THE BRAZEN AGE The first Act containing The death of the Centaure Nessus THE SECOND The Tragedy of Meleager THE THIRD The Tragedy of Iason and Medea THE FOVRTH UVLCANS NET THE FIFTH The Labours and death of HERCVLES Written by THOMAS HEYWOOD LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Samuel Rand dwelling neere Holborne-Bridge 1613 To the Reader THough a third brother should not inherite whilst the two elder liue by the laws of the Land therfore it might breed in mee a discoragement to commit him without any hereditary means to shift for it selfe in a world so detractiue calumnious yet rather presuming vpon the ingenious then affraid of the enuious I haue expos'd him to the fortunes of a yonger brother which is most cōmonly brauely to liue or desperately to hazard yet this is my comfort that what imperfection soever it haue hauing a brazen face it cannot blush much like a Pedant about this Towne who when all trades fail'd turn'd Pedagogue once insinuating with me borrowed frō me certaine Translations of Ouid as his three books De Arte Amandi two De Remedio Amoris which since his most brazen face hath most impudently challenged as his own wherefore I must needs proclaime it as far as Ham where he now keeps schoole Hos ego versiculos feci tulit alter honores they were things which out of my iuniority and want of indgement I committed to the veiw of some priuate friends but with no purpose of publishing or further cōmunicating thē Therfore I wold entreate that Austin for so his name is to acknowledge his wrong to me in shewing them his owne impudence ignorance in challenging thē But courteous Reader I can onely excuse him in this that this is the Brazen Age Drammatis Personae HOMER Oeneus K of Calidon Althea Her two brothers Deyaneira Meleager Hercules Achelous Nessus Iason Atreus Tellamon Nestor Medea Oetes Absyrtus Adonis Atlanta Apollo Aurora Iupiter Mercury Iuno Mars Venus Gallus Vulcan Lychas Omphale Her maids Aeneas Anchises Laomedon Hesione Priam Philoctetes Water Nymphes Castor Pollux Pyragmon The Brazen Age CONTAINING The labours and death of Hercules Enter HOMER AS the world growes in yeares 't is the Heauens curse Mens sinnes increase the pristine times were best The Ages in their growth wax worse worse The first was pretious full of golden rest Siluer succeeded good but not so pure Then loue and harmelesse lusts might currant passe The third that followes we finde more obdure And that we title by the Age of Brasse In this more grosse and courser mettal'd Age Tyrants and fierce oppressors we present Nephewes that 'gainst their Vnckles wreake their rage Mothers against their children discontent A sister with her brother at fierce warre Things in our former times not seene or knowne But vice with vertue now begins to iarre And sinnes though not at height yet great are growne Still with our history we shall proceed And Hercules victorious acts relate His marriage first next many a noble deed Perform'd by him last how he yeelds to Fate And these I hope may with some mixtures passe So you sit pleas'd in this our Age of Brasse Actus 1. Scoena 1. Enter Oeneus King of Calidon Queene Althea Meleager Deianeira Plexippus and Toxeus brothers to the Queene K. Oen. Thus midst our brothers daughter Queene and sonne Sits Oeneus crown'd in fertill Calidon Whose age and weakenesse is supported only In those ripe ioyes that I receiue from you Plex. May we long stand supporters of your royaltyes And glad spectators of your age and peace Tox. The like I wish K. Oen. We haue found you brothers royall And subiects loyall Althea They are of our line Of which no branch did euer perish yet By Cankers blastings or dry barrennesse But Meleager let me turne to thee Whose birth the Fates themselues did calculate Mel. Pray mother how was that I haue heard you say Somewhat about my birth miraculous But neuer yet knew the true circumstance Althea 'T was thus the very instant thou wast borne The sisters that draw spinne and clip our liues Entred my chamber with a fatall brand Which hurling in the fire thus said One day one date Betide this brand and childe euen be their fate So parted they the brand begins to burne And as it wasted so didst thou consume Which I perceiuing leap't vnto the flame And quenching that stayd thy consumption The brand I as a iewell haue reseru'd And keepe it in a casket lock't as safe As in thy bosome thou maintainst thy heart Melea. Pray keepe it well for if not with my mother With whom dare Meleager trust his life But sister Deianeira now to you Two worthy Champians must this day contend And try their eminence in Armes for you Great Achelous and strong Hercules Deia. We know it my loue must be bought with blowes Not Oratory wins me but the sword He that can braueliest in the lists contend Must Deianeira's nuptiall bed ascend Oen. Brothers conduct these Champions to the lists Meane time Althea state thee on that hand On this side Deianeira the rich prize Of their contention Melea. Clamors from a farre Tell vs these Champions are a drest for warre Enter at one doore the riuer Achelous his weapons borne in by Water-Nymphes At the other Hercules K. Oen. Stand forth you warlike Champions and expresse Your loues to Deianeira in your valours As we are Oeneus the Aetolians King And vnder vs command whole Calidon So we contest we make her here the prize Of the proud victor Ache. Dares the Theban bastard Contend with vs as we are eldest sonne Vnto the graue and old Oceanus And the Nymph Nais borne on Pindus mount From whence our broad and spacious currents rise So are we proud to coape with Hercules Nere let my streames wash Acarnania's bankes Or we confin'de in Thous our grand seat Till by the ruine of Alcmena's sonne We lodge bright Deianeira in our armes Herc. Haue we the Cleonean Lyons torne And deck't our shoulders in their honored spoyles The Calidonian Boare crusht with our Club The rude Thessalian Centaurs sunke beneath Our Iuiall hand pierc'd hell bound Cerberus And buffeted so long till from the fome The dogge belch't forth strong Aconitum spring And shall a petty riuer make our way To Deianeira's bed impassable Know then the pettiest streame that flowes through Greece I l'e make thee run thy head below thy bankes Make red thy waters with thy vitall bloud And spill thy waues in droppes as small as teares If thou presum'st to coape with Hercules Ache. What 's Hercules that I should dread his name Or what 's he greater then Amphitrio's sonne When we assume the name of Demi-god Not Proteus can trans-shape himselfe like vs For we command our figure when we please Sometimes we like a serpent run along Our medowy bankes and sometimes like a Bull Graze on these strands we water with our streames We can translate our fury to a fire
To haue purchast honour in this hauty quest Enter Atlanta with a Iauelin Hornes winded Atl. Haile princes let it not offend this troop That I a Princesse and Atlanta cald A virgin Huntresse presse into the field In hope to double guild my Iauelins poynt In bloud of yon wilde swine Melea. Virgineam in puero puerilem in virgine vultum Aspicio Oh you Gods or make her mine Stated with vs the Calidonian Queene Or let this monstrous beast confound me quite And in his vast wombe bury all my fate Beauteous Atlanta welcome grace her princes For Meleagers honour Iason Come shal 's vncupple Lords Some plant the toiles others brauely mount To un-den this sauadge Melea. Time and my bashfull loue Admits no courtship Lady ranke with vs I l'e be this day your guardian and a shield Betweene you and all danger Atlant. We are free And in the chace will our owne guardian be Shal s to the field my Iauelin and these shafts Pointed with death shall with the formost flye And by a womans hand the beast shall dye Enter Adonis winding his horne Melea. As bold as faire but soft whose bugle 's that Which cals vs to the chace Adonis yours Adonis Mine oh you noble Greekes we haue discouered The dreadfull monster wallowing in his den The toyles are fixt the huntsmen plac't on hils Prest for the charge the fierce Thessalian hounds With their flagge eares ready to sweep the dew From the moist earth their breasts are arm'd with steele Against the incounter of so grim a beast The hunters long to vncupple and attend Your presence in the field Atlanta Follow Atlanta I l'e try what prince will second me in field And make his Iauelins point shake euen with mine Melea. That Meleagers shall Tela. Nor Telamon Will come behinde Atlanta or the Prince Iason Charge brauely then your Iauelins send them singing Through the cleare aire and aime them at yon fiend Den'd in the quechy bogge the signall Lords All charge charge a great winding of hornes shouts Meleag. Princes shrill your Bugles free And all Atlanta's danger fall on me Enter Iason and Telamon Iason This way this way renowned Telamon The Boare makes through yon glade and from the hils He hurries like a tempest In his way He prostrates trees and like the bolt of Ioue Shatters where ere he comes Tela. Diana's wrath Sparkles grim terrour from his fiery eyes One Iauelin pointed with the purest brasse I haue blunted 'gainst his ribs yet he vnscar'd The head as darted 'gainst a rocke of marble Rebounded backe Iason He shakes off from his head Our best Thessalian dogges like Sommer flyes Nor can their sharpe phangs fasten on his hide Follow the cry A shout Enter Castor and Pollux Castor Wher 's noble Telamon Pollux Or warlike Iason Iason Here you Tyndarides Speake which way bends this plague of Calidon Castor Here may you stand him for behold he comes Like a rough torrent swallowing where he spreads Ouer his head a cloud of terrour hangs In which leane death as in a Chariot rides Darting his shafts on all sides 'mongst the Princes Of fertill Greece Anceus bowels lye Strewd on the earth torne by his rauenous tuskes And had not Nestor by his Iauelins helpe Leap't vp into an Oke to haue scap't his rage He had now perisht in his second Age Pollux Peleus is wounded Pelegon lies slaine Eupalemon hath all his body rent With an oblique wound yet Meleager still And Theseus and Atreus with the rest Pursue the chace with Boare-speares cast so thicke That where they flye they seeme to darke the ayre And where they fall they threaten imminent ruine Iason To these wee 'l adde our fury and our fire And front him though his brow bare figured hell And euery wrinkle were the gulfe of Styx By which the Gods contest Come noble Telamon Diana's monster by our hands shall fall Or with the Princes slaine let 's perish all Exeunt Hornes and shouts Enter Meleager Atlanta Meleag. Thou beauteous Nonacris Arcadia's pride How hath thy valour with thy fortune ioyn'd To make thee staine the generall fortitude Of all the Princes we deriue from Greece Thy launces poynt hath on yon armed monster Made the first wound and the first crimson droppe Fell from his side thy ayme and arme extracted Thy fame shall neuer dye in Calidon Atl. We trifle heere what shall Atlanta gaine The first wounds honour and be absent from The monsters death we must haue hand in both Melea. Thou hast purchast honour and renowne enough Oh staine not all the generall youth of Greece By thy too forward spirit Come not neere Yon rude blood-thirsty sauadge lest he prey On thee as on Anceus and the rest Let me betweene thee and all dangers stand Hornes Fight but fight safe beneath our puissant hand Atl. The cry comes this way all my shafts I l'e spend To giue the fury that affrights vs end Melea. And ere that monster on Atlanta pray This point of steele shal through his hart make way exeūt After great shouts enter Venus Venus Adonis thou that makest Venus a Huntresse Leaue Paphos Gnidon Eryx Erecine And Amathon with precious mettals bigge Mayst thou this day liue bucklerd in our wing And shadowed in the amorous power of loue My swannes I haue vnyoakt and from their necks Tane of their bridles made of twisted silke And from my chariot stucke with Doues white plumes Lighted vpon this verdure where the Boare Hath in his fury snow'd his scattered foame A cry within What cry was that It was Adonis sure That piercesant shrike shrild through the musicall pipes Of his sweete voyces organs thou Diana If thou hast sent this fiende to ruin loue Or print the least skarre in my Adons flesh Thy chastity I will abandon quite And with my loosenesse blast thy Cinthian light Enter Theseus and Nestor bringing in Adonis wounded to death Thes. There lie most beauteous of the youths of Greece Whose death I will not mourne ere I reuenge Nest. I 'le second thee thou pride of Greece adiew Whom too much valor in thy prime ore-threw Exit Ven. Y' are not mine eyes for they to fee him dead Would from their soft beds drop vpon the earth Or in their owne warme liquid moisture drowne Their natiue brightnesse th' art not Venus heart For wer 't thou mine at this sad spectacle Th'dst breake these ribs though they were made of brasse And leap out of my bosome instantly My sorrowes like a populous throng all striuing At once to passe through some inforced breach In stead of winning passage stop the way And so the greatest hast breeds the most stay Oh mee my multiplicity of sorrowes Makes me almost forget to grieue at all Speake speake my Adon thou whom death hath fed on Ere thou wast yet full ripe and this thy beautie 's Deuour'd ere tasted Eye where 's now thy brightnesse Or hand thy warmth Oh that such louely parts Should be by death
ruin Clamours of men and woemens loud exclaimes Burnings of children the vniuersall curse Of a great people all to saue one man A straggler God knowes whence deriu'd where borne Or hether where Noble let the proud Greeke die Wee still in Colchos sit instated hye Oh me that looke vpon Medea cast Drownes all these feares and hath the rest surpast Iason Madam because I loue I pitty you That you a beauteous Lady art-full wise Should haue your beauty and your wisedome both Inuelopt in a cloud of Barbarisme That on these barren Confines you should liue Confin'd into an Angle of the world And ne're see that which is the world indeed Fertile and populous Greece Greece that beares men Such as resemble Gods of which in vs You see the most deiected and the meanest How harshly doth your wisedome sound in th' eares Of these Barbarians dull unapprehensible And such in not conceiuing your hid Arts Depriue them of their honour In Greece springs The fountaines of Diuine Phylosophy They are all vnderstanders I would haue you Bright Lady with vs enter to that world Of which this Colchos is no part at all Shew then your beauty to these iudging eies Your wisedome to these vnderstanding eares In which they shall receiue their merited grace And leaue this barraine cold and stirrill place Medea His presence without all this Oratory Did much with vs but where they both conioyne To entrap Medea shee must needs bee caught Iason I long to see this Colchian Lady clad In Hymens stateliest roabes whom the glad Matrones Bright Ladies and Imperiall Queenes of Greece Shall welcome and applaud and with rich gifts Present for sauing of their sonnes and kinsmen From these infernall monsters As for Iason If you Medea shall despise his loue He craues no other life then to die so Since life without you is but torturing paine And death to men distrest is double gaine Medea That tongue more then Medeaes spels inchants And not a word but like our exorcismes And power of charmes preuailes Oh lone thy Maiesty Is greater then the triple Hecates Bewitching Circes or these hidden skils Ascrib'd vnto th' infernall Proserpine I that by incantations can remoue Hils from their syts and make huge mountaines shake Darken the Sunne at noone call from their graues Ghosts long since dead that can command the earth And affright heauen no spell at all can find To bondage loue or free a captiue minde Iason Loue Iason then and by thy Diuine aide Giue me such power that I may tug vnscorcht Amidst the flames with these thy fiery fiends That I vnuenom'd may these Vipers teeth Cast from my hand through Morpheus leaden charmes Ouer that wakefull snake that guards the Fleece For which liue Iasons happy Bride in Greece Medea A match what hearbs or spels what Magicke can Command in heauen earth or in hell below What either aire or sea can minister To guard thy person all these helps I 'le gather To girdle thee with safety Iason Be thou then For euer Iasons and through Greece renown'd In whom our Heroes haue such safety found Our bargaine thus I seale He kisseth her Medea Which I 'le make good With Colchos fall and with my fathers bloud Enter Absyrtus Absyr. Prince Iason all the Heroes at the banquet Inquire for you twice hath my father Oetes Made search for you Oh sister Medea No word you saw vs two in conference Absyr. Do you take me to be a woman to tell all I see And blab all I know I that am in hope one day to Lie with a woman will once lie for a woman Sister I saw you not Iason Remember come Prince will you leade the way Absyr. I haue parted you that neuer parted fray Come sir will you follow Exit Manet Medea Medea The night growes on and now to my black Arts Goddesse of witchcraft and darke ceremony To whom the elues of Hils of Brookes of Groues Of standing lakes and cauernes vaulted deepe Are ministers three-headed Hecate Lend me thy Chariot drawne with winged snakes For I this night must progresse through the Aire What simples grow in Tempe of Thessaly Mount Pindus Otheris Ossa Appidane Olimpus Caucas or high Teneriff I must select to finish this great worke Thence must I flye vnto Amphrisus Foords Aud gather plants by the swift Sperchius streames Where rushy Bebes and Anthedon flow Where hearbes of bitter iuice and strong sent grow These must I with the haires of Mandrakes vse Temper with Poppy-seeds and Hemlocke iuice With Aconitum that in Tartar springs With Cypresse Ewe and Veruin and these mix With Incantations Spels and Exorcisims Of wonderous power and vertue oh thou night Mother of darke Arts hide mee in thy vaile Whilst I those banks search and these mountaines skale Sownd Enter King Oetes Absyrtus and Lords Oetes Vpon the safeguard of this golden Fleece Colchos depends and he that beares it hence Beares with it all our fortunes the Argonautes Haue it in quest if Iason scape our monsters I 'le rather at some banquet poyson him And quaffe to him his death or in the night Set fire vpon his Argoe and in flames Consume the happy hope of his returne This purpose we as we are Colchos King Absyrtus where 's your sister Absyrtus In her chamber Oetes When you next see her giue to her this noate The manner of our practise her fell hand Cannot be mist in this but it shall fall Heauy on these that Colchos seekes to thrall The howre drawes nigh the people throng on heapes To this aduenture in the field of Mars And noble Iason arm'd with his good shield Is vp already and demands the field Enter Iason Hercules and the Argonauts Iason Oetes I come thus arm'd demanding combat Of all those monsters that defend thy Fleece And to these dangers singly I oppose My person as thou seest when setst thou ope The gates of hell to let thy deuils out Glad would I wrastle with thy fiery Buls And from their throats the flaming dewlops teare Vnchaine them and to Iason turne them loose That as Alcides did to Achelous So from their hard fronts I may teare there hornes And lay the yoake vpon their vntam'd necks Oetes Yet valiant Greeke desist I though a stranger Pitty thy youth or if thou wilt persist So dreadfull is the aduenture thou persuest That thou wilt thinke I shall vnbowell hell Vnmacle the fiends and make a passage Free for the Infernals Iason I shall welcome all Medea now if there be power in loue Or force in Magicke if thou hast or will Or Art try all the power of Characters Vertue of Symples Stones or hidden spels If earth Elues or nimble airy Spirits Charmes Incantations or darke Exorcismes If any strength remaine in Pyromancy Or the hid secrets of the aire or fire If the Moones spheare can any helpe infuse Or any influent Starre collect them all That I by thy aide may these monsters thrall Oetes Discouer them Two fiery
double good hast thou with shame And iniury repaide me I will now A sister be no mother for I vow Reuenge and death Furies assist my hand Whilst in red flames I cast his vitall brand Exit A banquet enter Meleager Iason Theseus Castor Pollux Nestor Peleus Atreus Atlanta Meleag. For faire Atlanta and your Honours Lords We banquet you this day and to beginne Our festiuals we 'le crowne this Iouiall health Vnto our brother Theban Hercules And Deyaneira will you pledge it Lords Iason None but admire and loue their matchlesse worths Not faire Atlanta will refuse this health Atlan. You beg of mee a pledge I 'le take it lason As well for his sake that beginnes the round As those to whom 't is vow'd Tell. Well spoke Atlanta but I wonder Lords What Prouince now holds Theban Hercules Thes. He is the mirrour and the pride of Greece And shall in after ages be renoun'd But we forget his health come Tellamon Aime it at mee A fire Enter Althea with the brand Althea Assist my rage you sterne Eumenides To you this blacke deed will I consecrate Pitty away hence thou consanguine loue Maternall zeale peccentall piety All cares loues duties offices affections That grow 'tweene sonnes and mothers leaue this place Let none but furies murders paracides Be my assistants in this dam'd attempt All that 's good and honest I confine Blacke is my purpose Hell my thoughts are thine Mel. To bright Atlanta this loud musicke sown'd Her health shall with our loftiest straines be crown'd Althea Drinke quaffe be blith oh how this festiue ioy Stirs vp my fury to reuenge and death Thus thus you Gods aboue abiect your eies From this vnnaturall act the murderer dies Shee fires the brand Mel. Oh oh Atlan. My Lord Mel. I burne I burne Iason What suddaine passion 's this Mele. The flames of hell and Pluto's sightlesse fires Are through my entrals and my veines dispierst oh Tell. My Lord take courage Mel. Courage Tellamon I haue a heart dares threate or challenge hell A brow front heauen a hand to challenge both But this my paine 's beyond all humane sufferance Or mortall patience Althea What hast thou done Althea stay thy fury And bring not these strange torments on thine owne Thou hast too much already backe my hand She takes out the brand And saue his life as thou conserust this brand Atlan How cheeres the warlike Prince of Calidon Mel. Well now I am at ease and peace within Whither 's my torture fled that with such suddennesse Hath freed me from disturbance were we ill Come sit againe to banquet musicke sownd Till this to Deyaneiraes health go round Althea Shall mirth and ioy crowne his degenerate head Whilst his cold Vnkles on the earth lie spread No wretched youth whilst this hand can destroy I 'le cut thee off in midst of all thy ioy She fires the brand Mel. Againe Againe Althea Burne perish wast fire sparkle and consume And all thy vitall spirits flie with this fume Mel. still still there is an Aetna in my bosome The flames of Stix and fires of Acheron Are from the blacke Chimerian shades remou'd And fixt heere heere oh for Euenus floud Or some coole streame to shoote his currents through My flaming body make thy channell heere Thou mighty floud that streamest through Calidon And quench me all you springs of Thessaly Remoue your heads and fixe them in my veines To coole me oh Iason Defend vs heauen what suddaine extasy Or vnexpected torture hath disturb'd His health and mirth Mel. Worse then my torment That I must die thus thus that the Boare had slaine me Happy Anceus and Adonis blest You died with fame and honour crownes your rest My flame increaseth still oh father Oeneus And you Althea whom I would call mother But that my genius prompts me th' art vnkind And yet farewell Atlanta beauteous maide I cannot speake my thoughts for torture death Anguish and paines all that Promethean fire Was stolne from heauen the Thiefe left in my bosome The Sunne hath cast his element on me And in my entralls hath he fixt his Spheare His pointed beames he hath darted through my heart And I am still on flame Althea So now 't is done The brand consum'd his vitall threed quite spun Exit Meleag. Now 'gins my fire waste and my naturall heat To change to Ice and my scortch't blood to freeze Farewell since his blacke ensigne death displayes I dye cut off thus in my best of dayes He dyes Iason Dead is the flower and pride of Calidon Who would displease the Gods Diana's wrath Hath stretch't euen to the death and tragicke ruine Of this faire hopefull Prince here stay thy vengeance Goddesse of chastity and let it hang No longer ore the house of Calidon Since thou hast cropt the yong spare these old branches That yet suruiue Enter Althea Althea She shall not Iason no She shall not Do you wonder Lords of Greece To see this Prince lye dead why that 's no nouell All men must dye thou he and euery one Yea I my selfe must but I l'e tell you that Shall stiffe your haire your eyes start from heads Print fixt amazement in your wondring fronts Yea and astonish all This was my sonne Borne with sick throws nurst from my tender brest Brought vp with femine care cherisht with loue His youth my pride his honour all my wishes So deere that little lesse he was then life But will you know the wonder 'lasse too true Him all my sonnes this my inrag'd hand slue This hand that Dians quenchlesse rage to fill Shall with the slaine sonnes sword the mother kill Althea kils herselfe with Meleagers sword Tela. The Queene hath slaine herselfe who 'l beare these newes to the sad King Enter a seruant Seru. That labour may be spar'd The King no sooner heard of his sonnes death wrought by his mother in the fatall brand But he sunke dead sorrow so chang'd his weakenesse And without word or motion he expir'd Iason Wee 'l see them ere we part from Calidon Inter'd with honour But we soiourne long In this curst Clime oh let vs not incurre Diana's fury our next expedition Shall be for Colchos and the golden Fleece Vnto which Princes we inuite you all Our stately Argoe we haue rig'd and trim'd And in it we will beare the best of Greece Stil'd from our ship by name of Argonauts Great Hercules will with his company Grace our aduenture and renowne all Greece By the rich purchase of the Colchian Fleece Exit HOMER Let not euen Kings against the Gods contest Lest in this fall their ruines be exprest Thinke Hercules from clensing the fowle stall And stable of Augeus in which fed Three hundred Oxen neuer freed at all Till his arriue return'd where he was bred To Thebes there Deianeira him receiues With glad imbraces but he staies not long Iason the Lady of her Lord bereaues For in the new-rig'd Argoe with the yong And
Buls are discouered the Fleece hanging ouer them and the Dragon sleeping beneath them Medea with strange fiery-workes hangs aboue in the Aire in the strange habite of a Coniuresse Medea The hidden power of Earth Aire Water Fire Shall from this place to Iasons helpe conspire Fire withstand fire and magicke temper flame By my strong spels the sauadge monster's tame So that 's perform'd now take the Vipers teeth And sow them in the furrowed field of Mars Of which strange seed men ready arm'd must grow To assault Iason Already from beneath Their deadly pointed weapons gin to appeare And now their heads thus moulded in the earth Streight way shall teeme and hauing freed their fate The stalkes by which they grow all violently Pursue the valiant Greeke but by my sorcery I 'le turne their armed points against themselues And all these slaues that would on Iason flie shoutes Shall wound themselues and by sedition die Yet thriues the Greeke now kill the sleeping snake Which I haue charm'd and thence the Trophy take These shouts witnesse his conquest I le discend Heare Iasons feares and all my charmes take end Hercules Oetes how is this rich and pretious Fleece By Iasons sword repurchast and must turne Vnto the place whence Phrixus brought his Ramme Oetes That practise by your ruins I le preuent And sooner then with that returne to Greece Your slaughtered bodies leaue with this rich fleece Iason Since our aduenture is atchieu'd and done The prize is ours we ceize what we haue wone Oetes Enioy it Iason I admire thy worth Which as it hath exceeded admiration So must we needs applaud it Noble gentlemen Depart not Colchos ere your worths and valour We with some rich and worthy gifts present The conquest of our Buls and Dragons death Though we esteem'd them yet they sad vs not Since we behold the safety of this prince Enter our palace and your praise sownd hye Where you shall feast or all by treason dye Exeunt Absyr. I haue not seeene my sister to day I muse she hath not beene at this solemnity me thinkes she should not haue lost this triumph I haue a note to deliuer her from my father Here she comes Enter Medea Sister peruse this briefe you know the character It is my fathers This is all Exit She reads Medea Iason with his Argonauts this night must perish the fleece not be trāsported to Greece Medea your assistance This is my fathers plot to ouerthrow Prince Iason and the noble Argonauts Which I l'e preuent I know the King is sudden And if preuention be delay'd they dye I that haue ventured thus farre for a loue Euen to these arts that Nature would haue hid As dangerous and forbidden shall I now Vndoe what I haue done through womanish feare Paternall duty or for filiall loue No Iason thou art mine and my desire Shall wade with thee through bloud through seas through fire Enter Iason Iason Madam Medea My Lord I know what you would say Thinke now vpon your life the King my father Intends your ruine to redeeme the fleece And it repurchase with your tragicke deaths Therefore assemble all your Argonauts And let them in the silence of the night Lanch from the Colchian harbour I l'e associate you As Iasons bride Iason You are my patronesse And vnder you I triumph when the least Of all these graces I forget the Gods Reuenge on me my hated periury Must we then lanch this night you are my directresse And by your art I l'e manage all my actions Medea Then flye I l'e send to see your Argoe trim'd Rig'd and made tight night comes the time growes on Hye then aboord Iason I shall Exit Medea Now populous Greece Thanke vs not Iason for this conquer'd fleece Enter Oetes Oetes Medea we are rob'd despoil'd dishonored Our Fleece rap't hence we must not suffer it Since all our ominous fortunes it includes I am resolu'd Iason this night shall dye Medea Should he suruiue you might be held vnworthy The name of King my hand shall be as deepe As yours in his destruction Oetes A strong guard I will select and in the dead of night When they are sunke in Lethe set vpon them And kill them in their beds Medea I l'e second you And laue my stain'd hands in their reeking blouds That practise your dishonour Oetes Iason then dyes When he most hopes for this rich Colchian prize Exit Medea But ere the least of all these ils betide This Colchian strond shall with thy bloud be dy'd For Iason and his Argonauts I stand And will protect them with my art and hand Enter Iason with the Fleece and all the Greekes muffled Iason Madam Medea Leaue circumstance away Hoyse vp your sailes death and destruction Attends you on the shoare Iason You 'l follow Madam Exit Medea Instantly Blow gentle gales assist them winds and tide That I may Greece see liue Iasons bride Enter Absyrtus Absyr. How now sister so solitary Medea Oh happy met though it be late Absyrtus You must along with me Absyr. Whither pray Medea I l'e tell you as we walke This lad betweene me and all harme shall stand And if the King pursue vs with his Fleet His mangled limbes shall scattered in the way Worke our escape and the Kings speed delay Come brother Absyr. Any where with you sister exeunt Enter HOMER Hom. Let none to whom true Art is not deny'd Our monstrous Buls and magicke Snakes deride Some thinke this rich Fleece was a golden Booke The leaues of parchment or the skins of Rammes Which did include the Art of making gold By Chimicke skill and therfore rightly stild The Golden Fleece which to attaine and compasse Includes as many trauels mysteries Changes and Chymicke bodies fires and monsters As euer Iason could in Colchos meet The sages and the wise to keepe their Art From being vulgar yet to haue them tasted With appetite and longing giue those glosses And flourishes to shadow what they write Which might at once breed wonder and delight So did th' Aegyptians in the Arts best try'd In Hierogliphickes all their Science hide But to proceed the Argonauts are fled Whom the inrag'd Oetes doth pursue And being in sight Medea takes the head Of yong Absyrtus whom vnkinde she slue And all his other limbes strawes in the way Of the old father his pursute to stay The Shew In memory of this inhumane deed These Islands where his slaughtered limbes lye spred Were cal'd Absyrtides But we proceed With King Laomedon 'gainst whom are led The Argonauts Troy by Alcides rac'd Askes the next place and must in ranke be plac'd Enter Laomedon Priam Anchises Aeneas Hesione c. Lao. The Argonauts return'd Anchi. They are my Lord Lao. And landed Anchi. Landed Lao. Where Anchi. At Tenedos Lao. Could not those Colchian monsters in their bowels Bury the Greekes but must they all suruiue To threat vs with inuasion Speake Anchises March they towards Troy Anchis. In conduct of the
Whilst we vpon our manly shoulders beare These massy pillars we in Gades must reare Exeunt Manet Omphale Ompale We haue lost our seruant neuer yet had Lady One of the like ranke All King Thespius daughters Fifty in number childed all one night Could not preuaile so much with Hercules As we haue done no not faire Yo le Daughter to Cacus beauteous Megara Nor all the faire and amorous queenes of Greece Could slaue him like the Lydian Omphale Therefore where e're his labours be renown'd Let not our beauty passe vnregistred Bondaging him that captiu'd all the earth Nor will we leaue him or yet loose him thus What either beauty cunning flattery teares Or womans Art can we will practise on him But now the Priests and Princes are prepar'd For the great sacrifice which we will grace With our high presence and behold aloofe These rights vnto the gods perform'd and done We 'le gaine by Art what we with beauty won Enter to the sacrifice two Priests to the Altar sixe Princes with sixe of his labours in the midst Hercules bearing his two brazen pillars six other Princes with the other six labours Hercules staies them Herc. Now Ioue behold vs from thy spheare of Starres And shame not to acknowledge vs thy sonnes Thus should Alcides march amidst his spoiles Inguirt with slaughtered Lyons Hydraes Whales Boares Buls grim Tyrants Hel-hounds Monsters Furies And Princes his spectators oh you Gods To whom this day we consecrate your praiers And dedicate our sacred orisons Daine vs your eyes behold these sholders beare Two brazen pillars trophies of our fame That haue eas'd Atlas and supported heauen And had we shrunke beneath that heauenly structure The Spheares Orbs Planets Zeniths Signes and Stars With loues high Pallace all confusedly Had shattered falne and o're-whelm'd earth and sea Wee haue done that and all these labours else Which we this day make sacred lune see These we surrender to thy loue and thee set on As they march ouer the Stage enter Lychas with the shirt Lych. From Deianera I present this guift Wrought with her owne hand with more kind commends Then I haue measured steps to Lydia From Thebes which she intreats you weare for her Herc. More welcome is this guift to Hercules Then Iason's Fleece Laomedon's white Steeds Or should Ioue grace me with eternity Here stand our pillars with non vltra insculpt Which we must reare beyond the Pyrene Hils At Gades in Spaine Alcides vtmost bounds Whilst we put on this shirt the welcome present Of Deyianeira whom we deerely loue Lychas thy hand In this wee 'le sacrifice And make our peace with her and Iupiter Iason Neuer was Hercules so much himselfe How will this newes glad Deyaneiraes heart Or how this sight inrage faire Omphale Tell. All his dead honours he reuiues in this And Greece shall once more echoe with his fame Hercules puts on the shirt Herc. With this her present I put on her loue Witnesse heauen earth and all you Peeres of Greece I wed her once more in this ornament Her loue and her remembrance sit to me More neere by thousands then this roabe can cleaue So now before Ioues Altar let vs kneele And make our peace with heauen attone our selfe With beauteous Dyaneira our chast wife And cast away the loue of Omphale All the Princes knele to the altar Priest Princes of Greece assist vs with your thoughts And let your prayers with ours ascend the Speares For mortals orisons are sonnes to Ioue And when none else can they haue free accesse Vnto there fathers eare haile sonne of Saturne To whom when the three lots of heauen of sea And hell were cast the high Olimpus fell Herc. Oh oh Priest That with a nod canst make heauens collomes bend And th' earths Center tremble whose right hand Is arm'd with lightning and the left with feare Herc. No more are all the furies with their tortures Their whips and lashes crept into my skin Hath any sightlesse and infernall fire Laid hold vpon my flesh when did Alcides Thus shake with anguish thus change face thus shrinke Shall torture pale our cheeke no Priest proceed We will not feele the paine thou shalt not breed Iason What alteration 's this a thousand pangues I see euen in his visage in his silence He doth expresse euen hell Priest Thou sacred Ioue Behold vs at thy Altar prostrate here To beg attonement 'tweene our sins and thee Lend vs a gracious eare and eye Herc. Priest no more I 'le rend thy Typet hurle Ioues Altars downe Hauock his Offerings all his Lamps extinguish Raze his high Temples and skale heauen it selfe Vnlesse he stay my tortures Iason VVarlike Theban VVhence comes this fury is this madnes forc't That makes Alcides thus blaspheme the Gods Tell. Patient your selfe Herc. I will not Iason cannot Tellamon A stipticke poyson boyles within my veines Hell is within me for my marrow fries A vulture worse then that Promotheus feeles Fiers on my entrails and my bulke in flames Iason Yet be your selfe renowned Hercules Striue with your torture with your rage contend Seek to ore-come this anguish Herc. VVell I will See Iason see renowned Tellamon I will be well I 'le feele no poison boyle Though my bloud skal'd me though my hot suspires Blast where I breath like lightning though my lungs Seeth in my bloud I will not pale a cheeke Nor change a brow I will not spight of torture Anguish and paine I will not Omp. What strange fury Hath late possest him to be thus disturb'd Iason Why this is well once more repaire Ioues Altar Kindle these holy Tapers and proceed Herc. To plucke the Thunderer from his Christall throne And throw the Gallaxia by the locks And amber tresses drag the Queene of heauen Nestor Alcides Herc. Princes Iason Tellamon Helpe me to teare of this infernall shirt Which rawes me where it cleaues vnskin my brawnes And like one nak't rowl'd in a Tun of spikes Of thousands make one vniuersall wound And such is mine oh Deyaneira false Treacherous vnkind disloyall plucke teare rend Though you my bones leaue naked and my flesh Frying with poyson you cast hence to dogs Dread Neptune let me plundge me in thy seas To coole my body that is all on flame Or with thy tri-sulke thunder strike me Ioue And so let fire quench fire vnhand me Lords Let me spurne mountaines downe and teare vp rockes Rend by the roots huge Okes till I haue dig'd A way to hell or found a skale to heauen Something I must my torments are so great To quench this flame and qualify this heate Exit Iason Let vs not leaue him Princes least this out-rage Make him lay violent hands vpon him selfe If Deyaneiraes heart were with her hand She is her sexes scandall and her shame Euen whilst Time liues shall euery tongue proclaime Exit Omph. I 'le follow to and with what Art I can Striue this his rage and torture to allay Exit Lych. What 's in