THE

PROLOGUE AT THE COURT.

We are ashamed that our bird, which fluttereth by twilight, seeming a swallow, should be proved a bat, set against the sun. But as Jupiter placed Silenus's ass among the stars, and Alcibiades covered his pictures, being owls and apes, with a curtain embroidered with lions and eagles, so are we enforced, upon a rough discourse, to draw on a smooth excuse, resembling lapidaries, who think to hide the crack in a stone, by setting it deep in gold. The gods supp'd once with poor Baucis; the Persian kings sometimes shaved sticks; our hope is, your highness will at this time lend an ear to an idle pastime. 8 Appion raising Homer from hell, demanded only who was his father; and we calling Alexander from his grave, seek only who was his love. Whatsoever we present, we wish it may be thought the dancing of Agrippa's shadows, who in the moment they were seen, were of any shape one would conceive; or Lynces, who having a quick sight to discern, have a short memory to forget. With us it is like to fare as with these torches, which giving light to others, consume themselves; and we showing delight to others, shame our selves.

"

8 Appion raising Homer from hell, demanded only who was his father;] "Quærat aliquis, quæ sint mentiti veteres Magi, cum "adolescentibus nobis visus Apion Grammatica artis, prodiderit cynocephaliam herbam, quæ in Ægypto vocaretur osyrites, divinam, & contra omnia venesicia: sed si ea erueretur, statim eum qui eruisset, mori. Seque evocasse umbras ad percontandum Homerum, qua patria quibusque parentibus genitus esset, non tamen ausus profiteri, quid sibi respondisse diceret." C. Plin. Nat. Hist. I. xxx. c. 2.

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Clytus. Parmenio, I cannot tell whether I should more commend in Alexander's victories, courage, or courtesy; in the one being a resolution without fear, in the other a liberality above custom. Thebes is rased, the people not racked, towers thrown down, bodies not thrust aside; a conquest without conflict, and a cruel war in a mild peace.

Parmenio. Clytus, it becometh the son of Philip to be none other than Alexander is; therefore seeing in the father a full perfection, who could have doubted in the son an excellency? For as the moon can borrow nothing else of the sun but light; so of a sire, in whom nothing but virtue was, what could the child receive but singular? it is for torquois 10 to stain each other,

9 The subject of this play is taken from Pliny's Natural History, lib. 35. c. 10.

"Tantum erat auctoritati juris in regem, alioquin iracundum : quanquam Alexander ei honorem clarissimo præbuit exemplo. "Namque cum dilectam sibi ex pallacis suis præcipue nomine Campaspem nudam pingi ob admirationem formæ ab Apelle "jussissit, eumque tum pari captum amore sensisset, dono eam "dedit. Magnus animo, major imperio sui, nec minor hoc facto,

quam victoria aliqua. Quippe, se vicit nec torum tantum suum, "sed etiam affectum donavit artifici: ne dilectæ quidam respectu "motus, ut quæ modo regis fuisset, modo pictoris esset. Sunt qui "Venerem Anadyomenen illo pictam exemplari purant."

10 Turquois] In the first edition Turkes. Turquesis," says Malynes, in his Treatise of the Canker of England's Common-wealth,

not for diamonds; in the one to be made a difference in goodness, in the other no comparison.

Clytus. You mistake me, Parmenio, if whilst I commend Alexander, you imagine I call Philip into question; unless haply you conjecture (which none of judgment will conceive) that because I like the fruit, therefore I heave at the tree; or coveting to kiss the child, I therefore go about to poison the teat.

Parmenio. Ay, but Clytus, I perceive you are born in the east, and never laugh but at the sun-rising; which argueth tho' a duty where you ought, yet no great devotion where you might.

Clytus. We will make no controversy of that which there ought to be no question; only this shall be the opinion of us both, that none was worthy to be the father of Alexander but Philip, nor any meet to be the son of Philip but Alexander.

Parmenio. Soft, Clytus, behold the spoils and prisoners! a pleasant sight to us, because profit is join'd with honour; not much painful to them, because their captivity is eased by mercy.

Timoclea. Fortune, thou didst never yet deceive virtue, because virtue never yet did trust fortune. Sword and fire will never get spoil, where wisdom and fortitude bears sway. O Thebes, thy walls were raised by the sweetness of the harp, but rased by the shrillness of the trumpet. Alexander had never come so near the walls, had Epaminondas walk'd about the walls; and yet might the Thebans have been merry in their streets, if he had been to watch their towers. But destiny is seldom foreseen, never prevented. We are here now captives, whose necks are yoaked by

12mo. 1601, are found in Malabar, being of Turqueys color by "the day time, and by night by the light, greene; they growe upon "a black stone, whereof retaining some little blacke veines is the better." "It is," as Mr. Steevens observes," said of the Turkey stone, that it faded or brightened in its colour, as the health of "the wearer increased or grew less." (Note on Merchant of Venice, p. 118. vol. III.) See also Dr. Morell's Account of it, p. 417: of his Edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, 8vo. 1737.

force, but whose hearts can not yield by death. Come, Campaspe, and the rest, let us not be ashamed to cast our eyes on him, on whom we fear'd not to cast our darts.

Parmenio. Madam, you need not doubt, it is Alexander that is the conqueror.

Timoclea. Alexander hath overcome, not conquer'd. Parmenio. To bring all under his subjection, is to conquer.

Timoclea. He cannot subdue that which is divine.
Parmenio. Thebes was not.

Timoclea. Virtue is.

Clytus. Alexander, as he tendreth virtue, so he will you; he drinketh not blood, but thirsteth after honour; he is greedy of victory, but never satisfied with mercy. In fight terrible, as becometh a captain; in conquest mild, as beseemeth a king. In all things, than which nothing can be greater, he is Alexander.

Campaspe. Then if it be such a thing to be Alexander, I hope it shall be no miserable thing to be a virgin. For if he save our honours, it is more than to restore our goods. And rather do I wish he'd preserve our fame than our lives, which if he do, we will confess there can be no greater thing than to be Alexander.

Alexander. Clytus, are these prisoners? of whence these spoils ?

Clytus. Like your majesty, they are prisoners, and of Thebes.

Alexander. Of what calling or reputation?

Clytus. I know not, but they seem to be ladies of honour.

Alexander. I will know-Madam, of whence you are I know, but who, I cannot tell.

Timoclea. Alexander, I am the sister of Theagines, who fought a battel with thy father, before the city of Chieronte," where he died, I say which none can gainsay, valiantly.

11 Chieronte] Chieronie, in the first and second editions.

VOL. II.

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