 | The Tragedy of Darivs |  |
Scene I.
Hephestion, Alexander, Polystratus.What Story or what fable can record
Of such a numb'rous troupe so strangely lost?
I know they quak'd to know it was my lord,
Whose name alone is worth anothers hoste:
It scarse can trusted be in many parts;
“But Traitours feare, though all the world them backe,
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Moe prisoners they were then men to take.
Who would believe so few durst strive to meete
So great an Army, and the Army shrinkes?
“But Glories flattery, and fames sounds are sweet:
“True valour dare attempt all that it thinkes.
Alex.
In this encounter to have had the best,
It would content more then a common minde;
But since we want the chiefe, what of the rest?
I must in all a satisfaction finde;
Those Traitours thought to finish thus the warre,
By giving me their Lord whom they have bound,
But I who march with confidence so farre
Doe scorne to build upon so base a ground;
To venge my wrongs dare others then designe?
Since Darius was ordain'd my prey to be,
How durst they but have aim'd at ought of mine?
His o'rethrowes glory did belong to mee.
Whilst in himselfe he onely did confide,
I by all meanes did strive to make him bow,
But since his hard estate abates that pride,
My fury turn'd is to compassion now;
Though he contemn'd me oft, and did me wrong,
Yet am I griev'd that he was thus deceav'd,
If but acknowledg'd once to be more strong,
I not his blood, nor yet his kingdome crav'd;
And if those Traytours have not kill'd him straight,
Yet his delivery shall my name renowne,
I would not lose a Subject of such weight,
By which my clemency might be made knowne.
Po.
Sir, now your comming cannot doe him good.
Alex.
What? all are fled, none have my force withstood?
Po.
Yet can not Darius be redeem'd againe.
Alex.
Why, have they set him free, or is he slaine?
Po.
Now he enjoyes a libertie at last;
But ransom'd is by offering up his breath.
Alex.
Then is all Asia's expectation past?
Tell on at length the manner of his death.
Po.
The boiling ardor of the rising Sunne
(All moisture gone) did breede so great a drouth,
That from the way I had a little runne,
To finde some fountaine to refresh my mouth;
There, by the borders of a rysing brooke,
Which shadow'd was from Titans rysing beames,
From liquid crystalls I atribute tooke,
Which seem'd to murmure, that I forc'd their streames:
When (loe) I saw (a lamentable sight)
Two wounded horses draw a bloody Coach,
Which clad with skinnes, shew horrour at the height;
And it to spie when as I did approach,
One was within, who could not long time scape,
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Yet Majestie triumphing o're mishap,
Hee seem'd to bragge both fortune and the fates.
And to so base a state as first not borne,
Then whilst his bloode aboundantly did fall,
He bursted forth those words in fortunes scorne,
As one whose courage nothing could appall:
You gaze to see (and have good cause wherefore)
A man no man, a king no king: what change?
Now lesse then nought who once was both, and more;
This would seeme wond'rous; but no state is strange;
And yet a midst my evils I must rejoyce,
That this last comfort doth forgoe my end.
I speake to one who can conceave my voice,
And not in vaine my dying speeches spend;
I am, but how? in name, and not in pow'r,
That wretched Darius (which I should suppresse)
Once happie (as was thought) but at this hower,
A lively patterne of extreame distresse.
Then having paus'd (he said) my griefe is great,
Tell Alexander (as the world may spie)
That though of me he never had but hate,
Yet am I forc'd farre in his debt to die:
The favour past extended to my Queene,
And that poore remnant my surviving rest,
(When weighing well what I to him have beene)
I wish continu'd, but can scarse request;
They to his foe belong, and yet he strives
To have them honour'd now, as in times past;
But those who held of me both states, and lives,
Of state and life have me depriv'd at last.
Entreat him too that unreveng'd below
I wander not as haplesse in all things:
Let men his justice, and their treason know;
This (as a common cause) doth touch all kings.
Beside the honour which he shall acquire
In plaguing them who have betrai'd my trust,
His magnanimity men shall admire,
And feare to grieve him whom they finde so just.
“As watrie rounds which rise and reele in raine,
“Do swell, and flote, yet when they breake (though bright)
“Last, leave (when fall'n) no token save a stayne,
Pompe quickly thus both courts and scornes the sight:
And since my glasse is runne, my glory gone,
I dead unto the world, the world to me,
I wish (save his) that th'earth adore no throne:
For, from his raigne what subject would be free?
Then drowping downe, faint, bloodlesse, and halfe dead,
He prai'd me for some water that ranne by,
(A small request by such a monarch made)
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This crosse must come (said he) to kill me quite;
Though Nations once to mee as Soveraigne sought,
I have not now the pow'r but to requite
This little benefit, that thou hast brought:
But Alexander shall reward thee well,
And him the Heavens, still yeelding his desires,
Since that his foes (though envie burst) must tell
That courtesie which all the world admires.
Now none hath pow'r his pleasure to controule,
But if he use them well whom he retaines,
It will procure contentment to my soule,
And make him famous whilst the world remaines.
When breath abandon'd hath this brittle clay,
Then cause some friend defray my funerall cost,
That churlish Charon force me not to stray
Where darkenesse dwells, an unregarded Ghost.
Last, give my corpes to her who brought it forth,
Who may it with my Ancestours entombe,
And since she lov'd me much, though little worth,
May waile this burden which once grac'd her wombe;
And to that Prince whose state I wish to stand,
In signe of love which all my thoughts doe send,
My soule gives him my heart, it thee my hand:
Thus though I liv'd his foe, I die his friend.
I had but held his hand a little space,
When dying like a Torch whose waxe is spent,
In spite of payne, even with a princely grace,
His hands still seem'd directing as he went.
Alex.
Who could refraine from teares to heare declar'd
The huge mishapps, which all at once did light;
Have subiects slaine their Prince, whom strangers spar'd?
Vs hath he fled, that perish thus he might!
I for his fall am wonderfully sorry,
Whom first I forc'd, but last would have maintain'd:
I envie death, because it rob'd the glory
Which I (by giving him his life) had gain'd.
Hep.
Since death hath put a period to his woes,
That favour which to him you would extend,
Let it with furie flame against his foes,
For your designes can have no fairer end:
So shall you both the peoples love obtaine,
Whilst by your meanes reveng'd their Soveraigne rests,
And likewise may the more securely raigne,
The state well purg'd from such contagious pests,
“If but one vertue did adorne a king,
“It would be justice; many great defects
“Are vail'd thereby, whereas each vertuous thing
“In one who is not just, the world suspects.
Alex.
Though this your Counsell, nor yet his request.
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A generous stomach could not well digest,
So great a wrong which courage stormes to beare.
My sprite (impatient of repose) disdaines,
That they so long their infamie survive:
But I will punish with most grievous paines
The monstrous Treason that they did contrive.
What? doe they thinke (though back'd with numbrous bands)
That Bactria is a bulwarke for mine Ire?
Flie where they list, they cannot scape my hands,
My wrath shall follow like consuming fire.
Such damned soules the heaven cannot receave,
Ile force Hells dungeons, as Alcides did,
And they on th'earth no bounds but mine can have,
I'le search them out though in the center hid,
And when as threatning now I once may strike,
Betwixt the bending boughs of some strong tree,
To Traitours terrours who intend the like,
They shall by violence dismembred be.
Poll.
Sir, may it please you to extend your care,
That some his funerall offices performe.
Alex.
Goe presently, and every thing prepare,
As best becomes the military forme.
| The Tragedy of Darivs | |