University of Virginia Library

Scena III.

Craterus, Ephestion, Clitus, &c.
Craterus.
My Lords, you see the flexible conceit
Of our indangered souereigne: and you know
How much his perill, and Philotas pride,
Imports the State and vs; and therefore now
We either must oppose against deceit,
Or be vndone: for now hath time discride
An open passage to his farthest ends;
From whence, if negligence now put vs backe,
Returne we neuer can without our wracke.

And, good my Lords, since you conceiue as much,
And that we stand alike, make not me prosecute
The cause alone, as if it did but touch
Only my selfe; and that I did both breed
And vrge these doubts out of a priuate griefe.
Indeed, I know, I might with much more ease
Sit still like others; and if dangers come,
Might thinke to shift for one, as well as they:
But yet the faith, the duty, and respect
We owe both to our souereigne and the State,
My Lords, I hold, requires another care.

Eph.
My Lord, assure you we will take a time
To vrge a stricter count of Dymnus death.

Crat.
My Lords, I say, vnlesse this be the time,
You will apply your physicke after death.
You see the King inuited hath this night
Philotas with the rest, and entertaines
Him with as kinde an vsage (to our sight)
As euer: and you see the cunning straines
Of sweet insinuation, that are vs'd
T'assuce the eare of grace with false reports:
So that all this will come to be excus'd
With one remoue; one action quite transports
The Kings affections ouer to his hopes,
And sets him so beyond the due regard
Of his owne safety, as one enterprize,
May serue their turne, and may vs all surprize.

Clit.
But now, since things thus of themselues breake out,
We haue aduantage to preuent the worst,
And eu'ry day will yeeld vs more, no doubt;
For they are sau'd, that thus are warned first.

Crat.
So, my Lord Clitus, are they likewise warn'd
T'accelerate their plot, being thus bewrai'd.

Cli.
But that they cannot now, it is too late:
For treason taken ere the birth, doth come
Abortiue, and her wombe is made her tombe.

Crat.
You do not know how farre it hath put forth
The force of malice, nor how farre is spred
Already the contagion of this ill.

Clit.
Why then there may some one be tortured
Of those whom Ceballinus hath reueal'd,
Whereby the rest may be discouered.

Crat.
That one must be Philotas, from whose head
All this corruption flowes; take him, take all.

Clit.
Philotas is not nam'd, and therefore may
Perhaps not be acquainted with this plot.

Crat.
That, his concealing of the plot bewraies:
And if we do not cast to find him first,
His wit (be sure) hath layd so good a ground,
As he will be the last that will be found.

Clit.
But if he be not found, then is this case
We do him more, by iniuring his grace.

Crat.
If that he be not found t'haue dealt in this,
Yet this will force out some such thoughts of his,
As will vndoo him: for you seldome see
Such men arraign'd, that euer quitted be.

Eph.
Well, my Lord Craterus, we will moue his Grace
(Though it be late) before he take his rest,
That some course may be taken in this case:
And God ordaine, it may be for the best.

Exeunt.
CHORVS.