Lucii Annei Senecae Tragedia prima quae inscribitur Hercules furens nuper recognita, & ab omnibus mendis, quibus antea scatebat sedulo purgata, & in studiosae inventutis utilitatem, in Anglicum metrum tanta fide conversa, ut carmen pro carmine quoad Anglica lingua patiatur pene redditum videas.  
Per lasperum Heywodum Oxoniensem.  
The first Tragedy of Lucius Anneus Seneca, entitled Hercules furens, newly perused and of all faults whereof it did before abound diligently corrected, and for the profit of young scholars so faithfully translated into English metre, that ye may see verse for verse turned as far as the phrase of the english permitteth  
By jasper Heywood student in Oxford.   

¶ TO THE RIGHT honourable Sir William Harbert of the honourable order of the garter knight, Lord Harbert of Cardyffe, Earl of Penbrocke & one of the Queen's majesties most honourable privy council his daily Orator jaspper Heywood wisheth prosperous health with encre●…se of honour and virtue.  
THe most excellent and famous learned clerk Erasmus of Roterodan among so many learned volumes which he in his life time wrote, with such excellency, that they yet do and ever shall preserve the name and renown of so worthy a man, even for that only thing won not the least praise among learned men, nor deserved lest thank of posterity, that he so well and truly translated out of Greek into latin two tragedies of Euripides, whereof the one is named Hecuba, & the other Iphiginia. For as all men that can judge of that work, must needs highly commend him that hath so learnedly done it so must all studientes of the Greek tongue needs render him great thanks, that hath opened them such a gate thereto When I therefore (most honourable Earl) considered with myself that such a man of whom the world yet after his death resowndes, disdained not sometime to leave even the study of the divine scriptures to turn his pen a while to the profit and furtherance of youth, I thought it not repugnant to my duty if I should also for a time set a side the books of old Philosophers, Aristotle and Plato, and once endeavour to show myself so loving to my country, as to help for the small talon that god hath given me, to conduct by some means to further understanding the unripened scholars of this realm, to whom I thought it should be no less thankful for me to interpret some latin work into this our own tongue, then for Erafmus in latin to expound the Greek, to them that are already good and perfit latinistes. Neither could I satisfy myself, till I had through out this whole tragedy of Seneca a grave and wise writer so travailed that I had in english given verse for verse, (as far as the english tongue permits) and word for word with the latin: whereby I might both make some trial of myself, and as it were te●…h the little children to go that yet can but creep. Which thing when I had brought to pass, & fully finished this little work, I thought with myself how greatly it might avail me, to have the authority of some noble man, my shield against the sting of evil tongues. wherefore when I considered that your honour so greatly favoured learning, that ye vouchsafed to sand unto the university of oxford, of which I am a member, your dearest & eldest son my lord Henry whom I have there well known, and so to trade him in time of tender years, that hysriper age, might both give your honour cause to joy in him & us to thank your honour for him, I have presumed upon hope of pardon formi boldness, the rather for his sake to dedicate this simple work unto your honour, as well to signify the poor good will of a scholar, as also to render to your honour most humble thanks, that it hath pleased so honourable an Earl to honour our university of Oxford, with the presence of such a young lord so worthy a Gentleman. The which my attempt I trust your honour will for this the rather pardon, that although this simple work, which I here offer be far unworthy to be of your honour received, yet is it a meet gift for me to present: who as I am a schol ler, so can I give nothing but a scholars gift, namely the practice of my pen, the which beseeching your honour none otherwise to accept them Christ accepted the two mites which the poor woman offered in the temple, I end with prayer to him, for the prosperous continuance and increase ofyour lordships honourable estate and dignity.  
FINIS.   

The Argument of this Tragedy.  
IUno the wife and sister of jupiter, hating his bastard brood, cometh down from heaven, complaining of all his injuries done to her, devising also by what despite she may vex his base son Hercules. And having by experience proved, no toils to be too hard for him, findeth the means to make his own hand his own vengeance. Hercules therefore returning now from hell (from whence he was enjoined to fet Cerberus.) And finding that the tyrant Lycus had invaded his country, destroyeth the tyrant. For the which victory as he sacrificeth to his gods, wrathful juno strikes him into a sudden frenzy: where with he being sore vexed, thinking to slay the children and wife of Lycus, in stead of them, killeth his own wife and children in his madness. This done he sleepeth. juno restoreth to him again his wits. He being waked, seeing his wife and children slain by his own hand, at last also would kill himself.  

¶ The speakers.  
juno  
Chorus  
Megara  
Lycus  
Hercules  
Theseus  
Amphitryon.    


ACTUS PRIMUS.  juno, sola. Trimetri jambici. 
SOror Tonantis, (hoc enim solum mihi  
Nomen relictum est) semper alienum iovem,  
Actempla summi vidua deserui aetheris,  
Locumque coelo pulsa pellicibus dedi.  
Tellus colenda est, pellices coelum tenent.  
Hinc, Arctos alta part glacialis poli,  
Sublime classes sydus Argolicas agit.  
Hinc, quà tepenti vere laxatur dies,  
Tyriae per undas vector Europae nitet.  
Illinc, timendum ratibus, ac ponto gregem,  
Passim vagantes exerunt Atlantides.  
Fera coma hinc exterret Orion deos:  
Suasque Perseus aureas stellas habet.  
Hinc clara Geminisigna Tyndaridae micant:  
Quibusque natis mobilis tellus stetit.  
Necipse tantum Bacchus, aut Bacchi parens,  
Adiere superos: nequa pars probro vacet,  
Mundus puellae serta Gnossiacae gerit.  
Sed vetera querimur: una me dira acfeta  
Thebana nuribus sparsa tellus impiis,  
Quoties novercam fecit? ascendat licet,  
Meumque victrix teneat Alcmene locum,  
Pariterque natus astra promissa occupet,  
In cuius ortu mundus impendit diem,  
Tardusque Eôo Phoebus effulsit mari,  
Retinere mersum iussus Oceano iubar:  
Non sic abibunt odia. vivaces aget  
Violentus iras animus, & saeuus dolor  
Aeterna bella (pace sublara) geret.  
Quid bella? quidquid horridum tellus creat  
Inimica, quicquid pontus, aut aër tulit  
Terribile, dirum, pestilens, atrox, ferum,  
Fractum, atque domitum est: supat, & crescit malis,  
Iraque nostra fruitur: in laudes suas  
Mea vertit odia: dum nimis saeva impero,  
Patrem probavit. inde, qua lucem premit,  
A peritque Tethys, qua ferens Titan diem,  
Binos propinqua tingit Aethiopes face,  
Indomita virtus colitur: & toto deus  
Narratur orb. monstra iam desunt mihi,  
Minorque labor est Herculi jussa exequi,  
Quàm mihi iubero: laetus imperia excipit.  
Quae fera tyranni jussa violento queant  
Nocere iuuen●…? nempe pro telis gerit  
Quae timuit, & quae fudit: armatus venit  
Leone, & Hydra: nec satis terrae patent,  
Effregit ecce limen inferni iovis,  
Et opima victi regis ad superos refert.  
Parum est reverti, foedus umbrarum perit.  
Vidi ipsa, vidi (nocte discussa inferum,  
●…t dite domito) spolia iactantem patri  
Fraterna. cur non vinctum, & oppressum trahit  
Ipsum catenis paria sortitum iovi?  
Ereboque capto potitur, & retegit Styga?  
Patefacta ab imis manibus retro via est,  
Et sacra dirae mortis in aperto jacent.  
At ille (rupto carcere umbrarum) ferox  
De me triumphat, & superbifica manu  
Atrum per urbes ducit Argolicas canem.  
Viso labantem Cerbero vidi diem,  
Pavidumque solem: me quoque invasit tremor,  
Et tetra monstri colla devicti intuens,  
Timui imperasse. levia sed nimium queror,  
Coelo timendum est, regna ne summa occupet,  
Qui vicit ima. sceptra praeripi●…t patri,  
Nec in astra lenta veniet (ut Bacchus) via:  
Iter ruina quaeret, & vacuo volet  
Regnare mundo. robore expenso tumer,  
Et posse coelum viribus vinci suis,  
Didicit ferendo: subdidit mundo caput,  
Nec flexit humeros molis immensae labor:  
Mediusque collo sedit Herculeo polus.  
Immota ceruix sydera, & coelum tulit:  
Et me prement, quaerit ad superos viam.  
Perge ira, perge, & magna meditantem opprime,  
Congredere, manibus ipsa iam lacera tuis.  
Quid tanta mandas odia? discedant ferae:  
Ipse imperando fessus Eurystheus vacet.  
Titanas ausos rumpore imperium iovis  
Emitte: Siculi verticis laxa specum.  
Tellus gigante Doris excusso tremens,  
Supposita monstri colla terrifici levet.  
Sublimis alias luna concipiat feras.  
Sed vicit ista. quaeris Alcidae parem?  
Nemo est, nisi ipse. bella iam secum gerat.  
Adsint ab imo Tartari fundo excitae  
Eumenides, ignem flammeae spargant comae,  
Viperea faevae verbera incutiant manus.  
I nunc superb, coelitum sedes pete.  
Movenda iam sunt bella, clarescit dies.  
Humana remne: iam Styga & manes, ferox  
Fugisse credis? hîc tibiostendam inferos.  
Revocabo in alta conditam caligine  
Vltra no centum exilia discordem deam.  
Qua mugit ingens montis oppositi specus,  
Educam, & imo Ditis é regno extraham  
Quicquid relictum est. veniat invisum scelus  
Suumque lambens sanguinem impietas ferox,  
Errorque, & in se semper armatus furor.  
Hoc, hoc ministro noster utatur dolor.  
Incipite famulae Ditis: ardentem incitae  
Concutite pinum: & agmen horrendum anguib '  
Megaera ducat: atque luctifica manu  
Vastam rogo flagrant corripiat trabem.  
Hoc agite, poenas petite violatae Stygis,  
Concutite pectus: acrior mentem excoquat,  
Quàm qui caminis ignis Aetneis furit.  
Vt possit animo captus Alcides agi  
Magno furore percitus, nobis prius  
Insaniendum est. juno cur nondum furit?  
Me, me sorores mente deiectam mea  
Versate primam, facere si quidquam apparo  
Dignum noverca: iam odia mutentur mea.  
Natos (reversus) videat incolumes, precor,  
Manuque fortis redeat: inveni diem,  
Inuisa quo nos Herculis virtus iwet.  
Me pariter, & se vincat, & cupiat mori  
Ab inferis reversus. hîc prosit mihi,  
jove esse genitum: stabo, & ut certo exeant  
Emissa neruo tela, librabo manum:  
Regam furentis arma, pugnanti Herculi  
Tandem favebo. scelere perfecto licet  
Admittat illas genitor in coelum manus.  Chorus. 
Anapaestici et ultimus jambicus.  
I Am rara micant sydera prono  
Languida mundo, nox victa, vagos  
Contrahit ignes, luce renata.  
Cogit nitidum Phosphoros agmen.  
Signum celsi glaciale poli,  
Septem stellis Arcades ursae,  
Lucem verso temone vocant.  
jam caeruleis evectus equis  
Titan, summum prospicit Oethan.  
jam Cadmaeis inclyta baccis  
Aspersa die dumeta rubeur,  
Phoebique fugit reditura soror.  
Labor exoritur durus, & omneis  
Agitat curas, aperitque domos  
Pastor, gelida cana pruina  
Grege dimisso pabula carpit.  
Ludit prato liber aperto,  
Nond●… im rupta fronte iwencus.  
Vacuae reperant ubera matres.  
Errat cursu levis incerto,  
Molli petulans hoedus in herba.  
Pendet summo stridula ramo,  
Pinnasque novo tradere Soli  
Gestit, querulos inter nidos  
Thraeia pellex: turbaque circùm  
Confusa sonat, murmur misto  
Testata diem. carbasa ventis  
Credit dubius navita vitae,  
Laxos aura complente sinus.  
Hic exesis pendens scopulis,  
Aut deceptos instruit hamos,  
Aut suspensus spectat pressa  
Praemia dextra.  
Sentit tremulum linea piscem.  
Haec, innocuae quibus est vitae  
Tranquilla quies, & laeta suo,  
Paruoque, domus, spes & in agris.  
Turbine magno spes sollicitae  
Vrbibus errant, trepidique metus.  
Ille superbos aditus regum,  
Durasque fores expers somni  
Colit, ac nullo fine beatus  
Componit opes, gazis inhians,  
Et congesto pauper in auro est.  
Illum populi favour (attonitum,)  
Fluctuque magis mobile vulgus,  
Aura tumidum tollit inani.  
Hic clamosi rabiosa fori  
jurgia vendens improbus, iras  
Et verba locat. novit paucos  
Secura quies, qui velocis  
Memores aevi. tempora nunquam  
Vivite laeti: properat cursu  
Vita citato, volucrique die  
Rota praecipitis veititur anni.  
Durae peragunt pensa sorores,  
Nec sua retro fila revoluunt.  
At gens hominum fertur rapidis  
Obuia fatis incerta sui.  
Stygias ultro quaerimus undas.  
Nimium Alcide pectore forti  
Properasmoestos visere manes.  
Certo veniunt ordine Parcae,  
Nulli iusso cessare licet,  
Nulli scriptum proferre diem.  
Recipit populos urna citatos.  
Alium multis gloria terris  
Tradat, & omnes fama ꝑ urbes  
Garrula laudet, coeloque parem  
Tollat, & asiris: alius curru  
Sublimis eat: me mea tellus  
Lare secreto, tutoque tegat.  
Venitad pigros cana senectus,  
Humilique loco, sed certa, sedet  
Sordida paruae fortuna domus:  
Altè virtus animosa cadit.  
Sed moesta venit crine soluto  
Megara, parvum com●…ata gregem,  
Tardusque senio gra ditur Alcidae parens.   

ACTUS SECUNDUS  Megara: Trimetri jambici. 
OMAGNE Olympirector, & mundi arbiter,  
jam statue tandem gravibus aerumnis modum,  
Finemque cladi. nulla lux unquam mihi  
Secura fulsit, finis alterius mali  
Gradus est futuri: protinus reduci novus  
Paratur hostis, ante quàm laetam domum  
Contingat, aliud iussus ad bellum meat:  
Nec ulla requies, tempus aut ullum datur,  
Nisi dum iubetur: sequitur apprime statim  
Infesta juno. nunquid immunis fuit  
Infantis aetas? monstra superavit prius,  
Quàm nosse posset. gemina cristati caput  
Angues ferebant ora, qnos contra obuius  
Reptavit infans, igneos serpentium  
Oculos remisso pectore, ac placido intuens,  
Arctos serenis vultibus nodos tulit:  
Ettumida tenera guttura elidens manu,  
Praelusit Hydrae. Maenali pernix fera,  
Multo decorum praeferens auro caput,  
Deprensa cursu est. Maximus Nemeaetimor  
Gemuit lacertis pressus Herculeis Leo.  
Quid stabula memorem dira Bistonii gregis?  
Suisque regem pabulum armentis datum?  
Solitumque densis hispidum Erymanthi iugis,  
Arcadica quatere nemora Maenalium suem?  
Taurumque centum non levem populis metum?  
Inter remotos gentis Hesperiae greges,  
Pastor triformis littoris Cartesii  
Peremptus, acta est praeda ab occasu ultimo,  
Notum Cithaeron pavit Oceano pecus.  
Penetrare iussus solis aestivi plagas,  
Et adusta medius regna quae torret dies,  
Vtrinque montes soluit abrupto obice,  
Etiam ruenti fecit Oceano viam.  
Posthaec adortus nemoris opulenti domos,  
Aurifera vigilis spolia serpentis tulit.  
Quid saeva Lernae monstra, numerosummalū?  
Non igne demum vicit, & docuit mori?  
Solitasque pennis condere obductis diem,  
Petrit ab ipsis nubibus Stymphalidas.  
Non vicit illum coelibis semper tori  
Regina gentis vidua Thermodoontiae.  
Nec ad omne clarum facinus audaces manus  
Stabuli fugavit turpis Augiae labor.  
Quid ista prosunt? orb defernso caret.  
Sensere terrae pacis authorem suae  
abbess tetris: prosperum, ac foelix scelus  
Virtus vocatur, sontibus parent boni.  
Ius est in armis, opprimit leges timor.  
Ante ora vidi nostra truculenta manu  
Gnatos paterni cadere regni vindices,  
Ipsumque Cadmi nobilis stirpem ultimam  
Occidere: vidi regium capitis decus  
Cum capite raptum. quis satis Thebas fleat?  
Ferax deorum terra, quem dominum tremi●…  
E cuius aruis, êque foecundo sinu,  
Stricto juventus orta cum ferro stetit:  
Cuiusque muros natus Amphion jove,  
Struxit canoto saxa modulatu trabens:  
In cuius urbem non semel diuûm parens  
Coelo relicto venit haec quae coelites  
Recepit, & quae fecit, & (fas sit loqui)  
Fortasse faciet, sordido premitur iugo.  
Cadmaea proles, civis atque Amphionis,  
Quo decidistis? tremitis ignawm exulem,  
Suis carentem finibus, nostris gravem?  
Qui scelera terra, quique persequitur mari,  
Ac saeva justa sceptra confregit manu,  
Nunc seruit absens, fertque quae ferri vetat:  
Tenetque Thebas exul Herculeas Lycus.  
Sed non tenebit: aderit, & poenas petet,  
Subitusque ad astra emerger: inveniet viam,  
Aut faciet. adsis sospes, & remees tuis:  
Tandemque venias victorad victam domum.  
Emerge coniux, atque depulsas manu  
Abrumpetenebras, nulla si vetito via,  
Iterque clausum est, orb diducto redi.  
Et quicquid a●… nocte possessum later,  
Emitte tecum. dirutis qualis iugis  
Praeceps citato flumini quaerensiter  
Quondam stetisti, sciffa cum vasto imperu  
Patuere Tempe: pectore impulsus tuo  
Huc mons, & illuc cecidit: & rupto aggere,  
Nova cucurrit Thessalus torrens via.  
Talis parentes, liberos, patriam petens,  
Erumpe, rerum terminos tecum afferens,  
Et quicquid anida tot per annorum gradus  
Abscondit aetas, redde, & oblitos sui,  
Lucisque pavidos antete populos age.  
Indigna te sunt spolia, si tantum refers  
Quantum imperatum est. magna, sed nimium loquot.  
Ignara nostrae sortis. unde illum mihi,  
Quo te tuámque dextram amplectar diem  
Reditúsque lentos, nec mei memores, querar?  
Tibi ò deorum ductor, indomiti ferent  
Centena tauri colla: tibi frugum parens  
Secreta reddam sacra: ribi multa side  
Longas Eleusi tacita iactabo faces.  
Tum restitutas fratribus rebor meis  
Animas, & ipsum regna moderantem sua  
Florere patrem. siqua te maior tenet  
Clausum potestas, sequimur: aut omnes tuo  
Defend reditu sospes, aut omnes trahe.  
Trahes, nec ullus eriget fractos deus.  AMPHITRYON. Megara. Trimetri jambici. 
O Socia nostri sanguinis, casta side  
Seruans torum, natosque magnanimi Herculis,  
Meliora mente concipe, atque animum excitat  
Aderit profecto, qualis ex omni solet  
Labore, maior.  ME. 
Quod nimis miseri volunt  
Hoc facilè credunt.  A. 
Imò quod metuunt nimis,  
Nunque amoveri posse, nec tolli putant.  MEG. 
Prova est timori semper in peius sides.  
Demersus, ac defossus, & toto insuper  
Oppressus orb, quam via ad superos habet?  AM. 
Quam tunc habebat, cum per arentem plagam,  
Et fluctuante●… more turbati maris  
Abiit arenas: bisque discedens fretum,  
Et bis recurrens: cúmque deserta rate,  
Deprensus haesit Syrtium brevibus vadis,  
Et (puppe fixa) maria superavit pedes?  ME. 
Iniqua raro maximis virtutibus  
Fortuna parcit: nemo se tuto diu  
Periculis offerre tam crebris potest.  
Quem saepe transit casus, aliquando invenit.  
Sed ecce saeuus ac minas vultu gerens,  
Et qualis animo est, talis incessu venit,  
Aliena dextra sceptra concutiens Lycus,  
Vrbis regens opulenta Thebanae loca,  
Et omne quicquid uberi cingit solo  
Obliqua Phocis, quicquid Ismenus rigat,  
Quicquid Cithaeron verrice excelso videt,  
Et bina findens Isthmos exilis freta.  LYCUS. MEGARA. AMPHITRYON. Trimetri jambici. 
NOn vetera patriae iura possideo domus  
Ignauus haeres, nobiles non sunt mihi  
avi, nec altis inclytum titulis genus,  
Sed clara virtus: qui genus iactat suum,  
Aliena laudat. Rapta sed trepida manu  
Sceptra obtinentur: omnis in ferro est salus.  
Quod civibus tenere te invitis scias,  
Strictus tuetur ensis. alieno in loco  
Haud stabile regnum est. una sed nostras potest  
Fundare vires, juncta regali face,  
Thalamisque Megara: ducet égenere inclyto  
Novitas colorem nostra. non equidem reor  
Fore ut recuset, ac meos spernat toros.  
Quòd si impotenti pertinax animo abnuer,  
Stat tollete omnem penitus Naman domum.  
invidia fastum, ac sermo popularis premet.  
Ars prima regni est posse re invidiam pati.  
Tentemus igitur, sors dedit nobis locum.  
Nanque ipsa tristis vestis obrentu caput  
Velata juxta praesides astat deos,  
Laterique adhaeret verus Alcidae sator.  ME. 
Quid nam iste nostri generis exitium, ac lues,  
Novi parat? quid tentat?  LY. 
ô clarum trahens  
Astirpe nomen regia, facilis mea  
Parumper aure verba patienti excipe.  
Si aeterna sempet odia mortales agant,  
Nec coeptus unquam cedat ex animis furor,  
Sed arma foelix teneat, infoelix paret,  
Nihil relinquent bell ●…tum vastis ager  
Squalebit aruis, subdita tectis face  
Altus sepultas obruet gentes cinis.  
Pacem reduei velle victori expedit:  
Victo necesse est. particeps regni veni:  
Sociemus animos, pignus hoc fidei cape:  
Continge dextram. quid truci vultu siles?  ME. 
Egóne ut parentis sanguine aspersam ma num,  
Frarrumque gemina caede contingam? prius  
Extinguet ortus, referet occasus diem:  
Pax ante fida nivibus & flammis erit,  
Et Scylla Siculum iunget Ausonio larus,  
Priusque multo, vicibus alternis fugax  
Euripus, unda stabit Euboica piger,  
Patrem abstulisti, regna, germanos, larem,  
Patriam: quid ultra est? una res superest mihi,  
Fratre, ac parent charior, regno ac lare,  
Odium tui: quod esse cum populo mihi  
Commune doleo: pars quota ex isto mea est.  
Dominare tumidus, spiritus altos gere:  
Sequitur superbos ultor à tergo Deus.  
Thebana novi regna. Quid matres loquar,  
Passas, & ausas scelera? quid geminum nefas?  
Mistumque nomen coniugis, nati & patris?  
Quid bina fratrum castra? quid toridem regos?  
Riget superba Tantalis luctu parens,  
Moestusque Phrygio manat in Sipylo lapis.  
Quin ipse toruum surrigens crista caput,  
Illyrica Cadmus regna permensus fuga,  
Longas reliquit corporis tracti notas.  
Haee●…e manent exempla: dominare ut lubet,  
Dum solita regui fata te nostri vocent.  LY. 
Agedum, efferatas rabida voces amoue:  
Et disce regum imper●…a ab Alcide pati.  
Ego rapta quamuis sceptra victrici gera●…  
Dextra, regamque cuncta sine legum metu  
Quas arma vincunt, pauca pro causa loquar  
Nostra: cruento cecidit in bello pater:  
Cecidere fratres: arma non servant modum.  
Nec temperari faci●…e, n●… reprimi potest  
Stricti ensis ira: bella delectat cruor.  
Sed ille regno pro suo, nos improba  
Cupidine acti●… quaeritur belli exitus,  
Non causa. sed nunc pereat omnis memoria.  
Cum victor arma posuit, & victum decet  
Deponere odia. non ut inflexo genu  
Regnantem adores, petimus: hoc ipsum placet,  
Animo ruinas quod capis magno tuas.  
Es rege coniux digna, sociemus toros.  M. 
Gelidus per artus vadit exangues tremor.  
Quod facinus aures pepulit? haud equidem hor rui,  
Cum (pace rupta) bellicus muros fragor  
Circunsonaret, pertuli intrepide omnia,  
Thalamos tremisco: capta nunc videor mihi.  
Gravent catenae corpus, & long a fame  
Mors protrahatur lenta, non vincet fidem  
Vis ulla nostram: moriar Alcide tua.  Ly. 
Animosne mersus inferis coniux facit?  ME. 
Inferna tetigit, posset ut supera assequ●….  LY. 
Telluris illum pondus immensae pre●…it.  ME. 
Nullo premetur onere, qui coelum tulit.  Ly. 
〈◊〉.  Me. 
Cogi qui potest, nescit ●…ori.  Ly. 
Effare, thalamis quod novis potius parem  
Regale munus?  M. 
Aut tuam mo●…tem, aut meam.  Ly. 
Moriêre demens.  M. 
Coniugi occurram meo.  Ly. 
Sceptroque nostro potior est famulus tibi?  ME. 
Quotiste famulus tradidit reges nec●…?  Ly. 
Cur ergo regi seruit, & patitur jugum?  ME. 
Imperia dura tolle, quid virtus er●…t?  Ly. 
Obiici feris, monstrisque virtutem putas?  Me. 
Virtutis est, domare, quae cuncti pavent.  Ly. 
Tenebrae loquentem magnatartareae prae munt.  MEG. 
Non est ad astra mollis è terris via,  L. 
Quo patre genitus, coelitum penetrat domos●…  AM. 
Miseranda coniux Herculis magni, sile.  
Partes meae hae sunt, reddere Alcidae patrem,  
Genusque ve●…um, post totingentis viri  
Memoranda facta, postque pacatum manu  
Quodcunque Titan ortus, & labens videt,  
Post monstra tot perdomita, post Phlegram impio  
Sparsam cruore, postque defensos Deos,  
Nondum liquet de patre? mentimur iovem?  
junonis odio crede.  Ly. 
Quid violas iovem?  
Mortale coelo non potest iungi genus.  AM. 
Communis ista pluribus causa est deis.  L. 
Famuline fuerant antequàm fierent dei?  AM. 
Pastor Pheraeos Delius pavit greges.  Ly. 
Sed non per omnes exul erravit plagas.  A. 
Quem profuga terrae mater erranti edidit.  L. 
Non monstra, saevas Phoebus aut timuit feras.  A. 
Primus sagittas imbuit Phoebi Draco.  
Quàm gravia parvus tulerit, ignoras, mala?  
Ematris utero fulmine e●…ectus puer,  
Mox fulminanti proximus patri stetit.  
Quid? qui gubernat astra, qui nubes quatir,  
Num latuit infans rupis exesae specu?  
Sollicita tanti pretia natales habent:  
Semperque magno constitit, nasci deum.  L. 
Quemcunque miserum videris, hominem scias.  A. 
Quemcunque fortem videris, miserum neges.  Ly. 
Fortem vocemus, cuius ex humeris Leo  
Donum puellae factus, & clava excidit,  
Fulsitque pictum vest Sidonia latus?  
Fortem vocemus, cuius horrentes comae  
Maduere nardo? laud qui notas manus  
Ad non virilem tympani movit sonum,  
Mitra ferocem barbara frontem premens?  AM. 
Non erubescit Bacchus effusos tener  
Sparsisse crines, nee manu molli levem  
Vibrasse thyrsum, cum parum forti gradu  
Auro decorum syrma barbaricum trahit.  
Post multa virtus opera laxari solet.  Ly. 
Hoc Euriti fatetur euerfi domus,  
Pecorumque ritu virginum oppressi greges.  
Hoc nulla juno, nullus Eurystheus jubet.  
Ipsius haec sunt opera.  A. 
Non nosti omnia.  
Ipsius opus est caestibus fractus suis  
Eryx, & Eryci iunctus Antéus Libys:  
Et qui hospitali caede manantes foci,  
Bibêre justum sanguinem Busiridis.  
Ipsius opus est, vulneri, & ferro obuius  
Mortem coactus ante Geryonas pati.  
Nec unus una Geryon victus manu.  
Eris inter istos: qui tamen nullo stupr●…  
Laesere thalamos.  Ly. 
Quod iovi, hoc regi licet:  
iovi dedisti coniugem, regi dabis.  
Ette magistro non nowm hoc discet nurus,  
Etiam viro probante meliorem sequi.  
Sin copulari pertinax taedis negat,  
Velex coacta nobilem partum feram.  M. 
Vmbrae Creontis, & penates Labdaci,  
Et nuptiales impii Oedipodae faces,  
Nunc solita nostro fata coniugio date.  
Nunc, nunc cruentae regis Aegypti nurus,  
Adeste multo sangnine infectae manus:  
Deest una numero Danais, explebo nefas.  L. 
Coniugia quoniam pervicax nostra abnuis,  
Regemque terres, sceptra quid possint, scies.  
Complectere aras, nullus eripiet deus  
Te mihi: nec orb si remolito, queat  
Ad supera victor numina Alcides vehi.  
Congerite syluas, templa supplicibus suis  
Iniecta flagrent: coniugem, & totum grege●…  
Consumat unus igne subiecto rogus.  A. 
Hoc munus à te genitor Alcidae peto,  
Rogare quod me deceat, ut primus cadam.  L. 
Qui morte cunctos luere supplicium jubet,  
Nescit tyrannus esse: diversairroga.  
Miserum veta perire, foelicem iube.  
Ego, dum cremandis trabibus accrescit rogus  
Sacro regentem maria votivo rogem.  A. 
Pròh numinum vis summa, próh coelestium  
Rector, parensque, cuius excussis tremunt  
Humana telis, impiam regis feti  
Compesce dextram: quid Deos frustra precort  
Vbicunque es audi nate. cur subito labant  
Agitata motu templa? cur mugit solum?  
Infernus imo sonuit è fundo fragor:  
Audimur, en est sonitus Herculei gradus.  Chorus. 
Choriambici seu ●…sclepradaei.  
Fortuna viris invida fortibus,  
OQuam non aqua bopis praemia dividis?  
Euristeus facili regnet in otio,  
Al●…mona gei●…us bella per omnia,  
Monstris exagitet coeliferam manum:  
Serpentis relecet colla ●…rocia,  
Deceptis referat mala sororibus,  
Cum somno dederit per●…giles genas,  
Po●…s d●…itibus praepositus Draco.  
Intravit Scythiae multivagas domos,  
〈◊〉 gentes patri●…s sedibus hospitas:  
Cascavitque freti terga rigentia,  
Et mutis tacitum littoribus mare.  
Illic dura carent aequora fluctibus:  
Et quà plena rates carbasa tenderant,  
Intonlis teritur semita Sarmatis.  
Stat pontus vicibus mobilis annuis,  
Navem nunc facilis, nunc equitem pati.  
Illic qua viduis gentibus imperat,  
Aurato religans ilia baltheo,  
Detraxit spolium nobile corpori,  
Et peltam, & nivei vincula pectoris,  
Victorem posito suspiciens genu.  
Qua spe praecipites actus ad inferos,  
Audax ire vias irremiabiles  
Vidisti Siculae regna Proserpinae?  
Illie nulla Noto, nulla Favonio  
Consurgunt tumidis fluctibus aequora.  
Non illic geminum Tyndaridae genus  
Succurrunt timidis sy dera navibus.  
Stat nigro pelagus gurgite languidum  
Et cum mors avidis pallida dentibus  
Gentes innumeras manibus intulit,  
uno tot populi remige transeunt.  
Euincas utinam rura ferae Stygis,  
Parcarumque eolos irrevocabiles.  
Hic qui rex populis pluribus imperat,  
Bello cum peteres Nestoriam Pylon,  
Tecum conseruit pestiferas manus,  
Telun ter gemina cuspide praeferens:  
Effugit tenui vulnere saucius,  
Et mortis dominus pertimuit mori.  
Fatum rump manu: tristibus inferis  
Prospectus pateat lucis, & invius  
Limes det faciles ad superos vias.  
Immites potuit flectere cantibus  
Vmbrarum dominos, & prece supplici  
Orpheus, Eurydicen dum repetit suam.  
Quae fyluas, & aves, saxáque taxerat,  
Ars, quae praebuerat fluminibus moras,  
Ad cuius fonitum constiterant ferae,  
Mulcet non solitis vocibus inferos,  
Et surdis resonat clarius in locis:  
Deflent & lachrymis difficiles Dei:  
Et qui fronte nimis crimina tetrica  
Quaerunt, ac veteres excutiunt reos:  
Deflent Eurydicen Thraeiciae nurus.  
Flentes Eurydicen juridici sedent.  
Tandem mortis, ait, vincimut arbiter.  
evade ad supetos, lege tamen data,  
Tu post terga tui perge viri comes,  
Tu non ante tuam respice coniugem,  
Quàm cum clara Deos obtulerit dies,  
Spartanique aderit ianua Taenari.  
Odit verus amor, nec patitur moras.  
Munus, dum properat cernere, perdidit.  
Quae vinci potuit regia cantibus,  
Haec vinci poterit regia viribus.   

ACTUS TERTIUS  Hercules. Trimetri jambici. 
OLucis alme rector, & coeli decus,  
Qui alterna curru spatia flammifero ambiens  
Illustre laetis exeris terris caput,  
Da Phoebe veniam, si quid illicitum tui  
Videre vultus: iussus in lucem extuli  
Secreta mundi: tuque coelestum arbiter,  
Parensque, visus fulmine opposito tege.  
Et tu secundo maria qui sceptro regis,  
Imas pete undas: quisquis ex alto aspicit,  
Terrena facie pollui metuens nova,  
Aciem reflectar, oraque in coelum erigat,  
Portenta fugiens: hoc nefas cernant duo,  
Qui advexit, & quae jussit. In poenas meas,  
Atque in labores, non satis terrae patent  
junonis odio: vidi inaccessa omnibus,  
Ignota Phoebo, quaeque deterior polus  
Obscura diro spatia concessit iovi.  
Et si placerent tertiae sortis loca,  
Regnare potui. noctis aeternae chaos,  
Et nocte quiddam gravius, & tristes Deos,  
Et fata vici, morte contempta redii.  
Quid restat aliud? vidi & ostendi inferos:  
Da, si quid ultra est, tam diu pateris manus  
Cessare nostras juno? quid vinci jubes?  
Sed templa quare miles infestus tenet?  
Limenque sacrum terror armorum obsidet?  AMPHITRYON. Hercules. Theseus. Trimetri jambici. 
VTrúmne visus vota decipiunt meos?  
An ille domitor orbis, & Gtaiûm dec',  
Tristi silentem nubilo liquit domum?  
Estne ille natus? membra laetitia stupent.  
Onate, certa, & sera Thebarum salus,  
Verúmne cerno corpus? an fallor tua  
Deceptus umbra? túne es? agnosco toros,  
Humerosque, & alto nobilem trunco manum.  H. 
unde iste (genitor) squalor, & lugubribus  
Amicta coniux? unde tam foedo obsiti  
Paedore nati? quae domum clades gravat?  A. 
Socer est peremptus: regna Lycus possidet.  
Natos, parentem, coniugem leto petit.  H. 
Ingrata tellus, nemo ad Herculeae domus  
Auxilia venit? vidit hoc tantum nefas  
Defensus orbis? cur diem questu tero?  
Mactetur hostis: hanc ferat virtus notam,  
Fiatque summus hostis Alcidae Lycus.  
Ad hauriendum sanguinem inimicum feror.  
Theseus resist, ne qua vis subita ingruat:  
Me bella poscunt. differ amplexus parens,  
Coniuxque differ: nunciet Diti Lycus  
Me iam redisse.  Th. 
Flebilem ex oculis fugs  
Regina vultum, tuque nato sospite  
Lachrymas cadentes reprime: si novi Herculem,  
Lycus Creonti debitas poenas dabit.  
Lentum est, dabit: dat: hoc quoque est lentum, dedit.  A. 
Votum secundet, qui potest, nostrum deus,  
Rebusque lassis adsit. O magni comes  
Magnanime na ti, pande virtutum ordinem:  
Quàm longa moestos ducat ad manes via,  
Vt vincla tulerit dura tart areus canis.  TH. 
Memorare cogis acta, securae quoque  
Horrenda menti, vix adhuc certa est fides  
Vitalis aurae, torpet acies luminum,  
Hebetesque visus vix diem insuetum ferunt.  A. 
Peruince Theseus quicquid alto pectore  
Remanet pavoris, néue te fructu optimo  
Frauda laborum. Quod fuit durum pati,  
Meminisse dulce est. Fare casus horridos.  T. 
Fas omne mundi, teque dominantem precor  
Regno capaci, teque, quam totairrita  
Quaesivit Aetna mater, ut iura abdita  
Et operta terris, liceat impune eloqui.  
Spartana tellus nobile attollit jugum,  
Densis ubi aequor Taenarus syluis premit.  
Hic ora soluit Ditis invisi domus,  
Hiatque rupes alta, & immenso specu  
Ingens vorago faucibus vastis patet,  
Latumque pandit omnibus populis iter.  
Non caeca tenebris incipit primo via.  
Tenuis relictae lucis à tergo nitor,  
Fulgorque dubius solis afflictic adit,  
Et ludit aciem: tale non dubiè solet  
Praebere lumen primus, autserus dies.  
Hinc ampla vacuis spatia laxantur locis,  
In quae omne mersum pereat humanum genus.  
Nec ire labor est, ipsa deducit via.  
Vt saepe puppes aestus invitas rapit,  
Sic pronus agger urget, atque avidum chaos:  
Gradumque retro flectere haud unquam sinunt  
Vmbrae tenaces. intus immenso sinu  
Tacito quieta labitur Lethe vado,  
Demitque curas: néue remeand●… ampliu●…  
Pateat facultas, flexibus multis gravem  
Inuoluit a mnem. Qualis incerta vagus  
Maeander unda ludit, & cedit sibi,  
Instatque dubius, littus, an fontem petat.  
Palus inertis foeda Cocyti jacet.  
Hic vultur, illic luctifer bubo gemit,  
Omenque triste resonat infaustae Strigis.  
Horrent opaca fronde nigrantes comae,  
Taxo imminente, quam tenet segnis Sopor,  
Famesque moesta tabido rictu iacens,  
Pudorque serus conscios vultus tegit,  
Mctus, Pavorque, Funus, & frendens Dolor,  
Aterque luctus sequitur, & morbus tremens,  
Et cincta ferro bella: in extremo abdita  
Iners senectus adiwat baculo gradum.  A. 
Estné aliqua tellus Cereris, aut Bacchi ferax?  T. 
Non prata viridi laeta facie germinant,  
Nec adulta leni fluctuat Zephyro seges.  
Non ulla ramos sylua pomiferos habet.  
Sterilis profundi vastitas squalet soli,  
Et foeda tellus torpet aeterno siti  
Rerumque moestus finis, & mundi ultima:  
Immotus aer haeret, & pigro sedet  
Nox atra mundo, cuncta moerore horrida.  
Ipsaque morte, peior est mortis locus.  Am. 
Quid? ille opaca qui regit sceptro loca,  
Qua sede positus, temperat populos leues?  Th. 
Est in recessu Tartari obscuro locus,  
Quem gravibus umbris spissa caligo alligat.  
A font discors manat hinc uno latex:  
Alter, quieto similis (hunc iurant Dei)  
Tacente sacram devehens fluuio Styga:  
At hic tumultu rapitur ingenti ferox,  
Er saxa fluctu voluit Acheron invius  
Renavigari. cingitur duplici vado  
Aduersa Ditis regia, atque ingens domus  
Vmbrante luco tegitur: hic vasto specu  
Pendent tyranni limina, hoc umbris iter:  
Haec porta regni: campus hanc circaiacet,  
In quo superbo digerit vultu sedens  
Animas recentes. dira maiestas deo:  
Frons torua, fratrum quae tamen specimen gerat,  
Gentisque tantae: vultus est Illi iovis,  
Sed fulminantis: magna pars regni trucis,  
Est ipse dominus: cuius aspectum timet,  
Quicquid timetur.  A. 
Veráne est fama, inferis  
Tam saeva reddi iura, & oblitos sui  
Sceleris nocentes, debitas poenas dare?  
Quis iste veri rector, atque aeqni arbiter?  T. 
Non unus alta sede quaesitor sedens  
judicia trepidis sera sortitur reis:  
Auditur illo Gnosius Minos foro,  
Radamanthus illo: Thetidis hoc audit socer.  
Quod quisque fecit, patitur: authorem scelus  
Repetit, suoque premitur exemplo nocens.  
Vidi cruentos carcere includi duces,  
Et impotentis terga plebeia manu  
Scindi tyranni. quisquis est placidè potens,  
Dominusque vitae servat innocuas manus,  
Et incruentum mitis imperium regit,  
Animoque parcit, longa permensus di●…  
Foelicis aevi spatia, vel coelum petit,  
Vellaetafoelix nemoris Elysii loca.  
judex futurus sanguine humano abstine,  
Quicunque regnas. scelera taxantur modo  
Maiore nostra.  AM. 
Certus inclusos tenet  
Locus nocentes, utque fert fama, impios  
Supplicia vinclis saeu●… perpetuis domant●…  TH. 
Rapitur volucri tortus Ixion rota:  
Ceruice saxum grand Sisyphease det.  
In amne medio faucibus siccis senex  
Sectatur undas, abluit mentum latex,  
Fidemque cum iam saepe decepto dedit,  
Perit unda: in ore poma destituunt famem.  
Praebet volucri Tityus aeternas dapes:  
Vrnasque frustra Danaides plenas ferunt.  
Errant furentes impiae Cadmeides:  
Terretque mensas avida Phineas avis.  AM. 
Nunc ede nati nobilem pugnam mei.  
Patrui volentis munus, an spolium refert?  T. 
Ferale tardis imminet saxum vadis,  
Stupente ubi unda segne torpescit fretum:  
Hunc servat amnen, cultu, & aspectu horridus,  
Pavidosque manes squalidus gestat senex:  
Impexa pendet barba, deformem finum  
Nodus coērcet, concavae squalent genae:  
Regit ipse conto portitor longo ratem.  
Hic onere vacuam littori puppim applicans,  
Repetebat undas: poscit Alcides viam,  
Cedente turba: dirus exclamat Charon,  
Quo pergis audax? siste properantem gradum.  
Non passus ullas natus Alcmena moras,  
Ipso coactum navitam conto domat,  
Scanditque puppem: cymba populorum capax,  
Succubuit uni: sedit, & gravior ratis  
Vtrinque Lethen latere titubante bibit.  
Tunc vasta trepidant monstra, Centauri truces,  
Lapithaeque, multo ad bella succensi mero.  
Stygiae paludis ultimos quaerens sinus,  
Foecunda mergit capita Lernaeus labor.  
Post haec avari Ditis apparet domus.  
Hic saenus umbras territat Stygius canis,  
Qui terna vasto capita concutiens sono,  
Regnum tuetur, sordidum tabo caput  
Lambunt colubri: viperis horrent iubae,  
Longusque torta sibilat cauda Draco:  
Patira formae. sensit ut motus pedum,  
Attollit hirtas angue vibrato comas:  
Missumque captat aure subiecta sonum,  
Sentire & umbras solitus. ut propior stetit  
jove natus, antro seditincertus canis,  
Et uterque timuit. ecce latratu gravi  
Loca muta terret, sibilat totos minax  
Serpens per armos: vocis horrendae fragor  
Per ora missus terna, foelices quoque  
Exterret umbras. soluit à laeva feros  
Tuncipse ●…ictus & Cleonaeum caput  
Opponit, ac se regmine ingenti clepit.  
Victrice magnum dextera robur gerens,  
Huc nunc, & illuc verbere assiduo rotat:  
Ingeminat ictus: domitus infregit min●…,  
Et cuncta lassus capita submisit canis,  
Antroque toto cessit. extimuit sedens  
Vterque solio dominus, & duci jubet.  
Me quoque potenti munus Alcidae dedit.  
Tunc gravia monstri colla permulcens manu,  
adamant texto vincit●… oblitus sui  
Cust os opaci peruigil regni canis,  
Componit aures timidus: & patiens trahi,  
Herumque fassus, ore submisso obsequens,  
Vtrunque cauda pulsat anguifera latus.  
Post quàm est ad oras Taenari ventum, & nitor  
Percussit ocu los lucis ignorae, bonos  
Resumit animo's victus, & vastas furens  
Quassat eatenas: penè vectorem abstulit,  
Pronumque retrovexit, & movit gradu.  
Tunc & meas respexit Alcides manus,  
Geminis uterque viribus tractum canem  
Ira furentem, & bella tentantem irrita,  
Intulimus orbi. vidit ut clarum aethera,  
Et pura nitidi spatia conspexit poli,  
Oborta nox est: lumina in terram dedit,  
Compressit oculos, & diem invisum expulit,  
Aclemque retro flexit, atque omni petit  
Ceruice terram: tum sub Herculea caput  
Abscondit umbra. densa sed laeto venit  
Clamore turba, frontibus laurum geren●…  
Magnique meritas Herculis laudes canit.  Chorus. 
SAPPHICI HENdecasyllabi.  
NAtus Eurystheus properante partu,  
jusserat mundi penetrare fundum:  
Decrat hoc solum numero laborum,  
Tertiae regem spoliare sortis.  
Ausus est caecos ad●…us inire,  
Du●…t ad manes v●… qua ●…omotos  
Tristis, & sylua m●…enda nigta:  
Sed frequens mag●… comit●… 〈◊〉.  
Quan tus incedit p●…l as per urbes,  
Ad novi ludos auid●… theatri:  
Quantus Eléum coit ad tonantem,  
Quinta cum sacrum revocavit aestas:  
Quanta cum longae redit hora noctis,  
Crescere & somnos cupiens quietos,  
Libra Phoebaeos tenet aequa currus,  
Turba secretam Cererem frequentat,  
Et citi tectis properant relictis,  
Attici noctem celebrare Mystae:  
Tanta per campos agitur silentes  
Turba. pars tarda gradiens senecta,  
Tristis, & long a satiata vita:  
Pars adhuc currit melioris aevi,  
Virgines nondu m thalamis iugatae,  
Et comis nondum positis ephebi,  
Matris & nomen modo doctus infa●…s.  
His datum solis, minus ut timerent,  
Igne praelato relevare noctem.  
Caeteri vadunt per opaca tristes:  
Qualis est nobis anim●…s, remo ta  
Luce, cum moestus sibi quisque sensit  
Obrutum tota caput esse terra.  
Stat Chaos densum, tenebraeque turpes,  
Et color noctis malus, ac silenti●…  
Otium mundi, variaeque nubes.  
Sera nos illò referat senectus.  
Nemo ad id sero venit, unde nunquam,  
Cum semel venit, potuit reuer●….  
Quid juuat durum properare fatum?  
Om nis haec magnis vaga turba terris,  
Ib●… ad manes: facietque inerti  
Vela Cocyto. ●…ibi crescit omne,  
Et quod occasus videt, & quod ortus:  
Parce venturis, tibi mor●… paramur:  
Sis licet segnis, properamus ipsi.  
Prima, quae vitam de dit, hora carpsi●…▪  
Cho●…iambici Glyconii vers●….  
THe bis laeta dies 〈◊〉  
Aras tangi●… supplices,  
Pingues caedi●… 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 marib●… 〈◊〉  
Sole●…es agitent choros▪  
Cessent dep●…sito iugo  
Arui fertilis incolae.  
Pax e●…t Herculea manu  
Auroram inter & Hesperum,  
Et quà sol medium tenens,  
Vmbras corporib●…s negat.  
Quodcunque abluitur solu●…  
Longo Tethyos ambitu,  
Alcidae domuit labor.  
Transuectus vada Tartari  
Pacatis redit inferis.  
jam nullus superest timor,  
Nil ultra jacet inferos.  
Stantes sacrificus comas  
Dilecta teg●… populo.   

Actus Quartus.  Hercules. Theseus, A●…phitryon. Megara. Trimetri ●…ambici. 
VLtrice dextra fusus adverso Lycus  
Terram cecîdit ore: tum quisquis comes  
Fuerat tyranni, iacuit & poenae comes.  
Nunc sacra patri victor, & superis feram,  
Caesisque meritas victimis aras colam.  
Te, te laborum socia, & adiutrix preco●…  
Belligera Pallas, cuius in laeva ●…iet  
Aegis feroc●…s ore saxifico minas.  
Adsit Lycurgi domitor, & rubri maris,  
Tectam virenti cuspidem thyrso gerens:  
Geminúmque numen, Phoebus, & Phoebisoror,  
Soror sagittis aptior, Phoebus lyrae:  
Fra●…érque quisquis incolit coelum meus,  
Non ex noverca frater. huc appellite  
Greges opimos, quiequid Indorum seges,  
Arabésque odoris quidquid arboribus legunt,  
Conferte in aras: pinguis exudet vapor,  
Populea nostras arbor exornet comas.  
Te ramus oleae fronde gentili tegat  
Theseus: Tonantem nostra adorabit manus.  TH. 
Dii conditores v●…bis, & syluestri●…  
Trucis antra Ceti, nobiles Dirces aquas,  
Laremque regis qui advenae Tyrium colis.  H. 
Date thura flammis.  A. 
Nate manantes prius  
Manus cruenta caede, & hostili expia.  HERALD 
utinam cruorem capitis invisi deis  
Libare possem, gratior nullus liquor  
Tinxisset aras: victima haud ulla amplior  
Potest, magisque opima mactari iovi,  
Quàm rex iniquus.  A. 
Finiat genitor tuos  
Opta labores: detur aliquando otium,  
Quiesque fessis.  H. 
Ipse concipiam preces,  
jove, meque dignas. stet suo coelum loco,  
Tellusque, & aether, astra inoffensos agant  
A●…terna cursus: alta pax gentes alat,  
Ferrum omne teneat ruris innocui labor,  
Ensésque lateant: nulla tempestas fretum  
Violenta turbet: nullus irato jove  
Exiliat ignis: nullus hyberna nive  
Nutritus agros amnis eversos trahat.  
Venena cessent: nulla nocituro gravis  
Succo tumescat herba: non saevi, ac truces  
Regnent tyranni: si quod etiamnum est scelus  
Latura tellus, properet: & si quod parat  
Monstrum, meum sit. Sed quid hoc? medium diem  
Cinxere tenebrae, Phoebus obscuro meat  
Sine nube vultu. quis diem retro fugat,  
Agitque in ortus? unde nox atrum caput  
Ignota profer●… unde tot stellae polum  
Implent diurn●…? primus en noster labor  
Coeli refulget part non minima Leo.  
Iráque totus feruet, & morsus parat.  
jam rapiet aliquod sydus: ingenti minax  
Stat ore, & ignes efflat, & rutilat iubam  
Ceruice iactans. quidquid autumnus gravis,  
Hyemsque gelido frigida spatio refert,  
uno impetu transiliet, & verni petet,  
Frangetque Tauri colla.  A. 
Quod subitum hoc malum est?  
Quò nate vultus huc, & huc acres refers?  
Aciéque falsum turbida coelum vides?  H. 
Perdomitatellus, tumida cesserunt freta,  
Inferna nostros regna sensere impetus,  
Immune coelum est, dignus Alcidae labor.  
In alta mundi spatia sublimis ferar:  
Petatur aether, astra promittit pater.  
Quid si ●…garet? non capit terra Hercule●…,  
Tandémque superis reddit, en ultro vocat  
Omnis deorum coetus, & laxat fores,  
Vnavetante. rrcipis, & reseras polum,  
An contumacis ianuam mundi traho?  
Dubitatur 〈◊〉 etiam vincla Saturno exuam,  
Contráque patris impii regnum impotens,  
Auum resoluam. bella Titanes parent  
Me duce furentes: saxa cum syluis fer●…m,  
Rapiámque dextra plena Centauris iuga.  
jam monte gemino limitem ad superos agam.  
Videatsub Ossa Pelion Chiron suum:  
In coelum Olympus tertio positus gradu  
Perueniet, aut mittetur.  A. 
Infandos procul  
Auerte sensus: pectoris sani parum,  
Magni tamen, compesce dementem impetum.  H. 
Quid hoc? gigantes arma pestifera movent,  
Profugit & umbras Tity ', ac lacorum gerens  
Et inane pectus, quàm propè à coelo stetit?  
Labat Cithaeron, alta Pallene tremit,  
Marcentque Tempe. rapuit hic Pindi iuga,  
Hic rapuit Oethen, saevit horrendum minans  
Flammifera Erinnys: verbere excusso sonat,  
Regisque adustas propius, ac propius sudes  
In ora tendit: saeva Tisiphone caput  
Serpentibus vallata, post raptum cane●…  
Portam vacantem clausit, opposita face.  
Sed ecce proles regis inimicilatet,  
Lyci nefandum semen: inviso patri  
Haec dextra iam vos reddet. excutiat leues  
Neruus sagittas: tela sic mitti decet  
Herculea.  A. 
Quò se caecus invergit furori  
Vastum coactis flexit arcum cornibus,  
Pharetramque soluit: stridet emissa impetu  
Arundo, medio spiculum collo fugit,  
Vulmere relicto.  H. 
Caeteram prolem eruam,  
Omnesque latebras. quid morot? maius mihi  
Bellum Mycenis restat, ut Cyclopea  
Euersa manibus saxa nostris, concidant.  
Huc eat, & illuc aula, difiecto obice,  
Rumpátque postes: columen impulsum labet:  
Procumbat omnis regia. hic video abditum  
Gnatum scelesti patris.  A. 
En blandas manus  
Ad genua tendens, voce miseranda rogat.  
Scelus nefandum, triste, & aspectu horridum,  
Dextram precantem rapuit, & circa furens  
Bis, ter rotatum misit. ast illi caput  
Sonat, cerebro tecta dispersa madent.  
At misera parvum protegens natum sinu  
Megara, furenti similis è latebris fugit.  HERALD 
Licet Tonantis profuga condaris sinu,  
Petet undecunque temet haec dextra, & feret.  A. 
Quò misera pergis? quam fugam, aut latebras petis?  
Nullus salutis Hercule infenso est locus:  
Amplectere ipsum potius, & blanda prec●…  
Lenire tenta.  M. 
Parce iam coniux precor.  
Agnosce Megaram, nat●…s hic vultus tuos,  
Habitusque reddit: cernis ut tendit manus?  H. 
Teneo novercam: sequere, da poenas mihi,  
jugoque pressum libera turpi iovem:  
Sed ante matrem paruulum hoc monstrum auferam.  M. 
Quò tendis amens▪ sanguinem fundes tuum?  A. 
Pavefactus infans igneo vultu patris,  
Perit ante vulnus: spiritum rapuit timor.  
In coniugem nunc clava libraturgravis:  
Perfregit ossa, corpori trunco caput  
A best, nec usquam est. cernere hoc audes nimi●…  
Viuax senectus? si piget luctus, habes  
Mortem paratam. pectus in tela indue,  
Vel stipitem istum caede monstrorum illitum,  
convert. falsum, ac nomini turpem tuo  
remove parentem, ne tuae laudi obstrepat.  T. 
Quò te ipse genitor obuium morti ingeris?  
Quò pergis amens? profuge, & obtectus late,  
Vnumque manibus aufer Herculeis scelus.  H. 
Bene habet, pudendi regis excisa est domus.  
Tibi hunc dicatum maximi coniux iovis  
Gregem cecîdi: vota persolui libens  
Te digna, & Argos victimas alias dabit.  A. 
Nondum litasti nate, consumma sacrum.  
Stat ecce ad aras hostia, expectat manum  
Ceruice prona. praebeo, occurro, insequor,  
Macta. Quid hoc est? errat acies luminum,  
Visusque moeror hebetat. an video Herculis  
Manus trementes? vultus in somnum cadit  
Et fessa ceruix capite summisso labat,  
Flexo genu: iam totus ad terram ruit,  
Vt caesa syluis ornus, aut portus mari  
Datura moles, vivis? an leto dedit  
Idem, tuos qui misit ad mortem, furor?  
Sopor est, reciprocos spiritus motus agit.  
Detur quieti tempus, ut somno gravis  
Vis victa morbi, pectus oppressum levet.  
Removete famuli tela, ne repetat furens.  Chorus. 
Anapaestici, Adonii duo.  
LVgeat aether, magnúsque parens  
Aetheris alti, tellusque ferax,  
Et vaga po●…ti mobilis unda.  
Tuque ante omnes, qui per terras,  
Tractusque maris fundis radios,  
Noctemque fugas ore decoro,  
Feruide Titan: obitus pariter  
Tecum Alcides vidit, & ortus:  
Novitque tuas utrasque domos.  
Soluite tantis animum monstris,  
Soluite superi: rectam in melius,  
Flectite mentem. tuque ô domitor  
Somne laborum, requies animi,  
Pars humanae melior vitae,  
Volucre matris genus Astreae,  
Frater durae languidae mortis,  
Veris miscens falsa, futuri  
Certus, & idem pessimus author:  
Pater ô rerum, portus vitae,  
Lucis requies, noctisque comes,  
Qui par regi, famuloque venis,  
Placidus fessum, lenisque foves,  
Pavidum leti genus humanum,  
Cogis longam discere mortem.  
Preme devictum torpore gravi,  
Sopor in domitos alliget artus,  
Nec torua prius pectora linquat,  
Quàm mens repetat pristina cursum.  
En fusus humi saeva feroci  
cord volutat somnia: non dum est  
Tanti pestis superata mali:  
Clavaeque gravi lassum solitus  
Mandare caput, quaerit vacua  
Pondera dextra, motu iactans  
Brachia vano: nec adhuc omnes  
Expulit aestus: sed, ut ingenti  
Vexato Noto, servat longos  
unda tumultus, & iam vento  
cessant, tumet. pelle insanos  
Fluctus animi, redeat pietas,  
Virtúsque viro, vel sit potius  
Mens vesano concita motu:  
Error caecus, quà coepit, eat.  
Solus te iam praestare potest  
Furor insontem: proxima puris  
Sors est manibus, nescire nefas.  
Nunc Herculeis percussa sonent  
Pectora palmis: mundum solitos  
Ferre lacertos, verbera pulsent  
Victrice manu: gemitus vastos  
Audiat aether, audiat atri  
Regina poli, vastisque ferox  
Qui colla gerit vincta catenis,  
Imo latitans Cerberus antro.  
Resonet moesto clamore chaos,  
Latique patens unda profundi.  
Et qui melius, tua tela tamen  
Senserat, aether.  
Pectoratantis obsesa malis,  
Non sunt ictu ferienda levi.  
uno planctu tria regna sonent,  
Et tu collo decus, ac telum  
Suspensa diu fortis arundo,  
Pharetraeque leues, date saeva fero  
Verbera tergo. cedant humeros  
Robora fortes, stipésque potens  
Duris oneret pectora nodis.  
Plangant tantos arma dolores.  
Non vos patriae laudis comites,  
Vlti saevo vulnere reges:  
Non Argiva membra palaestra,  
Flectere docti fortes cestu,  
Fortésque manu: iam tamen ausi  
Telum Sythici leave Corithi  
Missum certa librare manu,  
Tu●…ósque fuga figere ceruos,  
Nondumque ferae terga iubatae.  
Ite ad Stygios umbrae portus,  
Ite innocuae, quas in primo  
Limine vitae, scelus oppressit,  
Patriúsque furor. ite infaustum  
Genus ô pueri, noti per iter  
Triste laboris.  
Ite, iratos visit reges.   

ACTUS QVINTUS  Hercules Amphitryon. Theseus. Trimetri jambici. 
Vis hic locus? quae regio? quae mundi plaga?  
QVbi sum? sub ortu solis, an sub cardine  
Glacialis ursae? nunquid Hesperii maris  
Extrematellus hunc dat oceano modum?  
Quas trahimus auras? quod solu fesso subest?  
Certe redimus. unde prostrata domo  
Video cruenta corpora? an nondum exuit  
Simulacra mens inferna? post reditus quoque  
Oberrat oculos turba feralis meos?  
Pudet fateri, paveo, nescio quod mihi,  
Nescio quod animus grand praesagit malum.  
Vbi est parens? ubi illa natorum grege  
Animosa coniu●…? cur latus laewm vacat  
Spolio leonis? quonam abiit tegmen meum?  
Idemque somno mollis Herculeo torus?  
Vbi tela? ubi arcus? arma quis vivo mihi  
Detrahere potuit? spolia quis tanta abstulit?  
Ipsumque quis non Herculis somnum horruit?  
Libet meum, videre victorem, libet:  
Exurge victor. quem nowm coelo pater  
Genuit relicto? cuius incestu stetit  
Nox longior, quàm nostra? quod cerno nefas?  
Nati cruenta caede confectiiacent:  
Perempta conux: quis Lycus regnum obtinet?  
Quis tanta Thebis scelera moliri ausus est  
Hercule reuerso? quisquis Ismeni loca,  
Actaea quisquis arua, quigemino mari  
Pulsata Pelopis regna Dārdanii colis,  
Succurre: saevae cladis authorem indica.  
Ruat ira in omnes: hostis est, quisquis mihi  
Non monstrat hostem. victor Alcidae lates?  
proceed, seu tu vindicas currus truces  
Thracis cruenti, sive Geryonis pecus,  
Libyaeu●… dominos, nulla pugnandi mora est.  
En nudus asto, vel meis armis licet  
Petas inermem. cur meos Theseus fugit  
Paterque vultus? ora cur condunt sua?  
Differte fletus, quis meos de derit neci  
Omnes simul, profare. quid genitor siles?  
At tu ede Theseus, sed tua Theseu ●…ide.  
Vterque tacitus ora pudibunda obtegit,  
Furtimque lachrymas fundit. in tantis malis,  
Quid est pudendum? nunquid Argivae potens  
Dominator urbis, nunquid infestum Lyci  
Pereuntis agmen, clade nos tanta obruit?  
Per t●…●…orum facinorum laudem precor  
Genitor, tuique nominis semper mihi  
Numen secundum, fare, quis fudit domum?  
Cui praeda iacui?  A. 
Tacita sic abeant mala.  H. 
Vtinultus ego sim?  A. 
Saepe vindicta obfuit.  HERALD 
Quisquámne segnis tanta toleravit mala?  A. 
Maiora quisquis timuit.  HERALD 
His etiam pater  
Quid quam timeri maius, aut gravius potest?  A. 
Cladis tuae pars ista, quam nosti, quota est?  Herald 
Miserere genitor, supplices tendo manus.  
Quid hoc? manus refugit, hic errat scelus.  
unde hic cruor? quid illa puerili madens  
Arundo leto, tincta Lernaea nece?  
jam tela video nostra, non quaero manum.  
Quae potuit arcum flectere? aut quae dextera  
Sinuare neruum, vix recedentem mihi?  
Ad vos reuertor: genitor, hoc nostrum est scel'?  
Tacuere: nostrum est.  A. 
Luctus est istic tuus,  
Crimen novercae: casus hic culpa caret.  Her. 
Nunc part ab omni genitor iratus tona,  
Oblite nati, vindica saeva manu  
Saltem nepotes: stelliger mundus sonet,  
Flammas & hic, & ille ia culetur polus:  
Rupes ligatum Caspiae corpus trahant,  
Atque ales avida. cur Promethei vacant  
Scopuli? paretur vertice immenso, feras  
Volucrésque pascens, Caucasi abruptum latus,  
Nudúmque syluis. illa, quae pontum Scythen  
Symplegas arctat, hinc & hinc vinctas manus  
Distendat alto: cumque revocata vice  
In se coibunt, saxáque in coelum expriment  
Actis utrinque rupibus, & medium mare,  
Ego inquieta montium iaceam mora.  
Quin structum aceruans nemore congesto ag gerem,  
Cruore corpus impio sparsum, cremo?  
Sic, sic agendum est: inferis reddam Hercul●….  A. 
Nondum tumultu pectus attonitum caret,  
Mutavit iras: quodque habet proprium furor,  
In se ipse saevit.  Her. 
Dira furiarum loca  
Et inferorum carcer, & sonti plaga  
Decreta turbae, & si quod exilium latet  
Vlterius Erebo, Cerbero ignotum & mihi,  
Huc me abde tellus: Tartari ad finem ultimum  
Mansurus ibo. pectus ô nimium ferum:  
Quis vos per omnem liberi sparsos domum,  
Deflere dign poterit? hic durus malis  
Lachrymare vultus, nescit. huc ensem date,  
Date huc sagittas, stipitem huc vastum date:  
Tibi tela frangam nostra, tibi nostros puer  
Rumpemus arcus, actuis stipes gravis,  
Ardebit umbris: ipsa Lernaeis frequens  
Pharetra telis, in tuos ibit rogos.  
Dent arma poenas, vos quoque infaustas meis  
Cremabo telis, ô nouercales manus.  T. 
Quis nomen unquam sceleris errori indidit?  H. 
Saepe error ingens sceleris obtinuit locum.  T. 
Nunc Hercule opus est, perfer hanc molem mali.  H. 
Non sic furore cessit extinctus pudor:  
Populos ut omnes impio aspectu fugem.  
Arma, arma Theseus, flagito propere mihi  
Subtracta reddi: sana si mens est mihi,  
Referte manibus tela: si remanet furor,  
Pater recede: mortis inveniam viam.  A. 
Per sancta generis sacra, per ius nominis  
Vtrunque nostri, sive me altorem vocas,  
Seu tu patentem, perque venerandospiis  
Canos, senectae parce desertae precor,  
Annisque fessis: unicum lapsae domus  
Firmamen, unum lumen afficto malis  
Temet reserua: nullus exte contigit  
Fructus laborum, semper aut dubium mare,  
Aut monstra timui: quisquis in toto fuit  
Rex saeuus orb, manibus, & aris nocens,  
A me timetur: semper absentis pater  
Fructum tui contactum & aspectum peto.  HERALD 
Cur animam in ista luce detineam ampli '  
Morerque, nihil est: cuncta iam amisi bona,  
Mentem, arma, famam, coniugem, naros, man ',  
Etiam furorem. nemo polluto queat  
Animo mederi: morte sanandum est scelus.  Th. 
Perimes parentem?  Her. 
Facere ne possim occidam  Th. 
Genitore coram?  Herald 
Cernere hunc docui ne fa●…  Th. 
Memoranda potius omnibus facta intuens  
unius a te criminis veniam peto.  Herald 
Veniam dabit sibi ipse, qui nulli dedit?  
Laudanda feci iussus, hoc unum meum est.  
Succurre genitor, sive te pietas movet,  
Seu triste fatum, five violatae decus  
Virtutis: effer arma, vincatur mea  
Fortuna dextra.  Th. 
Sunt quidem patriae preces  
Satis efficaces, sed tamen nostro quoque  
Moveare fletu: surge, & adversa impetu  
Perfringe solito. nunc tuum nulli imparem  
Animum malo resume: nunc magna tibi  
Virtute agendum est, Herculem irasci veta  Herald 
Si vivo, feci scelera: si morior, tuli.  
Purgare terras propero, jamque dudum mihi  
Monstrum impium, saewmque, & immite ac ferum  
Oberrat: agedum dextra conare aggredi  
Ingens opus, labore bisseno amplius.  
Ignaue cessas, fortis in pueros modo,  
Pavidamque matrem? arma nisi dentur mihi,  
Aut omne Pindi Thracis excidam nemus,  
Bacchique lucos, & Cythaeronis iuga  
Mecum cremabo, tota cum domibus suis,  
Dominisque tecta, cum deis templa omnibus  
Theban●…, supra corpus excipiam meum:  
Atque v●…be eversa condar: & si tortibus  
leave pondus humeris maenia immissa inciden  
Septemque opertus non satis portis premar,  
Onus omne media part qua mundus sedet,  
Dirimitque superos, in meum vertam caput.  
Redde arma.  Am. 
Vox est digna genitore Her culis.  
Hoc en peremptus spiculo cecidit puer,  
Hoc Iuno telum manibus emisit tuis,  
Hoc nunc ego utar. Ecce quàm miserum me●…u  
Cor palpitat, corpusque solicitum ferit.  
Aptata arundo est, ecce iam facies scelus  
Volens, sciensque: pande, quid fieri jubes?  
Nihil rogamus, noster in tuto est dolor.  
Natum potes servare tu solus mihi  
Theseus, ipse necdum maximum evasi metum.  
Mise●…ū haud potes me facere, foelicem potes.  
Sic statue quidquid statuis, ut causam tuam,  
Famamque in arcto stare, & ancipiti scia●…:  
Aut vivis, aut occidis: hanc animam levem,  
Fessamque senio, nec minus quassam malis,  
In ore primo teneo tam tarde patri.  
Vitam dat aliquis? non feram ulterius moram,  
Letale ferrum pectori impr●…ssum induam,  
Hic, hic iacebit Herculis sani scelus.  He 
jam parce genitor, parce, iam revoca manum  
Succumbe virtus, perfer imperium patris.  
Eat ad labores hic quoque Herculeos labor,  
Vivamus artus alleva afflictos solo,  
Theseus parentis: dextra contactus pios  
Scelerata refugit.  Am. 
Hanc manum amplector libens  
Hac nixus ibo, pectori hanc ergo admovens  
Pellan dolores.  Her. 
Quem locum profugus petam?  
Vbi me recondam? quave tellure obruam?  
Quis Tanais, aut quis Nilus, aut quis persica  
Violentus unda Tigris aut Rhenus ferox,  
Tagúsve ●…bera turbidus gaza fluen s,  
Abluere dextram poterit? Arctoum licet  
Maeotis in me gelida transfundat mare,  
Et tota Tethys per meas currat manus,  
Haerebit altum facinus: in quas impius  
Terras recedes? ortum, an occasum petes?  
ubique notus perdidi exilio locum.  
Me refugit o●…bis, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Obliqua cursus ipse Titan Ce●…berum  
Meliore vultu vidit. ô fidum caput  
Theseus, latebram quaere, longi●…quam, abditam.  
Quicunque semper sceleris al●…ni arbiter  
Amas nocentes, gratiam meritis refer:  
Vicemque nostris. redde me infernis precor  
Vmbris reductum: meque subiectum tuis  
Restitue vinclis. ille me abscondet locus:  
Sed & ille nou●…t.  Th. 
Nostra te tellus man●….  
Illic solutam caede gradiuus manum  
Restituit armis: illa te Alcide ●…ocat,  
Facere innocentes terra, quae superos solet.  
FINIS.    


THE first ACT.  juno alone. 
ISyster of the thunderer, (for now that name alone remains to me) jove evermore as though devorste and gone,  
And temples of the highest air as w●…we shunned have,  
And beaten out of skies above the place to harlots gave.  
I muite go dwell beneath on ground, for whores do hold the sky.  
From hens the bear in part above of y●…ye p●…le full high,  
A haughty star the greekysh ships by seas doth guide about.  
From this way, whence at spring time warm the days is loased out,  
Europ●…es bearer through the waves of Tyria shines full bright.  
From th●…s, their stormy fearful flock to ships, and seas affright,  
The wandering daughters here and there of Atlas' upward sway.  
With staring bush of hear from hens Orion gods doth fray:  
And Perseus eke his glittering stars of golden gloss hath here.  
From hens the twynns of Tyndar's stocks do shine, a sign full clear:  
And at whose birth first stood the ground that erst went too and fro.  
Nor only Bacchus now himself, or Bacchus' mother lo,  
Have clymbde to gods: lest any part should from rebuke be free,  
The skies the Gnossian strumpets crowns do bear in spite of me.  
But I of ollde contempts complain: me, one dire, fierce, and shrewd  
Thebana land, with wicked brood of joves' base daughters strewed,  
How oft hath it a stepdame made? though up to heaven should rise,  
The conquering drab Alcmene now, and hold my place in skies,  
And eke her son to promysde stars obtain the worthy way,  
At birth of whom the staying world so long deferrde the day,  
And Phoebus' slow from morning sea began to glister bright,  
Commanded long in th'ocean waves to hide his drowned light:  
Yet shall my hates not leave them so. a wrathful kindling rage's  
His mind in madness shall stir up, and ire that may not swag●…  
Shall evermore (all peace laid down) wage wars eternally.  
What wars? what ever hideous thing the earth his enemy  
Begets, or what soever sea, or air hath brought to sight  
Both dreadful, dire, and pestplent, of cruel flercest might,  
'tis tierde, and epigrammed: he passeth all, and name by ills doth raise,  
And all my wrath he doth enjoy: and to his greater praise  
He turns my hates: while tedious tails to much I him beehest,  
He proves what father him begot. both the●…, where light epprect  
Hath sea, and where it showed again, where ●…an day doth crayne,  
And with his brand approaching near doth die those Aethiops twain,  
His strength untamde is honoured: and god each where is he  
Now called in world. and now more 〈◊〉 of monsters want to me,  
And labour less to Hercles is t'accomplyshe all my will,  
Then me to bid: at ease he doth mine imperies fulfil.  
What cruel hests of tyrant now so fierce a young man may  
Prevail to hurt? for lo he bears for weapons now away  
What once he feared, and put to flight: he armed comes at side  
With lion fierce, and Hydra both: nor land sufficeth wide,  
But broke he hath the threshold lo of that infernal jove,  
And spoils with him of conquered king be draws to gods above.  
But that's but light, broke is the league of spirits that there do dwell.  
I saw myself, I saw him lo (the night now gone of hell,  
And Ditis epigrammed) throw out abroad before his father's sight  
His brother's spoils. Why draws he not ●…ppreste and bound by might  
Himself in chains that equal things to jove by lot doth hold?  
And bear the rule of captive hell, and way to Styx unfold?  
Up opened is from lowest ghosts the backward way to shy,  
And sacred secrets of dire death in open sight do lie.  
But he (the dreadful den of sprights break up) full fiercs and stout  
Even ●…uer me doth triumph l●…, and with proud hand about  
The ●…oule black dog by greekish towns he leads from hell away.  
When seen was ugly Cerberus I saw the fading day,  
And fearful soon: even melykewyse a trembling dread oppressed,  
And looking on the filthy necks of conquered monstrous beast,  
I feared much mine own behests. but light things I complain,  
For heaven I may be frayed, lest he may get the highest rain,  
That lowest won. the sceptres from his father will he take,  
Nor he to stars (as Bacchus dy●…) his way will gently make:  
The way with ruin will he seek, and be in empty skies  
Will reign alone. with force displayed his haughty heart doth rise,  
And he, that heaven itself, by force of his might gotten be,  
It bearing learned: quite underneath the world his headsette he,  
Nor once his shoulders bowed, the poise of such a mighty mass:  
And midst of heaven on Hercles' neck alone lo settled was.  
His neck unwryde the stars above and skies did only stay:  
And me likewise oppressing him, to Gods he seeks the way.  
Go Ire, go on, and beat him down that great things doth invent,  
Match thou with him, and with thy hands now thou thyself him rend.  
Such hates why dost thou meditate? Let all wild beasts now go:  
And weary Euristeus now be free from geeving charges me.  
The Titans daring once of jove to break the impery  
Send out: let lose the den abroad of mount of Sicily.  
The Doric land that with the turn●… of giant quakes afraid,  
Let it bring forth the dreadful necke●… of mon●…er underlayde.  
Let yet the haughty moon above some other beasts beeget.  
But these he overcame. seek'st thou a matchet ' Alcides yet?  
there's none, except himself: let him against himself rebel.  
Let present be from bottom deep upraysde of lowest hell  
Th' Eumenides, let flaming locks of theirs the fires out fling,  
And furious hands beestowe about the strokes of vipers sting.  
Go now full proud, and scale the skies to seats of gods make way.  
Now must thy battles wage●… be, full clear lo shines the day.  
Despise man's works: thinkest the fierce wight that hell and souls allow  
Thou haste escaped? nay here I will an other hell the show.  
In deep mist hid I will call up from bottom low of hell  
Beyond the ways of guilty ghosts rebatefull goddess fell.  
where as the roaring dreadful den resounds with cries about,  
From deepest bond of Ditis' reign beneath I will fet out,  
what so is left. Let hateful hurt now come in anger wood,  
And fierce imptetie em●…rewe himself with his own blood,  
And error eke, and fury armed against itself to foght.  
This mean, this mean, let wrath of mine now use to show my might.  
Begin ye servants now of hell: the fervent burning tree  
Of pine shake up: and set with snakes her dreadful flock to see  
Let now Megaera bring to sight: and with her mournful hand  
for burning rogue bring out of hell a huge and direful brand.  
Do this, require you vengeance due, and pains of hell his spoil,  
Strike through his breast: let fiercer flame within his bosom boil,  
Than which in Aetna furnace beats so furiously to see.  
That mad of mind and witless may Alcides driven be  
With fury great through pierced quite, myself must first of all  
Be mad. Wherefore doth juno yet not in to raging fall?  
Me, met, ye Furies, sisters three thrown quite out of my wit  
Cosse first, if any thing to do I do endeavour yet  
For stepdame meet: let now my hates be turned an other way.  
Let him (returned) his babes behold in safety, I you pray,  
And strong of hand come home: I have now found the day at length,  
In which may greatly me avail the hated Hercles' strength.  
Both me, and eke himself let him subdue, and wish to die  
Returned from hell. yea let it here be my commodity,  
That he of jous begotten is: here present will I stand,  
And that his shafts go straight from bow, I will direct his hand:  
The mad man's weapons will I guide, Even Hercles fighting 〈◊〉  
At length i'll aid. This guilt once done then leeful is that so  
His father may admit to skies those guilty hands of his.  Chorus. 
The fading stars now shine but seld in sight in stippy sky, night overcome with day,  
Plucks in her fires, while sprung again is light that day star draws that clear some beams their way.  
The y●…ye sign of haughty peal again, with seven stars marked that bears of Arcady,  
Do call the light with overturned wain. with marble horse now drawn his way to hy  
Doth Titan top of Detha overspread. the bushes bright that now with berries be  
Of Thebes strewed, by day do blush full red. and to return doth Phoebus' sister flee.  
Now labour hard begins, and every kind of cares it stirs, the shepherd doth unfold  
His flocksunpend, do graze their food to find & nips that grass, with hoary frost full cold.  
At will doth play in open meadow fair, that ealfe, whose brow did dam yet never tear  
The empty kine their udders do repair. & light with course uncertain, here & there,  
In grass full soft the wanton kid he flings. in top of bow doth sit with chanting song,  
And to the son new rose to spread her wings bestirrs herself, her mournful nests among  
The nightingale: & doth with birds about confuse resound, with murmur mixed rife  
To witness day, his sails to winds set out the shipman doth commit in doubt of life,  
While gale of wound that slack sails fills full straight he leaning over hollow rocks doth lie, 〈◊〉.  
And either his beegiled hooks doth bait, or else beholds and feels the prey from high with poised hand.  
The trembling fish he feels with line extent. this hope to them to whom of hurtless life,  
Is quiet rest, and with his own content, and little, house, such hope in fields is rife.  
The troublous hopes with rolling whirlwind great & dreadful fears, their ways in cities keep.  
He proud repair to prince in regal seat, & hard court gates without the rest of sleep  
Esteems, and endless happiness to hold doth gather goods, for treasure gaping more,  
And is full poor amid his heaped gold. the people's favour him (astonished sore)  
And commons more unconstant than the sea, with blast of vain ren●…un lifts up full proud.  
He selling at the brawling bar his plea, full wicked, sets his ires & scollding loud  
And words to sale a few hath known of all the careless rest, who mindful howdoth ●…tte  
Swift age away, the time that never shall return again do hold. while fates permit.  
At quiet live: the life full quickly glides with hastened course, & with the winged day  
The wheel is turned of year that headlong ●…lides, the sisters hard perform their tasks always,  
Nor may again untwist their threads ons spon yet mankind lo unsure what way to take  
To meet the greedy destinies doth run, and willingly we seek the Stygian lake.  
To much Alcides thou with stomach stout the sorry sprights of hell dooste haste to see. with course prefixed the fates are brought about to none once warned to come, may respite be  
To none to pass their once appointed day. the tomb all people called by death doth hide  
Let glory him by many lands away display, & same throughout all cities wide  
Full babbling praise, & even with sky to stand advance, & stars: let him in chariot bright  
Full haughty go: let me my native land in safe & secret house keep close from sight.  
To restful men hoar age by course doth fall, and low in place, yet safe, & sure doth lie  
The poor and base estate of cottage small: the prouder pomp of mind doth fall from high.  
But sad here comes with loosed locks of hear lo Megara, with little company,  
And slow by age draws Hercles' father near   

THE second ACT.  Megara. 
QGuyder great of heaven, and of the world o judge full high,  
Yet now at length appoint a mean●… of careful misery,  
And end of our calamity. to me yet never day  
Hath careless shined, the end of one affliction passed away  
beginning of an other is: an other enemy  
Is forthwith found, before that he his joyful family  
Return unto, an other fight he taketh by behest:  
Nor any respite given is to him nor quiet rest,  
But while that he commanded is: straight him pursueth she  
The hateful june. Was yet once from toil and labour free  
His infant's age? the monsters lo he vanquysht hath and slain,  
Before he knew what monsters meant. The scaled serpents twain  
Their double necks drew on toward him, against the which to rise,  
The infant crept to meet with them, the serpent's glittering eyes  
Like fire, with quiet careless breast he looking fast upon,  
With countenance clear, hard wrested kkots of them he caught anon:  
And strangling then the swelling throats of them with tender hand,  
To Hydraprelude made, the beast so swift of Maenale land,  
That with much gold bore up full bright his beautified head,  
Is caught in course. of Nemey wood likewise the greatest dread  
The lion priest with Hercles' arms hath reared with dreadful cry.  
What should I speak of stables dire of steeds of Bystonye?  
Or king cast out himself for food his horses fierce to fill?  
And brittled beast in thick tops wont of Crymanthus hill,  
The boar of Maenalye, the woodds of Arcady to shake.  
And bull that did no little dreads to hundred peoples make?  
Among the flocks of Hesper land that hens far distant be,  
The shepherd of Cartesian coast of triple shape to see  
Is slain, and driven is the pray from farthest part of west,  
Cithaeron quakte when by him past to sea the well known beast.  
He being bid to make by coasts of summer son his way,  
And parched lands which sore with heat doth boil the middle day,  
The mountains broke on either side and rampters all undone,  
Even unto swift and raging sea hath made a way to run.  
Then entering in of plenteous wood the pleasant gardens gay,  
The waking dragons golden spoils with him he brought away.  
The Lerna monsters numerous ill what need to tell have I?  
Hath he not him with fire at length subdued, and taught to die?  
And which were wont with wings abroad to hide the day from sight,  
Even from the clouds he sought and drove the Srymphale birds to flight.  
Not him subdued who ever lies in bed unmatched at night  
The widow queen of them that took to Thermodont their flight.  
Nor hands that well durst enterprise his noble travails all  
The filthy labour made to shrink of foul Augias' hall.  
What veil all these? he wants the world which oft defended he.  
And th'earth well knows the worker of his quietness to be  
Away from earth: the prosperous guilt that beareth happy sway,  
Is virtue called, and now the good to wicked do obey.  
The right doth stand in might of arms, fear treadeth down the law.  
Before my face with cruel hand even presently I saw  
Revengers of their father's reign the sons with sword down cast,  
And of the noble Cadmus eke himself the offspring last  
Then slain: I saw his regal crown at once from him away  
With head byreft. Who Thebes alas enough bewail now may?  
The fertile land of gods, what lord now quakes it for to know?  
Out of the fields of which sometime, and fruitful bosom low.  
The youth upsprong with sword in hand prepared to battle stood:  
And walls of which Amphion one of mighty jove his brood,  
Hath built with sounding melody in drawing to the stones:  
To town of whom the parent chief of Gods not only ones  
Heaven being left hath come, this land that gods above always  
Receyuds, & which hath made them gods, and (leeful beete to say)  
Perhaps shall make, with loathsome yoke of bondage is pressed down.  
O Cadmus stock, and citizens of old Amphion's town,  
Whereto are ye now fallen? dread ye a cowardly exul thus,  
His coasts to dwell in laching, and to ours injurious?  
Who through the world pursues the gyllts and wrong by sea and land,  
And cruel sceptres broken hath with just and rightful hand,  
Now absent serves, and what he ea●…e in other doth sustains:  
And now doth vannyshr Lycus hold of Hercles' Thebes the rain.  
Yet shall he not: he shall come home, And him with vengeaunte quite,  
And sudden rife to stars: he will Soon find the way to light,  
Or make it else. return thou sat, repair to thine in haste:  
And conqueror to conquered house yet come again at last.  
Rise up my spouse, and darkness deep repellde of helly shade  
Break up with hand, if no way may for thee kept back be made,  
And passage be shut up, return with world uprent by might.  
And what soever lieth possessed beneath in darkest night,  
Send out with thee. as when the tops of haughty hills undone  
A headlong passage making through for hasty flood to run  
Thou sometime stoodst, when with great might of thine asunder broke  
The Tempe woods wide open lay: and beaten with thy stroke  
Of more renowns.  MEG. 
what wretches 〈◊〉 most chief wish of all,  
They soon believe.  AM 
Nay what they fear to much lest it may fall,  
They think it never may be shunned, nor rid by remedy.  MEG. 
Belief is ready still to dread the worser myse●…ye.  
Deep drowned, & whelimde, & furthermore with all the world full low  
Oppressed down, what ways hath he to light again to go?  AM. 
What way I pray you had he then when through the burning cost,  
And tumbling after manner of the troubled sea up toast  
He went by sands: and fret that twice with ebb away doth slip,  
And twice upflowe: and when alone with his forsaken ship,  
Fast caught he stuck in shallow fords of shelfy●… Syrtes sand.  
And (now his ship on ground) did pass through seas a foot to land?  MEG. 
Injurious fortune virtue most of men most stout and strong  
doth seldom spare: no man alive Himself in safety long  
i'll give the secret sacrifice: to thee with much faith lo  
Long fire brands at Eleusis town full silent will I throw.  
Then to my brethren shall I think to be restored again  
Their souls, and eke himself alive and guiding of his rain  
My father for to flourish yet. if any greater might  
Deo keep thee shut, we follow thee: with thy return to sight  
Defend us all, or else to hell draw down us all to thee.  
Thou shalt us draw, no god shall raise us up that broken be.  AMPHITRYON. MEGARA. 
O Faithful fellow of our blood, with chaste true faithfulness  
The bridebed keeping, and the sons of haughty Hercules,  
conceive in mind some better things, and take good heart to thee:  
He will come home, as after all his labours woonteth he,  
The mownt, now here, now there fell dow●… and rampire rent of stay,  
The raging brook of Thessaly did run a new found way.  
Thy parents so, thy sons, thy land repairing home to see,  
Break out, and lowest bond of things out bringing thence with thee,  
And what soever greedy age in all these long years race  
Hath hid, show forth, & ghosts that have forgot their former case,  
And people up before th●…e drive that fearful are of light.  
Unworthy spoils for thee they are, if thou but bring to sight  
What bidden is. great things, but far to much I speak for me,  
unwitting of mine own estate. when shall I hap to see,  
The day when thee, and thy right hand, I may embrace again,  
And slow returns, nor yet of me once mindful, may complain?  
To thee for this O guide of gods, untamed bulls shall bring  
Their hundred necks: to thee O queen●… of fruits on earth that spring  
To perils great and dangers may so often times out cast.  
Whom chance doth often overslip, the same it finds at last.  
But cruel lo, and grievous threats even bearing in his face,  
And such as he of stomach is, doth come even such of pace,  
Proud Lycus who the sceptres shakes in band of other king,  
The plenteous places of the town of Thebes governing,  
And every thing about the which with fertile soil doth go  
Slope Phocis, and what ever doth Ismenus ouerflo●…,  
What ever thing Cith●…ron seeth with haughty top and high,  
And slender Isthmos isle, the which between two seas doth lie.  Lycus, Megara, Amphitryon. 
NOt I of native country bowers Possess the ancient right  
Unworthy heir nor yet to me are noble men of might,  
The grandfathers, nor stock renownd●… with titles hy●… of name,  
But noble virtue: who so boasts of kindred whence he came,  
Of others virtue makes his v●…wnte. but got with fearful hand  
My sceptres are obtained: in sword doth all my safety stand.  
What thee thou wottst against the will of citizens to get,  
The bright drawn sword must it defend. in foreign counttey set  
No stable kingdom is. But one my pomp and princely might  
May ratify, once joined to me with regal torch full bright,  
And chambers Megara: of stock of such nobility  
Let upstarte state of mine take shape. I do not think that she  
Refuse it will, or in the bed with me despise to lie.  
But if with proud unbridled mynd●… thee stubborn do deny,  
Then quite I purpose to destroy the house of Hercules.  
The hate of men will then my pride, and people's speech oppress.  
Chiese knack of kingdom is to bear Thy subjects hares each one.  
Let's prove her then, chance given hath To us a place alone.  
For she her head in fold of daple full sad and woefully  
Enwrapped, the gods that are her guides for succour stands fast by,  
And at the side of her doth lean A●…cides father true.  MEG. 
What thing doth this destroyer of our stock, again a new  
Prepare? what proveth he?  LY. 
O queen That name renowned high  
And title tak'st of regal stock, full gentle and easily  
A little while receive and bear my words with patient ear.  
If always men eternal hates should one to th'other bear,  
And rage beeg●…on, out of the heart should never fall away,  
But th'happy still should armour hold th'unhappy still obey,  
Then shall the battles nothing leave: with wide fields than the lands  
Shall lie untyllde, with underlayde to housen fyrybrande  
Then ashes deep shall over whelm the buried people all.  
Expedient is to conqueror to wish that peace befall:  
To conquered needful, partner of the kingdom come to me:  
Lett's join our minds, take here this pledge of faith and truth to thee:  
My right hand touch. Why whishtest thou with cruel face and mood?  MEG. 
Should I abide, that I the hand sprinkte with my father's blood,  
Should touch and double death enbrewde of both my brethren? nay  
first shall son rise extinguish quite, And west shall bring the day:  
first faithful peace between the snows and fires there shall be tried,  
And Scylla shall t'Ausonius first join his Sicilyan side,  
And first, the fleeing flood that with swift turns of course deothe flow  
Euripus, with Euboic wave shall stand full still and slow.  
My father th'empire, brethren, house, Thou haste me clear bereft  
My country to: what may be more? one thing to me is left,  
Then brother, father, kingdom, house, that dearer is to me  
The hate of thee: the which to me with people for to be  
In common, woe I am: how great is mine alonely part?  
Rule on full proud, bear up full high thy sprights and haughty heart:  
Yet god the proud behind their backs doth follow them to wreak.  
I know the The bane kingdoms. What should I the mothers speak,  
Both suffering, and adventring gylts? what double mischief done?  
And mixed name of spouse at once, of father and of son?  
What brethren's double tents? or what as many rogues also?  
The mother proud of Tantal's brood congealed in mourning lo,  
And sorry stone yet flows with tears in Phrygian Sipylye.  
Himself like wise erecting up his scaled head awry,  
Even Cadmus' measuring throughout th'Illyrian lands in flight,  
Behind him left of body drawn long slyniye marks in sight.  
All these examples wait for thee: rule thou as likes thy will,  
While thee our kingdoms wonted fates do call and oft hapte ill.  LY. 
Go ●…o, these fierce and furious words thou woman mad refrain:  
And imperies of princes learn of Hercles to sustain.  
Though I the sceptres gotten by the force of war do bear  
In conquring hand, and all do rule without the law his fear  
Which arms subdue, a few words yet to thee now speak I shall  
For this my cause: thy father did in bloody battle fall:  
Thy brethren fell: the weapons keep n●… measurable stay.  
For neither easily tempered be, nor yet repressed may  
The drawn swords ire: the battles doth the blood delight out shed.  
But he yet for his kingdom fought, we all together led  
With wicked lust: yet th'end of war is now complained lo,  
And not the cause. but no we let all remembrance thereof go:  
When conqueror hath weapons left, the conquerds part should be  
To leave his hates. No●… I that thou with lowly bended knee  
Me reigning worship shouldst, require: Even this doth me delight,  
That thou thy miseries dost bear with mind so s●…oute upright.  
Thou for a king a sp●…use art meet, lets join our bedd●… anon.  MEG. 
A tremblng cold doth run throughout my bloodless limbs each one.  
What heinous thing comes to mine ears? I feared not then at all,  
When (all peace broke) the noise of war did by the city wall  
●…sounde about, I bore all that unfearfully to see,  
I fear the wedding chambers: now I captive seem to me.  
Let heavy chains my body grieve, and ●…ke with hunger long  
Let lingering death be slowly brought, yet shall no force full strong  
My truth subdue: for even thine own●… 〈◊〉 will I die.  LY. 
Doth then thy husband drowned in hell give thee this stomach high?  MEG. 
Thehells allow he touched, that he  
The height again might get.  LY. 
The heavy poise oppresseth him  
Of all the earth full great.  MEG. 
He with no burden shall be priest, that heaven itself ●…ustaynde.  LY. 
Thou shalt be forced.  M●…. 
He wo●…s not how to die, that is constrained.  LY. 
Speak, what may rather I prepare then wedding new for th●…  
More ●…oyall gift▪  MEG. 
Thine own death else, or else the death of me.  LY. 
Then shalt mad woman die.  MEG 
I shall then to my husband go.  LY. 
More than my sceptres is to thee a servant loved so?  MEG. 
How many hath this servant ●…ayne of kings with handy stroke?  LY. 
Why do●…he he yet a king then serus, and still ●…ustayne his yoke?  MEG. 
Take once away the hard behests, what's virtue then at la●…e?  LY. 
Doo●…e thou it virtue count, to be to beasts, and monsters cast?  MEG. 
●…is virtues part, to tame the things, that all men quake to know.  LY. 
Him great things bragging, darkness deep o●… 〈◊〉 press full low.  ME. 
There never may from ground to stars an easy passage be.  LY. 
Of whom be got, the housen then of gods through pierceth he?  AM. 
O wretched wife of Hercles great, thy words a while now spare.  
My part it is, the father of Alcides to declare,  
And his true stock. yet after all of man so stout as this  
So famous deeds, and after all Appeased with hand of his  
What ever Titan risen up, doth see, or else at fall,  
And after all these monsters epigrammed, and Phlegrey sprinkled all  
With wicked blood, and after gods defended all on high,  
Is not his father yet well known? Or jove do we belie?  
Believe it yet by juno's hate.  LY. 
why dost thou sclawnder jove?  
No mortal kindred ever may be mixed with heaven above.  AM. 
To many of the gods in skies is this a common trade.  LY. 
But were they ever servants yet, before they gods were made?  AM. 
Of Delos isle the shepherd los the flocks of Pherey fed.  LY. 
But through all coasts he wandered not abroad as banished.  AM. 
Whom straying mother first brought forth in wandering land to sight.  LY. 
Yet Phoebus did no monsters fear, or beasts of cruel might.  AM. 
First dragon with his blood embrued the shafts of Phoebus lo.  
How grievous ills even yet full young he bore, do you not know?  
From mother's womb the babe out thrown with lightening flame from high,  
Even next his lightning father stood forthwith above in sky.  
What? he himself that guides the stars, and shakes the clouds at will,  
Did not that infant lurk in den of hollow caved hill?  
The births so great full troublous price to have lo●… always aught:  
And ever to be borne a God, with cost full great is bought.  LY. 
Whom thou a miser seest, thou mayst Know him a man to be.  AM. 
A miser him deny ye may, whom stout of heart ye see.  Ly. 
Call we him stout, from shoulders high of whom the lion thrown  
A gift for maiden made, and eke his club from hand fell down,  
And painted side with purple weed did shine that he did wear?  
Or may we him call stout of heart, whose staring locks of hear  
With ointment flowed? who hands renowned and known by praises high  
To sound unmeet for any man of timber did apply,  
With barbarous mitre cloasing in his forehead round about?  AM 
The tender Bacchus did not blush abroad to have laid out  
His braided hears, nor yet with hand full soft the Thyrsus light  
For to have shook, what time that he with pace unstoute in sight  
His long trained barbarous garment drew with gold full fair to see.  
Still virtue after many works is wont released to be.  LY. 
Of this the house of Curitus destroyed doth witness bear,  
And virgins flocks that brutyshly by him oppressed wear.  
No juno did commawnde him this, Nor none Euristeus lo.  
But these in deed his own works are.  AM. 
Yet all ye do not know.  
His work it is with weapons of his own hand vanquished  
Both Eryx, and to Eryx joined Anteus Lybian deed:  
And altars which with slaughter of the strangers flowing fast,  
Busyris well deserved blood likewise have drunk at last.  
His deed it is, that he that met the wownde, and sword is slain  
Constrained to suffer death before those other Geryons twain.  
Nor one alonely Geryon doth with one hand conquered lie.  
Thou shalt among these he: which yet with none adultery  
Have wedlock hurt.  LY. 
What is to jone to king is leeful thing:  
To jove thou gaufts a wife, thou shalt now give one to a king.  
And even of thee she shall it learn to be a thing not new,  
Her husband even approving it the better man t'ensueensue.  
But y●… she stubborn to be matched with me deny it still,  
Then even by force a noble child Of her beget I will.  MEG. 
O Creon's ghosts, and all ye gods of th'house of Labdacus,  
And wedding torches blazing bright, of wicked Oedipus,  
To this my wedding give ye now our wonted destinies.  
Now, now ye bloody daughters all of egypt's king likewise,  
Be here whose hands desyled are with so much blood out spilt:  
One daughter lacks of Danaus, I will fill by the guilt.  Ly. 
Because that stubbornly thou doest refuse my wedding so,  
And fearste a king, thou shalt know what the sceptres now may do.  
embrace thine altars, yet no god shall ever take away  
Thee from my hands: no not although with world upturned, may  
Alcides' victor yet again to gods above return.  
The wodos on he apes together cast, let all their temples burns  
Even thrown upon their heads: his wife, and all his flock at last  
With underlayed fire, let one wood pile consume and waste.  AM. 
This only boon I father of Alcides ask of thee,  
Which well may me beseem to crave, that I first slain may be.  LY. 
Who all appoints with present death to have their punishment,  
He tyrant wotts not how to be: more sundry grieves invent.  
Restrain the wretched man from death, command that th'happy die.  
I, while with beams prepared to burn the pile increaseth high,  
Will him with vowing sacrifice that rules the seas entreat.  AM. 
Oh chiefest power of god, and oh of heavenly things so great  
The guide, and parent eke, with whose thrown thunderbolts do shake  
All things human throughout the world, of king so cruel slake  
The wicked hand: but why do I to gods in vain thus cry?  
Where ever thou be hear me soon. why start so suddenly  
The temples thus with moving sha●… Why roareth out the ground?  
The noise of hell from bottom deep beneath hath made a sound:  
We heard are, lo it is the sound of Hercules his pace.  Chorus. 
O fortune hating men of stoutest breast, how ill rewards dost thou to good divide?  
Euristeus reins at home in easy rest,  
alcinena's son in every battle tried,  
To munsters turns his hand that skies did stay: and cruel necks cuts of of hideous snake,  
And apples brings from sisters mokt away, when e●…ce to sleep his watchful eyes betake,  
Did dragon set rich fruit to oversee. he past 〈◊〉 Scythian bowers that stray abroad,  
And those that in their countries strangers be and hardened top of frolen fret he croade,  
And silent sea with banks full dumb about. the waters hard w●…t there their floods to flow.  
And where before that ships full sails spread out is worn a path for Sarmates wild to go.  
The sea doth stand to move in course again, now apt to bear the ship, now horsemen bold  
The queen that there doth over widows rain, that girds her womb with girth of glittering gold,  
Her noble spoil from body drawn hath she & shield, & bands of breast as white as snow,  
acknowledging the conqueror with knee. with what hope drawn to hedleng hell allow,  
S●… bold to pass the unreturned ways s●…st thou Proserpina's rain of Sicily?  
With southern wind, or western there no se as arise with wave and swelling surges high.  
Not there of Tyndar's stock that double brood two stars the fearful ships do aid & guide. with gulf full black doth stand that slothful flood and when pale death with gredyteeths so wide  
Unnumbered nations hath set down to sprights with one boat man all over ferried be.  
God grant thou mayst of hl subdue that tights  
And unreveked webs of sisters three,  
There king of many people reigneth he, who when thou didst with Nestor's Pylos fight,  
Pesti●…erous hands applied to match {with} thee & weapon bare with triple mace of might:  
And pricked with little wound he fled away, and lord of death himself did fear to die.  
Break fate by force: & let the sight of day to sorry sprights of hell apparently, and porch unpassed show way to gods above. the cruel lords of sprights with pleasant song  
And humble bown full well could Orpheꝰmove while he Eurydicen them craves among.  
The art that drew woods, birds, & stones at w●… which made delay to floods of flitting flight  
At sound whereof the savage beasts stood still with tunes unwont doth ghosts of hell delight  
And clearer doth resound in darker place: & weep with tears did gods of cruel breast:  
And they which faults with to severe a face do seek, & former guilt of ghosts out wrest:  
The Thracian daughters wails Eurydicem. for her the judges weeping sit also.  
We conquered are, chief king of death said them to gods (but under this condition) go,  
Behind thy husbands back keep that thy way, look thou not back thy wife before to see,  
Than the to sight of gods hath brought that day and gate of Spartan Taenare present be.  
Love hates delay, nor could abide so long. his gift, he lost, while he desires the sight.  
The place that could be thus subdued {with} song that place may soon be overcome by might.   

THE third ACT.  Hercules. 
QComfortable guide of light, and honour of the sky,  
That compassing both hemispheres with flaming chariot his  
Thy radiant head to joyful lands about the world dost bring,  
Thou Phoebus pardon give to me, if any unlawful thing  
Thine eyes have seen: (commanded) I have here to light out fet  
The secrets of the world: and thou of heaven o guider great,  
And parent eke, in flash out thrown of lightening hide thy sight.  
And thou that governest the seas with second sceptres might,  
To bottom sink of deepest waves: who so from high doth see,  
And dreading yet with cowntnance new the earth defiled to be,  
Let him from hens turn back his sight, and face to heaven uphold,  
These monstrous sights to shoes: let twain this mischief great behold,  
He who it brought, and she that bad. for painful toils to me,  
And labours long, not all the earth thought wide enough may be  
For juno's hate: things uncome to of all men I did see,  
Unknown to son, and spaces wide that dark and shadesull be  
Which worser pole gives direr jove to reign and rule therein.  
And yet if third place pleased more for me to enter in,  
I there could reign. the Chaos of eternal night of hell,  
And worse than night, the doleful gods I have that there dood ●…ll,  
And fates subdued, the death contemned I am returned to light.  
What yet remains? I saw and showed the sprites of hell to sight:  
appoint, if ought be more, dost thou my hands so long permit  
juno to cease? what thing bid'st thou to be subdued yet?  
But why do cruel sowldyars hold the holy temples wide?  
And dread of armour sacred porch beset on every side?  Amphitryon, Hercules, Theseus. 
Do either else my great desires delude and mock mine eyes?  
Or hath the tamer of the world and Greeks renown likewise,  
For sook the silent house, beset with cloud full sad to see?  
Is this my soone? my membres lo for joy amazed be.  
Oh son, the sure, and safeguard late of Thebes in misery,  
See I thy body true in deed? or else deceived am I  
Mo●…t with thy sprite? art thou the same●… these brawns of arms I know,  
And shoulders, and thy noble hands From body high that grow.  HERALD 
Whence (father) haps this ugliness, And why in mourning clad  
Is thus my wife? how haps it that with filth so fowl bestead  
My children are? what misery doth thus my house oppress?  AM. 
Thy father in la●…e is slain: the kingdom Lycus doth possess.  
Thy sons, thy parent, and thy wife to death pursueth he.  HERALD 
Ungrateful land, doth no man come that will an aider be  
Of Hercles' house? and this beheld so great and heinous wrong  
Hath th' aided worlds? but why wear I the day in plaint so long?  
Let th'enemy die: and this renown let strength obtain in haste,  
And of Alcides enemies all let Lycus be the last.  
I driven am to go to shed the blood of enemy out.  
Watch Theseus, that no sudden strength beset us here about.  
Me wars require. embracing yet defer O father dear,  
And wife defer them: Lycus shall to hell this message bear  
That I am now returned.  THE. 
Shake of O queen out of thine eyes  
This weeping face, and thou since that thy son is safe likewise  
Thy dropping tears refrain: if yet I Hercles ever knew,  
Then Lycus shall for Creon pay the pains to him full dew.  
'tis light, he shall: he doth: and that's to light, he hath it done.  AM. 
Now god that can them bring to pass, speed well our wishes soon,  
And come to help our weary woes. O noble hearted mate  
Of my stout son, of his renown declare us all the rate:  
How long a way doth lead to place where sorry sprights do dwell,  
And how the hard and heavy bonds the dog hath borne of hell.  THE. 
The deeds y● dost constrain to tell, that even to mind secure  
Are dreadful yet and horrible, scant yet the trust is sure  
Of vital air, sore blunted is the sharpness of my sight,  
And dulled eyes do scant sustain to see th'unwonted light.  AM. 
Yet Theseus thoroughly overcome what ever fear remains  
In bosom deep, nor do thou not of best fruit of thy pains  
Beguiled thyself. What thing hath once to suffer been a care,  
To have remembered it is sweet. those dreadful hap declare.  THE. 
All right of world, and thee likewise I pray that bearst the rain  
In kingdom wide, and thee, for whom All round about in deign  
Thy mother throughout Aetna sowght, that secret things allow  
And hid in ground, it freely may be lawful for to show.  
The Spartan land a noble top of hill advanceth high,  
Where Taenarus with woods full ●…hycks the sea doth overlye.  
The house of hateful Ditis here his mouth doth ●…pen set,  
And rocks of hill about doth gape, and with a den full great  
A huge and gaping cleft of grownd●… with jaws full wide doth lie,  
And way full broad to people all doth spread to pass thereby.  
Not strait with darkness doth begin The way that blindeth the sight.  
A little lingering brightness lo behind of late left light,  
And dubtfull glittering yet of son afflicted falls allow,  
And mocks the sight: such light is wont undoubtedly to show  
The dawn of day, or twilight else at edge of evening tide.  
From hens to hollow places void Are lost the spaces wide,  
To which needs perish must all kind of men that once are thrown.  
Nor it a labour is to go, the way itself leads down.  
As oft the ships against their wills do the toss the swelling surge,  
So down ward doth that headlong way, and greedy Chaos urge:  
And back again to draw thy pat●…thee never do permit  
The sprights who what they catch hold fast. allow within doth flit  
In channel wide with silent ford the quiet lake of lethe,  
And cares doth rid: and that theremay to scape again from death  
No mean be made, with many turns and wyndyngs every way  
folds in his flood. in such sort as with wave unsure doth play  
Maeander wandering up and down, And yields himself unto,  
And dowbtfull stands, if he toward bank, or back to spring may go.  
The soul and filthy peole to see of slow Cocytus lies.  
On th'one the gripe, on th'other side the mournful owlet cries,  
And sad luck of th'unhappy Strix likewise resoundeth there.  
Full uglyelye in shady bows black locks of lethsome hear,  
Where Taxus tree doth over lean, which holdeth slothful sleep,  
And hunger sad with famysht law that lies his place to keep,  
And shame to late doth hide his face that knows what crimes it hath,  
Both fear, and quaking, funeral, and fretting raging wrath,  
And mourning dire doth follow on, and trembling pale disease,  
And boisterous battles set with sword: and hid beyond all these  
Doth slothful age his lingering pace help forth with staff in hand.  AM. 
Of corn and wine in hell allow is any fertile land?  THE 
No joyful meads do there bring forth with face so green and fair,  
Nor yet with gentle Zephyrus wags ripened corn in th'air.  
Nor any tree hath there such bows as do bring apples out.  
The barren compass of deep soil full filthy lies about,  
And withered with eternal drought the loathsome land doth wa●…e  
And bond full sad of things, and of the worllde the places last:  
The air unmoved stands, and night sits there full dark to see  
In slothful world, all things by dread●… full horrible there be.  
And even far worse than death itself, is place where death doth bide.  AM. 
What? ●…e that doth those places dark with regallsceptor gwyde,  
In what seat set, doth he dispose and rule those people's light?  THE. 
A place there is in turn obscure of Tartarus from sight,  
Which mist full thick with fearful shade doth hold and overgo.  
From hens a double parted stream from one wellspring doth flow:  
The tone, much like a standing pool (by this the gods do swear)  
The which the sacred Stygian lake with silent flood doth bear:  
The other fierce with tumult great is drawn his course to go,  
And Archeron with raging flood●… the stones drives to and fro  
Unsaylable. with double ford is rounoe about beset  
Against it Ditis' palace dire, and manspon house full great  
In shadeful wood is covered: from wide den here the posts  
And thresholds of the tyrant hang, this is the walk of ghosts:  
This of his kingdom is the g●…te: a field about it goes,  
Where sitting with a countenance proud●… abroad he doth dispose  
New souls, a cruel majesty is in the god to know:  
A frowning forehead, which yet of his brethren bears the show,  
And so great stocks: there is in him of jove the very face,  
But when he lightens: and great part of cruel kingdoms place,  
Is he himself the lord thereof: the sight of who●…e doth fear,  
What ever thing is feared.  AM. 
Is fam●… in this point true, that there  
Such rigours are, and guilty ghosts of men that there remain  
Forgetful of their former fault, have their deserved pain?  
Who is the rector there of right, and judge of equity?  THE. 
Not only one extorter out of f●…utes in seat set high  
The judgements late to trembling souls doth there by lot award:  
In one appointed judgement place is Gnossian Minos hard,  
And in an other Radamanth: This ●…ryme doth A●…ac bear.  
What each man once hath done, he feels: and guilt to th'author there  
Returns, and th'hurtful with their owns example punn●…ht be.  
The bloody cruel captains I in prison shut did see,  
And back of tyrant impotent even with his people's hand  
All t●…rne and cut. what man of might with favour leads his land,  
And of his own life lord reserves his hurtless hands to good,  
And gently doth his empire guide without the thirst of blood,  
And spares his soul, he having long led forth the lingering days  
Of happy age, at length to heaven do●…the either find the ways,  
Or joyful happy places else of fair Elysius' wood.  
Thou then that here must be a iudg●… abstain from man his blood,  
Who so thou be that design'st king: our guilts are there acquytte  
In greater wise.  AM. 
doth any place prescript of limit ●…h ytte  
The guilty ghosts, and as the fame reports, doth cruel pain  
The wicked men make tame that in eternal bonds remain?  THE. 
Ixion rollde on whirling wheel is ●…ost and turned high:  
Upon the neck o●… Sisyphus the mighty stone doth lie.  
Amid the lake with thirsty jaws ol●…de Tantalus' therein  
Pursues the waves, the water stream●… doth wet and wash his ●…hyn,  
And when to him now otte deceived it doth yet pr●…myse make,  
Strait ●…ytts the ●…ood: the trute at mouth his famine doth forsake.  
Eternal food to ●…leeyng ●…owle doth Tityus' heart give s●…yll:  
And Danaus' daughters ●…oo in vain their water vessels fill.  
The wicked Cadmus' daughters all go raging every wa●…e:  
And there doth greedy ravening bird the Phi●…y tables fray.  AM. 
Now of my son declare to me the noble worthy fight.  
brings he his willing uncles gifts, or Pluto's spoils to sight?  THE. 
A dire and dreadful stone there is the slothful fords fast buy,  
Where sluggish fret with wave astoond full dull and flow doth lie:  
This lake a dreadful fellow keeps both of attire and sight,  
And quaking ghosts doth over bear An aged ugly wight:  
His beard unkempt, his bosom fowl deformed in filthy wise  
A knot binds in, full loathsome stand in head his hollows eyes:  
He ferry man doth steer about his beat with his long ore.  
He driving now his lyghtned ship of burden toward the shore,  
Repairs to waves: and then his way Alcides doth require.  
The flock of ghosts all giving place: Aloud cries Charon dire,  
What way attemptest thou so bold? thy hastening pace here stay.  
But natheless Alcmena's son abiding no delay,  
Even with his own pole bet he doth full tame the shipman make,  
And climes the ship: the bark that could full many people's take,  
Did yield to one: he sat, the boat more heavy like to break  
With shivering joints on eythersyde the lethey flood doth leak.  
Then tremble all the monsters huge, the centaurs fierce of might,  
And Lapythes, kindled with much wine to wars and bloody fight.  
The lowest channels seeking out of Stygian pool a down,  
His lerney labour sore affright his sertyle heads doth drown.  
Of greedy Ditis after this doth then the house appear.  
The fierce and cruel Stygian dog doth fray the spirits there,  
The which with great and roaring sounds his heads upshaking three,  
The kingdom keeps: his ugly head with filth full fowl to see  
The serpent's lick: his hears be fowl with vipers 〈◊〉 among,  
And at his crooked wrested tail doth hiss & dragon long:  
Like ire to shape. when him he wy●… his pace that way to take,  
His bristle hears he lysteth up with fierce up bended snake:  
And sound sent out he soon perceives in his applied ear,  
Who even the sprights is woon●…to sent. as soon as stood more near  
The sonn●… of jove, the doubtful dog straight couched down in den,  
And each of them did fear. behold with doleful barking then  
The places dumb he makes a dread, the threatening serpent stout  
Through all the fields about doth hiss: the bawling noise sent out  
Of dreadful voice from triple mouth, even sprites that happy Bee  
Doth make afraid. from left side then straight way undoth he  
The cruel taws, and lions he●…d once slain in Cleon field  
Against him sets, and cover doth himself with mighty shield.  
And bearing in his conquer●…ng hands a sturdy club of oak,  
Now ●…ere, now there he ●…olleth him about with often stre●…:  
His stripes he doubles: he subdued his threats assuaged all,  
And all his heads the weighed dog at once full low let fall,  
And quite out of the ●…enne he fed. full greatly feared 〈◊〉  
In regal throne) both, king and queen, and dadde him to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
And me likewise 〈◊〉 ●…ne for 〈◊〉 to Hercl●… 〈◊〉 ●…e.  
The mon●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with ●…aude then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thr●…,  
In linked cha●… he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: forgetting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
The dog the watche●… keeper 〈◊〉 the kingdom dark, at leng●…  
lay down his ears full so●… afraid: and suffering to be lend,  
And eke acknowledging his lord, following with lowly head,  
With tail that snakes thereon doth bear he both his sides doth smite.  
But after that to Taenate mouth we came, and clearness bright  
Had stroke his eyes of light unknown, good stomach yet again  
He takes although onse overcome, and now the heavy chayn●…  
He raging shakes: he had almost his leader plucked from place,  
And headlong backward drawn to hell, and moved from his pace.  
And even to my hands Hercles then his eyes did backward cast,  
We both with double joined strength the dog out drawn at last  
For anger wood, and battles yet attempting all in vain,  
Brought up to world. as soon as he the clear air saw again,  
And spaces pure of bright fair pole had once beheld with eye,  
The night arose: his sight to ground he turned by and by,  
Cast down his eyes, and hateful day forthwith he put to flight,  
And backward turned away his look, And straight with all his might  
To th'earth he falls: and underneath the shade of Hercles then  
He hid his head. therewith there came a great resort of men  
With clamour glad, that did the bay about their forhedds bring:  
And of the noble Hercules' deserved praises sing.  Chorus. 
EUrystheus born with swiftened birth in haste, did bid to bottom of the world to go:  
This only lacked of labours all at last, to spoil the king of third estate also.  
The dungeons dark to enter ventured he, where as that way to sprights far of doth bring  
Full sad, & wood so black & feared to be: but full with flock full great him following.  
As great a press as flock in cities streets, to see the plays of Theatre new wrought:  
As great as at Eléus' thunder meets, when summer fift that sacred game hath brought:  
As great as when comes hour of longer night, and willing quiet sleeps to be extent,  
Holds equal Libra Phoebus' chariots light, a sort the secret Ceres do frequent,  
And from their howsen left do haste to cum, the Attic priests the night to celebrate:  
Such heap is chaste beneath by fields so dumb, with age full slow some taking forth their gate  
Full sad, and fylld with life so long now led: some yet do run the race of better years,  
The virgins yet unieind to spouses' bed, 〈◊〉 younglings eke on whom grow yet no hears  
And infant lately taught his mother's name.  
To these alone, (that the●… the les might fear)  
Is granted night to ease with foreborne flame. the rest full sad by dark do wander there:  
As is our mind, when one's away is fled the light, when each man sorry feels to be  
Dep●… overwhelmed with all the earth his head. thick Chaos stands, & darkness fowl to see,  
And colour ill of night▪ and slothful state of silent world, and d●…uers clouds about.  
Let hoary age us thither bring full late. no man comes late to that, whence never out,  
When once he is come, turn again he may. to hast the hard and heavy fate what veils?  
This wandering beape in wide lands far away, shall go to ghosts: & all shall give their sails  
To slow▪ Cocy●…s. all is to thee inclined, both what the fall, and rise of son doth see:  
Spare us that cum, to the we death are signed: though thou be slow, ourselves yet 〈◊〉 we.  
first hour, that gave the life, it lost again.  
TO Thebes is come the joyful day, your altars touch ye humbyllye,  
The fat fair sacrfices slay. maids ●…yxte with men in company  
Let them in sole ●…ne flocks go roil: and now with y●…ake laid down let cease  
The tillers of the fertile soil.  
〈◊〉 is with hand of Hercles' peace between the morn and Hesper's glade,  
And where son holding middle seat, doth make the bodies cast no shade.  
What ever ground is overweate with compass long of seas abowght,  
Alcides labour ●…aemde full well. he over fords of Tartarus brought  
Returned appeased being hell. there is remaining now no fear,  
Nought lies beyond the hell to see.  
O priest thy staring locks of hear●… wrap in with loved poplar tree.   

❧ The fourth Act.  Hercules, Theseus, Amphitryon, Megara, 
WIth my revenging right hand slain now Lycus lo the ground with groveling face hath smit: then who soever fellow found  
Of tyrant was, partaker of his pains did also lie.  
Now to my father sacrifice and gods victor will I,  
And altars that deserve it, with ●…ayne off●…yngs reverence.  
Thee, thee O mate of all my toils I pray and my defence  
O warful Pallas, in whose left hand thy clear shield Aegis shakes  
Fierce ●…hretes, with head that each thing stone that looks upon it makes.  
Let ●…amer of Lycurgus now, and of red sea be hear,  
That point of spear with ivy green in hand doth covered bear:  
And two gods power, both Phoebus, and his sister too I pray,  
The sister meeter for her shafts, but he on th'harp to play:  
And what soever brother else of mine doth dwell in sky,  
Not of my stepdame brother. bring ye hither by and by  
Your plenteous flocks, what ever have all th' Indians fruits brought out,  
And what sweet odours th' Arabics do get in trees about,  
To th'altars bring: lett●… vapour fa●…e and ●…ume smoke up full high,  
Let round about the poplar tree my hears now bewtifye.  
Let th'olive bow thee hide with braunch●… accustomed in our land  
Thescu: for forthwith reverence the thunder, shall my hand.  THE. 
O gods the builders of the town, and which of dragon fell,  
The wild woods dens, and noble wa●… likewise of Dirces' well,  
And Tyrian house inhabit eke of stranger wandering king.  HERALD 
Cast into fires the trankencense.  AM. 
Son first thy hands flowing with bloody slaughter, and the death of enemy purify.  HERALD 
Would god the blood of hateful he●… Even unto gods on high  
I might out shed, for liquor lo more acceptable none  
Might th'altars stain: nor sacrifice more ample any one  
Nor yet more plentiful may be To jove above down cast,  
Then king unjust.  AM. 
Desire that now thy father end at last  
Thy labours all: let quietness At length yet given be,  
And re●… to weighed folk.  HERALD 
I will the prayers make, for me  
And jove full meet. in his due place Let stands the haughty sky,  
And land, and air, and let the stars drive forth eternally  
Their course unstaid: let restful peace keep nations quietly,  
Let labour of the hurtless land all iron now occupy,  
And sooprdes lie hid: let tempest none full violent and dire  
Disturb the sea: let from the skies no flash of lightning fire  
Fall down while jove full angry is: nor yet with winter snow  
Increased flood the ground upturnde and fields quite overthrow.  
Let poisons cease: and from henceforth let up from ground arise  
No grievous herb with hurtful sap: nor fierce and fell likewise  
Let tyrants reign: but if to sight some other mischief bring  
The ground yet shall, let it make haste: and any monstrous thing  
If it prepare, let it be mine. but what means this? mid day  
The darkness have enclosed about, lo Phoebus goeth his ways  
With face obscure without a cloud. who drives the day to flight,  
And turns to east? from whence doth now his dusky h●…d the night  
Unknown bring forth? whence fill the 〈◊〉 so many round about  
Of daytime stars? lo here behold my labour first full stout  
Not in the lowest part of heaven the lion shineth bright,  
And fervently doth rage with ire, And bits prepares to fight.  
Even now lo he some star will take▪ with mouth full wide to see  
He threatening stands, and fires out blows and mane up rustleth he  
Shaking with neck. the harvest sad o●… shape, what ever thing,  
And what soever winter c●…llde in frozen time doth bring,  
He with one rage will overpass, of spring time bull he will  
Both seek, and break the necks at once.  AM. 
What is this sudden ill?  
Thy cruel cowntnance whether son Dost thou cast here and there?  
And seest with troubled daselde sight false shape of heaven appear?  HERALD 
The land is epigrammed, the swelling seas their surges did assuage,  
The kingdoms low of hell likewise have felt and known my rage,  
Yet heaven is free, a labour meet for Hercules to prove.  
To spaces high I will he borne of hawghtye skies about:  
Let th'air be skaelde, my father doth me promise stars t'obtainobtain.  
What if he it denied? all th'earth can Hercles not contain,  
And gives at length to gods me calls of own accord behold  
The whole assembly of the gods, and doth their gates unfold,  
While one for bydds receyuste thou me, and openest thou the sky,  
Or else the gate of stubborn heaven draw after me do I?  
Do I yet doubt? I even the bonde●… from Saturn will undo,  
And even against the kingdom proud of wicked father lo,  
My grandsire lose. let Titans now prepare again their fight  
With me their captain raging: stones with woods I will down smite,  
And high hills tops with Centaurs full in right hand will I take.  
With double mountain now I will a stair to gods up make.  
Let Chiron under Ossa see his Pelion mowntayne great:  
Olympus up to heaven above in third degree then set  
Shall come itself, or else be cast.  AM. 
Put far away from thee  
The thowghts that ought not to be spoke: of mind unsownde to see,  
But yet full great, the furyows rage assuage and lay away.  HERALD 
What meaneth this? the giants d●… pestiferous arms assay,  
And Tityus from the sprights is fled, and bearing torn to see  
And empty bosom, lo how near to heaven itself stood he?  
Cithaeron falls, the mountain high Pallene shakes for fear,  
And torn are Tempe. he the tops of Pindus' cawght hath here,  
And Oethen he, some dreadful thing threatening doth rage about  
Crinnys bringing flames: with stripes she sounds now shaken out,  
And burned brands in funerals, lo yet more near and near  
Throws in my face: fierce Tisiphone with head and ugly hear  
With serpents set, now after dogg●… fet out with Hercles' hand,  
That empty gate she hath shut up, with bolt of fiery brand.  
But lee the stock of enmiows king doth hidden yet remain,  
The wicked Lycus seed: but to your hateful father slain  
Even now this right hand shall you send●… let now his arrows light  
My bow out shoot: it seems the shafts to go with such a flight  
Of Hercles.  AM. 
Whether doth the rag●… and fury blind yet go?  
His mighty bow he drew with horns together driven lo,  
And quiver lost: great noise makes with byolence sent out  
The shaft, and quite the weapon flew his middle neck torowghowt,  
The wownd yet left  HERALD 
His other br●…ods I overthrow will quite,  
And corners all. What stay I yet? to me a greater fight  
Remains then all Mycenes lo, that rocky stones should all  
Of Cyclops being overturnde with hand of mine, down fall.  
Let shake both here: and there the house, with all stays overthrown,  
Let break the posts: and quite let shrink the shaken pillar down:  
Let all the palace fall at once. I here yet hidden see  
The son of wicked father.  AM. 
Lo his flattering hands to thee  
applying to thy knees doth crave his life with piteous moan.  
O wicked guilt, full sad, and eke abhorred to look upon,  
His humble right hand caught he hath, and raging round about  
Him r●…lled twice, or thrice hath cast. his head resoundeth out,  
The sprinkled houses with the brain of him thrown out are wet.  
But she poor wretch her little son in bosom hiding yet  
Lo Megara, like one in rage doth from the corners flee.  HERALD 
although runagate in bosom of the thunder hid thou be,  
This right hand shall from every where Thee seek, and bring to sight.  AM. 
where goest thou wretch? what lurking dens, seek●…e thou to take, or flight?  
No place of safeguard is if once be Hercles stirred with ire:  
But do thou rather him embrace, and with thy meek desire  
Assay t' assuage him.  MEG. 
Husband spare us I beseech thee now,  
And know thy Megara, this son thy cowntenaunce doth show,  
And bodies pitch: beholdest thou how his hands up lifteth he?  HERALD 
I hold my stepdame: follow on dew penawnce pay to me,  
And bownden jone from filthy bond●… deliver free away:  
But I before the mother will this little monster slay.  MEG. 
Thou mad man whither goest thou? wilt thou thine own blood shed?  AM. 
Th'infant with father's fiery face astonnyde all for dread,  
Died even before the wownde: his fear●… hath took away his life.  
And now likewise his heavy club is shaken toward his wife:  
He broken hath the bones, her head from blocklike body gone  
Is quite, nor any where it stays. dar'st thou this look upon  
To long lived age? if mourning do thee grieve, thou hast then lo  
The death prepared. Do thou thy breast upon his weapon's throw,  
Or else this club with slaughter stained of monsters slain that be,  
Now hither turn. thy parent false, unfit for name of thee  
kid hens away, lest he should be to thy renown a let.  THE. 
Which way the father toward thy death dost thou thyself cast yet?  
Or whither goest thou mad man? flee, and lie thou closely hid,  
And yet from hands of Hercules this only mischief rid.  HERALD 
'tis well, the house of shameful king is now quite overthrown.  
To thee O spouse of greatest jove I have lo beaten down  
This offered flock: I gladly have fulfyllde my wishes all  
Full meet for thee, and Argos now give other offerings shall.  AM. 
Thou hast not son yet all performed, fill up the sacrifice.  
Loeth offering doth at th'altars stand, it waits thy hand likewise  
With neck full prone: I give myself, I run, I follow lo.  
Me sacrifice. what meaneth this? his eyes roll to and fro,  
And heaviness doth dull his sight. see I of Hercules  
The trembling hands? down falls his face to sleep and quietness,  
And weighed neck with bowed head full fast doth downward shryuke,  
With bended knee: now all at once he down to ground doth sink,  
As in the woods wild ash cut down, or bulwark for to make  
A haven in seas. Lyuste thou? or else to death doth thee betake  
The self same rage, that hath sent all thy family to death?  
It is but sleep, for to and fro doth go and come his breath.  
Let time be had of quietness, that thus by sleep and rest  
Great force of his disease subdued, may ease his grieved breast.  
Remous his weapons servants, lea●… he mad get them again.  CHORUS. 
LEt th'air complain, & eke the parent great of haughty sky, & fertile lad throughout,  
And wandering wave of ever moving fret.  
And thou before them all, which lands about  
And train of sea thy beams abroad dost throw with glittering face, & mak'st the night to flee,  
O fervent Titan: both thy settings lo and rising, hath Alcides seen with thee: & known likewise he hath thy howsen twain. from so great ills release ye now his breast,  
O gods release: to better turn again his righter mind. and thou O tamer best  
O sleep of toils, the quietness of mind, of all the life of man the better part,  
O of thy mother ast●…ey winged kind, of hard and pining death that brother art,  
With truth mingling the false, of after state  
The sure, but eke the worst foreteller yet:  
O father of all things, of life the gate,  
Of light the rest, of night and fellow fit, that comest to king, and servant equally,  
And gently cherishest who weerye be,  
All mankind lo that dreadful is to die, thou dost constrain long death to learn by thee. keep him fast bound with heavy sleep oppressed,  
Let slumber deps his limbs untamed bind,  
Nor sooner leave his unright raging breast,  
Then former mind his course again may find.  
Lo laid on ground with full fierce heart yet still  
His cruel sleeps he turns: and not yet is  
The plague subdued of so great raging ill:  
And on great club the weighed head of his  
He wont to lay, doth seek the staff to find  
With empty hand, his arms out casting yet with moving vain: nor yet all rage of mind he hath laid down: but, as with south wind gre●…  
The wave once vexed, yet after keepeth still his raging long, & though the wind now be  
Assuaged, swells. shake of these mad & ill tossings of mind, return let pi●…tee,  
And virtue to the man, else let be so his mind with moving mad tossed every way:  
Let error blind, where it began hath, go. for nowght else now but only madness may  
Thee guiltless make: in next estate it stands to hurtless hands, thy mischief not to know.  
Now strooken let with Hercules his hands thy bosoms sound: thine arms the world allow were wont to bear, let grievous strips now smite with conquring hand: & loud complaining cries  
Let th'air now here: let of dark pole & night the queen them hear, & who full fiercely lies  
That bears his necks in mighty chains fast bound, low lurking Cerberus in dep●…st cave.  
Let Chaos all with clamour sad resound, and of broad sea wide open wasting wave.  
And th' air that felt thy weapons better yet,  
But felt them though.  
The breasts with so great ills as these beset, with little stroke they must not beaten be.  
Let kingdoms three sound with one plaint & cry, and thou necks honowr, & defence to see,  
His arrow strong long hanged up on high, & quivers light, the cruel stripes now smite on his fierce back, his shoulders strong & stout let oaken club now strike, & post of might with knots full hard his breasts load all about. let even his weapons so great woes complain.  
Not you poor babes mates of your father's with cruel wound revenging kings again: (praise, not you your limbs in argos barriars plays,  
Are taught to turn with weapon strong to smite, & strong of hand: yet even now daring lo the weapon of the Scythian quiver light  
With steady hand to poise sent out from bow, and stags to pierce that save themselves by flight, and backs not yet full maned of cruel beast.  
To Styg●…ā havens go ye of shade & night, go hurtless souls, whom mischief hath oppressed  
Even in first porch of life but lately had,  
And father's fury. go unhappy kind  
O little children, by the way full sad  
Of tourney known.  
Go, see the angry kings.   

¶ The fifth Act.  Hercules, Amphitryon, Theseus. 
WHat place is this? what region●… or of the world what coast?  
Where am I? under rise of sa●…ne, or bond else uttermost  
Of th'icy bear? or else doth here of sea of Hesperye  
The farthest ground appoint a bond●… for th'ocean sea to lie?  
What air draw we●… to weighed wight what ground is underset?  
Of truth we are returned from bell. whence in my house down bet  
See I these bloody bodies? hath not yet my mind of cast  
th'infernal shapes? but after yet return from hell at last  
Yet wander doth that helly heap before mine eyes to see?  
I am ashamed to grawnte, I quake, I know not what to me,  
I can not tell what grievous ill my mind before doth know.  
Where is my parent? where is she with goodly children's show  
My noble hearty stomakt spouse? why doth my left side lack  
The lions spoil? which way is gone the cover of my back?  
And self same bed full soft for sleep of Hercules also?  
Where are my shafts? where is my bow? Them from me living who  
cold pluck away? who taken hath the spoils so great as thes?  
And who was he that feared not even sleep of Hercules?  
To see my conqueror me likes, it likes me him to know:  
Rise victor up, what new son hath my father gotten now  
Heaven being left? at birth of whom might ever stayed be  
A longer night, than was in mine? what mischief do I see?  
My children lo do lie on ground with bloody slaughter stain:  
My wife is kyllde: what Lycus doth the kingdom yet obtain?  
Who durst so heinous guilts as these At Thebes take in hand  
When Hercles is returned? who so Ismenus waters land,  
Who so Actaeon's fields, or who with double seas beset  
The shaken Pelops kingdoms dost of Dardan dwell on yet,  
Help me: of cruel slaughter show who may the author be.  
Let rage my ire on all: my foe he is, who so to me  
Shows not my foe. dost thou yet hid Alcides' victor lie?  
Come forth, even whether thou revenge the cruel chariots his  
Of bloody Thracian king, or if thou Geryons cattles quite,  
Or lords of Libya, no delay there is with thee to fight.  
Behold I naked stand, although even with why weapons lo  
Thou me unarmed set upon. wherefore f●…eeth Theseus so  
And eke my father from my sight? their faces why hide they?  
Defer your weepings, and who did my wife and children slay  
Thus all at ones, me tell. Wherefore O father do●… thou whushte?  
But tell thou Theseus, but Theseus with thy accustonide trust.  
Each of them silent hides away their bashful cowntnawnces,  
And privily they shed their tears. In so great ills as thes,  
Of what ought we ashamed to be? doth ruler yet of might  
Of Argos town, or hateful band Of sowldyars ap●…e to fight  
Of Lycus dying, us oppress with such calamity?  
By praise of all my noble acts I do desire of thee  
O father, and of thy great name approved to me alway  
The prosperous power, declare to me, who did my how should slay?  
Whose pray lay I?  A. 
Let thus thyve ills in silence overpass.  HERALD 
That I should unrevenged be?  AM. 
Revenge oft hurtful was.  HERALD 
Did ever man so grevows ills without revenge sustain?  A. 
Whos'euer greater feared.  H. 
Then these, O father yet again  
May any greater thing, or else More grevows feared be?  AM. 
How great a part is it thou wo●…st, Of thy calamity?  HERALD 
Take mercy father, lo I lift to thee my humble hands.  
What meaneth this? my hand fleeth back, some privy guilt here stands.  
Whence comes this blood? or what doth mean flowing with death of chyllde  
The shaft, enbrewde with slaughter onc●… of Lerney monster kyllde?  
I see my weapons now, the hand I seek no more to wit.  
Whose hand could bend this bow but mine? or what right arm but it  
Could string the bow, that unto me Even scantly doth obey?  
To you I turn: O father dear, is this my guilt I pray?  
They healed their peace: it is mine own.  AM. 
Thy grievous woe is there,  
The crime ●…hy stepdames: this myschawnce no fault of thine hath here.  HERALD 
From every part now father throw in wrath thy thunders might,  
And of thy son forgetful now, with cruel hand requyght  
At least thy nephews: let the world that bears the stars sound out,  
And let both th'one and th'other p●…ale, fling down thy flames about:  
And let the banks of Caspian sea my bownden body tear,  
And greedy fowl. Wherefore do of Promethens lack hear  
The rocks? with huge and haughty top let now prepared be,  
Both feeding beasts and fowls, the side Of Cawcas torn to see,  
And bare of woods, the isle that bridge Of Scythe that thereby stands  
Simple gas joins, both here and there Let it my bounden hands  
Stretch out abroad: and when with course returned accustomdlye  
They shall together drive, and shall the rocks toss up to sky  
With banks together being thrust, and eke the middle seaye,  
Let me between the mountains lie unquiet restless stay.  
But building up with wood thrown on a heaped pile on high,  
My body thus with wicked blood besprynkt, why burn not I?  
So, so it must be done: to hell I Hercles' will restore.  AM. 
Not yet his heart astonyde lacks his raging tumult sore,  
But wraths hath turned: and which of rag●… is property and ire  
Against himself he rageth now.  HERALD 
The fury's places dire  
And dung on deep of sprights in hell and place of tormentrrye  
To guilty ghosts, and banishment if any yet do lie  
Beyond Erebus, yet unknown to Cerberus and me,  
There hide me ground: to farthest bond●… of Tartarus to see  
To tarry there i'll go. O breast of mine to fierce and ●…wte:  
Who you my children thus disperst●… through all my house about,  
May worthily enough bewail? in all my evils yet  
This countenance hard, can never weep. a sword now hither set,  
My shafces reatche hither, hither reatche my mighty club also:  
To thee my weapons break I will, to thee my son, a-two  
i'll knap my bows, and eke my club this block of heavy weight,  
Shall to thy sprites be burned lo: this self same quiver fraught  
With Lerney shafts, to funeral of thine shall likewise go.  
Let all my weapons penawnce pay, and you unhappy to  
Even with my weapons burn I will, O stepdames hands of mine.  Th. 
who ever yet to Ignorance hath given name of crime?  Her 
Full oftentimes did error great the place of guilt obtain.  Th. 
Cys need to be a Hercles now, this heap of ill sustain.  Her. 
Not ●…o hath shame yet given place with fury drowned quite:  
But people's all I rather should drive from my wicked sight.  
My weapons, weapons Theseus, I quickly crave to me  
withdrawn to be restored again: if sound my mind now be,  
Restore to me my weapons: if yet last my rage of mind,  
Then father flee: for I the way to death myself shall find.  Am. 
By sacred holly kindred's rights, by force and duty all  
Of both my names, if either me thy bringer up thou call,  
Or parent else, and (which of good men reverenced are)  
By these boar heats, I thee beseech my desert age yet spare,  
And weary years: of house fallen down the one alonely stay,  
One only light to me, with ills afflicted every way  
Reserve thyself: yet never hath there happened once of thee  
Fruit of thy toils: still either I the doubtful sea to see  
Or monsters f●…arde: who ever yet bathe been a cruel king  
In all the world, to ghosts allow, and altars both hurting,  
Of meys feared: the father of thee absent still, to have  
The frut●…, the touching, and the sight, of thee atlength I crave.  Herald 
wherefore I longer should sustain my life yet in this light,  
And linger here no cause there is: all good lost have I quite,  
My mind, my weapons, my renown, my wife, my sons, my hands,  
And fury to. no man may heal and lose from guilty bands  
My mind defyellde: needs must with death, be healed so heinous ill.  Th. 
wilt thou thy father slay?  Herald 
Lest I should do it die I will.  Th. 
Before thy rathers face?  Herald 
I taught him mischief for to se.  Th. 
Thy deeds marking rather that should of all remembered be,  
Of this one only crime I do a pardon of thee crave.  Her. 
Shall he give pardon to himself, that to none else it gave?  
I being bidden praise deserved, this deed mine own doth prove,  
Help father now, if either else thy piety thee move,  
Or else my heavy fate, or else the honour and renown  
Of stained strength: my weapons bring, let fortune be thrown down  
With my right hand.  Th. 
The prayers which thy father makes to thee  
Are strong enough, but yet likewise with weeping lo of me  
Be moved yet: arise thou up, and with thy wont might  
Subdue thine yl●…: now such a mind unmeet to bear upright  
No evil hap, receive again: lo now with manhood great  
Thou must prevail, every Hercules sorbyd with ire to fret.  HERALD 
alive, I hurt: but if I die, I take the guilt also.  
I hast to rid the worllde of crime, even now before me so  
A wicked monster, cruel, and untamed, fierce, and stout  
Do the wander: now with thy right hand begin to go about  
A great affair, yea more than all thy twice six labours long.  
Yet stay'st thou wretch, that late against the children waste so strong,  
And fearful mother? now except restored my weapons be,  
Of Thracian Pindus either I will tear down every tree,  
and Bacchus' holly woods, and tops of mount Cithaeron high  
Burn with myself. and all at once with all their housen I  
And with the Lords there of the roofs, with gods of Thebes all  
The Theban temples even upon my body will let fall:  
And will be hid in town upturnde: if to my shoulders might  
The walls themselves all cast thereon shall fall a burden light,  
And covered with seven gates I shall not be enough oppressed,  
Then all the weight whereon the world in middle part doth rest,  
And parts the Gods, upon my head i'll turn and overthrow.  
My weapons give.  Am. 
This word is meet for Hercles' father lo.  
With this same arrow slain behold thy son is tumbled down,  
This weapon cruel juno lo from hands of thine hath thrown,  
This same will I now use. lo see how leaps with fear affright  
My wretched heart, and how it doth my careful body smite.  
The shaft is set there to, thou shalt a mischief lo do now  
Both willing it, and wotting: tell, what thing commandest thou?  
I nothing crave, my dolour lo in safety standeth now.  
To keep my son alive to me that only do canst thou  
o Theseus, yet I have not s●…apte, greatest fear that happen can.  
Thou canst ●…e not a myler make, thou mayst a happy man.  
So order every thing thou dost, as all thy cause in hand,  
And fame thou mayst well know in strayg●… and doubtful case to stand:  
Thou ●…iust, or diest: this slender soul that light is hence to flee,  
we●…yed with age, and no less bet with grievous isle to see,  
In mouth I holoe. so slowly to a father with such stay  
Doth any man give life? I will no longer bide delay,  
The deadly sword throughout my breast to strike I will apply,  
Here, here the guilt of Hercules ever sound of mind shall lie.  Her. 
Forbear O father now, forbear, withdraw thy hand again.  
My manhood yield, thy father's will, and impery sustain.  
To Hercles' labours now likewise, let this one labour go,  
Let me yet live lift up from ground ●…hafflicted limbs with woe,  
o Theseus of my parent: for from godly touch doth i'll  
My wicked hand.  Am. 
I gladly do this hand embrace to me.  
By this I being stayed will go, this moving to my breast  
i'll slake my woes.  Her. 
what place shall I seek roonaga●…e for rest?  
Where shall I hide myself? or in what land myself engrave?  
What Tanais, or what Nilus else, or with his persian wave  
what Tigris violent of stream, or what fierce Rhenus' flood,  
Or Tagus troublesome that flows with I bear treasures good  
May my right hand now wash from guilt? although Mae●…tis collde  
The waves of all the Northern sea on me shed out now wollde,  
And all the water thereof should now pass by my two hands,  
Yet will the mischief deep remain. Alas into what lands  
wilt thou o wicked man resort? to East, or western cost?  
Each where well known, all place I have of banishment quite lost  
From me the world doth flee a back, the stars that spdeling ro●…n  
Do backward drive their turned course, even Cerberus the soo●…  
〈◊〉 better countenance di●… b. hold. o faithful friend I say  
o Theseus, seek some lurking place, farce hence, out of the way.  
O thou awarder of men's guilts what ever judge thou be  
That hurtful men dost love, repay a worthy thank to me:  
And my deserts. I ●…hee beseech, to ghosts of hell again  
Send me that ones escaped them: and subject to thy rain  
Restore me yet to those thy bands. that place shall me well hide:  
And yet even that place knows me well.  Th. 
Our land for thee doth died.  
There Mars, his hand acquit again and made from slaughter free  
Restored to armour: lo that land (Alcides) calls for thee,  
which wonts to quite the gods, and prove them Innocent to be.  
FINIS.    

IMPRINTED AT London by Henrye Sutton dwelling in pater noster row at the sign of the black Boy.  
ANNO DOMINI. M. D. LXI.