not from vs what you cannot giue Tro. Where hath not Saturns fame abrode bene spred For many vses he hath giuen to man As Nauigation Tillage Archery Weapons and gold yet you for all these vses Depriue him of his kingdome Plut. We but saue Our Innocent bodies from th' abortiue graue Nept. We are his sonnes let Saturne be content To let vs keepe what Heauen and Nature lent Gani. Those filiall duties you so much forget We come to teach you Royall Kings to armes Giue Ganimed the onset of this battell That being a sonne knowes how to lecture them And chastice their transgressions Sat. Ganimed It shall be so powre out your spleene and rage On our proud Issue Let the thirsty soyle Of barren Creet quaffe their degenerate blouds And surfeit in their sinnes All Saturnes hopes And fortunes are ingag'd vpon this day It is our last and all bee 't our endeuour To win 't for ay or else to loose it euer Alarme The battels ioyne the Troians are repul'st Enter Troos and Saturne Tro. Our Troians are repul'st wher 's Ganimed Sat. Amid'st the throng of weapons acting wonders Twice did I call alowd to haue him flye And twice he swore he had vow'd this day to dye Troos. Let 's make vp to his rescue Sat. Tush t is vaine To seeke to saue him we shall loose our selues The day is lost and Ganimed lost too Without diuine assistance Hye my Lord Vnto your shippes no safety liues a land Euen to the Oceans margent we are pursu'd Then saue your selfe by sea Troos. Creet thou hast wonne My thirty thousand Souldiers and my Sonne Come let 's to sea Exit Sat. To sea must Saturne too To whom all good starres are still opposite My Crowne I first bought with my infants bloud Not long enioy'd till Tytan wrested it Re-purchast and re-lost by Iupiter These horrid mischiefes that haue crown'd our brows Haue bred in vs such strange distemprature That we are growne deiected and forlorne Our bloud is chang'd to Inke our haires to quils Our eyes halfe buried in our quechy plots Consumptions and cold agues haue deuour'd And eate vp all our flesh leauing behinde Nought saue the Image of despaire and death And Saturne shall to after ages be That starre that shall infuse dull melancholy To Italy I 'le flye and there abide Till diuine powers my place aboue prouide Exit Alarme Enter Ganimed' compast in with soldiers to them Iupiter Neptune Pluto Archas Melliseus Iup. Yeeld noble Troian ther 's not in the field One of thy Nation lifts a hand saue thee Gani. Why that 's my honour when alone I stand Gainst thee and all the forces of thy land Iup. I loue thy valour and would woo thy friendship Go freely where thou wilt and ransomlesse Gan. Why that 's no gift I am no prisoner And therefore owe no ransome hauing breath Know I haue vow'd to yeeld to none saue death Iup. I wish thee nobly Troian and since fauour Cannot attaine thy love I 'le try conclusions And see if I can purchase it with blowes Gan. Now speak'st thou like the noblest of my foes Iup. Stand all a-part and Princes girt vs round Gan. I loue him best whose strokes can lowdest sound Alarme they fight and loosing their weapons embrace Iup. I haue thee and will keep thee Gan. Not as prisoner Iup. A prisoner to my loue else thou art free My bosome friend for so I honour thee Gan. I am conquer'd both by Armes and Courtesie Nept. The day is ours Troos and K. Saturn 's fled And Iupiter remaines sole conquerour Plu. Peace with her golden wings houers ore Creet Frighting hence discord and remorslesse warre Will Iupiter make vp for Arges now Mell. Winter drawes on the sea 's vn-nauigable To transport an Army There attends without A Lord of Arges Iup. Bring him to our presence Enter Arges How stands it with the beauteous Danae Arg. L. As one distrest by Fate and miserable Of K. Acrisius and his Fort of brasse Danaes inclosure and her Beldam guard Who but hath heard yet through these brasen walles Loue hath broke in and made the maide a mother Of a faire sonne which when Acrisius heard Her female guard vnto the fier hee doomes His daughter and the infant prince her sonne He puts into a mastles boat to sea To proue the rigor of the stormy waues Iup. Acrisius Arges and the world shall know Ioue hath beene wrong'd in this her further fortunes Canst thou relate Arges L. I can As farre as Naples The friendly winds her mastlesse boat transports There succourd by a curteous Fisher-man Shee 's first releeu'd and after that presented To King Pelonnus who at this time reignes Who rauisht with her beauty crownes her Queene And deckes her with th' Imperiall robes of state Iup. What we haue scanted is supply'd by fate Here then cease Armes and now court amorous peace With solemne triumphes and deere Ganimed Be henceforth cal'd The friend of Iupiter And if the Fates hereafter crowne our browes With diuine honours as we hope they shall Wee 'l style thee by the name of Cup-bearer To fill vs heauenly Nectar as faire Hebe Shall do the like to Iuno our bright Queene Here end the pride of our mortality Opinion that makes Gods must style vs higher The next you see vs we in state must shine Eternized with honours more diuine Exeunt omnes Enter Homer Homer Of Danae Perseus was that night be got Perseus that fought with the Gorgonian shield Whose fortunes to pursue Time suffers not For that we haue prepar'd an ampler field Likewise how Ioue with faire Alcmena lay Of Hercules and of his famous deeds How Pluto did faire Proserpine betray Of these my Muse now trauel'd next proceedes Yet to keepe promise ere we further wade The ground of ancient Poems you shall see And how these first borne mortall Gods were made By vertue of diuinest Poesie The Fates to whom the Heathen yeeld all power Whose doomes are writ in marble to endure Haue summon'd Saturnes three sonnes to their Tower To them the three Dominions to assure Of Heauen of Sea of Hell How these are scand Let none decide but such as vnderstand Sound a dumbe shew Enter the three fatall sisters with a rocke a threed and a paire of sheeres bringing in a Gloabe in which they put three lots Iupiter drawes heauen at which Iris descends and presents him with his Eagle Crowne and Scepter and his thunder-bolt Iupiter first ascends vpon the Eagle and after him Ganimed To Iupiter doth high Olimpus fall Who thunder and the trisulke lightning beares Dreaded of all the rest in generall He on a Princely Eagle mounts the Spheares Sound Neptune drawes the Sea is mounted vpon a sea-horse a Roabe and Trident with a crowne are giuen him by the Fates Neptune is made the Lord of all the Seas His Mace a Trident and his habite blew Hee can make Tempests or the waues appease And vnto him the Sea-men are still true Sound Thunder and Tempest Enter at 4 seuerall corners the 4 winds Neptune riseth disturb'd the Fates bring the 4 winds in a chaine present them to Aeolus as their King And for the winds these brothers that still warre Should not disturbe his Empire the three Fates Bring them to Aeolus chain'd as they are To be inclos'd in caues with brazen gates Sound Pluto drawes hell the Fates put vpon him a burning Roabe and present him with a Mace and burning crowne Pluto's made Emperour of the Ghosts below Where with his black guard he in darknes raignes Commanding hell where Styx and Lethe flow And murderers are hang'd vp in burning chaines But leauing these to your iudiciall spirits I must appeale and to your wonted grace To know from you what eyelesse Homer merits Whom you haue power to banish from this place But if you send me hence vncheckt with feare Once more I 'l dare vpon this Stage t' appeare FINIS
THE GOLDEN AGE OR The liues of Jupiter and Saturne with the defining of the Heathen Gods As it hath beene sundry times acted at the Red Bull by the Queenes Maiesties Seruants Written by THOMAS HEYVVOOD LONDON Printed for William Barrenger and are to be sold at his Shop neare the great North-doore of Pauls 1611 TO THE READER THIS Play comming accidentally to the Presse and at length hauing notice thereof I was loath finding it mine owne to see it thrust naked into the world to abide the fury of all weathers without either Title for acknowledgement or the formality of an Epistle for ornament Therefore rather to keepe custome then any necessity I haue fixt these few lines in the front of my Booke neither to approue it as tastfull to euery palat nor to disgrace it as able to relish none onely to commit it freely to the generall censure of Readers as it hath already past the approbation of Auditors This is the Golden Age the eldest brother of three Ages that haue aduentured the Stage but the onely yet that hath beene iudged to the Presse As this is receiued so you shall find the rest either fearefull further to proceede or encouraged boldly to follow Yours euer T. H. The Names of Persons presented in the Play Homer Saturne two brothers Tytan Two Lords of Creet Vesta mother of Saturne Sybilla wife to Saturne Lycaon Sonne to Tytan Calisto daughter to Lycaon Iupiter Iuno Melliseus King of Epire Archas sonne to Calisto and Iupiter Diana Atlanta Egeon sonnes to Tytan Enceladus Neptune brothers to Iupiter Pluto Acrisius King of Arges Danae daughter to Acrisius King Troos Ganimed A Lord of Arges Two Lords of Pelagia Foure Beldams Clowne Nurse Satyrs Nymphs The Golden Age With the liues of Iupiter and Saturne Actus 1. Scaena 1. Enter old HOMER THE Gods of Greece whose deitles I rais'd Out of the earth gaue them diuinity The attributes of Sacrifice and Prayer Haue giuē old Homer leaue to view the world And make his owne presentment I am he That by my pen gaue heauen to Iupiter Made Neptunes Trident calme the curled waues Gaue Aeolus Lordship ore the warring winds Created blacke hair'd Pluto King of Ghosts And regent ore the Kingdomes fixt below By me Mars warres and fluent Mercury Speakes from my tongue I plac'd diuine Apollo Within the Sunnes bright Chariot I made Venus Goddesse of Loue and to her winged sonne Gaue seuerall arrowes tipt with Gold and lead What hath not Homer done to make his name Liue to eternity I was the man That flourish'd in the worlds first infancy When it was yong and knew not how to speake I taught it speech and vnderstanding both Euen in the Cradle Oh then suffer me You that are in the worlds decrepit Age When it is neere his vniuersall graue To sing an old song and in this Iron Age Shew you the state of the first golden world I was the Muses Patron learnings spring And you shall once more heare blinde Homer sing Enter two Lords 1. Lord The old Vranus sonne of the Aire Day Is dead and left behinde him two braue sonnes Tytan and Saturne 2. Tytan is the eldest And should succeed by the true right of birth 2. Lord But Saturn hath the hearts of al the people The Kingdomes high applause his mothers loue The least of these are steppes vnto a crowne 2. Lor. But how wil Tytan beare him in these troubles Being by nature proud and insolent To see the yonger seated in his throne And he to whom the true right appertaines By birth and law of Nations quite cast off 1. Lord That either power or steele must arbitrate Causes best friended haue the best euent Here Saturne comes Enter Saturne and Vesta with other attendants Saturn Behold what nature skanted me in yeares And time below my brother your applause And general loue fully supplies me with And make me to his crowne inheritable I choose it as my right by gift of heauen The peoples suffrage the dead Kings bequest And your election our faire mother Queene Against all these what can twelue moones of time Preuaile with Tytan to dis-herite vs Vesta The Cretan people with shrill acclamations Pronounce thee soueraigne ore their lands and liues Let Tytan storme and threaten strange reuenge We are resolu'd thy honour to maintaine 1. Lord Tytan thy ruine shall attempt in vaine Our hearts ad-here with Uestaes our late Queene According to our soueraignes late bequest To kneele to Saturne Saturne We accept your loues And we will striue by merite to exceed you In iust requitall of these fauours done Vesta Arme Lords I heare the voyce A noise of tumult within Of Tytan storming at this strange election Enter Tytan Lycaon and others Tytan Descend proud vpstart trickt vp in stoln weeds Deckt in vsurped state and borowed honours Resigne them to their owner that 's to me Sat. Tytan keep off I charge thee neere me not Lest I thy bold presumption seale with bloud Tytan A Crown 's worth tugging for I wil ha 't Though in pursute I dare my ominous Fate Licaon Downe with the vsurper Vesta Saturne here shall stand Immoueable vpheld by Vestaes hand Tytan Am I not eldest Vesta Ey but yong'st in braine Saturne the crowne hath ceas'd and he shall reigne Tytan Am I a bastard that my heritage Is wrested from me by a yonger birth Hath Vesta plaid th' adulteresse with some stranger If I be eldest from Vranus loynes Your maiden Issue why am I debar'd The law of Nations am I Vestaes sonne Why doth not Vesta then appeare a mother Was yonger Saturne bedded in your wombe Neerer your heart then I that hee 's affected And I despis'd If none of these then grant me What Iustice wils my interest in the Crowne Or if you make me out-cast if my Mother For get the loue she owes I shall abandon The duty of a sonne If Saturne prooue Vnnaturall I 'le be no more a brother But maugre all that haue my right withstood Reuenge my wrongs make my way through bloud Sat. Tytan we both acknowledge thee a brother And Vestaes sonne which wee 'le expresse in loue But since for many vertues growing in me That haue no life in you the Queene the Peeres And all the people with lowd suffrages Haue shrild their Auees high aboue the clouds And stil'd me King we should forget their loues Not to maintaine their strange election Aduise you therefore since this bold aduenture Is much aboue your strength to arme your selfe In search of future honours with our loue For what can Tytan do against a people Uesta Saturne aduiseth well list to his consell Tytan If my owne land proue thus vnnaturall I 'le purchase forrraine aid 1. Lord Rather compound Sat. Let Tytan make demand of any thing Sauing our Crowne he shall enioy it freely Uesta Tytan your brother offers royally Accept his loue Tytan To loose a Crowne includes The losse of all things What should I
demand Lycaon This grant him Saturne since thy insinuation Hath wrought him quite out of the Cretans hearts That Tytans warlike issue may succeed thee Tytan Lycaon well aduis'd he during life Shall reigne in peace no interruption Shall passe from Tytan to disturbe his reigne So to our Gyant race thou wilt assure The crowne as due by right inheritance Saturne To cut off all hostile effusion Of human bloud which by our difference Must needs be spilt vpon the barren earth Wee 'le sweare to this accord Tytan Conditiond thus That to depriue all future enmity In our succeeding Issue thy male children Thou in their Cradle strangle Saturne Kill my sonnes Tytan Or sweare to this or all our warlike race Disperst in seuerall Kingdomes I l'e assemble To conquer thee and from thy ambitious head Teare that vsurped Crowne Saturne Tytan thy friendship Wee 'l buy with our own bloud all our male children If we hereafter shall haue any borne Shall perish in their births to this we sweare As we are King and Saturne Tytan I the like As I am Tytan and Vranus sonne This league confirm'd all my Allyes I 'le gather Search forreigne clymes in which I l'e plant my kin Scorning a seate here where I am dispis'd To liue a subiect to a younger birth Nor bow to that which is my owne by due Saturne farewell I l'e leaue thee to thy state Whil'st I in forreigne Kingdomes search my Fate Thinke on thy oath Saturne First stay with vs and feast Tytan this day shall be King Saturns guest Enter the Clowne and a Nurse Clown There is no dallying you must come with all speede For Madam Sibilla is growne a great woman Nurs. That is without question for she is now a Queene Clown Nay she is greater then many Queenes are for though you may thinke she is with ancient folkes yet I can assure you she is with childe you may imagine beeing now but morning shee is new risen yet t' is thought that ere noone she will bee brought a bed I neuer heard she was commited to prison yet t' is look't euery houre when she shall be deliuered and therefore Nurse I was sent to you in all haste Nurs. Is she so neere her time Clown Yes and yet t is thought shee will notwithstanding hold out because she is groning Nurs. Your reason Clowne Because you know the prouerbe A grunting horse and a groning wife neuer deceiue their Maister say will you make haste Nurse Nurs. What 's the best news abroad Clown The best newes abrode is that the Queene is likely to keepe at home and is it not strange that halfe an houres being abroad should make a woman haue a moneths minde to keepe in But the worst newes is that if the King haue a young Prince hee is tide to kill it by oath but if his maiesty went drunke to bed and got a gyrle she hath leaue to liue till she dye and dye when she can liue no longer Nurs. That couenant was the most vnnaturall That euer father made one louely boy Hath felt the rigor of that strict decree And if this second likewise be a sonne There is no way but death Clown I can tell you more newes the king hath sent to the Oracle to know whether my Lady be with childe of a boy or a gyrle and what their fortunes shall be the Lord that went is look't for euery day to returne with his answere it is so Gossipt in the Queenes chamber I can tell you O Nurse wee haue the brauest king if thou knewest all Nurs. Why I pray thee Clowne Let his vertues speake for himselfe he hath taught his people to sow to plow to reape corne and to skorne Akehorns with their heeles to bake and to brue we that were wont to drinke nothing but water haue the brauest liquor at Court as passeth Besides he hath deuised a strange engine called a Bow and Arrow that a man may hold in hand and kill a wilde beast a great way off and neuer come in danger of his clutches I 'le tell you a strange thing Nurse last time the King went a hunting he kild a beare brought him home to be bak't and eaten A Gentlewoman of the Court that sed hungerly vpon this pye had such a rumbling and roaring in her guts that her Intrails were all in a mutiny and could not be appeased No phisicke would helpe her what did the King but caused an excellent Mastiffe to be knock't in the head and drest gaue it to the gentlewoman of which when she had well eaten the flesh of the Mastiffe worried the beare in her belly and euer since her guts haue left wambling But come come I was sent in hast the Queene must needs speake with you Exeunt Enter Saturne with wedges of gold and siluer models of ships and buildings bow and arrowes c. His Lords with him Saturne You shall no more be lodg'd beneath the trees Nor chamber vnderneath the spreading Okes Behold I haue deuis'd you formes for tooles To square out timber and performe the Art Of Architecture yet vnknowne till now I 'le draw you formes of Cities Townes and Towers For vse and strength behold the models here 1 Lord Saturnes inuentions are diuine not humane A God-like spirit hath inspir'd his reigne Saturne See here a second Arte of Husbandry To till the earth to plow to sow to plant Deuis'd by Saturne here is gold refin'd From Grosser mettals siluer brasse and tinne With other minerals extract from earth I likewise haue found out to make your brooks Rivers and seas by practise Nauigable Behold a forme to make your Craers and Barkes To passe huge streames in safety dangerlesse 2. Lord Saturne is a God Saturn The last not least this vse of Archery The stringed bow and nimble-fethered-shaft By this you may command the flying fowle And reach her from on high this serues for warre To strike and wound thy foe-man from a farre What meanes this acclamation Alowd shout within 1. Lord T is thy people Deuinest Saturne furnisht with these vses More then the Gods haue lent them by thy meanes Proclaime to thee a lasting deity And would haue Saturne honoured as a God Saturn Wee 'l study future profits for their vse And in our fresh inuentions proue diuine But Gods are neuer touch't with my suspires Passions and throbs their God-like Issue thriue Whilst I vn-man-like must destroy my babes Oh my strict oath to Tytan which confounds All my precedent honours one sweete babe My yongest Ops hath felt the bloudy knife And perisht in his swathing And my Queene Swels with another Infant in her wombe Ready to taste like rigor Is that Lord Return'd from Delphos yet 2 Lord He is Saturn Admit him now what doth the Oracle Speake by the Delphian Priest 3. Lord Thus mighty Saturne After our Ceremonious Rites perform'd And Sacrifice ended with reuerence A murmuring thunder hurried through the Temple When fell a pleasant shower whose siluer drops
Fil'd all the Altar with a roseate dew In this amazement thus the Delphian God Spake from the Incenst Altar Lord of Creete Thus say to Saturne Sibill his faire wife Is great with a yong Prince of Noble hopes That shall his fathers vertues much excell Ceaze on his Crowne and driue him downe to Hell Sat. The Gods if there be any boue our selfe Enuy our greatnesse and of one that seekes To beare himselfe boue man makes me more wretched Then the most slauish bruit What shall my Sibill Bring me a sonne that shall depose me then He shall not I will crosse the Deities I 'le toombe th' usurper in his Infant bloud I 'le keepe my oath Prince Tytan shall succeed Maugre the enuious Gods the brat shall bleed 1. Lor. Way for the dowager Queene Enter Vesta sad Sat. How fares our mother How i' st with faire Sibilla our deere Queene Vesta Your Queene 's deliuered Sat. Of some female birth You Deities I begge make me oh Heauens No more inhumane in the tragicke slaughter Of princely Infants fill my decreed number With Virgins though in them I loose my name And kingdome either make her barren euer Or else all generatiue power and appetite Depriue me lest my purple sinne be stil'd Many degrees boue murder What 's her birth Vesta Shee 's the sad mother of a second sonne Saturn Be euer dumbe let euerlasting silence Tong-tye the world all humane voyce henceforth Turne to confus'd and vndistinguisht found Of barking Hounds hoarse beares howling wolues To stop all rumour that may fil the world With Saturnes tyranies against his sonnes Vest. Ah did but Saturne see you smiling babe Hee 'd giue it life and breake ten thousand oathes Rather then suffer the sweet infant dye His very looke would begge a quicke reprieue Euen of the tyrant Tytan saw the vnkle With what a gracefull looke the Infant smiles Hee 'd giue it life although he purchas'd it with losse of a great Kingdome Saturn Then spare the lad I did offend too much To kill the first tell Sibill he shall liue I 'le be no more so monstrous in my rigor Nor with the bloud of Princes buy my Crowne No more their Cradles shall be made their Tombes Nor their soft swathes become their winding sheetes How can my subiects thinke I l'e spare their liues That to my owne can be so tyranous Tell Sibill he shall liue Uest. Vesta will be that ioyfull messenger Saturn Stay let me first reward the Oracle It told me Sibill should produce a sonne That should his Fathers vertues much excell Cease on my Crowne and driue me downe to Hell Must I then giue an Infant-traitor life To sting me to the heart the brat shall bleed Uesta Sweet sonne 1. Lord Deere soueraigne Saturn He that next replyes Mother or friend by Saturnes fury dyes Away fetch me his heart brimme me a bowle With his warme bloud Tyran my vow I 'le keep Life newly wakend shall as newly sleep Vest. Worse then a bruit for bruits preserue their own Worse then the worst of things is Saturne growne Saturn Command the childe to death Uesta Tyrant I will Tygers would saue whom Saturn means to kill Sat. It is my sonne whom I command to death A Prince that may succed me in my Throne And to posterity reuiue my name Call Vesta backe and bid her saue the Babe 1. Lord I 'le do 't my Lord Sat. Yet stay the lad to kill I saue my oath and keep my kingdome still Post after her and charge them on their liues Send me the babes bloud in a cup of gold A present which I 'le offer to the Gods Delay not bee 't our mother nay our wife Forfeits her owne to saue the Infants life 1. Lord I shall informe them so Sat. Is this a deity To be more wretched then the worst on earth To be depriu'd that comfort of my issue Which euen the basest of my land enioy I l'e henceforth for my rigor hate my selfe Pleasures despise and ioyes abandon quite The purest bloud that runnes within my veines I 'le dull with thicke and troubled melancholy I l'e warre with comfort be at oddes with solace And league with nothing but distemprature Henceforth my vnkem'd lockes shall knot in curles Rasor nor any edge shall kisse my cheeke Vntill my chin appeare a wildernesse And make we wild in knowledge to the world Perpetuall care shall cabin in my heart My tyranny I 'le punish in my selfe And saue the Gods that labour Saturns disturbance to the world shall be That planet that infuseth melancholy Enter Sibilla lying in child-bed with her child lying by her and her Nurse c. Sibilla Is not our mother Vesta yet return'd That made herselfe th' unwilling messenger To bring the king newes of his new-borne sonne Nurs. Madam not yet Sibil. Mother of all that euer mothers were Most wretched kisse thy sweet babe ere he dye That hath life onely lent to suffer death Sweet Lad I would thy father saw thee smile Thy beauty and thy pretty Infancy Would molifie his heart wer 't hew'd from flint Or caru'd with Iron tooles from the corsicke rocke Thou laughest to thinke thou must be kild in iest Oh if thou needs must dye I 'le be thy murdresse And kill thee with my kisses pretty knaue And canst thou laugh to see thy mother weepe Or art thou in thy cheerefull smiles so free In scorne of thy rude fathers tyranny Nurs. Madam the King hath slaine his first borne son Whom had hee seene aliue hee 'd not haue giuen For ten such Kingdomes as he now enioyes The death of such a faire and hopefull child Is full as much as Tytan can demand Sib. He shall spare this sweet babe I 'le ransome thee With my owne life the knife that pierceth thee Will wound thy mothers side and I shall feele The least sharpe stroke from his offensiue steele Nurs. The mother Queen 's return'd Enter Vesta How lookes she Nurse Let her not speake but yet a little longer My hopes hold in suspence oh me most wretched I reade my Lords harsh answere in her eye Her very lookes tell me the boy must dye Say must he must he kill me with that word Which will wound deeper then King Saturnes sword Vesta The boy must dye Sib. Oh! Nurs. Looke to the Queene she faints Vest. Oh let 's not loose the mother with her infant The losse of one 's too much Sibill. Oh wher 's my childe I le hide thee in my bed my bosome brest The murderer shall not finde my little sonne Thou shalt not dye be not afraid my boy Go tell the King hee s mine as well as his And I 'le not kill my part one he hath slaine In which I had like interest this I 'le saue And euery second sonne keepe from the graue Enter the first Lord Vesta Fobeare sir for this place is priuiledg'd And onely for free women 1. Lord Yet is the Kings command boue
your decree And I must play th' intruder gainst my will The King vpon your liues hath charged you To see that infant Lad immediatly Receiue his death he stayes for his warme bloud To offer to the Gods To thinke him slaine Sad partner of your sorrowes I remaine Nurs. Madam you heare the king doth threat our liues Let 's kill him then Sib. Is he inexorable Why should not I proue as seuere a mother As he a cruell father since the King Hath doom'd him I the Queene will doo 't my selfe Giue me the fatall Engine of his wrath I l'e play the horrid murdresse for this once I 'le kisse thee ere I kill thee for my life The Lad so smiles I cannot hold the knife Uesta Then giue him me I am his Grand-mother And I will kill him gently this sad office Belongs to me as to the next of kin Sib. For heauens sake when you kil him hurt him not Vesta Come little knaue prepare your naked throat I haue not heart to giue thee many wounds My kindnesse is to take thy life at once Now Alacke my pretty Grand-child smil'st thou still I haue lust to kisse but haue no heart to kill Nurs. You may be carelesse of the kings command But it concernes me and I loue my life More then I do a sucklings giue him me I 'le make him sure a sharpe weapon lend I 'le quickly bring the yongster to his end Alacke my pretty knaue t' were more then sin With a sharpe knife to touch thy tender skin On Madame hee 's so full of Angell grace I cannot strike he smiles so in my face Sib. I 'le wink strike come once more reach him hither For dye he must so Saturne hath decreed 'Las for a world I would not see him bleed Vesta Ne shall he do but sweare me secresie The babe shall liue and we be dangerlesse Sib, O blesse me with such happinesse Vesta Attend me The king of Epires daughters two bright maids Owe me for many fauours the like loue These I dare trust to them I 'le send this babe To be brought vp but not as Saturns sonne Do but prouide some trusty messenger My honour for his safety Sib. But by what meanes shall we delude the king Vest. A yong Kids heart swimming in reeking bloud Wee 'l send the King and with such forged griefe And counterfet sorrow shadow it That this imposture neuer shall be found Sib. Oh twice my mother you bestow vpon me A double life thus to preserue my boy Nurs. Giue me the child I 'le finde a messenger Shall beare him safe to Melliseus Court Vesta The bloud and heart I 'le presently prouide T' appease the rage of Saturne Sib. First le ts sweare To keepe this secret from King Saturnes eare Vesta We will and if this plot passe vndiscouer'd By like deuise we will saue all your sonnes About our taskes you some choyce friend to finde I with my feigned teares the King to blinde Actus secundi Scoena prima Enter HOMER Homer WHat cannot womens wits they wonders can When they intend to blinde the eyes of man Oh lend me what old Homer wants your eyes To see th' euent of what these Queenes deuise The doombe shew sound Enter the Nurse and Clowne shee sweares him to secresie and to him deliuers the child and a letter to the daughters of King Melliseus they part Enter at one doore Saturne melancholy with his Lords at the other Vesta the Nurse who with counterfeit passion present the King a bleeding heart vpon a kniues point and a bowle of bloud The King departs one way in great sorrow the Ladies the other way in great ioy This past so currant that the third sonne borne Cal'd Neptune was by like deuise preseru'd And sent to Athens where he liu'd vnknowne And had in time command vpon the seas Pluto the yongest was sent to Tartary Where he in processe a strange City built And cald it Hell his subiects for their rapine Their spoils and theft are Diuels tearm'd abrode Thus melancholy Saturne hath suruiuing Three Noble sonnes in seuerall confines plac'd And yet himselfe thinks sonne-lesse one faire daughter Hight Iuno is his sole delight on earth Thinke kinde spectators seuenteene sommers past Till these be growne to yeares and Iupiter Found in a caue by the great Epyre King where by his daughters he before was hid Of him and of his fortunes we proceeed My iournie 's long and I my eye-sight want Courteous spectators left blind Homer stray Lend me your hands to guide me on your way Enter Lycaon with his Lords Iupiter with other Lords of Epyre Lycaon After long warre and tedious differences Betwixt King Melliseus and our selfe What craue the Epyre Lords Iupiter This King Lycaon Since truce and hostage hath tane vp these broiles And ended them in peacefull amity Since all the damadge by the Epyrians done Is on our part aboundantly made good We come Lycaon to demand the like Of thee and of thy Kingdome and for proofe That all our malice is extinct and dead We bring thy hostage backe demanding ours Lycaon Receiue him Lords a Banquet instantly You shall this day braue Epyre feast with vs And to your boord your hostage shall be brought There to receiue him freely meane time sit And taste the royall welcomes of our Court Iup. Lycaon's iust in keeping these conditions So strictly with a reconciled foe Lyc. But faire prince tell me whence you are deriu'd I neuer heard King Melliseus had A Prince of your perfections Iupiter This demand Startles my bloud being borne I know not where Yet that I am of gentry at the least My Spirit prompts me and my noble thoughts Giue me approued warrant being an infant Two beauteous Ladyes found me in a caue Where from their voluntary charity Bees fed me with their hony for that cause The two bright Ladies cal'd me Iupiter And to their Father Melliseus brought me My Foster-father who hath train'd my youth In feats of Armes and military prowesse And as an instance of his deerest loue Hath honor'd me with this late Embassy A banquet brought in with the limbes of a Man in the seruice Lyca. We are satisfi'd Princes sit round and feast You are this day Lycaons welcom'st guest Iup. This meat distasts me doth Lycaon feast vs Like Caniballes feed vs with humane flesh Whence is this portent Lycan. Feede Epyrians eate Lycaon feasts you with no common meate Iup. But wher 's the Epyre Lord we left as hostage Lyca. Behold him here hee 's at the table with you This is the Epyres head and these his limbes Thinkes Melliseus that Lycaon can Discended of the valiant Tytanoys Bury his hatred and intoombe his spleene Without reuenge bloud in these warres was shed And for that bloud your hostage lost his head Iup. Beare wrong that list those can brooke it best I was not borne to suffrance thoughts mount hye A King hath wrong'd me and a King shall
dye Lycaon Treason treason Iup. Downe with the tyrant and that hatefull crue And in their murdrous breasts your blades imbrue Lycaon Our guard A confused fray an alarme Iupiter and the Epyriens beat off Lycaon and his followers Iup. Lycaon's fled make good the pallace gates And to th' amazed Citie beare these limbs So basely by the tyrant massacred Happly his subiects by our words prepar'd May shake their bondage off and make this warre The happy meanes to rid a tyrant thence Beare in your left hands these dis-membred limbes And in your right your swords with which make way Courage braue Epyres and a glorious day Exeunt Alarm Lycaon makes head againe and is beat off by Iupiter and the Epirians Iupiter ceazeth the roome of Lycaon Iup. Lycaon's once more fled we by the helpe Of these his people haue confin'd him hence To whom belongs this Crowne 1. Lord To Iupiter 2. Lor. None shall protect our liues but Iupiter All A Iupiter A Iupiter Iup. Nay we are farre from such ambition Lords Nor will we entertaine such royalty 1. Lor. Faire Prince whō heauen hath sent by miracle To saue vs from the bloudyest tyrannies That ere were practis'd by a mortall prince We tender thee our fortunes oh vouchsafe To be our Lord our Gouernour and King Since all thy people ioyntly haue agreed None of that tyrants issue shall succed All A Iupiter A Iupiter Iup. We not refuse the bounty of the Heauens Exprest in these your voyces we accept Your patronage and 'gainst Lycaons tyrannyes Henceforth protect you but our conquest yet Is all vncertaine second vs deere subiects To assure our conquests first we must prouide Our safty ere attempt the helme to guide Exeunt Alarme Enter Calisto Cal. What meane these horrid these shrill alarmes That fright the peacefull Court with hostle cryes Feare and amazement hurry through each chamber Th' affrighted Ladies light the darkest roomes With their bright beauties whence ô whence ye Gods Are all you grones cryes and inhumane sownds Of bloud and death Licaon where is he Why in this dire and sad astonishment Appeares not he to comfort my sad feares And cheere me in this dull distemprature Enter in a hurrie with weapons drawne Iupiter and his souldiers Iup. The Iron bar'd dores the suspected vaults The Barricadoed gates and euery roome That boasted of his strength is forc'd to obey To our free entrance nothing can withstand Our opposite fury Come let 's ransacke further But stay what strange deiected beauty 's this That on the sodaine hath surpris'd my heart And made me sicke with passion Calisto Hence away When we command who dares presume to stay Iup. Bright Lady Cal. You afright me with your steele Iup. These weapons Lady come to grace your beautie And these my armes shall be your sanctuary From all offensiue danger cheere your sorrow Let your bright beauty shoote out of this cloud To search my heart as it hath daz'd my eyes Are you a Queene enthron'd aboue the Elements Made of diuine composure or of earth Which I can scarce beleeue Calist. I am my selfe Vnciuill stranger you are much to rude Into my priuate chamber to intrude Go call the King my father Iup. Are you then Lycaons daughter wonder without end That from a Fiend an Angell should descend Oh Loue till now I neuer felt thy dart But now her painted eye hath pierc'd my heart Faire can you loue Calisto To be alone I can Iup. Women faire Queene are nothing without men You are but cyphers empty roomes to fill And till mens figures come vncounted still Shall I sweet Lady adde vnto your grace And but for number-sake supply that place Cal. You 'r one too many and of all the rest That beare mens figure we can spare you best What are you sir Iup. We are Pelasge's King And these our subiects Calisto These did of late belong To King Lycaon Oh iniurious wrong Iup. Oh sute your pitty with your Angell-beauty And liue Pelasge's Queene Calisto Giue me a funerall garland to lament That best becomes my wretched discontent Iup. The sun-shine of my smiles and iocond loue Shall from your browes bright azure Elements Disperse all clouds behold my crowne is yours My sword my conquest I am of my selfe Nothing without your soft compassionate loue For proofe aske what the heauen earth aire or sea Can yeeld to men by power or orison And it is yours Cal. Sir I shall proue your loue Iup. Pray vse me Lady Cal. You 'l grant it me my Lord Iup. By all my honours and by all the sweets I hope for in your loues fruition Your wil 's your owne Cal. You 'l not reuoke your word Iup. Bee 't to inuest whom I did late degrade I 'le doo 't for you bright and diuinest maid Cal. This onely freedome to your captiue giue That I a Nunne and profest maid may liue Iup. More cruell then the tyrant that begat thee Hadst thou ask't loue gold seruice Empiry This sword had purchast for Calisto all Oh most vnkinde in all this vniuerse Ther 's but one iewell that I value hye And that vnkinde you will not let me buy To liue a maid what i st 't is to liue nothing 'T is like a couetous man to hoord vp treasure Bar'd from your owne vse and from others pleasure Oh thinke faire creature that you had a mother One that bore you that you might beare another Be you as she was of an Infant glad Since you from her haue all things that she had Should all affect the strict life you desire The world it selfe should end when we expire Posterity is all heauens number fill Which by your helpe may be increased still What is it when you loose your mayden-head But make your beauty liue when you be dead In your faire issue Cal. Tush 't is all in vaine Dian I am now a seruant of thy traine Iup. Her order is meere heresie her sect A schisme 'mongst maids not worthy your respect Men were got to get you borne others to beare Wrong not the world so much nay sweet your eare This flower will wither not being cropt in time Age is too late then do not loose your prime Sport whil'st you may before your youth be past Loose not this mowld that may such faire ones cast Leaue to the world your like for face and stature That the next age may praise your gifts of nature Calisto if you still grow thus precise In your strict vow succeding beautie dies Cal. I claime your oath all loue with men adue Dianae's Cloyster I will next pursue Exit Calisto Iup. And there all beauty shall be kept in iaile Which with my sword Ey with my life I 'd baile What 's that Diana 2. Lor. She is the daughter of an ancient King That swaid the Atticke scepter who being tempted By many suiters first began this vow And leauing Court betooke her to the forrests Her beauteous traine are virgins of best
Promethian fire Will fright from Creet the proud Saturnian troope And thousand hack't and mangled souldiers bring To intombe the glories of the Cretan King Encel. That must be left to great Enceladus The pride and glory of the Tytans hoast I that haue curb'd the billowes with a frowne And with a smile haue made the Ocean calme Spurn'd downe huge mountains with my armed foot And with my shoulders lift the vallies high Wil in the wrinkles of my stormy brow Bury the glories of the Cretan King And on his slaughtered bulke braine all his sonnes Aegeon And what shall I do then Encel. Do thou stand still Whil'st I the foes of Tytan pash and kill Am I not eldest from great Tytans loynes The Saturnists hereditarie scurdge Leaue all these deeds of horror to my hand I like a Trophy ore their spoyles will stand Lica. Why breath we then Encel Come arme your sinowy limbes With rage and fury fright pale pitty hence And drowne him in the sweate your bodies still With hostile industry tosse flaming brands About your fleecy lockes to threat their Cities With death and desolation let your steele Glistring against the sunne daze their bright eyes That with the dread of our astonishment They may be sunke in Lethe and their graue May be the darke vawlt cal'd obliuious Caue Titan. Are our Embassadors to Saturne gone To let him know whence this our warre proceedes Lica, Your message hath by this startled th' vsurper Encel. Set on them waste their confines as we march And let them tast the rage of sword and fire Th' Alarm 's giuen and hath by this arriú'd Euen at the wals of Creet the cittadell Where the Cathedrall Saturne is enthron'd Tytan Warlicke Aegeon and Enceladus Noble Lycaon lend vs your assistance To forradge as we march plant desolation Through all this fertile soile be this your cry Reuendge on Saturne for his periury Exit Enter Saturne with haire and beard ouergrowne Sibilla Iuno his Lords drum colours and souldiers Sat. None speake let no harsh voyce presume to iarr In our distressed care I am all sad All horrour and afrightment since the slaughter And tragick murder of my first borne Ops Continued in the vnnaturall massacre Of three yong Princes not a day hath left me Without distast no night but double darkned With terrour and confused melancholy No houre but hath had care and discontent Proportion'd to his minutes not an instant Without remorse and anguish Oh you crownes Why are you made and mettald out of cares I am ouergrowne with sorrow circumuailed With multiplicity of distempratures And Saturne is a King of nothing else But woes vexations sorrowes and laments To adde to these the threatnings of red war As if the murther of my Princely babes Were not enough to plague an vsurpation But they must adde the rage of sword and fire To affright my people these are miseries Able to be comprised in no dimension Iuno My father shall not macerate himselfe I le dare to interrupt his passions Although I buy it deerely with his hate My Lord you are a King of a great people Your power sufficient to repulse a foe Greater then Tytan Though my brothers birthes Be crown'd in bloud yet am I still reseru'd To be the hopefull comfort of your age Sat. My dearest Iuno beautifull remainder Of Saturnes royall issue but for thee I had ere this with these my fingers torne A graue out of the rockes to haue entomb'd The wretched carkasse of a caitife King And I will liue be 't but to make thee Queene Of all the triumphes and the spoyles I winne Speake what 's the proiect of their inuasion 1. Lord That the King of Creet Hath not according to his vowes and oathes Slaine his male issue Sat. Haue I not their blouds Already quaft to angry Nemesis Haue not these ruthlesse and remorslesse eyes Vn-father-like beheld their panting hearts Swimming in bowles of bloud Am I not sonne-lesse Nay child-lesse too saue Iuno whom I loue And dare they then Come our continued sorrow Shall into scarlet indignation turne And my sonnes bloud shall crowne their guilty heads With purple vengeance Valiant Lords set on And meet them to their last destruction 1. Lord March forward Sat. Stay because wee 'l ground our warres On iustice Faire Sibilla on thy life I charge thee tell me and dissemble not By all the hopes in Saturne thou hast stor'd Our nuptiall pleasures and affaires of loue As thou esteem'st our grace or vengeance fear'st Resolue me truly Hast thou sonnes aliue Sibilla kneeles These teares and that deiection on thy knee Accompanied with dumbnesse argue guilt Arise and speake Sib. Let Saturne know I am a Woman then And more I am a Mother would you haue me A monster to exceed in cruelty The sauadgest of Sauadges Beares Tygers Wolues All feed their yong would Saturne haue his Queene More fierce then these Thinke you Sibilla dare Murder her yong whom cruell beasts would spare Let me be held a mother not a murdresse For Saturne thou hast liuing three braue sonnes But where rather then to reueale to thee That thou may'st send their guiltlesse bloud to spill Here cease my life for them thou shalt not kill Sat. Amazement warre the threatning Oracle All muster strange perplexions 'bout my braine And robbe me of the true ability Of my direct conceiuements Doubt and warre Tytans inuasion and my ielousie Make me vnfit for answere 1. Lord Royall Saturne 'T was pitty in the Queene so to preserue them Your strictnesse slew them they are dead in you And in the pitty of your Queene suruiue Sat. Diuine assistance plunge me from these troubles Mortality here failes me I am wrapt In millions of confusions Enter a Lord 2. Lord Arme great Saturne Thy Cities burne a generall massacre Threatens thy people The bigge Tytanoys Plow vp thy Land with their inuasiue steele A huge vn-numbred army is at hand To set vpon thy Campe Sat. All my disturbances Conuert to rage and make my spleene as high As is their toplesse fury to incounter With equall force and vengeance Go Sibilla Conuey my beauteous Iuno to the place Of our best strength whil'st we contend in Armes For this rich Cretan wreath the battel done And they confin'd wee 'l treat of these affaires Perhaps our loue may with this breach dispence But first to Armes to beate th' intruders hence Exeūt Alarme Enter Tytan Lycaon Enceladus Egeon Tyt. Saturne giues backe and 'gins to leaue the field Lica. Pursue him then vnto that place of strength Which the proud Cretans hold impregnable Encel. This Gigomantichia be eternis'd For our affright and terror If they flye Tosse rockkes and toppes of Mountaines after them To stumble them or else entombe them quicke Aegeon They haue already got into the towne And barricadoed 'gainst vs their Iron gates What meanes then shall we finde to startle them Ence. What but to spurn down their offenciue mures To shake in two their Adamantine gates
Their marble columnes by the ground fylls teare And kicke their ruin'd walles as high as heauen Tyt. Pursue them to their gates and 'bout their Citie Plant a strong siege Now Saturne all my suffrances Shall on thy head fall heauy wee 'l not spare Old man or babe The Tytans all things dare Exeunt Alarme Enter Saturne Sibilla Iuno with other Lords of Creet Sat. The heauens haue for our barbarous cruelty Done in the murther of our first borne Ops Powr'd on our head this vengeance Where oh where Shall we finde rescue Sib. Patience royall Saturne Sat. Bid Woolues be milde and Tygers pittiful Command the Libian Lions abstinence Teach me to mollifie the Corsicke rocke Or make the Mount Chymera passable What Monarch wrapt in my confusions Can tell what patience meanes Iuno Oh royall Father Sat. Oh either teach me rescue from these troubles Or bid me euerlastingly ey euer Sinke in despaire and horror Syb. Oh my Lord You haue from your owne loines issue reserued that may redeeme all these calamities Saturne Issue from vs Syb. From Saturne and Sybilla That royall Prince King of Pelagia And famous Melliseus foster-child Whom all the world stiles by the noble name Of Iupiter hee is King Saturnes sonne Satu. Thou hast Sybilla kept that sonne aliue That onely can redeeme mee from this thraldome Oh how shall we acquaint yong Iupiter With this his fathers hard successe in Armes Syb. My care did euer these euents foresee And I haue sent to your suruiuing sonne To come vnto your rescue Then great Saturne In your wiues pitty seeme to applaude the heauens That make me their relentfull minister In the repairing of your downe cast-state Satu. If royall Iupiter be Saturnes sonne We shall be either rescued or reueng'd And now I shall not dread those Tytanois That threaten fire and steele Syb. Trust your Sybilla Satu. Thou art my anchor and the onely columne That supports Saturnes glory Oh my Iupiter On thee the basis of my hopes I erect And in thy life King Saturnes fame suruiues Are messengers dispatch'd to signifie My sonne of our distresse Sib. As farre as Epire Where as we vnderstand Ioue now remaines Satu. Then Tytan and the proud Enceladus Hyperion and Aegeon with the rest Of all the earth-bread race we wey you not Threaten your worst let all your eyes sparke fire Your flaming nosthrils like Auernus smoake Your tongues speak thunder your armed hands Fling Trisulke lightning Be you Gods aboue Or come you with infernall hatred arm'd We dread you not we haue a sonne suruiues Shall calme your tempests beautious Iuno comfort And cheare Sybilla if he vndertake Our rescue we from danger are secure Wee in his valour all our liues assure Exeunt A flourish Enter Iupiter and Melliseus with attendants Mell. Faire Prince for lesse by your desertes and honour You cannot be your fortunes and your birth Are both vnknowne to me my two faire daughters As a swath'd infant brought you to my Court But whence or of what parents you proceed I am meerely ignorant Iup. Then am I nothing And till I know whence my descent hath bene Or from what house deriu'd I am but aire And no essentiall substance of a man Enter Calisto pursu'd by her yong sonne Archas. Cal. Help help for heauen sake help I am pursu'd And by my sonne that seemes to threate my life Iup. Stay that bold lad Cal. What 's he false Iupiter Iup. Calisto or I much deceiue my selfe Cal. Oh thou most false most treacherous and vnkind Behold Calisto by her sonne pursu'd Indeed thy sonne this little sauadge youth Hath liued 'mongst Tygers Lyons Wolues and Beares And since his birth partakes their cruelty Archas his name since I Diana left And from her chast traine was diuorc't this youth I childed in a caue remote and silent His nurture was amongst the sauadges This day I by misfortune mou'd his spleene And he pursu'd me with reuenge and fury And had I not forsooke the shades and forrests And fled for rescue to these walled Townes He had slaine me in his fury saue me then Let not the sonne the mother sacrifice Before the fathers eye Iup. Archas my sonne my yong son Archas Iupiters first borne Oh let me hugge thee and a thousand times Embrace thee in myne armes Lycaons grand-child Calisto's sonne Oh will you beauteous Lady Forsake the forrests and yet liue with vs Cal. No thou false man for thy periurious lusts I haue abandoned humaine subtelties There take thy sonne and vse him like a Prince Being sonne vnto a Princesse Teach him Arts And honoured armes For me I haue abiur'd All peopled Citties and betooke my selfe To solitary deserts Ioue adue Thou prouing false no mortall can be true Exit Arc. Since she will needs be gone be pleased then Weari'd with beasts I long to liue 'mongst men Iup. Yet stay Calisto why wilt thou out-runne Thy Iupiter Shee gone welcome my sonne My deere sonne Archas whom if fortune smile I will create Lord of a greater stile Enter the Clowne with letters Clowne Saue you sir is your name K. Melliseus Melli. We are Melliseus and the Epire King Clowne Then this letter is to you but is there not one in your Court cal'd let me see haue you here neuer a gibbit-maker Iup. Sirra here 's one cal'd Iupiter Clowne Ey Iupiter that 's he that I would speake with Here 's another letter to you but ere you reade it pray let me aske you one question Iup. What 's that Clowne Whether you be a wise child or no Iup. Your reason Clowne Because I would know whether you know your own father but if you do not hoping you are in good health as your father scarce was at the making hereof These are to certify you Iup. Newes of a father neuer could such tydings Haue glutted me with gladnesse They reade Clowne For mine owne part though I know not what belongs to the getting of children yet I know how to father a child because I would be loath to haue this Parish troubled with you I bring you newes where you were borne I was the man that laid you at this mans dore if you will not go home quietly you shall be sent from Constable to Constable till you come to the place where you were begot Reade further tell me more Melli. Is Iupiter then mighty Saturns sonne Iup. Am I the sonne of Saturne King of Creet My father baffled by the Tytanoys May all my toward hopes die in my birth Nor let me euer worthily inherite The name of royalty if by my valour I proue me not discended royally Clowne I was the man that tooke paines with you 't was I that brought you in the hand-basket Iup. Should I haue wisht a father through the world It had bene Saturne or a royall mother It had bene faire Sybilla Queene of Creet Great Epires King peruse these tragicke lines And in thy wonted bounty grant supplies To free my noble