NUNTIUS

Amultitude of murders. What not. They have told much, and yet I must tell more; Their news were evil, yet were they not the worst, As earth in pride, the heavens in plagues abounds, Our highest Hope's have perished but of late. Our Queen Olimpias ravished by revenge, All Macedony did with murders fill; Which from her partly the people did estrange, While nought but rigour limited her will. So that when fierce Cassandra sought her wreak, She did mistrust the Macedonians minds: And for the time the nearest strength did take, There till the storm was passed t'attend fair winds. But soon Cassandra did the town enclose, And as she held him out, did hold her in, That Like a captive guarded by her foes, She knew not by what way a way to win. And when their life's provision did decay, Then did bore walls but small refuge afford: She Scylla scaped to be Charibdis prey, That fell on famine flying from the sword. Strait Like pale Ghosts faint soldiers did remain, Whose bowels hunger Like a Harpy tears: And with courageous words, the Queen in vain Did raise their spirit; (the belly hath no ears.) All then began to languish, and to fade, As if being tired to bear themselves about; Legs failed the body, and the neck the head, Then while the flesh fell in, bones bursted out: And when that ordinary meats were spent, Then horses, dogs, cats, rats, all served for food; Of which no horror th'eater did torment, For all that was not poison, then seemed good. Some mouths accustomed once with dainty meats Wished what they oft had loathed, isle crumbs, foul floods And Ladies that had lived in pompous states, Fed, as brought up with wolves amid the woods: Yea, nursed by those whom they themselves had nursed, Oft then by the of springs death th'engendrer lived; And which was worst, while breasts were Like to burst None comfort could, for all themselves were grieved. Such was their state, no friend bewailed bis friend, No wife her husband, nor no Sire his son; For apprehending their approaching end. All with compassion of them selves were won. The dead men's smell empoisoned them that lived, While first made faint by a defrauded womb: Heaps were of breath and burial both deprived, That all the town in end was but a tomb. When thus the world Olimpias plagued did spy, All sought Cassandra, though for several ends. And she considering that she could not long Hold out the siege, since victuals were grown scant, Did send (as weak) for peace t'intreat the strong. Then did Cassandra know that needs constrained Her so to bow as strangely being diseased: And though he her request not quite disdained, Th'agreement was appointed as he pleased. For all the favour that she could procure, Was leave to live a private person still; And yet of that she could not be made sure, Which did depend upon her enemies will. Then while Cassandra fought his enemies ends, There wanted not strange troops with him abide; Yet might have many followers, and few friends: Friends by the touchstone of distress are tried. But though the Queen was rendered in this sort, With protestation to-have her life preserved. The tyrant with her spirit could not comport, But from his faith for her confusion swerved. The Macedonians were together brought, There to consult what did concern their Queen; But when of them a number deeply thought, Both what she was, and what she once had been; Even as Cassandra had suborned them all, Their parents came whom she had damned to death, And did her rigour to remembrance call, By which the multitude was moved to wrath. While from their brazen breasts all ruth was barred, They did conclude, their Queen behooved to die. Yet did Cassandra put (all sleights assay) A mask of pity on a cruel mind, And offered her a ship to fly away, As if to death against his will assign'de. Nor Was this course for her deliverance framed, But only as by chance that she might drown: So for her death that he might not be blamed, But only Neptune, that had thrown her down. Yet she a princess of a mighty spright, Whose lofty courage nothing could overcome, Said, ere she scaped by such a shameful flight, That she would hear the Macedonians doom. But when Cassandra's counsel was contem'nd, Lest that the multitude had changed their mind, When they remembered whom they had condemned, And warily weighed what rashly they designed. To rid her soon from pain, and him from fear, He sent some bans from pity most estranged; Yet she gainst fortune did a banner bear, And not her heart, no, not her countenance changed. She constant still, though moaned, would never moan, Whose stately gesture scorned their foul attempt: And did unite her virtues all in one, To grace disgrace, and glorify contempt. She on two Ladies shoulders leaned her arms, And with a Majesty did march towards death: Like Alexander once amid alarms, As if in triumph bent t'abandon breath. The height of virtue admiration brings, At this great magnanimity amazed: As spying th'Image of their auncieat kings, Or then some goddess; all the soldiers gazed. But ah, some boasted by the tyrant strived To spoil (unnatural) nature's fairest frame; And alabaster balls between they drived Unwilling swords, that strait grew read for shame. Then she in worth, that would her self excel, Would neither word, nor tear, nor sighs forth send; But spread her garments over her while she fell, As jealous of her honour still to th'end. And yet the plague of these detested times. Hath wrought more mischief t'aggrauate our groans. Thus now Cassandra since he cannot win True reputation, but lives tainted still, Embarked in mischief sails the depths of sin, So, if not loved as good, yet feared as ill. Though by his means his ruthless eyes have seen, Fates (as it were from Fortune's bosom) rend His King by poison, by the sword his Queen; In wickedness t'exceede himself in th'end: He prospring in impiety, grew proud, And murdered both his masters son and wife: Thus he that all the world by birthright owed, Could hold no partly of it, no not his life. Yet could Roxanes death not ease his mind, Nor her young son too soon made Pluto's guest: But bent t'vndoe all Alexanders kind, That to revenge the rest there might none rest. By treason he (as all his deeds are done,) Caused Hercules his brother's steps to trace: That was great Alexanders bastard son, And only remnant of that great men raze. Lo thus Cassandra enemy to all good, Whose soul so much for Macedony longs: Hath to the Sceptre swimd through seas of blood, Yet, Oh weak right thats built but on wrongs!