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