destroyde and woon Retournd he is to yeld his throte vnto his traytresse wyfe That shall with force of blooddie blade beryue him of hys lyfe The glytering swerd the hewing axe and woundyng weapons mo With blood for blood new set a broche shall make the floore to flow With sturdy stroke boysteous blow of pythye Pollar geuen His beaten braynes are pasht abroad his cracked skull is reuen Now myschiefe marcheth on a pace Now falshod doth appeare Now butchers slaughter doth approch and murther draweth neare In honowr of thye natyue daye Aegisthus they prepare The sollemne feast with iâ—nâ—ketyng and dayntie tothsom fare Fye what doth shame abashe thee so and cause thy courage quayle Why doubts thy right hand what to do to smyte why doth it fayle What he forecastyng myght suspect why shouldst thou take aduyse Why fretâ—est thou demaundyng if thou may it enterpryseâ— Naye yf amother it beseme thou rather mayst surmyse What now how hapneth it that thus the smylyng sommers nyght When Phaebus from Thantipodes should render sone the lyght On sudden chauÌ„g their turns w t nights that last and lyngâ—r longe When wynters bore as bitter blastes doth puff the trees among Or what doth cause the glydyng â—tarrs to stay styll in the skye We wayght for Phaebus to the worlde bryng daye now by and by Chorus O Fortune that dost fayle the great estate of kynges on slyppery slydyng seat thou placest loftie thynges And sytâ—t on tottring sort where peryls do abounde yet neuer kyngdome calme nor quyet could be founde No day to scepters sure doth shyne that they myght saye To morow shall we rule as we haue don to daye One clod of croked care another bryngeth in One hurlye burlye done another doth begin Not so the ragyng sea doth boyle vpon the sand Whear as the southern wynd that blowes in Affryck lande One waue vppon another doth heap wyth sturdye blast Not so doth Euxine sea his swellyng waues vp cast Nor so his belchyng streame from shallow bottom roll That borders hard vppon the ysye frosen poall Whear as Bootes bryght doth twyne hys wayne about And of the marble seas doth nothyng stand in doubt O how doth fortune tosse and tomble in her whele The staggring states of kynges that reddye be to rele Fayâ—e wold they dreded be and yet not setled so When as they feared are they feare and lyue in woe The sylent Ladye nyght so sweete to man and beast Can not bestow on them hâ—r safe and quyet rest Slepe that doth ouercom and breake the bondâ—s of greefe I cannot ease theyr harâ—es nor mynister releefe What castell stronglye buylt what Bulwark tower or towne Is not by mischyfes meanes brought topsye turâ—ey downe What ramperd walls are not made weake by wicked war From statelye courtes of kynges doth iustice flye afar In pryncelye pallacies of honestie the lore And wedlock now deuoute is set by lytle store The bloodye Bellon thâ—se doth haâ—nt with gorye hand Whose lyght and vayne conceit in paynted pomp doth stand And those Erinnys wood turmoyles with frensyes fitts That euer more in proud and hautie howses sitts Which fycle fortunes hand in twynklyng of an eye From hygh and proud degre dryues down in dust to lye Although that skyrmish â—eace no banners be displayed And though no wyles be wrought and pollecye be stayd Down paysed with theyr wayght the massy thynges do synke And from her burden doth vnstable fortune shrynke The swelling Sayles puâ—t vp with gale of western wynde Do yet mystrust therof a tempest in theyr mynd The threatnyng tops that touche the clowdes of loftye towers Be sonest payd and bett with south wynd raynye showres The darksome wood doth see his tough and sturdye Oke Well waynd in yeares to be clean ouerthrown and broke The lyghtnyngs flashyng flame out breakyng in the skye Fyrst lyghteth on the mountes and hylls that are most hye The bodies corpuleâ—t and of the largest syese Are ryfest styll to catch deseases when they ryse When as the flocke to gâ—ase in pasture fat is putt Whose necke is larded best hys throte shall fyrst be cutt What fâ—rtune doth aduaunce and hoysteth vp on hyâ— She setes it vpp to fall agayne more greuouslye The thynges of myddle sorte and of a meane degree Endure aboue the rest and longest dayes do see The man of meane estate most happye is of all Who pleased with the lott that doth to him befall Doth sayle on sylent shore wyth calme and quyet tyde And dreads wyth brused barge on swellyng seas to ryde Nor lawncyng to the depe where bottom none is founde may with his rudder search and reach the shallow grownd ¶ The second Act. Clytemnestrâ— Nutrix O Drowsie dreaming dotyng soule what commeth in thy brayne To seke about for thy defence what waye thou mayest attayne What aiels thy skittish waiward wits to wauer vp and down The fyttest shyft preuented is the best path ouergrown Thou myghtest ons mayntayned haue thy wedlâ—ck chamber chast And eak haue rulde with maiestie by fayth conioyned fast Now nurtures lore neglected is all ryght doth clean decay Relygion and dygnitie with fayth are worne awaye And ruddy shaâ—e with blushing cheeks so farre god â—ot is past That when it would it cannot now com home agayn at last O let me now at randon run with brydle at my wyll The safest path to myschyfe is by myschef open styll Now put in practyssâ— seke about search out and learne to fynd The wylie traynes and craftye guyles of wicked woman kynd What anye dyuelysh trayâ—erous dame durst do in workyng woe Or anye wounded in her wittes by shott of Cupids bowe What euer rygorous stepdame could committ with desperate hand Or as the wenche who flaming faste by Venus poysonyng brand Was dreuen by lewd vncesteous loue in shypp of thessail land To flytt away from Cholchos I le where Phâ—sis channell depe With siluer streame down from y â— hils of Armenie doth swepe Get weapons good get bylbow blades or temper poyson strong Or with som yonker trudge froÌ„ Grece by thefte the seas along Why dost thou faynt to talke of theft exile or priuie flyght These came by hap thou therfore must on greater myschife lyght Nu. ¶ O worthy queene among y e Grekes that beares the swinging â—waye And borne of Ledas royall blood what mutâ—râ—ng dost thou sayâ— What furye fell enforceth the bereued of thy wyttes To rage raue wyth bedlam braynes to frett with franticke fitts Though madam thou do counsell kepe and not complayne thy case Thyne anguysh playne appeareth in thy pale and wanny face Reueal therfore what is thy grefe take leysure good and staye What reason could not remedye oft eured hath delaye Cly. ¶ So greuous is my carefull case which plunâ—eth me so soreâ— That deale I cannot with delaye nor lynger â—nye more The flashing flames and furyous force of fyrye feruent heat Outragyng in my boylyng brest my burnyng bones doth beat It suckes the sappye marowe out the
bondage eake he leades the foalke of long assaulted Troyâ— Yet darest thou by pollecye attempt him to annoye Whom w t the dynt of glittryng swerd Achilles durst not harme Although his rash and desperate dickâ— The froward knyght did armeâ— Nor Aiax yet more hardye man vp yeldyng vitall breth Whom frantycke iurye fell enforste to wound him selfe to death Nor Hector he whose onlye lyfe procuerd the Grekes delay And long in war for victorye enforced them to staye Nor Paris shaft whose connyng hand with shot so sure did ayme Nor myghtye Memnon swart and black had power to hurt the same Nor Xanâ—hus flood wher to and froe dead caâ—kasis did swyme With armour hewd and ther with all some maymed broken lyme Nor Simois that purple wawmes with slaughter died doth steare Nor Cygnus Lylly whyght the sonnâ— of fenny god so deare Nor yet the muâ—teryng Thracian host nor warlyke Reâ—sus kynge Nor Amazons who to the wars did painted Quiuers brynge And bare their harâ—hets in their hands with target and wyth sheylde Yet had no powre with gastly wound to foyle hym in the feylde Syth he such scourynges hath escapte and plunge of peryls paste Entendest thou to murther hym returning home at laste And sacred alters to prophane with slaughter so vâ—â—ure Shall Grece th aduenger let this wroug longe vnreuengd endure The gâ—ym and fearce coragious horse the battails shouâ—es and cries The swelling seas which brusâ—d barks do dread when stormes aryse Behold the feildes w t streames of blood ouerflowne and depely droâ—â—d And all the Cheualrie of Troy in seruile bondage bounde Which Grekes haue writ in registers thy stubburne stomacke binde Subdue thy â—onde affections and pacyfie thy mynd◠¶ The .ii. Acte The .ii. Sceane Aegisthus Clytemnestra THe curssed tyme that euermore my mynd dyd most detest The dais that I abhorred haue and hated in my brest Are come are come that myne estate wyll brynge to vtter wracke Alas my harte why doest thou fayle and fayntyng flyest backe What doest thou meane at fyrst assaltâ— from armour thus to flye Trust thys the cruell gods intendâ— thy dolfull destinie To wrap thee in wyth peryls round and catche thee in a bande Endeuer drudge with all thy powre theyr plagues for to wythstand Wyth stomake stoute rebellious to fyre and swerd appeal Cly. ¶ It is no plague if such a death thy natyue destnies deal â—eg ¶ O partners of my peryls all begot of Leda thou Direct thy doinges aâ—ter myne and vnto thee I vowe This drosell fluggysh ryngleader thys stoute stronge harâ—ed â—yre Shall pay the so much bloâ—d agayne as shed he hath in fyre How haps it that hys treÌ„bling cheekes to be so pale and whyght Lyenge agast as in a traunce wyth fayntyng face vpryght Cly. ¶ His coÌ„scieÌ„ce wedloâ—k vow doth prick and brynges hym home agayne Let vs returne the selfe same â—rade a newe for to retayne To which at first we should haue stuck and ought not to forsake To couenaunt contynent a newe let vs our selues betake To take the trade of honestie at no tyme is to late He purged is from punyshment whose harte the cryme doth hate Aâ—g ¶ Why whether wilt thou gad o rashe and vnaduysed dame What doest thou ernestly beleue and fyrmly trust the same That Agamemnons spousall bed wyll loyall be to thee That nought doth vnderprop thy mind whych myght thy terrour bee Hys proud successe pufte vp to hyghe wiâ—h lucky blast of wynde Myght make so cranke and set alofte hys hawty swellyng mynde Amonge hys peares he stately was er Troian turrets torne How â—hynk ye then hys stomack stout by nature gyuen to scorne In haughtynes agmented is more in hym selfe to ioye Through thys tryumphant vyctorye and conquest got of Troye Before hys voyage miceane kynge moste mylâ—ly dyd he reygne But now a Tyrant truculent returnd he is agayne Good lucke and proud prosperytie do make hys harte so ryse With what great preparacion prepared solemne wyse A rablement of strumpets come that clonge about hym all But yet the prophetesse of Phaebe whom god of trueth we call Appeares aboue the rest she kepes the kynge she doth hym guyde Wylâ— thou in wedlock haue a mate and not for it prouyde So wolde not she the greatâ—st greefe this is vnto a wyte Her husbandes minion in her house to leade an open lyfe A queenes estate can not abyde her peare with her to reygne And Ielous wedlock will not her companyon sustayne Cly. ¶ Aegâ—st in desprat mode agayne why seâ—st thou me a flote Why kyndlest thou the sparkes of ire in imbers couered hote If that the vyctors owne free will releas his captyues care Why may not I hys lady spouse haue hope as well to fare One lawe doth rule in royall throne and pompous pryncely towers Amonge the vulgar sorte another in pryuate symple bowers what though my grudgyng fansy force that at my husbandes hande Sharpe execution of the lawe I sâ—ubbernly withstande â—ecordyng thys that haynousâ—ye offended hym I haue â—gently wyll me pardon graunt who nede the same to craue Aeg. ¶ Euen so on thys condicion thou mayst wyth hym compounde To pardon hym if he agayne to pardon thee be bounde The subtle scyence of the lawe The statutes of our lande That longe ago decreed were thou doest not vnderstande The Iudges be malicious men they spyâ—hte and enuye vs But he shall haue them parciall hys causes to dyscns Thys is the chiefest pryuiledge that doth to kynges belonge What lawes forbyddeth other men they do and do no wronge Cly. ¶ He pardned Helen she is wedd to Menela agayne Whych Europ all wyth Asia dyd plonge alyke in payne Aeg. ¶ No Ladyes luste hath rauyshte yet Atrides in hys lyfe Nor pryuelie purloynd hys harte betrâ—thed to hys wyfe To picke a quarell he begyns and matter thee to blame Suppose thou nothyng hast coÌ„mytâ— that worthy is of shame What â—oteth hym whom prynces hate an honest lyfe to frame He neuer doth complayne his wronge but euer beares the blame Wylt thou repayre to Spart and to thy countrey trudge aryght Wylt thou becom a ronagate from such a worthy wyght Deuorcement made from kynges wil not so let the matter scape Thou easest fear by fyckle hope that falsly thou doest shape Cly. ¶ My trespas is dysclosd to none but to a trustye wyght Aeg. ¶ At prynces gates fydelytye yet neuer enter myght Cly. ¶ I wyll corrupt and feâ—de him sâ— with syluer and wyth gould That I by brybyng binde hym shall no secrets to vnfould Aeg. ¶ The trust that hyred is and bought by brybes and moneys fee Thy counsell to bewray a gayne with brybes entyste wyll bee Cly. ¶ The remnaunt left of shamfaâ—nes of those vngracyous â—ryckes Wherin of late I dyd delyght my concience freshly prycks Why kepest thou such a busy stur and wyth thy flattryng speache Enst ructyng me wyth lewd aduise dost wicked counsell preache Shall I forsooth of royall blood with all the speede
corpes whyle thus he doth him spoyle She putteth to her helpyng hand by detestable dede They both accord vnto the kynd whereof they do proceade Dame Helens syster ryght shee is and he Thyestes sonne Lo doutfull Titan standeth styll the day now being don Not knowyng whether best to kepe styll on his wonted waye Or turne his wheles vnto the path of dyre Thiestes daye ¶ The .v. Acte The .ii. Sceane ¶ Electra O Thou whom of our fathers death the onely helpe we haue Fly fly froÌ„ force of furious foes make hast my selfe to saue Our house is topsey turuey tost our stockeâ— is cast away Our ruthfull realmes to ruin ronne our kyngdomes do decaye Who cometh here in Chariot swyft this gallopyng a mayne Brother dysguysed in thy wede let me thy person fayne O bussard blynde what dost thou mean from forayn folke to flye Whom dost thou shun it doth behoue to feare thys famylie Orestes now be bould and set all shiuering fear a syde The certayne succour of a trustye freinde I hâ—ue espyde ¶ The .v. Acte The .iii. Sceane Strophilus Electra WIth solemne pompe I Strophilus forsakyng Phocis lande Bearing a brauÌ„che of palme y t growes at Elis in my hand Returned back I am the cause that wyld me hether wend Is with these gyftes to gratefie and welcome home my freynd Whose valiyent armie skalde shooke the tattryd Troyan walles Who weryed with the ten years war now flat on floore she falles What woful wight is this that staines her mourning face with teares And drouned depe in drousy dumpes oppressed is with feares I know full well thys damsell iâ— of prynces lynage borne What cause Electra hath thys ioyfull familie to mourne Elec. ¶ By treason that mi mother wrought my father lyeth slayne And drinkyng of their fathers cup the chyldren do complayne Aegist engroceth Castels got by fornication Stâ—o ¶ Alack that of so longe a tymeâ— fylicitie is none Elec. ¶ I thee request euen for the loue my father thou doest owe And for the honour of the crowne whose brute abrode doth growe In euery coast and by the gods that dyuersly do â—eal Take into thy tuicion conuey away and steal Thys poore Orest such kynd of theft is pietie indede Stro◠¶ Although that Agamemnâ—nâ— death doth teache me to take hede Yet will I vnderâ—ake the same and with all diligence Orestes shall I go aboute with strengthe to haue thee hence Prosperytie requyreth fayth but troble exacts the same Haue here a pryce for those that do contende and wage in game An ornament with comely grace ordaynd to deck the brow And let thy head be â—ouerde with thys greene and pleasaunt bow And cary thys vyctoryous triumphant braunche in hand God graunt this palme y t planted was in fertill Pisa land where solemne games wer celebrate Ioues honour to expresse May both a sauegard be to to thee and brynge thee good successe Thou that bestryds thy fathers steeds as he before hath done Go stryke a league of amytie with Pylades my sonne Now nimble nagges let Grece hereof recordyng testifye With headlong scouring cours amain this traytrous contrey flye Elec. ¶ He is escapt and gone and with vnmesurable myght The Chariot horse with rayne at will do send out of my syght Now free from peryll on my foes attendance will I make And offer willingly my head the deadly wound to take The cruell conqueress of her spouse is come whose spotted wede With sprynkels signe of slaughter do beare record of her dede Her gory handes new bathed in blood as yet they be not drye Her rough churlish rigorous lookes the facte do notyfye Unto the temple will I trudge Cassandra suffer mee Opprest with egall greefe take parte of sacryfyce wyth thee ¶ The .v. Acte The .iiii Sceane Clytemnestra Electra Aegisthus Cassandra O Thou thy mothers enimie vngracious saucy face After what sorte dost thou a maid appere in publyque place Elec. ¶ I haue with my vyrgynitie the bowres of baudes forsoke Cly. ¶ What man is hee that euer thee to be a vyrgyn tooke Elect. ¶ what your own doughter Cl. ¶ w t thy mother more modest shuld y u be Elec. ¶ Do you at length begyn to preache such godlynes to me Cly. ¶ A manly stomake stout thou hast wyth swellyng hawtye hart Subdued with sorow learne thou shall to playe a womans part Elect. ¶ A swerd and buckler verye well a woman doth beseme Except I dote Cl◠¶ â—hy selfe doeâ—â— y u haylefelow with vs esteme Elec. ¶ What Agamemnon new is this whom thou hast got â—f late Cly. ¶ Hereafter shall I tame and teach thy gyrlysh tong to prate And make the know how to a queene â—hy tauntyng â—o for beare â—ec ¶ The whylst y u widdowe answer me directly to this geare Thy husband is â—ereued quyght of breath his lyfe is don Cly. ¶ Enquier wher thy brother is So seke about my son Elect. ¶ He is departed out of Greâ—e Cly. ¶ Go fetch him out of hand Elect. ¶ Fetche thou my father vnto me Cly. ¶ Gyue me to vnderstand Where doth he lurking hyde his head where is he shrunk awaye Elect. ¶ All plonge of perills past he is aâ—d at a quyet staye And in another kyngdom where no harme he doth mistrust This aunswere were sufficient to please a parent iust But one whose brest dothboil in wrath it cannot satesfye Cly. ¶ To daye by death thou shalt receiue thy fatall destynye Elect. ¶ On this condicion am I pleasd the Alter to forsake If that this hande shall do the dead my death when I shall take Or els if in my throte to bathe thy blade thou do delyght Most willynglye I yeld my throte and gyue the leue to smyâ—e Or if thou wyll chop of my head in brutysh beastly guyse My necke a waytyng for the wound out stretched redye lies Thou hast committed synfully a great and greuous guylt Go purge thy hardned handes y â— which thy husbandes blood haue spilâ— Cly. ¶ O thou that of my perylls all doest suffer part wyth me And in my realme doest also rule with egall dignitie Aegisthus art thou glad at this as doth her not behoue With checks taunts y â— doughter doth her mothers mallyce moue She kepes her brothers counsell close Conueyd out of the waye Aegist ¶ Thou malipert and wiâ—les wench thyne eluysh praâ—yng staye Refrayne those wordes vnfytt thy mothers glowing ears to vex Elect. ¶ What shall the breder of this broyle controll me with his checkes Whose fathers gilt hath caused him to haue a doubtfull name Who both is to his syster sonne and nephew to the same Cly. ¶ To snapp her head of with thy swerd Aegist doest thou refrayne Let her gyue vp the ghost or bryng Her brother strayght agayne Let her be lockt in dungeon darke and let her spend her dayes In Caues Rocks w t painefull pangs torment her euerye wayes I hope him whom she hidden hath