ANTIGONUS

Then let us all of one accord conclude, That Alexanders hoped for raze must reign: So shall w'establish still anointed blood, Whose government both glory gave, and gain. And let us now before we partly, appoint Who govern shall till that the Babe be born: And circumspectly put all things t'a point, That the success our counsels may adorn. How fortuned you your forces to dispose, So well t'auoyd that storm of threatened harms? For then you had to deal with mighty foes, That were in war grown hoary under arms. The humour of that man was too well known, Could he have parted other men from pride: That was becomed a slave unto his own, And for the same forced by his followers, died. A haughty gesture shows a tyrants heart, All love a courteous countenance void of Art. Lo, when prosperity too much prevails, Above the judgement thus of vulgar minds, As little barges burdened with great sails, They leap aloft being swollen with Fortune's winds. And as adversity the sprite refines, From out the dross of pride, and passion base: That virtue in affliction clearest shines, And makes one all the ways of wit to trace. So good success does make the judgement die, Then while the fortunate their ease do take: And lulled asleep in Pleasures meadows lie, As fatted for the slaughter, ripe to shake. Yet this the nature is of gallant men, To rest (being in no state too much involved) When prospring best most wary and humble then; If crossd, then more courageous and resolved. What though your first attempts renowned are, By which you in two fields victorious stood, And did overthrow two thunderbolts of war, That lost their lives amid a scarlet flood? Yet is that course of victory controlde, And you have tried what force your force exceeds: Then let not withered Laurels make you bold, As still reposing on your bypast deeds. For by the same t'an indignation moved, The Macedonians all abhor your name; That at that time so proved a conqueror proved, And with their great men's slaughter winged your fame. No vice than pride does greater hate procure, Which foes do scorn and friends can not endure. A humble port, kind looks, words smooth, and soft, Are means by which great minds may mount aloft. Thus hastened was Perdicca's to his end. I would be glad that soldiers never thought, But that thing which their Generals first conceived: Much less t'attempt against their bodies ought, The which by them as sacred should be saved. Nor Like I captains that Like blustering winds Would over their troops triumph as tyrants still, Without regard to merits, or to minds, As carried headlong with a blinded will. From self-presumption first pride borrows might, Which with contempt being matched, both do conspire, And betwixt them bring base cruelty to light, Abhorred offspring of a hated sire. Such of Perdicca's was excessive pride, The vice from which that viler vice proceeds, That it strange ways for his advancement tried, And did burst forth in most prodigious deeds. The murder of Mell ager first began To tell what tyrants harboured in his heart, To whom faith given, nor yet the church he won, Though sacred both no safety could impart. And being by him constrained to quite the field, The guiltless Capadocians desperate bans, Chosen rather than to that proud victor yield, To perish by the pour of their own hands. Yet what against his foes he did perform, From martial minds might plead for some excuse, While vindicative thoughts that wronged do storm, In th'irritated mind did fury infuse. But yet why sought he in a servile sort T'extend his tyranny, even towards his friends, That could not with disdainful forms comport? More than and enemies yoke a friends offends. And when of late by Ptolemy constrained, He brought his bans with disadvantage back: How by the same his government was stained, The world can witness by his armies wrack. But Hate being judge, each error seems a crime, Then while the present aggravates whats gone: His soldiers moved by fortune, and the time, Did by his death venge all their wrongs in one. That which you speak of hate, in love I spy, Love cannot find and imperfection forth: But does excuse, extenuate, or deny Faults where it likes, with shadows of no Worth. I left Perdicca's, but did him no wrong, That first to take my life all means did prove: I told to Antipater, how he so long Had been abused by a pretended love. For as I frankly love, while loved again, If me the ingrate ingrately do aquite: Straight kindling fury with a joust disdain, I by love passed proportion, then my hate. And yet Eumenes, I commend thy mind, That to defend thy friend hast proved so free; And since in love so constantly inclined, I would contract a friendship firm with thee. Then where that now thy state hath been brought low, Since spoilde of him in whom thou didst repose: While aided by our pour thou great may grow, And raise thy Hope's of kingdoms to dispose.