With bowes of mortall Ewe A tree wherewith the mourners winde Theyr mourning heads Garlands make In this guise all arayde The sacred Priest doth enter in with trembling lims dismayde Than in the Sheepe and Oxen blacke by backwarde course are drawn And odoures sweete Frankencence on flaming fyres are thrown The beasts on burning Altars cast do quake with schorched lims And bloudy streames with fyre mixt about the Aultars swims Than on the darke internall Gods and him that rules them all With deadly shriking voyce aloude the Prophet gins to call And rouls the Magick verse in mouth and hidden Artes doth proue Which eyther power haue to appease or els the Gods to moue Thair bloudy streaming Lycours black with broyling heate doe boyle And all the Beasts consume and burn The Prophet than to toyle Begins And mixed wyne and Mylke vpon the Aultars throwes And all the Dongeon darke and wyde with streaming blood it flowes Than out with thundring voyce agayne the Prophet calles and cryes And straight as much with mumbling mouth he champs in secret wyse The trees do turne The Riuers stÄd The ground with roring shakes And all the world as seemes to mee with fearefull trembling quakes I am heard I am heard than out aloude the Priest began to cry Whan all the dampned soules by heapes abrode outrushing fly Then woods with rumbling noyse doe oft resounding make And Heauen and Earth together goe And bowes and trees do crake And ThuÌ„ders roore And Lightnings flash And waues aloft doe fly And ground retyres and Dogs doe bawl and Beastes are heard to cry And whyther long of Acheron that lothsom Flud that flowes All stinking streames or of the earth that out her Bowels throwes Free place to Sprights to geue or of that fierce infernall Hound That at such times doth bustling make with chayns railing sound The Earth al wide it open gapes And I did see on ground The Gods with colour pale and wan that those dark kingdoms keepe And very night I saw in deede and thousand shapes to creepe From out those filthy stinking Lakes and lothsom pits of Hell Where all the euils vnder Son in darksom shades doe dwell So quaking all for feare I stoode with minde right sore apalde Whilst on those Gods with trembling mouth the Priest full often calde Who all at once out of theyr dens did skip with griesly Face And Monsters grim and stinging Snakes seemd wander in that place And all the fowlest Feendes of Hell and Furies all were theare And all traÌ„sformed Ghosts sprights that euer Hell did beare With Cares ahd all Diseases vyle that mortall mynds doe crush All those and more I sawe out of those Dungeons deepe to rush And Age I sawe with riueled Face and Neede Feare and Death And Fyre and flames thousand ills out fro those Pits to breath Then I was gon and quight amazd The wenche in worser case And yet of olde acquaynted with her Fathers Artes she was The Priest himselfe vnmooued stoode and boldly cited owt Whole Armies of king Ditis men who clustring in a Rowt All flittring thin like Cloudes disperst abrode in Ayre doe fly And bearing sundry shapes and formes doe scud aboue in Sky A thousand woods I thinke haue not so many leaues on trees Ten thousand medowes fresh haue not so many flowers for bees Ten hundred thousand riuers not so many Foule can show Nor all the drops and streams and gulphes that in the Seas do flow If that they might be wayed can sure so great a number make As could those shapes and formes that flew from out of Limbo lake Both Tantalus and Zetus too and pale Amphions Ghost And A gaue and after her ten thousand Sprightes do post Than Pentheus and more and more in like estate ensue Til out at length comes Laius with foule and grisly hue Vncomly brest in wretched plight with fylth all ouergrowne All perst with wounds I loth to speake with bloud quight ouerflown A Miser ryght as seemd to me and most of Misers all Thus in this case at length he spake and thus began to call O Cadmus cruel Citty vyle that stil delightste in bloud O Cadmus thou which kinsmens death accountst as chiefest good Teare out the bloudy Bowels of your Children learne of me Do that and rather more then you would byde the day to see Like ills as late on mee are light Loe mothers loue alas Hath causd the greatest misery that ere in Theba was The Countrey with the wrath of Gods at this tyme is not tost Nor yearth nor ayre infect is not the cause that all bene lost No No A bloudy King is cause of all these mischiefes great A bloudy wretch A wretched child that sits in Fathers Seate And Mothers bed defyles O wretch and entreth in agayne In places whence he came from once and doubleth so her payne Whilst that hee fils the haples wombe wher in himselfe did lie With graceles seede and causeth her twise childbirthes pangues to try Vnhappy Sonne but Father worse and most vnhappy hee By whom the lawes of sacred shame so sore confounded bee For that that very bestes almost do all abhorre to do Euen of his mothers body he hath brothers gotten two O mischiefe great O dredful deede then Sphinx O moÌ„ster more Example vnto ages all of Gods foretold before But I thee thee that Scepter holdst thy Father wil pursue And wreacke my selfe on thee and thyne with plagues vengeance due All restles rage of spite and paine I will vppon thee blow And all the furies foule of hell vppon thee I will throw I wil subuert thy Houses cleane for this thy lothsome lust I wil do this thou wretch And thee and thyne consume to dust Wherfore dispatch at once I say into exile driue your King That ground that first of all he leaues with fresh grene grasse shall spring And sweete and pleasaunt Ayre and healthfull blasts shall ryse And all the euills vnder Sun that mortall men surprise The Pocks the Piles the Botch the blaine death with him shall fly And with him mischiefs all shall passe and Monsters vnder Sky And as for him I know hee would depart with willing mynde But I will clog his Feete and hands his way he shall not finde But groping with his aged staffe shall passe from place to place This shall he doe And none shall rue vpon his ruthfull case Rid you the Monster from the Earth for Heauen let mee alone No sooner sayd but straight away his dreadfull Ghost was gone And fast by thousands after him th' other Sprights in hyde Than Cold trembling feare began through all my bones to glyde OED. The thing I alwayes fearde I see vpon mee now is layde But slender props they are God wot whereby your Treason is stayde Meropa my Mother deare shall mee from this defend Polybius eke shall purge mee quight from Actions all that tend To murder or to incest vile they both
brothers banquet now and streight a fonder cuttes The bodyes into quarters all and by the stoompes anone The shoulders wyde and brawnes of armes be strikes of euerychone He layes abroad their naked limes and cuts away the bones The onely heads he kepes and handes to him committed once Some of the guttes are broacht and in the fyres that burne full sloe They drop the boyling licour some doth tomble to end froe In moorning cawderne from the flesh that ouerstandes aloft The fyre doth flye and skatter out and into chimney ofte Up heat agayne and there constraynd by force to tary yet Unwilling burnes the liuer makes great noyse vpon the spit Nor easely wot I if the flesh or flames they be that bry But crye they do the fyre like pitch it fumeth by an by Nor yet the smake it selfe so sad like filthy miste in sight Ascendeth vp as wont it is nor takes his way vpright But euen the Gods and house it doth with fylthy turne defile O pacient Phoebus though from hence thou backeward flee the whyle And in the midst of heauen aboue dost drowne the broken day Thou fleest to late the father eats his children well away And limmes to which he once gaue life with cursed iaw doth teare He shynes with oyntment shed ful sweete all round about his heare Replete with wyne and oftentymes so cursed kynd of food His mouth hath held that would not downe but yet this one thing good In all thy yls Thyestes is that them thou dost not knoe And yet shal that not long andure though Titan backward goe And chariots turne agaynst himselfe to meete the wayes be went And heauy night so heynous deede to keepe from sight be sent And out of tyme from East aryse so foule a fact to hyde Yet shall the whole at length be seene thy ylles shall all be spide Chorus WHich way O Prince of landes and Gods on hie At whose vprise eftsones of shadowd night All beawty fleeth which way turnst thou awrye And drawest the day in midst of heauen to flight Why dost thou Phoebus hide from vs thy sight Not yet the watch that later howre bringes in Doth Vesper warne the Starres to kindle light Not yet doth turne of Hespers whele begin To loase thy chare his well deserued way The trumpet third not yet hath blowen his blast Whyle toward the night beginnes to yeld the day Great wonder hath of sodayne suppers hast The Plowman yet whose Oxen are vntierd From woonted course of Heauen what drawes thee backs What causes haue from certayne race conspierd To turne thy horse do yet from dongeon black Of hollow hell the conquerd Gyantes proue A fresh assaut doth Tityus yet assay VVith trenched hart and wounded wombe to moue The former yres or from the hil away Hath now Typhoeus wound his syde by might Is vp to heauen the way erected hie Of phlegrey foes by mountaynes set vpright And now doth Ossa Pelion ouerlye The wonted turnes are gone of day and night The ryse of Sunne nor fall shal be no more Aurora dewish mother of the light That wontes to send the horses out before Doth wonder much agayne returne to see Her dawning light she wots not how to case The weary wheeles nor manes that smoaking be Of horse with sweate to bathe amid the seas Himselfe vnwonted there to lodge likewise Doth setting sonne agayne the morning see And now commaundes the darkenes vp to ryse Before the night to come prepared bee About the Poale yet glowth no fyre in sight Nor light Moone the shades doth comfort yet What so it be God graunt it be the night Our hartes do quake with feare oppressed gret And dreadfull are least heauen and earth and all With fatall ruine shaken shall decay And least on Gods agayne and men shall fall Disfigurde Chaos and the land away The Seas and Fyres and of the glorious Skise The wandring lampes least nature yet shal hide Now shall no more with blase of his vprise The Lord of starres that leades the world so wyde Of Sommer both and Winter geue the markes Nor yet the Moone with Phoebus flames that burnes Shall take from vs by night the dreadful carkes With swifter course or passe her brothers turnes While compasse lesse she fets in croked race The Gods on heaps shal out of order fall And each with other mingled be in place The wryed vvay of holy planets all With path a slope that doth deuide the Zones That beares the sygnes and yeares in course doth brynge Shall see the starres with him fall downe at ones And he that first not yet vvith gentle spring The temperate Gale doth geue to sayles the Ramme Shall headlong fall a dovvne to Seas agayne Through vvhich he once vvith fearefull Hellen svvam Next him the Bull that doth vvith horne sustayne The systers seuen with him shall ouerturne The twins and armes of croked Cancer all The Lyon hoat that wontes the soyle to burne Of Hercules agayne from heauen shall fall To landes once left the Virgin shall be throwne And leueld payse of balance sway alow And draw with them the stinging Scorpion downe So likewyse he that holdes in Thessale bowe His swift wel fethred arrowes Chiron old Shal breake the same and eke shal lese his shotte And Capricorne that bringes the winter cold Shall ouerturne and breake the water pot VVho so thou be and downe with thee to grounde The last of all the sygnes shal Pisces fall And monsters eke in seas yet neuer drounde The water gulph shal ouerwhelme them all And he which doth betwene each vrsa glyde Lyke croked flood the slipper serpent twynde And lesser Beare by greater Dragons syde Full cold with frost congealed hard by kinde And carter dull that slowly guides his waine Vnstable shall Boòtes fall from hye VVe are thought meete of all men whom agayn Should hugy heape of Chaos ouerly And world oppresse with ouerturned masse The latest age now falleth vs vppon VVith euil hap we are begot alas If wretches we haue lost the sight of sonne Or him by fraught enforced haue to flye Let our complayntes yet goe and feare be pasts He greedy is of life that wil not die VVhen all the world shall end with him at last THE FIFTE ACTE Atreus alone NOwe equall with the Starres I goe beyond each other wight With haughty heade the heauens aboue and highest Poale I smite The kingdome nowe and seate I holde where once my father raynd I nowe lette goe the gods for all my wil I haue obtaynde Enoughe and well ye euen enough for me I am acquit But why enough I wil procede and fyl the father yet With bloud of his least any shame should me restrayne at all The day is gone go to therfore whyle thee the heauen doth call Would God I could agaynst their wils yet hold the Goddes that flee And of reuenging dish constrayne them witnesses to bee But yet which wel enough is wrought let it the father see
of hell where filthy fluds do flow Where plages and vile diseases too where dredfull horrors grow And all the furies brasten loose do mischiefes on vs throw With Botch biane of sundry kindes which sothern blasts do blow And wrekful vexed hagges of hell do dreath and on vs bringe The angry feddes of hell I thinke their vengeaunce on vs flinge And out their mortall poyson spue which they agaynst vs beare Lo see how greedy death on vs with scowling eyes doth leare See see Oh Ioue how fast hee throwes his Dartes Not one he spares But all confounds His thretning force withstand no Creature dares No doubt the lothsom Feryman the sinfull soules that traynes Through stincking fluds his labour loths that he for vs sustaynes Such presse by plūps to him is made which still renews his paynes But harke yet mōsters more thē these the Fame abroade doth fly That hellishe Dogges with bawling sound were heard to howle and cry And the the ground with trembling shooke and vnder feele did moue And dreadfull blasing Comets bright were seene in Skies aboue And gastly shapes of men besides to wander on the ground And wood and trees on euery syde did fearefully resound Besides all this straūg Ghosts were seene in places where they stoode And Ryuers more then one or two that ran all blacke goorb bloode O cruell plague O vile disease farre worse then speedy death O wee vnhappy thrise and more who doe prolonge our breath In these accursed dayes and tymes But harke to mee a while When first this lothsome plague begins these Mysers to defile It takes them thus A feareful Cold through al their bones doth run And Cold and Heate togeather mixt their sences all benome Than litle lothsome markes appeare and all their bodies spot And all their members flaming glow and burning fast doe rot The Lights the Lungs the heart the Guts and all that inwarde lies And all the secret partes iscorcht with deadly I fier fries The bloud all clotterd in their Cheekes in cluster lies by lumps And it and heate together makes great straung and ruddy bumps And bloud and flesh congeled stands in Face as stiffe as stake And Eyes in head fast fixed set and often trickling make And downe apace whole fluds they steame and clots drops doe trill And all the skin from of their Face by flakes and scales doth pill A thousand fearefull sounds at once into their eares doe rush And lothsome bloud out of their Nose by stilling streames doth gush The very anguish of their heart doth cause them for to shake And what with payne heale and feare their weried lims doe quake Then some the rūning Ryuers haunt and some on ground doe wallow And some agayne their thirst to slake cold water gulping swallow Thus all our country tost with plague in Griefe it waltering lies And still desiring for to dye a thousand deathes it dyes But God to heare them then is prest and death to none denyes Besydes al this the church some do frequent but not to pray But onely for to glut the Gods with that that they do say But who is this that comes to Court in hast with poasting pace What i st Creon that noble Prince for deedes and stately race Or doth my mynd opprest with care thinges false for true contriue Creon it is long looked for his sight doth me reuyue THE SECONDE ACTE The first Scene OEDIPVS CREON FOr feare my body chilles alas and trembling all I stand In quakinge dread I seke and toyle these mischiefes to withstand But al in vayne I spend my thoughtes it wil not be I see As long as all my sences thus by cares distracted bee My mynd desyrous stil Oh God the truth for to vnfold With doubtful Dread is daunted so that it can scant vpholde It selfe O Brother beare if way or meane of health thou know Declare it out and sticke not all the truth to me to show Cre. The Oracle most noble king ys darke and hidden lies Oed. Who doubtful health to sicke men brings all health to thē denies Cre. Apolloes vse yt is the troth in darkesome dens to hold Oed. And Oedipus of Gods it hath thinges hidden to vnfold Speake out tell all and spare not man all doubtes I can discus Cre. Apollo then most noble King himselfe commaundeth thus By exile purge the Princes seat and plague vvith vengeance due That haples vvretch vvhose bloudy handes of late King Laius slue Before that this perfourmed bee no hope of milder ayer Wherfore do this O King or else All hope of helpe dispayre Oe, Durst any man on earth attempte that noble Prince to slay Shew me the man that I may him dispatch out of the way Cre. God graunt I may it safely tel the hearyng was to terrible My senses all amased are it is a thing so horrible That I abhorre to vtter it oh God for feare I quake And euen at the very thought my lims beginne to shake Assoone as I Appollos Church had entred in affrayd Vppon my face flat downe I fell and thus to him I prayd Oh God if euer thou didst rue on wretched misers state If euer men opprest thou easd or didst their cares abate If euer thou in present neede didst present helpe declare If euer thou afflicted Hartes with cares consumd didst spare Shew now thy wonted elemency and pitty knowne of yore Scant had I sayd Resounding all the mountaynes thondring rore And filthy feendes spout out their flames out of their darksome caues And woods do quake and hilles do moue and vp the surging waues Do mount vnto the skies aloft and I amased stand Still looking for an aunsweare at Apollos sacred hand When out with ruffled hayre disguisd the Prophet comes at last And when that shee had felt the heate of mighty Phoebus blast All puffyng out she swelles in rage and pattring still she raues And scant she entred had into Apollos shyning caues When out a thundring voyce doth brust that 's farre aboue mans reach So dreadful seemed then to me the mighty Phoebus speach Than thus he spake aud thus at length into myne cares he rusht Whyle sprawling stil the Prophet lay before the doores in dust The Thebane City neuer shal be free frō plagues quoth he Except from thense the Kingkiller forthwith expulsed bee Vnto Apollo knowen he was or euer he was borne Do this or else no hope of health to this the gods haue sworn And as for thee thou shalt not long in quiet state indure But with thy self wage war thou shalt war thou shalt procure Vnto thy children deare crepe agayn thou shalt into thy mothers wombe Oed. Loke what the Gods commaunded haue accomplished shal be Nor neuer shal these eyes of myne abyde the day to see A King of kingdome spoyld by force by guyle or crast supprest A kinge to kinges the prop ought be and chiefest cause of rest No man regardes his death at all whom liuing
my paine whyle I did liue Vnto a boy to guyde which now I rue My poysoned make my Ghost doth oft pursue And in my face with burning brondes doth flye He stayes a space with earnest talke hard by And threatneth sore and doth impute his death And tombe he should haue had to mee beneath And now desyres to haue some factious wight That dare despoyle my sonne of breathing spright Let be you shall haue one to worke this cryme I do require no long delayed tyme Reuenging spright Erin a death doth coine Of life that wicked tyrant to purloyne Sore smarting leaden strypes and shameful flight And pyning panges with thurst and hunger dight That Tantalus spungelike thursty mouth befurde And Sisyphus toyle shal passe and Tityus burde And Ixions paynful wombling wheele aboute That teareth all his bodyes partes throughout Although that Tyrant proude and scornful wight His court with marble stone do strongly dyght And princelike garnish it with glistring golde Though troupes of souldiours shielded sure vpholde Their chieftaynes princely porch and though yet still The world drawne drye with taskes euen to his will Great heapes of riches yeeld themselues to saue Although his bloudy helpe the Parthians craue And Kingdomes bring and goods al that they haue The tyme and day shall come when as he shall Forlorne and quite vndone and wanting all Vnto his cursed deedes his life and more Vnto his foes his bared throate restore Alas vnto what ende is all my payne Or in what case do now my vowes remayne Wherto doth now thy rage and destnies spyte Draw thee O Sonne with brayne benummed quite That to such monstruous heapes of ylles thy dame Whom thou with cursed mischiefe ouercame Hir wrath should yeeld O that ere to the light A sucking babe I brought thee foorth in sight And fedd thee fyne with pappe as princely borne The fierce wild sauage beastes had rent and torne My wombe and bloudy entrails all beforne Without all cryme and wanting reasons pride Mine own deere dādling child thou shouldst haue dide And fastned sure to me shouldst aye beholde The quiet place where Ghostly soules be rolde And see thy graundsyres great of worthy fame And syre Domitius eake of princely name Whom now both shame and wayling doth abyde That whyle they dure from them shal neuer slyde For which both thee O cursed Barne they may And mee that thee haue borne geeue thankes for aye But why ceasse I with hel to hyde my face Wyfe stepdame mother dire in my life space THE SECOND SCENE Octauia Chorus DO not alas thus sore lament But rather yet your mourning stay Sith that the city whole is bent To celebrate this ioyful day Least your great loue and fauour both Which I do count to be most sure The more cause Nero me to loth And eake his bitter wrath procure And I fal out to be the ground To you of many mischieues vyle This same is not the first deepe wounde That I haue felt now this good whyle Farre worse then this haue I abode But of these troublous cares this day Shall make an end I trust in God Although with Death he do me pay No man to see shal me constrayne His bended browes knit furrowyse Nor step within the Chamber ragyne Of mayde drest vp in brydall guise Augustus sister I wil bee And not his wyfe as wont I was But onely paynes remoue from mee And feare of death I wil not passe Yet canst thou piteous wreth once trust Thy cruell husbandes father law Or these few thinges to haue so lust Whyle mischieues yet in mynd are rawe Now long reserud vntil this day And these same maryage rytes be past Thou shalt poore wretch without delay A bloudy offring dye at last Why thus with teares disfigured sore Thy wonted home dost thou behold Make hast to shunne this deadly shore And leaue this straughtrous Princes fold Cho. Lo see that day suspected long And whispered Fame in all mens eares With glisteryng pompe of brydall throng To vs pore wretches now appeares And Claudius broode Octauias grace From Neroes wedlocke place expelde Departed is whose spousall space Hath Poppie conquerour long tyme helde The whyle our pyety couched lyes Kept downe with heauy combrous feare And slow reuenging grief likewyse Where doth the peoples power appeare That brake the force of Princes great That conquerous city lawes hath framde That worthy men to honours seat Preferd that warre and peace proclaymd That sauage people straunge did tame That Kinges and Princes caught in fight Shut surely vp in prison frame To keepe them close from all mens sight Loe which wee cannot once abyde To see wher Poppies ymage trym Conioyned vnto Neroes syde All glistring bright shynes very brim Let force of Armes pul downe that frame And match with grounde that Ladyes face Too likely carued to his name And snatch her downe from beddig place And let it forthwith flye with brandes With Dartes and Iauelins fiercely flonge From pythy braunes and sturdy handes Vnto the princes courtly throng THE FOVRTH ACTE THE FIRST SCENE Nutrix Poppea FRom out of spousal bower dismayd with feare Whither go you what secrets daughter deare Vnknowen makes you to looke so drousely Why spungelike lokes your face with tears frō eye That fell of truth the tyme desyred long And wished for by prayers and vowes among Hath shyned bright Caesars wedlock are you Your golden grace whereof he tooke the view Him prisoner caught and did him surely bynde So much the more how much Senec his mynd Did seeke to chaunge and wild from loue to weeld And Venus chiefe in loue hath made him yeeld O in beauty passing all what beds then downe More soft haue borne thy weight when thou with crowne Didst sit in middes of court the Senate all At thy great beauty agast thou didst appall Whylst thou the Goddes with perfume sendest fyne And sacred alters drencht with thankful wyne Thy head attyrd with veyle of yellow hiew By Caesars side thou wentst as princesse new When he aloft extold aboue the rest With hauty courage merily went to feast Like as kyng Peleus went sometymes to take Queene Tethis whom salt seas fome bred his make Whose bridinge chambers banquet wise ydrest The Gods vouchsaft to hallow with their hest Both they that rule in skyes and eake in Seas But tel O Lady tell if it you please What sodayne chaūce doth shade your beautyes light What meanes your colour chaūge from red to white What moues those trickling tears how standes your plight Po. With dreames and griesly sightes this last night Nurse My mynd was troubled sore but frayd much worse For when sir Phoebe his weary course had ryd Whyle quiet restyng night each thing shadid My sences weary fel in slumber deepe Whyle Nero me within his armes did cleepe Resoluing lims at length gan sleepe discharge And long I rest not vnder quiets targe For loe I saw a route that brought me feare Come to my chaumber with
In spighte of al the drowned day I will remoue from thee The darknesse all in shade wherof do lurke thy miseryes And guest at such a banquet now to long he careles lyes With mery face now eate and drunke enough he hath at last T'ys best him selfe should know his ylls ye seruauntes all in hast Vndoe the temple dores and let the house bee open all Fayne would I see when loke vppon his childrens heads he shal What countenaunce he then would make or in what woordes break out Would first his griefe or how would quake his body round about With spright amased sore of all my worke the fruite were this I would him not a miser see but while so made he is Behold the temple opened now doth shyne with many a light In glitteryng gold and purple seate he sittes hymselfe vpright And staying vp his heauy head with wyne vppon his hand He belcheth out now chiefe of goddes in highest place I stand And king of kinges I haue my wish and more then I could thinke He filled is he now the wyne in siluer bolle doth drinke And spare it not there yet remaynes a worser draught for thee That sprong out of the bodyes late of sacrifyces three Which wine shall hyde let them withall the hoordes be taken vp The father mingled with the wyne his childrens bloud shall sup That would haue dronke of myne Behold he now beginnes to strayne His voyce and synges nor yet for ioy his mynde be may refrayne THE SECONDE SCEANE Thiestes alone O beaten bosomes dullde so longe with woe Laie down your cares at length your greues relēt Let sorowe passe and all your dread let goe And fellow eke of fearefull banishment Sad pouertye and ill in misery The shame of cares more whense thy fall thou haste Then whether skylles great hap to him from hye That falles it is in surety to be plast Beneath and great it is to him agayne That prest with storme or euylls feeles the smart Of kyngedome loste the payses to sustaine VVith necke vnbowde nor yet detect of heart Nor ouercome his heauy haps alwayes To beare vpright but now of carefull carkes Shake of the showres and of thy wretched dayes Away with all the myserable markes To ioyfull state returne thy chearefull face Put fro thy mynde the olde Thyestes hence It is the woont of wight in wofull case In state of ioy to haue no confidence Though better haps to them returned be Th afflicted yet to ioy it yrketh sore VVhy calst thou me abacke and hyndrest me This happy day to celebrate wherefore Bidst thou me sorrow wepe without a cause VVho doth me let with flowers so fresh and gay To decke my hayres it lets and me withdrawes Downe from my head the roses fall away My moysted haire with oyntment ouer all VVith sodayne mase standes vp in wondrous wyse From face that would not weepe the streames do fall And howling cryes amid my wordes aryse My sorrowe yet th accustomd teares doth loue And wretches stil delyght to weepe and crye Vnpleasant playntes it pleaseth them to moue And florisht fayre it likes with Tyrian die Their robes to rent to waile it likes them still For sorrow sendes in signe that woes draw nic The mind that wots before of after yll The sturdy stormes the shipmen ouer lye VVhen voyd of wynd th asswaged seas do rest VVhat tumult yet or countenaunce to see Makste thou mad man at length a trustful breast To brother gene what euer now it be Causeles or els to late thou art a dred I wretch would not so feare but yet me drawes A trembling terrour downe myne eyes do shed Their sodayne teares and yet I know no cause Is it a greefe or feare or els hath teares great ioy it selfe THE THIRDE SCEANE Atreus Thyestes LEtte vs this daye with one consente O brother celebrate This daye my sceptors my confyrme and stablish my estate And faythfull bonde of peace and loue betwene vs ratifye Thy. Enough with meate and eke with wyne now satisfyed am I But yet of all my ioyes it were a great encrease to mee If now about my syde I might my litle children see Atr. Beleeue that here euen in thyne armes thy children present be For here they are and shal be here no part of them fro thee Sal be withheld their loued lookes now geue to thee I wil And with the heape of all his babes the father fully fyll Thou shalt be glutted feare thou not they with my boyes as yet The ioyful sacrifyces make at borde where children sit They shal be cald the frendly cup now take of curtesy With wyne vpfylde Thy. of brothers feast I take ful willingly The fynal gyft shed some to gods of this our fathers lande Then let the rest be dronke what 's this in no wyse wil my hand Obeye the payse increaseth sore and downe myne arme doth sway And from my lippes the wafting wyne it selfe doth flye away And in deceiued mouth about my iawes it rūneth rounde The table to it selfe doth shake and leape from trembling ground Scant burnes the fyre the ayre it selfe with heauy chere to slght Forsooke of sonne amased is betweene the day and night What meaneth this yet more and more of backward beaten skye The compas falles and thicker myst the world doth ouerly Then blackest darkenes and the night in night it selfe doth hyde All starres be fled what so it bee my brother God prouyde And soones to spare the Gods so graunt that all this tempest fall On this vyle head but now restore to me my children all Atr. I wil and neuer day agayne shal them from thee withdraw Thy. What tumult tumbleth so my guttes and doth my bowels gnaw What quakes within with heauy payse I feele my selfe opprest And with an other voyce then myne bewayles my doleful brest Come nere my sonnes for you now doth th unhappy father call Come nere for you once seene this griefe would soone asswage fall Whence murmure they t.w fathers armes embrace them quickly now For here they are loe come to thee dost thou thy children know Th. I know my brother such a gylt yet canst thou suffer well O earth to beare nor yet from hence to Stygian lake of hell Dost thou both drowne thy selle and vs nor yet with broaken ground Dost thou these kingdomes and their king with Chaos rude confounde Nor yet vprenting from the soyle the bowres of wicked land Dost thou Micenas ouerturne with Tantalus to stand And aunciters of ours if there in hel be any one Now ought we both now from the frames on eyther syde anone Of ground all here and there rent vp out of thy bosome depe Thy dens and dungons set abrode and vs enclosed keepe In bottome low of Acheront aboue our heds aloft Let wander all the gylty ghostes with burning frete ful oft Let fyry Phlegethon that driues his sands both to and fro To our confusion ouer roon und vyolently flow O slothful soyle
vnshaken payse vnmoued yet art thou The Gods are fled Atr. but take to thee with ioy thy children now And rather them embrace at length thy children all of thee So long wisht for for no delay there standeth now in mee Enioy and kisse embracing armes deuyde thou vnto three Thy. Is this thy league may this thy loue and fayth of brother bee And doost thou so repose thy hate the father doth not craue His sonnes aliue which might haue bene without thy gylt to haue And eke without thy hate but this doth brother brother pray That them he may entoombe restore whom see thou shalt strayght waye Be burnt the father naught requires of thee that haue he shall But soone forgoe Atr. what euer part rot of thy children all Remaynes here shalt thou haue and what remayneth not thou host Thy. Lye they in fieldes a food out flung for fleerug fowles to waste Or are they kept a pray for wyld and brutish beastes to eate Atr. Thou hast deaourd thy sonnes and fyld thy selfe with wicked meat Thy. Oh this is it that sham'de the Gods and day from hence did dryue Turn'd back to east alas I wretch what waylinges may I geue Or what complayntes what woeful woordes may be enough for mee Their heads cut of and handes of torne I from their bodies see And wrenched feete from broken thighes I here behold agayn T ys this that greedy father could not suffer to sustayne In belly roll my bowels round and cloased cryme so great Without a passage stryues within and seekes away to get Thy sword O brother leud to me much of my bloud alas It hath let vs therwith make way for all my sonnes to passe Is yet the sword from me withheld thy selfe thy bosomes teare And let thy brestes resound with stroakes yet wretch thy hand forbeare And spare the deade who euer saw such mischiefe put in proofe What rude Heniochus that dwels by ragged coast aloofe Of Caucasus vnapt for men or feare to Athens who Procustes wyld the father I oppresse my children do And am opprest is any meane of gylt or mischiefe yet Atr. A meane in mischiefe ought to be when gylt thou dost commit Not when thou quytst for yet euen this to litle seemes to me The blood yet warme euen from the wound I should in sight of thes Euen in thy lawes haue shed that thou the bloud of them mightst drinke That lyued yet but whyle to much to hast my hate I thinke My wrath beguyled is my selfe with sword the woundes them gaue I strake them downe the sacred fyres with slaughter vowde I haue Wel pleasd the carcase cutting then and liueles lymmes on grounde I haue in litle parcels chopt and some of them I drounde In boyling cauderns some to fyres that burnte ful slow I put And made to droppe their synewes all and limmes a two I cut Euen yet alyue and on the spitte that thrust was through the same I harde the liuer wayle and crye and with my hand the flame I oft kept in but euery whit the father might of this Haue better done but now my wrath to lightly ended is He rent his sonnes with wicked gumme himselfe yet wotting naught Nor they therof Th. O ye encloas'd with bending bankes abought All seas me heare and to this gylt ye Gods now harken well What euer place ye fled are to here all ye sprites of hel And here ye landes and night so darke that them dost ouerly With clowde so blacke to my complayntes do than thy selfe apply To thee now left I am thou dost alone me miser see And thou art left without thy starres I wil not make for me Peticions yet nor ought for me require may ought yet bee That me should vayle for you shal all my wishes now foresee Thou guyder great of skyes aboue prince of highest might Of heauenly place now all with cloudes ful horrible to sight Enwrap the worlde and let the wyndes on euery syde breake out And send the dredfull thunder clap through al the world about Nor with what hand thou gyltes house and vndeserued wall With lesser bolt are wonte to beate but with the which did fall The three vnheaped mountaynes once and which to hils in height Stoode equall vp the gyantes huge throuw out such weapons streight And flyng thy fires and therwithall reuenge the drowned day Let flee they flames the light thus lost and hid from heauen away With flashes fyll the cause lest long thou shouldst doubte whom to hit Of ech of vs is ill if not at least let myne be it Me strike with tryple edged toole thy brande of flaminge fyre Beate through this breast if father I my children to desyre To lay in tombe or corpses cast to fyre as doth behoue I must be burnt if nothing now the gods to wrath may moue Nor powre from skies with thunder bolt none strikes the wicked men Let yet eternall night remayne and hyde with darknes then The world about I Titan naught complayne as now it standes If stil thou hyde thee thus away Atre. now prayse I well my handes Now got I haue the palme I had bene ouercome of thee Except thou sorrow'dst so but now euen children borne to mee I compt and now of bridebed chast the fayth I do repayre Thy. In what offended haue my sons Atr. In that that thyne they were Thy. Setst thou the sonnes for fathers foode Arr. I do which is best The certayne sonnes Thy. The gods that guyde all infantes I protest Atr. What wedlock gods Th. who would the gilt with gylt so quite again Atr. I know thy greefe preuented now with wrong thou dost complayne Nor this thee yrkes that sed thou art with food of cursed kind But that thou hadst not it prepared for so it was thy mynd Such meates as these to set before thy brother wotting naught And by the mothers helpe to haue likewyse my children caught And them with such like to slay this one thing letted thee Thou thought'st them thine Thy. the gods shall al of this reuengers be And vnto them for vengeance due my vowes thee render shall Atr. But vext to be I thee the whyte geeue to thy children all THE FOVRTH SCENE Added to the Tragedy by the Translatour Thyestes alone O Kyng of Dytis dungeon darke and grysly Ghosts of hell That in the deepe and dreadfull Denne of blackest Tarrace dwell Where leane and pale dyseases lye where feare and famyne are Where discord stands with bleeding browes where euery kynde of care Where furies fight in beds of steele and heares of crauling snakes Where Gorgon grimme where Harpyes are lothsome Lymbo lakes Where most prodigious vgly thinges the hollowe hell doth byde If yet a mouster more myshapt then all that there doe hyde That makes his broode his cursed foode yee all abhorre to see Nor yet the deepe Auerne it selfe may byde to couer mee Nor grisly gates of Plutoes place yet dare them selues to spred Nor gaping
able is the sense hereof t' vnfold and tell aryght As for my selfe although the Sphinx I whylome put to foyle Yet myne owne heauy destenie I scarcely can assoyle Why dost thou Daughter labour loose in vsyng further speech To alter this my stony hart why dost thou mee beseech I tel thee playne I fully meane this bloud of mynt to spill That long with Death hath struggling kept and thereupon I will Descend to darke infernall Lake for this same darknes blynd Of both myne eyes is nothing such as fact of myne should fynd It were my Blisse to bee in Hell in deepest dungeon fast Now that which should long since haue bene I wil perfourme at last I cannot be debard from Death wilt thou deny me glaue Or Sword or knife wilt thou no toole for mischiefe let me haue Wilt thou both watch and ward each way where dauÌ„ger lies in wayte Shall such a sinful Caytife wretch as I be kepe so straite Wilt thou not suffer me with Coard to breake my hatefull Necke Canst thou kepe mee from poysonous herbes hast thou them al at beck What shall it thee preuayle to take for mee such earnest care Death ech where is and wayes to death in thousand corners are Herein hath God good order tane that euery felie Foe May take away an others life but Death hee cannot so I seeke not anye toole to haue this desprate mynd of myne Can vse the seruice of my hand my threede of lyfe t' vntwine Now hand thy maister at a pinch assist to worke his feate Helpe him with all thy power and strength t' exployt his purpose great I poynt thee not in this my Corps vnto one place alone Alas each part of me with guilt is plaunch and ouergrowne In which soeuer part thou wilt thy Massacre beginne And seeke to bring me to my death which way thou mayst it winne In pieces crush this body all this hart that harbors sinne Pluck out out all my entrailes pull proceede and neuer linne To gash and cut my wezand pype My vaynes asender scratch And make the Bloud come spowting out or vse that other match Which heretofore thou vsed haste digge where myne eyes earst stood And let these woundes gush out apace much mattry filth and blood Hale out of mee this loathed soule that is so hard and stout And thou deare father Laius stand vp and looke about Behold where euer that thou standst I Vmpyre doe the make And eyed Iudge of all my plagues that iustly heere I take My Fact so lewde so horrible so loathsome to bee tolde I neuer thought with any pryce or tormentes manifolde Could haue full expiation ne thought I it inough To die this death or in one part to be beslasshed through By piecemeale I am well content to suffer tormentes all And euen by piecemeale for to die for plagues to plague mee call Exact the punishment that 's due I heere most ready stand To satisfie with any death that law and righte hath scand My former smartes when as mine eyes I raked out with pawes Were but as tastes of sacrifice somewhat to helpe my cause Come therefore Father neare to mee and thrust this hand of myne More nearer into euery wound It sweru'de and did decline For feare when first it tooke th' assay mine eyes to ransacke out I beare it still in memory my eyes then star'de about And seemed to disswade the hand from doing of the charge Whereto it was enioyned tho and had Commission large Thou shalt well thinke that OEdipus dissembleth not a whitâ— But what his word hath warranted his deede hath firmely quit Thy stoutnes then was not so great when eyes thou pulledst out As was thy man aâ—oden when thou threwst them from thee round about Now by those Gyeholes thrust thy hand into the very braine That part where death attempted was let death be sought againe AN. Vndaunted Prynce must noble Syre with humble mynde I sue That I your Daughter may be bolde to vse some speech to you And that you would with patience digest my poore aduise My suite is not to draw your minde to thinges that earst in price You highly held me to the view of glittring Pallace olde Ne brauery of your noble Realme scarce able to bee tolde But that you would these yrefull fittes by trace of time now quaild With patient minde sustayne and beare this vertue neuer faylde In any Prynce of such a spright as in your noble Grace Appeareth bryght it fitteth not that such should once abase Themselues as thralles to Sorrowes checke 〈◊〉 the conquest yeelde To aduerse hap lyke 〈…〉 It is no prayse syr though perhappes you so your reckening cast To make of lyfe so small accoumpt and thus to bee agast At euery wagging of a leafe and combersome myschaunce No no t is vertue in such case high courage to aduaunce And when thinges are at worst to shew true magnanimitie Not lyke a Meycocke cowardly at eche alarme to flee Hee that hath tride all fortunes spight and worldly wealth despisde And constantly hath borne all bruntes that are to be deuisde Mee thinks no cause hath why he needes to ende his breathing dayes Or wish himselfe in graue for why starcke crauens vse such wayes But as for him that 's drencht in dole and wrapt in carking care Whose pensius plight can be no worse nor tast of sowrer fare That man hath cause well pleasâ—â— to be sith hee in safety standes And pykes hath past and now is free from feare of further bandes Put case the Gods would weave the webbe of further woe to thee What more can any of them doe thy grieues to amplifie Nay thou thy selfe although thou wouldst canst adde thereto no more Vnlesse thou thinke thy selfe to haue deserued death therefore And yet thou arte not worthy death my reason is because Through ignoraunce thou didst a fact contrary to the lawes And therefore Father thinke your selfe most guiltlesse in the case And maugre Gods stand on your guarde my counsell sound embrace For doubtlesse you an innocent are deem'de and thought to bee And are in deede what makes you thus in dumpes and dolefull glee What cause so great should so enchaunt your conscience and your wits To seeke your owne decay and spoyle what meane faint hearted fits That thus in hast you would so faine abandon this your lyfe And goe to hell where torment dwelles and grisly ghostes be ryfe You would not see Sun Moone ne Starre no more you can your eyes Are blynd you faine would leaue your Court and Countries miseries Why so you may and so you doe These all are put to sacke That now alyue aswell as dead you feele of these the lacke You flee from Mother Wyfe and Chylde you see no man alyue What more can death dispatch away but life doth now depriue your lords your knights your courtly traine your kingly state crowne Your graund Affaires your waighty charge is gone brought abowne From whom froÌ„ what do
he doth feare Cr. Great cause makes mee my Princes death conceale and closly beare Oed. Ought any cause of feare or griefe the duty for to let Cre. The threatning of the prophesyes do stil my breast beset Oe. Let vs sith God cōmaunds forthwith some good attonement make If any way or meanes there be their wrathful rage to slake Thou God that sits on seate on high and al the world dost guide And thou by whose commaundement the Starres in Skies do glide Thou thou that onely ruler art of Seas of Floods and all On thee and on thy Godhead great for these requestes I call Who so hath slayne king Laius oh Ioue I do thee pray Let thousand ils vpon him fall before his dying day Let him no health ne comfort haue but al to crusht with cares Consume his wretched yeares in griefe though that death him spares Awhyle Yet mischiefes all at length vppon him light With all the euils vnder Sun that vgly monster smight In exile let him liue a Slaue the rated course of life In shame in care in penury in daunger and in strife Let no man on him pity take let all men him reuyle Let him his Mothers sacred Bed incestuously defyle Lim him his father kill And yet let him do mischiefes more What thing more haynous can I wish then that I wisht before Let him do all those illes I say that I haue shund and past All those and more if more may be oh God vpon him cast Let him no hope of pardon haue but sue and all in vayne All hellish Furies on him light for to encrease his payne O Ioue powre downe thy fury greate thy thūdring thumpes out throw Let Boreas boysterous blastes and stormy plagues vpon him blow Consume him quight Fret out his guttes with pockes and botches vile Let all diseases on him light that wretched bodyes fyle Let these and more if more may be vppon that Monster fall Let Harpies pawes and greedy paunche deuoure his members all Let no man him regard or seeke his limmes in grade to lay But let him dye ten thousand deathes before his dying day By this my Kingdome I do sweare and Kingdome that I left By al my Countrey Gods that bene in Temples closely kept I sweare I vow I do protest and thereto witnes take The Starres the Seas the Earth and all that ere thy hand did make Except that I my selfe forthwith this bloudy monster find To wreake the wrath of God some way with solempne oth I bynde And so my father Polybius his happy dayes out lyue And so my mother Merope no mariage new contriue As he shall dye that did this deede and none shal him excuse Whoso he be here I protest for that he shortly rues But where this wicked deede was don Creon now tell me playne Both by what meanes where and how Ring Laius was slayne Creon Passing through Castalia woods mountayns heapt with snoe Where groues and scrubs and bushes thicke brambles sharp do groe A threepathd crooked way there is that diuersly doth goe One vnto Bacchus citty bends that Phoce doth hight The other to Olenius forth stretcheth out aright The third that reacheth through the vales and by the riuers lyes Tends downe vnto the Bancks wherby Eleia water plyes There vnawares O piteous chaunce a troup of theues entraps The noble prince and murders him hence spring these great mishaps which heape you realms with hideous woes and plagues on euery side By iust decree of heauenly powers which can no murder bide But see Tiresias where he coms with old and trembling pace I thincke Apolloes heauenly might haue brought him to this place See where he comes and Manto too his steps directing stayes T is he who for your grace O king and for your countrie prayes THE SECOND ACTE THE SECOND SCENE OEDIPVS TYRESIAS MANTO COme holy priest to Phoebus next these doubtfull aunswers lose And whom that destnies will to dye Straightwayes to me disclose TY. Renowmed Prince though still I stand in silence dūme dismayde And though by inwarde feare of mynde my lingring tonge is stayde Yet pardon me O noble Prince and geue me leaue a while From lack of sight springs Ignoraunce which powre hath to exile Vnspotted Truth frō doubtfull breasts This thing ful well you knoes But whither God and Countrey calles with willing minde I goe Let deadly fatall destentes be boulted out at length O King if I of greener yeares had now my wonted strength This matter soone discust should be and I would take in hande My selfe in presence of the Gods in temple for to stande A mighty Oxe all coulourd white vp on the Aulters reare Which neuer yet on weried necke the croked yoake did beare And Manto thou O daughter mine mine onely prop and stay The secret hidden misteries and sacred signes out say M A. The beast before the Aulter stands T Y. To Gods a prayer make And on the holy Aulters cke some pleasaunt odors shake M A. T is done And all the fiers fierce with incence bright doe flame T Y. O Manto now what signes seest thou how doe thy matters frame What doth the fire the Sacrifice encompas rounde about MA. Not so But first it mounts aloft and streight it flasheth out TY. Well Yet how doth the sacred flame all shining bright and cleare It selfe on high vnto the Skies with sparkelting flakes vpreare Or doth it oft rebounding backe it selfe from Skyes vnfould Or all with rumbling roring noyse about the place i st rould Or dim'd with smoke i st tost from place to place now heere now theare MA. Not one But diuerse colours mixt the flame doth with it beare Much like vnto the Rainbow which with sundry paynted hues Foreshewes vnto the husbandmen the weather that ensues What colour it wants or what it hath to me is like vncertayne Now is it black now blue now red and euen now agayne Quight out it is Yet once agayn all fierce it flashing flames But lo yet mischiefs more then this vnluckely it frames The fier quight a sunder parts and flame with flame doth fight O father I abhorre to see this vgly lothsome sight The Wyne to blud is turned quight and all the Prynces hed With thicke black clouds encōpast is with smoke all ouerspred O father tell what this portends TY. What should I tell alas My mynde for feare astonied stands and trembling cold doth pas Through all my lims What shall I say or where shall I begin O cruell Plagues O wrekfull Gods O vengeaūce due for sin Some dyre and blouddy deed Alas these hydeous signes declare What 's that the Gods would haue reuealde and yet doe bid beware To vtter it By certaine signes their wrath is oft descride Such signes appeere and yet they seeme their fury great to hide They are ashamde I wot nere what Come hither quickly bring Some salt with thee and it vpon the sacrifice goe fling What are their lookes pleasant and
shall mee excuse In such a case no meanes at all of tryall I refuse Lay what you can vnto my charge No fault in mee remayns The Thebanes long or I came heere of Laius death complayns My Mother yet alyue my Father still in like estate No no this is some doltishe drift of yon false Prophets pate Or else some mighty God aboue doth beare me no good will And seekes by Plagues on mee to wreke his wrathfull vengeaunce stil Ah Sir I am glad at length I smell your drifts and fetches fyne I know the whole confederacy your sleights I can vntwyne That beastly Priest that blearayed wretch beelyes the Gods and mee And thee thou Traytour in my place hath promist king to bee CRE. Alas would I my Sister of her lawfull kingdome spoyle Thinke you such treason may haue place in brothers breast to boyle Yf that myne Oth could me not keepe content with my degree But that contemning meane estate I would clime aloft to bee Yet should ill Fortune mee deter from such attempts I trowe Whose guise it is on Princes heads huge heapes of Cares to throwe I would aduise your grace betimes this charge from you to cast Least lingring long all vnawares you be opprest at last Assure your selfe in baser state more safer you may liue And shun a thousand Cares Griefs which Princes hearts doe riue OED. And dost thou me exhort thou slaue my kingdome for to leaue O faythlesse head O shamelesse heart that could such treasons weaue Darst thou attempt thou villayne vile this thing to me to breake And fearst thou not in such a cause so boldly for to speake CRE. I would perswade them so O King who freely might possesse Their Realmes such piteous cares I see do Prynces hearts oppresse But as for you of force you must your Fortunes chainge abyde OED. The surest way for them that gape for kingdoms large wyde Is first things meane and rest and peace and base estate to prayse And yet with Tooth and Nayle to toyle to mount aloft alwayes So often times most restlesse beastes doe chiefly rest commend CRE. Shall not my seruice long suffice my truth for to defend OED. Time is the onely meanes for such as thou to worke theyr will CRE. It is so syr but as for mee of goods I haue my fill A great resort A pleasaunt life from Princely cares exempt All these might surely mee disswade from such a foule attempt There is no day almost O King the whale yeare thorow out Where in some royall gyfts are not from countreys round about Vnto mee sent both Golde and pearles and things of greater cost Which I let passe least I should seeme but vainly for to bost Besides the life of many a man hath bin preserude by mee In such a bilsfull state O King what can there wanting bee OE. Good Fortune can no meane obserue but stil she preaseth higher CRE. Shall I than guiltlesse die alas my cause and all vntryde OED. Were vnto you at any time my life my deedes discride Did any man defend mee yet or els my causes pleade And guiltlesse yet I am condemn'de to this you doe mee leade And mee expresse example giue which I entend to take What measure you doe meat to mee lyke measure must I make CRE. The minde which causelesse dred appawls true cause of feare bewraies That cōsciēce is not guiltles sure which euery blast dismates OED. Hee that in midst of perilles deepe and daūgers hath bene cast Doth seeke all meanes to shun like ills as hee hath ouerpast CR. So hatreds ryse OE. Hee that to much doth vse ill will to feare Unskilfull is and knowes not how hee ought him selfe to beare In kings estate For feare alone doth Kingdomes chiefly keepe Than hee that thus doth arme himselfe from feare all free may sleepe CRE. Who so the cruell tyrant playes and guiltlesse men doth smight Hee dreadeth them that him doe dread so feare doth chiefly light On causers chiefe A iust reuenge for bloudy mindes at last OED. Come take this traytor vile away In dongeon deepe him fast Enclose There for his due deserts let him abide such payne And scourge of minde as meete it is false traytors to sustayne Chorus SEt see the myserable State of Prynces carefull lyfe What raging storms what bloudy broyles what toyle what endlesse stryfe Doe they endure O God what plagues what griefe do they sustayne A Princely lyfe No No No doubt an euer duringe payne A state ene fit for men on whom Fortune woulde wreke her will A place for Cares to couch them in A doore wyde open still For griefes and daungers all that ben to enter when they list A king these Mates must euer haue it bootes not to resist Whole fluds of priuy pinching feare great anguishe of the minde Apparant plagues dayly griefes These playfayres Princes finde And other none with whom they spend and passe theyr wretched dayes Thus hee that Princes liues and base Estate together wayes Shall finde the one a very hell a perfect infelicity The other eke a heauen right exempted quight from mysery Let OEdipus example bee of this vnto you all A Mirrour meete A Patern playne of Princes carefull thrall Who late in perfect Ioy as seem'de and euerlasting blis Triumphantly his life out led a Myser now hee is And most of wretched Misers all euen at this present tyme With doubtfull waues of feare Itost subiect to such a Cryme Whereat my tongue amased stayes God graunt that at the last It fall not out as Creon tolde Not yet the worst is past THE FOVRTH ACTE THE FIRSTE SCENE OEdipus Iocasta MY mynde with doubtfull waues of dread is tossed to and fro I wot not what to say Alas I am tormented so For all the Gods on me doe cry for paynes and vengeaunce due They say that these my guiltlesse hands king Laius lately slue But this my conscience voyde of crime and mynde from mischiefe free To Gods vntried to mee well known denies it so to bee Full well I doe remember once by chaunce I did dispatch A man who sought by force with mee presumptuously to match His purpose was a fond attempt my Chariot for to stay This I remember well enough the strife was in the way And he a man well steept in yeares and I a lusty bloud And yet of meere disdayne and pride in vayne hee mee withstood But this from Thebes farre was done a croked three pathd way That was the place in which we fought it hard by Phocis lay Deare Wyfe resolue my doubts at once and mee expresly tell How old was Laius the King whan this mischaunce befell Was he of fresh and lusty yeares or stricken well in age When he was kilde O ease my thoughts of this tormenting rage IOC. Betwixt an old man an a yong but nearer to an olde OED. Were there great Bands of men with him his Person to vpholde IOC. Some by the way deceiued were and
some deterd by payne A fewe by toyle and labour long did with their Prince remayne OE. Were any slayne in his defence IO. Of one report is rife Who constant in his princes cause full stoutly lost his lyfe OED. It is enough I knowe the man that hath this mischiefe done The number and the place agrees The time vntried alone Remaynes Than tell what time hee died and when that he was slaine IOC. T is ten yeares since you now reuiue my chifest cares againe THE FOVRTH ACTE THE SECOND SCENE Senex OEdipus THe Corinth people all O King in Fathers place to rayn Doe call your Grace Polybius doth eternall rest obtayn OED. O God what Fortune vyle doth mee oppresse on euery side How doe my sorrowes still encrease Tell how my Father dide SEN. No sicknesse sir but very age did of his life him reaue OED. And is hee dead in deede not slayne what ioy may I conceave How may I now triumph the Gods to witnesse I doe call To whom are known my hidden thoughts and secret workings al Now may I lift to skyes my hands my hands from mischiefe free But yet the chiefest cause of feare remayneth still to mee SEN. Your Fathers kingdom ought al dred out of your mind to driue OED. That I coÌ„fesse But secret thoughts my trembling heart do riue With inward doubt of deepe distresse my Mother I do feare This grudge is that continually my heart doth rent and teare SEN. Do you your Mother feare on your return that onely slayes OED. I feare not her but from her sight a godly zeale mee frayes S. What will you her a Wydow leaue OE. Now now thou woÅ«dst my heart This this and onely this alas is cause of all my smart SEN. Tell me O king what doubtfull feare doth presse thy princely brest Kings couÌ„cels I can well coÌ„ceale that ben with Cares opprest OED. Least as Apollo hath forefolde I should a Mariage make With myne owne Mother only this fowle feare doth make me quake SEN. Such vayne peuysh feares at length from out your breast exyle Meropa your Mother is not in deede you do your selfe beguile OED. What vauntage should it be to her adopted Sonnes to haue SEN. A kingdom she shall gayne thereby Her Husband layde in graue The chiefest prop to stay her Realmes from present confusion In children for to haue and hope of lawfull succession OED. What are the meanes whereby thou dost these secrets vnderstaÌ„d SEN. My selfe your grace an Infant gaue into your fathers hand OED. Didst thou me to my Father geue Who than gaue me to thee SEN. A Sheparde str that wanted on Cytheron Hills to bee OE. What made thee in those woods to rauÌ„ge what hadst thou there to do SEN. Vpon those Hils my Beasts I kept somtime a Sheepeherde to OE. What nots what priuy marks hast thou wherby thou dost me kno SE. The holes that through your feete are borde froÌ„ wheÌ„ce your name did gro OE. Declare forthwith what was his name that gaue me vnto thee SE. The kings chief Shephard than that was deliuered you to mee OE. What was his name SE. O king old mens remeÌ„brance soone doth fayle Obliuion for the chiefest part doth boary heads assayle And drowns their former memory of things long out of mynde OE. What canst thou know the man by sight S. Perhaps I should him finde And know by Face Things ouer whelmd by time and quight opprest A small marke oft to mynde reuokes and fresh renues in brest OE. Sirs bid the Herdmen forth with driue theyr Beasts to Aulters all Away with speede make hast the Master Sheepherds to mee call SE. Sith that your destiny this doth hyde and Fortune it detayne And closely keepe let it be so from opening that refrayne That long canceald hath hidden lyen that seeke not to disclose Such things outsercht and fouÌ„d oftimes agaynst the sercher goes OE. Can any mischiefe greater be than this that now I feare SE. Aduise you wel remembre fyrst what weight this thing doth beare That thus you goe about to search and slit with Tooth and Nayle Obserue the golden meane beware beare still and equall sayle Your CouÌ„treys wealth O King your lyfe and all vpon this lyes Though you stir not bee sure at length your Fortune you escryes A happy state for to disturbe doth nought at all behoue OE. When things be at the worst of them a man may safely moue SE. Can you haue ought more excellent than is a Prynces state Beware least of your Parents found it you repent to late OE. No father no I warrant that repent not I I trow I seeke it not to that entent I haue decreed to know The matter at the full Wherefore I will it now pursus Lo Phorbas where hee trembling coms with comely aged hue To whom of all the kinges flocke than the care and charge was due Dost thou his name his speach his Face or yet his person know SE. Me thinks I should haue seene his Face and yet I cannot show The places where I haue him seene small time brings such a chainge As well acquaynted Faces ost to vs appeare still strainge This looke is neyther throughly known nor yet vnknown to mee I cannot tell I doubt it much and yet it may bee hee In Laius tyme long since when hee these Kindomes great did keepe Wast thou not on Citheron hils chiefe Shepard to his sheepe THE FOVRTH ACTE THE THIRDE SCENE Phorbas Senex OEdipus SOmetime a charge of sheepe I had vnworthy though I weer And did vpon those hills chiefe rule on other Shepards beare SE. Knowst thou not me PH. I cannot tell OE. Didst thou once geue this man A Childe Speake out why dost thou stay if so declare it than Why dost thou blush and doubting stand troth seeketh no delay PH. Things out of minde you call agayne almost quight worne away OE. Confesse thou slaue or els I sweare thou that constrayned bee PH. In deede I doe remembre once an Infant yong by mee Delyuered was vnto this Man but well I wot in vayne I know he could not long endure nor yet alyue remayne Long since he is dead I know it well hee liues not at this day SE. Eo God forbid he liues no doubt and long may liue I pray OE. Why dost thou say the child is dead that thou this man didst giue PH. With Irons sharp his feete were board I know he could not liue For of the sore a swelling rose I saw the bloud to gush From out of both the wounds and down by powring streames to flush SEN. Now stay O king no farther now you know almost the troth OE. Whose child was â—â—â—tell me forthw PH. I dare not for mine Othe OE. Thine Oth thou slaue Some fyre here I le charme thine Othe and thee With fyre flames except forthwith thou tell the troth to mee PH. O pardon me though rade I seeme I seeke nor to withstand name Your graces minde most noble
assaultes they sought afar from West with Banners spred Where Tanais cold her braunches seuen abroad the world doth shed With hugie host and from the East where springes the newest dea Where Luke warme Tygris channell runnes and meetes the ruddy sea And which frō wandring land of Scythe the band of widowes sought With fire and sworde thus battered be her Turrets downe to nought The walles but late of high renowne lo here their ruinous fall The buildinges burne and flashing flame swepes through the pallas al Thus euery house ful hie it smoakes of old Assarackes lande Ne yet the flames withholdes from spoyle the greedy Victors hand The surging smoake the asure saye and light hath hid away And as with cloude beset Troyes Ashes staynes the dusky day Through pearst with ire and greedy of hart the victor from a farre Doth view the long assaulted Troy the gaine of ten yeares warre And eke the miseryes therof abhorres to looke vppon And though he se it yet scant himselfe belieues might be wonne The spoyles thereof with greedy hand they snatch and beare awaye A thousand shippes would not receiue aboorde so huge a pray The yreful might I do protest of Gods aduerse to mee My countryes dust and Troyan King I call to witnes thee Whom Troy now hydes and vnderneath the stones art ouertrode With al the Gods that guides the Ghost and Troy that lately stoode And you also you flocking Ghostes of al my children dere Ye lesser Sprightes what euer ill hath hapned to vs here What euer Phoebus watrish face in fury hath foresayde At raging rise from seas when earst the monsters had him frayde In childbed bandes I saw it yore and wist it should be so And I in vayne before Cassandra told it long agoe Not false Vlysses kindled hath these fires nor none of his Nor yet deceyptful Sinons craft that hath bene cause of this My fyre it is wherwith ye burne and Parys is the brand That smoaketh in thy towres O Troy the flowre of Phrygian sand But ay alas vnhappy age why dost thou yet so sore Bewayle thy Countries fatall fall thou knewest it long before Behold thy last calamityes and them bewayle with wares Account as old Troys ouerturne and past by many yeares I saw the slaughter of the King and how he lost his life By Th' aulter side more mischiefe was with stroake of Pyrrhus knife When in his hand he wound his lockes and drew the King to ground And hid to hiltes his wicked sword in deepe and deadly wound Which when the gored King had tooke as willing to bee slaynt Out of the old mans throate he drew his bloudy blade agayne Not pitty of his yeares alas in mans extreamest age From slaughter might his hand withhold ne yet his yre asswage The Gods are witnes of the same and eake the sacrifyes That in his kingdome holden was that flat on ground now lies The father of so many Kings Pryam of auncient name Vntombed lieth and wants in blase of Troy his funerall flame Ne yet the Gods are wreakt but loe his Sonnes and daughters all Such Lordes they serue as doth by chance of lot to them befall Whom shall I follow now for pray or where shall I be led There is perhaps amonge the Greekes that Hectors wyfe wil wed Some man desyres Helenus spouse some would Antenors haue And in the Greekes their wantes not some that would Cassandra craue But I alas most woeful wight whom no man seekes to chuse I am the only refuge left and me they cleane refuse Ye careful captiue company why stints your woful crye Beate on your breastes and piteously complayne with voyce so hye As meete may be for Troyes estate let your complayntes rebound In toppes of Trees and cause the hills to ring with terible sounde THE SECOND SCENE The VVoman Hecuba NOt folke vnapt nor nevv to vveepe O Queene Thou vvilst to vvayle by practise are vvee taught For all these yeares in such case haue vve bene Since first the Troyan guest Amiclas soughte And saild the Seas that led him on his vvay With sacred ship to Cibell dedicate From vvhence he brought his vnrepyning pray The cause alas of all this dire debate Ten tymes novv hydde the hilles of Idey bee With snovve of Syluer hevv all ouer layd And bared is for Troyan rages each tree Ten tymes in field the haruest man afrayde The spikes of Corne hath reapt since neuer day His waylyng wantes new cause renewes our woe Lift vp thy hand O Queene crie well away We follow thee we are wel taught thereto HEC. ¶ Ye faythful fellowes of your casualty Vntie th at that on your heads ye weare And as behoueth state of misery Let fall aboute your woeful neckes your hayre In dust of Troy rub all your armes about In slacker weede and let your breastes be tyed Downe to your bellies let your limmes lye out For what wedlocke should you your bosomes hyde Your garmentes loose and haue in readines Your furious handes vppon your breast to knocke This habite well beseemeth our distresse It pleaseth me I know the Troyan flocke Renew agayne your longe accustomde cryes And more then earst lament your miseryes We bewayle Hector WO. ¶ Our hayre we haue vntide now euerychone All rent for sorrow of our cursed cace Our lockes out spreads the knottes we haue vndone And in these ashes stayned is our face HEC. ¶ Fill vp your handes and make therof no spare For this yet lawful is from Troy to take Let dovvne your garmentes from your shoulders bare And suffer not your clamour so to slake Your naked breastes wayte for your handes to smight Now dolor deepe now sorrow shevv thy might Make all the coastes that compas Troy about Witnes the sounde of all your careful crye Cause from the Caues the eccho to cast out Rebounding voyce of all your misery Not as she wontes the latter word to sound But all your woe from farre let it rebound Let al the Seas it heare and eke the land Spare not your breastes vvith heauy stroake to strike Beate ye your selues ech one vvith cruell hand For yet your vvonted crie doth me not like VVe bevvayle Hector VVO. Our naked armes thus here vve rent for thee And bloudy shoulders Hector thus vve teare Thus vvith our fistes our heades lo beaten bee And all for thee behold vve hale our heare Our dugges alas vvith mothers hands be torne And vvhere the flesh is vvounded round about VVhich for thy sake vve rent thy death to morne The flovving streames of bloud they spring thereout Thy countres shore and destinies delay And thou to vvearied Troians vvast an ayde A vvall thou vvast and on thy shoulders Troy Ten yeres it stode on thee alone it staide VVith thee it fell and fatall day alas Of Hector both and Troy but one there vvas HEC. Enough hath Hector turne your plaint and mone And shed your teares for Pryame euery chone VVO. Receiue our plaintes O lord of Phrigian
spirites yre VVhose sonue we slew whereof doth yet remayne The wrath beneath and hell shal be their payne From burning lakes the furies wrath I threate And fire that nought but streames of bloud may slake The rage of winde and seas their shippes shall beate And Ditis deepe on you shall vengeance take The spirites crie out the earth and seas do quake The poole of Styx vngratefull Greekes it seath VVith slaughtred bloud reuenge Achilles death The soyle doth shake to beare my heauy foote And fearth agayne the sceptors of my hand The pooles with stroake of thunderclap ring out The doubtful starres amid their course do stand And fearfull Phoebus hides his blasing brande The trembling lakes agaynst their course do flite For dread and terrour of Achilles spright Great is the raunsome ought of due to mee Wherwith ye must the sprightes and hell appease Polyxena shal sacrifysed be Vpon my tombe their yreful wrath to please And with her bloud ye shall asswage the seas Your ships may not returne to Greece agayne Til on my tombe Polyxena be slayne And for that she should then haue bene my wyfe I wil that Pyrrhus render her to mee And in such solemne sort bereaue her life As ye are wont the weddinges for to see So shal the wrath of Hel appeased bee Nought els but this may satisfy our yre Her wil I haue and her I you require THE SECOND SCENE Talthibius Chorus ALas how long the lingring Greekes in hauen do make delay When eyther warre by seas they seeke or home to passe theyr way Ch. Why shew what cause doth hold your ships and Grecian nauy stayes Declare if any of the Gods haue stopt your homeward wayes Tal. My mynd is mai'd my trembling sinne wes quake and are affeard For straunger newes of truth then these I thinke were neuer heard Lo I my selfe haue playnly seene in dawning of the day When Phoebus first gan to approch and driue the starres away The earth all shaken sodaynly and from the hollow grownde My thought I hard with roaryng crye a deepe and dreadful sound That shoke the woods and al the trees rong out with thunder stroke From Ida hils downe fel the stones the mountayne toppes were broke And not the earth hath onely quakt but all the Sea likewyse Achilles presence felt and knew and high the surges ryse The clouen ground Erebus pittes then shewd and deepest dennes That downe to Gods that guyde beneath the way appeard from hence Then shoke the tombe from whence anone in flame of fiery light Appeareth from the hollow caues Achilles noble spright As wonted he his Thracian armes and bannars to disploy And weild his weighty weapons wel agaynst th assaultes of Troy The same Achilles seemde he than that he was wont to bee Amid the hostes and easiy could I know that this was hee With carkasse slayne in furious fight that stopt and fild each floude And who with slaughter of his hand made Xanthus runne with bloud As when in Chariot high he sate with lofty stomacke stoute Whyle Hector both and Troy at once he drew the walles aboute Alowd he cride and euery coast rang with Achilles sound And thus with hollow voyce he spake from bottom of the ground The Greekes shal not with litle pryce redeeme Achilles yre A princely raunsome must they geue for so the fates require Vnto my ashes Polyxene spoused shal here be slayne By Pyrrhus hand and al my tombe her bloud shal ouerstayne This sayd he strayght sanke downe agayne to Plutoes deepe region The earth then cloasd the hollow caues were vanished and gon Therwith the wether waxed clere the raging wyndes did slake The tombling seas began to rest and al the tempest brake THE THIRD SCENE Pyrrhus Agamemnon Calchas WHat tyme our sayles we should haue spread vppon Sygeon Seas With swift returne from long delay to seeke our homeward wayes Achilles rose whose onely hand hath geuen Greekes the spoyle Of Troia sore annoyde by him and leueld with the soyle With speede requiting his abode and former long delay At Scyros yle and Lesbos both amid the Aegaeon sea Til he came here in doubt it stoode of fall or sure estate Then though ye hast to graunt his wil ye shall it geue to late Now haue the other captaynes all the pryce of their manhood What els reward for his prewesse then her al onely blood Are his desertes thinke you but light that when he might haue fled And passing Pelyus yeares in peace a quiet life haue led Detected yet his mothers craftes forsooke his womans weede And with his weapons prou'd himselfe a manly man indeede The King of Mysya Telephus that woulde the Greekes withstand Comming to Troy forbidding vs the passage of his land To late repenting to haue felt Achilles heauy stroke Was glad to craue his health agayne where he his hurt had tooke For when his sore might not be salud as told Appollo playne Except the speare that gaue the hurte restoared help agayne Achilles plasters cur'd his cuttes and sau'd the King aliue His hand both might and mercy knew te slay and then reuyne When Thebes fel Eetion saw it and might it not withstand The captiue King could nought redresse the ruin of his land Lyrnesus litle likewyse felt his hand and downe it fill With ruine ouerturned like from top of haughty hil And taken Bryseys land it is and prisoner is she caught The cause of strife betwene the Kinges is Chryses come to naught Tenedos yle wel knowne by fame and fertile soyle he tooke That fostreth fat the Thracian flockes and sacred Cilla shooke What bootes to blase the brute of him whom trumpe of fame doth show Through all the coastes where Caicus floud with swelling stream doth flow The ruthful ruine of these realmes so many townes bet downe Another man would glory count and worthy great renowne But thus my father made his way and these his iourneyes are And battayles many one he fought whyle warre he doth prepare As wisht I may his merits more shall yet not this remayne Wel knowne and counted prayse enough that he hath Hector slayne Duryng whose life the Grecians al might neuer take the towne My father onely vanquist Troy and you haue pluct it downe Reioyce I may your parentes prayse and brute abroade his actes It seemeth the sonne to follow well his noble fathers factts In sight of Priam Hector slayne and Memnon both they lay With heauy theere his parentes wayld to mourne his dying day Himselfe abhord his handy worke in fight that had them slayne The Sonnes of Goddes Achilles knew were borne to die agayne The woman queene of Amazons that greu'd the Greekes ful sore Is turnd to flight then ceast our feare wee dread their bowes no more It ye wel waigh his worthynes Achilles ought to haue Though he from Argos or Mycenas would a Virgin craue Doubt ye herein allow ye not that straight his wil be done And count ye cruel Pryams bloud to
thy Charyot Pyrrhus plucke as Achill Hector drew And neuer shal these tender handes thy weapons weild and wrest Thou neuer shalt in woods pursue the wyld and mighty beast Nor as accustom'd is by guyse and sacrifice in Troy With measure swift betweene the aulters shalt thou daunce with ioy O grieuous kind of cruel death that doth remayne for thee More woeful thinges then Hectors death the walles of Troy shall see Vliss. Now breake of al thy mothers tears I may no more tyme spende The grieuous sorrowes of thy hart will neuer make an end An. Vlisses spare as yet my teares and graunt awhyle delay To close his eyes yet with my handes er he depart away Thou diest but young yet feard thou art thy Troy doth wayte for thee Goe noble hart thou shalt agayne the noble Troyans see Asti. Helpe me mother An. Alas my child why tak'st thou holde by me In vayne thou calst where helpe none is I can not succour thee As when the little tender beast that heares the Lyon crye Straight for defence he seekes his damme crouching downe doth lye The cruel beast when once remoued is the damme away In greedy taw with rauening bit doth snatch the tender pray So strayght the enmies wil thee take and from my side thee beare Receiue my kisse and teares pore childe receiue my rented hayre Depart thou hence now ful of mee and to thy father goe Salute my Hector in my name and tel him of my woe Complayne thy mothers griefe to him if former cares may moue The sprightes and that in funerall flame they leese not all their loue O cruel Hector suffrest thou thy wyfe to be opprest With bond of Grecians heauy yoke and liest thou still at rest Achilles rose take here agayne my teares and rented heare And al that I haue left to send this kisse thy father beare Thy coat yet for my comfort leaue the tomb hath touched it If of his ashes aught here lye I le seeke it euery whit Vl. There is no measure of thy teares I may no lenger stay Deferre no further our returne breake of our shippes delay Chorus altered by the translatour O Ioue that leadst the lampes of fire and deckst vvith flaming starres the skye VVhy is it euer thy desyre to care their course so orderly That novve the frost the leaues hath vvorne novv the sprīg doth close the tree Novv fiery Leo rypes the corne and stil the soyle should chaunged be But vvhy art thou that all dost guide betvvene vvhose hands the poale doth svvay And at vvhose vvil the Orbs do slyde careles of mans estate alvvay Regarding not the goodmans case nor caryng hovv to hurt the yll Chaunce beareth rule in euery place and turneth mans estate at vvill She geues the vvronge the vpper hand the better part she doth oppresse She makes the highest lovv to stand her Kingdome all is orderlesse O parfite profe of her frailty the princely tovvres of Troy beat dovvne The flovvre of Asia here ye see vvith turne of hand quight ouerthrovvne The ruthful ende of Hectors son vvhō to his death the Greekes haue led His fatall hovvre is come and gone and by this tyme the Child is ded Yet stil alas more cares encrease O Troyans doleful destenie Fast doth approach the maydes decease and novv Polixena shall die THE FOVRTH ACTE Helena Andromacha Hecuba WHat euer woeful wedding yet were cause of funerall Of wayling teares bloud slaughter els or other mischiefes all A worthy watch for Helena and meete for me it ware My wedding torch hath bene the cause of al The Troyans care I am constraynd to hurt them yet after their ouerthrow The false and fayned mariages of Pyrrhus must I showe And geue the mayde the Greekes attyre and by my pollecy Shal Paris sister be betrayd and by disceypt shal die But let her be beguiled thus the lesse should be her payne If that vnware without the feare of death she might be slayne What ceasest thou the wil of Greekes and messuage to fulfill Of hurt constraynd the fault returnth to th' auter of the ill O noble Virgin of the famous house and stocke of Troy To thee the Grecians haue me sent I bring thee newes of ioy The Gods rue on thy afflicted state more merciful they bee A greate and happy maryage loe they haue prepard for thee Thou neuer should if Troy had stoode so nobly wedded be Nor Priam neuer could prefer thee to so hie degree Whom flowre of all the Grecians name the prince of honour hie That beares the Scepters ouer all the lande of Thessaly Doth in the law of wedlocke chose and for his wyse require To sacred rightes of lawful bed doth Pyrrhus thee desyre Loe Thetis great with al the rest of Gods that guide by sea Each one shall thee accompt as theirs and toy by wedding day And Peleus shall thee daughter call when thou art Pirrhus wyfe And Nereus shall accompt thee his the space of all thy life Put of thy mourning garment now this regall vesture weare Forget henceforth thy captiue state and seemly broyd thy hayre The fall hath lift thee higher vp and doth thee more aduaunce Oft to be taken in the warre doth bring the better chaunce An. This ill the Troyans neuer knew in all their griefs and payne Before this tyme ye neuer made vs to reioyce in vayne Troy towres geue light O seemely tyme for mariage to be made Who would refuse the wedding day that Helayne doth perswade The Plague and ruine of each parte behold dost thou not see These tombes of noble men and how their bones here scattered bee Thy brydebed hath bene cause of this for thee all these be ded For thee the bloud of Asia both and Europe hath bene shed When thou in ioy and pleasure both the fighting folke from farre Hast viewde in doubt to whom to wish the glory of the warre Goe to prepare the mariages what neede the Torches light Behold the Towres of Troy do shine with brands that blase ful bright O Troyans all set to your handes this wedlocke celebrate Lament this day with woeful cry and teares in seemly rate Mel Though care do cause the want of wit and reasons rule denye And heauy hap doth ofttymes hate his mates in misery Yet I before most hateful iudge dare wel defend my part That I of all your greuous cares sustayne the greatest smart Andromacha for Hector weepes for Priam Hecuba For onely Paris priuily bewayleth Helena A hard and grieuous thing it is captiuity to beare In Troy that yoke I suffred long a prisoner whole ten yeare Turnd are the fates Troy beaten downe to Greece I must repeare The natiue countrey to haue lost is ill but worse to feare For dread therof you neede not care your euilles all be past On me both partes wil vengeance take al lightes to me at last Whom each man prisoner takes God wot shee standes in slipper stay And me not captiue made by
hope to thryue herein Let all thy guilts with thronging thick assemble thee to ayde The golden Fleece the chiefe Nouell of Colchis I le betrayde My tender Brother eke that with my Syer did mee pursue Whom with his secret partes cut of I wicked Virgin slewe Whose shreaded and dismembred corps with sword in gobbits hewd A wofull Coarse toth ' Fathers heart on Pontus ground I strewd How hory headded Pelias his wythred age to shyft To greener yeares for longer lyfe his daughters by my dryft His members all and mangled flesh with licour scalding hot Ysodden and perboyled haue in seething brasen pot How oft in haynous bloud haue these my cruell handes bene dyed And neuer any guilt as yet by wrath inflamde I tryed But now the parlous poysning wound of Cupids percing dart Doth boyle and rage within my breast it ranckles at my hart But how could Iason it redresse whom fortunes froward wyll Hath yeelde vnto anothers hande at lust to saue or spill O rage of rusty cancred minde this sclaundrous talke amende If Fortunes grace will graunt it thus let him vnto his ende Lyue still my Iason as he was but if not Iason myne Yet caytife suffer Iason liue though Iason none of thyne Who being mindefull still of vs some fauour let him showe For these good turnes that our good will could earst on him bestowe King Creon is in all the fault and onely worthy blame Who puffed vp with Scepter proude vnable for to frame His tickle minde to modesty made breach twixt vs agayne Whom Hymens bands and link of loue had made but one of twayne By whom eke from her tender brats the mother wretch is drawne Hee breakes the vowe that gaged is with such a precious pawne Seeke after such a villaynes bloud in daunting pangs of smart Let him alone bee surely dowst such is his due desart A dungell hept of Cinders burnt his Pallayce make I shall That Malea where in winding strights the lingring ships due crall Shall gase on smolthring turrets tops turmoylde in crackling flame NV. For godsake Madame I you pray your tongue to silence frame Eke hyde your priuy languishing and greefe in secret vayne Who with a modest minde abides the Spurs of pricking payne And suffereth sorrowes paciently may it repay agayne Who beares a priuy grudge in breast and keepes his malyce close When least suspection is thereof may most annoy his Foes He leeseth oportunity who vengeaunce doth requyre That shewes by open sparkes the flame the heate of kindled fyre ME. Small is the grype of griefe that can to reasons lore obay And sneking downe with stealing steps can slyly slip away But they that throughly sowsed are with showers of greater payne Can not digest such corsyes sharpe but cast it vp agaye Fayne would I giue them trouncing girds NV. Good daughter deare asswage Th' unbrydled sway and boyling heate of this thy gyddy rage Scant maist thou purchase quietnesse although thou hold thy tongue ME. The valiaunt heart dame Fortune yet durst neuer harme with wrōg But dreading dastards downe she driues NV. It any corage dure And harbred be in noble breast now put the same in vre ME. The show of sturdy valiant heart at any time doth shyne NV. No hope doth in aduersity thy way to scape assygne ME. Hee that hath none affiaunce left nor any hope at all Yet let him not mystrust the luck of ought that may befall NV. Thy Countrey cleane hath cast thee of to let thee sinke or swim As for thy husband Iason bee there is no trust in him Of all the wealth and worldly mucke wherewith thou didst abounde No porcion remaynes at all whereby some helpe is founde ME. Medea yet is left to much and here thou mayst espy The Seas to succour vs in flyght and landes aloofe that ly Yea pron tooles with burning brands we haue to worke them woe And Gods that with the thunder dint shall ouerquell our foe NV. Who weares the goldēcrested crowne him dred with awe yee should ME. My Father was a King yet I betrayed his Fleece of gould NV. Can not the deadly vyolence of weapons make thee feare ME. No though such grisly Lads they were as whilom did appeare That bred of gargell Dragous teeth in holow gaping grounde When mutually in bloudy fight eche other did confounde N. Thē wilt thou cast thy self to death M. Would God that I were dead NV. Fly fly to saue thy life ME. Woe worth the time that once I fled N. What O Medea M. Why shall I fly N. A mother deere art thou Fly therefore for thy childrens sake ME. Yee see by whom and how A wretched Mother I am made NV. Thy lyfe by flight to saue Dost thou mistrust ME. Nay fly I will but vengeaunce first I le haue NV. Then some shall thee at heeles pursue to wrecke the same agayne ME. Perhap I le make his cōming short NV. Be still and now refrayne O despret dame thy thundring threates and slake your raging ire Apply and frame thy froward will as time and tides requyre ME. Full well may fortunes welting wheele to begging bring my state As for my worthy corage that shee neuer shall abate Who bowncing at the Gates doth cause the creaking dores to Iar It is the wretch Creon his selfe whom princely power far Hath lift aloft with lordly looke puft vp with pouncing pryde That hee may Corinth countrey with the sway of Scepter guide Creon Medea NEdea that vngracious Imp king Aetas wicked chylde Yet hath not frō our careful realme her lingring foote exilde Som naughty drift she goes about her knacks of old we kno Her iugling arts her harming hāds are known wel long ago From whō will shee withhold her harme whom will this cruell beast Permit to liue from perrill free in quietnesse and rest Cleane to cut of this parlous plague it was our purpose bent But Iason by entreting hard did cause vs to relent At his request we graunted haue her life she shall enioy Let her acquit our countrey free from feare of all annoy Yea saufely let her pack her hence in eger giddy fit With lumpish lowring looke shee comes in talke with me to knit Sirs keepe her of and set her hence least vs she touch perhap And driue her backe from cōming nigh commaunde her keepe her clap And let her learne at length how that her selfe submit she may The puissaunt payse and maiesty of Princes to obay Run hie thee quickly trudge apace haue hence out of my sight This horrible most odious quean this monstrous wicked wight ME. My soueraygne liege what greater crime haue I or lesse offence Commit against thy maiesty to be exiled hence CR. Alas the guiltlesse woman doth demaunde a reason why ME. If thou be Iudge indifferent ordaynde my cause to try Consider then my doubtfull case and wey the ground of it If thou be king cōmaund a Iudge for such a matter fit CR. The princes powre thou shalt
Cl. His conscience wedlocke vow doth pricke bringes him home again Let vs returne the selfe same trade a new for to retayne To which at first we should haue stucke and ought not to forsake To couenaunt continent a new let vs our selues betake To take the trade of honesty at no tyme is to late He purged is from punishment whose hart the cryme doth hate Aeg. Why whither wilt thou gad o rash and vnaduysed dame What dost thou earnestly beleeue and firmly trust the same That Agamemnons spousall bed wil loyall be to thee That nought doth vnderprop thy mynd which might thy terrour bee His proud successe puft vp to high with lucky blast of wynde Might make so cranke and set aloft his hawty swelling mynd Among his peares he stately was ere Troyan turrets torne How thinke ye then his stomacke stoute by nature geuen to scorne In haughtines augmented is more in himselfe to ioy Throughe this triumphant victory and conquest got of Troy Before his voyage Miceane King most mildly did he raygne But now a Tyrant truculent returnd he is agayne Good lucke and proude prosperity do make his hart so ryse With what great preparation prepared solemne wysâ— A rabblement of strumpets come that clong about him al But yet the Prophetesse of Thebe whom God of truth we call Appeares aboue the rest she keepes the King shee doth him guyde Wilt thou in wedlocke haue a mate and not for it prouyde So would not shee the greattest greefe this is vnto a wyfe Her husbandes mimon in her house to leade an open life A Queenes estate cannot abyde her peere with her to raygne Ind ielous wedlocke wil not her companion sustayne Cl. Aegist in desprat moode agayn why seest thou mee a flote Why kindlest thou the sparkes of yre in imbers couered hot If that the victors owne free will release his captiues care Why may not I his Lady spouse haue hope as wel to fare One law doth rule in royal throne and pompous princclye Towres Among the vulgar sorte another in priuate simple bowers What though my grudging fancy force that at my husbandes hand Sharpe execution of the law I stubbernly withstand Recording this that haynously offended him I haue He gently wil me pardon graunt who neede the same to craue Aeg. Euen so on this condition thou mayst with him compound To pardon him if he agayne to pardon the be bounde The subtil science of the law the statutes of our land That long agoe decreed were thou dost not vnderstand The Iudges be malicious men they spyght and enuye vs But he shal haue them partiall his causes to discus This is the chiefest priuiledge that doth to Kinges belong What lawes forbiddeth other men they doe and doe no wronge Cly. He pardned Helen she is wed to Menela agayne Which Europe all with Asia did plunge alike in payne Aeg. No Ladies Lust hath rauisht yet Atrides in his life Nor priuily purloynd his hart betrothed to his wyfe To picke a quarrel he beginnes and matter thee to blame Suppose thou nothing hast commit that worthy is of shame What boteth him whom Princes hate an honest life to frame He neuer doth complayne his wrong but euer beares the blame Wilt thou repayre to Spart and to thy countrey trudge aryght Wilt thou become a ronnagate from such a worthy wight Deuorcement made from Kinges wil not so let the matter scape Thou easest feare by fickle hope that falsly thou dost shape Cli. My trespas is disclosd to none but to a trusty wight Aeg. At princes gates fidelity yet neuer enter might Cl. I wil corrupt and feede him so with siluer and with gold That I by bribing bynd him shall no secrets to vnfold Ae. The trust that hyred is and bought by brybes and moneis fee Thy counsell to bewray agayne with brybes entyste wil be Cl. The remnaunt left of shamefastnes of those vngracious trickes Wherin of late I did delyght my conscience freshly prickes Why kep'st thou such a busie sturre and with thy flatring speach Enstructing me with lewd aduyse dost wicked counsell preach Shall I forsooth of royal bloud with al the speede I can Refuse the King of Kinges and wed an outcast banisht man Aeg. Why should you thinke in that Thiest was father vnto mee And Agamemnon Atreus sonne he should my better be Cly. If that be but a tryfle small and nephew to the same Aeg. I am of Phoebus linage borne wherof I do not shame Cl. Why makste thou Phoebus author of thy wicked pedagrew Whom out of heauen ye forst to flye when bridle backe he drew When Lady Night with mantel blacke did spread her soden shade Why makest thou the Gods in such reproachfulnes to wade Whose father hath thee conning made by sleight and subtil guyle To make thy kinsman Cockold whyle his wyfe thou do defyle What man is he whom we do know to be thy fathers mate Abusing lust of Lechery in such vnlawful rate Auaunt go packe thee hence in hast dispatch out of my sight This infamy whose blemish staynes this bloud of worthy wyght Aeg. This is no new exile to me that wickednes do hannt But if that thou O worthy Queene commaund me to auaunt I wil not only strayght auoyde the house the towne and field My life on sword at thy request I ready am to yeeld Cli. This heynous dede permit shall I most churlish cruell drab Agaynst my wil though I offend the fault I should not blabbe Nay rather come apart with mee and let vs ioyne our wittes To wrap our selues out of this woe and parlous threatning fits Chorus NOw chaunt it lusty laddes Apollos prayse subborne To thee the frolicke flocke their crowned heads adorne To thee King Inachs stocke of wedlocke chamber voyde Brayd out their virgins lockes and theron haue employd Theyr sauory garlandes greene Itwist of laurell bow Draw neare with vs O Thebes our dauncing follow thou Come also ye that drinck of Ismen bubling flood VVheras the Laurell treeful thicke on bankes doth bood Eake ye whom Mando mild the Prophetesse diuine Foreseyng fate and borne of high Tiresias lygne Hath stird to celebrate with sacred vse and right Appollo and Dian borne of Latona bright O Victor Phaebe vnbend thy noked bow agayne Syth quietnes and peace anew we do retayne And let thy twanckling harpe make melody so shril Whyle that thy nimble hand stryke quauers with thy quill No curious descant I nor lusty musick craue No iolly rumbling note nor trouling tune to haue But on thy treble Lute according to thy vse Stryke vp a playnsong note as when thy learned muse Thy lessons do record though yet on baser string It lyketh thee to play the song that thou did singe As when from fyery heauen the dint of lightning flue Sent downe by wrath of Gods the Titans ouerthrew Or else when mountaynes were on mountaynes heaped hie That rayse for Giauntes fell theyr steppes into the skye The mountayne Ossa stoode on
seas When stronger blast with belly swolne our hoysted sayles did fil They row no more but let the Pup to goe with wynd at wil Their sheryng oers layd assyde our Pilot doth espye How farre from any land aloofe our sayles reculing flye Or bloudy battels doth display the threats of Hector stout Or of his ratling waggings tels wherein he rode about Or how his gashed carkas slayne and traynd about the field To funeral flan es and obit rightes for coyne agayne was yeld How Iupiter embathed was al in his royall bloud The frolicke fish disposed was to mirth in Tyrren floud And fetching friskes both in and out playes on the waters brim And on his broade and fynny backe about the seas doth swim With gambals quicke in ringes around and side to side enclynd Erwhyle he sportes afront the pup and whips agayne behynd Now fidling on the snout before the dalying wanton route With iocundary ioly tryckes doth skip the fleete about Sometyme he standeth gasing on and eyes the vessels bright Now euery shore is couered cleane and land is out of sight The parlous poynt of Ida rocke in sight doth open lye And that alone espie we could with fyrmly fixed eye A duskye clowde of stifling smoake from Troy did smolter blacke When Titan from the weary neckes the heauy yokes did slacke The fading light did groueling bend and downe the day did shrowd Agaynst the Starres amounting vp a litle misty clowde Came belching out in yrksome Iompe and Phoebus galland beams He spewd vppon bestayning them duct downe in Westerne streams The Sunne set swaruing in such sort with diuers chaunge of face Did geue vs cause to haue mistrust of Neptunes doubted grace The euening first did burnish bright and paynt with starres the sky The wyndes were layed and cleane forsooke our sayles that quiet lie When cracking ratling rumbling noyse tusht down with thundring sway From top of hills which greatter sturre doth threaten and bewraye With bellowinges and yellinges lowde the shores do grunt grone The craggy clyues and roaring rocks do howle in hollow stone The bubling waters swelles vpreard before the wrastling wynd When sodaynly the lowring light of Mone is hid and blynd The glymsing starres do goe to glade the surging seas are tost Euen to the skyes among the clowdes the light of heauen is lost More nightes in one compacted are with shadow dim and blacke One shadow vpon another doth more darknes heape and packe And euery sparke of light consum'd the waues and skyes do meete The ruffling windes range on the seas through euery coast they fitt They heaue it vp with violence oreturnde from bottom low The westerne wynd flat in the face of Easterne wynd doth blow With hurley burley Boreas set ope his blasting mouth And girdeth out his boysteous breth agaynst the stormy south Each wynd with al his might doth blow and worketh daungers deepe They shake the floods a sturdy blast along the seas do sweepe That rolles and rumbles waue on waue a northren tempest stronge Aboundance great of flacky snow doth hurle our shippes amonge The southwynd out of Libia doth rage vppon a shold And with the puissant force therof the quicksandes vp be rold Nor bydeth in the south which doth with tempest lumpe and lower And force the flowing floods to rise by powring out a shower The stubberne Eurus Earthquakes made and shoke the coūtries East And Eos cost where Phoebus first aryseth from his rest How violent Corus stretcht and tare his yawning breast ful wyde A man would sure haue thought the world did from his center slyde And that the frames of Heauen broke vp the Gods adowne would fall And Chaos darke confused heape would shade and couer all The streame straue with the wynd the wynd dyd beate it downe againe The springing sea within his bankes can not it selfe contayne The raging showre his trilling droppes doth mingle with the seas And yet in all this misery the fynd not so much ease To see and know what ill it is that worketh theyr decay The darknes dim oppresseth still and keepes the light away The blackfacst night with Hellicke hue was clad of Stygian lake And yet ful oft with glimsing beames the sparkling fyre out brake The clowde doth cracke and beyng rent the lightning leapeth out The wretches like the same so well it shyning them about That stil they wish such light to haue although God wot but yll The nauy swaying downe it selfe doth cast away and spill One side with other side is crackt and helme is rent with helme The ship it selfe the gulping seas do headlong ouerwhelme Erwhyle a greedy gaping gulph doth sup it vp amayne Then by and by tost vp aloft it spewes it out againe She with her swagging full of sea to bottome lowe doth sinke And drencheth deepe asyde in floods her totring broken brinke That vnderneath a dosen waues lay drowned out of sight Her broken plankes swim vp and downe spoyld is her tackle quight Both sayle and Oers cleane are lost the mayne mast eke is gone That wonted was to beare vpright the sayle yard thereuppon The timber and the broken bordes lye on the waters brim When cold and shiuering feare in vs doth strike through euery lim The wysest wits entocksicate dare nothing enterprise And cunning practise naught auayles when feareful stormes aryse The mareners letting duty slip stand staring all agast Their scoping ores sodaynly out of their handes are wrast To prayer then apace we fall when other hope is none The Greekes and Troyans to the Gods alyke do make their mone Alacke what succour of the fates may wee poore wretches fynd Agaynst his father Pyrrhus beares a spyteful cankred mynd At Ayax grudge Vlisses doth king Menela doth hate Great Hector Agamemnon is with Priam at debate O happy man is he that doth lye slayne in Troyan ground And hath deserude by handy stroake to take his fatall wound Whom fame preserueth taking vp his tombe in conquerd land Those momes whose melting cowardes hart durst neuer take in hand Or enterprise no noble acte those force of floods shall drowne But fate forbearing long wil take stoute Brutes of high renoume Ful wel we may ashamed be in such a sort to dye If any man his spyteful mynd yet can not satisfye With these outragious plunging plagues that downe frō Gods are sēt Appease at length thy wrathful God agayne and take relent Euen Troy for pity would haue wept to see our woefull case But if that in thy boyling breast black rancour still haue place And that the Greekes to ruin run it bee thy purpose bent Why doe these Troyans goe to wrack for whom thus are wee spent Asswage the rygaur of the sea that threarning hilles vp reares This drenched Fleete the Troyan folke and Greekes together beares Then from theyr prayers are they put theyr foultring tonges doe stay The roring seas doth drowne their voyce and caryes their cries away Then mighty Pallas armed with the lepping