_Ach._ I told ye carefully, what this would prove to,
What this inestimable wealth and glory
Would draw upon ye: I advis'd your Majesty
Never to tempt a Conquering Guest: nor add
A bait, to catch a mind, bent by his Trade
To make the whole world his.
_Pho._ I was not heard Sir:
Or what I said, lost, and contemn'd: I dare say,
(And freshly now) 'twas a poor weakness in ye,
A glorious Childishness: I watch'd his eye,
And saw how Faulcon-like it towr'd, and flew
Upon the wealthy Quarry: how round it mark'd it:
I observ'd his words, and to what it tended;
How greedily he ask'd from whence it came,
And what Commerce we held for such abundance:
The shew of _Nilus_, how he laboured at
To find the secret wayes the Song delivered.
_Ach._ He never smil'd, I noted, at the pleasures,
But fixt his constant eyes upon the treasure;
I do not think his ears had so much leisure
After the wealth appear'd, to hear the Musique?
Most sure he has not slept since, his mind's troubled
With objects that would make their own still labour.
_Pho._ Your Sister he ne're gaz'd on: that's a main note,
The prime beauty of the world had no power over him.
_Ach._ Where was his mind the whilst?
_Pho._ Where was your carefulness
To shew an armed thief the way to rob ye?
Nay, would you give him this, 'twill excite him
To seek the rest. Ambition feels no gift,
Nor knows no bounds, indeed ye have done most weakly.
_Ptol._ Can I be too kind to my noble friend?
_Pho._ To be unkind unto your noble self, but savours
Of indiscretion, and your friend has found it.
Had ye been train'd up in the wants and miseries
A souldier marches through, and known his temperance
In offer'd courtesies, you would have made
A wiser Master of your own, and stronger.
_Ptol._ Why, should I give him all, he would return it:
'Tis more to him, to make Kings.
_Pho._ Pray be wiser,
And trust not with your lost wealth, your lov'd liberty.
To be a King still at your own discretion
Is like a King; to be at his, a vassail.
Now take good counsel, or no more take to ye
The freedom of a Prince.
_Achil._ 'Twill be too late else:
For, since the Masque, he sent three of his Captains
(Ambitious as himself) to view again
The glory of your wealth.
_Pho._ The next himself comes,
Not staying for your courtesie, and takes it.
_Ptol._ What counsel, my _Achoreus_?
_Ach._ I'le goe pray Sir,
(For that is best counsel now) the gods may help ye. [_Ex._
_Pho._ I found ye out a way but 'twas not credited,
A most secure way: whither will ye flye now?
_Achil._ For when your wealth is gone, your power must follow.
_Pho._ And that diminisht also, what's your life worth?
Who would regard it?
_Ptol._ You say true.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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