you after Pyrhus to the slaughter I le looke to Hellen Aga. Conueigh her to our guard Exit Ther. Hellen hereafter see thou proou'st more wise If not more honest yet be more precise Exit Enter Prince Chorebus with other Troians in Greekish habits Cho. These shapes thriue well we haue guilt our Greekish armâ— With blood of their owne nation some we haue sent To euerlasting darknesse some repulst Backe to their ships some we haue made to flye Into their horses bulke whence Pyrhus first Lept downe vpon his speare Enter Synon Thersites and the Greekes dragging in Cassandra Syn, Come souldiers this is stately tragicall The Greekes wade vp euen to the brawny thighes In luke-warme blood of our despoyled foes Aboue Melpomene's huge buskind top We plunge at euery stepp and brauely fought By Troyes bright burning flame that 's now our light Ther. More of our valiant mates let 's ioyne with them This streete yet 's vnassaulted and vnfir'd Some balls of wild-fire streight and hurle this Lady Into the fury of the burning flame Cho. My wife Cassandra Syn. Courage let none scape Fire vengeance blood death murder spoyle and rape Cho. All these on Greece and twenty thousand more Till they like Troy be drown'd in teares and goare Chorebus and therest beate off the Greekes and rescue Cassandra Cass. From Greekes to Greeks from fire kept for the sword From one death to another Cho. Cassandra no Cass. My Lord the Prince Chorebus Cho. Yes the same Who hath preseru'd thee both from sword and flame Enter Aeneas with his father who taking Chorebus for a Grecian by reason of his habite fights with him and kils him Aene. More Greekes and see Cassandra captiue made Assault them Troians rescue the faire Princesse This way deare father mount my backe againe Cass. Oh false Aeneas thou hast slaine thy friend Many a Greeke thus shapt he sent to hell And being a Troian by a Troian fell Aene. He dy'd not by my hand but his owne fate Cass. And I forgiue thee good Aeneas flie Thou shalt suruiue but Troy and wee must fall The hope of all our future memories Are stor'd in thee take vp thy sacred load Reuerent Anchises bed-rid through his age We are all doom'd faire Troy must perish here But thou art borne a greater Troy to reare Aene. The Heauens haue hand in all things to their pleasure Wee must subscribe Creusa where 's my wife In loosing her I saue but halfe my life Come reuerent father on my shoulders mount Though thousand dangers dogge vs at the heeles Yet will wee force our passage Exeunt King Priam discouered kneeling at the Altar with him Hecuba Polixena Andromache Aftianax to them enter Pyrhus and all the Greekes Pyrhus killing Polytes Priams sonne before the Altar Pyr. Still let your voyces to hye Heauen aspire For Pyrhus vengeance murdring steele and fire All the Ladies Oh oh Pri. My sonne Polytes oh thou more hard hearted Then fatall Pyrhus or his fathers guard That in the shadow of this sacred place Durst sprinke the childs blood in the fathers face Pyr. Priam thanks sweet reuenge through swords armour Through mures and Counter-mures of men and steele Through many a corner and blind entries mouth I haue followed this thy bleeding sonne to death Whose swift persuite hath traind me to this Altar To be reueng'd on thee for the sad fate Of great Achilles Pri. Thou art Pyrhus then Pyr. My acts shall speake my name I am that Pyrhus who did mount you Horse Hyding mine armour in his deepe vast bulke The first that lept out of his spacious side And tost consuming fire in euery street Which climb'd as if it meant to meete the stars I am that Pyrhus before whom Troy falls Before whom all the Vanes and Pinacles Bend their high tops and from the battlements On which they stand breake their aspiring necks The proudest roofe and most imperious spyre Hath vaild to vs and our all wasting fire Pri. Pyrhus I know thee for my destin'd plague I know the gods haue left vs to our weaknesse I see our glories ended and extinct And I stand ready to abide their doome Onely for pitty and for pieties sake Be gracious to these Ladies Syn. Pyrhus no Such grace as they did to Achilles shew Let them all tast let grace be farre exil'd Kill from the elder to the sucking child Pri. Hee 's prone enough to mischiefe of himselfe Spurre not that fury on which runnes too fast Nor adde thou to old Priams misery Which scarce can be augmented t is so great Pyr. Dye in thy tortures then Hecu. Oh spare his life â—sti. Good man kill not my Grandsire Pri. Good man doe Hecu. Kill mee for him Asti. No shee 's my Grandam too Indeed shee 's a good woman chuse some other If you must needes kill Pyr. This then Asti. Shee 's my Mother you shall not hurt her Pri. This boy had a father Hector his name who had hee liu'd to see A sword bent 'gainst his wife this Queene or me He would haue made all Greece as hot to hold him As burning Troy is now to shelter vs Asti. Good Grandsire weepe not Grandam Mother Aunt Alas what meane you If you be good men Put vp your swords and helpe to quench these flames Or if in killing you such pleasure haue Practise on him kill that ill fauoured knaue Syn. Mee bratt Pyr. Ulysses Agamemnon Menelaus Synon Thersites and you valiant Greekes Behold the vengeance wrathfull Pyrhus takes On Priams body for Achilles death Synon take thou that Syren Polixene And hew her peece-meale on my fathers Tombe Thersites make the wombe of fifty Princes A royall sheath for thy victorious blade Diomed let Cassandra dye by thee And Agamemnon kill Andromache And as my sword through Priams bulke shall flie Let them in death consort him and so dye Ther. When when for Ioues sake when Syn. Some expeditious fate this motion further Me thinks t is long since that I did a murder Pri. Oh Heauen oh Ioue Stars Planets fortune fate To thinke what I haue beene and what am now Father of fifty braue Heroick sonnes But now no Father for they all are slaine Queene Hecuba the Mother of so many But now no Mother for her barren wombe Hath not one child to shew these fatall warres Haue eate vp all our issue Asti. My deare Father And all my princely Vnkles Andr. My deare Husband And all my royall brothers Hecu. Worthy Hector And all my valiant sonnes Pri. And now that Priam that commanded Asia And sate inthron'd aboue the Kings of Greece Whose dreaded Nauy scowerd the Hellespont Sees the rich towers hee built now burnt to ashes The stately walls he reard leuel'd and euen'd His Treasures rifled and his people spoyl'd All that he hath on earth beneath the Sunne Bereft him sauing his owne life and these And my poore life with these are as you see Worse then the rest they dead we dying bee Strike my
before I meets my graue Enter Vlisses and Aiax wounded Vlis. Yet will Achilles fight see Aiax wounded Two hundred of thy warlike Mirmedons Thou hast lost this day Aia. Let 's beate him to the field Achi. Ha Aia. Had I lost a Patroclus a deere friend As thou hast doue I would haue dond these armes In which he dyed sprung through the Troian hoast And mauger opposition let the blow Or by the same hand dy'd come ioyne with me And we without this picture statue of Greece This shaddow of Achilles will once more Inuade the Troian hoast Achi. Aiax Aia. Achilles Achi. Wee owe thee for this scorne Aia. I scorne that debt Thou hast not fought with Hector Achi. My honor and my oath both combate in mee But loue swayes most Alarum Enter Menelaus and Agamemnon Men. Our ships are fir'd fiue hundred gallant vessels Burnt in the Sea halfe of our Fleete destroy'd Without some present rescue Achi. Ha ha ha Aga. Doth no man aske where is this double fire That two wayes flyes towards heauen Vpon the right our royall Nauy burnes Vpon the left Achilles Tents on fire Achi. Our Tent Aga. By Ioue thy Tent and all thy Mirmedons Haue not the power to quench it yet great Hector Hath shed more blood this day then would haue seru'd To quench both Fleete and Tent Achi. My sword and armour Polixena thy loue we will lay by Till by this hand that Troian Hector dye Aia. I knew he must be fired out Exit Alarum Enter Hector Paris Troilus Aeneas with burning staues and fire-bals Al the Troians Strike stab wound kill tosse firebrands and make way Hector of Troy and a victorious day Hec. Well fought braue brothers Enter Aiax Pâ—a. What 's hee Troi. T is Aiax downe with him Hec. No man presume to dart a feather at him Whilst we haue odds cousen if thou seekest combate See we stand single not one Troian here Shall lay a violent hand vpon thy life Saue wee our selfe Aia. Cousen th' art honorable I now must both intreate and coniure thee For my old Vncle Priams sake his sister Hesione my mother and thine Aunt This day leaue thine aduantage spare our Fleete And let vs quench our Tents onely this day Stay thy Victorious hand t is Aiax pleades Who but of Ioue hath neuer begg'd before And saue of Ioue will not intreate againe Al Troians Burne still more fire Hect. I le quench it with his blood That addes one sparke vnto this kindled flame My cousin shall not for Hesiones sake Be ought denide of Hector she 's our Aunt Thou then this day hast sau'd the Grecian Fleete Let 's sound retreat whose charge made al Greece quak We spare whole thousands for one Aiax sake A Retreate sounded Exeunt the Troians Aia. Worthiest a liue thou hast Greece was this day At her last cast had they pursude aduantage But I deuine hereafter from this hower We neuer more shal shrinke beneath their power Exit Explicit Actus tertius Actus Quartus Scoena prima Enter Hector Troilus Paris Aeneas Hectors armour bearer with others Hec. My armour and my trusty Galatee The proudest steed that euer rider backt Or with his hoofes beate thunder from the earth The Sunne begins to mount the Easterne hill And wee not yet in field Lords yesterday Wee slipt a braue aduantage else these ships That floate now in the Samothracian road And with their wauing pendants menace Troy Had with their flames reflecting from the Sea Gilt those high towers which now they proudly braue Troi. On then Achilles is vnconquered yet Great Agamemnon and the Spartan King Aiax the bigge-bond Duke of Salamine With him that with his Lance made Kenus bleed The bold but euer rash King Diomed To lead these captiue through Scamander Plaines That were a taske worth Hector Par: Why not vs Yet most becomming him come then Aeneas Let each Picke one of these braue Champions out And single him a captiue Aene. T were an enterprise That would deserue a lasting Chronicle Lead on renowned Hector Hect. Vnnimble slaue Dispatch make hast I would be first in field And now I must be cal'd on Enter Andromache and young Astianax Andro. Oh stay deare Lord my royall husband stay Cast by thy shield fellow vncase his armes Knock off the riuets lay that baldricke by But this one day rest with Andromache Hec. What meanest thou woman Andro. To saue my honoured Lord From a sad fate for if this ominous day This day disastrous thou appear'st in field I neuer more shall see thee Hec. Fond Andromache Giue me some reason for 't Andro. A fearefull dreame This night me thought I saw thee 'mongst the Greekes Round girt with squadrons of thine enemies All which their Iauelins thrild against thy brest And stucke them in thy bosome Hec. So many Squadrons And all their darts quiuerd in Hectors brest Some glanc't vpon mine armour did they not Par. Did none of all these darts rebound from Hector And hit thee sister for my Lasse I know Thou hast been oft hit by thine Hector so Andro. Oh doe not iest my husband to his death I wak't and slept and slept and wak't againe But both my slumbers and my sounde sleepes Met in this one maine truth if thou this day Affront their Army or oppose their fleete After this day we ne're more shall meete Hect. Trust not deceptious visions dreame are fables Adulterate Sceanes of Anticke forgeries Playd vpon idle braines come Lords to horse To keepe me from the field dreames haue no force Andro. Troilus Aeneas Paris young Astianax Hang on thy fathers armour stay his speed Asti. Father sweete father do not fight to day Hect. Helpe to take off these burrs they trouble mee Andro. Hold hold thy father if thou canst not kneele Yet with thy teares intreate him stay at home Asti. I 'l hang vpon you you shall beate me father Before I let you goe Hect. How boy I 'le whippe you if you stirre a foot Go get you to your mother Pa. Come to horse Enter Priam Hecuba Hellen c. Pri. Hector I charge thee by thine honour stay Go not this day to battaile Hect. By all the gods Andromache thou dost abate my loue To winne mee from my glory Hec. From thy death Troilus perswade thy brother daughter Hellen Speake to thy Paris to intreate him too Hel. Paris sweete husband Pa. Leaue your cunning Hellen My brother shall to the field Hel. But by this kisse thou shalt not Pa. Now haue not I the heart to say her nay This kisse hath ouercome mee Andro. My dearest loue Pitty your wife your sonne your father all These liue beneath the safeguard of that arme Pitty in vs whole Troy all ready doom'd To sinke beneath your ruine Pri. If thou fall Who then shall stand Troy shall consume with fire That yet remaines in thee wee perish all Or which is worse led captiue into Greece Therefore deare Hector cast thy armour off Andro. Husband Hecu. Sonne
stay without and know his duty Exit Aiax Duty Oh you gods Ha in what Dialect spake hee that language Which Greece yet neuer knew wee owe to him I 'le after him and dragge him from his Tent And teach the insolent manners Giue mee way Ulisses thou and all the world shal know That saue the obedience that I owe the gods And duty to my father Telamon Aiax knowes none no not to Agamemnon For what hee hath of mee 's my courtesie What hee claimes else or the proud'st Greeke that breaths I 'le pay him in the poor'st and basest scorne Contempt was ere exprest in Vlis. Aiax you are too bold with great Achilles You beare your selfe more equall then you ought With one so trophy'd Aia. Bold oh my merits Are you so soone forgot why King of Ithaca What hath this Toy aboue so talkt of done Sauing slaine Hector which at best receiu'd Was but scarse fairely which the common tongues Voyces with base aduantage Vlis. Yes Prince Troilus Surnam'd the second Hector lyeth imbak'd In his cold blood slayne by Achilles hand The streame of glory now runnes all towards him Achilles lookes for 't Aiax Aia. But when Achilles slumbred in his Tent Or waking with his Lute courted the ayre Then Aiax did not beare himselfe too bold With this great Champion when I sau'd our Fleete From Hectors wild-fire I deseru'd some prayse But then your tongues were mute Vlis. You in these times Did not affect ostent but still went on But Thetis sonne lookes for a world of sound To spread his attributes Aia. The proud Achilles Shall not out-shine me long in the next battaile If to kill Troians bee to dim his prayse I 'le quench his luster by my bloody rayes Enter Agamemnon Achilles Diomed Menelaus and Paris c. Pa. Shall I returne that answere to King Priam Achi. Say in the morning we will visite him So beare our kind regreetes to Hecuba Aia. But will Achilles trust himselfe with Priam Whose warlike sonnes were by his valour slaine Achi. Priam is honourable see here 's his hand His Queene religious and behold her name Polixena deuine reade here her vowes Honor religions and diuinity All ioyntly promising Achilles safety Paris you heare our answere so returne it Pa. We shal receiue Achilles with al honor Exit Mene. Were I Achilles and had slaine great Hector With valiant Troilus Priams best lou'd sonnes I for the brightest Lady in all Asia Would not so trust my person with the father Achi. I am resolu'd Vlysses you once told mee Priam would sleepe if Troilus once were slayne Ulyss. And I dare gage my life the reuerent King Intends no treason to Achilles person But meerely by this honourable League To draw our warlike Champion from the field Achi. But we 'le deceiue his hopes feare not great Kings When to my Tent I bring Polixena The sooner Troy lyes leuell with the ground You vnderstand me Lords shall I intreate you Associate me vnto the sacred Temple Of Diuine Phaebus Aga. In me these Kings shall answere wee in peace Will bring Achilles to Apolloes shrine Prouided Priam ere we enter Troy Will giue vs hostage for our safe returne Achi. My honour'd hand with his Exeunt Enter Paris and Hecuba Hecu. Oh Paris till Achilles lye as dead As did thy brother Hector at his feete His body hackt with as many wounds As was thy brother Troilus when he fell I neuer neuer shall haue peace with Heauen Or take thee for their brother or my sonne Par. Mother I hate Achilles more then you But I haue heard hee is invulnerable His mother Thetis from the Oracle Receiuing answere hee should dye at Troy Being yet a childe and to preuent that fate She dipt him in the Sea all saue the heele These parts she drencht remayne impenetrable But what her dainty hand forbore to drowne As loath to feele the coldnesse of the waue That and that onely may bee pierc'd with steele Now since I know his fellow Kings intend To be his guard to Illium what 's my rage Or this my weapon to destroy a Prince Whose flesh no sword can bite off Hecu. Haue I not heard thee Paris praise thy selfe For skill in Archery haue I not seene A shaft sent leuell from thy constant hand Command the marke at pleasure maist not thou With such an arrow and the selfe-same bow Wound proud Achilles in that vndrencht part And by his heele draw lines blood from his heart Par. Well thought on the rare cunning of this hand None saue the powers immortall can with stand When in the Temple hee shall thinke to imbrace My sister Polixena I le strike him there The Greekes are entred Troy Let 's fill the trayne To auoyde suspect and now my shaft and bow Greece from my hand receiue thine ouerthrow Enter at one doore Priam Hecuba Paris Aeneas Antenor Deiphobus Hellena and Polixena At the other Agamemnon Achilles Menelaus Vlisses Diomed Thersites and Aiax They interchange imbraces Polixena is giuen to Achilles c. Pri. Though the dammage you haue done to Troy Might cease our armes and arme our browes with wrath Yet with a smooth front and heart vnfeigned Now bid Achilles welcome welcome all Before these Kings and in the sight of Hellen The dearest of my daughters Polixen I tender thee on to Apolloes shrine The flamin stayes these nuptiall rights once past You of our best varieties shall taste Exeunt Paris fetcheth his Bow and arrowes Par. My bow now thou great god of Archery The Patron of our action and our vowes Direct my shaft to wound bright Thetis sonne And let it not offend thy deity That in thy Temple I exhaust his blood Without respect of place reuenge seemes good Exit A great crye within Enter Paris Par. T is done Achilles bleedes immortal powers Clap hands and smile to see the Greeke fall dead By whom the valiant Hectors blood was shed Enter all the Troians and the Greekes bringing in Achilles with an arrow through his heele Aga. Priam thou hast dishonourably broake The Lawes of Armes Pri. By all the gods I vowe I was a stranger to this horrid act It neuer came from Priam Vlyss. Call for your Surgeon then to stop his wound Mene. For if hee dye it will be registred For euer to thy shame Pri. A Surgeon there Achi. It is in vaine for liue that god of Physicke We Grecians honor in a Serpents shape He could not stanch my blood know fellow Kings My mother Thetis by whose heauenly wisdome My other parts were made invulnerable Could not of all the gods obtayne that grace But that my blood vented as now it is The wound should be incureable what Coward That durst not looke Achiles in the face Hath found my liues blood in this speeding place Par. 'T was I 't was Paris Aiax 'T was a milke-sop then Diom. A Traytor to all Valour Par. Did not this bleeding Greeke kil valiant Hector Incompast with his Guard of Mermidons
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
Hel. Brother Hect By Ioue I am resolu'd Andro. Oh all yee gods Hect. Not all the diuells Could halfe torment me like these women tongues Pa. At my entreaty and for Hellens loue Leaue vs to beare the fortunes of this day Here 's Troilus and my selfe will make them sweare Ere the fight end there are two Hectors here Aene. Besides Aeneas and Deiphebus Young Margareton and a thousand more Sworne to set fire on all their Tents this day Then Hector for this once resolue to stay Hect. To horse then Paris do not linger time Pa. To horse come brother Troilus Hect. Watch Margareton if the youthfull Prince Venter beyond his strength let him haue rescue Troi. Hee shall be all our charge Pri. Hector let 's mount vpon the walls of Troy And thence surueigh the battaile Hect. Well bee 't so But if one Troian shall for succour cry I 'le leaue the walls and to his rescue flye Exit Enter Troilus and Diomed after an alarum Troi. King Diomed Dio. Cresids first loue Troi. Yes Diomed and her last I 'le liue to loue her when thy life is past Enter Menelaus both vpon Troilus Men. Hold Troian for no Greeke must be disarm'd Enter Paris Pa. Vnmanly odds King Menelaus turne Thy face this way 't is Troian Paris calls Men. Of all that breath I loue that Paris tongue When it shall call to Armes Now one shal downe Alarum Menelaus falls Par. Thou keep'st thy word for thou art downe indeed Yet by the sword of Paris shalt not dye I slew thy fame when I first stole thy Queene And therefore Spartan will now spare thy life Achilles Diomed Aiax one of three Were noble prise thou art no spoyle for mee Alarum Enter aboue Priam Hector Astianax Hecuba Hellen c. Below Achilles and Margareton Achil. If thou bee'st noble by thy blood and valour Tell mee if Hector bee in field this day Marg. Thy coniuration hath a double spell Hector is not in field but here I stand Thy warlike opposite Achi. Thou art young and weake retire and spare thy life Mar. I 'm Hectors brother none of Hectors blood Did euer yet retreite Achi. If Hectors friend Here must thy life and glory both haue end Achilles kils him Hec. Oh father see where Margareton lyes Your sonne my brother by Achilles slaine Pri. Thy brother Troylus will reuenge his death But Hector shall not mooue Hec. Troylus nor all the Troians in the field Can make their swords bite on Achilles shield 'T is none but Hector must reuenge his death Pri. But not this day Hect. Before the Sunne decline That terrour of the earth I 'le make deuine Exit from the wals Alarum Enter Hector beating before him Achilles Mermidons Hect. Thus flyes the dust before the Northern winds And turnes to Attoms dancing in the ayre So from the force of our victorious arme Flye armed squadrons of the boldest Greekes And mated at the terrour of our name So cleare the field before me no mans fauour'd The blood of three braue Princes in my rage I haue sacrific'd to Margaritons soule Aiax Oilaeus Aiax Telamon Merionus Menelaus Idomea Arch-dukes and Kings haue shrunke beneath this arme Besides a thousand Knights haue falne this day Beneath the fury of my pondrous blowes And not the least of my victorious spoyles Quiuer'd my Iauelin through the brawny thigh Of strong Achilles and I seeke him still Once more to tug with him my sword and breath Assist me still till one drop downe in death Enter Achilles with his guard of Mermidons Achi. Come cast your selues into a ring of terrour About this warlike Prince by whom I bleede Hec. What meanes the glory of the Grecian hoast Thus to besiege me with his Mermidons And keepe aloofe himselfe Achil. That shall my Launce In bloody letters text vpon thy breast For young Pagtroclus death for my dishonours For thousand spoyles and for that infinite wracke Our Army hath indur'd onely by thee Thy life must yeeld me satisfaction Hec. My life and welcome by Apolloes fire I neuer ventred blood with more content Then against thee Achilles come prepare Achil. For eminent death you of my warlike guard My Mermidons for slaughters most renown'd Now sworne to my designements your steele polaxes Fixe all at once and girt him round with wounds Hec. Dishonourable Greeke Hecter nere deale On base aduantage or euer life his sword Ouer a quaking foe but as a spoyle Vnworthy vs still left him to his feare Not on the man whom singly I struke downe Haue I redoubled blowes my valour still Opposde against a standing enemy Thee haue I twice vnhorst and when I might Haue slaine thee groueling left thee to the field Thine armour and thy shield impenetrable Wrought by the god of Lemnos in his forge By arte diuine with the whole world ingrauen I haue through pierc't and still it weares my skarres Forget not how last day euen in thy tent I feasted my good sword and might haue flung My bals of wild-fire round about your Fleete To haue sent vp your Greekish pride in flames Which would haue fixt a starre in that high Orbe To memorize to all succeeding times Our glories and your shames yet this I spar'd And shall I now be slayne by treachery Achi Tell him your answer on your weapons points Vpon him my braue souldiers Hec. Come you slaues Before I fall I le make some food forgiaues That gape to swallow cowards ceaze you dogges Vpon a Lyon with your armed phangs And bare me brauely where I touch I kill And where I fasten reare body from soule And soule from hope of rest all Greece shall know Blood must run wast in Hectors ouerthrow Alarum Hector fals slayne by the Mermidons then Achilles wounds him with his Launce Achi. Farwell the noblest spirit that ere breath'd In any terrene mansion Take vp his body And beare it to my Tent I le straight to horse And at his fetlockes to my greater glory I le dragge his mangled trunke that Grecians all May deafe the world with shouts at Hectors fall Enter Priam Aeneas Troilus Paris Pri. Blacke fate blacke day be neuer Kallendred Hereafter in the number of the yeare The Planets cease to worke the Spheares to mooue The Sunne in his meridian course to shine Perpetuall darknesse ouerwhelme the day In which is falne the pride of Asia Troi. Rot may that hand And euery ioynt drop peece-meale from his arme That tooke such base aduantage on a worthy Who all aduantage scorn'd Pa. Yet though his life they haue basely tane away His body we haue rescued mauger Greece And Paris I the meanest of Priams sonnes Haue made as many Mermidons weepe blood As had least finger in the VVorthies fall Pri. VVhat but his death could thus haue arm'd my hand Or drowne decreeped Priam to the field That starre is shot his luster quite ecclips'd And shall we now surrender Hellena Pa. Not till Achilles lye as dead as Hector And Aiax by
Achilles not whilst Illium Hath one stone rear'd vpon anothers backe To ouer-looke these wals or these high wals To ouer-peere the plaine Troi. Contrary Elements The warring meteors Hell and Elizium Are not so much oppos'd as Troy and Greece For Hector Hectors death Par. A most sad Funerall Will his in Troy be where shall scarse an eye Of twice two hundred thousand be found drye These obets once past o're which we desire Those eyes that now shed water shall speake fire Aene. Now found retreate Pri. Wee backe to Troy returne Where euery soule in funeral black shall mourne Exit Par. Hector is dead and yet my brother Troilus A second terrour to the Greekes still liues In him there 's hope since all his Mermidons Hauing felt his fury flye euen at his name But must the proud Achilles still insult And tryumph in the glory of base deedes No Hector hee destroy'd by treachery And hee must dye by craft But Priams temper Will nere bee brought to any base reuenge A woman is most subiect vnto spleene And I will vse the braine of Hecuba This bloody sonne of Thetis doth still doate Vpon the beauty of Polexina And that 's the base we now must build vpon My mother hath by secret letters wrought him Once more to abandon both the field and armes The plot is cast which if it well succeeds He that 's of blood insatiate must next bleed Exit Achilles discouered in his Tent about him his bleeding Mermidons himselfe wounded and with him Vllisses Vlis. Why will not great Achilles don his Armes And rowse his bleeding Mirmidons shall Troilus March backe to Troy with armour sword and lance All dyde in Grecian blood shall aged Priam Boast in faire Illium that the sonne of Thetis Whose warlike speare pierc't mighty Hectors brest Lies like a coward slumbring in his Tent Because hee feares young Troilus Achi. Pardon mee Vlisses here 's a Briefe from Hecuba Wherein shee vowes if I but kill one Troian I neuer shall inioy Polixena Ulis. But thinks Achilles if the Greekes be slaine And forc't perforce to march away from Troy That hee shall then inioy Polixena No 't is King Priams subtilty whilst thou Sleep'st in thy Tent Troilus through all our Troups Makes Lanes of slaughtered bodies and will tosse His Balls of wild-fire as great Hector did O're all our nauall forces But did this Prince Lye breathlesse bleeding at Achilles feet Dispairing Priam would to make his peace Make humbly tender of Polixena And be much proud to call Achilles sonne Achi. Were Troilus slaine Vlis. Who else deales wounds so thicke and fast as hee They call him Hectors ghost he glides so quicke Through our Battalions If hee beate vs hence And wee bee then compel'd to sue to them It will be answer'd that great Hectors deaths-man Shall neuer wedd his sister Hectors sonne Will neuer kneele to him by whose strong hand His father fell but were young Troilus slaine And Priams sonnes sent wounded from the field Troy then would stoope and send Polixena Euen to Achilles Tent Achi. My sword and armour Arise my bleeding ministers of death I 'le feast you with an Ocean of blood-royall Vlysses ere this Sunne fall from the skies By this right hand the warlike Troilus dyes Alarum Enter Troilus and Thersites Ther. Hold if thou bee'st a man Troi. Stand if thou bee'st a souldier do not shrinke Ther. Art not thou Troilus yong and lusty Troilus Troi. I am what then Ther. And I Thersites lame and impotent What honour canst thou get by killing mee I cannot fight Troi. What mak'st thou in the field then Ther. I came to laugh at mad-men thou art one The Troians are all mad so are the Greeks To kill so many thousands for one drabbe For Hellen a light thing doe thou turne wise And kill no more I since these warres began Shed not one drop of blood Troi. But proud Achilles Slew my bold brother and you Grecians all Shall perish for the noble Hectors fall Ther. Hold the Pox take thee hold whilst I haue breath I am bound to curse thy fingers Enter Achilles with his Mirmidons after Troilus hath beaten Thersites Achil. I might haue slaine young Troilus when his sword Late sparkled fire out of the Spartans helme But that had stild my fame but I will trace him Through the whole Army when I meete the Troian Breathlesse and faint I 'le thunder on his crest Some valour but aduantage likes mee best Enter Troilus Troi. Let Cowards fight with Cowards and both feare The base Thersites is no match for mee Oppose mee to the proudest hee in field Most eminent in Armes and best approu'd To make the thirsty after blood to bleed And that 's the proud Achilles Achi. Who names vs Troi. Fate thou hast now before me set the man Whom I most sought to thee whom I will offer To appease Hectors ghost a sacrifice You widdowed Matrons who now mourne in teares And all you watry eyes surcease to weepe Fathers that in this warre haue lost your sonnes And sonnes your fathers by Achilles hand No more lament vpon their funerall Armes But from this day reioyce posterity From age to age this to succession tell Hee falls by Troilus by whom Hector fell Achi. Hectors sad fate betyde him souldiers on Both brothers shew like mercy thy vaine sound That boasted lyes now leuel'd with the ground Troilus is slaine by him and the Mirmidons Enter Thersites Ther. Achilles Achi. What 's hee Thersites Ther. Thou art a coward Achi. Haue I not sau'd thy life and slaine proud Troilus By whom the Greekes lye pilde in breathlesse heapes Ther. Yes when he was out of breath so thou slewest Hector Girt with thy Mirmidons Achi. Dogged Thersites I 'le cleaue thee to thy Nauell if thou op'st Thy venemous Iawes Ther. Doe doe good Dog-killer Achi. You slaue Ther. I am out of breath now too else bug-bate Greeke Thou durst not to haue touch't mee Achilles beates him off retreate sounded Enter Agamemnon Aiax Vlysses c. all the other but Paris Agam. To whom dost thou addresse thine Embasie Par. To Achilles Aga. And not the Generall It concernes our place To heare King Priams embasie Pa. Let mee haue passage to Achilles Tent There Agamemnon if you please may heare What Priam sends to your great Champion Aga. Let it bee so Aiax The Generall wrongs that honour Wee Princes in our loue conferre on him Had I th' imperiall mandat in my mouth I would not loose one jot of my command For all the proud Achilles's on earth Take him at best hee 's but a fellow peere And should lift his head aboue the Clouds I hold my selfe his equall Enter Achilles from his Tent Achi. Vntuterd Aiax Aia. Who spake that word Achi. 'T was I Achilles let the sonne of Priam Bee priuat with vs Aga. It belongs to vs To bee partakers of his Embasie Achi. Dismisse then our Inferiours you Ulisses Are welcome Menelaus Diomed Let Aiax
vaine peoples errour So farre should erre from truth to giue them thee T would be a meanes to make thee sooner dye The weight would lagge thee that art wont to flye Thou hast a shield vnscar'd my seuen-fold Targe With thousand gashes peece-meald from mine arme And none but that would fit mee To conclude Go beare these Armes for which we two contend Into the mid-ranks of our enemies And bidde vs fetch them thence and he to weare them By whom this royall Armour can be wonne I had rather fight then talke so I haue done A loud shout within crying Aiax Aiax Ulis. If with your prayers oh Grecian Kings my vowes Might haue preuail'd with Heauen there had bin then No such contention thou hadst kept thine Armes And wee Achilies thee But since the Fates Haue tane him from vs who hath now more right To claime these Armes he dead then hee that gaue them Vnto Achilles liuing nor great Princes Let that smooth eloquence yon fellow scornes If it bee any bee reiected now And hurt his maister which so many times Hath profited whole Greece if we plead blood Which is not ours but all our Ancestours Laertes was my father his Arcesius His Ioue from whom I am third beside I claime A second god-head by my mothers name What doe wee talke of birth If birth should beare them His father being nearer Ioue then hee Should weare this honour or if next of blood Achilles father Peleus should inioy them Or his sonne Pirhus but wee plead not kinred Or neare propinquity let 'alliance rest His bee the Armour that deserues it best Achilles mother Thetis being foretold Her sonne should die at Troy conceal'd him from vs In habite of a Lady to this siege I brought him therefore challenge all his deeds As by Vlisses done 'T was I sack't Thebes Chriscis and Scylla with Lernessus walls I Troilus and renowned Hector slew First with this Helmet I adorn'd his head Hee gaue it liuing who demands it dead Dio. 'T is true for like a Pedler being disguis'd And comming where Achilles spent his youth In womanish habite the young Ladyes they Looke on his Glasses Iewells and fine toyes Hee had a Bow too much Achilles drew So by his strength the Ithacan him knew Had Aiax gone Achilles then had stayd Hector still liu'd our ransack't Tents to inuade What canst thou doe but barely fight no more I can both fight and counsell I direct The manner of our battailes and propose For victuall and munition to supply The vniuersall hoast cheere vp the souldiers To indure a tedious siege when all the Army Cry'd let 's away for Greece and rais'd their Tents Aiax amongst the formost had trust vp His bagge and baggage when I rated him And them and all and by my Oratory Perswaded their retreat What Greece hath wonne From Troy since then is by Vlisses done Behold my wounds oh Grecians and iudge you If they be cowards marks th' are in my brest Let boasting Aiax shew such noble skarres These Grecian Heroes tooke I in your warres I grant hee fought with Hector 't was well done Where thou deseru'st well I will giue thee due But what was the successe of that great day Hector of Troy vnwounded went away Men. Now sure the prise will to Vlisses fall The murmuring souldiers mutter his deserts Preferring him fore Aiax heare the rest Vlis. But oh Achilles when I view these Armes I cannot but lament thine obsequies Thou wall of Greece when thou wast basely slaine I tooke thee on my souldiers and from Troy Bore thee then arm'd in the abillements I once more seeke to beare behold that shield T is a description Cosmographicall of all the Earth the Ayre the Sea and Heauen What are the Hyades or grim Orion Hee pleads or what 's Arcton thy rude hand Would lift a shield thou canst not vnderstand To omit my deeds of Armes which all these know Better then I can speake When in the night I venter'd through Troyes gates and from the Temple Rap't the Palladium then I conquerd Troy Troy whilst that stood could neuer be subdu'd In that I brought away their gods their honours Troyes ruine and the triumphs of whole Greece What hath blunt Aiax done to conteruaile This one of mine Hee did with Hector fight I tenne yeeres warre haue ended in one night What Aiax did was but by my direction My counsell fought in him and all his honours If they be any hee may thanke mee for What hee hath done was since his flight I stayd I therefore claime these Armes so I haue sayd A shout within Vlisses Vlisses The Princes rise Agam. Such is the clamour of the multitude And such Ulisses are your great deserts That those rich Armes are thine the prize inioy Vlis. To the defence of Greece and sack of Troy Dio. Come Princes now this striffe is well determin'd Men. To see how eloquence the people charmes Ulisses by his tongue hath gain'd these Armes Agam. Counsell preuailes 'boue strength Heralds proclaime Through the whole Campe Vlisses glorious name Exeunt The Armes borne in triumph before Vlisses Aiax What dream'st thou Aiax Or is this obiect reall that I see Which topsiturnes my braine base Ithaca To sway desert thus Oh that such rich Trophies Should cloath a cowards backe nor is it strange I 'le goe turne coward too and henceforth plot Turne politicians all all politicians A rush for valour valour this is the difference the bold warrier and the cunning states-man The first seekes honour and the last his health The valiant hoord the knocks the wise the wealth It was a gallant Armour Aiax limbs Would haue become it brauely the disgrace Of loosing such an Armour by contention Will liue to all posterity and the shame In Stigian Lethe drowne great Aiax name Oh that I had heere my base opposite In th' Achillean Armour briskly clad Vulcan that wrought it out of gadds of Steele With his Ciclopian hammers neuer made Such noise vpon his Anvile forging it Then these my arm'd fists in Vlisses wracke To mould it new vpon the cowards backe Enter Thersites Ther. Why how now mad Greeke Aia. And art thou come Ulisses thus and thus I 'le hammer on thy proofe steel'd Burganet Aia. Hold Aiax hold the diuell take thee hold I am Thersites hell rot thy fingers off Aia. But art not thou Ulisses Ther: No I tell thee Aia. And is not thine head arm'd Ther. Hells plagues confound thee no thou think'st thou Hast Menelaus head in hand I am Thersites Aia. Thersites Canst thou rayle Ther. Oh yes yes better then fight Aia. And curse Ther. Better then either rarely Aia. And spit thy venome in the face of Greece Ther. Admirably Aia. Doe doe let 's heare I prethee for heauens sake doe Ther. With whom shall I begin Aia. Beginne with the head Ther. Then haue at thee Menelaus thou art a king and a No more but if on any rayle on mee Desert should still be
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
of all these Princes of Greece who had hand in the Fate thereof Vlisses only excepted to whom belongeth a further History Reade freely and censure fauourably These Ages haue beene long since Writ and suited with the Time then I know not how they may bee receiued in this Age where nothing but Satirica Dictaeria and Comica Scommata are now in request For mine owne part I neuer affected either when they stretched to the abuse of any person publicke or priuate If the three former Ages now out of Print bee added to these as I am promised to make vp an handsome Volumne I purpose Deo Assistente to illustrate the whole Worke with an Explanation of all he difficulties and an Historicall Comment of euery hard name which may appeare obscure or intricate to such as are not frequent in Poetry Which as the rest I shall freely deuote to thy fauorable perusall in this as all the rest industrious to thy pleasure and profit Thomas Heywood to my VVorthy and much Respected Friend Mr. Thomas Mannering Esquire Worthy Sir ANd my much respected Friend The Impression of your Loue after so many yeares acknowledgment inforceth me that I cannot chuse but in my best recollection to number you in the File and List of my best and choycest Well-wishers True it is that my vnable merit hath euer come much short of your ample acknowledgement Howsoeuer though you bee now absent in the Countrey vppon a necessary retyrement yet let this witnesse in my behalfe that you are not altogether vnremembred in the Citty Nor take it vnkindly at my hands that I haue reserued your name to the Catastrophe and conclusion of this Worke Since being Scoena nouissima It must be consequently the fresher in memory as you haue had euer a charitable and indulgent censure of such poore peeces of mine as haue come accedentally vnto your view So I intreate you now as one better able to iudge then I to determine to receiue into your fauourable patronage this second part of the Iron Age I much deceiue my selfe if J heard you not once commend it when you saw it Acted if you persist in the same opinion when you shall spare some sorted houres to heare it read in your paynes I shal hold my selfe much pleased ouer remaining Yours not to be chang'd Thomas Heywood The second Part of the IRON AGE VVith the Destruction of TROY Enter Agamemnon Menelaus Vlisses Diomed Thersites Drum Colours Souldiers c. Agamemnon YOu Terrors of the Asian Monarchy And Europes glory Warlike Lords of Greece Although the great Prince of the Mirmidons And arme-strong Aiax our best Champions Be by the gods bereft vs yet now comes A Phoenix out of their cold ashes rising Pyrhus sirnamed Neoptolemus On whom for his deceased fathers sake Wee must bestow some honours Menelaus Vlisses Diomed giue the Prince meeting And be his conduct to the Generall A flourish Enter the Kings before named bringing in Pyrhus Synon with attendants Aga. Pyrhus kneele downe we girt thee with this sword It was thy fathers In his warlike hand It hath cleft Troians to the nauell downe Par'd heads off faster then the haruest Sithe Doth the thin stalkes or bending eares of graine Weare it and draw it to reuenge his death Princes performe your seuerall ceremonies Diâ—.. These golden spurs I fasten to thine heeles The same thy warlike father wonne in field When Hector tide with thonges to his steeds fet-locks Was drag'd about the high built wals of Troy Ulis. This Armour and this plumed Burgonet In which thy father like a rampier'd wall Opposde the fury of his enemies By generall consent of all these Princes Attributed to me loe I surrender To youthful Neoptolemus weare it Prince Not all the world yeeldes a more strong defence Mene. Achilles Tent his Treasure and his iewels We haue reseru'd inioy them noble Pyrhus And lastly his strong guard of Mirmidons And with the honour hee with these haue wonne His Sword Spurs Armour Guard Pauileon Be by his valiant sonne much dignified Pyr. Before I touch the handle of his sword Or to my Knightly spurres direct my eyes Lace this rich Armour to my youthfull sides Or roofe mine head within this warlike Tent Make proofe of this his plumed Burgonet Or take on me the leading of his Guard Witnesse you Grecian Princes what I vow By Saturnes sonne the sire of Aeacus Begot on faire Europa by their issue The second Iudge plac'd on the infernall bench I will discend to Peleus and from him Euen to my naturall father with whose honours I ioyne my mother Deidamiaes And in my vengefull oath include them all Till Priam be compel'd to shut his Gates For want of men I le be as mercilesse As vntam'd Lyons and the flesh-fed Beares Blood shall looke brighter in young Pyrhus eyes Then dissolued Christall till old Priams haires Be dy'de in goare till Hecub's reuerent lockes Be Beguil'd in slaughter all their sonnes and daughters Subiects and Citty quite confus'd in ruine Bow to our mercilesse fury I le not leaue This blacke and fatall siege and this I sweare As I am Prince and great Achilles heire Aga. Euen in thy lookes I read the sack of Troy And Priams Tragedy welcome sweete Pyrhus And welcome you his warlike followers Syn. where be these Troians I would faine behold Their wing'd battalions grapple I would see The batter'd center flye about their eares In cloudes of dust I would haue horses hoofes Beate thunder out of earth the chariot Trees I would see drown'd in blood Scamander plaines Ore-spread with intrailes bak'd in blood and dust With terrour I would haue this day as blacke As when Hyperion leaping from his Spheare Cast vgly darknesse from his Chariot wheeles And in this vail'd confusion the faint Troians Beate backe into the Towne I 'de see their Gates Entred and fire by their high Battlements Climing toward heauen the pauement of th' streets I 'de see pau'd ore with faces infants tost On Lances poynts big-bellied Ladies flung From out their casements I 'd haue all their soules Set vpon wings and Troy no Troy but fire As if ten thousand Comets ioyn'd in one To close the world in red confusion Py. Wel spake bold Synon and my Lords of Greece This fellow boasts no more then with his sword Hee will aduenture for and should that fayle He 'le set his braine to worke I tell you Princes My Grandsire Lycomedes hath made proofe Of Synons pollicies state-quaking proiects Are hand-maides to his braine and he hath spirit To driue his plots euen to the doore of Death With rare effects and then not all the world Affoords a villaine more incomparable Then Synon my attendant Warlike Princes I speake this to his prayse and I professe My selfe as sterne bloody and mercilesse Ther. I haue not heard a brauer Character Giuen to a Greeke and had hee but my rayling He were a man compleate Syn. Sure there is something Aboue a common man in yon
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
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
Cli. There 's no feare Orestes once remoou'd and that 's my charge Either by sword or poyson Egi. See faire Queene Reade what your brother writes by this we are Eternis'd in our happinesse and our liues Rooted in sweete security The Queene reades Cli. Wee not suspect you in our brothers death A deede too base for any Noble brest Therefore in this necessity of state And knowing in this forced vacancy So great a kingdome cannot want a guide The soueraignty we thought good to conferre On Clitemnestra or what substitute Shee in her best discretion shall thinke fit The vnited Kings of Greece haue thus decreed Your brother Menelaus Egist. We are happied euer Cli. A ioy ratified And subiect to no change Egist. Call in the messengers Orestes and Electra once remoou'd Wee haue no riuall no competitor Therefore no iealousie at all Cli. None none The gods haue with these Kings of Greece agreed In his supplanting and instating thee Thee my most deare Egistus Orestes and Pyllades disguised are conducted in Egist. You the men Ore Those whom the Spartan King made speciall choice of To trust this great affaire with Egist. And y' are welcome But are you men of action such I meane As haue beene Souldiers bred whose eyes inur'd To slaughter and combustions at the like Would not change face or tremble Pil. They that to see Legges armes and heads strowed on Scamander Plaine Kings by the common souldiers stew'd in goare And three parts hid with their imboweld Steedes Shadowing their mangled bodies from the Sunne As if aboue the earth to bury them They that to see an Asian Potentate Kil'd at the holy Altar his owne blood Mixt with his sonnes and daughters Towers demolisht Crushing whole thousands of each sexe and age Beneath their ruines and these horrid sights Lighted by scathe fires they that haue beheld These and more dreadfull obiects can their eyes Moue at a private slaughter Cli. Y' are for vs Will you for hire for fauour or aduancement Now warres are done to be made great in Court And vndertake that one man easily spar'd Amongst so many millions now suruiuing That such a creature no way necessary But a meere burden to the world wee liue in Hee might no longer liue Ore But name the man And as I loue Egistus honour you And al that glory in such noble deeds Be what hee will hee 's lost Egist. Orestes then Ore Is there none then the world so well may spare As young Orestes Hee to doe 't Hee kils Egistus first discouering himselfe Egist. Vaine world farewell My hopes withall no building long hath stood Whose sleight foundation hath bin layd in blood Cli. I 'le dye vpon his bosome Ore Secure the Fort my deare friend Pillades And to your vtmost pacifie the guard Tell them we are Orestes and their Prince And what wee did was to reuenge the death Of their dead Lord and Soueraigne Pil. Sir I 'le doe 't Exit Cli. Oh mee that thinking to haue catcht at Heauen Am plung'd into an hell of misery Egistus dead what comfort can I haue One foote Inthron'd the tother in the graue Ore Can you finde teares for such an abiect Groome That had not for an husband one to shed Oh monstrous monstrous woman is this carrion Is this dead Dog Dog said I nay what 's worse Worthy the sigh or mourning of a Queene When a King lies vnpittied Cli. Thou a sonne Ore The name I am asham'd of oh Agamemnon How sacred is thy name and memory Whose acts shall fill all forraigne Chronicles With admiration and most happy hee That can with greatest Art but booke thy deeds Yet whilst this rottennesse this gangreen'd flesh Whose carkas is as odious as his name Shall stinking lie able to breede a Pest Hee with a Princesse teares to be imbalm'd And a King lie neglected Cli. Bastard Ore If I be Damn'd be the whore my Mother I I am sure Nor my dead father had no hand in it Cli. Oh that I could but lengthen out my yeares Onely to spend in curses Ore Vpon whom Cli. On whom but thee for my Egistus death Ore And I could wish my selfe a Nesturs age To curse both him and thee for my dead father Cli. Doest thou accuse mee for thy fathers death Ore Indeede 't would ill become me being a sonne But were I sure it were so then I durst Nay more then that reuenge it Cli. Vpon mee Ore Were all the mothers of the earth in one All Empresses and Queenes cast in one mould And I vnto that one a onely sonne My sword should rauish that incestuous breast Of nature and of state Cli. I am as innocent of that blacke deede As was this guiltlesse Gentleman here dead Orest. Oh all you powers of Heauen I inuocate And if you will not heare me let Hell do 't Giue me some signe from eyther feinds or angell I call you both as testates Enter the Ghost of Agamemnon poynting vnto his wounds and then to Egistus and the Queene who were his murderers which done hee vanisheth Godlike shape Haue you my father left the Elizium fieldes Where all the ancient Heroes line in blisse To bring your selfe that sacred testimony To crowne my approbation Lady see Cli. See what thy former murder makes thee mad Orest. Rest Ghost in peace I now am satisfied And neede no further witnesse saw you nothing Cli. What should I see saue this sad spectacle Which blood-shootes both mine eyes Orest. And nothing else Cli. Nothing Orest. Mine eyes are clearer sighted then and see Into thy bosome Murdresse Cli. How Orest. Incestuous strumpet whose adulteries When Treason could not hide thou thoughts to couer With most inhumane murder Cli. Meaning vs Orest. Then monster thou didst first instruct mine hand How to write blood when being a Wife and Queene Thou kildst a King and husband and hast taught Mee being a sonne how to destroy a mother He wounds her Cli. Oh most vnnaturall Orest. That I learnt of thee Cli. Vnheard of cruelty but heauens are iust And all remarkeable sinnes punish with marke One mischiefe still another doth beget Adultery murder I am lost vndone Shee dyes Orest. Being no wife Orestes is no sonne Enter Cethus and Pillades with the guard Pil. The guard all stand for you acknowledging Orestes Prince and King Orest. I now am neither Ceth. What obiect 's this Queene Clitemnestra slaine Pil. I hope no sonnes hand in 't Orest. Orestes did it The other title 's lost Ceth. All my plots take Beyond my apprehension Pil. This is an age Of nothing but portents and prodigies Orest. The fathers hand as deepe was in her death As was the sonnes hee pointed and I strooke Was hee not then as vnkind to a Wife As I was to a Mother Pil. Oh my friend What haue you done Orest. There is a Plasma or deepe pit Iust in the Center fixt for Parricides I 'l keepe my Court there and Erinnis shee In stead of Hebe shall