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
blood of chyldren fyled bee Let deynties such be drest it is no mischiefe newe to thee To banquet so behold this day we haue to thee releast And hunger starued wombe of thyne we send to such a feast With fowlest foode thy famyne fyll let bloud in wyne be drownd And dronke in sight of thee loe now such dishes haue I found As thou wouldst shonne stay whither doste thou hedlong way now take Tan. To pooles and floods of hell agayne and styll declining lake And flight of tree ful frayght with fruite that from the lippes doth flee To dungeon darke of hateful hell let leeful be for me To goe or if to light be thought the paynes that there I haue Remoue me from those lakes agayne in midst of worser waue Of Phlegethon to stand in seas of fyre beset to bee Who so beneath thy poynted paynes by destenyes decree Dost stil endure who soo thou bee that vnderliest alow The hollow denne or ruyne who that feares and ouerthrow Of fallyng hyl or cruel cryes that sound in caues of hell Of greedy roarying Lyons throats or flocke of furyes fell Who quakes to know or who the brandes of fyre in dyrest payne Halfe burnt throwes of harke to the voyce of Tantalus agayne That hastes to hel and whom the truth hath taught beleeue wel mee Loue wel your paynes they are but small when shall my hap so bee To flee the light Meg Disturbe thou fyrst thys house with dire discord Debates and battels bring with thee and of th' unhappy sworde Ill loue to kinges the cruel brest strike through and hateful hart With tumult mad Tan. To suffer paynes it seemeth wel my part Not woes to worke I am sent forth lyke vepoure dyre to ryse That breakes the ground or poyson like the plague in wondrouse wyse That slaughter makes shall I to such detested crymes applye My nephewes hartes o parentes great of Gods aboue the skie And myne though sham'de I be to graunt although with greater pain My tounge be vext yet this to speake I may no whit refrayne Nor hold my peace I warne you this least sacred hand with bloud Of slaughter dyre or strange fell of frantike fury wood The aulters stayne I wll resist And garde such gylt away With strypes why dost thou me affryght why threatst thou me to fraye Those crallyng snakes or famine fyxt in empty wombe wherfore Dost thou reuyue now fries within with thyrst enkindled sore My harte and in the bowels burnt the boyling flame do glow Meg. I follow thee through all this house now rage and fury throwe Let them be driuen so and so let eyther thirst to see Each others blood ful well hath felt the comming in of thee This house and all with wicked touch of the begune to quake Enough it is repayre agayne to dens and loathsome lake Of floud well knowen the sadder soyle with heauy fote of thyne Agreeued is seest thou from syringes how waters do declyne And inward sinke or how the bankes lye voyde by drughty heate And hoatter blast of fyery wynde the fewer cloudes doth beate The treese be spoyld and naked stand to sight in withred woddes The barayne bowes whose fruites are fled the land betwene the floods With surge of seas on eyther syde that wonted to resound And nearer foordes to seperat sometyme with lesser ground Now broader spred it heareth how aloofe the waters ryse Now Lerna turnes agaynst the streame Phoronides likewyse His poares be stopt with custom'd course Alphéus dryues not still His hollie waues the trembling tops of high Cithaeron hill They stand not sure from height adowne they shake their syluer snowe And noble fieldes of Argos feare theyr former drought to know Yea Tytan doubtes himselfe to rolie the worlde his wonted way And driue by force to former course the backward drawing daye Chorus THis Argos towne if any God be founde And Pisey boures that famous yet remayn Or kingdomes els to loue of Corinthes ground The double hauens or sundred seas in twayne If any loue of Taygetus his snowes By VVinter which when they on hils be cast By Boreas blastes that from Sarmatia blowes VVith yerely breath the sommer meltes as fast VVhere clere Alphéus runnes with floude so cold By playes wel knowen that there Olimpiks hight Let pleasaunt powre of his from hense withholde Such tunes of stryfe that here they may not light Not nephew worse then grandsier spring from vs Or direr deedes delyght the yonger age Let wicked stocke of thirsty Tantalus At length leaue of and wery be of rage Enoughe is done and naught preuaild the iust Or wrong betrayed is Mirtilus and drownde That did betray his dame and with like trust Borne as he bare himselfe hath made renound VVith chaunged name the sea and better knowne To mariners therof no fable is On wicked sword the litle infant throwne As ran the chide to take his fathers kisse Vnrype for th aulters offring fell downe deade And with thy hand O Tantalus was rent VVith such a meate for Gods thy boordes to spread Eternall famine for such foode is sent And thyrst nor for those daynty meats vnmilde Might meeter payne appoynted euer bee Vith empty throate standes Tantalus begylde Aboue thy wicked head their leanes to thee Then Phineys fowles in flight a swifter pray VVith burned bowes declynd on euery syde And of his fruites all bent to beare the sway The tree deludes the gapes of hunger wyde Though hee full greedy feede theron would fayne So oft deceyu'de neglectes to touch them yet He turnes his eyes his iawes he doth refrayne And famine fixt in closed gummes doth shet But then each braunch his plenteous ritches all Le ts lower downe and apples from an hie VVith lither leaues they flatter like to fall And famine styrre in vayne that bids to trye His handes which when he hath rought forth anone To be beguyld in higher ayre againe The haruest hanges and fickle fruite is gone Then thirst him greeues no lesse then hungers payne Wherwith when kindled is his boyling bloud Lyke fyre the wretch the waues to him doth call That meete his mouth which straight the fleeyng floud VVithdrawes and from the dryed foorde doth fall And him forsakes that followes them He drinkes The dust so deepe of gulfe that from him shrinkes THE SECONDE ACTE Atreus Seruaunt O Dastard cowrde O wretche and which the greatest yet of all To Tyrantes checke I compte that maye in waighty thinges befall O vnreuenged after guyltes so great and brothers guyle And trewth trode downe dost thou prouoke with vayne complaynts the whyle Thy wrath already now to rage all Argos towne throughout In armoure ought of thyne and all the double seas about Thy fleete to ryde now all the fieldes with feruent flames of thyne And townes to flash it wel beseemde and euery where to shyne The bright drawne sword all under foote of horse let euery syde Of Argos lande resound and let the woundes not serue to hyde Our
woes nor yet in haughty top of hilles and mountaynes hye The builded towers The people all let them to battel crye And clere forsake Mycenas towne who so his hateful head Hides and defendes with slaughter dire let bloud of him be shed This princely Pelops palace proude and bowres of high renowne On mee so on my brother to let them be beaten downe Go to do that which neuer shall no after age allow Nor none it whisht some mischefe greate ther must be ventred now Both fierce and bloudy such as woulde my brother rather long To haue bene his Thou neuer dost enough reuenge the wronge Exept thou passe And feercer fact what may be done so dyre That his exceedes doth euer he lay downe his hateful yre Doth euer he the modest meane in tyme of wealth regard Or quiet in aduerslty I know his nature harde Vntractable that broke may be but neuer wil it bend For which are he prepare himselfe or force to fight entend Set fyrst on him least while I rest he should on me aryse He wil destroy or be destroyd in midst the mischiefe lyes Prepard to him that takes it first Ser. Doth fame of people naught Aduerse thee feare Atre. The greatest good of kingdom may be thought That still the people are constraynd their princes deedes as well To prayse as them to suffer all Ser. Whom feare doth so compell To prayse the same his foes to bee doth feare enforce agoyne But who indeede the glory seckes of fauour trew t' obtayne He rather would with hates of each be praysd then tounges of all Atre. The trewer prayse ful oft hath hapt to meaner men to fall The false but vnto myghty man what nill they let them will Ser. Let first the king will honest thinges and none the fame dare nill Atre. Where leeful are to him that rules but honest thinges alone There raynes the kyng by others leaue Ser. And wher the shame is none Nor care of ryght fayth piety nor holines none stayeth That kingdome swarues Atre. Such holines such piety and fayth Are priuate goods let kinges runne one in that that likes their will Ser. The brothers hurt a mischiefe count though he be nere so ill Atre. It is but right to do to hym that wrong to brother were What heynous hurt hath his offence let passe to proue or where Refraynd the gylt thy spouse he stale away for lechery And raygne by stelth the auncient note and sygne of empery By frawde he got my house by fraud to vexe he neuer ceast In Pelops house there fostred is a noble worthy beast The close kept Ramme the goodly guyde of rych and fayrest flockes By whom throughout on euery syde depend a downe the lockes Of glittering gold with fleece of which the new kinges wonted were Of Tantals stocke their sceptors gylt and mace of might to beate Of this the owner raygneth he with him of house so great The fortune fleeth this sacred Ramme aloofe in safety shet In secret mead is wont to grase which stone on euery syde With rocky wall inclosethe rounde the fatall beast to hyde This beast aduentryng mischiefe greate adioyning yet for pray My spoused mate the traytour false hath hence conuayde away From hence the wrongs of mutuall hate and mischiefe all vpsyreng In exile wandred he throughout my kingdomes all along No part of myne remayneth safe to mee from traynes of hys My feere deflourde and loyalty of empyre broken is My house all vext my bloud in doubt and naught that trust is in But brother foe What stayst thou yet at length lo now beginne Take hart of Tantalus to thee to Pelops cast thyne eye To such examples well beseemes I should my hand applye Tell thou which way were best to bring that cruell head to death Ser. Through perst with sword let him be slayne yelde his hatefull breath Atre. Thou speak'st of th' end but I him would opres with greter payne Let tyrants vexe with torment more should euer in my rayne Be gentle death Ser. Doth piety in thee preuayle no whit Atre. Depart thou hence all piety if in this house as yet Thou euer wert and now let all the flocke of furies dyre And full of strife Erinnis come and double brands of fyre Megaera shaking for not yet enough with fury great And rage doth burne my boyling brest it ought to bee repleate With monster more Ser. What mischiefe new do'ste thou in rage pro-uide Atre. Not such a one as may the meane of woonted griefe abide No guilt will I forbeare nor none may be enough despight Ser. What sword Atr. To litle that Ser. what fire Atr. And yâ— is yet to Ser. What weapon then shall sorrow such finde fit to worke thy will Atr. Thy estes selfe Ser. Then yre it selfe yet that 's a greater ill Atr. I graunt a tombling tumult quakes within my bosomes loe And rounde it rolles I moued am and wote not wherevnto But drawen I am from bottome deepe the roryng soyle doth cry The day so fayre with thunder soundes and house as all from hy Were rent from roofe and rafters crakes and lares turnde abought Haue wryde theyr sight so bee'te so bee'te let mischiefe such be sought As yee O Gods would feare Ser. What thing seek'st thou to bring to pas I note what greater thing my mynde and more then woont it was Atre. Aboue the reache that men are woont to worke begins to swell And stayth with slouthfull handes What thinge it is I cannot tell But great it is Bee'te so my mynde now in this feate proceede For Atreus and Thyestes bothe it were a worthy deede Let eche of vs the crime commit The Thracian house did see Such wicked tables once I graunt the mischiefe great to bee But done ere this some greater guilt and mischiefe more let yre Fynde out The stomacke of thy sonne O father thou enspyre And syster eke like is the cause assist me with your powre And dryue my hand let greedy parents all his babes deuowre And glad to rent his children bee and on their lyms to feede Enough and well it is deuis'de this pleaseth me in deede In meane time where is he so long and innocent wherefore Doth Atreus walke before myne eyes already more and more The shade of such a slaughter walkes the want of children cast In fathers Iawes But why my mynde yet dreadst thou so at last And faint'st before thou enterprise it must bee done let bee That which in all this mischiefe is the greatest guilt to see Let him commit Ser. but what disceit may wee for him prepare Whereby betrapt he may be drawne to fall into the snare He wotes full well we are his foes Atre. He could not taken bee Except himselfe would take but now my kingdomes hopeth hee For hope of this he woulde not feare to meete the mighty Ioue Though him he threatned to deistroy with lightning from aboue For hope of this to passe the threats of waues
reliefe What castell strongly buylt what bulwarke tower or towne Is not by mischyefes meanes brought topsy turuye downe What ramperd walles are not made weake by wicked warre From stately courtes of Kings doth iustice fly afarre In pryncely Pallaces of honesty the lore And wedlocke vowe deuout is set by lytle store The bloudy Bellon those doth haunt with gory hand Whose light and vaine conceipt in paynted pomp doth stand And those Erinnys wood turmoyles with frensyes fits That euer more in proud and hauty houses sits Which ficle Fortunes hand in twinkling of an eye From high and proude degre driues downe in dust to lye Although that skyrmishe cease no banners be displayed And though no wyles be wroughe and pollecy be stayed Downe paysed with theyr waight the massy things do sinke And from her burden doth unstable Fortune shrynke The swelling Sayles puft vp with gale of westren wynde Doe yet mystrust thereof a tempest in theyr mynde The threatning tops that touch the cloudes of lofty towres Bee sonest payde and bet with south wynde rainy showres The darkesome woode doth see his tough and sturdy Oke Well waynde in yeares to be cleane ouer thrown and broke The lyhhtnings flashing flame out breaking in the Sky First lyghteth on the mounts and hilles that are most hy The bodies corpulent and of the largest syse Are ryfest styll to catch diseases when they ryse When as the flocke to grase in pasture fat is put Whose Necke is larded best his throate shall first be cut What Fortune doth aduaunce and hoysteth vp on hye Shee lets it vp to fall agayne more greeuously The thinges of midle sort and of a meane degree Endure aboue the rest and longest dayes do see The man of meane estate most happy is of all Who pleased with the lot that doth to him befall Doth sayle on silent shore with calme and quiet tide And dreads with bruised barge on swelling Seas to ryde Nor launcing to the depe where bottom none is found May with his rudder search and reach the shallow ground THE SECOND ACTE Clytemnestra Nutrix O Drowsie oreaming doting soule what commeth in thy brayne To seeke about for thy defence what way thou mayst attayne What ayels thy skittish waiward wits to wauer vp and downe The fittest shift preuented is the best path ouergrowne Thou mightest once mayntayned haue thy wedlocke chamber chast And eake haue ruld with maiesty by fayth conioyned fast Now nurtures lore neglected is all ryght doth clean decay Religion and dignity with faith are worne away And ruddy shame with blushing cheekes so farre god wot is past That when it would it cannot now come home againe at last O let me now at randon runne with bridle at my will The safest path to mischiefe is by mischiefe open still Now put in practise seeke aboute search out and learne to find The wylie traynes and crafty guyles of wicked womankind What any diuelish trayterous dame durst do in working woe Or any wounded in her wits by shot of Cupids bowe What euer rigorous stepdame could commit with desperat hand Or as the wench who flaming fast by Venus poysoning brand Was driuen by leud incestuous loue in ship of Thessail land To flit away from Colchos yle where Phasis channel deepe With stiuer streame downe from the hylles of Armenie doth sweepe Get weapons good get bylbowblades or temper poyson strong Or with some yonker trudge from Grece by theft the seas along Why dost thou faynt to talke of theft exile or privie flight These came by hap thou therfore must on greatter mischiefe light Nut. O worthy Queene amonge the Greekes that beares the swinging sway And borne of Ledas royall bloud what muttring dost thou say What fury fel inforceth thee bereaued of thy wits To rage and raue with bedlam braynes to fret with franticke fittes Though madam thou do counsayle keepe and not complayne thy case Thyne anguish playn appeareth in thy pale and wanny face Reueale therfore what is thy griefe take leasure good and stay What reason could not remedy oft cured hath delay Clit. So grieuous is my careful case which plungeth me so sore That deale I cannot with delay nor linger any more The flashing flames and furious force of fiery feruent heate Outraging in my boyling brest my burning bones doth beate It suckes the sappy marow out the iuice it doth conuay It frets it teares it rents it gnaws my guttes and gall away Now feble feare stil egges mee on with dolor beyng prest And cankred hate with thwacking thumpes doth bounce vpon my brest The blynded boy that louers hartes doth reaue with deadly stroake Entangled hath my linked mynd with leawd and wanton yoke Refusing stil to take a foyle or cleane to be confound Among these broyles aud agonies my mynd beseging round Loe feble weary batred downe and vnder troden shame That wrestleth striueth strugleth hard and fighteth with the same Thus am I driuen to diuers shores and beat from banke to banke And tossed in the fomy floods that striues with corage cranke As when here wynd and their the streame when both their force wil try From sandes alow doth hoyst and reare the seas with surges hye The waltring waue doth staggeryng stand not weting what to do But houeryng doubtes whose furious force he best may yeld him to My kingdome therfore I cast of my sceptor I forsake As anger sorrow hope me leade that way I meane to take At all aduenture to the seas I yeld my beaten Barge At randon careles wil I runne now wil I roue at large Whereas my mynde to fancy fond dath gad and runne astray It is the best to chuse that chaunce and follow on that way Nu. This desprat dotage doth declare and rashnes rude and blynde To chuse out chaunce to be the guyde and ruler of thy mynd Cli. He that is driuen to vtter pinch and furthest shift of all What neede he doubt his doubtful lot or how his lucke befall Nut. In silent shore thou saylest yet thy trespas we may hyde If thou thy selfe detect it not nor cause it be descryde Cl. Alas it is more blasd abroade and further it is blowen Then any cryme that euer in this princely court was sowen Nu. Thy former fait with pensiue hart and sorrow thou dest rew And fondly yet thou goest about to set abroch a newe Cl. It is a very folishnes to kepe a meane therein Nu. The thing he feares he doth augment who heapeth sinne to sinne Cli. But fire and swoard to cure the same the place of salue supply Nu. There is no man who at the first extremity wil trye Cl. In working mischiefe men do take the rediest way they fynde Nu. The sacred name of wedlocke once reuoke and haue in mynd Cli. Ten yeares haue I bene desolate and led a widowes life Yet shall I entertayne a new my husband as his wyfe Nu. Consider yet thy sonne and heire whom he of thee begot Cly. And eake my daughters wedding
shaft the dusky cloude did smite The Stymphall byrde that shadowed the sunne did take her flight The fertill tree that apples beares of golde did feare him sore Which neuer yet acquayntaunce had with Tasters tooth before But whipping vp with liuely twigges into the ayre she flyes And whyle the chinking plate doth found then Argos full of eyes The watchman shrinking close for colde that sleepe yet neuer knew Doth heare the noyse whyle Hercules with mettall of yellow hew Well loden packs away and left the groue befliched cleane The hound of hell did holde his tongue drawne by in tryple cheane Nor barke with any boughinge throate nor coulde abyde the heme Or colour of the heauenly lyght whose beames hee neuer knewe When thou wert captayne Generall and didst conduct our Hoste They that of Dardans Lygne to come theyr Stocke doe falsly boste Were vanquished by force of armes and since they felt agayne Thy Gray goose winge whose bitternesse to feare might thē constrayne THE FIFTE ACTE CASSANDRA WIthin a reuell rexe is kept as sore as euer was Euen at the ten yeares siege of Troy What thing is this alas Get vp my soule and of the rage auengmeent worthy craue Though Phrygians wee bee vanquished the victory we haue The matter well is brought aboute vp Troy thou rysest now Thou flat on floore hast pulde down Greece to ly as low as thou Thy Conquerour doth turne his Face my prophesying spright Did neuer yet disclose to mee so notable a sight I see the same and am thereat and busied in the broyle No vision fond fantasticall my senses doth beguile Such fare as Prygians feastes with on last vnhappy night At Agamemnons royall courte full daintily they dight With purple hangings all adornde the brodred Beds doe shyne In olde Assaracks goblets gylt they swincke and swill the wyne The King in gorgyous royall robes on chayre of State doth sit And pranckt with pryde of Pryams pomp of whom he conquerd it Put of this hostile weede to him the Queene his Wyfe gan say And of thy louing Lady wrought weare rather thys aray This garment knit It makes mee loth that shiuering heere I stande O shall a King be murthered by a banisht wretches hande Out shall Th' adulterer destroy the husbande of the Wyfe The dreadfull destinies approcht the foode that last in lyfe He tasted of before his death theyr maysters bloud shall see The gubs of bloude downe dropping on the wynde shall powred bee By traytrous tricke of trapping weede his death is brought about Which being put vpon his heade his handes coulde not get out The stopped poake with mouth set ope his muffled head doth hyde The mankinde dame with trembling hand the swerd drew from her side Nor to the vtmost of her might it in his flesh shee thrast But in the gieuing of the stroke shee stayed all agast Hee as it were a bristled Bore entangled in the net Among the bryars in busshy woodes yet tryeth out to get With strugling much the shrinking bands more streightly he doth bind He stryues in vayne and would fliy of the snare that doth him blind Which catcheth holde on euery syde But yet th' entangled wreatch Doth grope about his subtle foes with griping hand to catch But furious Tyndaris preparde the Pollaxe in her hande And as the priest to sacrifice at Th' alter side doth stande And vewes with eye the Bullockes necke eare that with Axe he smite So to and fro shee heaues her hand to stryke and leauell right He hath the stroke dispatcht it is not quite chopt of the head It hangeth by a litle crop heere from the Carkasse dead The spouting bloude came gusshing out and there the head doth lye With wallowing bobling mumbling tongue nor they do by and bye Forsake him so the breathlesse coarse Aegist doth all to coyle And mangled hath the gasshed corpes whyle thus hee doth him spoyle She putteth to her helping hand by detestable deede They both accorde vnto the kynde whereof they doe proceede Dame Helens syster right shee is and hee Thyestes sonne Loe doubtfull Titan standeth still the day now being donne Not knowing whether best to keepe still on his wonted way Or turne his wheeles vnto the path of dyre Thyestes day THE FIFTE ACTE THE SECONDE SCEANE ELECTRA O Thou whom of our Fathers death the onely helpe wee haue Fly fly from force of furious foes make hast thy selfe to saue Our house is topsey turuey tost our Stocke is cast away Our ruthfull realmes to ruin ronne our kingdomes doe decay Who cometh heere in Chariot swift thus galloping a mayne Brother disguised in thy weede let mee thy person fayne O Bussard blynde what dost thou meane from forrayne folke to fly Whom dost thou shun it doth behoue to feare this family Orestes now bee boulde and set all shiuering feare a side The certayne succour of a trusty friende I haue espide THE FIFTE ACTE THE THIRD SCENE Strophilus Electra WIth solemne Pompe I Strophilus forsaking Phocis lande Bearing a braunch of Paulme that growes at Elis in my hand Returned backe I am the cause that wild mee heather wend Is with these gyftes to gratefie and welcome home my frend Whose valiaunt army skalde and shooke the tattred Troyan walles Who wearied with the ten yeares warre now flat on floore shee falles What wofull wight is this that staynes her mourning face with teares And drowned deepe in drousp dumpes oppressed is with feares I know full well this damsell is of Prynces lynage borne What cause Electra hath this ioyfull family to morne ELE. By treason that my mother wrought my Father lieth slayne And drincking of their fathers cup the chyldren doe complayne Aegist engroceth Castels got by fornication STR. A lack that of so longe a tyme filicity is none ELE. I thee request euen for the Ioue my father thou doest owe And for the honour of the crowne whose brute abrode both growe In euery coast and by the Gods that diuersly doe deale Take into thy tuicion conuey away and steale This poore Orest such kinde of theft is piety in deede STR. Although that Agamemnoas death doth teach mee to take heede Yet will I vndertake the same and with all diligence Orestes shall I goe about with strength to haue thee hence Prosperity requireth faith but trouble exacts the same Haue heere a pryce for those that doe contende and wage in game An Ornament with comely grace ordaynde to deck the brow And let thy heade be couerde with this greene and pleasaunt bow And cary this victorious triumphant braunche in hand God graunt this Paulme that planted was in fertill Pisa land Where solemne games were celebrate Ioues honour to expresse May both a sauegarde bee to thee and bring thee good successe Thou that bestryds thy fathers steedes as he before hath done Goe stryke a league of amity with Pylades my sonne Now nimble Nagges let Greece heereof recording testify With headlong scouring course amayne this traytrous country fly ELE.
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
my paine whyle I did liue Vnto a boy to guyde which now I rue My poysoned make my Ghost doth oft pursue And in my face with burning brondes doth flye He stayes a space with earnest talke hard by And threatneth sore and doth impute his death And tombe he should haue had to mee beneath And now desyres to haue some factious wight That dare despoyle my sonne of breathing spright Let be you shall haue one to worke this cryme I do require no long delayed tyme Reuenging spright Erin a death doth coine Of life that wicked tyrant to purloyne Sore smarting leaden strypes and shameful flight And pyning panges with thurst and hunger dight That Tantalus spungelike thursty mouth befurde And Sisyphus toyle shal passe and Tityus burde And Ixions paynful wombling wheele aboute That teareth all his bodyes partes throughout Although that Tyrant proude and scornful wight His court with marble stone do strongly dyght And princelike garnish it with glistring golde Though troupes of souldiours shielded sure vpholde Their chieftaynes princely porch and though yet still The world drawne drye with taskes euen to his will Great heapes of riches yeeld themselues to saue Although his bloudy helpe the Parthians craue And Kingdomes bring and goods al that they haue The tyme and day shall come when as he shall Forlorne and quite vndone and wanting all Vnto his cursed deedes his life and more Vnto his foes his bared throate restore Alas vnto what ende is all my payne Or in what case do now my vowes remayne Wherto doth now thy rage and destnies spyte Draw thee O Sonne with brayne benummed quite That to such monstruous heapes of ylles thy dame Whom thou with cursed mischiefe ouercame Hir wrath should yeeld O that ere to the light A sucking babe I brought thee foorth in sight And fedd thee fyne with pappe as princely borne The fierce wild sauage beastes had rent and torne My wombe and bloudy entrails all beforne Without all cryme and wanting reasons pride Mine own deere dādling child thou shouldst haue dide And fastned sure to me shouldst aye beholde The quiet place where Ghostly soules be rolde And see thy graundsyres great of worthy fame And syre Domitius eake of princely name Whom now both shame and wayling doth abyde That whyle they dure from them shal neuer slyde For which both thee O cursed Barne they may And mee that thee haue borne geeue thankes for aye But why ceasse I with hel to hyde my face Wyfe stepdame mother dire in my life space THE SECOND SCENE Octauia Chorus DO not alas thus sore lament But rather yet your mourning stay Sith that the city whole is bent To celebrate this ioyful day Least your great loue and fauour both Which I do count to be most sure The more cause Nero me to loth And eake his bitter wrath procure And I fal out to be the ground To you of many mischieues vyle This same is not the first deepe wounde That I haue felt now this good whyle Farre worse then this haue I abode But of these troublous cares this day Shall make an end I trust in God Although with Death he do me pay No man to see shal me constrayne His bended browes knit furrowyse Nor step within the Chamber ragyne Of mayde drest vp in brydall guise Augustus sister I wil bee And not his wyfe as wont I was But onely paynes remoue from mee And feare of death I wil not passe Yet canst thou piteous wreth once trust Thy cruell husbandes father law Or these few thinges to haue so lust Whyle mischieues yet in mynd are rawe Now long reserud vntil this day And these same maryage rytes be past Thou shalt poore wretch without delay A bloudy offring dye at last Why thus with teares disfigured sore Thy wonted home dost thou behold Make hast to shunne this deadly shore And leaue this straughtrous Princes fold Cho. Lo see that day suspected long And whispered Fame in all mens eares With glisteryng pompe of brydall throng To vs pore wretches now appeares And Claudius broode Octauias grace From Neroes wedlocke place expelde Departed is whose spousall space Hath Poppie conquerour long tyme helde The whyle our pyety couched lyes Kept downe with heauy combrous feare And slow reuenging grief likewyse Where doth the peoples power appeare That brake the force of Princes great That conquerous city lawes hath framde That worthy men to honours seat Preferd that warre and peace proclaymd That sauage people straunge did tame That Kinges and Princes caught in fight Shut surely vp in prison frame To keepe them close from all mens sight Loe which wee cannot once abyde To see wher Poppies ymage trym Conioyned vnto Neroes syde All glistring bright shynes very brim Let force of Armes pul downe that frame And match with grounde that Ladyes face Too likely carued to his name And snatch her downe from beddig place And let it forthwith flye with brandes With Dartes and Iauelins fiercely flonge From pythy braunes and sturdy handes Vnto the princes courtly throng THE FOVRTH ACTE THE FIRST SCENE Nutrix Poppea FRom out of spousal bower dismayd with feare Whither go you what secrets daughter deare Vnknowen makes you to looke so drousely Why spungelike lokes your face with tears frō eye That fell of truth the tyme desyred long And wished for by prayers and vowes among Hath shyned bright Caesars wedlock are you Your golden grace whereof he tooke the view Him prisoner caught and did him surely bynde So much the more how much Senec his mynd Did seeke to chaunge and wild from loue to weeld And Venus chiefe in loue hath made him yeeld O in beauty passing all what beds then downe More soft haue borne thy weight when thou with crowne Didst sit in middes of court the Senate all At thy great beauty agast thou didst appall Whylst thou the Goddes with perfume sendest fyne And sacred alters drencht with thankful wyne Thy head attyrd with veyle of yellow hiew By Caesars side thou wentst as princesse new When he aloft extold aboue the rest With hauty courage merily went to feast Like as kyng Peleus went sometymes to take Queene Tethis whom salt seas fome bred his make Whose bridinge chambers banquet wise ydrest The Gods vouchsaft to hallow with their hest Both they that rule in skyes and eake in Seas But tel O Lady tell if it you please What sodayne chaūce doth shade your beautyes light What meanes your colour chaūge from red to white What moues those trickling tears how standes your plight Po. With dreames and griesly sightes this last night Nurse My mynd was troubled sore but frayd much worse For when sir Phoebe his weary course had ryd Whyle quiet restyng night each thing shadid My sences weary fel in slumber deepe Whyle Nero me within his armes did cleepe Resoluing lims at length gan sleepe discharge And long I rest not vnder quiets targe For loe I saw a route that brought me feare Come to my chaumber with