wandring souls which far more dreadfull be Then common Spectres sudden flames oft dart Through all the Grove and fix i' th' highest part Oft hath from thence three Barks at once been heard And oft the House with monstrous Visions scar'd Nor can the Day expel such fears for there Is ever Night and these at Noon appear Oraculous Resolves have here been found By them that seek which with a frightfull sound That fills the Place arise from under-ground When Atreus mad with Rage was enter'd here Dragging his Nephews deckt the Altars were Who with fit words can such black Deeds relate Their Princely hands behind were pinnion'd streight Their Heads with purple fillets bound there lyes Ready both Incense for the Sacrifice And Wine and Knife ready prepar'd for it Lies Salt and Meal No Rite he doth omit Least not well done should be such wickedness Chorus Who to their Execution dares address Nun. He is the Priest himself himself doth Pray The Versicles of Death himself doth say The Victims he in order placeth and Standing at th' Altar takes the Sword in hand Himself attends and doth omit no Rite This the Grove sees and trembles at the sight So doth the Ground which shakes the House withall Whose Turrets doubtful on which side to fall Nod every way Also a Comet streams From Heavens left side which darts forth dismal beams The Wine as soon as cast into the flame VVas Transubstantiated and blood became Oft his Crown fell the Ivory Statues wept This all affrights he still his temper kept And stands withall as if he 'd terrifie The threatning gods But all delays lay'd by He now ascends the Altar with Oblique Looks and Malevolent Some Tyger like In Ganges Forrest whom fierce hunger fires Between two Steers that stands and both desires Yet unresolv'd which first to seize her eyes That threaten Death to this then that applys With doubt as much as hunger next And thus On the Devoted looks Dire Atreus Revolving in his mind which should be he That first must fall and which should Second be It matters not yet takes he much delight So high a Villany to Marshal right Chor. Which strikes he then Nun. Parental Piety Least he should want first Tantalus must dye T' his Grandsire dedicate Cho. Oh say how took The young Prince such a Death and with what look Nun. Careless of Life he stands and doth refuse In vain to supplicate or words to loose But Atreus by the throat him having tan'e Sheaths in his Breast the sword which out again Being redrawn awhile the body thinks How best to fall then on his Uncle sinks Next Plisthenes he to the Altar brings And decollated on his Brother flings Down prostrate falls the Trunk and with a sound Uncertain the complaining head to th' ground Chor. What after this Twin-death doth he begin Spares he the child or adds he sin to sin Nun. As a main'd Lyon equally repleat With rage and hunger sees a Heard of Neat In the Armenian woods pursues and takes Many whose blood his frowns more frightful makes Bulls do his hunger not his Rage allay And after them he on the Calves doth prey With wearied Jaws nor otherwise then so Is Atreus cruel such his Rage who though His sword 's distaind with double slaughter yet He seeks another murder to commit Careless on whom In the childs breast he then Strikes it which out at s back appears agen He falls his blood quenches the Altars fires Death enters at both wounds and he at both expires Chor. O barbarous act Nun. Doth this your horror breed There 's more behind he stops not at this deed Cho. Is there in Nature greater cruelty Nun. Think you this all 't is but the first degree Cho. What more did he to beasts their bodys throw And fire deny Nun. Would he had only so Their Sepulture and funeral Pile deny'd And cast them out to birds of prey beside Or with their flesh fed Wolves what does appear The greatest curse had been a blessing here Their â—iâ—e to see them unenterr'd O crime Nor age will credit the insuing time Will think this fabulous their inward parts He opens their veins breathing still and hearts Still panting thence the fates to recollect He the warm veins Atterys doth dissect The Victims pleasing now he time can spare His brothers entertainment to prepare He cuts them out in joynts close to their sides The shoulders from the body he divides Their tender flesh he from the bones doth pare Yet saves intire the heads and hands which were So lately sacred pledges Th' Inwards they Some spitted fore a slow fire drip away Some in the injured caldron boyl while these So horrid meats the very fire displease Oft from the hearth it fell when return'd Back to its place it murmur'd as it burn'd The Livers screek upon the spit nor well Which most the flesh or flames groan'd I tell The mournful fire in clowds of smoak consumes And even those heavy clowds and ominous fumes Directly not ascend as wont but fly About the houshold gods there they lye O patient Phaebus though day backward flys And though thy lustre at the Zenith dyes Thou set'st too late His Sons the Father eats And his own Limbs are his Inhumane treats While with rich Unguents his hair shines and he Sits full of mighty Wine unwillingly Discends the barbarous dyet Only this Of good Thyestes ' mongst thy Evills is You know 'em not yet even this will sade Though Titan turns his Chariot which is made To measure batk the way it came though Night With shades unusual hides this deed from sight Which from the East doth rise and out of time Yet will at last be seen each horrid crime Chorus Father of gods and men at whose Uprise Night doth her beauty loose Whether O whether dost thou stray And at thy Noon benight the day What frights thee Sun not yet appears Vesper the harbinger of stars Nor Hesper shining in the west Bids thy diurnal Chariot rest Nor the third Trumpets sound yet made A welcome to th' approaching shade Amazed the Plowman stands to see Day end untited his Team and he What stops thy Race what is' t do's make Thy Steeds their beaten Road forsake Do now from bed the Gyants rise Again to fight the Deitys His old Attempts doth Tytius strive With his first fury to revive Hath now Typhaeus freed his brest Long with the Mountains weight opprest Or do the gods Phlegraean foes Ossa on Pelion now impose Al the known course of time is done No more will set or rise the Sun Days Mother with Nocturnal dew's Still wet while now she Phaebus views As to her East he back retires Whence he so lately went admires How ignorant is she to lave His steeds in the refreshing wave He stands surpriz'd too since to this New Inne himself a stranger is The morning Sun now sets whose light Yeilds to a darkness yet no night On his
10. read No p. 74. l. 13. r. Belt p. 79. l. 1. r. Ho there p. 86. l. 9. r. Convex p. 89. l. ult r. this p. 91. l. ult r. gobets p. 93. l. 15. r. doth p. 96. l. 3. r. You 'r vext l. 7. r. I Ignorant p. 99. l. 10. 1. On then p. 110. l. 13. r. Cooks p. 105. l. 14. r. he p. 110. l. 1. r. two p. 114. l. 7. r. Cuckoldry p. 126. l. 3. r. Creature p. 133. l. 9. r. Scribbellers p. 134. l. 1. r. Act 5. In the Epilogue l. 4. r. and as a Jest l. 10. r. Farce Dramatis Personae Tantalus's Ghost Megaera Atreus King of Argos Thyestes his Brother Plisthenes his Son Two other Sons of Thyestes Mutes A Servant Attendant to Atreus Nuntius Chorus of Argives The Scene ARGOS PROLOGUE To the Reader WIts and Wit-Triers who some Criticks Name Writers of Play 's and Dammers of the same Advance not farther then this Page beware Since all that follows is Irregular For though this thing a Tragedy is stil'd 'T is free from Plot as any Sucking Child Nor Love nor Honour here the Author show'd Nay what is worse no Bawd'ry A-la-mode No Amorous Song nor a more Amorous Jigg Where Misses Coats twirl like a Whirlegig And such who next the Lamps themselves dispose Think thus to recompence the stink of those While she that Dances jilts the very eyes Allowing only these Discoveri's A neat silk Leg and pair of Holland Thighs Methinks I see some mighty Wit o' th Town At this Express a most judicious frown And huff it thus cocking his Caudubec S What a Devil then must we expect Have patience and I 'le tell You what you shall Meet here that 's still in use Dramaticall High Lines and Rime enough Sirs Ye shall have And Sentences most desperately Grave Dull Sence and sometimes Huffs that Nature brave And ' cause we cannot easily print a Dance A Farce i' th end out A-la-mode-de-France THYESTES A Tragedy Translated out of SENECA ACT. I. TANTALVS MEGAERA WHich of th' Infernal Powers doth thus compel The wretched Tantalus to leave his Hell And as a higher Damnation shew again That World where Bodies yet alive remain Is ought found worse than thirsty to abide In Streams and Hunger never satisfy'd Must I have Sisyphus his Stone or feel The giddy Torments of Ixions VVheel Or shall to me Tytius 's pains succeed On whose Immortal Liver Vultures feed For night repairing what was lost by day He a fresh Monster lies and perfect Prey What Plague comes next O thou who dost on those That suffer'd have the Old New Pains impose Remorseless Judg of Souls who er'e you be Add if thou canst add to my misery Invent such horrid Torments that shall make Hells Porter fear and the dark Regions quake Nay more my self affright Springing from me Doth now arise a Monstrous Progeny Me their Progenitor they shall out-act In wickedness and guiltless make my fact With Crimes unknown and truly theirs Each place That 's void in Hell I 'le furnish with my Race While our House stands Minos shall have no need Of other Clyents Meg. Cursed Shade proceed Their hated Bosoms with new fury fill And make them strive which shall surpass in Ill. Let an alternate Rage their Souls inflame Such a blind Rage that knows nor Mean nor shame Let the first Root of wickedness in Thee Grow to perfection in thy Progeny Nor let their Souls find leisure to repent A past offence but still new Crimes invent Doubling their Guilt under their Punishment Unsetled be their Throne and short their Reign While giddy fortune gives them Crowns in vain Let her the Banish't raise to Soveraign place And Kings to the same Banishment debase With constant trouble let their Kingdom burn And when the guilty Exiles shall return Let them afresh to their old mischiefs fall As hateful to themselves as unto All. Let Rage think nought unlawful to be done Let Brother Brother fear Mother the Son And Son the Mothers wrath Let Children dye By wicked hands others more wickedly Be born Let Wife her Husband kill And may They or'e the Seas their Enmity convey Let effus'd bloud this and all Lands disdain Let conquering Lust over great Captains Reign In their abhorred Courts Let whoredom be Counted no crime Let hence Right Amity And all accord of the same bloud be gone And may their crimes reach Heaven for when the Sun Smiles on the world with an unclouded Ray Let horrid Night ecclips the face of Day Fright hence their Houshold-Gods weak Ayd and fill Their Place with Hate death murder every Ill. Be all this house with Garlands now array'd And genial fires to speak thy welcome made Then let the Inhumanity of Thrace Out-acted be on this more guilty Place Doth yet the Uncle Innocent remain Nor Father yet lament his Children slain When shall their Limbs be from the Kitchin serv'd Up to the Table and in slices carv'd Let th' Uncles hearths blush with his Nephews bloud Whiles feasts are made Feasts furnisht with such food As is no Novelty to Thee Behold This day is thine here banquet uncontrould Now thy long fasting to the full requite Mingled with Baccus gift this day in sight Of thee shall thine own blood be drunk I now Such dyet have invented as even thou Thou Tantalus woulst fly Already stay Whether thus head-long dost thou force thy way Tan. To the Infernal Lakes and Streams that slip When I would drink from my deluded Lip Back to the cheating Fruit I fly again Let me return to my old Place and pain Why am I stay'd If I too happy seem Gladly I 'le change my banks And to thy Stream O Phlegethon let me be ever bound In waves of fire while I both burn and dround Who er'e thou art that dost tormented lye By the decree of severe Destiny Who er'e thou art trembling and terrify'd Under a ruinous Cave that dost abide Or fear'st a falling Mountains ponderous side VVho er'e thou art whether thou fearest more The Fury's Lash or hungry Lyons roar VVho er'e thou art who dost half burnt defend Thy self from flying brands the Voice attend Of Tantalus returning credit me VVho am experienc'd Love your Misery VVhen shall I fly the hated Light Meg. Engage Thou first this house in discord and wars Rage VVar so much lov'd of Kings in every Age. Thus fire their Salvage breasts Tan. Fates angry doom I 'de suffer not inflict behold I come Like a dire-Vapour that has cleft the Ground Or a sad Pestilence dispersing round Infection through th' affrighted world Must I To such black Crimes my Nephews hearts apply Great King and Parent of the Deities And Ours although it shames thee Ours likewise My Tongue will not forbear her Office though She double Torments for it undergo Your hands and Altars with such damn'd Offence Profane not here I 'le stand and guard it hence VVhy fright'st thou me with threatned blows what makes Thee menace
Thus humbly supplicate that you would please to pardon all and for my faith take these These Infant Hostages Atr. Rise from my feet And as a Brother my Embraces meet To the Children Kiss me sweet Innocents esteem'd aright Both a support to Parents and Delight to Thyestes Off with these Rags wound not my pittying Eye VVith the sad object of your Poverty And Robes assume like mine More praise I gain To give you half then a sole Monarch Reign Therefore take half my Realm A Crown to find Speaks Chance but to bestow the bravest Mind Thy. Dear Brother may the bounteous gods above Return a blessing great as is your Love But my deformed head no Crown will wear Nor this unhappy hand a Scepter bear A poor Plebeian let me still remain Atr. Not so this Land may well two Kings contein Thy. VVhat 's yours I mine esteem Brother take all Atr. VVho'd flight the savours that from Fortune fall Thy. VVho'd not that knows how slippery they are Atr. Of so great Glory will ye me debarre Thy. Your Glory Sir you have already won But mine remains which is such Gifts to shun Atr. No more Excuse I beg Unless you own Part of the Goverment I will have none Thy. Well I accept Henceforth the Name be mine But I my self with all the Power thine Atr. VVear then your Crown while I without delay Th' intended Sacrifice to Heaven pay Chorus who 'ld Credit this Atreus of late So cruel and so obstinate VVhen he his suppliant brother spyed Conscious of Gilt stood stupify'd Oh Love what Power can thine excell Discord with strangers long may dwell But where the Tyes of blood and thee Conjoyn short is that Enmity Private Affronts though urg'd too far Rais'd a Revenge in Publick war While new-rais'd Troops the Country fright And Swords impatient for a fight Now finding what so long they 'd sought Look bright and chearful with the thought Fraternal Piety takes place Forcing the Brothers to embrace Which of your Powers kind Heaven to cease Hath caused such war in such a Peace VVhen Civil the worst sort of Foes Did all Mycene discompose The Mother fear'd her Infants Life Her armed Husbands loss the Wife The conquering Sword when first they drew Orecome with peacefull Rust they view Some dress their Arms some busy were The Forts half ruin'd to repair Some had Commission to survey The Wall and make up the Decay By some the Gates were strongly bar'd Others by Night maintain the Guard The empty Name of War doth bring More real terror then the thing But now the happy hour appears That sheaths the Sword and cures our fears Now is the Martial Trumpet dumb Sweet peace sweet peace again is come So when the Brutian Sea doth rise By Corus driven to the Skys When from her Caverns Scylla raves Cuft by the fury of the waves And ships though in their Haven fear Dreadfull Caribdis even there The sweating Cyclops when they spy Waves o're their furnace Aetna fly Fear angry Neptune though their Sire VVill quench the never dying fire And poor Laertes trembling thinks His little Ithara now sinks If the winds fall the Sea appears Smooth as the standing Pools or Meers The trifling Boat now puts from shore Ships that like Islands seem'd before Were not so bold Why name I these Frail Barks the floating Cyclades Islands like ships for motion thought Fear'd in the storm to be or'e wrought Yet now that Boat becalm'd a sail Puts up to catch the wanton Gale They the past storms effects descry And see where drounded fishes lye Fortunes still alter none can last Yet is the best the soonest past The swift vicissitudes of Fate Can in a moment change our state He who doth Crowns dispose before Whose Throne all Nations do adore Intending by a former Antecronisme the RoMan Emperor At whose bare Nod the Medes disband Nor dare the Indians him withstand Nor Dacae with their Cavalrie How full of anxious thoughts lives he What Changes do his fears the while Presage from Fates inconstant smile Then swell no more Great Souls of those Where Heaven doth Soveraign Rule dispose Since that due Homage which we show To you ye to another owe. The greatest Kings but Subjects be To a Superior Majesty Some with that Sun have set whose Ray Shined at his Rise less bright then they Ah fading Joyes In such who dare Confide or wanting them despair Clotho with smiles doth Tears commix And lets no Chance of Fortune fix Heavens greatest Favorite can't say I 'le live and laugh another Day All our Affairs Fate troubles and Disorders as whirl-wind sand ACT. IV. Nuncius Chorus Some Whirl-wind snatch me hence by whose fierce ayd I to th' obscurest Clowd may be convey'd VVhence I no more this cursed House may see By Tantalus himself abhor'd to be Cho. Ha! what means this Nun. VVhat Country 's this I tread Argos and Sparta is it that hath bred Such bloudy Brothers Live Corinthians here 'Twixt these two Seas or what I rather fear Barbarous Alani No Hycanian Breed Of Tygers sure nor Scythians these exceed Cho. VVhat Salvage Crime blots our unhappy Land VVith such a Guilt Give us to understand Nun. Can I my Senses recollect I will VVhen this cold Sweat shall leave my Limbs For still The horror follows me Come storms as strong As my Desires and bear me hence along VVhether the Sun flys from this sight away Cho. You aggravate our fears by this delay Quickly the Deed relate and Author too Which of the Brothers is' t I ask not who Nun. In Pelops his chief Palace Southward lyes A Part that doth like some tall Mountain rise To pierce the Clouds and o're the Town doth stand Which should the same Rebell it can Command There stands the Publick Hall whose Roof of Gold Rich spotted Marble-pillars do uphold Besides this where the Vulgar do repair Sev'ral as rich as spacious Rooms there are The privy Court i' th' uttermost Recess Doth lye by a Descent from the no less Sacred then secret Grove divided there Nor pleasant Trees nor profitable are But mournful Yew Cypress and Holm ye higher Then all the rest the tall Oak doth aspire And like a Prince o're looks the common Trees Our Kings do here consult their Auguries Here they seek Council when affairs appear Doubtful or bad Their Votive Guifts hang here Trumpets of War and Trophys of the same With what by Land or Sea we overcame The vanquisht wheels and treacherous Axel-Tree And all our Nations Deeds here fixed be Here 's the Tiara Phrygian Pelops wore Here 's what in War we took or triumph bore Under this shade a Fountain stands a Wave So black and sad Dire Styx is said to have Dire Styx that binds the gods The Fame 's well-known How here th' Infernal gods all Night do groan Clinking of Chains howling of Ghosts make here A horrid noise while what affrights the Ear May there be seen there haunt a Company Of