PARMENIO

This high attempt, as we would wish succeeds, What hosts have we overthrown, what Cities razed? Lo, populous Asia trembles at our deeds, And martial Europe does remain amazed; Greece, (which both Mars and Pallus did defend:) A humble supplicant before thee falls, Rebellious Thebes, which durst with thee contend; Lies now entombed within her broken walls; That Sea-commanding Tyre, reposing much In liquid Towers that Neptune reared in vain, Hath now confirmed thy forces to be such, That nothing can resist thy just, disdain. No doubt the ancient Grecians, Ghosts are glad To see the fierce Barbarians brought so low, Yet are for envy of thy fortune sad, And though unbodied blush at this overthrow: Miltiades by all men was admired, Who once in Greece their flying troops pursued, And he who with a stratagem retired, And Salamina's straits with blood imbrued; But yet for all the Captains of that age, The eastern Monarchs Empire was enlarged, Who in their Country (flaming all with rage,) The Sea with ships, the land with Armies charged He with more swarms of men then Autumns clusters, Drank Rivers dry, and marched on Neptune's back, By measure, not by number, made his musters, Did scourge the winds, strived mountains plains to make; All Europe feared then to be forced to bow, While the earth did groan to bear so great and host, But thou hast come, seen, and over-com'd them now, Even in the bounds wherein their power was most. That haughty foe, who vilipended oft Our predecessors force, and scorned our own, Now laid as low, as he was once aloft, With his disgrace, must make thy valour known; He does by this acknowledge his distress, In labouring thus to have his friends restored, This message (mighty Prince) imports no less, By his request thy conquest is decored; For the recovery of his captived Queen, He offered hath innumerable gold; A mass so great, that such was never seen, More (as they brag) then Maccdon can hold: My counsel is, that you aceept his offers, And with his daughters render her again, "Who would make war, must not have empty coffers, "Where one for glory, thousands sighed for gain; And if those Ladies guarded Captives stay, It cost and trouble breeds to fit their state; Thus more to charge, or charges to defray; To vex or ease, advice, and not too late. If Alexander, I, so would I do. So you bind Soldiers, let them Dams redeem. Even good pro es ill when done unto a foe. "Gold is the God that conquers in all parts. "Wars sinews treasures are which most not fail. "The want of wages makes a mutinous band. "Those are thought fools, who riches do disdain. But who delights in such and eiery store: "The truth by Princes is not understood: But yet I hear your Soldiers oft exclaim, That your ambition but ex austs their blood, Who perish all to purchase you a name; Yet careless what they loose, so you may win, That Like your mind, your kingdom may want bounds, One battles end, another does begin, While you the glory gain, they nought but wounds; Such rash reports oft blown in every ear, Do breed base grudge, and lofty tumults too, "When leaving reverence, duty, love and fear, "What dare not mutinous troops attempt to do: Retire in time while as the heavens are clear; You have performed, performed, and that even soon, More then your own could hope, your foes could fear, Yea (yet more strange) then some can trust, though done; Your worth in war (as bright as glory) shown, Which even by envy never could be stained, Your skill in peace would likewise now be known: Calm virtue guiding, what stern valour gained: "A State well ruled, the same of Kings does raise, "No less then foughten fields, or battered Towns. "More hard it is, and does deserve more praise "To guide, then get, to keep, then conquer Crowns: In Fortune's spheres chief height your glory placed, Can now not move unless it be more low, And if it once descend, then quite disgraced, Each Artisan your Statues will overthrow; For in the war as you may well perceive, There does no little partly depend on Fame; If we but once the least small check receive, The world will gather to procure our shame; Then tempt not Fortune further then you needs, Your rashly mounting thoughts let reason rain, Lest whilst your Hope's with Trophies feigned you feed, A moment loose what many days did gain. Let Darius prove all Monarchs pattern now (What wand ring Star does sway the course of Crowns) That Prince to whom the Orient once did bow, Him only now his misery renowns. Scarce moved to call you King, though twice overthrown, At last to match with you he does agree, And with his daughter hath for dowry shown That great Euphrates shall your border be; Or otherwise he condescends to give Great store of gold, or what your self desires If that his mother, wife, and children live, To have them rendered, as he oft requires: And let not lofty thoughts cloud Reasons eyes, Remember what strange Realms will him embrace, Which scarce he knows, by name, nor never tries, Where if he fled, your troops would Tyre to chase. As we have herd of him who thither went, While they as yet not of support despaired, And courteously were led unto a Tent Which we of purpose caused to be prepared: Even in the way one fortuned there to spy The Diadem which Darius ear'st had born, (Though glorious once) which low on earth did lie; As erst for pomp, then wondered at with scorn. Straight they imagined from his Royal head, Whose dignity it sometime did decore, None could it cast except himself were dead, And if so were, they wished to live no more: When they had entered in the Tent to weep, Your Servant came, and at the entry knocked, Who (finding them so quiet) thought a sleep Had closed their eyes, or else that he was mocked, At length by force he made a patent way, And was advanced them lovingly to greet, When (lo) the Ladies prostrated all lay, And with a flood of tears be-dew'd his feet. Then said (by death expecting to be free) Let us entomb great Darius Like a King; Then when we first his funeral honour see, Death must to us a great contentment bring; This oft they urged, though he attested there That Darius was not dead (as they supposed) But lived with hope, his ruins to repair, And in the power of other Realms reposed. Then did he urge what comfort and relief They might attend, depending on your Grace; Thus having toiled to mitigate their grief, It seemed they longed to see my Sovereigns face, Your majesty does much mistake my mind, You know what I endured, what cares, what cumbers; And for my partly, I to your eyes appeal, Which well can witness what my hands have wrought. All what I spoke, proceeded of clear zeal, And not of cowardice, or fear of ought; Nor match I vile repose with honest pains, My courage (ofttimes tried) is not grown cold, Nor yet that vigour hath not left my veins, Which spurred my sprite in youth, though I be old. Sir, I would speak in private if I could, That which affection fired with zeal affords, "Let silence seal what friends with fear unfold, Take you my thoughts, none else shall have my words: Though only bound by voluntary choice, We follow you (all other Hope's quite lost) Your bodies shadows, the Echoes of your voice, As faithful now as when you flourished most; For where you are, we must remain with you, Since both our lots are in one vessel thrown, I wish our Tent were made your lodging now, For, we will save your life, or loose our own. We have abandoned Greece our native soil, And our retreat no Bactria now attends, But those who us would of your person spoil, Spoil us of all, whose all on you depends. Would God all yours were bent to do their endue, "Fame big by fear does bring forth rumours rife; I grant it gross, if that his own were true, To trust a strange with a Monarchs life. Sir, Bessus and Narbazanes betray you, This day to you, or them will be the last: They feign repentance only for the form, Till every thing be for the fact prepared, The clouds are gathering which do boast a storm, And they ere night, mind to invade your guard.