THE SECOND tragedy OF SENECA Entituled Thyestes, faithfully Englished by jasper Heywood Fellow of Alsolne College in Oxenford.  
The Argument of this Tragedy.  
MEGAERA ONE OF THE Hellish furies raising up Tantalus from Hell, incited him to set mortal hatred between his two nephews Thyestes', & Atreus being brothers, and raining as Kings over Mycenae by interchangeable turns, that is to wit Thyestes' to rain the one year, and Atreus the other. Now Atreus enraged with fury against his brother partly for defiling and deflowering his wife Aerope by policy, and partly for taking from him a Ram with a golden fleece, practised with his servant how to be revenged of his brother. This Atreus therefore dissembling a reconciliation & inviting Thyestes to Mycenae secretly & unknown to him, set before him at a banquet the flesh of his own children to eat. Afterward Atreus having also given to his said brother the blood of his children in a goblet to drink, did lastly command the heads also to be brought in, at the doleful sight whereof Thyestes' greatly lamenting knowing that he had eaten his own children, was wonderfully anguished. But Atreus for that he had thus revenged himself, took therein great pleasure and delectation.  

Thyestes' OF SENECA THE FIRST act.  

The names of the Speakers  
Tantalus.  
Megaera.  
Atrcus.  
Servant.  
Thyestes'.  
Philstenes.  
Messenger,  
Chorus.   Tantalus Megaera, 
WHAT fury fell enforceth me  
to flee, th'unhappy seat,  
That gay and gasp with greedy law,  
the fleeing food to eat  
What GOD to Tantalus the bowers  
where breathing bodies dwell  
Doth show again? is ought found worse, than burning thirst of hell  
In lakes allow? or yet worse plague than hunger is there one,  
In vain that ever gapes for food? shall Sisyphus his stone,  
That slipper restless rolling poise upon my back be borne.  
Or shall my limbs with swifter swinge of whirling wheel be torn?  
Or shall my pains be Tytius' pangs th'increasing liver still,  
Whose growing guts the gnawing gripes and filthy fowls do fill?  
That still by night repairs the paunch that was devoured by day,  
And wondrous womb unwasted lieth a new prepared pray  
What ill am I appointed for? O cruel judge of sprites,  
Who so thou be that torments new among the souls delights  
Still to dispose, ad what thou canst to all my deadly woe,  
That keeper even of dungeon dark would fore abhor to know.  
Or hell itself it quake to see: for dread whereof likewise  
I tremble would, that plague seek out: lo now there doth arise  
My brood that shall in mischief far the grandsire's gilt out go,  
And guiltless make: that first shall dare unventured ills to do.  
whatever place remaineth yet of all this wicked land,  
I will fill up: and never once while Pelops house doth stand  
Shall Minos' idle be.  Meg. 
Go forth thou detestable sprite  
And vex the Gods of wicked house with rage of furies might.  
Let them contend with all offence, by turns and one by one  
Let sword be drawn: and mean of ire procure there may be none,  
Nor shame: let fury blind inflame their minds and wrathful will,  
Let yet the parent's rage endure and longer lasting ill  
Through children's children spread: nor yet let any leisure be  
The former faults to hate, but still more mischief new to see,  
Nor one in one: but ere the guilt with vengeance be acquit,  
Increase the crime: from brethren proud let rule of kingdom flit  
To runagates: and swerving state of all unstable things,  
Let it by doubtful doom be tossed, between th'uncertain kings.  
Let mighty fall to misery, and miser climb to might,  
Let chance turn th'empire upsydown both give and take the right.  
The banished for guilt, when god restore their country shall.  
Let them to mischief fall a fresh as hateful then to all,  
As to themselves: let Ire think nought unlawful to be done,  
Let brother dread the brother's wrath, and father fear the soon,  
And eke the soon his parent's power: let babes be murdered ill,  
But worse begot? her spouse betrapped to treasons train to kill,  
Let hateful wife a wait, and let them bear through seas their war,  
Let bloodshed lie the lands about and every field afar:  
And over conquering captains great, of countries far to see,  
Let lust triumph: in wicked house let whoredom counted he  
The lightest offence: let trust that in the breasts of brethren breeds,  
And truth be gone: let not from sight of your so heinous deeds  
The heavens be hid, about the pole when shine the stars on high,  
And flames with wonted beams of light do deck the painted skills.  
Let darkest night be made, and let the day the heavens forsake.  
disturb the gods of wicked house, hate, slaughter, murder make.  
Fill up the house of Tantalus with mischiefs and debates,  
Adorned be the pillars high with bay, and let the gates  
Be garnished green: and worthy there for thy return to sight.  
Be kindled fire: let mischief done in Thracia once, their light  
More many fold, wherefore doth yet the uncles hand delay?  
Doth yet Thyestes not bewail his children's fatal day?  
Shall he not find them where with heat of fires that under glow  
The cauldron boils? their limbs each one a pieces let them go  
Dispersed: let father's fires, with blood of children filled be:  
Let dainties such be dressed: it is no mischief new to thee,  
To banquet so: behold this day we have to thee released,  
And hunger starved womb of thine we send to such a feast.  
With foulest food thy famine fill, let blood in wine be drowned,  
And drunk in sight of thee: lo now such dishes have I found,  
As thou wouldst shun, stay whither dost thou headlong way now take  Tan. 
To pools and floods of hell again and still declining lake,  
And flight of tree full fraught with fruit that from the lips doth flee,  
To dungeon dark of hateful hell let leeful be for me  
To go: or if to light be thought the pains that there I have,  
Remove me from those lakes again: in midst of worser wave  
Of Phlegethon, to stand in seas of fire beset to be.  
Who so beneath thy pointed pains by destinies decree  
Dost still endure who so thou be that underliest allow  
The hollow den, or ruin who that fears and overthrow  
Of falling hill, or cruel cries that sound in caves of hell  
Of greedy roaring lions throats or flock of furies fell  
Who quakes to know or who the brands of fire in direst pain  
Half burnt throws of hark to the voice of Tantalus: again  
That hastes to hell, and whom the truth hath taught believe well me  
Love well your pains, they are but small when shall my hap so be  
To flee the light?  Meg 
Disturb thou first this house with dire discord  
Debates and battles bring with thee, and of th'unhappy sword  
Ill love to kings: the cruel breast strike through and hateful heart,  
With tumult mad.  Tan. 
To suffer pains it seemeth well my part,  
Not woes to work: I am sent forth like vapour dire to rise,  
That breaks the ground or poison like the plague in wondrous wise  
That slaughter makes, shall I to such detested crimes, apply  
My nephews hearts? o parents great of Gods above the sky  
And mine (though shamed I be to grant) although with greater pain  
My tongue be vexed, yet this to speak I may no whit refrain  
Nor hold my peace: I warn you this least sacred hand with blood  
Of slaughter dire, or strange fell of frantic fury wood  
The altars stain, I will resist: And guard such guilt away.  
With stripes why dost thou me affright? why threat'st thou me to fray  
Those crawling snakes? or famine fixed in empty womb, wherefore  
Dost thou revive? now fries within with thirst enkindled sore  
My heart: and in the bowels burned the boiling flame do glow.  Meg. 
I follow thee: through all this house now rage and fury throw  
Let them be driven so, and so let either thirst to see  
Each other's blood full well hath felt the coming in of thee  
This house, and all with wicked touch of the begun to quake.  
Enough it is, repair again to dens and loathsome lake,  
Of flood well known, the sadder soil with heavy foot of thine  
Aggrieved is, seest thou from syringes how waters do decline  
And inward sink? or how the banks lie void by droughty heat?  
And hotter blast of fiery wind the fewer clouds doth beat?  
The trees be spoiled, and naked stand to sight in withered woods,  
The barren bows whose fruits are fled: the land between the floods  
With surge of seas on either side that wonted to resound,  
And nearer fords to separate sometime with lesser ground,  
Now broader spread, it heareth how aloof the waters rise.  
Now Lerna turns against the stream Phoronides likewise  
His poares be stopped, with customed course Alphéus drives not still,  
His holly waves, the trembling tops of high Cithaeron hill,  
They stand not sure: from height adown they shake their silver snow,  
And noble fields of Argos fear, their former drought to know.  
Yea Titan doubts himself to roll the world his wonted way,  
And drive by force to former course the backward drawing day.  Chorus, 
THis Argos town if any God be found,  
And Pisey boures that famous yet remain,  
Or kingdoms else to love of Corinth's ground,  
The double havens, or sundered seas in twain  
If any love of Taygetus his snows,  
(By Winter which when they on hills be cast:  
By borea's blasts that from Sarmatia blows,  
With yearly breath the summer melts as fast)  
Where clear Alphéus runs with flood so cold,  
By plays well known that there olimpik's height:  
Let pleasant power of his from hence withhold  
Such tunes of strife that here they may not light:  
Not nephew worse than grandsire spring from us,  
Or direr deeds delight the younger age.  
Let wicked stock of thirsty Tantalus  
At length leave of, and weary be of rage.  
Enough is done, and nought prevailed the just,  
Or wrong: betrayed is Myrtilus and drowned,  
That did betray his dame, and with like trust  
Borne as he bore, himself hath made renowned  
With changed name the sea: and better known  
To mariners thereof no fable is.  
On wicked sword the little infant thrown  
As ran the chide to take his father's kiss.  
Unripe for th'altars offering fell down dead:  
And with thy hand (O Tantalus) was rent,  
With such a meat for God's thy boards to spread.  
Eternal famine for such food is sent,  
And thirst: nor for those dainty meats unmild,  
Might meeter pain appointed ever be  
with empty throat stands Tantalus beguiled,  
Above thy wicked head their leans to thee,  
Than Phiney's fowls in flight a swifter prey.  
With burned bows declined on every side,  
And of his fruits all bent to bear the sway,  
The tree deludes the gapes of hunger wide  
Though he full greedy feed thereon would fain.  
So oft deceived neglects to touch them yet:  
He turns his eyes, his jaws he doth refrain,  
And famine fixed in closed gums doth shut.  
But then each branch his plenteous riches all,  
Let's lower down, and apples from an high  
With lither leaves they flatter like to fall  
And famine stir: in vain that bids to try  
His hands: which when he hath wrought forth anon  
To be beguiled, in higher air again  
The harvest hangs and fickle fruit is gone,  
Then thirst him grieves no less than hunger's pain:  
Wherewith when kindled is his boiling blood  
Like fire, the wretch the waves to him doth call,  
That meet his mouth: which straight the fleeing flood  
Withdraws, and from the dried ford doth fall:  
And him forsakes that follows them. He drinks  
The dust so deep of gulf that from him shrinks.   

THE second act.  Atreus. Servant 
O Dastard, coward, O wretch, and (which  
the greatest yet of all  
To tyrants check I count that may  
in weighty things befall)  
O unrevenged: after guilts  
so great and brother's guile.  
And truth trod down dost thou provoke  
with vain complaints the while  
Thy wrath? already now to rage all Argos town throughout  
In armour ought of thine, and all the double seas about  
Thy fleet to ride: now all the fields with fervent flames of thine,  
And towns to flash it well beseemed: and everywhere to shine,  
The bright drawn sword: all under foot of horse let every side  
Of Argos land resound: and let the wounds not serve to hide  
Our woes, nor yet in haughty top of hills and mountains high,  
The builded towers. The people all let them to battle cry  
And clear forsake Mycenas town who so his hateful head  
Hides and defends, with slaughter dire let blood of him be shed.  
This princely Pelops palace proud, and bowers of high renown,  
On me so on my brother to let them be beaten down,  
Go to, do that which never shall no after age allow,  
Nor none it wished: some mischief great there must be ventured now,  
Both fierce and bloody: such as would my brother rather long  
To have been his. Thou never dost enough revenge the wrong.  
except thou pass. And fiercer fact what may be done so dire,  
That his exceeds? doth ever he lay down his hateful ire?  
Doth ever he the modest mean in time of wealth regard  
Or quiet in adversity? I know his nature hard  
Untractable, that broke may be, but never will it bend.  
For which are he prepare himself, or force to fight intend,  
Set first on him, lest while I rest he should on me arise.  
He will destroy or be destroyed in midst the mischief lies,  
Prepared to him that takes it first,  Ser. 
Doth fame of people nought  
Adverse thee fear?  Atre. 
The greatest good of kingdom may be thought  
That still the people are constrained their princes deeds as well  
To praise, as them to suffer all.  Ser. 
Whom fear doth so compel  
To praise, the same his foes to be, doth fear enforce agoyne:  
But who indeed the glory seeks of favour true t'obtain  
He rather would with hates of each be praised, than tongues of all  Atre. 
The truer praise full oft hath happed to meaner men to fall:  
The false but unto mighty man what nill they let them will.  Ser. 
Let first the king will honest things and none the fame dare nill.  Atre. 
Where leeful are to him that rules but honest things alone,  
There rains the king by others leave.  Ser. 
And where the shame is none,  
Nor care of right, faith, piety, nor holiness none stayeth,  
That kingdom swerves.  Atre. 
Such holiness, such piety and faith.  
Are private goods: let kings run one in that that likes their will.  Ser. 
The brother's hurt a mischief count though he be near so ill.  Atre. 
It is but right to do to him, that wrong to brother were.  
What heinous hurt hath his offence let pass to prove? or where  
Refrained the guilt, thy spouse he stole away for lechery,  
And reign by stealth: the ancient note and sign of empery,  
By fraud he got: my house by fraud to vex he never ceased:  
In Pelops house there fostered is a noble worthy beast  
The close kept ram: the goodly guide of rich and fairest flocks.  
By whom throughout on every side depend a down the locks  
Of glittering gold, with fleece of which the new kings wonted were  
Of Tantal's stock their sceptre's gylt, and mace of might to beat.  
Of this the owner reigneth he, with him of house so great  
The fortune fleeth, this sacred Ram aloof in safety shut  
In secret mead is wont to graze, which stone on every side  
With rocky wall encloseth round the fatal beast to hide.  
This beast (adventuring mischief great) adjoining yet for pray  
My spoused mate, the traitor false hath hence conveyed away  
From hence the wrongs of mutual hate, and mischief all upspring:  
In exile wandered he throughout my kingdoms all along:  
No part of mine remaineth safe to me, from trains of his.  
My fear deflowered, and loyalty of empire broken is:  
My house all vexed, my blood in doubt, and nought that trust is in,  
But brother foe What stay'st thou yet? at length lo now begin.  
Take heart of Tantalus to thee, to Pelops cast thine eye:  
To such examples well beseems, I should my hand apply.  
Tell thou which way were best to bring that cruel head to death.  Ser. 
Through pierced with sword let him be slain & yield his hateful breath.  Atre. 
Thou speak'st of th'end: but I him would oppress with greater pain.  
Let tyrants vex with torment more: should ever in my rain  
Be gentle death?  Ser. 
Doth piety in thee prevail no whit?  Atre. 
Depart thou hence all piety, if in this house as yet  
Thou ever wert: and now let all the flock of furies dire,  
And full of strife Erinys come, and double brands of fire  
Megaera shaking: for not yet enough with fury great  
And rage doth burn my boiling breast: it ought to be replete,  
With monster more.  Ser. 
What mischief new dost thou in rage provide?  Atre. 
Not such a one as may the mean of wonted grief abide.  
No guilt will I forbear, nor none may be enough despite.  Ser. 
What sword?  Atr. 
too little that.  Ser. 
what fire?  Atr. 
And that is yet to  Ser. 
What weapon then shall sorrow such find fit to work thy will?  Atr. 
Thy estes self.  Ser. 
Then ire itself yet that's a greater ill.  Atr. 
I grant: a tumbling tumult quakes, within my bosoms lo,  
And round it rolls: I moved am and wot not whereunto.  
But drawn I am: from bottom deep the roaring soil doth cry  
The day so fair with thunder sounds, and house as all from hy  
Were rent, from roof, and rafters cracks: and lares turned about  
Have wried their sight: so be'te, so be'te, let mischief such be sought,  
As ye O Gods would fear.  Ser. 
What thing seek'st thou to bring to pass  
I note what greater thing my mind, and more than wont it was  Atre. 
Above the reach that men are wont to work, begins to swell:  
And stayeth with slothful hands. What thing it is I cannot tell:  
But great it is. be't so, my mind now in this feat proceed,  
For Atreus and Thyestes both, it were a worthy deed.  
Let each of us the crime commit. The Thracian house did see  
Such wicked tables once: I grant the mischief great to be,  
But done ere this: some greater guilt and mischief more, let ire  
Find out. The stomach of thy son O father thou inspire,  
And sister eke, like is the cause: assist me with your power,  
And drive my hand: let greedy parents all his babes devour,  
And glad to rent his children be: and on their limbs to feed.  
Enough, and well it is devised: this pleaseth me in deed.  
In mean time where is he? so long and innocent wherefore  
Doth Atreus walk? before mine eyes already more and more  
The shade of such a slaughter walks: the want of children cast,  
In father's jaws. But why my mind, yet dreadst thou so at last,  
And faint'st before thou enterprise? it must be done, let be,  
That which in all this mischief is the greatest guilt to see,  
Let him commit.  Ser. 
but what deceit may we for him prepare,  
Whereby betrapped he may be drawn, to fall into the snare?  
He wots full well we are his foes.  Atre. 
He could not taken be,  
Except himself would take: but now my kingdoms hopeth he.  
For hope of this he would not fear to meet the mighty jove,  
Though him he threatened to destroy, with lightning from above.  
For hope of this to pass the threats of waves he will not fail,  
Nor dread no whit by doubtful shelves, of lybic seas to sail,  
For hope of this (which thing he doth the worst of all believe,)  
He will his brother see.  Ser. 
Who shall of peace the promise give?  
Whom will he trust?  Atre. 
His evil hope will soon believe it well.  
Yet to my sons the charge which they shall to their uncle tell,  
We will commit: that whom he would from exile come again,  
And miseries for kingdom change, and over Argos reign  
A king of half: and though too hard of heart our prayers all  
himself despise, his children yet nought woting what may fall,  
With travels tired, and apt to be enticed from misery,  
Requests will move: on th'one side his desire of empery,  
On th'other side his poverty, and labour hard to see,  
Will him subdue and make to yield, although full stout he be.  Sea. 
His travails now the time hath made to seem to him but small.  Atr. 
Not so: for day by day the grief of ill increaseth all.  
'tis light to suffer miseries, but heavy them t'endure.  Ser. 
Yet other messengers to send, in such affairs procure,  Atr. 
The younger sort the worse precepts do easily hearken to.  Ser. 
What thing against their uncle now, you them instruct to do,  
Perhaps with you to work the like, they will not be a dread.  
Such mischief wrought hath oft returned upon the workers head.  Atre. 
Though never man to them the ways of guile & guilt have taught,  
Yet kingdom will. Fear'st thou they should be made by counsel nought?  
They are so borne. That with thou car, ste a cruel enterprise,  
And direly deemest done to be, and wickedly likewise,  
Perhaps is wrought against me there.  Ser. 
And shall your sons of this  
Deceit beware that work you will? no secretness there is  
In their so green and tender years: they will your trains disclose,  Atre. 
A privy counsel close to keep, is learned with many woes.  Ser. 
And will ye them, by whom ye would he should beguiled be,  
Them selves beguiled?  At. 
May let them both from fault & blame be free.  
For what shall need in mischiefs such as I to work intend,  
To mingle them? let all my hate by me alone take end.  
Thou leav'st thy purpose ill my mind: if thou thine own forbear,  
Thou sparest him. Wherefore of this let Agamemnon hear  
Be minister: and Client eke of mine for such a deed,  
Let Menelâus present be: truth of th'uncertain seed,  
By such a practice may be tried: if it refuse they shall,  
Nor of debate will bearers be, if they him uncle call,  
He is their father: let them go. But much the fearful face  
bewrays itself: even him that feigns the secret weighty case,  
Doth oft betray: let them therefore not know, how great a guile  
They go about. And thou these things in secret keep the while.  Ser. 
I need not warned be, for these within my bosom deep,  
Both faith, and fear, but chiefly faith, doth shut and closely keep.  Chorus. 
THe noble house at length of high renown,  
The famous stock of ancient Inachus,  
Appeased & laid the threats of brothers down  
But now what fury stirs & drives you thus  
Each one to thirst the other's blood again,  
Or get by guilt the golden Mace in hand?  
Ye little wot that so desire to reign,  
In what estate or place doth kingdom stand.  
Not riches makes a king or high renown,  
Not garnished weed with purple Tyrian die,  
Not lofty looks, or head enclosed with crown,  
Not glittering beams with gold and turrets high.  
A King he is that fear hath laid aside,  
And all affects that in the breast are bred:  
Whom impotent ambition doth not guide,  
Nor fickle favour hath of people led.  
Nor all that west in metals mines hath found,  
Or channel clear of golden Tagus shows,  
Nor all the grain that threshed is on ground,  
That with the heat of Lybic harvest glows.  
Nor whom the flash of lightning flame shall be eaten,  
Nor eastern wind that smites upon the seas,  
Nor swelling surge with rage of wind replete,  
Or greedy gulf of Adria displease.  
Whom not the prick of Soldiers sharpest spear,  
Or poyncted pike in hand hath made to rue,  
Nor whom the glimpse of sword might cause to fear,  
Or bright drawn blade of glittering steel sub due.  
Who in the seat of safety sets his feet,  
Beholds all haps how under him they lie,  
And gladly runs his fat all day to meet,  
Nor aught complains or grudgeth for to die.  
Though present were the Princes everichone,  
The scattered Dakes to chase that wonted be,  
That shining seas beset with precious stone,  
And red sea coasts do hold, like blood to see:  
Or they which else the Caspian mountains high,  
From Sarmats strong with all their power withhold:  
Or he that on the flood of Danuby,  
In frost a foot to travail dare be bold:  
Or Seres in whatever place they lie,  
Renowned with fleece that there of silk doth spring,  
They never might the truth here of deny,  
It is the mind that only makes a king.  
There is no need of sturdy steeds in war,  
No need with arms or arrows else to fight,  
That Parthus wonts with bow to fling from far,  
While from the field he falsely feigneth flight.  
Nor yet to siege no need it is to bring  
Great Guns in Carts to overthrow the wall,  
That from far off their battering Pellets sling.  
A king he is that feareth nought at all.  
Each man himself this kingdom gives at hand.  
Let who so list with mighty mace to reign,  
In tickle top of court delight to stand  
Let me the sweet and quiet rest obtain.  
So set in place obscure and low degree,  
Of pleasant rest I shall the sweetness know.  
My life unknown to them that noble be,  
Shall in the step of secret silence go.  
Thus when my days at length are over past,  
And time without all troublous tumult spent,  
An aged man I shall depart at last,  
In mean estate, to die full well content.  
But grievous is to him the death, that when  
So far abroad the bruit of him is blown,  
That known he is too much to other men:  
Departeth yet unto himself unknown.   

THE third act.  Thyestes, Phylisthenes 
MY country bowers so long wished for, and Argos riches all,  
Cytese good that unto banished then, and Misers may befall,  
The touch of soil where born I was, a gods of native land,  
(If gods they be,) a sacred towers I see of Cyclops hand:  
That represent then all man's work, a greater majesty.  
Renowned stadies to my youth, where noble sometime I  
Have not so seld as once, the palm in father's chariot won.  
All Argos now to meet with me, and people fast will run:  
But Atreus to. yet rather lead in woods again thy flight,  
And bushes thick, and hid among the brutish beasts from sight,  
Like life to theirs: where splendent pomp of court a princely pride,  
May not with flattering fulgent face, allure thine eyes aside,  
With whom the kingdom given is, behold, and well regard,  
Beset but late with such mishaps, as all men count full hard,  
I stout and joyful was: but now again thus in't fear  
I am return. my mind misdoubts, and backward seeks to bear  
My body hence: and forth I draw my pace against my will.  Phy. 
With slothful step (what meaneth this?) my father standeth still,  
And turns his face and holds himself, in doubt what thing to do.  Thy. 
What thing (my mind) considerest thou? or else so long whereto  
Dost thou so east counsel wrest? wilt thou to things unsure  
Thy brother and the kingdom trust? fearest thou those ills t'endure  
Now overcome, and milder made? and travails dost thou flee  
That well were placed? it thee avails, a miser now to be.  
Turn hence thy pace while leeful is, and keep thee from his hand.  Phy. 
What cause thee drives (O father dear) thus frō thy native land,  
Now seen to shrink? what makes thee thus from things so good at last  
Withdraw thyself? thy brother comes whose tres be overpast,  
And half the kingdom gives, and of the house Dysacerate,  
Repairs the parts: and thee restores again to former state.  Thy. 
The cause of fear that I know not, thou dost require to hear.  
I see nothing that makes me dread, and yet I greatly fear.  
I would go on, but yet my limbs with weary legs do slack:  
And other way than I would pass, I am withholden back.  
So oft the ship that driven is with wind and eke with oar,  
The swelling surge resisting both beats back upon the shore.  Phy. 
Yet overcome whatever stays, and thus doth let your mind,  
And see what are at your return, prepared for you to find.  
You may O father reign.  Thy. 
I may but then when die I mought.  P. 
Chief thing is power.  T. 
nought worth at all, if thou desire it nought.  P. 
You shall it to your children leave.  T. 
the kingdom takes not twain,  Phy. 
Who may be happy, rather would he miser yet remain?  Thy. 
Believe me well, with titles false the great things us delight:  
And heavy haps in vain are feared. while high I stood in sight,  
I never stinted then to quake, and self same sword to fear,  
That hanged by mine own side was. Oh how great good it were,  
With none to strive, but careless food to eat and rest to know?  
The greater guilts they enter not in cottage set allow.  
And safer food is fed upon, at narrow board always,  
While drunk in gold the poison is by proof well taught I say,  
That evil haps before the good to love it likes my will.  
Of haughty house that stands aloft in tickle top of hill,  
And sways aside, the city low need never be affright:  
Nor in the top of roof above, there shines no Ivory bright,  
Nor watchman none defends my sleeps by night, or guards my rest:  
With fleet I fish not, nor the sees I have not backward priest,  
Nor turned to flight with builded wall: nor wicked belly I  
With taxes of the people fed: nor parcel none doth lie,  
Of ground of mine beyond the Getes: and Parthians far about:  
Nor worshipped with frankincense I am, nor (jove shut out)  
My Altars decked are: nor none in top of house doth stand  
In garden trees, nor kindled yet with help of each man's hand,  
The baths do smoke: nor yet are days in slothful slumbers led,  
Nor nights passed forth in watch and wine, without the rest of bed.  
we nothing fear, the house is safe without the hidden knife,  
And poor estate the sweetness feels, of test and quiet life.  
Great kingdom is to be content, without the same to live.  Phy. 
Yet should it not refused be, if God the kingdom give.  Thy. 
Not yet desired it ought to be.  Phy. 
your brother bids you rain.  Thy. 
Bids he? the more is to be feared: there lurketh there some train.  Phy. 
From whence it fell, yet piety is wont to turn at length:  
And love unfeigned, repairs again his erst omitted strength.  Thy. 
Doth Atreus then his brother love? each Ursa first on his.  
The Seas shall wash and swelling surge of Seas of Sicily  
Shall rest and all assuaged be: and corn to ripeness grow  
In bottom of Ionian seas, and darkest night shall show  
And spread the light about the soil: the waters with the fire,  
The life with death, the wind with seas, shall friendship first require,  
And be at league.  Phy. 
of what deceit are you so dreadful here?  Thy. 
Of everichone: what end at length might I provide of fear?  
In all he can he hateth me.  Phy. 
to you what hurt can he?  Thy. 
As for myself I nothing dread you little Babes make me  
Afraid of him.  Phy. 
dread, ye to be beguiled when caught ye are:  
To late it is to shoes the traytie in middle of the snare.  
But go we on this (father) is to you my last request.  Thy. 
I follow you. I lead you not.  Phy. 
God turn it to the best  
That well devised is for good: pass forth with cheerful pace.  

THE SECOND SCENE.  Atreus, Thyestes. 
Entrapped in train the beast is caught  
and in the snare doth fall:  
Both him, and eke of hated stock  
with him the offspring all,  
About the father's side I see:  
and now in safety stands  
And surest ground my wrathful hate:  
now comes into my hands  
At length Thyestes: yea he comes  
and all at once to me.  
I scant refrain myself, and scant may anger bridled be.  
So when the Bloodhound seeks the beast, by step and quick of scent  
Draws in the leame, and pace by pace to wind the ways he went,  
With nose to soil doth hunt, while he the Boar aloof hath found  
Far of by scent, he yet refrains and wanders through the ground  
With silent mouth: but when at hand he once perceives the pray,  
With all the strength he hath he strives, with voice and calls away  
His lingering master, and from him by force out breaketh he.  
When Ire doth hope the present blood, it may not hidden be.  
Yet let it hidden be. behold with ugly hair to sight  
How irksomely deformed with filth his foulest tace is dight,  
How loathsome lies his Beard unkempt: but let us friendship fain.  
To see my brother me delights: give now to me again  
Embracing long desired for: whatever strife there was  
Before this time between us twain, forget and let it pass:  
Fro this day forth let brother's love, let blood, and law of kind  
Regarded be, let all debate be slaked in either's mind.  Thy. 
I could excuse myself, except thou wert as now thou art.  
But (Atreus) now I grant, the fault was mine in every part:  
And I offended have in all, my cause the worse to be,  
Your this days kindness makes: in deed a guilty wight is he,  
That would so good a brother hurt as you, in any whit.  
But now with tears I must entreat, and first I me submit.  
These hands that at thy feet do lie, do thee beseech and pray,  
That ire and hate be laid aside, and from thy bosom may  
Be scraped out: and clear forgot. for pledges take thou these  
O brother dear, these guiltless babes.  Atr. 
thy hands yet from my knees  
Remove, and rather me to take in arms, upon me fall  
And ye O aids of elders age, ye little infants all,  
Me clip and coll about the neck: this foul attire forsake,  
And spare mine eyes that pity it, and fresher vesture take  
Like mine to see. and you with joy, the half of empery  
Dear brother take: the greater praise shall come to me thereby,  
Our father's seat to yield to you, and brother to relieve.  
To have a kingdom is but chance, but virtue it to give.  Thy. 
A just reward for such deserts, the Gods (O brother dear)  
Repay to thee: but on my head a regal crown to wear,  
My loathsome life denies: and far doth from the sceptre flee  
My hand unhappy: in the midst let leeful be for me  
Of men to lurk.  Atre. 
this kingdom can with twain full well agree.  Thy. 
whatever is (O brother) yours, I count it mine to be.  Atr. 
Who would dame fortune's gifts refuse, if she him raise to reign?  Thy. 
The gifts of her each man it wots, how soon they pass again.  Atr. 
Ye me deprive of glory great, except ye th'empire take.  Thy. 
You have your praise in offering it, and I it to forsake.  
And full persuaded to refuse the kingdom, am I still.  Atre. 
Except your part ye will sustain mine own forsake I will.  Thy. 
I take it then. and bear I will the name thereof alone:  
The rights and arms, as well as mine they shall be yours each one.  Atre. 
The regal crown as you beseems upon your head then take:  
And I th'appointed sacrifice for Gods, will now go make.  Chorus. 
Would any man it ween? that cruel wight  
Atreus, of mind so impotent to see  
Was soon astonished with his brother's sight,  
Mo greater force than piety may be:  
Where kindred is not, lasteth every threat,  
Whom true love holds, it holds eternally.  
The wrath but late with causes kindled great  
All favour broke, and did to battle cry,  
When horsemen did resound one every side,  
The swords each where, then glistered more & more:  
Which raging Mars with often stroke did guide  
The fresher blood to shed yet thirsting sore.  
But love the sword against their wills doth suage,  
And them to peace persuades with hand in hand.  
So sudden rest, amid so great a rage  
What God hath made? throughout Mycenae's land  
The harness clinked, but late of civil strife:  
And for their babes did fearful mother quake,  
Her armed spouse to lose much feared the wife,  
When sword was made the scabbard to forsake,  
That now by rest with rust was overgrown.  
Some to repair the walls that did decay,  
And some to strength the towers half overthrown,  
And some the gates with gins of iron to stay  
Full busy were, and dreadful watch by night  
From turret high did overlook the town.  
Worse is then war itself the fear of fight.  
(Now are the threats of cruel sword laid down,  
And now the rumour whists of battles sown,  
The noise of crooked trumpet silent lies,  
And quiet peace returns to joyful town.  
So when the waxes of swelling surge arise,  
While Corus wind the Brutian seas doth smite,  
And Scylla sounds from hollow Caves within,  
And Shipmen are with wafting waves affright,  
Charybdis casts that erst it had drunk in:  
And Cyclops fierce his father yet doth dread,  
In AEtna bank that fervent is with heats,  
lest quenched be with waves that overshed  
The fire that from eternal Furnace beats:  
And poor Laërtes thinks his kingdoms all  
May drowned be, and Ithaca doth quake:  
If once the force of winds begin to fall,  
The sea lieth down more mild than standing lake.  
The deep, where Ships so wide full dreadful were  
To pass, with sails on either side out spread  
Now fallen adown, the lesser Boat doth bear:  
And leisure is to view the fishes dead  
Even there, where late with tempest bet upon  
The shaken Cyclades were with Seas aghast.  
No state endures the pain and pleasure, one  
To other yields, and joys be soonest passed.  
One hour sets up the things that lowest be.  
He that the crowns to princes doth divide,  
Whom people please with bending of the knee.  
And at whose beck their battles lay aside  
The Meads, and Indians eke to Phoebus nigh,  
And Dakes that Parthians do with horsemen threat,  
himself yet holds his sceptres doubtfully.  
And men of might he fears and chances great  
(That each estate may turn) and doubtful hour.  
O ye, whom lord of land and waters wide,  
Of Life and death grants here to have the power,  
Lay ye your proud and lofty looks aside:  
What your inferior fears of you amiss.  
That your superior threats to you again.  
To greater king, each king a subject is.  
Whom dawn of day hath seen in pride to reign,  
Him overthrown hath seen the evening late.  
Let none rejoice too much that good hath got,  
Let none despair of best in worst estate.  
For Clotho mingles all, and suffereth not  
Fortune to stand: but Fates about doth drive.  
Such friendship find with Gods yet no man might,  
That he the morrow might be sure to live.  
The God our things all tossed and turned quite  
Rolls with a whirl wind.    

THE fourth act.  Messenger. Chorus. 
WHat whirlwind may me headlong drive  
and up in air me fling,  
And wrap in darkest cloud, whereby  
it might so heinous thing,  
Take from mine eyes? O wicked house  
that even of Pelops ought  
And Tantalus abhorred be.  Ch. 
what new thing hast thou brought?  Me. 
What land is this? lieth Sparta here  
and Argos, that hath bred  
So wicked brethren? and the ground of Corinth lying spread  
Between the seas? or Ister else where wont to take their flight,  
Are people wild? or that which wonts with snow to shine so bright  
Hippolytus land? or else do here the wandering Scythians dwell?  Ch. 
What monstrous mischief is this place then guilty of? that tell,  
And this declare to us at large whatever be the ill.  Me. 
If once my mind may stay itself, and quaking limbs I will.  
But yet of such a cruel deed before mine eyes the fear.  
And Image walks: ye raging storms now far from hence me bear  
And to that place me drive, to which now driven is the day  
Thus drawn from hence.  Ch. 
Our minds ye hold yet still in doubt: full stay.  
Tell what it is ye so abhor. The author thereof show.  
I ask not who, but which of them that quickly let us know.  Me. 
In Pelops Turret high, a part there is of Palace wide  
That toward the south erected leans, of which the utter side  
With equal top to mountain stands, and on the City lies,  
And people proud against their prince if once the traitors rise  
Hath underneath his battering stroke: there shines the place in sight  
Where wont the people to frequent, whose golden beams so bright  
The noble spotted pillars grey, of marble do support,  
Within this place well known to men, where they so  resort,  
To many other rooms about the noble court doth go.  
The privy Palace underlieth in secret place alos,  
With ditch full deep that doth enclose the wood of priviter,  
And hidden parts of kingdom old: where never grew no tree  
That cheerful bows is wont to bear, with knife or lopped be,  
But Tax, and Cypress, and with tree of holm full black to see  
Doth beck and bend the wood so dark: aloft above all these  
The higher oak doth over look, surmounting all the trees.  
From hens with luck the reign to take, accustomed are the kings,  
From hens in danger aid to ask, and doom in doubtful things.  
To this affixed are the gifts, the sounding Trumpets bright,  
The Chariots broke, and spoils of sea that now Mirtôon height,  
There hang the wheels once won by craft of falser axle tree,  
And every other conquests note, here leeful is to see  
The Phrygian tire of Pelops head: the spoil of enemies here,  
And of Barbarian triumph left, the painted gorgeous gear.  
A loathsome spring stands under shade, and slothful course doth take,  
With water black: even such as is: of irksome Stygian lake  
The ugly wave whereby art wont, to swear the gods on high.  
Here all the night the grisly ghosts and gods of death to erie  
The fame reports: with clinking chains resounds the wood each where  
The sprights cry out and every thing that dreadful is to hear,  
May there be seen: of ugly shapes from old Sepulchres sent  
A fearful flock doth wander there, and in that place frequent  
Worse things than ever yet were known: ye all the wood full oft  
With flame is wont to flash, and all the higher trees aloft  
Without a fire do burn: and oft the wood beside all this  
With triple barking roars at once: full oft the palace is  
Affright with shapes, nor light of day may on the terror quell.  
Eternal night doth hold the place, and darkness there of hell  
In mid day reigns: from hens to them that pray out of the ground  
The certain answers given are, what time with dreadful sound  
From secret place the fates be told, and dungeon roars within  
While of the God breaks out the voice: whereto when entered in  
Fierce Atreus was, that did with him his brother's children trail,  
decked are the altars: who (alas) may it enough bewail?  
Behind the infant's backs anon he knit their noble hands,  
And eke their heavy heads about he bound with purple bands:  
There wanted there no Frankincense, nor yet the holy wine,  
Nor knife to cut the sacrifice, besprinked with leavens fine,  
Kept is in all the order due, Icast such a mischief great  
Should not be ordered well.  Ch. 
who doth his hand on sword then set?  Mc. 
He is himself the priest, and he himself the deadly verse  
With prayer dire from fervent mouth doth sing and oft rehearse.  
And he at th'altars stands himself, he them assigned to die  
Doth handle, and in order set, and to the knife apply,  
He lights the fires, no rights were left of sacrifice undone.  
The wood then quaked, and all at once from trembling ground anon  
The Palace becked, in doubt which way the poise thereof would fall,  
And shaking as in waves it stood: from th'air and therewithal  
A blazing star that foulest train drew after him doth go:  
The wines that in the fires were cast, with changed liquor flow,  
And turn to blood: and twice or thrice th'attire sell from his head,  
The ivocy bright in Temples seemed to weep and tears to shed.  
The sights amazed all other men, but steadfast yet always  
Of mind, unmoved. Atreus stands, and even the Gods doth fray  
That threaten him and all delay forsaken by and by  
To th' altars turns, and therewithal aside he looks awry.  
As hungry Tiger wonts that doth in gangey woods remain  
With doubtful pace to range & roam between the bullocks twain,  
Of either pray full-covetous and yet uncertain where  
She first may bite, and roaring throat now turns the tone to tear  
And then to th'other straight returns, and doubtful famine holds:  
So Atreus dire, between the babes doth stand and them beholds  
On whom he points to slake his ire: first slaughter where to make,  
He doubts: or whom he should again for second offering take,  
Yet skills it nought, but yet he doubts and such a cruelty  
It him delights to order well.  Ch. 
Whom take he first to die?  Me. 
First place, lest in him think ye might no pier to remain  
To graundsier dedicated is, first Tantalus is slain.  Ch. 
With what a mind & countenance, could the boy his death sustain?  Me. 
All careless of himself he stood, nor once he would in vain  
His prayers lose. But Atreus fierce the sword in him at last  
In deep and deadly wound doth hide to hilts, and griping fast  
His throat in hand, he thrust him through. The sword then drawn away  
When long the body had upheld itself in doubtful stay.  
Which way to fall, at length upon the uncle down it falls.  
And then to th'altars cruelly Philisthenes he tralles,  
And on his brother throws: and straight his neck of cutteth he.  
The Carcase headlong falls to ground: a piteous thing to see.  
The mourning head with murmur yet uncertain doth complain.  Chor. 
What after double death doth he and slaughter then of twain?  
Spares he the Child? or gilt on gilt again yet heapeth he?  Mess. 
As long maimed Lion fierce amid the wood of Armenie,  
The drove pursues and conquest makes of slaughter many one,  
Though now defiled be his taws with blood and hunger gone  
Yet slaketh not his ireful rage with blood of Bulls so great,  
But slothful now with weary tooth the lesser Calves doth threat:  
None other wise doth Atreus rage, and swells with anger strained,  
And holding now the sword in hand, with double slaughter stained,  
Regarding not where fell his rage, with cursed hand unmild  
He strake it through his body quite, at bosom of the Child  
The blade goeth in, and at the back again out went the same,  
He falls and quenching with his blood the altars sacred flame,  
Of either wound at length he dieth.  Chor. 
O heinous hateful act.  Mess. 
Abhor ye this? ye hear not yet the end of all the fact,  
There follows more.  Cho. 
A fiercer thing, or worse than this to see  
Could Nature bear?  Me. 
why think ye this of guilt the end to be?  
It is but part.  Cho. 
what could he wore? to cruel beasts he cast  
Perhaps their bodies to be torn, and kept from fires at last.  Me. 
Would God he had: that never tomb the dead might over hide,  
Nor flames dissolve, though them for food to fowls in pastures wide  
He had out thrown, or them for prey to cruel beasts would fling.  
That which the worst was wont to be, were here a wished thing,  
That them their father saw untombed: but oh more cursed crime  
Uncredible, the which deny will men of after time:  
From bosoms yet alive out drawn the trembling bowels shake,  
The veins yet breath, the fearful heart doth yet both pant and quakes  
But he the strings doth turn in hand, and destinies behold,  
And of the guts the signs each one doth view not fully cold.  
When him the sacrifice had pleased, his diligence hē puts  
To dress his brother's banquet now: and straight a fonder cuts  
The bodies into quarters all, and by the stumps anon  
The shoulders wide, and brawns of arms be strikes of everichone.  
He lays abroad their naked limbs, and cuts away the bones:  
The only heads he keeps and hands to him committed once.  
Some of the guts are broached. and in the fires that burn full slow  
They drop, the boiling liquor some doth tumble to end fro  
In morning cauldron: from the flesh that overstands aloft  
The fire doth fly, and scatter out and into chimney oft  
Up heat again, and there constrained by force to tarry yet  
Unwilling burns: the liver makes great noise upon the spit,  
Nor easily wot I, if the flesh, or flames they be that bry,  
But cry they do: the fire like pitch it fumeth by an by:  
Nor yet the smake itself so sad, like filthy mist in sight  
Ascendeth up as wont it is, nor takes his way upright,  
But even the Gods and house it doth with filthy turn defile.  
O patient Phoebus though from hence thou backward flee the while,  
And in the midst of heaven above dost drown the broken day,  
Thou fleest too late: the father eats his children, well away,  
And limbs to which he once gave life, with cursed jaw doth tear.  
He shines with ointment shed full sweet all round about his hear,  
Replete with wine; and oftentimes so cursed kind of food  
His mouth hath held, that would not down. but yet this one thing good  
In all thy ills (Thyestes) is that them thou dost not know,  
And yet shall that not long endure, though Titan backward go  
And chariots turn against himself, to meet the ways be gone,  
And heavy night so heinous deed to keep from sight be sent,  
And out of time from East arise, so foul a fact to hide,  
Yet shall the whole at length be seen: thy ills shall all be spied.  Chorus. 
WHich way O Prince of lands and Gods on high,  
At whose uprise eftsoons of shadowed night  
All beauty fleeth, which way turnst thou awry?  
And drawest the day in midst of heaven to flight?  
Why dost thou (Phoebus) hide from us thy sight?  
Not yet the watch that later hour brings in,  
Doth Vesper warn the Stars to kindle light.  
Not yet doth turn of Hesper's wheel begin  
To lose thy chare his well deserved way.  
The trumpet third not yet hath blown his blast  
While toward the night begins to yield the day:  
Great wonder hath of sudden suppers haste  
The Ploughman yet whose Oxen are untied.  
From wonted course of Heaven what draws thee backs?  
What causes have from certain race conspired  
To turn thy horse? do yet from dungeon black  
Of hollow hell, the conquered Giants prove  
A fresh assault? doth. Tityus yet assay  
With trenched heart, and wounded womb to move  
The former ires? or from the hill away  
Hath now Typhoeus wound his side by might?  
Is up to heaven the way erected high  
Of phlegrey foes by mountains set upright?  
And now doth Ossa Pelion overly?  
The wonted turns are gone of day and night,  
The rise of Sun, nor fall shall be no more,  
Aurora dewish mother of the light  
That wonts to send the horses out before,  
Doth wonder much again return to see.  
Her dawning light: she wots not how to case  
The weary wheels, nor manes that smoking be  
Of horse with sweat to bathe amid the seas.  
Himself unwonted there to lodge likewise,  
Doth setting son again the morning see,  
And now commands the darkness up to rise.  
Before the night to come prepared be.  
About the pole yet glowth no fire in sight.  
Nor light Moon the shades doth comfort yet  
What so it be, God grant it be the night.  
Our hearts do quake with fear oppressed great.  
And dreadful are least heaven and earth and all  
With fatal ruin shaken shall decay:  
And lest on Gods again, and men shall fall  
disfigured Chaos: and the land away  
The Seas, and Fires, and of the glorious Skies  
The wandering lamps, lest nature yet shall hide.  
Now shall no more with blaze of his uprise,  
The Lord of stars that leads the world so wide,  
Of Summer both and Winter give the marks.  
Nor yet the Moon with Phoebus flames that burns,  
Shall take from us by night the dreadful carks,  
With swifter course or pass her brother's turns,  
While compass less she fets in crooked race:  
The Gods on heaps shall out of order fall,  
And each with other mingled be in place.  
The wried way of holy planets all,  
With path aslope that doth divide the Zones.  
That bears the signs, and years in course doth bring,  
Shall see the stars with him fall down at ones.  
And he that first not yet with gentle spring,  
The temperate Gale doth give to sails, the Ram  
Shall headlong fall a down to Seas again,  
Through which he once with fearful Helen swam.  
Next him the Bull that doth with horn sustain  
The sisters seven with him shall overturn  
The twins and arms of crooked Cancer all,  
The Lion hot that wonts the soil to burn  
Of Hercules again from heaven shall fall.  
To lands once left the Virgin shall be thrown,  
And leveled poise of balance sway allow,  
And draw with them the stinging Scorpion down.  
So likewise he that holds in Thessal bow  
His swift well feathered arrows Chiron old,  
Shall break the same and eke shall lese his shot  
And Capricorn that brings the winter cold  
Shall overturn and break the water pot  
Who so thou be: and down with thee to ground,  
The last of all the signs shall Pisces fall  
And monsters eke in seas yet never drowned,  
The water gulf shall overwhelm them all.  
And he which doth between each ursa glide,  
Like crooked flood the slipper serpent twined:  
And lesser Bear by greater dragon's side,  
Full cold with frost congealed hard by kind,  
And carter dull that slowly guides his wain  
Unstable shall Boòtes fall from high.  
We are thought meet of all men whom again  
Should hugy heap of Chaos o'er.  
And world oppress with overturned mass  
The latest age now falleth us upon.  
With evil hap we are begot alas  
If wretch's we have lost the sight of son,  
Or him by fraught enforced have to fly  
Let our complaints yet go and fear be pasts  
He greedy is of life, that will not die  
When all the world shall end with him at last.   

THE fift act.  Atreus alone. 
Now equal with the Stars I go.  
beyond each other wight,  
With haughty head the heavens above,  
and highest pole I smite,  
The kingdom now, and seat I hold,  
where once my father reigned:  
I now let go the gods: for all  
my will I have obtained  
enough and well, ye even enough for me I am acquit  
But why enough? I will proceed and fill the father yet  
With blood of his least any shame should me restrain at all,  
The day is gone, go to therefore while thee the heaven doth call  
Would God I could against their wills yet hold the Gods that flee  
And of revenging dish constrain them witnesses to be:  
But yet (which well enough is wrought) let it the father see.  
In spirit of all the drowned day I will remove from thee  
The darkness all, in shade whereof do lurk thy miseries.  
And guest at such a banquet now to long he careless lies,  
With merry face: now eat and drunk enough he hath at last  
t'is best himself should know his ills ye servants, all in haste  
Undo the temple doors: and let the house be open all:  
Fain would I see, when look upon his children's heads he shall  
What countenance he then would make, or in what words break out  
Would first his grief, or how would quake his body round about  
With sprite amazed sore: of all my work the fruit were this  
I would him not a miser see, but while so made he is,  
Behold the temple opened now doth shine with many a light:  
In glittering gold and purple seat he sits himself upright,  
And staying up his heavy head with wine upon his hand.  
He belcheth out, now chief of gods in highest place I stand,  
And king of kings: I have my wish, and more than I could think.  
He filled is, he now the wine in silver bowl doth drink  
And spare it not: there yet remains a worser draft for thee  
That sprung out of the bodies late of sacrifices three,  
Which wine shall hide let them withal the hoards be taken up.  
The father (mingled with the wine,) his children's blood shall sup.  
That would have drunk of mine. Behold he now begins to strain  
His voice, and sings, nor yet for joy his mind be may refrain,  

THE second scene  Thyestes' alone 
O beaten bosoms dulled so long with woe,  
Lay down your cares, at length your grieves relent  
Let sorrow pass, and all your dread let go,  
And fellow eke of fearful banishment,  
Sad poverty and ill in misery  
The shame of cares, more whence thy fall thou haste,  
Then whether skills, great hap to him, from high  
That falls, it is in surety to be placed  
Beneath, and great it is to him again  
That priest with storm, or evils feels the smart,  
Of kingdom lost the payses to sustain  
With neck unbowed: nor yet detect of heart  
Nor overcome, his heavy haps always  
To bear upright but now of careful carks  
Shake of the showers, and of thy wretched days  
Away with all the miserable marks.  
To joyful state return thy cheerful face.  
Put fro thy mind the old Thyestes hence.  
It is the wont of wight in woeful case,  
In state of joy to have no confidence.  
Though better haps to them returned be,  
th'afflicted yet to joy it irketh sore.  
Why call'st thou me aback, and hind'rest me  
This happy day to celebrate? wherefore  
Bidst thou me (sorrow) weep without a cause.  
Who doth me let with flowers so fresh and gay,  
To deck my hairs? it lets and me withdraws.  
Down from my head the roses fall away:  
My moisted hair with ointment over all,  
With sudden maze stands up in wondrous wise,  
From face that would not weep the streams do fall.  
And howling cries amid my words arise.  
My sorrow yet th'accustomed tears doth love  
And wretches still delight to weep and cry.  
Unpleasant plaints it pleaseth them to move:  
And flourished fair it likes with Tyrian die  
Their robes to rent, to wail it likes them still  
For sorrow sends (in sign that woes draw nic)  
The mind that wots before of after ill.  
The sturdy storms the shipmen over lie.  
When void of wind th'assuaged seas do rest.  
What tumult yet or countenance to see  
mak'st thou mad man? at length a trustful breast  
To brother geue, whatever now it be,  
Causeless, or else too late thou art a dread.  
I wretch would not so fear, but yet me draws  
A trembling terror: down mine eyes do shed  
Their sudden tears and yet I know no cause,  
Is it a grief, or fear? or else hath tears  
great joy itself.   

THE third scene.  Atreus. Thyestes. 
Let us this day with one consent  
(O brother celebrate)  
This day my sceptres my confirm,  
and stablish my estate.  
And faithful bond of peace and love  
between us ratify.  Thy. 
Enough with meat and eke with wine,  
now satisfied am I.  
But yet of all my joys it were a great increase to me,  
If now about my side I might my little children see.  Atr. 
Believe that here even in thine arms thy children present be.  
For here they are; and shallbe here, no part of them fro thee  
Sal be withheld: their loved looks now give to thee I will,  
And with the heap of all his babes, the father fully fill.  
Thou shalt be glutted fear thou not: they with my boys as yet  
The joyful sacrifices make at board where children sit.  
They shallbe called, the friendly cup now take of courtesy  
With wine upfilled.  Thy. 
of brother's feast I take full willingly  
The final gift, shed some to gods of this our father's land,  
Then let the rest be drunk, what's this? in no wise will my hand  
Obey: the poise increaseth sore, and down mine arm doth sway.  
And from my lips the wafting wine itself doth fly away,  
And in deceived mouth, about my jaws it runneth round.  
The table to, itself doth shake and leap from trembling ground.  
Scant burns the fire: the air itself with heavy cheer to slght  
Forsook of son amazed is between the day and night.  
What meaneth this? yet more and more of backward beaten sky  
The compass falls, and thicker mist the world doth o'er  
Then blackest darkness, and the night in night itself doth hide.  
All stars be fled, what so it be my brother God provide  
And soon to spare: the Gods so grant that all this tempest fall  
On this vile head: but now restore to me my children all,  Atr. 
I will, and never day again shall them from thee withdraw,  Thy. 
What tumult tumbleth so my guts, and doth my bowels gnaw?  
What quakes within, with heavy poise I feel myself oppressed,  
And with another voice than mine bewails my doleful breast:  
Come near my sons, for you now doth th'unhappy father call:  
Come near, for you once seen, this grief would soon assuage & fall  
Whence murmur they? t.w fathers arms embrace them quickly now  
For here they are lo come to thee: dost thou thy children know?  Th. 
I know my brother: such a guilt yet canst thou suffer well  
O earth to bear? nor yet from hence to Stygian lake of hell  
Dost thou both drown thy sell and us? nor yet with broken ground  
Dost thou these kingdoms and their king with Chaos rude confound?  
Nor yet uprenting from the soil the bowers of wicked land.  
Dost thou Mycenae overturn with Tantalus to stand,  
And ancestors of ours, if there in hell be any one,  
Now ought we both: now from the frames on either side anon  
Of ground, all here and there rent up out of thy bosom deep:  
Thy dens and dungeons set abroad, and us enclosed keep,  
In bottom low of Acheron above our heads aloft  
Let wander all the guilty ghosts, with burning frete full oft  
Let fiery Phlegethon that drives his sands both to and fro  
To our confusion over run und violently flow  
O slothful soil unshaken poise unmoved yet art thou?  
The Gods are fled:  Atr. 
but take to thee with joy thy children now,  
And rather them embrace: at length thy children all of thee  
So long wished for (for no delay there standeth now in me)  
Enjoy and kiss embracing arms divide thou unto three.  Thy. 
Is this thy league? may this thy love and faith of brother be?  
And dost thou so repose thy hate? the father doth not crave  
His sons alive (which might have been without thy guilt) to have  
And eke without thy hate, but this doth brother brother pray:  
That them he may entomb restore, whom see thou shalt straight way,  
Be burnt: the father nought requires of thee that have he shall,  
But soon forego  Atr. 
whatever part rot of thy children all  
Remains, here shalt thou have: and what remaineth not thou host.  Thy. 
Lie they in fields, a food out fling for fleering fowls to waste  
Or are they kept a prey, for wild and brutish beasts to eat?  Atr. 
Thou hast devoured thy sons and filled thyself with wicked meat.  Thy. 
Oh this is it that shamed the Gods and day from hence did drive  
Turned back to east, alas I wretch what wailings may I give?  
Or what complaints? what woeful words may be enough for me?  
Their heads cut of, and hands of torn, I from their bodies see,  
And wrenched feet from broken thighs I here behold again  
'tis this that greedy father could not suffer to sustain.  
In belly roll my bowels round, and closed crime so great  
Without a passage strives within and seeks away to get.  
Thy sword (O brother) lewd to me much of my blood alas  
It hath: let us therewith make way for all my sons to pass.  
Is yet the sword from me withheld? thyself thy bosoms tear,  
And let thy breasts resound with strokes: yet wretch thy hand forbear  
And spare the dead: whoever saw such mischief put in proof?  
What rude Heniochus that dwells by ragged coast aloof,  
Of Caucasus unapt for men? or fear to Athens, who  
Procustes wild? the father I oppress my children do  
And am oppressed, is any mean of guilt or mischief yet?  Atr. 
A mean in mischief ought to be when guilt thou dost commit,  
Not when thou quit'st: for yet even this too little seems to me.  
The blood yet warm even from the wound I should in sight of thes  
Even in thy laws have shed, that thou the blood of them mightst drink  
That lived yet: but while too much to haste my hate I think  
My wrath beguiled is myself with sword the wounds them gave  
I strake them down, the sacred fires with slaughter vowed I have  
Well pleased, the carcase cutting then, and lifeless limbs on ground.  
I have in little parcels chopped, and some of them I drowned  
In boiling caldrons, some to fires that burnt full slow I put,  
And made to drop: their sinews all, and limbs a two I cut  
Even yet alive and on the spit, that thrust was through the same  
I hard the liver wail and cry, and with my hand the flame:  
I oft kept in: but every whit the father might of this  
Have better done, but now my wrath to lightly ended is.  
He rent his sons with wicked gum, himself yet wotting nought.  
Nor they thereof  Th. 
O ye enclosed with bending banks about  
All seas me hear, and to this guilt ye Gods now hearken well  
whatever place ye fled are to here all ye sprites of hell,  
And here ye lands, and night so dark that them dost o'er  
With cloud so black to my complaints do than thyself apply.  
To thee now left I am, thou dost alone me miser see,  
And thou art left without thy stars: I will not make for me  
Petitions yet, nor ought for me require may ought yet be  
That me should veil? for you shall all my wishes now foresee.  
Thou guider great of skies above, & prince of highest might,  
Of heavenly place now all with clouds full horrible to sight,  
Enwrap the world, and let the winds on every side break out:  
And send the dreadful thunder clap through all the world about  
Nor with what hand thou guilts house and undeserved wall  
With lesser bolt are wont to beat, but with the which did fall  
The three unheaped mountains once and which to hills in height  
Stood equal up, the giants huge: throw out such weapons straight,  
And fling thy fires: and therewithal revenge the drowned day.  
Let flee they flames, the light thus lost and hid from heaven away,  
With flashes fill: the cause (lest long thou shouldst doubt whom to hit)  
Of each of us is ill: if not at least let mine be it.  
Me strike with triple edged tool thy brand of flaming fire.  
Beat through this breast: if father I my children to desire  
To lay in tomb or corpses cast to fire as doth behove,  
I must be burnt if nothing now the gods to wrath may move,  
Nor power from skies with thunder bolt none strikes the wicked men  
Let yet eternal night remain, and hide with darkness than  
The world about: ay, Titan nought complain as now it stands  
If still thou hide thee thus away.  Atre. 
now praise I well my hands.  
Now got I have the palm. I had been overcome of thee,  
Except thou sorrowedst so but now even children borne to me  
I count and now of bridebed chaste the faith I do repair,  Thy. 
In what offended have my sons:  Atr. 
In that, that thine they were  Thy. 
Setst thou the sons for father's food?  Arr. 
I do & (which is best)  
The certain sons,  Thy. 
The gods that guide all infants I protest.  Atr. 
What wedlock gods?  Th. 
who would the gilt with guilt so quite again?  Atr. 
I know thy grief prevented now with wrong thou dost complain:  
Nor this thee irks, that said thou art with food of cursed kind,  
But that thou hadst not it prepared for so it was thy mind,  
Such meats as these to set before thy brother wotting nought,  
And by the mother's help to have, likewise my children caught:  
And them with such like to slay: this one thing letted thee,  
Thou thought'st them thine.  Thy. 
the gods shall all of this revengers be  
And unto them for vengeance due my vows thee render shall  Atr. 
But vexed to be I thee the white, give to thy children all.   

THE FOURTH SCENE, Added to the Tragedy by the Translator.  Thyestes alone. 
O King of Dis' dungeon dark,  
and grisly Ghosts of hell,  
That in the deep and dreadful Den,  
of blackest Terrace dwell.  
Where lean and pale diseases lie  
where fear and famine are,  
Where discord stands with bleeding brows,  
where every kind of care,  
Where furies fight in beds of steel, and hears of crawling snakes,  
Where Gorgon grim, where Harpies are, & loathsome limbo lakes,  
Where most prodigious ugly things, the hollow hell doth bide.  
If yet a monster more misshaped than all that there do hide,  
That makes his brood his cursed food, ye all abhor to see,  
Nor yet the deep Averne itself, may bide to cover me,  
Nor grisly gates of Pluto's place, yet dare themselves to spread,  
Nor gaping ground to swallow him, whom Gods and day have fled:  
Yet break ye out from cursed seats, and here remain with me,  
Ye need not now to be afraid, the Air and Heaven to see.  
Nor triple headed Cerberus, thou needst not be affright,  
The day unknown to thee to see or else the loathsome light.  
They both be fled: and now doth dwell none other countenance here,  
Then doth beneath the foulest face, of hateful hell appear.  
Come see a meetest match for thee, a more than monstrous womb,  
That is of his unhappy brood, become a cursed tomb.  
Flock here ye foulest fiends of hell, and thou O grandsire great,  
Come see the glutted guts of mine, with such a kind of meat,  
As thou didst once for Gods prepare. Let torments all of hell  
Now fall upon this hateful head, that hath deserved them well.  
Ye all be plagued wrongfully, your guilts be small, in sight  
Of mine, and meet it were your pang on me alone should light.  
Now thou O grandsire guiltless art, and meeter were for me,  
With fleeing flood to be beguiled, and fruit of fickle tree.  
Thou slewst thy son, but I my sons, alas, have made my meat.  
I could thy famine better bear, my paunch is now replete  
With food: and with my children three, my belly is extent.  
O filthy fowls and gnawing gripes, that Tytius be some rent  
Behold a fitter pray for you, to fill yourselves upon  
Then are the growing guts of him: four wombs enwrapped in one.  
This paunch at once shall still you all: if ye abhor the food,  
Nor may yourselves abide to bathe, in such a cursed blood:  
Yet lend to me your clinching claws, your prey a while forbear,  
And with your talons suffer me, this monstrous maw to tear.  
Or whirling wheels, with swinge of which Ixion still is rolled,  
Your books upon this glutton gorge, would catch a surer hold.  
Thou filthy flood of Limbo lake, and Stygian pool so dire,  
From chocked channel belch abroad. Thou fearful freate of fire,  
Spue out thy flames O Phlegethon: and overshed the ground.  
With vomit of thy fiery stream, let me and earth be drowned,  
Break up thou soil from bottom deep, and give thou room to hell,  
That night, where day, the ghosts, where Gods were wont to reign, may dwell.  
Why gap'st thou not? Why do you not O gates of hell unfold?  
Why do ye thus th'infernal fiends, so long from hence withhold?  
Are you likewise afraid to see, and know so wretched wight,  
From whom the Gods have wried their looks, & turned are to flight?  
O hateful head, whom heaven and hell, have shunned and left alone,  
The Sun, the stars, the light, the day, the Gods, the ghosts be gone.  
Yet turn again ye Skies a while, ere quite ye go fro me,  
Take vengeance first on him, whose fault enforceth you to flee.  
If needs ye must your flight prepare, and may no longer bide,  
But roll ye must with you forthwith, the Gods and Sun a side,  
Yet slowly flee: that I at length, may you yet overtake,  
While wandering ways I after you, and speedy journey make.  
By seas, by lands, by woods, by rocks, in dark I wander shall:  
And on your wrath, for right reward to due deserts, will call.  
Ye scape not fro me, so ye Gods, still after you I go,  
And vengeance ask on wicked wight, your thunder bolt to throw.  
FINIS.