 | The Alexandraean Tragedie |  |
Act 4.
Scene 1.
Antigonus,Eumenes.
Though stormy discord, and tumultuous wars,
Doe fire the mindes of men with flames of rage,
That (hauing haughty thoughts, as heaven hath Starres)
Their indignation nothing can asswage:
Yet loe, amongst the Souldiers waving bowres,
The Heraulds cryes doe calme the Trumpets sounds;
And peace dare inter-pose unarmed pow'rs,
To limit for a time Bellona's bounds;
And (whilst of fury they suspend th' effects)
The seeming-friended foes together treat,
And every one shewes what his soule affects,
Of peace a shadow: th' essence must be great.
Thus men magnanimous amidst the field,
Dare of their en'mies to the promise trust,
And (loathing what disloyaltie doth yeeld)
Not violate their vowes, nor prove unjust.
“Though love be past, yet truth should still remaine,
“I vertuous parts even in my foes applaud;
“A gallant minde doth greater glory gaine,
“To dye with honour, then to live by fraud;
And why (Eumenes) as mistrusting me,
Or standing on your reputation long,
Did you disdaine to seeke (as all men see)
A greater then your selfe, and one more strong?
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Though we come not to plead our birth-right here,
Let him (for warriours so should take their place)
In whom best signes of Noblenesse appeare,
Be grac'd, as first who doth adorne a race;
Most Noble he who still by vertue strives,
To leave his name in mindes of men engrav'd,
And to his off-spring greater glory gives,
Then from his ancestors he hath receiv'd.
Earst, we by birth in warre not marshal'd stood,
As at the Table, upon Ivory beds;
“A Souldiers worth consists not in his bloud,
“But in their bloud which (as his foes) he sheds.
What ever others of my linage try,
I am Eumenes, and will not accord,
That there can be a greater man then I,
While as I have a heart, a hand, a sword.
“Anti.
Loe, when prosperity too much prevailes;
“Above the judgement thus of vulgar mindes,
“As little Barges burden'd with great Sayles,
“They move in state, all swolne with fortunes windes;
“And as adversity the sprite refines
“From th'abject drosse of pride, and passions base,
“That in affliction, vertue clearest shines,
“And makes one all the wayes of wit to trace:
“So doth good successe make the judgement dye,
“Then whilst the fortunate their ease doe take,
“And lull'd asleep in pleasures meadowes lye,
“As for the slaughter fat, and ripe to shake;
“Yet this the nature is of gallant men,
“To rest (as in no state too much involv'd)
“When prosp'ring warie, and most humble then,
“If cross'd couragious, when imbark'd, resolv'd.
What though your first attempts renowned are,
By which you in two fields victorious stood,
And did o're-throw two thunder-bolts of warre,
Who lost their lives amid'st a crimson flood:
Yet is that course of victory contrould,
And you have try'd what force your force exceeds,
Then, faded Lawrels should not make you bold,
As still reposing on your by-past deeds:
For, by the same to indignation mov'd,
The Macedonians all abhorre your name,
Who at that time so proud a Conquerour prov'd,
Their great mens slaughter having wing'd your fame.
Eum.
No fortune past so puffes up my conceit,
That it contempt of further danger brings;
Nor am I now dejected so of late,
But I intend to doe farre greater things.
“He (by prosperity made never proud)
“Who knowes the frailty of this earthly frame,
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“The Sunne (although eclips'd) remaines the same.
“Worth should by th'events not be thrall'd to wit,
“On th' accidents as th'essence did depend:
“The fault of fortune cannot blemish it,
“On which oft times disasters may attend;
“Though fortune (stumbling right) concurre with worth,
“Or yet, if crosses bragge a gallant minde,
“Both like themselves are alwaies sparkling forth,
“In every state some tokens of their kinde.
Now at this time o're-match'd by num'rous pow'rs,
I kept my courage, though I lost the field:
And vaunt no more of this, for some few hour's
May once to me the like advantage yeeld.
Nor is it long since that to fortune deare,
The world had never me but victor spy'd,
Though I protest by all th'Immortals here,
Press'd by necessity, not mov'd by pride.
Proud Neoptolemus that traytour still,
(Not worthy of a Macedonians name)
He to betray the hoste, and me to kill,
Had labour'd long to his eternall shame.
But I of Craterus lament the fall,
Whom for his vertue I did dearely love,
And was constrain'd (I Iove to witnesse call)
For my defence that refuge last to prove.
Anti.
How fortun'd you your forces to dispose,
So well to scape that storme of threatned harmes?
For, then you had to deale with mighty foes,
Who were in warre growne hoarie under armes.
Eum.
When Neoptolemus did clearely spy,
That all his treason to the light was brought,
He, where our foes were camp'd, with haste did flye:
“A foolish traitour who was false for nought.
There he inform'd, or mis-inform'd my foes,
That (by good successe growne secure of late)
I in my Tent did carelesly repose,
Though not by force, to be o're-com'd by fate.
And to Antipater he further told,
That Macedonians, if they at that time,
Of Craterus the count'nance did behold,
All willingly would yeeld themselves to him:
Now they had labour'd earnestly before,
That I abandon would Perdiccas part,
And did protest that they would give me more
Then yet I had, or hop'd for in my heart.
“But love (born free) cannot be thrall'd nor bought,
“More then a shamefull peace I like just strife;
“To generous mindes more deare then honour nought;
“And ere I leave my faith, I'le lose my life:
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They sought in time to plague me as a foe,
Where love could not begin, that hate might end,
And came in haste to have surpris'd me so:
But Neoptolemus to crosse by slight,
The Macedonians I for him did bend,
And Craterus concealing from their sight,
To match with him, caus'd troupes of strangers tend.
This policy which none could justly blame,
I with my selfe in secret did conspire,
And had my shirt beene privy to the same,
It should have beene an offring to the fire.
When deaths first game (with danger playd) was past,
I Neoptolemus did toile to finde,
And he me too, which happ'ned at the last;
“Two will doe much to meet, when of one minde.
Then whilst we met for whom both th'armies warr'd,
Whose fortune did depend upon our hands,
All was perform'd that force or fury dar'd,
Whilst both were bent t' abate the others bands.
And yet the heavens would not betray my trust,
(“Foule treason never had a fairer end)
But smil'd upon my cause (as which was just)
And did destruction to the traitour send:
For, forc'd by him whose force he did despise,
(Though fighting fiercely long) he lost his breath,
As one more strong then true, more stout then wise,
Whose greatest honour, was his honest death.
But weakened with huge wounds, almost I div'd
In seas of bloud, even quite from knowledge stray'd;
Yet by so great a victory reviv'd,
My courage grew more then my strength decay'd.
I (having finish'd thus this fatall strife)
Did come where Craterus his course had runne,
Even in the confines plac'd 'twixt death and life,
The one neere gone, the other not begun:
He with great valour had resisted long,
As all Briareus hands had mov'd his sword,
And did his Masters memory no wrong,
Whilst with his courage, not his fortune stor'd.
“What life refus'd, to gaine by death he thought:
“For, life and death are but indifferent things,
“And of themselves not to be shun'd, nor sought,
“But for the good or ill that either brings.
With endlesse glory bent to change his breath,
Of desp'rate valour all the pow'r was prov'd,
“And for great Captaines no more glorious death,
“Then to dy fighting with a minde unmov'd.
When it appear'd where victory did tend,
That armies courage with their Captaine fell;
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I went where death his Spirits did expell;
And whilst I told how both to be betrayd,
By Neoptolemus were brought about,
My woe with teares I to the world bewray'd:
“Milde pitty and true kindenesse must burst out.
Ah, if the newes of this that I expresse
Had come in time unto Perdiccas eares,
He might have liv'd their pride now to represse,
Who by his fall were first divorc'd from feares.
Ant.
The humour of that man was too well knowne,
Could he have parted other men from pride,
Whose soule was sold a slave unto his owne,
And for the same (forc'd by his followers) dy'd?
“Eum.
The proud must still be plagu'd by prouder ones,
“There must be had sharp steel to smooth rough stones,
“Ant.
No vice then pride doth greater hate procure,
“Which foes doe scorne, and friends cannot endure.
“Eum.
Yet Majesty must not it selfe deject;
“A lofty carriage doth procure respect.
“Ant.
A haughty gesture shewes a tyrants heart;
“All love a courteous count'nance, voyd of Art.
“Eum.
Yet manners too submisse as much condemn'd,
“Doe make Kings scorn'd, and Captains be contemn'd.
“Ant.
A humble port, kinde looks, words smooth and soft,
“Are meanes by which great mindes may mount aloft.
“Eum.
Those are indeed for such as raise their flight,
“They may doe more whose course is at the height:
“Imperious formes an Empire must defend.
Ant.
Thus hastned was Perdiccas to his end.
Eum.
That worthy man had many faire designes,
“But vertue still by envy is pursu'd,
“Though (as a Candle in the night best shines)
“It in a vitious age may best be view'd.
There was a man who scorn'd secure delights,
As still despising paine, attemptive, bold,
A brave observer of the antient Rites,
Steele strictly grasping, prodigall of gold;
He lov'd to have the Souldiers of his band,
Chus'd at the Musters, not in markets bought,
And would not flatter where he might command;
More meet to have, then seeke that which he sought;
But Souldiers now in this degener'd age,
Are (fawn'd on by faint mindes) brib'd in such sort,
That all the reynes enlarg'd unto their rage,
They with so straight a course cannot comport.
What was mis-fortune knowne unto them all,
Their malice as some great neglect did cite:
“All things must helpe th' unhappy men to fall,
Thus forth they spu'd the poyson of their spite,
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By that occasion whetting their desires,
They in his body boldly sheath'd their swords,
A deed which even barbarity admires.
Those trait'rous troups may spot the purest bands,
If for a fact so vile they be excus'd:
This will set swords in all our souldiers hands,
Against us, and not for us, to be us'd.
Ant.
I wish that Souldiers never could be brought
To prove so mut'nous as they oft have beene,
And that they durst not violate in ought,
Those who by them (as sacred) should be seene:
Nor like I Captaines who (like blustring windes)
Would o're their troupes insult (as tyrants still),
Not weighing merits, nor respecting mindes,
As carried head-long with a blinded will.
“Pride by presumption bred (when at a height)
“Encount'ring with contempt both match in ire,
“And 'twixt them bring base cruelty to light,
“The loath-some off-spring of a hated Syre.
Such of Perdiccas was the monstrous pride,
(The vice from which that vice more vile proceeds)
That it strange wayes for his advancement try'd,
And did burst forth in most prodigious deeds;
At first by Meleagers death when stain'd,
He show'd what tyrants harbour'd in his heart,
To whom faith given, nor yet the Church he gain'd,
(Though sacred both) no safety could impart.
The Cappadocians (when all else was try'd)
Choos'd (rather then his insolence to beare)
By massacring themselves to scape from pride:
“Pride, spight and horrour, death breeds onely feare.
Yet what against his foes he did performe,
From martiall mindes might plead for some excuse,
Since irritated thoughts which (wrong'd) doe storme,
In mindes offended, fury doe infuse:
But yet why sought he in a servile sort,
To play the tyrant, braving his best friends,
Who with disdainefull formes could not comport?
“More then an enemies yoke, a friends offends.
And when of late by Ptolomie constrain'd,
He brought his bands with disadvantage backe,
How by the same his governement was stayn'd,
The world can witnesse by his Armies wracke:
“But hate made judge, each errour seemes a crime,
“Whilst present ils doe aggravate things gone:
His Souldiers mov'd by fortune and the Time,
Did by his death venge all their wrongs in one.
“Eum.
As nought smels well to a distemper'd taste,
“So to conceits pre-occupy'd before;
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“Men must mislike where they can like no more.
To you who loath'd Perdiccas and his state,
What ever came of him could not seeme good:
And I not wonder though your soule did hate
One who had right and pow'r, to take your bloud:
For, fled from him to whom you once belong'd,
His Trumpet still breath'd terrour in your eare:
“Then all men hate those whom they once have wrong'd,
“And by no meanes can love them whom they feare.
“Ant.
That which you speake of hate, in love I spy,
“Love cannot finde an imperfection forth,
“But doth excuse, extenuate, or deny,
“Faults (where it likes) with shadowes of no worth:
I left Perdiccas, but did him no wrong,
Who first to take my life, all meanes did prove;
I told Antipater how he so long
Had been abus'd by a pretended love:
For, as I frankely love, whilst lov'd againe,
If the ingrate, ingrately me acquite,
Straight kindling fury with a just disdaine,
I by love past, proportion then my spite;
And yet (Eumenes) I commend thy minde,
Who to defend thy friend, hast prov'd so free,
And since in love so constantly inclin'd,
A friendship firme I would contract with thee;
Then where that now thy state hath been brought low,
(Since spoil'd of him in whom thou did'st repose)
Whilst ayded by our power, thou great maist grow,
And raise thy hopes of kingdomes to dispose.
Eum.
I'le be your friend, whilst friend to right you rest:
“For, without vertue, friendship is but vaine,
“Which cannot lodge in a polluted brest,
“Whose impious thoughts do sacred things prophane.
While as the oath is kept, which once was sworne
To Alexanders selfe, and to his race,
Still shall this sword for your defence be borne,
But in my heart they hold the highest place,
And doe not thus, as o're one vanquish'd, vaunt,
Nor thinke me thrall'd, though once by chance o'rethrowne,
“The world must perish ere advent'rers want,
“Who tosse all States to stablish once their owne.
“Whil'st bravely taking or yet giving place,
“How ever feare (objecting danger) comes,
“Misfortune, bondage, torment, death, disgrace,
“And all things else, a minde resolv'd o're-comes.
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Scene 2.
Cassander,Lysimachus.
“And must we buy our pompe at such a rate,
“Who beare th'authority, or whom it beares?
“O, O! how thorny are the wayes of State,
“With open dangers pav'd, and secret feares;
“Each of our steps is waited with some snare,
“Whil'st from our selves we all repose repell,
“And (in fraile Barks) press'd by tempestuous care,
“Do seek a haven, whose heaven is but a hell.
Lysim.
“Whil'st Eolus and Neptune joyn'd in all,
“With winds, and waves, beat th'earth, and brag the skies,
“The tumbling Mountains do not rise and fall,
“Though each of them another doth surprise:
“As do th'aspiring pow'rs which are with doubt
“Toss'd through the waving world on stormy Thrones,
“And are (as in a Circle) hurl'd about,
“Ascending, and descending, both at once.
“Loe, some whose hopes would at their birth have seem'd,
“By Fortunes strictnesse, with contempt confin'd,
“Have from the vulgar yoke themselves redeem'd,
“To do farre more then such durst have design'd,
“And they who once might life to thousands give,
“When some great period revolutions brings,
“Brought downe even low cannot have leave to live,
“Made lesse then Subjects, who were more then Kings.
Cass.
What once they scarce could dreame, some thus procur,
Whose pow'r though nought at first, last, Scepters swayes;
And some whose states seem'd once to be secure,
Throwne from their Fortunes height lose glorious Bayes:
My Father, loe, to gaine that soveraigne place,
Through many dangers boldly march'd of late,
And, then the greatest, greater for a space,
Did manage all the Macedonian State:
But I his Sonne who (as some would suppose)
Might keep with ease, that which he got with paine,
Can by no meanes my rest-lesse thoughts repose,
Such raging Tyrants o're my fancies raigne.
Lysim.
And yet I thinke you have an easie part,
To whom his State your Father did resigne,
For, it may make you smile, which made him smart:
“Some presse the grape, and others drinke the wine.
Cass.
Ile not beleeve that ever any ill
Was bred for me within my Fathers brest,
Since children must suppose their Parents will
(Though seeming bad) still purpos'd for the best.
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Though when from us he minded to remove,
I thinke the tenor of his last Decree,
Show'd lack of judgement, or at least of love:
For, what base course had ever beene begun
To make me seeme not worthy of his place,
That he preferr'd a Stranger to his Sonne,
As bent to cloud the glory of his race?
Thus since in such a sort he did neglect,
The Sonne who should his name from death exempt,
(As dis-regarded for some great defect)
All other men may have me in contempt.
But ere his age attain'd the fatall date,
He saw my brows with lawrell boughs array'd,
And spy'd my skill in warre, and wit in state,
Which grew as much as his had then decay'd.
Nor can my courage so be brought to bow,
But Polypercon shall by proofe finde soone,
That in my Fathers will, I will allow,
Not what he did, but what he should have done;
And since by him high dignities were wonne,
I minde to prosecute what he began;
“For (though I would) so great a Fathers Sonne
“Can not securely live a private man.
Loe, Polypercon by our pow'r repell'd
From Macedonie hath retyr'd dismay'd,
And for the feare of us hath beene compell'd
To rest beholding for anothers aid.
Let him not think that shadows (though of Kings)
Can match my pow'r with these his borrow'd bands:
A doubtfull flight all fram'd with others wings
Will never beare him from Cassanders hands;
And though Olympias count'nanc'd once his cause,
As from Epirus come to ruine me:
Now of her owne misfortune she must pause,
Since brought of late unto a low degree.
Lysim.
And yet Olympias once did prosper well,
When first she touch'd the Macedonian bounds,
Whil'st Polypercon proudly did repell
All those who durst resist with words, or wounds.
Though Philip and Euridice his Queene,
(To give them battell bent) in time arriv'd,
The Macedonians when they had her seene,
As their owne Queene to do her honour striv'd.
And haplesse Philip whil'st constrain'd to yeeld,
There, for a Kings did take a captives state:
And with his mate (though flying from the field)
Was follow'd by their force, and by her fate.
Then did her husband and her selfe give place,
Whose brows of late a Diademe had borne:
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Were made of pride the prey, the butt of scorne.
Cass.
Those were the means which did them first entrap,
But have you heard how after they were thrall,
To plague the world with horrour, and mishap,
The proud Olympias tyrraniz'd o're all?
Lys.
Some doubtfull rumors did frequent each
Such as rash Fame confus'dly durst unfold:
But yet by favour hid, or else for feare,
The truth of all (it may be) was not told.
Cass.
When thus the Tygresse happ'ned to surprise
Those wretched souls (as ravish'd in a dreame)
Her heart at first seem'd scarce to trust her eyes,
She surfetted her sight so with their shame;
But when she saw (by reason of her pow'r)
That she might safely let her rage burst out:
She them about caus'd build a lightlesse Tower,
Press'd by whose walls, they scarce could turne about;
And in that dungeon (as entomb'd) they stood
With high disgrace t'appease more high disdaines,
Farre from all comfort, whil'st a little food
Their life prolong'd, but to prolong their paines.
“But for misfortune pity last doth pleade,
“As envy doth prosperity oppose;
The Macedonians (then indifferent made)
On murmur'd rumours doubtfully did glose.
The peoples grudge Olympias did perceive,
And of just fury fearing the effect,
She straight resolv'd lifes remnant to bereave,
From weakened pow'rs which did no lesse expect.
And when some Thracians basely bent for bloud
(As she had charg'd) with mercenary spight,
Had murdred Philip, and his Queene imbru'd
With these red streames that drown'd her lifes delight.
She sent to her whose soule in griefe did sinke,
(As messengers of death to bragge her brest)
A sword, a cord, and an empoyson'd drink,
A Tyrants presents, yet a wretches best.
Those seene, the Queene unmov'd this speech did make;
(As one who had imbrac'd some great reliefe)
Fit gifts for her to give, for me to take,
Since she exceeds in hate, and I in griefe.
And tell the Tyrant that I gladly dye,
That once the angry gods to venge my death,
May thunder forth that judgement, which I spie
With bloud must choak that bloudy womans breath.
Last, looking on her Lord who there lay slaine,
Once partner of his joy, then, of his woe,
Whil'st that his Roses did her Lillies staine,
She kiss'd his wounds, as taking leave to goe;
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Her snowie necke (not us'd with such a chaine)
Her girdle grasp'd; then dy'd no way dismai'd;
And if she sigh'd, she sigh'd but for disdaine.
Lysi.
This barbarous act my breast with griefe doth sting;
Can spight so much transport the meekest kinde?
“And yet on th'earth there's no more cruell thing
“Then malice raging in a womans minde?
Cass.
But yet this sacrifice could not asswage
The boyling thoughts of her unbounded will:
For, entring thus she rioted in rage,
(As dogges that once get bloud, would alwayes kill)
Each light occasion kindling still her wrath,
The Soveraignty she shamefully abus'd;
And put my brother Nicanor to death,
Though for no crime condemn'd, no, not accus'd.
To some (when dead) an hate by her was borne,
Whose cruelty no floud of bloud confin'd:
(Of Iolas the Tombe prophanely torne)
She (robbing th'earth) with ashes stain'd the winde,
To be Cassanders friend was such a crime,
As none could scape who ever favour'd me;
Thus huge disorders did abound a time:
“Where laws not valued are, all things are free;
When having heard of this outragious pride,
Which made my native soyle contemn'd to be,
I those indignities could not abide,
Whose shame and danger did ayme most at me.
So that at last (mov'd by my Countries care)
(As much as by particular respects)
I with great speed an Army did prepare
To punish, or prevent the like effects.
But when I was to Macedony come,
To fortifie a Towne she did designe,
Which I enclos'd, and quickly did o're-come,
Whil'st famine forc'd the Fortresse to resigne.
Then to necessity weake pride gave place,
Her lofty courage was constrain'd to bow:
So that she rests depending on our grace,
To be dispos'd, as it shall please us now.
Lysim.
This chance the world to wonder may invite;
Loe, there a Queene who had (though now distress'd)
The rarest Fortune, and the greatest sprite
That ever any of her sex possess'd.
The widow'd Empresse who first bragg'd the Indes,
Or proud Thomiris though both prais'd have beene,
Or th'Amazons all borne with martiall mindes,
Have never beene more stout then was this Queene;
Her lifes first progresse did but prove too sweet,
Whom once the world with treasures striv'd to blesse:
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Her misery no creature can expresse.
Cass.
Those were but Fortunes gifts which made her great,
Whil'st treacherous shows by shallow wits were prais'd,
Her imperfections did but staine the State,
Where her not hers, but others merits rais'd:
When first that Dame with famous Philip match'd,
Her cunning carriage was not free from blame:
But though she then with Argos eyes was watch'd,
(As was suppos'd) soone forfeited her Fame;
At least (shame-fear'd) he did her first disdaine,
“And of that sexe the precious fame is such,
“Their tender honour any breath may staine,
“If tainted, foule; if but suspect'd, too much;
Yet this at last did his destruction breed,
For which her spightfull thoughts had labour'd long:
She by Pausanias privy to his deed,
Had spurr'd him to performe th'intended wrong;
And by such meanes long sought, that to her will,
Her husbands murder might enlarge the raynes,
Whil'st back'd by power she boldly did the ill,
Of which, too late, the troubled Realme complaines.
Though loath'd of all (long suffred for her Sonne)
She play'd the Tyrant safely as she pleas'd:
But by the course that I have now begun,
I hope those whom she plagu'd, shall be appeas'd.
Lysim.
Yet of Olympias (though cast downe by you)
The sight her Sonne and Husband will revive,
And so may make the Macedonians now,
For her reliefe strange courses to contrive.
“Of those whose greatnesse doth regard extort,
“The miseries entender every minde,
“And still th'affections of the vulgar sort,
“Are (head-long led) too cruell, or too kinde.
Cass.
O! but I can precipitate her fall,
Even by the meanes which might support her most:
For, pity shall barre pity, whil'st they all
Waile for their friends, who through her pride were lost.
Lysim.
“As those to whom all other things are free,
“Must have their life and raigne both of one date,
“So private men who passe their owne degree,
“Can hardly turne to take their former state.
“Your Fortune thus is trusted to the fates;
“None can retyre who enters in such things:
“All those who dare attempt against great States,
“Must dye as Traitors, or else live as Kings;
“And though you would but some disorders stay,
“You deale with those who (borne not to be thrall)
“As torrents beare away what stops their way,
“And must of force (if not undone) do all.
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“Who scorne to take the thing, that they should give;
“All those must dye who dare but touch a Throne:
“Who may endanger Kings, they must not live.
Cass.
Since in this course I onely once can erre,
I shall be sure ere she her selfe with-draw.
Lysim.
And yet what surety can you have of her,
“Can laws binde them who are above the law?
“Who can a concord make betwixt the two,
“Whereas the one must hate, the other feare?
Cass.
O, but I minde to use the matter so
That both from hence shall further strife forbeare.
Lysim.
What can her freedome, and your peace procure?
Cass.
Death both can make her free, and me secure.
Lysim.
And would you do such ill to shed her bloud?
Cass.
Yea, ill to others, so it do me good.
Lysim.
The Macedonians will abhorre this wrong.
Cass.
And yet obey me if I be most strong.
Lys.
But who shall have the Realme amidst those broils?
Cass.
“Who ever winnes the field, doth owe the spoils.
Lysim.
So to possesse the Realme you have no right.
Cass.
But I have more, so long as I have might.
Lysim.
This State doth to it selfe an heire afford.
Cass.
“All kingdomes rights are pleaded by the Sword.
Lysim.
The people all will grudge against your state.
Cass.
But dare not stirre, whil'st feare exceeds their hate.
Lysim.
And in their hearts they will detest you too.
Cass.
Think what they will, who have no pow'r to doe.
Lysim.
What though Olympias in a little space
May lose her pow'r, together with her breath?
Yet there remaines another of her race,
Who is by Nature bound to venge her death.
Cass.
“The raging streames of a tempestuous flood,
“Which drowns the old, not yeelds the yong reliefe?
“What foole who of his foes victorious stood,
“Would spoyle an Army, and yet spare the chiefe:
No, since I must my selfe with murder staine,
Ile by the roots raze all the Royall race,
So that no pow'r shall spring from thence againe,
That may my selfe, or yet my plants displace.
The strength hath left great Alexanders arme,
Whose mothers fatall threed is now neere spunne;
And I have meanes to keep my selfe from harme,
Both of Roxane, and her tender Sonne.
But since this course may much our states advance,
By which a ground for great attempts is layd:
I must entreat you now (what ever chance)
To lend us your applause, though not your ayd.
Lysim.
I'le be your friend, yet wish you would refraine,
From doing this; but, ere you be undone,
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Ile suffer that which I would not have done.
Exeunt.
Olympias
alone.
Can I be she whom all the world admir'd,
As the most happie Queene that raign'd below,
Whom all the Planets have to plague conspir'd,
Of fickle Fortunes course the pow'r to show?
No, no, not I, for what could me controull,
Or force me thus t'attend anothers will,
Since I despise this prison of my soule,
Where it disdaines t'abide in bondage still?
Ah! whil'st vaine pompe transported fancies fed,
The jealous gods my state to grudge did tempt,
My state which Envy once, and Reverence bred,
Though now it breed but pity, and contempt:
Olympias once high as Olympus stood,
The wife of Philip, Alexanders Mother,
Who match'd Alcides, and Achilles bloud,
To breed a man more worth then both together.
Am I the woman whose majesticke state
Seem'd once so happy to deceiv'd conceits?
I, I am she, and never yet more great
Then at this present, even in spight of fates.
A double bondage long did burden me,
I to my selfe, my selfe to Fortune thrall:
But now captivity hath set me free,
Who could not rise till first I had a fall;
“A sprit whil'st it prosperity benummes,
“Scarce like the selfe can to the world appeare:
“But then when vertue every crosse o're-comes,
“True Greatnesse shines most bright in Glories spheare.
“Our treasure now (I see) consists no more
“Without our selves in th'eye-betraying shows,
“But in the breasts inestimable store,
“Which neither Time entombes, nor Pow'r o're-throws.
O never were my thoughts enlarg'd till now
To mark my selfe, and quintessence my minde:
For, long (a prey to pride) I know not how,
A mist of fancies made my judgement blinde.
As those who dreame sweet dreames, whil'st wak't at last,
Do finde their errour when their eyes finde light:
Free from the slumb'ring of my Fortune past,
I now arise to judge of all things right.
“That cloud of pomp, whose smoak me shadow'd once,
“Loe, now remov'd, unmasks my life too late:
“And now I see, that Scepters, Crownes, and Thrones,
“Are burd'nous badges of a dangerous state.
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Who in the Countrey lead'st a guiltlesse life!
From Fortunes reach retyr'd, obscure, secure,
Though not a Queene, yet a contented wife.
Thy Mate more deare to thee then is the light,
(Though low in state) loves in a high degree,
And with his presence still to blesse thy sight,
Doth scorne great Courts whil'st he lives courting thee.
And as thou wound'st him not with hid disgrace,
He with no jealous thought doth rack thy brest:
Thus both lye downe to rest, and rise in peace,
Then (if they strive) they strive who should love best;
What? though thou have not as the mighty ones,
Thy neck surcharg'd with chains (ah chains indeed!)
Nor eares weigh'd down with orientall stones,
Nor Robes, whose worth may admiration breed;
So want'st thou that which we have ever had,
Sad mis-contentments, jealousie, and spite;
And though thy back be not with purple clad,
Thy thoughts are deck't with Innocencies white.
As birds (whose cage of gold the sight deceives)
Do seeme to sing, whil'st they but waile their state:
So, with the mighty match'd, (made glorious slaves)
We happy seeme, whil'st we but curse our fate.
That blisse whose shew in us vaine eyes doth please,
Makes thee indeed with pleasures spend thy breath,
Who liv'st while yong in mirth, whil'st ag'd in ease,
And know'st not what it is to dye till death;
Ah! since I liv'd, I alwayes did but dye,
When seeming happy, then most wretched still;
Whil'st dazeling with vaine pompe each vulgar eye,
What strange mishaps did me with anguish fill?
The fates with fortune from my birth conspir'd
To make my life, a patterne of their might:
For both my parents from the world retir'd,
When I had scarcely look'd upon the light:
The world may judge how I was justly griev'd,
Whil'st angry Philip sought for my disgrace,
(A thing which once I scarce could have beleev'd)
And unto Cleopatra gave my place.
Then though I long (as desp'rate of reliefe)
For his offence afflicted had my minde,
Yet did his sudden death augment my griefe:
He was my husband, though he was unkinde;
And when my Sonnes rare deeds which fame doth sound,
The world with wonder, ravish'd me with joy,
Those (as himselfe) who would all his confound,
To compasse me, did spite and power imploy;
Yet stood my courage when my Fortune fell,
And still I toil'd to persecute his foes,
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Their bloud in Marble registring my woes.
That which I purpos'd, long so prosp'red too,
That some of them did try (by torments strange)
All what a womans just disdaine could do,
Whil'st spurr'd by jealousie, spite, and revenge:
But this Arch-traitour, Ruler of the rest,
Who thirsts to drinke the bloud of all our Race,
Even then, with us when all succeeded best,
Did compasse me with ruine and disgrace.
Such was the tenor of my Fortune past,
Whose least mishap had made another burst,
First, orphan'd, widow'd, and unchilded last,
A daughter, wife, and mother, all accurst.
Heavens plague Cassander, let that base wretch try
That Iove his judgement but a while deferres;
And let his wife bewaile as well as I,
I murdred for my Sonne, and she by hers.
Even as th'incestuous Thebans monstrous brood,
So may thy Sonnes contend with mutuall wounds,
And never let thy house be free from bloud,
Till banish'd quite from this usurped bounds;
Thus, notwithstanding of my wonted pow'r,
To me (save wishes) nothing doth remaine:
But though condemn'd to dye, yet at this houre
Should I begin to curse, and to complaine?
No, no, that custome best becomes poore soules,
Whose resolution cannot climbe more high;
But I whose courage that base course controuls,
Must triumph still what ever State I try.
“Death is the port where all may refuge finde,
“The end of labour, entry unto rest;
“Death hath the bounds of misery confin'd,
“Whose Sanctuary shrowds affliction best.
“To suffer (oft) with a couragious heart,
“It doth deserve more praise then deeds most knowne:
“For, in our actions Fortune hath some part,
“But in our suffrings, all things are our owne:
Loe, now I loath the world, and worldly things,
Of which I both have prov'd the best and worst:
The apprehended death great comfort brings,
And hath no crosse, but that it should be forc'd.
O heare me now (deare Sonne) if that thy Ghost
May leave th'Elysian fields to look on me:
Of all things else this doth content me most,
That from this time I may remaine with thee.
And blush not now to see thy Mothers end,
My death in glory with thy life shall strive:
It (as a captive) Fortune shall attend,
That (as thy fellow) follow'd thee alive.
Exit.
164
Ah , ah! though man the image of great Iove,
And, th'onely creature that gives Reason place,
With reverence due unto the powres above,
His heavenly progeny should seeke to prove,
By still resembling the Immortall kinde;
Yet makes the world our better part so blinde,
That we the clouds of vanity imbrace,
And from our first excellency decline;
This doth distinguish that celestiall grace,
Which should make soules to burne with Vertues love,
Whose fancies vice luxuriously new feasts;
“Vice is the Circe that enchants the minde,
“And doth transforme her followers all in Swine;
“Whilst poyson'd pleasures so corrupt our tastes,
“That of halfe-gods, we make our selves whole-beasts:
And yet of ruthlesse Pluto's raging host,
The vice which doth transport presumptuous hearts,
And makes men from the Gods to differ most,
Is cruelty, that to the sufferers cost,
And actors both, is often-times appeas'd:
The gods delight to give, and to forgive,
By pardoning, and not by plagueing pleas'd;
And why should men excogitate strange Arts,
To shew their tyranny, as those who strive
To feed on mischiefe, though the Author smarts,
Oft for the deed of which himselfe did boast,
Whil'st whence the blow first came, the griefe doth turne?
“For, that by which the minde at first was eas'd,
“May it in th'end the greatest burden give;
“Oft those whose cruelty makes many mourne,
“Do by the fires which they first kindled burne;
“Of other tyrants which oppresse the minde,
“With pleasure some delight it, in such sort
“That first the hony, then the gall we finde;
“And others (though from Honors Court declin'd)
“Some comfort yeeld (but base) by hope of gaine;
“And, though some make us to be loath'd of one,
“We by their meanes anothers love obtaine;
“But cruelty, with which none can comport,
“Makes th' authors hated when the deed is done,
“Oft even by those whom it did most support,
“As that which alienates men from their kinde;
“And as humanity the minde enchaunts,
“So barbarous soules which from the same refraine,
“More fierce than savage beasts, are lov'd of none:
“Since with such beasts one with lesse danger haunts,
165
Yet though the minde of man, as strong, and rude,
Be ravish'd oft with violent desire,
And must, if fir'd with rage, be quench'd with bloud,
How can this tender sexe whose glory stood
In having hearts inclin'd to pity still
It selfe delight in any barbarous deed?
For, Nature seemes in this to use her skill,
In making womens mindes (though weake) entire,
That weaknesse might, love, and devotion breed;
To which their thoughts (if pure) might best aspire;
As aptest for th'impressions of all good,
But from the best to worst all things do weare;
Since cruelties from feeble mindes proceed,
“In breasts where courage failes, spite, shame and feare
“Make envy, hate, and rigour rule to beare.
Our Queene Olympias, who was once so great,
And did such monstrous cruelties commit,
In plaguing Philip, and his Queene of late,
Loe, now brought low to taste the like estate,
Must take such entertainment as she gave,
And yet good reason that it should be so,
“Such measure as we give, we must receive.
Whil'st on a Throne she proudly earst did sit,
And with disdainefull eyes look'd on her foe,
As onely vanquish'd by her pow'r, and wit,
She did not weigh what doth proceed from fate:
O, O! th'Immortals which command above,
Of every state in hand the Rudder have,
And as they like, can make us stay or go;
“The griefe of others should us greatly move,
“As those who sometime may like Fortune prove;
“But as experience with rare proofes hath showne,
“To look on others, we have Linx his eyes,
“Whil'st we would have their imperfections knowne;
“Yet (like blinde Moles) can never marke our owne.
“Such clouds of selfe-regard do dimme our sight;
“Why should we be puff'd up when foes do fall?
“Since what to day doth on another light,
“The same to morrow may our state surprise.
“Those that on this inconstant constant Ball
“Do live environ'd with th'all-circling skies,
“Have many meanes whereby to be o're-throwne:
“And why should dying worldlings swolne with wrath,
“So tyrannize o're an afflicted wight,
“Since miseries are common unto all?
“Let none be proud who draw a doubtfull breath,
“Good hap attends but few, unto their death.
| The Alexandraean Tragedie | |