Part 35

_Alex._ My case were light, Hephestion, and not worthy to be called love, if reason were a remedie, or sentences could salve that 80 sense cannot conceive. Little do you know and therefore sleightly doe you regard the dead embers in a private person or live coales in a great prince, whose passions and thoughts doe as farre exceed others in extremitie as their callings doe in majestie. An eclipse in the sunne is more than the falling of a starre: none can conceive the torments of a king, unlesse he be a king, whose 85 desires are not inferiour to their dignities. And then judge, Hephestion, if the agonies of love be dangerous in a subject, whether they be not more than deadly unto Alexander, whose deepe and not to bee conceived sighes cleave the heart in shivers, whose wounded thoughts can neither be expressed nor endured. Cease 90 then, Hephestion, with arguments to seeke to refell[852] that which with their deitie the gods cannot resist; and let this suffice to answere thee,--that it is a king that loveth, and Alexander, whose affections are not to bee measured by reason, being immortall, nor, I feare me, to be borne, being intolerable. 95

_Hep._ I must needs yeeld, when neither reason nor counsell can bee heard.

_Alex._ Yeeld, Hephestion, for Alexander doth love, and therefore must obtaine. 100

_Hep._ Suppose shee loves not you? Affection commeth not by appointment or birth; and then as good hated as enforced.

_Alex._ I am a king, and will command.

_Hep._ You may, to yeeld to lust by force, but to consent to love by feare, you cannot. 105

_Alex._ Why? What is that which Alexander may not conquer as he list?

_Hep._ Why, that which you say the gods cannot resist,--love.

_Alex._ I am a conquerour, shee a captive; I as fortunate as shee 110 faire: my greatnesse may answere her wants, and the gifts of my minde the modestie of hers. Is it not likely, then, that she should love? Is it not reasonable?

_Hep._ You say that in love there is no reason; and, therefore, there can be no likelyhood. 115

_Alex._ No more, Hephestion! In this case I will use mine own counsell, and in all other thine advice: thou mayst be a good souldier, but never good lover. Call my page. [_The Page comes forward._] Sirrah, goe presently to Apelles and will him to come to me without either delay or excuse. 120

_Page._ I goe. [_Exit._]

_Alex._ In the meane season, to recreate my spirits, being so neere, wee will goe see Diogenes. And see where his tub is.[853] [_Crosses stage._] Diogenes!

_Diog._ Who calleth? 125

_Alex._ Alexander. How happened it that you would not come out of your tub to my palace?[854]

_Diog._ Because it was as farre from my tub to your palace as from your palace to my tub.

_Alex._ Why then, doest thou owe no reverence to kings? 130

_Diog._ No.

_Alex._ Why so?

_Diog._ Because they be no gods.

_Alex._ They be gods of the earth.

_Diog._ Yea, gods of earth. 135

_Alex._ Plato is not of thy minde.

_Diog._ I am glad of it.

_Alex._ Why?

_Diog._ Because I would have none of Diogenes minde but Diogenes. 140

_Alex._ If Alexander have any thing that may pleasure Diogenes, let me know, and take it.

_Diog._ Then take not from mee that you cannot give mee,--the light of the world.

_Alex._ What doest thou want? 145

_Diog._ Nothing that you have.

_Alex._ I have the world at command.

_Diog._ And I in contempt.

_Alex._ Thou shalt live no longer than I will.

_Diog._ But I shall die whether you will or no. 150

_Alex._ How should one learne to bee content?

_Diog._ Unlearne to covet.

_Alex._ Hephestion, were I not Alexander, I would wish to bee Diogenes!

_Hep._ He is dogged, but discreet; I cannot tell how sharpe, 155 with a kind of sweetnes; full of wit, yet too-too wayward.

_Alex._ Diogenes, when I come this way againe, I will both see thee and confer with thee.

_Diog._ Doe.[855] [_Enter_ APELLES.]

_Alex._ But here commeth Apelles. How now, Apelles, is Venus 160 face yet finished?

_Apel._ Not yet; beautie is not so soone shadowed whose perfection commeth not within the compasse either of cunning or of colour.

_Alex._ Well, let it rest unperfect; and come you with mee where 165 I will shew you that finished by nature that you have beene trifling about by art. [_Exeunt Alexander, Hephestion, and Apelles._

Actus tertius. Scæna prima.[856]

[_Enter_] APELLES, CAMPASPE [_and a little behind them_, PSYLLUS.]

_Apel._ Ladie, I doubt whether there bee any colour so fresh that may shadow a countenance so faire.

_Camp._ Sir, I had thought you had bin commanded to paint with your hand, not to glose[857] with your tongue; but as I have heard, it is the hardest thing in painting to set downe a hard favour,[858] which maketh you to despaire of my face; and then[859] shall you 5 have as great thankes to spare your labour as to discredit your art.

_Apel._ Mistris, you neither differ from your selfe nor your sexe; for, knowing your owne perfection, you seeme to disprayse that which men most commend, drawing them by that meane into an admiration 10 where, feeding themselves, they fall into an extasie; your modestie being the cause of the one, and of the other your affections.

_Camp._ I am too young to understand your speech, though old enough to withstand your devise. You have bin so long used to colours you can doe nothing but colour.[860] 15

_Apel_ Indeed the colours I see, I feare will alter the colour I have.[861] But come, madam, will you draw neere?--for Alexander will be here anon. Psyllus, stay you here at the window. If any enquire for mee, answere, _Non lubet esse domi._ _Exeunt_ [_Apelles and Campaspe._[862]]

_Psyllus._ It is alwayes my masters fashion when any faire gentle-woman is to be drawne within to make me to stay without. 20 But if hee should paint Jupiter like a bull, like a swanne, like an eagle, then must Psyllus with one hand grind colours and with the other hold the candle. But let him alone! The better hee shadowes her face, the more will he burne his owne heart. And now if any 25 man could meet with Manes, who, I dare say, lookes as leane as if Diogenes dropped out of his nose.[863] [_Enter_ MANES.]

_Manes._ And here comes Manes, who hath as much meate in his maw as thou hast honestie in thy head.

_Psyllus._ Then I hope thou art very hungry. 30

_Manes._ They that know thee know that.

_Psyllus._ But doest thou not remember that wee have certaine liquor to conferre withall.

_Manes._ I, but I have businesse; I must goe cry a thing.

_Psyllus._ Why, what hast thou lost? 35

_Manes._ That which I never had,--my dinner!

_Psyllus._ Foule lubber, wilt thou crie for thy dinner?

_Manes._ I meane I must crie,--not as one would say "crie," but "crie,"[864] that is, make a noyse.

_Psyllus._ Why foole, that is all one; for, if thou crie, thou must 40 needs make a noyse.

_Manes._ Boy, thou art deceived: crie hath divers significations, and may be alluded to many things; knave but one,[865] and can be applyed but to thee.

_Psyllus._ Profound Manes! 45

_Manes._ Wee Cynickes are mad fellowes. Didst thou not finde I did quip thee?

_Psyllus._ No, verily! Why, what's a quip?

_Manes._ Wee great girders call it a short saying of a sharpe wit, with a bitter sense in a sweet word. 50

_Psyllus._ How canst thou thus divine, divide, define, dispute, and all on the sodaine?

_Manes._ Wit will have his swing! I am bewitcht, inspired, inflamed, infected.

_Psyllus._ Well then will I not tempt thy gybing spirit. 55

_Manes._ Doe not, Psyllus, for thy dull head will bee but a grind-stone for my quicke wit, which if thou whet with overthwarts,[866] _periisti, actum est de te_! I have drawne bloud at ones braines with a bitter bob.

_Psyllus._ Let me crosse my selfe; for I die if I crosse thee. 60

_Manes._ Let me doe my businesse. I my selfe am afraid lest my wit should waxe warme, and then must it needs consume some hard head with fine and prettie jests. I am sometimes in such a vaine that, for want of some dull pate to worke on, I begin to gird my selfe. 65

_Psyllus._ The gods shield me from such a fine fellow, whose words melt wits like waxe.

_Manes._ Well then, let us to the matter. In faith, my master meaneth to morrow to flie.

_Psyllus._ It is a jest. 70

_Manes._ Is it a jest to flie? Shouldest thou flie so soone, thou shouldest repent it in earnest.

_Psyllus._ Well, I will be the cryer.

_Manes and Psyllus_ (_one after another_). O ys! O ys! O ys![867] All manner of men, women, or children, that will come to morrow into 75 the market place betweene the houres of nine and ten shall see Diogenes the Cynicke--flie.[868]

_Psyllus._ I doe not thinke he will flie.

_Manes._ Tush, say "flie!"

_Psyllus._ Flie. 80

_Manes._ Now let us goe; for I will not see him againe till midnight,--I have a backe way into his tub.

_Psyllus._ Which way callest thou the backe way, when every way is open?

_Manes._ I meane to come in at his backe. 85

_Psyllus._ Well, let us goe away, that we may returne speedily. _Exeunt._

Actus tertius. Scæna secunda.[869]

[_Enter_] APELLES, CAMPASPE.

_Apel._ I shall never draw your eyes well, because they blinde mine.[870]

_Camp._ Why then, paint mee without eyes, for I am blind.[871]

_Apel._ Were you ever shadowed before of any?

_Camp._ No; and would you could so now shadow me that I 5 might not be perceived of any.[872]

_Apel._ It were pitie but that so absolute[873] a face should furnish Venus temple amongst these pictures.

_Camp._ What are these pictures?

_Apel._ This is Læda, whom Jove deceived in likenesse of a swan. 10

_Camp._ A faire woman, but a foule deceit.

_Apel._ This is Alcmena, unto whom Jupiter came in shape of Amphitrion, her husband, and begate Hercules.

_Camp._ A famous sonne, but an infamous fact.

_Apel._ Hee might doe it, because hee was a god. 15

_Camp._ Nay, therefore it was evill done because he was a god.

_Apel._ This is Danae, into whose prison Jupiter drizled a golden showre, and obtained his desire.

_Camp._ What gold can make one yeeld to desire?

_Apel._ This is Europa, whom Jupiter ravished; this, Antiopa.[874] 20

_Camp._ Were all the gods like this Jupiter?

_Apel._ There were many gods in this like Jupiter.

_Camp._ I thinke in those dayes love was well ratified among men on earth when lust was so full authorised by the gods in Heaven.

_Apel._ Nay, you may imagine there were women passing amiable 25 when there were gods exceeding amorous.

_Camp._ Were women never so faire, men would be false.

_Apel._ Were women never so false, men would be fond.

_Camp._ What counterfeit is this, Apelles?

_Apel._ This is Venus, the goddesse of love. 30

_Camp._ What, bee there also loving goddesses?

_Apel._ This is shee that hath power to command the very affections of the heart.

_Camp._ How is she hired,--by prayer, by sacrifice, or bribes?

_Apel._ By prayer, sacrifice, and bribes. 35

_Camp._ What prayer?

_Apel._ Vowes irrevocable.

_Camp._ What sacrifice?

_Apel._ Hearts ever sighing, never dissembling.

_Camp._ What bribes? 40

_Apel._ Roses and kisses. But were you never in love?

_Camp._ No; nor love in me.

_Apel._ Then have you injuried many.

_Camp._ How so?

_Apel._ Because you have been loved of many. 45

_Camp._ Flattered, perchance, of some.

_Apel._ It is not possible that a face so faire and a wit so sharpe, both without comparison, should not be apt to love.

_Camp._ If you begin to tip your tongue with cunning, I pray dip your pensill in colours and fall to that you must doe, not that you 50 would doe.

Actus tertius. Scæna tertia.[875]

[_Enter_] CLYTUS [_and_] PARMENIO.

_Clytus._ Parmenio, I cannot tell how it commeth to passe that in Alexander now a dayes there groweth an unpatient kind of life: in the morning he is melancholy, at noone solemne, at all times either more sowre or severe than hee was accustomed.

_Par._ In kings causes I rather love to doubt[876] than conjecture, 5 and thinke it better to bee ignorant than inquisitive: they have long eares and stretched armes;[877] in whose heads suspition is a proofe, and to be accused is to be condemned.

_Clytus._ Yet betweene us there can bee no danger to find out the cause, for that there is no malice to withstand it. It may be an unquenchable thirst of conquering maketh him unquiet; it is not 10 unlikely his long ease hath altered his humour; that he should be in love, it is not[878] impossible.

_Par._ In love, Clytus? No, no; it is as farre from his thought as treason in ours. He, whose ever-waking eye, whose never-tired 15 heart, whose body patient of labour, whose mind unsatiable of victorie, hath alwayes beene noted, cannot so soone be melted into the weake conceits of love. Aristotle told him there were many worlds; and that he hath not conquered one that gapeth for all galleth Alexander. But here he cometh. 20

[_Enter_ ALEXANDER _and_ HEPHESTION.]

_Alex._ Parmenio and Clytus, I would have you both readie to goe into Persia about an ambassage no lesse profitable to me than to your selves honourable.

_Clytus._ Wee are readie at all commands, wishing nothing else but continually to be commanded. 25

_Alex._ Well then, withdraw yourselves till I have further considered of this matter. _Exeunt Clytus and Parmenio._

Now wee will see how Apelles goeth forward. I doubt mee that nature hath overcome art, and her countenance his cunning.

_Hep._ You love, and therefore think any thing. 30

_Alex._ But not so farre in love with Campaspe as with Bucephalus,[879] if occasion serve either of conflict or[880] conquest.

_Hep._ Occasion cannot want if will doe not. Behold all Persia swelling in the pride of their owne power, the Scythians carelesse what courage or fortune can do, the Egyptians dreaming in the 35 southsayings of their augures and gaping over the smoake of their beasts intralls. All these, Alexander, are to be subdued, if that world be not slipped out of your head which you have sworne to conquer with that hand.

_Alex._ I confesse the labour's fit for Alexander, and yet recreation necessarie among so many assaults, bloudie wounds, 40 intolerable troubles. Give me leave a little, if not to sit, yet to breath. And doubt not but Alexander can, when hee will, throw affections as farre from him as he can cowardise. But behold Diogenes talking with one at his tub.[881] 45

_Crysus._ One penny, Diogenes; I am a Cynicke.

_Diog._ Hee made thee a begger that first gave thee any thing.

_Crysus._ Why, if thou wilt give nothing, no bodie will give thee.

_Diog._ I want nothing till the springs drie and the earth perish.

_Crysus._ I gather for the gods. 50

_Diog._ And I care not for those gods which want money.

_Crysus._ Thou art not a right[882] Cynick, that wilt give nothing.

_Diog._ Thou art not, that wilt begge any thing.

_Crysus_ [_crossing to Alexander_]. Alexander! King Alexander! Give a poore Cynick a groat.[883] 55

_Alex._ It is not for a king to give a groat.

_Crysus._ Then give me a talent.[884]

_Alex._ It is not for a begger to aske a talent. Away! [_Exit Crysus. Alexander crosses to the part of the stage opposite the tub of Diogenes where Apelles and Campaspe are._] 60 Apelles![885]

_Apel._ Here.

_Alex._ Now, gentlewoman, doth not your beautie put the painter to his trumpe?

_Camp._ Yes, my lord, seeing so disordered a countenance, hee feareth hee shall shadow a deformed counterfeite. 65

_Alex._ Would he could colour the life with the feature! And mee thinketh, Apelles, were you as cunning as report saith you are, you may paint flowres as well with sweet smels as fresh colours, observing in your mixture such things as should draw neere to their savours. 70

_Apel._ Your Majestie must know, it is no lesse hard to paint savours than vertues; colours can neither speake nor thinke.

_Alex._ Where doe you first begin when you draw any picture?

_Apel._ The proportion of the face in just compasse as I can.

_Alex._ I would begin with the eye, as a light to all the rest. 75

_Apel._ If you will paint, as you are a king, Your Majestie may beginne where you please; but as you would bee a painter, you must begin with the face.

_Alex._ Aurelius[886] would in one houre colour foure faces.

_Apel._ I marvaile in halfe an houre hee did not foure. 80

_Alex._ Why, is it so easie?

_Apel._ No; but he doth it so homely.

_Alex._ When will you finish Campaspe?

_Apel._ Never finish; for alwayes in absolute beauty there is somewhat above art. 85

_Alex._ Why should not I by labour be as cunning as Apelles?

_Apel._ God shield you should have cause to be so cunning[887] as Apelles!

_Alex._ Me thinketh foure colours are sufficient to shadow any countenance; and so it was in the time of Phydias.[888] 90

_Apel._ Then had men fewer fancies and women not so many favours.[889] For now, if the haire of her eyebrowes be blacke, yet must the haire of her head be yellow;[890] the attire of her head must bee different from the habit of her bodie, else would the picture seeme like the blazon of ancient armory,[891] not like the sweet delight of new-found amiablenesse.[892] For, as in garden 95 knots[893] diversitie of odours make a more sweete savour, or as in musique divers strings cause a more delicate consent,[894] so, in painting, the more colours, the better counterfeit,--observing black for a ground, and the rest for grace. 100

_Alex._ Lend me thy pensill, Apelles; I will paint, and thou shalt judge.

_Apel._ Here.

_Alex._ The coale[895] breakes.

_Apel._ You leane too hard. 105

_Alex._ Now it blackes not.

_Apel._ You leane too soft.

_Alex._ This is awrie.

_Apel._ Your eye goeth not with your hand.

_Alex._ Now it is worse. 110

_Apel._ Your hand goeth not with your minde.

_Alex._ Nay, if all be too hard or soft,--so many rules and regards that ones hand, ones eye, ones minde must all draw together,--I had rather bee setting of a battell than blotting of a boord.[896] But how have I done here? 115

_Apel._ Like a king.

_Alex._ I thinke so; but nothing more unlike a painter.[897] Well, Apelles, Campaspe is finished as I wish. Dismisse her, and bring presently her counterfeit after me.

_Apel._ I will. 120

_Alex._ [_as he crosses the stage._] Now, Hephestion, doth not this matter cotton as I would?[898] Campaspe looketh pleasantly; libertie will encrease her beautie, and my love shall advance her honour.

_Hep._ I will not contrarie your Majestie; for time must weare out that love hath wrought, and reason weane what appetite nursed. 125 [_Campaspe passes on her way to the farther door._]

_Alex._ How stately shee passeth by, yet how soberly, a sweete consent in her countenance, with a chaste disdaine, desire mingled with coynesse, and--I cannot tell how to terme it--a curst, yeelding modesty![899]

_Hep._ Let her passe. 130

_Alex._ So shee shall for the fairest on the earth!

_Exeunt_ [_Alexander and Hephestion at one side of the stage, Apelles at the other._]

Actus tertius. Scæna quarta.[900]

[_Enter_] PSYLLUS [_and_] MANES.

_Psyllus._ I shall be hanged for tarrying so long.

_Manes._ I pray God my master be not flowne before I come! [_Enter Apelles._]

_Psyllus._ Away, Manes, my master doth come. [_Exit Manes._]

_Apel._ Where have you beene all this while?

_Psyllus._ Nowhere but here. 5

_Apel._ Who was here sithens my comming?

_Psyllus._ Nobodie.

_Apel._ Ungracious wag, I perceive you have beene a loytering! Was Alexander nobodie?

_Psyllus._ He was a king, I meant no mean bodie. 10