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

ACTVS TERTIVS.

Alex. Metron. Ceballinus. Craterus Perdiccas, Ephest,

COme, Metron say of whom hast thou receiued, Th'intelligence of this conspiracie: Contriud against our person, as thou sayst, By Dymnus and some other of the Campe, Is't not some vaine report borne without cause, That enuie or imagination drawes From priuate ends to breed a publike feare. T'amuze the world with things that neuer were,

Met.

Here may it please your highnes is the man, One Ceballinus that brought me the newes.

Ceb.

O Alexander I haue sau'd thy life. I am the man that hath reueild their plot.

Alex.

And how cam'st thou to be informd therof,

Ceb.

By mine owne brother, one Nichomacus, Whom Dymnus chiefe of the conspirators, Acquainted with the whole of their intents,

Alex.

How long since is it, this was told to thee?

Ceb.

About some three dayes, my Soueraigne Lord.

Alex.

What three dayes since? and hast thou so long kept The thing cōceald from vs being of that weight. Guard, take and lay him presently in hold:

Ceb.

O may it please your grace I did not keepe, The thing conceald one houre, but presently, Ran to acquaint Philotas therewithall,

Supposing him a man so nere in place, Would best repect a case that toucht so neare•• And on him haue I waited these two dayes. Expecting t'haue bene brought vnto your Grace, And seeing him weigh it light, pretending that Your graces leasure serud not fit to heare. I, to the maister of your armory, Addrest my selfe forthwith, to Metron here, Who without making any more delay, Prest in vnto your grace being in your bath, Locking me vp the while in th'armorie, And all what I could shew reuealed hath.

Alex.

If this be so then, fellow I confesse, Thy loyall care of vs was more then theirs, Who had more reason theirs should haue bin more, Cause Dymnus to be presently brought forth, And call Philotas straight, who now I see Hath not deceiu'd me, in deceiuing me, Who would haue thought one whom I held so nere. Would from my saftie haue bene so far off, When most it should and ought import his care, And wherein his allegeance might make proofe Of those effects my fauours had deseru'd, And ought t'haue claym'd more duly at his hands Then any of the rest. But thus w'are seru'd. When priuate grace out of proportion stands And that we call vp men from of below: From th'Element of baser property, And set them where they may behold and know The way of might and worke of maiestie.

Where se'ing those rayes, which being sent far off, Reflect a heat of wonder and respect, To faile nere hand and not to shew that proofe, (The obiect onely working that effect,) Thinke seeing themselues (though by our fauour) set. Within the selfe same orbe of rule with vs, Their light would shine alone if ours were set, And so presume t'obscure or shadow vs. But he shall know although his neerenes hath, Not felt our heat that we can burne him too. And grace that shines can kindle vnto wrath: And Alexander and the king are two. But here they bring vs Dymnus in whose face, I see is gilt, dispayre, horror and death.

Guar.

Yea death indeed, for ere he could b'attachd. He stab'd himselfe so deadly to the hart, As tis impossible that he should liue.

Al.

Say Dymnus what haue I deserud of thee: That thou shouldst thinke worthier to be thy king, Philotas then our selfe. Hold hold he sinkes: Guard keepe him vp get him to answere vs.

Guar.

H'hath spoke his last h'will neuer answer more••

Al.

Sorry I am for that, for now hath death, Shut vs cleene out from knowing him within: And lockt vp in his brest all th'others harts, But yet this deed argues the truth in grosle, Though we be bar'd it in particular. Philotas? are you come looke here this man, This Ceballinus should haue suffred death: Could it but haue ben prou'd he had conceald,

Th'intended treason from vs these two dayes, Wherewith he sayes he streight acquainted thee: Thinke the more nere thou ar••e about our selfe, The greater is the shame of thine offence. And which had bene lesse foule in him then thee.

Phil.

Renouned prince, for that my hart is cleare, Amazement cannot ouercast my face, And I must boldly with th'as••ured cheare, Of my vnguilty conscience tel your grace: That this offence (thus hapning) was not made, By any the least thought of ill in mee: And that the keeping of it vnbewraid, was that I held the iumor vaine to be. Considring some who were accusd were knowne, Your auncient and most loyall seruitors: And such as rather would let out their owne: Hart bloud I know then once indanger yours, And for me then vppon no certaine note, But on the brable, of two wanton youthes, T'haue tolde an idle tale, that would haue wrought, In your distrust, and wrong to other•• truthes, And to no end but onely to haue made, My selfe a scorne and odious vnto all. (For which I rather tooke the baite was laide: Then els for any treachery at all.) I must confesse I thought the safest way, To smoother it a while, to th' end I might: Yf such a thing could be, some proufes bewray, That might yeeld probability of right. Protesting that mine owne vnspotted thought.

A like beliefe of others truth did breed, Iudging no impious wretch could haue bene wrought T'imagin such a detestable deed.

And therefore O dread Sou'raigne do not way Philotas faith by this his ouer-fight. But by his actions past, and onely lay Error t'his chardge, not malice not dispight.

Al.

Well, lo thou hast a fauourable iudge, Whē though thou hast not powre to cleere thy blame, Yet hath he powre to pardon thee the same, Which take not as thy right but as his grace, Since here the person alters not the case. And here Philotas, I forgiue th'offence, And to confirme the same, lo here's my hand.

Phi.

O sacred hand the witnesse of my life, By thee I hold my safetie ••s secure, As is my conscience free from treacherie.

Alex.

Well got'your charge, & looke to our affaires, For we to morrow purpose to remoue.

Exit.

Alex.

In troth I know not what to iudge herein, Me thinkes the man seemes surely cleare in this, How euer otherwise his hopes haue beene, Transported by his vnaduisednesse: It cannot be, a guilty conscience should Put on so sure a brow, or els by arte His lookes stand new••rall, seeming not to hold Respondencie of int'rest with his hart. Sure for my part, he hath dissolu'd the knot Of my suspition, with so cleere a hand, As that I thinke in this (what euer plot

Of mischiefe it may be) he hath no hand

Crat.

My Lord, the greater confidence he shewes, Who is suspected should be feard the more: For danger from weake natures neuer growes, Who must disturb the world are built therefore. He more is to be feard that nothing feares, And malice most effects, that least appeares. Presumption of mens powres as well may breed, Assurednesse, as innocency may: And mischiefe seldome but by trust doth speed, Who kings betray, first their beleife betray. I would your grace had first conferrd with us Since you would needes such clemency haue showne. That we might yet but haue aduisd you thus, That he his danger neuer might haue knowne. In faults wherein an after shame will liue. Tis better to conceale then to forgiue. For who are brought vnto the block of death, Thinke rather on the perrill they haue past: Then on that grace which hath preserud their breath, And more their suffrings then their mercie taste, He now to plot your danger still may liue. But you his guilt not alwayes to forgiue.

Know that a man so swolne with discontent, No grace can cure nor pardon can restore: He knowes how those who once haue mercie spent, Can neuer hope to haue it any more.

But say that through remorce he calmer proue, Will great Parmenio so attended on, With that braue Armye fostred in his loue:

Be thankfull for this grace you do his sonne•• Some benefits are odious, so is this: Where men are still ashamed to confesse, To haue so done as to deserue to die: And euer do desire that men should gesse, They rather had receiud an iniury, Then life, since life they know in such a case, May be restord to all but not to grace.

Perd.

And for my part my liege I hold this minde That sure he would not haue so much supprest, The notice of a treason in that kinde, Vnlesse he were a party with the rest: Can it be thought that great Parmenios sonne, The generall commander of the horse: The minion of the campe the onely one, Of secret counsell, and of free recourse should not in three dayes space haue found the king, At leasure t'heare three wordes of that import: Whilst he himselfe in idle lauishing, Did thousands spend t'adua••ce his owne report?

Cra.

And if he gaue no credit to the youth, Why did he two dayes space delay him then? As if he had belieu'd it for a truth, To hinder his addresse to other men: If he had held it but a vaine conceipt, I pray why had he not dismist him streight? Men in their priuate daungers may be stoute: But in th'occasions and the feares of kings, We ought not to be credulous, but doubt, The intimation of the vainest things.

Alex.

Well howsoeuer, we will yet this night, Disport and banquet in vnusuall wise. That it may seeme we weigh this practise light, How euer heauy, here within it lies. Kings may not know distrust, and though they feare, They must not take acquaintance of their feare.

SCENA 2.

Antigona. Thais.

OY'are a secret councell-keeper Thais, In troth I little thought you such a one:

Tha.

And why Antigona what have I done.

Ant.

You know fulwell your conscience you bewraies,

Tha.

Alas good soule would you have me conceale: That which your selfe could not but needes reueile? Thinke you another can be more to you, In what concernes them not, then you can be, Whom it imports? Will others hold them true: When you proue false to your owne secrecie? But yet this is no wonder for we see, Wiser then we do lay their heads to gage: For ryotous expences of their tongues Although it be a property belongs, Especially to vs and euery age, Can shew strange presidents what we haue ben, In cases of the greatest plots of men. And tis the Scene on this worlds stage we play,

Whose reuolution, we with men conuer••, And are to act our pa••te as well as they: Though commonly the weakest, yet a-part.

For this great motion of a state we see, Doth turne on many wheeles•• and some though smale Do yet the greater moue, who in degree. Stirre those who likewise turne the great'st of all. For though we are not wise, we see the wise By vs are made or make vs pa••••ies still, In actions of the greatest quallities That they can manage, be they good or ill.

Ant.

I cannot tell; but you haue made mee doo, That which must euer more aflict my hart, And if this be my wofull parte t'vndo, my dearest loue, would I had had no part. How haue I sealy woman sifted bene Examind, tryde, flattred, ter••ifide, By Craterus the cunningest of men, That neuer leaft me till I had discride What euer of Philotas I had knowne.

Tha.

What is that all? perhapps I haue thereby Done thee more good then thou canst apprehend.

Ant.

Such good I rather you should get then I. If that can be a good t'accuse my friend.

Th.

Alas thy accusation did but quote The mergin of some text of greater note.

Ant.

But that is more then thou or I can tell.

Th.

Yes yes Antigona I know it well. For be thou sure that alwayes those who seeke T'attack the Lyon, so prouide that still,

Their toyles be such as that he shall not skape. To turne his rage on those that wrought his ill. Philotas neither was so strong nor high But malice ouerlookt him, and discride, Where he lay weake, where was his vanity, And built her contermonts vpon that side, In such sorte as they would be sure to raze His fortunes with the ingins of disgrace. And now maist thou perhapps come great hereby, And gracious with his greatest enemie. For such men thinke they haue no full succes: vnles they likewise gaine the mistresses, Of those they maister, and succeed the place, And fortunes of their loves with equall grace

Ant.

Loues out alas, loue such a one as hee, That seekes t'vndoo my loue•• and in him me.

Th.

Tush loue his fortunes, loue his state, his place, What euer greatnesse doth it must haue grace.

Ant.

I weigh not greatnesse I must please mine eye.

Th.

Th'eye nothing fairer sees then dignity.

Ant.

But what is dignity without our loue?

Th.

If we haue that we cannot want our loue,

Ant.

Why that giues but the outside of delight: The day-time ioy, what comfort hath the night?

Th.

If powre procure not that, what can it doo?

Ant.

I know not how that can b'attaind vnto.

Th.

Nor will I teach thee if thou knowst it not. Tis vaine I see to lea••ne an Asian wit.

Exit.

Ant.

If this be that great wit that learned skill, You Greekes professe let me be foolish still,

So I be faithfull. And now being here alone, Let me record the heauy notes of mone.

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.