The Brazen Age Heywood, Thomas This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A03189 of text S104054 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 13310). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. Martin Mueller Incompletely or incorrectly transcribed words were reviewed and in many cases fixed by Melina Yeh Lydia Zoells This text has not been fully proofread EarlyPrint Project Evanston IL, Notre Dame IN, St.Louis, Washington MO 2017 Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License A03189.xml The brazen age the first act containing, the death of the centaure Nessus, the second, the tragedy of Meleager: the third the tragedy of Iason and Medea. The fourth. Vulcans net the fifth. The labours and death of Hercules: written by Thomas Heywood. Heywood, Thomas, d. 1641. 42 600dpi TIFF G4 page images University of Michigan, Digital Library Production Service Ann Arbor, Michigan 2003 January (TCP phase 1) 99839794 STC (2nd ed.) 13310. Greg, I, 313. 4246 A03189 2240937683

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 The brazen age the first act containing, the death of the centaure Nessus, the second, the tragedy of Meleager: the third the tragedy of Iason and Medea. The fourth. Vulcans net the fifth. The labours and death of Hercules: written by Thomas Heywood. Heywood, Thomas, d. 1641. [84] p. Printed by Nicholas Okes, for Samuel Rand dwelling neere Holborne-Bridge, London : 1613. 1611

In verse.

Cf. Folger catalogue. which gives signatures: A2 B-L4.

The last leaf is blank.

Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.

 A03189 shc The Brazen Age Heywood, Thomas Melina Yeh Lydia Zoells 1611 play tragicomedy shc no A03189 S104054 (STC 13310). 81 26584 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 A This text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. Incorporated ~ 10,000 textual changes made to the SHC corpus by Hannah Bredar, Kate Needham, and Lydia Zoells between April and July 2015 during visits, separately or together, to the Bodleian, Folger and Houghton Libraries as well as the Rare Book Libraries at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago

THE BRAZEN AGE , The first Act containing , The death of the Centaure Nessus , THE SECOND , The Tragedy of Meleager : THE THIRD The Tragedy of Iason and Medea .

THE FOVRTH .

UVLCANS NET THE FIFTH .

The Labours and death of HERCVLES : Written by THOMAS HEYWOOD .

LONDON , Printed by Nicholas Okes , for Samuel Rand dwelling neere Holborne-Bridge . 1613 .

To the Reader .

THough a third brother should not inherite , whilst the two elder liue , by the laws of the Land , & therfore it might breed in mee a discoragement , to commit him without any hereditary means , to shift for it selfe in a world so detractiue & calumnious , yet rather presuming vpon the ingenious , then affraid of the enuious , I haue expos'd him to the fortunes of a yonger brother , which is , most commonly , brauely to liue , or desperately to hazard : yet this is my comfort , that what imperfection soever it haue , hauing a brazen face it cannot blush ; much like a Pedant about this Towne , who , when all trades fail'd , turn'd Pedagogue , & once insinuating with me , borrowed from me certaine Translations of Ouid , as his three books De Arte Amandi , & two De Remedio Amoris , which since , his most brazen face hath most impudently challenged as his own , wherefore , I must needs proclaime it as far as Ham , where he now keeps schoole , Hos ego versiculos feci tulit alter honores , they were things which out of my iuniority and want of indgement , I committed to the veiw of some priuate friends , but with no purpose of publishing , or further communicating them . Therfore I wold entreate that Austin , for so his name is , to acknowledge his wrong to me in shewing them , & his owne impudence , & ignorance in challenging them . But courteous Reader , I can onely excuse him in this , that this is the Brazen Age .

Drammatis Personae . HOMER . Oeneus K of Calidon . Althea , & Her two brothers . Deyaneira . Meleager . Hercules . Achelous . Nessus . Iason . Atreus . Tellamon . Nestor . Medea . Oetes . Absyrtus . Adonis . Atlanta . Apollo . Aurora . Iupiter . Mercury . Iuno . Mars . Venus . Gallus . Vulcan . Lychas . Omphale . Her maids . Aeneas . Anchises . Laomedon . Hesione . Priam . Philoctetes . Water Nymphes . Castor . Pollux . Pyragmon .
The Brazen Age , CONTAINING The labours and death of Hercules . Enter HOMER . AS the world growes in yeares ( 't is the Heauens curse ) Mens sinnes increase ; the pristine times were best : The Ages in their growth wax worse & worse . The first was pretious , full of golden rest . Siluer succeeded ; good , but not so pure : Then loue and harmelesse lusts might currant passe : The third that followes we finde more obdure , And that we title by the Age of Brasse . In this more grosse and courser mettal'd Age , Tyrants and fierce oppressors we present . Nephewes that 'gainst their Vnckles wreake their rage , Mothers against their children discontent , A sister with her brother at fierce warre , ( Things in our former times not seene or knowne ) But vice with vertue now begins to iarre , And sinnes ( though not at height ) yet great are growne . Still with our history we shall proceed , And Hercules victorious acts relate : His marriage first , next many a noble deed Perform'd by him : last how he yeelds to Fate . And these , I hope , may ( with some mixtures ) passe , So you sit pleas'd in this our Age of Brasse .
Actus 1. Scoena 1. Enter Oeneus , King of Calidon , Queene Althea , Meleager , Deianeira , Plexippus , and Toxeus , brothers to the Queene . K. Oen. Thus midst our brothers , daughter , Queene and sonne , Sits Oeneus crown'd in fertill Calidon Whose age and weakenesse is supported only , In those ripe ioyes that I receiue from you . Plex. May we long stand supporters of your royaltyes , And glad spectators of your age and peace . Tox. The like I wish . K. Oen. We haue found you brothers royall , And subiects loyall . Althea . They are of our line , Of which no branch did euer perish yet , By Cankers , blastings , or dry barrennesse . But Meleager let me turne to thee , Whose birth the Fates themselues did calculate , Mel. Pray mother how was that ? I haue heard you say Somewhat about my birth miraculous , But neuer yet knew the true circumstance . Althea . 'T was thus : the very instant thou wast borne , The sisters , that draw , spinne , and clip our liues , Entred my chamber with a fatall brand , Which hurling in the fire , thus said : One day , one date , Betide this brand and childe , euen be their fate . So parted they , the brand begins to burne : And as it wasted , so didst thou consume ; Which I perceiuing , leap't vnto the flame , And quenching that , stayd thy consumption . The brand I ( as a iewell ) haue reseru'd , And keepe it in a casket , lock't as safe As in thy bosome thou maintainst thy heart . Melea. Pray keepe it well : for if not with my mother , With whom dare Meleager trust his life ? But sister Deianeira , now to you . Two worthy Champians must this day contend , And try their eminence in Armes for you , Great Achelous , and strong Hercules . Deia. We know it : my loue must be bought with blowes , Not Oratory wins me , but the sword : He that can braueliest in the lists contend , Must Deianeira's nuptiall bed ascend . Oen. Brothers , conduct these Champions to the lists , Meane time Althea state thee on that hand , On this side Deianeira the rich prize Of their contention . Melea. Clamors from a farre , Tell vs these Champions are a drest for warre . Enter at one doore the riuer Achelous , his weapons borne in by Water-Nymphes . At the other Hercules . K. Oen. Stand forth you warlike Champions , and expresse Your loues to Deianeira , in your valours . As we are Oeneus the Aetolians King , And vnder vs command whole Calidon . So we contest we make her here the prize Of the proud victor : Ache. Dares the Theban bastard Contend with vs , as we are eldest sonne Vnto the graue and old Oceanus , And the Nymph Nais , borne on Pindus mount , From whence our broad and spacious currents rise ? So are we proud to coape with Hercules . Nere let my streames wash Acarnania's bankes , Or we confin'de in Thous , our grand seat , Till ( by the ruine of Alcmena's sonne ) We lodge bright Deianeira in our armes . Herc. Haue we the Cleonean Lyons torne ? And deck't our shoulders in their honored spoyles ? The Calidonian Boare crusht with our Club ? The rude Thessalian Centaurs sunke beneath Our Iuiall hand ? pierc'd hell ? bound Cerberus ? And buffeted so long , till from the fome The dogge belch't forth strong Aconitum spring ? And shall a petty riuer make our way To Deianeira's bed impassable ? Know then the pettiest streame that flowes through Greece , I l'e make thee run thy head below thy bankes , Make red thy waters with thy vitall bloud , And spill thy waues in droppes as small as teares , If thou presum'st to coape with Hercules . Ache. What 's Hercules that I should dread his name ? Or what 's he greater then Amphitrio's sonne ? When we assume the name of Demi-god Not Proteus can trans-shape himselfe like vs , For we command our figure when we please . Sometimes we like a serpent run along Our medowy bankes : and sometimes like a Bull Graze on these strands we water with our streames . We can translate our fury to a fire , And when we swell , in our fierce torrents swallow The Champian plaines , and flow aboue the hils , Drowne all the continents by which we run ; Yea Hercules himselfe . Herc. Me Achelous ! I can do more then this : loue Deianeira , Swim with her on my shoulders through thy streames , And with my huge Club beat thy torrents backe , With thine owne waters quench th' infernall fires Thy figure serpentine , flat on the earth : And when th' art Bull , catch fast hold by thy hornes , And whirle thee 'bout my head thus into ayre . Thou faire Aetolian dame , I cannot wooe , Nor paint my passions in smooth Oratory , But fight for thee I can , 'gainst Achelous , Or all the horrid monsters of the earth . Melea. When 'gins your proud and hostile enmity ? Behold the prize propos'd , the victors meed , Champions your spirits inkindle at her eyes . Ache. It is for her this bastard I despise . Prepare thee Theban . Herc. See , I am adrest With this to thunder on thy captiue crest . I cannot bellow in thy bombast phrase ; Nor deafe these free spectators with my braues . I cut off words with deeds , and now behold For me , the eccho of my blowes thus scold . Alarme . Achelous is beaten in , and immediatly enters in the shape of a Dragon . Herc. Bee'st thou a God or hell-hound thus transhap't , Thy terrour frights not me , serpent or diuell I l'e pash thee . Alarme . He beats away the dragon . Enter a Fury all fire-workes . Herc. Fright vs with fire ? our Club shall quench thy flame , And beat it downe to hell , from whence it came . When the Fury sinkes , a Buls head appeares . Herc. What , yet more monsters ? Serpent , Bull , and Fire , Shall all alike taste great Alcides ire . He tugs with the Bull , and pluckes off one of his horns . Enter from the same place Achelous with his fore-head all bloudy . Ache. No more , I am thy Captiue , thou my Conquerer : I see , no Magicke , or inchanting spell Haue power on vertue and true fortitude . No sleight Illusion can deceiue the eyes Of him that is diuinely resolute . I lay me at thy feet , a lowly vassaile , Since thou hast reft me of that precious horne , Which tearing from my head in shape of Bull , Thus wounded me . Take Deianeira freely , Onely restore me that rich spoyle thou hast wonne , Which all the Nymphes and graces dwelling neere , Shall fill with redolent flowers , and delicate fruits , And call it Cornucopiae , plenties horne , In memory of Achelous losse , And this high conquest won by Hercules . Hercu. Hadst thou not stoopt thy horrid Taurine shape I would haue peece-meale rent , and thy tough hide Torne into rags as thicke as Autumne leaues : Take thee thy life , and with thy life that spoile Pluckt from thy mangled front , giue me my loue , I 'le stoare no hornes at winning of a wife . Giue me bright Deyanira , take that horne , So late from thy disfigured Temples torne . Deyan. I haue my prayers , Alcides his desires , Both meete in loue . Oen. Receiue her Hercules , The conquest of thy warlike fortitude . Herc. Wee take but what our valour purchast vs , And beauteous Queene thou shalt assure his loue , Whose puissant arme shall awe the triple world , And make the greatest Monarches of the earth To thy diuinest beauty tributary . Meleag. Will Hercules stay heere in Calidon , To solemnize the nuptials of our sister ? I Meleager , rich Aetolians heire , Whose large Dominions stretch to Oeta Mount , And to the bounds of fertile Thessaly Will grace thy Bridals with the greatest pompe Greece can affoord , nor is 't my meanest honour To be the brother to great Hercules . Herc. Thanks Meleager , soiourne heere we cannot , My step-dame Iuno tasks me to more dangers : Wee take thy beauteous sister in our guard , Whom by Ioues aide wee straight will beare to Thebes . Oen. A fathers wishes crowne the happinesse Of his faire daughter . Mel. And a brothers loue Comfort thee where thou goest : If not with Hercules Whom dare we trust thy safety . Herc. Not loues guard Can circle her with more security . Time cals vs hence , Aetolian Lords farewell . Oen. Adiew braue sonne , and daughter , onely happy In being thus bestowed , come Achelous , With you we 'le feast , nor let your foyle deiect you , Or Deyaniraes losse ; he 's more then man , And needes must he do this , that all things can . Exeunt . Herc. Dares Deyaneira trust her persons safety With vs a stranger , onely knowne by Fame . Deyn. Wer 't gainst the Lyons in Chimera bred , Or those rude Beares that breed in Caucasus : The Hyrcan Tigers or the Syrian Wolues , Nay gainst the Giants that assaulted heauen And with their shoulders made those bases shake That prop Olimpus : liu'd Enceladus With whom loue wrestled : euen against those monsters , I 'de thinke me safe incircled in these armes . Herc. Thou art as safe as if immur'd in heauen , Pal'd with that Christall wall that girts loues house , Where all the Gods inhabite , built by fate , Stay , I should know that Centaure . Enter Nessus . Ness. That 's Hercules I know him by his Club , Whose ponderous weight I felt vpon my Skull At the great Bridall of the Lapithes . What louely Ladie 's shee that in her beauty So much exceedes faire Hypodamia ? Herc, Oh Nessus , thou of all thy cloud-bred race , Alone didst scape by trusting to thy heeles At Hypodamia's Bridals , but we now Are friends , are wee not Nessus ? Ness. Yes great Hercules , ( Till I can find fit time for iust reuendge ) Methinkes my braines still rattle in my skull ) What Ladie 's that in great Alcides Guard ? Herc. Deyaneira , daughter to the Aetolian King , Sister to Meleager , now our Bride ; Wonne by the force of armes from Achelous , The boysterous floud that flowes through Calidon . Ness. A double enuy burnes in all my veines , First for reuenge ; next , that he should enioy That beauteous maide whom Nessus dearely loues . Will Hercules commande me ? or his Bride ? I 'le lackey by thee wheresoer'e thou goest , And be the vassall to great Hercules . Herc. We are bound for Thebes , but soft , what torrent 's this That intercepts our way ? How shall we passe These raging streames ? Ness. This is Euenus floud , A dangerous current , full of whirle-pooles deepe , And yet vnsounded : dar'st thou trust thy Bride On Nessus backe ? I 'le vndertake to swimme her Vnto the furthest strond , vpon my shoulders , And yet not laue her shooe . Herc. I 'le pay thee for thy waftage Centaure , well , And make thee Prince of all thy by-form'd race , If thou willt do this grace to Hercules : But ferry her with safety , for by Ioue , If thou but make her tremble in these streames , Or let the least waue dash against her skirt ; If the least feare of drowning pale her cheeke , I 'le pound thee smaller then the Autumne dust Tost by the warring winds ? Ness. Haue I not swomme The Hellesepont , when waues high as yon hils Tost by the winds , haue crown'd me , yet in spight Of all their briny weight I haue wrought my selfe Aboue the topmost billow to ore-looke The troubled maine : come beauteous Deyaneira , Not Charon with more safety ferries soules , Then I will thee through this impetuous foord , Herc. Receiue her Centaure , and in her the wealth And potency of mighty Hercules . Ness. Now my reuenge for that inhumaine banquet , In which so many of the Centaures fell , I 'le rape this Princesse , hauing past the floud Come beauteous Deyaneira , mount my shoulders , And feare not your safe waftage . Exeunt . Herc. That done returne for vs : faire Deianeira , White as the garden lilly , pyren snow , Or rocks of Christall hardned by the Sunne : Thou shalt be made the potent Queene of Thebes , And all my Iouiall labours shall to thee Be consecrate , as to Alcides loue . Well plundge bold Centaure , how thy boysterous brest Plowes vp the streames : thou through the swelling tides , Sail'st with a freight more rich and beautifull , Then the best ship cram'd with Pangeous gold : With what a swift dexterity he parts The mutinous waues , whose waters claspe him round , Hee plaies and wantons on the curled streames , And Deyanira on his shoulders fits As safe , as if she stear'd a pine-tree barke . They grow now towards the shore : my club and armes I 'le first cast or'e the deepe Euenus foord , But from my side my quiuer shall not part , Nor this my trusty bow . Deyan. Helpe Hercules . Within . Herc. 'T was Deyaneiraes voyce . Deyan. The Traytor Nessus Seekes to despoile mine honour , Ioue , you Gods : Out trayterous Centaure : Helpe great Hercules . Here. Hold , lust-burnt Centaure , 't is Alcides cals Or swifter then Ioues lightning , my fierce vengeance Shall crosse Euenus . Deyan. Oh , oh . Herc. Darst thou deuill ? Couldst thou clime Heauen or sinke below the Center So high , so low , my vengeance should persue thee , Hold ; if I could but fixe thee in my gripes , I de teare thy limbes into more Atomies Then in the Summer play before the Sunne . Deyan. Helpe Hercules ( out dog ) Alcides helpe . Herc; ; I 'le send till I can come , this poisonous shaft Shall speake my fury and extract thy bloud , Till I my selfe can crosse this raging floud . Hercules shoots , and goes in : Enter Nessus with an arrow through him , and Deianeira . Ness. Thy beauty Deyaneira is my death , And yet that Nessus dies embracing thee Takes from my sences all those torturing pangues That should associate death : to shew I lou'd thee , I 'le leaue thee , in my will , a legacy ; Shall stead thee more , then should thy father giue thee Vnto thy Dower the Crowne of Calidon . Of such great vertue is my liuing bloud , And of such prize , that couldst thou valew it , Thou wouldst not let one drop fall to the ground : But oh I die . Deyan. Teach me to rate it truely . Ness. Now Nessus , in thy death be aueng'd on him On whom in life thou couldst not wreake thy rage : ( My bloud is poison ) all these pure drops saue , Which I bequeath thee ere I take my graue : I know thy Lord lasciuious , bent to lust , Witnesse the fifty daughters of King Thespeius , Whom in one night he did adulterate : And of those fifty begot fifty sonnes : Now if in all his quests , he be with-held By any Ladies loue , and stay from thee , Such is the vertue of my bloud now shed , That if thou dipst a shirt , steept in the least Of all these drops , and sendst it to thy Lord , No sooner shall it touch him , but his loue Shall die to strangers , and reuiue to thee , Make vse of this my loue . Deyan. Centaure , I will . Ness. And so , whom Nessus cannot , do thou kill ; Still dying men speake true : 't is my last cry , Saue of my bloud , 't may steede thee ere thou die . Deyan. Though I my loue mistrust not , yet this counsell I 'le not despise : this if my Lord should stray , Shall to my desolate bed teach him the way . Enter Hercules . Herc. After long strugling with Euenus streames , I forc't the riuer beare me on her brest , And land me safely on this further strond , To make an end of what my shaft begunne , The life of Nessus , liues the Centaure yet ? Deyan. Behold him grouelling on the sencelesse earth , His wounded breast transfixt by Hercules . Herc. That the luxurious slaue were sencible Of torture ; not th' infernals with more pangues Could plague the villaine then Alcides should . Ixions bones rackt on the torturing wheele Should be a pastime : the three snake-hair'd sisters , That lash offenders with their whips of steele , Should seeme to dally , when with euery string They cut the flesh like razors : but the dead Wee hate to touch , as cowardly and base , And vengeance not becomming Hercules . Come Deyaneira , first to consumate Our high espowsals in triumphant Thebes , That done , our future labours wee 'le persue , And by the assistance of the powers Diuine , Striue to act more then Iuno can assigne . Exit . Enter HOMER . Faire Deyaneira vnto , Thebes being guided , And Hercules espousals solemnized . Hee for his further labours soone prouided , As Iuno by Euritius had deuised . The Apples of Hesperia first he wan , Mauger huge Atlas that supports the spheares : And whilst the Gyant on his businesse ran ; Alcides takes his place , and proudly beares The heauens huge frame : thence into Scithia hies , And their the Amazonian Baldricke gaines , By conquering Menalip ( a braue prise ) The warlike Quene that ore the Scithians raignes . That hee supported heauen , doth well expresse His Astronomicke skill , knowledge in starres : They that such practise know , what do they lesse Then beare heauens weight so of the Lernean warres . Where he the many-headed Hydra slew , A Serpent of that nature , when his sword Par'd off one head , from that another grew . This shewed his Logicke skill : from euery word And argument confuted , there arise From one a multiplicity , therefore we Poets and such as are esteemed wise , Instruct the world by such morality . To conquer Hydra showed his powerfull skill In disputation , how to argue well . ( By all that vnderstand in custome still ) And in this Art did Hercules excell . Now we the Aegyptian tyrant must present , Bloudy Busiris , a king fell and rude , One that in murder plac't his sole content , With whose sad death our first Act we conclude . Enter Busyris with his Guard and Priests to sacrifice ; to them two strangers , Busyris takes them and kils them vpon the Altar : enter Hercules disguis'd , Busyris sends his Guard to apprehend him , Hercules discouering himselfe beates the Guard , kils Busyris and sacrificeth him vpon the Altar , at which there fals a shower of raine , the Priests offer Hercules the Crowne of Aegypt which he refuseth . HOMER . In Aegypt there of long time fell no raine , For which vnto the Oracle they sent : Answeres return'd , that till one stranger slaine , Immou'd shall be the Marble firmament . Therefore the Tyrant all these strangers kils That enter Aegypt , till Alcides came And with the tyrants bulke the Altar fils : At whose red slaughter fell a plenteous raine . For he that stranger and vsurper was , Whose bloudy fate the Oracle forespake . But for a while we let Alcides passe , Whom these of Aegypt would their soueraigne make , For freeing them from such a tyrants rage ; Now Meleager next must fill our stage .
Actus 2. Scoena 2. Enter Venus like a Huntresse , with Adonis . Venus . Why doth Adonis flye the Queene of loue ? And shun this Iuory girdle of my armes ? To be thus scarft the dreadfull God of warre Would giue me conquered kingdomes : For a kisse ( But halfe like this ) I could command the Sunne Rise 'fore his houre , to bed before his time : And ( being loue-sicke ) change his golden beames , And make his face pale , as his sister Moone . Come , let vs tumble on this violet banke : Pre'thee be wanton ; let vs toy and play , Thy Icy fingers warme betweene my breasts ; Looke on me Adon with a stedfast eye , That in these Christall glasses I may see My beauty , that charmes Gods , makes men amaz'd , And stownd with wonder : doth this roseat pillow Offend my loue ? come , wallow in my lap , With my white fingers I will clap thy cheeke , Whisper a thousand pleasures in thine eare . Adonis . Madame , you are not modest : I affect The vnseene beauty that adornes the minde . This loosenesse makes you fowle in Adons eye : If you will tempt me , let me in your face Reade blushfulnesse , and feare ; a modest blush Would make your cheeke seeme much more beautifull . If you will whisper pleasure in mine eare , Praise chastity , or with your lowd voyce shrill The tunes of hornes , and hunting ; they please best : I l'e to the chase , and leaue you to the rest . Venus . Thou art not man ; yet wer 't thou made of stone , I haue heate to melt thee . I am Queene of loue , There is no practiue art of dalliance Of which I am not Mistresse , and can vse . I haue kisses that can murder vnkinde words , And strangle hatred , that the gall sends forth : Touches to raise thee , were thy spirits halfe dead : Words that can powre affection downe thine eares . Loue me ! thou canst not chuse , thou shalt not chuse . Am I not Venus ? Hadst thou Cupids arrowes , I should haue tooke thee to haue beene my sonne : Art thou so like him , and yet canst not loue ? I thinke you are brothers . Adonis . Madame , you wooe not well , men couet not These proffered pleasures ; but loue-sweets deny'd : What I command , that cloyes my appetite ; But what I cannot come by I adore . These prostituted pleasures surfet still , Where s feare , or doubt , men sue with best good will . Venus . Thou canst instruct the Queene of loue in loue . Thou shalt not ( Adon ) take me by the hand ; Yet if thou needs wilt force me , there s my palme . I l'e frowne on him ( alas ! my brow 's so smooth It will not beare a wrinkle : ) hye thee hence Vnto the chace , and leaue me : but not yet , I l'e sleepe this night vpon Endimions banke , On which the Swaine was courted by the Moone . Dare not to come , thou art in our disgrace ; ( Yet if thou come I can affoord thee place . ) Adonis . I must begone . Venus . Sweet whither ? Adonis . To the Chace . Venus . What doest thou hunt ? Adonis . The Calidonian Boare , To which the Princes and best spirits of Greece Are now assembled . Venus . I beshrew thee boy , That very word strooke from my heart all ioy : It startled mee , me thinkes I see thee dye By that rude Boare . Hunt thou the beasts that flye , The wanton Squirrell , or the trembling Hare , The crafty Fox : these pastimes fearelesse are . The greedy Wolues , and fierce Beares arm'd with clawes , Rough shouldred Lyons , such as glut their iawes With heards at once , Fell Boares , let them passe by , Adon , these looke not with thy Venus eye . They iudge not beauty , nor distinguish youth , These are their prey ; My pitty , loue and ruth Liues not in them . Oh to thy selfe be kinde , Thou from their mouthes , my kisses shalt not find . Winde hornes within . Adonis . The summons to the chace , Venus adue . Ven. Leaue those , turne head , chuse those thou maist pursue Adonis . I am resolu'd , I l'e helpe to rouze yon beast . Venus . Thou art to deere his sauadge throat to feast . Forbeare . Adonis . In vaine . Venus . Appoynt when we shall meet . Adonis . After the chace . Farewell then . Venus . Farewell sweet . Adonis . This kissing . Venus . Adon , guard thee well , expresse Thy loue to me , in being of thy selfe Carefull and chary : they that raze thy skin Wound me . Be wise my Adon. Adon. Neuer doubt . So then He kisseth her . Venus . But lip-labour , yet ill left out . Exeunt . Winde hornes . Enter with Iauelings , and in greene , Meleager , Theseus , Telamon , Castor , Pollux , Iason , Peleus , Nestor , Atreus , Toxeus , Plexippus . Melea. The cause of this conuention ( Lords of Greece ) Needs no expression ; and yet briefly thus : Oeneus our father , the Aetolians King , Of all his fruits aud plenty , gaue due rights To all the Gods and Goddesses , Ioue , Ceres , Bacchus , and Pallas ; but among the rest , Diana he neglects : for which inrag'd , She hath sent ( to plague vs ) a huge sauadge Boare , Of an vn-measured height and magnitude . What better can describe his shape and terror Then all the pittious clamours shrild through Greece ? Of his depopulations , spoyles , and preyes ? His flaming eyes they sparkle bloud and fire , His bristles poynted like a range of pikes Ranck't on his backe : his foame snowes where he feeds His tuskes are like the Indian Oliphants . Out of his iawes ( as if Ioues lightning flew ) He scortches all the branches in his way , Plowes vp the fields , treads flat the fields of graine . In vaine the Sheepheard or his dogge secures Their harmlesse fowlds . In vaine the furious Bull Striues to defend the heard ore which he Lords . The Collonies into the Citties flye , And till immur'd , they thinke themselues not safe . To chace this beast we haue met on Oeta mount , Attended by the noblest spirits of Greece . Tela. From populous Salamine I Telamon Am at thy faire request , King Meleager , Come to behold this beast of Calidon , And proue my vertue in his sterne pursuite . Iason . Not Meleagers loue , more then the zeale I beare my honour , hath drawne Iason hither , To this aduenture , yet both forcible To make me try strange maisteries 'gainst that monster , Whose fury hath so much amaz'd all Greece . Castor . That was the cause I Castor , with my brother Pollux , arriu'd , and left our sister Hellen Imbrac't by our old father Tyndarus , To rouze this beast . Pollux . Let vs no more be held The sonnes of Leda , and be got by Ioue , Brothers , and cal'd the two Tyndarian twins If we returne not crimson'd in the spoiles Of this fierce Boare . Nestor . To that end Nestor came . Nestor , that hath already liu'd one age , And entred on the second , to the third May I nere reach , if part of that wilde swine I bring not home to Pylos where I reigne . Atr. My yong son Agamemnon , and his brother Prince Menelaus in his swathes at home , Without some honour purchast on this Boare , May I no more see , or Myeenes visit . Thes. Well speakes Atreus , and his noble acts Stil equalize his language . Shall not Theseus Venter as farre as any ? heauens you know I dare as much 'gainst any mortall foe . Tox. Wher 's Hercules , that at this noble busines He is not present , being neere ally'd To Meleager , hauing late espowsed His sister Deianeira ? Plex. He 's for Busiris , that Aegytian tyrant , Mel. Else noble valour , he would haue bin first To haue purchast honour in this hauty quest. Enter Atlanta with a Iauelin , Hornes winded . Atl. Haile princes , let it not offend this troop , That I a Princesse and Atlanta cald , A virgin Huntresse , presse into the field , In hope to double guild my Iauelins poynt In bloud of yon wilde swine . Melea. Virgineam in puero , puerilem in virgine vultum Aspicio . Oh you Gods ! or make her mine , Stated with vs the Calidonian Queene , Or let this monstrous beast confound me quite , And in his vast wombe bury all my fate . Beauteous Atlanta welcome , grace her princes For Meleagers honour . Iason . Come , shal 's vncupple Lords , Some plant the toiles , others brauely mount , To un-den this sauadge . Melea. Time and my bashfull loue Admits no courtship , Lady ranke with vs . I l'e be this day your guardian , and a shield Betweene you and all danger . Atlant. We are free , And in the chace will our owne guardian be . Shal s to the field , my Iauelin and these shafts , Pointed with death , shall with the formost flye , And by a womans hand the beast shall dye . Enter Adonis winding his horne . Melea. As bold as faire ; but soft , whose bugle 's that Which cals vs to the chace ? Adonis yours ? Adonis . Mine oh you noble Greekes , we haue discouered The dreadfull monster wallowing in his den : The toyles are fixt , the huntsmen plac't on hils Prest for the charge , the fierce Thessalian hounds With their flagge eares , ready to sweep the dew From the moist earth : their breasts are arm'd with steele , Against the incounter of so grim a beast : The hunters long to vncupple , and attend Your presence in the field . Atlanta . Follow Atlanta . I l'e try what prince will second me in field , And make his Iauelins point shake euen with mine . Melea. That Meleagers shall . Tela. Nor Telamon Will come behinde Atlanta , or the Prince . Iason . Charge brauely then your Iauelins , send them singing Through the cleare aire , and aime them at yon fiend , Den'd in the quechy bogge , the signall Lords . All . charge , charge . a great winding of hornes , & shouts . Meleag. Princes , shrill your Bugles free . And all Atlanta's danger fall on me . Enter Iason and Telamon . Iason . This way , this way , renowned Telamon , The Boare makes through yon glade , and from the hils He hurries like a tempest : In his way He prostrates trees , and like the bolt of Ioue , Shatters where ere he comes . Tela. Diana's wrath Sparkles grim terrour from his fiery eyes : One Iauelin pointed with the purest brasse , I haue blunted 'gainst his ribs , yet he vnscar'd , The head , as darted 'gainst a rocke of marble , Rebounded backe . Iason . He shakes off from his head Our best Thessalian dogges , like Sommer flyes : Nor can their sharpe phangs fasten on his hide . Follow the cry . A shout . Enter Castor and Pollux . Castor . Wher 's noble Telamon ? Pollux . Or warlike Iason ? Iason . Here you Tyndarides , Speake , which way bends this plague of Calidon ? Castor . Here may you stand him , for behold he comes Like a rough torrent , swallowing where he spreads , Ouer his head a cloud of terrour hangs In which leane death ( as in a Chariot ) rides , Darting his shafts on all sides : 'mongst the Princes Of fertill Greece , Anceus bowels lye Strewd on the earth , torne by his rauenous tuskes : And had not Nestor ( by his Iauelins helpe ) Leap't vp into an Oke to haue scap't his rage , He had now perisht in his second Age . Pollux . Peleus is wounded , Pelegon lies slaine , Eupalemon hath all his body rent With an oblique wound : yet Meleager still , And Theseus , and Atreus , with the rest , Pursue the chace , with Boare-speares cast so thicke , That where they flye , they seeme to darke the ayre , And where they fall , they threaten imminent ruine . Iason . To these wee 'l adde our fury , and our fire , And front him , though his brow bare figured hell , And euery wrinkle were the gulfe of Styx By which the Gods contest : Come noble Telamon , Diana's monster by our hands shall fall , Or ( with the Princes slaine ) let 's perish all . Exeunt . Hornes and shouts . Enter Meleager , Atlanta . Meleag. Thou beauteous Nonacris , Arcadia's pride , How hath thy valour with thy fortune ioyn'd , To make thee staine the generall fortitude Of all the Princes we deriue from Greece , Thy launces poynt hath on yon armed monster , Made the first wound , and the first crimson droppe Fell from his side , thy ayme and arme extracted , Thy fame shall neuer dye in Calidon . Atl. We trifle heere , what shall Atlanta gaine The first wounds honour , and be absent from The monsters death , we must haue hand in both . Melea. Thou hast purchast honour and renowne enough , Oh staine not all the generall youth of Greece , By thy too forward spirit . Come not neere Yon rude blood-thirsty sauadge , lest he prey On thee , as on Anceus , and the rest , Let me betweene thee and all dangers stand . Hornes . Fight , but fight safe beneath our puissant hand . Atl. The cry comes this way , all my shafts I l'e spend . To giue the fury that affrights vs , end . Melea. And ere that monster on Atlanta pray , This point of steele shal through his hart make way . exeunt . After great shouts , enter Venus . Venus . Adonis , thou that makest Venus a Huntresse , Leaue Paphos , Gnidon , Eryx , Erecine , And Amathon , with precious mettals bigge , Mayst thou this day liue bucklerd in our wing , And shadowed in the amorous power of loue : My swannes I haue vnyoakt , and from their necks Tane of their bridles made of twisted silke . And from my chariot stucke with Doues white plumes Lighted vpon this verdure , where the Boare Hath in his fury snow'd his scattered foame . A cry within . What cry was that ? It was Adonis sure . That piercesant shrike shrild through the musicall pipes Of his sweete voyces organs , thou Diana If thou hast sent this fiende to ruin loue , Or print the least skarre in my Adons flesh Thy chastity I will abandon quite , And with my loosenesse , blast thy Cinthian light . Enter Theseus and Nestor , bringing in Adonis wounded to death . Thes. There lie most beauteous of the youths of Greece , Whose death I will not mourne , ere I reuenge . Nest. I 'le second thee , thou pride of Greece adiew , Whom too much valor in thy prime ore-threw . Exit . Ven. Y' are not mine eyes , for they to fee him dead Would from their soft beds drop vpon the earth : Or in their owne warme liquid moisture drowne Their natiue brightnesse : th' art not Venus heart , For wer 't thou mine , at this sad spectacle Th' dst breake these ribs though they were made of brasse , And leap out of my bosome instantly . My sorrowes like a populous throng , all striuing At once to passe through some inforced breach , In stead of winning passage stop the way , And so the greatest hast , breeds the most stay . Oh mee ! my multiplicity of sorrowes , Makes me almost forget to grieue at all . Speake , speake , my Adon , thou whom death hath fed on Ere thou wast yet full ripe ; and this thy beautie 's Deuour'd ere tasted . Eye , where 's now thy brightnesse ? Or hand thy warmth ? Oh that such louely parts Should be by death thus made vnseruiceable . That ( liuest then ) had the power to intrance Ioue : Rauish , amaze , and surfet , all these pleasures Venus hath lost by thy vntimely fall . And therefore for thy death eternally Venus shall mourne ; Earth shall thy trunke deuoure , But thy liues bloud I 'le turne into a flower , And euery Month in sollemne rights deplore , This beauteous Greeke slaine by Dianaes Boare . Exit . The fall of the Boare being winded , Meleager with the head of the Boare , Atlanta , Nestor , Toxeus , Plexippus , Iason , Thesus , &c. with their iauellins bloudied . Mel. Thus lies the terror that but once to day Aw'd all the boldest hearts of Calidon Wallowing and weltering in his natiue bloud , Transfixt by vs , but brauely seconded , By noble Iason , Theseus , Peleus , Telamon , Nestor , the Tyndarides , And our bold vnkles , al our boar-speares stain'd And gory hands lau'd in his reeking bloud , To whom belongs this braue victorious spoile ? All . To Meleager Prince of Calidon . Mel. Is that your generall suffrage ? Iason . Let not Greece Suffer such merite vnregarded passe , Or valour liue vnguerdon'd , that fel Swine Whom yet , euen dead , th' amazed people feare , And dare not touch but with astonishment Fell by thy hand . Tel. Thou stodst his violence , Til thy sharpe Iauelin grated gainst his broines , Beneath his shield thou entred'st to his heart . At that we guirt him till a thousand wounds , Hee from a thousand hands receiu'd at once : And in his fall it seem'd the earth did groane , And the fixt Center tremble vnder him . Castor . The spoile is thine , the yong Adonis death , Anceus slaughter , and the massacre Of Archas , Pelagon , Eupateinon And all the Grecian Printes lost this day , Thou hast reueng'd , therefore be thine the fame , Which with a generall voyce Greece shall proclaime . Mel. Princes wee thanke you , 't is mine giuen me free . Which faire Atlanta we bestow on thee . Tox. Ha , to a woman . Plex. And so many men , Ingag'd in 't , call backe thy gift againe . Cast. Greece is by this disparaged , and our fame Fowly eclipst . Pollux Snatch't from that emulous Dame . Mel. Murmur you Lords at Meleagers bounty , We first bestow'd it as our owne by guift , Yea , and by right , but now we render it To bright Atlanta , as her owne by due As shee that from the Boare the first bloud drew . Nest. We must not suffer this disgrace to Greece . Atre. Let women claime 'mongst women eminence , Our Lofty spirits , that honour haue in chace , Cannot disgest wrongs womanish and base . Cast. Restore this woman and thy sex enuy For fortitude , aime not at quests so hye . Iason . Castor forbeare . Tella. Hee giues but what 's his owne . Thes. T is the Kings bounty , Mel. By the immortall Gods , That gaue vs this daies honour , the same hand By which the Calidonian terror fell , Shall him that frownes or murmurs lanch to hell . All . That will we try . Mel. Then reskue for Atlanta , This day shall fall for thee , that art diuine , Monsters more sauadge then Dianaes swine . A strange confused fray , Toxeus and Plexippus are slaine by Meleager , Iason and Tellamon stand betweene the two factions . Ias. No more , no more , behold your vnkles slaine , Saue in this act two Noble Gentlemen , Pursue not fury to the spoile of Greece , And death of more braue Princes : let your rage Be here confin'de , cut off this purple streame In his mid course , and turne this torrent backe Which in his fury else may drown'd vs all . Tel. I second Iason and expose my selfe , Betweene these factions to compose a peace . Mel. Wee haue done too much already , impious fury , How boundlesse is thy power : vncircumscribed By thought or reason , th' art all violence , Thy end repentance , sorrow and distast : How will Althea take her brothers death From her sons hand , but rash deeds executed May be lamented , neuer be recal'd Shall the suruiuers bee atton'd ? Atreus . So it be done with honour on both parts Wee haue swords to guard our fortunes and our liues , And but an equall language will keepe both Thus at the point . Thes. Ioyne hands renowned Princes , The fury of the Prince of Calidon Hath prey'd but on his owne , there let it end , No further by your vrgent spleenes extend . Castor . We are appeas'd . Iason . Lords freely then embrace . Mel. First then , wee 'le royally interre our vnkles , And spend some teares vpon their funerall rites , That done we 'le in our Palace feast these Princes , With bright Atlanta , whom wee 'le make our Queene . Our Vnkles once bestow'de into the earth , Our mournings shall expire in Bridall mirth . Exeunt . Enter K. Oeneus and Althea , meeting the bodies of their two brothers borne . Oen. Come to the Temple there to sacrifice For these glad tydings , since the Boare lies dead , That fil'd our kingdome with such awe and dread . Alth. What ioy names Oeneus in this spectacle ? This of a thousand the most sad and tragicke , Whose murdered trunkes be these ? Seru. Your royall brothers , Prince Toxeus and Plexippus , Althea . Speake , how slaine ? Seru. Not by the Boare , but by your sons owne hand . Althea . By Meleagers , how ? vpon what quarrell ? Could the proud boy ground such a damned act . Seru. Your sonne to faire Atlanta gaue the prise Of this daies trauell , which for , they with-stood In mutinous armes they losse their vitall blouds . Alth. Shall I reuenge or mourne them . Oen. O strange fate . An obiect that must shorten Oeneus daies , And bring these winter haires to a sad Tombe Long ere there date ; I sinke beneath these sorrowes Into my blacke and timelesse monument . Althea . My sorrowes turne to rage , my teares to fire , My praiers to curses , vowes into reuenge . Oen. Peace , peace my Queene , let 's beare the Gods vindiction With patience , as wee did Dianaes wrath : Where Gods are bent to punish , we may grieue But can our selues nor succour , nor relieue . Come , let vs do to them their latest rites , Wait on their Hearses in our mourning blacke ; Their happy soules are mounted 'boue the spheares , We 'le wash their bodies in our funerall teares . Exit . Manet Althea . Althea . Althea what distraction 's this within thee ? A sister or a mother wilt thou bee ? Since both I cannot , ( for these Princes slaine ) Sister I chuse , a mothers name disdaine : The fatall brand in which the murderers life Securely lies , I 'le hurle into the fire And as it flames , so shall the slaue expire . Mischeife I 'le heape on mischeife , bad on ill , Wrong pay with wrongs , and slaughter these that kill . And since the Gods would all our glories thrall , I will with them haue chiefe hand in our fall . But hee 's my sonne : oh pardon me deere brothers , Being a mother if I spare his life , Though it bee fit his sinne be plaug'd with death , And that his life lie in yon fatall brand , 'T will not come fitly from a mothers hand . Is this the hope of all my ten months paine , Must he by th' hand of him that nurst him now be slaine ? Would he had perisht in his cradle , when I gaue him twice life : in his birth , and then When I the brand snatcht from the rauenous flame , And for this double good , hast thou with shame And iniury repaide me ? I will now A sister be , no mother , for I vow Reuenge and death ; Furies , assist my hand Whilst in red flames I cast his vitall brand . Exit . A banquet , enter Meleager , Iason , Theseus , Castor , Pollux , Nestor , Peleus . Atreus , Atlanta . Meleag. For faire Atlanta , and your Honours , Lords We banquet you this day : and to beginne Our festiuals we 'le crowne this Iouiall health Vnto our brother , Theban Hercules And Deyaneira , will you pledge it Lords ? Iason . None but admire and loue their matchlesse worths , Not faire Atlanta will refuse this health . Atlan. You beg of mee a pledge , I 'le take it lason , As well for his sake that beginnes the round , As those to whom 't is vow'd . Tell. Well spoke Atlanta , but I wonder Lords What Prouince now holds Theban Hercules ? Thes. He is the mirrour and the pride of Greece , And shall in after ages be renoun'd , But we forget his health , come Tellamon Aime it at mee . A fire : Enter Althea with the brand . Althea . Assist my rage you sterne Eumenides , To you this blacke deed will I consecrate . Pitty away , hence thou consanguine loue , Maternall zeale , peccentall piety . All cares , loues , duties , offices , affections , That grow 'tweene sonnes and mothers , leaue this place ; Let none but furies , murders , paracides , Be my assistants in this dam'd attempt : All that 's good and honest , I confine , Blacke is my purpose ; Hell my thoughts are thine . Mel. To bright Atlanta this loud musicke sown'd , Her health shall with our loftiest straines be crown'd . Althea . Drinke , quaffe , be blith ; oh how this festiue ioy Stirs vp my fury to reuenge and death , Thus , thus , ( you Gods aboue , abiect your eies From this vnnaturall act ) the murderer dies . Shee fires the brand . Mel. Oh , oh . Atlan. My Lord . Mel. I burne , I burne . Iason . What suddaine passion 's this ? Mele. The flames of hell , and Pluto's sightlesse fires , Are through my entrals and my veines dispierst , oh ! Tell. My Lord take courage . Mel. Courage Tellamon ? I haue a heart dares threate or challenge hell , A brow front heauen ; a hand to challenge both : But this my paine 's beyond all humane sufferance , Or mortall patience . Althea . What hast thou done Althea ? stay thy fury , And bring not these strange torments on thine owne Thou hast too much already , backe my hand , [ She takes out the brand . And saue his life as thou conserust this brand . Atlan How cheeres the warlike Prince of Calidon ? Mel. Well now , I am at ease and peace within , Whither 's my torture fled ? that with such suddennesse Hath freed me from disturbance , were we ill ? Come sit againe to banquet , musicke sownd , Till this to Deyaneiraes health go round . Althea . Shall mirth and ioy crowne his degenerate head ? Whilst his cold Vnkles on the earth lie spread ? No , wretched youth whilst this hand can destroy , I 'le cut thee off in midst of all thy ioy . She fires the brand . Mel. Againe , Againe . Althea . Burne , perish , wast , fire , sparkle , and consume And all thy vitall spirits flie with this fume . Mel. still , still , there is an Aetna in my bosome The flames of Stix , and fires of Acheron Are from the blacke Chimerian shades remou'd , And fixt heere , heere ; oh for Euenus floud , Or some coole streame , to shoote his currents through My flaming body , make thy channell heere Thou mighty floud that streamest through Calidon And quench me , all you springs of Thessaly Remoue your heads , and fixe them in my veines To coole me , oh ! Iason . Defend vs heauen , what suddaine extasy Or vnexpected torture hath disturb'd His health and mirth ? Mel. Worse then my torment , That I must die thus , thus , that the Boare had slaine me , Happy Anceus and Adonis blest , You died with fame , and honour crownes your rest ; My flame increaseth still , oh father Oeneus And you Althea , whom I would call mother But that my genius prompts me th' art vnkind , And yet farewell , Atlanta beauteous maide , I cannot speake my thoughts for torture , death , Anguish and paines , all that Promethean fire Was stolne from heauen , the Thiefe left in my bosome . The Sunne hath cast his element on me , And in my entralls hath he fixt his Spheare , His pointed beames he hath darted through my heart , And I am still on flame . Althea . So , now 't is done , The brand consum'd , his vitall threed quite spun . Exit . Meleag. Now 'gins my fire waste , and my naturall heat To change to Ice , and my scortch't blood to freeze . Farewell , since his blacke ensigne death displayes , I dye , cut off thus in my best of dayes . He dyes . Iason . Dead is the flower and pride of Calidon . Who would displease the Gods ? Diana's wrath Hath stretch't euen to the death , and tragicke ruine Of this faire hopefull Prince , here stay thy vengeance Goddesse of chastity , and let it hang No longer ore the house of Calidon : Since thou hast cropt the yong , spare these old branches That yet suruiue . Enter Althea . Althea . She shall not , Iason no , She shall not . Do you wonder Lords of Greece , To see this Prince lye dead ? why that 's no nouell , All men must dye , thou , he , and euery one , Yea I my selfe must : but I l'e tell you that Shall stiffe your haire , your eyes start from heads , Print fixt amazement in your wondring fronts , Yea and astonish all : This was my sonne , Borne with sick throws , nurst from my tender brest Brought vp with femine care , cherisht with loue : His youth , my pride ; his honour all my wishes , So deere , that little lesse he was then life . But will you know the wonder ( 'lasse ) too true , Him ( all my sonnes ) this my inrag'd hand slue , This hand , that Dians quenchlesse rage to fill , Shall with the slaine sonnes sword the mother kill . Althea kils herselfe with Meleagers sword . Tela.

The Queene hath slaine herselfe : who 'l beare these newes to the sad King ?

Enter a seruant . Seru. That labour may be spar'd : The King no sooner heard of his sonnes death , ( wrought by his mother in the fatall brand ) But he sunke dead : sorrow so chang'd his weakenesse , And without word or motion he expir'd . Iason . Wee 'l see them ( ere we part from Calidon ) Inter'd with honour : But we soiourne long In this curst Clime ; oh let vs not incurre Diana's fury , our next expedition Shall be for Colchos , and the golden Fleece , Vnto which ( Princes ) we inuite you all . Our stately Argoe we haue rig'd and trim'd , And in it we will beare the best of Greece , Stil'd from our ship by name of Argonauts . Great Hercules will with his company , Grace our aduenture , and renowne all Greece , By the rich purchase of the Colchian Fleece . Exit . HOMER . Let not euen Kings against the Gods contest , Lest in this fall their ruines be exprest . Thinke Hercules , from clensing the fowle stall And stable of Augeus , in which fed Three hundred Oxen , ( neuer freed at all , Till his arriue ) return'd where he was bred , To Thebes ; there Deianeira him receiues With glad imbraces , but he staies not long , Iason the Lady of her Lord bereaues : For in the new-rig'd Argoe , with the yong And sprighly Heroes , he at Colchos aimes , Where the rich Fleece must publish their high fames . Enter Deianeira and Lychas : to her Hercules , receiued with ioy , after the presentment of some of his labours . To them march in all the Argonauts , Iason , Telamon , Atreus , Castor , Pollux , Theseus , &c. Iason perswades Hercules to the aduenture : hee leaues Deianeira , and marcheth off with the Argonauts . Imagine now these Princes vnder saile , Stearing their course as farre as high-rear'd Troy , Where King Laomedon doth much bewaile His daughter , whom a Sea-whale must destroy . Obserue this well : for here begins the iarre Made Troy rack't after in a ten yeares warre . Sownd . Enter King Laomedon , Anchifes , yong Priam , Aeneas , Hesione bound , with other Lords and Ladyes . Laomed. Hesione , this is thy last on earth , Whose fortunes we may mourne , though not preuent : Would Troy , whose walles I did attempt to reare , Had nere growne higher then their ground-fils , or In their foundation buried beene , and lost , Since their high structure must be thus maintain'd , With bloud of our bright Ladyes : Oh Hesione ! Th' onely remainder of these female dames Begot by vs , I must bequeath thy body To be the food of Neptunes monstrous Whale . Priam . Had you kept troth and promise with the Gods , This had not chanc't : You borrowed of the Priests Of Neptune and Apollo , Sea , and Sunne , That quantity of gold , which to this height And spacious compasse , hath immur'd great Troy ; But the worke finish't , you deny'd to pay The Priests their due , for which inraged Neptune Assembled his high tides , thinking to drowne Our lofty buildings , and to ruine Troy : But when the Moone , by which the Seas are gouern'd , Retir'd his waters by her powerfull wane , He left behind him such infectious slime , Which the Sunne poysoning by his persant beames . They by their mutuall power , rais'd a hot plague , To slacke this hot pest , Neptune made demand , Monthly a Lady to be chus'd by lot , To glut his huge Sea-monsters rauenous iawes : The lot this day fell on Hesione Our beauteous sister . Laom. Priam 't is too true , Till now Laomedon nere knew his guilt , Or thought the Gods could punish . Hesio. Royall father , Mourne not for me , the Gods must be appeas'd , And I in this am happy , that my death Is made th' attonement 'tweene those angry powers And your afflicted people , though my Innocence Neuer deseru'd such rigor from the Gods . Come good Anchises , binde me to this rocke , And let my body glut th' insatiate fury Of angry Neptune , and th' offended Sunne . Anchis. A more vnwilling monster neuer past Anchises hand . Laom. Now , now the time drawes nye , That my sweet childe by Neptunes whale must dye , Priam . The very thought of it swallowes my heart As deepe in sorrow , as the monster can Bury my sister . A great showt within . Laom. Soft , what clamor 's that ? Aeneas . A stately ship , well rig'd with swelling failes , Enters the harbour , bound ( by their report ) For Colchos : but when they beheld the shores Couered with multitudes , and spy'd from farre , Your beauteous daughter fastned to the rocke , They made to know the cause ; which certified , One noble Greeke amongst these Heroes stands , And offers to incounter Neptunes whale , And free from death the bright Hesione . Laom. Thou hast ( Aeneas ) quickned me from death , And added to my date a second Age . Admit them . Enter Hercules , Iason , Castor , Pollux , Theseus , and all the Argonauts . Herc. 'T is told vs that thy name 's Laomedon , And that thy beauteous daughter must this day Feed a sea-monster : how wilt thou reward The man that shall incounter Neptunes whale ? Tugge with that fiend vpon thy populous strond , And with my club sowse on his armed scales ? Hast thou not heard of Theban Hercules ? I that haue aw'd the earth , and ransack't hell , Will through the Ocean hunt the God of streames , And chace him from the deepe Abismes below . I l'e dare the Sea-god from his watery deepes If he take part with this Leuiathan . Laom. Thy name and courage warlike Hercules Assures her life , if thou wilt vndertake This hauty quest: two milke white steeds , the best Asia ere bred , shall be thy valours prize , Herc. We accept them ; keepe thy faith Laomedon , If thou but break'st with Ioue-borne Hercules , These marble structures , built with virgins bloud , I l'e raze euen with the earth . When comes the monster ? Hesione . Now , now , helpe Ioue . A cry within . Herc. I see him sweepe the sea 's along . Blow riuers through his nostrils as he glides , As if he meant to quench the Sunnes bright fire , And bring a palped darknesse ore the earth : He opes his iawes as if to swallow Troy , And at one yawne whole thousands to destroy . Lao. Fly , flye into the Citty . Exeunt the Troians . Herc. Take along This beauteous Lady , if he must haue pray , In stead of her Alcides here will stay . Iason . The heartlesse Troians fly into the towne At fight of yon sea-diuell : here wee 'l stand To wait the conquest of thy Iouiall hand . Herc. Gramercy Iason , see he comes in tempest , I l'e meet him in a storme as violent , And with one stroke which this right hand shall aime , Ding him into th' abisse from whence he came . Hercules kils the Sea-Monster , the Troians on the walles , the Greekes below . Priam . The monster 's slaine , my beautuous sister freed . Iason . Be euer for this noble deed renown'd , Let Asia speake thy praise . Telam. The Argonauts Are glorifi'd by this victorious act . Priam . All Troy shall consecrate to Hercules Temples and Altars : le ts descend and meet him . Laom. Stay , none presume to stirre , wee 'l parly them First from the walles . Herc. Why doth not Troy's King from those wals descend ? And since I haue redeem'd Hesione , Present my trauels with two milke-white steeds , The prize of my indeuours ? Lao. Hercules we owe thee none , none will we tender thee , Thou hast won thee honour , a reward sufficient For thy attempt : our gates are shut against thee , Nor shall you enter , you are Greekish spies , And come to pry but where our land is weake . Priam . Oh royall father ! Laom. Peace boy : Greekes away : For imminent death attends on your delay . Herc. The Sea nere bred a monster halfe so vile As this Land-fiend . Darst threaten Hercules ? Would vniuersall Troy were in one frame , That I might whelme it on thy cursed head , And crowne thee in thy ruine . Menace vs ? Laom. Depart our walles , or we will fire your Argoe , Lying in our harbour , and preuent your purpose In the atchieuement of the golden fleece , Herc. Laomedon , I l'e tosse thee from thy walles , Batter thy gates to shiuers with my Club , Nor will I leaue these broad Scamander plaines , Til thy aspiring Towers of Illium Lye leuell with the place on which we stand . Iason . Great Hercules , th' aduenture fals to me , Our voyage bent for Colchos , not for Troy , The golden fleece , and not Laomedon : Why should we hazard here our Argonauts ? Or spend our selues on accidentall wrongs ? Telam. Iason aduiseth well , great Hercules , We should dishonour him , and th' expectation Greece hath of vs , delude by this delay . Thes. Then let vs from this harbour launch our Argoe , To Colchos first , and in our voyage home Reuenge vs on this false Laomedon . Herc. You sway me princes : farewell trecherous King , Nought , saue thy bloud , shall satisfie this wrong And base dishonour done to Hercules . Expect me ; for by Olimpicke Ioue I sweare . Nere to set foot within my natiue Thebes , See Deianeira , or to touch in Greece , Till I' haue scal'd these mures , inuaded Troy , Ransack't thy Citty , slaine Laomedon , And venge the Gods that gouerne Sea and Sunne . Come valiant Heroes , first the fleece to enioy , And in our backe returne to ransacke Troy . Exeunt . Lao. We dread you not , wee 'l answere what is done . As well as stand 'gainst Neptune and the Sunne . Enter Oetes , King of Colchos , Medea , yong Absyrtus , with Lords . Oetes . How may we glory aboue other kings Being ( by our birth ) descended from the Gods ? Our wealth renowned through the world tripartite , Most in the riches of the golden fleece , And not the least of all our happinesse , Medea for her powerfull magicke skill , And Negromanticke exorcismes admir'd , And dreaded through the Colchian territories . Medea . I can by Art make riuers retrograde , Alter their channels , run backe to their heads , And hide them in the springs from whence they grew . The curled Ocean with a word I l'e smooth , ( Or being calme ) raise waues as high as hils , Threatning to swallow the vast continent . With powerfull charmes I l'e make the Sunne stand still , Or call the Moone downe from her arched spheare . What cannot I by power of Hecate ? Absyr. Discourse ( faire sister ) how the golden fleece Came first to Colchos . Medea . Let Absyrtus know , Phrixus the sonne of Theban Athamas , And his faire sister Helles , being betraid By their curst step-dame Ino , fled from Greece , Their Innocence pittied by Mercury , He gaue to them a golden-fleeced Ramme , Which bore them safe to the Sygean sea , Which swimming , beauteous Helles there was drown'd , And gaue that sea the name of Hellespont , That which parts Sestus and Abidos still : Phrixus arriues at Colchos , and to Mars There sacrific'd his Ramme in memory Of his safe waftage , fauoured by the Gods . The golden Fleece was by the Oracle Commanded to be fixt there , kept and guarded By two fierce Buls , that breath infernall fires , And by a wakefull Dragon , in whose eyes Neuer came sleepe : for in the safe conseruing Of this diuine and worthy monument , Our kingdomes weale and safety most consists . Oetes . And he that striues by purchase of this fleece , To weaken vs , or shake our Royalty , Must tast the fury of these fiery fiends , A shoote The nouell : speake . Enter a Lord . Lord . Vpon the Cholchian shores A stately vessell , man'd it seemes from Greece Is newly lancht , full fraught with Gentlemen Of braue aspects and presence . Oetes . Whos 's their Generall ? Lord . Iason , he stiles himselfe a Prince of Greece And Captaine o're the noble Argonautes . Oetes . Vsher them in , that we may know their quest And what aduenture drew them to these shoares . Sound , Enter Iason , Hercules , Theseus , Castor , Pollux , &c. Iason . Haile king of Colchos , thou beholdst in vs The noblest Heroes that inhabite Greece Of whom I , though vnworthiest , stile my selfe The Generall ; the intent of this our voyage Is to reduce the rich and golden prise To Greece , from whence it came , know I am come To tug and wrastle with the infernall Buls , And in their hot fiers double guild my armes To place vpon their necks the seruile yoake , And bondage , force them plow the field of Mars , Till in the furrowes I haue sowed the teeth Of vipers , from which men in armour grow To enter combat with the sleepelesse Dragon , And mauger him fetch thence the golden Fleece . All this Oetes , I am prest to atchieue Against these horrid tasks my life to ingage Buls fury , Vipers poyson , Dragons rage . Medea . Such a bold spirit , and noble presence linkt , Neuer before were seene in Phasis Isle , Colchos be proud , a Prince demands thy Fleece , Richer then that he comes for ; let the Greekes Our Phasian wealth and Oetes treasure beare , So they in liew will leaue me Iason here . Oetes . Princes , you aime at dangers more in proffe Then in report , which if you should behold In their true figure , would amaze your spirits : Yea , terifye the Gods ; let me aduise you , As one that knowes their terrour , to desist Ere you enwrap your selfe into these perils , Whence there is no euasion . Herc. Oetes , know Peril 's a babe , the greater dangers threaten The greater is his honour that breaks through . Haue we in th' Agoe rowed with sixty oares And at each Oare a Prince ; pierc't Samo-thrace , The Chersoneson sea , the Hellespont ; Euen to the waues that breake on Colchos shoares ? And Shall we with dishonour turne to Greece ? Know Oetes , not the least of sixty Heroes That now are in thy Confines , but thy monsters Dare quell and baffle . Tellamon . Much more Hercules . Oetes . Hercules . Iason . Starts Oetes at the name of Hercules , What would he do to see him in his eminence ; But leauing that , this must be Iasons quest , A worke not worthy him ; where be these monsters ? Medea . May all inchantments be confinde to hell , Rather then he encounter fiends so fell . Oetes . Princes , since you will needs attempt these dangers You shall ; and if atchieue the Golden Fleece Transport it where you please , meane time , this day Repose your selues , we 'le feast you in our Pallace . To morrow morning with the rising Sunne , Our golden prise shall be conseru'd or wonne . Exit . Medea . If he attempts he dies , what 's that to mee ? Why should Medea feare a strangers life ? Or what 's that Iason I should dread his fall ? If he o're-come , my fathers glory waines , And all our fortunes must reward his paines . Let lason perish then , and Colchos flourish . Our pristine glories let vs still enioy , And these our brasse-head buls the Prince destroy . Oh! what distraction 's this within me bred , Although he die , I would not see him dead ? The best I see , the worst I follow still , Hee nere wrong'd mee , why should I wish him ill ? Shall the Buls tosse him whom Medea loues , A Tygresse , not a Princesse , should I proue ? To see him tortured whom I deerely loue ? Bee then a torteresse to thy fathers life , A robber of the clime where thou wast bred , And for some straggler that hath lost his way , Thy fathers Kingdome and his State betray . Tush , these are nothing , first his faith I 'le craue , That couenant made , him by enchantments faue Enter Iason . Iason . My task is aboue strength , Duke Peleus sent me Not to atchieue , but die in this pursuite , And to preuent the Oracle that told him I must succeed ; Iason bethinke thee then Thou com'st to execution , not to act Things aboue man ; I haue obseru'd Medea Retort vpon me many an amorous looke , Of which I 'le studdy to make prosperous vse . If by her art the Inchantments I can bind Immur'd with death , I certaine safety find . Medea . Shall I o're-whelme vpon my captiue head , The curse of all our Nation , the Crownes ruin ? Clamours of men , and woemens loud exclaimes . Burnings of children ; the vniuersall curse Of a great people , all to saue one man , A straggler ( God knowes whence deriu'd , where borne , Or hether where Noble ? let the proud Greeke die , Wee still in Colchos sit instated hye Oh me ! that looke vpon Medea cast Drownes all these feares , and hath the rest surpast . Iason . Madam , because I loue I pitty you , That you a beauteous Lady , art-full wise , Should haue your beauty and your wisedome both Inuelopt in a cloud of Barbarisme : That on these barren Confines you should liue , Confin'd into an Angle of the world . And ne're see that which is the world indeed , Fertile and populous Greece , Greece that beares men , Such as resemble Gods , of which in vs You see the most deiected , and the meanest . How harshly doth your wisedome sound in th' eares Of these Barbarians , dull , unapprehensible , And such , in not conceiuing your hid Arts , Depriue them of their honour ; In Greece springs The fountaines of Diuine Phylosophy , They are all vnderstanders ; I would haue you Bright Lady with vs , enter to that world Of which this Colchos is no part at all . Shew then your beauty to these iudging eies , Your wisedome to these vnderstanding eares . In which they shall receiue their merited grace , And leaue this barraine , cold , and stirrill place . Medea . His presence without all this Oratory Did much with vs , but where they both conioyne To entrap Medea , shee must needs bee caught . Iason . I long to see this Colchian Lady clad In Hymens stateliest roabes , whom the glad Matrones , Bright Ladies , and Imperiall Queenes of Greece Shall welcome and applaud , and with rich gifts Present , for sauing of their sonnes and kinsmen From these infernall monsters : As for Iason If you Medea shall despise his loue , He craues no other life then to die so , Since life without you is but torturing paine , And death to men distrest is double gaine . Medea . That tongue more then Medeaes spels inchants , And not a word , but like our exorcismes And power of charmes preuailes , Oh lone ! thy Maiesty Is greater then the triple Hecates , Bewitching Circes , or these hidden skils , Ascrib'd vnto th' infernall Proserpine . I that by incantations can remoue Hils from their syts , and make huge mountaines shake , Darken the Sunne at noone , call from their graues Ghosts long since dead , that can command the earth , And affright heauen , no spell at all can find To bondage loue , or free a captiue minde . Iason . Loue Iason then , and by thy Diuine aide , Giue me such power , that I may tug vnscorcht Amidst the flames with these thy fiery fiends , That I vnuenom'd may these Vipers teeth Cast from my hand , through Morpheus leaden charmes , Ouer that wakefull snake that guards the Fleece , For which liue Iasons happy Bride in Greece . Medea . A match , what hearbs or spels , what Magicke can Command in heauen , earth , or in hell below , What either aire , or sea can minister , To guard thy person , all these helps I 'le gather To girdle thee with safety . Iason . Be thou then For euer Iasons , and through Greece renown'd In whom our Heroes haue such safety found , Our bargaine thus I seale . He kisseth her . Medea . Which I 'le make good With Colchos fall , and with my fathers bloud . Enter Absyrtus Absyr. Prince Iason , all the Heroes at the banquet Inquire for you , twice hath my father Oetes Made search for you ; Oh sister ! Medea . No word you saw vs two in conference . Absyr. Do you take me to be a woman , to tell all I see , And blab all I know , I that am in hope one day to Lie with a woman , will once lie for a woman , Sister , I saw you not . Iason . Remember ; come Prince , will you leade the way ? Absyr. I haue parted you that neuer parted fray Come sir will you follow . Exit . Manet Medea . Medea . The night growes on , and now to my black Arts , Goddesse of witchcraft and darke ceremony , To whom the elues of Hils , of Brookes , of Groues , Of standing lakes , and cauernes vaulted deepe Are ministers ; three-headed Hecate Lend me thy Chariot drawne with winged snakes , For I this night must progresse through the Aire . What simples grow in Tempe of Thessaly , Mount Pindus , Otheris , Ossa , Appidane , Olimpus , Caucas . or high Teneriff . I must select to finish this great worke , Thence must I flye vnto Amphrisus Foords , Aud gather plants by the swift Sperchius streames , Where rushy Bebes , and Anthedon flow , Where hearbes of bitter iuice and strong sent grow ; These must I with the haires of Mandrakes vse , Temper with Poppy-seeds and Hemlocke iuice : With Aconitum that in Tartar springs , With Cypresse , Ewe , and Veruin , and these mix With Incantations , Spels , and Exorcisims Of wonderous power and vertue ; oh thou night , Mother of darke Arts hide mee in thy vaile , Whilst I those banks search , and these mountaines skale . Sownd . Enter King Oetes , Absyrtus , and Lords . Oetes . Vpon the safeguard of this golden Fleece Colchos depends , and he that beares it hence Beares with it all our fortunes ; the Argonautes Haue it in quest , if Iason scape our monsters I 'le rather at some banquet poyson him , And quaffe to him his death , or in the night Set fire vpon his Argoe , and in flames Consume the happy hope of his returne , This purpose we , as we are Colchos King , Absyrtus where 's your sister ? Absyrtus . In her chamber . Oetes . When you next see her giue to her this noate , The manner of our practise , her fell hand Cannot be mist in this , but it shall fall Heauy on these that Colchos seekes to thrall . The howre drawes nigh , the people throng on heapes , To this aduenture in the field of Mars , And noble Iason arm'd with his good shield , Is vp already and demands the field . Enter Iason , Hercules , and the Argonauts . Iason . Oetes , I come thus arm'd , demanding combat Of all those monsters that defend thy Fleece : And to these dangers singly , I oppose My person as thou seest , when setst thou ope The gates of hell to let thy deuils out ? Glad would I wrastle with thy fiery Buls , And from their throats the flaming dewlops teare . Vnchaine them , and to Iason turne them loose , That as Alcides did to Achelous ; So from their hard fronts I may teare there hornes , And lay the yoake vpon their vntam'd necks . Oetes . Yet valiant Greeke desist , I , though a stranger Pitty thy youth , or if thou wilt persist So dreadfull is the aduenture thou persuest , That thou wilt thinke I shall vnbowell hell , Vnmacle the fiends , and make a passage Free for the Infernals . Iason . I shall welcome all . Medea now if there be power in loue ; Or force in Magicke ; if thou hast or will Or Art , try all the power of Characters , Vertue of Symples , Stones , or hidden spels , If earth Elues , or nimble airy Spirits , Charmes , Incantations , or darke Exorcismes . If any strength remaine in Pyromancy , Or the hid secrets of the aire or fire . If the Moones spheare can any helpe infuse , Or any influent Starre , collect them all That I by thy aide may these monsters thrall . Oetes . Discouer them . Two fiery Buls are discouered , the Fleece hanging ouer them , and the Dragon sleeping beneath them : Medea with strange fiery-workes , hangs aboue in the Aire in the strange habite of a Coniuresse . Medea . The hidden power of Earth , Aire , Water , Fire , Shall from this place to Iasons helpe conspire . Fire withstand fire , and magicke temper flame , By my strong spels the sauadge monster's tame : So , that 's perform'd , now take the Vipers teeth And sow them in the furrowed field of Mars . Of which strange seed , men ready arm'd must grow To assault Iason . Already from beneath Their deadly pointed weapons gin to appeare , And now their heads , thus moulded in the earth , Streight way shall teeme ; and hauing freed their fate ( The stalkes by which they grow ) all violently Pursue the valiant Greeke , but by my sorcery I 'le turne their armed points against themselues And all these slaues that would on Iason flie shoutes Shall wound themselues and by sedition die . Yet thriues the Greeke , now kill the sleeping snake Which I haue charm'd , and thence the Trophy take , These shouts witnesse his conquest , I le discend , Heare Iasons feares and all my charmes take end . Hercules . Oetes , how is this rich and pretious Fleece , By Iasons sword repurchast , and must turne Vnto the place whence Phrixus brought his Ramme . Oetes . That practise by your ruins ; I le preuent , And sooner then with that returne to Greece , Your slaughtered bodies leaue with this rich fleece . Iason . Since our aduenture is atchieu'd and done , The prize is ours , we ceize what we haue wone . Oetes . Enioy it Iason , I admire thy worth , Which as it hath exceeded admiration , So must we needs applaud it . Noble gentlemen . Depart not Colchos , ere your worths and valour We with some rich and worthy gifts present . The conquest of our Buls , and Dragons death , ( Though we esteem'd them ) yet they sad vs not , Since we behold the safety of this prince . Enter our palace , and your praise sownd hye , Where you shall feast , ( or all by treason dye . ) Exeunt Absyr.

I haue not seeene my sister to day , I muse she hath not beene at this solemnity , me thinkes she should not haue lost this triumph ; I haue a note to deliuer her from my father . Here she comes .

Enter Medea . Sister , peruse this briefe , you know the character , It is my fathers . This is all . Exit . She reads . Medea .

Iason with his Argonauts this night must perish , the fleece not be transported to Greece — Medea , your assistance .

This is my fathers plot to ouerthrow Prince Iason , and the noble Argonauts , Which I l'e preuent : I know the King is sudden , And if preuention be delay'd , they dye : I that haue ventured thus farre for a loue , Euen to these arts that Nature would haue hid As dangerous and forbidden , shall I now Vndoe what I haue done , through womanish feare , Paternall duty , or for filiall loue ? No Iason , thou art mine , and my desire , Shall wade with thee through bloud , through seas , through fire . Enter Iason . Iason . Madam . Medea . My Lord , I know what you would say , Thinke now vpon your life , the King my father Intends your ruine , to redeeme the fleece , And it repurchase with your tragicke deaths : Therefore assemble all your Argonauts , And let them ( in the silence of the night ) Lanch from the Colchian harbour ; I l'e associate you As Iasons bride . Iason . You are my patronesse , And vnder you I triumph : when the least Of all these graces I forget , the Gods Reuenge on me my hated periury . Must we then lanch this night ? you are my directresse , And by your art I l'e manage all my actions . Medea . Then flye , I l'e send to see your Argoe trim'd , Rig'd and made tight : night comes , the time growes on : Hye then aboord . Iason . I shall . Exit . Medea . Now populous Greece , Thanke vs ( not Iason ) for this conquer'd fleece . Enter Oetes . Oetes . Medea , we are rob'd , despoil'd , dishonored , Our Fleece rap't hence , we must not suffer it , Since all our ominous fortunes it includes , I am resolu'd Iason this night shall dye . Medea . Should he suruiue , you might be held vnworthy The name of King ; my hand shall be as deepe As yours in his destruction . Oetes . A strong guard I will select , and in the dead of night , When they are sunke in Lethe , set vpon them , And kill them in their beds . Medea . I l'e second you , And laue my stain'd hands in their reeking blouds That practise your dishonour . Oetes . Iason then dyes , When he most hopes for this rich Colchian prize . Exit . Medea . But ere the least of all these ils betide , This Colchian strond shall with thy bloud be dy'd . For Iason and his Argonauts I stand , And will protect them with my art and hand . Enter Iason with the Fleece , and all the Greekes muffled . Iason . Madam . Medea . Leaue circumstance , away , Hoyse vp your sailes , death and destruction Attends you on the shoare . Iason . You 'l follow Madam . Exit . Medea . Instantly : Blow gentle gales , assist them winds and tide , That I may Greece see , & liue Iasons bride . Enter Absyrtus . Absyr. How now sister , so solitary ? Medea . Oh happy met , though it be late Absyrtus , You must along with me . Absyr. Whither pray ? Medea . I l'e tell you as we walke . This lad betweene me and all harme shall stand ; And if the King pursue vs with his Fleet , His mangled limbes shall ( scattered in the way ) Worke our escape , and the Kings speed delay . Come brother . Absyr. Any where with you sister . exeunt . Enter HOMER . Hom. Let none to whom true Art is not deny'd , Our monstrous Buls , and magicke Snakes deride . Some thinke this rich Fleece was a golden Booke , The leaues of parchment , or the skins of Rammes , Which did include the Art of making gold By Chimicke skill , and therfore rightly stild , The Golden Fleece , which to attaine and compasse , Includes as many trauels , mysteries , Changes and Chymicke bodies , fires and monsters , As euer Iason could in Colchos meet . The sages , and the wise , to keepe their Art From being vulgar : yet to haue them tasted With appetite and longing , giue those glosses , And flourishes to shadow what they write , Which might ( at once ) breed wonder and delight . So did th' Aegyptians in the Arts best try'd , In Hierogliphickes all their Science hide . But to proceed , the Argonauts are fled , Whom the inrag'd Oetes doth pursue , And being in sight , Medea takes the head Of yong Absyrtus , whom ( vnkinde ) she slue , And all his other limbes strawes in the way Of the old father , his pursute to stay . The Shew . In memory of this inhumane deed , These Islands where his slaughtered limbes lye spred , Were cal'd Absyrtides : But we proceed With King Laomedon , 'gainst whom are led The Argonauts , Troy by Alcides rac'd , Askes the next place , and must in ranke be plac'd . Enter Laomedon , Priam , Anchises , Aeneas , Hesione , &c. Lao. The Argonauts return'd ? Anchi. They are my Lord : Lao. And landed ? Anchi. Landed . Lao. Where ? Anchi. At Tenedos . Lao. Could not those Colchian monsters in their bowels Bury the Greekes , but must they all suruiue To threat vs with inuasion . Speake Anchises , March they towards Troy ? Anchis. In conduct of the mighty Hercules , Wasting with sword and fire where ere they march : Scamander fields they haue strew'd with carkasses , And Simois streames already purpled are With bloud of Troians . Priam . Let vs giue them battell . Lao. In vaine , our forces are disperst abroad , Nor haue we order to withstand their fury : Best were we to immure our selues in Troy , And trust vnto the vertue of our walles . Shouts . Aeneas . Do not delay your safety , you may heare Their cryes , and lofty clamors , threatning Troy : They dogge vs to our gates , and without speed And expedition , they will enter with vs . Come then , our threatned liues we will immure , And thinke vs in our strong built walles secure . Exent . After an alarme enter Hercules , Iason , Theseus , Telamon , and all the other Argonauts . Herc. Pursue the chace euen to the gates of Troy , Then call th' ingrate Laomedon to parlee . Iason . The periur'd King shall pay vs for the wrong Done to Alcides in his promis'd steeds . Telam. Better he had the monster had deuour'd His beauteous daughter , then t' abide our furies . Nestor . He did exclude our vertue from the Citty , And now therefore he shall admit our fury . Castor . These wals first rear'd at the great Gods expence , Wee 'l ruine to the earth : let 's summon him . Herc. We will call him to parlee . A parlee . Enter vpon the wals , Laomedon , Anchises , Aeneas , Priam , &c. Herc. Laomedon , we do not summon thee To parlee , but to warne thee guard thy walles , Which ( without pause ) we now intend to scale . Laom. Wilt heare me Hercules ? Herc. I listen'd thy periurious tongue too late . Scale , batter , mount , assault , sacke , and deface , And leaue ( of Troy ) nought saue the name and place . Alarme . Telamon first mounts the walles , the rest after , Priam flyes , Laomedon is slaine by Hercules , Hesione taken , Enter with victory . Herc. Thus is the tyrant , that but late aw'd Troy , Buried amidst his ruines ; he chastis'd , And we reueng'd : the spoyle of this rich Towne Rated as high as Iasons Colchian prize , You shall diuide : but first these lofty walles , Builded by periury , and maintain'd by pride , Wee 'l ruine to the earth : Who saw yong Priam ? Iason . Hee 's fled , and tooke the way to Samo-thrace , With him Anchises , that on Venus got The yong Aeneas , they are fled together , And left the spoyle of all the towne to vs . Herc. Which shall enrich Thebes , and the townes of Greece , And Telamon , to do thy valour right , For mounting first ouer the walles of Troy , The first and choyce of all the spoyle be thine . Telam. Then let Alcides honour Telamon With this bright Lady , faire Hesione , Sister to Priam , daughter to Laomedon , Whose beauty I preferre before the state And wealth of Troy . Herc. Receiue her Telamon , Shee is thine owne by gift of Hercules . Telam. A present more delighting Telamon , Then were I made Lord of high Illiums Towers , And heire vnto the dead Laomedon . Hesio. I am a Princesse , shall my fathers ils Fall on my head ? If he offended Hercules , He hath made satisfaction with his life . Oh be not so seuere , to stretch his punishment Euen after life ; hast thou from death redeem'd me , To giue me captiue , and to slaue my youth ? Things worse then death : rather let Hercules Expose me to the rocke , where first he found me , To abide the wrath both of the Sea and Sunne . Oh! rather make my body food for monsters , Then brand my birth with bondage . Telam. Faire Hesione , I will not loose thy beauty , nor thy youth , Nor part with this my honour , couldst thou giue me For ransome of them , both our Argoes cram'd With gold and gemmes ; you are my valours prize , And shall with me to populous Salamine . Hesione . Can you so wrong the daughter of a king , To giue her as a Dukes base Concubine ? Touch me not Telamon , for I deuine , I fere my brother Priam re-build Troy , And be the king of Asia , hee 'l reuenge This base dishonour done Hesione ; And for his sister , rauish't hence perforce , Do the like out-rage on some Grecian Queene , In iust reuenge of my iniurious wrong . Herc. Should all the kings in Asia , or the world , Take part with Priam in that proud designe , Like fate , like fortune with Laomedon They shall abide : renowned Telamon , She is the warlike purchase of thy sword , Enioy her as the gift of Hercules . And now braue Grecian Hero 's , le ts towards Greece With al these honored spoils from Colchos brought And from the treasures of defaced Troy . Faire Deianeira longs for vs in Thebes , Whom we will visit next , and thence proceed Vnto our future labours . Cacus liues A bloudy tyrant , whom we must remoue : And the three-headed Gerion swayes in Spaine , Notorious for his rapes and out-rages ; Both these must perish by Alcides hand , And when we can the earth from tyrants cleare , In the worlds vtmost bounds our pillers reare . exit HOMER . Loath are we ( curteous auditors ) to cloy Your appetites with viands of one tast , The beauteous Venus we must next imploy , Whom we saw mourning for Adonis last . Suppose her still for the yong Adon sad , But cheer'd by Mars , their old loues they renue , And she , that ( whil'st he liu'd ) preferd the Lad , Hath quite forgot him , since the Boare him slue . Mars is in grace , a meeting they deuise , Iealous of all , but fearing most the Sunne , Hee that sees all things from his first vp-rise , And like a blab , tels all that hee knowes done . Our mortals must a while their spleenes asswage , And to the Gods , for this Act , leaue the Stage . Enter Mars and Venus . Mars . I knew loues Queene could not be long vnkind , Though ( whil'st I absent , to teach Armes in Thrace ) You tooke th' aduangtage to forget your Mars , To doate on Adon , and Anchises too ; Yet ( those worne out ) let vs renue our loues , And practise our first amorous dalliance . Venus . How can I hate ; that am the Queene of loue ? Or practise ought against my natiue power ? As I one day , playd with my Cupids shafts , The wanton with his arrow raz'd my skin . Trust me , at first I did neglect the smart : At length it rankled , and it grew vnsound , Till he that now lies wounded , cur'd my wound . Mars . Come shall we now , whilst Vulcan plyes his forge , Sweats at his Anuill , choakes himselfe with dust , And labours at his bellowes , kisse and toy ? Venus . Why met we else ? Here is a place remote , An obscure caue , fit for our amorous sport : In this darke cauerne wee 'l securely rest , And Mars shall adde vnto my Vulcans crest . But how if we be spy'd ? Mars . Whom need we feare ? Vnlesse the Sunne , who now the lower world Lights with his beames ; I meane the Antipodes , The tell-tale blab is busie now else-where : And I will set to watch at the caues doore , My trusty groome , who ( ere the Sunne shall rise With his bright beames to light our Hemispheare ) Shall waken vs . Venus . For all the world I would not haue the Sunne Discouer our sweet sport , or see what s done . Mars . Be that my charge . Wher 's Gallus ? Enter Gallus . Gal.

At hand fir : I am not that Gallows that is made of three trees , or one that is neuer without hangers on : nor that Gallus that is latine for a French-man ; but your owne Gallus gallinacius , seruant and true squire to God Mars .

Mars . Syrrah , you know this Lady . Gallus .

Yes , Mistresse Vulcan , shee is as well knowne in Paphos here for her Meretrix , as any Lady in the land , shee was the first that deuis'd stew'd meate , and proclaim'd pickle-oysters to bee good for the backe ; shee is the first that taught wenches the trade of Venery , and such as were borne to nothing but beauty , she taught them how to vse their Talent : Yes , I know her I warrant you .

Mars . Syrrah attend , this night yon Queene and I Must haue some priuate conference , in yon caue , Where whilst we stay , 't must be thy care to watch That no suspicious eye pry through these chinks , Especially I warne thee of the Sunnes . Gallus . I smell knauery , if my Lady Venus play the whoore What am I that keepe the dore ? Mars . See thou do call vs , e're the Sunne vprise , But sleepe not for by all my Armes I sweare , If by thy carelesse sloth , or negligence We be describe , thy body I 'le translate , To some strange Monster . Gallus , I 'me hard fauor'd enough already , you need not Make my face worse then it is . Mars . Com enter then faire Queene , we are secure , Now safely maist thou claspe the God of warre , Spight of Sunne , Moone , or a iealous starre . Venus . Loue answers loue , desire with ardor meetes , Both which this night shall tast a thousand sweetes . Exeunt . Gallus .

I see you can make shift to go too 't without sheetes : How shall I passe this night away till morning , I am as drowsy as a dormouse , the very thought that I must wake , charmes mee a sleepe already , I would I durst venture on a nap ; Hey ho , sure I may wake againe afore they rise , and neuer the wiser , I will stand to 't , there is not a more sleepy trade in the world then a watchman , nor one that is more acquainted with deeds of darkenesse , tell mee of the Sunne ! the Sunne will not rise this two houres ; well , let them watch that will , or can , I must haue a nod or two , God night to you all , for here am I fast till morning .

Enter Aurora , attended with Seasons , Daies , and Howers . Aurora . The day-starre shines and cals me blushing vp . From Tithons bed to harnesse Phoebus Steeds . My roseate fingers haue already stroakt The element where light beginnes to appeare , And straight Apollo with his glistering beames , Will guild the East , the Seasons , Months , and Daies Attend him in the pallace of the Sunne . The Howers haue brought his Chariot to the gate Of Christall , where the Sunne-God mounts his throne , His fiery Steeds haue all their traces fet , Th' vnruly stalions fed with Ambrosy ( With their round hoofes shod with the purest gold ) Thunder against the Marble floores of Heauen , And waite till Phoebus hath but don'd his beames , Which I the blushing Morning still put on . And now 's the howre ( for thus time fleeteth still ) That the Sunnes vp to clime the Easterne hill . Enter Phoebus to them , kisses Aurora , and they all exeunt . Phoebus . Beauteous Aurora , for full twice twelue howers Till in my spheare I haue compast round the world Farewell , I with my beames will dry these teares Thou shedst at parting ; we haue chac't hence night , And frighted all the twinkling starres from heauen , And now the steepe Olimpus we must clime , Till from the high Meridian we peruse The spatious bounds of this large vniuerse , And thence decline our Chariot towards the West , Till we haue washt our Coach-steeds and our selfe In Isters icy streames : Wee with this eye Can all things see that mortals do on earth , And what wee find inhumane , or to offend , Wee tell to Ioue , that he may punish sinnes . For this I am term'd a tel-tale and a blab , And that I nothing can conceale abroad . But let spight spit the worst and wrong me still , Day hateth sinnes , and light despiseth ill . Hee spies Mars & Venus . And now behold a most abhorred deed , Mars beds with Venus , shall not Vulcan know it ? By my light hee shall ; I haue seene , and I will tell , The Sunne hates sinne but crownes them that do well . Exit . Enter Mars . Mars . Venus awake , wee haue ore-slept our selues , The Sunne 's aboue in his diurnall taske , I saw his piercing beames pry through a cranny , And cast his right eye full vpon our bed . Enter Venus . Venus . We are betraide , the blab will tell the Smith , Our loue will come to th' eare of Iupiter And all the other Gods , what will Diana Say when shee heares of our inchastity ? Or how will Iuno take this spouse-breach from vs ? Mars . Nay rather , how will Vulcan tast our sport ? He might suspect , but neuer proue till now , Where is the villaine Gallus set to watch ? Venus . See where he snorts , the slaue is dead asleep . Mars . Awake thou drowsy Groome , thy chastisement Shall exceed torture . Gallus . Hey ho , what 's the matter there , ha ? Mars . Looke , hast thou eies ? is not the Sun two howres Mounted aloft ? hath he not seene thee sleeping At the Caues dore , Yea beheld vs too ? Gallus . More shame for him to looke in at any bodies window . Mars . Speake , how canst thou excuse this ? Gallus . Oh great God Mars . Mars . Behold , this is thy doome , thy negligence Thus I 'le chastice , thou shalt thy humane shape Henceforth forgo , I will translate thy body Into a bird shall euer beare thy name , Bee Gallus still , a Cocke , and be thy nature Euer hereafter this ; to watch the Sunne , And by thy crowes and clamours warne the world Two howres before he rise , that the Sunne comes Clap with thy wings , and with thy shrieking loud , Proclaime his comming when thou thrice hast crowed . Gallius sinkes , and in his place riseth a Cocke and crowes . Venus . The slaues right seru'd , let this his punishment Liue to all ages , and let Gallius name Thy iust reuenge to all the world proclaime . But whither shall we now ? Mars . I will to Thrace , go you to Lemnos . Venus . Will you leaue me then To Vulcans rage , no let vs once more meete In Paphos , and if Vulcan needs will chide Giue him some cause . Mars . Content faire Queene of loue . For more , he cannot be much more displeas'd , Let 's score on still , and make our reckoning full , As yet . alas faire Queene , the debts but small , Make vp the summe , and answere once for all . Venus . Content sweete Mars , and since that he was borne To be a Cuckold , let 's augmennt his horne . Exeunt . Enter Vulcan with two Ciclops , Pyragman , and Berontes . Vulcan . Make hast with that shield , see 't hammer'd well , For when 't is done I 'le giue 't my father Ioue , 'T is of the purest mettall Lemnos yeelds . Pyrag. I shall sir , must the plate of two cubes high , Be put into the Forge ? Vulcan . Pyragmon yes , that masse must be wrought well And soundly temper'd , bid your fellow Cyclops Worke lustily , it must be soone dispatcht . Pyrag. When saw you my Lady Venus ? Vulcan . No matter when , the Huswiffe 's too fine finger'd , And saith , the very smoake my Fordge doth cast Choakes her , the very aire of Lemnos ( man ) Blasts her white cheekes , she scarce will let me kisse her , But shee makes vergisse faces , saith my visadge Smug'd thus with cole-dust , doth infect her beauty , And makes her weare a beard , shee 's , sure , in Paphos , Cypresse , or Candy , shee 's all for play Whilst we Ioues thunders hammer hard all day . Pyrag. I heard her once mocke that polt-foote of yours How came it pray ? Vulcan , I 'le tell thee man , I was when I was borne A pretty smug knaue , and my father Ioue Delighted much to dance me in his lap . Vpon a time as hee was toying with mee In his high house aboue , that Phaeton Had at that instant set the world a fire , My father when he saw heauens bases smoake , Th' earth burne , and Neptunes broth to seeth with heate ; But startles vp to thunder-strike the lad , And lets me fall : downe tumbled I towards the earth : I fell through all the Planets by degrees , From Saturne first , so by the Moone at last : And from the Moone downe into Lemnos Isle Where I still liue , and halt vpon my fall , No maruell if 't lam'd mee , for , Pyragmon . How high I tumbled , who can gesse aright , Falling a Summers day from morne to night ? Pyrag. 'T was maruell you did not breake your necke . Vulcan . Had I not bene deriu'd from God-like seed , Trust me Pyragmon I had don 't indeed . The Cocke crows and enter Phoebus . But to the Forge , for I Appollo spie , Hee that sees all things with the daies bright eye . Good morrow Phoebus , what 's the newes abroad ? For thou seest all things in the world are done , Men act by day-light , or the sight of Sunne . Phoebus . Sometime I cast mine eie vpon the sea , To see the tumbling Seale , or Porpoise play , There see I Marchants trading , and their sayles Big bellied with the wind ; sea fights some times Rise with their smoake , thicke clouds to darke my beames . Sometimes , I fixe my face vpon the earth With my warme feruour , to giue mettals , trees , Hearbes , plants , and flowers life ; here in gardens walke Loose Ladies with their louers arme in arme , Yonder the labouring Plow-man driues his Teeme . Further , I may behold maine battels pitcht , And whom I fauour most ( by the winds helpe ) I can assist with my transparant raies . Heere , spye I Cattell feeding , Forrests there Stor'd with wilde beasts ; here Shepeheards with their lasses Piping beneath the trees , whilst their flockes graze . In Citties , I see trading , walking , bargening , Buying , and selling , goodnesse , badnesse , all things . And shine alike on all . Vulcan . Thrice happy Phoebus , That whilst poore Vulcan is confin'd to Lemnos Hast euery day these pleasures . What newes else . Phoebus : No Emperour walks forth , but I see his State , Nor sports , but I his pastimes can behold , I see all Coronations , Funerals , Marts , Faires , Assemblies , Pageants , Sights ; and Showes . No hunting , but I better see the chase Then they that rowse the game , what see not I ? There 's not a window but my beames breakes in , No thinke or cranny but my raies pierce through , And there I see ( oh Vulcan ) wondrous things . Things that thy selfe nor any God besides Would giue beliefe to . Vul. What , good Phoebus speake . Phoe. Here , wantons on their day-beds , I see spread Clasping their amorous louers in their armes , Who euen before my face , are not sometimes Asham'd to shew all . Vulcan . Could not god Phoebus bring mee to see this pastime . Phoebus . Sometimes euen meane fellowes A bed with noble Ladies whom they serue , Seruant with seruant , married men with maides , And wiues with Batchelours . Vulcan . There 's simple doing . Phoebus . And shall I tell thee Vulcan , tother day What I beheld , I saw the great God Mars . Vulcan . God Mars . Phoebus . As I was peeping through a cranny ; a bed . Vulcan . A bed ; with whom ? some pretty wench I warrant . PHoebus. Shee was a pretty wench . Vulcan . Tell me good Phoebus , That when I meete him , I may floute God Mars , Tell mee , but tell me truely on thy life . Phoebus . Not to dissemble Vulcan , 't was thy wife ! Vulcan . Out on her whore , out on him Cuckold-maker , Phoebus I 'le be reuendge on great God Mars , Who , whilst I hammer here his swords and shields , Hammers vpon my head , I will complaine To Ioue , and all the Gods , and tell them flat I am a Cuckold . Phoe. Vulcan be aduis'd , I haue had notice where they vse to meete , Couldst not deuise to catch them by some wile ? And lay their guilt , wide open to the Gods , Then mightst thou haue fit colour of complaint . Vulcan . Enough , I haue deuis'd a secret snare , A draw-net , which I 'le place vpon the Couch Where they still vse to bed , a wire so temper'd , And of such finenesse to deceiue the eie . So catch them when they are at it , and by this I may presume , and be sure I am Cuckold . Phoebus . That 's the way to be satisfied . Vulcan . If I can catch them , all the Gods I 'le call To see my wrongs , there sports I 'le neere to marre , And venge me on that letcherous God of warre . Enter the Nymph , Cloris , with two more , with floures in their laps . 1. Nym. Cloris , you are the Nymph whose office is To strow faire Venus bed with hearbes and flowers , Here is the place shee meanes to sport her selfe . Clo. I am the hand-maide to the Queene of loue , And vnto all her pleasures minister , When she drinkes Nectar , 't is from Cloris hand , If feede on sweete Ambrotia , or those fruits That Cornu-copia yeelds , I serue them vp , Come let vs with fresh Roses strow her Couch With pances and the buds of Eglantine , Her pillow is the purple Violet banke , About whose verges the blancht Lillies grow , Whose bodies twin'd about with wood-byne leaues Make a confused sweetnesse , so 't is well , Come Venus when shee please to take her rest , Her Arbour 's dight , and all things well addrest . Enter Vulcan and Pyragmon with his net of wire . Vulcan . By her baud Charis , this I know the place , Which with adulterate pastimes they pollute . Here will I set my pit-fall for these birds , And catch them in the closure of this wire , So , so , als fit , my snare in order plac't , Happy the time , that I this Charis trac't . Enter Mars and Venus . Mars . Once more in spight of Phoebus and these eies , That dog our pastimes , we are closely met , And whilst the Cuckold Vulcan blowes the fire , Our amorous soules their sportiue blisse conspire . Venus . Hee 's limping thus , and like a cripple halts From Forge to Fornace ; where were Venus eies , When she made choise of that foule polt-foote Smith , He smels all smoake , and with his nasty sweate Tawnies my skinne , out on him vgly knaue , Mars is my loue , and he my sweets shall haue . Vulcan . Gramercy my kind wife . Venus . Come God of warre , I 'le teach thee a new skirmish , better farre Then thy sterne battails , meete me with a kisse Which I retort thus , there 's spirit in this , What 's he would play the coward and turne face , When such sweete amorous combats are in place ? My hot incounters , leaue me wound nor skarre Yet naked I dare meete the God of Warre . Vulcan . Out of her Whoore . Mars . I am arm'd for thee , prepare thee , for this night I l'e breast to breast dare thee to single fight . Venus . Come tumble in my lap , great Mars I dare To do his worst . Vulcan catcheth them fast in his net . Vul. 'T is well , your sports are faire . Mars . Betraid ? bound ? catcht ? release me , or by Ioue , Thou dy'st what ere thou art . Vul. God Mars , good words ; This is a fight in which you vse no swords . You haue left your steele behinde . Ven. Sweet vulcan . Vulc. No more . Venus . Canst thou vse Venus thus ? Vul. Away you whore , I l'e keepe you fast , and call the Gods to see Your practise , Neptune , Ioue , and Mercury , Phoebus and Iuno , from your spheares looke downe , And see the cause I weare a forked crowne . All the Gods appeare aboue , and laugh , Iupiter , Iuno , Phoebus , Mercury , Neptune . Mars . The Gods are all spectators of our shame , And laugh at vs . Venus . Oh! I could cry for anger . Sweet Vulcan let me loose . Vulc. When Gods and men Haue seene thy shame , but ( strumpet ) not till then . Iup. See how Mars chafes . Iun. But Venus weeps for rage Nept. Why should Mars fret ? if it so tedious be , Good God of warre bestow thy place on me . Merc. By all the Gods , would she do me that grace , I would fall too 't euen before Vulcans face . Vul. To Gods and men let it be fully knowne I am a Cuckold . All . Vulcan is no lesse . Vul. Now since red shame your cheeks with bloud hath dy'd , I am reueng'd , and see my net 's vnti'd . Phoeb. The Gods haue laught their fill , Vulcan's reueng'd , And now all friends : speake , are we ? Iup. Mars still frownes , Iuno . And Venus scarce well pleas'd . Vul. For my part ( oh you Gods ! ) what 's past is past , And what is once done , cannot be recald : If Vulcan in this ieast hath pleas'd the Gods , All his owne wrongs he freely can forgiue . Venus we are friends , to Lemnos we will hast , And neuer more record what 's done and past . Ven. No foole , before I did offend with feare , My guilt was but suspected , but not prou'd : And therefore I selected priuacy , Closenesse of place , and bashfully transgrest ; But since both Gods and men now know my sinne , Why should I dread to say I loue God Mars ? What helpe hast thou in prouing thy wife false ? Onely to make me doe with impudence , What I before with feare did , on thy selfe Brought a most certaine shame , where it before Was but suspected . Vul. Venus speakes good sence , That 's certaine now , which was before suspence . Ven. Now fare well iealous foole , for my disgrace , Him whom I loue , I blushlesse thus imbrace , And may all such as would their wiues so take , ( Although they might ) be seru'd thus for thy sake . Vul. I am vndone , be warn'd by me oh men , Although you know your wiues false , where and when , Take them not in the manner , though you may : They that with feare before , now blushlesse stray , Their guilt 't is better to suspect then know , So you may take some part of that you owe . Where I by seeking her good name to thrall , Haue made my selfe a scorne , and quite left all . Iup. To Lemnos then , to make our Thunders fit , Which against mortals we haue cause to vse , Mars , you to Thrace , Venus in Paphos stay , Or where you please , we to our seuerall spheares . Vulcan , thy morrall this good vse contriues , None search too farre th' offences of their wiues . Exeunt HOMER . Our last Act comes , which lest it tedious grow , What is too long in word , accept in show . Thinke Hercules his labours hauing ended , The Spanish Gerion kild , and Cacus slaine , As farre as Lydea he his palme extended , Where beauteous Omphale this time doth raigne . He that before to Deianeira sent , As presents , all the spoyles that he could win , Now fils her heart with iealous discontent , She heares how Hercules doth card and spin With Omphale , and serues her as a slaue . ( She quite forgot in Thebes ) her griefe to cheare , Th' assembled Princes with their Counsels graue , Are come to comfort and remoue her feare . By these all his stor'd labours he hath sent To call him home , to free her discontent . Ashew . Enter Deianeira sad , with Lychas : to her Iason , Telamon , Castor , Pollux , Nestor , &c. They seeme to comfort her , she sends Lychas , who brings the Trophies of his twelue labours , she deliuers them to the Princes , to beare to her husband . They part seuerall waies . Hom. Iason , and the other Hero's for her sake , Trauell to Lydia , to perswade him thence And by his twelue knowne labours , vndertake To moue him , quite t' abandon his faire wench . Further then this her iealousie extends , Afarre worse present she by Lychas sends . Enter Deianeira , and her seruant Lychas. Lych. Madam , these sorrowes are too violent For your weake sex , I do not thinke t is true , Your husband can preferre that Omphale Before your beauty . Deian. Hee 's forgot in Greece . Greece that was wont to clangor with his fame , Is now all silent , who but Iason now , And Telamon , that scal'd the walles of Troy , Alcides is a name for got amongst vs , And Deianeira too forgot with him . Oh! that I had the tempting strumpet here That keepes my Lord away , confining me Vnto the coldnesse of a widowed bed . Lyc. Madam , these presents sent , & so wel knowne Coming from you , must needs preuaile with him . These Princes haue great interest in his loue , And can perswade much . Deia. But that strumpet more . Lychas , he doates vpon her tempting lookes , And is so much with her inchantments blear'd , That hee 's turn'd woman : woman Lychas , spinnes , Cards , and doth chare-worke , whilst his mistres sits And makes a cushion of his Lyons skin , Makes of his club a rocke . I loose my selfe In this my sorrow , and forget the meanes ; I still keepe by my me , to restore my loue , Lychas , fetch me the shirt within my chamber , I haue bethought me now . Lych. Madam I shall . Dei . This shirt ( in bloud of Centaur Nessus dipt , And since washt out ) I l'e send my Hercules , Which hath the power to make his hot loue dye To any stranger , and reuiue to me . This ( as his last ) the dying Centaur spake , To this I l'e trust , all other hopes forsake . Enter Lychas Lych. Madam the shirt . Dei . This as my best and deerest , Present me ( trusty Lychas ) to my Lord , Intreat withall , that if he haue not quite Put off my loue , hee 'l daine to put on this . If he despise my gift , returne it backe , And in it my death . Lych. Feare not faire Princesse , I hope to proue as fortunate as faithfull . Dei. Farewell , proue as thou speakest . If my gift faile , I haue sentenced all my sorrowes to one death , Whilst Deianeira hath a hand to vse , Shee 'l not liue hated where she once did chuse . Exit . Enter Omphale , Queene of Lydia , with 4 or 5 maids , Hercules attired like a woman , with a distaffe and a spindle . Omph. Why so , this is a power infus'd in loue , Beyond all magicke ; Is 't not strange to see A womans beauty tame the Tyrant-tamer ? And the great Monster-maister ouer-match ? Haue you done your taske ? Herc. Beauteous Queene , not yet . Omph. Then I shall frowne . Herc. Before that ( louely faire ) Augment my taske , vnto a treble chare . For one sweet smile from beauteous Omphale , I l'e lay before thee all the monstrous heads Of the grim tyrants that oppresse the earth . I that before , at Iuno's strict behest , The hundred gyants of Cremona slue , Will twice fiue hundred kill for Omphale . Finde me a Cacus in a caue of fire , I l'e dragge him from the mountaine Auentine , And lay his bulke at thy victorious feet . Finde me me another Gerion to captiue , All his three heads I l'e tumble in thy skirt . Bid me once more sacke hell , to binde the furies , Or to present thee with the Gods in chaines , It shall be done for beauteous Omphale . Omph. Leaue prating , ply your worke . Herc. Oh what a sweetnesse Liues in her lookes ! no bondage , or base slauery Seemes seruitude , whilst I may freely gaze ( And vncontrold ) on her : but for one smile , I l'e make her Empresse ore the triple world , And all the beauteous Queenes from East to West , The Lydians vassails , and my fellow-slaues . There is no Lord but Loue , no vassailage But in affection , and th' Emperious Queene Doth tyranize ore captiue Hercules . Enter a maid . Maid . Madam , some Dukes of Greece attend without , And craue to see your captiue Theban here . Omph. Admit them , they shall see what pompe we haue , And that our beauty can the loftiest slaue . Enter Iason , Telamon , Castor , Pollux , Nestor , Atreus , &c. Iason . Our businesse was to Theban Hercules , 'T was told vs he remain'd with Omphale , The Lydian Queene . Tel. Speake , which is Omphale ? or which Alcides ? Omph. We are queene of Lydia , And this our vassaile . Do you know him Lords ? Stoope slaue , and kisse the foot of Omphale . Herc. I shall . Nest. Oh wonderous alteration ! Cast. Till now I trusted this report was false , And scarcely can I yet beleeue mine eyes . Pol. Lady , our purpose was to Hercules , Shew vs the man . Omph. Behold him Greekes there . Atreus . Where ? Omph. There at his taske . Iason . Alas ! This Hercules ? This is some base effeminate groome , not hee That with his puissance frighted all the earth : This is some woman , some Hermophrodite . Herc. Hath Iason , Nestor , Castor , Telamon , Atreus , Pollux , all forgot their friend ? We are the man . Iason . Woman we know thee not . We came to seeke the Ioue-borne Hercules , That in his cradle strangled Iuno's snakes , And triumpht in the braue Olimpicke games . He that the Cleonean Lyon slue , The Eremanthian Boare , the Bull of Marathon , The Lernean Hydra , and the winged Hart . He that drag'd Cerberus from hell in chaines , And stownded Pluto in his Ebon Chaire . That Hercules , by whom the Centaurs fell , Great Achelous , the Stymphalides , And the Cremona giants ? Where is he ? Tel. That traiterous Nessus with a shaft trans-fixt , Strangled Antheus , purg'd Augeus stalles , Wan the bright Apples of the Hesperides , And whilst the Giant Atlas eas'd his limbes , Bore on his shoulders the huge frame of heauen . Herc. And are not we the man ? see Telamon , A woman do this ? we would see the Theban , That Cacus slue , Busiris sacrific'd , And to his horses hurl'd sterne Diomed To be deuour'd . Pol. That freed Hesione From the Sea-whale , and after ransackt Troy , And with his owne hand slue Laomedon . Nest. He by whom Dercilus and Albion fell , He that Oecalia and Betricia wan . Atr. That monstrous Gerion with his three heads vanquisht With Linus , Lichas that vsurp't in Thebes , And captiu'd there his beauteous Megara . Iason . He that the Amazonian Baldricke wan , That Achelous with his club subdu'd , And wan from him the pride of Calidon Bright Deianeira , that now mournes in Thebes For absenc of that noble Hercules . To him we came , but since he liues not here , Come Lords , we wil returne these presents backe Vnto the constant Lady , whence they came . Herc. Stay Lords . Iason . 'Mongst women ? Herc. For that Thebans sake Whom you professe to loue , and came to seeke , Abide awhile , and by my loue to Greece , I l'e bring before you that lost Hercules , For whom you came to enquire . Iason . On that condition ( Princes ) le ts stay a little . Tela. It workes , it workes . Herc. How haue I lost my selfe ? Did we all this ? where is that spirit become That was in vs ? no maruell Hercules , If thou beest strange to them , that thus disguis'd , Art to thy selfe vnknowne . Hence with this distaffe And base effeminate chares . Omp. How slaue ? submit and to thy taske againe . Dar'st thou rebell ? Herc. Pardon great Omphale . Ias. Will Telamon perswade me this is Hercules The Libian Conquerer , now a slaues slaue . He liu'd in midst of battailes , this 'mongst truls : This welds a distaffe , he a conquering Club . Shall we bestow faire Deianeiraes presents On this ( heauen knowes ) whether man or woman ? Herc. Who nam'd my Deianeira ? Iason you ? How fares my loue ? how fares my beauteous wife ? I know these presents , did they come from her ? What strumpet 's this that hath detain'd my soule ? Captiu'd my fame , trans-shap't me to a foole ? Made me ( of late ) but little lesse then God , Now scarce a man ? Hence with these womanish tyres , And let me once more be my selfe againe . Tel. Keep from him Omphale , be that your charge , Wee 'l second these good thoughts . Omph. Alcid s heare me . Cast. By your fauour madam . Herc. Who spake ? Iason . Thinke that was Deianeira's voyce , That cals thee home to dry her widowed teares , And to bring comfort to her desolate bed . Herc. Oh Deianeira . Om. Heare me Hercules . Herc. Ha Omphale ? Pollux . You shall not trouble him . Ias. 'T was she that made Alcides womanish , But Deianeira to be more then man . For thy wiues sake thou art renown'd in Greece , This Strumpet hath made Greece forget thee quite , And scarce remember there was such a man . Thebes that was wont to triumph in thy glories , Is now all silent . Tyrants euery where Beginne to oppresse , thinking Alcides dead For so the fame 's already . Shall a Strumpet Do this vpon the Theban Hercules ? And Deyaneira , faire , chast absolute In all perfections , liue despis'd in Thebes ? Herc. By Ioue she shall not , first I 'le rend these eies out , That sotted with the loue of Omphale Hath transhapt me , and deepely iniur'd her . Come we will shake off this effeminacy And by our deeds repurchase our renowne . Iason and you braue Greekes , I know you now , And in your honours I behold my selfe What I haue bene , hence Strumpet Omphale , I cast thee off , and once more will resume My natiue vertues , and to proue this good This day vnto the Gods I 'le sacrifice To grace which pompe , and that we may appeare The same we were , before vs shall be borne These of our labours twelue , the memory , Vnto Ioues Temple , grace vs worthy Heroes To assist vs in this high sollemnity . Whilst we vpon our manly shoulders beare These massy pillars we in Gades must reare . Exeunt . Manet Omphale . Ompale . We haue lost our seruant , neuer yet had Lady One of the like ranke . All King Thespius daughters , Fifty in number , childed all one night , Could not preuaile so much with Hercules As we haue done ; no not faire Yo le Daughter to Cacus , beauteous Megara , Nor all the faire and amorous queenes of Greece , Could slaue him like the Lydian Omphale . Therefore where e're his labours be renown'd , Let not our beauty passe vnregistred . Bondaging him that captiu'd all the earth , Nor will we leaue him , or yet loose him thus What either beauty , cunning , flattery , teares Or womans Art can , we will practise on him . But now the Priests and Princes are prepar'd For the great sacrifice , which we will grace With our high presence , and behold aloofe These rights vnto the gods perform'd and done We 'le gaine by Art , what we with beauty won . Enter to the sacrifice two Priests to the Altar , sixe Princes with sixe of his labours , in the midst Hercules bearing his two brazen pillars , six other Princes , with the other six labours , Hercules staies them . Herc. Now Ioue behold vs from thy spheare of Starres , And shame not to acknowledge vs thy sonnes . Thus should Alcides march amidst his spoiles , Inguirt with slaughtered Lyons , Hydraes , Whales , Boares , Buls , grim Tyrants , Hel-hounds , Monsters , Furies , And Princes his spectators : oh you Gods , To whom this day we consecrate your praiers , And dedicate our sacred orisons , Daine vs your eyes , behold these sholders beare Two brazen pillars , trophies of our fame , That haue eas'd Atlas , and supported heauen , And had we shrunke beneath that heauenly structure The Spheares , Orbs , Planets , Zeniths , Signes , and Stars , With loues high Pallace , all confusedly Had shattered , falne , and o're-whelm'd earth and sea , Wee haue done that , and all these labours else , Which we this day make sacred , lune see These we surrender to thy loue and thee . set on . As they march ouer the Stage , enter Lychas with the shirt . Lych. From Deianera I present this guift , Wrought with her owne hand , with more kind commends Then I haue measured steps to Lydia From Thebes , which she intreats you weare for her . Herc. More welcome is this guift to Hercules Then Iason's Fleece , Laomedon's white Steeds , Or should Ioue grace me with eternity , Here stand our pillars , with non vltra insculpt , Which we must reare beyond the Pyrene Hils At Gades in Spaine ( Alcides vtmost bounds ) Whilst we put on this shirt , the welcome present Of Deyianeira , whom we deerely loue , Lychas thy hand , In this wee 'le sacrifice And make our peace with her and Iupiter . Iason . Neuer was Hercules so much himselfe , How will this newes glad Deyaneiraes heart , Or how this sight inrage faire Omphale ? Tell. All his dead honours he reuiues in this , And Greece shall once more echoe with his fame . Hercules puts on the shirt . Herc. With this her present , I put on her loue , Witnesse heauen , earth , and all you Peeres of Greece , I wed her once more in this ornament , Her loue and her remembrance sit to me More neere by thousands then this roabe can cleaue . So now before Ioues Altar let vs kneele , And make our peace with heauen , attone our selfe With beauteous Dyaneira our chast wife And cast away the loue of Omphale . All the Princes knele to the altar . Priest . Princes of Greece assist vs with your thoughts , And let your prayers with ours ascend the Speares , For mortals orisons are sonnes to Ioue , And when none else can , they haue free accesse Vnto there fathers eare , haile sonne of Saturne , To whom when the three lots of heauen , of sea , And hell were cast , the high Olimpus fell . Herc. Oh , oh . Priest . That with a nod canst make heauens collomes bend , And th' earths Center tremble , whose right hand Is arm'd with lightning , and the left with feare . Herc. No more , are all the furies with their tortures , Their whips and lashes crept into my skin ? Hath any sightlesse and infernall fire Laid hold vpon my flesh ? when did Alcides Thus shake with anguish ? thus change face , thus shrinke ? Shall torture pale our cheeke ? no , Priest proceed , We will not feele the paine , thou shalt not breed , Iason . What alteration 's this ? a thousand pangues I see euen in his visage , in his silence He doth expresse euen hell . Priest . Thou sacred Ioue Behold vs at thy Altar prostrate here To beg attonement 'tweene our sins and thee , Lend vs a gracious eare and eye . Herc. Priest no more , I 'le rend thy Typet , hurle Ioues Altars downe , Hauock his Offerings , all his Lamps extinguish , Raze his high Temples , and skale heauen it selfe Vnlesse he stay my tortures . Iason . Warlike Theban , Whence comes this fury ? is this madnes forc't , That makes Alcides thus blaspheme the Gods . Tell. Patient your selfe . Herc. I will not Iason , cannot Tellamon , A stipticke poyson boyles within my veines , Hell is within me , for my marrow fries , A vulture worse then that Promotheus feeles , Fiers on my entrails , and my bulke in flames . Iason . Yet be your selfe , renowned Hercules , Striue with your torture , with your rage contend Seek to ore-come this anguish . Herc. Well , I will , See Iason , see renowned Tellamon I will be well , I 'le feele no poison boyle , Though my bloud skal'd me , though my hot suspires , Blast where I breath like lightning , though my lungs Seeth in my bloud , I will not pale a cheeke , Nor change a brow , I will not , spight of torture Anguish , and paine , I will not . Omp. What strange fury Hath late possest him to be thus disturb'd ? Iason . Why this is well , once more repaire Ioues Altar . Kindle these holy Tapers and proceed . Herc. To plucke the Thunderer from his Christall throne And throw the Gallaxia , by the locks , And amber tresses , drag the Queene of heauen . Nestor . Alcides . Herc. Princes , Iason , Tellamon , Helpe me to teare of this infernall shirt , Which rawes me where it cleaues , vnskin my brawnes , And like one nak't rowl'd in a Tun of spikes Of thousands , make one vniuersall wound , And such is mine : oh Deyaneira false , Treacherous , vnkind , disloyall ; plucke , teare , rend Though you my bones leaue naked , and my flesh Frying with poyson you cast hence to dogs . Dread Neptune , let me plundge me in thy seas , To coole my body , that is all on flame . Or with thy tri-sulke thunder strike me Ioue , And so let fire quench fire , vnhand me Lords , Let me spurne mountaines downe , and teare vp rockes Rend by the roots huge Okes , till I haue dig'd A way to hell , or found a skale to heauen . Something I must , my torments are so great , To quench this flame and qualify this heate . Exit . Iason . Let vs not leaue him Princes least this out-rage Make him lay violent hands vpon him selfe . If Deyaneiraes heart , were with her hand , She is her sexes scandall , and her shame Euen whilst Time liues , shall euery tongue proclaime . Exit Omph. I 'le follow to , and with what Art I can , Striue this his rage and torture to allay . Exit . Lych. What 's in this shirt vnknowne to me that brought it ? Or what hath iealous Deyaneira done ? To employ me , an vnwilling messenger , In her Lords death : well , whosoe're it proue My innocence I know , I 'le , if I may Looke to my life , and keepe out of his way . Enter Hercules . Herc. Lychas , Lychas , where 's he that brought this poyson'd shirt , That I may teare the villaine lim from lim . And flake his body small as Winters snow , His shattered flesh shall play like parched leaues , And dance in th' aire , tost by the sommer winds . Lychas. Defend me heauen . Herc. Oh that with stamping thus , I could my selfe beneath the Center sinke , And tombe my tortured body beneath hell . Had I heauens massy columnes in my gripes , Then with one sway I would or'e-turne yon frame , And make the marble Elementall sky My Tombe-stone to enterre dead Hercules . Oh father Ioue thou laist vpon thy sonne Torments aboue supporture , Lichas , oh ! I 'le chase the villaine o're Oetaes rockes , Till I haue nak't those hils , and left no shade To hide the Traytor . Lichas. Which way shall I flye To scape his fury ? if I stay I dye . Hercules sees him . Herc. Stay , stay , what 's he that creeps into yon caue ? Is not that Lycas Dyaneiraes squire , That brought this poysoned shirt to Hercules ? I thanke thee Ioue , yet this is some allayment And moderation to the pangues I feele , Nay , you shall out fir Lychas by the heeles . Hercules swings Lychas about his head , and kils him . Thus , thus , thy limbs about my head I twine , Eubaean sea receiue him , for he 's thine . Enter Iason , Tellamon , and all the Princes , after them Omphale . Ias. Princes , his torments are 'boue Physicke helpe , And they that wish him well , must wish his death , For that alone giues period to his anguish . Tell. In vaine we follow and pursue his rage , There 's danger in his madnesse . Nest. Yet aloofe , Let 's obserue him , and great Ioue implore To qualifie his paines . Phy. As I am Philoctetes I 'le not leaue him , Vntill he be immortall , Princes harke , Hercules within Cannot these grones peirce heauen and moue to pitty The obdure Iuno . Omph. Beneath this rocke where we haue often kist , I will lament the noble Thebans fall , The Lydian Omphale will be to him A truer Mystresse , then his wife , whose hate Hath brought on him this sad and ominous fate . Nor hence , for any force or prayer remoue , But die with him whom I so deerely loue . cry within . Cast. His torments still increase , heare oh you Gods , And hearing pitty . Enter Hercules from a rocke aboue , tearing downe trees . Herc. Downe , downe , you shadowes that crowne Oeta Mount , And as you tumble beare the Rockes along . I will not leaue an Oake or standing Pine But all these mountaines with the dales make euen , That Oetaes selfe may mourne with Hercules . Hah ! what art thou ? Omph. I am thy Omphale . Herc. Art thou not Deyaneira come to mocke Alcides madnesse , and his pangues deride ? Yes , thou art she , thou , thou hast fier'd my bones , And mak'st me boyle in poyson , for which ( minion ) And for ( by fate ) thou hast shortned my renowne , Behold , this monstrous rocke thy death shal crowne , Hercules kils Omphale , with a peece of a rocke . So Deyaneira and her squire are now Both in their sins extinct . Thes. What hath Alcides done ? slaine Omphale , A guiltlesse queene that came to mourne his death . Herc. Torment on torment . But shall Hercules Dye by a womans hand ? No , ayd me Princes , ( If you haue in you any generous thoughts ) In my last fabricke : Come , tosse trees on trees , Till you haue rear'd me vp a funerall pile , Which all that 's mortall in me shall consume . Cast. Princes , let none deny their free assistance , In his release of torture . Ther 's for me . Pol. My hand shall likewise helpe to bury him , And of his torments giue him ease by death . All the Princes breake downe the trees , and make a fire , in which Hercules placeth himselfe . Her Thanks , thus I throne me in the midst of fire , And with a dreadlesse brow confront my death . Olimpicke thunderer now behold thy sonne , Of whose diuine parts make a starre , that Atlas May shrinke beneath the weight of Hercules . And step-dame Iuno , glut thy hatred now , That hast beene weary to command , when we Haue not beene weary to performe and act . I that Busiris slue , Antheus strangled , And conquer'd still at thy vnkinde behest , The three-shap't Gerion , and the dogge of hell , The Bull of Candy , and the golden Hart , Augeus and the fowles of Stymphaly , The Hesperian fruit , and bolt of Thermidon , The Lernean Hydra , and Arcadian Boare , The Lyon of Naemea , Steeds of Thrace , The monster Cacus ; thousands more then these , That Hercules in death dares thee to chide , And shewes his spirit , which torments cannot hide . Lye there thou dread of Tyrants , and thou skin , He burns his Club , & Lyons Skin . Invulner'd still , burne with thy maisters bones : For these be armes which none but we can weild . My bow and arrowes Philoctetes take , Reserue them as a token of our loue , For these include the vtmost fate of Troy , Which without these ; the Greekes can nere destroy . You Hero's all fare-well , heape fire on fire , And pile on pile , till you haue made a structure To flame as high as heauen , and record this Though by the Gods and Fates we are ore-throwne , Alcides dies by no hand but his owne . Iupiter aboue strikes him with a thunder-bolt , his body sinkes , and from the heauens discends a hand in a cloud , that from the place where Hercules was burnt , brings vp a starre , and fixeth it in the firmament . Iason . Iuno thou hast done thy worst ; he now defies What thou canst more , his fame shall mount the skies . What heauenly musicke 's this ? Tel. His soule is made a star , and mounted heauen , I see great Ioue hath not forgot his sonne : All that his mothers was is chang'd by fire , But what he tooke of Ioue , and was deuine , Now a bright star in the high heauens must shine . Enter Atreus . Nest. We all haue seene Alcides deifi'd . But what newes brings Atreus ? Air . A true report of Deianeira's death , Who when she heard the tortures of her Lord , And what effect her fatall present tooke , Exclaim'd on Nessus , and to proue herselfe Guiltlesse of treason in her husbands death , Witth her owne hand she boldly slue herselfe . Pel. That noble act proclaim'd her innocent , And cleares all blacke suspition : but faire princes , Let vniuersall Greece in funerall blacke , Mourne for the death of Theban Hercules . Ias. Who now shal monsters quel , or tyrants tame ? Th' oppressed free , or fill Greece with their fame . Princes your hands , take vp these monuments Of his twelue labours in a marble Temple ( We will erect and dedicate to him ) Reserue them to his lasting memory : His brazen pillers shall be fixt in Gades , On which his monumentall deeds wee 'l graue . Arm'd with these worthy Trophies le ts march on Towards Thebes , that claimes the honour of his birth . His body 's dead , his fame shall nere expire , Earth claimes his earth , heauen shewes his heauenly fire . Exeunt omnes . HOMER . He that expects fiue short Acts can containe Each circumstance of these things we present , Me thinkes should shew more barrennesse then raine : All we haue done we aime at your content , Striuing to illustrate things not knowne to all , In which the learnd can onely censure right : The rest we craue , whom we vnlettered call , Rather to attend then iudge : for more then sight We seeke to please . The understanding eare Which we haue hitherto most gracious found , Your generall loue , we rather hope then feare : For that of all our labours is the ground . If from your loue in any point we stray , Thinke HOMER blind , and blind men misse their way . FINIS .
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●oeuer this is my comfort , that what imperfection soever it haue , hauing a brazen face it cannot La●medon Laomedon . succe●ded was pretious , full of golden rest . Siluer succeeded ; good , but not so pure : Then loue and rag● Nephewes that 'gainst their Vnckles wreake their rage , Mothers against their children discontent fier●e discontent , A sister with her brother at fierce warre , ( Things in our former times not vistorious our history we shall proceed , And Hercules victorious acts relate : His marriage first , next 〈◊〉 Enter Oeneus , King of Calidon , Queene Althea Pl●xippus , Queene Althea , Meleager , Deianeira , Plexippus , and Toxeus , brothers to the Queene . fert●ll Queene and sonne , Sits Oeneus crown'd in fertill Calidon Whose age and weakenesse is supported Ca●don and sonne , Sits Oeneus crown'd in fertill Calidon Whose age and weakenesse is supported only ftand May we long stand supporters of your royaltyes , And glad mi●aculous haue heard you say Somewhat about my birth miraculous , But neuer yet knew the true circumstance emin●nce Champians must this day contend , And try their eminence in Armes for you , Great Achelous , and A●arnania's with Hercules . Nere let my streames wash Acarnania's bankes , Or we confin'de in Thous , our Calidoni● shoulders in their honored spoyles ? The Calidonian Boare crusht with our Club ? The rude Thessalian Cerber● beneath Our Iuiall hand ? pierc'd hell ? bound Cerberus ? And buffeted so long , till from the fome Amphitri●'s dread his name ? Or what's he greater then Amphitrio's sonne ? When we assume the name of Demi-god Prote●s ? When we assume the name of Demi-god Not Proteus can trans-shape himselfe like vs , For we prccious vassaile , Since thou hast reft me of that precious horne , Which tearing from my head in shape Ach●lous Cornucopiae , plenties horne , In memory of Achelous losse , And this high conquest won by Hercules conqu●st memory of Achelous losse , And this high conquest won by Hercules . luno , soiourne heere we cannot , My step-dame Iuno tasks me to more dangers : Wee take thy O●n. Oen. M●l. Mel. H●rc. Herc. circl● Not loues guard Can circle her with more security . Time cals vs hence wastage mount my shoulders , And feare not your safe waftage . Her●les Helpe Hercules . ●may true : 'tis my last cry , Saue of my bloud , 'tmay steede thee ere thou die . I'lenot my loue mistrust not , yet this counsell I'le not despise : this if my Lord should stray la●h pastime : the three snake-hair'd sisters , That lash offenders with their whips of steele , Should venge●ce hate to touch , as cowardly and base , And vengeance not becomming Hercules . Come Deyaneira Hercul●s cowardly and base , And vengeance not becomming Hercules . Come Deyaneira , first to consumate Our Dey●eira And vengeance not becomming Hercules . Come Deyaneira , first to consumate Our high espowsals ●owsals Come Deyaneira , first to consumate Our high espowsals in triumphant Thebes , That done , our future don● high espowsals in triumphant Thebes , That done , our future labours wee'le persue , And luno the powers Diuine , Striue to act more then Iuno can assigne . The●es Faire Deyaneira vnto , Thebes being guided , And Hercules espousals solemnized br●e Baldricke gaines , By conquering Menalip ( a braue prise ) The warlike Quene that ore the Scithians ●re ( a braue prise ) The warlike Quene that ore the Scithians raignes . That hee supported ●tarres expresse His Astronomicke skill , knowledge in starres : They that such practise know , what do Logick● from that another grew . This shewed his Logicke skill : from euery word And argument confuted estee●ed multiplicity , therefore we Poets and such as are esteemed wise , Instruct the world by such morality ●rality esteemed wise , Instruct the world by such morality . To conquer Hydra showed his powerfull fellnoraine In Aegypt there of long time fell no raine , For which vnto the Oracle they re●urn'd which vnto the Oracle they sent : Answeres return'd , that till one stranger slaine , Immou'd f●rmament stranger slaine , Immou'd shall be the Marble firmament . Therefore the Tyrant all these strangers souer aigne passe , Whom these of Aegypt would their soueraigne make , For freeing them from such a tyrants sifter beames , And make his sace pale , as his sister Moone . Come , let vs tumble on this violet A●. Adonis. Swee● Sweet whither ? Ad●nis Adonis . does● What doest thou hunt ? be●sts thee dye By that rude Boare . Hunt thou the beasts that flye , The wanton Squirrell , or the Squirr●ll Hunt thou the beasts that flye , The wanton Squirrell , or the trembling Hare , The crafty Fox fea● clesse trembling Hare , The crafty Fox : these pastimes fearelesse are . The greedy Wolues , and fierce Beares you●h . They iudge not beauty , nor distinguish youth , These are their prey ; My pitty , loue de● Thou art to deere his sauadge throat to feast . Forbeare . Tox●us Pollux , Iason , Peleus , Nestor , Atreus , Toxeus , Plexippus . Tela●n From populous Salamine I Telamon Am at thy faire request , King Meleager L●da Let vs no more be held The sonnes of Leda , and be got by Ioue , Brothers , and cal'd Menclaus yong son Agamemnon , and his brother Prince Menelaus in his swathes at home , Without some honour Veoter equalize his language . Shall not Theseus Venter as farre as any ? heauens you know I dare beaft Calidonian Queene , Or let this monstrous beast confound me quite , And in his vast wombe f●e quite , And in his vast wombe bury all my fate . Beauteous Atlanta welcome , grace her vn-●en plant the toiles , others brauely mount , To un-den this sauadge . M●lea. Melea. Ad●nis bugle's that Which cals vs to the chace ? Adonis yours ? Tbessalian on hils Prest for the charge , the fierce Thessalian hounds With their flagge eares , ready to Gree●e all sides : 'mongst the Princes Of fertill Greece , Anceus bowels lye Strewd on the earth Leap'●vp had not Nestor ( by his Iauelins helpe ) Leap't vp into an Oke to haue scap't his rage , t●reaten darke the ayre , And where they fall , they threaten imminent ruine . wee'● To these wee'l adde our fury , and our fire , And front b●ow and our fire , And front him , though his brow bare figured hell , And euery wrinkle were Exe●t Exeunt . monfters first wounds honour , and be absent from The monsters death , we must haue hand in both . Who●e most beauteous of the youths of Greece , Whose death I will not mourne , ere I reuenge ia●ellins Plexippus , Iason , Thesus , &c. with their iauellins bloudied . bore-speares Tyndarides , And our bold vnkles , al our boar-speares stain'd And gory hands lau'd in his reeking astonish●ent people feare , And dare not touch but with astonishment Fell by thy hand . T●l Thou stodst his violence , Til thy sharpe Iauelin grated gainst his broines A●l. All. ●all Then reskue for Atlanta , This day shall fall for thee , that art diuine , Monsters more f●ry this act two Noble Gentlemen , Pursue not fury to the spoile of Greece , And death of more ●mpious Wee haue done too much already , impious fury , How boundlesse is thy power : vncircumscribed 〈◊〉 bring these winter haires to a sad Tombe Long ere there date ; I sinke beneath these sorrowes ther● these winter haires to a sad Tombe Long ere there date ; I sinke beneath these sorrowes Into da● winter haires to a sad Tombe Long ere there date ; I sinke beneath these sorrowes Into my fightlesse The flames of hell , and Pluto's sightlesse fires , Are through my entrals and my veines conferust And saue his life as thou conserust this brand . fuddaine Defend vs heauen , what suddaine extasy Or vnexpected torture hath disturb'd incurro long In this curst Clime ; oh let vs not incurre Diana's fury , our next expedition Shall co●test Let not euen Kings against the Gods contest , Lest in this fall their ruines be exprest Dei●neira Enter Deianeira and Lychas : to her Hercules , receiued Heroules , Pollux , Theseus , &c. Iason perswades Hercules to the aduenture : hee leaues Deianeira Argnauts leaues Deianeira , and marcheth off with the Argonauts . soundation higher then their ground-fils , or In their foundation buried beene , and lost , Since their high chan●'t and promise with the Gods , This had not chanc't : You borrowed of the Priests Of Neptune N●ptune The Priests their due , for which inraged Neptune Assembled his high tides , thinking to drowne Sea-mo●sters Lady to be chus'd by lot , To glut his huge Sea-monsters rauenous iawes : The lot this day fell on raueno us chus'd by lot , To glut his huge Sea-monsters rauenous iawes : The lot this day fell on Hesione Colchos● the harbour , bound ( by their report ) For Colchos: but when they beheld the shores Couered Acry A cry within . brightfire glides , As if he meant to quench the Sunnes bright fire , And bring a palped darknesse ore A●e The Argonauts Are glorifi'd by this victorious act . Darft monster halfe so vile As this Land-fiend . Darst threaten Hercules ? Would vniuersall Troy fir● Depart our walles , or we will fire your Argoe , Lying in our harbour , and Laom●don Laomedon , Il'e tosse thee from thy walles , Batter La●medon not for Troy , The golden fleece , and not Laomedon : Why should we hazard here our Argonauts I●e to Hercules . Expect me ; for by Olimpicke Ioue I sweare . Nere to set foot within my natiue Greecs natiue Thebes , See Deianeira , or to touch in Greece , Till I'haue scal'd these mures , inuaded 〈◊〉 , being betraid By their curst step-dame Ino , fled from Greece , Their Innocence pittied Syg●an golden-fleeced Ramme , Which bore them safe to the Sygean sea , Which swimming , beauteous Helles insernall guarded By two fierce Buls , that breath infernall fires , And by a wakefull Dragon , in whose feruile guild my armes To place vpon their necks the seruile yoake , And bondage , force them plow the euafion your selfe into these perils , Whence there is no euasion . sho●res Euen to the waues that breake on Colchos shoares ? And Shall we with dishonour turne to Greece w●l'e meane time , this day Repose your selues , wel'e feast you in our Pallace . To morrow morning 〈◊〉 what's that Iason I should dread his fall ? If he o're-come , my fathers glory waines , And vnapprehenfible in th'eares Of these Barbarians , dull , unapprehensible , And such , in not conceiuing your hid L●dies roabes , whom the glad Matrones , Bright Ladies , and Imperiall Queenes of Greece Shall exoreismes inchants , And not a word , but like our exorcismes And power of charmes preuailes , Oh lone saf●ty these helps I'le gather To girdle thee with safety . ●yrtus Enter Absyrtus Appida● Thessaly , Mount Pindus , Otheris , Ossa , Appidane , Olimpus , Caucas . or high Teneriff . H●locke Mandrakes vse , Temper with Poppy-seeds and Hemlocke iuice : With Aconitum that in Tartar springs E● that in Tartar springs , With Cypresse , Ewe , and Veruin , and these mix With Incantations 〈◊〉 these mix With Incantations , Spels , and Exorcisims Of wonderous power and vertue ; oh thou Lason fortunes ; the Argonautes Haue it in quest , if Iason scape our monsters I'le rather at some banquet ●hield Mars , And noble Iason arm'd with his good shield , Is vp already and demands the field . fr●ed earth , Streight way shall teeme ; and hauing freed their fate ( The stalkes by which they grow ●ow Oetes , how is this rich and pretious Fleece , By Iasons treafon hye , Where you shall feast , ( or all by treason dye . ) Leth● the dead of night , When they are sunke in Lethe , set vpon them , And kill them in their Medea● Madam . ●ister How now sister , so solitary ? incl● parchment , or the skins of Rammes , Which did include the Art of making gold By Chimicke skill Chimi●ke Which did include the Art of making gold By Chimicke skill , and therfore rightly stild , The bod●es trauels , mysteries , Changes and Chymicke bodies , fires and monsters , As euer Iason could M●dea Oetes doth pursue , And being in sight , Medea takes the head Of yong Absyrtus , whom ( ●ughtered this inhumane deed , These Islands where his slaughtered limbes lye spred , Were cal'd Absyrtides Loamedon the gates of Troy , Then call th'ingrate Laomedon to parlee . Ifere Concubine ? Touch me not Telamon , for I deuine , I fere my brother Priam re-build Troy , And ex● worlds vtmost bounds our pillers reare . exit cut'd vnsound , Till he that now lies wounded , cur'd my wound . floth all my Armes I sweare , If by thy carelesse sloth , or negligence We be describe , thy body Dai● guild the East , the Seasons , Months , and Daies Attend him in the pallace of the Sunne . ●pies Hee spies Mars & Venus . ●upiter Smith , Our loue will come to th'eare of Iupiter And all the other Gods , what will Diana theesleeping howres Mounted aloft ? hath he not seene thee sleeping At the Caues dore , Yea beheld Gall●s Gallius sinkes , and in his place riseth a Cocke Gall●s his punishment Liue to all ages , and let Gallius name Thy iust reuenge to all the world proclaime yet● still , and make our reckoning full , As yet. alas faire Queene , the debts but small see● Make hast with that shield , see't hammer'd well , For when 'tis done I'le abroad● . Good morrow Phoebus , what's the newes abroad? ? For thou seest all things in the world thick● fights some times Rise with their smoake , thicke clouds to darke my beames . Sometimes , da● poore Vulcan is confin'd to Lemnos Hast euery day these pleasures . What newes else . V●lcan raies pierce through , And there I see ( oh Vulcan ) wondrous things . Things that thy selfe Phoeb●. PHoebus. him● Tell me good Phoebus , That when I meete him, , I may floute God Mars , Tell mee , but skarr● ? My hot incounters , leaue me wound nor skarre Yet naked I dare meete the God of Warre ●up. Iup. I●. Iun. Lemno● freely can forgiue . Venus we are friends , to Lemnos we will hast , And neuer more record what's acc●pt tedious grow , What is too long in word , accept in show . Thinke Hercules his labours hauing thismy of his club a rocke . I loose my selfe In this my sorrow , and forget the meanes ; I still De●. Dei. Cast●r Enter Iason , Telamon , Castor , Pollux , Nestor , Atreus , &c. fell● Chaire . That Hercules , by whom the Centaurs fell, , Great Achelous , the Stymphalides , And La●medon ransackt Troy , And with his owne hand slue Laomedon . ●Mongst 'Mongst women ? ssaues is Hercules The Libian Conquerer , now a slaues slaue . He liu'd in midst of battailes , Tha● Thinke that was Deianeira's voyce , That cals thee home to dry her widowed teares de●olate widowed teares , And to bring comfort to her desolate bed . d●ne These rights vnto the gods perform'd and done We'le gaine by Art , what we with beauty Altar● All the Princes knele to the altar. . ori●ons with ours ascend the Speares , For mortals orisons are sonnes to Ioue , And when none else F●ers vulture worse then that Promotheus feeles , Fiers on my entrails , and my bulke in flames yourrage Hercules , Striue with your torture , with your rage contend Seek to ore-come this anguish thron● To plucke the Thunderer from his Christall throne And throw the Gallaxia , by the locks , rocke● me spurne mountaines downe , and teare vp rockes Rend by the roots huge Okes , till I haue A●way by the roots huge Okes , till I haue dig'd A way to hell , or found a skale to heauen withi● Hercules within Her● Enter Hercules from a rocke aboue , tearing downe trees ●cke Enter Hercules from a rocke aboue , tearing downe trees . w●h Hercules kils Omphale , with a peece of a rocke . himfelfe and make a fire , in which Hercules placeth himselfe . 〈◊〉 beneath the weight of Hercules . And step-dame Iuno , glut thy hatred now , That hast beene herselse death , Witth her owne hand she boldly slue herselfe . Gr●ece tyrants tame ? Th'oppressed free , or fill Greece with their fame . Princes your hands , take hraine thinkes should shew more barrennesse then raine : All we haue done we aime at your content 〈◊〉 learnd can onely censure right : The rest we craue , whom we vnlettered call , Rather to attend ●erstanding more then sight We seeke to please . The understanding eare Which we haue hitherto most gracious