 | The Tragedy of Philotas |  |
Scena II.
Antigona, Thais.
Oy'are a secret counsell-keeper, Thais:
In troth I little thought you such a one.
Tha.
And why, Antigona, what haue I done?
Ant.
You know ful-well, your conscience you bewraies.
Tha.
Alas good soule, would you haue me conceale
That, which your selfe could not but needs reueale?
Thinke you, another can be more to you,
In what concernes them not, than you can be
Whom it imports? Will others hold them true,
When you proue false to your one secrecy?
But yet this is no wonder: for we see
Wiser than we do lay their heads to gage
For riotous expences of their tongues,
Although it be a property belongs
Especially to vs, and euery age
Can shew strange presidents what we haue been
In cases of the greatest plots of men;
And t'is the Scene on this worlds stage we play,
Whose reuolution we with men conuert,
And are to act our part as well as they,
Though commonly the weakest, yet a-part.
That, which your selfe could not but needs reueale?
Thinke you, another can be more to you,
In what concernes them not, than you can be
Whom it imports? Will others hold them true,
When you proue false to your one secrecy?
But yet this is no wonder: for we see
Wiser than we do lay their heads to gage
For riotous expences of their tongues,
Although it be a property belongs
Especially to vs, and euery age
Can shew strange presidents what we haue been
In cases of the greatest plots of men;
And t'is the Scene on this worlds stage we play,
Whose reuolution we with men conuert,
220
Though commonly the weakest, yet a-part.
For this great motion of a State we see
Doth turne on many wheeles, and some (thogh smal)
Do yet the greater moue, who in degree
Stirre those who likewise turne the great'st of all.
For though we are not wise, we see the wise
By vs are made, or make vs parties still
In actions of the greatest qualities
That they can manage, be they good or ill.
Doth turne on many wheeles, and some (thogh smal)
Do yet the greater moue, who in degree
Stirre those who likewise turne the great'st of all.
For though we are not wise, we see the wise
By vs are made, or make vs parties still
In actions of the greatest qualities
That they can manage, be they good or ill.
Ant.
I cannot tell: but you haue made me doo
That which must euermore afflict my heart.
And if this be my wofull part, t'vndoo
My dearest Loue, would I had had no part,
How haue I silly woman sifted been,
Examin'd, trid, flatt'red, terrifi'd,
By Craterus, the cunningest of men,
That neuer left me till I had descri'd
What euer of Philotas I had know'n!
Tha.
What, is that all? Perhaps I haue thereby
Done the more good than thou canst apprehend.
Ant.
Such good I rather you should get than I,
If that can be a good t'accuse my friend.
Tha.
Alas, thy accusation did but quote
The margin of some text of greater note.
Ant.
But that is more then thou or I can tell.
Tha.
Yes, yes, Antigona, I know it well.
For be thou sure, that alwayes those who seeke
T'attacke the Lyon, so prouide, that still
Their toyles be such, as that he shall not scape
To turne his rage on those that wrought his ill
Philotas neither was so strong nor hie,
But malice ouerlookt him, and discride
Where he lay weake, where was his vanity;
And bui't her countermounts vpon that side,
In such sort, as they would be sure to race
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And now mayst thou, perhaps, come great hereby,
And gracious with his greatest enemy:
For such men thinke, they haue no full succes,
Vnlesse they likewise gaine the mistresses
Of those they master, and succeed the place
And fortunes of their loues with equall grace.
Ant.
Loues! Out alas! Loue such a one as he,
That seekes t'vndoo my Loue, and in him me?
Tha.
Tush, loue his fortunes, loue his state, his place,
What euer greatnesse doth, it must haue grace.
Ant.
I weigh not greatnesse, I must please mine eye.
Tha.
Th'eye nothing fairer sees than dignity.
Ant.
But what is dignity without our loue?
Tha.
If we haue that, we cannot want our loue.
Ant.
Why, that giues but the out-side of delight:
The day time ioy, what comfort hath the night?
Tha.
If pow'r procure not that, what can it do?
Ant.
I know not how that can b'attain'd vnto.
Tha.
Nor will I teach thee, if thou know'st it not:
Tis vaine, I see, to learne an Asian wit.
Exit.
Ant.
If this be that great wit, that learned skill,
You Greeks professe, let me be foolish still,
So I be faithfull. And now, being here alone,
Let me record the heauy notes of mone.
| The Tragedy of Philotas | |