great bodies for so little heads Since euery Common-wealth where all mens witts Do ioyne in one t' increase the publike ease Is subiect oft to feauers and to fits Which Phisicke whiles whiles poison must appease For ah the multitude more rash then wise A Hyhra-headed beast whilst nought it binds Doth passionately praise or else despise As some prepostrous fancies moue their mindes Oft vice and vertue haue like danger bred Whilst enuie th' one procur'd and th' other hate By iealousie or emulation dred Those ruin'd are by it that raisde the state Arist Whilst some their betters others equals scorne The gouernment that 's popular decaies And when it dies the Monarchie is borne Whose violence disorders broiles alaies It from corruption doth continue cleane As freest from infirmities we finde Still whilst it humbly high doth hold a meane Twixt tyrannie and too remisse a minde But though th' one-headed state may flourish long Whilst th' one knowes to command the rest t' obey Whilst guerdon followes goodnesse vengeance wrong That vertue cherisht is vice made decay Yet if nought else time doth great states orecome Heauens haue confinde all by some fatall howre And there may many misaduentures come To dissipate the most vnited powre For huge mishaps a monarchie may marre When once prosperitie beginnes t' expire To further which whiles strangers must make warre And whiles seditious subiects may conspire As iealousie or else ambition moues All Princes would suppresse aspiners still And then a subiects course most dangerous proues When either feare or hope transports his will But though to the beginning and to th' end Great states are guided by a secret fate Yet their design'd destrudion doth depend Still either on contempt or else on hate Of those the first kings lacke of courage breedes Which makes th' ambitious minds t' attempt more bold And th' other doth attend tyrannike deedes By violence t' haue violence controld Phoc. Yet neuer did so many Monarks fall By forraigne battells nor intestine broiles As by themselues that seeming free were thrall Whilst smooth-tong'd minions gloried of their spoiles Those that haue raign'd by choise by birth or worth Or yet through others errours or their crime Oft suffer ougly vices to burst forth Which vertues colours gilted till that time Men are descipherd best then whilst they rest Most high aduaunc'd being free from hope or feare That which is eminent is marked best And highest fortunes hardest are to beare Low fortunes cloake the faults that some commit Whilst imperfections th' earth perfections deemes Stupiditie seemes patience feare seemes wit Will constancie and softnesse goodnesse seemes But when in the worlds theatre one must stand A publike actor plac'd in all mens sight And swaies the signe of powre and in his hand Doth hold the ballance both of wrong and right Then he for euery action that is his The censure of a thousand tongues must haue Not onely damn'd for doing of things amisse But for not doing of all that all men craue O he but vndermines the soueraigne state That cares not who be weake so he be strong More studious for himselfe then for the state Or if for it that he may hold it long For where Ioue him for all mens good ordaines He thinkes both them and theirs made him to please As if a charge of weight a place of paines Were but a bed of rest a hauen of ease The worlds great weight that Atlas shoulders beare Is not so weightie all to weigh one downe As that which on his head a king doth weare There is no burthen heauier than a crowne The Aegean waues more easie are t' appease Then are their thoughts whose minde for state prepares Can they haue rest that toile for all mens ease The purple euer must be lin'd with cares Arist Good kings are like the fire which flaming bright Doth waste it selfe to serue anothers turne And soueraigntie is like fires glancing light Which if but view'd delights if touch'd doth burne I like for warmnesse to stand Vulcan by More than to burne amidst the Lemnian flame And rather in the Cedars shadow lie Than on the top to stand the wind-gods game All th' eie-attracting pompe and splendrous showes Do merit scorne though they amazement breed The world them pittie more then enuie owes That to seeme happy would be wrech'd indeed For alterations strange attend a throne As if the spheare of fortune were a crowne The great still tossde like Sisiphus his stone Whilst highest vp rest readiest to fall downe Of this what greater proofe can Fame afford Then mightie Philips memorable fall That daunted had the Grecians by the sword Though not till then t' a stranger being made thrall He he then whilst he solemniz'd with state His daughters marriage suddenly was lost So that it seem'd that Monarchs dayes to date That Hymens torch gaue light to Plutoes post Then when that I conceiude with griefe of heart The miseries that proper were to court I thought them happie that retir'd apart Could neuer know such things but by report I might haue liu'd with Alexander still To vertuous men whose sauours were not scarse Yet rather chose though hauing both at will T' obey with Pallas then command with Mars And whilst he toyl'd ouer others Lord to be I labor'd ouer my selfe to be made Lord Yet made as great a conquest too as hee My pen shall be as famous as his sword Phoc. And had I willingly engag'd my rest The way to trace that to vaine-glory tends I might haue liu'd respected with the best As one of Alexanders chiefest friendes For though of him that I did merit nought He entertainde my friendship till his death And when he once our cities ore-throw sought At my request he pacified his wrath Then once to me a masse of gold he sent And offred too a stately Asian towne Which I refusde pleasde more with my poore rent Than he with all the treasures of a crowne I tolde that such a summe but seru'd to make Him a corrupter me corrupted thought And foule for him to giue for me to take If vsde shamde both vnusde did serue for nought But all those baites I neuer daign'd to touch Lest I that all my life had liude so free Might be possest too much possessing much If taking riches it had taken me No I would rather learne to liue on lesse Then for superfluous furniture to striue Who seekes out substance t' entertaine excesse Doth liue t' vse it not it that he may liue My fortune doth afford sufficient meanes That may preserue all Natures powres in force And he that on a golden scepter leanes Can not haue more but may wel vse it worse Ah since aboundance but abuses brings Why seeke men more then serues t' haue Nature easde And why should men toile for so many things Since Nature with alittle can be pleasde Arist Lo how the heauens whose loue towards man exceeds Haue made his bodie strong his minde
steepy part his steps aduanc'd And was returning backe vnto his Band He was well markt by one that had not spard No kind of danger for to make vs thralles For Cyrus had proposde a great reward To any one that first could scale our walles And this companion seeing without stay One in his sight that craggie passage clim Straight followd on his footsteps all the way And many a thousand followd after him By whom all those that durst resist were killd The rest were forc'd and knew not where to flee For euery street was with confusion filld There was no corner from some mischiefe free O what a piteous clamour did arise Of rauisht virgins and of widowd wiues Who pierc'd the heau'ns with lamentable cries And hauing lost all comfort loathd their liues Whilst those prowd Victors did insist t' haue staind Themselues with all the wrongs that such like vse They by a charge from Cyrus were restraind And durst no more their captiues thus abuse Chor. No doubt but desolation then abounded Whilst with disdaine the Conqu'rors bosom boylde Some with the sword some with disgrace confounded Sacred Temples priuate houses all were spoylde None can imagine greater miserie Then all the suffrings of a captiu'd Citie But whilst this famous Citie was distressed What could become of the hard-fortun'd King Nun. He seeing th' enemie of his State possessed And that confusion seazde on euery thing Stood first amazd scarse trusting his owne sight His former fortune had him so transported Yet it is hard for to deny the light He saw a stranger that his wealth extorted And when that he had deepely apprehended Th' vnbounded horrors that o'reflow'd his soule As one whose Ioyes had long before been ended He could no more the signes of griefe controule But bursting out in bitter sighs and teares Plungde in the deepest depth of blacke despaire Through o're great feare leauing all kind of feares Did of his safetie take no further care And neuer wisht he so for a long life But he o're-wisht it wishing for death now Still seeking danger in the bounds of strife Prouiding that he dyde he car'd not how Whilst thus he fostred furies in his breast A certaine souldier by the way him meetes As insolent as any of the rest That drunke with blood ran raging through the streetes And seeking but an obiect to his ire He made to him and he to him againe I wot not which of them did most desire Th' one for to slay or th' other to be slaine But whilst so base a hand towring aloft Did to so great a Monarch threaten death His eldest Sonne that as you haue heard oft Was barrd from the right function of his breath I cannot tell you well nor in what fashion If that the destinies had so ordaind Or if the vehemency of his passion Did breake the strings that had his tongue restraind But when he saw his Syre in such a danger He bursted forth into those words the rather Hold hold thy hand in haste thou furious stranger Kill not King Croesus murther not my Father The other hearing this his hand retyrde Then call'd his Kings commandement to minde And to no small preferment he aspyrde To whom this desert did his Sou'raigne binde Now when that Croesus who for death did languish Was of this faire occasion disappointed O're-chargd with griefe and surfeiting of anguish To see himselfe for further euils appointed He with sad sighs those syllables did accord Now cruell destinie do what thou can Which would not vnto me the grace afford That I might perish like a priuate man Ah! must I liue to wish t' haue been vnborne Charactring shame in a deiected face Ah! must I liue to my perpetuall scorne The finger-pointed obiect of disgrace Yet this vnto his soule more sorrow bred He King-like as in former times arrayde Was with a mightie acclamation led Strait to the Tent whereas their Emp'rour stayde So soone as Cyrus got him in his powre He causde bring bands of yron burd'nous chaines And clogd him hand and foot at that same howre As one that was design'd for grieuous paines Then causde in haste a pile of wood to make And in the midst where all men might espy him Causde bind the captiu'd King vnto a stake With fourteene others of the Lydians by him There as th' oblation for his Victorie With sacred flames their bodies to combure Although Ioue hates prepostrous pietie And doth delight in offrings that are pure Now whilst the fires were kindling round about As one that to some powrefull god had vowd With eyes bent vp and with his hands stretcht out O Solon Solon Croesus cride alowd Some hearing him to vtter such a voyce And seeing Cyrus curious for to know Now of what Deitie dying he made choyce Did pray him liberally his mind to show He answered vpon one in wit profound He calld with whom he wisht if it might be That all the Rulers of th' inferior round Had had some conference as well as he For he had told him whilst his fortune lasted As one expert in good aduises giuing That all his flowres of blisse might soone be blasted And could not be accomplisht he being liuing Then he proceeded for to shew at length The Dialogue twixt Solon and twixt him Who prayd him not to trust in worldly strength By which vnto true blisse no man could clim This speech mou'd Cyrus deepely for to ponder The great vncertaintie of worldly things As thinking that himselfe might be brought vnder Who had no priuiledge more then other Kings Then hauing such a paterne plac'd before him Whose farre-changd fortune throughly was revolu'd He freely did his libertie restore him And willd him from the fire to be absolu'd O now Deuotion well appeard thy force Which bindes the earth and opens vp the Heauen In the celestiall breasts a deepe remorse Was strangely wrought whilst Coesus prayd for euen Whileas the flashing flames in vaine to quench All men did labour but could do no good The cloudes were opend and a showre did drench The firie ashes of the flaming wood Now whilst that Croesus comming from the fire Saw ruthles sould'ers sacking all the Citie To saue the same he had a great desire And spake to Cyrus melting all in pitie Great Prince for famous Victories renownd Who dost in armes all others so surmount That it contents me much to be vncrownd By one so worthie and in such account And since I am constraind your thrall to be I must conforme my selfe vnto my fate And cannot hold my pace whereas I see Ought to preiudge the greatnes of your State Which ah is wounded now with your owne powres Whilst this rich Citie is sackt and o'rethrowne It is not mine no more no it is yours And therefore Sir haue pitie of your owne Yea though the losse of such a populous Towne That 's rich that 's yours your mind could nothing moue Yet thinke of this that doth import your
for you I to your eies appeale Which well can witnes what my hands haue wrought All that I spake proceeded of a zeale And not of cowardice or feare of ought Nor matche I vile repose with honest paines My courage is nor yet become so colde That wounted vigour hath not left my vaines Which spurd my spirit in youth though I be olde Alex. 'T is not ynough that you your selfe be so To be the same you should the rest exhort Is he return'd who was ordain'd to go And viewe the Captiues what doth he report Parm. As we were since by some of them instructed While they as yet not of support dispair'd And to a tent were courteously conducted Which we of purpose caus'd to be prepar'd Euen in the way one fortun'd to espy The Diademe that Darius earst had borne Which on the earth so abiectly did lie As each thing his calamine would scorne Then they imagin'd from his royall head Whose dignity it some-time did decore None could it cast except himselfe were dead And if so were they long'd to liue no more When they had entred in the tent to weepe Leonatus came and at the entrie knocked They stood so still he thought an yornie sleepe Had lock'd their eies or else that he was mocked At length by force he made a patent way And was aduanc'd them louingly to greet When loe these dolorous Ladies prostrate lay And with a flood of teares bedew'd his feete Then sobbing saide we not refuse to die Let vs entombe first Darius like a King Then when that we his latter honour see Death cannot but a great contentment bring This so they vrg'd as he could scarce perswade That Darius was not dead as they suppos'd But liu'd in hope through dangers Seas to wade And in the pow'r of other Realmes repos'd And further he protested on your part That they might looke for clemencie and grace Thus after that I had asswag'd their smart It seem'd they longd to see my Soueraignes face Alex. Of my good-will they may themselues assure I neuer war'd with such as were subiected And if my presence may their ease procure Straight to their tent my steppes shall be directed Exeunt CHORVS OF all the passions that possesse the soule None so disturbes vaine mortals mindes As this Ambition that so blindes The sense of man that nothing can controule Nor curb their thoughts who will aspyre This raging vehement desire Of seueraignty no satisfaction findes But in the breastes of men doth euer roule The restlesse stone of Sisiph to torment them And as his hart who steal'd the heu'nly fire The vulture gnawes so doth Ambition rent them Had they the world the world would not content them This race of Ixion to embrace the cloudes Contemne the state wherein they stand And would all but themselues command As one desire is quench'd another buds When they haue trauel'd all their time Heaps blood on blood and crime on crime There is a hier power that guides their hand More happie he whome a poore cottage shroudes Against the tempest of the threatning heauen He stands in feare of none none enuy him His hart is vpright and his wayes are eauen Where others states are still twixt sixe and seauen That damned wretch vp with Ambition blow'n While-as he turnes the wheele about Whiles cast within whiles cast without In striuing for the top is still throwne downe Those that delight in climbing hie Oft with a precepice doe die So doe the starres sky-climbling worldlings flout But this disease is fatall to a croune Kings who haue most striue most t' augment their bounds And if they be not all they can not be Which to their domage commonly redounds Too great a state her proper waight confounds Th' ambitious toyling to enlarge their state Themselues exceedingly deceaue In hazarding the hap they haue For a felicitie that they conceate Though their dominions they incres Yet their desires growe neuer les For though they conquer Climats more they craue This is the miserie of being great Such eye-beguyling pompe is all but fume Such glorious showes disguise the minds distres And who to conquere all the earth presume A little earth shall them at last consume And if it fortune that they die in peace A wonder wondrous rarelie seene Who conquere first their empire cleene Is ruin'd by some persons of their race Who comming to the crowne with rest And hauing all in peace possest Do straight forget what bloody broils haue bene Before their Fathers could attaine that place As th' Ocean flowes and ebbes states rise and fall And Princes when their actions prosper best For feare their greatnes should oppresse the smal Are of some hated and eny'd of all We knowe what end the mightie Cyrus made Whome while he striu'd to conquere still A woman did most vildlie kill And in a bloodie vessell rold his head Then said Content thy selfe with blood Thou still didst famish for such food Now quench thy thirst of blood with blood at will Some of his successors since he was dead Haue raign'd a space with pompe and yet with paine Now all their glorie cannot doe vs good What they so long haue laboured to obtaine All in an instant must be lost againe Loe Darius once so magnified by fame By one whome he contemn'd o'recome For all his brauerie now made dombe With downe-cast eyes must signifie his shame Who puft vpwith pernitious pride Thinke still t' haue fortune on their side They cannot scape to be a pray to some They spend their prosperous days as in a dreame And as it were in fortunes bosome sleeping They in this dull securitie abide And of their doubtfull state neglect the keeping Whilst gaist lie ruine comes vpon them creeping Thus the vicissitude of worldly things Doth to our eyes it selfe detect VVhen heauenly powers exalt deiect Confirme confound erect and ruine Kings So Alexander mightie now To whome the vanquish'd world doth bow VVith all submission homage and respect Doth flie a borrow'd flight with Fortunes wings Nor enters he his dangerous course to ponder Yet if that Fortune bend her cloudie browe All those who at his suddaine successe wonder May gaze as much to see himselfe brought vnder ACTVS TERTIVS Scen. I. SISIGAMBIS Regina STATIRA Virgo O Dismall day detested by the light And would to God but God neglects our cace The world were wrapt in a Cymerian night That no proud eye might gaze on our disgrace Why did the heauens reserue my feeble age To goe to graue with infamie and grief Could nothing but my shame their wrath asswage Thus offred vpon th' altar of mischief Ah haue I spent my youth in pompe and pleasure And had my spring-time grac'd with pleasant flowres That th'Aurumne which should reape the Sōmers treasure Might be disastred with such stormy showres And did smooth calmes and sun-shines of delight Make all my voyage through the world a sport That tossed with a tempest of despight I now
how he had their treason tri'de And seene the Bactrians to a tumult bent Then prai'd him for his safety to prouide In going with him to his trusty tent The King grow'n carelesse and his safety shunning Refus'd this offer on affection grounded Or with some pow'rfull fate his fall fore-running Was carried headlong thus to be confounded The Greeke past thence dispairing of his safety Who thus recur elesse helpe and health refus'd Then Bessus did begin with speeches craftie To purge himselfe and errours past excus'd The King then Artabazus did command T' approch and Patrons speech at length reported He then did doubt what danger was at hand And to go with the Greeke his Grace exhorted But when he found this resolution plac'd Within his brest no peril for to flie With mutuall teares each other they embrac'd Parting like two that liuing went to die Now silent night in pitchie vapours cled Had mustred mists and march'd vnto the West A shadowie horrour ou'r the earth was spread The Santinelles were set and all at rest When a strange terrour troubled all the hoste The multitudes did murmure in all parts They did resemble ships in stormes neere lost Whilst each to th' other cause of feares imparts Those who their King appointed were to guarde All shrunke away to corners none staid there And hauing to his danger no regarde His better-fortunes Minions fled else where The desolation then was wonderous great With a few Eunuches Darius left alone Did enter deepely to reuolue his state And thus be-spake them who did for him mone Depart in peace and for your selues prouide Least yee be likewise with my ruine caught I will the issue of my fate abide They hearing this as of their wits distraught Went howling through the host with dolorous cries This made the King as dead to be bewaild And in the armie did a rumour rise That he had kild himselfe when all hope fail'd The Persians greeu'd while these things did occurre Did first encourage all their countrie bands To helpe their Prince but yet they durst not sturre For feare of falling in the Bactrians hands Ev'n in the time when this confusion was The traitours to deferre the fact no more Did to their soueraignes owne Pavilion passe And rooke and bound him whome they seru'd before He who in golden coach superbelie rode Was cast in one for bassest carriage vs'd And who of late was honoured like a God By seruants as a bond slaue was abus'd Those royall hands to beare a scepter borne Were bouÌ„d with chains this also much did grieue him That fortune his aduersitie would scorne With golden bands that seru'd not to releeue him Then Alexander hauing heard in end That Darius came not forward to affront him To finde him out did all his forces bend Not doubting but he eftsoones would surmount him But being at the last at length inform'd How he was made a Captiue to his owne At this indignitie he highlie storm'd And swore he would avenge it by his crowne Out of his hoste he did select a fewe Who were best hors'd whose equipage was light With whom his foes he did so fast pursue That ere they could suspect he came in sight The traitours troubled with this he had done Came to the Cart wherein the King was carried And bad him mount on horse back and flee soone Least that his foe should take him if he tarried He look'd aloft and cry'd aloud this day Th' eternall Iusticer sees through the starres I will not with such periur'd rebelles stay And flie from him who moou's but honest warres Then those in whom impietie aboundes Throw'd darts at him whoÌ„ they should haue defended And hurte the horses with an hundreth woundes While they perform'd the Parricide intended Their hands were feeble as their harts vntrue For when their foes began them once to comber The traitours first then all the traiterous crue Fled them who were inferiour farre in number But to the confines of deathes kingdome brought The King retir'd out from the way aside More wounded with ingratitude then ought Did flie the world whose follies he had tri'de Scarce was the lasting last diuorcement made Twixt soule and body whilst that th' eyes grew dim When Alexander came and found him dead Who long had labour'd for t' haue ruin'd him Yet with the vesture which himselfe then wore He couered the dead corps and not eschew'd it But eu'n with teares his coffin did decore To the great wonder of all them that view'd it And hauing waild his death aboue all measure For t' haue his funerals made in Princely wise He bids you spare no coste but vse his treasure And them as best becommes to solemnise He hath his body hither sent by me That the last honours you to him may do He thinkes they so shall best accomplish'd be And who him bare shall see him buried to Cho. Behold how griefe hath her of sense berest And choak'd her breath with super-abounding grones No will or power to liue is to her left Since all her weale evanish'd is at ones Sis Ah shall I see no let me first be blinde That body breath-lesse which I brought to light Where would my soule a force sufficient finde T' endure the dolour of that deadly sight O flintie hardned hart that wilt not breake With the remembrance of so many woes Why part'st thou not faint sprit that whil'st I speake In opening of my lips mine eyes might close This heritage of death this withered stock Is but a receptacle of dispaires A torture to it selfe a stumbling block Whose aged furrowes fertile are in cares What helpes it now to haue bene made the mother Of one who to such dignitie did clim More miserable now then any other I liue to waile my death who di'd in him Aye me malitious Fates haue done me wrong Who came first to the world should first depart It not becommes the olde t' ou'r-liue the yong This dealing is praeposterous and ou'r-thwart Ah why should death so indiscreet be found To saue a caitiue and confound a Prince My halfe-dead body weigh'd downe to the ground Through griefe is grow'n ripe for the graue long since CHORVS WHat makes vaine worldlings so to swell with pride Who came of earth and to the earth returne So hellish furies with their fire brands burne Proude and ambitious men as they deuiâ—e Them from themselues and so turmoile their mindes That all their time they studie still How to content a bound-lesse will Which neuer yet a full contentment findes Who so this flame within his bosome smothers Doth many fantasies contriue And euen forgets himselfe a-liue To be remembred after death by others Thus while he is his paines are neuer ended That while he is not he may be commended What can this helpe the happinesse of Kings So to subdue their neighbours as they doe And make strange nations tributaries to The greater state the greater trouble brings Their pompes and triumphes stands them in
disdain'd t' attend their Emperours will Then by his sight being at an instant bow'd Did beg for licence but to tarry stil And yet what wonder though he wanne all harts That to his sacred presence did repaire With that accomplishment of vertuous parts As large in him as in all others rare Whiles when we come to meete as each man sees In this maim'd state bent t' entertaine some life Still hauing in contempt all our decrees The souldiers are not stai'd from ciuill strife And who can call that valorous Prince to minde That any reuerence vnto vertue beares But he must be constrain'd or prooue vnkinde To offer vp a tribute of some teares Lis His death of sorrow makes my soule the prey Though many thought that I for it had long'd For if by those that he rests bound t' obey One can be wrong'd then I indeede was wrong'd Sel. Fame to mine eares by diuers tongues did bring T' a danger huge how you were once exposde But specifide not each particular thing Which by your selfe I long to heare disclosde Lysim When sage Calistines for no request With superstitious customes could comport But with franke wordes all flatterie did detest He was abusde and in a barbarous sort So plaging him no doubt the king did ill Yet to prosperitie we must impute Those fatall faults that follow Fortune still As being of all great mindes a bastard fruit We should in kings as loth their states to tuch Speake sparingly of vice praise vertue much But I whose soule that wise man deerely lou'd Whilst spying his perfections thus iniur'd To tender passions by compassion mou'd Would his reliefe haue willingly procur'd But when my credite faild all hope being past That I could purchase grace in any sort I gaue him desp'rate physicke at the last That if his life was euill it might be short The king enrag'd that I had thus presumde To limite his reuenge by sodaine death That by a Lion I should be consumde Did throw my doome out of the depths of wrath But when with rolling eyes the Lion roard He by my strength as strengthlesse was orethrowne Which to the king whose mind did then remord My courage and my constancie made knowne So that incontinent I was set free By this rare proofeesteem'd amongst the strong And with a minde from inward rancor free As he his wrath so I forgot my wrong For whilst alone he through a forrest rang'd If it had bin but so to purchase fame Some by that meanes had former wrongs reueng'd Bent like Erostratus t' acquire a name Yet that which others did attempt in vaine And tirde by trauell of a surffet dide I did performe him bringing backe againe Whilâ—t I did runne as swift as he could ride And of that deede my sprite rests well apaide For since that time my soueraigne held me deere Which afterwards he to the world bewraid Whilst in this forme his fauour did appeare When vnawares he chanc'd my brow to wound To stay my blood that striu'd to die his launce My temples with his diademe he crownd A happy signe though comming but by chaunce And O! who knowes but once before I die That the successe may second the presage Seleue. What hinders vs our fortune now to trie And for a diademe our cares t' engage Those bended mindes that ayme at greatnesse still Growne popular by th' armie to be praisde Doe winde themselues in euery mans good-will And would seeme humble that they may be raisde What counterfeited friends seale trustlesse bands Whilst in the generall cause that each pretends Though neuer ioyning hearts all ioyne their hands And worke one way yet worke for diuerse ends Yea those whose thoughts intend t' attend the state Haue purchasde powres being purposde for the fields With iealous mindes their riualls bent t' abate Whilste â—â—lls all now none t'another yeelds Yet with suspended thoughts all doubtfull stand And their designes t' accomplish doe forbeare Lest all the rest ioyn'd by a generall band March him t' orethrow that first giues cause of feare But he may prosper best whom burning thirst Of gouernement enflames at first t' aduaunce Some to be second doubting to be first Will make their hopes depend vpon his chaunce And by a battell when that one preuailes There will â—ich hopes at a'easie rate be solde For of that faction first whose fortune failes Euen all will striue who shal be first to folde All this to me great cause of feare affordes I est that we two protract the tâ—me too long And wounded be before we draw our swords If those we not preuent that would vs wrong Lysi No chance of late hath brought me so to bow But I exspect a part of those great hopes Yet in my minde a iudgement most allow That ouer a dang'rous ditch aduis'dly leapes There are t' our charge some prouinces assign'd Whose peacefull states we manage must awhile Till all attempt that which they haue design'd Whilst from the world each th' other doth exile Then liuing but like those whose force is small From which the world no great thing can exspect We shall professe a fauour to them all And an indifferencie pretend t' affect Yet shall not then our thoughts haue leaue to sleepe But subtilties must circumspectly frame The mightie men at variance still to keepe So alwayes strengthning vs and weakning them And when th' occasion stricter dealing claimes We shall make warre with some ere it bâ—â—ong Like cunning Wrestlers at th' Olympicke games That exercise themselues to be more strong And when themselues haue thus prepar'd the way Whilst that their pomp doth beare a lower saile For at the last their force must much decay Since all must alwayes loose though one preuaile Then prompt t' atchiue that which we now contriue By ruining the remnant that remaines We may possesse the state for which they striue Thus they the toiles and we shall get the gaines Exeunt Chorus O happy was that guiltlesse age In which Astraea liu'd below And that Bellonaes barbarous rage Did not all order quite orethrow Then whilst all did themselues content With that thing which they did possesse And gloried in a little rent As wanting meanes to make excesse Those could no kinde of want bemone For crauing nought they had all things And since none sought th' emperious throne Whilst none were subiects all were kings O t' a true blisse their course was set That got to liue not liu'd to get Then Innocencie naked liu'd And had no neede nor thought of armes Whilst spightfull sprites no meanes contriu'd To plague th' vnprouident with harmes Then snaring lawes did not extend The bounds of reason as they doe Strife being begunne where it should end Clearing one doubt t' ingender two Then customes but by conscience stoode By which dark things were soone discern'd Whilst all behoou'd there to be good Whereas no euill was to be learn'd And how could any then proue naught Whilst vertue by example 's
taught Then mortall mindes all most pure Free from corruption lasted long Whilst arm'd with innocencie sure When none did know how to doe wrong Then stingd with no suspitious thought Men mischiefe did from none exspect For that which in themselues was not In othâ—rs they would not suspect And though none did sterne lawes impart That might t' vse vertue men compell Each in the table of his hart Had grau'd a law of dooing well And all did wickednesse forbeare Through a free-will and not for feare The first that spoil'd the publike rest And did disturbe this quiet state T' was Auarice the greatest pest That euer past th' infernall gate A monster very hard to daunt Leane as dry'd vp with inward care Though full of wealth for feare of want Still at the borders of dispaire Scarse taking food t' haue nature eas'd Nor for the cold sufficient clothing She with her riches neuer pleas'd Thinkes all hath much she hath nothing This daughter of sterne Pluto still Her fathers dungeon striues to fill That monster-tamer most renown'd The great Alcides Thebes glory That for twelue seuerall labours crown'd Was famous made by many a story As one that all his time had toyl'd To purge the world of such like pests That robbers rob'd and spoilers spoyl'd Still humbling hautie tyrants crests He by this monster once or'e-throwne Did passe in Spaine his strength to try And there tooke more then was his owne What right had he to Gerions ky Thus auarice the world deceiues And makes the greatest conquerors slaues Ah when t' afflict the world with griefe This poore-rich monster once was borne Then weakenesse could finde no reliefe And subtiltie did conscience scorne Yet some that labor'd to recall The blisse that guilded th' ancient age Did punishment prepare for all That did their thoughts to vice engage And yet the more they Lawes did bring That to be good might men constraine The more they sought to do the things From which the lawes did them restraine So that by custome alterd quite The world in euill doth most delight Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE I. Perdiccas Eumenes NOw fortune smyle vpon my rising state And seemes to promise more then I require Loe by degrees my glory doth grow great And by their death that did my death conspire Proud Meleager that disdain'd to bow And my aduancement alwayes did mislike Hath with his blood seald my assurance now T' astonish those that would attempt the like Eum. Yet of his fall the forme my minde appalls At th' altar of the gods without regard We were too rash to violate those walles Which the most impious persons would haue spar'd Lasciuious Aiax by Mineruaes spight Earst for prophaning such a sacred place On the Capharian rockes did loose the light And all his nauie to his great disgrace We should not irritate celestiall powers Then all beginnings are considered most And by this sacrilegious act of ours I feare that we the hearts of some haue lost Per. Let others seeke t' obserue such points as those I 'am not so scrupulous for I protest Ouer all and by all meanes I le kill my foes And then there-after dispute of the rest They wrong the Gods that think their church should bee As a refuge for male-factors still For with their iustice this can not agree Who gard th' euill-doers guiltie are of ill Was he not stain'd with many a moonstrous crime And like the Salamander in the fire Did loue to liue in trouble all his time And alterations alwayes did require Eu. One humorous head that doth in braules delight May poison thousands with the gall of spight Perd. As still seditiously affecting strife He but abus'd the credit of his king And sent some of his slaues to take my life Such bitter enuie did his stomacke sting Eum. I saw how that aduanc'd before your band You first did checke then chase them in the end And with what mightie courage you did stand Our Soueraignes corps though dead bent to defend Perd. He but a dastard is t' a foe that yieldes And in no conflict hath his fortune tryed We if by time not ventring to the fields Like beasts being sacrific'd had simply dyed But when without we maisters did remaine Lest Babilon had straight bin barr'd from foode I those rebellious squadrons did constraine Euen t' our aduantage concord to conclude Th' agreement that gaue me a great reliefe Made my competetour his marke to misse For when I came though hee before was chiefe The shadow of my greatnesse darkned his Eum. Yet in this treatie all the world may see Th' opinion of the multitude preuail'd He whom they did elect our prince must be And our designe hath altogether fail'd But how comes this that euery captaine gets A certaine realme assign'd now to his charge And with a warlike armie forward sets The limits of his gouernment t' enlarge Perd. I by my meanes haue euery great man crown'd That from my greatnesse great things might proceed Yet to make my authoritie renown'd The doing likes me better than the deed I this diuision chiefly did procure To make the court from other great men free That so my credit might remaine more sure And they by such great gifts engag'd to me For him that hath them thus to honor brought They must be bound to hold in high account And I haue not aduanc'd them thus for nought They be the meanes by which I minde to mount Eum. O but your fancies may be much deceiu'd There is no bond that binds vngratefull mindes I feare th' aduancement that they thus receiu'd Haue shewne them wayes to saile by other windes So long of late as they had need of you To seeme your constant friends they kindly sought But since their greatnesse giues them freedom now They do disdaine what may abase them ought To those all great men frankest friends do proue Whom without cause they alwayes fauour still And can not be as t' were compell'd to loue Those whose deserts do challenge their good will This would preiudge the freedome of their state That any might claime interest in their hearts No kings can hold of none their kingly seat None must vpbraid them with so great deserts And in my iudgement you haue greatly errd Them thus t' exalt whose states you would surprise Their common custome is that are preferrd That they may stand not to let others rise Perd. I le make their brests such iealous thoughts imbrace That euery one shall seeke his mate t' ore-throw And then I purpose to supply their place When by such sleights the highest are brought low This subtill course rests by experienee try'd The strongst else is to confusion gone I long to learne how Leonatus dy'd Not that I minde his funeralls to bemone Eum. That prince magnanimous whom all admire Through his accustom'd clemencie proclaim'd That banishd Graecians might to Greece retire Saue onely such whom murder had defam'd At this some Grecian great men
To him feare corage gaue what wondrous change And many doubts a resolution strange He that tolde one that then was fortunes childe As if with horror to congeale his blood That Caius Marius being from Rome exilde Wretch'd on the ruines of great Carthage stood Thogh both being plag'd by griefe and by disgrace The consulship regain'd and di'd in peace And that great Pompey all the worlds delight Whom of his theater then th' applauses pleasd Whilst praise-transported eies endeerd his sight That by youths toiles should haue his age then easde He by one blow of fortune lost farre more Then many a battell conquerd had before Such sodaine changes so disturbe the soule That still the iudgement ballancde is by doubt But on around what wonder though things roule And since within a circle turne about Whilst heauen on earth strange alterations brings To scorne our confidence in worldly things And chancde there euer accidents more strange Than in this stormie bounds where we remaine A shepheardes Staffe did here t' a Scepter change The nurceling of a woolfe ouer men to raigne A little village grew a mightie towne Which whilst it had no king held many a crowne Then by how many sundry sortes of men Hath this great state bin rulde though now by none Which first obeyd but one then two then ten Then by degrees returnd to two and t 'one Of which three states their ruine did abide Two by twoes lusts and one by two mens pride What reuolutions huge haue hapned thus All by a secret violence being led Though seeming but by accident to vs Yet in the depths of heauenly breasts first bred As arguments demonstratiue to proue That weaknesse dwells below and powre aboue Lo Caesar though being burdend in short space Both with strange nations and his countries spoiles Euen when he seemd by warre t' haue purchasde peace And roses of sweete rest from thornes of toiles Then whilst his minde and fortune raise most hie Hath bin constraind the last distresse to trie What warnings large were in a time so short Of that darke course which by his death now shines It speechlesse wonders plainely did report It men reueald by words and gods by signes Yet by the chaines of destinies being bound He saw the sword but could not scape the wound O what a curtine ouer our knowledge hings Whiles closde whiles op'ned by th' aetheriall hoste Which makes vs sometime sharpe to see small things And yet quite blinde when as we should see most That curious braines may rest amazde at it Whose ignorance makes them presume of it Then let vs liue since all things change below When raisde most high as those that once may fall And hold when by disasters brought more lowe The minde still free what euer else be thrall Those Lordes of Fortune sweeten euery state That can command thēselues thogh not their fate FINIS Some verses written to his Maiestie by the Authour at the time of his Maiesties first entrie into England SStay tragick muse with those vntimely verses With raging accents and with dreadfull sounds To draw dead Monarkes out of ruin'd herses T' affright th' applauding world with bloudie wounds Raze all the monuments of horrours past T' aduance the publike mirth our treasures wast And pardon olde Heroes for O I finde I had no reason to admire your fates And with rare guiftes of body and of minde Th' vnbounded greatnesse of euill-conquerd states More glorious actes then were atchieu'd by you Do make your wonders thought no wonders now For yee the Potentates of former times Making your will a right your force a law Staining your conquest with a thousand crimes Still raign'd like tyrants but obey'd for awe And whilst your yoake none willingly would beare Dyed oft the sacrifice of wrath and feare But this age great with glorie hath brought forth A matchlesse Monarke whom peace highlie raises Who as th' vn'tainted Ocean of all worth As due to him hath swallow'd all your praises Whose cleere excellencies long knowne for such All men must praise and none can praise too much For that which others hardly could acquire With losse of thousands liues and endlesse paine Is heapt on him euen by their owne desire That thrist t' enioy the fruites of his blest raigne And neuer conquerour gain'd so great a thing As those wise subiects gaining such a King But what a mightie state is this I see A little world that all true worth inherites Strong without art entrench'd within the sea Abounding in braue men full of great spirits It seemes this I le would boast and so she may To be the soueraigne of the world some day O generous IAMES the glorie of thir parts In large dominions equall with the best But the most mightie Monarke of mens harts That euer yet a Diadem possest Long maist thou liue well lou'd free frō dangers The comfort of thine owne the terrour of strangers Some verses written shortly thereafter by reason of an Inundation of Douen a water neere vnto the Authors house wherevpon his Maiestie was sometimes wont to Hawke WHat wonder though my melancholious muse Whose generous coursesome lucklesse starre controules Her bold attempts to prosecute refuse And would faine burie my abortiue scroules To what perfection can my lines be raisd Whilst many a crosse would quench my kindling fires Lo for Parnassus by the Poets prais'd Some sauage mountaines shadow my retires No Helicon her treasure here vnlockes Of all the sacred band the chiefe refuge But dangerous Douen rumbling through the rockes Would scorne the raine-bowe with a new deluge As Tiber mindefull of his olde renowne Augments his floodes to waile the faire chang'd place And greeu'd to glide through that degener'd towne Toyles with his depthes to couer their disgrace So doth my Douen rage greeu'd in like sort While as his wonted honour comes to minde To that great Prince whilst he afforded sport To whom his Trident Neptune hath resign'd And as the want of waters and of swaines Had but begotten to his bankes neglect He striues t' encroch vpon the bordering plaines Againe by greatnesse to procure respect Thus all the creatures of this orphand boundes In their own kindes moou'd with the common crosse With many a monstrous forme all forme confoundes To make vs mourne more feelingly our losse We must our breastes to baser thoughts inure Since we want all that did aduance our name For in a corner of the world obscure We rest vngrac'd without the boundes of fame And since our Sunne shines in another part Liue like th' Antipodes depriu'd of light Whilst those to whom his beames he doth impart Begin their day whilst we begin our night This hath discourag'd my high-bended minde And still in doale my drouping Muse arrayes Which if my Phoebus once vpon me shin'd Might raise her flight to build amidst his rayes FINIS
greedie of his substance boast Whilst th' excrements of th' earth his senses smother What hath he gayn'd but what another lost And why may not his losse enrich another But ah all loose who seeke to profite thus And found their confidence on things that fade We may be rob'd from them they rob'd from vs Al 's grieu'd for th' one as for the other glad Vaine foole that thinkes soliditie to finde In this fraile world where for a while we range Which like sea-waues depending on the winde Ebbes flows calms storms still moouing still in change Each surge we see doth driue the first away The fome is whitest where the Rocke is neare And as one growes another doth decay The greatest dangers oft do least appeare Their seeming blisse that trust in frothie showes In Fortunes danger burthen'd with the Fates First to a full then to confusion growes A secret Destinie doth guide great States But I scorne Fortune and was euer free From that dead wealth that wauers in her power I beare my treasure still about with mee Which neither Time nor Tyrants can deuour Light authour of euents and vaine aduenters Now do thy worst I know how to vndoe thee The way is stop't by which thy poison enters Thou can harme none but them that trust vnto thee And I haue learn'd to moderate my minde Contentment is the crowne of my desires My clothes are course my fare such as I finde He hath enough that to no more aspires What satisfaction doth ouer-flow my soule While as I weigh the world which few hold fast And in my memories vnblotted scroule Iudge of the present by the time that 's past The poore-rich heire of breath that boastes of smoake And come of dust yet of the drosse still thinkes Whilst baser passions doe his vertues choake The soule ouer-ballanc'd with the body sinkes Yet neede I not to loathe the world and liue As one whom stepdame she would never nourish I had a part of all that she could giue My race my house by fame and wealth did flourish And if that I would vaunt of mine owne deedes Faire Cittie where mine eies first suckt the light I challenge might what most thy glory breedes Whose labours both enlarg'd thy fame and might When Salamina vtterly was lost And by the rascall multitude neglected A counterfeited foole I went and crost All their desseignes whose courses were suspected And when I had by pollicie perswaded My country to embrace the warres againe I both by stratagems and strength inuaded That famous I le which vanquisht did remaine Then hauing compass'd that exployt with speede And turn'd in triumph deckt with strangers spoyles No perfect blisse belowe worse did succeede The peace that was abroade bred ciuill broyles What with more violence doth fury leade Then a rash multitude that wants a head The meaner sort could not their minds conforme T' abide at what their betters did commaund Then the weale-publike in a dangerous storme All ioyn'd to place the ruther in my hand I re-vnited that diuided state And manag'd matters with a good successe Which farther kindled had beene quench'd too late That Hidra-headed tumult to suppresse When I had both these glorious workes effected And troad the path of sou'raignty a space The minion of the people most respected None could be great saue such as I would grace Thus carried with the force of Fortunes streame I absolutely acted what I would For the Democratie was but a name My hand the raines did of the Citty hold I might a Tyrant still haue gouern'd so But my pure soule could no such thought conceiue And that ouersight yet made me neuer woe If I may rule my selfe it 's all I craue Yet some that seem'd to be more subtile-witted Saide my base sprite could not aspire t' a crowne And foolish Solon had a fault committed Who would not doe the like in euery towne My minde in this a more contentment findes Then if a Diademe adorn'd my brow I chain d th' affections of vndaunted mindes And made them ciuil that were wilde till now I hardly could rich Citizens entise T' embrace the statutes that my Lawes contain'd What one approou'd another did despise Some lou'd some loath'd eu'n as they thought they gain'd At last at least in shew all rest content Eu'n those that hate me most lend their applause A worthy minde needes neuer to repent T' haue suffered crosses for an honest cause I trauell now with a contented thought The memorie of this my fancie feedes When all their Empires shall be turn'd to nought Time cannot make a prey of Vertues deedes Where seuen-mouth'd Nil from a concealed source Inunding or'e the fieldes no banckes can binde I saw their wonders heard their wise discourse Rare sights enrich'd mine eyes rare lights my minde And if it were but this yet this delites Behold how Croesus here the Lidian King To be his guest vs earnestly inuites The which to some would great contentment bring But I disdaine that world-bewitched man Who makes his gold his God the earth his heauen Yet I will try by all the meanes I can To make his iudgement with his fortune eauen CHORVS What can confine mans wandring thought Or satisfie his fancies all Is ought so great but it seemes small To that tos'd spirit which still af flought Doth dreame of things were neuer wrought And would gripe more then it can hold This sea-inuiron'd centerd ball Is not a bound vnto that minde That minde which big with monsters The right deliuerie neuer consters And seeking here a solide ease to finde Would but melt mountaines and imbrace the winde What wonder though the soule of man A sparke of heau'n that shines below Doth labour by all meanes it can It selfe like to it selfe to show This heau'nly essence heauen would know But married with this masse we see With payne they spend liues little span The better part would be aboue The earth from th' earth cannot remoue How can two contrair's well agree Thus as the best or worst part doth preuaile Man is of much or els of no auaile O from what source can this proceede T' haue humours of so many kindes Each brayne doth diuers fancies breede Al 's many men al 's many mindes And in the world a man scarce findes Another of his humour right There are not two so like indeede If we remarke their seuerall graces And lineaments of both their faces That can abide the proofe of sight If the outward formes then differ as they do Of force th' affections must be different to Ah! Passions spoile our better part The Soule is vext with their dissentions We make a God of our owne hart And worship all our vayne inuentions This brain-bred miste of apprehensions The mind doth with confusion fill Whilst reason in exile doth smart And few are free from this infection For all are slaues to some affection Which doth extorse the senses still These partiall tirants rage the sight
ouersyles And doth ecclipsie the cleerest iudgement whyles A thousand times ô happie he Who doth his passions so subdew That he may with cleere reasons eye Their imperfections fountaines view And as it were himselfe renew If that one might prescribe them lawes And set his soule from bondage free From reason neuer for to swerue And make his passions him to serue And be but moou'd as he had cause O greater were that monarch of the minde Then if he might command from Thule to Inde Act. II. Scen. I. CROESVS AESOPE SOLON Croe. WHo euer was so fauour'd by the Fates As could like vs of full contentment boast Lou'd of mine owne and feard of forraine states I know not what it is for to be crost No thwarting chance my good hap doth importune In all attempts my successe hath been such The darling of heauen the minion of fortune I wot not what to wish I haue so much Mine eyes did neuer yet dismay my hart With no delightlesse obiect that they saw My name applauded is in euery part My word an Oracle my will a Law My breast cannot contayne this flood of ioyes That with a mighty streame o'reflowes my mind Which neuer dream'd of sorrow or annoyes But did in all a satisfaction find My Soule then be content and take thy pleasure And be not vex't with feare of any ill My blisse abounds I cannot count my treasure And gold that conquers all doth what I will Aesop That Graecian Sir is at the Court arriu'd Whose wisdom Fame so prodigally prayse's Craes And haue you not t' extend my greatnes striu'd And entertain'd his eares with courteous phrases Aesop I thinke in all the parts where he hath been In forraine Countries or his natiue home He neuer hath such stately wonders seen As since vnto this princely Court he come When first he in the regall Pallace entred As one who borne amongst the craggie Mountaines That neuer for to view the plaines aduentred Acquainted but with dew and little Fountaines If he be forc'd for to frequent the Vailes And there the wanton water-Nimphs to see The rarenes of the sight so far preuailes Each strip appear's a flood each flood a Sea So all that he re'ncountred by the way Did to his mind a great amazement bring The gold-embroidred Gallants made him stay Each groome appear'd a Prince each squire a King And now he com's t' attaine your Graces sight Whom in his mind no doubt he doth adore He gazd on those who held of you their light Of force he must admire your selfe far more Now he will set your happy Empire forth And be eye-witnes of your glorious Raigne One wise mans testimony is more worth Then what a world of others would maintaine Sol. Disdaine not mighty Prince the louing zeale Which a meane man yet a good mind affords And who perchance as much affects your weale As those that paint their loue with fairer words Croes Thy loue sage Greeke is gratefull vnto vs Whom Fame long since enamour'd of thy deedes We of thy vertues haue heard her discusse Who in extolling of the same exceedes I wish that many such should here resort Whose vnstain'd life would teach vs what were best Whose graue aspect would grace so great a Court And like cleare Lamps giue light vnto the rest Sol. My Sou'raigne spare I merite no such praise I am but one that doth the world despise And would my thoughts to some perfection raise A Wisedom-louer that would faine be wise Yet with great toyle all that I can attaine By long experience and in learned schooles Is for to know my knowledge is but vaine And those that thinke them wise are greatest fooles Croes This is the nature of a worthie minde It rather would be good then be so thought As if it had no ayme but Fame to finde Such as the shadow not the substance sought Yet that pursues thee too which thon so fliest Still troupes applaude thy worth though thou not spie them Whilst thou wouldst presse it downe it mounts vp hiest For Fame and Honor follow those that flie them And now I thinke in all the world none liue's That better may vnfold what I would learne Then thou to whom franke Nature largely giues The grace to see the iudgement to discerne Sol. I l'e answer freely to what you propose If my small skill can comprehend the sence Croes Loe you haue seene in what I most repose My treasures huge my great magnificence Sol. This is the dreame of blisse that Fortune brings On which the wisest neuer haue presum'd I saw nought but a heape of sencelesse things A momentarie treasure soone consum'd This only serues the body to decore And for corruption fram'd cannot perseuer The minde immortall layes vp better store Of vnconsuming ioyes that last for euer Croes I wot not what you meane by such surmises And faind Ideaes of imagin'd blisse This portrait of Fancie but intices Sicke braines to dreame that which indeede they misse But I brooke more than their conceits can show Whose rich coniectures breede but poore effects And I beseeke you did you euer know A man more blest then I in all respects Sol. Yes I knew Tellus an Athenian borne Whom I holde happy in the first degree Who eu'n the haruest of Happinesse hath shorne He liu'd with fame and did with honour die For hauing long time liu'd lou'd and respected His country in a conflict had the worst He come and there falne courage re-erected And hauing wonne the field did die vnforst More happy now nor when he was aliue He dead doth reape the guerdon of his merite And in his childern doth againe reuiue Who all their fathers worthy partes inherite Croes Well since that to a priuate Cittizen You do ascribe the first most blest estate Now in the second ranke of happy men Whom would you number in your owne conceate Sol. ô Cleobis and Biton now I may No doubt prefer you next without reproach Their mother chanc'd on a festiuall day To want two horses for to draw her coach Them to supply the place Loue kindly raised Who drew her to that place of publike mirth And both of them exceedingly were praised They for their pietie she for her birth This charitable office being ended Both in the Church were found dead the next morrow I thinke the gods who this good worke commended Were loth to let them taste of farther sorrow For why our liues are fraile do what we can And like the brittle glasse are but a glance And oft the heauens t' abate the height of man Do entersour our sweets with some sad chance Croes Then from this Cathagorie am I secluded And is my state so vile vnto thine eies That as one of all happines denuded Thou thus do'st my felicitie despise Or think'st thou me of iudgement too remisse A miser that in miserie remaines The bastard child of Fortune barr'd from blisse Whom heauens do hate and all the world disdaines Are
base companions then to be compar'd With one that may consume such in his wrath Who as I please do punish and reward Whose words nay euen whose lookes yeeld life or death Sol. Sir be not thus commoo'ud without all reason Nor misconceiue my meaning as you do Those that speake freely haue no mind of treason I cannot be your friend and flatter to Vnto vs Graecians Sir the gods haue granted A moderate measure of a humble wit And in our Countrie there haue neuer wanted Some whom the world for wise men did admit And yet amongst vs all the greatest number Haue here dispair'd of any perfect rest Though some a while in Fortunes bosome slumber And to world-blinded eyes seeme to be blest Yet ouer all mortall states change so preuailes We alterations daily do attend And hold this for a ground that neuer failes None should triumph in blisse before the end I may compare our state to table-playes Where by dumbe iudges matters are decided Their many doubts the earnest mind dismayes The dice must first cast well then be well guided So all our dayes in doubt what thing may chance vs Time runnes away the breath of man doth chace it And when th' occasion come's for to aduance vs Amongst a thousand one can scarce embrace it When two by generous indignation mooued Would trie by sword whose glorie fame will smother Whilst valour blindly by th' euent is prooued And th'ones ouerthrow can onely grace the other O what a foole his iudgment will commit To crowne the one with vndeseru'd applauses Where fortune is for to giue sentence yet While bloody agents pleade such doubtfull causes This world it is the field where each man ventures And arm'd with reason resolutely goes To fight against a thousand misaduentures Both with externall and internall foes And how can he the victors title gaine That yet is busied with a doubtfull fight Or he be happie that doth still remaine In Fortunes danger for a small delight Th' abortiue course of man away fast weares Course that consists of houres houres of a day Day that giue 's place to night night full of feares Thus all things alter still all things decay Who flourish now in peace may fall in strife And haue their fame with infamie supprest The euening shew's the day the death the life And many are fortunate but few are blest Croes I see this Grecian of a simple spirite The which is capable of no great things Men but aduance him far aboue his merite He can not comprehend the States of Kings Fame did so largely of his worth report It made me long to haue him in my house But all my expectations are come short I thinke a Mountaine hath brought forth a mouse Exit Croesus Act. II. Scen. II. SOLON AESOPE Sol. THis king hath put his trust in trustlesse treasures Cloi'd with th' abundance of all worldy blisse And like a hooded hawk gorg'd with vaine pleasures At randon flies and wots not where he is O how this makes me wonderfully sorie To see him keepe this lifelesse wealth so straitly Whilst witlesse worldlings wonder at his glorie Which I not enuie no but pittie greatly Thus wormes of th' earth whose worst part doth preuaile Loue melting things whose shew the body fits Where Soules of cleerer sight do neuer faile To thesaurize the gifts of gallant wits Those worldly things do in this world decay Or at the least we leaue them with our breath Whereas the other makes vs liue foray So differ they as farre as life and death Aesop And yet what wonder though that he be thus Whose knowledge clouded is with prosp'rous windes Though this indeed seeme somewhat strange to vs Who haue with learning purifide our mindes Was he not borne heire of a mighty State And vsde with Fortunes smiles not fear'd for frownes Doth measure all things by his owne conceate Th' infirmitie that fatall is to Crownes He hath been from his infancy addicted To all the pompous showes wealth could deuise And still entreated neuer contradicted Now doth all libertie of speech despise Though I durst not so to his fight appeare Whose corrupt iudgement was from reason sweruing I grieu'd to see your entertainement here So far inferior to your owne deseruing That diuine Wisdom which the world admires And rauish'd with delight amazed heares Because it answer'd not his vaine desires Did seeme vnsauorie to distemper'd eares Eares that are euer stopt to all discourses Saue such as enter fraughted with his praises He can loue none but them that loue his courses And thinks all fooles that vse not flattring phrases This wracks the great and makes the heauens despight them Let vertue spread forth all her heauenly powers If not in their owne liuery to delight them They will not daigne her audience a few howers Sol. I care not Aesop how the King conceated Of my franke speeches which I euer vse I came not here till I was first entreated Nor being come will I my name abuse Should I his poysonous Sycophants resemble A hatefull thing to honest men that know it I would not for his Diadem dessemble What the hart thinks the tongue was made to show it And what if his vaine humor to haue cherish'd I had my speeches for the purpose painted I had but gotten gifts that would haue perish'd But nothing could haue cleer'd my fame once tainted If I had show'n my selfe toward him officious It would in end haue but procur'd my shame To haue our vertue prais'd by one that 's vicious This in effect is but a secret blame He thinks him simple who his anger raises But better simply good then doubly ill I neuer value my worth by others praises Nor by opinions do direct my will And it content's me more to be applauded By one of iudgement though of meane degree Then by a Prince of princely parts defrauded Who hath more wealth but not more wit then hee Aesop Who come to Court must with Kings faults comport Sol. Who come to Court should trueth to Kings report Aesop A wise man at their imperfections winks Sol. An honest man will tell them what he thinks Aesop So should you loose your selfe and them not win Sol. But I would beare no burden of their sin Aesop By this you should their indignation finde Sol. Yet haue the warrant of a worthy minde Aesop It would be long ere you were thus prefer'd Aesop Then it should be the King not I that er'd Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Aesop They guerdon as they loue they loue by guesse Sol. Yet when I merite well I care the lesse Aesop It 's good to be still by the Prince approued Sol. It 's better to be vpright though not loued Aesop But by this meane all hope of Honor failes Aesop Yet honestie in end euer preuailes Aesop I thinke they should excell as oft they do All men in wit that vnto men giue lawes Kings are the Center of the
That most abounds in worldlie things And soares too hie with Fortunes wings Which carrie vp aspiring mindes For to be beaten with all windes The course of such being rightlie scand Whilst men can not themselues command Transported with a pow'rles name Oft vnexpected ruine brings W' haue seene examples in this land How worldlie blisse the senses blindes And on a reed vnsurely hings He that presumes vpon the same Hid poyson in his pleasure findes And sailing rashlie with the windes of fame Doth oft times sinke into a sea of shame It 's to be fear'd our King at last Whilst he for nothing is affraid Be by prosperitie betraid For growing thus in greatnes still And hauing worldlie things at will He thinks though Time should all things wast Yet his estate shall euer last The wonder of th' inferiour round And in his owne conceit hath said No course of heau'n his state can cast Nor make his successe to be ill If Fortune once those thoughts t' obbraid Will haue our King to be vn-cround She may that mind with horrour fill And in an instant vtterly confound The state that stands vpon so slipprie ground When such a Monarchs mind is bent To follow most the most vnwise Who can their follie disaguise With sugred speaches poysonous baites The secret canker of great states From which at first few disassent The which at last all do repent While as repenting lust must go When Kings begin for to despise Of honest men the good intent Who to assure their Soueraignes seates Would faine in time some help deuise And would cut off all cause of wo Yet can not second their conceats These dreadfull Comets commonly forgo The Kings destruction that 's miscarried so Act. III. Scen. I. CROESVS ADRASTVS Croes WHat vncoth fancies do affright my soule And haue captiu'd it to a thousand feares Strange cares suggesting griefe my ioyes controule My mind some comming euill charactred beares And credulous suspition too too wise To fortifie my feares doth meanes inuent Whilst suddaine terrors do my sprite surprise An ominous presage of some bad euent I thinke the soule come of immortall brood As being partner of a diuine powre Hath a fore-knowledge both of euill and good Although she can not flie a fatall houre Though with this mortall vaile being made halfe blinde She can not soare outright with her owne wings Yet she communicates vnto the mind In cloudie dreames and misteries strange things Th' imagination wonderfull in force Of foiles the iudgement with confusion so That presupposing all things to be worse Then they fall foorth we double our owne wo. For as the shadow seemes more monstrous still Then doth the substance whence it hath the being So th' apprehension of approaching ill Seemes greater then it selfe whilst feares are lying This alteration too seemes more then strange Which at an instant hath ore-whelm'd my sences I see more then I thought all states may change Against the heauen th' earth can find no defences My soule her wonted pleasure else is loathing This hath indeede so deepe impression left A dreame a fantasie a shadow nothing Hath all my mirth euen in a moment reft Adras Whence mightie Soueraigne can this change proceede That doth obscure the rayes of princely grace Those that are schoold in wo may cleerely reede A mightie passion written in your face And if a stranger may presume so farre I would the copie of your passions borrow I else coniecture in what state you are Taught by a secret sympathie in sorrow Two strings in diuers Lutes set in accord Although th' one be but toucht together sound Euen so soules tun'd to griefe the like afford And other with a mutuall motion wound Croes No doubt but it disburdens much the mind A Secretarie in distresse to haue Who by his owne anothers griefe can finde Where glad minds scorne what they can not conceaue And I Adrastus would the cause declare With which I so torment my selfe in vaine O but I blush t' vnfold my foolish care It 's but th' illusion of a drowsie braine Adras According to the bodies constitution The soule by night with fancies is afflicted Or by these thoughts continuall reuolution To which by day the mind is most addicted Craes Now whilst the Sunne did peepe through Thetis bower And on the beauties of Aurora gaz'd Out of my body spoild of mouing power All faculties of life dull sleepe had raz'd While as the sprite more powerfull then euer Since least impeached with this earthlie part The veritie from lies could best disseuer Hid mysteries vnclouding to the hart I only haue two sonnes and th' one you see The signe of Natures indignation beares And from his birth day domme is dead to me Since he can powre no pleasure in my eares The other Atis all my life's delight In whom the treasures of my soule are kept I thought vaine be my thought in the twie-light I wot not whether yet I walkt or slept Whilst he was sporting voyd of worldlie cares Not in a lists belonging to his merites A pointed toole of iron fell vnawares And pearc'd his temples and expeld his spirites Whilst the pale carcase seem'd t' vpbraid mine eyes The horrour of the sight my sense recald Which when I thinke of yet my comfort dyes Such an exceeding feare my sprit appald This hath me mou'd it touch'd my state so neerelie To match my sonne in mariage at this time With beauteous Caelia whom he lou'd most deerelie That both might reape the pleasure of their prime And if the heauens his o'rethrow haue decreed By destinie that can not be reuoked So shall we haue behind some of his seed Ere in his blossome all our hopes be choaked Thus ere his soule lodge in the lightlesse shade T' haue of his race t will mitigate my mind I can not hold him altogether dead That leaues his Image in some one behind And for the time we do all that seemes best For to preuent those but surmiz'd annoyes Yet for all this my mind hath neuer rest Some secret terror still disturbs my ioyes Adras Ah Sir if but th' imagind euill of this Hath plung'd your soule in such a gulfe of griefe Vnhappie I who waile a thing that is And haue not meanes to hope for no reliefe If all these dreadfull fancies tooke effect Which heauie chance th' almightie Ioue withhold It could not be compar'd in no respect With those misfortunes that my state enfold For when your sonne fell by anothers hand You should but waile his death and not your crime The heauens of me my brothers blood demand His fate my fault mourne must I all my time Croes In what strange forme could this disaster fall That is th' occasion of so great distresse Tell on at length th' originall of all To heare of greater griefe t' will make mine lesse Adras I haue conceald my sorrowes still till now As too offensiue foode for daintie eares Yet since of such a subiect you allow
mischances Would force compossion from your greatest foe Where all the griefe-begetting circumstances Doe ioyne to make a harmony in woe But naturall loue doth at our selfe begin It mooues farre more to feele then heare mishaps The perturbation that my sprite is in Me in a maze of miscontentments wraps We should such past misfortunes pretermit At least no more immoderately lament them And as for those which are but comming yet Vse ordinary meanes for to preuent them Adrast No wonder Sir although you take great care Lest all your hopes in Atis person perish Croes I will by all the meanes I may prepare To saue his youth that he my age may cherish If it be possible for mortall states To striue against the Starres and be more strong I 'le vnarme Fortune and resist the fates By barring both all meanes to do me wrong I haue commanded vnder paine of death That no such weapon be within my walles As I suppos'd should haue abridg'd his breath T' eschew such sudden euill as rashly falles He shall goe rarely to the fields and then With chosen bands be guarded all the time Loe where he communes with some countrey-men We will go trie what they would haue of him Act. III. Scen. II. CHORVS of countreymen CROESVS ATIS ADRASTVS CAELIA Lend Sir a willing eare to humble wordes Let not our basenesse barre vs from your grace Which still it selfe alike to all affords Who blesse their sight with that Maiestike face My Soueraigne all his subiects well remembers As vile as our estate is thought of now You are our head and we are of your members And you must care for vs we care for you Our pouertie to vs is no reproach Which th' innocencie of our mind adorn's We neuer on our neighbours bounds encroach But by our labours liue midst many thornes And euer busied for the Countries good We haue no time to muse of vaine conceates Yet earning with continuall toile our food We entertaine the pompe of prowder States And Sir conceiue not of our meaning ill That thus dare speake so freely as we do Whilst mediators do dilate our will They wrest it as they will and wracke vs too To count'nance such as vs you neede not shunne A great man too well grac'd may do more harme And t' is no staine vnto the glorious Sunne Though oft his beames an abiect obiect warme Croes Be not discourag'd by your base estate Yee are my people and I 'le heare your plaint A King must care for all both small and great And for to helpe th' afflicted neuer faint The Scepter such as these should chiefely shrowd Not cotages but Castles spoile the Land T' aduance the humble and t' abate the prowd This is a Vertue that makes Kings to stand Cor. Sir our estate some speedy helpe requires In Misia neere vnto the famous Mountaine Of great Olimpus that the World admires There haunt's a Boare by Dianaes Fountaine Of a big body and a hideous forme His fomie Iawe with tuskes like Iauelins strikes And all parts in deformitie conforme His backe hath bristles like to yron Pikes This Monster of Nature wonder of Men The Forrests tyran and the Countries terrour Teares all to death and drawes them to his Den That chance into his way by fatall errour Whilst tender-hearted Mothers do bewaile The goared Infants toyling in their blood Th' abhominable beast them doth assaile And in his bowels buries both for food Then when we fly the field where he soiournes To haue his hunger or his rage alayde He wastes the fruites and ruines all the cornes Thus the poore husbands hopes are all betrayde Ere this of true Repose we were the types And pastur'd on each plaine our fleecie flockes And made a consort of our warbling pypes With mouing christals th' issue of the rockes And sometime to refresh vs after trauell With flowrie garlands shielded from Sunne-beames We gazd vpon Pactolus golden grauell Glassd bathd and quenchd our thirst with his pure streames Whilst we preferd the Riuer seemd amazd Vnto his golden bed his grassye bancke And lay and lookd whereas our cattell grazd Without all enuie of a greater ranke That to represse oppression you take care This rest of ours is an effectuall token Your Lawes like Spiders webs do not ensnare The feeble flies and by the Bees are broken For we by them are fenc'd from great mens pride The Heau'ns perpetuate your prosp'rous raigne And suffer not this sauage Boare t' abide To turne that ease which men haue spar'd to paine Croes What would ye then that should be done by me For to repay your losse repayre this wrong Chorus We craue none of your wealth yet wish to see This Boare be-blood the staffe of the most strong Let valorous Atis worthily your sonne Backd with the best of all the Lidian Youth Go to the fields before the rising Sunne Quench with the mornings teares his mid-dayes drouth And we shall leade them crownd with lawrell forth Where in a circuit small yet a large Theater For men to make a tryall of their worth This Monster stayes th' earth neuer nurc'd a greater So shall we both reape profite and they pleasure Which may be brought to passe without great obstacle By making this waster of the worlds treasure Of a horrid sight a delightfull spectacle Croes I may not spare my Sonne for a respect Which is not needfull now for to be knowne But I 'le send others for the same effect That this pestiferous Beast may be o'rethrowne Th' ostentiue gallants that our Grace attend And wait th' occasion but t' aduance their strength Against the Boare shall all their forces bend With houndes and darts still till he fall at length I sweare this Monster shall when he is dead A memorable monument remaine To Dians Church I 'le consecrate his head The Virgin-goddesse darts no shaft in vaine Atis. Ah wherein Father haue I thus offended Or what vile signe of a degenerd mind Haue you remark'd in me that euer tended To the reproch of our Imperiall kind That of this praise you would giue me no part But barre me from a famous enterprise As one vnworthie for to weeld a dart Who still in vile repose inglorious lies Lies like a wanton with vaine thoughts bewitchd Who spoyld of force effeminately liues A Peacocke but with painted pennes enrichd Yet poore in all the parts that Glorie giues What glorie giues those glorious Styles to me Which by succession fall not by desart Should but my Fame with borrowd feathers flee For come of Kings a kingdome is my part Who only by his Birth aduancement claimes Like a base bastard doth his birth-right blote I will not beg my worth from dead mens names Nor conquer Credit only by my Cote What comforts this to brooke th' Imperiall seate And all the blisse that Maiestie impartes If those whom only we exceed in State Be our Superiors in farre better partes More then a Crowne true Worth is to be valued
for my offences Which once no doubt will with the world be euen And iudge our thoughts words acts and vaine pretences Sonne t' is my pride that hath procurde thy fall I 'm guiltie of thy blood I gaue the wound Which was thy death and whose remembrance shall My life each day with many deaths confound Then iniust Stars your statutes I contemne O! if I were confronted with the gods I would their partiall prouidence condemne That in such sort do exercise their rods Ah! my Sonnes death doth shew their iudgement naught What could he perpetrate against such Powres Should he haue suffred for his Fathers fault Whom without cause their wrong-spent wrath deuours Now all the world those deities may despise Which plague the guiltlesse and the guiltie spare Cease haples man t' outrage thy selfe thus waies I pardon thee and pitie thy despaire Adrast. O cruell iudgement of a rigorous fate Must I o're-liue my selfe t' entombe my Fame All things that I behold vpbraid my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and no more then I my deedes detest Yet some not find a friend I find no foe To rid the world of such a dangerous pest Borne but to be an instrument of woe I know what makes all worthie mindes refraine The sword against a Catife for to stretch They this opprobrious office do disdaine To be the Deaths-men of so base a wretch Or must I yet a fouler fact commit And fill the world with th' horrour of my name Is there some new disaster resting yet And other funerals famous by my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate That in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of heau'n I 'le force my fate One that 's resolu'd to die cannot want meanes Prowd tyrant Death and must thou make it strange Tinvolue my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change I can appoint a Period to my life But this Ay me all hope of helpe deuours What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted powres She must remember of my odious crimes What though vnbodied she the world forsake Yet cannot from her conscience be diuorc'd It will but vexe her at the shadowie Lake Till euen to grone the god of ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and O would God I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liu'd Then had I neuer showne my selfe so mad T' haue only been by infamie suruiu'd Ah! haue I liu'd to see my Ladie die And die for me for me not worth so much Ah! haue I liu'd vnnaturall man to be My Brothers death whose loue to me was such Ah! haue I liu'd with mine owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And do I gaze on the dead body still And in his Fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! haue I liu'd O execrable Monster To be accounted of a diu'lish nature And euen by them that best my actions conster For to be cal'd and iustly cal'd a Traitour Yet with my blood this staine away I 'le wash And lest my memorie make th' earth detracted Let my name perish in my bodies ash And all my life be as a thought vnacted Braue Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted ghost And to reuenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile t' attaine the Stygian coast Cho. The man himselfe doth desperately wound With leaden lights weake legs and head declinde The body in disdaine doth beate the ground That of his members one hath prou'd vnkinde The fainting hand falles trembling from the sword With this micidiall blow for shame growne red Which strait the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combate show Where both but one one both strooke and sustaind Or who shall triumph for this strange ore'throw Whereas the Victor lost the Vanquish'd gaind Croes Cursde eies what sudden change hath drownd your lights And made your mirthfull obiects mournfull now Ye that were still inurde to stately sights Since seated vnder an Imperiall brow O'reclouded now with vapours of my cares Are low throwne downe vnto a hell of griefe And haue no prospect but my soules despaires The sad beholders of a rare mischiefe O dead Adrastus I absolue thy ghost Whose hand some secret destinie did charme Thou hated by the Heau'ns wert to thy cost An accidentall Actor of our harme No doubt some angrie God hath layd this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus with violence to bleed And yet want one on whom to powre my wrath To take iust vengeance for so vile a deed This wretch whose guiltlesse mind hath cleard his hand Grieu'd for his error loe vnforcd doth fall And not as one that did in danger stand For he liu'd still till I forgaue him all Thus haue I but the heau'ns on whom I may Powre forth the poyson of my troubled spirite In my soules bitternesse I 'm forcd to say This seconds not their custome and my merite Act. IIII. Scen. II. SANDANIS CROESVS WHy spend you Sir with sighs th' Imperious breath Which nought but words of Soueraigntie should breed O weake reuenge for one that 's wrongd by death T' adorne his triumph with a mourning weed This pale-fac'd tyrant author of our ill Who did t' ecclypse our Ioyes that blacke shaft borrow Should you frame Trophees to his Tigrish will And weare his liuery and succumbe to sorrow No though he might this outward blisse o're-throw And you saue you of all that 's yours might spoyle Yet whilst of one that yields no signe you show You triumph still and he receiues the foyle Th' o're-flowing humor that would drowne your soule In baser breasts might better be excusde Who want the sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subiection vsde But you in whom high Thoughts haue been innate To this decay how is your Vertue come I blush to see my Soueraigne so abated And Maiestie by miserie o'recome Nor are my words out of a rockie mind T' unnaturallize you as not feeling smart No none can barre a Prince from being kind Th' undoubted badge of an Heroick hart That supreme Powre by which great States do stand Should order but th' affection not vndoe it And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe it Croes I will not now rehearse t' enlarge my griefe On what iust reasons my laments are grounded But still will muse vpon mine owne mischiefe While as my soule a thousand wayes is wounded What pensiue pensill euer limm'd aright The sad conceats of soule-consuming woe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling hight Of th' inward
the Heau'ns decree It 's to be feard those whom this Arte beguiles Do change their fate make their Fortune wheeles And loe of late what hath our King By his prepost'rous trauels gaind In searching each particular thing That Atis Horoscope containd But what the Heau'ns had once ordaind He could not by no meanes preuent And yet he labours to find out Through all the Oracles about Of future things th' vnsure euent This doth his rauing mind torment Now in his age vnwisely stout To fight with Cyrus but no doubt The Heauens are grieu'd for to heare told Long ere the time their hid intent Let Tantalus b' a terror to th' o're-bold That dare Ioues cloudy secrecies vnfold Act. V. Scen. I. CYRVS HARPAGVS Goe Let vs triumph o're these vnthron'd thralls Whose maymed greatnesse to confusion runnes Who forfeited their glorie by their falles No hand that fights is pure but that which winnes The rauisht world that fraught with doubts did stand To see the bloody end of this dayes toyle Saw how the Heau'ns placd lightning in my hand To thunder on all those that sought my foyle Now therefore let vs first deuoutly go And lose our vowes the gods detest th' ingrate And who delight t' adore their deities so Do neuer faile t' establish their estate Goe load the Altars smoke the sacred places With Bullocks Incense Odours of all kinds Though none can giue the gods that flow in graces A sweeter Sacrifice then thankefull minds Har. Though all that indenized in this Vale Walke here confinde within this fertile Round And are tapestred with this azure Pale T' adore the gods by many meanes are bound Yet there are some particularly I find Whose names are written in their dearest scrowles Whom extraordinary fauours bind Euen to prefer them to their very Soules Of which Sir you are one your deeds declare Of you amidst innumerable broyles Euen from your cradle they haue had a care And led you safe through all your greatest toyles Though of the dangers of your youth I see The thought no more with griefe your mind importunes Yet I thinke on who had the hap to be An Actor in your Tragick-Comick fortunes Cyr. The accidents that in our Nonage chance When as our yeers grow rype slide out of thought Like fabulous dreames that Darknesse doth aduance And are by Day disdaind as things of nought For our Conceptions are not then so strong As for to leaue th' impression long behind Yet mixe deare Friend old griefes new Ioyes among And call afflicted Infancy to mind Har. Who would not wonder at thy wondrous Fate Whose ruine ere thy Birth appeard conspir'd Who vnbegun seemd to expire that date Which now begun shall neuer be expir'd Your Mother first her Syre with cares did sting While as he dreamd which yet his soule confounds That from her wombe there did a Vine-tree spring Which did o're-shadow all great Asiaes bounds Then to the Magies strait he gaue in charge To trie what this strange Vision did presage Who hauing studied their darke Art at large Gaue this response with a prophetick rage That once his Daughter should bring forth a Sonne For glorious Acts exceedingly renownd By whom th' Empire of Asia should be wonne By whom his Grandfather should be vncrownd This to Astiages a terrour bredde Who labouring to anull the heau'ns decree Aduisde as best his Daughter for to wedde T' a powrelesse stranger but of base degree Then of Cambises he by chance made choyce And for his barb'rous Countries cause the rather Whom by your birth the Princesse did reioyce And further then before affright her Father Thus tyrannie by feeble sprites begun Doth force the Parents in despaire to fall A dastard to attempt prowd hauing wonne Which being feard of all doth still feare all And tyrants no securitie can find For euery shadow frights a guiltie mind This Monarch whom scarce Armies could surprise Whom gallant Guards and stately Courts delighted Who triumphd o're th' Earth threatned the Skies A Babe scarce borne come of himselfe affrighted And whilst Lucina the last helpe did make As if some vgly Monster had been borne A Minotoure a Centaure or a Snake The worlds terror and the Mothers scorne The Nephews birth that would haue seemd t' impart Vnto the Grandfather great cause of ioyes As if the naked hand had pierc'd his hart Did winde him in a maze of sad annoyes And to preuent a but suspected spight By giuing an occasion of iust hate He sought by robbing you the new-found Light To make your birth and burial of one date Soone after this he sent for me in hast Whom at that time and not in vaine he lou'd Then shewd me all the circumstances past Wherewith his marble mind seemd nothing mou'd Out of the which as he would let me know All complements of pittie were not blotted He would this superficiall fauour show Not with your blood to haue his owne hands spotted Thus hauing lulld asleepe the conscience still The wicked would extenuate their crimes Not knowing those that but allow of ill Are Actors in effect guiltie all times Yet with his fault he would haue burdend me And willd that I an Innocent should slay I promisde to performe his rash decree Well weighing whom but not wherein t' obay When I had parted from his Highnesse face And caried you then swadled with me too Through th' apprehended horror of my case I stood perplex'd and wist not what to do Necessitie tooke place I waild with teares Th' vntimely funeralls as I thought or you My soule confounded with a swarme of feares Did with sad sighes my message disallow Yet t' him I send a seruant of mine owne Who for the time was Heards-man to the King To whom I made all my commission knowne But as direct to him shew'd euery thing Deliuering you with an vnwilling breath Then with a mantle of pure gold array'd I threatned him with many a cruell death If that your death were any way delay'd Straight for to execute th' intended doome He from my sight did all astonish'd go Too great a charge for such a simple groome The shew of Maiestie amaz'd him so O what a wonder is' t for to behold Th' vnfailing prouidence of powrefull Ioue Whose brazen edicts can not be controld Firme are the statutes of the states aboue That mortall whom th'Immortalls fauour shields No worldlie force is able to confound He may securely walke through dangers fields Times and occasions are t' attend him bound For loe before the Herds-man was come home His wife of a dead burden was deliuered Who wondred so to see her Husband come That with a secret terrour faintlie shiuered She straight grew curious for to know the forme How he a Babe so beawtifull obtaind Who did her suddainly of all informe And to what crueltie he was constraind See quickly then th' occasion to imbrace No doubt inspir'd by some celestiall powre Prayd him t' expose her dead child in your
Crowne A piece of policie which time will proue The barb'rous Persians borne with stubborne mindes Who but for pouertie first followd you Their matchlesse worth in armes all Asia findes Their feare is fall'n vpon all Nations now But if you suffer them in such a sort T' enrich themselues with plenteous Lidiaes spoile Not able then their Conquest to support The Victor of the vanquisht gets the foile For this will make them wealthie out of measure Wealth to confusion many a Countrie leades Whilst feebled with delights in-vilde with pleasure No thought of honour harbours in their heads Then Cyrus strait approuing what he spake His souldiers from their pillage were restraind Pretending first the tenth part for to take As a rich offring for the Gods ordaind Of our distresse this is the ruthfull storie A stranger is possest of this Prouince Our King hath with the losse of all his glorie Bought breath a while a poore thing for a Prince Chor. O wofull people O vnhappy King Our ioyes are spoyld his happinesse expyrde And no new chance can any comfort bring To either now whose fall the Fates conspyrde Goe wofull messenger hold on thy course For to haue heard too much it yrks our eares We euer must bewaile thy sad discourse Accented with sighs and poynted with teares Exeunt Croesus WHat needs me more of my mishap to pause Though I haue tasted of afflictions cup Yet it may be the gods for a good cause Haue cast me downe to raise a thousand vp And neuer let a Monarch after me Trust in betraying titles glorious bates Who with such borrow'd feathers rashlie flee Fall melted with the wrath of greater states O had this pretious wit enrich'd my mind Which by experience I haue dearely bought Whilst fortune was within my court confind And that I could not thinke a bitter thought Then satisfide with Soueraignties earst prou'd I had disdain'd new dangers to imbrace And cloath'd with maiestie admir'd and lou'd Had liu'd with pleasure and had dide in peace Yet it is wonderfull in any state To see a worldling prosper and not prowd But chieflie we whose fortunes grow so great It 's hard for vs to haue our high thoughts bowd What could the world afford or man affect Which did not glad my soule whilst I was such Who now am past the compasse of respect Plagu'd with prosperitie clog'd with too much Long luld asleep with scornefull fortunes lyes A slaue to pleasure drown'd in base delights I made a couenant with my wandring eyes T' haue entertain'd them still with pleasant sights I held not from my heart none of her wishes But wallowing in vaine-glorie this worlds toy Still seru'd with daintie but suspitious dishes My soule was sick with pleasure faint for ioy There wanted nothing that might help to ease me All did diuine my will ayme at my though And striue to do that which they trow'd would please me Which if I but allowd no more was sought What euer come of me was held of waight My words were ballanc'd and my lookes were marked Those whom I grac'd were had in honour straight All speeches in my praises were imbarked I in magnificence exceld all Kings Whilst drowsie in securitie I slumbred My coffers still were full of pretious things My treasure infinite could not be numbred I reard rare buildings all embost with gold Made ponds for fishes forrests for wild beasts And with transported fancies vncontrold Oft spent the day in sport the night in feasts I seem'd t' vsurp the powre that earst was Ioues And of the Elements the course would change For stately fountaines artificiall groues These were so common they were not thought strange With me what more could any Monarch craue In all the parts of pomp none could compare My minions gallant my counsellours graue My guards were strong my concubines were faire Yea ere my state was cast vpon this shelfe I wanted nought that could with seeming merites Breed wonder in the world pride in ones selfe For to puffe vp the flesh and spoile the spirits Thus pressing with delight the grapes of pleasure I quafft with Fortune still sense-pleasing vines Till drunke with wealth and riotous out of measure I card not to consume all Tmolus mines Then wearie to be well and tir'd of rest T' engender discord I th' occasion sought Yet for to cloake th' ambition of my brest Did with deuotion long disguise my thought I send of all the Oracles to inquire What was to come of this intended warre Who said as seem'd to second my desire That I a mightie Monarchie should marre Those doubtfull words I wresting to my will In hope t' expugne th' impertous Persians powres Did ruine quite whilst all succeeded ill What many a age had conquer'd in few howres And this most wondrous is because most strange I who disdain'd an equall of before What cannot Fortune do being bent to change Must a Superior now serue and adore What eye not fraught with scorne my state surueyes Whom Fates haue forc'd for to o're-liue my shame And in mine enemies danger for some dayes But borrowd with the intrest of my fame Though this sweet gale of life-bestowing windes Would seeme a fauour so it seemes to some Who by the basenesse of their muddie mindes Shew of th' ignoble multitude they come I scorne vnlike my selfe for to be seene Though to my comfort this appeard to tend As if that all misfortunes past had beene A Tragicke entrie to a Comicke end Of all that plague my state the greatest pest It is base life that faints from th' earth to seuer And hath in one vnited all the rest To make me die each day and yet die neuer Life in my breast no comfort can infuse An enemies gift could neuer come for good It but giues time of miserie to muse And bathe my sorrowes in a bitter flood Ah! had my breath euanish'd with my blisse And closde the windowes that giue light to life I had not apprehended as it is The height of my mishaps that now are rife Whilst with a thousand sighes I call to mind The death of Atis and mine owne decay My sprite in such perplexitie I find That to liues passage I would faine make way But since I see reseru'd for further spight I with sad thoughts must burden yet my soule My memorie t' a melancholious spright Of all my troubles shall present a scroule Of which while as th' account I go to cast Th' enormities still numbring of my fate I 'le whiles looke back vpon my pleasures part And by them ballance my now haplesse state CHORVS IS' t not a wonder for to see How by experience each man reedes In practiz'd volumes pen'd by deeds Th' inconstant courses that there bee Yet whilst our selues continue free We ponder oft but not apply That pretious oyle which we might buy Best with the price of others paines Which as what nought to vs pertaines To vse we will not condiscend As if we might
re-enforced his troupes comming forwarder to fight with greater force then before was enformed how his wife had died in prison whose death he bewaild with exceeding great sorrowe And vnderstanding what courtesie Alexander had vsed towards her he sent to sue for peace not for any feare of his force but allured as he alledged by his courtesie This sute being likewise reiected he fought beside Arbella with no better Fortune then before Yet for all these misfortunes being of an inuincible courage and dispayring of peace he re-assembled all his forces which were augmented by the comming of the Bactrians was comming forward with intention at last either to die or preuaile But in the meane time two traiterous subiects of his owne to wit Bessus whom he had promoted to be gouernour of Bactria Nabarzanes one in speciall credite with him conspired his death VVhich danger though it was reuealed to him by Patron Captaine of the Greekes yet he could not or rather would not eschue At length those two traitours tooke and bound him with golden chaines and cast him in an olde Chariot with purpose to present him to Alexander But they hearing how he would not accept their present and how he was comming to inuade them threw their darts at Darius and left him for dead In this estate he was found by Polistratus and after the deliuery of some fewe words dyed Alexander hauing exceedinglie lamented his miserable and vndeserued end directed his bodie to his mother Sisigambis to be honourably buried The persons names that speakes Darius Sisigambis his mother Statira Re. his wife Statira Virg his daughter Tiriotes their Eunuch Nabarzanes two traitours Bessus two traitours Patron Captaine of the mercenary Greekes Nuntius Alexander Parmenio his Lieutenant Hephestion his Minion Polistratus a souldier Artabazus a noble man of Persia Chorus all Persians The Scene supposed in Babilon THE TRAGEDY OF DARJVS Actus Primus DARIVS WHat thundering power grow'n jealous of my state With such hostilitie my troupes o're-throwes And arm'd with lightning breathing flames of hate Big with disdaine high indignation showes Whil'st sooth'd with selfe conceits asham'd to doubt In greatnesse shadowe I securelie slept Lo change-affecting Fortune wheeles about And ruines all that me from ruine kept Thus I whose onlie name amaz'd my foes Whom th' earth ador'd as Monarche once ouer all Am so degraded now and sunke in woes That who admir'd my might admire my fall Ah then indeed I fell when gallants stood And Phoenix-like renew'd their life by death Who hauing seald their force and faith with blood Would rather die then draw a borrowed breath Yet I but then not I view'd not aveng'd Those monstrous mountaines of my subjects slaine Although my conscience hath my courage cleng'd And knowes what valour was employ'd in vaine Through greatest dangers death I did pursue Till heapes of slaughtred bodies bar'd my way And chang'd my Chariot to a scarlet hue Ere wounded honour could be drawne away O how I enuy yet their happie Ghostes Who died whil'st hope of victorie remain'd And in the presence of two famous hostes Left bloodie recordes that they died vnstain'd Shall I suruiue that soule-ouerwhelming shame To be th' eternall staine of Persians praise No rather let me die and let my name Be quite exstinguish'd with my hatefull dayes Starre-bosting Babilon blush to behold One cald thy King surmounted and abated How may thy Towrs but tremble when it 's told Thy Prince entreats whome Princes earst entreated Not vassal-like I will not yeeld to this Were all my Empire to a period come Yet none shall vaunt that euer I was his Hartes holding courage are not all o're-come This tongue inur'd still to command doth scorne To breath base words to scape a minutes paines Let them obey who to obey were borne For Darius this indignitie disdaines Since I was once iudg'd worthie to command Shall I returne to be a base entreater No whil'st a sword yeelds homage to this hand I le not acknowledge in the world a greater Braue spirites who now possesse the pleasant bowers And glorious gardens of th' Elisian plaine For if deserts may moue th' infernall powers That happie shade your shadowes must containe Those fields where-as your praises are set forth Do burie but your bodies not your fame Men shall adore the relickes of your worth And reare immortall Trophees to your name I le sacrifize as incense to your soules His dying sighes and sorrowing parents teares Who now while none his insolence controules Our conquer'd ensignes in his triumphe beares For it may ease your Ghostes to heare his grones Whil'st th' earth ouer-burdend sends rebounding back A plaintife Echo from the woods and stones To sound through all the aire his armies wrack Why spend I speaches to disturbe your rest What idle disputations do I hold A mightie furour hath enflam'd my brest And burnes me till I be aueng'd seuen-fold Did I that strong Cadusian first affront Who durst aduance himselfe to braue our bandes Then turn'd applauded and in high account Charg'd with his spoiles the honour of my hands And could I then all kinde of doubt remoouing Aduenter only to an Armies shame And should I now that auncient praise disprouing With squadrons compast loose that glorious name Blinde fortune O thy stratagems are strange Thou wrak'st my greatnes wound'st mine honour to And hauing made my state the stage of change Hast acted all inconstancie could do Lo I who late of swarming troupes did bost Am spoil'd of all in whome I then repos'd And those imprison'd whome I fancie most Are to th' insulting victours pride expos'd O torment but to thinke death to beleeue That any may command my deerest part And wretched I notable to releeue The Iewell of mine eye ioy of my hart Deere obiect of my thoughtes my life my loue Sweete source of my delights my one my all Bright Image of excellencies aboue What do'st thou breath and com'st not when I call And can I be and not be where thou art Hath heauen the force me from thy face to barre Or are my hands growne traitors to my hart That they should shrinke from doing what it dare O could my minde but distribute a space These emulating thoughts that tosse my brest Among those pointles Cyphers that spend place Then I alone might animate the rest Since in this great disgrace I chanc'd to fall Now nothing rests to rase my fame forlorne But to doe desperatly and hazard all I le liue with praise or by my death flie scorne Some prosperous issue afterward may purge This crime with which th' euent would burthen me This crime that carries with it selfe a scourge No greater torment than the want of thee But what hope rests to re-obtaine that treasure Which auaritious tyrants once possesse Another now disposes at his pleasure Of all my wealth how can I looke for lesse Now not till now I deeme my state in danger When I imagine how my best belou'd Must
enough t' applaud our deede And sooth vs vp in all that we haue done Na. To haue the time and manner then praefixt Command the Bactrians all themselues to arme And to attend till we aduertise next Prompt for all perils at the first alarme Then through the Campe a rumour we will spread That hopelesse Darius hath dispairdlie gone With violence to dwell amongst the dead And seeme therefore excessiuelie to mone The Persians we with promises must feede So to disarme him of his natiue pow'rs Then we will apprehend himselfe with speede For while that he is free nothing is ours That we may seeme to vse him with respect As to the state of such a Prince pertaines We will not this last ornament neglect He shall be bound but bound with golden chaines To Alexander after we will send And offer Darius in his hands t' appease him Then craue his fauour that he will defend Vs as his friends who haue done all to please him If his good-will we cannot thus procure And he vs with extremitie pursue With Darius death we will our states assure Then raise fresh forces and the warres renue Bos Let vs henceforth for nothing be dismaide But striue our selues courageouslie to beare This dangerous action would not be delai'd Least time worke his assurance and our feare Exeunt CHORVS TYme through Ioues iudgement iust Huge alterations brings Those are but fooles that trust In transitory things Whose tailes beare mortall stings Which in the end will wound And let none thinke it strange Though all things earthly change In this inferiour rounde What is from ruine free The elements which be At variance as we see Eache other doe confound The earth and aire make warre The fire and water are Still wrestling at debate All those through colde and heate Through drouth and moisture iar No wonder though men change and fade Who of those changing elements are made How dare vaine worldlings vaunt Of fortunes goods not lasting Euils that our wittes enchaunt Expos'd to losse and wasting Loe we to death are hasting Whilst we these things discusse All things from their beginning Vnto an end are running Heauen hath ordain'd it thus We heare how heauen doth thunder We see th' earth burst asunder And yet we neuer ponder VVhat this imports to vs. Those fearfull signes doe proue That th' angrie pow'rs aboue Are mou'd to indignation Against this wretched nation VVhich they no longer loue What are we but a puffe of breath Who liue assur'd of nothing but of death VVho was so happie yet As neuer had some crosse Though on a Throne he sit And is not vs'd with losse Yet fortune once will tosse Him when that least he would If one had all at ones Hydaspes pretious stones And yellow Tagus golde All th' Orient all treasure And euery earthly pleasure Euen in the greatest measure It should not make him bold For while he liues secure His state is most vnsure VVhen it doth least appeere Some heauie plague drawes neere Destruction to procure We may compare th' earths glory to a flowre That flourisheth and fadeth in an houre In what we most repose We finde our comfort light The thing we soonest lose That 's precious in our sight For honour riches might Our liues im paund we lay Yet all like flying shadowes Or flowers enambling medowes Euanish and decay Long time we toile to finde Those idols of the minde Which got we cannot binde T' abide with vs one day Then why should we presume On treasures that consume Difficile to obtaine Difficile to retaine A dreame a breath a fume Which vexe them most who them possesse Who starue with store and famish with excesse ACTVS QVARTVS Scen. I. DARIVS TIRIOTES Tir. AH must I poyson now my Princes eares with the worst newes that euer burthē'd fame Had I as many tongues as I haue teares All would not serue my sorrowes to proclame Dar. Great signes of greefe I in thy face discerne Spare not for to report this heauie crosse To one I feare whome it doth most concerne I st death disgrace distruction treason losse Tell on the summe of honour at the first With no ambiguous words my paine prolong 'T is comfort to a wretch to know the worst And I haue learn'd to be vnhappy long What least I speake and yet suspect too much I st some ludibrious message of my skorne Which must wound me but ah no torment such As this to them who that disgrace haue borne Tir. She was not wrong'd as you haue misconceiu'd The Gods haue had a care for to preserue her Such fauour of the victour she receiu'd As of her subiects that were bound to serue her But what a vollie doth my voice prepare Of woes to charge your eares woes full of dread Would God ere I the somme thereof declare That I might die in saying she is dead Curst caitiue was it not enough allas That I beheld her die and would haue died But that I must arm'd with sad tydings pas To wound all them that heare what I haue spied See how he fares shot with these words of mine As one become the pray of greefe and death Dar. Yet doth the Sunne on my affliction shine And sees the aire infected with my breath And can I liue and looke them in the face That haue my ignominious o're-throw seene And how I vanquish'd vanquish'd with disgrace Engag'd at once my kingdome and my Queene Heauen bruse me all to powder with thy thunder That I no more may in the world remaine The obiect of thy wrath and Fortunes wonder Spoil'd of all hope yet kept for greater paine Ah! art thou dead and doe I lieu behinde thee Thy faultie husband thinkst thou so to flie If it be thus then I know where to finde thee This onely greeues me that too late I die O Alexander what such hainous ill Haue I done thee that thou requit'st me thus Whom of thy friendes or kindred did I kill This crueltie comes vndeseru'd of vs. Think that thou hadst iust causes to make warre Yet vpon women should thy wrath be wroken This Tirrannie shall all thy Triumphe marre And euer shall to thy reproach be spoken Tir. Sir without cause you guiltie him esteeme I know her death did grieuouslie displease him A wondrous thing which few or none would deeme He tooke it so that nothing could appease him Euen as my Soueraigne now so then he smarted And when he came to ease your mothers griefe As if that his owne mother had departed He seem'd to need not for to giue reliefe Dar. If any sparkes of that respect remaine Which should with reason mooue thy minde to ruth I pray the Tiriotes now be plaine Or els strange torments shall exact the truth I loth to let this question scape my mouth Which both I blush to craue and long to know I st possible so insolent a youth Did neuer tempt the treasure which I owe Could this imperious Prince in flowre
cruelties hauing lost the fauour of the people shee was constrained when Cassander came against her to retire herselfe within a Towne which by reason of the scarcitie of victuals not being able to defend shee rendred together with her selfe to Cassander by whom notwithstanding of his promise to the contrary she was publikely put to death and so hauing proceeded so farre in wickednes he thought it no time to retire till he had extinguished all his masters race hee caused Roxane and her sonne to bee murdered and soone after Hercules Alexanders bastard sonne which multitude of murders gaue to him the crowne of Macedone and to me the Subiect of this Politragicke Tragedie The Actors The ghost of Alexander Olimpias his mother Roxane his wife Aristotle his maister Phocion his old friend Philastrus a Chaldaean Chorus his greatest Captaines Perdiccas Meleager Ptolomie Antigonus Eumenes Lisimachus Seleucus Cassander THE Alexandraean Tragedie ACT. I. The Ghost of Alexander the Great BAcke from th' umbragious bounds still rob'd of rest Must I returne where Phoebus gildes the fields A ghost not worthy to be Plutoes guest Since one to whom the world no buriall yields O what a great disgrace is this to me Whose trophees th' earth in euery corner keepes That I contemn'd cannot transported be A passenger through the sulphurean deepes Dare churlish Charon though not vsde to bow The raging torrent of my wrath gain estand Must I succumb amidst hells dungeons now Though ouer the world accustom'd to command But it may be that this hath wrought me harme What bloodlesse ghosts stray on the Stygian bancke Whose falles made famous by my fatall arme Whose falles made famous by my fatall arme Gaue terrour oft to many a martiall rancke Yet for a prey exposde to rauenous beasts Could neuer haue the honour of a tombe But though for such rude guests too pretious feasts Were basely buried in their brutish wombe Thus as it seemes the horiour of such deedes With like indignitie attends my sprite What stormie brest this thirst of vengeance breedes T' accuse for that which valour did acquite Ah might Alcmenaes sonne as worthy of Ioue Once force th' infernall fortes of endlesse night T' encounter Dis in the Tartarian groue And draw foorth th' ougly Cerberus to light Then leading Theseus through the cauerns darke That would haue forc'd th' inferiour regions Queene By violence vsde he th' auernall barke As Conquerour of the pallide Empire seene And may not I downe in the center sit Their renting th' earth as thence when vapours rise T' inlarge th' imprison'd soules the pitchy pit That once the light may lighten lightlesse eies What though I from th' aetheriall circles swerue Whom in this state it may be some mistake May not the voyce of Alexander serue To make th' earth tremble and the depths to shake Or shal I goe aboue with new alarmes To spoyle the princes of the peopled round And turne backe back'd with squadrons all in armes T' affright the ghosts that are beneath the ground But ah what comfort can I find aboue Where those whom I aduanc'd loe now in th' end The titles of my of-spring striue t' improue And to my chaire by violence ascend Ingratitude torments my troubled sprite Would God therefore that with a bodie stor'd I might returne t' enioy the dayes cleere light My backe with armes my hand charg'd with a sword As when I entred in a populous towne To warre alone with thousands in my wrath Whilst prizing honour deerer than my Crowne Ech of my blows gaue wounds ech wound gaue death Then thundring vengeance on rebellious bands I would make them redeeme my grace with grones Where now my Ghost hedgd in with horrour stands Lesse gracd then those whom I commanded once And yet th aduancement by those captaines had Whom first my Ensignes did acquaint with same Doth make my soule a thousand times more sad Then all the sufftings that the hels can claime O now I see what all my minions blindes My funerals to performe that none takes paine My state betraying me distracts their mindes That haue forgot all loue but loue to raigne But Ptholomie doth yet by time intend Backe t Alexandrta to transport me once Not mou'd by loue no for an other ende In hope my fortune will attend my bones And must I then so great a trouble haue That lately had all th earth and all th earths store For some few footes of earth to be a graue Which meane men get and great men get no more Though many a thousand at my signe did bow Is this the end of all my conquests then To be barrd from that little circuit now The benefit that 's common vnto men But of it all that once was thrall to me Lest that a little part my body bound I thinke all th earth my fatall bed should be That still all confines scornd but the azure round O blind ambition great mindes viprous brood The scourge of mankind and the foe to rest Thou guiltie art of many a millions blood And whilst I raignd didst raigne within my brest This to my soule but small contentment brings That I some Cities reard and others razd And made Kings captiues captiues to be Kings Then whilst the wondring world did stand amaz'd All that but now torments me after death Which raisde my fame on pillars that were rare O costly conquest of alittle breath Whose flattring sounds both come and go with th' aire Can I be he that thought it a disgrace Once to be made with other mortalls euen That would be thought of an immortall race The of-spring of great Ioue the heire of heauen I by al1 meanes the peoples mindes did moue T' haue Altars as a god with offrings stor'd Till of his glorie Ioue did iealous proue All Princes should be reuerenc'd not ador'd Ah whilst transported with a prosprous state I toyl'd t' exalt my throne aboue the starres That pride of mine the thunderer bent t' abate Did wound my fame with most infamous warres Made I not graue Calistines to smart That did disdaine a dying flesh t' adore And bent t' unknow my knowledge by vaine Art Though knowne a man sought to b' imagin'd more All fear'd t' incurre the danger of my wrath Which as a sleeping Lion none durst wake Mine anger was the messenger of death That many a time made armies all to quake So much Ambition did my thoughts ingage That I could not abide my fathers praise But though my friend kill'd Clitus in a rage That in my presence Philips fame durst raise Thus though that I mine enemies did abate I made my greatest friends become my foes Who did my barbarous insolencies hate And for the like afraid waild others woes Those tyrannies which thousands chanc'd to see As inhumane a multitude admirde And fear'd to be familar more with mee As from an odious tyrant stoode retirde Yea there were many too that did conspire By base ambushments whiles t' entrap my life
Of all my labours loe this was the hire Those must haue store of toiles that toyle for strife And I remember that amidst my ioyes Euen whilst the chase of armies was my sport There wanted not a portion of annoyes To counterpoise my pleasures in some sort Of those in th' earth most happy that remaine As ag'd experience constantly records The pleasures farre exceeded are by paine Life greater greife then comfort still affords What rage and sorrow seaz'd vpon my soule Whilst big with hopes a battell bent to proue That sudden sicknesse did my course controule Which Cidnus cold imbracings chanc'd to moue From the Phisition then though deem'd for ill I tooke his drinke and gaue th' inuectiue lines Then whilst he red did drinke yet eyd him stil And by accusing lookes search'd guilty signes Not that suspitious feares could make me sad This was the ground whence did proceed my paine Lest death that victorie preuented had Which I was sure if present once t' obtaine But when that I extended had my state From learned Athens to the barbarous Indes Still my tumultuous troupes my pride did hate As monstrous mutinies vnmask'd their mindes I so my name more wonderful to make Of Hercules and Bacchus past the bounds And whilst that Memnons sun burnt bands did quake Did write my worth in many a Monarchs wounds Kings were my subiects and my subiects kings Yet my contentment further did require For I imagind still more mighty things And to a greater greatnesle did aspire The compasse of the carriere of the sunne By many a famous victory I wan Yet wept that there were no more worlds to win As all had beene to little for one man Was I not honord as a God by some Whilst what I interprizd it still preuaild Whom I assaild I alwayes did ore-come No project of my fancies euer faild This made me thought immortalizd to be Which in all mindes amazement yet contracts For I led Fortune Fortune followed me As forc'd t' attend the greatnesse of my acts Yet I haue found it a more easie thing To conquer all the mansions of the winde Then mine owne selfe and of my passions king To order the disorders of my minde What comfort iustly could my soule receiue Of all my conquests past if that euen then Whilst I triumph'd to wrath and wine as slaue I scap'd not scandall more then other men Ah seazing without right on euery state I but my selfe too great a Monarch made Since all men gapt to get the golden bate Which by my death seemd easie to be had Whilst from humanitie too much deuorc'd My deeds all hearts with feare and horror fild I whom the force of foes yet neuer forc'd Was by my friends most fraudulently kill'd But now I see the troublous time drawes neere When they shall keepe my obsequies with blood No wonder too though such a warriours biere At last do swim amids a scarlet flood For as my life did breed huge broyles ouer all My death must be th' occasion of great cumbers And it doth best become a strong mans fall To be renown'd by ruining of numbers The snaky-tressed sisters shal not neede T' vse fatall firebrands lothsome Plutoes pestes Or poisonous inspirations so to bred A thirst of murder in transported brests Yet my ambitious ashes once may shine T' enflame my Minions minds with strange desires If of their spirits each keepe a sparke of mine To waste the world their brests may furnish fires The beauties once of th' earth shall all looke red Whilst my lieuetenants through that pride of theirs With vnkind armes huge streames of blood do shed By murthering of mine heires to be mine heires Is this the gaine of greatnesses did I pine To be made eminent to be ouerthrowne To ruine first my selfe then roote out mine As conquering others but to lose mine owne O happy I but happier far my race If with my fathers conquests still content I manag'd had th' Aemathian power in peace Which was made lawfull by a long discent Then farre sequestred from Bellonaes rage I had the true delites of nature tryed And ag'd with honor honor'd in my age Had left my scepter to my sonne and dyed And he succeeded had t' a quiet state Which then because lesse great had bin more sure And not exposd to enuy nor to hate That do against the greatest States coniure But since they minde t' enearth mine earthly part Which now no badge of maiestie reraines To roaring Phlegeton I must depart Farre from the lightsome bounds of th' ayrie Plaines And must I there that did the world surmount Arrested by the Monarke of the Ghosts To Radamanthus render an account Of all the deedes done by my rauenous hostes Ther whilst with Minos Aeacus sits downe A rigorous Iudge in Hells most horride court Though farre before his Nephew in renowne He will not with one of his race comport O what pale troops of ghosts are gathered heere That were of bodies spoild by my decree And first the wrong'd Parmenio doth compeere From whom I nought but who did much from me At the tribunall of Tartarian powres He aggrauates a ingratitude too great And whilst th' infernall tyrant foming lowres All whom I wrong'd for vengeance stand t' intreat Yet guiltie thoughts torment me most of all No sprite can be by plaging Furies pind Though charg'd without with snakes within with gall As by the slings of a remording minde If it be true that drowsie Laethes streams Drowne in obliuions deepes all things at last There let me burie farre from Phoebus beames The loath'd remembrance of my Labours past Exit Chorus What strange aduentures now Distract distressed mindes With such most monstrous stormes When silence seemes t' allow The peace that Nature findes And that tumultuous windes Doe not disturbe with stormes An vniuer sall rest When Morpheus hath represt Th' impetuous course of cares And with a soft skepe bâ—ndes Those tyrants of the breast That would spread foorth most dangerous snares T' inuo'ue th' afflicted in dispaires Huge horrours then arise Which th' elements doe marre With most disastrous signes Arm'd sqúadorns in the Skies With Launces throwne from farre Doe make a monstrous warre Whilst Furie nought confines The Dragons vomite fire And make the starres retire Out of their orbes for feare Some of those warriors are To satifie their ire That th' azure buildings not forbeare But seeme the cristall Towres to teare Amidst the aire fierce blasts Doe boast with blustring sounds T' vndoe this mightie frame Which whilst the tempest lasts Doth rent the stately roundes To signifie what woundes Strait t' all her of-springs shame Shall burst th' earths veines with blood And this all-circkling flood As t' were the heauens to drowne Doth passe th' appointed bounds And all the scalie broode Reare roaring Neptunes foamie crowne Whilst th' earth for feare seemes to sincke downe Those that th' earth chargde what horrour Theyr ashie lodgings leaue To re-enioy the light
Or else some panicke terror Our iudgement doth bereaue Whilst first we misconceiue And so preiudge the sight Or in the bodies steade The genius of the dead Turnes backe from Stix againe Which Dis will not receaue Till it a while engendring dread Giue whilst it doth on th' earth remaine To others feare and to 't selfe paine These fearefull signes foreshow The doubtfull world t' appall What plagues are to succeede When death had layd him low That first had made vs thrall We heard that strait his fall Our libertie would breede But this prooues no reliefe For many O what griefe The place of one supplie And we must suffer all Thus was our comfort briefe For rarelie doth th' vsurper die But others will his fortune trie ACT. II. SCENE I. Perdiccas Meleager Ptolomie Antigonus Eumenes WHateie not big with teares can view this host Which hath in one ah as the end doth proue A King a Captaine and a Brother lost Crown'd follow'd tride by right for worth in loue I thinke amongst vs all there is not one Whom diuerse fauours do not iustly binde T' appease that Heroes ghost though from vs gone With all th' oblations of a thankfull minde Ah had the Fates beene subiect to my will Such clowdes of sorrow had not darkened life But we had had great Alexander still And he those kingdomes that procure this strife Yet heauens decrees can neuer be recalld And thoughts of harmes past help breede double paine Though being to griefe a space by passions thralld The liuing must embrace the world againe As one whose interest in his life was chiefe I of his death haue cause to curse th' effects But will not frustrate so the generall griefe To waile apart particular respects Though th' aire be plenish'd yet with plaintiue sounds Of widdow'd hopes that wedded haue despaires Yet Time must cicatrize our inward wounds And to the publike weale drawe priuate cares Let vs giue physicke to the sickened state That at this present in great danger stands Whilst grudging subiects that our greatnes hate Would enfranchize their violated lands Those that are thralld by force to be made free Praecipitate themselues in dangers still And this th' instinct of Nature seemes to bee What realme not scornes t' attend a strangers will From forc'd obedience nought but hate proceedes The moe we haue subdude the moe our foes A soueraigne head this states huge body needes That might make vs securely to repose And who more meete t' enioy that great mans place Wh'of those whose states he tooke receiu'd the hearts Then one descended from th' illustrous race Whose birth both worth and right to raigne impartes If heau'n enrich Roxana with a sonne That long'd-for birth a lawfull soueraigne brings And till that course of doubtfull hopes be done Let some appointed be to rule all things Eum. Though Macedonians tuned mindes not scorne That t' Alexander strangers should succeede Can men obey a babe a babe not borne What fancies strange would this confusion breed This could not well become our graue foresight A doubtfull birth t' attend so long in vaine That may b' abortiue and though brought to light Through Natures error made not apt to raigne But if affection carrie vs so farre That of that race we must be rul'd by some Though neither being practiz'd in peace nor warre As those that haue indeede by kinde o'recome Then haue we Hercules the eldest sonne That t' our great Prince was by Barsines borne Who foureteene yeares of age hath else begunne His princely birth by vertues rare t' adorne Ptol. Might not the Macedonians all b' asham'd If rendred vassalles thus t' a barbarous brood What should we beare the yoke that we haue framd To buy disgrace haue we bestowde our blood Our auncestours whose glory wee obscur'd Would get some vantage of their Nephues thus They warrd that peoples wracke to haue procurd And haue we ward to make them Lords o're vs Ah bury this as a'xecrable thing And let this purpose be no more pursude For though they were begotten by our king Yet were they borne of those that we subdude Obraue Leonides I like thy strife That with so few perforrnd so glorious things And death preferrd before th' infamous life That bondage still from a Barbarian brings Those loth'd t' accept a stranger for their Lord And with their blood gaue flame t'an vnknowne feild Yet we would honour them that they abhorrd And though being victors to the vanquish'd yeild For where-to tended that renownd attempt Which makes the Persians yet abase their brow But euen t' our countreys scorne in a contempt To take by force that which we offer now Was this the scope of all our conquersts then Of our owne captiues to be made the prey No let vs still command like valerous men And rule our Empire by some other way May we not vse this policie a space Till better wits some better meanes deuise Lest dangerous discords do disturbe our peace Still when we would of serious things aduice Let a maiesticke Senat gathered be And them amongst the Imperiall chare of state That of th' authoritie all signes may see Then whilst we compasse that respected seate There those that were in credite with the king Whose merits in mens minds haue reuerence bred Shall in their iudgements ballance euery thing How kingdomes should be ruld how Armies led And what the greatest part hath once approu'd To that the rest must oblig'd be t' incline All th' armie by this harmony being mou'd Will execute what euer we designe This concord would proue happy for vs all Since it each state in greatest suretie renders And by this meanes our Macedony shall In place of one haue many Alexanders Eum. Though silence I confesse becomes me best That am a stranger and the lesse beleeu'd Yet since a partner of your toyles I rest I must vnfold my mind a minde that 's greeeu'd And thinke you that a babe repaires our losse How are the deep est iudgements thus beguild This in all Countryes hath bin thought a crosse Wo to that soyle whose soueraigne is a child Nor would these great men as is thought agree They be too many bodies for one minde Ah pardon Ptolomie it can not be This vnion would all disunite I finde Thus would all th' armie from good order swarue When many might forgiue all would offend As thinking well though they did death deserue Ther 's none so bad but some man will defend And when so many kings were in one court One court would then haue many humors too Which fostring factions for each light report Would make them iarre as neighbouring princes doe No let this strange opinion be suppressd Whilst equals all all would vnequall be So that their mindes by iealousie possessd From pale suspition neuer could be free But ah what needs contention at this time T' obscure a matter that was made so cleere And doye now account it for no crime T' impugne his
wil that once was held so deere When that great Monark march'd t' encounter death Whist all his captaines were assembled there And did demand whilst he might vse his breath Whom he himselfe adopted for his heire Then that such doubtfull questions should not need As louing valour more then his owne race He that t' a braue man braue men might succeed Said let the worthiest haue the worthiest place Nor did he speake this in a secret part With Sphinx his phrase a greater doubt t' haue moou'd As breathing thoughts in each ambitious hart To haue his worth in Vulcans furnace proou'd For whilst ye hedg'd the fatall bed about With an vnpartiall care distracted long Then he amongst you all did chuse one out That for so great a burthen seem'd most strong He to Perdiccas did present the ring That vs'd to seale the secrets of the state By which it seemd that he design'd him king Ad so would seize him of the highest seate Thus made this worthy man a worthy choice That no new troubles might the state deforme And all the world now iustly may reioyce That thus preuented was a'mpetuous storme For if this had not been his latest will Ye Mars his Minions should haue liu'd at iarre Whilst emulation amongst equals still Had made the trumpet sound t'intestine warres What huge disorders threatned to burst forth If that our soueraigne had no prince designd That oft hath been a witnesse of our worth And can weigh vertue in a vertuous mind I see consenting signes applaud my speach Rise do Perdicas that which they decree Whilst modestie doth maiestie impeach Though thou crau'st not this crowne this crowne craues thee Meleag. I wonder not though thus Perdicas shrinke T' accept so mighty a charge amidst th' alarmes The Sunne must make Nictimine to winke This Scepter weighes too much for so weake armes The Gods will neuer grant nor men agree That such a one should domineer ouer vs. Though vulgar minds might yeeld his thrales to be Those that his betters are scorne to how thus He prayes vs all Roxanaes birth t' attend Which though it came to passe as some expect He can exchange or cause be brought t'â—n end As bent t' allow all meanes when one effect Thus would he temporize though t' our great scorne Till time assist t' accomplish his designes No kings Perdicas likes but babes vnborne He labours well in vndiscouered mines I need not now insist to tell at large What braue men be amids this martiall band That better do deserue so great a charge Both for their skill and courage to command Yet are the best not worthy to succeede To that rare man that neuer can be match'd Whose memorie must make our mindes to bleed Whose aduersar's for this advantage watch'd But if that great man did consent so soone That our obedience should be thus abus'd Of all that euer he desird t' haue done I thinke this onely ought to be refusd Th' vndanted band whose worth the worlde oft prou'd Then whilst their glorie shin'd through siluer shields By all that monarches merits not being mou'd As conquer'd would haue left the conquer'd fields And if that they contemn'd a princes throne To whom his auncestors their scepter brought What reuerence would they beare to such a one That all this time was as their equall thought To those that ouer their equalles raise their state Aduancement enuie breeds and enuie hate If such with all would rest familiar still This in contempt th' authoritie it brings And if they second not their subiects will Men cannot beare with them as with borne kings Our loftie bands some lofty minde must tame Whose princely birth doth procreate regard Whose countrie may confound each sland'rous claime As one with whom none els can be compar'd Ther 's Alexanders brother Philips sonne That alwayes was a partner of our paine Can there be any else below the sunne Ouer Macedonians that deserues to raigne And I must wonder what so strange offence Hath forfeited his title maim'd his right That any now with a disguis'd pretence Dare wrong him thus euen in his peoples sight Ptol. None needs to wonder much thogh we negle One whose election might procure our shame His mothers basenes Iustice might obiect Whom bastardie secludes from such a claime But yet had nature purg'd the spot she made We with his birth the better might comport Whilst father-like in all affaires he had Giuen proofe of parts that might the state support He falsifies his race of wit so weake That all his inward wants are soone perceiud All of his iudgement in derision speake By which great things can hardly be conceiud And though his body might from paines be sparde Whose constitution is not very strong But with infirmities so farre impairde That it aline cannot continue long Yet since in state he neuer hath bin schoold His ignorance would racke him still with feares Whiles he that rulde still needing to be rulde Spake but with others tongues heard with their eares A inconstant king great confusion makes Whom all mistrust and most amidst a Campe Whilst soft like waxe he each impression takes And doth for friuolous things still change the stampe Ah should our liues depend vpon his breath That of himselfe cannot discerne a crime But doomes by informations men to death Then barren pittie yeilds when out of time Thus whilst some alwayes must his iudgement sway That still doth harbour in anothers head Of Sicophants this prince may be the prey That where they list thauthoritie will leade And being but base that they may be the best Such still will toyle that we may be ore-throwne And some-time may the credulous king suggest To taint our fame lest it obscure their owne What griefe were this tvs whilst such as those Might make their vantage of th all-powrefull breath And that our actions ballancd by our foes Were guerdond with disdaine or else with death Me. Since priuat hopes your iudgement do bewitch I le leaue this counsell where no good can please Come follow me all those that would be rich Few haue regarde poore souldiers of your ease Perd. That shall prooue best which first I went about Thogh some wold wrest my words from what I thought The malice of Meleager now bursts out Like flaming fires that burne themselues to nought Thus naughtie minds that neuer dreame but ill Do conster euery thing t' a crooked sence What I proposde t' aduance our countrey still He would interpret it as an offence And this vnreuerent parting hence of his Hath t'a1l his former wrongs yet added one By his seditious words incens'd ere this The souldiers arc to sacke the treasures gone Ant. Then let vs all of one accord conclude That Alexanders hop'd for race must raigne So shall w'establish still th' annointed blood Whose gouernement both glorie gaue and gaine And let vs now before we part appoynt Who gouerne shall till that the Babe be borne And circumspectly put
were common'd Whose partiall grudge occasion'd their exile Lest th 'others restitution should haue prou'd A meanes t' haue brought their state t' a lower stile And th' indignation that they had conceiu'd Did burst out in rebellion for a time The which the king deepe in his minde engrau'd And thought by Athens spoyles t' avenge that cryme But since that death ministred them reliefe Grown bold to prosecute their prowde attempt To Athenians and the Aetolians were the chiefe That brought Antipater first in contempt And being by them constrain'd to quit the field He in a little towne enclos'd at last Was once reduc'd in dangers neere to yield And staine the glory of his actions past But yet by accident as whiles it falles It 's better to be fortunate then wise An vnsuspected shaft throwne from the walles Th' Athenian captaine happened to surprise Then did Antipater his courage reare That had almost his staggering hopes betraid And yet not altogether free'd from feare He sent to Leonatus seeking aid And he that seem'd his friendship much t' affect Did carefull of his countrie-men appeare But if he had preuail'd some do suspect Antipater had bought his succours deere Yet by th' effect his purpose bent to shew What euer that he was he seem'd a friend But when th' Athenians did his comming know T' encounter him they did directly tend And though their thoughts in depths of doubts did fleete They whilst alone to match him thought it best Then whilst they march'd aduentrous troupes to meete Hard was the welcome of th' vnwelcome guest For when both th' armies were t' a battle brought And all the fruits of valour did afford Rash Leonatus like a Lyon fought Bent to proue worthy of his wonted Lord. But whist he brauely did his charge acquite He lost himselfe that others came to saue And by their Captaines fall discourag'd quite His scatred troupes great domage did receiue Yet when the newes to Antipater were told Of their mishap that come for his releife He not one signe of sorrow did vnfold A little gaine doth mitigate great griefe For he did know though then his foes preuail'd That this great fight infeebled had their hoste And then he tooke to him which much auai'ld Those beaten bandes that had their Captaine lost Yet that in which he did most comfort finde Was his deliuerie from a secret foe Which did with ielousie torment his minde Though outwardly not seeming to be so Perd. Thus we that vnderneath one ensigne warrd Slept in one tent and all one fortune prou'd And with a friendship then that neuer iarrd As Pilades and mad Orestes lou'd Since wanting now a Lord. that all be Lords We loe renounce all kind of kindnesse now And secret rancor budding in discords Euen euery one doth th 'others ruine vow Such is the sacred famine of a crowne That it to satisfie before we faile What stands within our way all must go downe And bands of blood or friendship nought auaile These glory-rauish'd soules that would be great Will pretermit no meanes although vniust 〈…〉 of copartners in the state 〈…〉 there can be no trust 〈…〉 Well I perceiue Antipater doth tend 〈…〉 powre t' attaine that sacred prey 〈…〉 of late augmented now in th' end Through euery danger once may make a way And Alexander sometimes spake at large Then whilst Antipater with Agis striu'd That he without the limits of his charge More like a king than a Lieutenant liu'd Antiâ—onus and Ptholomie in armes Are ioy'nd in one our ruine bent to breed I feare that friendship procreate our harmes Vnlesse their spight preuented be with speed Perd. I le lodge you now Eumenes in my brest And let you see the ground of my designes Since that we both alike must toyle or rest As those whose course one planet now confines Since at his death I by our dying Lord Was in his place appointed to succeed And that my fortune doth a meanes afford How that I compasse may what he decreed To leaue that place I cannot well agree As if I wanted courage to command I le take that which the fates do throw on me For if without a throne I cannot stand And those that would performe difficult things Must not regard what way so they preuaile Of sleight then force a greater furtherance brings The Fox must helpe if that the Lyon faile So for Antipater a snare t' haue layd His daughter I in marriage did require That so the time might but haue bin delayd Till that I had accomplisht my desire For with the shadow of pretended loue And hope of that affinitie to come I from his bounds was minded to remoue A warrelike troupe wherewith himselfe t' orecome But to deceiue deceiuers t' is most hard He quickly did mistrust th' intended wrong And from my messengers his eares he barr'd As did Vlisses from the Sirens song Eum. This to your state I think might much import If to your selfe you chose a vertuous mate Whose beauty pleasure birth might bring support And both concurre in one to blesse your state If you to make your high designes more sure By Hymens meanes with some your selfe alie Thus of some Prince you may the powre procure That wil conioynd with you one fortune trie What griefe were this if you haue hap t' attaine That faire Idea which your fancies frame If after you of yours none doe remaine That may enioy your conquests and your name Kings liue most sure that of their owne haue heires Whose sacred persons none dare seeke to wound Since though they die yet there rest some of theirs That are t' auenge their death by nature bound Pe. Noght rests vntride that might inlarge my might I minde to match my selfe with such a one That if she haue my powre to proue her right May be thought worthy of th' Aemathian throne I with Olympias haue deuisde a thing That may assure her state and make mine strong The which I hope shall prooue a prosprous spring From whence may flow great things ere it belong By Cleopatra may a meanes be catch'd That our designes t' a glorious end may bring I meane she whom hir father Philip match'd With Alexander of th' Epirots King He hauing heard great Alexanders fame In emulation of that monarkes praise Went with his troupes th' Etrurians bent to tame Which enterprise did but abridge his dayes In marriage with that widdow'd Queene combinde If that her mother thus our course assist Whilst I effect that which I haue design'd Who dare presume my purpose to resist For whilst this friendship doth my name renowne It may my thoughts from further feare seclude Since hauing thus a title to the Crowne As one engraffde within the royall blood Eum. I feare that this your purpose to preuent A number now take armes all in one forme As those that haue discouerd your intent And by the lowring cloudes foreknow a storme For loe how many else together runne That for our ruine
wonderfully thirst Per. Where do you think that we should then begin And exercise hostility at first Eu. Though we our selues in strangers thrones instal And hauing Asia to subiection brought Make Nilus Indus and Euphrates thrall Yet all those victories would serue for nought Whilst martiall Macedonie liuing free The spring that still will powre new armies forth Doth not acknowledge you her king to be Nor hath not proou'd your militarie worth To those that would pursue a Prince in armes His chiefest realme the greatest vantage giues Where if the warre hold out t' is with his harmes Since that within his bowells th' enemy liues And warres protracted with a peoples losse Doe from their soueraigne alienate their loue They lose their hearts whom fortune once doth crosse And foild at home can no where else remoue He that hath Macedonie hath the best Which of our Monarchie the Mistresse is That conquerd hath couragiously the rest And but depends on Mars as onely his If you were Lord of that vndaunted soile And by Olympias conntenaunc'd but a while Strait from Antipater all would recoile And him as traitor to the state exile To you that are a Macedonian borne If match'd with Cleopatra great in powres The Macedonians gladly would be sworne And if commaunding them then all were yours Perd. Yet this opinion partly I disprooue Which would not as you thinke our troubles end For if that we from hence our force remooue And to the Aemathian bounds directly tend There must at first a doubtfull warre be proou'd With those braue bands whose valour is well knowne Of whom Craterus deerely is belou'd That bound t' Antipater are all his owne And though indeede as kindely to those parts My friendship is affected to by some Yet others haue preoccupi'd their harts And will discredite vs before we come Then whilst that we the Macedonians boast And leaue those realmes vnarm'd that else are ours Strait Ptolomie when strengthned is his hoste May enter Asia and supplant our powres I by my iudgement willingly would take The course that seemes to make our state most sure It dangerous is t' haue foes behind our backe That vnawares our ruine may procure My purpose is though yet to none made knowne That Egipt first shall burdend be with warre For if that Ptolomie were once orethrowne Then that from Greece all hope of help would barre Eum. Hold still with you those of the sacred blood Whom to protect you alwayes must pretend The countnance of the great may doe much good Whome still though weake the world delights t' attend Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE II. Olympias Roxane LEt sorrow then euen tyrannize my soule Whose rage with reason now no measure keepes What of my teares the torrent can controule Since flowing from afflictions deepest deeps How can my breast but burst whilst sobs rebound Since once the seate of ioys now not the same May not huge horrors presse me to the ground In thinking what I was and what I am I was a great mans wife a greaters mother Euen she to whome the heauens their best did giue Yet I euen I more plagu'd than any other In dungeons now of desolation liue My sonne that was the glorie of his time Staine of times past and light of times to come O fraile mortalitie O sliderie slime Though hauing all orecom'd death did orecome And I deiected wretch whose dying eies He was by Natures custome bound t' haue closde Was not to shut his starres with th' iuorie skies That tapestried where maiestie reposde But ah his falling in a forraine part Hath if it can b' enlargde enlargde my griefe Else I on him would melted haue my hart And spent my selfe t' haue purchasde his reliefe Yet though I was not present at his death He shall not be defrauded of my teares But for his funerall fires my flaming breath Doth smoake and to his ghost a tribute beares Rox. Ah to what corner rolles my watry sight Where it not findes some matter to bemone O foolish eies whie loose ye not your light Since that your treasure is to ruine gone Once of all Queenes I might the fortune scorne To whom iust loue that great man did engage Whose match in worth the world hath neuer borne Nor neuer shall enrich another age When those perfections whiles transport my minde Which admiration onely doth dilate I 'm woe that me the destinies designde To be the partner of his glorious state And I repent that to his sight I past Though highly gracde on a festiuall day A feast that many a time must make me fast And with slowe woe that flying mirth defray Then if my fortune had not blinded me But ah whose iudgement had it not bereau'd Whilst the worlds Monarke daignd to like of me I had th' euent of my high flight conceiu'd He of th' Asian Prince whose state did then decline Had both the wife and daughters at his will Whose beauties glorie would haue darkned mine Yet free from snares retainde his fancies still Then when my father chose out from the rest Those virgins all whom Fame affirmd for rare Though hauing viewd them all he lou'd me best Then thought most fortunate if not most faire And when his martiall nobles were dismaid That he himselfe with captiues had alide He by that meanes as loue had dited saide Tooke from the vanquisht shame from victors pride Then me as Empresse all did entertaine Though his inferior farre in all respects Till I from him by death diuorcde remaine Whom with his sonne now all the world neglects Olym. Although this will but aggrauate my woe From whom the Fates all comfort now seclude Yet do I reuerence his remembrance so That of my sonne to heare it doth me good And daughter now to double my distresse Make me at length acquainted with his death That sorrow may each part of me possesse Sad newes mine eares teares eies and sighes my breath Rox. Though griefe to me scarse libertie affordes T' expresse the passions that oppresse my mind Yet would affection wrestle out some wordes To speake of him that all my ioyes confind When he had conquerd all that could resist A monarchie not equall with his minde Still in his haughty course he did insist And search'd out th' Ocean other worlds to finde But when from it his nauie was redeemde He stoode in doubt where trophees next to reare For all the world for him too little seemde His minde could more conceiue than nature beare Then ah this Emprour purposde was in th' end At Babylon his glories height to shew Where all the world his comming did attend As Ioue aboue he onely raignde below When he drew neere that then thrice Monarks seate All th' Astrologians by their skill foretold What dangers there were threatned to his state The which else-where might better be controld But he that was not capable of feare And could not muse of misaduentures then Causde through that towne him selfe in triumph beare Backd
her sonne yet with him dide In whom she found th' affections of a sonne Olimp. If but by hearing of his dolorous end A stranger once his captiue dide for griefe Ah shall his mother on new hopes depend As such a losse might looke for some reliefe And so I will for t were a great disgrace To me the mother of th'all conquering man Like other women to giue fortune place And yeeld to miserie as many can Though griefe at first must molifie me once Else as vnnaturall I might be admirde Yet will I not still burst my brest with grones Than that of me more courage is requirde I le not degener from my generous kinde Faint-hearted hindes brought neuer Lyon forth Nor yet a mother of an abiect minde Had neuer borne a monarch of such worth And O who knowes but once the time may come That I t' auenge my selfe a meanes may haue And may against these traytors yet mooue some That with their blood may bathe their sou'raignes graue Now on Perdiccas repose my trust That with Eumenes would our wrongs redresse Their valor ventring in a cause so iust Doth by appearance promise good successe Rox. Loe now of late deliuered of a sonne I to these captaines scarce dare make it knowne That else to part his kingdomes haue begunne And might by killing him make all their owne Ay me Madam this makes me most to pause That still th' ambition of those great men feare Lest by pretending but a publike cause They seeke themselues th' authoritie to beare Ah they of my yong babe as mou'd with ruth Would but be Tutors first and traytors then Voyd of obedience dutie loue or truth No deerer things then diadems to men Olimp. As those whose courage cannot be dismaide Let vs a faction studie now to finde And whilst that pittie doth procure for aide Go tune the peoples passions now t' our minde Vnlesse their loue haue perishde with his life Of Alexander in a high degree I thinke the sonne the mother and the wife Must of the Macedonians reuerenc'd be And this doth with disdaine my soule consume That Arideus amongst other wrongs And prowde Euridice his wife presume To vsurpe those honours that but t 'vs belongs O they shall finde my fortune not so changde But I am able yet t' abate their pride What what Olimpias must be reuengde That saue her selfe a Queene disdaynes t' abide Exeunt Chorus LOe how all good decayed And euills begin t' abound In this skie-compasst round There is no kinde of trust For mankind whilst it strayes In pleasure-paued wayes With floods of vice is drown'd And doth farre from refuge In endlesse shaddowes lodge Yet striues to rise no more No doubt as most vniust The world once perish must And worse now to restore Then that it was before When at the last deluge Men by Ducalion once Were made againe of stones And well this wicked race Bewrayes a stonie kinde That beares a stubborne minde Still hardned vnto sinne Lo now in euery place All vertuous motions cease And sacred faith we finde Now farre from th' earth is fled Whose flight huge euills hath bred And fills the world with warres Whilst impious breasts begin Still to let treason in Which common concord marres Whilst all men liue at iarres And nets of fraud do spred Th' vnwarie to surprise Too wittie but not wise Yet those that in deceit Their confidence repose A deerer thing do lose Then can by guile be gain'd Which being repented late Brings ruine to their state Whilst purer spirits disclose Wherewith their breasts are stord For though they would remord They get not trust againe But hauing honor stain'd And couenants prophain'd Are held in high disdaine And do in end remaine Of all the world abborr'd Not trustie when they should Not trusted when they would But ah our Nobles now Lo like Lisander still So that they get their will Regard not by what way And with a shamelesse brow Doe of th' effect allow Euen though the meanes were ill Which all the world may see Disgraces their degree That should not learne to lowre But throwe base sleights away What can braue mindes dismay Whose worth is as a towre Against all fortunes powre Still from all fraud being free These keepe their course vnknowne Whom it would shame if shewn VVho not from worth digresse T' vse sleights that feare imparts Doe shew heroicke hearts The which would rather farre An open hate professe Then secretly suppresse Honor scornes fearefull artes But those that doe vs leade As for dissembling made Euen though that they intend Amongst themselues t' haue warre Seeme in no sort to iarre But friendship do pretend Not like their Lord that 's dead That trusting to his worthy Still what hee meant spake forth The great men not for nought Do seeke the peoples loue And them their deeds t' approue Do labor still t' allure But Perdiccas it 's thought Too sparingly hath sought Our mindes towards him to moue As one that still conceits Hee may command the fates His pride so great is growne That none can it indure Yet stands his state vnsure Since odious to his owne He must b' at last ore-throwne Whose humour each man hates Pride doth her followers all Lead headlong to a fall ACT. IIII. SCENE I. Antigonus Eumenes TOugh stormie discord and tumultuous warres Doe fire the minds of men with flames of rage That hauing hautie thoughts as heauen hath starres Their indignation nothing can asswage Yet loe amongst the souldiers wauing bowres The Heraulds cryes whiles calmes the trumpets sounds And peace dare inter-pose her vnarm'd powres To limit for a time Bellonaes bounds And whilst of furie they suspend th' effects The seeming-friended foes haue conference whiles And each shewes th' other what his soule affects A shadow of the blisse that Mars exiles Thus men magnanimous amidst the field Dare to th' assurance of their enemies trust And loathing what disloyaltie doth yield Not violate their vowes nor proue vniust Though Loue be past yet Truth should still remaine I vertuous partes euen in my foes applaud A gallant mind doth greater glorie gaine To die with honor than to liue by fraude And why Eumenes as mistrusting me Else standing on your reputation long Did you disdaine to come as all men see T' a greater than yourselfe and t 'one more strong Eu. Thogh we not come to plead our birthright here Let him but warriors take not so their place In whom best signes of noblenesse appeere Be thought extracted of the noblest race Most noble he that still by vertue striues To leaue his name in minds of men engrau'd And to his of-spring greater glorie giues Than of his ancestors he hath receiu'd Erst we by birth in warre not marshalld stoode As at the table vpon Iuorie beds A souldiers worth consists not in his blood But in the blood of th' enemies that he sheds What euer others of my linage try I am Eumenes and I scorne t'
without appearance do procure The most respected place where greatnes stayes And some whose states seem'd once t' all eyes secure Thrown from their fortunes height lose glorious bayes My father lo t' attaine th' imperiall place March'd through impossibilities of late And greater then the greatest for a space Was Monarch of the Macedonian state But I his sonne that as some would suppose Might keep with ease that which he got with paine Can by no meanes my restles thoughts repose Such raging tyrants ouer my fancies raigne Lisim And yet I thinke you haue an easie part To whom your father did his state resigne For it may make you smile that made him smart Some presse the grape and others drinke the wine Cass I le not beleeue that euer any ill Was bred for me within my fathers breast Since children must suppose their parents will Though seeming bad still purposde for the best And yet my fathers ghost must pardon me Though when from vs he minded to remoue I thinke the tenor of his last decree Shew lacke of iudgement or at least of loue For what base course had euer bin begun To make me seeme vnworthy of his place That he preferr'd a stranger to his sonne And sought t' obscure the glory of his race Thus since in such a sort he did neglect The sonne that should his name from death exempt As dis-regarded for some great defect All other men may haue me in contempt But ere his age expirde th' expected date He saw my browes with Laurell boughes arrai'd And spi'd my skill in warre and wit in state Which grew as much as th' other mans decai'd Nor can my courage so be brought to bow But Polispercon shall experience soone That in my fathers wil1 I will allow Not what he did but what he should haue done And since by him high dignities were wonne I mind to prosecute what he began For such a fathers greatnesse from his sonne Takes the securitie of a priuate man Lo Polispercon by our powre repeld From Macedonie hath retirde dismaide And for the feare of vs hath bin compeld T' engage his glory for anothers ayde Let him not thinke the shaddow of the kings Can match my powre with these his borrow'd bands For his faint flight that 's fram'd with others wings Will neuer beare him from Cassanders hands And though Olimpias countnanc'd once his cause As from Epirus brought to ruine mee Now of her owne mishap she most must pause Since brought by vs of late t' a low degree Lisim And yet Olimpias had a good successe When first she touch'd the Macedonian bounds Whilst Polispercon prowdly did represse All those that durst resist with words or wounds Though Philip and Euridice his Queene T' encounter with their troupes in time arriu'de Yet when the Macedonians had her seene As their owne Queene to honor her they striu'de And haplesse Philip being constrainde to yield There for a kings did take a captiues state And his wretch'd mate though flying from the field Was follow'd by their forces and her fate Then thus her husband and her selfe gaue place Whose browes of late th' imperiall badge had borne But then throwne downe in th' Ocean of disgrace A prey t' a womans pride the butt of scorne Cass Those were the meanes that did them first entrap But haue you heard how after they were thrall To plague the world with honour and mis-hap Th' enragde Olimpias tyrranizde ouer all Lisi Some doubtfull rumours did frequent ech eare Such as rash fame confus'dly durst vnfould But yet conceald by fauor or for feare The certaintie to vs hath not bin tolde Cass When thus the famish'd tygresse did surprise Those miserable soules as in a dreame Her heart at first seemde scarse to trust her eyes She surfetted her sight so with their shame But when she sawe by reason of her powre That she might safely let her rage burst out She causde about them both to build a towre Within whose walles they scarce could turne about And in that dungeon as entomb'd they stood With high disgrace t' asswage more high disdaines Farre from all comfort whilst a litle foode Their life prolong'd but to prolong their paines But Pittie for th' vnfortunate contendes As Enuy still prosperitie controules The Macedonians doubtfull of their ends Would sometime murmure for those marterd soules The peoples grudge Olimpias did perceiue And to preuent what fury might effect She strait resolu'd lifes remnant to bereaue From weakned powres that did no lesse exspect And when some barbarous Thracians bent for blood As she appointed in th' excesse of spight Had murdred Philip and his Queene imbrude With purple streames that spoil'd her husbands spright She sent to her whose soule in griefe did sinke As messengers of death t' assault her breast A sword a cord and an empoison'd drinke A Tirants presents yet a wretches best Those when the Queene perceiu'd vnmou'd she spake As one that had imbrac'd some great reliefe Fit gifts for her to giue for me to take Since she exceeds in hate and I in griefe And tell the tirant that I gladly die That th' irritated gods t' auenge my death May thunder foorth that iudgement which I spie With blood must choke that bloodie womans breath Then looking on her Lord that there lay slaine Once partner or his ioy then of his woe Whilst that his roses did her lillies staine She kist his wounds as taking leaue to goe And lest her resolution were betraide Her snowie necke not vsde with such a chaine She binding with her belt di'd vndismaide And if she sighd she sighd but for disdaine Lisim This barbarous act my breast with griefe doth sting Can spight so much transport the meekest kinder And yet in th' earth ther 's no more cruell thing Then mallice raging in a womans minde Cass But yet this sacrifice could not asswage The boiling thoughts of her vnbounded will For entring thus she rioted in rage As dogges that once get blood would alwayes kill Ech light occasion kindling still her wrath The soueraigntie she shamefully abusde And put my brother Nicanor to death Though for no crime condemn'd no not accusde Yea more her hate extended toward the dead Whose crueltie no flood of blood confin'd The monument that t' Iolas was made She raz'd and rent his ashes with the wind To be Cassanders friend was such a crime As none could scape that euer fauour'd me Thus huge disorders did abound a time Where nothing lawfull is all things are free Then when I heard of this outragious pride That made my natiue soyle contemn'd to be I those indignities could not abide The shame whereof redounded most to me So that at last mou'd by my countries care As much as by particular respects I with great speed an armie did prepare To punish or preuent the like effects But when I was to Macedonie comd To fortifie a towne she did dissigne Which by my valour quickly was ore-comd Whilst famine
forcde the fortresse to resigne Then pride vnto necessitie gaue place Her lofty courage was constraind to bow So that she rests depending on our grace To be disposde as it shall please vs now Lisim This chance the world to wonder may invite Lo there a Queene that had though now distressde The rarest fortune and the greatest spirite That euer anie of her sex possessd The widow'd Empresse that first warrde with th' Indes Nor stout Tomiris though most gallant seene Nor all th' Amazons borne with martiall mindes Had neuer stouter stomakes then this Queene Her liues first progresse did but prooue too sweet Whom all th' earths treasures once concurr'd to blesse But now sad soule trod vnder fortunes feete Her miserie no creature can expresse Cass Those were but fortunes gifts that made her great All was without her-selfe that made her praisde Her imperfections did but staine the state To which anothers merits had her raisde For when she first with famous Philip match'd Then her behauior was not free from blame But euen though she with Argos eyes was watch'd As t' was supposde she forfeited her fame At least her husband fear'd for some disgrace From her himselfe had publikly deuorc'd And entertain'd another in her place Which for the time to suffer she was forc'd Yet this in th' end did his distruction breede For which her spightfull thoughts had labour'd long She was acquainted with Pausanias deede And spurr'd him to performe th' intended wrong She sought that by such meanes t'ambitious will Her husbands murder might enlarge the raines Whilst with authoritie she did all th' ill Of which too late th' afflicted realme complaines Long suffred for the greatnesse of her sonne She plaid the tirant safely as she pleasde But by the course that I haue else begunne I hope those whom she plagu'd shall now b' appeasde Lisim Yet of Olimpias though abasde by you The sight her sonne and husband wil reuiue And so may make the Macedonians now For her reliefe strange courses to contriue Of those whose greatnesse doth regard extort Th' afflictions must entender euerie minde And still th' affections of the vulgar sort Are head-long led too cruell or too kind Cass O but I can precipitate her fall Euen by the meanes that might support her most For pittie shall spoile pittie whilst they all Sigh for their friends that through her pride was lost Lisim As those to whom all other things are free Must haue their life and raigne both of one date So priuate men that passe their owne degree Can hardly turne to take their former state Thus you commit your fortune to the fates None can retire that enters in such things For those that ought attempt against great states Must die as traitors or else liue as kings And though you would but some disorders stay You deale with those that borne not to be thrall As torrents beare away what stoppes their way And either must do nothing or doe all No keepe not such to sigh when they are gone That scorne to take the thing that they should giue For all must die that dare but touch a throne Those that might take their life they must not liue Cas Since in this course that I can once but erre I shall be sure ere she herselfe withdraw Lis And yet what suretie can you haue of her Can Lawes binde them that are aboue the Law It 's hard t' establish concord twixt the two Where th' one must hate and th' other alwayes feare Cas O but I minde to vse the matter so That both from hence shall further strife forbeare Lis What can hir freedome and your peace procure Cas Death both can make hir free and make me sure Lis And would you do such euill to shed her blood Cas I t'others euill so that it do me good Lis The Macedonians will abhorre this wrong Cas And yet obey me if be most strong Lis But who shal haue the realme amidst those broils Cas Who euer winnes the field must keep the spoils Lis So to possesse the realme you haue no right Cas But I haue more so long as I haue might Lis This state doth to it selfe an heire afford Cas All kingdomes rights are pleaded by the sword Lis The people all will grudge against your state Cas But dare not stirre whilst feare exceeds their hate Lis And in their hearts they will detest you too Cas Think what they wil that haue not powre to do Lis What though Olympias in a little space May lose her powre together with her breath Yet there remaines another of her race That is by nature bound t' auenge her death Cas Th' impetuous streames of a tempestuous flood That drownes all th' olde not yeeldes the yong reliefe What foole that of his foes victorious stoode Would spoyle an armie and yet spare the chiefe No since I must my selfe with murder staine I le by the rootes raze all the royall race So that no powre shall spring from thence againe T' oregrow my greatnesse and my plants displace The strength hath left great Alexanders arme Whose mothers fatall threed is now neere spunne And I haue meanes to keepe my selfe from harme Both of Roxane and her tender sonne But since this course may serue our states t' aduance By which a ground for great designes is lay de I must intreate you now what euer chance To lend your approbation though not ayde Lis I le be your friend yet wish you would refraine From doing this but ere you be vndone Since that I by your guiltinesse may gaine I le suffer that which I would not haue done Exeunt Olimpias alone CAn I be she whom all the world admirde As being the happiest Queene that raignd below Whom all the planets haue to plague conspirde Of fickle fortunes course th' effects to show No t' is not I nought could my course controule Nor force me thus t' attend anothers will Since I despise this prison of my soule Where it disdains t' abide in bondage still Ah whilst I did on th' outward pomp rely My state the powre of higher powres did tempt My state that once bred reuerence and enuie Though now it breede but pittie and contempt Olimpias once high as Olimpius stoode The wife of Philip Alexanders mother That matcht Alcides and Achilles blood T' ingender one more worth than both together Am I the woman whose maiestike state Seemde once so happy to deceiu'd conceits I I am she and neuer yet more great Than at this present in despight of Fates A double bondage long did burden me I to my selfe my selfe to fortune thrall But now captiuitie hath set me free That could not rise till first I had a fall The sprite that 's with prosperitie benum'd Scarse like it selfe can to the world appeare When Vertue hath Aduersitie ore'com'd Then shines true greatnes in her highest spheare Our glory now I see consists no more Without our-selues in eie-betraying showes But in the breasts
one We by their meanes anothers loue obtaine But crueltie with which none can comport Makes th' author hated when the deede is gone Oft euen by those whom it did most support As that which alienates men from kinde And as humanitie the minde inchants So sauage soules that from the same resraine More fierce than fiercest beasts are lou'd of none With barbarous beasts one with lesse danger hants Than with the man whose mind all mercie wants Yet though the mind of man as strong and rude Be ranish'd whiles with violent desire And must if sir'd with rage be quench with blood How can this tender sex whose glorie stoode In hauing hearts iuclinde to pittie still Delight it selfe by any barbarous deede For Nature seemes in this t' haue vsde her skill In making womens mindes though weake entire That weakenesse might loue and deuotion breede To which their thoughts if pure might best aspire As aptest for th' impression of all good But from the best to worst all things do weare Since cruelties from feeble mindes proceed In breasts where courage failes spite shame and feare Make enuie hate and rigour rule to beare Our Queene Olimpias that was once so great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaging Philip and his Ladie of late Lo now being brought to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gaue And it 's good reason that it should be so Such measure as we giue we must receiue Whilst on a throne she did superblie sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As but being vanquish'd by her powre and wit Not mindefull of th' ineuitable fate O th' Imortalls that command aboue Of euery state in hand the rudder haue And as they lie can make vs stay or goe The griefe of others should vs greatly mooue As those that sometime may like fortune prooue But as experience with rare proofes hath showne Do looke on others we haue Linx his eyes Whilst we would haue their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can neuer marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regarde doe dim our sight Why should we be puffde vp by a'cnemies fall Since what the day doth on another light The same the morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant ball Do liue enuiron'd with th' all-circkling skies Haue many meanes whereby to be ore-throwne And why should dying wordlings swolne with wroth So tyrranize ouer an afflicted wight Since miseries are common vnto all Let none be prowd that drawes a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few still till their death ACT. V. SCENE I. Aristotle Phocion LOng haue I now invr'd th' eyes of my minde On natures labors curiously to looke And of all creatures finding foorth the kinde Strange wonders read in th' vniuersall booke I marke the world hy contraries maintainde Whose harmonie doth most subsist by strife Whilst of all things within the same containde The death of one still giues another life But as all things are subiect vnto change That partners are of th' elementall powres So rould about with reuolutions strange The state of man rests constant but few howres For what doth fame more frequently report Then of our sodaine rising and our falls I thinke the world is but a tennis-court Where men are tossde by fortune as her balls Phoc. And neuer any age shewde more than this The wauering state of soule-ennobled wights That soare too high to seaze on th' ayrie blisse Whilst lowest falles attend the highest flights The matchlesse Monarch that was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortalitie attaines Hath not from death the adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And these braue bands that furnisht fame with bâ—eath Whilst all the world their valorous deedes did spie Rest now confounded since their soueraignes death Like Poliphemus hauing lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood That tooke their life out of a monster dead Whiles ech of them pursues for others blood Since the great Drag on s death that was their head Ari. So change all things that subiect are t' our sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next night comes darknes and next darknesse light This neuer changing change transcends our wit Thus pouertie and riches sickenesse health Both honour and dishonor life and death Do so depend on other that by stealth All goe and come as th' accidents of breath T'ech worldly state the heauens a height appoint Where when it once arriues it must descend And all perfections haue a fatall point At which excellencie it selfe must end But as all those that walke on th' earth are crossde With alterations happning oft and strange The greatest states with greatest stormes are tossde And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation now As gathring credit out of ancient scroules soules No I haue liu'd at court and I know how Ther 's nought on th' earth more vex'd then great mens soules Thral'd to the tirant honor whilst they mone Their plaints to subiects eares asham'd t' empart They must beare all the weight of woes alone Where others of their griefe lend friends a part Their rising vs aboue to such a height Which seems their best is worst whilst since being lords They neuer heare the truth that comes to light When franke societie speaks naked words Whilst sadnesse whiles seemes maiestie time tells How deere they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some faine three furies but in all the hells And ther 's three thousand in one great mans breast Phoc. I thinke all monarchies are like the Moone Which whiles eclipsd whiles vnder cloud whiles cleare Growes by degrees and is when full vndone Yet Aeson like renew'd doth re-appeare For so the first but smal begin to shine And when they once their spherick forme obtaine Do then begin to languish and decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Th' Assyrians once made many a nation bow Then next all powre was in the Persians hand And lo the Macedonians monarchs now Amongst themselues diuided cannot stand Arist A secret fate alternantly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs To th' end that some may liue some must be dead Each Element anothers strength deuours Th' ayre to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The water striues to drowne all th' earth with showres Which it by vapours vomites out againe Thus with a gordian knot together bound All things are made vn-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound And norhing in one state doth long remaine But nought in th' earth more dangerously standes Than soueraigntie that 's rated at such worth Which like the stormie deities blustring bandes Doth flie from East to West from South to North. Ph. A long experience now makes this noght strange Though mightie states whose reines one onely leades Be whiles distracted and constrain'd to change As too
diuine And haue made th' earth to furnish all his needes Lest downe-weigh'd cares might make his thoughts decline So that he hath a meanes to raise his flight If wing'd with Vertue and may mounting hie Aspire t' approach to the celestiall light And deifie himselfe before he die Yet doth he strait forgoe that glorious way To toile for things that th' earth vnforc'd affords The which his wants first fram'd were to defray But by himselfe are of his life made Lords O how vnworthie of the worth of man Are many labors that delight him most Since that corruption boldly first began To make men nourish vice at vertues cost And now what hath great Alexander gain'd By endlesse labours and excessiue cares Of whom loe now it 's onely said he raign'd But death vnto himselfe worse to his heires Lo for the guiltlesse blood that he hath spill'd The partners of his conquests doe beginne To die by the same swords by which they kill'd And all his of-spring expiates his sinne Pho. Such is the reuolution of all things The wheele of Fortune still must slippery proue And chiefly when it burdend is with kings Whose states as weightiest most must make it moue Yet Alexander I must say was blest That ouer the worlde a victor alwaies rang'd And hauing ended all his warres in rest Did die in time before his fortune changde And for his fauour which I oft did trie Whilst earnestly he labord me t' aduaunce Whilst earnestly he labord me t' aduaunce I 'm sorie that himselfe so soone did die And that his of-spring hath so hard a chance His successours haue set all Greece on fire Of which I feare to perish by some sparke For Polipercon doth my death conspire And who can scape that 's made a great mans marker But for my countries cause I le giue my blood Whilst safely praisde all follow vertue can But when with danger threatned to doe good That 's onelie worthy of a worthy man Nor do I tender so this puffe of breath But I could be contented it t' expell A minde that is resolu'd triumphs ouer death He hath liu'd long enough that hath liu'd well ACT. V. SCINE II. Cassander Lysimachus Ptolomie Seleucus I Doubt not now great heroes but ye all What euer miscontentment ye pretend Doe rest well pleasde since those by me made thrall That might haue made you end haue made an end Loathe not the meanes if yee allow th' effect For though by this I haue a realme obtain'd It yeelds you more whose course none can suspect I 'm onely guiltie and ye all haue gain'd Yet to pursue my life they first beganne For my defence this last refuge I prou'd Nought than himselfe is neerer vnto man All men with their owne dangers are most mou'd And had not prowd Olimpias dide in time By offring vp her bloud to worke my peace Then mine had beene the harme and hers the crime I but preuented her a little space And if her of-spring had suruiu'd her death Whose rising could not but procure our fall Ye now that nought but soueraignty do breathe Had breath'd obedience or not breath'd at all Lis You from a dangerous yoke haue vs relieu'd Which I suspect we had experienc'd soone And why then should we labour to seeme grieu'd At that thing done which we wish not vndone No since that all for soueraignety doe striue And haue once tasted what it is to raigne There 's none of vs but rather die than liue T' embrace a subiects seruile state againe And though perchance with Alexanders sonne If heire both of his fathers worth and state We might haue most respected places wonne As speciall pillars of the Princes seate Yet though more great than others as before It would haue grieu'd vs lesse then one to fall The fall from first to second grieues one more Then from the second to the last of all Our old renowne to vs had ruine brought And would haue made vs odious to remaine It 's dangerous for a subiect to be thought One that desires or yet deserues to raigne When any tempest threatned had his throne He would haue sought assurance at our cost For when that iealousie hath seizd on one The greatest vertues are suspected most Yea though we could to quite our state consent Vs from suspition nought but death could purge Still greatnesse must turmoile or then torment If borne a burden if laide downe a scourge Ptol. But When we haue within bur bosome weigh'd The ruine of all Alexanders race Whom without blushing we might haue obey'd By right succeeding in our soueraignes place How can our soules but highly be asham'd That one inferiour both to them and vs Doth seeke by wrong that which by right they claim'd And by their orethrow would b' exalted thus Nor neede I more as in suspence remaine To maske my meaning with ambiguous wordes No no our words may as his deedes be plaine Which fame and without whispring now records Ye heare how that Antigonus of late Whose thoughts wing'd with ambition soare too high Doth striue aboue vs all t' aduaunce his state And on his former fortune doth relie Since to his hands Eumenes was betraide Loe quite transported by prepostrous pride As if in nought addicted now t' our aide He hath laide all regarde of vs aside Lis Thus Time the truth of all things doth proclame Man is a craftie creature hard to know That can a face for euery fortune frame No trust in mortalles nor no faith below Whiles as our owne particulars doe moue We what we wish for most seeme to mislike And oft of others doe the course disproue Whilst we want nought but meanes to doe the like Then whilst Perdiccas did attempt before To make the rest that were his equalls thrall Who than Antigonus detested more Th' ambitious minde of one that would haue all But since Perdiccas and his faction fell Whom he as traitours to the state pursude He in his place succeeding to rebell Hath what he seemde t' vndo againe renude And yet I many a time haue musde of this How from the world he did Eumenes send Sel. How But by treason as his custome is False at the first and cruell at the end Lys I know that after diuers doubtful fights He hath orethrowne Eumenes at the last But by what stratagems or treacherous slights I would be glad to heare how all hath past Sel. Antigonus was at the first afraide To match Eumenes by plaine force in fight And the refuge that feare affordes assaide For valour franke bent t' vse some wary sleight Amongst Eumenes troupes their mindes to proue He scattred letters with allurements stor'd By promisde treasures and protested loue To moue some one that might betray his Lord. But he being wise his troupes in time aduisde To cleare their vertue by their enemies vice And gaue them thankes that would not be entisde To sell their faith at such a bloodie price Then saide that th' Author
of those scroules was he That when they spide such practises againe They still would take them alwayes but to be Their Captaines triall not their enemies traine Thus by the means that should haue him entrap'd His aduersarie did deluded stay For both he from the present danger scap'd And to preuent the like preparde a way Then when this traiterous pollicie had fail'd And that there had some doubtfull conflicts past Antigonus that had at one preuail'd As hauing had some vantage at the last He with Eumenes did procure to speake And as t 'one vanquish'd offred him good-will But he whose minde could not be brought to breake Would neuer talke but as t' his eâ—uall still For when a band betweene them made did beare That he t' Antigonus should help impart He did reforme that forme and would first sweare With Alexanders of-spring to take part Thus where they his submission did attend Imperiously conditions he imposde So that there after to procure his end Still th' other by all meanes his mind disposde And shortly of his bands a vaine debate For his confusion fit occasion brought Still as small things by concord doe growe great By discord great things are reduc'd to nought T' Eumenes whilst he fortunately liu'd That th'haugh tie Agiraspides gaue place With him for state two of their captaines striu'd And would not his authoritie embrace Such was that spite of theirs to haue him spoild That though of valour he rare wonders prou'd And oft by force Antigonus had foild Yet from their minde it could not be remou'd For being by them allurde all th' other bandes To get some baggage that they lost againe Did giue their captaine bound to th' enemies handes So darkening all their glorie by one staine And though Eumenes trusting to new hopes By flying labour'd a reliefe t' haue found He was preuented by his traitrous troupes And like to some base fugitiue was bound Scarse could his stormie stomacke bent to breake Daigne then t' entreate those that had him betraide Yet hauing hardly purchasde leaue to speake He stretcht them forth his fetterd hands and saide Loe heere th' apparrell that your Generall weares Since with your faith his libertie was lost Yet he those bands not giuen by th' enemie beares But by his owne in whom he trusted most And must he thus be led that should you leade Is this the triumph that I should receiue For all my victories thus to be made Of captaine captiue of a conquerour slaue How oft my souldiers haue ye all of late To me by solemne oathes sworne to be true But it becomes not one in a'abiect state With loftie wordes his Maisters to pursue Nor craue I further fauour at this howre Then strait to bathe your weapons in my breast Let not my life be in mine enemies powre Loe all that your commaunder doth request 〈◊〉 Antigonus doth take no care 〈◊〉 get my body so he get my head Aâ—d he regardes not neither when nor where No in what sort I die so I be dead But if through horrour of so vile a deede Your eies looke downe your haire erected stands Which in your mindes this much remorce doth breede That with your hearts ye will not staine your handes Then as your captaine since not force I may I le as your friend entreate that now in time I may but haue a sword my selfe to slay So you t' excuse whilst partner of your crime But when he sawe that words could not asswage Their barb'rous thoughts that nothing could controule Then hauing turn'd his courage all in rage He thus flam'd forth the furie of his soule O damned rascalls that haue lost all faith Whom neither duetie nor yet merite bindes How oft was Alexander moud to wrath By those your mutinous and malitious mindes And O what could I at those hands attend That yet were smoaking with Perdiccas bloud Of those that by like treason did intend With old Antipaters t' haue beene imbrude Heauen thunder on you from th' aetheriall rounds And make you liue a'abominable band Base vagabonds barr'd from your natiue bounds Then die detested in a barbarous land And as ye haue the world with murder filld So may your bloud by the same swords be shed By which ye haue moe of your captaines kill'd Than of your foes from whom like beasts yee fled But neither courteous nor outragious wordes Could change his souldiers from their first intent That forward led their captaine chain'd with cordes A sacrifice prepar'd for th' enemies tent Where being arriude to th' end he soone might end He ask'd what stayd Antigonus to go By setting of him free to winne a friend Or by his death to rid him of a foe And straight Antigonus did haste his fall By this great magnanimitie not moou'd And th' Agiraspides dispersde ouer all As murderers murder from the world remou'd Thus oft haue traitors bin dispatchde by time By those whom their vpbraiding looks dismay For the remembrance thus of th' Authors crime Can but by th' Actors death be wip'd away Now claimes Antigonus when fame doth feast In ranke aboue his soueraignes selfe to sit For Alexander did subdue all th' east And he hath conquerd them that conquer'd it Cass No doubt since he that great aduantage wan He hath within himselfe high things designde For whilst prosperitie transports a man Nought seemes difficult to th' ambitious mind Seleuc. Of those in whom he did suspect a spirit Whose courage seru'd his courses to resist He hath himselfe by diuers meanes made quite In others wreakes his saftie doth consist Thus martiall Pithon that no danger sparde Whom Alexander held in high account Did at the last receiue a hard reward For helping him Eumenes to surmount His spirit t' attemp and powre fit to performe Made iealousie Antigonus torment And yet he fain'd to loue him for the forme Till that his court he moou'de him to frequent Where whilst he did mistrusting nought abide He publikely in all the peoples sight Though seeming iustly damn'd iniustly di'de No viler wrong then wrong that lookes like right Thus diuers gouernours within short space Their gouernment or then their life haue lost And others are preferd vnto their place That did depend vpon his fauour most Oft likewise me he labour'd to surprise And pollicie was vsde t' haue me ore-throwne But I whom Pithons danger had made wise Learn'd by his ruine to preuent mine owne To saue my life abandon'd is my state And I haue fled with danger as ye see That you may know how that man doth grow great Whose pride may plague you all as well as me Cass Then let vs be resolu'd what course t' intend Lest out of time being wise we rue too late Lisim It 's better to pursue then to defend Ptol. It 's good to quench a fire ere it grow great Cass Then let vs send t' Antigonus in haste To redemand th' vsurped bounds againe Since in this warre we did our treasures waste We
brasen breasts all ruth was barr'd They did conclude their Queen behou'd to die Cho. Durst subiects damne their soueraigne and not heard So still may cloudes obscure the worlds bright eye Nun. Yet did Cassander put all sleights t' assay A maske of pittie on a cruell minde And offred her a ship to flye away As if to death against his will assign'de Nor Was this course for her deliuerance fram'd But onely as by chance that she might drowne So for her death that he might not be blam'd But onely Neptune that had throwne her downe Yet she a princesse of a mightie spright Whose loftie courage nothing could ore-come Said ere she scap'd by such a shamefull flight That she would heare the Macedonians doome But when Cassanders counsel was contem'nd Lest that the multitude had chang'd their mind When they remembred whom they had condemn'd And warily weigh'd what rashly they design'd To rid her soone from paine and him from feare He sent some bands from pittie most estrang'd Yet she gainst fortune did a banner beare And not her heart no not her count'nance chang'd She constant still though mon'd would neuer mone Whose stately gesture scorn'd their foule attempt And did vnite her vertues all in one To grace disgrace and glorifie contempt She on two Ladies shoulders lean'd her armes And with a Maiestie did march towards death Like Alexander once amidst th' alarmes As if in triumph bent t' abandon breath The height of vertue admiration brings At this great magnanimitie amaz'd As spying th' Image of their auncieat kings Or then some goddesse all the souldiers gaz'd But ah some bosted by the tirant striu'd To spoile vnnaturall natures fairest frame And th' Alabaster balles betweene they driu'd Th' vnwilling swords that strait grew red for shame Then she in worth that would her selfe excell Would neither word nor teare nor sigh forth send But spread her garments ouer her whilst she fell As iealous of her honour still to th' end Cho. O strange barbaritie most monstrous deed Could men a woman subiects kill their Queene And could her fortune past no pitie breeds Who euer gaue the wound hath not her seene The ougly Authors of those odious euils Fear'd for deserued plagues must still be sad His breast t' a hell his thoughts all turn'd to deuils Through horror of himself must make him mad Nun. And yet the plague of these detested times Hath wrought more mischiefe t' aggrauate our grones Ch. No end in sinne crimes are maintain'd by crimes Who fall in th' Ocean touch the bottome once The path of honor hath but narrow bounds On which who steps attentiue must remaine It 's raisde so hie aboue the vulgar grounds That who thence fall can neuer rise againe Nu. Thus now Cassander since he cannot winne True reputation but liues tainted stil Imbarkt in mischiefe sailes the depths of sinne So if not lou'd as good yet feard as ill Though by his meanes his ruthlesse eies haue seene Fates as it were from Fortunes bosome rend His King by poison by the sword his Queene In wickednes t' exceede himselfe in th' end He prospring in impietie grew prowd And murdred both his maisters sonne and wife Thus he that all the world by birthright ow'd Could hold no part of it no not his life Yet could Roxanes death not ease his minde Nor her yong sonne too soone made Plutoes guest But bent t' vndoe all Alexanders kinde That to reuenge the rest there might none rest By treason he as all his deedes are done Causde Hercules his brothers steppes to trace That was great Alexanders bastard sonne And th' onelie remnant of that great mans race Lo thus Cassander th' enemie to all good Whose soule so much for Macedonie longs Hath to the Scepter swimd through seas of blood Yet O weake right that 's builded but on wrongs Chor. O how ambition doth abuse the great That with enough not pleasde still striue for more Loe how our Soueraigne seemde to raise his state Yet made it but to fall whilst staru'd with store And since his trophees reard in seuerall fieldes Both him and his haue to confusion brought Then what is all the good that greatnes yieldes Which makes it selfe seeme much to be made nought Thus though the mountaines make a mighty show They are but barren heapes borne vp aloft Where plaines are pleasant still though they lie lowe And are most fertile too though troad on oft Greatnesse is like a cloude in th' ayrie bounds Which th' earths base vapours haue congeald aboue It brawles with Vulcan thundring forth huge sounds feare Yet melts and falls there whence it first did moue Phi. Since that worlds conq'ror then whilst free from Weigh'd with his greatnes downe so soone was dead What makes each of his captaines striue to beare The diademe that crusht so strong a head O when my minde is rauisht through the starres To search the secret secrets of the fates What treasons murders mutinies and warres Are threatning once t' orethrow th' vsurped seates And false Cassander that betraid his Lord And spoild the princely race in mischiefe chiefe A traitor both of heauen and earth abhorrd Shall liue but with disgrace and die with griefe His sonnes in wickednes himselfe t' exceede Shall make the woman die that made them liue Then when being drunk with bloud to death shal bleed And none of theirs their funeralls shall suruiue Then when ambition should be coold by age Lysimachus shall by Seleucus die Nor shall Seleucus long enioy the stage But by like violence shall breathlesse lie And subtil Ptolomies degenerd race Long onely famous for infamous things Shall end and once to th' enemies pride giue place Whilst a lasciuious Queene confusion brings Antigonus shall be in battell killd His sonne a captiue perish with disgrace And after that it Greece with blood hath filld In end destruction doth attend that race The last in powre though of their line not bred A niggard and a dastard beaten downe Shall through a strangers towne a captiue led bound of the Macedonians th' old renowne Chorus WHat damned furies thus tosse mortals minds With such a violent desire to raigne That neither honor friendship dutie blood Nor yet no band so sacred is as bindes Th' ambitious thoughts that would a kingdome gaine But all is buried in blacke Laethes flood That may the course of soueraigntie restraine Which from the breast doth all respects repell And like a torrent cannot be gainstoode Yea many would a Scepter so t' obtaine In spite of all the world and Ioues owne wrath March through the lowest dungeons of the helles And vnderneath a diademe would breathe Though euery moment threatned them with death Yet though such restlesse mindes attaine in th' end The height to which their haughty hearts aspirde They neuer can imbrace th' imagin'd blisse Which their deluded thoughts did apprehend Though by the multitude they be admirde That still to powre do shew themselues submisse Yet by the
soule still further is requirde That should seale vp th' accomplishment of ioy Thus doth a partiall iudgement aime amisse At things that stand without our reach retir'd Which whilst not ours as treasures we define But not the same whilst we the same enioy Some things afarre doe like the Glow-worme shine That lookt to neere haue of that light no signe No charge on th' earth more weighty to discharge Than that which of a kingdome doth dispose O those that manage must the reines of state Till that their ghost b' imbarkt in Charons barge Doe neuer neede t' attend a true repose How hard is it to please each mans conceat When gaining one they must another lose Thus hardly kings themselues caâ— euenly beare Whom if seuere as cruell subiects hate Contempt dare to the milde it selfe oppose In time who spare as niggardes are despisde Men from too franke a minde exactions feare Though in all shapes as Proteus being â—â—sguisde Kings by some scandall alwayes are surprisde Yet one might well with euery thing comport That on th' opinion onely doth depend If further danger follow'd not by deedes But euery monarke loe in many a sort Death doth disguisd in diuers shapes attend Of some by mut'nous swords the life foorth bleedes By vnsuspected poison others end Which whilst they alwayes labour to preuent A thousand deaths within their breasts life breedes Loe this is all for which the great contend Who whilst their pride hemselues and others spoiles With their dominions doe their cares augment And O vaine man that toyles t' abound in toiles Though still the victorie the victor foiles Thus Alexander still himselfe disâ—asde Whilst he t' vndoe his state did wale prepare Which when made most diminisht most remaind Where with his fathers bounds had he bin pleasde He might haue left our crowne in peace t' his heire That by his conquest nought but death hath gaind Yet for no paines a number now doth spare To worke for that by which his wreake was wrought Which though from it they rage to be restraind Would if possest their pleasures but impaire Yet they by hurme of others seeke the thing That by their harme of others will be sought To him and his each of them death would bring That it might once be saide he was a King We may securely sitting on the shore To see the great as tossd on th' Ocean grone Learne by their toiles t' esteeme much of our rest For this doth thousands with affliction store That as th' vnhappiest in the world do mone If they but chaunce to view some few more blest Where if they would but marke how many a one More wretch'd than they in miserie doth liue It would strait calme the most vnquiet breast The cottage whiles is happier than the throne To thinke our owne state good and others ill It could not but a great contentment giueâ— There much consistes in the conceit and will Since t 'vs all things are as we thinke them still FINIS THE TRAGEDIE OF IVLIVS CAESAR By William Alexander Gentleman of the Princes priuie Chamber Carmine dij superi placantur carmine manes LONDON Printed by VALENTINE SIMMES for ED BLOVNT 1607. The Argument AT that time when the Romans trauelled with an vnsatiable ambition to subdue all Nations by whose ouerthrow they could conceaue any exspectation either of glory or profit Caius Iulius Caesar a man of a loftie minde and giuen to attempt great things ascending by seuerall degrees to the Consullship procured a power to warre against the Gaules amongst whom after a number of admirable battels and victories by the approbation of all the world hauing purchased a singular reputation both for his courage and skill in Armes he being long accustomed to command was so drunken with a delight of soueraigntie that disdaining the simplicitie of a priuate life he was so farre from denuding himselfe of the authoritie that he had that altogether transported with a desire of more hee sent to the Senate to haue his gouernment of the Gaules prorogated for fiue years which sute being repugnant to the Lawes as directly tending to tyrranie was by the people publikely repelled By which occasion and some others rising from an aemulation betweene him and Pompey the great pretending a high indignation hee incontinent crossed the Alpes with such forces though few as he had in readinesse and with a great celeritie came to Rome which hee found abandoned by Pompey in whom the Senate had reposed their trust whom shortly after by a memorable battell in the fields of Pharsalia he discomfited and hauing by the ouerthrow of Scipio death of Cato and flight of Pompeys sonnes as it were rooted out all the contrary faction hee returned to Rome and indirectly by the meanes of Antonius laboured to be proclaimed king which hauing rendred him altogether odious Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus Decius Brutus Publius Caâ—ca and diuers others Noble men conspired his death and appo nted a day for the sâ—me at which time notwiâ—hstanding that Caesar was disswaded from going foorth by many monstrous apparitions and ominous presages yet being perswaded by Dâ—cius Brutus Albinus hee went towards the fatall place where the Senate was assembled The Conspirators in like maner had many terrors amongst others Portia the wife of Marcus Brutus although she had insinuated her selfe in her husbands secret by a notable proofe of extraordinary magnanimitie yet on the day dedicated for the execution of their designe through the apprehension of his danger she fainted diuers times whâ—reof Brutus was aduertised yet shrinked not but went forward with his confederats to the appointed place where they accomplished their purpose euery one of them giuing Caesar a wound and me a ground wherevpon to build this present Tragedie The Actors Names IVNO CAESAR ANTONIVS CICERO DECIVS BRVTVS CAIVS CASSIVS MARCVS BRVTVS PORTIA CALPHVRNIA NVNTIVS THE Tragedie of Caesar ACT. I. Iuno THough I a goddesse glance through th' azure round Whilst the eie-feather'd birds my coach do moue And am with radiant starres heauens Empresse crown'd The sister and the wife of thundring Ioue And though I banquet in th' Aetheriall bowres Where Ambrosie and Nectar serues for meate And at the meeting of th' immortall powres Am still aduanc'd vnto the highest seate Yet by those glorious shewes of boundlesse blisse My martred minde can no way be relieu'd Since immortalitie affords but this That I may euer liue being euer grieu'd In vaine vaine mortals seeke for helpe at me With Sacred odours on my Altars throwne What expectation can they haue to see One venge their wrongs that cannot venge her owne Might Pallas once drowne thousands in the seas And metamorphose Diomedes mates And must mine enemies alwayes liue in ease As me to spight appointed by the fates Of all the dying race that liues below With such indignities none could comport As wound my breast whom gods and men do know To be abusde by Ioue in many a sort Though knowne to me from
mou'd By Romans Romans onely may be matcht And I at last haue kindled ciuill warre That from their thoughts which now no reason bounds Not only lawes but Natures lawes doth barre The sonne the sire the brother brother wounds Whilst th'Eaglâ—s are opposde to th' Eagles so O what contentment doth my mind containe No wround is wrong bestow'd each killes a foe What euer side doth lose I alwayes gaine But this my soule exceedingly annoyes All are not subiect to the like mis-hap The warre helps some as others it destroyes And those that hate me most haue still best hap Whilst with their blood their glory thousands spend Ah ones aduauncement aggrauates my woe That vaunts himselfe from Venus to descend As if he claimd by kinde to be my foe I meane the man whose thoughts nought can appease Whilst them too high a blinde ambition bends Whom as her minion Fortune bent to please Her rarest treasures prodigally spends Not onely hath he daunted by the sword The Gaules the Germans and th' Aegyptians now But of all lordes pretends to be made lord That who commaund the world to him may bow Thus dispossessing princes of their thrones Whilst his ambition nothing can asswage That the subiected world in bondage grones The prey of pride the sacrifice of rage Men raile on Ioue and sigh for Saturnes time And to the present still th' Age past preferre Then burden would the gods with euery crime And damne the heauens where only th' earth doth erre Though Ioue as stupid still with Cupid sportes And not the humor of prowd Caesar spies That may if forcing thus the worlds chiefe forts More powrefull than the Titans scale the skies Yet lest hee thrall him too that none free leaues We from the bounds aboue must him repell To brawle with Pluto in th' vmbragious caues There since he will be first made first in hell What with that tyrant I will strait be euen And send his soule to the Tartarian groue For though Ione be not iealous of his heauen Yet Iuno must be iealous of her Ioue And though none in the heauem would do him ill He raise vp some in th' earth to haste his death Yea though both heauen and earth neglect my will Hell can afford me ministers of wrath I le crosse Cocytus and the smoaking lakes To borrow all my brothers damned bandes The Furies arm'd with firebrands and with snakes Shall plant their hell where Rome so stately stands Whilst by my furie Furies furious made Do spare the dead to haue the lilting pin'd O with what ioy will I that armie leade Nought than reuenge more sweet t' a wronged minde I le once make this a memorable age By this high vengeance that I haue conceiu'd But what though thousands die t' appease my rage So Caesar perish let no soule be sau'd Exit Chorus WE should be grieu'd t' offend the gods That holde vs in a ballance still And as they will May weigh vs vp or downe Those that by follie ingender pride And doe deride The terrour of th'eternalls roddes In seas of sinne their soules doe drowne And others but abhorre them as vniust Those that religion want deserue no trust How dare fraile flesh presume to rise Whilst it deserues heauens wrath to proue On th'carth to moue Lest that it op'ning straight Giue death and buriall both at once How dare such ones Looke vp vnto the skies For feare to feele the thunders weight All th' elements th'immortalls will attend And are as prompt to plague as men t' offend None scapes some plague that gods displease Then whilst he Bacchus rites did scorne Was Pentheus torne The Delians high disdaine Made Niobe though turnd t' a stone With teares still mone And Pallas spite t' appease Arrachne weaues loathd webbes in vaine Heauen hath preparde or euer they beginne A fall for pride a punishment for sinne Loe Iuno yet doth still retaine That indignation once conceiu'd For wrong receiu'd From Paris as we finde And for his cause bent to disgrace The Troyan race Doth hold a high disdaine Long laide vp in a loftie minde We should abstaine from irritating those Whose thoughts if wrongd not till reuengde repose Thus those for Paris fond desire That of his pleasures had no part For them must smart Such be the fruites of lust Can heauenly breasts so long time lodge A secret grudge Like mortalls thrall to ire Tilll Iustice whiles doth seeme vniust Of all the furies that afflict the soule Lust and reuenge are har dest to controule The gods giue them but rarely rest That do against their will contend And plagues doe spend That fortunate in nought Their sprites being parted from repose May still expose Th' vpbraiding troubled breast A prey to each tyrannicke thought All selfe-accusing soules no rest can finde VVhat greater torment than a troubled minde Let vs adore th' immortall powres On whose decree of euery thing The State doth hing That farre from barbarous broiles VVe of our life this little space May spend in peace Free from afflictions showres Or at the least from guiltie toiles Let vs of rest the treasure striue t' attaine VVithout the which nought can be had but paine ACT. II. SCENE I. Iulius Caesar Marcus Antonius NOw haue my hopes attain'd th' exspected hauen In spite of partiall enuies poisnous blasts My fortune with my courage hath proou'd euen No monument of miscontentment lasts Those that corriualld me by me orethrowne Did by their falles giue feathers to my flight I rather in some corner liue vnknowne Than shine in glorie and not shine most bright What common is to two rests no morerare No Phaenix is in all the world saue one Grieu'd of my deedes that any claimes a share Would God that I had acted all alone And yet at last I neede to mourne no more For enuie of the Macedonians praise Since I haue equalld all that went before My deedes in number doe exceede my dayes Some earst whose deedes rest registred by fame Did from their conquests glorious titles bring But greatnes to be great must haue my name It 's more to be a Caesar than a King Ant. Those warlike nations that did nations spoile Are by thy legions now t' our laws made thrall What can not vertue doe by time and toile True magnanimitie triumphs ouer all Caesar Th' outragious Gaules that in most monstrous swarmes Went wasting Asia thundring downe all things And marching ouer the Macedonians armes Did insolently make and vnmake kings Those Gaules that hauing the worlds conq'rors foild As if the world might not haue matcht them then Would sacrilegiously haue Delphos spoild And warrd against the gods contemning men Yea those whose auncestors our cittie burn'd The people that the Romans onely fear'd By me Romes nursling matcht and orematchtmurn'd So what they first eclipsd againe they clear'd Then as to subiects hauing giuen decrees I left the Gaules their rash attempts to rue And wounding Neptunes bosome with wing'd trees The world
my friends Ant. Their blood whom I suspect'd should quench all strife Caes So might one doe that lik'd of nought but life An. Still life would be redeemde from dangers forth Caes Not with a ransome then it selfe more worth An. Than life to man what thing more deere succeeds Caes The great contentment that true glory breeds An. Men by all meanes this blast of breath prolong Caes Men should striue to liue well not to liue long And I would spend this momentarie breath To liue by fame for euer after death For I aspire in spight of fates to liue Ant. I feare that some too soone your death contriue Caes Who dare but lodge such thoughts within their mindes Ant. Those that the shadow of your greatnes blindes Caes The best are bound to me by gifts in store Ant. But to their countrey they are bound far more Caes Then loath they me as th' enemie of the state Ant. You as th' vsurper of the same they hate Caes I by huge battels haue enlarg'd their bounds An. By that they think your powre to much abounds Caes Yet I from doing wrong refraine my will Ant. They feare your powre because it may do ill Caes The present state still miscontentment brings To factious mindes affecting matters strange That burdens to themselues irke of all things And so they change regard not what they change In populous townes where many make repaire Whose confluence by conference all things touch They further than their bounds extend their care The idle that doe nothing must thinke much Lo Rome though wasted all with ciuill warres Whilst priuate grudge pretended publike good And that equalitie engendring iarres Did proue too prodigall of Roman blood Yet hauing through huge toyles attain'd to rest That it by yeelding t 'one may banish teares It if constrain'd disdaines t' imbrace the best This word necessitie so woundes the eares And th' insolent with vile seditious words That trembled whilst they heard the trumpets sound Stirre now their tongues as we did then our swords And what Mars sparde make Mercurie confound The people thus in time of peace agree T' abase the greatest still euen in that forme As in calme dayes they doe disbranch the tree That shrowded them of late against a storme But now I look'd for libertie to bost That once my deeds triumph'd had ouer enuie As all darke shadowes doe evanish most Then when the Sunne shines highest in the skie And though their hatred deepely they disguise Yet they conceale not so their soules desires But that their spight rest sparkling through their eies And bosts to burst out once in open fires Ant. Since first great Caesar I discernd thy worth On all thy actions I did still attend And therefore what some whisper I le speake foorth T' admonish freely it becomes a friend Since first men did suspect that you aspire T' a Monarchie the gouernement to change They in their soules your ruine do conspire And their affections farre from you estrange Since chaste Lucretia by prowd Tarquin stain'd Wash'd with her blood the violated bed Whilst by his power supreame Rome was constrain'd All things t' obey that his curst braine had bred This gouernment which some tyrranick call It sounds so odious in the peoples eares As Tyrants vild that they detest them all Whose greatnesse giues them any cause of feares Caes I not affect the title of a king For loue of glory or desire of gaine Nor for respect of any priuate thing But that the state may by my trauels gaine You know Sibillaes bookes that neuer faile In many mindes haue an opinion bred That ouer the Parthians Rome cannot preuaile Till by a soueraigne prince her bands be led For as confusion is the fruit we finde Of those affaires that diuers thoughts dispose So soueraigntie match'd with a gallant mind Breeds reuerence in ones owne feare in his foes And O it greeues me that these steps of ours Haue trod so oft on many a millions neckes Whilst yet the Parthian vilipends our powres And all our victories vnuanquish'd checkes Ah should a Generall of the Romane race Be by Barbarians killd and not reueng'd And should his ensignes signes of our disgrace Rest in the ranke of conquer'd relikes rang'd No no wretch'd Crassus now thy selfe content I le pacifie thy ghost with Parthians spoiles For still my boyling fancies haue bin bent T' ore-match th' vnmatch'd and daunt th' vndaunted soiles Ant. With victories being cloyd will you not then Your saftie once more then new warres respect Caes No though I haue surmounted other men My fancies yet do greater things affect In emulation of my selfe at last Euen enuiouslie I looke on mine owne deedes And bent to make the new surpasse things past Now to my mind old praise no pleasure breeds Ant. The world hath seene thee great man for Romes good In danger oft of many a dangerous shelfe Whilst for her glory thou engag'd thy blood Of others carefull carelesse of thy selfe Caes Though whilst in th' April of my blooming age I from the vulgar rate redeemd my name Some with my deeds did burden youths hot rage And an ambitious appetite of fame Yet since the coldnesse of declining yeares Bosts to congeale the blood that boild of late Whilst else my life the sunne of glory cleares That now of all the world remaine most great I cannot couet that thing which I haue I haue all honour that can be requirde And now as th' only wanted thing would craue To taste the pleasures of a life retyrde But onely now t' aduance the state I striue For O neglecting th' ecchoes of renowne I could content my selfe vnknowne to liue A priuate man with a Plebeian gowne Since Anthonie thus for the state I care And all delights that nature loues disdaine Go and in time the peoples mindes prepare That as the rest I may the title gaine Yet indirectly at the first assay To what their doubtfull mindes do most incline But as without my knowledge that they may All marke your minde and yet not thinke of mine Exeunt ACT. II. SCENE II. Cicero Decius Brutus DId I suruiue th'impetuo us Sillaes rage And in a torrent of destruction stood Whilst tyrants did make Rome a tragicke stage Through a voluptuous appetite of blood Scap'd I confusion in a time so bad Of libertie and honour once to taste That bondage now might make my soule more sad By the remembrance of my fortunes past What though I once when first by same made known From Catilines strange treason did preserue This town that 's still endangerd by her owne Since first the world from equitie did swarue A sparke of that conspiracie remaines Not yet extinguish'd t' haue our state imbroyld That now on Rome flames of confusion raines Thus one was sparde that we might all be spoild O worthy Cato in whose wondrous minde Three rarely matcht things Nature did reueale Wit honestie and courage which designde A cittizen for Platoes common-weale
Whilst curteous Pompey did things as a friend Thou as a wiseman spake and still foretold To what all Caesars deedes would turne in th' end If that his pride were not in time controlde And had we him as wisely thou aduisde Giuen to the Germans whom he had iniur'd We had not now bin thus like slaues despisde To see Romes glorie and our owne obscur'd But yet I may disbending former cares A space comport with that prowd tyrants powres Age giues assurance by my witherd haires That death will seale my suretie in few howres Yet ye whose youth and sprite might haue attaind Those dignities that Caesar hath vndone O ye haue lost as much as he hath gaind Whose rising hopes must be retrench'd so soone Dec. Though innouations at the first seeme strange Yet oft experience approbation brings And if with vpright thoughts we weigh this change On it the safetie of our cittie hings As in the depths dasht with redoubling waues A ship by different mindes rests more imbroilde So was our cittie plag'd with diuerse lawes By th' all-confounding multitude turmoilde As whilst t 'one sickenesse diuerse drugges are vsde Whose powres repugnant in digestion iarre Th' impatient patients fancies rest confusde So did we long distressd with ciuill warre But now great Caesar from tempestuous windes Romes scattred ruines recollects of late A Pilote meete to calme tumultuous mindes A doctor fit for a distemperd state Ci. The state from storms secure by drowning proues Now whilst despaire doth doubtful feares appease He with the life th' infirmitie remoues Thus is the physicke worse than the disease This commonweale as whiles the world did spie Though some prowd sprites in ciuill warres inuolu'd Yet like blacke cloudes that would obscure the skie Their tumid humours sodainely dissolu'd And no disgrace t' our gouernement redounds But to th' ambitious that had it abusde Who had their powre like Caesars wanted bounds Had whilst they rulde a greater rigor vsde There in all partes are people of all kindes And as aduauncde some bad men did abide Of powre their equalls and of better mindes Some alwayes vertuous were to curbe their pride But since that sacred libertie was lost The publike powre t' a priuate vse one turnes And as his lawlesse wayes did alwayes bost The common weale by violence ore-turnes Dec. Though what you burden Caesar with were true Him of all crime Necessitie hath clear'd That was foes force t' eschew forcde to pursue Whilst by contempt t' attempt gret things being cheerd To th' enemies enuie more oblig'd he rests Then t' his owne wit that no such courses scand Till by being barrd from vsing of requests Not lookt for meanes were offred to command All to mount high his haughtie thoughts did tempt True worth disdaines to suffer open wrong And a great courage kindled by contempt Must by reuenge be quencht whilst rage makes strong Cic. O Decius now a wrong accompt you cast Th' intent and not th' euent defines the minde Treade backe the steppes of all his actions past And at the marke he hit all aym'd we finde As by some sprite inspirde prowd Scilla saide That there in Caesar many Marians were And Rome was warn'd in time to be afraide Of the euill-girded youth with smoothe-comb'd haire Then when as still to quietnesse a foe The memorie of Marius he renewd By re-erecting tyrants statues so His thoughts all bent to tyranny were viewd That people-pleaser might haue bin perceiu'd By curteous complements beneath his ranke That lauishing forth gifts the world deceiu'd And to gaine more than his of his proou'd franke Though nought at all indulgent to his wife By prostrated pudicitie disgracde Yet did he saue th' adultrous Clodius life To soothe the multitude whose steppes he tracde Dec. These be the means by which ambition mounts Without most humble when most high within And as it fled from that thing which it hunts Still wasting most when most it mindes to winne Cic. And he that still striu'd tyrannie t' embrace Was thought conioynd with Catilin to bee And had wise Catoes counsell taken place Had with the rest receiu'd his death by me Yet hauing suncke himselfe in some mens soules He with his partiall faction suting oft Did get the consulship which nought controules And matching pride with powre did looke aloft To flatter them that now must flatter him His powre t' aduaunce vnlawfull lawes preuaild And those to crosse that scornd he so should clime He furnisht was with Force where Reason faild But yet because he could not well b' assur'd T' act all alone according to his will To gouerne Fraunce he craftily procurde So to be strengthned with an armie still As Rome first warr'd at home till being made strong She thought her selfe of powre the world t' orecome So Caesar warr'd against strange nations long Till that he thought his might might conquer Rome Then hauing all that force or fate assignes He cause of discontentment did pretend So to dissemble fore-conceiu'd designes One soone may finde a fault that seekes t' offend But when he first in a prodigious dreame His mother seemde incestuously to vse It might haue shewne to his eternall shame How he the bounds that bare him went t' abuse Dec. And yet I thinke auoyding threatned harmes He was constraind t' imbarke in ciuill broiles Did he not couenant to quit his armes As not desirous of his countries spoiles Cic. Durst he with those that had his charge confind Stand to prescribe conditions as their mate Where t' haue attended and obeyd their minde It was his duetie and their due of late What what durst he whom borne t' obey the law The people all did willingly promote The sword which they bad giuen against them draw When it was sharpned first to cut their throat That had not com'd which all our anguish breedes If he vnforcde when as his charge expirde Till that the Senate censurde had his deedes Had from his prouince peaceably retirde No he hath but betraid his natiue towne Those bands by which she did him first preferre T' extend her borders and his owne renowne Those hath he vsde to tyrannize ouer her My passions ah transported as you see With an excessiue loue to my deere soile Haue made my tongue of my hearts-store too free By flaming forth what in my breast doth boile Dec. That Ceasars part might iustly be excusde Loe with the cause alleadgd his course accords Of which th' humanitie that he hath vsde A testimonie to the world affords Though forcde to fight he alwayes had great care To saue our Cittizens as each man knowes And bade his captaines still all Romans spare But on Barbarians bodies spend their blowes Of th' aduersaries after bloudie strife When of the might haue made some captiues smart Not onelie was he liberall of their life But pardond them still to take Pompeys part Euen at th' infortunate Pharsalian field When he securely might haue vsde the sword He both did spare all
th' enemies that would yeeld And them to rents and dignities restord Then when th' Aegyptians so t' obtaine reliefe Brought to his sight pale Pompeys bloodlesse head He testified with teares his inward griefe And gracde his statues after he was dead Those his proceedings might appeare t' approue That he against his will maintain'd this warre And to his countrie beares a tender loue That could comport to reine his rage so farre Cic. Those counterfeited fauors which he shew According to ones custome that aspires Were spent on many as the world might view T' insinuate himselfe in their desires But where he thus spar'd some he spoild ' whole hosts And the Barbarians all to Rome not wrought Such harme as he that of his goodnes boasts Yet her best men hath to confusion brought The great man that of no mishap could pause But still preuaild whilst warring without right Armd for the common weale in a good cause With Caesar did vnfortunately fight From Lesbos fled with his afflicted wife Three base-born grooms can fortune change so soone Stoode to consult vpon great Pompeys life And did what thousands durst not once haue done Then he whose knees had oft beene kissd by kings Most highly happy had he dide in time By one of his owne slaues with abiect things Had his last funeralls framde O monstrous crime T' entombe Romes greatest captaine all alone The Roman that arriu'd with reason said The fatall glory was too great for one And to haue part of that last honour staid The teares bestowd by Caesar on his head Forth from a guiltie minde remorce had throwne Or else he wept to see his enemy dead By any others hands than by his owne Then constant Cato that euen death did scorne The rare arch-tipe of an accomplisht man That liu'd as not t 'himselfe but t' all men borne Moou'd by his tyranny to ruine ranne He iustly whilst more iust himselfe more strong Then Caesar thought that for no Iustice carde And since discouering what he cloakd so long Said right that Caesar and not he was snarde Thus Caesar conquerd all but Catoes minde That would not by a tyrants tollerance breathe But in such sort his famous course confinde Than Caesars life more glorious was his death Those great men thus brought to disastrous ends The authour of their death make me despise That whilst t' vsurpe th' authoritie he tendes By treading downe all good men striues to rise Now made most great by lessening all the great He prowdly doth triumph in Rome ouer Rome And we must seeme t' applaud the present state Whose doubtfull breath depends vpon his doome Yet had I not enlargde my griefes so long To you whom Caesar doth pretend to loue Wer 't nor I know touch'd with the common wrong A iust disdaine all generous mindes must moue Dec. Had Caesar willingly resignd his armes And rendred Rome her libertie at last When as from foes he feard no further harmes But had repaird his iust displeasures past More then for all the loue that 's shewd to me He should haue had an Altar in my breast As worthy for his vertuous decdes to be Feard by the bad and honourd by the best But since though conq'ring all the world by might He to himselfe a slaue would make Rome thrall His benefits are loathsome in my sight And I am grieu'd that he deserues to fall My fancies moue not in so lowe a spheare But I disdaine that one ouer Rome impires Yet it is best that with the time we beare And with our powre proportion our desires Though I dissembled first your minde to trie And tolde what Fame to Caesars praise relates Yet was I pleasde that moe were grieu'd than I All mis-contented men are glad of mates Cic. Since tyrannie all libertie exiles We must our selues no more our selues disguise Then learne to maske a mourning minde with smiles And seeme t' extoll that which we most despise Yet all our deedes not Caesars humor please That since mistrusted once esteemes vs still When dumbe disdaineful flatterers when we praise If plaine presumptuous and in all things ill Yea we whose freedome Caesar now restraines As his attenders all his steppes must trace And know yet not acknowledge his disdaines But still pretend t' haue interest in his grace Though all my thoughts detest him as a foe To honour him a thousand meanes I moue Yet But to saue my selfe and plague him so No hate more harmes than it that lookes like loue His pride that through prepostrous honour swels Hath by the better sort made him abhorrd The gods are iealous and men enuious els To see a mortall man so much adord Dec. Well Cicero let all meanes be entertaind That may imbarke vs in his bosomes depths Till either willingly or then constrain'd He iustly quite what he vniustly keepes Exeunt Chorus This life of ours is like a Rose Which whilst it beauties rare array Doth then enioy the least repose When virgin-like it blush we see Then is' t euery hand the prey And by each wind is blowne away Yea though from violence scap'd free Whilst time triumphs it leads all thralles Yet doth it languish and decay O Whilst the courage hottest boiles And that our life seemes best to be It is with dangers compast still Whilst it each little change appalles The body force without whiles foiles It th' owne distemprature whiles spoiles Of which though none it chance to kill As nature failes the bodie falles Of which saue death nought bounds the toyles What is this moouing tower in which we trust A little winde closd in a cloud of dust And yet some spirits though here being pent In this fraile prisons narrow bounds With what might suffice not content Do alwayes bend their thoughts too hie And aime at all the peopled grounds Then whilst their breasts ambition wounds Though feeding as bent straight to die They build as they might alwayes liue Being famishd for fames empie sounds Of such no end the trauels ends But a beginning giues whereby They may b' imbroild worse then before For whilst they still new hopes contriue Th' exspected good more anguish sends Then the possessde contentment lends Like beasts that taste not but deuoure They swallow much and for more striue Whilst still their hope new hap attends And how can sueh but still themselues annoy That know to conquere but not how t' enioy Since as a ship amidst the depthes Or as an Eagle through the aire Of which their way no impression keepes Most swift when seeming least to moue This breath of which we take such care Doth tosse the bodie euery where That it may hence with haste remoue Life slippes and sleepes alwayes away Then whence and as it came goes bare Whose steps behinde no trace doth leaue Why should heauen-banish'd soules thus loue The cause and bounds of their exile Where they as restlesse strangers stray And with such pain why should they reaue That which they haue
And would to God that I might onely smart So that all others scap'd th' euill that succeeds Then neuer man himselfe from death did free With a more quiet and contented minde Then I would perish if I both could be To Caesar thankefull and t' our countrey kinde But though that great mans grace towards mee enlargde May challenge right in my affections store Yet must the greatest debt be first dischargde I ow him much but to my countrey more This in my breast hath great dissention bred I Caesar loue but yet Romes enemie hate And as Ioue liues I could be mou'd to shed My blood for Caesar Caesars for the state I for my fathers death loathde Pompey long Whilst iust disdaine did boyle within my breast Yet when he warr'd to venge the common wrong I ioynde with him because his cause was best A minde t' vsurpe if Caesar now reueale I will in time precipitate his end Thus being still bent t' aduance the Common-weale I help'd a foe and now must hurt a friend Cass Least of his fauour thou the poyson proue From swallowing of such baites deere friend beware No tyrant trust me can intirely loue Nor none that for himselfe doth only care He by such curtesies doth but intend T' imbase thy vertues vndermine thy minde And thy suspected courage to disbend Yea though with silken bonds he would thee binde This of all tyrants is the common tread To wreake all those in whom most worth he findes Or whilst that terrors tosse his iealous head T' vse subtilties t' amuse the greatest mindes As when we for the Pretorship did striue Then both were held in hope that so deceiu'd We others harmes might studie to contriue Through emulation and disdaine conceiu'd Thus subtill Caesar by such sleights hath toyld To sow dissention that we both may pause Of priuate wrongs and by such means imbroil'd Still courting him neglect the common cause But nought from others must our thoughts estrange That must in time the tyrants course restraine Let other men lament we must reuenge I scorne to beare a sword and to complaine Brut. Though Caesar now I must conspire thy fall My heart towards thee yet neuer harbor'd hate But pardon me who euer make it thrall From bondage Brutus must redeeme the state Of this my course what euer others iudge Heere I protest it is for good design'd My thoughts are guiltie of no priuate grudge For reason and not furie moues my minde Nor is' t ambition that inflames my breast With a prodigious appetite to raigne That when I haue made Caesar Plutoes guest I in his rowme a monarch may remaine No if that glorie did my fancies charme To which blind-folded tyrants doe aspire I needed not to do nor suffer harme But with lesse paine might compasse my desire For if I would but temporize a space Till Time or Death diminish Caesars might He thinkes that I deserue t' enioy his place And I could make my day succeede his night Yet doe I not endeere my selfe so much That I le seeke honor by my countries shame But O I would my zeale to it is such To saue it from reproch seeme worthy of blame Yea so that I may free with honourd wounds My soile than is my soule more deere to me I care not strait to be barr'd from the bounds That at so deere a rate I would set free Cass What man doth breath of Mars his martiall race But will with Brutus sacrifice his blood And chargde with armes ere tyranie take place Dare venture all things for his countries good Can any iudgement be deceiu'd so farre But that it else most cleerely may beholde How that this change Rome greatnes strait will marre And raze the trophees that she rear'd of olde Of olde in Rome all those that once had worne The peace-importing gowne or warrelike shield Of dignities as capable being borne Durst aime at all that libertie could yeeld Those in affaires to deale that would set forth Were not discourag'd by their birth though base And pouertie could not holde backe true worth From hauing honour both by warre and peace Then emulation violently driu'd All gallant mindes t' attempt great actions still That in the loue of venue riualls liu'd Whilst Glorie in their bosomes balme did still Fabricius first was from the plow aduauncde The rudder of the commonwealth to hold Yet by no meanes his priuate wealth enhauncde As rich in vertue still as poore in golde Rude Marius too to match red Mars in fame Forth from the vulgar drosse his race remou'd And loe of Cicero the ridiculous name As famous as the Fabians now hath prou'd Each abiect mind disdaind to be obscure When still preferrement followd loftie cares And that one might by dangers past procure Fame to himselfe and honour to his heires But since that state by Caesar is oreturn'd Whilst all our liues depend vpon ones lips Of breasts that once with loue of glorie burn'd From soaring thoughts this course the feathers clips Aduauncement now attends not on desert But on th' opinion of a flattred minde That to th' applauding hireling doth impart High honours that true worth can hardly finde To these all tyrants most addicted proue Whom without reason they haue raisde too hie As thinking those that stand but by their loue To entertaine the same all meanes must trie Where they whose vertue reapes a due reward Not building onely on th' aduauncers grace Doe by deserts not gaine so great regarde Whilst they maintaine as they obtaine their place And if a worthie man to worke great things Wing'd with th' vsurpers fauors raise his flight The highest course to him most harme still brings That till he fall can not haue leaue to light Those that by force would haue th' affection mou'd When willingly men hold such gallants deare They rage that any should be freely lou'd Whose vertue makes their vice more vile appeare The man that now to be preferrd aspires Must with effronted flatteries seruile forme Still soothing Caesar seale all his desires And in some shadow lurke t' auoyde a storme A number else of that prowd rebells foes Grieu'd to behold th' occasion of their griefe Striue in obscuritie t' entombe their woes So waiting and not working for reliefe But we whose lofty mindes disdaine to lowre As those that seeke but their owne safetie thus When shall we spend an indignations powre That 's worthy of true Romans and of vs Since no indignitie resolu'd t' indure I see our mindes doe simpathize in this Should we by suffering seeke to liue secure Whose action must amend what is amisse No no such abiect thought must staine our breast To cure calamitie but by discourse Whilst but like beasts affecting foode and rest Where men by reason should direct their course Like those of other parts secure from strife If Caesar had bin borne or chusde our Prince Then those that durst attempt to take his life The world of treason iustly might
conuince For still the states that flourish for the time By subiects should b'inuiolable thought And those no doubt commit a monstrous crime That lawfull soueraignty prophane in ought And we must thinke though now being brought to bow The Senate king a subiect Caesar is Th' authoritie that violating now The world must damne as hauing done amisse We will deare Cassius for our countries sake Our selues expose to danger or to death And let vs now aduise what course to take Whilst nought bur th' aire can beare away our breath Cass I thinke this matter needes not many wordes Since but one deede can bound the common shame In Caesars bodie we must sheathe our swordes And by his death our libertie reclame But since his fortune did confound them all That in the fields to match him did beginne Whilst he by thousands made their bands to fall With hoarie legions alwayes vsde to winne As Pompeys Scipioes and Petreius ghosts In lightlesse shades may by experience tell That after th' ouerthrow of their numbrous hosts All famous though infortunately fell And since prouided for the Parthian wrarre His armie in armes attends on his decree Where we sequestred from such forces farre Would if suspected strait preuented be With some few friends whom all things now t' assay A loue to vs or to their countrie bindes We to his wracke must walke another way Whilst ere our tongues our handes doe tell our mindes Now when most high and therefore hated most Th' assembled Senate seekes to make him king We must goe giue the blow before we boast And him to death Rome out of bondage bring Brut. In all this course I onely one thing blame That we should steale what we may iustly take By clothing honour with a cloake of shame Which may our cause thogh good more odious make O I could wish with honourable wounds T' affront Romes enemy in the battells dust No sweeter musicke than the Trumpets sounds When Right and Valour keepe a consort iust Then free if quicke else dead for nought being feard I alwayes once contented might remaine What tombe t' a man more glorious can be rear'd Than mountaines made of them that he hath slaine But how are my transported thoughts growne such That they disdaine a measure now t' admit As bent not what to doe but to do much I on the throne of Glorie striu'd to sit No to the state me from my selfe I giue Free from particular respects t' expose My life and all for it and whilst I liue So that it gaine I care not what I lose I le neuer rest till he for euer rest That giues my country such a cause of griefe And that t' effect no forme I will detest Nor for my fame endanger Romes reliefe But worthy Cassius ere we further doe Let vs the mindes of our familiars feele Of which I hope to haue assistance too Who will not hazard for his countries weale Cass Now whilst my soule rests rauisht in a traunce I thinke I see great Rome her courage raise Bent to beat th' aire with songs th' earth with a daunce And crowne thy vertues with deserued praise ACT. III. SCENE II. Marcus Brutus Portia MY dearest halfe my comfort my delight That onely seru'st to sweeten all my sowres Thou in my bosome vsde t' vncharge thy spright And in my presence sparde afflictions powres Still when domestike broiles disturbde thy rest Whilst by thy selfe thou labord for reliefe Thou with calme wordes disguisde a stormie breast Lest I had bin infected with thy griefe For such of me was thy respectiue care No cause of miscontentment was made knowne But with affections colors painted faire All that might make me glad was gladly showne What makes thee then thy courage thus to lose That thou can looke so sad and in my sight Lend me deere loue a portion of thy woes A burden being diuided doth grow light I see the Roses fading in thy face The Lillies languish Violets take their place Port. Thou hast deere Lord preuented my designe Which was to aske of thee what makes me pale It Phoebus had no light could Phoebe shine No with the cause of force th'effed must faile The mirrour but giues backe as it receiues A iust resemblance of th' obiected forme And such impression as th' engrauer leaues The wax retaines still to the stampe conforme O I 'm the mirrour that reflects thy minde According to the influence of thine eies I take the state in which thy state I finde Such is my colour as thy countnance dies Then how can I reioyce whilst thou art sad Whose breast of all thy crosses is the scroule I am still as thou art if grieu'd or glad Thy bodies shadow th' essence of thy soule On that great planet that diuides the yeares As th' increase of th' inferiour fields depends And as it doth euanish or appeares In th' earths cold bosome life beginnes or ends Sunne of my soule so I subsist by thee Whose course rests to thy secret motions thrall For when thou art from cloudie fortunes free I rise in ioyes but if thou faint I fall Bru. This countnance with my custome but accords That as you know yet neuer from my birth Light gestures vsde ioynd with lasciuious words Nor yet ridiculous fashions that mooue mirth My melancholious nature feedes on cares Whilst smotherd sorrow by a habite smokes A thoughtfull breast that 's burdend with affaires Doth make a silent mouth and speaking lookes As for my palenesse it imports but good Th' abasing of the bodie mounts the mind Where fatnesse com'd from food but serues for food In fattest bodies leanest sprites we finde Ah since I saw th' abhorr'd Thessalian bounds All drench'd with blood of Senators and kings As if my soule yet smarted in their wounds A secret sorrow oftentimes me stings But since thy famous father with strange blowes In the most hideous form affronted death To him my minde a sad remembrance owes Which sorrow shall exact still whilst I breath Yet am I grieu'd t' haue giuen thee cause of griefe That thought some new mis-hap did me dismay To such olde soares it 's worst to giue reliefe But time in end may weare my woes away Por. Why shouldst thou so from me thy thoghts conceale From thine owne soule that in thy bosome sleepes To whom though shewne thou dost them not reueale But in thy selfe more inwardly them keepst And thou canst hardly hide thy selfe from me That straight in thee each alteration spie I can comment on all that comes from thee True loue still lookes with a suspitious eye Rests not within our bosome euery thought Tun'd by a simpathy of mutuall loue Thou marrst the musicke if thou change in ought Which straight by my distemperature I proue Soule of my soule vnfold what is amisse My minde some great disaster doth diuine And euen excuse my couriousnesse in this Since it concernes thy state and therefore mine Brut. I wonder that thou dost thy frailtie
shew All women are by nature curious still And yet till now thou neuer crau'd to know More then I pleasde t' impart of my free will Nought saue the wife a man within the walles Nor nought saue him without fits her t' embrace And it 's vnseemely though it sometime falles When any sexe vsurpes anothers place Deere their wounted course thy cares inure I may haue matters that import the state Whose opning vp might my disgrace procure Whose weight would for thy weaknesse be too great Port. I was not Brutus match'd with thee to bee A partner only of thy boorde and bed Each seruile whore in those might equall me That did her selfe to nought but pleasure wed No Portia spousde thee with a minde t' abide Thy fellow in all fortunes good or ill With chaines of mutuall loue together tyde As those that haue two breasts one heart two soules one will With sacred bands whom holy Hymen bindes They tweene them should communicate all things Yea both the bodies labors and the mindes Whence either pleasure or displeasure springs If thus thou seeke thy sorrowes to conceale Through a disdaine or a mistrust of me Then to the world what way can I reueale How great a matter I would doe for thee And though our sexe too talkatiue be deem'd As those whose tongues import our greatest powres For secrets still bad treasurers esteem'd Of others greedy prodigall of ours Good education may reforme defects And I this vantage haue t' a vertuous life Which other mindes do want and mine respects I 'm Catoes daughter and I 'm Brutus wife Yet would I not repose my trust in ought Still thinking that thy crosse was great to beare Till that my courage was t' a triall brought Which suffring for thy cause can nothing feare For first t' experience how I could comport With sterne afflictions spirit-enfeebling blowes Ere I would seeke t' assault thee in this sort To whom my soule a duteous reuerence owes Loe heere a wound which makes me not to smart Though by my selfe being made to make me knowne Since thy distresse strikes deeper in my heart Thy griefe lifes ioy makes me neglect mine owne Brut. Thou must deare loue that which thou sought receiue Thy heart so high a saile t' a tempest beares That thy great courage doth deserue to haue Our enterprise entrusted to thine eares Thy magnanimitie preuailes so farre That it my resolution must controule And of my bosome doth the depths vnbarre To lodge thee in the centre of my soule Thou seest in what a state the state now stands Of whose strong pillars Caesar spoil'd the best Whilst by his owne preuenting others handes Our famous father fell amongst the rest That insolent vsurper doth presume To re-erect detested Tarquines throne Thus the worlds mistresse all-commanding Rome Must entertaine no minion now but one Th' old blood of Mars that marks to what he tends Swells with disdaine their countryes scorne to see And I 'm one of the number that intends By his death or mine owne to be made free Port. And without me can thou resolue so soone T' assay the dangers of a doubtfull strife As if dispair'd and alwayes to b' vndone Being tyr'd of me yea tyr'd of thy life Yet since thou thus thy rash designe hath showne Leaue Portias portion venter not her part Endanger nought but that which is thine owne Go where thou lik'st I will hold still thy heart But lest by holding of thy best part backe That th' other perish t' aggrauate my grones That would be so thonght guiltie of thy wrack Take all thy treasure to the Seaes at once Like th' Asian Monarks wife that with short haires Sad signes of bondage past still where he past To weare away or beare away thy cares I le folow thee and of thy fortune taste These hands that were with my owne blood imbru'd To strike another may more strength afford At least when thou by th' enemie art pursu'de I le set my selfe betwixt thee and his sword But if too great a priuiledge I claime Whose actions all should be disposde by thee Ah pardon me deare Brutus do but blame These my excessiue sorrowes and not mee Brut. Thou ask'st what thou shouldst giue forgiue deare mate This ventrous course of mine which must haue place Though it make fortune tyrant of our state Whose fickle foot-steps vertue grieues to trace And wonder not though this towards thee I proue Since priuate passions now all powre haue left For I regard not glory profit loue Nor no respect that doth import me most So to the land of which I hold my life I may performe the worke that I intend Let me be call'd vnkind vnto my wife Yea worst of all ingrate vnto my friend But as th' instinct of nature makes vs know There are degrees of dutie to be past Of which the first we to th'immortalls owe The next t' our Countrey and t' our friends the last Prowd tyrants from his natiue bounds to driue Did th' author of my race with ardent zeale Make those to die whom he had made to liue And spoild himselfe to aduance the commonweale To raise the state which Caesar now ore-throwes That bred so many braue men whilst it stood He with the Tyrant interchanging blowes Most gloriously did offer vp his blood And did that man t' oppresse the common fo Then damne his sonnes to death and with drie eyes And is his successor degenerd so That he in abiect bondage basely lyes No his posteritie his name not staines That t' imitate his steps doth yet draw neere Yet of his spirit in vs some sparke remaines That more then life our libertie hold deare Port. Then prosecute thy course for I protest Though with some griefe my soule the same approues This resolution doth become thy breast Where in the spheare of honor vertue moues And doe this interprise no more deferre What thee contents to me contentment brings I to my life thy saftie doe preferre But hold thy honor deare aboue all things It would but let the world my weaknesse see If I sought my delights not thy desires Though it giue griefe and threaten death to me Goe follow forth that which thy fame requires Though nature sexe and education breed No power in me that 's with my purpose euen He lend assistance to th' intended deed If vowes and prayers may penetrate the heauen But difficulties huge my fancie findes Saue the successe nought can defray my feare Ah Fortune alwayes frownes on worthy mindes As hating all that trust in ought saue her Yet I dispaire not but thou may preuaile And by this course t' appease my present grones I this aduantage haue which cannot faile I le be a freemans wife or else be nones For if all prosper not as we pretend And that the heauens Romes bondage do decree Straight with thy libertie my life shall end Who haue no comfort but what comes from thee My father hath me taught what way to
hate towards Caesar loue to Rome or t 'vs Might moue t' imbarke in those great hopes of ours By sickenesse being imprison'd in his bed Whilst I Ligarius spide whom paines did pricke When I had said with words that anguish bred In what a time Ligarius art thou sicke He answerd straight as I had phisicke brought Or that he had imagin'd my designe If worthy of thy selfe thou wouldst do ought Then Brutus I am whole and wholie thine Since Caesar causde him be accusde of late For taking Pompeys patt yet at this houre He though absolu'd doth still the tyrant hate For being endangerd by his lawlesse powre Whilst it exasprates thus such great sprites spites Heauen of our course the progresse doth direct One inspiration all our soules incites That haue aduisdly sworne this fact t' effect D. Br. So I with Cicero did conferre at length Who I perceiue the present state detests And though that age deminisht haue his strength In him a will t' auenge his country rests M. Br. That man whose loue stil towards his country shind Would willingly the commonwealth restore Then he I know though he conceales his minde None Caesar more dislikes nor likes vs more Yet to his custodie I le not commit The secrets of our enterprise so soone Men may themselues be oftentimes not fit To doe the things that they would wish were done He still being timorous and by age growne worse Might chance to lay our honor in the dust All cowards must inconstant be of force With bold designes none fearefull breasts can trust Then some of ours would holde their hands still pure That ere they be suspected for a space Amidst the tumult may remaine secure And with the people mediate our peace But who than Tullius fitter for that turne Whose eloquence is vsde t' enchant their eares His banishment they in balcke gownes did mourne Whose age and merites each one reurence beares C. Cass Those studious wits that haue through dangers gone Would still be out ere that they enter in Who must of many things resolue of none And thinking of the end cannot beginne The mind that lookes no further than the eie And more to Nature trusts than vnto Art Such doubtfull fortunes fittest is to trie A furious actor for a desprate parte We haue enow and of the best degree Whose hands are to their hearts their hearts t 'vs true And if that we seeke moe I feare we be T' act close too many if disclosde too few Let vs aduise with an industrious care Now ere the tyrant intercept our mindes The time the place the manner when and where That we should trust our treasure to the windes And since our fortunes in the ballance hing Let euery point be circumspectly weight'd A circumstance or an indifferent thing May whiles marre all for not being well conueigh'd M. Br. As for the time none could be wish'd more fit Than this that 's present to performe our vow Since all the people must allow of it Mou'd by a recent miscontentment now When represented in his triumph past Great Catoes mangled entrailes made them weepe And desprate Scipio whilst he leap'd at last To seeke a Sanctuarie amidst the depth Then all those great men that in seuerall partes Bent for Romes freedome Caesar did ouerthrow Did by their pictures pierce the peoples harts And made a pitteous though a pompous show So that they did conceiue a iust disdaine To be vpbraided in so strange a sort Whilst he that onely by their losse did gaine Of their calamitie but made a sport But yet his purpose grieues them most of all Since that he striues to be proclaimd a King And not contents himselfe to make vs thrall But to perpetuall bondage would vs bring Thus whilst the people are with him displeasde We best may doe that which t' our part belongs For after this they may be best appeas'd If whilst their wrath doth last we venge their wrongs And since we nought intend but what is right Whilst from our contrey we remooue disgrace Let all be acted in the Senates sight A common cause and in a common place Let those whose guiltie thoughts doe damne their deeds In corners like Mineruaes birds abide That which t' our countrey good t 'vs glory breeds May by the lights of heauen and earth be tryde The Senatours by our ensample mou'd Pleasde with this action that imports them too To haue the yoke of tyrranie remou'd May at the least authorize what we doe So all the Senatours were said of old To haue king Romulus amongst them torne That than to tyrranize was growne to bold And from his first humanitie had worne D. Brut. Yea what though Caesar were immortall made As Romulus whose deitie him reuiues It 's easier as a God t' adore him dead Then as a king t' obey him whilst he liues C. Cass That place indeed most for our glory makes A Theater worthy of so great an act Where in their sight from whom most power he takes We of the tyrant vengeance may exact But I must recommend vnto your minde A course though strict of which we must allowe Least it ore-throw all that we haue design'd Being past recouerie if neglected now There is Antonius Caesars greatest friend A man whose nature tyrranie affects Whom all the souldiors doe delight t' attend As one that nought but to command respects I feare that he when we haue Caesar slaine To th' other faction furnish still a head So when we ende we must beginne againe Against one liuing worse then he that 's dead And in my iudgement I would thinke it best When sacrifiz'd the prowd vsurper lyes That that seditious enemie of rest Should fall with him with whom he first did rise Thus of our libertie we now may lay A solid ground that can be shak'd by none Those of their purpose that a part delay Two labours haue that might haue had but one M. Brut. I cannot Cassius condiscend to kill Thus from the path of Iustice to decline One faultlesse yet lest after he prooue ill So to preuent his guiltinesse by mine No no that neither honest were nor iust Which rigorous forme would but the worlde affright Men by this meane our meaning might mistrust And for a little wrong damne all that 's right If we but only kill the common foe Our zeale t' our countrey must acquire due praise But if like Tyrants tyrannizing so We will be thought that which we raze to raise And where we but intend t' aduance the state Though by endangering what we hold most deare If slaying him as arm'd e by priuate hate We to the world still partiall will appeare Ah ah we must but too much murder see That without doing euill cannot do good And would the gods that Rome could be made free Without th' effusion of one drope of blood Then their is hope that Anthonie in ende When first our vertue doth direct the way Will leagu'd with vs the libertie
That should burst out through thoughts ore-flow'd with ioy Whilst emulous vertue may your mindes incite That which we conquerd haue at least t' enioy Or quite conformd vnto your former state Do still your mindes of seruitude allow As broken by aduersitie of late Not capable of better fortune now Loe we that by the tyrants fauour stoode And grieu'd but at the yoke that you outrag'd Haue our aduauncement riches rest and blood All liberally for libertie engag'd Chor. Thou like thy great progenitour in this Hast glorie to thy selfe t 'vs freedome brought Than libertie what greater treasure is Small with it much without it much seemes nought But pardon vs heroicke man though we T' a high perfection hardly can aspire Though euery man cannot a Brutus be That which we cannot imitate w'admire At this strange course with too much light made blind We our opinions must suspend a space When any sodaine chance dismayes the minde The iudgement to the passion first giues place Ant. What wonder now though this most barbarous deed Haue with amazement closde your iudgement in Which O I feare shall great confusion breed When Caesars toiles did end Romes did begin The most suspitious mindes had not beleeu'd That Romans reuerenc'd for their worth by vs Would haue presumde to kill yea or t' haue greeu'd A inuiolable hallowd bodie thus Who would but once haue dreamd of such despight What strange hostilitie in time of peace To slay though not accusde against all right A sacred man and in a sacred placed C Cass If Caesar as a Cittizen had liu'de And had by lawe decided euery strife Then I would grant those treason had contriu'd That went without a lawe to take his life But to peruert the lawes subuert the state If all his trauells did directly tend Then I must say we did no wrong of late Why should not tyrants make a tragicke end Chor. Since destinies did Caesars soule enlarge What course can we for his recouerie take Ah th' vnrelenting Charons restlesse barge Stands to transport all ouer but brings none backe Of lifes fraile glasse when broken with vaine grones What earthly powre the ruines can repaire Or who can gather vp when scatterd once Ones blood from th' earth or yet his breath from th' aire Let vs of those that passe Obliuions flood B' obliuious still since hope of help is gone And spend our cares where cares may doe most good Lest Rome waile many where she wailes but one Ant. Still concord for the common-weale were best To reconcile diuided thoughts againe Then discord to great townes no greater pest Whose violence no reuerence can restraine Yet oftentimes those warie wits haue err'd That would buy wealth and ease at any cost Let honesty to profit be preferr'd And t' a vile peace warre when it wounds vs most But seeking peace what suretie can we finde Can faithlesse men giue faith iust feares to stay No sacred band impietie can binde That sweares for trust seekes trust but to betray What help'd it Caesar that we all had sworne His body still from dangers to redeeme Those that are once periur'd hold othes in scorne All are most franke of what they least esteeme M. Br. None needs in states that are from tirants free Loathde execrations to confirme his will Where willingly men would with good agree And without danger might despise all ill All odious othes by those are onely crau'd Whose sute from reason doth a warrant want Whilst all deceiuers feard to be deceau'd Seek of men thralld what none being free would grant When Caesar had preuailde in Libia and Spaine His fortune building on his countries wracke Of libertie a shadow to retaine We gaue him all that he was bent to take The Senate had reseru'd nought but a show Whose course to it by Caesar was imposde That lifted vp by bringing others lowe Of offices and prouinces disposde Then that our witherd hopes might neuer spring When bent t' abide the Parthians woodden showre He for fiue yeares disposde of euery thing Euen in his absence leauing vs no powre O how some aggrauate our deede with hate That durst by violence his body straine Though consecrated by constraint of late Yea but reputed holie yet prophane And doe forget how he a wondrous case Did violate the tribune ship t' our scorne Which our forefathers free in time of peace Aduisdly had inuiolable sworne Did he not once appropriate swolne with wrath The publike treasure to his priuate vse And to the sacred Tribune threatned death That did resist grieu'd at so great a'abuse Tweene Romans and a tyrant what auailes A couenant whilst right rests troad on thus Who can build further when the ground first failes Could we saue him that sought to ruine vs Cic. So absolutely good no man remaines Whose naturall weakenesse neuer him beguiles Euen vertues die from vice may take some staines And worthy mindes foule imperfections whiles As in fine fruits or weeds fat earth abounds Euen as the laborers spend or spare their paine The greatest sprites disdaining vulgar bounds Of what they seeke the highest height must gaine They that the crowne of glory may b' enioyd As onely borne to be in action still Had rather be than idle euill employd Great sprites must doe great good or then great ill The glorious Sunne that golden raies doe arme The treasure of the world that doth most good Whilst on a time misgouernd did much harme Till th' ouerbold Coach-man fell amidst a flood Then whilst he by the rules of reason liu'd When lawfully elected by the State What glorious deedes by Caesar were atchiu'd Which all the world as wonders must relate But when of right he buried all respects As blind ambition had bewitcht his minde What harme ensude by pittifull effects We at the first he at the last did finde Whilst like Narcissus with himselfe in loue He with our bondage banqueted his sight And for a while vncertaine ioyes to proue Would sawce with all our sorrowes his delight How could such gallant vertuous men as those That of their countries weale are iealous still But stowtly to all stormes their states expose So th' authour of their infamy to kill But since our freedome flowes from Caesars blood Let vs imbrace that which too long we lacke Peace giues to Iustice powre and it t' all good Where war breeds wrong and wrong al kind of wracke This cittie hath experienc'd with great paine Th' all-burdning troubles of intestine strife Which by her ruines registred remaine Since first the Gracchi gaue contention life When Silla once and Marius mad through pride Seemd but to striue who most tyrannicke prou'd What memorable miseries were tride From Romans mindes can neuer be remou'd Then last by Caesar and his sonne in lawe What thousands ghosts to Pluto were dispatchd Ah that the world those hosts diuided sawe Which ioynd in one no world of worlds had matchd Yet with this wit that we haue dearely bought Let vs abhorre
th' apparance of such broiles Lest when we haue our selues to ruine brought In end Barbarians beare away our spoyles Chor. Rome to those great men hardly can afford A recompence according to their worth That by a tyrants ore-throw haue restord The light of libertie that was put forth Yet by due praises with their merites euen Let vs illustrate their illustrous mindes And to their charge let prouinces be giuen Still vertue growes when it preferrement findes Anton. Those barbarous realmes by whose respectiue wil Of Caesars conquests monuments are showne As if they held them highly honord still That warrd with Caesar though they were orethrowne Can this disgrace by their prowde minds be borne Whilst we dishonor whom they honor thus And shall we not whilst as a tyrant torne Giue him a tombe that gaue the world to vs Must his decrees be all reducde againe And those degraded whom he gracde of late As worthy men vnworthily did gaine Their roomes of reputation in the state If as a tyrant we him damne so soone And for his murd'rers do rewards deuise Then what he did must likewise be vndone For which I feare a fowle confusion rise Chor. Ah great Antonius sow not seeds of warre And if thou alwayes dost delight in armes The haughty Parthians yet vndaunted are Which may giue thee great praise and vs no harmes Detest in time th' abhominable broiles For which no conquerour to triumph hath com'd Whilst this wretch'd towne which stil som party spoils Must loathe the victor and lament th' orecomd And shall we still contend against all good To make the yoke where we should bound abide Must still the commons sacrifize their blood As onely borne to serue the great mens pride Ant. Whilst I the depths of my affection found And reade but th' obligations which I owe I finde my selfe by othes and duetie bound All Caesars foes or then my selfe t' orethrow But when I weigh what to the state belongs The which to plague no passion shall get place Then I with griefe digesting priuate wrongs Warre with my selfe to giue my country peace Yet whilst my thoughts of this last purpose muse I altogether dis-assent from this That we should Caesars fame or bodie abuse By torturing tyrants as the custome is Lest guiltie of ingratitude we seeme If guerdoning our benefactors thus Great Caesars body from disgrace redeeme And let his acts be ratified by vs. Then for the publicke weale of which we pause Towards those that haue him killd t' extend regard Let them be pardond for their kinsmens cause Remission giuen for euill is a reward C. Cass We stand not dasht like malefactors heere With a deiected and remorcefull minde So in your presence supplicants t' appeare As who themselues of death doe guiltie finde But looking boldely with a loftie brow Through a delight of our designe conceiu'd We come to challenge gratefulnesse of you That haue of vs so great a good receiu'd But if ye will suspend your thoughts a space Though not the giuers entertaine the gift Do vs reiect yet libertie imbrace To haue you free loe that was all our drift So Rome her antient liberties enioy Let Brutus and let Cassius banisht liue Thus banishment would breede vs greater ioy Than what at home a tyrants wealth could giue Though some misconster may this course of ours By ignorance or then by hate deceiu'd Yet truth depends not on opinions powres But is it selfe how euer misconceiu'd Though none themselues t' acknowledge vs woulde daigne Our merite of it selfe is a rewarde Of doing good none should repent their paine Though neither getting guerdon nor regard I le venture yet my fortune in the fielde With euery one that Rome to bondage drawes And as for me how euer others yield I le nought obey but reason and the Lawes Cicer. What fooles are those that further trauell take For that which else they past recouery know Who can reuiue the dead or bring time backe At least no mortall that remaines below Great Pompey now for whom the world still weepes Lies low neglected on a barbarous shore Selfe-slaughtred Scipio flotes amidst the depthes Whom it may be sea-monsters do deuoure Of Libian wolues wise Cato feasts the wombes Whose death of worth the world defrauded leaues Thus some that merited Mausolean tombes Not haue a title grau'd vpon their graues And yet may Caesar that procur'd their death By braue men slaine be buried with his race All ciuill warre being banish'd with his breath Let him now dead and vs aliue haue peace We should desist our thoughts on things to set That may harme some and can giue help to none Learne to forget that which we can not get And let our cares be gone of all that 's gone Those that would striue all crosses to ore-come Must to the present time conforme their course And doing the best for that which is to come Not medle with things past but by discourse Seeke not the thing which doth not good being found Since Caesar now is dead how euer dead Let all our griefe goe with him to the ground For sorrow best becomes a lightlesse shade It 's best that reconioynde with mutuall loue We phisicke for this wounded state prepare Neglecting those that from the world remoue All men on earth for earthly things must care Cho. O how those great men friendship can pretend By soothing others thus with painted windes And seeme to trust where treason they attend Whilst loue their mouth and malice filles their mindes Those but to them poore simple soules appeare Whose countnance doth discouer what they thinke That make their words as is their meaning cleare And from themselues can neuer seeme to shrinke Lo how Anthonius faines to quench all iarres And kindly the conspirators t' imbrace Yet as he further'd first the former warres It 's fear'd he now be enemie to peace Now where Calphurnia stayes our steps adresse By this last sodaine chance her losse was chiefe All visite should their neighbours in distresse To giue some comfort or to get some griefe Exeunt Act. V. Scene II. Calphurnia Nuntius Chorus WHen darknesse last imprisond had mine eies Such monstrous visions did my soule affright That my deiected sprite still stupid dyes Through terrors then contracted in the night A melancholious cloud so dimmes my breast That it my mind fit for misfortune makes A lodging well disposde for such a guest Where nought of sorrow but th' impression lackes And I imagine euery man I see My senses so corrupted are by feares A Herauld to denounce mishaps to me That should infuse confusion in mine cares O there he comes to violate my peace In whom the obiect of my thoughts I see Thy message is charecter'd in thy face Which by thy lookes directed is to me Thy troubled eyes rest rouling for releife As lately frighted by some ougly sight Thy breath doth pant as if being big with griefe And fear'd to bring some monstrous birth to light
Nun. The man of whom the world in doubt remain'd If that his minde or fortune was more great Whose valour conquer'd clemencie retain'd All nations subiect to the Romane state Him fraude harm'd more then force friends more then foes Ah must this sad discourse by mee be made Calph. Stay ere thou further goe defray my woes How doth my loue wher is my life Nū Dead Cal. dead Cho. Though apprehending horrors in her minde Now since she hath a certaintie receiu'd She by experience greater griefe doth finde Till borne the passions cannot be conceiu'd When as a high disaster force affords O how that tyrant whom affliction beares Barres th eares from comfort the mouth from words And being obdur'd cannot dissolue in teares Calph. Ah since the lights of that great light are set Why doth not darknesse spread it selfe ouer all At least what further comfort can I get Whose pleasures had no period but his fall O would the gods I alwayes might confine Aetna ' in my breast and th' Ocean in mine eyes That t' entertaine so great a griefe as mine Thence might sufficient furniture arise Yet I disdaine though by distresse ore-throwne By such externall meanes to seeke reliefe The greatest sorrowes are by silence showne Whilst all the sences are shut vp with griefe But miserie doth so tyrannicke grow That it of sighes and teares a tribute claimes Ah when the cup is full it must ore-flow And fires that burne must offer vp some flames Yet though that thy last words my last might be Which are deepe sunke within a melted heart Of my liues death report each point to me That I for euery circumstance may smart Nun. What fatall warnings did fore-go his end Which by his stay to frustrate some did try But he that scorn'd excuses to pretend Was by the Destinies drawne forth to die Whilst by the way he chanc'd t' encounter one That had his deaths-day nam'd he to him said Now th' Ides of March be com'd but yet not gone Straight tho'other answerd and still constant staide Another brought a letter with great speed Which the conspiracie at length did touch And gaue it Caesar in his hand to reade Protesting that it did import him much Yet did he lay it vp where still it rests As do the great whom happy th' earth reputes That grieu'd to be importun'd by requests Of simple supplicants neglect the sutes Or he of it the reading did deferre Still troubled by attendanrs at the gate Whilst some to shew their credite did conferre To flatter some for something some t' entreat Not only did the gods by diuers signes Giue Caesar warning of his threatned harmes But did disturbe all th' aduersaries designes And to their troubled thoughts gaue strange alarmes A Senator that by some words we finde To the conspiratours though none of theirs Had showne himselfe familiar with their minde Then chanc'd to deale with Caesar in affaires That sight their soules did with confusion fill For thinking that he told their purposde deeds They straight themselues or Caesar thought to kill A guiltie conscience no accuser needes But marking that he vsde when taking leaue The gesture of a suter that gaue thankes They of their course did greater hopes conceiue And rang'd themselues according to their rankes Then Caesar march'd forth to the fatall place Neere Pompyes theater where the Senate was Where when he had remain'd a little space All the confederates flock'd about Calph. Alas Nun. First for the forme Metellus Cimber crau'd To haue his brother from exile restor'd Yet with the rest a rude repulse receiu'd Whilst it they all too ernestly implor'd Then Cimber that in strife with him did stand Did draw the gowne ouer Caesars sacred head But the first blow was giuen by Cascaes hand Which on his necke a little wound but made Then Caesar starting whilst the stroke he spi'd By strength from further striking Casca stayde Whilst both the two burst out at once and cry'd Th' one traitor Casca th' other brother ayde Then all the rest against him did arise Like desperate men whose furie force affords That Caesar on no side could set his eyes But euery looke r'encountred with some swordes Yet as a Lyon when by nets surprisde Stands strugling still so long as he hath strength So Caesar as he had their powre dispisde Did with great rage resist till at the length He thus cry'd out when spying Brutus come And thou mya sonne then griefe did backe rebound Nought but vnkindnesse Caesar could ore-come That of all things doth giue the deepest wound Cho. Ah when vnkindnes is where loue was thought A tender passion breakes the strongest heart For of all those that giue offence in ought Men others hate but for th' vnkinde they smart Nun. Ah taking then no more delight in light As which would then his life haue bitter fram'd Or then from Brutus blow t' absent his sight As of so great ingratitude asham'd He with his gowne being couer'd first ouer all As one that neither sought nor wisht reliefe Not wronging maiestie in state did fall No sigh consenting to betray his griefe Yet if by chaunce or force I cannot tell Euen at the place whereas his statue stood As crauing Pompcy pardon Caesar fell That in reuenge it might exhaust his blood But when his corps abandond quite by breath Did Fortunes frailties monument remaine That all might haue like interest in his death And guilty alike looke for like praise or paine Then Cassius Brutus and the rest began With that great Emperours blood t' imbrue their hands What beast in th' earth more cruell is than man When ouer his reason passion once commands Calph. Whilst brutish Brutus and prowde Cassius thus Romes greatest Captaine vnder trust deceiu'd Where was Anthonius since a friend to vs That he not lost himselfe or Caesar sau'd Nun. The whole conspirators remainde in doubt Had he and Caesar ioyn'd to be vndone And so causde one him t' entertaine without Who fain'd a conference till the fact was done Then knowing well in such tumultuous broyles That the first danger alwayes is the worst He fled in haste disguisde with vnknowne spoiles For rage and for disdaine being like to burst Calph. The Senators that were assembled there When they beheld that great man brought t'an end What was their part to what inclin'd their care I feare affliction could not find a friend Nun. Of those that in the Senate-house did sit As greeu'd so sad an obiect to behold Or feard what further murdrers might commit Each towards his house a seuerall way did hold This act with horror did confound their sight And vnawares their iudgement did surprise When any hastie harmes vnlook'd for light The resolution hath not time to rise That man on whome the world did once rely By all being reuerenc'd and ador'd by some Had none t' attend him left but two and I. Cho. To what an ebbe may fortunes full whiles come Why should men following