enough t' applaud our deede And sooth vs vp in all that we haue done Na. To haue the time and manner then praefixt Command the Bactrians all themselues to arme And to attend till we aduertise next Prompt for all perils at the first alarme Then through the Campe a rumour we will spread That hopelesse Darius hath dispairdlie gone With violence to dwell amongst the dead And seeme therefore excessiuelie to mone The Persians we with promises must feede So to disarme him of his natiue pow'rs Then we will apprehend himselfe with speede For while that he is free nothing is ours That we may seeme to vse him with respect As to the state of such a Prince pertaines We will not this last ornament neglect He shall be bound but bound with golden chaines To Alexander after we will send And offer Darius in his hands t' appease him Then craue his fauour that he will defend Vs as his friends who haue done all to please him If his good-will we cannot thus procure And he vs with extremitie pursue With Darius death we will our states assure Then raise fresh forces and the warres renue Bos Let vs henceforth for nothing be dismaide But striue our selues courageouslie to beare This dangerous action would not be delai'd Least time worke his assurance and our feare Exeunt CHORVS TYme through Ioues iudgement iust Huge alterations brings Those are but fooles that trust In transitory things Whose tailes beare mortall stings Which in the end will wound And let none thinke it strange Though all things earthly change In this inferiour rounde What is from ruine free The elements which be At variance as we see Eache other doe confound The earth and aire make warre The fire and water are Still wrestling at debate All those through colde and heate Through drouth and moisture iar No wonder though men change and fade Who of those changing elements are made How dare vaine worldlings vaunt Of fortunes goods not lasting Euils that our wittes enchaunt Expos'd to losse and wasting Loe we to death are hasting Whilst we these things discusse All things from their beginning Vnto an end are running Heauen hath ordain'd it thus We heare how heauen doth thunder We see th' earth burst asunder And yet we neuer ponder VVhat this imports to vs. Those fearfull signes doe proue That th' angrie pow'rs aboue Are mou'd to indignation Against this wretched nation VVhich they no longer loue What are we but a puffe of breath Who liue assur'd of nothing but of death VVho was so happie yet As neuer had some crosse Though on a Throne he sit And is not vs'd with losse Yet fortune once will tosse Him when that least he would If one had all at ones Hydaspes pretious stones And yellow Tagus golde All th' Orient all treasure And euery earthly pleasure Euen in the greatest measure It should not make him bold For while he liues secure His state is most vnsure VVhen it doth least appeere Some heauie plague drawes neere Destruction to procure We may compare th' earths glory to a flowre That flourisheth and fadeth in an houre In what we most repose We finde our comfort light The thing we soonest lose That 's precious in our sight For honour riches might Our liues im paund we lay Yet all like flying shadowes Or flowers enambling medowes Euanish and decay Long time we toile to finde Those idols of the minde Which got we cannot binde T' abide with vs one day Then why should we presume On treasures that consume Difficile to obtaine Difficile to retaine A dreame a breath a fume Which vexe them most who them possesse Who starue with store and famish with excesse ACTVS QVARTVS Scen. I. DARIVS TIRIOTES Tir. AH must I poyson now my Princes eares with the worst newes that euer burthē'd fame Had I as many tongues as I haue teares All would not serue my sorrowes to proclame Dar. Great signes of greefe I in thy face discerne Spare not for to report this heauie crosse To one I feare whome it doth most concerne I st death disgrace distruction treason losse Tell on the summe of honour at the first With no ambiguous words my paine prolong 'T is comfort to a wretch to know the worst And I haue learn'd to be vnhappy long What least I speake and yet suspect too much I st some ludibrious message of my skorne Which must wound me but ah no torment such As this to them who that disgrace haue borne Tir. She was not wrong'd as you haue misconceiu'd The Gods haue had a care for to preserue her Such fauour of the victour she receiu'd As of her subiects that were bound to serue her But what a vollie doth my voice prepare Of woes to charge your eares woes full of dread Would God ere I the somme thereof declare That I might die in saying she is dead Curst caitiue was it not enough allas That I beheld her die and would haue died But that I must arm'd with sad tydings pas To wound all them that heare what I haue spied See how he fares shot with these words of mine As one become the pray of greefe and death Dar. Yet doth the Sunne on my affliction shine And sees the aire infected with my breath And can I liue and looke them in the face That haue my ignominious o're-throw seene And how I vanquish'd vanquish'd with disgrace Engag'd at once my kingdome and my Queene Heauen bruse me all to powder with thy thunder That I no more may in the world remaine The obiect of thy wrath and Fortunes wonder Spoil'd of all hope yet kept for greater paine Ah! art thou dead and doe I lieu behinde thee Thy faultie husband thinkst thou so to flie If it be thus then I know where to finde thee This onely greeues me that too late I die O Alexander what such hainous ill Haue I done thee that thou requit'st me thus Whom of thy friendes or kindred did I kill This crueltie comes vndeseru'd of vs. Think that thou hadst iust causes to make warre Yet vpon women should thy wrath be wroken This Tirrannie shall all thy Triumphe marre And euer shall to thy reproach be spoken Tir. Sir without cause you guiltie him esteeme I know her death did grieuouslie displease him A wondrous thing which few or none would deeme He tooke it so that nothing could appease him Euen as my Soueraigne now so then he smarted And when he came to ease your mothers griefe As if that his owne mother had departed He seem'd to need not for to giue reliefe Dar. If any sparkes of that respect remaine Which should with reason mooue thy minde to ruth I pray the Tiriotes now be plaine Or els strange torments shall exact the truth I loth to let this question scape my mouth Which both I blush to craue and long to know I st possible so insolent a youth Did neuer tempt the treasure which I owe Could this imperious Prince in flowre
greedie of his substance boast Whilst th' excrements of th' earth his senses smother What hath he gayn'd but what another lost And why may not his losse enrich another But ah all loose who seeke to profite thus And found their confidence on things that fade We may be rob'd from them they rob'd from vs Al 's grieu'd for th' one as for the other glad Vaine foole that thinkes soliditie to finde In this fraile world where for a while we range Which like sea-waues depending on the winde Ebbes flows calms storms still moouing still in change Each surge we see doth driue the first away The fome is whitest where the Rocke is neare And as one growes another doth decay The greatest dangers oft do least appeare Their seeming blisse that trust in frothie showes In Fortunes danger burthen'd with the Fates First to a full then to confusion growes A secret Destinie doth guide great States But I scorne Fortune and was euer free From that dead wealth that wauers in her power I beare my treasure still about with mee Which neither Time nor Tyrants can deuour Light authour of euents and vaine aduenters Now do thy worst I know how to vndoe thee The way is stop't by which thy poison enters Thou can harme none but them that trust vnto thee And I haue learn'd to moderate my minde Contentment is the crowne of my desires My clothes are course my fare such as I finde He hath enough that to no more aspires What satisfaction doth ouer-flow my soule While as I weigh the world which few hold fast And in my memories vnblotted scroule Iudge of the present by the time that 's past The poore-rich heire of breath that boastes of smoake And come of dust yet of the drosse still thinkes Whilst baser passions doe his vertues choake The soule ouer-ballanc'd with the body sinkes Yet neede I not to loathe the world and liue As one whom stepdame she would never nourish I had a part of all that she could giue My race my house by fame and wealth did flourish And if that I would vaunt of mine owne deedes Faire Cittie where mine eies first suckt the light I challenge might what most thy glory breedes Whose labours both enlarg'd thy fame and might When Salamina vtterly was lost And by the rascall multitude neglected A counterfeited foole I went and crost All their desseignes whose courses were suspected And when I had by pollicie perswaded My country to embrace the warres againe I both by stratagems and strength inuaded That famous I le which vanquisht did remaine Then hauing compass'd that exployt with speede And turn'd in triumph deckt with strangers spoyles No perfect blisse belowe worse did succeede The peace that was abroade bred ciuill broyles What with more violence doth fury leade Then a rash multitude that wants a head The meaner sort could not their minds conforme T' abide at what their betters did commaund Then the weale-publike in a dangerous storme All ioyn'd to place the ruther in my hand I re-vnited that diuided state And manag'd matters with a good successe Which farther kindled had beene quench'd too late That Hidra-headed tumult to suppresse When I had both these glorious workes effected And troad the path of sou'raignty a space The minion of the people most respected None could be great saue such as I would grace Thus carried with the force of Fortunes streame I absolutely acted what I would For the Democratie was but a name My hand the raines did of the Citty hold I might a Tyrant still haue gouern'd so But my pure soule could no such thought conceiue And that ouersight yet made me neuer woe If I may rule my selfe it 's all I craue Yet some that seem'd to be more subtile-witted Saide my base sprite could not aspire t' a crowne And foolish Solon had a fault committed Who would not doe the like in euery towne My minde in this a more contentment findes Then if a Diademe adorn'd my brow I chain d th' affections of vndaunted mindes And made them ciuil that were wilde till now I hardly could rich Citizens entise T' embrace the statutes that my Lawes contain'd What one approou'd another did despise Some lou'd some loath'd eu'n as they thought they gain'd At last at least in shew all rest content Eu'n those that hate me most lend their applause A worthy minde needes neuer to repent T' haue suffered crosses for an honest cause I trauell now with a contented thought The memorie of this my fancie feedes When all their Empires shall be turn'd to nought Time cannot make a prey of Vertues deedes Where seuen-mouth'd Nil from a concealed source Inunding or'e the fieldes no banckes can binde I saw their wonders heard their wise discourse Rare sights enrich'd mine eyes rare lights my minde And if it were but this yet this delites Behold how Croesus here the Lidian King To be his guest vs earnestly inuites The which to some would great contentment bring But I disdaine that world-bewitched man Who makes his gold his God the earth his heauen Yet I will try by all the meanes I can To make his iudgement with his fortune eauen CHORVS What can confine mans wandring thought Or satisfie his fancies all Is ought so great but it seemes small To that tos'd spirit which still af flought Doth dreame of things were neuer wrought And would gripe more then it can hold This sea-inuiron'd centerd ball Is not a bound vnto that minde That minde which big with monsters The right deliuerie neuer consters And seeking here a solide ease to finde Would but melt mountaines and imbrace the winde What wonder though the soule of man A sparke of heau'n that shines below Doth labour by all meanes it can It selfe like to it selfe to show This heau'nly essence heauen would know But married with this masse we see With payne they spend liues little span The better part would be aboue The earth from th' earth cannot remoue How can two contrair's well agree Thus as the best or worst part doth preuaile Man is of much or els of no auaile O from what source can this proceede T' haue humours of so many kindes Each brayne doth diuers fancies breede Al 's many men al 's many mindes And in the world a man scarce findes Another of his humour right There are not two so like indeede If we remarke their seuerall graces And lineaments of both their faces That can abide the proofe of sight If the outward formes then differ as they do Of force th' affections must be different to Ah! Passions spoile our better part The Soule is vext with their dissentions We make a God of our owne hart And worship all our vayne inuentions This brain-bred miste of apprehensions The mind doth with confusion fill Whilst reason in exile doth smart And few are free from this infection For all are slaues to some affection Which doth extorse the senses still These partiall tirants rage the sight
Kingdome to The which each weightie thing by nature drawes For as the mightie Riuers little streames And all the liquid powers that rise or fall Do seeke in sundry parts by seuerall seames To the maine Ocean that receiue's them all Who as he were but steward of those waters Returne's them backe by many secret vaines And as the earth hath need of moisture scatters His humid treasures to refresh the plaines So are Kings breasts the depth where daily flowes Cleere streames of knowledge with rare treasures charg'd And thus continually their wisdom growes By many helps that others want enlarg'd For those that haue intelligence ouer all Do commonly communicate to Kings All th' accidents of weight that chance to fall Their greatnes to them this aduantage brings They being iealous find out many drifts And by a long experience learne to scance them Then those whom Arte or Nature lend's great gifts All come to Kings as who may best aduance them No doubt those Powres who put them in their places To make their qualities with their charge euen Do dote them with some supernaturall graces Vice-gods on th' earth great Lieutenants of heauen Sol. As you haue showne Kings haue a good occasion Whereby t' attaine vnto the height of wit Which whoso do imbrace by good perswasion Are surely worthy on a Throne to sit But ah those Riuers are not euer pure The which through tainted channels whiles conuaid Vile flatt'ries poyson rendred hath impure Thus are Kings hearts oft by their eares betraid For impudent effronted persons dare Court with vaine words and detestable lies Whilst purer sprited men must stand afarre The light is lothsome to diseased eies But this doth rauish oft my soule with wonder Some that are wise with flatt'ry can comport And though of all men best mens parts they ponder Yet euer entertaine the baddest sort Is' t that such men as those cannot controlle them Nor neuer crosse their appetite in ought But for each purpose that they speake extolle them Where better wits would argue as they thought Or as they would haue none for to resist them So for th' aduancement of the worthiest sorie They will haue none that may seeme to assist them Lest any challenge intrest in their glorie This selfe-conceate is a most dangerous shelfe Where many haue made shipwracke vnawares He that doth trust too much vnto himselfe Can neuer faile to fall in many snares Of all that liue great Monarchs haue most need To ballance all their actions and their wordes And with aduise in all things to proceed A faithfull Counsell oft great good affoordes Loe how th' inferior Sphears their courses bend There whither the first Moouer doth them driue The Commons customs on the Prince depend His manners are the rules by which they liue No man is onely for himselfe brought forth And Kings for th' use of many are ordaind They should like Sunnes cleere Kingdoms with their worth Whose life a paterne must be kept vnstaind Those that are vertuous haue an ample field T' expresse their wisdom and t' extend their merite Where meane men must to their misfortune yield Whilst lacke of power doth burst a gallant spirite As precious Stones are th' ornaments of rings The Stone decores the ring the ring the hand So Countries are conforme vnto their Kings The King decores the Court the Court the Land And as a drop of poyson spent alone Th' infected fountaine doth with venome fill So mighty States may be orethrowne by one A vicious Prince is a contagious ill Aesop This is an easie thing for vs to spie And paint in th' ayre the shadowes of our mindes And t' apprehend with th' intellectuall eie A blessing that no worldly Kingdom findes Sol. I grant imaginarie groundes of ours Will neuer mooue a world-bewitched Prince To disenchaunt himselfe and spend some howrs His owne disseignes of follie to conuince Ere Croesus can refraine from this his furie He must forsake himselfe and be renew'd And in the Lethe of obliuion burie The vanities that haue his soule subdewd He first must his prerogatiues al smother And be a man a man to be controld Then all his faults as they were in another Like an vnpartiall Arbiter behold Could he cast off this vaile of fond selfe-loue Through which all things not as they are he spies He would those wicked Parasites remoue Vile instruments of shame that liue by lies And th' onely meanes to force them to depart That he might iudge more freely of his state Were to cast out the Idole of his hart Which puffs him vp with a pride-swolne conceate For forraine flatterers could not find accesse Wer 't not ouer-valuing his owne worth too much He flattred first himself and thinks no lesse But all their praises ought for to be such And when these hireling Sycophants haue found A Prince whose iudgement selfe-conceat disarmes They breach his weakest part and bring to ground The greatnesse of his State with flatteries charmes Then bearing ouer his Passions once the sway Least by the better sort he be aduisd To wholesome counsell they close vp the way And vse all meanes t' haue honest men despisd Aesop If you at Court to credit would arise You must not seeke by trueth t' acquire renowne But learne t' applaud whiles what you most despise And smile in show whilst in effect you frowne Sol. From Court in time I will my selfe retire I find my humour is not fit for Court I 'am none of those whom Croesus doth desire I can not alway of his worth report O that he cannot see light Fortune flout him While as he glories in this outward show Hedg'd in with greedy Harpies round about him That gape t' enrich themselues with his ouerthrow Exeunt Chorus OF all the creatures below We must call Man most miserable Who all his time is neuer able T' attaine vnto a true repose His very birth may well disclose What miseries his blisse ouerthrow For being borne he can not know Who to his state is friend or fo Nor how at first for to stand stable But euen with cryes and teares doth show What dangers do his life enclose Whose griefes are sure whose ioyes a fable Thus still his dayes in dolour so He to all perils must expose And with vexation liues and dies with wo Not knowing whence he come nor where to go While as he brookes this lowest place O how vncertaine is his state Which gouernd by a secret fate Is subiect to inconstancie And euer changing as we see Is still in toile neuer in peace For if man prosper but a space With each good successe too too bold And puft vp in his owne conceit He but abuses Fortunes grace And when that with aduersitie His pleasures come to end their date And with disasters are controld Straight he begins for griefe to die And still the top of some extreme doth hold Not suffering summers heate nor winters cold His state doth in most danger stand
stead Base brood of earth vaine man Why bragst thou of thy might The heauens thy courses scan Thou walkst still in their sight Ere thou wast borne thy deedes Their registers dilate And thinke that none exceedes The compasse of his fate What heauens would haue thee to Though they thy wayes abhorre That thou of force must do And thou may do no more This reason would fulfill Their worke should serue their will Are we not heires of death In whom there is no trust Who tossd with circkling breath Are but a dramme of dust Yet fooles when as we erre And do th' heauens wrath contract If they a while deferre A iust reuenge t' exact Pride in our bosome creepes And mis-informes vs thus That the Eternall sleepes Or takes no care of vs. No th' eye of heauen beholds All what our hart enfolds The gods digest no crime Though they continue long And in th' offenders time Seeme to neglect their wrong Till others of their race Fill vp the cup of wrath Whom ruine and disgrace Long time attended hath And Giges fault we feare To Croesus charge be layd Which loue will not forbeare Though it be long delayd For ô sometime the gods Must plague sinne with sharp rods And lo how Croesus still Tormented in his mind Like a reed on a hill Is shiuering with each wind Each step a terrour brings Dreames do by night afflict him And by day many things All his thoughts do conuict him He his starre would controule This makes euill not the worst Whilst he wounds his owne soule With th' apprehension frist Man may his fate foresee But not shun heauens decree Act. IIII. Scen. I. ADRASTVS CROESVS CHORVS CAn heauen behold hands staind with bloud ofttimes And to the Stigian streames not headlongs hurld Can th' earth support one burden'd with such crimes As may prouoke the wrath of all the world Why sends not Ioue t' haue my curss'd course confind A death-denouncing flash of rumbling thunder Or a tempestuous terrour-breeding wind With violence to teare me all asunder What vnknowne corner from the world remou'd T' inhabit in th' horizon of dispaire Shall I go now possesse and be approu'd By monsters like my selfe that hate repaire I le go indeed whom all the world detests Who haue no interest in the fields of blisse And barbarize among the barbarous beasts Where Tigers rage Toades spue and Serpents hisse Yet though both th' Artike and Antartike Pole I should ouerpasse and find th' vnpeopled zones A wildernesse where nought were to controule My damnable cruelties but trees and stones Yet of my deeds which all the world do tell All this could not deface th' infamous scroule Within my breast I beare about my hell And can not scape the horrours of my soule Those fearefull monsters of confusd aspects Chimera Gorgon Hydra hellish apes Which in the world wrought wonderfull effects And borrowed from th' infernall shades their shapes Their deuilish formes that did the world amaze Not halfe so monstrous as my selfe I finde When on mine owne deformities I gaze In the black depth of a polluted minde No but my mind vntainted still remaines My thoughts in this dilict haue had no part Which accidentallie this foule fact staines My hands had no commission of my hart Yet whether it was fortune or my fate Or some hell-hag that did direct my arme I quaild the Lidians hopes abortiue date And am the instrument of all their harme Then swelling mountaines come and fall vpon me Your height may hide me from the wrath of heauen But this needes not my fault hath else vndone me No torment can with my offence be euen Ah of what desart shall I now make choice T' auoid the count'nance of an angrie King I know th' auenging sword of Croesus voice To wound my soule hostes of rebukes doth bring No th' obiect of distresse I le stand alone A memorable monster of mishap For though Pandoraes plagues were pour'd in one All were too few so vile a wretch t' entrap Chor. O how the King is mou'd with Atis death His face th' impression of a passion beares With bended eyes crostarmes and quiuering breath His princely roabe he desperately teares Lo with a silent pittie-pleading looke Which shewes with sorrow mixt a high disdeine He whilst his soule seemes to dissolue in smoake Whiles eyes the corps whiles him by whom t' is slaine Croes Thou ruthlesse Tyrant ruine of my blisse And didst thou so disguise thy deuilish nature To recompence my courtesies with this Ah cruell wretch abhominable creature Thy Tigrish mind who could haue well detected In mortall breasts so great barbaritie What forward sprite could haue such spight suspected In hospitalitie hostilitie Did I reuiue thee when thy hopes were dead When as thy life thy parents had not spar'd And hauing heapt such favours on thy head Is this Is this Chor. he would say the reward Adrast I grant what you alledge and more is true I haue vnto the height of hatred runne A blood-staind Wretch not worthy for to view The rolling Circles nor the rayie Sunne I 'le neuer striue to cloake my foule abuses So for to make my forfeit to seeme lesse And paint my fault with imperfect excuses T' is greater farre then words can wel expresse Nor go I thus to aggrauate my crime And damne my selfe to be absolu'd by others No no such Rhetoricke comes out of time I 'le not suruiue his death as earst my brothers Whose vnkind fall if I had followd straight As then indeed I dyed to all delight I had not groan'd chargd with this inward waight But slept with shadows in eternall night Yet must I die at last though late growne wise This in my minde most discontentment breedes A thousand tort'ring deaths cannot suffise To plague condignely for so haynous deedes Come cause him who the Spritelesse body buries Vpon the Tombe to sacrifice my blood No fitter offring for th' infernall Furies Then one in whom they raign'd while as he stood In whom they oft infusde their diu'lish rage And in my bosom all their Serpents nestled So that this hellish horror to asswage I all my dayes haue with disasters wrestled Croes I find Adrastus when I deepely scaunce Th' effectuall motiues of this fatall crosse That not thy malice but mine owne mischaunce Hath been th' occasion of our bitter losse Whilst barely with a superficiall wit We weigh the out-side of such strange euents If but the mediate meanes our iudgements hit We search not the first cause this much contents When such prodigious accidents fall out Though they amaze our minds and so they must The ground of all comes from our selfe no doubt Ah! man hath sin'd the heau'ns are alwayes iust Now when I search the secrets of my soule And rip the corners of my corrupt minde Marke of my former life th' offenciue scroule And do examine how I was inclinde O then I see the angry hosts of heauen Come girt with flames to plague
not die desperately by mine owne hand I le die through others guilt not through mine owne None of you all haue falsified your troath But with me loyall still to th' end yee abide Now I you all disburthâ—n of your oath Leaue me alone and for your selues prouide Exeunt DARIVS O Wretched Monarchie vaine mortals choice The glorious stâ—p to a disgrace-full fall Our pow'r depends vpon the peoples voice And to seeme soueraigne needs we must serue all Yet blowne like blathers with ambitions winde On enuied scepters weaklie we relie And calling not our fraile estate to minde Not onlie earth but heauens themselues defie This hellish hag our restlesse minde doth tosse While carried with a popular applause T' enlarge our limites with our neighbours losse We of our owne confusions are the cause And when th' ecclipse comes of our glories light Then what auailes th' adoring of our name A meere illusion made to mock the sight Whose best was but the shaddow of a dreame Let greatnesse of her glascie scepters vaunt Not sceptours no but reeds soone brus'd soone brokeÌ„ And let this worldlie pompe our wits inchant All fades and scarcelie leaues behinde a token Those golden Pallaces those gorgeous halles With fourniture superfluouslie faire Those statelie Courts those sky-encountring walles Evanish all like vapours in the aire O what affliction iealous greatnesse beares That still must trauell to hold others downe Whil'st all our guardes not guard vs from our feares So greevous is the burthen of a Crowne Where are they all who at my feete did bowe While I was made the idole of so many What ioy had I not then what haue I nowe Then honoured of all now scarce of any Our painted pleasures but apparrell paine We spend our dayes in dread our liues in dangers Balles to the starres and thralles to Fortunes raigne Knowne vnto all yet to our selues but strangers A golden Crowne doth couer leaden cares The Scepter cannot lulle their thoughts a-sleepe Whose breasts are fraught with infinite dispaires Of which the vulgar wits sounds not the deepe The Bramble growes although it be obscure While mightie Cedars feele the blustering windes And milde Plebeian spirits may lieu secure While mightie tempests tosse imperiall mindes What are our daies but dreames our raignes but traÌ„ces Whil'st brain-sick reaving with our Fortunes feuer We still are vext with changes and mischances Till death vs both from life and scepter seuer The vanitie of greatnesse I haue proou'd And beene the wonder of each gazing eye Now that deceauing shaddow is remoou'd And I my wretched state too late espie Now bound with chaines which though they be of gold Diminish not my thraldome ought the more When this preposterous honour I beholde It but vpbraides me what I was before And what was I before though to each eye The forme of my affliction was not knowne But fettred in effect while I seem'd free And in a labyrinth of labours throwne Was I not bound to serue then all mens humour Or to be censur'd with some Critick storie Still clog'd with cares as slought for euery rumour O glorious bondage burthen-able glorie That dignitie which deified me late And made the world doe homage to my name Now cannot succour my accursed state But hath with my mis-fortune fethered same My best was but a momentarie blis Which leaues behinde this euerlasting sting That of all woe no woe is like to this To thinke I was and am not now a King No man with me in all accomplish'd ioyes That satisfie the soule could once compare No man may matche me now in sad annoyes And all the miseries that breede dispaire Thrise Fortune did my gallant troupes entrap And I to fall did desperately stand Yet could not be so happie in mishap As for t' haue died by some renowmed hand But for my greater griefe disgrace and scorne The mindes of men so apt are to deceaue They whome aloft my favours wings haue borne Ev'n they made me their maister thus a slaue Ah did not death in prison from me reaue The sacred soueraigne of my soules desires I wretch not being present to receaue The last cold kisse that might asswage my fires Yet ô thrise happie thou that hast not liu'd To beare a burthen of this great disgrace More then a thousand deaths this had thee grieu'd To know I died and died in such a cace Ah doe the pledges of our mutuall loue The onlie comfort that the fates haue left me Rest prison'd yet And may I not remooue My mother thence then is all blisse bereft me My paines are more then with my pleasures ev'n Since first I in authoritie did enter Was I exalted once vp to the heau'n To be cast head-long downe to mischiefes center My ample Empire and my Princelie birth My great magnificence and vaine excesse All cannot yeelde my minde one minutes mirth To ease me now in this extreame distresse Loe heere reduc'd vnto the worst of illes Past helpe past hope and only great in griefe I wait vpon two abiect vassals willes And dare not no not thinke vpon reliefe Death would I scorne my course must once haue ruÌ„ If I had first repair'd mine honours breach Whose wounds so thrill my soule as vnbegun The life I wish that does my fame impeach This mortall vaile I willinglie resigne Since to an ende my dayes the destinies bring Nor will I so from Maiestie decline As to doe ought vn-worthie of a King Exit CHORVS SOme new disasier day lie doth for showe Our comming ruine We haue seene our best Now fortune bent vs vtterly t' ore-throw Throwes down our King from her wheels top so low As by no meanes his state can be redrest And since his foes by armes haue him opprest His friendes and seruants leaue him all alone Few haue compassion of his state distrest Yea false to him them selues doe many show So foes and fâ—ined friendes conspire in one Fraile Fortune and the fates with them agree With axes all runne on this falling tree This Prince in prosperous state hath florish'd long And neuer dream'd of any euill successe But was well follow'd while his state was strong Him flattering Syrens with a charming song Striu'd to exalt while-as he did possesse This earthly drosse that with a vaine excesse He might reward their mercenary loue But now when fortune driues him to distresse His fauorites whom he remain'd among With foes and fortune straight their faith remoue 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 no vtter ruine bring But made him proue a profitable thing Who of his traine did best deserue his grace Then could and would of those the best imbrace And flie such vultures as deuour him liuing That these whom he found faithful might have place O how this doth a generous stomacke sting To see some grac'd for craft
on the smoake of pride Leaue certaine ease to seeke a dream'd delight Which when they haue by many dangers tride They neither can with safetie keepe nor quite The people that by force subdude remaine May pittie those by whome oppressd they rest They but one tyrant haue where as there raigne A thousand Tyrants in one tyrants breast What though that Caesar once commanded kings Whose only name whole nations did appall Yet now let no man trust in worldly things A little earth holdes him that held it all Calph. Ah had he but beleeu'd my faithfull cares That t' haue his state establish'd alwayes striu'd Then scaping this conspiracie of theirs He honorde still and I had happie liu'd Did I not spend of supplications store That he within his house this day would waste As I by dreames aduertis'd was before Which shew'd that was to come which now is past Whilst the sooth-sayers sacrifiz'd did finde A beast without a heart their altars staine By that presage my soule might haue diuin'd That I without my heart would soone remaine But all those terrors could not terrors giue To that great mind whose thoghts could not be tam'd But by his fortune confident did liue As him t' obey the heauens had all things fram'd Yet though he ended haue his fatall race T' insult for this let not his murdrers striue For O I hope to see within short space Him dead ador'd and them abhor'd aliue Though now his name the multitude respects Since murdering one that had held him so deare Whilst th' inward thoughts ech outward thing reflects Some monstrous shape to Brutus must appeare Iust Nemesis must plague prowde Cassius soone And make him kill himselfe from hopes estrang'd Once all the wrongs by foes to Caesar done May by themselues be on themselues reueng'd Chor. Some for th' earths soueraigne Fortune striue to proue As heauens their course confusdly did aduance Nought comes to men below but from aboue By prouidence not by a staggering chance Though to the cause that last foregoes the end Some attribute th' euent of euery thing That cause on other causes doth depend From heauen to earth that chaind together hing Of those decrees that heauens for vs appoint Who-euer them approues or yet disprooues No mortall man can dissappoint a point But as they please heere mooues or hence remooues We when once com'd the worlds vaine pomp to trie Led by the fates t' our iournies end must haste For when first borne we striaght begin to die Lifes first day is a steppe vnto the last And is there ought more swift than daies and yeares Which weare away this breath of ours so soone Whilst Lachesis to no request giues eares But spinnes the threedes of life till they be done Yet foolish worldelings following that which flies As if they had assurance still to breathe To fraile preferrement fondly striue to rise Which but a burden weighes them downe to death Nun. Ther 's none of vs but must remember still How that the gods by many a wondrous signe Did shew as 't were how that against their will The destinies would Caesars dayes confine A monstrous starre amidst the heauen hath beene Stil since they first against him did conspire The solitary birds at noone were seene And men to walke enuirond all with fire What woonder though the heauens at such a time Vpbraide the earth with apparitions strange Then whilst intending such a monstrous crime Vnnaturall men make natures course to change Cho. Thogh all such things seem wonderful to some They may by reason comprehended be Yet if ought more than common custome come It th' ignorant with wondring eies must see Those bastard starres not heritours of th' aire Are first conceiu'd below then borne aboue And when fore-knowing things sprites take most care And by illusions superstition moue Yet this no doubt a great regard should breed When Nature hath brought forth a monstrous birth Where men in secret characters may reade The wrath of heauen and wickednesse of earth The Naturalists and th' Astrologians skill May whiles r'encountring manifest like care Since th' one lookes backe and th' other forward still Th' one may tell what and th' other why things are Nu. Shall sorrow through the waues of woes to saile Haue still your teares for seas your sighs for windes T'affliction what do base complaints auaile A higher course becomes heroicke mindes None are orecom'd saue onely those that yeelde Though they from froward fortune blowes haue borne Let Vertue be t'Aduersitie a shield No greater griefe to griefe than th' enemies scorne This makes your foes but laugh to see you weepe At least these teares but for your selfe bestow And not for that great sprite whose spoils heauens keep For he no doubt rests deified ere now Calp. I onely waile my life and not his death That now amongst th'immortalls doth repose And shall so long as I haue blood or breath To furnish forth those elements of woes I care not who reioyce so I lament That do to darkenes dedicate my daies And since the light of my delight is spent Shall haue in horror all Apolloes raies I will retire my selfe to waile alone As do the trustie Turtles for their mates And my misfortune alwayes bent to mone Will spurne at pleasures as empoisond baites No second guest shall presse great Caesars bed Warmd by the flames to which he first gaue life I thinke there may be greater honour had Being Caesars widow than anothers wife This had afforded comfort for my harmes If I ere chancde abandond thus to be Had had a little Caesar in mine armes That represented had his sire to me Yet doth that idoll which my thoughts adore With me of late most strictly match remaine For where my armes but held him whiles before Now in my heart I shall him still retaine That though I haue no pretious things t' impart Thy deity may by me b' acknowledgde oft Still offring vp my thoughts vpon my hart My sacred flame shall alwayes mount aloft Exeunt Chorus WHat fooles are those that do repose their trust On what this masse of miserie affords And bragging but of th' excrements of dust Of lifelesse treasures labour to be lords Which like the Syrens songs or Circes charmes With shadows of delight hide certaine harmes Ah whilst they sport on pleasures icie ground Oft poisond by prosperitie with pride A sodaine fall doth floating ioyes confound Of those that stumble after th' eielesse guide That so inconstantly her selfe doth beare To hope th' vnhappy happy haue cause to feare The fortunate that bathe in flouds of ioyes To perish whiles amidst their pleasures chaunce And mirthlesse wretches wallowing in annoyes Oft by aduersitie themselues aduance Whilst fortune bent to mocke vain worldlings eares Doth change dispaires in hopes hopes in dispaires That gallant Graecian whose great wit so soone Th' innumerable army did orecome Were not he was vndone had bin vndone And if not banisht had not had a home
ouersyles And doth ecclipsie the cleerest iudgement whyles A thousand times ô happie he Who doth his passions so subdew That he may with cleere reasons eye Their imperfections fountaines view And as it were himselfe renew If that one might prescribe them lawes And set his soule from bondage free From reason neuer for to swerue And make his passions him to serue And be but moou'd as he had cause O greater were that monarch of the minde Then if he might command from Thule to Inde Act. II. Scen. I. CROESVS AESOPE SOLON Croe. WHo euer was so fauour'd by the Fates As could like vs of full contentment boast Lou'd of mine owne and feard of forraine states I know not what it is for to be crost No thwarting chance my good hap doth importune In all attempts my successe hath been such The darling of heauen the minion of fortune I wot not what to wish I haue so much Mine eyes did neuer yet dismay my hart With no delightlesse obiect that they saw My name applauded is in euery part My word an Oracle my will a Law My breast cannot contayne this flood of ioyes That with a mighty streame o'reflowes my mind Which neuer dream'd of sorrow or annoyes But did in all a satisfaction find My Soule then be content and take thy pleasure And be not vex't with feare of any ill My blisse abounds I cannot count my treasure And gold that conquers all doth what I will Aesop That Graecian Sir is at the Court arriu'd Whose wisdom Fame so prodigally prayse's Craes And haue you not t' extend my greatnes striu'd And entertain'd his eares with courteous phrases Aesop I thinke in all the parts where he hath been In forraine Countries or his natiue home He neuer hath such stately wonders seen As since vnto this princely Court he come When first he in the regall Pallace entred As one who borne amongst the craggie Mountaines That neuer for to view the plaines aduentred Acquainted but with dew and little Fountaines If he be forc'd for to frequent the Vailes And there the wanton water-Nimphs to see The rarenes of the sight so far preuailes Each strip appear's a flood each flood a Sea So all that he re'ncountred by the way Did to his mind a great amazement bring The gold-embroidred Gallants made him stay Each groome appear'd a Prince each squire a King And now he com's t' attaine your Graces sight Whom in his mind no doubt he doth adore He gazd on those who held of you their light Of force he must admire your selfe far more Now he will set your happy Empire forth And be eye-witnes of your glorious Raigne One wise mans testimony is more worth Then what a world of others would maintaine Sol. Disdaine not mighty Prince the louing zeale Which a meane man yet a good mind affords And who perchance as much affects your weale As those that paint their loue with fairer words Croes Thy loue sage Greeke is gratefull vnto vs Whom Fame long since enamour'd of thy deedes We of thy vertues haue heard her discusse Who in extolling of the same exceedes I wish that many such should here resort Whose vnstain'd life would teach vs what were best Whose graue aspect would grace so great a Court And like cleare Lamps giue light vnto the rest Sol. My Sou'raigne spare I merite no such praise I am but one that doth the world despise And would my thoughts to some perfection raise A Wisedom-louer that would faine be wise Yet with great toyle all that I can attaine By long experience and in learned schooles Is for to know my knowledge is but vaine And those that thinke them wise are greatest fooles Croes This is the nature of a worthie minde It rather would be good then be so thought As if it had no ayme but Fame to finde Such as the shadow not the substance sought Yet that pursues thee too which thon so fliest Still troupes applaude thy worth though thou not spie them Whilst thou wouldst presse it downe it mounts vp hiest For Fame and Honor follow those that flie them And now I thinke in all the world none liue's That better may vnfold what I would learne Then thou to whom franke Nature largely giues The grace to see the iudgement to discerne Sol. I l'e answer freely to what you propose If my small skill can comprehend the sence Croes Loe you haue seene in what I most repose My treasures huge my great magnificence Sol. This is the dreame of blisse that Fortune brings On which the wisest neuer haue presum'd I saw nought but a heape of sencelesse things A momentarie treasure soone consum'd This only serues the body to decore And for corruption fram'd cannot perseuer The minde immortall layes vp better store Of vnconsuming ioyes that last for euer Croes I wot not what you meane by such surmises And faind Ideaes of imagin'd blisse This portrait of Fancie but intices Sicke braines to dreame that which indeede they misse But I brooke more than their conceits can show Whose rich coniectures breede but poore effects And I beseeke you did you euer know A man more blest then I in all respects Sol. Yes I knew Tellus an Athenian borne Whom I holde happy in the first degree Who eu'n the haruest of Happinesse hath shorne He liu'd with fame and did with honour die For hauing long time liu'd lou'd and respected His country in a conflict had the worst He come and there falne courage re-erected And hauing wonne the field did die vnforst More happy now nor when he was aliue He dead doth reape the guerdon of his merite And in his childern doth againe reuiue Who all their fathers worthy partes inherite Croes Well since that to a priuate Cittizen You do ascribe the first most blest estate Now in the second ranke of happy men Whom would you number in your owne conceate Sol. ô Cleobis and Biton now I may No doubt prefer you next without reproach Their mother chanc'd on a festiuall day To want two horses for to draw her coach Them to supply the place Loue kindly raised Who drew her to that place of publike mirth And both of them exceedingly were praised They for their pietie she for her birth This charitable office being ended Both in the Church were found dead the next morrow I thinke the gods who this good worke commended Were loth to let them taste of farther sorrow For why our liues are fraile do what we can And like the brittle glasse are but a glance And oft the heauens t' abate the height of man Do entersour our sweets with some sad chance Croes Then from this Cathagorie am I secluded And is my state so vile vnto thine eies That as one of all happines denuded Thou thus do'st my felicitie despise Or think'st thou me of iudgement too remisse A miser that in miserie remaines The bastard child of Fortune barr'd from blisse Whom heauens do hate and all the world disdaines Are
mischances Would force compossion from your greatest foe Where all the griefe-begetting circumstances Doe ioyne to make a harmony in woe But naturall loue doth at our selfe begin It mooues farre more to feele then heare mishaps The perturbation that my sprite is in Me in a maze of miscontentments wraps We should such past misfortunes pretermit At least no more immoderately lament them And as for those which are but comming yet Vse ordinary meanes for to preuent them Adrast No wonder Sir although you take great care Lest all your hopes in Atis person perish Croes I will by all the meanes I may prepare To saue his youth that he my age may cherish If it be possible for mortall states To striue against the Starres and be more strong I 'le vnarme Fortune and resist the fates By barring both all meanes to do me wrong I haue commanded vnder paine of death That no such weapon be within my walles As I suppos'd should haue abridg'd his breath T' eschew such sudden euill as rashly falles He shall goe rarely to the fields and then With chosen bands be guarded all the time Loe where he communes with some countrey-men We will go trie what they would haue of him Act. III. Scen. II. CHORVS of countreymen CROESVS ATIS ADRASTVS CAELIA Lend Sir a willing eare to humble wordes Let not our basenesse barre vs from your grace Which still it selfe alike to all affords Who blesse their sight with that Maiestike face My Soueraigne all his subiects well remembers As vile as our estate is thought of now You are our head and we are of your members And you must care for vs we care for you Our pouertie to vs is no reproach Which th' innocencie of our mind adorn's We neuer on our neighbours bounds encroach But by our labours liue midst many thornes And euer busied for the Countries good We haue no time to muse of vaine conceates Yet earning with continuall toile our food We entertaine the pompe of prowder States And Sir conceiue not of our meaning ill That thus dare speake so freely as we do Whilst mediators do dilate our will They wrest it as they will and wracke vs too To count'nance such as vs you neede not shunne A great man too well grac'd may do more harme And t' is no staine vnto the glorious Sunne Though oft his beames an abiect obiect warme Croes Be not discourag'd by your base estate Yee are my people and I 'le heare your plaint A King must care for all both small and great And for to helpe th' afflicted neuer faint The Scepter such as these should chiefely shrowd Not cotages but Castles spoile the Land T' aduance the humble and t' abate the prowd This is a Vertue that makes Kings to stand Cor. Sir our estate some speedy helpe requires In Misia neere vnto the famous Mountaine Of great Olimpus that the World admires There haunt's a Boare by Dianaes Fountaine Of a big body and a hideous forme His fomie Iawe with tuskes like Iauelins strikes And all parts in deformitie conforme His backe hath bristles like to yron Pikes This Monster of Nature wonder of Men The Forrests tyran and the Countries terrour Teares all to death and drawes them to his Den That chance into his way by fatall errour Whilst tender-hearted Mothers do bewaile The goared Infants toyling in their blood Th' abhominable beast them doth assaile And in his bowels buries both for food Then when we fly the field where he soiournes To haue his hunger or his rage alayde He wastes the fruites and ruines all the cornes Thus the poore husbands hopes are all betrayde Ere this of true Repose we were the types And pastur'd on each plaine our fleecie flockes And made a consort of our warbling pypes With mouing christals th' issue of the rockes And sometime to refresh vs after trauell With flowrie garlands shielded from Sunne-beames We gazd vpon Pactolus golden grauell Glassd bathd and quenchd our thirst with his pure streames Whilst we preferd the Riuer seemd amazd Vnto his golden bed his grassye bancke And lay and lookd whereas our cattell grazd Without all enuie of a greater ranke That to represse oppression you take care This rest of ours is an effectuall token Your Lawes like Spiders webs do not ensnare The feeble flies and by the Bees are broken For we by them are fenc'd from great mens pride The Heau'ns perpetuate your prosp'rous raigne And suffer not this sauage Boare t' abide To turne that ease which men haue spar'd to paine Croes What would ye then that should be done by me For to repay your losse repayre this wrong Chorus We craue none of your wealth yet wish to see This Boare be-blood the staffe of the most strong Let valorous Atis worthily your sonne Backd with the best of all the Lidian Youth Go to the fields before the rising Sunne Quench with the mornings teares his mid-dayes drouth And we shall leade them crownd with lawrell forth Where in a circuit small yet a large Theater For men to make a tryall of their worth This Monster stayes th' earth neuer nurc'd a greater So shall we both reape profite and they pleasure Which may be brought to passe without great obstacle By making this waster of the worlds treasure Of a horrid sight a delightfull spectacle Croes I may not spare my Sonne for a respect Which is not needfull now for to be knowne But I 'le send others for the same effect That this pestiferous Beast may be o'rethrowne Th' ostentiue gallants that our Grace attend And wait th' occasion but t' aduance their strength Against the Boare shall all their forces bend With houndes and darts still till he fall at length I sweare this Monster shall when he is dead A memorable monument remaine To Dians Church I 'le consecrate his head The Virgin-goddesse darts no shaft in vaine Atis. Ah wherein Father haue I thus offended Or what vile signe of a degenerd mind Haue you remark'd in me that euer tended To the reproch of our Imperiall kind That of this praise you would giue me no part But barre me from a famous enterprise As one vnworthie for to weeld a dart Who still in vile repose inglorious lies Lies like a wanton with vaine thoughts bewitchd Who spoyld of force effeminately liues A Peacocke but with painted pennes enrichd Yet poore in all the parts that Glorie giues What glorie giues those glorious Styles to me Which by succession fall not by desart Should but my Fame with borrowd feathers flee For come of Kings a kingdome is my part Who only by his Birth aduancement claimes Like a base bastard doth his birth-right blote I will not beg my worth from dead mens names Nor conquer Credit only by my Cote What comforts this to brooke th' Imperiall seate And all the blisse that Maiestie impartes If those whom only we exceed in State Be our Superiors in farre better partes More then a Crowne true Worth is to be valued
expressing of the toong Who euer did full satisfaction finde Yet with satietie were neuer cloy'd We seem'd two bodies gouern'd by one mind Such was the happines that we enioy'd He lou'd me deerely I obey'd his will Prowd of my selfe because that I was his A harmonie remaind betwixt vs still Each in another plac'd their chiefest blisse This mou'd th'Immortalls to a high disdaine That thus two worldlings who of death were heires Should in a paradise of ioyes remaine Which did exceede at least did equall theirs But chiefly Iuno did dispight it most Who through a iealousie still iarres with Ioue That bodie-prison'd soules of that could boast Which she although Heauens Queene had not aboue Thus euen for enuy of our rare delights The fatall Sisters by the heauens subborn'd Of my soules treasure closd the louely lights By which they thought the earth too much adorn'd O but he is not dead he liues in me Ah but I liue not for I dide in him The one without the other can not be If death haue set his eyes mine must looke dim Since to my sight that Sunne no more appeer'd From whom my beauties borrowed all their rayes A long ecclipse that neuer shall be cleer'd Hath darkned all the points of my sad dayes Ay me I liue too long he dide too soone Thus still the worst remaine the best depart Of him who told how this black deede was done The words like swords shall euer wound my hart Fierce tyrant Death that in thy wrath didst take One halfe of me and left an halfe behind Take this to thee or giue me th' other backe Be altogether cruell or all kind For whilst I liue thou canst not wholy dye O! euen in spite of death yet still my choyce Oft with th' Imaginations loue-quicke eye I thinke I see thee and I heare thy voyce And to content my languishing desire Each thing to ease my mind some helpe affords I fancie whiles thy forme and then afire In euery found I apprehend thy words Then with such thoughts my memorie to wound I call to mind 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 walks my widowd bed My driery sighs my sheets oft bathd with teares These can record the life that I haue led Since first sad newes breath'd death into mine eares I liue but with despaire my sprite to dash Thee first I lou'd with thee all loue I leaue For my chaste flames extinguishd in thy ash Can kindle now no more but in thy graue By night I wish for day by day for night Yet wish farre more that none of both might bee But most of all that banishd from the light I were no more their courses for to see At night revoluing my despaird estate I go to summe with sighs my wonted ioyes When in an agonie a grieu'd conceate Doth blot th' unperfect compt with new annoyes When Sleepe the eldest brother of pale Death The Child of darkenesse and Father of rest In a free prison hath confinde my breath That it may vent but not with words exprest Then with my sprite thou enterst for to speake With honyed speaches to appease my griefe And my sad heart that labourd for to breake In this fayn'd comfort finds a while reliefe Yea it our soules remaind vnited so This late diuorcement would not vexe my mind But when I waken it augments my woe Whilst this a dreame and me a wretch I find O happy if I had been happy neuer But happier if my happinesse had lasted Yet had I in this state chanc'd to perseuer My dayes had with excessiue ioyes soone wasted Why waste I thus whilst vainely I lament The precious treasure of that swift Post Time Ah! pardon me deare Loue for I repent My lingring here my Fate and not my crime Since first thy body did enrich the Tombe In this spoild world my eye no pleasure sees And Atis Atis loe I come I come To be thy Mate amongst the Mirtle trees CHORVS LOe all our time euen from our birth In nought but miserie exceeds For where we find a moments mirth A Month of mourning still succeeds By all the euills that Nature breeds Which daily do our sprites appall Th' infirmities that frailtie sends The losse of it that fortune lends And such disasters as oft fall Yet to farre worse our states are thrall Whilst wretched man with man contends And euery one his whole force bends How to procure anothers losses But this torments vs most of all The mind of man which many a fancie tosses Doth forge vnto it selfe a thousand crosses O how the Soule with all her might Doth all her heau'nly forces straine How to attaine vnto the light Of Natures wonders that remaine Hid from our eyes we striue in vaine To seeke out things that are vnsure In Sciences to seeme profound We diue so deepe we find no ground And the more knowledge we procure The more it doth our minds allure Of mysteries the depth to sound Thus our desires we neuer bound Which by degrees thus drawne on still The memorie may not indure But like the tubs that Danaus daughters fill Doth drinke no faster then it 's forc'd to spill Yet how comes this and O how can Diuine Knowledge the Soules chiefe treasure Occasion such a crosse to man That should afford him greatest pleasure O it 's because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong But for to tempt forbidden things Do soare too high with Natures wings Still weakest whilst we thinke vs strong The Heau'ns that thinke we do them wrong To trie what in suspence still hings This crosse vpon vs iustly brings With knowledge knowledge is confusde And growes a griefe ere it be long That which a blessing is being rightly vsde Doth grow the greatest crosse when it 's abusde Ah! what auailes this vnto vs Who in this vaile of woes abide With endlesse toile to studie thus To learne the thing that Heau'n would hide And trusting in too blind a guide To spie the Planets how they moue And too transgressing common barres The constellation of the starres And all that is decreed aboue Whereof as oft th' euent doth proue Th' intelligence our welfare marres And in our breasts breeds endlesse warres Whilst what our Horoscopes foretell Our expectations do disproue Those apprehended plagues proue such a Hell That we would wish t' vnknow them till they fell This is the pest of great Estates They by a thousand meanes deuise How to foreknow their doubtfull Fates And like new Giants scale the Skies Heau'ns secret store-house to surprise Which sacriligious skill we see With what great payne they apprehend it And then how foolishly they spend it To learne the thing that once must be Why should we seeke our destinie If it be good we long attend it If it be euill none may amend it Such knowledge further rest exiles T' is best to abide
steepy part his steps aduanc'd And was returning backe vnto his Band He was well markt by one that had not spard No kind of danger for to make vs thralles For Cyrus had proposde a great reward To any one that first could scale our walles And this companion seeing without stay One in his sight that craggie passage clim Straight followd on his footsteps all the way And many a thousand followd after him By whom all those that durst resist were killd The rest were forc'd and knew not where to flee For euery street was with confusion filld There was no corner from some mischiefe free O what a piteous clamour did arise Of rauisht virgins and of widowd wiues Who pierc'd the heau'ns with lamentable cries And hauing lost all comfort loathd their liues Whilst those prowd Victors did insist t' haue staind Themselues with all the wrongs that such like vse They by a charge from Cyrus were restraind And durst no more their captiues thus abuse Chor. No doubt but desolation then abounded Whilst with disdaine the Conqu'rors bosom boylde Some with the sword some with disgrace confounded Sacred Temples priuate houses all were spoylde None can imagine greater miserie Then all the suffrings of a captiu'd Citie But whilst this famous Citie was distressed What could become of the hard-fortun'd King Nun. He seeing th' enemie of his State possessed And that confusion seazde on euery thing Stood first amazd scarse trusting his owne sight His former fortune had him so transported Yet it is hard for to deny the light He saw a stranger that his wealth extorted And when that he had deepely apprehended Th' vnbounded horrors that o'reflow'd his soule As one whose Ioyes had long before been ended He could no more the signes of griefe controule But bursting out in bitter sighs and teares Plungde in the deepest depth of blacke despaire Through o're great feare leauing all kind of feares Did of his safetie take no further care And neuer wisht he so for a long life But he o're-wisht it wishing for death now Still seeking danger in the bounds of strife Prouiding that he dyde he car'd not how Whilst thus he fostred furies in his breast A certaine souldier by the way him meetes As insolent as any of the rest That drunke with blood ran raging through the streetes And seeking but an obiect to his ire He made to him and he to him againe I wot not which of them did most desire Th' one for to slay or th' other to be slaine But whilst so base a hand towring aloft Did to so great a Monarch threaten death His eldest Sonne that as you haue heard oft Was barrd from the right function of his breath I cannot tell you well nor in what fashion If that the destinies had so ordaind Or if the vehemency of his passion Did breake the strings that had his tongue restraind But when he saw his Syre in such a danger He bursted forth into those words the rather Hold hold thy hand in haste thou furious stranger Kill not King Croesus murther not my Father The other hearing this his hand retyrde Then call'd his Kings commandement to minde And to no small preferment he aspyrde To whom this desert did his Sou'raigne binde Now when that Croesus who for death did languish Was of this faire occasion disappointed O're-chargd with griefe and surfeiting of anguish To see himselfe for further euils appointed He with sad sighs those syllables did accord Now cruell destinie do what thou can Which would not vnto me the grace afford That I might perish like a priuate man Ah! must I liue to wish t' haue been vnborne Charactring shame in a deiected face Ah! must I liue to my perpetuall scorne The finger-pointed obiect of disgrace Yet this vnto his soule more sorrow bred He King-like as in former times arrayde Was with a mightie acclamation led Strait to the Tent whereas their Emp'rour stayde So soone as Cyrus got him in his powre He causde bring bands of yron burd'nous chaines And clogd him hand and foot at that same howre As one that was design'd for grieuous paines Then causde in haste a pile of wood to make And in the midst where all men might espy him Causde bind the captiu'd King vnto a stake With fourteene others of the Lydians by him There as th' oblation for his Victorie With sacred flames their bodies to combure Although Ioue hates prepostrous pietie And doth delight in offrings that are pure Now whilst the fires were kindling round about As one that to some powrefull god had vowd With eyes bent vp and with his hands stretcht out O Solon Solon Croesus cride alowd Some hearing him to vtter such a voyce And seeing Cyrus curious for to know Now of what Deitie dying he made choyce Did pray him liberally his mind to show He answered vpon one in wit profound He calld with whom he wisht if it might be That all the Rulers of th' inferior round Had had some conference as well as he For he had told him whilst his fortune lasted As one expert in good aduises giuing That all his flowres of blisse might soone be blasted And could not be accomplisht he being liuing Then he proceeded for to shew at length The Dialogue twixt Solon and twixt him Who prayd him not to trust in worldly strength By which vnto true blisse no man could clim This speech mou'd Cyrus deepely for to ponder The great vncertaintie of worldly things As thinking that himselfe might be brought vnder Who had no priuiledge more then other Kings Then hauing such a paterne plac'd before him Whose farre-changd fortune throughly was revolu'd He freely did his libertie restore him And willd him from the fire to be absolu'd O now Deuotion well appeard thy force Which bindes the earth and opens vp the Heauen In the celestiall breasts a deepe remorse Was strangely wrought whilst Coesus prayd for euen Whileas the flashing flames in vaine to quench All men did labour but could do no good The cloudes were opend and a showre did drench The firie ashes of the flaming wood Now whilst that Croesus comming from the fire Saw ruthles sould'ers sacking all the Citie To saue the same he had a great desire And spake to Cyrus melting all in pitie Great Prince for famous Victories renownd Who dost in armes all others so surmount That it contents me much to be vncrownd By one so worthie and in such account And since I am constraind your thrall to be I must conforme my selfe vnto my fate And cannot hold my pace whereas I see Ought to preiudge the greatnes of your State Which ah is wounded now with your owne powres Whilst this rich Citie is sackt and o'rethrowne It is not mine no more no it is yours And therefore Sir haue pitie of your owne Yea though the losse of such a populous Towne That 's rich that 's yours your mind could nothing moue Yet thinke of this that doth import your
and lies contryuing This is the griefe that bursts an honest hart Lords fauour commes by chance not by desart Those Minions to whom Princes do extend Aboue their worth immoderate good-will To the disgrace of good men shew in end They onely in prosperity depend Not vpon them but on their Fortune still Which if it change they change thē though they fil Their hopes with honour and their chests with coine Yet if they fall or their affaires goe ill Those whom they rais'd will not with them descend But with th' ascending Sunne wil straight way ioyne And doe forget all that they gaue before For that of them they can expect no more The truth hereof in end now hath th' euent In Bessus and Narbazanes approoued On whom their Prince so prodigallie spent Affection honour titles treasure rent And all that might each honest mind haue mooued So bountifull a Prince for to haue loued Who so beningly tendred their estate Yet they to him vyle traitours now haue proued By them he is in-chain'd disgrac'd and shent So as he well may rue although too late That he such slie Camelions changing hew Prefer'd to seruants dutifull and trew But though a while those traitours speede No doubt the heau'ns once vengeance will exact The very horrour of this haynous deede Doth make the harts of honest men to bleede Yea euen the wicked hate this barbarous act The heauens no hier choller can contract Then for th' invasion of a sacred King Who as it were out of the starres extract Should feare and reuerence inferiours breede To whom from him both health and wealth doth spring But though on earth men should neglect this wrong Heauens will those traitors plague ere it be long ACTVS QVINTVS Scen. I. HEPHESTION ALEXANDER POLISTRATVS He. WHat story or what fable can recorde Of such a nombrous troupe so strangely lost I know they quak'd to know it was my Lord Whose name alone is worth anothers host It scarce seemes credible in many partes But traitors feare though al the world would backe thē They were but bodies destitute of harts Moe prisoners they were then men to take them Who would beleeue so few durst striue to finde So great an armie and the armie shrinkes What is impossible to a braue minde True valour dare attempt all that it thinkes Alex. In this encounter for t' haue had the best It would content more then a common thought But since we want the chiefe what of the rest I would be satisfied in all or nought Those traitours thought t' haue finish'd all the warre With giuing me their Lord whom they had bound But I distrust not mine owne force so farre As for to builde vpon so base a ground Although indeede that Darius did me wrong I will not suffer others to oppresse him I keepe him for my selfe he doth belong To me alone none other should distresse him Whilst he did onely in himselfe confide I labour'd by all meanes to make him bow But since his hard estate abates that pride Turn'd is my fury to compassion now Although he oft contemn'd me by his letter Yet I am greeu'd to see him so deceiu'd If he had but acknowledg'd me his better 'T was not his blood nor kingdome that I crau'd And if those traitours haue not kild him straight Yet his deliuerie shall my name renoune I would not loose a subiect of such waight By which my clemencie might be made knowne Po. Sir now your comming cannot doe him good Al. What al are fled none haue my force withstood Po. Yet Darius cannot be redeem'd againe Al. Why haue they set him free or is he slaine Po. Now hath he got a liberty at last With no lesse ransome then his dearest breath Al. Then is all Asias expectation past Tell on at length the maner of his death Po. The boyling ardour of th' ascending Sunne Had caus'd in me a moysture parching drouth Which made me from the way a little runne To finde some fountaine to refresh my mouth Their where a source her liquors softly scatters Which shaddow'd was from Titans parching beames I coold my thirst with the colde christall waters Which seem'd to murmur that I forc'd their streames When loe I sawe a lamentable sight Two wounded horses drawe a bloody coache All clad with skinnes in most vncomely plight Which narrowlie t' espy I did approach One was within who could not long escape The doubtfull passage of th' infernall gates Yet maiestie triumphing ou'r mishap He seem'd to threaten fortune and the Fates And as not to so basse a fortune borne While all his blood aboundantly deval'd Burst forth into these words in Fortunes scorne As one whose courage could not be appal'd You gaze to see and haue good cause wherefore A man no man a King no King what monster Now lesse then nought who once was both more Which few now by my present state would conster And yet amidst my euils I must reioyce That this last comfort doth fore-goe my end I speake to one that vnderstands my voice And not in vaine my dying-speeches spend I am but how in name but not in pow'r That wretched Darius which I should suppresse Once happy as you heard but at this houre The very patterne of extreame distresse Then a while pawsing after thus proceeded Tell Alexander these last wordes from me Although my hatred still t'wards him exceeded Yet I am forc'd far in his debt to die I thanke him highlie for his great good-will My mother wife and children so preseruing Pray him t' vse them that rest as gently still For his owne goodnesse sake not my deseruing They to his foe pertaine and yet he striues To haue them honour'd now as in times past But those who held of me both lands and liues Of land and life haue me depriu'd at last I pray you on my part entreat him thus Not to permit that vnreueng'd belowe My ghost do wander By his care of vs That men his Iustice and their fault may knowe Beside the honour which he shall acquire In plaguing them that haue betraide my trust Men shall his magnanimitie admire And feare t' offend him whome they finde so iust Loe all my pompe is past my time expir'd My wealth evanished like watrie bubbles Ou'r many a mightie people I impyr'd Yet hath my life beene but a stage of troubles And since my glasse is runne my glory gone And I dead to the world the world to me I wish that all parts of th' earths globe in one May condescend his subiects for to be Then drouping downe faint bloodles and halfe dead He prai'd to giue him water that stood by A small request by such a Monarcke made Which when that he had gote yet ere I die This crosse must come said he t' vndoe me quite Though most parts of the world once homage ought me I haue not now the power for to requite This little benefit that thou hast brought me But Alexander shall
Of all my labours loe this was the hire Those must haue store of toiles that toyle for strife And I remember that amidst my ioyes Euen whilst the chase of armies was my sport There wanted not a portion of annoyes To counterpoise my pleasures in some sort Of those in th' earth most happy that remaine As ag'd experience constantly records The pleasures farre exceeded are by paine Life greater greife then comfort still affords What rage and sorrow seaz'd vpon my soule Whilst big with hopes a battell bent to proue That sudden sicknesse did my course controule Which Cidnus cold imbracings chanc'd to moue From the Phisition then though deem'd for ill I tooke his drinke and gaue th' inuectiue lines Then whilst he red did drinke yet eyd him stil And by accusing lookes search'd guilty signes Not that suspitious feares could make me sad This was the ground whence did proceed my paine Lest death that victorie preuented had Which I was sure if present once t' obtaine But when that I extended had my state From learned Athens to the barbarous Indes Still my tumultuous troupes my pride did hate As monstrous mutinies vnmask'd their mindes I so my name more wonderful to make Of Hercules and Bacchus past the bounds And whilst that Memnons sun burnt bands did quake Did write my worth in many a Monarchs wounds Kings were my subiects and my subiects kings Yet my contentment further did require For I imagind still more mighty things And to a greater greatnesle did aspire The compasse of the carriere of the sunne By many a famous victory I wan Yet wept that there were no more worlds to win As all had beene to little for one man Was I not honord as a God by some Whilst what I interprizd it still preuaild Whom I assaild I alwayes did ore-come No project of my fancies euer faild This made me thought immortalizd to be Which in all mindes amazement yet contracts For I led Fortune Fortune followed me As forc'd t' attend the greatnesse of my acts Yet I haue found it a more easie thing To conquer all the mansions of the winde Then mine owne selfe and of my passions king To order the disorders of my minde What comfort iustly could my soule receiue Of all my conquests past if that euen then Whilst I triumph'd to wrath and wine as slaue I scap'd not scandall more then other men Ah seazing without right on euery state I but my selfe too great a Monarch made Since all men gapt to get the golden bate Which by my death seemd easie to be had Whilst from humanitie too much deuorc'd My deeds all hearts with feare and horror fild I whom the force of foes yet neuer forc'd Was by my friends most fraudulently kill'd But now I see the troublous time drawes neere When they shall keepe my obsequies with blood No wonder too though such a warriours biere At last do swim amids a scarlet flood For as my life did breed huge broyles ouer all My death must be th' occasion of great cumbers And it doth best become a strong mans fall To be renown'd by ruining of numbers The snaky-tressed sisters shal not neede T' vse fatall firebrands lothsome Plutoes pestes Or poisonous inspirations so to bred A thirst of murder in transported brests Yet my ambitious ashes once may shine T' enflame my Minions minds with strange desires If of their spirits each keepe a sparke of mine To waste the world their brests may furnish fires The beauties once of th' earth shall all looke red Whilst my lieuetenants through that pride of theirs With vnkind armes huge streames of blood do shed By murthering of mine heires to be mine heires Is this the gaine of greatnesses did I pine To be made eminent to be ouerthrowne To ruine first my selfe then roote out mine As conquering others but to lose mine owne O happy I but happier far my race If with my fathers conquests still content I manag'd had th' Aemathian power in peace Which was made lawfull by a long discent Then farre sequestred from Bellonaes rage I had the true delites of nature tryed And ag'd with honor honor'd in my age Had left my scepter to my sonne and dyed And he succeeded had t' a quiet state Which then because lesse great had bin more sure And not exposd to enuy nor to hate That do against the greatest States coniure But since they minde t' enearth mine earthly part Which now no badge of maiestie reraines To roaring Phlegeton I must depart Farre from the lightsome bounds of th' ayrie Plaines And must I there that did the world surmount Arrested by the Monarke of the Ghosts To Radamanthus render an account Of all the deedes done by my rauenous hostes Ther whilst with Minos Aeacus sits downe A rigorous Iudge in Hells most horride court Though farre before his Nephew in renowne He will not with one of his race comport O what pale troops of ghosts are gathered heere That were of bodies spoild by my decree And first the wrong'd Parmenio doth compeere From whom I nought but who did much from me At the tribunall of Tartarian powres He aggrauates a ingratitude too great And whilst th' infernall tyrant foming lowres All whom I wrong'd for vengeance stand t' intreat Yet guiltie thoughts torment me most of all No sprite can be by plaging Furies pind Though charg'd without with snakes within with gall As by the slings of a remording minde If it be true that drowsie Laethes streams Drowne in obliuions deepes all things at last There let me burie farre from Phoebus beames The loath'd remembrance of my Labours past Exit Chorus What strange aduentures now Distract distressed mindes With such most monstrous stormes When silence seemes t' allow The peace that Nature findes And that tumultuous windes Doe not disturbe with stormes An vniuer sall rest When Morpheus hath represt Th' impetuous course of cares And with a soft skepe bâ—ndes Those tyrants of the breast That would spread foorth most dangerous snares T' inuo'ue th' afflicted in dispaires Huge horrours then arise Which th' elements doe marre With most disastrous signes Arm'd sqúadorns in the Skies With Launces throwne from farre Doe make a monstrous warre Whilst Furie nought confines The Dragons vomite fire And make the starres retire Out of their orbes for feare Some of those warriors are To satifie their ire That th' azure buildings not forbeare But seeme the cristall Towres to teare Amidst the aire fierce blasts Doe boast with blustring sounds T' vndoe this mightie frame Which whilst the tempest lasts Doth rent the stately roundes To signifie what woundes Strait t' all her of-springs shame Shall burst th' earths veines with blood And this all-circkling flood As t' were the heauens to drowne Doth passe th' appointed bounds And all the scalie broode Reare roaring Neptunes foamie crowne Whilst th' earth for feare seemes to sincke downe Those that th' earth chargde what horrour Theyr ashie lodgings leaue To re-enioy the light
should be likewise partners of the gaine But if against our sute his eares he barre And do with scornfull words contemne our claime Then may our Messenger denounce the warre And we shall shortly intimate the same Ptol. A mutuall band must made amongst vs be To make one fortune common to vs all And from hence-forth we must all fowre agree To stand together or together fall And since the princely buds for which we car'd How euer dead are dead what ere we doe T' engender so towards vs the more regard We with the state must take the title too And we must both be crown'd and knowne forkings The Diadem is greatnesse strongest towre All vulgar iudgements leane on th' outward things And reuerence state where they obey but powre Exeunt Nuntius Philastrus Chorus IS there a heauen and are their heauenly powers To whose decree terrestriall things are thrall Or striues the tirant that begets the howers To triumph ouer eternitie and all Lo nature trauells now being big with change Since mortalls all humanitie haue lost And in th' old Chaos or some masse more strange To re-entombe their essence all things bost Can reasonable soules from reason barr'd Euen striue which most in crueltie exceeds What eye hath seene or yet what eare hath heard Such monstrous accidents prodigious deeds Th' Arrabian robbers nor the Scithians wild That with the sauage beasts as barbarous haunt With such foule facts haue not themselues desil'd As those that of ciuilitie do vaunt Since Grecians are growne barbarous as we finde Where can faith haue a corner free from spot O carelesse heauens wretch'd earth Cho. What loads thy minde Nun. Amultitude of murders Cho. What Nun. What not Cho. We know that since our soueraigne lest to breath Th' earth hath been bathde with many a scarlet flood Perdiccas did procure Meleagers death And his owne souldiers drown'd his breath with blood Th' Athenians prey Leonatus did remaine And by Eumenes subtiltie dismayde Craterus and Neoptolemus were slaine Then by his owne Eumenes dide betraid Phil. Man with his skill against his knowledge striues Where death his way attends that way he tends And t' Atropos the fatall rasor giues To cut the threed on which his life depends When th' Asian victour after all his warres To visit Babilon had bent his mind Both I and others studious of the starres Did shew that there his ruine was design'd To his successours too we oft haue showne The meanes by which their fate might be controld Yet was our skill contemnde and they ore-thrown As we fore-told and as they now haue told Nun. They haue told much and yet I must tell more Their newes were euill yet were they not the worst Cho. And haue the heau'ns reseru'd mo plagues in store As if we yet were not enough accurst Nun. As th' earth in pride the heauens in plagues abounds Our highest hopes haue perisht but of late Cho. Then wound our eares by hearing others wounds That pittie now may tread the steppes of hate Nun. Our Queene Olimpias rauisht by reuenge All Macedony did with murders fill Which from her part the people did estrange Whilst nought but rigour limited her will So that when fierce Cassander sought her wreake She did mistrust the Macedonians mindes And for the time the neerest strength did take There till the storme was past t' attend faire windes But soone Cassander did the towne enclose And as she held him out did hold her in That like a captiue guarded by her foes She knew not by what way a way to winne And when their lifes prouision did decay Then did bare walles but small refuge afford She Scilla scap'd to be Charibdis prey That fell on famine flying from the sword Strait like pale Ghosts faint souldiers did remaine Whose bowels hunger like a Harpie teares And with courageous words the Queene in vaine Did raise their spirit the belly hath no eares All then began to languish and to fade As if being tir'de to beare themselues about Legges fail'd the bodie and the necke the head Then whilst the flesh fell in bones bursted out And when that th' ordinarie meates were spent Then horses dogs cats rats all seru'd for food Of which no horror th' eater did torment For all that was not poison then seem'd good Some mouthes accustom'd once with daintie meates Wish'd what they oft had loath'd I le crums foule floods And Ladyes that had liu'd in pompous states Fed as brought vp with wolues amidst the woods Yea nurst by those whom they themselues had nurst Oft then by th' of springs death th' engendrer liu'd And which was worst whilst breasts were like to burst None comfort could for all themselues were grieu'd Such was their state no friend bewaild bis friend No wife her husband nor no Syre his sonne For apprehending their approching end All with compassion of them selues were wonne The dead mens smell empoison'd them that liu'd Whilst first made faint by a defrauded wombe Heapes were of breath and buriall both depriu'd That all the towne in end was but a tombe Cho. Life is the subiect of distresse and griefe That still ministers matters to bemone And onely but by death can haue reliefe To liue and to be wretch'd are both but one Yet foolish worldlings tossde with endlesse care Though at too deare a rate would still buy breath And following after feathers thrown through th' aire Like life though wretch'd more then a happie death Nun. When thus the world Olimpias plagu'd did spie All sought Cassander though for seuerall ends Cho. As from a pest all from th' vnhappy flie Th' eclipse of Fortune threatens losse of friends Nun. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege since vittailes were growne scant Did send as weake for peace t' intreat the strong Cho. What cannot time and trauell sometime daunt Nun. Then did Cassander know that need constrain'd Her so to bow as strangely being diseasde And though he her request not quite disdain'd Th' agreement was appointed as he pleasde For all the fauour that she could procure Was leaue to liue a priuate person still And yet of that she could not be made sure Which did depend vpon her enemies will Then whilst Cassander fought his enemies ends There wanted not strange troupes with him t' abide Yet might haue many followers and few friends Friends by the touchstone of distresse are try'd Nun. But though the Queene was rendred in this sort With protestation t' haue her life preseru'd The tyrant with her spirit could not comport But from his faith for her confusion sweru'd The Macedonians were togither brought There to consult what did concerne their Queene But when of them a number deepely thought Both what she was and what she once had beene Euen as Cassander had subborn'd them all Their parents came whom she had damn'd to death And did her rigour to remembrance call By which the multitude was mou'd to wrath Whilst from their
mou'd By Romans Romans onely may be matcht And I at last haue kindled ciuill warre That from their thoughts which now no reason bounds Not only lawes but Natures lawes doth barre The sonne the sire the brother brother wounds Whilst th'Eaglâ—s are opposde to th' Eagles so O what contentment doth my mind containe No wround is wrong bestow'd each killes a foe What euer side doth lose I alwayes gaine But this my soule exceedingly annoyes All are not subiect to the like mis-hap The warre helps some as others it destroyes And those that hate me most haue still best hap Whilst with their blood their glory thousands spend Ah ones aduauncement aggrauates my woe That vaunts himselfe from Venus to descend As if he claimd by kinde to be my foe I meane the man whose thoughts nought can appease Whilst them too high a blinde ambition bends Whom as her minion Fortune bent to please Her rarest treasures prodigally spends Not onely hath he daunted by the sword The Gaules the Germans and th' Aegyptians now But of all lordes pretends to be made lord That who commaund the world to him may bow Thus dispossessing princes of their thrones Whilst his ambition nothing can asswage That the subiected world in bondage grones The prey of pride the sacrifice of rage Men raile on Ioue and sigh for Saturnes time And to the present still th' Age past preferre Then burden would the gods with euery crime And damne the heauens where only th' earth doth erre Though Ioue as stupid still with Cupid sportes And not the humor of prowd Caesar spies That may if forcing thus the worlds chiefe forts More powrefull than the Titans scale the skies Yet lest hee thrall him too that none free leaues We from the bounds aboue must him repell To brawle with Pluto in th' vmbragious caues There since he will be first made first in hell What with that tyrant I will strait be euen And send his soule to the Tartarian groue For though Ione be not iealous of his heauen Yet Iuno must be iealous of her Ioue And though none in the heauem would do him ill He raise vp some in th' earth to haste his death Yea though both heauen and earth neglect my will Hell can afford me ministers of wrath I le crosse Cocytus and the smoaking lakes To borrow all my brothers damned bandes The Furies arm'd with firebrands and with snakes Shall plant their hell where Rome so stately stands Whilst by my furie Furies furious made Do spare the dead to haue the lilting pin'd O with what ioy will I that armie leade Nought than reuenge more sweet t' a wronged minde I le once make this a memorable age By this high vengeance that I haue conceiu'd But what though thousands die t' appease my rage So Caesar perish let no soule be sau'd Exit Chorus WE should be grieu'd t' offend the gods That holde vs in a ballance still And as they will May weigh vs vp or downe Those that by follie ingender pride And doe deride The terrour of th'eternalls roddes In seas of sinne their soules doe drowne And others but abhorre them as vniust Those that religion want deserue no trust How dare fraile flesh presume to rise Whilst it deserues heauens wrath to proue On th'carth to moue Lest that it op'ning straight Giue death and buriall both at once How dare such ones Looke vp vnto the skies For feare to feele the thunders weight All th' elements th'immortalls will attend And are as prompt to plague as men t' offend None scapes some plague that gods displease Then whilst he Bacchus rites did scorne Was Pentheus torne The Delians high disdaine Made Niobe though turnd t' a stone With teares still mone And Pallas spite t' appease Arrachne weaues loathd webbes in vaine Heauen hath preparde or euer they beginne A fall for pride a punishment for sinne Loe Iuno yet doth still retaine That indignation once conceiu'd For wrong receiu'd From Paris as we finde And for his cause bent to disgrace The Troyan race Doth hold a high disdaine Long laide vp in a loftie minde We should abstaine from irritating those Whose thoughts if wrongd not till reuengde repose Thus those for Paris fond desire That of his pleasures had no part For them must smart Such be the fruites of lust Can heauenly breasts so long time lodge A secret grudge Like mortalls thrall to ire Tilll Iustice whiles doth seeme vniust Of all the furies that afflict the soule Lust and reuenge are har dest to controule The gods giue them but rarely rest That do against their will contend And plagues doe spend That fortunate in nought Their sprites being parted from repose May still expose Th' vpbraiding troubled breast A prey to each tyrannicke thought All selfe-accusing soules no rest can finde VVhat greater torment than a troubled minde Let vs adore th' immortall powres On whose decree of euery thing The State doth hing That farre from barbarous broiles VVe of our life this little space May spend in peace Free from afflictions showres Or at the least from guiltie toiles Let vs of rest the treasure striue t' attaine VVithout the which nought can be had but paine ACT. II. SCENE I. Iulius Caesar Marcus Antonius NOw haue my hopes attain'd th' exspected hauen In spite of partiall enuies poisnous blasts My fortune with my courage hath proou'd euen No monument of miscontentment lasts Those that corriualld me by me orethrowne Did by their falles giue feathers to my flight I rather in some corner liue vnknowne Than shine in glorie and not shine most bright What common is to two rests no morerare No Phaenix is in all the world saue one Grieu'd of my deedes that any claimes a share Would God that I had acted all alone And yet at last I neede to mourne no more For enuie of the Macedonians praise Since I haue equalld all that went before My deedes in number doe exceede my dayes Some earst whose deedes rest registred by fame Did from their conquests glorious titles bring But greatnes to be great must haue my name It 's more to be a Caesar than a King Ant. Those warlike nations that did nations spoile Are by thy legions now t' our laws made thrall What can not vertue doe by time and toile True magnanimitie triumphs ouer all Caesar Th' outragious Gaules that in most monstrous swarmes Went wasting Asia thundring downe all things And marching ouer the Macedonians armes Did insolently make and vnmake kings Those Gaules that hauing the worlds conq'rors foild As if the world might not haue matcht them then Would sacrilegiously haue Delphos spoild And warrd against the gods contemning men Yea those whose auncestors our cittie burn'd The people that the Romans onely fear'd By me Romes nursling matcht and orematchtmurn'd So what they first eclipsd againe they clear'd Then as to subiects hauing giuen decrees I left the Gaules their rash attempts to rue And wounding Neptunes bosome with wing'd trees The world
oft by tragicke grones The memory but not the iudgement makes Th' impression thus of passions in the braine For what the soule most suffers when it wakes With it asleepe it doth turmoyld remaine From superstitious feares this care proceedes Which stil would watch o're that which thou dost loue And in thy minde melancholy thus breedes Which doth those strange imaginations moue Cal. Ah in so light account leaue off to hold Those fatall warnings that the heauens haue made Which by all meanes most manifest vnfold What dangers huge do hing aboue thy head He with the sacred garlands that diuines By th' entrailes of the consecrated beast Sees in the sacrifice sinistrous signes And I intreate thee do not hence make haste Caes When I in Spaine against yong Pompey went Thus the diuiner threatned me before Yet did I prosecute my first intent Which with new laurells did my browes decore Cal. And yet you hardly there as whiles I heare From dangers farre engagde redeemd your life But now more monstrous tokens do appeare And I suspect farre worse than open strife Caes Lest I too much seeme wedded to my will As one that others counsels scornes t' alow With iealous eyes I le search about me still And euen mistrust my selfe to trust thee now Yet if I stay the Senators deceiu'd May my beginning straight begin to hate So might I perish seeking to be sau'd By flying many fall vpon their fate But heere one comes that can resolue me much With whom I vse t' aduise affaires of weight Whence comst thou Decius that thy haste is such Is ought occurr'd that craues our knowledge straight Decius I come to tell you how the Senate staies Till your exspected presence blesse their sight And the conclusion yet of all delayes Till that your approbation make it right T' accomplish your contentment they intend And all their thoughts seeme at one obiect bent Saue that they doe amongst themselues contend Who you to please shall strangest wayes inuent Caes Than that no treasure to my soule more deere Which straight t' enioy from hence I long to part But yet I know not what arrests me heere And makes my feet rebellious to my heart From thee deare friend I neuer do conceale The waightiest secrets that concerne me most And at this time I likewise will reueale How heauens by signes me with destruction bost To superstition though not being inclinde My wife by dreames doth now presage my fall It a Sooth-sayer likewise hath diuin'd The sacrifice prodigious seemes t 'vs all So that till this disastrous day be gone All companie I purpose to disuse And to the Senators I le send some one To paint my absence with a faire excuse D. Brut. Do not repose on superstitious signes You to suspect the people thus to bring Whilst soueraigne-like you limit their designes Seeme not a tyrant seeking to be king How can we satisfie the worlds conceit Whose tongues still in all eares your praise proclames O! shal we bid them leaue to deale in state Till that Calphurnia first haue better dreames If that this day you priuate would remayne The Senate to dissolue your selfe must goe And then incontinent come backe againe When you haue showne towards it some reuerence so Caes With thy aduise as powrefull I agree The Senators shall haue no cause to grudge A little space all part apart from mee And I le be shortly ready to dislodge Caesar alone WHence come this huge and admirable change That in my brest hath vncouth thoghts infus'd Doth th' earth then erst yield terrors now more strange Or but my minde lesse courage then it vsde What spitefull fate against my state contends That I must now t'vnlook'd for plagues giue place By foes not mou'd yet fear'd amongst my friends By warre secure endanger'd but by peace T' encounter me when strongest troups did come Then did my heart the highest hopes conceiue I warr'd with many many to ouercome The greatest battels greatest glory gaue As th' enemies number still my courage grew Oft haue I through the depths of dangers past Yet neuer did those boundlesse labors rue To haue none greater first none equall last When as the Gaules fear'd by their neighbours falles Had from the fields no from my furie fled And hid themselues with armes their armes with walles Whilst I my troupes t' inclose Alexia led Then though there swarm'd foorth from the bounds about Huge hostes to compasse me enflam'd with wrath That the besieger being besieg'd about Seem'd drawne with danger in the nets of death Yet I that could not with the pride comport That those Barbarians by vaine bosts bewrayd Did reassault th' assaulters in such sort That words by wounds wounds were by death repayd Of those within the towne t' asswage their toyles Till being ore-com'd their comming was not knowne Who straight vpbrayded by the barbarous spoiles Did yeeld themselues with th 'others as ore-throwne Then whilst with liquid legions tumid bosts The trident-bearer striu'd my spoyles to beare Though threatned thrise amidst his humid hosts I alwayes scorn'd t' acquaint my selfe with feare I vsde those Pirats that had me surpriz'd Still as my seruants thundring threatnings forth And gaue them money more than they deuisde Greeu'd to be rated at too little worth Yet gathering ships I sign'd not long the shore But trac'd their printles steps through th' vnpau'd way And taking them as I had vow'd before By nought but death their ransome would defray Then when without th' aduise of others minds Iventred through the hoarie waues by night Whilst in a little barke against great winds That euen the Pilote look'd not for the 〈◊〉 The roaring waues themselues seem'd to diuide That in their grauell I might chuse a graue And in a christall arch aboue me bide That I of me a tombe might worthy haue Whilst dangers seem'd to merite Caesars death As Neptune raisde his head raisde my heart And shewing what I was with constant breath T'amazde Amiclas courage did impart Was I not once amidst large Nilus flot Whilst me to wound a wood of darts did flie Yet swim'd so carelesse of my enemies shot That in my hand I held some papers drie With open dangers thus in euery place I whilst being compass'd both by sea and land Did vndismaid looke horror in the face As borne for nought but onely to commaund But since a world of victories haue fill'd With Trophees Temples Theaters with my praise That bath'd with balme from th' oyle of glory still'd With friends in peace I look'd to spend my daies The chambers musicke now affrights me more Then once the trumpets sound amids the field And gownes though signes of peace worse then before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield Those thoughts of late that had disdain'd to doubt Though I alone had march'd amongst my foes Lo whilst amongst my friends I 'm back'd about Doe greater dangers now then th' eies disclose If ought t' assemble any number brings