I le tell a tale that may moue stones to teares My Father of the Phrigian Princes come Had in my growing age a tender care That all my education might become One whom he might for mightie hopes prepare As yet foure lusters scarcely had begun For to discerne my sex with downie cheekes When I into that Labirinth was runne Whence back in vaine the straying entrer sheekes I lou'd O fatall loue vnlouely fate The vertuouslie faire yet fairest Dame That euer was enshrin'd in soules conceat Or gaue a dittie to the sounds of fame Straight were my fancies to her beauties tyed None can paint passions but in feeling mindes I burnd freezd hopd dispaird and liud and dyed My actions chang'd as oft as th' Autumnes windes Yet after many doubtfull hopes and feares That I attaind the height of my desires She had subscrib'd a truce vnto my teares And temperd with encountring flames my fires For as she was the most affected Saint Whose image was erected in my thought She had compassion too of my complaint And to acquit my firme affection sought Thus whilst I triumphd in mine owne conceat As one whose loue his Ladie did preferre I was corriuald O vnhappie fate By one who lou'd but was not lou'd by her He looking as I look'd saw what I saw Saw Natures wonder and the worlds delight And as a blind god blind guide did him draw Still like a lizard liu'd but by her sight Then strait he striues the Iewell for to wonne Whose vnstaind worth he rates aboue his breath He hates the light that comes not from my Sunne And thinks to liue without her worse then death And this affection fauour'd was by Fortune Which seem'd to ratifie his high rear'd hopes The Nymph her parents dayly did importune For to confine his flying fancies scopes Now iudge if that my miseries were rife Who threatned thus with eminent mishap Was like to lose a deerer thing then life Whilst others striu'd my treasure to entrap The man that sought my ioyes to vndermine I could not wish for this t' haue him ouerthrowne Nor blame the sprite that sympathiz'd with mine I enuied not his hap but wail'd mine owne Now in my breast a battell did begin Which forc'd my soule with inward wounds to bleede Some fancies fear'd to what his loue might winne And possibilitie for to come speede Then others call'd her constancie to mind Which would not yeeld although she were inuaded Yet forc'd to feare the frailtie of her kind A woman that hath eares may be perswaded Thus toss'd with doubts into a deepe of wo Which with suspition had my ioyes supplanted I blam'd the thoughts that durst accuse her so As vertues patterne had one vertue wanted As I concluded so it come to passe Th' affliction seru'd for fuell to affection For she who th' ornament of women was Would neuer wrong her worth with a defection When in my absence they had oft assay'd To haue me from her memorie remou'd The Sunne burn's hottest when his beames are stay'd The more that they would let the more she lou'd And finding that delay no ende affords And that faire generals are th' abusers Arte She did repell him with disdainfull words To raze all thought of her out of his harte Loue is a ioy that vpon paine depends A drop of sweet drown'd in a sea of sowres What Follie doth begin oft Furie ends They hate for euer that haue lou'd for howres When all his arguments prou'd of no force Strait with disdaine his soule in secret bur'nd And what he thought was euill to make farre worse He vnto furour all his fauour turn'd As he extreamely lou'd farre more he hated And musde of many meanes how to annoy her Which was the best a long time he debated To see her dead or to see me enioy her What saith he when he first had musde a space So hard it is to quench a great affection Shall I disfigure that angelike face And make the world ecclypsde of all perfection Shall she by me be to confusion brought To whom I vowes and prayers did impart To whom I sacrific'd my secret thought And on her beauties altar burn'd my hart Or shall I see her in anothers powre And in his bosome lie t' vpbraid my losse Whilst both with scornefull smiles then death more sowre To poynt 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 that liue's shall glorie in my harme Since she will not be mine she shall not be Th' unlouing Louer hauing vow'd her death Did with a cup of poison drowne my ioyes 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 newes first inform'd me of this wrong For neighbouring neere the most vnhappy part That had been spoild of such a beeauteous guest No sooner had death seazde on the chaste hart Then sorrow on my eares to rob my rest How the sadde newes first sounded in my soule I will not wearie you with long laments Rage did the outward signes of griefe controule When great windes blow the fire the smoke worst vents Whilst generous disdaine disguisde my griefe As one transported with a mighty rage I ranne vnto the Theater of mischiefe A tragicke Actor for a bloody stage For I was come no sooner to the place Whereas I thought the Murtherer to haue found But I re'ncountred O vnhappie case Too deare a friend to catch an enemies wound Ah passions dim'd mine eyes wrath led my hand I was no more my selfe sorrow had kild me The first t' was night that did before me stand I fiercely did pursue as Furor willd me And as it chanc'd ere one could speake a word I filld his bosome with a luke warme flood And in his kind breast drown'd the cruell sword That in anothers body dranke my blood When as a Torch had partly robde the night Prowd of supposde reuenge ah bitter gaine I saw I knew blacke knowledge cruell sight T' was mine owne brother that my selfe had slaine O bitter losse that nothing can repaire My soule at once with all woes armie wounded Griefe rage spite shame amazement and despaire Gauld tossd burnd dashd astonishd and confounded The thought of my offence torments me most Yet am I whiles by my Loues verdict cleansde And whiles my brothers violated ghost By dreadfull dreames doth boast to be reuengde Croes Now whilst this great disaster did occurre What came of him who was the cause of all Adra. He hauing heard this lamentable sturre Whom selfe-accusing thoughts did guiltie call Srait strucken with a wonderful remorse I wot not whether feare or pitie mou'd him If not t' ore-liue her death or dreading worse He killd himselfe his conscience so disproou'd him Croes I grant the manner of so rare
euen as if her soule had flowne in him She stabd her selfe then falling on her Lord Her beauties blubbered starres were waxing dim The faithfull Eunuchs for their Sou'raigne sorie And scorning to suruiue so rare a date In emulation of their mistresse glorie Dide violentlie partners of her fate O sweet Panthea rich in rarest parts I must admire thy ghost though thou be gone Who mightst haue made a monarchie of harts Yet loth'd vnlawfull loues and lou'd but one O wondrous wonders wonders wondrous rare A woman constant such a beautie chaste So pure a mind ioyn'd with a face so faire Beautie and Vertue in one person placde Both were well match'd as any could deuise Whose vndiuided end their choyce alowes He valorous she vertuous both wise She worthie such a mate he such a spouse And Harpagus lest that it should be thought The memorie of vertuous minds may dye Cause build a stately tombe with statues wrought Where their dead bodies may respected lye Har. I 'le raise a Piramide of Croesus spoyles Where all their famous parts shall be comprisde But how t' insist in these tumultuous broyles T' is best now Sir that you were well aduisde Your aduersarie doth attend your will This hautie citie humbled hath her crest And therefore go to pardon or to kill To saue or sack euen as you shall thinke best Cyr. Abstract for old Croesus I am else resolu'd He with some captiues which I keep in store Shall haue their bodies by the fire dissolu'd As offrands to the Gods that I adore This citie shall my souldiers paines defray Since by their force it hath been brought to bow I yeeld it vnto them as their iust pray Who taste the sweetnes of their trauels now Of other things we shall so well dispose That our renowne o're all the world shall shine Till Cyrus name b'a terrour to all those I That dare against his Sou'raigntie repine Act. V. Scen. II. NVNTIVS CHORVS AH to what part shall I my steps addresse The burden of base bondage to eschue Lo desolation ruine and distresse With horrour doth my natiue home pursue And now poore countrey take my last farewell Farewell all ioy all comfort all delight Chor. What heauie tidings hast thou for to tell That tear'st thy garments thus tell thy sad plight Nun. I tell the wrack of vs and all that liue Within the circuit of this wretched soyle Cho. A hideous shout we heard the Citie giue Is' t in th' enemies hands is' t made his spoyle Nun. It 's made his spoyle Cho. And is our Sou'raigne kild Nun. No but yet neerely scapt doth liue in danger Cho. Then let our eares be with disasters fild And must we beare the yoke of that prowd stranger Nun. You know how Croesus at th' aduantage lay Still seeking meanes t' abate the Persians pride And his confederates had assign'd a day When they should for th' intended warre prouide But Cyrus hauing heard how that they should Against his state so great an armie bring Straight raising all the forces that he could Preuents inuades o'recomes and takes our King Chor. This shews a Captaine both expert and braue Fiâ—st well t' aduise then t' execute with speede No circumstance friend vnrelated leaue Which with our Kings did our confusion breed Nun. When Croesus saw that Cyrus came so soone He stood awhile with a distracted minde Yet what time would permit left nought vndone But made his Musters march'd his Foe to find Our stately Troupes that glisterd all with gold And with vmbragious Feathers fann'd the ayre They with vnwarie insolence growne bold More how to triumph then to o'recome tooke care The Lidian Horsemen are of great account And are for valour through the world renownd Them Cyrus chiefly labourd to surmount And this deuise for that effect was found Vntrussing all their baggage by the way Of the disburthen'd Camels each did beare A grim-fac'd Groome who did himselfe array Euen as the Persian Horsemen vse to weare To them th' Infanterie did follow next A solide Squadron like a brasen wall But those in whom all confidence was fixt The braue Cauallerie came last of all Then Cyrus by the raynes his Courser tooke And being mounted holding out his handes With an assured and Imperious looke Went breathing valour through th' vnconquer'd bandes He willd all them that at Deaths game should striue To spare none of their foes in any forme But as for Croesus to take him aliue And keepe him captiue for a greater storme Where famous Hellus doth to Hermus poste In his broad waues t' entombe his strength and name Our Armie ran against a greater Hoste T' enrich it likewise with our force and fame Our Troupes a time with equall valour stood Till giuing place at length we tooke the chace While as the Riuer ranne to hide our blood But still his borders blusht at our disgrace For so soone as the Camels once were come Our Horses loathing to indure their sight Ranne raging backe againe and of them some Disordring rancks put many to the flight Yet others that were of more martiall mindes Perceiu'd the Stratagem that did deride them And lighting on their feet like mighty windes Bare downe before them all that durst abide them There whilst the world proou'd prodigall of breath The headlesse troncks lay prostrated in heapes This field of funeralls proper vnto death Did paint out Horror in most hideous shapes There men vnhorsde horses vnmastred strayed Some calld on them whom they most dearely tendred Some ragde some groand some sigh'd roard wept prayd Fighting fainting falling desp'rate maymde rendred Those that escapt like beasts vnto a Den Fled to a Fortresse which true valour drownes Walles are for women and the fields for men For Townes cannot keepe men but men keepe Townes And we were scarcely entred at the Portes When as the enemies did the Towne inclose And rearing many artificiall Fortes To the Defenders did huge paines impose There all the military slights werere found Which at the like encounters had preuaild Both for to vse th' aduantage of the ground Or for to helpe with Arte where Nature faild They euer compassing our Trench about Still where the Walls were weakest made a breach Which being straight repaird we threw tooles out And killd all those that came within our reach There all the bolts of death edgde by disdaine That many curious wits inclinde to ill Helpt by th' occasion and the hope of gaine Had powre t' inuent were put in practise still Yet as we see it oft times hath occurrde Where we suspected least we were surprisde Whilst fortune and the fates in one concurrde To haue our ruine in their rolles comprisde The side of Sardis that was least regarded Which lyes t'wards Tmolus and was thought most sure Through this presumption whilst t' was weakely guarded Th' orethrow of all Lidia did procure As one of ours vnhappily it chanc'd T' o're-take his helmet that had scapt his hand Alongst that
one We by their meanes anothers loue obtaine But crueltie with which none can comport Makes th' author hated when the deede is gone Oft euen by those whom it did most support As that which alienates men from kinde And as humanitie the minde inchants So sauage soules that from the same resraine More fierce than fiercest beasts are lou'd of none With barbarous beasts one with lesse danger hants Than with the man whose mind all mercie wants Yet though the mind of man as strong and rude Be ranish'd whiles with violent desire And must if sir'd with rage be quench with blood How can this tender sex whose glorie stoode In hauing hearts iuclinde to pittie still Delight it selfe by any barbarous deede For Nature seemes in this t' haue vsde her skill In making womens mindes though weake entire That weakenesse might loue and deuotion breede To which their thoughts if pure might best aspire As aptest for th' impression of all good But from the best to worst all things do weare Since cruelties from feeble mindes proceed In breasts where courage failes spite shame and feare Make enuie hate and rigour rule to beare Our Queene Olimpias that was once so great And did such monstrous cruelties commit In plaging Philip and his Ladie of late Lo now being brought to taste the like estate Must take such entertainment as she gaue And it 's good reason that it should be so Such measure as we giue we must receiue Whilst on a throne she did superblie sit And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe As but being vanquish'd by her powre and wit Not mindefull of th' ineuitable fate O th' Imortalls that command aboue Of euery state in hand the rudder haue And as they lie can make vs stay or goe The griefe of others should vs greatly mooue As those that sometime may like fortune prooue But as experience with rare proofes hath showne Do looke on others we haue Linx his eyes Whilst we would haue their imperfections knowne Yet like blinde Moles can neuer marke our owne Such clouds of selfe-regarde doe dim our sight Why should we be puffde vp by a'cnemies fall Since what the day doth on another light The same the morrow may our state surprise Those that on this inconstant constant ball Do liue enuiron'd with th' all-circkling skies Haue many meanes whereby to be ore-throwne And why should dying wordlings swolne with wroth So tyrranize ouer an afflicted wight Since miseries are common vnto all Let none be prowd that drawes a doubtfull breath Good hap attends but few still till their death ACT. V. SCENE I. Aristotle Phocion LOng haue I now invr'd th' eyes of my minde On natures labors curiously to looke And of all creatures finding foorth the kinde Strange wonders read in th' vniuersall booke I marke the world hy contraries maintainde Whose harmonie doth most subsist by strife Whilst of all things within the same containde The death of one still giues another life But as all things are subiect vnto change That partners are of th' elementall powres So rould about with reuolutions strange The state of man rests constant but few howres For what doth fame more frequently report Then of our sodaine rising and our falls I thinke the world is but a tennis-court Where men are tossde by fortune as her balls Phoc. And neuer any age shewde more than this The wauering state of soule-ennobled wights That soare too high to seaze on th' ayrie blisse Whilst lowest falles attend the highest flights The matchlesse Monarch that was borne it seem'd To shew how high mortalitie attaines Hath not from death the adored flesh redeem'd But paine hath made an end of all his paines And these braue bands that furnisht fame with bâ—eath Whilst all the world their valorous deedes did spie Rest now confounded since their soueraignes death Like Poliphemus hauing lost his eye And they are like that teeth-ingendred brood That tooke their life out of a monster dead Whiles ech of them pursues for others blood Since the great Drag on s death that was their head Ari. So change all things that subiect are t' our sight Disorder order breeds and order it Next night comes darknes and next darknesse light This neuer changing change transcends our wit Thus pouertie and riches sickenesse health Both honour and dishonor life and death Do so depend on other that by stealth All goe and come as th' accidents of breath T'ech worldly state the heauens a height appoint Where when it once arriues it must descend And all perfections haue a fatall point At which excellencie it selfe must end But as all those that walke on th' earth are crossde With alterations happning oft and strange The greatest states with greatest stormes are tossde And sought of many must make many a change Nor speake I this by speculation now As gathring credit out of ancient scroules soules No I haue liu'd at court and I know how Ther 's nought on th' earth more vex'd then great mens soules Thral'd to the tirant honor whilst they mone Their plaints to subiects eares asham'd t' empart They must beare all the weight of woes alone Where others of their griefe lend friends a part Their rising vs aboue to such a height Which seems their best is worst whilst since being lords They neuer heare the truth that comes to light When franke societie speaks naked words Whilst sadnesse whiles seemes maiestie time tells How deere they buy their pompe with losse of rest Some faine three furies but in all the hells And ther 's three thousand in one great mans breast Phoc. I thinke all monarchies are like the Moone Which whiles eclipsd whiles vnder cloud whiles cleare Growes by degrees and is when full vndone Yet Aeson like renew'd doth re-appeare For so the first but smal begin to shine And when they once their spherick forme obtaine Do then begin to languish and decline Yet falne in other realmes doe rise againe Th' Assyrians once made many a nation bow Then next all powre was in the Persians hand And lo the Macedonians monarchs now Amongst themselues diuided cannot stand Arist A secret fate alternantly all things Doth in this circle circularly leade Still generation from corruption springs To th' end that some may liue some must be dead Each Element anothers strength deuours Th' ayre to the fire succumbes the fire to raine The water striues to drowne all th' earth with showres Which it by vapours vomites out againe Thus with a gordian knot together bound All things are made vn-made and made againe Whilst ruine founds perfection doth confound And norhing in one state doth long remaine But nought in th' earth more dangerously standes Than soueraigntie that 's rated at such worth Which like the stormie deities blustring bandes Doth flie from East to West from South to North. Ph. A long experience now makes this noght strange Though mightie states whose reines one onely leades Be whiles distracted and constrain'd to change As too
hate towards Caesar loue to Rome or t 'vs Might moue t' imbarke in those great hopes of ours By sickenesse being imprison'd in his bed Whilst I Ligarius spide whom paines did pricke When I had said with words that anguish bred In what a time Ligarius art thou sicke He answerd straight as I had phisicke brought Or that he had imagin'd my designe If worthy of thy selfe thou wouldst do ought Then Brutus I am whole and wholie thine Since Caesar causde him be accusde of late For taking Pompeys patt yet at this houre He though absolu'd doth still the tyrant hate For being endangerd by his lawlesse powre Whilst it exasprates thus such great sprites spites Heauen of our course the progresse doth direct One inspiration all our soules incites That haue aduisdly sworne this fact t' effect D. Br. So I with Cicero did conferre at length Who I perceiue the present state detests And though that age deminisht haue his strength In him a will t' auenge his country rests M. Br. That man whose loue stil towards his country shind Would willingly the commonwealth restore Then he I know though he conceales his minde None Caesar more dislikes nor likes vs more Yet to his custodie I le not commit The secrets of our enterprise so soone Men may themselues be oftentimes not fit To doe the things that they would wish were done He still being timorous and by age growne worse Might chance to lay our honor in the dust All cowards must inconstant be of force With bold designes none fearefull breasts can trust Then some of ours would holde their hands still pure That ere they be suspected for a space Amidst the tumult may remaine secure And with the people mediate our peace But who than Tullius fitter for that turne Whose eloquence is vsde t' enchant their eares His banishment they in balcke gownes did mourne Whose age and merites each one reurence beares C. Cass Those studious wits that haue through dangers gone Would still be out ere that they enter in Who must of many things resolue of none And thinking of the end cannot beginne The mind that lookes no further than the eie And more to Nature trusts than vnto Art Such doubtfull fortunes fittest is to trie A furious actor for a desprate parte We haue enow and of the best degree Whose hands are to their hearts their hearts t 'vs true And if that we seeke moe I feare we be T' act close too many if disclosde too few Let vs aduise with an industrious care Now ere the tyrant intercept our mindes The time the place the manner when and where That we should trust our treasure to the windes And since our fortunes in the ballance hing Let euery point be circumspectly weight'd A circumstance or an indifferent thing May whiles marre all for not being well conueigh'd M. Br. As for the time none could be wish'd more fit Than this that 's present to performe our vow Since all the people must allow of it Mou'd by a recent miscontentment now When represented in his triumph past Great Catoes mangled entrailes made them weepe And desprate Scipio whilst he leap'd at last To seeke a Sanctuarie amidst the depth Then all those great men that in seuerall partes Bent for Romes freedome Caesar did ouerthrow Did by their pictures pierce the peoples harts And made a pitteous though a pompous show So that they did conceiue a iust disdaine To be vpbraided in so strange a sort Whilst he that onely by their losse did gaine Of their calamitie but made a sport But yet his purpose grieues them most of all Since that he striues to be proclaimd a King And not contents himselfe to make vs thrall But to perpetuall bondage would vs bring Thus whilst the people are with him displeasde We best may doe that which t' our part belongs For after this they may be best appeas'd If whilst their wrath doth last we venge their wrongs And since we nought intend but what is right Whilst from our contrey we remooue disgrace Let all be acted in the Senates sight A common cause and in a common place Let those whose guiltie thoughts doe damne their deeds In corners like Mineruaes birds abide That which t' our countrey good t 'vs glory breeds May by the lights of heauen and earth be tryde The Senatours by our ensample mou'd Pleasde with this action that imports them too To haue the yoke of tyrranie remou'd May at the least authorize what we doe So all the Senatours were said of old To haue king Romulus amongst them torne That than to tyrranize was growne to bold And from his first humanitie had worne D. Brut. Yea what though Caesar were immortall made As Romulus whose deitie him reuiues It 's easier as a God t' adore him dead Then as a king t' obey him whilst he liues C. Cass That place indeed most for our glory makes A Theater worthy of so great an act Where in their sight from whom most power he takes We of the tyrant vengeance may exact But I must recommend vnto your minde A course though strict of which we must allowe Least it ore-throw all that we haue design'd Being past recouerie if neglected now There is Antonius Caesars greatest friend A man whose nature tyrranie affects Whom all the souldiors doe delight t' attend As one that nought but to command respects I feare that he when we haue Caesar slaine To th' other faction furnish still a head So when we ende we must beginne againe Against one liuing worse then he that 's dead And in my iudgement I would thinke it best When sacrifiz'd the prowd vsurper lyes That that seditious enemie of rest Should fall with him with whom he first did rise Thus of our libertie we now may lay A solid ground that can be shak'd by none Those of their purpose that a part delay Two labours haue that might haue had but one M. Brut. I cannot Cassius condiscend to kill Thus from the path of Iustice to decline One faultlesse yet lest after he prooue ill So to preuent his guiltinesse by mine No no that neither honest were nor iust Which rigorous forme would but the worlde affright Men by this meane our meaning might mistrust And for a little wrong damne all that 's right If we but only kill the common foe Our zeale t' our countrey must acquire due praise But if like Tyrants tyrannizing so We will be thought that which we raze to raise And where we but intend t' aduance the state Though by endangering what we hold most deare If slaying him as arm'd e by priuate hate We to the world still partiall will appeare Ah ah we must but too much murder see That without doing euill cannot do good And would the gods that Rome could be made free Without th' effusion of one drope of blood Then their is hope that Anthonie in ende When first our vertue doth direct the way Will leagu'd with vs the libertie
For whilst there stands a world can Caesar fall Though thousand thousands were coniurd in one I and my fortune might confound them all Cal. No none of those my minde doth miscontent That vndisguisde still like themselues remaine Vnlookt for harmes are hardest to preuent There is no guard against concealde disdaine But in whom further can your trust repose Whom danger now ouer all by all attends Where priuate men but onely feare their foes Oft kings haue greatest cause to feare their frends For since being trusted fittest to betray Those vnto whom ones fauour force affords May for his life the worst ambushments lay Whilst falsest hearts are hid with fairest words And some report though priuately yet plaine That Dolabella and Antonius now By your destruction do pretend t' obtaine That which you keepe by making all men bow Caesar No corpulent sanguinians make me feare That with more paine their beards than th' enimies strike And doe themselues like th' epicurians beare To Bacchus Mars and Venus borne alike Their hearts do alwayes in their mouthes remaine As streams whose murmuring shews the course not deep Then still they loue to sport though grosse and plaine And neuer dreame of ought but when they sleep But those high sprites that hold their bodies downe Whose visage leane their restlesse thoughts records Whilst they their cares depth in their bosoms drowne Their silence feares me more than th 'others words Thus Cassius now and Brutus seeme to hold Some great thing in their mind whose fire whiles smoks What Brutus would he vehemently would Thinke what they like I like not their pale lookes Yet with their worth this cannot well agree In whom of vertue th' image seeme to shine Can those that haue receiu'd their liues from me Prooue so ingrate againe as to take mine Dare Cassius me pursue new hopes to haue At th' Helespont that fortune feard to trie And like a dastard did his Gallies leaue In all saue corage though more strong than I Shall I suspect that Brutus seekes my blood Whose safetie still I tendred with such care Who when the heauens from mortalls me seclude Is only worthy to be Caesars heire Cal. The corners of the heart are hard to know Though of those two the world the best doth deeme Yet do not trust too much th' externall show For men may differ much from what they seeme None oft more fierce than those that look most mild Impietie sometime appeares deuout And that the world the more may be beguilde Whiles Vice can clothe it selfe with Vertues cote Though that they haue long since laid hatred downe By benefits bestow'd you might attend There 's no respect can counterpoise a crowne Ambition hath no bounds nor greed no end Through vindicatiue hate and emulous pride Since some your person some your place pursue All threatned dangers to preuent prouide Being wise in time lest out of time you rue Caes No armor is that can hold treason out Cal. T' affright your foes with bands be backt about Caes So dastard tyrants striue themselues to beare Cal. It better is to giue than to take feare Caes No stronger guard than is the peoples loue Calp. But nought in th' earth dooth more inconstant proue Caes Guardes shewing feare t' inuade me men might tempt Cal. Guardes would put them from hope you from contempt Caes My breast from terror hath bin alwayes cleare Cal. When one feares least oft daunger lurkes most neare Caes It 's better once to die than still feare death Cal. But worst of all to fall by th' enemies wrath Caes I le not dis-taste my present pleasures so By apprehending what may chaunce to come This world affords but too much time for woe Whilst crosses come contentment to orecome By ioyes in time we must imbrace reliefe That when they end we in some measure may By their remembrance mitigate the griefe Which still attends all those on th' earth that stay I thinke the Senate is assembled now And for my comming doth beginne to gaze I le goe condignely once t' adorne my brow And feast mine eares by drinking in due praise Cal. Stay stay deere Lord retire thy steps againe And spare one day to prorogate whole yeares Let not this ominous day beginne thy raigne That fatall and vnfortunate appeares An Astrologian through the world renownde Thy horoscopes iust calculation layes And doth affirme as he by signes hath found That th' Ides of March doe boast to bound thy dayes Walke not this days where harmes may be receiu'd Since by no great necessity being forede For though his iudgement may be farre deceiu'd In things that touch thy life suspect the worst Caes Whilst I reform'd the Calender by fits That long disordred th' order of the yeare I waded through the depths of all their wits That of the starres the mysteries make cleare Those pregnant sprites that walke betwixt the poles And lodge at all the zodiackes seuerall signes Do reade strange wonders wrapt in th' azure scroules Of which our deedes are wordes our liues are lines By speculation of superior powres Some Natures secrets curious are to know As how celestiall bodies rule ouer ours And what their influence effects below Yea they sometime may strange coniectures make Of those whose parts they by their birth doe proue Since naturally all inclination take From Planets then predominant aboue And yet no certaintie can so be had Some vertuously against their starres haue striu'd As Socrates that grew though borne but bad The most accomplisht man that euer liu'd But of the houre ordain'd to close our lights No earth-clogd soule can to the knowledge come For O the destinies farre from our sights In clowds of darknes haue inuolu'd our doome And some but onely guesse at great mens falles By bearded comets and prodigious starres Whose sight-distracting shapes the world appalles As still denouncing terrour death or warres The time vncertaine is of certaine death And that fantastike man farre past his bounds He is too bold that with ambiguous breath Not speaks of things to come whose deeps none sounds Cal. But this all day did my repose extort And from my breast of cares a tribute clam'd Now vilipend not that which I le report Though but a dreame and by a woman dreamd I thought alas the thought yet wounds my breast Then whilst we both as those whom Morpheus weds Lay softly buried with a pleasant rest I in thy bosome thou within the beds Then from my soule strange terrours did withdrawe Th' exspected peace by apprehended harmes For I imagin'd no no doubt I saw And did imbrace thee bloodie in mine armes Thus whilst my soule by sorrowes was surchargde Of which huge weight it yet some burden beares I big with griefe two elements enlargde Th' aire with my sighes the water with my teares Caesar That which I heard with thy report accords Whilst thou all seemd dissolu'd in griefe at once A heauy murmuring made with mangled words Was interrupted
To him feare corage gaue what wondrous change And many doubts a resolution strange He that tolde one that then was fortunes childe As if with horror to congeale his blood That Caius Marius being from Rome exilde Wretch'd on the ruines of great Carthage stood Thogh both being plag'd by griefe and by disgrace The consulship regain'd and di'd in peace And that great Pompey all the worlds delight Whom of his theater then th' applauses pleasd Whilst praise-transported eies endeerd his sight That by youths toiles should haue his age then easde He by one blow of fortune lost farre more Then many a battell conquerd had before Such sodaine changes so disturbe the soule That still the iudgement ballancde is by doubt But on around what wonder though things roule And since within a circle turne about Whilst heauen on earth strange alterations brings To scorne our confidence in worldly things And chancde there euer accidents more strange Than in this stormie bounds where we remaine A shepheardes Staffe did here t' a Scepter change The nurceling of a woolfe ouer men to raigne A little village grew a mightie towne Which whilst it had no king held many a crowne Then by how many sundry sortes of men Hath this great state bin rulde though now by none Which first obeyd but one then two then ten Then by degrees returnd to two and t 'one Of which three states their ruine did abide Two by twoes lusts and one by two mens pride What reuolutions huge haue hapned thus All by a secret violence being led Though seeming but by accident to vs Yet in the depths of heauenly breasts first bred As arguments demonstratiue to proue That weaknesse dwells below and powre aboue Lo Caesar though being burdend in short space Both with strange nations and his countries spoiles Euen when he seemd by warre t' haue purchasde peace And roses of sweete rest from thornes of toiles Then whilst his minde and fortune raise most hie Hath bin constraind the last distresse to trie What warnings large were in a time so short Of that darke course which by his death now shines It speechlesse wonders plainely did report It men reueald by words and gods by signes Yet by the chaines of destinies being bound He saw the sword but could not scape the wound O what a curtine ouer our knowledge hings Whiles closde whiles op'ned by th' aetheriall hoste Which makes vs sometime sharpe to see small things And yet quite blinde when as we should see most That curious braines may rest amazde at it Whose ignorance makes them presume of it Then let vs liue since all things change below When raisde most high as those that once may fall And hold when by disasters brought more lowe The minde still free what euer else be thrall Those Lordes of Fortune sweeten euery state That can command thēselues thogh not their fate FINIS Some verses written to his Maiestie by the Authour at the time of his Maiesties first entrie into England SStay tragick muse with those vntimely verses With raging accents and with dreadfull sounds To draw dead Monarkes out of ruin'd herses T' affright th' applauding world with bloudie wounds Raze all the monuments of horrours past T' aduance the publike mirth our treasures wast And pardon olde Heroes for O I finde I had no reason to admire your fates And with rare guiftes of body and of minde Th' vnbounded greatnesse of euill-conquerd states More glorious actes then were atchieu'd by you Do make your wonders thought no wonders now For yee the Potentates of former times Making your will a right your force a law Staining your conquest with a thousand crimes Still raign'd like tyrants but obey'd for awe And whilst your yoake none willingly would beare Dyed oft the sacrifice of wrath and feare But this age great with glorie hath brought forth A matchlesse Monarke whom peace highlie raises Who as th' vn'tainted Ocean of all worth As due to him hath swallow'd all your praises Whose cleere excellencies long knowne for such All men must praise and none can praise too much For that which others hardly could acquire With losse of thousands liues and endlesse paine Is heapt on him euen by their owne desire That thrist t' enioy the fruites of his blest raigne And neuer conquerour gain'd so great a thing As those wise subiects gaining such a King But what a mightie state is this I see A little world that all true worth inherites Strong without art entrench'd within the sea Abounding in braue men full of great spirits It seemes this I le would boast and so she may To be the soueraigne of the world some day O generous IAMES the glorie of thir parts In large dominions equall with the best But the most mightie Monarke of mens harts That euer yet a Diadem possest Long maist thou liue well lou'd free frō dangers The comfort of thine owne the terrour of strangers Some verses written shortly thereafter by reason of an Inundation of Douen a water neere vnto the Authors house wherevpon his Maiestie was sometimes wont to Hawke WHat wonder though my melancholious muse Whose generous coursesome lucklesse starre controules Her bold attempts to prosecute refuse And would faine burie my abortiue scroules To what perfection can my lines be raisd Whilst many a crosse would quench my kindling fires Lo for Parnassus by the Poets prais'd Some sauage mountaines shadow my retires No Helicon her treasure here vnlockes Of all the sacred band the chiefe refuge But dangerous Douen rumbling through the rockes Would scorne the raine-bowe with a new deluge As Tiber mindefull of his olde renowne Augments his floodes to waile the faire chang'd place And greeu'd to glide through that degener'd towne Toyles with his depthes to couer their disgrace So doth my Douen rage greeu'd in like sort While as his wonted honour comes to minde To that great Prince whilst he afforded sport To whom his Trident Neptune hath resign'd And as the want of waters and of swaines Had but begotten to his bankes neglect He striues t' encroch vpon the bordering plaines Againe by greatnesse to procure respect Thus all the creatures of this orphand boundes In their own kindes moou'd with the common crosse With many a monstrous forme all forme confoundes To make vs mourne more feelingly our losse We must our breastes to baser thoughts inure Since we want all that did aduance our name For in a corner of the world obscure We rest vngrac'd without the boundes of fame And since our Sunne shines in another part Liue like th' Antipodes depriu'd of light Whilst those to whom his beames he doth impart Begin their day whilst we begin our night This hath discourag'd my high-bended minde And still in doale my drouping Muse arrayes Which if my Phoebus once vpon me shin'd Might raise her flight to build amidst his rayes FINIS