die By which if I be barr'd t' encounter death Another meanes though farre more strange I le trie For after Brutus none shall see me breathe Brut. Thou for my cause abandon'd others else But now forsakst thy selfe t' adhere to me That of thy passions thus the powre repells And with thy minde discords with mine t' agree I le since by thee approou'd securely goe And vilipend the dangers of this life Heauens make my enterprise to prosper so That I prooue worthy of so worthy a wife But ah of all thy words those grieue me most That bost me with th' abridgement of thy dayes What though I in so good a cause were lost None flies th' appointed fate that for him staies Do not defraud the world of thy rare worth But of thy Brutus the remembrance loue And from so faire a prison breake not forth Till first the fates haue forcde thee to remoue Port. I feare the heauens haue our confusion sworne Since this illage can with no good accord Thou and my father ah should haue bin borne When Vertue was aduauncde and Vice abhorrd Then ere the light of vertue was declinde Your worth had reuerenâ—de bin not throwne away Where now ye both haue but in darkenes shinde As starres by night that had bin sunnes by day Brut. My treasure striue to pacisie thy breast Lest sorrowes but sinistrously presage That which thou would not wish and hope the best Though vertue now must act on Fortunes stage Exeunt Chorus THan libertie of earthly things What more delights a generous breast That doth receiue And can conceiue The matchlesse treasure that it brings It making men securely rest As all perceiue Doth none deceiue Whilst weigh'd with doubts none ballanc'd hings But feard for nought doth what seemes best Then men are men when they are all their owne Not but by others badges when made knowne Yet should we not mis-spending houres A freedome seeke as oft it falles With an intent But to content These vaine delights and appetites of ours For then but being made greater thralles We might repent Our not being pent In stricter bounds by others powres VVhilst feare licentious thoughts appalles Of all the tyrants that the world affords Ones owne affections are the fiercest Lords As Libertines those onely liue That from the bands of vice set free Vile thoughts cancell And seeke t' excell In all that doth true glorie giue From which when as no tyrants be Them to repell And to compell They deedes against their thoughts to striue They blestare in a high degree For such of same the scroules can hardly fill Whose wit is bounded by anothers will That Rome from Tarquins yoke redeemde Who first obtaind And then maintaind Their libertie so deerely lou'd They from all things that odious seemd Though not constraind Themselues restraind And willingly all good approu'd Bent to be much yet wel esteemd And how could such but aime at some great end Whom libertie did leade and glory attend They leading valorous legions foorth Though wanting kings triumph'd ouer kings And still aspird By Mars inspir'd To conquer all from South to North Then lending Fame their Eagles wings They all acquir'd That was requir'd To make them rare for rarest things The world being witnesse of their Worth Thus those great minds that domineer'd ouer all Did make themselues first free then others thrall But we that hold nought but their name From that to which they in times gone Did high ascend Must low discend And bound their glory with our shame Whilst on an abiect tyrants throne We basely attend And doe intend Vs for our fortune still to frame Not it for vs and all for one As libertie a courage doth impart So bondage doth disbend els breake the heart Yet O who knowes but Rome to grace Another Brutus may arise That may effect What we affect And Tarquins steppes make Caesar trace Though seeming dangers to dispise He doth suspect What we exspect Which from his breast hath banish'd peace Though fairely he his feares disguise Of tyrants th' iniurie reuenge affords All feare but theirs and they feare all mens swords ACT. IIII. SCENE I. Decius Brutus Albinus Marcus Brutus Caius Cassius DEare cosin Cassius did acquaint mine eares With a designe that toss'd my minde a space For when strange newes a strangers breath first beares Then should not trust t' each rash report giue place I would not then discouer what I thought Lest he t' entrap my tongue a snare had fram'd Till I with thee t' a conference first was brought Whom he for patron of his purpose namde One should beware to whom his minde he leaues In dangerous times when tales by walles are tolde Men make themselues most miserably slaues Of those to whom their secrets they vnfolde M. Bru. As Cassius tolde thee pittying Romes distresse That t' our disgrace in bondage doth remaine We straight intend what euer we professe With Caesars blood to wash away this staine Though for this end a few sufficient are To whom their vertue courage doth impart Yet were wee loath to wrong thy worth so farre As of such glorie to giue thee no part Since both this cause and that thy name thee binde In this aduentrous band to be comprisde There needes no rhetoricke to raise thy minde That t' execute which thou should haue deuisde D. Bru. I thoght no creature shuld my purpose know But he whose intrest promisde mutuall cares Of those to whom one would his secrets show No greater pledge of trust than to know theirs As when two meet being mask'd though whiles neare frends With them as strangers no respect takes place But when that friendship one of them pretends Then th' other likewise doth vncloude his face So as thou first I le now at last be bold My breast with the same birth long great hath gone Yet I t'another durst it not vnfolde Nor yet attempt to compasse it alone But since this course of which I long did pause On such great pillars now so strongly stands Whose countanaunce may giue credite t' any cause It hath my heart and it shall haue my hands C. Cass T' our enterprise propitious signes are sent So that the gods would giue vs courage thus For all that euer heard of our intent Would willingly engage themselues with vs Let other men discourse of vertuous rites Ours but by th' action only should be showne Bare speculation is but for such sprites As want of powre or courage keepes vnknowne In those that Vertue view when crown'd with deeds Whose beauties through the glasse of glory shinde Sh'a violent desire t' imbrace her breedes As th' adamant to th' yrne being to the minde What though a number now in darkenesse lies That are too weake for matters of such weight We that are eminent in all mens eies Let vs still hold the height of honour straight M. Br. Whilst that our faction might be strangthned thus I labord much to purchase all their powres Whom
haue pierc'd my soule Who eu'n amid'st our heauen haue found a hell Hep. What stoick brow his passions could controule As not to weepe if he re-marked well The teares of these faire Ladies causing wonder Who neede not challenge nature of her duty But borne to bring although they be brought vnder Giue greefe a grace for to apparrell beauty Sir such a victorie hath not beene seene As you haue gain'd whose greatnesse well appeares The largest kingdome and the fairest Queene That Asia vaunted of these many yeares Durst Ledaes or Agenors brood compare With that sweete Queene the honour of her kinde But as she is aboue all other faire As farre her daughters make her go behinde It seem'd at first that sorrow had beene sleeping While as these Virgines in their Grand-dames bosome With weeping beautie and with beauties weeping Did with a haile of pearle blast beauties blossome So large a pow'r is to no Prince allotted As to loues Empire in their face confynd Alex. O how is my Hephestion thus assotted Dare follie seeke t' assault so braue a minde Dare Cupid enter in an armed campe And Mars owne minions thus presume to danton Must his soft seale steele-wearing stomacks stampe And make them tributaries to that wanton Hep. We dare resist whil'st many a thousand dies Against th' inuasion of a world of men Yet if in yuorie orbes two Sunnie eies Assault the soule at vnawares O then Some secret sympathie some vn-knowne motion So charmes the minde that vaine are all defenses The hart drunke with the eies contagious potion Corrupts the spirits and poysons all the senses Alex. But I in my conceat doe skorne all such No I resolue to be a thrall to none Yea ere I but abase my selfe so much I 'le rather die ten thousand deathes in one Should I be bound with vile affections chaines As one obliuious of my former same This resolution still my soule retaines To ballance nothing with a noble name O what a great indignity is this To see a Conquerour to his lust a slaue Who would the title of true worth were his A minde surmounting euery vice must haue The brauest trophee euer man obtain'd Is that which ou'r himselfe himselfe harh gain'd Hep. I ioy my soueraigne that as you excell Not onely men but Mars himselfe in armes So you by vertues might the power repell Of beautie loue and Cithereas charmes Your vertue bright whose rayes shine in your words And thence to harts center are reflected Now ouer my selfe such pow'r to me affords That with fond loue I loth to he infected ACTVS TERTIVS Scen. III. BESSVS NARBAZANES Bes NOw since Narbazanes we are come hither Let vs accomplish what we haue intended And ioyne our wit our force and all together That it may be no sooner knowne then ended You see occasion call vs whil'st we sleepe And point vs out the way to be aduanc'd Yea blames our sluggishnesse that cannot keepe The course of things which for our weale haue chanc'd The heauens abhorre our King striue t' vndo him Nothing doth prosper that he enterprises Some new disaster daylie falles vnto him Some crosse o'er-thwarts all things that he deuises In no strict limites should our thoughts be bounded Whom so great happines seemes to importune For since our King is like to be confounded Vpon his fall we both may builde our fortune Na. I shall not faile for to performe my part I of your words exceedingly allow Honour and wealth are the idols of my hart Which if I may obtaine I care hot how And yet I would we had some faire pretence Our countries care must seeme our soules to comber This seeming zeale must shaddow our offence For such a show will satisfie a number Let vs be well aduis'd ere we resolue And then endeuour t' execute it soone If we our selues once in this worke involue And then not finishe it we are vndone Bes He hath sent one to Alexander late To speake of peace but did the same in vaine And now involu'd in a despair'd estate Bar'd from accorde he cannot warie sustaine His purpose is his Captaines to conuene To aske of them some counsell for his saftie A time more fit for vs could not haue beene Who minde to compasse Kings must needs be crafty For to atchieue that which we thinke to doe A course more fit we by no meanes could finde Then crooked seeming-vpright counsell to Disguise our practises and maske our minde We will aduise him to renounce a space His state to some one whom he may desire But for the fashion to accept his place And as himselfe a certaine time impyre Whose better fortune may perchance bring back That which his euer ebbing beares away Then he againe his Diademe shall take And as before the regall scepter sway Na. Well then amongst our selues t' auoid debate Which vndermines so many a mighty action I will preferre you to the imperiall seate And to approoue the same will frame my faction Bes All that is one which of vs two receiue it Since euery thing doth equallie belong vs I 'le take it for the forme not that I craue it For we will part his Empire all among vs. But if he condiscend to this we craue Which at the first vnfolding would seeme good Let him not thinke vs two such fooles to leaue That which so many Monarkes buy with blood Who once aduanc'd would willingly goe downe And not loue in authoritie to stand 'T is not the custome so to quite a Crowne When one hath know'n how sweet it 's to command This name of faith but to get credite fain'd If it were ballanc'd with a kingdome straight In them whose consciences are most restrain'd T' would soone succumbe a scepter hath such waight Na. Yet to betray our King we haue no reason When I muse on th' attempt it makes me sorrie Our name stain'd with this odious stile of treason Shall leaue our successours more shame then glorie We first must end all our designes with paine Then raigne with feare and liue securelie neuer As in a dreame a space with pompe remaine Then die disgrac'd infamie for euer The sacred title of a Soueraigne King Doth strike a terrour in my troubled thought And maiestie t' amaze my minde doth bring Whose aspect only hath great wonders wrought Bes To idle sounds and frivolous reports Giue thou a pasporte for they last not long And all that thou alledgest nought imports A Crowne may couer any kinde of wrong What hainous thing so odious is by nature That for a Kingdome hath not beene committed To be a King let me be cal'd a traitour Faith if for ought for this may be omitted Those are but feeble braines which fancies lode With timorous dreames that bare surmising brings Who feare vaine shaddowes must not come abrode Too warie-wits dare neuer worke great things If our braue proiect happilie succeede As now I doubt not but it shall do soone We straight will finde
accord That there can be a greater man than I While as I haue a heart a hand a sword An. Loe when prosperitie too much preuailes Aboue the iudgement thus of vulgar mindes As little barges burdend with great sailes They leape aloft being swolne with fortunes windes And as aduersitie the sprite refines From out the drosse of pride and passions base That vertue in affliction cleerest shines And makes one all the waies of wit to trace So good successe doth make the iudgement die Then whilst the fortunate their ease doe take And lulld asleepe in Pleasures meadowes lie As fatted for the slaughter ripe to shake Yet this the nature is of gallant men To rest being in no state too much inuolu'd When prospring best most warie and humble then If crossd then more couragious and resolu'd What though your first attempts renowned are By which you in two fields victorious stoode And did orethrow two thunderbolts of warre That lost their liues amidst a scarlet flood Yet is that course of victorie controlde And you haue tride what force your force exceedes Then let not wither'd Laurels make you bolde As still reposing on your by-past deedes For by the same t'an indignation mou'd The Macedonians all abhorre your name That at that time so prowde a conquerour prou'd And with their great mens slaughter wing'd your fame Eum. No fortune past so puffes vp my conceit That it contempt of further danger brings Nor am I so deiected now of late But I intend to doe farre greater things He by prosperitie made neuer prowde That knowes the frailtie of this earthly frame Can hardly by aduersitie be bowd The Sunne although eclipsd remaines the same Thinke not that worth consists in the successe As th' essence did on th' accidents depend The fault of fortune makes it not the lesse On which oft-times the hardest happes attend For Fortune beares not still the badge of worth Nor miserie the signes of gallant mindes Which yet still like themselues are sparkeling forth In euery state some tokens of their kindes Now at this time o're-match'd by numbrous powres I kept my courage though I lost the field And vaunt no more of it for some few howres May once to me the like aduantage yeelde And it 's not long since that to Fortune deere The world had neuer me but victor spide Though I protest before th'immortalls heere Moou'd by Necessitie and not by Pride Prowd Neopolemus that traitor still Not worthy of a Macedonians name Bent to betray the hoste and me to kill Had labord long to his eternall shame But of Craterus I lament the fall Whom for his vertue I did deerely loue And was constrain'd I Ioue to witnes call For my defence that last refuge to proue Ant. How fortun'd you your forces to dispose So well t' auoyd that storme of threatned harmes For then you had to deale with mightie foes That were in warre growne hoarie vnder armes Eum. When faithlesse Neoptolemus did spie That all his treason was t' our knowledge brought To th' enemies camp he sodainely did flie A foolish traitor that was false for nought There he informde or mis-informde my foes That haughtie through my victories of late I in my tent did carelesly repose Though not by force yet to b' orecomd by fate And further then t' Antipater he told That if the Macedonians at that time The countnance of Craterus might beholde They willingly would yeelde themselues to him Now they had labord earnestly before That I abandon would Perdiccas part And did protest that they would giue me more Than yet I had or hop'd for in my hart But Loue borne free cannot be thrald nor bought More than a shamefull peace I likde iust strife To generous mindes more deere than honour nought And ere I leaue my faith I le lose my life Thus being despair'd that I would proue their friend They sought in time t' orethrow me as their foe Where loue could not beginne that hate might end And came in haste bent to surprise me so But I that knew Neoptolemus-his slight Did him against the Macedonians bend And to conceale Craterus from their sight T' encounter him causde troupes of strangers tend This policie which none could iustly blame I with my selfe in secret did conspire And had my shirt bin priuie to the same It should haue bin an offring to the fire When once that the first game of death was past I Neoptolemus did toile to finde And he me too which happned at the last Two will do much to meet being of one minde Then whilst we met for whom both th' armies warr'd Whose fortune then depended on our hands All was performd that force or furie dar'd Bent by reuenge t' abate each th 'others bands And yet the heauens would not betray my trust Foule treason neuer had a fairer end The gods smilde on my cause because t' was iust And did destruction to the traitor send For forcde by him whose force he did despise Though fighting fiercely long he lost his breath As one more strong than true more stowt than wise Whose greatest honour was his honest death But weakned with huge woundes almost I diu'd In seas of blood being quite from knowledge straide Yet by so great a victorie reuiu'd My courage grew more than my strength decaid I hauing finisht thus this fatall strife Came where Craterus nere his course had runne Euen in the confines placde twixt death and life Whilst th' one was gone and th' other not begunne He with great valour had resisted long As all Briareus hands had moou'd his sword And did his Maisters memorie no wrong Being with his courage not his fortune stor'd What life refusde t' obtaine by death he sought For life and death are but indifferent things And of themselues not to be shund nor sought But for the good or th' euill that either brings With endlesse glorie bent t' exchange his breath Of desprate valour all the powre was prou'd And for great Captaines no more glorious death Then to die fighting with a minde vnmou'd When this daies toiles were drawne vnto an end Whilst th' armies courage with their captaine fell That I might safely shew my selfe a friend I went where death his senses did cancell And whilst I told how both to be betraid By Neoptolemus were brought about My woe with teares I to the world bewraid Milde pittie and true kindnes must burst out Ah if the newes of this my good successe Had comd in time vnto Perdiccas eares He might haue liu'd their pride now to represse That by his fall were first deuorcde from feares Ant. The humour of that man was too well knowne Could he haue parted other men from pride That was becomd a slaue vnto his owne And for the same forcde by his followers dide Eu. The prowd must stil be plagu'd by prowder ones There must be had sharp steele to smoothe rough stones An. No vice than pride doth greater hate procure Which foes doe
scorne and friends can not indure Eum. Yet maiestie must not it selfe deiect A loftie carriage doth procure respect Ant. A haughtie gesture shews a tyrants hart All loue a curteous countnance voyde of Art Eume. Yet maners too submisse as much condemnd Do make kings scornd and captains be contemnd An. A humble port kind looks words smooth and soft Are meanes by which great mindes may mount aloft Eum. Those are indeede for such as raise their flight They may doe more whose course is at the height A imperious form an empire must defend An. Thus hastned was Perdiccas to his end Eum That worthy man had many faire designes But vertue still by enuy is pursude Though as a candle in the night best shines It in a vitious age may best be viewd There was a man that scornd secure delights As prodigall of paines attemptiue bold A strict obseruer of all th' antient rites And th' vncorrupted discipline of old He lou'd to haue the souldiers of his band Chusd at the musters not in markets bought And would not flatter where he might command More meete t' enioy than seeke that which he sought But souldiers now in this degenerd age Are fawnd on by faint mindes bribde in such sort That hauing still the reines loosd to their rage They cannot with so straight a course comport For that which was misfortune knowne to all Their malice as misgouernement did cite All things must help th' vnhappy man to fall They thus spewd forth the poison of their spite For hating his franke forme and naked wordes By that occasion whetting their desires They in their captaines bodie sheathd their swords A deede which euen barbaritie admires Those trait'rous troups may spot the purest bands If for a fact so vile they be excusde This will set swords in all our souldiers hands Against vs and not for vs to be vsde Antig. I would be glad that souldiers neuer thought But that thing which their Generalls first conceiu'd Much lesse t' attempt against their bodies ought The which by them as sacred should be sau'd Nor like I captaines that like blustring windes Would ouer their troupes triumph as tyrants still Without regard to merites or to mindes As carried headlong with a blinded will From selfe-presumption first pride borrowes might Which with contempt being matchd both do conspire And twixt them bring base crueltie to light Th' abhorred of-spring of a hated sire Such of Perdiccas was th' excessiue pride The vice from which that viler vice proceedes That it strange wayes for his aduauncement tride And did burst forth in most prodigious deeds The murder of Melâ—ager first began To tell what tyrants harbourd in his hart To whom faith giuen nor yet the church he wan Though sacred both no safety could impart And being by him constraind to quite the field The guiltlesse Capadocians desprate bands Chose rather than to that prowd victor yeelde To perish by the powre of their owne hands Yet what against his foes he did performe From martiall mindes might pleade for some excuse Whilst vindicatiue thoughts that wrongd do storme In th' irritated minde did furie infuse But yet why sought he in a seruile sort T' extend his tyrannie euen towards his friends That could not with disdainfull formes comport More than an enemies yoke a friends offends And when of late by Ptolomie constraind He brought his bands with disaduantage backe How by the same his gouernement was staind The world can witnesse by his armies wracke But Hate being iudge each error seemes a crime Then whilst the present aggrauates what 's gone His souldiers moou'd by fortune and the time Did by his death venge all their wrongs in one Eum. As noughtsmells well to a distemperd taste So to conceits preoccupied before Euen good seemes bad in them that they detest Men must mislike when they can like no more To you that loath'd Perdiccas and his state What came of him could neuer yet seeme good And I not wonder though your soule did hate One that had right and powre to take your blood For fled from him to whom you once belongd His trumpet still breath'd terror in your eare Then all men hate those whom they once haue wrong'd And by no meanes can loue them whom they feare Antig. That which you speake of hate in loue I spy Loue cannot finde an imperfection forth But doth excuse extenuate or denie Faults where it likes with shaddowes of no woorth I left Perdiccas but did him no wrong That first to take my life all meanes did prooue I told t' Antipater how he so long Had bin abusde by a pretended loue For as I frankly loue whilst lou'd againe If me the ingrate ingrately do aquite Straight kindling furie with a iust disdaine I by loue past proportion then my hate And yet Eumenes I commend thy minde That to defend thy friend hast prou'd so free And since in loue so constantly inclinde I would contract a friendship firme with thee Then where that now thy state hath bin brought low Since spoilde of him in whom thou didst repose Whilst aided by our powre thou great may grow And raise thy hopes of kingdomes to dispose Eum. I le be your friend whilst friend to right you rest For without vertue friendship is but vaine Which cannot build in a polluted breast Whose impious thoughts doe sacred things prophane So long as th' oath is kept that once was sworne Both t' Alexanders selfe and t' all his race Still shall this sword for your defence be borne But in my heart they hold the highest place And do not thus as ouer one vanquish'd vaunt Nor think me thrall'd thogh once by chance ore-thrown Whilst ther 's a world aduenturers cannot want I le tosse all states t' establish once mine owne Exeunt ACT. IIII. SCENE II. Cassander Lisimachus ANd must we buy our pompe at such a rate That beare th' authoritie or whom it beares O O! how thornie are the wayes of state With open dangers pau'd and secret feares Each of our steps is waited with some snare Whilst from our selues we all repose repell And through the waues of greatnesse tossde with care Do seeke a hauen whose heauen is but a hell Lisim Whilst Eolus and Neptune ioyn'd in all With windes and waues beat th' earth and bost the skies The tumbling mountaines doe not rise and fall Though ech of them another doth surprise As do th' aspiring potentates with doubt Tossd through the wauing world on stormie thornes That are as in a circle hurlde about Ascending and discending both at once Lo some whose hope would by their birth haue seem'd Within the compasse of contempt confinde Haue from the vulgar yoke themselues redeemde To doefarre more than such could haue design'd And some to whom the heauens mishaps will giue Though on their breath the breath of thousands hings Lo whiles brought low cannot haue leaue to liue Made lesse then subiects that were more than kings Cass Thus some
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
For whilst there stands a world can Caesar fall Though thousand thousands were coniurd in one I and my fortune might confound them all Cal. No none of those my minde doth miscontent That vndisguisde still like themselues remaine Vnlookt for harmes are hardest to preuent There is no guard against concealde disdaine But in whom further can your trust repose Whom danger now ouer all by all attends Where priuate men but onely feare their foes Oft kings haue greatest cause to feare their frends For since being trusted fittest to betray Those vnto whom ones fauour force affords May for his life the worst ambushments lay Whilst falsest hearts are hid with fairest words And some report though priuately yet plaine That Dolabella and Antonius now By your destruction do pretend t' obtaine That which you keepe by making all men bow Caesar No corpulent sanguinians make me feare That with more paine their beards than th' enimies strike And doe themselues like th' epicurians beare To Bacchus Mars and Venus borne alike Their hearts do alwayes in their mouthes remaine As streams whose murmuring shews the course not deep Then still they loue to sport though grosse and plaine And neuer dreame of ought but when they sleep But those high sprites that hold their bodies downe Whose visage leane their restlesse thoughts records Whilst they their cares depth in their bosoms drowne Their silence feares me more than th 'others words Thus Cassius now and Brutus seeme to hold Some great thing in their mind whose fire whiles smoks What Brutus would he vehemently would Thinke what they like I like not their pale lookes Yet with their worth this cannot well agree In whom of vertue th' image seeme to shine Can those that haue receiu'd their liues from me Prooue so ingrate againe as to take mine Dare Cassius me pursue new hopes to haue At th' Helespont that fortune feard to trie And like a dastard did his Gallies leaue In all saue corage though more strong than I Shall I suspect that Brutus seekes my blood Whose safetie still I tendred with such care Who when the heauens from mortalls me seclude Is only worthy to be Caesars heire Cal. The corners of the heart are hard to know Though of those two the world the best doth deeme Yet do not trust too much th' externall show For men may differ much from what they seeme None oft more fierce than those that look most mild Impietie sometime appeares deuout And that the world the more may be beguilde Whiles Vice can clothe it selfe with Vertues cote Though that they haue long since laid hatred downe By benefits bestow'd you might attend There 's no respect can counterpoise a crowne Ambition hath no bounds nor greed no end Through vindicatiue hate and emulous pride Since some your person some your place pursue All threatned dangers to preuent prouide Being wise in time lest out of time you rue Caes No armor is that can hold treason out Cal. T' affright your foes with bands be backt about Caes So dastard tyrants striue themselues to beare Cal. It better is to giue than to take feare Caes No stronger guard than is the peoples loue Calp. But nought in th' earth dooth more inconstant proue Caes Guardes shewing feare t' inuade me men might tempt Cal. Guardes would put them from hope you from contempt Caes My breast from terror hath bin alwayes cleare Cal. When one feares least oft daunger lurkes most neare Caes It 's better once to die than still feare death Cal. But worst of all to fall by th' enemies wrath Caes I le not dis-taste my present pleasures so By apprehending what may chaunce to come This world affords but too much time for woe Whilst crosses come contentment to orecome By ioyes in time we must imbrace reliefe That when they end we in some measure may By their remembrance mitigate the griefe Which still attends all those on th' earth that stay I thinke the Senate is assembled now And for my comming doth beginne to gaze I le goe condignely once t' adorne my brow And feast mine eares by drinking in due praise Cal. Stay stay deere Lord retire thy steps againe And spare one day to prorogate whole yeares Let not this ominous day beginne thy raigne That fatall and vnfortunate appeares An Astrologian through the world renownde Thy horoscopes iust calculation layes And doth affirme as he by signes hath found That th' Ides of March doe boast to bound thy dayes Walke not this days where harmes may be receiu'd Since by no great necessity being forede For though his iudgement may be farre deceiu'd In things that touch thy life suspect the worst Caes Whilst I reform'd the Calender by fits That long disordred th' order of the yeare I waded through the depths of all their wits That of the starres the mysteries make cleare Those pregnant sprites that walke betwixt the poles And lodge at all the zodiackes seuerall signes Do reade strange wonders wrapt in th' azure scroules Of which our deedes are wordes our liues are lines By speculation of superior powres Some Natures secrets curious are to know As how celestiall bodies rule ouer ours And what their influence effects below Yea they sometime may strange coniectures make Of those whose parts they by their birth doe proue Since naturally all inclination take From Planets then predominant aboue And yet no certaintie can so be had Some vertuously against their starres haue striu'd As Socrates that grew though borne but bad The most accomplisht man that euer liu'd But of the houre ordain'd to close our lights No earth-clogd soule can to the knowledge come For O the destinies farre from our sights In clowds of darknes haue inuolu'd our doome And some but onely guesse at great mens falles By bearded comets and prodigious starres Whose sight-distracting shapes the world appalles As still denouncing terrour death or warres The time vncertaine is of certaine death And that fantastike man farre past his bounds He is too bold that with ambiguous breath Not speaks of things to come whose deeps none sounds Cal. But this all day did my repose extort And from my breast of cares a tribute clam'd Now vilipend not that which I le report Though but a dreame and by a woman dreamd I thought alas the thought yet wounds my breast Then whilst we both as those whom Morpheus weds Lay softly buried with a pleasant rest I in thy bosome thou within the beds Then from my soule strange terrours did withdrawe Th' exspected peace by apprehended harmes For I imagin'd no no doubt I saw And did imbrace thee bloodie in mine armes Thus whilst my soule by sorrowes was surchargde Of which huge weight it yet some burden beares I big with griefe two elements enlargde Th' aire with my sighes the water with my teares Caesar That which I heard with thy report accords Whilst thou all seemd dissolu'd in griefe at once A heauy murmuring made with mangled words Was interrupted