CHORUS

Thou Like thy great progenitor in this, Hast glory to thy self, us freedom brought, Than liberty what greater treasure is? Small with it much, without it much seems nought. But pardon us (heroic man) though we T'a high perfection hardly can aspire, Though every man cannot a Brutus be, That which we cannot imitate, w'admire. At this strange course with too much light made blind We our opinions must suspend a space, When any sudden chance dismays the mind, The judgement to the passion first gives place, Since destinies did Caesars soul enlarge, What course can we for his recovery take? Ah, unrelenting Charon's restless barge Stands to transport all over, but brings none back. Of life's frail glass when broken, with vain groans What earthly pour the ruins can repair? Or who can gather up when scattered once, Ones blood from earth, or yet his breath from th'aire? Let us of those that pass Oblivions flood, B'obliuious still since hope of help is gone, And spend our cares where cares may do most good, Lest Room wail many, where she wails but one. Room to those great men hardly can afford, A recompense according to their worth, That by a tyrants overthrow have restored, The light of liberty that was put forth. Yet by endue praises with their merits even, Let us illustrate their illustrous minds, And to their charge let provinces be given; Still virtue grows when it preferment finds. Ah (great Antonius ) sow not seeds of war, And if thou always dost delight in arms, The haughty Parthians yet undaunted are, Which may give thee great praise, and us no harms. Detest in time th'abhominable broils, For which no conqueror to triumph hath comed, While this wretched town (which still some party spoils) Must loathe the victor, and lament th'orecomd, And shall we still contend against all good, To make the yoke where we should bound abide? Must still the commons sacrifice their blood, As only born to serve the great men's pride. Some for th'earths sovereign Fortune strive to prove As heavens their course confusedly did advance, Nought comes to men below, but from above, By providence, not by a staggering chance. Though to the cause that last foregoes the end, Some attribute th'euent of every thing, That cause on other causes does depend, From heaven to earth that chained together hing. Of those decrees that heavens for us appoint, Whoever them approves, or yet disproves, No mortal man can disappoint a point, But as they please here moves, or hence removes. We when once comed the world's vain pomp to try, Led by the fates, t'our journeys end must haste, For when first born, we striaght begin to die, Life's first day is a step unto the last. And is there ought more swift than days and years, Which wear away this breath of ours so soon? While Lachesis to no request gives ears, But spins the threads of life till they be done. Yet foolish worldelings following that which flies, As if they had assurance still to breathe, To frail preferment fondly strive to rise, Which but a burden weighs them down to death. Oh how those great men friendship can pretend, By soothing others thus with painted winds, And seem to trust, where treason they attend, While love their mouth, and malice fills their minds. Those but to them poor simple souls appear, Whose countenance does discover what they think, That make their words as is their meaning clear, And from themselves can never seem to shrink. Lo how Anthonius feigns to quench all jars, And kindly the conspirators embrace, Yet as he furthered first the former wars, It's feared he now be enemy to peace. Now where Calphurnia stays our steps address, By this last sudden chance her lose was chief: All visit should their neighbours in distress, To give some comfort, or to get some grief. Though apprehending horrors in her mind, Now since she hath a certainty received, She by experience greater grief does find, Till born, the passion cannot be conceived. When as a high disaster force affords, Oh how that tyrant whom affliction bears, Bars theares from comfort, & the mouth from words. And being obdured cannot dissolve in tears. Ah, when unkindness is where love was thought, A tender passion breaks the strongest heart, For of all those that give offence in ought, Men others hate, but for unkind they smart. To what and ebb may Fortune's full while come Why should men following on the smoke of pride, Leave certain ease to seek a dreamed delight, Which when they have by many dangers tried, They neither can with safety keep, nor quite? The people that by force subdued remain, May pity those by whom oppressd they rest. They but one tyrant have, where as there reign, A thousand Tyrants in one tyrants breast. What though that Caesar once commanded kings, Whose only name whole nations did appall? Yet now (let no man trust in worldly things) A little earth holds him that held it all. Though all such things seem wondered to some, They may by reason comprehended be, Yet if ought more than common custom come, It ignorant with wondering eyes must see. Those bastard stars not heritors of th'aire, Are first conceived below, then born above, And when foreknowing things sprites take most care, And by illusions superstition move. Yet this no doubt a great regard should breed, When Nature hath brought forth a monstrous birth, Where men in secret characters may read, The wrath of heaven, and wickedness of earth. The Naturalists, and th'Astrologians skill, May while rencountering manifest Like care, Since th'one looks back, and th'other forward still, Th'one may tell what, and th'other why things are.