User:Sbh/Sir Clyomon and Sir Clamydes (critical edition)/Scene iv

Scene iv

Enter King Alexander the Great, as valiantly set forth as may be, and as many [Lords and] Soldiers as can.

King Alexander

After many invincible victories and conquests great achieved,

I, Alexander, with sound of fame, in safety am arrived

Upon my borders long wished-for of Macedonia soil,

And all the world subject have through force of warlike toil.

O Mars, I laud thy sacred name! and, for this safe return,

To Pallas’ temple will I wend, and sacrifices burn

To thee, Bellona, and the rest, that warlike wights do guide,

Who for King Alexander did such good success provide.

Who bows not now unto my beck? my force who doth not fear?

Who doth not of my conquests great, throughout the world hear?

What king as to his sovereign lord doth now not bow his knee?

What prince doth reign upon the earth which yields not unto me

Due homage for his regal mace? what country is at liberty?

What dukedom, island, or province else, to me now are not tributary?

What fort of force, or castle strong, have I not battered down?

What prince is he that now by me his princely seat and crown

Doth not acknowledge for to hold? not one the world throughout

But of King Alexander’s power they all do stand in doubt:

They fear as fowls that hovering fly from out the falcon’s way;

As lamb the lion, so my power the stoutest do obey:

In field who hath not felt my force where battering blows abound?

King or keysar, who hath not fixed his knees to me on ground?

And yet, Alexander, what art thou? thou art a mortal wight,

For all that ever thou hast got or won by force in fight.

First Lord

Acknowledging thy state, O king, to be as thou hast said,

The gods, no doubt, as they have been, will be thy shield and aid

In all attempts thou tak’st in hand, if case no glory vain

Thou seekest, but acknowledging thy victories and gain

Through the providence of sacred gods to happen unto thee,

For vain is trust that in himself man doth repose we see;

And therefore lest these victories which thou, O king, hast got

Should blind thine eyes with arrogancy, thy noble fame to blot,

Let that victorious Prince his words of Macedon thy sire,

T’acknowledge still thy state, O king, thy noble heart inspire;

Who, after all his victories triumphantly obtained,

Lest that the great felicity of that which he^[1] had gained,

Should cause him to forget himself, a child he did provide,

Which came unto his chamber-door, and every morning cried,

“Philip, thou art a mortal man!” This practice of thy sire,

Amidst all these thy victories, thy servant doth desire,

O Alexander, that thou wilt emprint^[2] within thy mind,

And then, no doubt, as father did, thou solace sweet shall find.

King Alexander

My lords^[3]

Your counsel doubtless I esteem, and with great thanks again

I do requite your courtesy, rejecting—this is plain—

All vain glory from my heart; and since the gods divine

To us above all other^[4] kings this fortune doth assign,

To have in our subjection the world for most part,

We will at this our home-return^[5], with fervent zeal of heart,

In Pallas’ temple, to the gods such sacrifices make

Of thankfulness for our success, as they in part shall take

The same a gratulation sufficient from us sent:

Come, therefore, let us homewards march t’ accomplish our intent.

All the Lords

We ready are, most famous king, to follow thee with victory.

King Alexander

Then sound your drums and trumpets both, that we may march triumphantly.

[Exeunt.

Textual Notes

1. he] D B; she Q
2. emprint] D B; them print Q
3. My lords] Q B; My lord D. It is printed as part of the next line in Q.
4. other] D B; others Q
5. our home return] B (suggested by Dr. Brinsley Nicholson); one houre returne Q; one hour's return D.

Explanatory Notes

doubt: dread