 | The Tragedy of Philotas |  |
Scena I.
Attaras, Sostratus.Sostratus.
Can there be such a sudden change in Court
As you report? Is it to be beleeu'd,
That great Philotas, whom we all beheld
In grace last night, should be arraign'd to day?
Att.
It can be: and it is as I report:
For states of grace are no sure holds in Court.
Sost.
But yet tis strange they should be ouerthrow'n
Before their certeine forfeitures were know'n.
Att.
Tush, it was breeding long though suddenly
This thunder-cracke comes but to breake out now.
Sost.
The time I waited, and I waited long,
Vntill Philotas, with some other Lords,
Depart the Presence, and as I conceiu'd,
I neuer saw the King in better mood,
Nor yet Philotas euer in more grace.
Can such stormes grow, and yet no clouds appeare?
Att.
Yea, court stormes grow, when skies there seeme most cleare
It was about the deepest of the night,
The blackest houre of darknesse and of sleepe,
When, with some other Lords, comes Craterus,
Falles downe before the King, intreates, implores,
Coniures his Grace, as euer he would looke
To saue his person and the State from spoile,
Now to preuent Philotas practises,
Whom they had plainly found to be the man
Had plotted the destruction of them all.
It was about the deepest of the night,
The blackest houre of darknesse and of sleepe,
When, with some other Lords, comes Craterus,
Falles downe before the King, intreates, implores,
Coniures his Grace, as euer he would looke
To saue his person and the State from spoile,
Now to preuent Philotas practises,
Whom they had plainly found to be the man
Had plotted the destruction of them all.
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The King would faine haue put them off to time
And farther day, till better proofes were knowne:
Which they perceiuing, prest him still the more,
And reinforc'd his dangers and their owne;
And neuer left him till they had obtain'd
Commission t'apprehend Philotas streight.
And farther day, till better proofes were knowne:
Which they perceiuing, prest him still the more,
And reinforc'd his dangers and their owne;
And neuer left him till they had obtain'd
Commission t'apprehend Philotas streight.
Now, to make feare looke with more hideous face,
Or els, but to beget it out of forme,
And carefull preparations of distrust,
About the Palace men in armour watch,
In armour men about the King attend,
All passages and issues were forelayd
With horse, t'interrupt what euer newes
Should hence breake out into Parmenios campe.
I, with three hundred men in armour charg'd,
Had warrant to attach and to commit
The person of Philotas presently:
And comming to his lodging where he lay,
Found him imburied in the soundest sleepe
That euer man could be; where neither noyse
Of clattering weapons, or our rushing in
With rude and trampling rumour, could dissolue
The heauy humours of that drowsie brow,
Which held perhaps his sences now more fast,
As loth to leaue, because it was the last.
Or els, but to beget it out of forme,
And carefull preparations of distrust,
About the Palace men in armour watch,
In armour men about the King attend,
All passages and issues were forelayd
With horse, t'interrupt what euer newes
Should hence breake out into Parmenios campe.
I, with three hundred men in armour charg'd,
Had warrant to attach and to commit
The person of Philotas presently:
And comming to his lodging where he lay,
Found him imburied in the soundest sleepe
That euer man could be; where neither noyse
Of clattering weapons, or our rushing in
With rude and trampling rumour, could dissolue
The heauy humours of that drowsie brow,
Which held perhaps his sences now more fast,
As loth to leaue, because it was the last.
Sost.
Attaras, what can treason sleepe so sound?
Will that lowd hand of Horror that still beats
Vpon the guilty conscience of distrust
Permit it t'haue so resolute a rest?
Att.
I cannot tell: but thus we found him there,
Nor could we (I assure you) waken him,
Till thrice I call'd him by his name, and thrice
Had shooke him hard; and then at length he wakes:
And looking on me with a setled cheere,
Deare friend Attaras, what's the newes? (sayd he)
What vp so soone, to hasten the remoue,
Or rais'd by some alarme or some distrust?
I told him, that the King had some distrust,
VVhy, what will Nabarzanes play (sayth he)
The villaine with the King, as he hath done
Already with his miserable Lord?
I seeing he would not or did not vnderstand
His owne distresse, told him the charge I had:
Wherewith he rose, and rising vs'd these words;
O Alexander! now I see my foes
Haue got aboue thy goodnesse, and preuail'd
Against my innocency and thy word.
And as we then inchain'd and fettred him,
Looking on that base furniture of shame,
Poore body (sayd he) hath so many alarme
Rais'd thee to blood and danger from thy rest,
T'inuest thee with this armour now at last?
Is this the seruice I am call'd to now?
Nor could we (I assure you) waken him,
Till thrice I call'd him by his name, and thrice
Had shooke him hard; and then at length he wakes:
And looking on me with a setled cheere,
Deare friend Attaras, what's the newes? (sayd he)
What vp so soone, to hasten the remoue,
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I told him, that the King had some distrust,
VVhy, what will Nabarzanes play (sayth he)
The villaine with the King, as he hath done
Already with his miserable Lord?
I seeing he would not or did not vnderstand
His owne distresse, told him the charge I had:
Wherewith he rose, and rising vs'd these words;
O Alexander! now I see my foes
Haue got aboue thy goodnesse, and preuail'd
Against my innocency and thy word.
And as we then inchain'd and fettred him,
Looking on that base furniture of shame,
Poore body (sayd he) hath so many alarme
Rais'd thee to blood and danger from thy rest,
T'inuest thee with this armour now at last?
Is this the seruice I am call'd to now?
But we, that were not to attend his plaints,
Couering his head with a disgracefull weed,
Tooke and conuai'd him suddenly toward;
From whence he shalbe instantly brought forth,
Here to b'arraign'd before the King, who sits
(According to the Macedonian vse)
In cases capitall, himselfe as Iudge.
Couering his head with a disgracefull weed,
Tooke and conuai'd him suddenly toward;
From whence he shalbe instantly brought forth,
Here to b'arraign'd before the King, who sits
(According to the Macedonian vse)
In cases capitall, himselfe as Iudge.
Sost.
Well, then I see, who are so high aboue,
Are neere to lightning, that are neere to Ioue.
| The Tragedy of Philotas | |