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
your subiectes all Ne. Our foes to slea a cheftaynes vertue call Se. A worthier vertue t is in countries syre His people to defend with sword and fyre Ne. It wel beseemes such aged wightes to teach Vnbridled springolles yong and not to preache Both to a man and prince of ryper yeares Se. May rather frolicke youthful bloud appeares To haue more neede of counsell wyse and graue Ne. This age sufficient reason ought to haue Se. That heauenly powers your doinges may allow Ne A madnes t' were to Gods for me to bow When I my selfe can make such Gods to be As Claudius now ycounted is we see Se. So much the more because so much you may Ne. Our power permittes vs all without denay Se. Geue slender trust to Fortunes flattring face She topsie turuy turnes her wheele apace Ne. A patch he is that knoweth not what he may Se. A Princes prayse I compted haue alway To do that same which with his honor stoode Not that which franticke fancy counteth good Ne. If that I were a meacocke or a slouch Each stubborne clubbish daw would make mee couch Se. And whom they hate with force they ouerquell Ne. Then dynt of sword the prince defendeth well Se. But fayth more sure defence doth seeme to mee Ne. Ful meete it is that Caesar dreaded be Se. More meete of subiectes for to be belou'd Ne. From subiects myndes feare must not be remou'd Se. What so by force of armes you do wringe out A grieuous worke it is to bring aboute Ne. Well hardly then our will let them obay Se. Will nothing then but that which wel you may Ne. We wil decree what we shall best suppose Se. What peoples voyce doth ioyntly bynd or lose Let that confirmed stand Ne. Swordes bloudy dynt Shal cause them else at me to take their hint Se. God sheeld and far that facte from you remoue Ne. What then why Senec do you that approue That we contemnde despysde and set at nought With finger put in hole ful wysely wrought Our bodies bloud to seeke should them abyde That they might vs sometyme destroy vnspyde Their natiue countrey boundes to banisht bee Nor Plautius brest nor Scillas eake we see Hath broke or camd whose cankred churlish yre Shapes bloudy freakes to quench our bodyes fyre And chiefly when these trayterous absent clounes Such wondrous fauour fynd in cityes bownes Which those same exiles lingring hope doth feede Suspected foes with sword we wil out weede And so Octauia shall that ioly dame Continue after them their bloudy game And wend that way her nowne whyte brother went Such hye mistrusted thinges must needes be bent Se. It is O Prince a worthy famous thing Amids redoubted Lordes alone to ring And wysely worke your countries prayse to saue And wel your selfe to captiue folke behaue From cruell brutish slaughter to abstayne And voyde of moode to wreake your angry payne And to the world a quiet calme to geue That al your age in peace their liues may liue This is a Princes prayse without al cryme This is the path to heauen wherby we clyme So is Augustus prince and father cald Of countrie first in starbright throne ystald Whom as a God in minsters we adorne Yet troublous fortune tossed him beforne A great while long on lands and ruffling seas Vntil his fathers foes he could appease And throught wars diuerse course could quel them quite To you did fortune yeelde her power and might And raynes of rule without all bloud and fight And to your beck both land and seas hath bent Grim deadly enuye daunted doth relent The Senate Lordes gaue place with free consent The battaylous route of knights with willing hartes That same decree from sager sires departes Vnto the lay mens choyse do well agree Your grace the spring of peace they count to bee And chosen Iudge and guyde of mortal stocke Your grace your countreys sacred syre doth rocke And rule with princely gorgeous tytle bright The cyrcled world in rundel wyse ydight Which mighty mounting name to keepe so great This noble citty Rome doth you entreat And doth commend vnto your royall grace Her liuely limmes in charge for your liues space Ne. The gyft of Gods it is as we discus That Rome with Senate sorte doth honor vs And that the feare of our displeasure great From cankred enuyous stomackes maketh sweat Both humble talke and supplications meeke And were not feare all these would be to seeke Vnweldy combrous cityes members ill That Prince and countrey both do seeke to spill To leaue alyue which swell and puffed bee Bycause of lynage great and high degre What madnes meere is it when as we may Euen with a word such freakes dispatch away Sir Brutus sterne his brawnes and armes did dight His soueraygne liege to slayne by force and might That erst had holpen him and geuen him health And had endued him with princely wealth In brunt of raging warre vndaunted out That vanquisht many people strong and stoute Prince Caesar matcht by great degrees of power To loue in stately chayre of starry bower By diu'lish citizens wicked wyle was slayne What store of bloudy stiffling streames on molde Did tatred Rome of her owne lims beholde He by his noble vertues worthy prayse Whō peoples common bruite to heauē doth raise August among the Gods ysayncted well How many noble breastes did he compel How many springoldes young and hoary heads Each where disperst to lig in molded heds How many men did he bereaue of breath Tofore proscript that were condemnd to death When for the griesly feare of deadly dart From propre home they were constraind to part And flye Octauius force and Lepidus might And not abyde sterne Marke Antonius sight Which then the ample world at once did guyde That into kingdomes three they did deuyde To dumpish sadded syres with heauy cheere Their childrens griesly cropped pates appeere Hong out beforne the Senates iudgement seate For each man to behold in open streate Ne durst they once lament their piteaus case Nor inward seeme to mourne to Claudius face The market stead with bloud from bodies spued And lothsome mattrie streames is all imbrued And quite throughout their faces foule arayed The piteous gubbes of bloud drop downe vnstayd Nor here did this same slaughterous bloudshed stay Phillyps Pharsalia gastly fieldes each day The cromming rauening foules and cruell beastes Long fed with gobbets bigge of manlye breastes Besyde all this the cost he scoured quite Of Sicill sea and ships to ware ydyght With force of armes did win and hauocke made Of propper subiectes slayne with his owne blade The rundle round of landes with mighty mayne Of noble Chieftaynes stroake reboyles agayne Antonius ouercome in Nauale fight To Egipt poastes in shippes preparde to flight Not looking long to liue nor hoping life Incesteous Egipt through Antonius wyfe That worthy Romayne princes bloud did sucke And couerd lye their ghostes with durty mucke Long wicked waged ciuil warre there stayed
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
to helpe find meane to saue his life Leaue of thy piteous tears he sayd dost thou yet wayle for Troy Would God it lay on Ground ful flat so ye might saue the boy Vp stirre he sayd thy selfe in hast conuay him priuily Saue if ye may the tender bloud of Hectors progeny Then strayght in trembling feare I wakt and rold myne eyes aboute Forgettyng long my child pore wretch and after Hector sought But strayght alas I wist not how the Spright away did passe And mee forsooke before I could my husband once embrasse O childe O noble fathers broode and Troians only ioy O worthy seede of thauncient bloud and beaten house of Troy O ymage of thy father loe thou liuely bearst his face This countnaunce lo my Hector had and euen such was his pace The pitch of all his body such his handes thus would he beare His shoulders high his threatning browes euen such as thine they were O sonne begot to late for Troy but borne to soone for mee Shal euer tyme yet come agayne and happy daye may be That thou mayst once reuenge and build agayne the towres of Troy And to the towne and Troyans both restore their name with ioy But why do I forgettyng state of present destenye So great thinges wish enough for captiues is to liue only Alas what priuy place is left my litle childe to hide What seate so secret may be found where thou maist safely bide The towre that with the walles of gods so valiaunt was of might Through all the world so notable so flourishing to sight Is turnde to dust and fire hath al consumd'e that was in Troy Of all the towne not so much now is left to hide the boy What place were best to choose for guile the holy tombe is heere That then mies sword will spare to spoile wher sythe my husband deere Which costly worke his father builte king Pryame liberall And it vp raisde with charges great fo Hectors funerall Herein the bones and ashes both of Hector loe they lie Best is that I commit the sonne to his fathers custodie A colde and fearefull sweat doth runne throughout my members all Alas I carefull wretch do feare what chaunce may thee befall Sen. Hide him away this onely way hath saued many more To make the enmies to beleue that they were dead before He wil be sought scant any hope remaineth of safenes The paise of his nobility doth him so sore oppres Andr. What way wer best to worke that none our doings might bewray Sen. Let none beare witnes what ye do remoue them all away Andr. What if the enmies aske me where Astianax both remaine Sen. Then shall ye boldelie answere make that he in Troy was slaine Andr. What shal it helpe to haue him hid at length they will him finde Sen. At first the enmies rage is fierce delay doth slake his minde Andr. But what preuailes since free from feare we may him neuer hide Sen. Let yet the wretch take his defence me carelesse there to bide And. What land vnknowne out of the way what vnfrequented place May keepe thee safe who ayds our feare who shall defend our case Hector Hector that euermore thy friendes didst wel defend Now chiefly ayde thy wyfe and child and vs some succour send Take charge to keepe and couer close the treasures of thy wyfe And in thy Ashes hyde thy sonne preserue in tombe his life Draw neare my Childe vnto the Tombe why fliest thou backward so Thou takst great scorne to lurke in dens thy noble hart I know I see thou art asham'd to feare shake of thy princely mynd And beare thy breast as thee behoues as chaunce hath thee assynd Behold our case and se what flocke remayneth now of Troy The tombe I woeful captiue wretch and thou a seely boy But yeeld we must to sory fates thy chaunce must breake thy breast Go to creepe vnderneath thy fathers holy seats to rest If ought the fates may wretches helpe thou hast thy sauegard there If not already then pore foole thou hast thy sepulchere Sen. The tombe him closely hides but least your feare should him betray Let him here lie and farre from hence goe ye some other way Andr. The lesse he feares that feares at hand and yet if neede be so If ye thinke meete a litle hence for safety let vs goe Sen. A litle whyle keepe silence now refrayne your plaint and crie His cursed foote now hether moues the Lord of Cephalie And Now open earth and thou my spouse frō Stix rend vp the ground Deepe in thy bosome hyde thy sonne that he may not be found Vlysses comes with doubtful pace and chaunged countenaunce He knittes in hart deceiptful craft for some more grieuous chaunce VI. Though I be made the messenger of heauy newes to you This one thing first I shal desyre that ye take this for true That though the wordes come from my mouth and I my messuage tell Of truth yet are they none of myne ye may beleue me wel It is the word of al the Greekes and they the authors be Whome Hectors bloud doth yet forbid their countries for to see Our careful trust of peace vnsure doth stil the Greekes detayne And euermore our doubtful feare yet drawth vs backe agayne And suffreth not our wearyed handes our weapons to forsake In child yet of Andromacha while Troyans comfort take An. And sayth your Augure Calchas so Vli. Though Calchas nothing sayde Yet Hector telles it vs himselfe of whose seede are we frayde The worthy bloud of noble men oft tymes we se it playne Doth after in their heires succede and quickly springes agayne For so the hornles youngling yet of high and sturdy beste With lofty necke and braunched brow doth shortly rule the rest The tender twig that of the lopped stocke doth yet remayne To match the tree that bare the bough in time startes vp again With equall top to former wood the roume it doth supply And spreads on soyle alow the shade to heauen his braunches hye Thus of one sparke by chaunce yet left it hapneth so ful oft The fyre hath quickly caught his force and flamth agayn aloft So scare we yet least Hectors bloud might rise er it be long Feare castes in all th extremity and oft interprets wrong If ye respect our case ye may not blame these old soldiars Though after years and monthes twice flue they feare again the wars And other trauails dreadyng Troy not yet to be wel wonne A great thing doth the Grecyans moue the feare of Hectors son Rid vs of feare this stayeth our fleete and pluckes vs backe agayne And in the hauen our nauy stickes til Hectors bloud be slayne Count me not feerce for that by fates I Hectors sonne require For I as wel if chaunce it would Orestes should desyre But since that needes it must be so beare it with pacient hart And Suffer that which Agamemnon suffred in good part And. Alas my child would God
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
bearing in his recklesse breast his fathers warnings wyse Was burned with the flames which hee did scatter in the Skyes None knew the costly glimsing glades where straggling Phaëton rode Passe not the path where people safe in former tyme haue trode O fondling wilfull wanton boy doe not dissolue the frame Of heauen sith Ioue with sacred hand hath halowed the same Who rowde with valiaunt Oares tough that were for Argo made Hath powled naked Pelion mounte of thycke compacted shade Who entred hath the fleeting rockes and serched out the toyle And tyring trauels of the seas and hath on saluage soyle Knit fast his stretched Cable rope and going forth to land To cloyne away the forren golde with greedy snatching hand Vnto the seas because that hee transgrest theyr lawes deuine By this vnlucky ende of his he payes his forfeyte fine The troubled seas of theyr vnrest for vengeaunce howle and weepe Syr Typhis who did conquer fyrst the daunger of the deepe Hath yeelded vp the cunning rule of his vnweldy sterne To such a guide as for that vse hath neede as yet to learne Who giuing vp his Ghost aloofe from of his natiue lande In forreyn more lyes buryed vile with durty soddes in sande He sits among the flitiring soules that straungers to him weare And Aulis Isle that in her minde her masters losse doth beare Held in the Ships to stand and wayle in croking narrow nocke That Orpheus Calliops sonne who stayde the running Brooke Whyle he recordes on heauenly Harpe with twanckling finger fine The wynde layde downe his pipling blastes his harmony diuine Procurde the woods to styr them selues and trees in traynes along Came forth with byrds that held their layes and listned to his song With lims on sunder rent in fielde of Thrace he lyeth dead Vp to the top of Heber floude eke haled was his head Gone downe he is to Stygian dampes which seene hee had before And Tartar boyling pits from whence returne hee shall no more Alcydes banging hat did bringe the Northern laddes to grounde To Achelo of sundry shapes he gaue his mortall wounde Yet after he could purchase peace both vnto sea and land And after Ditis dungeon blacke rent open by his hand He lyuing spred himselfe along on burning Oetas hill His members in his proper flame the wretch did thrust to spill His bloud he brewd with Nestors bloud and lost his lothsome lyfe By traytrous gyft that poysoned shyrt receaued of his wyfe With tuske of bristled groyning Bore Anceus lyms were torne O Meleagar wicked wight to graue by thee were borne Thy mothers brethren twayne and shee for it with ruthfull hand Hath wrought thy dolefull desteny to burne thy fatall brand The rash attempting Argonautes deserued all the death That Hylas whom Alcides lost bereft of fading breath That springall which in sowsing waues of waters drowned was Goe now yee lusty bloudes the Seas with doubtfull lot to passe Though Idmon had the calking skyll of destentes before The serpent made him leaue his lyfe in tombe of Liby shore And Mopsus that to other men could well theyr fates escry Yet onely did deceyue him selfe vncertayne where to dy And he that could the secret hap of things to come vnfoulde Yet dyde not in his countrey Thebes Dame Theris husband oulde Did wander like an outlawde man Our Palimedes syre Did headlong whelm him selfe in seas Who at the Greekes retyre From Troy to rushe on rockes did them alure with wily light Stout Aiax Oleus did sustayne the dint of thunder bright And cruell storme of surging seas to quite the haynous guilt That by his countrey was commit in seas he lyeth spilt Alceste to redeeme her husbands Phereus lyfe from death The godly Wyfe vpon her spouse bestowed her panting breath Proude Pelias that wretch him selfe who bad them first assay The golden Fleece that booty braue by ship to fetch away Perboylde in glowing cauldron hoate with feruent heate hee fryes And fleering peece meale vp and downe in water thin he lyes Inough inough reuenged are O Gods the wronges of seas Be good to Iason doing that hee did his Eame to please THE FOVRTH ACTE Nutrix MY shiuering minde amazed is agast and sore dismayde My chillish lims with quaking colde do tremble all afrayde Such plagues vengeāce is at hand in what exceding wise Do sharp assaults of greedy griefe still more more arise And of it selfe in smothering breast enkindlesse greater heate Oft haue I seene how ramping rage hath forced her to freate With franticke fits mad bedlem wise against the Gods to rayle And eke bewitched ghosts of heauen in plunging plagues to trayle But now Medea beates her busie brayne to bring to passe A myschiefe greater greater farre then euer any was Erewhile when hence she tript away astonished so sore And of her poyson closset close shee entred had the dore Shee powreth out her Iewels all abrode to light shee brings That which she dreading lothed long most irksome vgly things She mumbling coniures vp by names of ills the rable rout In hugger mugger cowched long kept close vnserched out All pestlent plagues she calles vpon what euer Libie lande In frothy boyling stream doth worke or muddy belching sande What tearing torments Taurus breedes with snowes vnthawed still Where winter flawes and hory frost knit hard the craggy hill She layes her crossing hands vpon each monstrous coniurde thing And ouer it her magicke verse with charming doth she sing A mowste rowste rusty route with cancred Scales Iclad From musty fusty dusty dens where lurked long they had Doe craull a wallowing serpent huge his cōbrous Corps out drags In fiery foming blaring mouth his forked tongue hee wags He stares about with sparkling eyes if some he might espy Whom snapping at with stinging spit he might constrayne to dy But hearing once the magycke verse he husht as all agast His body boalne big wrapt in lumps on twining knots hee cast And wambling to and fro his tayle in linkes he rowles it round Not sharp enough quoth she the plagues tooles that hollow groūd Engenders for my purpose are to heauen vp will I call To reach me stronger poyson down to frame my feate with all Now is it at the very poynt Medea thou assay To bring about some farther fetch then common Witches may Let downe let downe that sprawling Snake that doth his body spred As doth a running brooke abroade his myghty channell shed Whose swelling knobs of wondrous sise buystrous bobbing bumpes Doth thumpe the great lesser beare that feete his heauy lumpes The bygger beare with golden gleede the greekish fleete doth guyde But by the lesse the Sidon ships their passage haue espide He that with pinch of griping fist doth bruse the adders twayne His strening hard clasping hande let him vnknit agayne And crushe their squeased venome out come further thou our charme O slymy serpent Python whom Dame Iuno sent to harme Diana and Apollo both those heauenly spyrites
Hee is escapte and gone and with vnmeasurable might The Chariot horse with rayne at will doe scud out of my sight Now free from perill on my foes attendaunce will I make And offer willingly my head the deadly wounde to take The cruell conqueresse of her spouse is come whose spotted weede With sprinkels signe of slaughter doe beare recorde of her deede Her goary handes new bathde in bloude as yet they bee not dry Her rough and churlishe rigorous lookes the fact doe notify Unto the Temple will I trudge Cassandra suffer mee Opprest with egall griefe take parte of sacrifice with thee THE FIFTE ACTE THE FOVRTH SCENE Clytemnestra Electra AEgisthus Cassandra O Thou thy Mothers Enemy vngracious saucy face After what sorre dost thou a mayde appeare in publyque plate ELEC. I haue wyth my virginity the bowres of Baudes forsooke CLY. What man is het that euer thee to bee a vyrgin tooke E. What your own daughter C. With thy mother more modest should EL. Doe you at length begin to preach such godlines to me thou be CL. A marily stomacke stout thou bast with swelling hawty hart Subdued with sorrow learne thou shall to play a womans part EL. A swerd and buckler very well a woman doth beseeme Except I dote CL. Thy selfe dost thou haylefellowe with vs esteeme EL. What Agamemnoon new is this whom thou hast got of late CL. Hereafter shall I tame and teach thy gyrlish tongue to prate And make thee know how to a Queene thy taunting to forbeare EL. The whilst thou Wyddow aūsware me directly to this geare Thy husband is bereued quight of breath his lyfe is donne CL Enquier where thy brother is so seeke about my sonne EL. Hee is departed out of Greece CL. Goe fetch him out of hande EL. Fetch thou my father vnto mee CL. Giue me to vnderstande Where doth he lurking hyde his head where is he shrunke away EL. All plunge of perills past hee is and at a quiet stay And in another Kyngdome where no harme hee doth mistrust This aunswere were sufficient to please a Parent trust But one whose breast doth boyle in wrath it cannot satisefy CL. To day by death thou shalt receyue thy fatall destiny EL. On this condition am I pleasde the Aulter to forsake If that this hanc shall doe the deede my death when I shall take Or els if in my throate to bath thy blade thou doe delight Most willingly I yeelde my throate and giue thee leaue to smite Or if thou will chop of my heade in brutishe beastly guise My necke a wayting for the wounde out stretched ready lies Thou hast committed sinfully a great and grieuous guilt Goe purge thy hardned hands the which thy husbands bloud haue spilt CL. O thou that of my perills all dost suffer part with mee And in my realme dost also rule with egall dignity Aegisthus art thou glad at this as doth her not behoue With checks and taunts the daughter doth her mothers mallice moue Shee keepes her brothers counsell close conueyde out of the way AEGI. Thou malipert and witlesse wenche thyne cluishe prating stay Refrayne those wordes vnfit thy Mothers glowing cares to vex EL. What shall the breeder of this broyle controll me with his checks Whose fathers gut it hath caused him to haue a doubtfull name Who both is to his sister sonne and Nephew to the same CL. To snap her head of with thy swerd Aegist dost thou refrayne Let her giue vp the ghost or bryng her brother straight agayne Let her be lockt in dungeon darck and let her spend her dayes In Caues Rocks with painefull pangues torment her euery wayes I hope him whom she hidden hath shee will agayne discry Through being clapt in pryson strong and suffring pouerty With yrksome and vnsauory smells on euery syde annoyde Enforst to weare a wyddowes weede er wedding day enioyde Put in exile and banishment when eche man doth her hate So shall she bee by misery compeld to yeelde to late Prohibyted of holsome ayre fruition to haue EL. Graunt me my dome by meanes of death to passe vnto my graue CL. I would haue graunted it to thee if thou should it deny Unskilfull is the tyraunt who by suffring wretches dy Doth ende theyr paynes EL. what after death doth any thing remayne CL. And if thou doe desyre to dye the same see you refrayne Lay hands sirs on this wondrous wretch whom being caryed on Euen to the furthest corner of my iurisdiction Farre out beyond Mycoenas land in bonds let her be bound With darknesse diui in hiddeous holde let her be closed round This captiue Spouse and wicked Queane the Trull of Prynces bed Shall pay her paynes and suffer death by losing of her head Come hale her on that she may followe that way my spouse is gon Whose loue from mee entised was CAS. Doe not thus hale mee on I will before you take the way these tydings first to tell Vnto my countrey men of Troy beneath in lowest hell How ouerquelmed ships ech where are spread the seas vppon And Micœne countrey conquerde is brought in subiection He that of thousand captaynes was graunde captayne generall Come to as great calamity as Troy it selfe did fall Entrapped was by traytrous trayne and whoredome of his Wyfe And by a gyft receaued of her depriued of his Lyfe Let vs not linger on with mee and thankes I doe you giue I ioy that it might be my hap thus after Troy to liue CL. Go to prepare thy selfe to dye thou frantique raging wight CAS. The fransy fits of fury fell on you shall also light EVRIBATES Added to the Tragedy by the Translator ALas yee hatefull hellish Hagges yee furies foule and fell Why cause yee rusty rancours rage in noble heartes to dwell And cancred hate in boyling breastes to grow from age to age Coulde not the graundstres paynefull pangues the childrens wrath asswage Nor famyne faynt of pyning paunche with burning thyrst of hell Amid the blackest streame of Sticks where poysning breathes do dwel Where vapors bile parbraking out from dampishe myry mud Encrease the paynes of Tantalus deserude by guiltles bloud Could not thine owne offence suffice Thyestes in thy Lyfe To file thy brothers spousall Bed and to abuse his Wyfe But after breath from body fled and Lyfe thy Lymmes hath left Can not remembraunce of reuenge out of thy breast be reft What yet hast thou not layde thy lips taiaste of Lethes floude Now afte death why dost thou come to moue thy sonne to bloude Coulde cruell Ditis graunt to thee thy pasporte backe agayne To worke this woe vpon the world and make such rigour raygne That Clytemnestra is become the fifty sister dyre Of Danaus daughters that did once theyr husbands death conspyre Loe here how fickle fortune giues but brytle fading ioy Lot hee who late a Conquerour tryumphed ouer Troy Enduring many sturdy stormes with mighty toyle and payne To sowe the seede of fame hath reapt small fruite thereof agayne
may not take a foyle or if that ought doe yet remayne So ougsome grisely curst and grim so fraught with filthy bayne That hee may loathe to looke thereon that may his sight appaule Vndoe their Dennes from hydeous hoales procure such vermin craule Or if that flendes can none be founde then couture thou my ghost To what thou list this soule of myne can welt abyde the most Some vucouth shape some gastly face such one bestow on mee Whereby the horrour of my pangues may counteruayled bee My boyling breast cannot conceaue the vengeaunce I woulde trye Why serchest thou the corners farre of landes aloofe that lye And turnst the world thus vpside downe why seekst thou harme of hell To traunce him furious fiendes enough within this breast doe dwell Make me thyne instrument of hate his stepdame I will bee And thou mayest worke the ouerthrow of Hercules by mee Appoynct my hand to any thing Why dost thou make delay Vse thou my frensy as the meanes to compasse his decay The mischiefe shall be brought to passe what euer thou wilt craue Why stande yee musing still thereon contriued all I haue Thou mayst forbeare thy mallice now thy rancour shall suffice To bryng this wretche vnto his ende my selfe can well deuise Nv. My Foster gyile of rauing mynde these dreary playnts asswage Forbeare this heate and brydell yet the rigour of thy rage Behaue thy selfe for such an one as men may worthy iudge The noble Spouse of Hercules DEI. Shall Iole slauish drudge Bring basterd brethren to my Babes of her that is a slaue Shall Iupiter the God of heauen forsooth a daughter haue The flashing flames and fighting floodes shall toyne togeather first The northern beare to Marble seas shall stoupe to quench his thyrst Yea vengeounce vengeance will I haue though on thy back thou wyeld The boysteous heauens and all the worlde doe peace vnto thee yelde There is a thing shall stinge thee worse then Hydra hissing Snake The corsey curst of angry Wyfe Doth any firy Flake Vpthrowne from Etnas boyling Foarge so sowse the beaten skyes More then all things that thou hast daunt my ghost shall thee aggryse Shall thou prefer a seruill Trull before thy wedded Wyfe For feare of many monsters more I tendred still thy lyfe And now for to encrease my care I see no monsters lurke And now steps in an hateful whoore which more my minde doth vrke To cumber vs as ill as fiendes O Father thou of might The shielde of Gods and Titan thou that bearst the Lamp of lyght I onely vnto Hercules a loyall wyfe abod And to an Harlots vse are turnde my prayers made to God The fruite of my felticity a Strumpet doth obtayne And for an Harlots loue yee Gods haue harde my prayers vayne Is Hercules returnde for her O griefe not yet content Deuise some tearing torments seeke some pangues and punishment Let Iuno learne of mee what force a womans fury hath Shee knowes not how in deepe despight to vse her harming wrath For mee you did these batrtayles wage for my sake Acheloe Did let his streaming bloud amid his wamblinge waues to floe When snarling Adders shape hee tooke and to the boysteous Bull Hee gieuing vp his sloughy shape did bende his mallice full And thus thou foylde a thousand foes by conquest of this one Yet presently thou plunged art and that by mee alone A prysoner now must be preferde before thy loyall wyfe I le none of that but euen the day that first begins the strife And to our wedlock brings the breach shal be thy dismall day And knap in twayne the fatall twist where on thy lyfe doth stay What meaneth this my mynde relents My mallice breakes his rage O wretched griefe why dost thou faynte thy spight wilt thou asswage With fealty of a faythfull Wyfe dost thou thy conscience charge Why lets thou not my boyling yre for to encrease at large Why dost thou slake thy frying fits this mallady still suruiue Euen now I able was with him for maistership to striue In deede I haue not craued ayde yet Stepdame Iuno will To weilde my handes to worke his wracke bee heere assistant still NV. What treachery entendest thou mad bedlem to commit Thy husbaÌ„d wilt thou murder wreatch whose flickering fame doth flit From east to west whose bryght renowne the earth coulde not contayne But raysde aloft from marble Skies it doth rebounde agayne The mother Earth shall ryfe in armes for to reuenge his graue His former Stepsiers stocke heereby the ouerthrow shall haue And all Aetolia royall bloud will feele an vtter fall In quarrell of thy Hercules the worlde conspier shall Then silly wight how many plagues shalt thou alone abyde But bee 't that from the face of man thou myght thy body hyde Yet Ioue the lightning leames of heauen doth holde in armed hand Beholde the flying fyry flakes in ranckes all ready stand And threatning thunders thumping thicke doe bounce out all the day Deathes dungeon that thou dost defy full duely scaare thee may For there his Vncle vmpyre sits Myche where thou mayst vnspyde And euery where thou shalt perceaue the Gods to him allied DE. I graunt it despert deede whereto dispayre now doth me driue NV. Die sure thou shall DE. And die I will as presently I liue The loyall spouse of Hercules And ere this night doe passe Day shall not see that Deianire a liuing Wydow was Nor of my spousall hed an whoore shall get the interest The dawning day shall sooner make the morning peere in West Vnto the eastwarde Indians the ysy poale shall melt And freezing Scithian first shall fry with flames that hee hath felt Of Phoebus feruent wheele ere mee Thessalia Trulls shall see Diuorst my brydall blase shall with my bloud iquenched bee And eyther let him murdred bee or take away my Lyfe So soothly let him count among the foyled flendes his Wyfe Among Alcides labours let mee reckned bee as on His loue in heart I holde vntill the vtter gaspe bee gon Thus vndiuorst not vureuengde I will to Hercles tombe It Iole be with chylde by him I le teare it from her wombe And rent it with these pawes of myne Yea in the wedding place I flying at her fearce will set my tallantes in her face Let him not spare in raumping rage a sacrifyce to make Of me vppon his wedding day when he his Trull doth take So that I fallyng downe may light on Iones senceles coarse He dyes a happy man that first hath quelde his foes by force Nu. O wretched might why dost thou thus increase thy fuming heate And feede thy fury wittingly least hap should thee defeate He loued Lady Iole but whyle her fathers crowne Stoode florishyng in royall state and were not bartred downe And as vnto the daughter of a King bee suter was But when from type of hawty pompe she did to thraldome passe He shooke her of hot loue was coold and now her bitter bale Would not allow the wrackâ—d
store The fyer burne that far the riche Arabyan therfore Doth gather out of Saba trees for Phoebus sacrifyce The earth quoth he is now at peace so be both sea and skies All beastes be conquered and I am victor come agayne Lay downe thy lightning leames O Ioue in feare thou nede not raign In middest of his prayers thus wherat I was agast Hee fell to sighes and grieuous groanes and al the skyes at last With dreadful crying lowde he filles Euen as the braynsick bull When with the axe in wounde he scapes doth fil the temples full Of roaring noyse Or as the thunder throwne from heauen doth rumble in the skyes Euen so the seas and starres of heauen doth Hercles shake with cryes Both Calpe clyue and Cyclas yle wel hard his yellyng haue Here Caphat rockes there al the woods therof an Echo gaue Wee saw him weepe the people thought his former franucke fyttes Had now agayne as earst they did bereaue him of his wittes His seruaunts scatter then for fecare while he with flaming eyes Al staryng standes with tleaming lookes among them all he pryes For Lyca him alone he doth pursew who in his arme With trembling hand the alter held and scaped al the harme By dying first for faynting feare and while Alcydes helde The quaking Carkas in his hand thou shalt quoth he be queld And beaten with this fist of myne O Gods eternall raygne Wretch Licas killeth Hercules and hath his conqueroure slayne But to another slaughter yet for Hercules agayne Killes Lycas thus the sacrifyce of Gods with bloud they stayne With Lycas thus his labours and throwne vp to heauen they say That with his dropping bloud the cloudes he stayned all the way Euen as the pitched dart of Gete with pith doth score the skyes Or as the whirling sting of Creete doth make the pâ—ller ryse So swift he mounted vp to heauen but downe his body dropte And as his Carkas fel among the rockes his necke it chopt The graue prepared for their corps quoth Hercules be still I am no brainsteke franticke man but loe this despret ill More noisome is then rage or wrath it caleth much my will To wrecke my rage vppon my selfe his mallady he scant Bewryes but fareth franttâ—kly and he himselfe doth rent His limmes and ryflyng them with mighty hand a sunder teares And striues to strip him selfe of all th' apparell that he weares And onely this was it of all the thinges that I do know That past the power of Hercules yet standes he pulling so And plucketh of his limmes withall the vesture doth not linne To bring of lumpes of filthy flesh the shyrt stickes to the skyne But what should ayle the poyâ—on ranke none knoweth what nor whye And yet there is good cause it er of now grouelyng doth he lye And beates his face agaynst the ground to water now he hyes But water cannot coole his heate and now to shore he plyes And for his sucoure seckes to seas at lengri his men him calth We holding him alas the whil'st were able him to match Now in a keele amid the seas we launched were aloofe And Hercles payse was hosted with a litle southerne puffe My Ghost then left my careful coarse and darknesse dimd my sight Why stay I wreche why doth this dreary deede make mee afright Her coapefellow dame Iuno doth reclayme and Ioue his sonne The world must render him then doe as much as may be donne And boare my body with a sworde such sower sauce is dew To her whose cursed caytiffe hand her loue so lightly slew O Ioue with fier and lightning flash destroy thy wretched Neece Let not thy mighty hand be armed with a slender peece Let brast the boult from skies wherewith thou wouldest Hydra burne If Hercles had not bin thy sonne thereof to serue the turne Strike mee with vncouth pestilence and with such weapon smite As may be farre more yrkesome plague then all my stepdames spite Driue forth those deadly dartes that earst young Phaëthon ouerthrew When be full crancke in firy carte about the heauens flew For thus by slaying Hercules eake Nations slaine I haue What neede thou Deianire of Gods a toole of death to craue Now trouble not thy stepster Ioue thinke scorne may Hercles wyfe To wishe for death for to her heart her hand shall set the knyfe Dispatch then quickly with the blade yet let thy blade alone For who with weapon endes their lyfe t is long ere they be gon I wil be headlong hurled from a rocke as hie as skies The Oeta hill this shal be it where first the sonne doth ryse Thence will I throwe my body downe the edge of brasten rocke Shal cleaue my corps and euery crag shall geue a broosing knock My hand shall hang torne by the way the rugged mountayne side Shall with the gushing bubbles of my dropping bloud be dyde On death were vengeaunce small though small yet may it be delayde What despret death I should attempt it makes my heart dismayde Alas alas that Hercles swerd within my chamber stucke Then well were I if for to dye on that it were my lucke It is inough if one right hand doe bring vs both to graue Come neare come neare yee Nations now let all people haue In redinesse both stone and fier the same to throw at mee Now holde your hands and take yee to your tooles for I am shee That of your succour spoyled you now cruell Kaysars may All vncontrolled tyrantlike in kingdomes weilde the sway Now euery mischiefe may start vp and not rebuked bee The alters now shall vp agayne that wonted wers to see A bloudy offring like him selfe in kinde that offer should Thus haue I made the guilty gap to let in bloudshed boulde I render you to tyrants kings bugges beasts and grysely diuells By taking him away that should reuenge you of these euilles O spouse thou of the thunderer and can you yet forbeare Wilt thou not fling thy flames from heauen as did thy brother deare Dispatch me hence sent vp to Ioue wilt thou not me destroye The greatest prayse that thou might winne then shall thou not enioy Nor lusty tryumphe I am she that beare the name to be The daughter of the man that would in prowes caape with thee N. Why wilt thou stayne thy stocke which hath vntaynted bene before This il procedes of ygnorance although it be ful sore Hee is not gylty that committes the gylte not with his will D. Wel may hee erre of ignorance that fauoreth his ill And spares himselfe my selfe of death most worthy I do deeme N. He doth condemne himselfe to dye that needes wil guylty seeme D. Death can deceiue no one but such as innocentes may bee N. Wilt thou forsake the gloryous sonne D. The sonne forsaketh mee N. Wretch wil thou cast away thy life D. Yea though it be to death I follow wil my Hercules N. He hath both life and breath D. When he perceaued him ouermatcht
mountayne falling am I slayne The glaring eyed giant grym doth not now squeaze my coarse With paise of Pindus roch and thus not feling enmyes force I conquerd am and yet alas this coarsie frets me more O feeble force of man he whom no might could match before Withouten any conquest made doth end his latter day Without exployt or feat of armes my selfe I passe away O mighty vmpier of the world and all ye Ghostes aboue That witnes how in quarell good my right hand euer stroue O all ye landes O earth alas may it your mercy please To spoyle the spiteful sting of death that dauntes your Hercules Fy fye what shame is it to vs what filthy fate we haue A woman prowde shall boast her bane brought Hercles to his graue Then what are they whose mortall mayme Alcides weapon gaue If thus with sway inuincible my fatal wheele do run And neede must on this shameful rocke my fatall twist be spunne As by a womans cursed hand my bloud should thus be shed Yet Iunoes mallice migh haue powrd this vengeance on my head So might a womans deadly band have brought me to my beere But pet a woman wellding sway amid the welkin cleare But this seemde ouerprowde attempt for Gods to take in hand The paples dame in Scithia borne where pight on hie â—oâ—h s tand The Apeltree whereon the vnderpropped poales do sway It might as wel haue bene her hap to take my breath away What womans might may maister me Queene Iunoes hatefull foe Fye stepdame fye the fowler shame by this to thee doth grow Why dost thou triumph in this day why did dame Tellus breede Such parlous bugges thy humour ranck of colour hoate to feede A mortall womans peauishe spight doth passe thy rancour rough Thou sayst thou cannot haue reuenge on Hercules inough Then are wee twayne y passe thy power the Gods may blushe for sham To see their mallice ouermacht by such a mortall dame Would God the ramping Lyons pawe that noyed Neme woode Had fillde his greedy mounching Iawes with plenty of my bloude Or while the twining snakes had hembde mee in by hundreds thick Why might not Hydra swallow vp my wrinched body quick Why was it not the centaures hap my silly flesh to gnawe Or that I bounde on Tantalls rocke shoulde gape with greedy Iawe In vayne to catch the fleeting foode when deepe from Tartar soyle Where at the Gods aggrized were I did purloyne the spoyle And from the darck infernall Styx I got agayne to light Or Ditis dungeon all the stops and stayes I conquerde quight Death shranke from mee in euery place that I a noble knight At length might ende my dayes in shame and in dishonour spoylde Oh Ioue the creatures terrible thou knowst that I haue foylde The threefolde shapen mastiffe curre whom vp I draggde in chayne Hee starring from the sunnewarde could not hale mee back agayne The sheepherdes churlishe rabble that aloofe in Iber hee Vnder the Spanishe feruent clyme coulde neuer maister mee Nor serpents twayne that vnto mee in tender cradell creapt Aye woe is mee that valiant death so oft I ouerleapt What honour shall I dye withall CH. Beholde how death and hell Cannot appaule the verteous mynde that of deseruing well By guiltlesse conscience warrant hath the death that doth him spoyle Irkes not as thus of such an one to take this filthy foyle If with this torment life were lost his mynde should much be â—asde As with vnweâ—ldy Gyauntes sway hee had his body squeasde Or Titans burden with his monsters all he woulde abyde Or wishe of raging Gyants rent in pieces to haue dyde And if thy dâ—lefull death because that monster none is left Who may be worthy thought by whom Alcides life bee reft But thine owne hand to doe the deede HE. Aye me and wellaway What Scorpion scrapes within my Mawe what cralling Crab I say With crooking cleaze to comber mee from scorching zone returnes And boat within my boyling bones the seathing Marowe burnes My Riuer whilom ranke of bloude my rotting Lunges it tawes And teareth them in shattred gubs and filthy withered flawes And now my Gall is dryed vp my burning Lyuer glowes The stewing heate hath stulde away the bloude and Ioue hee knowes My vpper skin is scorcht away and thus the Cankar stronge Doth eate an hole that get it may my wretched Limmes amonge And from my frying Ribs alas my Lyuer quite is rent It gnawes my flesh deuowers all my Carkas quite is spent It soakes into the empty bones and out the iuyce it suckes The bones by lumps drop of while it the ioyntes a sunder pluckes My corpulent Carkes is consumde of Hercules euery Iim Yet stauncheth not the festring rot that feedeth fast on him O what a tingling ache it is that makes mee thus to smart O bitter plague O pestilence that gripeth to the heart Loe Cittes loe what now remaynes of Hercules the great Are these the armes that did with stripes the roaring Lyon beate And in Nemea wood did teare him from his hary case Might this hand bend y bow from cloudes the Stimphall foule to chase Are these the shankes that coapt the heart who shifting pace full oft Did beare his braunched head ypranckt with garlond gay aloft Was Calâ—e craggy cliue of these my feeble clowches broake To rayse a dam in â—eas that did their foamy channell choake Had these armes pith the breath of Kings of Beastes and bugs to stop Or might these shoulders tough the payse of heauen vnderprop Are these the lusty Lims and Neck that shrank not at the payse Are these handes that I agaynst the weltring heauens did rayse Alas whose handes shall now perforce from hence hell Iayloâ—â— leade Alas the noble courage earst that now in mee is deade Why call I Ioue my Father great of whom my stock should ryse Why by the Thunderer make I my challenge to the skyes Now now Ampitrio is my ster all men may it auouch Come out thou murreyn fowle that dost within my bowells couch Why dost thou thus with priuy wound my carefull Carkas foyle What gulph vnder the frozen Clyme in saluage Scithian soyle Engendred them what water Hag did spawne thee on the shore Or stony Câ—lpe Rock in Spayne that borders on the Moare O yrksome ill and art thou not the Serpent that doth sting With crest on ougly head or els some other lothly thing Or spronge of Hydraës bloude or left heere by the hellick hound Art thou no plague and yet a plague in whom all plagues abound What gastly countnaunce cariest thou alas yet let me know What kinde of mischiefe may thou be that dost torment mee so What saluage sore or murreyn straunge or vncouth plague thou bee With open combat face to face thou should encounter mee And not thus ranckle in my flesh nor soake into the sap By sowltring heate within my bones thy boyling bane to wrap And in the mid thereof to fry the Maroe that doth melt My