our Court the secret way whereof Is to our daughter Gismunds chamber laide There is also another mouth hereof Without our wall which now is ouergrowen But you may finde it out for yet it lies Directly South a furlong from our place It may be knowen hard by an auncient stoope Where grew an Oke in elder daies decaide There wil we that you watch there shall you see A villain traitor mount out of a vaut Bring him to vs it is th' Earle Palurin What is his fault neither shal you enquire Nor list we to disclose these cursed eyes Haue seene the flame this heart hath felt the fire That cannot els be quencht but with his bloud This must be done this will we haue you do Iul. Both this and els what euer you thinke good Iulio departeth into the Pallace Renugio bringeth Gismund out of her chamber to whom Tancred saith Scaena 3. REnugio depart leaue vs alone Exit Renugio Gismund if either I could cast aside All care of thee or if thou wouldst haue had Some care of me it would not now betide That either thorow thy fault my ioy should fade Or by thy folly I should beare the paine Thou hast procur'd but now t is neither I Can shun the griefe whom thou hast more thē slain Nor maist thou heale or ease the grieuous wound Which thou hast geuen me That vnstained life Wherein I ioy'd and thought it thy delight Why hast thou lost it Can it be restor'd Where is thy widdowhood there is thy shame Gismund it is no mans nor mens report That haue by likely proofes enformd me thus Thou knowest how hardly I could be induc'd To vex my selfe and be displeasde with thee With flying tales of flattering Sicophants No no there was in vs such setled trust Of thy chaste life and vncorrupted minde That if these eyes had not beheld thy shame Invaine ten thousand censures could haue tolde That thou didst once vnprincelike make agree With that vile traitor Countie Palurin Without regard had to thy selfe or me Vnshamefastly to staine thy state and mine But I vnhappiest haue beheld the same And seeing it yet feeleth exceding griefe That slaies my heart with horror of that thought Which griefe commandes me to obey my rage And Iustice vrgeth some extreame reuenge To wreake the wrongs that haue been offred vs But Nature that hath lockt within thy brest Two liues the same inclineth me to spare Thy bloud and so to keep mine owne vnspilt This is that ouerweening-loue I beare To thee vnduetifull and vndeserued But for that traitor he shal surelie die For neither right nor nature doth intreat For him that wilfully without all awe Of gods or men or of our deadly hate Incurde the iust displeasure of his king And to be briefe I am content to know What for thy selfe thou canst obiect to vs Why thou shouldst not together with him die So to asswage the griefes that ouerthrow Thy fathers heart Gis. O king and father humbly geue her leaue To plead for grace that stands in your disgrace Not that she recks this life for I confesse I haue deseru'd when so it pleaseth you To die the death Mine honor and my name As you suppose distained with reproach And wel contented shall I meet the stroke That must disseuer this detested head Frō these lewd limmes But this I wish were known That now I liue not for my selfe alone For when I saw that neither my request Nor the intreatie of my carefull Aunt Could winne your Highnes pleasure to our will Then Loue heate of the heart life of the soule Fed by desire increasing by restraint Would not endure controlment any more But violently enforst my feebled heart For who am I alas still to resist Such endlesse conflicts To relent and yeelde Therewith I chose him for my Lord and pheare Guiszard mine Earle that holds my loue full deare Then if it be so setled in your mind He shall not liue because he dar'd to loue Your daughter Thus I geue your Grace to know Within his heart there is inclosde my life Therfore O father if that name may be Sweet to your eares and that we may preuaile By name of father that you fauour vs But otherwise if now we cannot finde That which our falsed hope did promise vs Why then proceed and rid our trembling hearts Of these suspitions since neither in this case His good deserts in seruice to your Grace Which alwaies haue bin iust nor in desires May mittigate the cruel rage of griefe That straines your heart but that mine Earl must die Then all in vaine you aske what I can say Why I should liue sufficeth for my part To say I wil not liue and so resolue Tan. Dar'st thou so desperat decree thy death Gis A dreadles heart delites in such decrees Tan. Thy kind abhorreth such vnkindly thoughts Gis. Vnkindly thoughts they are to them that liue In kindly loue Tan. As I doe vnto thee Gis. To take his life who is my loue to me Tan. Haue I then lost thy loue Gis. If he shal lose His life that is my loue Tan. Thy loue Be gone Returne vnto thy chamber Gis. I wil goe Gismund departeth to her chamber Iulio with his gard bringeth in the County Pal. prisoner Scaena 4. Iu. IF it please your highnes hither haue we broght This captiue Earl as you commanded vs Whō as we wer fortold euen there we found Where by your maiesty we were inioin'd To watch for him What more your highnes willes This heart and hand shal execute your hest Tan. Iulio we thank your paines Ah Palurin Haue we deserued in such traiterous sort Thou shouldst abuse our kingly courtesies Which we too long in fauor haue bestowed Vpon thy false-dissembling hart with vs What grief thou therewithal hast throwen on vs What shame vpon a house what dire distresse Our soul endures cannot be vttered And durst thou villen dare to vndermine Our daughters chamber durst thy shameles face Be bolde to kisse her th' rest we wil conceale Sufficeth that thou knowest I too wel know All thy proceedings in thy priuat shames Herin what hast thou wonne thine own content With the displeasure of thy Lord and king The thought whereof if thou hadst had in mind The least remorce of loue and loyaltie Might haue restraind thee from so foule a fact But Palurin what may I deem of thee Whom neither feare of gods nor loue of him Whose Princely fauor hath been thine vpreare Could quench the fewel of thy lewd desires Wherfore content thee that we are resolu'd And therfore laid to snare thee with this bayt That thy iust death with thine effused blood Shal coole the heate and choler of our mood Guiz. My Lord the King neither do I mislike Your sentence nor do your smoking sighes Reacht from the entrals of your boiling heart Disturbe the quiet of my calmed thoughts For this I feele and by experience proue Such is the force and endlesse
might of loue As neuer shal the dread of carren death That hath enuide our ioyes inuade my brest For if it may be found a fault in me That euermore haue lou'd your Maiestie Likewise to honor and to loue your child If loue vnto you both may be a fault That vnto her my loue exceedes compare Then this hath been my fault for which I ioy That in the greatest lust of all my life I shall submitte for her sake to endure The pangues of death Oh mighty Lord of loue Strengthen thy vassall boldlie to receaue Large wounds into this body for her sake Then vse my life or death my Lord and king For your reliefe to ease your grieued soule For whether I liue or els that I must die To end your paines I am content to beare Knowing by death I shall bewray the trueth Of that sound heart which liuing was her owne And dide aliue for her that liued mine Tan. Thine Palurin what liues my daughter thine Traitor thou wrongst me for she liueth mine Rather I wish ten thousand sundrie deaths Then I to liue and see my daughter thine Thine that is dearer then my life to me Thine whom I hope to see an Empresse Thine whom I cannot pardon from my sight Thine vnto whom we haue bequeath'd our crown Iulio we wil that thou informe from vs Renuchio the Capten of our Gard That we commaund this traitor be conueyd Into the dungeon vnderneath our Tower There let him rest vntil he be resolu'd What further we intend which to vnderstand We will Renuchio repaire to vs Iul. O that I might your Maiestie entreate With clemencie to beutifie your seate Toward this Prince distrest by his desires Too many all too strong to captiuate Tan. This is the soundest safetie for a king To cut them off that vex or hinder him Iul. This haue I found the safetie of a king To spare the Subiects that do honor him Tan. Haue we been honourd by this leachers lust Iul. No but by this deuout submission Tan. Our fortune saies we must do what we may Iul This is praise-worth not to do what you may Tan. And may the Subiect countermaund the king Iul. No but intreat him Tan. What he shal decree Iul. What wisdom shall discern Iul. Nay what our word Shal best determine We wil not replie Thou knowest our mind our heart cannot be easd But with the slaughter of this Palurin The king hasteth into his Pallace Guis. O thou great God who from thy hiest throne Hast stooped down and felt the force of loue Bend gentle eares vnto the wofull mone Of me poore wretch to graunt that I require Help to perswade the same great God that he So farre remit his might and slack his fire From my deare Ladies kindled heart that she May heare my death without her hurt Her face wherein there is as cleere a light As in the rising moone let not her cheekes As red as is the partie-coloured rose Be paled with the newes hereof and so I yeeld my selfe my sillie soul and all To him for her for whom my death shall shew I liu'd and as I liu'd I dide her thrall Graunt this thou Thunderer this shal suffice My breath to vanish in the liquid skies Guizard is led to prison Chorus primus Who doth not know the fruits of Paris loue Nor vnderstand the end of Helens ioy He may behold the fatall ouerthrow Of Priams house and of the towne of Troy His death at last and her eternal shame For whom so many a noble knight was slaine So many a Duke so many a Prince of fame Bereft his life and left there in the plaine Medeas armed hand Elizas sword Wretched Leander drenched in the floud Phillis so long that waited for her Lord All these too dearly bought their loues with bloud Cho. 2. But he in vertue that his Lady serues Newils but what vnto her Honor longs He neuer from the rule of reason swarues He feeleth not the pangs ne raging throngs Of blind Cupid he liues not in despaire As done his seruants neither spends his daies In ioy and care vaine hope and throbbing feare But seekes alway what may his soueraine please In honor he that thus serues reapes the fruite Of his sweet seruice and no ielous dread Nor base suspect of ought to let his sute Which causeth oft the louers hart to bleed Doth fret his mind or burneth in his brest He wayleth not by day nor wakes by night When euery other liuing thing doth rest Nor findes his life or death within her sight Cho. 3. Remember thou in vertue serue therfore Thy chast Lady beware thou do not loue As whilom Venus did the faire Adonne But as Diana lou'd the Amazons sonne Through whose request the gods to him alone Restorde new life the twine that was vndone Was by the sisters twisted vp againe The loue of vertue in thy Ladies lookes The loue of vertue in her learned talke This loue yeelds matter for eternall bookes This loue intiseth him abroad to walke There to inuent and write new rondelaies Of learned conceit her fancies to allure To vaine delights such humors he allaies And sings of vertue and her garments pure Cho. 4. Desire not of thy Soueraigne the thing Whereof shame may ensue by any meane Nor wish thou ought that may dishonor bring So whilom did the learned Tuscan serue His faire Lady and glory was their end Such are the praises Louers done deserue Whose seruice doth to vertue and honor tend Finis Actus 4. Composuit Ch. Hat Actus 5. Scaena 1. Renuchio commeth out of the Pallace Renu. OH cruel fate oh miserable chaunce Oh dire aspect of hateful destinies Oh wo may not be told suffic'd it not That I should see and with these eyes behold So foule so bloody and so base a deede But more to aggrauate the heauie cares Of my perplexed mind must onelie I Must I alone be made the messenger That must deliuer to her Princelie eares Such dismall newes as when I shal disclose I know it cannot but abridge her daies As when the thunderer and three forked fire Rent through the cloudes by Ioues almighty power Breakes vp the bosom of our mother earth And burnes her heart before the heat be felt In this distresse whom should I most bewaile My woe that must be made the messenger Of these vnworthie and vnwelcome newes Or shall I mone thy death O noble Earle Or shal I still lament the heauie hap That yet O Queene attends thy funeral Cho. 1. What mones be these Renuchio is this Salerne I see Doth here king Tancred hold the awful crown Is this the place where ciuill people be Or do the sauage Scythians here abound Cho. 2. What mean these questiōs whether tend thes words Resolue vs maidens release our fears What euer newes thou bring'st discouer them Deteine vs not in this suspicious dread The thought whereof is greater then the woe Renu. O whither may I cast
king Gis. The king the tyrant king Cho. 3. Your father Gis. Yea the murthrer of my loue Ch. 4. His force Gis. the dead fear not the force of mē Ch. 1. His care griefe Gis. That neither car'd for me Nor greeued at the murther of my loue My mind is setled you with these vain words Withhold me but too long from my desire Depart ye to my chamber Cho. We wil hast To tel the king hereof Chorus depart into the Pallace Gis. I will preuent Both you and him Lo here this harty draught The last that in this world I meane to tast Dreadlesse of death mine Earle I drink to thee So now worke on now doth my soul begin To hate this light wherein there is no loue No loue of parents to their children No loue of Princes to their Subiects true No loue of Ladies to their dearest loues Now passe I to the pleasant land of loue Where heauenly loue immortall flourisheth The Gods abhorre the company of men Hel is on earth yea hel it selfe is heauen Compar'd with earth I cal to witnes Heauen said I no but hel record I call And thou sterne Goddesse of reuenging wrongs Witnesse with me I die for his pure loue That liued mine Shee lieth down and couereth her face with her haire Tancred in hast commeth out of his pallace with Iulio Scaena 3 Tan WHere is my daughter Iul Behold here wofull king Tan Aime break hart thou fly foorth my soul What doth my daughter Gis take it so What hast thou done oh let me see thine eyes Oh let me dresse vp those vntrimmed locks Looke vp sweet child look vp mine only ioy T is I thy father that beseecheth thee Reare vp thy body straine thy dying voice To speake to him sweet Gismund speake to me Gis. Who staies my soul who thus disquiets me Tan. T is I thy father ah behold my teares Like pearled deaw that trickle down my cheekes To wash my siluer haires Gis. Oh father king Forbeare your teares your plaint wil not auaile Tan. Oh my sweetheart hast thou receau'd thy life From me and wilt thou to requite the same Yeeld me my death yea death and greater greefe To see thee die for him that did defame Thine honor thus my kingdome and thy name Gis. Yea therfore father gaue ye life to me That I should die and now my date is done As for your kingdome and mine own renowne Which you affirme dishonoured to be That fault impute it where it is for he That slew mine Earle and sent his heart to me His hands haue brought this shame and griefe on vs But father yet if anie sparke remaine Of your deare loue if euer yet I could So much deserue or at your hands desire Grant that I may obtaine this last request Tans. Saie louely child saie on what ere it be Thy father grants it willingly to thee Cis. My life I craue not for it is not now In you to giue nor in my selfe to saue Nor craue I mercie for mine Earle and me Who hath bin slaine with too much crueltie With patience I must awhile abide Within this life which now will not be long But this is my request Father I praie That since it pleased so your maiestie I should inioy my loue aliue no more Yet neretheles let vs not parted be Whom cruell death could neuer separate But as we liude and dide together here So let our bodies be together tombde Let him with me and I with him be laid Within one shrine where euer you appoint This if you grant me as I trust you will Although I liue not to requite this grace Th' immortall Gods due recompence shall giue To you for this and so vaine world farewel My speech is painefull and mine eie-sight failes Tanc. My daughter dies see how the bitter pangs Of tyrannous death torments her princely heart She lookes on me at me she shakes her head For me she grones by me my daughter dies I I the author of this Tragedie On me on me yee heauens know downe your 〈◊〉 Now dies my daughter princely with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh faire in life thrice fairer in thy death Deare to thy father in thy life thou wert But in thy death dearest vnto his heart I kisse thy paled cheekes and close thine eies This duetie once I promist to my selfe Thou shouldst performe to me but ah false hope Now ruthful wretched king what resteth thee Wilt thou now liue wasted with miserie Wilt thou now liue that with these eies didst see Thy daughter dead wilt thou now liue to see Her funerals that of thy life was stay Wilt thou now liue that wast her liues decay Shal not this hand reach to this heart the stroke Mine armes are not so weake nor are my limmes So feebled with mine age nor is my heart So daunted with the dread of cowardice But I can wreake due vengeance on that head That wrought the means these louers now be dead Iulio come neare and lay thine own right hand Vpon my thigh now take thine oath of me Iul. I sweare to thee my liege Lord to discharge What euer thou enioynest Iulio Tan. First then I charge thee that my daughter haue Her last request thou shalt within one tombe Interre her Earle and her and thereupon Engraue some Royall Epitaph of love That done I swear thee thou shalt take my corps Which thou shalt find by that time done to death And lay my bodie by my daughters side Sweare this sweare this I say Iul. I sweare But will the king do so vnkingly now Tan. A kingly deed the king resolues to doe Iul. To kil himselfe Tan. To send his soule to ease Iul Doth Ioue command it Tan. Our stars cōpell it Iul. The wiseman ouerrules his stars Tan. So we Iul Vndaunted should the minds of kings indure Tan. So shal it in this resolution Iulio forbeare and as thou louest the king When thou shalt see him weltring in his gore Stretching his limmes and gasping in his grones Then Iulio set to thy helping hand Redouble stroke on stroke and driue the stab Down deeper to his heart to rid his soule Now stand aside stir not a foote least thou Make vp the fourth to fill this Tragedie These eyes that first beheld my daughters shame These eyes that longed for the ruthful sight Of her Earles heart these eyes that now haue seene His death her woe and her auenging teene Vpon these eyes we must be first auenged Vnworthy lamps of this accursed lump Out of your dwellings so it fits vs thus In bloud and blindnes to goe seeke the path That leadeth down to euerlasting night Why frighst thou dastard be thou desperate One mischiefe brings another on his neck As mighty billowes tumble in the seas Now daughter seest thou not how I amerce My wrath that thus bereft thee of thy loue Vpon my head now fathers learn by me Be wise be warnde to vse more tenderly The iewels of your ioyes Daughter
readers R. W. wisheth increase of all health worship learning with the immortall glorie of the graces adorning the same YE may perceiue right Worshipful in perusing the former Epistle sent to mee how sore I am beset with the importunities of my friends to publish this Pamphlet Truly I am and haue bin if there be in me anie soundnes of iudgement of this opinion that whatsoeuer is committed to the presse is commended to eternitie and it shall stand a liuely witnes with our conscience to our comfort or confusion in the reckning of that great daie Aduisedly therefore was that Prouerbe vsed of our elder Philosophers Manum a Tabula with-hold thy hand from the paper and thy papers from the print or light of the world for a lewd word escaped is irreuocable but a bad or base discourse published in print is intollerable Hereupon I haue indured some conflicts between reason and iudgement whether it were conuenient for the common wealth with the indecorum of my calling as some thinke it that the memorie of Tancreds Tragedie should be againe by my meanes reuiued which the oftner I read ouer and the more I considered theron the sooner I was won to consent therunto calling to mind that neither the thrice reuerend lerned father M. Beza was ashamed in his yonger yeres to send abroad in his owne name his Tragedy of Abraham nor that rare Scot the scholer of our age Buchanan his most pathetical Ieptha Indeed I must willingly confesse this worke simple and not worth comparison to any of theirs for the writers of them were graue men of this young heads In them is shewn the perfection of their studies in this the imperfection of their wits Neuertheles herein they al agree commending vertue detesting vice and liuely deciphering their ouerthrow that suppresse not their vnruely affections These things noted herin how simple so euer the verse be I hope the matter wil be acceptable to the wise Wherefore I am now bold to present Gismund to your sights and vnto yours only for therfore haue I coniured her by the loue that hath bin these 24. yeres betwixt vs that she waxe not so proude of her fresh painting to stragle in her plumes abroad but to contein her selfe within the walles of your house so am I sure she shal be safe frō the Tragedian Tyrants of our time who are not ashamed to affirme that ther can no amarous poeme sauour of any sharpnes of wit vnlesse it be seasoned with scurrilous words But leauing them to their lewdnes I hope you all discreet readers wil thankfully receiue my pains the fruites of my first haruest the rather perceiuing that my purpose in this Tragedie tendeth onely to the exaltation of vertue suppression of vice with pleasure to profit and help al men but to offend or hurt no man As for such as ha◠neither the grace nor the good gift to doe well themselues nor the common honestie to speak wel of others I must as I may heare and bear their baitings with patience Yours deuoted in his ability R. Wilmot A Preface to the Queenes Maidens OF HONOR FLowers of prime pearles couched all in gold Light of our daies that glads the fainting hearts Of them that shall your shining gleams behold Salue of each sore recure of inward smarts In whom Vertue and Beautie striueth so As neither yeelds behold here for your gaine Gismonds vnluckie loue her fault her wo And death at last her cruell Father slaine Through his mishap and though you do not see Yet reade and rew their wofull Tragedie So Ioue as your high vertues done deserue Grant you such pheeres as may your vertues serue With like vertues and blisfull Venus send Vnto your happie loues an happie end Another to the same GIsmond that whilome liu'de her fathers ioy And died his death now dead doth as she may By vs praie you to pittie her annoy And to requite the same doth humbly pray Heauens to forefend your loues from like decay The faithfull Earle doth also make request Wishing those worthie knights whom ye imbrace The constant truth that lodged in his breast His hartie loue not his vnhappie case Befall to such a triumph in your grace The King praies pardon of his cruell hest And for amends desires it may suffice That by his bloud he warneth all the rest Of fond fathers that they in kinder wise Intreat the Iewels where their comfort lies We as their messengers beseech ye al On their behalfes to pittie all their smarts And for our selues although the worth be small We praie ye to accept our humble hearts Auoud to serue with praier and with praise Your Honors all vnworthie other waies The Tragedie of Tancred and Gismund Argumentum Tragediae TAncred the Prince of Salerne ouerloues His onely daughter wonder of that age Gismund who loues the Countie Palurin Guishard who quites her likings with his loue A Letter in a cane describes the meanes Of their two meetings in a secret caue Vnconstant fortune leadeth forth the king To this vnhappie sight wherewith in rage The gentle Earle he doometh to his death And greets his daughter with her louers hart Gismunda fils the goblet with her teares And drinkes a poison which she had distild Whereof she dies whose deadly countenance So grieues her Father that he slew himselfe An other of the same more at large in prose TANCRED king of Naples and Prince of Salerne gaue his only daughter Gismund whom he most dearely loued in mariage to a foraine Prince after whose death she returned home to her Father who hauing felt great griefe of hir absence whilst her husband liued immesurably esteeming her determined neuer to suffer any second mariage to bereaue him of hir She on the other side waxing wearie of that her fathers purpose bent hir mind to the secret loue of the County Palurin to whom he being likewise inflamed with loue of her by a Letter subtilly inclosed in a clouen cane she gaue to vnderstand a conuenient waie for their desired meetings through an old ruinous vaut whose mouth opened directly vnder her chamber floore Into this vaut when she was one day descended for the conuaiance of hir louer hir father in the meane season whose only ioy was in his daughter came to hir chamber and not finding her there supposing her to haue bin walked abroad for hir disport he threw him downe on hir bed and couered his head with a curtain minding to abide and rest there till hir returne She nothing suspecting this hir fathers vnseasonable comming brought vp hir louer out of the cane into hir chamber where hir father espied their secret loue and hee not espied of them was vpon this sight striken with meruailous griefe but either for that the sodaine despight had amazed him taken from him all vse of speech or for that he resolued himself to a more cōueniēt reuenge he then spake nothing but noted their returne into the vant and secretly
were torne out of his brest Within their hands trembling not fully dead His veines smok'd his bowels all to reeked Ruthlesse were rent and throwen about the place All clottered lay the bloud in lumps of gore Sprent on his corps and on his paled face His trembling heart yet leaping out they tore And cruelly vpon a rapier They fixt the same and in this hateful wise Vnto the king this heart they do present A sight longd for to feede his irefull eies The king perceiuing each thing to be wrought As he had wilde rejoysing to behold Vpon the bloudie sword the pearced heart He calles then for this massie cup of gold Into the which the wofull heart he cast And reaching me the same now go quoth he Vnto my daughter and with speedy hast Present her this and say to her from me Thy father hath here in this cup thee sent That thing to ioy and comfort thee withal Which thou louedst best euen as thou wert content To comfort him with his chiefe ioy of all Cho. O hateful fact O passing crueltie O murder wrought with too much hard despite O hainous deede which no posteritie Wil once beleeue Ren. Thus was Earle Palurin Strangled vnto the death yea after death His heart and bloud disboweled from his brest But what auaileth plaint it is but breath Forewasted all in vaine why do I rest Here in this place why goe I not and doe The hateful message to my charge committed Oh were it not that I am forc'd thereto By a kings will here would I stay my feet Ne one whit farder wade in this intent But I must yeeld me to my Princes hest Yet doth this somewhat comfort mine vnrest I am resolu'd her griefe not to behold But get me gone my message being told Where is the Princesse chamber Cho. Lo where she comes Gismund commeth out of her chamber to whom Renuchio deliuereth his cup saying Scaena 2. THy father O Queen here in this cup hath sent The thing to ioy and comfort thee withall Which thou louedst best euen as thou wast content To comfort him with his chiefe ioy of all Gis. I thanke my father and thee gentle squire For this thy trauell take thou for thy paines This bracelet and commend me to the king Renuchio departeth So now is come the long expected houre The fatall hower I haue so looked for Now hath my father satisfied his thirst With giltlesse bloud which he so coueted What brings this cup ay me I thought no lesse It is mine Earles my Counties pearced heart Deare heart too dearely hast thou bought my loue Extreamely rated at too high a price Ah my sweet heart sweet wast thou in thy life But in thy death thou prouest passing sweet A fitter hearce then this of beaten gold Could not be lotted to so good an heart My father therefore well prouided thus To close and wrap thee vp in massie gold And there withall to send thee vnto me To whom of duety thou doest best belong My father hath in all his life bewraid A princely care and tender loue to me But this surpasseth in his later dayes To send me this mine owne deare heart to me Wert thou not mine dear hart whil'st that my loue Daunced and plaid vpon thy golden strings Art thou not mine deere heart now that my loue Is fled to heauen and got him golden wings Thou art mine owne and stil mine own shalt be Therfore my father sendeth thee to me Ah pleasant harborough of my hearts thought Ah sweete delight the quickner of my soule Seuen times accursed be the hand that wrought Thee this despight to mangle thee so foule Yet in this wound I see mine owne true loue And in this wound thy magnanimitie And in this wound I see thy constancie Goe gentle heart go rest thee in thy tombe Receaue this token at thy last farewell She kisseth it Thine owne true heart anon will follow thee Which panting hasteth for thy companie Thus hast thou run poore heart thy mortall race And rid thy life from fickle fortunes snares Thus hast thou lost this world and worldly cares And of thy foe to honour thee withall Receau'd a golden graue to thy desert Nothing doth want to thy iust funerall But my salt teares to wash thy bloudy wound Which to the end thou mightst receaue behold My father sends thee in this cup of gold And thou shalt haue them though I was resolu'd To shed no teares but with a chearefull face Once did I think to wet thy funerall Only with bloud and with no weeping eye This done foorthwith my soule shal fly to thee For therfore did my father send thee me Ah my pure heart with sweeter companie Or more content how safer may I proue To passe to places all vnknowen with thee Why die I not therfore why doe I stay Why doe I not this wofull life forgoe And with these hands enforce this breath away What meanes this gorgeous glittering head attir How ill beseeme these billaments of gold Thy mournfull widdowhood away with them So let thy tresses flaring in the winde She vndresseth her haire Vntrimmed hang about thy bared necke Now hellish furies set my heart on fire Bolden my courage strengthen ye my hands Against their kind to do a kindly deed But shall I then vnwreaken downe descend Shall I not worke some iust reuenge on him That thus hath slain my loue shall not these hands Fire his gates and make the flame to climbe Vp to the pinnacles with burning brands And on his cynders wreake my cruell teene Be still fond girle content thee first to die This venomd water shall abridge thy life she taketh a violl of poyson out of her pocket This for the same intent prouided I Which can both ease and end this raging strife Thy father by thy death shall haue more woe Then fire or flames within his gates can bring Content thee then in patience hence to go Thy death his bloud shall wreake vpon the king Now not alone a griefe to die alone The onely myrror of extreame anoy But not alone thou diest my loue for I Will be copartner of thy destinie Be merrie then my soule canst thou refuse To die with him that death for thee did choose Chor. 1. What damned furie hath possest our Queen Why sit we still beholding her distresse Madame forbeare suppresse this headstrong rage Gis. Maidens forbeare your comfortable wordes Cho. 2. O worthy Queene rashnes doth ouerthrowe The author of his resolution Gis. Where hope of help is lost what booteth feare Cho. 3. Feare wil auoyd the sting of infamie Gis. May good or bad reports delight the dead Cho. 4. If of the liuing yet the dead haue care Gis. An easie griefe by councel may be cur'd Cho. 1. But hedstrong mischiefs princes should auoid Gis. In headlong griefes and cases desperate Cho 2. Cal to your mind Gis you are the Queene Gis Vnhappy widow wife and paramour Cho. 3. Think on the
thy father thus Who daily dies to see thy needles teares Such bootlesse plaints that know nor meane nor end To but increase the flouds of thy lament And since the world knowes wel there was no want In thee of ought that did to him belong Yet all thou seest could not his life prolong Why thē doest thou prouoke the heauens to wrath His doome of death was dated by his starres And who is he that may withstand his fate By these complaintes small good to him thou doest Much griefe to me most hurt vnto thy selfe And vnto Nature greatest wrong of all Gis. Tell me not of the date of natures daies Then in the Aprill of her springing age No no it was my cruell destinie That spited at the pleasance of my life Tanc. My daughter knowes the proofe of natures course For as the heauens do guide the lamp of life So can they search no further forth the flame Then whilst with oyle they do maintain the same Gis. Curst be the starres and vanish may they curst Or fall from heauen that in the dire aspect Abridgde the health and welfare of my loue Tanc. Gismund my ioy set all these griefes apart The more thou art with hard mishap beset The more thy patience should procure thine ease Gis. What hope of hap may cheere my haples chance What sighs what teares may counteruail my cares What should I do but still his death bewaile That was the solace of my life and soule Now now I want the wonted guide and stay Of my desires and of my wreaklesse thoughts My Lord my loue my life my liking gone In whome was all the fulnes of my ioy To whom I gaue the first fruites of my loue Who with the comfort of his onely sight All cares and sorrowes could from me remoue But father now my ioyes forepast to tel Doe but reuiue the horrors of my hell As she that seemes in darkenes to behold The gladsome pleasures of the chearefull light Tanc. What then auailes thee fruitlesse thus to rue His absence whom the heauens cannot returne Impartiall death thy husband did subdue Yet hath he spar'd thy kingly fathers life Who during life to thee a double stay As father and as husband will remaine With doubled loue to ease thy widowes want Of him whose want is cause of thy complaint Forbeare thou therefore al these needlesse teares That nippe the blossoms of thy beauties pride Gis. Father these teares loue chalengeth of due Tan. But reason saith thou shoulds the same subdue Gis. His funerals are yet before my sight Tan. In endles mones Princes should not delight Gis. The turtle pines in losse of her true mate Tan. And so continues poore and desolate Gis. Who can forget a Iewell of such price Tanc. She that hath learnd to master her desires Let reason worke that time doth easilie frame In meanest wittes to beare the greatest illes Gis. So plenteous are the springs Of sorrowes that increase my passions As neither reason can recure my smart Nor can your care nor fatherly comfort Appease the stormie combats of my thoughts Such is the sweet remembrance of his life Then geue me leaue of pittie pittie me And as I can I shall allay these greefes Tan. These solitarie walkes thou doest frequent Yeeld fresh occasions to thy secrete mones We wil therefore thou keep vs companie Leauing thy maidens with their harmonie Wend thou with vs virgins withdraw your selues Tan. and Gis. with the Gard depart into the pallace the four maydens stay behind as Chorus to the Tragedie Chor. 1. The diuers haps which alwayes worke our care Our ioyes so farre our woes so neere at hand Haue long ere this and dayly doe declare The fickle foot on which our state doeth stand Who plants his pleasures here to gather roote And hopes his happy life wil still endure Let him behold how death with stealing foote Steps in when he shall thinke his ioyes most sure No ransome serueth to redeem our daies If prowes could preserue or worthy deedes He had yet liu'd whose twelue labours displayes His enddlesse fame and yet his honor spreades And that great king that with so small a power Bereft the mightie Persian his crowne Doeth witnesse well our life is but a flower Though it be deckt with honor and renowme Chor. 2 What growes to day in fauor of the heauen Nurst with the sun and with the showers sweete Pluckt with the hand it withereth ere euen So passe our daies euen as the riuers fleete The valiant Greekes that vnto Troya gaue The tenne yeeres siege left but their names behind And he that did so long and onelie saue His fathers walles found there at last his end Proud Rome herselfe that whilome laid her yoke On the wide world and vanquisht all with warre Yet could she not remoue the fatall stroke Of death from them that stretcht her power so farre Chor. 3 Looke what the cruell sisters once decreed The thunderer himselfe cannot remoue They are the Ladies of our destinie To worke beneath what is conspirde aboue But happie he that ends this mortall life By speedie death who is not forst to see The many cares nor feele the sundrie griefes Which we sustaine in wo and miserie Heere Fortune rules who when she list to play Whirleth her wheele and brings the high full low To morow takes what she hath giuen to daie To shew she can aduance and ouer throw Not Euripus vnquiet floud so oft Ebs in a daie and floweth too and fro As Fortunes change pluckes downe that was aloft And mingleth ioy with enterchange of wo Chor. 4 Who liues below and feeleth not the strokes Which often times on highest towers do fall Nor blustering winds wherwith the strongest okes Are rent and torne his life is surest of all For he may scorne Fortune that hath no power On him that is well pleasd with his estate He seeketh not her sweets nor feares her sower But liues contented in his quiet rate And marking how these worldly things do wade Reioyceth to himselfe and laughs to see The folly of men that in their wits haue made Fortune a goddesse placed in the skie Finis Actus 1. Exegit Rod Staf Actus 2. Scaena 1. Gismund DEare Aunt my sole companion in distresse And true copartner of my thoughtfull cares When with my selfe I way my present state Comparing it with my forepassed daies New heapes of cares afresh beginne t' assay My pensiue heart as when the glittering raies Of bright Phoebus are sodainely ore-spred With duskie clouds that dim his golden light Namely when I laid in my widowes bed Amid the silence of the quiet night With curious thought the fleeting course obserue Of gladsome youth how soone his flower decaies How time once past may neuer haue recourse No more then may the running streames reuert To climbe the hilles when they bin rowled down The hollow vales there is no curious art nor worldlie power no not the gods can
fulnesse of thy plagues with deadly ire To reaue this ruthfull soule who all too sore Burnes in the wrathfull torments of reuenge O earth the mother of each liuing wight Open thy wombe deuour this withered corps And thou O hel if other hel there be Then that I feele receiue my soule to thee O daughter daughter wherefore do I grace Her with so kind a name O thou fond girle The shamefull ruine of thy fathers house Is this my hoped ioy is this the stay Must glad my griefe-ful yeares that wast away For life which first thou didst receiue from me Ten thousand deaths shal I receiue by thee For al the ioyes I did repose in thee Which I fond man did settle in thy sight Is this my recompence that I must see The thing so shameful and so villanous That would to God this earth had swalowed This worthlesse burthen into lowest deepes Rather then I accursed had beheld The sight that howerly massacars my life O whether whether flyest thou foorth my soule O whether wandreth my tormented mind Those paines that make the miser glad of death Haue ceaz'd on me and yet I cannot haue What villains may commaund a speedie death Whom shal I first accuse for this outrage That God that guideth all and guideth so This damned deede Shal I blaspheme their names The gods the authors of this spectacle Or shal I iustly curse that cruel starre Whose influence assigned this destinie But nay that traitor shal that vile wretch liue By whom I haue receau'd this iniurie Or shal I longer make account of her That fondly prostitutes her widowes shame I haue bethought me what I shall request He kneeles On bended knees with hands heau'd vp to heauen This sacred senate of the Gods I craue First on the traytor your consuming ire Next on the cursed strumpet dire reuenge Last on my selfe the wretched father shame He riseth Oh could I stampe and therewithall commaund Armies of Furies to assist my heart To prosecute due vengeance on their soules Heare me my frends but as ye loue your liues Replie not to me hearken and stand amaz'd When I as is my wont oh fond delight Went foorth to seek my daughter now my death Within her chamber as I thought she was But there I found her not I demed then For her disport she and her maidens were Downe to the garden walkt to comfort them And thinking thus it came into my mind There all alone to tarry her returne And thereupon I wearie threw my selfe Vpon her widdowes bed for so I thought And in the curten wrapt my cursed head Thus as I lay anon I might beholde Out of the vaut vp through her chamber floore My daughter Gismund bringing hand in hande The Countie Palurin alas it is too true At her beds feete this traitor made me see Her shame his treason and my deadly griefe Her Princelie body yeelded to this theefe The high despite wherof so wounded me That traunce-like as a senceles stone I lay For neither wit nor tongue could vse the meane T' expresse the passions of my pained heart Forcelesse perforce I sunke downe to this paine As greedie famin doth constraine the hauke Peecemeale to rent and teare the yeelding praie So far'd it with me in that heauie stound But now what shal I doe how may I seeke To ease my minde that burneth with desire Of dire reuenge For neuer shal my thoughts Graunt ease vnto my heart til I haue found A meane of vengeance to requite his paines That first conueyd this sight vnto my soule Tan. Renuchio Renu. What is your Highnes will Tan. Call my daughter my heart boyles till I see Her in my sight to whom I may discharge All the vnrest that thus distempereth me Should I destroy them both O gods ye know How neere and deere our daughter is to vs And yet my rage perswades me to imbrue My thirstie hands in both their trembling bloods Therewith to coole my wrathful furies heate But Nature why repin'st thou at this thought Why should I thinke vpon a fathers debt To her that thought not on a daughters due But stil me thinks if I should see her die And therewithall reflexe her dying eyes Vpon mine eyes that sight would slit my heart Not much vnlike the Cocatrice that slaies The obiect of his foule infections Oh what a conflict doth my mind endure Now fight my thoughts against my passions Now striue my passions against my thoughts Now sweates my heart now chil cold falles it dead Helpe heauens and succour ye Celestiall powers Infuse your secrete vertue on my soule Shall nature winne shall iustice not preuaile Shall I a king be proued partiall How shall our Subiects then insult on vs When our examples that are light to them Shal be eclipsed with our proper deedes And may the armes be rented from the tree The members from the body be disseuer'd And can the heart endure no violence My daughter is to me mine onlie heart My life my comfort my continuance Shall I be then not only so vnkinde To passe all natures strength and cut her off But therewithall so cruell to my selfe Against all law of kinde to shred in twaine The golden threed that doth vs both maintaine But were it that my rage should so commaund And I consent to her vntimelie death Were this an end to all our miseries No no her ghost wil still pursue our life And from the deep her bloodles gastfull spirit Wil as my shadow in the shining day Follow my footsteps till she take reuenge I will doe thus therefore the traitor dies Because he scornd the fauor of his king And our displeasure wilfullie incurde His slaughter with her sorow for his bloud Shall to our rage supplie delightfull foode Iulio Iul. What i st your Maiestie commaunds Tan. Iulio if we haue not our hope in vaine Nor all the trust we doe repose in thee Now must we trie if thou approue the same Herein thy force and wisdome we must see For our commaund requires them both of thee Iul. How by your Graces bounty I am bound Beyond the common bond wherein each man Stands bound vnto his king how I haue found Honor and wealth by fauor in your sight I doe acknowledge with most thankfull minde My trueth with other meanes to serue your Grace What euer you in honor shall assigne Hath sworne her power true vassall to your hest For proofe let but your Maiestie commaund I shall vnlock the prison of my soule Although vnkindlie horror would gaine-say Yet in obedience to your Highnes will By whom I hold the tenor of this life This hand and blade wil be the instruments To make pale death to grapple with my heart Tan. Wel to be short for I am greeu'd too long By wrath without reuenge I thinke you know Whilom a Pallace builded strong For warre within our Court where dreadlesse peace Hath planted now a weaker entrance But of that pallace yet one vaut remaines Within
my lookes to heauen Black pitchy clouds from thence rain down reuenge The earth shal I behold stainde with the gore Of his heart bloud that dide most innocent Which way so ere I turn mine eyes me thinks His butchered corps stands staring in my face Cho. 3. We humbly pray thee to forbear these words So ful of terror to our mayden hearts The dread of things vnknown breedes the suspect Of greater dread vntil the worst be knowen Tel therfore what hath chaunst and whereunto This bloudy cup thou holdest in thy hand Renu. Since so is your request that I shal doe Although my mind so sorrowful a thing Repines to tell and though my voice eschewes To say what I haue seene yet since your will So fixed stands to heare for what I rue Your great desires I shall herein fulfill First by Salerne Citie amids the plaine There stands a hil whose bottom huge and round Throwen out in breadth a large space doth contain And gathering vp in height small from the grounde Stil lesse and lesse it mounts there sometime was A goodly towre vpreard that flowrde in fame While fate and fortune seru'd but time doth passe And with his sway suppresseth all the same For now the walles be euened with the plaine And all the rest so fowly lies defast As but the only shade doth there remaine Of that which there was built in time forepast And yet that shewes what worthy work tofore Hath there been reard one parcel of that towre Yet stands which eating time could not deuoure A strong turret compact of stone and rock Hugie without but horrible within To passe to which by force of handy stroke A crooked straite is made that enters in And leades into this vgly loathsome place Within the which carued into the ground A deep dungeon there runnes of narrow space Dreadful and darke where neuer light is found Into this hollow caue by cruel hest Of king Tancred were diuers seruants sent To worke the horror of his furious brest Earst nourisht in his rage and now sterne bent To haue the same performde I woful man Amongst the rest was one to do the thing That to our charge so straitly did belong In sort as was commanded by the king Within which dreadful prison when we came The noble Countie Palurin that there Lay chain'd in giues fast fettered in his bolts Out of the darke dungeon we did vpreare And hal'd him thence into a brighter place That gaue vs light to worke our tyrannie But when I once beheld his manly face And saw his cheare no more appauld with feare Of present death then he whom neuer dread Did once amate my heart abhorred then To geue consent vnto so foul a deede That wretched death should reaue so worthy a man On false fortune I cride with lowd complaint That in such sort ouerwhelmes nobilitie But he whom neuer griefe ne feare could taint With smiling cheare himselfe oft willeth me To leaue to plaine his case or sorrow make For him for he was far more glad apaide Death to imbrace thus for his Ladies sake Then life or all the ioyes of life he said For losse of life quoth he greeues me no more Then losse of that which I esteemed least My Ladies griefe least she should rue therefore Is all the cause of griefe within my brest He praid therfore that we would make report To her of those his last words he would say That though he neuer could in any sort Her gentlenes requite nor neuer lay Within his power to serue her as he would Yet she possest his heart with hand and might To doe her all the honor that he could This was to him of all the ioyes that might Reuiue his heart the chiefest ioy of al That to declare the faithfull heart which he Did beare to her fortune so wel did fall That in her loue he should both liue and die After these words he staid and spake no more But ioyfully beholding vs each one His words and cheare amazed vs so sore That stil we stoode when forthwith thereupon But why slack you quoth he to do the thing For which you come make speed and stay no more Performe your masters will now tel the king He hath his life for which he long'd so sore And with those words himselfe with his own hand Fastned the bands about his neck The rest Wondring at his stout heart astonied stand To see him offer thus himselfe to death What stony brest or what hard heart of flint Would not relent to see this dreery sight So goodly a man whom death nor fortunes dint Could once disarme murdred with such despite And in such sort bereft amidst the flowers Of his fresh yeares that ruthfull was to seene For violent is death when he deuoures Yong men or virgins while their yeares be green Lo now our seruants seeing him take the bands And on his neck himselfe to make them fast Without delay set to their cruel hands And sought to worke their fierce intent with hast They stretch the bloudy bands and when the breth Began to faile his brest they slackt againe Thrise did they pull and thrise they losed him So did their hands repine against their hearts And oft times losed to his greater paine But date of death that fixed is so fast Beyond his course there may no wight extend For strangled is this noble Earle at last Bereft of life vnworthy such an end 〈◊〉 O dāned deed Ren. What deem you this to be Al the sayd newes that I haue to vnfould Is here think you end of the crueltie That I haue seen Chor. Could any heauier woe Be wrought to him then to destroy him so Ren. What think you this outrage did end so well The horror of the fact the greatest griefe The massaker the terror is to tell Cho. Alack what could be more they threw percase The dead body to be deuourd and torne Of the wild beasts Renu. Would God it had been cast a sauage praie To beasts and birds but lo that dreadfull thing Which euen the tyger would not work but to Suffice his hunger that hath the tyrant king Withouten ruth commaunded vs to doe Onely to please his wrathfull heart withal Happy had been his chance too happy alas If birdes or beasts had eaten vp his corps Yea heart and all within this cup I bring And am constrained now vnto the face Of his deare Ladie to present the same Chor. What kind of crueltie is this you name Declare foorthwith and wherunto doth tend This farther plaint Ren. After his breath was gone Forced perforce thus from his panting brest Straight they dispoiled him and not alone Contented with his death on the dead corps Which rauenous beasts forbeare to lacerate Euen vpon this our villens fresh begunne To shew new crueltie foorthwith they pearce His naked bellie and vnript it so That out the bowels gusht who can rehearse Their tyrannie wherwith my heart yet bleedes The warme entralles