Part 5 (1/2)

_This makes my rack, my anguish, and my woe Equall vnto the h.e.l.lish pa.s.sions growe, When I to minde my happie puisance call Which erst I had by warlike conquest wonne, And that good fortune which me neuer left, Which hard disastre now hath me bereft.

With terror tremble all the world I made At my sole worde, as Rushes in the streames At waters will: I conquer'd Italie, I conquer'd _Rome_, that Nations so redoubt.

I bare (meane while besieging _Mutina_) Two Consuls armies for my ruine brought, Bath'd in their bloud, by their deaths witnessing My force and skill in matters Martiall.

To wreake thy vnkle, vnkinde _Caesar_, I With bloud of enemies the bankes embru'd Of stain'd _Enipeus_, hindering his course Stopped with heapes of piled carcases: When _Ca.s.sius_ and _Brutus_ ill betide Marcht against vs, by vs twise put to flight, But by my sole conduct: for all the time _Caesar_ heart-sicke with feare and feauer laie.

Who knowes it not? and how by euery one Fame of the fact was giu'n to me alone.

There sprang the loue, the neuer changing loue, Wherein my hart hath since to yours bene bound: There was it, my _Lucil_, you _Brutus_ sau'de, And for your _Brutus_ _Antonie_ you found.

Better my happ in gaining such a frende, Then in subduing such an enemie.

Now former vertue dead doth me forsake, Fortune engulfes me in extreame distresse: She turnes from me her smiling countenance, Casting on me mishapp vpon mishapp, Left and betraide of thousand thousand frends, Once of my sute, but you _Lucil_ are left, Remaining to me stedfast as a tower In holy loue, in spite of fortunes blastes.

But if of any G.o.d my voice be heard, And be not vainely scatt'red in the heau'ns, Such goodnes shall not glorilesse be loste, But comming ages still therof shall boste.

_Lu._ Men in their frends.h.i.+p euer should be one, And neuer ought with fickle Fortune shake, Which still remoues, nor will, nor knowes the way, Her rowling bowle in one sure state to staie.

Wherfore we ought as borrow'd things receiue The goods light she lends vs to pay againe: Not holde them sure, nor on them builde our hopes As one such goods as cannot faile, and fall: But thinke againe, nothing is dureable, Vertue except, our neuer failing hoste: So bearing saile when fauouring windes do blowe, As frowning Tempests may vs least dismaie When they on vs do fall: not ouer-glad With good estate, nor ouer-grieu'd with bad.

Resist mishap.

_Ant._ Alas! it is too stronge.

Mishappes oft times are by some comfort borne: But these, ay me! whose weights oppresse my hart, Too heauie lie, no hope can them relieue.

There rests no more, but that with cruell blade For lingring death a hastie waie be made.

_Lu._ _Caesar_, as heire vnto his Fathers state: So will his Fathers goodnes imitate, To you warde: whome he know's allied in bloud, Allied in mariage, ruling equallie Th' Empire with him, and with him making warre Haue purg'd the earth of _Caesars_ murtherers.

You into portions parted haue the world Euen like coheir's their heritages parte: And now with one accord so many yeares In quiet peace both haue your charges rul'd.

_Ant._ Bloud and alliance nothing do preuaile To coole the thirst of hote ambitious b.r.e.a.s.t.s: The sonne his Father hardly can endure, Brother his brother, in one common Realme.

So feruent this desier to commaund: Such iealousie it kindleth in our hearts._ Sooner will men permit another should Loue her they loue, then weare the Crowne they weare.

_All lawes it breakes, turns all things vpside downe: Amitie, kindred, nought so holie is But it defiles. A monarchie to gaine None cares which way, so he maie it obtaine.

_Lu._ Suppose he Monarch be and that this world No more acknowledg sundrie Emperours.

That _Rome_ him onelie feare, and that he ioyne The East with west, and both at once do rule: Why should he not permitt you peaceablie Discharg'd of charge and Empires dignitie, Priuate to liue reading _Philosophie_, In learned _Greece_, _Spaine_, _Asia_, anie lande?

_Ant._ Neuer will he his Empire thinke a.s.sur'de While in this world _Marke Antonie_ shall liue._ Sleeples Suspicion, Pale distrust, colde feare Alwaies to princes companie do beare Bred of Reports: reports which night and day Perpetuall guests from Court go not away.

_Lu._ He hath not slaine your brother _Lucius_, Nor shortned hath the age of _Lepidus_, Albeit both into his hands were falne, And he with wrath against them both enflam'd.

Yet one, as Lord in quiet rest doth beare The greatest sway in great _Iberia_.

The other with his gentle Prince retaines Of highest Priest the sacred dignitie.

_Ant._ He feares not them, their feeble force he knowes.

_Lu._ He feares no vanquisht ouerfill'd with woes.

_Ant._ Fortune may chaunge againe,

_L._ A down-cast foe Can hardlie rise, which once is brought so lowe.

_Ant._ All that I can, is done: for last a.s.say (When all means fail'd) I to entreatie fell, (Ah coward creature!) whence againe repulst Of combate I vnto him proffer made: Though he in prime, and I by feeble age Mightily weakned both in force and skill.

Yet could not he his coward heart aduaunce Baselie affraid to trie so praisefull chaunce.

This makes me plaine, makes me my selfe accuse, Fortune in this hir spitefull force doth vse 'Gainst my gray hayres: in this vnhappie I Repine at heau'ns in my happes pittiles.

A man, a woman both in might and minde, In _Ma.r.s.es_ schole who neuer lesson learn'd, Should me repulse, chase, ouerthrow, destroie, Me of such fame, bring to so lowe an ebbe?

_Alcides_ bloud, who from my infancie With happie prowesse crowned haue my praise.

Witnesse thou _Gaule_ vnus'd to seruile yoke, Thou valiant _Spaine_, you fields of _Thessalie_ With millions of mourning cries bewail'd, Twise watred now with bloude of _Italie_.

_Lu._ witnesse may _Afrique_, and of conquer'd world All fower quarters witnesses may be.

For in what part of earth inhabited, Hungrie of praise haue you not ensignes spredd?

_An._ Thou know'st rich _aegypt_ (_aegypt_ of my deeds Faire and foule subiect) _aegypt_ ah! thou know'st How I behau'd me fighting for thy kinge, When I regainde him his rebellious Realme.

Against his foes in battaile shewing force, And after fight in victorie remorse.