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
Saturne wyll vndoe And euen agaynst the kingdome prowde of wicked father loe My graundsyre loase let Titans now prepare agayne their fight With me theyr captaine raging stones with woods I will down smight And hye hilles tops with Centaures full in right hande will I take With dauble mountayne now I will a stayre to Gods vp make Let Chyron vnder Ossa see his Pelion mountayne gret Olympus vp to heauen aboue in thyrd degree then set Shall come it selfe or ells be cast AM. Put farre away from thee The thoughts that ought not to be spoake of mynde vnsounde to see But yet full great the furious rage asswage and lay away HE. What meaneth this the Gyauntes doe pestiferous armes assay And Tityus from the sprights is fled and bearing torne to see And empty bosome loe howe neere to heauen it selfe stoode hee Cythaeron falles the mountayne hie Pallene shakes for feare And torne are Tempe he the tops of Pindus caught hath here And Octhen he some dredfull thing threatning doth rage about Erynnis bringing flames with stripes she soundes nowe sharken out And burned brandes in funeralles loe yet more neare and neare Throwes in my face fearce Tisyphone with head and vgly heare With serpentes set nowe after dogge fet out with Hercles hand That empty gate shee hath shut vp with bolte of fyry brande But loe the stocke of enmious king doth hidden yet remayne The wicked Lycus seede but to your hatefull father slayne Euen now this right hande shall you sende let nowe his arrowes light My bowe out shoote it seemes the shaftes to goe with such a flight Of Hercles AM. Whether doth the rage and fury blinde yet goe His mighty Bowe he drewe with hornes together driuen loe And quiuer loaste great noyese makes with violence sent out The shaft and quight the weapon flewe his middle necke throughout The wound yet left HE. His other broode I ouerthrow will quight And corners all What stay I yet to me a greater fyght Remaynes then all Mycenes loe that rockye stones should all Of Cyclops being ouerturn'de with hande of myne downe fall Let shake both here and there the house with all stayes ouerthrowne Let breake the poasts and quight let shrinke the shaken piller downe Let all the Pallace fall at once I here yet hidden see The sonne of wycked father AM. Loe his flattring handes to thee Applying to thy knees dooth craue his lyfe with piteous mone O wicked gylt full sad and eke abhorde to looke vpone His humble right hand caught he hath and raging rounde about Him rolled twyse or thryse hath cast his head resoundeth out The sprinkled houses with the brayne of him throwne out are wet But shee poore wretch her little sonne in bosome hyding yet Loe Megara like one in rage doth from the corners flee HE. Though runagate in bosome of the thundrer hid thou bee This right hand shall from euery where thee seeke and bring to sight AM. Wher goest thou wretch what lurking dens seekst thou to take or flight No place of sauegarde is if once bee Hercles styrde with yre But doe thou rather him embrace and with thy meeke desyre Assay t' asswage him ME. Husband spare vs I beseech thee nowe And knowe thy Megara this sonne thy countenaunce doth showe And bodyes pytche behould'st thou howe his hands vp lyfteth hee HE. I holde my stepdame followe on due penaunce paye to mee And bounden Ioue from fylthy bonde deliuer free away But I before the mother will this litle monster slay ME. Thou mad man whither goest thou wylt thou thine owne bloude sheade AM. Th' infant with fathers fyry face astonnted all for bread Died euen before the wounde his feare hath tooke away his lyfe And now likewise his heauy club is shaken towarde his wyfe He broaken hath the bones her head from blocklyke body gone Is quight nor any where it stayes dar'ste thou this looke vpone To long lyu'de age If mouruing doe the greeue thou hast then loe The death preparde Doe thou thy breast vppon his weapons throe Or ells this club with slaughter stayn'de of monsters slayne that bee Nowe hyther turne thy parent false vnfit for name of thee Ryd hence away least he should be to thy renowne a let TH. Which way the father toward thy death dost thou thy selfe cast yet Or whyther goest thou mad man flee and lye thou cloasely hid And yet from handes of Hercules this onely myschiefe rid HE. T' is well the house of shameful king is now quight ouerthrowne To thee O spouse of greattest Ioue I haue loe beaten downe This offred flocke I gladly haue fulfill'de my wyshes all Full meete for thee and Argos now geue other offrings shall AM. Thou hast not sonne yet all perform'de fill vp the sacrifise Loe th' offring doth at th' aultars stande it waytes thy hand likewyse With necke full prone I geue my selfe I roon I follow loe Mee sacrifice what meaneth this his eyes rolle to and froe And heauines doth dull his sight see I of Hercules The trembling hands downe falles his face to sleepe and quietnes And weary necke with bowed head full fast doth downeward shrynke With bended knee nowe all at once he downe to ground doth sinke As in the woods wylde Ashe cut downe or Bulwarke for to make A Hauen in Seas Liu'ste thou or els to death doth thee betake The selfe same rage that hath sent all thy famyly to death It is but sleepe for to and fro doth goe and come his breath Let tyme bee had of quietnesse that thus by sleepe and rest Great force of his disease subdew'de may ease his greeued brest Remoue his weapons seruants least he mad get them agayne Chorus LEt th' ayre complayne and eke the parent great Of haughty Sky and fertile land throughout And wandring waue of euer mouing freat And thou before them all which lands about And trayn of Sea thy beames abroade dost throe With glittring face and mak'st the night to flee O feruent Titan bothe thy lettinges loe And rysing hath Alcides seene wyth thee And knowne lykewise hee hath thy howsen twayne From so great ills release yee nowe hys brest O Gods release to better turne agayne His ryghter mynde and thou O tamer best O sleepe of toyles the quietnesse of mynde Of all the lyfe of man the better parte O of thy mother Astrey wynged kynde Of hard and pyning death that brother arte With truth mingling the false of after state The sure but eke the worste foreteller yet O Father of all thynges of Lyfe the gate Of lyght the rest of nyght and fellowe fyt That com'st to Kyng and seruaunt equally And gently cherysshest who weary bee All mankynde loe that dreadfull is to dye Thou doost constrayne long death to learne by thee Keepe him fast bounde wyth heauy sleepe opprest Let slomber deepe his Limmes vntamed bynde Nor soner leaue his vnright raginge breaste Then former mynd his course agayne may fynd Loe layd on ground with full fierce hart yet still
lesse displease When broaken boardes abroade be many cast And shipwrackt shippes to shore they flit ful fast With doubled waues when stopped is the floud With heaps of them that there haue lost theyr good Ful sore did Pirrhus Helens losse complayne What time the leader of his flocke of shepe Vppon his backe alone he bare them twayne And wet his Golden lockes amid the deepe In piteous playnt alas he gan to weepe The death of her it did him deepe displease That shipwracke made amid the drenching seas And piteous was the playnt and heauy moode Of woful Pyrrha and eke Deucalion That nought beheld aboute them but the flould When they of all mankynd were left alone Amid the seas ful sore they made their mone To see themselues thus left aliue in woe When neyther land they saw nor fellowes moe Anone these playnts and Troyans teares shall quaile And here and there the ship them tosse by seas When trompets sound shal warne to hoyse vp sayle And through the waues with wind to seeke their waies Then shall these captiues goe to ende their dayes In land vnknowne when once with hasty ore The drenching deepe they take and shunne the shore What state of mynd shal then in wretches bee When shore shall sinke from sight and seas aryse When Idey hill to lurke aloofe they see Then poynt with hand from farre wher Troia lies Shall child and mother talking in this wyse Loe yonder Troy where smoke it fumeth hie By this the Troyans shal their countrey spie THE FIFTH ACTE Nuncius Andromacha Hecuba O dyre fierce wretched horrible O cruell fates accurste Of Mars his ten yeares bloudshed blows the wofulst and the worst Alas which should I first bewayle thy cares Andromacha Or els lament the wretched age of woful Hecuba Hec. What euer mans calamityes ye wayle for myne it is I beare the smart of al their woes each other feeles but his Who euer he I am the wretch all happes to me at last Nun Slayne is the mayd and from the walles of Troy the child is cast But both as them became they toke their death with stomacke stout And. Declare the double slaughters then tell the whole throughout Nun. One towre of all the rest ye know doth yet in Troy remayne Where Pryam wonted was to sit and view the armies twayne His litle Nephew eke with him to lead and from a farre His fathers fightes with fire and sword to show on feats of war This towre sometyme wel knowne by fame and Troyans honor most Is now with captaynes of the Greeckes beset on euery coast With swift recourse and from the shippes in clustred heaps anone Both tagge and ragge they runne to gase what thing should ther be done Some clime the hilles to seeke a place where they might see it best Some one the rockes a tiptoe stande to ouerloke the rest Some on their rēples weare the pine some beech some crownes of bay For garlandes torne is euery tree that standeth in they way Some from the highest mountaynes top aloofe beholdeth all Some scale the buildinges halfe burnt and some the ruinous wall Yea some there were O mischtee loe that for the more despyghte The tombe of Hector sits vppon beholders of the sight With princely pace Vlisses then past through the preased band Of Greekes King Priams litle nephew leading by the hand The Child with vnrepyning gate past through his enmies handes Vp toward the walles and as anone in turrets top he standes From thence adowne his lofty lookes he cast on euery part The neerer death more free from care he seemd and feare of hart Amid his foes his stomacke swelles and fierce he was to sight Like Tygere whelpe that threats in vayne with tuthles chap to bight Alas for pitty then each one rew on his tender yeares And al the route that present were for him they shed their teares Yea not Vlisses them restraynd but trickling downe they sal And onely he wept not poore foole whom they bewayled al But whyle on Gods Vlisses cald and Calchas wordes expound In midst of Pryams land alas the child leapt downe to ground And. What cruel Calchas could or scith such slaughter rake in hande Or by the shore of Caspyan Sea what barbarous lawles land Busyridis to th' aulters yet no infantes bloud hath shed Nor neuer yet were children slayne for feast of Diomed Who shal alas in tombe thee lay or hyde thy limmes agayne Nu. What limmes from such a headlong fall could in a child remayne His bodies payse throwne downe to ground hath batred al his bones His face his noble fathers markes are spoyld agaynst the stones His necke vnioynted is his head so dasht with flint stoane stroake That scattered is the brayne about the scul is al to broake Thus lieth he now dismembred corpes deformd and all to rent An. Loe herein doth he yet likewyse his father represent Nun. What time the Child hath headlong faine thus from the walls of Troy And at the Greekes the selues bewaild the slaughter of the Boy Yet strayght returne they backe and at Achilles tombe agayne The second mischiefe goe to worke the death of Polixeine This tombe the waues of surging seas beset the vtter side The other part the fields encloase aboute and pastors wyde In vale enuyroned with hils that round aboute do ryse A sloape on height erected are the bankes in Theatre wyse By al the shore then swarme the Greekes thicke on heaps they prease Some hope that by her death they shall theyr shippes delay release Some other ioy their enmies stocke thus beaten downe to bee A greate part of the people both the slaughter hate and see The Troyans eke no lesse frequent their owne calamityes And all affrayd beheld the last of all their miseryes When first proceeded torches bright as guise of wedlocke is And author therof led the way the Lady Tindaris Such wedlocke pray the Troyans then God send Hermiona And would God to her husband so restoard were Helena Feare masd each part but Polixeine her bashful looke downe cast And more then earst her glittring eyes and beauty shyn'd at last As sweetest seems then Phoebus light when downe his beams do sway When starres agayne with night at hand opprest the doubtful day Astonnted much the people were and all they her commende And now much more then euer earst they prays'd her at her end Some with her beauty moued were some with her tender yeares Some to behold the turnes of chaunce and how each thing thus wears But most them moues her valiant minde and lofty stomacke hie So strong so stout so ready of hart and wel prepard to dye Thus passe they forth and bold before King Pirrhus goeth the mayde They pitty her they maruel her their hartes were all affrayde As sone as then the hard hil top where die she should they trode And hie vppon his fathers tombe the youthful Pyrrhus stoode The manly mayd she neuer shronke one
th' Ocean waues to hyde his drowned lyght Yet shall my hates not leaue them so a wrathful kindled rage His mynd in madnes shall stirre vp and yre that may not swage Shall euermore all peace layd downe wage warres eternally What warres what euer hideous thinge the earth his ennemy Begets or what soeuer sea or ayre hath brought to syght Both dredfull dire and pestilent of cruel fiercest might T' is tierd and tam'd he passeth all and name by ills doth rayse And all my wrath he doth inioy and to his greater prayse He turnes my hates whyle tedious toyles to much I him behest He proues what father him begot both thence where light opprest Hath sea and where it showde agayne where Titan day doth trayne And with his brand approaching nere doth dye those Aethiops twaine His strengh vntamde is honoured and God eche where is hee Now calde in worlde and now more store of monsters want to mee And laboure lesse to Hercles is t' acomplish all my will Then me to bydde at ease he doth myne imperies fulfyl What cruel hestes of tyrante now so fyerce a yong man may Preuayle to hurt for lo he beares for weapons now awaye What once he fearde and put to flight he armed comes at syde With Lyon fyerce and Hydra both nor land suffiseth wyde But broake he hath the threshold loe of that infernall Ioue And spoyls with him of conquerd king he drawes to Gods aboue But that 's but light broke is the league of sprites that there do dwell I saw my selfe I saw him lo the night now gone of hell And Ditis tamde throw out abroade before his fathers sight His brothers spoyles Why drawes he not opprest and bound by might Hymselfe in chaynes that equall thynges to Ioue by lot doth hold And beare the rule of captiue hel and way to Styxe vnfolde Vp opened is from lowest ghostes the backward way to skye And sacred secrets of dire death in open sight do lye But he the dredful den of sprites brake vp ful fierce and stout Euen ouer mee doth tryumph lo and with proude hand about The foule blacke dogge by Grekish townes he leades frō hel away When seene was vgly Cerberus I saw the fading day And fearefull sunne euen me lykewyse a trembling dread opprest And looking on the fylthy neckes of conquerd monstruous beast I feared much myne owne behestes but light things I complayne For heauen I may be frayde lest he may get the highest rayne That lowest wonne the sceptors from his father wil he take Nor hee to starres as Bacchus dyd his way wil gently make The way with ruine will he seeke and hee in empty skyes Wil reygne alone with force displayd hys haughty hart doth ryse And he that heauen it selfe by force of his might gotted bee It bearyng learnd quite vnderneth the world his head set hee Nor once his shoulders bowde the prayse of suth a mighty mas And midst of heauen on Hercles necke alone loe setled was His necke vnwryde the starres aboue and skyes did only stay And me likewyse oppressyng him to Gods he seekes the way Goe ire goe on and beate hym downe that great things doth inuent Match thou with him and with thy handes now thou thy selfe him rent Such hates why dost thou meditate let all wyld beastes now go And weary Euristheus now be free from geeuing charges mo The Tytans daryng once of Ioue to breake the impery Send out let loase the denne abroade of mount of Sicilye The Doricke land that with the turne of gyant quakes afrayd Let it bring forth the dredful neckes of monster vnder layd Let yet the haughty moone about some other beastes beget But these he ouercame Seekes thou a match t'Alcides yet Ther 's none except hymselfe let him agaynst himselfe rebell Let present be from bottome deepe vpraysd of lowest hell Th' Eumenides let flaming lockes of theyrs the fires out flinge And furious hands bestowe aboute the stroakes of vipers sting Go now ful prowde and scale the skyes to seates of gods make waye Now must thy battels wages be ful cleere loe shynes the daye Despyse mans workes thinkst thou fierce wight that hell and soules alow Thou hast escapt nay here I wil another hel thee show In deepe miste hid I wil call vp from bottome low of hell Beyond the wayes of gylty ghostes debateful goddesse fell Wheras the roaring dreadful den resoundes with cryes about From depest bond of Ditis raygne beneath I wil fet out What so is left Let hateful hurt now come in anger wood And fierce impyety imbrew himselfe with his owne bloud And errour eke and fury arm'd agaynst it selfe to fight This meane this meane let wrath of myne now vse to shewe my might Beginne ye seruantes now of hell the feruent burning tree Of Pyne shake vp and set with snakes her dreadful flocke to see Let now Megaera bring to sight and with her mournful brand For burning rage bring out of hell a huge and direful brand Do this require you vengeance due and paynes of hel his spoyle Strike through his breast let fyercer flame within his bosome boyle Then which in Aetna fornace beates so furiously to see That mad of mind and witles may Alcides driuen bee With fury great through pearced quight my selfe must first of all Be mad Wherfore doth Iuuo yet not into raging fall Mee me ye Furyes systers three throwne quite out of my wit Tosse fyrst if any thing to do I do endeuour yet For stepdame meete let now my hates be turnd another way Let him returnd his babes behold in safety I you pray And strong of hand come home I haue now found the day at length In which may greatly mee auayle the hated Hercles strength Both mee and eke hym selfe let him subdue and wish to die Returnd from hel yea let it here be my commodity That he of Ioue begotten is here present wil I stand And that his shaftes goe streyght from how I wil direct his hand The mad mans weapons will I guide euen Hercles fyghtyng lo At length I le ayde This gylt once done then leefull is that so His father may admit to saies those gylty haades of his Chorus THe fading starres now shyne but seelde in sighte In stipye skye night ouercome with day Plucks in her fyres while spronge agayne is light The day starre drawes the cleresome beames theire waye They cye signe of haughtye poale agayne VVith seuen starres markt the Beares of Arcadye Do call the light with ouerturned wayne VVith marble horse now drawne hys waye to hye Doth Titan toppe of Oetha ouer spred The bushes bright that nowe with berryes bee Of Thebes strewde by daye do blushe full redde And to returne doth Phabus syster flee Now labor harde beginnes and euerye kynde Of cares it styrres the Shepehearde doth vnfolde His flockes vnpende do grase their foode to fynde And nippes the grasse with hoary frost full colde At will doth play in open medow faire The Calfe
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
adulterye Haue wedlocke hurt LY. What is to Ioue to king is leefull thyng To Ioue thou gau'ste a wyfe thou shalt nowe geue one to a kyng And euen of thee shee shall it learne to bee a thing not newe Her husband euen approuing it the better man t' ensewe But if shee stubberne to be matcht with me deny it still Then euen by force a noble childe of her beget I will Meg. O Creons ghosts and all yee Gods of th house of Labdacus And wedding forches blasing bryght of wicked Oedipus To this my wedding geue yee nowe our wonted destenyes Now now yee bloudy daughters all of Aegypts king likewyse Bee here whose hands defyled are with so much bloud out spilt One daughter lacks of Danaus I wyll fyll vp the gylt Ly. Because that stubburnely thou do'st refuse my wedding so And fear'ste a king thou shalt know what the Scepters now may do Embrace thyne aulters yet no God shall euer take away Thee from my hands no not although with world vpturned may Alcides victor yet agayne to Gods aboue returne The woods on heapes together cast let all their temples burne Euen throwne vpon theyr heads his wyfe and all his flocke at laste With vnderlayed fyre let one wood pyle consume and waste AM. This only bowne I father of Alcides aske of thee Which well may me beseeme to craue that I fryst slayne may hes LY. Who all appoyncts with present death to haue their punishment He tyrunt wot not how to be more sundry greeues inuent Restrayne the wretched man from death commaunde that th' happy dye I while with beames prepar'de to burne the pyle encreaseth hye Will him with vowing sacrifyce that rules the seas entreate AM. Oh chiefest powre of Gods and oh of heauenly things so great The guyde and parent eke with whose throwne thunderbolts do shake All things humane throughout the world of king so cruell slake The wicked hande but why do I to Gods in vayne thus cry Where euer thou be heare me soone why start so sodaynely The temples thus with moouing shakte Why roareth out the graūd The noyse of Hell from bottome deepe byneathe hath made a sound Wee herde are loe it is the sound of Hercules his pace Chorus O Fortune hating men of stoutest brest How ill rewards dost thou to good deuyde Eurystheus raynes at home in easy rest Alcmendes sonne in euery battayle tryde To Monsters turnes hys hande that Skyes dyd stay And cruell Neckes cuts of of hydous Snake And Apples brynges from Systers mokt away When once to sleepe hys watchefull Eyes beetake Dyd Dragon set ryche fruicte to ouersee Hee past the Scythian bowres that straye abroade And those that in their countreys straungers bee And hardned top of frosen freate hee troade And sylent Sea with bankes full dumme about The Waters hard want there their floudes to sloe And there before the Shyps full Sayles spred out Is worne a pathe for Sarmates wylde to goe The Sea doth stande to mooue in course agayne Nowe apt to beare the Ship nowe horsemen bolde The Queene that there doth ouer Wydowes rayne That gyrds her Wombe wyth gyrth of glittring gold Her noble spoyle from body drawne hath shee And shyelde and bandes of breast as whyte as snowe Acknowledging the Conquerour with Knee Wyth what hope drawne to headlong Hell alowe So bolde to passe the vnreturned wayes Saw'ste thou Proserpines rayne of Sicylye Wyth Southern wynde or Western there no seas Aryse wyth waue and swellinge Surges hye Not there of Tyndars stocke the double broode Two starres the fearefull Shyps doe ayde and guide Wyth gulph full blacke doth stande the slouthfull floode And when pale death with greedy teeth so wyde Vnnumbred Nations hath sent downe to sprightes Wyth one Boateman all ouer feryed bee God graunt thou maist of Hell subdue the rightes And vnreuoked webs of Systers three There kyng of many people raygneth hee Who when thou did'st wyth Nestors Pylos fight Pestiferous handes applide to matche with thee And weapon bare with triple mace of might And prickt with litle wounde he fled away And lorde of death hymselfe did feare to dye Breake Fate by force and let the sight of day To sorry sprightes of Hell apparant lye And porche vnpast shew way to Gods aboue The cruell lordes of sprightes wyth pleasaunt song And humble bowne full well could Orpheus moue Whyle he Eurydicen them craues among The Arte that drew Woods Byrds and stones at will Which made delay to Floudes of flitting flight At sound whereof the sauage Beastes stoode still With tunes vnwont doth Ghosts of hell delight And clearer doth resounde in darker place And weepe wyth teares did Gods of cruell brest And they which faultes with to seuere a face Doe seeke and former gylt of Ghosts out wrest The Thracian Daughters wayls Eurydicen For her the Iudges weeping sit also Wee conquer'de are chy efe kyng of death sayd then To Gods but vnder this condition goe Behynde thy husbandes backe keepe thou thy way Looke thou not backe thy Wyfe before to see Than thee to sight of Gods hath brought the day And gate of Spartane Taenare present bee Loue hates delay nor coulde abyde so long His gyft hee lost while hee desires the syght The place that coulde be thus subdew'de with song That place may soone bee ouercome by myght THE THYRDE ACTE Hercules O Comfortable guyde of light and honour of the skye That cōpasting both Hemyspheres with flaming chariot hye Thy radiāt head to ioyful lāds about the world dost bring Thou Phoebus pardon geue to me if any vnlawful thing Thyne eyes haue seene cōmaūded I haue here to light out set The secretes of the worlde and thou of heauen to guider gret And parent eke in flashe out throwne of lightning hide thy fyght And thou that gouernest the seas with seconde sceptors syght To bottome synke of deepest waues who so from hye doth see And dreading yet with countnaunce newe the earth desil'de to bee Let him from hence turne backe his sight and face to heauen vpholde These monstrous sights to shun let twayn this mischiefe great behold Hee who it brought and shee that bad for paynefull toyles to mee And laboures long not all the earth thought wide inough may bee For Iunoes hate things vncome to all men I did see Vnknowne to soone and spaces wyde that darke and shadefull bee Which woorser poale geues dyrer Ioue to raygne and rule therein And yet if thyrde place pleased more for mee to enter in I there coulde raygne the Chaos of eternall nyght of hell And woorse then night the dolefull Gods I haue that there doe dwell And Fates subdu'de the death contemn'de I am return'de to light What yet remaynes I sawe and show'de the spryghts of hell to sight Appoynt if ought be moe do'ste thou my hands so long permit Iuno to ceasse what thing byd'st thou to be subdued yet But why doe cruell souldiars holde the holy temples wyde And dread of armour sacred porche
beset on euery syde Amphitryon Hercules Theseus DOo eyther els my great desyres delude and mocke myne eyes Or hath the tamer of the world and Greekes renowme likewyse Forsooke the silent howse besette with cloude full sadde to see Is this my sonne my members loe for ioy amased bee Oh sonne the sure and sauegard late of Thebes in misery See I thy body true indeede or els deceiu'de am I Mockt with thy sprite art thou the same these brawnes of armes I know And shoulders and thy noble handes from body hie that grow Her Whens father happes this vglines and why in mourning clad Is thus my wyfe how happes it that with filth so foule bestad My children are what misery doth thus my house appresse Am. The father in law is slayne the kingdome Licus doth possesse Thy sonnes thy parent and thy wyfe to death pursueth hee Her Vngrateful laud doth no man come that will an ayder bee Of Hercles house and this behelde so great and haynous wronge Hath th' ayded world but why were I the day in playnt so long Let then my dye and this renoume let strength obtayne in haste And of Alcider enmies all let Lycus be the last I driuen am to goe to shedde the bloud of enmye out Watch Theseu that no sodayne strength beset vs here aboute Me warres require embracing yet deferre O father deare And wyfe deferre them Lycus shall to hell this message beare That I am now returnd The Shake of O Queene on t of thyne eyes This weping face and thou synce that thy sonne is safe likewyse Thy drupping teares refrayne yf yet I Hercles euer knew Then Lycus shall for Creon paye the paynes to him ful due T' is lyght he shal he doth and that 's to light he hath it done Am. Now God that can them bring to passe spede wel our wishes soone And come to helpe our weary woes O noble harted mate Of my stout sonne of his renowne declare vs all the rate How long away doth leade to place where sory sprites doth dwell And how the hard and heauy bondes the dog hath borne of hell The. The deedes thou dost constrayne to tell that euen to mynde secure Are dredful yet and horrible scant yet the trust is sure Of vitall ayre sore blunted is the sharpnesse of my sight And dulled eyes do scant sustayne to see th' vnwoonted light AM. Yet Theseus throughly ouercome what euer feare remaynes In bosome deepe nor do thou not of best fruict of thy paynes Beguilde thy selfe What thing hath once to suffre beene a care To haue remembred it is sweete those dredfull haps declare TH. All ryght of worlde and thee lykewyse I praye that bearst the rayns In kingdome wyde and thee for whom all round about in vayne Thy mother throughout Aetna sought that secret things alowe And hid in ground it freely may bee lawfull for to showe The Spartane land a noble toppe of hyll aduaunceth hye Where Taenarus with woods full thick the Sea doth ouerly The house of hatefull Ditis here his mouth doth open set And rocke of hyll aboue doth gape and with a denne full gret A huge and gaping cleft of ground with Iawes full wyde doth lye And way full broade to people all doth spred to passe thereby Not straight with darkenes doth begin the way that blindes the sight A litle lingring brightnes loe behinde of late left light And doubtfull glittring yet of sonne afllicted falles alowe And mocks the sight such light is wont vndoubtedly to showe The dawne of day or twylight els at edge of euening tyde From hence to hollowe places voyde are loaste the spaces wyde To which needes peryshe must all kinde of men that once are throwne Nor it a labour is goe the way it selfe leades downe As oft the ships agaynst theyr willes doth tosse the swelling surge So downward doth that headlong way and greedy Chaos vrge And backe agayne to drawe thy pace thee neuer doe permit The sprits who what they catch hold fast alowe within doth flit In chanell wyde with silent foorde the quiet lake of lethe And cares doth rid and that there may to scape agayne from death No meane be made with many turnes and windings euery way Foldes in his floude in such sorte as with waue vnsure doth play Maeander wandring vp and downe and yeldes himselfe vnto And doubtfull stands if he toward banke or backe to spryng may goe The foule and filthy poole to see of slowe Cocytus lyes On th' one the Grype on th' other side the mournefull Howlet cries And sad lucke of th' unhappy Strix likewise resoundeth there Full vglily in shady bowes blacke Locks of lothsome heare Where Taxus tree doth ouer leane which holdeth slouthfull sleepe And hunger sad with famisht Iawe that lyes his place to keepe And shame to late doth hide his face that knowes what crimes it hath Both feare and quaking funerall and fretting raging wrath And mourning dyre doth follow on and trembling pale disease And boystrous battayles set with sworde and hid beyond all thease Doth slouthfull age his lingring pace help forth with staffe in hand AM. Of corne and wyne in hell alowe is any fertile land TH. No ioyfull Meades do there bring forth with face so greene fayre Nor yet with gentill Zephyrus wagges ripened corne in th' ayre Nor any tree hath there such bowes as doe bryng apples out The barrayne compasse of deepe soyle full filthy lyes about And withred with eternall drought the lothsome land doth waste And bond full sad of thinges and of the worlde the places laste The ayre vnmoued stands and night sits there full darke to see In slouthfull world all thinges by dread full horrible there bee And euen farre worse then death it selfe is place where death doth bide AM. What he that doth those places darke with regall sceptor guide In what seate set doth he dispose and rule those peoples light TH. A place there is in turne obscure of Tartarus from sight Which mist full thick with fearefull shade doth holde and ouergoe From hence a double parted streame from one wellspring doth floe The tone much like a standing poole by this the gods doe sweare The which the sacred Stygian lake with silent floude doth beare The t'other fierce with tumult great is drawen his course to goe And Acheron with raging floud the stones dryues to and froe Vnsaylable with double foorde is rounde about beset Agaynst it Ditis pallace dyre and manston house full gret In shadefull woode is couered from wide den here the posts And thresholds of the tyrant hang this is the walke of ghosts This of his kingdome is the gate a fielde about it goes Where sitting with a countnaunce proude abroade he doth dispose Newe soules a cruell maiesty is in the God to knowe A frowning forehead which yet of his brethren beares the showe And so great stocke there is in him of Ioue the very face But when he lightens and great part of cruell
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
touch doth flee My wicked hand Am I gladly do this hand embrace to mee By this I beyng slayed will goe this meuing to my brest I le slake my woes Her what place shall I seeke ronnagate for rest Where shall I hyde my selfe or in what land my selfe engraue What Tanais or what Nilus els or with his Persyan waue What Tygris violent of streame or what fierce Rhenus flood Or Tagus troublesome that flowes with Ibers treasures good May my ryght hand now wash from gylt although Maeotis cold The waues of all the Northen sea on me shed out now wolde And al the water ther of shoulde now pas by my two handes Yet wil the mischiefe deepe remayne alas into whet landes Wilt thou O wicked man resort to East or westerne coste Ech where wel knowen all place I haue of banishment quight loste From me the warlde doth flee a back the starres that sydelyng roue Do back warde dryue their turned course euen Cerberus the soue With better count'naunce did behold O faythfull friend I saye O Theseu seeke same lurking place farre hence out of the way O thou a warder of mens gyltes what euer Iudge thou hee That hurtful men dost loue repay a worthy thanke to me And my desertes I thee beseech to ghostes of hell againe Send me that once escaped them subiect to thy raine Restore me yet to those thy bandes that place shal me wel hyde And yet euen that place knowes me wel Th. Our land for thee doth bide There Mars his hande acquite agayne and made from slaughter free Restoard to armoure loe that land Alcides calles for thee Which wontes to quite the gods and proue them Innocent to be HERE ENDETH THE FIRST Tragedye of Seneca called Hercules furens translated into Englishe by Iasper Heywood studente in Oxenforde THE SECOND TRAGEDIE OF SENECA ENTITVtuled Thyestes faythfully Englished by Iasper Heywood Felow of Alsolne Colledge in Oxenforde The Argument of this Tragedie MEGAERA ONE OF THE Hellish furies raising vp Tantalus frō Hell incited him to set mortall hatred betwene his two nephewes Thiestes Atreus being brothers and raining as Kinges ouer Mycenae by enterchangeable turnes that is to witte Thiestes to raine the one yere and Atreus the other Now Atreus enraged with furie against his brother partly for defiling and deflouring his wife Aerope by pollicie and partly for taking from him a Ram with a golden fleese practised with his seruāt how to be reuēged of his brother This Atreus therfore dissēblīg a reconciliation inuiting Thyestes to Mycenae secretly vnknowē to him set before hī at a banquet the flesh of his own childrē to eate Afterward Atreus hauīg also geuē to his said brother the bloud of his childrē in a goblet to drinke did lastly cōmaūd the heads also to be brought in at the doleful sight wherof Thiestes greatly lamēting knowīg the he had eatē his owne childrē was wonderfully anguished But Atreus for that he had thus reuenged himselfe toke therin great pleasure and delectation THIESTES OF SENECA THE FIRST ACTE The names of the Speakers Tantalus Megaera Atrcus Seruant Thiestes Philstenes Messenger Chorus Tantalus Megaera WHAT furye fell enforceth mee to fle th' unhappy seat That gaye and gaspe with greedye lawe the fleeyng food to eate What GOD to Tantalus the bowres wher breathing bodyes dwel Doth shew agayne is ought found worse then burning thyrst of hel In lakes alow or yet worse plague then hunger is there one In vayne that euer gapes for foode shal Sisyphus his stone That slipper restles rollyng payse vppon my backe be borne Or shall my lymmes with swifter swinge of whirling whele be torne Or shal my paynes be Tytius panges th' encreasyng liuer still Whose growing guttes the gnawing gripes and fylthy foules do fyll That styl by nyght repayres the panch that was deuourd by day And wondrous wombe vnwasted lieth a new prepared pray What ill am I appoynted for O cruell iudge of sprites Who so thou be that tormentes new among the sowles delytes Stil to dispose ad what thou canst to all my deadly woe That keeper euen of dungeon darke would fore abhorre to knowe Or hel it selfe it quake to se for dread wherof likewyse I tremble wold that plague seke out lo now there doth aryse My broode that shal in mischiefe farre the grandsyers gilt out goe And gyltles make that first shall dare vnuentred ils to do What euer place remayneth yet of all this wicked land I wil fill vp and neuer once while Pelops house doth stand Shall Minos idle be Meg. Go forth thou detestable sprite And vexe the Goddes of wicked house with rage of furyes might Let them contend with all offence by turnes and one by one Let swordes be drawne and meane of ire procure there may be none Nor shame let fury blynd enflame theyr myndes and wrathful will Let yet the parentes rage endure and longer lasting yll Through childrens children spreade nor yet let any leysure be The former fawts to hate but still more mischiefe newe to see Nor one in one but ere the gylt with vengeance be acquit Encrease the cryme from brethren proud let rule of kingdom flyt To runnagates and swaruing state of all vnstable thinges Let it by doubtfull dome be toste betwene th uncertaine kyngs Let mighty fall to misery and myser clime to might Let chaunce turne th empyre vpsydowne both geue and take the right The banyshed for gylt whan god restore theyr country shall Let them to mischiefe fall a fresh as hatefull then to all As to themselues let Ire thinke nought vnlawfull to be doon Let brother dread the brothers wrath and father feare the soon And eke the soon his parents powre let babes be murdered yll But worse begot her spouse betrapt to treasons trayne to kyll Let hatefull wyfe a wayte and let them beare through seas their warre Let bloodshed lye the lands about and euery field a farre And ouer conqueryng captaynes greate of countreys far to see Let lust tryumphe in wicked house let whoredome counted he The light'st offence let trust that in the breasts of brethren breedes And truth be gone let not from sight of your so heynous deedes The heauens be hyd about the poale when shyne the starres on hye And flames with woonted beames of light doe decke the paynted skyls Let darkest night bee made and let the day the heauens forsake Dysturbe the godds of wicked house hate slaughter murder make Fyll vp the house of Tantalus with mischieues and debates Adorned be the pillers hygh with bay and let the gates Be garnysht greene and worthy there for thy returne to sight Be kyndled fyre let mischyefe done in Thracia once theyr lyght More many folde wherefore doth yet the vncles hand delaye Doth yet Thyestes not bewayle his childrens fatall day Shall he not finde them where with heat of fyres that vnder glowe The cawderne boyles their limmes eche one a peeces let them go Disperste let fathers fires with
he will not fayle Nor dread no whit by doubtfull shelues of Lybike seas to sayle For hope of this which thing he doth the woorst of all beleeue He will his brother see Ser. Who shall of peace the promise geeue Whom will he trust Atre. His euill hope will soone beleue it well Yet to my sonnes the charge which they shall to theyr vnckle tell We will commit that whom he would from exile come agayne And myseries for kingdome chaunge and ouer Argos raygne A king of halfe and though to hard of heart our prayers all Him selfe despise his children yet nought woting what may fall With trauels tier'de and apte to be entysde from misery Requests will moue on th' one side his desyre of Imperie On th' other syde his pouerty and labour hard to see Will him subdue and make to yeelde although full stoute he bee Sea His trauayles now the time hath made to seeme to him but small Atr. Not so for day by day the griefe of ill encreaseth all T' is light to suffer miseries but heauy them t' endure Ser. Yet other messengers to send in such affayres procure Atr. The younger sorte the worse precepts do easely harken to Ser. What thing agaynst their vnckle now you them enstruckt to do Perhaps with you to worke the like they will not be a dread Such mischiefe wrought hath oft return'de vpon the workers head Atre. Though neuer man to thē the wayes of guile guilt haue taught Yet kingdome will Fear'st thou they should be made by coūsel naught They are so borne That whith thou car ste a cruell enterpryse And dyrely deemest doone to be and wickedly likewise Perhaps is wrought agaynst me there Ser. And shall your sons of this Disceipt beware that worke you will no secretnes there is In theyr so greene and tender yeares they will your traynes disclose Atre. A priuy counsell cloase to keepe is learnde with many woes Ser. And will yee them by whom yee woulde he should beguiled bee Them selues beguil'de At. May let thē both from fault blame be free For what shall neede in mischiefes such as I to woorke entende To mingle them let all my hate by mee alone take ende Thou leau'ste thy purpose ill my mynde if thou thine owne forbeare Thou sparest him Wherefore of this let Agamemnon heare Be mynister and Client eke of myne for such a deede Let Menelâus present bee truth of th' uncertayne seede By such a pracktise may be tri'de if it refuse they shall Nor of debate will bearers be if they him vnckle call He is their father let them goe But much the fearefull face Bewrayes it selfe euen him that faynes the secret wayghty case Doth oft betray let them therefore not know how great a guyle They goe about And thou these things in secret keepe the whyle Ser. I neede not warned bee for these within my bosome deepe Both fayth and feare but chiefely fayth doth shet and closely kepe Chorus THe noble house at length of high renowne The famous stocke of auncient Inachus Apeasd layd the threats of brethrē down But nowe what fury styrs driues you thus Eche one to thyrst the others bloud agayne Or get by guylt the golden Mace in hande Yee litle wote that so desyre to raygne In what estate or place doth kyngdome stande Not ritches makes a kyng or high renowne Not garnisht weede wyth purple Tyrian die Not lofty lookes or head encloasde with crowne Not glyttring beames with golde and turrets hie A Kyng he is that feare hath layde aside And all affects that in the breast are bread VVhom impotent ambition doth not guide Nor fickle fauour hath of people led Nor all that west in mettalls mynes hath founde Or chanell cleere of golden Tagus showes Nor all the grayne that thresshed is on grounde That with the heate of libyk haruest glowes Nor whom the flasshe of lightning flame shall be ate Nor eastern wynde that smightes vpon the seas Nor swelling surge with rage of vvynde repleate Or greedy Gulphe of Adria displease VVhom not the pricke of Souldiers sharpest speare Or poyncted pyke in hand hath made to rue Nor whom the glympse of swoorde myght cause to feare Or bright drawen blade of glyttring steele sub due VVho in the seate of safty sets his feete Beholdes all haps how vnder him they lye And gladly runnes his fat all day to meete Nor ought complaynes or grudgeth for to dye Though present vvere the Prynces euerychone The scattered Dakes to chase that vvonted bee That shyning seas beset with precious stone And red sea coastes doe holde lyke bloud to see Or they vvhich els the Caspian mountaynes hye From Sarmats strong with all theyr power vvithholde Or hee that on the floude of Danubye In frost a foote to trauayle dare bee bolde Or Seres in vvhat euer place they lye Renownde with fleece that there of sylke doth spring They neuer might the truth here of denye It is the mynde that onely makes a king There is no neede of sturdie steedes in warre No neede with armes or arrowes ells to fight That Parthus woonts with bowe to fling from farre VVhyle from the fielde hee falsely fayneth flight Nor yet to siege no neede it is to bringe Great Guns in Carts to ouerthrowe the wall That from farre of theyr battring Pellets slyng A kyng hee is that feareth nought at all Eche man him selfe this kyngdome geeues at hand Let who so lyst with mighty mace to raygne In tyckle toppe of court delight to stand Let mee the sweete and quiet rest obtayne So set in place obscure and lowe degree Of pleasaunt rest I shall the sweetnesse knoe My lyfe vnknowne to them that noble bee Shall in the steppe of secret sylence goe Thus when my dayes at length are ouer past And tyme without all troublous tumult spent An aged man I shall depart at last In meane estate to dye full well content But greeuous is to him the death that when So farre abroade the bruite of him is blowne That knowne hee is to much to other men Departeth yet vnto him selfe vnknowne THE THYRDE ACTE Thyestes Phylisthenes MY countrey bowres so long wisht for and Argos rytches all Cytese good that vnto banisht then and Mysers may befall The touch of soyle where born I was a gods of natiue lād If gods they be a sacred towres I see of Cyclops hād That represent then all mans woorke a greater maiesty Renowned stadies to my youth where noble sometime I Haue not so seelde as once the palme in fathers chariot woon All Argos now to meete with me and people fast will roon But Atreus to yet rather leade in woods agayne thy flight And bushes thicke and hid among the brutyshe beastes from sight Lyke lyfe to theyrs where splendent pompe of court a princely pryde May not with flattring fulgent face allure thine eyes aside With whom the kingdome geuen is behold and well regarde Beset but late with such mishaps as all men counte
full harde I stoute and ioyfull was but now agayne thus in t feare I am returne my mynde misdoubtes and backeward seekes to beare My body hence and forthe I draw my pace agaynst my will Phy. With slouthfull step what meaneth this my father stādeth still And turnes his face and holdes him selfe in doubt what thing to do Thy. What thing my minde considrest thou or els so long whereto Do'st thou so easte counsayle wrest wilt thou to thinges vnsure Thy brother and the kingdome trust fearst thou those ills t' endure Now ouercome and mielder made and trauayls do'st thou flee That well were plaste it thee auayls a myser now to bee Turne hence thy pace while leefull is and keepe thee from his hande Phy. What cause thee driues O father deere thus frŠthy natiue lande Now seene to shrynk what makes thee thus frō things so good at last Withdrawe thy selfe thy brother comes whose tres be ouerpast And halfe the kyngdome geues and of the house Dysacerate Repayres the partes and thee restores agayne to former state Thy. The cause of feare that I know not thou do'st require to heare I see nothing that makes mee dread and yet I greatly feare I would goe on but yet my limmes with weary legges doe slacke And other way then I would passe I am withholden backe So oft the ship that driuen is with wynde and eke with Ore The swelling surge resisting both beates backe vpon the shore Phy. Yet ouercome what euer stayes and thus doth let your mynde And see what are at your returne prepar'de for you to finde You may O father raygne Thy. I may but then when die I mought P. Chiefe thing is powre T. nought worth at al if thou desyre it nought P. You shall it to your children leaue T. the kingdome takes not twayne Phy. Who may be happy rather would he miser yet remayne Thy. Beleue me well with titles false the great thinges vs delight And heauy haps in vayne are fearde while high I stoode in sight I neuer stinted then to quake and selfe same sworde to feare That hanged by myne owne side was Oh how great good it were With none to striue but careles foode to eate and rest to knowe The greater gyltes they enter not in cotage set alowe And safer foode is fed vpon at narrowe boorde alway While drunke in golde the poyson is by proofe well taught I say That euill haps before the good to loue it likes my will Of haughty house that standes aloft in tickle top of hyll And swayes asyde the cyty lowe neede neuer be affright Nor in the top of roofe aboue there shynes no Iuery bright Nor watchman none defendes my sleepes by night or gardes my rest With fleete I fishe not nor the sees I haue not backwarde prest Nor turn'de to flight with builded wall nor wicked belly I With taxes of the people fed nor parcell none doth lie Of ground of myne beyonde the Getes and Parthians farre about Nor worshiped with frankinsence I am nor Ioue shet out My Aulters decked are nor none in top of house doth stande In garden treese nor kindled yet with helpe of eche mans hande The bathes doe smoake nor yet are dayes in slouthfull slumbers led Nor nightes past forth in watche and wyne without the rest of bed Wee nothing feare the house is safe without the hidden knyfe And poore estate the sweetenes feeles of test and quiet lyfe Greate kindome is to be content without the same to lyue Phy. Yet should it not refused be if God the kingdome giue Thy. Not yet desierd it ought to be Phy. your brother byds you rayne Thy. Bids he the more is to be fearde there lurketh there some trayne Phy. From whence it fell yet piety is woont to turne at length And loue vnfaynde repayres agayne his erst omitted strength Thy. Doth Atreus then his brother loue eche Vrsa fyrst on hys The Seas shall washe and swelling surge of Seas of Sicylye Shall rest and all asswaged be and corne to rypenes growe In bottome of Ionian seas and darkest night shall showe And spreade the light about the soyle the waters with the fyre The lyfe with death the wynde with seas shall friendship first requyre And be at league Phy. of what deceipte are you so dreadfull here Thy. Of euerychone what ende at length might I prouide of feare In all he can he hateth me Phy. to you what hurt can he Thy. As for my selfe I nothing dread you litle Babes make mee Afrayde of him Phy. dread yee to be beguilde when caught yee are To late it is to shoon the traytie in middle of the snare But goe we on this father is to you my last request Thy. I follow you I leade you not Phy. God turne it to the best That well deuised is for good passe farth with cherefull pace THE SECOND SCENE Atreus Thyestes ENtrapt in trayne the beast is caught and in the snare doth fall Both him and eke of hated stocke with him the ofspryng all About the fathers syde I see and nowe in saufety stands And surest ground my wrathfull hate nowe comes into my hands At length Thyestes yea hee comes and all at once to mee I scant refrayne my selfe and scant may anger brydled bee So when the Bloudhound seekes the beast by step and quick of sent Drawes in the leame and pace by pace to wynde the wayes hee went With nose to soyle doth hunt while he the Boare aloofe hath founde Farre of by sent he yet refraynes and wanders through the grounde With silent mouth but when at hand he once perceiues the pray With all the strength he hath he striues with voyce and calls away His lingring maister and from him by force out breaketh hee When Ire doth hope the present bloud it may not hydden bee Yet let it hydden be beholde with vgly hayre to sight How yrkesomely deform'de with filthe his fowlest tace is dight How lothsome lyes his Bearde vnkempt but let vs friendship fayne To see my brother me delights geue now to me agayne Embracing long desyred for what euer stryfe there was Before this time betwene vs twayne forget and let it pas Fro this day forth let brothers loue let bloud and lawe of kinde Regarded be let all debate be slakte in eythers mynde Thy. I coulde excuse my selfe except thou wert as now thou art But Atreus now I graunt the faulte was myne in euery part And I offended haue in all my cause the worse to bee Your this dayes kindnes makes in deede a guilty wight is hee That would so good a brother hurt as you in any whit But now with teares I must entreate and first I me submit These handes that at thy feete doe lye doe thee beseeche and pray That yre and hate be layde aside and from thy bosome may Be scraped out and cleere forgot for pledges take thou these O brother deere these guiltles babes Atr. thy hands yet from my kneese Remoue and
rather me to take in armes vpon me fall And yee O aydes of elders age yee litle infants all Mee clyp and coll about the necke this fowle attyre forsake And spare myne eyes that pity it and fresher vesture take Lyke myne to see and you with ioy the halfe of emperie Deere brother take the greater prayse shall come to mee thereby Our fathers seate to yelde to you and brother to relieue To haue a kingdome is but chaunce but vertue it to geeue Thy. A iust reward for such deserts the Gods O brother deare Repay to thee but on my head a regall crowne to weare My lothsome lyfe denyes and farre doth from the sceptor flee My hand vnhappy in the mydst let leefull be for mee Of men to lurke Atre. this kingdome can with twayne full well agree Thy. What euer is O brother yours I count it myne to bee Atr. Who would dame fortunes gifts refuse if shee him rayse to raigne Thy. The gyfts of hir eche man it wotes how soone they passe againe Atr. Yee me depryue of glory great except yee th' empyre take Thy. You haue your prayse in offring it and I it to forsake And full perswaded to refuse the kingdome am I still Atre. Except your part yee will susteine myne owne forsake I will Thy. I take it then and beare I will the name thereof alone The ryghts and armes as well as myne they shall be yours eche one Atre. The regall crowne as you beseemes vpon your head then take And I th' appoyncted sacrifice for Gods will now goe make Chorus WOulde any man it weene that cruell wight Atreus of mynde so impotent to see VVas soone astonied with his brothers sight Mo greater force then pietye may bee VVhere kynred is not lasteth euery threat VVhom true loue holdes it holdes eternally The vvrath but late vvith causes kyndled great All fauour brake and did to battayle cry VVhan horsemen did resounde one euery syde The swoordes eche vvhere then glystred more more VVhich raging Mars vvith often stroke did guide The fresher bloud to shed yet thyrsting sore But loue the sworde agaynst theyr vvills doth swage And them to peace perswads vvith hand in hand So sodeyne rest amid so great a rage VVhat God hath made throughout Mycenas land The harnesse clynkt but late of cyuill strife And for their babes did fearefull mother quake Her armed spouse to leese much fearde the vvyfe VVhen sworde vvas made the scabberde to forsake That now by rest vvith rust vvas ouergrowne Some to repayre the vvalles that did decay And some to strength the towres halfe ouerthrowne And some the gates vvith gyns of Yrne to stay Full busie vvere and dredfull vvatch by nyght From turret high did ouerlooke the towne VVorse is then warre it selfe the feare of fight Nowe are the threats of cruell sworde layde downe And nowe the rumour whists of battayles sowne The noyse of crooked trumpet silent lyes And quiet peace returnes to ioyfull towne So when the waxes of swelling surge aryse VVhyle Corus wynde the Brutian seas doth smight And Scylla soundes from hollowe Caues within And Shipmen are with wafting waues affright Charybdis casts that erst it had drunke in And Cyclops fierce his father yet doth dred In AEtna banke that feruent is with heates Least quenched be with waues that ouershed The fire that from eternall Fornace beates And poore Laërtes thinkes his kyngdomes all May drowned be and Ithaca doth quake If once the force of wyndes begin to fall The sea lyth downe more mylde then standing lake The deepe where Ships so vvyde full dredfull vvere To passe vvith sayles on eyther syde out spred Now fallne adowne the lesser Boate doth beare And leysure is to vewe the fyshes ded Euen there vvhere late vvith tempest bet vpon The shaken Cyclades vvere vvith Seas agast No state endures the payne and pleasure one To other yeldes and ioyes be soonest past One howre sets vp the thinges that lowest bee Hee that the crownes to prynces doth deuyde VVhom people please with bending of the knee And at whose becke theyr battayles lay aside The Meades and Indians eke to Phebus nye And Dakes that Parthyans doe with horsemen threat Him selfe yet holdes his Sceptors doubtfully And men of might he feares and chaunces great That eche estate may turne and doubtfull howre O yee vvhom lorde of lande and vvaters wyde Of Lyfe and death grauntes here to haue the powre Lay yee your proude and lofty lookes aside VVhat your inferiour feares of you amis That your superiour threats to you agayne To greater kyng eche kyng a subiect is VVhom dawne of day hath seene in pryde to raygne Hym ouerthrowne hath seene the euening late Let none reioyce to much that good hath got Let none dispayre of best in vvorst estate For Clotho myngles all and suffreth not Fortune to stande but Fates about doth driue Such friendship finde wyth Gods yet no man myght That he the morowe might be sure to lyue The God our things all tost and turned quight Rolles with a whyrle wynde THE FOVRTHE ACTE Messenger Chorus WHat whirlwynde may me headlong dryue and vp in ayre mee fling And wrap in darkest cloude whereby it might so heynous thing Take from myne eyes O wicked house that euen of Pelops ought And Tantalus abhorred bee Ch. what new thing hast thou brought Me. What lande is this lythe Sparta here and Argos that hath bred So wicked brethern and the ground of Corinth lying spred Betweene the seas or Ister else where woont to take their flight Are people wylde or that which woonts with snowe to shyne so bright Hircana lande or els doe here the wandring Scythians dwell Ch. What monstrous mischiefe is this place then guilty of that tell And this declare to vs at large what euer be the ill Me. If once my mynde may stay it selfe and quaking limmes I will But yet of such a cruell deede before myne eyes the feare And Image walkes yee raging stormes now far from hence me beare And to that place me driue to which now driuen is the day Thus drawen from hence Ch. Our myndes yee holde yet still in doubt full stay Tell what it is yee so abhorre The author thereof showe I aske not who but which of them that quickly let vs know Me. In Pelops Turret high a part there is of Pallece wyde That towarde the south erected leanes of which the vtter syde With equall top to mountayne standes and on the City lies And people proude agaynst theyr prynce if once the traytors rise Hath vnderneath his batiring stroke there shynes the place in sight Where woont the people to frequent whose golden beames so bright The noble spotted pillers gray of marble doe supporte Within this place well knowen to men where they so ost resorte To many other roomes about the noble court doth goe The priuie Palaice vnderlieth in secret place alos With ditch ful deepe that doth enclose the wood of priuiter And hidden parts of kyngdome
vnshaken payse vnmoued yet art thou The Gods are fled Atr. but take to thee with ioy thy children now And rather them embrace at length thy children all of thee So long wisht for for no delay there standeth now in mee Enioy and kisse embracing armes deuyde thou vnto three Thy. Is this thy league may this thy loue and fayth of brother bee And doost thou so repose thy hate the father doth not craue His sonnes aliue which might haue bene without thy gylt to haue And eke without thy hate but this doth brother brother pray That them he may entoombe restore whom see thou shalt strayght waye Be burnt the father naught requires of thee that haue he shall But soone forgoe Atr. what euer part rot of thy children all Remaynes here shalt thou haue and what remayneth not thou host Thy. Lye they in fieldes a food out flung for fleerug fowles to waste Or are they kept a pray for wyld and brutish beastes to eate Atr. Thou hast deaourd thy sonnes and fyld thy selfe with wicked meat Thy. Oh this is it that sham'de the Gods and day from hence did dryue Turn'd back to east alas I wretch what waylinges may I geue Or what complayntes what woeful woordes may be enough for mee Their heads cut of and handes of torne I from their bodies see And wrenched feete from broken thighes I here behold agayn T ys this that greedy father could not suffer to sustayne In belly roll my bowels round and cloased cryme so great Without a passage stryues within and seekes away to get Thy sword O brother leud to me much of my bloud alas It hath let vs therwith make way for all my sonnes to passe Is yet the sword from me withheld thy selfe thy bosomes teare And let thy brestes resound with stroakes yet wretch thy hand forbeare And spare the deade who euer saw such mischiefe put in proofe What rude Heniochus that dwels by ragged coast aloofe Of Caucasus vnapt for men or feare to Athens who Procustes wyld the father I oppresse my children do And am opprest is any meane of gylt or mischiefe yet Atr. A meane in mischiefe ought to be when gylt thou dost commit Not when thou quytst for yet euen this to litle seemes to me The blood yet warme euen from the wound I should in sight of thes Euen in thy lawes haue shed that thou the bloud of them mightst drinke That lyued yet but whyle to much to hast my hate I thinke My wrath beguyled is my selfe with sword the woundes them gaue I strake them downe the sacred fyres with slaughter vowde I haue Wel pleasd the carcase cutting then and liueles lymmes on grounde I haue in litle parcels chopt and some of them I drounde In boyling cauderns some to fyres that burnte ful slow I put And made to droppe their synewes all and limmes a two I cut Euen yet alyue and on the spitte that thrust was through the same I harde the liuer wayle and crye and with my hand the flame I oft kept in but euery whit the father might of this Haue better done but now my wrath to lightly ended is He rent his sonnes with wicked gumme himselfe yet wotting naught Nor they therof Th. O ye encloas'd with bending bankes abought All seas me heare and to this gylt ye Gods now harken well What euer place ye fled are to here all ye sprites of hel And here ye landes and night so darke that them dost ouerly With clowde so blacke to my complayntes do than thy selfe apply To thee now left I am thou dost alone me miser see And thou art left without thy starres I wil not make for me Peticions yet nor ought for me require may ought yet bee That me should vayle for you shal all my wishes now foresee Thou guyder great of skyes aboue prince of highest might Of heauenly place now all with cloudes ful horrible to sight Enwrap the worlde and let the wyndes on euery syde breake out And send the dredfull thunder clap through al the world about Nor with what hand thou gyltes house and vndeserued wall With lesser bolt are wonte to beate but with the which did fall The three vnheaped mountaynes once and which to hils in height Stoode equall vp the gyantes huge throuw out such weapons streight And flyng thy fires and therwithall reuenge the drowned day Let flee they flames the light thus lost and hid from heauen away With flashes fyll the cause lest long thou shouldst doubte whom to hit Of ech of vs is ill if not at least let myne be it Me strike with tryple edged toole thy brande of flaminge fyre Beate through this breast if father I my children to desyre To lay in tombe or corpses cast to fyre as doth behoue I must be burnt if nothing now the gods to wrath may moue Nor powre from skies with thunder bolt none strikes the wicked men Let yet eternall night remayne and hyde with darknes then The world about I Titan naught complayne as now it standes If stil thou hyde thee thus away Atre. now prayse I well my handes Now got I haue the palme I had bene ouercome of thee Except thou sorrow'dst so but now euen children borne to mee I compt and now of bridebed chast the fayth I do repayre Thy. In what offended haue my sons Atr. In that that thyne they were Thy. Setst thou the sonnes for fathers foode Arr. I do which is best The certayne sonnes Thy. The gods that guyde all infantes I protest Atr. What wedlock gods Th. who would the gilt with gylt so quite again Atr. I know thy greefe preuented now with wrong thou dost complayne Nor this thee yrkes that sed thou art with food of cursed kind But that thou hadst not it prepared for so it was thy mynd Such meates as these to set before thy brother wotting naught And by the mothers helpe to haue likewyse my children caught And them with such like to slay this one thing letted thee Thou thought'st them thine Thy. the gods shall al of this reuengers be And vnto them for vengeance due my vowes thee render shall Atr. But vext to be I thee the whyte geeue to thy children all THE FOVRTH SCENE Added to the Tragedy by the Translatour Thyestes alone O Kyng of Dytis dungeon darke and grysly Ghosts of hell That in the deepe and dreadfull Denne of blackest Tarrace dwell Where leane and pale dyseases lye where feare and famyne are Where discord stands with bleeding browes where euery kynde of care Where furies fight in beds of steele and heares of crauling snakes Where Gorgon grimme where Harpyes are lothsome Lymbo lakes Where most prodigious vgly thinges the hollowe hell doth byde If yet a mouster more myshapt then all that there doe hyde That makes his broode his cursed foode yee all abhorre to see Nor yet the deepe Auerne it selfe may byde to couer mee Nor grisly gates of Plutoes place yet dare them selues to spred Nor gaping
to them Here runnes a gulphy streame With force afore it dryuing stones as bigge as mountaine beame What say you shall wee drench our selues within this fomy Flood Goe where you wil take which you list do as you deeme it good Conditionally that I may first receyue the wound of death I recke no whit I ready stand to yeld vp vitall breath I neyther draw you to nor froe but euen as best you thinke So doe so deale Would you so fayne Deathes bitter cup to drinke My lord and Father take you death so greate a boone to bee If that you dye this I assure die first you shall me see If life in shew more pleasaunt seme if so you rather chuse I am to wayte vpon you still and neuer will refuse But chaunge this mynde wherein you rest take hart a grace and show The noble magnanimity that earst in you did flow Resist these panges subdue these dumpes by valour of the mynd Let manly courage qualify these your affections blynd T is great dishonor thus to yeeld your selfe to dolor thrall No storme of aduerse hap thus ought a Princes hart t' appall Oedip. This geare surmounteth far the reach of my capacity I am astonn'd I feele my selfe rapt with an extasie Is this not wonder of so lewd and of so curst a tree Such fruite to grow of graceles Syre so good a child to see Is it not straunge that in a house distaynd in villany Such noble shew of towardnes and vertuous gyftes should lye Let me some speach to thee direct dame Fortune how haps this That here my daughter so vnlike to wretched father is Degenerating from his steps and with such vertue fraught As in her Fathers cursed house she neuer yet was taught Is it I pray thee credible that out of me should spring Such yssue as should geuen be to any honest thinge No truely no it cannot bee my fates ful well I know None such vnlesse to doe me scart and mischiefe would be so T' encrease the heape of myne annoy no straunge effect shall want Dame Nature in her Creatures wil new affectes emplant The Ryuer shall returne his course to Fountayne backe agayne Dan Phoebus Lamp shall bring the Night and Night shal day remain So that my grieuous miseryes with surplusage may grow But be as t is I for a whyle wil play my part also And shew some sparke of piety my fault to counteruayle With murtdroue knife my woeful dayes to end I wil not fayle The onely helpe for Oedipus the onely safety is To ridde himselfe and so redeeme that Hellish fact of his Let mee take vengeance on my selfe for wronges to father donne Whose Death is yet vnexpiate by mee his cursed sonne Why dost thou shake and tremble thus thou hand not good for ought Why flaggrest thou to stabbe him in who Syre to spoyle hath brought That punishment which hether to by pulling out myne eyes Thou hast inflicted on me is but as a sacrifyce Or guerdon due for villany which I committed haue With mother myne Now Daughter sloute leaue of pretences braue Alledge no gâ—oses but with speede let goe thy Fathers hand Thou mak'st me die a lingring death within this loathed land Thou thinkst I am aliue but I am dead long while agoe To this my hateful Corps at length the rytes of Buriall show Thou meanest well I know but yet therin thou dost offend Though colour for thy piety I see thou dost pretend But piety it canot be to dragge thus vp and downe Thy Fathrs Corpes vnburied through City Field and Towne For bee that doth enforce a man agaynst his will to dye And he that stayeth him that would fayne dye most willingly Are both alike in equall fault and stand in egall plight To hinder one that would be dead is morthring him outright Yet not so great as thother is I would be more content To haue my death commaunded me then from me to be set Desist from this thy purpose Mayd my lyfe and death both are To dispose at my liberty with choyse to spill or spare I willingly resigned the Crowne of Thebane soyle yet I Do still retaine vpon my selfe the entyre Soueraygntye If I may make accompt of thee as of a trusty feare And true compagnion at assayes deliuer euen heere Into thy Fathers hand a Sweard but tell me dost thou reach The Sword embrewd in fathers bloud wherewith my sonnes empeach The course of Law possessing it and kingdome all by force Where so it is doubt is there none but cleane without remorse There bee the Floudgates opned wyde to al licencious lust And thriftlesse trades I al my clayme therein do rake in dust And cleane forsake Let both my Sonnes by Legacy enioy The same wherewith they surely shall contriue non smal annoy For mee pyle rather vp a stacke of wood set all on fyre That I therein may thrust my selfe that is my chiefe desyre And make an end at once of all this carrion Tarkasse vyle Where is the surging wauous Sea why stay I all this whyle Bring mee to some stiepe breaknecke fall bring me where Ismene flood With swift and horned course doth runne bring me wheras my blood With goaryng push of sauage beastes may out be let at once To some Gulfe bring me where the fall and tide may crush my Bones If needes thou wilt my guyde remayne as oft thou dost me tell Bring me that am dispos'd to dye where Sphiox that Monster fell With double shape apposed them that passed by the way Propounding Riddles intricate and after did them slay There would I bee that place I seeke thy Father thyther bring Into that Monsters Cabin dire thy Monstrous Father fling That though that Monster be dispatcht the place may bee supplyde With one as badde or worse then bee there wil I farre and wyde In tearmes obscure report and tell my heauy lucklesse lot The misteries whereof the bearers vnderstandeth not Geue eare to that which I shal speake marke thou Assyrian borne Consider this thou Thebane where Duke Cadmus men were torne And slayne in wood by Serpentes rage where Dirce seely trull In humble sort at Aulter lies aduert my tale at full Thou that in Lacedaemon dwelles and honorst Castors grace And Pollux eake two brethren twynnes Fynd out this doubtful case Or thou that dwelst in Elis towne or by Parnassus hill Or thou that till'st Baeotia ground there reaping gayne at wil Hearke listen well and flatly say if euer heretofore That murdrous monster Sphinx of Thebes that men in peeces tore In all his riddles askt the like or of so straunge a sort Or whether so insolubly his termes he cold report The Sonne in Lavv to Graundfather the Riual of his Syre The Brother of his litle Babes to Brethren father dire The Graundmother at euery byrth to Husband graceles Elfe Brought forth a Sonne or Daughter vvhich vvas Nephevv to her selfe How say you Syrs in Ryddle darke who hath so good insight That
yet TH. Why dost thou turne aside From me thy weeping Countenance thy teares why dost thou hide That gushing sodaine frō thine eyes streame downe thy cheekes apace Why hidest thou thy flowing floudes with Coate before thy Face PH. Thee thee Creator of the Neauens to witnesse I doe call And thee O glittering fiery glede of Christall Sky with all And Phoebus thou from whom at first our royall Race hath roon With fawning face flattring words in suite I was not woon For naked sword thundring threts appauled was I not My brused bones abode the blowe and stripes when sore he smote This blemish black of foule defame my bloud shall purge agayne TH Declare what villaine is he that our honour so doth slayne PH. Whom least yee would mistrust TH. To know who t is ful sore I long PH. This Sword wil tel which sore afright when people thick in thrōg Resorted fast the Leacher vile for hast did leaue behinde Because the people preasing fast he dreeded in his minde TH. Ah out alas O woe is mee what villany see I Alas what vncouth Monster fowle of mischiefe I espy Beholde the royall Iuory engrau'de and purired fine Emboast with golden studdes vpon th' enameld Hast doth shine The Iewell of Actea lande but whyther fled is hee PH. With light Heele running sore dismaide these sruants did him see TH. O sacred holinesse O Ioue betweene whose mighty hands The Marble Poale with weltring sway in course directed stands And thou that second Scepter weilds in fomy fighting waue Why doth this cursed broode with such this wicked vengeance raue Hath he bene fostred vp in Greece or craggy Taurus wilde Among hard rugged Rocks and Caues some sauage Scythian Childe Or else in brutish Colchis I le by Desart Phasis flood Cat after kinde hee is and will th' unkindly Bastard blood Returne vnto his kinreds course whence first his ligne hee clames This frantick fury vp and downe comes of the warlicke Dames To hate the loyall leagues of loue and shunning long the vse Of Cupids campe with tag and rag her body to abuse Become as good as euer twangd O detestable kinde No better Soyle by any meanes can chaunge thy filthy minde The brutish beasts themselues doe Ioath th' abuse which Venus drawes And simple shamefastnesse it selfe obserueth Natures lawes Where is the brag of Maiesty and fayned portly grace Of manly minde that hateth new and olde things doth embrace O double dealing life thou clokes deceiptful thoughtes in brest And settest out a forhead fayre where frounced mynd doth rest The saucie Iacke with bashful brow doth malipiertnes hide The rashnes of the despret Dicke by stilnesse is vnspide With show of right religion knaues villany mayntayne And guileful mealemouthd Gentlemen do hold with speaking playne The daynty wanton Carpet Knights of hardnes boast and prate That Woodraunger that brainsicke beast who liu'd in chast estate An vndefyled Bachiler thou rude and homely clowne Thus dost thou watch thy tyme to breede this blot in my renowne To make me Cuckold first of all did it delyght thy mynd First falling to thy spousall sport with mischiefe most vnkind Now now to thee supernal Ioue most hearty thankes I yeeld That with my first Antiope to dreary death I quelde That gone to dampish Stygian Dennes I left thee not behynd Thy Mother go go Vagabond rawnge rawnge about to finde Straunge forraine soyles and outcast landes aloofe at world his end And Iles enclosd with th' Ocean floud to hell thy soule shall send Beneath among th' Antipodes thy selfe of harbring sped Though in the vtmost lurking nooke thou shroude thy miching heade Aboue the grisly Pallaces thou climbe of lofty Poale Or maist aboue the clottring Snow aduaunce thy cursed Soule Beyond the brunt of Winter flawes and threatning rigour passe And stormy wrath with rumbling rough of ysse Boreas With pengeance vengeance violent fast hurling after thee With daunting plagues and pestilence thy sinnes shal scourged bee For life and death about the world in euery lurking hoale O fugitiue I shal not cease stil to pursue thy soule But seeke and search for thee I shall in landes that lye a farre Al corners blynd and caues shut vp Dennes lockt with bolt and barre A thousand wayes vnpassable no place shal me withstand My cursinges blacke shal light on thee there where reuenging hande With weapon cā not worke y harme thou knowest that Neptune great My Syre who flotes on floudes waues with forked Mace doth beat Geue licence freely vnto me three boones to chuse and craue Which willingly the God hath graunt and sworne I shal it haue Protesting vgsome Stygian Lake and hallowed hath his vow O breaker of the wrastling waues auouch thy promise now Let neuer more Hippolitus behold th' eclipsed light And for the Fathers wrathful rage the cursed child downe smight To waile among the gastly sprites o Father bend thy might To giue alas this lothsome ayde vnto thy needy Sonne I of thy Maiesty deuyne exact not to be donne This chiefest bone til puissant payse of ylles do vs oppresse In bottom deepe of boylyng Tartar pit and sore distress In grisly Lymbo Iawes nigh garglefaced Ditis dimme Amid the crumpled threatning browes of Hellick Pluto grim To claime thy promise made to mee as then I didde refrayne Now Syre thy fayth by promise due perfourme to me agayne Yet dost thou stay why rumble not the waltring waues yet busht Through foggy cloude in dusky skits with stormy blastes outrusht Vnfold the mantel blacke of Night and roll away the Skies Enforce the fighting floods brast out with mounting waues to ryse And coniure vp the water hagges that in the Rockes do keepe The Ocean surges swellyng him cast vp from bottom deepe Chorus O Nature Grandame greate of Heauenly Sprites Eake Ioue that guides Olimpus mighty sway That rakes the race of twinckling heauēly lightes On spinning Spheare and order dost for aye The stragling course of roaming planets hie And weildes about the whirling Axeltree The weltring Poales th' eternal course of Skie To keepe in frame what workes such care in thee That earst the cold which hoary winter makes Vnclothes the naked wood and now agayne The shades returne vnto the breary brakes Now doth the starre of Sommer Lion raygne VVhose scalded necke with boyling heate doth frie Perbraking flames from fiery foming iawes VVith scorching heate the parched corne do drie Ech season so his kindly course in drawes But thou that weildes these thinges of massy might By whom the hugy world with egal payse Euen Ballanced doth keepe in compasse right Each Spheare by measurd weight that iustly swaise Alas why dost thou beare a retchles breast Toward mankind not casting any care That wicked men with mischiefe be opprest And eake to see that goodmen wel do fare Dame Fortune topsieturuy turnes at wil The world and deales her dole with blinded hand And fosters vice mayntayning mischiefe ill Fowle lust triumphes on good men brought
rebound The brambles rent his haled hayre the edged flinty stones The beauty batter of his Face and breake his crashing bones At Mouth his blaring tongue hangs out with squeased eyne out dasht His Iawes Skull doe crack abrode his spurting Braynes are pasht His cursed beauty thus defoylde with many wounds is spent The iotting Wheeles do grinde his guts and drenched sims they rent At length a Stake with TruÌ„chion burnt his ripped PauÌ„ch hath caught From riued Grine toth ' Nauell stead within his wombe it raught The Cart vpon his Maister pawsde agaynst the ground ycrusht The Fellies stuck within the wounds and out at length they rush So both delay and Maisters limbs are broke by stresse of Wheeles His dragling guts then trayle about the wincing horses heeles They thumping with their horny Hooues agaynst his Belly kick From bursten Paunch on heapes his blouddy bowells tumble thick The scratting Bryers on the Brakes with needle poynted pricks His gory Carkas all to race with spelles of thorny sticks And of his flesh ech ragged shrub a gub doth snatch and rent His men a mourning troupe God knowes with brackish teares besprÄ“t Doe stray about the fielde whereas Hippolytus was tore A piteous signe is to bee seene by tracing long of gore His howling Dogges their Maisters limmes with licking follow still The earnest toyle of woful Wights can not the coars vp fill By gathering vp the gobbets sparst and broken lumps of flesh Is this the flaunting brauery that comes of beauty fresh Who in his Fathers Empyre earst did raigne as pryncely Peare The Heyre apparant to the Crowne and shone in honour cleare Lyke to the glorious Stars of Heauen his Limmes in pieces small Are gathred to his fatall Graue and swept to funerall TH. O Nature that preuaylste too much alas how dost thou binde Whyth bonds of bloud the Parents breast how loue we thee by kinde Maugre our Teeth whom gullty ecke we would haue rest of breath And yet lamenting with my teares I doe bewayle thy death NVN. None can lament with honesty that which he wisht destroyde TH. The hugiest heape of woes by this I thinke to be enioyde When flickering Fortunes cursed wheele doc cause vs cry alas To rue the wrack of things which earst wee wished brought to passe NVN. If stil thou keepe thy grudge why is the Face with seates besprÄ“t TH. Because I slue him not because I lost him I repent Chorus WHat heape of happes do tumble vpsyde downe Th' estate of man lesse raging Fortune flies On little things lesse leaming lightes are throwne By hand of Ioue on that which lower lies The homely couch safe merry hartes do keepe The Cotage base doth giue the Golden sleepe The lofty Turrets top that cleaues the cloude VVithstandes the sturdy stormes of Southren wynde And Boreas boysterous blastes with threatning loud Of blusteryng Corus shedding showres by kinde The reking Dales do seldome noiance take Byding the brunt of Lightninges slashing flake Th' aduaunced crest of Caucasus the great Did quake with bolt of lofty thundring Ioue VVhen he from cloudes his thunder dintes did beat Dame Cybels Phrygian fryth did trembling moue King loue in hawty heauen ful sore affright The nighest thinges with weapons doth he smyght The ridges low of Vulgar peoples house Striken with stormes do neuer greatly shake His Kingdomes coast Ioues thundring thumpes do souse VVith wauering winges that houre his fligth doth take Nor flitting Fortune with her tickle wheele Le ts any wight assured ioy to feele VVho in the VVorld beholds the starres ful bright And chereful day forsaking gastly Death His sorrowfull returne with groning spright He rewes sith it depriude his Sonne of breath He seeth his lodging in his court agayne More doleful is then sharpe Auernus payne O. PALLAS vnto whom all Athens land Due homage oweth because that THESEVS thine Among vs worldly Wights againe doth stand And seeth the Heauens vpon himselfe to shine And passed hath the parlous myrie Mud Of stinking Stygian Fen and filthy Flud Vnto thy rauening Vncles dreery Gaile O Lady chaste not one Ghost dost thou owe The Hellick Tyrant knovves his perfect tale Who from the Court this shriking shrill doth throwe What mischiefe comes in frantick PHAEDRAS brayne With naked Svvord thus running out amayne THE FIFTE ACTE THESEVS PHAEDRA CHORVS THrough pierst with pangues of pensiuenesse what fury prickes thy brayne What meanes this bloudy blade what meanes this shriking out amayne And langishing vpon the Corps which was thy mallice made PH. O tamer of the wrastling waues mee mee doe thou inuade The Monstrous hags of Marble Seas to rampe on mee send out What euer Thetis low doth keepe with folding armes about Or what the Ocean Seas aloofe embrace with winding waue O Theseus that to thine alies dost still thy selfe behaue So Currishly O thou that for thy louing Friends auayle Dost neuer yet returne thy Sonne and Father doe bewayle Thy pasport brought by death and bloud thy stocke thou dost destroy By loue or hatred of thy wife thou workest still annoy O sweete Hippolytus thus I behold thy battred face And I it is I wretch alas that brought thee to this case What Scinis forst thy lims so torne his snatching boughes to feele Or what Procrustes rackt and rent thee streacht on bed of Steele Or else what Minotaur of Crete that grim twishaped Bull With horny head that Dedalls â—â—nues with lowing filleth full Hath thee in fitters torne aie me where is thy beauty fled Where are our twinckling stars thine eyes alas and art thou ded Appeare a while receiue my words for speake I shall none yll This hand shal strike the stroake wherwith thy bengeance quite I wil And sith that I I Caytive I abridged haue thy life Lo here I am content to yeeld thee mine with bloudy knife If ghost may here be giuen for ghost and breath may serue for breath Hippolytus take thou my soule and come againe from death Behold my bowels yet are safe my lims in lusty plight Would God that as they serue for me thy body serue they might Mine eies to render kindly light vnto thy Carkasse ded Lo for thy vse this hand of mine shall pluck them from my hed And set them in these empty cells and vacant holes of thine Thy weale of me a wicked Wight to win do not repine And if a womans wofull heart in place of thine may rest My bosom straight breake vp I shall and teare it from my brest But courage stout of thine doth loth faint womans heart to haue Thy Noble minde would rather go with manly heart to graue Alas be not so manly now this manlinesse forheare And rather choose to liue a man with womans sprite and feare Then as no man with manly heart in darcknesse deepe to sit Haue thou thy life giue me thy death that more deserueth it Can not my profer purchase place yet vengeance shal thou haue Hell shall not hold me from thy syde nor
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
geue to Peleus sonne For Helen sake your owne childes bloud appeasd Dianas yre A wonted thing and done ere this it is that I require Ag. The onely fault of youth it is not to refraine his rage The Fathers bloud already sturres in Pryams wanton age Somtime Achilles grieuous checkes I bare with pacient hart The more thou mayst the more thou oughtst to suffer in good part Wherto would yee with slaughtred bloud a noble spirit stayne Thinke what is meete the Greekes to do and Troyans to sustayne The proude estate of tyranny may neuer long endure The King that rules with modest meane of safety may be sure The higher step of princely state that fortune hath vs signd The more behou'th a happy man humility of mynd And bread the chaunge that chaūce may bring whose gifts so sone be lost And chiefly then to feare the Gods whyle they the fauour most In beating downe that warre hath wonne by proofe I haue ben taught What pompe and pride in twinke of eye may fall and come to naught Troy made me fierce proude of mynde Troy makes me frayd withal The Grekes now stand wher Troy late fel ech thing may haue his fal Sometyme I graunt I did my selfe and Sceptors proudly beare The thing that might aduaunce my hart makes me the more to feare Thou Priam perfit proofe presentst thou art to mee eftsones A cause of pride a glasse of feare a mirrour for the nones Should I accoumpt the sceptors ought but glorious vanity Much like the borowed brayded hayre the face to beautify One sodayne chaunce may turne to naught and mayme the might of men With fewer then a thousand shippes and yeares in lesse then ten Not she that guydes the slipper wheele of fate doth so delay That she to al possession grauntes of ten yeares setled stay With leaue of Greece I wil confesse I would haue wonne the towne But not with ruine thus extreme to see it beaten downe But loe the battel made by night and rage of feruent mynd Could not abyde the brydling bitte that reason had assignd The happy sword once slaind with blood vnsatiable is And in the darke the seruent rage doth strike thee more amis Now are we wreakt on Troy so much let all that may remayne A Virgin borne of Princes bloud for offring to be slayne And geuen be to slayne the tombe and ashes of the ded And vnder name of wedlocke see the guiltles bloud be shed I wil not graunt for myne should bee thereof both fault and blame Who when he may forbiddeth not offence doth wil the same Pyr. And shall his sprights haue no reward their angers to appeyse Aga. Yes very great for all the world shall celebrate his prayse And landes vnknowen that neuer saw the man so praysd by fame Shall heate and kepe for many yeares the glory of his name If bloudshed vayle his ashes ought strike of an Oxes hed And let no bloud that may be cause of mothers teares be shed What furious fransy may this be that doth your will so leade This earnest carefull sutte to make in trauayle for the dead Let not such enuy towarde your father in your heart remayne That for his sacrifice yee would procure an others payne Pyr. Proude tirant while prosperity thy stomacke doth aduaunce And cowardly wretch that shrinks for feare in case of fearefull chaunce Is yet agayne thy breast enflamde with brand of Venus might Wilt thou alone so oft depriue Achilles of his right This hand shall giue the sacrifice the which if thou withstand A greater slaughter shall I make and worthy Pyrrhus hand And now to long from Princes slaughter doth my hand abide And meete it were that Polyxene were layde by Priams side Aga. I not deny but Pyrrhus chiefe renowne in warre is this That Pryam slaine with cruell sworde to your father humbled is Pyr. My fathers foes we haue them known submit themselues humbly And Pryam presently yee wot was glad to craue mercy But thou for feare not stout to rule liest close from foes vp shit Whil thou to Aiax and Vlysses dost thy will commit Aga. But needes I must and will confesse your father did not feare When burnt our fleete with Hectors brands Greeks they slaughtred weare While loytring then a loofe he lay vnmindfull of the fight In steede of armes with scratch of quill his sounding harp to smight Pyr. Great Hector then despising thee Achilles songes did feare And Thessale ships in greatest dread in quiet peace yet weare Aga. For why aloofe the Thessale fleete they lay from Troyans handes And well your father might haue rest he felt not Hectors brandes Pir. Well seemes a noble king to giue an other king reliefe Aga. Why hast thou then a worthy king berieued of his life Pyr. A poinct of mercy sometime is what liues in care to kill Aga. But now your mercy mooueth you a virgins death to will Pyr. Account yee cruell now her death whose sacrifice I craue Your own deere daughter once yee knowe your selfe to th' aulters gaue Aga. Naught els could saue the Greekes frō seas but th' only bloud of her A king before his children ought his countrey to prefer Pyr. The law doth spare no captiues bloud nor wil'th their death to stay Aga. That which the law doth not forbid yet shame doth oft say nay Pyr. The conquerour what thing he list may lawfully fulfill Aga. So much the lesse he ought to list that may do what he will PYR. Thus boast ye these as though in all ye onely bare the stroke When Pyrrhus loosed hath the greekes from bond of ten yeres yoke A. Hath Scyros yle such stomaks bred P. No bretherns wrath it knoes AG. Beset about it is with waue PYR. The seas it do enclose Thyestes noble stocke I know and Atreus eke full well And of the bretherns dire debate perpetuall fame doth tell AG. And thou a bastard of a mayde defloured priuely Whom then a boy Achilles gat in filthy lecherr Pyr. The same A chill that doth possesse the raigne of Gods aboue With Thetys seas with Aeacus sprights the starred heauen with Ioue Aga. The same Achilles that was slaine by stroke of Paris hande Pyr. The same Achilles whom no god durst euer yet withstand Aga. The stoutest man I rather would his checkes he should refraine I could them tame but all your bragges I can full well sustaine For euen the captiues spares my sword let Calchas called be If destyntes require her bloud I will thereto agree Calchas whose counsel rulde our ships and nauy hither brought Vnlookst the poale and hast by arte the secretes thereof sought To whome the bowelles of the beast to whom the thunder clap And blasyng starre with flaming traine betokeneth what shall hap Whose words with dearest price I bought now tell vs by what meane The will of Gods agreeth that we returne to Greece againe Cal. The fates apoint the Grekes to buy their waies with wonted price And with
lot yet Paris led away I haue bene cause of all these wars and then your woes were wrought When first your shippes the Spartayn Seas land of Grecia sought But if the Goddesse wild it so that I their pray should be And for reward to her beautyes iudge shee had appoynted me Then pardon Paris thinke this thing in wrathful iudge doth lie The sentence Menelaus geues and he this case shall trye Now turne thy playntes Andromacha and weepe for Polyxeyne Mine eyes for sorrowes of my hart theyr teares may not refrayne An. Alas what care makes Heleyn weepe what griefe doth she lament Declare what craftes Vlisses castes what mischiefe hath he sent Shall shee from height of Idey hil be hedlong tombled downe Or else out of the turrets toppe in Troy shal she be throwne Or wil they cast her from the clieues into Sygeon seas In bottom of the surging waues to end her ruthful days Show what thy countnaunce hides and tell the secrets of thy breast Some woes in Pyrhus wedding are farre worse then all the rest Go to geue sentence on the mayd pronounce her desteny Delude no longer our mishappes we are prepard to die H. Would God the 'xpoūder of the Gods would geue his dome so right That I also on poynt of sword might leese the lothsome light Or at Achilles tombe with stroake of Pyrrhus hand be slayne And beare a part of al thy fates O wretched Polixeyne Whom yet Achilles woeth to wed and where his ashes lie Requireth that thy bloud be shed and at his tombe to die An. Behold loe how her noble mynd of Death doth gladly heare She deckes her selfe her regal weede in seemely wyse to weare And to her head she settes her hand the broyded hayre to lay To wed she thought it Death to die she thinkes a wedding day But helpe alas my mother sounds to heare her daughters death Aryse plucke vp your heart and take agayne the panting breath Alacke good mother how slender stay that doth thy life sustayne A little thinge shall happy thee thou art almost past payne Her breath returnes she doth reuyue her lims their life do take So see when wretches fayne would die how death doth them forsake Hec. Doth yet Achilles liue alas to work the Troyans spight Doth he rebell agaynst vs yet O hand of Paris light The very tombe and ashes loe yet thirsteth for our bloud A happy heape of children late on euery syde mee stoode It wearied me to deale the mothers kisse among them al The rest are lost and this alone now doth me mother call Thou onely child of Hecuba a comfort left to me A stayer of my sory state and shall I now leese thee Depart O wretched soule and from this carefull carcas flie And ease me of such ruthfull fates to see my daughter die By weepyng wets alas my eyes and staines them ouer al And downe my cheekes the sodeine streames and showres af teares do fal But thou deare daughter maist be glad Cassandra would reioyse Or Hectors wife thus wed to be if they might haue their choyse And. We are the wretches Hecuba in cursed case we stande Whom straight the shippe shal tosse by seas into a forraine land But as for Heleyns grieues be gone and turned to the best She shall againe her natyue countrey se and liue at rest Hele. Ye would the more enuy my state if ye might know your owne Andr. And grouth there yet more griefe to me that erst I haue not known Hele. Such masters must ye serue as doth by chaunce of lots befal Andr. Whose seruaunt am I then become whom shall I maister call Hele. By lot ye fall to Pyrhus hands you are his prisoner Andr Cassandra is happy fury saues perhaps and Phoebus her Hele. Chiefe kinge of Greekes Cassandra keepes and his captiue is shee Hec. Is any one amonge them all that prysoner would haue me Hele You chaunsed to Vlysses are his pray ye are become Hec. Alas what cruell dyre and yrefull dealer of the dome What god vniust doth so deuide the captiues to their lordes What grieuous arbiter is he that to such choyce accordes What cruel hand to wretched folke so euil fates hath caste Who hath amonge Achilles armour Hectors mothers plaste Now am I captiue and beset with all calamitie My bondage grieues me not but him to serue it shameth mee He that Achilles spoyles hath won shall Hectors also haue Shall barraine lande enclosde with seas receiue my boanes in graue Leade me Vlysses where thou wylt leade me I make no stay My master I and me my fates shall follow euery way Let neuer calme come to the seas but let them rage with winde Come fire and sword mine owne mischaunce and Priams let me finde In meane time haps this deepe distres my cares can know no calme I ran the race with Priamus but he hath won the Palme But Pyrrhus comes with swiftned pace thretning browes doth wrest What stayste thou Pyrrhus strike thy sword now through this woful brest And both at ones the parents of thy fathers wife now slay Murderer of age likes thee her bloud he draw my daughter away Defile the gods and staine the sprights of hel with slaughtred bloud To aske your mercy what auayles our prayers do no good The vengeance aske I on your ships that it the gods may pleas According to this sacrifice to guide you on the seas This wishe I to your thousand sayles Gods wrath light on them all Euen to the ship that beareth me what euer may befall Chorus A Comfort is to mans calamity A dolefull flocke of felowes in distres And sweete to him that mournes in miserie To here them wayle whom sorowes like oppres In deepest care his griefe him bites the les That his estate bewayles not all alone But seeth with him the teares of many one For still it is the chiefe delight in woe And ioy of them that sonke in sorrowes are To see like fates by fall to many moe That may take part of all their wofull fare And not alone to be opprest with care There is no wight of woe that doth complayne When all the rest do like mischaunce sustayne In all this world if happy man were none None though he were would thinke himselfe a wretch Let once the ritch with heapes of Gold be gone Whose hundred head his pastours ouerretch Then would the poore mans hart begin to stretch There is no wretch whose life him doth displease But in respect of those that liue at ease Sweete is to him that standes in deepe distresse To see no man in ioyful plight to bee Whose onely vessel wind and waue oppresse Ful sore his chaunce bewayles and weepeth hee That with his owne none others wracke doth see When he alone makes shipwracke one the sand And naked falles to long desyred land A thousande sayle who seeth to drench in Seas With better will the storme hath ouerpast His heauy hap doth him the
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
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
disheueled hayre The Matrons sage of Latin land did mourne And sounded shryking sighes as though forlorne They were the dolefulst wightes that liue on ground And oft among the warlike trumpets sound I sawe my husbands mother teribly stand With threatning looke berayed with bloud in hand A light fyre brand she bare which oft she shooke And made mee goe with her through feareful loke When downe we came through op'ned earth shee led The way I after went with bowing hed And musing much therat marke what I say My bed me thought I saw wherin I laye When first espousde I was to Rufe Chrispyne And hee me thought with first sonne of his lyne With many following them agaynst me fast Did come and me to cleepe did swift his hast And as he wonted was he kist me oft Then rusht into my house with pace not soft Amased Nero sore in Chryspines breast That hidde his faulchion kene feare shakte of rest From mee I trembling stode with quiuering feare And brest dismayd to speake made me forbeare Til now O Nurse I met with thee whose trust And fayth into these wordes haue made me brust Alas what threatneth mee eche griesly spright What meanes of husbands bloud that doleful sight Nu. The hidden sacred vayne that moueth swift Which fantasie we call by secret drift When we do take our rest doth shew agayne The thinges both good and bad that broyle in brayne You maruel that you saw your make and bower His ghostly funerall stackes at that same hower Round clasped close in armes of husband new Hereto the beaten breastes with handes mou'd you And maydens hayre on mariage day displayd Octauias friendes with heauy hartes bewrayed Amids hir brothers both and fathers hall Their heauy cheere for her vnluckye fall That dreadful blasing flame of fyre forborne In Agryppynas hand your grace beforne Which you did follow streigth declares renowne To you though enuye stryue to keepe it downe The seat you saw beneath doth promise you Your state to stand ful sure not chaunging new That Nero prince in Crispins throat did hyde His sword it telles that he in peace shall byde Vnknowen to bloudy ruthful warre for aye Therfore Madam plucke vp your hart I pray Receiue both mirth and glee cast feare asyde With ioy and ease you may in bowre abide Pop. To temples hie where mighty Gods do dwell I wil repayre and offringes to them fell In humble wyse their heauy wrath t' ppease And me of mighty sight and dreams to ease My second wish shal be that this feare all Vppon my foes as sodayne chaunce may fall O Nurse pray thou for mee some vowes do make Toth ' Gods that ghostly feare his flight my take THE SECOND SCENE Chorus IF stealth discloasde by blabbing fame And lusty pleasaunt thankfull loue Of IOVE be true who fourme did frame Of swan to come from skies aboue And did enioy the sweete consent Of Ladye LEDAS loues delight VVho like a Bull his labour spent Through flowing floods to cary quite EVROPA slylie stolne awaye Hee will no doubt leaue raygne of Skye And POPPIES loue disguisd assaye If hee her soueraygne beauty spye VVhich hee might wel preferre before Fayre LAEDAS sugred sweete delight And DANAE whom hee wonne of yore Amasde with golden shoure so bright Let SPARTE now for HELENS sake Of beauty bragging fame vprayse Admit the TROIAN heardman make Of gayned spoyle tryumphant prayse Fayre HELEN here is stayned quight VVhose beauty bredde such boyling yre That earth was matched euen in sight VVith TROIAN towres consumde with fyre But who is this that runnes with feare opprest Or els what newes bringes he in panting breast THE THIRD SCENE Nuntius Chorus WHat sturdy champion stoute doth ioy with glee Our chieftaynes royal bower safe to see Then to his court I counsel him to wend Gainst which the populus rout their force doth bend The rulers runne amasde to fetch the gard And armed troupes of men theyr towne to ward Nor woodnes rashly cought through feare doth ceasse But more and more their power doth encrease Ch. What sodain rage doth beat their brawling braine Nun. The garisons great with fury astonde againe And sturred vp for Queene Octauias sake With monstrous mischiefe vile their rage to slake They rumbling rush into the Pallace farre Cho. What dare they do their counsailers who are Nun. Aduaunce their Empresse old subuert the new And graunt hir brothers beds as is hir due Cho. Which Poppie now with hole consent doth hold Nun. Yea that vnbrideled rage in brest vprold Sets them agog and makes them wondrous wood What euer ymage grauen in marble stood If Poppies badge it bare or if in sight It tended for to shew hir beauty bryght Though it on heauenly altares braue did stand They break or pull it down with sword or hand Some parts with ropes sure tide they trayle thē forth Which spurnd with durty feete as though naught worth With filthy stinking myre they it all beray And with their deedes their talke doth iumpe agree Which mine amased minde thinks true to bee For fierie flames they threat for to prepare Wherewith to waste the princes Pallace faire Vnlesse vnto their furious moode he giue His second wife and with Octauia liue But he by me shall know in what hard stay The City stands the rulers I le obay Cho. A lack what made you cruell warres in vaine To moue sith prisoner loue you can not gaine You can not him ouercome your fiery flame He recketh not his syre ouercomes the same He darkened hath those thundring thumps that shake Heauen Earth Hel sea al things that makes to quake Yea mighty Ioue in heauen that weares chief crowne His flames from welkin hie hath brought adowne And you not victors now but vanquished Shall raunsome pay the price of hearts bloud red Loue pacient can not be but hote in rage No easie thing it is his wrath t' asswage Achilles worthy sight that was so stout To twang the Harpe he made in Ladies rout Prince Agamemnon sterne that boy benumd And rable rude of Greekes with loue bronds bumd King Priams raigne he topsie turuie tost Aud goodly Cities great he chiefly lost And now my minde sore frighted stands agast What Cupides furious force brings vs at last THE FOVRTH SCEANE Nero AH ah our captaines sloe dispatching coyle And our long suffring yre in such a broyle That streames of bloud yet do not quēch their rage Which thei against our propre person wage And that all Rome with corses strewd about Those cruell villaines bloud doth not sweat out But deedes already done with death to pay A small thing t' is a greater slaughtrous day The peoples cursed crime and eke that dame Whom I did aye suspect deserues the same whome to yelde those peasaunts would me make At last she shall with life our sorow slake And with hir bodies bloud shall quench our yre Then shall their houses fall by force of fyre What burning both and buildings fayre
kele to beare to hie a sale Vnleeful thinges that should be shund we gredely desyre But matters meeter for our state we seldome do require The pytying of aduersity doth oft enkindle more The feruent fittes of loue and this perhappe doth vrge him sore To see her reaft of natyue soyle it may his fancy touch Her hayre not tuct with tresses trimme nor dect with golden ouche Perhap the man with pitty prickt doth loue her for her care Vnto his noble hart to pitty prisoners t is not rare The sister deare of Priamus fayre Lady Hesyon he Did cause to Thelamon the Greeke in wedlocke knit to bee Account how many wyues before and maydens did he loue And raung'd abroade to coole the rage that Venus brand did moue Fayre Auge mayde of Arcadye ententiue set to leade Dianas drunce by force of him did leese her mayden hed And yet no token could she shew nor pledge of any ioue What shall I speake of any more or doth it mee behoue To prate what prankes he playd with fifty daughters in one night And yet how soone of such a pange he ouer came the might He set much store by Omphale of Lidia land the Queene When like a guest on Timolus the mount he hath bene seene He was so prict with Cupids dart and caught in Venus trap That tucke in womans weede he sat with distaf in his lap And spoon the flaxe with fombling fyst and rudely thumbde the threede Aud flong from him the syons case the price of noble deede With tresses tricke on plaited lockes he wayled as a mayde With myrre his ftiseled poale was smeard and curry bush was brayde Thus euery where as fancy flits the fondling dotes in loue But in such sort as easely he can the same remoue DEI. But they whom fickle fansies fits haue taynt doe learne at last In linke of loue by tract of time to fix affiaunce fast NV. Trow yee that hee this captiue queane and on whom hee doe see The daughter of his deadly foe will more esteeme then thee DE. As gladsome groues at Prime of spring in beauties pride are seene When fresshest warmth the naked twigges doth clad in pleasant greene But when coulde Boreas boysteous blast the pipling puffes doth stop Of south winde sweete rough wynter powles the naked busshes top The bare woode with misshapen stumpes doth shew a withered Face Euen so my beauty marching forth a season on his Race Still fades away and euermore abates his glimsing glosse And what so euer was in mee by care is come to losse And that which earst by fansy fed the greedy gazing eyes Is fallen away by bearing childe so oft it droupes and dyes And since I came to mothers state I faded fast away And wrinckled age with furrowed face steps in with quick decay But yet this bondmaydes â—eauter fresh her sorrow better brookes Her comely countnaunce crazied is with leane and wanny lookes And yet for all her kark and care amid her deepe distress Shee beares a glimse of beauty bryght and fauour nothing lesse Her heauy hap and frowning rate can nothing from her plucke Saue Scepter from her royall hande by all this lowring lucke By meanes of this first faynting feare did lodge within my breast That makes mee wake the weary nightes and leese my kindely rest In all mens eyes at first I seemde to be a blessed Wyfe And Ladies all at our estate repining very ryfe Did wyshe my watch in spite of fate what Stepster shall I hope As match in maiesty to Ioue within the heauenly coape Deare fosterdame whom shall I make my feere in spowsall bed Although Euryst that Hercules to all these toyles hath led Doe linke with mee in bridall bandes my state shal be impayrde T is small worth to deserue to bee to kingly wedlock rayrde NV. But Issue is the thing that doth in marriage kindell loue DE. And Issue is the thing that doth in marriage mallice moue NV. This while the bondmayde to thee for present shal be braught DE. Loe hee â—etreth vp and downe with pryncely pore full haught And buckles fast about his Loynes the liuely Lyons case Who doth inuest the wretched with the right of kingly mace Deposing those from honoures type that late so lofty sat And pestereth his puissaunt pawes with huge dvnweildy bat Of whose exploytes and maarciale actes the Seres sing aloofe And all enclosde in Ocean sea thereof haue perfit proofe Is now became an amorous knight the honour of his name Doth nothing touch his conscience to tender once his fame Hee roueth through the worlde as on that doth no whit esteeme Although that men as soone to Ioue shall him vnworthy deeme Nor like the man whose credit through the townes of Greece is greate Hee seekes to compasse his desier to worke a Louers feate With single Dames is his delight If any him deny Then to attayne his lawlesse lust by rigour doth hee try With men hee fareth frantickly to others smart and blame Hee wins his Wyues his folly frayle is cloackt by vertues name The noble City Oechalie is made a razed towne The Sunne twixt morne and euen did set in one day vp and downe One day did see it stand in state the same did see it fall These bloudy broyles and wasting warres of Loue proceeded all As oft as parents vnto him deny theyr daughters deare So oft I warrant them they neede his wrathfull fury feare So oft a man with Hercules shal be at deadly foode As hee denies his stepfather to bee by ioyning bloude If hee may not be sonne in law then doth hee rage and raue Why doe these guiltlesse handes of myne still keepe him from his graue Till hee dissemble franticke fits to bend his ayming bowe And deaths wounde on my chylde and me with bloudy hands bestowe Thus hawty Hercules was wont his wedlockes to deuorce Yet nought there is that lawe of guilt on him might haue recorse Hee makes the worlde blame Iuno for the ills hee hath commit O rigour of my rage why dost thou quallify my fit Now must thou set thy hands on worke too 't while thy hands bee hot N. Thy husband wilt thou slay D. Him whoÌ„ his Leman lewd hath got NV. But yet he is the sonne of Ioue DE. And so Alemenas sonne N. With stroke of steele D. With stroke of steele if it cannot bee donne Then for to bring his death to passe I le set for him a snare NV. What kinde of madnesse may it be that makes thee thus to fare D. Such as my husband hath mee taught N. Wilt thou thy spouse destroy On whom the stepdames spite yet had no power to work annoy D. The wrathes of heauenly mindes do make theÌ„ blest on whoÌ„ they light So doth not spite of mortall men N. Oh silly wretched wight For beare thy rage and feare the worst mans force may not assayle Him that agaynst the power of hell and death coulde once preuayle DE. I le venter on the dint
iagged skin is ript and out my smoaky Bowells swelt From bursten Paunch my selfe doe flea the skin with grasping pawse And from the naked boanes doe teare the mangled flesh by flawes I searched for thee through my Mawe yet further dost thou creepe And festring farther in my flesh hast gnawne an hole more deepe O mischiefe match to Hercules what griefe coulde make mee greete WheÌ„ce flow these streames of trilliÌ„g teares that down my cheekes do fleete The time hath bin no plunging pangues could cause our courage quaile That neuer vse with cristall teares our anguish to bewayle Ah fy I am ashamde that I should learne these teares to shed That Hercules in weeping wise his griefe hath languished Who euer saw at any day in any time or place All bitter brunes I bare with dry and eake vnreky face The manhoode that so many ills hath maistred heretofore Hath yeelded onely vnto thee to thee thou Cankar sore Thou first of all hast straynde the teares out of my weeping eyes Thy gargle face thy visage man that doth mee sore aggrise More towgh then mossy Rockes more hard then Gads of sturdy steele Or roaming streame of Simplegade whereby this smart I feele Hath crusht my cracking Iawes wronge the streaming teares froÌ„ me O wielder of the Welkin swifte loe loe the Earth doth see How Hercules doth weepe and wayle and to my greater payne My Stepdame Iuno sees the same beholde beholde agayne My Lunges doe fry the scorching heate preuayleth more and more Whence fell this thunder Boult on mee that burnes in mee so sore C. Who stoupeth not wheÌ„ griefe doth gal more tough theÌ„ Aem of Thrace Whas whilom hawty Hercules and did no more gieue place Then doth the marble axelltree his Lims hee now doth yeelde To paynefull pangues and on his Neck his aking heade doth wielde And tossing still from side to side hee bendes with hugy sway And oft his noble heart doth force his trilling teares to stay Hercules Alcmena O Father wyth thy heauenly Eyes Beholde my wretched plight For neuer HERCVLES till nowe bid craue thy hande of might Not when as Hydraës fruictfull heads about my Lyms were wounde Nor when I locke in Lakes alow fought with th' infernall hownde These hideous fiends I foylde with kings tyraunts prowde likewise Yet in these broyles I neuer lookt for succour to the skyes This hand did still auouch the vowe no thunder for my sake Did glitter in the holy heauens this day hath hid mee make Some suite to thee and of my boones yet heere 's the first and last One onely Thunder boult I craue at mee O Ioue to cast Count mee a Giaunt of my selfe I can no lesse deuise While Ioue I thought of promise true I spaarde the starry skies Bee thou eyther a cruell sier or pity if thou haue Yet lend thy sonne thy help and get the glory of my graue Preuenting this my dreary death of this if thou doe skorne Or that thy hand abhorre the guilt from Sicill cliue suborne The soultring Giaunts that in hand high Pindus mount can weilde Or Ossa that it hurlde on mee I may therewith bequielde Brast vp hell Gates and let Bellone scourge mee with Iron rod And let in armes encounter mee the mighty Martiall God My brother I acknowledge him but by my sâ—epdames side And Pallas thou my sister take let at thy brother slide A thirling Darte O stepdame myne with humble suite I craue A wounde of thee that womans hand may bring mee to my graue Why dost thou feede thy fury nowe as one whose wrath were ende And satisfied what seeke yee more I stoupe I yeelde I bende Thou seest Alcides humbly layde where as vnto this day That euer I entreated thee no Land no Beast can say Now doe I neede thy deadly wrath to rid mee of my payne And now thy rankour is appeasde thy hate is quencht agayne And thus thou sparest mee my life when as I wishe to dye O Earth will none make mee the fier wherein my bones may fry Nor reach a blade to Hercules conuay yee all from mee So let no country Monsters breede when I shall buried be And let none wayle the losse of mee if 〈◊〉 more aryse God send another Hercules to succour Earth and skyes But as for mee on euery side ding out my broosed brayne And crash with sturdy stroke of stones my cursed Scull in twayne And rid my torments wilt thou not O worlde to mee vnkynde And are so soone our benefits forgotten in thy mynde Een to this bower with bugs and beasts thou had 〈◊〉 ouer layde Had not I bin good people cause his torments to be stayde That succored you time giues you leaue to recompence my payne If yee with death will guerden mee I aske none other gayne AL. Where shall I wretched mother of Alcides wishe to bee Where is my chylde where is my sonne If sight deceaue not mee With gasping mouth and panting heart loe where hee sprawling lyes Where as alas in raging heart of boyling fits hee fryes Hee groues all is dispacht deare childe let mee Alcides myne Embrace thy pining lims with kisse enfoulde my armes in thyne Where are the lims where is the neck that bare the skies alone What thus hath mangled thee that all thy corps is waste and gone HE. I am your Hercles mother deare whom thus yee see here lost Acknowledge mee all though God knowes I seeme but as a ghost Why doe you turne your face away and mourning visage mylde Are yee ashamde that Hercules should counted bee your chylde AL. What world hath bred this vncouth bug what land engendred it Or els what monstrous mischiefe may on thee triumphing sit Who i st that conquers Hercules HE. By treason of his Wyfe Thou seest how wretched Hercules do leese his lothed Lyfe AL. To ouerthrow my Hercules what treason hath the might HE. That which a wrathfull Dame doth seeke to case her of her spight AL. How hath this pestilence gotten to thy Lims and bleeding bones HE. Iâ—to a Shyrt the woman had conuayde it for the nonce AL. Where is the Shyrt for nothing but thy naked coips I see HE. The vesture by the poyson ranke deâ—owred is with mee AL. And can such poyson be contriued HE. I thinke within my guts That hideous Hydra hissing Snake his slowghy body puts A thousand plagues of Lerna Poole within my Bowelles rampes What raging deare is this that driues vp all Sicilia dampes What Eâ—me of Hell forbids the day to passe the boyling â—one O Maâ—es amid the greedy gulphes and pooles let me be throwne What Ister can my Carkas coole no not the Ocean mayne Of these my stewing vapours may the raging quench agayne Al moysture of my limmes in these my fits are fryde away The iuyce wil sone be soaked vp what president of hel Let me returne from vnder grounde agayne with Ioue to dwell He ought to haue retaynd me still receiue me once agayne Into thy dungeon darke