states of the redeemed Earth Might thee admire and glorise thy birth 127 Thence might thy valor haue brought in despight Eternall Tropheis to Elizas name And laid downe at her sacred feete the right Of all thy deedes and glory of the same All that which by her powre and by thy might Thou hadst attaind to her immortall fame Had made thee wondred here admir'd a farre The Mercury of peace the Mars of warre 128 And thou my Lord the glorie of my muse Pure-spirited Mountiâ—â— th' ornament of men Hadst had a large and mighty field to vse Thy holie giftes and learned counsels then Whole landes and Prouinces should not excuse Thy trusty faith nor yet sufficient beene For those great vertues to haue ordered And in a calme obedience gouerned 129 Nor had I then at solitary brooke Sate framing bloudy accents of these times Nor told of woundes that grieued eies might looke Vpon the horror of their fathers crimes But rather a more glorious subiect tooke To register in euerlasting rimes The sacred glories of ELIZABETH T' haue kept the wonder of her worth from death 136 And like wise builded for your great designes O you two worthies bewties of our state Immortall tombes of vnconsuming lines To keepe your holic deedes inuiolate You in whose actions yet the image shines Of ancient honor neere worne out of date You that haue vertue into fashion brought In these neglected times respected nought 131 But whither am I carried with the thought Of what might haue beene had not this beene so O sacred Fury how was I thus brought To speake of glory that must tell of wo These acted mischiefes cannot be vnwrought Though men be pleasd to wish it were not so And therefore leaue sad Muse th' imagin'd good For we must now returne againe to bloud THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henry the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded doe rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Promfret Castle sent Is murthered there The Percies making head Against the king receiue the punishment And in the end a tedious troublous raigne A grieuous death concludes with care and paine I Tow risen is that head by which did spring The birth of two strong heads two crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchased thing What fild the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 Striuing at first to build a strong conceit Of his weake cause in apt-abused mindes He deckes his deed with colours of deceit And ornaments of right which now he findes Succession conquest and election straight Suggested are and prou'd in all three kindes More then inough he findes that findes his might Hath force ' to make all that he will haue right 3 All these he hath when one good would suffize The worlds applause and liking to procure But who his owne cause makes doth still deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise The doubtfull can no vsuall plots indure These selfe-accusing titles all he had Seeking to make one good of maine bad 4 Like foolish he that feares and saine would stop An inundation working on apace Runs to the breach heapes mighty matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Loades with huge waights the outside and the top But leaues the inner parts in feeble case Thinking for that the outward forme seemes strong T is sure inough and may continue long 5 But when the vnder working waues come on Searching the secrets of vnsenced waies The full maine Ocean following hard vpon Beares downe that idle frame skorning such staies Prostrates that frustrate paines as if not done And proudly on his silly labors plaies Whilst he perceiues his error and doth finde His ill proceeding contrary to kind 6 So fares it with our indirect diffeignes And wrong-contriued labors at the last Whilst working time or Iustice vndermines The feeble ground-worke craft thought laid so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioynd plots so fairely ouercast Turnes vp those strong pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouerthrowes 7 But wel he thought his powre made al seem plain And now t' his coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous fort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this error feedes Is furnisht with a stately-glorious traine Wherein the former kings he far exceeds And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what and how t was done to what is wrought 8 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne and who his part did take New officers new counsellours he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their desart Seeking all meanes t' oppresse the aduerse part 9 All Counsellers vnto the former king All th' officers and iudges of the state He to disgrace or els to death did bring Lead by his owne or by the peoples hate Who euermore by nature mallicing Their might whom not their vertues but their fate Exalted hath who when kings do what 's naught Because t is in their powre t is thought their faut 10 And plac'd for these such as were popular Belou'd of him and in the peoples grace Learned graue Shirley he makes Chauncellor One of great spirit worthy his worthy race And Clifford he ordaines Lord Treasuror A man whose vertues well deseru'd that place Others to other roomes whom people hold So much more lou'd how much they loathd the old 17 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guilty thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor els could wel be wrought Law Iustice bloud the zeale vnto the dead Were on his side and his drist shadowed 12 Here maine of the greatest of the land Accusd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were refell'd the Lords all stand To cleere their cause most resolutely stoute The king perceiuing what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought about Desistes to vrge their death in anie wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 13 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernment To striue with bloud when lenity must gaine The mighty wight and please the discontent New kings do feare when old courts farther straine Establisht states to all things will consent He must dispence with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 14 Yet not to seeme but to haue something done In what he could not as he would effect To satisfie the
to any course obeies For euerie Prince seeing his daunger neere By anie meanes his quiet peace assaies And still the greatest wronges that euer were Haue then bin wrought when kings were put in fear 55 And long it was not ere he apprehendes The Duke who close to Calice was conuei'd And th' Earles of Arundell and Warwike sendes Both in close prisons strongly to be laid And soone the Duke his life vnquiet endes Strangled in secret ere it was bewraide And Arundell was put to publike death But Warwike by great meanes he banisheth 56 And for his person he procures a guard A thousand Archers daily to attend Which now vpon the act he had prepard As th' argument his actions to defend But yet the world had now conceiu'd so hard That all this nought auaild him in the end In vaine with terror is he fortified That is not guarded with firme loue beside 57 Now storme his vnckles albeit in vaine For that no remedy they could deuise They might their sorrowes inwardly complaine But outwardly they needs must temporise The king was great and they should nothing gaine T' attempt reuenge or offer once to rise This league with Fraunce had made him now so strong That they must needs as yet indure this wrong 58 For like a Lion that escapes his bounds Hauing bin long restraind his vse to straie Raunges the restles woods staies on no ground Riottes with bloudshed wantons on his praie Seckes not for need but in his pride to wound Glorying to see his strength and what he may So this vnbridled king freed of his feares In libertie himselfe thus wildly beares 59 For standing on himselfe he sees his might Out of the compasse of respectiue awe And now beginnes to violate all right While no restraining feare at hand he saw Now he exactes of all wasts in delight Riots in pleasure and neglects the law He thinkes his crowne is licensd to do ill That lesse should list that may do what it will 60 Thus b'ing transported in this sensuall course No frend to warne no counsell to withstand He still proceedeth on from bad to worse Sooth'd in all actions that he tooke in hand By such as all impiety did nurse Commending euer what he did commaund Vnhappy kings that neuer may be taught To know themselues or to discerne their fault 61 And whilst all sylent grieue at what is donne The Duke of Herford then of courage bold And worthily great Iohn of Gaunts first sonne Vtters the passion which he could not hold In sad discourse vpon this course begun Which he to Mowbray Duke of Norfolke told To th' end he being great about the king Might doe some good by better counselling 62 The faithles Duke that presentlie takes hold Of such aduantage to insinuate Hastes to the king peruerting what was told And what came of good minde he makes it hate The king that might not now be so controld Or censur'd in his course much frets thereat Sendes for the Duke who doth such wordes deny And craues the combate of his enemy 63 Which straight was granted and the daie assign'd When both in order of the field appeare To right each other as th' euent should find And now both euen at point of combate were When lo the king changd sodenly his mind Casts downe his warder and so staies them there As better now aduisd what waie to take Which might for his assured safety make 64 For now considering as it likely might The victorie should hap on Herfords side A man most valiant and of noble sprite Belou'd of all and euer worthy tride How much he might be grac'd in publique sight By such an act as might aduance his pride And so become more popular by this Which he feares too much he already is 65 And therefore he resolues to banish both Though th' one in chiefest fauour with him stood A man he dearely lou'd and might be loth To leaue him that had done him so much good Yet hauing cause to do as now he doth To mitigate the enuie of his bloud Thought best to loose a friend to rid a foe And such a one as now he doubted so 66 And therefore to perpetuall exile hee Mowbray condemnes Herford but for ten yeares Thinking for that the wrong of this decree Compard with greater rigour lesse appeares It might of all the better liked be But yet such murmuring of the fact he heares That he is faine foure of the ten forgiue And iudg'd him sixe yeares in exile to liue 67 At whose departure hence out of the land O how the open multitude reueale The wondrous loue they bare him vnderhand Which now in this hote passion of their zeale They plainely shewde that all might vnderstand How deare he was vnto the common weale They feard not to exclaime against the king As one that sought all good mens ruining 68 Vnto the shore with teares with sighes with mone They him conduct cursing the bounds that staie Their willing feete that would haue further gone Had not the fearefull Ocean stopt their way Why Neptune hast thou made vs stand alone Deuided from the world for this say they Hemd in to be a spoile to tyranny Leauing affliction hence no way to flie 69 Are we lockt vp poore soules here t' abide Within the watery prison of thy waues As in a fold where subiect to the pride And lust of rulers we remaine as slaues Here in the reach of might where none can hide From th' eie of wrath but onely in their graues Happy confiners you of other landes That shift your soile and oft scape tyrants hands 70 Ah must we leaue him here that here were fit We should retaine the pillar of our state Whose vertues well deserue to gouerne it And not this wanton young effeminate Why should not he in regall honour sit That best knowes how a realme to ordinate Yet one daie ô we hope thou shalt bring backe Deare Bullingbrooke the iustice that we lacke 71 Thus muttred lo the malecontented sort That loue kings best before they haue them still And neuer can the present state comport But would as oft change as they change their will For this good Duke had wonne them in this sort By suckring them and pittying of their ill That they supposed straight it was one thing To be both a good man and a good king 72 When as the grauer sort that saw the course And knew that Princes maie not be controlde Likt wel to suffer this for feare of worse Since many great one kingdome cannot hold For now they saw intestine strife of force The apt-deuided state intangle would If he should stay whom they would make their head By whom the vulgar body might be lead 73 They saw likewise that Princes oft are faine To buy their quiet with the price of wrong And better t were that now a few complaine Then all should morne aswell the weake as strong Seeing how little Realmes by change doe
heat So they dissolu'd with hope and home they get 11 Leauing their Captaine to discharge alone The shott of blood consumed in theyr heat Too small a sacrifice for mischiefes done Was one mans breath which thousands dyd defeat Vnrighteous Death why art thou but all one Vnto the small offender and the great Why art thou not more then thou art to those That thousands spoyle and thousands liues doe lose 12 Thys fury passing with so quick an end Disclosd not those that on th' aduantage lay Who seeing the course to such disorder tend With-drew theyr foote asham'd to take that way Or els preuented whilst they dyd attend Some mightier force or for occasion stay But what they meant ill fortune must not tell Mischiefe be'ing oft made good by speeding well 13 Put by from thys the Duke of Yorke dissignes Another course to bring his hopes about And with those frends affinity combines In surest bonds his thoughts he poureth out And closely feeles and closely vndermines The fayth of whom he had both hope and doubt Meaning in more apparant open course To try his right his fortune and his force 14 Loue and aliance had most firmly ioynd Vnto his part that mighty family The fayre discended stock of Neuiles kind Great by theyr many issued progeny But greater by theyr worth that cleerely shind And gaue faire light to theyr nobilitie A mightie partie for a mighty cause By theyr vnited amitie hee drawes 15 For as the spreading members of proud Po That thousand-branched Po whose limmes embrace Thy fertile and delicious body so Sweet Lombardie and beautifies thy face Such seemd this powreful stock frō whence did grow So many great discents spreading theyr race That euery corner of the Land became Enricht with some great Heroes of that name 16 But greatest in renowne doth VVarwick sit That great King-maker VVarwick so far growne In grace with Fortune that he gouerns it And Monarchs makes and made againe puts downe What reuolutions his first mouing wit Heere brought about are more then too well known That fatall kindle-fire of those hote dayes Whose worth I may whose worke I cannot prayse 17 With him with Richard Earle of Salisbury Courtny and Brooke his most assured frends Hee intimates his minde and openly The present bad proceedings discommends Laments the state the peoples misery And that which such a pittyer seldom mends Oppression that sharpe two edged sword That others wounds and wounds likewise his Lord. 18 My Lord sayth he how things are carryed heere In thys corrupted state you plainly see What burden our abused shoulders beare Charg'd with the weight of imbecillitie And in what base account all we appeare That stand without their grace that all must be And who they be and how their course succeeds Our shame reports and time bewrayes theyr deeds 19 Aniou and Maine O maine that foule appeares Eternall scarre of our dismembred Land And Guien's lost that did three hundred yeeres Remaine subiected vnder our commaund From whence me thinks there sounds vnto our eares The voyce of those deere ghosts whose liuing hand Got it with sweat and kept it with theyr blood To doe vs thankles vs theyr of-spring good 20 And seeme to cry O how can you behold Their hatefull feet vpon our graues should tread Your Fathers graues who gloriously dyd hold That which your shame hath left recouered Redeeme our Tombes O spirits too too cold Pull backe these Towres our Armes haue honored These Towres are yours these Forts we built for you These walls doe beare our names and are your due 21 Thus well they may obrayd our rechlesnes Whilst we as if at league with infamie Ryot away for nought whole Prouinces Giue vp as nothing worth all Normandy Traffique strong holds sell Fortresses So long that nought is left but misery Poore Callice and these water-walls about That basely pownds vs in from breaking out 22 And which is worse I feare we shall in th' end Throwne from the glory of inuading war Be forst our propper limmits to defend Where euer men are not the same they are Where hope of conquest doth theyr spyrits extend Beyond the vsuall powres of valor far For more is he that ventureth for more Then who fights but for what he had before 22 Put to your hands therefore to reskew nowe Th'indangered state dere Lords from thys disgrace And let vs in our honor labour how To brings thys scorned Land in better case No doubt but God our action will allow That knowes my right and how they rule the place Whose weakenes calls vp our vnwillingnesse As opening euen the doore to our redresse 24 Though I protest it is not for a Crowne My soule is moou'd yet if it be my right I haue no reason to refuse myne owne But onely these indignities to right And what if God whose iudgements are vnknowne Hath me ordaynd the man that by my might My Country shall be blest if so it be By helping me you rayse your selues with me 25 In those whom zeale and amitie had bred A fore-impression of the right he had These styrring words so much encouraged That with desire of innouation mad They seem'd to runne before not to be led And to his fire doe quicker fuell ad For where such humors are prepard before The opening them makes them abound the more 26 Then counsell take they fitting theyr desire For nought that fits not theyr desire is wayghd The Duke is straight aduised to retyre Into the bounds of Wales to leauy ayde Which vnder smooth pretence he doth require T' amoue such persons as the state betrayd And to redresse th' oppression of the land The charme which weakenes seldom doth withstand 27 Ten thousand straight caught with this bait of breth Are towards greater lookt-for forces led Whose power the King by all meanes trauaileth In theyr arising to haue ruined But theyr preuenting head so compasseth That all ambushments warilie are fled Refusing ought to hazard by the way Keeping his greatnes for a greater day 28 And to the Citty straight directs his course The Citty seate of Kings and Kings cheefe grace Where finding of his entertainment worse By far then he expected in that place Much disappoynted drawes from thence his force And towards better trust marches a pace And downe in Kent fatall for discontents Nere to thy banks fayre Thames doth pitch his Tents 29 And there intrencht plants his Artillery Artillery th' infernall instrument New brought from hell to scourge mortality With hideous roring and astonishment Engin of horror fram'd to terrific And teare the earth and strongest Towers to rent Torment of Thunder made to mock the skyes As more of power in our calamities 30 O if the fire subtile Promethius brought Stolne out of heauen did so afflict mankind That euer since plagu'd wyth a curious thought Of styrring search could neuer quiet find What hath he done who now by stealth hath got Lightning and Thunder both in wondrous kind
A styrring humor generally possest Those peace-spylt tymes weary of beeing well The weake with wrongs the happy tyr'd with rest And many mad for what they could not tell The world euen great with change thought it vvent wrong To stay beyond the bearing tyme so long 110 And therefore now these Lords consedered Being much increasd in number and in spight So shap'd theyr course that drawing to a head Began to grow to be offeare full might Th' abused world so hastie gathered Some for reuenge some for wealth some for delight That Yorke from small-beginning troups soone drawes A world of men to venture in hys cause 111 Lyke as proude Seuerne from a priuate head With humble streames at first doth gently glyde Tyll other Riuers haue contrybuted The springing riches of theyr store beside Wherewith at length high swelling shee doth spread Her broad discended waters layd so wide That comming to the Sea shee seemes from far Not to haue trybute brought but rather war 112 Euen so is Yorke now growne and now is bent T' incounter with the best and for the best Whose neere approch the King hastes to preuent Seeking t' haue had his power far of supprest Fearing the Citty least some insolent And mutinous should harten on the rest To take his part But h 'is so forward set That at S. Albones both the Annies met 113 Whether theyr hast far fewer hands dyd bring Then els theyr better leysure would haue done And yet too many for so foule a thing Sith who dyd best hath but dishonor won For whilst some offer peace sent from the King VVarwicks too forward hand hath war begun A war that doth the face of war deforme Which still is foule but soulest wanting forme 114 Neuer dyd valiant Leaders so well knowne For braue performed actions done before Blemish the reputation of renowne In any weake effected seruice more To bring such powres into so straight a Towne As to some Citty-tumulr or vprore Which slaughter and no battaile might be thought Where that side vsd theyr swords this theyr throat 115 But thys on VVarwicks wrath must needs be layd And vpon Sommersets desire t' obtayne The day with peace for which he longer stayd Then wisdom would or then was for his gayne Whose force in narrow streets once ouer layd Neuer recouerd head but there came slayne Both he and all the Leaders els besides The King himselfe alone a prisoner bides 116 A prisoner though not to the outward eye For that he must seeme grac'd with his lost day All things be'ing done for his commoditie Against such men as dyd the state betray For with such apt deceiuing clemencie And seeming-order Yorke dyd so allay That touch of wrong as made him make great stealth In weaker minds with shew of Common wealth 117 Long-lookt-for powre thus got into his hand The former face of Court now altered All the supreamest charges of commaund Were to his ayders straight contributed Himselfe is made Protector of the land A tytle found which onely couered All-working powre vnder another style Which yet the greatest part doth act the whyle 118 The King held onely but an empty name Left with his lyfe where of the proofe was such As sharpest pryde could not transpers the same Nor once all-seeking Fortune durst to tuch Impietie had not inlarged shame As yet so wide as to attempt so much Mischiefe was not full ripe for such a deede Left for th' vnbounded horrors that succeed The end of the fift Booke MVSOPHILVS CONTAINING a generall defence of learning SAMVEL DANIEL AT LONDON Printed by P. S. for Simon Waterson 1599. To the right worthie and iudicious fauourer of vertue maister Fulke Greuill I Do not here vpon this hum'rous Stage Bring my transformed verse apparailed With others passions or with others rage With loues with wounds with factions furnished But here present thee onelie modelled In this poore frame the forme of mine owne heart Here to reuiue my selfe my Muse is lead With motions of her owne t' act her owne part Striuing to make her now contemned arte As faire t' her selfe as possiblie she can Least seeming of no force of no desart She might repent the course that she began And with these times of dissolution fall From goodnes vertue glorie fame and all MVSOPHILVS CONTAINING A generall defence of all learning PHILOCOSMVS Fond man Musophilus that thus dost spend In an vngainefull arte thy deerest daies Tyring thy wits and toiling to no end But to attaine that idle smoake of praise Now when this busie world cannot attend Th' vntimely musicke of neglected layes Other delights then these other desires This wiser profit-seeking age requires Musophilus Friend Philocosmus Iconfesse indeed I loue this sacred arte thou sett'st so light And though it neuer stand my life in steed It is inough it giues my selfe delight The whiles my vnafflicted minde doth feed On no vnholy thoughts for benefit Be it that my vnseasonable song Come out of time that fault is in the time And I must not do vertue so much wrong As loue her ought the worse for others crime And yet I find some blessed spirits among That cherish me and like and grace my rime Againe that I do more in soule esteeme Then al the gain of dust the world doth craue And if I may attaine but to redeeme My name from dissolution and the graue I shall haue done enough and better deeme T' haue liu'd to be then to haue dyde to haue Short-breath'd mortalitie would yet extend That span of life so far forth as it may And rob her fate seeke to beguile her end Of some few lingring daies of after staie That all this little All might not descend Into the darke a vniuersall pray And giue our labors yet this poore delight That whē our daies do end they are not done And though we die we shall not perish quite But liue two liues where other haue but one Philocosmus Sillie desires of selfe-abusing man Striuing to gaine th' inheritance of ayre That hauing done the vttermost he can Leaues yet perhaps but beggerie to his heir Al that great purchase of the breath he wan Feeds not his race or makes his house more faire And what art thou the better thus to leaue A multitude of words to small effect Which other times may scorn and so deceiue Thy promis'd name of what thou dost expect Besides some viperous Creticke may bereaue Th' opinion of thy worth for some defect And get more reputation of his wit By but controlling of some word or sence Then thou shalt honor for contriuing it With all thy trauell care and diligence Being learning now enough to contradict And censure others with bold insolence Besides so many so confusedlie sing Whose diuers discords haue the musick mar'd And in contempt that mysterie doth bring That he must sing alowd that will be heard And the receiu'd opinion of the thing For some vnhallowed strings that vildly iar'd Hath so
takes Of what had past in sleepe and silent night Yet hereof no important reck'ning makes But as a dreame that vanisht with the light The day designes and what he had in hand Left it to his diuerted thoughts vnskand 94 Doubtfull at first he warie doth proceed Seemes not t' affect that which he did effect Or els perhaps seemes as he ment indeed Sought but his owne and did no more expect Then fortune thou art guilty of his deed That didst his state aboue his hopes erect And thou must beare some blame of his great sin That left'st him worse then when he did begin 95 Thou didst conspire with pride and with the time To make so easie an assent to wrong That he that had no thought so hie to clime With fauoring comfort still allur'd along Was with occasion thrust into the crime Seeing others weakenes and his part so-strong And ô in such a case who is it will Do good and feare that maie liue free with ill 96 We will not say nor thinke O Lancaster But that thou then didst meane as thou didst swere Vpon th' Euangelists at Doncaster In th' eie of heauen and that assembly there That thou but as an vpright orderer Sought'st to reforme th' abused kingdome here And get thy right and what was thine before And this was all thou would'st attempt no more 97 Though we might say thinke that this pretence Was but a shadow to th' intended act Because th' euent doth argue the offence And plainely seemes to manifest the fact For that hereby thou mightst win confidence With those whom els thy course might hap distract And all suspition of thy drift remoue Since easily men credit whom they loue 98 But God forbid we should so nerely pry Into the low deepe buried sinnes long past T' examine and conferre iniquity Whereof faith would no memory should last That our times might not haue t' exemplifie With aged staines but with our owne shame cast Might thinke our blot the first not done before That new-made sins might make vs blush the more 99 And let vnwresting charity beleeue That then thy oth with thy intent agreed And others faith thy faith did first deceiue Thy after fortune forc'd thee to this deed And let no man this idle censure giue Because th' euent proues so t was so decreed For ô what counsels sort to other end Then that which frailty did at first intend 100 Whilst those that are but outward lookers on That cannot sound these misteries of state Deemes things were so contriu'd as they are done Holding that policie that was but fate Wondring how strange t was wrought how close begun And thinke all actions else did tend to that When ô how short they come or cast too fare Making the happy wiser then they are 101 But by degrees he venters now on blood And sacrifiz'd vnto the peoples loue The death of those that chiefe in enuy stood As th' Officers who first these dangers proue The treasorer and those that they thought good Bushy and Greene by death he must remoue These were the men the people thought did cause Those great exactions and abusd the lawes 102 This done his cause was preacht with learned skil And th' Archbishop of Canterbury shew'd A pardon sent from Rome to all that will Take part with him and quit the faith they ow'd To Richard as a Prince vnfit and ill On whom the crowne was fatally bestow'd And easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught With what the mouth of grauity had taught 103 O that this powre from euerlasting giuen The great alliance made twixt God and vs Th' intelligence that earth doth hold with heauen Sacred religion ô that thou must thus Be made to smooth our waies vniust vneuen Brought from aboue earth-quarrels to discusse Must men beguile our soules to winne our wils And make our zeale the furtherer of ils 104 But the ambitious to aduance their might Dispence with heauen and what religion would The armed will finde right or else make right If this meanes wrought not yet another should And this and other now doe all incite To strength the faction that the Duke doth hold Who easily obtained what he sought His vertues and his loue so greatly wrought 105 The king still busied in this Irish warre Which by his valour there did well succeede Had newes how here his Lords reuolted are And how the Duke of Herford doth proceed In these affaires he feares are growne too farre Hastes his returne from thence with greatest speed But was by tempests windes and seas debarr'd As if they likewise had against him warr'd 106 But at the length though late in wales he landes Where thorowly inform'd of Henries force And well aduertisd how his owne case stands Which to his griefe he sees tendes to the worse He leauest ' Aumarle at Milford all those bands He brought from Ireland taking thence his course To Conwaie all disguisd with fourteene more Toth ' Earle of Salisburie thither sent before 107 Thinking the Earle had raisd some forces there Whom there he findes for saken all alone The people in those partes which leuied were B'ing closely shronke away dispersd and gone The king had stayed too long and they in feare Resolued euery man to shift for one At this amasd such fortune he laments Foresees his fall whereto each thing consents 108 In this disturb'd tumultuous broken state Whilst yet th' euent stood doubtfull what should be Whilst nought but headlong running to debate And glittering troupes and armor men might see Fury and feare compassion wrath and hate Confusd through all the land no Corner free The strong all mad to strife to ruine bent The weaker waild the aged they lament 109 And blame their many yeares that liue so long To see the horrour of these miseries Why had not we said they dyde with the strong In forraine fields in honourable wise In iust exploits and lawfull without wrong And by the valiant hand of enemies And not thus now reserued in our age To home confusion and disordered rage 110 Vnto the Temples flocke the weake deuout Sad wailing women there to vow and pray For husbands brothers or their sonnes gone out To bloudshed whom nor tears nor loue could stay Here graue religious fathers which much doubt The sad euents these broyles procure them may As Prophets warne exclaime disswade these crimes By the examples fresh of other times 111 And ô what doe you now prepare said they Another conquest by these fatall waies What must your own hands make your selues a pray To desolation which these tumults raise What Dane what Norman shall prepare his way To triumph on the spoile of your decaies That which nor France nor all the world could doe In vnion shall your discord bring you to 112 Conspire against vs neighbour nations all That enuy at the height whereto w' are growne Coniure the barbarous North and let them call Straunge fury from far distant shores
vnknowne And let them altogither on vs fall So to diuert the ruine of our owne That we forgetting what doth so incense May turne the hand of malice to defence 113 Calme these tempestuous spirits O mighty Lord This threatning storme that ouer hangs the land Make them consider ere they'vnsheath the sword How vaine is th' earth this point wheron they stand And with what sad calamities is stoor'd The best of that for which th' Ambitious band Labor the end of labor strife of strife Terror in death and horrour after life 114 Thus they in zeale whose humbled thoughts were good Whil'st in this wide spread volume of the skies The booke of prouidence disclosed stood Warnings of wrath foregoing miseries In lines of fire and caracters of blood There fearefull formes in dreadfull flames arise Amazing Comets threatning Monarches might And new-seene starres vnknowne vnto the night 115 Red fiery dragons in the aire doe flie And burning Meteors poynted-streaming lights Bright starres in midst of day appeare in skie Prodigious monsters gastly fearefull sights Straunge Ghosts and apparitions terrific The wofull mother her owne birth affrights Seeing a wrong deformed infant borne Grieues in her paines deceiu'd in shame doth morn 116 The Earth as if afeard of bloud and woundes Trembles in terror of these falling bloes The hollow concaues giue out groning sounds And sighing murmurs to lament our woes The Ocean all at discord with his boundes Reiterates his strange vntimely floes Nature all out of course to checke our course Neglects her worke to worke in vs remorse 117 So great a wracke vnto it selfe doth lo Disordered mortality prepare That this whole frame doth euen labour so Her ruine vnto frailty to declare And trauailes to fore-signifie the wo That weake improuidence could not beware For heauen and earth and aire and seas and all Taught men to see but not to shun their fall 118 Is man so deare vnto the heauens that they Respect the waies of earth the workes of sin Doth this great all this vniuersall weigh The vaine designes that weakenes doth begin Or doe our feare father of zeale make way Vnto this errour ignorance liues in Making our faults the cause that moue these powres That haue their cause from other cause then ours 119 Or doe the conscience of our wicked decdes Apply to sinne the terrour of these sights Hapning at the instant when commotion breedes Amazing only timorous vulgar wights Who euer aggrauating that which feedes Their feares still find out matter that affrights Whilst th' impious fierce neglecting seele no touch And weigh too light what other scare so much 120 Ah no th' eternall powre that guides this frame And serues him with the instruments of heauen To call the earth and summon vp our shame By an edict from euerlasting giuen Forbids mortality to search the same Where sence is blind and wit of wit bereauen Terror must be our knowledge feare our skill T' admire his worke and tremble at his will 121 And these beginnings had this impious warre Th' vngodly bloudshed that did so defile The beauty of thy fields and euen did marre The flowre of thy chiefe pride ô fairest Ile These were the causes that incensd so farre The ciuil wounding hand inragd with spoile That now the liuing with afflicted eie Looke backe with griefe on such calamity THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE King Richard mones his wrong and wailes his raigne And here betrayd to London he is led Basely attyrd attending Herfords traine Where th' one is skornd the other welcomed His Wife mistaking him doth much complaine And both togither greatly sorrowed In hope to saue his life and ease his thrall He yeelds vp state and Rule and Crowne and all 1 IN dearth of faith and scarsity of friends The late great mighty monarch on the shore In th' vtmost corner of his land attends To call backe false obedience fled before Toyles and in vaine his toile and labour spends More hearts he sought to gaine he lost the more All turn'd their faces to the rising sunne And leaues his setting-fortune night begun 2 O Percy how by thy example lead The household traine for sooke their wretched Lord When with thy staffe of charge dishonoured Thou brak'st thy faith not steward of thy word And tookst his part that after tooke thy head When thine owne hand had strengthned first his For such great merits doe obraid and call For great reward or thinke the great too small 3 And kings loue not to be beholding ought Which makes their chiefest friends oft speed the worst For those by whom their fortunes haue bin wrought Put them in mind of what they were at first Whose doubtfull faith if once in question brought T is thought they will offend because they durst And taken in a fault are neuer spar'd Being casier to reuenge then to reward 4 And thus these mighty actors sonnes of change These partizanes of factions often tride That in the smoake of innouations strange Build huge vncertaine plots of vnsure pride And on the hazard of a bad exchange Haue venterd all the stocke of life beside Whilst Princes raisd disdaine to haue beene raisd By those whose helpes deserue not to be praisd 5 O Maiestie left naked all alone But with th' vnarmed title of thy right Those gallant troupes thy fortune followers gone And all that pompe the complements of might Th' amazing shadowes that are cast vpon The eares of Princes to be guile the sight Are vanisht cleane and only frailty left Thy selfe of all besides thy selfe berest 6 Like when some great Colossus whose strong base Or mighty props are shronke or sunke awaie Fore-shewing ruine threatning all the place That in the danger of his fall doth stay All straight to better safetie flocke apace None rest to helpe the ruine while they maie The perill great and doubtfull there dresse Men are content to leaue right in distresse 7 As stately Thames inricht with many a flood And goodly riuers that haue made their graues And buried both their names and all their good Within his greatnes to augment his waues Glides on with pompe of waters vnwithstood Vnto the Ocean which his tribute craues And Taies vp all his wealth within that powre Which in it selfe all greatnes doth deuour 8 So flocke the mightie with their following traine Vnto the all-receiuing Builing brooke Who wonders at himselfe how he should gaine So manie hearts as now his partie tooke And with what ease and with how slender paine His fortune giues him more then he could looke What he imagind neuer could be wrought Is powrd vpon him farre beyond his thought 9 So often things which seeme at first in shew Without the compasse of accomplishment Once ventred on to that successe do grow That euen the Authors do admire th' euent So manie meanes which they did neuer know Doe second their designes and doe present Straunge vnexpected helpes and chiefly then When th' Actors are reputed worthy men
people that begun Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect He causd be put to execution One that to doe this murther was elect A base meane man whom few or none would misse Who first did serue their turne and now serues his 15 And to abase the too high state of those That were accusd and lessen their degrees Aumarle Surry Exceter must lose The names of Dukes their titles dignities And what soeuer honour with it goes The Earles their titles and their Signories And all they gote in th' end of Richards raigne Since Glosters death they mustrestore againe 16 By this as if by Ostracisme t' abate That great presumptiue wealth whereon they stand For first hereby impou'rishing their state He kils the meanes they might haue to withstand Then equals them with other whom they hate Who by their spoiles are raisd to hie command That weake and enuied if they should conspire They wracke themselues and he hath his desire 17 And by this grace which yet must be a grace As both they and the world are made belieue He doth himselfe secure and them defuce Thinking not rigor that which life doth giue But what an error was it in this case To wrong so many and to let them liue But errors are no errors but by fate For oft th' euent make soule faults fortunate 18 The parlament which now is held decreed What euer pleasd the king but to propound Confirm'd the crowne to him and to his feed And by their oth their due obedience bound And ô b' it sinne t' examine how this deed How iust t is done and on how fure a ground Whether that Court maie change due course or no Or ought the realme against the realme can do 19 Here was agreed to make all more secure That Richard should remaine for euermore Close-prisoner least the realme might chāce indure Some new reuolt or any fresh vprone And that if any should such broile procure By him or for him he should die therefore So that a talke of tumult and a breath Would serue him as his passing-bell to death 20 Yet reuerent Carlile thou didst there oppose Thy holy voice to saue thy Princes bloud And freely check'st this iudgement and his foes When all were bad yet thou dar'st to be good Be it inrold that time may neuer lose The memory how firme thy vertues stood When powre disgrace nor death could ought diuart Thy glorious tongue thus to reueale thy hart 21 Graue reuerent Lords since that this sacred place Our Auentine Retire our holy hill This place soule of our state the Realmes best grace Doth priuiledge me speake what reason will O let me speake my conscience in this case Least sin of silence shew my hart was ill And let these walles witnes if you will not I do discharge my soule of this soule blot 22 Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent That he that two and twenty yeeres hath raignd As lawfull Lord and king by iust discent Should here be iudged vnheard and vnaraignd By subiects two Iudges incompetent To iudge their king vnlawfully detaind And vn-brought forth to plead his guiltles cause Barring th' annointed libertie of lawes 23 Haue you not done inough blush to thinke Lay on your harts those hands those hands too rash Know that this staine that 's made doth farther sinke Into your soules then all your blouds can wash Leaue with the mischiefe done and doe not linke Sin vnto sin for heauen and earth will dash This ill accomplisht worke ere it be long For weake he builds that sences wrong with wrong 24 Stopt there was his too vehemēt speech with speed And he sent close to warde from where he stood His zeale vntimely deem'd too much t' exceed The measure of his wit and did no good They resolute for all this doe proceed Vnto that iudgement could not be withstood The king had all he crau'd or could compell And all was done we will not say how well 25 Now Muserelate a wofull accident And tell the bloudshed of these mighty Peeres Who lately reconcild rest discontent Grieu'd with disgrace remaining in their feares How euerseeming outwardly content Yet th' inward touch that wounded honor beares Rosts closely rankling and can find no ease Till death of one side cure this great disease 26 Meanes how to feele and learne each others hart By th' Abbot now of Westminster is found Who secretly disliking Henries part Inuites these Lords and those he ment to sound Feasts them with cost and drawes them on with art And darke and doubtful questions doth propound Then plainer speakes and yet vncertaine speakes Then wishes wel then off abruptly breakes 27 My Lord faith he I feare we shall not finde This long-desired king such as was thought But yet he may doe well God turne his minde T is yet new daies but ill bodes new and nought Some yet speed well though all men of my kind Haue cause to doubt his speech is not forgot That Princes had too little we too much God giue him grace but t is ill trusting such 28 This open-close apparent-darke discourse Drew on much speech and euery man replies And euery man ads heat and wordes inforce And vrge out words for when one man espies Anothers minde like his then ill breedes worse And out breakes all in th' end what closest lies For when men well haue fed th' bloud being warme Then are they most improuident of harme 29 Bewray they did their in ward boyling spight Each stirring other to reuenge their cause One saies he neuer should indure the sight Of that forsworne that wrongs both land and lawes Another vowes the same of his minde right A third t' a point more nere the matter drawes Sweares if they would he would attempt the thing To chaste th' vsurper and replace their king 30 Thus one by one kindling each others fire Till all inflam'd they all in one agree All resolute to prosecute their ire Seeking their owne and Countries cause to free And haue his first that their bloud did conspire For no way else they said but this could be Their wrong-detained honor to redeeme Which true-bred bloud shoulde more then life esteeme 31 And let not this our new-made faithles Lord Saith Surry thinke that we are lest so bare Though bare inough but we will find a sword To kill him with when hee shall not beware For he that is with life and will but stoor'd Hath for reuenge inough and needs not care For time will fit and furnish all the rest Let him but euen attend and doe his best 32 Then of the manner how t' effect the thing Consulted was and in the end agreed That at a maske and common reuelling Which should b' ordaind they should performe the deed For that would be least doubted of the king And fittest for their safety to proceed The night their number and the suddaine act Would dash all order and protect their fact 33 Besides they might vnder the
doth deliberate And finding how the certaine right did stand With full consent this man did ordinate The heyre apparent to the crowne and land Then iudge if this the king might nerely touch Although his might were smal his right being much 91 With these the Percyes them confederate And as three heades they league in one intent And instituting a Triumuirate Do part the land in triple gouerment Deuiding thus among themselues the state The Percyes should rule all the North from Trent And Glendowr Wales the Earle of March should bee Lord of the South from Trent and thus they gree 92 Then those two helpes which still such actors find Pretence of common good the kings disgrace Doth fit their course and draw the vulgar mind To further them and aide them in this cafe The king they accusd for cruell and vnkind That did the state and crowne and all deface A periurde man that held all faith in skorne Whose trusted othes had others made for sworne 93 Besides the odious detestable act Of that late murdered king they aggrauate Making it his that so had will'd the fact That he the doers did remunerate And then such taxes daily doth exact That were against the orders of the state And with all these or worse they him assaild Who late of others with the like preuaild 94 Thus doth contentious proud mortality Afflict each other and it selfe torment And thus o thou mind-tortring misery Restles ambition borne in discontent Turn st and retossest with iniquity The vnconstant courses frailty did inuent And fowlst faire order and defilst the earth Fostring vp warre father of bloud and dearth 95 Great seemd the cause and greatly to did ad The peoples loue thereto these crimes rehearst That manie gathered to the troupes they had And many more do flocke from costs disperst But when the king had heard these newes so bad Th'vnlookt for dangerous toyle more nearly perst For bēt t'wards Wales t' appease those tumults there H 'is for'st diuert his course and them forbeare 96 Not to giue time vnto th' increasing rage And gathering fury forth he hastes with speed Left more delay or giuing longer age To th' euill growne it might the cure exceed All his best men at armes and leaders sage All he prepard he could and all did need For to a mighty worke thou goest ô king To such a field that power to power shall bring 97 There shall young Hotespur with a fury lead Meete with thy forward sonne as fierce as he There warlike Worster long experienced In forraine armes shall come t' incounter thee There Dowglas to thy Stafford shall make head There Vernon for thy valiant Blunt shal be There shalt thou find a doubtfull bloudy day Though sicknesse keepe Northumberland away 98 Who yet reseru'd though after quit for this Another tempest on thy head to raise As if still wrong reuenging Nemesis Did meane t' afflict all thy continuall dayes And yet this field he happely might misse For thy great good and therefore well he staies What might his force haue done being ioynd thereto When that already gaue so much to do 99 The swift approch and vnexspected speed The king had made vpon this new-raisd force In th'vnconfirmed troupes much feare did breed Vntimely hindring their intended course The ioyning with the Welsh they had decreed Was hereby stopt which made their part the worse Northumberland with forces from the North Expected to be there was not set forth 100 And yet vndaunted Hotspur seeing the king So nere approch'd leauing the worke in hand With forward speed his forces marshalling Sets forth his farther comming to withstand And with a cheerfull voice incouraging By his great spirit his well imboldned band Bringes a strong host of firme resolued might And plac'd his troupes before the king in sight 101 This day saith he ô faithfull valiaunt frendes What euer it doth giue shall glorie giue This day with honor frees our state or endes Our misery with fame that still shall liue And do but thinke how well this day he spendes That spendes his bloud his countrey to relieue Our holie cause our freedome and our right Sufficient are to moue good mindes to fight 102 Besides th' assured hope of victory That wee may euen promise on our side Against this weake-constrained companie Whom force feare not will and loue doth guide Against a prince whose soule impiety The heauens do hate the earth cannot abide Our number being no lesse our courage more What need we doubt if we but worke therefore 103 This said and thus resolu'd euen bent to charge Vpon the king who well their order viewd And carefull noted all the forme at large Of their proceeding and their multitude And deeming better if he could discharge The day with safetie and some peace conclude Great proffers sendes of pardon and of grace If they would yeeld and quietnes imbrace 104 But this refusd the king with wrath incensd Rage against fury doth with speed prepare And ô faith he though I could haue dispensd With this daies bloud which I haue sought to spare That greater glory might haue recompensd The forward worth of these that so much dare That we might honor had by th' ouerthrown That th' wounds we make might not haue bin our own 105 Yet since that other mens iniquity Calles on the sword of wrath against my will And that themselues exact this cruelty And I constrained am this bloud to spill Then on my maisters on couragiously True-harted subiects against traitors ill And spare not them who seeke to spoile vs all Whose fowle confused end soone see you shall 106 Straight moues with equall motion equall rage The like incensed armies vnto blood One to defend another side to wage Foule ciuill war both vowes their quarrell good Ah too much heare to bloud doth now inrage Both who the deed prouokes and who withstood That valor here is vice here manhood sin The forward st hands doth ô least honor win 107 But now begin these fury-mouing soundes The notes of wrath that musicke brought from hell The ratling drums which trumpets voice cōfounds The cryes th' incouragements the shouting shrell That all about the beaten ayre reboundes Thundring confused murmurs horrible To rob all sence except the sence to fight Well handes may worke the mind hath lost his sight 108 O war begot in pride and luxury The child of wrath and of dissention Horrible good mischiefe necessarie The fowle reformer of confusion Vniust-iust scourge of our iniquitie Cruell recurer of corruption O that these sin-sicke states in need should stand To be let bloud with such a boystrous hand 109 And ô how well thou hadst bene spar'd this day Had not wrong counsaild Percy bene peruers Whose yong vndanger'd hand now rash makes way Vpon the sharpest fronts of the most fierce Where now an equall fury thrusts to stay And rebeat-backe that force and his disperse Then these assaile then those chace backe
pretendant race t' haue laid full low If thou proceeded hadst with crueltie Not suffering anie fatall branch to grow But vnsuspicious magnanimitie Shames such effects of feare and force to show Busied in free and open Actions still Being great for being good hates to be ill 36 Which ô how much it were to be requir'd In all of might if all were like of mind But when that all depraued haue conspird To be vniust what saftie shall they find After the date of vertue is expird That do not practize in the selfe-same kind And countermine against deceite with guile But ô what mischiefe feeles the world the while 37 And yet such wronges are held meete to be don And often for the state thought requisite As when the publicke good depends thereon When most iniustice is esteemd most right But ô what good with doing ill is won Who hath of bloud made such a benefite As hath not fear'd more after then before And made his peace the lesse his plague the more 38 Far otherwise dealt this vndaunted king That cheerished the ofspring of his foes And his competitors to grace did bring And them his frendes for Armes and honors chose As if plaine courses were the safest thing Where vpright goodnes sure and stedfast goes Free from that subtile mask't impietie Which this depraued world calles policie 39 Yet how hath fate dispos'd of all this good What haue these vertues after times availd In what steed hath hy-raised valor stood When this continuing cause of greatnes faild Then when proud-growne the irritated bloud Enduring not it selfe it selfe assaild As though that Prowesse had but learnt to spill Much bloud abrode to cut her throte with skill 40 O doth th' Eternall in the course of thinges So mixe the causes both of good and ill That thus the one effects of th' other bringes As what seemes made to blisse is borne to spill What from the best of vertues glorie springes That which the world with miserie doth fill Is th' end of happines but wretchednesse Hath sin his plague and vertue no successe 41 Either that is not good the world holds good Or else is so confusd with ill that we Abused with th' appearing likelihood Run to offend whilst we thinke good to be Or else the heauens made man in furious bloud To torture man And that no course is free From mischiefe long And that faire daies do breed But storms to make more foule times that succeed 42 Who would haue thought but so great victories Such conquests riches land and kingdome gaind Could not but haue establish't in such wise This powreful state in state to haue remaind Who would haue thought that mischief could deuise A way so soone to loose what was attaind As greatnes were but shewd to grieue not grace And to reduce vs into far worse case 43 With what contagion France didst thou insect The land by thee made proud to disagree T'inrage them so their owne swords to direct Vpon themselues that were made sharpe in thee Why didst thou teach them here at home t' erect Trophees of their bloud which of thine should be Or was the date of thy affliction out And so was ours by course to come about 44 But that vntimely death of this Great King Whose nine yeares raign so mighty wōders wrought To thee thy hopes to vs despaire did bring Not long to keepe and gouerne what was gote For those that had th' affaires in managing Although their countries good they greatly sought Yet so ill accidents vnfitly fell That their desseignes could hardly prosper well 45 An infant king doth in the state succeed Skarse one yeare old left vnto others guide Whose carefull trust though such as shewd indeed They waighd their charge more then the world beside And did with dutie zeale and loue proceed Yet for all what their trauaile could prouide Could not woo fortune to remaine with vs When this her Minion was departed thus 46 But by degrees first this then that regaind The turning tide beares backe with flowing chaunce Vnto the Dolphin all we had attaind And fils the late low-running hopes of Fraunce When Bedford who our onely hold maintaind Death takes from vs their fortune to aduaunce And then home strife that on it selfe did fall Neglecting forraine care did soone loose all 47 Nere three score years are past since Bullinbrooke Did first attaine God knowes how iust the crowne And now his race for right possessors tooke Were held of all to hold nought but their owne When Richard Duke of Yorke begins to looke Into their right and makes his title knowne Wakening vp sleeping-wrong that lay as dead To witnes how his race was iniured 48 His fathers end in him no feare could moue T' attempt the like against the like of might Where long possession now of feare and loue Seem'd to prescribe euen an innated right So that to proue his state was to disproue Time law consent oth and allegeance quight And no way but the waie of bloud there was Through which with all confusion he must passe 49 O then yet how much better had it beene T' indure a wrong with peace then with such toyle T' obtaine a bloudie right since Right is sinne That is ill sought and purchased with spoile What madnes vnconstrained to begin To right his state to put the state in broyle Iustice her selfe maie euen do wrong in this No war be'ing right but that which needfull is 50 And yet that oportunity which led Him to attempt seemes likewise him t' excuse A feeble spirited king that gouerned Vnworthy of the Scepter he did vse His enemies that his worth maliced Who both the land and him did much abuse The poeples loue and his apparant right May seeme sufficient motiues to incite 51 Besides the now ripe wrath deferd till now Of that sure and vnfailing Justicer That neuer suffers wrong so long to grow And to incorporate with right so farre That it might come to seeme the same in show T' incourage those that euill minded are By such successe but that at last he will Confound the branch whose root was planted ill 52 Else might the ympious say with grudging spright Doth God permit the great to riot free And blesse the mighty though they doe vnright As if he did vnto their wrongs agree And only plague the weake and wretched wights For smallest faults euen in the highest degree When he but vsing them others to scourge Likewise of them at length the world doth purge 53 But could not ô for bloudshed satisfie The now well-ruling of th'ill-gotten crowne Must euen the good receiue the penaltie Of former sinnes that neuer were their owne And must a iust kings bloud with miserie Pay for a bad vniustly ouerthrowne Then ô I see due course must rightly goe And th' earth must trace it or else purchase woe 54 And sure this king that now the crowne possest Henry the sixt was one whose life was free From that
commaund of vice whereto the rest Of many mighty foueraignes subiectés be And numbred might haue beene among the best Of other men if not of that degree A right good man but yet an euill king Vnfit for what he had in managing 55 Mild meeke of spirit by nature patient No thought t' increase or scarse to keepe his owne Apter for pardoning then for punishment Seeking his bounty not his powre t' haue knowne Far from reuenge soone won soone made content As fitter for a cloyster then a crowne Whose holy minde so much addicted is On th' world to come that he neglecteth this 56 With such a weake good feeble godly king Hath Richard Duke of Yorke his cause to trie Who by th' experience of long managing The warres of Fraunce with supreame dignitie And by his owne great worth with furthering The common good against the enemie Had wrought that zeale and loue attend his might And made his spirit equall vnto his right 57 For now the Duke of Bedford beeing dead He is ordaind the Regent to succeed In Fraunce for fiue yeares where he trauailed Whith ready hand and with as carefull heed To seeke to turne backe fortune that now fled And hold vp falling power in time of need And gote and lost and reattaines againe That which againe was lost for all his paine 58 His time expird he should for fiue yeares more Haue had his charge prolong'd but Sommerset That still had enuide his commaund before That place and honor for himselfe did get Which ans that matter to th' alreadie store Of kindled hate which such a fire doth set Vnto the touch of that confounding flame As both their blouds could neuer quench the same 59 And now the weaknes of that feeble head That doth neglect all care but his soules care So easie meanes of practise ministred Vnto th' ambitious members to prepare Their owne desires to what their humors lead That all good Actions coldly followed are And seurall-tending hopes do wholy bend To other now then to the publique end 60 And to draw on more speedy misery The king vnto a fatall match is led With Rayners daughter king of Sicilie Whom with vnlucky starres he married For by the meanes of this affinitie Was lost all that his Father conquered Euen as if Fraunce had some Erynnis sent T' auenge their wrongs done by the insolent 61 This marriage was the Duke of Suffolks deed With great rewardes won to effect the same Which made him that he tooke so little heed Vnto his countries good or his owne shame Being a match could stand vs in no steed For strength for wealth for reputation fame But cunningly contriued for their gaine To cost vs more then Aniou Mauns and Maine 62 And yet as if he had accomplished Some mighty benefit vnto the land He gote his trauailes to be registred In Parliment for euermore to stand A witnes to approue all what he did To th' end that if hereafter it were scand Autoritie might yet be on his side As doing nought but what was ratifide 63 Imagining th' allowance of that place Would make that good the which he knew was naught And so would his negotiation grace As none would thinke it was his priuat faut Wherein though wit dealt wary in this case Yet in the end it selfe it ouer raught Striuing to hide he opened it the more His after care shewd craft had gone before 64 Deare didst thou buy ô king so faire a wife So rare a spirit so high a minde the while Whose portion was destruction dowry strife Whose bed was sorrow whose imbracing spoile Whose maintenance cost thee and thine their life And whose best comfort neuer was but toyle What Paris brought this booty of desire To set our mighty Ilium here on fire 65 I grieue that I am forst to say thus much To blame her that I yet must wonder at Whos 's so sweet beauty wit and worth were such As euerlasting admiration gat Yet doth my countries zeale so nerely touch That I am drawne to say I know not what And yet ô that my pen should euer giue Staine to that sex by whom her fame doth liue 66 For sure those vertues well deserud a crowne And had it not beene ours no doubt she might Haue matcht the worthiest that the world hath known And now sate faire with fame with glorie bright But comming in the way where sin was grown So foule and thicke it was her chance to light Amidst that grosse infection of those times And so came staind with blacke disgracefull crimes 67 And some the world must haue on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproach and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' only Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps t was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor helpe the same But liuing in the eie of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw on wo. 68 So much vnhappie doth the mightie stand That stand on other then their owne defence When as distruction is so neare at hand That if by weakenes folly negligence They do not comming miserie withstand They shall be thought th'authors of the offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as those that brought those plagues about 69 And so remaine for euer registred In that eternall booke of infamie When ô how many other causes lead As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oftly close smothered And well ment deedes fall out vnluckily Whilst the aggrieued stand not t'waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 70 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults that mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath beene A speciall meanes this commonwealth to marre And that thy way ward will was plainly seene In vaine ambition to presume too farre And that by thee the onely way was wrought The Duke of Gloster to his death was brought 71 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainly permit Others to looke to that they could not see During his life nor would aduenture it When his remoue quite made that passage free So by his fall thinking to stand alone Hardly could stand at all when he was gone 72 For this Duke as Protector many yeares Had rul'd the land during the kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if he still were in his pupillage With such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incensd with an ambitious rage She doth conspire to haue him made awaie As who the course of her maine will doth staie 73 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent That grieu'd likewise that any else beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therfore he such deepe aduise applide As forraine
craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 74 And manie ready hands shee straight doth find To aide her deede of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind That to himselfe th' affaires all wholly tooke And ruling all had neuer any minde T' impart a part with others that would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And grieu'd at such ingrossing of commaunds 75 And had he not had such a greedy loue Of still continuing of his charge too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life without shee did him wrong But hauing liu'd so manie yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to be lesse strong And kils that fame that vertue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 76 O could the mighty but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe fortune ere shee pull them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfide Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high spreading ouergrowne Whilst they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and dispight 77 Then should not ô so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloudy end Nor their disgrac'd confounded families From so hye pride to so low shame descend But planted on that ground where safety lies Their branches should to eternity extend But euer those that ouerlooke so much Must ouersee themselues their state is such 78 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towardes euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bread despight So that euen vertue seemes an Actor too To ruine those fortune prepares to vndoo 79 Those thus prouided whom the Queene wel knew Hated his might and glad to inoouate Vnto so great and strong a party grew As easie t' was to ouerthrow his state And onely hope of alteration drew Manie to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnes men grow discontent Where states are ripe to fall and vertue spent 80 And taking all the rule into her hand Vnder the shadowe of that feeble king The Duke sh' excludes from office and command And in the reach of enmity doth bring From that respected height where he did stand Whilst malice scarce durst mutter anything When straight the worst of him comes all reueald Which former feare or rigor kept conceald 81 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the land haue brought The ciuile forme in cases touching bloud And such poore crimes that shewd their spight was sound But yet bewraide their matter wanted ground 82 Yet seru'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shall obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose hainous faults his matter must deface For where powre hath decreed to find th' oftence The cause is better still then the defence 83 A Parlament at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or ought imagining of what befell Where as the matter is so followed That he conuented is ere he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 84 Which quicke and sodaine action gaue no time For men to weigh the iustice of the deed Whilst looking only on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drift they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Sacietie makes passions still lesse strong 85 And yet they seem'd some mutiny to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Seeing he was most popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither dye 86 Reekning it better since his end is ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft things done perhaps doe lesse anoy Then may the doing handled with delay 87 And so they had it straight accomplished For that day after his committing he Is dead brought foorth being found so in his bed Which was by sodaine sicknes said to bee That had vpon his sorrowes gathered As by apparant to kens men might see And thus ô Sicknes thou art oft belide When death hath many waies to come beside 88 Are these the deedes hye forraine wits inuent Is this that wisedome whereof they so boast O then I would it neuer had beene spent Here amongst vs nor brought from out their coast O let their cunning in their limits pent Remaine amongst themselues that like it most And let the North they count of colder bloud Beheld more grosse so it remaine more good 89 Let them haue fairer citties goodlier soiles And sweeter fields for beautie to theeie So long as they haue these vngodly wiles Such detestable vile impietie And let vs want their vines their fruites the whiles So that we want not faith and honestie We care not for those pleasures so we may Haue better harts and stronger hands then they 90 Neptune keepe out from thy imbraced Ile This foule contagion of iniquitie Drowne all corruptions comming to defile Our faire proceedings ordred formally Keepe vs mere English let not craft beguile Honor and Iustice with strang subtiltie Let vs not thinke that that our good can frame Which ruinde hath the Authors of the same 91 But by this impious meanes that worthy man Is brought vnto this lamentable end And now that current with maine fury ran The stop remou'd that did the course defend Vnto the full of mischiefe that began T' a vniuersall ruine to extend That Isthmus failing which the land did keepe From the intire possession of the deepe 92 And now the king alone all open lay No vnderprop of bloud to stay him by None but himselfe standes weakely in the way Twixt Yorke and the affected sou'raignty Gone is that barre that would haue beene the stay T' haue kept him backe from mounting vp so hie But ô in what a state stand these men in That cannot liue without nor with their kin 93 The Queene hath yet by this her full desire And now she with her minion Suffolke raignes Now shee hath all authority intire And all affaires
What plague deserues so proude an enterprize Tell Muse and how it came and in what wise 31 It was the tyme when fayre Europa sate With many goodly Diadems addrest And all her parts in florishing estate Lay beautifull in order at their rest No swelling member vnproportionate Growne out of forme sought to disturbe the rest The lesse subsisting by the greaters might The greater by the lesser kept vpright 32 No noyse of tumult euer wak'd them all Onely perhaps some priuatiarrs within For tytles or for confines might befall Which ended soone made better loue begin But no eruption dyd in generall Breake downe theyr rest with vniuersall sin No publique shock dysioynted thys fayre frame Tyll Nemesis from out the Orient came 33 Fierce Nemisis mother of fate and change Sword-bearer of th' eternall prouidence That had so long with such afflictions strange Confounded Asias proude magnificence And brought foule impious Barbarisme to range On all the glory of her excellence Turnes her sterne looke at last vnto the West As greeu'd to see on earth such happy rest 34 And for Pandora calleth presently Pandora Ioues fayre gift that first deceiu'd Poore Epimetheus imbecillitie That thought he had a wondrous boone receiu'd By meanes whereof curioius mortalitie Was of all former quiet quite bereau'd To whom being come deckt with all qualities The wrathfull Goddesse breakes out in thys wise 35 Doost thou not see in what secure estate Those florishing fayre Westerne parts remaine As if they had made couenant with Fate To be exempted free from others paine At one with theyr desires friends with debate In peace with pride content with theyr owne gaine Their bounds cōtaine their minds their minds applide To haue their bounds with plentie beautified 36 Deuotion mother of Obedience Beares such a hand on theyr credulity That it abates the spirit of eminence And busies them wyth humble pietie For see what works what infinite expence What monuments of zeale they edifie As if they would if that no stop were found Fill all with Temples make all holy ground 37 But we must coole thys all-beleeuing zeale That hath enioyd so fayre a turne so long And other reuolutions must reueale Other desires other designes among Dislike of thys first by degrees shall steale Vpon the soules of men perswaded wrong And th' abus'd power that such a power hath got Shall giue herselfe the sword to cut her throat 38 Goe thou therefore with all thy styrring trayne Of swelling sciences the gyfts of greefe Goe loose the lynks of that soule-binding chayne Inlarge thys vninquisitiue beleefe Call vp mens spirits whom darknes doth detaine Enter theyr harts and Knowledge make the theefe To open all the doores to let in light That all may all things see but what is right 39 Opinion Arme against opinion growne Make new-borne contradiction still so rise As if Thebes-founder Cadmus tongues had sowne In stead of teeth for greater mutinies Bring lyke defended fayth against fayth knowne Weary the soule with contrarieties Till all Religion become retrograde And that fayre tyre the maske of sin be made 40 And better to effect a speedy end Let there be found two fatall instruments The one to publish th' other to defend Impious contention and proud discontents Make that instamped Characters may send Abroad to thousands thousand mens intents And in a moment may dispatch much more Then could a world of pennes performe before 41 Whereby all quarrels tytles secrecies May vnto all be presently made knowne Factions prepard parties allur'd to rise Sedition vnder fayre pretentions sowne Whereby the vulgar may become so wise That with a selfe presumption ouer-growne Hee may of deepest misteries debate Controule his betters censure acts of state 42 And then when this dispersed mischiefe shall Haue brought confusion in each misterie Calld vp contempt of all states generall Ripened the humor of impietie Then haue they th' other Engin where-with-all They may torment theyr selfe-wrought misery And scourge each other in the strangest wise As tyme or Tyrants neuer could deuise 43 For by this stratagem they shall confound All th' ancient forme and discipline of war Alter theyr camps alter theyr fights theyr ground Daunt mighty spirits prowesse and manhood mar For basest cowards from a far shall wound The most couragious forst to fight a far Valor rapt vp in smoake as in the night Shall perrish without witnes without sight 44 But first before thys generall disease Breake forth into so great extreamity Prepare it by degrees first kill thys ease Spoyle thys proportion mar thys harmony Make greater States vpon the lesser seaze Ioyne many kingdoms to one soueraignty Rayse a few great that may with greater power Slaughter each other and mankind deuoure 45 And first begin with factions to deuide The fayrest land that from her thrusts the rest As if shee car'd not for the world beside A world within her selfe with wonders blest Rayse such a strife as tyme shall not decide Till the dere blood of most of all her best Be poured forth and all her people tost With vnkind tumults and almost all lost 46 Let her be made the sable Stage whereon Shall first be acted bloody Tragedies That all the neighbour States gazing there on May make their profit by her miseries And those whom shee before had march'd vpon Hauing by this both tyme and meane to rise Made martiall by her Armes shall grow so great As saue theyr owne no force shall them defeat 47 That when theyr power vnable to sustaine And beare it selfe vpon it selfe shall fall Shee may recouered of her wounds againe Sit and behold theyr parts as tragicall For there must come a tyme that shall obtaine Truce for distresse When make-peace Hymen shall Bring the conioyned aduers powers to bed And set the Crowne made one vpon one head 48 Out of which blessed vnion shall arise A sacred branch with grace and glory blest Whose vertue shall her Land so patronize As all our power shall not her dayes molest For shee sayre shee the Minion of the skyes Shall purchase of the highe'st to hers such rest Standing betweene the wrath of heauen and them As no distresse shall touch her Diadem 49 Though thou shalt seeke by all the means thou may And Arme impiety and hell and all Styrre vp her owne make others to assay Bring sayth disguisd the power of Pluto call Call all thy orafts to practise her decay And yet shall thys take no effect at all For shee secure as intimate with Fate Shall sit and scorne those base dissignes of hate 50 And from the Rocks of safety shall discry The wondrous wracks that wrath layes ruined All round about her blood and misery Powers betrayd Princes slaine Kings massacred States all-confusd brought to calamitie And all the face of kingdoms altered Yet she the same inuiolable stands Deere to her owne wonder to other Lands 51 But let not her defence discourage thee For neuer none but shee shall haue thys grace
he meanes to shoote at you 71 For this course euer they deliberate Which doe aspyre to reach the gouernment To take aduantage of the peoples hate Which euer hate those that are eminent For who can manage great affayres of state And all a wayward multitude content And then these people-minions they must fall To worke out vs to worke themselues int'all 72 But note my Lord first who is in your hand Then how he hath offended what 's his end It is the man whose race would seeme to stand Before your right and doth a right pretend Who Traytor-like hath raysd a mighty band With coullor your proceedings to amend Which if it should haue hapned to succeed You had not now fate to adiudge hys deed 73 If oftentimes the person not th' offence Haue beene sufficient cause of death to some Where publique safety puts in euidence Of mischiefe likely by theyr lyfe to come Shall he whose fortune and his insolence Haue both deseru ' d to dye escape that doome When you shall saue your Land your Crowne therby And since you cannot lyue vnlesse he dye 74 Thys spake th' agreeued Duke that grauely saw Th' incompatible powers of Princes minds And what affliction his escape might draw Vnto the state and people of all kinds And yet the humble yeelding and the aw Which Yorke there shew'd so good opinion finds That with the rumor of his sonnes great strength And French affayres he there came quit at length 75 For euen the feare t' exasperat the heat Of th' Earle of March whose forward youth might Well followd seem'd a proude reuenge to threat If any shame should on his Father light And then desire in Gascoyne to reget The glory lost which home-broyles hinder might Aduauntaged the Duke and sau'd his head Which question lesse had els been hazarded 76 For now had Burdeux offered vpon ayd Present reuolt if we would send with speed Which fayre aduantage to haue then delayd Vpon such hopes had been a shamefull deed And therfore this all other courses stayd And outwardly these inward hates agreed Giuing an interpause to pride and spight Which breath'd but to break out with greater might 77 Whilst dreadfull Talbot terror late of Fraunce Against the Genius of our fortune stroue The down-throwne glory of our state t' aduaunce Where Fraunce far more then Fraunce hee now doth proue For frends opinion succeeding chaunce Which wrought the weak to yeld the strong to loue Were not the same as he had found before In happyer tymes when lesse would haue done more 78 For both the Britayne and Burgonian now Came altred with our luck won with theirs Those bridges and the gates that dyd allow So easie passage vnto our affayres Iudging it safer to endeuour how To linke with strength then leane vnto dispayres And who wants frends to back what he begins In Lands far of gets not although he wins 79 Which too well prou'd thys fatall enterprize The last that lost vs all we had to lose Where though aduantag'd by some mutenies And petty Lords that in our cause arose Yet those great fayld whose ready quick supplyes Euer at hand cheerd vs and quaild our foes Succours from far come seldom to our mind For who holds league with Neptune or the wind 80 Yet worthy Talbot thou didst so imploy The broken remnants of discattered power That they might see it was our destiny Not want of spirit that lost vs what was our Thy dying hand sold them the victory With so deere wounds as made the conquest sowre So much it cost to spoyle who were vndon And such a doe to win when they had won 81 For as a fierce couragious mastiue fares That hauing once sure fastned on his foe Lyes tugging on that hold neuer forbeares What force soeuer force hym to forgoe The more he feeles his wounds the more he dares As if his death were sweet in dying so So held his hold thys Lord whilst he held breath And scarce but with much blood le ts goe in death 82 For though he saw prepard against his side Both vnlike fortune and vnequall force Borne with the swelling current of theyr pryde Downe the mayne streame of a most happy course Yet stands he stiffe vndasht vnterrified His minde the same although his fortune worse Vertue in greatest dangers being best showne And though opprest yet neuer ouerthrowne 83 For reskuing of besieg'd Chatillion Where hauing first constraind the French to flye And following hard on theyr confusion Comes loe incountred with a strong supply Of fresh-ariuing powers that back thrust on Those flying troupes another chaunce to try Who double Arm'd with shame and fury straine To wreake their foyle and win theyr fame againe 84 Which seeing th' vndaūted Talbot with more might Of spirit to will then hands of power to doe Preparing t' entertaine a glorious fight Cheeres vp his wearied souldiers thereunto Courage sayth he those brauing troupes in sight Are but the same that now you dyd vndoe And what if there be come some more then they They come to bring more glory to the day 85 Which day must eyther thrust vs out of all Or all with greater glory back restore Thys day your valiant worth aduenture shall For what our Land shall neuer fight for more If now we faile with vs is like to fall All that renowne which we haue got before Thys is the last if we discharge the same The same shall last to our eternall fame 86 Neuer had worthy men for any fact A more fayre glorious Theater then we VVhereon true magnanimity might act Braue deeds which better witnessed could be For loe from yonder Turrets yet vnsackt Your valiant fellowes stand your worth to see T' auouch your valour if you liue to gaine And if we die that we dyde not in vaine 87 And euen our foes whose proud powrefull might VVould seeme to swallow vp our dignitie Shall not keepe backe the glory of our right Which theyr confounded blood shall testifie For in theyr wounds our gored swords shall write The monuments of our eternitie For vile is honor and a tytle vayne The which true worth and danger doe not gayne 88 For they shall see when we in carelesse sort Shall throw our selues on theyr despised speares T is not dispaire that doth vs so transport But euen true fortitude that nothing feares Sith we may well retire vs in some sort But shame on him that such a foule thought beares For be they more let Fortune take theyr part We'ill tugge her to and scratch her ere we part 89 Thys sayd a fresh infusd desire of fame Enters theyr warmed blood with such a will That they deem'd long they were not at the same And thogh they march'd they thought they yet stood still And that their lingring foes too slowly came To ioyne with them spending much time so ill Such force had words fierce humors vp to call Sent from the mouth of such
conclusion all is brought This is that rest this vaine world lends To end in death that all things ends ACTVS TERTIVS PHILOSTRATVS ARIVS HOW deepely Arius am I bound to thee That sau'dst from death this wretched life of mine Obtaining Caesars gentle grace for mee When I of all helps else dispaird but thine Although I see in such a wofull state Life is not that which should be much desir'd Sith all our glories come to end their date Our Countries honour and our own expir'd Now that the hand of wrath hath ouer-gone vs Liuing as 't were in th' armes of our dead mother With bloud vnder our feet ruine vpon vs And in a Land most wretched of all other When yet we reck on life our deerest good And so we liue we care not how we liue So deepe we feele impressed in our blood That touch which Nature with our breath did giue And yet what blasts of words hath learning found To blow against the feare of death and dying What comforts vnsicke eloquence can sound And yet all failes vs in the point of trying For whilst we reason with the breath of safety Without the compasse of destruction liuing What precepts shew we then what courage lofty In taxing others feares in counsell giuing When all this ayre of sweet-contriued words Proues but weake armour to defend the hart For when this life pale feare and terror boords Where are our precepts then where is our arte O who is he that from himselfe can turne That beares about the body of a man Who doth not toile and labour to adiorne The day of death by any meanes he can All this I speake to th' end my selfe t' excuse For my base begging of a seruile breath Wherein I grant my selfe much to abuse So shamefully to seek t' auoide my death Arius Philostratus that selfe same care to liue Possesseth all alike and grieue not then Nature doth vs no more then others giue Though we speak more then mē we are but mē And yet in truth these miseries to see Wherein we stand in most extreame distresse Might to our selues sufficient motiues be To loath this life and weigh our death the lesse For neuer any age hath better taught What feeble footing pride and greatnesse hath How ' improuident prosperitie is caught And cleane confounded in the day of wrath ' See how dismaid Confusion keepes those streetes That nought but mirth and musique late resounded How nothing with our eie but horror meeres Our state our wealth our pride and all confounded Yet what weake sight did not discerne from far This black-arisingtempest all confounding Who did not see we should be what we are When pride and ryot grew to such abounding VVhen dissolute impietie possest Th' vnrespectiue mindes of prince and people VVhen infolent Security found rest In wanton thoughts with lust ease made feeble Then when vnwary peace with fat-fed pleasure New-fresh inuented ryots still detected Purchac'd with all the Ptolomies ritch treasure Our lawes our gods our mysteries neglected VVho saw not how this confluence of vice This inundation of disorders must At length of force pay backe the bloody price Of sad destruction a reward for lust O thou and I haue heard and read and knowne Of like proude states as wofully incombred And fram'd by them examples for our own VVhich now among examples must be numbred For this decree a law from high is giuen An auncient Cannon of eternall date In Consistorie of the starres of heauen Entred the booke of vnauoided Fate That no state can in height of happinesse In th' exaltation of their glory stand But thither once ariu'd declining lesse Ruine themselues or fall by others hand Thus doth the euer-changing course of things Runne a perpetuall circle euer turning And that same day that hiest glory brings Brings vs vnto the point of back-returning For sencelesse sensualitie doth euer Accompany selicitie and greatnesse A fatal witch whose charmes do leaue vs neuer Till we leaue all in sorrow for our sweetnesse When yet our selues must be the cause we fall Although the same befirst decreed on hie Our errors still must beare the blame of all This must it be earth aske notheauen why Yet mighty men with wary iealous hand Striue to cut off all obstacles of feare All whatsoeuer seemes but to withstand Their least conceit of quiet held so deere And so intrench themselues with blood with crimes With all iniustice as their feares dispose Yet for all this we see how oftentimes The meanes they worke to keepe are meanes to lose And sure I cannot see howe this can stand With great Augustus safety and his honor To cut off all succession from our land For her offence that puld the wars vpon her Phi. Why must her issue pay the price of that Ari. The price is life that they are rated at Phi. Casario to issued of Caesars blood Ari. Pluralitie of Caesars are not good Phi. Alas what hurt procures his feeble arme Ari. Not for it doth but that it may do harme Phi. Then when it offers hurt represse the same Ari. T is best to quench a sparke before it flame Phi. T is inhumane an innocent to kill Ari. Such innocents sildome remaine so still And sure his death may best procure our peace Competitors the subiect deerely buies And so that our affliction may surcease Let great men be the peoples sacrifice But see where Caesar comes himselfe to try And worke the mind of our distressed Queene To apprehend some falsed hope whereby She might be drawn to haue her fortune seene But yet I thinke Rome will not see that face That queld her champiōs blush in base disgrace SCENA SECVNDA CAESAR CLEOPATRA SELEVCVS DOLABELLA Caes. WHat Cleopatra doost thou doubt so much Of Caesars mercy that thou hid'st thy face Or dost thou thinke thy ' offences can be such That they surmount the measure of our grace Cleo. O Caesar not for that I flie thy sight My soule this sad retyre of sorrow chose But that my'oppressed thoghts abhorring light Like best in darknes my disgrace t' inclose And here to these close limits of despaire This solitarie horror where I bide Caesar I thought no Roman should repaire More after him who here oppressed dyde Yet now here at thy conquering feete I lie Poore captiue soul that neuer thought to bow Whose happie foote of rule and Maiestie Stood late on̄y same ground thou standest now Caes. Rise Queene none but thy selfis cause of all And yet would all were but thine owne alone That others ruine had not with thy fall Brought Rome her sorowes to my triumphs mone For breaking off the league of loue and blood Thou mak'st my winning ioy a gain vnpleasing Sith th' eye of griefe must looke into our good Thorow the horror of our own blood shedding And all we must attribute vnto thee Cleo. To me Caesar what should a woman doe Opprest with greatnes what was it for me To contradict my