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
alas to set thine heart at rest Not thou if God him selfe if he his flaming fiers should throw On thee or mischiefs all by heapes vpon thy body strow Couldst once for thy deserued ills due paines or vengeaunce pay Some meanes therefore to wreak Gods wrath vpon thy selfe assay Death death now best contenteth mee then seeke a way to dye So maist thou yet at length finde end for all thy misery O Son lend mee thy hand sith that thou art a Paracyde This labour last of all remaynes this labour thee doth byde Dispatch rid mee thy mother deare from all my deadly woe It will not be no prayers auaile Thy selfe this deede must doe Take vp this sword Goe to with this thy husbande late was slayne Husband thou term'st him false hee was thy syer O deadly payne Shal I quight through my brest it driue or through my throte it thrust Canst thou not choose thy wound away die die alas thou must This hateful womb then woūd O wretch this this with thine own hand Strike strike it hard O spare it not sith both a husband and The same a Son it bare CHOR. Alas alas shee is slaine she is slayne dispatched with a push Who euer sawe the like to this see how the bloud doth gush O heauy doulfull case who can this dyrefull sight enduer Which for the hideousnesse thereof might teares of stones procuer OED. Thou God thou teller out of Fates On thee on thee I call My Father onely I did owe vnto the Destnies all Now twise a Paracide and worse than I did feare to bee My Mother I haue slayne Alas the fault is all in mee O OEdipus accursed wretch lament thine owne Calamity Lament thy state thy griefe lament thou Caitife borne to misery Where wilt thou now become alas thy Face where wilt thou hyde O myserable Slaue canst thou such shamefull tormentes byde Canst thou which hast thy Parents slain Canst thou prolong thy life Wilt thou not dye deseruing Death thou cause of all the griefe And Plagues and dreadfull mischiefs all that Thebane City prease Why dost thou seeke by longer life thy sorrowes to encrease Why dost thou toyle and labour thus in vayne It will not bee Both God and man and beast and all abhorre thy Face to see O Earth why gapst thou not for why doe you not vnfolde You gates of hell mee to receaue why doe you hence withholde The fierce Infernall Feends from me from me so wretched wight Why breake not all the Furyes lose this hatefull head to smight With Plagues which them deserued hath alas I am left alone Both light and sight and comfort all from mee O wretch is gone O cursed head O wicked wight whom all men deadly hate O Beast what meanst thou still to liue in this vnhappy state The Skies doe blush and are ashamd at these thy mischiefes great The Earth laments the Heauens weepe the Seas for rage doe freat And blustring rise and stormes doe stir and all thou wretch for thee By whose incest and bloudy deedes all things disturbed bee Quight out of course displaced quight O cursed fatall day O mischiefes great O dreadfull times O wretch away away Exile thy selfe from all mens sight thy life halfe spent in misery Goe end consume it now outright in thrise as great calamity O lying Phoebe thine Oracles my sin and shame surmount My Mothers death amongst my deedes thou neuer didst recount A meete Exploict for me that am to Nature deadly Foe With trembling fearefull pace goe forth thou wretched monster goe Grope out thy wayes on knees in darke thou miserable Slaue So maist thou yet in tract of time due paynes and vengeaunce haue For thy mischeuous lyfe Thus thus the Gods themselues decree Thus thus thy Fates thus thus the skyes appoint it for to bee Then headlong hence with a mischiefe hence thou caitife vyle away Away away thou monstrous Beast Goe Run Stand stay Least on thy Mother thou doe fall All you that wearyed bodies haue with sickenesse ouerprest Loe now I fly I fly away the cause of your vnrest Lift vp your heads a better state of Ayre shall strayght ensewe Whan I am gone for whom alone these dreadfull myschiefs grewe And you that now halfe dead yet liue in wretched misers case Help those whō present torments presse forth hye you on apace For loe with me I cary hence all mischiefes vnder Skyes All cruell Fates Diseases all that for my sake did ryse With mee they goe with me both griefe Plague Pocks Botch all The ills that eyther now you presse or euer after shall With me they goe with me these Mates bin meetst of all for mee Who am the most vnhappiest wretch that euer Sun did see FINIS THE SIXTE TRAGEDIE OF THE MOST GRAVE prudēt Author LVCIVS ANNAEVS SENECA entituled TROAS vvith diuers and sundrye Additions to the same by IASPER HEYVVOOD To the Reader ALTHOVGH GENTLE Reader thou mayst perhaps thinke mee arrogant for that I onely among so many fine wittes and towardly youth with which Englād this day florisheth haue enterprised to set forth in english this present piece of the flowre of all writers Seneca as who say not fearing what grauer heads might iudge of me in attempting so hard a thing yet vpon well pondering what next ensueth I trust both thy selfe shalt cleare thine owne suspicion and thy chaunged opinion shal iudge of me more rightfull sentence For neither haue I taken this worke first in hand as once entending it should come to light of well doynge wherof I vtterly dispayred and beynge done but for myne owne priuate exercise I am in myne opinion herein blameles thoughe I haue to proue my selfe priuately taken the part which pleased me best of so excellent an author for better is tyme spent in the best then other and at first to attempt the hardest writers shall make a mā more prompt to translate the easier with more facility But now since by request frēdship of those to whom I could denye nothinge this worke agaynst my will extorted is out of my hands I needes must craue thy pacience in reading and facility of iudgement when thou shalt apparantly se my witles lacke of learning prayng thee to consider how hard a thing it is for mee to touch at ful in all poynts the authors mynd beyng in many places verye harde and doubtfull and the worke much corrupt by the default of euil printed Bookes and also how farre aboue my power to keepe that Grace and maiestye of stile that Seneca doth when both so excellent a writer hath past the reach of all imitation and also this our English toung as many thinke and I here fynd is farre vnable to compare with the Latten but thou good Reader if I in any place haue swerued from the true sence or not kept the roialty of speach meete for a Tragedie impute the one to my youth and lacke of iudgement the other to my lacke of Eloquence Now as
fountaynes fayre To frame their seate then vnto thee in senseles sleepe repayre Shal wanton Fayries Nymphes of Frithes that on the Hilles do walke Which Dryade mountayne Goblins haunt that vse on hilles to stalke Or when from high Starbearing poale Diana downe did looke On thee that next old Arcades in heauen thy seate hast tooke Shee could not weilde her weltring wayne and yet no foggy cloude Eclipst her gleaming Globe but we with tincking Pans aloude Gan make a noyse agrised at her dead and glowing light We deemd hir charmd with Magicke verse of Thessant witches spright But thou didst cause hir busines and madest her in a maze Whyle at thy pleasant louely lookes the Goddesse stoode in gaze That rules the rayne of cloudy night she stopt her running race God graunt that seldome byting frost may pinch this comely face Let seldome scorching Sunny beams thy Cheekes with freckles die The Marble blue in quarry pittes of Parius that doth lie Beares not so braue a glimsyng glosse as pleasant seemes thy face Whose browes with manly maiesty support an awful grace And forehead fraught with grauity of Fathers countnaunce old His Iuory colourd necke although compare to Phoebe ye would His lockes that neuer lacking knew it selfe displaying wyde On shoulder poyntes doth set them out and also doth them hyde Thy curled forhead seemes thee well and eake thy notted hayre That crumpled lies vndight in thee a manly grace doth beare Thou Gods though fierce and valiant perforce dost chase and farre Dost ouermatch in length of limmes though yet but young thou arre Thou heares as big boystrous brawnes as Hercules thy breast Then Champion Mars more bourly bolstred out with broader chest On back of horntehoofed Steedes if vawting thou do ryde With Bridle in thyne arriue hand more handsome canst thou guyde The trampling Cyllar horse of Spart then Princely Castor could Thy Letherne loope amid thy dart with former fingers hould And driue thy launce with all thy pith the actiue men of Creete That with their pitched dartes afarre do learne the marke to bit They shall not hurle a slender Reede but after Parthian guyse To shoote an arrow if they list into the open Skies Vnsped without some Bird attaynt it shal not light on ground Vnbath'd with lukewarme bloud of guttes in gory smoking wound And from amid the lofty Cloudes downe shalt thou fetch thy pray Few men marke wel the tyme haue borne beauty vnplagude away God send thee better lucke and graunt thy noble personage May passe vnto the happy steps and stretch to dumpish age What mischiefe vnattempt escapes a Womans witlesse rage Most haynous crymes shee meanes to lay to guiltles youngmās charge And thinkes to make her matter good with hayre thus rent at large She towseth eake the pranking of her head with watred plantes Her slye deuyse no crafty kind of womans fetches wantes But who is this that in his face such princely port doth beare Whose lofty lookes with stately pace hie vauntst his head doth reare Lyke lusty young Pyrithous he looketh in the face But that a faynting fallow pale his bleakish Cheekes disgrace And filthy baggage hangeth on his hash hayre raysde vpright Lo Theseus it is agayne restoard to earthly light THE THIRDE ACTE Theseus Nutrix AT length I scapt the glowinge glades of grim eternall Night And eake the vnderpropping poale that each infernall Spright Doth muffie in shut vp in shades loe how my dazelled eyes Can scant abyde the long dessred light of Marble Skies Eleusis now fowre offringes of Triptolemus deuydes And counterpaysed Day with Night now foure tymes Libra hydes I earnest in my Parlous toyle in doubt what lucke to haue Twixt dread of gastly Death and hope my feeble life to saue Some sparke of life stil in my breahles limmes abyding was When as embarkt on erkesome Stix Alcides downe did passe To succour me in dire distresse who when the hellicke hound From Tartares griesly gates in Chaynes he dragd aboue the ground And also me he caryed vp into the World agayne My tyred limmes doth sappy pith of former strength restrayne My feble faltring legges do quake what lugging toyle it was From bottom deepe of Phlegethon to world aloofe to passe What dreary dole mourning noyse is this that beates myne eares Let some declare it vnto mee who blubbred so with teares Lamenting loud and languishing within our gates appeares This entertaynment sit is for a guest that comes from Hell Nu. A stubburne heart and obstinate in Phaedras breast doth dwell With despret mind to slay her selfe our teares she doth despyse And giuing vp the gasping Ghoast alas my Lady dyes Th. Why should she kill herselfe why die hir spouse being come againe Nu For this my Lord with hasty death she would her selfe haue slaine Th. These troblous wordes some perlous thing I wot not what to tell Speake plain what lumpe of glutting griefe her laded heart doth quei She doth complayne her case to none but pensiuely and sad She keepes it secrete to hir selfe determind thus shee had To beare aboute with her the bane wherewith she meanes to die Hie hie thee fast I pray thee now now haue wee neede to hye Our Pallace lockt with stately stoulpes set open by and by Theseus Phaedra O Madame Mate of Spousall bedde thus dost thou entertayne The comming of thy louing Spouse and welcom home agayne Thy long desyred Hosbandes face why takes thou not away My Sword out of my hand and dost not cheare my Sprites I saye Nor shewest me what doth the breath out of the body chase Ph. Alas my valiant Theseus euen for thy royall mace Wherwith thy Kingdome thou dost weild and by the noble raygne Of thy belo'ud posterity and comming home agayne And for the worship that is due vnto my fatall graue O let me die and suffer me deserued death to haue Th. What cause compelleth thee to die Ph. If I the cause of death Disclose then shall I not obtayne the loosyng of my breath Th. No worldly wight saue I my selfe alone the same shall heare Art thou affrayd to tel it in thy husbandes bashful eare Speake out thy secretes shrowd I shall within my faythful brest Ph. What thou would other to conceale kepe thou it first in rest Th. Thou shalt not suffred be to die Ph. From him that wisheth Death Death neuer can be seperate Th. The crime that losse of breath Ought to reuenge shew it to me Ph. Forsooth because I liue Th. Alas do not my trilling teares thy stony stomacke grieue Ph. It is the sweetest death when one doth lothsome life forsake Bereft of such as should for him most woful weeping make Th. Stil standes she mum the croked old ilfauord hoblinge Trotte Hir Nurse for stripes and clogging bandes shall vtter euery iotte That shee forbid her hath to tell in yron chaynes her bynd Let tawing whips wring out perforce the secrets of her mynd PH. Now I my selfe wil speak stay
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
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
obey b' it eyther right or wrong M. The prosperous pryde of wronging crownes cannot endeuer long CR. Auaunt yell out thy complaynts at Colchis get thee hence ME. Full gladly will I get mee home if he that brought me thence Vouchsafe to beare me back agayne CR. Alas to late aryse Entreating wordes when as decree is taken otherwise ME. He that not hearing eyther part pronounceth his decree Vnrighteous man accoumpted is though ryght his sentence bee CR. Whyle Pelias trusted to thy talke from lyfe to death hee fell Go to begyn we gyue you leaue your goodly tale to tell ME. That type of Regall maiesty that erst by Fortunes hand Aduaunced to I dyd attayne hath taught mee vnderstand How hard a thing it is of wrath the rygour to asswage When burning heate of boyling breast in flames begins to rage Eke for th' aduan̄cement of their power more to display in sight Theyr kingly corage bolstred out with maiesty of might They deeme it doth import asway and hath a greater grace Whome stately scepter causde to climbs aloft to prouder place To perseuer with fansye fonde in that to reasons spyght Whose greedy choyce attaynted fyrst his minde with vayne delight For though in piteous plyght I lye throwne downe to great decay With heauy hap and ruthfull chaunce to myserable stay Thus hunted out from place to place forsoke and left alone A wyddow while my husband liue with cause to wayle and mone Perplext in maze of misery wyth cloying cares so ryfe Yet whylom I in golden trone haue led in happy lyfe By high and noble parentage my bryght renowne doth shyne From Phoebus take my Graundsire great deryued is my ligue Whear syluer streamed Phasis flood his wasshing waues doth shed Or with contrary croking wayes his bathing channell spred What euer wandring coast stretcht out is left aloofe behynde From whence the roaming Scithyan Sea his channell forth doth fynde Where as Maeotis fenny plashe with pure fresh water sprynges Doth season sweete the briny Sea that tyde in thyther brynges Eke all the coastes enuyroued and kept within the bankes Of Thermodon where warlike troupes armed wyddowes ranckes With paynted bucklers on their armes holde all the land in feare With rigour rough of threatning sword with force of denting speare So farre to all these wandring coastes and countreyes round about My Fathers ample regiment at large is stretched out I being thus of noble Race and in an happy plight With glorious glosse of pryncely pomp in honour shining bright Then pearelesse Peares my Spousall bed did seeke and sue to haue But those to be theyr louing Feeres now other Ladyes craue Rashe ticle peuish vndiscreete and wauering Fortunes wheele Hath cast me out the crusshing cares of banishment to feele In Scepter proude and hauty Crowne fix thine affyaunce fast Sith vpsidowne with welkin wheele whole mounts of wealth is cast This Prynces doe possesse that should theyr royalty display Whose fame shall neuer razed be with storme of lowring day To succour those whom misery in pit of paynes doth souse To shield and harber suppliaunts in roof of loyall house This onely brought I from my Realme the precious golden Fleece That Iewell chiefe and eke the flower of Chyualry in Greece The sturdy prop the Rampter strong the bulwarke of your wealth And Hercules the boystrous Imp of Ioue I kept in health It was by meanes of my good will that Orpheus did escape Whose harmony the liuelesse Rocks with such delight did rape That forced euen the clottred lumpes with hobling prickt to praunce And eke the iocond nodding woods with footing fine to daunce And that these heauenly twins Castor and Pollux did not by My dew desart is doubled twise sith them preserued I Of Boreas blustring out with puffed Cheekes his blasting Breath His wynged Sons I kept aliue both Calais and Zeath And Linceus that with pearcing beames and sharper sight of Eye Could Nauies on the farther banke of Sicill shore espy And all the Mynians that did come the golden Fleece to win As for the Prince of Princes all I will not bring him in With silence Iason will I passe for whom though him I saue Yet is not Greece in debt to mee no recompence I craue To no man him I doe impute the rest I brought agayne For your auayle that you thereby some profit might attayne But onely on my Iason deare him for my owne loues sake I kept in store that hee of mee his wedded Wyfe should make None other fault God wot yee haue to charge mee with but this That Argo Ship by meanes of mee returned saufely is If I a shamefast mayde had not with Cupids bayte bene caught If more my Fathers health to haue then Iasons I had sought Pelasga land had bene vndone and faine to great decay The lusty valiaunt Capitaynes had cleane bene cast away And ioly Iason fyrst of all this now thy sonne in lawe The Buls had rent his swalowed lims in fiery chomping iawe Let Fortune fight agaynst my case as list her eluish will Yet neuer shall it grieue my heart repent my deede I nill That I should for so many kings their reling honour saue The guerden due that I for this my crime commit must haue It lyeth Creon in thy hande if thus it lyketh thee Condemne my guilty ghost lo death but render fyrst to mee My fault that forced me offend then Creon graunt I this Receauing Iason cause of cryme I guilty did amisse Thou knowst that I was such an one when couring low I lay Before thy feete in humble wise and did entreating pray Thy gracious goodnes mee to graunt some succour at thy hande For me a wreatch and wreatched Babes I aske within this lande Some cotage base in outcast hole some couching corner vile If from the towne thou driue vs out to wander in exile The some by place aloofe within this realme let vs obtayne CR. How I am none that tyrant like with churlish Scepter raygne Nor proudly or disdaynfully with hawty corage hie With vaūting foote doe stamp them downe that vndertroden lye And daunted are in carefull bale thys playnly doth disclose In that to mee of late I such a sonne in lawe haue chose Who was a wandring pilgrim poore with sore afflictions fraight Dismayde with terrour of his foe that lay for him in wayght Because Acastus hauing got the crowne of Thessail lande Requyreth in thy guilty bloude to bath his wreackfull hande He doth bewayle that good olde man his feeble father slayne Whom waight of yeres with bowing back to stoupe alow constrayne The godly mynded systers all yblinde with misty vale And cloking colour of thy craft durst ventrusly assayle That mount of myschiefe marueylous to mangle heaw and cut Theyr Fathers dere vnioynted limmes in boyling Caldron put But for thy open guiltinesse if thou can purge the same Strayght Iason can discharge him selfe from blot of guilty blame His gentle handes were neuer staynde with goare of any
case for Britans sake Ne can her ruthful piteous sorrow slake Though Neros wrath do sore constrayne her grace She nil esteemes the secrete closet place But boyling stil with equal peysd disdayne With mutuall hate gaynst him doth burne agayne My true and trusty loue that I do beare In vayne I see doth striue to comfort her Reuenging greedy griefe doth streight repriue T' appease her smarte the counsel that I giue Nor flame of worthy breast doth once relent But heaps of greefe her courage do augment Alas what griesely deedes for to ensue My feare foreseeth God graunt it be not true THE THIRD SCENE Octauia Nutrix O Staggering state O peerelesse yll With ease Electra I repeate And call to mynd thy mourning will With watred eies like smartiÌ„g sweat Thou mightst lament thy father slain Stil hoping that thy brother myght That deadly deede reuenge agayne Whom thou O tender louing wight Didst safely shield from bloudy foe And naturall loue did closely kepe But Neroes dreaded visage loe Doth feare me that I dare not weepe Nor wayle my parentes ruthful case By cruell lot this slaughter cought Ne suffers mee this geniall face To dash with teares to dearely bought With brothers bloud who onely was Myne onely hope in all my griefe And of so many mischieues as My comfort greate and sole reliefe Now loe reserud for greater care And to abyde more lingring payne Of noble famous lineage bare A drouping shade I do remayne Nutrix My Ladyes heauye voyce mee thought Within my listning eares can sounde And snaylish age in going soft Vnto her thews in not ybounde Octauia O Nurse our dolours witnes sure By curroll cheekes distilling rayne And heauy heartes complaynt endure Nutrix Alas what day shall ridde of payne With care your welnye wasted heart Octauia That sends this guiltles ghost to graue Nutrix This talke good madame set apart Octauia In rule my state theire destenies haue And not thy prayers O matrone iust Nutrix The doune soft easy God shall geue Your troubled mynd a tyme I trust More sweete then euer you did liue With feuell fayre as one content And glosed face but onely please Your man and make he will relent Octauia The Lyon fierce I shall appeale And sooner tame the Tygre stoute Then mankynd Tyrantes brutish breast He spytes the noble raced â—out Contemmes hygh powers disdaynes the least Ne can wel vse that princely weede Which venemous parent wrapt him in By huge vnspeakeable griesly deede Although that wight vnthankful grynne In Kingly throne that hee doth raygne Throughe cruel cursed mothers ayde Although hee pay with Death agayne So greate a gift it shal be sayde And after fates in long spent age That woman wight shal haue alwaye This eloge yet and saying sage That he by her doth beare the sway Nutrix Let not your ragious mynde so walke But doe compresse your moody talke THE FOVRTH SCENE Octauia Nutrix THough much I beare that boyling brest do beate And tollerably take diuorcements threate Deathes only deadly darte I see an end Of al my broyle and pinching payne can send What pleasant light to me O wretch is left My natural Mother slayne and Syre be reft Of breathing life by treason and by gilt Of Brother eake depriude with miseryes spilt And wayling ouercome kept downe with care Enuyed of Make which I dare not declare To mayden subiect now and now defied What pleasant light can me O wretch abyde With feareful hart suspecting always ought Because I would no wicked deede were wroughte Not that I feare Deathes griesly gyrning face God graunt I do not so reuenge my case A better deede to dye for to behold The Tyrantes visage grimme with browes vprolde And with soft tender lippes my foe to kisse And stand in awe of beckes and noddes of his Whose will to please my griefe with cares yfirde Since brothers death by wicked wyle conspirde Could neuer once vouchsafe for to sustayne Lesse griefe to die then thus to liue in payne His Empyre Nero rules and ioyes in blood The cause and ground of death that Tirant wood How oft alas doth Fansie fondly fayne WheÌ„ slumber swete in pensiue parts doth raigne And sleepe in eyes all tyrd with teares doth rest I apprehend deare Brittans liuely brest Ere whyle me thinkes his feble shiuering hands He fenseth sure with deadly blasing brandes And fiercely on his brother Neros face With sturdy stinging stroakes he flies apace Ere whyle thilke wretch recoyleth backe agayne And to my thewes for aide retyres amayne Him foming foe pursues with hast to haue And whyle my brother I desire to saue And in my clasped armes to shield him free His goary bloudied falchion keene I see The boysterous raumping fiend to tugge hale Through out my shiuering limmes as ashes pale Forthwith a mighty trembling chattering quake From weary lims all souple sleepe doth shake And makes me woeful wretch for to recount My wayling sobbing sorrowes that surmount Hereto put to that gorgeous stately ouse All glistring bright with spoyles of Claudius house His parent deare in bubling boate did douse That wicked sonne this fisking dame to please Whom yet escaping daungers great of Seas He fiercer freake than waues that scantly rest VVith bloudy blade hir bowels did vnbrest VVhat hope of health can me O wretch abyde That after them thilke way I should not ryde My speciall foe triumphant wise doth weight VVith naked nates to presse by louers sleight Our spousall pure and cleane unspotted bed Gainst whom she burns with deadly foode bloud red And for a meede of filthy strumpets sport She causeth Make from spouse for to diuort O auncient Syre step forth from Limbo lake Thy daughters heauy troublous cares to slake Or your twygated hellysh porche vnfolde That downe through gaping ground I may bee rolde Nu. O piteous wretch in vaine alas in vaine Thou calst vpon thy fathers senselesse sprite In whome God wot there doth no care remaine Of mortall broode that here doth take delight Shall he thinke you asswage your sory cheere Or shape you forth some sleight to appall your paine That could preferre before his Brittan deere Th' imperiall throne a straunge begotten swaine And with incestiall loue benummed quyte His brother Germanicks daughter that could plyght And ioyne to him in solemne mariage rites VVith woefull and vnlucky louers lightes Here sprang the roale of hurly burly great Here beastly venomous slaughter gan to sweate Here wylie treasons traines appeared first Here rules desire and brutish bloudy thirst Syllanus first Prince Claudius sonne in lawe A bloudy mangled offring fall we sawe That in our graces Hymaeneal bed Ymatcht with you he might not couche his hed O monstrous slaughter worthy endlesse blame In steade of gift vnto that wanton dame A Carkasse colde pore soule and curelesse corse Sillane was giuen against his will perforce And falsly then attacht of traitors crime As one conspyring death in Claudius time VVith lothsome streakes spewde out vpon the wall
rebound The brambles rent his haled hayre the edged flinty stones The beauty batter of his Face and breake his crashing bones At Mouth his blaring tongue hangs out with squeased eyne out dasht His Iawes Skull doe crack abrode his spurting Braynes are pasht His cursed beauty thus defoylde with many wounds is spent The iotting Wheeles do grinde his guts and drenched sims they rent At length a Stake with TruÌ„chion burnt his ripped PauÌ„ch hath caught From riued Grine toth ' Nauell stead within his wombe it raught The Cart vpon his Maister pawsde agaynst the ground ycrusht The Fellies stuck within the wounds and out at length they rush So both delay and Maisters limbs are broke by stresse of Wheeles His dragling guts then trayle about the wincing horses heeles They thumping with their horny Hooues agaynst his Belly kick From bursten Paunch on heapes his blouddy bowells tumble thick The scratting Bryers on the Brakes with needle poynted pricks His gory Carkas all to race with spelles of thorny sticks And of his flesh ech ragged shrub a gub doth snatch and rent His men a mourning troupe God knowes with brackish teares besprÄ“t Doe stray about the fielde whereas Hippolytus was tore A piteous signe is to bee seene by tracing long of gore His howling Dogges their Maisters limmes with licking follow still The earnest toyle of woful Wights can not the coars vp fill By gathering vp the gobbets sparst and broken lumps of flesh Is this the flaunting brauery that comes of beauty fresh Who in his Fathers Empyre earst did raigne as pryncely Peare The Heyre apparant to the Crowne and shone in honour cleare Lyke to the glorious Stars of Heauen his Limmes in pieces small Are gathred to his fatall Graue and swept to funerall TH. O Nature that preuaylste too much alas how dost thou binde Whyth bonds of bloud the Parents breast how loue we thee by kinde Maugre our Teeth whom gullty ecke we would haue rest of breath And yet lamenting with my teares I doe bewayle thy death NVN. None can lament with honesty that which he wisht destroyde TH. The hugiest heape of woes by this I thinke to be enioyde When flickering Fortunes cursed wheele doc cause vs cry alas To rue the wrack of things which earst wee wished brought to passe NVN. If stil thou keepe thy grudge why is the Face with seates besprÄ“t TH. Because I slue him not because I lost him I repent Chorus WHat heape of happes do tumble vpsyde downe Th' estate of man lesse raging Fortune flies On little things lesse leaming lightes are throwne By hand of Ioue on that which lower lies The homely couch safe merry hartes do keepe The Cotage base doth giue the Golden sleepe The lofty Turrets top that cleaues the cloude VVithstandes the sturdy stormes of Southren wynde And Boreas boysterous blastes with threatning loud Of blusteryng Corus shedding showres by kinde The reking Dales do seldome noiance take Byding the brunt of Lightninges slashing flake Th' aduaunced crest of Caucasus the great Did quake with bolt of lofty thundring Ioue VVhen he from cloudes his thunder dintes did beat Dame Cybels Phrygian fryth did trembling moue King loue in hawty heauen ful sore affright The nighest thinges with weapons doth he smyght The ridges low of Vulgar peoples house Striken with stormes do neuer greatly shake His Kingdomes coast Ioues thundring thumpes do souse VVith wauering winges that houre his fligth doth take Nor flitting Fortune with her tickle wheele Le ts any wight assured ioy to feele VVho in the VVorld beholds the starres ful bright And chereful day forsaking gastly Death His sorrowfull returne with groning spright He rewes sith it depriude his Sonne of breath He seeth his lodging in his court agayne More doleful is then sharpe Auernus payne O. PALLAS vnto whom all Athens land Due homage oweth because that THESEVS thine Among vs worldly Wights againe doth stand And seeth the Heauens vpon himselfe to shine And passed hath the parlous myrie Mud Of stinking Stygian Fen and filthy Flud Vnto thy rauening Vncles dreery Gaile O Lady chaste not one Ghost dost thou owe The Hellick Tyrant knovves his perfect tale Who from the Court this shriking shrill doth throwe What mischiefe comes in frantick PHAEDRAS brayne With naked Svvord thus running out amayne THE FIFTE ACTE THESEVS PHAEDRA CHORVS THrough pierst with pangues of pensiuenesse what fury prickes thy brayne What meanes this bloudy blade what meanes this shriking out amayne And langishing vpon the Corps which was thy mallice made PH. O tamer of the wrastling waues mee mee doe thou inuade The Monstrous hags of Marble Seas to rampe on mee send out What euer Thetis low doth keepe with folding armes about Or what the Ocean Seas aloofe embrace with winding waue O Theseus that to thine alies dost still thy selfe behaue So Currishly O thou that for thy louing Friends auayle Dost neuer yet returne thy Sonne and Father doe bewayle Thy pasport brought by death and bloud thy stocke thou dost destroy By loue or hatred of thy wife thou workest still annoy O sweete Hippolytus thus I behold thy battred face And I it is I wretch alas that brought thee to this case What Scinis forst thy lims so torne his snatching boughes to feele Or what Procrustes rackt and rent thee streacht on bed of Steele Or else what Minotaur of Crete that grim twishaped Bull With horny head that Dedalls â—â—nues with lowing filleth full Hath thee in fitters torne aie me where is thy beauty fled Where are our twinckling stars thine eyes alas and art thou ded Appeare a while receiue my words for speake I shall none yll This hand shal strike the stroake wherwith thy bengeance quite I wil And sith that I I Caytive I abridged haue thy life Lo here I am content to yeeld thee mine with bloudy knife If ghost may here be giuen for ghost and breath may serue for breath Hippolytus take thou my soule and come againe from death Behold my bowels yet are safe my lims in lusty plight Would God that as they serue for me thy body serue they might Mine eies to render kindly light vnto thy Carkasse ded Lo for thy vse this hand of mine shall pluck them from my hed And set them in these empty cells and vacant holes of thine Thy weale of me a wicked Wight to win do not repine And if a womans wofull heart in place of thine may rest My bosom straight breake vp I shall and teare it from my brest But courage stout of thine doth loth faint womans heart to haue Thy Noble minde would rather go with manly heart to graue Alas be not so manly now this manlinesse forheare And rather choose to liue a man with womans sprite and feare Then as no man with manly heart in darcknesse deepe to sit Haue thou thy life giue me thy death that more deserueth it Can not my profer purchase place yet vengeance shal thou haue Hell shall not hold me from thy syde nor
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
decay What beggerly want and wayling hunger may Those villaines shal be sure to haue ech day Ah Prouender pricks that vile rebellious race Ne can they once our fauour well embrace Nor be content with peace in quiet state But broyling raumpe about with troubled gate Hereon with boldnesse straight hereon they flie With harebraind rashnesse hedlong by and by Well they must tamed be with heauy stroke And downe be kept with peise of weighty yoke That they with like attempt do not arise Nor once cast vp their deadly peasaunts eyes Against our louing spouses golden lookes First punish them sure then feare shal be their bookes To teache them at their Princes beck t' obay But see at hand whom fayth and vertue rare Lieuetenant chiefe of camps appointed thare THE FIFTE SCEANE Praefectus Nero THe vulgare peoples rash vnruly rage The slaughter of a fewe did sone asswage Which long with stode our valiant force in vain To tel your grace this newes I come againe Nero. And is this then ynough dost thou so well O souldiour marke what doth thy captaine tell Hast thou with held thy hand from bloudy yre Is this the due reuenge that we requyre Prae. The captaine guides of treason payd their hyre By desperate death of bloudy sword in fight The route which sought with flaming fyre to light Ner. Our royall Pallace great who would assigne Their Prince what he should doe and pull in fine Our mate from vs dissoluing wedlocke bandes Whose hardy slaunderous tongs wicked handes Hir princely grace reprochfully withstandes From due reuenge are they dismissed free Prae. Shall subiectes payne by griefe assigned bee Ner. It shall assigne which time shall neuer weare Prae. Which neither wrath may end nor yet your fear Nero. Shee shall appease our hie displeased minde Who fiyrst our wrath deserued due to finde Praef. Declare whose death your moode doth most require Let not my hande be stayde from your desire Ner. It seekes our sisters death and trayterous hed Prae. Those words through all my lims hath stiffnesse spred Opprest with griesty feare Ner: Vs to obay Stands thou in doubt Praef. On fayth why do you lay So great a fault Ner. Bycause thou sparedst our foe Praef. Deserues a woman to be termed so Nero. If treason she begin Prae. Is any man So sure that hit accuse of creason can Ner. The peoples rage Praef. Those madde vnweldye wights Who order could Ne. Who could stir vp their sprits Prae. No creature as I thincke Ner. A woman could In whome a mind Dame nature hath vpfould To mischiefe prone shee armed hath hir heart To hurt by wyles yet strength shee set apart Least shee vndaunted force with hir should beare But now hir slender power with doubting feare Is quickly quaylde or else with punishment Which hir condemned state to mischiefe bent To late doth ende away with graue aduise Vs with entreating seeke not to entyse Dispatch that we commaund on shipboorde horne Farre off to shore aloofe with dashing worne Commaund shee be that tunlike swelling brest At length in storming stomack may take rest THE SIXTE SCENE Chorus Octauia ALack the peoples bitter loue And dyre good will to many one Which when they hoysted sayles aboue With pleasaunt blastes it made to grone And caried them from quiet shore That faynting leaues them in the deepe And tumbling raging waters rore Cornelia piteous wretch did weepe And sore bewayle hir sonnes estate The peoples loue did vndoe them And wondrous fauour bred them hate Great worthy peeres of noble stem Of high renowne for vertues prayse In fayth and eloquence did pas Their stomacks stout their fame did rayse i th lawes eche one most excellent was And Scipio thee did Fortune yeelde Vnto lyke death and curssed wracke Whom neyther honours pompe coulde sheelde Nor fenced house thy foes keepe backe Moe to repeate although I coulde Pure present griefe forbiddeth sore Ere whyle to whom the people woulde Her Fathers antique Courte restore And Brothers wedlocke once againe Now weeping wringing hands poore wretch Vnto hir cruell deadly payne The armed souldiours doe hir fetch How safe doth pouerty lye content In thetched house safe shrouded there High raysed towers with blasts are bent Which often tymes them ouer beare Oct. Where pull you mee poore wretch alas Into what banisht exiles place Woulde Nero haue mee for to passe Or Fortune bids with frowning face If now with faynting strength quite coolde And with my broyles all wearied ceasse And longer lyfe shee graunt mee woolde If that shee worke for to increase My sorrowes great with deadly dart Why is she then so much my foe In country that I may not part And leaue my life before I goe But now no helpe of health I feele Alas I see my Brothers boate This is the same whose vaulted keele His Mother once did set a clote And now his piteous Sister I Excluded cleane from spousall place Shall be so caried by and by No force hath vertue in this case No Gods there be my woes to wrecke The griefly dreadfull drab Eryn Doth weld the worlde at nod and becke Who can lament my state wherein I am alas sufficientlie How can Aedon duely playne My smarting streames at beares that I Do shedde whose wings I would be fame If destnies would them graunt to weare Then would I leaue my mourning mates As swiftly fled as wings could beare Aud so auoyde these bloudy pates Then sitting sole in shirwood shirle And hanging sure by dandling twigge VVith plaintiue pipe I might out twarle My heauy tuned note so bigge Chor. The mortalt broode the destnies guide Themselues they nothing can assure That certainly doth stedfast bide VVhich our last day of life procure VVhere of we alwayes should beware Much daungerous chaunces for to try Vnto your troubled minde with care Now many saumples do applys Which your accursed court hath brought To holden you in all your broyle For what hath more your troubles wrought What doth against you sorer toyle Than fortune doth the first of all Agrippas childe brought forth to life Whome we Tyberius daughter call By lawe and eke Prince Caesars wife Of many sonnes a carefull dame I cannot chose but now recount Whose worthy glorious ample name Throughout the world doth much surmount So oft with belly bolne that bare Desyred fruicts and peaces pledge Ere long thou sufferedst exiles care Strypes chaines and boltes of yron wedge And mourning much which so did frame That death they causde thee to abyde So Liuia Drusus lucky name In male kinde babes did hedling slyde Into a cruell monstrous deede And death sore pearcing deadly dart Hir mothers fates doth Iulia speede To folow streight with all hir heart Who after longer wasted time With bloudy fauchion kene was slaine Although for no iust cause or crime Your mother eke that once did raigne Who then esteemd of Claudius well Did wisely weld his court at will And fruitfull was as you can tell What could not
you thus flee OEdi. Frō none but frō my selfe Who haue a breast full fraught with guilte who wretched caitiffe Elte Haue all embrude my hands with bloud From these apace I flee And from the heauens and Gods therein and from that villanie Which I most wicked wretch haue wrought Shall I treade on thys ground Or am I worthy so to doe in whom such trickes abound Am I to haue the benefite of any Element Of Ayre for breath of water moyst or Earth for nourishment O Slaue forlorne O beastly wretch O Incestmonger vyle O Varlet most detestable O Peysaunte full of guile Why doe I with polluted Fyst and bloudy pawes presume To touch thy chast and comely hand I foame I fret I fume In hearing any speake to mee Ought I heare any tell Or once of Sonne or Father speake syth I did Father quell Would God it were within my power my Senses all to stop Would God I could these Eares of myne euen by the stumps to crop If that might bee then daughter I should not haue heard thy voyce I I thy Syre that thee be got by most incestuous choise Beegetting of thee makes my crymes moe then they were before Remorse thereof both gnaw and grype my conscience more and more Ofttymes that which myne Eyes not see with Eares that doe I heare And of my Facts afore time done the inward wound I beare Why is there stay made of my doome Why am I spard so long Why is not this blind head of myne throwne damned ghosts among Why rest I on the Earth and not among infernall Sprightes Why pester I the company of any mortall Wightes What myschiefe is there more behind to aggrauate my care My Kingdome Parents Children Wit and Vertue quayled are By sturdy stormes of froward Fate nothing remaynde but teares And they bee dryde and Eyes be gon my hardned heart forbeares Such signes of grace leaue of therefore and make no more adde A minde so mated with dispayre no suytes will slowpe vnto I practize some straunge punishments agreeing to my deede But what proportion can bee found of plagues vnto my meede Whose Fortune euer was so bad I was in sooner borne But seely Infant Iudgde I was in peeces to be torne My mother in whose wombe I lay forth had not mee yet brought And yet euen then I feared was and straight my death was sought Some Babes soone after they bee borne by stroke of death depart But I poore soule before my byrth adiudged was to dart Of death some yet in Mothers wombe ere any light they see Doe taste the dint of hasty Fate while Innocents they bee Apollo by his Oracle pronounced sentence dyre Vpon mee being yet vnborne that I vnto my Syre Should breastly parricide commit and therevpon was I Condemned straight by Fathers doome My Feete were by and by Launcde through through with yrō Pins hangde was I by the Heeles Vpon a Tree my swelling plants the printe thereof yet feeles As pray to Beastes cast out also to cramme theyr greedy Iawes In Mount Cythaeron and to fill the griping Vulturs Mawes Such Sauce to tast full lyke was I was others heeretofore Descended of the royall Sangue with smart perforce haue bore But see the chaunce I thus condemn'de by Dan Apollos hest And cast to beasts by Fathers doome and euery way distrest Could finde no death no death on mee durst seyze his lordly Pawe But fled from mee as though I had not beene within his Lawe I verified the Oracle with wicked hand I kilde Myne owne deere Father and vnwares his guiltlesse bloud I spilde Shall any satisfaction redeeme so vile an Acte May any kinde of Piety purge such a shamefull fact I rested not contented thus For Father beeing slayne I fell in linkes of lawlesse Loue with Mother Oh what payne And grudge of minde sustaynde I there in thinking on the same To tell our wicked wedlocke Yoake I loath I blush I shame I may not well this geare conceale I le tell it out it shall Though to my shame it much redound it may augment my thrall I will display straunge villanies and them in number many Most beastlike parts most lewde attempts to bee abhorr'de of any So filthy and so monstruous that sure I thinke no Age Will them belieue to haue bene done so cruell was my rage That euen ech cutthroate Partrcide thereat may be ashamde To heare it nam'de and with disdaine straight wayes will be enflamde My handes in Fathers blud embrude to Fathers Bed I brought And haue with Mother myne his Wife incestuous practyse sought To myschiefe adding mischiefe more I wis my fault to Sire Is slender in comparison my gracelesse fond desire Could not bee staide till solemnely the mariage Knot was knit Twixt mee and Mother myne alas for want of grace and wit How plungde am I in myschiefe still how is the measure full Of horrours vile which doe my minde and heart asunder pull And least the heape of these my woes might seeme to bee too skant My Mother she my Wyfe that is yong issue doth not want Can any crime in all the World more haynous be surmisde If any may by wicked Impes the same I haue deuisde My Realme and Crowne I haue resignde which I receiued as hyre For murdring most vunaturally the king my Lord and Syre Which Crowne now since twixt both my sonnes hath kindled mortall war And all the countrey by the ears remains at deadly iarre I know ful wel what destenies to this same Crowne belonges None without Bloud the same shall weare and most accursed wrongs This mynd of myne who Father am presageth many ills And gloomy dayes of slaughter dyre the plot that murther willes Already is contriu'd and cast all truth of word and deede Is quight exild al promise broke of pactes afore decreed Etheocles th one of my sonnes who now in princely throne Beates all the sway meanes stil to keepe the Diademe alone Poore Polynices th'o other sonne thus beyng dispessest And kept by force from Kingly rule his humble sute addrest Vnto the Gods this wrong to wreake this breach of league and oth T' auenge and plague he Argos soyle end Greekish Cttyes both Perswades t' assist him in this warie this quarel to mayntayne That he in Thebes as promise was might haue his turne to raygne The ruyne that to wearied Thebes shall greeuously befall And bring the pompous state therof adowne shal not be small Fire sword glaue woūds thwackīg thūps shal light vnto their share And that ere long and mischieues worse it any worse there are And this shall hap that all the worlde may know it is the race And yssue of a curied Syre that darraygnes such a case Though other causes none there were to moue you sic to liue Yet is this one sufficient that you by awe may dryue Your sonnes my Brethren tarring thus to vnity and peace For you their Father only may theyr furies cause to tease
You and none els may turne away th occassons of this warre These bransicke youthes from further rage you onely may dibarre By this your meanes the countrey shall their quiet peace enioy And Brethren ioyntly reconcild shal worke no more ennoy If you therefore this mortall life thus to your selfe deny You many thousandes shal vndoe whose states on you relye Oed. What canst thou make me to beleue that any sparke of grece Or loue to Syre or honesty in them hath any place Which thirst for one on others bloud which after kingdomes gape Whose whole delight is villany werre wurther guile and rape Such hateful ympes on mischiefe set such wicked Termagosites As to be sonnes of such a Syre with shame may wake their vauntes At one bare woord to tel thee all thy brethren two are bent Vppon all mischiefe wayghing not what loosenes they frequent When flingbrayne rage ensots their heades they care not they a rush Vpon what Deuelish vile attemptes they geue the desprat push And as they are conceau'd and borne in most abhorred sort So still deuoyde of Grace they thincke all villany but sport Theyr Fathers shame and wretched state moues them no whit at all To Countrey they no reckning make what massacre befall Their myndes are rauisht with desyre ambitiously to raygne I know their driftes and what they hope at length by shiftes to gayne And therfore sith the case so standes I leyfer had to die With poasting speede whyle in my house there is none worse then I Ahlas deare Daughter what adoe dost thou about me make Why liest thou prostrate at my knees why dost thou trauaile take To conquere my resolued mynd with this thy spiced phraze Of fayre entreatie these thy wordes my flynty hart amaze Dame Fortune hath none other bayte to bryng me to her lure Then this alone til now I still vnbanquisht did endure No Creatures words but thyne alone could pearce this hart of myne Ne from a purpose resolute my setled mynd butwyne Thou conquere canst thaffections fond that in my breast do boyle Thou teachest grace to fathers house and zeale to natiue soyle Each thing to me delightful is which iumpeth with thy wil Commaund me Daughter I thy hestes am ready to fufill Old Oedipus if thou enioyne wil passe th' Aegaean Sea And flashing flakes of Aetna Mount with mouth he dare assay He boldly dare obiect himselfe to raumping Dragons claw Which rag'd sweld and venime spit apace when as he saw Dan Hercules away to steale his golden Aples all In Gardens of Hesperides At thy commaund he shall His Entrails offer vnto iobbe of greedy Vulturs Byll At thy commaund content he is in life to linger still THE SECONDE ACTE Nuntius OEdipus Antigone Iocasta REnowmed Prynce of royall Race and Noble lygne yspronge The Thebans dreading much the drife of this your childrens thronge And warlicke garboyle now in hand most humbly pray your Grace For Countreys safety downe to set some order in the case They bee not threates and menacies that thus their mindes affright The mischiefe is more neere then so the Enmy is in sight For Polynices he that is your younger sonne of twayne Doth clayme the crowne and in his turne in Thebes requires to raigne According vnto couenaunts made which quarrell to decite Hee purposeth the dene of sword and maritall force t' abide With him he brings a mighty Troupe from eu'ry part of Greece Sir seuen Dukes hesieging Thebes are minded it to fleese Helpe noble King els are wee lyke to perishe man and chylde These bloudy broyles of ciuill warre from vs protect and shyelde O Edi. Am I one like to stop the rage of any wicked act Am I one like to cause these Youthes to leaue their bloudy fact Am I a maister like to teach what lawes of loue do meane Should I not then from former quise digresse in nature eleane They treade their Fathers steps aright they play my lawlesse prankes Like Syre like Sonnes like Tree like fruite I con theÌ„ harty thanks By this I know them for my Sonnes and praise their towardnesse I would they should by peeuish partes whose Sonnes they be expresse Shew forth you noble Gallante ympes what metled minds you beare Shew forth by deedes your valor great let lofty sprights appeare Surmount and dimme my prayses all Eclypse my glory quight Attempt some enterprise in which your Syre may haue delight To haue till now remaynd in life hereof I haue no doubt For well I know your practise is straunge feates to bring about Your byrth and ligne from whence you spronge assures me of no lesse Such noble Bloudes must needes atchiue some doughty worthinesse Your Weapons and Artillery for warre bring out with speede Consume with flame your natiue Soyle and desolation breede In eu'ry house within the Land a hurly burly make Confusedly of eu'ry thinge Make all the Realme to quake And in exile theyr dayes let end make leuell with the ground Eche fenced Fort and walled Towne The Gods and all confound And throw their Temples on their heads Their Images deface And melt them all turne vpstdowne eche house in eu'ry place Burne spoyle make hauocke leaue no iote of City free from fyre And let the flame begin his rage within my Chamber dyre AN. Syr banish these vnpatient panges let plagues of CoÌ„mon wealth Entreate your Grace sith vpon you stayth all their hope and health Procure your sonnes to reconcile themselues as brothers ought Establishe peace betwene them both let meanes of loue be sought OEd. Oh daughter see and well beholde howe I to peace am bent And how to end these garboyles all I seeme full well content My minde I tell thee swelles with yre within my entralles boyles Abundaunt stoare of Choller fell such restlesse rage turmoyles My inward Soule that I must yet some greater matter brew Which may the Realme enwrap in bale and cause them all to rue That which my rashe and heady sonnes haue hitherto begon Is nothing in respect of that wich must by me be don This ciuill warre is nothing like to that which I deuise These trifling broyles for such a Sea of harmes cannot suffice Let brother cut the brothers throate with murthrous knife in hand Yet is not this ynough to purge the mischieues of this lend Some haynous Fact vnheard of yet some detestable deede Must practisde bee as is to mee and myne by Fates decreed Such custome haunts our cursed race such guise our house hath caught My vise incestuous Bed requires such pageaunts to be wraught To me your Father Weapons reach my selfe heere let me shrowde In couert of these queachy wooddes and let me be allowde To lurke behinde this Craggy Rocke or els my selfe to hyde On backside of some thickset hedge where lying vnespide I hearken may what marketfolkes in passing to and froe Do talke and what the countrey Clownes speake as by way they goe There syth with eyes I cannot see with earâ—s yet may I beare How
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