ACT. 2. SCE. 4. {SN _Act III sc. v_}

Produced by Thierry Alberto, Louise Pryor and the Online

Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This

file was produced from images generously made available

by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

{Transcriber's note:

{SN Sidenotes are indicated like this.}

{ILL Illustrations are indicated like this.}

{TN Other notes are indicated like this.}

No intentional corrections or changes have been made to the text.}

PRINTED FOR THE MALONE SOCIETY BY

HORACE HART M.A., AT THE

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

PRESS

THE TRAGEDY

OF CAESAR'S REVENGE

THE MALONE SOCIETY

REPRINTS

1911

This reprint of _Caesar's Revenge_ has been prepared by F. S. Boas with

the assistance of the General Editor.

_Oct. 1911._ W. W. Greg.

Plays on the subject of Caius Julius are so numerous that some

difficulty arises in properly distinguishing the titles. In the case of

the piece here reprinted the first title, which is also the head title,

suggests a play of Chapman's, while the running title is the traditional

property of William Shakespeare. It seems, therefore, best that it

should become known by the name which appears second on the title-page.

And, indeed, there is reason to suppose that it was this title that the

piece originally bore, for the entry in the Registers of the Stationers'

Company runs as follows:

v^o Iunij [1606]

{SN John Wright and Nathanael ffossbrook}

Entred for their Copies vnder the handes of Master Doctor Couell and

the wardens A booke called Iulius Caesars reuenge. vj^d

[Arber's Transcript, III. 323.]

The edition that followed upon this entry was undated, but probably

appeared before the end of the year. It bore Wright's name and address

as stationer, and the initials and device of George Eld as printer. It

was a quarto printed in roman type of a body similar to modern pica (20

ll. = 83 mm.). Of this original issue copies survive in the Dyce Library

at South Kensington and in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire. In

other copies the original title-leaf has been cancelled and replaced by

a reprint. This, which is dated 1607, bears the names of both

stationers, and a different address, which is presumably Fosbrook's. The

printer's initials have been omitted, and, more important, his device

has made way for the note 'Priuately acted by the Studentes of Trinity

Colledge in Oxford'. The original type had already been distributed, and

not only the title, but also the list of personae on the verso of the

leaf, was reset. Why Fosbrook should have been originally forgotten, as

it would seem he was, and his portion of the stock provided with a

title-page which is evidently of the nature of an afterthought, there is

nothing to show. Copies of this second issue are in the Bodleian Library

at Oxford and the British Museum. All the copies mentioned are perfect,

and for the purpose of the present reprint those in the British Museum,

Bodleian and Dyce libraries have been collated throughout. The two

former are in substantial agreement: the Dyce copy has both formes of

sheet A in an uncorrected state: there is a curious progressive error at

l. 2481.

No record of performance survives to corroborate the information

supplied by the second title-page, but from internal evidence it may be

supposed to have taken place some years before publication, the style of

the play being modelled on those popular in the last decade of the

sixteenth century, especially _Tamburlaine_ and the _Spanish Tragedie_.

The complete absence of comic relief, and the exceptional number of

recondite classical allusions, are in favour of the academic origin of

the play, and this is perhaps further evidenced by the fact that the

source, upon which the anonymous author drew, appears to have been, not

Plutarch, but Appian's _Bellum Civile_. Appian alone (book II, chapters

113 and 117) names Bucolianus among Caesar's murderers, though Cicero

mentions him twice in his letters to Atticus as Bucilianus. There is

also one local reference to connect the play with Oxford, in the lines

put into Caesar's mouth.

And _Isis_ wept to see her daughter _Thames_,

Chainge her cleere cristall, to vermilian sad.

(ll. 1278-9.)

The text of the play presents a good many difficulties, and in some

places there is reason to suspect more or less serious lacunae. The

classical names too are often badly corrupted, and the punctuation is

the worst conceivable. There is a division into acts and scenes, but it

neither follows a consistent principle, nor exhibits a correct

numbering. A new division on the ordinarily accepted principles of the

English stage has therefore been introduced in the margin. This has

necessitated a somewhat minute consideration of exits and entrances, and

a special list of necessary stage directions has been added below after

the usual list of irregular readings.

A list of personae is given in the original on the verso of the

title-leaf. The only omission is that of a Lord who has a part in

several scenes.

The thanks of the editor are due to the Rev. H. E. D. Blakiston,

President of Trinity College, Oxford, for information to the effect that

no references to plays are traceable in the account books of the

College, unless a payment of 6s. 6d. for a 'spectaculum in festo

Trinitatis' in 1565 can be so interpreted. A similar debt is owing to

Mr. J. P. Maine, librarian to the Duke of Devonshire, for information as

to the readings of the copy of the original issue of the play preserved

at Chatsworth.

LIST OF IRREGULAR AND DOUBTFUL READINGS

The punctuation of the original is so erratic as to make it impossible

to record all irregularities. The following are particularly frequent:

comma or semi-colon for period, especially at the end of a speech,

period or other stop for query-mark, colon or, less frequently,

semi-colon where at most a comma is needed. As a rule only those cases

have been noticed which would be likely to cause difficulty to a reader

who had the above points in mind.

{TN Catchwords are not shown in this transcription.

Other possible errors, which have not been corrected, are:

718 how (How)

1181 _Phaebus_ (_Phoebus_)

1694 (unusual indentation)

1887 (not indented)

}

A 1^v _Casca._ (_Casea._ 1607)

_Augur._ (_Augur:_ 1607)

_Senators._ (_Seuators._ 1607)

_Octauian._ (_Actauian._ 1607)

_Camber._ (both)

11 which (what)

14 her (? his)

20 field

25 Heauens. O (Heauens, O)

31 sig. A2 (B2 _Dyce only_)

32 Vomit (vomit)

ills (? ills:)

34 BE

44 shild

46 greatnesse. (? greatnesse;)

55 praizd (_i.e._ valued)

59 swaye. (swaye,)

87 When as

98 liuing (liung _Dyce only_)

108 ouerthrowne, (ou erthrowne, _B.M._, _Devon._)

132 a sleepe

136 a waite

143 bisse. (blisse.)

148 beare. (beare,)

149 Wihch (Which)

163 starrs. (starrs,)

167 remououe

169 haue. (haue--)

171 this, (_i.e._ thus,)

175 a misse,

182 farwell, then (farwell then,)

182 c.w. Here (183 Heere)

192 woundring

203 T'was

215 babish

216 sound (sound.)

219 Io ioyfull, Io

227 boucher'd

237 stange

247 enternally

252 c.w. Whilst (253 Whil'st)

261 Thee (? Flee)

blood (blood.)

262 thirst. (thirst,)

263 goaring

277 _Romaine_, (_Romaine_)

288 when as

308 When as

324 Temple (_Tempe_)

325 waues, (waues.)

335 _Scythia_

344 freedon,

349 vnderringing

354 fall:

357 blast,

363 dol-full

410 they (thy)

411 Soule. (_point doubtful, read_ Soule,)

412 What (? That)

413 _Libians_

430 petition. (petition,)

432 permit,. {TN ? superfluous '.'?}

434 Some what

450 turnde, (turnde)

460 with out

468 shue (sue)

474 griefe. (griefe,)

c.w. VVhich (475 Which)

494 handmayde, forth (handmayde forth,)

498 hath

508 woundring

513 poastes. (poastes)

514 name, (name.)

515 bring: (bring)

519 pearles. (pearles)

527 beheld (behold)

535 althings

sees. (sees)

542 _But._ (? _Ant._)

544 _Caesa_,

549 thee (the)

cut, (cut)

561 weaud (? weand _B.M. only_)

567 fized (fixed)

568 ouer (? euer)

576 _Neptnnus_

598 _Piramids_. (_Piramids_,)

602 _Gnidas_ (_Gnidus_)

609 _Antho._ (_Dis._)

617 Iollity. (Iollity,)

620 _Setorius_ (_Sertorius_)

621 ouerthrowe. (ouerthrowe,)

622 _Nepoune_

627 waight,

blisse. (blisse,)

628 haue. (haue,)

633 night. (night,)

634 plauges

642 SCENA 4.

646 they

selfe. (selfe)

652 like wise

_Ptolomeis_

gould. (gould,)

655 made. (made,)

670 wordly

699 a vaile

704 soueraignety. (soueraignety,)

708 Men. (Men,)

709 entertaynd, (entertaynd.)

713 Earth. (Earth,)

725 sway (sway.)

734 a non,

751-2 (_lacuna_ ?)

763 letter pattens

784 if, (if)

786 a like,

807 cease. (cease,)

818 graue. (graue,)

826 Alacke (Alike)

828 a like

829 causer which (? causer, mine)

835 perlexed

838 be hould

848 Queene, (Queene.)

851 framd. (framd,)

864 prefest.

874 instruments. (instruments,)

883 _Ncmean_

885 os (of)

891 Be sides

893 _Alcionus_:

899 rosall

head, (head.)

900 _Phoebus_

902 respendent

913 _Spicery_, (?)

914 _Nardus_

924 Queene, (Queene)

925 ofhirs:

936 speech (speech.)

947 _Camber_ (_Cimber_)

960 _Caes._ (_Cas._)

969 tale, (tale,)

971 blood, (blood.)

989 _Cam._ (_Cim._)

991 _Cum._ (990 c.w. _Cam._)

996 _Cibills_

verse. (verse)

1003 sepulcher. (sepulcher,)

1012 praise

1014 bespent (? besprent)

1022 _Romaine_, (_Romaines_,)

1025 _Gic._

1027 borne

1050 learne; (learne,)

1051 althings

1053 blessiings

1059 Counrries

1075 nor (not)

1082 _Hilias_ (_Allias_)

sight: (? fight: _B.M. only_)

1103 slay (stay)

1108 Countries: (Countries)

1111 _Sene._

1118 it (it.)

vse, (vse)

1121 vertues (? vertue)

brunt's,

1137 me (me?)

1149 _Adastria_ (_Adrastia_)

Queene. (Queene,)

1159 sleepe. (sleepe,)

1161 die, (die.)

1162 paintcd

1182 backes. (backes,)

1196 _Lords_, (? _Lord_,)

1198 a fore,

1201 be-hind

past. (past,)

1203 triump (trump)

1205 witner (witnes)

1207 it bound it

1208 _Phaegiean_ (_Phlegraean_)

1209 _Tropheus_ (Trophies)

1213 Pompeous

1218 crowne, (crowne.)

1221 onmy

1222 beare. (beare)

1229 _Africans_,

1234 starre. (starre)

1237 Gouernesse. (Gouernesse,)

1246 _AEmelius_,

1258 _Romulus_. (_Romulus_,)

1260 Ouer- (? Euer-)

1262 exquies

1263 _Ioue_. (_Ioue_,)

1264 fame. (fame,)

1265 _Hydasspis_,

1270 Whereby (Were by)

resistles, (resistles)

powers (? power)

1276 _Rohdans_

1278 _Thames_. (_Thames_)

1283 greefe (greefe.)

1318 Afrigted

1321 winde (? minde)

1322 on (_i.e._ one)

1329 my

1335 one (_i.e._ on)

1361 the (thee)

1364 receiue (? reuiue)

1389 persumption:

1423 by (ly)

1426 lotheth (? bodeth)

1429 ACT. 2.

1430 _Anthony_ (_Anthony_,)

_Lords_, (? _Lord_,)

1431 _Pharthia_

1432 _Caesars_ (? _Crassus_)

1438 _Armenians_

_Medians_

1448 troopes. (troopes,)

1462 victorye. (victorye,)

1467 there by

1468 spur. (spur)

1472 selfe (? selfe's)

1474 will (? well)

1479 euerdaring (? ouerdaring)

1481-2 (_lacuna_?)

1486 or (are)

1491 fame. (fame)

1494 Pincely

1498 liberty. (liberty,)

1522 _Cumber_ (? _Cimber_,)

1539 mis boding

1577 quench-les

1582 a peerce

1604 T'was

1613 hap (hap.)

1619 Bec (?)

1623 fore-cast, (fore-cast)

1633-4 (? _lacuna_)

1637 steeps

1638 threeatning

1643 bale full

1649 bale-full

1650 consort. In (consort, in)

1657 Dre ame

which (with)

1662 _Pre._ (i.e. _Praecentor._)

1665 ilde

1666 Thout

a non

1670 anon, (anon.)

1673 nigh. (nigh,)

1674 house- (?) {TN appears as 'house.' in the text}

1676 sits, (sits ?)

1677 daunger (daunger,)

1693 (? _lacuna_)

1700 Aloud

1702 _Cum.... Cumber_

1704 (_not indented_)

1718 yout (your)

1719 plauge

1730 geeue

1731 liues. (liues)

1735 ambition, (ambition)

1742 see (see?)

1751 heard

1761 a mong

starrs. (starrs)

1763 _Caesar_, (_Caesar_)

1771 _Anthony_. (_Anthony_)

1774 a laromes,

1793 in great (? ingrate)

1804 more (more,)

songs. (songs,)

1809 _Hearse Calphurnia_ (_Hearse_, _Calphurnia_,)

1829 deathes,

1836 (_not indented_)

1846 they (thy)

1855 Commonwealth. (Commonwealth,)

1857 Vntucht. (Vntucht,)

1859 e ndles (e nd les _B.M. only_)

1864 yeares. (yeares)

1865 vnconquered; (vnconquered,)

1899 _Romains_ (? _Romes_)

1902 soundes,

1905 hasted

1906 sound,

1909 tombe: (e _doubtful_)

1924 pytiyng

1925 fore

1929 _Syre_,

1971 _Mirapont._

1972 ACT. 3. SCE. 1.

1979 life. (life)

1981 heauens: (?)

1992 _A lcides_

1999 _Spayne_ (_Spayne_,)

2004 auaylesthis

2005 hand. (hand)

2008 Crest. (Crest,)

2019 _on_ (_one_)

2025 _Iiberian_

2030 war-faire (warfare)

2038 warre-faire (warre faire)

2039 Stike

2046 for got

2055 Fathers

2063 hate. (hate)

2067 a rise

2068 vnquenced

2071 comsort (? consort)

2078 youth full

2090 vowd',

2093 Dieties

2100 _Gradinus_ (_Gradiuus_)

2101 ouerburning (euerburning)

2102 _Carpeian_ (_Tarpeian_)

2114 _Stremonia_, (? _Strymon_)

2122 -men (-man)

2136-7 (? _lacuna_)

2155 _Lyeas_ (_Lycus_)

2157 _Tursos_

2164 (And _Dolabella_ [And _Dolabella_ (]

spoyles. (spoyles)

2192 _Numantia_. (_Numantia_,)

2209 _Gradinus_ (_Gradiuus_)

2213 liues.) [?]

2221 Strenghen

2232 acts. (acts)

2252 eur

2272 slaine. (slaine)

2274 Behould (Beheld)

fiends. (fiends)

2276 vpbraues

2283 In (in)

2291 Comegreesly

2309 earth. (earth,)

c.w. wish (Wish)

2313 ire. (ire,)

2318 _Caesars_ (_Brutus_)

2324 expiate. _Altheas_ come. (? expiate _Altheas_ crime.)

2337 power

2338 extols. (extols,)

2346 c.w. Where (_Cass._ Where)

2356-7 (? _reversed_)

2363 _Echalarian_

2366 Then yet (? _alternatives_)

2371 cruell (_turned_ n _for_ u)

2375 foyld:

2411 accurs'd (_space before_ d _but apostrophe doubtful_)

2422 breath? (? breathe,)

2470 come (come,)

friend (friend;)

2481 comfort rings. _B.M. and Bodl._: comfort gs .

_Devon._: comfort gs.

_Dyce_: _read_ comfort brings.

2498 bee. (bee,)

2500 life. (life;)

2517 a round

2522 cndlesse

vpon. (? vpon,)

2533 The (the)

2552 But (? Nor)

2559 _Elysium_

ADDITIONAL STAGE DIRECTIONS

37 Exit Discord.

331 Exeunt.

366 Exeunt.

481 Enter Anthony.

606 Exeunt.

641 Exit Discord.

765 Exeunt.

1520 Exeunt.

1684 Exit Caesar.

1692 Exit Cassius.

Enter the Senate.

1739 ? Exeunt.

1788 Exit Discord.

1810 Enter Lord.

1971 Exeunt.

2109 ? Exit Ghost.

2125 Exeunt.

2149 Exit Discord.

2269 Exeunt: manet Brutus.

2315 Exit Ghost.

2328 Exit Brutus.

2346 Cato dies.

Enter Cassius.

2382 Exit Cassius.

2433 Exit Titinnius.

2471 Cassius stabs himself.

2501 Titinnius stabs himself.

2525 ? Brutus stabs himself.

2570 Exeunt.

It is possible that Cassius should be marked as entering with the others

at l. 947 and that the speeches of II. iv marked _Cas._ belong to him

and not to Casca.

* * * * *

The thanks of the Society are due to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire

for kind permission to reproduce the title-page of the undated quarto in

his possession.

{ILL facsimile of title page, with caption: UNDATED TITLE-PAGE (DEVON.)}

{ILL facsimile of title page, with caption: TITLE-PAGE 1607 (B.M.)}

{ILL facsimile of first page of text, with caption: A2 RECTO (B.M.)}

THE TRAGEDIE OF Caesar and Pompey

OR

CAESARS Reuenge.

AT LONDON

Imprinted by G.E. for _Iohn Wright_, and are to bee

sould at his shop at Christ-church Gate.

The names of the Actors.

_Discora._

_Titinnius._

_Brutus._

_Pompey._

_Caesar._

_Anthony._

_Dolobella._

_Cornelia._

_Cleopatra._

_Achillas._

_Sempronius._

_Cassius._

_Cato Sen._

_Casca._

_Roman 1._

_Roman 2._

_Bonus Genius._

_Calphurnia._

_Augur._

_Praecentor._

_Senators._

_Bucolian._

_Octauian._

_Caesars Ghost._

_Cicero._

_Cato Iun._

_Camber._

The Tragedie of Caesar and Pompey.

{SN _Chor. I_}

_Sound alarum then flames of fire._

_Enter Discord._

Hearke how the _Romaine_ drums sound bloud & death,

And _Mars_ high mounted on his Thracian Steede:

Runs madding through _Pharsalias_ purple fieldes.

The earth that's wont to be a Tombe for Men

It's now entomb'd with Carkases of Men.

The Heauen appal'd to see such hideous sights,

For feare puts out her euer burning lights.

The Gods amaz'd (as once in _Titans_ war,) 10

Do doubt and feare, which boades this deadly iar

The starrs do tremble, and forsake their course,

The _Beare_ doth hide her in forbidden Sea,

Feare makes _Bootes_ swiften her slowe pace,

Pale is _Orion_, _Atlas_ gins to quake,

And his vnwildy burthen to forsake.

_Caesars_ keene _Falchion_, through the Aduerse rankes,

For his sterne Master hewes a passage out,

Through troupes & troonkes, & steele, & standing blood:

He whose proud Trophies whileom _Asia_ field, 20

And conquered _Pontus_, singe his lasting praise.

Great _Pompey_; Great, while Fortune did him raise,

Nowe vailes the glory of his vanting plumes

And to the ground casts of his high hang'd lookes.

You gentle Heauens. O execute your wrath

On vile mortality, that hath scornd your powers.

You night borne Sisters to whose haires are ty'd

In Adamantine Chaines both Gods and Men

Winde on your webbe of mischiefe and of plagues,

And if, O starres you haue an influence: 30

That may confounde this high erected heape

Downe powre it; Vomit out your worst of ills

Let _Rome_, growne proud, with her vnconquered strength,

Perish and conquered BE with her owne strength:

And win all powers to disioyne and breake,

Consume, confound, dissolue, and discipate

What Lawes, Armes and Pride hath raised vp.

{SN _Act I sc. i_}

_Enter Titinius_

_Tit._ The day is lost our hope and honours lost,

The glory of the _Romaine_ name is lost, 40

The liberty and commonweale is lost,

The Gods that whileom heard the _Romaine_ state,

And _Quirinus_, whose strong puissant arme,

Did shild the tops and turrets of proud _Rome_,

Do now conspire to wracke the gallant Ship,

Euen in the harbor of her wished greatnesse.

And her gay streamers, and faire wauering sayles,

With which the wanton wind was wont to play,

To drowne with Billows of orewhelming woes.

_Enter Brutus_ 50

_Bru._ The Foe preuayles, _Brutus_, thou striuest in vaine.

Many a soule to day is sent to Hell,

And many a galant haue I don to death,

In _Pharsalias_ bleeding Earth: the world can tell,

How litle _Brutus_ praizd this puffe of breath,

If losse of that my countries weale might gaine,

But Heauens and the immortall Gods decreed:

That _Rome_ in highest of her fortunes pich,

In top of souerainty and imperiall swaye.

By her owne height should worke her owne decay. 60

_Enter Pompey_

_Pom._ Where may I fly into some desert place,

Some vncouth, vnfrequented craggy rocke,

Where as my name and state was neuer heard.

I flie the Batle because here I see,

My friends lye bleeding in _Pharsalias_ earth.

Which do remember me what earst I was,

Who brought such troopes of soldiars to the fielde,

And of so many thousand had command:

My flight a heauy memory doth renew, 70

Which tels me I was wont to stay and winne.

But now a souldier of my scatred traine:

Offered me seruice and did call me Lord,

O then I thought whome rising Sunne saw high,

Descending he beheld my misery:

Flie to the holow roote of some steepe rocke,

And in that flinty habitation hide,

Thy wofull face: from face and view of men.

Yet that will tell me this, if naught beside:

_Pompey_ was neuer wont his head to hide 80

Flie where thou wilt, thou bearst about thee smart,

Shame at thy heeles and greefe lies at thy heart.

_Tit._ But see _Titinius_ where two warriers stand,

Casting their eyes downe to the cheareles earthe:

Alasse to soone I know them for to bee

_Pompey_ and _Brutus_, who like _Aiax_ stand,

When as forsooke of Fortune mong'st his foes,

Greife stopt his breath nor could he speake his woes,

_Pom._ Accursed _Pompey_, loe thou art descried.

But stay; they are thy friends that thou behouldest, 90

O rather had I now haue met my foes:

Whose daggers poynts might straight haue piercd my woes

Then thus to haue my friends behold my shame.

Reproch is death to him that liu'd in Fame,

_Bru._ _Brutus_ Cast vp thy discontented looke:

And see two Princes thy two noble friends,

Who though it greeues me that I thus them see,

Yet ioy I to bee seene they liuing be. _He speakes vnto them._

Let not the change of this succesles fight,

(O noble Lords,) dismay these daunteles mindes, 100

Which the faire vertue not blind chance doth rule,

_Caesar_ not vs subdued hath, but _Rome_,

And in that fight twas best be ouerthrowne.

Thinke that the Conqueror hath won but smale,

Whose victory is but his Countries fal,

_Pom._ O Noble _Brutus_, can I liue and see,

My Souldiars dead, my friends lie slaine in field,

My hopes cast downe, mine Honors ouerthrowne,

My Country subiect to a Tirants rule,

My foe triumphing and my selfe forlorne. 110

Oh had I perished in that prosperous warre

Euen in mine Honors height, that happy day,

When _Mithridates_ fall did rayse my fame:

Then had I gonne with Honor to my graue.

But _Pompey_ was by envious heauens reseru'd,

Captiue to followe _Caesars_ Chariot wheeles

Riding in triumph to the Capitol:

And _Rome_ oft grac'd with Trophies of my fame,

Shall now resound the blemish of my name.

_Bru._ Oh what disgrace can taunt this worthinesse, 120

Of which remaine such liuing monuments

Ingrauen in the eyes and hearts of men.

Although the oppression of distressed _Rome_

And our owne ouerthrow, might well drawe forth,

Distilling teares from faynting cowards eyes,

Yet should no weake effeminate passion sease

Vpon that man, the greatnesse of whose minde

And not his Fortune made him term'd the Great.

_Pom._ Oh I did neuer tast mine Honours sweete

Nor now can iudge of this my sharpest sowre. 130

Fifty eight yeares in Fortunes sweete soft lap

Haue I beene luld a sleepe with pleasant ioyes,

Me hath she dandled in her foulding Armes,

And fed my hopes with prosperous euentes:

Shee Crownd my Cradle with successe and Honour,

And shall disgrace a waite my haples Hearse?

Was I a youth with Palme and Lawrell girt,

And now an ould man shall I waite my fall?

Oh when I thinke but on my triumphs past,

The Consul-ships and Honours I haue borne; 140

The fame and feare where in great _Pompey_ liu'd,

Then doth my grieued Soule informe me this,

My fall augmented by my former bisse.

_Bru._ Why do we vse of vertues strength to vant,

If euery crosse a Noble mind can daunt,

Wee talke of courage, then, is courage knowne,

When with mishap our state is ouerthrowne:

Neuer let him a Souldiers Title beare.

Wihch in the cheefest brunt doth shrinke and feare,

Thy former haps did Men thy vertue shew, 150

But now that fayles them which thy vertue knew,

Nor thinke this conquest shalbe _Pompeys_ fall:

Or that _Pharsalia_ shall thine honour bury,

_Egipt_ shalbe vnpeopled for thine ayde.

And Cole-black _Libians_, shall manure the grounde

In thy defence with bleeding hearts of men.

_Pom._ O second hope of sad oppressed _Rome_,

In whome the ancient _Brutus_ vertue shines,

That purchast first the _Romaine_ liberty,

Let me imbrace thee: liue victorious youth, 160

When death and angry fates shall call me hence,

To free thy country from a Tyrants yoke.

My harder fortune, and more cruell starrs.

Enuied to me so great a happines.

Do not prolong my life with vaine false hopes,

To deepe dispaire and sorrow I am vow'd:

Do not remououe me from that setled thought,

With hope of friends or ayde of _Ptolomey_,

_Egipt_ and _Libia_ at choyse I haue.

But onely which of them Ile make my graue. 170

_Tit._ Tis but discomfort which misgreeues thee this,

Greefe by dispaire seemes greater then it is,

_Bru._ Tis womannish to wayle and mone our greefe,

By Industrie do wise men seeke releefe,

If that our casting do fall out a misse,

Our cunning play must then correct the dice.

_Pom._ Well if it needs must bee then let me goe,

Flying for ayde vnto my forrayne friends,

And sue and bow, where earst I did command.

He that goeth seeking of a Tirant aide, 180

Though free he went, a seruant then is made.

Take we our last farwell, then though with paine,

Heere three do part that ne're shall meet againe.

_Exit Pompey at on dore, Titinius at

another. Brutus alone_

ACTVS I. SCENA 2.

_Enter Caesar_

_Caes._ Follow your chase, and let your light-foote steedes

Flying as swift as did that winged horse

That with strong fethered _Pinions_ cloue the Ayre, 190

Or'take the coward flight of your base foe.

_Bru._ Do not with-drawe thy mortall woundring blade,

But sheath it _Caesar_ in my wounded heart:

Let not that heart that did thy Country wound

Feare to lay _Brutus_ bleeding on the ground.

Thy fatall stroke of death shall more mee glad,

Then all thy proud and Pompous victories;

My funerall Cypresse, then thy Lawrell Crowne,

My mournefull Beere shall winne more Praise and Fame

Then thy triumphing Sun-bright Chariot. 200

Heere in these fatall fieldes let _Brutus_ die,

And beare so many Romaines company.

_Caesa._ T'was not 'gainst thee this fatall blade was drawne

Which can no more pierce _Brutus_ tender sides

Then mine owne heart, or ought then heart more deere,

For all the wronges thou didst, or strokes thou gau'st

_Caesar_ on thee will take no worse reuenge,

Then bid thee still commande him and his state:

True setled loue can neere bee turn'd to hate.

_Brut._ To what a pitch would this mans vertues sore, 210

Did not ambition clog his mounting fame,

_Caesar_ thy sword hath all blisse from me taine

And giuest me life where best were to be slaine.

O thou hast robd me of my chiefest ioy,

And seek'st to please me with a babish toye. _Exit Brutus._

_Caes._ _Caesar Pharsalia_ doth thy conquest sound

_Ioues_ welcom messenger faire Victory,

Hath Crown'd thy temples with victorious bay,

And Io ioyfull, Io doth she sing

And through the world thy lasting prayses ring. 220

But yet amidst thy gratefull melody

I heare a hoarse, and heauy dolfull voyce,

Of my deare Country crying, that to day

My Glorious triumphs worke her owne decay.

In which how many fatall strokes I gaue,

So many woundes her tender brest receiu'd.

Heere lyeth one that's boucher'd by his Sire

And heere the Sonne was his old Fathers death,

Both slew vnknowing, both vnknowne are slaine,

O that ambition should such mischiefe worke 230

Or meane Men die for great mens proud desire.

ACTVS 1. SCENA 3.

_Enter Anthony, Dolobella, Lord and others._

_An._ From sad _Pharsalia_ blushing al with bloud,

From deaths pale triumphes, _Pompey_ ouerthrowne,

_Romains_ in forraine soyles, brething their last,

Reuenge, stange wars and dreadfull stratagems,

Wee come to set the Lawrell on thy head

And fill thy eares with triumphs and with ioyes.

_Dolo._ As when that _Hector_ from the _Grecian_ campe 240

With spoiles of slaughtered _Argians_ return'd,

The _Troyan_ youths with crownes of conquering palme:

The _Phrigian_ Virgins with faire flowry wrethes

Welcom'd the hope, and pride of _Ilium_,

So for thy victory and conquering actes

Wee bring faire wreths of Honor & renowne,

Which shall enternally thy head adorne.

_Lord._ Now hath thy sword made passage for thy selfe,

To wade in bloud of them that sought thy death,

The ambitious riuall of thine Honors high, 250

Whose mightinesse earst made him to be feard

Now flies and is enforc'd to giue thee place.

Whil'st thou remainst the conquering _Hercules_

Triumphing in thy spoyles and victories.

_Caes._ When _Phoebus_ left faire _Thetis_ watery couch,

And peeping forth from out the goulden gate

Of his bright pallace, saw our battle rank'd:

Oft did hee seeke to turne his fiery steedes,

Oft hid his face, and shund such tragick sights

What stranger passest euer by this cost 260

Thee this accursed soyle distainde with blood

Not Christall riuers, are to quench thy thirst.

For goaring streames, their riuers cleerenesse staines:

Heere are no hils wherewith to feede thine eyes,

But heaped hils of mangled Carkases,

Heere are no birdes to please thee with their notes:

But rauenous Vultures, and night Rauens horse.

_Anto._ What meanes great _Caesar_, droopes our generall,

Or melts in womanish compassion:

To see _Pharsalias_ fieldes to change their hewe 270

And siluer streames be turn'd to lakes of blood?

Why _Caesar_ oft hath sacrific'd in _France_,

Millions of Soules, to _Plutoes_ grisly dames:

And made the changed coloured _Rhene_ to blush,

To beare his bloody burthen to the sea.

And when as thou in mayden _Albion_ shore

The _Romaine_, AEgle brauely didst aduance,

No hand payd greater tribute vnto death,

No heart with more couragious Noble fire

And hope, did burne with glorious great intent. 280

And now shall passion base that Noble minde,

And weake euents that courrage ouercome?

Let _Pompey_ proud, and _Pompeys_ Complices

Die on our swords, that did enuie our liues,

Let pale _Tysiphone_ be cloyd with bloud:

And snaky furies quench their longing thirst,

And _Caesar_ liue to glory in their end.

_Caes._ They say when as the younger _Affrican_,

Beheld the mighty Carthage wofull fall:

And sawe her stately Towers to smoke from farre, 290

He wept, and princely teares ran downe his cheekes,

Let pity then and true compassion,

Moue vs to rue no traterous _Carthage_ fall,

No barbarous periurd enemies decay,

But _Rome_ our natiue Country, haples _Rome_,

Whose bowels to vngently we haue peerc'd,

Faire pride of _Europe_, Mistresse of the world,

Cradle of vertues, nurse of true renowne,

Whome _Ioue_ hath plac'd in top of seauen hils:

That thou the lower worldes seauen climes mightst rule. 300

Thee the proud _Parthian_ and the cole-black _Moore_,

The sterne _Tartarian_, borne to manage armes,

Doth feare and tremble at thy Maiesty.

And yet I bred and fostered in thy lappe,

Durst striue to ouerthrowe thy Capitol:

And thy high Turrets lay as low as hell.

_Dolo._ O _Rome_, and haue the powers of Heauen decreed,

When as thy fame did reach vnto the Skie,

And the wide _Ocean_ was thy Empires boundes,

And thou enricht with spoyles of all the world, 310

Was waxen proud with peace and soueraine raigne:

That Ciuill warres should loose what Forraine won,

And peace his ioyes, be turn'd to luckles broyles.

_Lord._ O _Pompey_, cursed cause of ciuill warre,

Which of those hel-borne sterne _Eumenides_:

Inflam'd thy minde with such ambitious fire,

As nought could quench it but thy Countries bloud.

_Dolo._ But this no while thy valour doth destayne,

Which found'st vnsought for cause of ciuill broyles,

And fatall fuell which this fire enflamd. 320

_Anto._ Let then his death set period to this strife,

Which was begun by his ambitious life.

_Caes._ The flying _Pompey_ to _Larissa_ hastes,

And by _Thessalian_ Temple shapes his course:

Where faire _Peneus_ tumbles vp his waues,

Him weele pursue as fast as he vs flies,

Nor he though garded with _Numidian_ horse,

Nor ayded with the vnresisted powre:

The _Meroe_, or seauen mouth'd Nile can yeeld:

No not all _Affrick_ arm'd in his defence 330

Shall serue to shrowd him from my fatall sworde. _Exit._

ACT. I. SC. 4. {SN _Act I sc. ii_}

_Enter Cato._

_Ca._ O where is banish'd liberty exil'd,

To _Affrick_ deserts or to _Scythia_ rockes,

Or whereas siluer streaming _Tanais_ is?

Happy is _India_ and _Arabia_ blest,

And all the bordering regions vpon _Nile_

That neuer knew the name of Liberty,

But we that boast of _Brutes_ and _Colatins_, 340

And glory we expeld proud _Tarquins_ name,

Do greeue to loose, that we so long haue held.

Why reckon we our yeares by Consuls names:

And so long ruld in freedon, now to serue?

They lie that say in Heauen there is a powre

That for to wracke the sinnes of guilty men,

Holds in his hand a fierce three-forked dart.

Why would he throw them downe on _Oeta_ mount

Or wound the vnderringing _Rhodope_,

And not rayne showers of his dead-doing dartes, 350

Furor in flame, and Sulphures smothering heate

Vpon the wicked and accurs'd armes

That cruell _Romains_ 'gainst their Country beare.

_Rome_ ware thy fall: those prodigies foretould,

When angry heauens did powre downe showers of blood

And fatall _Comets_ in the heauens did blase,

And all the Statues in the Temple blast,

Did weepe the losse of _Romaine_ liberty.

Then if the Gods haue destined thine end,

Yet as a Mother hauing lost her Sonne, 360

_Cato_ shall waite vpon thy tragick hearse,

And neuer leaue thy cold and bloodles corse.

Ile tune a sad and dol-full funerall song,

Still crying on lost liberties sweete name,

Thy sacred ashes will I wash with teares,

And thus lament my Countries obsequies.

ACT. I. SC. 5. {SN _Act I sc. iii_}

_Enter Pompey and Cornelia._

_Cor._ O cruel _Pompey_ whether wilt thou flye,

And leaue thy poore _Cornelia_ thus forlorne, 370

Is't our bad fortune or thy cruell will

That still it seuers in extremity.

O let me go with thee, and die with thee,

Nothing shall thy _Cornelia_ grieuous thinke

That shee endures for her sweete _Pompeys_ sake.

_Pom._ Tis for thy weale and safty of thy life,

Whose safty I preferre before the world,

Because I loue thee more then all the world,

That thou (sweete loue) should'st heere remaine behinde

Till proofe assureth _Ptolomyes_ doubted faith. 380

_Cor._ O deerest, what shall I my safty call,

That which is thrust in dangers harmefull mouth?

Lookes not the thing so bad with such a name,

Call it my death, my bale, my wo, my hell,

That which indangers my sweete _Pompeys_ life.

_Pom._ It is no danger (gentle loue) at all,

Tis but thy feare that doth it so miscall.

_Cor._ Ift bee no danger let me go with thee,

And of thy safty a partaker bee,

Alas why would'st thou leaue mee thus alone: 390

Thinkst thou I cannot follow thee by Land

That thus haue followed thee ouer raging Seas,

Or do I varie in inconstant hopes:

O but thinke you my pleasure luckles is

And I haue made thee more vnfortunate.

Tis I, tis I, haue caus'd this ouerthrow,

Tis my accursed starres that boade this ill,

And those mis-fortunes to my princely loue,

Reuenge thee _Pompey_, on this wicked brat,

And end my woes by ending of my life, 400

_Pom._ What meanes my loue to aggrauate my griefe,

And torture my enough tormented Soule,

With greater greuance then _Pharsalian_ losse?

Thy rented hayre doth rent my heart in twayne,

And these fayr Seas, that raine downe showers of tears,

Do melt my soule in liqued streames of sorrow.

If that in _AEgipt_ any daunger bee,

Then let my death procure thy sweet liues safety,

_Cor._ Can I bee safe and _Pompey_ in distresse,

Or may _Cornelia_ suruiue they death, 410

What daunger euer happens to my Soule.

What daunger eke shall happen to my life,

Nor _Libians_ quick-sands, nor the barking gulfe,

Or gaping _Scylla_ shall this Vnion part,

But still Ile chayne thee in my twining armes,

And if I cannot liue Ile die with thee.

_Pom._ O how thy loue doth ease my greeued minde,

Which beares a burthen heauier then the Heauens,

Vnder the which steele-shouldred Atlas grones

But now thy loue doth hurt thy selfe and me, 420

And thy to ardent strong affection,

Hinders my setled resolution.

Then by this loue, and by these christall eyes,

More bright then are the Lamps of _Ioues_ high house,

Let me in this (I feare) my last request.

Not to indanger thy beloued life,

But in this ship remayne, and here awaite,

How Fortune dealeth with our doubtfull State,

_Cor._ Not so perswaded as coniurd sweete loue,

By thy commanding meeke petition. 430

I cannot say I yeeld, yet am constraind,

This neuer meeting parting to permit,

Then go deere loue, yet stay a little while,

Some what I am shure, tis more I haue to say,

Nay nothing now but Heauens guide thy steps.

Yet let me speake, why should we part so soone,

Why is my talke tedious? may be tis the last.

Do women leaue their husbands in such hast,

_Pom._ More faithfull, then that fayre deflowred dame,

That sacrifizde her selfe to Chastety, 440

And far more louing then the _Charian_ Queene,

That dranke her Husbands neuer sundred heart.

If that I dye, yet will it glad my soule,

Which then shall feede on those _Elisian_ ioyes,

That in the sacred Temple of thy breast,

My liuing memory shall shrined bee.

But if that enuious fates should call thee hence,

And Death with pale and meager looke vsurpe,

Vpon those rosiate lips, and Currall cheekes,

Then Ayre be turnde, to poyson to infect me, 450

Earth gape and swallow him that Heauens hate,

Consume me Fire with thy deuouring flames,

Or Water drowne, who else would melt in teares.

But liue, liue happy still, in safety liue,

Who safety onely to my life can giue. _Exit._

_Cor._ O he is gon, go hie thee after him,

My vow forbids, yet still my care is with thee,

My cryes shall wake the siluer Moone by night,

And with my teares I will salute the Morne.

No day shall passe with out my dayly plaints, 460

No houre without my prayers for thy returne.

My minde misgiues mee _Pompey_ is betrayd.

O _AEgypt_ do not rob me of my loue.

Why beareth _Ptolomy_ so sterne a looke?

O do not staine thy childish yeares with blood:

Whil'st _Pompey_ florished in his Fortunes pride,

_AEgypt_ and _Ptolomy_ were faine to serue

And shue for grace to my distressed Lord:

But little bootes it, to record he was,

To be is onely that which Men respect, 470

Go poore _Cornelia_ wander by the shore

And see the waters raging Billowes swell,

And beate with fury gainst the craggy rockes,

To that compare thy strong tempestuous griefe.

Which fiercely rageth in thy feeble heart,

Sorrow shuts vp the passage of thy breath:

And dries the teares that pitty faine would shed,

This onely therefore, this will I still crie,

Let _Pompey_ liue although _Cornelia_ die. _Exit._

ACTVS I. SCENA. 6. {SN _Act I sc. iv_}

_Enter Caesar, Cleopatra, Dolobella, Lord and others_

_Caes._ Thy sad complaints fayre Lady cannot chuse, 482

But mooue a heart though made of _Adamant_,

And draw to yeeld vnto thy powerfull plaint,

I will replant thee in the _AEgiptian_ Throne

And all thy wrongs shall _Caesar's_ vallor right,

Ile pull thy crowne from the vsurpers head,

And make the Conquered _Ptolomey_ to stoope,

And feare by force to wrong a mayden Queene.

_Cleo._ Looke as the Earth at her great loues approch, 490

When goulden tressed fayre _Hipperions_ Sonne

With those life-lending beames salutes his Spouse,

Doth then cast of her moorning widdowes weeds,

And calleth her handmayde, forth her flowery fayre,

To cloth her in the beauty of the spring,

And of fayre primroses, and sweet violets,

To make gay Garlonds for to crowne her head.

So hath your presence, welcome and fayre sight,

That glads the world, comforts poore _AEgipts_ Queene,

Who begs for succor of that conquering hand, 500

That as _Ioues_ Scepter this our world doth sway.

_Dolo._ Who would refuse to ayde so fayre a Queene.

_Lord._ Base bee the mind, that for so sweet a fayre,

Would not aduenture more then _Perseus_ did,

When as he freed the faire _Andromeda_.

_Caesar._ O how those louely _Tyranizing_ eyes,

The Graces beautious habitation,

Where sweet desire, dartes woundring shafts of loue:

Consume my heart with inward burning heate.

Not onely _AEgipt_, but all _Africa_, 510

Will I subiect to _Cleopatras_ name.

Thy rule shall stretch from vnknowne _Zanziber_,

Vnto those Sandes where high erected poastes.

Of great _Alcides_, do vp hold his name,

The sunne burnt Indians, from the east shall bring:

Their pretious store of pure refined gould,

The laboring worme shall weaue the _Africke_ twiste,

And to exceed the pompe of _Persian_ Queene,

The Sea shall pay the tribute of his pearles.

For to adorne thy goulden yellow lockes, 520

Which in their curled knots, my thoughts do hold,

Thoughtes captiud to thy beauties conquering power.

_Anto._ I marueyle not at that which fables tell,

How rauisht _Hellen_ moued the angry _Greeks_,

To vndertake eleuen yeares tedious seege,

To re-obtayne a beauty so diuine,

When I beheld thy sweete composed face.

O onely worthy for whose matchles sake,

Another seege, and new warres should arise,

_Hector_ be dragde about the _Grecian_ campe, 530

And _Troy_ againe consumed with _Grecian_ fire.

_Cleo._ Great Prince, what thanks can _Cleopatra_ giue,

Nought haue poore Virgins to requite such good:

My simple selfe and seruice then vouchsafe,

And let the heauens, and he that althings sees.

With equall eyes such merits recompence,

I doe not seeke ambitiously to rule,

And in proud _Africa_ to monarchize.

I onely craue that what my father gaue,

Who in his last be-hest did dying, will, 540

That I should ioyntly with my brother raigne:

_But._ How sweet those words drop from those hunny lips

Which whilst she speakes they still each other kisse.

_Caesa_, Raigne, I, stil raigne in _Caesars_ conquered thoughts,

There build thy pallace, and thy sun-bright throne:

There sway thy Scepter, and with it beat downe,

Those traiterous thoughts (if any dare aryse:)

That will not yeeld to thy perfection,

To chase thee flying _Pompey_ haue I cut,

The great _Ionian_, and _Egean_ seas: 550

And dredeles past the toyling Hellespont,

Famous for amorous _Leanders_ death:

And now by gentle Fortunes so am blest,

As to behold what mazed thoughtes admire:

Heauens wonder, Natures and Earths Ornament,

And gaze vpon these firy sun-bright eyes:

The Heauenly spheares which Loue and Beauty mooue,

These Cheekes where Lillyes and red-roses striue,

For soueraignty, yet both do equall raigne:

The dangling tresses of thy curled haire, 560

Nets weaud to cach our frayle and wandring thoughts:

Thy beauty shining like proud _Phoebus_ face,

When _Ganges_ glittereth with his radiant beames

He on his goulden trapped _Palfreys_ rides,

That from their nostrels do the morning blow,

Through Heauens great path-way pau'd with shining starres

Thou art the fized pole of my Soules ioy,

Bout which my resteles thoughts are ouer turn'd:

My _Cynthia_, whose glory neuer waynes,

Guyding the Tide of mine affections: 570

That with the change of thy imperious lookes,

Dost make my doubtfull ioyes to eb and flowe.

_Cleo._ Might all the deedes thy hands had ere achiu'd,

That make thy farre extolled name to sound:

From sun-burnt East vnto the VVestern Iles,

VVhich great _Neptnnus_ fouldeth in his armes,

It shall not be the least to seat a Maide,

And inthronize her in her natiue right.

_Lord._ VVhat neede you stand disputing on your right,

Or prouing title to the _AEgiptian_ Crowne: 580

Borne to be Queene and Empresse of the world.

_An._ On thy perfection let me euer gaze,

And eyes now learne to treade a louers maze,

Heere may you surfet with delicious store,

The more you see, desire to looke the more:

Vpon her face a garden of delite,

Exceeding far _Adonis_ fayned Bowre,

Heere staind white Lyllies spread their branches faire,

Heere lips send forth sweete Gilly-flowers smell.

And Damasck-rose in her faire cheekes do bud, 590

VVhile beds of Violets still come betweene

VVith fresh varyety to please the eye,

Nor neede these flowers the heate of _Phoebus_ beames,

They cherisht are by vertue of her eyes.

O that I might but enter in this bowre,

Or once attaine the cropping of the flower.

_Caes._ Now wend we Lords to _Alexandria_,

Famous for those wide wondred _Piramids_.

Whose towring tops do seeme to threat the skie,

And make it proud by presence of my loue: 600

Then _Paphian_ Temples and _Cytherian_ hils,

And sacred _Gnidas_ bonnet vaile to it,

A fayrer saint then _Venus_ there shall dwell.

_Antho._ Led with the lode-starre of her lookes, I go

As crazed Bark is toss'd in trobled Seas,

Vncertaine to ariue in wished port.

ACT. I. FINIS.

{SN _Chor. II_}

_Enter Discord Flashes of fire._

_Antho._ Now _Caesar_ hath thy flattering Fortune heapt

Those golden gifts and promis'd victories, 610

By fatall signes at _Rubicon_ foretould:

Then triumph in thy glorious greatest pride,

And boast thou cast the lucky Die so well,

Now let the _Triton_ that did sound alarme,

In his shrill trump resound the victory,

That Heauen and Earth may Ecco of thy fame:

Yet thinke in this thy Fortunes Iollity.

Though _Caesar_ be as great as great may be,

Yet _Pompey_ once was euen as great as he,

And how he rode clad in _Setorius_ spoyles: 620

And the _Sicilian_ Pirats ouerthrowe.

Ruling like _Nepoune_ in the mid-land Seas,

Who basely now by Land and Sea doth flie,

The heauenly _Rectors_ prosecuting wrath,

Yet Sea nor Land can shroud him from this iar,

O how it ioyes my discord thirsting thoughts,

To see them waight, that whilom flow'd in blisse.

To see like _Banners_, vnlike quarrels haue.

And _Roman_ weapons shethd in _Roman_ blood,

For this I left the deepe Infernall shades 630

And past the sad _Auernus_ vgly iawes,

And in the world came I, being Discord hight,

Discord the daughter of the greesly night.

To make the world a hell of plauges and woes,

Twas I that did the fatal Aple fling,

Betwixt the three _Idean_ goddesses,

That so much blood of _Greekes_ and _Troians_ spilt,

Twas I that caused the deadly _Thebans_ warre,

And made the brothers swell with endlesse hate.

And now O _Rome_, woe, woe, to thee I cry 640

Which to the world do bring al misery.

ACTVS 2. SCENA 4. {SN _Act II sc. i_}

_Enter Achillas, and Sempronius._

_Ach._ Here are we placed, by _Ptolomies_ command,

To murther _Pompey_ when he comes on shore,

Then braue _Sempronius_ prepare they selfe.

To execute the charge thou hast in hand,

_Sem._ I am a _Romaine_, and haue often serued,

Vnder his collours, when in former state,

_Pompey_ hath bin the Generall of the field, 650

But cause I see that now the world is changd:

And like wise feele some of King _Ptolomeis_ gould.

Ile kill him were he twenty Generalls,

And send him packing to his longest home.

I maruell of what mettell was the _French_ man made.

Who when he should haue stabbed _Marius_,

They say he was astonished with his lookes.

_Marius_, had I beene there, thou neere hadst liu'd,

To brag thee of thy seauen Consulships.

_Achil._ Brauely resolu'd, Noble _Sempronius_, 660

The damnedst villaine that ere I heard speake:

But great men still must haue such instruments,

To bring about their purpose, which once donne,

The deede they loue, but do the doer hate:

Thou shalt no lesse (stout _Romaine_) be renown'd,

For being _Pompeys_ Deaths-man, then was he,

That fir'd the faire _AEgiptian_ Goddesse Church.

_Sem._ Nay that's al one, report say what she list,

Tis for no shadowes I aduenture for:

Heere are the Crownes, heere are the wordly goods, 670

This betweene Princes doth contention bring:

Brothers this sets at ods, turnes loue to hate;

It makes the Sonne to wish his Father hang'd

That he thereby might reuell with his bagges:

And did I knowe that in my Mothers womb,

There lurk'd a hidden vaine of Sacred gould,

This hand, this sword, should rape and rip it out.

_Achil._ Compassion would that greedinesse restraine.

_Sem._ I that's my fault, I am to compassionate,

Why man, art thou a souldier and dost talke 680

Of womanish pity and compassion?

Mens eyes must mil-stones drop, when fooles shed teares,

But soft heeres _Pompey_, Ile about my worke.

_Enter Pompey._

_Pom._ Trusting vpon King _Ptolomeys_ promis'd fayth,

And hoping succor, I am come to shore:

In _Egipt_ heere a while to make aboade.

_Sem._ Fayth longer _Pompey_ then thou dost expect.

_Pom._ See now worlds Monarchs, whom your state makes proud

That thinke your Honors to be permanent, 690

Of Fortunes change see heere a president,

Who whilom did command, now must intreate

And sue for that which to accept of late,

Vnto the giuer was thought fortunate.

_Sem._ I pray thee _Pompey_ do not spend thy breath,

In reckning vp these rusty titles now,

Which thy ambition grac'd thee with before,

I must confesse thou wert my Generall,

But that cannot a vaile to saue thy life.

Talke of thy Fortune while thou list, 700

There is thy fortune _Pompey_ in my fist.

_Pom._ O you that know what hight of honor meanes,

What tis for men that lulled in fortunes lap,

Haue climd the heighest top of soueraignety.

From all that pomp to be cast hed-long downe,

You may conceaue what _Pompey_ doth sustayne,

I was not wont to walke thus all alone,

But to be met with troopes of Horse and Men.

With playes and pageants to be entertaynd,

A courtly trayne in royall rich aray, 710

With spangled plumes, that daunced in the ayre,

Mounted on steeds, with braue Caparisons deckt,

That in their gates did seeme to scorne the Earth.

Was wont my intertaynment beautiefie,

But now thy comming is in meaner sort,

They by thy fortune will thy welcom rate.

_Sem._ What dost thou for such entertaynement looke,

_Pompey_ how ere thy comming hether bee,

I haue prouided for thy going hence.

_Achi._ I will draw neere, and with fayre pleasing shew, 720

Wellcome great _Pompey_ as the _Siren_ doth

The wandering shipman with her charming song.

_Pom._ O how it greeues a noble hauty mind,

Framed vp in honors vncontrouled schoole,

To serue and sue, whoe erst did rule and sway

What shall I goe and stoope to _Ptolomey_,

Nought to a noble mind more greefe can bring

Then be a begger where thou wert a King,

_Ach._ Wellcome a shore most great and gratious prince

Welcome to _AEgipt_ and to _Ptolomey_. 730

The King my Maister is at hand my Lord,

To gratulate your safe ariuall heere.

_Sem._ This is the King, and here is the Gentleman,

Which must thy comming gratulate a non,

_Pom._ Thanks worthy Lord vnto your King and you,

It ioyes me much that in extremity,

I found so sure a friend as _Ptolomey_,

_Sem._ Now is the date of thy proud life expird,

To which my poniard must a full poynt put,

_Pompey_ from _Ptolomey_ I come to thee, 740

From whome a presant and a guift I bring,

This is the gift and this my message is _Stab him_

_Pom._ O Villaine thou hast slayne thy Generall,

And with thy base hand gor'd my royall heart.

Well I haue liued till to that height I came,

That all the world did tremble at my name,

My greatnesse then by fortune being enuied,

Stabd by a murtherous villaynes hand I died.

_Ach._ What is he dead, then straight cut of his head,

That whilom mounted with ambitions wings: 750

_Caesar_ no doubt with praise and noble thanks,

Regarding well this well deserued deede,

Whome weele present with this most pleasing gift,

_Sem._ Loe you my maisters, hee that kills but one,

Is straight a Villaine and a murtherer cald,

But they that vse to kill men by the great,

And thousandes slay through their ambition,

They are braue champions, and stout warriors cald,

Tis like that he that steales a rotten sheepe

That in a dich would else haue cast his hide, 760

He for his labour hath the haltars hier.

But Kings and mighty Princes of the world,

By letter pattens rob both Sea and Land.

Do not then _Pompey_ of thy murther plaine,

Since thy ambition halfe the world hath slayne.

ACTVS 2. SCENA. 2. {SN _Act II sc. ii_}

_Enter Cornelia._

_Corne._ O traterous villaines, hold your murthering hands,

Or if that needes they must be washt in blood,

Imbrue them heere, heere in _Cornelias_ brest. 770

Ay mee as I stood looking from the Ship

(Accursed shippe that did not sinke and drowne:

And so haue sau'd me from so loath'd a sight)

Thee to behold what did betide my Lord,

My _Pompey_ deere (nor _Pompey_ now nor Lord)

I sawe those villaines that but now were heere:

Bucher my loue and then with violence,

To drawe his deare beloued Body hence;

What dost thou stand to play the Oratrix,

And tell a tale of thy deere husbands death? 780

Doth _Pompey_, doth thy loue moue thee no more?

Go cursed _Cornelia_ rent thy wretched haire,

Drowne blobred cheekes in seas of saltest teares.

And if, it be true that sorrowes feeling powre,

Could turne poore _Niobe_ into a weeping stone

O let mee weepe a like, and like stone be,

And you poore lights, that sawe this tragick sight,

Be blind and punnish'd with eternall night.

Vnhappy long to speake, bee neare so bould

Since that thou this so heauy tale hast tould. 790

These are but womanish exclamations

Light sorrowe makes such lamentations,

_Pompey_ no words my true griefe can declare,

This for thy loue shalbe my best welfare. _Stab her selfe._

ACT. 2. SCE. 3. {SN _Act II sc. iii_}

_Enter Caesar, Cleopatra, Anthony,

Dolobella, a Lord,_

_Caesar._ There sterne _Achillas_ and _Fortunius_ lie,

Traytorous _Sempronius_ and proud _Ptolomey_,

Go plead your cause fore the angry _Rhadamant_, 800

And tel him why you basely _Pompey_ slew.

And let your guilty blood appease his Ghost,

That now sits wandring by the Stygian bankes,

Vnworthy sacrifice to quite his worth,

For _Pompey_ though thou wert mine enemy,

And vayne ambition mou'd vs to this strife;

Yet now in death when strife and enuy cease.

Thy princely vertues and thy noble minde,

Moue me to rue thy vndeserued death,

That found a greater daunger then it fled; 810

Vnhapy man to scape so many wars,

And to protract thy glorious day so long,

Here for to perish in a barbarous soyle,

And end liues date stabd by a Bastards hand,

But yet with honour shalt thou be Intomb'd,

I will enbalme thy body with my teares,

And put thy ashes in an Vrne of gold,

And build with marble a deserued graue.

Whose worth indeede a Temple ought to haue.

_Dolo._ See how compassion drawes foorth Princely teares 820

And Vertue weepes her enemies funerall,

So sorrowed the mighty _Alexander_,

When _Bessus_ hand caus'd _Darius_ to die.

_Ant._ These greeued sorrowing Princes do with me,

Ioyntly agree in Contrariety,

Alacke we mourne, greeued is our mind alike,

Our gate is discontented, heauy our lookes,

Our sorrowes all a like, but dislike cause.

Their foe is their grifes causer which my friend,

It is the losse of one that makes them wayle, 830

But I, that one there is a cruell one,

Do wayle and greeue and vnregarded mone.

Fayre beames cast forth from these dismayfull eyes,

Chaine my poore heart, in loue and sorrowes giues,

_Cleo._ Forget sweete Prince these sad perlexed thoughts,

Withdraw thy mind in clowdy discontent,

And with _AEgiptian_ pleasures feed thine eyes,

Wilt thou be hould the Sepulchers of Kings,

And Monuments that speake the workemens prayse?

Ile bring thee to Great _Alexanders_ Tombe, 840

Where he, whome all the world could not suffice,

In bare six foote of Earth, intombed lies,

And shew thee all the cost and curious art,

Which either _Cleops_ or our _Memphis_ boast:

Would you command a banquit in the Court,

Ile bring you to a Royall goulden bowre,

Fayrer then that wherein great _Ioue_ doth sit,

And heaues vp boles of _Nectar_ to his Queene,

A stately Pallace, whose fayre doble gates:

Are wrought with garnish'd Carued Iuory, 850

And stately pillars of pure bullion framd.

With Orient Pearles and Indian stones imbost,

With golden Roofes that glister like the Sunne,

Shalbe prepard to entertaine my Loue:

Or wilt thou see our _Academick_ Schooles,

Or heare our Priests to reason of the starres,

Hence _Plato_ fecht his deepe Philosophy:

And heere in Heauenly knowledg they excell.

_Antho._ More then most faire, another Heauen to me,

The starres where on Ile gaze shalbe thy face, 860

Thy morall deedes my sweete Philosophy,

_Venus_ the muse whose ayde I must implore:

O let me profit in this study best,

For Beauties scholler I am now prefest.

_Lord._ See how this faire _Egiptian_ Sorceres,

Enchantes these Noble warriars man-like mindes,

And melts their hearts in loue and wantones.

_Caes._ Most glorious Queene, whose cheerefull smiling words

Expell these cloudes that ouer cast my minde.

_Caesar_ will ioy in _Cleopatras_ ioy, 870

And thinke his fame no whit disparaged,

To change his armes, and deadly sounding droms,

For loues sweete Laies, and Lydian harmony,

And now hang vp these Idle instruments.

My warlike speare and vncontrouled crest:

My mortall wounding sword and siluer shield,

And vnder thy sweete banners beare the brunt,

Of peacefull warres and amarous Alarmes:

Why _Mars_ himselfe his bloudy rage alayd,

Dallying in _Venus_ bed hath often playd, 880

And great _Alcides_, when he did returne:

From _Iunos_ taskes, and _Nemean_ victories,

From monsters fell, and _Ncmean_ toyles:

Reposed himselfe in _Deianiras_ armes.

Heere will I pitch the pillars os my fame,

Heere the _non vltra_ of my labors write,

And with these Cheekes of Roses, lockes of Gold,

End my liues date, and trauayles manifould.

_Dolo._ How many lets do hinder vertuous mindes,

From the pursuit of honours due reward, 890

Be sides _Caribdis_, and fell _Scyllas_ spight:

More dangerous _Circe_ and _Calipsoes_ cup,

Then pleasant gardens of _Alcionus_:

And thousand lets voluptiousnesse doth offer.

_Caes._ I will regard no more these murtherous spoyles,

And bloudy triumphs that I lik'd of late:

But in loues pleasures spend my wanton dayes,

Ile make thee garlondes of sweete smelling flowers,

And with faire rosall Chaplets crowne thy head,

The purple _Hyacinth_ of _Phoebus_ Land: 900

Fresh _Amarinthus_ that doth neuer die,

And faire _Narcissus_ deere respendent shoars,

And Violets of Daffadilles so sweete,

Shall Beautify the Temples of my Loue,

Whil'st I will still gaze on thy beautious eyes,

And with Ambrosean kisses bath thy Cheekes.

_Cleo._ Come now faire Prince, and feast thee in our Courts

Where liberal _Caeres_, and _Liaeus_ fat,

Shall powre their plenty forth and fruitfull store,

The sparkling liquor shall ore-flow his bankes: 910

And _Meroe_ learne to bring forth pleasant wine,

Fruitfull _Arabia_, and the furthest Ind,

Shall spend their treasuries of _Spicery_

VVith _Nardus_ Coranets weele guird our heads:

And al the while melodious warbling notes,

Passing the seauen-fould harmony of Heauen:

Shall seeme to rauish our enchanted thoughts,

Thus is the feare of vnkinde _Ptolomey_,

Changed by thee to feast in Iolity:

_Antho._ O how mine stares suck vp her heauenly words, 920

The whilst mine eyes do prey vpon her face:

_Caes._ Winde we then _Anthony_ with this Royall Queene,

This day weele spend in mirth and banqueting.

_Antho._ Had I Queene, _Iunoes_ heard-mans hundred eies,

To gaze vpon these two bright Sunnes ofhirs:

Yet would they all be blinded instantly.

_Caes._ VVhat hath some Melancholy discontent,

Ore-come thy minde with trobled passions.

_Ant._ Yet being blinded with the Sunny beames,

Her beauties pleasing colours would restore, 930

Decayed sight with fresh variety.

_Lord._ Lord _Anthony_ what meanes this trobled minde,

_Caesar_ inuites thee to the royall feast,

That faire Queene _Cleopatra_ hath prepard.

_Antho._ Pardon me worthy _Caesar_ and you Lords,

In not attending your most gratious speech

Thoughts of my Country, and returne to _Rome_,

Som-what distempered my busy head.

_Caes._ Let no such thoughts distemper now thy minde,

This day to _Bacchus_ will wee consecrate, 940

And in deepe goblets of the purest wine,

Drinke healths vnto our seuerall friends at home.

_Antho._ If of my Country or of _Rome_ I thought,

Twas that I neuer ment for to come there,

But spend my life in this sweete paradise. _Exeunt._

ACT. 2. SCE. 4. {SN _Act II sc. iv_}

_Enter Cicero, Brutus, Casca, Camber, Trebonius._

_Cice._ Most prudent heads, that with your councels wise,

The pillars of the mighty _Rome_ sustaine,

You see how ciuill broyles haue torne our state: 950

And priuate strife hath wrought a publique wo,

_Thessalia_ boasts that she hath seene our fall,

And _Rome_ that whilom wont to Tiranize,

And in the necks of all the world hath rang'd,

Loosing her rule, to serue is now constraynd,

_Pompey_ the hope and stay of Common-weale,

VVhose vertues promis'd _Rome_ security

Now flies distrest, disconsolate, forlorne,

Reproch of Fortune, and the victors scorne.

_Caes._ VVhat now is left for wretched _Rome_ to hope, 960

But in laments and bitter future woe,

To wey the downefall of her former pride:

Againe _Porsenna_ brings in _Tarquins_ names,

And _Rome_ againe doth smoke with furious flames.

In _Pompeys_ fall wee all are ouerthrowne,

And subiect made to conqueror Tirany.

_Bru._ Most Noble _Cicero_ and you _Romaine_ Peeres,

Pardon the author of vnhappy newes,

And then prepare to heare my tragick tale.

VVith that same looke, that great _Atrides_ stood, 970

At cruell alter staind with Daughters blood,

When _Pompey_ fled pursuing _Caesars_ sword,

And thought to shun his following desteny.

And then began to thinke on many a friend,

And many a one recalled hee to minde:

Who in his Fortunes pride did leaue their liues,

And vowed seruice at his princely feete,

From out the rest, the yong _Egiptian_ King,

VVhose Father of an Exild banish'd man

Hee seated had in throne of Maiesty, 980

Him chose, to whome he did commit his life,

(But O, who doth remember good-turnes past)

The Rising Sunne, not Setting, doth men please,

To ill committed was so great a trust,

Vnto so base a Fortune fauoring minde.

For he the Conquerors fauor to obtaine,

By Treason caus'd great _Pompey_ to be slaine:

_Casca._ O damned deede.

_Cam._ O Trayterous _Ptolomey_.

_Tre._ O most vnworthy and vngratefull fact. 990

_Cum._ What plages may serue to expiate this act,

The rouling stone or euerturning wheele,

The quenchles flames of firy _Phlegeton_,

Or endles thirst of which the Poets talke,

Are all to gentle for so vilde a deede.

_Cas._ Well did the _Cibills_ vnrespected verse.

Bid thee beware of _Crocadilish Nile_,

_Ter._ And art thou in a barbarous soyle betrayd,

Defrawded _Pompey_ of thy funerall rites,

There none could weepe vpon thy funerall hearse, 1000

None could thy Consulshipes and triumphs tell,

And in thy death set fourth thy liuing praise,

None would erect to thee a sepulcher.

Or put thine ashes in a pretious vrne,

_Cice._ Peace Lords lament not noble _Pompeys_ death,

Nor thinke him wreched, cause he wants a Tombe,

Heauen couers him whome Earth denyes a graue:

Thinke you a heape of stones could him inclose,

Whoe in the _Oceans_ circuite buried is,

And euery place where _Roman_ names are heard, 1010

The world is his graue, where liuing fame doth blaze,

His funerall praise through his immortall trump,

And ore his tombe vertue and honor sits,

With rented heare and eyes bespent with teares,

And waile and weepe their deere sonne _Pompeys_ death,

_Bru._ But now my Lords for to augment this griefe,

_Caesar_ the _Senates_ deadly enimie,

Aimes eke to vs, and meanes to tryumph heere,

Vpon poore conquered _Rome_ and common wealth,

_Cas._ This was the end at which he alwayes aymd, 1020

_Tre._ Then end all hope of _Romaines_ liberty,

Rise noble _Romaine_, rise from rotten Tombes,

And with your swordes recouer that againe:

With your braue prowes won, our basenes lost,

_Gic._ Renowned Lords content your trobled minds.

Do not ad Fuell to the conquerors fier.

Which once inflamed will borne both _Rome_ and vs.

_Caesar_ although of high aspiring thoughtes,

And vncontrould ambitious Maiesty,

Yet is of nature faire and courteous, 1030

You see hee commeth conqueror of the East:

Clad in the spoyles of the _Pharsalian_ fieldes,

Then wee vnable to resist such powre:

By gentle peace and meeke submission,

Must seeke to pacify the victors wrath. _Exeunt._

ACT. 2. SCE. 5. {SN _Act II sc. v_}

_Enter Cato Senior, and Cato Iunior._

_Cat. Sen._ My Sonne thou seest howe all are ouerthrowne,

That fought their Countries free-dome to maintaine,

_Egipt_ forsakes vs, _Pompey_ found his graue, 1040

VVhere hee most succor did expect to haue:

_Scipio_ is ouerthrowne and with his haples fall,

_Affrick_ to vs doth former ayde denay,

O who will helpe men in aduersity:

Yet let vs shewe in our declining state,

That strength of minde, that vertues constancy,

That erst we did in our felicity,

Though Fortune fayles vs lets not fayle our selues,

Remember boy thou art a _Romaine_ borne,

And _Catoes_ Sonne, of me do vertue learne; 1050

Fortune of others, aboue althings see

Thou prize thy Countries loue and liberty,

All blessiings Fathers to their Sonnes can wish

Heauens powre on thee, and now my sonne with-drawe

Thy selfe a while and leaue me to my booke.

_Cat. Iun._ What meanes my Father by this solemne leaue?

First he remembred me of my Fortunes change,

And then more earnestly did me exhort

To Counrries loue, and constancy of minde,

Then he was wont: som-whats the cause, 1060

But what I knowe not, O I feare I feare,

His to couragious heart that cannot beare

The thrall of _Rome_ and triumph of his foe,

By his owne hand threats danger to his life,

How ere it be at hand I will abide,

VVayting the end of this that shal betide. _Exit._

_Cato Senior with a booke in his hand._

_Cato Sen._ _Plato_ that promised immortality,

Doth make my soule resolue it selfe to mount,

Vnto the bowre of those Celestiall ioyes, 1070

VVhere freed from lothed Prison of my soule,

In heauenly notes to _Phoebus_ which shall sing:

And _Pean Io, Pean_ loudely ring.

Then fayle not hand to execute this deede,

Nor faint nor heart for to command my hand,

VVauer not minde to counsell this resolue,

But with a courage and thy liues last act,

Now do I giue thee _Rome_ my last farewell.

Who cause thou fearest ill do therefore die,

O talke not now of _Cannas_ ouerthrowe, 1080

And raze out of thy lasting Kalenders,

Those bloudy songes of _Hilias_ dismall sight:

And note with black, that black and cursed day,

When _Caesar_ conquered in _Pharsalia_,

Yet will not I his conquest glorifie:

My ouerthrow shall neere his triumph grace,

For by my death to the world Ile make that knowne,

No hand could conquer _Cato_ but his owne. _stabs himself._

_Enter Cato Iunior running to him._

_Ca. Iun._ O this it was my minde told me before, 1090

VVhat meanes my Father, why with naked blade,

Dost thou assault, that faithfull princely hand:

And mak'st the base Earth to drinke thy Noble bloud,

Bee not more sterne, and cruell 'gainst thy selfe,

Then thy most hateful enemies would be,

No _Parthian_, _Gaule_, _Moore_, no not _Caesars_ selfe,

VVould with such cruelty thy worth repay,

O stay thy hand, giue me thy fatall blade:

VVhich turnes his edge and waxeth blunt to wound,

A brest so fraught with vertue excellent. 1100

_Ca. Seni._ Why dost thou let me of my firme resolue,

Vnkinde boy hinderer of thy Fathers ioy,

Why dost thou slay me, or wilt thou betray

Thy Fathers life vnto his foe-mens hands,

And yet I wrong thy faith, and loue too much,

In thy soules kindenesse, tis thou art vnkinde.

_Cat. Iun._ If for your selfe you do this life reiect,

Yet you your Sonnes and Countries: sake respect,

Rob not my yong yeares of so sweete a stay,

Nor take from _Rome_ the Pillor of her strength. 1110

_Cat. Sene._ Although I die, yet do I leaue behinde,

My vertues fauor to bee thy youths guide:

But for my Country, could my life it profit,

Ile not refuse to liue that died for it,

Now doth but one smal snuffe of breath remaine:

And that to keepe, should I mine Honor staine?

_Cat. Iuni._ Where you do striue to shew your vertue most,

There more you do disgrace it Cowards vse,

To shun the woes and trobles of this life:

Basely to flie to deaths safe sanctuary, 1120

When constant vertues doth the hottest brunt's,

Of griefes assaultes vnto the end endure.

_Ca. Seni._ Thy words preuaile, come lift me vp my Son,

And call some help to binde my bleeding wounds.

_Cat. Iuni._ Father I go with a more willing minde,

Then did _AEneas_ when from _Troyan_ fire,

He bare his Father, and did so restore:

The greatest gift hee had receiued before. _Exit._

_Cat. Seni._ Now haue I freed mee of that hurtfull Loue,

Which interrupted my resolued will, 1130

Which all the world can neuer stay nor change:

_Caesar_ whose rule commands both Sea and Land,

Is not of powre to hinder this weake hand,

And time succeeding shall behold that I

Although not liue, yet died courragiously, _stab himselfe._

_Enter Cato Iunior._

_Ca. Iuni._ O hast thou thus to thine owne harme deceiu'd me

Well I perceiue thy Noble dauntles heart:

Because it would not beare the Conquerors insolence,

Vsed on it selfe this cruell violence, 1140

I know not whether I should more lament,

That by thine owne hand thou thus slaughtred art,

Or Ioy that thou so nobly didst depart. _Exit._

_FINIS._ ACTVS 2.

{SN _Chor. III_}

_Enter Discord._

_Dis._ Now _Caesar_ rides triumphantly through _Rome_,

And deckes the Capitoll with _Pompeys_ spoyle:

Ambition now doth vertues seat vsurp,

Then thou Reuengfull great _Adastria_ Queene.

Awake with horror of thy dubbing Drumm, 1150

And call the snaky furies from below,

To dash the Ioy of their triumphing pride,

_Erinnis_ kindle now thy _Stigian_ brands,

In discontented _Brutus_ boyling brest,

Let _Caesar_ die a bleeding sacrifice,

Vnto the Soule of thy dead Country _Rome_.

Why sleepest thou _Cassius_? wake thee from thy dreame:

And yet thou naught dost dreame but blood and death.

For dreadfull visions do afright thy sleepe.

And howling Ghosts with gastly horrors cry, 1160

By _Cassius_ hand must wicked _Caesar_ die,

Now _Rome_ cast of thy gaudy paintcd robes

And cloth thy selfe in sable colored weedes,

Change thy vaine triumphs into funerall pomps,

And _Caesar_ cast thy Laurell crowne apart,

And bind thy temples with sad _Cypres_ tree.

Of warrs thus peace insues, of peace more harmes,

Then erst was wrought by tragick wars alarmes, _Exit._

ACT. 3. SCE. I. {SN _Act III sc. i_}

_Enter Cassius._

_Cas._ Harke how _Caesarians_ with resounding shoutes, 1171

Tell heauens of their pompes and victories,

_Caesar_ that long in pleasures idle lap,

And daliance vayne of his Proud Curtezan,

Had luld his sterne and bloody thoughts a sleepe,

Now in _Rome_ streets ore _Romaines_ come to triumph,

And to the _Romains_ shews those _Tropheyes_ sad,

Which from the _Romaines_ he with blood did get:

The Tyrant mounted in his goulden chayre,

Rides drawne with milke white palferies in like pride, 1180

As _Phaebus_ from his Orientall gate,

Mounted vpon the firy _Phlegetons_ backes.

Comes prauncing forth, shaking his dewie locks:

_Caesar_ thou art in gloryes cheefest pride,

Thy sonne is mounted in the highest poynt:

Thou placed art in top of fortunes wheele,

Her wheele must turne, thy glory must eclipse,

Thy Sunne descend and loose his radiant light,

And if none be, whose countryes ardent loue,

And losse of _Roman_ liberty can moue, 1190

Ile be the man that shall this taske performe.

_Cassius_ hath vowed it to dead _Pompeys_ soule,

_Cassius_ hath vowed it to afflicted _Rome_,

_Cassius_ hath vowed it, witnes Heauen and Earth, _Exit._

ACTVS 3. SCENA 2. {SN _Act III sc. ii_}

_Enter Caesar, Antony, Dolobella, Lords, two Romaines, & others._

_Caesar._ Now haue I shaked of these womanish linkes,

In which my captiud thoughts were chayned a fore,

By that fayre charming _Circes_ wounding look,

And now like that same ten yeares trauayler, 1200

Leauing be-hind me all my trobles past.

I come awayted with attending fame,

Who through her shrill triump doth my name resound,

And makes proud _Tiber_ and _Lygurian Poe_,

(Yet a sad witner of the Sunne-Gods losse,)

Beare my names glory to the _Ocean_ mayne,

Which to the worlds end shall it bound it againe,

As from _Phaegiean_ fields the King of the Gods,

With conquering spoyles and _Tropheus_ proud returnd,

When great _Typheus_ fell, by thundering darts, 1210

And rod away with their Caelestiall troops,

In greatest pride through Heauens smooth paued way,

So shall the Pompeous glory of my traine,

Daring to match ould _Saturns_ kingly Sonne,

Call downe these goulden lampes from the bright skie,

And leaue Heauen blind, my greatnes to admire.

This laurell garland in fayre conquest made,

Shall stayne the pride of _Ariadnes_ crowne,

Clad in the beauty of my glorious lampes,

_Cassiopea_ leaue thy starry chayre, 1220

And onmy Sun-bright Chariot wheels attend,

Which in triumphing pompe doth _Caesar_ beare.

To Earths astonishment, and amaze of Heauen:

Now looke proude _Rome_ from thy seuen-fould seate,

And see the world thy subiect, at thy feete,

And _Caesar_ ruling ouer all the world.

_Dolo._ Now let vs cease to boast of _Romulus_,

First author of high _Rome_ and _Romaines_ name.

Nor talke of _Scaurus_, worthy _Africans_,

The scurge of _Libia_ and of _Carthage_ pride, 1230

Nor of vnconquered _Paulus_ dauntles minde,

Since _Caesars_ glory them exceedes as farre

As shining _Phebe_ doth the dimmest starre.

_Ant._ Like as the Ship-man that hath lost the starre.

By which his doubtful ship he did direct,

Wanders in darkenes, and in Cloudy night,

So hauing lost my starr, my Gouernesse.

Which did direct me, with her Sonne-bright ray,

In greefe I wander and in sad dismay:

And though of triumphes and of victoryes, 1240

I do the out-ward signes and _Trophies_ beare,

Yet see mine inward mind vnder that face,

Whose collours to these Triumphes is disgrace,

_Lord._ As when from vanquished _Macedonia_,

Triumphing ore King _Persius_ ouerthrow,

Conquering _AEmelius_, in great glory came.

Shewing the worlds spoyles which he had bereft,

From the successors or great _Alexander_,

With such high pomp, yea greater victories,

_Caesar_ triumphing coms into fayre _Rome_, 1250

_1. Rom._ In this one Champion all is comprehended,

Which ancient times in seuerall men commended,

_Alcides_ strength, _Achilles_ dauntles heart,

Great _Phillips_ Sonne by magnanimity.

Sterne _Pyrhus_ vallour, and great _Hectors_ might,

And all the prowes, that ether _Greece_ or _Troy_,

Brought forth in that same ten years _Troians_ warre.

_2. Rom._ Faire _Rome_ great monument of _Romulus_.

Thou mighty seate of consuls and of Kings:

Ouer-victorious now Earths Conquerer, 1260

Welcome thy valiant sonne that to thee brings,

Spoyles of the world, and exquies of Kings.

_Caesar._ The conquering Issue of immortall _Ioue_.

Which in the _Persian_ spoyles first fetch his fame.

Then through _Hydasspis_, and the _Caspian_ waues,

Vnto the sea vnknowne his praise did propagate,

Must to my glory vayle his conquering crest:

The _Lybick_ Sands, and _Africk Sirts_ hee past.

_Bactrians_ and _Zogdians_, knowne but by their names,

Whereby his armes resistles, powers subdued, 1270

And _Ganges_ streames congeald with _Indian_ blood,

Could not transeport his burthen to the sea.

But these nere lerned at _Mars_ his games to play,

Nor tost these bloody bals, of dread and death:

_Arar_ and proud _Saramna_ speaks my praise,

_Rohdans_ shrill _Tritons_ through their brasen trumpes,

Ecco my fame against the _Gallian_ Towers,

And _Isis_ wept to see her daughter _Thames_.

Chainge her cleere cristall, to vermilian sad,

The big bond _German_ and _Heluetian_ stout, 1280

Which well haue learned to tosse a tusked speare,

And well can curbe a noble stomackt horse,

Can _Caesars_ vallour witnes to their greefe

_Iuba_ the mighty _Affrick_ Potentate,

That with his cole-black _Negroes_ to the field,

Backt with _Numidian_ and _Getulian_ horse,

Hath felt the puissance of a _Roman_ sword.

I entred _Asia_ with my banners spred,

Displayed the AEgle on the Euxin sea:

By _Iason_ first, and ventrous _Argo_ cut, 1290

And in the rough _Cimerian Bosphorus_:

A heauy witnesse of _Pharnaces_ flight,

And now am come to triumph heere in _Rome_,

VVith greater glory then ere _Romaine_ did. _Exeunt._

{SN _Act III sc. iii_}

_Sound drums and Trumpets amaine._

_Enter Anthony._

_Antho._ Alas these triumphes mooue not me at all,

But only do renew remembrance sad,

Of her triumphing and imperious lookes,

VVhich is the Saint and Idoll of my thoughtes: 1300

First was I wounded by her percing eye:

Next prisoner tane by her captiuing speech,

And now shee triumphes ore my conquered heart,

In _Cupids_ Chariot ryding in her pride,

And leades me captiue bounde in Beauties bondes:

_Caesars_ lip-loue, that neuer touched his heart,

By present triumph and the absent fire,

Is now waxt could; but mine that was more deepe,

Ingrauen in the marble of my brest,

Nor time nor Fortune ere can raze it out. 1310

_Enter Anthonies bonus genius._

_Gen._ _Anthony_, base femall _Anthony_,

Thou womans souldiar, fit for nights assaults,

Hast thou so soone forgot the discipline,

And wilsome taskes thy youth was trayned to,

Thy soft downe Pillow, was a helme of steele:

The could damp earth, a bed to ease thy toyle,

Afrigted slumbers were thy golden sleepes:

Hunger and thirst thy sweetest delicates,

Sterne horror, gastly woundes, pale greesly death: 1320

Thy winde depressing pleasures and delights,

And now so soone hath on enchanted face,

These manly labours luld in drowsy sleepe:

The Gods (whose messenger I heere do stand)

Will not then drowne thy fame in Idlenesse:

Yet must _Philippi_ see thy high exploytes,

And all the world ring of thy Victories.

_Antho._ Say what thou art, that in this dreadful sort

Forbidd'st me of my _Cleopatras_ loue.

_Gen._ I am thy _bonus Genius_, _Anthony_, 1330

VVhich to thy dul eares this do prophecy:

That fatall face which now doth so bewitch thee,

Like to that vaine vnconstant Greekish dame,

VVhich made the stately _Ilian_ towres to smoke,

Shall thousand bleeding _Romains_ lay one ground:

_Hymen_ in sable not in saferon robes,

Instead of roundes shall dolefull dirges singe.

For nuptiall tapers, shall the furies beare,

Blew-burning torches to increase your feare:

The bride-grooms scull shal make the bridal bondes: 1340

And hel-borne hags shall dance an Antick round,

VVhile _Hecate Hymen_ (heu, heu) _Hymen_ cries,

And now methinkes I see the seas blew face:

Hidden with shippes, and now the trumpets sound,

And weake _Canopus_ with the AEgle striues,

_Neptune_ amazed at this dreadfull sight:

Cals blew sea Gods for to behold the fight,

_Glaucus_ and _Panopea_, _Proteus_ ould,

VVho now for feare changeth his wonted shape,

Thus your vaine loue which with delight begunne: 1350

In Idle sport shall end with bloud and shame. _Exit._

_Antho._ VVhat wast my _Genius_ that mee threatned thus?

They say that from our birth he doth preserue:

And on mee will he powre these miseries?

VVhat burning torches, what alarums of warre,

VVhat shames did he to my loues prophesie?

O no hee comes as winged _Mercurie_,

From his great Father _Ioue_, t'_Anchises_ sonne

To warne him leaue the wanton dalliance,

And charming pleasures of the _Tyrian_ Court, 1360

Then wake the _Anthony_ from this idle dreame,

Cast of these base effeminate passions:

Which melt the courrage of thy manlike minde,

And with thy sword receiue thy sleeping praise. _Exit._

ACT. 3. SC. 3. {SN _Act III sc. iv_}

_Enter Brutus._

_Bru._ How long in base ignoble patience,

Shall I behold my Countries wofull fall,

O you braue _Romains_, and among'st the rest

Most Noble _Brutus_, faire befall your soules: 1370

Let Peace and Fame your Honored graues awaite,

Who through such perils, and such tedious warres,

Won your great labors prise sweete liberty,

But wee that with our life did freedoms take,

And did no sooner Men, then free-men, breath:

To loose it now continuing so long,

And with such lawes, such vowes, such othes confirm'd

Can nothing but disgrace and shame expect:

But soft what see I written on my seate,

_O vtinam Brute viueres_. 1380

What meaneth this, thy courage dead,

But stay, reade forward, _Brute mortuus es_.

I thou art dead indeed, thy courrage dead

Thy care and loue thy dearest Country dead,

Thy wonted spirit and Noble stomack dead.

_Enter Cassius._

_Cassi._ The times drawe neere by gratious heauens assignd

When _Philips_ Sonne must fall in _Babilon_,

In his triumphing proud persumption:

But see where melancholy _Brutus_ walkes, 1390

Whose minde is hammering on no meane conceit:

Then sound him _Cassius_, see how hee is inclined,

How fares young _Brutus_ in this tottering state.

_Bru._ Euen as an idle gazer, that beholdes,

His Countries wrackes and cannot succor bring.

_Cassi._ But wil _Brute_ alwaies in this dreame remaine,

And not bee mooued with his Countries mone.

_Bru._ O that I might in _Lethes_ endles sleepe,

And neere awaking pleasant rest of death

Close vp mine eyes, that I no more might see, 1400

Poore _Romes_ distresse and Countries misery.

_Casi._ No _Brutus_ liue, and wake thy sleepy minde,

Stirre vp those dying sparkes of honors fire,

VVhich in thy gentle breast weare wont to flame:

See how poore _Rome_ opprest with Countries wronges,

Implores thine ayde, that bred thee to that end,

Thy kins-mans soule from heauen commandes thine aide:

That lastly must by thee receiue his end,

Then purchas honor by a glorious death,

Or liue renown'd by ending _Caesars_ life. 1410

_Bru._ I can no longer beare the Tirants pride,

I cannot heare my Country crie for ayde,

And not bee mooued with her pitious mone,

_Brutus_ thy soule shall neuer more complaine:

That from thy linage and most vertuous stock,

A bastard weake degenerat branch is borne,

For to distaine the honor of thy house.

No more shall now the _Romains_ call me dead,

Ile liue againe and rowze my sleepy thoughts:

And with the Tirants death begin this life. 1420

_Rome_ now I come to reare thy states decayed,

VVhen or this hand shall cure thy fatall wound,

Or else this heart by bleeding on the ground.

_Cas._ Now heauen I see applaudes this enterprise,

And _Rhadamanth_ into the fatall Vrne,

That lotheth death, hath thrust the Tirants name,

_Caesar_ the life that thou in bloud hast led:

Shall heape a bloudy vengance on thine head. _Exeunt._

ACT. 2. SCE. 4. {SN _Act III sc. v_}

_Enter Caesar, Anthony Dolobella, Lords, and others._

_Caes._ Now servile _Pharthia_ proud in _Romaine_ spoile, 1431

Shall pay her ransome vnto _Caesars_ Ghost:

Which vnreuenged roues by the Stygian strond,

Exclaming on our sluggish negligence.

Leaue to lament braue _Romans_, loe I come,

Like to the God of battell, mad with rage,

To die their riuers with vermilion red:

Ile fill _Armenians_ playnes and _Medians_ hils,

With carkases of bastard _Scithian_ broode,

And there proud Princes will I bring to _Rome_, 1440

Chained in fetters to my charriot wheeles:

Desire of fame and hope of sweete reueng,

Which in my brest hath kindled such a flame,

As nor _Euphrates_, nor sweet _Tybers_ streame,

Can quench or slack this feruent boyling heate:

These conquering souldiers that haue followed me,

From vanquisht _France_ to sun-burnt _Meroe_,

Matching the best of _Alexanders_ troopes.

Shall with their lookes put _Parthian_ foes to flight,

And make them twise turne their deceitfull lookes, 1450

_Ant._ The restlesse mind that harbors sorrowing thoughts,

And is with child of noble enterprise,

Doth neuer cease from honors toilesome taske,

Till it bringes forth Eternall gloryes broode.

So you fayre braunch of vertues great discent,

Now hauing finish'd Ciuill warres sad broyles,

Intend by _Parthian_ triumphes to enlarge,

Your contryes limits, and your owne renowne,

But cause in _Sibilles_ ciuill writs we finde,

None but a King that conquest can atchiue, 1460

Both for to crowne your deedes with due reward,

And as auspicious signes of victorye.

Wee here present you with this _Diadem_,

_Lord._ And euen as kings were banish'd _Romes_ high throne

Cause their base vice, her honour did destayne,

So to your rule doth shee submit her selfe,

That her renowne there by might brighter shine,

_Caesar._ Why thinke you Lords that tis ambitions spur.

That pricketh _Caesar_ to these high attempts,

Or hope of Crownes, or thought of _Diadems_, 1470

That made me wade through honours perilous deepe,

Vertue vnto it selfe a shure reward,

My labours all shall haue a pleasing doome,

If you but Iudge I will deserue of _Rome_:

Did those old _Romaines_ suffer so much ill?

Such tedious seeges, such enduring warrs?

_Tarquinius_ hates, and great _Porsennas_ threats,

To banish proude imperious tyrants rule?

And shall my euerdaring thoughts contend

To marre what they haue brought to happy end: 1480

Or thinke you cause my Fortune hath expeld,

My friends, come let vs march in iolity,

Ile triumph Monarke-like ore conquering _Rome_,

Or end my conquests with my countryes spoyles,

_Dolo._ O noble Princely resolution.

These or not victoryes that we so call,

That onely blood and murtherous spoyles can vaunt:

But this shalbe thy victory braue Prince,

That thou hast conquered thy owne climing thoughts,

And with thy vertue beat ambition downe, 1490

And this no lesse inblazon shall thy fame.

Then those great deeds and chiualrous attempts,

That made thee conqueror in _Thessalia_.

_Ant._ This noble mind and Pincely modesty,

Which in contempt of honours brightnes shines,

Makes vs to wish the more for such a Prince,

Whose vertue not ambition won that praise,

Nor shall we thinke it losse of liberty.

Or _Romaine_ liberty any way impeached,

For to subiect vs to his Princely rule, 1500

Whose thoughts fayre vertue and true honor guides:

Vouchsafe then to accept this goulden crowne,

A gift not equall to thy dignity.

_Caes._ Content you Lordes for I wilbe no King,

An odious name vnto the _Romaine_ eare,

_Caesar_ I am, and wilbe _Caesar_ still,

No other title shall my Fortunes grace:

Which I will make a name of higher state

Then Monarch, King or worldes great Potentate.

Of _Ioue_ in Heauen, shall ruled bee the skie, 1510

The Earth of _Caesar_, with like Maiesty.

This is the Scepter that my crowne shall beare,

And this the golden diadem Ile weare,

A farre more rich and royall ornament,

Then all the Crownes that the proud _Persian_ gaue:

Forward my Lordes let Trumpets sound our march,

And drums strike vp Reuenges sad alarms,

_Parthia_ we come with like incensed heate,

As great _Atrides_ with the angry Greekes,

Marching in fury to pale walls of Troy. 1520