 | The Tragedy of Darivs |  |
91
Scene 2.
Darius,Artabazus, Nabarzanes, Patron, Bessus.
If joyn'd by fates with men of dastard mindes,
Who to a noble death, base life preferr'd,
I should not waste my words amongst the windes,
But labour would that time might be deferr'd;
Though still resolv'd, your course confirmes me much,
Whom no disaster could divorce from me,
What man can doubt whom heavens doe backe by such,
When (bragg'd with bondage) fighting to be free?
My courage swels to see you marching forth,
Whose force and faith, which all the world doth sing,
(Oft clear'd by proofe, though fortune envy worth)
Might serve to make, farre more to keepe a King.
He gives our rebels Townes, not mov'd by love:
“Each Prince (though using them,) all traitours hates.
But that their course to take, this might you move,
His turne once serv'd, so forfeiting your states.
Ye to my fortune have not had regard,
As of my peace, so partners of my warres,
Which, though that I might not, Iove would reward,
And all the world extoll you to the starres.
How long shall I a vagabond remaine,
And flye a stranger who my right would reave,
Since by one battell we may re-obtaine
All that we lost, or lose all that we have?
Like some vile traitors, whom I will arraigne,
To hold me up, shall I goe cast me downe?
Must Darius onely by entreaty raigne?
No, none hath pow'r to give, or take my Crowne.
I shall not my authority survive,
Nor will I proffer a submissive breath,
My hand shall hold a Scepter while I live,
My head shall beare a Diadem till death;
If those franke thoughts which doe possesse my soule,
Such flames of courage kindled have in you,
A Macedonian shall not us controule,
Nor with disdainefull smiles brag whil'st we bow:
My state may testifie fraile fortunes change,
May she not him o're-whelme, as well as mee?
At least our hands beare death, if not revenge,
“Brave mindes when no more rests may still dye free.
Now call your valorous ancestors to minde,
Who from the Grecians tribute still requir'd,
And of whose deeds rare monuments we finde,
Whose merits make their memories admir'd;
92
Which doth your fathers names (though dead) adore?
I am resolv'd, my triumph, or my tombe,
A Laurell, or a Cypresse shall decore.
Art.
What doubtfull silence thus your thoughts detaines?
We need advise with nought but with our swords;
He who the Persians wonted worth retaines,
Will answer now with deeds, and not with words.
Let us accompany our King in Armes,
Through bloudy squadrons to this fatall strife:
“No profit can be had without some harmes,
By slaughter onely we must looke for life;
And when our host (as I hope) doth prevaile,
Our Country shall have peace, we praise of right;
And if our fortune (not our courage) faile,
We dye with honour in our Soveraignes sight;
Let us (if vanquish'd) scorne base breath to buy,
A noble death may greater glory give,
Doe to o're-come, and yet not feare to dye:
'Tis needfull that we fight, not that we live.
Nar.
My words will first your Majestie displease,
Yet duty makes me speake where silence spilles;
“The best Physitian cures a sharpe disease,
“With some sowre potion that corruption killes;
“And skilfull Pilots when they feare a storme,
“To save the ship, will cast out pretious things,
You in some sort may imitate their forme,
For else a tempest totall ruine brings.
Since bent against the Gods, how can we speed?
To all our actions, fortune is oppos'd,
We must of force some other way proceed,
So have the heavens of our affaires dispos'd:
Give (Sir,) the state, at least your titles place
On some more happy man, not in effect,
But with your shadow cloath him for a space,
Till he your Realmes from ruine may protect.
This storme once calm'd, that now disturbes your state,
And Asia free from any forraigne hoste,
He shall with haste resigne the Soveraigne seat,
These Kingdoms gain'd againe, which you have lost:
All Bactria yet abides at your command,
The Indians, loe, would dye to doe you good,
Yea, many thousand thousands armed stand,
Bent for your State to offer up their bloud;
What? should we rush like beasts to needlesse strife?
Be well prepar'd, and then your fortune try,
“Brave mindes should death despise, not loathing life:
“For feare of danger cowards crave to dye.
“But vertue first all hopes accounts doth cast,
“And of each meane to helpe maturely thinkes,
93
“The which to meet true courage never shrinkes.
Now for the time, let Bactria be our seate,
To Bessus for the forme your Growne resigne,
Who, when he once hath re-advanc'd your state,
Shall with your foes o'rethrow his charge confine.
Dar.
Wretch travell'st thou thy Soveraign to betray?
Such treason dar'st thou to our eares impart?
Such treason under trust? stay traitour stay,
My sword shall search what lurkes within thy heart.
Art.
Sir, reyne your rage: this but new trouble breeds;
And weigh well what they are, what is the time;
It may be this from ignorance proceeds,
“In thought, and not in word, consists a crime;
Since that against your enemies you goe,
Be not severe in cens'ring Subjects parts,
But tolerate your owne, to grieve your foe,
Now must we strive to gaine, not lose mens hearts.
It by all meanes shall be exactly try'd,
How first his braine such fancies did embrace,
And if but simply, not puft up with pride,
He must be pardon'd, and restor'd to grace.
Dar.
And of my Subjects I would rather have
Then one to punish, them to guerdon all.
Nar.
If I have err'd, no pardon (Sir) I crave.
First heare, and if I faile, then let me fall;
I call the Gods to testifie my part,
Who can (commenting thoughts) cleare truth afford.
If ever treason harbour'd in my heart,
Straight let me dye, not pittied, but abhorr'd;
I counsell gave according to my skill,
It was my upright minde that made me bold,
And though my wit not answer'd to my will,
“Still zeale what it conceives, must needs unfold.
“We should be loth to speake in great affaires,
“Where words are damn'd, or ballanc'd by th' event:
“For, if things faile, the fault is still thought theirs,
“Who gave advice, though of a good intent,
Great Prince forget this not well grounded grudge:
Who dare be free if thus for words rejected?
At least examine first before you judge,
I rather dye absolv'd; then live suspected.
Dar.
Your fond opinion justly might be fear'd,
Which seem'd indeed sinistrously inclind;
For, at the first your speech to me appear'd
The poyson'd birth of some malitious minde.
But your purgation now hath taken place,
And of your faith I will no further doubt,
But hold you in the same degree of grace,
That you enjoy'd, before those words chanc'd out:
94
As if his minde were mightily perplex'd,
Come, Patron, tell what in thy bosome lyes,
By which thou seem'st so wonderfully vex'd.
Pa.
Sir, I would speake in private if I could,
That which affection fir'd with zeale affords,
“Let silence seale what friends with feare unfold,
Take you my thoughts, none else shall have my words:
Though onely bound by voluntary choice,
We follow you (all other hopes quite lost)
Your bodies shadowes, th' Ecchoes of your voyce,
As faithfull now as when you flourish'd most;
For where you are, we must remaine with you,
Since both our lots are in one vessell throwne,
I wish our Tent were made your lodging now,
For, we will save your life, or lose our owne.
We have abandon'd Greece our native soile,
And our retreat no Bactria now attends,
But those who us would of your person spoile,
Spoile us of all, whose all on you depends.
Would God all yours were bent to doe their due,
“Fame big by feare doth bring forth rumours rife;
I grant it grosse, if that his owne were true,
To trust a stranger with a Monarches life.
Dar.
What sudden danger doth of late dismay you,
Such inconveniences that you fore-cast?
Pa.
Sir, Bessus and Narbazanes betray you,
This day to you, or them will be the last:
They faine repentance onely for the forme,
Till every thing be for the fact prepar'd,
The clouds are gathering which doe boast a storme,
And they ere night, minde to invade your guard.
Dar.
I trust thy words, but yet I cannot wrong
Those who by nature love to me should beare,
Shall I leave them who follow'd me so long?
Then they may thinke, I merit what I feare.
I will await on what the heavens will send,
For, who can stand when fates his fall conspire,
And with mine owne, at least, least griev'd will end,
I live too long if they my death desire.
Bes.
Take heed in time (Sir) to this subtile Greeke,
The Grecian faith to all the world is knowne,
I am enform'd he by all meanes doth seeke
To gratifie your foe, as borne his owne;
“And marvell not, though mercenary men,
“Who sell themselves, sell all, this is not strange,
“They have no God but gold, nor house, how then
“Can they be constant, who doe live by change?
Though this vaine man pre-occupy you thus,
And such as would themselves abuse your grace,
95
When our accuser dare not shew his face.
Dar.
Of Alexander those who hope for gaine.
By trait'rous meanes do but themselves deceive,
Since none in earth doth Traitors more disdaine,
Nor treason can in greater horrour have.
Bes.
Well, Sir, you shall know shortly what we are,
I will go see your Ensignes all displai'd.
Dar.
It better is since things are gone so farre,
Then seeme but to mistrust, to be betray'd.
Loe, Artabazus I have acted here
My part of greatnesse, and my glasse is runne,
Now Patrons speech doth evident appeare,
I see my end, yet can their course not shunne.
Art.
The Bactrians onely have imbark'd in this,
Go to the Greeks, which if with courage done,
When once your danger manifested is,
The Persians all will follow after soone.
Dar.
And what if I were gone to Patrons Tent,
And had the Greeks for guard as you desire?
He hath but thousands foure which are well bent,
They thirty thousand who my fall conspire;
And (doing this) I should their deed excuse,
In giving them a cause who have most might;
They may indeed my lenity abuse,
But by my deed they shall pretend no right.
Art.
O Prince to be bemoan'd, who can but weep
To see thee thus involv'd in such a state?
Dar.
Retyre you all, and seek your selves to keep,
I here attend the issue of my fate.
Ye wonder that a wretch yet breathing stands,
To whom the heavens no comfort can impart:
Feare shall not make me fall by mine owne hands,
No, let another sinne though I must smart;
None of you all have falsifi'd your truth,
But loyall still unto the end abide,
Now I you all disburthen of your oath,
Leave me alone, and for your selves provide.
| The Tragedy of Darivs | |