CAESAR

Outrageous Gauls that in most monstrous swarms, Went wasting Asia, thundering down all things; And marching over the Macedonians arms, Did insolently make and unmake kings. Those Gauls that having the world's conqerors foiled, As if the world might not have matched them then, Would sacrilegiously have Delphos spoiled: And warrd against the gods, contemning men, Yea those whose ancestors our city burned. The people that the Roman only feared: By me Rome's nursling matched and orematchtmurn'd, So what they first eclipsd again they cleared. Then as to subjects having given decrees, I left the Gauls their rash attempts to rue: And wounding Neptune's bosom with winged trees, The world divided Britain's did subdue. The Germanes from their birth inurde to war, Whose martial minds still haughty thoughts have bred, While neither men nor walls my course could bar, Masked with my banners saw their Rhine run read, And oriental realms amid of late, My coming and orecomming was but one: With little pain so Pompey was called great, That warrd with those whose glorious days were gone: But what though thousands setones praises forth, For fields which shadows and not swords obtained; Yet easy rate but vilifies the worth, No glory without labour can be gained. From dangers passed my comfort now proceeds, Since all difficulties I did over come: And in few words to comprehend my deeds, Room conquered all the world, and Caesar Room. What, do debattelld Pompey's followers strive To recollect their ruins from the dust? Dare they that only by my tolerance live, More to their strength than to my favour trust? Or dost thou fear his sons dejected state, That steals infamous flying through those floods, Which his great father, Admiral of late, Did plant with ships till all their waves seemed woods? Then makes his brother's death his courage more, Since by them straited in a bloody strife, I, that in all the battles given before, Did fight for victory, then fought for life. Or while to march towards Parthia I prepare, Does a suspicion thus afflict thy sprite, For Crassus fortune feared that perished there, Th'opprobrious prey of the Barbarians spite? To those same bans that Cassius thence brought back, A place amongst my legions I'll allow, Whose foes shall find while they avenge th'olde wrack Though the same sheep, another shepherd now. Do not imagine matters to bemoan, For while there stands a world, can Caesar fallen? Though thousand thousands were conjured in one, I, and my fortune might confound them all. No corpulent sanguinians make me fear, That with more pain their beards than enemies strike And do themselves Like th'epicurians bear, To Bacchus, Mars, and Venus born alike. Their hearts do always in their mouths remain, As streams, whose murmuring shows the course not deep Then still they love to sport, though gross and plain, And never dream of ought but when they sleep. But those high sprites that hold their bodies down, Whose visage lean their restless thoughts records, While they their cares depth in their bosoms drown, Their silence fears me more than th'others words. Thus Cassius now and Brutus seem to hold Some great thing in their mind, whose fire while smocks What Brutus would, he vehemently would, Think what they Like, I Like not their pale looks. Yet with their worth this cannot well agree, In whom of virtue th'image seem to shine, Can those that have received their lives from me, Prove so ingrate again as to take mine? Dare Cassius me pursue new Hope's to have, At the Helespont that fortune feared to try, And Like a dastard did his Galleys leave, In all (save courage) though more strong than I? Shall I suspect that Brutus seeks my blood, Whose safety still I tendered with such care, Who when the heavens from mortals me seclude, Is only worthy to be Caesars heir? That which I herd, with thy report accords, While thou all seemed dissolved in grief at once, A heavy murmuring made with mangled words, Was interrupted oft by tragic groans. The memory, but not the judgement makes Th'impression thus of passion in the brain, For what the soul most suffers when it wakes, With it asleep it does turmoiled remain. From superstitious fears this care proceeds, Which still would watch over that which thou dost love, And in thy mind melancholy thus breeds, Which does those strange imaginations move. Inhabitants of heaven that know all hearts, They know my thoughts as pure as are their stars: And that constrainde I came from foreign parts, To seem uncivil in the civil wars. I mooude that war which all the world bemoans, Being vrgde by force to free my self from fears: Still when my hand gave wounds, my heart gave groans, No Roman blood was shed, but I shed tears. But how could any cleuated spright, That had for honour hazarded his blood; Yet yield by froward foes outrageous spite, To be defrauded of th'expected good. When as a multitude of battles won, Had made Rome's Empire, and my glory great; And that the Gauls (oft vanquishde) had begun Embrace the yoke that they disdainde of late. Then pompous Pompey, my proud son in law, And Cato, that still crossed what I designed, From favouring me the people did withdraw, And unto me a successor assigned. Not that he should succeed in dangerous broils, But even through envy, as they had ordained, That he might so triumph of all my toils, And rob the glory that I dearly gained. Could one with such indignities comport, That value's honour dearer then the light? No, (while my soul rests sovereign of this fort) None shall have power to rob me of my right. And yet by Jove, that all the world commands, Use any violence I did mislike: And offered oft t'abandon all my bands, If that my enemies would have done the Like. But the tumultuous multitude that still As waves with winds are carried with conceits, With nought but my disgrace would bound their will, And I committed all unto the fates. Yet when at Rubicon I stood perplexed, And weighed the horror of my high attempt, My soul was with a thousand fancies vexed, Which resolution buried in contempt. The sweetest comfort that my conquests gave, It was the mean how to do many good; For every day some Roman life I save, That in the field to fight against me stood. Thus may my mind be judged by the event, That (even when by my greatest foes assailde) To win the battle never was more bent, Then promptto pardon when I had preuailde. Not covetous of blood of spoils nor harms, I (though being victor) did insult over none, But laid aside all hatred with my arms, A foe in fight, a friend when it was gone. I Like the praise of clemency, more then Of force, that with affliction enemy loads, For force proves oft the worst thing that's in men, And clemency the best thing in the gods. Stern Cato, but by Cato that would die, And either death or life, if given disdained; Oh, I envy thy death that didst envy, The glory that I saving thee had gaind'. Yet I to rends and dignities restore Even those that my destruction had designed: And Oh, it does delight my mind far more By benefits then by constraint to bind. I rather have my foes all made my friends. So might one do that liked of nought but life. Not with a ransom then it self more worth. Men should strive to live well, not to live long. And I would spend this momentary breath, To live by fame for ever after death For I aspire in spite of fates to live. Who dare but lodge such thoughts within their minds. The best are bound to me by gifts in store. Then loath they me as enemy of the state? I by huge battles have enlarged their bounds. Yet I from doing wrong refrain my will. The present state still miscontentment brings To factious minds affecting matters strange, That burdens to themselves irk of all things; And so they change, regard not what they change: In populous towns where many make repair, (Whose confluence by conference all things touch) They further than their bounds extend their care, The idle that do nothing, must think much. Lo, Room (though wasted all with civil wars, While private grudge pretended public good; And that equality engendering jars, Did prove too prodigal of Roman blood;) Yet having through huge toils attained to rest, That it by yielding one may banish tears: It if constrained disdains embrace the best, This word necessity so wounds the ears. And th'insolent with vile seditious words, That trembled while they herd the trumpets found: Stir now their tongues, as we did then our swords, And what Mars sparde, make Mercury confound. The people thus in time of peace agree, T'abase the greatest still, even in that form As in calm days they do disbranch the tree, That shrouded them of late against a storm. But now I looked for liberty to boast, That once my deeds triumphed had over envy: As all dark shadows do evanish most, Then when the Sun shines highest in the sky: And though their hatred deeply they disguise, Yet they conceal not so their souls desires: But that their spite rest sparkling through their eyes, And bosts to burst out once in open fires. I not affect the title of a king, For love of glory, or desire of gain, Nor for respect of any private thing, But that the state may by my travels gain. You know Sibilla's books that never fail, In many minds have and opinion bred: That over the Parthians Room cannot prevail, Till by a sovereign prince her bans be led. For as confusion is the fruit we find Of those affairs that diverse thoughts dispose; So sovereignty matched with a gallant mind, Breeds reverence in ones own, fear in his foes. And, Oh it grieves me that these steps of ours, Have trod so oft on many a millions necks, While yet the Parthian vilipends our powers, And all our victories vnuanquish'd checks. Ah, should a General of the Roman raze Be by Barbarians killed, and not revenged? And should his ensigns, signs of our disgrace, Rest in the rank of conquered relics ranged? No, no, wretched Crassus, now thy self content, I'll pacify thy ghost with Parthians spoils: For still my boiling fancies have been bent T'ore-match th'vnmatch'd, and daunt th'vndaunted soils Though while in th'April of my blooming age, I from the vulgar rate redeemed my name, Some with my deeds did burden youths hight rage, And and ambitious appetite of fame. Yet since the coldness of declining years Bosts to congeal the blood that boiled of late, While else my life the sun of glory clears, That now of all the world remain most great. I cannot covet that thing which I have, I have all honour that can be require. And now (as only wanted thing) would crave, To taste the pleasures of a life retyrde. But only now advance the state I strive, For, Oh neglecting echoes of renown I could content my self unknown to live A private man, with a Plebeian gown. Since (Anthony) thus for the state I care, And all delights that nature loves disdain: Go, and in time the peoples minds prepare, That as the rest, I may the title gain. Yet indirectly at the first, assay To what their doubtful minds do most incline: But as without my knowledge, that they may All mark your mind, and yet not think of mine. No armour is that can hold treason out. So dastard tyrants strive themselves to bear. No stronger guard than is the peoples love. Guards showing fear invade me men might tempt. My breast from terror hath been always clear. It's better once to die, than still fear death. I'll not distaste my present pleasures so, By apprehending what may chance to come, This world affords but too much time for woe, While crosses come contentment to overcome. By joys in time we must embrace relief, That when they end, we in some measure may, By their remembrance mitigate the grief, Which still attends all those on earth that stay. I think the Senate is assembled now, And for my coming does begin to gaze, I'll go condignly once adorn my brow, And feast mine ears by drinking in endue praise. While I reformed the Calendar by fits, That long disordered order of the year; I waded through the depths of all their wits, That of the stars the mysteries make clear. Those pregnant sprites that walk betwixt the poles, And lodge at all the zodiacs several signs, Do read strange wonders wrapped in Azure scrolls, Of which our deeds are words, our lives are lines. By speculation of superior powers, Some Nature's secrets curious are to know, As how celestial bodies rule over ours, And what their influence effects below. Yea they sometime may strange conjectures make, Of those whose parts they by their birth do prove, Since naturally all inclination take, From Planets then predominant above. And yet no certainty can so be had, Some virtuously against their stars have strived, As Socrates that grew, (though born but bade,) The most accomplished man that ever lived. But of the hour ordained to close our lights, No earth-clogd soul can to the knowledge come; For Oh the destinies far from our sights, In clouds of darkness have involved our doom. And some but only guess at great men's falls, By bearded comets, and prodigious stars, Whose sight-distracting shapes the world appalls, As still denouncing terror, death, or wars. The time uncertain is of certain death, And that fantastic man far passed his bounds, He is too bold that with ambiguous breath, Not speaks of things to come, whose deeps none sounds When I in Spain against young Pompey went, Thus the diviner threatened me before, Yet did I prosecute my first intent, Which with new laurels did my brows decore. Lest I too much seem wedded to my will, As one that others counsels scorns t'alow, With jealous eyes I'll search about me still, And even mistrust my self to trust thee now. Yet if I stay the Senators deceived, May my beginning straight begin to hate, So might I perish seeking to be saved, By flying, many fallen upon their fate. But here one comes that can resolve me much, With whom I use t'aduise affairs of weight: Whence comest thou Decius, that thy haste is such? Is ought occurred that craves our knowledge straight? Than that no treasure to my soul more deer, Which straight enjoy from hence I long to partly, But yet I know not what arrests me here, And makes my feet rebellious to my heart. From thee (deer friend) I never do conceal The weightiest secrets that concern me most: And at this time I likewise will reveal, How heavens by signs me with destruction boast: To superstition though not being inclined, My wife by dreams does now presage my fallen: It a Soothsayer likewise hath divined, The sacrifice prodigious seems us all; So that till this disastrous day be gone, All company I purpose to disuse. And to the Senators I'll send some one To paint my absence with a fair excuse. With thy advise (as powerful) I agree, The Senators shall have no cause to grudge: A little space, all partly apart from me, And isle be shortly ready to dislodge. WHence come this huge and admirable change, That in my breast hath uncouth thoughts infused? Does earth then erst yield terrors now more strange, Or but my mind less courage then it used? What spiteful fate against my state contends, That I must now t'vnlook'd for plagues give place, By foes not moved, yet feared amongst my friends, By war secure, endangered but by peace? Encounter me when strongest troops did come, Then did my heart the highest Hope's conceive: I warred with many, many to overcome, The greatest battles, greatest glory gave. As enemies number still my courage grew, Oft have I through the depths of dangers passed, Yet never did those boundless labors rue, To have none greater first, none equal last. When as the Gauls feared by their neighbours falls, Had from the fields, no, from my fury fled, And hid themselves with arms, their arms with walls, While I my troops t'inclose Alexia led: Then though there swarmed forth from the bounds about, Huge hosts to compass me, inflamed with wrath, That the besieger being besieged about Seemed drawn with danger in the nets of death. Yet I that could not with the pride comport, That those Barbarians by vain bosts bewrayed, Did reassault assaulters in such sort, That words by wounds, wounds were by death repaid, Of those within the town assuage their toils, Till being over-comed their coming was not known: Who straight upbraided by the barbarous spoils, Did yield themselves with th'others as overthrown, Then while with liquid legions tumid bosts, The trident-bearer strived my spoils to bear: Though threatened thrice amid his humid hosts, I always scorned acquaint my self with fear. I used those Pirates that had me surprised, Still as my servants thundering threatenings forth, And gave them money more than they devised, Grieved to be rated at too little worth. Yet gathering ships, I signed not long the shore, But traced their printles steps through th'vnpau'd way: And taking them, as I had vowed before, By nought but death their ransom would defray. Then when without advise of others minds, Iventred through the hoary waves by night, While in a little bark against great winds, That even the Pilot looked not for the The roaring waves themselves seemed to divide, That in their gravel I might choose a graven. And in a crystal arch above me bide, That I of me a tomb might worthy have. While dangers seemed to merit Caesars death, As Neptune raised his head, raised my heart; And showing what I was with constant breath, T'amazde Amiclas courage did impart, Was I not once amid large Nilus flot, While me to wound a wood of darts did fly, Yet swim'd so careless of my enemies shot, That in my hand I held some papers dry? With open dangers thus in every place, I while being compassed both by sea and land, Did undismayed look horror in the face, As born for nought but only to command. But since a world of victories have filled, With Trophies Temples, Theaters with my praise, That bathed with balm from th'oyle of glory stilled, With friends in peace I looked to spend my days. The chambers music now affrights me more, Then once the trumpets found amids the field, And gowns (though signs of peace) worse, then before The pompous splendour of a flaming shield. Those thoughts of late that had disdained to doubt, Though I alone had marched amongst my foes, Lo, while amongst my friends I'm backed about, Do greater dangers now then eyes disclose. If ought t'assemble any number brings, I insurrections fear from common wrath; Yea, if two talk apart of private things, Straight I suspect that they conspire my death. When sudden rumours rise from vulgar smoke, While the motions roll my restless eyes; I at each corner for ambushments look, And start astonished least some tumult rise. When rising Titan's beams renew th'earths toils, I still despair to re-enioy the night, And when mine eyes th'all-couering darkness spoils, I never look enrich them with the light. For when that light with darkness makes a change, To flatter mortals with a dream of rest, What ugly Gorgons, what Chimaeras strange, Do boast the little world within my breast? Appointed time t'appease impetuous cares Does double mine, that view most when being blind: I apprehen'd huge horrors and despairs, While outward object not distract my mind. What comfort of my conquests now remains? Where is the peace pursued by many a strife? Have I but taken pain abound in pains, And sought by dangers for a dangerous life? Is this the perjod of aspiring powers, In promised calms to be most plagued by storms? Lurk poisonous serpents under fairest flowers. And hellish furies under heavenly forms? It will not grieve my ghost below to go, If circumvented in the wars I end, As bold Marcellus by Rome's greatest foe, That gave his ashes honour as a friend. Or Like Epaminondas prosperous death, Oh would to God I had amid alarms Being charged with recent spoils, been spoiled of breath, While I towards Pluto might have marched in arms. Yet t'end this life that nought but toils affords, I'll pay to death the tribute that he owes, Straight with my blood set some come die their swords, My body shall be bared embrace their blows. But ah, how have the furies seized my breast, And poisoned thus my spirit with desperate rage: That with their horrid serpents barred from rest, Nought can imagined be my toils assuage. No, Atropos, yet spare my thread a space, That ere I to the Stigian streams go down, I may of honour have the highest place, And if I fallen, yet fallen beneath a crown. While I would bend my ears t'applauding shouts, My thoughts divided are within my breast, And my tossde soul does float between two doubts, Yet knows not on what ground to built her rest. The Senators they have this day designed, To show the world how they esteem my worth; Yet do portentous signs perturb my mind, By which the heavens would point my danger forth; The gods from me with indignation gone, Have charactered in every thing my death, And must both heaven and earth conspire in one, To quench a little spark of still-tossde breath? My safety would that I should stay within, Till this disastrous day give darkness place: But honour Hunt's me forward to begin, To reap the glory of my painful raze: And I'll advance in spite of threatened broils, For though the fates effect that which we dream, When death retires from forcing those frail spoils, Though breathless, isle be breathed over all by fame. The great contentment that true glory breeds. No, though I have surmounted other men, My fancies yet do greater things affect: In emulation of my self at last, Even enviously I look on mine own deeds; And bent to make the new surpass things passed, Now to my mind old praise no pleasure breeds.