TRAGEDY OF DARIVS Act 1. Darius WHat thund'ring pow'r grown jealous of my state Which having daunted th' earth perchance heaven fears Thus arm'd with lightning breathing flames of hate Big with disdaine high indignation beares Long smooth'd of all whilst I pale cares despis'd In fortunes lap asleep of greatnesse dream'd Even in that calme my state a storme surpris'd And ere I wak't my ruine was proclam'd Thus I whose onely name did terrour give As Idoll of the world ador'd over all With crosses compass'd such a wretch doe live That who admir'd my might admire my fall Ah then indeed I fell when gallants stood And Phoenix like renew'd their lives by death Who having seal'd their force and faith with bloud Would rather dye then draw a borrowed breath Yet I not I did view not venge though neare Those monstrous mountaines of my Subjects slaine Though even my enemies must my courage cleare Which flames of fury lightned forth in vaine Through greatest dangers death I did pursue Till heapes of slaughtred bodies barr'd my way And chang'd my Chariot to a scarlet hue Ere wounded honour could be drawne away O how I envy yet their happy Ghosts Who dy'd whilst hope of victory remain'd And in the presence of two famous hosts To praise their valour even their foes constrain'd Shall I survive that memorable shame Which Persia's glory with disgrace confin'd No rather let me dye and let my name As vaine quite vanish raz'd from every minde Starre-boasting Babylon all Asia's Queene Blush to behold thy King in such a state That by the gazing world he now is seene A scorned futer humbly to entreate But not turn'd vassall as by pow'r appall'd Though all my Empire to a period come Yet none shall vaunt that ever I was thrall'd Hearts holding courage are not quite o're-come Should I whose Soveraignty so oft was sworne Be seene submisse to scape a minutes paines No let them bow who but to bow were borne For Darius this indignity disdaines Since I was once judg'd worthy to command Shall I descend a Subjects state to try No whilst a sword yeelds homage to this hand I scorne to grant a greater man then I. Brave sprites who now possesse the pleasant bow'rs And glorious Gardens of th' Elysian Plaines For if deserts may move th' infernall pow'rs That happy shade your shadowes now containes Those fatall fields where I did leade you forth Your bodies bury but enlarge your fames Men shall adore the relickes of your worth And Trophees reare to your immortall names I 'le sacrifice as Incense to your soules His dying sighes and sorrowing Parents teares Who now whilst none his prospering pride controules Our conquer'd Ensignes in his triumph beares For it may ease your Ghosts to heare his grones Whilst burden'd earth rebounding backe doth send A wailing eccho rais'd from woods and stones With wounded words to shew that Armies end Why spend I speeches to disturbe your rest As but with words an idle speaker pleas'd A mighty fury hath enflam'd my brest And I will rage till by revenge appeas'd Did I that strong Cadusian first afront Who durst advance himselfe to brave our bands Then turn'd applauded and in high account Charg'd with his spoiles the honour of my hands What could I then all kinde of doubt remov'd Alone adventure to an Armies shame And should I now that ancient praise disprov'd With squadrons compass'd lose that glorious name Blinde fortune O! thy stratagems are strange Which spoile my pow'r and staine my honour too And having made my state the stage of change Hast acted all was in thy power to doe Loe I who late of swarming troups did boast Neere left alone have fortunes fraud disclos'd And those made captives whom I fancy most To vaunting Victors are by fates expos'd O torment but to thinke death to beleeve That any may my dearest part annoy And I wretch'd I not able to releeve Mine eyes chiefe jewell and my hearts chiefe joy Deare object of my thoughts my life my love Sweet Spring of my delights my one my all Bright image of th'excellencies above What do'st thou breath and com'st not when I call And can I be and not be where thou art Hath heaven the force me from thy face to barre Or are my hands growne traitours to my heart That they should shrinke from doing what it dare O! could my minde but distribute a space Those emulating thoughts which tosse my brest To pointlesse ciphers who but spend a place Then I alone might animate the rest Since in this great disgrace I chanc'd to fall Now nothing rests to raise my fame forlorne But by some desperate course to hazard all I 'le live with praise or by my death flye scorne Some prosp'rous issue afterward may purge This crime which fortune hath impos'd on me This crime that carryes with it selfe a scourge No greater torment then the want of thee But fortunes course what mortall can restraine Who Diadems through dust for sport doth roule A stranger now o're my delights doth raigne And may extort the treasures of my soule Now not till now I apprehend my harmes When I imagine how my best belov'd Must entertaine mine enemy in her armes And I so farre from offering ay de remov'd A host of furies in my brest I finde Which doe my soule with dreadfull horrours fill Whilst Melancholy musters in my minde Strange apprehensions that affright me still And this surmiz'd disgrace grown throughly strong Reades hourely in mine eares a hatefull scroule Of an imagin'd yet a helpelesse wrong Such poison'd thoughts like Serpents sting my soule Blinde love beguiles me not sharpe sighted feares With reason fed doe make suspition live Would God that I had neither eyes nor eares Which to the heart intelligence might give This aggravates the weight of my despaire When doubt objects to breake loves last defence How he is yong and fierce she yong and faire He to offend she subject to offence From wronging me both cannot long abstaine Her beauty is sufficient to allure His bravery is sufficient to obtaine Captaines will force and Captives must endure O Alexander tender my renowne Though thus thou travell to usurpe my throne I rage to have a rivall in my Crowne But in my love I can comport with none That boundlesse flame which in thy bosome boyles If quench'd with ought save bloud as base I blame My fortunes take but spare her honours spoiles Which not thy glory yet must breed our shame But pardon deare that which griev'd thoughts burst â—orth More bright thy fame that darkened is my state By many meanes men may approve their worth A woman onely with a wretched mate Chast mindes still pure doe then most firmely stand When fortifi'd with wedlockes sacred band Yet let me doubt or let me leave to love To feare the worst it is affections part I doubt not of thy truth yet it may prove Thy face betray thy faith thy hap thy heart But on thy
title to his body claim'd The sorrowing Souldiers swarm'd about his bed With looks once fierce then for compassion fram'd But he whom victory had still array'd With others past this battell bent to even Did look like one whom all the world obey'd And boasted shortly then to take the heaven Whil'st lightning comfort to afflicted bands He stretch'd them forth to kisse in severall parts By Sword then Scepter his more honour'd hands On which it seem'd they melted all their hearts Last unto them those gen'rous words he told Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot Thus to dye yong in yeares in glory old Of all our Family is still the lot And since no worlds are resting to o're-come Life serves for nought I did an Empire found Liv'd warr'd and raign'd all done for which I come Then goe great Ghost not griev'd below the ground No further Weighing what belong'd to life He with a count'nance constant even in death As too victorious in that fatall strife The ayre perfuming spent th' imperious breath But through the Campe when that it once was knowne That from the world that world of worth was gone What anguish was it cannot well be showne I had my part yet had not all alone O! let that day which makes my dayes all night Be registred amongst the dismall dayes Whose melancholy and portentuous light With some disaster still the world dismayes And Babylon curst be thy fatall towers Once seate of Monarchs Mistresse of the earth But from hence-forth a slave to forraine pow'rs Still burden'd be thy bounds with bloud and dearth Olym. You need not use those execrations more Though Babylon of breath that Prince depriv'd Yet as an Oracle had told before In Macedonie was his death contriv'd Antipater had heard how divers times The King against him had been mov'd to wrath And damn'd as guilty of opprobrious crimes His sonne in law Lincestes unto death Then he was told the King did strictly try How his Lievtenants had their places us'd Still making all as traitours straight to dye Who had the same in any sort abus'd Thus he who well did know his owne misdeeds Had learn'd by others what he might expect As whose ambitious brest in pride exceeds And alwayes did a Sovereignty affect But when Craterus was to have his place And he requir'd the Army to attend He thought that thus Time would some means embrace To plague his pride with a deserved end Then to prevent that which I thinke was still More fear'd by him then purpos'd by the King With guilty thoughts oft exercis'd in ill He sought what might to death his Soveraigne bring And this the traitour compass'd at the last As I alas have learn'd although too late When to my sonne his sonne Cassander past As to congratulate his prosp'rous state Then in his company he did retaine A poyson powerfull where it was employ'd Whose violence no metall could restraine But in a horsâ—s hoofe was still conveighâ—d He and his brother fit occasion watchâ—d And for their Prince a cup of poyson made Thus he who never could by force be match'd By treason loe O cruell fate lyes dead Rox. And could or durst those traitors be so bold The pillar of all worth to undermine But Madame ah Antipater of old Against your greatnesse alwaies did repine And I remember on a time he sent A messengâ—r of minde to make you bow Who to your Sonne a letter did present Full of invectives to discredit you The King whilst reading what it did comprise Did smile with scorne then to Hephestion say In writing of such things he is not wise Which straight one mothers teare will wipe away Olym. I oft inform'd my sonne strange waies devis'd How that disloyall man striv'd to be great But as a womans wit mine was despis'd And construed still unto the sense of hate Yet of my Sonne I thought the deeds were such That all men them admir'd none envy could And that none durst his sacred person touch Whom men ador'd and Iove as his did hold How oft have I those bitter throwes allow'd By which I brought that demi-god to light And well I might of such a birth be proud Which made me glorious in the peoples sight Though divers too as I have some time knowne To draw his love from me did wayes prepare Yet were their slights by dutious love o're-throwne And I respected with a reverend care His tender love to me was much extold Then when he sought to stablish a decree That with Immortals I might be enrold And as a Goddesse honours have to me Ah! how can I this tragicke time survive Who lost a sonne so great a sonne so kinder And all the meanes which make me now to live Is with revenge a hope to ease my minde Rox. His love to you it could not but abound By nature parents of their owne are lov'd Since those to whom he by no band was bound Of his humanity the fruits have prov'd His clemency did make his state more sure Then all the terrours rising from his name Which whilst he liv'd did publike love procure And after death a never dying fame Old Sisigambis lifting up her heart Of her owne sonnes the death who bad surviv'd To Alexander did that love impart Wâ—ich was to Darius due while as he liv'd But when these tidings wounded had her eares That heaven from th' earth had rob'd that praise of men Whilst all dissolv'd in flouds of bitter teares She hated life as never spoil'd till then Her widow'd nephew groning at her feet Who of Hephestion did the death bewaile In depths of woe she drown'd with teares did fleet Till that o're-whelm'd her strength began to faile Then barr'd from food she groveling did abide Till that lifes course then hastened fast was runne Thus she surviv'd her sonne yet with him dy'd In whom she found the kindnesse of a sonne Olym. If but when hearing this his tragicke end A stranger once his Captive dy'd for griefe Ah shall his mother yet on hope depend As such a losse might looke for some reliefe And yet I will for 't were a great disgrace To me the mother of that matchlesse man Like other women to give fortune place And faintly yeeld as vulgar wretches can Though griefe at first must mollifie me once Or as unnaturall I might be admir'd Yet will I not still burst my brest with grones Then that of me more courage is requir'd I 'le not degener from my generous kinde Faint-hearted Hindes brought never Lyon forth Nor yet a Mother of an abject minde Had never borne a Monarch of such worth And O! who knowes but once the time may come That I to venge my selfe a meanes may have Whilst those vile traitors ruin'd are by some Who with their bloud may bath their Soveraigns grave Now on Perdiccas I repose my trust Who with Eumenes would our wrongs red resse Their valour ventring in a cause so just By all appearance promise
lab'rinth could not shunne Whence backe in vaine the straying Entrer seeks I lov'd O fatall love unlovely fate The vertuously faire yet fairest Dame That ever was enshrin'd in soules conceit Or ditties gave to grace the sounds of fame Straight were my fancies to her beauties ty'd None can paint passions but in feeling mindes I burn'd freez'd doubted hop'd despair'd liv'd dy'd With actions chang'd as oft as Autumnes windes Yet many conflicts past 'twixt hopes and feares To feast at least to nurce my starv'd desires She granted had a truce unto my teares And temper did with equall flames my fires For as she was the most esteemed Saint Whose image Love erected in my minde So when her cares had harbour'd once my plaint It pitie first and then did favour finde But ah triumphing in mine owne conceit As one whose love his Lady did preferre I was corrivall'd O disastrous fate By one who lov'd but was not lov'd by her He looking as I look'd faw what I saw Saw Natures wonder and the worlds delight And straight as that blinde god blinde guide did draw Still like a Lizard liv'd upon her sight Then labour'd he that Iewell straight to wonne Whose matchlesse worth he priz'd above his breath And loath'd all light which flow'd not from that Sunne As life without her had beene worse then death Yea Fortune seem'd to favour his desire And where to build high hopes did give him groundâ— The Nymph her parents daily did require That she might furnish physick for his wounds Of my distracted thoughts strange was the strife Who threatned thus with eminent mishap Was like to lose a thing more deare then life Whil'st others striv'd my treasure to entrap The man who sought my joyes to undermine I could not justly wish his state o're-throwne Nor blame the sprite that sympathiz'd with mine I envi'd not his lot but wail'd mine owne Now in my beast a mighty rage did raigne Which forc'd my soule with inward wounds to bleed Some fancies fear'd what once his love might gaine Since it was possible that he might speed Then others call'd her constancy to minde Which would not yeeld by such assaults though prov'd Yet forc'd to feare the frailty of her kinde A hearing woman may in time be mov'd Thus toss'd with doubts amidst a deep of woe Which with suspition did my joyes supplant I blam'd the thoughts that durst accuse her so As vertues patterne could one vertue want And â—or I hop'd his toils no further wrought Affliction oft affection doth enflame She of her sex who was the wonder thought Would thus not wrong the glory of her name Though in my absence they had oft assai'd That from her minde they might have me remov'd The Sunne burns hotest when his beames are stay'd The more they cross'd her love the more she lov'd For finding that delay no end affords And how faire Generals onely flow'd from Art She did upbraid him with disdainefull words To raze those hopes that had abus'd his heart Love is a joy which upon paine depends A drop of sweet drown'd in a sea of sowres What folly doth begin oft fury ends They hate for ever who have lov'd for houres When all his arguments prov'd of no force Straight with disdaine his soule in secret burn'd And what he thought was ill to make farre worse That Apostate to furie favour turn'd Through love preposterous procreating hate His thoughts amongst themselves could not agree Whil'st what was best he deeply did debate To see her dead or then enjoy'd by me What said he when he first had mus'd a space So hard it is to quench affections fires Shall I disfigure that Angelike face And cloud those beauties which the world admires Shall she by me be to confusion brought To whom I vows and prayers did impart To whom I sacrifiz'd each secret thought And on her beauties altar burn'd my heart Or shall I see her in anothers pow'r And in his bosome laid upbraid my losse Whil'st both with scornfull smiles then death more sowre To point me out for sport report my crosse That sight which sometime did me sweetly charme Should it become a cause of griefe to me No none who live shall glory in my harme Since she will not be mine she shall not be The hatefull love having vow'd her death Did with a cup of poyson drowne my joyes The fairest body from the sweetest breath Was parted thus O ocean of annoyes That Monster Fame whose many mouthes and eares Must know but not conceale a rare thing long And prodigall of ill most chiefly beares The worst news first inform'd me of this wrong For neighbouring neare the most unhappy part That had beene spoyl'd of such a noble guest As death had hers the furies seiz'd my heart Whose paine did spring from that which bred her rest How huge a weight did first confound my soule No tongue can tell it still my minde torments Rage did of griefe the outward signes controll When great windes blow the fire the smoak worst vents Whil'st generous furie did disguise my griefe I ranne transported with a mighty rage Bent by revenge or death to get relife A tragicke actor for a bloudy stage For I was come no sooner to the place Whereas I thought the Murtherer to have found But I did meet O ruine and disgrace Too deare a friend to catch and enemies wound Ah! passions dimn'd mine eyes wrath led my hand I was no more my selfe Griefe had me kill'd The first by Night who did before me stand As one whose breast with rage Alecto fill'd By chance encount'ring ere he spake a word I bath'd his bosome with a crimson floud And in his breast did drowne the cruell sword That in anothers body drank my bloud But when a Torch had partly rob'd the night Proud of suppos'd revenge ah bitter gaine I saw I knew black knowledge cruell sight My brother was the man whom I had slaine O bitter losse which nothing can repaire My soule with tow such monstrous deeds annoy'd Griefe rage spite shame amazement and despaire Gall'd toss'd burn'd dash'd astonish'd and destroy'd The thought of my offence doth grieve me most Yet am I sometime by loves verdict cleans'd And straight my brothers violated ghost By dreadfull dreames doth bragge to be reveng'd Croe. Now whil'st this great disaster did occurre What had the author of your anguish done Adrast He having heard this lamentable stirre Who self-accusing thoughts convicted soone Straight wounded by a wonderfull remorse Led by mad love or desp'rate feare to death He bent to follow her or dreading worse Stab'd by himselfe dy'd to defraud my wrath Croe. Those strange mishaps your enemies eyes must weet And force compassion from your greatest foe Since many monstrous circumstances meet To make a horrid harmony in woe But what doth touch ones selfe most force doth finde For ills when felt then heard griefe more abounds This extasie hath so o're-whelm'd my minde A melancholy huge all mirth confounds
the Gods Their providence as partiall would condemne Who in such sorte doe exercise their rods He thus now kill'd with life to let me goe May breed reproch to all the pow'rs divine But ah they knew no death could grieve me soe As that which through his heart was aim'd at mine Now all the world those deities may despise Which strike the guiltlesse and the guilty spare Cease haplesse man to plague thy selfe thus wise I pardon thee and pittie thy despaire Adrast. O rigorous judgement O outragious fate Must I suruive the funeralls of my fame All things which I behold vpbraide my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and none more then I my deeds detest Yet some waile want of friends and I of fâ—es To purge the world of such a dangerons pest Which still contagious must taint hearts with woes To wound this brest where all hells hosts do raigne Seiz'd with just feare none dare a hand forth stretch Else this base charge as odious doe disdaine To deale with Death in favour of a wretch Or must I yet till more detested stand And fill the world with horrour of my name What further mischiefe can require my hand Must it ingrave on others graves my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate Which in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of Heaven I 'le force my fate One when resolv'd to die cannot want meanes Proud Tyrant Death and must thou make it strange To wrap my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change Though nothing else I can command my life But this ay me all hope of helpe devowres What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted pow'rs Shee must remember of my odious crimes What though un-bodied she the world forsake Yet from her knowledge cannot be divorc'd This will but vexe her at the shadowie lake Till even to grone the God of Ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and would the Gods I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liv'd Then knowne if good and kept obscure if bad Of comfort quite I had not beene depriv'd Ah! have I liv'd unnaturall I to be My brothers murtherer who me dearely lov'd Ah! have I liv'd with my owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And doe I gaze on the dead bodie still And in his fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! have I liv'd whilst men my deeds doe scan To be the obiect of contempt and hate Of all abhorr'd as a most monstrous man Since thought a Traitouror farre worse ingrate Yet with my blood I 'le wash away this staine Which griefe to you to me disgrace hath brought Would God my name from mindes â—ight â—aâ—'d remaine To make my life as an unacted thought Brave Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted Ghost And to revenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile to gaine the Stygian coast Cho. Loe how he wounds himselfe despising paine With leaden lights weake legs and head declin'd The bodie beates the ground as in disdaine That of her members one hath prov'd unkind The fainting hand falles trembling from the Sword With his selfe slaughtering blow for shame grown red Which straight the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combat show Where both but one one both strooke and sustain'd Or who triumphs for this most strange o'rethrow Where as the victor lost the vanquish'd gain'd Croe Curs'd eyes what suddaine change hath drown'd your lights And made your mirthfull objects mournefull now Ye that were still inur'd to stately sights Since seated under an imperiall brow Ah! clouded now with vapours drawn from cares Are low throwne down amid'st a hell of griefe And have no prospect but my soules despaires Of all the furies which afflict me chiefe O dead Adrastus I absolve thy Ghost Whose hand I see some destiny did charme Thou hated by the heavens wast to thy cost A casuall actour not intending harme No doubt some angry God hath laid this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the Aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah! Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus by violence to bleede And yet want one on whom to poure my wrath To take just vengeance for so vile a deede This wretch whose guiltlesse minde hath clear'd his hand Loe for his errour griev'd unforc'd doth fall And not as one who did in danger stand For still he liv'd till I forgave him all Thus have I but the heavens on whom I may Blast forth the tempest of a troubled minde And in my soules distresse I grieve to say That greater favour I deserv'd to finde Act 4. Scene 1. Sandanis Croesus WHy spend you Sir with sighes that Princely breath Whence Soveraignty authority should take O weake revenge for one when wrong'd by death To yeeld him homage prostrated in blacke That Tyrant pale so hatefull unto us Whose fatall shaft so great a griefe hath bred Where he triumphs should you reare trophees thus And weare his livery as his captive led No though he might this outward blisse o'rethrow And you save you of all things else might spoile Yet whilst of one who yeelds no signe you show You are victorious and he gets the foile Those floods of sorrow which would drown your soule In brests more base might better be excus'd Since wanting sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subjection us'd But you in whom high thoughts by nature grow To this decay how is your vertue come I blush to see my Soveraigne brought so low And Majestie by misery o'recome Nor doe I thus to make you stupid strive As one unnaturall wanting sense to smart No none a Prince of kindnesse can deprive The honour'd badge of an Heroicke heart That pow'r supreme by which great States doe stand Affections order should but not undoe And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe Croe. I will not here rehearse enlarging woes On what just reasons now my griefe I ground But still will entertaine my comforts foes Whilst many a thousand thoughts my soule doe wound What pensive pensill ever limm'd aright The sad conceipts of soule-consuming griefe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling height Of th' inward anguish desperate of reliefe Though many monarchs jealously despise The rising Sunne that their declining staines And hate the Heyre who by their fall must rise As griev'd to heare of death or others raignes My love to Atis otherwise appear'd Whome whilst for him I did my cares engage I as a Father lov'd as king not fear'd The comfort not th' encombrance of mine age And had he me as reason would surviv'd Who glanc'd and
all dangers which might make us thralls For Cyrus had proclaim'd a great reward To him whose steps first trod the conquer'd walls And this companion seeing without stay One in his sight that craggie passage clime Straight on his foot-steps followed all the way And many a thousand hasted after him Then all that durst resist were quickly kill'd The rest who fled no where secure could be For every street was with confusion fill'd There was no corner from some mischiefe free O what a piteous clamour did arise Of ravish'd virgins and of widow'd wives Who pierc'd the heavens with lamentable cryes And having lost all comfort loath'd their lives Whil'st those proud Victors would themselves have stain'd With all the wrongs that Pride or power could use They by a charge from Cyrus were restrain'd And durst no more their captives thus abuse Chor. No doubt but high mishaps did then abound Whil'st with disdaine the Conqu'rours bosome boyld As some the sword disgrace did some confound Not onely houses Temples too were spoyld What misery more great can be devis'd Then is a Cities when by force surpris'd But whil'st that stately Towne was thus distress'd What did become of our unhappy King Nunt. Then when the Enemy had his state possest And that confusion seaz'd on every thing He scarcely first could trust his troubled sight The Fortune past transported had him so Yet having eyes who can deny the light He saw himselfe inferiour to his foe And apprehending there whil'st left alone How that his judgement long had beene betray'd As metamorphos'd in a marble stone His ravish'd thoughts in admiration stray'd But such a weight of woes not us'd to beare He first was griev'd then rag'd and last despair'd Till through excessive feare quite freed from feare He for his safetie then no further car'd And never wishd he so to have long life But death farre further was affected now Still feeking danger in the bounds of strife So he were sure to dye he car'd not how Whilst furies thus were fostred in his brest Him suddenly a Souldier chanc'd to meet As insolent as any of the rest Who drunk with bloud ran raging through the street And wanting but an object to his ire He sought to him and he to him againe I know not which of them did most desire The one to slay the other to be slaine But whil'st so base a hand towring aloft Did to so great a Monarch threaten death His eldest Sonne who as you have heard oft Was barr'd from making benefit of breath I cannot tell you well nor in what forme If that the destinies had so ordain'd Or if of passions an impetuous storme Did raze the strings that had his tongue restrain'd But when he saw his Syre in danger stand He with those words a mighty shout did give Thou furious Stranger stay hold hold thy hand Kill not King Croesus let my Father live The other hearing this his hand retyr'd And call'd his Kings commandement to minde High were those aymes to which his thoughts aspir'd Whom for great fortunes this rare chance design'd Now when that Croesus who for death long long'd Was quite undone by being thus preserv'd As both by life and death then doubly wrong'd Whil'st but by fates for further harme reserv'd He with sad sighs those accents did accord Now let the heavens do all the ill they can Which would not unto me the grace afford That I might perish like a private man Ah must I live to sigh that I was borne Charactring shame in a dejected face Ah must I live to my perpetuall scorne The abject object pointed for disgrace Yet this unto his soule more sorrow bred He scorne pretending state as King array'd Was with great shouts ridiculously led Backe to the Tent whereas their Emp'rour stay'd Then that he might his misery conceive Those robes so rich were all exchang'd with chains And prisons strictnesse bragg'd him with the grave So soone as death could make a choice of paines They caus'd in haste a pile of wood to make And in the mid'st where all men might him spie Caus'd binde the captive King unto a stake With fourteene others of the Lydians by There as if offerings fit to purge the state Foes sought with flames their ruine to procure Though Iove prepostrous piety doth hate No sacrifice is sweet which is not pure Now whil'st the fire was kindling round about As to some pow'rfull God who pray'd or vow'd With eyes bent up and with his hands stretch'd out O! Solon Solon Croesus cry'd aloud Some hearing him to utter such a voice Who said that Cyrus curious was to know When dying now what deity was his choice Did him request his last intent to show His exclamation was said he on one With whom he wish'd their frailty so to see That all who ever trusted in a Throne Had but conferr'd a space as well as he Then there he told what Solon had him showne Whil'st at his Court which flourish'd then arriv'd How worldly blisse might quickly be o're-throwne And not accomplish'd was while as one liv'd Whil'st forth salt flouds attending troupes did powre He shew how much the wise-man did disdaine Those who presum'd of wealth or worldly pow'r By which none could a perfect blisse obtaine This speech did Cyrus move to ponder much The great uncertainty of worldly things As thinking that himselfe might once be such Since thrall'd to Fortunes throne like other Kings Then such a patterne standing him before Whom envy once then pitie did attend He to our King did liberty restore And with his life did Solons fame extend Yet him the fire still threatned to devoure Which rising high could hardly be controll'd But O devotion then appear'd thy pow'r Which to subdue the heavens makes worldlings bold To quench the flames whil'st divers toild in vaine Iove mov'd by prayer as Croesus did require The azure Cisterns open'd did remaine And clouds fell downe in flouds to quench the fire Then whil'st the Souldiers did the Citie sack To save the same as to his Countrey kinde The hopelesse Croesus thus to Cyrus spake With words which pitie melted from his minde Great Prince to whom all Nations now succumbe And do thy yoke so willingly embrace That it some comfort gives to be o're-come By one whose glory graces our disgrace Since now I am constrain'd your thrall to be I must conforme my selfe unto my fate And cannot hold my peace whereas I see That which may wrong the greatnesse of your state Your state is spoil'd by not suspected pow'rs If this rich Citie thus do rest ore-throwne Which now no more is mine but is made yours And therefore Sir have pittie of your owne Yea though the losse of such a populous Towne Both rich and yours your minde could nothing move Yet thinke of this which may import your Crowne A peece of policy which time will prove The haughty Persians borne with stubborne mindes Who but for poverty first followed you
up break And let eye-flatt'ring shows our wits enchaunt All perish'd are ere of their pomp men speak Those golden palaces those gorgeous Halls With furniture superfluously faire Those stately Courts those skie-encountring walls Do vanish all like vapours in the ayre O! what affliction jealous greatnesse beares Which still must travell to hold others downe Whil'st all our guards not guard us from our fears Such toile attends the glory of a Crowne Where are they all who at my feet did bow Whil'st I was made the Idoll of so many What joy had I not then what have I now Of all once honour'd and now scarce of any Our painted pleasures but apparrell paine We spend our nights in feare our dayes in dangers Balls toss'd by Starres thrals bound to Fortunes raigne Though known to all yet to our selves but stranges A golden Crowne doth cover leaden cares The Scepter cannot lull their thoughts asleep Whose souls are drown'd with flouds of cold despaires Of which base vulgars cannot sound the deep The Bramble grows although it be obscure Whil'st loftie Cedars feele the blust'ring windes And milde Plebeian souls may live secure While mighty tempests tosse Imperiall mindes What are our dayes but dreames our raigne a glance Whil'st Fortunes feaver makes us rage and rave VVhich with strange fits doth to a height advance Till ere paine us we first our life must leave For glist'ring greatnesse by Ambition lov'd I was the wonder of all gazing eyes But free from shadows reall essence prov'd States just proportion ruine onely tryes Loe charg'd with chains which though they be of gold My states distresse diminish not the more When this prepost'rous honour I behold It but upbraids me what I was before And what was I before as now I see Though what afflicted was not clearly knowne But still in fetters whilst appearing free And in a labyrinth of labours throwne Was I not forc'd to serve a thousand humours To scape the censure of a Criticke storie Still clog'd with cares enrag'd with many rumours O glorious bondage and ô burd'nous glory That dignity which deifi'd me late And made the world doe homage to my name Doth not oppose that which pursues my state But by fall gives feathers unto fame My best was but a momentary blisse Which leaves behind this ever-lasting sting That of all woes no woe is like to this To thinke I was and am not now a king No man with me in all th'accomplish'd joyes That satisfie the soule could once compare No man may match me now in sad annoyes Or any crosse which can provoke despaire Thrice fortune did my gallant troups entrap And I to fall did desperately stand Yet could not be so happy in mishap As to have di'd by some renowned hand But for my greater griefe disgrace and scorne The mindes of men so apt are to deceave They whom aloft my favours wings had borne Evâ—â— they have made their Master thus a slave Ah! did nor death in prison from me reave The â—â—â—â—red Soveraigne of my soules desires And I wretch'd I not present to receave The 〈◊〉 â—olâ— kisse that should have quench'd my fires Yet o thrice happie thou who hast not liv'd To beare a burden of this great disgrace More then a thousand deaths this had thee grievd To know I di'd and di'd in such a case Ah! doe the pledges of our mutuall love The onely comfort that the fates have left Rest prison'd yet and may I not remove Mâ— mother thence as of all power quite reft My paines are more then with my pleasures even Since first my head was burden'd with a Crowne Was I exalted once up to the Heaven That to the Center Iove might throw me downe My ample Empire and my Princely birth My great magnificence and vaine excesse All cannot yeeld my minde one minutes mirth To ease me now in this my great distresse Loe here reduc'd vnto the worst of ills Past helpe past hope and onely great in griefe Two abject vassals make me waite their willes Not looking no nor wishing for reliefe If that my honour had beene first repair'd Then what though death had this fraild fortresse wonne I waile my life since for disgrace prepar'd Not that it ends but that it was begunne What fatall conflict can my count'nance marre Though me to bragge death all his horrours bring I never shall wrong Majestie so farre As ought to doe that not becomes a king Chorus SOme new disaster daylie doth fore-show Our comming ruine wee have seene our best For fortune bent as wholy to o'rethrow Throwes downe our king from her wheeles height so low That by no meanes his state can be redrest For since by armes his pow'r hath been represt Both friends and servants leave him all alone Few have compassion of his state distrest To him themselves a number false doth show So foes and faithlesse friends conspir'd in one Fraile fortune and the fates with them agree All runne with Hatchets on a falling tree This Prince in prosp'rous state hath flourish'd long And never dream'd of ill did thinke farre lesse But was well follow'd whilst his state was strong Him flattering Syrens with a charming song Striv'd to exalt then whilst he did possesse This earthly drosse that with a vaine excesse He might reward their mercenarie love But now when fortune drives him to distresse His favourites whom he remain'd among They straight with her as hers their faith remove And who for gaine to follow him were wont They after gaine by his destruction hunt O more then happie ten times were that king Who were vnhappie but a little space So that it did not utter ruine bring But made him prove a profitable thing Who of his traine did best deserve his grace Then could and would of those the best embrace Such vulturs fled as follow but for prey That faithfull Servants might possesse their place All gallant minds it must with anguish fling Whilst wanting meanes their vertue to display This is the griefe which bursts a generous heart When favour comes by chance not by desart Those minions oft to whom kings doe extend Above their worth immoderate good-will The buttes of common hate oft hit in end In prosp'rous times they onely doe depend Not upon them but on their fortune still Which if it change they change them though they fill Their hopes with honour and their chests with Coyne Yet if they fall or their affaires goe ill Those whom they rais'd will not with them descend But with the side most stronge all straight doe joyne And doe forget all what was given before When once of them they can expect no more The truth hereof in end this strange event In Bessus and Narbazenes hath prov'd On whom their Prince so prodigally spent Affection Honour Titles Treasure Rent And all that might an honest minde have mov'd So bountyfull a Prince still to have lov'd Who so benignely tendred had their state Yet Traitours vile all due respects remov'd
rejoyce That who rais'd many did prevent this storme For if he had not thus declar'd his will Yee Mars his Minions should have liv'd at jarres Whil'st emulation amongst equals still Had made sterne Trumpets thunder civill warres What huge disorders threatned to burst forth If that our Soveraigne had no Prince design'd Who oft hath beene a witnesse of our worth And can weigh vertue in a vertuous minde I see consenting signes applaud my speech Rise doe Perdiccas that which they decree Whil'st modesty doth Majesty impeach Though thou crav'st not this Crowne this Crowne craves thee Meleag. I wonder not though thus Perdiccas shrinke To take this place still brag'd with new alarmes The Sunne must make nights ugly bird to winke This Scepter weighs too much for so weake armes The Gods will never grant nor men agree That such a one should tyrannize o're us Though vulgar mindes might yeeld his thralls to be His betters scorne to bow so basely thus He would have us Roxanes birth t' attend Which though it come to passe as some expect He can exchange or cause be brought to end As bent to like all meanes when one effect Thus would he temporize to our great scorne Till time might helpe to further his designes No Kings Perdiccas likes but babes unborne He labours well in undiscovered Mynes I need not now insist to tell at large What brave men are amid'st this martiall band Who better doe deserve so great a charge Both for their skill and courage to command Yet are the best not worthy to succeed That man admir'd who never can be match'd The thought of whom must make our mindes to bleed Whose adversaries this advantage watchâ—d But if that great man did consent so soone That our obedience should be thus abus'd Of all that ever yet he would have done I thinke this onely ought to be refus'd That valorous band whose worth the world oft prov'd Then whil'st their glory shinâ—d through silver shields By all that Monarchs deeds when no way movâ—d As conquer'd would have left the conquer'd fields And when despising such a Princes throne To whom his ancestors their Scepter brought What reverence would they beare to such a one Who all this time was as their equall thought To those who o're their equals raise their state Advancement envy breeds and envy hate If such with all would rest familiar still This in contempt the Soveraigne title brings And if they second not their Subjects will Men cannot beare with them as with borne Kings Our lofty bands some lofty minde must tame Whose Princely birth doth procreate regard Whose Country may confound each slandrous clayme As one with whom none else can be compar'd Loe Alexanders brother Philips sonne Who alwayes was a partner of our paine Can there be any else below the Sunne O're Macedonians who deserves to raigne And I must wonder what so strange offence Hath forfeited his title maymâ—d his right That any now with a disguis'd pretence Dare wrong him thus even in his peoples sight Ptol. None needs to wonder much though we neglect One whose election might procure our shame His mothers basenesse justice mâ—ght object Whom bastardy secludes from such a claime But yet had Nature purg'd the spot she made We with his birth the better might comport If like his Syre fierce squadrons fit to leade His parts were such as might the State import He falsifies his race of wit so weake That all his inward wants are soone perceivâ—d All of his judgement in derision speake By which great things can hardly be conceiv'd And though his body might from paines be spar'd Whose constitution is not very strong But with infirmities so farre impair'd That it alive cannot continue long Yet since in State he never hath beene school'd His ignorance would racke him still with feares Whilst he who rul'd still needing to be rul'd Spoke but wâ—th others tongues heard with their eares A K ng inconstant great conâ—usion makes Whâ—m â—ll mistrust and most amid'st a Campe Whilst soft like waxe he each impression takes A lâ—â—tle labour changing still the stampe Ah shoulâ— our lives depend upon his breath Who of himselfe cannot discerne a crime But for each rash report damnes men to death Then yeelds a fruitlesse pitty out of time Thus whilst some alwaies must his judgement sway Which still doth harbour in anothers head Of Sycophants this Prince may be the prey Who where they list him as quite blinde will leade And since but base that they may be the best Such still will toyle that we may be o'rethrowne And to the credu ous King may meanes suggest To taint our fame lest it obscure their owne What griefe were this to us whilst such as those Might make their vantage of th' all-pow'rfull breath And that our actions ballanc'd by our foes Were guerdon'd with disdaine or else with death Me. Since private hopes your judgements doe bewitch I 'le leave this counsell where no good can please Come follow me all those who would be rich Few have regard poore souldiers to your ease Perd. That shall prove best which first I went about Though some would wrest my words from what I thought Loe Meleagers spite doth now burst out Like flaming fires which burne themselves to nought Thus naughty mindes which never dreame but ill Doe construe all things to a crooked sense What I propos'd reposing on your will He would interpret for a great offence And thus puff d up this parting hence of his To many former faults hath added one By his seditious words incens'd ere this The souldiers are to sacke the treasure gone Ant. With one consent then let us all conclude That Alexanders race when borne must raigne So shall we stablish still that sacred bloud Which rais'd our state and may it best maintaine And let us now before we part appoint Who shall command till that the babe be borne And circumspectly ponder every point That successe so our Councell may adorne Eum. I heare a tumult rais'd amongst the Tents And Arideus is proclaimed King To which the multitude soone chang'd consents As bent for all whose course a change may bring The foot-men are to indignation mov'd In this assembly that they want a seat Where our proceedings they might have approv'd As knowing all that did concerne the state They soone forget their Prince exspecting spoiles That dare revolt from what we all advis'd Thus too much liberty breeds many broiles And makes the giver still to be despis'd The want of discipline all things confounds Their deeds want order and their pride all bounds Perd. And dare they then against that fortresse rise Where Alexanders Ensignes are displaid Or violate the walles where as he lyes May not his shadow make them all afraid What how comes this and dare they then presume To bragge their Captaines and abuse their Armes Armes armes just wrath these Rebels must consume Our count'nance will them curbe sound sound th' alarmes
mov'd The Macedonians all abhorre your name Who at that time so proud a Conquerour provâ—d Thâ—ir great mens slaughter having wing'd your fame Eum. No fortune past so puffes up my conceit That it contempt of further danger brings Nor am I now dejected so of late But I intend to doe farre greator things He by prosperity made never proud Who knows the fâ—â—ilty of this â—arthly frame Can hardly by adversity be bow'd The Sunne although eclips'd remaines the same Worth should by th' events not be thrall'd to wit On th' accidents as th' essence did depend The fault of fortune cannot blemish it On which oft times disasters may attend Though fortune stumbling right concurre with worth Or yet if crosses bragge a gallant minde Both like themselves are alwaies sparkling forth In every state some tokens of their kinde Now at this time o're-match'd by num'rous pow'rs I kept my courage though I lost the field And vaunt no more of this for some few hour's May once to me the like advantage yeeld Nor is it long since that to fortune deare The world had never me but victor spy'd Though I protest by all th'Immortals here Press'd by necessity not mov'd by pride Proud Neoptolemus that traytour still Not worthy of a Macedonians name He to betray the hoste and me to kill Had labour'd long to his eternall shame But I of Craterus lament the fall Whom for his vertue I did dearely love And was constrain'd I Iove to witnesse call For my defence that refuge last to prove Anti. How fortun'd you your forces to dispose So well to scape that storme of threatned harmes For then you had to deale with mighty foes Who were in warre growne hoarie under armes Eum. When Neoptolemus did clearely spy That all his treason to the light was brought He where our foes were camp'd with haste did flye A foolish traitour who was false for nought There he inform'd or mis-inform'd my foes That by good successe growne secure of late I in my Tent did carelesly repose Though not by force to be o're-com'd by fate And to Antipater he further told That Macedonians if they at that time Of Craterus the count'nance did behold All willingly would yeeld themselves to him Now they had labour'd earnestly before That I abandon would Perdiccas part And did protest that they would give me more Then yet I had or hop'd for in my heart But love born free cannot be thrall d nor bought More then a shamefull peace I like just strife To generous mindes more deare then honour nought And ere I leave my faith I 'le lose my life Thus when despair'd that I would prove their friend They sought in time to plague me as a foe Where love could not begin that hate might end And came in haste to have surpris'd me so But Neoptolemus to crosse by slight The Macedonians I for him did bend And Craterus concealing from their sight To match with him caus'd troupes of strangers tend This policy which none could justly blame I with my selfe in secret did conspire And had my shirt beene privy to the same It should have beene an offring to the fire When deaths first game with danger playd was past I Neoptolemus did toile to finde And he me too which happ'ned at the last Two will doe much to meet when of one minde Then whilst we met for whom both th' armies warr'd Whose fortune did depend upon our hands All was perform'd that force or fury dar'd Whilst both were bent t' abate the others bands And yet the heavens would not betray my trust Foule treason never had a fairer end But smil'd upon my cause as which was just And did destruction to the traitour send For forc'd by him whose force he did despise Though fighting fiercely long he lost his breath As one more strong then true more stout then wise Whose greatest honour was his honest death But weakened with huge wounds almost I div'd In seas of bloud even quite from knowledge stray'd Yet by so great a victory reviv'd My courage grew more then my strength decay'd I having finish'd thus this fatall strife Did come where Craterus his course had runne Even in the confines plac'd 'twixt death and life The one neere gone the other not begun He with great valour had resisted long As all Briareus hands had mov'd his sword And did his Masters memory no wrong Whilst with his courage not his fortune stor'd What life refus'd to gaine by death he thought For life and death are but indifferent things And of themselves not to be shun'd nor sought But for the good or ill that either brings With endlesse glory bent to change his breath Of desp'rate valour all the pow'r was prov'd And for great Captaines no more glorious death Then to dy fighting with a minde unmov'd When it appear'd where victory did tend That armies courage with their Captaine fell And whilst I safely might be seene a friend I went where death his Spirits did expell And whilst I told how both to be betrayd By Neoptolemus were brought about My woe with teares I to the world bewray'd Milde pitty and true kindenesse must burst out Ah if the newes of this that I expresse Had come in time unto Perdiccas eares He might have liv'd their pride now to represse Who by his fall were first divorc'd from feares Ant. The humour of that man was too well knowne Could he have parted other men from pride Whose soule was sold a slave unto his owne And for the same forc'd by his followers dy'd Eum. The proud must still be plagu'd by prouder ones There must be had sharp steel to smooth rough stones Ant. No vice then pride doth greater hate procure Which foes doe scorne and friends cannot endure Eum. Yet Majesty must not it selfe deject A lofty carriage doth procure respect Ant. A haughty gesture shewes a tyrants heart All love a courteous count'nance voyd of Art Eum. Yet manners too submisse as much condemn'd Doe make Kings scorn'd and Captains be contemn'd Ant. A humble port kinde looks words smooth and soft Are meanes by which great mindes may mount aloft Eum. Those are indeed for such as raise their flight They may doe more whose course is at the height Imperious formes an Empire must defend Ant. Thus hastned was Perdiccas to his end Eum. That worthy man had many faire designes But vertue still by envy is pursu'd Though as a Candle in the night best shines It in a vitious age may best be view'd There was a man who scorn'd secure delights As still despising paine attemptive bold A brave observer of the antient Rites Steele strictly grasping prodigall of gold He lov'd to have the Souldiers of his band Chus'd at the Musters not in markets bought And would not flatter where he might command More meet to have then seeke that which he sought But Souldiers now in this degener'd age Are fawn'd on by faint mindes brib'd in such sort That all the reynes
great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaguing Philip and his Queene of late Loe now brought low to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gave And yet good reason that it should be so Such measure as we give we must receive Whil'st on a Throne she proudly earst did sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As onely vanquish'd by her pow'r and wit She did not weigh what doth proceed from fate O O! th'Immortals which command above Of every state in hand the Rudder have And as they like can make us stay or go The griefe of others should us greatly move As those who sometime may like Fortune prove But as experience with rare proofes hath showne To look on others we have Linx his eyes Whil'st we would have their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can never marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regard do dimme our sight Why should we be puff'd up when foes do fall Since what to day doth on another light The same to morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant Ball Do live environ'd with th' all-circling skies Have many meanes whereby to be o're-throwne And why should dying worldlings swolne with wrath So tyrannize o're an afflicted wight Since miseries are common unto all Let none be proud who draw a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few unto their death Act. 5. Scene 1. Aristotle Phocion LOg have I us'd that light which cleares my minde On Natures labours curiously to look And of all creatures finding out the kinde Have read strange wonders in the worlds great book I mark her course by contraries maintain'd Whose harmony doth most subsist by strife And of all creatures in the same contain'd How various is the mystery of life But as all things are subject unto change Which partners are of th' elementall pow'rs So roll'd about with revolutions strange The state of man rests constant scarce for houres Loe what doth fame more frequently report Then sudden risings and more sudden falls I thinke the world is but a Tenis-court Where Fortune doth play States tosse men for Balls Pho. And never any age show'd more then this The wavering state of soule-ennobled wights Who soare too high to catch an aiery blisse Whil'st lowest falls attend the highest flights That matchlesse Monarch who was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortality attaines Hath not from death th'adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And those brave bands which furnish'd Fame with breath Whil'st all the world their valorous deeds did spie Rest now confounded since their Soveraignes death Like Polyphemus having lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood Which took their life out of a Monster dead Whil'st each of them would drinke the others bloud Since that great Dragons death who was their head Ar. So change all things which subject are to sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next light comes darknesse and next darknesse light This never-changing change transcends our wit Thus health and sicknesse poverty and state Dishonour honour life and death with doubt Still inter-changing what a true deceit All link'd together slide by turnes about To worldly states the heavens a height appoint Where when they once arrive they must descend And all perfections have a fatall point At which Excellency it selfe must end But as all those who walke on th' earth are cross'd With alterations happ'ning oft and strange The greatest States with greatest stormes are toss'd And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation mov'd As gathering credit out of ancient scroules No I have liv'd at Court and oft have prov'd Nothing below more vex'd then great mens Soules The Tyrant honours thralls while as they mone Their plaints to vulgar eares loath to impart They all the weight of woes must beare alone Where others of their griefe lend friends apart Their verie rising o're us to the height Which seemes their best is worst for being Lords They never know the truth that comes to light When franke society speakes naked words Whilst sadnesse oft seemes Majestie Time tels How deare they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some but three furies faine in all the hels There are three thousand in one great mans brest Phoc. I thinke all Monarchies are like the Moone Which now eclips'd now under cloud now cleare Growes by degrees and is when full undone Yet Aeson-like renew'd doth re-appeare For loe they first but small beginne to shine And when they once their Spherick forme obtaine Doe coldly languish and till chang'd decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Assyria once made many nations bow Then next all power was in the Persians hand And Macedonians last grown Monarchs now Amongst themselves divided cannot stand Ar. A secret fate alternatly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs That some may live of force some must be dead Each Element anothers strength devours Th' aire to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The waters strive to drowne the Earth with showres Which it by vapours vomits out againe Thus wâ—th a Gordian knot together bound All things are made un-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound Free from some change no State can long remaine But what in th' earth more dangerously stands Then Soveraignty though râ—ted at such worth Which like the stormy Gods tumultuous bands Doth flie from th' East to West from South to North Phoc. A long experience now makes this not strange That mighty States whose reines one only leades Be oft distracted and constrain'd to change As too great bodies for so little heads Since every common-wealth where all mens wits Doe joyne in one to breed the publike ease Hath many fevers and pestiferous fits Which physick oft oft poison must appease For ah the multitude more rash then wise A Hydra-headed beast which humor blindes Doth passionately praise or else despise As some prepost'rous fancies move their minds From vice and vertue oft like danger flowes Whilst th' one breeds envie and the other hate As jealousie or emulation growes Those oft are crush'd who doe support a state Ar. Whilst some their betters others equals scorne The popular authority decayes And when it dies the Monarchie is borne Whose violence disorders fury staies The raines of state it with most ease doth swaie Of power as joyn'd in one the strongest kind Still whilst it humbly high doth bold a way Twixt tyrannie and too remisse a minde But though States rul'd by one may flourish long Whilst one can well command and all obey Whilst guerdon goodnesse vengeance followes wrong That vertue cherish'd vice is made decay Yet if nought else Time doth great States orecome And all are bounded by some fatall houre What mis-adventures many wayes may come To dissipate the most united pow'r O! huge mishaps a Monarchie may marre
my heart gave groanes No Romans bloud was shed but I shed teares But how could any elevated spright Who had for honour hazarded his blood Yeeld willingly by foes outragious spight To be defrauded of th' expected good When as a multitude of battels wonne Had made Romes Empires and my glory great And that the Gauls oft vanquish'd had begun To beare the yoke which they disdain'd of late Then glorious Pompey my proud sonne-in-law And Cato who still cross'd what I design'd From favouring me the people did with-draw And had a successour for spight assign'd Not that he should succeed in dangerous broils But even through envy as they had ordain'd That he might triumph so of all my toils And rob the glory which I dearly gain'd With such indignity who could comport When prizing honour dearer then the light No whil'st my soule rests soverainge of this fort None shall have powâ—r to rob me of my right And yet by Iove who all the world commands To use such violence I did mislike And would have oft abandon'd all my bands If that mine enemies would have done the like But yet the multitude which floting still As waves with windes are carried with conceits With nought but my disgrace would bound their will And I committed all unto the fates Yet when at Rubicon I stood perplex'd And weigh'd the horrour of my high attempt My stormy soule a thousand fancies vex'd Which resolution buried in contempt Ant. Nought in a Captaine more confounds his foes Then of a ventrous course the swift effects Since so quite crush'd ere they their thoughts dispose All good advice a care confus'd neglects Though when you march'd to Rome your pow'r was small The sudden news so thundred in each eare That as if heaven had falne upon them all If bred amazement and th' amazement feare Some secret destiny as then was seene Doth guide mens actions and their judgement bounds Those who by hosts could not have frighted beene A shadow or a rumour oft confounds All hastie dangers so surprise the minde That feare prevents the resolutions power Or else the fates make curious Reason blinde When heavens determin'd have a fatall houre Great Pompey loe who was growne ag'd in armes And had triumph'd o're all the worlds three parts Whil'st quite discourag'd by imagin'd harmes Fled Rome though without reach of th' enemies darts As to a torrent all gave place to you And whom they call'd a rebell made their Lord Your successour Domitius forc'd to bow Did trust your favour more then feare your sword When in th' Iberian bounds you did arrive There Adversaries who did vainly vaunt Had all th' advantage that the ground could give Of victuals plenty which with us were scant Yet the celerity that you had us'd Did so discourage their disordred band That as Iove in their breasts had feare infus'd They had no strength against our strokes to stand And when Romes Generall with brave legions stor'd Seem'd to possesse all that his soule requir'd Whil'st us to daunt both famine and the sword The Sea the Land and all in one conspir'd Then for your offices they did contend As those who of the victory were sure And where they might th' affaires of state attend In Rome for lodgings fondly did procure Yet memorable now that day remaines When all the world was in two Armies rang'd Whil'st Mars went raging through th' Aemathian plaines And to despaires high expectations chang'd When Pompeys partie had the battell lost As Lyons do their prey you did pursue The scattred remnant of that ruin'd host On which new heads still like a Hydra grew Though victory in Africke fatall seem'd To any Army that a Scipio led Yet you shew'd there for worth in warre esteem'd That Rome a better then a Scipio bred And all our Enemies were confounded thus Who us in number ever did surmount But Caesar and his fortune were with us Which we did more then many thousands count Caes The sweetest comfort which my conquests gave Was that I so might do to many good For every day some Romanes life I save Who in the field to fight against me stood Thus may my minde be judg'd by the event Who even when by my greatest foes assail'd To winne the battell never was more bent Then prompt to pardon when I had prevail'd Not covetous of bloud of spoyls nor harmes I even when victor did insult o're none But layd aside all hatred with my Armes A foe in fight a friend when it was gone Of clemency I like the praise more then Of force which mortals with affliction lodes Strength oft may prove the worst thing that 's in men And pity is the best thing in the Gods Sterne Cato still affecting to be free Who either death or life if given disdain'd Thy death I envy who didst envy me The glory that I saving thee had gain'd Yet I to Rents and dignities restore Even those who long my ruine had design'd And O! it doth delight my minde farre more By benefits then by constraint to binde Ant. I would have all my foes brought to their ends Caes I rather have my foes all made my friends Ant. Their bloud whom I suspect'd should quench all strife Caes So might one do who lik'd of nought but life Ant. Still life would be redeem'd from dangers forth Caes Not with a ransome then it selfe more worth Ant. Then life to man what thing more deare succeeds Caes The great contentment that true glory breeds Ant. Men by all meanes this blast of breath prolong Caes Men should strive to live well not to live long And I would spend this momentary breath To live by fame for ever after death For I aspire in spight of fates to live Ant. I feare that some too soone your death contrive Caes Who dare but lodge such thoughts within their mindes Ant. Those whom the shadow of your Greatnesse blindes Caes The best are bound to me by gifts in store Ant. But to their Countrey they are bound farre more Caes Then loath they me as th' Enemy of the state Ant. Who freedome love you as usurper hate Caes I by great battels have enlarg'd their bounds Caes By that they thinke your pow'r too muchy abounds Caes From doing wrong yet I refraine my will Ant. They feare your powe'r because it may do ill Caes The present state still miscontentment brings To factious mindes affecting matters strange Which burdens to themselves do loath all things And so they change regard not what they change In populous Townes where many do repaire Who at their meeting what they please do touch They further then their bounds extend their care The idle who do nothing must thinke much Loe Rome though wasted all with raging warres Whil'st private grudge pretended publike good Equality still rude engendring jarres Did prove too prodigall of Roman blood Though yet now at the last attaining rest Whil'st all obeying one may banish teares It if constrain'd even scorns as bad
just himselfe more strong Then Caesar thought who for no justice car'd And since discovering what he cloak'd so long Said that the other and not he was snar'd Thus Caesar conquer'd all but Cato's minde Who to a tyrant would not owe his breath But in such sort his famous course confin'd Then Caesars life more glorious was his death Those great men thus brought to disastrous ends The author of their death make me despise Who to usurpe all pow'r while as he tends By treading good men downe doth strive to rise Now made most great by lessening all the great He proudly doth triumph in Rome o're Rome And we must seeme to like the present state Whose doubtfull breath depends upon his doome Yet had I not enlarg'd my griefes so long To you whom Caesar doth pretend to love Save that I know touch'd with the common wrong A just disdaine all generous mindes must move Dec. Had Caesar willingly resign'd his Armes And rendred Rome her liberty at last When as from fores he fear'd no further harmes But had repair'd his just displeasures past More then for all that could be done for me He should have had and Altar in my best As worthy for his vertuous deeds to be Fear'd by the bad and honour'd by the best But since though conqu'ring all the world by might He to himselfe a slave would make Rome thrall His benefits are loathsome in my sight And I am griev'd that he deserves to fall My fancies move not in so low a sphere But I disdaine that one Romes Crowne requires Yet it is best that with the time we beare And with our pow'r proportion our desires Though first dissembling so your minde to try I told what fame to Caesars praise relates Yet was I pleas'd that moe were griev'd then I All miscontented men are glad of Mates Cic. Since tyranny all liberty exiles We must our sleves no more our selves disguise Then learne to maske a mourning minde with smiles And seeme to like that which we most despise Yet all our deeds not Caesars humour please Who since mistrusting once esteemes us still When dumb disdainefull flatterers when we praise If plaine presumptuous and in all things ill Yea we whose freedome Caesar now restraines As his attenders all his steps must trace And know yet not acknowledge his disdaines But still pretend an interest in his grace Though all my thoughts detest him as a foe To honour him a thousand meanes I move Yet but to save my selfe and plague him so No hate more harmes then it that lookes like love His pride is by prepost'rous state growne such That by the better sort he is abhorr'd The gods are jealous and men envy much To see a mortall man so much ador'd Dec. Well Cicero let all meanes be entertain'd That may embarke us in his bosomes deepes Till either willingly or then constrain'd He justly quite what he unjustly keepes Exeunt Chorus THis life of ours is like a Rose Which whilst rare beauties it array Doth then enjoy the least repose When Virgin-like make blush we see Of every hand it is the prey And by each winde is blowne away Yea though from violence scap'd free Thus time triumphs and leades all thrals Yet doth it languish and decay O! whilst the courage hottest boiles And that our life seemes best to be It is with dangers compast still Whilst it each little change appalles The body force without oft foiles It th' owne distemp'rature oft spoiles And even though none it chance to kill As nature failes the body falles Of which save death nought bounds the ioyles What is this moving Towr in whith we trust A little winde clos'd in a cloud of dust And yet some sprites though being pent In this fraile prisons narrow bounds Whilst what might serve doth not content Doe alwaies bend their thoughts too high And ayme at all the peopled grounds Then whilst their brests Ambition wounds They feed as fearing straight to dye Yet build as if they still might live Whilst famish'd for fames empty sounds Of such no end the travell ends But a beginning gives whereby They may be vex'd worse then before For whilst they still new hopes contrive The hoped good more anguish sends Then the possess'd contentment lends As beasts not taste but doe devoure They swallow much and for more strive Whilst still their hope some change attends And how can such but still themselves annoy Who can acquire but know not how t' enjoy Since as a ship amidst the deepes Or as an Eagle through the ayre Of which no way th' impression keepes Most swift when seeming least to move This breath of which we take such care Doth tosse the body every where That it may hence with haste remove Life slips and sleepes alwayes away Then hence and as it came goes bare Whose steppes behinde no trace doe leave Why should heaven-banish'd soules thus love The cause and bounds of their exile As restlesse strangers where they stray And with such paine why should they reave That which they have no right to have Which with them in a little while As summers beauties must decay And can give nought except the grave Though all things doe to harme him what they can No greater enemie then himselfe to man Whilst oft environ'd with his foes Which threatned death on every side Great Caesar parted from repose As Atlas holding up the Starres Did of a world the weight abide But since a prey to foolish pride More then by all the former warres He now by it doth harm'd remaine And of his fortune doth diffide Made rich by many Nations wreake He breaking through the liquid barres In Neptunes armes his Minion forc'd Yet still pursu'd new hopes in vaine Would the ambitious looling backe Of their inferiours knowledge take They from huge cares might be divorc'd Whilst viewing few more pow'r attaine And many more then they to lacke The onely plague from men that rest doth reave Is that they weigh their wants not what they have Since thus the great themselves involve In such a labyrinth of cares Whence none to scape can well resolve But by degrees are forward led Through waves of hopes rockes of despaires Let us avoyd ambitions snares And farre from stormes by envy bred Still seeke though low a quiet rest With mindes where no proud thought repaires That in vaine shadowes doth delight Thus may our fancies still be fed With that which Nature freely gives Let us iniquity detest And hold but what we owe of right Th' eyes treasure is th' all-circling light Not that vaine pompe for which pride strives Whose glory but a poysnous pest To plague the soule delights the sight Ease comes with ease where all by paine buy paine Rest we in peace by warre let others raigne Act 3. Scene 1. Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus NOw Brutus now we need no more to doubt Nor with blinde hopes our judgement to suspend That flatt'rers credit loe is quite worne
then dayes and yeares Which weare away this breath of ours so soone Whil'st Lachesis to no request gives eares But spinnes the threeds of life till they be done Yet foolish worldlings following that which flies As if they had assurance of their breath To fraile preferrement fondly strive to rise Which but a burden weighs them downe to death Nun. There 's none of us but must remember still How that the Gods by many a wondrous signe Did shew it seem'd how that against their will The destinies would Caesars dayes confine A monstrous starre amidst the heaven hath beene Still since they first against him did conspire The solitary birds at noone were seene And men to walke environ'd all with fire What wonder though the heavens at such a time Do brave the earth with apparitions strange Then whil'st intending such a monstrous crime Unnaturall men make Natures course to change Cho. Though all such things seeme wonderfull to some They may by Reason comprehended be For what beyond what usuall is doth come The Ignorant with wondring eyes do see Those bastard Starres not heritours of th' ayre Are first conceiv'd below then borne above And when fore-knowing things sprits take most care And by illusion superstition move Yet this no doubt a great regard should breed When Nature hath brought forth a monstrous birth In secret Characters where men may reade The wrath of heaven and wickednesse of th' earth The Naturallists and th' Astrologians skill May oft encountring manifest like care Since th' one looks back the other forward still One may tell what the other why things are Nun. Shall sorrow through the waves of woes to saile Have still your teares for Seas your sighs for winds To miserie what do base plaints availe A course more high becomes heroicke mindes None are o're-come save onely those who yeeld From froward Fortune though some blows be borne Let Vertue serve Adversity for shield No greater griefe to griefe then th' enemies scorne This makes your foes but laugh to see you weep At least these teares but for your selfe bestow And not for that great sprit whose spoyls heavens keep For he no doubt rests deified ere now Cal. I onely waile my life and not his death Who now amongst th'immortals doth repose And shall so long as I have bloud or breath To furnish forth the elements of woes I care not who rejoyce so I lament Who do to darknesse dedicate my dayes And since the light of my delight is spent Shall have in horrour all Apollo's rayes I will retyre my selfe to waile alone As trustie Turtles mourning for their Mates And my misfortune alwayes bent to mone Will spurne at pleasures as empoyson'd baits No second guest shall presse great Caesars bed Warm'd by the flames to which he first gave life I thinke there may be greater honour had When Caesars widow then anothers wife This had afforded comfort for my harmes If I ere chanc'd abandon'd thus to be Had had a little Caesar in mine armes The living picture of his Syre to me Yet doth that Idoll which my thoughts adore With me of late most strictly match'd remaine For where my armes him sometimes held before Now in my heart I shall him still retaine That though I may no pretious things impart Thy deitie may by me be honour'd oft Still offring up my thoughts upon my heart My sacred flame shall alwayes mount aloft Exeunt Chorus WHat fools are those who do repose their trust On what this masse of misery affords And bragging but of th' excrements of dust Of life-lesse Treasures labour to be Lords Which like the Sirens songs or Circes charmes With shadows of delight hide certaine harmes Ah! whil'st they sport on pleasures yâ—ie grounds Oft poyson'd by Prosperitie with Pride A sudden storme their floting joyes confounds Whose course is ordred by the eye-lesse guide Who so inconstantly her selfe doth beare Th' unhappie men may hope the happy feare The fortunate who bathe in flouds of joyes To perish oft amidst their pleasures chance And mirthlesse wretches wallowing in annoye Oft by adversitie themselves advance Whâ—l'st Fortune bent to mock vaine worldlings cares Doth change despaires in hopes hopes in despaires That gallant Grecian whose great wit so soone Whom others could not number did o're-come Had he not beene undone had beene undone And if not banish'd had not had a home To him feare courage gave what wondrous change And many doubts are solution strange He who told one who then was Fortunes childe As if with horrour to congeale his bloud That Caius Marius farie from Rome exil'd Wretch'd on the ruines of great Carthage stood Though long both plagu'd by griefe and by disgrace The Consul-ship regain'd and dy'd in peace And that great Pompey all the worlds delight Whom of his Theater then th' applauses pleas'd Whil'st praise-transported eyes endeer'd his sight Who by youths toyles should have his age then eas'd He by one blow of Fortune lost farre more Then many battels gayned had before Such sudden changes so disturbe the soule That still the judgement ballanc'd is by doubt But on a Round what wonder though things roule And since within a Circle turne about Whil'st heaven on earth strange alterations brings To scorne our confidence in worldly things And chanc'd there ever accidents more strange Then in these stormy bounds where we remaine One did a sheep-hooke to a Scepter change The nurceling of a Wolfe o're men did raigne A little Village grew a mighty Towne Which whil'st it had no King held many a Crowne Then by how many sundry sorts of men Hath this great State beene rul'd though now by none Which first obey'd but one then two then ten Then by degrees return'd to two and one Of which three States their ruine did abide Two by Two's lusts and one by Two mens pride What revolutions huge have hapned thus By secret fates all violently led Though seeming but by accident to us Yet in the depths of heavenly breasts first bred As arguments demonstrative to prove That weaknesse dwels below and pow'r above Loe prosprous Caesar charged for a space Both with strange Nations and his Countreys spoyls Even when he seem'd by warre to purchase peace And roses of sweet rest from thornes of toils Then whil'st his minde and fortune swell'd most high Hath beene constrain'd the last distresse to trie What warnings large were in a time so short Of that darke course which by his death now shines It speechlesse wonders plainly did report It men reveal'd by words and gods by signes Yet by the chaynes of destinies whil'st bound He saw the sword but could not scape the wound What curtaine o're our knowledge errour brings Now drawn now open'd by the heavenly host Which makes us sometime sharpe to see small things And yet quite blinde when as we should see most That curious braines may rest amaz'd at it Whose ignorance makes them presume of wit Then let us live since all things change below When rais'd most high â—s those who once may fall And hold when by disasters brought more low The minde still free what ever else be thrall Those Lords of Fortune sweeten every State Who can command themselves though not their fate FINIS
seeke an Empire equall with thy minde Of which a Crowne is due to every thought But Glories love whilst courting in this kinde I feare by thine our ruine may be wrought And pardon me deare Sonne great is the love Which makes me watch so warily thy wayes A Fathers care what kind of thing can move Whom such a danger not in time dismayes The Heaven of late advertis'd me by dreames That some sad fortune threatned thee too soone Each day some ominous signe attendance claimes Which out of time are mark'd when all is done This was the cause that hastned us so much To have thee bound to Hymens sacred law This was the cause that all our care was such Out of our sight all weapons to withdraw Scorne not those Comets which amazement notes The starres to mortall states a bounds designe And doe not thinke t' is but my love that dotes For if thou fall my fate depends on thine Atis. Would God I had some meanes once ere my death To satisfie that infinite desert Which I shall hold so long as I have breath Deepe registred with reverence in my heart Yet sir we see this is a naturall thing That too excessive loue engenders feares A sport like this can no great perill bring Where either all delights the eyes or th' eares If from my former deedes I now should shrinke As voide of vertue to soft pleasure thrall Of your two Sonnes what might your Subjects thinke Th' one wanting but one sense the other all What fancies might my late spous'd love possesse To see her husband hatefull in mens sights And honours bounds thus basely to transgresse As womaniz'd still wallowing in delights Though women would have men at their devotion They hate base mindes that hatch no noble notion Croe. Well well my Sonne I see thou must prevaile Goe follow forth the chase use thine owne forme Yet stay or let my words this much availe Walke with more care to scape this threatned storme Thy hawtie sprite to tempt all hazards bent I feare transports thee to a fatall strife I wish to erre yet the event prevent Lest that thy courage but betray thy life And deare Adrastus I must let him know What benefits I have bestow'd on thee Not to upbraid thee no but so to show How I may trust thee best thus bound to mee When thou from Phrygia cam'st defil'd with blood And a fraternall violated love When desp'rate quite thou as distracted stood Fled from thy Fathers face curst from above Thou foundst me friendly and my Court thy rest A Sanctuary which thy life did save And dangers scap't when one hath beene distress'd A wary wisdome by experience leave Yet all that favour past was but a signe Of generous greatenesse which would gratious prove But in thy hands my soule I 'le now consigne And give the greatest pledge that can binde love Behold how Atis of our age the shield Whose harme as you have heard I fear'd ere now Is for his pastime to goe range the field And with his custodie I will trust you I must my friend even fervently exhort Waite on my Sonne remember of my dreame This dangerously delectable sport Doth make mee feare the griefe exceeds the game Adrast I never shall those courtesies neglect It grieves me not to thinke nor heare the same For whilst this sprite those members doth direct All shall concurre to celebrate your fame Yet were you pleas'd I would not hence depart Who doe all things that mirth may move abhorre But with my passions here retir'd a part Woe past would waile and shunne all cause of more If to converse where not one crosse annoies I feare my fellowship infect with woe Those who themselves would recreate with Ioyes Still strange mishaps attend me where I goe But since you will commit this charge to mee Your Majestie I 'le studie to content At least my faith shall from defects be free And all my paines shall as you please be spent Atis. Now bent to see this monsters ougly shape With an inflam'd desire my thought doe burne And Father feare not dreame of no mishap I hope with speed victorious to returne Coelia Returne from whence deare love O deadly word That doth import thy parting from my sight I heard the name mishap Ah! my deare Lord Should such strict limites bound so large delight O cruell to thy selfe unkinde to me And can'st thou condescend to leave me soe If ere in doubt abandon'd thus I be It may deferre but not defraud my woe This might indeed to thee yeeld some reliefe To have thy eares not wounded by my mone But would wound me with a continuall griefe To feare all things where I should feare but one Desist in time from this intended strife A course too rash and not approv'd by me Remember I have int'rest in thy life Which thus to venter I doe not agree Hast thou not given a proofe in thy greene prime That may content the most ambitious heapes Whilst Atis was his own then was it time To follow fancies unconfined Scopes Thy selfe then onely camp'd in fortunes bounds Thou do'st endanger Coelia likewise now You sigh her breath she suffers in your wounds You live in her and she must die in you Atis. Life of my soule how doe such broken speaches From troubled passions thus abruptly rise I know my love thy love my minde o're-reaches Affection Schoold with feares is too too wise I goe alongst the fields for sport to range Thy sighes doe but my soule with sorrow fill And pardon deare I finde this wond'rous strange That thou beginst now to resist my will If I trespasse in ought against my dutie Which makes thee thus my constancy mistrust Mistrust not yet the Chains of thine own beauty Which binde all my desires and so they must Are wee not now made one such feares o'recome Though I would flie my selfe my selfe doe fetter And if that I would flie from whom to whom I can love none so well none loves me better Have pitty of those pearles sweet eyes soules pleasures Least they presage what thou would'st not have done The Heavens had not give me those pretious treasures Of such perfections to be spoil'd so soone Chorus THose who command above High presidents of Heaven By whom all things doe move As they have order given What worldling can arise Against them to repine Whilst castell'd in the skies With providence divine They force this peopled round Their judgements to confesse And in their wrath confound Proud mortalls who transgresse The bounds to them assign'd By Nature in their mind Base brood of th' earth vaine man Why brag'st thou of thy might The Heavens thy courses scan Thou walk'st still in their sight Ere thou wast borne thy deedes Their registers dilate And thinke that none exceedes The bounds ordain'd by fate What Heavens would have thee to Though they thy Wayes abhorre That thou of force must doe And thou canst doe no more This
vanish'd like to lightning flashes Then death could me not have of life depriv'd Whilst such a Phoenix had reviv'd my ashes San. Let not those woes ecclipse your vertues light Croe. Ah! Rage and griefe must once be at a height San. Strive of your sorrowes Sir to stop the source Croe. These salt eye-floods must flow and have their course San. That is not kingly Croe. And yet it 's kindly â—here passions domineere they governe blindly San Such woefull plaints cannot repaire your state Croe. Vnhappie soules at least may waile their faâ—e The meanest comfort that you can returne Is in calamity a leave to mourne San. what Stoicke strange who most precise appeares Could that youths death with tearelesse eyes behold In all perfections ripe though greene in yeares A hoarie judgement under lockes of gold No no man lives but must lament to see The worlds chiefe hope even in the blossome choak'd But men cannot controll the Heavens decree And what is done can never be revok'd Let not this losse with griefe torment you more Of which a part with you your Country beares If wailing could your ruin'd state restore Soules charg'd with griefe should saile in Seas of teares Lest all our comfort dash against one shelfe And his untimely death but hasten yours Have pitty of your people spare your selfe If not to your own use yet unto ours Croe. When Sandanis I first thy faith did finde Thou div'd so deepely in my bosome then That since thou still entrusted with my minde Didst know what I conceal'd from other men Behold I goe to open up to you Chiefe treasurer of all my secrets still What high designe my Thoughts are hatching now A physicke in some sort to ease my ill This may unto my soule yeeld some reliefe And for displeasures past may much content Or else must purchase partners in my griefe If not for me yet with me to lament San. This benefit must binde me with the rest To serve your Majestie and hold you deere And I 'le be free with you yet I protest That what I friendly speake you freely heare Croe. Since that it hath not pleas'd the heavenly pow'rs That of my off-spring I might comfort claime Yet lest the ravenous course of flying how'rs Should make a prey of my respected name I would engender such a generous broode That the un-borne might know how I have liv'd And this no doubt would doe my Ghost great good By famous victories to be reviv'd I hope to soare with fames Immortall wings Vnlesse my high-bent thoughts themselves deceave That having acted admirable things I death may scorne triumphing o're the grave Yet have I not so setled my conceipt That all opinions are to be despis'd A good advice can never come too late This is the purpose that I have devis'd Some Scythian Shepheards in a high disdaine As trusted fame yet constantly relates To plague some Medes with horrour and with paine Did entertaine them with prodigious meates And to content their more then Tigrish wishes They with the Infants flesh the Parents fed Who not suspecting such polluted dishes Did in their bowels bury whom they bred Then after this abhominable crime They fled with hasted unto my fathers Court And first informers courting trust in time Did as they pleas'd of what was past report Whil'st they save what them help'd all things suppress'd Milde pitty pleading for afflictions part His generaous minde still tend'ring the distress'd Was wonne to them by this deceiving Art San. Oft men of Iudges thence have parties gone Where both their eares were patent but to one Croe. Then Cyaxare Monarch of the Medes To prosecute those fugitives to death In indignation of my fathers deeds Did bragge them both with all the words of wrath My father thinking that his Court should be A Sanctuary supplicants to save Did levie men to make the world then see In spite of pow'r that weakenesse help should have Thus mortall warres on every side proclaim'd With mutuall trouble did continue long Till both the Armies by Bellona â—aaâ—'d Did irke to venge or to maintaine a wrong It chanc'd whil'st peace was at the highest dearth That all their forces did with fury fight A sudden darknesse curtain'd up the earth And did by violence displace the light I thinke the Sunne for Phaeton look't sad Else blush'd reflecting bloud like them he saw For as when wrong'd of old with griefe gone mad He from the world his chariot did with-draw Yet Ignorance which doth confusion breed By wresting natures course found cause of feares Which errour did so happily succeed That it a concord wrought and truce from teares Then straight there was a perfect peace begunne And that it might more constantly indure Astyages the King of Media's sonne To be his Queene my sister did procure San. A deadly rancor reconcil'd againe With consanguinity would seal'd remaine Croe. He since his fathers age-worne course expir'd Hath rul'd his people free from bloud or strife Till now a Viper hath his death conspir'd Who from his loynes extracted had his life I meane this Cyrus base Cambyses brood Who by a Bitch nurst with the Country swaines No signe observ'd importing Princely bloud The doggish nature of his Nurse retaines He came against his Grand-father to field And unexpected with a mighty pow'r His forces forc'd did force himselfe to yeeld Who captive kept now waites for death each houre That you may marke how great my in t ' rest is This ruthfull story I did largely touch Those circumstances shew that shame of his Doth from our glory derogate too much Dare any Prince presume to trouble thus One whom our kingdomes favour should defend In strict affinity combin'd with us Yet not regarded for so great a friend This with some joy doth smooth my stormy minde Whil'st I for Medes against the Persians goe I hope that both by brave effects shall finde How kinde a friend I prove how fierce a foe San. Though natures law you car'd not to transgresse Nor this your wrong'd ally would not repaire Yet the regard to Monarchs in distresse Should move the mighty with a mutuall care Those terrours too which thunder in your eare I thinke the Lydians will not well allow For when the Cedar falles the Oake may feare That which o'rethrowes the Medes may trouble you And when a neighbours house they burning view Then their owne dangers men may apprehend It better is with others to pursue Then be when but alone forc'd to defend Ah! this is but the out-side of your course A dangerous ambush which ambition plants There may come Rivers raging from this source To drown your state whil'st such high thoughts nought daunts I know those new-borne monsters of vour minde Have arm'd your ravish'd heart with faire conceits Yet may those wonders which you have divin'd Prove traiterous projects painted for deceits And pardon Sir it is not good to be Too rashly stout nor curiously wise Lest that you leave that which
joyes remaine Which did exceed at least did equall theirs But chiefly Iuno did despight it most Who through a jealousie still jarres with Iove That body-prison'd soules of that could boast Which she although heavens Queen had not above Thus even for envy of our rare delights The fatall Sisters by the heavens suborn'd Of my soules treasure clos'd the lovely lights By which they thought the earth too much adorn'd O but he is not dead he lives in me Ah but I live not for I dy'd in him How can the one without the other be If death have set his eyes mine must looke dimme Since to my sight that Sunne no more appear'd From whom my beauties borrowed all their rayes A long eclipse that never shall be clear'd Hath darkened all the poynts of my sad dayes Aye me I live too long he dy'd too soone Thus still the worst remaine the best depart Of him who told how this curs'd deed was done The words like swords shall ever wound my heart Fierce tyrant death who in thy wrath did'st take One halfe of me and left one halfe behinde Take this to thee or give me th' other backe Be wholly cruell or be no way kinde But whil'st I live beleeve thou canst not dye O! even in spite of death yet still my choice Oft with the inward al-beholding eye I thinke I see thee and I heare thy voyce And to content my languishing desire To ease my minde each thing some helpe affords Thy fanci'd forme doth oft such faith acquire That in all sounds I apprehend thy words Then with such thoughts my memory to wound I call to minde thy lookes thy words thy grace Where thou didst haunt yet I adore the ground And where thou stept O sacred seemes that place My solitary walkes my widow'd bed My driry sighes my sheets oft bath'd with teares These shall record what life by me is led Since first sad newes breath'd death into mine eares Though for more paine yet spar'd a space by death Thee first I lov'd with thee all love I leave For my chast flames which quench'd were with thy breath Can kindle now no more but in thy grave By night I wish for day by day for night Yet wish farre more that none of both might be But most of all that banish'd from the light I were no more their constant change to see At night whil'st deeply musing of my State I goe to summe with sighes my wonted joyes An agony then in a sad conceit Doth blot the blubred count with new annoyes When Sleep the brother most resembling death Of darkenesse childe and father unto rest Doth bound though not restraine confused breath That it may vent but not with words exprest Then with my sprite thou dost begin to speake With sugred speeches to appease my griefe And my bruis'd heart which labour'd long to breake Doth in this comfort fain'd finde some reliefe Yea if our soules remain'd united so This late divorce would no way vexe my minde But when awaking it augments my woe Whil'st this a dreame and me a wretch I finde If never happy O thrise happy I But happy more had happinesse remain'd Yet then excessive joy had made me dye Since such delights what heart could have sustain'd Why waste I thus whil'st vainely I lament The pretious treasure of that swift past-time Ah pardon me deare love for I repent My lingring here my fate and not my crime Since first thy body did enrich the Tombe In this spoil'd world my eye no pleasure sees And Atis Atis Loe I come I come To be thy mate amongst the Myrtle trees Chorus Loe all our time even from our birth In misery almost exceeds For where we finde a moments mirth A month of mourning still succeeds Besides the evils that Nature breeds Whose paines doe us each day appall Infirmaties which frailty sends The losse of that which fortune lends And such disasters as oft fall Yet to farre worse our states are thrall Whil'st wretched man with man contends And every one his whole force bends How to procure anothers losses But this torments us most of all The minde of man which many a fancy tosses Doth forge unto it selfe a thousand crosses O how the soule with all her might Doth her celestiall forces straine That so she may attaine the light Of natures wonders which remaine Hid from our eyes we strive in vaine To seeke out things that are unsure In Sciences to seeme profound We dive so deepe we finde no ground And the more knowledge we procure The more it doth our mindes allure Of mysteries the depth to sound Thus our desire we never bound Which by degrees thus drawn on still The memory may not endure But like the Tubs which Danaus daughters fill Doth drinke no oftner then constrain'd to spill Yet how comes this and O how can Cleare knowledge thus the soules chiefe treasure Because of such a crosse to man Which should afford him greatest pleasure This is because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong But bent to tempt forbidden things Doe soare too high with Natures wings Still weakest whil'st we thinke us strong The heavens which hold we do them wrong To try their grounds and what thence springs This crosse upon us justly brings With knowledge knowledge is confus'd And growes a griefe ere it be long That which a blessing is when rightly us'd Doth grow the greatest crosse when once abus'd Ah! what avaiels this unto us Who in this vaile of woes abide With endlesse toyles to study thus To learn the thing that heaven would hide And trusting to too blinde a guide To spy the Planets how they move And too transgressing common Barres The constellation of the starres And all that is decreed above Whereof as oft the end doth prove A secret sight our wel-fare marres And in our brests breeds endlesse warres Whil'st what our horoscopes foretell Our expectations doe disprove Those apprehended plagues prove such a hell That then we would unknow them till they fell This is the pest of great estates They by a thousand meanes devise How to fore-know their doubtfull fates And like new Gyants scale the skies Heavens secret store-house to surprise Which sacrilegious skill we see With what great paine they apprehend it And then how foolishly they spend it To learne the thing that once must be Why should we seeke our destiny If it be good we long attend it If it be ill none may amend it Such knowledge but torments the minde Let us attend the heavens decree For those whom this ambiguous Art doth blinde May what they seeke to flye the rather finde And loe of late what hath our King By his preposterous travels gain'd In searching out each threatned thing Which Atis horoscope contain'd For what the heavens had once ordain'd That by no meanes he could prevent And yet he labours to finde out Through all the Oracles about Of future things the hid event This doth his raging minde
the end When first we fill with fruitfull seed The apt conceiving wombe of th' earth And seeme to banish feare of dearth With that which it by time may breed Still dangers doe our hopes exceed The frosts may first with cold confound The tender greenes which decke the ground Whose wrath though Aprils smiles asswage It must abide th' Eolian rage Which too o're com'd whilst we attend All Ceres wandring tresses bound The reines let from their cloudy cage May spoile what we expect to spend No perfect blisse before the end Lee whil'st the Vine-tree great with Grapes With nectar'd liquor strives to kisse Embracing Elmes not lov'd d amisse Those clusters lose their comely shapes Whilst by the thunder burn'd in heapes All Bacchus hopes fall downe and perish Thus many things doe fairely flourish Which no perfection can attaine And yet we worldlings are so vaine That our conceits too high we bend If fortune but our Spring time cherish Though divers stormes we must sustaine To harvest ere our yeares ascend No perfect blisse before the end By all who in this world have place There is a course which must be runne And let none thinke that he hath wonne Till first he finish'd hath his race The Forrests through the which we trace Breed ravenous beasts which doe abhorre us And lye in wait still to devoure us Whil'st brambles doe our steppes beguile The feare of which though we exile And to our marke with gladnesse tend Then balles of gold are laid before us To entertaine our thoughts a while And our good meaning to suspend No perfect blisse before the end Behold how Croesus long hath liv'd Throughout this spatious world admir'd And having all that he desir'd A thousand meanes of joy contriv'd Yet suddenly is now depriv'd Of all that wealth and strangely falles For every thing his sprite appalles His sonnes decease his countryes losse And his owne state which stormes doe tosse Thus he who could not apprehend Then whil'st he slept in marble walles No nor imagine any crosse To beare all those his brest must lend No perfect blisse before the end And we the Lydians who design'd To raigne over all who were about us Behold how fortune too doth flout us And utterly hath us resign'd For to our selves we that assign'd A Monarchie but knew not how Yet thought to make the world to bow Which at our forces stood afraid We we by whom these plots were laid To thinke of bondage must descend And beare the yoke of others now O it is true that Solon said While as he yet doth breath extend No man is blest behold the end FINIS THE TRAGEDY OF DARIVS THE ARGUMENT DARIVS the fourteenth from Cyrus King of Persia being after the death of Occhus for his singular valour from the government of Armenia advanc'd to the Persian Empire became so arrogant a good successe as it were sâ—tâ—ing him forward to confusion as he sent to demand tribute of Philip then King of Macedonia who being of a hauty nature and inferiour to none of that age in courage or for melitary discipline requited this contumelious message with as disdainefull an answer threatning that he would come and deliver it in Persepolis But being prevented by death he left the execution of his designe to his sonne Alexander who for the great victories which thereafter he obtained was surnamed the great He inherâ—ting the hatred of hiâ— Father towards Darius and farre surmounting h m in ambition past in person to Asia with an army of thirty thousand men onely After his arr vall Darius wrote to him in a proud and contemptible manner ascribing to himselfe the title of the King of Kings and kinsman of the Gods and namâ—ng Alexander his servant Hee also in vaunting manner bragged that he would have the mad boy the sonne of Philip for so in derision be tâ—armed him bound and beatâ—n with roddes and after brought to his presence apparelled like a Prince For performance whereof he directed one of his Minions with forty thousand men to make impediment to his passage at the River of Granick where by the wonderfull valour of Alexander they were overthrowne Darius being advertised of this came himselfe in proper person accompâ—nied with infinite but evill ordered numbers and encountred Alexander beside Isso in the strait of Ciliâ—â—a where having fought doubtfull and â—loudy battell in end by the invincible valour and never-failing forture of Alexander his Army was defeated himselfe put to fight and his mother wife and children made captives Who were most courteously entertained by Alexander who notwithstanding their exceeding great beauty yet would not abuse them nor suffer them to bee abused by others nor vesâ—ed he them more then once and that to comfort them all the time of their imprisonment Darius notwithstanding of all his losses his courage being in the full whilst his fortune was in the waine wrote very proudly to Alexander taking still the title of a King to himselfe but not giving 〈…〉 gold as Macecon could containe for ransome of the captives Which being very disdainfully refused by Alexander he having re enforced his troupes and comming forward to fight with greater force then before was informed how his wife had died in prâ—son whose death he bewailed with exceeding great sorrow And understanding what courtesie Alexander had used towards her he sent to use for peace not for any feare of his force but allured as he alledged by his courtesie This sute being likewise rejected he fought beside Arbella with no better fortune then before Yet for all these misfortunes being of an invincible courage and despairing of peace he re-assembled all his forces which were augmented by the comming of the Bactrians and was comming forward with intention at last either to dye or prevaile But in the meane time two traiterous subjects of his owne Bâ—ssus whom he had preferred to be governour of Bactria and Nabarzanes one in speciall credit with him conspired his death Which danger though it was revealed to him by Patron Captaine of the Greekes yet he could not or rather would not eschew At length those two Traitours tooke and bound him with golden chaines and cast him in an old Chariot with purpose to present him to Alexander But they hearing how he would not accept their Present and how he was comming to invade them threw their darts at Darius and left him for dead In this estate he was found by Polystratus and after the delivery of some few words dyed Alexander having exceedingly lamented his miserable and undeserved end directed his body to his mother Sisigambis to be honour ably buried The persons names that speake DARIUS SISIGAMBIS his Mother STATIRA his Wife STATIRA his Daughter TIRIOTES their Eunuch NABARZANES two Traitors BESSUS two Traitors PATRON Captaine of the Mercenary Greekes NUNTIUS ALEXANDER PARMENTO his Lieutenant HEPHESTION his Minion POLYSTRATUS a Souldier ARTABAZUS A Noble man of Persia CHORUS all Persians The Scene supposed in Babylon THE
floud of teares be-dew'd his feet Then said by death expecting to be free Let us entombe great Darius like a King Then when we first his funerall honour see Death must to us a great contentment bring This oft they urg'd though he attested there That Darius was not dead as they suppos'd But liv'd with hope his ruines to repaire And in the pow'r of other Realmes repos'd Then did he urge what comfort and reliefe They might attend depending on your Grace Thus having toil'd to mitigate their griefe It seem'd they long'd to see my Soveraignes face Alex. I pitie still and not insult o're such Though once mine Enemies who are humbled so And lest weake feare oppresse their mindes too much To comfort them straight to their Tent I 'le go Exeunt Chorus OF all the passions which possesse the soule None so disturbes vaine Mortals mindes As vaine Ambition which so blindes The light of them that nothing can controll Nor curb their thoughts who will aspire This raging vehement desire Of Soveraignty no satisfaction findes But in the breasts of men doth ever roule The restlesse stone of Sisyph to torment them And as his heart who stole the heavenly fire The Vulture gnaws so doth that monster rent them Had they the world the world would not content them This race of Ixion to embrace the clouds Contemne the state wherein they stand And save themselves would all command As one desire is quench'd another buds When they have travell'd all their time Heapt bloud on bloud and crime on crime There is an higher power that guides their hand More happie he whom a poore Cottage shrouds Against the tempest of the threatning heaven He stands in feare of none none envies him His heart is upright and his ways are even Where others states are still twixt six and seven That damned wretch up with Ambition blowne Then whil'st be turnes the wheele about Throwne high and low within without In striving for the top is tumbling downe Those who delight in climbing high Oft by a precipice do dye So do the Starres skie-climbing worldlings slout But this disease is fatall to a Crowne Kings who have most would most augment their bounds And if they be not all they cannot be Which to their damage commonly redounds The weight of too great states themselves confounds The mighty toyling to enlarge their state Themselves exceedingly deceive In hazarding the thing they have For a felicity which they conceive Though their Dominions they encrease Yet their desires grow never lesse For though they conquer much yet more they crave Which fatall Fortune doth attend the great And all the outward pompe that they assume Doth but with shows disguise the Minds distresse And who to conquer all the earth presume A little earth shall them at last consume And if it fortune that they dye in peace A wonder wondrous rarely seene Who conquer first heavens finde a meane To raze their Empire and oft-times their race Who comming to the Crowne with rest And having all in peace possest Do straight forget what bloudy broyles have beene Ere first their Fathers could attaine that place As Seas do flow and ebbe States rise and fall And Princes when their actions prosper best For feare their greatnesse should oppresse the small As of some hated envied are of all We know what end the mighty Cyrus made Whom whil'st he striv'd to conquer still A woman justly griev'd did kill And in a bloudy vessell roll'd his head Then said whil'st many wondring stood Since thou didst famish for such food Now quench thy thirst of bloud with blond at will Some who succeeded him since he was dead Have raign'd a space with pompe and yet with paine Whose glory now can do to us no good And what so long they labour'd to obtaine All in an instant must be lost againe Loe Darius once so magnified by fame By one whom he contemn'd o're-come For all his bravery now made dombe With down-cast eyes must signifie his shame Who puft up with ostentive pride Thinke Fortune bound to serve their side Can never scape to be the prey of some Such spend their prosp'rous dayes as in a dreame And as it were in Fortunes bosome sleeping Then in a dull security abide And of their doubtfull state neglect the keeping Whil'st fearfull ruine comes upon them creeping Thus the vicissitude of worldly things Doth oft to us it selfe detect When heavenly pow'rs exalt deject Confirme confound erect and ruine Kings So Alexander mighty now To whom the vanquish'd world doth bow With all submission homage and respect Doth flie a borrow'd flight with Fortunes wings Nor enters he his dangerous course to ponder Yet if once Fortune bend her cloudy brow All those who at his sudden successe wonder May gaze as much to see himselfe brought under Act. 3. Scene 1. Sisigambis Statira Regina Statira virgo O Dismall day detested be thy light And would the Gods but Gods neglect our case The world were wrapt in a Cymmerian Night That no proud eye might gaze on our disgrace Why did the Heavens reserve my feeble age To make my burden more when strength grows lesse Could nothing but my harmes their wrath asswage Thus offred up on th' Altar of distresse Ah! have I spent my youth in pompe and pleasure And had my spring-time grac'd with pleasant flowres That th' Autumne which should reape the Sommers treasure Might be distempred with such stormy showres And did smooth calmes and Sunne-shines for a space Make all my voyage through the world a sport That I should fall when neere to end my race And toss'd with stormes even perish at my port Yet for all this were I expos'd alone The wretched object of Ioves thund'ring armes I should not thinke I had just cause to mone When I but wail'd mine owne not others harmes Ah me on those whom more then life I love The state-disturbing blasts of Fortune fall Yet each of them some severall losse doth move But I in anguish beare a part with all I suffred when I saw Oxatres slaine My loving Sonne and most entirely lov'd I dy'd in Darius when he try'd in vaine What Fates would do yet still their hatred prov'd The heavens to plague me more yet make me breath O rigour rare what tortures rack my breast Who feele the sowre but not the sweet of death Still cours'd not kill'd lest that should breed me rest Yet Iove if this may dis-enflame thine ire Let all thy lightning light upon my head To be consum'd with a celestiall fire Some comfort were since that I must be dead Sta. Reg. Leave mother those complaints as fit for me Who still must grieve my friends and grace my foes Whose fortune is so wretched still to be That all the world may wonder at my woes Loe that deare Lord and treasure of my thought Whose presence I my Paradise esteem'd To such a precipice is headlong brought That he from ruine cannot be redeem'd Ah! on
the strong For Victors rage when as the vanquish'd bosts I will entreat him too not for my selfe Age bows my body to embrace pale death But that you yet may shunne this wrackfull shelfe Whose youth and beauty worthy are of breath Act. 3. Scene 2. Alexander Sisigambis Statira Regina Hephestion RIse Mother rise and calme those needlesse cares I come to cure not to procure your woe The duty which I owe those silver haires Doth grieve my minde to see you humbled so Sis Most gracious Prince forgive me if I err'd In taking him for you who stands you by Alex. I finde no fault to see my friend preferr'd Even to my selfe this is another I. Sis My sorrows so confounded have my minde That scarce I know my selfe another lesse My soule in such an agony I finde As words nor teares nor grones cannot expresse Alex. I pray you mother set those plaints apart They vex me more then sterne Bellona's broils Sis This tender name of Mother wounds my heart Whil'st nam'd by him who of that name me spoils I was woe that I was a Mother late Of two faire Sonnes faire Sunnes lights of my life But one is dead and in a worse estate The other lives involv'd in woe and strife Like to the trunke of some disbranched tree Which Aeolus hath to confusion brought Since spoil'd of those brave Impes which sprung from me Unprofitable stock I serve for nought Stat. Reg. I serve for nought since serving him no more Who onely may my blasted hopes revive Loe quite confounded farre from what before Who him of me me of my selfe deprive I live without my halfe without my whole Prodigious Monster whom the world admires I want the point the pilot and the pole Which drew addrest and bounded my desires Toss'd by sad sighs in flouds of bitter teares I save from ruine look for no reliefe By what I feele still plagu'd but worse with feares All comfort loath'd my glory is my griefe My soule feemes to presage disastrous chances And warring with it selfe hath never peace My heart surcharg'd doth faint in deadly trances My eyes must grace the ground of my disgrace Hell hath assembled all her horrours here Ah! in the dungeons of this desp'rate brest As in the dark Tartarian groves appeare A thousand shadows to bereave my rest Alex. Faire Princesse spare those passionate complaints Which may augment but not amend your harmes This voice which with your woe the world acquaints Doth move me more then all the Persians Armes Take courage Madam be afraid of none That you may hope what help I can afford I sweare by Ioves inviolable Throne And do protest by my Imperiall word Though for a while barr'd from your royall seat You compass'd here with troups of strangers stand Yet shall you still be us'd as fits your state And may as earst in your owne Court command Stat. Reg. Ah! how can I command whil'st I am thrall What can I have who wanting one want all Alex. Though brave it seeme in some proud victors sight To plague their captives and triumph in ill The larger grow the limits of my might The more I labour to rest raine my will What can be fear'd by them whom I defend Foes have not pow'r and who with me remaine They dare not wrong nor offer to offend The least in ranke who doth attend your traine If any would impugne what I appoint Or would in ambush for your honour lye Or discontent you but in any point As Alexander lives that wretch shall dye Stat. Reg. O what an host of evils where ere I go Are still encroaching to o're-throw my state Ah! must I be beholding to my foe And owe him love to whom my love owes hate Should he help me who still his ruine plyes Heavens curse my heart if stain'd with treason thus Let death in darknesse first entombe mine eyes Ere such a sight accepted be by us I Lord am thine and thine I will remaine Thy love was planted in a fertile field Which gratefull now thee to reward againe From flourish'd faith chast flames for fruits doth yeeld Yet doth misfortune this good fortune bring My constancy shall now be clearly knowne Another might have lov'd an happie King But I will love thee though thou be o're-throwne Alex. I labour much to comfort in some measure This grieved Queene that was a Monarch's choice Whose woe doth make my victory no pleasure For whil'st she mournes I cannot well rejoyce Sis Most mighty King thou dost deserve indeed That as for Darius we should pray for thee Who do'st so much in clemency exceed That thou bewail'st our losse no lesse then he Not onely thou surmount'st all other Kings In glory rising from thy labours gone And for those benefits which Fortune brings But in all vertues worthy of a Throne Thou do'st vouchsafe on me more then I crave The title of a Queene and Mother still But I confesse my selfe thy humble slave Whose life hath now no limits but thy will The dreamed good that Greatnesse gave forgot My count'nance shall be free from clouds of cares And I 'le allow of this my present lot As one who for my fate my force prepares Yea if this wofull woman here were free Who hath no heaven except her husbands face I could content my selfe great Prince to be The meanest hand-mayd that attends your Grace Alex. As if your Sonnes command all that is mine And I will seek to second your desire Sis Heavens recompense this courtesie of thine Which in all ages thousands shall admire Alex. Those captiv'd Princesses have pierc'd my soul Which even amid'st our heaven have found a hell Hep. His passions so what Stoick could controull Whom now to weep their teares would not compell What age could earst such stately beauties show Which of perfection hold the highest place And borne to bring though now they be brought low Do Beauty beautifie give Griefe a grace Sir such a victory hath not beene seene As you have gain'd since conquering as appeares The largest kingdome and the fairest Queene That Asia vaunted of these many yeares Durst Leda's or Agenors brood compare With that sweet Queene the honour of her kinde But as she is above all others faire As farre her daughters make her go behinde It seem'd at first that sorrow had beene sleeping Then whil'st those Virgins in their Grand-dames bosome With weeping beauty and with beauteous weeping Did with a haile of pearle blast Beauties blossome So large a pow'r no Prince on Earth can have As hath Loves Empire in their face confin'd Alex. What what Hephestion what doth thee deceive Dare folly seeke to bragge so brave a minde Dare Cupid enter in an armed Camp And them who Mars have match'd for sport appall Must his soft seale even through hard metall stamp And make who conquer men to women thrall Hep. We dare resist whil'st many a thousand dyes The steely tempests of a world of men But if from
action would not bedelay'd Least time make him to doubt and us to feare Exeant Chorus TIme through Ioves judgement just Huge alterations brings Those are but fooles who trust In transitory things Whose tailes be are mortall stings Which in the end will wound And let none thinke it strange Though all things earthly change In this inferiour round What is from ruine free The Elements which be At variance as we see Each th' other doth confound The Earth and Ayre make warre The fire and water are Still wrestling at debate All those through cold and heat Through drought and moisture jaâ—re What wonder though men change and fade Who of those changing Elements are made How dare vaine worldlings vannt Of fortunes goods not lasting Evils which our wits enchant Expos'd to losse and wasting Loe we to death are hasting Whil'st we those things discusse All things from their beginning Still to an end are running Heaven hath ordain'd it thus We heare how it doth thunder We see th' earth burst asunder And yet we never ponder What this imports to us These fearefull signs 〈◊〉 prove That th' angry pow'râ— above Are mov'd to indignation Against this wretched nation Which they no longer love What are we but a passe of breath Who live assur'd of nothing but of death Who was so happy yet As never had some crosse Though on a Throne he sit And is not ut'd with losse Yet fortune once will tosse Him when that least he would If one had all at once Hydaspes precious stones And yellow Tagus gold The Orientall treasure And every earthly pleasure Even in the greatest measure It should not smake him bold For while he lives secure His state is most unsure When it doth least appeare Some heavy plague drawes neare Destruction to procure Worlds glory is but like a flowre Which both is bloom'd and blasted in an houre In what we most repose We finde our comfort light The thing we soonest lose That 's pretious in our sight For honour riches might Our lives in pawne we lay Yet all like flying shadowes Or flowers enamelling meadowes Doe vanish and decay Long time we toile to finde Those Idols the minde Which had we cannot binde To bide with us one day Then why should we presume On treasures that consume Difficult to obtaine Difficult to retaine A dreame a breath a fume Which vexe them most that them possesse Who starve with store and famish with excesse Act 4. Scene 1. Darius Tiriotes AH must I poyson now my Princes eares With newes the worst that ever burden'd fame Had I as many tongues as I have teares All would not serve my sorrowes to proclaime Dar. Great signes of griefe I in thy face discerne And spare not to report this heavie crosse To one I feare whom it doth most concerne Is' t death disgrace destruction treason losse Tell on the summe of horrour at the first With no ambiguous words my paine prolong A wretch for comfort craves to know the worst And I have learn'd to be unhappy long What least I speake and yet suspect too much Art thou the Trumpet to proclaime my scorne Which must wound me but ah no torment such As this to her who that disgrace hath borne Tir. She was not wrong'd as you have wrong conceiv'd The Gods from harme did study to preserve her She from your foe such favour hath receiv'd As from her Subjects who were bound to serve her But what a volly doth my voyce prepare Of woes to charge your cares woes full of dread Would God ere I my message can declare That I may dye in saying she is dead And was it not enough poore wretch alas That I beheld her dye and would have dy'd But that I must arm'd with sad tidings passe To wound all them who heare what I have spy'd See how he stands mov'd with those words of mine As if by griefe arrested unto death Dar. Yet doth the Sunne on my affliction shine And cleare the ayre though tainted by my breath And can I live and looke them in the face Who have my o'rethrow shamefull o'rethrow seene And how I vanquish'd vanquish'd with disgrace Did lose at once my Kingdome and my Queene Heaven bruise me all to powder with thy thunder That I no more may in the world remaine The object of thy wrath and fortunes wonder Spoil'd of all hope yet kept for greater paine Ah art thou dead and doe I live behinde thee Thy faulty husband think'st thou so to flye If it be thin then know I where to finde thee This onely grieves me that too late I dye O Alexander what such hainous ill Have I done thee that thou requit'st me thus Whom of thy friends or kindred did I kill This cruelty comes undeserv'd of us Though justly thou intended had this warre Mars from his rage made women alwaies free This tyranny shall all thy Trophees marre And still to thy reproch reported be Tir. Thus of that Prince you without cause esteem I know her death him grievously displeas'd A woodrous thing which few or none would deeme He wail'd it long and could not be appeas'd Even as my Soveraigne now then did he smart And when he came to calme your mothers griefe As acting not his owne but even your part He seem'd to need and not to give reliefe Dar. If any sparkes of that respect remaine Which much with thee should duely weigh'd import I pray thee Tiriotes now be plaine Or else strange torments shall the truth extort I loath to let this question scape my mouth Which both I blush to crave and long to know And can it be that this transported youth Not urg'd to have that which I onely owe Could this fierce Prince even in his flaming age Have such a beauty purchas'd by his toiles And yet not seeke forc'd by affections rage Her honours ruine and my pleasures spoiles Speake frankely now and tell what fatall shelfe Hath crush'd my treasures Barke and me defac'd The feare of ill is worse then ill it selfe They twise doe dye who dye and dye disgrac'd Tir. Let not those love-bred feares abuse your thought By all the world no fable I contrive If partially I speake or lye in ought Earth open wide and swallow me alive He whom your grace so wrongfully suspects Hath not in any sort your Queene abus'd But as his sister still in all respects As chastly and as honourably us'd When angry Iove subverted had our state And view'd our thundred troupes disordered flight Light fortune then who flattered us of late Did make our state a mirrour of her might For having found a Crowne foil'd on the ground Dar. O endlesse shame which never can be cur'd Tir. We straight imagin'd that some cruell wound Had kill'd our Lord and wail'd it as assur'd Dar. Would God I then had dy'd as I desir'd To have prevented those ensuing barmes Whil'st ere my hohour and my hap expir'd A Crowne my head a Queene enrich'd my armes Tir.
his hand a little space When dying like a Torch whose waxe is spent In spite of payne even with a princely grace His hands still seem'd directing as he went Alex. Who could refraine from teares to heare declar'd The huge mishapps which all at once did light Have subiects slaine their Prince whom strangers spar'd Vs hath he fled that perish thus he might I for his fall am wonderfully sorry Whom first I forc'd but last would have maintain'd I envie death because it rob'd the glory Which I by giving him his life had gain'd Hep. Since death hath put a period to his woes That favour which to him you would extend Let it with furie flame against his foes For your designes can have no fairer end So shall you both the peoples love obtaine Whilst by your meanes reveng'd their Soveraigne rests And likewise may the more securely raigne The state well purg'd from such contagious pests If but one vertue did adorne a king It would be justice many great defects Are vail'd thereby whereas each vertuous thing In one who is not just the world suspects Alex. Though this your Counsell nor yet his request Had not the pow'r to penetrate my eare A generous stomach could not well digest So great a wrong which courage stormes to beare My sprite impatient of repose disdaines That they so long their infamie survive But I will punish with most grievous paines The monstrous Treason that they did contrive What doe they thinke though back'd with numbrous bands That Bactria is a bulwarke for mine Ire Flie where they list they cannot scape my hands My wrath shall follow like consuming fire Such damned soules the heaven cannot receave I le force Hells dungeons as Alcides did And they on th' earth no bounds but mine can have I 'le search them out though in the center hid And when as threatning now I once may strike Betwixt the bending boughs of some strong tree To Traitours terrours who intend the like They shall by violence dismembred be Poll. Sir may it please you to extend your care That some his funerall offices performe Alex. Goe presently and every thing prepare As best becomes the military forme Act 5. Scene 2. Sisigambis Nuntius Chorus THIS looke alas hath charg'd my soule with feares Speak for my life doth on thy lippes depend Thy count'nance ah a dolefull copie beares Of some sad summons to denounce my end Starve not my eares which famish for thy words Though they when swallow'd may but make me burst Nun. The message madame which my soule affords Must once be knowne and once knowne still accurst Sis. Be not a niggard of ill newes Nun. And why Sis. Fame will tell all the world Nun. But first to you Sis. Tell soone Nun. Your sonne is dead Sis. Then let me die Cho. Her joyes and pleasures all are perish'd now Sis. Why opens not the Earth straight to devoure A hopelesse caitive who all good hath lost The longer that I live my griefe growes more As but to mischiefe borne kept to be crost Would God this masse where miserie remaines A weight of Earth from sight of men might keepe Or that the Seas all raging through the plaines Would make my tombe amid'st their tumid deepe O Alexander hast thou rob'd his life Yet entertain'd me still in hope to finde him Why did'st thou not first kill this poore old wife Who was not worthie to have liv'd behind him That I should live till thou my Sonne had'st slaine Was all thy kindnesse for this cause imploi'd Nun. You wrong that Prince for he with hast in vaine Came him to helpe whom others had destroi'd Sis. What impious thoughts durst dreame so vile a deed A monarchs murther Asia's glories end Nun. Two whom he rais'd did his confusion breed He found his friend his foe his foe a friend Sis. Tell on thy message messenger of death And loade my minde with mountaines of distresse That tears may drowne my sight sighs choake my breath Whilst sorrow all my sences doth possesse Nun. When Alexander who at peace repin'd Did save submission hold all offers vaine Bent of sterne Mars to try the doubtfull minde A generall muster Darius did ordaine And in one battell bent to venture all He caus'd his will be publikely proclaim'd Whilst two vile Traitours did conspire his fall Who Bessus and Narbazanes were nam'd Those two in councell did discover first Some portion of the poison of their heart Which caus'd the king suspect but not the worst Yet with a sword he sought to make them smart But having scap'd what first was fear'd from rage They seem'd so much their errour to lament His indignation that they did asswage False hypocrits pretending to repent Whilst Artabazus as an honest man Who judg'd of others by his vpright minde No fraud conceav'd sought more to scape then scan What they with craft to compasse Crownes design'd Cho. A mind sincere is ever least suspitious These think all faultie who themselves are vitious Nun. They urg'd him with the king to interceed That in his favour he would give them place And did protest that by some valorous deed They labour would to gaine againe his grace Then Artabazus came and told the king That in the battell he might try their faith And both before his majestie did bring Who when submisse did quickly calme his wrath With hands stretch'd up to Heaven and humbled knees With teares like those which Crocodiles doe shed Woe in their face and pitie in their eyes Did for compassion though from rigour pleade The king of nature milde did them receave And them who thus but for the forme complain'd Not onely all relenting quite forgave But wept in earnest too whil'st they but fain'd When in his Coach from all suspition free With count'nance sad long following on behinde As still pretending supplicants to be They bow'd to him whom they were bent to binde The Grecian Captaine curiously neare When mark'd a suter crav'd what he requir'd By pregnant proofes did evidently cleare What treason was against his state conspir'd He told what way their purpose might be tri'd And how the Bactrians were for trouble bent Then for his safety pray'd him to provide By straight with him retyring to his Tent But in the King who did neglect his state No kinde of care this friendly offer bred So that it seem'd he by some pow'rfull fate Was head-long forward to confusion led The Greeke past thence despairing him to save Who thus all meanes to help himselfe refus'd With subtle words then Bessus there did crave To purge himselfe and errours past excus'd Old Artabazus happ'ning to approach The King to him did Patrons speech report Who then perceiv'd what danger did encroach And wish'd he would where Greeks were strong resort But in his breast this purpose firmly plac'd That from his Subjects he would never flie With mutuall teares they tenderly embrac'd And parted there like two who went to dye Now silent night in
But when that I extended had my state From learned Athens to the barbarous Iâ—des Still my tumultuous troups my pride did hate As monstrous mutinies unmask'd their mindes I so my name more wonderfull to make Of Hercules and Bacchus past the bounds And whil'st that Memnons Sunne-burnt bands did quâ—ke Did write my worth in many a Monarchs wounds Kings were my Subjects and my servants Kings Yet my contentment further did require For I imagin'd still more mighty things And to a greater greatnesse did aspire The spatious carriere of the speedy Sunne All quickly thrall'd like lightning I o're-ran Yet wept and wish'd more worlds t' have been wonne As this had wanted roome to ease one man No wonder I was thought a God by some Since all my aymes though high as heaven prevail'd And what man save my selfe did still o're-come Of all my fancies never project fail'd This made me thought immortaliz'd to be Which in all mindes amazement yet contracts I led blinde Fortune and she courted me As glad to grace the greatnesse of my acts Yet I have found it a more easie thing To conquer all whereon the Sunne ere shin'd Then mine owne selfe and of my passions King To calme the tumults of a stormy minde What comfort justly could my soule receive Of all my Conquests past if that even then Whil'st I triumph'd to wrath and wine a slave I scap'd not scandall more then other men Ah! seazing without right on every state I but my selte too great a Monarch made Since all men gap'd to get the golden bait Which by my death seem'd easie to be had Whil'st from humanity too much divorc'd My deeds all hearts with feare and horrour fill'd I who by foes could never have beene forc'd By friends did fall yet not over-com'd but kill'd But now I see the troublous time draws neare When they shall keep my obsequies with blond No wonder too though such a warriours beere At last doth swimme amidst a scarlet floud For as my life did breed huge broils o're all My death must be the cause of monstrous cumbers And it doth best become a strong mans fall To be renown'd by ruining of numbers The Snake-tress'd Sisters now shall never need Their fatall fire-brands loathsome Pluto's pests Nor inspirations strange whose rage doth breed A thirst of murther in transported brests Ambitions flames may from my ashes shine To burne my Minions mindes with high desires Each of their sprits that hath a spark of mine To ruine all the world may furnish fires The Beauties of the Earth shall all look red Whil'st my Lievtenants through that pride of theirs With Armes unkinde huge streames of bloud do shed By murthering of my heires to be my heires Is this that Greatnesse which I did designe By being eminent to be o're-throwne To ruine first my selfe then root out mine As conquering others but to lose mine owne O happie I more happie farre my race If pleas'd with that which was our ancient rent I manag'd had th' Aemaethian pow'r in peace Which was made lawfull by a long discent Then farre sequestred from Bellona's rage I had the true delights of Nature tri'd And ag'd with honour honour'd in my age Had left my Sonne secure before I dy'd And he inheriting a quiet state Which then because lesse great had beene more sure Had free from envy not beene harm'd by hate Which of most States the ruine doth procure But since they will en-earth my earthly part Which now no badge of majestie retaines To roaring Phlegeton I must depart Farre from the lightsome bounds of th'aiery plainâ—â— And must I there who did the world surmount Arrested by the Monarch of the Ghosts To Rhadamanthus render an account Of all the deeds done by my ravenous hosts There whil'st with Minos Aeacus sits downe A rigorous Iudge in hels most horrid Court With me who passe his Nephew in renowne Though of his race he no way will comport O what pale Ghosts are here together brought Which were of bodies spoil'd by my Decree And first Parmenio without whom I nought But who did many great things without me At the tribunall of Tartarian pow'rs He aggravates ingratitude too great And whil'st the raging Tyrant foaming lowres All whom I wrong'd for vengeance do entreat Yet guilty thoughts torment me most of all No sprit can be by plaguing furies pin'd Though charg'd without with snakes within with gall As by the stings of a remording minde If it be true that drowsie Lethes streames In darke oblivion drowne all things at last There let me bury farre from Phoebus beames The loath'd remembrance of my labours past Exit Chorus VVHat strange adventures now Distract distressed mindes With such most monstrous formes When silence doth allow The peace that Nature findes And that tumultuous windes Do not disturbe with stormes An universall rest When Morpheus hath represt Th' impetuous waves of cares And with a soft sleepe bindes Those Tyrants of the brest Which would spread forth most dangerous snares To sink affliction in despaires Huge horrours then arise The Elements to marre With most disastrous signes Arm'd Squadrons in the skies With lances throwne from farre Do make a monstrous warre Whil'st furie nought confines The Dragons vomit fire And make the Starres retire Cut of their Orbes for feare To satisfie their ire Which heavens high buildings not forbear But seem the Crystall Towres to teare Amidst the ayre fierce blasts Doe boast with blustring sounds To crush this mighty frame Which whilst the tempest lasts Doth rent the stately rounds To signifie what wounds To all her off-springs shame Shall burst th' earths veynes with bloud And this all-circling floud As it the heavens would drowne Doth passe the bounding bounds And all the scalie brood Reare roaring Neptunes foamie Crowne Whilst th' earth for feare seems to sinke downe Those whom it hid with horrour Their ashy lodgings leave To re-enjoy the light Or else some Panicke terrour Our judgement doth bereave Whilst first we misconceive And so prejudge the sight Or in the bodies stead The genius of the dead Turnes backe from Styx againe Which Dis will not receive Till it a time engendring dread Plague whilst it doth on th' earth remaine All else with feare it selfe with paine These fearefull signes fore-show All nations to appall What plagues are to succeed Since death hath layd him low Who first had made us thrall We heard that straight his fall Our liberty would breed But this proves no reliefe For many O what griefe The place of one supply And we must suffer all Thus was our comfort briefe O! rarely doe usurpers dye But others will their fortune try Act 2. Scene 1. Perdiccas Meleager Ptolomie Antigonus Eumenes WHat eye not big with teares can view this host Which hath in one ah as the end doth prove A King a Captaine and a brother lost Crown'd follow'd try'd by right for worth in love I thinke amongst us all there is not one Whom divers
favours doe not justly binde To please that Heroes Ghost though from us gone With all the off'rings of a thankefull minde Ah had the fates beene subject to my will So great a losse should not have crost our life But we had kept great Alexander still And he those kingdomes which procure this strife Yet heavens decrees can never be recall'd And thoughts of harme past helpe breed double paine Though once to griefe a space by passions thrall'd The living must embrace the world againe As one whose intrest in that Prince was chiefe A sorrow singular my soule affects But I will not defraud the generall griefe To waile a-part particular respects Though all the ayre still Ecchoâ—s plaintive sounds Of widow'd hopes now wedded to despaires Yet time must cicatrize our inward wounds And to the publike good draw private cares Let us give physicke to the sickned state Which at this present in great danger stands VVhilst grudging Subjests that our greatnesse hate By bloud would venge their violated lands Those who by force are thrall'd to be made free Precipitate themselves in dangers still And this of Nature seemes a rule to be What Realme not scornes to serve a strangers will From forc'd obedience nought but hate proceeds The more we have subduâ—d the more our foes A soveraigne head this States huge body needs That might make us securely to repose And who more meet to have that great mans place Of those whose states he tooke who gain'd the hearts Then one descended from that Regall race Whose birth both worth and right to raigne imparts If heavens enrich Roxane with a Sonne That long'd-for birth a lawfull Soveraigne brings And â—ill that course of doubtfull hopes be runne Let some be nam'd who manage may all things Anti. The Macedonians swolne with wrath would scorne That to their King a stranger should succeed Can men obey a Babe a Babe not borne What fancies strange would this confusion breed This could not well become our grave fore-sight A doubtfull birth so long t'â—â—tend in vaine Which may abortive be and brought to light Through natures errour made not apt to raigne But if affection carry us so farre That of that race we must be rul'd by some Though neither train'd by time in peace nor warre As those who must indeed by kinde o're-come Then have we Hercules the eldest sonne To our great Prince by faire Barâ—ines borne Who fourteene yeares of age hath now begun His Princely birth by vertue to adorne Ptol. To thinke of this it makes my soule asham'd That we should serve a base Barbarians brood What should we beare the yoke that have fram'd To buy disgrace have we bestow'd our bloud Our ancestors whose glory we obscur'd Would get some vantage of their off-spring thus That peoples bondage they would have procur'd And have we warr'd to make them Lords o're us Ah bury this as a most odious thing Which may bring danger and must breed our scorne Though in effect descended from our King They come of Captives are 〈◊〉 basely borne O! brave Leonides I like thy strife Who with so few perform'd so glorious things And death preferrâ—d before th' infamous life Which bondage still from a Barbarian brings Those loath to take a stranger for their Lord Did with their bloud renowne a forraigne field And shall we honour them whom they abhorr'd And even though victors to the vanquish'd yeeld To what did tend that eminent attempt Which makes the Persians yet abase their brow But to our countries scorne in a contempt To take by force that which we offer now Was this the scope of all our conquests then Of abject Captives to be made the prey No let us still command like valorous men And rule our Empire by some other way May we not use this policy a space Till Time afford or we a course devise Least dangerous discord doe disturbe our peace Still when we would of serious things adviâ—e With Majestie let us assembled be A sacred Senate with a chayre of state That of the Soveraigne pow'r all signes may see Then whilst we compasse that respected seate There those who were in credit with the King Whose merits in mens mindes have reverence bred Shall weigh'd by judgement ballance every thing How kingdomes should be rul'd how armies led And what the greatest part hath once approv'd To that the rest will willingly incline By such a harmony the Army mov'd Will execute what ever we designe This concord would prove happy for us all Which each mans state free from all danger renders And by this meanes our Macedonie shall In place of one have many Alexanders Eum. Though silence I confesse becomes me best Who am a stranger and the lesse beleev'd Yet of your toyles since I a partner rest I must unfold my minde a minde much griev'd And thinke you that a Babe repaires our losse How can good wits so grosly be beguil'd This in all Countries hath been thought a crosse Woe to that soile whose Soveraigne is a childe Nor would these great men as is thought agree They be too many bodies for one minde Ah pardon Ptolomie it cannot be This union would disjoyne us all I finde Thus would the Army from good order swerve If many might forgive all would offend As thinking well though they did death deserve No man so bad but some will him befriend And when so many Kings were in one Court One Court would then have many humours too Which fostring factions for each light report Would make them jarre as neighbouring Princes doe No let this strange designe be quite supprest Whilst equall all all would unequall be So that their mindes by jealousie possest From pale suspition never could be free But ah what needs contention at this time To cloud a matter that was made so cleare And doe you now account it not a crime To damne his will who once was held so deare When that great Monarch march'd to match with death Whilst all his Captaines were assembled there And did demand whilst he dispos'd of breath Whom he himselfe adopted for his heire Then that none might such doubtfull questions breed As loving valour more then his owne race He that a brave man brave men might succeed Said let the worthiest have the worthiest place Nor did he speake this in a secret part With double words which might more doubt have mov'd As breathing thoughts in each ambitious heart To have his worth in Vulcans fornace prov'd For whil'st ye hedg'd the fatall bed about With an unpartiall care distracted long Then he amongst you all did chuse one out Who for so great a charge did seeme most strong He to Perdiccas did present the Ring That us'd to seale the secrets of the State By which it seem'd that he design'd him King And so would seaze him of the regall seat Thus made this worthy man a worthy choice That further strife might not the state deforme And all the world now justly may
The great Alcides Thebes glory Who for twelve severall labours crown'd Was famous made by many a story As one who all his time had toyl'd To purge the world of such like pests Who robbers rob'd and spoylers spoyld Still humbling hauty Tyrants crests He by this Monster once o're-throwne Did passe in Spaine o're lands and flouds And there took more then was his owne What right had he to Gerions goods Thus Avarice the world deceives And makes the greatest Conquerours slaves Ah! when to plague the world with griefe This poore-rich Monster once was borne Then weaknesse could finde no reliefe And subtiltie did conscience scorne Yet some who labour'd to recall That blisse which guilded the first age Did punishment prepare for all Who did their thoughts to vice engage And yet the more they laws did bring That to be good might men constraine The more they sought to do the thing From which the laws did them restraine So that by custome altred quite The world in ill doth most delight Exeunt Act. 3 Scene 1. Perdiccas Eumenes NOw Fortune smyles upon my rising State And seemes to promise more then I require Loe by degrees my glory doth grow great And by their death who did my death conspire Proud Meleager who disdain'd to bow And my advancement alwayes did mislike Hath with his bloud seal'd my assurance now To fright all those who would attempt the like Eum. Yet of his fall the forme my minde appalls Even at Ioves Altar and without regard We were too rash to violate those walls Which the most impious could not but have spar'd Lascivious Ajax by Minerva's spight Earst for prophaning such a sacred place On the Capharian Rocks did lose the light And all hiâ— Navie too for ones disgrace We should not irritate celestiall powr's And all beginnings are considered most Such horrour breeds this odious act of ours That we I feare opinions pow'r have lost Per. Let others seek to keep such points as those I am not scrupulous for I protest Ov'r all and by all meanes I 'le kill my foes And then thereafter argue of the rest They wrong the Gods who think their Church should be A refuge free for Malefactors still For with their justice this cannot agree Who guard ill doers guilty are of ill Was he not stain'd with many a monstrous crime And Salamander-like amidst the fire Contentiously dispos'd did spend his time And never pleas'd did still some change required Eum. One hum'rous head that doth in brawls delight May poyson thousands with the gall of spight Per. As still seditiously affecting strife He but abus'd the credit of his King And sent some of his slaves to take my life Such bitter envy did his stomack sting Eum. I saw how that advanc'd before our band You first did check then chase the them in the end And did with courage resolutely stand Our Soveraignes corps though dead bent to defend Per. He but a dastard is who basely yeelds And in no conflict hath his Fortune try'd We â—f in time not ventring to the fields Like beasts all sacrific'd had poorely dy'd But when without we masters did remaine Lest Babylon had straight beene barr'd from food I those proud squadrons quickly did constraine Even as we pleas'd a Treaty to conclude Grac'd whil'st my foe as in some kinde compar'd A chiefe in charge he many mindes did sway But found inferiour when a friend declar'd My credit did increase and his decay Eum. Yet in this course all who observe do see That of the multitude the minde prevail'd He whom they did elect our Prince must be And our designe hath altogether fail'd But how comes this that every Captaine gets A certaine Realme committed to his charge And with an Army bravely forward sets Their bounds allow'd to guard or to enlarge Per. I by my means have every great man crown'd That from my greatnesse great things might proceed Yet by that meanes to make my pow'r renown'd The Alexandra an Tragedy The doing lik't me better then the deed I this division chiefly did procure To hâ—ve those great-men from the Court remov'd Where they might be imploy'd yet I secure Their favour purchas'd or at least thus prov'd For him who hath them to such honour brought They must be bound to hold in high account And their advancement for this end I sought That by their meanes I with more ease might mount Eum. O! but your fancies may be much deceiv'd There is no bond can binde unthankfull mindes I feare the favour that they thus receiv'd Hath showne them wayes to sayle by other windes So long of late as they had need of you To seeme your friends they courting kindnesse sought But since their greatnesse is well grounded now They will disdaine what derogates in ought To those all great men friends most frankly prove Whom for their pleasure freely they affect And loathing bands cannot be forc'd to love As brav'd by worth when merits urge respect Few mark from whence they rose when once aloft None can endure that they should owe their state Desarts grow odious when upbraided oft And are deprav'd not guerdon'd when too great Yea in my judgement you have greatly err'd Them to exalt whose state you would surprise Their common custome is who are preferr'd That they may stand not to let others rise Per. To ruine loftie mindes when least afraid Whil'st carelesse carriage jealous censures sift By spyes abroad to foes at Court betray'd Then by preferrement what more subtle drift Their hearts with hate are parted all by pride One is already to confusion gone I long to learne how Leonatus dy'd Not that I minde his funerals to bemone Eum. That Prince magnanimous whom all admire As was his custome clemently proclaim'd That banish'd Grecians might to Greece retyre Save onely such whom murder had defam'd But who them banish'd griev'd for their returne Did feare what just revenge might have design'd As knowing well whil'st wrongs make wrath to burne How misery doth irritate a minde The indignation which they had conceiv'd Did breed rebellion bursting out with rage The which our King deep in his minde ingrav'd By Athens spoyles did purpose to asswage But since that death afforded them releefe Growne bold to prosecute their proud attempt Th' Athenians and th' Aetolians were the chiefe Who brought Antipater first in contempt And by their powâ—r constrain'd to quite the field He in a little Towne enclos'd at last Was once reduc'd in danger neere to yeeld And staine the glory of his actions past But yet by accident as oft it falls It better is to happy be then wise An unsuspected shaft throwne from the walls Their foes chiefe Captaine happened to surprise Then did Antipater his courage reare Which had almost his stagg'ring hopes betray'd Yet still in doubt and not quite free from feare He Leonatus did intreat for aide And he who seem'd his friendship to affect To further him desirous did appeare But if he had
To make me seeme not worthy of his place That he preferr'd a Stranger to his Sonne As bent to cloud the glory of his race Thus since in such a sort he did neglect The Sonne who should his name from death exempt As dis-regarded for some great defect All other men may have me in contempt But ere his age attain'd the fatall date He saw my brows with lawrell boughs array'd And spy'd my skill in warre and wit in state Which grew as much as his had then decay'd Nor can my courage so be brought to bow But Polypercon shall by proofe finde soone That in my Fathers will I Will allow Not what he did but what he should have done And since by him high dignities were wonne I minde to prosecute what he began For though I would so great a Fathers Sonne Can not securely live a private man Loe Polypercon by our pow'r repell'd From Macedonie hath retyr'd dismay'd And for the feare of us hath beene compell'd To rest beholding for anothers aid Let him not think that shadows though of Kings Can match my pow'r with these his borrow'd bands A doubtfull flight all fram'd with others wings Will never beare him from Cassanders hands And though Olympias count'nanc'd once his cause As from Epirus come to ruine me Now of her owne misfortune she must pause Since brought of late unto a low degree Lysim And yet Olympias once did prosper well When first she touch'd the Macedonian bounds Whil'st Polypercon proudly did repell all those who durst resist with words or wounds Though Philip and Euridice his Queene To give them battell bent in time arriv'd The Macedonians when they had her seene As their owne Queene to do her honour striv'd And haplesse Philip whil'st constrain'd to yeeld There for a Kings did take a captives state And with his mate though flying from the field Was follow'd by their force and by her fate Then â—id her husband and her selfe give place Whose brows of late a Diademe had borne But then throwne downe in depths of black disgrace Were made of pride the prey the butt of scorne Cass Those were the means which did them first entrap But have you heard how after they were thrall To plague the world with horrour and mishap The proud Olympias tyrraniz'd o're all Lys Some doubtfull rumors did frequent each 〈◊〉 Such as rash Fame confus'dly durst unfold But yet by favour hid or else for feare The truth of all it may be was not told Cass When thus the Tygresse happ'ned to surprise Those wretched souls as ravish'd in a dreame Her heart at first seem'd scarce to trust her eyes She surfetted her sight so with their shame But when she saw by reason of her pow'r That she might safely let her rage burst out She them about caus'd build a lightlesse Tower Press'd by whose walls they scarce could turne about And in that dungeon as entomb'd they stood With high disgrace t' appease more high disdaines Farre from all comfort whil'st a little food Their life prolong'd but to prolong their paines But for misfortune pity last doth pleade As envy doth prosperity oppose The Macedonians then indifferent made On murmur'd rumours doubtfully did glose The peoples grudge Olympias did perceive And of just fury fearing the effect She straight resolv'd lifes remnant to bereave From weakened pow'rs which did no lesse expect And when some Thracians basely bent for bloud As she had charg'd with mercenary spight Had murdred Philip and his Queene imbru'd With these red streames that drown'd her lifes delight She sent to her whose soule in griefe did sinke As messengers of death to bragge her brest A sword a cord and an empoyson'd drink A Tyrants presents yet a wretches best Those seene the Queene unmov'd this speech did make As one who had imbrac'd some great reliefe Fit gifts for her to give for me to take Since she exceeds in hate and I in griefe And tell the Tyrant that I gladly dye That once the angry gods to venge my death May thunder forth that judgement which I spie With bloud must choak that bloudy womans breath Last looking on her Lord who there lay slaine Once partner of his joy then of his woe Whil'st that his Roses did her Lillies staine She kiss'd his wounds as taking leave to goe Lest Time her Resolution had betray'd Her snowie necke not us'd with such a chaine Her girdle grasp'd then dy'd no way dismai'd And if she sigh'd she sigh'd but for disdaine Lysi This barbarous act my breast with griefe dotâ— sâ—ing Can spight so much transport the meekest kinde And yet on th' earth there 's no more cruell thing Then malice raging in a womans minde Cass But yet this sacrifice could not asswage The boyling thoughts of her unbounded will For entring thus she rioted in rage As dogges that once get bloud would alwayes kill Each light occasion kindling still her wrath The Soveraignty she shamefully abus'd And put my brother Nicanor to death Though for no crime condemn'd no not accus'd To some when dead an hate by her was borne Whose cruelty no floud of bloud confin'd Of Iolas the Tombe prophanely torne She robbing th' earth with ashes stain'd the winde To be Cassanders friend was such a crime As none could scape who ever favour'd me Thus huge disorders did abound a time Where laws not valued are all things are free When having heard of this outragious pride Which made my native soyle contemn'd to be I those indignities could not abide Whose shame and danger did ayme most at me So that at last mov'd by my Countries care As much as by particular respects I with great speed an Army did prepare To punish or prevent the like effects But when I was to Macedony come To fortifie a Towne she did designe Which I enclos'd and quickly did o're-come Whil'st famine forc'd the Fortresse to resigne Then to necessity weake pride gave place Her lofty courage was constrain'd to bow So that she rests depending on our grace To be dispos'd as it shall please us now Lysim This chance the world to wonder may invite Loe there a Queene who had though now distress'd The rarest Fortune and the greatest sprite That ever any of her sex possess'd The widow'd Empresse who first bragg'd the Indes Or proud Thomiris though both prais'd have beene Or th' Amazons all borne with martiall mindes Have never beene more stout then was this Queene Her lifes first progresse did but prove too sweet Whom once the world with treasures striv'd to blesse But now sad soule foil'd under Fortunes â—eet Her misery no creature can expresse Cass Those were but Fortunes gifts which made her great Whil'st treacherous shows by shallow wits were prais'd Her imperfections did but staine the State Where her not hers but others merits rais'd When first that Dame with famous Philip match'd Her cunning carriage was not free from blame But though she then with Argos eyes was watch'd As was suppos'd soone forfeited
When prosp'rous Times doe forc'd by fates expire To further which oft strangers must make warre And mut'nous subjects som-time may conspire As jealous feare when brav'd by danger moves All princes would suppresse aspâ—rers still And then a subjects course most dangerous proves When either feare or hope transports his will But though that first to rise last to descend Great States are guided by a secret fate Yet still the cause which doth forgoe their end Springs from contempt or is enforc'd by hate The first in kings the lack of courage breeds Encouraging Ambition to rebell The othâ—r doth attend tyrannicke deeds That violence may violence deeds Phoc. Yet never did so many Monarchs fall By forraine battells nor by civill broiles As by themselves who seeming free were thrall Whilst smooth-toogu'd Minions gloried of their spoils Those who have raign'd by choice by birth or worth Or did encroach on Crownes by chance or crime Oft suffer vices to burst freely forth Which vertues colours guilded till that time Men clearely show what harbours in their brest Whilst Envies object free from any feare That which is eminent is marked best And highest fortunes hardest are to beare Low States to censure Criticks doe despise Whilst oft grosse faults for vertues fame esteemes The stupid patient and the fearefull wise Will constancie and softnesse goodnesse seemes But on the Stage of State when one must stand A publike Actor plac'd in all mens sight And swaying pow'r with an imperious hand Doth hold the ballance both of wrong and right Then he for every action that is his The censure of a thousand tongues must have Not onely damn'd for doing things amisse But for not doing all that all men crave That Prince but undermines the Soveraigne seate Who cares not who be weak so he be strong More studious for himselfe then for the state Or if for it that he may hold it long For were Iove him for all mens good ordaines He thinkes both them and theirs made him to please As if a charge of weight a place of paines Were but a bed of rest a Heaven of ease The worlds great weight with Atlas shoulders beate Is not so weighty all to weigh one downe As that which on his head a king doth weare No burdens charge more heavie then a crowne Th'aegean waves Time may more soone appease Then restlesse thoughts whose course for state prepares Can they have rest who toile for all mens ease The purple ever must be lin'd with cares Ar. Good kings are like the fire which flaming bright Doth waste it selfe to serve anothers turne And soveraignty is like fires glancing light Which if but view'd delights if touch'd doth burne I like for warmenesse to stand Vulcan by But not to burne amid'st the Lemnian flame In Cedars shadowes men more safely lie Then on their tops the roaring deities game All th' eie-attracting pompe and glorious showes Do merit scorne though they amazement breed The world them pittie more then Envie owes Who to seeme happy wretched are indeed What alterations strange attend a Throne As if the spheare of fortune were a crowne The great still toss'd like Sysiphus his stone When rais'd most high rest ready to fall downe Of this what greater proofe can fame afford Then mighty Philips memorable fall Who daunted had the Grecians by the sword Though till that time by strangers not made thrall He he then whilst he solemniz'd with state His daughters marriage suddenly was lost It seem'd when Heaven that Monarchs daies would date That Hymens torch gave light to Pluto's post When strong regards had grav'd within my heart The miseries that proper were to Court I thought them happie who retir'd apart Could never know such things but by report I might have liv'd with Alexander still To vertuous men whose favours were not scarce Yet rather choos'd though having both at will To serve with Pallas then command with Mars And whilst he toil'd of others Lord to be I of my selfe did labour to be Lord Yet made as great a conquest too as he My pen shall be as famous as his Sword Phoc. And had I willingly engag'd my rest The way to trace which to vaine glory tends I might have liv'd respected with the best A speciall one of Alexanders friends Though I of him did never merit ought He entertain'd my friendship till his death And when he once our Citties o'rethrow sought At my request did pacifie his wrath Then once to me a masse of gold he sent And offred too a stately Asian Towne Which I refus'd more pleas'd with my poore rent Then he with all the treasures of a Crowne I told that such a summe but serv'd to make Him a corrupter me corrupted thought And foule for him to give for me to take Is us'd sham'd both unus'd did serve for nought But all those baites I never daign'd to touch Least I who all my life had liv'd so free Might be possess'd too much possessing much If taking Riches it had taken me No I would rather learne to live with lesse Then for superfluous furniture to strive Who seekes out substance but to nurse excesse To use it lives not it that he may live My fortune doth afford sufficient meanes That may preserve all natures pow'rs in force And he who on a golden Scepter leanes Can not have more but may well use it worse Then since aboundance but abuses brings Why seeke men more then how to be well eas'd And ah why toile they for so many things Since with a little nature can be pleas'd Ar. Loe how the Heavens whose love to man exceeds Have made his body strong his minde divine And have made th' earth to furnish all his needs Least curbing Cares might make his thoughts decline So that he hath a meanes to raise his flight If wing'd with vertue and may mounting hie By time approach to the celestiall light And deifie himselfe before he die Yet doth he straight forgoe that glorious way To toile for things which th' earth not forc'd affords The which his wants first fram'd were to defray By by himselfe are of his life made Lords O! how unworthie of the worth of man Are many labours which delight him most Since that corruption boldly first beganne To make men nurse vile vice at vertues cost And now what hath great Alexander gain'd By endlesse travell and excessive cares Of whom loe now they onely say he raign'd But death vnto himselfe worse to his heires And for the guiltlesse blood which he hath spill'd His conquests partners loe doe now beginne To die even by the swords by which they kill'd And all his off-spring expiates his sinne Phoc. Strange revolutions sway all worldly things The wheele of fortune still must slipperie prove And chiefely then when charg'd it is with kings Whose states as weighty quickly make it move Yet Alexander I must say was blest Who still a victor from distresse estrang'd The worlds chiefe Monarch when his state
was best Did did in time before his fortune chang'd And for his favour which I oft did try Whom earnestly he labour'd to advance It grieves me that himselfe so soone did die And that his off-spring hath so hard a chance His Successors have set all Greece on fire Of which I feare to perish by some sparke For Polypercon doth my death conspire And who can scape when made a great mans marke Yet for my Countries cause I 'le give my blood Whilst safely prais'd all follow vertue can But when by danger bragg'd then to doe good O! that is worthie of a worthie man Nor doe I tender so this puffe of breath But I can yeeld that Nature it expell A minde that is resolv'd triumphes o're death He hath liv'd long enough who hath liv'd well Exeunt Act 5. Scene 2. Cassander Lysimachus Ptolomie Seleucus NO doubt great Heroes whom the Heavens have lov'd What ever count'nance duty doth pretend Your minds are glad since those by me remov'd Who might have made you end have made an end Loath not the meanes if pleas'd with the effect For though by this I have a realme obtain'd It yeelds you more whose course none can suspect I onely guilty am ye all have gain'd Yet to pursue my life they first began For my defence this refuge last I prov'd What then himselfe can be more neere to man When bragg'd by danger who would not be mov'd And if Olympias had not di'd in time By offring up her blood to worke my peace Then mine had beene the harme and hers the crime I but prevented her a little space And if her off-spring had surviv'd her death Whose rising could not but procure our fall Yee now who nought but soveraignty doe breath Had breath'd obedience or not breath'd at all Lysim You from a dangerous yaoke have us releev'd Which I suspect we should have tri'd too soone And why then should we labour to seeme griev'd At that thing done which we wish not unâ—one No no since all for soveraignty do strive And have once tasted what it is to raigne Each one of vs would rather die then live To beare a subjects servile yoke againe And though perchance with Alexander Sonne If heire to him in worth as of his state We might have most respected places wonne As speciall pillars of the Princes seate Though greater then the rest as of before It would have vex'd us lesse then one to fall The fall from first to second grieves one more Then from the second to the last of all Our envi'd glory had destruction brought And would have made us odious to remaine It dangerous is for subiects to be thought Such as desire or yet deserve to raigne When any Tempest threatned had his Throne He would have sought for surety at our cost When Iealousie mindes worme hath seaz'd on one The greatest vertues are suspected most Yea though we could to quite our state consent Us from suspition nought but death could purge Still greatnesse must turmoile or then torment If borne a burthen if layd downe a scourge Ptol. But when we have within our bosome weigh'd The ruine of all Alexanders race Whom without blushing we might have obey'd By right succeeding in our Soveraignes place How can our soules but highly be asham'd If one below them farre emboldned thus Doth seeke by wrong that which by right they claim'd And by their o'retâ—row would insult o're us Nor neede I more as in suspense remaine To maske my meaning with ambiguous wordes No no our words may as his deeds be plaine Which fame and that not whiâ—â—ring now records Ye heare how that Antigonus of lâ—te Whose thoughts wing'd with good succes soare too high Doth strive above the rest to raise his State And by all meanes doth fortune frankely ply Since to his hands Eumenes was betrai'd Loe quite transported by praepost'rous pride As if in nought adebted to our ayde To yeeld our due he cannot now abide Lysim Thus time let truth of all things doth proclame Man is a crafty Creature had to know Who can a face for every fortune frame No trust in mortalls no nor faith below As our particulars doe sometime move We what we wish for most seeme to mislike And oft of others doe the course disprove Whilst we want only meanes to doe the like Then whilst Perdiccas did attempt before To make the rest who were his equalls thrall Who then Antigonus detested more The foolish pride of one that would have all But since Perdiccas and his faction fell Whom he as Traitours of the State pursu'd He in his place succeeding to rebell Hath what he seem'd to end againe renew'd And yet I may times have mus'd of this How from the world he did Enmenes send Sel. How but by Treason as his custome is False at the first and cruell in the end Lysim I know that after many doubtfull fights He hath o'rethrowne Eumenes at the last But by what Stratagems or treach'rous slights I would be glad to heare how all hath past Sel. Antigonus was at the first afrai'd To match Eumenes by plaine force in fight And therefore all that feare affords assai'd For valour franke still using warie slight Amongst Eumenes troupes their mindes to prove He scattred letters with allurements stor'd By promis'd treasures and protested love Some to corrupt who might betray their Lord But he still wise his Troupes in time advis'd To cleare their vertue by their enemies vice And gave them thankes who would not be entis'd To sell their faith at such a bloodie price Then said that he himselfe those scroules procur'd That when they spy'd such practises againe They still might thinke them by this meanes allur'd Their Captaines triall not their Enemies traine Thus by the course which should have him entrap'd His adversarie did deluded stay Whilst both the from that present danger scap'd And to prevent the like prepar'd a way Then when he saw this policy had fail'd And that there had some doubtfull â—â—â—licts past Antigenus who had at one prevail'd As having had some vantage at the last Did with Eumenes straight procure to speake And as t 'one vanquish'd offred him good-will But he whose minde could not be brought to breake Would onely talke as to his equall still For when a band betweene them made did beare He to Antigonus should helpe impart That forme reform'd he first of all would sweare With Alexanders off-spring to take part Thus where they his submission did attend Imperiously conditions he impos'd So that thereafter to procure his end The other by all meanes his minde dispos'd And shortly of his bands a vaine debate For his confusion fit occasion brought Still as by concord small things doe grow great By discord great things are reduc'd to nought While-as Eumenes fortunately liv'd The Agâ—raspides to him gave place Till that for state two of their Captaines striv'd And his authoritie would not embrace Such as that spite of theirs to
have him spoil'd That though of valour he rare wonders prov'd And oft by force Antigonus had foil'd Yet from their mind it could not be remov'd For by their meanes allur'd the other bands To get some baggage which they lost againe Did take their Captaine with outragious hands Their glory darkning by that odious stayne And though Eumenes trusting to new hopes By flying labour'd succour to have found He was prevented by his Trait'rous Troupes And like to some base fugitive was bound Scarce could his stormy stomack bent to breake Daigne to entreat those who had him betrai'd Yet hauing hardly purchas'd leave to speake He stretch'd them forth his fettred hands and sayd Loe what apparell now your Generall weares Since with your faith his libertie was lost Yet he those bands not given by th' enemie beares No but by you in whom he trusted most And must he thus be led who should you lead Is this the triumph which I should receave For all my victories thus to be made Of Captaine Captive of a Conquerour slave How oft my Souldiers have yee all of late To me by solemne oathes sworne to be true But it becomes none in a captives state With loftie words his keepers to pursue Nor crave I further favour at this houre Then that ye bath your weapons in my brest Let not my life be in mine enemies pow'r Loe all that your Commander doth request I know Antigonus doth take no care Who get my bodie so he get my head And he regards not neither when nor where Nor in what sort I die so I be dead But if through horrour of so vile a deed Your eyes looke downe your haire erected stands Which in your mindes this much remorse doth breed That as your hearts ye will not staine your hands Then as your Captaine since not force I may I as your friend entreate that now in time I may but have a Sword my selfe to stay You to excuse whilst partner of your crime But when he saw that words could not asswage Their barb'rous thoughts which nothing could controule Then having turn'd his Courage all in rage He thus flam'd forth the fury of his soule O damned rascalls who have lost all faith Whom neither duty nor yet merit bindes How oft was Alexander mov'd to wrath By those your mut'nous and malitious mindes And O! what could I at those hands attend Which yet were smoâ—king with Perdiccas blood Of those who by like Treason did intend With old Antipaters to be imbru'd Heaven thunder on you from th' aetheriall Rounds And make you live abominable band Base vagabonds barr'd from your native bounds Then die detested in a harb'rous Land And as ye have the world with murder fill'd So may your blood by the same Swords be shed By which you have moe of your Captaines kill'd Then of your foes from whom like beasts ye fled But neither courteous nor outragious words Could change his souldiers from their first intent Who forward led their Captaine chain'd with cords A scorned Captive to his Rivals Tent Where to the end that he might quickly end He ask'd what stay'd Antigonus to goe By setting of him free to gaine a friend Or by his death to rid him of a foe And soone Antigonus did hast his fall By this great magnanimity not mov'd And th' Agiraspides dispers'd o're all As murderers murder from the world remov'd Thus oft have Traitours beene dispatch'd in time By those whom their upbraiding lookes dismay That loath'd remembrance of the Authors crime The actors death can onely wipe away Now claimes Antigonus when fame doth feast Above his Soveraignes selfe in ranke to sit For Alexander but subdu'd the East And he hath conquer'd them who conquer'd it Cass No doubt but he will doe the best he can And hath within himselfe high things design'd For whilst prosperity transports a man Nought seemes difficult to a loftie minde Sel. Of those in whom he did suspect a sprite Whose courage serv'd his courses to resist He hath himselfe by diverse meanes made quite In others wreakes his safety doth consist Thus martiall Pithon who no danger spar'd Whom Alexander held in high account Did at the last receave a hard reward For helping him Eumenes to surmount His sprite to tempt and power fit to performe Made jealousie Antigonus torment And yet he fain'd to love him for the forme Till he his Court did love him to frequent Where whilst he did mistrusting nought abide He publikely in all the peoples sight Though seeming justly damn'd unjustly di'd No wrong more vile then wrong that lookes like right Thus divers Governours within short space Their Government or then their life have lost And others are preferr'd unto their place Who did depend upon his favour most Oft likewise me he labour'd to surprise By policy whom he would have o'rethrowne But I whom Pythons danger had made wise Learn'd by his ruine to prevent mine owne To save my life abandon'd is my state And I have fled with danger as you see That you may know how that man doth grow great Whose pride may plague you all as well as me Cass Then let us see what course we should intend Least out of time made wise we rue too late Lysim I rather first pursue then last defend Ptol. A fire would still be quench'd ere it grow great Cass Then let us from Antigonus in haste Demand our share of what he did attaine Since in this warre we did our Treasure waste We should be likewise partners of the gaine But if against our suite his eares he barre And doe with scornefull words contemne our claime Then may our messenger denounce the warre And we shall shortly prosecute the same Ptol. A mutuall band must made amongst us be To make one fortune common to us all And from hence-forth we must all foure agree To stand together or together fall And since the Princely buds for which we car'd How ever dead are dead what ere we doe So to procure from men the more regard We with the state must take the title too And we must both be crown'd and knowne for kings The diadem of Greatnesse is the Tower All vulgar judgements leane on th' outward things And reverence State where they obey but pow'r Exeunt Nuntius Philastrus Chorus IS there a Heaven and are there Heavenly Pow'rs To whose decree terrestriall things are thrall Or would the Tyrant that begets the houres Eternity not spar'd extinguish all Loe Nature travels now as big with change Since mortals all humanity have lost And in th' old Chaos or some masse more strange To leave their essence all things earthly boast Can reasonable soules from reason barr'd Even strive which most in cruelty exceeds What eye hath seene or yet what eare hath heard Such monstrous chances and prodigious deedes Th' Arabian Robbers nor the Scythians wild With savage beasts which doe as barbarous haunt With such foule facts have not themselves defil'd As those who
still the victory the Victor foiles Thus Alexander could not be appeas'd Whilst be to raise his state did wayes prepare Which when made most diminish'd most remain'd Where with his fathers bounds had he beene pleas'd He might have left our Crowne sure to his heire Who by his conquest nought but death hath gayn'd Yet for no paines a number now doth spare To worke for that by which his wreake was wrought Which though from it they rage to be restrain'd Would if possest their pleasures but impaire Yet they by harme of others seeke the thing Which by their harme of others will be sought To him and his each of them death would bring That it might once be said he was a King We may securely sitting on the shore Whilst great men doe as toss'd on th' Ocean grâ—ne Taught by their toyles esteeme much of our rest For this doth thousands with affliction store VVhich of the world as most unhappy moane If they but chance to view some few more blest VVhere if they would but marke how many a one More wretch'd then they in misery doth live It straight would calme the most unquiet brest The Cottage oft is happier then the Throne To thinke our owne state good and others ill It could not but a great contentment give There much consists in the conceit and will To us all things are as we thinke them still FINIS THE TRAGEDY OF JVLIVS CAESAR THE ARGUMENT AT that time when the Romans travelled with an unsatiable ambition to subdue all Nationâ— by whose overthrow they could conceive any expectation either of glory or profit Caius Iulius Caesar a nâ—n of a lofty minde and given to attempt great things ascending by severall degrees to the Consulship procured a power to warre against the Gaules amongst whom after a number of admirable battels and victories by the approbation of all the world having purchased a singular reputation both for his courage and skill in Arms he being long accustomed to command was so drunke with a delight of soveraignty that disdaining the simplicity of a private life he was so farre from denuding himselfe of the authority which he had that altogether transported with a desire of more he sent to the 〈…〉 the Gaules prorogated for five yeares which suit being repugnant to the Lawes as directly tending to tyranny was by the people publikely repelled By which occasion and some others rising from an emulation between him and Pompey the great pretending a high indignation hee incontinent crossed the Alpes with such forces though few as he had in readinesse and with a great celerity came to Rome which he found abandoned by Pompey in whom the Senate had reposed their trust whom shortly after by a memorable battell in the fields of Pharsalia he discomfited and having by the overthrow of Scipio death of Cato and flight of Pompeyes sonnes as it were rooted out all the contrary faction hereturned to Rome and indirectly by the meanes of Antonius laboured to be proclaimed King which having rendred him altogether odious Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus Decius Brutus Publius Casca and divers others Noble men conspired his death and appointed a day for the same at which time notwithstanding that Caesar was disswaded from going forth by many monstrous apparitions and ominous presages yet being perswaded by Decius Brutus Albinus he went towards the fatall place where the Senate was assembled The Conspirators in like manner had many terrors amongst others Portia the wife of Marcus Brutus although shee had insinuated her selfe in her husbands secret by a notable proofe of extraordinary magnanimity yet on the day dedicated for the execution of their designe through the apprehension of his danger she fainted divers times whereof Brutus was advertised yet shrinked not but went forwards with his confederates to the appointed place where they accomplished their purpose every one of there giving Caesar a wound and me a ground whereupon to build this present Tragedy The persons names who speake IUNO CAESAR ANTONIUS CICERO DECIUS BRUTUS CAIUS CASSIUS MARCUS BRUTUS PORTIA CALPHURNIA NUNTIUS The Some in Rome THE TRAGEDY OF JVLIVS CAESAR Act I. Juno THough I a Goddesse grace the azure round Whilst birds all bright with eyes my Coach do move And am with radiant starres heavens Empresse crown'd The thunderers sister wife of mighty Iove And though I banquet in th'ethe riall bowres Where Ambrosie and Nectar serves for meate And at the meeting of th' Immortall powres And still advanc'd unto the highest seat Yet by those glorious shewes of boundlesse blisse My burden'd minde can no way be reliev'd Since immortallity affords but this That I live ever to be ever griev'd In vaine vaine mortals seeke for helpe at me With sacred odours on my Altars throwne What expectation can they have to see One venge their wrongs who cannot venge her own May Pallas then drowne thousands if she please Who metamorphos'd Diomedes mates And must my enemies alwaies live at ease As me to spight appointed by the fates Of all the dying race which lives below With such indignities none could comport As wound my brest whom Gods and men doe know To be abus'd by Iove in many a sort Though knowne to me from others if conceal'd His faults might breed me griefe but yet not shame Where loe now both through heaven and earth reveal'd Each slandrous Theater doth his scorne proclaime If divine soules divinely liv'd aloft The world below would imitate them then But humaniz'd by haunting mortals oft Where men should grow like Gods Gods grow like men My painted Iris in her beauties pride Smiles not on Phoebus with so many hewes As Iove in divers shapes himselfe can hide When he poore Maydes by Cupid spurr'd pursues He Danae a golden shower deceiv'd And did a Swanne in Ledaes bosome light Then turn'd a Bull Agenors daughter reav'd And Io made a Cow to mocke my sight But O! I wish that with such wanton Dames He still to sport would as with me remaine Not able then to touch celestiall flames All like the drunkards mother might be slaine Then such a troupe as Rheas bosome stores Would not hold him and me at endlesse jarres The heavens are pestred with my husbands whores Whose lights impure doe taint the purest starres Though wrongs when grosse are heavy to digest An Actors greatnesse doth some griefe remove Of whom to suffer wrong it shames one least If I were wrong'd ' I would be wrong'd by Iove But ah this long tormented hath my brest A Man a Boy a shepheard yea and worse The Phrygian fire-brand the adultrous guest Who first wrought wrong by fraud and then by force He he was he whose verdict mov'd me most Whilst partiall fancies judg'd of beauties right Nor was it strange though one all judgement lost Who had three naked Goddesses in sight And yet I know had not his wandring eyes The Cyprian brib'd by some lascivious smiles My pompous birds in triumph through the skyes Had borne the
But to th' Ambitious men that it abus'd Who had their pow'r like Caesars wanted bounds Would whil'st they rul'd have greater rigour us'd All parts we see bred people of all kindes And as advanc'd some bad men did abide In pow'r their equals and of better mindes Some alwayes vertuous were to curbe their pride But since that sacred liberty was lost The publike pow'r to private ends one turnes And as his lawlesse wayes did alwayes boast The Common-weale by violence o're-turnes Dec. Though what you burden Caesar with were true Necessity hath purg'd his part from crime Who was foes force to shunne forc'd to pursue And urg'd by danger to attempt in time To th' enemies envy more oblig'd he rests Then to his wit which no such courses scan'd For when quite barr'd from using of requests Th' occasion then invited to command His thoughts when calme to storm fond foes did tempt True worth disdaines to suffer open wrong A gallant courage kindled by contempt Burns with revenge whil'st fury makes one strong Cic. O Decius now a wrong account you cast The purpose not th' event declares the minde Tread backe the steps of all his actions past And what he compass'd had beene long design'd As by some sprite inspir'd proud Scilla said That there in Caesar many Marians were And Rome in tiâ—e was warn'd to be afraid Of that evill-girded youth with smooth-comb'd haire Then when as still to quietnesse a foe The memory of Marius he renew'd By re-erecting Tyrants statues so His thoughts all bent to tyranny were view'd That people-pleaser might have beene perceiv'd By courteous complements below his rank Who lavishing forth gifts the world deceiv'd And to gaine more then his of his prov'd franke Though nought at all indulgent to his wife By prostrated pudicity disgrac'd Yet did he save th' adultrous Clodius life To sooth the multitude whose steps he trac'd Dec. These be the meanes by which Ambition mounts Without most humble when within most high As if it fled from that things which it hunts Still wasting most when it for most doth plie Cic. Then he still tyranny bent to embrace Was thought conjoyn'd with Catiline to be And had wise Cato's counsell taken place Might with the rest have suffered death by me Yet having deeply div'd in some mens soules With factious followers being pined oft He got the Consul-ship which nought controuls And matching pride with pow'r did look aloft To flatter them who now must flatter him His pow'r to make unlawfull laws prevail'd And those to crosse who scorn'd he so should clime He furnish't was with force where reason fail'd But yet because he could not be assur'd To rule alone according to his will To governe France he craftily procur'd So to be strengthened with an Army still As Rome first warr'd at home till being strong She thought her power might forraine Realmes o're-co So Caesar warr'd against strange Nations long Till that he thought his Might might conquer Rome Then having all that force or fate assignes Of discontentment he did cause pretend So to dissemble fore-conceiv'd designes One soone may finde a fault that would offend But when he first in a prodigious dreame His mother seem'd incestuously to use It might have shown to his eternall shame How of his birth the bounds he did abuse Dec. And yet I thinke avoyding threatned harmes He by constraint imbark'd in civill broyles Did he not covenant to quite his Armes As not desirous of his Countries spoiles Cic. Durst he with those who had his charge confin'd Stand to capitulate as if their mare Where as his Soveraigne to obey their minde It was his duty and their due of late What what durst he whom bound to keep the law The people in authority did put The sword which they had given against them draw When it was sharpned â—â—â—st their throat to cut That had not come which all oâ—â— anguish breeds If he unforc'd when as his charge expir'd Till that the Senate censur'd had his deeds Had from his Province peaceably retir'd No he hath but betray'd his native Towne Those bands by which she did him first preferre T' enlarge her borders and his owne renowne Those hath he us'd to tyrannize o're her My passions ah transported as you see With an excessive love to my deare soile Of my hearts store have made my tongue too free By flaming forth what in my brest doth boile Dec. That Caesars part might justly be excus'd Loe with the cause alledg'd his course accords Of which that mildenesse which he since hath us'd A testimony to the world affords Though forc'd to fight he alwaies had great care To save our Citizens as each man knowes And will'd his Captaines Romans still to spare Barbarians bodies objects were for blowes Of th' adversaries after bloudy strife When oft he might have made some Captives smart Not onely was he liberall of their life But pardon'd them even to take Pompeys part At that infortunate Pharsalian field When he securely might have us'd the sword He both did spare all th' enemies that would yeeld And them to rents and dignities restor'd Then when th' Egyptians so to get reliefe Brought to his sight pale Pompey's bloud-lesse head He testifi'd with teares hâ—s inward griefe And grac'd his Statues after he was dead Those his proceedings plainely may approve That he against his will did make this warre And to his Country beares a tender love Who could comport to reyne his rage so farre Cic. Those favours fain'd by him bestow'd or due As is ones custome whose high heart aspires Were spent on many that who them did view Might love his course so kindling their desires But where he thus pleas'd some he spoil'd whole hosts And the Barbarians all to Rome not wrought Such harme as he who of his goodnesse boasts Yet her best men hath to confusion brought That great man whom earst fortune ne're did fayle Who still prevail'd though warring without right Now in a good cause for the common-weale With Caesar did infortunately fight Whilst fled from Lesbos with his wretched wife Three base-borne Groomes can fortune change so soone Stood to consult upon great Pompeys life And did what thousands durst not once have done Then he whose knees had oft been kiss'd by Kings Most highly happy had he dy'd in time By one of his owne slaves with abject things His funerals had perform'd what monstrous crime Romes greatest Captaine to entombe alone The Roman who arriv'd with reason said The fatall glory was too great for one And to have part of that last honour staid The teares bestow'd by Caesar on his head Forth from a guilty minde remorse had throwne Or else he wept to see his enemie dead By any others hands then by his owne That constant Cato who even death did scorne And for a coward once had Caesar brav'd Who liv'd as if to grace all mortals borne Would rather perish then by him be sav'd He justly whilst more
out We must in time attempt and not attend That race of victors which did Realmes appall Ah vanquish'd by their victories at last Are by their too much liberty made thrall Since all their strength but down themselves doth cast And we who by our birth aym'd at great things Of the worlds mistresse mighty minions once Who might have labour'd to give lawes to Kings Lawes from a King must looke for now with grones For such of Caesar is the monstrous pride That though he domineers even at this houre And to his Clients kingdomes doth divide With an unlimited tyrannicke pow'r Yet of Dictator he disdaines the name And seekes a tyrants title with the place Not for his honour no but for our shame As onely bent bragge of our disgrace Marc. Brut. I thought to see that man as others are Walke re-apparrell'd with a private gowne As one who had unwillingly made warre To stand himselfe not to cast others downe So Silla though more inhumane then he Whilst having all to what his heart aspir'd The Soveraignty resign'd and set Rome free When expectations date was quite expir'd By Caesars worth we must thinke that he too Will render freedome to this captiv'd state When first the world hath view'd what he might doe His thoughts are generous as his minde is great Though insolencies oft from courage flow His dying fury sparkles but a space High thoughts which Mars inspires nought can bring low Till one have us'd the purity of peace Those who by violence to all things tend Scâ—râ—â— can themselves to quietnesse conforme Their stately carriage and franke words offend Whil'st peace cannot comport with warres rude forme I hope that Caesar setling civill broyles When worne by custome from intestine rage Will strive to mitigate his Countries toyles And all those flames which burn'd his brest asswage Ca. Cassius Thus of his course you by your owne conceiv'd As if like thoughts of both did bound the will Ah honest mindes are with least paine deceiv'd Those who themselves are good dreame not of ill To sound of some the still unsound device Their inclination must your judgement sway The square of vertue cannot measure vice Nor yet a line when straight a crooked way So Caesar rising may usurpe the State He cares not by what force nor by what sleight O! one may soone deceive men and grow great Who leaves religion honesty and right When as the Senators no more their owne Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blindes And by high honours shew'd how they had shownâ— To gratifie his greatnesse gratefull mindes He in a Chayre imperiously plac'd Not daign'd to rise nor bow in any sort As both of them had but their due embrac'd When he a haughty they a humble port But if he thus ere we be throughly thrall'd Dare so disdainefully such great men use When in a regall Throne by us enstall'd Then will he breake that which he now doth bruise Was he not first who ever yet began To violate the sacred Tribunes place And punish'd them for punishing a man Who had transgress'd the lawes in time of peace The lawes which doe of death all guilty hold Whose actions seeme to tyranny inclin'd So earnest were our Ancestors of old To quench a tyrants light before it shin'd And shall our Nephewes heires of bondage blame Vs dastard parents who their hopes deceiv'd Who saw who suff'red who surviv'd such shame Not leaving dead what we when borne receiv'd By Caesars friends to an assembly brought The Senators intend to call him King Brut. I 'le not be there Cass But what if we be sought To ayde as Pretors such a publike thing Brut. I will resist that violent decree None of Romes Crowne shall long securely boast For ere that I live thrall'd I 'le first dye free What can be kept when liberty is lost Cass O! with what joy I swallow up those words Words worthy of thy worth and of thy name But Brutus doe not feare this cause affords In danger many but few mates in fame When Anthony proud Caesars image crown'd By silent sorrow all the people told In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drown'd That bondage-bragging Comet to behold What doe those scroules throwne in thy chaire import Which what thou art to brave thy courage brings Be those the fancies of the vulgar sort No none but noble mindes dreame of great things Of other Pretors people looke for showes And distributions whose remembrance dyes Whilst bloudy Fencers fall with mutuall blowes And Africkes monsters doe amaze their eyes But from thy hands they liberty attend By birth-right due the glory of thy race And bent for thee their bloud will frankely spend So thou succeed in thy great Parents place He Rome redeeming Tarquin did o'rethrow Though from his birth obey'd and without strife A rising tyrant then bring boldly low To what extinguish'd was who would give life Brut. I weigh thy words with an afflicted heart Which for compassion of my Country bleeds And would to God that I might onely smart So that all others scap'd what mischiefe breeds Then never man himselfe from death did free With a more quiet and contented minde Then I would perish if I both could be To Caesar thankefull to my Country kinde But though that great mans grace to me enlarg'd May chalenge right in my affections store Yet must the greatest debt be first discharg'd I owe him much but to my Country more This is my brest hath great dissension bred I Caesar love but yet Romes enemy hate And as Iove lives I could be mov'd to shed My bloud for Caesar Caesars for the State I for my fathers death loath'd Pompey long Whilst just disdaine did boyle within my brest Yet when he warr'd to venge the common wrong I joyn'd with him because his cause was best A minde to raigne if Caesar now reveale I will in time precipitate his end Thus never arm'd but for the Common-weale I help'd a foe and now must hurt a friend Cas Lest of his favour thou the poyson prove From swallowing of such baites in time now spare No tyrant trust me can intirely love Nor none who for himselfe doth onely care He by this course doth cunningly intend Thy vertue slack'd to undermine thy minde Thy well-knowne courage purpos'd to disbend Thus though with silken bonds he would thee binde This of each tyrant is the common tread To wreake all those in whom most worth he findes Or whilst that terrours tosse his jealous head By subtilty to snare the greatest mindes As for the Pretor-ship when we did strive Then both were held in hope that so deceiv'd Each th 'others harmes might study to contrive Through emulation and disdaine conceiv'd Thus subtile Caesar by such sleights hath toild To sow dissension that we both might pause Of private wrongs and by such meanes imbroil'd Still courting him neglect the common cause But nought must make us th' one t'another strange Who should in time
distresse strikes deeper in my heart Thy griefe lifes joy makes me neglect mine owne Brut. Thou must deare love that which thou sought'st receive Thy heart so high a saile in stormes still beares That thy great courage doth deserve to have Our enterprise entrusted to thine eares This magnanimitie prevailes so farre That it my resolution must controule And of my bosome doth the depths unbarre To lodge thee in the centre of my soule Thou seest in what estate the State now stands Of whose strong pillars Caesar spoyl'd the best Whil'st by his owne preventing others hands Our famous Father fell amongst the rest That proud usurper fondly doth presume To re-erect detested Tarquins throne Thus the worlds Mistresse all-commanding Rome Must entertaine no Minion now but one All those brave mindes who mark where he doth tend Swell with disdaine their Countries scorne to see And I am one of those who soone intend His death or mine procur'd to be made free Port. And without me canst thou resolve so soone To try the danger of a doubtfull strife As if despair'd and alwayes but undone Of me growne weary weary of thy life Yet since thou thus thy rash designe hast showne Leave Portia's portion venter not her part Endanger nought but that which is thine owne Go where thou lik st I will hold still thy heart But lest by holding of thy best part back The other perish't aggravate my grones Who would be so thought guilty of thy wrack Take all thy Treasure to the Seas at once Like Asia's Monarchs wife who with short haires Sad signes of bondage past still where he past To weare away or beare away thy cares I 'le follow thee and of thy fortune taste These hands which were with mine own bloud imbru'd To strike another may more strength afford At least when thou by th' enemies art pursu'd I 'le set my selfe betwixt thee and each Sword But if too great a priviledge I claime Whose actions all should be dispos'd by thee Ah! pardon Brutus and but onely blame This streame of passions that transported me Brut. Thou ask'st what thou shouldst give forgive deare Mate This ventrous course of mine which must have place Though it make Fortune Tyrant of our State Whose fickle foot-steps Vertue grieves to trace And wonder not though thus to thee I prove Since private duties now all pow'r have lost I weigh not glory profit pleasure love Nor what respect may now import me most So to the land of which I hold my life I may performe that worke which I intend Let me be call'd unkinde unto my wife Yea worst of all ingrate unto my friend As an instinct by Nature makes us know There are degrees of duty to be past Of which the first unto the Gods we owe The next t' our Countrey to our friends the last From Rome of old proud Tyrants bent to drive Did th' author of my race with ardent zeale Make those to dye whom he had made to live And spoil'd himselfe to raise the Common-weale To settle that which Caesar now o're-throws Though vertues nurserie stately whil'st it stood He with the Tyrant inter-changing blows On Glories Altar offered Fame his bloud And did that man to crosse the common foe Then damne his Sonnes to death and with dry eyes And is his speciall heire degener'd so In abject bondage that he basely lyes No his posterity his name not staines But even to tread his steps doth fast draw neare Yet of his sprit in us some spark remaines Who more then life our liberty hold deare Port. Then prosecute thy course for I protest Though with some griefe my soule the same approves This resolution doth become thy brest In honours spheare where heavenly Vertue moves And do this enterprise no more deferre What thee contents to me contentment brings I to my life thy safety do preferre But hold thy honour deare above all things It would but let the world my weaknesse see If I sought my delights not thy desires Though griefe it give and threaten death to me Go follow forth that which thy Fame requires Though Nature sexe and education breed No power in me with such a purpose even I must lend help to this intended deed If vows and pray'rs may penetrate the heaven But difficulties huge my fancie findes Nought save the successe can defray my feare Ah! Fortune alwayes frownes on worthy mindes As hating all who trust in ought save her Yet I despaire not but thou may'st prevaile And by this course to ease my present grones I this advantage have which cannot faile I le be a free-mans wife or else be nones For if all prosper not as we pretend And that the Heavens Romes bondage do decree Straight with thy liberty my life shall end Who have no comfort but what comes from tâ—â—â— My Father hath me taught what way to dye By which if hindred from encountring death Some other meanes I though more strange must try For after Brutus none shall see me breathe Brut. Thou for my cause all others earst didst leave But now forsak'st thy selfe to joyne with me Ore generous love no pow'r weake passions have Against thy minde thou dost with mine agree I le since by thee approv'd securely go And vilipend the dangers of this life Heavens make my enterprise to prosper so That I may once prove worthy such a wife But ah of all thy words those grieve me most Which bragge me with the dating of thy dayes What though I in so good a cause were lost None flies the fate which stablish'd for him stayes Do not defraud the world of thy rare worth But of thy Brutus the remembrance love From this faire prison strive not to breake forth Till first the fates have forc'd thee to remove Port. The heavens I feare have our confusion sworn Since this ill Age can with no good accord Thou and my Father ah should have beene borne When Vertue was advanc'd and Vice abhorr'd Then ere the light of Vertue was declin'd Your worth had reverenc'd beene not throwne away Where now ye both have but in darknesse shin'd As Starres by night that had beene Sunnes by day Brut. My treasure strive to pacifie thy brest Lest sorrows but sinistrously presage That which thou would'st not wish and hope the best Though Vertue now must act on Fortunes Stage Exeunt Chorus THen liberty of earthly things What more delights a generous brest Which doth receive And can conceive The matchlesse treasure that it brings It making men securely rest As all perceive Doth none deceive Whil'st from the same true courage springs But fear'd for nought doth what seemes best Then men are men when they are all their owne Not but by others badges when made knowne Yet should we not mispending houres A freedome seeke as oft it falls With an intent But to content These vaine delights and appetites of ours For then but made farre greater thralls We might repent As not still pent In stricter bounds
imprecations execrable words And yet then this though voluntar'ly vow'd Free from all bonds save that which vertue bindes More constantly no course was ere allow'd Till that the end must manifest our mindes And since so many frankely keep their faith What first intended to accomplish bent No doubt in spight of sickle fortunes wrath A happy successe shall our soules content Might some few Thebans from the Spartans pride By divers tyrants deaths redeem their Towne And one Athenian who his vertue try'd By thirty tyrants ruine get renowne And to the Greekes are we inferiours growne That where they have so many tyrants spoil'd There cannot one be by us all o'rethrowne Whose state yet staggering may be soon imbroil'd I am resolv'd and with my thoughts decree VVhat ever chance to come or sweet or sowre I shall my soile from tyranny set free Or then my selfe free from the tyrants pow'r Dec. Brut. By Lepidus invited this last night VVhilst Caesar went to suppe and I with him Of all deaths shapes to talke we tooke delight So at the table to beguile the time And whilst our judgements all about were try'd Straight Caesar as transported to the rest With a most sudden exclamation cry'd O! of all deaths unlook'd for death is best It from our selves doth steale our selves so fast That even the minde no fearefull forme can see Then is the paine ere apprehended past Sowre things ere tasted would first swallowed be The threatned destiny thus he divin'd It would appeare divinely then inspir'd For now I hope that he shall shortly finde That forme of death which he himselfe desir'd Cai. Cas Whilst of our band the fury flames most hot And that their will to end this worke is such Lest Caesars absence disappoint the plot Which would of some abate the courage much It Decius were exceedingly well done That to his lodging you addrest your way Him by all meanes to further forward soone Lest him some sudden chance may move to stay Dec. Brut. There where the Senate minds this day to sit Stand all prepar'd not fearing danger more And for the Sacrifice when all is fit I 'le bring an offring hallowed of before Exeunt Act 4. Scene 2. Caesar Calphurnia Decius Brutus LOng-lookt-for Time that should the glory yeeld Which I through Neptunes trustlesse raign have sought And through the dust of many a bloudy field As by all dangers worthy to be bought Thy comming now those lowring shadowes cleares My hopes horizon which did long o're-cast This day defrayes the toyles of many yeares And brings the harvest of my labours past The Senators a Messenger have sent Most earnestly entreating me to come And heare my selfe discern'd by their consent To weare a Crowne o're all excepting Rome Thus they devise conditions at this houre For him of whom Mars hath made them the prey As Subjects limit could their Soveraignes pow'r Who must have minde of nought but to obey But having pacifi'd those present things I minde to leade my valorous legions forth To th' orientall Realmes adoring Kings Who can afford all that is due to worth Then swimme my thoughts in th' ocean of delight Whilst on the pillow of soft praise repos'd Those eyes to gaze upon my glories light Which Envy open'd Admiration clos'd Cal. Ah though your fancies great contentment finde Whilst thus the world your vertue doth advance Yet a prepost'rous terrour stings my minde And braggs me with I know not what mischance My wavering hopes o're-ballanc'd are with feares Which to my soule sinistrous signes impart And om'nous rumours so assault mine eates That they almost make breaches in my heart Caes What do foil'd Pompeys floting followers strive To recollect their ruines from the dust Dare they who onely by my tollerance live More to their strength then to my favour trust Or do'st thou feare his sonnes dejected state Who steales infamous flying through those flouds Which his great father Admirall of late Did plant with ships till all their waves seem'd woods Or makes his brothers death his hopes grow more Since by them straited in a bloudy strife I who in all the battel 's given before Did fight for victory then fought for life Or whilst to march to Parthia I prepare Doth a suspition thus afflict thy sprite By Crassus fortune mov'd who perish'd there The scorned prey of the Barbarians spight To those with Cassius who from thence retir'd Amongst my bands a place I will allow Whose foes shall finde bad fate at last expir'd Though the same sheep another sheep-heard now Doe not imagine matters to bemone For whilst there stands a world can Caesar fall Though thousand thousands were conjur'd in one I and my fortune might confound them all Cal. No none of those my minde doth miscontent Who undisguis'd still like themselves remaine Vnlook't-for harmes are hardest to prevent There is no guard against conceal'd disdaine But in whom further can your trust repose Whom danger now o're all by all attends Where private men but onely feare their foes Oft Kings have greatest cause to feare their friends For since most trusted fittest to betray Those unto whom ones favour force affords Most dangerous ambushes with ease may lay Whilst falsest hearts are hid with fairest words And some report though privately yet plaine That Dolabella and Antonius now By your destruction doe intend to gaine That which you keep by making all men bow Caes No corpulent sanguinians make me feare Who with more paine their beards then th'en'mies strike And doe themselves like th'Epicurians beare To Bacchus Mars and Venus borne alike Their hearts doe alwaies in their mouthes remaine As streames whose murmuring showes their course not deep Then still they love to sport though grosse and plaine And never dreame of ought but when they sleep But those high sprites who hold their bodies downe Whose visage leane their restlesse thoughts records Whilst they their cares depth in their bosomes drown I feare their silence more then th 'others words Thus Cassius now and Brutus seeme to hold Some great thing in their minde whose fire oft smoaks What Brutus would he vehemently would Thinke what they list I like not their pale lookes Yet with their worth this cannot well agree In whom bright vertue seemes so much to shine Can those who have receiv'd their lives from me Prove so ingrate that they doe thirst for mine Dare Cassius match'd with me new hopes conceive At th' Hellespont who fortune durst not try And like a dastard did his Gallies leave In all save courage though more strong then I Shall I suspect that Brutus seekes my bloud Whose safety still I tendred with such care Who when the heavens from mortals me seclude Is onely worthy to be Caesars heire Cal. The corners of the heart are hard to know Though of those two the world the best doth deeme Yet doe not trust too much to th' outward show For men may differ much from what they seeme None oft more fierce then those
who look most milde Impiety sometime appeares devout And that the world the more may be beguil'd Even vice can cloath it selfe with vertues cote Though it would seem all hatred now laid downe They on your favour onely should depend Yet no respect can counterpoise a Crowne Ambition hath no bounds nor Greed no end Mov'd by vindictive hate or emulous pride Since some your person some your place pursue All threatned dangers to prevent provide And use for safety what to State is due Caes No armour is that can hold treason out Cal. To fright your foes with bands be back'd about Caes So dastard tyrants strive themselves to beare Cal. It better is to give then to take feare Caes No guard more strong then is the peoples love Cal. But nought in th' earth doth more inconstant prove Caes Guards shewing feare to charge me men might tempt Cal. Guards would put them from hope you from contempt Caes My brest from terrour hath been alwaies cleare Cal. When one least feares oft danger lurks most neare Caes I rather dye then feare at last life goes Cal. Yet death must grieve when forc'd by vaunting foes Caes I will not crosse my present pleasures so By apprehending what may chance to come This world affords but too much cause for woe And sorrowes still must harbour'd be by some By joyes in time we must embrace reliefe That when they end we in some measure may By their remembrance mitigate the griefe Which still attends all those on th' earth that stay I thinke the Senate is assembled now And for my comming doth begin to gaze Let me condignely once adorne my brow And feast mine eares by drinking in due praise Cal. Stay stay deare Lord retire thy steps againe And spare a space to prorogate whole yeares Let not this ominous day begin thy raigne WHich fatall and unfortunate appeares An Astrologian through the world renown'd Thy horoscopes just calculation layes And doth affirme as he by signes hath found That Marches Ides doe bragge to bound thy dayes Walke not abroad where harmes may be receiv'd By great necessity since no way forc'd For though his judgement may be farre deceiv'd In things that touch thy life suspect the worst Caes Whilst I reform'd the Calendar by fits Which did confound the order of the yeare I waded through the depths of all their wits Who of the starres the mysteries would cleare Those pregnant sprites who walke betwixt the Poles And lodge at all the Zodiackes severall signes Doe reade strange wonders wrapt in th' azure scroules Of which our deeds are words our lives are lines By speculation of superiour pow'rs Some Natures secrets curious are to know As how celestiall bodies rule o're ours And what their influence doth worke below Yea they sometime may brave conjectures make Of those whose parts they by their birth doe prove Since naturally all inclination take From Planets then predominant above And yet no certainty can so be had Some vertuously against their Starres have striv'd As Socrates who grew though borne but bad The most accomplish'd man that ever liv'd But of the houre ordain'd to close our lights No earth-clog'd soule can to the knowledge come For O! the destinies farre from our sights In clouds of darknesse have involv'd our doome And some but onely guesse at great mens falls By bearded Comets and prodigious Starres Whose sight-distracting shape the world appalls As still denouncing terrour death or warres The time uncertaine is of certaine death And that fantasticke man farre past his bounds With doubt and reverence they should manage breath Who will divine upon conjectur'd grounds Cal. But this all day hath prey'd upon my heart And from the same of cares a tribute claim'd Doe not despise that which I must impart Though but a dreame and by a woman dream'd I thought alas the thought yet wounds my breast Then whilst we both as those whom Morpheus weds Lay softly buried with a pleasant rest I in thy bosome thou within the beds Then from my soule strange terrours did with-draw Th' expected peace by apprehended harmes For I imagin'd no no doubt I saw And did embrace thee bloudy in mine armes Thus whilst my soule by sorrowes was surcharg'd Of which huge weight it yet some burden beares I big with griefe two Elements enlarg'd Th' ayre with my sighes the water with my teares Caes That which I heard with thy report accords Whilst thou all seem'd dissolv'd in griefe at once A heavy murmuring made with mangled words Was interrupted oft by tragicke grones The memory but not the judgement frames Those raving fancies which disturbe the braine Whilst night dissolves all dayes designes in dreames The senses sleeping soules would stirre in vaine From superstitious feares this care proceeds Which still would watch o're that which thou dost love And in thy minde thus melancholy breeds Which doth those strange imaginations move Cal. Ah in so light account leave off to hold Those fatall warnings which our mindes should leade To search darke matters till we may unfold What dangers huge doe hang above thy head With sacred Garlands he who things divines By th' intrails of the consecrated beast Doth in the offring see sinistrous signes And I entreat thee doe not hence make haste Caes When I in Spaine against yong Pompey went Thus the diviner threatned me before Yet did I prosecute my first intent Which with new lawrels did my browes decore Cal. And yet you hardly there as I doe heare From danger farre engag'd redeemâ—d your life But tokens now more monstrous doe appeare And I suspect farre worse then open strife Caes Lest I too much seeme wedded to my will As others counsels scorning to allow With jealous eyes I 'le search about me still And even mistrust my selfe to trust thee now Yet if I stay the Senators deceiv'd May my beginning straight begin to hate So might I perish seeking to be sav'd By flying it some fall upon their fate But here one comes who can resolve me much With whom I use to weigh affaires of weight Whence com'st thou Decius that thy haste is such Is ought occurr'd that craves our knowledge straight Dec. I come to tell you how the Senate stayes Till that your presence blesse their longing fight And to conclude what is propos'd delayes Since your applause can onely make it right They your contentment to procure intend And all their thoughts seeme at one object bent Save that amongst themselves they doe contend Who you to please shall rarest wayes invent Caes Then that no treasure to my soule more deare Which to enjoy from hence I long to part But yet I know not what arrests me here And makes my feet rebellious to my heart From thee deare friend I never doe conceale The weightiest secrets that concerne me most And at this time I likewise must reveale How â—â—avens by signes me with destruction boast To superstition though not earst inclin'd My wife by dreames doth now
presage my fall It a sooth-sayer likewise hath divin'd The Sacrifice prodigious seemes to all So that till this disastrous day be gone All company I purpose to disuse And to the Senators will send some one To paint my absence with a faire excuse Dec. Brut. Doe not repose on superstitious signes You to suspect the people thus to bring Whilst Soveraigne-like you limit their designes Seeme not a tyrant seeking to be King How can we satisfie the worlds conceâ—t Whose tongue still in all eares your praise proclaimes Or shall we bid them leave to deale in state Till that Calphurnia first have better dreames If that this day you private would remaine The Senate to dissolve your selfe must goe And then incontinent come backe againe When you have showne to it some reverence so Caes With thy advise as pow'rfull I agree The Senatours shall have no cause to grudge A little space all part a space from me And I 'le be shortly ready to dislodge Caesar alone VVHence comes this huge and admirable change That in my brest hath uncouth thoughts infus'd Doth th' earth then earst yeeld terrors now more strange Or but my minde lesse courage then it us'd What spightfull fate against my state contends That I must now to fancied plagues give place By toes not mov'd afraid amongst my friends By warre secure endanger'd but by peace When strongest troopes to fight with me did come Then did my heart the highest hopes conceive I warr'd with many many to o're-come The greatest bâ—ttels greatest glory gave As th' enemies numbers still my courage grew Through depths of dangers oft times have I past Yet never did those boundlesse labours rue To have none greater first none equall last When bragging Gauls mov'd by their neighbours fals Had from the fields no from my fury fled And hid themselves with Armes their Armes with walles Whilst I my troupes before Alexia led Then though there swarm'd forth from the bounds about Huge hosts to compasse me enflam'd with wrath That the besiegers all besieg'd about Seem'd drawne by danger in the nets of death No way I who could with the pride comport That those Barbarians by vaine vaunts bewray'd Did re-assault th' assaulters in such sort That words by wounds wounds were by death repayd Of those within the towne to ease their toyles Till quite o're-com'd their comming was not knowne Who straight upbraided by the barb'rous spoiles Did yeeld themselves as if with them o're-throwne By liquid legions whilst with tumid boasts The Trident-bearer striv'd my spoiles to beare Though threatned thrise amid'st his humid hosts Still courage scorn'd to thinke of abject feare I us'd those Pyrats who had me deceiv'd Still as my servants thundring threatnings forth And gave them money more then they had crav'd Whose ignorance too meanely priz'd my worth Yet gathering ships I stay'd not long a shore But trac'd their steps though they not pav'd the way And taking them as I had vow'd before By nought but death their ransome would defray Then when without th' advice of others mindes Through hoary waves I past alone by night Whilst in a little Barke against great windes That even the Pilot lookâ—t not for the light The waves themselves asunder seem'd to teare That in their gravell I might chuse a grave And cry stall arches did above me reare That I a Tombe fit for my state might have Whilst dangers seem'd to merit Caesars death As Neptune rais'd his head I rais'd my heart And she wing what I was with constant breath To weake Amiclas courage did impart Was I not once amid'st large Nilus slote Whilst me to wound a wood of darts did flye Yet swim'd so carelesse of my enemies shot That in my hand I held some papers dry With open dangers thus in every place I whilst oft compass'd both by Sea and Land Did undismay'd looke horrour in the face As borne for nought but onely to command But since a world of victories have fill'd With Trophees Temples Theaters with my praise That bath'd with balme which glories bayes had still'd With friends in peace I look'd to spend my dayes The chambers musicke now afrights me more Then Trumpets sounds when marching in the field And Gowns though signes of peace worse then before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield Those thoughts of late which had disdain'd to doubt Though I alone had march'd amongst my foes Loe whilst amongst my friends well back'd about They then the eyes more danger now disclose If any chance to meet a number brings I insurrections feare from common wrath Yea if two talke a part of private things Straight I suspect that they conspire my death â—â—en sudden rumours rise from vulgar smoake â—â—ilst th' inward motions roule my restlesse eyes I at â—â—â—ch corner for an ambush looke Aâ—â—â—start astonish'd lest some tumult rise When light first lightning doth encourage toyles I still despaire to re-enjoy the night And when mine eyes th' umbragious darkenesse spoils I never looke to grace them with the light For when the light with shadowes makes a change To flatter mortals with a dreame of rest What ugly Gorgons what Chimera's strange Doe bragge the little world within my brest The time which should appease impetuous cares Doth double mine who view most when quite blinde I apprehend huge horrours and despaires Whilst th' outward objects not distract my minde Now of my conquests what delight remaines Where is the peace pursu'd by many a strife Have I but taken paine to purchase paines And sought by dangers for a dangerous life Is this the period of aspiring pow'rs In promis'd calmes to be most plagu'd by stormes Lurke poys'nous Serpents under fairest flow'rs And hellish furies under heavenly formes It will not grieve my ghost below to goe If circumvented in the warres I end As bold Marcellus by Romes greatest foe Who gave his ashes honour as a friend Or like t' Epaminondas in his death O! would the Gods I had amidst alarmes When charg'd with recent spoiles been spoil'd of breath Whilst I to Pluto might have march'd in armes Yet life to end which nought but toyles affords I 'le pay to death the tribute that it owes Straight with my bloud let some come dye their swords Whose naked brest encounter shall their blowes But ah how have the furies seaz'd my brest And poyson'd thus my sprite with desp'rate rage By horrid Serpents whilst quite barr'd from rest No kinde of comfort can my cares asswage No Atropos yet spare my threed a space That to the Stygian streames ere walking downe I may of honour have the highest place And if I fall yet fall beneath a Crowne VVhilst eares are bended to applauding shouts My thoughts divided are within my brest And my toss'd soule doth flote between two doubts Yet knowes not on what ground to build her rest The Senators they have this day design'd To shew the world how they esteeme my worth Yet doe portentuous signes perturbe my minde By
pardon'd for their kinsmens cause Remission given for evill is a reward Ca. Cass We stand not vex'd like Malefactors here With a dejected and remorsefull minde So in your presence supplicants t' appeare As who themselves of death do guilty finde But looking boldly with a loftie brow Through a delight of our designe conceiv'd We come to challenge gratefulnesse of you That have of us so great a good receiv'd But if you will suspend your thoughts a space Though not the givers entertaine the gift Do us reject yet liberty embrace To have you free loe that was all our drift So Rome her ancient liberties enjoy Let Brutus and let Cassius banish't live Thus banishment would breed us greater joy Then what at home a Tyrants wealth could give Though some misconstrue may this course of ours By ignorance or then by hate deceiv'd The truth depends not on opinions pow'rs But is it selfe how ever misconceiv'd Though to acknowledge us not one would daigne Our merit of it selfe is a reward Of doing good none should repent their paine Though they get no reward nor yet regard I 'le venture yet my fortune in the field With every one that Rome to bondage draws And as for me how ever others yeeld I 'le nought obey but Reason and the Laws Cic. What fools are those who further travell take For that which they even past recovery know Who can revive the dead or bring time back That can no creature who doth live below Great Pompey now for whom the world still weeps Lyes low neglected on a barbarous shore Selfe-slaughtered Scipio flotes amidst the deeps Whom it may be Sea-monsters do devoure Of Libyan Wolves grave Cate feasts the wombes Whose death of worth the world defrauded leaves Thus some that did deserve Mausolean tombes Have not a title grav'd upon their graves And yet may Caesar who procur'd their death By brave men slaine be buried with his race All civill warre quite banish'd with his breath Let him now dead and us alive have peace We should desist our thoughts on things to set Which may harme some and can give help to none Learne to forget that which we cannot get And let our cares be gone of all things gone Those who would strive all crosses to o're-come To present times must still conforme their course And making way for that which is to come Not medle with things past but by discourse Let none seek that which doth no good when found Since Caesar now is dead how ever dead Let all our griefe go with him to the ground For sorrow best becomes a lightlesse shade It were the best that joyn'd in mutuall love We physicke for this wounded State prepare Neglecting those who from the world remove All men on earth for earthly things must care Cho. O how those great men friendship can pretend By soothing others thus with painted windes And seeme to trust where treason they attend Whilst love their mouth and malice fills their mindes Those but to them poore simple soules appeare Whose count'nance doth discover what they thinke Who make their words as is their meaning cleare And from themselves can never seeme to shrinke Loe how Antonius faines to quench all jarres And whom he hates with kindenesse doth embrace But as he further'd first the former warres Some feare he still will prove a foe to peace Now where Calphurnia stayes our steppes addresse Since by this sudden chance her losse was chiefe All visite should their neighbours in distresse To give some comfort or to share in griefe Act 5. Scene 2. Calphurnia Nuntius Chorus WHen darkenesse last imprisoned had myne eyes Such monstrous visions did my heart affright That quite dejected it as stupid dies Through terrours then contracted in the night A melancholy cloud so dimmes my brest That it my mind fit for misfortune makes A lodging well dispos'd for such a Guest Where nought of sorrow but th' impression lackes And I imagine every man I see My senses so corrupted are by feares A Herauld to denounce mishaps to me Who should infuse confusion in my eares O! there he comes to violate my peace In whom the object of my thoughts I see Thy message is charactred in thy face And by thy lookes directed is to me Thy troubled eyes rest rowling for reliefe As lately frighted by some uglie sight Thy breath doth pant as if growne big with griefe And straight to bring some monstrous birth to light Nun. The man of whom the world in doubt remain'd If that his minde or fortune was more great Whose valour conquer'd clemencie retain'd All Nations Subject to the Romane State Fraud harm'd him more then force friends more then foes Ah! must this sad discourse by me be made Cal. Stay ere thou further goe defray my woes How doth my love where is my life Nun. dead Cal. dead Cho. Though apprehending horrours in her minde Now since she hath a certaintie receiv'd She by experience greater griefe doth finde Till borne the passions cannot be conceav'd When as a high disaster force affords O how that Tyrant whom affliction bears Barres th' eares from comfort and the mouth from words And when obdur'd scornes to dissolve in teares Cal. Ah! since the lights of that great light are set Why doth not darknesse spread it selfe o're all At least what further comfort can I get Whose pleasures had no period but his fall O would the Gods I always might confine Flames in my brest and floods within my eyes To entertaine so great a griefe as mine That thence there might fit furniture arise Yet I disdaine though by distresse o'rethrowne By such externall meanes to seeke reliefe The greatest sorrowes are by silence showne Whilst all the Senses are shut up with griefe But miserie doth so tyrannick grow That it of sighes and teares a tribute claimes Ah! when the cup is full it must o'reflow And fires which burne must offer up some flames Yet though what thou hast sayd my death shall be Since sunke so deeply in a melted heart Of my lives death report each point to mee For every circumstance that I may smart Nun. What fatall warnings did foregoe his end Which by his stay to frustrate some did try But he who scorn'd excuses to pretend Was by the destinies drawne forth to die Whilst by the way he chanc'd to meet with one Who had his deaths-day nam'd he to him said The Ides of March be come but yet not gone The other answer'd and still constant stayd Another brought a letter with great speed Which the conspiracie at length did touch And gave it Caesar in his hand to reade Protesting that it did import him much Yet did he lay it up where still it rests As doe the great whom blest the world reputes Who griev'd to be importun'd by requests Of simple supplicants neglect the suites Or he of it the reading did deferre Still troubled by attendants at the gate Whilst some to show their credit would conferre To flatter