Seneca.  
TROADES.  
A tragedy written in Latin by LANNAEus SENECA, translated into English by S P. with Comments annexed Splendebat Ante omnes, tanquam m●●●● Sol aureus astris. 1660    

TROADES ENGLISHED.  
By S. P.  
LONDON, Printed by W. G. for Henry Marsh at the Prince's Arms in Chancery-Lane, and Peter Dring at the Sun in the poultry near the Counter. 1660.   

To the Reader.  
Reader.  
I Had rather be wanting in an Epithet, then at an adventure to impose one upon thee, which may not be Consonant to Truth: A whole Regiment of them would not be enough to equalise the divers humours of those into whose hands this small piece may come. I am not igrant how dangerous a task I have undertaken in the Edition of this translation, or rather Paraphrase, A man whilst he is recluse is safe and unknown, but if once he steps abroad( in this nature) he must expect to run the hazard of being soundly whipped with the venomous lash of the tongue. That you may see I am very willing to bear the burden of my own faults, I have neither got a forlorn Hope of precursory verses, nor offered to gain any to patronize them by a Dedication: I am more chary of my Friends than of myself, for if I have Committed any errors in this version, it is fit that I bear the censures myself without exposing them to that trouble, whose charity might o'repasse what a strict and censorious eye will bitingly examine. By this you may see that I already plead guilty to my faults, and am very willing to submit to the judgement of the learned: At their bar I stand, and have nothing to say for myself but that it is my first Essay, and confequently my first fault, and may be the last I shall commit in this nature. If they then absolve me; I shall not regard the tumid words of carping Zoilians, who make it their whole work to detract others, and invalidate all but the issue of their own brains. I assure you I am not Pygmalion to be in Love with the work of my own hands; if I were, I should rather have kept this in my desk then thus freely offer it to a Common prostitution. If thou ask'st why I have offered it in public view, I will not answer thee with that trivial and palliating Come-off, that the entreaties of Friends have forced me contrary to my will to tumble into the press, where after so desperate a Squeeze, I appear so mishapen, and besmeared with black blood: No truly, I freely jumped in, and have endured the wrack only to pleasure the mere English Reader; and that I might add the more lustre to, and set off with my distorts the beauties of Medea, and Hippolytus, so well translated by several Hands; I confess I had begun this ere I had a view of either, which when I had seen I finished it with reluctancy, as knowing how short I came of their eligancy and skill. For to speak any thing in praise of that noble Philosopher my Author, were to hold a Candle against the Sun, for indeed— Splendebat— Ante omnes tanquam Mediis Sol aureus astris. Therefore I shall wave it as a thing needless, being so esteemed by, and well known to all learned men. As for the work, it is with Medea and Hippolytus( according to the judgement of learned Lipsius and Scaliger) to be preferred to all the rest of the Tragedies, as being both the only Legitimates of the Philosopher, and excelling the rest in style and Elegancy. As all his works are full of wise, grave, and wholesome counsels( bating him where he is altogether stoical) so although he hath put on the Buskins, and played the Tragedaean, even in this Cothurn●ll style, he has many profitable and moral sentences. This has induced me to what I have done, and therefore I shall say no more but be Candid and  
Farewell. Bradfieldiae Cal. Novembris. S. P.   

Dramatis Personae.  

HEcuba. Queen of Troy.  
Agamemnon. General of the Greeks.  
Pyrrhus. The Son of Achilles.  
Andromache. Hector's Wife.  
Helena. The Wife of Menelaus, stolen and married by Paris, the cause of Troy's destruction.  
Ulysses. A Subtle Grecian.  
Astyanax. The Son of Hector.  
Calcas. A Grecian soothsayer.  
Talthybius. A Grecian.  
Polyxena. Mute.  
Senex.  
Nuncius. And  
Chorus. Of Trojan Women.   
The SCENE Troy.   

The Argument.  
TROY had now withstood ten years' siege, and with incomparable valour resisted the Greeks, when at last her Champion Hector being taken, through the Treachery of a Stratagem, she was sacked, fired, and brought to ruin and destruction. The Greeks intending now to depart to their long left homes, were by a contrary wind stayed, when the Ghost of Achilles appearing, commands them not to stir thence, till they had immolated the Princess Polyxena( under the pretext of a marriage) to his Ghost. Chalcas their Prophet being consulted, he gives judgement, that not only the Princely Virgin must die, but that also Astyanax the Son of Hector, must be flung from the Top of a high Tower in Troy. Which Tragedies being accordingly acted, the Greeks hoist Sails and depart loaden with Captives, Riches, and Glory.   

TROADES. A TRAGEDY  Written in Latin BY Lucius Annaeus Seneca; TRANSLATED Into our Vernacular Tongue. 

The first Act.  Enter Hecuba alone. 

WHo trusts in kingdoms, and who puissant bears  
Rule over mighty Monarchies; nor fears  
Th' inconstant Gods: Who on prosperity  
Relies too much; Let him consider me,  
And thee o Troy. For Fortune never bore  
Of great men's slippery state such Proofs before.  
The Head of Pollent Asia: The great work  
On th' Gods above doth in its ruins Lurk:  
To whose assistance came both those that drink  
At seven mouthed( ) Tanais frigid brink:  
And those that ne'er first see the springing day  
In the warm East: Those too where, with the Sea  
Tigris doth mix. And she that neighboured  
To the wand'ring Scythes, her band of widows led  
Unto the Pontic bank. Destroyed thus  
In her own ashes lieth Pergamus.  
See the Walls pride, her lofty Turrets lie  
Huddled in their burnt ruins; flames on high  
Compass the palace round. All Ilium  
Smokes; yet the victor's greedy hands the flame  
Prohibits not. The prey from flames is took;  
Nor may the heaven be seen for waving smoke.  
The dark day wrapped in a thick'ned cloud  
Doth in Troy's ashes as in mourning shroud  
Itself. The proud, and greedy victor stays  
And wrath; bowed Ilium with his eyes surveys:  
At length he holds excused his ten years' wars,  
And Troy's sad affliction abhors.  
Although he sees she's overcome, yet he  
His eyes scarce credits; knows not how't may be.  
The robber though Dardanian spoils, away  
Snatches: A thousand ships won't hold the prey.  
The power of the Gods adverse to me,  
My Country's ashes, Phrygian King, O thee  
Whom Troy hides, with the whole kingdom; and  
Thy Manes Hector, by whom Troy did stand  
Whilst that thou stoodst: And ye great flocks of my  
Own Children, and the lesser Umbrae, I  
Call all to witness, what somever ill  
Hath happened to us; I believed still  
What ever ill Cassandra prophised  
In her mad fits; though God prohibited.  
With-child I this first saw, a prophetess  
I unbeleived before Cassandra was.  
Crafty Ulysses, nor Diomedes  
His night Companion; nor false Sinon, these  
Fires hath sown: No, no, this fire is mine,  
'Tis by my Firebrand that ye now do shine,  
Ah sad old woman! why thus long dost thou mourn  
The city's downfall? O unhappy! Turn  
Thine eyes to fresher griefs: Troy's downfalls old,  
That execrable fact I did behold  
The murder of the King: yet greater harm,  
'Twas at Jove's Altar; and by Pyrrbus arm  
I saw when that fierce man, with fatal hand  
In Priamus' curled locks entwined  
Forcing his head down, hide his horrid sword  
In a mortal wound; who willingly was gored:  
Which done, he from the old man's throat again  
Drew forth the blood-wet blade. Whom he amain  
Pressing th' extremest point of age; at all  
Could not appease but by his cruel fall.  
The Gods are witness of this mischief; and  
The Altar sometimes of this ruined land.  
Priam's parent of so many Kings erewhile  
Wants now a Sepulchre; a sun'ral Pile  
In flaming Troy. But this sufficeth not  
The Gods. See I a Master now by lot  
Must choose with th' Daughters of King Priamus,  
And his Sons Wives. Whom shall I follow thus  
Poor prey? Pyrrhus' may join with Andromach  
Another with Hellenus Wife may match.  
Another doth Antenor's Grave: And thou  
Cassandra wants not one to wed thee too:  
My lot is feared: 'Tis I alone the Greeks  
Despise. Why fellow prisoners cease your shrieks  
Strike, strike your breasts, send forth sad groans & sighs  
Cause to be done Troy's sun'ral obsequies.  
Forthwith without delay make for to ring  
The fatal house of Ida's direful King.   Chorus. 

Thou bid'st to mourn, those who in tears  
Are perfect: for these many years  
This we have done; Since Paris went  
T' Amyclas, and the rough Sea rent  
With Mother Sybit's sacred Pine.  
Since which Mount Ida's top hath been  
Twice five times periwigged with Snow:  
And spoiled of Trees which there did grow,  
To make our funeral Piles. The mower  
In fear has twice five times told o'er  
In the Sigean fields the wheat  
Cut down. Alas no day as yet  
Our tears did want: New cause of woe  
Renewed our grief. To tears we go.  
O Queen lift up thy hand, and we  
Well taught to weep will follow thee.   Hecuba. 

Faithful Mates of our Misery  
As it behoves, your hair untie;  
Your locks spread on your backs you must,  
Defiled with Trojan bloody dust.  
Show your bare stretched-out arms, and put  
Your slackened coats tied with a knot  
About your wast: and even unto  
Your belly, all your bare Limbs show.  
For what Husbands should we I trough  
Hiding our Breasts our pudor show?  
Let upper coats your under tie,  
So that your hands at liberty  
May be, with furious strokes your breasts  
To wound, this habit likes me best.  
Your company I do agnize;  
Let now return your wanted cries,  
Exceed your wanted manner too,  
` 'tis Hector now lament we do.   Chorus. 

Our rent and much decayed hair  
We all have loosed; and now we wear  
It hanging down untied: we spurt  
In our own faces Troy's hot dirt.   Hecuba. 

Fill your hands full of it, we may  
For all Troy's spoils this bear away,  
Buttoned about your sides now wear  
Your Gowns, and show your Shoulders bare.  
Your naked breasts your hands invite  
To strokes; let grief draw forth your might  
Make all the Rhaetian shores resound  
With your laments. The echo found  
In Mounts and Caves, let her repeat  
Not as she used last words; complete  
Let her return the Trojan Cries.  
Hearken O ail you Seas, and Skies!  
Now let your hands the tyrant's play,  
And with vast strokes your breasts repay;  
With wont Cries I'm not content,  
'Tis Hector now we do lament.   Chorus. 

O Hector! thus for thee our bare  
Arms, and our bloody shoulders tore  
Our right hands do: our heads for thee  
We beat; our breasts extended be  
Torn with maternal hands. And now  
Our former wounds for thee, do flow  
With blood fresh torn. Thou wast the stay,  
And Wall of Troy the fate's delay,  
A Sconce for tired Trojans, and  
Ten years stood Troy propped by thy hand,  
With thee it fell. Hector's last day  
The last was also unto Troy.   Hecuba. 

Enough for Hector; change your plaint;  
And now King Priamus lament.   Chorus. 

Accept our tears twice lost old man:  
Thou living but one ill sustain  
Did Troy. ' Twice has the Dardan Towers  
Sustained the force of Grecian powers:  
And twice abode th' Herculean Shaft.  
The Sons of Hecuba aloft  
On Princely Piles, were reared all;  
The last part of the funeral  
Thou their father dost conclude,  
At Great Jove's Altar murdered:  
Thy trunk lies on the Trojan shore.   Hecuba. 

Iliads, O weep no more  
For Priam's death; But rather thus  
Cry all, O HAPPY PRIAMUS!  
He free went to the Ghosts below;  
Nor shall his neck to Greeks yoke bow:  
Neither Atrides shall he see,  
Nor false Ulysses, nor shall be  
A prey for Grecian Triumphs. Nor  
Shall his neck be subjected for  
Their Pomps. Nor's hands accustomed  
To sceptres be behind him tied:  
Nor bound in Golden Fetters troth  
Behind Atrides Chariot;  
Nor be a sight to Mycenae thus.   Chorus. 

We all cry, HAPPY PRYAMUS!  
He dying with him bore away  
His kingdom, and now safe doth stray  
In the shade of th' Elysian wood;  
Where happy he among the good  
Souls, seeketh for his Hector, thus  
O happy happy PRIAMUS!  
`` Who dies in war he happy is,  
`` All things with him consumed he sees.   Exiunt.  

Act the II.  

Scene the I.  Enter Talthybius, Greeks, Chorus. 

WHat long delays the Greeks i'th' Haven make  
Both to the War, and now they homeward take  
Their way. Chor. we pray you show the causes that  
Put thus long stop unto the Grecian Fleet,  
And what God stops their voyage back.   Talth. 

My heart  
Quakes, and a horrid fear shakes every part.  
A greater wonder and true too, none yet  
‛ Ere heard of: I, nay I myself did see't.  
It was when Titan first begin to display  
His early beams; Night new o'er come by Day;  
When on a sudden th'Earth shook, a hollow sound  
Flew from the bottom of the rending ground.  
The lofty forest, and the sacred Grove  
Rung with the crash; the Woods their tops did move.  
Idaean Rocks broke from their Cliffs fell down;  
The Earth not only shaken; but Seas did own  
Achilles presence: for their Surges rose.  
Immense dens than the chapped Earth did disclose.  
And gaping by the broken sides did show  
The pervious way unto the Gods below.  
A Tomb it did straightways discharge; from whence  
Sprung the great Ghost of the Thessalian Prince,  
Like as when he did Thracian arms annoy,  
The Proem to thy fatal fall O Troy!  
Or as when he Neptunian Cycnus fought,  
Or raging in the battle all about  
With a strong courage damn the Rivers up  
With carcases, and did slow Xanthus stop,  
Making him wander by new Fords of blood:  
Or when he victor in's high Chariot stood,  
Great Hector, and Troy drawing on the ground,  
Wroth with these words he made the shore resound:  
Away away you negligent! and pay  
Due honours to my Ghost: Ingrate! away!  
Launch out your Ships into our Seas! Grease shall  
Appease our anger with no trivial.  
A noble prize must do't. Polyxena  
Unto our ashs must betrothed be.  
Let her be slain by Pyrrhus' hand, and her  
Hot breathing blood imbrue my sepulchre.  
This said, and night now vanquished, down again  
He goes, and mersed in that Hellish den,  
The rived Earth closed again: the Seas lie still,  
Winds lay their threats aside; soft murmurs fill  
The air; arising from the stilled profound;  
A chore of Triton's th' Hymenaeum sound.    

Act the II. Scene the II.  Enter Pyrrhus, Agamemnon. 

NOw we should spread our merry sails at Sea  
Home-bound: Achilles is forgotten; he  
Whose hand alone Troy with the Earth did lay;  
Repensating what ever short delay  
He made at Scyros, or at Lesbos where  
They doubting neuters stood, till he came there.  
Now though thou wouldst obey what he might crave,  
Thou giv'st too late: All other Captains have  
Already their rewards. What prize is less  
That may be given to so great worthiness?  
Are his deserts but small who( might have fled  
Wars, and in Peace his life continued  
Unto an age surpassing Nestor's years)  
Leaving his mother's guiles, and guise, appears  
A man at arms? when that proud Telephus  
Denied a passage through his Realm to us,  
His hand new practised, in King's blood he died:  
The same knew how to wound and heal beside.  
Then Thebes fell. Eetian vanquished saw  
His kingdom ta'en, Lyrnessus the same way  
With a small force as from a Rock was cast.  
Eriseis too, both Land and she at last  
Was ta'en; And Chrysa cause of strife to us  
Cast down: and the most famous Tenedos,  
In whose fat soil the Thracian flocks were fed  
And sacred Cilla too, subdue he did.  
But what? Caycus streams can witness these;  
Such mighty dread, and so great miseries  
Of Nations: so many dismantled towns  
As by a sudden whirlwind, chiefest crowns  
And glory would have been to others, this  
Unto Achilles, but his entrance is.  
Thus comes my Father, and such Wars he bears,  
Whilst he the way but unto War prepares.  
Should I in silence other merits smother,  
Had not one Hector been enough? my Father  
Troy overcame: ye pulled it down. To tell  
His great and noble acts it likes me well.  
Hector lay slain before his father's eyes;  
Fore's uncle's Memnon, whose sad Mother dies  
The mournful day with a pale countenance:  
The victor feared his own works precidence.  
Achilles' learned by this a Goddesses Son  
Might die. Your great fear ceased the Amazon  
Being slain. A maid unto Achilles thou  
( If his deserts are justly weighed by you)  
Dost owe, although he should require that she  
A Grecian should, or Mycenae virgin be.  
Art thou in doubt? Canst not allow this straight?  
Thou who thine own to Helen immolate  
Didst, canst thou fear that Pelius Son should have  
Priamus' Daughter? Accustomed things I crave.   Agamemnon. 

A youthful vice, 'tis not to guide the rage  
Of passion. This most in their youthful age  
possess. But thou thy Fathers also. I  
Sometimes have meekly born the fierce and high  
Threats of surly Aeacides. Bear thou  
Meekly more things, the more thou Mayst it do.  
Why wouldst thou stain the great Duke's noble Ghost  
With a dire slaughter? It behoves us most  
To know what Victors ought to do, and what  
The conquered suffer can. A cruel state  
None long can hold. Firm stands the moderate.  
The more that power by Fortune's raised, the more  
The fortunate aught for to bow; and sore  
Afraid be of unconstant chance: and fear  
The Gods when they so too much favouring are.  
I by my Conquest learned have, that brought  
Great things may in a moment be to nought.  
Troy has too proud and cruel made us: we  
Stand where it did; may fall as well as she.  
I grant sometime exalted, and superb  
Myself I bore too high. This thing doth curb  
My lofty Spirit, when Fortune's favour might  
Have rather been a cause for others height.  
Thou mak'st me high and tumid Priamus'!  
King shall I ought but a vain glorious  
Title account? But a false band esteem,  
To bind our brows about the Diadem?  
A sudden chance may ravish this, without  
A thousand Ships, or ten years' time to do't.  
Bad fortune cometh not so slow to all.  
I must confess( with your leave Greece) the fall  
And ruin of Troy I would have helped, though I  
Desired much to have the victory:  
But rage, thirst of revenge, night's conquest let  
A King's command. Revenge did this commit;  
And whatsomever cruelty hath pleased  
The Victor, whose rage by the night increased.  
The conquering Sword is mad once died with blood.  
Let what of ruined Troy is left abide.  
Enough, and more then enough we've punished; I  
Cannot endure a Princely maid should die,  
A Sacrifice unto a tomb, or wet  
The Ashes with her blood, nor that sell act  
Of murder call a Marriage: Mine be the blame;  
Who lets not Sin, and may, commands the same.   Pyrrhus. 
Shall than Achilles' Ghost have no reward?  Agam. 

Yes, all his praise shall sing, strange lands regard  
Shall his great Fame. If blood than must be shed  
To light his Grave; cut off an ox's head:  
Spill blood for which no mothers weep may. O!  
What custom's this, when man's in shades below  
That t'him rites must be paid? your sire refrain  
T'hare, whom you'd worshipped have with others pain.   Pyrrhus. 

How lofty lifted up with secund State  
Thou art! How fearful when that dangers threat!  
Tyrant! again inflamed is thy breast  
With sudden heat, now of a new come lust?  
Will't always rob us of our spoils; This hand  
The victim shall unto Achilles send.  
The which if thou deniest, a greater shall,  
And sitter too, then that of Pyrrhus fall.  
My hands from regal blood suffer restraints  
Too long: King Priam a companion wants.   Agam. 

I don't deny but 'tis thy chiefest fame  
I'th' wars, that Priam by thy Sword lies slain,  
Once suppliant to thy Sire.   Pyrrhus 

Suppliant to him,  
But I as enemies regarded them,  
Priam himself petitioned, which thou  
Quaking or fear wer'in bold enough to do,  
But trembling hidden lay, and to commend  
Thy suit didst Ajax, and Ulysses send.   Agam. 

I do confess your fire then did not fear,  
When, whilst our Fleet burnt, and Greeks slaughtered were.  
Forgetting arms and war he slothful lay,  
And did upon his pleasant Viol play.   Pyr. 

Great Hector then thy Arms contemned: yet feared  
Achilles' Song, Thessalian Ships secured,  
In all that dread lay quietly at rest.   Agam. 

Forsooth your Ships, nor Father, in the least  
Had cause of fear, from Hector freed.   Pyrrhus. 

To grant  
Life to a King, of a great King's a point.   Agam. 
Why then didst thou a King of Life bereave?  Pyrrhus. 
The pitiful Death oft for Life doth give.  Agam. 
Your pity then the Virgin slays I guess.  Pyrrhus. 
To slay a maid now think'st it wickedness?  Agam. 

It doth become a King for to prefer  
His country t'his Children.   Pyrrhus. 

No Law doth spare  
The Captive, nor their punishment impede.   Agam. 
But shame does, what the Law doth not, forbid.  Pyrrhus. 
The Victor may do what he list by Law.  Agam. 
He lest of all should do, who freely may.  Pyr. 

Why bragest thou thus, when it was Pyrrhus broke  
These conquered, the ten years heavy yoke?   Agam. 
Scyros such valour breed?  Pyrrhus. 

The same which knows  
No brothers villainy.   Agam. 
Which waves enclose?  Pyrrhus. 

Forsooth our Kin. I of the noble breed  
Of Atreus, and Thyestus have heard.   Agam. 

And I of thee conceived in furtive play  
B'a maid; got by Achilles, yet a Boy.   Pyrrhus. 
The same Achilles whose Kin sparse be Throughout the worlds. Whose with the Gods. The Sea With Thetis, Hell with Aeacus, and Heaven With Jove he holds.  Agam. 

The same Achilles given.  
To Death, by Paris hand.   Pyrrhus. 

The same whom hand  
To hand, none of the Gods durst yet withstand.   Agam. 

I can cease brawling truly, and repress  
With punishment, this your audaciousness:  
But my Sword knows how to spare Captives. Let  
Calchas the God's interpreter be fet.  
If Fates require I'll yield. Enter Calchas.  
Thou who didst set  
The Crecian Fleet lose from their bonds, and let  
To Wars, who dost the Poles unlock. To whom  
Beasts entrails, Comets, Thunder, what to come  
Doth show, whose Oracles hath cost me wide  
Damage. O Calchas with thy council guide  
Us, and what God ordains do thou declare.   Calchas. 
With wont price their way the Grecians are  
To buy, so Fates do Grant. A maid must slain  
Be on the Tomb of the Thessalian  
Prince, dressed as the Thessalians when they wed,  
Or like a 32) Jonian or a Mycenae bride.  
Pyrrhus' must to his Father give the Maid,  
So 'twill be rightly done: Not this hath stayed  
Alone our Ships, blood's due to blood; 'tis higher  
Than thine Polyxena the Fates require.  
Astyanax thrown from a Tower shall be,  
And lucky die: Then spread your Sails at Sea Exeunt omnes.  Enter Chorus of Trojan Women. 
Is't true? Or fools do tales deceive,  
That souls the Bodies buried live?  
When next of kin shall close the eyes,  
Last day obstruct the light of Skies,  
And Urns sad ashes last enclose;  
It boots not souls to give to those.  
Or is't that wretch's longer are?  
Die we not all? of us no share  
Remains; when with last flying breath  
The Soul past into air is with  
The mixed clouds: and the bare trunk,  
Into th' funeral fire sunk?  
Whatsoever the Sun from East to West  
Beholds; the Sea with blue waves pressed  
In's flux or reflux wets, age will  
With a Pegasian Motion spill.  
With what pace the twelve signs do fly,  
With what course through the year doth hie  
The Stars Lord; with what haste in her  
Oblique course Hecate doth stir,  
To death we run: who once attains  
The Stygian Lake no more remains.  
As the black fume which from the fire  
Mounts, doth in a short space expire,  
As Boreas doth asunder blow,  
The rain-big clouds we saw but now;  
Just so flies hence, our guide, the breath.  
After Death nothing: Nothing's Death,  
Of a short life the last end. Let  
The Greedy hope, the Sad fear set Aside.  
Where thou shalt be, dost quaere aside.  
When dead? where the unborn now are.  
Time us, and Chaos doth devour;  
Body and Soul yields to Death's power.  
The Realm of Dis, and Taenarus  
And the three-headed Cerberus,  
The black, and Cruel monster, that  
Sits Porter at th' unfacile gate  
Are idle tails, vain words, and seem  
Like fables in a pensive Dream.    

Act the III.  

Scene the I.  Enter Andromach, Senex, Astyanax. 

ANd why sad Trojans tore you thus your hairs?  
Why knock your breasts? & wet your cheeks with tears?  
Our ills are light if we can weep: But now  
When long before to me, fell Troy to you?  
When Acchillis drew my Hector's limbs o'th' ground,  
Whose burden made the Chariot groan: I found  
Troy then o'returned, and fallen. By Ills I'm made  
Dull, stiff, and without sense. Were I not stayed  
By my Astyanax, after my husband, I  
Would quickly follow. He forbids to die.  
'Tis he my Courage tames, and makes me move  
As yet with some request the Gods above.  
Time adds unto my misery. The Chief  

* Security to fear nothing.  Fruit of all ills haves robbed me of: for grief  
But not for better luck a way is left:  
Most wretched 'tis to fear of Hope bereft.   Senex. 
What sudden fear is this afflicts thee thus?  Andro. 

From one mischief a greater spring there does,  
The Fate of falling Troy yet has no end.   Senex. 
What harms can God find if he would to send?  Andro. 

The doors and dens of Styx are oped, and from  
The bottom of his tomb our foe doth Come.  
Lest that we dread should want. Alone must the  
Way backward previous to the Grecians be?  
Sure Death is Equal. Common is the fright  
Which fears and grieves the Trojans. What to night  
Scared me in sleep belong to me it may.   Senex. 
What Sighs portend such fear declare, I pray.  Andro. 

Two parts of Cherishing Night were almost fled,  
And the seven Stars bright wain was turned to bed,  
When rest not usual did sad me surprise,  
And a short sleep crept o'er my wearied eyes;  
( Or rather Scupor of a mind bescared)  
When straight ways Hector 'fore mine eyes appeared:  
Not as when he upon the Argives set,  
And sought with flaming pines to burn their fleet.  
Nor as when he the slaughtered Grecians fought,  
And they true spoils from feigned Achilles brought.  
His Countenance no glorious beamings had,  
But like to ours dejected was, and sad,  
His hair disordered hung; And yet I joyed  
To see him: when shaking his head he said.  
Awake, O faithful wife! and take thy Son,  
Let him be hid: he is thy Hope alone.  
Leave weeping. Mournest thou for the fall of Troy?  
Would that might only fall! Make haste, the Boy  
The small stock of our house remove. I shook  
With horror and cold shivering awoke,  
Trembling my Eyes I cast now here, now there,  
The Child forgot, I wretch for Hector quaere,  
But the vain shade did through my hands retire.  
O Child, true offspring of thy mighty Sire!  
The Trojans only hope; and of our sad  
House, and most ancient, and most noble blood  
The only stock. How like thy Sire, just that  
Visage my Hector had, and such a gate  
And habit; so he did's strong hands advance,  
His shoulders rear; Threat with his Countenance;  
So his spread hair his shoulders did adorn:  
Too late for Troy, too soon for me thou'rt born.  
Shall that day be, that happy day when that  
Defender and Avenger of Troy's state  
Thou Pergamus rebuild shalt? and bring home  
The Sparsed Citizens? render the name  
To Troy and to the Trojeans? Of my Fate  
I'm unmindful.— I doubt such votes to great  
Are. It's enough that Captives live. Ah! where  
May I a place find faithful to my fear?  
Where shall I hide thee? The famed citadel  
Strengthened with forts, and walls of Gods, is fell  
To Dust. All's spoiled with flames: Of mighty Troy  
Not so much left is where to hide my Boy.  
What cunning place now shall I choose? Lo here  
The Sacred Tomb is of my Husband dear,  
By foes revered, raised by his Father thus  
To this vast height with riches; Covetous  
He was not in his sadness:— Best I can  
His Father trust.— A cold sweat falls upon  
My limbs.— Ah wretch! I tremble lest that this  
An omen of his future funeral is.   Senex. 

To be thought Dead the only way has been  
Many to keep alive: Scarce any thing  
Of Hope's above. His great birth bears him down.   Andromach.. 
Can none betray?  Senex. 

Let not your fraud be known  
To witnesses.   Andromach.. 
What if the foe shall quaere.  Senex. 
He perished in the City, say.  Andromach.. 

The near  
What are we, if at last they find our Guile?   Senex. 
The victor's fierceness lasts but for a while.  An. 
What, w'thout great fear he can't be hidden then?  Senex. 
`` Secure do choose helps snatch distressed men.  Andr. 

What place? what Realm, remote and envious  
Shall keep thee safe? who'll succour trembling us  
Who will Protect? O Hector! thou who hast  
Always defended thine, defend at last,  
Conserve the close deed of thy pious wife.  
Keep with thy dust a future victor's life.  
Child, Come near the Tomb— Why runest back? Despise  
Base Corners dost? Thy valour I agnise.  
He scorns to fear— Thy Noble spirit forget,  
And ancient Courage. Take what thy Fates permit.  
See what poor Troop remains, this Tomb, and thou  
A Boy, I prisoner— We t' our Ills must bow.  
Go to: venture into this holy seat  
Of thy Sepulted Sire, thou hast if that  
The Fates will unto wretches help infer  
Thy Life; if life deny, thy sepulchre.   Senex. 

He's closely hid. But lest your fear betray  
Him, hence receded, and go another way.   Andromach.. 

Who fears at hand is wont to fear the less.  
But let us from this place, and if you please.   Senex. 

Silence awhile, Cease your Complaints, I pray,  
Ulysses moves his Cursed steps this way.   Androm. 

Cleave earth! O Husband from Styx deepest womb  
The Earth rend, there keep my depositum.  
Here's Ulysses; By's musing pace 'tis guest  
He Cunning mischief hatches in his breast.    

Act the III. Scene the II.  Enter Ulysses and soldiers. 

ILL news I bring, but this I first require,  
Though my mouth speaksed, believe't not my desire,  
It is the voice of all the Greek guides, whom  
Hector's Issue keeps from their long-left home.  
Him do the Fates require, the Grecians will  
Their peace uncertain think, behind them still  
Fear will enforce them for to look, nor can  
They lay down arms, whilst Andromach! thy Son  
Doth Courage to the conquered Trojans bring.   Andr. 
Doth thus indeed your Prophet Calchas sing?  Vlys. 

If that our Augur Calchas silent were  
Yet Hector tell us this, whose stock we fear.  
The generous Seed the growing stock adorns.  
So the small hangby calf, t' a herd, whose horns  
Yet has not cut the Skin, when by and by  
His forehead ample grown, and's necks on high  
He rules the beasts, and leads his father's flock.  
So a small twig left to the lopped stock  
In a small time like to its mother grows,  
Shadows the Earth, its boughs to Heaven shows.  
So Sparks left carelessly their strength resume.  
Grief is of things an unjust judge. Presume  
Thou Mayest, that after a ten winter's war  
As many summers the old soldiers are  
Afraid of other broils, nor well esteem  
Themselves, Troy not destroyed: A great thing them  
Disturbs, A Future Hector 'tis. Do thou  
Remove this fear, that only stays us now.  
This stops our ready ships. Cruel suppose  
Me not, that I ask Hector's Son, for chose  
By lot to do't, Orestes I'd require.  
Come suffer what the conqueror did bear.   Andro. 

O Child! would thou wert in thy mother's hand:  
What Chance bereft me of thee, or what land  
Now holds thee? Would I knew. Not Enemies darts  
Stabbed in my breast; Nor cutting bonds, nor smarts  
Of fire my sides surrounding e'er should shake  
My maternal Faith. O Child! what chance doth take,  
What place doth hold, thee now? wander unknown  
About the Fields dost thou? Or overthrown  
Amongst the rubbish of thy Country trod?  
Or has fierce victors sported with thy blood?  
Or wert thou cast unto some cruel beast?  
Or wert thou to the Trojan souls a feast?   Ulysses. 

Leave feigning thus. Thou canst not easily  
Deceive Ulysses. mother's Treachery,  
Yea wiles of Goddesses I have undone:  
Leave these vain setches; tell me, where's thy Son?   Andro. 

Where's Hector? Priamus'? all the Trojans? where?  
Thou ask'st for one, I for them all do Quaere.   Ulysses. 
You shall be forced to tell what you deny.  Andro. 
For he who ought, would, can, 'tis safe to die.  Ulysses. 
Approaching Death will scare great words away.  Andro. 

If Andromach, Ulysses! thou'lt betray  
With fear; threat ' life, to die is my desire.   Ulys. 

What now thou hid'st by torments, stripes, death, fire,  
Thou shalt be forced to tell, unwilling, pain  
Thy closest Secrets from thy breast shall drain.  
Necessitie's wont to do more than zeal.  
'Tis vain to hide, what straight thou must reveal.   An. 

Flames, wounds, & the dire tricks of torments threat.  
Famine and cruel thirst, all Plagues complete,  
Hot irons thrust into my bowels, the  
Plague of close Prison, and what e'er may be  
Pleasing to th' angry tumid conqueror.  
The valiant mother can admit no fear.   Ulysses. 

This Love in which thou dost so stiffly 'bide  
The Greeks warns for their Children to provide.  
After a ten years' war, and so far off  
I less should fear, what Calehas prophiseth,  
If For myself, but thou dost ways prepare  
For Telemachas. Androm. I will ease from Care  
Ulysses and the Greeks. O sorrow! Griefs!  
Say unto those you trouble: Joy O Greeks!  
Do thou as thou wert wont Good news declare  
To the Pelasgians. Dead is Hector's heir.   Ulysses. 
How wilt thou prove that this is true?  Andromach.. 

So let  
The Greatest ill the conqueror doth threat  
Happen to me, Let Fates me quickly slay,  
May I be buried in my Country; may  
The Native soil lightly on Hector spread,  
As he wants light, and lies amongst the dead,  
And with due exequies laid in his tomb.   Ulysses. 

The Fates are pleased if Hector's Son is gone.  
A solid peace, and Joy to th' Greeks I'll Give. Aside.  
What dost Ulysses? will the Greeks believe  
Thee? who thou? The Mother. What wont she swear?  
Is't not Death's dreadful Omen makes her fear?  
Fear Omens! what should such fear more? now she  
Has tied her Faith by oath, what thing may be  
Worse to be feared, then that she perish? Now  
Wiles, Craft, Fraud, and thyself Ulysses show.  
`` Truth will appear. Search out the Mother. Mourn,  
Shed Tears, Lament she doth, at every turn,  
Now here, now there her anxious steps she bears,  
My words receiveth at her Careful Ears.  
She fears more than she Mourns. Here's work for wit. To Andromach again.  
That parent's ease to parents give 'tis fit.  
Thou Mayest rejoice that thou dost want thy Son,  
Whom a most Cruel Death did wait upon,  
For from the Tower, that which remains alone  
Of Troy, he should have been cast headlong down.   Andromach.. 

My feeble limbs do shake, my Spirit's lost;  
My blood grows stiff bound with a frigid frost. Aside.   Ulysses. 

See how she trembles: This is the way to do't.  
Fear has detected her: Now I'll renewed. Aside. To the soldiers, they seek about.  
Go, Go make haste, bring forth where e'er he's hid,  
The Greeks last plague, hid by his mother's fraud.  
So so he's Caught: Go to; Make haste:  
He'r lead. To Andromach.  
Why lookest thou back and fear'st? Thy Son is dead.   Andro. 

Would I might fear! This is accustomed fear.  
`` What we learn long, we cannot soon forbear.   Ulysses. 

Since that the youth a purging Sacrum may  
Not be, nor we our Prophet thus obey,  
He being snatched by a more gentle Fate,  
Thus Calchas saith. Our ships may remigrate,  
If Seas to please we Hector's ashes spread  
About, and's Tomb with th' Earth be equal made.  
Since he escaped has the appointed fate,  
Our hand this Sacred Seat must violate.   aside. Andro. 

What shall I do? my mind a double fear  
Distracts. My Son; the ashes of my dear  
Husband. O Hector! I to witness, Call  
The Cruel Gods; the True, thy Ghosts an all,  
Nought but thyself in my Son pleaseth me;  
May he live then for to be like to thee!  
Shall's ashes merged be? his Tomb pulled down?  
Shall I let's bones into the Sea be thrown?  
First let 
* Astyanax.  him die. But canst thou see him sent  
To death? hurled down from the high battlement?  
I will. I'll suffer it. I will endure't, that the  
Dead, by the victor's hand mayn't dammaged be.  
He may be sensible of pain; at rest  
The Fates have placed him. Why waverest?  
Determine which thou'lt save— dost doubt ingrate?  
This is thy Hector— Both are Hecters, yet  
This is alive, revenge perhaps he may  
His dead Father. Both can't be saved. Delay  
Why dost? save him the Greeks do fear.   Ulysses. 

I will  
Destroy this Tomb, and th' Oracle fulfil▪   Andromach.. 
That which ye sold?  Ulysses. 

I will the Sepulchre  
Raze to the Ground.   Andromach.. 

The help of Gods deter;  
Achilles' Faith I Call: O Pyrrhus! thy  
Sire's gift descend.   Ulysses. 

This Tomb shall by and by  
O'er all the field be spread.   Andromach.. 

Such villainies  
The Greeks yet have not dared; of Deities  
Your friends, you violated have the Fain,  
Your Rage yet spared the Tombs.—  
I'll you restrain:  
My naked hands yours armed shall set upon.  
Wrath Strength will Give. As the fierce Amazon  
Beat down the Grecian Troops: As Menas struck  
By bacchic fury, all the forests shook  
With her Enthean rage, and furnished  
With Thyrsus, mad, ne'er felt the wounds she made.  
So in the midst I'll rush, a Mate become  
To's Ashes in defending of his tomb.   Ulysses. 

Cease ye? what doth a simple woman's do to the soldiers.  
And fury move? Obey and quickly too.   Andr. 

O slay me first! foil hell! break fate's delay!  
Hector remove the Earth; So that you may  
Ulysses tame: Thy Ghost can do't.— See see  
He shakes the weapons: Hurleth fires; do ye  
See Hector? or do only I?   Ulysses. 

Down down  
With't to the Ground.   Andromach.. 

What dost? shall overthrown Aside.  
Thy Son and Husband be together? pray  
The Greeks, perhaps you pacify them may.  
The massy ruins of the Tomb will strait  
Crush th' hidden wretch. O rather let his Fate  
Be somewhere else, lest that the Father kill  
The Son, the Son the Father's ashes spill.  
I suppliant at thy feet do fall although To Ulysses.  
My hands did ne'er such humble postures know,  
I lay them at thy Feet Ulysses, hear  
My pious prayers gently, patient bear,  
Pity a Mother; And the higher thou  
By th' God's art raised, unto the fall show  
Less rigor: who the needy helps, doth gain.  
So Mayest thou thy chaste wife's bed see again!  
So may thy sight extend thy father's years!  
Thy Son receive thee! May thy voteful prayers  
In thy Son's virtues, more than answered be!  
His grandsires age, thy ingenuity  
May he surpass! The Mother pity; save  
My only Joy.   Ulysses. 
Bring forth thy Son and Crave.   

Act the III. Scene the III.  Andromach, Ulysses, Astyanax. 

MIserable wretch Come from thy Den! Andromach calls Astyanax from the Tomb, he comes out.  
— See here  
The Child Ulysses who your Ships doth fear.  
Submit thyself fall prostrate on thy face,  
At thy Lord's feet entreat: Nor think that base  
Which fortune to the wretched hath assigned.  
Thy Kingly grandfathers put from thy mind,  
And famous Priamus' mighty Power,  
Hector forget, and like a Captive bear  
Thyself with bended knees.  
If tho' art not sensible as yet of Death  
Yet imitate thy mother's Tears.— Troy hath  
Once seen the tears of her young Princely heir:  
The fierce Alcides threats removed were  
By little Priamus; That fierce one who  
Did monsters by his mighty Strength subdue,  
Who broke hell's gates, returned thence, yet he  
Was by the tears of 's little enemy  
O'ercome; Take here, said he, the reins, possess  
Thy Father's seat, and Throne; more faith express  
In ruling now. His Captives, not repent  
We should: By Hercules learn to relent.  
Must only Hercules's arrows please?  
As good as Priamus here suppliant lies  
Before thy feet: his life he begs; as for  
The Realm he that to Fortune doth refer.   Ulys. 

The Mourning of this ' frighted mother sore Aside.  
Moves me, but yet the Grecian dames move more,  
To whom this Child great Sorrow once may yield.   Andromach.. 

Shall he this ruined City ere rebuild?  
Shall these hands Troy erect? No hopes Troy has  
If such as these: we ruined are, alas!  
Not so that we to any fear may Cause.  
Doth's Father Cause this rigor?— True the place!  
Hector himself after Troy's downfall would  
Have left his Courage, by such great Ills cooled.  
If punishments you seek, worse can you lack  
Than to the yoke to use his noble neck?  
Sure he may serve, who ' le this a King deny?   Ulysses. 
'Tis Calchas this denies to you, not I.  Andromach. 

Author of frauds! worker of Cruelty!  
None in the wars did by thy valour die:  
By the Sly frauds of thy infected mind  
Greeks too have fallen. Why dost thou pretend  
The Prophet, and the Guiltless Gods? when this  
Night Champion! of thy own devising is?  
thou'rt valiant to slay a Child; 'Tis now  
Alone by day thou any thing dar'st do.   Ulysses. 

Ulysses valour to the Greeks is known  
Enough, too much to you: I may ned in vain  
Words Spend the day. Our Anchors weighed will be.   Andr. 

Grant some short stay whilst that I render the  
Last duties of a Parent to my child,  
And have my griefs by my last Clippings filled.   Ulysses. 

Would I might pity show! this only may  
Be shown; we grant at thy request delay,  
And time to weep. Tears griefs disburden does.   Andr. 

Sweet pledge! O glory of our fallen house!  
Last end of Troy! O fear to Greeks! O vain  
Hope of thy Mother! for whom thy grandsires reign  
In his best State, thy Father's fortitude  
I did request: The Gods our votes delude.  
In Ilium's royal Court Troy's sceptre thou  
Shall ned bear, nor laws give to thy people now:  
Nor to thy yoke submit the conquered rout,  
Nor Grecians slay; Nor Pyrrhus drag about.  
Nor shall thy tender hands Arms exercise,  
Nor boldly in the lawns wild beasts surprise.  
Nor shalt thou with the noble youths resort  
To use th'( at solemn Lustres) Trojan sport.  
Nor with swift fear dance in the Phrygian fanes  
About the Altars, whilst the warlike strains  
Of Curved pipes excite. Dire death, alas!  
Worse than death; Something more sad than was  
Hector's Troy now shall see.   Ulysses. 

Break off thy Tears  
Great dolour never of itself forbears,   Andr. 

Small is the time for tears that we require,  
Ulysses! grant before that he expire,  
I wish my hand may close his little Eyes.  
Thou diest young but feared by Enemies.  
Thy Troy expect thee; Go free Trojans see  
From bondage freed.   Astyanax. 
O Mother succour me!  Andr. 

Why huggest thou me? Why hold'st thy mother's hands?  
Thou tak'st a vain defence. As trembling stands  
By ' is mother's side the tender youngling, when  
It hears the Lion roar: She gone, he then  
With his vast jaws teareth the tender prey,  
So thee thy foe snatch from my breast away  
Will. Here receive my Kisses, Tears, and hair  
Rent off. To th' Sire now full to me repair.  
Tell him thy mother's plaints: If Ghosts retain  
Their former Love, not perished in the flame.  
O Cruel Hector! wilt thou suffer thy  
Andromach serve the Greeks? and slothful lie?  
Achilles back returned. Take here, take here,  
Once more my rent hair, and tears, what e'er  
Is of my Hector lest: These Kisses give  
Unto thy Sire. This coat thy mother leave:  
This touched has my dear's ashes, and his tomb;  
I'll search his ashes and what's left lick down.   Ulysses. 

Thou hast no measure in thy tears: away,  
'Tis time to break the Grecians Ships delay. Exeunt omnes.   Chorus. 

Which is the place where we must dwell?  
Thessalian Mounts, and Tempe's vail?  
Or Phthie, bearing Myrmidons?  
Or asper Thrachyn full of Stones,  
Where the fair droves of beasts bred be?  
Or Jolchos Mistress of the Sea?  
Or hundred citied spacious Crete?  
Small Gortine? or barren Trice?  
Or knee holm bearing Methony,  
Which in th' Oetian woods do lie  
Whence came those Cruel shafts, which more  
Then once Troy's fatal ruin bore?  
Olenus where few houses be?  
Pleuron Diana's enemy?  
Or Seas-indented Troezean?  
Or Prothous Kingdom Peleon,  
The third step to heaven? where then  
In th' Hollow Mount a spacious den  
Was, where great Chiron master to  
The Cruel youth did use to show  
His skill, striking the sounding Strings  
With's bow; and there whilst wars he Sings,  
His mighty ire stir up he does.  
Or Marble-bearing Carystos?  
Or Chalcis near the Shore of the  
Swift Euripus th' unquiet Sea?  
Echinae open to every wind?  
Or Genoessa where gales find  
A Constant vent? or Enispae  
Which fear the North-East wind? or the  
Ptrithaedos joined to Attica?  
Elusis which do hidden rites enjoy?  
Or Ajax Country Salamin?  
Or Calydonia which hath been  
Well noted for the Cruel bore?  
Bessa and Scarphe, which( the shore  
Even reached) Titaressus laves  
About with his dull sluggish waves?  
Ancient Pilos? Pharis? Jove's  
Pisa? Elis which great games loves?  
Sad Storms which thus the wretched send  
By every one to every land:  
But whilst that we for 
* Helena.  her do pay  
Who has done thus to Greece, and Troy,  
Far may Sparta, and Argos be,  
And mighty Pelops Mycenae!  
Neritus less than Zacynthus!  
And guileful Stany Ithacus.   

What fate remains, O Hecuba!  
For thee? what Lord shall lead away  
Thee? and to what Land shalt thou fly?  
Or in what Country shalt thou die?     

Act the IV.  

Scene the I.  Helena, Andromach, Hecuba, Polyxena, Mute. Enter Helena alone, with Grecian Tires and Ornaments in her hand. 

'Tis fit a Bride-maid Helena should be  
At every deadly Hymen, and where the  
Marriage doth cries, grief, slaughter, blood produce.  
I'm forced the conquered Trojans to abuse;  
Pyrrhus' false nuptials I am charged to show,  
And Grecian tires, and trimings carry to  
Polyxena: So Paris sister shall  
Deceived by my fraud, and Cunning fall.  
Be She deceived; ' will easier be for her,  
'Tis a wished death to die without Death's fear.  
Why dost thou not as thou art bid? Crimes still  
Forced, return on th' authors of the ill. Enter Polyxena, Hecuba and Andromach.  
O noble Maid of the Dardanian House!  
A better God now the afflicted does  
Begin for to regard: A dowry he To Polyxena.  
And happy marriage doth prepare for thee,  
And such a Husband Priamus he could  
Not have given thee though Troy itself had stood.  
For 
* Pyrrhus.  Thessaly's great Prince desires to wed  
With holy rites, thee to his lawful bed;  
Whose Kingdom spreads o'er Spacious Thessaly:  
Great Tethis and the Lady's of the Sea,  
And Thetys' the proud Seas fair Lady, shall  
Call thee theirs; Peleus shall thee cousin Call,  
When thou art Pyrrhu's wife; and Nereus too: Offers her the Grecian Tires.  
Put off these mourning robes and these endue;  
Forget Captivity: Let maids prepare  
With art-ful hands to curl and plait thy hair.  
Thou by this fall perchance mayst higher rise;  
`` Many have gained by being made a prize.   Andr. 

For to be glad the only ill has been  
Wanting to ruined Trojans: Troy's now seen  
In Flames. O Time for weddings! Who dares though  
Deny? or who will be in doubt to go  
For to be Married when that Helena  
Persuades? to Grecians and to Trojans ah!  
The ruin, Pest, and Plague. Seest thou these Tombs  
Of captains? and these inhumated bones  
Spread o'er the fields? Thy Hymen's fruits they be:  
Asia's and Europe's blood was shed for thee,  
Whilst thou with doubtful wishes and no care,  
Thy husband's fighting Saw; Go too, prepare  
The wedding. What needs Torches? fire? or bright  
Nuptial Faxes? Troy'l this new wedding light.  
O Trojans Pyrrhu's wedding Celebrate!  
Let Tears and Groans sound it in seemly rate.   Helena. 

Although great grief, wants reason, and denies  
To yield, and Your sad fellows to despise  
Doth cause, yet I my Cause defend do dare,  
That my Griefs greater far than yours are,  
Before a prejudiced Judge. Andromacha  
Bewaileth Hector, Priamus, Hecuba:  
For Paris only prively doth mourn  
Helen; You servitude hard to be born  
And heavy think: Ten years this Captive yoke  
I bore. Your family and Troy now struck  
Are to the Earth; 'Tis sad indeed to bear  
Your Country's loss; but worse for me to fear.  
Your ills are by partakers easy made;  
Me both the Greeks and Trojans ires invade.  
You know not yet whose prisoners you shall be,  
Without a Lot my Lord will straight take me?  
I Cause of these wars and Troy's overthrow.  
But 'twas your fleet on Spartan Seas did row.  
But if the Phrygians me a prey did make,  
Being Venus gift for her victory's sake,  
Then pardon Paris. angry Menelaus  
Will shortly sharply Judge my Crime and Cause.  
O Andromach stop thou thy tears, and gain  
Polyxena to wed, I can't refrain  
From weeping.   Andromach. 

O what mighty Evill's this!  
That Helen weeps? why weeps she? Tell what is  
Ulysses plot, what wickedness doth he  
Contrive; what, must the Maid cast headlong be  
From the Idaean rocks? must she be sent  
From the high Tower's highest Battlement?  
Or from those rocks must she into the vast  
Sea, which Segeon's clef● side bounds be cast?  
Tell tell what's hid in thy deceitful breast.  
Alas! this evill's worse than all the rest.  
That Hecuba's and Priam's Son in Law  
Pyrrhus should be. What plagues preparest, say?  
Show, and let's not in our Misfortunes be  
Beguiled; To die we ready are you see.   Helena. 

Would Calchas also would Command me to  
With Sword the Stays of hated life undo.  
Or that I might by Pyrrhus' cursed hand  
Be slain before Achilles' tomb, and stand  
O polyxens! a partner in thy woo.  
Achilles' doth Command that thou be to  
Him given; that thou thy life ' fore's ashes yield,  
That he thy Spouse may be i'th' Elysian field.   An. 

See with what joy her death pronounced she hears,  
With Princely ornaments herself she tires,  
Her hair she suffers to be curled, It seems,  
She marriage Death, and Death a marriage deems.  
But see! my Mother swoons at this sad news,  
She faints! Arise! take Courage Mother! use  
Courage! take heart—. How small a thread doth stay  
Her parting Soul! A small thing Hecuba  
Can happy make!— She breathes:— She lives: thus still  
`` Desired death fly from the wretched will.   Hecuba. 

Doth yet Achilles Live to punish us?  
Rebels he yet? O Paris hand that thus  
So lightly struck! His Tomb and ashes they  
Thirst for our blood. About my side a gay▪  
Troop once did stand. I wearied was to deal  
My Kisses and my Love amongst them all.  
This only's left, Hecuba's only Child,  
Companion, joy, she who my griefs beguiled.  
I only her call Child. Unhappy still!  
Fly hence Soul case me of this only ill.  
See Tears bedew her Cheeks, a sudden shower  
From her dejected Countenance doth power.  
Be glad O Child Cassandra would rejoice,  
Or Andromach, to be espoused thus.   Andr. 

'Tis we! 'tis we! O Hecuba 'tis we  
Should be lamented, scattered on the Sea  
And up and down dispersed: But Helen then  
Shall her dear Earth and Country see again.  
He▪ You'd grudge my State more did you know your own.   Andromach. 
Is any part of my Torment unknown?  Helena. 
The Fickle lot hath given you masters shall.  Andramach. 
Whose Servant? who must I master Call?  Helena. 
The 
* Pyrrhus.  Scyrian youth by Lot doth Challenge thee.  Andromach. 
Happy Cassandra! Phoebus sets thee free.  Helena. 
The General has her.  Hecuba. 
Is Hecuba by any claimed?  Helena. 
Thou art Ulisses' prey▪  Hecuba. 

What Cruel and unjust Lot sorting Guide  
Was this, Princes to Princes that denied?  
What God the Captives lots thus badly drew?  
What Cruel Judge, who for poor wretches knew  
Not how to choose them Lords? And whose dire hand  
Has gi'n us such unequal Fates? who send  
Doth Hectar's mother to Achilles Arms?  
I'm to Ulysses sent. And now all harms,  
Captivity, and Death, doth me behem:  
Not of my Bondage but my Lord I am  
ashamed. He Hector's spoil doth bear, who does  
Achilles' Arms bear? Land that Seas enclose  
And barren shall that hold my grave? Away  
Ulysses lead me; for I make no stay.  
My Lord I follow: me my Fates. The Sea  
May it no Calm retain! But let it be  
With Winds disturbed. The Fates of Priamus  
And of myself, wars, Fire follow us!  
So shall my pain prove gain to me, so that  
Such prize Ulysses by his Lot may get.  
But Pyrrhus with a hasty pace doth run,  
And Cruel Look▪ why stayest thou Pyrrhus? Come Priamus' and She.  
Pierce my breast too, and let* us now conjoin:  
Old Priam's murderer, fit this blood of mine  
Is by thee to be shed. Polyxena  
Take hence and with her Cruel death bewray  
The Gods above, and eke below. why should  
I you beseech? To such rites Seas I would  
Have answerable. On your mighty fleet,  
And Ship that Carries me all Curses light.   Chorus. 

Companions Sweeten Grief; 'tis found  
Less hard when Cries whole swarms resound.  
Sorrow and Tears more gently bite  
When Troops with like tears are in sight.  
Great grief desires still to see,  
Many fellows in misery:  
And not alone the pain to bear.  
None nills when all suffer a share.  
No man wretched himself doth hold  
If all are so: Men rich in Gold  
Remove: Remove all such that use  
To Cut rich land with a hundred ploughs;  
And then the poors Cast minds will rise.  
None's poor but when he rich espies.  
In great mishaps 'tis Sweet to see  
In Sadness every face agree.  
He doth his fate moan and deplore,  
Who naked gains the sought-for shore,  
By swimming from shipwreck alone.  
He danger less and's Chance doth moan,  
Who a Thousand ships did see  
Together swallowed by the Sea:  
Whilst shipwracked planks spread on the Shore  
When that the northwest wind doth roar,  
Holding back the Constrained waves.  
Phrixus for Helle's drowning raves,  
When that the Golden-fleeced Ram  
On's guilded back bore she and him,  
And she sell thence into the Sea.  
Deucalion and Pyrrha they  
When they nothing beheld but waves  
Where all but they had made their graves,  
Grieved less together. Alas! all we  
Anon shall separated be;  
And tossed Ships disjoin our tears,  
When that the sails the Mariners  
At Trumpet sound shall hoist; and when  
With winds, and hasty oars they from  
The flying Shores haste to the Deep.  
What State of mind shall wretches keep  
When Seas increase, and Earth grows small?  
When Ida high, lie hidden shall,  
Then Children to their Mothers, they  
To th' Children where Troy stood shall show,  
And pointing with their fingers Cry,  
That's Troy where the smoke on high,  
Creeps to heaven. The Trojans so  
By black smoke shall their Country know.     

Act the V.  

Scene the I.  Nuncius, Andromach, Hecuba. 

O Dire! Cruel! horrid! miserable fare  
So sad and Cruel wickedness begat  
This ten years' wars had not. Andromacha's  
Grief shall I first Condole, or Hecuba's?  
Whose ills some ere thou moanest, thou mine dost Moan.  
All others ill I bear; they but their own.  
For me all's spoiled: all wretches mine remain.   Nun. 

The Child's flung from the tower: the Maid is slain,  
But both bore death with an heroic mind.   Andr. 

That double ill show, how to death assigned:  
Go to, tell all for my indurate heart,  
Desires to hear, o'th' mischief every part.   Nun. 

One tower of famous Troy's yet left, and where  
Priamus used to Sit wars Arbiter,  
And by signs guide the Armies. In that place  
His Nephew in his bosom cherished was,  
Where whilst his Sire with fire and sword pursueth  
The flying Greeks; he his acts showed to the youth,  
This noted Tower, once the walls chief pride,  
But now a Cruel Rock, on every side  
Begirt was, with the captains, and with the  
Spread troops of plebeians: Ships relinquished be  
The vulgar thither run. The hill some board  
Which doth a Prospect to the place afford:  
Some gain the high rock, from whose top a band  
To see this doleful sight on tiptoes Stand.  
Some bays; some beaches, others pines get up:  
The whole wood Shaketh with the hanging troop.  
The broken mountain's highest part one gets,  
Another th' half burnt houses tops: This sets  
Upon a hanging Stone o'th' falling wall;  
Another he on Hector's tomb doth crawl  
To see, O wicked! Through the crowded place  
Ulysses walketh with a Stately pace,  
And Priam's little Nephew in his hand;  
Who with no slow pace to the tower did wend:  
From whose high top with an undaunted heart,  
His earnest eyes he threw on every part.  
As the Stout Lion's tender whelp, who yet  
Not able for to tear his prey doth threat,  
His Courage swells, he tries to bite in vain:  
So the fierce youth a hostile hand restrain  
Did: whilst he moved into tears below  
The captains, vulgar, and Ulysses too,  
He only tearless stood, whom all be wailed.  
But whilst their prophet's words Ulysses told,  
And to those rites the Cruel Gods did call,  
He of himself leapt down amongst them all.   An. 

What Colchian e'er; or barbarous Scythe commit  
Did such an act? what Caspian borderer that  
A lawless people are thus much dared do?  
Buseris on's Altar no Children Slew:  
Nor did the Horses of Diomedes'  
Banquet upon such tender limbs as these.  
Who shall unto thy limbs give burial?   Nuncius. 

What limbs remains there after such a fall?  
The fall has dashed, and Split his bones, his face,  
His father's noble Marks, his body's grace,  
Confounded are by's fall. His neck is broke,  
His head is rent, and by flints Cruel stroke  
His brains dashed out are; thus his members do  
Deformed lie.   Andromach. 
Thus he's like his father too.  Nun. 

When that Astyanax from the tower was thrown,  
Wailed by the Greeks who this vile fact had done,  
The same unto Achilles' Tomb do high  
For to perform another Tragedy.  
The Rhaetean Seas with gentle waves do beat,  
The farther side; the field doth Compass it  
On th' other; and the valley riseth there  
With a small rise; Like to a theatre,  
The midst enclosing. Swarms do fill the shores;  
Some hope her death will free their sluggish oars.  
Some joy to see their foes Stock slain, To see  
Most hate the Crime in which they actors be.  
The Trojans too with fear do thither go  
Where they behold Troy's utter overthrow.  
Now marriage wise the Torches march before  
And 
* Helenae.  Tyndaris the bride-maid marcheth there,  
In th' head. The Trojans wish Hermiona  
Such marriage: and th' adultress Helena  
So given t' her Spouse. Both sides amazed are;  
The Maid cast down her bashful looks doth bare.  
But yet her Eyes did shine, and fairer show  
Her beauty did that it was wont to do.  
So sweeter shows Phaebus' setting light,  
When rising Stars bring on the neighbour night.  
The people Marvail; all do greatly praise,  
Th' about to die; her Beauty Moyeth these,  
These her soft age; Things flying changes those,  
But with what Courage she doth death oppose  
Moves all. Before, Pyrrhus she went: All do  
Tremble, and marvel, and her pity too.  
When they unto the sad hill's top were Come,  
And Pyrrhus mounted on his Father's tomb,  
The bold virago not a step withdrew,  
But met the fierce Stroke with a valiant hew.  
Such Courage moved the minds of all, a new  
Wonder Pyrrhus was slow to run her through.  
But when his sword he had hidden in her skin,  
At a large wound blood flowed, where death crept in.  
Nor dying did she Courage lose, she prone  
And with an angry force fell, as if on  
Achilles she the Earth would heavy make.  
Both Greeks and Trojans wept, these prively  
With fear, the others wept more openly.  
Such order had these rites, the ground no drop  
But the bloodthirsty Tomb, her blood drunk up.   Hecuba. 

Go Greeks, you go home now in safety may,  
And your Safe Ships with spread sails plow the Sea.  
The Maid and Child are slain: wars done; where may  
I bear my Tears? where burst death's long delay?  
For Daughter, Nephew, Husband shall I moan?  
For Country? or for all? or me alone?  
Death's my Sole vote. Infants and virgins be  
Slain by thee, where some e'er, thou ragest me  
Alone thou fear'st, & shunest; from me thy flight  
Thou tak'st, though 'mong swords, darts, fires, sought all Night.  
Foes, dangers, fire, hath not my Members spilled,  
Though I so near to Priam stood when killed.   Nuncius. 

Hast Captives now to Sea: The sails are spread,  
The Ships already are unharboured.     
FINIS.   


These Comments are not for the learned's sight,  
The dark unlearned these Tapers only light.   

COMMENTS UPON THE First ACT.  
TH' Inconstant Gods] It may be meant the Inconstant goddess Fortune, who was the Servant of the Gods, to whom was attributed the disposal of all sublunary things, she was painted with the horn of plenty in one hand, and a wheel in the other, by which was meant, her disposal of all earthly riches and the inconstancy of them:  
Volat mobiles alis  
Nec ulli prestat velox fortuna fidem.  
Fortune flies with swift wings, nor doth  
With any, fickle she, keep faith. Sen. in Hippol.  
She was painted, also blindfolded, as bestowing her favours either impartially, or promiscuously as Senec. in Hippol.  

Res humanas ordine nullo  
Fortuna regit, spargitque manu  
Munera Caecâ.   

Human affairs w'thout order Fortune guides:  
And with a blind hand all her gifts divides.   
Or else,  

— Faciles dare summa deos, eademque tueri  
Difficiles.—   

The Gods are prone great things to send,  
But backward the same to defend.   
The Great work of the Gods above.] Neptune and Apollo, who induing human shapes, were hired by Laomedon, to build the Walls of Troy, which being finished, he denied them their promised reward: The Gods angry at his perfidiousness and perjury afflicted the City, Neptune with inundations, Apollo with a pestilence. Laomedon Consulting the Oracle, it was answered, that the Gods could not be appeased, without they chose a Trojan Virgin by lot yearly, and exposed her to be devoured by a monstrous Whale: After many had run this fatal Chance, it fell at last on Hesione, Laomedon's daughter, Hercules coming thither by chance, and seeing the Virgin bound to a rock, bargains with Laomedon to set her at liberty, and slay the Monster for his Horses begotten of divine seed: Hercules performed his part, but Laomedon denying him his reward, he returns afterwards with an army and sacked Troy, taking Priamus then a Child prisoner, but having slain Laomedon, he sets Priamus at liberty to enjoy his father's Realm. Thus Ovid. Met. 11.  

— Apollo,  
Cumque Tridentigero tumidi genetore profundi  
Mortalem induitur formam, Phrygiaeque tyrant  
Aedificat muros, pacto pro moenibus auro, &c.   By Sands Translated thus. 

— Apollo,  
Who with the father of the tumid main  
Endues a mortal shape: and entertain  
Themselves for unregarded Gold to build  
The Phrygian Tyrants walls. That work fulfilled  
The King their promised reward denies, &c.   
To whose assistance Came] Rhesus King of Thrace, whose horses had they drunk of the River Xanthe by Troy,( as the Oracle delivered) Troy had been invincible, but he was slain, and his horses taken before they came thither by Ulysses and Dromedes.  
Tanais] put for Ister which falls( like Nile) into the Sea at 7 mouths.  
And those that near first see] Memnon with his Eastern Troops the Son of Tithon and Aurora Priamus' Nephew: slain by Achilles, whose ashes were converted to fowls. Ovid. Met. 13.  

— Cum Memnonis arduus alto  
Corruit igne rogus:—  
Atra favilla volat: glomerataque Corpus in unum  
Densatur, saciemque Capit— &c.   Sands translat.. 

— When greedy flame, devoured the funeral pile,  
The flying, dying Sparkles jointly grow  
Into one body. Colour, form, life, spring  
To it from fire, which levity doth wing,  
First like a fowl, forthwith a Fowl indeed, &c.   
Those too where with the Sea Tigris] The Troops that came with Memnon, about the Perfic gulf, where the swift river Tigris disimbokes itself.  
And she that neighboured] Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons, slain by Achilles. See note third, upon the 5 Act.  
A Thousand Ships] the number of the Grecian Fleet, when they first set out for Troy.  
Cassandra] Priamus' daughter, whom Phoebus loving, Sued for her maidenhead, which she promised him on Condition that he would endue her with the gift of prophecy, or foretelling things to come; which having granted her, She would no 〈…〉 to her promise, which the deceived God seeing ad 〈…〉 his former gift, that whatsoever she foretold, though never so true, should not be Credited: Nor did the Trojans believe what she predicted till afterwards they found it true to their sorrow.  Virg. Aen. 2. 

Tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra suturis  
Ora, dei jussu, non unquam Credita Teucris.  
Cassandra then, these future fates foretold,  
Whom Trojans ne'er believed, so Phoebus would.   Ogleby interpret. 
With Child I this]  
'tis by my fire brand]  
Hecuba when she was with-Child of Paris, dreamt that she was delivered of a firebrand, which proved true, in that he was the Cause of Troy's destruction.  
Dromedes] King of Aetolia, the Constant Companion of Ulysses in all his exploits: In stealing the horses of Rhesus and the Palladium of Troy, which could not be conquered whilst that remained there.  
False Sinon] He by whose Craft, the wooden horse was admitted into Troy, out of whose belly came the hidden Greeks, who surprised the City by that Stratagem.  
The murder of the King] Priamus slain by Pyrrhus at the Altar of Jupiter Hercius, which was in the Court, between the Entrance and the Hall, where the Kings use to be Crowned.  
Helenus' wife] Andromach, who after Pyrrhus had taken Hermione from Orestes, was given to Helenus', who was Priamus' Son, and a great Prophet; So that the time is here anticipated by the Author.  
Another doth Antenor's Crave] Theano. Antenor was a Trojan Prince, who after Troy's overthrow, fled to the Venetians: he built Padua.  
In Imitation of mourners, as the manner of the Preficae was, to knock their breasts, tear their dishevelled tresses, and lamb 〈…〉 groans and ejulations.  
Ida's direful King] Paris, whose residence was on mount Ida, where whilst he kept sheep, the three Goddesses Juno, Pallas, Venus, presented themselves to him, making him the arbitrator of their strife for the Golden Ball, which he, despising the prosered wisdom of Pallas, the Riches of Juno, adjudged to Venus, who had promised him the fairest Beauty in the world, which was Helena, whom she gave him in reward for his arbitration.   

Upon the Chorus.  
To Amyclas] A City in Laconia, where the Brothers of Helena, Castor and Pollux were born.  
With mother Cybeles Sacred Pines] The Ship in which Paris went, being made of the Pines that grew on Mount Ida, a Mountain Sacred to Cybele, and where she was chiefly worshipped, from whence her Priests where called Idaei dactyli.  
In the Sigean fields] The fields adjoining to Troy, denominated from the promontory Sigeum, by which was the Sepulchre of Achilles.  
O Queen lift up thy hand] after the manner of the Praeficae, which was the sign to begin their lamentations.  
Your hair untie] Here is described the custom of those women hired to lament at funerals, they wore their hair dissheveled, their necks and breasts bare, and striking their hands against them, made a fearful ejulation, and howling.  

ha' la crymis sparsêre deos, hae pectora duro  
of flixêre solo: lacerasq, in limine sacro  
Attonitae fudere Comas: votisque vocari  
Assuetas' crebris feriunt ululatibus aures.  
— Una madentes  
Scissa genas, planctu liventes atra lacertos,  
Nunc ait o miserae contundite pectora matres,  
Nunc laniate Comas, &c.   Lucan. lib. 2. 

May English.  
One weeps before the Gods; one her torn locks  
Throws in the Sacred porch: another knocks  
Her breast against the ground: the God whose ears  
Were used to prayers, now only howlings hears:  
— But one there  
Her plaint-bruis`d arms, and moistened cheeks did tear  
Now now quoth she, oh mother's tear your hair  
Now beat your breasts—  
Such was the manner of the ancients mourning fully  
described in his Chorus.   
Make all the Rhaetian Shores] A promontory of Troy, in which was the sepulchre of Ajax Telamonius.  
The echo found, In Mounts and Caves] Is the repercussion of the air against some rock or hill, or some obvious body which repears the dilated sound by reflection. But the Poets have feign`d it the effect of Love, whose Metamorphosis you may read in Ovid. lib. 3. She was a Nymph of the river Cephissus, who falling in Love with Narcissus, and being by him rejected pined herself with grief to a stone, her voice only remaining, &c.  

— In aere succus  
Corporis omnis abit: vox tantum atque ossa supersunt,  
Vox manet: ossa ferunt lapidis traxisse figuram.  
ind latet sylvis, nulloque in monte videtur:  
Omnibus auditur, sonus est qui vivit in illa.   

— Her blood converts to air,  
Nothing was left her but her voice and bones:  
The voice remains: the other turned to stones.  
Concealed in words, in mountains never found.  
She's heard of all: and all is but a sound.   Sands. 
Here 'tis said she is never found in Mountains, and that is because there is no obstacle to strike back the air, but if you stand at a Convenient distance from the mountain( especially if there be any Caverns.) you will according to my author find this vocal Nymphs habitation to be at the foot of the hill, or on the sides of the rock.  
Our wounds do flow with blood fresh Torn] They did believe that human blood was pleasing to the defunct, which made them not only use these Praeficae to tear their breasts, but also the gladiators were brought into use, who unmercifully shed one another's blood.  
A Sconce for tired Trojans] Hector might be well called the safeguard of Troy, for whilst he lived she was impregnable.  Virg. 

O lux Dardaniae, spes O fidissima Tencrum.  
O Dardan light! O Troy's chief Confidence.  
Hector— Cum quo sua Troja sepulta est  
Conduntur pariter qui periere simul.  
Hector with whom Troy's sepulchered, they lie  
Together now, who did together die.   
Twice lost old man] He was twice Captivated when a youth, and being led into Greece, he was ransomed by his Sister Hesione.  
Thou living but one ill sustain] That is, by the Death of Hector the King's Son, now the King himself is slain.  
And twice abode th'▪ Herculean shaft] Without the arrows of Hercules, Troy could not have been conquered, they were fatal to Troy; Twice, that is this last time, and once before, when Hercules subdued it: See the 2 note of the first Act.  
At great Jove's Altar] See note 14. Act the first.  Virg. 

Aedibus in mediis, nudoque sub aetheris axe.  
Ingens ara suit.  
Amidst the Court under heaven's Canopy.  
An Altar stood, &c.   
Thy Trunk]  Vir. Aen. 2. 
Jacet ingens littore Truncus  
auulsumque humeris caput, &c.  
His body lieth on the shore without a head.  
Here Virgil alludes to the fall of Pompey, whom our author follows.  
Neither Atrides] Agamemnon and Menelaus both Sons to Atreus.  
Mycenae] A City of Peloponnesus, built by Perseus, in which Agamemnon the Captain general of the Greeks reigned.  
In the shade of th' Elysian wood] The habitation of the blessed after death, some supposed it to be in the Sphere of the Moon, others placed it in the Atlantic or Fortunate Islands, Homer in Spain, Plutarch in Britain. It is supposed the Greeks borrowed their Elysium from the Egyptians, who came to the knowledge of it by the Hebrews, so that it was answerable to their Paradise, where Pious Souls received all the joys and pleasures annexed to the other life. But the poets have described the pleasures of Elysium too sensually, it may be as Mahomet did his Paradise, not but that they knew better, but knowing that such sensual descriptions would soonest take with vulgar Capacities.  Virg. Aenei. 6. 
Devenere Locos laetos, & amaena vireta  
Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas.  
Largior hic Campis aether, &c.  
In joyful places they arrived at last,  
And came to Groves where happy souls do rest,  
In pleasant Greens the dwellings of the blessed.  
Here larger Skies did clothe the purple rays  
The field, &c. Ogilvius.   

Upon the second Act, Scene the First.  
BOth to the war] when the Grecians lay at Aulis, a City of Boeotia ready to embark themselves for Troy, Agamemnon by chance killed Diana's Stag; for which being wroth, she stayed their progress with contrary winds, till Agamemnon was fain to appease her anger with the slaughter of his daughter Iphigenia on her Altar. For which Sacrifice, Ulysses was employed with his Craft to gain her from her mother, which he did, by beginning a marriage betwixt her and Achilles'. But when she was ready to be sacrificed,  

Victa dea est, nubemque oculis objecit & inter  
Ossicium, turbamque sacri, vocesque precantum,  
Supposita fertur mutasse Mycenida Cerva.   

— Diana ' doth pity show  
Who o'er their eyes a cloudy meteor threw;  
And while they prosecute her rites and prayed  
Produced a hind to represent the Maid.   Ovid. Met. 12. 
From thence by the Goddess she was conveyed to Taurica, &c.  
The Sacred Grove] on Ida Sacred to Cybele.  
The Gods below] were Pluto, Proserpina, Minos, Aeacus, Rathamantus. The Furies; Parcae, Hecate and others.  
Thessalian Prince] Achilles.  
The Great Ghost] which is meant either, because that Ghosts( as they held) appeared in a larger Size than their bodies, or it has respect to the Stature of Achilles, which they say was nine Cubits high.  
The Proëm to Troy's fatal fall] which was when he encountered with, and overcame Cisseus King of Thrace, father to Hecuba, and Telephus Prince of Mysia, who were coming to the aid of Troy.  
Neptnnian Cycnus] He was Nephew to Neptune, and invulnerable, as Ovid. met. 12.  
— Removebitur omne  
Tegminis officium, tamen indistrictus abibo.  
— Should I display  
My naked breast, thy force could find no way.  Sand. 
However Achilles after a long sight throttled him with his Knees, but his body was not to be found, being Converted into a Swan.  
Slow Xanthus] A river by Troy called also Scamandrus.  
Great Hector and Troy drawing on the ground] when Achilles' had slain Hector, he tied him to his Chariot, and drew him round about the walls of Troy; and the tomb of Patroclus', one whom Hector had slain in Achilles' Armour. He was kept inhumated 12 days, and was at length ransomed by Priamus. Homer Il. lib. 23.  
Troy drawing on the ground] for when Achilles had slain Hector, he cried out, I have overcome Troy; in that he was the only defence and safeguard of the City.  
A Chore of Tritons] Sea Monsters, whose upper parts were like men, their lower like fishes; They were the Trumpeters of Neptune, and at the Sound of their Concha, the Seas see their raging, and become Calm.  
Caeruleus Triton, cava buccina sumitur illi  
Tum quoque, ut ora dei madida rorantia barba  
Contigit, & cecinit jussos inflata recessus, Ovid. Met. 1.  
Omnibus audita est telluris & aequoris undis, Ovid. Met. 1.  
Et quibus est undis audita Coërcuit omnes.  
Blue Triton his wreathed Trumpet takes, and set  
To his large mouth, he Sounded a retreat;  
All Floods it heard that Earth or Ocean knew,  
And all the Floods that heard the same withdrew.  
Hymenaean] The marriage Song, from Hymen the God of marriage, which the Grecians used to sing with the repetition of Hymenaee, as the Romans did Thalassio.   

Upon the second Scene, Act the second.  
Troy with the Earth did lay] See note 9 upon the second Act, Scene the first.  
At Seyros]▪ An Island in the Aegean Sea one of the Cyclades, and the country of King Lycomedes: In this place Achilles was concealed habited like a virgin, and accompanying with Deidamia the King's daughter, he got her with Child, by whom he had Pyrrhus: he was brought hither by his mother Thetis goddess of the Sea, because she had foreseen his fate before Troy, but he was drawn hence by the subtle persuasions of Ulysses.  
Lesbos] An Island also in the Aegean, which Achilles overran before he joined to the rest of the Greeks.  
Nestor's years] A man very eloquent, who was at the Trojan wars, although he had lived.  
Annos bis centum: tunc tertia vivitur aetas.  
Two Ages, than he in the third did live.  
Guiles and Guise] When she hide him, as in the second note.  
Telephus The same knew how to wound and heal] Telephus the K. of Mysia denying Achilles' passage through his Country, when he went to the wars of Troy, they encountered together, in which battle Telephus was wounded by Achilles, for which wound he could attain no remedy. Thereupon the Oracle being Consulted, it was answered, that he must seek the help from that which wounded him; being then reconciled to Achilles, he granted him some of the rust from that spear with which he was wounded, which immediately cured his wound.  
Thebos] A City in Cilicia the Country of  
Aelion] The father of Andromach.  
Lyrnessus] A City under the dition of Troy, and the Country of  
Briseis] Otherwise Hippodamia, who after the taking of the City, fell by lot to Achilles.  
And Chrysa Cause of strife to us] A City of Cilicia under the government of Mynes, the husband of Briseis, who was slain by Achilles: When this City was taken, Chrysis otherwise Astynome the daughter of Chryses, the Priest of Apollo Smintheus, was taken away by Agamemnon, for whom her father with prayers and entreaties implored Agamemnon, but not prevailing, he sought aid of the God he served, who forthwith annoyed the Grecians Camp with so great a pestilence, that Agamemnon was enforced to redeliver him his daughter, being persuaded to it by Achilles': But Agamemnon being enraged at the loss of his prize, forceably took Brefeis from Achilles, which begat an implacable feud between those two Princes, insomuch that Achilles by no entreaties could be persuaded to the wars, till Patroclus' whom he dearly loved was slain, in whose revenge he fought against Troy.  
Famous Tenedos] An Island over against Troy, very famous before those wars.  
— Tenedos notissima famâ  
jusula, dives opum, Priami dum regna manebant.  
— Tenedos, the Isle well Known  
By fame, and rich whilst Priam held the Crown.  Virg. Aenaeid. 1. 
Thracian flocks] It may be that the Greeks put their horses there to pasture, which they might take from Rhesus King of Thrace, which lay opposite to Tenedos.  
Sacred Cilla] A Town in Cilicia, famous for the Fane of Apollo.  
Caycus] A river of Mysia, running through the fields of Pergamus.  
Memnon] See note 4, Act the first.  
The Amazon] Penthesilea the Queen of the Amazons.  
To Helen Immolate] that is for her sake rather than retard the fleet: See note first, second Act, Scene first.  
Aeacides] Achilles.  
To light his Grave] The Ancients had a fond conceit that the Soul was inhumated with the body, therefore for her better getting forth to go to the Seat of the happy; they used to with that the Earth might lie light upon them, for which there were many rites to the Diis Manibus performed, as the pouring Milk, honey, Wine, oil, and Flowers upon the Grave, 
* So Eueas at his father's tomb.. Virg.— duo rite mero libans Carchefia Baccho, Fundit tumi, duo lacte novo, duo sanguine sacto, Purpureosque jacet flores— poured two bowls of rich wine on the floor, Two of new milk, and two of Sacred gore, strewing the place with purple flowers.  As also sacrificing of beasts: Nor was there a greater imprecation than that earth might lie heavy upon the Deceased.  
Wilt always rob us of our spoils] As when he took Bryseis from her Father. See Note 12. on this Scene.  
Thy suit] When Achilles' and he were fallen out to reconcile whom Ulysses endeavoured.  
A King of life bereave] Priamus whom he flew. See Note 14. Act 1.  
25)) Scyros] See Note 2. on this Scene.  
No Brothers villainy] That was Atreus the Father of Agamemnon, and Thyestes Atreus' Brother; Thyestes had forced the Wife of Atreus, for revenge. This Atreus roasted his Children, and put them before him to eat: At the sight of which horrid fact, the Sun was said to run back again towards the East.  
Our Kin] Thetis Mother to Achilles.  
By a Maid] See Note 2. on this Scene.  
Aeacus] The Grandfather of Achilles.  
( 30 With Jove] The Father of Aeacus, who was a Judge in Hell, and so Achilles' Great grandfather.  
Thou who didst see the Grecian Fleet lose] When the Navy lay wind-bound at Aulis, it was by his Oracles that Iphigenia was sacrificed, by whose death they had a permission to proceed. See Note 1. Act 2. Scene 1.  
Jonia] A Region of the lesser Asia between Caria and Aeolis.   

Upon the Chorus.  
Souls the Bodies buried live?] Seneca according to the opinion of the Epicures, brings in the Chorus questioning the Immortality of the Soul, and making as if the Soul perishes with the Body, an impious and unwarrantable tenant.  
When the next of kin shall close the Eyes] It was the custom of the Ancients, when any was dying, for the next or nearest of kin to receive the last breath of the dying party into his mouth, and also to close his eyes being dead. Thus Anna did to the dying Dido her Sister.  Virg. Aeneid. 4. 
— Extremus si quis super halitus errat  
Ore legam—  
And if that any breath be wandering found  
My lips shall gather it.  
The Funeral Fire] The Ancients did not inter the bodies of the dead, but burned them, because they were thereby made secure from the malice of their Enemies, who had formerly used to dig the humated bodies out of their graves, that they might revenge themselves upon the dead corpse. This Pile was called Pyra, built always in form of a Tabernacle.  
Pegasean motion] That is, Swift, from Pegasus the winged Horse of Perseus, who arose out of the blood of Medusa by him slain; who when he took his flight to Heaven from Helicon raised the Rock with his foot, from whence sprung the muse's fountain Hippocrene.  
Hecate] The Moon: from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, from shouting or darting down her rays. She was called also Dea triformis, Three form Goddess; because she was called in Hell Hecate, on the Earth Diana, in Heaven Luna; signifying the several Aspects of the Moon: Luna when she is full of light said to be in Heaven; Hecate when she is in the Change, that she affords us no light at all, then said to be in Hell; Diana when it is between the full and the new, then said to be on Earth.  
The Stygian Lake] Hell on the region of Pluto. From Styx( which signifies Hateful) a river of Hell, had in great veneration by the gods themselves; and to swear by Styx was an inviolable oath, for whosoever of the gods broke it, was devested of Immortality, and kept from Nectar and Ambrosia a hundred years.  
Boreas] The northwind, whose nature is to dissipite clouds.  
Time us and Chaos] They held that all things at the appointed time, the world and all, should be changed and turned into that confused mass it was at first, from whence it should spring again; and thus it should do vicissively for ever. This was the Stoics Eternity.  
Realm of Dis] Hell the Habitation of Pluto.  
10) Taenarus] A Promontory of Laconia, where the Poers feigned to be an entrance into Hell.  
Cerberus] The three-headed Dog of Hell, who was the Porter at Pluto's Palace: He was drawn hence by Hercules, who no sooner saw light but he spewed, from which vomit sprung the deadly Aconite, or wolfebane.   

Upon Act the third Scene the first.  
When Achilles drew my Hector's limbs] See Note the 9 upon Act 2. Scene the 1.  
feigned Achilles] Patroclus the Companion of Achilles, who having endued his Armour, fought against Hector and was slain, Hector supposing he had slain Achilles.  
This holy Seat] The sepulchers or Domiciles of the Dead were always held sacred by the Ancients, and held a most heinous crime to violate them, and were therefore spared by the Enemies themselves. The Sepulchre was a kind of vault arched and roofed within, where the urn or little chest which held the bones was placed, without, it was built with costly compartments and rare workmanship, and sometimes to a stupendous greatness.   

Upon Act the third Scene the second.  
Orestes the Son of Agamemnon.  
Suffer what the Conqueror did] See Note 1. Act 2. Scene 1.  
Mothers treacheries, yea wiles of goddesses, I have undone] Clytaemnestra's when he got from her Iphigenia. See Note 1. Act. 2. Scene 1. And Thetis', when he gained Achilles to the Wars. See Note 2. Act 2. Scene 2. And also Pallas' when he brought away her Palladium out of Troy.  
Telemachus] The Son of Ulysses.  
Pelasgians] Grecians, from Pelasgia a part of Greece adjoining to Macedonia, which was so denominated from Pelasgus the Son of Jupiter.  
Lightly on Hector spread] See Note 21. Act. 2. Scene 2.  
So so he's caught] This Ulysses most cunningly feigns, the better to detect the mother's fear, and by her sudden surprisal, judges that Astyanax is alive.  
Thus Chalcas saith] This is also feigned by Ulysses, the better to arrive at the end of his project, which was to gain Astyanax into his power; for as their Augur Chalcas had said, their ships could not be loosed from those shores, nor the Greeks return home, till Hector's Son was thrown from the top of a high tower.  
Thy Ghosts] The Ancients gave divine honours to the manes of their friends, and chiefly worshipped their lares or household gods, above others.  
( 10 That which you sold] Hector ransomed by Priamus, as is showed before, Note 9 Act 2. Scene 1.  
Of Deities your friends] Of Pallas who was helpful to the Greeks, and took part with them against the Trojans, when he took her Palladium.  
Amazon] Queen Penthesilea, as before,  
Menas] Agave the Daughter of Cadmus and Hermione, the Mother of Pentheus, who with other Bacchis frows tore her own Son to pieces, because he despised their Rites.  
Prima videt, prima est insano concita cursu,  
Prima suum misso violavit Penthea Thyrso  
Mater:— Membra viri manibus direpta nefandis.  
His Mother frantically first to him ran,  
First through her own Son thrust her greedy spear,  
And limb-meal him with cruel hands doth tear.  Ovid. Met. 3. 
Thyrsus] The Insignis of Bacchus, it was a spear wreathed about with Vine and Ivy-leaves, which his maenads or Priestesses carried about in his Orgia.  
Chaste wife] Penelope, who continued chaste twenty years in her husband's absence, notwithstanding the daily enticements of her wooers.   

Upon Act the third Scene the third.  

See Note 2. Act. 1.  
The tears of her young Princely Heir.  
More Faith express.   
Alcides] Hercules.  
Who Monsters by his strength subdued, broke hell's gates, returned thence] The Monsters were the hydra, a Snake with 7 heads, which as fast as he lopped off one, two sprung in the place of it. The Nemaean Lion, the Erymanthian Bore, the Cretian Bull, the Stymphalides vast Birds in Arcadia, the Hesperian Dragon, the three-bodied Geryon, the centaurs and divers others. He bound Cerberus the Dog of Hell. And as Ovid. Met. 7.  
— specus est tenebroso caecus hiatu:  
Et via declivis, per quam Tyrinthius heros  
Cerberon attraxit nexis adamante catenis.  
There is a blind steep Cave with foggy jaws,  
Through which the bold Tirinthian Hero's strained  
Dragged Cerberus with adamant inchained.  
He brought from Hell Alceste the Wife of King Admetus.  
Hercules's Arrows] See Note 12. on the 1. Chorus.  
True the place] Where Hector had showed so many noble exploits, and where he was ignominiously and cruelly dragged by Achilles about after he was slain.  
Greeks too have fallen] Iphiginia as before; Palamedes an Enemy to Ulysses, and by him circumvented and falsely accused, was stoned to death before Troy: Ajax who in contention with him for the Armour of Ulysses, being overcome by his subtlety, slew himself. Ovid. Met. 13.  
Solemn Lustres] Which was every five year performed by the Romans, in purging their Armies by Sacrifices and the Censors registering at the just valuation of every citizen's estate, than they led about the Army a bull, a Sow, and a Ram, and afterwards sacrificed them. At which times used to be performed the  
Trojan Sport] Which also was yearly performed by all the choice and noble Youths of Rome; it was the running with the Spear, or Tilt and tournament, brought by Ascanius the Son of Aeneas out of Troy.  
Hunc morem, hos cursus, atque haec certamina primus  
Ascanius longam muris cum cingeret Albam,  
Rettulit, & priscos docuit celebrata Latino's.  
Ascanius when long Alba he did frame,  
Did first appoint this custom, and this Game,  
And th' ancient Latins taught to celebrate.  Virg. Aeneid. 5. 
Nor with swift feet dance] This was a Dance in complete harness, invented by Pyrrhus, and therefore called Pyrrhica saltatio, or the Pyrrhic Dance. By this means the Romans trained up their Youth that they might be enured to Arms in their tender years, and that by this Military Exercise they might come to gain a perfect command of their bodies, the better and more nimbly to defend themselves and annoy their Enemies. In this Dance they were excited by the  
Warlike Strains] Of Curve trumpets, that is, Phrygian, which excited to War, and inflamed the mind to battle, and heroic exploits. There were three other sorts of music, which were the Lydian, which was fitted to cheer and exhilarate those who were dejected through grief. Doric which was grave, and pacified the Disturbanes of the mind. Jonian which sharpened the wit, and excited the mind to contemplation of celestial things. And lastly, the Aeolian, which was requisite for those who were about to go to rest, conducing to the settling of the mind.  
Hair rent off] It was accounted a great testification of their friendship to tear off their Hair, at the Funeral of their Friends, and to make it squalid, and to neglect the tying of it up.  
His Ashes lick down] They used rather than the Ashes of their Friends should come to any misfortune, to bury them safe in their own bowels, so Artemisia Queen of Halicarnassus served the ashes of her Husband Mausolus, which she drunk mixed with Wine. Gellius lib. 10.   

Upon the Chorus.  
Tempe] A pleasant Valley in Thessaly, watered with the River Peneus.  
Phthia] the Country of Achilles, and the Myrmidons who went with him to the war of Troy, being a very valiant people, and at first sprung from Pismires, at the Vote of Aeacus, which Jupiter granted because his land was laid wast by a Pestilence.  Ovid Met. 7. 
— parcum genus est, patiensque laborum  
Quaesitique tenax, & quod quaesita reservet.  
— A people given to spare  
Patient of Labour: what they get, preserve.  
Trachin.] A very stony country by the Mount Oeta.  
[ ] Jolcos'] The country of Jason who ventured for the Golden Fleece.  
[ ] Or hundred citied Crete] An Island at the Mouth of the Aegean Sea famous for an hundred Cities, therefore called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, now Candia.  
[ ] Gortyne] A Town in Crete.  
[ ] Tricca] A Town in Thessaly.  
Methony] A City in Thrace.  
Oetian Woods] from the Mount Oeta where Hercules burned himself.  
Olenus] A Town of Elis, a Country of Greece, watered by the River Alpheus.  
Pleuron Diana's Enemy] A City of Aetolia, the Country of Meleager, whose Father Oeneus, when he had sacrificed to other Gods, and omitted the rites of Diana, she incensed, sent a great a Bore, who spoiled all the Country, but was slain at last by Meleagrus.  
Troezen] A Maritimate of Peloponesus, the Country of Theseus.  
Peleon] A Town of Thessaly, whose denomination is from the Mountain Peleon the Country of Protheus, a Grecian Captain against Troy.  
The third Step] It is fabled, that when the great gigantomachy was that they heaped one Mountain upon another to come at heaven, the first was Pelion, upon which they threw Ossa; the next was Olympus. See Ovid. Met. 1.  
Chiron] One of the centaurs, very skilful in Medicine and chirurgery, whose habitation was in this place, where he became the Schoolmaster to  
The Cruel youth] Achilles, who learned of him Medicine, music and Horsemanship.  
Carystos] An Island, one of the Cyclades noted for Marble.  
Chalcis] A City of Eubaea divided from Aulis in Boeotia, by  
Euripus the unquiet Sea] which ebbs and flows seven times in the space of twenty four hours. Into this Sea Aristotle because he could not find out the cause, cast himself with  
— Quia Ego non possum capere te, tu capia 〈…〉 i.  
Because I cannot comprehend thee, do thou take me.  
Echinae] Or Echinides, small Islands right against the mouth of the River Achelous.  
Gonvessa] A Town in Aetolia.  
Enispae] Islands in the Aegean.  
Ptrithados] A Village by Attica, a Country of Grece.  
Elusis] A City not far from Athens, from Elusius, who kindly received Ceres, when she sought after her Daughter Proserpina. Here her Sacrifices were yearly performed, called  
Hidden rites] because they were performed in the twilight, with Torches, and only by Women, whose mysteries it was a great crime to blab, or reveal to any.  
Salamin] An Island in the Euboick Sea, opposite to Athens, the Country of Ajax Telamonius.  
Calidonia] A City in Aetolia, where the Bore( mentioned note 11.) ranged.  
Bessa and Scarphe] two Cities of Thessaly, by which runs the River Titaressus.  
Pylus] A Town in the West of Peloponesus, the habitation of Nestor  
Pharis] A City of Laconia.  
Pisa] A City of Elis under the protection of Jove.  
[ 31] Elis] A Country of Greece, and also a Town in that Country, where the Olympic gains were celebrated every fifth year.  
[ 32] Sparta] The Country of Helena, a City in Peloponesus, renowned for the Laws of Lycurgus.  
[ 33] Argos] A City in Peloponesus hard by Athens, from which the Greecians were called Argolici.  
[ 34] Pelops Mycena] The kingdom of Agamemnon, once under the Regiment of Pelops Son to Tantalus, from whom all that Region took its name Peloponesus, in which this City stood.  
[ 35] Nevitus] A Mountain in Ithaca.  
[ 36] Zacynthus[ An Island under the Government of Ulysses.  
[ 37] Ithaca] The Country of Ulysses, an Island in the Ionian Sea, full of sharp rocks.   

Upon Act the fourth.  
Dardanian House] from Dardanus the son of Jupiter and Electra, the founder of Troy, from whom as also the region about was called Dardania.  
Tethis] the Wife of Oceanus, the Ladies of the Sea, were the Sea Nymphs who attended upon her.  
Thetis] was the Wife of Peleus, and the Mother of Achilles, a great sea-goddess also, and could vary shapes at her pleasure. See Ovid. Met. lib. 11.  
[ ] Peleus] The Father of Achilles.  
[ ] Nereus] The Son of Oceanus and Thetis, a Sea God, father to the Sea Nymphs of whom they were called Nereids.  
[ ] The ruin, Pest, and Plague] she was the cause of the ruin and utter overthrow of famous Troy, and the loss of many noble Greecians, she was  Virg. 
— Trojae & patriae Communis Erinnys.  
Common Erinnys both to Greece and Troy.  
Thy Husbands] Menelaus her former, from whom Paris ravished her, and Paris to whom she had been married.  
Nuptial Taxes] It was the custom of the Romans to use torches at their Weddings, from which a certain clammy liquor like Tar issued out; they were called Tedas from the tree Teda. They were five in number, which represented Jupiter, Juno, Venus, Suadela and Lucina, which were called the Nuptial or Conjugal powers, for the help they afforded the new married Couple.  
Being Venus gift] See Note 18. Act. 1.  
O Paris hand that thus so lightly struck] Who had not wholly slain Achilles. For Achilles being drawn into Troy under the prext of marrying Polyxena was, slain by Paris.  
A gay troop of Children] Some say she had 15, some say 22, others 50.  
I only her call child] She had also Cassandra living, but she was not her companion, being the Priestess of Apollo, and so as it were none of hers. And therefore she was to be free from the lot, as not to have been accounted as among the spoil, but she was allotted to Agamemnon.  
Achilles' Arms] That was to Ulysses, who had the Armour of Achilles in possession, being to him allotted by the Greeks, from Ajax Telamonius, which so enraged him that he slew himself. Ovid. Met. 13.   

Upon the Chorus.  
North west wind] Corus in the Latin: a wind usual in the Sicilian Seas, which drives the waters on the Italian Coasts.  
Phryxus for Helles drowning raves  
When that the golden fleeced Ram] Phryxus and Helle were the Children of Athamas King of Thebes and Nepheles: their Mother being dead, and Athamas having espoused Ino, she playing the usual pranks of a stepmother, they were forced to fly, and taking a golden fleeced Ram which was given them by their Father, they adventured to swim over the narrow Freet between Europe and Asia upon his back; but Helle falling off, was drowned, and so christened those Waters with her name, which has ever since been called Hellespont. But Phryxus gaining safe to the shore, fled to the Father of Medea, to whom he gave this golden fleeced Ram, which occasioned the adventure of Jason and the Argonauts to fetch this Fleece, which they called Phryxeus from Phryxus.  
Deucalion and Pyrrha] This Ogygian deluge happened a Thousand and five hundred years before the building of Rome, and overflowed a great part of Greece, Of which the Poets speak so large, that some have thought it that of Noah, when the whole world was submerged.  
Ida High] Ida is a high Hill by Troy, the South part of which maketh a Promontory, and runneth into the Sea. In this place it was that Paris gave sentence for Venus. Of which before.   

Upon the fifth Act.  
One Tower] So Ovid Met. 13.  
Mittitur Astyanax, illis de turribus, unde▪  
Pugnantem pro se, proavitaque regna tuentem  
Saepe videre patrem, monstratum à matre solebat.  
Astyanax thrown is from that tower from whence  
He had seen his Father, by his Mother shown,  
Fight for his kingdom's safety and his own.  
What Colchian] Colchis was the country of Medea, which, ever since she most inhumanly tore in pieces her Brother Absertes, has been branded with the stigma of cruel and Barbarous, yet Andromach complains( the people thereof) to be exceeded by the Greeks in Cruelty.  
Barbarous Scyth] A people in the North abhorring Humanity, they neither Till nor Sow the ground, nor build Houses, Cities nor Towns, but all their riches lieth in their Cattle, which they drive from place to place, carrying with them their Wives, Children, and all that they have in Wagons; for which they have the epithets of Barbarous and Wandering bestowed upon them: They were the original of the Tartars or tatters, which about the year of our Lord 1200 overran all Persia, and began the Empire which they now hold in the East-part of the world.  
Caspian Borderer] The Hyrcanians, which border upon the Caspian Sea, adjoining to Scythia, who live as the Scythians do, barbarously, without laws or government.  
Busiris] A most cruel and inhuman Tyrant, who used to immolate all his Guests to Jove, but laying wait for Hercules he was taken by him and slain.  
Diomedes] A cruel King of Thrace, who fed his horses with man's flesh, but Hercules taking him gave him to be devoured by his own man eating horses.  
Hermiona] The Daughter of Menelaus and Helena afterward ravished by Pyrrhus from Orestes, which was the occasion of his death.  
The Earth would heavy make] See note 21. upon the second Scene of the second Act.  
Sought all night] When the taking of Troy was, which was performed in the night, with a bloody rage, horrid tumult, confusion and slaughter. Leaving that City as Ovid describes it 15. Met.  
— sic magna fuit, censuque virisque  
Perque decem potuit tantum dare sanguinis annos:  
Nunc humiles veteres tantummodo Troja ruinas  
Et pro divitiis Tumulos ostendit avorum.  
Troy rich and powerful, which so proudly stood,  
That could for ten years spend such streams of blood;  
For buildings only, her old ruins shows;  
For riches Tombs, which slaughtered Sires enclose.  
Thus Time and Fate, of the greatest and most flourishing Cities and Empires, as well as of the weakest and most perishable Creatures and things, has been   
THE CATASTROPHE.   

POEMS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.  
By S. P. Gent.  
LONDON, Printed by W. G. for Henry Marsh at the Prince's Arms in Chancery-lane, and Peter Dring at the Sun in the poultry near the Counter, 1660.   


A panegyric TO HIS EXCELLENCY General MONCK March 28. 1660.  

NOW almost twenty years have rolled about  
Since first the flames of our late Wars broke out;  
And Britain fainting with the loss of blood  
Under a lawless Yoke subjected stood,  
When now at last her groans by heaven are heard  
Her fainting Soul and dying Hopes upreared;  
Her sable night of sorrow done away  
By the new dawning of a royal day.  
As from the North her first distemper grew,  
Thence flows the sovereign medicine to renew  
Her joys again: She hopes secure to stand  
Upheld by her brave general's Warlike hand.  
Over the British Seas flies his great Name  
Born on the swift wings of no common fame,  
Our Enemies tremble, and our friends are glad,  
To these 'tis joyful news, to those 'tis sad  
The mighty shouts, and the Stentorian voice  
Of the glad multitude that now rejoice  
awakes the drowsy Genius of this I'll,  
Who wept so long o'er Charles' funeral pile  
Till his swollen eyes with a lethargic sleep  
Were sealed up, having no more tears to weep,  
He understands the cause of England's joy  
And least Ambition should their hopes destroy  
He boldly doth his mind to Monck express  
And shows how he may Britain's ills redress.   

The Genius Speech.  
GReat man by blood, by virtue greater made,  
Whose presence Banishes the gloomy shade  
Of Britain's night; the fair Aurora too  
The royal Phoebus ushered in by you:  
Thy Sword has cut our chains of slavery  
Thy hands the Gordian knots of Tyranny  
Untied; thy strenuous Arms unhinged our Gates  
To show thy strength, the greatest pride abates,  
To show what thou couldst do, that we thereby  
Might on thy more than Samson's strength rely:  
But what thou didst was at another's frown,  
Thou hungest them up, that kindness was thy own.  
Great Hercules of our isle at last thou'st slain  
That Hydra never more to rise again,  
Though often crushed, that Monstrous tail,( which bit  
Her own head off) did resurrection git,  
But now she's dead, and never more shall rise,  
Triumphs, not tears attend her Obsequies.  
And now but one step more and thy great name  
Registered stand shall in the Book of Fame  
In so great Characters the world may read  
Thy matchless story when that thou art dead:  
The World too little for thy fame shall be  
And Prince's honour shall thy name and thee.  
See then great general, Britain's Genius now  
Before thee stands, and willing is to owe  
A happiness to thee, wherein thou Mayest  
Raise honour to thyself; if thou delayest,  
Time and necessity will thee prevent  
And spoil the lustre of thy great intent.  
Now drooping Britain raises up her head,  
Inspired by thee she arises from the dead,  
Her War-made breaches now are cured again,  
And joys and ease succeed her grief and pain,  
Her spotless Virgin Chores begin to sing  
Jö Paeans in honour to their King:  
Fail not her now-big hopes but be content  
To raise an everlasting Monument  
To thee and thy posterity; that bays  
May Crown thy Brows and Ages speak thy praise.  
Thou seeest our wants, and what it is we'd have  
It is a King of Charles' race we crave;  
Since all the people in one voice agree,  
God's Oracle, 'tis God that asks it thee,  
Who having scourged poor Britain for her sin,  
Returns her balm to cure her wounds again.  
We have tried, and too too long, a Commonwealth,  
Such as it was, a Bane to England's Health,  
Where fifty Tyrants with one mouth agree,  
To eat up Law, Religion, Liberty  
Monsters that Kings and Bishops Lands devour,  
Kept by extorted sums the Nation poor;  
Philosophers that changed all to gold,  
And let go nothing that their gripes could hold;  
Yet these were they that needs would styled be  
The Keepers of our England's liberty;  
But by thy power great Monck we're freed again,  
And George most bravely has the Dragon slain.  
Ambitious Cromwell put the purple on,  
And having slain the Father, robbed the Son  
Of right and title, to a royal Crown,  
To set himself up, pulled another down,  
And what he got by rapine, he made good,  
Though by Religion cloaked, by force and blood,  
All what our Heroes once contended for,  
With the sad tempest of a civil War  
Himself usurped; and gloried in his pride  
To have with peace what was to Kings denied;  
But yet you see the Nation scourged, that God  
Renews his mercy and has burned his rod,  
And Cromwell's name grows odious everywhere,  
Which w 〈…〉 s obeyed not out of Love, but fear.  
Let his example your ambition curb,  
Do not our growing happiness disturb,  
By mounting of a Throne is none of yours,  
For be assured that the sacred powers,  
Will blast the first fruits of thy tyranny,  
Fraud must preserve what's got by policy.  
And now our people used to subtleties,  
To be deceived by crafts are grown too wise,  
So that the fates deny thy Regiment,  
And people to obey no more are bent,  
Till he arises in the British sphere,  
Whom all desire the royal Crown to wear.  
Thou seest our griefs and know'st the ways to cure,  
Our Maladies, thy Faith we knows too pure  
For to be tempted to betray our hopes,  
Who doubts thy loyalty, to treason opes  
A way; no though tho sayst thou'lt us deceive,  
Such is our confidence we'll not believe,  
Since one so good and great as Monck must be,  
The only Man can give us liberty.  
Britain in sackcloth has mourned long enough,  
'Tis time to lay aside the Sword and Buff,  
'Tis time to pull those Puny-Nobles down,  
Who speak against, and yet affect a Crown,  
That those by blood and virtue truly great,  
May be installed in their long-left seat  
These shining in their ermine gallantry,  
Beget a reverence due to Majesty.  
Now I have done, and you have this to do,  
To bring him in for whom the Nations sue,  
Great Charles, who more then by seven twelve months tried,  
And in afflictions Furnace purified,  
Must come forth brightet then tried gold, more bright  
Then lustrous Sol after a darksome night;  
Whose brighter beams of Love shall raise the slain,  
And make our Halcyon days to live again;  
England shall bless thy name when this is done,  
And style the Phosphor to the rising Sun,  
To thee shall Britain pay her annual vows,  
Whilst ducal diadems crown thy Princely brows.    

A panegyric ON HIS majesty's Entrance Into LONDON.  

THE Heaven's great Star since He saluted Earth  
With his diurnal Light, ne'er yet gave Birth  
To such a joyful Day, as that wherein  
Charles to his native England came ag'in.  
His loyal Subjects Hearts grown big with joy  
The best expressions of their Love employ,  
To give a cheerful welcome to their King,  
From whose arrival all our blessings Spring,  
Whilst Foes, and traitors to his royal Sire,  
Grown mad through envy, in their rage expire.  
Now Phoebus ushers in the happy day,  
Which for posterity recorded may  
In golden letters ever stand; and be  
A festival for regained liberty;  
And gilding all the Heavens with his rays,  
Dispenses smiles, Serenity displays.  
Revived Subjects throng to see their prize,  
Joy sparkles in their faces, and their eyes:  
Their tongues, and hands with powerful Eccohs sound  
And joyful shouts against the heavens rebound.  
The air is filled on every side with noise;  
The voice of war, and death now speaks their joys.  
The Bells have tongues, which sound our Joys aloud,  
And say that Charles is come: the Drums are proud  
To speak his march. The silver Trumpets say  
Charles o'er three Kingdoms doth triumph to day:  
Which conquest got by virtues has more charms  
To hold a lasting peace, than that by arms.  
London in all its gallantry doth shine,  
Conduits convert their water into wine.  
Adorned the female beauties of the Land  
To see their sovereign in Ballconies stand,  
The bravest Heroes of the British Isle  
Usher our Caesar through the streets the while;  
Whose sacred face with beams of Majesty  
Surrounded, far outvies the bravery  
Of his adornments: and the lustrous fire  
Of's eyes dismays those who denied his fire  
And him to reign; now they their folly see  
Converted by one look of Majesty.  
Ten thousand Hearts and knees do humbly bow,  
As he goes by; each heart a solemn vow  
Prepares, of praise, and of obedience too,  
For long and happy days to heau'en they sue.  
Long live great Charles, and may his sacred Name,  
Swell to that worth, not to be spoke by Fame,  
May Nestor's years his Happy reign attend!  
May heavens his breast with Solomon's choice befriend!  
The people cry. Loud shouts conclude the day,  
Phoebus to th' other world hasts to display  
The joyful news: Night now would take her turn,  
But slaming fires in every Corner burn,  
Which Night to Day change: Phoebus' place supply,  
And make a Day without the heaven's great eye.  
'Tis true whilst Charles possesses his own right,  
That loyal Britains can expect no night.  
Our regal Sun, since Charles the first was slain.  
Eclipsed has been, but now shines bright again.  
By heaven enthroned thus, in his people's hearts,  
He shall withstand all Machivilian Arts:  
Laurels of peace about his brows shall spread,  
And three great Crowns surround his royal Head.   
Ita Precatur S. P.   

SOME TEARS dropped o'er the hearse OF THE INCOMPARABLE PRINCE HENRY DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.  

FAtal September to the Royal Line,  
Has snatched one hero of our hopeful Trine  
From Earth; 'tis strange Heav▪ n should not praedeclare  
A loss so grievous by some Blazing Star,  
Which might our Senses overjoyed, alarm,  
And time give to prepare for so great Harm.  
The springtide of our Joy was newly Flood,  
Paying our Thankful Vows for so much good  
We gather now, under a gracious KING;  
Inspired Bards began strong Lays to Sing,  
when( ôh sad Fate!) Ebbed are our Flowing Seas,  
And epics changed to Doleful Elegies.  
Cruel Extremes! thus robbed of joys the chief,  
Thrown down like lightning into Seas of Grief.  
'Tis past the reach of Mortals to divine,  
Why heaven so soon has broke our Threefold Line;  
We may not pry without a black offence  
Into th' Arcana's of his Providence,  
But may believe, since with a Bounteous Hand  
God has restored the Blessings of this Land,  
That he has flung us into Griefs extreme,  
Not out of wrath to Us, but Love to Him.  
He was Fair Fruit sprung from a Royal Bud,  
And grown as great by fair Renown as Blood;  
Ripe too too soon; for in a Youth so green  
An Harvest was of gray-haired wisdom seen.  
Minerva's Darling, Patron of the Gown,  
Lover of Learning, and Apollo's Crown  
He was; the Muses he began to nourish,  
Learned Men and Arts under his wings did flourish;  
But lest we should commit Idolatry,  
Heaven took him from our Sight, not Memory;  
For though he's carried to th' Immortal Sphere,  
Our Loves will make his Fame Immortal here.  
'Tis Autumn now: and Ceres to our hands  
Has poured the Annual Blessings of our Lands;  
We'ave robbed the teeming Trees of all their fruit,  
And left them naked till the Spring recruit  
Their store again; till than they hang their head,  
And stand like Mourners, leaves for tears they shed;  
So the high powers cropped from the Royal Stem,  
What was too good for us, and fit for them,  
Whilst we lament, till a new Spring arise,  
And CHARLES his First-born clear our weeping eyes.  
A general Sadness locks up every Tongue,  
Amazedness hast struck the laureates dumb:  
And who would weep, through too much Grief forbears,  
Excess of Grief gives yet no vent for Tears,  
But when the coming Springs begin to rise,  
Grief then will draw a deluge from our Eyes;  
Till then these Loyal Drops fallen into Verse,  
Shall wash the Cypress on his Royal hearse.    

POEMS ON Several Occasions.  

His Mistress.  

AS Phoebus doth excel the Moons dim light,  
Or as the Moon excels the dullest Star,  
Her Beauty, and Complexion in my sight  
Excels all others I have seen, so far:  
Her Sun like beams of beauty shine so bright,  
That others in her sight Eclipsed are  
The fairest faces are but foils, each one  
Wears but a borrowed lustre from her Sun.   

Her Shape in Wax it were most hard to frame,  
Nor Painters to express their rarest Skill  
Could ever counterfeit so near the same,  
But blemish theirs her better Beauty will;  
Though Venus who for Beauty had the Name  
Compare with her should, she'd be fairest still;  
Paris gave her the Ball as beauty's Queen,  
But she had missed it had he mine but Seen.   

Her Aubourn Hair in Crisped curls do dangle  
Upon her Ivory shoulders, where it spreads  
Sly nets, where Hearts themselves do soon entangle,  
And captive lie, enchained by those bright threads,  
Spreading soft chains, and snares in every angle,  
It takes all Hearts, whose eye those mazes treads:  
Hearts here imprisoned( never can get out)  
Those soft Meandres wander must about.   

Her ivory-pollished Front with seemly cheer,  
Graced at the bottom with a double bow,  
Where all the Graces in their Throne appear,  
Where Love, and awful Majesty do grow,  
Expands itself, and shows a field more clear,  
Than Candid lilies, or the virgin snow;  
Her Eyes like Suns shoot rays more sharp than Darts,  
Which wound all Flinty, Love-despising Hearts.   

Those twinkling Stars, those sparkling Diamond stones,  
Those glorious Suns, where dwells the Eastern Light,  
Peirce with the vigour of their charms the bones  
Of daring Him, who gains of them a fight;  
Beholding Kills, yet he their loss bemoans,  
And ' d rather die, than they shut live in Night.  
Her Nose a comely Prominence, doth part  
Her Cheeks, the mirror of Dame nature's Art.   

Her checks are damask Roses blown in June,  
B'ing equally with Virgin lilies mixed;  
Or snowy milk with blushing strawberries strewn,  
Where equal strife the red, and white's betwixt;  
Or pure vermilion on white satin shown,  
By painter's rarest Skill, and pencil fixed:  
Those cheek: no Colours livelest die can paint,  
Scarlet, and snow seem to their true ones faint.   

Her lips are snips of Scarlet, Juliflowers,  
Spread with the tincture of Vermilion hew,  
Blessed in Self-kisses; past our human powers  
To touch; so high a bliss what Mortal knew?  
Between those ruby Gates slide spicy showers,  
Which, those slain by her eyes, with life imbue:  
Angellick sounds, and charming smiles, so nice,  
Thence flow which make her presence paradise.   

Within the portal of her Mouth's locked fast,  
( Which when she sings she is enforced to show)  
The Orient's Treasure in due order placed,  
Of more than precious pearls a double row;  
Which stand in Sea-born Coral borders chased,  
Like Crimson satin purled with silver snow.  
Her smooth, and dimpled Chin doth under lie,  
Where envies self cannot a fault espy.   

Her Neck's a graceful Tower of spotless snow,  
An alabaster prop to that fair head,  
Where wit, Arts, wisdom in perfection grow,  
Its Basis where are beauties also spread;  
For azure streams through milky fields do flow,  
Where blue, with white like heaven is married:  
Her Breasts like lillyed Globes, or Mounts appear,  
Whose summits crowned with Crimson cherries are.   

Her Arms due measure of proportion have,  
Her hands the types of snowy Excellence  
With Onyx tiped; her legs, and feet enslave  
Our eyes, and Captive hold from falling thence:  
Her whole frames equal symmetry is brave,  
And to spectators pays a recompense:  
Argus himself cannot discern the rest,  
But I presume the hidden beauties best.    

The Protestation.  

Before bright Phoebus had his beams displayed,  
Whilst yet Aurora ushered in the Day,  
The prat'ling echo to my ears betrayed,  
As I among the trees in ambush lay,  
The amorous whispers of Amyntas, who  
With protestation did his Cloris woo.   

What went before I cannot tell, but she  
Replied to something that Amyntas said,  
The murmuring echo by the Air to me  
These gentle sounds in whispering notes conveyed.  
Alas! Amyntas would that you could prove  
To my distrustful Heart that men can love.   

How oft are we poor silly maids beguiled  
By charms of flattering words? when we believe  
To break their oaths men will not be so vild,  
Being foe poor a conquest to deceive  
Disarmed virgins? when we them reward  
With Love, they're cold, and us with scorn regard.   

'tis best to keep our own, for when we yield  
Our Hearts, men suppliants soon forget to be,  
And our affections caught, with scorn repelled  
We are subjected to their tyranny:  
That maid is more than mad who will be kind,  
To men, who waver oftener than the Wind.   

Blame not our Natures, but your follies blame,  
For we should sooner yield were Men more true,  
But since weak virgins to deceive no shame  
They think; denials Cruelty is due.  
But yet Amyntas would that you could prove  
To my distrustful Heart your constant love.   

Amyntas with a sigh replied. 'Tis true,  
Some men are faulty in what you accuse them,  
But let not all be blamed for a few,  
Nor women men despise, 'cause some abuse them.  
For if I went about it, I could prove,  
Men equal women in a constant Love.   

Our sexe's cause I will not plead; my own  
With you, sweet Cloris, will I only plead,  
My constant Love must by Obedience shown  
Be; else I can't be truly scanned till dead:  
Constant obedience 'tis doth rightly prove,  
A Heart's possessor of a constant Love.   

Things that the least of drossy mixture hold,  
Last longest; my Hearts flames Aetherial be,  
More pure than seven times refined Gold,  
Than Cedar's flames: rays of a deity  
They are It is the purity of Love  
Which best of all its constancy can prove.   

My love like Adamant endure the stroke  
Of strong repulses shall; full draughts of smiles,  
Nor worlds of beauties, shall my Heart provoke  
T' inconstant Change; nor all th' enticing guiles  
A proffered Love can give. The world shall be  
First changed, ere I yield to inconstancy.   

The twinkling tapers of the Night shall fall  
First from their azure lodging; Hecate  
Shall lose her light, and a perpetual  
Mask wear of pitch; And heavens' bright lamp shall be  
With darkness overcome: Night into Day  
Shall change; and cold November into May.   

The Sun shall backward course the world about,  
The fire shall cease combustibles to burn,  
Soft gales shall put the flinty Rocks to rout,  
And Neptune shall his fry to grazing turn,  
Mountains to veils; valleys to Hills shall rise,  
Plains shall be made of Craggs that touch the Skies.   

All beasts shall metamorphosed into stones  
Be, and all mortals shall their exit prove,  
Tormented Souls shall cease to fetch sad groans,  
The heaven's rent from their centre first shall move,  
Ere I to thee fair Cloris be unkind,  
Repent me of my love, or change my mind.   

My Tongue may't falter, may my lips ne'er move,  
If unto other but to thee they shall  
Make protestations of a Serious love!  
Cloris believe! I heavens' to witness call!  
The Maid converted joined her lips to his,  
Gathering the first fruits of a greater bliss.    

The Passionate Lover,  

HAd I but wind and Lungs enough to tell  
How much I Love; Had I a Stentor's voice,  
Had I ten thousand Tongues it would do well,  
To speak how much I Love my dearest choice,  
Since wholly filled, If I should not impart  
Loves might, its energy would break my Heart.   

Say my five senses has not Love's delight  
Bound all your powers with its amorous chains,  
Disarmed your Subjects? Spoilt and robbed you quite?  
Can you ought relish but Love's pleasing pains?  
You now disgust all objects of this Ball,  
Phillis is th' only object of you all.   

When that my eye has light on Phillis face,  
It tells my amorous Heart news good, or bad;  
By which or well th' alarmed pulses Pace,  
Or ill: my looks by it are light, or sad:  
Doth sorrow dim the Light of Phillis eye,  
Joys, and Contentment from my bosom fly.   

Does threatening Anger, or disdain appear  
Clothed in the Tyrian blushes in her Cheeks,  
No Poet's art in verse can paint my fear,  
Nor th' Horror and dismay my vitals strikes:  
I dumb, and movelesse like a statue show  
Struck with the Thunder of her Angry brow   

The fearful lightning, nor the dreadful voice  
Of roaring Thunder, nor the horrid Night,  
Nor Ghosts, nor Goblins, nor tempestuous noise  
Of winds, nor Earthquakes can my senses fright,  
So much as when Phyllis with anger glows,  
And from her quick Eyes scorn-tip't-Arrows throws.   

If pleasing smiles sit on their ruby Throne,  
If Joy is painted on her smother brow,  
My senses wrapped beyond the spheres, are thrown  
On beds of pleasure; and forget all woe:  
With less Content the Miser doth behold  
His Stuffed Chests, and full-cramed bags of Gold.   

My Eyes devou're each smile; the more they gaze  
On Hers, the more Contentment still they draw;  
Her smiles the clue that leads me in that maze:  
Her eyes give my obsequious Heart a Law:  
For by her smiles, or frowns I meet delight  
Or Woe; or mirth or Grief; or Day or Night.   

Seek all the World for pleasing objects, and  
Dive to the bottom of the deepest Seas,  
Fetch all the Treasures of the Indian strand,  
The world's best Beauties, none my fancy please▪  
Can, like the Heaven of a pleasing smile,  
Which kills me with excess of Joy the while.   

The sparkling Diamonds of the East I prize  
Below the value of her pretty stars,  
There comes far richer glances from her eyes,  
Her lips than Pegues, better Rubies wears;  
Who round the World for daintest Roses seeks,  
May find them growing in my Phyllis cheeks.   

The richest Treasures of the Earth seem poor;  
Pearls, Gold, and Diamonds nature's richest Gems,  
The World's great treasury, and Neptune's store,  
A Lover( such as I) far less esteems  
Than th' object of his Love: for more delight  
Than in all these I take in Phyllis sight.   

But when the sweeter music of her tongue,  
Like the blessed voice of Angels, strikes my ears,  
I hearken us to Oracles; a strange  
Lute in the hands of Orpheus; the spheres  
Sweet Melody; the smooth tongued Orator,  
Seem but a duller harmony to Her.   

She charms me to a statue, and amazed  
With so much Eloquence, dumb I return  
No answers but by eyes; my soul is raised  
Beyond the sphere of Words: though joyed I mourn  
To hear her pause, or periodize her speech:  
I then her to begin ag'in beseech.   

When in the sweetest quavers of a song  
Her voice she raises, and with ' Matchless strains  
Runs o'er division with her warbling Tongue;  
Hearts she( as stones Amphion's music) gains.  
Harps, Harpsicall, all viols, organs, Lute,  
Trumpets, and all noise else for shame be mute.   

Cease duller strains, all other voices cease,  
Sweet Philomel, I prithee hold thy tongue;  
You early larks, and Thrushes hold your peace;  
The best of music, and of Birds among  
The human, and the feathered Chores, your choice  
Lays, reverence do unto her sweeter voice.   

Though all the music in the World should be  
By Musick-masters of the rarest kind  
Fingered, my ears would taste no harmony,  
No joy my soul, nor no content my mind,  
( Nor the angelic Songs by me I fear  
So prized) like that when I her Sonnets hear.   

Had Sickness prisoned me in my Chamber long,  
Or bound with closer fetters to my Bed,  
As some by music cured, I by a Song  
Chanted by her divine mouth, should be fed  
With that ambrosiac Essence, that would give  
Ease to my pains, and dying make me live.   

My Ear then ravished equal with my eye,  
Counts all sounds harsh, but her sweet music, and  
Commands all others to her melody  
To veil, and to her notes attentive stand;  
As high Apollo to the Muses, she  
( Or Philomela 'mong other Birds) must be.   

The fragrant blasts of spicy Arabia,  
Panchaean Myrrh, Musk, Civet, ambergris,  
All the perfumes of Indian spicery,  
Must to the Sweetness of her breath give place:  
Flora's sweet garlands in the Month of May,  
No such delicious gales of sweetness pay.   

My Soul, as if exhaled by her sweet breath,  
Flies to that membrane which receieves the sent,  
Raising the sluggish fantasy from Death,  
Revives the brain, and gives my Genius vent:  
The cherishing odours her sweet Hybla yields,  
Excel the Diapasma's of the fields.   

My soul upon no other food can feed,  
But the rich Banquet, and delicious fare  
Of her sweet presence, when before her spread;  
Then eased from trouble, free from duller care  
She feeds: the Stomach can no dainties taste,  
Nor hunger, whilst this better Banquet lasts.   

When that with ardent boldness I aspire  
To touch with my profaner lips, her hand,  
I think no blisses, in the World are higher,  
No joys to that in competition stand:  
My soul inflamed, into my lips doth fly,  
Whilst on that bed of lilies soft they lie.   

But when( a favour, seldom shown) I kiss  
The seat of smiles, her tender ruby lips,  
joy spirits dilates, and I expire in bliss;  
Called back again from Death by an eclipse  
Of so great ravishment, through a withdraw,  
As much as Joy did, grief now breaks the Law.   

Thus my five senses banquet at that feast  
Of beauty, which shines in my Phillis face;  
My passionate Heart swells high within my breast,  
And grows too tumid fot its strict embrace,  
Oh! cloud my Phillis! hide her from my eye,  
Of too much pleasure I with surfeit die.     

Corydon's Complaint.  

THose joys that used to flatter me  
O Phyllis when I courted thee,  
Under yon shady beechen tree  
To cruel grief are changed   

Torments my pleasures; griefs my joy,  
Pains my quiet rest destroy,  
Since thou'rt to Corydon grown coy,  
And from my Love estranged   

Did ere I your commands neglect?  
That thus my suit you now reject,  
And pay my love with disrespect,  
My kindness with disdain?   

Say how I purchase may relief,  
Or murdered must I be by grief▪  
Speak that my torments may be brief;  
Give death to ease my pain.   

If you are pleased to martyr me,  
Or bind me unto slavery,  
There is another tyranny  
That you may exercise;   

Those burning flames, your eyes can give:  
A Slave, bound by Loves chains I live  
May, without Hope of a reprieve;  
Thus you may tyrannize.   

Since that my words are spent in vain,  
Whilst Cruel you laugh at my pain,  
I at the feet of your disdain  
Will fall, and prostrate lie.   

Henceforth I'll banish all my pleasure,  
Since you the chiefest of my Treasure,  
Have heaped my Griefs beyond all Measure,  
I'll yield to destiny.    

To SYLVIA Weeping.  

FAir Sylvia, you possess more Treasures than  
The ruby East; those weeping eyes more Gems  
Than the rich Store house of the Ocean,  
For you at pleasure can those crystal streams  
Which trickle from the fountains of your eyes  
Convert int' orient pearls; but richer prize.   

What taking charms lie in your sweeter Face,  
When freed from cloudy-weeping Griefs you smile  
With a clear brow! If tears with such a grace  
Become? if so much lustre has the foil  
To Beauty? what excess of Glory than  
Will bud from those sweet lights when fair again?   

Now the( like silvered Cyn 〈…〉 nthia's beauty, when  
The interposing Earth hides her bright face)  
Dost suffer an eclipse; thy tears restrain  
Thy beauties radiant beams; Tears fill the place  
Of bounteous Light; yet is that shadow fair;  
Others with which( at best) may not compare.   

Phoebus now hides behind a watery cloud  
His brighter head; by which we better may  
Gaze on his Light: thy suns( fair Sylvia) shroud  
Themselves behind a cloud of Tears to day;  
Out of like kindness, and suppress their bright  
And splendid beams, to favour my weak sight.   

Enough, fair Sylvia! clear those Cynthian Lights,  
From that eclipse of sorrow; wipe away  
That hanging cloud of Tears; which still excites  
Your stillborne Grief such pearly price to pay:  
Were you inflamed with scorching Love, as I,  
Its ardour soon those dewy pearls would dry.   

After Aurora with her silver-showers  
Has washed her grandam Tellus chapped face,  
A pleasant Zephyrus the dark Heaven scours,  
And Sol steps out with a far greater Grace:  
After a Storm fair weather doth succeed;  
Let sable Grief your whiter Joys than breed.   

I long to see those fairer Suns to shine,  
Freed from the dewy moisture of a Tear,  
Now they would seem( after this) more divine,  
As Phoebus after an eclipse more clear:  
Let Day the Night succeed, and cease to mourn,  
Banish Grief's night, whilst Joy's day takes its turn.    

THYRSIS in despair.  

SAd night of sorrow! sable night of grief!  
For lover's torments is there no relief?  
Must still my bitter food be grief, and fears?  
My thirst quenched hourly with my briny tears?  
No glimmering of the Day of hope arise!  
Nothing but darkness muffle up the skies  
From my numbed sight? I in the Bed of care  
Do roll; distress behems me round; despair  
Like curtains shuts me up. Come pale faced Hag,  
And let not leaden plummets make thee lag:  
With open arms I do embrace thy Dart,  
Which can give physic to my wounded Heart.  
They say grief that descends to words is weak  
Mine is grown so I can no farther speak.  
But by my Death I to Corinna prove  
Will, that she triumphs o'er me and my Love.    

ABSENCE.  

SUch is the melancholy Earth, when light  
Flies thence, and leaves its room to sable night;  
When darkness, Cold and Shadows dwell upon  
Her Surface; some pale glimmerings of the Moon  
Is all she can expect; a mourner than  
She is till Phoebus brings his day again:  
Such is the matchless, mateless Turtle Dove,  
Sighing its murmurs for its absent Love:  
Such is the body when the Soul is fled:  
Such Pyramus supposing Thisbe dead:  
Such the male Palm the female broken down,  
As I am now, my fairest Sylvia's gone.  
My withered Head declines apace, my green  
And growing youth to sprout no more is seen.  
My blood's grown cold, and frozen; every limb  
As if it wanted heat, and life doth seem.  
My hoarse complaints the very rocks do move,  
Who echo the last accents of my Love.  
A silent night inhabits my sad breast,  
And now no cheerful thought will be my guest.  
Till her return, whose eyes will cause a day,  
Thus must I in my own unquiet stay;  
Wishing for the bright morning, which must rise  
From th' Luminaries of fair Sylvia's eyes.    

DAPHNIS Fled.  

I'll echo in the tell-tale groves  
Lycidas and Daphnis Loves  
Now she has left this place;  
Go grave names in the tender rind  
Whisper my trouble to the wind,  
He'll tell where Daphnis stays:   

Send kisses by the Soft lipped air,  
Beg charming Philomela to stay her  
With raptures of her voice:  
Bid Zephyrus gently hold her back;  
Smooth fronted sand to show her tract,  
That thus forsakes her choice.   

Not all the charms the spring affords,  
The pleasures of delicious gourds,  
Flora's enameled dress,  
Or what is beautiful and fair,  
Or what delights above compare,  
Can sorrow dispossess.   

For Nature now's unkind to me,  
And my request denies I see,  
For Daphnis will away,  
In vain I prattle out my plaints,  
She cannot hear my loud laments,  
Nor would they cause her stay.   

By yonder spring down will I lie,  
Whilst one as great flows from my eye,  
To mingle with its stream  
Till her return, thence I'll not move  
But weep the absence of my Love,  
With waves as great as them   

If my soul flies out in a tear,  
And she returns, and that you hear  
Her call a loud for me,  
Good Nymph that answers him that speaks,  
Say if that Lycidas she seeks,  
he's joined to Niobe.    

To LUCIA playing on her LUTE.  

GReat Orpheus when he struck his Ivory Lyre,  
Drew all the Savage Creatures to admire  
The sweetness of his charming music; and  
Forgetting their fierce natures tamely stand.  
The wolf, Lamb, lion, and the Kid agree  
To Love, whilst charmed by his sweet harmony.  
Stones move themselves called by Amphion's Lute,  
And Thebe's build, without man's hands to do't:  
Yet fairest Lucia when I heard you play,  
I soon confess you have more skill than they:  
Your fingers strike a far diviner strain,  
And men's Hearts harder than the stones you gain.  
Brute Beasts when Orpheus played stood still and gazed;  
When you, stiff-necked men are more amazed.  
He could unreasonable beasts control,  
But you command a reasonable Soul,  
For men more fierce than cruel Tigers, lay  
Their necks down, and like captives yoked obey.  
Who then to bondage powerfullest captives drew?  
Orpheus' tamed beasts, a harder task, Men you.    

ANOTHER.  

WHen last I heard your nimble fingers play  
Upon your Lute, nothing so sweet as they  
Seemed; all my soul fled ravished to my ear,  
That sweetly animating sound to hear.  
My ravished Heart with play Kept equal time,  
Fell down with you, with you did Ela climb,  
Grew sad or lighter, as the tunes you played,  
And with your Lute a perfect measure made:  
If all so much as I, your music Love,  
The whole world would at your devotion move,  
And at your speaking Lutes surpassing charms,  
Embrace a lasting peace, and fling by Arms.    

To CELIA on some verses sent her by another.  

DEar Fair if that some ripet wit  
In rapt of some poetic fit  
To ease the fancy of his brain  
Writ of Love, and Love shall fain,  
Shall those lines acceptance have?  
Not those indicted by thy slave?  
Whose troubled brains no muses move,  
But the darling God of Love.  
If my lines you ' Count a toy  
You know Cupid is a boy,  
Yet his trifles often find  
Fair acceptance from the kind;  
Such are they whose search doth sister  
The giver's mind above the gift.  
Let others write to show their wit,  
When I; Love shall be Cause of it.    

On Love.  

LOve is a fire, Love is a flame  
Which darting came  
Th'orow the azure sky;  
And just like the rays, in Sol's hottest days  
Pierced me from on high.  
My heart before so chill, and cold,  
Begin to unfold  
Itself in those fair beams,  
But its mighty flame, soon it overcame  
Martyred 'twixt extremes.  
love's masterless, and cruel fire  
if it grow higher  
Will kill with martyrdoms,  
As heat forceth heat, to a gentle retreat  
Love, Love overcomes.    

Song.  

Ask me not why I am so sad, nor why I here  
The nymphs forbear,  
Do with my Arms a cross walk in this grove?  
Within the hollow concave of my troubled breast  
Which never rests  
Lies the true cause, and my tormentor Love.  
'Tis jealous fear, causes my care,  
And burdens thus my Love-sick Heart,  
I fear that she, my deity  
Delights to see my smart;  
For still she frowns, and Knitts her brows  
And doth abhor my Company,  
Whilst Lycon Courts her, with her sports,  
I dare not do't though by.  
O cruel fair! why dost thou thus delight to kill  
Thy slave who will  
Whilst he has life adore thee? and will be  
Courted by none for to neglect his duty, though  
you are his foe  
And with tormenting pains would murder me.  
And since that you, forbid me sue  
Or ask for mercy, I will ne'er  
With my complaints, and sad laments  
In vain disturb your ear;  
No, death will do as much as Love hath done  
with's dart he'll pierce me through;  
Death will be found, to Cure that wound  
Which Celia would not do.    

DAMON to a foul Maid that courted him.  

WHat meanest thou Bacca, Can my senses feast  
Upon the members of a parboiled Beast?  
What boarish appetite thinkst thou I have  
That thou shouldst court me, who'd first wed a grave,  
And death hug in my Arms, than such a hag,  
Whose hide pouched like a shriuled pudding-bag,  
Reaks like another Aetna; thy soused face  
And hawkie nose has not so good a grace  
As Madam monkeys; few Hairs on thy scalp,  
Thy mouth is Taenarus, thy Teeth an alp,  
But that no snow, but soot lies always there,  
In other parts like a deformed Bear  
Not yet licked into fashion. Think'st thou Man  
Not turned Beast, forsake his reason can  
To fall int' such a sink: Thou stinking Trull  
Thou must like Pasiphae lie with a Bull,  
Or couple with a boar thy next of kin;  
For never hope you Man can tempt to sin,  
For he that dost it, were I to judge his pain,  
Should be( and 'tis enough) to do't again.    

To LYDIA being retired privately into the Country.  

NOw to the secret Groves is Lydia gone  
Stolen from us all, meaning to live alone  
Among the silent woods, where she may be  
From busy servants entertainments free,  
And hear the pleasant songsters of the Groves,  
With whistling lays resound their growing Loves:  
With uncontrouling freedom view the trammels  
Of Flora which the fragrant meads enamels,  
With pleasure walk and see the crystal brooks,  
Catching the sportive fish, with silver hooks.  
Conversing with the flowery Napaeae,  
Making diversity of flowers agree  
Bound up together: 'mong the shady trees  
Dance in a Circle, with the dryads,  
Feeding on cleanly, though but homely food,  
Esteemed the only Goddess of the wood.  
O how I fear those rural pleasures may  
Entice her there to make a tedious stay,  
But i with vows will Frosty Hiems move,  
To haste the ruins of the leafy grove;  
Pray cold mout'h Boreas kiss her tender cheek,  
To make her shelter in the town to seek,  
Where conversation, and warm fires do bring  
Though frost without doors lies; within a spring.    

Poema Valedictorium Perdilecto intimoque Suo amico transfr 〈…〉 tura.  

ALas! what fate( or rather providence)  
Is this( dear C) unthought of rapts thee hence?  
What makes thee leave this Isle, and seas pass o'er  
To seek the blessings of a foreign shore?  
Can't ours content thee? yea but thy free hand  
Transports the panneous blessings of our land,  
And( for exchange brings back what ours hath none  
Of,) by exotics to enrich our own.  
Since than it is for public good, and thine,  
That thou leavest us, it must needs be for mine.  
I'll not complain, since truly one friend should  
Suffer disasters for fewer good,  
And this is one( and that of no mean weight)  
That thee, and I,( dear C— must separate.)   

Vota Auspicata.  
Farewell! farewell! may fruitful Neptune please  
To sound retreat unto the surging seas,  
By Triton's voice! may his resounding shell,  
The threatening rage of all the billows quell.  
May great Oceanus, and Tridentifer  
( Lest in th' envious liquid paths you err)  
Be your conductors; Let the Sea-Gods place,  
Themselves about your ship for greater grace.  
May Amphetrite and the nereids  
With all the Gods, and graces of the seas,  
Assembling sing jo-paeans to thy Honour,  
And may the sea for joy thou ride upon her  
Expressed with gentle leapings! May the twins  
Be never seen apart! The God of winds  
Great Aeolus, may he reflating gales  
Enchain within th' Hyperborean vales!  
And let none escape but Aura's from his hand  
To drive you forward to your wished-for land!  
May glorious Titan pleasant make the days,  
And guild the Sea, with his projected rays!  
Serener nights attend you! may the bright  
Phoebe, at full, give you her borrowed light!  
May Mercury th' Negotiators God  
Attend you too, with his Cyllenian rod,  
And cause your gains ariseing from the fleece  
Of English Sheep, Surmount that brought to Greece  
By Jason's hand! May these on you therefore  
Attend and bring you safe to this blessed shore.   

Vero Panomphaeo.  
Thou thou true Neptune who the seas command'st,  
Without a Trident still the billows canst,  
And with one single word make all obey  
Whether in heaven, in Earth, Hell, Land, or Sea!  
Take thou my C— under thy safe protection,  
Guide him and favour 'im, with thy sure direction,  
And he'll not fear the threatening of the waves  
Anchoring his hope upon a God that saves.  
Be thou propitious to my prayers, and then  
I shall be sure to see him once again.   

Coronis.  
Fare well, dear C— I wish you well, adieu!  
My tears stop words, once more farewell to you.  
Sospitet Te Deus: Opt. max.   

Epigram.  
Stay Triton, hold your breath, and o'er the main  
Conduct my C— reduce him safe again  
To Albion's shore: then sound your shell, brave boy,  
And make the waves leap to the skies for joy.    

THE DEPART.  

ADieu sweet Chloris, for the Fates deny  
Me longer life and longer liberty.  
drop reg'ave lost the one in gazing on that face,  
Which justly may o'th' Daphian Queen take place  
To thee my liberty's resigned the grave  
Tomb shall bespeak me Chloris constant slave.  
How can I longer think to live when I  
Ravished from the clear sunshine of thine eye  
Feel chilling colds; and winter frosts begirt  
Continually with fatal blasts my heart?  
No'tis those beams, which thy bright eyes display  
That must dispel, and chase these snows away,  
That killing absence brings: nought butthy breath  
May now redeem me from the dart of Death.  
But there's no hopes, no other hopes but I  
Banished your presence, must resolve to die:  
Cloris adieu▪ for ever now adieu,  
For die I must being forced to part with you.    

TYSTIRUS complaining.  

BReak sadded heart, burst thou with griefs complaint  
Let thy laments  
The hardest marble unto tears provoke:  
Make flints to weep  
Increase the deep  
With drops expressed from that cruel stroke.  
Wounded I lie, and suffer from that hand  
That gave the wound  
Unto my bleeding Soul. And from those eyes.  
Light'nings proceed  
Which strike me dead  
Nor w'thout she raise me can I ever rise.  
Torment of cruel silence breeds this woe  
I undergo;  
My tongue is settered, and I dare not speak  
Although my heart  
Feels deadly smart  
And swelled with sorrow at the last must break.  
But here's a joy which feeds my sadded mind  
None hath divined  
The cause of my sadness and distress,  
First shall my Love  
My murder prove  
Before, to wrong her, I my Love confess.    

Damon on Amarillis dancing in a Ring  

SEE my fortune; See my fortune  
How she flies me  
And denies me  
Woe alas! woe alas too soon  
Still I follow! still I follow!  
But she flies me  
And denies me  
And cannot be won.  
Cruel sport; In this sort  
With woes to fill me  
Which will kill me  
Ah! from this pain release me.  
For whilst she flies, my eyes  
They discover  
I'm a lover  
And that it is herself must ease me.  
Round we go, round we go,  
But she flies me  
And denies me  
Still I follow wrapped in woe.  
She moves swiftly, and yet sweetly  
Don't forsake me  
I'll o'er take thee  
If thou wilt pity bestow.  
Cruel sport, in this sort!  
To increase my fires  
And desires  
And to exhibit my despair:  
She Shifts her place, apace  
I after move  
Being urged by Love  
But in vain still my endeavours are.    

Acrostic.  

FEar-killing Faith, Bold-zeal, declares thy name,  
Art picked it out but nature laid the frame.  
If ever name and nature did agree,  
'Tis thine which are in perfect harmony:  
Heau'n-blessed Faith, which shakes th' Aethereal towers   

Cold-burning zeal 'gainst heaven-opposing powers  
Offer themselves to view: Thy virgin breast  
Loves heaven alone, doth sordid Loves detest.  
Death cannot shake thy Faith, nor ever may   

Zeal like to thine, a purer breast display.  
Eternal flames of heau'n-refined zeal  
And 〈…〉 oreing Faith, thou in thy breast dost feel,  
Live ever happy! Faith and zeal with thee  
Ere stay, t' effect this thy name's prophecy.    

Acrostic.  

AGe blessed I hope thou art: May many years  
Run their swift courses, and the rolling spheres  
Tire in their motions; May the circl'ing Sun  
About this round globe through the zodiac run  
Giving a hundered springs and Autumns ere  
Earth or the Silent grave entomb thee there.  
Blessed be thou here with Age: with virtues more,  
Let graces, with thy years increase; thy store  
Ere multiply: So as thou hast begun  
Shine thou in virtue till thy race be run:  
Death fear to touch this blooming blossom; Now  
In April stay until December bow  
Her head with age and make't the earth to kiss;  
Open then thy fatal arms; beat her to bliss.  
Pluck her from hence, 'fore Age doth call thee to her,  
Ere cursed be, for thou pulls the world's chief flower.    

The Recovery.  

HAil gentle virgin! now my joys renew  
Their plumes, for they were Sick as well as you,  
And had you died they had been buried too.   

How'oft betwixt my hope, and fear I died;  
Each symptom that my watchful eyes espied,  
My heart with thousand Torments crucified.   

When scarlet seas did double die thy face,  
Mine paled to see how strong thy fever was,  
How great a Tyrant to usurp that place.   

When thou grew'st pale I even sunk for fear  
Lest Death's cold ashes had been strewed there,  
Or that, that Tyrant came to domineer.   

When thou didst sound, my heart was made a prize,  
To pallid fear, nor could it ever rise,  
Till hope to raise it sprouted from thine eyes.   

My heart yet trembles, now I think upon't,  
The thoughts oft with pale sadness paint my front:  
Thou livest: such mercies ere forget I won't.   

My Muse did languish by a Sympathy,  
As if her life depended had on thee,  
It seems thine was her numbers treasury.   

Distressed she sat in Mourning Liveries,  
Whilst the clear fountains of her crystal eyes,  
Wept in soft Tears most doleful Elegies.   

As thy cheeks Hyacinths o'ercome their snows,  
As vanquished are their lilies, by the Rose,  
So on my muse new heat and vigour grows.   

This Day mythought thy starry orbs were pressed  
With wont lustre: and new beauties dressed  
Thy Face: which gave flames to my muse's breast.   

Inspired thus she now begins to sing,  
New ardours now her sprightly Numbers wing,  
And as thy health doth, so her raptures spring.   

Both consecrate are my Muse, and I,  
To sing the bliss of thy recovery,  
And chant Io Paeans until we die.   

May heaven as he has raised thee from the Dead,  
( Whose Name be blessed!) his mighty bucklar spread,  
From Death's fell arrows to defend thy Head.   

Deign but to cherish( with a gentle glance  
Of Favour shot from thy bright countenance)  
These lines, and it my Numbers will advance.   

Such mercies cannot but my spirits raise,  
In highest Notes to chant my sprightly lays,  
And for thy Health to heaven sing songs of praise.    

Innocentia & Politia. Veritas & Panurgia.  

WHen that Astrea took her flight from hence,  
To find in heaven a better residence,  
Dame Innocentia wanting her protection  
Was scorned of all: And Pollicy's infection  
Spreading through Cities, Courts, and such great places  
Exposed that Dame to thousands of disgraces.  
Sly Subtlety the Merchant entertains,  
Deceit the tradesman, to increase his gains,  
The Great man honour; that vain puffed-up Pride,  
With covetousness of every one; beside  
Protean Policy, whose great resort,  
Is in the City, and the Prince's Court,  
Wherein Deceit so often doth frequent,  
That dam's inseparable accident:  
But Innocence, of all men was discarded,  
Her nakedness laughed at and disregarded.  
At last a countryman, whose smother brow  
Ne'er entertained Deceit; nor's mouth knew how  
With flattering words to speak; with Court intent  
To utter that thing which his Heart ne'er meant,  
But being taught of Truth his words to spell,  
His Heart, and Tongue ran ever parallel:  
He` Spies this naked dam's distress with ruth,  
Invites her with him to go dwell with Truth:  
She soon consenting, thanks him for his pity.  
And bids adieu both to the Court and City.  
The stately buildings of the Court she shuns,  
Thence swifter than the Eastern-wind she runs,  
Far from the City, and th' infectious Court  
She finds where Truth is wont to resort:  
Met, they as Sisters join, delighting so  
That never since they would asunder go,  
Their cottage low( free from all Courtly state)  
Strong built on holy ground is Scituate:  
Two moats surrounding make't an Amnick Isle,  
The better to keep forth Deceit and Guile,  
A strong-built Wall doth it defend, whose Gate,  
Like that of heaven is made angust and strait,  
That every one who is admitted there  
Mayn't enter if deceitful clothes they were;  
For Truth gives entrance unto none, but those  
Who'r naked like herself; or else whose clothes  
Prove tegments for to hide Truths parts divine,  
From the perverting Eyes of mu 〈…〉 ling Swine.  
Within the closure of Truth's cottage wall  
No high Ambition that aspires( a fall)  
No twi-faced Guile, no Discord, and no Pride,  
Are by these Dames permitted to reside:  
But Love and meekness, and such heavenly Graces  
Cohabit still in those serener places.  
The shadowy Groves with a perpetual spring,  
Sweet Philomela making the woods to ring,  
With other birds peirched on the tender sprays,  
Whose notes from warbling Throats salute the Days  
Approach; whose trebles to the murmuring water  
According, make sweet music to their Maker,  
Maketh as if the Earth in heaven were placed  
Or heaven descended Earth with's Joys had graced,  
Such is the state,( and far more full of bliss)  
Where truth conjoined to Innocency is.  
Thus dwell these nymphs enriched with the Treasures  
Of rural joys, and of celestial Pleasures,  
Useing to travel all the Country round,  
Till the strange echoes of the Trumpets sound,  
Till Mars with blood bedyed, and horror fell,  
Affrighted them back to their closer cell:  
Deceit, and Guile, and Policy than flew,  
With speedy feet about the Country too  
Where they increased so their progeny,  
That never Since the country could be free,  
So that pure Truth, and Innocentia fair,  
Unto some secret place, confined are.  
But now when Hyem's frosty snow-beard swelled  
With chilling cold; and neveous mantles held  
The World enwrapped; and Mountain tops did show  
Their lofty Heads encircled round with snow,  
Dame Innocentia clothed all in White,  
Her usual badge, Steals from her secret site;  
Leaving the country to the Court she goes,  
To view the Quarters of her bitter foes.  
B'ing thither come, the first she met was Guile,  
Whose clothing made that spotless Dame to smile,  
For like to her in every thing she seemed,  
So that most men her Innocentia deemed:  
Look what she wore Guile ever wore the same,  
And counterfeited still that purer dame.  
In pure White Garments was she deced, the snow  
Could not than she a colour purer show:  
But she whose eyes pierced her base covering,  
Saw her all bloached with foul spots within,  
And through her plastered White, and painted face  
Saw that with all men she usurped her place.  
The next she met with was Dame policy,  
Who with a thousand shapes deludes the eye,  
Her clothes were changeable, and her disguise  
To every colour would Camelionize,  
Her shapes so divers and her forms so many  
That none could truly say that she had any.  
Her handmaid Guile who still attends upon her  
Bowing her Head full low unto her honour  
Held up her train, when that she near was come  
She thus salutes her, Dame we have no room  
To lodge you here, our beds are all implete,  
Nor may this court, for you become a seat,  
For your carbasious tegment, which doth vie  
For whiteness with the snow, cannot come nigh  
Our sullied garments, but it shows our stains  
And Truths perspective shows to all our blains,  
Our albeous Garments seem as white as thine,  
Our Laws seem holy, our decrees divine,  
If thou art absent; but if thou art by  
Our white shows black, our seeming truth's a lie,  
Our Laws deceitful, and it doth appear,  
Our Kingdom falls if thou remainest here.  
My niece Ambition cannot be displaced,  
Her Sister flattery ' L think herself disgraced,  
Should I dislodge them for your sake, they'd snuff,  
And pride would think you were not fine enough:  
But adulation who her words can change  
T' as various shapes as there are humours strange  
Shall entertain you, and with Speeches fair  
Shall fill you full, if you'll be filled with air.  
We two are inconsonant; we can't agree,  
I you oppose, you're opposite to me,  
And 'tis as hard for us to join( it clear is)  
As pale faced Famine to conjoin with Ceres,  
I am not wont apertly thus to speak,  
However now my mind I truly break  
To you, and tell you, seeing we can't agree,  
That you must hence, and leave this place for me.  
Contraries can't conjoin, we here no room  
Have, therefore pray depart from whence you come.  
Dame Innocentia soon perceived, the place  
Nothing afforded to her but disgrace,  
And scorn, therefore lest thence she should be thrust  
And her white garments spoilt with the dust,  
And stains of sin, the court unto her foes  
She leaves with speed( while Guile dirt at her throws)  
And to truth's cottage, where she was before  
Returns; and vows to see the Court no more.   
Aula procul Innocentiâ.   

An Elegy on the matchless murder of Charles the First of Happy and Blessed Memory.  

SInce Britain's great Apollo left the land,  
Laurels are blasted, and dejected stand;  
Poets are dumb-struck, and amazed to see  
So strange, unutterable prodigy,  
Charles forced to swim in his own sacred Gore  
From this accursed, to an immortal Shore,  
So that none dares, all struck with silent dread,  
To say, Much less to sing that Charles is dead.  
For many months my Soul and Blood was froze,  
Till Anger thawed this Ice, and zeal arose  
Through all my Veins, which gave me Liberty  
To weep out first, then write an Elegy.  
Lame, and unequal as the woeful times  
Painted with Sighs, and Tears, must run my rhythms,  
For who can, struck with so much grief, erect  
A Verse, but in a faltering Dialect?  
He must forget the rugged times the while,  
That can indite aught in a polished stile.  
Who will not blush, and fire his Face with Shame,  
That thinks by Verset ' immortalize that Name,  
Which charactrized in our rhythms, will give  
Life to our Lines, and make our Fumes to live,  
Whilst Charles shall flourish in man's memory,  
Which shall till times supped up be Eternity  
Bee? Royal Phoebus gains no ray of Light  
By mortals praises; he 'tis gives them Sight,  
So Britain's Son, shall never live by verse,  
But Men and rhythms, whilst they his Name rehearse  
Shall flourish; for the Theme these shall be read,  
And live souled by him, tho' himself be dead.  
Dead! ah more! murdered, and martyred too,  
By cursed hands( who once their deed shall rue)  
That by Pretext of guilt and crimes do draw  
To th' block of Death the Head of Church and Law;  
Both fell with thee great Monarch, when that Fate  
Made thee a Martyr of the Church and State.  
The Earth and all her mighty Monarchs stand  
Amazed, and drooping dare not now command,  
Benumbed their Fingers can't the sceptre sway,  
Kings cannot rule, nor people well obey,  
Since by thy Death the Soul of monarchy  
Has suffered, and the Head of majesty  
Chopped off; no King now thinks himself secure  
Since Laws( the Walls where Princes did immure  
Themselves from vulgar rage) are wrested so  
That murder's issue whence Justice used to flow.  
Ashamed and blushing Princes stand, to see  
Themselves, and regal acts outdone by thee,  
To see the Glory of thy setting Sun  
Damp all the lustre of their splendid Noon.  
Heaven, and the Lamp of day, night's tapers tell  
England, that they an Act to parallel  
Its bloody deed, ne'er yet beheld; thy Stage  
O raging Isles! the wonder of this Age,  
And thou shalt blush died with a Tyrian Stain,  
( Unless thou wash it quickly off again  
By some notorious Act, as great as good,  
And take away the stains of blood, with blood)  
And be the scorn of Nations, whilst the Sun  
Shall in the twelve roads of the zodiac Run.  
No Pen can reach to words sufficient  
To speak thy Death; no Elegy lament  
Thy fatal loss can in a strain that's fit,  
The more we strive the more fall short of it,  
For thou be a Theme too great for thoughts, much less  
Can weaker words speak thee; o'er unhappiness  
In floods of briny tears we'll ever tell,  
And loyal hearts shall make the Ocean swell  
With sighs; which will at last bring judgement down,  
And ' wake th' Almightie's Justice for his own.  
Rebels think not 'twas his o'er-weight of sin  
That pressed him down, alive he still had been,  
But for the Nations crimes; we first his life  
Took from him by our sins, than with the knife.  
God for a Notion's sins oft dealeth so,  
Takes off the Righteous, let's the wicked go,  
In mercy to the first, to set them free  
From following plagues, and sudden jeopardy.  
So our yet bleeding Monarch was a gem  
Too good for us, and we too bad for him.  
Although the murderers grant no monument  
Crowned hero! Fame his hasty missives sent  
To all Earth's Monarchs! who already have,  
Counting the world two little for thy grave,  
Reared up a pyramid of high renown,  
Which shall our-last the longest Monarchs crown,  
Where long-lived Fame upon its summit sings  
The fatal tragedy of the best of Kings:  
In vaulting thee so close, think let them not  
That e'er their Regicede shall be forgot,  
For though thou hidden under ground dost lie,  
Their Names above ground rot, and ne`r shall die.  
God turns hell's spiteful Arrows on his head,  
The world Salvation gained, Christ Crucified,  
And murdered Charles the Name of Martyr gains:  
Tho' Life and three Crowns lost: more now remains  
For him a Life Immortal, and a Crown,  
Of Shining Glory, and of high Renown.  
Which spite of Rebels Acts▪ though he be Dead,  
Shall now for ever Crown His Royal Head.    
THE END