No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Ah wherein Father have I thus offended! Or what vile sign of a degenerd mind Have you remarked in me that ever tended To the reproach of our Imperial kind? That of this praise you would give me no partly, But bar me from a famous enterprise, As one unworthy for to wield a dart: Who still in vile repose inglorious lies, Lies Like a wanton with vain thoughts bewitchd, Who spoiled of force effeminately lives, A Peacock but with painted pens enrichd, Yet poor in all the parts that Glory gives. What glory gives those glorious Styles to me Which by succession fallen, not by desert, Should but my Fame with borrowed feathers flee; For come of Kings a kingdom is my partly. Who only by his Birth advancement claims, Like a base bastard does his birthright bloat, I will not beg my worth from dead men's names, Nor conquer Credit only by my Coat. What comforts this to brook imperial seat, And all the bliss that Majesty imparts? If those whom only we exceed in State, Be our Superiors in far better parts. More then a Crown true Worth is to be valued, Th'one Fortune's gift, and th'other our own merit, By which oft times afflicted Mind is salved, When Fortune takes what we by her inherit. Would God I had some means once ere my death To satisfy that infinite desert; Which I shall hold so long as I have breath, Deep registered with reverence in my heart. Yet (Sir) we see it is a natural thing For too excessive love engender fears, A sport Like this can no great peril bring Where either all delights the eyes or ears. If from my former deeds I now should shrink, As void of virtue to soft pleasure thrall, Of your two Sons what might your subjects think, Th'one wanting but one sense, and th'other all. What fancies might my late spoused love possess, To see her husband hateful in their sights? And from the height of Honour to digress, To womanize with courtly vain delights: Though women love to-have men at their devotion, They hate base minds that hatch no noble motion. Now for to see this monsters ugly shape, With and inflamed desire my thoughts do burn, And Father, be not feared for no mishap, I hope soon, and victorious to return. Life of my soul, how do such broken speeches From confused passion thus abruptly rise? I know my love, thy love my mind o're-reaches, Affection schooled with fears is too too wise. I go o're-thwart the fields for sport to range, Thy sighs do but my soul with sorrow fill, And pardon (deer) I find this wondrous strange, Thou never did till now resist my will. If I trespass in aught against my duty, Which makes thee thus my faith for to mistrust, Mistrust not yet the chains of thine own beauty, Which bind all my desires and so they must. Are we not now made one such fears overcome, Though I would fly my self my self do fetter, And if that I would fly, from whom? to whom? I can love none so well, none loves me better. Have pity of those peareles (sweet eyes souls pleasures) Lest they presage what thou would not have done, The heavens had not given me those precious treasures Of such perfections to be spoiled so soon.
Plot summary
Plot — Croesus
Alexander the Great is dead, poisoned by Cassander. He leaves behind a pregnant widow but no definite heir. Unable to get into the underworld because as yet unburied, his ghost returns to earth and recounts his life story, a tale of escalating atrocity as power progressively divorced him from ordinary humanity. He decides to inspire his captains with ambition and bloodlust. The captains are unable to agree on how best to secure the Macedonian Empire, and various proposals are advanced: to await the birth of Alexander's posthumous child, and appoint a regent in the interim; to crown either Alexander’s bastard brother or his elder son, who is half-barbarian and so unacceptable to the people; to split up the empire between themselves. The only thing they can agree on is that the common foot-soldiers should have no say in the decision. Lysimachus and Seleucus decide to bide their time, let their fellow captains wear themselves out with wrangling, and then step in to take the empire for themselves. Meleager tries to have Perdiccas, his rival, murdered, but the plot fails and Perdiccas responds in kind with more success. When Alexander’s child is born, it is a son. Perdiccas and others become his joint regents, but Perdiccas schemes for personal supremacy. He removes his two colleagues in the regency, gives the other captains their own kingdoms in an effort to secure their loyalty, and plans to marry into the royal family. Two of his new subject kings, Antigonus and Ptolemy, ally themselves against him. He accepts the advice of Eumenes to deal with the rebels first before engaging with dynastic matters, but is murdered by his own soldiers during the campaign. Olympias, Alexander’s mother, plots against Cassander, but Cassander besieges her and, starving, she has to give herself up. She refuses his mercy and is executed. Cassander then procures the murder of Alexander’s remaining family. Antigonus secures the support of Eumenes, but then has him treacherously killed. The four remaining captains (Cassander, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Seleucus) agree to unite against Antigonus. Philastrus prophesies continuing strife: Cassander will die in disgrace, Seleucus will kil Lysimachus and then die himself, and Ptolemy’s line will ultimately end with a lustful queen who will see his empire fall into the hands of the enemy.