Fil'd all the Altar with a roseate dew In this amazement thus the Delphian God Spake from the Incenst Altar Lord of Creete Thus say to Saturne Sibill his faire wife Is great with a yong Prince of Noble hopes That shall his fathers vertues much excell Ceaze on his Crowne and driue him downe to Hell Sat. The Gods if there be any boue our selfe Enuy our greatnesse and of one that seekes To beare himselfe boue man makes me more wretched Then the most slauish bruit What shall my Sibill Bring me a sonne that shall depose me then He shall not I will crosse the Deities I 'le toombe th' usurper in his Infant bloud I 'le keepe my oath Prince Tytan shall succeed Maugre the enuious Gods the brat shall bleed 1. Lor. Way for the dowager Queene Enter Vesta sad Sat. How fares our mother How i' st with faire Sibilla our deere Queene Vesta Your Queene 's deliuered Sat. Of some female birth You Deities I begge make me oh Heauens No more inhumane in the tragicke slaughter Of princely Infants fill my decreed number With Virgins though in them I loose my name And kingdome either make her barren euer Or else all generatiue power and appetite Depriue me lest my purple sinne be stil'd Many degrees boue murder What 's her birth Vesta Shee 's the sad mother of a second sonne Saturn Be euer dumbe let euerlasting silence Tong-tye the world all humane voyce henceforth Turne to confus'd and vndistinguisht found Of barking Hounds hoarse beares howling wolues To stop all rumour that may fil the world With Saturnes tyranies against his sonnes Vest. Ah did but Saturne see you smiling babe Hee 'd giue it life and breake ten thousand oathes Rather then suffer the sweet infant dye His very looke would begge a quicke reprieue Euen of the tyrant Tytan saw the vnkle With what a gracefull looke the Infant smiles Hee 'd giue it life although he purchas'd it with losse of a great Kingdome Saturn Then spare the lad I did offend too much To kill the first tell Sibill he shall liue I 'le be no more so monstrous in my rigor Nor with the bloud of Princes buy my Crowne No more their Cradles shall be made their Tombes Nor their soft swathes become their winding sheetes How can my subiects thinke I l'e spare their liues That to my owne can be so tyranous Tell Sibill he shall liue Uest. Vesta will be that ioyfull messenger Saturn Stay let me first reward the Oracle It told me Sibill should produce a sonne That should his Fathers vertues much excell Cease on my Crowne and driue me downe to Hell Must I then giue an Infant-traitor life To sting me to the heart the brat shall bleed Uesta Sweet sonne 1. Lord Deere soueraigne Saturn He that next replyes Mother or friend by Saturnes fury dyes Away fetch me his heart brimme me a bowle With his warme bloud Tyran my vow I 'le keep Life newly wakend shall as newly sleep Vest. Worse then a bruit for bruits preserue their own Worse then the worst of things is Saturne growne Saturn Command the childe to death Uesta Tyrant I will Tygers would saue whom Saturn means to kill Sat. It is my sonne whom I command to death A Prince that may succed me in my Throne And to posterity reuiue my name Call Vesta backe and bid her saue the Babe 1. Lord I 'le do 't my Lord Sat. Yet stay the lad to kill I saue my oath and keep my kingdome still Post after her and charge them on their liues Send me the babes bloud in a cup of gold A present which I 'le offer to the Gods Delay not bee 't our mother nay our wife Forfeits her owne to saue the Infants life 1. Lord I shall informe them so Sat. Is this a deity To be more wretched then the worst on earth To be depriu'd that comfort of my issue Which euen the basest of my land enioy I l'e henceforth for my rigor hate my selfe Pleasures despise and ioyes abandon quite The purest bloud that runnes within my veines I 'le dull with thicke and troubled melancholy I l'e warre with comfort be at oddes with solace And league with nothing but distemprature Henceforth my vnkem'd lockes shall knot in curles Rasor nor any edge shall kisse my cheeke Vntill my chin appeare a wildernesse And make we wild in knowledge to the world Perpetuall care shall cabin in my heart My tyranny I 'le punish in my selfe And saue the Gods that labour Saturns disturbance to the world shall be That planet that infuseth melancholy Enter Sibilla lying in child-bed with her child lying by her and her Nurse c. Sibilla Is not our mother Vesta yet return'd That made herselfe th' unwilling messenger To bring the king newes of his new-borne sonne Nurs. Madam not yet Sibil. Mother of all that euer mothers were Most wretched kisse thy sweet babe ere he dye That hath life onely lent to suffer death Sweet Lad I would thy father saw thee smile Thy beauty and thy pretty Infancy Would molifie his heart wer 't hew'd from flint Or caru'd with Iron tooles from the corsicke rocke Thou laughest to thinke thou must be kild in iest Oh if thou needs must dye I 'le be thy murdresse And kill thee with my kisses pretty knaue And canst thou laugh to see thy mother weepe Or art thou in thy cheerefull smiles so free In scorne of thy rude fathers tyranny Nurs. Madam the King hath slaine his first borne son Whom had hee seene aliue hee 'd not haue giuen For ten such Kingdomes as he now enioyes The death of such a faire and hopefull child Is full as much as Tytan can demand Sib. He shall spare this sweet babe I 'le ransome thee With my owne life the knife that pierceth thee Will wound thy mothers side and I shall feele The least sharpe stroke from his offensiue steele Nurs. The mother Queen 's return'd Enter Vesta How lookes she Nurse Let her not speake but yet a little longer My hopes hold in suspence oh me most wretched I reade my Lords harsh answere in her eye Her very lookes tell me the boy must dye Say must he must he kill me with that word Which will wound deeper then King Saturnes sword Vesta The boy must dye Sib. Oh! Nurs. Looke to the Queene she faints Vest. Oh let 's not loose the mother with her infant The losse of one 's too much Sibill. Oh wher 's my childe I le hide thee in my bed my bosome brest The murderer shall not finde my little sonne Thou shalt not dye be not afraid my boy Go tell the King hee s mine as well as his And I 'le not kill my part one he hath slaine In which I had like interest this I 'le saue And euery second sonne keepe from the graue Enter the first Lord Vesta Fobeare sir for this place is priuiledg'd And onely for free women 1. Lord Yet is the Kings command boue
your decree And I must play th' intruder gainst my will The King vpon your liues hath charged you To see that infant Lad immediatly Receiue his death he stayes for his warme bloud To offer to the Gods To thinke him slaine Sad partner of your sorrowes I remaine Nurs. Madam you heare the king doth threat our liues Let 's kill him then Sib. Is he inexorable Why should not I proue as seuere a mother As he a cruell father since the King Hath doom'd him I the Queene will doo 't my selfe Giue me the fatall Engine of his wrath I l'e play the horrid murdresse for this once I 'le kisse thee ere I kill thee for my life The Lad so smiles I cannot hold the knife Uesta Then giue him me I am his Grand-mother And I will kill him gently this sad office Belongs to me as to the next of kin Sib. For heauens sake when you kil him hurt him not Vesta Come little knaue prepare your naked throat I haue not heart to giue thee many wounds My kindnesse is to take thy life at once Now Alacke my pretty Grand-child smil'st thou still I haue lust to kisse but haue no heart to kill Nurs. You may be carelesse of the kings command But it concernes me and I loue my life More then I do a sucklings giue him me I 'le make him sure a sharpe weapon lend I 'le quickly bring the yongster to his end Alacke my pretty knaue t' were more then sin With a sharpe knife to touch thy tender skin On Madame hee 's so full of Angell grace I cannot strike he smiles so in my face Sib. I 'le wink strike come once more reach him hither For dye he must so Saturne hath decreed 'Las for a world I would not see him bleed Vesta Ne shall he do but sweare me secresie The babe shall liue and we be dangerlesse Sib, O blesse me with such happinesse Vesta Attend me The king of Epires daughters two bright maids Owe me for many fauours the like loue These I dare trust to them I 'le send this babe To be brought vp but not as Saturns sonne Do but prouide some trusty messenger My honour for his safety Sib. But by what meanes shall we delude the king Vest. A yong Kids heart swimming in reeking bloud Wee 'l send the King and with such forged griefe And counterfet sorrow shadow it That this imposture neuer shall be found Sib. Oh twice my mother you bestow vpon me A double life thus to preserue my boy Nurs. Giue me the child I 'le finde a messenger Shall beare him safe to Melliseus Court Vesta The bloud and heart I 'le presently prouide T' appease the rage of Saturne Sib. First le ts sweare To keepe this secret from King Saturnes eare Vesta We will and if this plot passe vndiscouer'd By like deuise we will saue all your sonnes About our taskes you some choyce friend to finde I with my feigned teares the King to blinde Actus secundi Scoena prima Enter HOMER Homer WHat cannot womens wits they wonders can When they intend to blinde the eyes of man Oh lend me what old Homer wants your eyes To see th' euent of what these Queenes deuise The doombe shew sound Enter the Nurse and Clowne shee sweares him to secresie and to him deliuers the child and a letter to the daughters of King Melliseus they part Enter at one doore Saturne melancholy with his Lords at the other Vesta the Nurse who with counterfeit passion present the King a bleeding heart vpon a kniues point and a bowle of bloud The King departs one way in great sorrow the Ladies the other way in great ioy This past so currant that the third sonne borne Cal'd Neptune was by like deuise preseru'd And sent to Athens where he liu'd vnknowne And had in time command vpon the seas Pluto the yongest was sent to Tartary Where he in processe a strange City built And cald it Hell his subiects for their rapine Their spoils and theft are Diuels tearm'd abrode Thus melancholy Saturne hath suruiuing Three Noble sonnes in seuerall confines plac'd And yet himselfe thinks sonne-lesse one faire daughter Hight Iuno is his sole delight on earth Thinke kinde spectators seuenteene sommers past Till these be growne to yeares and Iupiter Found in a caue by the great Epyre King where by his daughters he before was hid Of him and of his fortunes we proceeed My iournie 's long and I my eye-sight want Courteous spectators left blind Homer stray Lend me your hands to guide me on your way Enter Lycaon with his Lords Iupiter with other Lords of Epyre Lycaon After long warre and tedious differences Betwixt King Melliseus and our selfe What craue the Epyre Lords Iupiter This King Lycaon Since truce and hostage hath tane vp these broiles And ended them in peacefull amity Since all the damadge by the Epyrians done Is on our part aboundantly made good We come Lycaon to demand the like Of thee and of thy Kingdome and for proofe That all our malice is extinct and dead We bring thy hostage backe demanding ours Lycaon Receiue him Lords a Banquet instantly You shall this day braue Epyre feast with vs And to your boord your hostage shall be brought There to receiue him freely meane time sit And taste the royall welcomes of our Court Iup. Lycaon's iust in keeping these conditions So strictly with a reconciled foe Lyc. But faire prince tell me whence you are deriu'd I neuer heard King Melliseus had A Prince of your perfections Iupiter This demand Startles my bloud being borne I know not where Yet that I am of gentry at the least My Spirit prompts me and my noble thoughts Giue me approued warrant being an infant Two beauteous Ladyes found me in a caue Where from their voluntary charity Bees fed me with their hony for that cause The two bright Ladies cal'd me Iupiter And to their Father Melliseus brought me My Foster-father who hath train'd my youth In feats of Armes and military prowesse And as an instance of his deerest loue Hath honor'd me with this late Embassy A banquet brought in with the limbes of a Man in the seruice Lyca. We are satisfi'd Princes sit round and feast You are this day Lycaons welcom'st guest Iup. This meat distasts me doth Lycaon feast vs Like Caniballes feed vs with humane flesh Whence is this portent Lycan. Feede Epyrians eate Lycaon feasts you with no common meate Iup. But wher 's the Epyre Lord we left as hostage Lyca. Behold him here hee 's at the table with you This is the Epyres head and these his limbes Thinkes Melliseus that Lycaon can Discended of the valiant Tytanoys Bury his hatred and intoombe his spleene Without reuenge bloud in these warres was shed And for that bloud your hostage lost his head Iup. Beare wrong that list those can brooke it best I was not borne to suffrance thoughts mount hye A King hath wrong'd me and a King shall
we talking of things there must be no medling with things in this place come let vs set our watch and take our lodgings before the Princesse chamber Exit Enter Iupiter like a Pedler the Clowne his man with packs at their backes Iup. Sirrah now I haue sworne you to secrecy attend your charge Clo. Charge me to the mouth and till you giue fire I 'l not of Iup. Thou know'st I haue stuft my packe with rich iewels to purchase one iewell worth all these Clowne If your pretious stones were set in that Iewell it would be braue wearing Iup. If we get entrance sooth me vp in all things if I haue recourse to the Princesse if at any time thou seest me whisper to her find some tricke or other to blinde the Beldams eyes Clow. Shee that hath the best eyes of them all I haue a trick to make her nose stand in her light Iup. No more K. Iupiter but goodman Pedler remember that Clow. I haue my memorandums about mee As I can beare a packe so I can beare a braine now I talke of a packe though I know not of the death of any of your freinds I am sorry for your heauinesse Iup, Loue and my hopes doe make my loade seeme light This wealth I will vnburthen in the purchase Of you rich beauty Prethee ring the bell Clow. Nay do you take the rope in your hand for lucke sake The morall is because you shall ring all-in He rings the bell Iup. I care not if I take thy counsell Enter the 4 Beldams 1. Beld. To the gate to the gate and know who 't is ere you open 2. Beld. I learn't that in my youth still to know who knockt before I would open Iup. Saue you gentle Matrons may a man be so bold as aske what he may call this rich and stately Tower 3. Beld. Thou seem'st a stranger to aske such a question For where is not the tower of Darreine knowne Clow. It may be cal'd the tower of Barren for ought I see for heere is none but are past children 4. Beld. This is the rich and famous Darreine Tower Where King Acrisius hath inclos'd his daughter The beautious Danae famous through the world For all perfections Iup. Oh then 't is here I here I must vnload Comming through Creet the great King Iupiter Intreated me to call here at this Tower And to deliuer you some speciall Iewels Of high pris'd worth for he would haue his bounty Renown'd through all the earth Downe with your packe For here must wee vnload 1. Beld. Iewels to vs 2. Beld. And from Iupiter Iup. Now gold proue thy true vertue Thou canst all things and therefore this 3. Beld. Comes he with presents and shall he vnpacke at the gate nay come into the Porters lodge good Pedlers Clowne That Lady hath some manners shee hath bene well brought vp I warrant her 4. Beld. And I can tell thee pedler thou hast that curtesy that neuer any man yet found but the King Acrisius Iup. You shall be well paid for your curtesy Here 's first for you for you for for you for you 1. Beld. Rare 2. Beld. Admirable 3. Beld. The best that e're I saw 4. Beld. I 'l run and shew mine to my Lady 1. Beld. Shut the gate for feare the King come and if he ring clap the Pedlers into some of you old rotten corners And hath K. Iupiter bene at all this cost hee 's a courteous Prince bountifull Keepe you the pedler cōpany my Lady shall see mine too Iup. Meane you the Princesse Danae I haue tokens from Iupiter to her too 1. Bel. Runne runne you that haue the best legges and tell my Lady But haue you any more of the same Clowne Haue we quoth he We haue things about vs wee haue not shewed yet and that euery one must not see would make those few teeth in your head to water I would haue you thinke I haue ware too as well as my Mayster Enter in state Danae with the Beldams looking vpon three seuerall iewels 1. Bel. Yonder 's my Lady Nay neuer bee abasht Pedler There 's a face will become thy iewels as well as any face in Creet or Arges either Now your token Iup. I haue lost it T is my heart beauty of Angels Thou art o're matcht earth may contend with heauen Nature thou hast to make one compleate creature Cheated euen all mortality This face Hath rob'd the morning of her blush the lilly Of her blanch't whitnes and like theft committed Vpon my soule shee is all admiration But in her eyes I ne're saw perfect lustre There is no treasure vpon earth but yonder Shee is oh I shall loose my selfe Clowne Nay Sir take heed you be not smelt out Iupi. I am my selfe againe Dan. Did hee bestow these freely Dana's guard Are much indebted to King Iupiter If he haue store wee 'l buy some for our vse And wearing They are wondrous beautifull Where 's the man that brought them 1. Beld. Here forsooth Lady hold vp your head and blush not my Lady will not hurt thee I warrant thee Iup. This iewell Madam did King Iupiter Command me to leaue heere for Danae Are you so sti'ld Danae If sent to Danae 'T is due to me And would the King of Creet Knew with what gratitude we take his gift Iup. Madame he shall Sirrah set ope your pack And what the Ladies like let them take freely Dan. Much haue I heard of his renowne in armes His generousnesse his vertues and his fulnesse Of all that Nature can bequeath to man His bounty I now tast and I could wish Your eare were his that I might let him know What interest he hath in me to command Iup. His eare is myne let me command you then Behold I am the Cretan Iupiter That rate your beauty aboue all these gems What cannot loue what dares not loue attempt Despight Acrisius and his armed guards Hether my loue hath brought me to receiue Or life or death from you onely from you Dan. We are amaz'd and the large difference Betwixt your name and habite breeds in vs Feare and distrust Yet if I censure freely I needes must thinke that face and personage Was ne're deriu'd from basenesse And the spirit To venture and to dare to court a Queene I cannot stile lesse then to be a Kings Say that we grant you to be Iupiter What thence inferre you Iup. To loue Iupiter Dan. So far as Iupiter loues Dana's honour So farre will Danae loue Iupiter 2. Beld. We waight well vpon my Lady Iup. Madam you haue not seene a cleere stone For coulour or for quicknesse sweete your eare Dan. Beware your ruine if you Beldams heare Iup. Sirrah shew all your wares and let those Ladies best please themselues Clowne Not all at these yeares I spy his knauery Now would he haue mee keepe them busied whilst he courts the Lady 3 Beld. Doth my Lady want nothing Shee lookes backe Clown As
for example heer 's a silver bodkin this is to remoue dandriffe and digge about the roots of your siluer-hair'd furre This is a tooth-picker but you hauing no teeth heere is for you a corrall to rub your gums This is cald a Maske 1. Beld. Gramarcy for this this is good to hide my wrinckles I neuer see of these afore Clown Then you haue one wrinckle more behinde You that are dim ey'd put this pittifull spectacle vpon your nose Iup. As I am sonne of Saturne you haue wrong To be coop't vp within a prison strong Your father like a miser cloysters you But to saue cost hee 's loth to pay your dower And therefore keepes you in this brazen Tower What are you better to be beautifull When no mans eye can come to censure it What are sweet cates vntasted gorgeous clothes Vnworne or beauty not beheld yon Beldams With all the furrowes in their wrinkled fronts May claime with you like worth ey and compare For eye to censure you none can none dare Dan. All this is true Iup. Oh thinke you I would lye With any saue Danae Let me buy This iewell your bright loue though rated higher Then Gods can giue or men in prayers desire Dan. You couet that which saue the Prince of Creet None dares Iup. That shewes how much I loue you sweet I come this beauty this rare face to saue And to redeeme it from this brazen graue Oh do not from mans eye this beauty skreene These rare perfections which no earthly Queene Enioyes saue you 't was made to be admir'd The Gods the Fates and all things haue conspir'd With Iupiter this prison to inuade And bring it forth to that for which 't was made Loue Iupiter whose loue with yours shall meet And hauing borne you hence make at your feet Kings lay their crownes mighty Emperours kneele Oh had you but a touch of what I feele You would both loue and pitty Dan. Both I do But all things hinder yet were Danae free She could affect the Cretan Iup. Now by thee For what I most affect by that I sweare I from this prison will bright Danae beare And in thy chamber will this night fast seale This couenant made Dan. Which Danae must repeale Iup. You shall not by this kisse 1. Beld. T is good to haue an eye She lookes backe Clown Your nose hath not had these spectacles on yet Dan. Oh Iupiter Iup. Oh Danae Dan. I must hence For if I stay I yeeld I l'e hence no more Iup. Expect me for I come Dan. Yon is my doore Dare not to enter there I will to rest Attendance Iup. Come I will Dan. You had not best Exit Danae 2. Beld. My Lady calls Wee haue trifled the night till bed-time Some attend the Princesse others see the Pedlers pack't out of the gate Clown Will you thrust vs out to seeke our lodging at Midnight We haue paid for our lodging a man would thinke we might haue laine cheaper in any Inne in Arges Iup. This castle stands remote no lodging neere Spare vs but any corner here below Bee 't but the Inner porch or the least staire-case And we 'l begone as early as you please 2. Beld. Consider all things we haue no reason to deny that What need we feare alas they are but Pedlars and the greatest Prince that breathes would be aduis'd ere he durst presume to court the princesse Danae 1. Beld. He court a princesse hee lookes not with the face Well pedlers for this night take a nap upon some bench or other and in the morning be ready to take thy yard in thy hand to measure me some stuffe and so to be gone before day Well good-night we must attend our princesse Iup. Gold and reward thou art mighty and hast power O're aged yong the foolish and the wise The chaste and wanton fowle and beautifull Thou art a God on earth and canst all things Clown Not all things by your leaue All the gold in Creete cannot get one of you old Crones with childe But shall we go sleepe Iup. Sleep thou for I must wake for Danae Hence cloud of basenesse thou hast done inough To bleare you Beldams When I next appeare Hee puts off his disguise To you bright Goddesse I will shine in gold Deck't in the high Imperiall robes of Creet And on my head the wreath of Maiesty For Ornament is a preuailing thing And you bright Queene I 'le now court like a King Exit Enter the foure old Beldams drawing out Dana's bed she in it They place foure tapers at the foure corners Dan. Command our Eunuch's with their pleasing'st tunes To charme our eyes to rest Leaue vs all leaue vs The God of dreames hath with his downy fanne Swept or'e our eye-lids and sits heauy on them 1. Bel. Hey-ho Sleepe may enter in at my mouth if he be no bigger then a two-peny-loafe Dan. Then to your chambers let wakelesse slūbers Charme you in depth of silence and repose All Good night to thee faire Danae Dan. Let musick through this brazen fortresse sound Till all our hearts in depth of sleepe be drown'd Enter Iupiter crown'd with his Imperiall Robes Iup. Silence that now hath empire through the world Expresse thy power and Princedome Charming sleepe Deaths yonger brother shew thy selfe as still-lesse As death himselfe None seeme this night to liue Saue Ioue and Danae But that Goddesse wonne Giue them new life breath'd with the morning sunne You is the doore that in forbidding me She bad me enter Womens tongues and hearts Haue different tunes for where they most desire Their hearts cry on when their tongues bid retire Al 's whist I heare the snorting Beldams breathe Soundnesse of sleepe none wakes saue Loue and we You bright imprisoned beauty to set free Oh thou more beauteous in thy nakednesse Then ornament can adde to How sweetly doth she breath how well become Imaginary deadnesse But I l'e wake her Vnto new life This purchase I must win Heauens gates stand ope and Iupiter will in Danae He lyes vpon her bed Dan. Who 's that Iup. 'T is I K. Iupiter Dan. What meane you Prince how dare you enter here Knowing if I but call your life is doom'd And all Creetes treasure cannot guard your person Iup. You tell me now how much I rate your beauty Which to attaine I cast my life behinde me As lou'd much lesse then you Dan. I l'e loue you too Would you but leaue me Iup. Repentance I 'd not buy At that high rate ten thousand times to dye You are mine owne so all the Fates haue sed And by their guidance come I to your bed The night the time the place and all conspire To make me happy in my long desire Acrisius eyes are charm'd in golden sleepe Those Beldams that were plac't your bed to keepe All drown'd in Lethe saue your downy bed White shetes and pillow where you rest your head None heares or sees and what