University of Virginia Library

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.
And yet my Fathers Ghost must pardon me,
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:
But then throwne downe in depths of black disgrace,
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;
Lest Time her Resolution had betray'd,
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:
But now sad soule (foil'd under Fortunes feet)
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.
“Such (though set free) will storme when they are gone,
“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,
Since by your guiltnesse I thus may gaine,
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.
O happie woman, of true pleasure sure,
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,
That some might fall downe who too much did swell,
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.
Chorus.
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,
“Then with the man whose minde all mercy wants;
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.