Hath oft commanded this now sencelesse braine As oft directed this now strengthlesse hand More oft protected in a warre that shall Be to all times example Lend your shoulders To beare him who hath kept you all in life This is a blacke and mourning funerall right Deedes of this nature must be throughly searcht Nay be reueng'd the gods haue sayd t is good The morning Sunne shall rise and blush in blood They beare him off with a sad and funerall march c. Explicit Actus quartus Actus Quintus Scoena prima Enter Pyrhus Hermione Thersites and Synon Pyr. Sweete Lady can you loue Her Forbeare my Lord Can such a thing as loue be once nam'd here Where euery Marble that supports this roofe In emulation doth vye teares with vs Nay where the wounds of such a mighty King Haue yet scarse bled their last Pyr. Tush faire Hermione These sights that seeme to ladies terrible Are common to vs souldiers when from field returning All smear'd in blood where Dukes and Kings lie slaine Yet in our Tents at mid-night it frights not vs From courting a sweete Mistresse Syn. Hee sayth right And note of this how I can poetise This his great father of his Loue desir'd When from the slaughter of his foes retyr'd Hee doft his Cushes and vnarm'd his head To tumble with her on a soft day bed It did reioyce Brifois to imbrace His bruised armes and kisse his blood-stain'd face These hands which he so often did imbrew In blood of warlike Troians whom hee slew Were then imploy'd to tickle touch and feele And shake a Lance that had no print of steele Ther. Continue in that veine I 'le feed thy Muse With Crafish Praunes and Lobsters Her You brought these of purpose to abuse mee Pyr. Peace Thersites And Synon you no more Syn. Wee see by Agamemnon all are mortall And I but shew his neece Hermione The way of all flesh Ther. T is an easie path The Mother and the Aunt haue troad it both If shee haue wit to follow Enter Vlysses Menelaus Diomed with others Mene. If it be so Egistus is a traytor And shee no more our sister Vlys. T is not possible A Queene of her high birth and parentage Should haue such base hand in her husbands death Her husband and her soueraigne Dio. Double treason Could it be proou'd against her Men. It appeares So farre against humanity and nature We dare not once suspect it but till proofe Explaine it further hold it in suspence Vlys. Oh but their suddaine flight and fortifying Mene. These are indeed presumptions but leaue that To a most strict inquiry euen for reuerence Of Maiesty and Honour to all Queenes For loue of vs because shee was our sister Both for Orestes and Electra's sake Whose births are branded in so foule a deede Till wee examine further circumstances Spare your seuerer censures Vlis. T is a businesse That least concernes vs but for Honours sake And that hee was our Generall Mene. What prince ly Pyrhus courting our faire daughter Her Yes sir but in a time vnseasonable Euen as the suite it selfe is Mene. All delayes Shall be cut off and she be swayd by vs These Royall Princes ere they leaue Mycena Shall see these nuptiall rights solemnized Wee le keepe our faith with Pyrhus Pyr. Wee our vowes As constant to the bright Hermione First see the royall Generall here interr'd And buried like a souldier 't is his due To question of his death concernes not vs Wee leaue it to Heauens iustice and reuenge The rights perform'd with faire Hermione Then to our seuerall Countries each man post Captaines disperse still when the General 's lost Enter Cethus Orestes and Pylades disguis'd Exeunt Ore Egistus and our Mother Ceth. Am I Cethus Are you Orestes and this Pyllades So sure they were his murderers this disguise Will suite an act of death full to the life Hee stands vpon a strict and secure guard I haue plotted your admittance it will take Doubt not it cannot fayle I haue cast it so Ore As sent from Menelaus Ceth. Whose name else Can breake through such strong guards where feare and guilt Keepe hourely watch Ore It is enough I haue 't And thou the faithful'st of all friends deare Pillades Doe but assist mee in my vowed reuenge And inioy faire Electra Pyl. Next your friendship It is the prise I ayme at I am yours Ceth. What slip you time and opportunity Or looke you after dreames Ore I am a wake And to send them to their eternall sleepe In expedition there is still successe In all delayes defect the traytor dyes Were hee in league with all the destinies Exe. Pilad Orest And t is a fruitfull yeare for villany And I a thriuing Farmer In this interim I haue more plots on foote King Menelaus I haue incenc'd against proud Diamed Fyrhus against Orestes hee 'gainst him Ulysses without parralell for wit Against them all so that the first combustion Shall burne them vp to ashes Oh Palamides So deare was both thy loue and memory Not Hellen by her whoredome caus'd more blood Streaming from Princes brests then Cethus shall Brother for thine vntimely funerall Exit Enter Egistus Clitemnestra with a strong guard Egist. Let none presume to dare into our presence Or passe our guard but such well knowne to vs and to our Queene Guard The charge hath past vs round Egist. When sinnes of such hye nature 'gainst vs rise T is fit wee should be kept with heedfull eyes Cli. Presume it my Egistus we are safe The Fort wherein we liue impregnable Or say we were surpris'd by stratagem Or should expose our liues vnto the censure Of Law and Iustice euen in these extreames There were not the least feare of difficulty Egist. Your reason Madam Cli. Whom doth this concerne But our owne blood should Pyrhus grow inrag'd I haue at hand my neece Hermione To calme his fury what doth this belong to Vlysses or Aetolian Diomed Are they not strangers If it come in question By Menelaus is hee not our brother Our sister Hellen in his bosome sleepes And can with him doe all things feare not then Wee are euery way secure Egist. Oh but Orestes His ey 's to mee like lightning and his arme Vp heau'd thus shewes like Iones thunder-bolt Aym'd against lust and murder Cli. Hee 's our sonne The filiall duty that 's hereditary Vnto a mothers name preuents these feares Electra's young and childish Pilades Swai'd by his friend It rests could we but worke Hellen and Menelaus to our faction Egistus should be stated in Mycene Wee liue his Queene and bride Egist. Feare 's still suspicious Enter one of the guard Guard A Letter sir Egi. From whence Guard T is superscrib'd from the great Spartae's King And the Queene Hellen Egi. Who the messenger Guard Two Gentlemen who much importune you For speedy answer Egi. Bidde them waite without Now fates proue but propitious then my kingdome I shall presume establish't
The Iron Age Contayning the Rape of Hellen The siege of Troy The Combate betwixt Hector and Aiax Hector and Troilus slayne by Achilles Achilles slaine by Paris Aiax and Vlisses contend for the Armour of Achilles The Death of Aiax c. Written by THOMAS HEYVVOOD Aut prodesse solent audi Delectare HECTOR AIAX Printed at London by Nicholas Okes 1632 Drammatis Personae Of the party of the Troians King Priam Hector Paris Troilus Aeneas Anthenor Deiphobus Margareton Astianax Hectors sonne Queene Hecuba Cassandra a Prophetesse Cressida Calchas his daughter Polixina daughter to Priam Oenon Paris his first loue Andromache Hectors wife Hectors Armour-bearer Troian souldiers Of the party of the Grecians King Agamemnon Generall King Menelaus King Diomed Vlysses King of Ithacus Achilles A Spartan Lord An Embassador of Creete Castor and Pollux the two brothers of Hellena Aiax Duke of Salamine Thersites a raylor Queene Hellena Calchas Apolles Priest Patroclus Achilles his friend Achilles his Mermidons Grecian souldiers Attendants The Iron Age Contayning the Rape of Hellen The siege of Troy The Combate betwixt Hector and Aiax Hector and Troilus slayne by Achilles Achilles slaine by Paris Aiax and Vlisses contend for the Armour of Achilles The Death of Aiax c. Written by THOMAS HEYVVOOD Aut prodesse solent audi Delectare TAM ROBVR TAM ROBOR NI-COLIS ARBOR IOVIS 1610 Printed at London by Nicholas Okes 1632 Drammatis Personae Of the party of the Troians King Priam Hector Paris Troilus Aeneas Anthenor Deiphobus Margareton Astianax Hectors sonne Queene Hecuba Cassandra a Prophetesse Cressida Calchas his daughter Polixina daughter to Priam Oenon Paris his first loue Andromache Hectors wife Hectors Armour-bearer Troian souldiers Of the party of the Grecians King Agamemnon Generall King Menelaus King Diomed Vlysses King of Ithacus Achilles A Spartan Lord An Embassador of Creete Castor and Pollux the two brothers of Hellena Aiax Duke of Salamine Thersites a raylor Queene Hellena Calchas Apolles Priest Patroclus Achilles his friend Achilles his Mermidons Grecian souldiers Attendants To my VVorthy and much Respected Friend Mr. Thomas Hammon of Grayes Inne Esquire SIR IF the noble Scholler Nichod Friseelimus thought that his labour in Transferring six of Aristophanes his Comedies out of the Originall Greeke into the Roman tongue was worthy to be dedicated to six seueral the most eminent Princes of his time for Learning and Iudgement Thinke it then no disparagment to you to vndertake as well the Patronage perusall of this Poem Which as it exceedes the strict limits of the ancient Comedy then in vse informe so it transcends them many degrees both in the fulnesse of the Sceane and grauity of the Subiect The History whereon it is grounded hauing beene the selected Argument of many exquisite Poets For what Pen of note in one page or other hath not remembred Troy and bewayl'd the sacke and subuersion of so illustrious a Citty Which although it were scituate in Asia yet out of her ashes hath risen two the rarest Phoenixes in Europe namely London and Rome Sir my acquaintance with your worth and knowledge of your iudgement were the chiefe motiues inducing me to select you before many others accept it I intreate you as fauourably as hee exposeth it willingly who as he hath antecedently long so futurely euer Shall remayne yours Thomas Heywood To the Reader COurteous Reader The Gold Siluer and Brasse Ages hauing beene many yeares since in the Presse continuing the History from Iupiters Birth the sonne of Saturne to the Death of Hercules This Iron Age neuer till now Published beginneth where the other left holding on a plaine and direct course from the second Rape of Hellen For she was in her minority rauished by Theseus the Friend of Hercules not onely to the vtter ruine and deuastation of Troy but it with the second Part stretcheth to the Deathes of Hellen and all those Kings of Greece who were the vndertakers of that Ten yeares Bloody and fatall Seige I presume the reading there of shall not prooue distastfull vnto any First in regard of the Antiquity and Noblenesse of the History Next because it includeth the most things of especiall remarke which haue beene ingeniously Commented and labouriously Recorded by the Muses Darlings the Poets And Times learned Remembrancers the Histriographers Lastly I desire thee to take notice that these were the Playes often and not with the least applause Publickely Acted by two Companies vppon one Stage at once and haue at sundry times thronged three seuerall Theaters with numerous and mighty Auditories if the grace they had then in the Actings take not away the expected luster hoped for in the Reading I shall then hold thee well pleased and therein my selfe fully satisfied Euer remaining thine as studious Prodesse vt Delectare Thomas Heywood The Iron Age Actus primus Scoena prima Enter King Priamus Queene Hecuba Hector Troilus Aeneas Deiphobus c. Priamus PRinces and Sonnes of Priam to this end Wee cal'd you to this solemne Parleance There 's a deuining spirit prompts mee still That if we new begin Hostility The Grecians may be forc't to make repayre Of our twice ruin'd walls and of the rape Done to our sister faire Hesione Aeneas I am my princely Soueraigne of your minde And can by grounded arguments approoue Your power and potency what they twice demolish't Is now with strength and beauty rear'd againe Your Kingdome growne more populous and rich The youth of Troy irregular and vntam'd Couetous of warre and martiall exercise From you and siluer tressed Hecuba Fifty faire sonnes are lineally deriu'd All Asiaes Kings are in your loue and league Their royalties as of your Empire held Hector and Hectors brothers are of power To fetch your sister from the heart of Greece Where she remaines imbrac't by Telamon Pria. Aeneas your aduise assents with vs How stand our sonnes vnto these wars inclin'd Hect. In mine opinion we haue no iust cause To rayse new tumults that may liue in peace Warre is a fury quickly coniured vp But not so soone appeased Par. What iuster cause When the whole world takes note to our disgrace Of this our Troy twice rac't by Hercules Troy And faire Hesione rapt hence to Greece Where she still liues coopt vp in Salamine Hect. Troy was twice rac't and Troy deseru'd that wracke The valiant halfe Diuine bred Hercules Redeem'd this Towne from blacke mortality And my bright Aunt from death when he surcharg'd The virgin fedde Sea-monster with his club For my owne Grand-sire great Laomedon Denied the Heroe both the meede propos'd And most ingratefull shut him from the Gates Troy therefore drew iust ruine on it selfe T is true our Aunt was borne away to Greece Who with more iustice might transport her hence Then he whose prise she was bold Telamon For ventring first vpon the wals of Troy Alcides gaue her to the Salmine Duke Detayning her whom keepes he but his owne Were she my prisoner I should do the like By Ioue she
's worth the keeping Par. Then of force Shee must be worth the fetching Hect. Fetch her that list my reuerent King and father If you pursue this expedition By the vntaunted honor of these armes that liue imblazon'd on my burnish't shield It is without good cause and I deuine Of all your flourishing line by which the Gods haue rectified your fame aboue all Kings Not one shal liue to meate your Sepulchre Or trace your funerall Heralds to the Tombes Of your great Ancestours oh for your honour Take not vp vniust Armes Aene. Prince Hectors words Will draw on him the imputation Of feare and cowardesie Troi. Fie brother Hector If our Aunts rape and Troyes destruction̄ Bee not reueng'd their seuerall blemishes The aged hand of Time can neuer wipe From our succession 'T will be registred That all King Priams sonnes saue one were willing And forward to reuenge them on the Greekes Onely that Hector durst not Hect. Ha durst not didst thou say effeminate boy Go get you to your Sheepe-hooke and your Scrip Thou look'st not like a Souldier there 's no fire Within thine eyes nor quills vpon thy chinne Tell me I dare not go rise get you gone Th' art fitter for young Oenons company Then for a bench of souldiers here comes one Antenor is returned Enter Antenor Pri. Welcome Antenor what 's the newes from Greece Ante. Newes of dishonour to the name of Priam Your Hignesse Sister faire Hesione Esteem'd there as a strumpet and no Queene After complaint when I propos'd your Maiesty would fetch her thence perforce had you but seene With what disdainefull pride and bitter taunts They tost my threats 't would haue inflam'd your spleene With more then common rage neuer was Princesse So basely vs'd neuer Embassadour With such dishonour sent from Princes Court As was then from that of Telamons Of Agamemnons and the Spartan Kings Priam. I shall not dye in peace if these disgraces Liue vnreueng'd Hect. By Ioue wee 'le fetch her thence Or make all populous Greece a Wildernesse Paris a hand wee are friends now Greece shall finde And thou shalt know what mighty Hector dares When all th' vnited Kings in Armes shall rue This base dishonour done to Priams blood Par. Heare Gracious sir my dreame in Ida Mount Beneath the shadow of a Cedar sleeping Celestiall Iuno Venus and the Goddesse Borne from the braine of mighty Iupiter These three present me with a golden Ball On which was writ Detur pulcherrimae Giue 't to the fairest Iuno proffers wealth Scepters and Crownes saith she will make me rich Next steps forth Pallas with a golden Booke Saith reach it me I 'le teach the Litterature Knowledge and Arts make thee of all most wise Next smiling Venus came with such a looke Able to rauish mankinde thus bespake mee Make that Ball mine the fairest Queene that breathes I 'le in requitall cast into thine armes How can I stand against her golden smiles When beautie promist beauty shee preuayl'd To her I gaue the prise with which shee mounted Like to a Starre from earth shott vp to Heauen Now if in Greece as some report be Ladies Peerelesse for beauty wherefore might not Paris By Venus ayde sayle hence to Grecia And quit the rape of faire Hesione By stealing thence the Queene most beautifull That feedes vpon the honey of that ayre Pri. That amorous Goddesse borne vpon the waues Assist thee in thy voyage we will rigge A royall fleete to waft thee into Greece Aeneas with our sonne Deiphobus And other Lords shall beare thee company What thinke our sonnes Hector and Troylus Of Paris expedition Hect. As an attempt the Heauens haue cause to prosper Go brother Paris if thou bring'st a Queene Hector will be her Champion then let 's see What Greeke dare fetch her hence Pri. Straight giue order To haue his Fleet made ready Enter Cassandra with her haire about her eares Cassan. Stay Priam Paris cease stay Troian Peeres To plot your vniuersall ouerthrow What hath poore Troy deseru'd that you should kindle flames to destroy it Pa. What intends Cassandra Cass. To quench bright burning Troy to secure thee To saue old Priam and his fifty sonnes The royal'st issue that e're King I enioy'de To keepe the reuerent haires of Hecuba From being torne off by her owne sad hands Pri. Cassandra's madde Cass. You are mad all Troy is madde And railes before it's ruine Hect. What would my sister Cass. Stay this bold youth my brother who by water Would sayle to bring fire which shall burne all Troy Stay him oh stay him ere these golden roofes Melt o're our heads before these glorious Turrets Bee burnt to ashes Ere cleare streames Simois Runne with bloud royall and Scamander Plaine In which Troy stands bee made a Sepulchre To bury Troy and Troians Pri. Away with her some false deuining spirit Enuying the honour we shall gaine from Greece Would trouble our designements Hect. Royall sir Cassandra is a Vestall Prophetesse And consecrate to Pallas oft inspir'd Then lend her gracious audience Troil. So let our Aunt Bee still a slaue in Greece and wee your sonnes Bee held as cowards Aene. Let Antenors wrongs Bee basely swallowed and the name of Troy Be held a word of scorne Cass. Then let Troy burne Let the Greekes clap their hands and warme themselues At this bright Bone-fire dream'd not Hecuba The night before this fatall Youth was borne That shee brought forth a fire-brand Hecu. 'T is most true Cass. And when King Priam to the Preist reueal'd This ominous dreame hee with the Gods consulted And from the Oracle did this returne That the Childe borne should stately Illion burne Par. And well the Prophet guest for my desire To visit Greece burnes with a quenchlesse fire Not from this flaming brand shall I be free Till I haue left rich Troy and Sparta see Cass. Yet Hecuba ere thou thy Priam loose And Priam ere thou loose thy Hecuba Pri. Away with her Cass. Why speakes not in this case Andromache Thou shalt loose a Hector who 's yet thine Why good Aeneas dost thou speech forbeare Thou hop'st in time another Troy to reare When this is sackt and therefore thou standst mute All strooke with silence none assist my suite Pri. Force her away and lay her fast in hold Cass. Then Troy no Troy but ashes and a place Where once a Citty stood poore Priam thou That shalt leaue fatherlesse fifty faire sonnes And this thy fruitfull Queene a desolate widdow And Ilium now no Pallace for a King But a confused heape of twice burnt bricke They that thy beauty wondred shall admire To see thy Towers defac'd with Greekish fire Exit Pri. Thou art no Sibill but from fury speak'st Not inspiration we reguard thee not Come valiant sonnes wee 'le first prepare our ships And with a royall Fleete well rigg'd to sea Seeke iust reuenge for faire Hesione Exeunt omnes manet Paris to him Oenon who in his going out Plucks her backe Oen.
King your Lord commands you too Your King and husband you sinne doubly still VVhen you assent not to obay his will Speake beauteous Queene No then it may be Shee meanes by silence to accord with me I 'le trye that presently lend me your hand T is this I want and by the Kings command You are to let me haue it more then this Kisseth her I want your lips to helpe me make a kisse Hel. Oh Heauen Par. Oh loue a ioy aboue all measure To touch these lips is more then heauenly pleasure Hel. Beshrew your amorous rhetorick that did proue My husbands will commanded me to loue For but for that iniunction Paris know I would not yeeld such fauours to bestow On any stranger but since he commands You may take more then eyther lips or hands Do I not blush sweete stranger if I breake The Lawes of modesty thinke that I speake But with my husbands tongue for I say still I would not yeeld but to obey his will Par. This night then without all suspition The rauishing pleasures of your royall bed You may affoord to Paris bitter Thersites King Diomed and your seruants may suppose By my late counterfeite distemperature I ayme at no such happinesse alas I am a puny Courtier a weake braine A braine-sicke young man but Deuinest Hellen VVhen we get safe to Troy Hel. To Troy Par. Yes Queene by all the gods it is decreed That I should beare you thither Priam knowes it And therefore purposely did rigge this Fleete To waft me hether He and Hecuba My nine and forty brothers Princes all Of Ladies and bright Virgins infinite Will meete vs in the roade of Tenedos Then be resolu'd for I will cast a plot To beare you safe from hence Hel. This Troyan Prince Will 's more then any Prince of Greece dares pleade And yet I haue no power to say him nay VVell Paris I beshrew you with my heart That euer you came to Sparta by my ioy Queene Hellen lyes and longs to be at Troy Yet vse me as you please you know you haue My dearest loue and therefore cannot craue VVhat I le deny but if reproach and shame Pursue vs on you Paris light the blame I le wash my hands of all nor will I yeeld But by compulsion to your least demaund Yet if in lieu of my Kings intertaine You bid me to a feast aboord your ship And when you haue me there vnknowne to me Hoyse sayle weigh Anchor and beare out to Sea I cannot helpe it t is not in my power To let fal sayles or striue with stretching oares To row me backe againe this you may do But sooth friend Paris He not yeeld thereto Par. You shal be then compell'd on me let all The danger waiting on this practise fall Enter a Spartan Lord Sp. L. Castor and Pollux your two princely brothers Are newly Landed and to morrow next Purpose for Lacedemon Hel. On their approach He lay my plot to escape away with Paris I haue it you sir for some speciall reason There comming keepe conceal'd but when to morrow You shal perceiue me neere the water port Euen when thou seest me ready to take Barge You apprehend me Sp. L. Gracious Queene I do Hel. Take that farwel now my fayre princely guest All that belongs to you's to inuite Queene Hellen Aboord your ship to morrow Par. Spartaes mirrour Will you vouchsafe to a poore wandring Prince So much of grace will your high maiesty Daigne the acceptance of an homely banquet Aboord his weather beaten Barke Hel. No Friend The King my husband is from Sparta gone And I til his returne must needes keepe home Vrge me not I intreate it is in vaine Get me aboord I le nere turne backe againe Par. Nor shall you Lady Sparta nor all Greece Shal fetch you thence but Troy shal stand as high On tearmes with Greece as Greece hath stood with Troy Exeunt Enter the Spartan Lord Spa. L. This is the VVater-port the Queenes royal guest hath bound me to attendance till the Prince and shee bee ready to take VVater Methinkes in this there should bee some tricke or other she was once stolne away by Theseus and this a gallant smooth fac'd Prince The Kings from home the Queenes but a VVoman the Troians ships new trim'd the wind stands fayre and the Saylors all ready aboord sweetemeates and wine good words and opportunity and indeede not what If both parties bee pleasde but pleasde or not the musicke giues warning are they not now vpon their entrance Enter in state Paris Hellen Diomed Thersites Aeneas Antenor Deiphebus c. with Attendants Sp. L. Health to your Maiesties your Princely brothers Castor and Pollux being within two Leagues Of this great Citty come to visite you Hel. My brothers stolne vpon vs vnawares Let me intreate thee royall Diomed And you Thersites do me so much grace As giue them friendly meeting Diom. Queene we shall Exeunt Hel. Our intertainment shall be giuen aboord VVhere I presume they shall be welcome guests To princely Paris Pa. As to your selfe faire Queene Hel. Set forwards then Pa. We 'le hoyse vp sayle neere to returne againe Exeunt the Troians with a great shout Enter Castor Pollux Diomed Thersites Cast. Our brother Menelaus gone for Creete Pol. Our loue to see him makes vs loose much time Yet all our labour is not vainly spent Since we shall see our sister Enter the Spartan Lord in hast Sp. L. Princes the Kings betray'd all Greece dishonoured the Queene borne hence the Troians haue weigh'd anchor and with a prosperous gale they beare from hence Shouting and hurling vp their caps for ioy They crye farwel to Greece amayne for Troy Ther. Ha ha ha Dio. The Queene borne hence with that smooth traytor Paris See princes with what pride they haue aduanc'd The Armes of Tray vpon their wauing pendants Cast. Rage not but le ts resolue what 's to be done Dio. Let some ride post to Creete for menelaus Sp. L. That be my charge Dio. VVho'le after him to Sea Pol. That wil my brother Castor and my selfe And perish there or bring my sister backe Dio. Princes be 't so and fairely may you speed Whilst I to Agamemnon great Achilles Vlysses Nestor Aiax Idomean And all the Kings and Dukes of populous Greece Relate the wrongs done by this Rauisher Part and be expeditious Exeunt seueral wayes Ther. Ha ha ha I smelt this Sea-rat ere he came a shoare by this hee 's gnawing Menelaus Cheese and made a huge hole in 't Ship-dyet pleaseth 'boue all his Pallace banquets much good doo 't them They are at it without grace by this both bare Cuckold no subiect with that name bee sorry Since Soueraignes may be such in all their glory Explicet Actus primus Actus secundus Scoena prima Enter Troilus and Cresida Troi. Faire Cresida by the honour of my birth As I am Hectors brother Priams sonne And Troilus best belou'd of Hecuba As I loue Armes and souldiers
I protest Thy beauty liues inshrin'd heere in my brest Cre. As I am Calchas daughter Cresida High Priest to Pallas shee that patrons Troy Now sent vnto the Delphian Oracle To know what shal betide Prince Paris voyage I hold the loue of Troilus dearer farre Then to be Queene of Asia Troi. Daughter to Calchas and the pride of Troy Plight me your hand and heart Cre. Faire Heauen I doe Will Troilus in exchange grant me his too Troi. Yes and fast seal'd you gods your anger wreak On him or her that first this vnion breake Cre. So protests Cresida wretched may they dye That 'twixt our soules these holy bands vntye Enter Margaretan one of Priams youngest sonnes Marg. My brother Troilus we haue newes from Greece Prince Paris is return'd Troi. And with a prise Marg. Asia affoords none such Troi. What is shee worth our Aunt Hesione Cre. Or what might be her name Marg. Hellen of Sparta Troi. Hellens name Hath scarce been heard in Troy Marg. But now her fame Will bee eterniz'd for a face more faire Sunne neuer shone on nor the earth ere bare Why stay you here by this Paris and shee Are landed in the Port of Tenedos There Priam Hecuba Hector all Troy Meets the mid-way to attend the Spartan Queene Troi. In that faire Traine my Cresid shal be seene Of rarer beauty then the Spartan Queene A flourish Enter at one doore Priam Hecuba Hector Troilus c. At the other Paris Hellen Aeneas Antenor c. Pri. What Earth what all mortality Can in the height of our inuentions finde To adde to Hellens welcome Troy shall yeeld her Should Pallas Patronesse of Troy descend Priam and Priams wife and Priams sonnes Could not afford Her god-head more applause Then amply wee bestow on Helena Hecu. We count you in the number of our daughters Nor can wee doe Queene Hellen greater honour Hect. I was not forward to hane Paris sent But being return'd th' art welcome I desired not To haue bright Hellen brought but being landed Hector proclaimes himselfe her Champion 'Gainst all the world and he shall guard thee safe Despight all opposition Par. Hectors word As Oracle hee 'le seale it with his sword Par. And now my turne comes to bid Hellen welcome You are no stranger here this is your Troy Priam your father and this Queene your mother These be your valiant brothers all your friends Why should a teare fall from these heauenly eyes Being thus round ingirt with your allyes Hel. I am I know not where nor amongst whom I know no creature that I see saue yon I haue left my King my brothers subiects friends For strangers who should they forsake me now I haue no husband father brother neare Par. Haue you not all these is not Paris heere Harke how the people hauing Hellen seene Applaud th' arriuall of the Spartan Queene And millions that your comming haue attended Amazed sweare some Goddesse is descended Troi. No way you can your eyes or body turne But where you walke the Priests shall Incense burne Aene. The sacrificed beasts the ground shall beate And bright religious fire the Altars heate Hect. Nor feare the bruite of warre or threatning steele Vnited Greece wee value not Troi. Alone by Hector is this Towne well man'd Hee like an Army against Greece shall stand Par. And who would feare for such a royall wife To set the vniuersall World at strife Bright Hellens name shall liue and nere haue end When all the world about you shall contend Hel. Be as be may since we are gone thus farre Proceede we will in spight of threatned warre Hazard and dread both these we nothing hold So long as Paris we may thus infold Par. My father mother brothers sisters all Illium and Troy in pompe maiesticall Shall solemnize our nuptials Let that day In which we espouse the beauteous Hellena Be held a holy-day a day of ioy For euer in the Kalenders of Troy Pri. It shall be so we haue already sent Our high priest Calchas to the Oracle At Delphos to returne vs the successe And a true notice of our future warres Whilst we expect his comming be 't our care The Spartans second nuptials to prepare Exit Enter after an alarum King Agamemnon Menelaus Achilles Aiax Patroclus Thersites Calchas c. Aga. Thou glory of the Greekes the great commander Of the stout Mirmedons welcome from Delphos What speakes the Oracle the sacke of Troy Or the Greekes ruine say shal wee be victors Or Priam tryumph in our ouerthrow Achi. The god of Delphos sends you ioyful newes Troy shal be sackt and we be Conquerors Vpon your helmes weare triple spangled plumes Let all the lowdest instruments of warre With sterne alarums rowse the monster death And march we boldly to the wals of Troy Troy shall be sackt and we be conquerors Aiax Thanks for thy newes Achilles by that honor My father wonne vpon the wals of Troy My warlike father Aiax Telamon I would not for the world Priam should send Incestious Hellen backe on tearmes of peace May smooth Vlisses and bold Diomed Whom you haue sent on your late Embassie Be welcom'd as Antenor was to Greece Scorn'd and reuil'd since th' Oracle hath sayd Troy shal be sackt and we be Conquerors Achi. King Agamemnon heere 's a Troian priest Was sent by Priam to the Oracle The reuerent man I welcome and intreate The General with these Princes do the like Agam. Welcome to Agamemnon reuerent Calchas Men. To Menelaus welcome Aiax To Aiax welcome father canst thou fight As wel as pray if we should want for men Cal. By prayers I vse to fight and by my counsel Giue ayde to Armes Aiax Such as are past armes father Calchas still Say counsels good but giue me strength at will When you with all your Counsel in the field Meete Hector with his strength tel me who 'le yeeld Aga, The strong built walls of stately Tenedos We haue leuel'd with the earth It now remaines We march along vnto the wals of Troy And thunder vengeance in King Priams eares Had we once answere of our Embassie Aiax I euer held such Embassies as base The restitution of our rauisht Queene On termes of parley bars our sterne reuenge And ends our VVar ere fully it beginne King Agamemnon no Aiax sayth no VVhose sword as thirsty as the parched earth Shal neuer ride in peace vpon his thigh Whilst in the towne of Troy there breathes a soule That gaue consent vnto the Spartans rape March march and let the thunder of our drummes Strike terrour to the Citty Pergamus Achil. The sonne of Telamon speakes honourably Wee haue brought a thousand ships to Tenedos And euery ship full fraught with men at Armes And all these armed men with fiery spirits Sworne to reuenge King Menelaus wrongs And burne skie-kissing lllium to the ground Therefore strike vp warres Instruments on hye And march vnto the Towne couragiously In their march they are met by Vlysses and King
Agamemnon To end this difference and prouide a Champion To answers Hectors honourable challenge Of nine the most reputed valiant Let seuerall Lots be cast into an Helme Amongst them all one prise he to whom Fortune Shall giue the honour let him straight be arm'd To incounter mighty Hector on this plaine Aga. It shal be so you valiant sonnes of Priam Conduct your warlike Champion to his Tent To breath a while and put his armour on No sooner shal the prise be drawne by any And our bold Champion arm'd but a braue Herald Shall giue you warning by the trumpets sound Till when we will retire vnto our Tents As you vnto the Towne Par. Faint hearted Greekes Draw lots to answere such a noble challenge Had great Achilles cast his Gauntlet downe Amongst King Priams sonnes the weakest of fifty Would in the heate of flames or mouth of Hel Answere the challenge of so braue a King Hect. Greekes to your Tents to put armour on Make hast I long to know my Champion Exeunt all Flourish Enter aboue vpon the wals Priam Hecuba Hellena Polixena Aftianax Margareton with attendants Pri. Here from the wals of Troy my reuerent Queene And beautious Hellen we will stay to see The warlicke combate 'twixt our valiant sonne And the Greekes champion Young Astianax Pray that thy father may haue Victory Asti. Why should you doubt his fortune whose strong arme Vnhorst a thousand Knights all in one day And thinke you any one amongst the Greekes Is able to incounter with his strength Pri. But howsoeuer child vnto the pleasure Of the high gods we must referre the combate Enter Paris below Par. My royall father Hector in his armes Sends for your blessing with the Queene my mother And craues your prayers to the all powerful gods To grant him victory Pri. Blest may he be with honor all my orisons Shall inuocate the gods for his successe Par. I almost had forgot faire Hellena Dart me one kisse from these high battlements To cheere him with thanks queen these lips are charms Which who so fights for is secure from harmes Heralds on both sides the two Champions Hector and Aiax appeare betwixt the two Armies Agam. None presse too neere the Champions Troi. Heralds on both sides keep the souldiers back Hect. Now Greekes let me behold my Champion Aiax T is I thy cousen Aiax Telamon Hec. And Cuz by Ioue thou hast a braue aspect It cheeres my blood to looke on such a foe I would there ran none of our Troian blood Inall thy veines or that it were diuided From that which thou receiuest from Telamon Were I assured our blood possest one side And that the other by Olimpicke Ioue I 'd thrill my Iauelin at the Grecian moysture And spare the Troian blood Aiax I loue it Too deare to shed it I could rather wish Achilles the halfe god of your huge army Had beene my opposite Aia. Hee keepes his Tent In mournful passion that he mist the combate But Hector I shal giue thee cause to say There 's in the Greekish hoast a Knight a Prince As Lyon hearted and as Gyant strong As Thetis sonne behold my warlicke Target Of pondrous brasse quilted with seauen Oxe hides Impenetrable and so ful of weight That scarse a Grecian sane my selfe can lift it Yet can I vse it like a Summers fan Made of the stately traine of Iuno's bird My sword will bite the hardest Adamant I 'le with my Iauelin cleaue a rocke of Marble Therefore though great Achilles be not here Thinke not braue cousen Hector but to finde Achilles equal both in strength and minde Alarum in this combate both hauing lost their swords and Shields Hector takes vp a great peece of a Rocke and casts at Aiax who teares a young Tree vp by the rootes and assailes Hector at which they are parted by both armes Aga. Hold you haue both shed blood too deare to loose In single opposition Par. Is your Champion My cousen Aiax willing to leaue combate Will hee first giue the word Aia. Sir Paris no 'T was Hector challenge and 't is Hectors office If we surcease on equal termes of valour To giue the word Hec. Then here 's thy cousins hand By Ioue thou hast a lusty pondrous arme Thus till we meete againe le ts part both friends For proofe whereof Aiax we 'le interchange Somewhat betwixt vs for alliance sake Here take this sword and target trust the blad It neuer deceiu'd his maister Aia. Take of me This purple studded belt I won it cousen From the most valiant prince of Samothrace And weare it for my sake Enter an Herald He. Priam vnto the Greekish General This profer makes Because these blood-stayn'd fields Are ouer-spread with slaughter to take truce Till all the dead on both sides be interr'd Which if you grant he here inuites the Generall His nephew Aiax and the great Achilles With twenty of your chiefe selected Princes To banquet with him in his royal Pallace Those reuels ended then to armes againe Aga. A truce for burying of the slaughtred bodies We yeeld vnto but for our safe returne From Troy and you what pledges haue you found Hec. You shal not need more then the faith of Hector For Priams pledge King Agamemnon take My faith and honour which if Priam breake I le breake the heart of Troy Aga. We 'le take your honor'd word this night we 'le part To morrow morning when fit hower shal call We 'le meete King Priam neere his Citties wall Exeunt Explicit Actus secundus Actus Tertius Scoena prima Enter Thersites Ther. Braue time rare change from fighting now to feasting So many heauy blades to flye in peeces For such a peece of light flesh what 's the reason A Lasse of my complexion and this feature Might haue bin rapt and stolne agayne by Paris And none of all this stirre for 't but I perceiue Now all the World 's turn'd wenchers and in time All wenches will turne witches but these Trumpets Proclaime their enter-view A flourish Enter all the Greekes on one side all the Troians on the other Euery Troian Prince intertaines a Greeke and so march two and two discoursing as being conducted by them into the Citty Ther. See here 's the picture of a polliticke state They all imbrace and hugge yet deadly hate They say their are braue Lasses in this Troy What if Thersites sprucely smug'd himselfe And striu'd to hide his hutch-backe No not I T is held a rule whom Nature markes in show And most deformes they are best arm'd below I 'le not conceale my vertues yet should I venter To damme my selfe for painting fanne my face With a dyde Ostritch plume plaster my wrinkles With some old Ladies Trowell I might passe Perhaps for some maide-marrian and some wench Wanting good eye-sight might perhaps mistake me For a spruce Courtier Courtier tush I from My first discretion haue abhor'd that name Still suiting my conditions with my shape And doe
snarl'd at vice posse free Ther. Who thou the son of Telamon thou art a foole An Asse a very blocke What makest thou here at Troy to ayde a Cuckold beeing a Bachelour Paris hath stolne no wife of thine if Aiax Had beene ought but the worst of these he might Haue kept his Country solac'd his father and Comforted his mother what thankes hast thou For spending thy meanes hazarding thy souldiers Wasting thy youth loosing thy blood Indangering thy life and all for a Aiax Peace Ther. Yes peace for shame But what thankes hast thou for all thy trauaile Vlisses hath the armour and what art thou now Reckoned a good moyle a horse that knowes Not his owne strength an Asse fit for seruice And good for burthens to carry gold and to Feede on thistles farwell Coxe-combe I shall be Held to bee a Cocke of the same dunghill For bearing thee company so long I le to Vlisses Aia. Base slaue thou art for Cowards not for men I le stown'd thee if thou com'st not backe againe This vantage haue the valiant of the base Death which they coldly feare we boldly imbrace Helpe me to rayle on them too or thou dyest Ther. Do 't then whilst t is hot Aia. What 's Agamemnon our great Generall Ther. A blind Iustice and I would he had kist Fortunes blind cheekes when hee could not see To doe thee Iustice Aia. Well and what 's Menelaus Ther. A King and a Cuckold and a horne-plague Consume him Aia. Amen What 's Diomed he sat on the bench too Ther. A very bench-whistler and loues Cresida Hell and confusion swallow him Aia. Amen Amongst these what 's Thersites Ther. A Rogue a rayling Rogue a Curr a barking Dog the Pox take mee else Aia. Amen But what 's Vlisses my base aduersary Ther. A dam'd pollitician Scilla and Charibdis swallow him Aia. And greedily deuoure him Ther. And vtterly consume him Aia. And eate vp his posterity Ther. And rot out his memory Aia. In endlesse infamy Ther. And euerlasting obliquie Both Amen Aia. Inough no more shall he the Armes inioy And wee the shame away Thersites flye Our prayers now sayd we must prepare to dye Ther. Dye and with them be dam'd Exit Enter ouer the Stage all the Grecian Princes courting and applauding Vlisses not minding Aiax Aia. Not looke on Aiax Aiax Telamon Hee that at once sau'd all your ships from fire Not looke on me ha are these hands this sword Which made the fame of Troy great Hector shrinke Below the ruines of an abiect scorne Sleighted so sleighted what base thing am I To creepe to so dull Greeke whom fame or blood Hath rair'd one step aboue Ioue see this And laugh old Grand-sir Ha ha ha by hell I 'le shake thy Kingdome for 't not looke on Aiax The triple headed-dog the whippes of Steele The rauenous Vulture and the restlesse stone Are all meere fables heer 's a trusty sword 'T is mine mine owne who claimes this from me ha Cowards and shallow witted fooles haue slept Amidst an armed troupe safe and secure Vnder this guard nay Agamemnon too But see see from yon Sea a shoale of sands Come rowling on trick't vp in brisled finnes Of Porposses and Dog-fish ho my sword I will incounter them they come from Greece And bring a poysonous breath from Ithaca Temper'd with false Vlisses gall foh foh It stinks of 's wifes chast vrinall looke looke By yonder wood how sliely in the skirts March policy and the diuell on I feare you not Dare you not yet not one to fight with mee Who then what 's hee must cope with Aiax Echo Aiax Aia. Well sayd old boy wa' st Nestor my braue Lad I 'le do ot I 'le do ot come my fine cutting blade Make mee immortall liuely fountaine sprout Sprout out yet with more life braue glorious streame Growe to a Tyde and sinke the Grecian fleete In seas of Aiax blood so ho so ho Lure backe my soule againe which in amaze Gropes for a perch to rest on Heart great heart Swell bigger yet and split know gods know men Furies inraged Spirits Tortures all Aiax by none could but by Aiax fall He kills himselfe Enter on the one part Agamemnon Vlisses Menelaus Diomed with the body of Hector borne by Grecian souldiers On the other part Priam Paris Deiphebus Aeneas Anthenor with the body of Achilles borne by Troian souldiers they interchange them and so with traling the Colours on both sides depart Thersites onely stayes behinde and concludes The Epilogue Ther. A sweete exchange of Treasure term 't I may Euen earth for ashes and meere dust for clay Let Aiax kill himselfe and say 't was braue Hector a worthy Call yet could not saue Poore foole his Coxcombe Achilles beare him hye And Troilus boldly all these braue ones dye Ha ha iudge you Is it not better farre To keepe our selues in breath and linger warre Had all these fought as I 'ue done such my care Hath beene on both sides that presume I dare These had with thousands more suruiu'd Iudge th' hoast I shed no blood no blood at all haue lost They shall not see young Pirhus nor the Queene Penthiselea which had they but beene As wise as I they might nor Sinon hee Famous of all men to be most like mee Nor after these Orestes and his mother Pillades Egistus with a many other Our second part doth promise These if I fayle As I on them you on Thersites rayle Explicit Actus Quintus FJNJS TAM ROBVR TAM ROBOR NI-COLIS ARBOR IOVIS 1610 LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes 1632 THE Second Part of the Iron Age VVhich contayneth the death of Penthesilea Paris Priam and Hecuba The burning of Troy The deaths of Agamemnon Menelaus Clitemnestra Hellena Orestes Egistus Pillades King Diomed Pyrhus Cethus Synon Thersites c. Written by THOMAS HEYVVOOD Aut prodesse solent aut Delectare Printed at London by Nicholas Okes 1632 Drammatis personae New persons not presented in the former part of this History Pyrhus the sonne of Achilles surnamed Neoptolemus Synon a periured Greeke by whose teares Troy was set on fire Chorebus a Prince who came to the warres for the loue of Cassandra Laocoon a priest of Apollo Polites a young sonne of King Priam and Queene Hecuba A Troian Citizen his wife A second Troian Souldiers of Greece Souldiers of Troy The Ghost of Hector A Lord of Mycena A Guard Penthesilea Queene of the Amazons with her trayne of Viragoes Cethus sonne to King Naulus and brother of Palamides Pillades the friend of Orestes Orestes sonne to King Agamemnon and his Queene Clitemnestra Electra sister to Orestes Hermione daughter to King Menelaus and Q. Hellen Clitemnestra wife and Queene to Agamemnon Egistus a fauorite to Queene Clitemnestra The Priest of Apollo Attendants To the Reader COurteous Reader I commend vnto thee an intire History from Iupiter and Saturne to the vtter subuersion of Troy with a faithfull account of the Deathes
same fellow Whom nature hath so markt and were his mind As crooked as his body hee were one I could bee much in loue with Ther. Hee hath a feature That I could court nay will I would not loose His friendship and acquaintance for the world Mee thinkes you are a comely Gentleman Syn. I euer held my selfe so and mine eye Giues you no lesse of all the Grecians here Thou hast a face like mine that feares no weather A shape that warre it selfe cannot deforme I best loue such complexions Ther. By the gods Wee haue two meeting soules be my sweete Vrchin Syn. I will An thou shalt bee mine vgly Toade Ther. A match be wee hence forth brothers and friends Syn. Imbrace then friend and brother my deare Toade Ther. My amiable Vrchin Pyr. I long for worke will not these Troians come To welcome Pyrhus great Achilles sonne Vlyss. Their drummes proclayme them ready for the field Enter Priam Paris Penthesilea and her traine of Viragoes Aeneas Chorebus Laocoon Anthenor c. Aga. Perhaps King Priam hath not yet related The newes of Neoptolemus arriue That hee presumes thus weakned as he is To ope his Gates and meete vs in the field Pyr. T is like hee hath because for want of men Hee brings a troope of Women to the field Most sure hee thinkes wee like our warlike father Will be insnar'd with beauty Priam no We for his death are sworne vaine beauties foe Penth. Art thou Achilles sonne beneath whose hand Assisted by his bloody Mirmidons The valiant Hector fell Pyr. Woman I am Penth. Thou shouldst be then a Coward Pyr. How Penth. Euen so Thy father was a foe dishonourable And so the world reputes him Pyr. By all the gods Pent. Sweare not for ere the closure of the battaile If both the Generals please with my good sword In single combate I le make good my word Pyr. O that thou wert a man but womens tongues Are priuiledg'd come Priam all his sonnes The whole remayne of fifty I le make good My fathers honour gainst sufficient oddes But for these scoulds we leaue them to their sexe What make they amongst souldiers Penth. Scorne not proud Pyrhus Our presence in the field I tell thee Prince I am a Queene the Queene of Amazons A warlike Nation disciplin'd in Armes Pyr. Are you those Harlots famous through the world That haue vsurpt a Kingdome to your selues And pent your sweete hearts in a barren isle Where your adulterate sportes are exercis'd Pent. Curbe thy irregular tong we are those women That practise armes by which we purchase fame All the yeare long onely three monethes excepted Those wherein Phoebus driues his Chariot In height of splendor through the burning Cancer The fiery Lyon and the Virgins signe Then we forsake our Sun-burnt Continent And in a cooler clime sport with our men And then returne if we haue issue male Wee nurse them vp then send them to their Fathers If females we then keepe them and with irons Their right paps we seare off with better ease To couch their speares and practise feates of armes We are those women who expel'd our Land By Aegypts Tyrant Conquered Asia Aegypt and Cappadocia these two Ladies Discend from Menelippe and Hyppolita Who in Antiopes raigne fought hand to hand With Hercules and Theseus we are those That came for loue of hector to the field And being murdred to reuenge his death Py. Then welcome Amazonians as I liue I loue you though I hate you but beware Hate will out-way my loue and I le not spare Your â—usl ind squadrons for my fathers fall Troians and Amazonians perish all Exeunt Alarum Enter Pyrhus and Penthesilea Py. Now Queene of Amazons by the strong spirit Achilles left his sonne I let thee know My father was an honourable Foe Pent. Defiance Pyrhus I le to death proclaime Hector was by Achilles basely slayne And on his sonnes head with my keene edg'd sword And thundring stroaks I wll make good my word Alarum They are both wounded and diuided by the two armies who confusedly come betwixt them to Pyrhus enter Agamemnon Vlisses and Menelaus Vlis. What wounded noble Pirhus Pyr. Wounded no I haue not met one that can raze the skinne Of great Achilles sonne Aga. Yet blood drops from your arme Pyr. Not possible T is sure the blood of some slayne enemy Come le ts vs breake into the battailes center And too 't pel mel Mene. But Neoptolemus Wee prise thy safety more then all aduantage Retire thy selfe to haue thy wounds bound vp Pyr. Cowards feare death I le venge my blood though with the losse of breath Alarum Enter Paris Art thou a mad-man fellow that aduenturest So neere the blood of Neoptolemus Whose smallest drop must cost a Troians life Par. Art thou the bleeding issue of that Greeke I in reuenge of noble Hectors death Slew in Apolloes Temple Pyr. Art thou then That coward and effeminate Troian boy Pa. Arme wounded Greek I slew the false Achilles An act which I am proud of Aga. Fall on the murderer And flake him smaller then the Lybean sand Pyr. If any but my selfe offer one blow I le on the Troians party oppose him Come Paris though against the oddes of breath Achilles wounded sonne will venge his death Paris is slayne by Pyrhus A retreate sounded Enter then King Diomed and Synon Dio. Why sound the Troians this retreate Syn Paris is slayne and Penthisilea Wounded by Pyrhus Dio. Come then Synon Goe with me to my Tent this night we 'le reuell With beauteous Cressida Syn. Not I I hate all women painted beauty And I am opposites I loue thee lesse Because thou doat'st on Troian Cressida Dio. She 's worthy of our loue I tell thee Synon Shee is both constant wise and beautifull Syn. She 's neither constant wise nor beautifull I le prooue it Diomed foure Elements Meete in the structure of that Cressida Of which there 's not one pure she 's compact Meerely of blood of bones and rotten flesh Which makes her Leaprous where the Sun exhales The moyst complexion it doth putrifie The region of th' ayre there 's then another Sometimes the Sunne sits muffled in his Caue Whilst from the Clouds flye hideous showers of raine Which sweepes the earths corruption into Brookes Brookes into riuers Riuers send their tribute As they receiue it to their Soueraigne The seething Ocean Thus Earth Ayre and Water Are all infected she then fram'd of these Can she be beautefull No Diomed If they seeme faire they haue the helpe of Arte By nature they are vgly Dio. Leaue this detraction Syn. Now for this Cressids wisedome is she wise Who would forsake her birth-right her braue friend The constant Troylus for King Diomed To trust the faith of Greekes and to loue thee That art to Troy a profest enemy Dio. Canst thou disproue her constancy Syn. I can Neuer was woman constant to one man For proofe doe thou but put into one scale A feather in the
the gods aboue and now by Princes Here ratified on earth Orest. I would my friend Were to you sister but as fast betroth'd As I to Hellens daughter But deare Pilades T is Time must perfect all things Pil. Madam you heare This motion from your brother Elect. And I craue Time to consider on 't Orest. T is on foote Pursue it then with all aduantages Command my free assistance to beginne Had you Electra friend as I Hermione We were at first as forraigne as you two And euery way as strange but opportunity That hath vnited vs may make you one After some amorous parliance let vs now Vnto the Temple and there sacrifice Vnto the gods that Greece no more may mournâ— But glory iu our fathers safe returne Egist, His safety is our danger for know Madam Our loue hath bin too publick Ceth. That 's the ground On which to build my proiect Cli. Grant it hath Cannot a more then nine yeares widdow-head Excuse mee being a woman thinks the King Wee can forget that lesson in our age Which was by him first taught vs in our youth Or was 't his ayme to shew vs choyce delights Then barre vs their fruition First to tast Our pallat next to make vs appetite And when our stomacks are prepar'd and sharpen'd For Costly vionds plac't before our eyes Then to remooue the table hee 's vnkind And as hee hath dealt with vs so must find Enter Synon Syn. The Queene to her my speed is Cli. Speake on souldier Syn. I am the herald of most happy newes Troy with the earth is leueld sackt and burnt Priam with all his memory extinct Queene daughters sonnes and subiects ruin'd all Now like the vapour of their Citties smoake And of them no more found And Madam now The King your Lord the Elder of the Atryd's Duke of the puissant and all conquering Host His temples archt in a victorious orbe And wreth'd in all the glories earth can yeeld Is landed in Mycene a Conquerour Ceth. How could they scape those fierce fires Naulus made In vengeance of his sonne Palamides To split their cursed Fleete vpon the rocks Cli. Make repetition of their ioyes againe Beeing things that I cannot heare too oft And adde to them Is Menelaus safe My husbands brother Hellen how fares shee Or is shee thence repurchast fill mine eares With such sweete Tones 't is all I can desire Syn. Take your full longing then for though the Seas With tempests stormes rocks shipwracks shelues and sands More dammag'd them then all the Troian siege Although the Beacons fir'd to draw their Fleete Distressed and disperst vpon the rocks Sunke many a goodly bottome Yet the Generall Scap't by the hand of Ioue with him King Diomed Vlysses and great Neoptolimus With Spartan Menelaus late attend With beauteous Hellen cause of all these broyles All these attend vpon the Generall To bring him home victorious and this night Will lodge in the Kings Pallace Cli. Souldier thanks These twice fiue yeares I haue a widdow beene Thy newes haue now new married mee giue order For the Kings intertainment all the state Mycene can yeeld shall freely be expos'd In honour of these Princes your great hast Doth aske some rest therefore repose your selfe And for your fortunate newes expect reward Syn. The Queene is royall Ceth. And now to that diuell Which I must coniure vp Is the Queene mad Or thou Egistus sottish see you not The stake and scaffold nay the Hang-man too And will you blind-fold run vpon your deaths When there is way t o'scape them Egist. What horrid fright Is this propos'd by Cethus Ceth. The King 's return'd And doth not your veines gush out of your temples In sanguine blushes are not your adulteries Famous as Hellens nay more infamous There was a rape to countenance what shee did You nought saue corrupt lust and idlenesse T is blab'd in the Citty talk't on in the Court All tongues surcharg'd all eyes are fix't on you To see what fearefull vengeance he will take For that your prostitution Cli. Hee 's a King Ceth. True Clitemnestra so he went from hence But is return'd a Tyrant flesht in blood Think'st thou that he who queld his foes abroad Will spare at home domestick enemies That was so prone to punish others wrongs And can forget his owne Cli, If Menelaus Haue pardon'd Hellen may not he his brother Make Spartaes King his noble president To doe the like to me Ceth. Tush shallow Queene How you mistake see imminent fate affront you And will not shun it comming If his brother Be branded as a scandall to the world What consequence is it that he will grone Vnder the selfe same burden rather thinke He hath propos'd a vengeance dire and horrid To terrifie not countenance such misdeeds And this must fall on you lest time to come Should Chronicle his family for a broode Of Cuckolds and of Strumpets Egist. This thy language Strikes me with horrour Cli. And affrights mee too Ceth. Is hee not King hath he not Linxes eyes And Gyants armes the first to see farre off The last as farre to punish was hee so poore In friends at home to leaue no Argus here To keepe his eyes still waking thinke it not But that he knew the treason of his bed Hee had not faire Briseis snatcht perforce From th' armes of great Achilles Cli. That I heard Ceth. Why hath he a new mistresse brought from Troy But to state her in Clitemnestraes stead And make her Micenes Queene whilst you poore wretches Like malefactors suffer mark't for the Stag And most ridiculous spectacles Cli. You shew the danger But teach vs no preuention Egist. See before vs The obiects of our feares and difficulties But not the way to auoyde them Ceth. Heare me then Preuent your death 's by his Cli. How kill the King So we heape sinne on sinne and basely adde Vnto adultery murder Ceth. Per scelus semper tutum sceleribus iter Boldly you haue begun and being once in Blood will cure lust and mischiefe phisicke sinne Cli. Perhaps our guilt lies hid Ceth. In a Kings Pallace Can lust in such great persons be conceald Cli. The first offence repents mee and to that I should but adde a greater Ceth. Perish doe Or what concernes this mee I shall be safe I haue strumpetted no Agamemnons Queene Nor bastarded the issue of the Atrides Or why should I thus labour their securities Who study not their owne Egist. Resolue then Queene The Kings austeere and will extend his Iustice Vnto some sad example Cli. Oh but my husband Ceth. After ten yeares widdow-hood Can Clitemnestra thinke of such a name Cli. You haue halfe wone me when shall this be done Ceth. When but this night delayes are ominous Ere he haue time to thinke vpon his wrongs Or finde a tongue to whisper ere suspicion Can further be instructed or least censure To call his wrongs in question instantly Euen in his height of ioy fulnesse of
attend my Cup Charon the Ferri-man of Hell shall bee My Ganimed Pil. The Prince is sure distracted Ceth. New proiect still for me Orest. I 'le haue a guard of Furies which shall light mee Vnto my nuptiall bed with funerall Teades The fatall sisters shall my hand-maides bee And waite vpon the faire Hermione Ceth. Hermione shee is betroth'd to Pyrhus And mourning for your absence all the way Vnto the Temple shee will strowe with teares Orest. Ha Pyrhus rape my deare Hermione Hee that shall dare to interpose my purpose Or crosse mee in mine Hymineall rights I 'le make him lie as flat on the cold earth As doth this hound Egistus Ceth. And I would so Orest. Would Nay I will his father woare a smocks And in that shape rap't Deiadamia Hee shall not vse my Loue so oh my Mother Friend take that obiect hence Ceth. But you Hermione Orest. My hand 's yet deepe in blood but to the wrist It shall shall be to the elbowe gods nor men Angels nor Furies shall my rage withstand Not the graue Honour of th' assembled Kings Not Reuerence of the Altar nor the Priest No superstition shall my fury slay Till Pyrhus from the earth be swept away Exit Ceth. Pillades attend your friend Pil. Hee 's all my charge My life and his are twinnes Ceth. Their mines are countermin'd Cethus thy fall Is either plotted or to blowe vp all Exit Enter Synon and Thersites Syn. My head akes brother Ther. What a batchiler And troubled with the Spartan Kings disease Syn. No there 's a wedding breeding in my braine Pyrhus the Bride-groome thou strange creature woman To what may I compare thee Ther. Canst thou deuise ought bad inough Syn. T is sayd they looke like Angels and of light But for the most part such light Angels prooue Ten hundred thousand of their honesties Will scarce weigh eleauen Dragmaes Ther. Clitemnestra And Hellen for example Syn. Young Hermione Hath face from both Ther. The sharpe shrewes nose they hate hereditary Syn. Thersites I commend that fellowes wit Proffred a wife young beautifull and rich Onely one fault she had she wanted braine Who answered in a creature of that sexe I nere desire more wisedome then to know Her husbands bed from anothers Ther. I commend him But t is not in th' Atrides family To finde out such a woman An Altar set foorth Enter Pyrhus Lending Hermione as a bride Menelaus Vlisses Diomed. A great trayne Pyrhus and Hermione kneele at the altar Syn. See now the sacred nuptiall rights proceede The Priests prepare the Alter Fyr. Hymen to whom my vowes I consecrate As all my loue To thee Hermione Whom in the presence of these Argiue Kings I heare contract be thou auspitious to vs This flamming substitute to Saturnes sonne Within whose sacred Temple wee are rooft And before all these high Celestiall gods And goddesses in whose eyes now we kneele Especially you Iuno Queene of marriage And faire Lucina who haue child-births charge Your fauours I inuoake Let your chast fires Drye vp this Virgins teares make her so fruitefull That in her issue great Achilles name And fame withall may liue eternally Proceede Priest to your other Ceremonies Enter Orestes Cethes and Pilades with the guard all their weapons drawne Orestes 〈◊〉 at Pyrhus Orest. Priam before the holy Alter fell Before the Alter bid thy life farwell Rescue Hermione Pyr. Achilles sonne Cannot reuengelesse dye then witnesse all Blood must flow high where such great Princes fal Pil. Orestes is in danger Mene. Saue Prince Pyrhus Cethus whispers with Diomed Ceth. This plot was layd Both for your life and Kingdome Dio. Menelaus shall neuer beare it so Vlys. Fy Thersites Thy sword against me Ther. Curse vpon all whoores A confused scuffle in which Orestes kils Pyrhus Pyrhus Orestes Cethus wounds Pillades Diomed Menelaus Vlisses Thersites c. All fall dead sane Vlisses who beareth thence Hermione which done Cethus riseth vp from the dead bodies and speakes Ceth. What all asleepe and are these gossiping tongues That boasted nought save Warre and Victory Now mute and silent Oh thou vgly rogue Where 's now thy rayling and thou parracide Thy madnesse is now tam'd thou need'st no chaines To bring thee to thy wits darknesse hath don 't This Diomed who dar'd to encounter Mars And sayd to wound faire Venus in the hand Where 's your valour now Aegiale Vnlesse as some say she be better stor'd Is like to lye without a bed-fellow Rise Pillades and helpe to awake thy friend What doth your friendship sleepe now Menelaus Hellen's with a new sweete-heart i th' next roome Wilt thou be still a Cuckold winke at errors As pandors do and wittoles Cethus now Be crown'd in Hystory for a reuenge Which in the former World wants president Methinks as when the Giants warr'd 'gainst heauen And dar'd for primacy with Ioue himselfe Hee darting 'gainst their mountaines thunder-boles Which shattred them to peeces the warre done I like the great Olimpicke Iupiter Walke ore my ruines tread vpon my spoyles With maiesty I pace vpon this floore Pan'd with the trunkes of Kings and Potentates For what lesle could haue sated my reuenge This arch-rogue falne amongst them he whose eies Had the preposterous vertue to fire Troy Now is thy blacke soule for thy periuries Swimming in red damnation Synon who had before counterfeited death riseth vp and answereth Syn. Sir not yet All pollicies liue not in Cethus brayne Synon hath share and know if thou hast craft I haue reseru'd some cunning see my body Free and vntoucht from wounds Ceth. Speake shall we then Diuide these dead betwixt vs and both liue Syn. If two Sunnes cannot shine within one spheare Then why should two arch-villaines thou hast discouered Projects almost beyond me and for which I haue ingrost a mortall enuy here I will be sole or none Ceth. Cease then to be That I may liue without Competitor Cause Synons name be rac'd out of the World And onely mine remembred Syn. Thine's but frailty My fame shall be immortall made more glorious In treading vpon thee as thou on these Stoope thou my Vnderling Ceth. I still shall stand They fight and kill one another Rooted Syn. And yet cut downe by Synons hand Ceth. I now am dust like these Syn. One single fight Ends him who millions ruin'd in one night Enter Hellena Electra and Hermione Her Can you behold this slaughter Hel. Yes and dye At sight of it for why should Hellen liue Hellen the cause of all these Princes deaths Cease to lament reach me my Glasse Hermione Sweete Orphant do thy father 's dead already Nor will the fates lend thee a mother long Enter Hermione with a looking glasse then exit Thankes and so leaue me Was this wrinkled fore-head When 't was at best worth halfe so many liues Where is that beauty liues it in this face Which hath set two parts of the World at warre Beene ruine of the Asian Monarchy And almost this of Europe this the beauty That launch'd a thousand ships from Aulis gulfe In such a poore repurchase now decayde See fayre ones what a little Time can doe Who that considers when a seede is sowne How long it is ere it appeare from th' earth Then ere it stalke and after ere it blade Next ere it spread in leaues then bud then flower What care in watring and in weeding tooke Yet crop it to our vse the beauties done And smel they scarse last betwixt Sunne and Sunne Then why should these my blastings still suruiue Such royall ruines or I longer liue Then to be termed Hellen the beautifull I am growne old and Death is ages due When Courtiers sooth our glasses will tell true My beauty made me pittied and still lou'd But that decay'd the worlds assured hate Is all my dowre then Hellen yeeld to fate Here 's that my soule and body must diuide The guerdon of Adultery Lust and Pride Shee strangles her selfe Enter Ulysses Vlys. In thee they are punisht of all these Princes And infinite numbers that opposed Troy And came in Hellens quarrell saue my selfe Not one suruiues thankes to the immortall powers And I am purposde now to acquire by Sea My Kingdome and my deare Penelope And since I am the man soly reseru'd Accept me for the Authors Epilogue If hee haue beene two bloody t is the Story Truth claimes excuse and seekes no farther glory Or if you thinke he hath done your patience wrong In teadious Sceanes by keeping you so long Much matter in few words hee bad me say Are hard to expresse that lengthned out his Play Explicit Actus quintus Here ends the whole History of the destruction of Troy