Part 5

M. Antonius. Lucilius.

M. Ant.

Lucil, sole comfort of my bitter case, The only trust, the only hope I haue, In last despaire: Ah! is not this the daie That death should me of life and loue bereaue? What waite I for that haue no refuge left, But am sole remnant of my fortune left? All leaue me, flie me: none, no not of them Which of my greatnes greatest good receiu'd, Stands with my fall: they seeme as now asham'de That heretofore they did me ought regarde: They draw them back, shewing they folow'd me, Not to partake my harm's, but coozen me.

Lu. In this our world nothing is stedfast found, In vaine he hopes, who here his hopes doth grod.

Ant. Yet nought afflicts me, nothing killes me so, As that I so my Cleopatra see Practize with Caesar, and to him transport My flame, her loue, more deare then life to me.

Lu. Beleeue it not: Too high a heart she beares, Too Princelie thoughts.

Ant. Too wise a head she weare Too much enflam'd with greatnes, euermore Gaping for our great Empires gouerment.

Lu. So long time you her constant loue haue tri'de.

Ant. But still with me good fortune did abide.

Lu. Her changed loue what token makes you know?

An. Pelusium lost, and Actian ouerthrow, Both by her fraud: my well appointed fleet, And trustie Souldiors in my quarell arm'd, Whom she, false she, in stede of my defence, Came to persuade, to yelde them to my foe: Such honor Thyre done, such welcome giuen, Their long close talkes I neither knew, nor would, And treacherouse wrong Alexas hath me done, Witnes too well her periur'd loue to me. But you O Gods (if any faith regarde) With sharpe reuenge her faithles change reward.

Lu. The dole she made vpon our ouerthrow, Her Realme giuen vp for refuge to our men, Her poore attire when she deuoutly kept The solemne day of her natiuitie, Againe the cost, and prodigall expence Shew'd when she did your birth day celebrate, Do plaine enough her heart vnfained proue, Equally toucht, you louing, as you loue.

Ant. Well; be her loue to me or false, or true, Once in my soule a cureles wound I feele. I loue, nay burne in fire of her loue: Each day, each night her Image haunts my minde, Her selfe my dreams: and still I tired am, And still I am with burning pincers nipt. Extreame my harme: yet sweeter to my sence Then boiling Torch of iealouse torments fire: This grief, nay rage, in me such sturre doth kepe, And thornes me still, both when I wake and slepe. Take Caesar conquest, take my goods, take he Th'onor to be Lord of the earth alone, My Sonnes, my life bent headlong to mishapps: No force, so not my Cleopatra take. So foolish I, I can not her forget, Though better were I banisht her my thought. Like to the sicke, whose throte the feauers fire Hath vehemently with thirstie drouth enflam'd, Drinkes still, albee the drinke he still desires Be nothing else but fewell to his flame: He can not rule himselfe: his health's respect Yeldeth to his distempred stomackes heate.

Lu. Leaue of this loue, that thus renewes your woe.

Ant. I do my best, but ah! can not do so.

Lu. Thinke how you haue so braue a captaine bene, And now are by this vaine affection falne.

Ant. The ceasles thought of my felicitie Plunges me more in this aduersitie. For nothing so a man in ill torments, As who to him his good state represents. This makes my rack, my anguish, and my woe Equall vnto the hellish passions 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 Cassius 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 God 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 frendship 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 breasts: 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 assur'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.