loue of death now prayes the hypocrite Nights silent reigne had robb'd the World of light To lend in lieu a greater benefit Repose and sleepe when euery mortall brest Whom care or griefe permitted tooke their rest But Cato's brest was not alone set free From perturbation and anxietie By vertues constant vse for soft repose Or sleepe the common end but to compose And raise it selfe vnto an act more high The contemplation of eternitie In contemplation the vntroubled Soule Parts from the bodies bonds free from controule Of fleshly passions by no cares distracted Not as in sleepe she does to lie contracted Within her selfe and from all action cease But to imploy her purest faculties At nobler distance where no sense of sight Or outward organ can direct her flight There by her selfe the Soule can take suruey Of those high glorious bodies which display Obiects too bright for sense in their owne light Some beames and glimpses of that infinite Eternall essence from whose fulnesse they Deriue their beauties there the Soule would stay Or wishes that from lets corporeall free She might what now she cannot plainly see Those formes and does in that desire imply Her owne vndoubted immortalitie But ere the minde of man can fitted be To search the depth of true Philosophy It must be purg'd by morall rules and freed From impious lusts from vice of thought and deed And as a wise Physitian euer giues Before his medicines cleane preparatiues So let no Soule contemplate till it be Prepar'd and purg'd by sound moralitie First let it practise vertue here before With contemplations wings it dare to soare In search of that which is the perfect'st good And height of all that can be vnderstood Lest as in Physicke th' vnpurg'd humours may Distract the medicines working force so they Not purg'd from vices through false glasses see And oft deceiu'd in speculation be Vnto thy selfe first morall Physicke giue And then securely be contemplatiue So cleans'd was Cato's soule and fit was he For strictest precepts of Philosophy Since vertues paths which rough to others seeme Long vse had made habituall to him To whom the Fates present as now on high His thoughts were soaring to eternitie An obiect fit casting his eye aside Diuinest Plato's Phaedon he espy'd Oh welcome Booke sent from the gods quoth he To teach a dying man Philosophy And though thou canst not further or controule The resolution of my fixed soule Since Fate has doom'd my end yet may'st thou giue Comfort to those few houres I haue to liue Man's Soule immortall is whilest here they liue The purest mindes for perfect knowledge striue Which is the knowledge of that glorious God From whom all life proceeds in this abode Of flesh the Soule can neuer reach so high So reason tells vs if the Soule then die When from the bodies bonds she takes her flight Her vnfulfill'd desire is frustrate quite And so bestow'd in vaine it followes then The best desires vnto the best of men The great Creator did in vaine dispence Or else the Soule must liue when gone from hence And if it liue after the body fall What reason proues that it should die at all Since not compounded as the body is And mixt of euer-fighting contraries But one pure substance like it selfe and may By reasons rules subsist alone for aye And though we yeeld that God who did create Can if he please againe annihilate The Soule and nothing in that sense can be Indissoluble saue the Deitie Yet Soules which in their nature doe agree So neare with that shall nere dâ—ssolued be Till they at last their wished end attaine And so immortall by themselues remaine True grounds quoth he diuine Philosopher Else what were vertue or true knowledge here But waking dreames Why more than beasts should we Oblige our selues to Lawes of pietie Or curbe our lusts Oh why should vertue be Iudg'd by the wisest true felicitie Before wealth honour pleasure Vertue here Does not alas so beautifull appeare But poore and wretched rather nor is she Vnlesse which in this life we doe not see Some fairer substance or true forme she haue Ought but an emptie name or Fortunes slaue The wisest men are glad to die no feare Of death can touch a true Philosopher Death sets the Soule at libertie to flie And search the depth of that Diuinitie Which whilest imprison'd in the body here She cannot learne a true Philosopher Makes death his common practice while he liues And euery day by contemplation striues To separate the soule farre as he can From off the body what 's the death of man But separation of those two Should he That euery day did striue in some degree To gaine this freedome feare it at the time When nature has allotted it to him Would birds incag'd that with all motions trie And seeke all wayes to gaine their libertie The cage set ope refuse to flie from thence Nay more haue louers in impatience Forc'd out their liues and violently fled Into the other World to finde their dead Deare loues And should the Soule which here below Clos'd in the body euery day did wooe And court that knowledge which is perfect blisse Refuse to goe and finde it where it is Then when the gods haue open'd her the way But here till then the Soule is bound to stay Nor must she leaue her station till that God Dee call her hence that gaue her this abode Here Cato stopt and paws'd is death quoth he Vnlawfull then till rude necessitie Inforce a man to taste it And must I Weare this loath'd life till Caesar bid me die Is not the fatall ouerthrow so late In Thapsus fields and ruine of the State Necessitie of death enough for me May I not thinke the gods in that decree The death of Cato But must hold my hand Expecting till the Conquerour command And giue more power to him whose lawlesse might Already has vsurp'd aboue his right Or begge for life acknowledging him so My Lord whom iustly I adiudg'd Romes foe So saue my life by sinning or elâ—e die With one sinne more if mercy he deny But this sure hand shall saue that hazard now Plato and all diuinest Lawes allow Rather than act a crime a man should die Should I take life from Caesar's clemencie It would be iudg'd by all what ere were ment I did approue of Caesar's gouernment How great a crime might mine example proue How great a wrong to Rome and all that loue Her Lawes and liberties Great Pompey's sonnes That now doe arme the Westerne regions And for their Countrie yet intend to fight Might thinke themselues excus'd if I submit And from their iustest resolution swerue When old free Cato were content to serue I le trie since most assur'd the Soules doe liue What Lawes to vs the other World will giue For sure the gods ' mongst Soules departed hence Twixt good and bad will put a difference Those happy Soules that while they liued
to the Senate and bestow That one poore day if not vpon his owne Deare safetie yet vpon her feares alone And grant to her as much as to a wife Was due of int'rest in a husbands life That he those Spanish guards would entertaine Which had so lately beene dismiss'd againe That safe preuention of a danger neere Was Noble still and could be stiled feare No more than scorning the gods threats could be True fortitude or magnanimitie Caesar replies Ah deare Calphurnia Dearer to me than that life-breath I draw Would'st thou forbeare thy griefe it could not lie Within the power of any prodigie To make this day a sad one should I here Begin to learne that superstitious feare Of fatall dayes and houres what day to me Could ere hereafter from such feares be free I onely should my wretched life torment And not my destin'd time of death preuent But liue for euer with vaine feares diseas'd When ere Astrologers or Augurs pleas'd Euery beasts entrailes were a care to me And flight of euery bird a malady If Caesar's danger grow from discontent Of Rome not one dayes absence can preuent Nor scarce repriue my Fate and once to die Better than euer feare conspiracie What good can strongest guards on me conferre But make me liue perpetuall prisoner Why should I feare the peoples discontent Who now enioy vnder my gouernment More wealth more safetie and prosperitie Than by my death they could The death of me That haue already reach'd the height of all Glory and State that can to man befall And wrought my farthest ends can neuer be So much mine owne as their calamitie Who will againe with Ciuâ—ll iarres be rent And wish a safe and setled gouernment Oh doe not feare thy dreame Calphurnia Nor sad presages from such trifles draw If dreames were fatall Loue sleepe were not rest Since most our cares would be by sleepe increast But if they were presages tell me then For our two dreames to night haue different beene Which should preuaile Me thought I flew aboue The loftie Cloudes and touch'd the hand of Joue And to my selfe did seeme more great and high Than ere before what but felicitie Should this portend I dare not now suspect In calmest peace those powers that did effect My roughest warres Oh let no sad surmise With causelesse griefe distaine Calphurnia's eyes Aurora now from Tâ—thon's purple bed Arose and th' Easterne skie discoloured Gaue cheerefull notice of th' approaching Sunne When forth through Rome th' officious clients â—unne The Palace all with early visitants Was fill'd to wait when Caesar would aduance Forth to the Senate striuing to be seene Neere th' earthly Sunne and in his raies to shine Some to doe grace and grace receiue from him Some like malignant cloudes prepar'd to dim Or in eclipse eternall bury quite Before the set of Phaebus Caesar's light Among the rest did Decimus attend With fained seruice and the name of friend To Fatall ends abusing hasten'd on Perswaded Caesar to destruction Though ere they goe the Sacrifices all Threatning and blacke appear'd and did appall The fearefull Priests who from those entrailes show Portent of dire calamitie and woe Some Bulls they could not at the Altar stay Who breaking thence fled through the streets away In others which were slaine and open'd there None but th' infernall gods deign'd to appeare The hearts were perish'd and corruption flow'd Through all the vitall parts blacke was the blood The burning entrailes yeelded onely fume No flame at all but darkely did consume Mouldring away to ashes and with blacke Vnsauoury clouds through th' aire a darkenesse make But Caesar maugre what the entrailes threat Vndaunted passes on how wondrous great Is Destiny and as he goes neglects That Scroll presented to him which detects The whole conspiracy which as of small Import he pockets vp not read at all And enters Pompey's bloody Court led on By powerfull Fate to his destruction Where ominously receiu'd he mounts his high Dictator's Sell of Gold and Iuory The Lords obeisance make in humblest wise When different passions in their brests arise Euen those bold hearts that vow'd his Tragedy Almost relent the mans great Maiestie That awfull Fortune that did still attend His deeds in all extremes a constant friend Produce a feare t' encounter discontent Nor doe their fancies onely him present Inuincible in open field as when He stood enuiron'd with his armed men But such as when alone he wrought his ends Aided by none but Fortune as his friends As when he scap'd th' Aegyptian treachery When he appeas'd his Souldiers muteny Or when the stormy Seas he crossed ore By night and safely reach'd Brundusium's shore And why should not that friendly Fortune now As then thinke they preuent his ouerthrow And to their ruine quite defeat the plot But shame forbid them to relent the knot Among too many conscious brests was ty'd To let them start and on the other side Reuenge encourag'd by the multitude Of Actors enter'd and all feares subdu'd First to his Sell bold Cimber made approach And seiz'd his Purple robe at whose rude touch While Caesar's wrath together with amaze Began to rise the rest from euery place Drawne neere no longer hiding their intent The fatall Ponyards to his brest present The first wound on him Casca did bestow Whose Ponyard Caesar wresting to his foe Returnes a stabbe backe for the stabbe he gaue Striuing in vaine with one poore strength to saue A life assaulted by so many hands No succours could approach no guard nor bands Of aiding friends were nigh that courage quite Was lost that nere was lost before in fight Vntill enfeebled by a deeper wound And by inuading death enuiron'd round Hopelesse he hides his face and fixed stands T' endure the fury of reuenging hands Repressing groanes or words as loth to shame His former life or dying staine the fame Of those great deeds through all the World exprest These silent thoughts reuoluing in his brest Yet has not Fortune chang'd nor giuen the power Of Caesar's head to any Conquerour By no Superiours proud command I die But by subiected Romes conspiracy Who to the World confesses by her feares My State and strength to be too great for hers And from earths highest Throne sends me to be By after-ages made a Deitie Through many wounds his life disseized fled At last and he who neuer vanquished By open warre with blood and slaughter strew'd So many lands with his owne blood embrew'd The seat of wronged Iustice and fell downe A sacrifice t' appease th' offended gowne FINIS Plat. Phaed.
here By pure and perfect contemplation were Abstracted from the body that with true Desires did oft the heauenly beauties view Shall thither goe when they from hence are fled To haue their ioyes and knowledge perfected Within the Heauens shall they for euer be Since here with Heauen they made affinitie But those darke Soules which drowned in the flesh Did neuer dreame of future happinesse That while they liued here beleeu'd or lou'd Nothing but what the bodies taste approu'd When they depart from hence shall feare the sight Of Heauen nor dare t' approach that glorious light But wander still in dismall darknesse neere Their bodies whom alone they loued here Those sad and ghastly visions which to sight Of frighted people doe appeare by night About the Tombes and Graues where dead men lie Are such darke Soules condemn'd t' accompany Their bodies there which Soules because they be Grosse and corporeall men doe therefore see How different shall the Soules condition be If this quoth he be true Philosophy As true it is nor doe I thinke it lesse If vertue be the way to happinesse And that be vertue which we men haue thought What in-bred reason to our Soules has taught And Lawes commanded vs if such thou be Oh vertue Cato still has follow'd thee And neuer from thy hardest precepts sweru'd Nere has this Soule the bodies pleasures seru'd What doubts can shake my long securitie But doubts where frailtie is will euer be Farewell fraile World what here we cannot see I goe to finde cleare truth and certaintie Then with a fatall stroke he pierc'd his brest At noise of which his seruants vainely prest In to preuent the Fate nor could they lend Helpe to his life but trouble to his end Who sadly shew'd death could not be deny'd And rending wider his large wound he dy'd The Citizens with honour did interâ—e That spotlesse mansion of a Soule so cleare Caesar from Thapsus now secur'd from foes By that full conquest to Vzzita goes With ease possessing there all Scipio's store Of corne and armes and where the Sword before Threaten'd his march where horrid dangers lay And ambushes he now findes quiet way To Adâ—umetum backe where he bestowes A cheerefull pardon on his yeelding foes Since now all Affricke from his feares was free And Fortune had secur'd his clemency Marching away to Vtica from thence Humbly receiu'd by all the Citizens Who then solemniz'd Cato's funerall He sigh'd and thus complain'd Why did'st thou fall Oh enuious man Rather than not depriue Caesar of honour Cato could not liue How sadly cruell hast thou beene to me Against thy selfe to wrong my clemency And shew thy death a greater enemy Than all thy liuing power or armes could be To kill my ioyes thou dy'st choosing to be Lamented rather than embrac'd by me It is my sorrow not my loue is sought What strange rewards haue all my mercies got That greatest Romans rather chose to flie To death it selfe than to my clemency So haplesse Pompey while he fled from me Durst rather trust th' Aegyptian treachery And there to perish by ignoble hands Than liue with Caesar thinking barbarous lands Better than Rome with vs but he againe Hop'd to repaire his strength thou in disdaine Of Caesar dy'st but yet my goodnesse shall Orecome thy enuy and quiâ—e frustrate all Thy scope in death I le giue all dues to thee Thy sonne in honour shall remaine with me And to the World shall witnesse thou didst die By thine owne enuy not my crueltie Then to his grace he takes th' inhabitants Of Vtica and for his armies wants Commands prouision and while there he stayes The Cities walls and fortresses suruayes Walking not farre from off the Towne he saw Vpon the sandy banke of Bagrada Which slowly there his muddy waues doth moue Within that Countrey rare a stately groue Not wide in circuit where an awfull shade The meering boughs exiling Phaebus made That shady groue whilest with a curious eye Caesar suruey'd he chanced to espy Within a deepe and vast descent of ground The iawes of Taenarus that balefull bound Twixt earth and hell is not a blacker roome To which they say the ghosts infernall come A Caue there was in which no cheering light At all ere peep'd but sad and drery night A squallid filth and mouldinesse had made From whence exhaled stinches did inuade The vpper aire Whilest Caesar in amaze Doth neerely view the horrour of the place His longing thoughts a Libyan standing by Taught by tradition thus doth satisfie This denne Oh Caesar which for many a yeare Hath emptie stood and freed the land from feare A monstrous Serpent by Heauens vengeance bred The plague of Affrick once inhabited The earth a greater monster neuer bare Not Hydra might with this dire Snake compare Nor that great Dragon whose still waking eyes Medea charm'd when Colcho's golden prize The venturous Iason bore to Thessaly Nor that as great and watchfull too as he Whom great Alcides conquer'd to possesse The glittering orchard of th' Hesperides Nor though the Sunne that mighty Python slew Did ere the Sunne a greater Serpent view The seuerall Snakes that out of Libya's slime Are bred might all haue beene combin'd in him Nor could Medusa's head had all the blood At one place fall'n produce a greater brood A hundred ells in length was his extent When he vpon this side the riuer went With his long necke stretch'd out what ere he spy'd With ease he seized from the other side With Lions here he fill'd his hungry maw That came to drinke the streames of Bagrada And fiercest Tigers all besmear'd with blood Of cattell slaine became themselues his food When first the Roman armies sailing ore And threatning Carthage on the Libyan shore Were led by Regulus whose tragicke fall Sadly renown'd the Spartan Generall Here then this hideous monster did remaine The army marching on you spatious plaine Three Roman Souldiers by ill Fate drew neere To quench their fiery thirst the riuer here And tempted by these shady trees to shunne A while the scorching fury of the Sunne Entring the wood downe to the streame they stoope And take in helmets the coole liquour vp When suddenly surpris'd with chilling feare A horrid hissing through the aire they heare And from the den the Serpents head appeares At once amazing both their eyes and eares What should they doe For helpe they could not call The Serpents hissing loud had filled all The wood nor strength nor hearts had they to fight Nor scarce did any hope appeare by flight Nor could their trembling hands the helmets hold When straight the Serpent from his scaly fold Shot forth and seized one who calling on His fellowes names in vaine was swallowed downe And buried in the Monsters hungry maw His horrid destiny when th' other saw They leapt into the streame to saue their liues But that alas to them no safetie giues For forth his long twin'd necke the Serpent stretch'd And swimming Hauens in
she view'd her virgin face Nor euer so did any Triumph grace Romes power as this had done nor yet in all Those former Bayes which deckt the Capitoll If here her selfe no part at all had beene Of the subdu'd had she more glory seene But lest these honours should not seeme to be Enough for Caesar by a new decree The Senatours before he enter Rome Make him Dictator for ten yeares to come And three yeares Censor that it might be showne How Caesar's conquering power had ouerthrowne Their liberties together with the fall Of barbarous Nations In the Capitoll He in a Charriot was aduanc'd to sit To Ioue himselfe directly opposite A Globe terrestriall not farre from thence Display'd in short the vast circumference Of all the earth on which his Statue trod With this inscription He 's a demy-god Swell'd with the Senates flattering decrees And fortune of so many victories Does Caesâ—r now in Pompe triumphant come His loftie Charriot through the streets of Rome By snow-white Horses drawne more bright by farre Than those fam'd Steeds which in the Troian warre From slaughter'd Rhesus tent Tydides tooke Before they drunke of Xanthus Chrystall brooke Or cropt the Troian pastures a vaine aid To falling Ilion the first night betray'd Declare ye sisters of the Thespian spring For you remember well and well can sing In those foure Triumphs which the people saw Ore Aegypt Pontus France and Libya How many captiu'd people sadly went In habits tongues and visage different Before Great Caesar's Charriot shewing there With different gestures their disdaine or feare How many lands and stately Cities there Display'd in his triumphall tables were Where skilfull hands had wouen to delight So many Nations seuerall kindes of fight With his proud conquests and succesfull toiles By which were borne the armes and wealthy spoiles Of vanquish'd Princes Crownes of burnish'd gold For all the wondring people to behold But if ye Muses in so high a State Disdaine to mourne for each plebeian Fate Yet passe not slightly by that princely Gaule Stout Vercingetorix for whose great fall Some hearts relented there whose stubborne thought Could not at all in nine yeares warre be taught To brooke with patience the proud yoke of Rome Who now reseru'd for death by Caesar's doome Before the Charriot a chain'd Captiue went Striuing in vaine t' orecome the discontent Of that dayes shame and though his hands were ty'd Shaking his blacke curl'd lockes he sought to hide His angry front whil'st his vndaunted looke Seem'd more to wish than feare deaths fatall stroke Another obiect though vnlike to this Yet fall'n alike from height of worldly blisse Mou'd the beholders hearts they earn'd to see The tender beauties of Arsinoë A virgin a branch of Lagus royall Stem That once had worne th' Aegyptian Diadem By Fortune throwne into so low a state Of bondage now pittying her changed fate Those snow-white armes that did a Scepter hold Oh mocke of Fortune manicled in gold Although for her a gentler doome then death Remaine and Caesar's pitie spare her breath Or else his ends in loue restore her backe Againe to Aegypt for her sisters sake How much alas had there her blood beene spilt Had Fortune tane from Cleopatra's guilt For all the fauour which t' Arsinoë Rome shew'd repriu'd her but a while to be In after-times her sisters crime and die By Cleopatra's foule impietie But that in Libya's triumph which aboue All other obiects might deserue to moue A iust compassion if true innocence In misery may iustly moue the sense Was young Prince Iuba led in chaines the sonne Of that great Juba whose dominion From Mauritania's farthest Westerne end To Thera's sands so lately did extend Whose puissant hand a prouder Scepter bore Than euer Libyan Monarch did before This poore b young Prince by Fortune seem'd to be Brought as a spectacle of misery Depriu'd so lately of so many lands And ere his yeares could act a crime in bands But Oh how blinde are mortall eyes that day Of seeming woe first made the glorious way To Iuba's future happinesse and he Was farre more blest in that captiuitie Than if his Fathers greatnesse still had stood Train'd vp at Rome he gain'd a truer good And freed from barbarisme was taught to know What Rome or learned Athens could bestow Adorning so his minde as wisest men In euery age admir'd his happy pen. So that to grace his future prosperous reigne For great Augustus hand restor'd againe This captiue Iuba to a kingly Throne A lasting name his Histories haue wonne And fame vnto his natiue Libya giue Where with himselfe those mention'd Kings shall liue When brazen Monuments are eat with rust And marble Columnes time shall bruise to dust And had the Ponticke King c Pharnaces beene In person there and by the people seene That obiect well had ballanc'd with delight The others ruth but he was scap'd by flight Whose absence one proud sentence must supply J came I saw and vanquish'd th' enemy But those sad stories which the tables show More than the liuing spectacles could doe Affect the peoples hearts for there although No vanquish'd Roman might a captiue goe The bleeding wounds of Rome it selfe are spread And each man there his owne deare losse may read For mixt with forren conquests with the falls Of barbarous Captaines Princes of the Gaules With dying Juba drowned Ptolomey Those enuious tables to the eyes display Domestike losse and in sad figures tell By Caesar's Sword what vanquish'd Romans fell Here with King Iuba old Peâ—reius dies Here slaughter'd Sylla there Afranius lies There Damasippus and Torquatus fall And here Oh wofull sight Romes Generall The Noble Scipio by his owne hand slaine Falls bleeding downe into the watery maine And sinking leaues a Noble crimson dye On Neptunes face but what true Roman eye Refrain'd from teares when he beheld the fall Of matchlesse Cato who in spight of all His friends preuention dy'd and wider tore With his owne hands the wounds he made before Yet ' mongst so many wofull stories showne One Noble name was spar'd one Fate alone Was thought too sad nor to the peoples eye Durst they present Great Pompey's tragedy For feare so great a sorrow might outweigh The pompous ioyes of that triumphant day But that conceal'd which most of all was sought Remain'd more deeply fixt in euery thought And they without a picture can supply Each part of his lamented History What tongue what pen can at the height relate Each sumptuous part of that so enuy'd State The publike feasts rare spectacles deuis'd And games by all the people exercis'd Who without number flock'd to doe him grace When all the Senate from the Iulian Place Waited him home and seem'd not then to be The Worlds high Lords but Caesar's family And as they passe to gild their pompous way Numberlesse lights the Elephants display Vpon their captiue backes and mouing through The streets like heauenly Constellations show Like those great beasts which
flies Alone to charge th' amazed enemies Who till their wonder was expell'd by hopes Awhile made stand at last from all the troops ' Gainst Caesar's head whole stormes of Iauelins come Some in his shield he does receiue and some Auoids declining of his body downe Till shame not courage brought his Souldiers on To saue their Generall and ' gainst the foe They doe begin a fight so a furious now As if with this new rage they would appeare To recompence their ignominious b feare Th'auxiliary troops on either side Gaue backe and left the battell to be try'd By none but Roman hands who man to man And foot to foot a constant fight began With so great horrour as who had beheld Pharsalia's fight or Thapsus bloody field Would haue esteem'd those furies light and thought He nere saw warre till Munda's field was fought Both Generalls alike twixt hope and feare With needlesse speeches their fierce Souldiers cheare Till weary'd with the toile they both retire And from two little hills behold the dire Encounter of their men when Caesar's eyes That drie had view'd whole Nations tragedies Began to melt and whilest bright victory Ore both the armies houer'd doubtfully Caesar and Pompey had forgot their hopes And onely pity'd their engaged troops Fearing both armies in the place would die And leaue no conquest but one tragedie A balefull silence on the sudden then Possest the field no showts of fighting men Were heard as if they labour'd to keepe in Their sp'rits for action hands alone were seene To moue and write in bloody Characters Their deepe resolues young Pompey's Souldiers Beyond this day disdaine to hope at all And Caesar's men promise in Pompey's fall To all their toiles a rich and quiet close And that the World no more can finde them foes At last the battells fortune seem'd to leane To Pompey's side and Caesar's fainting men Gaue backe apace nor scarce with all their might Could the Centurions stay their open flight When Caesar arm'd with high despaire preparing The fatall Ponyard which he wore and baring His manly brest thus speakes Oh Fortune now I see thou wants not power to ouerthrow What ere thou build'st but I accuse not thee Enough already hast thou done for me Enough haue thy transcendent fauours grac'd My liues whole course should'st thou not change at last Perhaps the erring World might censure me More than a man and thee no Deitie I that so long haue thy high fauours knowne Can thus securely entertaine thy frowne There had he dy'd but as kinde mothers doe Oft let their children neere to dangers goe That then when they perceiue them most afraid They may the more endeare their timely aid So Fortune findes an vnexpected way To saue his Fate whilest yet his men made stay And kept the field King Bogud that without The battell stood wheeles suddenly about To seize young Pompey's Campe which to preuent Leauing his station Labienus went And with him drew fiue cohorts from the fight Which action chang'd the battells fortune quite Whilest haplesse errour through both armies flew And Pompey's battell suddenly orethrew For misconceit that Labienus fled Had quite disheartened his owne side and bred In Caesar's Souldiers most assured hopes Nor could young Pompey stay his flying troops Too late alas it was to make them know What haplesse errour caus'd their ouerthrow For routed once ore all the field they flie A prey to the pursuing enemie Vnhappie Attius Varus where he stood Enuiron'd round with carcasses and blood Varus that twice before a warre had led ' Gainst Caesar's fortune and twice vanquished When he had labour'd long in vaine to stay His flying men loth to out-liue the day Or longer keepe that often conquer'd breath Now rushes boldly on to finde a death Amid'st the thickest of his enemies And gladly there on all their weapons dies But when alas sad Labienus view'd How great and swift a ruine had ensu'd Vpon his haplesse action cursing Fate And his owne dire misfortue too too late Seeking to ralley his disorder'd troops He cryes 't is I that haue vndone the hopes Of wretched Rome 't is I haue lost the day Through this dire brest take your reuenging way And expiate this fatall ouerthrow Or Caesar's swords shall take reuenge for you Then like a Libyan Lion round beset Arm'd with a high despaire and rage as great Carelesse of wounds or weapons forth he goes To sell a loathed life deere to his foes Till by a thousand swords at last he dies And to the shades his angry spirit flies Pompey perceiues his army ouerthrowne And now the losse irreparable growne And though he see no cause that should inuite Him to out-liue the fury of the fight His owne fresh youth perswades him t' entertaine A future hope to raise his State againe High mounted on a Spanish Steed he flies Leauing in field his routed Companies With speed Carteia's harbour to attaine And saile from thence but to disastrous Spaine Sterne Fates the death of this young man decree And he ere long the selfe same destiny Forc'd to endure on Spaines vnhappie ground That his great Father in false Aegypt found His brother c Sextus scap'd from that sad day Fortune long hides in Celtiberia To raise his State againe againe to breathe Fresh warre and ruine after Caesar's death And once againe with faction rend the State In that sad time of Romes Triumuirate The fight was done and nothing now ensu'd But impious rage and murder the pursu'd To Pompey's Campe and Munda's walls alas For refuge fled but vaine that refuge was So horrid now was the Caesarians rage That neither pitie could their heat asswage Nor strength defend their wretched enemies From their dire force on euery side the cries And groanes of dying men are heard alone Neuer so sauage crueltie was showne Against the worst of forren foes as then The vanquish'd felt from their owne Countrymen Which most appear'd when to surprise the Towne A thing among'st Barbarians neuer knowne The workes they rais'd against it to maintaine The siege were carcasses of Romans slaine Caesar that nere before did truly see How hard it was to gaine a victory Since Fortune still his wish with ease had wrought And he for glory not for life had fought Till Munda's field recounts what he had lost Grieuing to finde what this sad conquest cost He sometimes wail'd his owne slaine Souldiers then Sometimes the slaughter'd foes as Countrimen And wishes some to whom he now might show His mercy had suruiu'd the ouerthrow And almost taxes Fortune who that day Had wrought his ends by such an enuy'd way Neuer till now did Caesar's pensiue brest Truly reuolue how tragicall the best Successe will be that Ciuill warre affords And how deepe wounds his sadly conquering swords Had made in th' entrailes of afflicted Rome Now Thapsus battell now Pharsalia come Into his sad remembrance and almost He wishes all his Triumphs had beene lost Rather than with such
And I disguis'd in common armour sought To reach his life before I was descry'd And sau'd by Caesar had not Brutus dy'd And free descended to the shades below Or if my aime had hit one happie blow Had rescu'd Rome from thrall without a staine Vnlesse Great Pompey had vsurp'd a reigne And had not left our libertie to be Thus poorely wrought by secret treachery Oh stay awhile our vengeance Cassius See what the gods and Fate will doe for vs Or what ere long our fatall enemies The Parthians can doe Cassius replies Could Brutus then be pleas'd the Parthian foe Againe should triumph in our ouerthrow To haue with publike losse and infamy That wrought for vs which may with honour be And Rome yet safe by our owne hands atchieu'd In all thy reasons yet thou art deceiu'd Mistakinq grounds of things thou dost conclude Impartiall Iustice foule ingratitude For if the deed be iust no benefit Receiu'd should hinder thee from acting it That were corruption not true gratitude The greater fauours Caesar ere has shew'd To thee the more thy Iustice will appeare In that the publike good thou dost preferre 'T would take much honour from a deed so high If Caesar had beene knowne thine enemie Nor could an act wherein thy priuate hate Had borne a share so much oblige the State To purchase honour and our Countries good Priuate respects of friendship or of blood Must be forgot and banish'd is that old Brutus through all succeeding times extoll'd By whose strict Iustice his owne sonnes did die That sought againe to bring in Monarchy And art thou bound to suffer Caesar's reigne What would old Brutus doe if here againe Or vnto thee can Caesar's fauour seeme A greater bond than nature was to him Nor canst thou terme it secret treachery If by our hands vsurping Caesar die Since Fate of warlike power has vs bereft And no meanes else to worke our freedome left Should we a while deferre the action It cannot be perchance hereafter done But with dishonour and base Treasons staine When we before haue both approu'd his reigne For in the Sibils bookes 't was lately read The Parthians neuer can be vanquished But by a King which in the peoples eares Is told already and his Flatterers By them would haue it publikely desir'd Our voyces Brutus will be then requir'd Which we with greatest perill must deny Or else for euer lose our libertie When Cassius had with his persuasiue art Fully confirm'd young Brutus wauering heart To this sad deed a noise at doore they heare Decimus Brutus now was enter'd there And all the rest of that conspiracy Where ' mongst themselues the fatall knot they tie By mutuall othes striuing alas in vaine By Caesar's death that freedome to attaine Which was for euer banish'd by the doome Of Fate and neuer to returne to Rome Though often sought in stead of freedome now More desolation Tragedies and woe After this slaughter must againe ensue And all the people that dire action rue Which they desir'd Philippi's balefull day Perusia's siege and fatall Mutina With Leuca's fleet shall make afflicted Rome Truly lament ore slaughter'd Caesar's Tombe The balefull Ides of March approaching nigh Ordain'd by Fate for this great Tragedy Th' Etrurian Augurs who diuine by sight Of slaine beasts entrailes and the various flight Of Birds in Caesar's danger were not dumbe But boldly told what they foresaw to come The Ides of March Spurinna bids him feare Nor did the Earth the Aire or Skies forbeare Presaging signes if any signes could lend Meanes to preuent what destinies intend Affrighting voyces in the Aire were heard The Sunne himselfe in threatning formes appear'd Sometimes as if he wept his glorious head With a blew Rainebow round enuironed Sometimes quite dimm'd as if he fled the sight Of men and meant to make eternall night The windy Spirits through earth's torne cauernes breake Floods change their courses beasts ' gainst nature speake The swelling Poe oreflowes th' adioyning plaine And to his channell suddenly againe Retiring backe thousands of monstrous Snakes Which he brought forth vpon dry ground forsakes The Sea that had orewhelm'd a part of land By Tyber's mouth retiring on the sand As many fish did in like sort forsake But nearer signes great Caesar's death fore-spake Those stately Steeds which when the warre begun He crossing ore the streame of Rubicon Had consecrated and for euer freed From future seruice of the warre to feed At libertie along the Chrystall flood And quiet wander through the shady wood For many dayes before their Lord was slaine Did of themselues their pleasant food refraine Their mourning eyes presaging sorrow shew'd And all the pasture fields with teares bedew'd The little regall Bird the day before Flying along a sprig of Laurell bore Within her mouth whom straight a multitude Of Birds from out the neighbouring wood pursu'd Till she had enter'd Pompey's Court and there The Laurell'd Bird did all to peeces teare That night that vsher'd forth the fatall day Was come and with her darknesse did display Prodigious feares bringing in stead of rest A sad disturbance to each wakefull brest Throughout the Palace where great Caesar slept His last the armes of Mars which there were kept Were heard to yeeld a horrid ratling sound Clashing together of themselues and round About the house the doores flew ope at once The aire of night was fill'd with dismall grones And people oft awaked with the howles Of Wolues and fatall Dogges ill boding Owles Night-iarres and Rauens with wide-stretched throats From yews and holleys send their balefull notes The shrieches wailings and all cries were heard Of euery fatall and affrighting Bird. Shape-faining Morpheus in the dead of night Sent from the King of rest with speedy flight Entring the Palace to Calphurnia Who sleeping in her Lords embraces lay Presents his slaughter'd figure in such wise As vnto all th' amazed peoples eyes The next day's Sunne must show all stain'd with blood Before the bed she dreamt her Caesar stood His visage pal'd with death that robe of State Which neuer foe before could violate All torne through which his gaping wounds appeare Calphurnia weepes then shriekes aloud for feare And stretching ore the bed her louing armes T' embrace the flying shade though free from harmes She finde her Lord who was awaked now Scarce dares she trust her waking senses so As she beleeues the vision in her thought So much that too prophetike dreame had wrought Caesar with kisses wipes away her teares And askes the cause of her so sudden feares She trembling yet the fatall dreame declares Which had disturb'd her sleepe nor could the cares That rose from thence be banish'd with the story Mixing fresh teares and louing oratory Persuades her Caesar to remember now What th' Augur's skills so lately did fore-show And what the learn'd Spurinna bad him feare From th' Ides of March which now ill present were She begges of him he would forbeare to goe That morning