❧ THETRAGEDIE OF GORBODVC,
whereof three Actes were wrytten by ThomasNortone,
and the two laſte by ThomasSackuyle.
¶ Sett forthe as the ſame was ſhewed before the QVENESmoſt excellent Maieſtie, in her highnes Court of Whitehall, the.xviij. day of Ianuary, AnnoDomini.1561.
By the Gentlemen of Thynner Temple in London.
❧ IMPRYNTEDAT LONDON
in Fleteſtrete, at the Signe of the Faucon by WilliamGriffith: Andare to be ſold at his Shop in Saincte Dunſtones Churchyarde in theWeſt of London.
Anno.1565.
Septemb.22.
¶Thargument of the Tragedie.GORBODVC,
king of Brittaine,
deuided his Realme in his lyfe time to his Sonnes, FerrexandPorrex.
The ſonnes fell to dyuiſion and diſcention. The yonger kylled theelder. The Mother that more dearely loued thelder, for reuenge kylledthe yonger. The people moued with the Crueltie of the facte, roſe inRebellion and ſlewe both father and mother. The Nobilitie aſſembledand moſt terribly deſtroyed the Rebelles. And afterwardes for wantof Iſſue of the Prince wherby the Succeſſion of the Crowne becamevncertayne. They fell to Ciuill warre in whiche both they and many oftheir Iſſues were ſlayne, and the Lande for a longe tyme almoſtedeſolate and myſerablye waſted.The names of the Speakers.
kynge of great
Brittayne.
Queene and wife to kynge
Gorboduc.
Elder ſonne to kynge
Gorboduc.
Yonger ſonne to kynge
Gorboduc.
Duke of
Cornewall.
Duke of
Albanye.
Duke of
Leagre.
Duke of
Cumperlande.
Secretarie to the kynge
Gorboduc.
A Coun
ſellourof kynge Gorboduc.
A Coun
ſellouraſſignedby the kynge to his Eldeſtſonne Ferrex.
A Coun
ſellouraſſignedby the kynge to his yonger ſonne Porrex.
Bothbeynge of the olde kynges Counſellbefore.A Para
ſyteremaynyng with Ferrex.
A Para
ſyteremaynyng with Porrex.
A Me
ſſengerof thelder Brothers dethAMeſſengerof Duke Fergusryſyngein Armes.A Ladye of the Queenes priuie Chamber.
Foure auncient and Sage men of
Brittayne.
¶The Order of the domme ſhewe before the firſte Acte, and theSignification therof.¶Firſte the Muſicke of Violenze began to playe, durynge whiche camein vppon the Stage ſixe wilde men clothed in leaues. Of whom thefirſt bare in his necke a Fagot of ſmal ſtickes, whiche thei allboth ſeuerallie and togither aſſaied with all their ſtrengthes tobreake, but it could not be broken by them. At the length one of themplucked out one of the ſtickes and brake it: And the reſt pluckingeoute all the other ſtickes one after an other did eaſelie breake,the ſame beynge ſeuered: which beyng conioyned they had beforeattempted in vayne. After they had this done, they departed theStage, and the Muſicke ceaſed Hereby was ſignified, that a ſtateknit in vnytie doth continue ſtronge againſt all force. But beyngedeuyded, is eaſely deſtroied. As befell vpon Duke Gorboducdeuidinge his Lande to his two ſonnes which he before held inMonarchie. And vpon the diſcention of the Brethrene to whome it wasdeuided.primus. Scena prima.
Ferrex.
THEſilent night that bringes the quiet pawſe,
From painefulltrauailes of the wearie Daie:
Prolonges my carefull thoughtesand makes me blame
The ſlowe Aurorethat ſo for loue or ſhame
Doth longe delaye to ſhewe herbluſſhing face,
And nowe the Daie renewes my griefull plainte.My gracious Lady and mother deare,
Pardon my griefe, for your ſogrieued minde
To aſke what cauſe tormenteth ſo your harte.
So great a wronge and ſo vniuſt deſpite,
Without all cauſeagainſt all courſe of kinde.
Suche cauſeles wronge and ſo vniuſt deſpite,
Maye haueredreſſe, or at the leaſt reuenge.
Neither my ſonne, ſuche is the frowarde will,
The perſonſuche, ſuche my miſhap and thyne.
Myneknow I none, but griefe for your diſtreſſe:Yes: myne for thyne my ſonne: A father? no:
kynde a Father, but not in kyndlynes.
MyFather: whie? I knowe nothynge at all,
Wherin I haue miſdonevnto his Grace.Therfore,the more vnkinde to thee and mee.
For knowynge well (my ſonne)the tendre loue
That I haue euer borne and beare to thee,
Hegreued therat, is not content alone,
To ſpoyle thee of my ſightmy chiefeſt Ioye,
But thee, of the birth, right andHeritage
Cauſeles, vnkindly and in wrongfull wiſe,
Againſtall Lawe and right he will bereaue,
Halfe of his kyngdome hewill geue awaye.Towhome?Euento Porrexhis younger ſonne
Whoſe growinge Pride I do ſo ſoreſuſpecte,
That beynge rayſed to equall Rule with thee,
Meethinkes I ſee his enuious harte to ſwell
Fyllde with Diſdaineand with ambicious Pride
The ende the Goddes do know, whoſeAulters I
Full oft haue made in vaine of Cattell ſlayne,
Toſende the ſacred ſmoke to Heauens Throne,
For thee my ſonneif thinges ſo ſuccede,
As nowe my Ielious minde miſdemethſore.Madameleaue care and carefull plaint for me.
Iuſt hath my Father bento euerywight,
His firſte vniuſtice he will not extendeme I truſte, that geue no cauſe therof,
My brothers prideſhall hurt him ſelfe, not mee.
Sograunt the Goddes: But yet thy father ſo
Hath firmely fixed hisvnmoued mynde
That plaints & praiers can no whit auaile,
Forthoſe haue I aſſaied, but euen this daie,
He wyll endeuour toprocure aſſent
Of all his Counſell to his fonde deuiſe.TheirAunceſtours from race to race haue borne
True fayth to myforefathers and their ſeede,
I truſte thei eke wyll beare thelyke to me.Therereſteth all, but if they fayle therof,
Andif the ende bringe forth an euyll ſucceſſe
On them and theirsthe miſchiefe ſhall befall,
And ſo I praie the Goddes requiteit them,
And ſo they will, for ſo is wont to bee
WhenLordes and truſted Rulers vnder kynges
To pleaſe the preſentfancie of the Prince,
With wrong tranſpoſe the courſe ofgouernaunce
Murders, miſchiefe, or ciuyll ſworde at length,
Ormutuall treaſon, or a iuſt reuenge,
When right ſuccedingeLine returnes againe
By Iouesiuſt Iudgement and deſerued wrathe
Bringes them to ciuill andreprochefull death,
And rootes their names & kindredes fromthe earth.Mothercontent you, you ſhall ſee the ende.Theende? thie ende I feare, Ioueende me firſt.
primus. Scena ſecunda.
Arostus. Philander. Eubulus.
MYLordes whoſe graue aduiſe & faithfull aide
Haue longvpheld my Honour & my Realme
And brought me from this agefrom tender yeres,
Guidynge ſo great eſtate with greatrenowme:
Nowe more importeth mee the erſt to vſe
Yourfaith and wiſdome wherby yet I reigne,
That when by death myliefe and rule ſhall ceaſe,
The kingdome yet maye withvnbroken courſe,
Haue certayne Prince, by whoſe vndoubtedright,
Your wealth and peace, may ſtand in quiet ſtaie,
Andeke that thei whome Nature hath preparde,
In time to take myplace in Princelie Seate,
While in their Fathers tyme theirpliant youth
Yeldes to the frame of ſkilfull gouernaunce
Mayeſo be taught and trayned in noble Artes,
As what their fatherswhiche haue reigned before
Haue with great fame deriued downe tothem
With honour they maye leaue vnto their ſeede:
And notbe taught for their vnworthie life,
And for their Lawelesſwaruynge out of kinde,
Worthie to loſe what Lawe and kindthem gaue
But that they may preſerue the common peace,
Thecauſe that firſt began and ſtill mainteinesLyneall courſe of kinges inheritaunce,
For me, for myne, foryou, and for the ſtate
Wherof both I and you haue charge andcare.
Thus do I meane to vſe your wonted fayth
To me andmyne, and to your natyue Lande,
My Lordes be playne without allwrie reſpect
Or poyſonous crafte to ſpeake in pleaſyngwiſe,
Leſt as the blame of yll ſuccedynge thinges
Shalllight on you, ſo light the harmes alſo.
Yourgood acceptaunce ſo (moſt noble kinge)
Of ſuche yourfaithfulnes as heretofore
We haue employed in dueties to yourGrace,
And to this Realme whoſe worthie head you are,
Wellproues that neyther you miſtruſte at all,
Nor we ſhall nedeno boaſting wiſe to ſhewe,
Our trueth to you, nor yet ourwakefull care
For you, for yours, and for our natiueLande,
Wherfore (O kynge) I ſpeake for one as all,
Sitheall as one do beare you egall faith:
Doubt not to vſe theirCounſelles and their aides
Whoſe honours, goods & lyuesare whole auowed
To ſerue, to ayde, and to defende your Grace.MyLordes I thanke you all. This is the caſe
Ye know, the Gods,who haue the ſoueraigne care
For kings, for kingdomes, and forcommen weales,
Gaue me two ſonnes in my more luſtie Age,
Whonowe in my deceyuynge yeres are growen
Well towardes ryper ſtateof minde and ſtrength,
To take in hande ſome greater Princelycharge,yet they lyue and ſpende their hopefull daies,
With me and withtheir Mother here in Court
e
Theirage nowe aſketh other place and trade,
And myne alſo doth aſkean other chaunge,
Theirs to more trauaile, myne to greatereaſe:
Whan fatall death ſhall ende my mortall lyfe,
Mypurpoſe is to leaue vnto them twaine
The Realme deuided intotwo ſondrie partes:
The one Ferrexmyne elder ſonne shallhaue,
The other ſhall the other Porrexrule
That both my purpoſe may more framelie ſtande,
Andeke that they may better rule their charge,
I meane forthwith toplace them in the ſame:
That in my life they maye both learneto rule,
And I may Ioye to ſee their rulynge well.
This isin ſomme, what I woulde haue ye wey:
Firſte whether ye allowemy whole deuiſe,
And thinke it good for me, for them, foryou,
And for our Countrey, mother of vs all:
And if ye lykeit and allowe it well,
Than for their guydinge and theirgouernaunce,
Shewe ſorthe ſuche meanes of circumſtaunce,
Asye thinke meete to be both knowne and kept:
Loe, this is all,nowe tell me your aduiſe.Andthis is muche, and aſketh great aduiſe,
But for my parte myſoueraigne Lord and kyng
This do I thinke your Maieſtie dothknowe,
Howe vnder you in Iuſtice and in peace,
Greatwealth and Honour, long we haue enioyed
So as we can not ſeemewith gredie mindeswiſſhe for chaunge of Prince or gouernaunce,
But if ye lykeyour purpoſe and deuiſe,
Our lykynge muſt be deemed toprocede,
Of rightfull reaſon, and of heedefull care,
Notfor our ſelues, but for our commen ſtate:
Sithe our owne ſtatedoth nede no better chaunge
I thinke in all as erſt your Gracehath ſaide:
Firſte when you ſhall vnlode your aged mynde,
Ofheuye care and troubles manyfolde,
And laye the ſame vpon myLordes your ſonnes
Whoſe growing yeres may bere the burdenlong
And longe I praye the Goddes to graunt it ſo:
And inyour lyfe while you ſhall ſo beholde
Their rule, their vertuesand their noble deedes,
Suche as their kinde behighteth to vsall,
Great be the profites that ſhall growe therof,
Yourage in quiet ſhall the longer laſt,
Your laſtynge age ſhalbetheir longer ſtaie,
For cares of kynges, that rule as you hauerulde
For publique wealth and not for priuate ioye,
Do waſtmannes lyfe and haſten crooked age,
With furrowed face and withenfeebled lymmes,
To drawe on creepynge Death a ſwifterpace.
They two yet yonge ſhall beare the partie reigne
Withgreater eaſe, than one nowe olde alone
Can welde the whole, forwhom muche harder is
with leſſened ſtrength the double weightto beare
Your eye, your Counſell, and the graue regarde
OfFathers, yea of ſuche a fathers name,
Nowe at beginning oftheir ſondred reigne,
When it is hazarde of their wholeſucceſſe,
bridle ſo their force of youthfull heates,
And ſo reſtreinethe rage of inſolence,
Whiche moſt aſſailes the yonge andnoble minds,
And ſo ſhall guide and traine in tempredſtaie
Their yet greene bending wittes
wtreuerent awe
And now inured with vertues at the firſt.
Cuſtome(O king) ſhall bringe delightfulnes
By vſe of Vertue, Viceſhall growe in hate,
But if you ſo diſpoſe it, that thedaye,
Which endes your life, ſhal firſt begin theirreign
Great is the perill, what will be the ende,
Whenſuche beginning of ſuche liberties
Voide of ſuche ſtates asin your liefe do lye,
Shall leaue them to free randon of theirwill
An open praie to traiterous flatterie,
The greateſtpeſtilence of noble youthe:
Whiche perill ſhalbe paſt, if inyour life,
Their tempred youthe with aged fathers awe
Bebrought in vre of ſkilfull ſtaidnes
And in your life, theirliues diſpoſed ſo,
Shall length your noble liefe inioyfulnes.
Thus thinke I ytyour grace hath wiſelie thought
And that your tender care ofcommen weale,
Hath bred this thought, ſo to deuide yourLande
And plant your ſonnes to beare the preſent rule
Whileyou yet liue to ſee their rulynge well,
That you may longerlyue by ioye therein.
What furder meanes behouefull are andmeete
At great leiſure maye your Grace deuiſe,
When allhaue ſaide, and when we be agreed
If this be beſt to parte theRealme in twaine,place your ſonnes in preſent gouernement
Whereof as I hauepla
melyſaide my mynde,
So woulde I here the reſt of all my Lordes.Inparte I thinke as haue ben ſaide before,
In parte againe myminde is otherwiſe
As for deuiding of this Realme in twaine
Andlotting out the ſame in egall partes,
To either of my Lordesyour Graces ſonnes,
That thinke I beſt for this your Realmesbehofe,
For profite and aduauncement of your ſonnes,
Andfor your comforte and your honour eke:
But ſo to place themwhile your life do laſt,
To yelde to them your Royallgouernaunce,
To be aboue them onely in the name
Of father,not in kingly ſtate alſo,
I thinke not good for you, for them,nor vs,
This kingdome ſince the bloodie ciuill fielde
WhereMorganſlaine did yeld his conquered parte
Vnto his Coſyns ſworde inCamberlande
Conteinethall that whilome did ſuffice,
Three noble ſonnes of yourforefather Brute,
Soyour two ſonnes, it maye alſo ſuffice,
The moe the ſtronger,if thei gree in one:
The ſmaller compaſſe that the Realmedoth holde
The eaſier is the ſwey therof to welde,
Thenearer Iuſtice to the wronged poore,
The ſmaller charge, andyet ynoughe for one.
And whan the Region is deuided ſo
ThatBrethrene be the Lordes of either parte,
Such ſtrength dothnature knit betwene themboth,ſondrie bodies by conioyned loue
That not as two, but one ofdoubled force,
Eche is to other as a ſure defence,
TheNoblenes and glorie of the one
Doth ſharpe the courage of theothers mynde
With vertuous enuie to contende for praiſe,
Andſuche an egalnes hath nature made,
Betwene the Brethren of oneFathers ſeede,
As an vnkindlie wronge it ſeemes to bee,
Tothrowe the other Subiect vnder feete
Of him, whoſe Peere he isby courſe of kinde,
And nature that did make this egalnes,
Ofteſo repineth at ſo great a wronge,
That ofte ſhe rayſeth vp agrudgynge griefe,
In yonger Brethren at the elders ſtate:
Wherbyboth townes & kingdomes haue
beraſed
And famous ſtockes of Royall blood diſtroied:
TheBrother that ſhould be the Brothers aide
And haue a wakefullcare for his defence,
Gapes for his death, & blames thelyngering yeres
That brings not forth his ende with faſtercourſe
And oft impacient of ſo longe delayes,
Withhatefull ſlaughter he preſentes the fates
And keepes a iuſtrewarde for Brothers bloode,
With endles vengeaunce on hisſtocke for aye:
Suche miſchiefes here are wiſely mettewithall:
If egall ſtate maye nourishe egall loue,
Wherenone hath cauſe to grudge at others good,
But nowe the head toſtoupe beneth them bothe,
Ne kinde, ne reaſon, ne good ordrebeares,
And oft it hath ben ſeene, that where Natureben preuerted in diſordered wiſe,
When Fathers ceaſe to knowthat thei ſhuld rule
And Children ceaſe to knowe they ſhouldobey,
And often our vnkindly tendrenes,
Is Mother ofvnkindly Stubbornes:
I ſpeake not this in enuie or reproche,
Asif I grudged the glorie of your ſonnes,
Whoſe honour I beſechethe Goddes to encreaſe:
Nor yet as if I thought there didremaine,
So filthie Cankers in their noble breſtes,
WhomeI esteme (whiche is their greateſt praiſe,
Vndoubted childrenof ſo good a kynge.
Onelie I meane to ſhewe my certeineRules,
Whiche kinde hath graft within the mind of man
ThatNature hath her ordre and her courſe,
Whiche (being broken)doth corrupt the ſtate
Of myndes and thinges euen in the beſtof all
My Lordes your ſonnes may learne to rule of you
Yourowne example in your noble Courte
Is fittest Guyder of theiryouthfull yeares,
If you desire to ſeeke ſome preſent Ioye
Byſight of their well rulynge in your lyfe,
See them obey, ſoſhall you ſee them rule,
Who ſo obeyeth not withhumblenes
Will rule without rage and with inſolence
Longemaye they rule I do beſeche the Goddes,
But longe may theylearne ere they begyn to rule
If kinde and fates woulde ſuffreI would wiſſhe
Them aged Princes and immortallkinges:
Wherfore moſt noble kynge I well aſſent,
Betweneyour ſonnes
ytyou deuide your Realme,as in kinde, ſo matche them in degree
But while the Goddesprolongue your Royal life
Prolongue your reigne, for therto lyueyou here,
And therfore haue the Goddes ſo longe forborne
Toioyne you to them ſelues, that ſtill you might
Be Prince andfather of our common weale:
They when they ſe your childrenripe to rule
Will make them roume, & will remoue youhence,
That yours in right enſuynge of your life
Mayerightlie honour your mortall name.
Yourwonted true regarde of faithfull hartes,
Makes me (O kinge) thebolder to preſume
To ſpeake what I conceiue within mybreſt,
Althoughe the ſame do not agree at all
With thatwhiche other here my Lords haue ſaid
Nor whiche your ſelfehaue ſeemed beſt to lyke,
Pardon I craue and that my wordes bedeemde
To flowe from hartie zeale vnto your Grace,
And tothe ſafetie of your common weale:
To parte your Realme vnto myLords your ſonnes
I thinke not good for you, ne yet forthem,
But worſte of all, for this our Natiue Lande:
Forwith one Lande, one ſingle rule is beſt:
Deuided Reignes domake deuided hartes.
But Peace preſerues the Countrey & thePrince.
Suche is in man the gredie minde to reigne,
Sogreat is his deſire to climbe alofte,
In worldly Stage theſtatelieſt partes to beare,
That faith and Iuſtice and allkindly loue,
Do yelde vnto deſire of Soueraigntie:egall ſtate doth raiſe an egall hope
To winne the thing thateither wold attaine
Your grace remembreth howe in paſſedyeres
The mightie
Brute,
firſt Prince of all this Lande
Poſſeſſed the ſame andruled it well in one,
He thinking that the compaſſe didſuffice
For his three ſonnes, three kingdoms eke to make
Cutit in three, as you would nowe in twaine:
But how much Brutiſhblod hath ſithence ben ſpilt
To ioyne againe the ſondredvnitie?
What Princes ſlaine before their timely honour?
Whatwaſt of townes and people in the Lande?
What Treaſons heapedon murders & on ſpoiles?
Whoſe iuſt reuenge euen yet isſcarcely ceaſed,
Ruthefull remembraunce is yet had inminde:
The Gods forbyd the like to chaunce againe
And you(O king) geue not the cauſe therof:
My Lorde Ferrexyour elder ſonne, perhappes
Whome kinde and cuſtome geues arightfull hope
To be your Heire and to ſuccede yourReigne,
Shall thinke that he doth ſuffre greater wronge
Thanhe perchaunce will beare, if power ſerue
Porrexthe younger ſo vnpaiſed in ſtate,
Perhappes in courage willbe raiſed alſo,
If Flatterie then whiche ſayles not toaſſaile
The tendre mindes of yet vnſkilfull Youthe,
Inone ſhall kindle and encreaſe diſdaine:
And Enuie in theothers harte enflame,
This fireſhall waſte their loue, their liues, their land,
And ruthefulruine ſhal deſtroy them both,
I wiſſhe not this (O kyng) ſoto befallfeare the thing, that I do moſt abhorre
Geue no beginning to ſodreadfull ende,
Kepe them in order and obedience:
And letthem both by nowe obeyinge you,
Learne ſuche behauiour asbeſeemes their ſtate.
The Older, myldenes in hisgouernaunce,
The younger, a yeldyng contentednes:
And kepethem neare vnto your preſence ſtill,
That they reſtreined bythe awe of you,
Maye liue in compaſſe of well tempredſtaie,
And paſſe the perilles of their youthfull yeares.
Youraged life drawes on to febler tyme,
Wherin you ſhall leſſeable be to beare
The trauailes that in youth you haueſuſteined
Both in your perſons and your Realmes defence
Ifplanting nowe your ſonnes in furder partes,
You ſende themfurder from your preſent reache
Leſſe ſhal you know how theythem ſelues demaund
Traiterous corrupters of their pliantyouthe,
Shall haue vnſpied a muche more free acceſſe,
Andof ambitien and inflamed diſdaine
Shall arme the one, theother, or them bothe
To
ryuillwarre, or to vſurpinge pride.
Late ſhall you rue, that you nerecked before:
Good is I graunt of all to hope the beſt,
Butnot to liue ſtill dreadles of the worſt.
So truſte the one,that the other be forſene,
Arme not vnſkilfulnes with princelypower
But you that longe haue wiſely ruled the reignes
Ofroyaltie within your noble Realme
So holde them, while the Godsfor our auaylesſtretche the threde of your prolonged daies
To ſoone heclamme, into the flamyng Carte
Whoſe want of ſkyll did ſetthe earth on fire,
Time and example of your noble Grace,
Shallteache your ſonnes both to obey and rule:
Whan time hath taughtthem, time ſhall make them pace
The place that nowe is full:and ſo I praie
Longe it remaine, to comforte of vs all.
Itake your faithfull hartes in thankfull parte
But ſithe I ſeeno cauſe to drawe my minde,
To feare the nature of my louyngſonnes,
Or to miſdeme that Enuie or diſdaine,
Can thereworke hate, where nature planteth loue
In one ſelfe purpoſe doI ſtill abide,
My loue extendeth egally to bothe,
My Landeſuffiſeth for them bothe alſo:
Humberſhall parte the Marches of their Realmes:
The Sotherne partethe elder ſhall poſſeſſe,
The Northerne ſhall Porrexthe yonger rule,
In quiet I will paſſe mine aged daies,
Freefrom the trauaile and the painefull cares
That haſten age vponthe worthieſt kinges.
But leſt the fraude that ye do ſeeme tofeare
Of flatteryng tongues, corrupt their tender youth
Andwrieth them to the waies of youthfull luſt,
To climyng pride,or to reuengyng hate
Or to neglecting of their carefullcharge
Lewdely to lyue in wanton reckleneſſe,
Orto oppreſſinge of the rightfull cauſenotto wreke the wronges done to the poore
To treade downe trueth,or fauour falſe deceite
I meane to ioyne to eyther of myſonnes
Some one of thoſe whoſe longe approued faith
Andwiſdome tryed may well aſſure my harte:
That mynyng fraudeſhall finde no way to crepe
Into their fenſed eares with graueaduiſe:
This is the ende, and ſo I praye you all
To bearemy ſonnes the loue and loyaltie
That I haue founde within yourfaithful breaſts.You,nor your ſonnes, our ſoueraigne Lord ſhall want
Our faith &ſeruice while our liues do laſt.Whenſettled ſtaie doth holde the royall throne,
In ſtedfaſtplace by knowen and doubtles right:
And chiefely whan diſcenton one alone
Make ſingle and vnparted reigne to light.
Echechaunge of courſe vnioynts the whole eſtate
And yeldes itthrall to ruyneby debate.
The ſtrength that knit by laſte accordein one
Againſt all forrein power of mightie foes,
Could ofit ſelfe defende it ſelfe alone,
Diſioyned once, the formerforce doth loſe
The ſtickes, that ſondred brake ſo ſoone intwaine
In faggot bounde attempted were in vaine.
Oft tender minde that leades the perciall eye
Of erringeparentes in their childrens loue,
Deſtroies the wrongfull louedchilde therby:doth the proude ſonne of
Appolloproue,
Who raſſhely ſet in Chariot of his ſire:
Inflamedthe perchedearth with heauens fire.
And this great king, thatdoth deuide his land,
And chaunged the courſe of his diſcendingcrowne
And yeldes the reigne into his childrens hande
Frombliſfull ſtate of ioye and great renowne,
A Myrrour ſhallbecome to Princes all
To learne to ſhunne the cauſe of ſuchea fall.
¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhewe before the ſecondActe.¶Firſt the Muſicke of Cornettes began to playe, during whiche camein vpon the Stage a kinge accompanied with a nombre of his Nobylytie& Gentlemen. And after he had placed him ſelfe in a Chaire ofeſtate prepared for him: there came and kneled before him a graueand aged Gentilman and offred vp a Cuppe vnto hym of Wyne in aglaſſe, whiche the kynge refuſed. After him commes a braue andluſtie yong Gentleman and preſentes the king with a Cup of Goldefilled wtpoiſon, which the king accepted, & drinkinge the ſame,immediatly fell down dead vpon yeſtage, & ſo was carried thence awaye by his Lordes andGentlemen, & then the Muſicke ceaſed. Hereby was ſignified,that as Glaſſe by nature holdeth no payſon, but is clere and mayeeaſely be ſeene throughe, ne boweth by any Arte: So a faithfullCounſellour holdeth no treaſon, but is playne & open, neyeldeth to any vndiſcrete affection, but geueth holſome Counſell,whiche the yll aduiſed Prince refuſeth. The delightfull goldefilled wtpoyſon betokeneth Flattery, whiche vnder faire ſeeming of pleaſauntwords beareth deadly poyſon, which deſtroieth the Prince ytreceiueth it. As befell in the two brethrene Ferrexand Porrexwho refuſing the holſome aduiſe of graue Counſellours, creditedtheſe yonge Paracites, & brought to them ſelues death anddeſtruction therby.
ſecundus.Scena prima.Hermon.Dordan.I
Meruaile muche what reaſon leade the kynge
My father thuswithout all my deſarte
To reue me halfe yekingdome which by courſe
Of lawe and nature ſhuld remayne tome.Ifyou with ſtubborne and vntamed pryde
Had ſtood againſt him inrebellious wiſe,
Or if with grudging minde you had enuied
Soſlowe a ſlidynge of his aged yeres,
Or ſought before yourtime to haſte the courſe
Of fatall death vpon his Royallhead,
Or ſtained your Stocke with murder of your kyn:
Someface of reaſon might perhaps haue ſeemed
To yelde ſome likelycauſe to ſpoile ye thus.Thewrekefull Gods powre on my curſed head,
Eternall plagues andneuer dyinge woes,
The Helliſh Prince, adiudge my dampnedghoſte
To Tantalusthirſte, or proude Ixionswheele
Or cruell Gripe to gnawe my growing harte
To duryngetormentes and vnquenched flames
If euer I conceiued ſo foule athought,
To wiſſhe his ende of life, or yet of reigne.Dordan.Neyet your father (O moſt noble Prince)
Did euer thinke ſo fowlea thing of you
For he with more than fathers tendre loue
Whileyet the fates do lende him life to rule,
(Who long might lyue toſe your rulynge well)
To you my Lorde, and to his otherſonne
Lo he reſignes his Realme and Royaltie
Whiche neuerwould ſo wiſe a Prince haue done
If he had ones miſdemed thatin your harte
There euer lodged ſo vnkinde a thought.
Buttendre loue (my Lorde) and ſetled truſte
Of your good nature,and your nobleminde
Made him to place you thus in Royall throne
And nowto geue you half his realme to guide
Yea and that halfe withinabounding ſtore
Of things that ſerue to make a welthieRealme
In ſtatelie Cities and in frutefull ſoyle,
Intemperate breathing of the milder heauen,
In thinges of nedefullvſe, whiche frendlie Sea
Tranſportes by traffike from theforreine Portes,
In flowing wealth, in honour and in force,paſſe the double value of the parte
That
Porrexhath allotted to his reigne,
Suche is your eaſe, ſuche is yourfathers loue.Ahloue, my frendes, loue wrongs not whom he loues.Neyet he wrongeth you that geueth you
So large a reigne ere thatthe courſe of tyme
Bringe you to kingdome by diſcendedright,
Which time perhaps might end your time before.Isthis no wrong, ſaie you, to reaue from me
My natiue right tohalfe ſo great a realme,
And thus to matche his yonger ſonnewith me
In egall power, and in as great degree:
Yea &what ſonne? yeſonne whoſe ſwellyng pryde
Woulde neuer yelde one poinct ofreuerence,
Whan I the Elder and apparaunt heire
Stoode inthe likelyhode to poſſeſſe the whole
Yea and that ſonnewhiche from his childiſhe age
Enuieth myne honour, and dothhate my life,
What will he nowe do? when his pride, hisrage,
The mindefull malice of his grudging harte
Is armedwith force, with wealth and kingly ſtateWasthis not wrong? yea yll aduiſed wrong
To giue ſo mad a man ſoſharpe a ſworde,
To ſo great perill of ſo greatmiſhappe,
Wide open thus to ſet ſo large a waye.Alasmy Lorde, what griefull thing is this?of your brother you can thinke ſo ill
I neuer ſawe him vtterlikelie ſigne
Whereby a man might ſee or once miſdeme
Suchehate of you, ne suche vnyeldinge pride
Ill is their counſell,ſhamefull be their ende,
That raiſing ſuche miſtruſtfullfeare in you,
ſowingthe ſeede of ſuche vnkindly hate,
Trauaile by reaſon todeſtroy you both:)
Wiſe is your brother and of noblehope,
Worthie to welde a large and mightie Realme
So muchea ſtronger frende haue you therby,
Whoſe ſtrength is yourſtrength, if you gree in one.Ifnature and the Goddes had pinched ſo
Their flowing bountie andtheir noble giftes
Of Princelie qualyties from you my Lorde
Andpowrde them all at ones in waſtfull wiſe
Vpon your fathersyounger ſonne alone:
Perhappes there be that in yourpreiudice
Would ſaie that birth ſhuld yeld to worthines:
Butſithe in eche good gift and Princelie Acte
Ye are his matche,and in the chiefe of all
In mildenes and in ſobre gouernauce
Yefarre ſurmount: And ſithe there is in you
Sufficing ſkill andhopefull towardnes
To weld the whole, and match youElders praiſe
I ſee no cauſe whie ye should looſe thehalfe,
Ne wold I wiſſhe you yelde to ſuche a loſſe:
Leſtyour milde ſufferaunce of ſo great a wronge
Be deemedcowardiſhe and ſimple dreade:
Whiche ſhall geue courage tothe fierie headyour yonge Brother to inuade the whole,
Whiles yet therforeſtickes in the peoples mynde
The lothed wronge of yourdiſheritaunce,
And ere your Brother haue by ſettled power,
Byguyle full cloke of an allurynge ſhowe,
Got him ſome force andfauour in this Realme
And while the noble Queene your motherlyues,
To worke and practice all for your auaile
Attemptredreſſe by Armes, and wreake your ſelfe
Vpon his life, thatgaineth by your loſſe,
Who nowe to ſhame of you, and griefeof vs
In your owne kingdome triumphes ouer you:
Shew nowyour courage meete for kingly eſtate
That thei which haueauowed to ſpend their goods
Their landes, their liues &honours in your cauſe,
Maye be the bolder to mainteine yourparte
whan thei do ſee that cowarde feare in you,
Shallnot betraye ne ſaile their faithfull hartes.
If ones the deathof
Porrexende the ſtrife,
And paie the price of his vſurpedReigne,
Your Mother ſhall perſwade the angry kynge,
TheLords your frends eke ſhall appeaſe his rage
For thei be wiſe,and well thei can forſee,
That ere longe time your aged fathersdeath
will brynge a time when you ſhall well requite
Theirfrendlie fauour, or their hatefull ſpite.
Yea, or theirſlackenes to auaunce your cauſe
Wiſe men do not ſo hange onpaſſyng ſtate
Of preſent Princes, chiefely in their age.
Butthey will further caſt their reachinge eye
To viewe and weighthe times & reignes to comeis it lykely thoughe the kinge be wrothe
That he yet will, orthat the Realme will beare
Extreme reuenge vpon his onelyeſonne:
Or if he woulde, what one is he that dare
Beminiſtre to ſuche an enterpriſe.
And here you be nowe placedin your owne
Amyd your frendes, your vaſſalles & yourſtrength
We ſhall defende and kepe your perſon ſafe
Tylleither counſell turne his tender minde
Or age, or ſorowe endehis werie daies
But if the feare of Goddes and ſecretegrudge
Of Natures Lawe, repynynge at the facte,
Withholdeyour courage from ſo great attempt:
Knowe ye that luſt ofkingdomes hath no Lawe
The Goddes do beare and well allowe inkinges
The thinges they abhorre in raſcall routes.
Whenkinges on ſclender quarrels ron to warres
And than in cruelland vnkindely wiſe,
Commaunde theftes, rapes, murder ofInnocentes
To ſpoile of townes, & reignes of mightyrealmes
Thinke you ſuch Princes do suppreſſe themſelues
Subiect to Lawes of kinde and feare of Gods,
Yetnone offence, but decked with glorious name
Of noble Conqueſtesin the handes of kinges,
Murders and violent theftes in priuatemen
Are heynous crymes and full of foule reproche:
But ifyou like not yet ſo hote deuiſe,
Ne liſt to take ſuchevauntage of the time.
But thoughe with great perill of yourſtate
You wil not be the firſt that ſhall inuade,
Aſſembleyet your force for your defence,
for your ſafetie ſtande vpon your garde.
Oheauen was there euer harde or knowen,
So wicked Counſell to anoble Prince?
Let me(my Lorde) diſcloſe vnto your grace
This heynous tale, whatmischiefeit conteynes:
Your fathers death, your brothers and yourowne
yourpreſent murder and eternall ſhame:
Heare me (O king) andſuffre not to ſinke
So highe a treaſon in your Princeliebreſt.Themightie Goddes forbyd that euer I
Shuld once conceiue ſuchemiſchiefe in my harte
Althoughe my Brother hath bereft myRealme
And beare perhappes to me andhatefull minde.
Shall I reuenge it, with his death therfore?
Orſhall I ſo deſtroy my fathers lyfe
That gaue me life? theGods forbyd I ſaye,
Ceaſe you to ſpeake ſo any more to me
Neyou my friende with Aunſwere once repeate
So foule a tale, inſcilence let it die:
What Lorde or Subiect ſhall haue hope atall
That vnder me they ſafely shallenioye
Their goods, their honours, landes and liberties,
Withwhome, neither one onely brother deare
Ne father dearer, couldeenioye their lyues?
But ſithe, I feare my younger brothersrage,
And ſithe perhappes ſome other man may gyue
Somelike aduiſe, to moue his grudging head
At mine eſtate: whichecounſell may perchaunce
Take greater force with him, than thiswith me,will in ſecrete ſo prepare my ſelfe,
As if his malice or hisluſt to reigne
Breake forth with Armes or ſodeine violence
Imay withſtande his rage and kepe myn
eowne.Ifeare the fatall time now draweth on
When ciuyll hate ſhallende the noble lyne
Of famouse Bruteand of his Royall ſeede
Great Iouedefende the miſchiefes nowe at hande
O that the Secretarieswiſe aduiſe
Had erſt ben harde whan he beſought thekynge
Not to deuide his lande, nor ſende his ſonnes
Tofurther partes from preſence of his Courte
Ne yet to yelde tothem his gouernaunce
Lo ſuche are they nowe in the Royallthrone
As was raſhe Phaetonin PhebusCarre
Ne then the fiery ſtedes did drawe the flame
Withwilder randon through the kindled ſkies
Then traiterouscouncell now will wherle about
The youthfull heads of theſevnſkilfull kinges,
But I hereof their father will enforme
Thereuerence of him perhappes ſhall ſtaye
The growing miſchiefes,while thei yet are grene
If this helpe not, then wo vnto themſelues,
The Prince, the people, the deuided lande.
ſecundus. Scena ſecunda.
Tyndar. Philander.
Andis it thus? And doth he ſo prepare
Againſt his Brother as hismortall foe?
And nowe whyle yet his aged father lyues:
Neitherregardes he him? nor feares he me?
Warre would he haue? and heſhall haue it ſo.Iſawe my ſelfe the great prepared ſtore
Of Horſe, of Armoursand of weapons there,
Ne brynge I to my Lorde reportedtales
Without the ground of ſeene and ſerched trouthe
Loeſecrete quarrelles ronne about his Courte
To bringe the name ofyou my Lorde in hate
Eche man almoſt can nowe debate thecauſe
And aſke a reaſon of ſo great a wronge,
While heſo noble and ſo wiſe a Prince,
Is as vnworthie refthis Heritage.
And whie the kinge miſlead by craftiemeanes
Deuided thus his lande from courſe of right.
Thewiſer ſorte holde downe their griefull heades
Eche manwithdrawes from talke and companie,
Of thoſe that haue benknowen to fauour you,
To hide the miſchiefe of their meaningethere.
Rumours are ſpred of your preparynge here.
TheRaſcall nombres of the vnſkilfull ſorte
Are filled withmonſterous tales of you and yours
In ſecrete I was counſailedby my friendes
To haſt me thence, and brought you as youknow
Letters from thoſe, that both can truely tell
Andwould not write vnleſſe they knewe it well.MyLorde, yet ere you nowe vnkindely warre,
Sende to your Brotherto demaunde the cauſe.
Perhappes ſome trayterous tales hauefilled his eares
wtfalſe reports againſt your noble grace:
Which once diſcloſedſhal ende the growing ſtrife
That els not ſtaied with wiſeforeſight in time
Shall hazarde both your kingdomes & yourlyues:
Sende to your father eke, he ſhall appeaſe
Yourkindled mindes, and rid you of this feare.Riddeme of feare? I feare him not at all:
Ne will to him, ne to myfather ſende
If daunger were for one to tarye there
Thinkeye it ſafely to retourne againe.
In miſchiefes ſuche asFerrexnowe intendes
The wontedcourteous Lawes to Meſſengers
Are not obſerued, whiche iniuſt warre they vſe.
Shall I ſo hazarde any one ofmyne?
Shall I betraie my truſtie friende to hym?
That hathdiſcloſed his treaſon vnto me?
Let him entreate that feares,I feare him not:
Or ſhall I to the kinge my father ſende?
Yeaand ſende nowe while ſuche a mother lyues
That loues myBrother and that hateth mee?
Shall I geue leaſure by my fondedelayes
To Ferrexto oppreſſe me at vnware?
I will not, but I will inuade hisRealme
And ſeekethe Traitour Prince within his Court
Miſchiefe for miſchiefeis a due rewarde.
His wretched head ſhall paie the worthieprycethis his Treaſon and his hate to me
Shall I abide, entreate andſende and praie?
And holde my yelden throate to Traitoursknife?
While I with valiaunt minde & conquering force
Mightrid my ſelfe of foes: and winne a Realme,
Yet rather when Ihaue the wretches head,
Than to the king my father will Iſende,
The booteles caſe may yet appeaſe his wrath:
Ifnot I will defend me as I maye.
Loehere the ende of theſe two youthfull kings
The fathers deth,the reigne of their two realmes
O moſt vnhappy ſtate ofCounſellours
That light on ſo vnhappy Lordes and times
Thatneither can their good aduiſe be harde,
Yet muſt thei bearethe blames of yll ſucceſſe
But I will to the king theirfather haſte
Ere this miſchiefe come to that likely ende,
Thatif the mindefull wrath of wrekefull Gods
Since mightie Ilionsfall not yet appeaſed
With theſe poore remnant of the Troiansname
Haue not determinedlie vnmoued fate
Out of this Realmeto raſe the BrutiſhLine
By good aduiſe, by awe of fathers name
By force ofwiſer Lordes, this kindled hate
Maye yet be quentched, ere itconſume vs all.Whanyouth not bridled with a guyding ſtaie,
Is left to randon oftheir owne delight
And welds whole Realmes, by force ofſoueraigne fraie,is the daunger of vnmaiſtred might
Leſt ſkilles rage throwedowne with headlong fal
Their lands, their ſtates, their liues,them ſelues & all.
When growing pride doth filthe ſwelling breſt
And gredy luſt doth raiſe the clymbyngeminde
Oh hardlie maye the perill be repreſt,
Ne feare ofangrie Goddes, ne Lawes kinde,
Ne Countrie care can fieredhartes reſtrayne
Whan force hath armed Enuie and diſdaine.
Whan kinges of foreſet wyll neglecte the rede,
Of be
staduiſe, and yelde to pleaſinge tales
That do their fanſiesnoyſome humour feede
Ne reaſon, nor regarde of rightauailes
Succedinge heapes of plagues ſhall teache to late
Tolearne the miſchiefes of miſguydinge ſtate. Fowle fall the Traitour falſe that vndermines
The loue ofBrethrene to deſtroye them bothe
Wo to the Prince, that plianteare enclynes,
And yeldes his minde to poyſonous tale,
ytfloweth
From flatterynge mouth, & wo to wretched lande
Thatwaſts it ſelfe with ciuyll ſworde in hande.
Loe, thus itis poyſon in golde to take,
And holſome drinke in homelyCuppe forſake.
¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhewe before the thirdeAct.¶Firſte the Muſicke of Fluites began to playe,during which came in vpon the Stage a companye of Mourners all cladin blacke betokeninge Death and ſorowe to enſue vpon the ylladuiſed miſgouernement and diſcention of Bretherne, as befel vponthe Murder of Ferrexby his yonger Brother. After the Mourners had paſſed thryſe aboutthe ſtage, thei departed, and than the Muſicke ceaſed.
tertius. Scena prima.
Eubulus. Arostus. Philander. Nuntius.
O
Cruell fates, O mindfull wrath of Goddes,
whoſe vengeaunceneither Simoisſtreined ſtreames
Flowing wtblood of TroianPrinces ſlaine
Nor Phrygianfieldes made rancke wtCorpſes dead
Of Aſiankynges and Lordes can yet appeaſe,
Ne ſlaughter of vnhappiePryamsrace
Nor Ilionsfall made leuell with the ſoile,
Can yet ſuffice: but ſtillcontinued rage,
Purſue our lyues, and from the fartheſtSeas
Doth chaſt the iſſues of diſtroyed Troye:
Ohno man happie, tyll his ende be ſeene,
If any flowyng wealthand ſeemynge Ioye
In preſent yeres might make a happywight,
Happie was Hecubathe wofulleſt wretche
That euer lyued to make a Myrrour of
Andhappie Pryamwith his noble ſonnes,
And happie I till nowe. Alas, I ſeefeele my moſt vnhappie wretchednes:
Beholde my Lordes, reade yethis Letter here
Loe it conteines the ruyne of our Realme
Iftimelie ſpeede prouide not haſtie helpe
Yet (O ye Goddes) ifeuer wofull kynge
Might moue you kings of kinges, wreke it onme
And on my Sonnes, not on this giltles Realme.
Sende downyour waſting flames from wrathful ſkies
To reue me & myſonnes the hateful breath
Reade, reade my Lordes: this is thematter whie
I called ye nowe to haue your good aduyſe.
¶The Letter from Dordanthe Counſellour of the elder Prince.readeth the Letter.
ſoueraigne Lord, what I am loth to write
But lotheſt am toſee, that I am forced
By Letters nowe to make youvnderſtande
My Lord
Ferrexyour eldeſt ſonne miſlead
By Traitours framde of yongvntempred wittes
Aſſembleth force againſt your yongerſonne,
Ne can my Counſell yet withdrawe the heate
Andfuryous panges of his enflamed head:
Diſdaine (ſaieth he) ofhis inheritaunce
Armes him to wreke the great pretendedwronge
With ciuyll ſword vpon his Brothers life,
Ifpreſent helpe do not reſtraine this rage
Thisflame will waſt your ſonnes, your land & you.YourMaieſties faithfull and moſt humble Subiecte Dordan,O
King, appeaſe your griefe & ſtaie your plaint
Great is thematter and a wofull caſe
But timely knowledge maye bringetimely help
Sende for them both vnto your preſence here
Thereuerence of your honour age and ſtate
Your graue aduiſe, theawe of fathers name
Shall quickelie knit againe this brokenpeece:
And if in either of my Lordes your ſonnes
Be ſuchevntamed and vnyelding pride
As will not bende vnto your nobleHeſtes.
If Ferrexthe elder ſonne can beare no peere,
Or Porrexnot content, aſpires to more
Then you him gaue, aboue hisNatiue right:
Ioyne with the iuſter ſide, ſo ſhall youforce
Them to agree: and holde the Lande in ſtaie.Whatmeaneth this? Loe yonder commes in haſt
Philanderfrom my Lord your younger ſonne.TheGoddes ſende ioyfull newes.Themightie Ioue
Preſerueyour Maieſtie, O noble kinge.Philander,
welcome: But how doth my ſonne?Yourſonne, ſir, lyues and healthie I him left:
But yet (O kinge)this want of luſtfull health
Could not be half ſo griefefullto your Grace,
As theſe moſt wretched tidynges that I brynge.Oheauens yet more? no ende of woes to me?Tyndar,
Okyng, came lately from the Courte
Of Ferrex,to my Lorde your yonger ſonne,
And made reporte of greatprepared ſtore
Of warre, and ſaith that it is wholliement
Againſt Porrexfor highe diſdaine that he
Lyues nowe a kynge and egall indegree
With him, that claimeth to ſuccede the whole.
As bydue title of diſcendinge right
Porrexis nowe ſo ſet on flamynge fire,
Partely with kindled rage ofcruell wrathe,
Partely with hope to gaine a Realme therby,
Thathe in haſte prepareth to inuade
His Brothers Lande, and withvnkindely warre
Threatens the murder of your elder ſonne,
Necoulde I him perſwade that firſt he ſhould
Sende to hisBrother to demaunde the cauſe,
Nor yet to you to ſtaie hishatefull ſtrife.
Wherfore ſithe there no more I can beharde,
I come my ſelfe nowe to enforme your Grace:
And tobeſeche you, as you loue the liefe
And ſafetie of yourChildren and your Realme,
Nowe to emploie your wiſdomeand your force
To ſtaie this miſchiefe ere it be to late.Arethei in Armes? would he not ſende for me?
Is this the honour ofa Fathers name?Invaine we trauaile to aſſwage their mindes
As if their harteswhome neither Brothers loueFathers awe, nor kingdomes care can moue
Our Counſels couldwithdrawe from ragyng heat
Ioueſlaye them both, and ende the curſed Lyne
For though perhappesfeare of ſuch mightie force
As I my Lords, ioyned with yournoble Aides
Maye yet raiſe, ſhall repreſſe their preſentheate,
The ſecrete grudge and malyce will remayne
The firenot quentched, but kept in cloſe reſtraint
Fead ſtil within,breakes forth with double flame
Their death and mine muſt peazethe angrie godsYeldenot, O king, ſo muche to weake diſpaier
Your ſonnes yet lyue,and long I truſt, they ſhall:
Yf fates had taken you fromearthly life
Before begynning of this ciuyll ſtrife:
Perhapsyour ſonnes in their vnmaiſtered youth,
Loſe from regarde ofany lyuyng wight,
Wolde ronne on headlonge, with vnbridledRace
To their owne death and ruine of this Realme.
But ſiththe Gods that haue the care for kinges,
Of thinges and timesdiſpoſe the order ſo
That in your life this kindled flamebreakes forth
While yet your lyfe, your wiſdome & yourpower,
Maye ſtaie the growing miſchiefe, and repreſſe
Thefierie blaze of their inkindled heate
It ſeemes, and ſo yeought to deeme therof,
That louyng Iouehath tempred ſo the time
Of this debate to happen in yourdaies
That you yet lyuynge maye the ſame appeaze,
And addeit to the glorie of your latter age
And they your ſonnes mayelearne to liue in peace(O kynge) the greateſt harme of all,
Leſt by your waylefulplaints your haſtened death
Yelde larger roume vnto theirgrowyng rage:
Preſerue your lyfe, the onely hope of ſtaie:
Andif your highnes herein liſt to vſe
Wiſdome or force, Counſellor knightly aide:
Loe we our perſons, powers and lyues areyours,
Vſe vs tyll Death, O king, we are your owne.
Loehere the perill that was erſt forſene
When you, (O king) didfirſt deuide your Lande
And yelde your preſent raigne vntoyour ſonnes.
But nowe (O noble Prince) nowe is no time
Towayle and plaine, and waſt your wofull lyfe,
Nowe is the timefor preſent good aduiſe,
Sorowedoth darke the Iudgement of the wytte
The Hart vnbroken and thecourage free
From feble faintnes of booteles diſpaier
Dotheither ryſe to ſafetie or renowme
By noble valure ofvnuanquiſſhed minde
Or yet doth periſhe in more happieſorte
Your Grace maye ſende to either of your ſonnes
Someone both wiſe and noble perſonage,
Which with good counſel &with weightie name
Of father ſhall preſent before theireyes
Your heſt, your liefe, your ſafetie and their owne
Thepreſent miſchiefe of their deadlie ſtrife
And in the while,aſſemble you the force
Whiche your Commaundement and theſpedie haſt
Of all my Lordes here preſent can prepare:
Theterrour of your mightie power ſhall ſteyerage of bothe, or yet of one at leſt.
OKing the greateſt griefe that euer Prince dyd here
The euerwofull Meſſenger did tell,
That euer wretched Lande hath ſenebefore
I brynge to you. Porrexyour yonger ſonne
With ſoden force, inuaded hath thelande
That you to Ferrexdid allotte to rule:
And with his owne moſt bloudie hande hehath
His Brother ſlaine, and doth poſſeſſe his Realme.OHeauens ſend down the flames of your reuenge,
Deſtroie I ſaiewtflaſſhe of wrekefull fier
The Traitour ſonne, and than thewretched ſire:
But let vs go, that yet perhappes I maye
Diewith reuenge, and peaze the hatefull gods.Theluſt of kingdomes knowes no ſacred faithe
No rule of Reaſon,no regarde of right
No kindlie loue, no feare of heauenswrathe:
But with contempt of Goddes, and mans deſpite,
Throughblodie ſlaughter doth prepare the waies
To fatall Scepter andaccurſed reigne.
The ſonne ſo lothes the fathers lingeryngedaies,
Ne dreades his hand in Brothers blode to ſtaine
Owretched Prince, ne doeſt thou yet recorde
The yet freſſheMurthers done within the Lande
Ofthie forefathers, when the cruell ſworde
Bereft Morganhis liefe with Coſyns hande?
Thus fatall plagues purſue thegiltie race
Whoſe murderous hand imbrued wtgiltles bloodvengeaunce before the heauens face,
With endles miſchiefes onthe curſed broode.
The wicked childe this bringes to wofullSier
The mournefull plaintes to waſt his wery life:
Thusdo the cruell flames of Ciuyll fier
Deſtroye the parted reignewith hatefull ſtrife
And hence doth ſpring the well from whichdoth flo:
The dead black ſtreames of mournings, plaints &woe.
¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhewe before the fourthActe.¶Firſt the Muſick of Howeboies began to plaie, duringe whiche therecame forth from vnder the Stage, as thoughe out of Hell three Furies.Alecto,Megera& Cteſiphoneclad in blacke garments ſprinkled with bloud & flames, theirbodies girt with ſnakes, their heds ſpread with Serpents in ſteadeof heare, the one bearinge in her hande a Snake, the other a whip, &the thirde a burning Firebrande: eche driuynge before them a kyngeand a Queene, whiche moued by Furies vnnaturallye had ſlaine theirowne Children. The names of the kinges & Queenes were theſe.Tantalus,Medea, Athamas, Ino, Cambiſes, Althea,after that the Furies and theſe had paſſed aboute the Stagethriſe, they departed & than the Muſicke ceaſed: hereby wasſignified the vnnaturall Murders to followe, that is to ſaie.Porrexſlaine by his owne Mother. And of king Gorboducand Queene Viden,killed by their owne Subiectes.quartus. Scena prima.
ſola.
Whyſhould I lyue and lynger forth my time
In longer liefe todouble my diſtreſſe?
O me moſt wofull wight whome nomiſhap
Long ere this daie could haue bereued hence.
Moughtnot theſe handes by fortune or by fate,
Haue perſt this breſtand life with Iron reft,
Or in this Pallaice here where I ſolonge
Haue ſpent my daies, could not that happie houre
Ones,ones haue hapt in which theſe hugie frames
With death by fallmight haue oppreſſed me
Or ſhould not this moſt hard andcruell ſoile,
So eft where I haue preſt my wretchedſteps
Somtyme had ruthe of myne accurſed liefe,
To rendein twaine and ſwallowe me therin.
So had my bones poſſeſſednowe in peace
Their happie graue within the cloſed grounde
Andgreadie wormes had gnawen this pyned hart
Without my feelyingepaine: So ſhulde not nowe
This lyuynge breſt remayne theruthefull tombe
Wherin my hart yelden to death is graued:
Nordriery thoughts with panges of pining griefe
My dolefull mindehad not afflicted thus,
O my beloued ſonne: O my ſwetechilde,
My deareFerrex,my Ioye, my lyues delyght.
Is my welbeloued ſonne, is my ſweetechilde,
My deare Ferrex,my Ioye, my lyues delightwith cruell death? O hatefull wretche,
O heynous Traytour botheto heauen and earth,
Thou
Porrex,thou this damned dede haſt wrought
Thou Porrex,thou ſhalt dearely abye the ſame,
Traitour to kinne and kinde,to Sire and me,
To thyne owne fleſſhe,and Traitour to thy ſelfe
The Gods on the in hell ſhall wreketheir wrath,
And here in earth this hand ſhall take reuenge
Onthe Porrex,thou falſe and caytife wighte,
If after blode, ſo eigre werethy thirſt
And Murderous minde had ſo poſſeſſed thee,
Ifſuche hard hart of Rocke and ſtonie Flint
Lyued in thy breſt,that nothing elles could like
Thy cruell Tyrantes thought butdeath & bloode
Wild ſauage beaſts mought not yeſlaughter ſerue
To fede thy gredie will, and in the myddeſt
Oftheir entrailes to ſtaine thy deadlie handes
With blodedeſerued, and drinke therof thy fyll:
Or if nought els butdeath and bloud of man
Mought pleaſe thy luſt, could none inBryttainland
Whoſe hart be torne out of his louyng breſt
Withthine owne hand, or work what death thou woldeſt
Suffice tomake a Sacrifice to appeaze
That deadlie minde & murderousthought in the?
But he who in the ſelf ſame wombe waswrapped
Where thou in diſmall hower receiuedſt life?
Orif nedes, nedes thie hand muſt ſlaughter make
Moughtſt thounot haue reached a mortall wound
And wtthy ſworde haue perſed this curſed womb?
That the accurſedPorrexbrought to lyght?
And geuen me a iuſt rewarde therfore.Ferrex,if ſwete life mought haue enioyed
And to his aged fathercomfort brought,
wtſome yong ſonne in whom thei both might liue
But wherevntowaſt I this ruthefull ſpeche?
To the that haſt thy brothersbloud thus ſhed
Shall I ſtil think ytfrom this womb thou ſprong?
That I thee bare? or take thee formy ſonne?
No Traytour, no: I the refuſe for mine,
MurdererI thee renounce, thou art not mine:
Neuer, O wretche, this wombeconceued thee,
Nor neuer bode I painefull throwes forthee:
Changeling to me thou art, and not my childe
Nor tono wight, that ſparke of pytie knewe,
Rutheles, vnkind, Monſterof Natures worke.
Thou neuer ſuckte the milke of womansbreaſte
But from thy birth the cruell Tigres teates
Hauenurſed, nor yet of fleſſhe and bloud
Formed is thy hart, butof hard Iron wrought.
And wilde and deſert woods breade thee tolyfe:
But canſt thou hope to ſcape my iuſt reuenge?
Orthat theſe handes will not be wrooke on thee?
Doeſt thou notknowe that Ferrexmother lyues
That loued him more dearelie then her ſelfe?
Anddoth ſhe lyue, and is not venged on thee?
quartus. Scena ſecunda.
Arostus Eubulus. Porrex. Marc
ella.WEmarueyle muche wherto this lingeryng ſtaieout ſo longe:
Porrexvnto our Courte
By order of our Letters is retourned
AndEubulusreceyued from vs by heſt
At his arriuale here to geue himcharge
Before our preſence ſtreight to make repaire
Andyet we haue no worde wherof he ſtaies.Loewhere he commes and Eubuluswith hym.Accordyngeto your highnes heſt to me
Here haue I Porrexbrought euen in ſuche ſort
As from his weried Horſe he didalighte,
For that your Grace did will ſuche haſte therein.Welike and praiſe this ſpedie wyll in you
To worke the thingthat to your charge we gaue
Porrex,if we ſo farre ſhulde ſwarue from kinde,
And from theſebounds which lawes of Nature ſets
As thou haſt done by vileand wretched deede
In cruell murder of thy Brothers life,
Ourpreſent hande coulde ſtaie no lenger tyme,
But ſtreightſhould bathe this blade in bloud of the
As iuſt reuenge of thydeteſted cryme.
No. we ſhuld not offende the lawe of kinde,
Ifnowe this ſworde of ours did ſlaie thee here:
For thou haſtmurdered him whoſe heinous death
Euen Natures force doth mouevs to reuenge
By bloud againe: But Iuſtice forceth vs
Tomeaſure Death for Death, thy due deſerte,
Yet ſithens thouart our childe, and ſithe as yet
In this harde caſe what wordethou canſt alledgethy defence, by vs hath not ben harde
We are content to ſtaieour wyll for that
Whiche Iuſtice biddes vs preſently toworke:
And geue the leaue to vſe thie ſpeache at full
Ifought thou haue to laye for thine excuſe.
NeitherO kyng, I can or wyll denie
But that this hande from Ferrexlyfe hath reft:
Which fact how much my doleful hart dothwaile
Oh would it mought as full appeare to ſight
Asinwarde griefe doth powre it forth to me,
So yet perhappes ifeuer ruthefull hart
Melting in teares within a manliebreaſt
Throughe depe repentaunce of his bloudie facte
Ifeuer griefe, if euer wofull man
Might moue regreite with ſoroweof his fault,
I thinke the torment of my mournefull caſe
Knowento your grace, as I do feele the ſame,
Woulde force euen wrathher ſelfe to pytie mee.
But as the water troubled with themudde
Shewes not the face whiche els the eye ſhulde ſee,
Euenſo your Irefull minde with ſtirred thought,
Can not ſoperfectly diſcerne my cauſe.
But this vnhappe, emongſt ſomany heapes
I muſt content me with, moſt wretched man,
Thatto my ſelfe I muſt referre my woe
In pynynge thoughts of myneaccurſed facte:
Sithens I may not ſhewe here my ſmalleſtgriefe
Suche as it is, and as my breaſt endures,
Whiche Ieſteme the greateſt myſerie
Of all miſhappes that Fortunenowe can ſende,that I reſt in hope with plaints and teares
Should purchaſelife: for to the Goddes I clepe
For true recorde of this myfaithfull ſpeache,
Neuer this harte ſhall haue the thoughtfulldreade
To die the death that by your Graces dome
By iuſtdeſarte, ſhalbe pronounced to mee:
Nor neuer ſhal this tongueones ſpend this ſpeche
Pardon to craue, or ſeeke by ſute tolyue:
I meane not this as though I were not touchde
Withcare of dreadfull death, or that I helde
Lyfe in contempt: butthat I knowe, the mynde
Stoupes to no dreade, although the fleſhbe fraile,
And for my gilt, I yelde the ſame ſo great
Asin my ſelfe I finde a feare to ſue
For graunte of lyfe.
Invayne, O wretche thou ſheweſt
Awofull harte, Ferrexnowe lyes in graue,
Slaine by thy hande.Yetthis, O father, heare:
And than I ende: Your Maieſtie wellknowes,
That whan my Brother Ferrexand my ſelfe
By your owne heſt were ioyned in gouernaunce
Ofthis your Graces Realme of BrittayneLande
I neuer ſought nor trauaylled for the ſame,
Nor bymy ſelfe, or by no frende I wrought,
But from your highnes willalone it ſpronge,
Of your moſt gracious goodnes bent tome,
But howe my Brothers hart euen than repined
Withſwollen diſdaine againſt mine egallrulethat Realme, which by diſcent ſhuld grow
Whollie to him,allotted halfe to me?
Euen in your highnes Court he noweremaynes,
And with my Brother than in neareſt place
Whocan recorde, what proofe therof was ſhewde
And how my brothersenuious hart appearde
Yet I that iudged it my parte to ſeeke
Hisfauour and good will, and lothe to make
Your highnes knowe, thething which ſhuld haue brought
Grief to your grace, & youroffence to him
Hopyng by earneſt ſuite ſhuld ſoone hauewonne
A louynge hart within a Brothers breſt
Wrought inthat ſorte that for a pleadge of loue
And faithfull hart, hegaue to me his hande.
This made me thinke, that he had baniſſhedquite
All rancour from his thought and bare to me
Suchehartie loue, as I did owe to him:
But after once we left yourGraces Court
And from your highnes preſence liued aparte
Thisegall rule ſtill, ſtill did grudge him ſo
That nowe thoſeEnuious ſparkes which erſt lay raked
In lyuing cinders ofdiſſemblynge breſt,
Kindled ſo farre within his hartesdiſdaine
That longer could he not refraine from proofe
Ofſecrete practiſe to depriue me life
By Poyſons force, and hadbereft me ſo,
If myne owne Seruaunt hired to this fact
Andmoued by trouthe
wthate to worke the ſame,
In time had not bewraied it vntomee:
Whan thus I ſawe the knot of loue vnknitte
All honeſtLeague and faithfull promiſe brokeLawe of kind and trothe thus rent in twaine
His hart onmiſchiefe ſet, and in his breſt
Blacke treaſon hid then,then did I diſpaier
That euer tyme coulde wynne him frende tome
Than ſawe I howe he ſmyled with ſlaying knife
Wrappedvnder cloke, then ſawe I depe deceite
Lurke in his face anddeath prepared for mee:
Euen nature moued me than to holde mylyfe
More deare to me than his, and bad this hande
Since byhis lyfe my death muſt nedes enſue,
And by his death my lyfeto be preſerued:
To ſhed his bloud, and ſeeke my ſafetieſo,
And wiſdome willed me without protracte
In ſpediewiſe to put the ſame in vre.
Thus haue I tolde the cauſe thatmoued me
To worke my Brothers death and ſo I yelde
Mylyfe, my death to iudgement of your grace.
Ohcruell wight, ſhulde any cauſe preuaile
To make the ſtainethy hands with brothers blod
But what of thee we will reſolueto doe
Shal yet remaine vnknowen: Thou in the meane
Shaltfrom our royall preſence banyſhed be
Vntill our Princelypleaſure furder ſhall
To the be ſhewed, departe therfore ourſight
Accurſed childe. What cruell deſtenie
Whatfrowarde fate hath ſorted vs this chaunce
That euen in thoſe,where we ſhuld comfort find
Where our delight nowe in our ageddaies
Shulde reſt and be, euen there our onelie griefe
Anddepeſt ſorrowes to abridge our liefe,pynyng cares and deadlie thoughts do graue.
YourGrace ſhuld now in theſe graue yeres of yours
Haue founde erethis the price of mortall Ioyes,
Howe ſhorte they be, howefadyng heare in earth
Howe full of chaunge, howe Brittle oureſtate,
Of nothynge ſure, ſaue onely of the Death,
Towhome both man and all the worlde doth owe
Their ende at laſt,neither ſhall natures power
In other ſorte againſt your hartepreuayle,
Than as the naked hande whoſe ſtroke aſſayes
TheArmed breaſt where force doth light in vaineManycan yelde right graue and ſage aduiſe
Of pacient ſprite toothers wrapped in woe,
And can in ſpeache both rule andconquere kinde,
Who if by proofe, they might feele naturesforce,
Wold ſhewe them ſelues men as thei are in dede,
whichnow wil nedes be gods: but what doth meane
The ſory chere ofher that here doth come?Ohwhere is ruthe? or where is pytie nowe?
Whether is gentle harteand mercie fled?
Are they exiled out of our ſtony breaſts
Neuerto make retourne? is all the worlde
Drowned in bloode, andſoncke in crueltie?
If not in women mercie maye be founde
Ifnot (alas) within the mothers breſt
To her owne childe, to herowne fleſſhe and blood
If ruthe be baniſſhed thence, ifpytie there
Maye haue no place, if there no gentle hartelyue and dwell, where ſhuld we ſeeke it than?
Madame(alas) what meanes your woful tale?Oſillie woman I, why to this howre,
Haue kinde and fortune thusdeferred my breath?
That I ſhuld lyue to ſee this dolefulldaye
Will euer wight beleue that ſuche harde harte
Couldereſt within the cruell mothers breaſte,
With her owne hande toſlaye her onely ſonne?
But out (alas) theſe eyes behelde theſame,
They ſawe the driery ſight, and are become
Moſtruthfull recordes of the bloodie facte.
Porrex,(alas) is by his mother ſlayne,
And with her hand a wofullthynge to tell,
While ſlomberinge on his carefull bed hereſtes
His hart ſtalde in with kniefe is reft of life.OEubulus,oh drawe this ſworde of ours,
And perce this hart with ſpeede,O hatefull light,
O lothſome liefe, O ſweete and welcomeDeath,
Dere Eubulusworke this we thee beſeche.Patientyour Grace, perhappes he liueth yet,
With wounde receued, butnot of certayne death.Olet vs than repaier, vnto the place,
And ſee if that Porrex,or thus be ſlaine.Alashe liueth not, it is to true,
That with theſe eies of him apereles Prince,to a King, and in the flower of youth,
Euen with a twinke acenſeles ſtocke I ſawe.
Odampned deed.Butheare this ruthefull ende.
The noble Prince perſt with theſodeine wounde
Out of his wretched ſlombre haſtelieſtarte
Whoſe strengthnow failyng ſtreight he ouerthrew
When in the fall his eyeseuen newe vncloſed
Behelde the Quene and cryed to her forhelpe
We then, alas, the Ladies whiche that tyme
Did thereattende, ſeynge that heynous deede
And hearing him oft call thewretched name
Of mother, and to crie to her for Aide
Whoſedirefull hand gaue him the mortal wound
Pitieng, (alas, fornought els could we do)
His ruthefull ende, ranne to the wofullbedde
Diſpoyled ſtreight his breſt, and all we might
wypedin vaine with napkyns next at hande,
The ſodeine ſtreames ofblood that fluſſhedfaſt
Out of the gaping wounde: O what a looke,
O what aruthefull ſtedfaſt eye me thought
He fixed vpon my face,whiche to my deathe
Will neuer parte fro me, when with abraide
A deepe fet ſighehe gaue and therewith all
Claſpinge his handes, to heauen hecaſt his ſight,
And ſtreight pale death preſſyng within hisface
The flyinge ghoſte his mortall corps forſooke.Neuerdid age bring forth ſo vile a facte.Oharde and cruell happe, that thus aſſigned
Vnto ſo worthie awighte ſo wretched ende
But moſt harde cruell harte, thatcoulde conſent
To lende the hatefull deſtenies that hande
Bywhiche, alas, ſo heynous cryme was wrought,
O Queene ofAdamante, O Marble breaſte
If not the fauour of his comelieface,
If not his Princelie chere and countenaunce,
Hisvaliant Actiue Armes, his manlie breaſte.
If not his faier andſemelie perſonage
His noble Lymmes in ſuche preparacioncaſte
As would haue wrapped a ſillie womans thought
Ifthis mought not haue moued the bloodie harte
And that moſtcruell hande the wretched weapon
Euen to let fall, and kiſtehim in the face,
With teares for ruthe to reaue ſuche one bydeath
Should nature yet conſent to ſlaye her ſonne
Omother, thou to murder thus thie childe
Euen Iouewith Iuſtice muſt wtlightening flames
From heauen ſend down ſome ſtrange reuengeon thee.
Ah noble Prince, how oft haue I beheld
Theemounted on thy fierce and traumpling ſtede
Shyning in Armourbright before the Tylte
And with thy Miſtreſſe Sleaue tied onthy Helme
And charge thy ſtaffe to pleaſe thy Ladies eie
Thatbowed the head peece of thy frendly foe,
Howe oft in Armes onhorſe to bende the Mace
Howe oft in Armes on foote to breakethe ſworde,
Whiche neuer nowe theſe eyes mayſ// againe.Madame,alas, in vaine theſe plaints are ſhed,
Rather with me departeand helpe to aſſwage,
The thoughtfull griefes that in the agedkinge
Muſtnedes by nature growe by death of this
His onelie ſonne, whomehe did holde ſo deare.Whatwight is that whiche ſawe that I did ſee
And could refraine towaile with plainte & teares
Not I, alas, that harte is notin me,
But let vs goe, for I am greued anewe,
To call tominde the wretched fathers woe.Whangredie luſt in Royall ſeate to reigne
Hath reft all care ofgoddes and eke of men,
And cruell hart, wrathe, Treaſon anddiſdaine
Within the ambicious breaſt are lodged then
Beholdehowe miſchiefe wide her ſelfe diſplaies
And with the brothershande the brother ſlaies. Whenblood thus ſhed, doth ſtaine this heauens face
Crying to Iouefor vengeaunce of the deede,
The mightie God euen moueth fromhis place
With wrathe to wreke, then ſendes he forth withſpede
The dreadful furies, daughters of yenight
With Serpents girt, carying the whip of Ire,
Withheare of ſtinging ſnakes and ſhining bright
With flames andblood, and with a brande of fire:
Theſe for reuenge of wretchedMurder done
Do make the Mother kill her onelie ſonne. Bloodaſketh blood, & death muſt death requite
Ioueby his iuſt and euerlaſting dome
Iuſtly hath euer ſorequited it
Theſe times before recorde, and tymes tocome,
Shall finde it true, and ſo doth preſent proofe,
Preſentbefore our eies for our behoofe.
O happie wight thatſuffres not the ſnare
Of murderous minde to tangle him inbloode:
And happie he that can in time beware
By othersharmes and tourne it to his goode
But wo to him that fearing notto offende
Doth ſerue his luſt, and will not ſee the ende.
¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhewe before the fiftheActe.¶Firſte the Drommes and Fluites, beganne to ſounde, durynge whichethere came foorth vpon the Stage a companie of Hargabuſiers and ofArmed men all in order of Battaile. Theſe after their Peecesdiſcharged, and that the Armed men had three tymes marched aboutethe Stage, departed, and then the Drommes and Fluits did ceaſe.Hereby was ſignified tumults, rebellions, Armes and ciuyll warres tofolowe, as fel in the Realme of great Brittayne,which by the ſpace of fiftie yeares and more continued in ciuyllwarre betwene the Nobylytie after the death of king Gorboduc,& of his Iſſues, for wante of certayne lymitacion in theSucceſſion of the Crowne, till the time of DunwalleMolmutius,who reduced the Lande to Monarche.
quintus. Scena prima.
Mandud.Gwenard. Fergus. Eubulus.Dideuer age bring forth ſuch Tirants hartes
The Brother hathbereft the Brothers lyfe,
The Mother ſhe hath died her cruellhandes
In bloud of her owne ſonne, and nowe at laſt
Thepeople loe forgettyng trouthe and loue,
Contemnynge quite bothLawe and loyall harte
Euen they haue ſlayne their ſoueraigneLord and Quene.Shallthis their trayterous crime vnpuniſhed reſt
Euen yet theyceaſe not, caryed out with rage,
In their rebellious routes, tothreaten ſtil
A newe bloode ſhedde vnto the Princes kinne
Toſlaie them all, and to vproote the race
Both of the kyng andQueene, ſo are they moued
With Porrexdeathe, wherin they falſely charge
The giltles kinge withoutdeſarte at all
And traiterouſlie haue murdered himtherfore,
And eke the Queene.ShallSubiectes dare with force
To worke reuenge vpon their Princesfacte?
Admyt the worſt that maye: as ſure in thisdede was fowle, the Quene to ſlaie her ſonne
Shall yet theSubiecte ſeeke to take the ſworde?
Ariſe agaynſt his Lorde,and ſlaie his kynge?
O wretched ſtate, where thoſe rebellioushartes
Are not rent out euen from their lyuynge breaſts
Andwith the bodie throwen vnto the Fowles
As Carrion foode, forterrour of the reſt.
Therecan no puniſſhement be thought to greate
For this ſo greuouscryme: let ſpede therfore
Be vſed therin for it behoueth ſo.Yeall my Lordes I ſee conſent in one
And I as one conſent withye in all:
I holde it more than nede with the ſharpeſt Lawe
Topuniſſhe the tumultuous bloodie rage
For nothynge more mayeſhake the commen ſtate
Than ſufferaunce of Vproares withoutredreſſe
Wherby how ſome kingdomes of mightie power
Aftergreat Conqueſtes made, and fl∞riſhing
Infame and wealth haue ben to ruyne brought
I praie to Iouethat we may rather wayle
Suche happe in them than witnes in ourſelues
Eke fullie with the Duke my minde agrees
That nocauſe ſerues, wherby the Subiect maye
Call to accompt thedoynges of his Prince,
Muche leſſe in bloode by ſworde toworke reuenge
No more then maye the hande cut of the heade,
InActe nor ſpeache, no: not in ſecrete thoughte
The Subiect mayerebell againſt his Lorde
Or Iudge of him that ſittes inCeaſarsSeate.grudging mind do damne thoſe Hemiſlikes
Though kinges forgetto gouerne as they ought,
Yet Subiectes mu
stobey as they are bounde:
But nowe my Lordes before ye farderwade
Or ſpend your ſpeach, what ſharp reuenge ſhal fal
Byiuſtice plague on theserebellious wights
Me thinkes ye rather shouldfirſt ſearche the waye
By whiche in time the rage of thisvproare
Mought be repreſſed, & theſe great tumultsceaſed
Euen yet the life of BrittayneLande doth hange,
In Traitours Balaunce of vnegall weight
Thinkenot my Lords the death of Gorboduc
Noryet Videnaesbloode will ceaſe their rage:
Euen our owne lyues, our wiuesand children,
Our Countrey deareſt of all in daungerſtandes,
Nowe to be ſpoiled, nowe, nowe made deſolate,
Andby our ſelues a conqueſt t∞enſue:
For geue ones ſweye vnto the peoples luſts,
Toruſſhe forth on, and ſtaye them not in time,
And as theſtreame that rowleth downe the hyll,
So wil thei headlong ronnewtraging thoughtes
From bloode to bloode, from miſchiefe vntomoe,
To ruyne of the Realme, them ſelues and all
So giddleare the common peoples mindes,
So glad of chaunge, more waueryngthan the Sea
Ye ſee (my Lordes) what ſtrength theſe Rebelleshaue,
What hugie nombre is aſſembled ſtill,
For thoughthe traiterous fact, for which thei roſe
Be wrought and done,yet lodge thei ſtill in fielde
So that howe farre their furiesyet wyll ſtretche
Great cauſe we haue to dreade, that we mayſeeke
By preſent Battaile to repreſſe their power.muſt we vſe to leuie force therfore,
For either they forthwithwill miſchiefe worke
Or their rebellious roares forthwith willceaſe:
Theſe violent thinges may haue no laſting loude
Letvs therfore vſe this for preſent helpe
Perſwade by gentleſpeache, and offre grace
With gifte of pardon ſaue vnto thechiefe,
And that vpon condicion that forthewith
They yeldethe Captaines of their enterpryſe
To beare ſuche querdon oftheir traiterous facte
As may be both due vengeaunce to themſelues,
And holſome terrour to poſteritie.
This ſhall Ithinke: flatter the greateſt parte
That nowe are holden withdeſire of home,
Weried in fielde with could of Wintersnightes,
And ſome (no doubt) ſtriken with dread of Lawe
Whanthis is ones proclaymed, it ſhall make
The Captaines tomiſtruſte the multitude
Whoſe ſafetie biddes them to betrayetheir heads
And ſo muche more bycauſe the raſcall routes,
Inthinges of great and perillous attemptes,
Are neuer truſtie tothe noble race.
And while we treate & ſ
candeon termes of grace,
We ſhal both ſtaie their furies rage thewhile,
And eke gaine time, whoſe onely helpeſufficeth
Withouten warre to vanquiſſhe Rebelles power
Inthe meane while, make you in redynes
Suche bande of Horſemen asye maye prepare:
Horſemen (you know) are not the Comonsſtrength
But are the force and ſtore of noble men
Wherbythe vnchoſen and vnarmed ſorteſki
fliſheRebelles, whome none other power
But nombre makes to be ofdreadfull force
With ſodeyne brunt maye quickely beoppreſte
And if this gentle meane of proffered grace
Withſtubborne hartes cannot ſo farre auayle
As to aſſwage theirdeſperate courages.
Than do I wiſſhe ſuche ſlaughter to bemade,
As preſent age and eke poſteritie
Maye be adradwith horrour of reuenge,
That iuſtly than ſhall on theſerebelles fall:
This is my Lordes the ſomme of mine aduiſe.Neytherthis caſe admittes debate at large,
And though it did: thisſpeache that hath ben ſaide
Hath wel abridged the tale I wouldhaue tolde:
Fullie with Eubulusdo I conſente
In all that he hath ſaide: and if the ſame
Toyou my Lordes, may ſeeme for beſt aduiſe,
I wiſſhe that itſhoulde ſtreight be put in vre.MyLordes than let vs preſentlie departe
And folowe this thatlyketh vs ſo well.Ifeuer time to gaine a kingdome here
Were offred man, nowe it isoffred mee:
The Realme is reft bothe of their kyng &Quene
The ofſpringe of the Prince is ſlaine and dead
Noiſſue nowe remaines, the Heire vnknowen,
The people are inArmes and mutynies
The Nobles thei are buſied howe toceaſe
Theſe great rebellious tumultes and vproarsBrittayneLande nowe deſerte left alone
Amyd theſe broyles vncertainewhere to reſt
Offers her ſelfe vnto that noble harte
Thatwyll or dare purſue to beare her Crowne:
Shall I that am theDuke of Albanye
Diſcendedfrom that Lyne of noble bloode,
Whiche hath ſo longe fl∞riſſhedin worthie fame
Of valiaunt hartes, ſuche as in nobleBreaſts
Of right ſhulde reſt aboue the baſer ſorte,
Refuſeto aduenture liefe to winnea Crowne,
Whome ſhall I finde enemies that will wtſtande
Myfacte herein, if I attempte by Armes
To ſeeke the Fame nowe intheſe times of broyle
Theſe Dukes power can hardlie wellappeaſe
The people that alredie are in Armes.
But ifperhappes my force be ones in fielde
Is not my ſtrength inpower aboue the beſt
Of all theſe Lordes nowe left inBrittaineLande.
And though they ſhuld match me wtpower of men
Yet doubtfull is the chaunce of Battaillesioyned
If Victors of the fielde we may departe,
Ours is theScepter than of great Brittayne,
Ifſlayne amid the playne this body be
Mine enemies yet ſhall notdeny me this,
But that I died gyuynge the noble charge
Tohazarde life for conqueſt of a Crowne.
Forthwith therfore willI in poſte depart
To Albanyeand raiſe in Armour there
All power I can: and here my ſecretefriendes,
By ſecrete practiſe shallſollicite ſtill,
To ſeeke to wynne to me the peoples hartes.quintus. Scena ſecunda.
Clotyn.Mandud. Gwenard. Arostus Nuntius.O
Ioue,Howe are theſe peoples hartes abuſde
what blind Furie, thusheadlong caries them?
That though ſo many bokes, ſo manyrolles
Of Auncient time recorde what greuous plagues,
Lighton theſe Rebelles aye and thoughe ſo ofte
Their eares hauehard their aged fathers tell
What iustrewarde theſe Traitours ſtill receyue.
Yea though them ſelueshaue ſene depe death and blod
By ſtrangling cord &ſlaughter of the ſword
To ſuche aſſigned, yet can they notbeware:
Yet can they not ſtaie their rebellious handes,
Butſuffring to fowle treaſon to diſtaine
Their wretched myndes,forget their loyall harte,
Reiecte all trueth and riſe againſttheir Prince,
A ruthefull caſe that thoſe, whome dutiesbounde
Whome grafted Lawe by nature trueth and faith
Boundeto preſerue their Countrey and their king
Borne to defendetheir Common wealth & Prince,
Euen they ſhulde geue conſentthus to ſubuerte
The BrittaineLand, & from the wombe ſhuld bring
(O natyue ſoile) thoſe,that will nedes deſtroye
And ruyne thee and eke them ſelues infine:
For lo, when ones the Duke had offred Grace
Of pardonſweete (the multitude miſlead
By traiterous fraude of theirvngracious heades)
One ſorte that ſawe the daungerous ſucceſſeſtubborne ſtandynge in rebellious warre
And knewe thedifference of Princes power
From headles nombre of tumultuousroutes,
Whom commen Countreies care and priuate feare
Taughtto repent the terrour of their rage
Laide handes vpon theCapatines of their bande,
And brought them bound vnto themightie Dukes
An other ſorte not tru
stingyet ſo well
The trueth of Pardon or miſtruſting more
Theirowne offence than that thei could conceiue
Suche hope of pardonfor ſo foule miſdede:
Or for that they their Captaines couldnot yeld
Who fearinge to be yelded, flead before,
Stalehome by ſcilence of the ſecrete night,
The thirde vnhappie andvnraged ſorte
Of deſperate harts, who ſtained in Princesblood
From trayterous furour could not be withdrawen
Byloue, by lawe, by grace, ne yet by feare,
By proffered lyfe, neyet by threatened Death,
With mindes hopeles of liefe, dreadlesof Deathe,
Careles of Countrey, and aweles of God:
Stoodebente to fighte as Furies did them moue
With violent death tocloſe their traiterous lyfe:
Theſe all by power of Horſemenwere oppreſt
And with reuenging ſworde ſlayne in thefielde,
Or with the ſtrangling Cord hanged on the trees
Whereyet the carryen Carcaſes do proche
The fruites that Rebellesreape of their vproars,
And of the murder of their ſacredPrince,
But loe, where do approche the noble Dukes,
By whomtheſe tumults haue ben thus appeaſde.Ithinke the worlde wyll now at length beware
And feare to put onarmes agaynſt their Prince.Ifnot: thoſe trayterous hartes that dare rebell
Let them beholdethe wide and hugie fieldes
With bloode & bodie ſpread withrebelles ſlayne,
The luſtie trees clothed with corpſesdead
That ſtrangled with the corde do hange therin.Aiuſt rewarde ſuche as all tymes before
Haue euer lotted tothoſe wretched folkes.Butwhat meanes he that commeth here ſo faſt.MyLords, as duetie and my trouth doth moue
And of my Countreyworke and care in mee
That if the ſpendynge of my breathauaile
To do the Seruice that my harte deſires,
I wouldnot ſhunne to imbrace a preſent death,
So haue I nowe in thatwherein I thought
My trauayle mought perfourme ſome goodeffecte
Ventred my liefe to bringe theſe tydinges here.
Fergusthe mightie Duke of Albanye
Isnowe in Armes and lodgeth in the fielde
With twentie thouſandmen, hether he bendes
His ſpedie marche, & minds to inuadethe Crowne
Dayly he gathereth ſtrength and ſpreads abrode
Thatto this Realme no certeine Heire remaines,
That BrittayneLande is left without a guyde,
That he the Scepter ſeekes, fornothing elsto preſerue the people and the Lande
Whiche now remaine as ſhipwithout a Sterne
Loe this is that whiche I haue hereto ſaide.
Isthis his fayth? and ſhall he falſely thus
Abuſe the vauntageof vnhappie times?
O wretched Lande, if his outragiouspride,
His cruell and vntempred wilfulnes
His deepediſſemblinge ſhewes of falſe pretence
Should once attainethe Crowne of Brittaynlande
Let vs my Lords, with tymely force reſiſt
The neweattempt of this our common foe
As we would quenche the flames ofcommen fire.Thoughwe remaine without a certayn Prince
To weld the Realme or guidethe wandring rule
Yet nowe the commen Mother of vs all,
OurNatiue Lande, our Countrey that conteines
Our wiues, children,kyndred, our ſelues and all
That euer is or maye be deare toman
Cries vnto vs to helpe our ſelues and her:
Let vsaduaunce our powers to repreſſe
This growynge foe of all ourliberties.Yealet vs ſo my Lordes with haſtie ſpede,
And ye (O Goddes)ſende vs the welcome death,
To ſhed our bloode in fielde andleaue vs not,
In lotheſome life to lenger out our lyues
Toſee the hugie heapes of theſe vnhappes,
That nowe roll downevpon the wretched Lande
Where emptie place of Princeliegouernauncecertayne ſtaie nowe left of doubtles heire,
Thus leaue thisguideleſſe Realme an open pray,
To endleſſe ſtormes andwaſt of ciuyll warre.
Thatye (my Lordes) do ſo agree in one
To ſaue your Countrey fromthe violent reigne
And wrongfullie vſurped Tirrannie
Ofhim that threatens conqueſt of you all
To ſaue your realme, &in this realme your ſelues
From forreyne thraldome of ſoproude a Prince,
Muche do I praiſe, and I beſeche theGoddes,
With happie honour to requite it you.
But (O myLords) ſithe now the Heauens wrath
Hath reft this Lande theiſſue of their Prince:
Sithe of the body of our late ſoueraineLorde
Remaines no mo, ſince the yong kinges be ſlaine
Andof the Title of the diſcended Crowne,
Vncerteynly the diuerſemindes do thinke
Euen of the Learned ſorte, and morevncertainlye
Will perciall fancie and affection deeme:
Butmoſt vncertenlye wyll clymbynge pride
And hope of Reignewithdrawe from ſondrie partes
The doubtfull right and hopefullluſt to reigne.
When ones this noble ſeruice is atchieued
ForBrittayneLande the Mother of ye all,
When ones ye haue with armed forcerepreſt,
The proude attemptes of this AlbanyanPrince,
That threatens thraldome to your Natiue Lande,
Whenye ſhall vanquiſhers retourne from fielde
And finde thePrincely ſtate an open praye,
To gredie luſt and to vſurpingpower,then (my Lordes) if euer kindely care
Of auncient Honour of youraunceſtoures,
Of preſent wealth and nobleſſe of yourſtockes:
Yea of the lyues and ſafetie yet to come
Of yourdeare wyues, your children & your ſelues,
Might moue yournoble hartes with gentle ruthe,
Then, then haue pytie on thetorne eſtate,
Then helpe to ſalue the well neare hopelesſore
Whiche ye ſhall do, if ye your ſelues with holde
Theſleayng knife from your own mothers throte
Her ſhall you ſaue,and you, and yours in her
If ye ſhall all with one aſſentforbeare
Ones to laye hande or take vnto your ſelues
TheCrowne by colour of
pretendedright,
Or by what other meanes ſo euer it be
Tyll firſtby commen counſell of you all
In Parliament the RegallDiademe
Be ſet in certayne place of gouernaunce,
In whicheyour Parliament and in your choiſe,
Preferre the right (myLordes,) without reſpecte
Of ſtrength of frendes, or what ſoeuer cauſe
That maye ſet forwarde any others parte,
Forright will laſt, and wrong can not endure,
Right meane I his orhers, vpon whoſe name
The people reſt by meane of Nativelyne,
Or by the vertue of ſome former Lawe,
Alreadie madetheir title to aduaunce:
Suche one (my Lordes) let be yourchoſen kynge
Suche one ſo borne within your Natyue Lande
Sucheone preferre, and in no wiſe admitte,
Theheauie yoke of forreine gouernaunce,
Let forreine Titles yeldeto Publike wealthe,
And with that hart wherewith ye noweprepare
Thus to withstandethe proude inuadynge foe,
With that ſame harte (my Lordes) kepeout alſo
Vnnaturall thraldome of ſtraungers reigne,
Neſuffre you againſt the rules of kinde
Your Mother Lande toſerue a Forreine Prince.¶Loe here the ende of Brutusroyall Lyne,
And loe the entrie to the wofull wracke
Andvtter ruyne of this noble Realme.
The royall kinge, and eke hisſonnes are ſlaine,
No Ruler reſtes within the RegallSeate:
The Heire, to whom the Scepter longs, vnknowen
Thatto eche force of Forreine Princes power
Whome vauntage of yourwretched ſtate
By ſodaine Armes to gaine ſo riche aRealme
And to the proude and gredie minde at home
Whomblinded luſt to reigne leades to aſpire.
Loe BrittaineRealme is left an open praye,
A preſent ſpoile by Conqueſt toenſue,
Who ſeeth not nowe howe many riſyng mindes
Dofeede their thoughts, wthope to reach a Realm
And who will not by force attempt towinne
So great a gaine that hope perſwades to haue:
Aſimple colour ſhall for title ſerue.
Who winnes the Royalcrown wil want no right
Nor ſuche as ſhall diſplaye by longediſcent
A lyneall race to proue him ſelfe a kynge,
In themeane while theſe ciuyll armes ſhall rage,
And thus athouſande miſchiefes ſhall vnfoldefarre & neare
spreadthee (O BrittayneLande)
All right and Lawe shallceaſe, and he that had
Nothyng to daye, to morowe ſhallenioye
Great heapes of good, & he that flowed in wealth,
Loehe ſhall be reft of lyfe and all,
And happieſt he that thanpoſſeſſeth leaſt.
The wyues ſhall ſuffre rape, the maydesdefloured
And children fatherles ſhall weepe and wayle:
Withfire & ſworde thy Natiue folke ſhal periſſhe.
Onekinſman ſhall bereaue an other life,
The father ſhallvnwittynge ſlaye the ſonne,
The ſonne ſhall ſlea the ſireand knowe it not:
Women and maides the cruell Souldioursſword
Shall perſe to death, and ſillie children loe
Thatplayinge in the ſtreates & fieldes are founde
By violenthande ſhall cloſe their latter daye.
Whome ſhall the ferceand bloudie Souldiour
Reſerue to liefe, whome ſhall he ſparefrom death
Euen thou (O wretched mother) half alyue
Thouſhalt beholde thy deare and onely childe
Slaine wtthe ſworde while he yet ſuckes thy breſt:
Loe, giltles bloodeſhall thus eche where be ſhed:
Thus ſhall the waſted ſoileyelde forth no fruite
But derth and famyne ſhal poſſeſſethe Lande.
The Townes ſhal be conſumed & brent withfire,
The peopled Cities ſhall ware deſolate,
And thou (OBrittaineLand) whilom in renowme
Whilome in wealth and fame ſhalt thusbe torne,
Diſmembred thus, and thus be rent in twayne,
Thuswaſted and defaced, ſpoiled and deſtroied:
Theſe be thefruits your ciuill warres wil bring.
Hereto it commes whenkinges will not conſent,
To graue aduiſe, but folow wilfullwyll:
This is the ende, when in yonge Princes hartes
Flatterypreuayles, and ſage rede hath no place:
Theſe are the plages,when murder is the meane
To make newe Heires vnto the RoyallCrowne.
Thus wreke the Gods, when yethe mothers wrath
Nought but yeblood of her owne child may ſwage.
Theſe miſchiefes ſpringswhen Rebelles wil ariſe,
To worke reuenge and iudge theirPrinces facte:
This, this enſues when noble men do faile
Inloyall trouthe, and ſubiectes will be kinges.
And this dothgrowe when loe vnto the Prince,
Whome death or ſodene happe ofliefe bereaues,
No certayne Heire remaines, ſuche certentie
Asnot all onely is the rightfull Heire,
But to the Realme is ſomade vnknowen to be
And trouth therby veſted in Subiecteshartes,
To owe faith there, where right is knowen to reſt
Alas,in Parliament what hope can bee,
When is of Parliament no hopeat all,
Whiche thoughe it be aſſembled by conſent,
Yetis it not likely with conſent to ende:
While eche one for himſelfe, or for his frende
Againſt his foe, ſhall trauaile whathe maye,
While nowe the ſtate left open to the man,
Thatſhall with greateſt force inuade the ſame,
Shall fillambicious minds with gapynge hope:
When will they ones withyelding harts agree?
Or in the while, howe shall the Realme hevſed?
No,no: then Parliament ſhouldhaue ben holdencertaine Heires appoynted to the Crowne
To ſtaie their title ofeſtabliſſhed righte:
And plant the people in obedience
Whileyet the Prince did liue, whoſe name and power
By lawfullSommons and auctorytie
Might make a Parliament to be offorce,
And might haue ſet the ſtate in quiet ſtaye:
Butnowe (O happie man) whome ſpedie death
Depriues of lyfe, ne isenforced to ſee
Theſe hugie miſchiefes and theſemiſeries,
Theſe ciuyll wars, theſe murders & theſewrongs
Of Iuſtice, yet muſt
Iouein fyne reſtore
This noble Crowne vnto the lawfull Heire:
Forright will alwayes liue, and riſe at lengthe,
But wronge canneuer take deepe roote to laſt.
The ende of the Tagedie of Kynge
Gorboduc.