PHOCION

And never any age showed more than this, The wavering state of soule-ennobled wights; That soar too high to seize on airy bliss, While lowest falls attend the highest flights. The matchless Monarch that was born it seemed, To show how high mortality attains: Hath not from death the adored flesh redeemed, But pain hath made and end of all his pains. And these brave bans that furnished fame with b eath, While all the world their valorous deeds did spy: Rest now confounded (since their sovereigns death) Like Poliphemus having lost his eye: And they are Like that teeth-ingendred brood, That took their life out of a monster dead: While each of them pursues for others blood, Since the great Drag ons death that was their head. I think all monarchies are Like the Moon, Which while eclipsd, while under cloud, while clear, Grows by degrees, and is when full, undone; Yet Aeson Like renewed does reappear. For so the first, but small, begin to shine, And when they once their spherick form obtain, Do then begin to languish and decline; Yet fallen in other realms, do rise again. the Assyrians once made many a nation bow; Then next, all pour was in the Persians hand: And lo, the Macedonians monarchs now Amongst themselves divided cannot stand. Yet never did so many Monarchs fallen, By foreign battles, nor intestine broils, As by themselves, that seeming free, were thrall, While smooth-tong'd minions gloried of their spoils. Those that have reigned by choice, by birth, or worth, Or yet through others errors, or their crime, Oft suffer ugly vices to burst forth, Which virtues colours guilted till that time. Men are deciphered best then while they rest Most high advanced being free from hope or fear: That which is eminent is marked best, And highest Fortune's hardest are to bear. Low Fortune's cloak the faults that some commit, While imperfections earth perfections deems, Stupidity seems patience, fear seems wit, Will constancy, and softness goodness seems. But when in the world's theatre one must stand, A public actor placed in all men's sighed: And sways the sign of pour, and in his hand Does hold the balance both of wrong and right; Then he for every Actium that is his, The censure of a thousand tongues must have, Not only damned for doing of things amiss, But for not doing of all that all men crave. Oh, he but undermines the sovereign state, That cares not who be weak so he be strong: More studious for himself then for the state, Or if for it that he may hold it long. For where Jove him for all men's good ordains, He thinks both them and theirs made him to please, As if a charge of weight, a place of pains, Were but a bed of rest, a haven of ease. The world's great weight that Atlas shoulders bear, Is not so weighty all to weigh one down, As that which on his head a king does wear. There is no burden heavier than a crown. The Aegean waves more easy are t'appease, Then are their thoughts whose mind for state prepares: Can they have rest that toil for all men's ease? The purple ever must be lined with cares. And had I willingly engaged my rest, The way to trace, that to vainglory tends: I might have lived respected with the best, As one of Alexanders chiefest friends. For though of him that I did merit nought, He entertainde my friendship till his death: And when he once our cities overthrow sought, At my request he pacified his wrath. Then once to me a mass of gold he sent, And offered too a stately Asian town Which I refused, pleased more with my poor rend, Than he with all the treasures of a crown. I told, that such a sum but served, to make Him a corrupter, me corrupted thought: And foul for him to give, for me to take, If used, shamed both, unused, did serve for nought. But all those baits I never deigned to touch, Lest I that all my life had lived so free Might be possessed too much; possessing much, If taking riches, it had taken me. No, I would rather learn to live on less, Then for superfluous furniture to strive: Who seeks out substance t'entertaine excess, Does live use it, not it that he may live. My fortune does afford sufficient means, That may preserve all Nature's powers in force: And he that on a golden sceptre leans, Can not have more, but may well use it worse. Ah, since abundance but abuses brings, Why seek men more then serves to-have Nature eased? And why should men toil for so many things, Since Nature with alittle can be pleased? Such is the revolution of all things, The wheel of Fortune still must slippery prove, And chiefly when it burdened is with kings, Whose states as weightiest most must make it move. Yet Alexander I must say was blessed, That over the world a victor always ranged: And having ended all his wars, in rest, Did die in time before his fortune change. And for his favour which I oft did try, While earnestly he labord me advance: While earnestly he labord me advance: I'm sorry that himself so soon did die, And that his offspring hath so hard a chance. His successors have set all Greece on fire, Of which I fear to perish by some spark: For Polipercon does my death conspire, And who can escape thats made a great men marker? But for my countries cause I'll give my blood, While safely praised all follow virtue can: But when with danger threatened to do good, Thats only worthy of a worthy man. Nor do I tender so this puff of breath, But I could be contented it expel: A mind that is resolved triumphs over death, He hath lived long enough that hath lived well. A long experience now makes this nought strange, Though mighty states whose reins one only leads; Be while distracted and constrained to change, As too great bodies for so little heads, Since every Commonwealth where all men's wits Do join in one, increase the public ease, Is subject oft to fevers, and to fits, Which Physic while, while poison must appease. For (ah) the multitude more rash then wise, A Hyhra -headed beast while nought it binds, Does passionately praise, or else despise, As some preposterous fancies move their minds. Oft vice and virtue have Like danger bred, While envy th'one procured, and th'other hate: By jealousy, or emulation dreaded, Those ruined are by it that raised the state.