Part 2 (2/2)

_Cl._ I am sole cause: I did it, only I.

_Er._ Feare of a woman troubled so his sprite?

_Cl._ Fire of his loue was by my feare enflam'd.

_Er._ And should he then to warre haue ledd a Queene?

_Cl._ Alas! this was not his offence, but mine.

_Antony_ (ay me! who else so braue a chiefe!) Would not I should haue taken Seas with him: But would haue left me fearfull woman farre From common hazard of the doubtfull warre.

O that I had beleu'd! now, now of _Rome_ All the great Empire at our beck should bende.

All should obey, the vagabonding _Scythes_, The feared _Germains_, back-shooting _Parthians_, Wandring _Numidians_, _Brittons_ farre remoou'd, And tawny nations scorched with the Sunne.

But I car'd not: so was my soule possest, (To my great harme) with burning iealousie: Fearing least in my absence _Antony_ Should leauing me retake _Octauia_.

_Char._ Such was the rigour of your destinie.

_Cl._ Such was my errour and obstinacie.

_Ch._ But since G.o.ds would not, could you doe withall?

_Cl._ Alwaies from G.o.ds good happs, not harms, do fall.

_Ch._ And haue they not all power on mens affaires?

_Cl._ They neuer bow so lowe, as worldly cares.

But leaue to mortall men to be dispos'd Freelie on earth what euer mortall is.

If we therin sometimes some faultes commit, We may them not to their high maiesties, But to our selues impute; whose pa.s.sions Plunge vs each day in all afflictions.

Wherwith when we our soules do thorned feele, Flatt'ring our selues we say they dest'nies are: That G.o.ds would haue it so, and that our care Could not empeach but that it must be so.

_Char._ Things here belowe are in the heau'ns begot, Before they be in this our worlde borne: And neuer can our weaknes turne awry The stailes course of powerfull destenie.

Nought here force, reason, humaine prouidence, Holie deuotion, n.o.ble bloud preuailes: And Ioue himselfe whose hand doth heauens rule, Who both to G.o.ds and men as King commaunds, Who earth (our firme support) with plenty stores, Moues aire and sea with twinckling of his eie, Who all can doe, yet neuer can vndoe What once hath been by their hard laws decreed.

When _Troian_ walles, great _Neptunes_ workmans.h.i.+p, Enuiron'd were with _Greekes_, and Fortunes whele Doubtfull ten yeares now to the campe did turne, And now againe towards the towne return'd: How many times did force and fury swell In _Hectors_ veines egging him to the spoile Of conquer'd foes, which at his blowes did flie, As fearfull shepe at feared wolues approche: To saue (in vaine: for why? it would not be) Pore walles of _Troie_ from aduersaries rage, Who died them in bloud, and cast to ground Heap'd them with bloudie burning carcases.

No, Madame, thinke, that if the ancient crowne Of your progenitors that _Nilus_ rul'd, Force take from you; the G.o.ds haue will'd it so, To whome oft times Princes are odiouse.

They haue to euery thing an end ordain'd; All worldly greatnes by them bounded is; Some sooner, later some, as they think best: None their decree is able to infringe.

But, which is more, to vs disastred men Which subiect are in all things to their will, Their will is hidd: nor while we liue, we know How, or how long we must in life remaine.

Yet must we not for that feede on dispaire, And make vs wretched ere we wretched bee: But alwaies hope the best, euen to the last, That from our selues the mischief may not growe.

Then, Madame, helpe your selfe, leaue of in time _Antonies_ wracke, lest it your wracke procure: Retire you from him, saue frrom wrathfull rage Of angry _Caesar_ both your Realme and you.

You see him lost, so as your amitie Vnto his euills can yelde no more reliefe.

You see him ruin'd, so as your support No more hencefourth can him with comfort raise.

With-draw you from the storme: persist not still To loose your selfe: this royal diademe Regaine of _Caesar_.

_Cl._ Soner s.h.i.+ning light Shall leaue the daie, and darknes leaue the night: Sooner moist currents of tempestuous seas Shall waue in heauen, and the nightlie troopes Of starres shall s.h.i.+ne within the foming waues, Then I thee, _Antonie_, Leaue in depe distres.

I am with thee, be it thy worthy soule Lodge in thy brest, or from that lodging parte Crossing the ioyles lake to take hir place In place prepared for men Demy-G.o.ds.

Liue, if thee please, if life be lothsome die: Dead and aliue, _Antonie_, thou shalt see Thy princesse follow thee, folow, and lament, Thy wrack, no lesse her owne then was thy weale.

_Char._ What helps his wrack this euer-lasting loue?

_Cl._ Help, or help not, such must, such ought I proue.

_Char._ Ill done to loose your selfe, and to no ende.

_Cl._ How ill thinke you to follow such a frende?

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