alas is quight consumde her fauor sweete doth faynt Nor ruddy sanguine purple deye her cherry checkes doth paynt Wyth greedy gripes of gnawing griefe her pinched limmes doe pyne Her foltring legs doe stagger now the glosse of beauty tyne In body Alabaster bright is shronke away and wast Those Cristall Eyes that wonted were resemblance cleare to cast Of radiant Phoebus gold arayes now nothing gentry shyne Nor beare a sparke of Phoebus bright her fathers beams deuyne The trickling teares tril down her chekes dew dampish dropping still Doth wet her warrye plantes as on the toppe of Taurus hill The warry snowes with lukewarme shoures to moisture turnd do drop But lo the Princes pallace is set open in the top She lying downe vpon her golden bed of high estate Hurles of hir wonted royal robes which wounded hart doth hate Ph. Maydes haue our purple garmentes hence vestures wrought with gold These crimsō robes of scarlet red let not myne eyes behold And damaske weedes wheron the Seres embraudet braunches braue Whose Silken substaunce gatherd of their trees aloofe they haue My bosome shal be swadled in with cuttied gaberdine No golden coller on my necke nor Indian iewels fyne The precious pearles so whyte shal hang no more now at myne eares Nor sweete perfumes of Siria shal poulder more my heares My flaryng ruffled lockes shal dagling hang my necke aboute And shoulder poyntes then then apace it shattring in and out Let wyndes euen blow it where it list in left hand wil I take A quiuer of shaftes and in my right a Boorespere wil I shake To cruell child Hippolitus such one his mother was As fleeting from the frosen Seas those countrey costes did passe And draue her hierdes that bet with trampling feete Th' Athenian soyle Or like the trull of Tanais Or like her wil I toyle Of Meotis that on a knot wounde vp her crispen lockes Thus wil I trot with moone like targe among the wodes and rockes Nu. Leaue of thy bitter languishing vnto the sille sort That walter thus in waues of woe griefe giues not testing port Is any measure to be found in thy tormenting fire Some grace at wyld Dianaes hand with sacrifyce require O Goddesse greate of Woods in hilles that onely setst thy throne And Goddes that of the craggy clyues at worshipped alone Thy wrathful threatninges on vs all now turne to better plight O Goddesse that in forrestes wyld and groues obtaynest might O shyning lampe of heauen and thou the Diamon of the Night O threefold shapen Heccate that on the world his face Dost render light with torch by turnes vouchsafe to graūt thy grace To further this our enterprise and helpe our piteous case O mollify Hippolytus his stubborne hardned hart And let him learne the pangues of loue and tast like bitter smart And yeeld his light allured eares entreate his brutish breast And chaunge his mynd in Venus boundes compel him once to rest So froward and vntoward now so crabbed curst and mad So shalt thou be with blandishing and smyling countnaunce clad Thy shimering clowde cleane fading hence then brightly shalt thou bear And glisteryng hornes then whyle by night vpon the whirling sphere Thy cloudy heeled steedes thou guydes the raging witches charme Of Thessal shal not draw thee from the heauens nor do thy harme No Shepherd purchase shal renoume Thou comst at our request Now fauour dost thou graunt vnto the prayers of our Breast I do espye him worshipping the solemne Sacrifyce Both place and tyme conuenient by Fortune doth arise We must go craftely to worke for feare we quaking stand Ful hard it is the buysy charge of guylt to take in hand But who of Princes standes in awe let him defye all right Cast of the care of honesty from mind exiled quight A man vnfit is for the hest of King a bashful wight Hip. O Nurse how chaūce thy limping limmes do crepe into this place With blubbred Cheekes leaden lookes with sad and mourning face Doth yet my Father Theseus with health enioy his life Doth Phaedra yet enioy her health my stepdam and his wyfe Nu. Forgoe these feares and gently come thy blessed hap to take For care constrayneth me to mourne with sorrow for thy sake That hurtfully thou looudes thy selfe with pangues of plūging payne Let him rubbe on in misery whom destny doth constrayne But if that any yeld himselfe to waues of wilful woe And doth torment himselfe deserues his weale for to forgoe The which he knowes not how to vse tush be not so demure Consideryng how thy yeares do runne take part of sport and play Let mirry Bacchus cause thee cast these clogging cares away And reape the frutte of sweete delyght belonging to thy yeares For lusty youth with speedy foote ful fast away it weares Earst tender loue earst Venus feedes the young mannes appetite Be blyth my Boy why Widow like liest thou alone by night Shake of thy sollem sadnesse man that harty youth doth spill Huff royst it out couragiously take bridle at thy will Let not the flowre of plooming yeares all fruitles fade away God poynteth euery tyme his taske and leades in dus aray Each age by order lust as mirth the sappy youthfull yeares A forehed frayte with grauity becommeth hoary hayres Why dust thou bridle thus thy selfe and dulles thy pregnant wit The corne that did but lately sproute aboue the ground if it Be rancke of roote yet in the luske with enterest at large Vnto the hoping husbandman shall trauel all discharge With braunched bough aboue the Wood the tree shall raise his top Whom rusty hand of canckred hate did neuer spill nor lop The pregnant Wittes are euermore more prone to purchase prayse If noble heartes by freedome franckt be nourisht from decayes Thou churlish countrey Clowne Hodgelike not knowing Courtly life Delight in drousy doting youth without a louing wyfe Dost thou suppose that to this end Dame Nature did vs frame To suffer hardnes in this world and to abyde the same With courses and kerereyes fet the prauncing Steedes to tame Or bicker els with battails fierce and broyls of bloudy warre That soueraygne Syre of heauen and earth when fates do vs detarre With signes and plagues prognosticate prouided hath with heede For to repayre the damage done with new begotten seede Go to let bedding in the world be vsed once no more That stil mankind from age to age vpholdes and doth restore The filthy world deformd would lie in yrksome vgly stay No flotting ships on wambling Seas should hoysted Sayles display No Foule should skoare in azur Skie ne Beast to woods repayre And onely whisking windes should whirle amid the empty ayre What diuers dreery deathes driue one mankind to dumpish graue The Seas the sword and trayterous traynes whole countries wasted have Yet for to limit forth our league there is no destny thincke So downe to blackefast Stigian dampes we of our selues do sincke Let youth that neuer felt the ioyes in
haughty top let now prepared be Both feeding beastes and foules the syde of Caucas turne to see And bare of woods the yle that bridge of Scithe that therby standes Simplegas ioynes both here and there let it my bounden handes Stretch out abroade and when with course return'de accustomd'ly They shall togeather dryue and shall the rockes tosse vp to skye With bankes togeather beyng thrust and eke the middle seay Let me bet weene the mountaynes lye vnquiet restlesse stay But building vp with wood throwne on a heaped plie on hie My body thus with wicked bloud besprinct why burne not I So so yt mus be done to hell I Hercles will restore Am. Not yet his hart astonted lackes his ragyng tumult sore But wraths hath turnd and which of rage is property and yre Agaynst himselfe he rageth now Her The furies places dire And dungeon depe of sprites in hell and place of tormentry To gylty ghostes and banishment yf any yet do lye Beyond Erebus yet vnknowen to Cerberus and mee There hyde me ground to farthest bond of Tartarus to see To tary there I le goe O brest of myne to fierce and stoute Who you my children thus disperst through all my house about May worthely enough bewayle in all my euils yet This countnaunce hard can neuer weepe a sword now hether set My shaftes reach hether hyther reach my mighty club also To thee my weapons breake I will to thee my sonne a two I le knappe my bowes and eke my clubbe this blocke of heauy wayghte Shal to thy sprites be burned loe this selfe same quiuer frayght With Lerney shaftes to funerall of thyne shall like wyse goe Let all my weapons penance pay and you vnhappy to Euen with my weapons burne I wil O stepdames handes of myne Th. Who euer yet to ignoraunce hath geuen name of cryme Her Ful oftentymes did errour greate the place of gylt obtayne Th. T' is neede to be a Hercles now this heape of yll sustayne Her Not so hath shame yet geuen place with fury drowned quight But peoples all I rather should dryue from my wicked sight My weapons weapons Theseus I quickly craue to mee Withdraw to be restoard agayne if sound my mynd now bee Restore to me my weapons if yet last my rage of mynd Then father flee for I the waye to death my selfe shal fynde Am. By sacred holy kynreds rightes by force and duty all Of both my names if eyther me thy brynger vp thou call Or parent els and which of good men reuerenced are By these hoare hayres I the besech my desert age yet spare And wery yeares of house falne downe the one alonly stay One onely light to mee with yls afflicted euery way Reserue thy selfe yet neuer hath there happ'ned once of thee Fruite of thy toyles still eyther I the doubtful sea to see Or monsters feard who euer yet hath bene a cruell king In all the world to ghostes allow and aulters both hurtinge Of me is feard the father of thee absent stil to haue The feuite the touching and the sight of thee at length I craue He. Wherfore I longer should sustayn my life yet in this light And linger here no cause there is all good lost haue I quighte My mynd my weapons my renoume my wife my sonnes my handes And fury to no man may heale and lose from gylty handes My mynd defyeld needes must with death he heald so haynous yll Th. Wilt thou thy father IIay He. Least I shoulde do it die I will Th. Before thy fathers face He. I taught him mischief for to see Th. Thy deedes marking rather that should of al remembred bee Of this one only cryme I do a pardon of thee craue Her Sall he geue pardon to himselfe that to none els it gaue I beeing bidden prayse deseru'd this deede mine owne doth proue Helpe father now if eyther els thy piety thee moue Or els my heauy fate or els the honour and renowne Of stained strength my weapons bringe let fortune be throwen downe with my right hand Th. The prayers which thy father makes to thee Are stronge enough but yet likewyse with weeping loe of me By moued yet aryse thou vp and with thy wonted myght Subdue thyne yls now such a mynde vnmeete to beare vpright No euill hap receyus againe loe now with manhode gret Thou must preuayle euen Hercules forbyd with yre to fret HE. Alyue I hurt but if I dye I take the gylt also I hast to ridde the world of cryme euen now before me lo A wicked monster cruel and vntamed fierce and flout Doth wander now with thy ryght hand beginne to goe aboute A greate affayre yea more then all thy twyse sixe labours long Yet stayst thou wretch that late agaynst the children wast so stronge And fearful mother now except restoard my weapons see Of Thracian Pindus eyther I wil feare downe euery tree And Bacchus holly woods and tops of mount Cythaeron hye Burne with myselfe and al at once with all their housen I And with the Lordes therof the roofes with goddes of Thebes all The Thebane temples euen vppon my body will let fall And wyl be hyd in to wne vpturnd if to my shoulders might The walles themselues all cast theron shall fall a burden light And couerd with seuen gates I shall not be enough opprest Then all the wayght wheron the worlde in middle part doth rest And partes the Goddes vppon my head I le turne and ouerthrow My weapons geue Am. This word is meete for Hercles father lo With this same arrow slaine behold thy sonne is tombled downe This weapōs cruell Iuno lo from handes of thyne hath throwne This same wil I now vse loe see how leaps with feare afright My wretched harte and how it doth my careful body smight The shaft is set therto thou shalt a mischiefe lo do now Both willing it and wotting tel what thing commaundest thou I nothing craue my doloure let in saf'ty standeth now To kepe my sonne alyue to mee that onely do canst thou O Theseu yet I haue not scapte great'st feare that happen can Thou canst mee not a miser make thou mayst a happy man So order euery thyng thou dost as all thy cause in hand And fame thou mayst wel know in strayght and doubtful case to stande Thou liu'st or diest this slender soule that light is hence to flee Weried with age and no lesse bet with greuous ils to see In mouth I holde so slowly to a father with such slaye Doth any man geue lyfe I wil no longer bid delay The deadly sword throughout my breast to strike I wil apply Here here the gylt of Hercules euen sound of mynd shall lye Her Forbeare O father now forbeare with draw thy hand againe My manhood yeld thy fathers will and impery sustaine To Hercles labours now like wyse let this one labour goe Let me yet liue lift vp from ground th' afflicted lims with woe O Theseu of my parent for from Godly
woes nor yet in haughty top of hilles and mountaynes hye The builded towers The people all let them to battel crye And clere forsake Mycenas towne who so his hateful head Hides and defendes with slaughter dire let bloud of him be shed This princely Pelops palace proude and bowres of high renowne On mee so on my brother to let them be beaten downe Go to do that which neuer shall no after age allow Nor none it whisht some mischefe greate ther must be ventred now Both fierce and bloudy such as woulde my brother rather long To haue bene his Thou neuer dost enough reuenge the wronge Exept thou passe And feercer fact what may be done so dyre That his exceedes doth euer he lay downe his hateful yre Doth euer he the modest meane in tyme of wealth regard Or quiet in aduerslty I know his nature harde Vntractable that broke may be but neuer wil it bend For which are he prepare himselfe or force to fight entend Set fyrst on him least while I rest he should on me aryse He wil destroy or be destroyd in midst the mischiefe lyes Prepard to him that takes it first Ser. Doth fame of people naught Aduerse thee feare Atre. The greatest good of kingdom may be thought That still the people are constraynd their princes deedes as well To prayse as them to suffer all Ser. Whom feare doth so compell To prayse the same his foes to bee doth feare enforce agoyne But who indeede the glory seckes of fauour trew t' obtayne He rather would with hates of each be praysd then tounges of all Atre. The trewer prayse ful oft hath hapt to meaner men to fall The false but vnto myghty man what nill they let them will Ser. Let first the king will honest thinges and none the fame dare nill Atre. Where leeful are to him that rules but honest thinges alone There raynes the kyng by others leaue Ser. And wher the shame is none Nor care of ryght fayth piety nor holines none stayeth That kingdome swarues Atre. Such holines such piety and fayth Are priuate goods let kinges runne one in that that likes their will Ser. The brothers hurt a mischiefe count though he be nere so ill Atre. It is but right to do to hym that wrong to brother were What heynous hurt hath his offence let passe to proue or where Refraynd the gylt thy spouse he stale away for lechery And raygne by stelth the auncient note and sygne of empery By frawde he got my house by fraud to vexe he neuer ceast In Pelops house there fostred is a noble worthy beast The close kept Ramme the goodly guyde of rych and fayrest flockes By whom throughout on euery syde depend a downe the lockes Of glittering gold with fleece of which the new kinges wonted were Of Tantals stocke their sceptors gylt and mace of might to beate Of this the owner raygneth he with him of house so great The fortune fleeth this sacred Ramme aloofe in safety shet In secret mead is wont to grase which stone on euery syde With rocky wall inclosethe rounde the fatall beast to hyde This beast aduentryng mischiefe greate adioyning yet for pray My spoused mate the traytour false hath hence conuayde away From hence the wrongs of mutuall hate and mischiefe all vpsyreng In exile wandred he throughout my kingdomes all along No part of myne remayneth safe to mee from traynes of hys My feere deflourde and loyalty of empyre broken is My house all vext my bloud in doubt and naught that trust is in But brother foe What stayst thou yet at length lo now beginne Take hart of Tantalus to thee to Pelops cast thyne eye To such examples well beseemes I should my hand applye Tell thou which way were best to bring that cruell head to death Ser. Through perst with sword let him be slayne yelde his hatefull breath Atre. Thou speak'st of th' end but I him would opres with greter payne Let tyrants vexe with torment more should euer in my rayne Be gentle death Ser. Doth piety in thee preuayle no whit Atre. Depart thou hence all piety if in this house as yet Thou euer wert and now let all the flocke of furies dyre And full of strife Erinnis come and double brands of fyre Megaera shaking for not yet enough with fury great And rage doth burne my boyling brest it ought to bee repleate With monster more Ser. What mischiefe new do'ste thou in rage pro-uide Atre. Not such a one as may the meane of woonted griefe abide No guilt will I forbeare nor none may be enough despight Ser. What sword Atr. To litle that Ser. what fire Atr. And yâ— is yet to Ser. What weapon then shall sorrow such finde fit to worke thy will Atr. Thy estes selfe Ser. Then yre it selfe yet that 's a greater ill Atr. I graunt a tombling tumult quakes within my bosomes loe And rounde it rolles I moued am and wote not wherevnto But drawen I am from bottome deepe the roryng soyle doth cry The day so fayre with thunder soundes and house as all from hy Were rent from roofe and rafters crakes and lares turnde abought Haue wryde theyr sight so bee'te so bee'te let mischiefe such be sought As yee O Gods would feare Ser. What thing seek'st thou to bring to pas I note what greater thing my mynde and more then woont it was Atre. Aboue the reache that men are woont to worke begins to swell And stayth with slouthfull handes What thinge it is I cannot tell But great it is Bee'te so my mynde now in this feate proceede For Atreus and Thyestes bothe it were a worthy deede Let eche of vs the crime commit The Thracian house did see Such wicked tables once I graunt the mischiefe great to bee But done ere this some greater guilt and mischiefe more let yre Fynde out The stomacke of thy sonne O father thou enspyre And syster eke like is the cause assist me with your powre And dryue my hand let greedy parents all his babes deuowre And glad to rent his children bee and on their lyms to feede Enough and well it is deuis'de this pleaseth me in deede In meane time where is he so long and innocent wherefore Doth Atreus walke before myne eyes already more and more The shade of such a slaughter walkes the want of children cast In fathers Iawes But why my mynde yet dreadst thou so at last And faint'st before thou enterprise it must bee done let bee That which in all this mischiefe is the greatest guilt to see Let him commit Ser. but what disceit may wee for him prepare Whereby betrapt he may be drawne to fall into the snare He wotes full well we are his foes Atre. He could not taken bee Except himselfe would take but now my kingdomes hopeth hee For hope of this he woulde not feare to meete the mighty Ioue Though him he threatned to deistroy with lightning from aboue For hope of this to passe the threats of waues
full harde I stoute and ioyfull was but now agayne thus in t feare I am returne my mynde misdoubtes and backeward seekes to beare My body hence and forthe I draw my pace agaynst my will Phy. With slouthfull step what meaneth this my father stādeth still And turnes his face and holdes him selfe in doubt what thing to do Thy. What thing my minde considrest thou or els so long whereto Do'st thou so easte counsayle wrest wilt thou to thinges vnsure Thy brother and the kingdome trust fearst thou those ills t' endure Now ouercome and mielder made and trauayls do'st thou flee That well were plaste it thee auayls a myser now to bee Turne hence thy pace while leefull is and keepe thee from his hande Phy. What cause thee driues O father deere thus frŠthy natiue lande Now seene to shrynk what makes thee thus frō things so good at last Withdrawe thy selfe thy brother comes whose tres be ouerpast And halfe the kyngdome geues and of the house Dysacerate Repayres the partes and thee restores agayne to former state Thy. The cause of feare that I know not thou do'st require to heare I see nothing that makes mee dread and yet I greatly feare I would goe on but yet my limmes with weary legges doe slacke And other way then I would passe I am withholden backe So oft the ship that driuen is with wynde and eke with Ore The swelling surge resisting both beates backe vpon the shore Phy. Yet ouercome what euer stayes and thus doth let your mynde And see what are at your returne prepar'de for you to finde You may O father raygne Thy. I may but then when die I mought P. Chiefe thing is powre T. nought worth at al if thou desyre it nought P. You shall it to your children leaue T. the kingdome takes not twayne Phy. Who may be happy rather would he miser yet remayne Thy. Beleue me well with titles false the great thinges vs delight And heauy haps in vayne are fearde while high I stoode in sight I neuer stinted then to quake and selfe same sworde to feare That hanged by myne owne side was Oh how great good it were With none to striue but careles foode to eate and rest to knowe The greater gyltes they enter not in cotage set alowe And safer foode is fed vpon at narrowe boorde alway While drunke in golde the poyson is by proofe well taught I say That euill haps before the good to loue it likes my will Of haughty house that standes aloft in tickle top of hyll And swayes asyde the cyty lowe neede neuer be affright Nor in the top of roofe aboue there shynes no Iuery bright Nor watchman none defendes my sleepes by night or gardes my rest With fleete I fishe not nor the sees I haue not backwarde prest Nor turn'de to flight with builded wall nor wicked belly I With taxes of the people fed nor parcell none doth lie Of ground of myne beyonde the Getes and Parthians farre about Nor worshiped with frankinsence I am nor Ioue shet out My Aulters decked are nor none in top of house doth stande In garden treese nor kindled yet with helpe of eche mans hande The bathes doe smoake nor yet are dayes in slouthfull slumbers led Nor nightes past forth in watche and wyne without the rest of bed Wee nothing feare the house is safe without the hidden knyfe And poore estate the sweetenes feeles of test and quiet lyfe Greate kindome is to be content without the same to lyue Phy. Yet should it not refused be if God the kingdome giue Thy. Not yet desierd it ought to be Phy. your brother byds you rayne Thy. Bids he the more is to be fearde there lurketh there some trayne Phy. From whence it fell yet piety is woont to turne at length And loue vnfaynde repayres agayne his erst omitted strength Thy. Doth Atreus then his brother loue eche Vrsa fyrst on hys The Seas shall washe and swelling surge of Seas of Sicylye Shall rest and all asswaged be and corne to rypenes growe In bottome of Ionian seas and darkest night shall showe And spreade the light about the soyle the waters with the fyre The lyfe with death the wynde with seas shall friendship first requyre And be at league Phy. of what deceipte are you so dreadfull here Thy. Of euerychone what ende at length might I prouide of feare In all he can he hateth me Phy. to you what hurt can he Thy. As for my selfe I nothing dread you litle Babes make mee Afrayde of him Phy. dread yee to be beguilde when caught yee are To late it is to shoon the traytie in middle of the snare But goe we on this father is to you my last request Thy. I follow you I leade you not Phy. God turne it to the best That well deuised is for good passe farth with cherefull pace THE SECOND SCENE Atreus Thyestes ENtrapt in trayne the beast is caught and in the snare doth fall Both him and eke of hated stocke with him the ofspryng all About the fathers syde I see and nowe in saufety stands And surest ground my wrathfull hate nowe comes into my hands At length Thyestes yea hee comes and all at once to mee I scant refrayne my selfe and scant may anger brydled bee So when the Bloudhound seekes the beast by step and quick of sent Drawes in the leame and pace by pace to wynde the wayes hee went With nose to soyle doth hunt while he the Boare aloofe hath founde Farre of by sent he yet refraynes and wanders through the grounde With silent mouth but when at hand he once perceiues the pray With all the strength he hath he striues with voyce and calls away His lingring maister and from him by force out breaketh hee When Ire doth hope the present bloud it may not hydden bee Yet let it hydden be beholde with vgly hayre to sight How yrkesomely deform'de with filthe his fowlest tace is dight How lothsome lyes his Bearde vnkempt but let vs friendship fayne To see my brother me delights geue now to me agayne Embracing long desyred for what euer stryfe there was Before this time betwene vs twayne forget and let it pas Fro this day forth let brothers loue let bloud and lawe of kinde Regarded be let all debate be slakte in eythers mynde Thy. I coulde excuse my selfe except thou wert as now thou art But Atreus now I graunt the faulte was myne in euery part And I offended haue in all my cause the worse to bee Your this dayes kindnes makes in deede a guilty wight is hee That would so good a brother hurt as you in any whit But now with teares I must entreate and first I me submit These handes that at thy feete doe lye doe thee beseeche and pray That yre and hate be layde aside and from thy bosome may Be scraped out and cleere forgot for pledges take thou these O brother deere these guiltles babes Atr. thy hands yet from my kneese Remoue and
vnshaken payse vnmoued yet art thou The Gods are fled Atr. but take to thee with ioy thy children now And rather them embrace at length thy children all of thee So long wisht for for no delay there standeth now in mee Enioy and kisse embracing armes deuyde thou vnto three Thy. Is this thy league may this thy loue and fayth of brother bee And doost thou so repose thy hate the father doth not craue His sonnes aliue which might haue bene without thy gylt to haue And eke without thy hate but this doth brother brother pray That them he may entoombe restore whom see thou shalt strayght waye Be burnt the father naught requires of thee that haue he shall But soone forgoe Atr. what euer part rot of thy children all Remaynes here shalt thou haue and what remayneth not thou host Thy. Lye they in fieldes a food out flung for fleerug fowles to waste Or are they kept a pray for wyld and brutish beastes to eate Atr. Thou hast deaourd thy sonnes and fyld thy selfe with wicked meat Thy. Oh this is it that sham'de the Gods and day from hence did dryue Turn'd back to east alas I wretch what waylinges may I geue Or what complayntes what woeful woordes may be enough for mee Their heads cut of and handes of torne I from their bodies see And wrenched feete from broken thighes I here behold agayn T ys this that greedy father could not suffer to sustayne In belly roll my bowels round and cloased cryme so great Without a passage stryues within and seekes away to get Thy sword O brother leud to me much of my bloud alas It hath let vs therwith make way for all my sonnes to passe Is yet the sword from me withheld thy selfe thy bosomes teare And let thy brestes resound with stroakes yet wretch thy hand forbeare And spare the deade who euer saw such mischiefe put in proofe What rude Heniochus that dwels by ragged coast aloofe Of Caucasus vnapt for men or feare to Athens who Procustes wyld the father I oppresse my children do And am opprest is any meane of gylt or mischiefe yet Atr. A meane in mischiefe ought to be when gylt thou dost commit Not when thou quytst for yet euen this to litle seemes to me The blood yet warme euen from the wound I should in sight of thes Euen in thy lawes haue shed that thou the bloud of them mightst drinke That lyued yet but whyle to much to hast my hate I thinke My wrath beguyled is my selfe with sword the woundes them gaue I strake them downe the sacred fyres with slaughter vowde I haue Wel pleasd the carcase cutting then and liueles lymmes on grounde I haue in litle parcels chopt and some of them I drounde In boyling cauderns some to fyres that burnte ful slow I put And made to droppe their synewes all and limmes a two I cut Euen yet alyue and on the spitte that thrust was through the same I harde the liuer wayle and crye and with my hand the flame I oft kept in but euery whit the father might of this Haue better done but now my wrath to lightly ended is He rent his sonnes with wicked gumme himselfe yet wotting naught Nor they therof Th. O ye encloas'd with bending bankes abought All seas me heare and to this gylt ye Gods now harken well What euer place ye fled are to here all ye sprites of hel And here ye landes and night so darke that them dost ouerly With clowde so blacke to my complayntes do than thy selfe apply To thee now left I am thou dost alone me miser see And thou art left without thy starres I wil not make for me Peticions yet nor ought for me require may ought yet bee That me should vayle for you shal all my wishes now foresee Thou guyder great of skyes aboue prince of highest might Of heauenly place now all with cloudes ful horrible to sight Enwrap the worlde and let the wyndes on euery syde breake out And send the dredfull thunder clap through al the world about Nor with what hand thou gyltes house and vndeserued wall With lesser bolt are wonte to beate but with the which did fall The three vnheaped mountaynes once and which to hils in height Stoode equall vp the gyantes huge throuw out such weapons streight And flyng thy fires and therwithall reuenge the drowned day Let flee they flames the light thus lost and hid from heauen away With flashes fyll the cause lest long thou shouldst doubte whom to hit Of ech of vs is ill if not at least let myne be it Me strike with tryple edged toole thy brande of flaminge fyre Beate through this breast if father I my children to desyre To lay in tombe or corpses cast to fyre as doth behoue I must be burnt if nothing now the gods to wrath may moue Nor powre from skies with thunder bolt none strikes the wicked men Let yet eternall night remayne and hyde with darknes then The world about I Titan naught complayne as now it standes If stil thou hyde thee thus away Atre. now prayse I well my handes Now got I haue the palme I had bene ouercome of thee Except thou sorrow'dst so but now euen children borne to mee I compt and now of bridebed chast the fayth I do repayre Thy. In what offended haue my sons Atr. In that that thyne they were Thy. Setst thou the sonnes for fathers foode Arr. I do which is best The certayne sonnes Thy. The gods that guyde all infantes I protest Atr. What wedlock gods Th. who would the gilt with gylt so quite again Atr. I know thy greefe preuented now with wrong thou dost complayne Nor this thee yrkes that sed thou art with food of cursed kind But that thou hadst not it prepared for so it was thy mynd Such meates as these to set before thy brother wotting naught And by the mothers helpe to haue likewyse my children caught And them with such like to slay this one thing letted thee Thou thought'st them thine Thy. the gods shall al of this reuengers be And vnto them for vengeance due my vowes thee render shall Atr. But vext to be I thee the whyte geeue to thy children all THE FOVRTH SCENE Added to the Tragedy by the Translatour Thyestes alone O Kyng of Dytis dungeon darke and grysly Ghosts of hell That in the deepe and dreadfull Denne of blackest Tarrace dwell Where leane and pale dyseases lye where feare and famyne are Where discord stands with bleeding browes where euery kynde of care Where furies fight in beds of steele and heares of crauling snakes Where Gorgon grimme where Harpyes are lothsome Lymbo lakes Where most prodigious vgly thinges the hollowe hell doth byde If yet a mouster more myshapt then all that there doe hyde That makes his broode his cursed foode yee all abhorre to see Nor yet the deepe Auerne it selfe may byde to couer mee Nor grisly gates of Plutoes place yet dare them selues to spred Nor gaping
thee the Tygar fierce his diuers spotted breast doth yield The rough shaghairy Bugle turnes on thee his backe in field Eke saluage Buffes with braunche hornes all thinges thy quarelles feare That to the needy Garamas in Affricke doth appeare Or eis the wyld Arabian enriched by his wood Or what the Brutish roches of Pyrene vnderstood Or else what other Beastes do lurcke in wyld Hyrcanus groue Or else among Sarmatians in desert fieldes that roue It that the Ploughman come to field that standeth in thy grace Into his nettes the roused beast full sure he is to chase No feete in sunder breake the coardes and home he bringes the Bore In totting wayne when as the houndes with gubs of clottered gore Besmeared haue their grymed snoutes and then the Countrey rout To Cottages repayre in rankes with triumph all about Lo Goddesse graunt vs grace the hounds already opened haue I follow must the Chase this gainer way my paynes to saue I take into the woods THE SECOND SCEANE PHAEDRA NVTRIX O Countrey Crete that beares the sway vpon the Seas so vast Whose Ships so thicke in euery Shore the Seas doe ouercast What euer coast as farre as is Assyria lande doth lye Where Nereus doth the piked Stemme to cut his course deny Why force ye mee that yeelded am a pledge to those I hate And gieuen in Bridall bed to bee my enmies Spousall mate To languish out my time in teares in woe to leade my lyfe My husband lo runnagate is gon from mee his Wyfe Yet Theseus still performes his O the alike vnto his Spouse As earst to Ariadne when hee falsifide his Vowes Hee champion stoute dare enterprise the darkenesse deepe to passe Of lothsome Lake whence yet found out no way returning was A souldier of the Wooer bolde Proserpin home to bring Out pullde perforce from grisly throne of Dire infernall King Accompanide with fury fierce hee marcheth forward still Whō neither dread nor shame could force forbeare his wicked will With lawlesse wedlocks rauishments Hippolytus his Sire Doth in the boyling bottom deepe of Acheron require But yet another greater griefe swayes on my pensiue brest No silent night nor slumber deepe can set my heart at rest My sorrow still is nourished and still entreaseth it And ranklesse in my boyling breast as out of Aetnaes pit The stifling vapour vpward sties and Pallas Web it standes At rest my dropping distaffe downe doth drop betweene my handes My luskish minde it hath no lust my vowed gifts to pay Vnto the Temples of the Gods that liue my Theseus may Nor rigging with Th' athenian Dames among the aulters proude To tosse the fiery brands vnto the sacrifice aloude Nor yet deuoutly praying at the Aares with godly guise To Pallas president in earth to offer sacrifice It doth delight me to pursue the chased beasts in flight And tosse my flashing Faucon fierce with nimble hand full light What ayles thou minde this mad to take conceypte in freight and fell My wretched mothers fatall vice a breeding now I smell To cloake our crime our lust doth knowe woods are the fittest place Alas good Mother I lament the heauy lucklesse case Thou rashe attaint with lothsome lust enamored is thy breast Euen with the cruell head of al the herd of saluage beast That churlish angry roaring Bull no yoake can bee sustayne And hee among the wilde and eke vntamed Neat doth raygne Yet was enclinde to loue what God can graunt mee my desire Or Dedalus with curious craft can ease my flaming fire Not if hee might returne whom Ariadne hath iustruct From crooked compast Laberinth by thred that out hee pluckt Among the lurcking corners close and wily winding way To grope his footing backe agayne and did depriue of day Our monstrous Minotaur enclosde in Maze and Dungeon blinde Although hee promise to our sore no salue yet can hee finde Through mee Apollos Progeny doth Venus quite agayne The filthy shame that shee and Mars together did sustayne Whom Phoebus taking at their taske all naked in the Skie Hung vp in Nets a laughing stocke to euery gasing Eye For this all Phoebus stocke with vile and foule reproche she staynes In some of Minos family still lothsome lusting raygnes One mischiefe brings another in NV. O Theseus wyfe and Chylde Of Ioue let vyce be soone out of thine honest breast exilde And quench the raging heat to dire dispayre doe not vp yeeld Who at the first repulseth loue is safe and winnes the field Who doth by flattring fancy fonde feede on his vitious vayne To late doth grudge agaynst the yoake which earst hee did sustayne Nor yet doe I forget how hard and voyde of reason cleane A Princes stately stomacke yeeldes vnto the golden meane PH. That ende I will accept whereto by Fortune I can leade The neighbors weale great comfort brings vnto the horie heade NV. The first redresse is to withstand not willingly to slide The second is to haue the fault by meane and measure tride O wicked wretch what wilt thou doe why dost thou burden more The stayned stocke and dost excell thy mothers fault afore More haynous is thy guilt than yet thy mothers Monster was For monsters mayst thou thinke are brought by destiny to passe But let the cause of sinne to blame of maners lewde redounde And if bicause thy husband doth not breath aboue the grounde Thou thinkst thou mayst defend thy fault and make thy matter good And free from feare thou arte beguilde yet thinke the Stygian flood In griesly gaping gulfe for aye hath drenched Theseus deepe But yet thy Syre whose kingdomes large the Seas at will do keepe Whose dredfull doome pronounceth panges and due deserued payne Two hundreth wayling soules at once Will he thinkst thou maintayne So haynous crime to couche the care of tender Parents breast Full wise and wary is to bring their children to the best Yet shall we thinke by subtill meane by craft and diuelish guile In hugger mugger close to keepe our trechery so vile What shall thy mothers father Phoebe whose beames so blasing bright With fiery gleede of euery thing doth shed his golden light Or Ioue the Grandsire great of Gods that all the world doth shake And brandisheth with flaming Fist his fiery lightnings flake That Vulcane doth in Fornace hoate of dusky Aetna make Thinkst thou thys may be brought to passe so haynous crime to hide Among thy Grandsire all that haue eche priuy thing espide But though the fauor of the Gods conceale the second time Thy lothsome lust vnworthy name and to thy baudy crime Sure faythfulnesse annexed be that euer barred was Ech great offence what will this worke a present plague alas Suspicion lest the guilty night bewray thy deede vniust And conscience burdned sore with sinne that doth it selfe mistrust Some haue commit offence full safe from any bitter blame But none without the stinging pricks of conscience did the same Asswage the boyling flames of this thy lewde vngratious loue Such
fountaynes fayre To frame their seate then vnto thee in senseles sleepe repayre Shal wanton Fayries Nymphes of Frithes that on the Hilles do walke Which Dryade mountayne Goblins haunt that vse on hilles to stalke Or when from high Starbearing poale Diana downe did looke On thee that next old Arcades in heauen thy seate hast tooke Shee could not weilde her weltring wayne and yet no foggy cloude Eclipst her gleaming Globe but we with tincking Pans aloude Gan make a noyse agrised at her dead and glowing light We deemd hir charmd with Magicke verse of Thessant witches spright But thou didst cause hir busines and madest her in a maze Whyle at thy pleasant louely lookes the Goddesse stoode in gaze That rules the rayne of cloudy night she stopt her running race God graunt that seldome byting frost may pinch this comely face Let seldome scorching Sunny beams thy Cheekes with freckles die The Marble blue in quarry pittes of Parius that doth lie Beares not so braue a glimsyng glosse as pleasant seemes thy face Whose browes with manly maiesty support an awful grace And forehead fraught with grauity of Fathers countnaunce old His Iuory colourd necke although compare to Phoebe ye would His lockes that neuer lacking knew it selfe displaying wyde On shoulder poyntes doth set them out and also doth them hyde Thy curled forhead seemes thee well and eake thy notted hayre That crumpled lies vndight in thee a manly grace doth beare Thou Gods though fierce and valiant perforce dost chase and farre Dost ouermatch in length of limmes though yet but young thou arre Thou heares as big boystrous brawnes as Hercules thy breast Then Champion Mars more bourly bolstred out with broader chest On back of horntehoofed Steedes if vawting thou do ryde With Bridle in thyne arriue hand more handsome canst thou guyde The trampling Cyllar horse of Spart then Princely Castor could Thy Letherne loope amid thy dart with former fingers hould And driue thy launce with all thy pith the actiue men of Creete That with their pitched dartes afarre do learne the marke to bit They shall not hurle a slender Reede but after Parthian guyse To shoote an arrow if they list into the open Skies Vnsped without some Bird attaynt it shal not light on ground Vnbath'd with lukewarme bloud of guttes in gory smoking wound And from amid the lofty Cloudes downe shalt thou fetch thy pray Few men marke wel the tyme haue borne beauty vnplagude away God send thee better lucke and graunt thy noble personage May passe vnto the happy steps and stretch to dumpish age What mischiefe vnattempt escapes a Womans witlesse rage Most haynous crymes shee meanes to lay to guiltles youngmās charge And thinkes to make her matter good with hayre thus rent at large She towseth eake the pranking of her head with watred plantes Her slye deuyse no crafty kind of womans fetches wantes But who is this that in his face such princely port doth beare Whose lofty lookes with stately pace hie vauntst his head doth reare Lyke lusty young Pyrithous he looketh in the face But that a faynting fallow pale his bleakish Cheekes disgrace And filthy baggage hangeth on his hash hayre raysde vpright Lo Theseus it is agayne restoard to earthly light THE THIRDE ACTE Theseus Nutrix AT length I scapt the glowinge glades of grim eternall Night And eake the vnderpropping poale that each infernall Spright Doth muffie in shut vp in shades loe how my dazelled eyes Can scant abyde the long dessred light of Marble Skies Eleusis now fowre offringes of Triptolemus deuydes And counterpaysed Day with Night now foure tymes Libra hydes I earnest in my Parlous toyle in doubt what lucke to haue Twixt dread of gastly Death and hope my feeble life to saue Some sparke of life stil in my breahles limmes abyding was When as embarkt on erkesome Stix Alcides downe did passe To succour me in dire distresse who when the hellicke hound From Tartares griesly gates in Chaynes he dragd aboue the ground And also me he caryed vp into the World agayne My tyred limmes doth sappy pith of former strength restrayne My feble faltring legges do quake what lugging toyle it was From bottom deepe of Phlegethon to world aloofe to passe What dreary dole mourning noyse is this that beates myne eares Let some declare it vnto mee who blubbred so with teares Lamenting loud and languishing within our gates appeares This entertaynment sit is for a guest that comes from Hell Nu. A stubburne heart and obstinate in Phaedras breast doth dwell With despret mind to slay her selfe our teares she doth despyse And giuing vp the gasping Ghoast alas my Lady dyes Th. Why should she kill herselfe why die hir spouse being come againe Nu For this my Lord with hasty death she would her selfe haue slaine Th. These troblous wordes some perlous thing I wot not what to tell Speake plain what lumpe of glutting griefe her laded heart doth quei She doth complayne her case to none but pensiuely and sad She keepes it secrete to hir selfe determind thus shee had To beare aboute with her the bane wherewith she meanes to die Hie hie thee fast I pray thee now now haue wee neede to hye Our Pallace lockt with stately stoulpes set open by and by Theseus Phaedra O Madame Mate of Spousall bedde thus dost thou entertayne The comming of thy louing Spouse and welcom home agayne Thy long desyred Hosbandes face why takes thou not away My Sword out of my hand and dost not cheare my Sprites I saye Nor shewest me what doth the breath out of the body chase Ph. Alas my valiant Theseus euen for thy royall mace Wherwith thy Kingdome thou dost weild and by the noble raygne Of thy belo'ud posterity and comming home agayne And for the worship that is due vnto my fatall graue O let me die and suffer me deserued death to haue Th. What cause compelleth thee to die Ph. If I the cause of death Disclose then shall I not obtayne the loosyng of my breath Th. No worldly wight saue I my selfe alone the same shall heare Art thou affrayd to tel it in thy husbandes bashful eare Speake out thy secretes shrowd I shall within my faythful brest Ph. What thou would other to conceale kepe thou it first in rest Th. Thou shalt not suffred be to die Ph. From him that wisheth Death Death neuer can be seperate Th. The crime that losse of breath Ought to reuenge shew it to me Ph. Forsooth because I liue Th. Alas do not my trilling teares thy stony stomacke grieue Ph. It is the sweetest death when one doth lothsome life forsake Bereft of such as should for him most woful weeping make Th. Stil standes she mum the croked old ilfauord hoblinge Trotte Hir Nurse for stripes and clogging bandes shall vtter euery iotte That shee forbid her hath to tell in yron chaynes her bynd Let tawing whips wring out perforce the secrets of her mynd PH. Now I my selfe wil speak stay
assaultes they sought afar from West with Banners spred Where Tanais cold her braunches seuen abroad the world doth shed With hugie host and from the East where springes the newest dea Where Luke warme Tygris channell runnes and meetes the ruddy sea And which frō wandring land of Scythe the band of widowes sought With fire and sworde thus battered be her Turrets downe to nought The walles but late of high renowne lo here their ruinous fall The buildinges burne and flashing flame swepes through the pallas al Thus euery house ful hie it smoakes of old Assarackes lande Ne yet the flames withholdes from spoyle the greedy Victors hand The surging smoake the asure saye and light hath hid away And as with cloude beset Troyes Ashes staynes the dusky day Through pearst with ire and greedy of hart the victor from a farre Doth view the long assaulted Troy the gaine of ten yeares warre And eke the miseryes therof abhorres to looke vppon And though he se it yet scant himselfe belieues might be wonne The spoyles thereof with greedy hand they snatch and beare awaye A thousand shippes would not receiue aboorde so huge a pray The yreful might I do protest of Gods aduerse to mee My countryes dust and Troyan King I call to witnes thee Whom Troy now hydes and vnderneath the stones art ouertrode With al the Gods that guides the Ghost and Troy that lately stoode And you also you flocking Ghostes of al my children dere Ye lesser Sprightes what euer ill hath hapned to vs here What euer Phoebus watrish face in fury hath foresayde At raging rise from seas when earst the monsters had him frayde In childbed bandes I saw it yore and wist it should be so And I in vayne before Cassandra told it long agoe Not false Vlysses kindled hath these fires nor none of his Nor yet deceyptful Sinons craft that hath bene cause of this My fyre it is wherwith ye burne and Parys is the brand That smoaketh in thy towres O Troy the flowre of Phrygian sand But ay alas vnhappy age why dost thou yet so sore Bewayle thy Countries fatall fall thou knewest it long before Behold thy last calamityes and them bewayle with wares Account as old Troys ouerturne and past by many yeares I saw the slaughter of the King and how he lost his life By Th' aulter side more mischiefe was with stroake of Pyrrhus knife When in his hand he wound his lockes and drew the King to ground And hid to hiltes his wicked sword in deepe and deadly wound Which when the gored King had tooke as willing to bee slaynt Out of the old mans throate he drew his bloudy blade agayne Not pitty of his yeares alas in mans extreamest age From slaughter might his hand withhold ne yet his yre asswage The Gods are witnes of the same and eake the sacrifyes That in his kingdome holden was that flat on ground now lies The father of so many Kings Pryam of auncient name Vntombed lieth and wants in blase of Troy his funerall flame Ne yet the Gods are wreakt but loe his Sonnes and daughters all Such Lordes they serue as doth by chance of lot to them befall Whom shall I follow now for pray or where shall I be led There is perhaps amonge the Greekes that Hectors wyfe wil wed Some man desyres Helenus spouse some would Antenors haue And in the Greekes their wantes not some that would Cassandra craue But I alas most woeful wight whom no man seekes to chuse I am the only refuge left and me they cleane refuse Ye careful captiue company why stints your woful crye Beate on your breastes and piteously complayne with voyce so hye As meete may be for Troyes estate let your complayntes rebound In toppes of Trees and cause the hills to ring with terible sounde THE SECOND SCENE The VVoman Hecuba NOt folke vnapt nor nevv to vveepe O Queene Thou vvilst to vvayle by practise are vvee taught For all these yeares in such case haue vve bene Since first the Troyan guest Amiclas soughte And saild the Seas that led him on his vvay With sacred ship to Cibell dedicate From vvhence he brought his vnrepyning pray The cause alas of all this dire debate Ten tymes novv hydde the hilles of Idey bee With snovve of Syluer hevv all ouer layd And bared is for Troyan rages each tree Ten tymes in field the haruest man afrayde The spikes of Corne hath reapt since neuer day His waylyng wantes new cause renewes our woe Lift vp thy hand O Queene crie well away We follow thee we are wel taught thereto HEC. ¶ Ye faythful fellowes of your casualty Vntie th at that on your heads ye weare And as behoueth state of misery Let fall aboute your woeful neckes your hayre In dust of Troy rub all your armes about In slacker weede and let your breastes be tyed Downe to your bellies let your limmes lye out For what wedlocke should you your bosomes hyde Your garmentes loose and haue in readines Your furious handes vppon your breast to knocke This habite well beseemeth our distresse It pleaseth me I know the Troyan flocke Renew agayne your longe accustomde cryes And more then earst lament your miseryes We bewayle Hector WO. ¶ Our hayre we haue vntide now euerychone All rent for sorrow of our cursed cace Our lockes out spreads the knottes we haue vndone And in these ashes stayned is our face HEC. ¶ Fill vp your handes and make therof no spare For this yet lawful is from Troy to take Let dovvne your garmentes from your shoulders bare And suffer not your clamour so to slake Your naked breastes wayte for your handes to smight Now dolor deepe now sorrow shevv thy might Make all the coastes that compas Troy about Witnes the sounde of all your careful crye Cause from the Caues the eccho to cast out Rebounding voyce of all your misery Not as she wontes the latter word to sound But all your woe from farre let it rebound Let al the Seas it heare and eke the land Spare not your breastes vvith heauy stroake to strike Beate ye your selues ech one vvith cruell hand For yet your vvonted crie doth me not like VVe bevvayle Hector VVO. Our naked armes thus here vve rent for thee And bloudy shoulders Hector thus vve teare Thus vvith our fistes our heades lo beaten bee And all for thee behold vve hale our heare Our dugges alas vvith mothers hands be torne And vvhere the flesh is vvounded round about VVhich for thy sake vve rent thy death to morne The flovving streames of bloud they spring thereout Thy countres shore and destinies delay And thou to vvearied Troians vvast an ayde A vvall thou vvast and on thy shoulders Troy Ten yeres it stode on thee alone it staide VVith thee it fell and fatall day alas Of Hector both and Troy but one there vvas HEC. Enough hath Hector turne your plaint and mone And shed your teares for Pryame euery chone VVO. Receiue our plaintes O lord of Phrigian
geue to Peleus sonne For Helen sake your owne childes bloud appeasd Dianas yre A wonted thing and done ere this it is that I require Ag. The onely fault of youth it is not to refraine his rage The Fathers bloud already sturres in Pryams wanton age Somtime Achilles grieuous checkes I bare with pacient hart The more thou mayst the more thou oughtst to suffer in good part Wherto would yee with slaughtred bloud a noble spirit stayne Thinke what is meete the Greekes to do and Troyans to sustayne The proude estate of tyranny may neuer long endure The King that rules with modest meane of safety may be sure The higher step of princely state that fortune hath vs signd The more behou'th a happy man humility of mynd And bread the chaunge that chaūce may bring whose gifts so sone be lost And chiefly then to feare the Gods whyle they the fauour most In beating downe that warre hath wonne by proofe I haue ben taught What pompe and pride in twinke of eye may fall and come to naught Troy made me fierce proude of mynde Troy makes me frayd withal The Grekes now stand wher Troy late fel ech thing may haue his fal Sometyme I graunt I did my selfe and Sceptors proudly beare The thing that might aduaunce my hart makes me the more to feare Thou Priam perfit proofe presentst thou art to mee eftsones A cause of pride a glasse of feare a mirrour for the nones Should I accoumpt the sceptors ought but glorious vanity Much like the borowed brayded hayre the face to beautify One sodayne chaunce may turne to naught and mayme the might of men With fewer then a thousand shippes and yeares in lesse then ten Not she that guydes the slipper wheele of fate doth so delay That she to al possession grauntes of ten yeares setled stay With leaue of Greece I wil confesse I would haue wonne the towne But not with ruine thus extreme to see it beaten downe But loe the battel made by night and rage of feruent mynd Could not abyde the brydling bitte that reason had assignd The happy sword once slaind with blood vnsatiable is And in the darke the seruent rage doth strike thee more amis Now are we wreakt on Troy so much let all that may remayne A Virgin borne of Princes bloud for offring to be slayne And geuen be to slayne the tombe and ashes of the ded And vnder name of wedlocke see the guiltles bloud be shed I wil not graunt for myne should bee thereof both fault and blame Who when he may forbiddeth not offence doth wil the same Pyr. And shall his sprights haue no reward their angers to appeyse Aga. Yes very great for all the world shall celebrate his prayse And landes vnknowen that neuer saw the man so praysd by fame Shall heate and kepe for many yeares the glory of his name If bloudshed vayle his ashes ought strike of an Oxes hed And let no bloud that may be cause of mothers teares be shed What furious fransy may this be that doth your will so leade This earnest carefull sutte to make in trauayle for the dead Let not such enuy towarde your father in your heart remayne That for his sacrifice yee would procure an others payne Pyr. Proude tirant while prosperity thy stomacke doth aduaunce And cowardly wretch that shrinks for feare in case of fearefull chaunce Is yet agayne thy breast enflamde with brand of Venus might Wilt thou alone so oft depriue Achilles of his right This hand shall giue the sacrifice the which if thou withstand A greater slaughter shall I make and worthy Pyrrhus hand And now to long from Princes slaughter doth my hand abide And meete it were that Polyxene were layde by Priams side Aga. I not deny but Pyrrhus chiefe renowne in warre is this That Pryam slaine with cruell sworde to your father humbled is Pyr. My fathers foes we haue them known submit themselues humbly And Pryam presently yee wot was glad to craue mercy But thou for feare not stout to rule liest close from foes vp shit Whil thou to Aiax and Vlysses dost thy will commit Aga. But needes I must and will confesse your father did not feare When burnt our fleete with Hectors brands Greeks they slaughtred weare While loytring then a loofe he lay vnmindfull of the fight In steede of armes with scratch of quill his sounding harp to smight Pyr. Great Hector then despising thee Achilles songes did feare And Thessale ships in greatest dread in quiet peace yet weare Aga. For why aloofe the Thessale fleete they lay from Troyans handes And well your father might haue rest he felt not Hectors brandes Pir. Well seemes a noble king to giue an other king reliefe Aga. Why hast thou then a worthy king berieued of his life Pyr. A poinct of mercy sometime is what liues in care to kill Aga. But now your mercy mooueth you a virgins death to will Pyr. Account yee cruell now her death whose sacrifice I craue Your own deere daughter once yee knowe your selfe to th' aulters gaue Aga. Naught els could saue the Greekes frō seas but th' only bloud of her A king before his children ought his countrey to prefer Pyr. The law doth spare no captiues bloud nor wil'th their death to stay Aga. That which the law doth not forbid yet shame doth oft say nay Pyr. The conquerour what thing he list may lawfully fulfill Aga. So much the lesse he ought to list that may do what he will PYR. Thus boast ye these as though in all ye onely bare the stroke When Pyrrhus loosed hath the greekes from bond of ten yeres yoke A. Hath Scyros yle such stomaks bred P. No bretherns wrath it knoes AG. Beset about it is with waue PYR. The seas it do enclose Thyestes noble stocke I know and Atreus eke full well And of the bretherns dire debate perpetuall fame doth tell AG. And thou a bastard of a mayde defloured priuely Whom then a boy Achilles gat in filthy lecherr Pyr. The same A chill that doth possesse the raigne of Gods aboue With Thetys seas with Aeacus sprights the starred heauen with Ioue Aga. The same Achilles that was slaine by stroke of Paris hande Pyr. The same Achilles whom no god durst euer yet withstand Aga. The stoutest man I rather would his checkes he should refraine I could them tame but all your bragges I can full well sustaine For euen the captiues spares my sword let Calchas called be If destyntes require her bloud I will thereto agree Calchas whose counsel rulde our ships and nauy hither brought Vnlookst the poale and hast by arte the secretes thereof sought To whome the bowelles of the beast to whom the thunder clap And blasyng starre with flaming traine betokeneth what shall hap Whose words with dearest price I bought now tell vs by what meane The will of Gods agreeth that we returne to Greece againe Cal. The fates apoint the Grekes to buy their waies with wonted price And with
you thus flee OEdi. Frō none but frō my selfe Who haue a breast full fraught with guilte who wretched caitiffe Elte Haue all embrude my hands with bloud From these apace I flee And from the heauens and Gods therein and from that villanie Which I most wicked wretch haue wrought Shall I treade on thys ground Or am I worthy so to doe in whom such trickes abound Am I to haue the benefite of any Element Of Ayre for breath of water moyst or Earth for nourishment O Slaue forlorne O beastly wretch O Incestmonger vyle O Varlet most detestable O Peysaunte full of guile Why doe I with polluted Fyst and bloudy pawes presume To touch thy chast and comely hand I foame I fret I fume In hearing any speake to mee Ought I heare any tell Or once of Sonne or Father speake syth I did Father quell Would God it were within my power my Senses all to stop Would God I could these Eares of myne euen by the stumps to crop If that might bee then daughter I should not haue heard thy voyce I I thy Syre that thee be got by most incestuous choise Beegetting of thee makes my crymes moe then they were before Remorse thereof both gnaw and grype my conscience more and more Ofttymes that which myne Eyes not see with Eares that doe I heare And of my Facts afore time done the inward wound I beare Why is there stay made of my doome Why am I spard so long Why is not this blind head of myne throwne damned ghosts among Why rest I on the Earth and not among infernall Sprightes Why pester I the company of any mortall Wightes What myschiefe is there more behind to aggrauate my care My Kingdome Parents Children Wit and Vertue quayled are By sturdy stormes of froward Fate nothing remaynde but teares And they bee dryde and Eyes be gon my hardned heart forbeares Such signes of grace leaue of therefore and make no more adde A minde so mated with dispayre no suytes will slowpe vnto I practize some straunge punishments agreeing to my deede But what proportion can bee found of plagues vnto my meede Whose Fortune euer was so bad I was in sooner borne But seely Infant Iudgde I was in peeces to be torne My mother in whose wombe I lay forth had not mee yet brought And yet euen then I feared was and straight my death was sought Some Babes soone after they bee borne by stroke of death depart But I poore soule before my byrth adiudged was to dart Of death some yet in Mothers wombe ere any light they see Doe taste the dint of hasty Fate while Innocents they bee Apollo by his Oracle pronounced sentence dyre Vpon mee being yet vnborne that I vnto my Syre Should breastly parricide commit and therevpon was I Condemned straight by Fathers doome My Feete were by and by Launcde through through with yrō Pins hangde was I by the Heeles Vpon a Tree my swelling plants the printe thereof yet feeles As pray to Beastes cast out also to cramme theyr greedy Iawes In Mount Cythaeron and to fill the griping Vulturs Mawes Such Sauce to tast full lyke was I was others heeretofore Descended of the royall Sangue with smart perforce haue bore But see the chaunce I thus condemn'de by Dan Apollos hest And cast to beasts by Fathers doome and euery way distrest Could finde no death no death on mee durst seyze his lordly Pawe But fled from mee as though I had not beene within his Lawe I verified the Oracle with wicked hand I kilde Myne owne deere Father and vnwares his guiltlesse bloud I spilde Shall any satisfaction redeeme so vile an Acte May any kinde of Piety purge such a shamefull fact I rested not contented thus For Father beeing slayne I fell in linkes of lawlesse Loue with Mother Oh what payne And grudge of minde sustaynde I there in thinking on the same To tell our wicked wedlocke Yoake I loath I blush I shame I may not well this geare conceale I le tell it out it shall Though to my shame it much redound it may augment my thrall I will display straunge villanies and them in number many Most beastlike parts most lewde attempts to bee abhorr'de of any So filthy and so monstruous that sure I thinke no Age Will them belieue to haue bene done so cruell was my rage That euen ech cutthroate Partrcide thereat may be ashamde To heare it nam'de and with disdaine straight wayes will be enflamde My handes in Fathers blud embrude to Fathers Bed I brought And haue with Mother myne his Wife incestuous practyse sought To myschiefe adding mischiefe more I wis my fault to Sire Is slender in comparison my gracelesse fond desire Could not bee staide till solemnely the mariage Knot was knit Twixt mee and Mother myne alas for want of grace and wit How plungde am I in myschiefe still how is the measure full Of horrours vile which doe my minde and heart asunder pull And least the heape of these my woes might seeme to bee too skant My Mother she my Wyfe that is yong issue doth not want Can any crime in all the World more haynous be surmisde If any may by wicked Impes the same I haue deuisde My Realme and Crowne I haue resignde which I receiued as hyre For murdring most vunaturally the king my Lord and Syre Which Crowne now since twixt both my sonnes hath kindled mortall war And all the countrey by the ears remains at deadly iarre I know ful wel what destenies to this same Crowne belonges None without Bloud the same shall weare and most accursed wrongs This mynd of myne who Father am presageth many ills And gloomy dayes of slaughter dyre the plot that murther willes Already is contriu'd and cast all truth of word and deede Is quight exild al promise broke of pactes afore decreed Etheocles th one of my sonnes who now in princely throne Beates all the sway meanes stil to keepe the Diademe alone Poore Polynices th'o other sonne thus beyng dispessest And kept by force from Kingly rule his humble sute addrest Vnto the Gods this wrong to wreake this breach of league and oth T' auenge and plague he Argos soyle end Greekish Cttyes both Perswades t' assist him in this warie this quarel to mayntayne That he in Thebes as promise was might haue his turne to raygne The ruyne that to wearied Thebes shall greeuously befall And bring the pompous state therof adowne shal not be small Fire sword glaue woūds thwackīg thūps shal light vnto their share And that ere long and mischieues worse it any worse there are And this shall hap that all the worlde may know it is the race And yssue of a curied Syre that darraygnes such a case Though other causes none there were to moue you sic to liue Yet is this one sufficient that you by awe may dryue Your sonnes my Brethren tarring thus to vnity and peace For you their Father only may theyr furies cause to tease
You and none els may turne away th occassons of this warre These bransicke youthes from further rage you onely may dibarre By this your meanes the countrey shall their quiet peace enioy And Brethren ioyntly reconcild shal worke no more ennoy If you therefore this mortall life thus to your selfe deny You many thousandes shal vndoe whose states on you relye Oed. What canst thou make me to beleue that any sparke of grece Or loue to Syre or honesty in them hath any place Which thirst for one on others bloud which after kingdomes gape Whose whole delight is villany werre wurther guile and rape Such hateful ympes on mischiefe set such wicked Termagosites As to be sonnes of such a Syre with shame may wake their vauntes At one bare woord to tel thee all thy brethren two are bent Vppon all mischiefe wayghing not what loosenes they frequent When flingbrayne rage ensots their heades they care not they a rush Vpon what Deuelish vile attemptes they geue the desprat push And as they are conceau'd and borne in most abhorred sort So still deuoyde of Grace they thincke all villany but sport Theyr Fathers shame and wretched state moues them no whit at all To Countrey they no reckning make what massacre befall Their myndes are rauisht with desyre ambitiously to raygne I know their driftes and what they hope at length by shiftes to gayne And therfore sith the case so standes I leyfer had to die With poasting speede whyle in my house there is none worse then I Ahlas deare Daughter what adoe dost thou about me make Why liest thou prostrate at my knees why dost thou trauaile take To conquere my resolued mynd with this thy spiced phraze Of fayre entreatie these thy wordes my flynty hart amaze Dame Fortune hath none other bayte to bryng me to her lure Then this alone til now I still vnbanquisht did endure No Creatures words but thyne alone could pearce this hart of myne Ne from a purpose resolute my setled mynd butwyne Thou conquere canst thaffections fond that in my breast do boyle Thou teachest grace to fathers house and zeale to natiue soyle Each thing to me delightful is which iumpeth with thy wil Commaund me Daughter I thy hestes am ready to fufill Old Oedipus if thou enioyne wil passe th' Aegaean Sea And flashing flakes of Aetna Mount with mouth he dare assay He boldly dare obiect himselfe to raumping Dragons claw Which rag'd sweld and venime spit apace when as he saw Dan Hercules away to steale his golden Aples all In Gardens of Hesperides At thy commaund he shall His Entrails offer vnto iobbe of greedy Vulturs Byll At thy commaund content he is in life to linger still THE SECONDE ACTE Nuntius OEdipus Antigone Iocasta REnowmed Prynce of royall Race and Noble lygne yspronge The Thebans dreading much the drife of this your childrens thronge And warlicke garboyle now in hand most humbly pray your Grace For Countreys safety downe to set some order in the case They bee not threates and menacies that thus their mindes affright The mischiefe is more neere then so the Enmy is in sight For Polynices he that is your younger sonne of twayne Doth clayme the crowne and in his turne in Thebes requires to raigne According vnto couenaunts made which quarrell to decite Hee purposeth the dene of sword and maritall force t' abide With him he brings a mighty Troupe from eu'ry part of Greece Sir seuen Dukes hesieging Thebes are minded it to fleese Helpe noble King els are wee lyke to perishe man and chylde These bloudy broyles of ciuill warre from vs protect and shyelde O Edi. Am I one like to stop the rage of any wicked act Am I one like to cause these Youthes to leaue their bloudy fact Am I a maister like to teach what lawes of loue do meane Should I not then from former quise digresse in nature eleane They treade their Fathers steps aright they play my lawlesse prankes Like Syre like Sonnes like Tree like fruite I con theÌ„ harty thanks By this I know them for my Sonnes and praise their towardnesse I would they should by peeuish partes whose Sonnes they be expresse Shew forth you noble Gallante ympes what metled minds you beare Shew forth by deedes your valor great let lofty sprights appeare Surmount and dimme my prayses all Eclypse my glory quight Attempt some enterprise in which your Syre may haue delight To haue till now remaynd in life hereof I haue no doubt For well I know your practise is straunge feates to bring about Your byrth and ligne from whence you spronge assures me of no lesse Such noble Bloudes must needes atchiue some doughty worthinesse Your Weapons and Artillery for warre bring out with speede Consume with flame your natiue Soyle and desolation breede In eu'ry house within the Land a hurly burly make Confusedly of eu'ry thinge Make all the Realme to quake And in exile theyr dayes let end make leuell with the ground Eche fenced Fort and walled Towne The Gods and all confound And throw their Temples on their heads Their Images deface And melt them all turne vpstdowne eche house in eu'ry place Burne spoyle make hauocke leaue no iote of City free from fyre And let the flame begin his rage within my Chamber dyre AN. Syr banish these vnpatient panges let plagues of CoÌ„mon wealth Entreate your Grace sith vpon you stayth all their hope and health Procure your sonnes to reconcile themselues as brothers ought Establishe peace betwene them both let meanes of loue be sought OEd. Oh daughter see and well beholde howe I to peace am bent And how to end these garboyles all I seeme full well content My minde I tell thee swelles with yre within my entralles boyles Abundaunt stoare of Choller fell such restlesse rage turmoyles My inward Soule that I must yet some greater matter brew Which may the Realme enwrap in bale and cause them all to rue That which my rashe and heady sonnes haue hitherto begon Is nothing in respect of that wich must by me be don This ciuill warre is nothing like to that which I deuise These trifling broyles for such a Sea of harmes cannot suffice Let brother cut the brothers throate with murthrous knife in hand Yet is not this ynough to purge the mischieues of this lend Some haynous Fact vnheard of yet some detestable deede Must practisde bee as is to mee and myne by Fates decreed Such custome haunts our cursed race such guise our house hath caught My vise incestuous Bed requires such pageaunts to be wraught To me your Father Weapons reach my selfe heere let me shrowde In couert of these queachy wooddes and let me be allowde To lurke behinde this Craggy Rocke or els my selfe to hyde On backside of some thickset hedge where lying vnespide I hearken may what marketfolkes in passing to and froe Do talke and what the countrey Clownes speake as by way they goe There syth with eyes I cannot see with earâ—s yet may I beare How