undrie Emperours.
That _Rome_ him onelie feare, and that he ioyne
The East with west, and both at once do rule:
Why should he not permitt you peaceablie
Discharg'd of charge and Empires dignitie,
Priuate to liue reading _Philosophie_,
In learned _Greece_, _Spaine_, _Asia_, anie lande?
_Ant._ Neuer will he his Empire thinke assur'de
While in this world _Marke Antonie_ shall liue._
Sleeples Suspicion, Pale distrust, colde feare
Alwaies to princes companie do beare
Bred of Reports: reports which night and day
Perpetuall guests from Court go not away.
_Lu._ He hath not slaine your brother _Lucius_,
Nor shortned hath the age of _Lepidus_,
Albeit both into his hands were falne,
And he with wrath against them both enflam'd.
Yet one, as Lord in quiet rest doth beare
The greatest sway in great _Iberia_.
The other with his gentle Prince retaines
Of highest Priest the sacred dignitie.
_Ant._ He feares not them, their feeble force he knowes.
_Lu._ He feares no vanquisht ouerfill'd with woes.
_Ant._ Fortune may chaunge againe,
_L._ A down-cast foe
Can hardlie rise, which once is brought so lowe.
_Ant._ All that I can, is done: for last assay
(When all means fail'd) I to entreatie fell,
(Ah coward creature!) whence againe repulst
Of combate I vnto him proffer made:
Though he in prime, and I by feeble age
Mightily weakned both in force and skill.
Yet could not he his coward heart aduaunce
Baselie affraid to trie so praisefull chaunce.
This makes me plaine, makes me my selfe accuse,
Fortune in this hir spitefull force doth vse
'Gainst my gray hayres: in this vnhappie I
Repine at heau'ns in my happes pittiles.
A man, a woman both in might and minde,
In _Marses_ schole who neuer lesson learn'd,
Should me repulse, chase, ouerthrow, destroie,
Me of such fame, bring to so lowe an ebbe?
_Alcides_ bloud, who from my infancie
With happie prowesse crowned haue my praise.
Witnesse thou _Gaule_ vnus'd to seruile yoke,
Thou valiant _Spaine_, you fields of _Thessalie_
With millions of mourning cries bewail'd,
Twise watred now with bloude of _Italie_.
_Lu._ witnesse may _Afrique_, and of conquer'd world
All fower quarters witnesses may be.
For in what part of earth inhabited,
Hungrie of praise haue you not ensignes spredd?
_An._ Thou know'st rich _AEgypt_ (_AEgypt_ of my deeds
Faire and foule subiect) _A
|