_Enter_ CLITUS _and_ PARMENIO[768]
_CLYTUS._ Parmenio, I cannot tell whether I should more commend
in Alexanders victories courage, or courtesie, in the one being a
resolution without feare, in the other a liberalitie above custome.
Thebes is razed, the people not racked; towers throwne downe,
bodies not thrust aside; a conquest without conflict, and a 5
cruell warre in a milde peace.[769]
_Par._ Clytus, it becommeth the sonne of Philip to bee none
other than Alexander is; therefore, seeing in the father a full
perfection, who could have doubted in the sonne an excellency? For,
as the moone can borrow nothing else of the sunne but light,[770]
so of a sire in whom nothing but vertue was what could the 10
childe receive but singular?[771] It is for turkies to staine each
other, not for diamonds; in the one to bee made a difference in
goodnesse, in the other no comparison.[772]
_Clytus._ You mistake mee, Parmenio, if, whilest I commend
Alexander, you imagine I call Philip into question; unlesse, 15
happily, you conjecture (which none of judgement will conceive)
that because I like the fruit, therefore I heave at the tree, or,
coveting to kisse the childe, I therefore goe about to poyson the
teat.
_Par._ I, but, Clytus, I perceive you are borne in the east, and 20
never laugh but at the sunne rising;[773] which argueth, though a
dutie where you ought, yet no great devotion where you might.
_Clytus._ We will make no controversie of that [of][774] which there
ought to be no question; onely this shall be the opinion of us both,
that none was worthy to be the father of Alexander but Philip, nor 25
any meete to be the sonne of Philip but Alexander.
[_Enter Soldiers with_ TIMOCLEA, CAMPASPE, _other captives, and
spoils_.]
_Par._ Soft, Clytus, behold the spoiles and prisoners! A pleasant
sight to us, because profit is joyned with honour; not much painfull
to them, because their captivitie is eased by mercie.
_Timo._ [_aside_]. Fortune, thou didst never yet deceive vertue, 30
because vertue never yet did trust fortune! Sword and fire will
never get spoyle where wisdome and fortitude beares sway. O Thebes,
thy wals were raised by the sweetnesse of the harpe,[775] but rased
by the shrilnes of the trumpet! Alexander had never come so neer
the wals, had Epaminondas walkt about the wals; and yet might 35
the Thebanes have beene merry in their streets, if hee had beene
to watch their towers. But destinie is seldome forseene, never
prevented. We are here now captives, whose neckes are voaked by
force, but whose hearts cannot yeeld by death.--Come Campaspe and
the rest, let us not be ashamed to cast our eyes on him on whom 40
we feared not to cast our darts.
_Par._ Madame, you need not doubt;[776] it is Alexander that is the
conquerour.
_Timo._ Alexander hath overcome, not conquered.
_Par._ To bring all under his subjection is to conquer. 45
_Timo._ He cannot subdue that which is divine.
_Par._ Thebes was not.
_Timo._ Vertue is.
_Clytus._ Alexander, as hee tendreth[777] vertue, so hee will you.
Hee drinketh not bloud, but thirsteth after honour; hee is greedie
of victorie, but never satisfied with mercie; in fight terrible, 50
as becommeth a captaine; in conquest milde, as beseemeth a king; in
all things[778] than which nothing can be greater, hee is Alexander.
_Camp._ Then, if it be such a thing to be Alexander, I hope it
shall be no miserable thing to be a virgin. For, if hee save our 55
honours, it is more than to restore our goods; and rather doe I wish
he preserve our fame than our lives: which if he doe, we will confesse
there can be no greater thing than to be Alexander.
[_Enter_ ALEXANDER _and_ HEPHESTION.[779]]
_Alex._ Clytus, are these prisoners? Of whence these spoiles?
_Clytus._ Like your Majestie,[780] they are prisoners, and of
Thebes. 60
_Alex._ Of what calling or reputation?
_Clytus._ I know not, but they seeme to be ladies of honour.
_Alex._ I will know. Madam, of whence you are I know, but
who, I cannot tell.
_Timo._ Alexander, I am the sister of Theagines, who fought a 65
battell with thy father, before the citie of Chieronie,[781] where
he died, I say--which none can gainsay--valiantly.[782]
_Alex._ Lady, there seeme in your words sparkes of your brothers
deedes, but worser fortune in your life than his death; but feare
not, for you shall live without violence, enemies, or necessitie.
But what are you, faire ladie, another sister to Theagines? 70
_Camp._ No sister to Theagines, but an humble hand-maid to
Alexander, born of a meane parentage, but to extreme[783] fortune.
_Alex._ Well, ladies, for so your vertues shew you, whatsoever
your births be, you shall be honorably entreated. Athens shall be 75
your Thebes; and you shall not be as abjects of warre, but as
subjects to Alexander. Parmenio, conduct these honourable ladies
into the citie; charge the souldiers not so much as in words to
offer them any offence; and let all wants bee supplied so farre
forth as shall be necessarie for such persons and my prisoners. 80
_Exeunt_ PARME.[NIO] & _captivi._
Hephestion,[784] it resteth now that wee have as great care to governe
in peace as conquer in warre, that, whilest armes cease, arts may
flourish, and, joyning letters with launces, wee endevour to bee as
good philosophers as souldiers, knowing it no lesse prayse to bee wise
than commendable to be valiant. 85
_Hep._ Your Majestie therein sheweth that you have as great desire
to rule as to subdue: and needs must that commonwealth be fortunate
whose captaine is a philosopher, and whose philosopher a captaine.
_Exeunt._