[_Enter_] CLYTUS [_and_] PARMENIO.
_Clytus._ We heare nothing of our embassage,--a colour[927]
belike to bleare our eyes or tickle our eares or inflame our
hearts. But what doth Alexander in the meane season but use for
_tantara_,--_sol_, _fa_, _la_;[928] for his hard couch, downe beds;
for his handfull of water, his standing-cup of wine?[929] 5
_Par._ Clytus, I mislike this new delicacie and pleasing peace, for
what else do we see now than a kind of softnes in every mans minde:
bees to make their hives in souldiers helmets;[930] our steeds
furnished with footclothes of gold, insteede of sadles of steele; more
time to be required to scowre the rust of our weapons than there 10
was wont to be in subduing the countries of our enemies. Sithence
Alexander fell from his hard armour to his soft robes, behold the
face of his court: youths that were wont to carry devises of victory
in their shields engrave now posies of love in their ringes; they
that were accustomed on trotting horses to charge the enemie with 15
a launce, now in easie coches ride up and down to court ladies; in
steade of sword and target to hazard their lives, use pen and paper to
paint their loves; yea, such a feare and faintnesse is growne in court
that they wish rather to heare the blowing of a horne to hunt than the
sound of a trumpet to fight. O Philip, wert thou alive to see this 20
alteration,--thy men turned to women, thy souldiers to lovers, gloves
worne in velvet caps,[931] in stead of plumes in graven helmets,--thou
wouldest either dye among them for sorrow or counfound[932] them for
anger.
_Clytus._ Cease, Parmenio, least in speaking what becommeth thee 25
not, thou feele what liketh thee not: truth is never with out a
scracht face; whose tongue although it cannot be cut out, yet
must it be tied up.
_Par._ It grieveth me not a little for Hephestion, who thirsteth
for honour, not ease; but such is his fortune and neernesse in 30
friendship to Alexander that hee must lay a pillow under his head
when hee would put a target in his hand. But let us draw in, to
see how well it becomes them to tread the measures in a daunce[933]
that were wont to set the order for a march. _Exeunt._