Certaine small poems lately printed with the tragedie of Philotas. Written by Samuel Daniel.

ACTVS 2.

SCENA 1.

Alexander, Ephestion, Craterus.

Alexander.

EPhestion, thou doost Alexander loue, Craterus thou the King: yet both you meete In one selfe point of loyaltie and loue, And both I finde like carefull, like discreet. Therefore my faithfuls•• Councellours to you I must a weightie accident impart, Which lies so heauie, as I tell you true I finde the burthen much t'oppresse my hart. Ingratitude and stubborne carriage, In one of whom my loue deseru'd respect, Is that which moues my passion into rage, And is a thing, I ought not to neglect. You see how I Philotas raised haue Aboue his ranck, his Peeres, beyond his terme: You see the place, the offices I gaue,

As th'earnest of my loue to binde his firme. But all, he deeming rather his desartes, Then the effects of my grace any way, Begins to play most peremptorie parts, As fitter to controule then to obay. And I haue bene inform'd, he fosters too, The faction of that home-bent cowardize, That would run back from glory, and vndoo All the whole wonder of our enterprize, And one day to our selfe presumes to write, (Seeming ourstile and title to obrayd, Which th'oracles themselues held requisite And which not I, but men on me haue laid) And said he pittied those who vnder him should liue. Who held himselfe the sonne of Iupiter. Alas good man, as though what breath could giue, Could make mine owne thoughts other then they are. I that am Arbiter betwixt my hart, And theyr opinion, know how it stands within, And find that my infirmities take part, Of that same frailty, other men liue in. And yet what if I were disposd to winke, At th'intertaind opinion spred so far. And rather was content the world should thinke. Vs other then we are, then what we are. In doing which, I know I am not gone Beyond example, seeing that Maiestie Needs all the propps of admiration That may be got to beare it vp on hye. And much more mine, which but eu'n now begun

By miracles of fortune, and our worth, Needes all the complements to rest vpon: That reu'rence and opinion can bring forth, Which this wise man conceiues not, and yet takes: Vpon him to instruct vs what to do. But these are but the florishes he makes, Of greater malice he is bent vnto: For sure me thinkes I view within his face, The mapp of chaunge and inncuacion: I see his pride contented with no place, Vnles it be the throne I sit vpon.

Eph

Had I not heard this from your sacred tongue, Deare soueraigne, I would neuer haue beleeued Philotas folly would haue done that wrong T'his owne worth, and th'honors he receiued, And yet me thought of late his carriage. In such exceeding pompe and galiantry, And such a world of followers; did presage That he affected popularity. Especially since for his seruice done. He was adiudgd to haue the second place In honor with Antigonus, which wonne, To some th'opinion to be high in grace. Then this last action leading the right winge, And th'ouerthrow he gaue, might happ inlarge Th'opinion of himselfe considering, Th'especiall grace and honor of his charge. Whereby perhaps in rating his owne worth, His pride might vnder-ualew that great grace: From whence it grew, and that which put him forth.

And made his fortune suting to the place. But yet I thinke he is not so vnwise, Although his fortune, youth and iollity. Makes him thus mad, as he will enterprize Ought against course, his faith, and loyalty. And therefore if your grace did but withdraw, Those beames of fauour which doo daze his w••••ts: He would be soone reduc'd t'his rank of awe. And know himselfe, and beare bim as befits.

Alex.

With-draw our grace, and how can that be donne. Without some sulliuation to insue. Can he be safe brought in being so sar gone, I hold it not. Say Craterus what thinke you.

Cra.

Soueraigne. I know the man, I find his spirit, And malice shall not make me I protest. Speake other then I know his pride doth merit, And what I speake is for your interest. Which long ere this I would haue vttered, But that I feard your maiesty would take, That from some priuate g••idg it rather bred, Then out of care for your dea••e sisters sake. Or rather that I sought to crosse your grace, Or to confine your fauour within boundes, And finding him to hold so high a place: In that deuine conceipt which ours confounds, I thought the safest way to let it rest, In hope that time some passage open would: To let in those cleere lookes into that brest That doth but malice and confusion hold. And now I see you haue discernd the man,

Whome I protest I hold most dangerous. And that you ought with all the speed you can Worke to represse a spirit so mutinou••: For eu'n already he is swolne so high, That his affections ouer-flowe the brime Of his owne powres, not able to deny Passage vnto the thoughts that gouerne him. For but euen now I heard a strange report Of speeches he should vse t'his Curtizan: Vaunting what he had done, and in what sort, He labourd to aduance that proud yong man. (So terming of your sacred maiesty) With other such extrauagant discourse: Whereof we shall attaine more certainty, I doubt not shortly and discry his course, Meane while about your person I aduise, Your grace should•• all •• more sufficient guard: And on his actions set such wary eyes, As may thereof take speciall good regarde. And note what p••rson•• chiefly he frequents: And who to him haue the most free accesse, How he bestowes his time, where he presents, The large reuenue of his bounteousnesse. And for his wench that lyes betwixt his armes. And knowes his hare I will about with her, She shalbe wrought t'apply her vsuall charmes: And I will make her my discouerer. Alex. This counsell Craterus we do well allow, And giue thee many thankes for thy great care. But yet we must beare faire, lest he should know,

That we suspect what his affections are, For that you see he holdes a side of powre: which might perhapps call vp some mutinie. His father old Parmenio at this howre, Rules Medea with no lesser powres then I. Himselfe you see gallantly followed: Holds next to vs a speciall gouerment: Canus that with his Sister married, Hath vnder him againe comandement: Amintas and Symanus his deare friends With both their honorable offices. And then the priuate traine that on them tendes, With all perticuler dependences. Are motiues to aduice vs how to deale. Crat. Your grace saies true, but yet these cloudes of smooke Vanish before the sun of that respect Whereon mens long-inurd affections looke With such a natiue zeale, and so affect: As that the vaine and shallow practisies, Of no such giddy traytor (if the thing, Be tooke in time with due aduisednesse: Shall the least shew of any fealing bring. Alex, Well then to thee deare Craterus I refer, Th'especiall care of this great busines.

SCENA 2.

Philotas, Ceballinus, Ser••uis.

Ceb.

MY Lord. I here haue long attendance made Expecting to be calld t'auouch my newes••

Ph.

In troth my friend I haue not found the king•• At any leasure yet to heare the same.

Ceb.

No not at leasure to preuent his death? And is the matter of no more import? Ile try another. Yet me thinks such men, As are the eyes and eares of princes, should, Not weigh so light such an intelligence

Ser.

My lord the summe you willed me to giue, The captaine that did visit you to day: To tell you plaine your cosfers yeald it not,

Phi.

How, if they yeald it not, haue I not then, Apparell, plate iewells; why sel them:* 1.1 And go your way dispatch and giue it him. Me thinks I find the king much chaungd of late, And vnto me his graces not so great. Although they seeme in show all of one rate, Yet by the touch I find them counterfe•••••• For when I speake, although I haue his eare Yet do I see his mind is other where. And when he speakes to me I see he striues, To giue a coulor vnto what is not, For he must thinke that we whose states, whose liues. Depend vp••n his grace l••arne not by rote,

T'obserue his actions, and to know his trym, And though indeede princes be manifold, Yet haue they still such eies to waite on them. As are to piercing that they can beholde. And penetrate the inwards of the hart, That no deuice can set so close a dore, Betwixt their shewes and thoughtes, but that their art: Of shadowing it, makes it appeare the more. But many malicing my state of grace, I know doo worke, with all the powers they haue Vpon that easie nature, to displace My fortunes, and my actions to depraue: And though I know they seeke t'inclose him in, And faine would lock him vp and chamber him: Yet will I neuer stoope and seeke to win My way by them, that came not in by them. And skorne to stand on any other feet Then these of mine owne worth; and what my plaine And open actions cannot fairely get Basenes and soothing them shall neuer gaine. And yet, I know my presence and accesse, Cleers all these mists which they haue raisd before: Though with my back streight turnes that happinesse. And they againe blow vp as much or more; Thus do we role the stone of our owne toyle, And men suppose our hell, a heauen the while.

SCENA 3.

Craterus. Antigona.

ANtigona, there is no remedie, You needs must iustifie the speech you held, With Thais, who will your conf'rence verifie, And therefore now it cannot be conceald.

Anti.

O my good Lord I pray you vrge me not, Thais onely of a cunning enuious w••, Scorning a stranger should haue such alott, Hath out of her inuention forged it.

Cra.

Why then shall rackes and tortures force thee show, Both this and other matters which we know. Thinke therefore if t'were not a wiser part, T'accept of rest, rewards, pre••erment, grace, And being perhaps so beautious as thou art, Of fayre election for a neerer place, To tell the truth, then to be obstinate, And fall with the misfortune of a man•• Who in his dangerous and concusled state, No good to thee but ruine render can•• Resolue thee of this choyce, and let me know Thy minde at full, at my returning back.

Ant.

What shall I doo, shall I betray my loue, Or die disgrac'd? what do I make a doubt Betray my loue? O heauenly powres aboue Forbid that such a thought should issue out Of this confused brest: nay rather first Let tortures, death, and horror do their worst.

But out alas this inconsidrate tongue, Without my hart•• consent and priuitie, Hath done already this vnwilling wrong, And now it is no wisdome to deny. No wisdome to deny? yes, yes, that tongue That thus hath beene the ••avtor to my hart, Shall either powrefully redeeme that wrong, Or neuer more shall words of breath impart, Yet what can my den••all profit him, Whom they perhaps whether I tell or not, Are purpos'd vpon matters knowne to them, To ••uinate on some discouered plot. Let them do what they will. Let not thy hart Seeme to be accessarie in a thought, To giue the leaft aduantage of thy part, To haue a part of shame in what is wrought. O this were well, if that my dangers could Redeeme his perill, and his grace restore, For which, I vow, my life I render would, If this poore life could satisfie therefore. But tis not for thy honour to forsake Thy loue for death, that lou'd thee in this sort, Alas what notice will the world take Of such respects in women of my sort. This act may yet put on so fay••e a cote Vpon my foule profession, as it may Not blush t'appeare with those of cleanest note, And haue as hye a place with fame as they. What do I talke of fame? do I not see This faction of my flesh, my feares, my youth

Already entred and haue bent at me, The ioyes of life to batter downe my truth. O my subdued thought•• what haue you done. To let in feare and falshood, to my hart, Whom though they haue surprizd they haue not won, For still my loue shall hold the dearest part.

Crat.

Antigona what are you yet resolud.

Ant.

Resolu'd my Lord t'indure all misery.

Crat.

And so be sure you shall if that b'your choice.

Ant

What will you haue me doo my Lord, I am Content to say what you will haue me say.

Crat.

Then come go with me to Alexander.

CHORVS.

HOw dost thou weare, and weary out thy dayes, Restles ambition neuer at an end: Whose trauails no her culean pillor stayes•• But still beyond thy rest thy labors tend. Aboue good fortune, thou thy hopes dost raise. Still climing and yet neuer canst ascend: For when thou hast attaind vnto the top, Of thy desires thou hast not yet got vp. That heigh of fortune either is contrould. By some more powrefull ouerlooking eie: (That doth the fulnesse of thy grace withhold) Or counter-checkt with some concurrencie: That it doth cost far more adoo to hold,

The higth attaind, then was to get so hie. Where stand thou canst not, but with carefull toyle, Nor loose thy hold with out thy vtter spoile. There dost thou struggle with thine owne distrust, And others iealosies, their conterplot: Against some vnderworking pride that must, Supplanted be, or els thou standest not: There wrong is paid with wrong, and he that thrust: Downe others, comes himselfe to haue that lot. The same concussion doth afflict his brest. That others shooke, oppression is opprest That either happines dwells not so hie, Or els aboue. whereto pride cannot rise: And that the hy'st of mans felicity, But in the region of affliction lies: And that we clime but vp to misery, High fortunes are but high calamities, It is not in that Sphere, where peace doth moue, Rest dwels below it, happines aboue. For in this hight of fortvne are imbred, Those thundring fragors that affright the earth. From thence haue all distempratures their head: That bringes forth desolation, famine, d••arth, There certaine order is disordered: And there it is confusion hath her birth. It is that high of fortune doth vndoo, Both her owne quietnes and others too.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••utarch •••• the life ••f Alexan∣••er.