with scowling eyes doth leare See see Oh Ioue how fast he throwes his Darts Not one he spares But al coÌ„fownds His thretning force with stand no Creature dares No doubt the lothesom Feryman the synful soules that traines Through stincking fluds his labour loths that he for vs sustaynes Such presse by plumps to him is made which still renews his paynes But harke yet moÌ„sters more theÌ„ these the fame abroade dothe flie That hellishe dogges w t Bawling sound were herd to howle cry And y t the ground w t treÌ„bling shooke and vnder fete dyd moue And dredfull blasing Comets bright were seen in Skies aboue And gastly shapes of men besydes to wander on the grounde And wood and trees on euery syde Dyd fearfully resounde Besids all this strauÌ„ge ghosts were seen in places wher they stode And ryuers more then one or two that ran all blacke goord blud O cruell plage O vile disease far worse then spedy death O we vnhappye thrise and more who do prolonge our breath In thease accursed dayes and tymes But harke to me a while When first this lothsom plage begins these mysers to defyle It takes them thus A fearfull Cold through al their bones doth run And Cold and Heate together mixt their sences all benome Than litel lothesom markes appeare and all their bodies spotte And al the members flaming glows and burning fast do rot The Lights the Lungs the hart the Gutts and all that in ward liâ—s And all the secret partes Iscorcht with dedly fier fries The bloud al clotterd in their cheks in cluster lies by lumps And it and heat together makes great straunge and ruddy bumps And blud and flesh congeled stands in face as stiffe as stake And â—yes in hed fast fixed set and often tricklyng make And down apace whole fluds they steame and clots drops do tril And al the skin from of their face by flakes and scales doth pill A thousand fearful sounds at once into their eares do rush And lothsom blud out of their nose by stilling streames doth gush The very anguish of their hart doth cause them for to shake And what w t Payn Heat Feare their weried lyms do quake Then som the roÌ„ning Riuers haunt and some on ground do wallow And some agayn their thirst to sâ—ake cold water gulping swallow Thus all our country tost w t Plage in Grief it waltering lies And stil desiring for to dy A thousand deathes iâ— dyes But God them then to hear is prest And death to none denies Besides all this the churche som do frequent but not to pray But only for to glut the Gods with that that they do saye But who is this y t comes from Court in hast with posting pace What is it Creon that Noble bloud comended for his grace Of all that lyue Or doth my crased minde opprest thinges false for true conceyue Tis Creon long desired for His sight doth me releyue ¶ The second Acte The first Sceane Oedipus Creon Oedipus FOr feare my body chilles alas and tremblinge all I stande Inquaking dred I seke toile these mischiefes to with stande But all in vayn I labour I it wil not bee I see As longe as meare repugnaunts thus together mâ—xed bee My mynd desirous still Oh god the truth for so vnfold With doutfull Dred is daunted so that it can scante vp hold It self O brother deare if eny meanes or waye of health thou knowe Declare it out and sticke not nowe the truth to me to showe Creon Syr if it pleas your noble grace the aunswers hidden lies Oedipus Who doutful helth to sick meÌ„ brings all health to them denies Creon Appolloes vse it is the trueth with darksom shades to duske Oedipus And Oedipus of gods it hath things doutfull to discus Creon Speke out and spare not man The mightie God comaundes To purge the Princes seat forthâ—ith and that strayght out of hande That villayn vile requited be with plages and vengeance due Who firce with blody handes of late my brother LaÃus slue Before that this performed be no hope of mylder ayer Wherfore do this O king or els of hope and healthe dispaier Oedipus Durst eny man on yearth attempt that noble prince to slaye Shewe me y e slaue that I may him dispatche out of the way Creon God graunte the sight be good Alasâ— the heringe is to terrible My sences all amased stand it is a thinge so horrible That I abhore to speke my mynde Oh god for feare I quake And euen at the very thought my lyms begin to shake Assoone as I Appollos Churche had entred in afrayde Upon my face flat down I faul And thus to him I prayd Oh God if euer thou didest rue on wretched misers state Yf euer men opprest thou easd or didst theyr cares abate If euer thou in present Nede didst present Helpe declare If euer thou afflicted Harts with Cares consumd didst spare Now shew thy dredful force O God shew now thy mighty pore Scant had I sayd Resownding all the mountayns thundring rore And filthy Feends spoute out their flames out of their darksom caues And woods do quake Hils do moue and vp the surging waues Do mount vnto the skies aloft And I amased stand Stil lokyng for an awnswere at Appollos sacred hand When out with ruffled hear disguisd the Prophet coms at last And when that she had felt the heat of mighty Phebus blast All puffyng out she swels in rage and pattring still she raues And scante she entred had into Appollos shinyng caues WheÌ„ out a thuÌ„dâ—ing voice doth brust Thats far aboue mans reache So dredful semed then to me the mighty Phâ—buâ— speach Than thus he spake thus at length into myne ears he rusht While sprawling still y e Prophet lay before the doores in dust The Thebane Citiâ— neuer shall be free from Plagues quoth he Except from thence the Kyng queller forthwith expulsed be Vnto Apollo knowen he was or euer he was borne Do this or els no hope of hâ—alth to this the Gâ—ds haue sworne Aud as for hym he shall not long in quiâ—t â—â—atâ— endure But with hymselfe wage Warre he shall and Warre he shall procure Vnto his Children deare And creâ—pe agayne he shall into his Mothers wombâ— Oâ—dâ—pus Loke what y e gods comauÌ„ded hauâ— accomplished shalbe Nor neuer shal these eyes of mine abide the daye to see A kinge of kingdom spoild by force by guile and craft supprest A kinge to kinges the prop ought be and chiefest cause of rest No man regardes his death at all whom lyuinge he doth feare Creon Gret cause maks me my princes death concele and closely beare Oâ—pipus In mynde Creon Ought enye cause of feare or griefe thy dutie for to let The thretening of the Prophesies do still my brest beset Oedâ—pus As gods haue wild vs for this mischiefe mends now let vs make If eny waye or meanes there be their suries for to slake Thou God
Ghosts are herd to cry And whyther long of Acheron that lothsom Flud that flowes All stynkyng streames or of y â— earth that out her Bowels throwes Dead Corpses to receyue Or of that fyerce infernall Hownd That at suche tymes doth bustlyng make w t chayns ratlyng sownd The Earth all wide it open gapes And I did se on grownd The Gods with colour pale and wan that those darke kingdoms keepe And very night I saw in dede And thousand shapes to creepe From out those fylthy stynkyng lakes and lothsom pits of Hell Where all the eâ—yls vnder Son in darksom shades do dwell So quaking all for feare I stoode with mynd ryght sore apalde Whilst on those Gods w t tremblyng mouth the Priest full often calde Who all at once out of theyr dennes did skip with griesly face And MoÌ„sters grim stinging snakes seemd wander in that place And all the fowlest Feends of Hell and Furies all were there And al traÌ„sformed Ghosts sprights that euer Hell did beare With Cares and all Diseases vyle that mortall mynds do crush All those and more I sawe out of those Dongeons deepe to rush And Age I sawe with ryfled face and Nede and Feare and Death And Fyre and flames thousand yls out fro those Pyts to breath Then I was gon and quight amazd The wenche in worser cas And yet of old acquaynted with her Fathers Artes she was The Priest hymself vnmoued stood and boldly cited owt Whole Armies of kyng Ditis men who clustryng in a Rowt Al flittring thin like Clowds disperst abrode in Ayre do flye And breathing oft w t dyuers formes do scud aboue in Skie A thousand woods I thinke haue not so many leaues on trees Ten thousaÌ„d medowes fresh haue not so many swarmyng Bees Ten hundred thousand Hils haue not so many flakes of Snow Nor all the drops streames gulffs that in the Seas do flow Yf that they myght be wayd can once so great a number make As could those shapes forms y t flew from out of Limbo lake Both Tanâ—alus and Zetus to and pale Amphions Ghost And Aâ—â—uâ— and after her ten thousand Sprights do post Than Pentiâ—eus and more and more in lyke estate ensue Tyll out at length coms Laâ—us with fowle and griesly hue All perst w t wounds I loth to speake with blud quight ouergrown Uncomly drest in wretched plight with head styll hangyng down A Miser ryght as seemd to me and most of Misers all Thus in this case at length he spake and thus began to call O Cadmus cruell Cytie vile that styll delighâ—st in blood O Cadmus thou which kinsmens deth acowntst as chiefest good Teare out the bluddy Bowels of your Chyldren Learne of me Do that rathâ—r more than you wold byde the daye to se. Like yls as late on me are lyght Loe Mothers loue Alas Is now the ryfest fault outryght that ere in Theba was The CouÌ„trye with the wrath of gods at this tyme is not tost Nor Earth nor Ayre infect is not the cause that all ben lost No. No. A bluddy kyng is cause of all these mischifes greate A bluddy wretche A wretched Child that sits in Fathers Seate And Mothers bed defyles O wretch and entreth in agayn In places whence he came froÌ„ once and doubleth so her payne And that that very Beasts almost do all abhorre to do Euen of his Mothers body he hath brothers gotten too O myschief great O dredful dede than Sphinx O Monster more Example vnto Ages all of Gods foretolde before But I thee thee y e Scepter holdst thy Father wyll pursue And wreke my selfe on the and thyne with fearefull vengeaunce due All raging Plagues all Botches vile I wyll vpon the blowe And all the fowlest Feends of Hell vpon the I wyll throwe I wyll subuert thy Houses cleane for this thy lothsom lust I wyll do this thou wretche And the and thyne consume to dust Wherfore dispatche at once I saye into exyle dryue your Kyng That grouÌ„d that fyrst of all he leaues with fresh greene grasse shal spryng And sweâ—e and pleasaunt Ayre and healthfull blasts shall blow And all the euyls vnder the Son that beastly slaue shall folow The Poks y e Piles y e Botch y e blane and Death with hym shall flye And with hym mischiefs all shall pas and Monsters vnder Skye And as for hym I know he wold depart with wyllyng mynd But I wyll clog his feete and hands his way he shall not fynd But groping with his aged staffe shall passe from place to place This shall he do And none shall rue vpon his wretched case Ryd you hym from the yearth in timâ— for Heauen let me alone No sooner sayd buâ— strayght away his dreadfull Ghost was gone And fast by thousands after hym thother Sprights in hyde Than Cold tremblyng feare began through all my bones to glyde Oedipus That that I alwayes feard alas vpon me now is layde But slender props thei are God wot wherby your Treason is stayde Merâ—pa my Mother deare shall me from this defende And Polibus shall purge me quight from Actions all that tend To muder or to incest vile they both shall me excuse In suche a case no meanes at all of tryall I refuse Laye what you can vnto my charge No fault in me remayns The Thebanes long or I cam here of Laâ—us death complayns My mother yet alyue my Father styll in lyke estate No no this is som doâ—â—ysh dryfâ— of you false Prophets pate Or els som mighty God aboue doth beare vs no good wyll And sekes by Plages on vs to wreke his wrathfull vengeaunce styll A syr I am glad at length I smell your dryfts and fetches fyne I know the whole confedrats well your sleyghts I can vntwyne That beastly Priest That blearcyed wretch be lyes the Gods and me And thee thou Traytour in my place hath promyst kyng to be Crâ—on Alas wold I my syster of her lawfull kyngdom spoyle Thinke you suche Treason may haue place in brothers brest to boyle Yf that myne Oth could me not kepe content with my degree But that contemnyng meane estate I wold clime aloft to be Yet should yll Fortune me deterre from suche attempts I trowe Whose guyse it is on Princes heads houge heapes of Cares to throwe I wold aduyse you syr betymesâ— this charge from you to threst Least lyngryng long w t it at length vnwares ye be opprest Assure your selfe in baser state more safer you may lyue And shun a thousand Cares Griefs whiche Princes Harts do ryâ—e Oâ—d And dost thou me exhorte thou slaue my kyngdoms for to leaue Darst thoâ— attempt thou vyllayn vile this thyng to me to breake And fearst thou not in suche a case so boldly for to speake Creon Thynk you I wold them so perswade whiche freely myght posses Theyr Realmes Or those y t nede not fear least cares should theÌ„ oppres But as for you of force you must
dyspoilde All whiche diseases thou vnhappie geâ—te didste bringe with the. Dispatche away Go hence at least vnto thy parents stie Iocasta What boots it Sir these mischiefes greate with piteous plaints to aggreuate Stowtlie to beare aduersitie is fitste for kynges estate The more thy Reygne is douted of and when that cares do crush Thy princelie brest theÌ„ ought y e most to beare and bide the push It is no point of courage stout to fortune for to yeld Oedipus Nay from this brest reprocheful feare hath euer been exilde Our manhode is not subiecte now to vaine and peuish feares But euermore in eche assaulte it princelie courage beares No not a thousand glistering swordes nor all the force of war Can once appale my countenaunce nor yet my mynde detarre The verie giauntes fyerâ—â— and houge in fight withstand I dare Not Sphinx his crafty compast words coulde make me once to yeld I saw him belching gubbes of blud I vewde full well the fielde That all to spatterd laye With blud and bones quight ouerhelde And when y t he on mouÌ„taynes top with mouth full houge to se. Stode gapinge all with gredie â—awes to feede and praye on me Ofte fluttering w t his fearful wynges and shakyng oft his tayle Began full like a Lion fierce with threates me to assaile Of whom straight way the Riddell I. it rusht into myne eares With roring sownde his wynges he claps the Rock for hast he teares Desiring with my bowelles still to glutte his gredy Iawes But this myne old practised hed his subtile question drawes In peces at the length dissolued And it asundre sawes Iocasta What maks you wish for deth to late you myght haue died than As for rewarde of Sphinx destroyed this kingdom to you came â—ou nede no more therof to talk The ashes of that Monster vile Oedipus agaynst vs doth rebell That vyle mishapen lothsom Beast that ragyng Feend of Hell Is cause of all the plage that now on Thebane Citie lights Nâ—w only this remaynes alone if Phebùs heauenly might Can eny meanes inuent for vs or way of mercye make Wherby these burnyng Plagues at length may haply chauÌ„ce to slake that thus our people wasts Chorus O More then thrise renowmed stock of auncieÌ„t Cadmus race O mighty Thebes Citie great O heuy ruthfull Case Loe now you lye all desolate with Plagues deuoured quight Both you and all your Husbandmen Oh miserable syght O fowle and fearfull fates alas what causeth all this wo O God whence springs this Pestylence that vs tormenteth so No age no shape no forme is spardeâ— but all confounded lye Thus happiest now y t man I cownte whose chaunce was first to dyeâ— For he hath shund a thousand yls whiche wretched eyes haue seen And mischiefes great that vs do prese from him are taken clean O God withhold thy furye great thy Plages from vs remoue Ceas of afflicted Soules to scourge who the both serue and loue Powre downe on theÌ„ diseases fowle that them deserued haue A Guerdon iust for synne Oh god thys this of the we craue And only this we aske no more the cause and all is thyne A thing not vsed of gods it is from pitie to declyne My hart doth pant and trembling cold through all my lims doth run As oft as I remembring cownt the noble stockes vndun By death and dolfull destenies that ouerwhelmed lye And yet alas the people still to graue do faster hye In longe Araye all in a rancke by thousandes on a Rowe On euerye side in euery streate to buriall fast they goe An hundred brode wide open gates are not enoughe for waye But throngd the people pestred stand stil in a fearfull staye And in the mydst of al their toyle with corses on their backes The number that before doth poâ—st the hinder number slackes The corses in the streates do lye and graue on graue is made But all in vayne for nought it boots the plage cannot be stayed The sacrefices donne to Godes haue to to yll succes And suche strainge sights signes do rise that nought els I can gesâ— But that at hande w t gastlye pawes is vtter destruction With thowsande ylls accompayned and extreme confusion The shepe of rot by heaps as thicke as dogges do fall and dye And belching owt their wasted lungs on grounde do sprawlyng lye And I my selfe of late did see a sight vnseen before As our highe preste stode sacreficinge at the Temple dore And strake w t greuous bludy wound the golden horned Bull When down w t liueles lump he drops and members made full dull And all y e wounde wide bleding gapes and blacke goord blud out spuâ—s And yet the blade vnsprinckled was The bloud it boylinge stues And bubbles on the ground Alas Whaâ— do these thyngs portend Oh mghty Ioâ—e at length I pray some good and happy ende At length withhold thy hand O God and health vnto vs sende Nothyng alas remaynes at all in wonted old estate But all are turned topsey downe quight voide aud desolate The tyred Horse with labour longâ— from back his burthen tats And after on his Maysters brest his lyueles lyms he squats And all his partes in peces crush The Beasts in field that byde Unkept Unknowen wayes paths do raunge and ouerstridâ— The Bull for lacke of foode and meat in field all faintyng lyes And all his flock dispersed quight the sely Shephard dyes And there amongst the Heifers fierce his fatall breath expyers The Harts w tout all feare of Wolues do lyue in wretched peace The very wrathfull roryng sownds of rampyng Lyons cease The vengeaunce wylde outrageous Beares are now as tame as shepe The vgly Serpent that was wont the Rocky Dennes to kepe Oft quassyng poisoned Uenom soups in inwarde heate she boyles And all inflamd and schorcht in vaine for lenger lyfe she toyles The woods are not adourned nowe with fresh and lyuely hue The wonted shades are gon Al things are quight out of theyr Que. No grasse on grounde doth growe The earth no moisture soupes The Uine withouâ—en eny sap his drowsy head down drowpes Whaâ— shal I say all things alas are writhen out of course And as they seme to me are lyke to fare styll worse and worse O mighty God aboue when ende these euerduryng yls When ceasthesâ— Plages that gyltles blud thus fierce and raging spyls I thynke but we almost alyue there do no men remayne Whom dolfull Darts of Destenies on earth haue lâ—ft vnslayne I thinke the darcksom shades of hell where filthy fluds do flowe Where plages and vile diseases to where dreadfull horrors growe And all the furies brasten loose do mischiefes on vs throwe With botche blane of sundry kindes whiche sothern blasts do blowe And wrekfull vexed hagges of hell do breathe and on vs bringe The angrie fendes of hell I thinke their vengeauÌ„ce on vs slinge And out their mortall poyson spue which they againste vs beare Lo see how gredy death on vs
your Fortunes chaunge abyde Oedipus The surest way for them that gape for kyngdoms large and wyde Is fyrst thyngs meane and rest and base estate to prayse And yet with tooth Nayle to toyle to mownt aloft alwayes So oftentymes most restles Beasts do chyefly rest coÌ„mende Creon Shall not my Seruyce long suffice my trueth for to defende Oedipus Tyme is the onely meanes for such as thou to worke theyr wil. Creon It is so syr But as for me of goods I haue my fyll A great resort A pleasaunt lyfe from Pryncely Cares exempt Al these might mâ— diswade O king from suche a fowle attempt Not one daye there is almost the whole yeare throughout Wherin some Royall Gyfts are not vnto my Howses brought Both precious Pearles and princely Roobs and things of grâ—ater cost Whiche I let pâ—sse lest I shuld seeme but vaynely for to bost In suche a blessed hapâ—y state what thing nede I require Oed. The more y u hast I know right well the more thou dost desyre Good fortune can no mean obserue but styll she preaâ—eth hyer Creon Shall I than gyltles dye Alas my cause and all vntrydâ— Oed. Were vnto you at any tyme my lyfe my dedes discryde Did eny man defende me yâ—t or els my causes plâ—ade And yet I am condemd To this you do me leade And me expres example giue whiche I entend to folow Creon What yf that Innocent I be Oedip The guyse of kyngs you know Is doubtfull things for true to feare yf thence may mischief grow Creon The often fearful tremblyng mynd true cause of feare doth show Oedip He that in mydst of perylles deepe and daungers hath ben cast Doth seeke all meanes to shun lyke yls as he hath ouerpast Creon So hatreds ryse Oâ— He that to much doth vse yll wyll to feare Unskylfull is and knowes not how he ought hym selfe to beare In kyngs estate For feare alone doth Kyngdoms chiefly keepe Than he that thus doth arme hymself from feare all free may sleepe Creon Who so the Tyrant playes and gyltles men with force doth smight He dredeth them that hym do dred thus feare doth chiefly light On Causers chief A iust reuenge for murdrynge mynds outryght Oedipus Awaye with this Traytour Awaye In Dongeon deepe hym cast There let his vyle deceytfull mynd due paynes and vengeaunce tast For his deserued yls Let there dyre bondage him constrayne Bondage the chiefest scourge of mind that Traytours can sustayne Chorus SEE see the myserable estate of Prynces carefull lyfe What raging storms what bludy broils what toil what endles strife Do thei endure O God what plags what grief do they sustayne A Princely lyfe No. No. No doubt An euer durynge payne A state ene fyt for men on whom Fortune wolde wreeke her wyll A place for Cares to couche them in A doore wyde open styll For gryefs and daungers all that ben to entre when they lyst A kyng these Mates must euer haue it boots not to resyst Whole fluds of priuy pinching feare great aâ—guysh of the mynd Apparaunt Plages deyly gryfs These playsayres Princes fynd And other none w t whom they spende and passe theyr wretched dayes Thus he that Princes liâ—es and base estate togither wayes Shall fynde the one A Dongeon deepe A very Hell A perfect infelycitie The other A Heauen ryght A blessed lyfe exempted quight from myserye Let Oâ—dipus Example be of this vnto you all A Mirrour meete A Patern playne of Princes carefull thrall Who late in perfect Ioy as seemd and euerlastyng blys Tryumphantly his lyfe out ledde a Miser now outright he is And most of wretched Misers all euen at this present tyme With doutfull waues of feare I toâ—â— Subiect to suche a Cryme Wherat my tong â—mased stayâ—s God graunt that at the last It fall not out as 〈◊〉 toldâ— Not yet the worst is past I feare ¶ The fourth Acte The seconde Sceane Oedipus Iocasta Oedipus MY mynd w t doubtfull waues of feare is tossed to and fro I wot not what to say Alas I am tormented so For all the Gods on me do crye for paynes and vengeaunce dew They saye y t these my gyltles handes kyng Laius ouerthrew But this my valiaunt Courage stout and minde from mischief free To Gods vntried to me well known denies it so to bee Full well I do remember once by chaunce I dyd dispatche A man who sought by force with me presumptuously to matche And sought by force me to displace as moche as in hym laye This I remembre well enough the stryfe was for the waye And he a man of aged yeares and I a lusty blood And yet of me are disdayn and pryde in vayne he me withstood But this from Thebes farre was don A crooked thre pathd way That was y e place for which we stroue this I remember well Deare wyfe resolue my dout at once and me expressely tellâ— How olde was Laâ—us when he died of fresh and lusty yeares Or was he stryken well in age Iocasta Betwyxt an olde man and a yong but nearer to an olde Oedipus Were there great Bandes of men w t hym his Person to vphold Iocasta Some by the way deceyued were And some deterd by payne A fewe by toyle and labour long did with theyr Prynce remayne Oeâ—ipus Were â—ny slayne in his defence Iocasta But one of whom I here Who valiant in his Prynces cause full stowtly dyd expier Oed. It is enough I know hym now that hath this mischiefe done The nombre and the place agrees The tyme vntryed alone Remayns Than tell what tyme he died and when that he was slayn Iocasta Tis ten yeare synce You now renue the cause of all my payne ¶ The fourth Acte The secone Sceane Senex Oedipus Sen. THe Corinth people all O kyng do call for you to raygne Polibus In your own kingdoms eternall rest obtayne Oe. O God what Fortune vyle doth me doth oppres on euery syde How do my sorowes styll encreas Tell how my father dide Sene No one disease but onely Age did of his lyfe hym reaue Oedipus And is he deade in dede Not slayn What ioye may I conceyue How may I now triumph The Gods to wyâ—nes I do call To whoÌ„ are known my hidden thoughts secret workyngs all Now may I lyft to Skies my hands my hands from mischief free But yet the chiefest cause of feare remayneth styll to me Sen. Your Fathers Kyngdoms ought all dred out of your mynde to weare Oedipus Thaâ— I confes But wretched beast my Mother I do feare Sen. Do you your Mother feare on your returne that onely stayes Oedipus I feare not her but from her syght my godly Zeale me frayes Sen. What will you her a Wydow leaue Oedipus Now now thou woundst my hart This this and onely this alas is cause of all my smart Senex Tell me O kyng what â—ouâ—ful fear doth preâ—â—e thy Pryncely brest Kyngs Cowncels I can well concele that ben with Cares opprest
face is fittest now for thee Thus speakyng down y e blakish blud by streames doth gushyng flow Into his mouth And clottred lumps of flesh the place doth strow Wherin he stands Beware betymes by hym beware I speake vnto you all Learn Iustice trueth fear of Gods By this vnhappy fall Chorus OUr lyf w t toÌ„blyng fatal cours of Fortunes whele is rold To it giue place for it doth run al swiftly vncontrold And Cares teares ar spent in vayn for it can not be stayed But nedes must run the rated race of Destenies all decreed What maÌ„kynd hydes or does on erth it coÌ„mmeth from aboue Then wayling grones powrd out in griefs do nought at all behoue Our lyf must haue her pointed cours Alas what shall I saye As fates decrees so things do run no man can make them stay For at our byrth to gods is known our latter dying day No Prayer no Arte not God himself may fatall fates resist But fastned all in fixed cours vnchaunged they persist Suche ende them styll ensues as they appoincted were to haue Than flye all fear of Fortunes chauÌ„ge seeke not to lyue a slaue Enthrald in bondage vyle to feare For feare doth often bryng Destnies that dreded ben and mischeyfs feard vpon vs slyng Yea many a man hath com vnto his fatall ende by feare Wherfore set peuysh feare asyde and worthy courage beare And thou that Subiect art to Death Regarde thy latter daye Thinke no man blest before his ende Aduyse the well and staye Be sure his lyfe and death and all be quight exempt from mysery Ere thou do once presume to saye this man is blest and happy But owt alas see where he coms A wretche withouten Guyde Bereft of syght Half spoyld of lyfe Without all pomp and Pryde That vnto kyngs Estate belongs ¶ The fyfth Acte The second Sceane Oedipus Chorus Iocasta Oedipus VUell well Its don More yet No no no more remayns My Fathers rites performed ar What God on Misers payns That rues Within this Clowd hath rold wrapt my wretched pate Ah syr this is a lyfe alone This is a happye state This is a case ene fyt for thee for thee thou wretche for thee From whose accursed syght the Son the Stars and all do flee Yet mischiefs more who gyues to do The dredfull daye I haue Escapte Thou fylthy Paracide Thou vyle mischeiuous Slaâ—â— Unto thy ryght haÌ„d nought thou owst all thyngs performed bee Unhappy man that euer I lyued this wretched daye to see Where am I nowe alas The lyght and all doth vs Abhorre This looke is first for the thâ—u myserable Oedipus Chorus Se se where Iocasta coms with fyerce and furyous moode Quight past her selfe For very rage she frets and waxeth woode Lyke to syr Cadmus Mother mad who late her Son dyd kyll Fayne wold she speake her mynd For feare alas she dares not Styll She stayes And yet all shamefastnes these yls haue quight exild From out her wretched brest Iocasta Fayne wold I speake I am afrayd for what shuld I the call My Son dowt not Thou art my Son My Son thou art for all These mischiefs great Alas alas my Son is ashamd of mee O cruell Son Where dost thou turn thy face Why dost thou flee From me From me thy Mother deare Why dost thou shun my syght And leaue me thus in myserye with Cares consumed quight Oedipus Who troubles me Let me alone I thought not to be fownd Who now restores myne eyes to me my Mother or my Mothers sownd Our labour all is spent in vayne now may we meete no more The Seas deuide those meetings vile that we haue had before The gaping yearâ—h deuyde vs both thone from thother quight Styll let our feete repugnant bee So shall I shun the lyght That most of all me greues Iocasta The Destenies ar in faut Blame theÌ„ Alas alas not wee Oedipus Spare now Leaue of to speak in vain Spare now O Mother me By these Relyques of my dismembred body I thee praye By myne vnhappy Chyldren pledges left What shall I saye By all the Gods I thee beseche By all that in my name Is eyther good or bad Let me alone To trouble me Alas you are to blame Iocasta O woofull Soul O wretched hart Why dost thou faint alas Why doest thou seek and toile in vain these ills to ouerpas What meane these sighs and boiling teares Why dost y u pains refuse Thou mate of all his mischiefs thou by whose means only rues The law of nature all by whom Ah Ah counfonnded lies Both god and man and beest and all that either liues or dies Die y u. dispatch at once thrust through thy vile incestruous brest Not thou if god him self if he his flaming fiers should throw On thee or mischeifs all by heaps vpon thy body strow Couldst once repay dew payns for thy deserued yls Thou filthy wretche Thou wicked Mother thou Death death now best coÌ„tenteth me than seeke a way to dye So mayst thou yet at length find ende for this thy myserye O Son lend me thy hand yf that thou art a Paracide This labour last of all remayns this labour thee doth byde Dispatche rid me thy Mother deare from all my wretched woe It wyll not be No praiers moue Thy selfe this deed must doe Take vp this sword Go to With this thy husband once was slayn Thy Husband Thou termst him fals Thy father he was O dedly payn Shall I quight through my brest or through my throte it thrust Canst y u not choose thy wound Away dye dye alas thou must This brest This wombe Than wouÌ„d this this with thyne own hand Strike perce and spare it not whiche both a Husband and The same a Son dyd beare Chorus Alas alas she is slayne she is slayne dispatched with a push Who euer sawe the lyke to this Se how the blud doth gush From out her wounded brest O heuy dolfull Case Oedipus Thou God Thou teller out of fates On thee on thee I call My Father onely I dyd owe vnto the Destenies all Now twyse a Paracide and more than I dyd feare mischeuous My Mother I haue slayne Alas I am the cause Its thus O Oedipus accursed wretche lament thyne owne Calamitie Lament thy state thy gryefe lament thou Caytyfe borne to myserye Where wylt thou become alas Thy face where wylt thou hyde O myserable Slaue canst thou suche shamefull torments byde Canst y u which hast thy Parents slain Canst thou prolong thy lyfe Wilt thou not dye deseruyng Death Thou cause of all the gryefe And Plages dredfull mischiefs all that Thâ—bane Cytie preas Why dost thou seeke by longer lyfe thy sorowes to encreas Why dost thou toyle and labour thus in vayne It wyll not bee Both God aâ—d man and beast and all abhorre thy face to see O Eâ—rth why gapst thou not for me Why do you not vnfold Your selfs you gates of Hel me to reâ—eyue Why do you hence w thold The fyerce infernall Feends froÌ„ me from me so wretched wyght Why breake not all the Furyes lose this hatefull hed to smyght With Plages whiche them deserued hath Alas I am left alone Both lyght and syght and comfort all from me O wretche is gone O cursed hed O wicked wyght whom alâ— men deadly hate O Beast what meanst y u styll to lyue in this vnhappy state The Skies do blush and are ashamd at these thy mischiefs great The earth laments the heaueÌ„s weepe the Seas for rage do freat And blustring ryse stormes do styr and all thou wretche for the By whose incestuous lothsom lust all thyngs dysturbed be Quight out of course displaced quight O cursed fatall daye O mischiefs great O dredfull tymes O wretche away awaye Exyle thy selfe from all mens syght thy lyfe halfe spent in myserye Go ende consume it now outright in thriâ—e as great Calamitie O lyeng Phebe I haue done more than my Destnie was to do With treÌ„blyng fearfull paâ—e go forthâ— thou wretcheâ— Monster go Grope out thy waies on knees in darke thou myserable slaue So maist thou yet in tract of tyme due paynes and vengeaunce haue For thy mischeuous lyfe Thus thus the Gods themselues decree Thus thus thi fates thus thus y e skies appoynt it for to bee Than headlong hence with a mischief hence O Caytife vile away Away away thou monstrous Beast Go. Ron. Stand. Stay Lest on thy Mother thou do fall All you that weryed bodyes haue with syckenes ouerprest Loe nowe I flye I flye awaye The cause of your vnrest I flye Lyft vp your heads A better state of Ayer shall straight ensewe Whan I am gone for whom alone these dredfull mischiefs grewe And you that now halfe dead yet liue in wretched mysers case Help those whoÌ„ present tormeÌ„ts pres forth hye you on apace For loe with me I carry hence all mischiefs vnder Skies All cruell fates Diseases all that for my sake dyd ryse With me they go with me both grief Plage Pocks Botch and all The yls that eyther now you pres or euer after shall With me they go With me w t me These Mates ben meetst of all For me FINIS ¶ Perused and allovved accordyng to the Quenes Maiesties Iniunctions ¶ Faults escaped in the Pryntinge In C. the .5 Page the .5 line reade in the margent Creon the same page the 6. line reade in the margent Oedipus E. the .8 Pagâ— the last vers for this rede his E. the last Page the .7 vers for where wilt thou become alas rede where wilt thou now become alas ¶ Imprynted at London in Sainct Brydes Churchyarde oueragaynste the North Doore of the CHURCHE by Thomas Colwell ☞ The Oracle