Which béeing bound about his féeble limmes Were strong inough to holde the little soule Thus did he leaue this infant scarcely borne That in short time must néedes haue lost his life If destenie that for our greater gréefes Decréede before to kéepe it still alyue Had not vnto this childe sent present helpe For so it chaunst a shepheard passing by With pitie moude did stay his giltlesse death He toke him home and gaue him to his wife With homelie fare to fede and foster vp Now harken how the heauens haue wroughte the way To Laius death and to mine owne decay Ser. Experience proues and daily is it séene In vaine too vaine man striues against the heauens Ioca. Not farre fro thence the mightie Polibus Of Corinth King did kepe his princely court Unto whose wofull wife lamenting muche She had no ofspring by hir noble phéere The curteous shepherd gaue my little sonne Which gratefull gift the Quéene did so accept As nothing séemde more precious in hir sight Partly for that his faitures were so fine Partly for that he was so beautifull And partly for bycause his comely grace Gaue great suspicion of his royall bloude The infant grewe and many yeares was demde Polibus sonne till tyme that Oedipus For so he named was did vnderstande That Polibus was not his sire in déede Wherby forsaking frendes and countrie there He did returne to seke his natiue stocke And being come into Phocides lande Toke notice of the cursed oracle How first he shoulde his father doe to death And then become his mothers wedded mate Ser. O fierce aspecte of cruell planets all That can decrée such seas of heynous faultes Ioca. Then Oedipus fraight ful of chilling feare By all meanes sought t' auoyde this furious fate But whiles he wéende to shunne the shamefull dede Unluckly guyded by his owne mishappe He fell into the snare that most he feared For loe in Phocides did Laius lye To ende the broyles that ciuill discorde then Had raysed vp in that vnquiet lande By meanes wherof my wofull Oedipus Affording ayde vnto the other side With murdring blade vnwares his father slewe Thus heauenly doome thus fate thus powers diuine Thus wicked reade of Prophets tooke effect Nowe onely restes to ende the bitter happe Of me of me his miserable mother Alas howe colde I féele the quaking bloud Passe too and fro within my trembling brest Oedipus when this bloudy déede was doone Forst foorth by fatall doome to Thebes came Where as ful soone with glory he atchieude The crowne and scepter of this noble lande By conquering Sphinx that cruell monster loe That earst destroyde this goodly flouring soyle And thus did I O hatefull thing to heare To my owne sonne become a wretched wife Ser. No meruayle though the golden Sunne withdrew His glittering beames from suche a sinfull facte Ioca. And so by him that from this belly sprang I brought to light O cursed that I am As well two sonnes as daughters also twayne But when this monstruous mariage was disclosde So sore began the rage of boyling wrath To swell within the furious brest of him As he him selfe by stresse of his owne nayles Out of his head did teare his griefull eyne Unworthy more to see the shining light Ser. Howe coulde it be that knowing he had done So foule a blot he would remayne aliue Ioca. So déepely faulteth none the which vnwares Dothe fall into the crime he can not shunne And he alas vnto his greater gréefe Prolongs the date of his accursed dayes Knowing that life dothe more and more increase The cruell plagues of his detested gilte Where stroke of griesly death dothe set an ende Unto the pangs of mans increasing payne Ser. Of others all moste cause haue we to mone Thy wofull smarte O miserable Quéene Suche and so many are thy gréeuous harmes Ioca. Now to the ende this blinde outragious sire Should reape no ioy of his vnnaturall fruite His wretched sonnes prickt foorth by furious spight Adiudge their father to perpetuall prison There buried in the depthe of dungeon darke Alas he leades his discontented lyfe Accursing still his stony harted sonnes And wishing all th' infernall sprites of hell To breathe suche poysned hate into their brestes As eche with other fall to bloudy warres And so with pricking poynt of piercing blade To rippe their bowels out that eche of them With others bloud might stayne his giltie hands And bothe at once by stroke of spéedie death Be foorthwith throwne into the Stigian lake Ser. The mightie Gods preuent so fowle a déede Ioca. They to auoyde the wicked blasphemies And sinfull prayer of their angrie sire Agréed thus that of this noble realme Untill the course of one full yere was runne Eteocles should sway the kingly mace And Polynice as exul should departe Till time expyrde and then to Polynice Eteocles should yéelde the scepter vp Thus yere by yere the one succéeding other This royall crowne should vnto bothe remayne Ser. Oh th unbridled mindes of ambicious men Ioca. Eteocles thus plast in princely seate Drunke with the sugred taste of kingly raigne Not onely shut his brother from the crowne But also from his natiue country soyle Alas poore Polynice what might he doe Uniustly by his brother thus betrayed To Argos he with sad and heauie chéere Forthwith conuayde him selfe on whom at length With fauning face good fortune smyled so As with Adrastus king of Argiues there He founde suche fauour and affinitie As to restore my sonne vnto his raigne He hath besedge this noble citie Thebes And hence procéedes my most extreme annoye For of my sonnes who euer doe preuaile The victorie will turne vnto my griefe Alas I feare such is the chaunce of warre That one or both shall purchase death therby Wherfore to shunne the worst that may befall Thoughe comfortlesse yet as a pitifull mother Whom nature bindes to loue hir louing sonnes And to prouide the best for their auaile I haue thought good by prayers to intreate The two brethren nay rather cruell foes A while to staie their fierce and furious fight Till I haue tried by meanes for to appease The swelling wrath of their outraging willes And so with much to doe at my request They haue forborne vnto this onely houre Ser. Small space god wot to stint so great a strife Ioca. And euen right now a trustie man of mine Returned from the campe enforming me That Polynice will straight to Thebes cōme Thus of my woe this is the wailefull sōme And for bycause in vaine and bootelesse plainte I haue small néede to spend this title time Here will I ceasse in wordes more to bewray The restlesse state of my afflicted minde Desiring thée thou goe to Eteocles Hartly on my behalfe beseching him That out of hand according to his promise He will vouchsafe to come vnto my courte I know he loues thée well and to thy wordes I thinke thou knowst he will giue willing eare Ser. O noble Quéene sith vnto
or of the one at least Nuntius returneth to the camp by the gates Homoloides IOCASTA ANTIGONE ANtigone my swete daughter come forth Out of this house that nought but woe retaines Come forth I say not for to sing or daunce But to preuent if in our powers it lie That thy malicious brethren swolne with ire And I alas their miserable mother Be not destroide by stroke of dreadfull death Antigone commeth out of hir mothers Pallace Anti. Ah swete mother ah my beloued mother Alas alas what cause doth moue ye now From trembling voice to send such carefull cries What painefull pang what griefe doth gripe you nowe Ioca. O deare daughter thy most vnhappie brethren That sometimes lodgde within these wretched loynes Shall die this daye if Ioue preuent it not Anti. Alas what say you alas what do you say Can I alas endure to sée him dead Whom I thus long haue sought to sée aliue Ioca. They both haue vowde I quake alas to tell With trenchant blade to spill ech others blood O cruell Eteocles ah ruthlesse wretch Of this outrage thou only art the cause Not Pollinice whom thou with hatefull spight Hast reaued first of crowne and countrie soyle And now doest séeke to reaue him of his life Ioca. Daughter no more delay le ts go le ts go Anti. Ah my swéete mother whither shall I go Ioca. With me déere daughter to the gréekish host Anti. Alas how can I go vnles I go In daunger of my life or of good name Ioca. Time serues not now my welbeloued childe To way the losse of life or honest name But rather to preuent if so we may That wicked déede which only but to thinke Doth hale my hart out of my heauie brest Anti. Come then le ts go good mother let vs go But what shall we be able for to doe You a weake old woman for worne with yeares And I God knowes a silly simple mayde Ioca. Our wofull wordes our prayers our plaintes Pourde out with streames of ouerflowing teares Where Nature rules may happen to preuayle When reason power and force of armes do fayle But if the glowing heate of boyling wrath So furious be as it may not relent Then I atwixt them both will throw my selfe And this my brest shall beare the deadly blowes That otherwise should light vpon my sonnes So shall they shead my bloud and not their owne Well now déere daughter let vs hasten hence For if in time we stay this raging strife Then haply may my life prolonged be If ere we come the bloudy déede be done Then must my ghost forsake this féeble corps And thou deare childe with dolour shalt bewaile Thy brothers death and mothers all at once locasta vvith Antigone and all hir traine excepte the Chorus goeth tovvards the campe by the gates Homoloydes CHORVS WHo so hath felt what feruent loue A mother beares vnto hir tender sonnes She and none other sure can comprehende The dolefull griefe the pangs and secret paine That presently doth pierce the princely brest Of our afflicted Quéene alas I thinke No martyrdome might well compare with hirs So ofte as I recorde hir restlesse state Alas me thinkes I féele a shiuering feare Flit to and fro along my flushing vaines Alas for ruth that thus two brethren shoulde Enforce themselues to shed each others bloude Where is the lawes of nature nowe become Can fleshe of fleshe alas can bloude of bloude So far forget it selfe as slaye it selfe O lowring starres O dimme and angrie skies O giltie fate such mischiefe set aside But if supernall powers decreed haue That death must be the ende of this debate Alas what floudes of teares shall then suffise To wéepe and waile the neare approching death I meane the death of sonnes and mother both And with their death the ruine and decay Of Oedipus and all his princely race But loe here Creon cōmes with carefull cheare 'T is time that nowe I ende my iust complaint Creon commeth in by the gates Homoloydes CREON NVNCIVS ALthough I straightly chargde my tender childe To flie from Thebes for safegarde of hymselfe And that long since he parted from my sight Yet doe I greatly hand in lingring doubt Least passing through the gates the priuie watch Hath stayed him by some suspect of treason And so therewhile the prophetes hauing skride His hidden fate he purchast haue the death Which I by all meanes sought he might eschewe And this mischaunce so much I feare the more Howe much the wished conquest at the first Fell happily vnto the towne of Thebes But wise men ought with patience to sustaine The sundrie haps that slipperie fortune frames Nuncius commeth in by the gates Electrae Nun. Alas who can direct my hastie steppes Unto the brother of our wofull Quéene But loe where carefully he standeth here Cre. If so the minde maye dreade his owne mishap Then dread I much this man that séekes me thus Hath brought the death of my beloued sonne Nun. My Lorde the thing you feare is very true Your sonne Meneceus no longer liues Cre. Alas who can withstande the heauenly powers Well it beséems not me ne yet my yeares In bootelesse plaint to wast my wailefull teares Do thou recount to me his lucklesse deathe The order fourme and manner of the same Nun. Your sonne my Lorde came to Eteocles And tolde him this in presence of the rest Renoumed King neither your victorie Ne yet the safetie of this princely Realme In armour doth consist but in the death Of me of me O most victorious King So heauenly dome of mightie Ioue commaunds I knowing what auayle my death should yeeld Unto your grace and vnto natiue land Might well be demde a most vngratefull sonne Unto this worthy towne if I would shunne The sharpest death to do my countrie good In mourning weede nowe let the vestall Nimphes With fauning tunes commende my faultlesse ghost To highest heauens while I despoyle my selfe That afterwarde sith Ioue will haue it so To saue your liues I may receyue my death Of you I craue O curteous Citizens To shrine my corps in tombe of marble stone Whereon graue this Meneceus here doth lie For countries cause that vvas content to die This saide alas he made no more a doe But drewe his sworde and sheathde it in his brest Cre. No more I haue inough returne ye nowe From whence ye came Nuncius retourneth by the gates Electrae Well since the bloude of my beloued sonne Must serue to slake the wrathe of angrie Ioue And since his onely death must bring to Thebes A quiet ende of hir vnquiet state Me thinkes good reason would that I henceforth Of Thebane soyle shoulde beare the kingly swaye Yea sure and so I will ere it be long Either by right or else by force of armes Of al mishap loe here the wicked broode My sister first espoused hath hir sonne That slewe his sire of whose accursed séede Two brethren sprang whose raging hatefull hearts By force of
hath sent me nowe haue I litle néede that thankes be to god haue founde my déerely beloued sonne whom I loste of a childe at the siege of Otranto Da. Worthy gentleman you frendship your alliaunce and the nobilitie of your birthe are suche as I haue muche more cause to desire them of you than you to request of me that which is already graunted therefore I gladly and willingly receiue the same and thinke my selfe moste happie now of all my life past that I haue gottē so toward a sonne in lawe to my selfe and so worthye a father in lawe to my daughter yea and muche the greater is my contentation since this worthie gentleman maister Cleander doth holde himselfe satisfied And now behold your sonne Ero. O father Pas. Beholde the naturall loue of the childe to the the father for inwarde ioye he cannot pronounce one worde in stéede wherof he sendeth sobbes and teares to tell the effect of his inwarde intention But why doe you abide here abrode will it please you to goe into the house sir Da. Pasiphilo hathe saide well will it please you to goe in sir Ne. Here I haue brought you sir bothe fetters boltes Da. Away with them now Ne. Yea but what shall I doe with them Da. Marie I will tell thée Neuola to make a righte ende of our supposes lay one of those boltes in the fire and make thée a suppositorie as long as mine arme God saue the sample Nobles and gentlemen if you suppose that our supposes haue giuen you sufficient cause of delighte shewe some token wherby we may suppose you are content FINIS Pasi subitò improuiso venit IOCASTA A Tragedie vvritten in Greke by Euripides translated and digested into Acte by George Gascoygne and Francis Kinvvelmershe of Grayes Inne and there by them presented 1566 The argument of the Tragedie To scourge the cryme of vvicked Laius And vvrecke the foule Incest of Oedipus The angry Gods styrred vp theyr sonnes by strife VVith blades embrevved to reaue eche others life The vvyfe the mother and the concubyne VVhose fearefull hart foredrad theyr fatall fine Hir sonnes thus dead disdayneth longer lyfe And slayes hirself vvith selfsame bloudy knyfe The daughter she surprisde vvyth childish dreade That durst not dye a lothsome lyfe doth leade Yet rather chose to guyde hir banysht sire Than cruell Creon should haue his desire Creon is King the type of Tyranny And Oedipus myrrour of misery Fortunatus Infoelix The names of the Interloquutors Iocasta the Queene Seruus a noble man of the Queenes traine Bailo gouernour to the Queenes sonnes Antygone daughter to the Queene Chorus foure Thebane dames Pollynices Eteocles sonnes to Oedipus the Queene Creon the Queenes brother Meneceus sonne to Creon Tyresias the diuine priest Manto the daughter of Tyresias Sacerdos the sacrifycing priest Nuntij three messangers from the campe Oedipus the olde King father to Eteocles and Pollynices sonne and husbande to Iocasta the Queene The Tragedie represented in Thebes ¶ The order of the dumme shewes and Musickes before euery Acte FIrst before the beginning of the firste Acte did sounde a dolefull and straunge noyse of violles Cythren Bandurion and suche like during the which there came in vpon the Stage a King with an Imperiall Crowne vpon his head very richely apparelled a Scepter in his right hande a Mounde with a Crosse in his left hande sitting in a Chariote very richely furnished drawne in by foure kinges in their Dublettes and Hosen with Crownes also vpon their heades Representing vnto vs Ambition by the hystorie of Sesostres king of Egypt who beeing in his time and reigne a mightie Conquerour yet not content to haue subdued many Princes and taken from them their kingdomes and dominions did in lyke maner cause those Kinges whome he had so ouercome to drawe in his Chariote like Beastes and Oxen thereby to content his vnbrideled ambitious desire After he had beene drawne twyce about the Stage and retyred the Musicke ceased and Iocasta the Queene issued out of hir house beginning the first Acte as followeth Iocasta the Queene issueth out of hir Pallace before hir twelue Gentlemen very brauely apparelled following after hir eight Gentlewomen whereof foure be the Chorus that remayne on the Stage after hir departure At hir entrance the Trumpettes sounded and after she had gone once aboute the Stage she turneth to one of hir moste trustie and estemed seruaunts and vnto him she discloseth hir griefe as foloweth The first Acte The first Scene IOCASTA SERVVS O Faithfull seruaunt of mine auncient sire Though vnto thée sufficiently be knowen The whole discourse of my recurelesse griefe By seing me from Princes royall state Thus basely brought into so great cōtempt As mine owne sonnes repine to heare my plaint Now of a Quéene but barely bearing name Seyng this towne seyng my fleshe and bloude Against it selfe to leuie threatning armes Wherof to talke my heart it rendes in twaine Yet once againe I must to thée recompte The wailefull thing that is alredy spred Bycause I know that pitie will compell Thy tender hart more than my naturall childe With ruthfull teares to mone my mourning case Ser. My gracious Quéene as no man might surmount The constant faith I beare my souraine lorde So doe I thinke for loue and trustie zeale No sonne you haue doth owe you more than I For hereunto I am by dutie bounde With seruice méete no lesse to honor you Than that renoumed prince your déere father And as my duties be most infinite So infinite must also be my loue Then if my life or spending of my bloude May be employed to doe your highnesse good Commaunde O quéene commaund this carcasse here In spite of death to satisfie thy will So though I die yet shall my willing ghost Contentedly forsake this withered corps For ioy to thinke I neuer shewde my selfe Ingratefull once to suche a worthy Quéene Ioca. Thou knowst what care my carefull father tooke In wedlockes sacred state to settle me With Laius king of this vnhappie Thebs That most vnhappie nowe our Citie is Thou knowst how he desirous still to searche The hidden secrets of supernall powers Unto Diuines did make his ofte recourse Of them to learne when he should haue a sonne That in his Realme might after him succéede Of whom receiuing answere sharpe and sowre That his owne sonne should worke his wailful ende The wretched king though all in vayne did séeke For to eschew that could not be eschewed And so forgetting lawes of natures loue No sooner had this paynfull wombe brought foorth His eldest sonne to this desired light But straight he chargde a trustie man of his To beare the childe into a desert wood And leaue it there for Tigers to deuoure Ser. O lucklesse babe begot in wofull houre Ioc. His seruant thus obedient to his hest Up by the héeles did hang this faultlesse Impe And percing with a knife his tender féete Through both the wounds did drawe the slender twigs
coffines couered with hearce clothes brought in by .viij. in mourning weed accoÌ„panied with .viij. other mourners after they had caried the coffins about the stage there opened appeared a Graue wherin they buried the coffins put fire to them but the flames did seuer parte in twaine signifying discord by the history of two brethreÌ„ whose discord in their life was not onely to be wondred at but being buried both in one Tombe as some writers affirme the flames of their funeralls did yet part the one froÌ„ the other in like manner and would in no wise ioyne into one flame After the Funerals were ended and the fire consumed the graue was closed vp again the mourners withdrew theÌ„ off the stage immediately by the gates Homoloydes entred Pollinyces accompanied with vj. gentlemen and a page that carried his helmet and Target he his men vnarmed sauing their gorgets for that they were permitted to come into the towne in time of truce to the end Iocasta might bring the two brethreÌ„ to a parle and Pollinyces after good regard taken round about him spake as followeth Actus 2. Scena 1. POLLINYCES CHORVS IOCASTA ETEOCLES LOe here mine owne citie and natiue soyle Loe here the nest I ought to nestle in Yet being thus entrencht with mine owne towres And that from him the safe conduct is giuen Which doth enioye as much as mine should be My féete can treade no step without suspect For where my brother bides euen there behoues More warie scout than in an enemyes campe Yet while I may within this right hand holde This brond this blade vnyelden euer yet My life shall not be lefte without reuenge But here beholde the holy sancturie Of Bacchus eke the worthy Image loe The aultars where the sacred flames haue shotte And where of yore these giltlesse handes of mine Full oft haue offered to our mightie gods I sée also a worthie companie Of Thibane dames resembling vnto me The traiâ—d of Iocasta my deare mother Beholde them clad in clothes of griesly blacke That hellishe hewe that nay for other harmes So well besemed wretched wightes to weare For why ere long their selues themselues shall sée Gramercy to there princes tyrannie Some spoyled of their swéete and sucking babes Some lese their husband other some their sire And some their friends that were to them full dere But now t is time to lay this sworde aside And eke of them to knowe where is the Quéene O woorthie dames heauie vnhappie ye Where resteth now the restlesse quéene of Thebes Chor. O woorthie impe sprong out of worthie race Renoumed Prince whome wée haue lookt for long And nowe in happie houre arte come to vs Some quiet bring to this vnquiet realme O quéene O quéene come foorth and sée thy sonne The gentle frute of all thy ioyfull séede Iocast. My faithfull frendes my deare beloued maydes I come at call and at your wordes I moue My féebled féete with age and agonie Where is my sonne O tell me where is he For whome I sighed haue so often syth For whom I spende bothe nightes and dayes in teares Poli. Here noble mother here not as the king Nor as a Citizen of stately Thebes But as a straunger nowe I thanke my brother Iocast. O sonne O swéete and my desyred sonne These eyes they sée these handes of myne thée touche Yet scarsly can this mynde beléeue the same And scarsly can this brused breast susteyne The sodeyne ioye that is inclosde therein O gladsome glasse wherein I sée my selfe Chor. So graunt the Gods that for our common good You fréendly may your sonnes bothe frendes beholde Iocast. At thy departe O louely chylde thou lefte My house in teares and mée thy wretched dame Myrrour of martirdome waymenting still Th vnworthie exile thy brother thée gaue Ne was there euer sonne or friende farre off Of his deare frendes or mother so desyred As thy returne in all the towne of Thebes And of my selfe more than the rest to speake I haue as thou mayste sée cleane cast asyde My princely roabes and thus in worfull wéede Bewrapped haue these lustlesse limmes of myne Naught else but teares haue trickled from myne eyes And eke thy wretched blynde and aged syre Since first he hearde what warre twéene you there was As one that did his bitter cursse repent Or that he prayed to Ioue for your decaye With stretching string or else with blouddie knyfe Hath sought full ofte to ende his loathed lyfe Thou this meane whyle my sonne hast lingred long In farre and forreyn coastes and wedded eke By whome thou mayste when heauens appoyntes it so Straunge issue haue by one a stranger borne Whiche gréeues me sore and much the more deare chylde Bicause I was not present at the same There to performe thy louing mothers due But for I fynde thy noble matche so méete And woorthie bothe for thy degrée and byrthe I séeke to comforte thée by myne aduise That thou returne this citie to inhabite Whiche best of all may séeme to be the bowre Bothe for thy selfe and for thy noble spouse Forget thou then thy brothers iniuries And knowe deare chylde the harme of all missehap That happes twixt you must happe likewyse to mée Ne can the cruell swoorde so slightly touche Your tender fleshe but that the selfe same wounde Shall déepely bruse this aged breast of myne Cho. There is no loue may be comparde to that The tender mother beares vnto hir chylde For euen so muche the more it dothe encrease As their griefe growes or contentations cease Poli. I knowe not mother if I prayse deserue That you to please whome I ought not displease Haue traynde my selfe among my trustlesse foes But Nature drawes whether he will or nill Eche man to loue his natue countrey soyle And who shoulde say that otherwise it were His toung should neuer with his heart agrée This hath me drawne besyde my bounden due To set full light this lucklesse lyfe of myne For of my brother what may I else hope But traynes of treason force and falshoode bothe Yet neyther perill present nor to come Can holde me from my due obedience I graunte I can not grieflesse well beholde My fathers pallace the holie aultars Ne louely lodge wherein I fostred was From whence driuen out and chaste vnworthily I haue too long aboade in forreyn coastes And as the growing gréene and pleasant plante Dothe beare freshe braunches one aboue an other Euen so amidde the huge heape of my woes Dothe grows one grudge more gréeuous than the rest To sée my deare and dolefull mother cladde In mournyng tyre to tyre hir mourning mynde Wretched alonely for my wretchednesse So lykes that enimie my brother best Soone shall you see that in this wandring worlde No enmitie is equall vnto that That darke disdayne the cause of euery euill Dooth bréede full ofte in consangiunitie But Ioue he knowes what dole I doe endure For you and for my fathers wretched woe And
eke howe déepely I desyre to knowe What wearre lyfe my louing sisters leade And what anoye myne absence them hath giuen Iocast. Alas alas howe wrekefull wrath of Gods Dothe still afflicte Oedipus progenie The fyrste cause was thy fathers wicked bedde And then Oh why doe I my plagues recompte My burdein borne and your vnhappie birth But néedes wée must with pacient heartes abyde What so from high the heauens doe prouide With thée my chylde fayne woulde I question yet Of certaine things ne woulde I that my woordes Might thée anoye ne yet renewe thy griefe Poli. Saye on deare mother say what so you please What pleaseth you shall neuer mée disease Iocast. And séemes it not a heauie happe my sonne To be depriued of thy countrey coastes Poli. So heauie happe as toung can not expresse Iocast. And what may moste molest the mynde of man That is exiled from his natiue soyle Poli. The libertie hée with his countrey loste And that he lacketh fréedome for to speake What séemeth best without controll or checke Iocast. Why so eche seruaunt lacketh libertie To speake his mynde without his masters leaue Poli. In exile euery man or bonde or frée Of noble race or meaner parentage Is not in this vnlyke vnto the slaue That muste of force obey to eche mans will And prayse the péeuishnesse of eche mans pryde Iocast. And séemed this so grieuous vnto thée Poli. What griefe can greater he that so constraynde Slauelyke to serue gaynst right and reason bothe Yea muche the more to him that noble is By stately lyne or yet by vertuous lyfe And hath a heart lyke to his noble mynde Iocast. What helpeth moste in suche aduersitie Poli. Hope helpeth moste to comfort miserie Ioca. Hope to returne from whence he fyrst was driuen Poli. Yea hope that happeneth oftentymes to late And many die before suche hap may fall Iocast. And howe didst thou before thy mariage sonne Mainteyne thy lyfe a straunger so bestad Poli. Sometyme I founde though seldome so it were Some gentle heart that coulde for curtesye Contente himselfe to succour myne estate Iocast. Thy fathers friends and thyne did they not helpe For to reléeue that neked néede of thyne Poli. Mother he hath a foolishe fantasie That thinkes to fynde a frende in miserie Iocast. Thou myghtst haue helpe by thy nobilitie Poli. Couerd alas in cloake of pouertie Iocast. Wel ought we then that are but mortall héere Aboue all treasure counte our countrey deare Yet let me knowe my sonne what cause thée moued To goe to Grece Poli. The flying fame that thundred in myne eares Howe king Adrastus gouernour of Grece Was answered by Oracle that he Shoulde knitte in linkes of lawfull mariage His two faire daughters and his onely heires One to a Lyon th' other to a Boare An answere suche as eche man wondred at Iocast. And how belongs this answere now to thée Poli. I toke my gesse euen by this ensigne héere A Lyon loe which I dyd alwayes beare Yet thynke I not but Ioue alonely broughte These handes of myne to suche an high exploite Iocast. And howe yet came it to this straunge effect Poli. The shining day had runne his hasted course And deawie night bespread hir mantell darke When I that wandred after wearie toyle To seke some harbrough for myne irked limmes Gan fynde at last a little cabbin close Adioyned faste vnto the stately walles Where king Adrastus helde his royall towres Scarce was I there in quiet well ycoucht But thither came an other exile eke Named Tydeus who straue perforce to driue Mée from this sorie seate and so at laste Wée settled vs to fell and blouddie fight Whereof the rumour grewe so greate foorth with That straight the king enformed was thereof Who séeing then the ensignes that wée bare To be euen suche as were to him foresayde Chose eche of vs to be his sonne by lawe And sithens did solemnize eke the same Iocast. Yet woulde I know if that thy wyfe be suche As thou canst ioy in hir or what she is Poli. O mother deare fayrer ne wyser dame Is none in Greece Argia is hir name Iocast. Howe couldst thou to this doubtefull enterprise So many bring thus armed all at once Poli. Adrastus sware that he woulde sone restore Unto our right both Tydeus and me And fyrst for mée that had the greater néede Whereby the best and boldest blouds in Greece Haue fellowed me vnto this enterpryse A thing both iuste and grieuous vnto mée Gréeuous I saye for that I doe lamente To be constrayned by suche open wrong To warre agaynst myne owne deare countrey féeres But vnto you O mother dothe pertaine To stiute this stryfe and bothe duliuer mée From exile now and eke the towne from siege For otherwise I sweare you here by heauens Eteocles who now doth me disdayne For brother shortly shall sée me his lorde I aske the seate wherof I ought of right Possesse the halfe I am Oedipus sonne And yours so am I true sonne to you both Wherfore I hope that as in my defence The worlde will weygh so Ioue will me assiste Eteocles commeth in here by the gates Electrae himself armed and before him .xx. gentlemen in armour his tvvo pages vvherof the one beareth his Target the other his helme Chor. Beholde O quéene beholde O woorthie quéene Unwoorthie he Eteocles here cōmes So woulde the Gods that in this noble realme Shoulde neuer long vnnoble tyrant reigne Or that with wrong the right and doubtlesse heire Shoulde banisht be out of his princely seate Yet thou O quéene so fyle thy sugred toung And with suche counsell decke thy mothers tale That peace may bothe the brothers heartes inflame And rancour yelde that erst possest the same Eteocl. Mother beholde youre hestes for to obey In person nowe am I resorted hither In haste therefore fayne woulde I knowe what cause With hastie spéede so moued hath your mynde To call me nowe so causelesse out of tyme When common wealth moste craues my onely ayde Fayne woulde I knowe what queynt commoditie Persuades you thus to take a truce for tyme And yelde the gates wide open to my foe The gates that myght our stately state defende And nowe are made the path of our decay Ioca. Represse deare son those reging stormes of wrath That so bedimme the eyes of thine intente ☞ But when disdaynes shrunke or sette asyde And mynde of man with leysure can discourse What séemely woordes his tale may best beseme And that the 〈◊〉 vnfoldes without affectes Then may proceede an answere sage and graue And euery sentence sawst with sobernesse Wherfore vnbende thyne angry browes deare chylde And caste thy rolling eyes none other waye That here doost not Medusaes face beholde But him euen him thy blood and brother deare And thou beholde my Polinices eke Thy brothers face wherin when thou mayst sée Thine owne image remember therwithall That what offence thou woldst to him were done The blowes therof rebounde vnto thy selfe And hereof eke
hir boure When princes harts wide open lye to wrong Why likes thée so the tipe of tyrannie With others losse to gather gréedy gaine Alas howe farre he wanders from the truth That compts a pompe all other to command Yet can not rule his owne vnbridled wil A vaine desire much riches to possesse Whereby the brest is brusde and bettered still With dread with daunger care and cold suspecte Who séekes to haue the thing we call inough Acquainte him first with contentation For plenteousnesse is but a naked name And what suffiseth vse of mortall men Shall best apaye the meane and modest hearts These hoorded heapes of golde and worldly wealth Are not the proper goods of any one But pawnes which Ioue powres out aboundantly That we likewise might vse them equally And as he seemes to lende them for a time Euen so in time he takes them home agayne And would that we acknowledge euery houre That from his handes we did the same receiue Ther nothing is so firme and stayde to man But whyrles about with whéeles of restlesse time Now if I should this one thing thée demaunde Which of these two thou wouldest chuse to kéepe The towne quiet or vnquiet tyrannie And wouldest thou saye I chuse my kingly cheare O witlesse answere sent from wicked heart For if so fall which mightie Gods defende Thine enimies hand should ouercome thy might And thou shouldst sée them sacke the towne of Thebes The chastest virgins rauished for wrecke The worthy children in captiuitie Then shouldest thou féele that scepter crowne wealth Yéelde déeper care to sée them tane away Than to possesse them yeldeth déepe content Now to conclude my sonne Ambition Is it that most offendes thy thought Blame not thy brother blame ambition From whome if so thou not redéeme thy selfe I feare to sée thée buy repentance deare Ch. Yea deare too deare when it shal come too late Ioc. And nowe to thée my Polinices deare I say that sillie was Adrastus reade And thou God knowes a simple sillie soule He to be ruled by thy heady will And thou to warre against the Thebane walls These walls I say whose gates thy selfe should garde Tell me I praye thée if the Citie yéelde Or thou it take by force in bloudie fight Which neuer graunt the Gods I them beséeke What spoyles what Palmes what signe of victorie Canst thou set vp to haue thy countrie woonne What title worthy of immortall fame Shall blased be in honor of thy name O sonne deare sonne beléeue thy trustie dame The name of glorie shall thy name refuse And flie full farre from all thy fonde attemptes But if so fall thou shouldst be ouercome Then with what face canst thou returne to Greece That here hast lefte so many Greekes on grounde Eache one shall curse and blame thée to thy face As him that onely caused their decaye And eke condemne Adrastus simple heade That such a phéere had chosen for his childe So may it fall in one accursed houre That thou mayst loose thy wife and countrie both Both which thou mayst with little toyle attaine If thou canst leaue high minde and darke disdaine Cho. O mightie Gods of goodnesse neuer graunt Unto these euills but set desired peace Betwéene the hearts of these two friendly foes Ete. The question that betwixt vs two is growen Beléeue me mother can not ende with wordes You waste your breath and I but loose my time And all your trauell lost and spent in vaine For this I sweare that peace you neuer get Betwéene vs two but with condition That whilst I liue I wil be Lord of Thebes Then set aside these vaine forewasted wordes And yéelde me leaue to go where néede doth presse And now good sir get you out of these walles Unlesse you meane to buy abode with bloude Po. And who is he that séekes to haue my bloude And shall not shed his owne as fast as myne Ete. By thee he standes and thou standst him before Loe here the sworde that shall perfourme his worde Po. And this shall eke mainteine my rightfull cause Ioc. O sonnes dear sonnes away with glittring armes And first before you touch each others flesh With doubled blowes come pierce this brest of mine Po. Ah wretch thou art both vile and cowardlike Thy high estate estéemes thy life too deare Ete. If with a wretch or cowarde shouldest thou fighte Oh dastarde villaine what first moued thée With swarmes of Gréekes to take this enterprise Po. For well I wist that cancred heart of thine Coulde sefely kepe thy heade within these walles And flée the fielde when combate should be callde Ete. This truce assured thée Polinices And makes thée bolde to gyue suche bosting wordes So be thou sure that had this truce not bene Then long ere this these handes had bene embrude And eke this soyle besprinkled with thy bloude Po. Not one small drop of my bloude shalt thou spill But buy it deare against thy cancred will Ioc. O sonnes my sonnes for pittie yet refrayne Ch. Good Gods who euer sawe so strange a sight True loue and friendship both be put to flight Po. Yelde villein yelde my right which thou with-holds Ete. Cut of thy hope to reigne in Thebane walles Nought hast thou here nor nought shal euer haue Away Po. O aultars of my countrie soyle Ete. Whome thou art come to spoyle and to deface Po. O Gods giue eare vnto my honest cause Ete. With forreine power his countrie to inuade Po. O holy temples of the heauenly Gods Ete. That for thy wicked deedes do hate thy name Po. Out of my kingdome am I driuen by force Ete. Out of the which thou camest me to driue Po. Punish O Gods this wicked tyrant here Ete. Praye to the Gods in Greece and not in Thebes Po. No sauage beast so cruell nor vniust Ete. Not cruell to my countrie like to thée Po. Since from my right I am with wrong depriued Ete. Eke from thy life if long thou tary here Po. O father heare what iniuries I take Ete. As though thy diuelishe déedes were hid from him Po. And you mother Eteo. Haue done thou not deseruest With that false tong thy mother once to name Po. O deare Citie Eteo. When thou ariuest in Greece Chuse out thy dwelling in some mustie Moores Po. I must depart and parting must I prayse Oh deare mother the depth of your good will Ioc. O Sonne Eteo. Away I say out of these walls Po. I can not chuse but must thy will obey Yet graunt me once my father for to sée Ete. I heare no prayers of my enimie Po. Where be my swéete sisters Eteo. And canst thou yet With shamelesse tong once name thy noble race That art become a common foe to Thebes Be sure thou shalt them neuer sée againe Nor other friend that in these walls remaine Po. Rest you in peace O worthy mother myne Ioc. Howe can that be and thou my ioye in warre Po. Hence forth n'am I your
ioy ne yet your sonne Ioc. Alas the Heauens me whelme with all mishap Po. Lo here the cause that stirreth me by wrong Ete. Much more is that he profereth vnto me Po. Well speake darest thou come armed to the fielde Ete. So dare I come wherefore dost thou bemaunde Po. For néedes or thou must ende this life of minde Or quenche my thirst with pouring out thy bloud Eteo. Ah wretch my thirst is all as drie as thine Io. Alas and welaway what heare I sonnes How can it be deare children can it be That brethrens hearts suche rancour should enrage Eteo. And that right soone the proofe shall playnely shewe Io. Oh say not so yet say not so deare sonnes Po. O royall race of Thebes now take thine ende Cho. God shield Eteo. O slow sluggish heart of mine Why do I stay t' embrew these slouthfull hands But for his greater griefe I will departe And at returne if here I finde my foe This hastie hande shall ende our hote debate Eteocles here goeth out by the gates Electrae Po. Deare Citizens and you eternall Gods Beare witnesse with me here before the worlde How this my fierce and cruell enimie Whom causelesse now my brother I do call With threats of death my lingring steps doth driue Both from my right and from my countrey soyle Not as beséemes the sonne of Oedipus But as a slaue an abiect or a wretche And since you be both pitifull and iuste Uouchsafe O Gods that as I parte with griefe So may I yet returne with ioyfull spoyle Of this accursed tyraunt and he slayne I may recouer quietly mine owne Polinyces goeth out by the gates Homoloides Io. O wretched wretche Iocasta where is founde The miserie that may compare to thine O would I had nor gasing eyes to sée Nor listning eares to heare that now I dread But what remaynes saue onely to entreate That cruell dole would yet so curteous be To reaue the breath out of this wofull brest Before I hearken to some wofull newes Rest you here dames and pray vnto the Gods For our redresse and I in that meane while Will shut my selfe from sight of lothsome light Iocasta goeth into hir Pallace Cho. O mightie God the gouernour of Thebes Pitie with speede the payne Iocasta bydes And eke our néedes O mightie Bacchus helpe Bende willing care vnto our iust complaynt Leaue them not comfortlesse that trust in thée We haue nor golde nor siluer thée to giue Ne sacrifice to those thine aulters due In steede wherof we consecrate our hearts To serue thy will and hestes for to obey VVhyles the Chorus if thus praying to Bacchus Eteocles returneth by the gates called Electrae Actus ij. Scena ij. ETEOCLES CREON SInce I haue ridde mine enmie out of sight The best shall be for Creon now to sende My mothers brother that with him I may Reason consulte conferre and counsell bothe What shall be best to vse in our defence Before we venter forth into the fielde But of this trauayle loe he me acquites That comes in haste towards these royall towres Here Creon attended by foure gentlemen cōmeth in by the gates Homoloydes Cre. O mightie king not causelesse nowe I come To finde that long haue sought your maiestie So to discharge the duetie that I owe To you by comfort and by counsell bothe Ete. No lesse desire this harte of mine did presse To sende for thée Creon since that in vayne My mother hath hir words and trauayle spent To reconcile Pollinices and me For he so dull was his capacitie Did thinke he could by dread of daunger winne My princely heart to yéelde to him this realme Cre. I vnderstande the armie that he brings Agaynst these walles is suche that I me doubte Our cities force may scarce the same resist Yet true it is that right and reason bothe Are on our side which bring the victorie Oftetimes for we our countrey to defende They to subdue the same in armes are come But what I would vnto your highnesse shewe Is of more weight and more behoues to knowe Ete. And what is that oh quickly tell it me Cre. A Gréeke prisner is come vnto my hands Ete. And what sayth he that doth so muche importe Cre. That euen already be their rankes in raye And streight will giue assault to these our walles Ete. Then must I streight prepare our Citizens In glittring armes to marche into the fielde Cre. O Prince and pardon me thy youthfull yeres Nor sée them selfe ne let thée once discerne What best behoueth in this doubtfull case For Prudence she that is the mightie quéene Of all good workes growes by experience Which is not founde with fewe dayes seeking for Ete. And were not this both sounde and wise aduise Boldly to looke our foemen in the face Before they spred our fields with hugie hoste And all the towne beset by siege at once Cre. We be but few and they in number great Ete. Our men haue yet more courage farre than they Cre. That know I not nor am I sure to say Ete. Those eyes of thine in little space shall sée How many I my selfe can bring to grounde Cre. That would I like but harde it is to doe Ete. I nill panne vp our men within the walles Cre. In counsell yet the victorie consistes Ete. And wilt thou then I vse some other reade Cre. What else be still awhile fir haste makes wast Ete. By night I will the Camuassado giue Cre. So may you do and take the ouerthrowe Ete. The vauntage is to him that dothe assaulte Cre. Yet skirmishe giuen by night is perillous Ete. Let set vpon them as they sit at meate Cre. Sodayne assaults affray the minde no doubt But we had néede to ouercome Ete. So shall we do Cre. No sure vnlesse some other counsell helpe Ete. Amid their trenches shall we them inuade Cre. As who should say were none to make defence Ete. Should I then yeelde the Citie to my foes Cre. No but aduise you well if you be wise Ete. That were thy parte that knowest more than I Cre. Then shall I say that best doth séeme to me Ete. Yea Creon yea thy counsell holde I deare Cre. Seuen men of courage haue they chosen out Ete. A slender number for so great emprise Cre. But they them chose for guides and capitaynes Ete. To suche an hoste why they may not suffise Cre. Nay to assault the seuen gates of the citie Ete. What then behoueth so bestad to done Cre. With equall number sée you do them matche Ete. And then commit our men in charge to them Cre. Chusing the best and boldest blouds in Thebes Ete. And how shall I the Citie then defende Cre. Well with the rest for one man sées not all Ete. And shall I chuse the boldest or the wisest Cre. Nay both for one without that other fayles Ete. Force without wisedome then is litle worthe Cre. That one must be fast to that other ioynde Ete. Creon I will thy
boyling yre are bolne so sore As each do thyrst to sucke the others bloude But why do I sustaine the smart hereof Why should my bloud he spilte for others gilte Oh welcome were that messanger to me That brought me word of both my nephewes deathes Then should it soone be sene in euery eye Twixt prince and prince what difference would appeare Then should experience shewe what griefe it is To serue the humours of vnbridled youth Now will I goe for to prepare with spéede The funeralls of my yong giltlesse sonne The which perhaps may be accompanyed With th obsequies of proude Eteocles Creon goeth out by the gates Homoloydes Finis Actus 4. CHORVS O Blissfull concord bredde in sacred brest Of him that guides the restlesse rolling sky That to the earth for mans assured rest From heigth of heauens vouchsafest downe to flie In thée alone the mightie power doth lie With swete accorde to kepe the frouning starres And euery planet else from hurtfull warres In thée in thée suche noble vertue bydes As may commaund the mightiest Gods to bend From thée alone such sugred frendship flydes As mortall wightes can scarcely comprehend To greatest strife thou setst delightfull ende O holy peace by thée are onely founde The passing ioyes that euery where abound Thou onely thou through thy celestiall might Didst first of all the heauenly pole deuide From th' olde confused heape that Chao hight Thou madest the Sunne the Moone and starres to glide With ordred course about this world so wide Thou hast ordainde Dan Tytans shining light By dawne of day to chase the darkesome night When tract of time returnes the lustie Uer By thée alone the buddes and blossomes spring The fieldes with floures be garnisht euery where The blooming trées aboundant fruite do bring The cherefull birdes melodiously do sing Thou dost appoint the crop of sommers séede For mans reliefe to serue the winters néede Thou dost inspire the hearts of princely péeres By prouidence procéeding from aboue In flowring youth to choose their worthie féeres With whom they liue in league of lasting loue Till fearefull death doth flitting life remoue And loke how fast to death man payes his due So fast againe dost thou his stocke renue By thée the basest thing aduaunced is Thou euerie where dost graffe suche golden peace As filleth man with more than earthly blisse The earth by thée doth yelde hir swete increase At becke of thée all bloudy discords cease And mightiest Realmes in quiet do remaine Wheras thy hand doth holde the royall raigne But if thou faile then all things gone to wracke The mother then doth dread hir naturall childe Then euery towne is subiect to the sacke Then spotlesse maids then virgins be defilde Then rigor rules then reason is exilde And this thou wofull Thebes to our great paine With present spoile art likely to sustaine Me thinke I heare the wailfull wéeping cries Of wretched dames in euerie coast resound Me thinkes I sée how vp to heauenly skies From battered walls the thundring clappes rebound Me thinke I heare how all things go to ground Me thinke I sée how souldiers wounded lye With gasping breath and yet they can not dye By meanes wherof oh swete Meneceus he That giues for countries cause his guiltlesse life Of others all most happy shall he be His ghost shall flit from broiles of bloudy strife To heauenly blisse where pleasing ioyes be rife And would to God that this his fatall ende From further plagues our citie might defend O sacred God giue eare vnto thy thrall That humbly here vpon thy name doth call O let not now our faultlesse bloud be spilt For hote reuenge of any others gilt Done by F. Kinvvelmarshe Finis Actus quarti The order of the laste dumbe shevve FIrst the Stillpipes sounded a very mournfull melodye in which time came vpon the Stage a womā clothed in a white garment on hir head a piller double faced the formost face fayre smiling the other behinde blacke louring muffled with a white laune about hir eyes hir lap full of Iewelles sitting in a charyot hir legges naked hir fete set vpō a great round ball beyng drawē in by .iiij. noble personages she ledde in a string on hir right hande .ij. kings crowned and in hir lefte hand .ij. poore slaues very meanely attyred After she was drawen about the stage she stayed a lyttle changing the kings vnto the left hande the slaues vnto the right hande taking the crownes from the kings heads she crowned therwith the ij. slaues casting the vyle clothes of the slaues vppon the kings she despoyled the kings of their robes and therwith aparelled the slaues This done she was drawen eftsones about the stage in this order and then departed leauing vnto vs a plaine Type or figure of vnstable fortune who dothe oftentimes raise to heigthe of dignitie the vile and vnnoble and in like manner throweth downe frō the place of promotiō euen those whō before she hir selfe had thither aduaunced after hir departure came in Duke Creon with foure gentlemen wayting vpon him and lamented the death of Meneceus his sonne in this maner Actus v. Scena j. CREON CHORVS ALas what shall I do bemone my selfe Or rue the ruine of my Natiue lande About the which such cloudes I sée enclosde As darker cannot couer dreadfull hell With mine own eyes I saw my own deare sonne All gorde with bloud of his too bloudy brest Which he hath shed full like a friend too deare To his countrey and yet a cruell foe To me that was his friend and father both Thus to him selfe he gaynde a famous name And glory great to me redoubted payne Whose haplesse death in my afflicted house Hath put suche playnt as I ne can espie What comfort might acquiet their distresse I hither come my sister for to séeke Iocasta she that might in wofull wise Amid hir high and ouerpining cares Prepare the baynes for his so wretched corps And eke for him that nowe is not in life May pay the due that to the dead pertaynes And for the honor he did well deserue The giue some giftes vnto infernall Gods Cho. My Lorde your sister is gone forth long since Into the campe and with hir Antigone Hir daughter deare Cre. Into the campe alas and what to do Cho. She vnderstoode that for this realme foorthwith Hir sonnes were gréed in combate for to ioyne Cre. Alas the funerals of my deare sonne Dismayed me so that I ne did receiue Ne séeke to knowe these newe vnwelcome newes But loe beholde a playne apparant signe Of further feares the furious troubled lookes Of him that commeth héere so hastilie Scena ij. NVNTIVS CREON CHORVS ALas alas what shall I doe alas What shriching voyce may serue my wofull wordes O wretched I ten thousande times a wretche The messanger of dread and cruell death Cre. Yet more mishappe and what vnhappie newes Nun. My Lord your nephues both haue lost their liues Cre. Out and alas to me
yet that you will me procure A royall tombe within my natiue realme And now shut vp with those your tender handes These griefful eyes of mine whose daseled sight Shadowes of dreadfull death be come to close Now rest in peace thus sayde he yeelded vp His fainting ghost that ready was to part The mother thus beholding both hir sonnes Ygone to death and ouercome with dole Drewe out the dagger of hir Polinices From brothers brest and gorde hir mothers throte Falling betwéene hir sonnes Then with hir féebled armes she doth enfolde Their bodies both as if for company Hir vncontented corps were yet content To passe with them in Charons ferrie boate When cruell fate had thus with force bereft The wofull mother and hir two deare sonnes All sodenly allarme allarme they crye And hote conflict began for to aryse Betwene our armie and our enemyes For either part would haue the victorye A while they did with equall force maintaine The bloudy fight at last the Gréekes do flie Of whom could hardly any one escape For in such hugie heapes our men them slew The ground was couerde all with carcases And of our souldiers some gan spoyle the dead Some other were that parted out the pray And some pursuing Antigone toke vp The Queene locasta and the brethren both Whom in a chariot hither they will bring Ere long and thus although we gotten haue The victory ouer our enemies Yet haue we lost much more than we haue wonne Creon exit Cho. O hard mishap we doe not onely heare The wearie newes of their vntimely death But eke we must with wayling eyes beholde Their bodies deade for loke where they be brought Scena 3. ANTIGONE CHORVS MOst bitter plaint O ladyes vs behoues Behoueth eke not onely bitter plainte But that our heares dysheuylde from our heades About our shoulders hang and that our brests With bouncing blowes be all be battered Our gastly faces with our nayles defaced Behold your Queene twixt both hir sonnes lyes slayne The Queene whom you did loue and honour both The Queene that did so tenderly bring vp And nourishe you eche one like to hir owne Now hath she left you all O cruell hap With hir too cruell death in dying dreade Pyning with pensiuenesse without all helpe O weary life why bydst thou in my breast And I contented be that these mine eyes Should sée hir dye that gaue to me this life And I not venge hir death by losse of life Who can me giue a fountaine made of mone That I may weepe as muche as is my will To sowsse this sorow vp in swelling teares Cho. What stony hart could leaue for to lament Anti. O Polinice now hast thou with thy bloud Bought all too deare the title to this realme That cruell he Eteocles thée reste And now also hath reft thée of thy life Alas what wicked dede can wrath not doe And out alas for mée Whyle thou yet liuedst I had a liuely hope To haue some noble wight to be my phéere By whome I might be crownde a royall Quéene But now thy hastie death hath done to dye This dying hope of mine that hope hencefoorth None other wedlocke but tormenting woe If so these trembling hands for cowarde dread Dare not presume to ende this wretched life Cho. Alas deare dame let not thy raging griefe Heape one mishap vpon anothers head Anti. O dolefull day wherein my sory sire Was borne and yet O more vnhappie houre When he was crowned king of stately Thebes The Hymenei in vnhappie bed And wicked wedlocke wittingly did ioyne The giltlesse mother with hir giltie sonne Out of which roote we be the braunches borne To beare the scourge of their so foule offence And thou O father thou that for this facte Haste torne chine eyes from thy tormented head Giue eare to this come foorth and bende thine eare To bloudie newes that canst not them beholde Happie in this for if thine eyes could sée Thy sonnes bothe slayne and euen betwéene them bothe Thy wife and mother dead bathed and imbrude All in one bloud then wouldst thou dye for dole And so might ende all our vnluckie stocke But most vnhappie nowe that lacke of sighte Shall linger life within thy lucklesse brest And still tormented in suche miserie Shall alwayes dye bicause thou canst not dye Oedipus entreth Scena iiij. OEDIPVS ANTIGONE CHORVS WHy dost thou call out of this darkesome denne The lustleste lodge of my lamenting yeres O daughter deare thy fathers blinded eyes Into the light I was not worthy of Or what suche sight O cruell destenie Without tormenting cares might I beholde That image am of deathe and not of man Anti. O father mine I bring vnluckie newes Unto your eares your sonnes are nowe both slayne Ne doth your wife that wonted was to guyde So piteously your staylesse stumbling steppes Now see this light alas and welaway Oed. O heape of infinite calamities And canst thou yet encrease when I thought least That any griefe more great could grow in thée But tell me yet what kinde of cruell death Had these three sory soules Anti. Without offence to speake deare father mine The lucklesse lotte the frowarde frowning fate That gaue you life to ende your fathers life Haue ledde your sonnes to reaue eche others life Oed. Of them I thought no lesse but tell me yet What causelesse death hath caught from me my deare What shall I call hir mother or my wife Anti. When as my mother sawe hir deare sonnes dead As pensiue pangs had prest hir tender heart With bloudlesse cheekes and gastly lookes she fell Drawing the dagger from Eteocles side She gorde hirselfe with wide recurelesse wounde And thus without mo words gaue vp the ghost Embracing both hir sonnes with both hir armes In these affrightes this frosen heart of mine By feare of death maynteines my dying life Cho. This drearie day is cause of many euils Poore Oedipus vnto thy progenie The Gods yet graunt it may become the cause Of better happe to this afflicted realme Scena v. CREON OEDIPVS ANTIGONE GOod Ladies leaue your bootelesse vayne complaynt Leaue to lament cut of your wofull cryes High time it is as now for to prouide The funerals for the renowned king And thou Oedipus hearken to my wordes And know thus muche that for thy daughters dower Antigone with Hemone shall wedde Thy sonne our king not long before his death Assigned hath the kingdome should descende To me that am his mothers brother borne And so the same might to my sonne succéede Now I that am the lorde and king of Thebes Will not permit that thou abide therein Ne maruell yet of this my heady will Ne blame thou me for why the heauens aboue Which onely rule the rolling life of man Haue so ordeynde and that my words be true Tyresias he that knoweth things to come By trustie tokens hath foretolde the towne That while thou didst within the walles remayne It should be plagued still with penurie Wherfore