bin Prey to thy force grace to thy victories But now I see what the eternall Fate Decrees shall happen all you rest decree Your heauenly willes differ from ours estate Which through our weaknesse still contrary be But you do all conspire in one consent To make vnhappy that which must be so More cruell when your crueltie might preuent What mischiefes fall after you pitie show Wherefore a safe deliuerance thou gau'st And now a goodly issue springs at last Hadst thou destroy'd what thou vnkindly sau'dst My present quill had not told sorrowes past For now no sooner was the tidings brought To Laius hearing of what 's come to passe But that fresh cares and contradicting thoughts Arise to trouble what not setled was But taking truce a while he goes to see After what sort a child so ill might looke Whether not monstrous as his manners bee Seeing the face is the soules reckoning booke Yet he not found what reason thought he should A swarthy visage clouded vp in frownes Sunke eies that buried in their houses stood Or torted shadowe which his temples crowne But there as in a glasse himselfe he saw And in his cheek markt how his cheeke was dy'd Where cunning Nature beds of flowers did draw Whose head to crop hard harts wold haue deny'd Long in this mirror he himselfe beheld Till like Narcissâ—â— selfe-enamored He seem'd transform'd when his peace he held His owne perfections he in silence read In those faire eyes that seem'd to mocke his eyes Imagination from her duty sweru'd Attentiue wondring a selfe-loue descries Being not himselfe when he himselfe obseru'd Pigmalion-like with many a melting kisse He dotes vpon this picture he had made Onely desire in him contraried his Who for his liuelesse Image motion pray'd This grieving that his workemanship exprest Vnto the life a creature so divine Wisht those pure beauties were in Iuory drest Whose white nor sin might spot nor time decline What reason is' t that reason should collect Sayes he when wonder to his words gaue place Our disposition in our eyes aspect Reading our mindes imprinted in our face Were that an axiome who'st that should admire This apt proportion of well-orderd parts This breath perfum'd to kindle Cupids fire These precious chaines to prison captiu'd hearts And would not grant this were the decent bower Where comely Graces had set downe to dwell Where Vertue of her selfe an ample dower Wedded her selfe diuorc'd from other Cell If glorious Temples with their pride declare Th'inhabited greatnesse of the Deity Oh then what precious Iewels lodged are In such a gorgeous well built Treasury Surely at least it can but empty be Of the expected riches and not fraught With the suspected masse of iniuâ—y Nought sure can heere be harbor'd that is naught Sin would haue â—ose a more vnpolish't den Whose vgly building it could not defile More barbarous lookes for direfull agents when These seeme not rude and steed of frowning smile Vnlesse perchance Vice weary of contempt Would borrow count'nance of this countenance Hauing no other beauty but what 's lent It 's owne vnseene misfeature to aduance For had it beene truely apparelled In 't owne natiue garments as soone I should Haue loath'd the forme as that it harboured As soone haue hated as now lou'd it good Oh could our eyes carry a stronger sight Then mans compacted out-side could reflect Or were his brest transparant as the light To let weake beames his inward parts detect This gay attire of beauty would no more Bewitch our fancies then a golden chaine Worne from it's place or Thâ—tis Paramourâ— Divining blush before a showre of raine But when the face is all we can perceiue And as that pleases we affected are How easie is' t for beauty to deceiue When sinne still hides it selfe by seeming faire And it may be 't was for some greater end That subtil Nature fram'd this feature thus Namely to further what the Gods pretend Which nere she could were this not glorious Now such a precious sanguine keepes his tide In th' azure conduits of well-branched vaines As to let out were worse then paâ—ricide In other vessell then what it containes So rare this forme as sure 't is worser farre For me to offer violence then for it T' attempt the crimes that to it destin'd are When It of force I a free fault commit I loue thee sonne too well those powers know The hearts of parents and how much a child In barren'st pitâ—e makes affection grow Oh that thou wer't lesse comely or lesse vild Yet how soere shall my kinde fondnesse adde More power to Fortune ouer subiect man Who well may triumph if we warning had Yet doe not shunne her frailtie when we can Shall I to saue thy life go loose mine owne Procure the name of Incest to my bed And what 〈◊〉 in ages past beene knowne Suffer a brother in a Fathers stead First let me better manifest my loue To thee my sonne first let this beautie dye Vnspotted as such beautie doth behooue Flowers are phâ—ch't when fresh not being drye Neuer shall Writers blot thy memorie Or from thy life fetch argument to their song But for thee blâ—ne deaths hasty crueltie Deem'd vertues hope hadst thou not dy'd so yong Oh you depriued fathers that with teares Behold your childrens time lesse Funerall Dry dry your eyes with them are fled your feares In their deepe graues your cares lye tombed all Call not to minde their forme their wantonnesse They wearied time with neuer alas recount The hopes you had that they your age shold blesse Such reckonings oft fall short of our account Oft haue I seene a curious Gardiner Cherish an imp with the kind start â—e had Whose youth gay flowers goodly bloomes did beare But the best fruit his age could shew was bad Then he repents his â—ares and labours lost Wishing it then had perisht when it pleasd Or that he nere had hop'd since hopes are crost Then a sau'd labour might haue sorrow eaâ—d Many faire Sun-shines doe our youth adorne But when as age giues libertie to sinne A cloudy euening doth eclipse our morne Weedes ouergrow the hearbes before hath bin And far more pleasing do we find it then If being vertuous we had perished That our kind parents might larnent vs when Liuing we wring more teares then being dead Here forcing pitty somewhat to retire A yet-ne're-guilty weapon forth he drawes Which lifting vp t' accomplish his defire Affection staies his hand and makes him pause The child with apprehension innocent Smiles at his image in his fathers eyes The soone-mâ—â—'d father herewithall relents And in distracted passion thus he cryes Can nature be so farre vnâ—aturall As that a father should a Butcher bee Can the least drop that a childs eye le ts fall Passe vnregarded without efficacy Or if there could can heauen forget to speake In the loud language of confused Thunder Can such an act be and the clouds not breake Not Ioues
vsher'd with musickes voyce Whose curious running descant and choice strain Would haue mou'd Marble made Hints reioice Able t' haue built Thebes Towers once again The monster laid vpon a silly Asse Is by each fearelesse vulgar eye discern'd Her talents toutcht as she along doth passe For Learning's knot 's vndone who is not learn'd Come to Amphioâ—s wondrous architect Whose Waste a seuen-claspt girdle doth containe The Conquerour in conscience yet vncheckt Claimes his reward Danger requires gaine The honest State denies not but inuests His Temples in the Theban Royalty The Queene and he soone tooke their interests The each of other whereto all agree Appointed is the Nuptiall day and come Whisper'd for fatall by the mourning Doues Nor was the Scritch-owle nor the Rauen dumbe In signes preposterous of preposterous loue Hymens vncheerely flame doth sadly burne And sparely drinkes the sullen wax that fryes Lesse then giues food not surfets hid powers turne Thalassios Ballads into Elegies O Midwife-Goddesse Loue-betrothing Queene Shew some misliking wonder to forbid Thou frown'st when harlots in thy porch are seen Can incest then be in thy Temple hid Borrow some fury of thy brother fell And riue thy guilty Mansion sane profane Better haue no place where thy Rites may dwell Then haue it blemisht with so foule a staine 'T is no dismembred sacrifice of beasts Can an incenst Diuinity appease Gods trafique not with men nor to our feasts Bring guest-like palats for a meale to please They laugh our scorn'd endeuors and though now These from permission gather thy consent Yet shall they find that a long wrinckled brow Is neuer leuel'd with fond blandishment In vaine exempt they from thy hostiall flame To teach the Paphian Turtles loue the gall When in their kisses they shall finde the same And bitternesse e'ne from their sweetes shall fall For take imaginations wings and flye Ouer ten Summers crown'd with ripen'd corne Let ruddy grapes ten luscious Autumnes die And from their surfets see an issue borne Two manly Twinnes to call their father brother This Eteocles Polynices hee Antigone the sister to her mother Too faire a blossome from so foule a Tree Mischiefe is come to age and pleasure must Resigne here birthright what 's supposed cleere Vnknown with knowledge manifests the rust Bad men are guiltlesse till their guilt appeare Vnyoake thy Teame yet weary Waggoner Phoebus hath tane his horses from the Car. Rough are the waies throgh which thou hast to er And daylight askes no Pilots Arctick Star The Milch-cow with full Vdder bellows home And rich Menalchas folds his fleecy Sheepe When Pyrois next on champed bit doth fome Forwards proceed Night cals thee now to sleepe OEDIPVS CANTO III. VP sluggish fury see thy Muses friend Solicites matter for thy numerous verse With morn begin thou that thy work woldst end Though night were thy fit'st hearer yet rehearse Hereto with hasty steps thou hast orerun An Infants fate by whom a Sire did die A mothers chang'd relation with her sonne And riddles made in consanguinity Now with as much celerity set downe The iustice of reuengefull Nemesis The sicknesses of an abused Crowne How sin is punisht though vnknowne it is Oh! saddest sister of the sacred nine That shroud'st thy selfe in cabin hung with black Lend me thy Ebon quill or guide thou mine Endow me now with what I most would lacke Time wearing out which ignorance made sweete With execrable pleasures vertuous thought New ills Pandoras box new open'd Fleete By whoÌ„ worse things theÌ„ by the first are wrought No soft Etesiae with coole blasts doth fan The sweaty drops from the least labouring brow And frustrate is the vse of breathing whan The Aire is suckt as from a scalding stow Phoebus bestriding the fierce Lyons backe Stirs vp the fury of th'vnloosed Dog Drinkes vp the Brookes burnes the Earths vesture blacke Wants diving vapours from the fenny Bog Dirce commands no further then her head No watry reliques shew the stranger proofe How far Ismenos liquid greatnesse spread The Oxen passe the Foord with vnwasht hoofe Sickely Diana keepes her Cloudy Chamber Lookes not abroad but with a Countenance pale No healthfull Planet spreds his lockes of amber But from the carth a counterfet exhales Abortiue Ceres doth her fruit deny Addes fuell to her selfe-consuming fire Which when the patient Husbandman doth see He weeps perhaps to quench his scorch'd desire There is no place in Thebes stretcht Territories Free from some plague or other no age no sex Here paraleld were all examples Stories That euer did this Vniuerse perplex Both old and yong fathers and children fall Wiues with their husbands what 's most vnkind Friends are not left to weepe friends funerals Death iust in this le ts none to stay behind Ere scarce the son be rakt vp in the pyre The flame 's againe renewed by the mother Oft are they burned in the selfe-same fire Which earst they kindled to consume another No Art preuailes Physitions cannot giue Themselues assurance shewing their skill they die Promising life to others they not liue The earth more Toombes the woods more piles denie In these afflictions the sad King distrest Powres out himselfe in prayer but vnheard He doth intreate to haue those ills redrest Or that death onely ben't from him debar'd Ione had his Offrings burnt to him with Oake Iuno her Lambe Isis her Calfe did smell The Hyacinth Apollo did inuoke Poppy on Ceres safforn'd Altars fell Pan knew his Pine-tree the Lars their whelps Venus her Pigeons deckt with crimson Roses But none are willing to employ their helpes No God of Thebes yet otherwise disposes Therefore to neighbouring Delphos they repaire Where they do supplyant aske what must be done For Thebos deliuerance what offring pray'r The Gods require for satisfaction To them an answere vsher'd was with Thunder No Star shall looke on Thebes but with a frowne No plague vnheard of till 't is felt with wonder Shall cease it's fiege ' gainst your vnpeopled Town Till he that was the murdrer of your King Be from the Aire you breath in banished His wretched presence doth these mischiefes bring Which liue in him and shall pursue him fled The King great thankes vpon the Gods bestowes Commanding that which to performe behoues The same which iustice to oppression owes No more they may establish Subiects loues Soone shall my Countries plague be cured now Oh easy Gods that with compassionate eyes Behold Thebes desolate buildings marke my vow And be auspicious to my enterprise Be present too oh daylights greater guide Empal'd with Crownets of Maiesticke rayes That in twelue Empires dost thy Orbe diuide Variously treading heauens distinguisht maze Night-wandring Goddesse be not absent neither Nor thou that dost in iron fetters bind Blasting Praenester that with a word canst either Call home or send abroad thy struggling winde And thou lasciuious Neptune that dost cast Thy amorous armes thy Trident laid aside Almost about my Monarchies small Waste
Creon forg'd his Crowne to go about This he augments by his vnwillingnesse And pollitick deferrings common trickes In those neare Crownes to tempt Kings easinesse When in the State themselues they 'd surer fix And so concludes of this for he that knowes His innocence cen't without preiudice Of Reason credit such reports as those The Gods perswade not what 's known otherwise Polybius that yet liues and yet enioyes Meropes kisses which I neuer tride But as a sonne all argument destroyes Either of incest or of paricide And as for Laius death you Gods can tell I 'me ignorant of 't my memory Records but one that ere by my hand fell Hard is my fortune if that one were he Yet to be further satisfied he hies Coniures a true narration from his wife Of Laius fortunes she with teares descries Each circumstance both of his death and life The persons age the manner time and place How when and where he slaughterd was agree Proue him an homicide vnto his face By demonstration not by fallacy Long he debates the matter in his mind Wherein no resolution can be found Kings wreaths about their heads are faster twin'd Then slightly may be from their heads vnbound He ballances in euen poized scales A Kingdomes glories with a Kingdomes woes Feare holds when one loue when the other failes The eye both heauiest both doth light'st suppose Pils wrapt in sugar hounyed bitternesse The licorish tast perswasiuely disswades Infected beauty gorgeous wretchednesse With tempting frights emboldning makes afraid Ene as the Loadstones Northerne Pole doth hold Th'attracted Iron with an amorous kisse But turning thence her wanton lips behold Strange loue for stranger hatred changed is Such is the nature of a Crowne distrest Veiw onely outside and we 're captiues tane But if we turne our eyes to see the rest It frights more powrfully then it can detaine Faine would the King our subiect still command And would as faine his Country had reliefe Thoughts vndetermin'd yet are at a stand Whether to keepe with care or leaue with griefe Fixt thus in wauering loe a gray-hair'd man Feebled with age and wearinesse who first Ere Oedipus was a Corinthian Out of Cithaeron brought him to be nurst From Corinths Coufines to Boeâ—tia comes With newes of craz'd Polybius mellow'd fall Also from forraine rule to fetch him home To order his Sires Crowne and Funerall His message done still Oedipus enquires About his death and much distempered Was it not I saies he that built the fire That was ordain'd to be his funerall bed Marke if thou know'st me prethee don't I looke Like to a paricide surfeited with death Say was he patient when he life forsooke Breath'd he not Oedipus when he scarse had breath What disease had he was 't not some vnkind thoght Of my misconster'd disobedience Which whilst within to smother it he sought Festerd and burst like to an vlcer thence I I 't is so the wily Gods beguile Me in my fortunes when their dread intent Could haue no way bin brought about but while My nicenesse was too wary to prevent I l'e try your cunning further you that made My power aboue it selfe ther 's yet another And a worse mischiefe you to me haue layd See if my absence can defile my mother Never will I her lou'd loath'd presence grant To my witcht eyes I must I know not whither Corinth and Thebes liue happy in my want Sith without mischiefe I can liue in neither Dis-ioynted words end their distracted sound In as discordant gesture giuing note What troubled dregges did in his braine abound When on his lookes Frenzy herselfe did quote Compassion with patheticke letters prints A feeling seeing in spectators by No shame of womanish imputation stints The helplesse fluxure of th' affected eye Mou'd with the rest the aged messenger Learn'd in the grounds from whence his griefe did rise Shewes him how farre his woes feares did erre And cleares his doubts with worse vncertainties Feare not sayes he Meropes wrongfull bed She 's but a fostring stranger to thy bloud These hands to her first thee delivered But to supply defects in woman-hood Polybius claim'd no interest of a sonne In thee but of what he bestow'd on thee Being his by nothing but adoption Thou nothing owd'st but thankes for charitie As a mistrustfull patient long diseasd His med'cines doubts mislikes his vncoth drinkes Wherewith his queazie stomacke is displeasd His sicknesse better then his potion thinkes So fares the King who in this remedy Collects more dangerous plots to be included Feares that this knowledge will worse ills descry Wishes he still were as at first deluded But sith begun hee 's minded to goe on Fall out what will he all will haue reveal'd Charging a true and full narration Of all his fortunes hitherto conceal'd Which thus the old man vtter'd At what time The Sunne attended by the heavenly Twinnes Smil'd on the wanton Springs enamel'd prime Look't on cleere Strymons fishes guilded finnes When first the daizies op't their painted lids To wait on Tytan without slumbring home I followed my lascivious wandring kids Whither Cithaeron swels her fertile wombe There of a Theban Shepheard I receiu'd Thy selfe a child bor'd throgh the feet with plants Almost of life through cruelty bereau'd By what chance done to tel my knowledge wants Your Parents likewise are vnknowne to me Nor can I tell what of the Swaine became And if my sight helps not my memory Describe I cannot nor vnfold his name Herewith the king eager to sift out all Himselfe will wretched absolutely make And Phorbas with his fellow swaines home calles Of whom the old man new acquaintance takes The rest dismist of him it is demanded What child it was that he away did giue At which he blushes and againe commanded A poore found child he saies that could not liue That answere though will not enough suffise The infants parents and mischance are vrg'd On him which he with timorousnesse denies And oft himselfe with protestations purg'd Till wrinch't awhile vpon the torturing racke His constancy turnes coward and bewrayes Collected secrets that no proofe did lacke Thy wife was mother to that childe he sayes Eu'n as a Lyon on the Lybian plaine Struck with an Arrow from the hunters Bow Shakes the shag'd order of his golden maine Doth wrathfull fires from his nostrils blow Spits seas of foame from his incensed iawes Shoots sparkles from his ruddy eye-balles rends The earths greene mantle with revengeful clawes And gainst himselfe lastly his fury bends So rages Oedipus and spurnes the ground To call vp Furies lifts his eyes to heaven To see if bright Astraea there sate crown'd With wreathes of stars aboue the wandring seveâ—â— Oft doth he shake his head as if he meant Againe to settle his distracted braines Many a groane from his grip't heart is sent Many a trembling Earth-quake he sustaines Till as extremities never long endure Sleepe bindes his senses in a gaole of iet Yet horror
here is not enough secure Dreames catch his swimming fancies in a net His slumbers broken with illusiue sights Raise sudden starts mutter out words abrupt His haire on tip-toe heaues with vaine affrights Rest do minds troubled rest doth interrupt Anon he wakes calles for his horse to flye He is pursu'd 't is true but whither wilt Thou hear'st about thee thine owne enemy And flye thy countrey mayst but not thy guilt Perceiving then how he did erre he smiles Eu'n out of griefes Antiperistasie Alas thou er'st not nor thy dreame beguiles Pursu'd thou art Crimes the pursuers be But Griefe and he growne more familiar Strange welcomes Artfull gratulations ceast Which more in Innes then Mansions vsed are Not to a daily but a seldome guest Yet when acquaintance would vn-nurtur'd grow And too much on a wearied friend relye Vnmannerly till it be bidden goe He lookes vpon it with disliking eye And to be rid of cumbersome intrusion Cuts kindnesse shorter and directly chides His trouble from him when ingrate confusion Claimes it as due and curtesie derides And hauing got the vpper hand insults Ore his deiected owner rebell-like As when Ambition gathring head revolts And at a crownes forbidden lustre strikes When as the King sees that submit he must Impatience thus in sillables breakes out Blast me some powerfull vapour into dust Circle me Furies with your brands about Oh let the weight of my impietie Presse downe the center dig it selfe a graue Or from two poles crack the warpt Axletree That Nature may a second labour haue Earth shrinke thou vnder me and thou to whom Divided Chaos pitchy darknesse sent Let me inhabit in some vaulted roome Where no light is through guiltie crannies lent You Citizens of Thebes for me distrest Tombe me aliue with stones you childlesse mothers Striping the milke out from your vnsuckt breasts You that haue lost the names of sons brothers You widowed Matrons loue-deprived Maids Pierce me at once with clamors loud and thick 'T is I whom Gods do hate and Man vpbraids The very But where Fate her Arrowes stick Why doe I stay why doth not heauen ordaine Some punishing Iron or some strangling rope Or why descends not some consuming raine Is vengeance layd vp for a further scope I haue sin'd all I can but I mistake A punishment cannot be thought on fit There 's some vnheard-of creature yet to make That ioyn'd to cruelty may haue Art and wit Me thinkes I feele a Vulture peck my liver My intrailes by some Tyger eaten vp Or in the muddy bottome of a river The nibbling Fry vpon my carcasse sup Oh my sad soule do not looke pale on death Feare not thy period vnto all thy feares Delights but Comma's are to gather breath Lest we should tire ere the full poynts appeares See heere for now he had vnsheath'd his sword How easie is it for a man to dye One little touch yea oftentimes a word Mans great bulk falles eu'n conquer'd with a flye There is but one and that a narrow way To enter life but if we would go out Of many thousand beaten paths we may Take our owne choyce we need not goe about And this is all that man can call his owne What else he hath Nature or Fortune lends Many can life deny but death can none Onely to dye vpon mans will depends Dye then so setting to his naked breast His weapons poynt ready thereon to fall Somewhat detaines him to performe the rest Not that he thought death grievous but too small Death is a Felons sentence and shall I For parricide and incest feele no more Some men do count it happinesse to dye A cure esteeme it rather then a sore Yet say the violent separation Of the acquainted body from the soule Chiefly to such who no relation Haue but to earth doth manlinesse controule What then thy Fathers death thy death requires Thy death for incest must the God appease Thy death must quench thy countries funeral fires And with one death can'st satisfie all these Couldst thou dye often could thy corpes renewd Change tenants oft couldst thou be borne againe Dye againe faultlesse could vicissitude Of life and death draw out an endlesse paine Revenge might somewhat be suffisd but now Life is thy greatest torment death espying As more remote so with more frightful brow Sith thou but once oh bee thou long in dying 'T is now growne vulgar to be Stoicall Peasants redeeme with easie deaths their feares Who would be manly or heroicall What Cowards thinke intolerable beares Linger my hasty soule be not bankerous Meerely in policie breake not so soone Some sighes thou still hast left to furnish out Thy trade with breath hold out till they be done A sudden shower from his eyes doth raine Haue I teares yet saies he alas vaine wet Thou canst not wash away one spot one staine That my least guilt vpon my fame hath set 'T is not enough to weepe I oft haue vsd Teares in my mirth let them not looke out heere Yet powre it downe if there be bloud infusd And see the eye drop after it's shed teare You shal weep bloud mine eyes sets his nailes Where sight had built her azure monument Thus shed your selues no moisture else prevailes Then from their crakt strings he his eye-bals rent Now now 't is finisht I am cleare no light Betrayes me to my selfe I 'me living dead Exempt from those that liue by wanting sight From those are dead because vnburied So having all the office of his eye Discharg'd by th' other foure his guidlesse feet Are vsher'd by his hands when suddenly His wife his mother both in one him meets Son husband cries she would not both or neither My wombes Primitiae my beds second Lord Why turnst thou hence thy hollow circles whither Those rings without their iewels hold this sword Looke on my bosome with the eyes of thought Lend thou the hand and I will lend the sight My death thou mayst that hast a fathers wrought Strike thou but home thou canst not but strike right Why dost thou stay Am I not guilty too Then beare not all the punishment alone Some of 't is mine on me mine owne bestow A heavy burthen parted seemeth none Oh I coniure thee by these lampes extinguisht By all the wrongs and rights that we haue done By this wombe lastly that hath not distinguisht Her loue betwixt a husband and a sonne Ore-come at length he strikes with one full blowâ— Her life it selfe to a long flight betakes He wanders thence secur'd in dangers now Made lesse already then fate lesse can make Long liu'd he so till heaven compassion tooke Reuenge herselfe saw too much satisfied Ione with vnwonted thunder-bolt him strooke Into a heape of peacefull ashes dryed His sonnes both killing warres his daughters fate To following buskind Writers I commit My Popiniay is lesson'd not to prate Where many words may argue little wit FINIS