PTOLEMY

Might not the Macedonians all b'asham'd, If rendered vassals thus t'a barbarous brood? What? should we bear the yoke that we have framed, To buy disgrace have we bestowed our blood. Our ancestors whose glory we obscured, Would get some vantage of their Nephews thus: They warrd that peoples wrack to have procured, And have we ward to make them Lords over us? Ah, bury this as a'xecrable thing, And let this purpose be no more pursued, For though they were begotten by our king, Yet were they born of those that we subdued. Obraue Leonides, I Like thy strife, That with so few perforrnd so glorious things: And death preferred before th'infamous life, That bondage still from a Barbarian brings. Those loathed t'accept a stranger for their Lord, And with their blood gave flame t'an unknown field, Yet we would honour them that they abhorred, And though being victor's to the vanquished yield. For whereto tended that renowned attempt, Which makes the Persians yet abase their brow; But even t'our countries' scorn in a contempt. To take by force that which we offer now. Was this the scope of all our conquersts then, Of our own captives to be made the prey? No, let us still command Like valorous men, And rule our Empire by some other way. May we not use this policy a space, Till better wits some better means devise? Lest dangerous discords do disturb our peace, Still when we would of serious things advice. Let a majestic Senate gathered be, And them amongst the Imperial chare of state: That of authority all signs may see, Then while we compass that respected seat. There those that were in credit with the king, Whose merits in men's minds have reverence bred: Shall in their judgements balance every thing, How kingdoms should be ruled, how Armies led. And what the greatest partly hath once approved, To that the rest must obliged be t'incline: All Army by this harmony being moved, Will execute what ever we design. This concord would prove happy for us all, Since it each state in greatest surety renders: And by this means our Macedony shall, In place of one have many Alexanders. None needs to wonder much though we negle One whose election might procure our shame: His mother's baseness Justice might object, Whom bastardy secludes from such a claim. But yet had nature purged the spot she made, We with his birth the better might comport: While fatherlike in all affairs he had, Given proof of parts that might the state support. He falsifies his raze of wit so weak, That all his inward wants are soon perceived: All of his judgement in derision speak, By which great things can hardly be conceived. And though his body might from pains be sparde, Whose constitution is not very strong, But with infirmities so far impairde That it aline cannot continue long: Yet since in state he never hath been schooled, His ignorance would rack him still with fears: While he that ruled still needing to be ruled, Spoke but with others tongues, herd with their ears. A inconstant king great confusion makes, Whom all mistrust, and most amid a Camp: While soft Like wax, he each impression takes, And does for frivolous things still change the stamp. Ah, should our lives depend upon his breath, That of himself cannot discern a crime: But dooms by informations men to death, Then barren pity yields when out of time. Thus while some always must his judgement sway, That still does harbour in another's head: Of Sycophants this prince may be the prey, That where they list, th'authority will lead. And being but base, that they may be the best, Such still will toil that we may be overthrown: And sometime may the credulous king suggest, To taint our fame, lest it obscure their own. What grief were this tvs, while such as those, Might make their vantage of thall-powrefull breath, And that our actions balanced by our foes, Were guerdond with disdain, or else with death? But When we have within burr bosom weighed The ruin of all Alexanders raze; Whom without blushing we might have obeyed, By right succeeding in our sovereigns place. How can our souls but highly be ashamed, That one inferior both to them and us, Does seek by wrong that which by right they claimed, And by their overthrow would b'exalted thus? Nor need I more as in suspense remain, To mask my meaning with ambiguous words: No, no, our words may as his deeds be plain, Which fame, (and without whispering) now records You hear how that Antigonus of late, Whose thoughts winged with ambition soar too high: Does strive above us all advance his state, And on his former fortune does rely. Since to his hands Eumenes was betrayed, Lo, quite transported by preposterous pride, As if in nought addicted now t'our aid, He hath laid all regard of us aside. It's good to quench a fire ere it grow great. A mutual band must made amongst us be, To make one fortune common to us all: And from henceforth we must all four agree, To stand together, or together fallen. And since the princely buds for which we cared, How ever dead, are dead; what ere we do Engender so towards us the more regard, We with the state must take the title too. And we must both be crowned, and known forkings, The Diadem is greatness strongest tower: All vulgar judgements lean on outward things, And reverence state, where they obey but pour.