ALEXANDER

Clytus, are these prisoners? of when ̄ ce these spoils? Of what calling or reputation? I will know: Madam, of whence you are I know, but who, I cannot tell. Lady, there seem in your words sparks of your brother's deeds, but worser fortune in your life then his death: but fear not, for you shall live without violence, enemies, or necessity: but what are you fair Lady, and other sister to Theagines ? Well Ladies, for so your virtues show you, whatsoever your births be, you shall be honourably en treated. Athens shall be your Thebes, & you shall not be as abjects of war, but as subjects to Alexander Parme nio, conduct these honourable Ladies into the City, charge the soldiers not so much as in words to offer them any offence, and let all wants be supplied so far forth as shall be necessary for such persons and my prison ners. Hephestion, it rests now that we have as great care to govern in peace, as conquer in war: that whilst arms cease, Arts may flourish, and joining letters with laun ces we endeavour to be as good Philosophers as soldiers, knowing it no less praise to be wise, the ̄ commendable to be valiant I see Hephestion, that these Philosophers are here attending for us. But I much marvel Diogenes should be so dogged. I will go see him Hephestion, because I long to see him that would command Alexander to come, to whom all the world is Like to come. Aristotle & the rest since my coming from Thebes to Athens, from a place of Conquest to a palla ̄ ce of quiet, I have resolved with my self in my court to have as many Philosophers as I had in my camp soldiers. My court shall be a school, wherein I will have used as great doctrine in peace, as I did in war discipline. It is so Aristotle, but yet there is among you, yea & of your bringing up, that sought to destroy Alex ander, Calistenes, Aristotle, whose treasons against his prince shall not be born out with the reasons of his Philosophy. Well Aristotle, kindred may blind thee, and affection me, but in kings causes I will not stand to scholars arguments. This meeting shall be for a continued ̄ man dement, that you all frequent my court, instruct the young with rules, confirm the old with reasons: let your lives be answerable to your learnings, jest my proceedings be contrary to my promises. I will. Plato, of all beasts, which is the subtle lest? Aristotle, how should a man be thought a God? Crisyppus, which was first, the day or the night? In deed strange questions must have strange answers, Cleanthes, what say you, is life or death the stronger? Crates, how long should a man live? Anaxarchus, whither does the sea or the earth bring forth most creatures? Hephestion, me thinks they have answered all well, and in such questions I mean often to try them. So would I, were I Hephestion. But come let us go and give release, as I promised to our Thebam thralls. Stand aside sir boy, till you be called. Hephe scion, how do ye Like the sweet face of Campaspe? Without doubt Campaspe had some great man to her father. Timoclea still in thy mouth, art thou not in love? Not with Timoclea you mean, wherein you resemble the Lapwing, who cries most where her nest is not. And so you led me from espying your love with Campaspe, you cry Timoclea. Is love a vice? Well, now shalt thou see what small diffe rence I make between Alexander and Hephestion. And sith thou hast been always partaker of my triumphs, thou shalt be partaker of my torments. I love Hephesti on, I love I love Campaspe, a thing far unfit for a Mace donian, for a king, for Alexander. Why hangest thou down thy head Hephestion? blushing to hear that which I am not ashamed to tell. Speak Hephestion, for whatsoever is spoken, Hephestion speaks to Alexander. My case were light Hephestion, and notwor thy to be called love, if reason were a remedy, or sent ̄ ses could salve, that sense cannot conceive, Little do you know, and therefore slightly do you regard the dead embers in a private person, or live coals in a great prince, whose passion and thoughts do as far exceed others in extremity, as their callings do in Majesty. And E clipse in the Sun is more then the falling of a star, none can conceive the torments of a king, unless he be a king; whose desires are not inferior to their digni ties. And then judge Hephestion if the agonies of love be dangerous in a subject, whither they be not more then deadly unto Alexander, whose deep and not to be con ceiued sighs, cleave the heart in shivers, whose woun dead thoughts can neither be expressed nor endured. Cease then Hephestion with arguments to seek to refel that, which with their deity the Gods cannot resist, and let this suffice to answer thee, that it is a king that lo veth and Alexander, whose affections are not to be meam sured by reason, being immortal, nor I fear me to be born being intolerable. Yield Hephestion, for Alexander does love, & therefore must obtain. I am a king, and will command. Why, what is that, which Alexander may not conquer as he list? I am a conqueror, she a captive, I as for tunate, as she fair: my greatness may answer her wants, and the gifts of my mind, the modesty of hers: Is it not likely then that she should love? Is it not reasona ble? No more Hephestion : in this case I will use mine own counsel, and in all other thine advice, thou mayest be a good soldier, but never good lover. Call my page. Sirrah, go presently to Apelles, and will him to come to me without either delay or excuse. In the mean season to recreate my spirits, be king so near, we will go see Diogenes. And see where his tub is, Diogenes. Alexander: how happened it that you would not come out of your tub to my palace? Why then dost thou owe no revere ̄ ce to kings? Why so? They be Gods of the earth. Plato is not of thy mind. Why? If Alexander have any thing that may pleasure Diogenes, let me know, and take it. What dost thou want? I have the world at command. Thou shalt live no longer then I will. How should one learn to be content? Hephestion, were I not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes. Diogenes, when I come this way again, I will both see thee, and confer with thee. But here comes Apelles, how now Apelles, is Venus face yet finished? Well let it rest unperfect, & come you with me, where I will show you that finished by nature, that you have been trifling about by art. Parmenio, and Clitus, I would have you both re die to go into Persia about and ambassage no less profi table to me, then to your selves honourable. Well, then withdraw your selves, till I have fur there considered of this matter. Now we will see how Apelles goes forward: I doubt me that nature hath overcome art, and her countena ̄ ce his cunning. But not so far in love with Campaspe, as with B cephalus, if occasion serve either of conflict or of con quest. I confess the labours fit for Alexander, and yet recreation necessary among so many assaults, bloody wounds, intolerable troubles: give me leave a little, if not to sit, yet to breath. And doubt not but Alexander can when he will throw affections as far from him, as he can cowardice. But behold Diogenes talking with one at his tub. It is not for a king to give a groat. It is not for a beggar to ask a talon. Away. Apelles? Now Gentlewoman, does not your beauty put the painter to his trump? Would he could colour the life with the feature. And me thinketh Apelles, were you as cunning as report says you are, you may paint flowers aswell with sweet sinels, as fresh colours, observing in your mixture such things as should draw near to their savours. Where do you first begin, when you draw any picture? I would begin with the eye, as a light to all the rest. Aurelius would in one hour colour four faces. Why, is it so easy? When will you finish Campaspe? Why should not I by labour be as cunning as Apelles? Me thinketh four colours are sufficie ̄ to to shadow any countenance, & so it was in the time of Phy jas. Lend me thy pensil Apelles, I will paint, and thou shalt judge. The coal breaks. Now it blacks not. This is awry. Now it is worse. Nay, if all be too hard or soft, so many rules and regards, that ones hand ones eye, ones mind must all draw together, I had rather be setting of a battle, then blotting of a board. But how have I done here? I think so: but nothing more unlike a Painter. Well Apelles, Campaspe is finished as I wish, dismiss her, & bring presently her counterfeit after me. Now Hephestion, does not this matter cotton as I would, Campaspe looks pleasantly, liberty will increase her beauty, and my love shall advance her honour. How stately she passes buy, yet how soberly, a sweet consent in her countenance with a chased disdain, desire mingled with coyness, and I cannot tell how to term it, a cursed yielding modesty. So she shall for the fairest on the earth. Me thinketh Hephestion you are more melan choly then you were accustomed; but I perceive it is all for Alexander. You can neither brook this peace, nor my pleasure, be of good cheer, though I wink, I sleep not. Yes, yes, if all the travails of conquering the world will set either thy body or mine in tune, we will undertake them. But what think you of Apelles ? Did ye ever see any so perplexed? He neither answered dire ctly to any question, nor looked steadfastly upon any thing. I hold my life the painter is in love. I will find it out. Page, go speedily for Apelles, will him to come hither, and when you see us earnestly in talk, sadenly cry out, Apelles shop is on fire. Forget not your lesson The event shall prove. Pity him not, I pray thee, that severe gravity set aside, what do you think of love? But what do you imagine it to be. You are too hard hearted to think so of love. Let us go to Diogenes. Diogenes, thou mayest think it somewhat, that Alexander comes to thee again so soon What dost thou think of the time we have here? If one be sick, what wouldst thou have him do? If thou mightest have thy will, how much grou ̄ worser would content thee? What, a world? Hephestion, shall I be a little pleasant with him? And why? Why, be not women the best creatures in the world? What dost thou dislike chiefly in a woman? What? In mine opinion thou Wertenberg never born of a woe man, that thou thinkest so hardly of wome ̄ . But not continued ̄ meth Apelles, who I am sure is as far from thy thoughts, as thou art from ̄ his cunning. Diogenes, I will have thy cabin re moved nearer to my court, because I will be a philosopher But here comes Apelles. Apelles, what piece of work have you now in hand? I think your hand put it in your head. Is it no thing about Venus? Stay Apelles, no haste, it is your heart is on fire, not your shop, & if Camp. hang there, I would she were burned. But have you the picture of Campaspe? Beelike you love her well, that you care not though all be lost, so she be safe. You lay your colours grossly, though I could not paint in your shop, I Can ̄ spy into your excuse. Be not asha med Apelles, it is a Gentleman's sport to be in love. Call hither Campaspe. Me thinks I might have been made pri vie to your affection, though my counsel had not been necessary, yet my countenance might have been thought requisite. But Apelles forsooth loves under hand, yea & under Alexanders nose, and, but I say no more. Compaspe, here is news, Apel. is in love with you. Hephestion, I will try her to. Campaspe, for the good qualities I know in Apelles and the virtue I see in you, I am determined you shall enjoy one the other. How say you Campaspe, would you say, I? Think you not Hephestion that she would feign be commanded? I will not enforce marriage, where I cannot continued ̄ pel love. ` Hephestion, these parties are agreed, they would have me both priest and witness. Apelles, take Campaspe, why move you not? Campaspe, take Apelles, will it not be? If you be ashamed one of the other, by my consent you shall never come together. But dissemble not Campaspe, do you love Apelles? Apelles, it were a shame for you, being loved so openly of so fair a virgin, to say the contrary. Do you love Campaspe? Two loving worms, Hephestion, I perceive Alex ander cannot subdue the affections of men, though he continued ̄ quer their countries. Love falls Like Due aswell upon ̄ the low grass, as upon the high Caedar. Sparks have their heat, Ants their gall, Flies their spleen. Well, enjoy one and other, I give her thee From ̄ ckly Apelles. Thou shalt see that Alexander makes but a toy of love, and leads affection in setters, using fa ̄ cy as a fool to make him sport, or as a minstrel to make him merry. It is not the amorous glance of and eye can settle and idle thought in the heart, no no, it is children's game, a life for seam sters and scholars, the one pricking in clouts have no thing else to think on, the other picking fancies out of books, have little else to marvel at. Go Apelles take with you your Campaspe, Alexander is cloyed with looking on that, which thou wondredst at. Page, go warn Clitus and Parmenio and the oh there Lords to be in a readiness, let the trumpet sound, strike up the drum, and I will presently into Persia. How now Hephestion, is Alexander able to resisle love as he lift? It were a shame Alexander should desire to come maund the world, if he could not command himself. But come, let us go, I wll try whither I can better bear my hand with my heart, then I could with mine eye. And good Hephestion, when, all the world is won, and every country is thine and mine, either find me out and other to subdue, or of my word I will fallen in love.