ANTONY

Those warlike nations that did nations spoil, Are by thy legions now, t'our laws made thrall; What can not virtue do by time and toil, True magnanimity triumphs over all. Nought in a captainc more confounds his foes, Then sudden resolutions swift effects; For so surprised ere they their thoughts dispose, All good advice prodigious care neglects. Though when you marched towards Room, your power The sudden news so thundered in each ear: (was small, That (as if heaven had fallen upon them all,) They bred amazement, and th'amazement fear, Some secret destiny as then appeared, Does guide mensactions and their judgements bounds, Them whom huge armies could not once have feared: A shadow or a rumour while confounds. Is't that th'encroaching danger dulls their spirits. And does prevent their resolutions power, Or that some destiny distracts their wits, When heavens determined have their fatal hour? Pompey the great that was grown aged in arms, And had triumphed over all the world's three parts (Being quite discouraged with imagined harms) Fled Room, though without reach of enemies darts. Then as t'a torrent all gave place to you, Room whom she called a rebel made her Lord: Your successor Domitius forced to bow, Did trust your favour more than fear your sword. When in the Iberian bounds you did arrive, There adversary that did vaihely vaunt, Had all advantage that the ground could give, And wealth of victuals that with us were scant. Yet the celerity that you had used Did so discourage their disordered band, That (as Jove in their breasts had fear infused,) They had no strength against our strokes to stand. And when Rome's general with brave Legions stored Seemed to possess all that his soul require, While us overthrow both famine and the sword, The sea, the land, and all in one conspire; Then for your offices they did contend, As those that of the victory were sure: And where they might affairs of state attend In Room, for lodgings fondly did procure. Yet memorable now that day remains, When all the world was in two armies ranged: That Mars went raging through the Aemathian plains, And to despairs high expectations changed. That famous field when the Pompeyans lost, (As Lyons do their prey) you did pursue The scattered remnant of that ruined host, On which new heads still Like to Hydra grew. Though victory in Africa fatal seem'de To any army that a Scipio led; Yet you showed there, for worth in war esteemed That Room a better then a Scipio bred: And all our enemies were confounded thus, That us in number ever did surmount; But Caesar and his fortune were with us, Which we did more than many thousands count. I would have all my foes brought to their ends. Their blood whom I suspected should quench all strife. I fear that some too soon your death contrive. Those that the shadow of your greatness blinds. But to their country they are bound far more. You as th'vsurper of the same they hate. They fear your pour, because it may do ill. Since first (great Caesar ) I discerned thy worth, On all thy actions I did still attend: And therefore what some whisper, I'll speak forth, Admonish freely it becomes a friend. Since first men did suspect that you aspire T'a Monarchy, the government to change; They in their souls your ruin do conspire, And their affections far from you estrange. Since chaste Lucretia by proud Tarquin stained, Washed with her blood the violated bed, While by his power supreme Room was constrained All things obey, that his cursed brain had bred. This government which some tyrranick call, It sounds so odious in the peoples ears, As Tyrants vild, that they detest them all Whose greatness gives them any cause of fears. With victories being cloyed, will you not then Your safety once, more then new wars respect? The world hath seen thee (great man) for Rome's good, In danger oft of many a dangerous shelf: While for her glory thou engaged thy blood, Of others careful, careless of thy self. What wonder now though this most barbarous deed, Have with amazement closed your judgement in, Which Oh I fear shall great confusion breed, When Caesars toils did end, Rome's did begin. The most suspicious minds had not believed, That Roman reverenced for their worth by us, Would have presumed to kill, yea, or to-have grieved, A inviolable hallowd body thus. Who would but once have dreamt of such despite? What strange hostility in time of peace, To slay, though not accused, against all right, A sacred man, and in a sacred placed Still concord for the commonweal were best, To reconcile divided thoughts again, Then discord to great towns no greater pest, Whose violence no reverence can restrain. Yet oftentimes those wary wits have erred, That would buy wealth and ease at any cost, Let honesty to profit be preferred, And t'a vile peace, war when it wounds us most. But seeking peace what surety can we find? Can faithless men give faith joust fears to stay? No sacred band impiety can bind, That swears for trust, seeks trust but to betray. What helped it Caesar that we all had sworn, His body still from dangers to redeem, Those that are once perjured hold oaths in scorn, All are most frank of what they least esteem. While I the depths of my affection found, And read but obligations which I owe, I find my self by oaths, and duty bound, All Caesars foes, or then my self overthrow. But when I weigh what to the state belongs, The which to plague no passion shall get place, Then I with grief digesting private wrongs, War with my self to give my country peace. Yet while my thoughts of this last purpose muse, I altogether disassent from this, That we should Caesars fame, or body abuse, By torturing tyrants as the custom is. Lest guilty of ingratitude we seem, (If guerdoning our benefactors thus) Great Caesars body from disgrace redeem, And let his acts be ratified by us. Then for the public weal of which we pause, Towards those that have him killed t'extend regard, Let them be pardoned for their kinsmen's cause, Remission given for evil is a reward. Lo, those that striu'de your virtue to suppress, And were opposed to all your actions still: While labouring but too much to make you less, Have made you to grow great against your will. Great Pompey's pomp is passed, his glory gone, And austere Cato by himself lies killed: Than dastard Cicero more you honours none, Thus all your foes are with confusion filled. The Senators whose wrath could not b'affwag'd, Long to your prejudice their pour abused, Till at their great ingratitude enraged, I said our swords would grant what they refused. When having scaped, endangered, and despised, That Curio' and I did to your camp resort, In old bore gowns Like some base slaves disguised, All sighed to see us wronged in such a sort. Still life would be redeemde from dangers forth. Than life to man, what thing more deer succeeds? Men by all means this blast of breath prolong. By that they think your pour to much abounds. Those barbarous realms by whose respective will, Of Caesars conquests monuments are shown, As if they held them highly honoured still, That warrd with Caesar though they were orethrowne. Can this disgrace by their proved minds be born, While we dishonour whom they honour thus, And shall we not (while as a tyrant torn,) Give him a tomb that gave the world to us? Must his decrees be all reducde again, And those degraded whom he graced of late, As worthy men unworthily did gain Their rooms of reputation in the state? If as a tyrant we him damn so soon, And for his murderers do rewards devise, Then what he did, must likewise be undone, For which I fear a fowl confusion rise.