the doing to performe her part And I haue known proud words and poore effects Of such indeed as do condemne this Arte But let them rest it euer hath beene knowne They others vertues skorn that doubt their owne And for the diuers disagreeing cordes Of interiangling ignorance that fill The dainty eares leaue no roome for words The worthier mindes neglect or pardon will Knowing the best he hath he frankly foords And skornes to be a niggard of his skill And that the rather since this short-liu'd race Being fatallie the sonnes but of one day That now with all their powre ply it apace To hold out with the greatest might they may Against confusion that hath all in chace To make of all a vniuersall pray For now great Nature hath laid down at last That mighty birth where with so long she went And ouerwent the times of ages past Here to lie in vpon our soft content Where fruitfull she hath multiplied so fast That all she hath on these times seem'd t' haue spent All that which might haue many ages grac'd Is borne in one to make one cloid with all Where plenty hath imprest a deepe distast Of best and worst and all ingenerall That goodness seems goodnes to haue defac't And virtue hath to virtue giuen the fall For emulation that proud nurse of wit Skorning to stay below or come behind Labors vpon that narrow top to sit Offole perfection in the highest kind Enuie and wonder looking after it Thrust likewise on the selfe same blisse to find And so long striuing till they can no more Do stuffe the place or others hopes shut out Who doubting to ouertake those gone before Giue vp their care and cast no more about And so in skorne leaue all as fore possest And will be none where they may not be best Euen like some empty Greek that long hath lain Left or neglected of the Riuer by Whose searching sides pleas'd with a wandring vaine Finding some little way that close did lie Steale in at first then other streames againe Second the first then more then all supplie Till all the mighty maine hath borne at last The glory of his chiefest powre that way Plying this new-found pleasant roome so fast Till all be full and all be at a staie And then about and backe againe doth cast Leauing that full to fall another way So feares this humorous world that euermore Rapt with the Current of a present course Runs into that which laie contemnd before Then glutted leaues the same and falst'a worse Now zeale holds all no life but to adore Then cold in spirit and faith is of no force Straight all that holie was vnhallowed lies The scattered carcasses of ruind vowes Then truth is false and now hath blindnes eies Then zeale trusts al now scarcely what it knows That euermore to foolish or to wise It fatall is to be seduc'd with showes Sacred Religion mother offorme and feare How gorgeously somtimes dost thou sit deckt What pompous vestures do we make thee weare What stately piles we prodigall erect How sweet perfum'd thou art how shining cleare How solemnly obseru'd with what respect Another time all plaine and quite threed bare Thou must haue all within and nought without Sit poorely without light disrob'd no care Of outward grace to amuze the poore deuout Powrelesse vnfollowed scarcely men can spare Thee necessary rites to set thee out Either truth goodnes vertue are not still The selfe same which they are and alwaies one But alter to the proiect of our will Or we our actions make them waite vpon Putting them in the liuery of our skill And cast them off againe when we haue done You mighty Lords that with respected grace Do at the sterne of faire example stand And all the body of this populace Guide with the onely turning of your hand Keepe a right course bear vp from al disgrace Obserue the point of glory to our land Hold vp disgraced knowledge from the ground Keepe vertue in request giue worth her due Let not neglect with barbarous means cōfound So faire a good to bring in night anew Be not ô be not accessary found Vnto her death that must giue life to you Where wil you haue your vertuous names safe laid In gorgeous tombes in sacred Cels secure Do you not see those prostrate heapes betraid Your fathers bones and could not keepe them sure And will you trust deceitfull stones faire laid And thinke they will be to your honor truer No no vnsparing time will proudly send A warrant vnto wrath that with one frown Wil al these mock'ries of vaine glory rend And make them as before vngrac'd vnknown Poore idle honors that can ill defend Your memories that cannot keepe their own And whereto serue that wondrous trophei now That on the godly plaine neare Wilton stands That huge domb heap that cannot tel vs how Nor what nor whence it is nor with whose hands Nor for whose glory it was set to shew How much our pride mockes that of other lands Where on when as the gazing passenger Hath greedy lookt with admiration And faine would know his birth and what he were How there erected and how long agone Enquires and askes his fellow trauailer What he hath heard and his opinion And he knowes nothing Then he turnes againe And looks and sighs and then admires afr esh And in himselfe with sorrow doth complaine The misery of darke for getfuln esse Angrie with time that nothing should remain Our greatest wonders wonder to expresse Then ignorance with fabulous discourse Robbing faire arte and cunning of their right Tels how those stones were by the diuels force From Affricke brought to Ireland in a night And thence to Britannie by Magicke course From giants hand redeem'd by Merlins sleight And then neare Ambri plac'd in memorie Of all those noble Britons murthred there By Hengist and his Saxon trecherie Comming to parle in peace at vnaware With this old Legend then credulitie Holdes her content and closes vp her care But is antiquitie so great a liar Or do her yonger sonnes her age abuse Seeing after commers still so apt t' admire The graue authoritie that she doth vse That reuerence and respect dares not require Proofe of her deeds or once her words refuse Yet wrong they did vs to presume so far Vpon our easie credit and delight For once found false they straight became to mar Our faith and their owne reputation quite That now her truths hardly beleeued are And though sh'auouch ȳ right she scarce hath right And as for thee thou huge and mightie frame That stands corrupted so with times despight And giu'st false euidence against their fame That set thee there to testifie their right And art become a traitor to their name That trusted thee with all the best they might Thou shalt stand still belide and slandered The onely gazing stocke of ignorance And by the guile the wife admonished Shal neuer more desire
conclusion all is brought This is that rest this vaine world lends To end in death that all things ends ACTVS TERTIVS PHILOSTRATVS ARIVS HOW deepely Arius am I bound to thee That sau'dst from death this wretched life of mine Obtaining Caesars gentle grace for mee When I of all helps else dispaird but thine Although I see in such a wofull state Life is not that which should be much desir'd Sith all our glories come to end their date Our Countries honour and our own expir'd Now that the hand of wrath hath ouer-gone vs Liuing as 't were in th' armes of our dead mother With bloud vnder our feet ruine vpon vs And in a Land most wretched of all other When yet we reck on life our deerest good And so we liue we care not how we liue So deepe we feele impressed in our blood That touch which Nature with our breath did giue And yet what blasts of words hath learning found To blow against the feare of death and dying What comforts vnsicke eloquence can sound And yet all failes vs in the point of trying For whilst we reason with the breath of safety Without the compasse of destruction liuing What precepts shew we then what courage lofty In taxing others feares in counsell giuing When all this ayre of sweet-contriued words Proues but weake armour to defend the hart For when this life pale feare and terror boords Where are our precepts then where is our arte O who is he that from himselfe can turne That beares about the body of a man Who doth not toile and labour to adiorne The day of death by any meanes he can All this I speake to th' end my selfe t' excuse For my base begging of a seruile breath Wherein I grant my selfe much to abuse So shamefully to seek t' auoide my death Arius Philostratus that selfe same care to liue Possesseth all alike and grieue not then Nature doth vs no more then others giue Though we speak more then mē we are but mē And yet in truth these miseries to see Wherein we stand in most extreame distresse Might to our selues sufficient motiues be To loath this life and weigh our death the lesse For neuer any age hath better taught What feeble footing pride and greatnesse hath How ' improuident prosperitie is caught And cleane confounded in the day of wrath ' See how dismaid Confusion keepes those streetes That nought but mirth and musique late resounded How nothing with our eie but horror meeres Our state our wealth our pride and all confounded Yet what weake sight did not discerne from far This black-arisingtempest all confounding Who did not see we should be what we are When pride and ryot grew to such abounding VVhen dissolute impietie possest Th' vnrespectiue mindes of prince and people VVhen infolent Security found rest In wanton thoughts with lust ease made feeble Then when vnwary peace with fat-fed pleasure New-fresh inuented ryots still detected Purchac'd with all the Ptolomies ritch treasure Our lawes our gods our mysteries neglected VVho saw not how this confluence of vice This inundation of disorders must At length of force pay backe the bloody price Of sad destruction a reward for lust O thou and I haue heard and read and knowne Of like proude states as wofully incombred And fram'd by them examples for our own VVhich now among examples must be numbred For this decree a law from high is giuen An auncient Cannon of eternall date In Consistorie of the starres of heauen Entred the booke of vnauoided Fate That no state can in height of happinesse In th' exaltation of their glory stand But thither once ariu'd declining lesse Ruine themselues or fall by others hand Thus doth the euer-changing course of things Runne a perpetuall circle euer turning And that same day that hiest glory brings Brings vs vnto the point of back-returning For sencelesse sensualitie doth euer Accompany selicitie and greatnesse A fatal witch whose charmes do leaue vs neuer Till we leaue all in sorrow for our sweetnesse When yet our selues must be the cause we fall Although the same befirst decreed on hie Our errors still must beare the blame of all This must it be earth aske notheauen why Yet mighty men with wary iealous hand Striue to cut off all obstacles of feare All whatsoeuer seemes but to withstand Their least conceit of quiet held so deere And so intrench themselues with blood with crimes With all iniustice as their feares dispose Yet for all this we see how oftentimes The meanes they worke to keepe are meanes to lose And sure I cannot see howe this can stand With great Augustus safety and his honor To cut off all succession from our land For her offence that puld the wars vpon her Phi. Why must her issue pay the price of that Ari. The price is life that they are rated at Phi. Casario to issued of Caesars blood Ari. Pluralitie of Caesars are not good Phi. Alas what hurt procures his feeble arme Ari. Not for it doth but that it may do harme Phi. Then when it offers hurt represse the same Ari. T is best to quench a sparke before it flame Phi. T is inhumane an innocent to kill Ari. Such innocents sildome remaine so still And sure his death may best procure our peace Competitors the subiect deerely buies And so that our affliction may surcease Let great men be the peoples sacrifice But see where Caesar comes himselfe to try And worke the mind of our distressed Queene To apprehend some falsed hope whereby She might be drawn to haue her fortune seene But yet I thinke Rome will not see that face That queld her champiōs blush in base disgrace SCENA SECVNDA CAESAR CLEOPATRA SELEVCVS DOLABELLA Caes. WHat Cleopatra doost thou doubt so much Of Caesars mercy that thou hid'st thy face Or dost thou thinke thy ' offences can be such That they surmount the measure of our grace Cleo. O Caesar not for that I flie thy sight My soule this sad retyre of sorrow chose But that my'oppressed thoghts abhorring light Like best in darknes my disgrace t' inclose And here to these close limits of despaire This solitarie horror where I bide Caesar I thought no Roman should repaire More after him who here oppressed dyde Yet now here at thy conquering feete I lie Poore captiue soul that neuer thought to bow Whose happie foote of rule and Maiestie Stood late on̄y same ground thou standest now Caes. Rise Queene none but thy selfis cause of all And yet would all were but thine owne alone That others ruine had not with thy fall Brought Rome her sorowes to my triumphs mone For breaking off the league of loue and blood Thou mak'st my winning ioy a gain vnpleasing Sith th' eye of griefe must looke into our good Thorow the horror of our own blood shedding And all we must attribute vnto thee Cleo. To me Caesar what should a woman doe Opprest with greatnes what was it for me To contradict my
to leaue calamitie As did those others smooth state-pleasers all Who followed but my fortune and not me T is thou must do a seruice for thy Queene Wherein thy faith and skill must do their best Thy honest care and duty shall be seene Performing this more then in all the rest For al what thou hast don may die with thee Although t is pitty that such faith should die But this shall euermore remembred be A rare example to posterity And looke how long as Cleopatra shall In after ages liue in memory So long shall thy cleere fame endure withall And therefore thou must not my sute denie Nor contradict my will For what I will I am resolu'd and this t is thou must do me Go find mee out with all thy art and skill Two Aspicqs and conuay them close vnto me I haue a worke to do with them in hand Enquire not what for thou shalt soone see what If the heauens do not my disseignes withstand But do thy charge and let me shift with that Being thus coniur'd by her t' whom I 'had vow'd My true perpetuall seruice forth I went Deuising how my close attempt to shrowde So that there might no art my art preuent And so disguis'd in habite as you see Hauing found out the thing for which I went I soone return'd againe and brought with me The Aspicqs in a basket closely pent Which I had fill'd with figges and leaues vpon And comming to the guard that kept the dore What hast thou there said they and looke thereon Seeing the figgs they deem'd of nothing more But said they were the fairest they had seene Taste some said I for they are good and pleasant No no said they go beare them to thy Queene Thinking me some poore māy brought a present Well in I went where brighter then the Sunne Glittering in all her pompous rich aray Great Cleopatra sate as if sh 'had wonne Caesar and all the world beside this day Euen as she was when on thy cristall streames O Cydnos she did shew what earth could shew When Asia all amaz'd in wonder deemes Venus from heauen was come on earth below Euen as she went at first to meete her Loue So goes she now at last againe to find him But that first did her greatnes onely proue This last her loue that could not liue behind him Yet as she fate the doubt of my good speed Detracts much from the sweetnes of her looke Cheer-marrer Care did then such passions breed That made her eye bewray the care she tooke But she no sooner sees me in the place But straight her sorow-clowded brow she cleeres Lightning a smile from out a stormie face Which all her tempest-beaten sences cheeres Looke how a stray'd perplexed trauailer When chas'd by theeues euē at point of taking Descrying suddainly some towne not far Or some vnlookt-for aid to him-ward making Cheers vp his tired sp'rits thrusts forth his strēgth To meet that good that comes in so good houre Such was her ioy perceiuing now at length Her honour was t' escape so proude a powre Forth from her seat she hastes to meet the present And as one ouer-ioy'd she caught it straight And with a smiling cheere in action pleasant Looking among the figs findes the deceite And seeing there the vgly venemous beast Nothing dismaid she stayes and viewes it well At length th' extreamest of her passion ceast When she began with words her ioy to tell O rarest beast saith she that Affrick breedes How deerly welcome art thou vnto me The fairest creature that faire Nylus feedes Me thinks I see in now beholding thee What though the euer-erring worlde doth deeme That angred Nature fram'd thee but in spight Little they know what they so light esteeme That neuer learn'd the wonder of thy might Better then Death Deaths office thou dischargest That with one gentle touch can free our breath And in a pleasing sleepe our soule inlargest Making our selues not priuie to our death If Nature err'd ô then how happy error Thinking to make thee worst she made thee best Sith thou best freest vs from our liues worst terror In sweetly bringing soules to quiet rest When that inexorable Monster Death That followes Fortune flies the poore destressed Tortures our bodies ere he takes our breath And loads with paines th' already weak oppressed How oft haue I begg'd prayd intreated him To take my life and yet could neuer get him And when he comes he comes so vgly grim That who is he if he could chuse would let him Therefore come thou of wonders wonder chiefe That open canst with such an easie key The doore of life come gentle cunning thiefe That from our selues so steal'st our selues away Well did our Priests discerne something diuine Shadow'd in thee and therefore first they did Offrings and worships due to thee assigne In whom they found such mysteries were hid Comparing thy swift motion to the Sunne That mou'st without the instruments that moue And neuer waxing olde but alwayes one Doost sure thy strange diuinitie approue And therefore to the rather vnto thee In zeale I make the offring of my blood Calamitie confirming now in me A sure beliefe that pietie makes good Which happy men neglect or hold ambiguous And onely the afflicted are religious And heere I sacrifice these armes to Death That Lust late dedicated to Delights Offring vp for my last this last of breath The complement of my loues dearest rites With that she bares her arme and offer makes To touch her death yet at the touch with-drawes And seeming more to speake occasion takes Willing to die and willing to to pause Looke how a mother at her sonnes departing For some far voyage bent to get him fame Doth intertaine him with anidle parling And stil doth speake and still speakes but the same Now bids farewell and now recalls him backe Tels what was told and bids againe fare-well And yet againe recalls for still doth lacke Something that loue would faine and cannot tell Pleas'd he should go yet cannot let him go So she although she knew there was no way But this yet this she could not handle so But she must shew that life desir'd delay Faine would she entertaine the time as now And now would faine that Death would seaze vpō her Whilst I might see presented in her brow The doubtful combattry'd twixt Life and Honor. Life bringing Legions of fresh hopes with her Arm'd with the proofe of time which yeelds we say Comfort and helpe to such as do refer All vnto him and can admit delay But Honour scorning Life loe forth leades he Bright immortalitie in shining armour Thorow the rayes of whose cleere glorie shee Might see Lifes basenes how much it might harm her Besides she saw whole armies of Reproches And base Disgraces Furies fearfull sad Marching with Life and Shame that stil incroches Vpon her face in bloodie colours clad Which representments seeing worse then death She deem'd to yeeld to Life
and therefore chose To render all to Honour hart and breath And that with speede least that her in ward foes False flesh and blood ioyning with life and hope Should mutinie against her resolution And to the end she would not giue them scope She presently proceedes to th' execution And sharply blaming of her rebell powres False flesh saith she what dost thou conspire With Caesar to as thou wert none of ours To worke my shame and hinder my desire Wilt thou retaine in closure of thy vaines That enemie Base life to let my good No know there is a greater powre constraines Then can be countercheckt with fearfull blood For to the mind that 's great nothing seems great And seeing death to be the last of woes And life lasting disgrace which I shall get What do I lose that haue but life to lose This hauing said strengthned in her owne hart And vnion of herselfe sences in one Charging togither she performes that part That hath so great a part of glorie wonne And so receiues the deadly poysoning touch That touch that try'd the gold of her loue pure And hath confirm'd her honour to be such As must a wonder to all worlds endure Now not an yeelding shrinke or touch offeare Consented to bewray least sence of paine But still in one same sweete vnaltred cheere Her honor did her dying thoughts retaine Wel now this work is done saith she here ends This act of life that part the Fates assign'd What glory or disgrace heere this world lends Both haue I had and both I leaue behind And now ô Earth the Theater where I Haue acted this witnes I die vnforst Wirnes my soule parts free to Anthonie And now proude Tyrant Caesar do thy worst This said she staies and makes a suddaine pause As t were to feele wheher the poyson wrought Or rather else the working might be cause That made her stay and intertain'd her thought For in that instant I might well perceiue The drowsie humor in her falling brow And how each powre each part opprest did leaue Their former office and did sencelesse grow Looke how a new pluckt branch against the Sun Declines his fading leaues in feeble sort So her disioyned ioyntures as vndonne Let fall her weake dissolued limmes support Yet loe that face the wonder of her life Retaines in death a grace that graceth death Colour so liuely cheere so louelie rife That none would think such beauty could want breath And in that cheere th' impression of a smile Did seeme to shew she scorned Death and Caesar As glorying that she could them both beguile And telling death how much her death did please her Woonder it was to see how soone she went She went with such a will and did so haste it That sure I thinke she did her paine preuent Fore-going paine or staying not to taste it And sencelesse in her sinking downe she wryes The Diademe which on her head she wore Which Charmion poore weake feeble mayd espies And hastes to right it as it was before For Eras now was dead and Charmion too Euen at the poynt for both would imitate Their Mistresse glorie striuing like to doo But Charmion would in this exceed her mate For she would haue this honour to be last That should adorne that head that must be seene To weare a Crowne in death that life held fast That all the world might know she dyde a Queene And as she stood setting it fitly on Lo in rush Caesars Messengers in haste Thinking to haue preuented what was done But yet they came too late for all was past For there they found stretch'd on a bed of gold Dead Cleopatra and that proudly dead In all the rich attyre procure she could And dying Charmion trimming of her head And Eras at her feet dead in like case Charmion is this well done said one of them Yea well said she and her that from the race Of so great Kings descends doth best become And with that word yeelds to her faithful breath To passe th'affurance of her loue with death Chor. But how knew Caesar of her close intent Nun. By Letters which before to him she sent For when she had procur'd this meanes to die She writes and earnestly intreates she might Be buried in one Tombe with Antony Where by then Caesar gess'd all went not right And forth-with sends yet ere the message came She was dispatcht he crost in his intent Her prouidence had ordred so the same That she was sure none should her plot preuent CHORVS THen thus we haue bepeld Th' accomplishment of woes The full of ruine and The worst of worst of ills And seene all hope expeld That euer sweet repose Shall re-possesse the Land That Desolation fils And where Ambition spils With vncontrouled hand All th' issue of all those That so long rule haue held To make vs no more vs But cleane confound vs thus And canst ô Nylus thou Father of floods indure That yellow Tyber should With sandy streames rule thee Wilt thou be pleas'd to bow To him those feet so pure Whose vnknown head we hold A powre diuine to be Thou that didst euer see Thy free banks vncontrould Liue vnder thine own care Ah wilt thou beare it now And now wilt yeeld thy streams A pray to other Reames Draw backe thy waters flo To thy concealed head Rockes strangle vp thy waues Stop Cataractes thy fall And turne thy courses so That sandy Desarts dead The world of dust that craues To swallow thee vp all May drinke so much as shall Reuiue from vastie graues Aliuing green which spred Far florishing may gro On that wide face of Death Where nothing now drawes breath Fatten some people there Euen as thou vs hast done With plenties wanton store And feeble luxurie And them as vs prepare Fit for the day of mone Respected not before Leaue leuell'd Egypt drie A barren pray to lie Wasted for euer-more Of plenties yeelding none To recompence the care Of Victors greedy lust And bring forth nought but dust And so O leaue to be Sith thou art what thou art Let not our race possesse Th' inheritance of shame The fee of sin that we Haue left them for their part The yoke of whose distresse Must still vpbraidour blame Telling from whom it came Our weight of want onnesse Lies heauie on their hart Who neuer-more shall see The glory of that worth They left who brought vs forth O thou all-seeing light High President of heauen You magistrates the starres Of that eternall Court Of Prouidence and Right Are these the bounds y'haue giuen Th'vntran spassable barres That limit pride so short Is greatnesse of this sort That greatnesse greatnesse marres And wracks it selfe selfe driuen On Rocks of her own might Doth Order order so Disorders ouer-thro FINIS THE COMPLAINT OF ROSAMOND OVT from the horror of Infernall deepes My poore afflicted ghost comes heere to plain it Attended with my shame that neuer sleepes The spot
To vnknowne costes some to the shores do flie Some to the woodes or whether feare aduisd But running from all to destruction hye The breach once made vpon a battered state Downe goes distresse no shelter shroudes their fate 53 O now what horror in their soules doth grow What sorrowes with their frendes and nere allyes What mourning in their ruin'd houses now How many childrens plaints and mothers cryes How many wofull widowes left to bow To sad disgrace what perisht families What heires of hie rich hopes their thought smust frame To bace-downe-looking pouerty and shame 54 This slaughter and calamitie forgoes Thy eminent destruction wofull king This is the bloudie comet of thy woes That doth fortell thy present ruyning Here was thy end decreed when these men rose And euen with their this act thy death did bring Or hastened at the least vpon this ground Yet if not this another had beenbe found 55 Kinges Lordes of times and of occasions May take th' aduantage when and how they lift For now the Realme with these rebellions Vext and turmyld was thought would not resist Nor feele the wound when like confusions Should by this meanes be stayd as all men wist The cause be'ing once cut off that did molest The land should haue her peace and he his rest 56 He knew this time and yet he would not seeme Too quicke to wrath as if affecting bloud But yet complaines so far that men might deeme He would t were done and that he thought it good And wisht that some would so his life esteeme As rid him of these feares wherein he stood And therewith eies a knight that then was by Who soone could learne his lesson by his eie 57 The man he knew was one that willingly For one good looke would hazard soule and all An instrument for any villanie That needed no commission more at all A great ease to the king that should hereby Not need in this a course of iustice call Nor seeme to wil the act for though what 's wrought Were his own deed he grieues should so be thought 58 So soule a thing ô thou iniustice art That tortrest both the doer and distrest For when a man hath done a wicked part O how he striues t' excuse to make the best To shift the fault t'vnburthen his charg'd hart And glad to finde the least furmise of rest And if he could make his seeme others sin O what repose what easelie findes therein 59 This knight but ô why should I call him knight To giue impiety this reuerent stile Title of honour worth and vertues right Should not be giuen to a wretch so vile O pardon me if I doe not aright It is because I will not here defile My vnstaind verse with his opprobrious name And grace him so to place him in the same 60 This eaitise goes and with him takes eight more As desperat as himselfe impiously bold Such villaines as he knew would not abhorre To execute what wicked act he would And hastes him downe to Pomfret wherebefore The restles king conuaid was laide in hold There would he do the deed he thought should bring To him great grace and fauour with his king 61 Whether the soule receiue intelligence By her nere Genius of the bodies end And so impartes a sadnesse to the sense Forgoing ruine whereto it doth end Or whether nature else hath conference With profound sleope and so doth warning send By prophetizing dreames what hurt is neere And giues the heauie carefull hart to feare 62 How euer so it is the now sad king Tost here and there his quiet to confound Feeles a straunge waight of sorrowes gathering Vpon his trembling hart and sees no ground Feeles so dayne terror bring cold shiuering Lists not to eat still muses sleepes vnfound His sences droope his steedy eye vnquicke And much he ayles and yet hee is not sicke 63 The morning of that day which was his last After a weary rest rysing to paine Out at a little grate his eyes he cast Vppon those bordering hils and open plaine And viewes the towne and sees how people past Where others libertie makes him complaine The more his owne and grieues his soule the more Conferring captiue-Crownes with freedome pore 64 O happie man faith hee that lo I see Grazing his cattel in those pleasant fieldes O if he knew his good how blessed hee That feeles not what affliction greatnes yeeldes Other then what he is he would not bee Nor chaung his state with him that Scepters weildes O thine is that true life that is to liue To rest secure and not rise vp to gricue 65 Thou sit'st at home safe by thy quiet fire And hear'st of others harmes but feelest none And there thou telst of kinges and who aspire Who fall who rise who triumphs who doe mone Perhappes thou talkst of mee and dost inquire Of my restraint why here I liue alone O know tis others sin not my desart And I could wish I were but as thou art 66 Thrice-happie you that looke as from the shore And haue no venter in the wracke you see No sorrow no occasion to deplore Other mens trauayles while your selues sit free How much doth your sweet rest make vs the more To see our misery and what we bee O blinded greatnes thou with thy turmoyle Still seeking happie life mak'st life a toyle 67 But looke on mee and note my troubled raigne Examine all the course of my vext life Compare my little ioyes with my long paine And note my pleasures rare my sorrowes rife My childhood difrent in others pride and gaine My youth in daunger farther yeares in strise My courses crost my deedes wrest to the worst My honour spoild my life in daunger forst 68 This is my state and this is all the good That wretched I haue gotten by a crowne This is the life that costes men so much bloud And more then bloud to make the same their owne O had not I then better beene t' haue stood On lower ground and safely liu'd vnknowne And beene a heards man rather then a king Which inexperience thinkes so sweet a thing 69 O thou great Monarch and more great therefore For skorning that whereto vaine pride aspires Reckning thy gardens in Illiria more Then all the Empire took'st those sweet retires Thou well didst teach that ô he is not poore That little hath but he that much desires Finding more true delight in that small ground Then in possessing all the earth was found 70 But what do I repeating others good To vexe mine owne perplexed soule the more Alas how should I now free this poore bloud And care-worne body from this state restore How should I looke for life or liuely-hood Kept here distrest to die condemnd before A sacrifice prepared for his peace That can but by my death haue his release 71 Are kings that freedom giue themselues not free As meaner men to take what they maie giue O are
commaund of vice whereto the rest Of many mighty foueraignes subiectés be And numbred might haue beene among the best Of other men if not of that degree A right good man but yet an euill king Vnfit for what he had in managing 55 Mild meeke of spirit by nature patient No thought t' increase or scarse to keepe his owne Apter for pardoning then for punishment Seeking his bounty not his powre t' haue knowne Far from reuenge soone won soone made content As fitter for a cloyster then a crowne Whose holy minde so much addicted is On th' world to come that he neglecteth this 56 With such a weake good feeble godly king Hath Richard Duke of Yorke his cause to trie Who by th' experience of long managing The warres of Fraunce with supreame dignitie And by his owne great worth with furthering The common good against the enemie Had wrought that zeale and loue attend his might And made his spirit equall vnto his right 57 For now the Duke of Bedford beeing dead He is ordaind the Regent to succeed In Fraunce for fiue yeares where he trauailed Whith ready hand and with as carefull heed To seeke to turne backe fortune that now fled And hold vp falling power in time of need And gote and lost and reattaines againe That which againe was lost for all his paine 58 His time expird he should for fiue yeares more Haue had his charge prolong'd but Sommerset That still had enuide his commaund before That place and honor for himselfe did get Which ans that matter to th' alreadie store Of kindled hate which such a fire doth set Vnto the touch of that confounding flame As both their blouds could neuer quench the same 59 And now the weaknes of that feeble head That doth neglect all care but his soules care So easie meanes of practise ministred Vnto th' ambitious members to prepare Their owne desires to what their humors lead That all good Actions coldly followed are And seurall-tending hopes do wholy bend To other now then to the publique end 60 And to draw on more speedy misery The king vnto a fatall match is led With Rayners daughter king of Sicilie Whom with vnlucky starres he married For by the meanes of this affinitie Was lost all that his Father conquered Euen as if Fraunce had some Erynnis sent T' auenge their wrongs done by the insolent 61 This marriage was the Duke of Suffolks deed With great rewardes won to effect the same Which made him that he tooke so little heed Vnto his countries good or his owne shame Being a match could stand vs in no steed For strength for wealth for reputation fame But cunningly contriued for their gaine To cost vs more then Aniou Mauns and Maine 62 And yet as if he had accomplished Some mighty benefit vnto the land He gote his trauailes to be registred In Parliment for euermore to stand A witnes to approue all what he did To th' end that if hereafter it were scand Autoritie might yet be on his side As doing nought but what was ratifide 63 Imagining th' allowance of that place Would make that good the which he knew was naught And so would his negotiation grace As none would thinke it was his priuat faut Wherein though wit dealt wary in this case Yet in the end it selfe it ouer raught Striuing to hide he opened it the more His after care shewd craft had gone before 64 Deare didst thou buy ô king so faire a wife So rare a spirit so high a minde the while Whose portion was destruction dowry strife Whose bed was sorrow whose imbracing spoile Whose maintenance cost thee and thine their life And whose best comfort neuer was but toyle What Paris brought this booty of desire To set our mighty Ilium here on fire 65 I grieue that I am forst to say thus much To blame her that I yet must wonder at Whos 's so sweet beauty wit and worth were such As euerlasting admiration gat Yet doth my countries zeale so nerely touch That I am drawne to say I know not what And yet ô that my pen should euer giue Staine to that sex by whom her fame doth liue 66 For sure those vertues well deserud a crowne And had it not beene ours no doubt she might Haue matcht the worthiest that the world hath known And now sate faire with fame with glorie bright But comming in the way where sin was grown So foule and thicke it was her chance to light Amidst that grosse infection of those times And so came staind with blacke disgracefull crimes 67 And some the world must haue on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproach and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' only Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps t was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor helpe the same But liuing in the eie of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw on wo. 68 So much vnhappie doth the mightie stand That stand on other then their owne defence When as distruction is so neare at hand That if by weakenes folly negligence They do not comming miserie withstand They shall be thought th'authors of the offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as those that brought those plagues about 69 And so remaine for euer registred In that eternall booke of infamie When ô how many other causes lead As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oftly close smothered And well ment deedes fall out vnluckily Whilst the aggrieued stand not t'waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 70 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults that mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath beene A speciall meanes this commonwealth to marre And that thy way ward will was plainly seene In vaine ambition to presume too farre And that by thee the onely way was wrought The Duke of Gloster to his death was brought 71 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainly permit Others to looke to that they could not see During his life nor would aduenture it When his remoue quite made that passage free So by his fall thinking to stand alone Hardly could stand at all when he was gone 72 For this Duke as Protector many yeares Had rul'd the land during the kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if he still were in his pupillage With such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incensd with an ambitious rage She doth conspire to haue him made awaie As who the course of her maine will doth staie 73 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent That grieu'd likewise that any else beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therfore he such deepe aduise applide As forraine
heat So they dissolu'd with hope and home they get 11 Leauing their Captaine to discharge alone The shott of blood consumed in theyr heat Too small a sacrifice for mischiefes done Was one mans breath which thousands dyd defeat Vnrighteous Death why art thou but all one Vnto the small offender and the great Why art thou not more then thou art to those That thousands spoyle and thousands liues doe lose 12 Thys fury passing with so quick an end Disclosd not those that on th' aduantage lay Who seeing the course to such disorder tend With-drew theyr foote asham'd to take that way Or els preuented whilst they dyd attend Some mightier force or for occasion stay But what they meant ill fortune must not tell Mischiefe be'ing oft made good by speeding well 13 Put by from thys the Duke of Yorke dissignes Another course to bring his hopes about And with those frends affinity combines In surest bonds his thoughts he poureth out And closely feeles and closely vndermines The fayth of whom he had both hope and doubt Meaning in more apparant open course To try his right his fortune and his force 14 Loue and aliance had most firmly ioynd Vnto his part that mighty family The fayre discended stock of Neuiles kind Great by theyr many issued progeny But greater by theyr worth that cleerely shind And gaue faire light to theyr nobilitie A mightie partie for a mighty cause By theyr vnited amitie hee drawes 15 For as the spreading members of proud Po That thousand-branched Po whose limmes embrace Thy fertile and delicious body so Sweet Lombardie and beautifies thy face Such seemd this powreful stock frō whence did grow So many great discents spreading theyr race That euery corner of the Land became Enricht with some great Heroes of that name 16 But greatest in renowne doth VVarwick sit That great King-maker VVarwick so far growne In grace with Fortune that he gouerns it And Monarchs makes and made againe puts downe What reuolutions his first mouing wit Heere brought about are more then too well known That fatall kindle-fire of those hote dayes Whose worth I may whose worke I cannot prayse 17 With him with Richard Earle of Salisbury Courtny and Brooke his most assured frends Hee intimates his minde and openly The present bad proceedings discommends Laments the state the peoples misery And that which such a pittyer seldom mends Oppression that sharpe two edged sword That others wounds and wounds likewise his Lord. 18 My Lord sayth he how things are carryed heere In thys corrupted state you plainly see What burden our abused shoulders beare Charg'd with the weight of imbecillitie And in what base account all we appeare That stand without their grace that all must be And who they be and how their course succeeds Our shame reports and time bewrayes theyr deeds 19 Aniou and Maine O maine that foule appeares Eternall scarre of our dismembred Land And Guien's lost that did three hundred yeeres Remaine subiected vnder our commaund From whence me thinks there sounds vnto our eares The voyce of those deere ghosts whose liuing hand Got it with sweat and kept it with theyr blood To doe vs thankles vs theyr of-spring good 20 And seeme to cry O how can you behold Their hatefull feet vpon our graues should tread Your Fathers graues who gloriously dyd hold That which your shame hath left recouered Redeeme our Tombes O spirits too too cold Pull backe these Towres our Armes haue honored These Towres are yours these Forts we built for you These walls doe beare our names and are your due 21 Thus well they may obrayd our rechlesnes Whilst we as if at league with infamie Ryot away for nought whole Prouinces Giue vp as nothing worth all Normandy Traffique strong holds sell Fortresses So long that nought is left but misery Poore Callice and these water-walls about That basely pownds vs in from breaking out 22 And which is worse I feare we shall in th' end Throwne from the glory of inuading war Be forst our propper limmits to defend Where euer men are not the same they are Where hope of conquest doth theyr spyrits extend Beyond the vsuall powres of valor far For more is he that ventureth for more Then who fights but for what he had before 22 Put to your hands therefore to reskew nowe Th'indangered state dere Lords from thys disgrace And let vs in our honor labour how To brings thys scorned Land in better case No doubt but God our action will allow That knowes my right and how they rule the place Whose weakenes calls vp our vnwillingnesse As opening euen the doore to our redresse 24 Though I protest it is not for a Crowne My soule is moou'd yet if it be my right I haue no reason to refuse myne owne But onely these indignities to right And what if God whose iudgements are vnknowne Hath me ordaynd the man that by my might My Country shall be blest if so it be By helping me you rayse your selues with me 25 In those whom zeale and amitie had bred A fore-impression of the right he had These styrring words so much encouraged That with desire of innouation mad They seem'd to runne before not to be led And to his fire doe quicker fuell ad For where such humors are prepard before The opening them makes them abound the more 26 Then counsell take they fitting theyr desire For nought that fits not theyr desire is wayghd The Duke is straight aduised to retyre Into the bounds of Wales to leauy ayde Which vnder smooth pretence he doth require T' amoue such persons as the state betrayd And to redresse th' oppression of the land The charme which weakenes seldom doth withstand 27 Ten thousand straight caught with this bait of breth Are towards greater lookt-for forces led Whose power the King by all meanes trauaileth In theyr arising to haue ruined But theyr preuenting head so compasseth That all ambushments warilie are fled Refusing ought to hazard by the way Keeping his greatnes for a greater day 28 And to the Citty straight directs his course The Citty seate of Kings and Kings cheefe grace Where finding of his entertainment worse By far then he expected in that place Much disappoynted drawes from thence his force And towards better trust marches a pace And downe in Kent fatall for discontents Nere to thy banks fayre Thames doth pitch his Tents 29 And there intrencht plants his Artillery Artillery th' infernall instrument New brought from hell to scourge mortality With hideous roring and astonishment Engin of horror fram'd to terrific And teare the earth and strongest Towers to rent Torment of Thunder made to mock the skyes As more of power in our calamities 30 O if the fire subtile Promethius brought Stolne out of heauen did so afflict mankind That euer since plagu'd wyth a curious thought Of styrring search could neuer quiet find What hath he done who now by stealth hath got Lightning and Thunder both in wondrous kind
a Generall 90 Who weighing yet his force and theyr desire Turnes him about in priuate to his sonne A worthy sonne and worthy such a Sire Tells him the doubtfull ground they stood vpon Aduising him in secrete to retyre Seeing his youth but euen now begun Would make it vnto him at all no staine His death small fame his flight no shame could gaine 91 To whom th' agreeued sonne as if dysgrac'd Ah Father haue you then selected mee To be the man which you would haue displac'd Out of the role of immortalitie What haue I done thys day that hath defac'd My worth that my hands worke dispisd should bee God shield I should beare home a Cowards name I haue liu'd enough if I can dye with fame 92 At which the Father toucht with sorrowing-ioy Turnes him about shaking his head and sayes O my deere sonne worthy a better day To enter thy first youth in hard assayes And now had wrath impatient of delay Begun the fight and farther speeches stayes Fury thrusts on striuing whose sword should be First warmed in the wounds of th' enemie 93 Hotely these small but mighty minded Bands As if ambitious now of death doe straine Against innumerable armed hands And gloriously a wondrous fight maintaine Rushing on all what euer strength with-stands Whetting theyr wrath on blood and on disdaine And so far thrust that hard 't were to discry Whether they more desire to kill or dye 94 Franke of theyr owne greedy of others blood No stroke they giue but wounds no wound but kills Neere to theyr hate close to theyr worke they stood Hit where they would theyr hand obeyes their wills Scorning the blow from far that doth no good Loathing the crack vnlesse some blood it spills No wounds could let out life that wrath held in Till others wounds reueng'd dyd first begin 95 So much true resolution wrought in those That had made couenant with death before That theyr small number scorning so great foes Made Fraunce most happy that there were no more Sith these made doubtfull how Fate would dispose That weary day or vnto whom restore The glory of a conquest deerely bought Which scarce the Conqueror can think worth ought 96 For as with equall rdge and equa'll might Two aduers winds combat with billowes proude And neyther yeeld Seas skyes maintayne like fight Waue against waue opposd and clowd to clowd So war both sides with obstinate despight With like reuenge and neyther party bowd Fronting each other vvith confounding blowes No wound one sword vnto the other owes 97 Whilst Talbot whose fresh spirit hauing got A meruailous aduantage of his yeeres Carries his vnfelt age as if forgot Whirling about where any neede appeares His hand his eye his wits all present wrought The function of the glorious part he beares Now vrging here now cheering there he flyes Vnlocks the thickest troupes where most force lyes 98 In midst of wrath of wounds of blood and death There is he most whereas he may doe best And there the closest ranks he seueroth Driues back the stoutest powres that forward prest There makes his sword his way there laboureth Th'infatigable hands that neuer rest Scorning vnto his mortall wounds to yeeld Till Death became best muister of the field 99 Then lyke a sturdy Oake that hauing long Against the warrs of fiercest winds made head When with some forst tempestious rage more strong His downe-borne top comes ouer-maistered All the neere bordering Trees hee stood among Crusht with his waighty fall lye ruined So lay his spoyles all round about him slayne T' adorne his death that could not dye in vaine 100 On th' other part his most all-daring sonne Although the inexperience of his yeeres Made him lesse skyld in what was to be done Yet dyd it thrust him on beyond all feares Flying into the mayne Batallion Neere to the King amidst the chiefest Peeres With thousand wounds became at length opprest As if he scornd to dye but with the best 101 Who thus both hauing gaynd a glorious end Soone ended that great day that set so red As all the purple playnes that wide extend A sad tempestious season with essed So much a doe had toyling Fraunce to rend From vs the right so long inherited And so hard went we from what we possest As with it went the blood we loued best 102 Which blood not lost but fast layd vp with heed In euerlasting same is there held deere To seale the memory of thys dayes deed Th' eternall euidence of what we were To which our Fathers we and who succeed Doe owe a sigh for that it touch vs neere Who must not sinne so much as to neglect The holy thought of such a deere respect 103 Yet happy haples day blest-ill-lost breath Both for our better fortune and your owne For what soule wounds what spoyle what shamefull death Had by this forward resolution growne If at S. Albons Wakefield Barnet-heath It should vnto your in famie be showne Blest you that dyd not teach how great a faute Euen vertue is in actions that are naught 104 Yet would thys sad dayes losse had now been all That thys day lost then should we not much playne If hereby wee had come but there to fall And that day ended ended had our payne Then small the loste of Fraunce of Giuen small Nothing the shame to be turnd home againe Compard with other shames But now Fraunce lost Sheds vs more blood then all her winning cost 105 For loosing war abroad at home lost peace Be'ing with our vnsupporting selues close pent And no dissignes for pryde that did increase But our owne throats our owne punishment The working spyrit ceast not tho worke dyd cease Hauing fit time to practise dyscontent And styrre vp such as could not long lye still Who not imployd to good must needs doe ill 106 And now the greefe of our receiued shame Gaue fit occasion for ambitious care They draw the chiefe reproch of all the fame On such as naturally hated are Seeing them apt to beare the greatest blame That offices of greatest enuie beare And that in vulgar eares delight it breedes To haue the hated Authors of misdeodes 107 And therefore easily great Sommerset VVhom enuie long had singled out before VVith all the vollie of disgraces met As the maine marke Fortune had plac'd therefore On whose hard-wrought opinion spight dyd whet The edge of wrath to make it pierce the more Griefe being glad t' haue gotten now on whom To lay the fault of what must light on some 108 Whereon th'againe out-breaking Yorke beginnes To builde new models of his olde desire Se'ing the fayre bootie Fortune for him winnes Vpon the ground of thys enkindled ire Taking th' aduantages of others sinnes To ayde his owne and helpe him to aspire And doubting peace should better scanne deeds past Hee thinks not safe to haue his sword our last 109 Especially sith euery man now prest To innouation doe with rancor swell
meanes to vndeceiue their mindes But to bring in the witnesse of my bloud To testifie the faith and loue that bindes My equall shame to fall with whom I stood Defects I grant I had but this was worst That being the first to fall I dy'd not first Though I perhaps could lighten mine own side With some excuse of my constrained case Drawn down with powre but that were to deuide My shame to stand alone in my disgrace To cleere me so would shew m'affections naught And make th' excuse more hainous then the fault Since if I should our errours disunite I should confound afflictions onely rest That from stearn death euen steales a sad delight To die with friends or with the like distrest And since we tooke of either such firme hold In th'ouerwhelming seas of fortune cast What powre should be of powre to reunfold The armes of our affections lockt so fast For grapling in the ocean of our pride We sunke each others greatnesse both together And both made shipwracke of our fame beside Both wrought a like destruction vnto either And therefore I am bound to sacrifice To death and thee the life that doth reproue me Our like distresse I feele doth simpathize And euen affliction makes me truly loue thee Which Antony I must confesse my fault I neuer did sincerely vntill now Now I protest I do now am I taught In death to loue in life that knew not how For whilst my glory in her greatnesse stood And that I saw my state and knew my beautie Saw how the world admir'd me how they woo'd I then thought all men must loue me of dutie And I loue none for my lasciuious Court Fertile in euer fresh and new-choise pleasure Affoorded me of so bountifull disport That I to stay on loue had neuer leasure My vagabond desires no limits found For lust is endlesse pleasure hath no bound Thou comming from the strictnes of thy City And neuer this loose pomp of monarchs learnest Inu'rd to wars in womens wiles vnwitty Whilst others faynd thou fell'st to loue in earnest Not knowing how we like them best that houer And make least reckning of a doting louer And yet thou cam'st but in my beauties waine When new appearing wrinkles of declining Wrought with the hand of yeers seem'd to detain My graces light as now but dimly shining Euen in the confines of mine age when I Failing of what I was and was but thus When such as we do deeme in iealousie That men loue for themselues and not for vs Then and but thus thou didst loue most sincerely O Antony that best deseru'st it better This Autumne of my beauty bought so dearely For which in more then death I stand thy debter Which I will pay thee with so true a mind Casting vp all these deepe accoumpts of mine That both our soules and all the world shall find All recknings cleer'd betwixt my loue and thine But to the end I may preuent proud Caesar Who doth so eagerly my life importune I must preuaile me of this little leasure Seeming to sute my mind vnto my fortune Thereby with more conuenience to prouide For what my death and honor best shall fit An yeelding base content must wary hide My last dissigne till I accomplish it That hereby yet the world shall see that I Although vnwise to liue had wit to die Exit CHORVS Behold what furies still Torment their tortur'd brest Who by their doing ill Haue wrought the worlds vnrest Which when being most distrest Yet more to vex their sp'rite The hidious face of sinne In formes they must detest Stands euer in their sight Their conscience still within Th' eternall larum is That euer-barking dog that calles vpon their misse No meanes at all to hide Man from himselfe can finde No way to start aside Out from the hell of minde But in himselfe confin'd He still sees sinne before And winged-footed paine That swiftly comes behind The which is euer-more The sure and certaine gaine Impietie doth get And wanton loose respect that dooth it selfe forget And Cleopatra now Well sees the dangerous way She tooke and car'd not how Which led her to decay And likewise makes vs pay For her disordred lust The int'rest of our blood Or liue a seruile pray Vnder a hand vniust As others shall thinke good This hath her riot wunne And thus she hath her state herselfe and vs vndunne Now euery mouth can tell What close was muttered How that she did not well To take the course she did For now is nothing hid Of what feare did restraine No secrete closelie done But now is vttered The text is made most plaine That flattry glos'd vpon The bed of sinne reueal'd And all the luxurie that shame would haue conceal'd The scene is broken downe And all vncou'red lyes The purple actors knowne Scarce man whom men despise The complots of the wise Proue imperfections smoake And all what wonder gaue To pleasure-gazing eyes Lyes scattred dasht all broke Thus much beguiled haue Poore vnconsiderate wights These moment arie pleasures fugitiue delights ACTVS SECVNDVS CAESAR PROCVLEIVS KIngdoms I see we winne we conquere Climates Yet cannot vanquish hearts nor force obedience Affections kept in close-concealed limits Stand farre without the reach of sworde or violence Who forc'd do pay vs dutie pay not loue Free is the heart the temple of the minde The Sanctuarie sacred from aboue Where nature keeps the keies that loose bind No mortall hand force open can that doore So close shut vp and lockt to all mankind I see mens bodies onely ours no more The rest anothers right that rules the minde Behold my forces vanquisht haue this Land Subdu'd that strong Competitor of mine All Egypt yeelds to my all-conqu'ring hand And all their treasure and themselues resigne Onely this Queene that hath lost all this all To whom is nothing left except a minde Cannot into a thought of yeelding fall To be dispos'd as chance hath her assign'd But Proculei what hope doth she now giue Will shee be brought to condiscend to liue Proc. My Lord what time being sent frō you to try To win her forth aliue if that I might From out the Monument where wofully She liues inclos'd in most aficted plight No way I found no means how to surprize her But through a grate at th' entry of the place Standing to treat llabour'd to aduise her To come to Caesar and to sue for grace She said she crau'd not life but leaue to die Yet for her children pray'd they might inherite That Caesar would vouchsafe in clemencie To pittie them though she deseru'd no merite So leauing her for then and since of late With Gallus sent to trie another time The whilst he entertaines her at the grate I found the meanes vp to the Tombe to clime Where in descending in the closest wise And silent manner as I could contriue Her woman me descri'd and out she cries Poore Cleopatra thou art tane aliue With that
takes Of what had past in sleepe and silent night Yet hereof no important reck'ning makes But as a dreame that vanisht with the light The day designes and what he had in hand Left it to his diuerted thoughts vnskand 94 Doubtfull at first he warie doth proceed Seemes not t' affect that which he did effect Or els perhaps seemes as he ment indeed Sought but his owne and did no more expect Then fortune thou art guilty of his deed That didst his state aboue his hopes erect And thou must beare some blame of his great sin That left'st him worse then when he did begin 95 Thou didst conspire with pride and with the time To make so easie an assent to wrong That he that had no thought so hie to clime With fauoring comfort still allur'd along Was with occasion thrust into the crime Seeing others weakenes and his part so-strong And ô in such a case who is it will Do good and feare that maie liue free with ill 96 We will not say nor thinke O Lancaster But that thou then didst meane as thou didst swere Vpon th' Euangelists at Doncaster In th' eie of heauen and that assembly there That thou but as an vpright orderer Sought'st to reforme th' abused kingdome here And get thy right and what was thine before And this was all thou would'st attempt no more 97 Though we might say thinke that this pretence Was but a shadow to th' intended act Because th' euent doth argue the offence And plainely seemes to manifest the fact For that hereby thou mightst win confidence With those whom els thy course might hap distract And all suspition of thy drift remoue Since easily men credit whom they loue 98 But God forbid we should so nerely pry Into the low deepe buried sinnes long past T' examine and conferre iniquity Whereof faith would no memory should last That our times might not haue t' exemplifie With aged staines but with our owne shame cast Might thinke our blot the first not done before That new-made sins might make vs blush the more 99 And let vnwresting charity beleeue That then thy oth with thy intent agreed And others faith thy faith did first deceiue Thy after fortune forc'd thee to this deed And let no man this idle censure giue Because th' euent proues so t was so decreed For ô what counsels sort to other end Then that which frailty did at first intend 100 Whilst those that are but outward lookers on That cannot sound these misteries of state Deemes things were so contriu'd as they are done Holding that policie that was but fate Wondring how strange t was wrought how close begun And thinke all actions else did tend to that When ô how short they come or cast too fare Making the happy wiser then they are 101 But by degrees he venters now on blood And sacrifiz'd vnto the peoples loue The death of those that chiefe in enuy stood As th' Officers who first these dangers proue The treasorer and those that they thought good Bushy and Greene by death he must remoue These were the men the people thought did cause Those great exactions and abusd the lawes 102 This done his cause was preacht with learned skil And th' Archbishop of Canterbury shew'd A pardon sent from Rome to all that will Take part with him and quit the faith they ow'd To Richard as a Prince vnfit and ill On whom the crowne was fatally bestow'd And easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught With what the mouth of grauity had taught 103 O that this powre from euerlasting giuen The great alliance made twixt God and vs Th' intelligence that earth doth hold with heauen Sacred religion ô that thou must thus Be made to smooth our waies vniust vneuen Brought from aboue earth-quarrels to discusse Must men beguile our soules to winne our wils And make our zeale the furtherer of ils 104 But the ambitious to aduance their might Dispence with heauen and what religion would The armed will finde right or else make right If this meanes wrought not yet another should And this and other now doe all incite To strength the faction that the Duke doth hold Who easily obtained what he sought His vertues and his loue so greatly wrought 105 The king still busied in this Irish warre Which by his valour there did well succeede Had newes how here his Lords reuolted are And how the Duke of Herford doth proceed In these affaires he feares are growne too farre Hastes his returne from thence with greatest speed But was by tempests windes and seas debarr'd As if they likewise had against him warr'd 106 But at the length though late in wales he landes Where thorowly inform'd of Henries force And well aduertisd how his owne case stands Which to his griefe he sees tendes to the worse He leauest ' Aumarle at Milford all those bands He brought from Ireland taking thence his course To Conwaie all disguisd with fourteene more Toth ' Earle of Salisburie thither sent before 107 Thinking the Earle had raisd some forces there Whom there he findes for saken all alone The people in those partes which leuied were B'ing closely shronke away dispersd and gone The king had stayed too long and they in feare Resolued euery man to shift for one At this amasd such fortune he laments Foresees his fall whereto each thing consents 108 In this disturb'd tumultuous broken state Whilst yet th' euent stood doubtfull what should be Whilst nought but headlong running to debate And glittering troupes and armor men might see Fury and feare compassion wrath and hate Confusd through all the land no Corner free The strong all mad to strife to ruine bent The weaker waild the aged they lament 109 And blame their many yeares that liue so long To see the horrour of these miseries Why had not we said they dyde with the strong In forraine fields in honourable wise In iust exploits and lawfull without wrong And by the valiant hand of enemies And not thus now reserued in our age To home confusion and disordered rage 110 Vnto the Temples flocke the weake deuout Sad wailing women there to vow and pray For husbands brothers or their sonnes gone out To bloudshed whom nor tears nor loue could stay Here graue religious fathers which much doubt The sad euents these broyles procure them may As Prophets warne exclaime disswade these crimes By the examples fresh of other times 111 And ô what doe you now prepare said they Another conquest by these fatall waies What must your own hands make your selues a pray To desolation which these tumults raise What Dane what Norman shall prepare his way To triumph on the spoile of your decaies That which nor France nor all the world could doe In vnion shall your discord bring you to 112 Conspire against vs neighbour nations all That enuy at the height whereto w' are growne Coniure the barbarous North and let them call Straunge fury from far distant shores
states of the redeemed Earth Might thee admire and glorise thy birth 127 Thence might thy valor haue brought in despight Eternall Tropheis to Elizas name And laid downe at her sacred feete the right Of all thy deedes and glory of the same All that which by her powre and by thy might Thou hadst attaind to her immortall fame Had made thee wondred here admir'd a farre The Mercury of peace the Mars of warre 128 And thou my Lord the glorie of my muse Pure-spirited Mountiâ—â— th' ornament of men Hadst had a large and mighty field to vse Thy holie giftes and learned counsels then Whole landes and Prouinces should not excuse Thy trusty faith nor yet sufficient beene For those great vertues to haue ordered And in a calme obedience gouerned 129 Nor had I then at solitary brooke Sate framing bloudy accents of these times Nor told of woundes that grieued eies might looke Vpon the horror of their fathers crimes But rather a more glorious subiect tooke To register in euerlasting rimes The sacred glories of ELIZABETH T' haue kept the wonder of her worth from death 136 And like wise builded for your great designes O you two worthies bewties of our state Immortall tombes of vnconsuming lines To keepe your holic deedes inuiolate You in whose actions yet the image shines Of ancient honor neere worne out of date You that haue vertue into fashion brought In these neglected times respected nought 131 But whither am I carried with the thought Of what might haue beene had not this beene so O sacred Fury how was I thus brought To speake of glory that must tell of wo These acted mischiefes cannot be vnwrought Though men be pleasd to wish it were not so And therefore leaue sad Muse th' imagin'd good For we must now returne againe to bloud THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henry the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded doe rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Promfret Castle sent Is murthered there The Percies making head Against the king receiue the punishment And in the end a tedious troublous raigne A grieuous death concludes with care and paine I Tow risen is that head by which did spring The birth of two strong heads two crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchased thing What fild the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 Striuing at first to build a strong conceit Of his weake cause in apt-abused mindes He deckes his deed with colours of deceit And ornaments of right which now he findes Succession conquest and election straight Suggested are and prou'd in all three kindes More then inough he findes that findes his might Hath force ' to make all that he will haue right 3 All these he hath when one good would suffize The worlds applause and liking to procure But who his owne cause makes doth still deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise The doubtfull can no vsuall plots indure These selfe-accusing titles all he had Seeking to make one good of maine bad 4 Like foolish he that feares and saine would stop An inundation working on apace Runs to the breach heapes mighty matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Loades with huge waights the outside and the top But leaues the inner parts in feeble case Thinking for that the outward forme seemes strong T is sure inough and may continue long 5 But when the vnder working waues come on Searching the secrets of vnsenced waies The full maine Ocean following hard vpon Beares downe that idle frame skorning such staies Prostrates that frustrate paines as if not done And proudly on his silly labors plaies Whilst he perceiues his error and doth finde His ill proceeding contrary to kind 6 So fares it with our indirect diffeignes And wrong-contriued labors at the last Whilst working time or Iustice vndermines The feeble ground-worke craft thought laid so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioynd plots so fairely ouercast Turnes vp those strong pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouerthrowes 7 But wel he thought his powre made al seem plain And now t' his coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous fort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this error feedes Is furnisht with a stately-glorious traine Wherein the former kings he far exceeds And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what and how t was done to what is wrought 8 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne and who his part did take New officers new counsellours he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their desart Seeking all meanes t' oppresse the aduerse part 9 All Counsellers vnto the former king All th' officers and iudges of the state He to disgrace or els to death did bring Lead by his owne or by the peoples hate Who euermore by nature mallicing Their might whom not their vertues but their fate Exalted hath who when kings do what 's naught Because t is in their powre t is thought their faut 10 And plac'd for these such as were popular Belou'd of him and in the peoples grace Learned graue Shirley he makes Chauncellor One of great spirit worthy his worthy race And Clifford he ordaines Lord Treasuror A man whose vertues well deseru'd that place Others to other roomes whom people hold So much more lou'd how much they loathd the old 17 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guilty thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor els could wel be wrought Law Iustice bloud the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drist shadowed 12 Here maine of the greatest of the land Accusd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleere their cause most resolutely stoute The king perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought about Desistes to vrge their death in anie wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 13 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernment To striue with bloud when lenity must gaine The mighty wight and please the discontent New kings do feare when old courts farther straine Establisht states to all things will consent He must dispence with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 14 Yet not to seeme but to haue something done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the
people that begun Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect He causd be put to execution One that to doe this murther was elect A base meane man whom few or none would misse Who first did serue their turne and now serues his 15 And to abase the too high state of those That were accusd and lessen their degrees Aumarle Surry Exceter must lose The names of Dukes their titles dignities And what soeuer honour with it goes The Earles their titles and their Signories And all they gote in th' end of Richards raigne Since Glosters death they mustrestore againe 16 By this as if by Ostracisme t' abate That great presumptiue wealth whereon they stand For first hereby impou'rishing their state He kils the meanes they might haue to withstand Then equals them with other whom they hate Who by their spoiles are raisd to hie command That weake and enuied if they should conspire They wracke themselues and he hath his desire 17 And by this grace which yet must be a grace As both they and the world are made belieue He doth himselfe secure and them defuce Thinking not rigor that which life doth giue But what an error was it in this case To wrong so many and to let them liue But errors are no errors but by fate For oft th' euent make soule faults fortunate 18 The parlament which now is held decreed What euer pleasd the king but to propound Confirm'd the crowne to him and to his feed And by their oth their due obedience bound And ô b' it sinne t' examine how this deed How iust t is done and on how fure a ground Whether that Court maie change due course or no Or ought the realme against the realme can do 19 Here was agreed to make all more secure That Richard should remaine for euermore Close-prisoner least the realme might chāce indure Some new reuolt or any fresh vprone And that if any should such broile procure By him or for him he should die therefore So that a talke of tumult and a breath Would serue him as his passing-bell to death 20 Yet reuerent Carlile thou didst there oppose Thy holy voice to saue thy Princes bloud And freely check'st this iudgement and his foes When all were bad yet thou dar'st to be good Be it inrold that time may neuer lose The memory how firme thy vertues stood When powre disgrace nor death could ought diuart Thy glorious tongue thus to reueale thy hart 21 Graue reuerent Lords since that this sacred place Our Auentine Retire our holy hill This place soule of our state the Realmes best grace Doth priuiledge me speake what reason will O let me speake my conscience in this case Least sin of silence shew my hart was ill And let these walles witnes if you will not I do discharge my soule of this soule blot 22 Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent That he that two and twenty yeeres hath raignd As lawfull Lord and king by iust discent Should here be iudged vnheard and vnaraignd By subiects two Iudges incompetent To iudge their king vnlawfully detaind And vn-brought forth to plead his guiltles cause Barring th' annointed libertie of lawes 23 Haue you not done inough blush to thinke Lay on your harts those hands those hands too rash Know that this staine that 's made doth farther sinke Into your soules then all your blouds can wash Leaue with the mischiefe done and doe not linke Sin vnto sin for heauen and earth will dash This ill accomplisht worke ere it be long For weake he builds that sences wrong with wrong 24 Stopt there was his too vehemēt speech with speed And he sent close to warde from where he stood His zeale vntimely deem'd too much t' exceed The measure of his wit and did no good They resolute for all this doe proceed Vnto that iudgement could not be withstood The king had all he crau'd or could compell And all was done we will not say how well 25 Now Muserelate a wofull accident And tell the bloudshed of these mighty Peeres Who lately reconcild rest discontent Grieu'd with disgrace remaining in their feares How euerseeming outwardly content Yet th' inward touch that wounded honor beares Rosts closely rankling and can find no ease Till death of one side cure this great disease 26 Meanes how to feele and learne each others hart By th' Abbot now of Westminster is found Who secretly disliking Henries part Inuites these Lords and those he ment to sound Feasts them with cost and drawes them on with art And darke and doubtful questions doth propound Then plainer speakes and yet vncertaine speakes Then wishes wel then off abruptly breakes 27 My Lord faith he I feare we shall not finde This long-desired king such as was thought But yet he may doe well God turne his minde T is yet new daies but ill bodes new and nought Some yet speed well though all men of my kind Haue cause to doubt his speech is not forgot That Princes had too little we too much God giue him grace but t is ill trusting such 28 This open-close apparent-darke discourse Drew on much speech and euery man replies And euery man ads heat and wordes inforce And vrge out words for when one man espies Anothers minde like his then ill breedes worse And out breakes all in th' end what closest lies For when men well haue fed th' bloud being warme Then are they most improuident of harme 29 Bewray they did their in ward boyling spight Each stirring other to reuenge their cause One saies he neuer should indure the sight Of that forsworne that wrongs both land and lawes Another vowes the same of his minde right A third t' a point more nere the matter drawes Sweares if they would he would attempt the thing To chaste th' vsurper and replace their king 30 Thus one by one kindling each others fire Till all inflam'd they all in one agree All resolute to prosecute their ire Seeking their owne and Countries cause to free And haue his first that their bloud did conspire For no way else they said but this could be Their wrong-detained honor to redeeme Which true-bred bloud shoulde more then life esteeme 31 And let not this our new-made faithles Lord Saith Surry thinke that we are lest so bare Though bare inough but we will find a sword To kill him with when hee shall not beware For he that is with life and will but stoor'd Hath for reuenge inough and needs not care For time will fit and furnish all the rest Let him but euen attend and doe his best 32 Then of the manner how t' effect the thing Consulted was and in the end agreed That at a maske and common reuelling Which should b' ordaind they should performe the deed For that would be least doubted of the king And fittest for their safety to proceed The night their number and the suddaine act Would dash all order and protect their fact 33 Besides they might vnder the
againe Till staid with new-made hils of bodies slaine 110 There lo that new-appearing glorious starre Wonder of Armes the terror of the field Young Henrie laboring where the stoutest are And euen the stoutest forces backe to yeild There is that hand boldned to bloud and warre That must the sword in woundrous actions weild But better hadst thou learnd with others bloud A lesse expence to vs to thee more good 111 Hadst thou not there lent present speedy ayd To thy indaungerde father nerely tyrde Whom fierce incountring Dowglas ouerlaid That day had there his troublous life expirde Heroycall Couragious Blunt araid In habite like as was the king attirde And deemd for him excusd that fate with his For he had what his Lord did hardly misse 112 For thought a king he would not now disgrace The person then supposd but prince like shewes Glorious effects of worth that fit his place And fighting dyes and dying ouerthrowes Another of that forward name and race In that hotte worke his valiant life bestowes Who bare the standard of the king that day Whose colours ouerthrowne did much dismaie 113 And deare it cost and ô much bloud is shed To purchase thee this loosing victory O trauayld king yet hast thou conquered A doubtfull day a mightie enemy But ô what woundes what famous worthlyes dead That makes the winner looke with sorrowing eye Magnanimous Stafford lost that much had wrought And valiant Shorly who great glory gote 114 Such wracke of others bloud thou didst behold O furious Hotspur ere thou lost thine owne Which now once lost that heate in thine waxt cold And soone became thy Armie ouerthrowne And ô that this great spirit this courage bold Had in some good cause bene rightly showne So had not we thus violently then Haue termd that rage which valor should haue ben 115 But now the king retires him to his peace A peace much like a feeble sickemans sleepe Wherein his waking paines do neuer cease Though seeming rest his closed eyes doth keepe For ô no peace could euer so release His intricate turmoiles and sorrowes deepe But that his cares kept waking all his life Continue on till death conclude the strife 116 Whos 's harald sicknes being sent before With full commission to denounce his end And paine and griefe enforcing more and more Besiegd the hold that could not long defend And so consum'd all that imboldning store Of hote gaine-striuing bloud that did contend Wearing the wall so thin that now the mind Might well looke thorow and his frailty find 117 When lo as if the vapours vanisht were Which heate of boyling bloud health did breed To cloude the sence that nothing might appeare Vnto the thought that which it was indeed The lightned soule began to see more cleere How much it was abusd notes with heed The plaine discouered falsehood open laid Of ill perswading flesh that so betraid 118 And lying on his last afflicted bed Where death conscience both before him stand Th' one holding out a booke wherein he red In bloudie lines the deedes of his owne hand The other shewes a glasse which figured An ougly forme of fowle corrupted sand Both bringing horror in the hyest degree With what he was and what he straight should bee 119 Which seeing all confusd trembling with feare He lay a while as ouerthrowne in sprite At last commaunds some that attending were To fetch the crowne and set it in his sight On which with fixed eye and heauy cheere Casting a looke O God saith he what right I had to thee my soule doth now conceiue Thee which with bloud I gote with horror leaue 120 Wert thou the cause my climing care was such To passe those boundes nature and law ordaind Is this that good which promised so much And seemd so glorious ere it was attaind Wherein was neuer ioye but gaue a touch To checke my soule to thinke how thou wert gaind And now how do I leaue thee vnto mine Which it is dread to keepe death to resigne 121 With this the soule rapt wholy with the thought Of such distresse did so attentiue weigh Her present horror whilst as if forgote The dull consumed body senceles lay And now as breathles quite quite dead is thought When lo his sonne comes in and takes awaie The fatall crowne from thence and out he goes As if vnwilling longer time to lose 122 And whilst that sad confused soule doth cast Those great accounts of terror and distresse Vppon this counsell it doth light at last How she might make the charge of horror lesse And finding no way to acquit that 's past But onely this to vse some quicke redresse Of acted wrong with giuing vp againe The crowne to whom it seem'd to appertaine 123 Which found lightned with some small ioy shee hyes Rouses her seruaunts that dead sleeping lay The members of hir house to exercise One feeble dutie more during her stay And opening those darke windowes he espies The crowne for which he lookt was borne awaie And all-agrieu'd with the vnkind offence He causd him bring it backe that tooke it thence 124 To whom excusing his presumteous deed By the supposing him departed quite He said ô Sonne what needes thee make such speed Vnto that care where feare exceeds thy right And where his sinne whom thou shalt now succeed Shall still vpbraid thy ' inheritance of might And if thou canst liue and liue great from wo Without this carefull trauaile let it go 125 Nay father since your fortune did attaine So hye a stand I meane not to descend Replyes the Prince as if what you did gaine I were of spirit vnable to defend Time will appease them well that now complaine And ratefie our interest in the end What wrong hath not continuance quite outworne Yeares makes that right which neuer was so borne 126 If so God worke his pleasure said the king And ô do thou contend with all thy might Such euidence of vertuous deeds to bring That well may proue our wrong to be our right And let the goodnes of the managing Race out the blot of foule attayning quite That discontent may all aduauntage misse To wish it otherwise then now it is 127 And since my death my purpose doth preuent Touching this sacred warre I tooke in hand An action wherewithall my soule had ment T' appease my God and reconcile my land To thee is left to finish my intent Who to be safe must neuer idly stand But some great actions entertaine thou still To hold their mindes who else will practise ill 128 Thou hast not that aduantage by my raigne To riot it as they whom long descent Hath purchasd loue by custome but with payne Thou must contend to buy the worlds content What their birth gaue them thou hast yet to gaine By thine owne vertues and good gouernment And that vnles thy worth confirme the thing Thou canst not be the father to a king 129 Nor art thou
he meanes to shoote at you 71 For this course euer they deliberate Which doe aspyre to reach the gouernment To take aduantage of the peoples hate Which euer hate those that are eminent For who can manage great affayres of state And all a wayward multitude content And then these people-minions they must fall To worke out vs to worke themselues int'all 72 But note my Lord first who is in your hand Then how he hath offended what 's his end It is the man whose race would seeme to stand Before your right and doth a right pretend Who Traytor-like hath raysd a mighty band With coullor your proceedings to amend Which if it should haue hapned to succeed You had not now fate to adiudge hys deed 73 If oftentimes the person not th' offence Haue beene sufficient cause of death to some Where publique safety puts in euidence Of mischiefe likely by theyr lyfe to come Shall he whose fortune and his insolence Haue both deseru ' d to dye escape that doome When you shall saue your Land your Crowne therby And since you cannot lyue vnlesse he dye 74 Thys spake th' agreeued Duke that grauely saw Th' incompatible powers of Princes minds And what affliction his escape might draw Vnto the state and people of all kinds And yet the humble yeelding and the aw Which Yorke there shew'd so good opinion finds That with the rumor of his sonnes great strength And French affayres he there came quit at length 75 For euen the feare t' exasperat the heat Of th' Earle of March whose forward youth might Well followd seem'd a proude reuenge to threat If any shame should on his Father light And then desire in Gascoyne to reget The glory lost which home-broyles hinder might Aduauntaged the Duke and sau'd his head Which question lesse had els been hazarded 76 For now had Burdeux offered vpon ayd Present reuolt if we would send with speed Which fayre aduantage to haue then delayd Vpon such hopes had been a shamefull deed And therfore this all other courses stayd And outwardly these inward hates agreed Giuing an interpause to pride and spight Which breath'd but to break out with greater might 77 Whilst dreadfull Talbot terror late of Fraunce Against the Genius of our fortune stroue The down-throwne glory of our state t' aduaunce Where Fraunce far more then Fraunce hee now doth proue For frends opinion succeeding chaunce Which wrought the weak to yeld the strong to loue Were not the same as he had found before In happyer tymes when lesse would haue done more 78 For both the Britayne and Burgonian now Came altred with our luck won with theirs Those bridges and the gates that dyd allow So easie passage vnto our affayres Iudging it safer to endeuour how To linke with strength then leane vnto dispayres And who wants frends to back what he begins In Lands far of gets not although he wins 79 Which too well prou'd thys fatall enterprize The last that lost vs all we had to lose Where though aduantag'd by some mutenies And petty Lords that in our cause arose Yet those great fayld whose ready quick supplyes Euer at hand cheerd vs and quaild our foes Succours from far come seldom to our mind For who holds league with Neptune or the wind 80 Yet worthy Talbot thou didst so imploy The broken remnants of discattered power That they might see it was our destiny Not want of spirit that lost vs what was our Thy dying hand sold them the victory With so deere wounds as made the conquest sowre So much it cost to spoyle who were vndon And such a doe to win when they had won 81 For as a fierce couragious mastiue fares That hauing once sure fastned on his foe Lyes tugging on that hold neuer forbeares What force soeuer force hym to forgoe The more he feeles his wounds the more he dares As if his death were sweet in dying so So held his hold thys Lord whilst he held breath And scarce but with much blood le ts goe in death 82 For though he saw prepard against his side Both vnlike fortune and vnequall force Borne with the swelling current of theyr pryde Downe the mayne streame of a most happy course Yet stands he stiffe vndasht vnterrified His minde the same although his fortune worse Vertue in greatest dangers being best showne And though opprest yet neuer ouerthrowne 83 For reskuing of besieg'd Chatillion Where hauing first constraind the French to flye And following hard on theyr confusion Comes loe incountred with a strong supply Of fresh-ariuing powers that back thrust on Those flying troupes another chaunce to try Who double Arm'd with shame and fury straine To wreake their foyle and win theyr fame againe 84 Which seeing th' vndaūted Talbot with more might Of spirit to will then hands of power to doe Preparing t' entertaine a glorious fight Cheeres vp his wearied souldiers thereunto Courage sayth he those brauing troupes in sight Are but the same that now you dyd vndoe And what if there be come some more then they They come to bring more glory to the day 85 Which day must eyther thrust vs out of all Or all with greater glory back restore Thys day your valiant worth aduenture shall For what our Land shall neuer fight for more If now we faile with vs is like to fall All that renowne which we haue got before Thys is the last if we discharge the same The same shall last to our eternall fame 86 Neuer had worthy men for any fact A more fayre glorious Theater then we VVhereon true magnanimity might act Braue deeds which better witnessed could be For loe from yonder Turrets yet vnsackt Your valiant fellowes stand your worth to see T' auouch your valour if you liue to gaine And if we die that we dyde not in vaine 87 And euen our foes whose proud powrefull might VVould seeme to swallow vp our dignitie Shall not keepe backe the glory of our right Which theyr confounded blood shall testifie For in theyr wounds our gored swords shall write The monuments of our eternitie For vile is honor and a tytle vayne The which true worth and danger doe not gayne 88 For they shall see when we in carelesse sort Shall throw our selues on theyr despised speares T is not dispaire that doth vs so transport But euen true fortitude that nothing feares Sith we may well retire vs in some sort But shame on him that such a foule thought beares For be they more let Fortune take theyr part We'ill tugge her to and scratch her ere we part 89 Thys sayd a fresh infusd desire of fame Enters theyr warmed blood with such a will That they deem'd long they were not at the same And thogh they march'd they thought they yet stood still And that their lingring foes too slowly came To ioyne with them spending much time so ill Such force had words fierce humors vp to call Sent from the mouth of such
consent that thou So neere in bloud shalt be so great in might Then take him Rodon go my sonne fare-well But stay ther 's something else that I would say Yet nothing now but ô God speed thee well Least saying more that more may make thee stay Yet let me speake It may be t is the last That euer I shall speake to thee my Sonne Doe Mothers vse to part in such post-haste What must I end when I haue scarce begun Ah no deere hart t is no such slender twine Where-with the knot is tide twixt thee and me That bloud within thy vaines came out of mine Parting from thee I part from part of me And therefore I must speake Yet what O sonne Here more she would when more she could not say Sorrow rebounding backe whence it begun Fild vp the passage and quite stopt the way When sweet Caesario with a princely spirite Though comfortles himself did comfort giue With mildest words perswading her to beare it And as for him she should not need to grieue And I with protestations of my part Swore by that faith which sworn I did deceiue That I would vse all care all wit and arte To see him safe And so we tooke our leaue Scarce had we trauail'd to our iourneies end When Caesar hauing knowledge of our way His Agents after vs with speed doth send To labour me Caesario to betray Who with rewards and promises so large Assail'd me then that I grew soone content And backe to Rhodes did reconuay my charge Pretending that Octauius for him sent To make him King of Egypt presently And thither come seeing himselfe betray'd And in the hands of death through trechery Wailing his state thus to himselfe he said Lo here brought back by subtile train to death Betraide by Tutors faith or traytors rather My fault my bloud and mine offence my birth For being sonne of such a mighty Father From India whither sent by mothers care To be reseru'd from Egypts common wracke To Rhodes so long the armes of tyrants are I am by Caesars subtile reach brought backe Here to be made th' oblation for his feares Who doubts the poore reuenge these hands may doe him Respecting neither blood nor youth nor yeeres Or how small safety can my death be to him And is this all the good of beeing borne great Then wretched greatnesse proud rich misery Pompous distresse glittering calamity Is it for this th' ambitious Fathers swear To purchase bloud death for thē and theirs Is this the issue that their glories get To leaue a sure destruction to their heyros O how much better had it beene for me From low descent deriu'd of humble birth T' haue eat the sweet-sowre bread of pouertie And drunke of Nilus streams in Nilus earth Vnder the cou'ring of some quiet Cottage Free from the wrath of heauen secure in mind Vntoucht when sad euents of princes dotage Confounds what euer mighty it doth find And not t' haue stood in their way whose condition Is to haue all made cleere and all thing plaine Betweene them and the marke of their ambition That nothing let the ful sight of their raigne Where nothing stands that stands not in submission Where greatnesse must all in it selfe containe Kings will be alone Competitors must downe Neere death he stands that stands too neere a Crowne Such is my case for Caesar will haue all My bloud must seale th' assurance of his state Yet ah weake state that blood assure him shall Whose wrongfull shedding Gods men do hate Iniustice neuer scapes vnpunisht still Though men reuenge not yet the heauens wil. And thou Augustus that with bloodie hand Cutt'st off succession from anothers race Maist find the heauens thy vowes so to withstand That others may depriue thine in like case When thou maist see thy proud contentious bed Yeelding thee none of thine that may inherite Subuert thy blood place others in their sted To pay this thy iniustice her due merite If it be true as who can that denie Which sacred Priests of Memphis doe fore-say Some of the of-spring yet of Antonis Shall all the rule of this whole Empire sway And then Augustus what is it thou gainest By poore Antillus blood or this of mine Nothing but this thy victorie thou slainest And pull'st the wrath of heauen on thee and thine In vaine doth man contend against the starr's For that he seekes to make his wisdom marr's Yet in the mean-time we whom Fates reserue The bloodie sacrifices of ambition We feele the smart what euer they deserue And woindure the present times condition The iustice of the heauens reuenging thus Doth onely satisfie it selfe not vs. Yet t is a pleasing comfort that doth ease Affliction in so great extremitie To thinke their like destruction shall appease Our ghosts who did procure our miserie But dead we are vncertaine what shall bee And liuing we are sure to feele the wrong Our certaine ruine we our selues do see They ioy the while and we know not how long But yet Caesario thou must die content For men will mone and God reuenge th' innocent Thus he cōplain'd thus thou hear'st my shame Sel. But how hath Caesar now rewarded thee Rod. As he hath thee And I expect the same As fell to Theodor to fall to mee For he one of my coate hauing betraid The young Antillus sonne of Anthonie And at his death from off his necke conuaid A iewell which being askt he did denie Caesar occasion tooke to hang him straight Such instruments with Princes liue not long Although they need such actors of deceit Yet still our sight seemes to vpbraid their wrong And therefore we must needes this daunger runne And in the net of our owne guile be caught We must not liue to brag what we haue done For what is done must not appeare their fault But here comes Cleopatra wofull Queene And our shame will not that we should be seene Exeunt Cleopatra WHat hath my face yet powre to win a Louer Can this torne remnant serue to grace me so That it can Caesars secrete plots discouer What he intends with me and mine to do Why then poore Beautie thou hast done thy last And best good seruice thou could'st do vnto mee For now the time of death reueal'd thou hast Which in my life didst serue but to vndoe mee Heere Dolabella far forsooth in loue Writes how that Caesar meanes forthwith to send Both me and mine th' ayre of Rome to proue There his Triumphant Chariot to attend I thanke the man both for his loue and letter The one comes fit to warne me thus before But for th' other I must die his debter For Cleopatra now can loue no more But hauing leaue I must go take my leaue And last farewell of my dead Anthonie Whose deerly honour'd tombe must here receiue This sacrifice the last before I die O sacred euer-memorable stone That hast without my teares within my flame Receiue th' oblation of
It was the time when as she hauing got Leaue to her Deerest dead to sacrifize And now was issuing out the Monument With Odors Incense Garlands in her hand When I approcht as one from Caesar sent And did her close thy message t' vnderstand She turnes her backe and with her takes me in Reades in thy lines thy strange vnlooke for tale And reades and smiles and staies and doth begin Againe to reade then blusht and then was pale And hauing ended with a sigh resoldes Thy Letter vp and with a fixed eye Which stedfast her imagination holds She mus'd a while standing confusedly At length Ah friend saith shee tell thy good Lord How deere I hold his pittying of my case That out of his sweet nature can afford A miserable woman so much grace Tel him how much my heauy soule doth grieue Mercilesse Caesar should so deale with me Pray him that he would all the counsell giue That might diuert him from such orueltie As for my loue say Antony hath all Say that my hart is gone into the graue VVith him in whom it rests and euer shall I haue it not my selfe nor cannot haue Yet tell him he shall more command of me Then any whosoeuer hiuing can Hee that so friendly shewes himselfe to be A right kind Roman and a Gentleman Although his Nation fatall vnto me Haue had mine age a spoile my youth a pray Yet his affection must accepted be That fauours one distrest in such decay Ah he was worthy then to haue beene lou'd Of Cleopatra whiles her glory lasted Before she had declining fortune prou'd Or seen her honor wrackt her flowre blasted Now there is nothing left her but disgrace Nothing but her affliction that can moue Tell Dolabella one that 's in her case Poore soule needs rather pity now thē loue But shortly shall thy Lord heare more of me And ending so her speech no longer stai'd But hasted to the tombe of Antony And this was all she did and all she said Dol. Ah sweet distressed Lady What hard hart Could chuse but pity thee and loue thee too Thy worthines the state wherein thou art Requireth both and both I vow to doo Although ambition lets not Caesar see The wrong he doth thy maiesty and sweetnes Which makes him now exact so much of thee To adde vnto his pride to grace his greatnes He knowes thou canst no hurt procure vs now Sith all thy strength is seaz'd into our hands Nor feares he that but rather labours how He might shew Rome so great a Queene in bands That our great Ladies enuying thee so much That stain'd them al and held them in such wonder Mightioy to see thee and thy fortune such Thereby exrolling him that brought thee vnder But I will seeke to stay it what I may I am but one yet one that Caesar loues And ô if now I could doe more then pray Then should'st thou know how far affection moues But what my powre and praier may preuaile I le ioine them both to hinder thy disgrace And euen this present day I will not faile To do my best with Caesar in this case Tit. And sir euen now her selfe hath letters sent I met her messenger as I came hither With a dispatch as he to Caesar went But know not what imports her sending thither Yet this he told how Cleopatra late Was come from sacrifice How richly clad Was seru'd to dinner in most sumptuous state With all the brauest ornaments she had How hauing dyn'd she writes and sends away Him straight to Caesar and commanded than All should depart the Tombe and none to stay But her two maides one poore Countryman Dol. Why then I know she sends t' haue audience now And means t' experience what her state can do To see if Maiesty will make him bow To what affliction could not moue him to And ô if now she could but bring a view Of that fresh beauty she in youth possest The argument where with she ouerthrew The wit of Julius Caesar and the rest Then happily Augustus might relent VVhilst powreful Loue far stronger then ambition Might worke in him a mind to be content To grant her asking in the best condition But being as she is yet doth she merite To be respected for what she hath beene The wonder of her kind of rarest spirit A glorious lady and a mighty Queene And now but by a little weakenesse falling To do that which perhaps sh'was forst to do Alas an error past is past recalling Take away weakenes and take women too But now I go to be thy aduocate Sweet Cleopatra now I le vse mine arte Thy presence will me greatly animate Thy face will teach my tongue thy loue my hart SCENA SECVNDA Nvntivs AM I ordain'd the carefull Messenger And sad newes-bringer of the strangest death VVhich selfe hand did vpon it selfe infer To free a captiue soule from seruile breath Must I the lamentable wonder shew Which all the world must grieue and meruaile at The rarest forme of death in earth below That euer pitty glory wonder gat Chor. What newes bring'st thou can Egypt yet yeelde more Of sorrow then it hath what can it adde To the already ouerflowing store Of sad affliction matter yet more sad Haue we not seene the worst of our calamity Is there behind yet something of distresse Vnseene vnknown Tel if that greater misery There be that we waile not that which is lesse Tell vs what so it be and tell at first For sorrow euer longs to heare her worst Nun. Well then the strangest thing relate I will That euer eye of mortall man hath seene I as you know euen frō my youth haue still Attended on the person of the Queene And euer in all fortunes good or ill With her as one of chiefest trust haue beene And now in these so great extreamities That euer could to maiestie befall I did my best in what I could deuise And left her not till now she left vs all Chor. What is she gone Hath Caesar forst her so Nun. Yea she is gone and hath deceiu'd him to Chor. What fled to INDIA to go find her sonne Nun. No not to INDIA but to find her sonne Chor. why then ther 's hope she may her state recouer Nun. Her state nay rather honor and her Louer Chor. Her Louer him she cannot haue againe Nun. Well him she hath with him she doth remaine Cho. Why then she 's dead I st so why speak'st not thou Nun. You gesse aright and I will tell you how When she perceiu'd al hope was cleane berest her That Caesar meant to send her straight away And saw no meanes of reconcilement left her Worke what she could she could not worke to stay She cals me to her and she thus began O thou whose trust hath euer been the same And one in all my fortunes faithfull man Alone content t' attend disgrace and shame Thou whom the fearefull ruine of my fall Neuer deterr'd
to that goodlie round Were lodgings with a Garden to the same With sweetest flowers that eu'r adorn'd the groūd And all the pleasures that delight hath found T'intertaine the sence of wanton eies Fuel of loue from whence lusts flames arise Heere I enclos'd from all the world asunder The Minotaure of shame kept for disgrace The Monster of Fortune and the worlds wonder Liu'd cloistred in so desolate case None but the King might come into the place With certaine Maides that did attend my need And he himselfe came guided by a threed O Iealousie daughter of Enuy ' and Loue Most wayward issue of a gentle sire Fostred with feares thy fathers ioyes t' improue Mirth-marring Monster borne a subtile lier Hatefull vnto thy selfe flying thine owne desire Feeding vpon suspect that doth renue thee Happie were Louers if they neuer knew thee Thou hast a thousand gates thou enterest by Condemning trembling passions to our hart Hundred eyed Argus euer-waking Spie Pale Hagge infernall Furie pleasures smart Enuious Obseruer prying in euery part Suspicious fearefull gazing still about thee O would to God the loue could be withuot thee Thou didst depriue through false suggesting feare Him of content and me of libertie The onely good that women hold so deere And turnst my freedome to captiuitie First made a prisoner ere an enemie Enioynd the ransome of my bodies shame Which though I paid could not redeeme the same What greater torment euer could haue beene Then to inforce the faire to liue retir'd For what is beauty if it be not seene Or what is 't to be seene vnlesse admir'd And though admir'd vnlesse in loue desir'd Neuer were cheeks of Roses locks of Amber Ordain'd to liue imprison'd in a Chamber Nature created beauty for the view Like as the fire for heat the Sun for light The faire do hold this priuiledge as due By ancient Charter to liue most in sight And she that is debarr'd it hath not right In vaine our friends from this do vs dehort For beauty will be where is most resort Witnes the fairest streets that Thames doth visite The wondrous concourse of the glittering Faire For what rare women deckt with beauty is it That thither couets not to make repaire The solitary Country may not stay her Heere is the center of all beauties best Excepting DELIA left t' adorne the West Heere doth the curious with iudiciall eies Contemplate beautie gloriouslie attired And herein all our chiefest glorie lies To liue where we are prais'd and most desired O how we ioie to see our selues admired Whilst niggardlie our fauours we discouer We loue to be belou'd yet scorne the Louer Yet would to God my foot had neuer mou'd From Countrie safetie from the fields of rest To know the danger to be highlie lou'd And liue in pompe to braue among the best Happie for me better had I beene blest If I vnluckilie had neuer straide But liu'd at home a happie Country Maide Whose vnaffected innocencie thinks No guilefull fraude as doth the Courtlie liuer She 's deckt with truth the Riuer where she drinks Doth serue her for her glasse her counsell giuer She loues sincerely and is loued euer Her daies are peace and so she ends her breath True life that knowes not what 's to die til death So should I neuer haue beene registred In the blacke booke of the vnfortunate Nor had my name enrold with Maides misled Which bought their pleasures at so hie a rate Nor had I taught through my vnhappie fate This lesson which my self learnt with expence How most it hurts that most delights the sense Shame followes sinne disgrace is duly giuen Impietie will out neuer so closely done No walls can hide vs from the eie of heauen For shame must end what wickednes begun Forth breaks reproch when we least think theron And this is euer proper vnto Courts That nothing can be done but Fame reports Fame doth explore what lies most secret hidden Entring the closet of the Pallace dweller Abroad reuealing what is most forbidden Of truth and falshood both an equall teller T is not a guard can serue for to expell her The sword of iustice cannot cut her wings Nor stop her mouth from vtt'ring secret things And this our stealth she could not long conceale From her whom such a forfeit most concerned The wronged Queen who could so closely deale That she the whole of all our practise learned And watcht a time when least it was discerned In absence of the King to wreake her wrong With such reuenge as she desired long The Laberinth she entred by that threed That seru'd a conduct to my absent Lord Left there by chance reseru'd for such a deed Where she surpriz'd me whom she so abhord Enrag'd with madnes scarce she speakes a word But flies with eager furie to my face Offring me most vnwomanly disgrace Looke how a Tygresse that hath lost her whelpe Runs fiercely raging through the woods astray And seeing her selfe depriu'd of hope or helpe Furiously assaults what 's in her way To satisfie her wrath not for a pray So fell she on me in outragious wife As could disdaine and iealousie deuise And after all her vile reproches vs'd She forc'd me take the poison she had brought To end the life that had her so abus'd And free her feares and ease her iealous thought No crueltie her wrath would leaue vnwrought No spightfull act that to reuenge is common No beast being fiercer than a iealous woman Here take saith she thou impudent vncleane Base gracelesse strumpet take this next your hart Your loue-sick hart that ouer-charg'd hath beene With pleasures surfeite must be purg'd with arte This potion hath a power that will conuart To nought those humors that oppresse you so And Gerle I le see you take it ere I go What stand you now amaz'd retire you backe Tremble you minion come dispatch with speed There is no helpe your Champion now you lack And all these teares you shed will nothing steed Those daintie fingers needs must do the deed Take it or I will drench you els by force And trifle not least that I vse you worse Hauing this bloodie doome from hellish breath My wofull eyes on euery side I cast Rigor about me in my hand my death Presenting me the horror of my last All hope of pitie and of comfort past No means no power no forces to contend My trembling hands must giue my self my end Those hands that beauties ministers had been They must giue death that me adorn'd of late That mouth that newly gaue consent to sin Must now receiue destruction in thereat That bodie which my lust did violate Must sacrifice it selfe t' appease the wrong So short is pleasure glory lasts not long And she no sooner saw I had it taken But foorth she rushes proud with victorie And leaues m' alone of all the world forsaken Except of Death which she had left with me Death and my selfe alone togither be To whom she