saw a rout that brought me feare Come to my chamber with disheueled heare The Matrons sage of Latin lande did mourne And sounded shrycking syghes as though forlorne They were the dolefulst wights that liue on grounde And oft among the warlike trumpets sounde I sawe my husbandes mother terribly stande With threatning looke berayed with bloud in hande A light fyre brand shée bare which oft shée shooke And made me goe with hir through fearefull looke When downe we came through op'ned earth she led The way I after went with bowing hed And musing much thereat marke what I say My bed me thought I saw wherein I laye When first espousde I was to Rufe Cryspine And he me thought with first sonne of his line With many following them against me fast Did come and me to cléepe did swift his hast And as he wouted was he kisse me oft Then rusht into my house with pace not soft Amased Nero sore in Crispines brest That hidde his fauchion kene feare shakte of rest From me I trembling stoode with quiuering feare And brest dismaide to speake made me forbeare Tyll now O â—â—rse I met with thée whose trust And faith into these words haue made me brust Alas what threatneth me eche griesty sprite What meanes of husbands bloude that dolefull sight Nutrix The hidden sacred vaine that moueth swift Which fantasie we call by secrete drift When we do take our rest doth shew againe The things both good and bad that broyle in braine You maruel that you saw your make and bower His goastly funerall stacks at that same hower Round clasped close in armes of husband new Hereto the beaten brests with hands mou'd you And maidens heare on mariage day displayed Octauias friends with heauie harts bewrayed Amids hir brothers booth and fathers hall Their heauie chéere for hir vnlucky fall That dreadfull blasing flame of fyre foreborne In Agryppinas hands your grace beforne Which you did follow streight declares renowne To you though enuy striue to kepe it downe The seat you saw beneath doth promise you Your state to stand full sure not chaunging new That Nero prince in Crispins throat did hyde His swerd it tels that he in peace shall byde Unknowen to bloudie ruthfull warre for aye Therefore madame plucke vp your hart I pray Receyue bothe mirth and glée cast feare asyde With ioye and ease you may in bower abyde Pop. To temples hie where mightie Gods do dwell I will repaire and offrings to them fell In humble wise their heauie wrath t'appease And me of mighty sight and dreames to ease My second with shal be that this feare all Upon my foes as sodaine chaunce may fall O nurse pray thou for me some vowes do make Toth' Gods that gostly feare his flight may take The second Sceane of the fourth Act. Chorus IF stelth disclosde by blabbing fame And lustie pleasaunt thankfull loue Of Ioue be true who fouâ—â—ne did frame Of Swan to come from skies aboue And did enioye the swéet consent Of Ladie Laedas loues delight Who like a Bull his labour spent Through flowing fluds to carie quite Europa sliely stolne away He will no doubt leaue raigne of skye And Poppies loue disguisde assaye If he hir soueraigne beautie spie Which he might well prefer before Faire Laedas sugred swéete delight And Danaë whome he won of yore Amasde with golden shower so bright Let Sparte now for Helens sake Of beautie bragging fame vpraise Admitte the Troian heardman make Of gayned spoyle triumphant praise Faire Helen here is stained quite Whose beautie bredde such boyling yre That earth was matched euen in sighte With Troian towers consumde with fyre But who is this that runs with feare opprest Or els what newes brings he in panting brest The thirde Sceane of the fourth Act. Nuntius Chorus WHat sturdie champion stout doth ioy with glee Our chieftaines royall bower safe to sée Then to his court I counsell him to wend Gainst which the populus rout their force doth bend The rulers runne amasde to fetch the garde And armed troupes of men their towne to warde Nor woodnesse rashly cought through feare doth ceasse But more and more their power doth increase Cho. What sodain rage doth beat their broyling brain Nunt. The garisons great with fury astonde againe And sturred vp for Quéene Octauias sake With monstrous myschiefe vile their rage to slake They rumbling rushe into the Pallace farre Chor. What dare they do their counsailers who are Nunt. Aduaunce their Empresse old subuert the new And graunt hir brothers beds as is hir due Chor. Which Poppie now with hole consent doth hold Nunt. Yea that vnbrideled rage in brest vprold Sets them agog and maks them wondrous wood What euer ymage grauen in marble stood If Poppies badge it bare or if in sight It tended for to shewe hir beautie bright Though it on heauenly altares braue did stand They breake or pull it downe with sword or hand Some parts with ropes sure tyde they trayle theÌ„ forth Which spurnd w t durtie fâ—ete as though naught worth With filthy stinking myre they it all beray And with their déedes their talke doth iumpe agrée Which mine amased minde thinks true to bee For fierie flames they threat for to prepare Wherewith to waste the princes Pallace faire Unlesse vnto their furious moode he giue His second wife and with Octauia liue But he by me shall know in what hard staie The Citie stands the rulers Ile obaie Chor. Alack what made you cruell warres in vaine To moue sith prisoner loue you can not gaine You can not him ouercome your fierie flame He recketh not his syrs ouercomes the same He darkned hath those thundring things that shake Heauen Earth Hel Sea al things y t makes to quake Yea mighty Ioue in heauen that weares chief crowne His flames from welkin hie hath brought adowne And you not victors now but vanquisshed Shall raunsome pay the price of hearts bloud red Loue pacient can not be but hote in rage No easie thing it is his wrath t'asswage Achilles worthy wight that was so stout To twang the Harpe he made in Ladies rout Prince Agamemnon sterne that boy benumd And rable rude of Gréekes with loue bronds bumd King Priams raigne he topsie turuis tost And goodly Cities great he chiefly lost And now my minde sore frighted stands agast What Cupides furious force brings vs at last The fourth Sceane of the fourth Act. Nero. AH ah our captaines sloe dispatching coyle And our long suffring yre in such a broyle That streames of bloud yet do not quench their rage Which they against our propre person wage And that all Rome with corses strewd about Those cruell villaines bloud doth not sweat out But déedes already done with death to pay A small thing 'tis a greater slaughtrous day The peoples curssed crime and eke that dame Whome I did aye suspect deserues the same To whome to yelde those peasaunts would me make At last she shall with life our
much vnto my 〈◊〉 while I did liue â—â—th a boy to gâ—yde which nowe Irue My poysoned Make my ghost doth oft pursue And in my face with burning bronds doth flye He stayes a space with earnest talke hard by And threatneth sore and doth impute his death And tombe he should haue had to me beneath And now desyres to haue some factious wight That dare dispoyle my sonne of breathing spright Let be you shall haue one to worke this crime I do require no long delaied time Reuenging sprit Erin a death doth coyne Of life that wicked tyrant to purloyne Sore smarting leaden strypes and shamefull flyght And pyning panges with thurst and hunger dyght That Tantalus spungelyke thurstie mouth befurd And Sisyphus toyle shall passe and Tityus hurd And Ixions painefull wombling whéele about That teareth all his bodies parts throughout Although that tyrant proud and scornefull wyght His court with marble stone do strongly dyght And princelike garnish it with glistring gold Though troupes of souldiours shielded sure vphold Their chieftaines princely porch though yet still The world drawne drye with taskes euen to his will Great heapes of riches yéelde them selues to saue Although his bloudie helpe the Parthians craue And kingdomes bring and goods all that they haue The time and day shall come when as he shall Forlorne and quite vndone and wanting all Vnto his curssed déedes his life and more Vnto his foes his baared throat restore Alas vnto what end is all my paine Or in what case do now my vowes remaine Whereto doth now thy rage and destnies spyte Draw thée O sonne with braine benummed quyte That to such monstrous heaps of ylls thy dame WhoÌ„ thou with curssed mischiefe ouercame Hir wrath should yéeld O that ere to the light A sucking babe I brought thée forth in sight And fed thée fyne with pappe as princely borne The fierce wylde sauage beasts had rent and torne My wombe and bloudie entrells all beforne Without all cryme and wanting reasons pryde Mine owne déere dandling childe y u shouldst haue dyde And fastned sure to me shuldst aye beholde The quiet place where ghostlie soules be rolde And sée thy graund syres great of worthy same And syre Domitius eke of princely name Whome nowe both shame and wayling doth abyde That whyle they dure from them shall neuer slyde For which both thée O curssed barne they may And mée that thée haue borne giue thankes for aye But why ceasse I with Hell to hide my face Wyfe stepdame mother dire in my life space The seconde Sceane of the thirde Act. Octauia Chorus DO not alas thus sore lament But rather yet your mourning stay Sith that the citie whole is bent To celebrate this ioyfull day Least your great loue and fauour both Which I do count to be most sure The more cause Nero me to loth And eke his bitter wrath procure And I fall out to be the ground To you of many mischieues vile This same is not the first déepe wound That I haue felt now this good while Farre worsse than this haue I abode But of these troublous cares this day Shall make an ende I trust in God Although with death he doe me pay No man to sée shall mée constraine His bended browes knit furrowise Nor step within the chamber raigne Of maide drest vp in brydall guyse Augustus sister I will bée And not his wife as wont I was But onely paines remoue from mée And feare of death I will not passe Yet canst thou piteous wretch once trust Thy cruell husbands father law Or these fewe things to haue so iust Whyle mischiefs yet in minde are raw Now long reseru'd vntill this day And these same mariage rytes be past Thou shalt poore wretch without delay A bloudie offring dye at last Why thus with teares disfigured sore Thy wonted home doest thou beholde Make haste to shunne this deadly shore And leaue this straughtrous Princes folde Chorus Loe se that day suspected long And whispered fame in all mens eares With glistring pomp of brydall throng To vs poore wretches now appeares And Claudius broode Octauias grace From Neros wedlock place expeld Departed is whose spousall space Hath Poppie conquerour long tyme held The whyle our pietie couched lyes Kept downe with heauie combrous feare And slow reuenging griefe likewise Where doth the peoples power appeare That brake the force of princes great That conquerous citie lawes hath framde That worthy men to honors seat Preferd that warre and peace proclaimde That sauage people straunge did tame That kyngs and princes caught in fyght Shut surely vp in prison frame To kéepe them close from all mens syght Loe which we can not once abyde To see where Poppies ymage trim Conioyned vnto Neros syde All glistring bright shines very brim Let force of armes pull downe that frame And match with ground that ladies face Too likely carued to his name And snatch hir downe from bedding place And let it forthwith flye with brandes With Darts and Iauelins fiercely flong From pythie brawnes and sturdy handes Unto the princes courtly throng The fourth Act. The fyrst Sceane Nutrix Poppea FRom out of spousall bower dismaied w t feare Whither go you what secrets daughter deare Unknowen maks you to looke so drouselye Why spungelike lokes your face w t teares froÌ„ eye That fell of truth the tyme desired long And wisshed for by prayers and vowes among Hath shined bright Caesars wedlock are you Your golden grace whereof he toke the view Him prisoner caught and did him surely binde So much the more how much Seneck his minde Did seeke to chaunge and wild from loue to wéeld And Venus chiefe in loue hath made him yéeld O in beautie passing all what beds than downe More soft haue borne thy weght when y u with crowne Didst sit in middes of court the Senate all At thy great beautie agast thou didst appall Whylst thou the Goddes with perfume sensedst fyne And sacred altars drencht with thankfull wyne Thy hed attyrde with veyle of yellowe hiewe By Cesars syde thou wentst as princesse newe When he aloft extolde aboue the reast With hautie courage meryly went to feast Like as King Peleus went some tymes to take Quéene Tethis whom salt seas some bredde his make Whose briding chambers banquetwise ydrest The Gods vouchsaaft to hallow with their hest Both they that rule in skies and eke in seas But tell O Ladie tell if it you please What sodaine chaunce doth shade your beauties light What meanes your colour chaunge from red to white What moues those trickling teares how standes your plighte Poppea With dreames and griesly sights this last night nurse My minde was troubled sore but frayd much worse For when sir Phoeb his werie course had rid Whyle quiet resting night eche thing shadid My senses wearie fell in slumber déepe Whyle Nero me within his armes did cléepe Resoluing lims at length gan sléepe discharge And long I rest not vnder quiets targe For loe I
The ninth Tragedie of Lucius Anneus Seneca called Octauia Translated out of Latine into English by T. N. Student in Cambridge Imprinted at London by Henry Denham TO THE RIGHT HOnorable the Lorde Robert Dudley Earle of Lecester Baron of Dinghby of the most royall order of the Garter Knight one of the Queenes Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsell and Maister of hir Maiesties Horsse T. N. wisheth health with increase of honor and vertue AFTER THAT I had waded right honorable in the translating of this Tragedy called Octauia written first in Latine by that notable and sententious Poet Seneca desired as the common custome is some Patron that myght both bring aucthoritye to thys my little Booke and also if neede should be defend it from the bitter taunts of enuious tongs I haue not espied right honourable any one either for his bountiful goodnesse towardes my friends which cōmonly men respect or else for his fauourable and gracious humanitie toward schollers in whose numbre I am vnto whome I might so iustly giue this smal combroustrifle and especiall token of good wyll as to your Lordship whose honourable goodnesse or rather magnificence both your honours nurcerie of learning and as I can boldely say the vniuersitie of Cambridge with my pore friends haue most abundantly tasted of which your Lordships most honourable curteousnesse not to recōpence in any one iote or tittle therof which is not in our small and slender power but with a well meaning heart in some parte to gratefie your honour I haue among al other most vnmeete presumed both to employ my trauayle on this trim Tragedie before others muche better able and also to salute your curteous Lordship with these rude and vnsauorie first fruits of my yong study most hūbly beseching your honor to accept my good will and trauayle Your honours to commmaund HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE To the Reader IF thou gentle Reader hast any thing in this small Uolume which may commende vnto thée the trauaile and paines of the Aucthor of thys Englishe Tragedie surely I am much the gladder but if all doe not aunswere thine expectation as it muste needes so bèe bycause there is nothing harder than to please all men sith that thou art not priuy to all things disclose not rashly thy foolish iudgement If the translating of Latine or other Bookes of other languages into our mother tong doth eyther profite the cōmon wealth or the wryter at all do not then condemne the yong sprong writers if that in all pointes they please not thée which may by the grace of God through thy gētle and curteous accepting of a little toye hereafter employ their labour to more serious and weyghty matters both to their owne commoditie and thy learning and especially to the profit of our natiue countrie Wey therefore wisely what thy friendly good will may do not vnto me onely which am like to doe very little but vnto others whose hearts with fauour thou maist easly win to the vndertaking of greater matters and then willingly embrace both my good will and trauaile Farewell ¶ The Argument of the Tragedie OCtauia daughter to prince Claudius grace To Nero espousde whome Claudius did adopt Although Syllanus first in husbandes place She had receyu'd whome she for Nero chopt Hir parents both hir Make that should haue bene Hir husbands present tirannie much more Hir owne estate hir case that she was in Hir brothers death poore wretch lamenteth sore Him Seneca doth persuade his latter Loue Dame Poppie Crispynes wife that sometime was And eke Octauias maide for to remoue For Senecks counsell he doth lightly passe But Poppie ioynes to him in mariage rytes The people wood into his pallace runne Hir golden fourmed shapes which them sore spytes They pull to ground this vprore nowe begunne To quench he some to griesly death doth sende But hir close cased vp in dreadfull barge With hir vnto Campania coast to wende A band of armed men he gaue in charge ¶ The speakers in this Tragedie Octauia Nutrix Chorus Romanorum Seneca Nuntius Agrippina Poppea Nero. Praefectus ¶ The fyrst Sceane Octauia NOw that Aurore with glittering streames The glading starres from skye doth chase Sir Phoebus pert with spouting beames From dewye neast doth mount a pace And with hys cheerefull lookes doth yéelde Unto the worlde a gladsome daye Go to O wretch with ample fielde Of heauy cares oppressed aye Thy grieuous wonted playntes recount Doe not alone with syghes and howles The seaysh Alcyones surmount But also passe the Pandyon fowles More irksome is thy state than theirs O mother deare whose death by fittes I nyl lament but styll shedde teares My grounde of griefe in thée it sittes If that in shades of darksome denne Perceyuing sense at all remayne Heare out at large O Mother then My great complayntes and grieuous payne O that immortall Clothos wrist Had torne in twayne my vitall thredde Ere I vnto my griefe had wist Thy woundes and face of sanguine redde O daye which aye doth mée anoy Since that tyme did I more desire The fearefull darkenesse to enioy Than Phoebus freshe with faire attire I haue abode the bitter hest Of stepdame dire in Mothers place I haue abode hir cruell brest Hir stomake stout and fighting face She she for spyte vnto my case A dolefull and a graue Eryn To Bridegromes chamber spousall space The Stygian flashing flames brought in And thée alas most pitious syre With traytrous traynes hath shée bereft Of breathing soule with poysoned myre To whome ere whyle the worlde all left Unvanquisht from the Ocean Seas By martiall feates did fréely yelde And didst subdue with wondrous ease The Brittaine brutes that fled the felde Whome liuing at theyr propre swaye No Romaine power did erst inuade Now lo full well lament I may Thy spouse deceyt thy prowes hath lade And now thy court and chylde of yore With homage serue a Tyrants lore The seconde Sceane Nutrix WHom so the glistering pompe of royall place With soden sight ynumd doth quite disgrace Who so at courtly fléeting ebbing blase Astonied sore himselfe doth muche amase Loe sée of late the great and mighty stocke By lurking fortunes sodaine forced knocke Of Claudius quyte subuert and cleane extinct Tofore who helde the worlde in his precinct The Britaine Ocean coaste that long was frée He rulde at will and made it to agrée Their Romaine Gallies great for to embrace Lo he that Tanais people first did chase And Seas vnknowne to any Romaine wight With lusty sheering shippes did ouerdight And safe amyd the sauage freakes did fight And rufling surging Seas hath nothing dread By cruell spouses gylt doth lye all dead Hir sonne lykewise more fiende than Tygre fierce Of naturall Mother makes a funerall herse Whose Brother drenched déepe with poysoned cup Poore Britannick his senselesse soule gaue vp Octauia syster and vnhappy make Doth sore lament hir case for Britanus sake Ne can hir ruthfull pyteous sorrow slake
Though Neros wrath do sore constraine hir grace Shée nill esteemes the secret closset place But boyling still with equall peysde disdaine With mutuall hate gainst him doth burne againe My true and trustye loue that I do beare In vaine I sée doth striue to comfort her Reuenging gréedie griefe doth streight repriue T'appease hir smarte the counsell that I giue Nor flame of worthie brest doth once relent But heaps of griefe hir corage do augment Alas what griefly déedes for to ensue My feare foreséeth God graunt it be not true The thyrde Sceane Octauia Nutrix O Staggering state O peerelesse yll With ease Electra I repeate And call to minde thy mourning will With watred eyes lyke smartiug sweate Thou mightst lament thy father slaine Still hoping that thy brother might That deadly déede reuenge agayne Whome thou O tender louing wight Didst safely shielde from bloudy foe And naturall loue did closely kéepe But Neroes dreaded visage loe Doth feare me that I dare not wéepe Nor wayle my parents ruthfull case By cruell lot to slaughter cought Ne suffers me this geniall face To dash with teares too dearely bought With brothers bloud who onely was Mine onely hope in all my griefe And of so many mischieues as My comforte great and sole reliefe Nowe loe reserude for greater care And to abide more lingring payne Of noble famous lynage bare A drouping shade I doe remayne Nutrix My Ladies heauy voyce me thought Within my listning eares gan sounde And snaylish age in going soft Unto hir thews is not ybounde Octauia O Nurse our dolours witnesse sure By curroll chéekes dystilling rayne And heauy hearts complaynt endure Nut. Alas what day shall rid of payne With care your well nie wasted hart Oct. That sends this giltlesse ghost to graue Nut. This talke good Madame set apart Oct. In rule my state the destnies haue And not thy prayers O Matrone iust Nut. The doune soft easy God shall giue Your troubled minde a time I trust More swéete than euer you did liue With feuell faire as one content And glosed face but onely please Your man and make he will relent Oct. The Lion fierce I shall appease And sooner tame the Tygre stout Than mankinde tyrants brutish breast He spites the noble raced route Contemnes high powers dysdaynes the least Ne can well vse that princely wéede Which venomous parent wrapt him in By huge vnspeakeable griesly déede Although that wight vnthankfull grin In Kingly throne that he doth raigne Through cruell curssed mothers ayde Although he pay with death againe So great a gyft it shall be sayde And after fates in long spent age That woman wyght shall haue alway This eloge yet and saying sage That he by hir doth beare the sway Nut. Let not your ragious minde so walke But doe compresse your moodie talke The fourth Sceane Octauia Nutrix THough much I beare y e boiling brest do beate And tollerably take deuorcements threate Deathes only deadly dart I sée an ende Of all my broyle pinching payne can sende What pleasant light to me O wretch is left My naturall Mother slayne and Sire bereft Of breathing life by treason and by gilt Of Brother eke depriude with miseries spilt And wayling ouercome kept downe with care Enuied of Make which I dare not declare To mayden subiect nowe and nowe defied What pleasant light can me O wretch abide With fearefull heart suspecting alwayes ought Bicause I woulde no wicked déede were wrought Not that I feare Deathes griesly girning face God graunt I doe not so reuenge my case A better déede to dye for to beholde The Tyrantes visage grimme with browes vprolde And with soft tender lippes my foe to kisse And stande in awe of becks and noddes of his Whose will to please my griefe with cares yfirde Since brothers death by wicked wyle conspirde Could neuer once vouchsafe for to sustaine Lesse griefe to die than thus to lyue in payne His Empire Nero rules and ioyes in bloud The cause and grounde of death that tirant wood Howe ofte alas doth fansie fondly fayne When slumber swete in pensiue parts doth raygne And sléepe in eyes all tyrde wyth teares doth rest I apprehende deare Brittans liuely brest Ere whyle me thinks his féeble shiuering hands He fenseth sure with deadly blasing brands And fiercely on his brother Neros face With sturdy stinging strokes he flyes apace Ere while thilke wretch recoyleth backe againe And to my thews for ayde retyres amaine Him foming foe pursues with hast to haue And whyle my brother I desire to saue And in my clasped armes to shield him frée His goarie bloudyed faucheon kéene I sée The boysterous raumping fiende to tugge and hale Through out my shiuering limmes as ashes pale Forthwith a mightie trembling chattering quake From wearie limmes all souple sléepe doth shake And makes me wofull wretch for to recount My wailing sobbing sorrowes that surmount Hereto put to that gorgeous stately mouse All glistring bright with spoyles of Claudius house His parent deare in bubbling boate did douse That wicked sonne this fisking dame to please Whome yet escaping daungers great of Seas He fiercer freake than waues that scantly rest With bloudy blade hir bowels did vnbrest What hope of health can me O wretch abyde That after them thilke waye I shoulde not ryde My speciall foe triumphant wise doth weight With naked nates to presse by louers sleyght Our spousall pure and cleane vnspotted bed Gainst whome she burns with deadly foode bloud red And for a meede of filthy strumpets sport She causeth Make from spouse for to diuort O auncient Syre steppe forth from Limbo lake Thy daughters heauie troublous cares to slake Or your twygated hellysh porche vnfolde That down through gaping ground I may be rolde Nutrix O pitious wretch in vaine alas in vaine Thou calst vpon thy fathers senselesse sprite In whome God wotte there doth no care remaine Of mortall broode that here doth take delight Shall he thinke you asswage your sorie chéere Or shape you forth some sleight t'appall your paine That could preferre before his Brittan déere T'imperiall throne a straunge begotten swaine And with incestiall loue benummed quyte His brother Germanicks daughter that could plyght And ioyne to him in solemne mariage rites With wofull and vnluckye louers lightes Here sprang the roale of hurly burly great Here beastly venomous slaughter gan to sweate Here wylie treasons traines appeared first Here rules desyre and brutyshe bloudie thirst Sillanus first Prince Claudius sonne in lawe A bloudye mangled offring fall we sawe That in your graces Hymaeneal bedde Y matcht with you he might not couche his hedde O monstrous slaughter worthy endlesse blame In steade of gift vnto that wanton dame A Carcasse colde poore soule and curelesse corse Sillane was giuen against his will perforce And falsly then attacht of traytors cryme As one conspyring death in Claudius tyme With lothsome streakes spewde out vpon the wall He all bedasht your fathers princely hall Eft stepped into
seruile Pallace stroke To filthie vices lore one easlye broke Of Diuelishe wicked witte this Princocks proude By stepdames wyle prince Claudius Sonne auoude Whome deadely damme did bloudie match ylight And thée against thy will for feare did plyght Through which successe this Dame of corage fine Durst venture mighty Ioue to vndermine Who can so many cursed kindes report Of wicked hopes and actes in any sort Or such a womans glosed guyles can name That raumpes at rule by all degrées of shame Then holy sacred zeale put out of grace Hir stagring steppes directed forth apace And stern Erinnis in with deadly steps To Claudius Court all desert left yleps And with hir dririe drakes of Stygian fort Hath quite distainde the sacred princely port And raging riuen in twaine both natures lore And right to wrongs misseshapen fourme hath tore That hautie minded dame first gaue hir make A deadely poysoned cup his thyrst to slake Straight wayes againe through vyle vnkindly touch Hir Nero causde with him in hell to couch And thée vnhappy Britt in all that broyle Till that of breath and lyfe he did dispoyle Thilk gréedie bloudie tyraunt neuer stent Whose dolefull death for aye we may lament Ere whyle vnto the worlde the starre that shone And was the staye of princely court alone Now loe light ashes easly pufte aforne And griesly goast to graue with Torche yborne Whome blessed Babe thy stepdame did lament Nor from hir gusshing teares did scarce relent When as shee gaue eche trimme appointed parte And goodly portraide limmes with natures arte Of flaming stacke to be deuoured quite And sawe the scortching feruent fyre in sight Thy naked ioynts to rauyne vp a pace And like the flittering God thy comely face Oct. Dispatch he me least with this hande he fall Nut. That power you nature graunted not at all Oct. But wondrous dolor great and wrathfull yre And miseries will it graunt without desyre Nut. Nay rather cause your angry moody make With souple chéere his fury for to slake Oct. What that he will by guylte once slaine before Aliue againe my brother mée restore Nut. Nay safe that you may liue and issue beare Your fathers auncient court for to repaire Oct. That court doth wayte another broode they say And poore Britts death tugges me another way Nut. Yet let the cities loue vnto your grace Your troubled minde confirme but for a space Oct. Their mindes so prest to pleasure me I knowe Great comfort bring but do not slake my woe Nut. Of mightie power the people haue bene aye Oct. But princes force doth beare the greater sway Nut. He will respect his lawfull wedded wyfe Oct. Hys minion braue can not so leade hir lyfe Nut. Of no man she estéemde Oct. But deare to make Nut. She can not truely yet of wyfehoode crake Oct. Ere long shée shall a mother eke be made So farre therein I dare most boldly wade Nut. His youthfull heate at first in filthy loue With lusty crusty pangs doth boyle aboue Thylke corage quickly coolde in lust apace As vapour sone extinct in flame giues place But holy louing chaste vnspotâ—â—â— spouse Hir loue endureth aye with sâ—â—â—d vowes That wanton first that there durst couch hir hed And tumbling stayned quite your spousall bed And being but your mayde hath ruled long Hir soueraigne Lorde with beauties grace bestong That pranked Paramour pert shal croutch with pain When she your grace shall sée preferd againe For Poppie subiect is and méeke of spright And now begins hir goastly tombs to dight Whereby she closely graunting doth bewray Hir secret hidden feare eche other day That swift vnconstant double wynged lad With cloute before his blinded eyes yclad That fickle brayned God th'vnhappy boy Shall leaue hir in the midst of all hir ioy Although for beautie bright the bell shée beare And goodly glistring garments new shée weare And now do vaunt hir selfe in gorgeous géere Shée shall not long enioy this gladsome chéere Be not dismayde Madame for such like paine The quéene of Gods was forced to sustaine When to eche pleasaunt shape the heauenly guyde And syre of Gods yturnde from skyes dyd glyde The swannes white wings to se how they could fadge He did on him and cuckoldes bullysh badge That God shone bryght in golden raynie showre To Danaes brest through top of fortred towre The twinckling starres the twins of Laeda bright Whome Pollux some and Castor call aright In large and ample space of starry scope With cristall glimmering faces shyne wide ope An Semeles sonne whome Bacchus we do call In heauenly byrthright doth himselfe ystall And Hercules that puissant champion stoute His sturdy brawnes his Hebe wyndes aboute Nor once regardes how goddesse Iuno fare Whose lowring stepdame nowe she is yframde That whyle on earth his prowes he did declare Against that mariage aye was sore inflamde Yet loe hir wise and closely couched gréefe Debonaire face obeysaunce to hir léefe Causde him at length his minde for to remoue Through mortall féeres estraungde from Iunos loue And nowe that mighty heauenly goddesse great No more adred of mortall strumpets feat Aloft alone in clowdy bowre contents The thundering Lorde which now to hir relents Nor now with earthly ladyes beawtie bright Y fired leaues his starry specked right Now Madame sith on earth your powre is pight And haue on earth quéene Iunos princely place And sister are and wife to Neros grace Your wondrous restlesse dolours great appease Oct. Nay sooner shall the roaring frothy seas And mounting flashing flawes ymatch the skie And smoking stiffling parching fyer drye With danckish pooles agrée and watrie fenne And griefly Plutos filthie feltred denne With starbright heauen shall sooner coupled bée And shining light with glomie shades agrée And with the cleare drye daye the dewy night Than vnto seruile lore of husband wyght That brutishwise in bloud takes his delight My heauy wofull mynd can I addresse Whyle brothers death my heart doth still possesse O that of heauenly powers the prince and syre That shogges shakes the earth with thundering fyre And with his wondrous fearefull curssed crackes And straunge misseshapen monsters which he makes Our fearefull musing mindes doth sore amase Would coyne some curelesse burning wyldefyre blase To pelt and pashe with thumpping fyer bright That diuelish pate that cruel curssed wyght We saw froÌ„ heauen with beames forthshooting farre Doubtlesse a dreadfull hearie blasing starre That spouted forth a mortall fyerie flake Whose force a princes bloude can onely slake Euen where that hayting carman sloe Boote With chilling colde all starck of frosen pole Doth guide aright Charles whirling running rote In steade of nyght that neuer away doth role Loe now the open ayre in euery streate With doggish tyrantes breath is poysoned quite And dreadfull starres soone sodayne death doth threate To people rulde by wicked Neros sprite So sterne a freake or mankinde tyrant stout Not Tellus with the Gods displeasde brought out When mightie Ioue neglected she vp