expressing of the toong Who euer did full satisfaction finde Yet with satietie were neuer cloy'd We seem'd two bodies gouern'd by one mind Such was the happines that we enioy'd He lou'd me deerely I obey'd his will Prowd of my selfe because that I was his A harmonie remaind betwixt vs still Each in another plac'd their chiefest blisse This mou'd th'Immortalls to a high disdaine That thus two worldlings who of death were heires Should in a paradise of ioyes remaine Which did exceede at least did equall theirs But chiefly Iuno did dispight it most Who through a iealousie still iarres with Ioue That bodie-prison'd soules of that could boast Which she although Heauens Queene had not aboue Thus euen for enuy of our rare delights The fatall Sisters by the heauens subborn'd Of my soules treasure closd the louely lights By which they thought the earth too much adorn'd O but he is not dead he liues in me Ah but I liue not for I dide in him The one without the other can not be If death haue set his eyes mine must looke dim Since to my sight that Sunne no more appeer'd From whom my beauties borrowed all their rayes A long ecclipse that neuer shall be cleer'd Hath darkned all the points of my sad dayes Ay me I liue too long he dide too soone Thus still the worst remaine the best depart Of him who told how this black deede was done The words like swords shall euer wound my hart Fierce tyrant Death that in thy wrath didst take One halfe of me and left an halfe behind Take this to thee or giue me th' other backe Be altogether cruell or all kind For whilst I liue thou canst not wholy dye O! euen in spite of death yet still my choyce Oft with th' Imaginations loue-quicke eye I thinke I see thee and I heare thy voyce And to content my languishing desire Each thing to ease my mind some helpe affords I fancie whiles thy forme and then afire In euery found I apprehend thy words Then with such thoughts my memorie to wound I call to mind thy lookes thy words thy grace Where thou didst haunt yet I adore the ground And where thou stept O sacred seemes that place My solitary walks my widowd bed My driery sighs my sheets oft bathd with teares These can record the life that I haue led Since first sad newes breath'd death into mine eares I liue but with despaire my sprite to dash Thee first I lou'd with thee all loue I leaue For my chaste flames extinguishd in thy ash Can kindle now no more but in thy graue By night I wish for day by day for night Yet wish farre more that none of both might bee But most of all that banishd from the light I were no more their courses for to see At night revoluing my despaird estate I go to summe with sighs my wonted ioyes When in an agonie a grieu'd conceate Doth blot th' unperfect compt with new annoyes When Sleepe the eldest brother of pale Death The Child of darkenesse and Father of rest In a free prison hath confinde my breath That it may vent but not with words exprest Then with my sprite thou enterst for to speake With honyed speaches to appease my griefe And my sad heart that labourd for to breake In this fayn'd comfort finds a while reliefe Yea it our soules remaind vnited so This late diuorcement would not vexe my mind But when I waken it augments my woe Whilst this a dreame and me a wretch I find O happy if I had been happy neuer But happier if my happinesse had lasted Yet had I in this state chanc'd to perseuer My dayes had with excessiue ioyes soone wasted Why waste I thus whilst vainely I lament The precious treasure of that swift Post Time Ah! pardon me deare Loue for I repent My lingring here my Fate and not my crime Since first thy body did enrich the Tombe In this spoild world my eye no pleasure sees And Atis Atis loe I come I come To be thy Mate amongst the Mirtle trees CHORVS LOe all our time euen from our birth In nought but miserie exceeds For where we find a moments mirth A Month of mourning still succeeds By all the euills that Nature breeds Which daily do our sprites appall Th' infirmities that frailtie sends The losse of it that fortune lends And such disasters as oft fall Yet to farre worse our states are thrall Whilst wretched man with man contends And euery one his whole force bends How to procure anothers losses But this torments vs most of all The mind of man which many a fancie tosses Doth forge vnto it selfe a thousand crosses O how the Soule with all her might Doth all her heau'nly forces straine How to attaine vnto the light Of Natures wonders that remaine Hid from our eyes we striue in vaine To seeke out things that are vnsure In Sciences to seeme profound We diue so deepe we find no ground And the more knowledge we procure The more it doth our minds allure Of mysteries the depth to sound Thus our desires we neuer bound Which by degrees thus drawne on still The memorie may not indure But like the tubs that Danaus daughters fill Doth drinke no faster then it 's forc'd to spill Yet how comes this and O how can Diuine Knowledge the Soules chiefe treasure Occasion such a crosse to man That should afford him greatest pleasure O it 's because we cannot measure The limits that to it belong But for to tempt forbidden things Do soare too high with Natures wings Still weakest whilst we thinke vs strong The Heau'ns that thinke we do them wrong To trie what in suspence still hings This crosse vpon vs iustly brings With knowledge knowledge is confusde And growes a griefe ere it be long That which a blessing is being rightly vsde Doth grow the greatest crosse when it 's abusde Ah! what auailes this vnto vs Who in this vaile of woes abide With endlesse toile to studie thus To learne the thing that Heau'n would hide And trusting in too blind a guide To spie the Planets how they moue And too transgressing common barres The constellation of the starres And all that is decreed aboue Whereof as oft th' euent doth proue Th' intelligence our welfare marres And in our breasts breeds endlesse warres Whilst what our Horoscopes foretell Our expectations do disproue Those apprehended plagues proue such a Hell That we would wish t' vnknow them till they fell This is the pest of great Estates They by a thousand meanes deuise How to foreknow their doubtfull Fates And like new Giants scale the Skies Heau'ns secret store-house to surprise Which sacriligious skill we see With what great payne they apprehend it And then how foolishly they spend it To learne the thing that once must be Why should we seeke our destinie If it be good we long attend it If it be euill none may amend it Such knowledge further rest exiles T' is best to abide
with moe kings than other kings with men There as a god in all his subiects sights Which mirth with mourning I must still record He spent or lost a time in al delights That a successefull fortune could afford Till Thessalus for mischiefe but reseru'd Once to his house inuited him to dine Where false Cassander at the table seru'd And as he vsde with water mixt his wine Olym. Alas alas and so it proou'd in th' end But who could feare a benefited friend Rox. The creatures al esteemde of greatest worth That either are in th' earth the sea or th' aire In Persia Arabia or the Ind's brought forth That walke that swim that flie that grow were there Then when that reason drunke with pleasure slept Which all things did aboundantly afford And whilst that nought saue musicke measure kept With Ceres Bacchus onelie was ador'd But when the King beginning was to drinke As strangely moou'd he thundred forth a grone And from the table sodainly did shrinke As one whose strength was at an instant gone Then when he softly was t' a chamber led That Death a title to his bodie claimde The sorrowing souldiers swarmd about his bed With lookes once fierce then for compassion framde But he whome victorie had still arrayd This battell with the rest bent to make euen Did looke like one whome all the world obayd And boasted shortly then to take the heauen Then that he comfort might th' afflicted bands He stretcht them out to kisse respected partes More by the Sword than Scepter honord hands On which it seemde they melted all their harts Last vnto them those generous words he tolde Yet to my life my death doth bring no blot Thus to die yoong in yeeres in glorie olde Of all our familie it is the lot And since that no mo worlds now rest t' orecome It 's time to die I did an Empire found And liu'd and raignde it 's done for which I come Now my great ghost must goe beneath the ground Then hauing thus dischargde all debt of life He with a countnance constant euen in death As too victorious of that fatall strife All th' aire perfuming spent th' imperious breath But when that it once through the camp was known That from the world that world of worth was gone What anguish was it cannot well be showne I had my part yet had not all alone O let that day which makes my dayes all night Be registred amongst the dismall dayes Whose inauspicious and lugubrious light The world with some disaster still dismayes And Babilon curst be thy fatall towres Once seate of Monarches mistresse of all th' earth But from hence-foorth a slaue to forraine powres Still burden'd be thy bounds with blood and dearth Olimp. You need not vse those execrations more Though Babilon of breath that prince depriu'd Yet as an Oracle had told before In Macedonie was his death contriu'd T' Antipater t' was told how diuers times The king against him had beene mou'd to wrath And doom'd as guiltie of opprobrious crimes His sonne in law Lincestes vnto death And he had heard the king did strictly trie How his Lieutenants had their places vsde Still making all as traitours strait to die That had the same in any sort abusde Then he that priuate was t' his owne misdeeds Had learnd by others what he might exspect As whose ambitious breast in pride exceeds And alwayes did a soueraigntie affect But when Craterus was nam'd to his place And he in his requir'd the warres t' attend He thought that it was but a meanes t' embrace To plague his pride with a deserued end Then to preuent that which I thinke was still More fear'd by him then purposde by the king With guiltie thoughts best exercisde in ill He sought what might to death his soueraigne bring And this the traytor compassde at the last As I alas haue learnde although too late When to my sonne his sonne Cassander past As to congratulate his prosprous state Then in his companie he did retaine A poyson powrefull where it was imploy'd Whose violence no mettall could restraine But in a horses hoofe was still conueigh'd He and his brother then th' advantage watchde And for their prince a cup of poyson made Thus he that neuer was by th' enemies matchde Doth by the treason of his friends lye dead Rox. And could or durst those traytors be so bold The glory of the world to vndermine But ah Madam Antipater of old Against your greatnesse alwayes did repine And I remember on a time he sent A Messenger of minde to make you bow That to your sonne a letter did present Full of inuectiues to discredite you The king whilst reading what it did comprise Did with a scornefull smile t' Hephestion say In writing of such things he is not wise Which straight one mothers teare will wash away Olimp. My sonne indeed I many a time aduisde How that disloyall man striu'd to be great But as a womans wit mine was despisde And wrested still vnto the sense of hate Yet of my sonne I thought the deeds were such That t'admiration com'd they past enuy And that none durst his sacred person touch On which the daunted world did whole relye How oft haue I those bitter throwes allowde By which I brought that demi-god to light And well I might of such a birth be prowde That made me glorious in the peoples sight Though diuers too as I haue sometime knowne T' estrange his loue from me did wayes t' prepare Yet were their slights by duteous loue ore-t hrowne And I respected with a reuerent care His tender loue towards me was much extolde Then when he sought t' establish a decree That I amongst th'Imortalls might b' enrold And as t' a Goddesse honors done to me Ah how can I this tragicke time suruiue That lost a sonne so great a sonne so kinde And th' only meanes that make me now to liue Is with reuenge hope t' entertaine my minde Rox. His loue towards you no doubt behoou'd t' abound By nature parents of their owne are lou'd But those towards whom he by no bond was bound Of his humanitie the fruits haue prou'd His clemencie did make his state more sure Then all the terrors rising from his name Which whilst he liu'd did publike loue procure And after death a neuer dying fame Th' vnhappy Sisigambis taking heart Of her owne naturall sonne the death suruiu'd And t' Alexander did that loue impart The which was due to Darius whilst he liu'd But when the tidings wounded had her eares That from the world was robde that glory of men Then suddenly dissoulde in floods of teares She hated life as neuer spoilde till then And with her widdow'd-nephew at her feete That of Hephestion did the death bewayle Her soule amidst a sea of woes did fleet Whose forces as ouer-whelmde began to fayle Then barrde from food she groueling did abide Till that the course of life t'an end was runne Thus she suruiude
I le tell a tale that may moue stones to teares My Father of the Phrigian Princes come Had in my growing age a tender care That all my education might become One whom he might for mightie hopes prepare As yet foure lusters scarcely had begun For to discerne my sex with downie cheekes When I into that Labirinth was runne Whence back in vaine the straying entrer sheekes I lou'd O fatall loue vnlouely fate The vertuouslie faire yet fairest Dame That euer was enshrin'd in soules conceat Or gaue a dittie to the sounds of fame Straight were my fancies to her beauties tyed None can paint passions but in feeling mindes I burnd freezd hopd dispaird and liud and dyed My actions chang'd as oft as th' Autumnes windes Yet after many doubtfull hopes and feares That I attaind the height of my desires She had subscrib'd a truce vnto my teares And temperd with encountring flames my fires For as she was the most affected Saint Whose image was erected in my thought She had compassion too of my complaint And to acquit my firme affection sought Thus whilst I triumphd in mine owne conceat As one whose loue his Ladie did preferre I was corriuald O vnhappie fate By one who lou'd but was not lou'd by her He looking as I look'd saw what I saw Saw Natures wonder and the worlds delight And as a blind god blind guide did him draw Still like a lizard liu'd but by her sight Then strait he striues the Iewell for to wonne Whose vnstaind worth he rates aboue his breath He hates the light that comes not from my Sunne And thinks to liue without her worse then death And this affection fauour'd was by Fortune Which seem'd to ratifie his high rear'd hopes The Nymph her parents dayly did importune For to confine his flying fancies scopes Now iudge if that my miseries were rife Who threatned thus with eminent mishap Was like to lose a deerer thing then life Whilst others striu'd my treasure to entrap The man that sought my ioyes to vndermine I could not wish for this t' haue him ouerthrowne Nor blame the sprite that sympathiz'd with mine I enuied not his hap but wail'd mine owne Now in my breast a battell did begin Which forc'd my soule with inward wounds to bleede Some fancies fear'd to what his loue might winne And possibilitie for to come speede Then others call'd her constancie to mind Which would not yeeld although she were inuaded Yet forc'd to feare the frailtie of her kind A woman that hath eares may be perswaded Thus toss'd with doubts into a deepe of wo Which with suspition had my ioyes supplanted I blam'd the thoughts that durst accuse her so As vertues patterne had one vertue wanted As I concluded so it come to passe Th' affliction seru'd for fuell to affection For she who th' ornament of women was Would neuer wrong her worth with a defection When in my absence they had oft assay'd To haue me from her memorie remou'd The Sunne burn's hottest when his beames are stay'd The more that they would let the more she lou'd And finding that delay no ende affords And that faire generals are th' abusers Arte She did repell him with disdainfull words To raze all thought of her out of his harte Loue is a ioy that vpon paine depends A drop of sweet drown'd in a sea of sowres What Follie doth begin oft Furie ends They hate for euer that haue lou'd for howres When all his arguments prou'd of no force Strait with disdaine his soule in secret bur'nd And what he thought was euill to make farre worse He vnto furour all his fauour turn'd As he extreamely lou'd farre more he hated And musde of many meanes how to annoy her Which was the best a long time he debated To see her dead or to see me enioy her What saith he when he first had musde a space So hard it is to quench a great affection Shall I disfigure that angelike face And make the world ecclypsde of all perfection Shall she by me be to confusion brought To whom I vowes and prayers did impart To whom I sacrific'd my secret thought And on her beauties altar burn'd my hart Or shall I see her in anothers powre And in his bosome lie t' vpbraid my losse Whilst both with scornefull smiles then death more sowre To poynt me out for sport report my crosse That sight which sometime did me sweetly charme Should it become a cause of griefe to me No none that liue's shall glorie in my harme Since she will not be mine she shall not be Th' unlouing Louer hauing vow'd her death Did with a cup of poison drowne my ioyes The fairest body from the sweetest breath Was parted thus O Ocean of annoyes That Monster Fame whose many mouthes and eares Must know but not conceale a rare thing long And prodigall of ill most chiefly beares The worst newes first inform'd me of this wrong For neighbouring neere the most vnhappy part That had been spoild of such a beeauteous guest No sooner had death seazde on the chaste hart Then sorrow on my eares to rob my rest How the sadde newes first sounded in my soule I will not wearie you with long laments Rage did the outward signes of griefe controule When great windes blow the fire the smoke worst vents Whilst generous disdaine disguisde my griefe As one transported with a mighty rage I ranne vnto the Theater of mischiefe A tragicke Actor for a bloody stage For I was come no sooner to the place Whereas I thought the Murtherer to haue found But I re'ncountred O vnhappie case Too deare a friend to catch an enemies wound Ah passions dim'd mine eyes wrath led my hand I was no more my selfe sorrow had kild me The first t' was night that did before me stand I fiercely did pursue as Furor willd me And as it chanc'd ere one could speake a word I filld his bosome with a luke warme flood And in his kind breast drown'd the cruell sword That in anothers body dranke my blood When as a Torch had partly robde the night Prowd of supposde reuenge ah bitter gaine I saw I knew blacke knowledge cruell sight T' was mine owne brother that my selfe had slaine O bitter losse that nothing can repaire My soule at once with all woes armie wounded Griefe rage spite shame amazement and despaire Gauld tossd burnd dashd astonishd and confounded The thought of my offence torments me most Yet am I whiles by my Loues verdict cleansde And whiles my brothers violated ghost By dreadfull dreames doth boast to be reuengde Croes Now whilst this great disaster did occurre What came of him who was the cause of all Adra. He hauing heard this lamentable sturre Whom selfe-accusing thoughts did guiltie call Srait strucken with a wonderful remorse I wot not whether feare or pitie mou'd him If not t' ore-liue her death or dreading worse He killd himselfe his conscience so disproou'd him Croes I grant the manner of so rare
re-enforced his troupes comming forwarder to fight with greater force then before was enformed how his wife had died in prison whose death he bewaild with exceeding great sorrowe And vnderstanding what courtesie Alexander had vsed towards her he sent to sue for peace not for any feare of his force but allured as he alledged by his courtesie This sute being likewise reiected he fought beside Arbella with no better Fortune then before Yet for all these misfortunes being of an inuincible courage and dispayring of peace he re-assembled all his forces which were augmented by the comming of the Bactrians was comming forward with intention at last either to die or preuaile But in the meane time two traiterous subiects of his owne to wit Bessus whom he had promoted to be gouernour of Bactria Nabarzanes one in speciall credite with him conspired his death VVhich danger though it was reuealed to him by Patron Captaine of the Greekes yet he could not or rather would not eschue At length those two traitours tooke and bound him with golden chaines and cast him in an olde Chariot with purpose to present him to Alexander But they hearing how he would not accept their present and how he was comming to inuade them threw their darts at Darius and left him for dead In this estate he was found by Polistratus and after the deliuery of some fewe words dyed Alexander hauing exceedinglie lamented his miserable and vndeserued end directed his bodie to his mother Sisigambis to be honourably buried The persons names that speakes Darius Sisigambis his mother Statira Re. his wife Statira Virg his daughter Tiriotes their Eunuch Nabarzanes two traitours Bessus two traitours Patron Captaine of the mercenary Greekes Nuntius Alexander Parmenio his Lieutenant Hephestion his Minion Polistratus a souldier Artabazus a noble man of Persia Chorus all Persians The Scene supposed in Babilon THE TRAGEDY OF DARJVS Actus Primus DARIVS WHat thundering power grow'n jealous of my state With such hostilitie my troupes o're-throwes And arm'd with lightning breathing flames of hate Big with disdaine high indignation showes Whil'st sooth'd with selfe conceits asham'd to doubt In greatnesse shadowe I securelie slept Lo change-affecting Fortune wheeles about And ruines all that me from ruine kept Thus I whose onlie name amaz'd my foes Whom th' earth ador'd as Monarche once ouer all Am so degraded now and sunke in woes That who admir'd my might admire my fall Ah then indeed I fell when gallants stood And Phoenix-like renew'd their life by death Who hauing seald their force and faith with blood Would rather die then draw a borrowed breath Yet I but then not I view'd not aveng'd Those monstrous mountaines of my subjects slaine Although my conscience hath my courage cleng'd And knowes what valour was employ'd in vaine Through greatest dangers death I did pursue Till heapes of slaughtred bodies bar'd my way And chang'd my Chariot to a scarlet hue Ere wounded honour could be drawne away O how I enuy yet their happie Ghostes Who died whil'st hope of victorie remain'd And in the presence of two famous hostes Left bloodie recordes that they died vnstain'd Shall I suruiue that soule-ouerwhelming shame To be th' eternall staine of Persians praise No rather let me die and let my name Be quite exstinguish'd with my hatefull dayes Starre-bosting Babilon blush to behold One cald thy King surmounted and abated How may thy Towrs but tremble when it 's told Thy Prince entreats whome Princes earst entreated Not vassal-like I will not yeeld to this Were all my Empire to a period come Yet none shall vaunt that euer I was his Hartes holding courage are not all o're-come This tongue inur'd still to command doth scorne To breath base words to scape a minutes paines Let them obey who to obey were borne For Darius this indignitie disdaines Since I was once iudg'd worthie to command Shall I returne to be a base entreater No whil'st a sword yeelds homage to this hand I le not acknowledge in the world a greater Braue spirites who now possesse the pleasant bowers And glorious gardens of th' Elisian plaine For if deserts may moue th' infernall powers That happie shade your shadowes must containe Those fields where-as your praises are set forth Do burie but your bodies not your fame Men shall adore the relickes of your worth And reare immortall Trophees to your name I le sacrifize as incense to your soules His dying sighes and sorrowing parents teares Who now while none his insolence controules Our conquer'd ensignes in his triumphe beares For it may ease your Ghostes to heare his grones Whil'st th' earth ouer-burdend sends rebounding back A plaintife Echo from the woods and stones To sound through all the aire his armies wrack Why spend I speaches to disturbe your rest What idle disputations do I hold A mightie furour hath enflam'd my brest And burnes me till I be aueng'd seuen-fold Did I that strong Cadusian first affront Who durst aduance himselfe to braue our bandes Then turn'd applauded and in high account Charg'd with his spoiles the honour of my hands And could I then all kinde of doubt remoouing Aduenter only to an Armies shame And should I now that auncient praise disprouing With squadrons compast loose that glorious name Blinde fortune O thy stratagems are strange Thou wrak'st my greatnes wound'st mine honour to And hauing made my state the stage of change Hast acted all inconstancie could do Lo I who late of swarming troupes did bost Am spoil'd of all in whome I then repos'd And those imprison'd whome I fancie most Are to th' insulting victours pride expos'd O torment but to thinke death to beleeue That any may command my deerest part And wretched I notable to releeue The Iewell of mine eye ioy of my hart Deere obiect of my thoughtes my life my loue Sweete source of my delights my one my all Bright Image of excellencies aboue What do'st thou breath and com'st not when I call And can I be and not be where thou art Hath heauen the force me from thy face to barre Or are my hands growne traitors to my hart That they should shrinke from doing what it dare O could my minde but distribute a space These emulating thoughts that tosse my brest Among those pointles Cyphers that spend place Then I alone might animate the rest Since in this great disgrace I chanc'd to fall Now nothing rests to rase my fame forlorne But to doe desperatly and hazard all I le liue with praise or by my death flie scorne Some prosperous issue afterward may purge This crime with which th' euent would burthen me This crime that carries with it selfe a scourge No greater torment than the want of thee But what hope rests to re-obtaine that treasure Which auaritious tyrants once possesse Another now disposes at his pleasure Of all my wealth how can I looke for lesse Now not till now I deeme my state in danger When I imagine how my best belou'd Must
Th' one Fortunes gift and th' other our owne merite By which oft times th' afflicted Mind is salued When Fortune takes what we by her inherite Croes I see what braue Desires boyle in thy Soule And make thee with immortall wings to flee This hie-bent courage nothing can controule All Lidia is not large euough for thee Go seeke an Empire equall with thy mind No common limits can confine thy thought But while a full perfection thou wouldst find I feare thy fall turne all our hopes to nought And pardon me deare Sonne it 's a great Loue That makes me watch so warily o're thy wayes Th' affection of a Father what may moue Whom such an eminent danger not dismayes The Heau'ns of late aduertisde me by Dreame That some sadde fortune did attend thy Youth New Meteors and strange Stars through th' aire still streame Which are as Oracles of Ioues owne mouth This was the cause that hastned Vs so much To haue thee bound to Himens hallow'd Law This was the cause that all our care was such Out of our sight all weapons to withdraw Scorne not th' amazing Comets that thou notes The Starres to mortall States haue termes prefixt And thinke not only that my loue but dotes For if thou fall my fate with thine is mixt Atis. Would God I had some meanes once ere my death To satisfie that infinite desart Which I shall hold so long as I haue breath Deepe registred with reu'rence in my hart Yet Sir we see it is a naturall thing For too excessiue loue t' engender 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 void of vertue to soft pleasure thrall Of your two Sonnes what might your subiects thinke Th' one wanting but one sense and th' other all What fancies might my late spousd loue possesse To see her husband hatefull in their sights And from the height of Honour to digresse To womanize with courtly vaine delights Though women loue t' haue men at their deuotion They hate base mindes that hatch no noble motion Croes Well well my Sonne I see thou must preuaile Go follow forth the chase vse thine owne will Yet stay or let my words thus much auaile Walke warilie now t' eschue this threatned ill Thy hautie sprite t' attempt all hazards bent I feare transport thee to a fatall strife God grant I be deceau'd yet take good tent Thy ouer-franke courage may betray thy life And deere Adrastus I must let him know What benefites I haue bestow'd on thee Not to vpbraid thee no but for to show How I may trust thee best that 's bound to me When thou from Phrigia come defild with blood And a fraternall violated loue When in a most extreme estate thou stood Chac'd from thy fathers face curst from aboue Thou found me friendlie and my Court thy rest A Sanctuarie sacred for thy safetie Where thou wast entertain'd as pleas'd thee best I thinke those dangers scap't should make thee craftie Yet though I grac'd thee earst t' was but a signe Of a heroick mind that helps the wretched But in thy hands my soule I le now consigne And giue a proofe of loue not to be matched Behold how Atis of our age the shield Whose harme as you haue heard I fear'd ere now Is to go take his pastime in the field And with his custodie I le credit you I must my friend euen feruentlie exhort Wait on my sonne remember of my dreame This dangerouslie delectable sport Doth make me feare the griefe exceede the game Adras I neuer shall those courtesies neglect It irkes me not to thinke nor heare the same For while this sprite these members doth direct All shall concurre to celebrate your fame If t' were your will I would not hence depart Who all such motiues vnto mirth abhore But with my passions heere retird apart Would waile wo past and shun all cause of more For if I striue t' abandon my annoyes I feare my fellowship infect with woe Those that would recreat themselues with ioyes Still strange mishaps attend mee where I go Yet since you will commit this charge to me I le vse all meanes that you may not repent you At lest all my defects faith shall supplie I couet nothing more then to content you Atis. Now for to see this monsters ouglie shape With an enflam'd desire my thoughts do burne And Father be not feard for no mishap I hope soone and victorious to returne Caelia Returne and whither loue O deadlie word That doth import thy parting from my sight I heard thee name mishap ah my deere Lord Should such strict limits bound so large delight O cruell resolution vnkind dealing And canst thou condiscend to leaue me so Or from my presence priuilie thus stealing Thinkst thou to rob a portion of my wo This might indeede to thee yeeld some reliefe To haue thy eares not wounded with 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 With which thy thoughts haue vnaduisdlie entred Remember I haue interest in thy life Which I consent not to be thus aduentred Hast thou not giuen a proofe in thy greene prime That may content the most ambitious hopes Whilst Atis was his owne O then t' was time To follow fancies vnconfined scopes Thy selfe then only camp'd in Fortunes bounds Thou dost endanger Caelia likewise now You sigh her breath she suffer's in your wounds You liue in her and she must dye in you Atis. Life of my soule how do such broken speaches From confusde passions thus abruptlie rise I know my loue thy loue my mind o're-reaches Affection schoold with feares is too too wise I go o're-thwart the fields for sport to range Thy sighs do but my soule with sorrow fill And pardon deere I find this wondrous strange Thou neuer did till now resist my will If I trespasse in aught against my dutie Which makes thee thus my faith for to mistrust Mistrust not yet the chaines of thine owne beautie Which bind all my desires and so they must Are we not now made one such feares o'recome Though I would flie my selfe my selfe do fetter And if that I would flie from whom to whome I can loue none so well none loues me better Haue pittie of those peareles sweete eyes soules pleasures Lest they presage what thou would not haue done The heau'ns had not giu'n me those pretious treasures Of such perfections to be spoyl'd so soone Chorus THose that domine aboue High presidents of heauen By whom all things do moue As they haue order giuen What worldling can arise Against them to repine Whilst castel'd in the skies With prouidence diuine They force th' inferior round Their iudgements to confesse And in their wrath confound Prowd mortals that transgresse The couenant they made With Nature in heauens
for my offences Which once no doubt will with the world be euen And iudge our thoughts words acts and vaine pretences Sonne t' is my pride that hath procurde thy fall I 'm guiltie of thy blood I gaue the wound Which was thy death and whose remembrance shall My life each day with many deaths confound Then iniust Stars your statutes I contemne O! if I were confronted with the gods I would their partiall prouidence condemne That in such sort do exercise their rods Ah! my Sonnes death doth shew their iudgement naught What could he perpetrate against such Powres Should he haue suffred for his Fathers fault Whom without cause their wrong-spent wrath deuours Now all the world those deities may despise Which plague the guiltlesse and the guiltie spare Cease haples man t' outrage thy selfe thus waies I pardon thee and pitie thy despaire Adrast. O cruell iudgement of a rigorous fate Must I o're-liue my selfe t' entombe my Fame All things that I behold vpbraid my state Too many monuments of one mans shame All and no more then I my deedes detest Yet some not find a friend I find no foe To rid the world of such a dangerous pest Borne but to be an instrument of woe I know what makes all worthie mindes refraine The sword against a Catife for to stretch They this opprobrious office do disdaine To be the Deaths-men of so base a wretch Or must I yet a fouler fact commit And fill the world with th' horrour of my name Is there some new disaster resting yet And other funerals famous by my shame Or would some bastard thought lifes cause debate That in the blasted field of comfort gleanes No no in spite of heau'n I 'le force my fate One that 's resolu'd to die cannot want meanes Prowd tyrant Death and must thou make it strange Tinvolue my wearied soule in further strife Vnlesse my courage with my fortune change I can appoint a Period to my life But this Ay me all hope of helpe deuours What gaines my soule by death in those sad times If potent still in all her wonted powres She must remember of my odious crimes What though vnbodied she the world forsake Yet cannot from her conscience be diuorc'd It will but vexe her at the shadowie Lake Till euen to grone the god of ghosts be forc'd But welcome death and O would God I had Lesse famous or more fortunately liu'd Then had I neuer showne my selfe so mad T' haue only been by infamie suruiu'd Ah! haue I liu'd to see my Ladie die And die for me for me not worth so much Ah! haue I liu'd vnnaturall man to be My Brothers death whose loue to me was such Ah! haue I liu'd with mine owne hands to kill A gallant Prince committed to my charge And do I gaze on the dead body still And in his Fathers sight my shame enlarge Ah! haue I liu'd O execrable Monster To be accounted of a diu'lish nature And euen by them that best my actions conster For to be cal'd and iustly cal'd a Traitour Yet with my blood this staine away I 'le wash And lest my memorie make th' earth detracted Let my name perish in my bodies ash And all my life be as a thought vnacted Braue Atis now I come to pleade for grace Although thou frown'st on my affrighted ghost And to reuenge thy wrong this wound embrace Thus thus I toile t' attaine the Stygian coast Cho. The man himselfe doth desperately wound With leaden lights weake legs and head declinde The body in disdaine doth beate the ground That of his members one hath prou'd vnkinde The fainting hand falles trembling from the sword With this micidiall blow for shame growne red Which strait the blood pursues with vengeance stor'd To drowne the same with the same floods it shed Who of those parties can the combate show Where both but one one both strooke and sustaind Or who shall triumph for this strange ore'throw Whereas the Victor lost the Vanquish'd gaind Croes Cursde eies what sudden change hath drownd your lights And made your mirthfull obiects mournfull now Ye that were still inurde to stately sights Since seated vnder an Imperiall brow O'reclouded now with vapours of my cares Are low throwne downe vnto a hell of griefe And haue no prospect but my soules despaires The sad beholders of a rare mischiefe O dead Adrastus I absolue thy ghost Whose hand some secret destinie did charme Thou hated by the Heau'ns wert to thy cost An accidentall Actor of our harme No doubt some angrie God hath layd this snare And whilst thy purpose was the Boare to kill Did intercept thy shaft amidst the aire And threw it at my Sonne against thy will Ah Sonne must I be witnesse of thy death Who view thee thus with violence to bleed And yet want one on whom to powre my wrath To take iust vengeance for so vile a deed This wretch whose guiltlesse mind hath cleard his hand Grieu'd for his error loe vnforcd doth fall And not as one that did in danger stand For he liu'd still till I forgaue him all Thus haue I but the heau'ns on whom I may Powre forth the poyson of my troubled spirite In my soules bitternesse I 'm forcd to say This seconds not their custome and my merite Act. IIII. Scen. II. SANDANIS CROESVS WHy spend you Sir with sighs th' Imperious breath Which nought but words of Soueraigntie should breed O weake reuenge for one that 's wrongd by death T' adorne his triumph with a mourning weed This pale-fac'd tyrant author of our ill Who did t' ecclypse our Ioyes that blacke shaft borrow Should you frame Trophees to his Tigrish will And weare his liuery and succumbe to sorrow No though he might this outward blisse o're-throw And you saue you of all that 's yours might spoyle Yet whilst of one that yields no signe you show You triumph still and he receiues the foyle Th' o're-flowing humor that would drowne your soule In baser breasts might better be excusde Who want the sprite their passions to controule As from their birth still to subiection vsde But you in whom high Thoughts haue been innate To this decay how is your Vertue come I blush to see my Soueraigne so abated And Maiestie by miserie o'recome Nor are my words out of a rockie mind T' unnaturallize you as not feeling smart No none can barre a Prince from being kind Th' undoubted badge of an Heroick hart That supreme Powre by which great States do stand Should order but th' affection not vndoe it And I could wish you might your selfe command Which though you may not well yet seeme to doe it Croes I will not now rehearse t' enlarge my griefe On what iust reasons my laments are grounded But still will muse vpon mine owne mischiefe While as my soule a thousand wayes is wounded What pensiue pensill euer limm'd aright The sad conceats of soule-consuming woe Ah! words are weake to shew the swelling hight Of th' inward
anguish that o're-whelms me so Though many Monarchs iealously despise The rising Sunne that their declining staines And hate the Heire who by their fall must rise As grieu'd to heare of death or others raignes My loue towards Atis otherwise appeard Whom whilst for him I did my cares engage I as a Father lou'd as King not feard The comfort not th' encombrance of mine age And hadst thou Sonne as reason would suruiu'd me Who glauncd and vanish'd like a lightning-flash Then death of life could neuer haue depriu'd me Whilst such a Phaenix had reuiu'd my ash San. Let not these woes ecclypse your Vertues light Croes Ah! rage and griefe must once be at a hight San. Striue of your sorrows for to stop the source Croes These salt eie-floods must flow haue their course San. That is not kingly Croes And yet it is kindly Where passions do domine they gouerne blindly San. Such wofull plaints cannot repaire your State Croes Th' infortunate at least may waile their Fate The meanest comfort can t' a wretch retourne Is in calamine t' haue leaue to mourne San. What graue-browd Stoick voyd of all affections With teare-lesse eyes could that Youths death behold Though greene in yeeres yet ripe in all perfections A hoarie iudgement vnder lockes of gold No no man liues but must lament to see The worlds chiefe hope euen in his blossome choaked But men cannot controll the Heau'ns decree And mischiefe done can neuer be reuoked Then let not this torment your mind no more This crosse with you alike your Countrie beares If wailing could your ruinde State restore Soules fraught with griefe should sayle in Seas of teares Lest all our comfort dash against one shelfe And his vntimely end occasion yours Haue pitie of your people spare your selfe If not to your owne vse yet vnto ours Croes When Sandanis I first thy faith did find Thou diu'd so deepely in my bosorn then That since thou kept the key still of my mind And knew what I conceald from other men Behold I go to open vp to you Deare Treasurer of all my secrets still A mightie enterprise I mind for now A Phisicke in some sort t' asswage my ill Which may vnto my soule yield some reliefe And make me to forgoe sad thoughts content Or els acquire copartners in my griefe If not for me yet with me to lament Sand. This benefite must bind me with the rest To loue your Maiestie and wish you well I 'le giue you my aduise and I protest That you take friendly what I freely tell Croes Since that it hath not pleasde the Diuine powres That of my of-spring I might comfort claime Yet lest the rauenous course of flying howres Should make a prey of my respected name I hope t' engender such a generous brood That the vnborne shall know how I haue liu'd And this no doubt would do my ghost great good To be by famous Victories reuiu'd I 'le Eagle-like so are with Fames immortall wings Vnlesse my hie-bent thoughts themselues deceaue That hauing acted admirable things I may scorne death and triumph o're the graue Yet haue I not so settled my conceate That all opinions are to be despisde Vnfold your iudgement touching my estate Take heed I 'le tell you what I haue deuisde Some Scithian Shepherd in a high disdaine As I haue heard rehearst by true discourses To plague some of the Medes with endlesse paine Did entertaine them with Thiestes courses And to content their more then Tigrish wishes They with the infants flesh the parents fed Who not suspecting such polluted dishes Did in their bowels burie whom they bred Then after this abhominable crime They come vnto my fathers famous court And working on th' aduantage of the time Did as they pleas'd of what was past report They shew'd what seru'd to help and hid the rest Whilst pittie pleaded for afflictions part He noble-minded fauouring the distrest Was woon to them by this Sinonick art San. Oft Kings of Iudges thence haue parties gone Where both their eares were patent but to one Croes Then Ciaxare Monarch of the Medes To prosecute those fugitiues to death In indignation of my fathers deedes Did boast them both with all the words of wrath My father thinking that his court should be A sanctuarie for all supplicants Did leuie men that all the world might see He helpt the weake and scorn'd the mighties vaunts Thus mortall warres on euery side proclaim'd With mutuall domage did continue long Till both the armies by Bellona tam'd Did irke t' auenge or to maintaine a wrong It chanc'd whilst peace was at the highest dearth That all their forces furiouslie did fight A suddaine darkenes courtain'd vp the earth And violentlie dispossest the light I thinke for Phaeton the Sunne lookt sad And that the bloodie obiects that he saw Did wound his memorie with griefe gone mad He from the world his wagon did withdraw Yet Ignorance the mother of confusion With wresting natures course found cause of feares Which well edg'd on by wiser mens illusion Was cause of concord and of truce from teares Then straight there was a perfect peace begunne And that it might more constantly indure Astiages the King of Medias sonne A mariage with my Sister did procure A deadlie rancour reconcil'd againe Must seal'd with consanguinitie remaine Croes He since his fathers age-worne course was ended Hath rulde his people free from blood or strife Till now a Viper of his loynes discended Would by his ruine make himselfe a life I meane by Cyrus base Cambises brood Who by a Bitch nurst with the countrey swaines Degener'd farre from any princely blood The doggish nature of his nurse retaines He come against his Grandfather to feeld And vnexpected with a mightie powre Ouerthrew his forces forc'd himselfe to yeeld Who captiue kept now waits for death each howre That you may see now what my interest is I made recitall of this ruthfull storie Those circumstances shew that shame of his Tends to the derogation of our glorie That any dare presume to trouble thus One whome our kingdomes fauour should defend In strict affinitie combind with vs Yet not respected for so great a friend My ioylesse soule with this will be reioyc'd Whilst I to warre against that rebell go I hope that both shall know how they haue choyc'd Th' one a kind friend and th' other a fearce fo San. Though Natures law you car'd not to transgresse And this your wrong'd allye would not repare Yet the regard t' a Monarch in distresse Should moue the mightie with a mutuall care These terrours to that thunder in your eare I thinke the Lidians will not well allow For when the Cedar falls the Oake may feare Th' Assirians ore-throw may astonish you And when we see our neighbours house afire Then we may iudge our owne to be in danger It 's better first with others to conspire Or we be forc'd our selues t' inuade that stranger Ah this is but the out-side
might perish entring at my port Yet for all this were I expos'd alone Th' accursed obiect of heauens plaguing-armes I should not thinke I had iust cause to mone When I but waild mine owne not others harmes Ay me on those whom more then life I loue The state-disturbing blastes of Fortune fall Yet each of them some seuerall sorrowes moue But wretch I suffer ship-wracke in them all I suffered when I sawe Oxatres slaine My louing sonne and most entirelie lou'd dy'd in Darius when he try'd in vaine What fates would doe yet still their hatred prou'd Ah doe the destinies extend my breath For further euill O extreame crueltie To vse so many instruments of death Against one burthend with calamitie Yet Ioue if this may dis-en-flame thine ire Let all thy lightning light vpon mine head To be consum'd with a celestiall fire Some comfort were since that I must be dead Stat. Reg. Leaue mother these immoderate laments To me the very source and seate of sorrowe Whose dayes are burthen'd with so sad euents That hell it selfe may of my torments borrow Loe the deere Lord and treasure of my thought Whose presence I my Paradice esteem'd To such a headlong praecipice is brought That with the world his glorie dead is deem'd Ah on what prop can I repose my trust When first the greatnesse of his state I ponder Next how his Diademe drencht in the dust Was Fortunes Trophee and all Asias wonder He whose imperious speach the world respected And as an oracle had in regarde Now vanquish't and contemptiblie neglected Can scarcely as a supplicant be heard And yet I know this more his minde afflicts Then doth the ruine of his rigall state That him my sight another interdicts Who am the soueraigne of his soules conceat Shall he pure quintessence of my best part Then onely testifie the loue he beares No by mine eyes I will distill my hart And for his sake dissolue my selfe in teares Would God my breast like Cristall were transparent That all the world might see my sinceare minde And that my loyall thoughts were all apparent Whose great affection cannot be confinde They haue imprison'd onely my poore eies And banish'd them from th' obiect of their ioy My firie hart with winged fancies flies And where thou goest doth still my steps conuoy Thy Queene is such as whilst thou draw'st this aire In counting ciptiues men may still accept her For whilst thou liust how can thy spouse dispaire Whom thou prefer'st euen to thy soule and scepter Yet flatter I my selfe that am accurst The apprehension which with griefe I cherish Of thy mishap may serue to make me burst Ah ah I faint I feele my spirits perish Sis Help help allace allace the Empresse falles Sta. Virg. O dolefull day of darknes world of woes Sis This greeuous spectacle my spirite appalles Heauen earth and all are now become our foes Sta. Virg. I may more iustly mone then any other Whose eares haue heard the hard hap of my father Whose eies behold the anguish of my mother Whom both do loade with all the woes of either Stat. Reg. What inhumaine humanity is this With such a cruell pittie to oppresse To bring pale ghostes backe from the fields of blis Yet to be plung'd in th' Ocean of distresse O vnkinde kindenesse that by sauing slayes And would with louelesse loue my loue controule Ah of this odious Sunne th' unhappie rayes Doe cleere mine eyes but to confound my soule Sisi Deare daughter striue your passions to restraine Least that the torrent of your greefe grow such That it both carie you to'agroundlesse maine And him o'rewhelme for whom ye mourne so much No doubt but he if we rest captiues thus Disdaining these indignities of ours T' auenge himselfe in re-obtaining vs Will hazard all his Orientall pow'rs But ah what comfort can a wretch afforde Whose care-worne bread the word of wo containes Yet though my hart would faine impugne my worde I hope-lesse speake of hope t' appease her paines Stat. Reg. Such consolations now came not in season Since we must hold our greefe the greatest good Dissemble not your sorrow we haue reason Yea to sigh out our sprites and weepe our blood Sis I waile my sonne Stat. Reg. And I my husbandes fall Sta. Virg. I waile my father and in him vs all Sis No woe like mine mine cannot be releeu'd I waile his woe who should my woe asswage Who liues by me by whom I should haue liu'd Sport of my youth and piller of mine age Stat. Reg. No wo like mine who faithful to my pheere For loue of him all others had forsaken But what a pheere my selfe or one more deere Yet from my selfe my selfe by force am taken Stat. Virg. No wo like mine who borne a Monarkes childe Thought that my birth good hap should heape vpon me Yet all my expectations are beguil'd And what I hop'd in most hath most vndone me Sis I mourne for him who in my womb was form'd St. Reg. I mourne for him in whō loue me transform'd Stat. Virg. I mourne for him by whom I formed was Sis Shall I not see my selfe in that cleere glasse St. Reg. Ah! shall I neuer in his ioy reioyce St. Virg. Ah! shall I neuer here his cheerefull voice Sis Would God frō death my death might him exeeme St. Reg. would God my life my liues life might redeeme St. Vir. Would God the life he gaue him life might giue Sis Must these gray haires my sons green youth suruiue Sta. Reg. I will preuent him and not liue to languishe Sta. Virg. Can I remaine behinde to liue in anguishe Sis But whiles our wretched state we iustly mone We may lament this infant too a space Who in mishap inferiour were to none If he could apprehend his tragic cace Sta. Reg. O then how can my hart but burst a-sunder Whom nature moues most to bemone his harmes I thinke I see the hostes of heau'n all thunder On me my spouse and this babe in my armes Deere image of my selfe in whom I liue Thy shape shames not the greatnesse of thy Syre But of thy birth cleere euidence doth giue Thy soure-sweete sight addes coales to my desire Thou that shouldst comfort most tormēt'st thou me Huge hostes of passions now my soule assembles O how I grieue and yet am glad to see Thee though not him whom thy sweet face resembles Goe beare this babe from hence a wound too deep Makes in my breast compassion of his part Yet let him stay I ioy to heare him weepe This motherly affection melts my hart Of many woes this last is not the least That vn-begun thy glorie must be ended Thy fortunes Sunne my Sonne set in the East While thy faire-rysing all the world attended Ah! must this innocent taste of mishap Whose tender age cannot discerne his state And be thus plagu'd yea in his nurses lap Inherite woe by birth Ah cruell fate If thou could'st hope what great hopes hast
not die desperately by mine owne hand I le die through others guilt not through mine owne None of you all haue falsified your troath But with me loyall still to th' end yee abide Now I you all disburthâ—n of your oath Leaue me alone and for your selues prouide Exeunt DARIVS O Wretched Monarchie vaine mortals choice The glorious stâ—p to a disgrace-full fall Our pow'r depends vpon the peoples voice And to seeme soueraigne needs we must serue all Yet blowne like blathers with ambitions winde On enuied scepters weaklie we relie And calling not our fraile estate to minde Not onlie earth but heauens themselues defie This hellish hag our restlesse minde doth tosse While carried with a popular applause T' enlarge our limites with our neighbours losse We of our owne confusions are the cause And when th' ecclipse comes of our glories light Then what auailes th' adoring of our name A meere illusion made to mock the sight Whose best was but the shaddow of a dreame Let greatnesse of her glascie scepters vaunt Not sceptours no but reeds soone brus'd soone brokeÌ„ And let this worldlie pompe our wits inchant All fades and scarcelie leaues behinde a token Those golden Pallaces those gorgeous halles With fourniture superfluouslie faire Those statelie Courts those sky-encountring walles Evanish all like vapours in the aire O what affliction iealous greatnesse beares That still must trauell to hold others downe Whil'st all our guardes not guard vs from our feares So greevous is the burthen of a Crowne Where are they all who at my feete did bowe While I was made the idole of so many What ioy had I not then what haue I nowe Then honoured of all now scarce of any Our painted pleasures but apparrell paine We spend our dayes in dread our liues in dangers Balles to the starres and thralles to Fortunes raigne Knowne vnto all yet to our selues but strangers A golden Crowne doth couer leaden cares The Scepter cannot lulle their thoughts a-sleepe Whose breasts are fraught with infinite dispaires Of which the vulgar wits sounds not the deepe The Bramble growes although it be obscure While mightie Cedars feele the blustering windes And milde Plebeian spirits may lieu secure While mightie tempests tosse imperiall mindes What are our daies but dreames our raignes but traÌ„ces Whil'st brain-sick reaving with our Fortunes feuer We still are vext with changes and mischances Till death vs both from life and scepter seuer The vanitie of greatnesse I haue proou'd And beene the wonder of each gazing eye Now that deceauing shaddow is remoou'd And I my wretched state too late espie Now bound with chaines which though they be of gold Diminish not my thraldome ought the more When this preposterous honour I beholde It but vpbraides me what I was before And what was I before though to each eye The forme of my affliction was not knowne But fettred in effect while I seem'd free And in a labyrinth of labours throwne Was I not bound to serue then all mens humour Or to be censur'd with some Critick storie Still clog'd with cares as slought for euery rumour O glorious bondage burthen-able glorie That dignitie which deified me late And made the world doe homage to my name Now cannot succour my accursed state But hath with my mis-fortune fethered same My best was but a momentarie blis Which leaues behinde this euerlasting sting That of all woe no woe is like to this To thinke I was and am not now a King No man with me in all accomplish'd ioyes That satisfie the soule could once compare No man may matche me now in sad annoyes And all the miseries that breede dispaire Thrise Fortune did my gallant troupes entrap And I to fall did desperately stand Yet could not be so happie in mishap As for t' haue died by some renowmed hand But for my greater griefe disgrace and scorne The mindes of men so apt are to deceaue They whome aloft my favours wings haue borne Ev'n they made me their maister thus a slaue Ah did not death in prison from me reaue The sacred soueraigne of my soules desires I wretch not being present to receaue The last cold kisse that might asswage my fires Yet ô thrise happie thou that hast not liu'd To beare a burthen of this great disgrace More then a thousand deaths this had thee grieu'd To know I died and died in such a cace Ah doe the pledges of our mutuall loue The onlie comfort that the fates haue left me Rest prison'd yet And may I not remooue My mother thence then is all blisse bereft me My paines are more then with my pleasures ev'n Since first I in authoritie did enter Was I exalted once vp to the heau'n To be cast head-long downe to mischiefes center My ample Empire and my Princelie birth My great magnificence and vaine excesse All cannot yeelde my minde one minutes mirth To ease me now in this extreame distresse Loe heere reduc'd vnto the worst of illes Past helpe past hope and only great in griefe I wait vpon two abiect vassals willes And dare not no not thinke vpon reliefe Death would I scorne my course must once haue ruÌ„ If I had first repair'd mine honours breach Whose wounds so thrill my soule as vnbegun The life I wish that does my fame impeach This mortall vaile I willinglie resigne Since to an ende my dayes the destinies bring Nor will I so from Maiestie decline As to doe ought vn-worthie of a King Exit CHORVS SOme new disasier day lie doth for showe Our comming ruine We haue seene our best Now fortune bent vs vtterly t' ore-throw Throwes down our King from her wheels top so low As by no meanes his state can be redrest And since his foes by armes haue him opprest His friendes and seruants leaue him all alone Few haue compassion of his state distrest Yea false to him them selues doe many show So foes and fâ—ined friendes conspire in one Fraile Fortune and the fates with them agree With axes all runne on this falling tree This Prince in prosperous state hath florish'd long And neuer dream'd of any euill successe But was well follow'd while his state was strong Him flattering Syrens with a charming song Striu'd to exalt while-as he did possesse This earthly drosse that with a vaine excesse He might reward their mercenary loue But now when fortune driues him to distresse His fauorites whom he remain'd among With foes and fortune straight their faith remoue And who for gaine to follow him were wont They after gaine by his destruction hunt O more then happie ten times were that King Who were vnhappie but a little space So that it did no vtter ruine bring But made him proue a profitable thing Who of his traine did best deserue his grace Then could and would of those the best imbrace And flie such vultures as deuour him liuing That these whom he found faithful might have place O how this doth a generous stomacke sting To see some grac'd for craft
wonderfully thirst Per. Where do you think that we should then begin And exercise hostility at first Eu. Though we our selues in strangers thrones instal And hauing Asia to subiection brought Make Nilus Indus and Euphrates thrall Yet all those victories would serue for nought Whilst martiall Macedonie liuing free The spring that still will powre new armies forth Doth not acknowledge you her king to be Nor hath not proou'd your militarie worth To those that would pursue a Prince in armes His chiefest realme the greatest vantage giues Where if the warre hold out t' is with his harmes Since that within his bowells th' enemy liues And warres protracted with a peoples losse Doe from their soueraigne alienate their loue They lose their hearts whom fortune once doth crosse And foild at home can no where else remoue He that hath Macedonie hath the best Which of our Monarchie the Mistresse is That conquerd hath couragiously the rest And but depends on Mars as onely his If you were Lord of that vndaunted soile And by Olympias conntenaunc'd but a while Strait from Antipater all would recoile And him as traitor to the state exile To you that are a Macedonian borne If match'd with Cleopatra great in powres The Macedonians gladly would be sworne And if commaunding them then all were yours Perd. Yet this opinion partly I disprooue Which would not as you thinke our troubles end For if that we from hence our force remooue And to the Aemathian bounds directly tend There must at first a doubtfull warre be proou'd With those braue bands whose valour is well knowne Of whom Craterus deerely is belou'd That bound t' Antipater are all his owne And though indeede as kindely to those parts My friendship is affected to by some Yet others haue preoccupi'd their harts And will discredite vs before we come Then whilst that we the Macedonians boast And leaue those realmes vnarm'd that else are ours Strait Ptolomie when strengthned is his hoste May enter Asia and supplant our powres I by my iudgement willingly would take The course that seemes to make our state most sure It dangerous is t' haue foes behind our backe That vnawares our ruine may procure My purpose is though yet to none made knowne That Egipt first shall burdend be with warre For if that Ptolomie were once orethrowne Then that from Greece all hope of help would barre Eum. Hold still with you those of the sacred blood Whom to protect you alwayes must pretend The countnance of the great may doe much good Whome still though weake the world delights t' attend Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE II. Olympias Roxane LEt sorrow then euen tyrannize my soule Whose rage with reason now no measure keepes What of my teares the torrent can controule Since flowing from afflictions deepest deeps How can my breast but burst whilst sobs rebound Since once the seate of ioys now not the same May not huge horrors presse me to the ground In thinking what I was and what I am I was a great mans wife a greaters mother Euen she to whome the heauens their best did giue Yet I euen I more plagu'd than any other In dungeons now of desolation liue My sonne that was the glorie of his time Staine of times past and light of times to come O fraile mortalitie O sliderie slime Though hauing all orecom'd death did orecome And I deiected wretch whose dying eies He was by Natures custome bound t' haue closde Was not to shut his starres with th' iuorie skies That tapestried where maiestie reposde But ah his falling in a forraine part Hath if it can b' enlargde enlargde my griefe Else I on him would melted haue my hart And spent my selfe t' haue purchasde his reliefe Yet though I was not present at his death He shall not be defrauded of my teares But for his funerall fires my flaming breath Doth smoake and to his ghost a tribute beares Rox. Ah to what corner rolles my watry sight Where it not findes some matter to bemone O foolish eies whie loose ye not your light Since that your treasure is to ruine gone Once of all Queenes I might the fortune scorne To whom iust loue that great man did engage Whose match in worth the world hath neuer borne Nor neuer shall enrich another age When those perfections whiles transport my minde Which admiration onely doth dilate I 'm woe that me the destinies designde To be the partner of his glorious state And I repent that to his sight I past Though highly gracde on a festiuall day A feast that many a time must make me fast And with slowe woe that flying mirth defray Then if my fortune had not blinded me But ah whose iudgement had it not bereau'd Whilst the worlds Monarke daignd to like of me I had th' euent of my high flight conceiu'd He of th' Asian Prince whose state did then decline Had both the wife and daughters at his will Whose beauties glorie would haue darkned mine Yet free from snares retainde his fancies still Then when my father chose out from the rest Those virgins all whom Fame affirmd for rare Though hauing viewd them all he lou'd me best Then thought most fortunate if not most faire And when his martiall nobles were dismaid That he himselfe with captiues had alide He by that meanes as loue had dited saide Tooke from the vanquisht shame from victors pride Then me as Empresse all did entertaine Though his inferior farre in all respects Till I from him by death diuorcde remaine Whom with his sonne now all the world neglects Olym. Although this will but aggrauate my woe From whom the Fates all comfort now seclude Yet do I reuerence his remembrance so That of my sonne to heare it doth me good And daughter now to double my distresse Make me at length acquainted with his death That sorrow may each part of me possesse Sad newes mine eares teares eies and sighes my breath Rox. Though griefe to me scarse libertie affordes T' expresse the passions that oppresse my mind Yet would affection wrestle out some wordes To speake of him that all my ioyes confind When he had conquerd all that could resist A monarchie not equall with his minde Still in his haughty course he did insist And search'd out th' Ocean other worlds to finde But when from it his nauie was redeemde He stoode in doubt where trophees next to reare For all the world for him too little seemde His minde could more conceiue than nature beare Then ah this Emprour purposde was in th' end At Babylon his glories height to shew Where all the world his comming did attend As Ioue aboue he onely raignde below When he drew neere that then thrice Monarks seate All th' Astrologians by their skill foretold What dangers there were threatned to his state The which else-where might better be controld But he that was not capable of feare And could not muse of misaduentures then Causde through that towne him selfe in triumph beare Backd
th' enemies that would yeeld And them to rents and dignities restord Then when th' Aegyptians so t' obtaine reliefe Brought to his sight pale Pompeys bloodlesse head He testified with teares his inward griefe And gracde his statues after he was dead Those his proceedings might appeare t' approue That he against his will maintain'd this warre And to his countrie beares a tender loue That could comport to reine his rage so farre Cic. Those counterfeited fauors which he shew According to ones custome that aspires Were spent on many as the world might view T' insinuate himselfe in their desires But where he thus spar'd some he spoild ' whole hosts And the Barbarians all to Rome not wrought Such harme as he that of his goodnes boasts Yet her best men hath to confusion brought The great man that of no mishap could pause But still preuaild whilst warring without right Armd for the common weale in a good cause With Caesar did vnfortunately fight From Lesbos fled with his afflicted wife Three base-born grooms can fortune change so soone Stoode to consult vpon great Pompeys life And did what thousands durst not once haue done Then he whose knees had oft beene kissd by kings Most highly happy had he dide in time By one of his owne slaues with abiect things Had his last funeralls framde O monstrous crime T' entombe Romes greatest captaine all alone The Roman that arriu'd with reason said The fatall glory was too great for one And to haue part of that last honour staid The teares bestowd by Caesar on his head Forth from a guiltie minde remorce had throwne Or else he wept to see his enemy dead By any others hands than by his owne Then constant Cato that euen death did scorne The rare arch-tipe of an accomplisht man That liu'd as not t 'himselfe but t' all men borne Moou'd by his tyranny to ruine ranne He iustly whilst more iust himselfe more strong Then Caesar thought that for no Iustice carde And since discouering what he cloakd so long Said right that Caesar and not he was snarde Thus Caesar conquerd all but Catoes minde That would not by a tyrants tollerance breathe But in such sort his famous course confinde Than Caesars life more glorious was his death Those great men thus brought to disastrous ends The authour of their death make me despise That whilst t' vsurpe th' authoritie he tendes By treading downe all good men striues to rise Now made most great by lessening all the great He prowdly doth triumph in Rome ouer Rome And we must seeme t' applaud the present state Whose doubtfull breath depends vpon his doome Yet had I not enlargde my griefes so long To you whom Caesar doth pretend to loue Wer 't nor I know touch'd with the common wrong A iust disdaine all generous mindes must moue Dec. Had Caesar willingly resignd his armes And rendred Rome her libertie at last When as from foes he feard no further harmes But had repaird his iust displeasures past More then for all the loue that 's shewd to me He should haue had an Altar in my breast As worthy for his vertuous decdes to be Feard by the bad and honourd by the best But since though conq'ring all the world by might He to himselfe a slaue would make Rome thrall His benefits are loathsome in my sight And I am grieu'd that he deserues to fall My fancies moue not in so lowe a spheare But I disdaine that one ouer Rome impires Yet it is best that with the time we beare And with our powre proportion our desires Though I dissembled first your minde to trie And tolde what Fame to Caesars praise relates Yet was I pleasde that moe were grieu'd than I All mis-contented men are glad of mates Cic. Since tyrannie all libertie exiles We must our selues no more our selues disguise Then learne to maske a mourning minde with smiles And seeme t' extoll that which we most despise Yet all our deedes not Caesars humor please That since mistrusted once esteemes vs still When dumbe disdaineful flatterers when we praise If plaine presumptuous and in all things ill Yea we whose freedome Caesar now restraines As his attenders all his steppes must trace And know yet not acknowledge his disdaines But still pretend t' haue interest in his grace Though all my thoughts detest him as a foe To honour him a thousand meanes I moue Yet But to saue my selfe and plague him so No hate more harmes than it that lookes like loue His pride that through prepostrous honour swels Hath by the better sort made him abhorrd The gods are iealous and men enuious els To see a mortall man so much adord Dec. Well Cicero let all meanes be entertaind That may imbarke vs in his bosomes depths Till either willingly or then constrain'd He iustly quite what he vniustly keepes Exeunt Chorus This life of ours is like a Rose Which whilst it beauties rare array Doth then enioy the least repose When virgin-like it blush we see Then is' t euery hand the prey And by each wind is blowne away Yea though from violence scap'd free Whilst time triumphs it leads all thralles 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 whiles foiles It th' owne distemprature whiles spoiles Of which though none it chance to kill As nature failes the bodie falles Of which saue death nought bounds the toyles What is this moouing tower in which we trust A little winde closd in a cloud of dust And yet some spirits though here being pent In this fraile prisons narrow bounds With what might suffice not content Do alwayes bend their thoughts too hie And aime at all the peopled grounds Then whilst their breasts ambition wounds Though feeding as bent straight to die They build as they might alwayes liue Being famishd for fames empie sounds Of such no end the trauels ends But a beginning giues whereby They may b' imbroild worse then before For whilst they still new hopes contriue Th' exspected good more anguish sends Then the possessde contentment lends Like beasts that taste not but deuoure They swallow much and for more striue Whilst still their hope new hap attends And how can sueh but still themselues annoy That know to conquere but not how t' enioy Since as a ship amidst the depthes Or as an Eagle through the aire Of which their way no impression keepes Most swift when seeming least to moue This breath of which we take such care Doth tosse the bodie euery where That it may hence with haste remoue Life slippes and sleepes alwayes away Then whence and as it came goes bare Whose steps behinde no trace doth leaue Why should heauen-banish'd soules thus loue The cause and bounds of their exile Where they as restlesse strangers stray And with such pain why should they reaue That which they haue
th' apparance of such broiles Lest when we haue our selues to ruine brought In end Barbarians beare away our spoyles Chor. Rome to those great men hardly can afford A recompence according to their worth That by a tyrants ore-throw haue restord The light of libertie that was put forth Yet by due praises with their merites euen Let vs illustrate their illustrous mindes And to their charge let prouinces be giuen Still vertue growes when it preferrement findes Anton. Those barbarous realmes by whose respectiue wil Of Caesars conquests monuments are showne As if they held them highly honord still That warrd with Caesar though they were orethrowne Can this disgrace by their prowde minds be borne Whilst we dishonor whom they honor thus And shall we not whilst as a tyrant torne Giue him a tombe that gaue the world to vs Must his decrees be all reducde againe And those degraded whom he gracde of late As worthy men vnworthily did gaine Their roomes of reputation in the state If as a tyrant we him damne so soone And for his murd'rers do rewards deuise Then what he did must likewise be vndone For which I feare a fowle confusion rise Chor. Ah great Antonius sow not seeds of warre And if thou alwayes dost delight in armes The haughty Parthians yet vndaunted are Which may giue thee great praise and vs no harmes Detest in time th' abhominable broiles For which no conquerour to triumph hath com'd Whilst this wretch'd towne which stil som party spoils Must loathe the victor and lament th' orecomd And shall we still contend against all good To make the yoke where we should bound abide Must still the commons sacrifize their blood As onely borne to serue the great mens pride Ant. Whilst I the depths of my affection found And reade but th' obligations which I owe I finde my selfe by othes and duetie bound All Caesars foes or then my selfe t' orethrow But when I weigh what to the state belongs The which to plague no passion shall get place Then I with griefe digesting priuate wrongs Warre with my selfe to giue my country peace Yet whilst my thoughts of this last purpose muse I altogether dis-assent from this That we should Caesars fame or bodie abuse By torturing tyrants as the custome is Lest guiltie of ingratitude we seeme If guerdoning our benefactors thus Great Caesars body from disgrace redeeme And let his acts be ratified by vs. Then for the publicke weale of which we pause Towards those that haue him killd t' extend regard Let them be pardond for their kinsmens cause Remission giuen for euill is a reward C. Cass We stand not dasht like malefactors heere With a deiected and remorcefull minde So in your presence supplicants t' appeare As who themselues of death doe guiltie finde But looking boldely with a loftie brow Through a delight of our designe conceiu'd We come to challenge gratefulnesse of you That haue of vs so great a good receiu'd But if ye will suspend your thoughts a space Though not the giuers entertaine the gift Do vs reiect yet libertie imbrace To haue you free loe that was all our drift So Rome her antient liberties enioy Let Brutus and let Cassius banisht liue Thus banishment would breede vs greater ioy Than what at home a tyrants wealth could giue Though some misconster may this course of ours By ignorance or then by hate deceiu'd Yet truth depends not on opinions powres But is it selfe how euer misconceiu'd Though none themselues t' acknowledge vs woulde daigne Our merite of it selfe is a rewarde Of doing good none should repent their paine Though neither getting guerdon nor regard I le venture yet my fortune in the fielde With euery one that Rome to bondage drawes And as for me how euer others yield I le nought obey but reason and the Lawes Cicer. What fooles are those that further trauell take For that which else they past recouery know Who can reuiue the dead or bring time backe At least no mortall that remaines below Great Pompey now for whom the world still weepes Lies low neglected on a barbarous shore Selfe-slaughtred Scipio flotes amidst the depthes Whom it may be sea-monsters do deuoure Of Libian wolues wise Cato feasts the wombes Whose death of worth the world defrauded leaues Thus some that merited Mausolean tombes Not haue a title grau'd vpon their graues And yet may Caesar that procur'd their death By braue men slaine be buried with his race All ciuill warre being banish'd with his breath Let him now dead and vs aliue haue peace We should desist our thoughts on things to set That may harme some and can giue help to none Learne to forget that which we can not get And let our cares be gone of all that 's gone Those that would striue all crosses to ore-come Must to the present time conforme their course And doing the best for that which is to come Not medle with things past but by discourse Seeke not the thing which doth not good being found Since Caesar now is dead how euer dead Let all our griefe goe with him to the ground For sorrow best becomes a lightlesse shade It 's best that reconioynde with mutuall loue We phisicke for this wounded state prepare Neglecting those that from the world remoue All men on earth for earthly things must care Cho. O how those great men friendship can pretend By soothing others thus with painted windes And seeme to trust where treason they attend Whilst loue their mouth and malice filles their mindes Those but to them poore simple soules appeare Whose countnance doth discouer what they thinke That make their words as is their meaning cleare And from themselues can neuer seeme to shrinke Lo how Anthonius faines to quench all iarres And kindly the conspirators t' imbrace Yet as he further'd first the former warres It 's fear'd he now be enemie to peace Now where Calphurnia stayes our steps adresse By this last sodaine chance her losse was chiefe All visite should their neighbours in distresse To giue some comfort or to get some griefe Exeunt Act. V. Scene II. Calphurnia Nuntius Chorus WHen darknesse last imprisond had mine eies Such monstrous visions did my soule affright That my deiected sprite still stupid dyes Through terrors then contracted in the night A melancholious cloud so dimmes my breast That it my mind fit for misfortune makes A lodging well disposde for such a guest Where nought of sorrow but th' impression lackes And I imagine euery man I see My senses so corrupted are by feares A Herauld to denounce mishaps to me That should infuse confusion in mine cares O there he comes to violate my peace In whom the obiect of my thoughts I see Thy message is charecter'd in thy face Which by thy lookes directed is to me Thy troubled eyes rest rouling for releife As lately frighted by some ougly sight Thy breath doth pant as if being big with griefe And fear'd to bring some monstrous birth to light
mischances Would force compossion from your greatest foe Where all the griefe-begetting circumstances Doe ioyne to make a harmony in woe But naturall loue doth at our selfe begin It mooues farre more to feele then heare mishaps The perturbation that my sprite is in Me in a maze of miscontentments wraps We should such past misfortunes pretermit At least no more immoderately lament them And as for those which are but comming yet Vse ordinary meanes for to preuent them Adrast No wonder Sir although you take great care Lest all your hopes in Atis person perish Croes I will by all the meanes I may prepare To saue his youth that he my age may cherish If it be possible for mortall states To striue against the Starres and be more strong I 'le vnarme Fortune and resist the fates By barring both all meanes to do me wrong I haue commanded vnder paine of death That no such weapon be within my walles As I suppos'd should haue abridg'd his breath T' eschew such sudden euill as rashly falles He shall goe rarely to the fields and then With chosen bands be guarded all the time Loe where he communes with some countrey-men We will go trie what they would haue of him Act. III. Scen. II. CHORVS of countreymen CROESVS ATIS ADRASTVS CAELIA Lend Sir a willing eare to humble wordes Let not our basenesse barre vs from your grace Which still it selfe alike to all affords Who blesse their sight with that Maiestike face My Soueraigne all his subiects well remembers As vile as our estate is thought of now You are our head and we are of your members And you must care for vs we care for you Our pouertie to vs is no reproach Which th' innocencie of our mind adorn's We neuer on our neighbours bounds encroach But by our labours liue midst many thornes And euer busied for the Countries good We haue no time to muse of vaine conceates Yet earning with continuall toile our food We entertaine the pompe of prowder States And Sir conceiue not of our meaning ill That thus dare speake so freely as we do Whilst mediators do dilate our will They wrest it as they will and wracke vs too To count'nance such as vs you neede not shunne A great man too well grac'd may do more harme And t' is no staine vnto the glorious Sunne Though oft his beames an abiect obiect warme Croes Be not discourag'd by your base estate Yee are my people and I 'le heare your plaint A King must care for all both small and great And for to helpe th' afflicted neuer faint The Scepter such as these should chiefely shrowd Not cotages but Castles spoile the Land T' aduance the humble and t' abate the prowd This is a Vertue that makes Kings to stand Cor. Sir our estate some speedy helpe requires In Misia neere vnto the famous Mountaine Of great Olimpus that the World admires There haunt's a Boare by Dianaes Fountaine Of a big body and a hideous forme His fomie Iawe with tuskes like Iauelins strikes And all parts in deformitie conforme His backe hath bristles like to yron Pikes This Monster of Nature wonder of Men The Forrests tyran and the Countries terrour Teares all to death and drawes them to his Den That chance into his way by fatall errour Whilst tender-hearted Mothers do bewaile The goared Infants toyling in their blood Th' abhominable beast them doth assaile And in his bowels buries both for food Then when we fly the field where he soiournes To haue his hunger or his rage alayde He wastes the fruites and ruines all the cornes Thus the poore husbands hopes are all betrayde Ere this of true Repose we were the types And pastur'd on each plaine our fleecie flockes And made a consort of our warbling pypes With mouing christals th' issue of the rockes And sometime to refresh vs after trauell With flowrie garlands shielded from Sunne-beames We gazd vpon Pactolus golden grauell Glassd bathd and quenchd our thirst with his pure streames Whilst we preferd the Riuer seemd amazd Vnto his golden bed his grassye bancke And lay and lookd whereas our cattell grazd Without all enuie of a greater ranke That to represse oppression you take care This rest of ours is an effectuall token Your Lawes like Spiders webs do not ensnare The feeble flies and by the Bees are broken For we by them are fenc'd from great mens pride The Heau'ns perpetuate your prosp'rous raigne And suffer not this sauage Boare t' abide To turne that ease which men haue spar'd to paine Croes What would ye then that should be done by me For to repay your losse repayre this wrong Chorus We craue none of your wealth yet wish to see This Boare be-blood the staffe of the most strong Let valorous Atis worthily your sonne Backd with the best of all the Lidian Youth Go to the fields before the rising Sunne Quench with the mornings teares his mid-dayes drouth And we shall leade them crownd with lawrell forth Where in a circuit small yet a large Theater For men to make a tryall of their worth This Monster stayes th' earth neuer nurc'd a greater So shall we both reape profite and they pleasure Which may be brought to passe without great obstacle By making this waster of the worlds treasure Of a horrid sight a delightfull spectacle Croes I may not spare my Sonne for a respect Which is not needfull now for to be knowne But I 'le send others for the same effect That this pestiferous Beast may be o'rethrowne Th' ostentiue gallants that our Grace attend And wait th' occasion but t' aduance their strength Against the Boare shall all their forces bend With houndes and darts still till he fall at length I sweare this Monster shall when he is dead A memorable monument remaine To Dians Church I 'le consecrate his head The Virgin-goddesse darts no shaft in vaine Atis. Ah wherein Father haue I thus offended Or what vile signe of a degenerd mind Haue you remark'd in me that euer tended To the reproch of our Imperiall kind That of this praise you would giue me no part But barre me from a famous enterprise As one vnworthie for to weeld a dart Who still in vile repose inglorious lies Lies like a wanton with vaine thoughts bewitchd Who spoyld of force effeminately liues A Peacocke but with painted pennes enrichd Yet poore in all the parts that Glorie giues What glorie giues those glorious Styles to me Which by succession fall not by desart Should but my Fame with borrowd feathers flee For come of Kings a kingdome is my part Who only by his Birth aduancement claimes Like a base bastard doth his birth-right blote I will not beg my worth from dead mens names Nor conquer Credit only by my Cote What comforts this to brooke th' Imperiall seate And all the blisse that Maiestie impartes If those whom only we exceed in State Be our Superiors in farre better partes More then a Crowne true Worth is to be valued