u fayre braunch of vertues great discent,
Now hauing finish'd Ciuill warres sad broyles,
Intend by _Parthian_ triumphes to enlarge,
Your contryes limits, and your owne renowne,
But cause in _Sibilles_ ciuill writs we finde,
None but a King that conquest can atchiue, 1460
Both for to crowne your deedes with due reward,
And as auspicious signes of victorye.
Wee here present you with this _Diadem_,
_Lord._ And euen as kings were banish'd _Romes_ high throne
Cause their base vice, her honour did destayne,
So to your rule doth shee submit her selfe,
That her renowne there by might brighter shine,
_Caesar._ Why thinke you Lords that tis ambitions spur.
That pricketh _Caesar_ to these high attempts,
Or hope of Crownes, or thought of _Diadems_, 1470
That made me wade through honours perilous deepe,
Vertue vnto it selfe a shure reward,
My labours all shall haue a pleasing doome,
If you but Iudge I will deserue of _Rome_:
Did those old _Romaines_ suffer so much ill?
Such tedious seeges, such enduring warrs?
_Tarquinius_ hates, and great _Porsennas_ threats,
To banish proude imperious tyrants rule?
And shall my euerdaring thoughts contend
To marre what they haue brought to happy end: 1480
Or thinke you cause my Fortune hath expeld,
My friends, come let vs march in iolity,
Ile triumph Monarke-like ore conquering _Rome_,
Or end my conquests with my countryes spoyles,
_Dolo._ O noble Princely resolution.
These or not victoryes that we so call,
That onely blood and murtherous spoyles can vaunt:
But this shalbe thy victory braue Prince,
That thou hast conquered thy owne climing thoughts,
And with thy vertue beat ambition downe, 1490
And this no lesse inblazon shall thy fame.
Then those great deeds and chiualrous attempts,
That made thee conqueror in _Thessalia_.
_Ant._ This noble mind and Pincely modesty,
Which in contempt of honours brightnes shines,
Makes vs to wish the more for such a Prince,
Whose vertue not ambition won that praise,
Nor shall we thinke it losse of liberty.
Or _Romaine_ liberty any way impeached,
For to subiect vs to his Princely rule, 1500
Whose thoughts fayre vertue and true honor guides:
Vouchsafe then to a