Apel. The thing that is likest you, Campaspe.
Camp. My picture?
Apel. I dare not venture upon your person. But come, let us 45 go in: for Alexander will thinke it long till we returne.
Exeunt.
Actus quartus. Scæna tertia.[926]
[Enter] Clytus [and] Parmenio.
Clytus. We heare nothing of our embassage,—a colour[927] belike to bleare our eyes or tickle our eares or inflame our hearts. But what doth Alexander in the meane season but use for tantara,—sol, fa, la;[928] for his hard couch, downe beds; for his handfull of water, his standing-cup of wine?[929] 5
Par. Clytus, I mislike this new delicacie and pleasing peace, for what else do we see now than a kind of softnes in every mans minde: bees to make their hives in souldiers helmets;[930] our steeds furnished with footclothes of gold, insteede of sadles of steele; more time to be required to scowre the rust of our weapons than 10 there was wont to be in subduing the countries of our enemies. Sithence Alexander fell from his hard armour to his soft robes, behold the face of his court: youths that were wont to carry devises of victory in their shields engrave now posies of love in their ringes; they that were accustomed on trotting horses to 15 charge the enemie with a launce, now in easie coches ride up and down to court ladies; in steade of sword and target to hazard their lives, use pen and paper to paint their loves; yea, such a feare and faintnesse is growne in court that they wish rather to heare the blowing of a horne to hunt than the sound of a trumpet to fight. 20 O Philip, wert thou alive to see this alteration,—thy men turned to women, thy souldiers to lovers, gloves worne in velvet caps,[931] in stead of plumes in graven helmets,—thou wouldest either dye among them for sorrow or counfound[932] them for anger.
Clytus. Cease, Parmenio, least in speaking what becommeth thee 25 not, thou feele what liketh thee not: truth is never with out a scracht face; whose tongue although it cannot be cut out, yet must it be tied up.
Par. It grieveth me not a little for Hephestion, who thirsteth for honour, not ease; but such is his fortune and neernesse in 30 friendship to Alexander that hee must lay a pillow under his head when hee would put a target in his hand. But let us draw in, to see how well it becomes them to tread the measures in a daunce[933] that were wont to set the order for a march.