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

SCENA 3.

Craterus. Ephestion. Clitus. &c.

MY Lords, you see the flexible conceipt, Of our indaungered soueraigne, and you know: How much his perile, and Philotas pride, Imports the state and vs, and therefore now, We either must oppose against deceipt: Or be vndon. For now hath time discride, An open passage to his farthest ends, From whence if negligence now put vs back, Returne we neuer can wi••hout our wrack.

And good my Lords since you conceiue as much, And that we stand alike, make not me prosecute The cause alone as if it did but touch Onely my selfe, and that I did both breed, And vrge these doubts out of a priuate griefe. Indeed I know I might with much more ease, Sit still like others, and if dangers come: Might thinke to shift for one as well as they, But yet the saith the duty and respect: We owe both to our soueraigne and the state, My Lords, I hold, requires another care,

Eph.

My Lord, assure you we will take a time To vrge a stricter count of Dymnus death.

Cra.

My Lords I say vnles this be the time, You will apply your phisicke after death. You see the king inuited hath this night Philotas with the rest, and intertaines Him with as kinde an vsage to our sight, As euer, and you see the cunning straines Of sweet insinuation that are vsd Tallure the eare of grace with false reports, So that all this will come to be excusd; With one remoue, one action quite transports The kings affections ouer to his hopes, And sets him so beyond the due regard Of his owne safety, as one enterprize, May serue their turne, and may vs all surprize.

Cli.

But now since things thus of them selue break out We haue aduantage to preuent the worst, And eu'ry day will yeald vs more no doubt, For they are sau'd that thus are warned first.

Cra.

So my Lord Clitus are they likewise warn'd. T'accelarate their plot, being thus bewraide.

Cli.

But that they cannot now it is too late For treason taken ere the birth, doth come Abortiue, and her wombe, is made her tombe

Cra.

You do not know how far it hath put forth The force of malice, nor how far is spred Already the contagion of this ill.

Clit.

Why then there may some one be tortured Of those whom Ceballinus bath reueald Whereby the rest may be discouered.

Cra.

That one must be Philotas from whose head

All this corruption flowes, take him, take all.

Cli.

Philotas is not nam'd, and therefore may Perhappes not be acquainted with this plot.

Cra.

That his concealing of the plot bewrayes, And if we do not cast to find him first. His wit be sure bath layd so good a ground, As he will be the last that wilbe found.

Cli.

But if he be not found: then in this case, We doo him more by iniuring his grace.

Cra.

If that he be not found t'haue delt in this, Yet this will force out some such thoughts of his, As will vndoo him, for you seldome see, Such men araignd that euer quitted be:

Eph.

Well my Lord Craterus we will moue his grace (Though it be late) before he take his rest, That some course may be taken in this case, And God ordaine it may be for the best.

Exeunt

CHORVS.

SEE how these greatmen cloth their priuate hate, In those faire coulours of the publique good: And to effect their ends pretend the state, As if the state by their affections stood. And arm•• with powre and princes iealosies, Will put the least conceipt of discontent: Into the greatest ranke of treacheries: That no one action shell seeme innocent.

Yea, valour, honor bounty shall be made, As accessaries vnto endes vniust: And euen the seruice of the state must lade, The needfull'st vndertakings with distrust. So that base vilenesse idle luxurie, Seeme safer far, then to do worthily. Suspicion full of eyes, and full of eares, Doth thorow the tincture of her owne conceipt, See all thinges in the coulours of her feares: And truth it selfe must look•• like to deceipt, That what ways' euer the suspected take, Still, enuy will most cunningly forelay The ambush of their ruine, or will make Their humors of themselues to take that way.

But this is still the fate of those that are, By nature or their fortunes eminent. Who either carried in conceipt too far, Do worke their owne or others discontent: Or els are deemed sit to be supprest. Not for they are, but that they may be ill, Since states haue euer had far more vnrest, By spirits of worth, then men of meaner skill: And find that those do alwayes better proue, Wh'are equall to imployment not aboue. For selfe opinion would be seene more wise Then present counsels, customes, orders lawes, And to the end to haue them otherwise, The common wealth into combustion drawes. As if ordaind t'imbroyle the world with wit, Aswell as grosenesse to dishonour it.