th' Ocean waues to hyde his drowned lyght Yet shall my hates not leaue them so a wrathful kindled rage His mynd in madnes shall stirre vp and yre that may not swage Shall euermore all peace layd downe wage warres eternally What warres what euer hideous thinge the earth his ennemy Begets or what soeuer sea or ayre hath brought to syght Both dredfull dire and pestilent of cruel fiercest might T' is tierd and tam'd he passeth all and name by ills doth rayse And all my wrath he doth inioy and to his greater prayse He turnes my hates whyle tedious toyles to much I him behest He proues what father him begot both thence where light opprest Hath sea and where it showde agayne where Titan day doth trayne And with his brand approaching nere doth dye those Aethiops twaine His strengh vntamde is honoured and God eche where is hee Now calde in worlde and now more store of monsters want to mee And laboure lesse to Hercles is t' acomplish all my will Then me to bydde at ease he doth myne imperies fulfyl What cruel hestes of tyrante now so fyerce a yong man may Preuayle to hurt for lo he beares for weapons now awaye What once he fearde and put to flight he armed comes at syde With Lyon fyerce and Hydra both nor land suffiseth wyde But broake he hath the threshold loe of that infernall Ioue And spoyls with him of conquerd king he drawes to Gods aboue But that 's but light broke is the league of sprites that there do dwell I saw my selfe I saw him lo the night now gone of hell And Ditis tamde throw out abroade before his fathers sight His brothers spoyles Why drawes he not opprest and bound by might Hymselfe in chaynes that equall thynges to Ioue by lot doth hold And beare the rule of captiue hel and way to Styxe vnfolde Vp opened is from lowest ghostes the backward way to skye And sacred secrets of dire death in open sight do lye But he the dredful den of sprites brake vp ful fierce and stout Euen ouer mee doth tryumph lo and with proude hand about The foule blacke dogge by Grekish townes he leades frō hel away When seene was vgly Cerberus I saw the fading day And fearefull sunne euen me lykewyse a trembling dread opprest And looking on the fylthy neckes of conquerd monstruous beast I feared much myne owne behestes but light things I complayne For heauen I may be frayde lest he may get the highest rayne That lowest wonne the sceptors from his father wil he take Nor hee to starres as Bacchus dyd his way wil gently make The way with ruine will he seeke and hee in empty skyes Wil reygne alone with force displayd hys haughty hart doth ryse And he that heauen it selfe by force of his might gotted bee It bearyng learnd quite vnderneth the world his head set hee Nor once his shoulders bowde the prayse of suth a mighty mas And midst of heauen on Hercles necke alone loe setled was His necke vnwryde the starres aboue and skyes did only stay And me likewyse oppressyng him to Gods he seekes the way Goe ire goe on and beate hym downe that great things doth inuent Match thou with him and with thy handes now thou thy selfe him rent Such hates why dost thou meditate let all wyld beastes now go And weary Euristheus now be free from geeuing charges mo The Tytans daryng once of Ioue to breake the impery Send out let loase the denne abroade of mount of Sicilye The Doricke land that with the turne of gyant quakes afrayd Let it bring forth the dredful neckes of monster vnder layd Let yet the haughty moone about some other beastes beget But these he ouercame Seekes thou a match t'Alcides yet Ther 's none except hymselfe let him agaynst himselfe rebell Let present be from bottome deepe vpraysd of lowest hell Th' Eumenides let flaming lockes of theyrs the fires out flinge And furious hands bestowe aboute the stroakes of vipers sting Go now ful prowde and scale the skyes to seates of gods make waye Now must thy battels wages be ful cleere loe shynes the daye Despyse mans workes thinkst thou fierce wight that hell and soules alow Thou hast escapt nay here I wil another hel thee show In deepe miste hid I wil call vp from bottome low of hell Beyond the wayes of gylty ghostes debateful goddesse fell Wheras the roaring dreadful den resoundes with cryes about From depest bond of Ditis raygne beneath I wil fet out What so is left Let hateful hurt now come in anger wood And fierce impyety imbrew himselfe with his owne bloud And errour eke and fury arm'd agaynst it selfe to fight This meane this meane let wrath of myne now vse to shewe my might Beginne ye seruantes now of hell the feruent burning tree Of Pyne shake vp and set with snakes her dreadful flocke to see Let now Megaera bring to sight and with her mournful brand For burning rage bring out of hell a huge and direful brand Do this require you vengeance due and paynes of hel his spoyle Strike through his breast let fyercer flame within his bosome boyle Then which in Aetna fornace beates so furiously to see That mad of mind and witles may Alcides driuen bee With fury great through pearced quight my selfe must first of all Be mad Wherfore doth Iuuo yet not into raging fall Mee me ye Furyes systers three throwne quite out of my wit Tosse fyrst if any thing to do I do endeuour yet For stepdame meete let now my hates be turnd another way Let him returnd his babes behold in safety I you pray And strong of hand come home I haue now found the day at length In which may greatly mee auayle the hated Hercles strength Both mee and eke hym selfe let him subdue and wish to die Returnd from hel yea let it here be my commodity That he of Ioue begotten is here present wil I stand And that his shaftes goe streyght from how I wil direct his hand The mad mans weapons will I guide euen Hercles fyghtyng lo At length I le ayde This gylt once done then leefull is that so His father may admit to saies those gylty haades of his Chorus THe fading starres now shyne but seelde in sighte In stipye skye night ouercome with day Plucks in her fyres while spronge agayne is light The day starre drawes the cleresome beames theire waye They cye signe of haughtye poale agayne VVith seuen starres markt the Beares of Arcadye Do call the light with ouerturned wayne VVith marble horse now drawne hys waye to hye Doth Titan toppe of Oetha ouer spred The bushes bright that nowe with berryes bee Of Thebes strewde by daye do blushe full redde And to returne doth Phabus syster flee Now labor harde beginnes and euerye kynde Of cares it styrres the Shepehearde doth vnfolde His flockes vnpende do grase their foode to fynde And nippes the grasse with hoary frost full colde At will doth play in open medow faire The Calfe
whose brow did damme yet neuer teare The empty Kyne their vdders doe repayre And lyght with course vncertayne here and there In grasse full soft the wanton kidde hee flynges In toppe of boughe doth sitte with chaunting songe And to the Sunne newe rose to spreade her wynges Bestirres her selfe her mourneful nestes amonge The Nightingall and doth with byrdes aboute Confuse resound with murmure mixedryfe To witnes day his sayles to wynde set out The shypman doth committe in doubt of lyfe VVhyle gale oswynde the slacke sayles filles full strayte He leaning ouer hollow rocke doth lye And either his begiled hookes doth bayte Or els beholdes and feeles the pray from hye with paised hand The trembling fish he feeles with line extent This hope to them to whom of hurtles lyfe Is quiet rest and with his owne content And lytle house such hope in fieldes is ryfe The troblous hopes with rolling whirlewynd great And dredful feares their wayes in cityes keepe He proude repayre to prince in regall seate And hard court gates without the rest of sleepe Esteemes and endles happynes to hold Doth gather goods for treasure gaping more And is ful pore amid his heaped gold The peoples fauour him astonied sore And commons more vnconstant then the sea VVith blast of vayne renoume liftes vp full proude He selling at the brawling barre his plea Full wicked sets his yres and scoulding loud And woordes to sale a fewe hath knowne of all The careles rest who mindfull how doth flitte Swift age away the tyme that neuer shall Returne agayne do holde while fares permitte At quiet liue the lyfe full quickly glydes VVith hastned course and with the winged day The wheele is turnde of yere that hedlong slides The sisters hard perfourme their taskes alway Nor may agayne vntwist the threede once sponne Yet mankind loe vnsure what way to take To meete the greedy destenyes doth ronne And willingly wee seke the Stigian lake To much Alcides thou with stomacke stoute The sory sprites of hell dost hast to see VVith course prefixt the fares are brought aboute To none once warnd to come may respite bee To none to passe their once appointed day The tombe all people calde by death doth hyde Let glory him by many landes awaye Display and fame throughout all cityes wyde Full babling praise and euen with skye to stande Auaunce and starres let him in chariot bright Ful haughty goe let me my natiue land In safe and secrete house keepe close from sight To restful men hoare age by course doth fall And low in place yet safe and sure doth lye The poore and base estate of cottage small The prowder pompe of minde doth fall from hye But sad here comes with losed lockes of heare Loe Megara with litle company And stowe by age drawes Hercles father neare THE SECOND ACTE Megara O Guider great of heauen of the world O Iudge full hie Yet now at length apoinct a meane of carefull miserie And ende of our calamitie To mee yet neuer day Hath careles shin de the ende of one affliction past away Beginning of an other is an other ennemy Is forthwith founde before that hee his ioyfull family Retourne vnto an other fyght hee taketh by behest Nor any respite giuen is to him nor quiet rest But whyle that he commaunded is straight him pursueth shee The hatefull Iuno Was yet once from toyle and labour free His infants age the monsters lo he venquisht hath and slayne Before he knew what monsters ment The skaled serpents twayne Their double neckes drew on toward him agaynst the which to ryse The infant crept to meete with them the serpents glittring eyes Lyke fyre with quiet carelesse brest he looking last vpon With coūtnance cleere hard wrested knots of them he caught anon And strangling then the swelling throates of them with tender hand To Hydra prelude made the beast so swyfte of Maenale land That with much Golde bare vp full bright his beautified head Is caught in course of Nemey wood likewise the greatest dread The Lyon prest with Hercles armes hath roarde with dreadfull crie What should I speake of stables dyre of steedes of Bystonye Or King cast out himselfe for foode his horses fierce to fill And bristled beast in thicke tops woont of Erymanthus hill The boare of Maenalye the woods of Arcady to shake And Bull that did no litle dread to hundred peoples make Among the flocks of Hesper lande that hence farre distant bee The sheepherde of Cartesian coast of triple shape to see Is slayne and driuen is the pray from farthest parte of weast Citheton quak't when by him past to sea the well knowne beast He being bid to make by coastes of sommer sunne his way And parched landes which sore with heate doth boyle the middell day The mountaynes brake on either side and rampiers all vndoon Euen vnto swyft and raging sea hath made a way to roon Then entring in of plenteaus wood the pleasant gardeins gay The waking dragons golden spoyles with him he brought away The Lerna monsters numerous ill what neede to tell haue I Hath he not him with fyre at length subdewde and taught to dye And which were woont with wings abrode to hyde the day from sight Euen from the cloudes he sought braue the Stimphale birdes to flight Not him subdewde who euer lyes in bed vnmacht at night The wyddowe queene of them that tooke to Thermodont their flight Nor handes that well durst euterprise his noble trauayles all The filthy labour made to shrynke of foule Augias hall What vayle all these he wants the world which oft defended he And th earth well knowes the worker of his quietnes to be Away from earthe the prosperous gilt that beareth happy swey Is vertue callde and now the good to wicked doe obay The right doth stand in might of armes feare treadeth downe the lawe Before my face with cruell hand euen presently I sawe Reuengers of theyr fathers reygne the sonnes with sworde downe cast And of the noble Cadmus eke himselfe the ofspring last Then slayne I lawe his regall crowne at once from him away With head bereft Who Thebes alas enough bewayle nowe may The fertile land of Gods what lorde now quakes it for to knowe Out of the fieldes of which somtime and fruictfull bosome lowe The youth vpsprong with swarde in band preparde to battell stoode And walls of which Amphion one of mighty Ioue his broode Hath built with sounding melody in drawing to the stones To towne of whom the parent chiefe of Gods not onely ones Heauen being left hath come this land that Gods aboue alway Receiu'de and which hath made them Gods and leefull beete to say Perhaps shall make with lothsome yoake of bondage is prest downe O Cadmus stocke and citezens of olde Amphions towne Whereto are yee nowe fall'ne dread yee a cowardly exull thus His coastes to dwell in lacking and to ours iniurious Who through the worlde pursues the gilts and wrong by sea and land
beset on euery syde Amphitryon Hercules Theseus DOo eyther els my great desyres delude and mocke myne eyes Or hath the tamer of the world and Greekes renowme likewyse Forsooke the silent howse besette with cloude full sadde to see Is this my sonne my members loe for ioy amased bee Oh sonne the sure and sauegard late of Thebes in misery See I thy body true indeede or els deceiu'de am I Mockt with thy sprite art thou the same these brawnes of armes I know And shoulders and thy noble handes from body hie that grow Her Whens father happes this vglines and why in mourning clad Is thus my wyfe how happes it that with filth so foule bestad My children are what misery doth thus my house appresse Am. The father in law is slayne the kingdome Licus doth possesse Thy sonnes thy parent and thy wyfe to death pursueth hee Her Vngrateful laud doth no man come that will an ayder bee Of Hercles house and this behelde so great and haynous wronge Hath th' ayded world but why were I the day in playnt so long Let then my dye and this renoume let strength obtayne in haste And of Alcider enmies all let Lycus be the last I driuen am to goe to shedde the bloud of enmye out Watch Theseu that no sodayne strength beset vs here aboute Me warres require embracing yet deferre O father deare And wyfe deferre them Lycus shall to hell this message beare That I am now returnd The Shake of O Queene on t of thyne eyes This weping face and thou synce that thy sonne is safe likewyse Thy drupping teares refrayne yf yet I Hercles euer knew Then Lycus shall for Creon paye the paynes to him ful due T' is lyght he shal he doth and that 's to light he hath it done Am. Now God that can them bring to passe spede wel our wishes soone And come to helpe our weary woes O noble harted mate Of my stout sonne of his renowne declare vs all the rate How long away doth leade to place where sory sprites doth dwell And how the hard and heauy bondes the dog hath borne of hell The. The deedes thou dost constrayne to tell that euen to mynde secure Are dredful yet and horrible scant yet the trust is sure Of vitall ayre sore blunted is the sharpnesse of my sight And dulled eyes do scant sustayne to see th' vnwoonted light AM. Yet Theseus throughly ouercome what euer feare remaynes In bosome deepe nor do thou not of best fruict of thy paynes Beguilde thy selfe What thing hath once to suffre beene a care To haue remembred it is sweete those dredfull haps declare TH. All ryght of worlde and thee lykewyse I praye that bearst the rayns In kingdome wyde and thee for whom all round about in vayne Thy mother throughout Aetna sought that secret things alowe And hid in ground it freely may bee lawfull for to showe The Spartane land a noble toppe of hyll aduaunceth hye Where Taenarus with woods full thick the Sea doth ouerly The house of hatefull Ditis here his mouth doth open set And rocke of hyll aboue doth gape and with a denne full gret A huge and gaping cleft of ground with Iawes full wyde doth lye And way full broade to people all doth spred to passe thereby Not straight with darkenes doth begin the way that blindes the sight A litle lingring brightnes loe behinde of late left light And doubtfull glittring yet of sonne afllicted falles alowe And mocks the sight such light is wont vndoubtedly to showe The dawne of day or twylight els at edge of euening tyde From hence to hollowe places voyde are loaste the spaces wyde To which needes peryshe must all kinde of men that once are throwne Nor it a labour is goe the way it selfe leades downe As oft the ships agaynst theyr willes doth tosse the swelling surge So downward doth that headlong way and greedy Chaos vrge And backe agayne to drawe thy pace thee neuer doe permit The sprits who what they catch hold fast alowe within doth flit In chanell wyde with silent foorde the quiet lake of lethe And cares doth rid and that there may to scape agayne from death No meane be made with many turnes and windings euery way Foldes in his floude in such sorte as with waue vnsure doth play Maeander wandring vp and downe and yeldes himselfe vnto And doubtfull stands if he toward banke or backe to spryng may goe The foule and filthy poole to see of slowe Cocytus lyes On th' one the Grype on th' other side the mournefull Howlet cries And sad lucke of th' unhappy Strix likewise resoundeth there Full vglily in shady bowes blacke Locks of lothsome heare Where Taxus tree doth ouer leane which holdeth slouthfull sleepe And hunger sad with famisht Iawe that lyes his place to keepe And shame to late doth hide his face that knowes what crimes it hath Both feare and quaking funerall and fretting raging wrath And mourning dyre doth follow on and trembling pale disease And boystrous battayles set with sworde and hid beyond all thease Doth slouthfull age his lingring pace help forth with staffe in hand AM. Of corne and wyne in hell alowe is any fertile land TH. No ioyfull Meades do there bring forth with face so greene fayre Nor yet with gentill Zephyrus wagges ripened corne in th' ayre Nor any tree hath there such bowes as doe bryng apples out The barrayne compasse of deepe soyle full filthy lyes about And withred with eternall drought the lothsome land doth waste And bond full sad of thinges and of the worlde the places laste The ayre vnmoued stands and night sits there full darke to see In slouthfull world all thinges by dread full horrible there bee And euen farre worse then death it selfe is place where death doth bide AM. What he that doth those places darke with regall sceptor guide In what seate set doth he dispose and rule those peoples light TH. A place there is in turne obscure of Tartarus from sight Which mist full thick with fearefull shade doth holde and ouergoe From hence a double parted streame from one wellspring doth floe The tone much like a standing poole by this the gods doe sweare The which the sacred Stygian lake with silent floude doth beare The t'other fierce with tumult great is drawen his course to goe And Acheron with raging floud the stones dryues to and froe Vnsaylable with double foorde is rounde about beset Agaynst it Ditis pallace dyre and manston house full gret In shadefull woode is couered from wide den here the posts And thresholds of the tyrant hang this is the walke of ghosts This of his kingdome is the gate a fielde about it goes Where sitting with a countnaunce proude abroade he doth dispose Newe soules a cruell maiesty is in the God to knowe A frowning forehead which yet of his brethren beares the showe And so great stocke there is in him of Ioue the very face But when he lightens and great part of cruell
His cruel sleepes he turnes and not yet is The plague subdude of so great raging yll And on great club the weary head of his He wont to laye doth secke the staffe to fynde VVith empty handes his armes out casting yet VVith mouing vayne nor yet all rage of minde He hath layd downe but as with Sowthwind greate The waue once vext yet after kepeth still His raging long and though the wind now bee Asswaged swelles shake of theis madde and yll Tossinges of mynde returne let piety And vertue to the man els let be so His mynde with mouing mad toste euery waye Let errour blynd where it begun hath go For naught els now but only madnes maye Thee gyltles make in next estate it standes To hurtles handes thy mischiefe not to know Now stroken let with Hercules his handes Thy bosome sounde thyne armes the worlde allow VVere wonte to beare let greuous strypes now smyte VVith conquering hande and lowde complaying cryes Let th' ayre now heare let of darke pole and nighte The Queene them hear and who ful fyercely lyes That beares his neckes in mighty chaynes fast bounde Low lurking Cerberus in deepest caue Let Chaos all with clamour sad resound And of broad sea wide open wafting waue And th' ayre that felt thy weapons beter yet but felt them though The breastes with so great yls as these beset VVith litle stroake they must not beaten bee Let kingdomes three sound with one playnt and crye And thou neckes honour and defence to see His arrowe strong longe hanged vp on hye And quiuers light the cruell stripes now l'myte On his fierce backe his shouldars strong and stout Let oken club now strike and poast of might VVith knots ful hard his brestee load all aboute Let euen his weapons so great woes complayne Not you pore babes mates of your fathers praise VVith cruell wound reuenging kinges agayne Not you your lims in Argos barriars playes Are taught to turne with weapons strong to smie And strong of hand yet euen now daring loe The weapons of the Scithian quiuer light VVith stedy hand to paise set out from bow And stags to perce that saue them selues by flight And backes not yet ful maend of cruel beast To Stigian hauens goeye of shade and night Goe hurtles soules whom mischiefe hath opprest Euen in fyrst porch of lyfe but lately had And fathers fury goe vnhappy kind O litle children by the way ful sad Of iourney knowen Goe see the angry kynges THE FIFTHE ACTE Hercules Amphitry on Theseus WHat place is this what region or of the world what coast Where am I vnder ryse of sunne or bond els vttermost Of th' ycy beare or els doth here of sea of Hespery The fardest ground appoynt a bond for th' ocean sea to lye What ayre draw we to weary wight what ground is vnderset Of truth we are returnd from hell whence in my house downe bet See I these bloudy bodyes hath not yet my mynd of cast Th' infernall shapes but after yet returnd from hel at last Yet wander doth that belly heape before myne eys to see I am asham'de to graunt I quake I know not what to me I cannot tell what greeuou yll my mynde before doth know Where is my parent where is shee with goodly childrens show My noble harly stomackt spouse why doth my left syde lacke The lyons spoyle which way is gone the couer of my backe And selfe same bedde ful soft for slepe of Hercules also Where are my shaftes where is my bow then from my liuing who Could plucke away who taken hath the spoyles so great as these And who was he that feared not euen sleepe of Hercules To see my conquerour me lykes yt lykes me hym to know Ryse victor vp what new sonne hath my father gotten now Heauen beynge left at byrth of whom myght euer stayd bee A longer night then was in myne what mischiefe do I see My children loe do lye on ground with bloudy slaughter slayne My wyfe is kild what Lycus doth the kingdome yet obtayne Who durst so haynous giltes as these at Thebes take in hand When Hercles is returnd who so Ismenus waters land Who so Acteons fieldes or who with double seas beset The shaken Pelops kingdomes dost of Dardan dwell on yet Helpe me of cruel slaughter show who may the author bee Let rage my yre and all my foe he is who so to me Shewes not my foe dost thou yet hyde Alcides victorly Come forth euen whether thou reuenge the cruel charyots hye Of Bloudy Thracian king or yf thou Gerions catell quight Or lordes of Lybia no delay there is with thee to fight Beholde I naked stande although euen with my weapons loe Thou me vnarmed sette vppon Wherfore fleeth Theseus soe And eke my father from my syght theyr faces why hyde they Deferre your weepings and who did my wyfe and children sley Thus all at once me tell Wherfore O father dost thou whus ht But tell thou Theseu but Theseu with thy accustom'd truste Ech of them sylent hydes away their bashefull count'naunces And priuily they shed their teares in so great ils as these Of what ought wee asham'de to be doth ruler yet of might Of Argos towne or hateful band of sowldiars apt to fight Of Lycus dying vs oppresse with such calamity By prayse of all my noble actes I do desyre of thee O father and of thy great name approu'de to me alway The prosperous powre declare to mee who did my houshold flay Whose pray lay I A. Let thus thyne ylles in sylens ouerpas He. That I should vnreuenged bee Am Reuenge oft hurtful was He Did euer man so greeuous yls without reuenge sustayne A Who 's euer greater fearde H. Then these O father yet agayne May any greater thing or els more greuous feared be Am. How great apart is it thou wotst of thy calamity Her Take mercy father lo I lift to thee my humble hands What meaneth this my hand fleeth backe some priuy gylt their standes Whence comes this bloud or what doth mean flowing with death of child The shaft imbrewd with slaughter once of Lerney monster kilde I see my weapons now the hand I seeke no more to witte Whose hand could bend this bow but myne or what right at me but it Could string the bow that vnto mee euen scantly doth obay To you I turne O father deare is this my gylt I pray They held their peace it is myne own Am. Thy greuous woe is there The cryme thy stepdames this mischaunce no falt of thyne hath here Her From euery part now father throw in wrath thy thunders mighte And of thy sonne forgetful now with cruel hand requighte At least thy nephewes let the world that beares the starrs sounde out And let both th' one and th' other poale flyng downe thy flames aboute And let the bankes of Caspyan sea my bounden body teare And gredy foule Wherfore do of Prometheus lacke heare The rockes with huge and
feate of worth or maistry haue I sought In deede they haue me helpt to pull myne eyes out of my head So that ne Sunne ne Moone I see but life in darknesse lead And though that I can nothing see yet is my guilt and cryme Both seene and knowne poyneted at woe worth the cursed tyme Leaue of thy hold let lose thy hand good daughter let mee goe Let foultring foote light where it will let it this once be so I le trudge and runne I le skudde and raunge I le hasten to the hill Of craggy stiepe Cytheron there I hope to worke my will Where earst Actaeon lost his lyfe by straunge and vncouth death Whom vawling Dogges and hunting Hounds bereft of vitall breath Where once Agaue bedlemlike raungd vp and downe the woode With Systers hers enspired all with Bacchus raging moode And pleasing well her selfe in that her fact and mischiefe donne Pitcht on a Poale the grisly head of him that was her Sonne Where Zethus with his ruffling Crew of Gallantes young and stoute Dragd hald and puld the hateful corps of Dirce all aboute Where bushie bloudied brambles show which way the Bull her drew Nere where dame Ino from a Rocke her selfe in Sea downe threw So that poore mother though she ment t' auoyde one fault by flight Yet she therby a worse procur'd while like a seely wight She bother selfe and eke her sonne from Scyron hurled downe Entending both her selfe and him in foaming Sea to drowne Oh happy yea thryse happy they that had so good an bap And whom such mothers pitiful earst daudled in theyr lap Yea yet there is in these same woods an other place to mee That 's due by right and rightly may me challenge as his fee Where I am Infant out was layed al Fortunes to abide I thyther wil direct my course of try what may betyde I le neither stop ne stay til that I be arryued there For guyde I recke not neyther force for Stumbling any where Why stay I thus like dastard drudge to hasten vnto it Sith wel I know it lotted is to be my graue and Pit Let me myne owne Cytheron mount enioy in quiet state It is myne old and auncient bower appoynted me by fate I pray thee be not discontent that I should aged die Euen there where life I should haue lost in pueling infancy I yeild me heere with willing hart vnto those tortures all That earst to me were due and which to others haue befall To thee I speake O bloudy mount fierce cruel styepe and fell As well in that thou sparest some as that thou some dost quell This carion corps this sinful soule this carcasse here of myne Long tyme agone by right good Law and propertye is thine Now yet at length perfourme the hest that earst enioyned was To thee by those my parentes both now bring their doome to passe My hart euen longeth till I may so fully satisfy By this my death that their decree that glad I am to die Ah Daughter Daughter why wouldst thou thus keepe mee gaynst my mynd In this so vile incestuous loue thou art but now to kind Oh stay me not I thee desire behold behold I heare My Fathers ghost to bidde me come apace and not to feare O Father myne I come I come now father ceasse thy rage I know alas how I abus'd my Fathers hoary age Who had to name King Laius how hee doth fret and frye To see such lewd disparagement and none to blame but I Wherby the Crowne vsurped is and he by murther slayne And Bastardly incestuous broode in Kingly throne remayne And loe dost thou not playnly see how he my panting Ghost With raking pawes doth hale and pull which grieues my conscience most Dost thou not see how he my face bescratcheth tyrant wyse Tel mee my Daughter hast thou seene Ghostes in such griefly guyse Antig I see marke each thing ful well Good father leaue this mind And take a better if you can from this your selfe vnwynd Oed. O what a beastly cowardise is in this breast of myne Was I so stout and venturous in pulling out myne Eyen And shall all courage be employd agaynst one onely part Of Body and from other partes shall valour wholly start Let none of all these puling trickes nor any faint excuse Thus daunt thy sprites let no delay to basenes thee enduce Dispatch at once why lingre I as one that 's loth to dye Why liue I i st because I can no longer mischieues trye Yes that I can wretch though I be and therfore tel I thee Deare Daughter that the sooner thou mightst hence depart from mee Depart a mayd and Virgin hence for feare of after claps Since villany to Mother shewde its good to doubt mishaps Anti. No force no power no violence shall make me to withdraw My duty vnto thee my Syre to whom I vow myne awe I will not be disseuered ne pulled from thy syde I will assist thee whyle that breath shal in this Breast abyde My Brothers twayne let them contend and fight for Princelye swaye Of wealthy Thebes where whilom raignd King Labdacke many a day The greatest share and portion that I do loke to haue Out of my Fathers Kingdome is my Fathers lyfe to saue Him neither shall Etheocles my elder brother take Away from mee who now by force the Thebane realme doth rake Ne Polynices who as now is Mustring men apace From Argos Land with ful entent his brother to displace No though the world went all on wheeles though Ioue should frō aboue Hurle flashing flakes vpon the Earth all shall not quayle my loue No though his thumping thunderbolt when wee togeather stand Should light betweene vs where as we are plighted hand in hand Yet wil I neuer thee forsake but held my handfast still Therefore it s boateles father deare to countermaund my will In this my full resolued mynd Forbid me if you please But surely I will be your guide in weale woe dole case And maugre al your sharpe reprofes though much against your mind I wil direct your steppes and gate that you your way may fynd Through thick thinne through rough and smoth I wil be at an ynch In hill and dale in wood groue I le serue at eu'ry pinch If that you goe where daunger lies and seeke your owne annoy You shall wel proue that I to leade the daunce wil not be coy Aduyse your selfe therfore of twayne to which I guyde shall be My count is cast I am ful bent with you to liue and die Without me perish can you not but with me wel you may It booteth not in other sort to moue me ought to saye Here is an huyge Promontory that elboes into Sea Let vs from thence throw downe our selues and worke our last decay If that ye wil Here also is a flinty Rocke besyde Which if you please shal serue our turnes Heere beaten with the tyde Bee craggy Cliffes let 's goe
thee the Tygar fierce his diuers spotted breast doth yield The rough shaghairy Bugle turnes on thee his backe in field Eke saluage Buffes with braunche hornes all thinges thy quarelles feare That to the needy Garamas in Affricke doth appeare Or eis the wyld Arabian enriched by his wood Or what the Brutish roches of Pyrene vnderstood Or else what other Beastes do lurcke in wyld Hyrcanus groue Or else among Sarmatians in desert fieldes that roue It that the Ploughman come to field that standeth in thy grace Into his nettes the roused beast full sure he is to chase No feete in sunder breake the coardes and home he bringes the Bore In totting wayne when as the houndes with gubs of clottered gore Besmeared haue their grymed snoutes and then the Countrey rout To Cottages repayre in rankes with triumph all about Lo Goddesse graunt vs grace the hounds already opened haue I follow must the Chase this gainer way my paynes to saue I take into the woods THE SECOND SCEANE PHAEDRA NVTRIX O Countrey Crete that beares the sway vpon the Seas so vast Whose Ships so thicke in euery Shore the Seas doe ouercast What euer coast as farre as is Assyria lande doth lye Where Nereus doth the piked Stemme to cut his course deny Why force ye mee that yeelded am a pledge to those I hate And gieuen in Bridall bed to bee my enmies Spousall mate To languish out my time in teares in woe to leade my lyfe My husband lo runnagate is gon from mee his Wyfe Yet Theseus still performes his O the alike vnto his Spouse As earst to Ariadne when hee falsifide his Vowes Hee champion stoute dare enterprise the darkenesse deepe to passe Of lothsome Lake whence yet found out no way returning was A souldier of the Wooer bolde Proserpin home to bring Out pullde perforce from grisly throne of Dire infernall King Accompanide with fury fierce hee marcheth forward still Whō neither dread nor shame could force forbeare his wicked will With lawlesse wedlocks rauishments Hippolytus his Sire Doth in the boyling bottom deepe of Acheron require But yet another greater griefe swayes on my pensiue brest No silent night nor slumber deepe can set my heart at rest My sorrow still is nourished and still entreaseth it And ranklesse in my boyling breast as out of Aetnaes pit The stifling vapour vpward sties and Pallas Web it standes At rest my dropping distaffe downe doth drop betweene my handes My luskish minde it hath no lust my vowed gifts to pay Vnto the Temples of the Gods that liue my Theseus may Nor rigging with Th' athenian Dames among the aulters proude To tosse the fiery brands vnto the sacrifice aloude Nor yet deuoutly praying at the Aares with godly guise To Pallas president in earth to offer sacrifice It doth delight me to pursue the chased beasts in flight And tosse my flashing Faucon fierce with nimble hand full light What ayles thou minde this mad to take conceypte in freight and fell My wretched mothers fatall vice a breeding now I smell To cloake our crime our lust doth knowe woods are the fittest place Alas good Mother I lament the heauy lucklesse case Thou rashe attaint with lothsome lust enamored is thy breast Euen with the cruell head of al the herd of saluage beast That churlish angry roaring Bull no yoake can bee sustayne And hee among the wilde and eke vntamed Neat doth raygne Yet was enclinde to loue what God can graunt mee my desire Or Dedalus with curious craft can ease my flaming fire Not if hee might returne whom Ariadne hath iustruct From crooked compast Laberinth by thred that out hee pluckt Among the lurcking corners close and wily winding way To grope his footing backe agayne and did depriue of day Our monstrous Minotaur enclosde in Maze and Dungeon blinde Although hee promise to our sore no salue yet can hee finde Through mee Apollos Progeny doth Venus quite agayne The filthy shame that shee and Mars together did sustayne Whom Phoebus taking at their taske all naked in the Skie Hung vp in Nets a laughing stocke to euery gasing Eye For this all Phoebus stocke with vile and foule reproche she staynes In some of Minos family still lothsome lusting raygnes One mischiefe brings another in NV. O Theseus wyfe and Chylde Of Ioue let vyce be soone out of thine honest breast exilde And quench the raging heat to dire dispayre doe not vp yeeld Who at the first repulseth loue is safe and winnes the field Who doth by flattring fancy fonde feede on his vitious vayne To late doth grudge agaynst the yoake which earst hee did sustayne Nor yet doe I forget how hard and voyde of reason cleane A Princes stately stomacke yeeldes vnto the golden meane PH. That ende I will accept whereto by Fortune I can leade The neighbors weale great comfort brings vnto the horie heade NV. The first redresse is to withstand not willingly to slide The second is to haue the fault by meane and measure tride O wicked wretch what wilt thou doe why dost thou burden more The stayned stocke and dost excell thy mothers fault afore More haynous is thy guilt than yet thy mothers Monster was For monsters mayst thou thinke are brought by destiny to passe But let the cause of sinne to blame of maners lewde redounde And if bicause thy husband doth not breath aboue the grounde Thou thinkst thou mayst defend thy fault and make thy matter good And free from feare thou arte beguilde yet thinke the Stygian flood In griesly gaping gulfe for aye hath drenched Theseus deepe But yet thy Syre whose kingdomes large the Seas at will do keepe Whose dredfull doome pronounceth panges and due deserued payne Two hundreth wayling soules at once Will he thinkst thou maintayne So haynous crime to couche the care of tender Parents breast Full wise and wary is to bring their children to the best Yet shall we thinke by subtill meane by craft and diuelish guile In hugger mugger close to keepe our trechery so vile What shall thy mothers father Phoebe whose beames so blasing bright With fiery gleede of euery thing doth shed his golden light Or Ioue the Grandsire great of Gods that all the world doth shake And brandisheth with flaming Fist his fiery lightnings flake That Vulcane doth in Fornace hoate of dusky Aetna make Thinkst thou thys may be brought to passe so haynous crime to hide Among thy Grandsire all that haue eche priuy thing espide But though the fauor of the Gods conceale the second time Thy lothsome lust vnworthy name and to thy baudy crime Sure faythfulnesse annexed be that euer barred was Ech great offence what will this worke a present plague alas Suspicion lest the guilty night bewray thy deede vniust And conscience burdned sore with sinne that doth it selfe mistrust Some haue commit offence full safe from any bitter blame But none without the stinging pricks of conscience did the same Asswage the boyling flames of this thy lewde vngratious loue Such
ALEXANDER NEVYLE TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MAISTER DOCTOR WOTTON ONE OF THE Queenes Maiesties priuy Counsayle Alexander Neuyle wisheth Helth vvith encrease of Honor THis sixtenth yeare of myne age righte honorable reneweth a gratefull memory of your great goodnes towardes mee for at Baptisme your honor vouchsafed to aunsweare for mee and causeth mee thus boldly to present these greene and vnmelowed fruicts of my first trauailes vnto you as signes and testimonies of a well disposed minde vnto your honor Albeit when first I vndertoke the translation of this present Tragoedy I minded nothing lesse than that at any tyme thus rudely transformed it shoulde come into the Printers hands For I to none other ende remoued him from his naturall and lofty style to our corrupt and base or as some men but vntruly affyrme it most barbarous Language but onely to satisfy the instant requests of a few my familiar frends who thought to haue put it to the very same vse that SENECA himselfe in his Inuention pretended VVhich was by the tragicall and Pompous showe vpon Stage to admonish all men of their fickle Estates to declare the vnconstant head of wauering Fortune her sodayne interchaunged and soone altered Face and lyuely to expresse the iust reuenge and fearefull punishmēts of horrible Crimes wherewith the wretched worlde in these our myserable dayes pyteously swarmeth This caused me not to be precise in following the Author word for word but sometymes by addition somtimes by subtraction to vse the aptest Phrases in geuing the Sēse that I could inuent VVhereat a great numbre I know will be more offended than Reason or VVysedome woulde they should bee Thus as I framed it to one purpose so haue my frends to whom I can not well deny any thyng that Frendshyps ryght may seeme iustly to requyre wrested it to another effect and by this meanes blowen it abroade by ouerrash and vnaduised printing By whych fond deede I know vndoubtedly I shall receyue the poysoned infamies of a number of venemous tonges VVherefore ryght honorable as I geue these the first Fruicts of my trauayle vnto you declaring therein the great goodwyll and duety that I owe vnto your Honor for the noble disposition of your vertuous mynde so am I driuen humbly to require your strong ayde and assured defence agaynst the sclaunderous assaults of such malicious mouths which obtayned I shal be the better encouraged agaynst an other time to bestow my trauaile in matters of farre greater weighte and importaunce In the meane season desiring your Honour to take these simple Attemptes of myne in good part I leaue you to the tuitiō of the right high and mighty God VVho keepe you long in health graunt you many happy yeares with encrease of Honor All your Honours to commaund Alexander Neuile †THE PREFACE TO the Reader BEHOLD HERE BEFORE THY Face good Reader the most lamentable Tragedy of that most Infortunate Prince O Edipus for thy profit rudely translated Wonder not at the grosenesse of the Style neyther yet accounte the Inuentours Dylygence dysgraced by the Translators Neglygence VVho thoughe that he hath somtimes boldly presumed to erre from his Author rouing at randon vvhere he list adding and subtracting at pleasure yet let not that engender disdaynefull suspition vvith in thy learned breast Marke thou rather vvhat is ment by the vvhole course of the History and frame thy lyfe free from such mischiefes vvherevvith the World at this present is vniuersally ouervvhelmed The vvrathfull vengeaunce of God prouoked the Body plagued the mynde and Conscience in midst of deepe deuouring daūgers most terribly assaulted In such sort that I abhorre to write and euen at the thought thereof I tremble and quake for very inward griefe and feare of minde assuredly perswading my selfe that the right high and immortall God will neuer leaue such horrible and detestable crimes vnpunished As in this present Tragoedy and so forth in the processe of the whole hystory thou maist right well perceyue Wherein thou shalt see a very expresse and liuely Image of the incōstant chaunge of fickle Fortune in the person of a Prince of passing Fame and Renown midst whole fluds of earthly blisse by meare misfortune nay rather by the deepe hidden secret Iudgemēts of God piteously plunged in most extreame miseries The whole Realme for his sake in straungest guise greuously plagued besides the apparaunt destruction of the Nobility the generall death and spoyle of the Cōminalty the miserable transformed Face of the City with an infinite number of mischiefes more which I passe ouer vnrehersed Onely wish I all men by this Tragicall hystory for to that entent was it written to beware of Synne the ende whereof is shamefull and miserable As in the most infortunate fall of this vnhappy Prince right playnely appeareth Who by inward gripe of fearefull cōsuming Cōscience wretchedly tormented beholding the lamētable state of his vile infected Realmes wasted by the burning rage of priuy spoyling Pestilence finds himselfe in tract of time to be th' onely plague misery of the almost quight destroied City Wherevpon calling together his Priests and Prophets asking coūsaile of the Gods by them for present remedy in those euils wherewith the Realme was than vniuersally ouerflowen aūswere was made that the Plague should neuer ceasse till king LAIVS death were throughly reuenged and the bloudy Murtherer driuen into perpetuall exile Which aunswere receiued OEDIPVS farre more curious in bowlting out the truth than carefull of his own Estate sodainly slides into an innumerable company of dredfull miseries For as soone as he had once the perfect vewe of his own detestable deedes and wicked misdemeanour cast before his eyes together with the vnnaturall killing of his Father LAIVS the incestuous Mariage of his Mother IOCASTA the preposterous order of his ill misguyded lyfe vvith a hundred moe like mischiefes vvhich chaste vndefiled eares abhorre to heare fretting Fury cōmon enemy tormētor to corrupted cōsciēces pricking him forvvard all inflamed vvith Phrensie and boyling in invvard heate of vile infected minde hee rooteth out his wretched eyes vnnaturally bereaueth his Mother her life though earnestly requested thereto beastly in the ende in most basest kind of slauery banisht dieth miserably Leauing behind him vnto all posterities a dredfull Example of Gods horrible vengeaunce for sinne Such like terrors as these requireth this our present Age wherein Vice hath chiefest place Vertue put to flight lies as an abiect languishing in great extremity For the vvhich cause so much the rather haue I suffred this my base trāslated Tragoedy to be published frō his Author in word verse somewhat trāsformed though in Sense litle altered and yet oftentimes rudely encreased vvith mine owne simple inuention more rashly I cōfesse than wisely vvishing to please all to offend none But vvhereas no man liues so vprightly vvhom slaundring tonges leaue vndiffamed I referre my selfe to the Iudgement of the vvisest litle esteeming the preiudiciall mouthes of such carping
king My life is in your hand OED. Tell me the troth what child whose What was his Mothers P. Born of your wyfe OE. O gaping earth deuour my body quight Or else thou God that ruler art of houses voyde of light To Hell my Saule with thunder boltes to Hell my Soule down dryue Where griesly Ghosts in darkenesse deepe and endlesse payne do lyue For thee alone these Plagues doe rage For thee these mischiefes ryse For thee the Earth lyes desolate For thee thou wretch the Skies Infected are For thee for thee and for the filthy lust A hundred thousand guiltlesse men consumed are to dust O people throw cast heapes of stones vpon this hatefull Hed Bath all your swords within my brest you furies ouershed My restlesse thoughts with raging woes and plungde in seas of pain Let mee those hōrrors still endure which damned soules sustain You citizens of Stately Thebes vex me with torments dile Let Father Son and Wyfe and all with vengeance me pursue Let those that for my sake alone with plagues tormented bee Throw darts cast stones fling fier and flames and tortures all on mee O shame O slaunder of the World O hate of Gods aboue Confounder O of Nature thou to lawes of sacred loue Euen from thy birth an open Foe Thou didst deserue to dye As soone as thou wast born Go go vnto the Court thee hye There with thy Mother slaue triumph reioyce as thou maist do Who hast thy house encreased with vnhappy children so Make haste with speede away some thing thy mischiefs worthy finde And on thy selfe wrecke all the spight of thy reuenging minde Chorus FOrtune the guide of humaine lyfe doth al things chaūge at will And stirrīg stil with restles thoughts our wretched mīdes doth fill In vayn men striue their stats to kepe whē hideous tēpests rise And blustring windes of daungers deepe sets death before their eyis Who saith he doth her fauning feele chaūgeth not his minde When fickle fight of Fortunes wheele doth turne by course of kinde These greuous plagues frō priuat house to princely Thrones do flow And oft thier minds with cares they souse and thick vpon thē strow Whole heapes of griefe and dyre debate a wofull thing to see A Princely lyfe to mysers state conuerted for to bee O OEdipus thy fatall fall thy dreadfull mischiefs ryght Thy dolfull state thy mysery thy thrise vnhappy plight These things shall blase through all the world what heart may thē reioyce At thy distresse I can no more my teares doe stop my voyce But what is he that yonder stamps and raging puffs and blowes And often shakes his vexed head some mischiefe great hee knowes Good sir your countnaunce doth import some great and fearefull thing Tell vs therefore if that you may what newes from Court you bring THE FIFTE ACTE NVNTIVS VVhen OEdipus accursed wretch his fatall fals had spied To hell be damnd his wretched soule and on the Gods he cryed For vengeaunce due And posting fast with franticke moode griesly hue Vnto his dole full Court hee went his thoughts for to pursue Much like a Lion ramping wylde his furious head that shakes And roares with thundring mouth alowd and often gnashing makes None otherwise this miser farde A lothsome sight to see Besides himselfe for very rage he still desires to dye And rowling round his wretched Eyes with vysage pale and wan Ten thousand Curses out he powres Himselfe the vnhappiest man Of all that liue he doth account as iustly he may doe A wretch a slaue a caitife vyle The cause of all our woe And in this case enflamd with spight he cries he stamps he raues And boyling in his secret thoughts he still desyres to haue All torments vnder sun that may his Cares conceiude encrease O wretched wyght what should hee doe What man may him release Thus foming all for rage at mouth with sighes and sobs grones His damned head ten thousand times as oft his weryed bones He beats And often puffing makes and roares and swels sweats And on the Gods for death hee calles for Death hee still entreats Three times he did begin to speake and thryse his tong did stay At length he cried out alowd O wretch Away away Away thou monstrous Beast he sayd wilt thou prolong thy lyfe Nay rather some man strike this breast with strooke of bloudy knyfe Or all you Gods aboue on mee your flaming fiers outcast And dints of Thunderbolts down throw This is my prayer last What greedy vile deuouring Gripe vpon my guts will gnaw That Tigre fierce my hatefull limmes will quight asunder draw Loe here I am you Gods Lee heere wreke now on me your will Now now you fyry Feendes of Hell of vengeaunce take your fill Send out some wilde outragious beast send Dogs mee to deuoure Or els all ils you can deuise at once vpon me powre O wofull soule O sinfull wretch Why dost thou feare to dye Death only rids frō woes thou knowst Than stoutly Death defle With that his bloudy fatall Blade from out his sheath he drawes And lowd he rores with thūdring voice Thou beast why dost thou pawse Thy Father cursed caitife thou thy Father thou hast slayne And in thy Mothers bed hast left an euerduring slayne And Brothers thou hast got nay Sons thou liest thy Brothers all They are Thus for thy monstrous lust thy Countrey down doth fall And thinkst thou than for all these ils enough so short a payne Thynkst thou the Gods will be apeasde if thou forth with be slayne So many mischiefes don and i st enough one stroke to byde Account'ste thou it sufficient paynes that once thy sword should glide Quight through thy guilty breast for all why than dispatch and dye So maist thou recompence thy Fathers death sufficiently Let it be so what mends vnto thy Mother will thou make Vnto thy children what these plagues O wretch how wilt thou slake That thus for thee thy countrey mastes Ohe push shall ende them all A proper fetch A fine deuise For thee a worthy fall Inuent thou monstrous beast forthwith a fall euen worthy for Thy selfe inuent whom all men hate and loth and doe abhor And as dame Natures lawfull course is broke O wretch by thee So let to such a mischiefe great thy Death agreeing bee O that I might a thousand times my wretched lyfe renewe O that I might reuyue and dye by course in order dewe Ten hundred thousand times more than should I vengeance take Vpon this wretched head Than I perhaps in part should make A meete amends in deede for this my fowle and lothsom Sin Than should the proofe of payne reproue the life that I liue in The choyse is in thy hand thou wretch than vse thine owne discretion And finde a meanes whereby thou maist come to extreame confusion And that that oft thou maist not doe let it prolonged bee Thus thus maist thou procure at length an endlesse death to thee
that hel may in this pickle playne Behold the man that conquerd yt no booty bringe I will Away with me why dost thou quake for feare of Hercles still Set on me death coragiously for now I may be kilde A. Now stint thy tender tears that down thy checkes so long haue trild And mayster this thy mallady compell thy sorrowes sloupe And shew that in these plunging panges Alcides did not droupe And as it hath bene caâ—st thy guyse force death and hel to shriâ—ke Her If ougly grested Cauâ—asue In chayne of yrone linke Should bynd me as agâ—oning pray the greedy grype to feede Yet from myne eyes it should not strayne a brokeÌ„ teare indeede If wandring Symplegads would me wish eyther rocke assaile To byde the brunt of double wracke my courage would not quayle Let Pindus tumbled be on me houge Aemus let me haue Or Athos rocke in Thracian seas that breakes the weltring waue And bode the boultes of thondring Ioue although th unweildy masse Of all the world should fal on mee and might be brought to passe That Phoebus flaming apeltree should burne vppon my graue No vncouth crye should force the mynd of Hercles thus to raue Let meete a thousand sauage beastes and rent me al at once Let Stymphal foules with houling hoarse lay strokes vppon my bones Or scrowling bul on thother syde strike on with head and horne Or els of other serpentes wilde let al my partes be torne With roring earthquakes hougy lumpes be puffed vppon me With griping greefe let all my limmes to nothing pyned bee Although I be to pouder crusht I wil with pacience peace In spite of beastes or brusing blowes my sighes and teares shal seace Alc. It is not sonne the womans bane that in thy bones doth boile But festring teares and broosing knockes of thy continual toyle The wrinches old with aking panges begin to smart anew HE. O where is death where is hee now of all that I do rew Can any witnes what it is let death now bend his bow A naked hand is stronge ynough to make mee stowpe ful low Let any wight in al the worlde attempt to set on mee I warrant him approch let him Ah wretched might I bee This wayward agony hath take his perfit wits away Haue hence his tooles and eake his shaftes for daunger hence coâ—uay His ruddy gills that glow like fier some mischiefe doe pretend To shrowde my selfe alas into what corner shall I wend This mallady a frensy is this onely is the meane To conquer Hercules why then doe I as doting queanâ— Thus fall to teares and seeke to shrynke may bee that hee will haue Alcmenas hand to giue the stroke to bring him to the graue But dye he in a Murreynes name ere I for cowarde will Such deadly penaunce bee enioynde that on my doings still His baynous hand may vaunt it selfe loe how the pangues full deepe With stuggling ceast doe hinde the purple vaynes with deadly sleepe And beating sore lift vp and downe his faynt and panting breast If I O Gods of this my noble Childe bee dispossest Be gracious yet and for the worlde some lusty champion saue Rid his annoy and let his limmes agayne theyr courage haue Hyllus Alcmena Hercules O Dismall day O anguishe O the heaper vp of ill Ioues Sonne is slayne his Daughter dyes his Nephew lyueth still First by the Stepdames treason is the Sonne to ruin brought The Daughter likewyse trapt in traynes and thereby come to nought What hoary head in chaunge of tunes or teanour of his age Hath seene that Fortunes frowning Face hath sturd such stormy rage One dolefull day bereaueth mee alas of parents twayne But least I speake to spite the Gods I will somewhat refrayne I lost a Father Hercules this onely I complayne AL. O noble Impe of Hercules alas my Nephew deare That dost of wretched Alcmens Sonne the liuely feature beare Refrayne my chylde thy wayling woordes this quiet sleepe perhap Will ouercome these plonging fits But loe loe in my lap Hee doth begin to striue agayne his fits begin a fresh Sleepe gieuing vp the feeble ghost to ranckle in the flesh HE. What meaneth Thrachin craggy crest to shew before myne eyes Or now forsaking man am I aduaunst aboue the skies Why do the heauens prouyde for me the father Ioue I see And eake my stepdame Iuno dire appeased now with me What heauenly harmony is this that soundeth in myne eare Dame Iuno calles me sonne in law I se the pallace cleare Of christal skies and beaten rakes of Phoebus flaming wheele I see the dumpish moary denne of glowming lady night Here he commaundeth darknes dim to shew it self in sight What meaneth this who is it that the heauens agaynst me sparres And am I thus O father myne brought downe againe from starres Euen now Appolloës sowltring car did fume about my face So nie I past the pinch of Death lo Thrachin top in place Who brought me backe to ground agayne beneath me earst it lay And al the world was vnder me thou smart wert worne away Thou forcest me confesse the same Ah mercy mercy now In stead of farther vengeance do these humble wordes allow Lo Hillus lo thy mothers giftes such presentes shee preparde Ah might my trunchion punch her puddinges once as whilom farde The haughty Ladye Amazon wel trounsed for her pride On th edge of ysy Caucasus afront the mountayne syde O noble lady Megara were thou my wretched wyfe When rapt in rage of franticke fittes I rest thee of thy life Geue me my batt and bow in hand my wrestes I wil imbrew And force ye all your brages on me with blemish blacke to rue Thus let of Hercules exployts a woman be the last Hi. Forbeare O Syre thy hateful threates she hath it all is past The vengeance that ye seke on her already hath her spedd With wound receiued at your hand my mother lieth dead Her O blynded anguish dye she should of Hercles furious hand Thus Licas hath his marrow lost the heate of burning brest Wil haue me on the breathlesse coarse for to reuenge the rest Why doth shee not yet fele her force both let her want a graue And on her cursed flesh to feede let beastes her carkasse haue Hil. The silly woman was more woe then ye that bide the smart Ye wil release some part hereof for pitty in your hart For greefe of you with her owne hande alas her selfe she slew Thus more then ye do aske of her she doth her doyng rewe Yet is it not your Wyfes misdeede that brought you to this plight No nor my mothers traytrous hand hath wrought this deepe deceit This treason Nessus did contriue whom yee did pay his hire With arrow shot into his Ribs for rape of Deianire Thus father with the Centaures bloud your shyrt was sore embrewde At Nessus hand the vengeaunce of your deede thus haue yee rewde HE. Hee hath his will all is dispacht our Fates themselues display This is the