together and be merry Er'e we approach the Region of the Dead Palladium shall be ours before to morrow If we both fail or in the Danger die The vast Design shall crown our Memory If we prevail as great will be the Joy To win the fam'd Palladium as to conquer Troy Exeunt Omnes Finis Actus Primi ACTUS SECUNDUS SCENA PRIMA Hector Andromache A Table with Lights Books Sword and Armour upon it Hec. GO to thy rest my Dear thy Eyes are heavy Like Tapers that in Urns do burn neglected And give a Melancholy light Repose thy self a little 'T is almost day and thou hast had no sleep And. Why is my Hector grown so weary of me If I look heavy 't is because you are unkind I have no rest no Joy but in your Company To go to bed is but to think of thee And then how can I sleep or wish to do so Let me lie down upon this Couch And there I 'le try if I can sleep by you But then I 'le promise when I 've shut my Eyes My Fancy shall pursue you as I lie And I will dream of nothing else but you Hec. My Life my Love my best Andromache If thou say'st more thou 'lt mollifie me quite And turn thy Hector to a wanton Fool. What God cou'd see thee or but hear thee speak And not forsake the Joys of Heav'n for thee Thou best of Women and the chastest Wife Go to thy Women Dear It is for thee I watch and toyl and spend my weary Nights To save the greatest blessing of thy life That I may love thee long and hold thee thus for ever And. Ah! why then wou'd you part with me so soon How most severely has my Love been dealt with The God of Battails uses you all day And to his Councils calls you every Night It is so long since I have held you in These Arms that I forget I ever did Farewel The God of War whom you adore And Thousands Thousands of choice Blessings keep you Keep you more happy then you think you are In my Embraces Good Night Hec. Good Night my Dear my everlasting Love Who waits there Sweet slumber dwell about thy Eyes And joys immortal recreate thy Fancy Exit Andromache attended Lift up thy drooping head old sinking Ilium Behold the poor defence th' ast plac'd in me Look up thou hadst more need of all the Gods For thy assistance or that all thy Sons Were fram'd with minds invincible as Hector O that thou wert as equal to the rest Of thy bold Grecian Adversaries As I am to Achilles Then fir'd with pleasure and ambitious Glory We two might fight and set our Lives at stake For the decision of this tedious War The Gods with leisure then might look from Heav'n To see their two great Champions of the World Dispute with terrour this their mighty Cause That took up all their care Ha! A great noise within of Arm Arm Treason Treason Pallas thou great Desendress of our City What sudden noise is this The Grecians may more early than their custom March out by stealth and storm the Walls by Night To horse Go fetch me Galatea straight Send quickly to my Brother Troilus At Pallas Gate and bid him come to me with speed For Orders Drowzy slave begon Paris Exit Sold. Enter Paris What means these many loud and hideous voices Paris They are the Signs of some approaching danger Our Enemies have enter'd by surprise Or else the Citizens in Troops rebel They run like Madmen howling through the streets Some call to Arms and others cry out Treason And none can tell for what strange dreadful noises Reach ev'ry Ear the Womens louder Cries Drown the shrill sound of Warlike Instruments Running like Furies in their Torments Roaring Their dull infatuated Spirits haunt The Court as if some sudden Conflagration Had driv'n their Souls as well as Bodies Out of their dwellings Hec. Our presence shall disperse and chide their Fears I 'le put my Life before 'em as a Guard Paris Their sufferings have made them insolent On me and Helen now they vent their malice I heard 'em cry with tears and anger loud The Gods have justly punish'd us for Rape Give back the ravish'd Helena again We 'l fight no more till Helen be restor'd Hec. Let 's hast to know the Cause If it be Treason This moment then shall make the Fruit abortive We 'l crush the Egg that holds this Cockatrice Bring forth the Guards We 'l fright 'em worse then Death Traitors are valiant but behind our backs And never durst look Majesty i' th' Face Enter Troilus and meets them going off Troi. Stay Sons of Priam whether wou'd you run The Gods have left us and we 're all undone The'r 's nought abroad but horrour and despair A City all distract without a head Her ravish'd Temples naked Altars left Without a God Hec. What greater Losses are there to be fear'd Than Hector Troilus and Paris And we are all in safety Troi. Pallas is gone your Walls and Towers are stripp'd Her great Palladium's fled that held the mighty Spear That guarded all our Lives The Fate of Ilium The Shield of Troy and all the Grecians fear'd Is sunk and gone and draws our Ruin after Hec. Speak Troilus again if this be true The wonder is too great to be believ'd O' th' suddain Enter to them Priamus and Guards Pri. I came to find you out my valiant Sons Are we all hated by the Gods at last Is my Cassandra's Prophesie come true already Tell me the news my aged head can bear it Is Pallas fled to heav'n from whence she fell Troi. No but she 's gon the nearer way through Hell Quite to th' Antipodes before this time With dreadful signs she did foretel the World Her angry Journey fierce Lightning light her way The Temple shook and Thunder clest the Ground Through which she went From Pallas Gate I heard the dismal noise and saw the light She carri'd with her leaving in its stead Cimmerian darkness wrapp'd in Clouds of smoak The Priests came forth with their white holy Linnen All stain'd with ruful spots of deepest red As if 't had rain'd a mighty shower of Blood In vain it had been to demand the Cause For fear and horrour made them speechless The rest that were lay dead upon the floor With Arms cut off for their profane presumption In off'ring with their mortal hands to stay her First in a rage she smote her lofty Spear Deep in the ground and left it sticking there The shaft extended up to such an height No Titan's Arm that with the Gods did fight And scal'd the high and vaulted Arch of Heav'n Can reach it Pri. And left it as an angry testimony Our Enemies shall dig into the Bowells And pierce the Intrail of unhappy Troy As that has don the Earth Hec. You suffer your selves still to be deceiv'd And draw a Consternation from the Cause For all the Tale
Achilles I claim my Ithycans all from service Of your Interest and that I may be hence dismiss'd Ach. Yes to a kiss of 's dear Penelope Aga. I charge you lay aside your Rage Achilles And you Ulysses wisely rule your temper We all intreat you to disclose your mind And he that interrupts you after this Is Enemy to all Is this a time For grudging Animosities to Raign In private Breasts Ach. I am rebuk'd I can't be sooth'd or bridl'd to a temper But shall give way to this sententious Man Exit Achilles Ulyss. I need not call to your remembrance That we are all of mortal Bodies fram'd Of flesh though 't has so many stroaks indur'd Of Ten years Labour yet can never weary The hand of Time but must at last give o're An Anvil half so beaten wou'd decay Our Ships are all grown Old some sunk with Age And rooting grow into the lofty banks Of Tenedos All yet we have receiv'd Has been but blows for blows a Troilus For brave Patroclus Grant me leave to teach you The way of Stratagems you must begin And give the World a thankful Precedent To cut all tedious Wars in sunder and dry up Prodigious Rivers of dear Blood that may Ensue Thus 't is I have by my Invention Thought of a mighty Engin to be fram'd Most like a Horse whose wide and spacious Womb May safely lodge a thousand Men at Arms Inclos'd not by the wisest jealous Eye To be perceiv'd Send straight to Priam then With offers of an everlasting Peace And that we 'l hence return contented with No other Article than Love This Horse As a rich Statue we will then adorn And send it to be fix'd i' th' midst of Troy Or in the Temple of the Goddess Pallas As an Amends for the so fatal Injury Done on her ravish'd Image the Palladium And a perpetual Monument of Peace Between both sides whence in the dead of Night The bold advent'rous Champions lock'd within May issue forth and let us into Troy Omn. We all adore this great Advice A charge sounded with shouts within Exit Diomedes Aga. Heark there 's a Charge already sounded Reenter Achilles and Myrmidons Ach. Awake awake from sleepy tardy Counsells And er'e you can propose to talk in State Let 's first send Hector to his Den below This waking Dragon that so guards the City Reenter Diomedes in hast Dio. Hector's arriv'd and like a roaring Lion Scatters whole herds of Grecians where a comes And dreadful Slaughter raigns about his Sword I saw him seize upon the dead dragg'd Body Of Troilus and like a sudden Storm Fell on the Executioners pale heads And drove 'em all to covert giving the mangl'd Coarse Safe guarded to the Custody of Women That mourn'd as if they 'd wake him with their Cries And with their tears Did wash away the Dirt that clos'd his Eyes Aga. Now brave Achilles and now dear Ulysses Disperse all inheroick thoughts of Anger And fight not now less bravely for your Country Let me behold you Friends before you part Ach. See my big heart does bend that scorns all malice Thus I embrace and beg you 'd pardon me My Bosome naturally rough contains Embrace Such Fire as in the Flinty Quarry lies One sudden Spark it gives and then it dies Ulyss. It is a Gem I shall esteem for ever Aga. This is a happy Omen I 'le to Horse Whilst you repair each to his gallant Charge Exit Agamemnon Guards stay Ach. Come Diomedes thou shalt follow me Ulysses Menelaus and you Ajax Stay near this place and guard the Gen'rals Tent. Thou great Alcides by my Mother known By thy twelve Labours now protect thy Son Come near my Myrmidons your Rage display Brush like the Winds and sweep your Masters way Two hundred of your Brothers loss regain By the great Hector in one Battel slain Fond Troilus this is a short reprieve I 'le fetch thee back wert thou again alive And though the Furies for t he Trojans fight All save not Hector from thy fate this Night Exeunt Achilles Diomedes and Myrmidons Men. Brave Soul Whilst he 's thus double arm'd With Hector's hate Patroclus love inspir'd He will do wonders past the reach of Fame Ulyss. Wo be to us or to the Trojans If Hector and Achilles chance to meet Like two huge clashing Tempests in the Heavn's They 'l break And fall in Thunder on each others head These are the Trojan shouts that fill the Sky shouts within Men. I fear it is a sign of Victory Ajax Let us advance and stay not here to dy As they are going off enter to them Paris and Soldiers Par. Trojans rejoyce the Grecian Courage fails Whilst Hector like a deadly Ocean pours And bears before him all that are his Foes Iâ— like a Stream that from his Torrent runs Have all his noble Courage though not strength Ulysses here and Menelaus I 'm glad I 've met thee Cou'd I kill thee my Fortune were Sublime And I wou'd ravish Thy Helen with the News the second time Men. Paris protect thy own Life first They fight The Grecians beat off the Trojans Enter Hector and Guards and rescue them Hect. What Paris here opprest with odds Ulysses Thou art the only Man next proud Achilles That I 'de be glad to kill I thank thee Iupiter Remember that thou stol'st the great Palladium Have at thee my fine subtil Mercury Nor shalt thou scape from my impartial Vengeance Unless th'adst wings and wert as swift as he They fight the Trojans beat off the Grecians Enter Achilles and his Myrmidons Ach. There guard him safe till my return speaking to some within Against the Women shut your Eyes and Ears Be deaf to their loud Cries and blind to all their Tears Ha! Hector here This is the happiest hour of all my Life That shall for ever end our great Debate Hold gallant Hector hold thy Godlike Arm Let not the Eagle bait a simple Fly Behold look back here stands Achilles by Hector returns Hect. Achilles Did I behold my lov'd Andromache Surpris'd and almost murder'd by the hands Of some foul Ravisher and She cri'd loudly To all the Gods for her deliverance Her dying Voice cou'd not provoke me more To come like Lightning to her dear Revenge Wert thou again most dreadfully return'd From Hell anointed and hot reaking from The River Stix or boiling Acheron And stood'st on th' other side in spight of fear I 'de swim the Brimstone-Lake to meet thee there Ach. We' are both agreed and I love thee as well O powerful Charms of my revengeful Hate Love is not near so great nor half so sweet He that views Heav'n beneath his Mistress brow Feels not the Joy that does possess me now Hector How dreadful to the World art thou and I Who er'e yet saw two Rival Suns i th' Sky But dreaded some prodigeous change was nigh Let the whole World beware this Storm at hand Troy on thy Fate and Greece on mine does
THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY A TRAGEDY Acted at His Royal Highness THE DUKE's Theatre Written by IOHN BANKES Fortunam Priami cantabo Nobile Bellum Quid dignum tanto feret hic Promissor hiatu Hor. de Art Poet. Licensed Ianuary 29. 1678 9. ROGER L'ESTRANGE London Printed by A. G. and I. P. and are to be Sold by Charles Blount at the Black-Raven in the Strand near the Savoy 1679. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LADY KATHERINE ROOS MADAM SUch always has been the Iurisdiction and so Supreme and Excellent the Authority of the Fair Noble and Virtuous that Poets seem to be created for no other Purpose but as anointed to be the Voice of their Oracles and to attend and repeat 'em with as much Reverence as Priests do at the Altars of the Divinities they worship to teach Mankind how to honour them when Living and when Dead to inlarge and transmit their Noble Actions to Posterity And whilst the World lasts this will be the most spatious and delightful Theme and will give the loftiest and divinest Grace to Poetry this made Homer sing he that was blind had ev'n that Inspiration and BEAUTY from the Beginning has never faild to have more Adorers than the Gods Nay it has still had such Power that it has bin the Author of as strange Miracles It has oft times made the Miser a Prodigal the Old Young and the Coward Valiant what has it not done when joyn'd with VIRTUE And what are You not able to inspire in whom both excel that Your Poet cou'd never be said to run on too lavish in Your Encomium For Your Fame wou'd put a Blush upon all as too mean that can be said of You and not accuse me of Flattery if I cou'd describe You with as much Art as that rare Painter who pictur'd his Venus with all the Smiles and Graces of Woman-kind put together How justly then have I heard the World admire at the infinite Happiness of Your LORD But pardon me Madam this is a Stream wou'd glide me insensibly away and if I do not check my self I shall like inspir'd Prophets say Wonders not to be believ'd in such a Style as our best Poets have fail'd in Therefore as one that is more a Plain Dealer than a Courtier I will leave my self severely to be censur'd by all that know You for not revealing Your Ladiships Character as I ought rather then put angry Blushes on your Cheeks by an unexpected Assault of so many rude Phrases for Virtue so delicate and tender as Yours is sooner touch'd and offended at the hearing of its just Praises than at the Calumny of the Envious and Detacters and I protest to Your Ladiship I had rather owe my Bread to Charity then be thought to earn it at so vile a Rate only grant me leave to Sail a little into the Relation of the Iustness and Gratitude of Your Ladiships Fortune 'T is known that You are descended from the most Noble House of the NOELS and joyn'd to that Incomparable and Princely Family of the MANNORS but let me say by such a Miracle that never Day appear'd more beneficial to the benighted Travellour then you o're its clouded Mansion nor did the Rain-Bow the Token of the Almighty in the Heavens after the general Deluge by the Flood to Noah's poor remaining Progeny shew it self more welcome and propitious than Your Ladiship to the despairing and almost distracted Family of the RUTLANDS which after an unfortunate Marriage when it had long wander'd upon the Face of barren Waters You were at last discov'rd as a blest and fruitful Land to rest its weary Ark upon and it may for ever hereafter call You its Good Angel that in its Flight from Heav'n first pitch'd upon the lofty and most graceful Seat of Belvoire whose Antiquity which I hope may ever last will pay you more Respect and Adoration as to its Preserver than it has done to its Founder For by Your means and your Illustrious Offspring England shall never want a Branch that shall spread it self from so Noble an Original as Your kind LORD nor be the least of its Glories that it can boast thereof How much is to be admir'd the Wisdom of the Divine Power which made so Excellent a Choice as Your Ladiship of whom it shall be said that Atlas has not supported the Heav'ns with more Fame then Your Ladiship the tottering Greatness of Belvoire And the History of Heroick Women shall henceforth own you to be the Greatest and Noblest Pattern of 'em all Pardon me Madam I begin to fall into a Relaps I wou'd not give the VVorld an Occasion to suspect that what I have said is but the Prelude of a Request I intend to beg of your Ladiship which is that you wou'd vouchsafe to accept of this poor Poem and be pleas'd to let me set your Name in the Front of it as Princes put their Arms over the Dores of Places they wou'd have Reverenc'd and Esteem'd I will not then fear the Wise Criticks nor the conceited Fops that are as curious in passing their Censures on a young Poet as your stanch'd Beauties are to one that is newly cry'd up in the Town yet I doubt not but what You please to condescend to own they will allow of I am the rather embolden'd to petition this of Your Ladiship because You are an Incourager of POETRY and I have been inform'd that not long since in the Person of the famous Earl of Rutland it has met with the most considerable Patron that ever was and all know that your gallant Father the present Vicount Cambden is the best and greatest Protector of VVit and Learning in this Age. How can I fail then in my Address to Your Ladiship of either an Acknowledgment beyond my Desert or at least a Pardon for my Faults which I humbly implore you wou'd not deny and is the greatest Favour that can be hop'd by MADAM Your Ladiships most Humble Faithful and Devoted Servant IOHN BANKES PROLOGUE SInce the Sun 's kindly Beams have left us now And in the other World make all things grow Like Swallows to warm Seasons we draw near And hope to find a fruitful Summer here May still our Orb so bright and gay appear And ev'ry Day adorn our Theatre Wev'e nothing more to welcome you to Night Than a plain undrest Play a homely Sight No Shew to take your Eyes that are more kind And easier pleas'd than is the dainty mind Language with you's esteem'd upon the Stage Like some affected Gallants of this Age Not for their Sence but for their Equipage No the rich Banquet is to come a Treat Cook'd by your Chat'lin and La'Froon of Wit This is a Christmas Tale has oft been told Over a Fire by Nurse and Grandam old Where they wou'd Paris the wild Youngster blame For stealing Helen that inconstant Dame Yet we 're in hopes you will be kind to hear The Lives of those whose Successours you are For
when Troy fell its Remnant here did plant And built this Place and call'd it Troy-novant But as those Venturers were forc'd to slay An Hoast of barb'rous Picts that stop'd their Way First we 're to withstand you Natives of the Bays Who hate all new Invaders with new Plays And therefore right or wrong damn whom you please Then that we may be stronger we submit To all you London Trojans of the Pit And all the merry Greeks that seldom think But only dive into good Wine and Drink Such may we often see we 'l soon defeat These Race of Picts that plague the Land of Wit Persons Represented By Priamus King of Troy Mr. Sandford Hector Priamus Sons Mr. Harris Paris Priamus Sons Mr. Crosby Troilus Priamus Sons Mr. I. Williams Agamemnon General of the Grecians Mr. Medbourn Achilles a great Champion of Greece Mr. Betterton Ulysses a wise Councellor and Captain Mr. Smith Diomedes a Valiant Confederate Mr. Gillow Patroclus the belov'd Friend of Achilles Mr. Bowman Menelaus Husband to Helena Mr. Norris Ajax a Stout Champion Mr. Underhill Helena Mrs. Price Andromache the faithful Wife of Hector Mrs. Betterton Polyxena Priam's Daughter belov'd by Achilles Mrs Barry Cassandra her Sister that prophesi'd the Destruction of Troy Mrs. Lee. Captains Soldiers Trojans Priests Guards  Scene Troy And before the Walls THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY ACTUS PRIMUS SCENA PRIMA The Curtain being drawn up discovers Agamemnon Achilles Menelaus Ulysses Patroclus Diomedes and Ajax in Council Aga. WIse Noble Valiant Graecian Princes all Deriv'd from Iove Mars Hercules Apollo The first of Hero's second Race of Gods That during all this famous Ten Years Siege Have Thousands of your Mortal Slaves out-liv'd And like your Fathers as Immortal stood Death in the Fight still cuts the Vulgar off Who fall like Grass before the sharpest Scyth Whilst you like Rocks have felt and turn'd its Edge That we may plainly see all are not born Mark'd out by Heav'n as are your Mighty Selves All are not blest to be the brave Achilles Nor wise Ulysses valiant Diomed Nor are there any so inspir'd with Wrong As Menelaus Therefore 't is high time Some swift Decree should from your Judgments pass To put a speedy End to this long War Or else contented with the Fame we 've won Let 's all agree straight to break up the Siege And once more visit our lov'd Wives and Countries We 've done already all that Men could do If we stay longer Fate will soon prevent us And sink our Hero's with the Weight of Years Old Time will laugh to see us like himself Age will perform what War cou'd not have done What says the Heav'n born Thetis mighty Son Achilles rises up and speaks Ach. Well spoken has the Royal Agamemnon This Breast of mine that was not made for words Shall utter too its plain and honest meaning How long shall we in vain attempt this City A Town for ought we know built by the Gods And by the Gods Immortal Aid defended Begirt with many huge and massy Walls Stronger than Stone hew'd from their growing Caverns More hard and beautiful than Marble fetch'd From the deep Bosom of the shining Quarry Still as we follow'd any fierce Assault Still we were more and more repuls'd and often Slid from the tops of her bright Magick Tow'rs Leaving no more Impression with our Blood Than restless Waves that dash against the Rocks And pitiless drop into the Sea again Or if by any chance a Breach we made That Blood hath only serv'd our Enemies To heal and to cement their Walls again Of all that know Achilles none can say That thought of danger makes him speak these words By Divine Thetis sitting next to Iove Who when I was an Infant held me by the heel Bath'd my young soft and tender Limbs all o're And plung'd me in the Lake of Acheron And me Immortal made By her I swear There 's none amongst you all dares think I fear Did not the Gods at her Request command Old skilful Vulcan to beat out this Armour By Cyclops forg'd upon the Gods own Anvil And fram'd o' th' same impenetrable stuff That the bright Chariot of the Sun is made of And Iupiter's almighty Thunderbolts Thus guarded I 'm above the reach of Fate And were I sure this War wou'd last yet Ten Years longer I wou'd formost lead you on Secure and free from the pale hand of Death Nay wou'd my self depopulate this Town Were I but sure only to fight with Men But to encounter Mountains made of Stone That like a Guard defend the mighty City As if it were immur'd and fortifi'd Against the Gods themselves Such Walls by Mercury fram'd With subtil folding Arms its Waste embracing Sev'n times each one defended by the other And of so intricate an Art that none But he that has the Skill of Dedalus With his Infernal Clew of Thread can enter Patroclus rises and speaks Patr. And what have we done all this for Wherefore Only to vindicate a private Quarrel For one Man's Interest to sacrifice The best and sweetest Strength of all our Days And what is Menelaus Wrong though much To countervail so many thousand Lives That it has cost And in its fatal Cause Invellop'd Asia in eternal Ruin Nay made the World distracted with it self Made you that were like Gods before less happy Than your base Slaves at home who now enjoy Their Masters Vineyards press the wanton Grapes And drink the Fruits of what you toil'd for long Smile on your Wives and tempt your Daughters Loves In private act those Wrongs you wou'd revenge On Troy for the long ravish'd Helena Whilst you ingrateful for the Gifts of Heav'n Like Exiles live with Beards and Hair o'regrown That to stay longer for your great Success And wait Troy's mighty and uncertain Ruin You wou'd bring pale and Ghost-like Bodies home At your return in stead of heav'nly Forms To fright your Children and dismay your Wives Think then of this wise Princes and think also Troy has a Prophecy secures its Fate That whilst the great Palladium she keeps safe The Gods will all defend it and wise Pallas The Owner of that strange and awful Image Has by her sacred Proxy dropt from Heav'n Espous'd her dear beloved Troy to her Aga. Now Brother Menelaus speak your Censure Men. 'T is not for me wise Princes to be seen To contradict what y 'ave been pleas'd to say To plead my own Cause were an arrogance And a presumption high in Menelaus I who have been the sad Implorer of this War How bad how unsuccessful it has prov'd Ye all have known yet all are satisfi'd Heav'n found out no Injustice in the Cause At the first Motion of my Wrongs ye all were pleas'd Friendly t'espouse my Quarrel as your own And took the Rape of Helena so near you As if you all had suffer'd all had shar'd In my unhappy Fate and all had Wives And chast young Daughters torn from your
their Wings Sweeter then th' Air She breath 's when ev'ry Ev'ening She 's driven in triumph or'e her Amber-Walk And Titan Courts her on the Balmy shore Hel. Paris my dear Par. What all in teares my Life my Soul my Helen Make not a God of me before my time This off'ring is the Gods my fairest Queen And Iupiter when he carouses high Calls for such precious Liquor in a full fill'd Bowl The same that from th' immortal Cup is shed In the fair trembling hand of Ganimed And drops in tears that thus adorn thy Cheeks Hel. Ah Paris are you weary of these Armes And surfeited with these fond looks of mine Which you so oft have prais'd and said so with The sweetest kindest breath of yours Par. By Heav'n thy Beauties are immortal food Still I do wish and still I wou'd obtain And there 's no end of my felicity So vast a Continent there is in bliss That when I think Iv'e reach'd the massey Globe Still more and more I pry and rush into Wider and Richer new discover'd Worlds Hel. Ah Paris none has a more cunning Tongue To charm a Woman's easy breast than you Leave off such Signs and give me proofs more Real I hear you are design'd to Fight to Morrow And hazard all that I esteem most dear To give me up to him I hate Do not By all the Charms thy Charming Tongue calls sweeter By my kind Life my Honour and my Love Which I have heap'd upon you as you say To make you happy Now I lay 'em at your feet To tell you they can no way be preserv'd By any danger of your own Par. It is decreed and thou shalt see me go Thy Champion and that Name 's invincible Achilles fights with Hector and there 's none Beside think not so meanly of thy Paris Dares stand in Competition with this Arm The Herauld's gone the Trumpets have already Sounded the Challenge and my chearful blood Which thou inspire'st swells proudly in my veines With joy that I must win a double Prize Be crown'd with Bays applauded in thy Eyes Hel. Must I behold thee then I 'le go but thou Shalt see what great effects thy love can do That when the Grecian Banners proudly fly And my own Countrie 's shouts shall fill the Sky I 'le stop my Ears and Love shall blind my Eyes Though the loud noise to listning Gods shou'd rise No Greeks from Trojans shall of me be known Nor Menelaus will I but Paris own For ev'ry drop of blood thy Helmet weares I 'le weep and wash it with a thousand tears But ev'ry time thou foil'st thy Enemy And the least blest advantage I can spy Kisses Rewards on wings of sighes I 'le send to thee Par. I wish to Morrow then were come Swift as the ' eager blowes I mean to make When I shall surely conquer for thy sake I 'le stand the Grecian Army in thy sight And with the World dispute for thee my right That none er'e lov'd like me nor none like me dares fight Exeunt SCENE Changes into the Grecians CAMP Enter Agamemnon and Guards as from his Tent at one Door and Ajax and Menelaus at another Door Aga. Good Morrow to my Brother Menelaus A Joyful day to the renowned Ajax 'T is early but so fair a Morne I never saw Men. Happy may be the issue of this day The Preists of Mars in offering found last Night The wish'd for tokens and propitious signes Of an acceptable and pleasing Sacrifice Ajax It thunderd on a sudden and before the Preist Had light the Sacred fuel on the Altar Lightning descending and to all our wonders It broak into a flame kindling it self With holy Fire from Heav'n Men. An Eagle then was seen to roost hard by And at the Light flew round about the Camp Over our heads and to our wonder pitch'd Upon Ulysses Tent but after it was seen no more Aga. Blest News These are all fair and happy Omens Ajax What sayes our Royal Gen'rall Agamemnon Do you yet hold your Resolution To storm the Walls this Morning Aga. What els Where is Ulysses Summon all The Grecian Princes early to my Tent Intreat Achilles Company this Morning We were ingrateful to the Gods shou'd we Let go this happy day without the doing Of some admir'd and memorable Act What shouts are these Enter to them a Captain Cap. A happy hour to Greece Ulysses Sir And Diomedes Joy has seiz'd my breath Have Conquer'd Troy have ended the long War Have won the Statue of the fam'd Palladium The Goddess that ha's been so long our Enemy Aga. Ha! If thou mock'st us Villain thou shalt die Cap. O Sir 't is true Do you not hear the Joy No sooner this was nois'd but the whole Army Proclaim'd their shouts of gratitude to Heav'n Flocking about Ulysses kneeling to him Call him their Guardian Patron and Apollo Then falling into Extasies lie prostrate Kissing the Ground whereon he treads and bath His feet with tears of Joy Aga. Let 's all go forth and meet ' em Enter to them Ulysses and Diomedes follow'd with many Soldiers Shouting Cap. See where they come the men of all the World Most worthy to be prais'd Aga. Welcome Ulysses welcome Diomedes Near as the Joy that flowes about my heart What have ye done that with this mighty deed You have anticipated Valour 's self Out fled the swistest and most daring wishes Of all that valour or Ambition fir'd How shall Posterity reward this Act But much less how shall Agamemnon do it Vlyss. No more it is already done We'ave tam'd this wond'rous awful Deity That fell with such a dread from Heav'n to Troy Dio. Straight let 's pursue our Fortune run and strike 'em Whilst the cold damp's upon 'em whilst their Souls Are guiddy and their Senses gone astray After their Goddess that we took away Enter to them Achilles and Patroclus Ach. What meanes this early and unusual Concourse Of mad men and the Rabble in the Army Is it for Joy that you assault to day Or is it done to magnifie the deed That wise Ulysses has perform'd this Night In stealing the Palludium Aga. What deed can more deserve so just a Joy Rather admire the Gods at so great News Meet not our Shouts in consort from the Skies And strive with Thunder to excell our Voices Ach. By Heav'n they 're Cowards voices all That only have the Faces but of men Carry their Hearts in their wide gaping Mouths And ne're durst fight but when they first ask Counsel Of Augurs and have div'd into the intralls Of Beasts uncertain Instruments of War Never in tune when they shou'd do some Service So till they 're heightn'd and seru'd up into A pitch of valour by some flattering Divination They are worse than Women and infect a Camp Ulyss. Yes such is Agamemnon here and all the rest But lofty vain Achilles whose great Valour Has been beholden to himself and us Too lib'rall Benefactors in Applause Increasing
Palladium kept How much more wretched are we born That know Events than they that know 'em not Look pale and meager like old Envy's Hag At Mischeifs that we see presumptuous men Grow fat and wallow in Fill'd with a Legion of prophetick Spirits Against my will I 'm driven to and fro To try if I can at the last resist And stem the Torrent of these head-long Brothers They come I 'le go and stop 'em at the brink Of Ruin Exit Cassandra at one door As she is going off Enter Hector and Andromache Captains putting on his Armour at another door Hect. Well thou hast brought me to the place of Conquest Wilt thou now leave me dear Andromache Leave me to pull the Prize of Victory From the proud head of Thetis Son and then I 'le crown thee with my green triumphant Lawrels Restore the Palm to her by whom it grew The King and all the Trojans wait for thee To make th' Assembly perfect with thy Presence Go my propitious Goddess and behold me From thy Imperial Scaffold like the Sun Till Death is charm'd with thy reflection Give me my Arms. Captain offers him his Arms And. Hold off thy sacriligous hands Now by my Hopes I 'le dress thee for my Soldier Then if thou meet'st with any Ill to day Andromache's unfortunate to thee Who bids thee go and fight this once for me These hands whose soft Embraces thou did'st feel Shall clasp thy body round with hardn'd steel First let me place this Croslet on thy Neck Hect. So Venus deck'd the am'rous God of War And. Achilles Arms by Cyclops hammers beat Have not the Fire these kisses do create My lips shall forge and make it more divine Receive this Scarf but from no hand but mine Save thou my Lord 's most dear and precious Head Whose awful Front has struck the Coward dead And in its Beaver lock that Godlike Face Which Venus wou'd adore instead of Mars Here take thy Sword whole Herds of Grecians fear More fatal than the great Palladium's Spear Fledg'd with a wrong'd invet'rate Woman's smart Commend it from me to Achilles Heart From thy Andromache this token bear Send it as quick as I cou'd wish it there Go Son of Priam meet the Son of Thetis My heart foretells thou shalt return my Victor For now with greater Joy I part with thee Than when at first I took thee in these Arms The greatest Champion and the best of Lovers Hect. Enough thou beauteous Charmer of my Soul Achilles now is less immortal than My self These Tears the pretious signs of Joy Which flow from the rich Fountains of thy Eyes Have made me sacred and impenetrable And every kiss has kindled in my Veins Immortal Fire and sent inliv'ning heat Through all my Sinews I shall grow too big And stretch my Body with a Fury so divine Will burst this Iron mold Let me go straight I wou'd not choose to be Achilles now That boasts how he was dipp'd in Acheron That Iove cull'd from his precious Magazine The choicest Arms and gave it Thetis for her Son Heark heark they call Wilt thou let go thy Champion And. Go then my Dear and fly thou from my Arms Like a fierce Lion that is loos'd and seize Upon this Grecian Giant for thy Prey Whom thou hast hunted for so long Yet let me stay thee but a moment more And then rush on Hect. Like thunder from the Heavens Whilst Hector and Andromache talk Enter to them Paris and Troilus ready for the Fight with them Helena and Polixena Troi. Priam's dear Daughter and my dearer Sister Go and behold me shame thy causeless Fears Thy erring Fondness I wou'd shun Polyx. I wish you had not been to fight to day Something so fatal hangs about my Heart You are the only Brother that I fondly love If you shou'd be unhappy and miscarry Gods I can speak no more Pardon O pardon These sad abrupt I wish 'em not ill-boding Tears Troi. Dearest Polyxena you are to blame Par. No more my Helen Think'st thou that the Goddess Who made thee mine when on Mount Ida's Top I gave thee Prize of Beauty from all Heav'n To her and for thy sake refus'd the Crown Of all the World and Wisdom of Apollo Think'st thou that she can be so much ingrateful To part us and our Loves so soon when I Refus'd so rich and mighty Bribes for thee Hel. Blame me not now the trembling hour's so nigh Hect. Again the Trumpet calls Now they are come And. Then I will let thee go Blow yet more loud Till thy shrill Sound shall peirce the highest Cloud Thou shalt not raise thy Voice to such a height As I will gladly answer thee a' comes He comes arm'd by Andromache with Love And Valour that shall draw just admiration From th' envious Deities Take this last token Of an assur'd and happy Victory Kisses him Go go I 'le pull my Eyes from thy dear sight Least thou shou'dst stay too long and look no more Till I behold rich Blood adorn thy Sheild Like drops of Coral on the spangl'd shore Answer me not but go possess the Field 'T is thine my Champion What idle Tears are these Polyxena Polix Go Troilus thou hast a Virgin 's chast And dearest wishes for thee Exeunt Andromache leading Polyxena and Helena at one door Enter Cassandra at another door Enter Cassandra at another door meeting the Brothers as they are just going off Cass. Stand ye rash Boys and hear the voice of Fate Believe Cassandra once before too late Paris Thou frightful Hag thou stain to Priam's blood Advance no further Thou art more dreadful than a gaping Flood A Spirit damn'd burst from it's flinty Womb Is not so fatal Fly this foul Inchantress Thick mists of Devils follow where she comes And proclaim nought but horrour and despair Threatning worse Plagues than Battails in the Air. Troi. Disturb us not Cassandra with thy Zeal Calm thy prophetick Rage and smile upon us Speak once that we may bless thee for the News Hect. Still dost thou haunt us tell what fury now Has here inspird thee with so curst a Brow Why hast thou left thy fond religious Cloister And now again torment'st us with thy Cries Wounding thy Blood with Scourges in thy Eyes Say Let us go Cass. Ye cannot stir if you will hear me speak Or if you do I 'le stop you with a Flood And drown your way with Currents from my Eyes If that wont do I 'le peirce into the Vâ—nes Of famous Ilus Dardanus and Troas Rip op'n the Monuments of your Ancosters And dig your Fathers out with these hard Nails That you may see the groning Spirits that you wake Par. She 's mad and wou'd infect us all Cass. 'T is thou art mad thou Firebrand thou Cerberus O that I cou'd but blot thy fatal Birth Out of Mortalitie's Records How happy wou'd it be for Troy or else That thou hadst perish'd on Mount Ida's Top Or liv'd a base and
homely Shepherd still O give me leave to tear this Monster in my fury To reach the burning Hell about his heart And fright that blazing Spirit from its seat That sets us all on flames Hect. Resist us not this time Go and return Cassandra to thy melancholy Cell Consult the Gods above and they will tell thee The Courages of Hector and his Brothers Are quite above the Fates Cass. Stay rash yet thou most truly noble Hector Stay Troilus my love to thee thou knowest Must speak thee well Beware this fatal day Beware Alcides Race I speak to both Let not the unborn World to come record With sorrow that the Brave and Valiant Hector Fell by a hand less worthy than his own Par. O mind her not Zeal and fond Abstinence Has made her quite distracted Cass. Hear first what Pallas says and guess by that As you have ever found my words prove true Her Image still had kept your Walls and Towers Had you believ'd her Oracle by me Late at her Altar as I lay last Night Piercing the Parian-stones with my loud Cries Softning the Steps with penetrating tears For you ingrateful Brothers for whom in vain I 've spent whole Floods and rais'd my tender Voice Above the lofty sound of winds to reach your Ears Yet all were lost and spent in vain upon you Your yet more unrelenting marble-hearts A sacred Vision all my Senses laid And Sun-beams in the Temple round displayd When straight a heav'nly awful Form I spi'd At whose almighty Voice the Gates flew wide These words like divine Thunder a' did roar The work of Fate is done For Priam and his Sons are now no more Then as I look'd me thought that by my side Did the great Myrmidonian Captain stand With an advanc'd and bloody Weapon in his hand Villain said I whose blood has stain'd thy Sword 'T is thine a' cri'd Hector's and Troilus The last of all the Race of Priam's Sons But Paris least unworthy of his death by me And him I come to find within these Walls Hect. Mark not her words I fear she is suborn'd By Agamemnon and the Grecian Captains That mean to laugh us all to scorn Hence forth Be dumb Come on 'T is Hector leads you on Cass. Ah! let me hold thee gentle Troilus These Armes more soft than the great Grecian Champions Knew'st thou the danger wou'd not be deni'd By heav'n if thou dost stir from hence to fight Achilles Sword shall give thee death to day Ah! do not go unnatural bold Brothers For aged Priam's sake and Hecuba's Look back upon that great and goodly Structure A City that so many thousand weak And helpless Souls contains if you rash men The Strength and Pillars of that mighty Frame Shou'd sink how soon wou'd it decline and falling Crush us and overwhelm us all with Ruin Troi. Take off thy hands fond Woman thou shalt see My Life 's beyond the reach of Prophesy Exeunt Brothers Cass. Go then Be curst and perish to the worst degree Of unbeliev'd and unavoided Destiny And may Cassandra's Voice henceforth infect The Air and breath eternal Plagues through all The World if what I 've said shall never come To pass nor will I open any more These slighted Lips of mine in thy behalf O despicable Troy Trumpets sound within The Trumpets sound The Gods have summond ye Bold Ilium's Sons bend your stubborn Necks For now behold the pompous Scene of Fate begins Exit Cassandra As Cassandra is going off the SCENE opens and discovers all the Grecian Princes but Achilles on one side and Priamus attended on the other side sitting in State Ulysses Pratroclus and Menelaus arm'd for the Combat come upon the Stage and meet Andromache Helen and Polyxena going to take their Seats Patroclus in the Armour of Achilles Dio. Summon the Trojan Champions to the Lists Pri. Ye may Yet doubt not but they will too soon appear Men. Hold me Ulysses and support me with Thy Counse and thy Arms for I am struck As if I had been blasted by some Planet Her dang'rous Eyes who can withstand 'em here Those fatal Lamps that shine and rule i th' Sky Look not so bright nor do they wound so nigh Ulyss. Bear up and shake her Subtile Charms away Look on Revenge more sweet and bright than They. Men. Help me ye Powers I 'le cross her as She goes O Gods How swell'd with shameless Pride She showes Canst thou behold without a modest Fear makes toward Helen This walking Image of thy Falsehood here That gloriously durst meet me in this place When thou read'st Grief and Vengeance in my Face Fear'st thou not Mountains shou'd upon thee fall And hurry into Hell thy perjur'd Soul How I cou'd curse and please my heart to rail But when I view those once lov'd Eyes I fail Hel. You do ill Menelaus To tax me now with Falshood or with Pride When I come thus all kindness to your side Winding your Malice up at such a rate For you to pour its Vengeance on the Man you hate I 'le go and be an equal Judge to prove Which can do most for Hatred or for Love Men. O Impudence whose weight the World might sink Beyond the reach of Womans Soul to think Ah let me call to mind thy cunning Lies Thy many oft repeated Perjuries Before the Priest our eager Joys had crown'd And we walk'd o're the rich enamell'd Ground As o're the Meadows and the Lawns we trod Thou like a Goddess I thy Sylvan God Fair as Elysium I those Walks wou'd call And thee than Beautie 's first Original Still we went on with loving Arms combin'd Our Eyes mix'd Light and all our Senses joyn'd Am I not kind said you with fatal Smiles The Ivy clasping so the Oak beguiles Whose treach'rous kindness Root and Branches kills Hel. O me For pitty I 'le be gone I fear you will Relaps and grow too Weak Men. Nay you shall see you Self and hear me Speak And when I have said all this Heart shall break Then with a longing Sigh you 'd cry my Dear And on my Trembling hand let fall a Tear Will you be Mine and be for ever True May I be Curst when I am false to you Cou'dst thou more Vows repeat and Oaths recal Thou then hadst said and then hadst broak 'em All. Dio. Prepare the Trojan Champions are all ready And proudly walk around the Lists Men. Farwell to thee and Faithless Love for ever Enter Hector Paris and Troilus Ulyss. Now Menelaus Men. Ulysses thou shalt see with Wonder too What Injuries of Love can make me do Dio. First Grecian Trumpets sound and then the Trojans Is it declar'd that all Advantages be taken And that the Champions on both sides shall Fight The Mortal Combat Hect. It is all ways all bloody Paths to Death Shall here be trod with swiftest Fury That lead to each Proud Adversaries Heart Ulyss. Agreed Par. Come Sir 't is You and I must now dispute To Men.