University of Virginia Library

Scene 1.

Perdiccas,
Eumenes.
Now Fortune smyles upon my rising State,
And seemes to promise more then I require;
Loe, by degrees my glory doth grow great,
And by their death who did my death conspire.
Proud Meleager who disdain'd to bow,
And my advancement alwayes did mislike,
Hath with his bloud seal'd my assurance now,
To fright all those who would attempt the like.

Eum.
Yet of his fall the forme my minde appalls,
Even at Ioves Altar, and without regard;
We were too rash to violate those walls
Which the most impious could not but have spar'd.
Lascivious Ajax by Minerva's spight,
Earst for prophaning such a sacred place,
On the Capharian Rocks did lose the light,
And all his Navie too for ones disgrace.
“We should not irritate celestiall powr's;
“And, all beginnings are considered most:
Such horrour breeds this odious act of ours,
That we (I feare) opinions pow'r have lost.

Per.
Let others seek to keep such points as those,
I am not scrupulous, for, I protest,
Ov'r all, and by all meanes I'le kill my foes,
And then thereafter argue of the rest.
“They wrong the Gods who think their Church should be
“A refuge free for Malefactors still:
“For, with their justice this cannot agree:
“Who guard ill doers, guilty are of ill.
Was he not stain'd with many a monstrous crime,
And Salamander-like amidst the fire
(Contentiously dispos'd) did spend his time,
And (never pleas'd) did still some change require?

Eum.
“One hum'rous head that doth in brawls delight,
“May poyson thousands with the gall of spight.

Per.
As still seditiously affecting strife,
He but abus'd the credit of his King:
And sent some of his slaves to take my life,
Such bitter envy did his stomack sting.

Eum.
I saw, how that advanc'd before our band,
You first did check, then chase them in the end:
And did with courage resolutely stand,
Our Soveraignes corps (though dead) bent to defend.

Per.
“He but a dastard is who basely yeelds,
“And in no conflict hath his Fortune try'd,
We (if in time not ventring to the fields)
Like beasts (all sacrific'd) had poorely dy'd:
But when without we masters did remaine,
(Lest Babylon had straight beene barr'd from food):
I those proud squadrons quickly did constraine
Even as we pleas'd, a Treaty to conclude.
Grac'd whil'st my foe (as in some kinde compar'd)
A chiefe in charge, he many mindes did sway,
But (found inferiour) when a friend declar'd,
My credit did increase, and his decay.

Eum.
Yet in this course all (who observe) do see,
That of the multitude the minde prevail'd:
He whom they did elect our Prince must be,
And our designe hath altogether fail'd:
But how comes this? that every Captaine gets
A certaine Realme committed to his charge,
And with an Army bravely forward sets,
Their bounds allow'd to guard, or to enlarge?

Per.
I by my means have every great man crown'd,
That from my greatnesse great things might proceed:
Yet by that meanes to make my pow'r renown'd,
The doing lik't me better then the deed;
I this division chiefly did procure
To have those great-men from the Court remov'd,
Where they might be imploy'd, yet I secure,
Their favour purchas'd, or at least thus prov'd:
For, him who hath them to such honour brought,
They must be bound to hold in high account,
And their advancement for this end I sought,
That by their meanes I with more ease might mount.

Eum.
O! but your fancies may be much deceiv'd,
“There is no bond can binde unthankfull mindes:
I feare the favour that they thus receiv'd,
Hath showne them wayes to sayle by other windes.
So long, of late, as they had need of you,
To seeme your friends they (courting kindnesse) sought:
But since their greatnesse is well grounded now,
They will disdaine what derogates in ought.
“To those all great men friends most frankly prove,
“Whom (for their pleasure) freely they affect,
“And (loathing bands) cannot be forc'd to love,
“As brav'd by worth, when merits urge respect.
“Few mark from whence they rose, when once aloft,
“None can endure that they should owe their state:
“Desarts grow odious when upbraided oft,
“And are deprav'd, not guerdon'd, when too great.
“Yea, in my judgement you have greatly err'd,
“Them to exalt, whose state you would surprise:
“Their common custome is who are preferr'd,
“That they may stand, not to let others rise.

Per.
“To ruine loftie mindes when least afraid,
“Whil'st carelesse carriage jealous censures sift,
“By spyes abroad to foes at Court betray'd,
“Then by preferrement what more subtle drift?
Their hearts with hate are parted all by pride;
One is already to confusion gone:
I long to learne how Leonatus dy'd,
Not that I minde his funerals to bemone.

Eum.
That Prince magnanimous whom all admire,
(As was his custome) clemently proclaim'd,
That banish'd Grecians might to Greece retyre,
Save onely such whom murder had defam'd;
But who them banish'd, griev'd for their returne,
Did feare what just revenge might have design'd,
As knowing well (whil'st wrongs make wrath to burne)
“How misery doth irritate a minde;
The indignation which they had conceiv'd,
Did breed rebellion bursting out with rage,
The which our King (deep in his minde ingrav'd)
By Athens spoyles did purpose to asswage:
But since that death afforded them releefe,
Growne bold to prosecute their proud attempt,
Th'Athenians, and th'Ætolians were the chiefe
Who brought Antipater first in contempt;
And by their pow'r constrain'd to quite the field,
He (in a little Towne enclos'd) at last,
Was once reduc'd in danger neere to yeeld,
And staine the glory of his actions past;
But yet by accident as oft it falls,
“(It better is to happy be, then wise)
An unsuspected shaft throwne from the walls,
Their foes chiefe Captaine happened to surprise;
Then did Antipater his courage reare,
Which had almost his stagg'ring hopes betray'd:
Yet still in doubt, and not quite free from feare,
He Leonatus did intreat for aide;
And he who seem'd his friendship to affect,
To further him desirous did appeare;
But (if he had prevail'd) some do suspect,
Antipater had bought his succours deare.
Yet by the end his purpose bent to show
(How ever in effect) he seem'd a friend;
But when th'Athenians did his coming know,
They him to fight did all directly tend.
And though their thoughts in depths of doubts did fleete,
They when alone, to match him thought it best,
And whil'st they march'd th'adventrous troups to meet,
Did hardly welcome the unwelcome Guest:
When both the Armies were to battell brought,
And shew with what bright flames their breasts were stor'd,
Brave Leonatus like a Lyon fought,
So to prove worthy of his wonted Lord:
But whil'st he bravely did his charge acquite,
Yet lost himselfe, who others came to save,
And by their Captains fall discourag'd quite,
His scatt'red troups great damage did receive;
When old Antipater was surely told
Of their mishap, who came for his reliefe,
He not one signe of sorrow did unfold:
“A little gaine doth mitigate much griefe:
Well did he know that though his foes prevail'd;
Yet this great fight enfeebled had their host,
And then he took to him which much avail'd
Those beaten bands who had their Captaine lost;
Yet that in which he did most comfort finde,
Was his delivery from a secret foe,
Who did with jealousie torment his minde,
Though outwardly not seeming to be so.

Per.
Thus, we who earst below one ensigne warr'd,
Slept in one Tent, and all one Fortune prov'd,
And (with a friendship then, that never jarr'd)
Like Pilades, and mad Orestes lov'd,
Since that we want a Lord, and all are Lords,
We (loe) renounce all kinde of kindnesse now,
And (secret rancour budding in discords)
Do others harmes procure, at least allow.
“Such is the sacred famine of a Crowne,
“That it to satisfie, before we faile,
“What in our way doth stand, all must go down,
“And bands of bloud, or friendship not availe
“These glory-ravish'd souls that would be great,
“No meanes omit, although they be unjust,
“None beares with patience partners in the state;
“What jealous lover can his Rivals trust?

Eum.
Well, I perceive Antipater doth tend
With all his pow'r to gaine that sacred prey,
Whose meanes (of late enlarg'd) to reach his end:
Through every danger may enforce a way;
And Alexander sometimes spake at large,
Then whil'st Antipater with Agis striv'd,
That he (without the limits of his charge)
More like a King, then a Lieutenant liv'd.
Antigonus, and Ptolomie in Armes
Are joyn'd in one, our ruine bent to breed;
I feare that friendship procreate our harmes,
Unlesse their spight prevented be with speed.

Per.
I'le lodge you now (Eumenes) in my brest,
And let you see the ground of my intent:
Since that we both alike must toyle, or rest,
As those whose courses must have one event.
Since at his death, I by our dying Lord,
Was in his place appointed to succeed,
And that my Fortune doth a meanes afford,
How I may compasse that which he decreed.
To leave that place I cannot well agree,
As if I wanted courage to command,
I'le take that which the fates do force on me:
For, if without a Throne I cannot stand.
“And those who would performe difficult things,
“Must not regard what way, so they prevaile:
“Oft fraud, then force, a greater furtherance brings
“The Foxe must help, if that the Lyon faile.
So old Antipater to have betray'd,
His daughter I in marriage did require,
That so the time might but have beene delay'd;
Till that I had accomplish'd my desire:
For, with the shadow of pretended love,
And hop'd affinity which seem'd design'd,
I from his bounds some bands aym'd to remove,
By raising me that he might have declin'd;
“But who can snare a minde all ey'd with fears
He quickly did mistrust the purpos'd wrong,
And from my Messengers straight barr'd his eares,
As did Vlysses from the Syrens song.

Eum.
Yet this, (if rightly weigh'd) might much import,
If that you match your selfe with such a Mate,
Whose beauty, pleasure, birth might bring support,
And both concurre in one to blesse your state,
If you to make your high attempts more sure,
By Hymens meanes with some your selfe allie,
Thus of some Prince you may the pow'r procure,
On whom for help you boldly may relye.
What griefe were this if you have hap to gaine,
That faire Idea which your fancies frame,
If after you, none of your owne remayne
To keep your Conquests, and revive your name?
“Kings live most safe who of their owne have heires,
“Whose sacred persons none dare seek to wound:
“Since, though they dye, yet there rest some of theirs,
“Who are to venge their death, by Nature bound.

Per.
All shall be try'd which may enlarge my might;
I minde to match my selfe with such a one,
Who (if she have my pow'r to prove her right)
May be thought worthy of her Fathers Throne.
I with Olympias have devis'd a thing,
Which may secure her state, and make mine strong,
And (if accomplish'd) prove a prosp'rous spring,
From whence may flow great acts ere it be long:
By Cleopatra may a meanes be catch'd,
Which to a glorious end our course may bring,
She whom at first her Father Philip match'd
With Alexander of Epirus King,
Who having heard great Alexanders fame,
(In emulation of that Monarchs praise)
Went with his troups th'Etrurians bent to tame,
Which enterprise did but abridge his dayes:
In marriage with that widow'd Queene combinde,
(If that her Mother thus her course assist)
Whil'st I performe that which I have in minde,
Who dare presume my purpose to resist?
For, whil'st this friendship doth my name renowne,
It may my thoughts from further feare seclude:
Since having thus a title to the Crowne,
As one engrafted in the royall bloud.

Eum.
I feare that this your purpose to prevent,
A number now take armes all in one forme,
As those whose feares conjecture your intent,
And by the lowring clouds fore-know a storme.
Already many do together runne,
Who for our ruine wonderfully thirst.

Per.
Where do you think that we should then begin,
And exercise hostility at first?

Eum.
Though we our selves in strangers Thrones enstall,
And (having Asia to subjection brought)
Make Nilus, Indus, and Euphrates thrall,
Yet all those victories would serve for nought,
Whil'st Macedonie doth continue free,
(A fertile field to bring brave Armies forth)
Which (till first forc'd) can now not subject be,
And ere they love a King, must prove his worth,
“Then unto those who seek a Prince in Armes,
“His chiefest Realme the greatest vantage gives,
“Where warres (held out) are alwayes with his harmes,
“Since that his foe still at his charges lives;
“And warres protracted with a peoples losse,
“Do from their Soveraigne alienate their love;
“They lose their hearts, whom Fortune once doth crosse,
“And foil'd at home, can no where else remove:
Who Macedonie hath, hath still the best,
Which of our state the stately Mistrisse is:
As which with courage conquer'd all the rest,
And but depends on Mars, as onely his:
If you were Lord of that undaunted soyle,
And by Olympias countenanc'd but a time,
Straight from Antipater all would recoyle,
And, bent t'undo him, we would finde a crime;
To you who are a Macedonian borne,
(If match'd with Cleopatra, great in pow'rs)
The Macedonians gladly would be sworne,
And (if commanding them) then all were yours.

Per.
Yet this opinion partly I disprove,
Which would not (as you thinke) our troubles end:
For, if we do from hence our force remove,
And to th'Æmathian bounds directly tend,
There must at first a doubtfull warre be prov'd,
With those brave bands whose valour is well known:
Of whom Craterus dearly is belov'd;
Antipater is borne, and bred their owne.
And though indeed (as kindly to those parts)
My friendship may affected be by some,
Yet those who start in time by many arts,
May under-myne their mindes before we come.
Then whil'st we trouble Macedony most,
And leave those Realmes unarm'd which now are ours,
Straight Ptolomie when strengthned is his host,
May (like a tempest) swallow Asia's pow'rs.
I, for the time most willingly would take
The course which seemes to make our state most sure:
“A foe is dangerous, when behinde ones backe,
“(Who whil'st not look'd for) may our harme procure
My purpose is, though yet to none made knowne,
That Egypt first shall burden'd be with warre:
For, if that Ptolomie were once o'rethrowne,
Then that from Greece all hope of help would barre.

Eum.
Hold still with you those of the sacred bloud,
Whom to protect you alwayes must pretend:
“The count'nance of the great, may do much good,
“Whom still (though weake) all glory to attend.

Exeunt.