what prop can I repose my trust When of his state I first the greatnesse ponder Next how his Diademe drencht in the dust Was Fortunes Trophee and all Asia's wonder He whose imperious speech the world respected And as an Oracle had in regard He vanquish'd now and with contempt neglected Even as a supplicant can scarce be heard And yet I know this more doth grieve his soule Then all the harme which happned to his state His pow'r ov'r me that any can controull Who as his Idoll was ador'd of late Shall he pure quintessence of my best part Then onely testifie the love he beares No by mine eyes I will distill my heart And for his sake dissolve my selfe in teares Would God my breast might still transparant be That as through Crystall all might marke my minde And of my loyall thoughts the secrets see Whose great affection cannot be confin'd This prisons worst hath bounded but mine eyes And banish'd them the object of their joy My fiery heart well wing'd with fancies flyes And where thou go'st dost still thy steps convoy Deare whil'st thou dost enjoy this common ayre Those who me captive thinke do grosly erre For whil'st thou liv'st how can thy Queene despaire Whom thou to soule and Scepter dost preferre Yet flatter I my selfe who am accurst Of those mishaps which make my thoughts to stray The memory may serve to make me burst Ah ah I faint I feele my sprits decay Sis Help help alas alas the Empresse falls Stat. Vir. O day of darknesse what a world of woes Sis This heavy sight my panting heart appals Heaven earth and all are now become our foes Stat. Vir. No creature hath more cause to mone then I Whose Fathers Fortune oft afflicts mine eares Whil'st I my mothers misery must spie So that of both my breast the burden beares Stat. Reg. What inhumane humanity is this With such a cruell pitie to oppresse To bring pale ghosts back from the fields of blisse Yet to be plung'd in th' ocean of distresse O unkinde kindnesse that by saving slayes And would with lovelesse love my love controull Ah! of this braving Sunne the loathsome rayes Do cleare mine eyes but to confound my soule Sis Deare daughter strive your passions to restraine Lest that the torrent of your griefe grow such That both it carry you where horiours raigne And him o're-whelme for whom you mourn so much No doubt but he if we rest captives thus Disdaining those indignities of ours To venge himselfe in reobtaining us Will hazard all his orientall pow'rs But ah what comfort can a wretch afford Whose care-worne breast the worst of woe containes Yet though my heart would faine impugne my word I hopelesse speake of hope to ease her paines Stat. Reg. Plagu'd with what is what may be never pause Since we must hold our griefe our greatest good And do not feed false hopes for we have cause Even to sigh out our souls and weep our bloud Sis I waile my Sonne Stat. Reg. And I my husbands fall Stat. Vir. I waile my Father and in him us all Sis No woe like mine mine cannot be releev'd I waile his woe who should my woe asswage Who lives by me by whom I should have liv'd Sport of my youth and pillar of mine age Stat. Reg. No woe like mine who for my Mate mourne here For love ot whom I had all others left But what a Mate my selfe or one more deare Yet from my selfe my selfe by force am reft Stat. Vir. So woe like mine who born a Monarchs childe Hop'd by my birth of Fortunes best to boast Yet are my hopes even at the height beguil'd And what I hop'd in most hath harm'd me most Sis I mourne for him who in my wombe was form'd Stat. Reg. I mourn for him in whom love me transform'd Stat. Vir. I mourn for him who did give forme to me Sis Shall I no more in him my Image see Stat. Reg. Ah! shall I never in his joy rejoyce Stat. Vir. Ah! shall I never heare his chearfull voyce Sis Would God my ruine might his ransome be Stat. Reg. Would God my life my lifes life might set free Stat. Vir. Would God the life he gave him life might give Sis Must those gray haires my Sonnes greene youth furvive Stat. Reg. Lest twise made dye I 'le first prevent his fall Stat. Vir. Shall I live last to suffer for you all Sis But whil'st our wretched state we justly mone We may lament this Infant too a space Who in mishap inferiour were to none If he could apprehend his Tragicke case Stat. Reg. O then how can my heart but bursted be Whom Nature moves most to bemone his harmes I thinke the hosts of heaven I thund'ring see On me my husband and him in my armes Deare Image of my selfe in whom I live Thy shape not shames the greatnesse of thy Sire But of thy birth cleare evidence doth give Thy sowre-sweet sight addes coals to my desire Thou who should'st comfort most torment'st thou me Huge hosts of passions now my soule assembles O how I grieve and yet am glad to see Thee though not him whom thy sweet face resembles Go beare this Babe from hence a wound too deep Hath piere'd me with compassion of his part Yet let him stay I joy to heare him weep This mothers passion melts my bursting heart Of many woes this last is not the least That unbegun thy glory thus must end Thy Fortunes Sunne my Sonne set in the East Whil'st all the world thy rising did attend Ah! must this Innocent taste of mishap Whose tender age cannot discerne his state And thus be plagu'd yea in his Nurses lap Inherit woe by birth ah cruell fate If thou could'st hope what great hopes hast thou lost Who art defrauded of so high a Throne Ah! in thy cradle must I see thee crost Whom I design'd so great when we were gone Yet happie haplesse childe who can'st not know From whence the fountaine of our sorrow flows Nor what it is that men call high or low Nor on what thorne the rose of honour grows Yet hast thou felt the pricke before the smoll Is this the benefit thy birth-right brings A captive here in misery to dwell Then better not be borne nor come of Kings O! what a noise is this that thus affrights I thinke of teares the torrent to restraine Since soules when sad a just complaint delights They still would plague yet stop me to complaine Or is it one who doth lament our case And is a rare thing in affliction kinde Who would behold how we can death embrace Death soveraigne physicke for a troubled minde Sis By many signes we may our selves assure T' is Alexander whom we long'd not for Stat. Reg. What ah I die and must mine eyes endure That hatefull object which I most abhorre Sis Spare spare such speeches now lest all go wrong We are environ'd with outragious hosts Those who are weake must yeeld unto
lab'rinth could not shunne Whence backe in vaine the straying Entrer seeks I lov'd O fatall love unlovely fate The vertuously faire yet fairest Dame That ever was enshrin'd in soules conceit Or ditties gave to grace the sounds of fame Straight were my fancies to her beauties ty'd None can paint passions but in feeling mindes I burn'd freez'd doubted hop'd despair'd liv'd dy'd With actions chang'd as oft as Autumnes windes Yet many conflicts past 'twixt hopes and feares To feast at least to nurce my starv'd desires She granted had a truce unto my teares And temper did with equall flames my fires For as she was the most esteemed Saint Whose image Love erected in my minde So when her cares had harbour'd once my plaint It pitie first and then did favour finde But ah triumphing in mine owne conceit As one whose love his Lady did preferre I was corrivall'd O disastrous fate By one who lov'd but was not lov'd by her He looking as I look'd faw what I saw Saw Natures wonder and the worlds delight And straight as that blinde god blinde guide did draw Still like a Lizard liv'd upon her sight Then labour'd he that Iewell straight to wonne Whose matchlesse worth he priz'd above his breath And loath'd all light which flow'd not from that Sunne As life without her had beene worse then death Yea Fortune seem'd to favour his desire And where to build high hopes did give him groundâ— The Nymph her parents daily did require That she might furnish physick for his wounds Of my distracted thoughts strange was the strife Who threatned thus with eminent mishap Was like to lose a thing more deare then life Whil'st others striv'd my treasure to entrap The man who sought my joyes to undermine I could not justly wish his state o're-throwne Nor blame the sprite that sympathiz'd with mine I envi'd not his lot but wail'd mine owne Now in my beast a mighty rage did raigne Which forc'd my soule with inward wounds to bleed Some fancies fear'd what once his love might gaine Since it was possible that he might speed Then others call'd her constancy to minde Which would not yeeld by such assaults though prov'd Yet forc'd to feare the frailty of her kinde A hearing woman may in time be mov'd Thus toss'd with doubts amidst a deep of woe Which with suspition did my joyes supplant I blam'd the thoughts that durst accuse her so As vertues patterne could one vertue want And â—or I hop'd his toils no further wrought Affliction oft affection doth enflame She of her sex who was the wonder thought Would thus not wrong the glory of her name Though in my absence they had oft assai'd That from her minde they might have me remov'd The Sunne burns hotest when his beames are stay'd The more they cross'd her love the more she lov'd For finding that delay no end affords And how faire Generals onely flow'd from Art She did upbraid him with disdainefull words To raze those hopes that had abus'd his heart Love is a joy which upon paine depends A drop of sweet drown'd in a sea of sowres What folly doth begin oft fury ends They hate for ever who have lov'd for houres When all his arguments prov'd of no force Straight with disdaine his soule in secret burn'd And what he thought was ill to make farre worse That Apostate to furie favour turn'd Through love preposterous procreating hate His thoughts amongst themselves could not agree Whil'st what was best he deeply did debate To see her dead or then enjoy'd by me What said he when he first had mus'd a space So hard it is to quench affections fires Shall I disfigure that Angelike face And cloud those beauties which the world admires Shall she by me be to confusion brought To whom I vows and prayers did impart To whom I sacrifiz'd each secret thought And on her beauties altar burn'd my heart Or shall I see her in anothers pow'r And in his bosome laid upbraid my losse Whil'st both with scornfull smiles then death more sowre To point me out for sport report my crosse That sight which sometime did me sweetly charme Should it become a cause of griefe to me No none who live shall glory in my harme Since she will not be mine she shall not be The hatefull love having vow'd her death Did with a cup of poyson drowne my joyes The fairest body from the sweetest breath Was parted thus O ocean of annoyes That Monster Fame whose many mouthes and eares Must know but not conceale a rare thing long And prodigall of ill most chiefly beares The worst news first inform'd me of this wrong For neighbouring neare the most unhappy part That had beene spoyl'd of such a noble guest As death had hers the furies seiz'd my heart Whose paine did spring from that which bred her rest How huge a weight did first confound my soule No tongue can tell it still my minde torments Rage did of griefe the outward signes controll When great windes blow the fire the smoak worst vents Whil'st generous furie did disguise my griefe I ranne transported with a mighty rage Bent by revenge or death to get relife A tragicke actor for a bloudy stage For I was come no sooner to the place Whereas I thought the Murtherer to have found But I did meet O ruine and disgrace Too deare a friend to catch and enemies wound Ah! passions dimn'd mine eyes wrath led my hand I was no more my selfe Griefe had me kill'd The first by Night who did before me stand As one whose breast with rage Alecto fill'd By chance encount'ring ere he spake a word I bath'd his bosome with a crimson floud And in his breast did drowne the cruell sword That in anothers body drank my bloud But when a Torch had partly rob'd the night Proud of suppos'd revenge ah bitter gaine I saw I knew black knowledge cruell sight My brother was the man whom I had slaine O bitter losse which nothing can repaire My soule with tow such monstrous deeds annoy'd Griefe rage spite shame amazement and despaire Gall'd toss'd burn'd dash'd astonish'd and destroy'd The thought of my offence doth grieve me most Yet am I sometime by loves verdict cleans'd And straight my brothers violated ghost By dreadfull dreames doth bragge to be reveng'd Croe. Now whil'st this great disaster did occurre What had the author of your anguish done Adrast He having heard this lamentable stirre Who self-accusing thoughts convicted soone Straight wounded by a wonderfull remorse Led by mad love or desp'rate feare to death He bent to follow her or dreading worse Stab'd by himselfe dy'd to defraud my wrath Croe. Those strange mishaps your enemies eyes must weet And force compassion from your greatest foe Since many monstrous circumstances meet To make a horrid harmony in woe But what doth touch ones selfe most force doth finde For ills when felt then heard griefe more abounds This extasie hath so o're-whelm'd my minde A melancholy huge all mirth confounds
seeke an Empire equall with thy minde Of which a Crowne is due to every thought But Glories love whilst courting in this kinde I feare by thine our ruine may be wrought And pardon me deare Sonne great is the love Which makes me watch so warily thy wayes A Fathers care what kind of thing can move Whom such a danger not in time dismayes The Heaven of late advertis'd me by dreames That some sad fortune threatned thee too soone Each day some ominous signe attendance claimes Which out of time are mark'd when all is done This was the cause that hastned us so much To have thee bound to Hymens sacred law This was the cause that all our care was such Out of our sight all weapons to withdraw Scorne not those Comets which amazement notes The starres to mortall states a bounds designe And doe not thinke t' is but my love that dotes For if thou fall my fate depends on thine Atis. Would God I had some meanes once ere my death To satisfie that infinite desert Which I shall hold so long as I have breath Deepe registred with reverence in my heart Yet sir we see this is a naturall thing That too excessive loue engenders feares A sport like this can no great perill bring Where either all delights the eyes or th' eares If from my former deedes I now should shrinke As voide of vertue to soft pleasure thrall Of your two Sonnes what might your Subjects thinke Th' one wanting but one sense the other all What fancies might my late spous'd love possesse To see her husband hatefull in mens sights And honours bounds thus basely to transgresse As womaniz'd still wallowing in delights Though women would have men at their devotion They hate base mindes that hatch no noble notion Croe. Well well my Sonne I see thou must prevaile Goe follow forth the chase use thine owne forme Yet stay or let my words this much availe Walke with more care to scape this threatned storme Thy hawtie sprite to tempt all hazards bent I feare transports thee to a fatall strife I wish to erre yet the event prevent Lest that thy courage but betray thy life And deare Adrastus I must let him know What benefits I have bestow'd on thee Not to upbraid thee no but so to show How I may trust thee best thus bound to mee When thou from Phrygia cam'st defil'd with blood And a fraternall violated love When desp'rate quite thou as distracted stood Fled from thy Fathers face curst from above Thou foundst me friendly and my Court thy rest A Sanctuary which thy life did save And dangers scap't when one hath beene distress'd A wary wisdome by experience leave Yet all that favour past was but a signe Of generous greatenesse which would gratious prove But in thy hands my soule I 'le now consigne And give the greatest pledge that can binde love Behold how Atis of our age the shield Whose harme as you have heard I fear'd ere now Is for his pastime to goe range the field And with his custodie I will trust you I must my friend even fervently exhort Waite on my Sonne remember of my dreame This dangerously delectable sport Doth make mee feare the griefe exceeds the game Adrast I never shall those courtesies neglect It grieves me not to thinke nor heare the same For whilst this sprite those members doth direct All shall concurre to celebrate your fame Yet were you pleas'd I would not hence depart Who doe all things that mirth may move abhorre But with my passions here retir'd a part Woe past would waile and shunne all cause of more If to converse where not one crosse annoies I feare my fellowship infect with woe Those who themselves would recreate with Ioyes Still strange mishaps attend me where I goe But since you will commit this charge to mee Your Majestie I 'le studie to content At least my faith shall from defects be free And all my paines shall as you please be spent Atis. Now bent to see this monsters ougly shape With an inflam'd desire my thought doe burne And Father feare not dreame of no mishap I hope with speed victorious to returne Coelia Returne from whence deare love O deadly word That doth import thy parting from my sight I heard the name mishap Ah! my deare Lord Should such strict limites bound so large delight O cruell to thy selfe unkinde to me And can'st thou condescend to leave me soe If ere in doubt abandon'd thus I be It may deferre but not defraud my woe This might indeed to thee yeeld some reliefe To have thy eares not wounded by my mone But would wound me with a continuall griefe To feare all things where I should feare but one Desist in time from this intended strife A course too rash and not approv'd by me Remember I have int'rest in thy life Which thus to venter I doe not agree Hast thou not given a proofe in thy greene prime That may content the most ambitious heapes Whilst Atis was his own then was it time To follow fancies unconfined Scopes Thy selfe then onely camp'd in fortunes bounds Thou do'st endanger Coelia likewise now You sigh her breath she suffers in your wounds You live in her and she must die in you Atis. Life of my soule how doe such broken speaches From troubled passions thus abruptly rise I know my love thy love my minde o're-reaches Affection Schoold with feares is too too wise I goe alongst the fields for sport to range Thy sighes doe but my soule with sorrow fill And pardon deare I finde this wond'rous strange That thou beginst now to resist my will If I trespasse in ought against my dutie Which makes thee thus my constancy mistrust Mistrust not yet the Chains of thine own beauty Which binde all my desires and so they must Are wee not now made one such feares o'recome Though I would flie my selfe my selfe doe fetter And if that I would flie from whom to whom I can love none so well none loves me better Have pitty of those pearles sweet eyes soules pleasures Least they presage what thou would'st not have done The Heavens had not give me those pretious treasures Of such perfections to be spoil'd so soone Chorus THose who command above High presidents of Heaven By whom all things doe move As they have order given What worldling can arise Against them to repine Whilst castell'd in the skies With providence divine They force this peopled round Their judgements to confesse And in their wrath confound Proud mortalls who transgresse The bounds to them assign'd By Nature in their mind Base brood of th' earth vaine man Why brag'st thou of thy might The Heavens thy courses scan Thou walk'st still in their sight Ere thou wast borne thy deedes Their registers dilate And thinke that none exceedes The bounds ordain'd by fate What Heavens would have thee to Though they thy Wayes abhorre That thou of force must doe And thou canst doe no more This
we certaine see And not attaine to that which you devise Croe. I grant indeed this very few shall know Though I professe but to relieve my friend My thoughts conceive as successe best may show And not without great cause a greater end You see how fortune nought but change affects Some are reproach'd that others may be prais'd And every age brings forth some strange effects Some men must fall that others may be rais'd I doubt not you have heard who was the first For warring with the world whom fame revives Who had of soveraignty so great a thirst That it could not be quench'd with thousands lives Even he who first obtain'd the name of Iove And rests reputed for his glorious acts The most imperious of the pow'rs above Who vowes and offerings of the world exacts He all his time in state did terrour breath Borne to acquaint the world with warre and dearth Whil'st fertile still in misery and death Two fatall furies that afflict the earth Yet since his course the worlds first plague was past When his proud race had many ages raign'd That Empire too did perish at the last And what it lost by martiall Medes was gain'd This was the cause of that great kingdomes fall A Prince who could not judge of Princely parts With losse of Scepter honour life and all To buy base joyes sold all his Subjects hearts To that disastred Monarchies decay Th' aspiring Persians purpose to succeed But I intend their lofty course to stay And that in time ere that it throughly speed The Persians once the Lydians force must prove And O! who knowes but that it is ordain'd At the tribunall of the States above That I should raigne where famous Ninus raign'd This all the hoste of heaven oft-times foretels To this the Gods of Greece my minde have mov'd And he that in Arabia's desart dwels By his response this enterprise approv'd San. Thus still in love with what we minde to doe What we affect we fairest still conceive This feeds our humour whil'st selfe-flatterers loe To shew our wit we would our selves deceive Vaine hopes so maske all doubts you cannot spy What secret danger this designe doth beare But whil'st well view'd with an indifferent eye There want not grounds where fore-sight may find feare You unadvis'dly purpose to pursue A barbarous people opposite to peace Who but by robbery to their greatnesse grew And would for each light cause the warres embrace No dainty silkes dipt in Assyrian dye Doe decke their bodies to abase their mindes Skinnes reft from beasts them cloath who danger ply Not mov'd by flattering Sunnes nor bragging windes They simply feed and are not griev'd each day With stomackes clody decocting divers meates They fare not as they would but as they may Of judgement sound not carried with conceits Those ancient customes which they strictly hold Make all things easie that they feele no paine This cooles the summers heate kils winters cold This makes the Rivers dry the Mountaines plaine They whose ambition poverty did bound Of Lydia's dainties if they once doe taste Will have in hatred straight their barren ground And all our treasures insolently waste To governe such although that we prevaile You shall but buy vexation with your bloud And doe your selfe and yours if fortune faile From Soveraignty by time secur'd seclude Yea though this rash desire your judgement blindes I for my part must praise the Gods for you Who have not yet inspir'd the Persians mindes To waste with warre all Lydia long ere now Croe. Those flames which burn my brest must once burst out Your counsell for more quiet mindes I leave And be you still thought wise so I prove stout I 'le conquer more or lose the thing I have Coelia AH am I forc'd out of afflictions store For my mindes ease a few sad words to straine But yet unlode it now to lode it more I empty but mine eyes to fill againe My soule must sound even as my passions strike Whil'st sighes and teares would faine afford reliefe My brest and eyes are both accurst alike The Cabinet of care the Springs of griefe O cruell heaven fierce starre unhappy fate Too foule injustice of celestiall pow'rs Whose high disdaine to me with partiall hate The comfort of the world poore world devoures Curst be the day in which I first was borne When lying tongues affirm'd I came to light A monstroues blasphemy a mighty scorne Since where darke sorrow breeds an endlesse night Would God I then had chanc'd this life to leave The tombe straight taking what the wombe did give Then alwayes buried changing but the grave I had not liv'd to dye but dy'd to live What profited to me my Parents joyes VVho with such pompe did solemnize my birth Since stiâ—l my soule must flote amidst annoyes So to defray one dramme of tasted mirth And it did onely serve to make me know The height of horrour threatning to succeed I was but rais'd up high to be brought low That short liv'd joyes might endlesse anguish breed Whil'st nothing did for my confusion lacke All my best deeds did but betray my State My vertues too were guilty of my wracke And warr'd against me banded with my fate For whil'st my Virgin-yeares with praise I past Which did ah that it did too much import My modest eye told that my minde was chast Which gain'd the warrant of the worlds report And all should have a great respect to fame No greater dowry then a spotlesse name Faire beauties God desse thou can'st beare record My offring never made thine Altar rich Lascivious fancies highly I abhorr'd Whose free-borne thoughts no folly could bewitch Till happily ah so it seem'd to some O but unhappily the end hath prov'd All this and more to Atis eares did come Who straight did like and after liking lov'd He to our eares his purpose did impart Not lip-sicke-lover-like with words farre sought Whose tongue was but an agent for his heart Yet could not tell the tenth part that it thougth And lest his travels should have seem'd to tend My honours fame by fancies to betray He brought his wishes to a lawfull end And in effect affection did bewray There Iuno president of wedlockes vow And Hymen with his odoriferous cote With sacred customes did our love allow Whil'st th' ominous Owles no crosses did devote The blessing that this marriage did procure It was too great to have continued long A thing too vehement cannot endure Our joyes farre past the reach of any tongue We ever did full satisfaction finde Yet with satiety were never cloyd But seem'd two bodies manag'd by one minde Such was the happinesse that I enjoy'd He lov'd me dearely I obey'd his will Proud of my selfe because that I was his A harmony remain'd betwixt us still Who each in th' other plac'd their soules chiefe blisse This mov'd th'immortals to a high disdaine That thus two worldlings who of death were heires Should in a Paradise of
joyes remaine Which did exceed at least did equall theirs But chiefly Iuno did despight it most Who through a jealousie still jarres with Iove That body-prison'd soules of that could boast Which she although heavens Queen had not above Thus even for envy of our rare delights The fatall Sisters by the heavens suborn'd Of my soules treasure clos'd the lovely lights By which they thought the earth too much adorn'd O but he is not dead he lives in me Ah but I live not for I dy'd in him How can the one without the other be If death have set his eyes mine must looke dimme Since to my sight that Sunne no more appear'd From whom my beauties borrowed all their rayes A long eclipse that never shall be clear'd Hath darkened all the poynts of my sad dayes Aye me I live too long he dy'd too soone Thus still the worst remaine the best depart Of him who told how this curs'd deed was done The words like swords shall ever wound my heart Fierce tyrant death who in thy wrath did'st take One halfe of me and left one halfe behinde Take this to thee or give me th' other backe Be wholly cruell or be no way kinde But whil'st I live beleeve thou canst not dye O! even in spite of death yet still my choice Oft with the inward al-beholding eye I thinke I see thee and I heare thy voyce And to content my languishing desire To ease my minde each thing some helpe affords Thy fanci'd forme doth oft such faith acquire That in all sounds I apprehend thy words Then with such thoughts my memory to wound I call to minde thy lookes thy words thy grace Where thou didst haunt yet I adore the ground And where thou stept O sacred seemes that place My solitary walkes my widow'd bed My driry sighes my sheets oft bath'd with teares These shall record what life by me is led Since first sad newes breath'd death into mine eares Though for more paine yet spar'd a space by death Thee first I lov'd with thee all love I leave For my chast flames which quench'd were with thy breath Can kindle now no more but in thy grave By night I wish for day by day for night Yet wish farre more that none of both might be But most of all that banish'd from the light I were no more their constant change to see At night whil'st deeply musing of my State I goe to summe with sighes my wonted joyes An agony then in a sad conceit Doth blot the blubred count with new annoyes When Sleep the brother most resembling death Of darkenesse childe and father unto rest Doth bound though not restraine confused breath That it may vent but not with words exprest Then with my sprite thou dost begin to speake With sugred speeches to appease my griefe And my bruis'd heart which labour'd long to breake Doth in this comfort fain'd finde some reliefe Yea if our soules remain'd united so This late divorce would no way vexe my minde But when awaking it augments my woe Whil'st this a dreame and me a wretch I finde If never happy O thrise happy I But happy more had happinesse remain'd Yet then excessive joy had made me dye Since such delights what heart could have sustain'd Why waste I thus whil'st vainely I lament The pretious treasure of that swift past-time Ah pardon me deare love for I repent My lingring here my fate and not my crime Since first thy body did enrich the Tombe In this spoil'd world my eye no pleasure sees And Atis Atis Loe I come I come To be thy mate amongst the Myrtle trees Chorus Loe all our time even from our birth In misery almost exceeds For where we finde a moments mirth A month of mourning still succeeds Besides the evils that Nature breeds Whose paines doe us each day appall Infirmaties which frailty sends The losse of that which fortune lends And such disasters as oft fall Yet to farre worse our states are thrall Whil'st wretched man with man contends And every one his whole force bends How to procure anothers losses But this torments us most of all The minde of man which many a fancy tosses Doth forge unto it selfe a thousand crosses O how the soule with all her might Doth her celestiall forces straine That so she may attaine the light Of natures wonders which remaine Hid from our eyes we strive in vaine To seeke out things that are unsure In Sciences to seeme profound We dive so deepe we finde no ground And the more knowledge we procure The more it doth our mindes allure Of mysteries the depth to sound Thus our desire we never bound Which by degrees thus drawn on still The memory may not endure But like the Tubs which Danaus daughters fill Doth drinke no oftner then constrain'd to spill Yet how comes this and O how can Cleare knowledge thus the soules chiefe treasure Because of such a crosse to man Which should afford him greatest pleasure This is because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong But bent to tempt forbidden things Doe soare too high with Natures wings Still weakest whil'st we thinke us strong The heavens which hold we do them wrong To try their grounds and what thence springs This crosse upon us justly brings With knowledge knowledge is confus'd And growes a griefe ere it be long That which a blessing is when rightly us'd Doth grow the greatest crosse when once abus'd Ah! what avaiels this unto us Who in this vaile of woes abide With endlesse toyles to study thus To learn the thing that heaven would hide And trusting to too blinde a guide To spy the Planets how they move And too transgressing common Barres The constellation of the starres And all that is decreed above Whereof as oft the end doth prove A secret sight our wel-fare marres And in our brests breeds endlesse warres Whil'st what our horoscopes foretell Our expectations doe disprove Those apprehended plagues prove such a hell That then we would unknow them till they fell This is the pest of great estates They by a thousand meanes devise How to fore-know their doubtfull fates And like new Gyants scale the skies Heavens secret store-house to surprise Which sacrilegious skill we see With what great paine they apprehend it And then how foolishly they spend it To learne the thing that once must be Why should we seeke our destiny If it be good we long attend it If it be ill none may amend it Such knowledge but torments the minde Let us attend the heavens decree For those whom this ambiguous Art doth blinde May what they seeke to flye the rather finde And loe of late what hath our King By his preposterous travels gain'd In searching out each threatned thing Which Atis horoscope contain'd For what the heavens had once ordain'd That by no meanes he could prevent And yet he labours to finde out Through all the Oracles about Of future things the hid event This doth his raging minde
doth no lesse Rox. Loe now of late delivered of a sonne I to those Captaines scarce dare make it knowne His kingdomes all to part who have begunne And might by killing him make them their owne Ah! Madame this doth move me most to pause Who of those great men the ambition feare Lest by pretending but a publike cause They seeke themselves the Diadem to beare Thus they of my yong babe fraud masking wrath Would but be Tutors first and Traitors then Farre from obedience duty love or faith No things more deare then Diadems to men Olym. As those whose courage cannot be disâ—aâ—â— Let us now strive what way a force to finde And whilst that pitty doth procure for ayde The peoples passions tune unto our minde If that their love not vanish'd with his life Of Alexander in a high degree I thinke the Sonne the Mother and the Wife By Macedonians still must reverenc'd be And this doth with disdaine my soule consume That Arideus amongst other wrongs And proud Euridice his wife presume To take the honour which to us belongs O! they shall finde my fortune not so chang'd But I am able yet to curbe their pride What what Olympias must be reveng'd And save her selfe no Queene she can abide Exeunt Chorus Loe how all good decayes And ills doe now abound In this sky-compass'd round There is no kinde of trust For man-kinde whilst it strayes In pleasure-paved wayes With flouds of vice is drown'd And doth farre from refuge In endlesse shadowes lodge Yet strives to rise no more No doubt as most unjust The world once perish must And worse now to restore Then it was of before When at the last deluge Men by Deucalion once Were made againe of stones And well this wicked race Bewrayes a stony kinde Which beares a stubborne minde Still hardned â—nto sinne Loe now in every place All vertuous motions cease And sacred faith we finde Farre from the earth is fled Whose flight huge mischiefe bred And filles the world with warres Whilst impious brests begin To let base Treason in Which common concord marres Whilst all men live at jarres And nets of fraud doe spreade The simple to surprise Too witty but not wise Yet those who in deceit Their confidence repose A thing more deare doe lose Then can by guile be gain'd Which when repented late May ruine once their state Whilst purer sprites disclose With what their breasts are stor'd For though they would remord They get not trust againe But having honour stain'd And covenants prophan'd Are held in high disdaine And doe in end remaine Of all the world abhorrâ—d Not trusty when they should Not trusted when they would But ah our Nobles now Loe like Lysander still So that they get their will Regard not by what way And with a shamelesse brow Doe of the end allow Even though the meanes were ill Which all the world may see Disgraceth their degree Who changing every houre Doe all base slights assay What can brave mindes dismay Whose worth is like a Tower Against all fortunes pow'r Still from all fraud whilst free These keepe their course unknowne Whom it would shame if showne Who not from worth digresse To slights which feare imparts Doe shew heroicke hearts The which would rather farre An open hate professe Then basely it suppresse No glory comes from fearefull Arts But those who doe us leade As for dissembling made Even though that they intend Amongst themselves to warre Seeme in no sort to jarre But friendship doe pretend Not like their Lord now dead Who trusting to his worth Still what he meant spake forth The great men not for nought Doe seeke the peoples love Their deeds that to approve They may their mindes allure But Perdiccas is thought Too slowly to have sought Their doubtfull mindes to move As one who still conceits He may command the fates His pride so great is growne That none can it endure Yet stands his state unsure Since odious to his owne He must be once o're-throwne Whose humour each man hates Pride doth her followers all Leade head-longs to a fall Act 4. Scene 1. Antigonus Eumenes THough stormy discord and tumultuous wars Doe fire the mindes of men with flames or rage That hauing haughty thoughts as heaven hath Starres Their indignation nothing can asswage Yet loe amongst the Souldiers waving bowres The Heraulds cryes doe calme the Trumpets sounds And peace dare inter-pose unarmed pow'rs To limit for a time Bellona's bounds And whilst of fury they suspend th' effects The seeming-friended foes together treat And every one shewes what his soule affects Of peace a shadow th' essence must be great Thus men magnanimous amidst the field Dare of their en'mies to the promise trust And loathing what disloyaltie doth yeeld Not violate their vowes nor prove unjust Though love be past yet truth should still remaine I vertuous parts even in my foes applaud A gallant minde doth greater glory gaine To dye with honour then to live by fraud And why Eumenes as mistrusting me Or standing on your reputation long Did you disdaine to seeke as all men see A greater then your selfe and one more strong Eum. Though we come not to plead our birth-right here Let him tor warriours so should take their place In whom best signes of Noblenesse appeare Be grac'd as first who doth adorne a race Most Noble he who still by vertue strives To leave his name in mindes of men engrav'd And to his off-spring greater glory gives Then from his ancestors he hath receiv'd Earst we by birth in warre not marshal'd stood As at the Table upon Ivory beds A Souldiers worth consists not in his blond But in their bloud which as his foes he sheds What ever others of my linage try I am Eumenes and will not accord That there can be a greater man then I While as I have a heart a hand a sword Anti. Loe when prosperity too much prevailes Above the judgement thus of vulgar mindes As little Barges burden'd with great Sayles They move in state all swolne with fortunes windes And as adversity the sprite refines From th'abject drosse of pride and passions base That in affliction vertue clearest shines And makes one all the wayes of wit to trace So doth good successe make the judgement dye Then whilst the fortunate their ease doe take And lull'd asleep in pleasures meadowes lye As for the Slaughter fat and ripe to shake Yet this the nature is of gallant men To rest as in no state too much involv'd When prosp'ring warie and most humble then If cross'd couragious when imbark'd resolv'd What though your first attempts renowned are By which you in two fields victorious stood And did o're-throw two thunder-bolts of warre Who lost their lives amid'st a crimson flood Yet is that course of victory contrould And you have try'd what force your force exceeds Then faded Lawrels should not make you bold As still reposing on your by-past deeds For by the same to indignation
just himselfe more strong Then Caesar thought who for no justice car'd And since discovering what he cloak'd so long Said that the other and not he was snar'd Thus Caesar conquer'd all but Cato's minde Who to a tyrant would not owe his breath But in such sort his famous course confin'd Then Caesars life more glorious was his death Those great men thus brought to disastrous ends The author of their death make me despise Who to usurpe all pow'r while as he tends By treading good men downe doth strive to rise Now made most great by lessening all the great He proudly doth triumph in Rome o're Rome And we must seeme to like the present state Whose doubtfull breath depends upon his doome Yet had I not enlarg'd my griefes so long To you whom Caesar doth pretend to love Save that I know touch'd with the common wrong A just disdaine all generous mindes must move Dec. Had Caesar willingly resign'd his Armes And rendred Rome her liberty at last When as from fores he fear'd no further harmes But had repair'd his just displeasures past More then for all that could be done for me He should have had and Altar in my best As worthy for his vertuous deeds to be Fear'd by the bad and honour'd by the best But since though conqu'ring all the world by might He to himselfe a slave would make Rome thrall His benefits are loathsome in my sight And I am griev'd that he deserves to fall My fancies move not in so low a sphere But I disdaine that one Romes Crowne requires Yet it is best that with the time we beare And with our pow'r proportion our desires Though first dissembling so your minde to try I told what fame to Caesars praise relates Yet was I pleas'd that moe were griev'd then I All miscontented men are glad of Mates Cic. Since tyranny all liberty exiles We must our sleves no more our selves disguise Then learne to maske a mourning minde with smiles And seeme to like that which we most despise Yet all our deeds not Caesars humour please Who since mistrusting once esteemes us still When dumb disdainefull flatterers when we praise If plaine presumptuous and in all things ill Yea we whose freedome Caesar now restraines As his attenders all his steps must trace And know yet not acknowledge his disdaines But still pretend an interest in his grace Though all my thoughts detest him as a foe To honour him a thousand meanes I move Yet but to save my selfe and plague him so No hate more harmes then it that lookes like love His pride is by prepost'rous state growne such That by the better sort he is abhorr'd The gods are jealous and men envy much To see a mortall man so much ador'd Dec. Well Cicero let all meanes be entertain'd That may embarke us in his bosomes deepes Till either willingly or then constrain'd He justly quite what he unjustly keepes Exeunt Chorus THis life of ours is like a Rose Which whilst rare beauties it array Doth then enjoy the least repose When Virgin-like make blush we see Of every hand it is the prey And by each winde is blowne away Yea though from violence scap'd free Thus time triumphs and leades all thrals Yet doth it languish and decay O! whilst the courage hottest boiles And that our life seemes best to be It is with dangers compast still Whilst it each little change appalles The body force without oft foiles It th' owne distemp'rature oft spoiles And even though none it chance to kill As nature failes the body falles Of which save death nought bounds the ioyles What is this moving Towr in whith we trust A little winde clos'd in a cloud of dust And yet some sprites though being pent In this fraile prisons narrow bounds Whilst what might serve doth not content Doe alwaies bend their thoughts too high And ayme at all the peopled grounds Then whilst their brests Ambition wounds They feed as fearing straight to dye Yet build as if they still might live Whilst famish'd for fames empty sounds Of such no end the travell ends But a beginning gives whereby They may be vex'd worse then before For whilst they still new hopes contrive The hoped good more anguish sends Then the possess'd contentment lends As beasts not taste but doe devoure They swallow much and for more strive Whilst still their hope some change attends And how can such but still themselves annoy Who can acquire but know not how t' enjoy Since as a ship amidst the deepes Or as an Eagle through the ayre Of which no way th' impression keepes Most swift when seeming least to move This breath of which we take such care Doth tosse the body every where That it may hence with haste remove Life slips and sleepes alwayes away Then hence and as it came goes bare Whose steppes behinde no trace doe leave Why should heaven-banish'd soules thus love The cause and bounds of their exile As restlesse strangers where they stray And with such paine why should they reave That which they have no right to have Which with them in a little while As summers beauties must decay And can give nought except the grave Though all things doe to harme him what they can No greater enemie then himselfe to man Whilst oft environ'd with his foes Which threatned death on every side Great Caesar parted from repose As Atlas holding up the Starres Did of a world the weight abide But since a prey to foolish pride More then by all the former warres He now by it doth harm'd remaine And of his fortune doth diffide Made rich by many Nations wreake He breaking through the liquid barres In Neptunes armes his Minion forc'd Yet still pursu'd new hopes in vaine Would the ambitious looling backe Of their inferiours knowledge take They from huge cares might be divorc'd Whilst viewing few more pow'r attaine And many more then they to lacke The onely plague from men that rest doth reave Is that they weigh their wants not what they have Since thus the great themselves involve In such a labyrinth of cares Whence none to scape can well resolve But by degrees are forward led Through waves of hopes rockes of despaires Let us avoyd ambitions snares And farre from stormes by envy bred Still seeke though low a quiet rest With mindes where no proud thought repaires That in vaine shadowes doth delight Thus may our fancies still be fed With that which Nature freely gives Let us iniquity detest And hold but what we owe of right Th' eyes treasure is th' all-circling light Not that vaine pompe for which pride strives Whose glory but a poysnous pest To plague the soule delights the sight Ease comes with ease where all by paine buy paine Rest we in peace by warre let others raigne Act 3. Scene 1. Caius Cassius Marcus Brutus NOw Brutus now we need no more to doubt Nor with blinde hopes our judgement to suspend That flatt'rers credit loe is quite worne
out We must in time attempt and not attend That race of victors which did Realmes appall Ah vanquish'd by their victories at last Are by their too much liberty made thrall Since all their strength but down themselves doth cast And we who by our birth aym'd at great things Of the worlds mistresse mighty minions once Who might have labour'd to give lawes to Kings Lawes from a King must looke for now with grones For such of Caesar is the monstrous pride That though he domineers even at this houre And to his Clients kingdomes doth divide With an unlimited tyrannicke pow'r Yet of Dictator he disdaines the name And seekes a tyrants title with the place Not for his honour no but for our shame As onely bent bragge of our disgrace Marc. Brut. I thought to see that man as others are Walke re-apparrell'd with a private gowne As one who had unwillingly made warre To stand himselfe not to cast others downe So Silla though more inhumane then he Whilst having all to what his heart aspir'd The Soveraignty resign'd and set Rome free When expectations date was quite expir'd By Caesars worth we must thinke that he too Will render freedome to this captiv'd state When first the world hath view'd what he might doe His thoughts are generous as his minde is great Though insolencies oft from courage flow His dying fury sparkles but a space High thoughts which Mars inspires nought can bring low Till one have us'd the purity of peace Those who by violence to all things tend Scâ—râ—â— can themselves to quietnesse conforme Their stately carriage and franke words offend Whil'st peace cannot comport with warres rude forme I hope that Caesar setling civill broyles When worne by custome from intestine rage Will strive to mitigate his Countries toyles And all those flames which burn'd his brest asswage Ca. Cassius Thus of his course you by your owne conceiv'd As if like thoughts of both did bound the will Ah honest mindes are with least paine deceiv'd Those who themselves are good dreame not of ill To sound of some the still unsound device Their inclination must your judgement sway The square of vertue cannot measure vice Nor yet a line when straight a crooked way So Caesar rising may usurpe the State He cares not by what force nor by what sleight O! one may soone deceive men and grow great Who leaves religion honesty and right When as the Senators no more their owne Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blindes And by high honours shew'd how they had shownâ— To gratifie his greatnesse gratefull mindes He in a Chayre imperiously plac'd Not daign'd to rise nor bow in any sort As both of them had but their due embrac'd When he a haughty they a humble port But if he thus ere we be throughly thrall'd Dare so disdainefully such great men use When in a regall Throne by us enstall'd Then will he breake that which he now doth bruise Was he not first who ever yet began To violate the sacred Tribunes place And punish'd them for punishing a man Who had transgress'd the lawes in time of peace The lawes which doe of death all guilty hold Whose actions seeme to tyranny inclin'd So earnest were our Ancestors of old To quench a tyrants light before it shin'd And shall our Nephewes heires of bondage blame Vs dastard parents who their hopes deceiv'd Who saw who suff'red who surviv'd such shame Not leaving dead what we when borne receiv'd By Caesars friends to an assembly brought The Senators intend to call him King Brut. I 'le not be there Cass But what if we be sought To ayde as Pretors such a publike thing Brut. I will resist that violent decree None of Romes Crowne shall long securely boast For ere that I live thrall'd I 'le first dye free What can be kept when liberty is lost Cass O! with what joy I swallow up those words Words worthy of thy worth and of thy name But Brutus doe not feare this cause affords In danger many but few mates in fame When Anthony proud Caesars image crown'd By silent sorrow all the people told In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drown'd That bondage-bragging Comet to behold What doe those scroules throwne in thy chaire import Which what thou art to brave thy courage brings Be those the fancies of the vulgar sort No none but noble mindes dreame of great things Of other Pretors people looke for showes And distributions whose remembrance dyes Whilst bloudy Fencers fall with mutuall blowes And Africkes monsters doe amaze their eyes But from thy hands they liberty attend By birth-right due the glory of thy race And bent for thee their bloud will frankely spend So thou succeed in thy great Parents place He Rome redeeming Tarquin did o'rethrow Though from his birth obey'd and without strife A rising tyrant then bring boldly low To what extinguish'd was who would give life Brut. I weigh thy words with an afflicted heart Which for compassion of my Country bleeds And would to God that I might onely smart So that all others scap'd what mischiefe breeds Then never man himselfe from death did free With a more quiet and contented minde Then I would perish if I both could be To Caesar thankefull to my Country kinde But though that great mans grace to me enlarg'd May chalenge right in my affections store Yet must the greatest debt be first discharg'd I owe him much but to my Country more This is my brest hath great dissension bred I Caesar love but yet Romes enemy hate And as Iove lives I could be mov'd to shed My bloud for Caesar Caesars for the State I for my fathers death loath'd Pompey long Whilst just disdaine did boyle within my brest Yet when he warr'd to venge the common wrong I joyn'd with him because his cause was best A minde to raigne if Caesar now reveale I will in time precipitate his end Thus never arm'd but for the Common-weale I help'd a foe and now must hurt a friend Cas Lest of his favour thou the poyson prove From swallowing of such baites in time now spare No tyrant trust me can intirely love Nor none who for himselfe doth onely care He by this course doth cunningly intend Thy vertue slack'd to undermine thy minde Thy well-knowne courage purpos'd to disbend Thus though with silken bonds he would thee binde This of each tyrant is the common tread To wreake all those in whom most worth he findes Or whilst that terrours tosse his jealous head By subtilty to snare the greatest mindes As for the Pretor-ship when we did strive Then both were held in hope that so deceiv'd Each th 'others harmes might study to contrive Through emulation and disdaine conceiv'd Thus subtile Caesar by such sleights hath toild To sow dissension that we both might pause Of private wrongs and by such meanes imbroil'd Still courting him neglect the common cause But nought must make us th' one t'another strange Who should in time
harme more fear'd I alwayes so contentment might attaine What tombe to men more glorious can be rear'd Then mountaines made of foes whom they have slaine But how are my transported thoughts growne such That they disdaine a measure to admit Whilst bent not what to doe but to doe much On Glories Throne Ambition strives to sit No to the State me from my selfe I give Free from particulars as who expose Fame life and all for it and whilst I live So Rome may gaine I care not what I lose I 'le never rest till he for ever rest Who gives my Country such a cause of griefe And that to doe no forme I will detest Nor for my fame endanger Romes reliefe But worthy Cassius ere we further doe Let our friends mindes first well be understood Of which I hope to have assistance too Who will not venture for his Countries good Cas Now whilst my soule rests ravish'd in a trance I thinke I see great Rome her courage raise Then beat the ayre with songs th' earth with a dance And crowne thy vertues with deserved praise Act. 3. Scene 2. Marcus Brutus Portia MY dearest halfe my comfort my delight Of whom one smyle may sweeten all my sow'rs Thou in my bosome us'd to powre thy spright And where I was didst spare afflictions pow'rs When broils domesticke did disturbe thy rest Then still till finding faining some reliefe Thou with calme words disguis'd a stormy brest Ioyes frankly sharing and engrossing griefe Still tend'ring me with a respective care What might offend was by no meanes made knowne But with loves colours all things painted faire What might have made me glad was gladly showne How com'st thou then thy courage thus to lose That thou canst look so sad and in my sight Lend me deare Love a portion of thy woes A burden when divided doth grow light I see the Roses fading in thy face The Lilies languish Violets take their place Port. Thou hast deare Lord prevented my designe Which was to aske of thee what makes me pale If Phoebus had no light could Phoebe shine No with the cause of force th' effects must faile The mirrour but gives backe as it receives By just resemblance the objected forme And what impression the ingraver leaves The waxe retains still to the stamp conforme I am the mirrour which reflects thy minde As forc'd from thoughts or flowing from thine eyes I take the state in which thy state I finde Such is my colour as thy count'nance dyes Then how can I rejoyce whil'st thou art sad Whose breast of all thy crosses is the scroule I am still as thou art if griev'd or glad Thy bodies shadow th' essence of thy soule On that great Planet which divides the yeares Of fields inferiour as the fruit depends And as it vanish doth or pleas'd appeares In th' earths cold bosome life begins or ends Sunne of my soule so I subsist by thee Whose shining vertue leades me as a thrall From care-bred clouds if that thy face be free I rise in joyes but if thou faint I fall Brut. With all my course this count'nance best accords Who as you know yet never from my birth Light gestures us'd nor did delight in words Whose pleasant straines were onely tun'd to mirth My melancholy Nature feeds on cares Whil'st smothred sorrow by a habite smokes A thought-full breast when burden'd with affaires Doth make a silent mouth and speaking looks As for my palenesse it imports but good The bodies humbling doth exalt the minde Where fatnesse come from food but serves for food In fattest bodies leanest sprits we finde Ah! since I saw th' abhorr'd Thessalia's bounds All drench'd with bloud of Senatours and Kings As if my soule yet smarted in their wounds A secret sorrow often-times me stings But since thy Father braving paine with blows In the most hideous forme affronted death To him my minde a sad remembrance owes Which sorrow shall exact whil'st I have breath Yet grieve I that I gave thee cause of griefe Who thoughtst some new mishap did me dismay To such old sores one worst can give reliefe But Time in end may weare my woes away Por. Why should'st thou so from me thy thoughts conceale From thine own soule between whose breasts thou sleep'st To whom though showne thou dost them not reveale But in thy selfe more inwardly them keep'st And thou canst hardly hide thy selfe from me Who soone in thee each alteration spie I can comment on all that comes from thee True love still looks with a suspitious eye Within our bosome rests not every thought Tun'd by a sympathie of mutuall love Thou marr'st the Musicke if thou change in ought Which when distemper'd I do quickly prove Soule of my soule unfold what is amisse Some great disaster all my thoughts divine Whose curiousnesse may be excus'd in this Since it concerns thy State and therefore mine Brut. I wonder that thou dost thy frailtie show By Nature women have beene curious still And yet till now thou never crav'd to know More then I pleas'd to speak of my free will Nought save the wife a man within the walls Nor ought save him without she should embrace And it not comely is but th' one enthralls When any sexe usurpes anothers place Deare to their wonted course thy cares inure I may have matters which import the State Whose op'ning up might my disgrace procure Whose weight for femall thoughts would be too great Port. I was not Brutus match'd with thee to be A partner onely of thy boord and bed Each servile whore in those might equall me Who but for pleasure or for wealth did wed No Portia spous'd thee minding to remaine Thy Fortunes partner whether good or ill By loves strict bonds whil'st mutuall duties chaine Two breasts must hold one heart two souls one will Those whom just Hymen voluntar'ly bindes Betwixt them should communicate all things But chiefly that which most doth move the mindes Whence either pleasure or displeasure springs If thus thou seek thy sorrows to conceale Through a disdaine or a mistrust of me Then to the world what way can I reveale How great a matter I would do for thee And though our sexe too talkative be deem'd As those whose tongues import our greatest pow'rs For secrets still bad Treasurers esteem'd Of others greedy prodigall of ours Good education may reforme defects And this may leade me to a vertuous life Whil'st such rare patterns generous worth respects I Cato's daughter am and Brutus wife Yet would I not repose my trust in ought Still thinking that thy crosse was great to beare Till I my courage to a tryall brought Which suffering for thy cause can nothing feare For first to try how that I could comport With sterne afflictions sprit-enfeebling blows Ere I would seek to vex thee in this sort To whom my soule a dutious reverence owes Loe here a wound which makes me not to smart No I rejoyce that thus my strength is knowne Since thy