THE Eight Tragedy of Seneca. Entitled AGAMEMNON. Translated out of Latin in to English, by john Studley, Student in Trinity College in Cambridge.  
¶ IMPRINTED AT LONDON in Fletestreat, beneath the Conduit, at the sign of S. john evangelist, by Thomas Colwell. Anno Domini. M. D. LXVI.   


¶ In Agamemnona Senecae Thomae Newcei.  
NOn secus a●rostro crudelis vultur, obunco●  
Caucaseirodit iecur immortale promethe●,  
Inuida mens stolidi, vitio contorta perenni,  
Derogat assidue famam nomenque merentis●  
Cum legis hanc igitur, si quicquam versio ridet,  
Non quid verba velint, sed quid ●es ipsa, videto.  
Sanguine spumante● pateras, cum mente revoluit,  
Saevit in Atridem mens impia saenit adult●i.  
Et Deus Atr●●m patris de crimine, prolem  
Perdit: et iniustae tollunt Agamemnona, parcae.  
Debuit exemplum quosuis terrere superbos:  
Et, cuivis, opus hoc juvenis, laudare molestum.  
Sed siturbaruant in quaevis aequora praeceps,  
Flumine paem●rum justo, Deus obruet ●llos.   

¶ Upon the same, to the same, the verses of the same.  
SI●th friends to friends do friendly grant  
in frednly cases much,  
And I perceived that his cause,  
and his request was such:  
How that, to painful laboured stuff  
my mind I would annex:  
And do but as his watched work,  
which he doth here contex  
Deserves: when as the Poets crabbed  
style I weighed aright:  
And saw how well, and saw how apt  
and feetly he did write:  
How hidden stories oft he shows,  
to make his poet plain:  
(So as in double office he  
might seem for to remain)  
As sometime barely to expound,  
to comment sometime eke,  
So that to understand this book,  
ye need no farther seek:)  
This well deserved work of his,  
when as I weighed well,  
And partly knew his fyled frame,  
as other men can tell,  
And wholly knew his springing youth,  
and years for age yet green,  
So that dame Nature's grave array,  
on face was scarcely seen,  
I could not choose, but when I saw  
his labour to be sore,  
And eke his weary web, than this  
for to deserve much more,  
Forthwith at his request, both to  
refrsh his watching eeys,  
And praised pains to others praise,  
this little work devise,  
Lest haply he should meet with such,  
as would scarce speak the best,  
Nor half that it deserves, but unto  
nipping words be priest.  
And though I know this painful wight  
can not his carpers' want,  
Which often times discourage men,  
and make such studies scant,  
Yet be not thou dismayed, go on,  
and bolden well thyself,  
The worthiest wight that ever wrote,  
did never want his Elf.  
Such Emules, & such fyendly freaks,  
if E thou take away,  
Plain Mules they be, that mump & mow,  
and nothing else can say.  
Who if in ranckours poisoned sink,  
they lurk and wallow still,  
Nor yet with cankered venom bollen,  
do leave their waspish will,  
But slothful sluggerds still upbraid,  
that painful heads devise,  
And with their triple forked tongues,  
annoy this enterprise:  
discourage him from other work,  
and further fruits of wit,  
And other toward pains disgrace,  
if they such poison spit.  
Tak● heed: if tongues far worse do bite,  
then double edged sword:  
If biting tongues be stinging ills,  
why ma●ger then thy beard,  
Thou canst not shun joves' ruddy wrath,  
that such deservers have,  
Which willingly, though woefully,  
themselves they do it crave.  
In whom it is, if that they will,  
much better to deserve:  
And cease, their wytles●e appetite  
for any more to serve.  
This woeful work that Senec here  
depayntes before thy face,  
The bloody ire of mighty jove,  
propounds in ruthful case.  
To such as by their devilish deeds,  
and hearts with rancour mixed,  
already be, although they live,  
in snakysh dungeon fixed.  
The crumpled brows of lofty lord,  
in cloudy throne that sits,  
His sore disposed mind portend  
to evil used wits.  
Who in his foaming wrath, can turn  
the worlds well ●etled seat:  
And make an indigested thing,  
and mingle mangle great●  
Beware therefore: of Tantalus  
that stem, and lineage vile  
May cause the well, with virtues tool,  
thy vicious life to file.  
For deadly deed which Atreus did  
unto Thyestes child,  
(Although Thyestes his brother, than  
his spousal bed defyld)  
His gryesly ghost comes back again  
from deep infernal pit,  
To make revenge in Aegists' heart,  
his only son to sit.  
That filthy great adulter, straight  
to strife and blood yprest,  
Thyestiall tables to revendg,  
doth scarcely take his rest.  
First Atreus life he seeks, then, while  
that Agamemnon lay  
In Castrall camp, by Trojan town  
for countries cause, straight way  
This drowsy swynehead filthy he  
in brutish pleasures wrapped,  
Hath Agamemnon's loving wife,  
in Cupid● snares entrapped.  
Whereby, of sacred Hymeneus  
the bonds, he makes her flye●  
And, Agamemnon's private bed,  
through pleasure to deny.  
And, which is greater grief than this,  
and villainy most vile,  
with deadly thought he makes the wife  
upon her husband smile,  
When as triumphantly he came  
a conqueror from Troy:  
To th'end he, should suspect the less,  
and have the greater joy,  
And thinking nought, but meaning well:  
might take a cursed coat,  
Which doing on, they ea●ly might  
the sooner cut his throat.  
This deed was done: by Talyon law  
here blood did blood require:  
And now Thyestes hath that revenge,  
that he did long desyer.  
Whereby thou chiefly mayst be taught  
the providence of god:  
That so long after, Atreus' fact  
Thyests revenge abode.  
And to thyself take better heed,  
least loitering still in sin,  
In pinching slanders, touching talk  
(where greater griefs begin)  
Thyself alone thou do not plague,  
which of itself is much,  
But also make thine after stock  
to smart, and for thy ●uche.  
For be thou sure, though god doth spare  
thee for a season here,  
And suffer thee with poisoned tongue  
to frump, and carp this gear,  
That either thou thyself shalt feel  
some bitter biting grease,  
Or else shall thy posterity  
with pain have their relief:  
Unluckye children reap, that wicked  
parents' hands have sown:  
A wary wight, by others woes  
that knows tavoyde his own.  
Learn here to live a right, and know  
how that there is a god,  
That well deservers well rewards,  
andd ill, doth scourge with rod.  
For to this and is this compylde  
this play thou hast in hand,  
In virtues race to make thee run,  
and vice for to withstand.  
Which well deserving work of his,  
if thou can well digest,  
Then shalt thou have his budding pen,  
to greater matters pre●t.   

¶ W. R. to the Reader.  
IF troublous toils most tragical,  
Or bloody broils of envious i●e,  
Discrybde with art poetical  
Can move thy heart or set on fire  
Thy wavering mind, than still proceed  
With good advise this book to read.  
¶ For here in is se●t forth at large,  
With sugared sops of lettered tongue,  
Thun stable state of glorious barge,  
Which envious heart hath freshly stonge  
For when that hate increaseth i●e,  
Nought else but death can quench the fire.  
¶ What did avail the martial deeds,  
Which Agamemnon's valiant hand  
Did bring to pass? they sow the sedes  
Of envious hate in Mycenae land:  
For Aegisthus, and his cruel wife,  
At length do rid him of his life.  
¶ Of fycle fortunes wavering wiles  
This book ensample doth declare,  
For when most pleasantly she smiles,  
She doth nought else but plant a snare,  
To catch at length with woeful chance  
The sa●e, whom she aloft did vance.  
¶ I need not praise this golden book,  
So fully freight with learnings ●ore,  
The work enough (if thou dost look)  
Doth praise itself, and neads no more:  
For words availeth not a rush,  
And good wine neads no tavern b●she.  
¶ Therefore ear that thou hast it red.  
With temerous rancour judge none ill,  
For oft the churlish curious head  
Condemneth youth as wanting skill:  
Yet Daniel young sent judithe rest,  
When hoary heads had her oppressed.   

Idem in Zoilum.  
ZOile quid friends? quid mandis spumea labra?  
Quid vol at horrisono fulmen ab ore tu●?  
Euome corrupto tabescens gultu●e virus:  
Eructa bullas O furibunde vafras  
Faucibus ignivomis minitans et dente lupino:  
Proeda tuo denti non opus istud erit.  
Non potes istius calami corrumpere fructus●  
Conseruat famulos magna minerva s●os.  
Insulsus nitidum reprehendit sutor Apell●m.  
invidiam virtus clara praeire solet.  
Zoile tuque, furis, juvenis quum musa triumphet,  
Iratus turges: verbula vana vomis.  
Ipse tamen rigidi peries Acherontis in urna,  
Et Phlegethonteas ante natabis aquas,  
Quam tu Studlei dimittes carmen in umbras,  
Quam possis nomen dilacerare suum.  
Perpetuo vivet res invictissima virtus,  
Non abolent enses, unda, necignis eam.   

H. C. To the reader.  
BE not to rash in judging aught,  
but way well in thy mind  
The pleasure, and commodity,  
that thou herein shall find.  
And dame him not presumptuous,  
whom muses moved right,  
The statlye style of Senec. sage  
in vulgar verse to write,  
For though the work of graver age,  
the cunning seem to crave,  
sometime we see yet younger years,  
a riper wit to have.  
Accept it therefore, as it is,  
(of green years in deed)  
And as his pains deserveth praise,  
So pay him for his meed.   

To the Reader. Thomas Delapeend in the translators behalf.  
IN volume small● a present great  
a worthy gift to thee  
Good reader here is offered,  
if thou so thankful be.  
According to the value full,  
the same for to receive:  
Uouchsaufing for the writers pains,  
deserved pains to give.  
He boldly hath presented here  
unto thy gazing eyes,  
The wisdom great, & worthy thinges●  
which erst by Tragedies  
Sage Senec showing, so sometime  
in latin verse did write.  
The same, in perfect english rhyme  
this Author doth indite.  
Which, though thy skilful judgement may  
discern of praise to be  
Well worthy. Yet by this, I do  
commend the same to thee,  
Because that virtue praised still,  
increaseth every where:  
And that, each reader's rigour hard,  
the learned should not fear.  
Sith fame and virtue, evermore  
pale Envy doth pursue,  
Nor Homer great himself could sting  
of slanderous words eschew:  
Contented better, men may take  
the lot, which unto all  
That ever wrote, (till this time) doth  
a like in comen fall.  
Though curious c●rping Zoili,  
bread rancour black within  
Their poisoned breasts, of infamy  
the spiteful thread to spin,  
Let folly feed their frenzy still  
unto their own despite:  
For men discrete and learned will  
read things with judgement right.   

W. Parkar to the Reader.  
TO beat the brain about such trifling toys  
whose vain delights by fickle fancy fed,  
Enforce the mind tembrace such fading joys,  
Doth argue plain a fond unsteadfast head,  
As to inveigh, enraged with rancours boil,  
& rail on them, whose works deserveth praise,  
Or else to gloze, and paint with coloured style  
Their cloaked craft, when reasons ground decays:  
Or as the proud inflamed with desire  
Of praise, and gape for glorious renown,  
Have utter shame (their due reward & higher)  
Whereas they hoped of an immortal crown.  
And some there be, that pining pangs of love  
Describe at large, & show their frantic fits,  
(Cupid's thralls) whom fond affections move,  
plain to bewray their wanton wavering wits.  
But Studley pricked with fervent hearty zeal,  
And virtues force prevailing in his mind,  
Regarding laud and honour never a deal,  
Not ranging wide like harebrained rovers blid  
attempted hath, to publish this his book,  
This tragedy of worthy Seneca,  
whose saws profound (who so thereon do look)  
To virtues race do show a ready way.  
Persist therefore, thy happy years to train  
In science lore, that fame thy brute may blaze,  
And sound thy praise, that ever shall remain:  
No term oft-time thy doings may deface.   

T. B. To. the Reader.  

WHen Heiwood did in perfect verse,  
and doleful tune set out,  
And by his smouth and filed style  
declared had about,  
What rough reproach the Trojans o●  
the hardy Greeks received,  
When they of town, of goods, & lyves  
together were deprived.  
How well did then his friends requite  
his travail and his pain,  
When unto him they have (as due)  
ten thousand thanks again?  
What greater praise might Virgil get●  
what more reno●me than this,  
Can have been given unto him,  
for writing verse of his?  
Did Virgil ought request but this,  
in labouring to excel?  
Or what did fame give to him more,  
then praise to bear the bell?  
May Heywood this alone get praise,  
and Phaer be clean forgot.  
Whose verse & style doth far surmount  
and gotten hath the lot?  
Or may not Googe have part with him,  
whose travail and whose pain,  
Whose verse also is full as good,  
or better of the twain?  
A nevil also one there is,  
in verse that gives no place  
To Heiwood (though he be full good)  
in using of his grace.  
Nor Goldinge can have less renome,  
which Ovid did translate:  
And by the thundering of his vers●  
hath set in chair of state.  
With him also (as seemeth me)  
our Edwardes may compare,  
Who nothing giving place to him  
doth sit in equal chair.  
A great sort more I reckon might,  
with Heiwood to compare,  
And this our Author one of them  
to count I will not spare.  
Whose pains is equal with the re●●  
in this he hath begun,  
And lesser praise deserveth not  
then Heiwoods' work hath done.  
Gy●e therefore Studley part of prayse●  
to recompense his pain:  
For equal labour evermore,  
deserveth equal gain.   

Read ear thou judge, then judge thy fill.  
But judge the best, and mend the ill   
vale.    

¶ F●●l●●s escaped in the verses.  
¶ First in the english metre, of Thomas Nuce, in the iii page, the second line for refrsh read refresh, in ●he viii line of the verses of Thomas Delap●ēd for pains read praise. In the xii line of the verses of T. B. for again read for gain.   

¶ To the right honourable sir William Secill, knight. One of the most honourable privy Counsel, Master of the Wards and Liveries, Secretary to the Queen's highness, & Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. john Studley, wisheth long life, with increase of honour.  
WHen as I had (right honourable Sir) at the request of my friends, both performed and minded to publish this my simple translation of so notable a Tragedy, written by the prudent, and sage S●neca: I thought it good for divers consideracions● to bestow this the first fruits of my good will, & travail, rather upon your honour, than upon any other person: first in that I considered your honour's aucthorie, wisdom, & learning, (taking the tuition of it upon you) might be a ter●rour, and abashment, to such slanderous tongues, who by my simple & slender skill, either in this or any other like faculty, might take courage rather of maliciousness (than of right) to reprehend my doings, furthermore having understanding partly by the report of men, and partly perceiving when I was sometime scholar in th● Queen's maiestties Grammar school at Westmins●er, the hearty goodwill, and friendly aff●ction● that your honour bare towards all students, I conceived this hope, that you would accept my good will and doings the better, in that I profess myself to be a student, & that in the university of cambridge, wherein sometime your honour were trained up in learning, and now being most worthily Chancellor there of, do greatly tender the commo●y●ye of the students in the same, with t●e advancement & increase of learny●ge, furtherance of virtue, and abolishment of vice. Thus therefore trusty●g y●u● honours court●sie will have me ●xc●s●d for my rude boldness. and except my good will herein signified, I leave you to the turssyon of almighty god, who increase you with honour, grant you long life with eternal felicity.  
Your honours to command, john Studley.   

¶ The Preface to the Reader.  
Behold gentle Reader, how SENECA in this present Tragedy hath most lively painted out unto thee, the unstabilytie of fortune, who when she hath advanced to the highest him, with whom (as the cat with the mouse) it liketh her to daily, suddenly she turning her wheel, doth let him fall to greater misery, than was his former felicity: whereof AGAMEMNON may be a perfect pattern, as is at large showed in the Tragedy itself: which although it be but grossly, & after a rude manner translated, contemn it not for the besenes of the phrase, but embrace it for the excellency of the matter therein contained. And although that the other Tragedies which are set forth by jasper Hetwood and Alexander nevil, are so excellently well done (that in reading of them it seemeth to me no translation, but e●en SENECA himself to speak in english) take no offence that I (being one of the most that can do least) have thus rashly attempted so great an enterprise, to mingle my barbarusnes with others eloquency: for when I had at the earnest request of certain my familiar friends, thus rudely perfurmed the same, they yet not satisfied herewith willed me, not to hide & keep to myself that small talon which god hath lente unto me to serve my country with all, but rather to apply it to the use of such young Students as thereby might take some commodity, therewith I considering, that keeping it close it could profit nothing, and again being published it could do no hurt, trusting of thy gentleness that thou wilt esteine this my good will, I have presumed to set it forth thus simply and rudely: submitting it to the friendly correction of the learned. Thus desiring thee to bear with my boldness, & pardon my ignorance, I leave thee to God.  
Farewell.   

¶ The names of the speakers of this Tragedy.  

Thyestes.  
Chorus.  
Clytaemnestra.  
Nutrix.  
Aegisthus.  
Eurybates  
A company of Greeks.  
Cassandra.  
Agamemnon.  
Electra.  
Str●philus.    

¶ The first Act.  Thyestes. 
SEparting from the darkened dens  
which Ditis low doth keep,  
Lo here I am sent out again  
from Tartar dungeon ●●pe,  
Thy●stes I, that whether coast  
to shun do stand in doubt,  
th'infernal fe●ndes I fly, the ●oalke  
of earth I chase about.  
My conscience lo abhors, that I  
should hither passage make,  
Appalled sore with fear and dread  
my trembling sine w● shake:  
My father's house, or rather yet  
my brothers I espy,  
This is the old and antic porch  
of Pelops progeny.  
Here first the Greeks on p●●nces heads  
do place the royal crown,  
And here in throne aloft they lie,  
that letteth up and down,  
With stately Sceptre in their hand,  
eke here their courts do lie,  
This is their place of banqueting,  
return therefore will I.  
Nay: better were it not to haunt  
the loathsome Limbo lakes,  
Where as the stygian porter doth  
advance with lusty cracks  
His triple gorge be hung with mane  
shagg hearye, rusty, black:  
Where Ixion's carcase linked fa●●,  
the whirling wheel doth rack,  
And rolleth still upon himself:  
where as full oft in vain  
Much toil is lost, (the tottering stone  
down tumbling back again)  
Where growing guts the greedy gripe  
do gnaw with ravening bits.  
Where parched up with burning thur●●  
amydd the waves he ●ytts,  
And gapes to catch the fleeting flood  
with hungry chaps beguiled,  
That pays his painful punishment,  
whose fea●● the gods defiled:  
Yet that old man so step● in years  
at length by tract of time,  
How great a part belongs to me  
and portion of his crime?  
Account we all the grisly ghosts,  
whom guilty found of ill,  
The Gnosian judge in plutoes pytts  
●oth tasse in torments still:  
Thyestes I in dryrye deeds  
will far surmount the rest,  
Yet to my brother yield I, (though  
I gorged my bloody breast,  
And stuffed have my pawmpred paunch  
even with my children three,  
That crammedly with in my rib,  
and have their tomb in me,  
The bowels of my swallowed babes,  
devoured up I have,  
Nor fickle fortune me alone  
the father doth deprave,  
But enterprising greater guilt  
than that is put in ure,  
To file my daughters bawdy bed,  
my lust she doth allure.  
To speak these words I do not spare,  
I wrought the heinous deed,  
That therefore I through all my stock,  
might parent still proceed.  
My daughter driven by force of ●a●es  
and destinies divine,  
Doth breed young bones, & jades her womb,  
w ● sinful ●eede of mine.  
Lo nature changed upside down,  
and out of order turned  
This mingle mangle hath she made,  
(O fact to be forlornly.)  
A father and a grandsire lo,  
confusedly I am,  
My daughters husband both become,  
and father to the ●ame.  
Those babes that should my nephews be,  
when nature rightly runs,  
She being jumbled doth confound,  
and mingle with my sons.  
The crystal clearness of the day,  
and Phoebus' beams so bright,  
Are mixed with the foggy clouds,  
and darkness dim of night.  
When wickedness had wearied us,  
to late truce taken was,  
Even when our detestable deeds  
were done and brought to pass.  
But valiant Agamem●on he  
grand captain of the o●te  
Who bore the sway among the kings,  
and ruled all the roast,  
Whose flaunting flag, & banner bra●●,  
displayed in royal sort,  
A thousand sail of sousing ships  
did guard to Phrygian port,  
And with their swelling shatling s●iles:  
the surging seas did hide,  
That heateth on the banks of Tr●ye,  
and floweth ●y her side:  
When Phoebus' cart the Zodiac  
ten times had over run,  
And wa●te the battered walls do lie  
of Troy destroyed and won,  
Returned he is to yield his throat  
unto his traitress wife,  
That shall with force of bloody blade  
bereave him of his life.  
The glittering sword, the hewing axe,  
and wounding weapons more,  
With blood for blood new set a brooch  
shall make the floor to flow.  
With sturdy stroke, & boisterous blow,  
of pithy polar given  
His beaten brains are pashed abroad,  
his cracked skull is riven.  
Now mischief marcheth on a pace,  
Now falsehood doth appear,  
Now butcher's slaughter doth approach,  
and murder draweth near.  
In honowr of thy native day  
Aegisthus they prepare  
The solemn feast with i●n●ketyng,  
and dainty tothsom fare.  
Fie, what doth shame abash thee so,  
and cause thy courage quail?  
Why doubts thy right hand what to do?  
to smite why doth it fail?  
What he forecasting might suspect,  
why shouldst thou take advise?  
Why frettest thou, demanding if  
thou may it enterpryse●  
Nay: if amother it beseem,  
thou rather mayst surmise.  
What now? how happeneth it that thus  
the smiling summers night,  
When Phoebus from Thantipodes  
should render soon the light,  
On sudden change their turns with nights  
that last and linger long,  
When winters bore as bitter blasts,  
doth puff the trees among?  
Or what doth cause the gliding stars  
to stay still in the sky?  
We weight for Phoebus: to the world  
bring day now by and by.  

Chorus.  
O Fortune, that dost fail  
the great estate of kings,  
on slippery sliding seat  
thou placest lofty things  
And syt●t on tottering sort,  
where perils do abound  
yet never kingdom calm,  
nor quiet could be found:  
No day to sceptres sure,  
doth shine, that they might say,  
To morrow shall we rule,  
as we have done to day.  
One clod of crooked care  
another bringeth in,  
One hurly-burly done,  
another doth begin:  
Not so the raging sea  
doth boil upon the sand,  
Where as the southern wind  
that blows in Affryck land,  
One wave upon another  
doth heap with sturdy blast:  
Not so doth Euxine sea,  
his swelling waves up cast:  
Nor so his belching stream  
from shallow bottom roll,  
That borders hard upon  
the ysye frozen pool:  
Where as Boötes' bright  
doth twine his wain about,  
And of the marble seas  
doth nothing stand in doubt.  
O how doth fortune toss  
and tumble in her wheel  
The staggering states of kings,  
that ready be to rele?  
Fay●e would they dreaded be,  
and yet not settled so  
When as they feared are,  
they fear and live in woe.  
The silent Lady night  
so sweet to man and beast,  
Can not bestow on them  
h●r safe and quiet rest:  
sleep that doth overcome  
and break the bond●s of grief,  
I cannot ease their har●es,  
nor minister relief:  
What castle strongly built,  
what Bulwark, tower, or town,  
Is not by mischyfes' means,  
brought topsy-turvy down?  
What rampart walls are not  
made weak by wicked war?  
From stately courts of kings  
doth justice fly afar:  
In princely pallacies,  
of honesty the lore,  
And wedlock now devout,  
is set by little store.  
The bloody Bellon th●se  
doth haunt with gory hand,  
Whose light and vain conceit  
in painted pomp doth stand.  
And those Erinnys wood  
turmoils with frenzy's fits,  
That ever more in proud  
and haughty houses sits,  
Which fycle fortunes hand  
in twinkling of an eye,  
From high and proud degree  
drives down in dust to lie.  
Although that skirmish ●eace,  
no banners be displayed  
And though no wiles be wrought  
and policy be stayed,  
Down poised with their weight  
the massy things do sink,  
And from her burden doth  
unstable fortune shrink.  
The swelling Sails pu●t up  
with gale of western wind,  
Do yet mistrust thereof  
a tempest in their mind:  
The threatening tops (that touch  
the clouds) of lofty towers  
Be soonest paid and bet  
with south wind raynye showers:  
The darksome wood doth see  
his tough and sturdy Oak,  
Well waynd in years to be  
clean overthrown and broke:  
The lightnings flashing flame  
out breaking in the sky,  
first lighteth on the mounts,  
and hills that are most high.  
The bodies corpulent  
and of the largest syese  
Are rifest still to catch  
diseases when they rise.  
When as the flock to glass,  
in pasture fat is put,  
Whose neck is larded best,  
his throat shall first be cut:  
What fortune doth advance,  
and hoisteth up on hy●,  
She setes it up to fall  
again more grievously.  
The things of middle sort,  
and of a mean degree,  
Endure above the rest  
and longest days do see:  
The man of mean estate  
most happy is of all,  
Who pleased with the lot  
that doth to him befall,  
Doth sail on silent shore.  
with calm and quiet tide,  
And dreads with bruised barge  
on swelling seas to ride:  
Nor lawncing to the deep  
where bottom none is found,  
may with his rudder search,  
and reach the shallow ground.    

¶ The second Act.  
Clytemnestr●. Nutrix. 
O Drowsy dreaming doting soul,  
what cometh in thy brain,  
To seek about for thy defence  
what way thou mayest attain?  
What aiels thy skittish wayward wits,  
to waver up and down?  
The fittest shift prevented is,  
the best path overgrown:  
Thou mightest on's maintained have  
thy wedlock chamber chaste,  
And eak have ruled with majesty,  
by faith conjoined fast:  
Now nurture's lore neglected is,  
all right doth clean decay,  
Religion and dignity  
with faith are worn away:  
And ruddy sha●e with blushing cheeks  
so far god ●ot is past,  
That when it would it cannot now  
come home again at last.  
O let me now at random run  
with bridle at my will:  
The safest path to mischief is  
by mischief open still.  
Now put in practyss●, seek about,  
search out and learn to find  
The wily trains, and crafty guiles  
of wicked woman kind:  
What any devilish traitorous dame  
durst do in working woe,  
Or any wounded in her wits  
by shot of Cupid's bow:  
What ever rigorous stepdame could  
commit with desperate hand,  
Or as the wench who flaming fast  
by Venus poisoning brand,  
Was driven by lewd uncesteous love  
in ship of thessail land,  
To flytt away from Cholchos I'll,  
where Ph●sis channel deep  
With silver stream down from the hills  
of Armenia doth sweep.  
Get weapons good, get bylbow blades,  
or temper poison strong,  
Or with some younker trudge from Grece  
by theft the seas along:  
Why dost thou faint to talk of theft,  
exile, or privy flight?  
These came by hap: thou therefore must  
on greater mischief light.  Nu. 
¶ (O worthy queen) among the Greeks  
that bears the swinging ●waye  
And borne of Leda's royal blood,  
what muttering dost thou say●?  
What fury fell enforceth thee,  
bereaved of thy wits,  
To rage & rave with bedlam brains,  
to fret with frantic fits?  
Though madam thou do counsel keep,  
and not complain thy case,  
Thine anguish plain appeareth in  
thy pale and wanny face:  
Reveal therefore what is thy grief,  
take leisure good and stay,  
What reason could not remedy,  
oft eured hath delay.  Cly. 
¶ So grievous is my careful case  
which plun●eth me so sore●  
That deal I cannot with delay,  
nor linger snye more.  
The flashing flames, and furious force  
of fiery fervent heat,  
Outraging in my boiling breast,  
my burning bones doth beat:  
It sucks the sappye marrow out,  
the juice it doth convey,  
It frets, it tears, it rends, it gnaws,  
my guts and gall away.  
Now feeble fear still eggs me on  
(with dolour being priest)  
And cankered hate which thwacking thumps  
doth bounce upon my breast:  
The blinded boy that lovers hearts  
doth reave with deadly stroke,  
Entangled hath my linked mind  
with lewd and wanton yoke:  
Refusing still to take afoyle,  
or clean to be confound,  
Among thes broils, and agonies  
my mind besieging round,  
Lo feeble, wery● battered down,  
and under trodden shame,  
That wresteth, striveth, struggleth hard,  
and fighteth with the same.  
Thus am I driven to divers shores,  
and beat from bank to bank●,  
And tossed in the fomye floods,  
that strive with courage crank.  
As when here wind, & there the stream  
when both their force will try,  
From sands allow, doth hoist & rear  
the seas with surges high,  
The waltering wave doth staggering stand,  
not witting what to do,  
But (hovering) doubts, whose furious force  
he best may yield him to.  
My kingdom therefore I cast of,  
my sceptre I forsake  
As anger, sorrow, hope, me lead,  
that way I mean to take.  
At all adventure to the seas  
I yield my beaten Barge,  
At random careless will I run,  
now will I rove at large.  
Where as my mind to fancy fond  
doth gad, and run astray,  
It is the best to choose that chance,  
and follow on that way.  Nu. 
¶ This desperate dotage doth declare,  
and rashness rude and blind,  
To choose out chance to be the guide  
and ruler of thy mind.  Cly. 
¶ He that is driven to utter pinch,  
and furthest shift of all,  
What need he doubt his doubtful lot,  
or how his luck be fall?  
In silent shore thou sailest yet,  
thy trespass we may hide,  
If thou thyself detect it not,  
nor cause it be dyscryde.  Cly. 
¶ Alas it is more blazed abroad,  
and further is it blown,  
Then any crime that ever in  
this princely court was sown.  Nu 
¶ Thy former fault with pensive heart  
and sorrow thou dost rue,  
And fond yet thou goest about,  
to set abroach anew,  Cly. 
¶ It is avery foolishness  
to keep a mean therein,  Nu. 
¶ The thing he fears he doth augment,  
who heapeth sin to sin.  Cly. 
¶ But fire & sword to cure the same,  
the place of salve supply.  Nu. 
¶ There is no man who at the first  
extremity will try.  Cly. 
¶ In working mischief men do take  
the readiest way they find.  Nu. 
¶ The sacred name of wedlock once  
revoke and have in mind,  Cly. 
¶ Ten years have I been desolate,  
and led a widows life.  
Yet shalt I enter●ay●e anew  
my husband as his wife?  Nu. 
¶ Consydor yet thy son and ha●●e  
whom he of the begot●  Cly. 
¶ And eke my daughters wedding blaze  
as yet forget I not.  
Achilles eke my son in law  
to mind I do not spare,  
How well he kept his vow that he  
to me his mother swore.  Nu. 
¶ When as our navy might not pass  
by wind, nor yet by stream,  
Thy daughters blood in sacrifice  
their passage did redeem:  
She stirred and broke the sluggish seas,  
whose water still did stand,  
Whose feeble force might not hoist up,  
the vessels from the land.  Cly. 
¶ I am ashamed herewith all,  
it maketh me repine,  
That Tyndaris (who from the gods  
doth fetch her noble line)  
Should give the ghost tasswage the wrath  
of gods and them appease,  
Whereby the greekish navy might  
have passage free by seas.  
My grudging mind still haps upon  
my daughter's wedding day,  
Whom he hath made for Pelops stock  
the blooddye rawnsam pay.  
When as with cruel countenance  
imbrued with gory blood,  
As at a wedding alter side  
thunpy●yfull parent stood,  
It irked Calchas woeful heart,  
who did abhor the same,  
His Oracle he rued, and eke  
the back reflycting flame.  
O wicked and ungracious stock  
that winnest ill with ill,  
Triumphing in thy filthy feats,  
increasing lewdness still.  
By blood we win the wavering winds,  
By death we purchase war.  Nu. 
¶ But by this means a thousand ships  
at once released ar:.  Cly. 
¶ With lucky fate attempt the seas  
did not the loosed rout?  
For Aulis I'll, thungracious fleet,  
from port did tumble out:  
As with alewd unlucky hand  
the war he did begin,  
So fortune favoured his success  
to thrive no more therein.  
Her love as captive holdeth him  
whom captive he did take.  
Not moved with the earnest suit  
that could Achilles make,  
Of Phoebus' prelate Sminthical  
he did retain the spoil:  
When for the sacred virgins love  
his furious breast doth boil:  
Achilles rough and thundering threats  
could not him ●ualyfye,  
Nor he that doth dir●●t the fa●es  
above the starry sky.  
To us he is an Augur just,  
and keeps his promise dewe●  
But while he threats his captive trulls  
of word he is not tr●w.  
The savage people fierce in wrath  
once might not move his sprite,  
Who did purloin the kindled tents  
with fire blazing bright:  
When slaughter great on Greeks was made  
in most extremest fight  
Without a foe he conquered.  
with leans pines away  
In lewd and wanton chamber tricks  
he spends the idle day,  
And freshly 〈◊〉 he ●e●des his lust,  
lest that some other while  
His chamber chaste should want a stews,  
that might the ●ame defile.  
On Lady Brise's love again  
his faneye fond doth stand,  
Whom he hath got, tha● wrested was  
out of Achilles' hand.  
And carnal copulation  
to have he doth not shame,,  
Though from her husbands bosom he  
hath snatched the wicked dame,  
Tush, he that doth at Paris grudge,  
With wound but newly struck  
Inflamed with Phrygian Prophets love,  
his boiling breast doth smoke.  
Now after Trojan booties brave,  
and Troy overwhelmed he saw,  
Returned he is a prisoners spouse,  
and Priam's son in law.  
Now heart be bold, take courage good,  
of stomach now bestowt,  
A field that easily is not fought,  
to pitch thou goest about.  
In practice mischief thou must put,  
why hopste thou for a day,  
While Priam's daughter come from Troy  
in Grece do bear the sway?  
But as for the poor silly wretch,  
a waiteth at thy place  
Thy widow, virgins, and Orestes  
his fatherlike in face,  
Consider their calamities,  
to come, and eke their cares,  
Whom all the peril of the broil  
doth threat in thy affairs.  
O cursed captive, woeful wretch,  
why dost thou loiter so?  
Thy little brats a stepdame have,  
whose wrath will work their wo.  
With gasshing sword (and if thou can  
none other way provide)  
Nor thrust it through an uther's ribs,  
then launch thy gory side.  
So murder twain with brewed blood,  
let blood immixed be,  
And by destroying of thy self  
destroy thy spouse with thee.  
Death is not sawst with sops of sorrow  
if some man else I have,  
Whose breathless corpse I wish to pass  
with me to deadly grave.  Nu. 
¶ Queen, bridle thine affections,  
and wisely rule ●●y rage,  
Thy swelling mood now myt●igate,  
thy chollure eke assuage.  
Way well the weighty enterprise  
that thou dost take in hand,  
Triumphant victor be returns  
of mighty Asia land  
Avenging Europa's injury,  
with him he brings away  
The spoils of sacked Pargamie,  
a huge and mighty pray.  
In bondage eke he leads the folk  
of long assaulted Troy●,  
Yet darest thou by policy  
attempt him to annoy?  
Whom with the dint of glittering sword  
Achilles durst not harm,  
Although his rash and desperate dick●  
The froward knight did arme●  
Nor Ajax yet more hardy man  
up yielding vital breath,  
Whom frantic jury fell enforced  
to wound himself to death:  
Nor Hector, he, whose only life  
procuerd the Greeks delay,  
And long in war for victory  
enforced them to stay  
Nor Paris shaft, whose cunning hand  
with shot so sure did aim:  
Nor mighty Memnon swart and black,  
had power to hurt the same:  
Nor Xan●hus flood, where to and fro  
dead ca●kasis did swim,  
With armour hewed and there with all  
some maimed broken lime:  
Nor Simois, that purple wawmes  
with slaughter died doth steer.  
Nor Cygnus Lylly white, the sonn●  
of fenny god so dear:  
Nor yet the mu●teryng Thracian host:  
nor warlike Re●sus king:  
Nor Amazons, who to the wars  
did painted Quivers bring,  
And bore their har●hets in their hands,  
with target, and with sheylde,  
Yet had no power with ghastly wound  
to foil him in the feylde.  
Sith he such scourynges hath escaped,  
and plunge of perils paste,  
Intendest thou to murder him,  
returning home at last?  
And sacred altars to profane  
with slaughter so v●●ure?  
Shall Grece th'advenger, let this wroug  
long unrevengd endure?  
The gzym and fierce courageous horse,  
the battles shou●es and cries,  
The swelling seas which brus●d barks  
do dread, when storms arise,  
Behold the fields with streams of blood  
overflown and deeply dro●●d,  
And all the Chivalry of Troy  
in servile bondage bound,  
Which Greeks have writ in registers.  
thy stubborn stomach bind,  
Subdue thy ●onde affections,  
and pacify thy mind.   

¶ The ii Act. The ii Scene.  Aegisthus. Clytaemnestra. 
THe cursed time that evermore  
my mind did most detest,  
The days that I abhorred have  
and hated in my breast,  
Are come, are come, that mine estate  
will bring to utter wrack:  
Alas my heart, why dost thou fail,  
and fainting fliest back?  
What dost thou mean at first assault  
from armour thus to fly?  
Trust this, the cruel gods intends  
thy doleful destiny,  
To wrap thee in with perils round,  
and catch thee in a band:  
endeavour drudge with all thy power  
their plagues for to withstand:  
With stomach stout rebellious,  
to fire and sword appeal.  Cly. 
¶ It is no plague, if such a death  
thy native destiny's deal.  ●eg. 
¶ (O partners of my perils all,  
begot of Leda thou)  
Direct thy doings a●ter mine,  
and unto thee I vow,  
This drosel, fluggysh ringleader,  
this stout strong har●ed ●yre,  
Shall pay the so much blo●d again  
as shed he hath in fire.  
How haps it that his trembling cheeks  
to be so pale and white,  
dying aghast, as in a trance,  
with fainting face upright?  Cly. 
¶ His conscience wedlock vow doth prick  
and brings him home again.  
Let us return the self same ●rade  
a new for to retain,  
To which at first we should have stuck  
and ought not to forsake,  
To covenant continent a new  
let us ourselves betake:  
To take the trade of honesty  
at no time is to late:  
He purged is from punishment  
whose heart the crime doth hate.  A●g. 
¶ Why whether will thou gad (o rash  
and unadvised dame?)  
What dost thou earnestly believe,  
and firmly trust the same,  
That Agamemnon's spousal bed  
will loyal be to thee,  
That nought doth underprop thy mind  
which might thy terror be?  
His proud success puffed up to high  
wi●h lucky blast of wind,  
Might make so crank, and set aloft  
his haughty swelling mind:  
Among his pears he stately was,  
oer Trojan turrets torn,  
How ●hynk ye then his stomach stout  
by nature given to scorn,  
In haughtiness agmented is  
more in himself to joy,  
Through this triumphant victory  
and conquest got of Troy?  
Before his voyage miceane king  
most myl●ly did he reign,  
But now a Tyrant truculent  
returned he is again.  
Good luck and proud prosperity  
do make his heart so rise.  
With what great preparation  
prepared solemn wise,  
A rabblement of strumpets come  
that clonge about him all?  
But yet the prophetess of Phoebe,  
(whom god of truth we call)  
Appears above the rest: she keeps  
the king, she doth him guide:  
Wyl● thou in wedlock have a mate  
and not for it provide?  
So would not she, the greatest grief  
this is unto a wite,  
Her husbands minion in her house  
to lead an open life.  
A queen's estate can not abide  
her pear with her to reign,  
And jealous wedlock will not her  
companion sustain.  Cly. 
¶ Aeg●st in desperate mode again  
why se●st thou me a float?  
Why kyndlest thou the sparks of ire  
in embers covered hot?  
If that the victors own free will  
release his captives care,  
Why may not I his lady spouse  
have hope as well to far?  
One law doth rule in royal throne,  
and pompous princely towers,  
Among the vulgar sort, another  
in private simple bowers.  
what though my grudging fancy force  
that at my husbands hand,  
Sharp execution of the law  
I stubbornly withstand?  
recording this that haynous●ye  
offended him I have:  
●gently will me pardon grant  
who need the same to crave?  Aeg. 
¶ Even so? on this condition  
thou mayst with him compound,  
To pardon him, if he again  
to pardon thee be bound.  
The subtle science of the law,  
The statutes of our land,  
(That long ago decreed were)  
thou dost not understand.  
The judges be malicious men,  
they spite and envy us,  
But he shall have them partial  
his causes to dyscns.  
This is the chiefest privilege  
that doth to kings belong,  
What laws forbiddeth other men  
they do, and do no wrong.  Cly. 
¶ He pardoned Helen, she is wed  
to Menelaus again,  
Which Europe all, with Asia  
did plunge alike in pain.  Aeg. 
¶ No Ladies lust hath ravyshte yet  
Atrides in his life,  
Nor pryvelie purloined his heart,  
betrothed to his wife.  
To pick a quarrel he begins,  
and matter thee to blame,  
Suppose thou nothing hast cōmyt●  
that worthy is of shame?  
What woteth him whom princes hate  
an honest life to frame?  
He never doth complain his wrong,  
but ever bears the blame.  
Wilt thou repair to Sparta, and to  
thy country trudge aright?  
Wilt thou become a ronagate,  
from such a worthy wight?  
Divorcement made from kings, will not  
so let the matter scape,  
Thou easest fear, by fickle hope,  
that falsely thou dost shape:  Cly. 
¶ My trespass is dysclosd to none,  
but to a trusty wight.  Aeg. 
¶ At princes gates fidelity  
yet never enter might.  Cly. 
¶ I will corrupt and fe●de him s●  
with silver and with gold,  
That I by bribing bind him shall  
no secrets to unfold:  Aeg. 
¶ The trust that hired is and bought  
by bribes and moneys fee,  
Thy counsel to bewray a gain  
with bribes enticed will be,  Cly. 
¶ The remnant left of shamfa●nes  
of those ungracious ●ryckes,  
Wherein of late I did delight,  
my conscience freshly prycks.  
Why keepest thou such a busy stur,  
and with thy flattering speech  
Enst ructing me with lewd advise  
dost wicked counsel preach?  
Shall I forsooth of royal blood  
with all the speed I can,  
Refuse the king of kings, and wed  
an outcast banished man?  Aeg. 
¶ Why should you think in that Thyestes  
was father unto me,  
And Agamemnon Atreus son  
he should my better be?  Cly. 
¶ If that be but a trifle small  
Ad Nephew to the same,  Aeg. 
¶ I am of Phoebus' lineage borne,  
whereof I do not shame.  
Why mak'st thou Phoebus' author of  
thy wicked pedigree,  
Whom out of heaven ye forced to fly  
when bridle back he drew?  
When lady night with mantel black  
did spread her sudden shade,  
Why makest thou the gods till such  
reproach fullness to wade?  
Whose father hath thee cunning made  
by flight and subtle guile  
To make thy kinsman Cuckold, while  
his wife thou do defile.  
What man is he whom we do know  
to be thy father's mate,  
Abusing lust of lechery  
in such unlawful rate?  
Avaunt, go pack the hence in ha●●e,  
dispatch, out of my sight  
This infamy, whose blemish stains  
this blood of worthy wight.  Aeg. 
¶ This is no new exile to me  
that wickedness do haunt,  
But if that thou (o worthy queen)  
cammaund me to a●aunt  
I will not only straight avoid  
the house, the town, and field,  
My life on sword at thy request  
I ready am to yield.  Cly. 
¶ This heinous deed permit shall I  
(most churlesh cruel drab)  
Against my will though I offend,  
the fault I should not blab:  
Nay, rather come apart with me,  
and let us join our wits,  
To wrap ourselves out of this woe,  
and perilous threatening fits.   

Chorus.  
NOw chant it lusty lads.  
Apollo's praise suborn,  
To thee the frolyke flock  
their crowned heads adorn.  
To thee king Inach's stock  
of wedlock chamber void,  
Braid out their virgins locks  
and thereon have employed,  
Their savoury garlands green  
It wy●t of Laurel bow.  
Draw near with us o Thebes,  
our dancing follow thou.  
Come also ye, that drink  
of Ismen bubbling flood,  
Whereas the Laurel tree  
full thick on banks doth bood.  
Eke ye whom Man do mild,  
the Prophetess divine,  
(Foreseenge fate) and borne  
of high Tiresias line,  
Hath stirred to celebrate  
with sacred use and right  
Apollo and Diana  
borne of Latona's bright.  
O victor Phoebe unbend  
thy nocked ●owe again,  
Sith quietness and peace  
anew we do retain.  
And let thy twangling harp  
make melody so sh●yll,  
While that thy nimble hand  
strike quavers with thy quill.  
No curious descant I  
nor lus●ie music crave,  
No jolly rumbling note,  
nor trolling tune to have.  
But on thy triple Lute  
(according to thy use)  
Stoic up a plain song note,  
as when thy learned Muse  
Thy lessons do record,  
though yet on base string  
It liketh thee to play  
the song that thou did sing:  
As when from fiery heaven  
the dint of lightening flew,  
Sent down by wrath of gods,  
the Titans overthrew.  
Or else when mountains were  
on mountains heaped high  
That raise for G●auntes fell  
their steps into the sky,  
The mountain Ossa stood  
on top of Pelion laid,  
Olymp (whereon the Pines  
their budding branches brayed)  
Down poised both: draw near  
o Iun● noble dame,  
Both spouse of mighty jove  
and sister to the same:  
Thou that dost r●le with him  
made jointer of his mace,  
Thy people we of Greece  
give ●onour to thy grace:  
Thou only dost protect  
from perils Argos land,  
That ever careful was  
to have thine honour stand,  
(Most suppliant there unto)  
thou also with thy might  
Dost order joyful peace  
and battles fierce of fight,  
Accept o conquering queen  
these branches of the bays,  
That Agamemnon here  
doth yield unto thy praise:  
The hollow boxen pipe  
(that doth with holes abound)  
In singing unto thee  
doth give a solemn sound:  
To thee the damsels eke  
that play upon the strings,  
With cunning harmony  
melodious music sings.  
The matron's eke of Gr●c●  
by riper years more grave,  
To thee the ●aper pay,  
that vowed oft they have,  
The beyferd young & whit●  
companion of the Full  
Unskilful, yet by proof  
the painful pl●in to pull,  
whose neck was never worn  
nor galled with print of yoke,  
Is in thy temple slain  
receiving deadly stroke.  
O laid Pallas thou  
of mo●t renoumned hap  
Bred of the brain of jove  
that smites with thunder clap.  
Thou lofty Trojan ●owres  
of craggy knotty flint  
Hast bet with battering blade,  
and struck with iaveling dyn●●  
The elder matrons with  
the dames that younger be  
Together in mingled heaps  
do honour due to thee.  
when tho● approaching nigh  
thy coming is espied,  
The priest unbarrs the gate  
and opes the Temple wide:  
By clustering throngs the flocks  
thine altars haunt apace,  
Bedecte with twisted crowns  
so trim with comely grace.  
The old and ancient men  
well stepped and grown in years,  
Whose feeble trembling age  
precureth hoary hear●s,  
Obtaining their request  
craved of thy grace divine,  
Do offer up to thee  
their sacrificed wine,  
O bright Diana whose blaze  
sheds light three sundry ways,  
We mindful are of thee,  
and render thankful praise,  
Delos thy native soil  
thou didst firmly bind,  
That to and fro was wont  
to wander with the wind:  
Which with foundation sure  
main ground for byd● to pass:  
For Navies (after which  
to swim it wont was)  
It is become a Road  
defying force of wind,  
The mother's funerals  
of Tantalus his kind.  
The daughters seven by death  
thou victress dost account,  
Whose mother Niobe  
abides on Sipill mount  
A lamentable rock,  
and yet unto this hour  
Her tears new gushing, out  
the marble old doth power.  
The godhead of the twins  
in sumptuous solemn wise,  
Both man and wife adore  
with savoury sacrifice.  
But thee above the rest,  
o father great and guide,  
Whose mighty force is b●  
the burning lightning trydel  
Who when thou gavest a beek  
and didst thy head but shake,  
At once th'extremeste●tremest poles  
of heaven and earth did quake.  
O jupiter the rote  
that of our lineage art,  
Accept these offered gifts  
and take them in good part:  
And thou o grandsire great  
●o thy posterity  
Have some remorse, that do  
not swarm in chyual●ye.  
But yonder ●o with stiving steps  
the soldier comes a main  
In all post hast, with token that  
good news declareth plain  
A laurel branch, that hangeth on  
his spear head he doth bring:  
Eurybates is come, who hath  
been trusty to the king.    

¶ The third Act.  Eurybates. Clytaemnestra. 
SOre tired after many years  
with travail & with toil  
Scant crediting myself, the Gods  
of this my native soil,  
The temple, and the altars of  
the saints that rule the sky,  
In humble sort with reverence  
devoutly worship I.  
Now pay your vows unto the Gods:  
returned is again  
Unto his country court, where wont  
he was to rule, and reign,  
Prince Agamemnon, victor he,  
of Grece the great renown.  Cly. 
¶ The tidings of a message good  
unto mine ears is blown.  
Where stays my spouse whom longing for  
ten years I have out scanned?  
What doth he yet sail on the seas,  
or is he come a land?  
Yet hath he fixed and set his foot  
back stepping home again  
Upon the sandy shore, that long  
he wished to artayne?  
And doth he still enjoy his health  
enhaunc●e in glory great,  
And painted out in pomp of prays  
whose fame the sky doth beat?  Eury. 
¶ Bless we with burning sacrifice,  
at length this lucky day.  Cly. 
¶ And eke the gods though gracious  
Yet dealing long delay:  
Declare if that my brother's wife  
enjoy the vital air,  
And tell me, to what kind of Coast  
my sister doth repair.  Eury. 
¶ God grant & give us better news  
than this that thou dost crave:  
The heavy hap of fighting floods  
forbids the truth to have.  
Our scat●red fleet the swelling seas  
attempts in such a plight,  
That ship from ship was taken clean  
out of each others sight.  
Atrides in the waters wide  
turmoiled and straying far,  
More violence by seas sustained  
then by the bloody war.  
And as it were a conquered man  
escaping home all weete  
Now bringeth in his company  
of such a mighty fleet,  
A sort of bruised broken barks,  
beshaken, torn, and rent.  Cly. 
¶ Show what unlucky chance it is  
that hath our navy spent,  
What storm of seas dispersed hath  
our Captains hear and there?  Eury. 
¶ Thou willest me to make report  
of heavy woeful gear.  
Thou biddest me most grievous news  
with tidings good to part:  
For uttering of this woeful hap  
my feeble mind doth start.  
And horribly appalled is  
with this so monstrous ill.  Cly. 
¶ Speke out, and utter it: himself  
with terror he doth fill,  
Whose heart his own calamity  
and cark, doth loath to know:  
The heart whom doubted damage dulls  
with greater grief doth glow.  Eury. 
¶ When Trojan buildings blazing bright  
did burn away, and broil,  
Enkindled first by Greekish brand,  
they fall to part the spoil:  
Repairing fast unto the seas  
again we come a board,  
And now the soldiers weary loins  
were eased of his sword,  
Their bucklers cast aside upon  
the hatches lie above:  
Their warlike hands in practice put,  
and Oars learn to move:  
Each little hindrance seems to much  
to them in hasty plight,  
When of recours the Admiral,  
gave watchword by his light,  
And trumpet blast began to call  
our army from delay,  
The painted Pup with gilded snout  
did first guide on the way:  
And cut the course, which folding on  
a thousand ships did rive,  
Than first a wind with pipling puffs  
our lancing ships did drive:  
Which glided down upon our sails:  
the water being calm  
With breath of western wind so mild  
scant moved any walm.  
The shining seas bespread about  
with ships, doth glister bright,  
And also covered with the same,  
lay hid fro Phoebus' light:  
It doth us good, to gaze upon  
the naked shore of Troy:  
The desert Phrygian plots so bar●  
to view, we hopp for joy:  
The youth eachone besturrs themselves,  
and striking altogether  
They tough their oars, & with their toil  
they help the wind and weather.  
They tug, and cheerly row by course,  
the spyrting seas up dash,  
Against the rattling ribs of ships  
The flapping floods do flashy  
The hoary froth of wrestling waves  
which oars aloft doth raise,  
Do draw and trace a furrow through  
the marble faced seas.  
When stronger blast with belly swollen  
our hoisted sails did fill,  
They row no more, but let the Pup  
to go with wind at will,  
Their shearing Ore● laid aside  
our Pilot doth espy,  
How far from any land aloof  
our sails reculing fly.  
Or bloody batells doth display,  
the threats of Hector stout,  
Or of his rattling Waggins tells,  
wherein he road about:  
Or how his gashed carckas slain  
and trained about the field,  
To funeral flames, and obit rights  
for coin again was yield.  
How jupiter embathed was  
all in his royal blood.  
The frolyck fish disposed was  
to mirth in Tyrrhene flood,  
And fetching fryskes both in and out  
plays on the water's brim,  
And on his broad and finny back●  
about the seas doth swim,  
With gambols quick in rings around,  
and side to side inclined,  
Erewhile he sports affront the pup,  
and whips again behind,  
Now fydling on the snout before,  
the dallying wanton rout  
With iocundarye jolly tricks  
doth skip the fleet about.  
Sometime he standeth gazing on  
and eyes the vessels bright,  
Now every shore is covered clean,  
and land is out of sight,  
The perilous point of Ida rock  
in sight doth open lie,  
And that alone espy we could  
with firmly fixed eye,  
A dusky cloud of sti●lyng smoke  
from Troy did smoulder black,  
When Titan from the weary necks  
the heavy yokes did slack.  
The fading light did grovelling bend,  
and down the day did shroud,  
Against the stars amounting up  
a little misty cloud,  
Came belching out in irksome lump,  
and Phoebus' gallant beams  
He spewed upon, bestaining them  
duet down in western streams.  
The Sun set swerving in such sort  
with divers change of face  
Did give us cause, to have mistrust  
of Neptune's doubted grace.  
The evening first did bun●nish bright,  
and paint with stars the sky,  
The winds were laid, & clean forsook  
our sails, that quiet lie.  
when cracking, rattling, rumbling noise,  
rushed down wi●h thundering sway  
From top of hills, which greater stur  
doth threaten and bewray.  
With belowinge, & yellynges loud,  
the shores do grunt an● groan,  
The craggy cliffs, & roaring rocks,  
do howl in hollow stone.  
The bubbling wa●ers swells upreard  
before the wrestling wind,  
When suddenly the lowering light  
of moon is hid and blind.  
The glimpsing stars do go to glade,  
the surging seas are tossed  
Even to the skies, among the clowde●  
the light of heaven is lost  
More nights in one compacted are,  
with shadow dim and black,  
One shade upon another doth  
more darkness heape● and pack,  
And every spark of light consumed  
the waves and skies do mete.  
The ruffling winds range on the seize  
through every coast they ●lytt.  
They heave it up with violence.  
overturnd from bottom low,  
The western wind flat in the face  
of eastern wind doth blow.  
With hurley burley Boreas  
set ope his blasting mouth,  
And gyroeth out his boisterous breath,  
against the stormy south,  
Each wind with all his might doth blow,  
and worketh dangers deep,  
They shake the floods, a sturdy blast  
along the seas doth sweep.  
That rolls, & ●ūbles wave on wave,  
a northern tempest strong  
Abundance great of flackye snow●  
doth hurl our ships among.  
The south wind out of Lybia  
doth rage upon a should,  
And with the puissant force thereof  
the quick sands up be rolled,  
Nor bideth in the south, which doth  
with tempest lump and lower,  
And force the flowing floods to rise  
by pouring out a shower.  
The stubborn E●r●s earthquakes made,  
and shaken the countries eas●,  
And E●s cost, where Phoebus first  
ariseth from his test.  
How violent Corus stretched and tore  
his yawning mouth ●ull wide?  
A man would sure have thought the world  
did from his centre flyde,  
And that the frames of heaven broke ●p  
the gods adown would fall,  
And Chaos dark confused heap  
would shade and cover all.  
The stream strove with the wind, the wind  
did beat it back again,  
The springing sea within his banks  
can not itself contain,  
The raging shower his trilling drops  
doth mingle with the seas,  
And yet in all this misery  
they find not so much eas,  
To see and know what ill● it is,  
that worketh their decay.  
The darkness dim oppresseth still  
and keeps the light away:  
The black faced night with hell-like hue  
was clad of stygian lake  
And yet full oft with glimpsing beams  
the sparkling fire out broke.  
The cloud doth crack, and being rend  
the lightning leapeth out,  
The wretches like the same so well  
it shining them about,  
That still they wish such light to hau●.  
(although god wo● but ill)  
The navy swaying down itself  
doth cast away, and spill.  
One side with other side is cracked,  
and helm is rend with helm,  
The ship itself the gulping seas  
do headlong over whelm.  
Erewhile a grydie gaping gulf  
doth sup it up amain,  
Then by an by tossed up aloft  
it spews it out again,  
She with her swagging full of sea  
to bottom low doth sink,  
And drencheth deep aside in floods  
her tottering broken brink.  
That underneath a dozen waves  
lay drowned out of sight,  
Her broken planks swim ' up & down,  
spoiled is her tackle quite,  
Both sail and Oars clean are lest,  
the main mast cake is gone.  
That wont was to bea●e upright  
the sail yard thereupon,  
The timber and the broken boards  
lie on the water's brim,  
When cold & shivering fear in us  
doth strike through every lym●  
The wisest wy●ts entocksycate  
dare nothing enterprise,  
And cunning practice nought auayle●,  
When fearful storms arise,  
The mariners letting duty slip  
stand staring all aghast,  
Their scooping oars suddenly  
out of their hands are wrest.  
To prayer then apace we fall,  
when others hope is none,  
The Greeks & Trojans to the Gods  
alike do make their moan.  
Alack what succour of the fates  
may we poor wretches find?  
Against his father Pyrrhus bears  
a spiteful cankered mind,  
At Ajax grudge Ulysses doth,  
king Menelaus doth hate  
Great Hector: Agamemnon is  
with Priam at debate.  
O happy man is he, that doth  
lie slain in Trojan ground,  
And hath deserved by handy stroke,  
to take his fatal wound,  
Whom fame preserveth, taking up  
his tomb in conquered land.  
Those momes whose melting cowards heart  
durst never take in hand,  
Or enterprise no noble act,  
those force of floods shall drown,  
But fate forbearing long, will take  
stout brutes of high renown,  
Full well we may ashamed be,  
in such a sort to die,  
If any man his spiteful mind  
yet can not satisfy,  
with these outrageous plunging plagues  
That down from gods are sent,  
Appease at length thy wrathful god  
again, and eke relent.  
Even Troy for pity would have wept,  
to see our woeful case,  
But if that in thy boiling breast  
black rancour still have place,  
And that the Greeks to ruin run,  
it be thy purpose bend,  
Why do these Trojans go to wrack?  
for whom thus are we spent?  
Assuage the rigour of the sea  
that threa●nyng hyls up rears:  
This drenched fleet the Trojan folk  
and Greeks together bears.  
Then from their prayers are they put,  
their faltering tongues do stay,  
the roaring seas doth drown their voice  
and cares their cries away.  
Then mighty Pallas armed with  
the leaping lightning fire,  
That testy jove doth use to hurl  
provoked to swelling ire,  
With threatening javelin in her hand,  
her prowe● means to try,  
And eke her force whose boiling breast  
with Gorgon● fits doth fry,  
Or what with target she can do,  
and with her father's fire.  
Then from the skies another storm  
begins abroad to spire,  
But Ajax nothing yet dismayed  
all force withstandeth stout,  
whom when he spread his swelling sails  
with cable stretched out,  
She lighting down did wring him hard,  
& wrapped him in her ●●ame,  
And flang another flashing dint  
of lightening on the same,  
With all her force and violence  
her h●nd brought back again,  
She tossed him out, as late that feat  
her ●ather taught her plain.  
Both over Ajax and his Pup  
she slayeth overthwart,  
And renting man and ship, of both  
she bears away a part,  
His courage nought abated yet  
he all to syngde doth ●eme,  
Even like a stubborn ragged rock  
amid the striving stream,  
He trains along the roaring seas  
and eke the waltering wave  
By shoving on his burly breast  
in sunder quite he drove,  
The Bark with hand he caught, & on  
itself did type it over,  
Yet Ajax shineth in the flood  
which darkness blind doth cover.  
At length attaining to a rock  
his thundering cracks were thes,  
I conquered have the force of fire  
and rage of fighting seas,  
It doth me good, to master thus  
the anger of the sky,  
with Pallas wrath, the lightning flames  
and floods tumulting high.  
The terror of the warlike god  
once could not make me fly,  
The force of Mars and Hector both  
at once sustained have I.  
Nor Phoebus' darts could me constrain,  
from him one foot to shoes,  
All these beside the Phrygians  
subdued we have, and won:  
when other Mecocks flings his darts  
shall I not them withstand?  
Yea, what if Phoebus came himself,  
to pitch them with his hand?  
When in his melancholy mood  
He boasted without mean.  
Then father Neptune life his head  
above the waters clean.  
The beaten rock with forked mace  
he undermining pluck  
From bottom lose, & sunk it down,  
when down himself he duckte.  
There Ajax lay, by land, by sire,  
and storm of seas destroyed,  
But we by suffering shipwreck, are  
with greater plagues annoyed.  
A subtile shallow flood there is  
flown on a stony should,  
Where crafty Caphar out of sight  
the lurking rocks doth hold,  
Upon whose sharp and ragged top●  
the swelling tide doth flow,  
The boiling waves do beat thereon  
still swaying to and fro:  
A turret nodding over it  
doth hang with falling sway,  
From whence on either side from height  
prospect espy we may  
Two seas: and on this hand the coast  
where P●lops on's did reign,  
And Isthmus flood in narrow creak,  
recoiling back again,  
Doth stop Ionian sea, lest in  
to Hellespont it run,  
On tother partly is Lemnos flood  
that fame by bloodshed won.  
On tother side Chalcedon town  
doth stand against this fort,  
A●d Aulis I'll that stayd our ships  
that thither did resort.  
This Castle here inhabit doth  
our Palimedes sire,  
Whose cursed hand held in the top  
a brand o● flaming fire,  
That did allure our fleet, to turn  
on lurking rocks a right,  
Enticing them with wily blaze  
to come unto the light.  
All into fitters shaken are  
the vessels on the should,  
But other some do swim, and some  
upon the rocks are rolled.  
And other slipping back again  
so to eschew the rocks,  
His bruised rib and rattling sides  
against each other knocks,  
Whereby the other he doth brea●e,  
and broken is himself,  
Then would they lance into the deep,  
for now they dr●ad the shelf,  
This peck of trouble's chaun●t to hap  
in dawning of the day.  
But when the Gods (besought of us)  
began the rage to stay,  
And Phoebus' golden beams began  
a fresh to render light,  
The doleful day dys●ryed all  
the damage done by night.  Cly. 
¶ O whether may I now lament,  
and weep with wailing sad,  
Or shall I else in that my spous  
returned is be glad?  
I do rejoice, and yet I am  
compelled to bewail  
My countries great calamity  
that doth the same assail.  
O father great whose majesty  
doth thundering sceptres shake,  
The lowering Gods unto the Greeks  
now favourable make,  
With garlands green let every head  
rejoicing now be crowned.  
To to thee the pipe in sacrifice  
melodiously doth sound,  
And on thine altar lieth slain  
an Heyferdlyly white,  
Before the same do present stand  
with hanging locks undyght,  
A careful Trojan company  
in heavy woeful plight,  
On whom from heigh the Laurel tree  
with spreading branch doth shine,  
Whose virtue hath inspired them  
with Phoebus' grace divine,  
Chorus. Cassandra. 
ALas the cruel sting of love  
how sweetly doth it taste,  
A misery to mortal man  
annexed while life doth last?  
The path of mischief for to fly,  
now sith there is a gap,  
And wretched souls be frankly called  
from every woeful hap  
By death, a pleasant port, for aye  
in rest themselves to shroud,  
Where dreadful tumults never dwell  
nor storms of Fortune proud:  
Nor yet the burning fiery flakes  
of jove the same doth doubt,  
when wrongfully with twacking thumps  
he raps his thunder out:  
Hear lady peace th'inhabitors  
doth never put in flight,  
Nor yet the victor's threatny●g wrath  
approaching nyga to fight,  
No whirling western wind doth ●rge  
the ramping seas to prance,  
No dusty cloud that raised is  
by savage Demi-lance,  
On horseback riding rank by rank,  
no fierce and cruel ho●t,  
No people slaughtered, with their towns  
clean topsy tur●ey tossed:  
While that the foe with flaming fire  
doth spoil and waste the wall,  
Untamed and unbridled Mars  
destroys and batters all:  
That man alone who forceth not  
the fickle fates a straw,  
The visage grim of Acheron  
whose eyes yet never saw,  
Who never viewed with heavy chear●  
the ugsome Limbo lake,  
And putting life in hazard dare  
to death himself betake.  
That parson is a princes pear,  
and like the gods in might,  
Who knoweth not what death doth mean  
is in a piteous plight  
The ruthful ruin of our native  
country we beheld:  
That woeful night, in which the roofe●  
of houses overqueld,  
In dardan's City blazing bright  
with flashing fiery flames.  
when as the Greeks with burning brands  
enkindle did the frames,  
That Troy whom war & deeds of arms  
might not subdue and take,  
As on's did mighty Hercules,  
whose quiver caused it quake,  
Which neither he that Peleus' son,  
and son to Thetis was,  
Nor whom Achilles loved to well,  
could ever bring to pass,  
When glittering bright in filled he ware  
false armour on his back,  
And counterfeiting fierce Achilles  
the Trojans drove to wrack.  
Nor when Achilles he himself  
his mind from sorrow wrest,  
And Trojan women to the walls  
did scudding leap in haste.  
In misery she lost her proud  
estate, and last renown,  
By being stoutly overcome,  
and hardly pulled down.  
Years five & five did Troy resist,  
that yet hereafter must,  
In one night's space by destiny  
be laid in the dust.  
Their feigned gifts well have we tri●  
that huge and fatal gin:  
We light of credit with our own  
right hand have haled in,  
That fatal gift of Greeks: what time  
at entry of the gap  
The hugy horse did shivering stand,  
where in themselves did wrap  
The captains close, in hollow vaults  
with bloody war yfreight.  
When lawfully we might have tried,  
and searched their deceit:  
So by their own contryned snares  
the greeks had been confound:  
The braseen bucklers being shook  
did gy●e a clattering sound.  
A privy whispering often times  
came tickling in our ear.  
And Pyrrhus (in a murrain's name  
so ready for to heat.  
The crafty council picked out  
of false Ulysses brain,)  
Did jangle in the hollow vaults,  
that rang thereof again.  
But fearing and suspecting nought  
the heady youth of Troy  
Laid hands upon the sacred ropes,  
to hale and pull with joy,  
On this side young A●styanax  
came guarded with his train,  
On tother part Polyxena  
disponed to be slain  
Upoon Achilles' tomb, she com●  
with maids, and he with men,  
A jolly flock with equal years  
as young as they were then.  
Their vowed oblations to the gods  
in holiday attire,  
The matrons bring and so to church  
repaireth every sire.  
And all the city did alike,  
yea Hecuba our queen  
(That since the woeful Hector's death  
or now was never seen)  
She merry is: o grief accursed,  
a● all thy sorrows deep  
For which that first, or last befell,  
intendest thou to weep?  
Our battered walls which heavenly hands  
erected have and framed?  
Or else the burning temples which  
upon their Idols flamed?  
Lamenting these calamities  
we have not time and space,  
O mighty parent Priam we  
poor Trojans wail thy case.  
The old man's thrattling throat I saw,  
(alas) I saw aboard  
With cruel Pyrrhus' blade, that scant  
with any blood was gored.  Cass. 
¶ Refrain your tears y● down your cheeks  
should trickle evermore  
With woeful wailings piteously  
your private friends deplore  
My miseries refuse a mate,  
so much accursed as I:  
To rue my careful case, refrain  
your lamentable cry.  
As for mine own distress to murne,  
I shall suffice alone.  Cho. 
¶ To mingle tears with other tears  
it doth us good to moon:  
In those the burning teary streams  
more ardently do boil,  
Whom secret thoughts of lurking ●ares  
in privy breast turmoil:  
Though that thou were a gossip stout,  
that brook much sorrow may  
I warrant thee, thou mightest well,  
lament this sore decay.  
Not sad and solemn A●don  
that in the woods doth sing  
Her sugared ditties finely tuned  
on sweet and pleasant string:  
Recording sties woeful hap  
in divers kind of note,  
whom Progne though he were her child  
and of her womb begot,  
For to revenge his father's fault,  
she did not spare to kill:  
And gave his flesh and blood for food  
the father's maw to fill.  
Nor Progne who in swallows shape●  
upon the ridge's high,  
Of houses sits in Biston town  
bewailing peteou●lye,  
With chattering throat, of Tereus  
her spouse the cruel act,  
(Who did by strength & force of arms  
a shameful brutish fact.  
Defile the sister of his wife,  
fair Philomela by name,  
And ●ake cut out her tongue, lest she  
should blab it to his shame)  
Though Progne this her husbands rape  
lamenting very sore  
Do wail, and weep which piteous plaint,  
yet can she not deplore  
Sufycientlye, though that she would  
our countries petious plight:  
Though he himself among the swans  
sir Cygnus lily white.  
who dwells in stream of Ister ●●ood,  
and Tanais channel could,  
His weeping voice most earnestly  
though utter out he would:  
Although the morning haltions  
with doleful sighs do wail,  
At such time as the fighting floods  
their Cyex did assail,  
Or rashly wearing bold attempt  
the seas now laid at rest,  
Or being very fearful feed  
their brood in tottering nest,  
Although as sqeimysh hearted men  
those priests in bedlam rage,  
Whom mother Cybele being borne  
●n high in lofty stage,  
Doth move, so play on shawms, Atys  
the Phrygian to lament,  
Yet can not they this lot bewail,  
though brawn from arms they rend.  
Cassandra in our tears there is,  
no measure to refrain,  
Those miseries all measure pa●se,  
that plunged us in pain.  
The sacred fillets from thy heads,  
why dost thou hale and pull?  
They chyflye aught to worship god,  
whose hearts with grief be dull.  Cass. 
¶ My fear by this aflyction  
is clean abated all,  
Nor praying to the heavenly ghosts  
for mercy will I call.  
Although they were disposed to chafe  
and fret in fustian fumes:  
They nothing have me to displease,  
fortune her force consumes.  
Her spite is worn unto the stumps,  
what country have I left?  
Where is my sire? am I of all  
my sisters quit bereft.  
The sacred tombs and alter stones  
our blood have drunk and swyld,  
Where are my brethren blessed knot?  
destroyed in the field.  
All widow wives of Priam's sons  
may easily now behold,  
The palace void and cast of court  
of syllye Priam old.  
And by so many marriages  
so many wyddows are,  
But only Helen coming from  
the coast of Lacon far.  
That Hecuba the mother of  
so many a princely wight,  
whose fruitful womb did breed the brand,  
of fire blazing bright:  
Who also bore the swinge in Troy,  
by practice now doth learn,  
New laws and guise of destiny  
in bondage to discern.  
On her she taketh heart of grace  
with looks so stern and wild,  
And barketh as a bedlam bitch  
about her strangled child  
Dear Polidor, the remnant left,  
and only hope of Troy,  
Hector and Priam to revenge,  
and to restore her joy.  Cho. 
¶ The sacred Phoebus' prophet is  
with sudden silence hushed:  
A quaking trembling shivering fear  
throughout her limbs hath rushed:  
Her face as pale as ashes is,  
her fillets stand upright,  
The soft and gentle goldilocks  
start up of her affrigyt.  
Her panting breathing breast stuffed up  
within doth grunt and groan.  
Her glaring bright and steaming eyes  
are hither and thither throwne●  
Now glancing up & down they roll:  
now standing stiff they stare.  
she stretcheth up her head more straight  
then commonly she bore,  
Bolt up she goes, her wrestling jaws  
that fast together cling,  
She doth attempt by divers means,  
on sunder how to wring.  
Her mombling words in gambling mouth  
shut up she doth assuage,  
As Menas mad that Bacchus' ears  
doth serve in furious rage.  Cass. 
¶ How doth it hap (o sacred tops  
of high Parnassus' hill)  
That me be rapt of since, with pricks  
of fury fresh ye fill?  
Why do you me with ghost inspire,  
that am beside my wits?  
O Phoebus none of thine I am,  
release me from the fits:  
Infixed in my burning breasts  
the flames extinguish out,  
Who forceth me with fury fell  
to gad and trot about?  
Or for whose sake inspired with sprite  
mad mombling make must I?  
Why play I now the prophet cold,  
sith Troy in dust doth lie?  
The day doth shrink for dread of war,  
the night doth dim mine eyes.  
With mantel black of darkness deep  
clean covered is the skies:  
But lo two shining Suns at one●  
in heaven appeareth bright,  
Two Grecian houses muster do  
their armies twain to fight.  
Among the mighty Goddesses  
in Ida woods I see,  
The fatal shepherd in his throne  
as umpire placed to be:  
I do advise you to beware,  
beware (I say) of kings,  
(A kindred in whose cankered hearts  
old privy grudges springs)  
That country clown Aegisthus he  
this stock shall overthrow,  
What doth this foolish desperate dame  
her naked weapons show?  
Whose crown intendeth she to crack  
in weed of Lacon land,  
With hatchet (by the Amazons  
invented first) in hand?  
What face of mighty majesty  
bewitched hath mine eyes?  
The conqueror of salvage beasts  
Marmarick Lion lies,  
Whose noble neck is worried  
with currysh fang and tooth  
The churlish snaps of eager Lioness  
abide he doth.  
Alac ye ghosts of all my friends  
why should ye say that I,  
Among the rest am only safe,  
from perils far to lie?  
Fain father follow thee I would,  
Troy being laid in dust.  
O brother terror of the Greeks,  
O Trojans aid and trust.  
Our ancient pomp I do not see,  
nor yet thy warmed hands,  
(That fierce on greekish flaming fleet  
did fling the fiery brands)  
But mangled members, scorched corpse,  
and eke thy valiant arms,  
Hard pinioned and bound in bands  
sustaining grievous harms:  
O Troilus, a match unfit  
encountering with Achilles  
(That mighty man of arms) to soon  
come unto the I will.  
I do delight, to sail with them  
on stinking Stygian flood.  
To view the churlish mastyfe cu●  
of hell, it doth me good.  
And gaping mouthed kingdom dark  
of greedy Ditis' reign.  
The barge of filthy Phlegeton  
this day shall entertain,  
Me conquering, and conquered,  
and princes souls with all.  
You flytering shades I you beseech,  
and eke on the I call,  
O Stygian pool (whereon the gods  
their solemn oaths do take  
Unbolt a while the brazen bars  
of darksome limbo lake.  
Whereby the Phrygian folk in hell  
may Micean state be hold.  
Look up ye sellye wretched souls,  
the fates are backward rolled.  
The sqallye sisters do approach,  
and deal their bloody strokes,  
Their smouldering faggots in their hands  
half burnt to ashes smokes.  
Their visages so pale do burn,  
with fiery flaming eyes:  
A garment black their gnawed guts  
doth gird in morning guise.  
Dire dread of night gins to howl,  
the bones of body vast  
With lying long do rot corrupt  
in miry puddle cast.  
Behold, the weary aged man  
his burning thirst forgot,  
The waters dallying at his lypps  
to catch endeavours not:  
But murneth for the funeral,  
that shall ensue anon.  
The Trojan prince his royal robes  
triumphant putteth on.  Cho. 
¶ The furious rage clean overpast  
begins itself to slake,  
And flyps away, even as a Bull  
that deadly wound doth take  
On gashed neck affront the ears:  
come let us ease at last  
Her limbs, that of the sprite of god  
hath felt the mighty blast.  
Returning home again at length  
and crowned with Laurel bow  
(A sign of worthy victory)  
is Agamemnon now.  
The wite to meet her husband, doth  
her speedy passage ply,  
Returning hand in hand, and foot  
by foot most lovingly.    

¶ The four Act.  Agamemnon. Cassandra. 
AT length I do arrive again  
upon my native soyle●  
God save the o dear loved land,  
to thee is huge a spoil  
So many barbarous people yield:  
the flower of Asia Troy  
To bear thy yoke submits herself,  
that long did live in joy.  
Why doth this prophet (on the ground  
her sprawling body laid)  
Thus rele and stagger on her neck,  
all trembling and dismayed?  
Sirs, take her up, with liquor warm  
let her be cherished.  
Now peeps she up again, which drooping  
eyes sunk in her head:  
Pluck up thy sprite, here is the port  
wished for in misery:  
This day is festival.  Cass. 
¶ At Troy  
so was it wont to be.  Aga. 
¶ Let us to Chalters worship gy●e.  Cass. 
¶ At Chalters died my sire:  Aga. 
¶ Pray we to jove.  Cass. 
¶ To jove whose grace  
divine doth me inspire?  Aga. 
¶ Dost thou suppose that Troy thou seist?  Cass. 
¶ And Priam eke I see.  Aga. 
¶ Troy is not here.  Ca 
¶ where Helen is  
there take I Troy to be.  Aga. 
¶ Fear not as maid to serve thy dame.  Cass. 
¶ Nay freedom draweth nigh.  Aga. 
¶ take thou no thought how thou shalt live:  Cass. 
¶ All cares for to defy  
Death gives a courage unto me.  Aga. 
¶ Yet say I once again  
There is no danger left, whereby  
thou mightest hurt sustain.  Cass. 
¶ But yet much troublous danger doth  
hang over thy head I wots.  Aga. 
¶ What mischief may a victor dread?  Cass. 
¶ Even that he dreadeth not.  Aga. 
¶ Ye trusty many of my men  
come carry her away,  
Till of the sprite she rid herself,  
lest fury force her say  
That may be prejudicial,  
her tongue she can not frame.  
To thee o father flinging forth  
the lghtnings flashing flame,  
That dost disperse the clouds, & rule  
the course of every star,  
And guide the Globe of earth, to whom  
the booties won by war  
With triumph victors dedicate:  
to thee o juno height  
The sister dear of doughty jove,  
(thy husband full of myht)  
Both I and Greece with flesh & blood  
and eke our vowed beast  
And gorgeous gifts of Arabia  
give worship to thy hest.  

Chorus.  
O Grece by noble Gentlemen  
in honour shining clear,  
O Grece to wrathful juno thou  
that art the darling dear,  
Some jolly worthy lusty blood  
thou fosters evermore,  
Thou hast made even the gods, that were  
a number odd before.  
That puissant mighty Hercules  
a noble imp of thine  
Deserved by his travels twelve,  
rapt up in heaven to shine.  
For whom the heavens did alter course,  
and jupiter with all  
Did iterate the hours of night,  
when dampish dew doth fall.  
And charged Phoebus' chariot swift,  
to troth with slower pace,  
And leisurely bright lady moon  
thy homeward wain to trace,  
Bright Lucifer that year by year  
his name a new doth change,  
Came back again, to whom the name  
of Hesper seemed strange.  
Aurora to her comm●n course  
her reared head addressed,  
And cowching backwardly down again  
the same she did arrest,  
Upon the shoulder of her spouse,  
whose years with age are worn  
The east did feel, so felt the west,  
that Hercules was borne.  
Dame nature could not clean dispatch,  
to utter in one night,  
That boistous lad: the whirling world  
did weight for such awyght.  
O babe whose shoulders underprop,  
the ample spacious sky,  
In clasped arms thy prows did  
the crushed Lion try.  
Who from his fiery yawning throat  
spews out his broiling brand,  
The nimble hind in Menall mount  
hath known thy heavy hand.  
The Boar hath felt thy fist, which di●  
Arcadia destroy.  
The monstrous conquered Bull hath roared  
that Creta did annoy.  
The Dragon dire that breeding beast  
in Lerna pool he slew,  
And chopping of one head forbadd  
thereof to rise anew.  
Wtih cloobbed bruising battering bat  
he cranckly did subdue.  
(The brethren twins the tewd on teat)  
whereof iii monsters grew.  
Of triple form Geryon  
the spoil into the east,  
A drove of cattle Hercules  
did fetch out of the west.  
Away from tyrant Diomedes  
the Thracian horse he led  
Which neither with the grass that grew  
by Strymon flood he fed,  
Nor yet on Heber banks, but them  
the villain did refresh  
His greedy munching cramming jades  
with aliens blood and flesh.  
Their raw-fed jaws imbrued were with  
the carman's blood at last,  
The spoils and shafts Hippolytus  
saw from her bosom wrest  
As soon as he with clatring shaft  
the dusky cloud did smite,  
The Stymphal bird that shadowed  
the sun, did take her flight.  
The fertyll tree that apples bears  
of gold, did fear him sore,  
Which never yet acquaintance had  
with ●asters tooth before.  
But whipping up which lively twigs  
into the air she flies,  
And while the chinking plate doth sound  
then Argos full of eyes,  
The watchman shrinking close for cold  
that sleep yet never knew,  
Doth here the noise while Hercules  
with metal of yellow hue  
Well laden packs away, and left  
the grove befylched clean.  
The hound of hell did hold his tongue  
drawn up in triple chain,  
Nor barked with any boughing throat,  
nor could abide the hew,  
Or colour of the heavenly light,  
whose beams he never knew.  
When thou wert captain general,  
and didst conduct our Host,  
(They that) of dardan's line, to come  
their stock do falsely boast,  
Were vanquished by force of arms  
and since they felt again  
thy grey goose wing, whose bitterness  
to fear might them constrain.    

¶ The .v. Act.  
Cassandra. 
WIthin a revel rexe is kept,  
as sore as ever was  
Even at the ten years siege of Troy:  
What thing is this? (alas)  
Get up my soul, and of the rage  
avengement worthy crave:  
Though Phrygians we be vanquished,  
the victory we have.  
The matter well is brought about:  
up Troy thou risest now,  
Thou flat on floor haste pulled down Grece,  
to lie as low as thou.  
Thy conqerour doth turn his face:  
my propheseing spright  
Did never yet disclose to me  
so notable a sight:  
I see the same, and am thearat,  
and busied in the broil,  
No vision fond fantastical  
my senses doth beguile:  
Such fare as Phrygians feasted with  
on last unhappy night  
At Agamemnon's royal court  
full dayntyly they dight:  
With purple hangings all adorned  
the broidered beds do shine,  
In old Assarack's goblet's gilt  
they swinck and swill the wine.  
The king in gorgeous royal robes  
on chair of state doth sit,  
And pranked with pride of Priam's pomp  
of whom he conquered it.  
Put of this hostile weed, to him  
(the queen his wife 'gan say)  
And of thy loving lady wrought  
wear rather this array,  
This garment knit. It makes me loath,  
that shivering here Island.  
O shall a king be murdered, by  
a banished wretches hand?  
Out, shall Thadulterer destroy  
the husband of the wife?  
The dreadful destinies approached.  
the food that last in life  
He tasted of before his death,  
their masters blood shall see,  
The gubs of blood down dropping on  
the wind shall powered be.  
By traitorous trick of trapping weed  
his death is brought about,  
Which being put upon his head  
his hands could not get out,  
The stopped poke with mouth set op●  
his muffled head doth hide,  
The mankind dame which trembling hand  
the sword drew from her side,  
Nor to the utmost of her might  
it in his f●esh she thrust,  
But in the giving of the stroke  
she stayed all aghast,  
He as it were a bristled Boar  
entangled in the net  
Among the brears in bushy woods  
yet trieth out to get.  
with struggling much the shrinking bands  
more straightly he doth bind.  
He strives in vain, and would slip of  
the snare that doth him blind.  
Which catcheth hold on every side.  
but yet then tangled wretch  
Doth grope about, his subtle foes  
with groping hand to catch.  
But furious Tyndaris prepared  
the pole-axe in her hand,  
And as the priest to sacrifice  
at Thaltar side doth stand,  
And views with eye the bullock's neck,  
ear that with axe he smite,  
So to and fro she heaves her hand  
to strike and level right.  
He hath the stroke: dispatched it is:  
not quite chopped of the head  
It hangeth by a little crop:  
here from the carcase dead  
The spouting blood came gushing out:  
and there the head doth lie,  
With wallowing bobling mumbling tongue:  
nor they do by and buy  
Forsake him so: the breathless coors  
Aegisthus doth all to coil:  
And mangled hath the gashed corpses:  
while thus he doth him spoil,  
She putteth to her helping hand:  
by detestable deed  
They both accord unto the kind,  
whereof they do proceed.  
Dame Helen's sister right she is,  
and he Thyestes son:  
Lo doubtful Titan standeth still  
the day now being done,  
Not knowing whether best to keep  
still on his wont way  
Or turn his wheels unto the path  
of dire Thyestes' day.   

¶ The .v. Act. The ii Scene.  ¶ Electra 
O Thou whom of our father's death  
the only help we have,  
Fly, fly, from force of furious foes,  
make hast myself to save:  
Our house is tossed,  
our stocke● is cast away,  
Our ruthful realms to ruin run,  
our kingdoms do decay.  
Who cometh here in Chariot swift  
this galloping a main?  
Brother, disguised in thy weed  
let me thy person fain.  
O buzzard blind what dost thou mean  
from foreign folk to fly?  
Whom dost thou shun? it doth behove  
to fear this family.  
Orestes now be bold, and set  
all shivering fear a side,  
The certain succour of a trusty  
friend I h●ue espied.   

¶ The .v. Act. The iii Scene.  Strophilus. Electra. 
WIth solemn pomp I Strophilus  
forsaking Phocis' land,  
Bearing a branch of palm, that grows  
at Elis in my hand,  
Returned back I am, the cause  
that wild me hither wend,  
Is with these gifts to gratify  
and welcome home my freynd,  
Whose valiyent army scaled, & shook  
the tattryd Trojan walls,  
Who wearied with the ten years' war  
now flat on floor she falls.  
What woeful wight is this that stains  
her mourning face with tears,  
And drowned deep in drowsy dumps  
oppressed is with fears?  
I know full well this damsel i●  
of princes lineage borne.  
What cause Electra hath this joyful  
family to mourn?  Elec. 
¶ By treason that mi mother wrought  
my father lieth slain,  
And drinking of their father's cup  
the children do complain.  
Aegisthus engrosseth Castles got  
by fornication.  St●o. 
¶ Alack that of so long a tymer  
fylicitie is none.  Elec. 
¶ I thee request even for the love  
my father thou dost owe,  
And for the honour of the crown,  
whose brute abroad doth grow  
In every coast: and by the gods  
that diversly do ●eal,  
Take into thy tuition,  
convey away, and steal,  
This poor Orestes: such kind of theft  
is piety indeed.  Stro● 
¶ Although that Agamemn●n● death  
doth teach me to take heed,  
Yet will I undertake the same,  
and with all diligence  
Orestes shall I go about  
with strength to have thee hence.  
prosperity requireth faith,  
but trouble exacts the same,  
Have here a price for those that do  
contend and wage in game.  
An ornament with comely grace  
ordained to deck the brow,  
And let thy head be ●ouerde with  
this green and pleasant bow.  
And carry this victorious  
triumphant branch in hand.  
God grant this palm that planted was  
in fertile Pisa land,  
(where solemn games were celebrate  
joves' honour to express)  
May both a safeguard be to to thee  
and bring thee good success.  
Thou that bestrides thy father's steeds,  
as he before hath done,  
Go strike a league of amity  
with Pylades my son.  
Now nimble nags let Grece hereof  
recording testify,  
With headlong scouring course amain  
this traitorous country fly.  Elec. 
¶ He is escaped and gone, and with  
unmeasurable might  
The Chariot horse with rain at will  
do send out of my sight.  
Now free from peril on my foe's  
attendance will I make.  
And offer willingly my head  
the deadly wound to take.  
The cruel conqueress of her spouse  
is come, whose spotted weed  
With sprinkles (sign of slaughter) do  
bear record of her deed.  
Her gory hands new bathed in blood  
as yet they be not dry,  
Her rough & churlish rigorous looks  
the fact do notyfye.  
Unto the temple will I trudge.  
Cassandra suffer me,  
Oppressed with equal grief, take part  
of sacrifice with thee.   

¶ The .v. Act. The iiii, Scene.  Clytaemnestra. Electra. Aegisthus. Cassandra. 
O Thou thy mother's enemy,  
ungracious saucy face,  
After what sort dost thou a maid  
appear in public place?  Elec. 
¶ I have with my vyrgynitie  
the bowers of bawds forsook.  Cly. 
¶ What man is he, that ever thee  
to be a virgin took?  Elect. 
¶ what your own daughter?  Cl. 
¶ with thy mother  
more modest should thou be.  Elec. 
¶ Do you at length begin to preach,  
such godliness to me.  Cly. 
¶ A manly stomach stout thou hast  
with swelling haughty heart.  
Subdued with sorrow learn thou shall  
to play a woman's part.  Elect. 
¶ A sword and buckler very well  
a woman doth beseem  
(Except I dote)  Cl●: 
¶ ●hy self doe●● thou  
haylefelow with us esteem?  Elec. 
¶ What Agamemnon new is this,  
whom thou hast got ●f late?  Cly. 
¶ Hereafter shall I tame, and teach  
thy gyrlysh tongue to prate.  
And make the know, how to a queen  
●hy taunting ●o for bear.  ●ec 
¶ The whilst (thou widow) answer me  
directly to this gear.  
Thy husband is ●ereued quite  
of breath, his life is done.  Cly. 
¶ Inquire where thy brother is,  
So seek about my son.  Elect. 
¶ He is departed out of Gre●e.  Cly. 
¶ Go fetch him out of hand.  Elect. 
¶ Fetch thou my father unto me.  Cly. 
¶ give me to understand,  
Where doth he lurking hide his head?  
where is he shrunk away?  Elect. 
¶ All plunge of perils past he is,  
a●d at a quiet stay.  
And in another kingdom where  
no harm he doth mistrust,  
This answer were sufficient,  
to please a parent just.  
But one whose breast dothboil in wrath,  
it cannot satesfye.  Cly. 
¶ To day by death thou shalt receive  
thy fatal destynye.  Elect. 
¶ On this condition am I pleased,  
the Altar to forsake.  
If that this hand shall do the dead,  
my death when I shall take.  
Or else if in my throat to bathe  
thy blade, thou do delight,  
Most willingly I yield my throat,  
and give the leave to smite.  
Or if thou will chop of my head  
in brutish beastly guise,  
My neck a waiting for the wound  
out stretched ready lies.  
Thou hast committed sinfully  
a great and grievous guilt.  
Go purge thy hardened hands, the which  
thy husbands blood have spil●.  Cly. 
¶ O thou that of my perylls all  
dost suffer part with me,  
And in my realm dost also rule  
with equal dignity,  
Aegisthus art thou glad at this?  
(as doth her not behove,)  
With checks & taunts the daughter doth  
her mother's malice move.  
She keeps her brother's counsel close  
Conveyed out of the way.  Aegisthus. 
¶ Thou malapert and wills wench  
thine eluysh pra●yng stay,  
Refrain those words unfit thy mother's  
glowing ears to vex.  Elect. 
¶ What shall the breder of this broil  
control me with his checks,  
Whose father's gilt hath caused him  
to have a doubtful name,  
Who both is to his sister son,  
and nephew to the same?  Cly. 
¶ To snapp her head of with thy sword  
Aegisthus dost thou refrain?  
Let her give up the ghost: or bring  
Her brother straight again:  
Let her be locked in dungeon dark,  
and let her spend her days,  
In Caves & Rocks, which painful pangs,  
torment her every ways.  
I hope him whom she hidden hath,  
she will again descry,  
Through being clapped in prison strong  
and suffering poverty  
With earksom and unsavoury smells  
on every side annoyed,  
En●orst to wear a widows weed,  
ere wedding day enjoyed:  
Put in exile and banishment  
when each man doth her hate:  
So shall she be by misery  
compelled to yield to late,  
Prohibited of wholesome air  
fruision to have.  Elec. 
¶ Grant me mi doom by means of death  
to pass unto my grave.  Cly. 
¶ I would have granted it to thee,  
if thou should it deny.  
Unskilful is the tyrant, who  
by suffering wretches dye●  
Doth end their pains.  Ele. 
¶ what after death  
doth any thing remain?  Cly● 
¶ And if thou do desire to die,  
the same see you refrain.  
Lay hands ●irs on this wondrous wretch,  
whom being carried on,  
Even to the furthest corner of  
my jurisdiction  
Far out beyond Mycenae's land  
in bonds let her be bound,  
With darkness dim in hideous hold  
let her be closed round.  
This captive spous & wicked quean,  
the trull of princes bed  
Shall pay her pains, and suffer death  
by losing of her head.  
Come hale her on, that she may follow,  
that way my spouse is gone,  
Whose love from me enticed was.  Cass. 
¶ Do not thus hale me on.  
I will before you take the way,  
these tidings first to tell  
Unto my country men of Troy  
beneath in lowest hell.  
How overquelmed ships each whea●  
are spread the sea● vppon●  
And Micoene country conquered is  
brought in subjection.  
He that of thousand captains was  
grand captain general,  
Come to as great calamity  
as Troy itself did fall,  
Entrapped was by treaytrus train,  
and whoredom of his wife,  
And by a gift received of her  
deprived of his life.  
Let us not linger: on with me,  
and thanks I do you give.  
I joy, that it might be my hap,  
thus after Troy to live.  Cly. 
¶ Go to, prepare thyself to die  
thou frantic raging wight.  Cass. 
¶ The frenzy fits of fury fell  
on you shall also light.   

¶ Eurybates. Added to the Tragedy by the translator.  
ALas ye hateful hellish hags  
ye furies foul and fell,  
Why cause ye rusty rancours rage  
in noble hearts to dwell●  
And cankered hate in boiling breasts  
to grow from age to age?  
Cold not the grandsires painful pangs  
the children's wrath assuage?  
Nor ●a●yne faint of pining paunch,  
with burning thirst of hell,  
Amid the blackest stream of sticks  
where poisoning breaths do well.  
Where vapours vile parbraking out  
from dam●ysh miry mud,  
Increase the pains of Tantalus  
deserved by guiltless blood.  
Can not thine own offence suffice  
Thyestes in thy life,  
To file thy brother's spousal bed,  
and to abuse his wife?  
But after breath from body fled,  
and life thy limbs hath left,  
Can not remembrance of revenge  
out of thy breast be reft?  
What, yet hast thou not laid thy lips,  
to cast of Lethe's flood?  
Now after death why dost thou come  
to move thy son to blood?  
Can cruel Ditis' grant to thee  
thy passport back again?  
To work this woe upon the world,  
and make such rigour reign,  
That Clytemnestr● is become  
the thirty sister dire  
Of Danaus' daughters, that did once  
their husbands death conspire.  
Lo here how ●icle fortune gives  
but brittle fading joy.  
Lo, be who late a Conqueror  
triumphed over Troy.  
Enduring many sturdy Forms  
with mighty toil and pain  
To sow the seed of fame, hath reant  
small fruit thereof again.  
When as his honour budding forth  
with flower began to bloom,  
(Alas) the stock was hewed down  
and sent to deadly doom.  
And they that of his victory  
and coming home were glad,  
to sudden mourning change their mirth  
with heaviness bestead.  
The lusty pomp of royal court  
is dead: (O doleful day)  
The people moon their princes death  
with woe and weal away:  
with howling, crying, wring hands  
with sobs with sighs, and tears,  
And with their ●ists they beat their breasts  
they pull and hale their hears.  
And as the sheep amazed run,  
and ramp about the field,  
When as their shepherd to the wolf  
his gory throat doth yield:  
Even so as mad they rage and rave  
throughout Micaenas land,  
Deprived of their prince, they fear  
the bloody tyrants hand.  
While thus were woeful wailings hard  
in every place about,  
The good Cassandra (come from Troy)  
to death is haled out.  
Like as the Swan, who when the time  
of death approacheth nigh,  
By nature warned is thereof,  
and pleased well to die,  
Doth celebrate her funeral  
with dirge and solemn song:  
Even so the noble virgin who  
in woe hath lived long,  
Most joyful goes she to her death  
with mild and pleasant face,  
Stout boulst ring out her burly breast  
with princely port & grace.  
Nothing dysma●de with courage bold,  
and cheerful countenance,  
On stage ordained for her death  
she 'gan herself advance,  
As though she had not thither come,  
to leave her loathsome life,  
As though she had not come, to taste  
the stroke of fatal knife.  
But even as if in bridal bed  
her journey were to meet  
Corebus dear, not having mind  
of death, nor winding sheet,  
When looking round on every side  
she took her leave of all,  
From vapourd eyes of young and ol●  
the trycling tears do fall.  
The Greeks themselves to grief a●● moved  
to see this heavy sight,  
So pity pearest the headman's heart,  
that thrice about to ●myte  
He staid the smote: which shivering hand  
yet once again he tried.  
And from her shoulders struck her head.  
and thus the virgin died.  
But now the Greeks another cause  
of mourning have in hand:  
Orestes Agamemnon's son,  
is forest to fly the land.  
Among old rotten ragged rocks  
●hear lies an ugly place,  
A dungeon dep●, as dark as hell,  
unknown to Phoebus' face.  
An hollow huge wide gaping hole,  
with way still bending down,  
whose mouth with venomous withered weeds  
is hid & over grown,  
where stinking smells come belching out  
from filthy dirty dyke,  
where vermin vile do creep & crawl,  
in bell is not the like.  
ill favoured, foul misshapen ●ugges,  
do lurk about this cave,  
With dreadful soundest & roaring noise  
within the pit they rave.  
Even hither is Electra sent,  
in darkness deep to lie,  
In poverty, and comfortless  
without the light of sky,  
Fast clogged with iron bolts & chains,  
thus by her mother laid  
In torments, till by her to death  
Orestes be betrayed:  
Who (as Cassandra telleth) shall  
revenge his father's death,  
deprive with sword thadulteror,  
and mother both of breath.  
So after all these bloody broils,  
Greece never shall be free:  
But blood for blood, and death by turns,  
the after age shall see.   
FINIS.   

¶ Faults escaped in printing.  
Letter. page. Li.  B. 6. 23. for sytst read setst B. 8. 13. for I cannot read It cannot B. 8. 25. for now read vow B. 14. 21. for wresteth read wrestleth E. 1. 6. for others read other.  
In B. the .15. page, against the .27. line in the margin, read Nutrix.