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
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
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
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
euen as if her soule had flowne in him She stabd her selfe then falling on her Lord Her beauties blubbered starres were waxing dim The faithfull Eunuchs for their Sou'raigne sorie And scorning to suruiue so rare a date In emulation of their mistresse glorie Dide violentlie partners of her fate O sweet Panthea rich in rarest parts I must admire thy ghost though thou be gone Who mightst haue made a monarchie of harts Yet loth'd vnlawfull loues and lou'd but one O wondrous wonders wonders wondrous rare A woman constant such a beautie chaste So pure a mind ioyn'd with a face so faire Beautie and Vertue in one person placde Both were well match'd as any could deuise Whose vndiuided end their choyce alowes He valorous she vertuous both wise She worthie such a mate he such a spouse And Harpagus lest that it should be thought The memorie of vertuous minds may dye Cause build a stately tombe with statues wrought Where their dead bodies may respected lye Har. I 'le raise a Piramide of Croesus spoyles Where all their famous parts shall be comprisde But how t' insist in these tumultuous broyles T' is best now Sir that you were well aduisde Your aduersarie doth attend your will This hautie citie humbled hath her crest And therefore go to pardon or to kill To saue or sack euen as you shall thinke best Cyr. Abstract for old Croesus I am else resolu'd He with some captiues which I keep in store Shall haue their bodies by the fire dissolu'd As offrands to the Gods that I adore This citie shall my souldiers paines defray Since by their force it hath been brought to bow I yeeld it vnto them as their iust pray Who taste the sweetnes of their trauels now Of other things we shall so well dispose That our renowne o're all the world shall shine Till Cyrus name b'a terrour to all those I That dare against his Sou'raigntie repine Act. V. Scen. II. NVNTIVS CHORVS AH to what part shall I my steps addresse The burden of base bondage to eschue Lo desolation ruine and distresse With horrour doth my natiue home pursue And now poore countrey take my last farewell Farewell all ioy all comfort all delight Chor. What heauie tidings hast thou for to tell That tear'st thy garments thus tell thy sad plight Nun. I tell the wrack of vs and all that liue Within the circuit of this wretched soyle Cho. A hideous shout we heard the Citie giue Is' t in th' enemies hands is' t made his spoyle Nun. It 's made his spoyle Cho. And is our Sou'raigne kild Nun. No but yet neerely scapt doth liue in danger Cho. Then let our eares be with disasters fild And must we beare the yoke of that prowd stranger Nun. You know how Croesus at th' aduantage lay Still seeking meanes t' abate the Persians pride And his confederates had assign'd a day When they should for th' intended warre prouide But Cyrus hauing heard how that they should Against his state so great an armie bring Straight raising all the forces that he could Preuents inuades o'recomes and takes our King Chor. This shews a Captaine both expert and braue Fiâ—st well t' aduise then t' execute with speede No circumstance friend vnrelated leaue Which with our Kings did our confusion breed Nun. When Croesus saw that Cyrus came so soone He stood awhile with a distracted minde Yet what time would permit left nought vndone But made his Musters march'd his Foe to find Our stately Troupes that glisterd all with gold And with vmbragious Feathers fann'd the ayre They with vnwarie insolence growne bold More how to triumph then to o'recome tooke care The Lidian Horsemen are of great account And are for valour through the world renownd Them Cyrus chiefly labourd to surmount And this deuise for that effect was found Vntrussing all their baggage by the way Of the disburthen'd Camels each did beare A grim-fac'd Groome who did himselfe array Euen as the Persian Horsemen vse to weare To them th' Infanterie did follow next A solide Squadron like a brasen wall But those in whom all confidence was fixt The braue Cauallerie came last of all Then Cyrus by the raynes his Courser tooke And being mounted holding out his handes With an assured and Imperious looke Went breathing valour through th' vnconquer'd bandes He willd all them that at Deaths game should striue To spare none of their foes in any forme But as for Croesus to take him aliue And keepe him captiue for a greater storme Where famous Hellus doth to Hermus poste In his broad waues t' entombe his strength and name Our Armie ran against a greater Hoste T' enrich it likewise with our force and fame Our Troupes a time with equall valour stood Till giuing place at length we tooke the chace While as the Riuer ranne to hide our blood But still his borders blusht at our disgrace For so soone as the Camels once were come Our Horses loathing to indure their sight Ranne raging backe againe and of them some Disordring rancks put many to the flight Yet others that were of more martiall mindes Perceiu'd the Stratagem that did deride them And lighting on their feet like mighty windes Bare downe before them all that durst abide them There whilst the world proou'd prodigall of breath The headlesse troncks lay prostrated in heapes This field of funeralls proper vnto death Did paint out Horror in most hideous shapes There men vnhorsde horses vnmastred strayed Some calld on them whom they most dearely tendred Some ragde some groand some sigh'd roard wept prayd Fighting fainting falling desp'rate maymde rendred Those that escapt like beasts vnto a Den Fled to a Fortresse which true valour drownes Walles are for women and the fields for men For Townes cannot keepe men but men keepe Townes And we were scarcely entred at the Portes When as the enemies did the Towne inclose And rearing many artificiall Fortes To the Defenders did huge paines impose There all the military slights werere found Which at the like encounters had preuaild Both for to vse th' aduantage of the ground Or for to helpe with Arte where Nature faild They euer compassing our Trench about Still where the Walls were weakest made a breach Which being straight repaird we threw tooles out And killd all those that came within our reach There all the bolts of death edgde by disdaine That many curious wits inclinde to ill Helpt by th' occasion and the hope of gaine Had powre t' inuent were put in practise still Yet as we see it oft times hath occurrde Where we suspected least we were surprisde Whilst fortune and the fates in one concurrde To haue our ruine in their rolles comprisde The side of Sardis that was least regarded Which lyes t'wards Tmolus and was thought most sure Through this presumption whilst t' was weakely guarded Th' orethrow of all Lidia did procure As one of ours vnhappily it chanc'd T' o're-take his helmet that had scapt his hand Alongst that
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
haue pierc'd my soule Who eu'n amid'st our heauen haue found a hell Hep. What stoick brow his passions could controule As not to weepe if he re-marked well The teares of these faire Ladies causing wonder Who neede not challenge nature of her duty But borne to bring although they be brought vnder Giue greefe a grace for to apparrell beauty Sir such a victorie hath not beene seene As you haue gain'd whose greatnesse well appeares The largest kingdome and the fairest Queene That Asia vaunted of these many yeares Durst Ledaes or Agenors brood compare With that sweete Queene the honour of her kinde But as she is aboue all other faire As farre her daughters make her go behinde It seem'd at first that sorrow had beene sleeping While as these Virgines in their Grand-dames bosome With weeping beautie and with beauties weeping Did with a haile of pearle blast beauties blossome So large a pow'r is to no Prince allotted As to loues Empire in their face confynd Alex. O how is my Hephestion thus assotted Dare follie seeke t' assault so braue a minde Dare Cupid enter in an armed campe And Mars owne minions thus presume to danton Must his soft seale steele-wearing stomacks stampe And make them tributaries to that wanton Hep. We dare resist whil'st many a thousand dies Against th' inuasion of a world of men Yet if in yuorie orbes two Sunnie eies Assault the soule at vnawares O then Some secret sympathie some vn-knowne motion So charmes the minde that vaine are all defenses The hart drunke with the eies contagious potion Corrupts the spirits and poysons all the senses Alex. But I in my conceat doe skorne all such No I resolue to be a thrall to none Yea ere I but abase my selfe so much I 'le rather die ten thousand deathes in one Should I be bound with vile affections chaines As one obliuious of my former same This resolution still my soule retaines To ballance nothing with a noble name O what a great indignity is this To see a Conquerour to his lust a slaue Who would the title of true worth were his A minde surmounting euery vice must haue The brauest trophee euer man obtain'd Is that which ou'r himselfe himselfe harh gain'd Hep. I ioy my soueraigne that as you excell Not onely men but Mars himselfe in armes So you by vertues might the power repell Of beautie loue and Cithereas charmes Your vertue bright whose rayes shine in your words And thence to harts center are reflected Now ouer my selfe such pow'r to me affords That with fond loue I loth to he infected ACTVS TERTIVS Scen. III. BESSVS NARBAZANES Bes NOw since Narbazanes we are come hither Let vs accomplish what we haue intended And ioyne our wit our force and all together That it may be no sooner knowne then ended You see occasion call vs whil'st we sleepe And point vs out the way to be aduanc'd Yea blames our sluggishnesse that cannot keepe The course of things which for our weale haue chanc'd The heauens abhorre our King striue t' vndo him Nothing doth prosper that he enterprises Some new disaster daylie falles vnto him Some crosse o'er-thwarts all things that he deuises In no strict limites should our thoughts be bounded Whom so great happines seemes to importune For since our King is like to be confounded Vpon his fall we both may builde our fortune Na. I shall not faile for to performe my part I of your words exceedingly allow Honour and wealth are the idols of my hart Which if I may obtaine I care hot how And yet I would we had some faire pretence Our countries care must seeme our soules to comber This seeming zeale must shaddow our offence For such a show will satisfie a number Let vs be well aduis'd ere we resolue And then endeuour t' execute it soone If we our selues once in this worke involue And then not finishe it we are vndone Bes He hath sent one to Alexander late To speake of peace but did the same in vaine And now involu'd in a despair'd estate Bar'd from accorde he cannot warie sustaine His purpose is his Captaines to conuene To aske of them some counsell for his saftie A time more fit for vs could not haue beene Who minde to compasse Kings must needs be crafty For to atchieue that which we thinke to doe A course more fit we by no meanes could finde Then crooked seeming-vpright counsell to Disguise our practises and maske our minde We will aduise him to renounce a space His state to some one whom he may desire But for the fashion to accept his place And as himselfe a certaine time impyre Whose better fortune may perchance bring back That which his euer ebbing beares away Then he againe his Diademe shall take And as before the regall scepter sway Na. Well then amongst our selues t' auoid debate Which vndermines so many a mighty action I will preferre you to the imperiall seate And to approoue the same will frame my faction Bes All that is one which of vs two receiue it Since euery thing doth equallie belong vs I 'le take it for the forme not that I craue it For we will part his Empire all among vs. But if he condiscend to this we craue Which at the first vnfolding would seeme good Let him not thinke vs two such fooles to leaue That which so many Monarkes buy with blood Who once aduanc'd would willingly goe downe And not loue in authoritie to stand 'T is not the custome so to quite a Crowne When one hath know'n how sweet it 's to command This name of faith but to get credite fain'd If it were ballanc'd with a kingdome straight In them whose consciences are most restrain'd T' would soone succumbe a scepter hath such waight Na. Yet to betray our King we haue no reason When I muse on th' attempt it makes me sorrie Our name stain'd with this odious stile of treason Shall leaue our successours more shame then glorie We first must end all our designes with paine Then raigne with feare and liue securelie neuer As in a dreame a space with pompe remaine Then die disgrac'd infamie for euer The sacred title of a Soueraigne King Doth strike a terrour in my troubled thought And maiestie t' amaze my minde doth bring Whose aspect only hath great wonders wrought Bes To idle sounds and frivolous reports Giue thou a pasporte for they last not long And all that thou alledgest nought imports A Crowne may couer any kinde of wrong What hainous thing so odious is by nature That for a Kingdome hath not beene committed To be a King let me be cal'd a traitour Faith if for ought for this may be omitted Those are but feeble braines which fancies lode With timorous dreames that bare surmising brings Who feare vaine shaddowes must not come abrode Too warie-wits dare neuer worke great things If our braue proiect happilie succeede As now I doubt not but it shall do soone We straight will finde
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
shew All women are by nature curious still And yet till now thou neuer crau'd to know More then I pleasde t' impart of my free will Nought saue the wife a man within the walles Nor nought saue him without fits her t' embrace And it 's vnseemely though it sometime falles When any sexe vsurpes anothers place Deere their wounted course thy cares inure I may haue matters that import the state Whose opning vp might my disgrace procure Whose weight would for thy weaknesse be too great Port. I was not Brutus match'd with thee to bee A partner only of thy boorde and bed Each seruile whore in those might equall me That did her selfe to nought but pleasure wed No Portia spousde thee with a minde t' abide Thy fellow in all fortunes good or ill With chaines of mutuall loue together tyde As those that haue two breasts one heart two soules one will With sacred bands whom holy Hymen bindes They tweene them should communicate all things Yea both the bodies labors and the mindes Whence either pleasure or displeasure springs If thus thou seeke thy sorrowes to conceale Through a disdaine or a mistrust of me Then to the world what way can I reueale How great a matter I would doe for thee And though our sexe too talkatiue be deem'd As those whose tongues import our greatest powres For secrets still bad treasurers esteem'd Of others greedy prodigall of ours Good education may reforme defects And I this vantage haue t' a vertuous life Which other mindes do want and mine respects I 'm Catoes daughter and I 'm Brutus wife Yet would I not repose my trust in ought Still thinking that thy crosse was great to beare Till that my courage was t' a triall brought Which suffring for thy cause can nothing feare For first t' experience how I could comport With sterne afflictions spirit-enfeebling blowes Ere I would seeke t' assault thee in this sort To whom my soule a duteous reuerence owes Loe heere a wound which makes me not to smart Though by my selfe being made to make me knowne Since thy distresse strikes deeper in my heart Thy griefe lifes ioy makes me neglect mine owne Brut. Thou must deare loue that which thou sought receiue Thy heart so high a saile t' a tempest beares That thy great courage doth deserue to haue Our enterprise entrusted to thine eares Thy magnanimitie preuailes so farre That it my resolution must controule And of my bosome doth the depths vnbarre To lodge thee in the centre of my soule Thou seest in what a state the state now stands Of whose strong pillars Caesar spoil'd the best Whilst by his owne preuenting others handes Our famous father fell amongst the rest That insolent vsurper doth presume To re-erect detested Tarquines throne Thus the worlds mistresse all-commanding Rome Must entertaine no minion now but one Th' old blood of Mars that marks to what he tends Swells with disdaine their countryes scorne to see And I 'm one of the number that intends By his death or mine owne to be made free Port. And without me can thou resolue so soone T' assay the dangers of a doubtfull strife As if dispair'd and alwayes to b' vndone Being tyr'd of me yea tyr'd of thy life Yet since thou thus thy rash designe hath showne Leaue Portias portion venter not her part Endanger nought but that which is thine owne Go where thou lik'st I will hold still thy heart But lest by holding of thy best part backe That th' other perish t' aggrauate my grones That would be so thonght guiltie of thy wrack Take all thy treasure to the Seaes at once Like th' Asian Monarks wife that with short haires Sad signes of bondage past still where he past To weare away or beare away thy cares I le folow thee and of thy fortune taste These hands that were with my owne blood imbru'd To strike another may more strength afford At least when thou by th' enemie art pursu'de I le set my selfe betwixt thee and his sword But if too great a priuiledge I claime Whose actions all should be disposde by thee Ah pardon me deare Brutus do but blame These my excessiue sorrowes and not mee Brut. Thou ask'st what thou shouldst giue forgiue deare mate This ventrous course of mine which must haue place Though it make fortune tyrant of our state Whose fickle foot-steps vertue grieues to trace And wonder not though this towards thee I proue Since priuate passions now all powre haue left For I regard not glory profit loue Nor no respect that doth import me most So to the land of which I hold my life I may performe the worke that I intend Let me be call'd vnkind vnto my wife Yea worst of all ingrate vnto my friend But as th' instinct of nature makes vs know There are degrees of dutie to be past Of which the first we to th'immortalls owe The next t' our Countrey and t' our friends the last Prowd tyrants from his natiue bounds to driue Did th' author of my race with ardent zeale Make those to die whom he had made to liue And spoild himselfe to aduance the commonweale To raise the state which Caesar now ore-throwes That bred so many braue men whilst it stood He with the Tyrant interchanging blowes Most gloriously did offer vp his blood And did that man t' oppresse the common fo Then damne his sonnes to death and with drie eyes And is his successor degenerd so That he in abiect bondage basely lyes No his posteritie his name not staines That t' imitate his steps doth yet draw neere Yet of his spirit in vs some sparke remaines That more then life our libertie hold deare Port. Then prosecute thy course for I protest Though with some griefe my soule the same approues This resolution doth become thy breast Where in the spheare of honor vertue moues And doe this interprise no more deferre What thee contents to me contentment brings I to my life thy saftie doe preferre But hold thy honor deare aboue all things It would but let the world my weaknesse see If I sought my delights not thy desires Though it giue griefe and threaten death to me Goe follow forth that which thy fame requires Though nature sexe and education breed No power in me that 's with my purpose euen He lend assistance to th' intended deed If vowes and prayers may penetrate the heauen But difficulties huge my fancie findes Saue the successe nought can defray my feare Ah Fortune alwayes frownes on worthy mindes As hating all that trust in ought saue her Yet I dispaire not but thou may preuaile And by this course t' appease my present grones I this aduantage haue which cannot faile I le be a freemans wife or else be nones For if all prosper not as we pretend And that the heauens Romes bondage do decree Straight with thy libertie my life shall end Who haue no comfort but what comes from thee My father hath me taught what way to