NUNTIUS

The message (madame) which my soul affords Must once be known, and once known still accursed. And why? But first to you. Your son is dead. You wrong that Prince, for he with hast in vain Came him to help whom others had destroyed. Two whom he raised did his confusion breed, He found his friend his foe, his foe a friend. When Alexander (who at peace repined) Did (save submission) hold all offers vain, Bent of stern Mars to try the doubtful mind; A general muster Darius did ordain, And (in one battle bent to venture all) He caused his will be publicly proclaimed, While two vile Traitors did conspire his fallen, Who Bessus and Narbazanes were named; Those two in council did discover first Some portion of the poison of their heart, Which caused the king suspect, but not the worst, Yet with a sword he sought to make them smart. But having scaped what first was feared from rage, They seemed so much their error to lament, His indignation that they did assuage, (False hypocrites) pretending to repent. While Artabazus as and honest man Who judged of others by his upright mind, (No fraud conceived) sought more to escape then scan, What they with craft to compass Crowns designed. They urged him with the king to intercede, That in his favour he would give them place, And did protest that by some valorous deed, They labour would to gain again his grace; Then Artabazus came and told the king, That in the battle he might try their faith, And both before his majesty did bring, Who (when submiss) did quickly calm his wrath. With hands stretched up to Heaven, and humbled knees, With tears Like those which Crocodiles do shed, Woe in their face and pity in their eyes, Did for compassion (though from rigour) plead. The king of nature mild did them receive, And them (who thus but for the form complained) Not only all (relenting) quite forgave; But wept in earnest too whilst they but feigned; When in his Coach from all suspicion free, With countenance sad long following on behind (As still pretending supplicants to be) They bowed to him whom they were bent to bind; The Grecian Captain curiously near (When marked a suitor) craved what he required, By pregnant proofs did evidently clear, What treason was against his state conspired: He told what way their purpose might be tried, And how the Bactrians were for trouble bent, Then for his safety prayed him to provide, By straight with him retiring to his Tent; But in the King who did neglect his state, No kind of care this friendly offer bred: So that (it seemed) he by some powerful fate Was headlong forward to confusion led: The Greek passed thence despairing him to save, Who thus all means to help himself refused; With subtle words then Bessus there did crave To purge himself, and errors passed excused; Old Artabazus happening to approach, The King to him did Patrons speech report, Who then perceived what danger did encroach, And wished he would where Greeks were strong resort. But in his breast this purpose firmly placed, That from his Subject's he would never fly, With mutual tears they tenderly embraced, And parted there, Like two who went to die. Now silent night in pitchy vapours cled, Had mustered mysts, and marched out of the West; (Days beauty's darkening, shadowy horrors spread) The Sentinels were set, and all at rest, When (lo) a terror did distract the host! Whose bans to murmur were dispersed in parts, With sounds resembling ships in storms near lost, Whilst each to other cause of fear imparts. Those who their King appointed were to guard, From what was endue by fraud or fear did stray; And (to his danger having no regard) His Fortune's Minions fled with heraway. The desolation then grown wondrous great, With some few Eunuchs Darius left alone, (No strength remaining, nor no sign of state) He thus them spoke, who for his fallen did moan: Go, partly in peace ere further harm be had, Lest that my ruin likewise you surprise. They hearing those sad words (as men gone mad) Went howling through the host with dolorous cries; So that all those who herd what plaints they made, Thought that they had their Sovereigns death bewailed; And (forcing trust) some forged reports were spread, That he had killed himself, all hope quite failed. The Persians grieved whilst these things did occur, Did first encourage all their Country bans To help their Prince, but yet they durst not stir For fear of falling in the Bactrians hands; Even in the time when this confusion was, The Traitors to defer the fact no more, Did to their Sovereigns Tent with Squadrons pass, And took, and bound, him whom they served before; Who in a golden Coach once proudly road, Was thrown in one for common carriage used, And who of late was honoured Like a God, Two of his own (as if their slave) abused: Those royal hands to bear a Sceptre born, Were basely bound, and which the more him grieved, "(Thus misery can hardly escape from scorn) "With bans of gold, which burdened, not relieved. When Alexander (great with courage) spied Our Armies fly, he (who in hope them chaced) To follow us with diligence did ride, "Base seemed the Conquest which no danger graced; But when at last at length by some informed How he was made a captive to his own, At this indignity he highly stormed, As if by it his Hope's had been overthrown. Out of his host he did select a few Who were best horsed, and fit for such a fight, With whom his foes he did so fast pursue, That ever they could suspect, he came in sighed; The Traitors vexed when spying him appear, Came to the Cart whereas the King did stay, And called to horse in haste, since foes were near, Lest that they else might find him for a prey. He looked aloft, and cried aloud, I see That Nemesis is frowning from above; Should I with Traitors as a captive be? And fly from him, who but brave wars does move? Then those in whom impiety abounds, Throwed Darts at him (vile beasts to be abhorred) And hurt the horses with and hundred wounds, Then men more trusty, dying for their Lord; As false in hearts, so feeble with their hands, When Gilded and Danger doubled had despairs, The Traitors first, then all their traitorous bans Fled from a number less by half then theirs. But to the bounds of Death's pale kingdom brought. The King retired where least by people spied, More wounded with ingratitude then ought, Did leave the world, whose folly he had tried; The last divorce which lasts, was scarcely made Betwixt soul and body whilst the eyes grew dim, When Alexander came and found him dead, Who laboured had so long to ruin him, And (whilst his tears a general mourning moved) That stately vesture which himself arrayed, (Much feared for valour, more for virtue loved) With his own hand on Darius corpse he laid; Then wailing long as for a brother lost To have his funerals furnished Like a Kings, He bids you use his wealth, and spare no cost; For, you shall want no necessary things. He hath his body hither sent by me, And funeral rites solemnly bent to do, He thinks that they may best accomplished be, Whilst who him bred does see him buried too