to eate hys owne two Children At length vnderstandinge by EVRYBATES that Troy was wonnë that her husbaÌ„d AGAMEMNON was comming homewarde with a yonge Lady named CASSANDRA daughter to king PRIAMVS partly enraged with iealousy disdaine thereof partly loath to loose the company of AEGYSTHVS her Coadulterer practyzed with him how to murther her husbande Which accordingly they brought to passe not resting so coÌ„tented they also put CASSANDRA to deth imprisoned ELECTRA Daughter to AGAMEMNON and soughte to haue slayne his Sonne ORESTES Which ORESTES fleeing for sauegard of his lyfe to on STROPHILVS hys dead Fathers deare friend was by him secretly kept a longe time till at lenght comming priuely into Mycene and by his Systers meanes coÌ„ducted where his Mother CLYTEMNESTRA and AEGYSTHVS were in reuenge of his Fathers death killed them both The Speakers names THYESTES CHORVS CLYTEMNESTRA NVTRIX AEGISTHVS EVRYBATES A company of Greekes CASSANDRA AGAMEMNON ELECTRA STROPHILVS THE FIRST ACTE THYESTES DEpartinge from the darkned dens which Dicis low doth keepe Loe heere I am sent out agayne from Tartar Dungeon deepe Thyestes I that wheather coast to shun doe stande in doubt Th' infernall fiendes I fly the foalke of earth I chase about My conscience lo abhors that I should heather passage make Appauled sore with feare and dread my trembling sinewes shake My fathers house or rather yet my brothers I espy This is the olde and antique porche of Pelops progeny Here first the Greekes on prynces heads doe place the royall crowne And heere in throne aloft they lye that ietteth vp and downe With stately Scepter in theyr hand eake heere theyr courts doe ly This is theyr place of banquetting returne therefore will I Nay better were it not to haunt the lothsome Limbo lakes Where as the Stygion porter doth aduaunce with lusty crakes His tryple gorge be hong with Mane shag hatry rusty blacke Where Ixions Carkasse linked fast the whirling wheele doth racke And rowleth still vpon him selfe where as full oft in vayne Much toyle is lost the tottring stone down tumbling backe agayne Where growing guts the greedy gripe do gnaw with rauening bits Where parched vp with burning thirst amid the waues he stâ—s And gapes to catch the flecting flood with hungry chaps beguilde That payes his parnefull punishment whose feast the Gods defilde Yet that olde man so stept in yeares at length by trace of time How great a part belonges to mee and portion of his crime Account wee all the grisly ghostes whom guilty founde of ill The Gnosian Iudge in Plutoes pyts doth rosse in torments still Thyestes I in driery deedes will farre surmount the rest Yet to my Brother yelde I though I gorgde my bloudy brest And stuffed haue my pampred paunche euen with my chyldren three That crammed lye within my Rybs and haue theyr Toumbe in mee The bowels of my swallowed Babes deuowred vp I haue Nor fickle Fortune mee alone the Father doth depraue But enterprysing greater guilte then that is put in ure To file my Daughters bawdy Bed my lust shee doth alure To speake these words I doe not spare I wrought the haynous deede That therefore I through all my stocke might parent still proceede My Daughter driuen by force of Fates and destenyes deuyne Doth breede younge bones lades her wombe with sinfull seede of myne Loe nature chaunged vpside downe and out of order tornde This myngle mangle hath shee made O fact to be forlornde A Father and a Grandsyre loe confusedly I am My daughters husband both become and Father to the same Those babes that should my Nephewes bee when nature rightly runnes She being tumbled doth confounde and mingle with my sonnes The chrystall clearenesse of the day and Phoebus beames so bryght Are myxed with the foggy cloudes and darkenesse dim of nyght When wickednes had wearied vs to late truce taken was Euen when our detestable deedes were done and brought to passe But valiaunt Agamemnon hee graund captayne of the Hoste Who bare the sway among the Kinges and ruled all the roste Whose flaunting Flag and Banner braue displayde in royall sorte A thousand sayle of sowsing ships did garde to Phrygian parte And with their swelling shatling sayles the surging seas did hide That beateth on the bankes of Troy and floweth by her side When Phoebus Carte the Zodiack ten times had auer runne And waste the battred Walles doe lye of Troy destroyde and woonne Returnde he is to yeelde his throate vnto his traytresse Wyfe That shall with force of bloudy blade bereue him of his lyfe The glytering Swerd the hewing Axe and wounding weapons moe With bloud for bloud new set abroche shall make the floore to flow With sturdy stroke and boystrous blow of pithy Pollaxe geuen His beaten braynes are pasht abroade his cracked Skull is reuen Now myschiefe marcheth on a pace now falshoode doth appeare Now Butchers slaughter doth approche and muriher draweth neare In honour of thy natyue day Aegisthus they prepare The sollemne feast with juncketing and daynty tothsome fare Fy what doth shame abashe thee so and cause thy courage quayle Why doubts thy righthand what to doe to smite why doth it fayle What he forecasting might suspect why shouldst thou take aduyse Why freteest thou demaunding if thou may it enterpryse Nay if a mother it beseeme thou rather mayst surmyse What now how hapneth it that thus the smiling sommers night When Phoebus from Th' antipodes shoulde render sonne the lyght On sudden chaung their turnes with nights that last and lynger longe When wynters Boreas bitter blastes doth puffe the trees amonge Or what doth cause the glyding starres to stay still in the sky Wee wayght for Phoebus to the Worlde bryng day now by and by Chorus O Fortune that dost fayle the great estate of kinges On slippery sliding seat thou placest lofty thinges And setst on tottring sort where perils do abound Yet neuer kiÌ„gdome calme nor quiet could be fouÌ„d No day to Scepters sure doth shine that they might say To morow shall wee rule as wee haue done to day One clod of croked care another bryngeth in One hurly burly done another doth begin Not so the raging Sea doth boyle vpon the Sande Where as the southern winde that blowes in Afryck Lande One Waue vpon another doth heape wyth sturdy blast Not so doth Euxine Sea his swelling waues vp cast Nor so his belching streame from shallow bottom roll That borders hard vpon the ysyfrosen poall Where as Bootes bryght doth twyne his Wayne about And of the marble seas doth nothing stande in doubt O how doth Fortune tosse and tomble in her wheele The staggring states of Kynges that readdy bee to reele Fayne woulde they dreaded bee and yet not setled so When as they feared are they feare and lyue in woe The silent Lady nyght so sweete to man and beast Can not bestow on them her safe and quiet rest Sleepe that doth ouercome and breake the bonds of griefe It cannot ease theyr heartes nor mynister
monstrous mischiefe horrible from modest minde remoue Which neuer did Barbarian commit vnto this day No not the Gadding Gothes that vp and downe the fyeldes do stray Nor craggy crested Taurus mount whose hoary and frosty face With numming cold abandons all inhabitors the place Nor yet the scattered Scithian thy mother haue in mynd And feare this forrayne venery so straunge agaynst thy kind The Fathers wedlocke with the sonnes thou seckst to be defylde And to conceiue in wicked womb a Bastard Mungrell Child Go too and turne thy Nature to the flame of burning breast Why yet do Monsters cease why is thy Brothers caue in reast That Mynotaurus hideous hole and vgly couching den Without an other greedy fyend to mounch vp flesh of men Mishapen lothly monsters borne so oft the world shall beare So oft rebels agaynst her selfe confused Nature deare As loue entangles Nimphes of Crete Ph. I know the truth ye teach O Nurce but fury forceth mee at worser thinges to reach My mynd euen wittingly to vyce falles forward prone and bent To holesome counsell backe agayne in vayne it doth relente As when the Norman tugges and toyles to bring the freighted Barke Agaynst the striuing streame in vayne he loseth al his carke And downe the shallow streame perforce the Shyp doth hedlong yeeld Where reason preaseth forth there fighting fury winnes the field And beares the swinging sway and cranke Cupidoes puissant might Tryumpheth ouer all my breast this flighty winged wight And puissant potestate throughout the world doth heare the stroke And with vnquenched flames doth force Ioues kindled breast to smoake The Battelbeaten Mars hath felt these bitter burning brandes And eke the God hath tasted these whose feruent fierye handes The thumping thunder bouncing boltes three forked wyse doth frame And he that euer busted is about the furious flame In smoltring Fornace raging hoat on dusky top so hie Of foggye Aetna mount and with such slender heat doth frie And Phoebe himselfe that weldes his dart vpon his twanging string With aymed shaft directlie driuen the wimpled Ladde doth sting With powre he scoures along the Earth and Marble Skye awayne Lust fauoring folly filthtly did falsely forge and fayne Loue for a God and that he might hys freedome 〈…〉 Ascribes the name of fayned God to shittel bed lame rage Erycina about the world doth send her rouing page Who glyding through the Azure skies with slender ioynted arme His perlous weapons weildes at will and working grieeuous uous harme Of bones and stature beyng least great might he doth display Vpon the Gods compelling them to crouch and him obay Some Brainsicke head did attribute these thinges vnto himselfe And Venus Godhead with the bow of Cupid litle elfe Who cockred is tryumphing much in fauning fortunes lap And flotes in welth or seekes and sues for thinges that seldome hap Lust mighty fortunes mischeous mate assaulteth straight his breast His tooth contempneth wonted fare and victuals homly drest Nor hansome houses pleaseth him why doth this plague refuse The simple sort and to annoy doth stately bowers chuse How haps it matrimony pure to byde in Cottage base And honest loue in middle sort of men doth purchase place And thinges that be of meane estate themselues restraine ful well But they that wallow in their luste whose stately stomackes swell Puft vp and boistred bigge with trust of Kingly scepter proude Do greater matters enterprise then may be well alowde Hee that is able much to do of powre wil also bee To do these thinges he cannot doe Now Lady dost thou see What thinges do thee beseeme thus staid on stately throne on hie Mistrust the scepter of thy spouse returning by and by Ph. In me I beare a violent and mighty payse of loue And no mans comming home againe to terrour may me moue He neuer stepped backe agayne the welkin skie to touch That swallowed once and sunke in gulfe and glummy caue did couch Shut vp in shimering shade for ay Nu. Yet do not thou suppose Though dreadful Ditis lock with barres and bolt his dongeon close And though the hideous hellicke hounde do watch the griesly gates Not Theseus alone shal haue his passages stopt by fates Ph. Perhaps he pardon wil the cryme of loues procuring heate Nu. Nay churlishly hee would of old his honest wyfe entreate Antiope his bobbing buffets felt and heauy cuffe Suppose yet thou can qualifye thy husbandes raging ruffe Yet who can moue Hippolytus most stony stubborne mynd He wil abhorre the very name detesting woman kind And faring frantickly wil gyue himselfe to single life And shunne the hated spousall bedde of euery marride wife Then shal ye playnly vnderstand his brutish Scithian blood Ph. To follow him euen through the hilles the Forrest thycke wood That keepes among the clottred cliues besmeard with siluer Snow Whose nimble heeles on craggy rockes are frisking to and froe I wysh Nu. He wil resist and not be dalyed with nor coyd Nor chaunge his chast estate for lyfe of chastity deuoyd And turne perhaps his cankred hate to light on thee alone That now he beares to all Ph. wil not he moued be with mone Nu. Stark wilde he is Ph. and I haue learnd wilde thinges by loue to tame Nu Hee 'le runne away Ph. if by the Seas heftie I on the same Will follow him Nu. Remember then thy father may thee take Ph. I may remember myne offence my mother eake wil slake Nu. Detesting womankinde he driues and courseth them away Ph. No strūpets bashful feare agaynst my breast doth hold at bay Nu. Thy husband wil be here Ph. I wis he comes I warrant him Pyrothous companion in hellicke dungeon dimme Nu Thy Father also he wil come Ph. A gentle hearted Syre Forgeuing Ariadnes fault when she did him require Nu For these my siluer shining lockes of horie drouping age And breast beduld with cloying cares restrayne thy furious rage I humbly thee beseech euen by these tender tears of myne Succor thy selfe much health it is if will to health encline Ph. Not euery iote at honesty exiled is my breast I yeeld me Nurse loue that denies thus vnder rule to rest In quietnes let him let him perforce be battered downe I wil not let my fleeting fame and glorious bright renoume With stayne to be dishonoured this onely is the gap To shunne the perlous path that leades to vices trayning trap My spouse let mee ensue with death this striue I shall subuert Nu. Deare daughter slake the ramping rage of thy unruly heart Plucke downe thy stomacke stout for this I iudge thee worthy breath In that thou dost confesse thy selfe to haue deserued death Ph. Condemde I am to die what kind of death now would I know As eyther strangled with a rope shal I my life forgoe Or runne vppon a bloudy blade with gory wound to dye Or topsie turuy headlong hurld downe Pallas turret hie In quarrel iust of Chastity Nu. Now strengthen we our hand Alas shal not my
Hee is escapte and gone and with vnmeasurable might The Chariot horse with rayne at will doe scud out of my sight Now free from perill on my foes attendaunce will I make And offer willingly my head the deadly wounde to take The cruell conqueresse of her spouse is come whose spotted weede With sprinkels signe of slaughter doe beare recorde of her deede Her goary handes new bathde in bloude as yet they bee not dry Her rough and churlishe rigorous lookes the fact doe notify Unto the Temple will I trudge Cassandra suffer mee Opprest with egall griefe take parte of sacrifice with thee THE FIFTE ACTE THE FOVRTH SCENE Clytemnestra Electra AEgisthus Cassandra O Thou thy Mothers Enemy vngracious saucy face After what sorre dost thou a mayde appeare in publyque plate ELEC. I haue wyth my virginity the bowres of Baudes forsooke CLY. What man is het that euer thee to bee a vyrgin tooke E. What your own daughter C. With thy mother more modest should EL. Doe you at length begin to preach such godlines to me thou be CL. A marily stomacke stout thou bast with swelling hawty hart Subdued with sorrow learne thou shall to play a womans part EL. A swerd and buckler very well a woman doth beseeme Except I dote CL. Thy selfe dost thou haylefellowe with vs esteeme EL. What Agamemnoon new is this whom thou hast got of late CL. Hereafter shall I tame and teach thy gyrlish tongue to prate And make thee know how to a Queene thy taunting to forbeare EL. The whilst thou Wyddow aūsware me directly to this geare Thy husband is bereued quight of breath his lyfe is donne CL Enquier where thy brother is so seeke about my sonne EL. Hee is departed out of Greece CL. Goe fetch him out of hande EL. Fetch thou my father vnto mee CL. Giue me to vnderstande Where doth he lurking hyde his head where is he shrunke away EL. All plunge of perills past hee is and at a quiet stay And in another Kyngdome where no harme hee doth mistrust This aunswere were sufficient to please a Parent trust But one whose breast doth boyle in wrath it cannot satisefy CL. To day by death thou shalt receyue thy fatall destiny EL. On this condition am I pleasde the Aulter to forsake If that this hanc shall doe the deede my death when I shall take Or els if in my throate to bath thy blade thou doe delight Most willingly I yeelde my throate and giue thee leaue to smite Or if thou will chop of my heade in brutishe beastly guise My necke a wayting for the wounde out stretched ready lies Thou hast committed sinfully a great and grieuous guilt Goe purge thy hardned hands the which thy husbands bloud haue spilt CL. O thou that of my perills all dost suffer part with mee And in my realme dost also rule with egall dignity Aegisthus art thou glad at this as doth her not behoue With checks and taunts the daughter doth her mothers mallice moue Shee keepes her brothers counsell close conueyde out of the way AEGI. Thou malipert and witlesse wenche thyne cluishe prating stay Refrayne those wordes vnfit thy Mothers glowing cares to vex EL. What shall the breeder of this broyle controll me with his checks Whose fathers gut it hath caused him to haue a doubtfull name Who both is to his sister sonne and Nephew to the same CL. To snap her head of with thy swerd Aegist dost thou refrayne Let her giue vp the ghost or bryng her brother straight agayne Let her be lockt in dungeon darck and let her spend her dayes In Caues Rocks with painefull pangues torment her euery wayes I hope him whom she hidden hath shee will agayne discry Through being clapt in pryson strong and suffring pouerty With yrksome and vnsauory smells on euery syde annoyde Enforst to weare a wyddowes weede er wedding day enioyde Put in exile and banishment when eche man doth her hate So shall she bee by misery compeld to yeelde to late Prohibyted of holsome ayre fruition to haue EL. Graunt me my dome by meanes of death to passe vnto my graue CL. I would haue graunted it to thee if thou should it deny Unskilfull is the tyraunt who by suffring wretches dy Doth ende theyr paynes EL. what after death doth any thing remayne CL. And if thou doe desyre to dye the same see you refrayne Lay hands sirs on this wondrous wretch whom being caryed on Euen to the furthest corner of my iurisdiction Farre out beyond Mycoenas land in bonds let her be bound With darknesse diui in hiddeous holde let her be closed round This captiue Spouse and wicked Queane the Trull of Prynces bed Shall pay her paynes and suffer death by losing of her head Come hale her on that she may followe that way my spouse is gon Whose loue from mee entised was CAS. Doe not thus hale mee on I will before you take the way these tydings first to tell Vnto my countrey men of Troy beneath in lowest hell How ouerquelmed ships ech where are spread the seas vppon And Micœne countrey conquerde is brought in subiection He that of thousand captaynes was graunde captayne generall Come to as great calamity as Troy it selfe did fall Entrapped was by traytrous trayne and whoredome of his Wyfe And by a gyft receaued of her depriued of his Lyfe Let vs not linger on with mee and thankes I doe you giue I ioy that it might be my hap thus after Troy to liue CL. Go to prepare thy selfe to dye thou frantique raging wight CAS. The fransy fits of fury fell on you shall also light EVRIBATES Added to the Tragedy by the Translator ALas yee hatefull hellish Hagges yee furies foule and fell Why cause yee rusty rancours rage in noble heartes to dwell And cancred hate in boyling breastes to grow from age to age Coulde not the graundstres paynefull pangues the childrens wrath asswage Nor famyne faynt of pyning paunche with burning thyrst of hell Amid the blackest streame of Sticks where poysning breathes do dwel Where vapors bile parbraking out from dampishe myry mud Encrease the paynes of Tantalus deserude by guiltles bloud Could not thine owne offence suffice Thyestes in thy Lyfe To file thy brothers spousall Bed and to abuse his Wyfe But after breath from body fled and Lyfe thy Lymmes hath left Can not remembraunce of reuenge out of thy breast be reft What yet hast thou not layde thy lips taiaste of Lethes floude Now afte death why dost thou come to moue thy sonne to bloude Coulde cruell Ditis graunt to thee thy pasporte backe agayne To worke this woe vpon the world and make such rigour raygne That Clytemnestra is become the fifty sister dyre Of Danaus daughters that did once theyr husbands death conspyre Loe here how fickle fortune giues but brytle fading ioy Lot hee who late a Conquerour tryumphed ouer Troy Enduring many sturdy stormes with mighty toyle and payne To sowe the seede of fame hath reapt small fruite thereof agayne
woes nor yet in haughty top of hilles and mountaynes hye The builded towers The people all let them to battel crye And clere forsake Mycenas towne who so his hateful head Hides and defendes with slaughter dire let bloud of him be shed This princely Pelops palace proude and bowres of high renowne On mee so on my brother to let them be beaten downe Go to do that which neuer shall no after age allow Nor none it whisht some mischefe greate ther must be ventred now Both fierce and bloudy such as woulde my brother rather long To haue bene his Thou neuer dost enough reuenge the wronge Exept thou passe And feercer fact what may be done so dyre That his exceedes doth euer he lay downe his hateful yre Doth euer he the modest meane in tyme of wealth regard Or quiet in aduerslty I know his nature harde Vntractable that broke may be but neuer wil it bend For which are he prepare himselfe or force to fight entend Set fyrst on him least while I rest he should on me aryse He wil destroy or be destroyd in midst the mischiefe lyes Prepard to him that takes it first Ser. Doth fame of people naught Aduerse thee feare Atre. The greatest good of kingdom may be thought That still the people are constraynd their princes deedes as well To prayse as them to suffer all Ser. Whom feare doth so compell To prayse the same his foes to bee doth feare enforce agoyne But who indeede the glory seckes of fauour trew t' obtayne He rather would with hates of each be praysd then tounges of all Atre. The trewer prayse ful oft hath hapt to meaner men to fall The false but vnto myghty man what nill they let them will Ser. Let first the king will honest thinges and none the fame dare nill Atre. Where leeful are to him that rules but honest thinges alone There raynes the kyng by others leaue Ser. And wher the shame is none Nor care of ryght fayth piety nor holines none stayeth That kingdome swarues Atre. Such holines such piety and fayth Are priuate goods let kinges runne one in that that likes their will Ser. The brothers hurt a mischiefe count though he be nere so ill Atre. It is but right to do to hym that wrong to brother were What heynous hurt hath his offence let passe to proue or where Refraynd the gylt thy spouse he stale away for lechery And raygne by stelth the auncient note and sygne of empery By frawde he got my house by fraud to vexe he neuer ceast In Pelops house there fostred is a noble worthy beast The close kept Ramme the goodly guyde of rych and fayrest flockes By whom throughout on euery syde depend a downe the lockes Of glittering gold with fleece of which the new kinges wonted were Of Tantals stocke their sceptors gylt and mace of might to beate Of this the owner raygneth he with him of house so great The fortune fleeth this sacred Ramme aloofe in safety shet In secret mead is wont to grase which stone on euery syde With rocky wall inclosethe rounde the fatall beast to hyde This beast aduentryng mischiefe greate adioyning yet for pray My spoused mate the traytour false hath hence conuayde away From hence the wrongs of mutuall hate and mischiefe all vpsyreng In exile wandred he throughout my kingdomes all along No part of myne remayneth safe to mee from traynes of hys My feere deflourde and loyalty of empyre broken is My house all vext my bloud in doubt and naught that trust is in But brother foe What stayst thou yet at length lo now beginne Take hart of Tantalus to thee to Pelops cast thyne eye To such examples well beseemes I should my hand applye Tell thou which way were best to bring that cruell head to death Ser. Through perst with sword let him be slayne yelde his hatefull breath Atre. Thou speak'st of th' end but I him would opres with greter payne Let tyrants vexe with torment more should euer in my rayne Be gentle death Ser. Doth piety in thee preuayle no whit Atre. Depart thou hence all piety if in this house as yet Thou euer wert and now let all the flocke of furies dyre And full of strife Erinnis come and double brands of fyre Megaera shaking for not yet enough with fury great And rage doth burne my boyling brest it ought to bee repleate With monster more Ser. What mischiefe new do'ste thou in rage pro-uide Atre. Not such a one as may the meane of woonted griefe abide No guilt will I forbeare nor none may be enough despight Ser. What sword Atr. To litle that Ser. what fire Atr. And yâ— is yet to Ser. What weapon then shall sorrow such finde fit to worke thy will Atr. Thy estes selfe Ser. Then yre it selfe yet that 's a greater ill Atr. I graunt a tombling tumult quakes within my bosomes loe And rounde it rolles I moued am and wote not wherevnto But drawen I am from bottome deepe the roryng soyle doth cry The day so fayre with thunder soundes and house as all from hy Were rent from roofe and rafters crakes and lares turnde abought Haue wryde theyr sight so bee'te so bee'te let mischiefe such be sought As yee O Gods would feare Ser. What thing seek'st thou to bring to pas I note what greater thing my mynde and more then woont it was Atre. Aboue the reache that men are woont to worke begins to swell And stayth with slouthfull handes What thinge it is I cannot tell But great it is Bee'te so my mynde now in this feate proceede For Atreus and Thyestes bothe it were a worthy deede Let eche of vs the crime commit The Thracian house did see Such wicked tables once I graunt the mischiefe great to bee But done ere this some greater guilt and mischiefe more let yre Fynde out The stomacke of thy sonne O father thou enspyre And syster eke like is the cause assist me with your powre And dryue my hand let greedy parents all his babes deuowre And glad to rent his children bee and on their lyms to feede Enough and well it is deuis'de this pleaseth me in deede In meane time where is he so long and innocent wherefore Doth Atreus walke before myne eyes already more and more The shade of such a slaughter walkes the want of children cast In fathers Iawes But why my mynde yet dreadst thou so at last And faint'st before thou enterprise it must bee done let bee That which in all this mischiefe is the greatest guilt to see Let him commit Ser. but what disceit may wee for him prepare Whereby betrapt he may be drawne to fall into the snare He wotes full well we are his foes Atre. He could not taken bee Except himselfe would take but now my kingdomes hopeth hee For hope of this he woulde not feare to meete the mighty Ioue Though him he threatned to deistroy with lightning from aboue For hope of this to passe the threats of waues
myne with you preuayle Or shall I curse my luckelesse fate and on my Fortune rayle And iudge your Sire an happy man in that he liueth blinde And cannot see the thing which I beholde with pensiue minde In comming vnto you did I bring with mee this intent To ende these broyles or did I come to see some dyre euent Etheocles some what appeasde hath pitcht his Speare in ground And not a weapon bloud to shee l in hand of his is found Now Polynices vnto thee my former suite I bring Regard thy Mothers mournefull plight and yeelde vnto the thing That shee with teares entreates to haue O Sonne at length I see I hold with hands I kisse with mouth I touch with ioyfull glee This Face of thyne the sight whereof I wanted haue so longe And haue more often wished for then can bee tolde with tonge Thou hast from natiue Soyle bene chasde to Coaste of forraigne king And crossed bene with trouncing force of frowning Fortunes sting Thou many a Storme and many a brunt in many a foming Sea In Wandring sort and banisht guise didst oftentimes assay Thy Mother at thy Spousall feast was absent farre away And could not doe such nuptiall Rytes as tell for such a day Into thy wedding Chamber shee brought thee ne yet thy Bryde Ne yet in solemne sorte the house with herbes and odours plide Ne yet did with a Ryband white the wedding Torches tye As vse and custome willes to bee at such solemynitie Adrastus Father to thy Wife and father in lawe to thee With Daughter his hath not defraide much store of golde or Fee No Dower hath he bestowde on her her wealth was very small Of Citties Landes and Reuenewes hee gaue her none at all Warre Warre is it thou onely hadst by taking her to Wyfe In lew of other gyfts hee helpes to kindle all this Stryfe Thou Sonne in lawe arte vnto him that is our Countreyes Foe Thy Natiue soyle thou leauest and to forraigne Courts dost goe Thou feedest now at Straungers boarde and makest more accoumpt Of new acquaintaunce got abroade as though it did surmount The friendship of thy countrey heere thou art a banisht wight And liu'st in exile for no fault but through thy brothers spight In thee appeares resemblaunce playne of all thy Fathers Fate In which there lacketh not so much as thoyse of wedded Mate Whom with as ill mischaunce and hap as euer Fathers was Thou haste in lucklesse houre and time of mariage brought to passe O Sonne thy mothers onely hope for whom such care I take Whose sight now after many yeares doth mee most ioyfull make For whom I haue full many a time to Gods deuoutly praide Whereas in deede thy new retourne to mee may well bee saide To take away as great a ioye and bring as great a griefe As it to these myne aged yeares is comfort and reliefe I prostrate at the Oracle besought Apollos Grace To tell mee when I should not neede to further feare thy case Who flowting this my fond demaund anone did flatly tell And spake these words which yet I trow I doe remember well Thou fearst thy son least harme he take as is a mothers guise But thou I say more cause shalt haue to feare him otherwise For if this warre vnraisde had bene I should thy presence lacke And if thou wert not Thebane Land might free remayne from Sacke The sight of the doth cost vs all a hard and nipping price Yet doth it like thy mother well so that her sound aduice In this one thing thou follow will Dispatch these Armies hence Euen presently whyle yet of bloud there hath not bene expence So foule a Fact to bee so neere is haynous out of doubt I shake I quake to thinke thereon in euery Ioynt throughout My hayre stands vpright euen for feare two brethren thus to see Aloofe and ready one to chop at th' other cruelly How neere was I poore Mother theirs a bloudier act t' haue seene Then father blind yet euer saw or euer yet would weene And though my feare be ouerpast and th' act vnbrought to passe My selfe yet doe I wretched thincke that done so neere it was By all the throwes for tenne months space in wombe whē I thee bare And for thy Sisters sake both twaine which shine in vertue rare And by those Eyehoales of thy Syre for which with wrekefull Pawe Hee pulld his Eyes because vnwares hee stained Natures lawe I thee beseech from Thebane Walles sent backe these armed Bandes Which threatning all our throates to cut against our Countrey stands Yea though you presently depart yet are you much to blame And there is due vnto you both a lot of during shame Because this Countrey round about hath pestred bene with powre And troupes of Souldiours stout and braue it ready to deuowre With pensiue hearts a mourning minds these Eyes of ours haue seene Your praūcing couriers with their Feete spoile Theban Medowes greene Wee oft haue seene your houlty Peeres in warlike Chariot ride And oft our houses to haue brunt with wildfier haue bene spide And last of all An act wee sawe which euen to Thebes is straung Two Brethren warring mortally all Natures bondes to chaung Ech one in th' Army sawe this sight the people witnesse bee Your Systers two and Mother I this all did plainly see Your Father hee may thanke himselfe that he did not behold This lamentable spectacle and hauockes manifold Call now to thy remembraunce heere thy Father OEdipus Whose doome did Facts by errour done euen plague punishe thus With Fyre sword subuert not cleane good Sonne thy coūtrey deare And Thebes whereof thou wouldst be king surcease with force to teare What Bedlem pang enchaunts thy mind what might thy meaning bee Thou claymst a Realme which to subuert thou geeuest lycence free In seeking thus a countryes rule a countrey thou destroyest Which thou thine own would make thou marr'st as t were none annoyesto Heereby thou hindrest much thy selfe in that thou makest spoyle And burnest vp doth Corne and Grasse and keep'st a shamefull coyle In chasting men out of their homes O desprate witlesse parte What man aliue to waste his owne can thus find in his harte These thinges that thou cōmaundest thus by rage of sword flame To bee consum'de an other man thou thinkst doth owe the same If thus for princely Chayre you twayne by th' Eares your title try The state of Realme and Commonwealth will totter soone awry Seeke it while yet your Countrey standes vnblemisht by decay It so t' enioy and so to raigne I coumpt the better way Ah canst thou finde in heart to burne and spoyle these houses braue The lyke whereof in all the worlde besides thou canst not haue Canst thou destroy and ruinate the noble Thebane wall To whose first building stones apace at Dan Amphions call Came dauncing of their owne accord through tunes of warbling harpe And coucht themselues in order right vpon the Turrets sharpe
death of dompish graue Sith fates wil not permit thee life though I behest thee mine My selfe I shall in spite of fate my fatall twist vntwine This blade shall riue my bloudy breast my selfe I will dispoile Of soule and sinne at once through floods and Tartar gulphes that boyle Through Styx and through the burning Lakes I wil come after thee Thus may we please the lowring shades receiue thou heere of mee The parings of my Poll and Locks cut off from forehead torne Our hearts we could not ioyne in one yet wretches now farlorne We shal togeather in one day our fatall hower close If thou be loyall to thy spouse for him thy life then lose But if thou be vncestuous dye for thy louers sake Shall I vnto my husbandes bed agayne my corps betake Polluted with so haynous crime O death the chiefest ioy Of wounding shame Death onely ease of stinging Loues annoy We runne to thee embrace our sowles within thy gladsome breast Harke Athens harke vnto my talke and thou aboue the reste Thou Father worse vnto thy Child than bloudy stepdame I False forged tales I told with shame I fayning that did lye Which I of spite imagined when raging breast did swarue Thou father falsly punisht hast him that did not deserue The youngman chast is cast away for myne vncestuous vice Both bashful he and guiltles was now play thy wonted guyse My guilty breast with bloudy Launce of Sword deseru'd is riuen The Dirge toth ' dead to purge my spouse shal with my bloud be geuen Thou father of the stepdame learne what things thy SoÌ„ne should haue Of life depriued as to lay his carkasse in a graue Th. O wanny Iawes of blacke Auerne â—ake Tartar dungeon grim O Lethes Lake of woful Soules the ioy that therein swimme And eake ye glummy Gulphes destroy destroy me wicked wight And stil in pit of pangues let me be plunged day and night Now now come vp ye Gobline grim from water creekes alow What euer Proteus hugie swoln aloofe doth ouerflow Come dowse me drownd in swallowes depe that triumphe in my sinne And father thou that euermore ful ready prest hath binne To wreake myne yre aduentring Ia deede deseruing death With new found slaughter haue bereft myne onely Sonne of breath His tattred lims I scatred haue the bloudy field about Whyle th' innocent I punish doe by chaunce I haue found out The truth of al this wickednes heauen starres and sprites of hell I pester with my treachery that me doth ouerquell No mischiefes hap remayneth more iii. kingdomes know mee well We are returned to this World For this did Hell vnfold His gates that burials twayne I might and double death beholde Wherby I both a wyueles Wight andeakâ— a Sonles Sire May with one brand to wyse and Sonne enflame the funeral fire O tamer of blackefaced light Alcides now restore Thy booty brought from Hel redeeme to mee to mee therfore These Ghostes that now be gone ah sinful wretch to death in vayne I sue most vndiscrete by whom these wretched Wightes were slayne Imagining destruction sore aboute it wil I goe Now with thyne owne handes on thy selfe due vengeance do bestow A Pine tree bough downe straind perforce vnto the ground alow Let slip into the open ayre shal cut my corpes in twayne From top of Scyrons Rockes I wil be tumbled downe amayne More grieuous vengeance yet I haue in Phlegethon Riuer found Tormenting guilty Ghostes enclosd with fiery Channel round What pit and pangues shal plunge my soule already haue I known That tyring toyle of Sisyphus that retchles rolling stone Let yeeld vnto my guilty Ghost and beyng layed on These shoulders these these lifting handes of myne downe let it sway And let the fleeting floud aboute my lips deluded play Yea let the rauening grype come heare and Tytius paunch forsake For glutting foode with grasping Cleaze my liuer let him take Encreasyng stil to feede the Foule and for my tormentes sake And pause thou my Pyrothous Syre and eke the snackle Wheele That whirleth stil enforce my limmes thy swinging swift to feele Gape gape thou ground and swallow me thou cruell Chaos blynd This passage to th infernall Sprightes is fit for me to find My Sonne I wil ensue thou Prince of gastly ghostes in hell Dread not for chast wee come to thee geue thou me leaue to dwell Among thy dreadful dennes for aye and not to passe agayne Alas my prayer at the Gods no fauour can obtayne But if that mischiefe craue I should how ready would they bee Ch. O Theseus to thy plaint eternall tyme is graunted thee Prouyde thy Sonne his Obit rytes and shroude in dompish graue His broken lims which Monsters foule disperst and scattered haue Th. The shreadings of this deare beloued carkasse bring to mee His mangled members hether bring on heapes that tombled be This is Hyppolytus I do acknowledge myne offence For I it is that haue depriued thee of life and sense Least that but once or onely I should be a guilty Wight I Sire attempting mischiefe haue besought my Fathers might Lo I enioy my fathers gift O solitarinesse A grieuous plague when feeble yeares haue brought vs to distresse Embrace these lims and that which yet doth of thy sonne remayne O woeful wight in baleful breast preserue and entertayne These scattred scraps of body torne O Syre in order fet The straying gobbetts bring agayne here was his right hand set His left hand here instructed will to rule the raynes must be His left syde rybbs ful wel I know to be bewayld of mee With bitter teares as yet alas are lost and wanting still O trembling handes behold this woful busines to fulfil And withered Cheekes forbid your streams of flowing tears to runne Whyle that the father do accompt the members of his Sonne And eke patch vp his body rent that hath his fashion lost Disfigured foule with gorye woundes and all about be tost I doubt if this of thee be peece and peece it is of thee Here lay it here in th' empty place here let it layed be Although perhap it lye not right aye me is this thy face Whose beauty twinckled as a starre and eake did purchase grace In sight of Fâ—â— procurd to ruth Is this thy beauty lost O cruell will of Gods O rage in sinne preuayling most Doth thus the Syre that great good turne perfourme vnto his sonne Lo let thy fathers last fare wel within thyne eares to runne My child whom oft I bid farewell the whilst the fire shall burne These bones set ope his buriall bower and let vs fall to mourne With loude lamenting Mopsus wise for both the coarses sake With Princely Pompe his funerall fire see that ye ready make And seeke ye vp the broken parts in field dispersed round Stop hir vp hurlde into a Pit let heauy clodds of ground lie hard vpon hir cursed hed FINIS THE FIFTH TRAGEDY OF SENECA ENGLISHED The yeare of our Lord M. LX. BY
some deterd by payne A fewe by toyle and labour long did with their Prince remayne OE. Were any slayne in his defence IO. Of one report is rife Who constant in his princes cause full stoutly lost his lyfe OED. It is enough I knowe the man that hath this mischiefe done The number and the place agrees The time vntried alone Remaynes Than tell what time hee died and when that he was slaine IOC. T is ten yeares since you now reuiue my chifest cares againe THE FOVRTH ACTE THE SECOND SCENE Senex OEdipus THe Corinth people all O King in Fathers place to rayn Doe call your Grace Polybius doth eternall rest obtayn OED. O God what Fortune vyle doth mee oppresse on euery side How doe my sorrowes still encrease Tell how my Father dide SEN. No sicknesse sir but very age did of his life him reaue OED. And is hee dead in deede not slayne what ioy may I conceave How may I now triumph the Gods to witnesse I doe call To whom are known my hidden thoughts and secret workings al Now may I lift to skyes my hands my hands from mischiefe free But yet the chiefest cause of feare remayneth still to mee SEN. Your Fathers kingdom ought al dred out of your mind to driue OED. That I coÌ„fesse But secret thoughts my trembling heart do riue With inward doubt of deepe distresse my Mother I do feare This grudge is that continually my heart doth rent and teare SEN. Do you your Mother feare on your return that onely slayes OED. I feare not her but from her sight a godly zeale mee frayes S. What will you her a Wydow leaue OE. Now now thou woÅ«dst my heart This this and onely this alas is cause of all my smart SEN. Tell me O king what doubtfull feare doth presse thy princely brest Kings couÌ„cels I can well coÌ„ceale that ben with Cares opprest OED. Least as Apollo hath forefolde I should a Mariage make With myne owne Mother only this fowle feare doth make me quake SEN. Such vayne peuysh feares at length from out your breast exyle Meropa your Mother is not in deede you do your selfe beguile OED. What vauntage should it be to her adopted Sonnes to haue SEN. A kingdom she shall gayne thereby Her Husband layde in graue The chiefest prop to stay her Realmes from present confusion In children for to haue and hope of lawfull succession OED. What are the meanes whereby thou dost these secrets vnderstaÌ„d SEN. My selfe your grace an Infant gaue into your fathers hand OED. Didst thou me to my Father geue Who than gaue me to thee SEN. A Sheparde str that wanted on Cytheron Hills to bee OE. What made thee in those woods to rauÌ„ge what hadst thou there to do SEN. Vpon those Hils my Beasts I kept somtime a Sheepeherde to OE. What nots what priuy marks hast thou wherby thou dost me kno SE. The holes that through your feete are borde froÌ„ wheÌ„ce your name did gro OE. Declare forthwith what was his name that gaue me vnto thee SE. The kings chief Shephard than that was deliuered you to mee OE. What was his name SE. O king old mens remeÌ„brance soone doth fayle Obliuion for the chiefest part doth boary heads assayle And drowns their former memory of things long out of mynde OE. What canst thou know the man by sight S. Perhaps I should him finde And know by Face Things ouer whelmd by time and quight opprest A small marke oft to mynde reuokes and fresh renues in brest OE. Sirs bid the Herdmen forth with driue theyr Beasts to Aulters all Away with speede make hast the Master Sheepherds to mee call SE. Sith that your destiny this doth hyde and Fortune it detayne And closely keepe let it be so from opening that refrayne That long canceald hath hidden lyen that seeke not to disclose Such things outsercht and fouÌ„d oftimes agaynst the sercher goes OE. Can any mischiefe greater be than this that now I feare SE. Aduise you wel remembre fyrst what weight this thing doth beare That thus you goe about to search and slit with Tooth and Nayle Obserue the golden meane beware beare still and equall sayle Your CouÌ„treys wealth O King your lyfe and all vpon this lyes Though you stir not bee sure at length your Fortune you escryes A happy state for to disturbe doth nought at all behoue OE. When things be at the worst of them a man may safely moue SE. Can you haue ought more excellent than is a Prynces state Beware least of your Parents found it you repent to late OE. No father no I warrant that repent not I I trow I seeke it not to that entent I haue decreed to know The matter at the full Wherefore I will it now pursus Lo Phorbas where hee trembling coms with comely aged hue To whom of all the kinges flocke than the care and charge was due Dost thou his name his speach his Face or yet his person know SE. Me thinks I should haue seene his Face and yet I cannot show The places where I haue him seene small time brings such a chainge As well acquaynted Faces ost to vs appeare still strainge This looke is neyther throughly known nor yet vnknown to mee I cannot tell I doubt it much and yet it may bee hee In Laius tyme long since when hee these Kindomes great did keepe Wast thou not on Citheron hils chiefe Shepard to his sheepe THE FOVRTH ACTE THE THIRDE SCENE Phorbas Senex OEdipus SOmetime a charge of sheepe I had vnworthy though I weer And did vpon those hills chiefe rule on other Shepards beare SE. Knowst thou not me PH. I cannot tell OE. Didst thou once geue this man A Childe Speake out why dost thou stay if so declare it than Why dost thou blush and doubting stand troth seeketh no delay PH. Things out of minde you call agayne almost quight worne away OE. Confesse thou slaue or els I sweare thou that constrayned bee PH. In deede I doe remembre once an Infant yong by mee Delyuered was vnto this Man but well I wot in vayne I know he could not long endure nor yet alyue remayne Long since he is dead I know it well hee liues not at this day SE. Eo God forbid he liues no doubt and long may liue I pray OE. Why dost thou say the child is dead that thou this man didst giue PH. With Irons sharp his feete were board I know he could not liue For of the sore a swelling rose I saw the bloud to gush From out of both the wounds and down by powring streames to flush SEN. Now stay O king no farther now you know almost the troth OE. Whose child was â—â—â—tell me forthw PH. I dare not for mine Othe OE. Thine Oth thou slaue Some fyre here I le charme thine Othe and thee With fyre flames except forthwith thou tell the troth to mee PH. O pardon me though rade I seeme I seeke nor to withstand name Your graces minde most noble
to helpe find meane to saue his life Leaue of thy piteous tears he sayd dost thou yet wayle for Troy Would God it lay on Ground ful flat so ye might saue the boy Vp stirre he sayd thy selfe in hast conuay him priuily Saue if ye may the tender bloud of Hectors progeny Then strayght in trembling feare I wakt and rold myne eyes aboute Forgettyng long my child pore wretch and after Hector sought But strayght alas I wist not how the Spright away did passe And mee forsooke before I could my husband once embrasse O childe O noble fathers broode and Troians only ioy O worthy seede of thauncient bloud and beaten house of Troy O ymage of thy father loe thou liuely bearst his face This countnaunce lo my Hector had and euen such was his pace The pitch of all his body such his handes thus would he beare His shoulders high his threatning browes euen such as thine they were O sonne begot to late for Troy but borne to soone for mee Shal euer tyme yet come agayne and happy daye may be That thou mayst once reuenge and build agayne the towres of Troy And to the towne and Troyans both restore their name with ioy But why do I forgettyng state of present destenye So great thinges wish enough for captiues is to liue only Alas what priuy place is left my litle childe to hide What seate so secret may be found where thou maist safely bide The towre that with the walles of gods so valiaunt was of might Through all the world so notable so flourishing to sight Is turnde to dust and fire hath al consumd'e that was in Troy Of all the towne not so much now is left to hide the boy What place were best to choose for guile the holy tombe is heere That then mies sword will spare to spoile wher sythe my husband deere Which costly worke his father builte king Pryame liberall And it vp raisde with charges great fo Hectors funerall Herein the bones and ashes both of Hector loe they lie Best is that I commit the sonne to his fathers custodie A colde and fearefull sweat doth runne throughout my members all Alas I carefull wretch do feare what chaunce may thee befall Sen. Hide him away this onely way hath saued many more To make the enmies to beleue that they were dead before He wil be sought scant any hope remaineth of safenes The paise of his nobility doth him so sore oppres Andr. What way wer best to worke that none our doings might bewray Sen. Let none beare witnes what ye do remoue them all away Andr. What if the enmies aske me where Astianax both remaine Sen. Then shall ye boldelie answere make that he in Troy was slaine Andr. What shal it helpe to haue him hid at length they will him finde Sen. At first the enmies rage is fierce delay doth slake his minde Andr. But what preuailes since free from feare we may him neuer hide Sen. Let yet the wretch take his defence me carelesse there to bide And. What land vnknowne out of the way what vnfrequented place May keepe thee safe who ayds our feare who shall defend our case Hector Hector that euermore thy friendes didst wel defend Now chiefly ayde thy wyfe and child and vs some succour send Take charge to keepe and couer close the treasures of thy wyfe And in thy Ashes hyde thy sonne preserue in tombe his life Draw neare my Childe vnto the Tombe why fliest thou backward so Thou takst great scorne to lurke in dens thy noble hart I know I see thou art asham'd to feare shake of thy princely mynd And beare thy breast as thee behoues as chaunce hath thee assynd Behold our case and se what flocke remayneth now of Troy The tombe I woeful captiue wretch and thou a seely boy But yeeld we must to sory fates thy chaunce must breake thy breast Go to creepe vnderneath thy fathers holy seats to rest If ought the fates may wretches helpe thou hast thy sauegard there If not already then pore foole thou hast thy sepulchere Sen. The tombe him closely hides but least your feare should him betray Let him here lie and farre from hence goe ye some other way Andr. The lesse he feares that feares at hand and yet if neede be so If ye thinke meete a litle hence for safety let vs goe Sen. A litle whyle keepe silence now refrayne your plaint and crie His cursed foote now hether moues the Lord of Cephalie And Now open earth and thou my spouse frō Stix rend vp the ground Deepe in thy bosome hyde thy sonne that he may not be found Vlysses comes with doubtful pace and chaunged countenaunce He knittes in hart deceiptful craft for some more grieuous chaunce VI. Though I be made the messenger of heauy newes to you This one thing first I shal desyre that ye take this for true That though the wordes come from my mouth and I my messuage tell Of truth yet are they none of myne ye may beleue me wel It is the word of al the Greekes and they the authors be Whome Hectors bloud doth yet forbid their countries for to see Our careful trust of peace vnsure doth stil the Greekes detayne And euermore our doubtful feare yet drawth vs backe agayne And suffreth not our wearyed handes our weapons to forsake In child yet of Andromacha while Troyans comfort take An. And sayth your Augure Calchas so Vli. Though Calchas nothing sayde Yet Hector telles it vs himselfe of whose seede are we frayde The worthy bloud of noble men oft tymes we se it playne Doth after in their heires succede and quickly springes agayne For so the hornles youngling yet of high and sturdy beste With lofty necke and braunched brow doth shortly rule the rest The tender twig that of the lopped stocke doth yet remayne To match the tree that bare the bough in time startes vp again With equall top to former wood the roume it doth supply And spreads on soyle alow the shade to heauen his braunches hye Thus of one sparke by chaunce yet left it hapneth so ful oft The fyre hath quickly caught his force and flamth agayn aloft So scare we yet least Hectors bloud might rise er it be long Feare castes in all th extremity and oft interprets wrong If ye respect our case ye may not blame these old soldiars Though after years and monthes twice flue they feare again the wars And other trauails dreadyng Troy not yet to be wel wonne A great thing doth the Grecyans moue the feare of Hectors son Rid vs of feare this stayeth our fleete and pluckes vs backe agayne And in the hauen our nauy stickes til Hectors bloud be slayne Count me not feerce for that by fates I Hectors sonne require For I as wel if chaunce it would Orestes should desyre But since that needes it must be so beare it with pacient hart And Suffer that which Agamemnon suffred in good part And. Alas my child would God
that Calchas words to vs doth prophecye And now shal all the sumptuous worke be throwne downe vtterly An That once ye sold Vl. I wil it all from toppe to bottome rend An. The fayth of Goddes I call vppon Achilles vs defend And Pyrrhus ayd thy fathers right Vl. This tombe abroad shall lye An. O mischiefe neuer durst the Greekes show yet such cruelty Ye straine the temples and the Gods that most haue fauourd you The dead ye spare not on their tombes your fury rageth now I wil their weapons all resist my selfe with naked hand The yre of hart shal geue me strength their armour to withstand As fierce as did the Amazones beate down the Greekes in fight And Menas once enspierd with God in sacrifyce doth smyght With speare in hand and while with furyous pace she treads the groūd And wood as one in rage she strykes and feeleth not the wound So wil I runne on midst of them and on theyr weapons dye And in defence of Hectors tombe among his ashes lie Vl. Cease ye doth rage and fury vayne of women moue ye ought Dispatch with speede what I commaund plucke downe al to naught An. O slay me rather here with sword rid me out the way Breake vp the deepe Auern and rid my destenies delay Rise Hector and beset thy foes breake thou Vlisses yre A spright art good enough for him behold he casteth fire And weapon shakes with mighty hand do ye not Greekes him see Or els doth Hectors spright appear but onely vnto me Vl. Downe quight withal An. What wilt thou suffer both thy sonnes be slayne And after death thy husbandes bones to be remou'd agayne Perhaps thou mayst with prayer yet aprease the Grecians all Els downe to ground the holy tombe of Hector streight shall fal Let rather die the childe pore wretch and let the Greekes him kil Then father and the sonne should cause the tone the others yll Vllisses at thy knees I fal and humbly aske mercie These handes that no mans feete els knew first at thy feete they lye Take pitty on the mothers case and sorrowes of my breast Vochsafe my prayers to receiue and graunt me my request And by how much the more the Goddes haue thee aduaunced hie More easely stryke the pore estate of wretched misery God graunt the chast bed of thy godly wyfe Penelope May thee receiue and so agayne Laerta may thee see And that thy sonne Telemachus may meete thee ioyfully His graundsires yeares and fathers witte to passe ful happely Take pity on the mothers teares her litle child to saue He is my onely comfort left and th' onely toy I haue Vl. ¶ Bryng forth thy sonne and aske THE SECOND SCENE Andromacha COme hither child out of the dennes to mee Thy wretched mothers lamentable store This Babe Vlisses loe this Babe is hee That stayeth your ships and feareth you so sore Submit thy selfe my sonne with humble hand And worship flat on ground thy maysters feete Thinke it no shame as now the case doth stand The thing that Fortune wilth a wretche is meete Forget thy worthy stocke of Kingly kynd Thinke not on Priams great nobility And put thy father Hector from thy mynde Such as thy Fortune let thy stomacke bee Behaue thy selfe as captiue bend thy Knee And though thy griefe pearce not thy tender yeares Yet learne to wayle thy wretched state by mee And take ensample at thy mothers teares Once Troy hath seene the weeping of a child When litle Priam turnde Alcides threats And he to whom all beastes in strength did yelde That made his way from hel and brake their gates His litle enmies teares yet ouercame Priam he sayd receiue thy liberty In seat of honor kepe thy Kingly name But yet thy Sceptors rule more faythfully Lo such the conquest was of Hercules Of him yet learne your hartes to mollify Do onely Hercles cruel weapons please And may no end be of your cruelty No lesse then Pryam kneeles to thee this boy That lieth and asketh onely life of thee As for the rule and gouernaunce of Troy Where euer fortune wil ther let it bee Take mercy on the mothers ruthful teares That with their streames my cheekes do ouerflow And spare this guiltles infantes tender yeares That humbly falleth at thy feete so lowe THE THIRD SCENE Vlisses Andromacha Astianax OF truth the mothers greate sorow doth moue my hart full sore But yet the mothers of the Greekes of neede must moue me more To whom this boy may cause in time a great calamtie Andr. May euer he the burnt ruines of Troy reedifie And shall these handes in time to come ereckt the towne againe If this be th onely helpe we haue there doth no hope remain For Troy we stand not now in case to cause your feare of mynde Doth ought auayle his fathers force or stocke of noble kinde His fathers heart abated was he drawen the walles abought Thus euil haps the haughttest heart at length they bring to nought If ye wil needes oppresse a wretch what thing more grieuous were Then on his noble neck he should the yoke of bondage bere To serue in life doth any man this to a King denye Vl. Not Vlisses with his death but Calchas prophecy An. O false inuentor of deceipt and hainous cruelty By manhode of whose hand in warre no man did euer dye But by disceipt and crafty trayne of mynd that mischiefe seekes Before this tyme ful many one dead is yea of the Greekes The Prophets wordes and guilties Gods saist thou my sonne require Nay mischiefe of thy breast it is thou dost his death desyre Thou night souldier and stout of hart a litle child to stay This enterprise thou takste alone and that by open day Vl. Vlisses manhood wel to Greekes to much to you is knowne I may not spend the tyme in wordes our Nauy wil be gone And. A little stay while I my last farewel geue to my child And haue with oft embracing him my greedy sorrowes fild Vli. Thy grieuous sorrowes to redresse would God it lay in mee But at thy wil to take delay of tyme I graunt it thee Now take thy last leaue of thy Sonne and fil thy selfe with teares Oft tymes the weeping of the eyes the inward griefe out weakes An. O deere O sweete thy mothers pledge farewel my onely ioy Farewel the flowre of honor left of beaten howse of Troy O Troyans last calamity and feare to Grecians part Farewel thy mothers onely hope and vayne comfort of hart Oft wish I thee thy fathers strength and halfe thy graundsires yeares But all for naught the Gods haue all dispoynted our desires Thou neuer shalt in regal court thy sceptors take in hand Nor to thy people geue decrees nor leade with law thy land Nor yet thine enmies ouercome by might of handy stroke Nor sende the conquerde nations all vnder thy seruile yoke Thou neuer shalt beat downe in fight and Greekes with sword pursew Nor at
obey b' it eyther right or wrong M. The prosperous pryde of wronging crownes cannot endeuer long CR. Auaunt yell out thy complaynts at Colchis get thee hence ME. Full gladly will I get mee home if he that brought me thence Vouchsafe to beare me back agayne CR. Alas to late aryse Entreating wordes when as decree is taken otherwise ME. He that not hearing eyther part pronounceth his decree Vnrighteous man accoumpted is though ryght his sentence bee CR. Whyle Pelias trusted to thy talke from lyfe to death hee fell Go to begyn we gyue you leaue your goodly tale to tell ME. That type of Regall maiesty that erst by Fortunes hand Aduaunced to I dyd attayne hath taught mee vnderstand How hard a thing it is of wrath the rygour to asswage When burning heate of boyling breast in flames begins to rage Eke for th' aduan̄cement of their power more to display in sight Theyr kingly corage bolstred out with maiesty of might They deeme it doth import asway and hath a greater grace Whome stately scepter causde to climbs aloft to prouder place To perseuer with fansye fonde in that to reasons spyght Whose greedy choyce attaynted fyrst his minde with vayne delight For though in piteous plyght I lye throwne downe to great decay With heauy hap and ruthfull chaunce to myserable stay Thus hunted out from place to place forsoke and left alone A wyddow while my husband liue with cause to wayle and mone Perplext in maze of misery wyth cloying cares so ryfe Yet whylom I in golden trone haue led in happy lyfe By high and noble parentage my bryght renowne doth shyne From Phoebus take my Graundsire great deryued is my ligue Whear syluer streamed Phasis flood his wasshing waues doth shed Or with contrary croking wayes his bathing channell spred What euer wandring coast stretcht out is left aloofe behynde From whence the roaming Scithyan Sea his channell forth doth fynde Where as Maeotis fenny plashe with pure fresh water sprynges Doth season sweete the briny Sea that tyde in thyther brynges Eke all the coastes enuyroued and kept within the bankes Of Thermodon where warlike troupes armed wyddowes ranckes With paynted bucklers on their armes holde all the land in feare With rigour rough of threatning sword with force of denting speare So farre to all these wandring coastes and countreyes round about My Fathers ample regiment at large is stretched out I being thus of noble Race and in an happy plight With glorious glosse of pryncely pomp in honour shining bright Then pearelesse Peares my Spousall bed did seeke and sue to haue But those to be theyr louing Feeres now other Ladyes craue Rashe ticle peuish vndiscreete and wauering Fortunes wheele Hath cast me out the crusshing cares of banishment to feele In Scepter proude and hauty Crowne fix thine affyaunce fast Sith vpsidowne with welkin wheele whole mounts of wealth is cast This Prynces doe possesse that should theyr royalty display Whose fame shall neuer razed be with storme of lowring day To succour those whom misery in pit of paynes doth souse To shield and harber suppliaunts in roof of loyall house This onely brought I from my Realme the precious golden Fleece That Iewell chiefe and eke the flower of Chyualry in Greece The sturdy prop the Rampter strong the bulwarke of your wealth And Hercules the boystrous Imp of Ioue I kept in health It was by meanes of my good will that Orpheus did escape Whose harmony the liuelesse Rocks with such delight did rape That forced euen the clottred lumpes with hobling prickt to praunce And eke the iocond nodding woods with footing fine to daunce And that these heauenly twins Castor and Pollux did not by My dew desart is doubled twise sith them preserued I Of Boreas blustring out with puffed Cheekes his blasting Breath His wynged Sons I kept aliue both Calais and Zeath And Linceus that with pearcing beames and sharper sight of Eye Could Nauies on the farther banke of Sicill shore espy And all the Mynians that did come the golden Fleece to win As for the Prince of Princes all I will not bring him in With silence Iason will I passe for whom though him I saue Yet is not Greece in debt to mee no recompence I craue To no man him I doe impute the rest I brought agayne For your auayle that you thereby some profit might attayne But onely on my Iason deare him for my owne loues sake I kept in store that hee of mee his wedded Wyfe should make None other fault God wot yee haue to charge mee with but this That Argo Ship by meanes of mee returned saufely is If I a shamefast mayde had not with Cupids bayte bene caught If more my Fathers health to haue then Iasons I had sought Pelasga land had bene vndone and faine to great decay The lusty valiaunt Capitaynes had cleane bene cast away And ioly Iason fyrst of all this now thy sonne in lawe The Buls had rent his swalowed lims in fiery chomping iawe Let Fortune fight agaynst my case as list her eluish will Yet neuer shall it grieue my heart repent my deede I nill That I should for so many kings their reling honour saue The guerden due that I for this my crime commit must haue It lyeth Creon in thy hande if thus it lyketh thee Condemne my guilty ghost lo death but render fyrst to mee My fault that forced me offend then Creon graunt I this Receauing Iason cause of cryme I guilty did amisse Thou knowst that I was such an one when couring low I lay Before thy feete in humble wise and did entreating pray Thy gracious goodnes mee to graunt some succour at thy hande For me a wreatch and wreatched Babes I aske within this lande Some cotage base in outcast hole some couching corner vile If from the towne thou driue vs out to wander in exile The some by place aloofe within this realme let vs obtayne CR. How I am none that tyrant like with churlish Scepter raygne Nor proudly or disdaynfully with hawty corage hie With vaūting foote doe stamp them downe that vndertroden lye And daunted are in carefull bale thys playnly doth disclose In that to mee of late I such a sonne in lawe haue chose Who was a wandring pilgrim poore with sore afflictions fraight Dismayde with terrour of his foe that lay for him in wayght Because Acastus hauing got the crowne of Thessail lande Requyreth in thy guilty bloude to bath his wreackfull hande He doth bewayle that good olde man his feeble father slayne Whom waight of yeres with bowing back to stoupe alow constrayne The godly mynded systers all yblinde with misty vale And cloking colour of thy craft durst ventrusly assayle That mount of myschiefe marueylous to mangle heaw and cut Theyr Fathers dere vnioynted limmes in boyling Caldron put But for thy open guiltinesse if thou can purge the same Strayght Iason can discharge him selfe from blot of guilty blame His gentle handes were neuer staynde with goare of any
Greeckes what tyme at entry of the gap The hugye hors did shyueryng stand where in the in selues did wrap The captaynes close in holow vautes with bloudy war yfreight When lawfully we might haue tryde and serched their deceit So by theyr owne contryued snares the grekes had bin confound The brasen bucklers being shooke did gyue a clattring sound A priuy whyspering often tymes came tyckling in our ear And Pyrrhus in a murreynes name so ready for to heare The crafty councell picked out of false Vlifsses brayne Did tangle in the halow Uautes that range thereof agayne But fearing and suspecting nought the headdy youth of Troy Layde handes vpon the sacred ropes to hale and pull with ioy On this syde younge Astyanax came garded with his trayne On th' other part Pollixena disponsed to bee slayne Vpon Achilles tombe she coms with maydes and hee with men A ioly flocke with equall yeares as younge as they were then Theyr vowd oblations to the gods in holy day attyre The matrons bryng and so to church repayreth euecry syre And all the city did alyke yea Hecuba our queene That synce the woful Hectors death or now was neuer fene She mery is O griefe accurst of all thy sorowes depe For whych that first or last befell entendest thou to wepe Our battred walles which heauenly hands erected haue and framde Or els the burning temples which vpon their Idols flamde Lamenting these calamyties wee haue not time and space O mighty parent Pryam we poore Troyans wayle thy case The olde mans thratling throate I sawe alas I saw yborde With cruell Pyrrhus blade that scante with any bloud was gorde CAS. Refraine your teares that down your cheekes should tricle euermore With woefull waylings piteously your pryuate friendes deplore My myseries refuse a mate so much accurst as I To rewe my carefull case refrayne your lamentable cry As for myne owne distresse to moorne I shall suffice alone CHO. To mingle teares with other teares it doth vs good to mone In those the burning teary streames more ardently doe boyle Whom secret thoughts of lurking cares in priuy breast turmoyle Though that thou were a Gossop stout that brooke much sorrow may I warraunt thee thou myghtest well lament this sore decay Not sad and solemne Aedon that in the woodes doth singe Her sugred Ditties finely tunde on sweete and pleasaunt stringe Recording Irys woefull hap in diuers kynde of note Whom Progne though he were her chylde and of her wombe begot For to reueng his fathers fault she did not spare to kill And gaue his flesh and bloude for foode the fathers Maw to fill Nor Progne who in Swallowes shape vpon the rydges hye Of houses sits in Biston towne bewayling piteously With chattering throate of Tereus her spouse the cruell act Who did by strength and force of armes a shamefull brutishe fact Defile the syster of his wyfe fayre Philomel by name And eke cut out her tonge least shee should blab it to his shame Though Progne this her husbandes rape lamenting very sore Doe wayle and weepe with piteous plaint yet can shee not deplore Sufficiently though that shee woulde our countreyes piteous plight Though he himselfe among the Swans syr Cygnus lilly whight Who dwelles in streame of Ister floud and Tanais channell coulde His weeping voyce most ernestly though vtter out her woulde Although the morning Halcyons with dolefull sighes doe wayle At such time as the fighting floudes their Cyex did assayle Or rashly wexing boulde attempt the Seas now layde at rest Or being very fearefull feede their broode in tottring nest Although as squemishe hearted men those priestes in bedlem rage Whom mother Cyble being borne on high in lofty stage Doth mooue to play on shalmes Atys the Phrygian to lament Yet can not they this lot bewayle though brawn frō armes they rent Cassandra in our teares there is no measure to refrayne Those miseryes all measure passe that plunged vs in payne The sacred fillets from thy heads why dost thou hale and pull They chiefly ought to worship God whose hearts with griefe be dull CAS. My feare by this affliction is cleane abaled all Nor praying to the heauenly Ghostes for mercy will I call Although they were disposde to chafe and fret in fustten fumes They nothing haue me to displease Fortune her force consumes Her spyte is worne vnto the stumpes what countrey haue I left Where is my Syre am I of all my systers quite bereft The sacred tombes and alter stones our bloud haue drunke swylde Where are my brethren blessed knor destroyed in the fylde All widdow Wyues of Priams sonnes may easly now beholde The Pallace voyde and cast of court of silly Priam olde And by so many marriages so many Wyddowes are But onely Hellen comming from the coast of Lacon farre That Hecuba the mother of so many a pryncely wyght Whose fruitfull Wombe did breede the brand of fyer blasing bryght Who also bare the swinge in Troy by practise now doth learne New lawes and guise of desteny in bondage to discerne On her shee takath heart of grace with lookes so sterne and wylde And barketh as a bedlem bitch about her strangled chylde Deare Polidor the remnaunt left and onely hope of Troy Hector and Priam to reuenge and to restore her ioy CHO. The sacred Phoebus Prophet is with sodayne silence husht A quaking trembling shiuering feare throughout her Isms hath rusht Her Face as pale as Ashes is her Fillits stande vpryght The soft and gentle goldilockes starte vp of her affright Her panting breathing breast stuft vp within doth grunt and grone Her glaring bryghe and steaming Eyes are hether and thyther throwne Now glauncing vp and downe they roll now standing stiffe they stare She stretcheth vp her head more streyght then commonly she bare Boult vp she goes her wrastling Iawes that fast together clinge She doth attempt by diuers meanes on sunder how to wringe Her mumbling words in gabling mouth shut vp she doth asswage As Menas mad that Bacchus aares doth serue in furious rage CAS. How doth it hap O sacred tops of high Parnassus hill That me berapt of sence with prickes of fury fresh yee fiill Why doe you me with ghost inspyre that am besyde my wits O Phoebus none of thyne I am releasse me from the fits Infixed in my burning breastes the flames extinguish out Who forceth me with fury fell to gad and trot about Or for whose sake inspyrde with spryte mad mumbling make must I Why play I now the Prophet colde sith Troy in dust doth ly The day doth shrynke for dread of warre the night doth dim mine eyes With mantell blacke of darknesse deepe cleane couerd is the skyes But loe two shining Sunnes at once in heauen appeareth bryght Two Grecian houses muster doe their armies twayne to fight Amonge the mighty Goddesis in Ida woodes I see The fatall sheepherd in his throne as vmpier plast to bee I doe aduise you to beware beware I say of kynges A kindred
in whose cancred heartes olde priuy grudges springes That countrey clowne Aegisthus he this stocke shall overthrowe What doth this foolish despret dame her naked weapons showe Whose crowne entendeth shee to cracke in weede of Lacon lande With Hatchet by the Amazons inuented first in hand What face of mighty maiesty be witched hath myne eyes The conquerour of saluage beastes Marmarick Lyon lyes Whose noble necke is wurried with currish fange and tooth The curlish snaps of eger Lyonesse abyde hee dooth Alacke yee ghostes of all my friendes why should yee say that I Among the rest am onely safe from perils farre to ly Fayne father follow thee I would Troy being layde in dust O brother terrour of the Greekes O Troyans ayde and trust Our auncient pomp I doe not see nor yet thy warmed handes That fearce on Greekish flaming fleete did fling the fyry brandes But mangled members schorched corps and sake thy valiaunt armes Hard pimond and bounde in bands sustayning greeuous harmes O Troyolus a match vnfit encountering with Achill That myghty man of armes to soone come vnto thee I will I doe delight to sayle with them on stinking Siygian flood To vew the churlishe mastife cur of hell it doth mee good And gaping mouthed Kingdome darke of greedy Ditis raygne The Barge of filthy Phlegethon this day shall entertayne Mee conquering and conquered and Prynces soules with all You flitering shades I you beseeche and cake on thee I call O Stygian poole whereon the Gods theyr solemne othes doe take Vnbolt a whyle the Brasne bars of darksome Lymoo lake Whereby the Phrygian folke in hell may Mycean state beholde Looke vp yee silly wretched soules the fates are backward roulde The sqally sisters doe approch and deale their bloudy strokes Their smultring faggots in their handes halfe brunte to ashes smokes Their vysages so pale doe burne with fyry flaming eyes A garment blacke theyr gnawed guts doth gyrde in mourning guyse Dire dread of night begins to howle the bones of body bast With lying long doe rot corrupt in miry pudle cast Beholde the wery aged man his burning thyrst forgot The waters dalying at his lippes to catch endeuors not But mourneth for the funerall that shall ensue anen The Troyan Prynce his royall robes tryumphant putteth on CHO. The furious rage cleane ouerpast begins it selfe to slake And slyps away euen as a Bull that deadly wounde doth take On gasshed neck afront the aares come let vs ease at last Her lymbes that of the spryte of God hath felt the mighty blast Returning home agayne at length and crounde with Lawrell bow A signe of worthy victory is Agamemnon now The Wyfe to meete her Husband doth her speedy passage ply Returning hand in hand and foote by foote most louingly THE FOVRTH ACTE AGAMEMNON CASSANDRA AT length I doe arryue agayne vppon my natiue soyle God saue thee O deare loued Lande to thee so huge a spoyle So many barbarous people yeelde the flowre of Asia Troy To beare thy yoake submits her selfe that longe did liue in ioy Why doth this Prophet on the grounde her sprawling body layde Thus reele and stagger on her necke all trembling and dismayde Sirs take her vp with Lycour warme let her bee chearished Now peepes she vp agayne with drouping eyes sonke in her head Plucke vp thy spryte heere is the porte wisht for in misery This day is festiuall CAS. At Troy so was it wont to bee AG. Let vs to Th' alters worship gyue C. At Th' alters died my sire A Pray wee to Ioue C. To loue whose grace diuine doth me inspire AG. Dost thou suppose that Troy thou seest C. And Priam eke I see AG. Troy is not heere C. where Helen is there take I Troy to bee AG. Feare not as maide to serue thy dame C. Nay fredome draweth ny AG. Take thou no thought how thou shalt liue C. All cares for to defy Death giues a courage vnto mee AG. Yet say I once agayne There is no daunger left whereby thou mightest hurt sustayne CA. But yet much troublous daūger both hang ouer thy head I wot AG. What mischiefe may a victor dread CA. Euen y◠hee dreadeth not AG. Yee trusty meny of my men come cary her away Till of the spryte shee ryd her selfe least fury force her say That may be preiudiciall her tongue she cannot frame To thee O Father flinging forth the lightnings flasshing flame That dost disperse the cloudes and rule the course of euery starre And guyde the Globe of Earth to whom the boottes woon by warre With triumphe victors dedicate to thee O Iuno hight The syster deare of doughty Ioue thy husband full of might Both I and Greece with flesh and bloude and eke our vowed beast And gorgious gyftes of Arabie giue worship to thy hest Chorus O GREECE by noble Gentlemen in honour shyning cleare O GREECE to wrathfull IVNO thou that art the darling deare Some iolly worthy lusty bloude thou fosters euermore Thou hast made euen the Gods that were a number odde before That puissaunt mighty Hercules a noble Impe of thyne Deserued by his trauels twelue rapt vp in heauen to shyne For whom the heauens did alter course and Iupiter with all Did iterate the howres of nyght when dampishe dewe doth fall And charged Phoebus chariot swyfte to trot with slower pace And leasurely bright lady Moone thy homwarde Wayne to trace Bryght Lucifer that yeare by yeare his name a newe doth chaunge Came backe agayne to whom the name of Hesper seemed straunge Aurora to her common course her reared head addrest And couching backward downe agayne the same shee did arest Vpon the shoulder of her spouse whose yeares with age are worne The east did feele so felt the west that Hercules was borne Dame nature coulde not cleane dispatch to vtter in one night That boystous lad the whyrling worlde did wayght for such a wight O babe whose shoulders vnderprop the ample spactous sky In clasped armes thy prewesse did the crusshed Lyon try Who from his fyry yawning throate spewes out his broyling brande The nimble hynde in Menall mount hath knowne thy heauy hande The Bore hath felt thy fyst which did Arcadia destroy The monstrous conquerde Bull hath rorde that Creta did anoy The Dragon dyre that breeding beast in Lerna poole he slewe And chopping of one head forbad thereof to ryse anewe With clubbed brusing battring batte he crankly did subdew The brethren twins the tewde vn Teate whereof three monsters grew Of tryple formed Gerion the spoyle into the east A droue of ECttell Hercules did fetch out of the weast Away from tyraunt Diomede the Thracian horse he led Which neyther with the grasse that grew by Styrmon floud he fed Nor yet on Heber bankes but them the villayne did refresh His greedy mounching cramming tades with aliaunts bloud and flesh Their rawfed Iawes imbrewde were with the carmans bloud at last The spoyles and shaftes Hipolyte saw from her bosome wrast As sone as he with clattring
my paine whyle I did liue Vnto a boy to guyde which now I rue My poysoned make my Ghost doth oft pursue And in my face with burning brondes 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 mee beneath And now desyres to haue some factious wight That dare despoyle my sonne of breathing spright Let be you shall haue one to worke this cryme I do require no long delayed tyme Reuenging spright Erin a death doth coine Of life that wicked tyrant to purloyne Sore smarting leaden strypes and shameful flight And pyning panges with thurst and hunger dight That Tantalus spungelike thursty mouth befurde And Sisyphus toyle shal passe and Tityus burde And Ixions paynful wombling wheele aboute That teareth all his bodyes partes throughout Although that Tyrant proude and scornful wight His court with marble stone do strongly dyght And princelike garnish it with glistring golde Though troupes of souldiours shielded sure vpholde Their chieftaynes princely porch and though yet still The world drawne drye with taskes euen to his will Great heapes of riches yeeld themselues to saue Although his bloudy helpe the Parthians craue And Kingdomes bring and goods al that they haue The tyme and day shall come when as he shall Forlorne and quite vndone and wanting all Vnto his cursed deedes his life and more Vnto his foes his bared throate restore Alas vnto what ende is all my payne Or in what case do now my vowes remayne Wherto doth now thy rage and destnies spyte Draw thee O Sonne with brayne benummed quite That to such monstruous heapes of ylles thy dame Whom thou with cursed mischiefe ouercame Hir wrath should yeeld O that ere to the light A sucking babe I brought thee foorth in sight And fedd thee fyne with pappe as princely borne The fierce wild sauage beastes had rent and torne My wombe and bloudy entrails all beforne Without all cryme and wanting reasons pride Mine own deere dādling child thou shouldst haue dide And fastned sure to me shouldst aye beholde The quiet place where Ghostly soules be rolde And see thy graundsyres great of worthy fame And syre Domitius eake of princely name Whom now both shame and wayling doth abyde That whyle they dure from them shal neuer slyde For which both thee O cursed Barne they may And mee that thee haue borne geeue thankes for aye But why ceasse I with hel to hyde my face Wyfe stepdame mother dire in my life space THE SECOND SCENE Octauia Chorus DO not alas thus sore lament But rather yet your mourning stay Sith that the city whole is bent To celebrate this ioyful day Least your great loue and fauour both Which I do count to be most sure The more cause Nero me to loth And eake his bitter wrath procure And I fal out to be the ground To you of many mischieues vyle This same is not the first deepe wounde That I haue felt now this good whyle Farre worse then this haue I abode But of these troublous cares this day Shall make an end I trust in God Although with Death he do me pay No man to see shal me constrayne His bended browes knit furrowyse Nor step within the Chamber ragyne Of mayde drest vp in brydall guise Augustus sister I wil bee And not his wyfe as wont I was But onely paynes remoue from mee And feare of death I wil not passe Yet canst thou piteous wreth once trust Thy cruell husbandes father law Or these few thinges to haue so lust Whyle mischieues yet in mynd are rawe Now long reserud vntil this day And these same maryage rytes be past Thou shalt poore wretch without delay A bloudy offring dye at last Why thus with teares disfigured sore Thy wonted home dost thou behold Make hast to shunne this deadly shore And leaue this straughtrous Princes fold Cho. Lo see that day suspected long And whispered Fame in all mens eares With glisteryng pompe of brydall throng To vs pore wretches now appeares And Claudius broode Octauias grace From Neroes wedlocke place expelde Departed is whose spousall space Hath Poppie conquerour long tyme helde The whyle our pyety couched lyes Kept downe with heauy combrous feare And slow reuenging grief likewyse Where doth the peoples power appeare That brake the force of Princes great That conquerous city lawes hath framde That worthy men to honours seat Preferd that warre and peace proclaymd That sauage people straunge did tame That Kinges and Princes caught in fight Shut surely vp in prison frame To keepe them close from all mens sight Loe which wee cannot once abyde To see wher Poppies ymage trym Conioyned vnto Neroes syde All glistring bright shynes very brim Let force of Armes pul downe that frame And match with grounde that Ladyes face Too likely carued to his name And snatch her downe from beddig place And let it forthwith flye with brandes With Dartes and Iauelins fiercely flonge From pythy braunes and sturdy handes Vnto the princes courtly throng THE FOVRTH ACTE THE FIRST SCENE Nutrix Poppea FRom out of spousal bower dismayd with feare Whither go you what secrets daughter deare Vnknowen makes you to looke so drousely Why spungelike lokes your face with tears frō eye That fell of truth the tyme desyred long And wished for by prayers and vowes among Hath shyned bright Caesars wedlock are you Your golden grace whereof he tooke the view Him prisoner caught and did him surely bynde So much the more how much Senec his mynd Did seeke to chaunge and wild from loue to weeld And Venus chiefe in loue hath made him yeeld O in beauty passing all what beds then downe More soft haue borne thy weight when thou with crowne Didst sit in middes of court the Senate all At thy great beauty agast thou didst appall Whylst thou the Goddes with perfume sendest fyne And sacred alters drencht with thankful wyne Thy head attyrd with veyle of yellow hiew By Caesars side thou wentst as princesse new When he aloft extold aboue the rest With hauty courage merily went to feast Like as kyng Peleus went sometymes to take Queene Tethis whom salt seas fome bred his make Whose bridinge chambers banquet wise ydrest The Gods vouchsaft to hallow with their hest Both they that rule in skyes and eake in Seas But tel O Lady tell if it you please What sodayne chaūce doth shade your beautyes light What meanes your colour chaūge from red to white What moues those trickling tears how standes your plight Po. With dreames and griesly sightes this last night Nurse My mynd was troubled sore but frayd much worse For when sir Phoebe his weary course had ryd Whyle quiet restyng night each thing shadid My sences weary fel in slumber deepe Whyle Nero me within his armes did cleepe Resoluing lims at length gan sleepe discharge And long I rest not vnder quiets targe For loe I saw a route that brought me feare Come to my chaumber with
disheueled hayre The Matrons sage of Latin land did mourne And sounded shryking sighes as though forlorne They were the dolefulst wightes that liue on ground And oft among the warlike trumpets sound I sawe my husbands mother teribly stand With threatning looke berayed with bloud in hand A light fyre brand she bare which oft she shooke And made mee goe with her through feareful loke When downe we came through op'ned earth shee led The way I after went with bowing hed And musing much therat marke what I say My bed me thought I saw wherin I laye When first espousde I was to Rufe Chrispyne And hee me thought with first sonne of his lyne With many following them agaynst me fast Did come and me to cleepe did swift his hast And as he wonted was he kist me oft Then rusht into my house with pace not soft Amased Nero sore in Chryspines breast That hidde his faulchion kene feare shakte of rest From mee I trembling stode with quiuering feare And brest dismayd to speake made me forbeare Til now O Nurse I met with thee whose trust And fayth into these wordes haue made me brust Alas what threatneth mee eche griesly spright What meanes of husbands bloud that doleful sight Nu. The hidden sacred vayne that moueth swift Which fantasie we call by secret drift When we do take our rest doth shew agayne The thinges both good and bad that broyle in brayne You maruel that you saw your make and bower His ghostly funerall stackes at that same hower Round clasped close in armes of husband new Hereto the beaten breastes with handes mou'd you And maydens hayre on mariage day displayd Octauias friendes with heauy hartes bewrayed Amids hir brothers both and fathers hall Their heauy cheere for her vnluckye fall That dreadful blasing flame of fyre forborne In Agryppynas hand your grace beforne Which you did follow streigth declares renowne To you though enuye stryue to keepe it downe The seat you saw beneath doth promise you Your state to stand ful sure not chaunging new That Nero prince in Crispins throat did hyde His sword it telles that he in peace shall byde Vnknowen to bloudy ruthful warre for aye Therfore Madam plucke vp your hart I pray Receiue both mirth and glee cast feare asyde With ioy and ease you may in bowre abide Pop. To temples hie where mighty Gods do dwell I wil repayre and offringes to them fell In humble wyse their heauy wrath t' ppease And me of mighty sight and dreams to ease My second wish shal be that this feare all Vppon my foes as sodayne chaunce may fall O Nurse pray thou for mee some vowes do make Toth ' Gods that ghostly feare his flight my take THE SECOND SCENE Chorus IF stealth discloasde by blabbing fame And lusty pleasaunt thankfull loue Of IOVE be true who fourme did frame Of swan to come from skies aboue And did enioy the sweete consent Of Ladye LEDAS loues delight VVho like a Bull his labour spent Through flowing floods to cary quite EVROPA slylie stolne awaye Hee will no doubt leaue raygne of Skye And POPPIES loue disguisd assaye If hee her soueraygne beauty spye VVhich hee might wel preferre before Fayre LAEDAS sugred sweete delight And DANAE whom hee wonne of yore Amasde with golden shoure so bright Let SPARTE now for HELENS sake Of beauty bragging fame vprayse Admit the TROIAN heardman make Of gayned spoyle tryumphant prayse Fayre HELEN here is stayned quight VVhose beauty bredde such boyling yre That earth was matched euen in sight VVith TROIAN towres consumde with fyre But who is this that runnes with feare opprest Or els what newes bringes he in panting breast THE THIRD SCENE Nuntius Chorus WHat sturdy champion stoute doth ioy with glee Our chieftaynes royal bower safe to see Then to his court I counsel him to wend Gainst which the populus rout their force doth bend The rulers runne amasde to fetch the gard And armed troupes of men theyr towne to ward Nor woodnes rashly cought through feare doth ceasse But more and more their power doth encrease Ch. What sodain rage doth beat their brawling braine Nun. The garisons great with fury astonde againe And sturred vp for Queene Octauias sake With monstrous mischiefe vile their rage to slake They rumbling rush into the Pallace farre Cho. What dare they do their counsailers who are Nun. Aduaunce their Empresse old subuert the new And graunt hir brothers beds as is hir due Cho. Which Poppie now with hole consent doth hold Nun. Yea that vnbrideled rage in brest vprold Sets them agog and makes them wondrous wood What euer ymage grauen in marble stood If Poppies badge it bare or if in sight It tended for to shew hir beauty bryght Though it on heauenly altares braue did stand They break or pull it down with sword or hand Some parts with ropes sure tide they trayle thē forth Which spurnd with durty feete as though naught worth With filthy stinking myre they it all beray And with their deedes their talke doth iumpe agree Which mine amased minde thinks true to bee For fierie flames they threat for to prepare Wherewith to waste the princes Pallace faire Vnlesse vnto their furious moode he giue His second wife and with Octauia liue But he by me shall know in what hard stay The City stands the rulers I le obay Cho. A lack what made you cruell warres in vaine To moue sith prisoner loue you can not gaine You can not him ouercome your fiery flame He recketh not his syre ouercomes the same He darkened hath those thundring thumps that shake Heauen Earth Hel sea al things that 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 vanquished 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 sight that was so stout To twang the Harpe he made in Ladies rout Prince Agamemnon sterne that boy benumd And rable rude of Greekes with loue bronds bumd King Priams raigne he topsie turuie tost Aud goodly Cities great he chiefly lost And now my minde sore frighted stands agast What Cupides furious force brings vs at last THE FOVRTH SCEANE Nero AH ah our captaines sloe dispatching coyle And our long suffring yre in such a broyle That streames of bloud yet do not quēch their rage Which thei against our propre person wage And that all Rome with corses strewd about Those cruell villaines bloud doth not sweat out But deedes already done with death to pay A small thing t' is a greater slaughtrous day The peoples cursed crime and eke that dame Whom I did aye suspect deserues the same whome to yelde those peasaunts would me make At last she shall with life our sorow slake And with hir bodies bloud shall quench our yre Then shall their houses fall by force of fyre What burning both and buildings fayre