shall mee excuse In such a case no meanes at all of tryall I refuse Lay what you can vnto my charge No fault in mee remayns The Thebanes long or I came heere of Laius death complayns My Mother yet alyue my Father still in like estate No no this is some doltishe drift of yon false Prophets pate Or else some mighty God aboue doth beare me no good will And seekes by Plagues on mee to wreke his wrathfull vengeaunce stil Ah Sir I am glad at length I smell your drifts and fetches fyne I know the whole confederacy your sleights I can vntwyne That beastly Priest that blearayed wretch beelyes the Gods and mee And thee thou Traytour in my place hath promist king to bee CRE. Alas would I my Sister of her lawfull kingdome spoyle Thinke you such treason may haue place in brothers breast to boyle Yf that myne Oth could me not keepe content with my degree But that contemning meane estate I would clime aloft to bee Yet should ill Fortune mee deter from such attempts I trowe Whose guise it is on Princes heads huge heapes of Cares to throwe I would aduise your grace betimes this charge from you to cast Least lingring long all vnawares you be opprest at last Assure your selfe in baser state more safer you may liue And shun a thousand Cares Griefs which Princes hearts doe riue OED. And dost thou me exhort thou slaue my kingdome for to leaue O faythlesse head O shamelesse heart that could such treasons weaue Darst thou attempt thou villayne vile this thing to me to breake And fearst thou not in such a cause so boldly for to speake CRE. I would perswade them so O King who freely might possesse Their Realmes such piteous cares I see do Prynces hearts oppresse But as for you of force you must your Fortunes chainge abyde OED. The surest way for them that gape for kingdoms large wyde Is first things meane and rest and peace and base estate to prayse And yet with Tooth and Nayle to toyle to mount aloft alwayes So often times most restlesse beastes doe chiefly rest commend CRE. Shall not my seruice long suffice my truth for to defend OED. Time is the onely meanes for such as thou to worke theyr will CRE. It is so syr but as for mee of goods I haue my fill A great resort A pleasaunt life from Princely cares exempt All these might surely mee disswade from such a foule attempt There is no day almost O King the whale yeare thorow out Where in some royall gyfts are not from countreys round about Vnto mee sent both Golde and pearles and things of greater cost Which I let passe least I should seeme but vainly for to bost Besides the life of many a man hath bin preserude by mee In such a bilsfull state O King what can there wanting bee OE. Good Fortune can no meane obserue but stil she preaseth higher CRE. Shall I than guiltlesse die alas my cause and all vntryde OED. Were vnto you at any time my life my deedes discride Did any man defend mee yet or els my causes pleade And guiltlesse yet I am condemn'de to this you doe mee leade And mee expresse example giue which I entend to take What measure you doe meat to mee lyke measure must I make CRE. The minde which causelesse dred appawls true cause of feare bewraies That cōsciēce is not guiltles sure which euery blast dismates OED. Hee that in midst of perilles deepe and daūgers hath bene cast Doth seeke all meanes to shun like ills as hee hath ouerpast CR. So hatreds ryse OE. Hee that to much doth vse ill will to feare Unskilfull is and knowes not how hee ought him selfe to beare In kings estate For feare alone doth Kingdomes chiefly keepe Than hee that thus doth arme himselfe from feare all free may sleepe CRE. Who so the cruell tyrant playes and guiltlesse men doth smight Hee dreadeth them that him doe dread so feare doth chiefly light On causers chiefe A iust reuenge for bloudy mindes at last OED. Come take this traytor vile away In dongeon deepe him fast Enclose There for his due deserts let him abide such payne And scourge of minde as meete it is false traytors to sustayne Chorus SEt see the myserable State of Prynces carefull lyfe What raging storms what bloudy broyles what toyle what endlesse stryfe Doe they endure O God what plagues what griefe do they sustayne A Princely lyfe No No No doubt an euer duringe payne A state ene fit for men on whom Fortune woulde wreke her will A place for Cares to couch them in A doore wyde open still For griefes and daungers all that ben to enter when they list A king these Mates must euer haue it bootes not to resist Whole fluds of priuy pinching feare great anguishe of the minde Apparant plagues dayly griefes These playfayres Princes finde And other none with whom they spend and passe theyr wretched dayes Thus hee that Princes liues and base Estate together wayes Shall finde the one a very hell a perfect infelicity The other eke a heauen right exempted quight from mysery Let OEdipus example bee of this vnto you all A Mirrour meete A Patern playne of Princes carefull thrall Who late in perfect Ioy as seem'de and euerlasting blis Triumphantly his life out led a Myser now hee is And most of wretched Misers all euen at this present tyme With doubtfull waues of feare Itost subiect to such a Cryme Whereat my tongue amased stayes God graunt that at the last It fall not out as Creon tolde Not yet the worst is past THE FOVRTH ACTE THE FIRSTE SCENE OEdipus Iocasta MY mynde with doubtfull waues of dread is tossed to and fro I wot not what to say Alas I am tormented so For all the Gods on me doe cry for paynes and vengeaunce due They say that these my guiltlesse hands king Laius lately slue But this my conscience voyde of crime and mynde from mischiefe free To Gods vntried to mee well known denies it so to bee Full well I doe remember once by chaunce I did dispatch A man who sought by force with mee presumptuously to match His purpose was a fond attempt my Chariot for to stay This I remember well enough the strife was in the way And he a man well steept in yeares and I a lusty bloud And yet of meere disdayne and pride in vayne hee mee withstood But this from Thebes farre was done a croked three pathd way That was the place in which we fought it hard by Phocis lay Deare Wyfe resolue my doubts at once and mee expresly tell How old was Laius the King whan this mischaunce befell Was he of fresh and lusty yeares or stricken well in age When he was kilde O ease my thoughts of this tormenting rage IOC. Betwixt an old man an a yong but nearer to an olde OED. Were there great Bands of men with him his Person to vpholde IOC. Some by the way deceiued were and
your subiectes all Ne. Our foes to slea a cheftaynes vertue call Se. A worthier vertue t is in countries syre His people to defend with sword and fyre Ne. It wel beseemes such aged wightes to teach Vnbridled springolles yong and not to preache Both to a man and prince of ryper yeares Se. May rather frolicke youthful bloud appeares To haue more neede of counsell wyse and graue Ne. This age sufficient reason ought to haue Se. That heauenly powers your doinges may allow Ne A madnes t' were to Gods for me to bow When I my selfe can make such Gods to be As Claudius now ycounted is we see Se. So much the more because so much you may Ne. Our power permittes vs all without denay Se. Geue slender trust to Fortunes flattring face She topsie turuy turnes her wheele apace Ne. A patch he is that knoweth not what he may Se. A Princes prayse I compted haue alway To do that same which with his honor stoode Not that which franticke fancy counteth good Ne. If that I were a meacocke or a slouch Each stubborne clubbish daw would make mee couch Se. And whom they hate with force they ouerquell Ne. Then dynt of sword the prince defendeth well Se. But fayth more sure defence doth seeme to mee Ne. Ful meete it is that Caesar dreaded be Se. More meete of subiectes for to be belou'd Ne. From subiects myndes feare must not be remou'd Se. What so by force of armes you do wringe out A grieuous worke it is to bring aboute Ne. Well hardly then our will let them obay Se. Will nothing then but that which wel you may Ne. We wil decree what we shall best suppose Se. What peoples voyce doth ioyntly bynd or lose Let that confirmed stand Ne. Swordes bloudy dynt Shal cause them else at me to take their hint Se. God sheeld and far that facte from you remoue Ne. What then why Senec do you that approue That we contemnde despysde and set at nought With finger put in hole ful wysely wrought Our bodies bloud to seeke should them abyde That they might vs sometyme destroy vnspyde Their natiue countrey boundes to banisht bee Nor Plautius brest nor Scillas eake we see Hath broke or camd whose cankred churlish yre Shapes bloudy freakes to quench our bodyes fyre And chiefly when these trayterous absent clounes Such wondrous fauour fynd in cityes bownes Which those same exiles lingring hope doth feede Suspected foes with sword we wil out weede And so Octauia shall that ioly dame Continue after them their bloudy game And wend that way her nowne whyte brother went Such hye mistrusted thinges must needes be bent Se. It is O Prince a worthy famous thing Amids redoubted Lordes alone to ring And wysely worke your countries prayse to saue And wel your selfe to captiue folke behaue From cruell brutish slaughter to abstayne And voyde of moode to wreake your angry payne And to the world a quiet calme to geue That al your age in peace their liues may liue This is a Princes prayse without al cryme This is the path to heauen wherby we clyme So is Augustus prince and father cald Of countrie first in starbright throne ystald Whom as a God in minsters we adorne Yet troublous fortune tossed him beforne A great while long on lands and ruffling seas Vntil his fathers foes he could appease And throught wars diuerse course could quel them quite To you did fortune yeelde her power and might And raynes of rule without all bloud and fight And to your beck both land and seas hath bent Grim deadly enuye daunted doth relent The Senate Lordes gaue place with free consent The battaylous route of knights with willing hartes That same decree from sager sires departes Vnto the lay mens choyse do well agree Your grace the spring of peace they count to bee And chosen Iudge and guyde of mortal stocke Your grace your countreys sacred syre doth rocke And rule with princely gorgeous tytle bright The cyrcled world in rundel wyse ydight Which mighty mounting name to keepe so great This noble citty Rome doth you entreat And doth commend vnto your royall grace Her liuely limmes in charge for your liues space Ne. The gyft of Gods it is as we discus That Rome with Senate sorte doth honor vs And that the feare of our displeasure great From cankred enuyous stomackes maketh sweat Both humble talke and supplications meeke And were not feare all these would be to seeke Vnweldy combrous cityes members ill That Prince and countrey both do seeke to spill To leaue alyue which swell and puffed bee Bycause of lynage great and high degre What madnes meere is it when as we may Euen with a word such freakes dispatch away Sir Brutus sterne his brawnes and armes did dight His soueraygne liege to slayne by force and might That erst had holpen him and geuen him health And had endued him with princely wealth In brunt of raging warre vndaunted out That vanquisht many people strong and stoute Prince Caesar matcht by great degrees of power To loue in stately chayre of starry bower By diu'lish citizens wicked wyle was slayne What store of bloudy stiffling streames on molde Did tatred Rome of her owne lims beholde He by his noble vertues worthy prayse Whō peoples common bruite to heauē doth raise August among the Gods ysayncted well How many noble breastes did he compel How many springoldes young and hoary heads Each where disperst to lig in molded heds How many men did he bereaue of breath Tofore proscript that were condemnd to death When for the griesly feare of deadly dart From propre home they were constraind to part And flye Octauius force and Lepidus might And not abyde sterne Marke Antonius sight Which then the ample world at once did guyde That into kingdomes three they did deuyde To dumpish sadded syres with heauy cheere Their childrens griesly cropped pates appeere Hong out beforne the Senates iudgement seate For each man to behold in open streate Ne durst they once lament their piteaus case Nor inward seeme to mourne to Claudius face The market stead with bloud from bodies spued And lothsome mattrie streames is all imbrued And quite throughout their faces foule arayed The piteous gubbes of bloud drop downe vnstayd Nor here did this same slaughterous bloudshed stay Phillyps Pharsalia gastly fieldes each day The cromming rauening foules and cruell beastes Long fed with gobbets bigge of manlye breastes Besyde all this the cost he scoured quite Of Sicill sea and ships to ware ydyght With force of armes did win and hauocke made Of propper subiectes slayne with his owne blade The rundle round of landes with mighty mayne Of noble Chieftaynes stroake reboyles agayne Antonius ouercome in Nauale fight To Egipt poastes in shippes preparde to flight Not looking long to liue nor hoping life Incesteous Egipt through Antonius wyfe That worthy Romayne princes bloud did sucke And couerd lye their ghostes with durty mucke Long wicked waged ciuil warre there stayed
And cruell sceptors broken hath with iust and ryghtfull hand Nowe absent serues and what he eal'de in other doth sustayne And now doth bannysht Lycus holde of Hercles Thebes the rayne Yet shall he not he shall come home and him with vengeaunce quight And sodaine rise to starres he will soone flude the way to light Or make it ells returne thou safe repayre to thine in haste And conquerour to conquer'de house yet come agayne at laste Ryse vp my spouse and darknes vecye repell'de of helly shade Breake vp with hand if no way may for thee kept backe bee made And passage be shut vp returne with world vprent by might And whatsoeuer is the possest byneath in darkest night Send dut with thee as when the tops of haughty hylles vndoon A headlong passage making through for hasty floude to roon Thou somtime stoodst whā with great might of thyne a sunder broake The Tempye woods wyde open lay and beaten with thy stroake The mount now here now there fell downe and rampier tente of stay The raging brooke of Thessaly did roon a newe found way Thy parentes so thy sonnes thy land repayring home to see Breake out and lowest bonde of things out bringing thence with thee And what soeuer greedy age in all these long yeares race Hath hid shew forth ghosts that haue forgot theyr former case And people vp before thee driue that fearefull are of light Vnworthy spoyles for thee they are if thou but bring to sight What bidden is great thinges but farre to much I speake for mee Vnwotting of myne owne estate when shall I hap to see The day when thee and thy right hand I may embrace agayne And slowe returnes nor yet of me once myndefull may complayne To thee for this O guide of Gods vntamed Bulls shall bring Their hundred necks to thee O Queene of fruits on earth that spring I 'le geue thee secret sacrifice to thee with much fayth loe Long fyre brands at Eleusis towne full silent wyll I throe Then to my brethren shall I thinke to bee restort de agayne Theyr soules and eke himselfe aliue and guiding of his reyne My father for to flouryshe yet If any greater might Dor keepe thee shet we followe thee with thy returne to fight Defend vs all or els to hell drawe downe vs all to thee Thou shalt vs drawe no God shall rayse vs vp that broken bee AMPHITRYON MEGARA O Faythfull fellowe of our bloud with chaste true faythfullnes The Bridebed keeping and the sonne of haughty Hercules Conceiue in mynde some better thinges and take good heart to thee He will come home as after all his labours wounteth hee Of more renowne ME. What wretches doe most chiefly wishe of all They soone beleue AM. Nay what they feare to much lest it may fall They thinke it neuer may bee shoon'de nor rid by remedy ME. Beleefe is ready still to dreade the woorser mysery Deepe drown'de whellm'de farthermore with all the world full lowe Oppressed downe what way hath he to light agayne to goe AM. What way I pray you had he then whē through the burning coste And tumbling after maner of the troubled Sea vp toste He went by sands and freate that twyse with ebbe away doth slip And twyse vpflowe and when alone with his forsaken ship Fast caught he stucke in shallowe foordes of shelfye Syrtes sande And nowe his ship on grounde did passe throught seas a foote to land ME. Iniurious fortune vertue most of men most stout and strong Doth seldome spare no man alyue himselfe in safety long To perills great and daungers may so often times out cast Whom chaunce doth often ouerslip the same it findes at last But cruell loe and greeuous threats euen bearing in his face And such as he of stomacke is doth come euen such of pace Proude Lycus who the sceptors shakes in hande of other king The plentuous places of the towne of Thebes gouerning And euery thinge about the whych with fertile soyle doth goe Sloape Phocis and what euer doth Ismenus ouerfloe What euer thing Cithaeron seeth with haughty top and hye And slender Isthmos I le the which betweene two seas doth lye Lycus Megara Amphitrion NOt I of natiue countrey howres possesse the auncient right Vnworthy heir nor yet to me are noble men of might The grandfathers nor stocke renownd with titles hie of name But noble vertue who so boastes of kinred whence he come Of others vertue makes his vaunt but got with fearful hand My sceptors are obtaynd in sword doth all my safety stand What thee thou worst agaynst the will of cytesyns to get The bright drawne sword must it defend in forrayne countrey set No stable kingdome is But one my pompe and princely might May ratify once ioynd to me with regall forche ful bright And chambers Megara of stocke of such nobility Let vpstart state of myne take shape I do not thinke that shee Refuse it will or in the bed with mee despyse to lye But if with proude vnbridled mynde shee stubburn do denye Then quite I purpose to destroy the house of Hercules The hate of men will then my pryde and peoples speach oppres Chiefe knacke of kingdome is to beare thy subiectes hates eche one Le ts proue her then chaunce geuen hath to vs a place alone For shee her head in fold of vayle ful sad and wofully Enwrapt the Gods that are her guides for succour standes fast by And at the syde of her doth leane Alcides father trewe Meg. What thing doth this destroyer of our stocke agayne anew Prepare what proueth he Ly. O Queene that name renowmed hye And tytle takste of regall stocke ful gentle and easily A litle whyle receiue and heare my wordes with pacient eare If alwayes men eternal hates should one to th' other beare And rage be gone out of the hart should neuer fall away But th' happy still should armour holde th' vnhappy stil obay Then shall the battayles nothing leaue with wide fieldes then the lande Shall lie vntild with vnderlayd to housen fiery brand Then ashes deepe shal ouerwhelme the buried people all Expedient is to conquerour to wish that peace befall To conquerd nedefull partner of the kingdome come to me Let 's toyne our myndes take here this pledge of faith and truth to thee My right hand touch Why wishest thou with cruell face and moode Meg. Should I abyde that I the hand sprinkt with my fathers bloud Should touch and double death imbrewd of both my brethren nay First shall sunne ryse extinguish quitte and West shal bring the day First faythful peace betweene the snowes and fiers there shal be tryde And Scilla shall t' Ausonius fyrst ioyne his Sicilian syde And fyrst the fleetyng floud that with swift turnes of course doth flowe Euripus with Euboik waue shall stand ful stil and slow My father th' empire bretherne house thou hast me cleare bereft My countrey to what may be more one thing to me is left Then brother
touch doth flee My wicked hand Am I gladly do this hand embrace to mee By this I beyng slayed will goe this meuing to my brest I le slake my woes Her what place shall I seeke ronnagate for rest Where shall I hyde my selfe or in what land my selfe engraue What Tanais or what Nilus els or with his Persyan waue What Tygris violent of streame or what fierce Rhenus flood Or Tagus troublesome that flowes with Ibers treasures good May my ryght hand now wash from gylt although Maeotis cold The waues of all the Northen sea on me shed out now wolde And al the water ther of shoulde now pas by my two handes Yet wil the mischiefe deepe remayne alas into whet landes Wilt thou O wicked man resort to East or westerne coste Ech where wel knowen all place I haue of banishment quight loste From me the warlde doth flee a back the starres that sydelyng roue Do back warde dryue their turned course euen Cerberus the soue With better count'naunce did behold O faythfull friend I saye O Theseu seeke same lurking place farre hence out of the way O thou a warder of mens gyltes what euer Iudge thou hee That hurtful men dost loue repay a worthy thanke to me And my desertes I thee beseech to ghostes of hell againe Send me that once escaped them subiect to thy raine Restore me yet to those thy bandes that place shal me wel hyde And yet euen that place knowes me wel Th. Our land for thee doth bide There Mars his hande acquite agayne and made from slaughter free Restoard to armoure loe that land Alcides calles for thee Which wontes to quite the gods and proue them Innocent to be HERE ENDETH THE FIRST Tragedye of Seneca called Hercules furens translated into Englishe by Iasper Heywood studente in Oxenforde THE SECOND TRAGEDIE OF SENECA ENTITVtuled Thyestes faythfully Englished by Iasper Heywood Felow of Alsolne Colledge in Oxenforde The Argument of this Tragedie MEGAERA ONE OF THE Hellish furies raising vp Tantalus frō Hell incited him to set mortall hatred betwene his two nephewes Thiestes Atreus being brothers and raining as Kinges ouer Mycenae by enterchangeable turnes that is to witte Thiestes to raine the one yere and Atreus the other Now Atreus enraged with furie against his brother partly for defiling and deflouring his wife Aerope by pollicie and partly for taking from him a Ram with a golden fleese practised with his seruāt how to be reuēged of his brother This Atreus therfore dissēblīg a reconciliation inuiting Thyestes to Mycenae secretly vnknowē to him set before hī at a banquet the flesh of his own childrē to eate Afterward Atreus hauīg also geuē to his said brother the bloud of his childrē in a goblet to drinke did lastly cōmaūd the heads also to be brought in at the doleful sight wherof Thiestes greatly lamēting knowīg the he had eatē his owne childrē was wonderfully anguished But Atreus for that he had thus reuenged himselfe toke therin great pleasure and delectation THIESTES OF SENECA THE FIRST ACTE The names of the Speakers Tantalus Megaera Atrcus Seruant Thiestes Philstenes Messenger Chorus Tantalus Megaera WHAT furye fell enforceth mee to fle th' unhappy seat That gaye and gaspe with greedye lawe the fleeyng food to eate What GOD to Tantalus the bowres wher breathing bodyes dwel Doth shew agayne is ought found worse then burning thyrst of hel In lakes alow or yet worse plague then hunger is there one In vayne that euer gapes for foode shal Sisyphus his stone That slipper restles rollyng payse vppon my backe be borne Or shall my lymmes with swifter swinge of whirling whele be torne Or shal my paynes be Tytius panges th' encreasyng liuer still Whose growing guttes the gnawing gripes and fylthy foules do fyll That styl by nyght repayres the panch that was deuourd by day And wondrous wombe vnwasted lieth a new prepared pray What ill am I appoynted for O cruell iudge of sprites Who so thou be that tormentes new among the sowles delytes Stil to dispose ad what thou canst to all my deadly woe That keeper euen of dungeon darke would fore abhorre to knowe Or hel it selfe it quake to se for dread wherof likewyse I tremble wold that plague seke out lo now there doth aryse My broode that shal in mischiefe farre the grandsyers gilt out goe And gyltles make that first shall dare vnuentred ils to do What euer place remayneth yet of all this wicked land I wil fill vp and neuer once while Pelops house doth stand Shall Minos idle be Meg. Go forth thou detestable sprite And vexe the Goddes of wicked house with rage of furyes might Let them contend with all offence by turnes and one by one Let swordes be drawne and meane of ire procure there may be none Nor shame let fury blynd enflame theyr myndes and wrathful will Let yet the parentes rage endure and longer lasting yll Through childrens children spreade nor yet let any leysure be The former fawts to hate but still more mischiefe newe to see Nor one in one but ere the gylt with vengeance be acquit Encrease the cryme from brethren proud let rule of kingdom flyt To runnagates and swaruing state of all vnstable thinges Let it by doubtfull dome be toste betwene th uncertaine kyngs Let mighty fall to misery and myser clime to might Let chaunce turne th empyre vpsydowne both geue and take the right The banyshed for gylt whan god restore theyr country shall Let them to mischiefe fall a fresh as hatefull then to all As to themselues let Ire thinke nought vnlawfull to be doon Let brother dread the brothers wrath and father feare the soon And eke the soon his parents powre let babes be murdered yll But worse begot her spouse betrapt to treasons trayne to kyll Let hatefull wyfe a wayte and let them beare through seas their warre Let bloodshed lye the lands about and euery field a farre And ouer conqueryng captaynes greate of countreys far to see Let lust tryumphe in wicked house let whoredome counted he The light'st offence let trust that in the breasts of brethren breedes And truth be gone let not from sight of your so heynous deedes The heauens be hyd about the poale when shyne the starres on hye And flames with woonted beames of light doe decke the paynted skyls Let darkest night bee made and let the day the heauens forsake Dysturbe the godds of wicked house hate slaughter murder make Fyll vp the house of Tantalus with mischieues and debates Adorned be the pillers hygh with bay and let the gates Be garnysht greene and worthy there for thy returne to sight Be kyndled fyre let mischyefe done in Thracia once theyr lyght More many folde wherefore doth yet the vncles hand delaye Doth yet Thyestes not bewayle his childrens fatall day Shall he not finde them where with heat of fyres that vnder glowe The cawderne boyles their limmes eche one a peeces let them go Disperste let fathers fires with
With bowes of mortall Ewe A tree wherewith the mourners winde Theyr mourning heads Garlands make In this guise all arayde The sacred Priest doth enter in with trembling lims dismayde Than in the Sheepe and Oxen blacke by backwarde course are drawn And odoures sweete Frankencence on flaming fyres are thrown The beasts on burning Altars cast do quake with schorched lims And bloudy streames with fyre mixt about the Aultars swims Than on the darke internall Gods and him that rules them all With deadly shriking voyce aloude the Prophet gins to call And rouls the Magick verse in mouth and hidden Artes doth proue Which eyther power haue to appease or els the Gods to moue Thair bloudy streaming Lycours black with broyling heate doe boyle And all the Beasts consume and burn The Prophet than to toyle Begins And mixed wyne and Mylke vpon the Aultars throwes And all the Dongeon darke and wyde with streaming blood it flowes Than out with thundring voyce agayne the Prophet calles and cryes And straight as much with mumbling mouth he champs in secret wyse The trees do turne The Riuers stÄd The ground with roring shakes And all the world as seemes to mee with fearefull trembling quakes I am heard I am heard than out aloude the Priest began to cry Whan all the dampned soules by heapes abrode outrushing fly Then woods with rumbling noyse doe oft resounding make And Heauen and Earth together goe And bowes and trees do crake And ThuÌ„ders roore And Lightnings flash And waues aloft doe fly And ground retyres and Dogs doe bawl and Beastes are heard to cry And whyther long of Acheron that lothsom Flud that flowes All stinking streames or of the earth that out her Bowels throwes Free place to Sprights to geue or of that fierce infernall Hound That at such times doth bustling make with chayns railing sound The Earth al wide it open gapes And I did see on ground The Gods with colour pale and wan that those dark kingdoms keepe And very night I saw in deede and thousand shapes to creepe From out those filthy stinking Lakes and lothsom pits of Hell Where all the euils vnder Son in darksom shades doe dwell So quaking all for feare I stoode with minde right sore apalde Whilst on those Gods with trembling mouth the Priest full often calde Who all at once out of theyr dens did skip with griesly Face And Monsters grim and stinging Snakes seemd wander in that place And all the fowlest Feendes of Hell and Furies all were theare And all traÌ„sformed Ghosts sprights that euer Hell did beare With Cares ahd all Diseases vyle that mortall mynds doe crush All those and more I sawe out of those Dungeons deepe to rush And Age I sawe with riueled Face and Neede Feare and Death And Fyre and flames thousand ills out fro those Pits to breath Then I was gon and quight amazd The wenche in worser case And yet of olde acquaynted with her Fathers Artes she was The Priest himselfe vnmooued stoode and boldly cited owt Whole Armies of king Ditis men who clustring in a Rowt All flittring thin like Cloudes disperst abrode in Ayre doe fly And bearing sundry shapes and formes doe scud aboue in Sky A thousand woods I thinke haue not so many leaues on trees Ten thousand medowes fresh haue not so many flowers for bees Ten hundred thousand riuers not so many Foule can show Nor all the drops and streams and gulphes that in the Seas do flow If that they might be wayed can sure so great a number make As could those shapes and formes that flew from out of Limbo lake Both Tantalus and Zetus too and pale Amphions Ghost And A gaue and after her ten thousand Sprightes do post Than Pentheus and more and more in like estate ensue Til out at length comes Laius with foule and grisly hue Vncomly brest in wretched plight with fylth all ouergrowne All perst with wounds I loth to speake with bloud quight ouerflown A Miser ryght as seemd to me and most of Misers all Thus in this case at length he spake and thus began to call O Cadmus cruel Citty vyle that stil delightste in bloud O Cadmus thou which kinsmens death accountst as chiefest good Teare out the bloudy Bowels of your Children learne of me Do that and rather more then you would byde the day to see Like ills as late on mee are light Loe mothers loue alas Hath causd the greatest misery that ere in Theba was The Countrey with the wrath of Gods at this tyme is not tost Nor yearth nor ayre infect is not the cause that all bene lost No No A bloudy King is cause of all these mischiefes great A bloudy wretch A wretched child that sits in Fathers Seate And Mothers bed defyles O wretch and entreth in agayne In places whence he came from once and doubleth so her payne Whilst that hee fils the haples wombe wher in himselfe did lie With graceles seede and causeth her twise childbirthes pangues to try Vnhappy Sonne but Father worse and most vnhappy hee By whom the lawes of sacred shame so sore confounded bee For that that very bestes almost do all abhorre to do Euen of his mothers body he hath brothers gotten two O mischiefe great O dredful deede then Sphinx O moÌ„ster more Example vnto ages all of Gods foretold before But I thee thee that Scepter holdst thy Father wil pursue And wreacke my selfe on thee and thyne with plagues vengeance due All restles rage of spite and paine I will vppon thee blow And all the furies foule of hell vppon thee I will throw I wil subuert thy Houses cleane for this thy lothsome lust I wil do this thou wretch And thee and thyne consume to dust Wherfore dispatch at once I say into exile driue your King That ground that first of all he leaues with fresh grene grasse shall spring And sweete and pleasaunt Ayre and healthfull blasts shall ryse And all the euills vnder Sun that mortall men surprise The Pocks the Piles the Botch the blaine death with him shall fly And with him mischiefs all shall passe and Monsters vnder Sky And as for him I know hee would depart with willing mynde But I will clog his Feete and hands his way he shall not finde But groping with his aged staffe shall passe from place to place This shall he doe And none shall rue vpon his ruthfull case Rid you the Monster from the Earth for Heauen let mee alone No sooner sayd but straight away his dreadfull Ghost was gone And fast by thousands after him th' other Sprights in hyde Than Cold trembling feare began through all my bones to glyde OED. The thing I alwayes fearde I see vpon mee now is layde But slender props they are God wot whereby your Treason is stayde Meropa my Mother deare shall mee from this defend Polybius eke shall purge mee quight from Actions all that tend To murder or to incest vile they both
some deterd by payne A fewe by toyle and labour long did with their Prince remayne OE. Were any slayne in his defence IO. Of one report is rife Who constant in his princes cause full stoutly lost his lyfe OED. It is enough I knowe the man that hath this mischiefe done The number and the place agrees The time vntried alone Remaynes Than tell what time hee died and when that he was slaine IOC. T is ten yeares since you now reuiue my chifest cares againe THE FOVRTH ACTE THE SECOND SCENE Senex OEdipus THe Corinth people all O King in Fathers place to rayn Doe call your Grace Polybius doth eternall rest obtayn OED. O God what Fortune vyle doth mee oppresse on euery side How doe my sorrowes still encrease Tell how my Father dide SEN. No sicknesse sir but very age did of his life him reaue OED. And is hee dead in deede not slayne what ioy may I conceave How may I now triumph the Gods to witnesse I doe call To whom are known my hidden thoughts and secret workings al Now may I lift to skyes my hands my hands from mischiefe free But yet the chiefest cause of feare remayneth still to mee SEN. Your Fathers kingdom ought al dred out of your mind to driue OED. That I coÌ„fesse But secret thoughts my trembling heart do riue With inward doubt of deepe distresse my Mother I do feare This grudge is that continually my heart doth rent and teare SEN. Do you your Mother feare on your return that onely slayes OED. I feare not her but from her sight a godly zeale mee frayes S. What will you her a Wydow leaue OE. Now now thou woÅ«dst my heart This this and onely this alas is cause of all my smart SEN. Tell me O king what doubtfull feare doth presse thy princely brest Kings couÌ„cels I can well coÌ„ceale that ben with Cares opprest OED. Least as Apollo hath forefolde I should a Mariage make With myne owne Mother only this fowle feare doth make me quake SEN. Such vayne peuysh feares at length from out your breast exyle Meropa your Mother is not in deede you do your selfe beguile OED. What vauntage should it be to her adopted Sonnes to haue SEN. A kingdom she shall gayne thereby Her Husband layde in graue The chiefest prop to stay her Realmes from present confusion In children for to haue and hope of lawfull succession OED. What are the meanes whereby thou dost these secrets vnderstaÌ„d SEN. My selfe your grace an Infant gaue into your fathers hand OED. Didst thou me to my Father geue Who than gaue me to thee SEN. A Sheparde str that wanted on Cytheron Hills to bee OE. What made thee in those woods to rauÌ„ge what hadst thou there to do SEN. Vpon those Hils my Beasts I kept somtime a Sheepeherde to OE. What nots what priuy marks hast thou wherby thou dost me kno SE. The holes that through your feete are borde froÌ„ wheÌ„ce your name did gro OE. Declare forthwith what was his name that gaue me vnto thee SE. The kings chief Shephard than that was deliuered you to mee OE. What was his name SE. O king old mens remeÌ„brance soone doth fayle Obliuion for the chiefest part doth boary heads assayle And drowns their former memory of things long out of mynde OE. What canst thou know the man by sight S. Perhaps I should him finde And know by Face Things ouer whelmd by time and quight opprest A small marke oft to mynde reuokes and fresh renues in brest OE. Sirs bid the Herdmen forth with driue theyr Beasts to Aulters all Away with speede make hast the Master Sheepherds to mee call SE. Sith that your destiny this doth hyde and Fortune it detayne And closely keepe let it be so from opening that refrayne That long canceald hath hidden lyen that seeke not to disclose Such things outsercht and fouÌ„d oftimes agaynst the sercher goes OE. Can any mischiefe greater be than this that now I feare SE. Aduise you wel remembre fyrst what weight this thing doth beare That thus you goe about to search and slit with Tooth and Nayle Obserue the golden meane beware beare still and equall sayle Your CouÌ„treys wealth O King your lyfe and all vpon this lyes Though you stir not bee sure at length your Fortune you escryes A happy state for to disturbe doth nought at all behoue OE. When things be at the worst of them a man may safely moue SE. Can you haue ought more excellent than is a Prynces state Beware least of your Parents found it you repent to late OE. No father no I warrant that repent not I I trow I seeke it not to that entent I haue decreed to know The matter at the full Wherefore I will it now pursus Lo Phorbas where hee trembling coms with comely aged hue To whom of all the kinges flocke than the care and charge was due Dost thou his name his speach his Face or yet his person know SE. Me thinks I should haue seene his Face and yet I cannot show The places where I haue him seene small time brings such a chainge As well acquaynted Faces ost to vs appeare still strainge This looke is neyther throughly known nor yet vnknown to mee I cannot tell I doubt it much and yet it may bee hee In Laius tyme long since when hee these Kindomes great did keepe Wast thou not on Citheron hils chiefe Shepard to his sheepe THE FOVRTH ACTE THE THIRDE SCENE Phorbas Senex OEdipus SOmetime a charge of sheepe I had vnworthy though I weer And did vpon those hills chiefe rule on other Shepards beare SE. Knowst thou not me PH. I cannot tell OE. Didst thou once geue this man A Childe Speake out why dost thou stay if so declare it than Why dost thou blush and doubting stand troth seeketh no delay PH. Things out of minde you call agayne almost quight worne away OE. Confesse thou slaue or els I sweare thou that constrayned bee PH. In deede I doe remembre once an Infant yong by mee Delyuered was vnto this Man but well I wot in vayne I know he could not long endure nor yet alyue remayne Long since he is dead I know it well hee liues not at this day SE. Eo God forbid he liues no doubt and long may liue I pray OE. Why dost thou say the child is dead that thou this man didst giue PH. With Irons sharp his feete were board I know he could not liue For of the sore a swelling rose I saw the bloud to gush From out of both the wounds and down by powring streames to flush SEN. Now stay O king no farther now you know almost the troth OE. Whose child was â—â—â—tell me forthw PH. I dare not for mine Othe OE. Thine Oth thou slaue Some fyre here I le charme thine Othe and thee With fyre flames except forthwith thou tell the troth to mee PH. O pardon me though rade I seeme I seeke nor to withstand name Your graces minde most noble
thy Charyot Pyrrhus plucke as Achill Hector drew And neuer shal these tender handes thy weapons weild and wrest Thou neuer shalt in woods pursue the wyld and mighty beast Nor as accustom'd is by guyse and sacrifice in Troy With measure swift betweene the aulters shalt thou daunce with ioy O grieuous kind of cruel death that doth remayne for thee More woeful thinges then Hectors death the walles of Troy shall see Vliss. Now breake of al thy mothers tears I may no more tyme spende The grieuous sorrowes of thy hart will neuer make an end An. Vlisses spare as yet my teares and graunt awhyle delay To close his eyes yet with my handes er he depart away Thou diest but young yet feard thou art thy Troy doth wayte for thee Goe noble hart thou shalt agayne the noble Troyans see Asti. Helpe me mother An. Alas my child why tak'st thou holde by me In vayne thou calst where helpe none is I can not succour thee As when the little tender beast that heares the Lyon crye Straight for defence he seekes his damme crouching downe doth lye The cruel beast when once remoued is the damme away In greedy taw with rauening bit doth snatch the tender pray So strayght the enmies wil thee take and from my side thee beare Receiue my kisse and teares pore childe receiue my rented hayre Depart thou hence now ful of mee and to thy father goe Salute my Hector in my name and tel him of my woe Complayne thy mothers griefe to him if former cares may moue The sprightes and that in funerall flame they leese not all their loue O cruel Hector suffrest thou thy wyfe to be opprest With bond of Grecians heauy yoke and liest thou still at rest Achilles rose take here agayne my teares and rented heare And al that I haue left to send this kisse thy father beare Thy coat yet for my comfort leaue the tomb hath touched it If of his ashes aught here lye I le seeke it euery whit Vl. There is no measure of thy teares I may no lenger stay Deferre no further our returne breake of our shippes delay Chorus altered by the translatour O Ioue that leadst the lampes of fire and deckst vvith flaming starres the skye VVhy is it euer thy desyre to care their course so orderly That novve the frost the leaues hath vvorne novv the sprīg doth close the tree Novv fiery Leo rypes the corne and stil the soyle should chaunged be But vvhy art thou that all dost guide betvvene vvhose hands the poale doth svvay And at vvhose vvil the Orbs do slyde careles of mans estate alvvay Regarding not the goodmans case nor caryng hovv to hurt the yll Chaunce beareth rule in euery place and turneth mans estate at vvill She geues the vvronge the vpper hand the better part she doth oppresse She makes the highest lovv to stand her Kingdome all is orderlesse O parfite profe of her frailty the princely tovvres of Troy beat dovvne The flovvre of Asia here ye see vvith turne of hand quight ouerthrovvne The ruthful ende of Hectors son vvhō to his death the Greekes haue led His fatall hovvre is come and gone and by this tyme the Child is ded Yet stil alas more cares encrease O Troyans doleful destenie Fast doth approach the maydes decease and novv Polixena shall die THE FOVRTH ACTE Helena Andromacha Hecuba WHat euer woeful wedding yet were cause of funerall Of wayling teares bloud slaughter els or other mischiefes all A worthy watch for Helena and meete for me it ware My wedding torch hath bene the cause of al The Troyans care I am constraynd to hurt them yet after their ouerthrow The false and fayned mariages of Pyrrhus must I showe And geue the mayde the Greekes attyre and by my pollecy Shal Paris sister be betrayd and by disceypt shal die But let her be beguiled thus the lesse should be her payne If that vnware without the feare of death she might be slayne What ceasest thou the wil of Greekes and messuage to fulfill Of hurt constraynd the fault returnth to th' auter of the ill O noble Virgin of the famous house and stocke of Troy To thee the Grecians haue me sent I bring thee newes of ioy The Gods rue on thy afflicted state more merciful they bee A greate and happy maryage loe they haue prepard for thee Thou neuer should if Troy had stoode so nobly wedded be Nor Priam neuer could prefer thee to so hie degree Whom flowre of all the Grecians name the prince of honour hie That beares the Scepters ouer all the lande of Thessaly Doth in the law of wedlocke chose and for his wyse require To sacred rightes of lawful bed doth Pyrrhus thee desyre Loe Thetis great with al the rest of Gods that guide by sea Each one shall thee accompt as theirs and toy by wedding day And Peleus shall thee daughter call when thou art Pirrhus wyfe And Nereus shall accompt thee his the space of all thy life Put of thy mourning garment now this regall vesture weare Forget henceforth thy captiue state and seemly broyd thy hayre The fall hath lift thee higher vp and doth thee more aduaunce Oft to be taken in the warre doth bring the better chaunce An. This ill the Troyans neuer knew in all their griefs and payne Before this tyme ye neuer made vs to reioyce in vayne Troy towres geue light O seemely tyme for mariage to be made Who would refuse the wedding day that Helayne doth perswade The Plague and ruine of each parte behold dost thou not see These tombes of noble men and how their bones here scattered bee Thy brydebed hath bene cause of this for thee all these be ded For thee the bloud of Asia both and Europe hath bene shed When thou in ioy and pleasure both the fighting folke from farre Hast viewde in doubt to whom to wish the glory of the warre Goe to prepare the mariages what neede the Torches light Behold the Towres of Troy do shine with brands that blase ful bright O Troyans all set to your handes this wedlocke celebrate Lament this day with woeful cry and teares in seemly rate Mel Though care do cause the want of wit and reasons rule denye And heauy hap doth ofttymes hate his mates in misery Yet I before most hateful iudge dare wel defend my part That I of all your greuous cares sustayne the greatest smart Andromacha for Hector weepes for Priam Hecuba For onely Paris priuily bewayleth Helena A hard and grieuous thing it is captiuity to beare In Troy that yoke I suffred long a prisoner whole ten yeare Turnd are the fates Troy beaten downe to Greece I must repeare The natiue countrey to haue lost is ill but worse to feare For dread therof you neede not care your euilles all be past On me both partes wil vengeance take al lightes to me at last Whom each man prisoner takes God wot shee standes in slipper stay And me not captiue made by
decay What beggerly want and wayling hunger may Those villaines shal be sure to haue ech day Ah Prouender pricks that vile rebellious race Ne can they once our fauour well embrace Nor be content with peace in quiet state But broyling raumpe about with troubled gate Hereon with boldnesse straight hereon they flie With harebraind rashnesse hedlong by and by Well they must tamed be with heauy stroke And downe be kept with peise of weighty yoke That they with like attempt do not arise Nor once cast vp their deadly peasaunts eyes Against our louing spouses golden lookes First punish them sure then feare shal be their bookes To teache them at their Princes beck t' obay But see at hand whom fayth and vertue rare Lieuetenant chiefe of camps appointed thare THE FIFTE SCEANE Praefectus Nero THe vulgare peoples rash vnruly rage The slaughter of a fewe did sone asswage Which long with stode our valiant force in vain To tel your grace this newes I come againe Nero. And is this then ynough dost thou so well O souldiour marke what doth thy captaine tell Hast thou with held thy hand from bloudy yre Is this the due reuenge that we requyre Prae. The captaine guides of treason payd their hyre By desperate death of bloudy sword in fight The route which sought with flaming fyre to light Ner. Our royall Pallace great who would assigne Their Prince what he should doe and pull in fine Our mate from vs dissoluing wedlocke bandes Whose hardy slaunderous tongs wicked handes Hir princely grace reprochfully withstandes From due reuenge are they dismissed free Prae. Shall subiectes payne by griefe assigned bee Ner. It shall assigne which time shall neuer weare Prae. Which neither wrath may end nor yet your fear Nero. Shee shall appease our hie displeased minde Who fiyrst our wrath deserued due to finde Praef. Declare whose death your moode doth most require Let not my hande be stayde from your desire Ner. It seekes our sisters death and trayterous hed Prae. Those words through all my lims hath stiffnesse spred Opprest with griesty feare Ner: Vs to obay Stands thou in doubt Praef. On fayth why do you lay So great a fault Ner. Bycause thou sparedst our foe Praef. Deserues a woman to be termed so Nero. If treason she begin Prae. Is any man So sure that hit accuse of creason can Ner. The peoples rage Praef. Those madde vnweldye wights Who order could Ne. Who could stir vp their sprits Prae. No creature as I thincke Ner. A woman could In whome a mind Dame nature hath vpfould To mischiefe prone shee armed hath hir heart To hurt by wyles yet strength shee set apart Least shee vndaunted force with hir should beare But now hir slender power with doubting feare Is quickly quaylde or else with punishment Which hir condemned state to mischiefe bent To late doth ende away with graue aduise Vs with entreating seeke not to entyse Dispatch that we commaund on shipboorde horne Farre off to shore aloofe with dashing worne Commaund shee be that tunlike swelling brest At length in storming stomack may take rest THE SIXTE SCENE Chorus Octauia ALack the peoples bitter loue And dyre good will to many one Which when they hoysted sayles aboue With pleasaunt blastes it made to grone And caried them from quiet shore That faynting leaues them in the deepe And tumbling raging waters rore Cornelia piteous wretch did weepe And sore bewayle hir sonnes estate The peoples loue did vndoe them And wondrous fauour bred them hate Great worthy peeres of noble stem Of high renowne for vertues prayse In fayth and eloquence did pas Their stomacks stout their fame did rayse i th lawes eche one most excellent was And Scipio thee did Fortune yeelde Vnto lyke death and curssed wracke Whom neyther honours pompe coulde sheelde Nor fenced house thy foes keepe backe Moe to repeate although I coulde Pure present griefe forbiddeth sore Ere whyle to whom the people woulde Her Fathers antique Courte restore And Brothers wedlocke once againe Now weeping wringing hands poore wretch Vnto hir cruell deadly payne The armed souldiours doe hir fetch How safe doth pouerty lye content In thetched house safe shrouded there High raysed towers with blasts are bent Which often tymes them ouer beare Oct. Where pull you mee poore wretch alas Into what banisht exiles place Woulde Nero haue mee for to passe Or Fortune bids with frowning face If now with faynting strength quite coolde And with my broyles all wearied ceasse And longer lyfe shee graunt mee woolde If that shee worke for to increase My sorrowes great with deadly dart Why is she then so much my foe In country that I may not part And leaue my life before I goe But now no helpe of health I feele Alas I see my Brothers boate This is the same whose vaulted keele His Mother once did set a clote And now his piteous Sister I Excluded cleane from spousall place Shall be so caried by and by No force hath vertue in this case No Gods there be my woes to wrecke The griefly dreadfull drab Eryn Doth weld the worlde at nod and becke Who can lament my state wherein I am alas sufficientlie How can Aedon duely playne My smarting streames at beares that I Do shedde whose wings I would be fame If destnies would them graunt to weare Then would I leaue my mourning mates As swiftly fled as wings could beare Aud so auoyde these bloudy pates Then sitting sole in shirwood shirle And hanging sure by dandling twigge VVith plaintiue pipe I might out twarle My heauy tuned note so bigge Chor. The mortalt broode the destnies guide Themselues they nothing can assure That certainly doth stedfast bide VVhich our last day of life procure VVhere of we alwayes should beware Much daungerous chaunces for to try Vnto your troubled minde with care Now many saumples do applys Which your accursed court hath brought To holden you in all your broyle For what hath more your troubles wrought What doth against you sorer toyle Than fortune doth the first of all Agrippas childe brought forth to life Whome we Tyberius daughter call By lawe and eke Prince Caesars wife Of many sonnes a carefull dame I cannot chose but now recount Whose worthy glorious ample name Throughout the world doth much surmount So oft with belly bolne that bare Desyred fruicts and peaces pledge Ere long thou sufferedst exiles care Strypes chaines and boltes of yron wedge And mourning much which so did frame That death they causde thee to abyde So Liuia Drusus lucky name In male kinde babes did hedling slyde Into a cruell monstrous deede And death sore pearcing deadly dart Hir mothers fates doth Iulia speede To folow streight with all hir heart Who after longer wasted time With bloudy fauchion kene was slaine Although for no iust cause or crime Your mother eke that once did raigne Who then esteemd of Claudius well Did wisely weld his court at will And fruitfull was as you can tell What could not