age is prone to credite what it likes Heere interrupt she leaues me in a doubt When loe began the combat in my blood Seeing my youth inuirond round about The ground vncertaine where my reasons stood Small my defence to make my partie good Against such powers which were so surelie laid To ouer-throw a poore vnskilfull Maid Treason was in my bones my selfe conspiring To sel my selfe to lust my soule to sin Pure blushing shame was euen in retiring Leauing the sacred hold it glori'd in Honor lay prostrate for my flesh to win Whē cleaner thoughts my weaknes gan vpbray Against my selfe and shame