erected by the hand Of PALLAS first doth not complayne that shee Conueyde hath back the kynges vnto theyr land Eche whirry boate now scuddes aboute the deepe All stynts and warres are taken cleane away The Cities frame new walles themselues to keepe The open worlde lettes nought rest where it lay The Hoyes of Ind Arexis lukewarme leake The Perseans stout in Rhene and Albis streame Doth bath their Barkes time shall in fine out breake When Ocean waue shall open euery Realme The wandring World at will shall open lye And TYPHIS vvill some nevve founde Land suruay Some trauelers shall the Countreys farre escrye Beyonde small Thule knovven furthest at this day THE THIRD ACTE Nutrix Medea WHy trotst thou fisking in and out so rash from place to place Stand styll and of thyne eger wrath suppresse the ruthfull race The rigour rough of ramping rage from burning breast out cast As Bacchus bedlem priestes that of his spryte haue felt the blast Run franticke hoyting vp and downe with scitish wayward wits Not knowing any place of rest so prickt with frowarde fits On cloudy top of Pindus Mounte all hyd with Snow so chyll Or els vpon the lofty riddge of braunched Nisa hyll Thus starting still with frounced mynde she walters to and froe The signes pronouncing proofe of pangues her frensy Face doth show With glowing cheekes and bloud red Face with short gasping breath Shee fetcheth deepe ascending sighes from sobbing heart beneath Now blyth she smiles ech rūbled thought in pondring braine she beats Now standes she in a mammering now myschiefe sore she threats With chafing fume she burnes in wrath and nowe she doth cōplayne With blubbering teares a fresh byliue shee weepes wayles agayne Where will this lumpish loade of cares with headlong sway allight On whom entendeth shee to worke the threates of her despight Where will this huge tempestious surge slake downe it selfe agayne Enkindled fury new in breast begins to boyle a mayne Shee secretly entendes no mischiefe small nor meane of sise To passe her selfe in wickednes her busy braynes deuise The token olde of pinching ire full well ere this know I Some haynous huge outragious great and dredfull storme is nye Her firy scowling steaming Eyes her hanging Groyne I see Her powling puffed frowning Face that signes of freatting bee O myghty Ioue be guile my feare ME. O wretch if thou desire What measure ought to payse thy wrath then learne by Cupids fire To hate as sore as thou didst loue shall I not them anoy That doe vnite in spousall bed theyr wanton lust t' enioy Shall Phoebus fiery footed horse goe lodge in western waue The drowping day that late I did with humble crowching craue And with such ernest busie suite so hardly graunted was Shall it depart ere I can bring my deuylish dryft to passe Whyle houering heauen doth counterpaysed hang with egall space Amid the marble Hemispheares whyle rounde with stinted race The gorgeous Sky aboue the Earth doth spinning roll about Whyles that the number of the sandes lyes hid vnserched out While dawning day doth keepe his course with Phoebus blase so bright While twinkling starres in golden traynes doe garde the slūbry nyght While Isle vnder propping poale with whyrling swyng so swift The shyning Beares vnbathde about the frosen Sky doe lift While flushing floudes the frothy streames to rustling Seas doe send To gird them gript with plonging pangues my rage shall neuer end With greater heate it shall reboyle lyke as the brutishe beast Whose tyranny most horrible exceedeth all the rest What greedy gaping whyrle poole wide what parlous gulph vnmilde What Sylla coucht in roring Rockes or what Charybdes wylde That Sicill and Ionium Sea by frothy waues doth sup What Aetna bolking stifling flames and dusky vapours vp Whose heauy payse with stewing heate doth smoldring crush beneath Encelades that fiery flakes from choked throte doth breath Can with such dreadfull menaces in sweeting fury fry No ryuer swift no troubled surge of stormy Sea so hye Nor sturdy seas whom ruffling winds with raging force to rore Nor puissaunt flash of fyre whose might by boystrous blast is more May byde my angers violence my fury shall it foyle His court I le ouer hourle and lay it leauell with the soyle My Iasons heart did quake for feare of Creon cruell king And least the king of Thessaly would warre vpon him bring But loyall loue that hardens hearts makes no man be afright But beete that he conuict hath yeelde himselfe to Creons might Yet once hee might haue visited and come to me his wyfe To talke and take his last farewell if daunger of his life In doing this hard harted wretch most cruell he should feare He being Creons sonne in law for him it lefull were To haue proroged somwhat yet my heauy banishment To take my leaue of chyldren twayne one onely day is lent Yet doe I not complayne as though the time to short I thought As proofe shall playne pronounce to day to day it shall bee wrought The memory whereof no tract of time shall wype away With malice bent agaynst the Gods my wrath shall them assay And rifling euery thing both good and bad I will turmoyle NV. Madame thy minde that troubled is and tost with such a broyle Of swarming ills thy vexed breast now set at rest agayne The peuish fond affections all of troubled mynde refrayne ME. Then onely can I be at rest when euery thing I see Throwne headlong topsie turuey downe to ruthfull ende with mee With mee let all things cleane decay thy selfe if thou doe spill Thou must driue to destruction what els with thee thou will NV. It in this folly stiffe thou stand beholde what after clappes Are to bee fearde none dare contriue for Prynces trayning trappes Iason Medea O Lucklesse lot of frowarde Fates O cruell Fortunes hap Both whē she list to smite or spare in woe she doth vs wrap A like the salue that God hath geuen so oft to cure our griefe More noyeth then the sore it selfe and sendeth lesse reliefe If for her good deserts o me amendment I should make I hazard should my ventrous lyfe to leese it for her sake If I will shun my dismall day and will not for her dy Then want the loue of loyalty O wretched man must I No dastards dread my stomacke stout can cause to droupe shrynke But meere remorse appaulleth me when on my babes I thynke For why when carefull parents are once reft of lyfe and breath Some after them their wretched seede are drawne to dolefull death O Sacred righteousnesse if thou enioye thy worthy place In perfect blisse of happy heauen I call vpon thy grace And thee for witnesse here alledge how for my childrens part With pity prickt I haue commit these things agaynst my hart And so I thinke Medea her selfe the Mother rather had Though frantickly as now she fares with rage of heart so mad And doth abhor with paynfull yoke of combrous cares
preasse as flocke in cyties streetes To see the Playes of Theatre newe wrought As great as at Eléus thundrer meetcs When Sommer fift the sacred game hath brought As great as when comes houre of longer night And willing quiet sleepes to bee extent Holdes equall Libra Phoebus Chariots light A sorte the secrete Ceres doe frequent And from theyr howsen left doe hast to comme The Atticke priestes the nyghte to celebrate Such heape is chaste beneath by fieldes so dumme With age full slowe some taking forth their gate Full sad and fillde with life so long now led Some yet doe runne the race of better yeares The virgins yet vnioynde to Spowses bed And yonglings eke on whom grow yet no heares And Infant lately taught his mothers name To these alone that they the lesse might feare Is graunted night to ease with foreborne flame The rest full sad by darke doe wander theare As is our mynde when once away is fled The lyght when eche man sorry feeles to bee Deepe ouer whelmde with all the earth his hed Thick Chaos standes and darknesse fowle to see And colour ill of night and slouthfull state Of silent World and diuers Cloudes about Let hoary age vs thyther bring full late No man comes late to that whence neuer out When once hee is come turne agayne he may To hast the hard and heauy Fate what vayles This wandring heape in wyde landes farre away Shall goe to Ghosts and all shall geue their sayles To slowe Cocytus all is to thee enclinde Both what the fall and rise of sonne doth see Spare vs that comme to thee wee death are signde Though thou be slow our selues yet haste doe wee Fyrst houre that gaue the lyfe it loast agayne TO Thebes is come the ioyfull day Your Aulters touch yee humbylly The fat fayre Sacrifices slay Maydes myxte with men in cumpany Let them in solempne Flockes goe royle And nowe wyth yoake layde downe let câ—ase The Iillers of the fertile Soyle Made is wyth hande of Hercles peace Betweene the morne and Hespers Glade And where Sonne holding myddle seate Doth make the Bodyes caste no Shade What euer grounde is ouerweate Wyth compasse longe of Seas abought Alcydes laboure taemde full well Hee ouer foordes of Tartare brought Returnde appeased beeinge Hell There is remayning nowe no feare Nought lyes beyonde the Hell to see O Priest thy staring Lockes of heare Wrappe in wyth loued Poplar tree THE FOVRTHE ACTE Hercules Theseus Amphitryon Megara WIth my reueÌ„ging right haÌ„d slayne now Lycus loe the grouÌ„d With groueling face hath smit theÌ„ who soeuer fellow fouÌ„d Of Tyraunt was partaker of his paynes did also lye Nowe to my father sacrifice and Gods victor will I And aulters that deserue it with slayne offrings reuerence Thee thee O mate of all my toyles I pray and my defence O warrefull Pallas in whose left hand thy cleare shielde Aegis shakes Fierce threats whead that eche thing stone that looke vpon it makes Let tamer of Lycurgus nowe and of red Sea be heare That poynct of speare with Iuye greene in hand doth couer'de beare And two Gods powre doth Phoebus and his Syster to I pray The sister meeter for her shaftes but hee on th' harpe to play And what soâ—uer brother ells of myne doth dwell in sky Not of my stepdame brother bring yee hyther by and by Your plentuous flocks what euer haue all th' Indians fruicts brought out And what sweete odours th' Arabickes doe get in trees about To th' aulters bring let vapour fat and fume smoke vp full hye Let rounde about the Poplar tree my hayres now beautifye Let th' oliue bowe thee hyde with braunche accustom'de in our lande Theseu for foorthwith reuerence the thundrer shall my hande TH. O Gods the builders of the towne and which of Dragon fell The wilde woods vens and noble waues likewise of Dirces well And Tyrian house enhabite eke of straunger wandring king HE. Cast into fyres the frankencense AM. Sonne fyrst thy hands flowing With bloudy slaughter and the death of enmy purify HE. Would God the bloud of hatefull head euen vnto Gods on hye I might out shed for lycour loe more acceptable none Myght th' aulters stayne nor sacrifice more ample any one Nor yet more plentyfull may bee to Ioue aboue downe cast Then king vniust AM. Desyre that now thy father ende at last Thy labours all let quietnes at length yet gieuen bee And rest to weary folke HE. I will thee prayers make for mee And Ioue ful meete in this due place let stand the haughty skye And land and ayre and let the starres dryue forth eternally Their course vnstayde let restful peace kepe nations quietly Let labour of the hurtles land all yron now occupye And swordes lye hyd let tempest none ful vyolent and dyre Disturbe the sea let from the skyes no flash of lightning fyre Fall downe whyle Ioue ful angry is nor yet with winter snowe Encreased flood the ground vpturnde and field quyte ouerthrowe Let poysons cease and from hensforth let vp from ground aryse No greeuous hearbe with hurtful sappe nor fierce and fell lykewyse Let tyrantes raygne but if to sight some other mischiefe bringe The ground yet shall let it make hast and any monstruous thinge It it prepare let it be myne but what meanes this myd day The darkenes haue incloas'd aboute lo Phoebus goeth his way With face obscure without a clowde who dryues the day to flight And turnes to east from whence doth now his dusky hed the night Vnknowne bring forth whence fil the poale so many rownde about Of daytyme starres lo here behold my laboure first ful stout Not in the lowest parte of heauen the Lyon shyneth bryght And feruently doth rage with yre and byttes prepares to fyght Euen now loe he some star wil take with mouth full wyde to see He threatning standes and fires out blowes and mane vp rustleth he Shaking with necke the haruest sad of shape what euer thinge And what soeuer winter colde in frosen tyme doth bring He with one rage wil ouerpasse or spring tyme bull he will Both seeke and breake the neckes at once Am. what is this sodayne ylle Thy cruel count'naunce whether sonne dost thou cast here and there And seest with troubled daseld syght false shape of heauen appere Her The land is tam'de the swelling feas their surges did asswage The kingdomes lowe of hell lykewyse haue felt and knowne my rage Yet heauen is free a labour meete for Hercules to proue To spaces high I wil be borne of haughty skies aboue Let th' ayre be skaeld my father doth me promise starres t' obtayne What if he it denyde all th' earth can Hercles not contayne And geeues at length to gods me calles of one accorde beholde The whole assembly of the gods and doth their gates vnfolde Whyle one forbyddes receyu'st thou mee and openest thou the skye Or els the gate of stubburne heauen draw after me do I Do I yet doubt I euen the bondes from
whose brow did damme yet neuer teare The empty Kyne their vdders doe repayre And lyght with course vncertayne here and there In grasse full soft the wanton kidde hee flynges In toppe of boughe doth sitte with chaunting songe And to the Sunne newe rose to spreade her wynges Bestirres her selfe her mourneful nestes amonge The Nightingall and doth with byrdes aboute Confuse resound with murmure mixedryfe To witnes day his sayles to wynde set out The shypman doth committe in doubt of lyfe VVhyle gale oswynde the slacke sayles filles full strayte He leaning ouer hollow rocke doth lye And either his begiled hookes doth bayte Or els beholdes and feeles the pray from hye with paised hand The trembling fish he feeles with line extent This hope to them to whom of hurtles lyfe Is quiet rest and with his owne content And lytle house such hope in fieldes is ryfe The troblous hopes with rolling whirlewynd great And dredful feares their wayes in cityes keepe He proude repayre to prince in regall seate And hard court gates without the rest of sleepe Esteemes and endles happynes to hold Doth gather goods for treasure gaping more And is ful pore amid his heaped gold The peoples fauour him astonied sore And commons more vnconstant then the sea VVith blast of vayne renoume liftes vp full proude He selling at the brawling barre his plea Full wicked sets his yres and scoulding loud And woordes to sale a fewe hath knowne of all The careles rest who mindfull how doth flitte Swift age away the tyme that neuer shall Returne agayne do holde while fares permitte At quiet liue the lyfe full quickly glydes VVith hastned course and with the winged day The wheele is turnde of yere that hedlong slides The sisters hard perfourme their taskes alway Nor may agayne vntwist the threede once sponne Yet mankind loe vnsure what way to take To meete the greedy destenyes doth ronne And willingly wee seke the Stigian lake To much Alcides thou with stomacke stoute The sory sprites of hell dost hast to see VVith course prefixt the fares are brought aboute To none once warnd to come may respite bee To none to passe their once appointed day The tombe all people calde by death doth hyde Let glory him by many landes awaye Display and fame throughout all cityes wyde Full babling praise and euen with skye to stande Auaunce and starres let him in chariot bright Ful haughty goe let me my natiue land In safe and secrete house keepe close from sight To restful men hoare age by course doth fall And low in place yet safe and sure doth lye The poore and base estate of cottage small The prowder pompe of minde doth fall from hye But sad here comes with losed lockes of heare Loe Megara with litle company And stowe by age drawes Hercles father neare THE SECOND ACTE Megara O Guider great of heauen of the world O Iudge full hie Yet now at length apoinct a meane of carefull miserie And ende of our calamitie To mee yet neuer day Hath careles shin de the ende of one affliction past away Beginning of an other is an other ennemy Is forthwith founde before that hee his ioyfull family Retourne vnto an other fyght hee taketh by behest Nor any respite giuen is to him nor quiet rest But whyle that he commaunded is straight him pursueth shee The hatefull Iuno Was yet once from toyle and labour free His infants age the monsters lo he venquisht hath and slayne Before he knew what monsters ment The skaled serpents twayne Their double neckes drew on toward him agaynst the which to ryse The infant crept to meete with them the serpents glittring eyes Lyke fyre with quiet carelesse brest he looking last vpon With coūtnance cleere hard wrested knots of them he caught anon And strangling then the swelling throates of them with tender hand To Hydra prelude made the beast so swyfte of Maenale land That with much Golde bare vp full bright his beautified head Is caught in course of Nemey wood likewise the greatest dread The Lyon prest with Hercles armes hath roarde with dreadfull crie What should I speake of stables dyre of steedes of Bystonye Or King cast out himselfe for foode his horses fierce to fill And bristled beast in thicke tops woont of Erymanthus hill The boare of Maenalye the woods of Arcady to shake And Bull that did no litle dread to hundred peoples make Among the flocks of Hesper lande that hence farre distant bee The sheepherde of Cartesian coast of triple shape to see Is slayne and driuen is the pray from farthest parte of weast Citheton quak't when by him past to sea the well knowne beast He being bid to make by coastes of sommer sunne his way And parched landes which sore with heate doth boyle the middell day The mountaynes brake on either side and rampiers all vndoon Euen vnto swyft and raging sea hath made a way to roon Then entring in of plenteaus wood the pleasant gardeins gay The waking dragons golden spoyles with him he brought away The Lerna monsters numerous ill what neede to tell haue I Hath he not him with fyre at length subdewde and taught to dye And which were woont with wings abrode to hyde the day from sight Euen from the cloudes he sought braue the Stimphale birdes to flight Not him subdewde who euer lyes in bed vnmacht at night The wyddowe queene of them that tooke to Thermodont their flight Nor handes that well durst euterprise his noble trauayles all The filthy labour made to shrynke of foule Augias hall What vayle all these he wants the world which oft defended he And th earth well knowes the worker of his quietnes to be Away from earthe the prosperous gilt that beareth happy swey Is vertue callde and now the good to wicked doe obay The right doth stand in might of armes feare treadeth downe the lawe Before my face with cruell hand euen presently I sawe Reuengers of theyr fathers reygne the sonnes with sworde downe cast And of the noble Cadmus eke himselfe the ofspring last Then slayne I lawe his regall crowne at once from him away With head bereft Who Thebes alas enough bewayle nowe may The fertile land of Gods what lorde now quakes it for to knowe Out of the fieldes of which somtime and fruictfull bosome lowe The youth vpsprong with swarde in band preparde to battell stoode And walls of which Amphion one of mighty Ioue his broode Hath built with sounding melody in drawing to the stones To towne of whom the parent chiefe of Gods not onely ones Heauen being left hath come this land that Gods aboue alway Receiu'de and which hath made them Gods and leefull beete to say Perhaps shall make with lothsome yoake of bondage is prest downe O Cadmus stocke and citezens of olde Amphions towne Whereto are yee nowe fall'ne dread yee a cowardly exull thus His coastes to dwell in lacking and to ours iniurious Who through the worlde pursues the gilts and wrong by sea and land
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
In spighte of al the drowned day I will remoue from thee The darknesse all in shade wherof do lurke thy miseryes And guest at such a banquet now to long he careles lyes With mery face now eate and drunke enough he hath at last T'ys best him selfe should know his ylls ye seruauntes all in hast Vndoe the temple dores and let the house bee open all Fayne would I see when loke vppon his childrens heads he shal What countenaunce he then would make or in what woordes break out Would first his griefe or how would quake his body round about With spright amased sore of all my worke the fruite were this I would him not a miser see but while so made he is Behold the temple opened now doth shyne with many a light In glitteryng gold and purple seate he sittes hymselfe vpright And staying vp his heauy head with wyne vppon his hand He belcheth out now chiefe of goddes in highest place I stand And king of kinges I haue my wish and more then I could thinke He filled is he now the wyne in siluer bolle doth drinke And spare it not there yet remaynes a worser draught for thee That sprong out of the bodyes late of sacrifyces three Which wine shall hyde let them withall the hoordes be taken vp The father mingled with the wyne his childrens bloud shall sup That would haue dronke of myne Behold he now beginnes to strayne His voyce and synges nor yet for ioy his mynde be may refrayne THE SECONDE SCEANE Thiestes alone O beaten bosomes dullde so longe with woe Laie down your cares at length your greues relēt Let sorowe passe and all your dread let goe And fellow eke of fearefull banishment Sad pouertye and ill in misery The shame of cares more whense thy fall thou haste Then whether skylles great hap to him from hye That falles it is in surety to be plast Beneath and great it is to him agayne That prest with storme or euylls feeles the smart Of kyngedome loste the payses to sustaine VVith necke vnbowde nor yet detect of heart Nor ouercome his heauy haps alwayes To beare vpright but now of carefull carkes Shake of the showres and of thy wretched dayes Away with all the myserable markes To ioyfull state returne thy chearefull face Put fro thy mynde the olde Thyestes hence It is the woont of wight in wofull case In state of ioy to haue no confidence Though better haps to them returned be Th afflicted yet to ioy it yrketh sore VVhy calst thou me abacke and hyndrest me This happy day to celebrate wherefore Bidst thou me sorrow wepe without a cause VVho doth me let with flowers so fresh and gay To decke my hayres it lets and me withdrawes Downe from my head the roses fall away My moysted haire with oyntment ouer all VVith sodayne mase standes vp in wondrous wyse From face that would not weepe the streames do fall And howling cryes amid my wordes aryse My sorrowe yet th accustomd teares doth loue And wretches stil delyght to weepe and crye Vnpleasant playntes it pleaseth them to moue And florisht fayre it likes with Tyrian die Their robes to rent to waile it likes them still For sorrow sendes in signe that woes draw nic The mind that wots before of after yll The sturdy stormes the shipmen ouer lye VVhen voyd of wynd th asswaged seas do rest VVhat tumult yet or countenaunce to see Makste thou mad man at length a trustful breast To brother gene what euer now it be Causeles or els to late thou art a dred I wretch would not so feare but yet me drawes A trembling terrour downe myne eyes do shed Their sodayne teares and yet I know no cause Is it a greefe or feare or els hath teares great ioy it selfe THE THIRDE SCEANE Atreus Thyestes LEtte vs this daye with one consente O brother celebrate This daye my sceptors my confyrme and stablish my estate And faythfull bonde of peace and loue betwene vs ratifye Thy. Enough with meate and eke with wyne now satisfyed am I But yet of all my ioyes it were a great encrease to mee If now about my syde I might my litle children see Atr. Beleeue that here euen in thyne armes thy children present be For here they are and shal be here no part of them fro thee Sal be withheld their loued lookes now geue to thee I wil And with the heape of all his babes the father fully fyll Thou shalt be glutted feare thou not they with my boyes as yet The ioyful sacrifyces make at borde where children sit They shal be cald the frendly cup now take of curtesy With wyne vpfylde Thy. of brothers feast I take ful willingly The fynal gyft shed some to gods of this our fathers lande Then let the rest be dronke what 's this in no wyse wil my hand Obeye the payse increaseth sore and downe myne arme doth sway And from my lippes the wafting wyne it selfe doth flye away And in deceiued mouth about my iawes it rūneth rounde The table to it selfe doth shake and leape from trembling ground Scant burnes the fyre the ayre it selfe with heauy chere to slght Forsooke of sonne amased is betweene the day and night What meaneth this yet more and more of backward beaten skye The compas falles and thicker myst the world doth ouerly Then blackest darkenes and the night in night it selfe doth hyde All starres be fled what so it bee my brother God prouyde And soones to spare the Gods so graunt that all this tempest fall On this vyle head but now restore to me my children all Atr. I wil and neuer day agayne shal them from thee withdraw Thy. What tumult tumbleth so my guttes and doth my bowels gnaw What quakes within with heauy payse I feele my selfe opprest And with an other voyce then myne bewayles my doleful brest Come nere my sonnes for you now doth th unhappy father call Come nere for you once seene this griefe would soone asswage fall Whence murmure they t.w fathers armes embrace them quickly now For here they are loe come to thee dost thou thy children know Th. I know my brother such a gylt yet canst thou suffer well O earth to beare nor yet from hence to Stygian lake of hell Dost thou both drowne thy selle and vs nor yet with broaken ground Dost thou these kingdomes and their king with Chaos rude confounde Nor yet vprenting from the soyle the bowres of wicked land Dost thou Micenas ouerturne with Tantalus to stand And aunciters of ours if there in hel be any one Now ought we both now from the frames on eyther syde anone Of ground all here and there rent vp out of thy bosome depe Thy dens and dungons set abrode and vs enclosed keepe In bottome low of Acheront aboue our heds aloft Let wander all the gylty ghostes with burning frete ful oft Let fyry Phlegethon that driues his sands both to and fro To our confusion ouer roon und vyolently flow O slothful soyle
he shall be payd and payd agayne I trow He shal be King and raygne in Thebes his payne shal euen be so A payne in grayne I warrant him And if thou doubtful be Let Graundsyre Laius and thy Syre examples be to thee Sir Cadmus wil the same display and Cadmus ofspring all Can witnes be that none in Thebes yet raygnd without a fall None yet the Theban Scepter swayd that hath not felt the whippe And promise breach made most of them from regall Crowne to skippe Now if thou wilte thou mayst insert within this bedroll heere Thy Brother POLY. Mary that I wil in shame hath he no peere And vnto mee it seemes a world of blisse to bee a king And dye with Kings POC. Thy case doth thee in rank of exiles bring Raygne Kinge but yet a loathed wight vnto thy Subiectes all POLY. For that I neyther recke ne care what shall to me befall That Prince that feares disdaynful hate vnwilling seemes to raynge The God that swayes the Golden Globe together hath these twayne Conioynd and coupled Hate and Rule and him do I suppose To be a noble King indeede that can supplant his foes And Subiectes cancred hate suppresse A King is often stayed From doyng many thinges he would when Subiectes loue is wayed But vnto them that do repyne to se him sit aloft He may more rigour boldly shew and pare their pates more oft He that will loue of Subiectes winne with Elemency must raygne A King that 's hated cannot long in Kingly seate remayne For Kingdomes Kinges can best describe what preceptes needfull are Mell thou in cases of Exile for Kingdomes take no care Pol. To be a King I would engage to force of flaming Fire Both Countrey house land Wyfe and Chyld to compasse my desyre No Fee to purchase Princely seate ne labour coumpt I lost A Kingly Crowne is neuer deare what euer price it cost Thomas Newtonus Cestreshyrius FINIS THE FOVRTH AND MOST RVTHFVL TRAGEDY OF L. ANNAEVS SENECA ENtituled HIPPOLYTVS translated into Englishe by Ihon Studley The Argument HIPPOLYTVS the Sonne of THESEVS ANTIOPA Quene of the Amazons renouncing al Worldly pleasures and carnall delightes lyued a Batcheler forbearing all Womens company and amorous allurements and only vowed himselfe to the seruice of chaste DIANA pursuing the Gentlemanly pastime of hunting In the absence of THESEVS his Father it chaunced that his Stepmother PHAEDRA ardently enamored with his beawty and lusty age enueigled him by all meanes shee coulde to commit wyth her filthy and monstruous adultry Whych her beastly vnchaste and vndutifull practise hee dutifully loathinge shee turned hir former loue into extreame hatred and told her husband THESEVS at his returne home that his Sonne HIPPOLYTVS woulde haue vnlawfully layne with her THESEVS belieuing his Wyues most vntrue accusation meant to haue put his sonne to death HIPPOLYTVS vnderstāding thereof got vp into his Chariot and fled THESEVS being therewith tickeled and after some pursuite not ouer-taking him went to his Father AEGAEVS beeing a God of the Sea desiring him to graunt him three Wishes the last whereof was the destruction and Death of HIPPOLYTVS wherevpon AEGAEVS sent out certaine great Sea-monsters or Whirlepooles which affrighting the Horses in HIPPOLYTVS Charyot made them to ouerturne the Charyot and to runne through thick and thinne till they had dismēbred true HIPPOLYTVS in pieces The remorse of which villany so strake PHAEDRA in Conscience that with a Sword shee stabbed herselfe into the Entrailes died vpon the body of HIPPOLYTVS The Speakers names Hippolytus Phaedra Nuntius Chorus Theseus Nutrix THE FIRSTE ACTE HIPPOLYTVS GOe raunge about the shady Woods beset on euery side With Nets with Hounds toyles rūning out at randon ride About about the craggy crests of high Cecropes hill With speedy foote about the Rockes with coursing wander still That vnder Carpanetus Soyle in Dale below doth lurke Whereas the Riuers running swift their flapping waues doe worke And dashe against the beaten Banks of Thrias valley low And clamber vp the slimy cliues besmeard with hory Snow That falleth when the Westerne winde frō Riphes Moūts doth blow Heere heere away let other wend whereas with lofty head The Elme displayes his braunched armes the wood to ouerspread Whereas the Meadowes greene doe lye where Zephyrus most milde Out brayes his baumy breath so sweete to gernish vp the field With lusty springtide flowers fresh whereas Elysus slow Doth fleete vpon the Yste flakes and on the Pastures low Maeander sheds his stragling streame and sheares the fruitlesse sand With wrackfull waue yee whom the path on Marathons left hand Doth lead vnto the leauened launds whereas the heirde of beast For Euening forrage goe to graze and stalke vnto their rest The rascall Deare trip after fast you thither take your way Where clottered hard Acarnan forst warme Southerne windes t' obay Doth slake the chilling colde vnto Hymetus Ysie cliue To Alphids litle Villages now let some other driue That plot where Sunion surges high doe beate the sandy bankes Whereas the marble Sea doth fleete with crooked compast crankes Vnhaunted lies too long withoutten race of any wight Who set agog with hunting braue in woods doth take delyght Philippis him allures her hauntes a fomy bristled Bore That doth annoy with gastly dread the husbandmen full sore We know him wel for he it is foyld with so many woundes But ere they do begin to ope let slip let slip your Houndes But in your leashes Syrs keepe vp your eiger Mastifs yet Keepe on their Collers still that doe their galled neekes yfret The Spartayne Dogges eiget of pray and of couragious kynd That sone can single out their game wherto they be assygnd Tye shorter vp within your leash to passe tyme shall it bring That with the youlping noyse of houndes the hollow rockes shal ring Now let the Houndes goe fynd of it with Nosthrell good of sent And trace vnto the vglye den ere dawning day be spent Whyle in the dewish stabby ground the pricke of cleaze doth sticke One bear the toyle on cumbred necke and some with nettes ful thicke Make speede some with the arming coard by pensell paynted red By sleight and subtill guyleful feare shall make the Beastes adred Loke thou to pitch thy thirling dart and thou to trye thy might Shalt cope him with broad 〈…〉 with hand both lefte right Thou standing at receipt shalt chase the roused beastes amayne With hallowing thou with limere sharpe vndee him beyng slayne Graunt good successe vnto thy mate Virago thou Diuyne That secret desartes chosen hast for noble Empire thyne Whose thirled Dartes with leauel right do gore the Beast with Bloud That lappes the lukewarme licour of roxis fleeting Floud And eke the Beast that sportes it selfe on frosen Isters straud The ramping Lyons eake of Geate are chased by thy hand And eke the wyndy heeled Hart in Candie thou dost chase Now with more gentle launce thou strikst the Doe that trippes apace To
thee the Tygar fierce his diuers spotted breast doth yield The rough shaghairy Bugle turnes on thee his backe in field Eke saluage Buffes with braunche hornes all thinges thy quarelles feare That to the needy Garamas in Affricke doth appeare Or eis the wyld Arabian enriched by his wood Or what the Brutish roches of Pyrene vnderstood Or else what other Beastes do lurcke in wyld Hyrcanus groue Or else among Sarmatians in desert fieldes that roue It that the Ploughman come to field that standeth in thy grace Into his nettes the roused beast full sure he is to chase No feete in sunder breake the coardes and home he bringes the Bore In totting wayne when as the houndes with gubs of clottered gore Besmeared haue their grymed snoutes and then the Countrey rout To Cottages repayre in rankes with triumph all about Lo Goddesse graunt vs grace the hounds already opened haue I follow must the Chase this gainer way my paynes to saue I take into the woods THE SECOND SCEANE PHAEDRA NVTRIX O Countrey Crete that beares the sway vpon the Seas so vast Whose Ships so thicke in euery Shore the Seas doe ouercast What euer coast as farre as is Assyria lande doth lye Where Nereus doth the piked Stemme to cut his course deny Why force ye mee that yeelded am a pledge to those I hate And gieuen in Bridall bed to bee my enmies Spousall mate To languish out my time in teares in woe to leade my lyfe My husband lo runnagate is gon from mee his Wyfe Yet Theseus still performes his O the alike vnto his Spouse As earst to Ariadne when hee falsifide his Vowes Hee champion stoute dare enterprise the darkenesse deepe to passe Of lothsome Lake whence yet found out no way returning was A souldier of the Wooer bolde Proserpin home to bring Out pullde perforce from grisly throne of Dire infernall King Accompanide with fury fierce hee marcheth forward still Whō neither dread nor shame could force forbeare his wicked will With lawlesse wedlocks rauishments Hippolytus his Sire Doth in the boyling bottom deepe of Acheron require But yet another greater griefe swayes on my pensiue brest No silent night nor slumber deepe can set my heart at rest My sorrow still is nourished and still entreaseth it And ranklesse in my boyling breast as out of Aetnaes pit The stifling vapour vpward sties and Pallas Web it standes At rest my dropping distaffe downe doth drop betweene my handes My luskish minde it hath no lust my vowed gifts to pay Vnto the Temples of the Gods that liue my Theseus may Nor rigging with Th' athenian Dames among the aulters proude To tosse the fiery brands vnto the sacrifice aloude Nor yet deuoutly praying at the Aares with godly guise To Pallas president in earth to offer sacrifice It doth delight me to pursue the chased beasts in flight And tosse my flashing Faucon fierce with nimble hand full light What ayles thou minde this mad to take conceypte in freight and fell My wretched mothers fatall vice a breeding now I smell To cloake our crime our lust doth knowe woods are the fittest place Alas good Mother I lament the heauy lucklesse case Thou rashe attaint with lothsome lust enamored is thy breast Euen with the cruell head of al the herd of saluage beast That churlish angry roaring Bull no yoake can bee sustayne And hee among the wilde and eke vntamed Neat doth raygne Yet was enclinde to loue what God can graunt mee my desire Or Dedalus with curious craft can ease my flaming fire Not if hee might returne whom Ariadne hath iustruct From crooked compast Laberinth by thred that out hee pluckt Among the lurcking corners close and wily winding way To grope his footing backe agayne and did depriue of day Our monstrous Minotaur enclosde in Maze and Dungeon blinde Although hee promise to our sore no salue yet can hee finde Through mee Apollos Progeny doth Venus quite agayne The filthy shame that shee and Mars together did sustayne Whom Phoebus taking at their taske all naked in the Skie Hung vp in Nets a laughing stocke to euery gasing Eye For this all Phoebus stocke with vile and foule reproche she staynes In some of Minos family still lothsome lusting raygnes One mischiefe brings another in NV. O Theseus wyfe and Chylde Of Ioue let vyce be soone out of thine honest breast exilde And quench the raging heat to dire dispayre doe not vp yeeld Who at the first repulseth loue is safe and winnes the field Who doth by flattring fancy fonde feede on his vitious vayne To late doth grudge agaynst the yoake which earst hee did sustayne Nor yet doe I forget how hard and voyde of reason cleane A Princes stately stomacke yeeldes vnto the golden meane PH. That ende I will accept whereto by Fortune I can leade The neighbors weale great comfort brings vnto the horie heade NV. The first redresse is to withstand not willingly to slide The second is to haue the fault by meane and measure tride O wicked wretch what wilt thou doe why dost thou burden more The stayned stocke and dost excell thy mothers fault afore More haynous is thy guilt than yet thy mothers Monster was For monsters mayst thou thinke are brought by destiny to passe But let the cause of sinne to blame of maners lewde redounde And if bicause thy husband doth not breath aboue the grounde Thou thinkst thou mayst defend thy fault and make thy matter good And free from feare thou arte beguilde yet thinke the Stygian flood In griesly gaping gulfe for aye hath drenched Theseus deepe But yet thy Syre whose kingdomes large the Seas at will do keepe Whose dredfull doome pronounceth panges and due deserued payne Two hundreth wayling soules at once Will he thinkst thou maintayne So haynous crime to couche the care of tender Parents breast Full wise and wary is to bring their children to the best Yet shall we thinke by subtill meane by craft and diuelish guile In hugger mugger close to keepe our trechery so vile What shall thy mothers father Phoebe whose beames so blasing bright With fiery gleede of euery thing doth shed his golden light Or Ioue the Grandsire great of Gods that all the world doth shake And brandisheth with flaming Fist his fiery lightnings flake That Vulcane doth in Fornace hoate of dusky Aetna make Thinkst thou thys may be brought to passe so haynous crime to hide Among thy Grandsire all that haue eche priuy thing espide But though the fauor of the Gods conceale the second time Thy lothsome lust vnworthy name and to thy baudy crime Sure faythfulnesse annexed be that euer barred was Ech great offence what will this worke a present plague alas Suspicion lest the guilty night bewray thy deede vniust And conscience burdned sore with sinne that doth it selfe mistrust Some haue commit offence full safe from any bitter blame But none without the stinging pricks of conscience did the same Asswage the boyling flames of this thy lewde vngratious loue Such
land And old tvvise captiue king receiue our feare VVhile thou vvert king Troy hurtles then could stand Though shaken tvvise with Grecian sword it weare And twise did shot of Hercles quiuer beare At latter losse of Hecubes sonnes all And roges for kings that high on piles we reare Thou father shutst our latest funerall And beaten downe to Ioue for sacrifies Like liueles blocke in Troy thy carkas lies HEC. Yet turne ye once your teares another way My pryams death should not lamented be O Troyans all ful happy is Pryame say For free from bondage downe descended hee To the lowest Ghoste and neuer shall sustayne His Captiue necke with Greekes to yoked bee Hee neuer shal behold the Atrids twayne Nor false Vlisses euer shal he see Not hee a pray for Greekes to triumph at His necke shall subiect to their conquestes beare Ne geue his handes to tye behynde his backe That to the rule of Scepters wonted weare Nor following Agamemnons chare in bande Shall he bee pompe to proude Mycenas land WO. ¶ Ful happy Pryame is each one wee say That toke vvith him his Kingdome then that stoode Now safe in shade he seekes the wandring way And treads the pathes of all Elizius wood And in the blessed Sprightes ful happy hee Agayne there seekes to meete with Hectors Ghost Happy Pryam happy whoso may see His Kingdome all at once with him be lost Chorus added to the Tragedy by the Translator O Ye to whom the Lord of Lande and Seas Of Life and Death hath graunted here the powre Lay dovvne your lofty lookes your pride appeas The crovvned King fleeth not his fatall howre Who so thou be that leadst thy land alone Thy life vvas limite from thy mothers vvombe Not purple robe not Glorious glittering throne Ne crovvne of Gold redeemes thee from the tombe A King he was that wayting for the vayle Of him that slew the Minotaure in fight Begilde with blacknes of the wonted saile In seas him sonke and of his name they hight So he that wild to vvin the golden spoyle And first vvith ship by seas to seeke renovvne In lesser vvaue at length to death gan boyle And thus the daughters brought their father dovvne Whose songes the vvoodes hath dravven and riuers held And birdes to heare his notes did theirs forsake In peece meale throvvne amid the Thracian field Without returne hath sought the Stigian lake They sit aboue that holde our life in line And vvhat vve suffer dovvne they fling from hie No carke no care that euer may vntwine The thrids that vvoued are aboue the skie As vvitnes he that sometyme King of Greece Had Iason thought in drenching seas to drovvne Who scapt both death and gaind the Golden fleece Whom fates aduaunce there may no povvre plucke dovvne The highest God sometyme that Saturne hight His fall him taught to credite their decrees The rule of heauens he lost it by their might And Ioue his sonne novv turnes the rolling Skies Who vveneth here to vvin eternall vvelth Let him behold this present perfite proofe And learne the secrete stoppe of chaunces stelth Most nere alas vvhen most it seemes aloofe In slipper ioy let no man put his trust Let none dispayre that heauy haps hath past The svvete vvith sovvre she mingleth as she lust Whose doubtful web pretendeth nought to last Frailtie is the thride that Clothoes rocke hath sponne Novv from the Distaffe dravvne novv knapt in tvvaine With all the world at length his end he wonne Whose works haue wrought his name should great remaine And he whose trauels twelue his name display That feared nought the force of worldly hurt In fine alas hath found his fatall daye And died with smart of Dianyraes shurt If prowes might eternity procure Then Priam yet should liue in lyking lust Ay portly pompe of pryde thou art vnsure Lo learne by him O Kinges yee are but dust And Hecuba that wayleth now in care That was so late of high estate a Queene A mirrour is to teach you what you are Your wauering wealth O Princes here is seene Whom dawne of day hath seene in high estate Before Sunnes set alas hath had his fall The Cradels rocke appoyntes the life his date From setled ioy to sodayne funerall THE SECOND ACTE The Spright of Achilles added to the tragedy by the Translator The first Scene FOrsaking now the places tenebrouse And deepe dennes of th infernall region From all the shadowes of illusions That wāder there the pathes ful many one Lo here am I returned al alone The same Achil whose fierce and heauy hande Of al the world no wight might yet withstand What man so stout of al the Grecians host That hath not sometyme crau'd Achilles aide And in the Troyans who of prowes most That hath not feard to see my Banner splaide Achilles lo hath made them all affrayde And in the Greekes hath bene a piller post That stvrdy stode agaynst their Troyan host Where I haue lackt the Grecians went to wracke Troy proued hath what Achills sword could doe Where I haue come the Troyans fled a backe Retyring fast from field their walles vnto No man that might Achilles stroke fordoe I dealt such stripes amid the Troian route That with their bloud I staynd the fieldes aboute Mighty Memnon that with his Persian band Would Pryams part with all might mayntayne Lo now he lyeth and knoweth Achilles hand Amid the field is Troylus also slayne Ye Hector great whom Troy accompted playne The flowre of chiualry that might be found All of Achilles had theyr mortall wound But Paris lo such was his false deceipt Pretending maryage of Polixeine Behynd the aulter lay for me in wayte Where I vnwares haue falne into the trayne And in Appolloes church he hath me slayne Wherof the Hel will now iust vengeance haue And here agayne I come my right to craue The deepe Auerne my rage may not sustayne Nor beare the angers of Achilles spright From Acheront I rent the spoyle in twayne And though the ground I grate agayne to sight Hell could not hide Achilles from the light Vengeance and bloud doth Orcus pit require To quench the furies of Achilles yre The hatefull land that worse then Tartare is And burning thrust excedes of Tantalus I here beholde againe and Troy is this O trauell worse then stone of Sisyphus And paines that passe the panges of Tityus To light more lothsome furie hath me sent Then hooked wheele that Ixions flesh doth rent Remembred is alowe where sprites do dwell The wicked slaughter' wrought by wyly way Not yet reuenged hath the deepest hell Achilles bloud on them that did him slay But now of vengeance come the yrefull day And darkest dennes of Tartare from beneath Conspire the fautes of them that wrought my death Now mischiefe murder wrath of hell draweth nere Aud dyre Phlegethon floud doth bloud require Achilles death shall he reuenged here VVith slaughter such as Stygian lakes desyre Her daughters bloud shal slake the
spirites yre VVhose sonue we slew whereof doth yet remayne The wrath beneath and hell shal be their payne From burning lakes the furies wrath I threate And fire that nought but streames of bloud may slake The rage of winde and seas their shippes shall beate And Ditis deepe on you shall vengeance take The spirites crie out the earth and seas do quake The poole of Styx vngratefull Greekes it seath VVith slaughtred bloud reuenge Achilles death The soyle doth shake to beare my heauy foote And fearth agayne the sceptors of my hand The pooles with stroake of thunderclap ring out The doubtful starres amid their course do stand And fearfull Phoebus hides his blasing brande The trembling lakes agaynst their course do flite For dread and terrour of Achilles spright Great is the raunsome ought of due to mee Wherwith ye must the sprightes and hell appease Polyxena shal sacrifysed be Vpon my tombe their yreful wrath to please And with her bloud ye shall asswage the seas Your ships may not returne to Greece agayne Til on my tombe Polyxena be slayne And for that she should then haue bene my wyfe I wil that Pyrrhus render her to mee And in such solemne sort bereaue her life As ye are wont the weddinges for to see So shal the wrath of Hel appeased bee Nought els but this may satisfy our yre Her wil I haue and her I you require THE SECOND SCENE Talthibius Chorus ALas how long the lingring Greekes in hauen do make delay When eyther warre by seas they seeke or home to passe theyr way Ch. Why shew what cause doth hold your ships and Grecian nauy stayes Declare if any of the Gods haue stopt your homeward wayes Tal. My mynd is mai'd my trembling sinne wes quake and are affeard For straunger newes of truth then these I thinke were neuer heard Lo I my selfe haue playnly seene in dawning of the day When Phoebus first gan to approch and driue the starres away The earth all shaken sodaynly and from the hollow grownde My thought I hard with roaryng crye a deepe and dreadful sound That shoke the woods and al the trees rong out with thunder stroke From Ida hils downe fel the stones the mountayne toppes were broke And not the earth hath onely quakt but all the Sea likewyse Achilles presence felt and knew and high the surges ryse The clouen ground Erebus pittes then shewd and deepest dennes That downe to Gods that guyde beneath the way appeard from hence Then shoke the tombe from whence anone in flame of fiery light Appeareth from the hollow caues Achilles noble spright As wonted he his Thracian armes and bannars to disploy And weild his weighty weapons wel agaynst th assaultes of Troy The same Achilles seemde he than that he was wont to bee Amid the hostes and easiy could I know that this was hee With carkasse slayne in furious fight that stopt and fild each floude And who with slaughter of his hand made Xanthus runne with bloud As when in Chariot high he sate with lofty stomacke stoute Whyle Hector both and Troy at once he drew the walles aboute Alowd he cride and euery coast rang with Achilles sound And thus with hollow voyce he spake from bottom of the ground The Greekes shal not with litle pryce redeeme Achilles yre A princely raunsome must they geue for so the fates require Vnto my ashes Polyxene spoused shal here be slayne By Pyrrhus hand and al my tombe her bloud shal ouerstayne This sayd he strayght sanke downe agayne to Plutoes deepe region The earth then cloasd the hollow caues were vanished and gon Therwith the wether waxed clere the raging wyndes did slake The tombling seas began to rest and al the tempest brake THE THIRD SCENE Pyrrhus Agamemnon Calchas WHat tyme our sayles we should haue spread vppon Sygeon Seas With swift returne from long delay to seeke our homeward wayes Achilles rose whose onely hand hath geuen Greekes the spoyle Of Troia sore annoyde by him and leueld with the soyle With speede requiting his abode and former long delay At Scyros yle and Lesbos both amid the Aegaeon sea Til he came here in doubt it stoode of fall or sure estate Then though ye hast to graunt his wil ye shall it geue to late Now haue the other captaynes all the pryce of their manhood What els reward for his prewesse then her al onely blood Are his desertes thinke you but light that when he might haue fled And passing Pelyus yeares in peace a quiet life haue led Detected yet his mothers craftes forsooke his womans weede And with his weapons prou'd himselfe a manly man indeede The King of Mysya Telephus that woulde the Greekes withstand Comming to Troy forbidding vs the passage of his land To late repenting to haue felt Achilles heauy stroke Was glad to craue his health agayne where he his hurt had tooke For when his sore might not be salud as told Appollo playne Except the speare that gaue the hurte restoared help agayne Achilles plasters cur'd his cuttes and sau'd the King aliue His hand both might and mercy knew te slay and then reuyne When Thebes fel Eetion saw it and might it not withstand The captiue King could nought redresse the ruin of his land Lyrnesus litle likewyse felt his hand and downe it fill With ruine ouerturned like from top of haughty hil And taken Bryseys land it is and prisoner is she caught The cause of strife betwene the Kinges is Chryses come to naught Tenedos yle wel knowne by fame and fertile soyle he tooke That fostreth fat the Thracian flockes and sacred Cilla shooke What bootes to blase the brute of him whom trumpe of fame doth show Through all the coastes where Caicus floud with swelling stream doth flow The ruthful ruine of these realmes so many townes bet downe Another man would glory count and worthy great renowne But thus my father made his way and these his iourneyes are And battayles many one he fought whyle warre he doth prepare As wisht I may his merits more shall yet not this remayne Wel knowne and counted prayse enough that he hath Hector slayne Duryng whose life the Grecians al might neuer take the towne My father onely vanquist Troy and you haue pluct it downe Reioyce I may your parentes prayse and brute abroade his actes It seemeth the sonne to follow well his noble fathers factts In sight of Priam Hector slayne and Memnon both they lay With heauy theere his parentes wayld to mourne his dying day Himselfe abhord his handy worke in fight that had them slayne The Sonnes of Goddes Achilles knew were borne to die agayne The woman queene of Amazons that greu'd the Greekes ful sore Is turnd to flight then ceast our feare wee dread their bowes no more It ye wel waigh his worthynes Achilles ought to haue Though he from Argos or Mycenas would a Virgin craue Doubt ye herein allow ye not that straight his wil be done And count ye cruel Pryams bloud to
of auncient corage still doe dwell within my brest Exite all foolysh Female feare and pity from thy mynde And as th' untamed Tygers vse to rage and raue vnkynde That haunt the croking combrous Caues and clumpred frosen cliues And craggy Rockes of Caucasus whose bitter colde depryues The soyle of all Inhabitours permit to lodge and rest Such saluage brutish tyranny within thy brasen brest What euer hurly burly wrought doth Phasis vnderstand What mighty monstrous bloudy feate I wrought by Sea or Land The like in Corynth shal be seene in most outragious guise Most hyddious hatefull horrible to heare or see wyth eyes Most diuelish desperate dreadfull deede yet neuer knowne before Whose rage shall force heauen earth and hell to quake and tremble sore My burning breast that rowles in wrath and doth in rancour boyle Sore thrysteth after bloud and wounds with slaughter death spoyle By renting racked lyms from lyms to driue them downe to graue Tush these be but as Fleabytings that mentioned I haue As weyghty things as these I did in greener girlishe age Now sorrowes smart doth rub the gall and frets with sharper rage But sith my wombe hath yeelded fruict it doth mee well behoue The strength and parlous puissaunce of weightier illes to proue Be ready wrath with all thy might that fury kindle may Thy foes to their destruction bee ready to assay Of thy deuorsement let the Pryce to match and counterpayse The proude precious pryncely pomp of these new wedding dayes How wilt thou from thy spouse depart as him thou followed hast In bloud to bath thy bloudy handes and traytrous lyues to wast Breake of in time these long delayes abanden now agayne This lewd alliaunce got by guilt with greater guilt refrayne †Chorus altered by the Translatour WHo hath not wist that windy words be vayne And that in talke of trust is not the grounde Heere in a mirrour may hee see it playne Medea so by proofe the same hath founde Who being blind by blinded Venus Boy Her bleared Eyes could not beholde her blisse Nor spy the present poyson of her Ioy While in the grasse the Serpent lurked is The shaft that flew from Cupids golden bowe With feathers so hath dimd her daseld Eyes That cannot see to shun the way of woe The ranckling head in dented heart that lyes So dulles the same that can not vnderstand The cause that brought false Iason out of Greece To come vnto her fathers fertile Land Is not her loue but loue of golden Fleece Yet was his speache so pleasaunt and so milde His tongue so filde his promises so fayre Sweete was the fowlers Song that hath beguilde The seely byrd brought to the limed snare Faith in his Face trust shined in his Eyes The blushing brow playne meaning seemde to showe In double hearte blacke treason hydden lies Dissembling thoughts that weaue the webbe of woe The honyed Lyppes the tongue in suger dept Doe sweete the poyson rancke within the breast In subtle shew of paynted sheath is kept The rusty knife of treason deemed least Lyfe seemes the bayte to sight that lyeth brim Death is the hooke that vnderlies the same The Candell blase delights with burning trim The Fly till shee bee burned in the flame Who in such showes least deemed any ills The hungry fyshe feares not the bayte to Brooke Till vp the lyne doe pluck him by the gylls And fast in throate hee feeles the deadly hooke Woe Iason woe to thee most wretched man Or rather wretch Medea woe to thee Woe to the one that thus dissemble can Woe to the other that trayned so might bee Thoughtst thou Medea his eyes to bee the glasse Wherein thou might the Face of thoughts beholde That in his breast with wordes so couered was As cancred brasse with glosse of yealow golde Did thou suppose that nature more then kinde Had placde his heart his lying lyppes betweene His lookes to be the mirrour of his minde Fayth in fayre Face hath sildome yet ben seene Who listneth to the flatering Maremaides note Must needes commit his tyred eyes to sleepe Yeelding to her the taking of his boate That meanes vnware to drowne him in the deepe What booteth thee Medea to betray The golden Fleece to fawning Isasons hande From Dragons teeth him safely to conuay And fyry Bulles the warders of the lande Why for his sake from father hast thou fled And thrust thy selfe out from thy natiue soyle Thy brothers bloud what ayled thee to shed With Iason thus to trauell and to toyle Beholde the meede of this thy good desarte The recompence that hee to thee doth gyue For pleasure payne for ioy most eger smarte With clogging cares in banishment to liue Thou and thy Babes are like to begge and starue In Nation straunge O myserable lyfe Whyle Iason from his promyses doe swarue And takes delight in his new wedded Wyfe O Ground vngrate that when the husband man Hath tilled it to recompence his toyle No Corne but Weedes and Thystles render can To stinge his handes that Fruict seekes of his Soyle Such venome growes of pleasaunt coloured flower Loe Prynces loe what deadly poyson sup Of Bane erst sweete now turned into sower Medea dranke out of a goulden Cup THE SECOND ACTE Medea Nutrix AYe mee alas I am vndone For at the Brydall cheare The warble note of wedding songe resounded in mine eare Yet for all this scant I my selfe yet scant beleue I can That Iason would play such a prancke as most vnthāckfull man Both of my Countrey and my Syre and kingdome me to spoyle And yet forsake mee wretch forlorne to stray in forrein soyle O hath he such a stony heart that doth no more esteeme The great good turnes and benefits that I imployde on him Who knowes that I haue lewdly vsed enchauntments for his sake The rigour rough and stormy rage of swelling Seas to slake The grunting firy foming Bulles whose smoking guts were stuft With smoltring fumes that frō theyr Iawes nosthrils out they puft I stopt their gnashīg moūching mouths I quēcht their burning breath And vapors hot of stewing paunch that els had wrought his death Or feedes hee thus his fansy fond to thinke my skill of charme Abated is and that I haue no power to doe him harme Brstract of wits with wauering minde perplext on euery part I tossed and turmoyled am wyth wayward crasy hart Now this now that and neyther now but now another way By diuers meanes I toyle that so my wrong reueng I may I would the wretch a brother had but what he hath a Wyfe Goe cut her throate with gastly wounds bereue her of her lyfe On her I le worke my deadly spight her her alone I craue To quit such bitter sowsing stormes as I sustayned haue If any graund notorious guilt in all Pelasga Land Be put in practise yet vnknowne vnto thy harming hand Thereof to get experience the time doth now begin Thy former feates doe byd thee take good
to toyle Her spousall bed then that her seede should take the plunging foyle I did determine in my minde to goe her to entreate With gentle wordes pray her cease in feruent wrath to freate And loe on me when once she caste the beames of glauncing Eye Full blythe she leapes she iumpes for ioy in fits she ginnes to fry Deepe deadly blackish hate she seemes in outwarde brow to beare And wholly in her frowning face doth glutting griefe appeare ME. I packing packing Iason am this still to chop and chaunge The fleeting soyle of my abode to mee it is not straunge The cause of my departure yet to me is straung and new I wonted was in followinge thee all places to eschew I will depart and get me hence to whom for helping hande Entendest thou to sende vs forth whom hence to fly the land Thou dost compell with thine alies shall I repayre agayne To Phasis flood to Colchis Isle or to my fathers raygne Or goary sweeting fieldes that with my brothers blood do reeke What harbring lands aloofe dost thou commaund vs out to seeke What seas appoint yee me to passe shall I my iourney dryue Vppon the parlous hatefull iawes of Pontus to arriue By which I did saufe conduct home kings valiaunt armies great Where roaring rocks with thundring noise the flapping waues do beate Or on the narrow wrackfull shore of Simplegades twayne Or els to small Hiolcos towne can I retourne agayne Or toyle the gladsome pleasaunt lands of Tempe to attayne All places that I opened haue vnto thy passage free I shut them vp agaynst my selfe now whether sendste thou mee A banisht wretch to banishment thou wouldest haue encline Yet to the place of her exyle thou canst not her assygne Yet for all that without delay I must depart and go And why forsoth the king his sonne in law commaundeth so Well nothing will I stand against with grypes of passing payne Let me be scourgde of my desarts such is the gotten gayne Let Creon in his pryncely ruffe lay to his heauy handes To whyp an whore in torments sharp with iron giues and bandes Let her be chaynd in hydeous hole of night for aye her locke Let her be cloyed with pestring payse of restlesse rowling rocke Yet lesse than I deserued haue in all this shall I finde O thou vncurteous Gentleman consider in thy mynde The flamy puffes and firy gaspes of gastly gaping bull And Aetas catell rych with Fleece of gorgeous golden wooll That went to graze amid so great and mighty feares in fielde Of vncontrouled Nation whose soyle doth armies yeelde Reuoke to minde the deadly dartes of sodayne starting foe When gastly warriour Tellus broode to ground agayne did goe Through slaughter red of mutuall launce to this yet further passe The lurched Fleece of Phrixes Ramme that all thine errand was And vgsome Argos slumberlesse whom fast I causde to keepe His wery watching winking eyes with vnaquaynted sleepe My brother eke whose fatall twist of feeble lyfe I shred And guilt that wrought so many guiltes when as with thee I fled The daughters whom I set on worke entrapt in wily trayne To slay theyr sire that shall not ryse to quickned lyfe agayne And how to trauell other realmes I set myne owne at nought By that good hope which of thy seede conceaued is in thought Eake by thy stable Mansion place and mighty monsters that Downe beaten for thy health I causde before thy feete to squat And by these drudging hands of myne vnspared for thy sake For dread of daungers ouer past that caused thee to quake By heauens aboue and seas belowe that witnesse bearers bee To knitting of our maryage vp thy mercy vayle to mee Of all the heapes of treasure great so farre of being fet Which Aetas sauage Scythians dyd trauell for to get From Ind where Phoebus scorching blase doth dye the people blacke Of all this golde which in our dowers wee coulde not well compacke But tricke and trym wee garnished our groues with golde so gay I banisht wretch of all this stuffe gat nought with mee away Except my brothers slaughtred flesh yet I employed the same On thee the cares of countreyes health my honesty and shame My Father and my brother both hath yeelded place to thee This is the dowry that thou had my wedded spouse to bee To her whom thou dost abrogate restore her goods agayne IA. When Creon in malicious moode had thought thee to haue slayne Entreated with my teares exyle and life he gaue to thee ME. I tooke it for a punishment but surely as I see This banishment is now become a friendly good rewarde IA. While thou hast time to goe be gone for most seueare and harde The kings displeasure euer is M. thus wouldst thou dodge mee out Thy hated trull cast of thou dost that please Creuse thou mought IA. Dost thou Medea vpbrayde mee with the breach vnkynde of loue ME. And slaughter vyle with trechery whereto thou didst mee moue IA. When all is done what canst thou say my guiltines to stayne ME. Euen whatsoeuer I haue done IA. Yet more this doth remayne That thy vngracious wickednes of harme should mee accuse ME. Thine thine they are they are all thine what euer I did vse Who that of lewdnesse reapes the fruict is grafter of the same Let euery one with infamy thy wretched Spouse defame Yet doe thou onely take her part her onely doe thou call A iust and vndefiled wight without offence at all If any man shall for thy sake polute his hand with ill To thee let him an innocent yet be accompted still IA. The life is lothsome that doth worke his shame who hath it chose ME. The life whose choyse doth worke thy shame thou ought againe to lose IA. Let reason rule thy eger mynde so vext with crabbed ire And for thy tender childrens ease to bee at rest requyre ME. I doe defy it wholy I detest it I forsweare That bretheren bred vnto my barnes Creusas wombe shall beare IA. It will be trim when as a Queene of maiesty and myght Hath issue kinne vnto the seede of thee a banishe wight ME. So cursed day shall neuer on my wretched children shine To mingle base borne basterdes with the bloud of noble Lygue Shall Phoebus stocke that beares the lamp of heauen in starry throne Be macht with drudging Sisiphus that roules in hell the stone IA. What meanest thou wretch both thee mee in banishment to yoke I pray then hence ME. When humbly I my mynde to Creon broke Hee gaue an eare vnto my suite IA. What lyeth in my myght To doe for thee ME. If no good turne then doe thy worst dispyght IA. On this side with his swerd in hand king Creon doth mee scarre On other part with armed hoast Acast doth mee detarre ME. Medea eke to coape with these that more apaull vs may Go to to skyrmishe let vs fall let Iason be the pray IA. I yeelde whom sore aduersities haue tyerd
Charyot in the West Let neyther Raynes nor Brydle stay thy Race Let groueling light with Dulceat nyght opprest In cloking Cloudes wrapt vp his muffled Face Let Hesperus the loadesman of the nyght In Western floode drench deepe the day so bryght THE FIFTH ACTE Nuntius Chorus Nutrix Medea Iason ALl things are topsy turuy turnde and wasted cleane to nought To passing great calamity our Kingdome State is brought The Syre and Daughter burnt to dust in blendred Cynders lye C. What trayne hath them entrapt Nū. Such as are made for Kinges to dye False traitrous gifts C. What priuy guile could wrapped be in those Nū. And I doe meruayle at this thing and skant I can suppose That such a mischiefe might be wrought by any such deuice Ch. Report how this destruction and ruine should aryse Nū. The fyzzing flame most egerly doth scoure with sweeping sway Eache corner of the Prynces court as though it should obay Commaunded therevnto so flat on flowre the Pallace falles Wee are in dread least further it will take the townishe walles Ch. Cast quenching water on it then to slake the greedy flame Nū. And this that seemeth very straunge doe happen in the same The water feedes the fier fast the more that wee doe toyle It to suppresse with hotter rage the heate begins to boyle Those thinges that wee haue gotten for our help it doth enioy Nut. Medea thou that doest so sore king Pelops lande anoy Twine hence in hast thy forwarde foote at all assayes depart To any other kinde of coaste Me. Can I finde in my hart To shun this lande if hence I had first falne away by flight I would haue traueled backe agayne to gase at such a sight To stande and see this wedding new why stayst thou doting mynde Apply apply thy sore attempt that good successe doth finde What great exployt is this that thou of vengeaunce dost enioy Still art thou blynded witlesse wench with vale of Venus boy Is this suffisaunce for the griefe is roote of rancour ded If Iason leade a single lyfe in solitary bed Some netling thorny stinging plagues vnpractised deuise Prepare thy selfe in redines and fall to on this wyse Let all bee fishe that commes to Net haue no respect of ryghte From mynde on mischiefe fixed fast let shame be vanisht quyte The vengeaunce they receaued at my lytle chyldrens hand Is nothing worth in earnest ire ententiue must thou stand When heate of wrath begins to coole cheere vp thy selfe agayne Rayse vp those touches olde that wonted were in thee to raygne That buried deepe in breast doe lye and as for all the same That yet is wrought Of godlinesse let it vsurpe the name Doe this and I shall teach them learne what tryfling cast it was And common practisde flimflam trick that erst I brought to passe By this my raging malady a preamble hath made To shew what howgier heapes of harmes shall shortly them inuade What durst my rude vnskilfull hand assay that was of wayght What could the mallice of a Gyrle inuent her foes to bayte Still conuersaunt with wicked feates Medea am I made My blunt and dulled braynes hath so ben beate about this trade O so I ioy I ioy that I smote of my brothers head And slasht his members of eake that from parents had I fled And filched haue the priuy fleece loe Mars that sacred was It glads my heart that I to bring olde Pelias death to passe Haue set his daughters all on worke O griefe picke out a way Not any guilt thou shalt with vnacquainted hand assay Against whom wrath entendest thou to bend thyne Irefull might Or with what weapon dost thou meane thy trayterous foes to smight I know not what my wrathfull minde consulted hath within And to be it to himselfe I dare not yet begin O rash and vnaduised foole I make to hasty speede O that my Foe had gotten of his Harlots body Seede But what so euer thou by him enioyest suppose the same To bee Creusas Babes of them let her enioy the name This vengeaunce this doth like mee well good reason is there why The last attempt of t is thou must with stomacke stout apply Alas yee litle seely fooles that erst my children were The plaguing price of Fathers fault submit your selues to beare O horrour huge with sodayne stroke my heart doth ouercom With ycie dulling colde congealde my Members all benum My shiuering lims appauled sore for gastly feare doe quake And banisht rage of malice hoate begins it selfe to slake The hatefull heart of wife agaynst her Spouse hath yeelded place And pitious mothers mercy milde restoreth natures face O shall I shed their guiltlesse bloude shall I the frame vnfoulde Of that which louing natures hande hath wrought in me her moulde O doting fury chaunge thy minde conceiue a better thought Let not this haynous sauage deede by meanes of mee be wrought What cryme haue they poore fooles cōmit for which they should abye Vpon theyr Father Iason right all blot of blame should lye Medea yet theyr Mother I am worser farre then hee Tush let them frankly goe to wracke no kith nor kin to mee They are dispatch them out of hand holde holde my babes they be God wot most harmelesse lambes they are no crime nor fault haue they Alas they bee mere innocents I doe not this denay So was my brother whom I slew O false reuolting mynde Why dost thou staggring to and fro such chaunge of fancies fynde Why is my Face besprent with teares what makes mee falter so That wrath loue with striuing thoughts doe leade mee to and fro Such fighting fancies bickringe stormes my swaruing minde detarre As when betwene the wrestling windes is raysed wrangling warre Eche where the tumbling wallowing waues are hoyst and reared hye Amid the iustling swolues of seas that hot in fury frye Euē so my hart with strugling thoughts now sinks now swells amaine Wrath sometyme chaseth vertue out and vertue wrath agayne O yeelde thee yeelde a grising griefe to vertue yeelde thy place Thou onely comforte of our stocke in this afflicted case Come heather come deere loued Impe with colling mee imbrace Whyle that by me your mother deere sweete Boyes yee are enioyed So long God graunt your Father may you kepe from harme vncloyed Exile and flight approach on mee and they shall by and by Be pulde perforce out of myne armes with vapourde weeping Eye Sore languishing with mourning heart yet let them goe to graue Before their fathers Face as they before their mothers haue Now rancorus griefe with firy fits begins to boyle agayne The quenched coales of deadly hate do fressher force attayne The rusty rancour harbred long within my cancred brest Starts vp and stirres my hand anew in mischiefe to bee prest O that the rablement of brats which swarmde aboute the syde Of Niobe that scornefull Dame who perisht by her pryde Had taken lyfe out of his lymmes O that the fates of heauen A fruictfull
seas When stronger blast with belly swolne our hoysted sayles did fil They row no more but let the Pup to goe with wynd at wil Their sheryng oers layd assyde our Pilot doth espye How farre from any land aloofe our sayles reculing flye Or bloudy battels doth display the threats of Hector stout Or of his ratling waggings tels wherein he rode about Or how his gashed carkas slayne and traynd about the field To funeral flan es and obit rightes for coyne agayne was yeld How Iupiter embathed was al in his royall bloud The frolicke fish disposed was to mirth in Tyrren floud And fetching friskes both in and out playes on the waters brim And on his broade and fynny backe about the seas doth swim With gambals quicke in ringes around and side to side enclynd Erwhyle he sportes afront the pup and whips agayne behynd Now fidling on the snout before the dalying wanton route With iocundary ioly tryckes doth skip the fleete about Sometyme he standeth gasing on and eyes the vessels bright Now euery shore is couered cleane and land is out of sight The parlous poynt of Ida rocke in sight doth open lye And that alone espie we could with fyrmly fixed eye A duskye clowde of stifling smoake from Troy did smolter blacke When Titan from the weary neckes the heauy yokes did slacke The fading light did groueling bend and downe the day did shrowd Agaynst the Starres amounting vp a litle misty clowde Came belching out in yrksome Iompe and Phoebus galland beams He spewd vppon bestayning them duct downe in Westerne streams The Sunne set swaruing in such sort with diuers chaunge of face Did geue vs cause to haue mistrust of Neptunes doubted grace The euening first did burnish bright and paynt with starres the sky The wyndes were layed and cleane forsooke our sayles that quiet lie When cracking ratling rumbling noyse tusht down with thundring sway From top of hills which greatter sturre doth threaten and bewraye With bellowinges and yellinges lowde the shores do grunt grone The craggy clyues and roaring rocks do howle in hollow stone The bubling waters swelles vpreard before the wrastling wynd When sodaynly the lowring light of Mone is hid and blynd The glymsing starres do goe to glade the surging seas are tost Euen to the skyes among the clowdes the light of heauen is lost More nightes in one compacted are with shadow dim and blacke One shadow vpon another doth more darknes heape and packe And euery sparke of light consum'd the waues and skyes do meete The ruffling windes range on the seas through euery coast they fitt They heaue it vp with violence oreturnde from bottom low The westerne wynd flat in the face of Easterne wynd doth blow With hurley burley Boreas set ope his blasting mouth And girdeth out his boysteous breth agaynst the stormy south Each wynd with al his might doth blow and worketh daungers deepe They shake the floods a sturdy blast along the seas do sweepe That rolles and rumbles waue on waue a northren tempest stronge Aboundance great of flacky snow doth hurle our shippes amonge The southwynd out of Libia doth rage vppon a shold And with the puissant force therof the quicksandes vp be rold Nor bydeth in the south which doth with tempest lumpe and lower And force the flowing floods to rise by powring out a shower The stubberne Eurus Earthquakes made and shoke the coūtries East And Eos cost where Phoebus first aryseth from his rest How violent Corus stretcht and tare his yawning breast ful wyde A man would sure haue thought the world did from his center slyde And that the frames of Heauen broke vp the Gods adowne would fall And Chaos darke confused heape would shade and couer all The streame straue with the wynd the wynd dyd beate it downe againe The springing sea within his bankes can not it selfe contayne The raging showre his trilling droppes doth mingle with the seas And yet in all this misery the fynd not so much ease To see and know what ill it is that worketh theyr decay The darknes dim oppresseth still and keepes the light away The blackfacst night with Hellicke hue was clad of Stygian lake And yet ful oft with glimsing beames the sparkling fyre out brake The clowde doth cracke and beyng rent the lightning leapeth out The wretches like the same so well it shyning them about That stil they wish such light to haue although God wot but yll The nauy swaying downe it selfe doth cast away and spill One side with other side is crackt and helme is rent with helme The ship it selfe the gulping seas do headlong ouerwhelme Erwhyle a greedy gaping gulph doth sup it vp amayne Then by and by tost vp aloft it spewes it out againe She with her swagging full of sea to bottome lowe doth sinke And drencheth deepe asyde in floods her totring broken brinke That vnderneath a dosen waues lay drowned out of sight Her broken plankes swim vp and downe spoyld is her tackle quight Both sayle and Oers cleane are lost the mayne mast eke is gone That wonted was to beare vpright the sayle yard thereuppon The timber and the broken bordes lye on the waters brim When cold and shiuering feare in vs doth strike through euery lim The wysest wits entocksicate dare nothing enterprise And cunning practise naught auayles when feareful stormes aryse The mareners letting duty slip stand staring all agast Their scoping ores sodaynly out of their handes are wrast To prayer then apace we fall when other hope is none The Greekes and Troyans to the Gods alyke do make their mone Alacke what succour of the fates may wee poore wretches fynd Agaynst his father Pyrrhus beares a spyteful cankred mynd At Ayax grudge Vlisses doth king Menela doth hate Great Hector Agamemnon is with Priam at debate O happy man is he that doth lye slayne in Troyan ground And hath deserude by handy stroake to take his fatall wound Whom fame preserueth taking vp his tombe in conquerd land Those momes whose melting cowardes hart durst neuer take in hand Or enterprise no noble acte those force of floods shall drowne But fate forbearing long wil take stoute Brutes of high renoume Ful wel we may ashamed be in such a sort to dye If any man his spyteful mynd yet can not satisfye With these outragious plunging plagues that downe frō Gods are sēt Appease at length thy wrathful God agayne and take relent Euen Troy for pity would haue wept to see our woefull case But if that in thy boyling breast black rancour still haue place And that the Greekes to ruin run it bee thy purpose bent Why doe these Troyans goe to wrack for whom thus are wee spent Asswage the rygaur of the sea that threarning hilles vp reares This drenched Fleete the Troyan folke and Greekes together beares Then from theyr prayers are they put theyr foultring tonges doe stay The roring seas doth drowne their voyce and caryes their cries away Then mighty Pallas armed with the lepping
When as his honour budding forth with flowre began to bloome Alas the stocke was hewed downe and sent to deadly doome And they that of his victory and comming home were glad To sodayne mourning chaunge their myrth with heauinesse bestad The lusty pompe of royall courte is deade O dolefull day The people mone theyr prynces death with woe and weale away With howling crying wringing hands with sobs with sighes teares And with their fists they beate their breasts they pull hale their heares And as the sheepe amased run and rampe aboute the fielde When as theyr shepherd to the Wolfe his goary throate doth yeelde Euen so as mad they rage and raue throughout Micoenas land Depriued of theyr Prynce they feare the bloudy Tyrauntes hand While thus were woefull waylings hard in euery place about The good Cassandra come from Troy to death is haled out Like as the Swan who when the time of death approcheth nye By nature warned is thereof and pleased well to dye Doth celebrate her funerall with dirge and solemne songe Euen so the noble vyrgin who in woe hath liued longe Most ioyfull goes she to her death with milde and pleasaunt face Stout bouistring out her burly breast with pryncely porte and grace Nothing dismayde with courage bolde and chearefull countenaunce On stage ordeyned for her death shee gan her selfe aduaunce As though she had not thyther come to leaue her lothsome lyfe As though she had not come to taste the stroke of fatall knyfe But euen as it in brydale bed her iourney were to meete Corebus deare not hauing mynde of death nor winding sheete When looking rounde on euery side she tooke her leaue of all From vapourde eyes of younge and olde the trickling teares doe fall The Greekes them selues to griefe are moude to see this heauy sight So pity pearst the headmans heart that thrise aboute to smite He stayde the smot with shiuering hand yet once agayne he tryed And from her shoulders stroke her heade And thus the vyrgin dyed But now the Greekes another cause of mourning haue in hand Orestes Agamemnons some is forst to fly the land Amonge olde rotten ragged Rockes there lies an vgly place A Dungeon deepe as darke as hell vnknowne to Phoebus face An holow huge wyde gaping hole with way still bending downe Whose mouth with venonous wythred weedes is hid and ouergrowne Where stinking smels come belching out from filthy durty dyke Where Verment vyle doe creepe and craule in hell is not the lyke Ilfauourde foule misshapen bugges doe lucke about this caue With dreadfull sounds and roaring noyse withing the pit they raue Euen heather is Electra sent in darckenesse deepe to lye In pouerty and comfortlesse without the lyght of skye Fast clogde with Yron boults and Chaynes thus by her mother layde In torments till by her to death Orestes be betrayde Who as Cassandra telleth shall reuenge his fathers death Depryue with swerd th' adulterour and Mother both of breath So after all these bloudy broyle Greece neuer shall bee free But bloud for bloud and death by turnes the after age shall see FINIS THE NINTHE Tragedy of Lucius Annaeus Seneca called Octauia Translated out of Latine into Englishe by T.N. The Argument OCtauia daughter to prince Claudius grace To Nero espousd whom Claudius did adopt Although Syllanus first in husbandes place Shee had receiu'd whom she for Nero chopt Her parente both her Make that should haue bene Her husbandes present Tiranny much more Her owne estate her case that she was in Her brothers death pore wretch lamenteth sore Him Seneca doth persuade his latter loue Dame Poppie Crispynes wife that some time was And eake Octauias maide for to remoue For Senecks counsel he doth lightly passe But Poppie ioynes to him in marriage rites The people wood into his pallace runne Hir golden fourmed shapes which them sore spytes They pul to ground this vprore now begunne To quench he some to griesly death doth send But her close cased vp in dreadful barge With her vnto Campania coast to wend A band of armed men he gane in charge THE FIRST SCENE The Speakers names Octauia Nutrix Chorus Romanorum Seneca Nuntius Agrippina Poppea Nero Praefectus Octauia NOw that Aurore with glitteryng streames The glading starres from skye doth chase Syr Phoebus pert with spouting beames From dewy neast doth mount apace And with his cheerefull lookes doth yeeld Vnto the world a gladsome day Go to O wretch with ample Fielde Of heauy cares oppressed aye Thy grieuous wonted playntes recount Do not alone with sighes and howles The Seaysh Aloyones surmounte But also passe the Pandyon foules More yrksome is thy state then theirs O Mother deare whose death by fits I nyll lament but still shed teares My ground of griefe in thee it sits If that in shade of darksome denne Perceiuing sence at al remayne Heare out at large O mother then My great complayntes and grieuous payne O that immortall Clothos wrist Had torne in twayne my vitall thred Ere I vnto my griefe had wist Thy woundes and face of sanguine red O day which aye doth me annoy Since that tyme did I more desyre The feareful darknes to enioy Than Phoebus fresh with fayre attyre I haue abode the bitter hest Of stepdame dire in mothers place I haue abode her cruell breast Hir stomake stout and fighting face She Shee for spyte vnto my case A doleful and a graue Eryn To Bridegromes chamber spousall space The Stygian flashing flames brought in And thee alas most piteous Syre With traytrous traynes hath shee bereft Of breathing soule with poysoned myre To whom ere whyle the world all left Vnvanquisht from the Ocean Seas By martiall feats did freely yeeld And didst subdue with wondrous ease The Brittayne brutes that fledde the fielde Whom liuing at their propre swaye No Romayne power did earst inuade Now lo ful wel lament I may Thy Spouse deceypte thy prowes hath lade : And now thy court and child of yore With homage serue a Tyrantes lore THE SECOND SCENE Nutrix WHom so the glistering pompe of royal place With soden sight ynumd doth quite disgrace Who so at courtly fleeting ebbing blase Astonied sore himselfe doth much amase Lo see of late the great and mighty stocke By lurking Fortunes sodayne forced knocke Of Claudius quite subuert and cleane extinct Tofore who held the world in his precinct The Brittayne Ocean coast that long was free He ruld at wil and made it to agree Their Romaine Gallies great for to embrace Lo he that Tanais people first did chase And Seas vnknowen to any Romayne wight With lusty sheering shippes did ouerdight And safe amid the sauage freakes did fight And ruffling surging seas hath nothing dread By cruel spouses gilt doth lye all dead Her sonne likewyse more fiend then Tigre fierce Of naturall mother makes a funerall herse Whose brother drenched deepe with poysoned cup Pore Britannick his senseles soule gaue vp Octauia sister and vnhappy make Doth sore lament her
in lawfull loue Ful oft the thunder thumping Ioue hath stouped to thy yoke And him that weildes the moary mace of blacke Auerne to smoake Thy flames enforce and eake the Lord of glummy Stigian lake But onely match thou Hercules and of him triumphe take O Ioue whose wrath more wrackful is then yreful Iunoes might The charme is made in perfecte force is al our medcine right Wherein the shirt shal steeped bee that wearyed many wighte Whose handes on Pallas distaffe spoone the weary Web with payne And it for Hercules auayle shall brincke vp all the bane And with my charme I le strengthen it But loe yee in the nick Defte Lycas commeth heere at hand who will dispatche it quick But tell him not what force it hath least hee the guilt betray DEI. Alas that fayth to kinges dwells not in howses of estate Haue Lycas heere this shirt the which my handes haue spun of late Whyle Hercules at randon roues and ouershot with wyne Doth rudely dandle on his lap the Lidiane Lady fyne Now doates hee after Iole but this his boyling rage That burneth in his breast I will with curtesy asswage For curtesy conquers canckred churles See thou my spouse desire Hee spare the Shirt vntill hee set the Franckinfence on fire And offer vp his sacrifice and weare his Garlond gray Of Popler boughes on wreathed lockes And I will goe my way To 'th royall Gods and will beseeke the cruell Cupids dame Yee ladies and companions that with mee heather came Now force the fountaynes of your teares from watred eyes to roon To wayle our Countrey Calydon on euery side vndoon Chorus O DEIANIRE deare daughter of our King OENEVS late to see thy frowning fates Woe after woe thus downe on thee to fling It irks our heartes that were thy foster mates O woefull wight it pitieth vs to see Thy wedlock in this tickle state to bee Wee Lady wee that with thee wonted were With flapping Oare on Acheloe to rowe When hauing past the spryng tyme of the yere With Channell smoth hee newely wexeth lowe And makes agayne his swelling surges calme And boobling runnes at Ebbe withouten walme Through weale and woe wee still with thee remayne And now what griefe so euer thou feare in mynde Account thou vs as partners of thy payne For commonly when Fortune turnes the wynde And makes thee beare thy beaten Sayle but low Then friendship ebbes where it before did flow And who so guydes the sway of golden mace Though people thicke doe haunte his stately courte And in at hundred gates doe preace a pace Yea though that thou mayntaine so great a porte To garde thee with this garrison yet shall Thou scarcely finde one faithfull hearte of all In paynted porche and gates of guilded bowers The lurcking hagge Eryn her tuskes doth whet And sturring sâ—rife with quarreling face shee lowers The portly doar es no sâ—â—ner oape are set But treason black pale enuy deepe deceight With priuy knyfe of murther step in streight And when the Prynce appeares in open place To shew him selfe before his subiects sight Swelling despight attendeth on his grace As oft as dawning day remoues the nyght And euery time the sunne at West goes downe They looke another man should clayme the Crowne Fewe heartes loue kinges not few their kingly might The glorious shew of courtly countenaunce Bewitcheth many where one sets his delight How next the king hee may him selfe aduaunce That through high streetes hee may as lorde of rule With lofty lookes ryde mounted on his Mule Ambitious heate enflames his hawty breast Another would his greedy hunger staunch With gubbes of goulde and though hee it possest Rich Arabie serues not his pyning paunch Nor western India a worlde for to behoulde Where Tagus flowes with streames of glittring goulde The couetous charle the greedy gnoffe in deede In whom from cradell nature so it plantes No hourded heapes his endlesse hunger feede In plenty pines the wreatch in wealth hee wantes Some other fondlings fansy thus doth guyde To fawne on kings and still in courte to byde As one disdayning lyke a Country mome And crooked clowne the plowe to follow still Although the dingthryfte dayly keepe at home A thousand drudges that his lande doe Tyll Yet wantes his will and wissheth wealth therefore Onely to waste on other men the more Another claweth and flattreth fast the King By clymbing vp to treade downe euery wyght And some at least to blookam Feaste to bryng And thus hee striues to arme himselfe with myght In bloude but of their ship doth Fortune fayle When safe they thinke to floate with highest sayle Whom Moone at morne on top of Fortunes wheele High swayed hath seene at fulnesse of renowne The glading sunne hath seene his Scepter reele And him from high fall topsey turuey downe At morne full merry blith in happy plight But whelmde in woes and brought to bale ere nyght These sildome meete hoare hayres and happy dayes The Lord that lyes on stately crimsen bed Sleepes more in feare then snoring drudge that layes Vpon the countrey clod his drowsy head In goulden roofes and hauty courtes they keepe Whose dreadfull dreames doe make them starte in sleepe The purple roabes lyeth waking many a night And slombers not when homely ragges doe rest O if as at a Grate espy wee might The sorrowes shrined in a Prynces breast What pangues what stormes what terrour O what hell In sighing heartes or prowde estates doth dwell The Iryshe Seas doe nener roare so ruffe When wrastling waues and swelling surges ryfe That hoysted are with sturdy northern puffe As fearefull Fansyes doe theyr myndes aggryse But hee sighes not nor combred is with care Whom Fortune hath bequeath'de a slender share In woodden dishe and blacke beche Bole hee swills And heaues it not to mouth with quaking hand With homely fare his hungry Mawe hee fills And leares not backe for feare of those that stand With naked swerdes but Kings in goulden cup Wyne blent with bloude most dreadfull draughts do sup In dainty dishe the poyson bayte is layde And treason lurkes amid the sugred wyne At euery bit they quake and are a frayde The swerde will fall that hanges but by a twyne And euer as hee liftes his head and drynkes The rebelles Knyfe is at his throate hee thinkes Such flattring ioyes these happy worldlinges haue Their outwarde pomp pretendeth lusty liues When inwardely they drowpe as doth the slaue That pines in pangues fast clogde in goulden guies Striue not in hast to climbe the whirling wheele For hasty climers oft in haste doe reele Meane dames defy both peareles and glittring spanges And goulden chaynes with rubies ryche beset Nor at theyr eares doe massy Iewelles hange With turky stones nor pranked prowde they iet Iu murrey gownes nor doth the wooll they weare Of Crymsen dye the costly colour beare Neyther in Tissew nor silken garments wrought With needle nor embroadred Roabes they goe And yet this state is free from Iealous thought
hope to thryue herein Let all thy guilts with thronging thick assemble thee to ayde The golden Fleece the chiefe Nouell of Colchis I le betrayde My tender Brother eke that with my Syer did mee pursue Whom with his secret partes cut of I wicked Virgin slewe Whose shreaded and dismembred corps with sword in gobbits hewd A wofull Coarse toth ' Fathers heart on Pontus ground I strewd How hory headded Pelias his wythred age to shyft To greener yeares for longer lyfe his daughters by my dryft His members all and mangled flesh with licour scalding hot Ysodden and perboyled haue in seething brasen pot How oft in haynous bloud haue these my cruell handes bene dyed And neuer any guilt as yet by wrath inflamde I tryed But now the parlous poysning wound of Cupids percing dart Doth boyle and rage within my breast it ranckles at my hart But how could Iason it redresse whom fortunes froward wyll Hath yeelde vnto anothers hande at lust to saue or spill O rage of rusty cancred minde this sclaundrous talke amende If Fortunes grace will graunt it thus let him vnto his ende Lyue still my Iason as he was but if not Iason myne Yet caytife suffer Iason liue though Iason none of thyne Who being mindefull still of vs some fauour let him showe For these good turnes that our good will could earst on him bestowe King Creon is in all the fault and onely worthy blame Who puffed vp with Scepter proude vnable for to frame His tickle minde to modesty made breach twixt vs agayne Whom Hymens bands and link of loue had made but one of twayne By whom eke from her tender brats the mother wretch is drawne Hee breakes the vowe that gaged is with such a precious pawne Seeke after such a villaynes bloud in daunting pangs of smart Let him alone bee surely dowst such is his due desart A dungell hept of Cinders burnt his Pallayce make I shall That Malea where in winding strights the lingring ships due crall Shall gase on smolthring turrets tops turmoylde in crackling flame NV. For godsake Madame I you pray your tongue to silence frame Eke hyde your priuy languishing and greefe in secret vayne Who with a modest minde abides the Spurs of pricking payne And suffereth sorrowes paciently may it repay agayne Who beares a priuy grudge in breast and keepes his malyce close When least suspection is thereof may most annoy his Foes He leeseth oportunity who vengeaunce doth requyre That shewes by open sparkes the flame the heate of kindled fyre ME. Small is the grype of griefe that can to reasons lore obay And sneking downe with stealing steps can slyly slip away But they that throughly sowsed are with showers of greater payne Can not digest such corsyes sharpe but cast it vp agaye Fayne would I giue them trouncing girds NV. Good daughter deare asswage Th' unbrydled sway and boyling heate of this thy gyddy rage Scant maist thou purchase quietnesse although thou hold thy tongue ME. The valiaunt heart dame Fortune yet durst neuer harme with wrōg But dreading dastards downe she driues NV. It any corage dure And harbred be in noble breast now put the same in vre ME. The show of sturdy valiant heart at any time doth shyne NV. No hope doth in aduersity thy way to scape assygne ME. Hee that hath none affiaunce left nor any hope at all Yet let him not mystrust the luck of ought that may befall NV. Thy Countrey cleane hath cast thee of to let thee sinke or swim As for thy husband Iason bee there is no trust in him Of all the wealth and worldly mucke wherewith thou didst abounde No porcion remaynes at all whereby some helpe is founde ME. Medea yet is left to much and here thou mayst espy The Seas to succour vs in flyght and landes aloofe that ly Yea pron tooles with burning brands we haue to worke them woe And Gods that with the thunder dint shall ouerquell our foe NV. Who weares the goldēcrested crowne him dred with awe yee should ME. My Father was a King yet I betrayed his Fleece of gould NV. Can not the deadly vyolence of weapons make thee feare ME. No though such grisly Lads they were as whilom did appeare That bred of gargell Dragous teeth in holow gaping grounde When mutually in bloudy fight eche other did confounde N. Thē wilt thou cast thy self to death M. Would God that I were dead NV. Fly fly to saue thy life ME. Woe worth the time that once I fled N. What O Medea M. Why shall I fly N. A mother deere art thou Fly therefore for thy childrens sake ME. Yee see by whom and how A wretched Mother I am made NV. Thy lyfe by flight to saue Dost thou mistrust ME. Nay fly I will but vengeaunce first I le haue NV. Then some shall thee at heeles pursue to wrecke the same agayne ME. Perhap I le make his cōming short NV. Be still and now refrayne O despret dame thy thundring threates and slake your raging ire Apply and frame thy froward will as time and tides requyre ME. Full well may fortunes welting wheele to begging bring my state As for my worthy corage that shee neuer shall abate Who bowncing at the Gates doth cause the creaking dores to Iar It is the wretch Creon his selfe whom princely power far Hath lift aloft with lordly looke puft vp with pouncing pryde That hee may Corinth countrey with the sway of Scepter guide Creon Medea NEdea that vngracious Imp king Aetas wicked chylde Yet hath not frō our careful realme her lingring foote exilde Som naughty drift she goes about her knacks of old we kno Her iugling arts her harming hāds are known wel long ago From whō will shee withhold her harme whom will this cruell beast Permit to liue from perrill free in quietnesse and rest Cleane to cut of this parlous plague it was our purpose bent But Iason by entreting hard did cause vs to relent At his request we graunted haue her life she shall enioy Let her acquit our countrey free from feare of all annoy Yea saufely let her pack her hence in eger giddy fit With lumpish lowring looke shee comes in talke with me to knit Sirs keepe her of and set her hence least vs she touch perhap And driue her backe from cōming nigh commaunde her keepe her clap And let her learne at length how that her selfe submit she may The puissaunt payse and maiesty of Princes to obay Run hie thee quickly trudge apace haue hence out of my sight This horrible most odious quean this monstrous wicked wight ME. My soueraygne liege what greater crime haue I or lesse offence Commit against thy maiesty to be exiled hence CR. Alas the guiltlesse woman doth demaunde a reason why ME. If thou be Iudge indifferent ordaynde my cause to try Consider then my doubtfull case and wey the ground of it If thou be king cōmaund a Iudge for such a matter fit CR. The princes powre thou shalt
Greeckes what tyme at entry of the gap The hugye hors did shyueryng stand where in the in selues did wrap The captaynes close in holow vautes with bloudy war yfreight When lawfully we might haue tryde and serched their deceit So by theyr owne contryued snares the grekes had bin confound The brasen bucklers being shooke did gyue a clattring sound A priuy whyspering often tymes came tyckling in our ear And Pyrrhus in a murreynes name so ready for to heare The crafty councell picked out of false Vlifsses brayne Did tangle in the halow Uautes that range thereof agayne But fearing and suspecting nought the headdy youth of Troy Layde handes vpon the sacred ropes to hale and pull with ioy On this syde younge Astyanax came garded with his trayne On th' other part Pollixena disponsed to bee slayne Vpon Achilles tombe she coms with maydes and hee with men A ioly flocke with equall yeares as younge as they were then Theyr vowd oblations to the gods in holy day attyre The matrons bryng and so to church repayreth euecry syre And all the city did alyke yea Hecuba our queene That synce the woful Hectors death or now was neuer fene She mery is O griefe accurst of all thy sorowes depe For whych that first or last befell entendest thou to wepe Our battred walles which heauenly hands erected haue and framde Or els the burning temples which vpon their Idols flamde Lamenting these calamyties wee haue not time and space O mighty parent Pryam we poore Troyans wayle thy case The olde mans thratling throate I sawe alas I saw yborde With cruell Pyrrhus blade that scante with any bloud was gorde CAS. Refraine your teares that down your cheekes should tricle euermore With woefull waylings piteously your pryuate friendes deplore My myseries refuse a mate so much accurst as I To rewe my carefull case refrayne your lamentable cry As for myne owne distresse to moorne I shall suffice alone CHO. To mingle teares with other teares it doth vs good to mone In those the burning teary streames more ardently doe boyle Whom secret thoughts of lurking cares in priuy breast turmoyle Though that thou were a Gossop stout that brooke much sorrow may I warraunt thee thou myghtest well lament this sore decay Not sad and solemne Aedon that in the woodes doth singe Her sugred Ditties finely tunde on sweete and pleasaunt stringe Recording Irys woefull hap in diuers kynde of note Whom Progne though he were her chylde and of her wombe begot For to reueng his fathers fault she did not spare to kill And gaue his flesh and bloude for foode the fathers Maw to fill Nor Progne who in Swallowes shape vpon the rydges hye Of houses sits in Biston towne bewayling piteously With chattering throate of Tereus her spouse the cruell act Who did by strength and force of armes a shamefull brutishe fact Defile the syster of his wyfe fayre Philomel by name And eke cut out her tonge least shee should blab it to his shame Though Progne this her husbandes rape lamenting very sore Doe wayle and weepe with piteous plaint yet can shee not deplore Sufficiently though that shee woulde our countreyes piteous plight Though he himselfe among the Swans syr Cygnus lilly whight Who dwelles in streame of Ister floud and Tanais channell coulde His weeping voyce most ernestly though vtter out her woulde Although the morning Halcyons with dolefull sighes doe wayle At such time as the fighting floudes their Cyex did assayle Or rashly wexing boulde attempt the Seas now layde at rest Or being very fearefull feede their broode in tottring nest Although as squemishe hearted men those priestes in bedlem rage Whom mother Cyble being borne on high in lofty stage Doth mooue to play on shalmes Atys the Phrygian to lament Yet can not they this lot bewayle though brawn frō armes they rent Cassandra in our teares there is no measure to refrayne Those miseryes all measure passe that plunged vs in payne The sacred fillets from thy heads why dost thou hale and pull They chiefly ought to worship God whose hearts with griefe be dull CAS. My feare by this affliction is cleane abaled all Nor praying to the heauenly Ghostes for mercy will I call Although they were disposde to chafe and fret in fustten fumes They nothing haue me to displease Fortune her force consumes Her spyte is worne vnto the stumpes what countrey haue I left Where is my Syre am I of all my systers quite bereft The sacred tombes and alter stones our bloud haue drunke swylde Where are my brethren blessed knor destroyed in the fylde All widdow Wyues of Priams sonnes may easly now beholde The Pallace voyde and cast of court of silly Priam olde And by so many marriages so many Wyddowes are But onely Hellen comming from the coast of Lacon farre That Hecuba the mother of so many a pryncely wyght Whose fruitfull Wombe did breede the brand of fyer blasing bryght Who also bare the swinge in Troy by practise now doth learne New lawes and guise of desteny in bondage to discerne On her shee takath heart of grace with lookes so sterne and wylde And barketh as a bedlem bitch about her strangled chylde Deare Polidor the remnaunt left and onely hope of Troy Hector and Priam to reuenge and to restore her ioy CHO. The sacred Phoebus Prophet is with sodayne silence husht A quaking trembling shiuering feare throughout her Isms hath rusht Her Face as pale as Ashes is her Fillits stande vpryght The soft and gentle goldilockes starte vp of her affright Her panting breathing breast stuft vp within doth grunt and grone Her glaring bryghe and steaming Eyes are hether and thyther throwne Now glauncing vp and downe they roll now standing stiffe they stare She stretcheth vp her head more streyght then commonly she bare Boult vp she goes her wrastling Iawes that fast together clinge She doth attempt by diuers meanes on sunder how to wringe Her mumbling words in gabling mouth shut vp she doth asswage As Menas mad that Bacchus aares doth serue in furious rage CAS. How doth it hap O sacred tops of high Parnassus hill That me berapt of sence with prickes of fury fresh yee fiill Why doe you me with ghost inspyre that am besyde my wits O Phoebus none of thyne I am releasse me from the fits Infixed in my burning breastes the flames extinguish out Who forceth me with fury fell to gad and trot about Or for whose sake inspyrde with spryte mad mumbling make must I Why play I now the Prophet colde sith Troy in dust doth ly The day doth shrynke for dread of warre the night doth dim mine eyes With mantell blacke of darknesse deepe cleane couerd is the skyes But loe two shining Sunnes at once in heauen appeareth bryght Two Grecian houses muster doe their armies twayne to fight Amonge the mighty Goddesis in Ida woodes I see The fatall sheepherd in his throne as vmpier plast to bee I doe aduise you to beware beware I say of kynges A kindred
in whose cancred heartes olde priuy grudges springes That countrey clowne Aegisthus he this stocke shall overthrowe What doth this foolish despret dame her naked weapons showe Whose crowne entendeth shee to cracke in weede of Lacon lande With Hatchet by the Amazons inuented first in hand What face of mighty maiesty be witched hath myne eyes The conquerour of saluage beastes Marmarick Lyon lyes Whose noble necke is wurried with currish fange and tooth The curlish snaps of eger Lyonesse abyde hee dooth Alacke yee ghostes of all my friendes why should yee say that I Among the rest am onely safe from perils farre to ly Fayne father follow thee I would Troy being layde in dust O brother terrour of the Greekes O Troyans ayde and trust Our auncient pomp I doe not see nor yet thy warmed handes That fearce on Greekish flaming fleete did fling the fyry brandes But mangled members schorched corps and sake thy valiaunt armes Hard pimond and bounde in bands sustayning greeuous harmes O Troyolus a match vnfit encountering with Achill That myghty man of armes to soone come vnto thee I will I doe delight to sayle with them on stinking Siygian flood To vew the churlishe mastife cur of hell it doth mee good And gaping mouthed Kingdome darke of greedy Ditis raygne The Barge of filthy Phlegethon this day shall entertayne Mee conquering and conquered and Prynces soules with all You flitering shades I you beseeche and cake on thee I call O Stygian poole whereon the Gods theyr solemne othes doe take Vnbolt a whyle the Brasne bars of darksome Lymoo lake Whereby the Phrygian folke in hell may Mycean state beholde Looke vp yee silly wretched soules the fates are backward roulde The sqally sisters doe approch and deale their bloudy strokes Their smultring faggots in their handes halfe brunte to ashes smokes Their vysages so pale doe burne with fyry flaming eyes A garment blacke theyr gnawed guts doth gyrde in mourning guyse Dire dread of night begins to howle the bones of body bast With lying long doe rot corrupt in miry pudle cast Beholde the wery aged man his burning thyrst forgot The waters dalying at his lippes to catch endeuors not But mourneth for the funerall that shall ensue anen The Troyan Prynce his royall robes tryumphant putteth on CHO. The furious rage cleane ouerpast begins it selfe to slake And slyps away euen as a Bull that deadly wounde doth take On gasshed neck afront the aares come let vs ease at last Her lymbes that of the spryte of God hath felt the mighty blast Returning home agayne at length and crounde with Lawrell bow A signe of worthy victory is Agamemnon now The Wyfe to meete her Husband doth her speedy passage ply Returning hand in hand and foote by foote most louingly THE FOVRTH ACTE AGAMEMNON CASSANDRA AT length I doe arryue agayne vppon my natiue soyle God saue thee O deare loued Lande to thee so huge a spoyle So many barbarous people yeelde the flowre of Asia Troy To beare thy yoake submits her selfe that longe did liue in ioy Why doth this Prophet on the grounde her sprawling body layde Thus reele and stagger on her necke all trembling and dismayde Sirs take her vp with Lycour warme let her bee chearished Now peepes she vp agayne with drouping eyes sonke in her head Plucke vp thy spryte heere is the porte wisht for in misery This day is festiuall CAS. At Troy so was it wont to bee AG. Let vs to Th' alters worship gyue C. At Th' alters died my sire A Pray wee to Ioue C. To loue whose grace diuine doth me inspire AG. Dost thou suppose that Troy thou seest C. And Priam eke I see AG. Troy is not heere C. where Helen is there take I Troy to bee AG. Feare not as maide to serue thy dame C. Nay fredome draweth ny AG. Take thou no thought how thou shalt liue C. All cares for to defy Death giues a courage vnto mee AG. Yet say I once agayne There is no daunger left whereby thou mightest hurt sustayne CA. But yet much troublous daūger both hang ouer thy head I wot AG. What mischiefe may a victor dread CA. Euen y◠hee dreadeth not AG. Yee trusty meny of my men come cary her away Till of the spryte shee ryd her selfe least fury force her say That may be preiudiciall her tongue she cannot frame To thee O Father flinging forth the lightnings flasshing flame That dost disperse the cloudes and rule the course of euery starre And guyde the Globe of Earth to whom the boottes woon by warre With triumphe victors dedicate to thee O Iuno hight The syster deare of doughty Ioue thy husband full of might Both I and Greece with flesh and bloude and eke our vowed beast And gorgious gyftes of Arabie giue worship to thy hest Chorus O GREECE by noble Gentlemen in honour shyning cleare O GREECE to wrathfull IVNO thou that art the darling deare Some iolly worthy lusty bloude thou fosters euermore Thou hast made euen the Gods that were a number odde before That puissaunt mighty Hercules a noble Impe of thyne Deserued by his trauels twelue rapt vp in heauen to shyne For whom the heauens did alter course and Iupiter with all Did iterate the howres of nyght when dampishe dewe doth fall And charged Phoebus chariot swyfte to trot with slower pace And leasurely bright lady Moone thy homwarde Wayne to trace Bryght Lucifer that yeare by yeare his name a newe doth chaunge Came backe agayne to whom the name of Hesper seemed straunge Aurora to her common course her reared head addrest And couching backward downe agayne the same shee did arest Vpon the shoulder of her spouse whose yeares with age are worne The east did feele so felt the west that Hercules was borne Dame nature coulde not cleane dispatch to vtter in one night That boystous lad the whyrling worlde did wayght for such a wight O babe whose shoulders vnderprop the ample spactous sky In clasped armes thy prewesse did the crusshed Lyon try Who from his fyry yawning throate spewes out his broyling brande The nimble hynde in Menall mount hath knowne thy heauy hande The Bore hath felt thy fyst which did Arcadia destroy The monstrous conquerde Bull hath rorde that Creta did anoy The Dragon dyre that breeding beast in Lerna poole he slewe And chopping of one head forbad thereof to ryse anewe With clubbed brusing battring batte he crankly did subdew The brethren twins the tewde vn Teate whereof three monsters grew Of tryple formed Gerion the spoyle into the east A droue of ECttell Hercules did fetch out of the weast Away from tyraunt Diomede the Thracian horse he led Which neyther with the grasse that grew by Styrmon floud he fed Nor yet on Heber bankes but them the villayne did refresh His greedy mounching cramming tades with aliaunts bloud and flesh Their rawfed Iawes imbrewde were with the carmans bloud at last The spoyles and shaftes Hipolyte saw from her bosome wrast As sone as he with clattring